.
The Transcendent Perfection of Wisdom
in Eighteen Thousand Lines - 302
Daśasāhasrikāprajñāpāramitā
– Chapter 02 - Completing / perfecting / purifying with the perfection of wisdom [U2T] –
Source: https://read.84000.co/translation/toh10.html
More Analysis of Mahayana Sutras : https://www.gilehtblog.com/2022/07/toc-400.html
[Note: The two truths are:
T1: conventionally dependently co-arisen (interdependent) relatively functional ever-changing impermanent appearances / tools / adapted skillful means, merely labeled / imputed / imagined / created by the mind in dependence of its conditioning / karma (in cycle), not completely non-existence;
T2: emptiness of inherent existence, not real existence;
U2T: those two truths, like any other pair of apparent opposites, are inseparable, interdependent, co-defined, co-relative, co-dependent, co-emergent, co-evolving, co-ceasing / co-transcended, in harmony, in 'Union' <==> thus empty of inherent existence.
They are tools to help us to get to the 'inconceivable' by refuting what 'Reality as it is' is not:
all extreme views like: existence / dharma / causality / functionality, non-existence / non-dharma / non-causality / non-functionality, both together, neither; difference / manyness / diversity / duality, identity / oneness / sameness / non-duality, both together, neither; permanence / continuity / eternity, impermanence / discontinuity / annihilation, both together, neither; individuality, collectivity, universality, a combination of those, none of those; subjectivity, relation / action / process, objectivity, a combination of those, none of those; the 1st truth alone / dependent origination [T1], the 2nd truth alone / mere-emptiness [T2], both two truths together as if different and in opposition [2T], neither of the two truths as if identical and one [1T,]; 'this', 'non-this', both together, neither – for whatever 'this' is.
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The three spheres: ex.
i. The subject / actor / goer / perceiver / knower / acquirer / owner,
ii. The relation / action / going / perceiving / knowing / acquiring / having
iii. The object / result / destination / perceived / known / acquired / possessions / karma / 5 aggregates / body & speech & mind.
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Generalisations:
Whenever it is possible the comments of each section are expressed into a more global context. So they always cover more than just what is said in the various translations. The goal is to make the Big Picture more evident.
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Note: All comments within (i.e. …) or [...] are from the commentator (me), not the translators.)
[Back to Résumés of chapters 1-41]
02. PRODUCTION OF THE THOUGHT – Bodhisattvas should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T]. For the sake of all beings, Bodhisattvas should complete / perfect / purify all valid concepts / ideas / views / activities / methods / practices / goals / all-dharmas (physical, conceptual, mental; subject, relation / action, object) with the perfection of wisdom, with skillful means, by way of not apprehending / objectifying anything in absolute terms, using those dharmas without any attachment / fixation / absolutes – free from all extremes & middle – without being contaminated by them.
(i.e. Résumé: Completing / perfecting / purifying / transcending with the perfection of wisdom [U2T / U2T-3S / U2T-opp / U2T-2T].
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Bodhisattvas should train in the perfection of wisdom,
should train in the inconceivable true nature & dynamic of Reality as it is here & now (everywhere, at any time),
should train in the inconceivable Union of the Two Truths [U2T] free from all extremes & middle,
and should act more and more in accord with it —
because not knowing it, and not acting in accord with it, is a mistake and necessarily brings more suffering for self & others.
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For the sake of all beings, Bodhisattvas should complete / perfect / purify all valid concepts / ideas / views / activities / methods / practices / goals / all-dharmas (physical, conceptual, mental; subject, relation / action, object) with the perfection of wisdom, with skillful means, by way of not apprehending / objectifying anything in absolute terms, using those dharmas without any attachment / fixation / absolutes – free from all extremes & middle – without being contaminated / conditioned by them.
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The Brief Exegesis / the single thought that resumes all. Bodhisattvas should train in the Perfection of Wisdom, combining it to all practices / activities of the body, speech and mind. Everything a Bodhisattva may want comes from practicing the Perfection of Wisdom.
