In the Buddha's Words - Bhikkhu Bodhi [221]
“Good, good, Sāriputta! Therefore, Sāriputta, you should repeat this Dhamma exposition frequently to the monks and the nuns, to the male lay followers and the female lay followers. Even though some foolish people may have perplexity or uncertainty regarding the Tathāgata, when they hear this Dhamma exposition their perplexity or uncertainty will be abandoned.”
(SN 47:12; V 159–61)
(4) The Powers and Grounds of Self-Confidence
9. “Sāriputta, the Tathāgata has these ten Tathāgata’s powers, possessing which he claims the place of the chief of the herd, roars his lion’s roar in the assemblies, and sets rolling the wheel of Brahmā.60 What are the ten?
10. (1) “Here, the Tathāgata correctly understands the possible as possible and the impossible as impossible.61 And that is a Tathāgata’s power that the Tathāgata has, by virtue of which he claims the place of the chief of the herd, roars his lion’s roar in the assemblies, and sets rolling the wheel of Brahmā.
11. (2) “Again, the Tathāgata correctly understands the results of actions undertaken, past, future, and present by way of possibilities and causes. That too is a Tathāgata’s power...62
12. (3) “Again, the Tathāgata correctly understands the ways leading everywhere. That too is a Tathāgata’s power...63
13. (4) “Again, the Tathāgata correctly understands the world with its many and different elements. That too is a Tathāgata’s power…
14. (5) “Again, the Tathāgata correctly understands how beings have different inclinations. That too is a Tathāgata’s power...64
15. (6) “Again, the Tathāgata correctly understands the disposition of the faculties of other beings, other persons. That too is a Tathāgata’s power...65
16. (7) “Again, the Tathāgata correctly understands the defilement, the cleansing, and the emergence in regard to the jhānas, liberations, concentrations, and attainments. That too is a Tathāgata’s power...66
17. (8) “Again, the Tathāgata recollects his manifold past lives with their aspects and particulars. That too is a Tathāgata’s power…
18. (9) “Again, with the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, the Tathāgata sees beings passing away and being reborn, inferior and superior, fair and ugly, fortunate and unfortunate, and he understands how beings pass on according to their actions. That too is a Tathāgata’s power…
19. (10) “Again, by realizing it for himself with direct knowledge, the Tathāgata in this present life enters upon and dwells in the liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, that is taintless with the destruction of the taints. That too is a Tathāgata’s power that the Tathāgata has, by virtue of which he claims the place of the leader of the herd, roars his lion’s roar in the assemblies, and sets rolling the wheel of Brahmā.
20. “The Tathāgata has these ten Tathāgata’s powers, possessing which he claims the place of the leader of the herd, roars his lion’s roar in the assemblies, and sets rolling the wheel of Brahmā.…
22. “Sāriputta, the Tathāgata has these four grounds of self-confidence, 67 possessing which he claims the place of the leader of the herd, roars his lion’s roar in the assemblies, and sets rolling the wheel of Brahmā. What are the four?
23. “Here, I see no ground on which any ascetic or brahmin or deva or Māra or Brahmā or anyone else at all in the world could, in accordance with the Dhamma, accuse me thus: ‘While you claim to be perfectly enlightened, you are not perfectly enlightened about these things.’ And seeing no ground for that, I dwell in safety, fearlessness, and self-confidence.
24. “I see no ground on which any ascetic... or anyone at all could accuse me thus: ‘While you claim to be one who has destroyed the taints, you have not destroyed these taints.’ And seeing no ground for that, I dwell in safety, fearlessness, and self-confidence.
25. “I see no ground on which any ascetic... or anyone at all could accuse me thus: ‘Those things