2025

Parami: The Perfect Competencies In A Spiritual Dimension

Author(s): Anil Dhale

Abstract

In Pali Tipiṭaka, a Bodhisatta is a being who has vowed to achieve enlightenment and become a Buddha but postpones it to help others too attain enlightenment. Prince Siddhartha is called Bodhisatta before enlightenment and also designated so in his previous lives.
Bodhisatta‘s continuous pursuit of perfections throughout countless existence takes unwavering resolve and perseverance .This special perfection or virtue is called ‘Buddha -karaka Dhamma’ in Pali literature. ‘Dasa kho sariputta bhuddhakaraka dhamma….. kata me dasang? (Cariyapitaka atthakatha). When defilement is removed and merit is continuously accumulated, it results into perfections.
Some habits are formed in present existence and some follow us from our past existence. Good habits are opposite in character to defilements .for example one can develop the habit of giving alms often to overcome our greed. Only a Bodhisatta who passes the most rigorous test will receive the Buddha-Forecast from one of the Buddha he will meet along the way .Therefore, all Bodhisattas are divided into two categories: 1.Aniyata Bodhisatta (Unconfirmed Bodhisattas 2.Niyata Bodhisattas (Confirmed Bodhisattas. Bodhisatta Siddhartha had met the first three Buddhas i.e. Lord Tanhankara, Lord Medhankara and Lord Saranankara but he did not receive the Buddha forecast because his merit did not reach a specified level yet. As soon as Sumedha Boshisatta received his first Buddha-forecast from the Lord Dipankara Buddha that he would definitely become enlightened as a Gautam Buddha in future, the status of our Bodhisatta changed from an unconfirmed Bodhisatta to a confirmed Bodhisatta.