Adhiṭṭhāna


Adhihāna has been translated as "decision," "resolution," "self-determination," "will" and "resolute determination." In the late canonical literature of Theravada Buddhism, adhihāna is one of the ten "perfections", exemplified by the bodhisatta's resolve to become fully awakened.

Pali Canon texts

While adhihāna appears sporadically in the early Pali Canon, various late-canonical and post-canonical accounts of the Buddha's past lives clearly contextualize adhihāna within the Theravadin tenfold perfections.

Digha Nikaya analysis

In the Pali Canon, in the Digha Nikaya discourse entitled, "Chanting Together", Ven. Sariputta states that the Buddha has identified the following:

Bodhisatta Sumedho

In the late-canonical Buddhavamsa, the boddhisatta Sumedha declares :

Temiya the Wise

In the late-canonical Cariyapitaka, there is one account explicitly exemplifying adhiṭṭhāna, that of "Temiya the Wise". In this account, at an early age Temiya, sole heir to a throne, recalls a past life in purgatory and thus asks for release. In response, a compassionate devatā advises Temiya to act unintelligent and foolish and to allow himself to be an object of people's scorn. Understanding the devatā's virtuous intent, Temiya agrees to this and acts as if mute, deaf and crippled. Seeing these behaviors but finding no physiological basis for them, priests, generals and countrymen decry Temiya as "inauspicious" and plan to have Temiya cast out. When Temiya is sixteen years old, he is ceremonially anointed and then buried in a pit. The account concludes: