Signs of a Great Man

From: Subject: Signs of a Great Man | 32 & 80 Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:02:14 +0100 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://web.archive.org/web/20060615044122/http://users.pandora.be/dhammakaya/repository/lakkhana1.html X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 =EF=BB=BF Signs of a Great Man | 32 & 80

The Signs = of a Great=20 Man

Introduction
Today's lecture = comes from a=20 sutta in the Diigha Nikaaya, the long-discourses of the = Buddha, and=20 its called the 'Lakkhana Sutta' (D.iii.142ff.). The word = 'lakkha.na'=20 means 'a sign' or a 'mark' -- and in fact its about the = special=20 features of the Buddha's body that distinguish him from=20 unenlightened beings like you or me. Perhaps you can imagine = some of=20 the things you see on a Buddha image which are different = from people=20 in general? In fact there are many distinguishing features = of the=20 Buddha -- and this lecture will deal with what they are and = the=20 benefits of having them -- because they are not just for=20 decoration!

There are many Buddhists who wonder about = how the=20 Buddha could be born and immediately walk seven paces and = talk. It=20 would be rather hard to explain if he were like you or me. = The truth=20 of the situation is that bodily speaking the Buddha was not = like we=20 are today -- his body had many special features. Even from = the time=20 he was conceived, he sat for meditation in the womb (rather = than=20 being curled up like a normal embryo) and was therefore born = feet=20 first. His body was built in such a sturdy way, that he was = like a=20 'knock down' toy which would stand up again no matter how he = fell.=20 In fact it was not only the Buddha who was like this -- his = disciple=20 Sivali was also the same.

There are 32 two main = features=20 [lakkha.na] which distinguish the Buddha and 80 = sub-features=20 [anubya~njana]. You have to look at all of them in = order to=20 understand all the features you see on a Buddha image. Such = features=20 allow us to realize that we are all hideously disfigured by=20 comparison, even the Miss Worlds and Mr. Universes amongst = us. Such=20 features allow the Buddha to pursue perfection much more = easily than=20 us who cannot even sit for meditation for an hour without = beginning=20 to feel aches and pains. In fact the features of the Buddha = are the=20 ideal for the human, but in our present day and age we have = become=20 deformed by comparison and that is why it is less convenient = for us=20 to meditate or do other good works. Let us take a look first = at each=20 of the thirty-two main marks of the Buddha:

