Chapter 35. The Equation of Perfected Merits
DHAMMONOMICS:
Equations of Ten Perfections
In Buddhism, the ten perfections are
ten virtues which one has to cultivate altogether with merit energy
accumulation. As the two are mutually
perfected, they allow an individual to attain enlightenment and achieve
supernormal capabilities, enabling one to leave the cycle of life and enter the
state of supreme bliss in the Nirvana.
Although, the ten perfections are
descriptively delivered by the Lord Buddha in many discourses, we can see how
they are logically factorial, correlated, systematic, and sequential. As such, Dhammonomics takes the aforesaid
characteristics to be interpreted into mathematical expressions such as
equation and graph which are time-saving to learn, easier to comprehend, and
applicable to everyone’s living in pursuit of perfections in a more universal
manner regardless of race, gender, age, and belief.
The equations are displayed in the
orange charts shown on this webpage, and their explanations are given as
follows:
(1)
Equation of Generosity
Generosity or ‘giving’ is the very
first step of pursuing perfections. It
is believed to be the easiest practice.
The karmic consequences of generosity perfection are well-being, gain,
and wealth, whether one lives a monastic or secular life. The Lord Buddha taught that there are four
main factors contributing to the more or less of merit earned from generous
deeds including (i) giver (ii) receiver (iii) given object, and (iv) intention
of giver. In addition, the intensity and
frequency of generous deeds attribute to the perfected merit.
(2)
Equation of Morality
Morality
is the wholesome behaviours, either as a monk or lay person. In general, it can be expressed in the form
of code of conduct or commandments to be observed in order to control one’s
speech and action. In Dhammonomics, we
regard them as mental, verbal, and physical Dos and Don’ts. Moreover, morality can also be experienced in
the meditative state where one’s mind becomes moralful in meditation. The sense of being moral or morally
disciplined can be, more or less, strong and long lasting.
(3)
Equation of Renunciation
Renunciation in Buddhism is not merely
about ordination only, but it is about one’s monastic and/or ascetic
livelihood. One doesn’t have to be a
monk in order to practice renunciation, but it is more likely that one can
perfect renunciation better as a monk.
There are ten practices (ten brahma-cariya) which level one’s
monastic and ascetic life as follows: (i) sacrifice (ii) helpfulness (iii)
precept (iv) meditative compassion (v) celibacy (vi) contentment (vii) effort
in monastic practice (viii) monastic discipline (ix) enlightenment and (x)
Dharma practice. The intensity of more
or less of the aforesaid ten practices over time contributes to the perfected
merit of renunciation.
(4)
Equation of Wisdom
Wisdom is concerned as one of the most
important Buddhist doctrine. When
comparing to supernormal power, wisdom is the top priority which prevails other
virtues. Wisdom which contributes to
enlightenment, either the meditative or contemplative state, is distinguished
into ‘right view’ and ‘right intent’.
However, in Dhammonomics, they can be simplified into correct
‘knowledge’ and ‘understanding’ from (i) learning (ii) thinking, and (iii)
meditating, whereas their intensity and frequency over time enhance the
perfected virtue.
(5)
Equation of Perseverance
Perseverance drives one towards the
goal in pursuit of perfections. The motivation
can be mental, verbal, and physical to the power of intensity. This positive driving force must be greater
against negative elemental factors (solid, liquid, force, temperature, air,
space, emotion & cognition) of living beings and non-living beings (men, animal,
object, place, event, time), in order to make progress and/or achievement over
time in pursuit of perseverance perfection.
(6)
Equation of Patience
Patience is the intense sense of
control over thought, speech, and action against (i) physical hardship (ii)
pain & illness (iii) dissatisfaction, and (iv) defiled unwell mind, which
occur to one’s own and/or others’ elemental factors (solid, liquid, force,
temperature, air, space, emotion & cognition) of living beings and
non-living being (men, animal, object, place, event, time).
(7)
Equation of Truthfulness
Truthfulness can be accounted in
different aspects including (i) truthfulness (ii) honesty (iii) sincerity, and
(iv) frankness of (a) mind (b) speech, and (c) action, towards (I) morality
(II) responsibility (III) communication, and (IV) others & oneself. The cultivation of and merit from
truthfulness can be mutually perfected with different intensity and frequency
over time.
(8)
Equation of Resolution
Resolution can be interpreted as ‘wishing’,
but it is more meaningful in Buddhism.
Other than making wishes for something or someone, resolution perfection
is the wholesome wish that keeps one’s view and intent righteous. The righteous wish can be in the form of
thought, speech, and action including prayer.
