Maha Buddhavamsa鈥擳he Great Chronicle of Buddhas
by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw | 1990 | 1,044,401 words
This page describes Definition of Parami 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 anud墨pan墨 on words and phrases. 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 1 - Definition of 笔腻谤补尘墨
The set of ten virtues including 诲腻苍补 (alms-giving), 蝉墨濒补 (morality), etc. is called 笔腻谤补尘墨 (Perfection).
A Bodhisatta (future Buddha), being endowed with these ten virtues, such as 诲腻苍补, 蝉墨濒补, etc. is known as a Parama or Extraordinary Personality. On this basis, therefore, the etymology of 笔腻谤补尘墨 is: Param膩na峁� bh膩vo (state of Extraordinary Personalities), which is derived from two things: the knowledge of those who see and know them as such and the saying of those who see and know them that they really are. An alternative etymology is Paramanam kamman (work of Extraordinary Personalities); hence their course of conduct, consisting of 诲腻苍补, 蝉墨濒补, etc. is called 笔腻谤补尘墨.
The order of the ten Perfections should be known by the following verse:
顿腻苍补峁� 蝉墨濒补帽 ca 苍别办办丑补尘尘补峁�
辫补帽帽腻 惫墨谤颈测别苍补 辫补帽肠补尘补峁�
办丑补苍迟墨 saccam 补诲丑颈峁弓丑腻苍补峁�
尘别迟迟鈥� 耻辫别办办丑腻 ti te dasa.Alms-giving, Morality, Renunciation,
Wisdom, Energy as the fifth.
Forbearance, Truthfulness, Resolution,
Loving-kindness and Equanimity;
all these make ten (Perfections).
[Each perfection is of three categories, namely, 笔腻谤补尘墨 (Ordinary Perfection), Upa-笔腻谤补尘墨 (Higher Perfection) and Paramattha-笔腻谤补尘墨 (Highest Perfection). For instance, 诲腻苍补 is of three categories: (1) 顿腻苍补-辫腻谤补尘墨 (Ordinary Perfection of Alms-giving), (2) D膩na upa-p膩ram墨 (Higher Perfection of Alms-giving) and D膩na paramattha-p膩ram墨(Highest Perfection of Alms-giving). Likewise for the 厂墨濒补 and each of the remaining virtues.] Thus there are thirty kinds of Perfection in its detailed enumeration.
Difference between 笔腻谤补尘墨, Upa-p膩ram墨 and Paramattha-p膩ram墨
With regard to these three categories, (1) properties, such as one鈥檚 own gold, silver, etc. and family members, such as one鈥檚 own children and wife, (2) limbs, big and small, such as one鈥檚 own hands, legs, etc. and (3) one鈥檚 own life, should be noted first. Then referring to 诲腻苍补, (1) Gift of properties is 顿腻苍补-辫腻谤补尘墨, (2) Gift of limbs, big and small, is 顿腻苍补-耻辫补辫腻谤补尘墨 and (3) Gift of life is 顿腻苍补-paramattha-p膩ram墨.
Similarly, (1) observance of morality at the sacrifice of properties, (2) observance of morality at the sacrifice of limbs, big and small and (3) observance of morality at the sacrifice of life, are to be understood as 厂墨濒补-p膩ram墨, 厂墨濒补-upa-p膩ram墨 and 厂墨濒补-paramatthap膩ram墨 respectively. Likewise, for the remaining eight perfection, the same way of classification should be applied.
Different views held by different commentators may be looked up in the exposition of the word, 鈥�ko vibhago鈥� in the 笔补办颈峁囜箛补办补 碍补迟丑腻 of the 颁补谤颈测腻 笔颈峁璦办补 Commentary..