Summary
On Gayāśīrṣa Hill, Buddha Śākyamuni is visited by a great gathering of bodhisattvas who have traveled miraculously there from a distant world, to venerate him as one who has vowed to liberate beings in a world much more afflicted than their own. The visiting bodhisattvas are led by Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, who asks the Buddha a series of searching questions. In response, the Buddha gives a detailed and systematic account of the practices, qualities, and nature of bodhisattvas, the stages of their path, their realization, and their activities. Many of the topics are structured into sets of ten aspects, expounded with reasoned explanations and illustrated with parables and analogies. This sūtra is said to have been one of the very first scriptures translated into Tibetan. Its doctrinal richness, profundity, and clarity are justly celebrated, and some of its key statements on meditation, the realization of emptiness, and the fundamental nature of the mind have been widely quoted in the Indian treatises and Tibetan commentarial literature.
Acknowledgements
Translated by the Dharmachakra Translation Committee under the guidance of Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche. Thomas Doctor produced the translation and wrote the introduction. Khenpo Pema Namgyal and Karma Ozer helped with difficult passages. Andreas Doctor compared the draft translation with the original Tibetan and edited the text.
This translation has been completed under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.
The generous donation of George Gu, May E. Ho Gu, Likai Gu, Tiffany Tai, Lillian Gu, Jerry Yen, E. E. Ho, Minda and Miin Ho, Chung Da, and Beiying Ho, which helped make the work on this translation possible, is most gratefully acknowledged.
Introduction
The Jewel Cloud is a very rich and closely packed Mahāyāna sūtra. Evidence of its authority in India can be found in many philosophical commentaries; for example, it is cited three times in the Sūtrasamuccaya (Toh 3934), which is attributed to Nāgārjuna, and repeatedly throughout Śāntideva’s Śikṣāsamuccaya (Toh 3940). Citations and references, sometimes at central junctures, are also found in the works of authors such as Bhāviveka (circa 500–78), Candrakīrti (seventh century), Śāntarakṣita (725–88), and Kamalaśīla (eighth century). It is no surprise, therefore, that throughout the centuries The Jewel Cloud has remained an important scriptural source for authors from all schools of view and meditation found in Tibet. Although the Sanskrit of many passages is preserved in the excerpts cited in the Indian śāstra literature, The Jewel Cloud as a whole is unfortunately no longer extant in Sanskrit. Four versions of the sūtra are, however, available in Chinese translation: Taishō 658, translated by Mandrasena in 503
In several traditional Tibetan histories, The Jewel Cloud is said to have been among the first few sūtras translated into Tibetan, using the new script devised by Tönmi Sambhoṭa during the reign of King Songtsen Gampo (circa 617–50). Some accounts add that the sūtra formed part of the collection of scriptures that Tönmi Sambhoṭa carried with him upon his return to Tibet as gifts for the king from his Indian patron. However, if a seventh century translation of this text did indeed exist, it has not survived as such, and has either been lost or must be assumed to have formed the basis of the revised version we have today, produced during the principal “early” translation period some two centuries later.
This surviving version of the The Jewel Cloud in Tibetan translation can be dated to the late eighth or early ninth century by the translators and editors mentioned in its colophon. However, the identity of the translators and their exact role are recorded with some differences between the colophons of the available recensions. In Kangyurs of the Tshalpa (tshal pa) group (such as the Degé), the translators are listed as Rinchen Tso and Chönyi Tsultrim, while Kangyurs of the Thempangma (them spangs ma) line, instead of Rinchen Tso, name “the great editor and Lotsawa, Bandé Vairocanarakṣita.” Moreover, whereas the colophons of the Tshalpa group state that the translators “translated, edited, and finalized” the sūtra, the Thempangma witnesses only mention that they “edited, finalized, and revised” the translation. Some ambiguity therefore remains as to whether the translators were merely editing a preexisting translation according to the new lexicon that was being implemented at the time, or whether they produced an entirely new translation. Given that this was a time when many older translations were revised—and the prominent role Rinchen Tso and Chönyi Tsultrim are said to have played in the revision process, discussed in the two paragraphs below—we concur with Cristina Scherrer-Schaub (2002) that the former hypothesis seems the most likely.
As the great text translation project of the early period evolved, this sūtra’s dense, systematically arranged enumerations of doctrinal topics clearly made it an important work of reference. Scherrer-Schaub and, more extensively, Ulrich Pagel (2007) have shown how it was most likely a major lexical source for the Mahāvyutpatti, a ninth century dictionary of Sanskrit-Tibetan Buddhist terminology. For several sets of qualities and names listed in the sūtra’s introduction (1.3 to 1.4) most of the items appear in the Mahāvyutpatti almost precisely in the same sequence. Several other lists, too, of dhāraṇīs, samādhis, etc., in The Jewel Cloud correspond nearly verbatim with lists in the Mahāvyutpatti, without any other potential sources being identifiable.
It is significant here that both Rinchen Tso and Chönyi Tsultrim are recorded as being influential contributors to the terminological revision that culminated in the third imperial decree, in the year 814
The sūtra’s rich doctrinal content is woven into a narrative structure that opens with Buddha Śākyamuni on Gayāśīrṣa Hill in Gayā, presiding over a great gathering of monks, bodhisattvas, gods, and other nonhuman beings. The Buddha radiates a miraculous light that illuminates the universes in the ten directions. In an extremely distant universe, the bodhisattva followers of the buddha Padmanetra notice this light. When the great bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin asks his teacher about it, Buddha Padmanetra explains its origins, and Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin is so touched by Buddha Śākyamuni’s compassionate acceptance of the barbaric and ungrateful beings who inhabit that realm that he asks permission to travel there, to see Buddha Śākyamuni and offer him his worship.
Having obtained Padmanetra’s blessing for the visit, Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin leads a great gathering of bodhisattvas on the journey to Śākyamuni’s realm and Gayāśīrṣa Hill at Gayā. In worship of Śākyamuni, the bodhisattvas emanate an infinite cloud of miraculous offerings. Likewise, to alleviate the suffering of the beings born in the universe within which Śākyamuni resides, the bodhisattvas send forth a vast array of emanated beings and objects. Through these emanations, they heal sentient beings and transform their environment.
Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin then asks Buddha Śākyamuni a long series of questions, all of which are concerned with the nature, qualities, and activities of bodhisattvas. The main part of the sūtra consists of Śākyamuni’s detailed replies to these questions, interspersed with supportive dialogues between Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin and the Buddha. The carefully structured enumeration of subjects is a particular feature of this sūtra. Starting with the ten perfections, over one hundred topics are explained in detail, many of them subdivided into groups of ten subtopics, and some branching out into many more. The sixth of ten topics within a section on how bodhisattvas are similar to the wind, for example, includes a long series of further lists of the qualities of bodhisattvas, and then of the qualities of thus-gone ones, too—all within the analogy of how the activity of bodhisattvas creates a whole “universe” of positive qualities in the same way that the element wind is instrumental in creating the physical universe. Despite this latter mention of the qualities of thus-gone ones (and another passage on their greatness, 1.539–1.557, within the section on abundant faith), the large majority of these topics focus firmly on the bodhisattva path in all its ramifications, the predominant theme of Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambin’s questions. Indeed, the Buddha’s replies follow Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin’s initial questions so closely that the paragraphs containing those questions (1.57–1.62) provide a concise and useful table of contents of the themes treated in the sūtra.