In addition, resolution perfection is increased in manifold when it is
directed towards the supramundane such as Buddhahood, sainthood, enlightenment,
and lessening & eliminating suffering for oneself and others. The more intensity of resolution occurs when
one is exceptionally steadfast upon one’s wishes over time. In addition, the frequency and meditative
state of resolution (deep prayer) can also contribute to the perfected merit
from resolution.
(9)
Equation of Compassion
Compassion or loving-kindness is a
universal virtue found in most religions and beliefs. In Buddhism, compassion can be expressed
through one’s mind, speech, and action.
The intensity, frequency, and timing of compassion lead to perfection
whereas the meditative compassion, either focused or boundless, can empower of
compassionate mind at a considerable degree.
(10)
Equation of Equanimity
As one puts Dharma or virtues into
practice, making one strive towards eliminating bad deeds, doing good deeds,
and purifying one’s mind, if the outcome still doesn’t result in a favourable
way, we have to practise equanimity which is to keep our mind, speech, and
action neutral over the existing delighted and/or displeased sensations including
sight, sound, smell, taste, feeling, and emotion & cognition, with more or
less intensity over time, whereas the meditative state of equanimity keeps
one’s mind firmly neutral against any encountering.
The equations of ten perfections may
seem hassle a bit at first glance, but after we study the descriptive natural
philosophy behind them and ponder over the equations, we will gain better
understanding on their core values in a few minutes. However, the importance is to put factors and
fractions of perfections into practice and see your perfected merits grow
altogether with a better living aiming at a certain goal where bliss is in the
air.
By Pirajak Tisuthiwongse
(pen-name: Pittaya Wong)
Dhammonomist & Vijja Scholar
10 April 2022
The
Equation of Merit & Perfection
According to the
teachings of Lord Gotama Buddha, Buddhists learn that they can earn merit
energy from their meritorious deeds, and the repeated accumulations of merit
energy can be crystallised into perfection of virtues which can be sorted into
as many as 10 qualitative categories.
In Dhammonomics, we can
render definitions and equations to explain this phenomena which naturally
occurs to everyone regardless of belief, race, age, and gender.
Firstly, merit energy
itself is a kind of element or dhatu. The merit energy can be
very strong when it is condensed with more element or dhatu.
And one can quantitatively earn more dhatu in a volume of
merit energy when one strives more in physical, verbal, and mental meritorious
deeds whereas the merit dhatu from thinking alone is usually
‘light,’ with some exceptions.
As the thinking gives
rise to speeches and actions, the mental deeds become stronger and the more
merit dhatu can be earned upon the completion of mental,
verbal, and physical deeds based on the 10 ways to earn merit (punja-kiriya-vaddhu)
namely (1) generosity (2) morality (3) meditation (4) humble behaving (5)
helpful deed (6) sharing merit to others (7) appreciating others’ merit (8)
learning dharma (9) teaching dharma, and (10) correcting one’s view.
Thus, these can be
converted into the equation:
“y” = Merit
Element or Quantitative Merit or dhatu =
(Mental
+ Verbal + Physical) x (the Ten Ways to earn Merit)
Other than the merit
element, there is the merit essence or ‘punja dharma’ which occurs to
one’s mind. This is the quality of merit which can be distinguished into
three major categories as morality (sila), concentration (samadhi),
and wisdom (panna) whereas these qualities can be divided into the
84,000 categories of Dharma or dharma-khanda. However, we can
sort the merit essences according to the 10 virtues namely (1) generosity (2)
morality (3) renunciation (4) wisdom (5) perseverance (6) patience (7)
truthfulness (8) compassion (9) resolution, and (10) equanimity.
These are the quality of
virtues in one’s mind when making merit, and they are the merit essences which
coexist with the merit elements. Hence, these give rise to the
expressions and equations as follows:
Mentalmorality =
Purity
Mentalconcentration =
Mental Calm or Concentration
Mentalwisdom =
Knowledge & Understanding & Competency
As cofactors, they cause
the merit energy to be, more or less, (1) clean, (2) powerful, and (3)
abundant.
“x” = Merit
Essence or Qualitative Merit or Punja Dharma =
(Mentalmorality +
Mentalconcentration + Mentalwisdom )
x (The Ten Perfection of Virtues)
With the above equations
of merit element and essence, we can derive an integral equation of merit
energy where element equals to ‘y’ and essence equals to ‘x’ which occur within
a time frame of (a) before deeds, (b) during deeds, and (c) after deeds. Therefore, the integral equation can be used
to approximately calculate the merit element and essence of merit energy earned
before deeds (m1), during deeds (m2), and after deeds (m3).
