May 2001 Sangha News



The 80 Minor Physical Markings of Buddha

Three related to his fingernails--

  1. The Buddha's fingernails are red like copper - because the Buddha is without thoughts or actions of greed.
  2. His nails are sleek and shiny - because the Buddha is always mindful and motivated to serve and save every   sentient being.
  3. His nail beds are raised in the center - because the Buddha's family (Sakya) is of a very high class.

Three related to his fingers—

  1. His fingers are round, mellow and full - because all of his actions carry merit.  Even if an action contained but a small amount of merit, he would find the action worthwhile.  
  2. His fingers are sleek, not dry - because The Buddha never makes a mistake.
  3. His fingers are smoothly tapered from the base to the fingertip ñ because the Buddha provides step by step teachings that allow all sentient beings to reach Buddhahood.

Three related to his feet--  

  1. Sakyamuni Buddhaís ankles are smooth and full, with no bony protrusions -because the Buddha possesses Brajana Paramita, wisdom of Buddha.  
  2. His left and right feet are perfect mirror images of each other ñ because Sakyamuni Buddha saved every sentient beingís life from troubled circumstances and dangerous places.  
  3. When the Buddha walks his steps are smooth and steady - because he treats all sentient beings equally.

Seven related to the qualities of his walk-- 

  1. His walk has the respect-inspiring qualities of a lion King - because every action he performs in the human realm is in accordance with precepts, vows and samayas.  

  2. His walk has the qualities of an elephant King - because every action he takes towards the Naga family is in accordance with precepts, vows and samayas.  

  3. His walk has the smooth and gentle qualities of a swan King - because the Buddha can fly on the sky.  

  4. His walk resembles that of a bull King - because he leads every sentient being to Buddhahood without judgment.  

  5. He only looks over his right shoulder, never his left - because his every action is that of a gentleman. (In India of the time it was considered incorrect to look over oneís left shoulder.)  

  6. The Buddha walks in a serious manner ñ because, as every sentient beingís teacher, he sets an example of correct behavior.  

  7. As he walks his steps and body follow a straight path without wavering - because the Buddha never participated in scheming, plotting or deceit.

Two relating to his veins--  

  1. His veins are not visible through his skin - because he is without ignorance.  

  2. His veins never form knots - because the Buddha attained liberation.

Six related to the Buddhaís hair--  

  1. His hair is very soft - because he knows and understands every dharma detail completely.  

  2. His hair smells fragrant like a flower - because he presents many flowers as offerings to the three jewels.  

  3. He has many thick hairs on his head - because the Buddha has ended the three types of desire (desire for food, desire for sleep,  desire for love) and he has cut the root of doubt.  

  4. His hair color is deep blue like a jewel - because the Buddha has the power to interdict the greedy actions of sentient beings, and teach them not to be greedy.  

  5. His hair is neat and tidy - because he never commits acts motivated by the five  

  6. His hair is sleek - because he never speaks negatively and never uses vulgarity.

Three regarding his head--  

  1. The shape of the Buddha's head is round and full like the fruit of Madona (Sanskrit term) - because the full power/merit of his vows has been achieved.  

  2. His forehead is very clear with a clean, straight hairline - because the full power of his faith has been achieved.  

  3. His forehead is broad - because the full power of his actions has been achieved.

Five markings related to his eyes--  

  1. The Buddha's eyes are large - because his merit is very great.  

  2. The Buddha's eyes are clean and clear, without mucus - because his teachings included the eight correct characteristics of dharma:  

  1. Correct Views  

  2. Correct Thoughts  

  3. Correct Speech  

  4. Correct Deeds  

  5. Correct Livelihood  

  6. Correct Zeal  

  7. Correct Remembrance  

  8. Correct Meditation

  1. His eyes are beautiful like a lotus petal - because the Buddha was always kind to, and saved the lives of, many little girls. (In India of the past little girls were treated badly and sacrificed during some religious ceremonies.)  

  2. His eyelashes are long like those of a royal bull - because the Buddha never expressed anger through his eyes.

  3. His eyesight is keen, he never has illness related to the eyes, and he can see clearly in the dark - because he gives dharma teachings with very clear meanings.

Four related to his eyebrows--  

  1. His eyebrows are soft - because the Buddha expresses kindness and affection to sentient beings through his face.  

  2. His eyebrows are sleek - because the Buddha gives dharma teachings of virtue.  

  3. His left and right eyebrows are the perfect mirror image of each other, tidy and equal - because whenever sentient beings might perform mistaken actions in his presence, he would prevent the action, and give teachings in order to prevent future mistakes.  

  4. His eyebrows are long and slender like the new moon ñ because the Buddha always considers the potential karmic effects of his actions before and as he is acting.  He makes no thoughtless actions.  

Two markings related to his ears--  

  1. His left and right ears are perfect mirror images of each other - because he listens to every sentient being with equanimity.  

