SA 684（六八四） 十力

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "If a bhikṣu generates disgust, detachment, cessation, non-arising, and liberation towards form, he is called an arhat, a samyak-saṃbuddha. The same is said for feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness. If a bhikṣu generates disgust, detachment, non-arising, and liberation towards form, he is called an arhat who is liberated through wisdom. The same is said for feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness. Bhikṣus, what are the various differences between the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, and the arhat who is liberated through wisdom?"

The bhikṣus said to the Buddha, "The World-Honored One is the root of the Dharma, the eye of the Dharma, the reliance of the Dharma. We only wish that you would explain it. Having heard it, the bhikṣus will accept and uphold it."

The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "Listen carefully and consider it well, I will explain it to you. The Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, first, without hearing the Dharma, is able to awaken to it by himself, realize it in the present life, and attain the three bodhi-minds. In the future, he is able to expound the true Dharma and awaken the śrāvakas, namely the four foundations of mindfulness, four right efforts, four bases of supernormal power, five faculties, five powers, seven factors of awakening, and eightfold noble path. This is called the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One. The Dharma that has not been attained can be attained, the holy life that has not been established can be established, he is able to know the path well and teach the path well, and he is the leader of the multitude. Then the śrāvakas accomplish the Dharma and the path according to the Dharma and the path, delighting in following the great teacher's instructions and teachings, and are skilled in the true Dharma. This is called the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the arhat who is liberated through wisdom, the various differences.

Furthermore, the five powers of learning and the ten powers of the Tathāgata. What are the powers of learning? They are the power of faith, the power of diligence, the power of mindfulness, the power of concentration, and the power of wisdom. What are the ten powers of the Tathāgata? They are the Tathāgata's true knowledge of what is possible and what is not possible. This is called the first power of the Tathāgata. If one accomplishes this power, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, attains the supreme knowledge of the Tathāgata, turns the wheel of the Dharma, and roars the lion's roar in the great assembly.

Furthermore, the Tathāgata's true knowledge of past, future, and present karmic dharmas, their causes, and their results. This is called the second power of the Tathāgata. The Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, having accomplished this power, attains the supreme place of the former Buddhas, is able to turn the wheel of the Dharma, and roars the lion's roar in the great assembly.

Furthermore, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One's true knowledge of the defilements, purity, and places of purity in the concentrations, liberations, samādhis, and samāpattis. This is called the third power of the Tathāgata. If one accomplishes this power, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, attains the supreme knowledge of the former Buddhas, is able to turn the wheel of the Dharma, and roars the lion's roar in the great assembly.

Furthermore, the Tathāgata's true knowledge of the various differences in the faculties of sentient beings. This is called the fourth power of the Tathāgata. If one accomplishes this power, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, attains the supreme knowledge of the former Buddhas, is able to turn the wheel of the Dharma, and roars the lion's roar in the great assembly.

Furthermore, the Tathāgata's true knowledge of the various understandings of sentient beings. This is called the fifth power of the Tathāgata. If one accomplishes this power, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, attains the supreme knowledge of the former Buddhas, is able to turn the wheel of the Dharma, and roars the lion's roar in the great assembly.

Furthermore, the Tathāgata's true knowledge of the various realms of sentient beings in the world. This is called the sixth power of the Tathāgata. If one accomplishes this power, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, attains the supreme knowledge of the former Buddhas, is able to turn the wheel of the Dharma, and roars the lion's roar in the great assembly.

Furthermore, the Tathāgata's true knowledge of all paths to be reached. This is called the seventh power of the Tathāgata. If one accomplishes this power, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, attains the supreme knowledge of the former Buddhas, is able to turn the wheel of the Dharma, and roars the lion's roar in the great assembly.

Furthermore, the Tathāgata's true knowledge of past lives, from one birth to a hundred thousand births, from one eon to a hundred thousand eons. I was born in such a family, with such a surname, such a name, such food, such feelings of suffering and happiness, such a long life, such a long stay, such a lifespan. I died in that place and was born in this place, born in that place and died in this place, such actions, such causes, such directions. The past experiences are all truly known. This is called the eighth power of the Tathāgata. If one accomplishes this power, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, attains the supreme knowledge of the former Buddhas, is able to turn the wheel of the Dharma, and roars the lion's roar in the great assembly.

Furthermore, the Tathāgata's true knowledge of the passing away and rebirth of beings, seeing with the pure divine eye that surpasses the human eye, the good and bad, inferior and superior forms, those going to the lower realms and those going to the good realms, according to their karmic conditions. 'These beings have accomplished evil physical, verbal, and mental actions, have slandered the sages, and received the results of wrong views. By these causes and conditions, when their bodies perish and their lives end, they fall into the lower realms and are born in hell.' 'These beings have accomplished good physical, verbal, and mental actions, have not slandered the sages, and have received the results of right views. By those causes and conditions, when their bodies perish and their lives end, they are born in the good realms, in the heavens.' All this is truly known. This is called the ninth power of the Tathāgata. If one accomplishes this power, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, attains the supreme knowledge of the former Buddhas, is able to turn the wheel of the Dharma, and roars the lion's roar in the great assembly.

Furthermore, the Tathāgata's true knowledge of the destruction of the taints, with the mind liberated from taints, liberated by wisdom, and in this very life, he himself knows and realizes: 'My birth is ended, the holy life has been established, what was to be done has been done, there will be no more of this state.' This is called the tenth power of the Tathāgata. If one accomplishes this power, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, attains the supreme knowledge of the former Buddhas, is able to turn the wheel of the Dharma, and roars the lion's roar in the great assembly.

"These ten powers are only accomplished by the Tathāgata. This is called the various distinctions between the Tathāgata and the śrāvakas."

Having spoken this sūtra, the bhikṣus heard what the Buddha had said and joyfully practiced it.