padna

Incomplete

1. Buddhpadna
The Tradition of the Previous Excellent Deeds of the Buddhas 1. Now, with a pure mind, attend to the Tradition of the previous excellent deeds of the Buddhas, the innumerable kings of righteousness, replete with thirty Perfections. 2. To the supreme enlightenment of the best of the Buddhas, to leaders of the world together with their Orders, I bowed down paying homage with joined hands. 3. In the Buddha-realm, as many as are there the numerous jewels, both in the heaven above and on the earth below, I brought all to my mind. 4. There on a silvery ground, I built a palace, many storied, jewelled, raised high to the sky, 5. Having ornamented pillars, well executed, well divided and arranged, costly, a mass of gold, decorated with arched gateways and canopies. 6. The first storey was of lapis lazuli, shining like a bright piece of cloud; there were (the presentations of) lotuses and lilies29 strewn over in the excellent golden storey. 7. Some (of the storeys) was of corals, some having coral-lustre, some shining red, while others resembling the Indagopaka-colour, illumined the quarters. 8. They had doors, portals and windows well divided and arranged, four net-works of vediks31 and a delightful perfumed enclosure. 9. And they were provided with the excellent peaked roofs blue, yellow, red, white and bright black and decorated with seven varieties of jewels. 10. They had (devices of) lotuses of graceful looks, and were beautified by (the figures of) beasts and birds of prey, filled with (the presentations of) planets and stars, and adorned with (those of) the moon and sun. 11. They were covered over with a golden netting joined with the golden tinkling bells, and the lovely golden garlands (on them) sounded musically by the force of the wind. 12. Festoons of banners, raised on them, were made lovely by various colours crimson, red, yellow and gold-coloured. [187] 13. Diverse, numerous, many hundreds were the slabs, made of silver, of jewels, of rubies, and also of emeralds.

14. The palace was resplendent with various beds, and covered with soft Benares fabrics, rugs, silk made of the Dukula-fibre, China cloth, fine cloth, fibrous garments, whitish garments, and all this manifold covering I spread out there in my mind. 15. Adorned with jewelled peaked roofs in different storeys (the palace) stood firm, bearing torches shining like gems. 16. The wooden posts and pillars and the beautiful golden gates, made of gold brought from the Jambu river, of excellent (sra) wood, and also of silver, shone forth. 17. Divided and arranged into many breaks37 and resplendent with doors and cross-bars (the palace had) on both sides many full vases filled with red, white and blue lotuses.38 18. All the Buddhas of the past, the leaders of the world, together with their Orders and disciples, I created in their natural beauty and appearance. 19. Entering by that entrance, all the Buddhas together with their disciples the circle of the elect sat down on golden seats. 20. The pre-eminent Buddhas that are now in the world, those of the past and present, I brought them all into the mansion. 21. Many hundreds of Paccekabuddhas, self-enlightened and invincible, those of the past and present, I brought them all into the mansion. 22. Many wishing trees, divine and earthly, there were; I procured all garments and covered (them each) with three robes. 23. Filling the beautiful jewelled bowls, I offered (them) ready-made food, hard and soft, eatable and savoury, as well as drink and meal. 24. Procuring divine garments, I provided them with robes of fine cloth; I entertained the whole circle of the elect with best food and (the four) sweet drinks of sugar, oil, honey and molasses. 25. Entering the jewelled chamber, they, like lions lying down in caves, lay down in a lion's posture39 on costly beds. 26. Mindful they rose and sat down cross-legged; they gave themselves up to delight in meditation on the way40 of all the Buddhas. 27. Some preached the doctrines, some sported by their supernormal power, some who had gained mastery over and developed the higher psychic [188] perception, applied themselves to it, while others numbering many hundred thousands worked transformations of themselves by their supernormal power. 28. The Buddhas, too, questioned (other) Buddhas on points relating to omniscience, and comprehended by their knowledge matters, deep and subtle, 29. The disciples questioned the Buddhas, the Buddhas questioned the disciples; they questioned each other, to each other did they explain.

