Maha Buddhavamsa—The Great Chronicle of Buddhas
by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw | 1990 | 1,044,401 words
This page describes The Attainment of Buddhahood contained within the book called the Great Chronicle of Buddhas (maha-buddha-vamsa), a large compilation of stories revolving around the Buddhas and Buddhist disciples. This page is part of the series known as the Attainment of Buddhahood. This great chronicle of Buddhas was compiled by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw who had a thorough understanding of the thousands and thousands of Buddhist teachings (suttas).
Part 11 - The Attainment of Buddhahood
The Attainment of Buddhahood by realizing The Higher Paths and Fruitions
After realizing dz貹ٳپ-magga and phalas, the Bodhisatta, reviewed (1) the dz貹ٳپmagga, (2) the dz貹ٳپ-phala which was the result of the dz貹ٳپ-magga, (3) Բ which was their object, (4) the defilements destroyed by means of the dz貹ٳپ-magga and (5) the defilement not destroyed yet by means of the said magga. (This five-fold reflective knowledge is known as five-fold Paccavekkhana-ñṇa.)
Having thus reviewed on the dz貹ٳپ-magga, and dz貹ٳپ-phala, their objects Բ, the defilements which had been eradicated by the Path and the defilements which yet remained to be eradicated through the fivefold reflective knowledge, the Bodhisatta again cultivated and developed the series of Insight Knowledge (վ貹-ñṇa), such as udayabbaya-ñṇa, etc. Soon he realized the second stage of 첹岵峾-magga and 첹岵峾-phala. By 첹岵峾-magga he uprooted the grosser defilements, namely, sense-desires (峾-岵) and ill-will (岹 or dosa). Henceforth, the mind continuum of the Bodhisatta had become completely rid of the latent elements of the grosser defilements of 峾-岵 and 岹 (dosa) (the way seeds were burnt up in fire.)
Having realized the 첹岵峾-magga and phala, the Bodhisatta, with the occurrence in him of impulsive thought moments (javanavara) of the fivefold reflective knowledge (paccavekkhana-ñṇa), contemplated the 岵峾-magga, and 岵峾-phala, their objects Բ, defilements so far already destroyed and the remaining defilements. Again he developed the series of vipassanā-ñṇa, such as udayabbaya-ñṇa, etc. Soon he realized the third stage of 岵峾-magga and 岵峾-phala.
By the 岵峾-magga he completely discarded the subtle defilements of 峾-岵 kilesa and 岹 (dosa). Henceforth, the mind-continuum of the Bodhisatta had become completely divested of the tendencies of the past lingering in the mind () as well as the latent elements of the subtle defilements, 峾-岵 and 岹 (dosa).
Having realized the 岵峾-magga and phala, the Bodhisatta, with the occurrence in him of (ᲹԲ) of the Five Reflective Knowledges (Paccavekkhana-ñṇa), contemplated the 岵峾-magga and 岵峾-phala, their object Բ, defilements destroyed, and on the remaining defilements. Again he developed the series of vipassanā-ñṇa, such as the udayabbaya-ñṇa, etc. Soon he realized the fourth stage of arahatta-magga and arahattaphala. By the arahatta-magga, the Bodhisatta completely uprooted all the remaining defilements, namely, craving for existence in the material realm (ū貹-raga), craving for existence in the immaterial realm (aū貹-raga), pride (Բ), restlessness (uddhacca), ignorance (), without leaving the slightest trace of the tendencies of the past. Henceforward, the mind continuum of the Bodhisatta had become entirely rid of the one thousand and five hundred categories of kilesa together with tendencies of the past () and seven kinds of latent elements.
(Having realized the arahatta-magga and arahatta-phala, there occurred impulsive thought moments (ᲹԲ) of reflective knowledges (paccavekkhana) which reflected on the arahatta-magga and arahatta-phala, their object Բ, and the defilements which had been eradicated. There are altogether nineteen Reflective knowledges, namely, five each arising after the attainments of dz貹ٳپ-magga-phala, 첹岵峾-magga-phala, 岵峾-magga-phala and four arising after the attainment of arahatta-magga-phala. These nineteen knowledges of reflection are also known as Vimutti Ñṇa Dassana attributes. After attainment of arahatta-magga, there was no defilements remaining and hence there was no reflection of it; therefore there are only four paccavekkhana-ñṇa after the attainment of arahatta-magga-phala.)
Attainment of Buddhahood amongst The Three Worlds of Sentient Beings
When the Bodhisatta realised arahatta-phala immediately after the realisation of arahatta-magga, his mind continuum was very clear and he attained the state of a Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, (ܻ), the Supreme Head of the three worlds, by gaining Omniscience (ññܳ-ñṇa) along with the Four Noble Truths, the Four Analytical Knowledges (ʲṭi-ñṇa), the sixfold Unique Wisdom (ṇa-ñṇa), making up the Fourteenfold Wisdom of a Buddha, and the eighteen special qualities (Āṇi첹 Dhamma) and the Fourfold Valorous Wisdom (ձᲹ-ñṇa). Simultaneously with the attainment of sabbaññutā-ñṇa, came the dawn. (Realisation of sabbaññutā-ñṇa means the attainment of Buddhahood).