In the course of the Buddha’s explanations, many beings are profoundly affected by his teaching, and we hear of their attainment of varying degrees of liberation and accomplishment. As Śākyamuni’s teaching concludes, miraculous signs appear and innumerable beings express their admiration and joy for the teaching. The goddess Amartyā, whose home is Gayāśīrṣa Hill, also comes forth to circumambulate the Buddha in homage. Śākyamuni takes the occasion to explain to certain disbelieving members of the gathering how the goddess, despite her seemingly ordinary female form, in fact possesses perfect buddha qualities.
In reply to Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, the Buddha next explains about the sūtra’s powers and blessing, describing it as the mother of all Dharma teachings and the Vinaya of the bodhisattvas. The Buddha also offers guidelines for the teaching and study of the sūtra, and the god Śakra promises to serve and protect those who commit themselves to its teaching. At Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin’s request, Śākyamuni provides the sūtra with four distinct names. As the great gathering rejoices, the sūtra concludes.
In the course of Śākyamuni’s explanations to Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin there emerge certain statements that have become particularly absorbed into Tibetan Dharma literature and discourse in general. One such classic maxim is The Jewel Cloud’s definition of Buddhist meditation in terms of śamatha and vipaśyanā (1.526): “Tranquility is one-pointed mind. Special insight is to discern phenomena as they actually are.” This passage, as well as The Jewel Cloud’s description of the stages of the realization of emptiness (1.524), had already been cited by the Indian master Kamalaśīla, who relied on The Jewel Cloud to support his account of a gradual path for which careful reflection and the accumulation of vast merit are indispensable. Later, in his Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path, Tsongkhapa Losang Drakpa (1357–1419) refers to both The Jewel Cloud and Kamalaśīla in his own discussion of the relationship between tranquility and special insight, thus warning against a pursuit of nonconceptual meditation at the expense of scholarly learning.
Yet the sūtra is also celebrated among the Tibetan exponents of “extrinsic emptiness” (gzhan stong), an interpretational current that Tsongkhapa and many others have ardently sought to refute. Thus, for example, Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye (1813–99) includes The Jewel Cloud in a list of ten particularly profound sūtras in his commentary on the Ratnagotravibhāga. While the term tathāgatagarba does not occur in the sūtra, The Jewel Cloud indeed teaches that the true nature of things is pure, sublime, indestructible, and everlasting (1.389).
Testifying to the richness and diversity of the sūtra’s themes, we may also note another short but equally oft-cited passage: “The mind precedes all phenomena, so knowledge of the mind leads to knowledge of all phenomena” (1.476). Hence, with this declaration, The Jewel Cloud is also frequently invoked in approaches that, rather than subscribing to an elaborate process of combined scriptural learning and rational inquiry, teach awakening through directly recognizing the mind’s fundamental nature. With its detailed descriptions of the bodhisattvas’ intentions and activities, The Jewel Cloud addresses a rich spectrum of topics, such as ethics, metaphysics, soteriology, and more.
In producing this translation, we have based our work on the Degé xylograph, while also consulting the Comparative Edition of the Kangyur and the Stok Palace manuscript. Interestingly, our comparison of the various sources has shown that the Degé and Stok Palace Kangyurs often align, even when other Tshalpa Kangyurs offer different (and sometimes better) readings. We also occasionally compared these sources to the available Dunhuang fragments of The Jewel Cloud. As for the Sanskrit sources, we made use of the passages contained in Śāntideva’s Śikṣāsamuccaya and the available entries in the Mahāvyutpatti. Due to constraints on resources and our linguistic limitations we did not, however, make use of all the citations found in the Indian śāstra literature or the four Chinese translations. It is our hope that future research on this seminal sūtra may incorporate these sources to a greater degree than has been done here. Such research is certain to further inform our understanding of the historical circumstances surrounding the Tibetan efforts of the imperial period to translate Buddhist texts in general, and the fascinating history of The Jewel Cloud in particular.
The Translation
The Noble Great Vehicle Sūtra
The Jewel Cloud
[B1] Homage to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas!
Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was residing at Gayāśīrṣa Hill in the Gayā region together with a great saṅgha of seventy-two thousand monks. All of them were worthy ones who had brought the defilements to exhaustion. They were free from affliction and composed. Their minds were fully liberated. Their insight was fully liberated. They were beings of noble birth, great elephants, who had accomplished their tasks and completed their work. They had laid down their burden and fulfilled their objectives. With all their bonds to existence exhausted, they had reached the utter liberation of the mind by means of genuine knowledge. They had reached the final culmination of complete mastery over mind and were experts with respect to the realm of phenomena. They were children of the King of Dharma. Completely disinterested in acquisitions and praise, they were true renunciants, who had completed their ordination and perfected their pursuits. Thus, they all remained upon the path to nirvāṇa —all except for one: the venerable Ānanda.
The Blessed One was also accompanied by a great gathering of eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas, all of whom were obstructed by only a single birth. They were all turned toward omniscience, pursuing omniscience, approaching omniscience, and reaching omniscience. They had all attained unimpeded retention and absorption, entered the absorption of the heroic gait, and were reveling in magnificent forms of superknowledge. Their path was uninterrupted, and they were entirely free of obscurations, hindrances, or disturbances. They spread their great love and compassion throughout all the worlds of the ten directions, and they were experts in traveling to infinite buddha realms. They experienced emptiness, remained within the absence of marks, and were free from any fixation on wishes. They pursued the welfare of all beings and were experts with respect to the entire domain of the buddhas. Their wisdom was boundless, their minds were vast like the sky, deep as the sea, and unshakable like Sumeru, the king of mountains. Like lotuses, their minds were unstained; like jewels, their minds were pure; like gold, their minds were refined.
Among them were the bodhisattva great beings Ratnaketu, Ratnapāṇi, Ratnamudrāhasta, Ratnamukuṭa, Ratnacūḍa, Ratnakūṭa, Ratnākara, Ratnaśikhara, Ratnadhvaja, Vajragarbha, Suvarṇagarbha, Ratnagarbha, Śrīgarbha, Śubhagarbha, Śubhavimalagarbha, Tathāgatagarbha, Jñānagarbha, Sūryagarbha, Samādhigarbha, Padmagarbha, Vimukticandra, Samantacandra, Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, Samantabhadra, Samantanetra, Padmanetra, Vimalanetra, Viśālanetra, Samanteryapatha, Samantaprāsādika, Samantacāritramati, Jñānamati, Dharmamati, Jayamati, Uttaramati, Vajramati, Viśeṣamati, Siṁhavikrīḍita, Mahāghoṣasvararāja, Siṁhanādanādin, Gambhīraghoṣasvaranādita, Anupalipta, Sarvamalāpagata, Candraprabha, Sūryaprabha, Jñānaprabha, Jñānaśrī, Bhadraśrī, Candraśrī, Padmaśrī, Ratnaśrī, Mañjuśrīkumārabhūta, Bhadrapāla and the others among the sixteen holy beings, as well as Maitreya and all the other bodhisattva great beings of the excellent eon.
Present there were also the four great kings and the others gods of the Heaven of the Four Great Kings, as well as Śakra, king of the gods, along with the other gods of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Present there were the gods of the Heaven Free from Strife, such as Suyāma; the gods of the Heaven of Joy, such as Saṃtuṣita; the gods of the Heaven of Delighting in Emanations, such as Sunirmita; and the gods of the Heaven of Making Use of Others’ Emanations, such as Vaśavartin. Present were Sārthavāha and other such māras of the side of virtue, Mahābrahmā and all the gods of the Realm of Brahmā, and Maheśvara accompanied by all the gods of the pure abodes. Present were Vemacitra, Balin, and Dhanada, rulers of the demigods, along with many hundreds of thousands of demigods. Present also were the nāga kings Anavatapta, Manasvin, Sāgara, Ananta, and Vāsuki, along with many hundreds of thousands of other kings of the nāgas; many hundreds of thousands of nāga princes, such as Śrītejas; and numerous nāga ladies. Present also were hundreds of thousands of gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, demigods, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas. At the time, the area surrounding Gayāśīrṣa Hill in the Gayā region was filled to the brim with gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, demigods, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans, and nonhumans. These beings filled the land and the sky to a radius of four leagues, so that not even a particle the size of a fraction of the tip of a hair could be inserted anywhere.
At the center of this assembly was the lion throne of the Blessed One. One league tall and half a league wide, the throne was cushioned with numerous divine fabrics, canopied with webs of jewel bells, draped with hundreds of thousands of brocade tassels, and adorned with scattered flowers. The vajra surface of the ground where the throne stood was delightful and smooth, like the palm of a hand. Well sprinkled and well swept, the ground was fragrant and covered with a scattering of many hundreds of thousands of divine flowers. For the sake of the Blessed One’s enjoyment, the area had golden lotus flowers, each the size of a chariot wheel and with many hundred thousand petals. These lotuses grew from stems of beryl, had cores of sapphire, and their anthers were of emerald. They had a captivating scent, were of perfect beauty, and were delightful to the touch. Not too far yet not too close to each of the throne’s four corners stood a jewel tree. Each of the trees had grown to a height of two and a half leagues with a trunk that reached a width of two krośas.
Seated upon this well-arranged throne was the Blessed One. With perfectly pure wisdom, he was turning the wheel of Dharma. Conquering all māras and opponents, he remained unblemished by any mundane qualities. He was fearless and indomitable, like a dauntless lion. He was clear like a lake, immaculate and lucid. Resembling the ocean, he was deep and hard to fathom, a source of jewels. He was truly elevated like the king of mountains, sparkling like the sun, and delightful like the moon. Like a great nāga, he let the rain of Dharma fall. Like Mahābrahmā, he was the whole world’s superior. The master of an infinite circle of extremely adept disciples, he was the center of attention for the entire great assembly that contained Śakra, Brahmā, and one hundred sextillion guardians of the world.
Within this gathering the Blessed One was magnificent, brilliant, and resplendent. From the magnificent, brilliant, and resplendent uṣṇīṣa upon his head shone forth millions of circles of light, forming what is known as the light of universal illumination. As this light shone forth, all the worlds in the ten directions were illuminated. The light then returned and circled around the Blessed One three times before it entered his mouth. At that point, it could not be seen whether the Blessed One’s mouth was open or closed. Similarly, the light of the sun or the moon may enter the expanse of space, and yet the expanse of space cannot be seen to be either open or closed. In the same way, these light rays entered the mouth of the Blessed One, and yet his mouth could not be seen to be either open or closed. Moreover, when melted butter, or oil, or water is poured onto a mound of sand, it cannot be said whether the mound is open or closed. Similarly, although the light rays entered the Blessed One’s mouth, his mouth could not be seen to be either open or closed.
Now, to the east of this buddha realm, beyond as many worlds as there are grains of sand in the river Gaṅgā, there is a world known as Realm of Lotuses. Therein resides the one known as Padmanetra. He is a thus-gone one, a worthy one, a perfect buddha, someone with proper knowledge and conduct, a well-gone one, a knower of the world, an unsurpassed leader of those to be trained, a teacher of gods and humans. That blessed buddha teaches the Dharma to bodhisattva great beings in terms of a single vehicle. Thus, in that buddha realm even the words “listener” or “solitary buddha” are unheard of, as are the names of their respective vehicles. Everyone in that buddha realm takes birth instantaneously, such that birth from the wombs of females is unheard of. All the sentient beings of that realm are, without exception, bodhisattvas whose progress toward unexcelled and complete awakening is irreversible. In that realm food, drink, and their consumption are all unknown. All the bodhisattvas of that realm partake of the delightful sustenance of concentration, the delightful sustenance of absorption, and the delightful sustenance of the Dharma. The light that shines from that thus-gone one pervades that realm and illuminates it. Apart from that, that world knows of no moonlight or sunlight, nor of any light from planets or stars. The land there is perfectly even, like the palm of a hand, and there are no grasses, trees, rocks, walls, or mountains.
In that realm there was a bodhisattva great being known as Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, who had the power to exhaust all the obscurations of whoever merely heard his name. The light of the Thus-Gone One touched and inspired Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, and so he left his own abode and journeyed to the place where Buddha Padmanetra was residing. He bowed his head down to the feet of the Blessed One and took his seat before Padmanetra. Similarly, other bodhisattvas were touched and inspired by the light, so they also left their respective residences and went to see the blessed thus-gone Padmanetra. They bowed their heads to his feet and took their place before him.
At that time the bodhisattva great being Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin rose from his seat, draped his shawl over one shoulder, and knelt with his right knee in the center of a lotus flower. Joining his palms, he bowed toward the blessed thus-gone Padmanetra. “Blessed One,” he asked, “by whose power is it that this excellent light emerges, which is so bright, immaculate, delightful, and utterly gratifying for the body and mind?”
The blessed thus-gone Padmanetra replied, “Noble son, in the west, beyond as many worlds as there are grains of sand in the river Gaṅgā, there is a world known as Endurance. Therein resides the one known as Śākyamuni. He is a thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha, someone with proper knowledge and conduct, a well-gone one, a knower of the world, an unsurpassed leader of those to be trained, a teacher of gods and humans. Whoever merely hears this blessed buddha’s name will make progress toward unexcelled and complete awakening that is irreversible. It is he who sends forth this excellent light that is bright, immaculate, delightful, and utterly gratifying for the body and the mind.”
Further addressing the blessed thus-gone Padmanetra, the bodhisattva great being Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin then asked, “Blessed One, what is the cause and what is the condition that make it so that whoever hears the name of that thus-gone one will make irreversible progress toward unexcelled and complete awakening?”
To the bodhisattva great being Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin the blessed thus-gone Padmanetra replied, “Noble son, when that thus-gone one was still pursuing the practices of a bodhisattva, he would pray, ‘Whenever someone hears the name under which I shall gain perfect buddhahood, may that being thereby make irreversible progress toward unexcelled and complete awakening!’ ”
The bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin then inquired, “Blessed One, have all sentient beings of that realm attained the state of irreversible progress?”
“No,” replied the Blessed One, “they have not.”
Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin asked, “Blessed One, is it because they have not heard the name of that thus-gone one?”
“Noble son,” replied the Blessed One, “they have indeed heard that thus-gone one’s name.”
“In that case, why have they not yet attained the level of irreversible progress?”
“Noble son,” replied the Blessed One, “the progress beings there make is irreversible, yet it is also reversible.”
“How, Blessed One, can it be both irreversible as well as reversible?”
“Noble son, I perceive that once they have heard the name of that thus-gone one the seed of irreversible progess is present within them. Thus, they are definitively destined to make irreversible progress. Yet their progress does not, because of that alone, immediately become irreversible. Noble son, to demonstrate this point I shall give you an analogy. Noble son, think of the seeds of a tree. If those seeds are flawless, and if all the conditions for growth, from sprouting through to completion, are present, then what would you call such seeds?”
“Blessed One, because they are entirely flawless, I would then call them ‘perfect.’ ”
“Noble son, similarly, once they have heard the name of that thus-gone one, those sentient beings possess the seed of irreversible progress. And in that sense their progress to unexcelled and complete awakening has become irreversible.”
The bodhisattva great being Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin then said to the blessed thus-gone Padmanetra, “Blessed One, I would like to go to that world called Endurance so that I can prostrate before the blessed, thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha Śākyamuni. I wish to venerate, honor, and revere him. I wish to praise him and offer him worship.”
In reply, the blessed thus-gone Padmanetra said to the bodhisattva great being Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, “Noble son, if you know that the time has come, you may leave.”
At that point all the bodhisattvas addressed the blessed thus-gone Padmanetra: “Blessed One, we also wish to see that world called Endurance. We also wish to prostrate before the blessed, thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha Śākyamuni. We also wish to venerate, honor, and revere him. We also wish to praise him and offer him worship.”
In reply, the blessed thus-gone Padmanetra said to them, “Children of noble family, if you know that the time has come, you may leave. But once you are in that realm, be careful. Why? Because among the beings of that realm desire, anger, and dullness are rife. They have no regard for mendicants and no regard for brahmins. They have no concern for their fathers, no concern for their mothers. Numerous are their wishes that run counter to the Dharma. They are spiteful, savage, and malicious. They are impudent and haughty, easily carried away, and full of craving. They are lazy, unkind, and evil. They are tied down by envy and miserliness and suffer from an abundance of afflictions. It is among such beings that that thus-gone one teaches the Dharma.”
“Blessed One,” replied the bodhisattvas, “teaching the Dharma among such sentient beings is a tremendous feat displayed by that thus-gone one.”
“Yes, it is,” the Blessed One agreed. “Noble children, teaching the Dharma among such sentient beings is indeed a tremendous feat displayed by that thus-gone one. Moreover, noble children, when sentient beings within such a world of rampant afflictions give rise to just a single virtuous mind state then they also display a tremendous feat. Why? Well, what would be amazing about finding pure beings in pure worlds? On the other hand, it is indeed a wonder when anyone in a world of rampant afflictions is able, ever so briefly, to engender faith, or go for refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha, or purely observe discipline. However, it is an even greater wonder if, even for just a moment, they can attain a mind free from desire. Still, the greatest wonder of all is if they can briefly develop compassion and give rise to the mind of unexcelled and complete awakening.”
“The Blessed One is amazing!” the bodhisattvas responded. “The Thus-Gone One is amazing!”
Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin and the other bodhisattvas then said, “Excellent, Blessed One.” And so, having bowed their heads to the feet of the buddha who had instructed them in this way, each of them rose from the place where they had been sitting.
In order to bring offerings to the blessed Śākyamuni, some of the bodhisattvas emanated forth jewel trees, complete with flowers and fruits, and perfect in their height and circumference. Some brought forth trees of beryl, some trees of crystal; some brought forth wish-fulfilling trees, and others brought forth trees of gold. Some produced trees in bloom; some brought forth trees bearing fruit. Some emanated a cloud of precious fabric, some a cloud of ornaments, some a cloud of incense, some a cloud of garlands, some a cloud of powders, some a cloud of parasols, some a cloud of banners, and some a cloud of cymbals. Having brought together all these emanated offerings, the bodhisattvas then gathered and traveled along with Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin to the world called Endurance.
Once there, the bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin exclaimed, “Friends, alas, the sentient beings of this world called Endurance are suffering! Therefore, let us bring forth a magical display that delivers the highest bliss to all these sentient beings!”
“So be it!” replied all the bodhisattvas, and so they followed the bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin’s suggestion.
Hence, as a magical manifestation, there appeared a brilliant light from the body of the bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin. Bright, immaculate, and delightful, the light was utterly gratifying to the body and mind as it pervaded and illumined the entire trichiliocosm. As this light touched them, all the sentient beings within that trichiliocosm who had the body of a being in hell, or who had a body belonging to the animal realm, or a body belonging to the realm of the Lord of Death were freed from their feelings of pain, and instead they found happiness. They were also freed from anger and ill will, and they began to regard one another as they would their parents.
Within that trichiliocosm all the dense darkness that exists between the worlds—that which cannot be brightened, illumined, or lit up by the sun or the moon, which are otherwise so famed for their miraculous power and force—was now also permeated by that light so that all the beings who lived there could see one another. Within that trichiliocosm all the surrounding mountain ranges, great mountain ranges, Mucilinda Mountains, and Mahāmucilinda Mountains, along with all the other dark mountains, were now also pervaded and illumined by the light. From the Realm of Brahmā above, down to the realm of the beings in the Hell of Incessant Pain below, there was not a single spot that was not perfectly illumined by that great light—such was extent of Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin’s miraculous display.
Each of the other bodhisattvas also brought forth magical emanations. Hence, every sentient being wishing for food received sustenance, and whoever wished for drink received refreshment. Those desiring clothes received clothing, those wanting a mount received one, and those wishing for wealth found riches. The blind gained their sight and the deaf could hear. The naked received fine garments, the insane regained their senses, those in pain became well, and those in labor gave birth easily. Such were the effects of their miraculous activities.
The bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin and all the other bodhisattvas then proceeded to Gayā and Gayāśīrṣa Hill. As soon these holy beings were approaching, a net of jewels appeared, bedecking the entire trichiliocosm, and a rain of divine lotus flowers fell from the sky. Rain fell from clouds of divine flowers, clouds of divine fruits, clouds of divine garlands, clouds of divine incense, clouds of divine garments, clouds of divine powders, and clouds of divine Dharma robes, divine umbrellas, divine banners, and divine standards. As this divine rain was falling, all the beings who were touched by it felt blissful. All the ordinary trees and soil of the region of Gayā and Gayāśīrṣa now disappeared, and instead the land was filled with trees of jewels, wish-fulfilling trees, flowering trees, fruit-bearing trees, sandalwood trees, and aloeswood trees, and the land was in all regards excellent. From the sky divine instruments were heard, and as they played they produced these verses:
- “Born at the perfect site, the garden of Lumbinī,
- He has no equal, not being subject to any affliction—
- Here we have arrived at this most excellent mountain
- To worship the one who is equal to space.
- “At the tree of awakening he gained perfect awakening,
- Crushed the power of the māras, and became a buddha—
- Here we have arrived at this most excellent mountain
- To worship the one who is stainless and splendid.
- “All phenomena he realizes
- To be like an illusion, a visual distortion, and a reflection of the moon in water—
- Here we have arrived at this most excellent mountain
- To worship this finest field of merit.
- “All the different phenomena he realizes
- To be like rainbows, or a dancer’s mask—
- Here we have arrived at this most excellent mountain
- To worship the treasure of immutable merit.
- “Throughout many hundreds of eons he has perfected
- The accumulations by means of his compassionate mind—
- Here we have arrived at this most excellent mountain
- To worship the one whose face is like a stainless moon.
- “Venerated he is by billions of bodhisattvas
- As well as by the hosts of the gods—
- Here we have arrived at this most excellent mountain
- To worship the one who is free from the darkness of unknowing.
- “Having discovered the treasure of sublime Dharma,
- Out of compassion he distributes it in the world—
- Here we have arrived at this most excellent mountain
- To worship the one who benefits beyond compare.
- “With his peaceful mind of constant love,
- He is unstained by afflictions, like a lotus unstained by the water—
- Here we have arrived at this most excellent mountain
- To worship the one who masters supreme qualities.
- “His pure body, adorned with the blossoms of perfect marks,
- Sustains wandering beings with the grains of excellent signs—
- Carrying offerings, here together we have arrived
- To worship this jewel tree that bears infinite branches.”
As soon as these verses were heard, the venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana rose from his seat, draped his shawl over one shoulder, and knelt on his right knee. Joining his palms, he bowed toward the Blessed One and said, “Blessed One, we are witnessing many unprecedented sounds and sights. Whose signs are all these?”
The Blessed One replied to the venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana, “Maudgalyāyana, to the east, beyond as many worlds as there are grains of sand in the river Gaṅgā, there is a world known as Realm of Lotuses. There at present resides the thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha Padmanetra. Residing and flourishing in that realm, he also teaches the Dharma. Now the bodhisattva great being Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin has come to this world called Endurance from the buddha realm of that thus-gone one. This holy being is arriving here accompanied by one hundred sextillion other bodhisattvas, and what you perceive are the signs of their arrival.”
As soon as the Blessed One had spoken, the bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, surrounded and venerated by a retinue of one hundred sextillion bodhisattvas, arrived before the Blessed One through his great miraculous power and the great power of the bodhisattvas. The bodhisattvas bowed to the Blessed One’s feet, sat down before him, and Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin then spoke the following verses in praise of the Blessed One’s qualities:
- “Greatly famed and of great insight,
- You are the great capable one, the great hero,
- The one who has gone beyond the pains of existence.
- You who have gone beyond the afflictions—homage to you!
- “Open and direct in all regards,
- You reside so perfectly pristine,
- Completely liberated in every way—
- Homage to you who are incomparable and unequaled!
- “Utterly immutable, you resemble a mountain;
- Deep and wide, you are like the sea.
- Unshakable in the face of the non-Buddhists,
- You are the King of Dharma—homage to you!
- “When turning the wheel of Dharma,
- O Protector, you taught that phenomena
- Are primordially peaceful, unarisen,
- And at ease by nature.
- “Some you teach the path,
- Others you establish within the real;
- Some you deliver beyond suffering,
- And for others you prophesy awakening.
- “Knowing all latencies and inclinations,
- There is nothing you are not aware of.
- Thus, as you perceive the ways of training,
- Your command will be carried out.
- “When you sat upon the seat of awakening,
- Desire, anger, and dullness,
- Along with every other stain,
- Were consumed by the fire of your wisdom.
- “Yourself beyond, you liberate sentient beings,
- And while free yourself, you liberate beings.
- You are the one who cares for the world
- As it roams through the realms of pain.
- “Sentient beings within the prison of existence
- Have for long been asleep in their ignorance.
- Yet you, Protector, awaken them.
- Homage to you, the friend of beings.
- “All these supreme children of yours
- Have set out in pursuit of awakening.
- As they wish to the hear the sacred Dharma,
- I request, O Guide, that you teach them.”
When the bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin had praised the Blessed One in these appropriate verses, the Blessed One directed the bodhisattva to sit down on a lotus flower to the side. Likewise, with the Blessed One’s permission the other bodhisattvas each took a seat on their own lotus flower.
The bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin now rose from his seat, draped his shawl over one shoulder, and knelt with his right knee on the lotus flower. Joining his palms, he bowed toward the Blessed One and said, “If the Blessed One would grant me the opportunity to ask them and hear his answers, I have a few questions that I would like to bring before the Blessed One, the thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha.”
Replying to the bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, the Blessed One said, “Holy being, all thus-gone ones will always grant you the opportunity to speak. You may ask the Thus-Gone One whatever you wish. I shall then satisfy your mind with a teaching.”
With the Blessed One’s permission, the bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin then asked, “Blessed One, what are the bodhisattva great beings’ perfections of generosity like? How are their perfections of discipline? How are their perfections of patience? How are their perfections of diligence? How are their perfections of concentration? How are their perfections of insight? How are their perfections of skillful means? How are their perfections of aspirations? How are their perfections of power? How are their perfections of wisdom?
“Blessed One, how are bodhisattvas similar to the earth? How are they similar to water? How are they similar to fire? How are they similar to wind? How are they similar to space? How are they like the moon? How are they like the sun? How do they resemble lions? How are the bodhisattvas who have trained well? How are those who are of noble birth? How are the ones who resemble lotuses?
“Blessed One, how are the vast bodhisattvas, how are those with pure mind, and how are those who are free of doubt? Blessed One, how are the bodhisattvas whose minds are like the ocean, and how are those of subtle intellect? Blessed One, how do bodhisattvas have coherent eloquence, how do they have fluent eloquence, how do they have pure eloquence, and how do they have eloquence that makes everyone happy? Blessed One, how are bodhisattvas’ words to be accepted? Blessed One, how do bodhisattvas express the Dharma, how do they follow the Dharma, and how do they become experts with respect to the realm of phenomena? Blessed One, how do bodhisattvas experience emptiness, how do they abide within the absence of marks, and how are they free from any fixation on their aspirations? How do they have a loving nature, and how do they have a compassionate nature? How are they joyful, and how do they rest in equanimity?
“Blessed One, how do bodhisattvas revel in superknowledge, how do they relinquish the eight unfree states, how do they ensure that the mind of awakening is not lost, how do they recollect former lives, how do they not separate from their spiritual teachers, and how do they give up unwholesome company? Blessed One, how do bodhisattvas attain the intrinsic nature of the thus-gone ones’ body? In what way is their body solid like a vajra? Blessed One, in what sense are bodhisattvas great caravan leaders, how are they experts concerning the path, and in what way do they point out the unmistaken path? Blessed One, how do bodhisattvas remain constantly in equipoise, without any interruption?
“Blessed One, who are the bodhisattvas who wear refuse rags, who wear the three Dharma robes, and who wear felt? Blessed One, how do bodhisattvas live as mendicants, how do they remain on a single seat, and how do they abstain from late meals? Blessed One, who are the bodhisattvas who remain in hermitages, who are the ones who remain at the foot of a tree, who are the shelterless ones, who are the charnel ground dwellers, who are the tent dwellers, and who are the ones who stay just where they are? Blessed One, who are those bodhisattvas engaged in practice, who are the specialists in the discourses, who are the specialists in the discipline, and who are the specialists in the lists?
“How are they perfect in conduct, personal associations, behavior, and deportment? How are bodhisattvas free from stinginess and envy? How do they have equal concern for all sentient beings? How are they skilled in worshiping and venerating the thus-gone ones? Who are the ones who crush pride, and who are the ones with abundant faith? How are they experts concerning the relative? How are they experts concerning the ultimate? How are they experts concerning dependent origination? How do they have knowledge of themselves? What does their knowledge of the world consist of? Blessed One, how do bodhisattvas take birth in pure buddha realms? How do they take birth free from any stain of the womb? How do they renounce the household life? What does their pure livelihood consist of? How do they steer clear of weariness? How do they act according to the teaching of the thus-gone ones? How do they keep their smiling face free from frowns of anger? Who are the bodhisattvas who have received abundant teachings? Who are those who uphold the sacred Dharma? In what way are bodhisattvas heirs of the King of Dharma? How do Śakra, Brahmā, and the guardians of the world welcome them? How do they know intentions and latent tendencies? How do they pursue the ways for maturing sentient beings? In what way are they upright? How are they delightful to accompany? What is their skill with respect to the means of attraction? In what way are they pleasing? How do they provide support? In what way are they like the king of medicinal trees? How do they pursue meritorious deeds? What does their expertise regarding emanations consist of? Blessed One, how do bodhisattvas quickly and fully awaken to unexcelled and perfect buddhahood?”
In reply to the bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, the Blessed One said, “Noble son, excellent, excellent. Noble son, you have asked in this manner to benefit many beings and to bring them happiness. You have great compassion that loves the world and seeks to benefit ordinary beings—gods and humans alike—by accomplishing their welfare and happiness. Your intention for having asked the Thus-Gone One such questions is excellent. Therefore, noble son, I will answer you, so listen well and keep what I say in mind.”
“Excellent, Blessed One!” replied the bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, and he listened as instructed.
The Blessed One then said, “Noble son, bodhisattvas who practice perfect generosity possess ten qualities. What are those ten? They are the perfect giving of the Dharma, the perfect giving of fearlessness, the perfect giving of material things, the perfect giving free of expectation of a reward, the perfect giving of compassion, the perfect giving free of disdain, the perfect giving of respect, the perfect giving of reverence and worship, the perfect open-ended giving, and the perfectly pure giving.
“Noble son, you may wonder what the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of the Dharma consists in. Noble son, it consists in the bodhisattvas’ making others retain and understand the teachings without any concern for material things. This is not done for the sake of wealth or respect, or with a wish for mundane gain, or with a wish for fame. Rather, they think, ‘How can I bring an end to all the sufferings of these beings?’ In this way, without any concern for material things, they explain the teachings to others in a way that is genuine and beyond duality. Just as they teach kings and great ministers thoroughly, so also do they genuinely teach outcasts and their offspring. Needless to mention that they also do so for the inhabitants of foreign cities and lands. Through this giving of the Dharma they do not become arrogant. Noble son, such is the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of the Dharma.
“Next, what is the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of fearlessness? Noble son, bodhisattvas personally give up sticks and weapons, and instruct others in that practice. They consider all beings to be like their fathers, mothers, children, friends, relatives, or kinsmen. How so? They recollect that the Thus-Gone One has taught, ‘Among all sentient beings there is no one who, throughout all your changing lives, has not at some point been your father, mother, child, friend, relative, or kinsman.’ With that in mind they feel that they ought to provide for even subtle forms of life by means of their own flesh, and so it goes without saying that they must also act in the same way toward larger creatures. Such is the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of fearlessness.
“What is the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of material things? Noble son, when bodhisattvas see sentient beings engaged in unvirtuous activity they attract them with material things. By thus attracting them with material things, they deliver those beings out of their unvirtuous ways and establish them in goodness. They think to themselves, ‘The Blessed One has taught, “Generosity is the bodhisattva’s awakening. A bodhisattva’s generosity is free of the three unvirtuous qualities of envy, stinginess, and malice.” Therefore, I too shall follow the Thus-Gone One and practice generosity.’ Then, as they engage in generous practices, their generosity does not make them conceited. Such is the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of material things.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving free of expectation of a reward consist in? The bodhisattvas’ practice of generosity is not based on desire. They do not hope to benefit from it. Their practice of generosity has no objective and is not seeking services. It is not practiced out of worldly concerns. Rather, they think, ‘Bodhisattvas are generous, that is just how it is,’ and so they are generous without any hope that the causes, conditions, or bases of their generosity will bring any reward. Such is the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving free of expectation of a reward.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of compassion consist in? When bodhisattvas witness sentient beings who suffer, who are starving, who are thirsting, who go naked, who wear poor garments, whose clothing is poor, whom nobody protects, who have no guardian, who have no savior, who are homeless, and who lack support, then the sight of those beings who lack merit provokes in them a strong feeling of compassion. Thus, they think to themselves, ‘It is for the sake of others that I give rise to the mind of unexcelled and complete awakening. And these are indeed beings who suffer, who are unprotected, who have no guardian, and who have no savior, no strength, and no support. May I at some point be the protector, guardian, savior, strength, and support for all these wandering beings!’ Thus, out of unbearable compassion they benefit those sentient beings with all that they possess and all that they have. Yet they do not become conceited based on the roots of virtue that this creates. Such is the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of compassion.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving free of disdain consist in? When bodhisattvas practice generosity they do not give refuse. They do not give with disdain. They do not give while scolding and not while upset. They do not give with the arrogance and haughtiness of the wealthy. Their generosity is not motivated by a wish for fame. They do not give with the arrogance and haughtiness of the learned. Whatever they give, they give with respect. They give it with decency. They offer it with veneration, and with their own hands. Such is the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving free of disdain.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of respect consist in? When bodhisattvas meet a master, a preceptor, a guru, or a fellow student, they acknowledge such individuals with respect and veneration in body and mind. With reverence and veneration they speak respectfully, pay homage, welcome them, join their palms, and bow to them. Thus they will assist those individuals with whichever virtuous deeds they may be engaged in. Such is the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of respect.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of reverence and worship consist in? Bodhisattvas serve the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha. How do they serve the Buddha? At shrines devoted to the thus-gone ones or representations of the bodies of the thus-gone ones the bodhisattvas offer incense, flowers, frankincense, perfumes, or plaster, and they restore shrines that have crumbled. Thus they act in the service of the Buddha. How, then, do they serve the Dharma? They listen to the Dharma, read the Dharma, retain the Dharma, write it down, recite it, and practice it to perfection. They keep it in mind. They gain familiarity with it through the unswerving practice of meditation. Thus they act in the service of the Dharma. How, then, do they serve the Saṅgha? To the Saṅgha they offer robes, meals, bedding, medicine for healing the sick, and other provisions—even such small things as a cup of cold water. Thus they act in the service of the Saṅgha. Such is the bodhisattvas’ perfect giving of reverence and worship.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ perfect open-ended giving consist in? When bodhisattvas are generous, they do not wish, ‘By this generosity, may I become such and such a god!’ or ‘May I became such and such a ruler!’ Such is the bodhisattvas’ perfect open-ended giving.
