Question

I'm having problems getting the meaning of some of the expressions used in the Pali chanting for the qualities of the Buddha. Can you please explain these: 1) well gone, 2) knower of the worlds, 3) accomplished, 4) upright conduct, and 5) field of merit.

Answer

In the chants for the Buddha I think they mention 9 different qualities that the Buddha has that we're supposed to reflect on. These are some of the terms used in the English translations and I will briefly explain it as much as I know. One of the terms says that he is "well gone". Well gone is a very awkward English expression. It roughly means he's done a very good journey. He is well gone, he's fulfilled the entire practice for spiritual growth. He's fully enlightened so he's well gone.

"Knower of the worlds". This is to be taken exactly as it says. The Buddha knew all of the worlds. He knew the internal world and the external world, he knew the heaven worlds and the hell worlds. So basically speaking, he was the knower of all the worlds.

"Accomplished". That basically means finished. He's finished the job, he's accomplished. He's achieved the greatest, highest goal possible, so he's accomplished.

The next two are actually not regarding the Buddha, but are regarding the Sangha. Now when you think of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, for the bowing the Sangha is actually for all of those people, men or women, who are partly of fully enlightened. It's not just for any Sangha, it's not just for the monks and nuns everywhere as the second type Sangha, and it's not for all of us who include the third type of Sangha of all the practitioners. But the bowing, strictly speaking, is for the enlightened Sangha. This is a term used in that part of chanting.

It says "Upright conduct". They are of upright conduct. The Noble ones hold themselves well. Upright in general speech means standing upright. Ok, in the sense of holding themselves upright their conduct is upright. Which means there's nothing in their conduct in any way at all that's going to be wrong. They have very good, upright conduct.

Then there's another term regarding the Sangha that they are an "Incomparable field of merit for the world". Incomparable field of merit. This basically means that if we give to them a gift, we've made the highest merit. The giving to enlightened people, making sure enlightened people keep living, making sure that they can continue in their role of being an enlightened person so they can keep teaching by example. By giving to them is the highest field of merit in the world.

Our apologies if there are any errors in the above text. If anything seems to be wrong or confusing in any way, please feel free to contact the teachers for further clarification.