30. The Buddhas, the Paccekabuddhas, the disciples and attendants, enjoying thus their delightful pursuits, rejoiced at the palace. 31. May they hold over [their] head (each) an umbrella, embroidered with gold and silver nets and gems, and fringed with nets of pearls! 32. May there be awnings, resplendent with golden stars, variegated, and having flower-wreaths spread over (them); may they all hold them over [their] head! 33. Be (the palace) laid out with wreaths of flowers, fragrant with rows of perfumes, strewn over with festoons of garments, and bedecked with strings of jewels! 34. Be it strewn over with flowers, much variegated, incensed with sweet perfumes, marked with fivefinger marks of perfumes, and covered over with a golden covering. 35. On four sides, be the tanks covered over with lotuses red and white and blue; be that these having lotus-pollens coming out, appear in golden hue! 36. All trees be blossomed around the palace, and let them drooping themselves sprinkle perfumed flowers over the mansion. 37. Let the crested (peacocks) dance there, divine swans utter melodious sounds. Let the Karavik birds,41 too, sing out and the flocks of birds be on all sides. 38. Let all drums be sounded, all lutes be played. Let all varieties of music go on around the palace. 39. As far as the Buddha-realm, and above the horizons of the world, magnificent, lustrous, faultless and jewelled, 40. Let the golden divans be; let candlesticks42 be lighted, and the ten thousand (worlds) in succession be of one lustre. 41. Let also courtesans, dancers and celestial nymphs dance, and various theatres be staged around the palace. 42. On tree-tops, mountain-tops, or on the summit of the Sineru mountain,43 let me raise all manners of banners, variegated and five- coloured. 43. Let men, Ngas, Gandhabbas44 and gods, all approach them paying homage with joined hands, and surround the palace. [189] 44. Whatever good deed done, ought to be done, or intended to be done by me, I did it well by body, speech and mind in (the abode of) the Thirty.45 45. The beings who are conscious or unconscious, let all share in the result of the meritorious deed done by me. 46. To (them) whom the result of the meritorious deed done by me has been offered, it is (thus) made well known. And to those who do not know of it, the gods should go and report.

47. In the whole world, the beings that live but for the sake of food, let them obtain all manners of agreeable food by my heart's wish. 48. Mentally I offered the gift, mentally I brought the palace. I did homage to all the supreme Buddhas, Paccekas and disciples of the conquerors. 49. By that meritorious deed, will and resolve, I, abandoning the human body, went up to the Thirty-three. 50. I have come to know (only) of the two existences, divine and human; no other destiny have I experienced this is the fulfilment of my mental wish. 51. I have been superior to the gods, I have become the lord of men. Endowed with beauty and appearance, I am incomparable in the world in respect of wisdom. 52. Food of various kinds and best, jewels not inadequate, and garments of all fashions come to me quickly from above. 53. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, divine eatables come to me. 54. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, all varieties of jewels come to me. 55. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, all kinds of perfumes come to me. 56. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, all kinds of vehicles come to me. 57. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, all kinds of garlands come to me. 58. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, (all manners of) decorations come to me. 59. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, maidens of all descriptions come to me. 60. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, come (to me) honey and sugar. 61. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, all varieties of solid food come to me. 62. To the poor and needy, to the professional and street-beggars, whatever excellent gift I made, (it was) for the attainment of the Enlightenment par excellence. 63. While making mountains and rocks roar, dense forest thunder, this world and heaven joyous, I have become a Buddha in the world.

[190] 64. In this world, tenfold is the direction of which there is no end, and in that direction are the innumerable Buddha-realms. 65. My halo is described as shooting forth rays in pairs; let the blaze of rays between them be of great effulgence. 66. In such world-systems, let all persons see me, let all be joyful, and let all follow me. 67. Let the drum of immortality be beaten with reverberating sweet- sound; in the midst of it let all persons hear my sweet voice. 68. While the cloud of righteousness showers, let all be free from the defilements; let the lowest of beings be (at least) the Stream-winners. 69. Giving away the gift, worthy to be given, I fulfilled the precepts entirely, reached perfection in the matter of renunciation, and obtained the Enlightenment par excellence. 70. Questioning the wise, I put forth the best energy, reached perfection in the matter of forbearance, and obtained the Enlightenment par excellence. 71. Intent on truth, I fulfilled the perfection of truth; reaching perfection in friendliness, I obtained the Enlightenment par excellence. 72. In gain and loss, in happiness and sorrow, in respect and disrespect, being unperturbed [upekkh] under all vicissitudes, I obtained the Enlightenment par excellence. 73. Viewing idleness from fear, and energy from peace, be energetic this is the command of the Buddhas. 74. Viewing dissention from fear, and amity from peace, be united and kindly in speech this is the command of the Buddhas. 75. Viewing indolence from fear, and diligence from peace, cultivate the eightfold path this is the command of the Buddhas. 76. Assembled here are many Buddhas and Arahants from all quarters; to the supreme Buddhas and Arahants pay homage and bow down. 77. Thus are the Buddhas incomprehensible, and incomprehensible are the qualities of the Buddhas and incomprehensible is the reward of those who have faith in the incomprehensible. Thus the Blessed One, while developing his own Buddha-life, related the religious discourse, called the Tradition of the previous excellent deeds of the Buddhas.