“Noble son, you may also wonder about the bodhisattvas’ perfectly pure giving. Noble son, bodhisattvas distinguish the various forms of generosity that were just explained, and they discern all the various things that they give. Because of their discernment, their generosity is free of flaws, stains, or obstacles. Such is the bodhisattvas’ perfectly pure giving. Noble son, bodhisattvas who possess these ten qualities practice excellent generosity.
“Noble son, bodhisattvas who practice excellent discipline possess ten qualities. What are those ten? They are the commitment to the prātimokṣa vows, the commitment to the vows of the bodhisattva training, freedom from the pains of the afflictions, freedom from incorrect mental engagements, fear of karma, fear of evil, consideration of danger, steadfast commitment, open-ended discipline, and discipline that is purified of the three spheres.
“Noble son, you may wonder what their commitment to the prātimokṣa vows consists in. Noble son, with respect to the Thus-Gone One’s discourses, discipline, or any other point of training, they recollect, ‘These are our teacher’s teachings,’ and so they apply themselves to them in a most excellent way. They do not respect the teachings merely because of any desires associated with family, views, or retinue. Rather, they respect all the points of training because they are means for overcoming personal flaws. Such is the bodhisattvas’ commitment to the prātimokṣa vows.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ commitment to the vows of the bodhisattva training consist in? Bodhisattvas recognize that through the prātimokṣa vows alone they will not be able to fully awaken to unexcelled and complete buddhahood. Thus they understand, ‘I must practice all the various bodhisattva practices and all the bodhisattva trainings as they appear in the discourses of the Thus-Gone One.’ What, then, are the genuine bodhisattva practices and what are the aspects of a bodhisattva’s training? Bodhisattvas will not do anything that does not become a source of faith for sentient beings. They will not do anything that is untimely or involves an improper object. Neither will they say anything at the wrong time. They are not unaware of the right time. They do not lack knowledge of the appropriate objects, nor do they fail to know the right measure. They protect sentient beings. In order to complete the accumulations for their awakening they engage in excellent conduct. They speak softly and gently, avoid society, and turn toward complete seclusion with a bright smile on their faces. Such is the bodhisattvas’ excellent behavior.
“What, you may then wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ commitment to the vows of the bodhisattva training further consist in? Keeping all the different discourses taught by the Thus-Gone One as their reference points, bodhisattvas respect and pursue all the points of training and all the prescriptions. Such is the bodhisattvas’ commitment to the vows of bodhisattva training.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ freedom from the pains of the afflictions consist in? Bodhisattvas do not suffer from the pains of desire, the pains of anger, the pains of dullness, the pains of any affliction, or the pains of lacking material means. They apply the remedy for desire and abandon the conditions for desire. What, then, is the remedy for desire and what is the condition for desire to arise? Contemplating repulsiveness serves as the remedy for desire that is caused by the appearance of a beautiful woman. And what, you may wonder, is the contemplation of repulsiveness? The contemplation of repulsiveness involves considering a person’s hair, body hair, nails, teeth, sweat, secretions, skin, flesh, bone, muscles, veins, kidney, heart, liver, lungs, intestines, colon, stomach, entrails, innards, bladder, spleen, excrement, perspiration, mucus, nasal mucus, fat, lymph, marrow, grease, bile, discharge, pus, blood, brain, cerebrum, and urine. It is a bodhisattva’s nature to examine all these entities, and thus, such a thoughtful bodhisattva contemplates, ‘When childish fools who are dull and ignorant encounter these substances they do not feel any desire. So needless to mention that an insightful person would not feel any desire either.’ In this way do bodhisattvas contemplate the repulsive extensively.
“What, then, is an object in the form of a beautiful woman? If a bodhisattva sees a desirable lady of fine appearance—someone endearing, beautiful, captivating, and stunning—then he thinks as follows: ‘The Blessed One has taught that all objects are just like a dream. They appear only to disappear again. So what knowledgeable person would feel any desire with respect to objects that are like a dream?’ This is the way that bodhisattvas apply the remedy for desire and give up the conditions for desire to arise.
“In what way, you may then wonder, do bodhisattvas apply the remedy for anger and how do they abandon the conditions for anger to arise? Bodhisattvas have abundant love for sentient beings. Hence, they give up the bases, causes, and conditions for anger, as well as the causes and conditions for ill will and resentment. This is the way that bodhisattvas apply the remedy for anger and give up the conditions for anger to arise.
