32 Marks of a Buddha Explained! Part 1 - The Body | Ajahn Kovilo

Adolf Goebbels
Published on Mar 19, 2023
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo speaks on the 32 "Marks of a Great Person" (specifically those from the neck down) as discussed in the Lakkhaá¹‡a Sutta (DN 30) and will suggest ways to make sense and use of it: https://suttacentral.net/dn30/en/sujato?layout=sidebyside&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin

32 Marks:
06:49 - (1) He has feet with level tread. CAUSE: undertaking mighty, good deeds; generosity; self-discipline; keeping uposatha; honoring parents and the worthy. CO-RESULT: Canâ€™t be impeded spiritually or politically.
13:40 - (2) On the soles of his feet, wheels appear thousand-spoked, with tyre and hub, in every way complete and well divided. CAUSE: lived for the happiness of many; providing protection; giving requisites. CO-RESULT: has a great retinue.
15:33 - (3) He has projecting heels; (4) He is long in the fingers and toes; (15) He has a frame divinely straight. CAUSE: not killing; dwelling with metta and compassion. CO-RESULT: longevity.
18:47 - (16) He has the seven convex surfaces. CAUSE: giving food and drink. CO-RESULT: receiving food and drink.
20:14 - (5) Soft and tender in hands and feet; (6) With net-like hands and feet. CAUSE: Practicing saá¹…gaha-vatthu (giving; kind words; help; evenness). CO-RESULT: friends are kind to him.
22:10 - (7) His ankles are like rounded shells; (14) his body hair is dark black and turns upward and right, in little curling rings. CAUSE: speaking Dhamma. CO-RESULT: becoming a leader.
24:43 - (8) His legs are like an antelopeâ€™s. CAUSE: practice of crafts and skills. CO-RESULT: acquiring what is necessary.
26:17 - (12) His skin is so delicately smooth that no dust cleaves to his body. CAUSE: asking practical moral questions of the wise. CO-RESULT: wisdom.
27:09 - (11) His complexion is bright, the color of gold. CAUSE: non-anger; forbearance from aggressiveness; giving away fine cloth. CO-RESULT: receiving fine cloth.
28:38 - (10) His male organs are concealed in a sheath. CAUSE: reconciling/reuniting family/friends. CO-RESULT: having many brave sons.
29:05 - (9) Standing and without bending he can touch and rub his knees with either hand; (19) His proportions have the symmetry of the banyan-tree: the length of his body is equal to the compass of his arms, and the compass of his arms is equal to his height. CAUSE: knowing distinctions among people. CO-RESULT: wealth - spiritual or political.
31:35 - (17) The front half of his body is like a lionâ€™s; (18) There is no furrow between his shoulders; (20) His bust is equally rounded. CAUSE: reflecting on the wellbeing and flourishing of others. CO-RESULT: success - spiritual or political.

Tune in Next Time for the Remaining Marks!
- (21) His taste is supremely acute. CAUSE: non-harming. CO-RESULT: health and good-digestion.
- (29) His eyes are intensely blue; (30) He has eyelashes like a cowâ€™s. CAUSE: looking at people â€œnot askance, obliquely, or furtively, but directly, openly, and straightforwardly, and with a kindly glance. CO-RESULT: love and affection from others.
- (32) His head is like a royal turban. CAUSE: being the best in mighty, good deeds; generosity; self-discipline; keeping uposatha; honoring parents and the worthy. CO-RESULT: receiving loyalty.
- (13) The down on it grows in single hairs one to each pore; (31) Between the eyebrows appears a soft, white, downy tuft. CAUSE: not lying. CO-RESULT: being listened to.
- (23) He has forty teeth; (25) Continuous teeth. CAUSE: not slandering; delighting in harmony and reconciliation. CO-RESULT: lack of internal divisiveness among followers.
- (27) His tongue is long; (28) He has a divine voice like the karavika birdâ€™s. CAUSE: non-harsh speech; speaking pleasingly. CO-RESULT: persuasiveness.
- (22) His jaws are as a lionâ€™s. CAUSE: non-idle-chatter; judicious speech. CO-RESULT: canâ€™t be overcome by opponents.
- (24) Regular teeth; (26) The canine teeth are very bright. CAUSE: right livelihood. CO-RESULT: purity of retinue.

List of "80 minor marks": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_characteristics_of_the_Buddha#The_80_secondary_characteristics

32 Marks in the Mahayana:
https://studybuddhism.com/en/advanced-studies/lam-rim/refuge/the-32-major-marks-of-a-buddha-s-physical-body

Tune in with fellow practitioners every Wednesday evening from 6 - 6:45 pm or Saturday morning from 9:30 am - 11 am for a Dhamma Talk and Q&A with Ajahn Kovilo or Ajahn Nisabho. Saturday mornings begin with a thirty-minute meditation. Wednesday evening Q&A's are followed by a discussion on Zoom from 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm. See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!