San Lo Mvu 18Attributes of the Buddhas
Pāli / Sanskrit:Attributes of the Buddhas
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Explanation of the Chapter on the Qualities of the Buddhas
Background
This discourse appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in Sankhara Lo Mvu, one of the basic legal collections of the Theravāda tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka not only records the rules of practice, but also contains profound teachings on Buddhism. This chapter is presented so that students may contemplate and revere the transcendent qualities of the Buddhas who appeared in the past, as well as the Buddha Gotama, the one who illuminates this age.
This context is very important: when the Buddha-Dharma is transmitted, understanding the qualities of the Buddha is not merely a matter of belief, but also the foundation for nourishing faith (saddhā), one of the five faculties of Theravāda Buddhist practice. Through recognizing these qualities, practitioners gain motivation to practice according to the Buddha’s teaching.
Main Content
The Chapter on the Qualities of the Buddhas honors the surpassing characteristics possessed only by sammā-sambuddhas. According to the Theravāda tradition, these qualities are not created or bestowed by anyone; they arise naturally through step-by-step practice over past lives, through the steadfast development of wisdom (paññā) and loving-kindness (mettā).
The principal qualities include: the Buddha has wisdom that clearly sees all dharmas (sabbaññū-dassavī), incomparable strength (aniruddha-bala), gentle virtue and boundless compassion (karuṇā aparimāṇa). The Buddha is free from all defilements (kilesa), attaining complete purity and freedom (nirvāṇa). The Buddhas of the past, as well as the Buddha Gotama, all possess these qualities, though in different historical contexts.
What is noteworthy is that the discourse does not emphasize divinity or the supernatural in a spiritualized way. Instead, it presents these qualities as the natural results of perfect practice and clear understanding. This is precisely how the Theravāda tradition explains the greatness of the Buddha-Dharma without falling into sacramentalism or spiritualist doctrine.
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