Part 1.8 - Adhitthana or Adhisthana Paramita (the perfection of Determination)

Adhitthana (Adhisthana) means a strong or resolute determination in fulfilment of the Buddha-hood. Buddhakaraka-Dhammas for attainment of the Without this firm determination for perfection of any noble deed, the other Perfections cannot be fulfilled. This will-power forces all obstructions out of the Bodhisattva's Path. 280 Jataka No. 537: Criyapitaka; Cariyapitaka Atthakatha (Paramatthadipani) iii, 12. 281 Jataka No. 525.

142 It is said "without firmly undertaking the practice of giving (and the other Paramitas, maintaining an unshakable determination in the encounter with their opposites, and practising them with constancy and vigour, the bases of enlightenment, i.e., the requisites such as giving, etc., do not Adhisthana Paramita is also described as follows;arise. "282 "Just as a rocky mountain peak, Unmoved stands firm established, Unshaken by the boisterous gale, And always in its place abides; So likewise thou must ever be In Resolution firm entrenched." " 283 In the Jataka, the Bodhisattva Gotama, after taking the rice-gruel offered by Sujata, reached the Bodhi tree. At that time, a grass cutter known as Sotiya saw the Bodhisattva. He was much impressed by his appearance and gave seven handfuls of dry grass to the Bodhisattva. Bodhisattva took the grass and spread it under the Bodhi tree as His seat for attainment of Bodhi. Sitting there the Bodhisattva made a firm determination. The The Bodhisattva while sitting under the Bodhi tree made this inflexible determination:- "Though only my skin, sinews and bones remain, 282 Bhikkhu Bodhi, A Treatise on the Paramis p.32; Brahmajala Sutta p.272. 283 Warren, Buddhism in Translations p.27.

143 and my blood and flesh dry up and wither away, yet will I never stir from this seat until I have attained full enlightenment." Making such determination, he sat and he never trembled. He is seen by the Mara, and Mara made several attempts to make the Bodhisattva move from his determination through showering hot blazing fire and issuing gushes of The Bodhisattva was firm in his determination. strong wind. not affected by these attacks. And those attacks became futile. He was When such determination remains without shaking, and completed to its perfection it is called Adhisthana Paramita. Such Jatakas as Nemi(or Nimi)-Jataka, 284 Sarabhanga-Jataka, 285 Temiya-Jataka 286 deal with this.