“In what way, you may then wonder, do bodhisattvas apply the remedy for dullness and how do they abandon the conditions for dullness to arise? Bodhisattvas are free of dullness due to their understanding. Moreover, because they are free of dullness they do not lose heart when things do not work out as they wished, or when they are lacking material means, and thus they are free of all the pains of affliction.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ freedom from incorrect mental engagements consist in? Alone and in secrecy, bodhisattvas may leave for their hermitage. Once there, however, they do not think, ‘Living here in solitude I am following the Dharma-Vinaya of the Thus-Gone One. Other mendicants, or brahmins, live with people and are engaged in plenty of social activity. So they have strayed from the Dharma-Vinaya of the Thus-Gone One.’ Such is the bodhisattvas’ freedom from incorrect mental engagements.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ fear of karma consist in? Bodhisattvas consider how the Blessed One has taught: ‘Monks, virtuous acts must be engaged in with respect, discipline must be observed with respect, and insight must be cultivated with respect. Why is that? Because when one acts with respect for virtue the karmic ripening will be experienced as desirable, sensible, delightful, and beautiful.’ With conviction in that teaching, they avoid all unvirtuous qualities. Such is the bodhisattvas’ fear of karma.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ fear of evil consist in? Bodhisattvas perceive even very subtle forms of evil as something frightening and they are careful to avoid even minor forms of negativity. As such, they consider how the Blessed One has taught: ‘Monks, people can die from weak poison just as they die from strong poison. In the same way, lesser negativity takes one to the lower realms just as great negativity does.’ With this in mind they are afraid of evil, and this, then, is the bodhisattvas’ fear of evil.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ consideration of danger consist in? Brahmins, royalty, townspeople, and country dwellers can all rely on a bodhisattva. That is to say, if brahmins, royalty, townspeople, or country dwellers place any of their wealth or possessions, such as cowry shells, gold, precious stones, pearls, beryl, conchs, crystals, or corals, before a bodhisattva with no one else around, the bodhisattva will not covet any of it. If certain things have been dedicated to a shrine or to the saṅgha then bodhisattvas will not partake of them. Instead they will think, ‘The Blessed One has explained that bodhisattvas would rather consume their own flesh than frivolously partake of others’ food, drink, or possessions if they haven’t been given to them.’ Such is the bodhisattvas’ consideration of danger.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ steadfast commitment consist in? When māras or demonic gods befriend bodhisattvas and speak to them about wealth and sex, they will remain immutable and unchanged, without any damage to their vows. Such is the bodhisattvas’ steadfast commitment.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ open-ended discipline consist in? When bodhisattvas observe discipline, they do not harbor any wish that it may bring them birth as a god in general, or a specific god, or as royalty, or as some specific king. Such is the bodhisattvas’ open-ended discipline.
“Noble son, you may wonder about the nature of the bodhisattvas’ discipline that is purified of the three spheres. Bodhisattvas are physically, verbally, and mentally pure. In what sense are they physically pure? By giving up all negative physical acts. What are the negative physical acts? They are killing, taking what has not been given, and sexual misconduct. Such is their physical purity. How are they verbally pure? By giving up all negative verbal acts. What are such acts? They are lying, divisive talk, harsh words, and chatter. Such is their verbal purity. How are they mentally pure? By giving up all negative mental acts. What are such acts? They are covetousness, ill will, and wrong view. Such is their mental purity. Noble son, such is the bodhisattvas’ discipline purified of the three spheres. Noble son, bodhisattvas who possess these ten qualities observe excellent discipline.
“Noble son, bodhisattvas who practice excellent patience possess ten qualities. What are those ten? They are excellent inner patience, excellent outer patience, excellent patience with respect to the Dharma, excellent patience granted by the Buddha, excellent patience that is not temporary, excellent patience that does not differentiate, excellent patience that is not concerned with a purpose, excellent unperturbed patience, excellent compassionate patience, and excellent patience that liberates based on a commitment.
“Noble son, you may wonder what the bodhisattvas’ excellent inner patience consists in. Noble son, bodhisattvas are continuously patient and accepting in the face of any internal suffering, lamentation, pain, mental unease, or disturbance. Such is the bodhisattvas’ excellent inner patience.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ excellent outer patience consist in? A bodhisattva’s mother, father, relative, preceptor, or master might speak and express themselves in a way that is derogatory. If bodhisattvas hear such words from others, or if they hear unpleasant words about the Buddha, the Dharma, or the Saṅgha, they will not become angry, develop ill will, or hold a grudge. With patient acceptance they do not develop any malicious intent. Such is the bodhisattvas’ excellent outer patience.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ excellent patience with respect to the Dharma consist in? Bodhisattvas are not afraid, intimidated, or scared when they hear, among the profound discourses, the Dharma teachings given by the Thus-Gone One that can sever the continuity of existence and bring an unconstrainable freedom from bondage, such as: ‘All phenomena are peace from the beginning, all phenomena are by nature the transcendence of suffering.’ Instead, they think, ‘Without knowing or hearing such teachings I would not be able to fully awaken to unexcelled and complete buddhahood.’ Thus they retain such teachings, contemplate them, practice them, analyze them, and become inspired by them. Such is the bodhisattvas’ excellent patience with respect to the Dharma.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ excellent patience granted by the Buddha consist in? If bodhisattvas feel anger or a wish to harm they will examine where the anger came from, where it ceases, what it arose through, how it arose, and the reason it arose. Once they examine things in this way, they do not perceive any true emergence of anger, nor do they perceive any true ceasing of anger. They do not see any true source of anger, nor any way that anger emerges, nor any conditions that caused it to arise. Thus they become patient and accepting and do not develop an aggressive frame of mind. Such is the bodhisattvas’ excellent patience granted by the Buddha.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ excellent patience that is not temporary consist in? Bodhisattvas will not be patient during the day yet not at night, nor will bodhisattvas be patient at night but not during the day. They will not be patient in their own country yet impatient abroad, nor will they be patient abroad and yet not at home. They will not be patient with friends yet impatient with strangers, nor will they be patient with strangers yet impatient with friends. Bodhisattvas are patient at all times, in all places, and with respect to everyone. Such is the bodhisattvas’ excellent patience that is not temporary.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ excellent patience that does not differentiate consist in? Bodhisattvas are not just patient with their fathers, mothers, masters, sons, daughters, spouses, relatives, and kinsmen, but impatient with others. They will be patient even with the children of outcasts. Such is the bodhisattvas’ excellent patience that does not differentiate.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ excellent patience that is not concerned with a purpose consist in? Bodhisattvas are not patient for the sake of certain purposes, or because of fear, or with the hope that it will be beneficial. They are not patient because of mundane considerations, nor out of shame. And yet bodhisattvas always possess abundant patience. Such is the bodhisattvas’ excellent patience that is not concerned with a purpose.
“What, you may wonder, does the bodhisattvas’ excellent unperturbed patience consist in? Bodhisattvas are not just patient as long as they do not find themselves in a situation where anger otherwise takes over, such as when they are hit, slapped, beaten, wounded, or abused by others. Rather, if others strike bodhisattvas, threaten them, insult them, or beat them, they will think, ‘This is the ripening of actions I did in the past. I created this karma, so now it ripens on me. My mother, father, relatives, and kinsmen did not do those acts. Since I am the one who did them, their ripening happens to me. Such acts do not ripen in the outer element of earth, nor do they ripen in the outer elements of water, fire, or wind. They do not ripen in the inner element of earth, nor do they ripen on the inner elements of water, fire, or wind.’ Keeping those insights in mind, they will remain patient regardless of whether the causes, conditions, and bases for such disturbances unfold or not. Such is the bodhisattvas’ excellent unperturbed patience.