Main = 32 Signs=20 [lakkha.na mahaapurisa 32]=20

supati.t.thapaado: feet = with a=20 level sole (the Buddha would have an even pace -- not like = those=20 who wear down their shoes unevenly -- such a sole would = spread the=20 weight of His body evenly)=20
he.t.thapaadatalesuu cakkani=20 jaataani: 1,000 spoked wheel marks on soles (such = marks=20 would make the Buddha's hands and feet infinitely flexible = --=20 unlike our hands and feet which can flex only in one or = two=20 directions because there are only two or three lines on = our=20 palms)=20
aayatapa.nhi: projecting = heels--=20 the heels were not round in shape but more oval (spreads = weight=20 and gives extra leverage for strength to the foot)=20
diigha"ngulii: literally = this means=20 big fingers, but in fact it refers to the fingers & = toes of=20 the Buddha being of even length (makes the hands and feet = very=20 strong by comparison to our own for whom all our fingers = and toes=20 are of different lengths)=20
mudutalahatthapaado: = hands &=20 feet soft skinned (this is not to say that the Buddha was = not=20 strong. Normally we associate hunks of taut muscle with = strength=20 -- but also soft flesh can be full of muscles)=20
jaalahatthapaado: netlike = lines on=20 palms and soles (this is similar to no.2 -- it allows the = feet and=20 hands to be infinitely flexible -- it is not people of = ancient=20 times who had such a feature -- even Kuhn Yay Thongsuk = Samdaengpan=20 had such a feature on her hands which perhaps explains why = she was=20 so resiliant, even at a senior age when travelling to give = teachings around the country)=20
ussa"nkhapaado: high = raised ankles=20 (this feature is similar to the way the legs of a horse = are built=20 -- it gives exceptional strength, leverage and agility to = the=20 leg)=20
e.nimigasadisaja"ngho: = taught calf=20 muscles like antelope (again this explains why the Buddha = could be=20 so strong -- because his legs were strong like those of an = antelope -- rather than being flacid like those of a=20 buffalo)=20
.thitako va anonamanto: = even=20 standing without bending down, the Buddha could touch his = knees=20 (such proportions for a person are in fact the ideal -- = not like=20 Asians who have a long body but short legs or at the other = extreme=20 negros and caucasians who have a long body and long = legs)=20
kosohitavatthguyho: = sexual organs=20 concealed by sheath (the advantage of this is not to risk = bringing=20 offence to anyone even when naked)=20
suva.n.nava.n.n.o: bright = golden-coloured complexion (such golden skin has the = advantage of=20 being sensitive to the touch)=20
sukhumacchavii: skin so = fine no=20 dust can attach (this is unlike the rough skin of a = reptile to=20 which all manner of dirt attaches. In fact the Buddha = managed to=20 achieve what women and sportsmen still try to achieve, but = without=20 all the effort!)=20
ekekalomo: body hair = separate with=20 one hair per pore (not like some people who have whole = tufts of=20 hair coming from each pore).=20
uddhaggalomo: bluish body = hair=20 curls clockwise=20
brahmujugatto: upright = stance like=20 a god (such a stance gives an exceptional sense of balance = and a=20 firm stance)=20
sattussado: flesh = undinted and=20 convex in seven places (these seven places comprise: the = back of=20 the hands [2], the upper side of the feet [2], the = shoulders [2]=20 and the neck [1])=20
siihapubba.d.dhakaayo: = lion-like=20 chest (such a chest allows strong breathing and better = metabolism=20 than a normal person)=20
piitantara.mso: flesh on = back=20 undinted (not like some people whose back looks like=20 fishbones)=20
nigrodhaparima.n.dalo: = equal=20 distance hand-to-hand & head-to-toe (such a proportion = allows=20 one to sit comfortably for meditation, without one's legs = sticking=20 out)=20
samva.d.dakkhandho: neck = rounded=20 and smooth (the shape of the Buddha's neck was perfect = like a tube=20 or organ pipe and is the reason for the melodious voice he = had)=20
rasaggasaggii: sensative = taste-buds=20 (allows one to pick up the nutrients from even the poorest = of=20 foods and is why the Buddha could survive for 49 days on = seven=20 lumps of rice after his enlightenment or during the time = when he=20 had to spend his rainy-season in a place where there was=20 famine)=20
siihahanu: lion-like jaw = (such a=20 jaw is necessary to accommodate the 40 teeth of mark = 23.)=20
cattaa.liisadanto: 40 = teeth (most=20 people have only 32 teeth and normally some are missing = too. Such=20 a set of forty teeth is permanent throughout life -- not = like ours=20 which change from milk teeth > adult teeth > false=20 teeth!)=20
samadanto: evenly-spaced=20 teeth=20
avira.ladanto: gapless = teeth=20
sukkadanto: crystal = canine teeth.=20 Some people ask how when, as we sometimes find in the = scriptures,=20 the Buddha and Ananda are walking along, how Ananda could = know=20 that the Buddha has noticed something and is smiling about = it.=20 Normally, Ananda would walk directly behind the Buddha, = but the=20 reason he could know that the Buddha was smiling is = because even=20 just the parting of his lips, light would eminate from his = canine=20 teeth)=20
pahutajivho: large, long = tongue=20 (large enough to cover his whole face and long enough to = lick ears=20 -- contributes to melodious sound of the Buddha and = accommodates=20 exceptional tastebuds)=20
brahmassaro = hiravikabhaa.nii:=20 god-like voice (this is a particularly melodious sort of = voice --=20 collective fruit of the shape of his neck, teeth and = tongue -- not=20 like a person who is having problems with their = teeth)=20
abhiniilanetto: = bluish-black=20 eyes=20
gopamukho: eyes innocent = like a=20 calf=20
u.n.naa loma bhamukantare jaataa: = white cotton-wool soft wisp of hair in centre of = brow=20 (Indians respect this very highly and if they don't have = one will=20 draw one in as a 'caste mark')=20
u.nahiissiiso: brow & = face,=20 especially the join between the two, are excellently = smooth=20

Even having studied the thirty-two = signs of a=20 great man, we find that they are not enough to explain all = the=20 things we see on the Buddha image. What is missing is the = following=20 eighty sub-characteristics:

