Three types of Future Buddhas
Of these three kinds of Noble Persons (1) Samma- Sambodhisatta or Future Perfect Buddhas are grouped into three types: (a) Pannadhika Future Buddhas, (b) Saddhadhika Future Buddhas, and (d) Viriyadhika Future Buddhas.
Buddhahood is attainment of Omniscience (Sabbannutta nana ). To attain this Supreme Wisdom the seeker must have a mental make-up in which Wisdom is predominant. The factor of predominant Wisdom means careful consideration and forethought in doing everything physically, verbally or mentally. By so doing, one's wisdom becomes strengthened and mature existence after existence so that in due course one painlessly attains Omniscience which is far superior to all kinds of wisdom. Just as money is gained in the world by means of monetary investment, even so Omniscience is gained by means of intellectual investment.
(a) Future Buddhas called Pannadhika with the factor of predominant Wisdom always present in their endeavours become Buddhas after fulfilling their Perfections (Parami) for four asankhyeyya11and a hundred thousand aeons12.
9. "Future Perfect Buddhas" means "Future Perfectly Self-Enlightened Ones."
10. "Future Buddhas" from now on means "Future Perfect Buddhas" or "Future Perfectly Self-Enlightened Ones" unless otherwise stated.
11. Perfection: parami, also called paramita, 'Completeness' and 'highest state' are also given as meanings of the Pali word in PED. The Perfect ions arc ten in number which are "the perfect exercise of the ten principal virtues of a Bodhisatta." PED. For details see the Anudipani.
12. Asankhyeyya (asankheyya) literally means 'innumerable.' Some take it to be the figure one followed by 140 zeros, i.e. 10 x 14. Kacc. 395; Abhidh. 474-6. Warren translates the word as 'immensity.' Buddhism in Translation , p. 5.
(b) Other Future Buddhas also believe that they can become Buddhas by fulfilling Perfections, and in their mental make-up such belief is predominant. With them Faith plays a greater role than Wisdom. They are therefore called Saddhadhika Future Buddhas, "Future Buddhas with predominant Faith." Since they are not led by Wisdom but by Faith in their fulfilment of Perfections they cannot become Buddhas after four asankhyeyya and a hundred thousand aeons, but only after eight asankhyeyyaand a hundred thousand aeons.13
(c) There are still other Future Buddhas who rely solely upon their Energy (Industriousness). For them Wisdom is not a principal factor. Neither do they place emphasis on the Faith that Perfections lead to Enlightenment. Holding that Energy brings about Buddhahood, they give top priority to Energy in their fulfilment of Perfections and become Buddhas only after sixteen asankhyeyya and a hundred thousand aeons. They are therefore called Viriyidhika Future Buddhas, "Future Buddhas with Predominant Energy."
Thus it should be noted that three designations — Pannadhika, Saddhadhika and Viriyadhika are applied only to Future Buddhas. Otherwise one would think that they belonged to Fully Enlightened Buddhas. These distinctions exist only while they remain as Future Buddhas, but once they attain Buddhahood, they are all identical in respect of Wisdom, Faith and Energy. One cannot say which Buddha is more accomplished than the other in each of these aspects.
13. Aeon: kappa. which may also be translated 'world cycle.' A kappa has an age of enormous length. For details see the Anudipani.
Pannadhikanam hi saddha manda hoti panna tikkha;
Saddhadhikanam panna majjhima hoti saddha balava;
Viriyadhikanam saddha-panna manda viriyam balavam.14
In Pannadhika Future Buddhas, Wisdom is strong but Faith is weak;
In Saddhadhika Future Buddhas, Wisdom is medial but Faith is strong;
In Viriyidhika Future Buddhas, Faith and Wisdom are weak, but Energy is strong.
