Every Buddha's highest Nirmanakaya, like Buddha Shakyamuni, does 12 deeds (Skt. Dvadaśabuddhakārya; Tib. མཛད་ པ་ བཅུ་གཉིས་, dzepa chunyi, Wyl. mdzad pa bcu gnyisThese are:
- 1. the descent from Tushita, the Joyous pure land (dga' ldan gyi gnas nas 'pho ba),
- entering the mother’s womb (lhums su zhugs pa), (lhums su zhugs pa)
- taking birth (sku bltams pa), (sku bltams pa)
- becoming skilled in various arts (bzo yi gnas la mkhas pa), (bzo yi gnas la mkhas pa)
- delighting in the company of royal consorts (btsun mo'i 'khor dgyes rol ba), (btsun mo’i ‘khor dgyes rol ba)
- developing renunciation and becoming ordained (rab tu byung ba), (rab tu byung ba)
- practicing austerities for six years (dka' ba spyad pa), (dka’ ba spyad pa)
- proceeding to the foot of the bodhi tree (byang chub snying por gshegs pa), (byang chub snying por gshegs pa)
- overcoming Mara’s hosts (bdud btul ba), (bdud btul ba)
- becoming fully enlightened (mngon par rdzogs par sangs rgyas pa), (mngon par rdzogs par sangs rgyas pa)
- turning the wheel of Dharma (chos kyi 'khor lo bskor ba), and (chos kyi ‘khor lo bskor ba), og
- passing into mahaparinirvana [2] (mya ngan las 'das pa) (mya ngan las ‘das pa).
These 12 Deeds are pictured in the following 9 thangkas: