The 80 Minor
Physical Markings of Buddha
Three related to his fingernails--
The Buddha's fingernails are red like copper - because the Buddha
is without thoughts or actions of greed.
His nails are sleek and shiny - because the Buddha is always
mindful and motivated to serve and save every sentient being.
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
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.
His fingers are sleek, not dry - because The Buddha never makes a
mistake.
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--
Sakyamuni Buddhaís ankles are smooth and full, with no bony
protrusions -because the Buddha possesses Brajana Paramita, wisdom
of Buddha.
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.
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--
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.
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.
His walk has the smooth and gentle qualities of a swan King -
because the Buddha can fly on the sky.
His walk resembles that of a bull King - because he leads every
sentient being to Buddhahood without judgment.
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.)
The Buddha walks in a serious manner ñ because, as every sentient
beingís teacher, he sets an example of correct behavior.
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--
His veins are not visible through his skin - because he is without
ignorance.
His veins never form knots - because the Buddha attained
liberation.
Six related to the Buddhaís hair--
His hair is very soft - because he knows and understands every
dharma detail completely.
His hair smells fragrant like a flower - because he presents many
flowers as offerings to the three jewels.
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.
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.
His hair is neat and tidy - because he never commits acts motivated
by the five
His hair is sleek - because he never speaks negatively and never
uses vulgarity.
Three regarding his head--
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.
His forehead is very clear with a clean, straight hairline -
because the full power of his faith has been achieved.
His forehead is broad - because the full power of his actions has
been achieved.
Five markings related to his eyes--
The Buddha's eyes are large - because his merit is very
great.
The Buddha's eyes are clean and clear, without mucus - because his
teachings included the eight correct characteristics of
dharma:
Correct Views
Correct Thoughts
Correct Speech
Correct Deeds
Correct Livelihood
Correct Zeal
Correct Remembrance
Correct Meditation
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.)
His eyelashes are long like those of a royal bull - because the
Buddha never expressed anger through his eyes.
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--
His eyebrows are soft - because the Buddha expresses kindness and
affection to sentient beings through his face.
His eyebrows are sleek - because the Buddha gives dharma teachings
of virtue.
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.
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--
His left and right ears are perfect mirror images of each other -
because he listens to every sentient being with equanimity.
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--
The Buddha's nose is straight and perfect - because he possesses
the highest wisdom.
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--
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.
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--
His tongue is very soft - because the Buddha only used gentle
speech to teach dharma to sentient beings.
The color of his tongue is a perfect pink - because the experience
of the Buddha's kindness is perfect.
His tongue is thin - because his merit is a result of very rational
actions.
Five markings regarding the Buddhaís teeth--
His molars are perfect white - because the Buddha always exhibits a
kind and pleasant countenance.
His molars are even and equal - because the Buddha is always
meditating on equanimity dyana.
His molars are very strong - because the Buddha has the power to
teach and change even rude, fierce and unreasoning sentient
beings.
The edges of the Buddha's molars teeth are sharp - because he gives
teachings that are true.
His molars are round - because the Buddha is liberated from
Samsara.
Two markings regarding the Buddhaís speech--
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.
His voice is deep and carries far distances like thunder - because
he is never afraid.
Two markings regarding the Buddhaís hands--
The Buddha's hands are wide and long - because he stopped every
struggle between sentient beings.
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--
The Buddha's palm creases are straight and sleek - because he is a
Mahasraman (he received the fruit from his monastic siddhi).
His palm creases are very deep - because the Buddha gives high
level teachings which contain deep meanings.
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--
He has a very strong, vajra body - because the Buddha will never
return to Samsara.
He has not a single mole on his body - because the Buddha always
lived and acted according to the monastic vows.
His arms and legs are limber - because the Buddha has accumulated
every kind of merit.
His body is perfect and full, never shriveled - because he is
always brave for sentient beings, never demonstrating fear.
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.
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.
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.
His body is perfectly clean - because his mind is clean and
contains only pure thoughts.
The Buddha's body is soft and warm like that of a baby - because of
his great kindness and great compassion.
The Buddha's body is full - because the roots of his positive
actions grow.
His body is very dignified - because he extolled every kind of
merit.
His teeth are completely free of decay - because he never committed
any negative actions through his speech.
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.
His body is tall - because he built and enabled others to build
many temples, stupas and statues.
Two markings regarding the Buddhaís navel--
His navel is deep and round - because he knows and understands the
true nature of dharma.
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--
Sakyamuni Buddha's belly is round - because his students all act
according to precepts, vows and samayas.
His torso is perfect, not bloated and not shrunken - because he
never suffered from the poison of pride.
His torso and legs are perfect and long - because he never
demonstrated bad habits.
His pelvis is smooth, with no protrusions - because he never acted
in an obscene manner.
Three markings regarding his bearing or
demeanor--
His body, speech and mind are very clear - because he is pure of
body, speech and mind.
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.
The Buddha manifests good fortune (auspicious) markings on his
hands and on his feet - because his practice of dharma is
flawless.