2. Paccekabuddhapadana

1. The muni Vedeha, bowing his body, asked the Tathgata, who was staying in the Jetavana: Paccekabuddhas are said to exist, by what reasons do they become wise? 2. Then the best of the omniscient, the great wise one, said to nandabhadda (nanda, the virtuous) in a sweet voice: Those who have fulfilled their duties under all (former) Buddhas, without attaining liberation during the period in which the teaching of the Jinas is known. 3. Who are wise because of their repulsion4, whose wisdom is very sharp, who attain insight by themselves even by means of a small object of meditation without the instruction of Buddhas. 4. And what is more, in this whole world, there is no one except me equal to the Paccekabuddhas. I shall clearly express the following, only an abridged description of the distinction of the great munis. 5. Listen, all of you, who wish for the highest medicine, your thoughts very calm, to the good words which are sweet like honey, of those great wise men, who are fully enlightened by themselves. 6. To these expositions of Paccekabuddhas, who assembled (on Mount Gandhamdana), pronounced one after the other about the wretchedness and the cause of the absence of passion, and how they attained insight. 7. Their consciousness without passion with regard to the objects of passion, their minds dispassionate in an impassionate world, having abandoned the world of conceptualisation (papaca). The agitations conquered (by them), thus they attained insight. 8. Putting aside violence to all beings, not hurting any of them, good and compassionate, with a mind filled with friendliness, one should live alone, like the horn of a rhinoceros, 9. Having set aside the punishment of living beings, nor harming one of them; not wanting a wrong to come to a child of a friend, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 10. When one becomes associated with the pleasing, stress is not far away, as it arises from the pleasing; having understood these disadvantages of sensual pleasures, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 11. Friendship where the mind is caught in compassion to the friend, neglects the true good due to this bond of love; seeing this danger within intimacy, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 12. Just as an extensive bamboo is entwined, so to is the longing of a young wife to have a child; as a young bamboo does not cling, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 13. Just as a deer in the forest is free, and goes for food wherever it pleases; the wise seeing freedom there, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 14. While one exists on invitations as a source of ones wage, whether at home or walking on a journey; when this is not desired and looking for freedom, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 15. To have a liking for amusements with ones associates, and extensive fondness for ones child; loathing being separated from that which is dear, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 16. Without anger toward any of the four directions, pleased with whatever one gets; not being paralysed by fear when meeting with troubles, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros!

17. Those gone forth within a corrupt community torments others, likewise those householders of a corrupt home; unconcerned for the children of others, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 18. To cut off the the hair and beard the marks of the householder, Just as the kovilara tree of the deva world sheds its leaves; the hero cuts the bindings of the household life, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 19. If one obtains a wise friend, to travel with, dwelling wisely & virtuously together; overcome all troubles, practice with them glad and mindful. 20. If you do not obtain a wise friend, to travel with, dwelling wisely & virtuously together; like the king of a country abandoning their kingdom, walk alone like the Nga in the elephant forest. 21. We praise the fortune of spending time in friendship, excellent is a year of association with friends; this is enough time for friends to see each others faults, then it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 22. Having seen their beauty shining through, deeds of the Fortunate Ones children are finished well; if two communities arise grieved due to conceit, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 23. [thinking:]"In this way one becomes two due to the enduring conceit of ownership, so use idle and aggressive words;" having dread for this conceit and keeping watch for it in the future, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 24. Because the many kinds of sensual pleasures intoxicates the mind with it sweetness, it disturbs the mind from seeing forms as repulsive; having understood the disadvantage of sensual pleasures, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 25. "Dis-ease, swelling, tragedy, disease, and stabbing are frightening for me;" having seen these sensual pleasures as frightening, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 26. Cold & heat, hunger & thirst, wind & sun, gadflies & reptiles; overcoming all these ways to die, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 27. As a elephant avoiding the herd, of the same family of great elephants; abide in the forest as long one likes, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 28. "There is no possibility one can touch momentary release, if one enjoys company;" heeding the Fortunate Ones words, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 29. Going beyond the restless motion of perspectives, the proper way attained, the path has been reached; [realizing:] "Understanding comes to be, so no longer to be led by others," it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 30. Without greed, deceit, thirst, and depreciation of others, removing the misery of delusion through the cultivation of the mind; becoming unsupported by the entire world, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 31. It is proper to completely avoid friends who commit unskilled acts, who are not intending good & devoted to the dissident path;

