Twelve Enlightening Deeds of Buddha

Ngawang Thekchen

I offer my deepest appreciation to those who translate the holy dharma into modern languages that we and

future generations may benefit.

Acknowledgements

• Brynn Bruijn (Mikma) for photos

• The Play in Full (Lalitavistara)

– A precious Sutra of The Great Vehicle translated by the Dharmachakra Translation Committee for 84,000 Translating the Words of the Buddha

– Available at: http://read.84000.co/#!ReadingRoom/UT22084-046-001/0

• Dr. Alexander Berzin (The Berzin Archives)

– http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/index.html

The Thousand Buddhas of this Fortunate EonAccording to the Mahayana tradition, there are one thousand Buddhas who will come to our universe during this fortunate eon.Each of the thousand Buddhas has attained an enlightened state long before the final attainment of perfect and complete Buddhahood. Each had a long career progressing through the bodhisattva stages, practicing the six perfections, gaining skillful means, honing and purifying their mind stream and benefitting myriad living beings. Each is an example and inspiration to us, and a source of refuge to myriad beings. When each of them manifest during this eon, each will emanate him/herself simultaneously on the Southern Island-Continent (Jambudvipa) of each of the billon world-systems in our universe and simultaneously enact on each of them the twelve enlightening deeds of a Buddha. When these twelve are not occurring in one universe, a Buddha is indicating them in others. (Berzin)

The Background of the Thangka

This thangka, has approximately 40 scenarios that depict how Lord Buddha Shakyamuni enacted the 12 deeds that Bodhisattvas enact in their final lifetime when they achieve Buddhahoood.

The original thangka (religious painting in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition) was acquired by Brynn Bruijn (Mikma) from the master thangka painter in Nepal 50 years ago. Brynn is a professional photographer, whose work has appeared in museums and magazines, such as National Geographic. This thangka is a museum quality reproduction that the original thangka, and is one of only three that will ever be made.

It has been offered for a silent auction to raise funds to build the new long term retreat wing at Lotus Lake Buddhist Center.

The First Great Deed

Transferring to a Southern Island-Continent from a Pure Land of Joy (dGa’- ldan, Skt. Tushita), after having transferred his throne there to the next Buddha for the eon, MaitreyaBuddha.

The Second Great Deed

Entering his mother’s womb.

The cold season had passed and it was the third month of spring. The Lord of the Three Worlds, [55] revered by all the worlds, now judged that the time had come. On the fifteenth day, during the full moon, the Bodhisattva moved, fully conscious and aware, from the fine realm of the Heaven of Joy to the womb of his mother.

He entered through his mother’s right side in the form of a baby elephant, white in color. As this occurred, Queen Māyā was sleeping on her pleasant bed. (The Play in Full, ch. 6)

The Third Great DeedTaking Birth

Māyādevī, having arrived at Lumbinigrove, stretched out her right arm, and grasped a branch of the tree. The Bodhisattva emerged from his mother’s right side, fully aware and mindful.

At that time Śakra, lord of the gods, and Brahmā, lord of the Fearless Realm, appeared before the Bodhisattva. As they remembered and recognized who he was, they were full of veneration for the Bodhisattva and wrapped him up in divine silk. Then the great nāgakings Nanda and Upananda revealed their upper bodies in the sky and produced two streams of cool and warm water to rinse the Bodhisattva’s body.

The Bodhisattva stood on a large lotus and surveyed the four directions with his lion’s gaze, the gaze of a great being. Unsupported, he took seven steps.

Wherever the Bodhisattva took a step, a lotus sprouted forth.

(The Play in Full, ch. 7)

The Fourth Great Deed

Becoming skilled and learned in the arts and sciences

As he grew, The Bodhisattva demonstrated superior skill in knowledge of scripts, mathematical computations, wrestling, and archery. All the Śākya youths were defeated and the Bodhisattva alone stood out. The Bodhisattva also excelled in all aspects of leaping, swimming, and running. In this way the Bodhisattva was superior in all the main aspects of the mundane arts, as well as in all practices beyond the reach of gods and humans.

(The Play in Full, ch. 12)

The Fifth Great Deed

Enjoying a royal life.