  2. His hearing is excellent - because the Buddha never acts duplicitously, and he always teaches all sentient beings to diligently pursue Buddhahood.

Two markings related to his nose--  

  1. The Buddha's nose is straight and perfect - because he possesses the highest wisdom.  

  2. Inside the Buddha's nose it is always clean, without mucus - because the Buddha never contributes to any sentient beingís greed, anger, ignorance, pride/doubt or jealousy.  

Two markings related to his mouth--  

  1. The shape of his chin is perfect, not too long or too short - because he gives teachings to all sentient beings, and never tires of giving teachings.  

  2. His lips are red like an apple - because he understands that all solid and worldly things are not real and teaches this concept to sentient beings.  

Three regarding the Buddhaís tongue--  

  1. His tongue is very soft - because the Buddha only used gentle speech to teach dharma to sentient beings.  

  2. The color of his tongue is a perfect pink - because the experience of the Buddha's kindness is perfect.  

  3. His tongue is thin - because his merit is a result of very rational actions.  

Five markings regarding the Buddhaís teeth--  

  1. His molars are perfect white - because the Buddha always exhibits a kind and pleasant countenance.  

  2. His molars are even and equal - because the Buddha is always meditating on equanimity dyana.  

  3. His molars are very strong - because the Buddha has the power to teach and change even rude, fierce and unreasoning sentient beings.  

  4. The edges of the Buddha's molars teeth are sharp - because he gives teachings that are true.  

  5. His molars are round - because the Buddha is liberated from Samsara.  

Two markings regarding the Buddhaís speech--

  1. The Buddha's speech is very pleasant to listen to - because he delivers teachings in a manner that causes all sentient beings to admire his kindly countenance and enjoy hearing those teachings.

  2. His voice is deep and carries far distances like thunder - because he is never afraid.  

Two markings regarding the Buddhaís hands--

  1. The Buddha's hands are wide and long - because he stopped every struggle between sentient beings.

  2. His hands are very supple and warm - because the Buddha teaches dharma to allow sentient beings allowing them to experience good health.  

Three markings regarding the Buddhaís palm creases--

  1. The Buddha's palm creases are straight and sleek - because he is a Mahasraman (he received the fruit from his monastic siddhi).

  2. His palm creases are very deep - because the Buddha gives high level teachings which contain deep meanings.

  3. His palm creases are long and never broken - because, when receiving teachings in his past lives, the Buddha always extolled his teachers.  

Ten markings regarding the Buddhaís entire body--

  1. He has a very strong, vajra body - because the Buddha will never return to Samsara.

  2. He has not a single mole on his body - because the Buddha always lived and acted according to the monastic vows.

  3. His arms and legs are limber - because the Buddha has accumulated every kind of merit.

  4. His body is perfect and full, never shriveled - because he is always brave for sentient beings, never demonstrating fear.

  5. The Buddha's body demonstrates perfect proportion - because he possessed the ability to determine and then give the most appropriate teachings to each individual student.

  6. The Buddha's body is always as clean as if he had recently bathed - because he never performed negative actions that would result in negative karma.

  7. The Buddha's body is perfectly pure and shining in appearance - because all of the Buddha's actions of body and speech are pure and perfect.

  8. His body is perfectly clean - because his mind is clean and contains only pure thoughts.

  9. The Buddha's body is soft and warm like that of a baby - because of his great kindness and great compassion.

  10. The Buddha's body is full - because the roots of his positive actions grow.

  11. His body is very dignified - because he extolled every kind of merit.

  12. His teeth are completely free of decay - because he never committed any negative actions through his speech.

  13. The Buddha's body is perfect, with no evidence of deformity or unpleasantness - because he always demonstrated compassion to beings who were physically injured, disabled or malformed.

  14. His body is tall - because he built and enabled others to build many temples, stupas and statues.  

Two markings regarding the Buddhaís navel--

  1. His navel is deep and round - because he knows and understands the true nature of dharma.

  2. The twist in his navel turns in a clockwise direction - because he gave teachings to allow all sentient beings to come together peacefully.  

Four markings that relate to his lower body--

  1. Sakyamuni Buddha's belly is round - because his students all act according to precepts, vows and samayas.

  2. His torso is perfect, not bloated and not shrunken - because he never suffered from the poison of pride.

  3. His torso and legs are perfect and long - because he never demonstrated bad habits.

  4. His pelvis is smooth, with no protrusions - because he never acted in an obscene manner.  

Three markings regarding his bearing or demeanor--

  1. His body, speech and mind are very clear - because he is pure of body, speech and mind.

  2. Sakyamuni Buddha's body is the model of perfection, beauty to behold ñ because his students are very peaceful together, and this is reflected in his body.

  3. The Buddha manifests good fortune (auspicious) markings on his hands and on his feet - because his practice of dharma is flawless.

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