The Perfection of Morality - Ascetic Akitti’s sila II

We should know the aim of our practice, such as the observing of síla, morality.

People who want to give up attachment to visible object, sound, odour, flavour

and tangible object should know why they are doing this. We read:

“When Sakka saw this,

he wondered why the ascetic Akitti observed such practice.

He thought that the ascetic Akitti practised in this way

because he desired to become Sakka, King of the Devas.

Sakka, in the guise of a brahmin, came to see the ascetic Akitti,

thinking, ‘If the ascetic Akitti wishes to become Sakka,

he will give me his sodden Kara leaves,

but if he has not such a wish, he will not give them away.’ ”

Sakka thought that if Akitti would aspire to become Sakka he would fulfil the

perfection of generosity, dana, and give away his food. We read:

“When the ascetic Akitti noticed that the brahmin was in need of food,

he took the sodden Kara leaves and gave them all to the brahmin.

He did the same the second day and the third day.”

Here we see that the kusala he performed at those times were actually the

perfections of generosity, dana, of morality, síla, of renunciation, nekkhamma,

of patience, khanti, of energy, viriya, of determination or steadfastness,

adithana, and of truthfulness, sacca, that is, sincerity in the performing of kusala.

He fulfilled the perfections in order to attain Buddhahood. All perfections are

interrelated and they support one another.