Vaiśāradya

vaiśāradya (P. vesārajja; T. mi 'jig pa bzhi མི་འཇིག་པ་བཞི་; C. wusuowei 無所畏) is translated as "self-confidence," "fearlessness," etc. It refers to a set of qualities possessed by all buddhas, typically enumerated as a set of four. These are:

1. fearlessness in the knowledge of all things
2. fearlessness in knowing all the cessations of corruption
3. fearlessness according to the definitive prophetic declarations that these things which are intermittently cut off on the path do not change into something else
4. fearlessness that the path through which all excellent attributes are to be obtained, transformed and ascertained, is just what it is

Presentation in the Khenjuk

The Khenjuk presents the four types of fearlessness as follows:

1) Fearlessness in accepting perfect realization as a benefit for oneself means to make the statement: "I know, in actuality, all aspects of knowable things."

2) Fearlessness in accepting perfect abandonment as a benefit for oneself means to make the statement: "I have relinquished, without exception, all that is to be discarded regarding the two obscurations, along with the habitual tendencies." These two are truthful proclamations regarding the benefit for oneself, exactly as it is.

3) Fearlessness in revealing the path of deliverance as a benefit for others means to teach: "Through these paths of realizing no-identity, and so forth, there will definitely be deliverance at the state of liberation."

4) Fearlessness in revealing the hindrances ofthe path as a benefit for others means to teach: "The disturbing emotions of attachment, and so forth, are hindrances for the path." These two are truthful proclamations regarding what is beneficial for others.

No one among the superior beings in the world, including the gods, demons, Brahma or brahmins can object to his four statements in accordance with the Dharma, saying: "It is not so!" Among his followers, he therefore resembles a lion, making these proclamations with a lion's roar that is free from fear or intimidation.

Presentation in the Greater Discourse of the Lion's Roar

The four kinds of fearlessness are presented with the Greater Discourse of the Lion's Roar (Mahāsīhanādasutta) as follows:

Sāriputta, the Tathāgata has these four kinds of intrepidity, possessing which he claims the herd-leader’s place, roars his lion’s roar in the assemblies, and sets rolling the Wheel of Brahmā. What are the four?

Here, I see no ground on which any recluse or brahmin or god 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 fully enlightened, you are not fully enlightened about these things.’ And seeing no ground for that, I abide in safety, fearlessness, and intrepidity.

I see no ground on which any recluse…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 abide in safety, fearlessness, and intrepidity.

I see no ground on which any recluse…or anyone at all could accuse me thus: ‘Those things called obstructions by you are not able to obstruct one who engages in them.’ And seeing no ground for that, I abide in safety, fearlessness, and intrepidity.

I see no ground on which any recluse…or anyone at all could accuse me thus: ‘When you teach the Dhamma to someone, it does not lead him when he practises it to the complete destruction of suffering.’ And seeing no ground for that, I abide in safety, fearlessness, and intrepidity.

A Tathāgata has these four kinds of intrepidity, possessing which he claims the herd-leader’s place, roars his lion’s roar in the assemblies, and sets rolling the Wheel of Brahmā.

External links

• Four fearlessnesses