Part 15 - The Fourteen Buddha Knowledges

The fourteen Buddha Knowledges are, Knowledge of the Four Truths, the four Patisambhidā-ñāṇas, and the six Asāharaṇa-ñāṇas. Out of those fourteen, Knowledge of the Four Truths and the four Patisambhidā-ñāṇas are attained by the disciples also, but the six Asādharaṇa-ñāṇas are purely within the province of the Buddha. In as much as the six Asādharaṇa-ñāṇas belong only to the Buddha, there are also Eighteen Buddha Attributes, Āveṇika, that belong only to the Buddha.

The late Ledi Sayadaw had composed a fine piece of devotional interpretation of the Eighteen Buddha-Attributes. The gist of which is given here:

(The Pāli text of the Aveṇika-ñāṇas is not reproduced here.)

The Translation of the Pāli text:

May I be free from all dangers and depredations both internally and externally! There is no one, such as Mara, Āḷavaka, who can endanger the life of the Buddha within the usual life period, (adopted by all Buddhas,) of the four-fifth of the life span period of the epoch (pertaining to each Buddha.)

There is no one, such as Mahesara, Brahmā Baka, or Asura, who can sully or dampen the All-Knowing Wisdom of the Buddha.

(1) The Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, endowed with the six exalted qualities, also counted in eight ways, has the All-Knowing Wisdom that can visualize all knowable things of the past, extending over myriads of aeons, and not the slightest obstruction can mar this vision.

(2) The Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, endowed with the six exalted qualities, also counted in eight ways, has the all Knowing Wisdom that can visualize all knowable things of the future, extending over myriads of aeons, and not the slightest obstruction can mar this vision.

(3) The Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, endowed with the six exalted qualities, also counted in eight ways, has the All-Knowing Wisdom that can visualize all knowable things that are taking place at present in the thirty-one planes of existence in all the infinite world-systems, and not the slightest destruction can mar this vision.

(4) The Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, endowed with the six exalted qualities, also counted in eight ways, well-possessed of these three special attributes, has all bodily actions, in all postures and movements, preceded by four kinds of full comprehension, and all the bodily actions closely follow the guidance of the fourfold comprehension.

(5) All His verbal actions, all His utterances, are preceded by four kinds of full comprehension, and all the verbal actions closely follow the guidance of the fourfold comprehension.

(6) All His mental actions, all His thoughts, are preceded by four kinds of full comprehension, and all the mental actions follow the guidance of the fourfold comprehension.

(7) The Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, endowed with the six exalted qualities, also counted in eight ways, well possessed of these six exclusive attributes, is never lacking, not having the slightest decline in the earnest desire that had arisen in Him since as Bodhisatta Sumedha, to ferry cross the floundering multitudes to the safe shore of Nibbāna, and in the will to achieve noble things beneficial to Himself and to others, which is the exalted quality of kāma itself.

(8) His Teaching, which has the sole object of liberating all deserving beings from the woeful round of existences, never falls short of the avowed objective.

(9) His effort, which is rightly directed in three ways, namely, dauntless determination as Bodhisatta in being prepared to traverse an ocean of burning coals or of sharp stakes, laid over the entire surface of the universe which is three million six hundred and ten thousand, three hundred and fifty yojanas wide, for the sake of attaining Buddhahood, which is the exalted quality of payatta itself; the exclusive Buddha-Knowledge consisting in the fourfold right efforts and the will to accomplish the five routine tasks set for Himself every day, never shows the slightest decline.

(10) His concentration in two aspects, namely, the inherent firmness of mind that withstands the eight kinds of worldly conditions or vicissitudes that may befall Him from any quarters, like Mount Meru that withstands stormy winds that blow from the eight directions, the jhānic power (appanā samādhi) which is the very basis of all psychic powers (abhiññās), such as iddlividha, dibba cakkhu. cetopariya, pubbenivāsānussati, yathākammūpaga, anāgatamsa, never shows the slightest decline.

(11) His Wisdom that encompasses all happenings, i.e. rise and fall of conditional phenomena, taking place in the three worlds extending over ten thousand worldsystems, on which He surveys through the Mahāvajīra-ñāṇa, consisting of 2.4 million crores of times each day, never shows the slightest decline.

(12) His release (from the trammels of the world) consisting of five kinds, namely, the four noble Abiding in universal goodwill, Compassion, Sympathetic joy and Equanimity with regard to ten thousand world-systems extending over the worlds of deva, human beings, Brahmās and the four miserable states; and the dwelling in the arahatta-phala fourth jhāna which the Buddha is wont to resort to even in odd moments such as during recesses in delivering discourses, which consists of 2.4 million crores times each day, never shows the slightest decline.

(13) The Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, endowed with the six exalted qualities, also counted in eight ways, well possessed of these twelve exclusive attributes, never indulges in light hearted deed, speech or thought.

(14) He never indulges in any hasty action that is liable to be censured by the wise as thoughtless or ill-considered conduct.

(15) He never commits any action that is liable to be called inadequate or uncomprehensive.

(16) He never commits any action that is liable to be called impulsive by the wise.

(17) He never indulges in the slightest remiss concerning His self-assigned task of bringing benefit to Himself and to the world at large.

(18) He never lets any moment pass without being mindful of the six sense objects that come within cognisance of the six sense- doors.

The Perfect Self-Enlightened One, endowed with the six exalted qualities, also counted in eight ways, well possessed of these eighteen exclusive attributes, is not liable to be assailed by anyone either against his life or against the All-Knowing Wisdom.

The above remarks about the eighteen Buddha-attributes, are true indeed. I pay homage to the Buddha who is possessed of these attributes. May this meritorious verbal action bring me fulfilment of all my aspirations both for the present and for the hereafter.

(Here ends the explanation on the Eighteen Buddha Attributes, Avenikas.)

(The Four Kinds of Self-Confidence (Vesārajja-ñāṇa) have been discussed above.)

In conclusion, the paṭisambhidā-ñāṇa, the asādhārana-ñāṇa and the dassabala-ñāṇa, etc. are merely samples of the greatness of the Buddha’s Knowledge. Just as a drop of the sea water verifies the salty taste of the sea, so also the above special attributes are merely indicative of the profundity of the Buddha’s Knowledge and noble attributes about which we have not yet mentioned in this work.