Finally, the merit
element and merit essence are conjointly perfected to become the perfection of
virtues or parami based on the active processing of 5 mental
faculties or indriya (orientation of merit cultivation) namely
(1) wisdom (2) faith (3) perseverance (4) mindfulness, and (5) concentration as
shown in the equation below whereas "mindfulness" and
"concentration" coexist altogether with wisdom, faith, and
perseverance, causing the consistency of perfection (mindfulness) and intensity
in crystallisation or condensation (concentration).
As such, we can derive an
equation of ‘perfected merit’ where merit is to the power of “L” and within the
‘root’ of any or more of the mental faculties (i):
(A) Wisdom
= 2 (merit can be fully perfected more quickly and effectively, but less capacity)
(B) Faith
= 3 (merit can be moderately perfected with moderate time, efficiency, and
capacity)
(C) Perseverance
= 4 (perfection of merit required more time, less efficiency, but the most
capacity)
Perfection of Virtues or Perfected Merits or Parami =
[ i √ (Merit)L] x T
In term of the five
mental faculties or indriya which comprise of wisdom, faith,
perseverance, mindfulness, and concentration, all of these are mental faculties
whereas one or more of the wisdom, faith, and perseverance motivate the merit
cultivation, causing more or less of merit element and essence gained.
In addition, mindfulness
is the mental consistency or attention which can be accounted as the ‘processing
time’ to perfecting merit (t) whereas the overall period of lifetimes cultivation
(T) requires more or less ‘eons’ of time to achieve the completion of
cultivation where enlightenment is the end result. As such, the longer period of (T) signifies
the greater volume of perfected merit or perfection in multiplication whereas
‘wisdom’ takes the least period of time in cultivation, and faith takes
moderate time whilst perseverance takes the longest, in order to reach the
requirements to attain enlightenment and noble statuses with different capability
and capacity as follows:
(T) = 100,000 sub-eons
for a regular Arahat Buddhist Saint who achieves full enlightenment
= 1.1 eons for a
right-sided or left-sided chief Arahat Buddhist Saint
= 2.1 eons for a Silent-Buddha
who does not establish a religion
= 20.1 eons for a wisdom
oriented Lord Buddha
= 40.1 eons for a faith
oriented Lord Buddha
= 80.1 eons for a
perseverance oriented Lord Buddha
In parallel,
concentration, the last indriya, is how powerful the mind is
attempted in pursuit of perfections when it is wisdom-oriented (light),
faith-oriented (moderate), and perseverance-oriented (strong).
As such, the 5 faculties
or indriya perfect the merit element & merit essence
sorted into the 10 perfection of virtues to become the 5 powerful strength or bala which
are required for uprooting the lower and higher fetters or samyojana whenever
there is the unification of magga in compliance to the right
resolve, in order to enable the enlightenment or magga & phala,
which is the ultimate goal of Buddhism.
By Pirajak T. S. (formerly Pittaya Wong)
20 November 2020
8 January 2021 (First Revision)
www.meditation101.org
DHAMMONOMICS:
Equations of Ten Perfections
In Buddhism, the ten perfections are ten virtues which one has to cultivate altogether with merit energy accumulation. As the two are mutually perfected, they allow an individual to attain enlightenment and achieve supernormal capabilities, enabling one to leave the cycle of life and enter the state of supreme bliss in the Nirvana.
Although, the ten perfections are descriptively delivered by the Lord Buddha in many discourses, we can see how they are logically factorial, correlated, systematic, and sequential. As such, Dhammonomics takes the aforesaid characteristics to be interpreted into mathematical expressions such as equation and graph which are time-saving to learn, easier to comprehend, and applicable to everyone’s living in pursuit of perfections in a more universal manner regardless of race, gender, age, and belief.
The equations are displayed in the orange charts shown on this webpage, and their explanations are given as follows:
(1) Equation of Generosity
Generosity or ‘giving’ is the very first step of pursuing perfections. It is believed to be the easiest practice. The karmic consequences of generosity perfection are well-being, gain, and wealth, whether one lives a monastic or secular life. The Lord Buddha taught that there are four main factors contributing to the more or less of merit earned from generous deeds including (i) giver (ii) receiver (iii) given object, and (iv) intention of giver. In addition, the intensity and frequency of generous deeds attribute to the perfected merit.