80 Sub-characteristics = [anubya=C3=B1jana]=20

beautiful fingers and toes=20
well-proportioned fingers and = toes=20
tube-shaped fingers and toes=20
finger- and toenails have rosy = tint=20
finger- and toenails slightly upturned = at tip=20 (elegant)=20
finger- and toenails smooth & = rounded without=20 ridges (not like ours which have lines and rough = parts)=20
ankles and wrists rounded and undinted = (you don't=20 see the bones)=20
both feet equal (left and right feet = are the=20 same)=20
gait beautiful like a = king-elephant=20
gait stately like king-lion=20
gait beautiful like that of a = swan=20
gait majestic like royal ox=20
right foot leads when walking (not just = a habit,=20 but automatic for him)=20
knees have no (visible) kneecaps (thus = there are=20 know kneecaps to be painful when meditating)=20
comportment of a great man=20
navel without blemish=20
deep-shaped abdomen=20
clockwise marks on abdomen (sometimes = represented=20 as a swastika on the chest of the Buddha)=20
thighs rounded like banana sheaf (like = a Burmese=20 pagoda)=20
both arms shaped like elephant's trunk = (but=20 without the wrinkles)=20
lines on palms have rosy tint=20
skin is thick or thin as it should = be=20
skin unwrinkled=20
body spotless and without lumps=20
body unblemished above and below =
body absolutely free of = impurities=20
strength of 1,000 crore elephants or = 100,000=20 crore men (Perhaps you have heard the story of when as a = boy the=20 Buddha found an elephant carcase which had been left lying = at the=20 side of the path by Devadatta, and which had been cleared = to one=20 side by Ananda? Even as a child he could without trouble = throw it=20 over the wall by its trunk)=20
protruding nose (more like an Aryan = than an=20 Asian)=20
nose well-proportioned=20
upper & lower lips equal in size = and have=20 rosy-tint=20
teeth unblemished and with no = plaque=20
teeth long like polished conch=20
teeth smooth and unridged=20
all five sense-organs are = unblemished=20
all four canine teeth are crystal and=20 rounded=20
face long and beautiful=20
radiant cheeks=20
lines on palms are deep=20
lines on palms are long=20
lines on palms are straight=20
lines on palms are have = rosy-tint=20
body has halo of light extending around = him for=20 two metres=20
cheek cavity is fully rounded and = smooth=20
well-proportioned eyelids=20
five nerves of eyes unblemished (it is = said that=20 his eyesight was exceptionally good -- he could = distinguish a=20 mustard seed in the dark at a distance of 16 = kilometres)=20
tips of bodily hair neither curved nor=20 bent=20
rounded tongue=20
tongue soft and with rosy-tint=20
ears long like lotus petals (long -- = but not so=20 long as depicted in some Buddha images where they flap = down over=20 the shoulders)=20
earholes beautifully rounded=20
sinews and tendons don't stick out=20 anywhere=20
sinews and tendons deeply embedded in=20 flesh=20
topknot is like a crown=20
forehead well-proportioned in length = and=20 breadth=20
forehead rounded and beautiful=20
eyebrows arched like a bow=20
fine hair on eyebrows=20
hair of eyebrows lies flat (not like = the hair in=20 other places which sticks up)=20
large brows=20
brows reach outward corner of = eyes=20
skin fine throughout body=20
whole body abundant with (signs of)=20 fortune=20
body always radiant=20
body always refreshed like a lotus = flower=20
body exquisitely sensative to = touch=20
scent of body like sandalwood=20
all bodily hair consistent (not in = tufts or of=20 different lengths)=20
fine bodily hair=20
breath always fine=20
mouth always beautiful like a = smile=20
scent of mouth like a lotus flower (not = only the=20 Buddha but also many of his disciples -- not like some = people who=20 have to use special products such as Listerine to take the = unpleasant smell away)=20
hair has the colour of a dark = shadow=20
hair is strongly scented=20
hair has the scent of a white = lotus=20
curled hair (his hair would always stay = the right=20 length for a monk without him having to shave it)=20
hair doesn't turn grey=20
fine hair=20
untangled hair=20
hair with long curls=20
topknot is as if crowned with flower = garland (You=20 have to distinguish with a Buddha image what you are = looking at --=20 whether it is the physical body of the Buddha which has a = topknot=20 like a garland or whether it is the Body of Enlightenment=20 [dhammakaaya] of the Buddha which also has lotus = bud on the=20 topknot.)

Sometimes in Dhammakaya Temple, newcomers = are=20 curious why the Buddha images are not the same as in other = places.=20 In fact, they don't need to be curious, because in = Dhammakaya=20 Temple, the Buddha images conform very strictly to what is = found in=20 the Lakkha.na Sutta, rather than just following the = sculptor's=20 imagination or the traditional interpretation of = proportions. Even=20 in Thailand, the proportions change in popularity from one = era to=20 another -- in Japan, the Buddha images look like a Japanese; = in=20 China the Buddha images look Chinese; in Tibet, they look = like a=20 Tibetan. Sometime the Buddhas have flames or spikes coming = out of=20 their heads which are hardly scripturally = supported.

All=20 these details are quite interesting for us to know -- how = the Buddha=20 is different. We can compare ourselves with the Buddha and = it will=20 help to prevent us from becoming enamoured with our own = bodies which=20 we can see are clearly deformed by comparison with the = Buddha image.=20 We are 'nothing' if compared to all the signs of = auspiciousness=20 which the Buddha had on his body. It is also useful for us = to know=20 about the extra convenience these special features of the = body=20 bring, in facilitating our pursuit of perfection. It can be=20 encouragement when we find we are in pain when we have to = sit for=20 meditation for a long time -- if we cannot manage as much as = we like=20 to, we can know it is a limitation coming from lack of good = deeds in=20 comparison to those of the Buddha (and be quick to make up = for=20 them!)

However, perhaps what is more interesting than = all of=20 these is 'how' the Buddha earned these thirty-two marks. = This=20 subject is the topic of a subsequent lecture which = deals with=20 the special good deeds cultivated by the Buddha to achieve = each of=20 these thirty-two signs.=20

=C2=A9 1997-2002 = Dhammakaya=20 International Society of Belgium v.z.w. All Rights = Reserved.=20
Last = Update:=20 5/7/2002


	=C2=A9 1997-2002 = Dhammakaya=20 International Society of Belgium v.z.w. All Rights = Reserved.=20 Last = Update:=20 5/7/2002