ABSTRACT

The dissertation entitled “The Concord of the Ten Perfections as Aiding Condition to the Enlightenment and to the Duty of the Buddha” is of fore objectives as (1) to study the Ten Perfections in Theravada Buddhism ; (2) to study  the characteristics of the concord of the Ten Perfections; (3) to analyze the concord of the Ten Perfections as aiding condition to the Enlightenment of the Buddha ; and (4) analyze Ten Perfections as aiding condition to the Duly of the Buddha.

The findings of the research are as followings :

Pāramī or pāramitā means perfection of the meritorous conduct of  one wanting to become a Buddha with as strong self-determination.  Before going to  be a Buddha, a man so-called Bodhisattva is to try to perform each of the ten perfections in any life and birth along the lives of the ten Perfection, i.e., giving, morality, renunciation, wisdom, endeavour , to learnce, truthfulness, resolution loving-kindness, and equanimity. There are three categories of perfection, i.e. ordinary perfections, superior perfections, and supreme perfections.

In order to attain the enlightenment, a Bodhisatva has to fulfil each perfection along the live of the other one more or less such as Temiya on renunciation, Mahājanaka on endeavour, Suvannasāma on loving kindness, Nemirāja on truthfulness, Mahosatha on wisdom, Bhūridatta on moralily, Candakumāra on tolerance, Nārada on equanimity, Vidhura on resolution, and Vessantara on giving. Conduct of the each of them has been mentioned with reference to  their respective perfection. 

It is obvious  that the conduct of the ten perfections is the certain means as aiding condition to the enlightenment of the Buddha.  In each life, a Bodhisattva had performed one perfection along with the other perfection. To perform only one or a few perfections, it is impossible to lead the last life to enlightenment. Only the concord of the ten perfections is possible.  In this research work, the quotations of the Buddha’s words are given as to the perfections of the dāna (giving), sīla (morality), and nekkhamma (renuaciation).  At the end, the research has focused on whether the ten perfections performed aided the Buddha to perfom his functions or services, the Buddha’s conduct (Lokatthacariyā), Conduct for the benefit of his relations (Ñātatthacariyā), and beneficient conduct as functions of the Buddha (Buddhatthacariyā).  Examples of his thirty-two marks of  the great man as well as his loving-kindness shown to Devadatta and other related are  given as the meritorious results of the ten perfections conducted in the previous lives ancountably.

 Download