9 Qualities of the Buddha

Since we were young children, we were taught to recite a Homage to the Buddha as a stanza. Little did we know that we were chanting a beautifully concise description of the qualities of the Buddha. The Buddha has innumerable virtues, however, for our ease, he has summarised them into 9 main qualities in this stanza.

This stanza is a form of protection; a good way to dispel fear, uncertainty, or uneasiness in different situations. Therefore, having a good understanding of its meaning, and the qualities of the Buddha, is necessary. So, let’s go through them individually.

1. Arahaṃ (the Holy One)

Araham, also known as ‘arahant’, is a person who is rid of all impurities and defilements of the mind. Examples of these include anger, jealousy, sadness, desire, lust, gossip, greed, and hatred. Being free of these defilements allows him to have a clear and peaceful mind. He is also worthy of receiving puja from all humans and devas.

2. Sammāsambuddho (fully enlightened)

Sammāsambuddho refers to someone who has discovered, understood, and comprehended the 4 Noble Truths on their own without the help of a teacher or any other being. These 4 Noble Truths are suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path to the cessation of suffering (the Noble Eightfold Path).

3. Vijjācaraṇa sampanno (endowed with clear vision and virtuous conduct)

Vijjā means ‘knowledge or vision’ and carana means conduct, or more simply put – theory and practice. The Buddha was endowed with both; he says as he does, and he does as he says. With this quality, the Buddha holds many types of knowledge and uses this knowledge in the way that he acts. 

4. Sugato (sublime)

Sugato refers to the Buddha’s quality of being a sublime leader and speaker. Buddha was able to best walk the path to the cessation of suffering, achieve the supreme bliss of Nirvana, and show others the way down this path as well. This was best shown through his virtue as a sublime speaker. 

5. Lokavidū (the knower of worlds)

Loka meaning ‘worlds’, specifically the three worlds; kama loka, rupa loka and arupa loka. The Buddha had the ability to see and understand all these worlds, as well as how they all work together and teach us about them all.

Kama loka – Human world, six Deva worlds, and four Apaya worlds

Rupa loka – sixteen Brahma worlds where people with higher meditation powers are born

Arupa loka – four Brahma worlds where a mind only exists, very high meditation powers will take one there

6. Anuttaro  purisadammasārathi (the incomparable leader of men to be tamed)

Anuttaro meaning ‘incomparable or unsurpassed’ and purisadammasārathi meaning ‘tamer of men’ together highlight the quality of the Buddha where he is able to rationalise and teach even the most un-tameable of men. One of the most well-known examples of this is the tale of Angulimala, the man intent on making a necklace of 1000 fingers. In this case, the Buddha was able to speak to him compassionately and show him the way back from where he was.

7. Satthā devamanussānaṃ (the teacher of gods and men)

Satthā means ‘teacher’, deva means ‘gods’ and manussānam means ‘men’ together form the Buddha quality of being a teacher to gods as well as men. The Buddha was able to preach the Dhamma to both, in ways that each would understand.

8. Buddho (enlightened)

Buddho, similar to sammāsambuddho, brings back the idea that the Buddha was enlightened with the wisdom of the 4 Noble Truths on his own. He carries deep knowledge regarding the subject and has the wisdom to pass it onto others and show them the way. The Buddha had the ability to see and understand how to preach in a particular way that would ultimately benefit the listener. He was a master at teaching anyone in a way that they would best understand.

9. Bhagavā (blessed)

Bhagavā, the Blessed One is the Buddha who has all of these special powers and more. He is the most fortunate and liberated being, rid of all evil and free of all defilements; he is blessed to have humans and Devas offering him pooja even up to this day; he is Blessed to have all these qualities and more that make him the Buddha.