The "sacca-kiriyā" will usually contain a phrase "By this truth may..." () or "By this power may..." (), followed by the command or wish. It is generally made with a specific end in mind, such as to control a spirit, a physical object, or cause something to be done. Other examples given in the traditional literature are restoring eyesight after blindness, causing other living beings to help, causing pregnancy, and causing a sea to retreat. Virtues referred to are to have never hurt a living being, having performed generosity, kindness, religious devotion and other virtues. The truthfulness in these virtues is considered the "ground" ("") for the realization of the "sacca-kiriyā", but the ground need not be causally related to it. Sometimes, the "sacca-kiriyā" is finished with certain symbolic rituals, such as the pouring of water, bathing and putting on new garments, and so forth. The "sacca-kiriyā" is always a formal act. Indologist George Thompson uses the term "performative utterance" as coined by philosopher J. L. Austin, because the "sacca-kiriyā" manages to realize the statement "in the very uttering". The Indic "sacca-kiriyā" is in its essence very similar to oaths that can be found in ancient Indo-European literature. It differs, however, in that the speaker does not necessarily commit to a course of action, but rather expresses a performative utterance, which is immediate and miraculous in nature. There are many examples in literature and in Asian history of people making a "sacca-kiriyā". The most well-known is that of the Buddha himself. On the evening of his enlightenment, as the Buddha is about to attain enlightenment, he is challenged by Māra, the Buddhist personification of evil. Māra tries to stop the Buddha from attaining enlightenment by accusing him he has no right to sit on the seat beneath the tree of enlightenment, and challenging him to find a witness to his claim of enlightenment. The Buddha-to-be then calls Mother Earth to testify of his perfections of virtue on the evening of his enlightenment, the earth symbolizing truth and righteousness. He refers to the virtues he has practiced for many lifetimes. When the earth confirms the Buddha's claims, Māra retreats. In another example, the Buddha-to-be places a bowl upon the surface of the water.