Chapter 15. The Ten Virtue Perfection
The 10 Virtues Perfection
The Equation of Perfections
Virtues or Essences to be Perfected (V)
In order to attain Buddhahood and Arahantship or Buddhist
Sainthood, it is necessary that one has to commit good deeds for many lifetimes
as the cultivation of virtues. These virtues are essential Dharma which
co-crystallise altogether with elemental merit energy. Altogether, they can enable the eradication
of mental impurities or defilements when one’s mind reaches the state of magga
unification as well as the willingness to uproot the impurities in
one’s mind.
Mainly, there are 10 virtues namely:
(a) Generosity (b) Moral Discipline (c) Renunciation or
Contentment (d) Wisdom or Comprehendability (e) Endurance (f) Patience (g)
Truthfulness (h) Resolution or Determination (i) Compassion and (j) Equanimity.
Merit Energy or Co-Crystallising Elements (M)
Indeed, the 10 virtues are merit energy differentiated according
to their quality. For example, Generosity and Determination are both
merit, but we can feel the difference of their quality when we give Christmas
gifts (Generosity) and do prayer (Determination).
As we practice the 10 aforesaid virtues, we earn merit energy
which coexists with virtues. Over time, as the meritorious deeds are
repeated for a long period of time, the merit energy which is dominated by
virtues become crystallized or ‘perfected.’ This is similar to baking a
loaf of bread where the mass of flour needs appropriate heat and time to become
fully baked.
Timing of Cultivation (T)
The timings for crystallization or perfected virtues are as
follows:
(1)
100,000 sub-eons for common
Arahantship or full Buddhist sainthood
(2)
1.1 eons for specialty Arahantship
(3)
2.1 eons for Silent-Buddhahood (doesn’t establish Buddhism)
(4)
20.1 eons for wisdom-oriented Buddhahood (establish Buddhism)
(5)
40.1 eons for faith-oriented Buddhahood (establish Buddhism)
(6)
80.1 eons for perseverance-oriented Buddhahood (establish
Buddhism)
Commitment (L) & Intensity of Commitment (n)
The commitment in pursuit of virtues perfection distinguish how
strong one’s willpower is in cultivation.
For general willpower to cultivate virtues, the intensity is valued
as n1 = 1
For a stronger willpower with the willingness to sacrifice one’s
blood, flesh, and organ to cultivate virtues, the intensity is valued as n2
= 2
For the strongest willpower when one is willing to sacrifice one’s
life to cultivate virtues, the intensity is valued as n3 = 3
The Equation of Perfections
Our equation of perfections shows how the aforesaid factors
interrelate each other in the process of perfecting virtues. First of all, it is the PLn which
represents the Perfections or Parami at a level where ‘n’ can be either 1 or 2
or 3.
Next, there is the value of virtues (V) divided by merit energy
(M) which shows the fractional relationship how the qualitative essence or dharma is
crystallised upon the elemental merit energy, over the power of (T) which is
the period of cultivation, as the product increases in manifold over time.
Lastly, the fraction is in the root of Ln where the more
intensity of ‘Ln’ means the more or less condensation of virtues perfection
corresponding to such PLn.
Graphing the Perfections Diagram
According to our diagram, we can graph our 10 Virtues Perfection
relatively to (1) Type of Virtue or ‘x’ (2) Level of Effort or ‘y’ and (3)
Duration of Time or ‘T’. Firstly, we have to figure out the level of
effort or ‘y’ for each virtue or ‘x’, then we can plot the graph whereas the
inner ring is for the cultivation period of 20 eons, 40 eons, and 80 eons,
respectively for Wisdom-Oriented Cultivation, Faith-Oriented Cultivation, and
Perseverance-Oriented Cultivation.
In addition, we also have the simple equation in relationship
with the diagram as follows:
10 Virtues Cultivation = (xay+xby+xcy+xdy+xey+xfy+xgy+xhy+xiy+xjy) x Time
Whereas:
Effort or ‘y’
= 3 for Dedication of Life
= 2 for Dedication of Self
= 1 for Regular Dedication
Time or ‘T’
= 80.1 [asaṅkheyyaṁ or Eons] for
Perseverance-Oriented One
= 40.1 [asaṅkheyyaṁ or Eons] for
Faith-Oriented One
= 20.1 [asaṅkheyyaṁ or Eons] for
Wisdom-Oriented One
Note: asaṅkheyyaṁ = 1 + 140 zeroes
Souce of studying
on pali numbering:
https://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/
© By Pirajak S. (Pittaya Wong)
First Version: 3 August 2018
Second Version: 31 August 2020
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