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one should not engage in acts which neglect the path, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! Associate with those who know the Dhamma by heart, they are a noble quick-witted friend; with the removal of doubts, the meaning is understood, so it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! Whomever is happy in sensual pleasures, liking the worldly amusements, practices insufficiently and do not expect conceit to arise; so abstaining oneself from adornments and professing the truth, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! When one places up a boundary between themselves and their children, spouse, father, mother, families riches & gains; for the destruction of sensual pleasures, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! This attachment brings little happiness or enjoyment, only more stress; having known this fully, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! Breaking the effluents, like a fish in water escaping a net; like a fire does not remain with what has burnt, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! With downcast gaze not looking around, with guarded senses and mind; the mind not filled & is unburned by lust, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! Leaving behind the attire of lay-life, shaven and with bowl like a student aiming for the other shore; retiring from the world with the ochre robe, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! Not desiring or greedy for flavours, or repeatedly preforming misconduct with others; not bound to any family, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! Having given up the five hindrances of the mind, uprooting all impurities; having cut off affection & hate, so not dependent upon them, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! Having left aside comfort and stress, as previously with mental happiness and sorrow; attaining pure tranquil equanimity, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! With effort aroused to attain the highest goal, with an unsluggish mind, not lazy with ones conduct; possessing strength & power to steadily exert oneself, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! Earnestly pursue seclusion and meditation, always living the path in-line with the truth; understanding thoroughly the disadvantages of any state of being, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! Intent on eliminating craving, be secluded, restrained, & heedful, one should not be confused, but learned and mindful; constantly striving to be in-line with the dhamma, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! Certainly the lion does not tremble with any old noise, like the wind can not be caught in a net; and as a lotus is not smeared, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! Just as a lion bites forcibly with strong teeth, the king of beasts lives as a conqueror; so make use of solitary sleeping places, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros!

47. Timely development of release through friendliness, equanimity, compassion, and altruism; without any measure of hostility, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 48. Haven given up passion, anger and ignorance, and broken the fetters; so one is not afraid even of death, it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 49. Friendship & associations are for a reason, it is rare to have friends without one today; impure beings destroy ones wisdom, so it is suitable to travel like a solitary rhinoceros! 50. Their morality pure, their wisdom purified, concentrated, practising watchfulness, contemplating, seeing the characteristics of the dhamma, they understand, having gone through the Path factors of the way5 and the elements of enlightenment. 51. Having practised the aspiration regarding the attainment of merit, which is thus characterised, they do not attain the state of a disciple during the Jinas teaching, (but) they become Paccekajinas, self-existent and wise. 52. Their dhamma is great, their many bodies are according to the dhamma, they are masters of their Minds, they have overcome the flood of all sufferings, their minds exalted, they have seen the highest truth, like lions are they, like the horn of a rhinoceros. 53. With serene senses, calm, concentrated, practising mindfulness with regard to the people of border districts, illuminating like lamps in the other world and in this world, thus are these Paccekabuddhas, always good. 54. Having destroyed all hindrances, kings of men, illuminators of the world, shining like solid gold, undoubtedly worthy of gifts in the world, are these Paccekabuddhas, always good. 55. These are in this world together with the world of the gods the good words of Paccekabuddhas. Those fools who, having heard them, do not act accordingly, whirl round in sufferings again and again. 56. Those who, having heard the good words of the Paccekabuddhas, which are like a sweet stream of honey, act accordingly, become seers of the truth, possessing wisdom. 57. These excellent verses have been spoken by the Paccekabuddhas, the conquerors, after they had gone forth, and they have been made known by the Lion of the Sakyas, the highest of men, for the sake of the understanding of the Dhamma. 58. Out of compassion for the world these miraculous deeds of these Paccekabuddhas have been made known by the Lion of the self-existent ones, in order to increase (the number of) those who are victorious in battle because of their repulsion.

3.