The Bodhisattva has now reached maturity and can enjoy life in the palace, where he is surrounded by all types of pleasure. (Berzin)

The Bodhisattva enters the city and sees the suffering of aging, and sickness……

… death and finally a peaceful renunciate (monk.)

The Sixth Great Deed

Renunciation of Samsara, Leaving his life as a Prince

Having seen the sufferings of ordinary life, The Bodhisattva renounces the temporary and unstable pleasures of that life, determined to find a solution to the not-so-merry-go-round of cyclic existence. There is a touching encounter with his father, King Suddhodana, where the Bodhisattva informs him of his plan to leave. The King begs him to remain, promising him anything he wants. The Bodhisattva replies that if his father can grant his wishes that the father never grows sick, ages nor dies and that he himself with not die, then he will remain. The King, realizing his error wishes his son well in his quest, and The Bodhisattva says he will not return until he has discovered the solution to living beings’ existential dilemma.

The Bodhisattva then thought to himself: “With my hair this long, I cannot be a monk.” So he took his sword, cut off his hair, and then cast it into the air. The gods in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three collected the hair for worship. (The Play in Full)

The Seventh Great Deed

Practice of Austerities and Asceticism

After the Buddha left home, he led a life of austerities for six years by the banks of the Nirajana river in India. These austerities did not lead to his enlightenment. (Berzin)

The Eighth Great Deed

Renouncing austerities and proceeding to a seat for enlightenment under a bodhi tree.

The Bodhisattva said, “Yet this (true) path (to enlightenment) cannot be realized by someone who has grown so weak. This path would not lead to awakening. Therefore I shall begin to eat solid food again. That way I can regain my physical strength. Once I do so, I will proceed to the seat of awakening.” (The Play in Full)

The Ninth Great Deed

Taming the demonic forces

When the Buddha was sitting under the bodhi tree, Papiyan, the leader of Maras, used forms related to the three disturbing emotions (kleshas) of ignorance, desire, and aggression to try to lure the Buddha away from his pursuit of enlightenment.

The first deception, representing ignorance, was that the Buddha was asked to abandon his meditation and return immediately to the kingdom because his father King Shuddhodanahad died and the evil Devadatta had taken over the kingdom. This did not disturb the Buddha’s meditation. Then Papiyan tried to create an obstacle using desire; his beautiful daughters tried to deceive and seduce the Buddha. When this did not disturb the Buddha’s meditation, Mara then used hatred by coming towards the Buddha surrounded by millions of horribly frightening warriors who were throwing weapons at the Buddha’s body.

But the Buddha wasn’t distracted or fooled by these three poisons. (Berzin)

The Tenth Great Deed

Manifesting full enlightenment

He remained immersed in compassion and loving-kindness and therefore triumphed over this display of the three poisons and was able to eventually achieve enlightenment. This deed of the Buddha is represented by the image of the Buddha "taking the earth as witness, "gently touching the ground with his right hand and holding a begging bowl in his left hand

Attainment of full enlightenment was reached while meditating under the bodhi tree. Since the Buddha developed all the qualities of meditation to the utmost stages, he was able awaken to reality and discover the way to overcome all manner of suffering that binds beings in cyclic existence. (Berzin)

The Eleventh Great Deed

Turning the wheel of the Dharma (Teaching the Path to Awakening)

The Buddha turned the wheel of the dharma three times, meaning He taught in three different ways. The first is the basis of the path, which consists of the teachings on the Four Noble Truths, meditation and achieving individual liberation.

The second is the Mahayana (Great Vehicle) teachings which involve the development of altruistic great compassion and practicing the bodhisattva path.

The third turning is the Vajrayana(Diamond Vehicle or Swift Path) which involves the understanding that everything pervaded by Buddha-nature. (Berzin)

The Twelfth Great Deed

Demonstrating a total release from all suffering by passing away.

Passing away at the age of 83 in the town of Kushingara.

The Buddha asked his students if they had any final questions and then lying on his side, in the lion’s posture, he passed away. His last words were, “Bhikshus, never forget, decay is inherent in all composite things. Therefore, work diligently.”