Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c29.841

v2.c29.841

For the *abhinīhāra* to be effective, eight conditions should be fulfilled⁴: the aspirant should be (1) a human being, (2) a male, (3) sufficiently developed to become an arahant in that very birth, (4) a recluse at the time of the declaration, (5) he should declare his resolve before a Buddha, (6) he should be possessed of attainments such as the jhāna, (7) be prepared to sacrifice all, even life, and (8) his resolution should be absolutely firm and unwavering. In the case of Gotama Buddha, his abhinīhāra was made at Amarāvatī in the presence of Dīpaṅkara Buddha. His name at that time was Sumedha (q.v.). The Buddha, before whom the abhinīhāra is made, looks into the future and, if satisfied, declares the fulfilment of the resolve, mentioning the particulars of such fulfilment. This declaration is called vyākaraṇa, and is made also by all subsequent Buddhas whom the Bodhisatta may meet during his career. Having received his first vyākaraṇa, the Bodhisatta proceeds to investigate the qualities which should be acquired by him for the purposes of Buddhahood (buddhakārakadhammā), in accordance with the custom of previous Bodhisattas. These he discovers to be ten in number, the Ten Perfections (dasapāramī): dāna, sīla, nekkhamma, paññā, viriya, khanti, sacca, adiṭṭhāna, mettā and upekkhā.⁵ He also develops the four Buddhabhūmi (catasso buddhabhūmiyo)—ussāha, ummagga, avatthāna and hitacariyā—explained respectively as zealousness (viriya), wisdom (paññā), resolution (adhiṭṭhāna) and compassion (mettā-bhāvanā). He cultivates the six ajjhāsayas which conduce to the maturing of Enlightenment (bodhiparipākīya saṃvattanti), these six being: nekkhammajjhāsaya, pavivekajjhāsaya, alobhajjhāsaya, adosajjhāsaya, amohajjhāsaya and nissaranajjhāsaya.⁶