(2) Equation of Morality
Morality is the wholesome behaviours, either as a monk or lay person. In general, it can be expressed in the form of code of conduct or commandments to be observed in order to control one’s speech and action. In Dhammonomics, we regard them as mental, verbal, and physical Dos and Don’ts. Moreover, morality can also be experienced in the meditative state where one’s mind becomes moralful in meditation. The sense of being moral or morally disciplined can be, more or less, strong and long lasting.
(3) Equation of Renunciation
Renunciation in Buddhism is not merely about ordination only, but it is about one’s monastic and/or ascetic livelihood. One doesn’t have to be a monk in order to practice renunciation, but it is more likely that one can perfect renunciation better as a monk. There are ten practices (ten brahma-cariya) which level one’s monastic and ascetic life as follows: (i) sacrifice (ii) helpfulness (iii) precept (iv) meditative compassion (v) celibacy (vi) contentment (vii) effort in monastic practice (viii) monastic discipline (ix) enlightenment and (x) Dharma practice. The intensity of more or less of the aforesaid ten practices over time contributes to the perfected merit of renunciation.
(4) Equation of Wisdom
Wisdom is concerned as one of the most important Buddhist doctrine. When comparing to supernormal power, wisdom is the top priority which prevails other virtues. Wisdom which contributes to enlightenment, either the meditative or contemplative state, is distinguished into ‘right view’ and ‘right intent’. However, in Dhammonomics, they can be simplified into correct ‘knowledge’ and ‘understanding’ from (i) learning (ii) thinking, and (iii) meditating, whereas their intensity and frequency over time enhance the perfected virtue.
(5) Equation of Perseverance
Perseverance drives one towards the goal in pursuit of perfections. The motivation can be mental, verbal, and physical to the power of intensity. This positive driving force must be greater against negative elemental factors (solid, liquid, force, temperature, air, space, emotion & cognition) of living beings and non-living beings (men, animal, object, place, event, time), in order to make progress and/or achievement over time in pursuit of perseverance perfection.
(6) Equation of Patience
Patience is the intense sense of control over thought, speech, and action against (i) physical hardship (ii) pain & illness (iii) dissatisfaction, and (iv) defiled unwell mind, which occur to one’s own and/or others’ elemental factors (solid, liquid, force, temperature, air, space, emotion & cognition) of living beings and non-living being (men, animal, object, place, event, time).
(7) Equation of Truthfulness
Truthfulness can be accounted in different aspects including (i) truthfulness (ii) honesty (iii) sincerity, and (iv) frankness of (a) mind (b) speech, and (c) action, towards (I) morality (II) responsibility (III) communication, and (IV) others & oneself. The cultivation of and merit from truthfulness can be mutually perfected with different intensity and frequency over time.
(8) Equation of Resolution
Resolution can be interpreted as ‘wishing’, but it is more meaningful in Buddhism. Other than making wishes for something or someone, resolution perfection is the wholesome wish that keeps one’s view and intent righteous. The righteous wish can be in the form of thought, speech, and action including prayer. In addition, resolution perfection is increased in manifold when it is directed towards the supramundane such as Buddhahood, sainthood, enlightenment, and lessening & eliminating suffering for oneself and others. The more intensity of resolution occurs when one is exceptionally steadfast upon one’s wishes over time. In addition, the frequency and meditative state of resolution (deep prayer) can also contribute to the perfected merit from resolution.
(9) Equation of Compassion
Compassion or loving-kindness is a universal virtue found in most religions and beliefs. In Buddhism, compassion can be expressed through one’s mind, speech, and action. The intensity, frequency, and timing of compassion lead to perfection whereas the meditative compassion, either focused or boundless, can empower of compassionate mind at a considerable degree.
(10) Equation of Equanimity
As one puts Dharma or virtues into practice, making one strive towards eliminating bad deeds, doing good deeds, and purifying one’s mind, if the outcome still doesn’t result in a favourable way, we have to practise equanimity which is to keep our mind, speech, and action neutral over the existing delighted and/or displeased sensations including sight, sound, smell, taste, feeling, and emotion & cognition, with more or less intensity over time, whereas the meditative state of equanimity keeps one’s mind firmly neutral against any encountering.
The equations of ten perfections may seem hassle a bit at first glance, but after we study the descriptive natural philosophy behind them and ponder over the equations, we will gain better understanding on their core values in a few minutes. However, the importance is to put factors and fractions of perfections into practice and see your perfected merits grow altogether with a better living aiming at a certain goal where bliss is in the air.
By Pirajak Tisuthiwongse
(pen-name: Pittaya Wong)
Dhammonomist & Vijja Scholar
10 April 2022
www.Meditation101.org
