Part 4 - Buddha (a Supremely Enlightened One)

As has been said before, after fulfilling their Perfections for their respective durations, the three types of future Buddhas attain the Fourfold Knowledge of the Path (magga-ñāṇa), which is understanding of the Four Noble Truths by himself without a teacher’s help, as well as Omniscience (sabbaññuta-ñāṇa), which is understanding of all principles that are worthy of understanding. They acquire, at the same time, the special attributes of a Buddha which are infinite (ananta) and immeasurable (aparimeyya). Such attributes are so immense that, if a Buddha extols the attributes of another Buddha without touching on any other topic for an aeon, the aeon may come to an end, but the attributes will not. The Noble Person, who has thus attained Enlightenment with no equal in the three worlds, is called an Omniscient Buddha or a Perfectly Self-Enlightened One (Sammā-sambuddha).

After fulfilling the necessary Perfections for two asaṅkhyeyyas and a hundred thousand aeons, a Private Buddha attains Enlightenment consisting of the Insight Knowledge of the Path which is understanding of the Four Noble Truths (Magga-ñāṇa) by himself, without a teacher’s help. But he does not achieve Omniscience and the Ten Powers (Dasabalañāṇa) [see note below], etc. The Noble Person who has thus attained Enlightenment is called a Private Buddha or a Minor Buddha (Pacceka Buddha).

After fulfilling the necessary Perfections for one asaṅkhyeyya and a hundred thousand aeons, if he is a future Chief Disciple, or a hundred thousand aeons, if he is a future Great Disciple, or a hundred aeons or a thousand aeons or any smaller number of aeons, if he is a future Ordinary Disciple, a future Disciple attains Enlightenment consisting of the Insight-Knowledge of the Path, which is understanding of the Four Noble Truths (Sāvaka-Bodhiñāṇa), with the help of a teacher who is a Buddha. The Noble Person who has thus attained

Enlightenment of a Disciple (Sāvaka-Bodhi-ñāṇa) is called an Enlightened Disciple (Sāvaka-Buddha); he may have the status of a Chief Disciple, a Great Disciple or an Ordinary Disciple.

Note on the Ten Powers (Dasabalañāṇa):

The Dasa-Nipāta of the Añguttara Nikāya enumerates the Ten Powers (Dasabalañāṇa) as follows:

(1) Thānāṭṭhāna ñāṇa, knowledge according to reality as to the possible as possible and the impossible as the impossible,

(2) Kammavipāka ñāṇa, knowledge of the result of the past. present and future actions,

(3) Sabbatthagāminī patipadā ñāṇa, knowledge of the path leading to the welfare of all,

(4) Anekadhātu Nānādhātu lokañāṇa, knowledge of the world with its many different elements,

(5) Nānādhimuttikata nāṇa, knowledge of the different inclinations of beings,

(6) Indriya paropariyatta ñāṇa, knowledge of the lower and higher faculties of beings,

(7) Jhānādi Samkilesa Vodānavuṭṭhāna ñāṇa, knowledge of the defilements, purity and rising with regard to jhāna, concentration, attainments etc.

(8) Pubbenivasa ñāṇa, knowledge of remembering many former births,

(9) Cutūapāta ñāṇa, or Dibbacakkhu ñāṇa, knowledge of perceiving with the divine eye how beings vanish and re-appear according to their actions (kamma), and

(10) Āsavakkhaya ñāṇa, knowledge of the extinction of all moral intoxicants (impurities that befuddle the mind) i.e. Arahantta-magga ñāṇa.