The single, all-encompassing statement / the 'single thought': "Bodhisattva great beings who want to fully awaken to all dharmas in all forms should make an effort at the perfection of wisdom [U2T]." ( 2.1, 4.4)
"Even that thought [T1] is no thought [T2], because the basic nature of thought is clear light [U2T]", because the true nature & dynamic of all dharmas is indescribable / inconceivable / unthinkable in absolute terms – not thought can do the job –. (7.21)
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Bodhisattvas should train in the Perfection of Wisdom [U2T]: always combining virtuous methods / practices [T1] – ex. bodhicitta, the four immeasurable attitudes, the six paramitas, etc. – with more and more wisdom [T2] [U2T]. Thus acting more and more in accord with the true nature of Reality as it is, with the inconceivable Union of the Two Truths [U2T] free from all extremes & middle.
This applies to all activities of the body, speech and mind of a Bodhisattva.
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Ex. Although a Bodhisattva knows that all sentient beings are empty of inherent existence [T2], not really existent <==> he will still make the vow to attain Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings, will still generate the bodhicitta motivation, practice the six perfections … because they are not completely non-existent / non-caused / non-efficient. He knows that those beings are indescribable / inconceivable: not inherently existent, not completely non-existent, not both together, not neither. The same for his actions. So he works without working for their benefits: knowing that the three spheres involved – ex. subject / bodhisattva, relation / action / guiding, object / sentient beings; or subject / cause / teachings / practices, relation / action / causality / production, object / effect / merit / enlightenment – all all empty of inherent existence [T2], not really existent / caused / functional <==> but still conventionally dependently co-arisen (interdependent) relatively functional ever-changing impermanent appearances / tools / adapted skillful means [T1], merely labeled / imputed by the mind [U3S], not completely non-existent / non-caused / non-functional / useless / meaningless.
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Ex. Giving without giving, without any attachment / fixation / absolutes – about the three spheres of giving – subject / giver, relation / action / giving, objects / gift / recipient; or about cause, causality, effect –. That is, not grasping at any of those three spheres as if existing independently / separately / absolutely / inherently, and as having inherently existing characteristics / properties / attributes / qualities / features / marks / relations / oppositions / processes / activities / changes, and names / labels.
The same for all other virtuous practices – ex. the other five perfections, about generating Bodhicitta –;
the same for all activities of the body, speech and mind.
Acting / practicing / giving without acting / practicing / giving,
but without any grasping / attachment / apprehension / obsession / fixation / reification / reference points / absolutes;
without falling into any extreme or middle;
without any duality / di-vision between subject & object & action, cause & causality & effect, right & wrong, movement & rest, samsara & nirvana;
more and more in accord with the Middle Way: not accepting / affirming / seeking / adding / improving / doing in absolute terms, not rejecting / negating / abandoning / eliminating / subtracting / not-doing anything in absolute terms, just conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively;
thus more and more in accord with the transcendent perfection of wisdom;
more and more in accord with the inconceivable true nature & dynamic of Reality as it is;
more and more in accord with the inconceivable Union of the Two Truths about all dharmas [U2T / U2T-3S / U2T-opp / U2T-2T]
beyond all extremes & middle, beyond all dualistic conceptual proliferations, beyond all defining limitations, beyond all conditioning / karma.
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The same for all other Buddhist virtuous practices; the same for all activities of the body, speech and mind.
Acting / practicing without acting / practicing, without any attachment / fixation / absolutes.
Always combining all activities of the body, speech and mind with more and more Perfection of Wisdom, with more and more awareness of the Union of the Two Truths [U2T] about all dharmas involved – ex. about the three spheres (subject, relation / action, object) [U2T-3S], about all apparent opposites / dualities [U2T-opp], even about the two truths themselves [U2T-2T] –.
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Benefits: Obtaining the three types of knowledge (all-knowledge, knowledge of all path aspects, knowledge of all aspects); transcending the two types of obscurations (emotional obscurations – caused by grasping at an ego –, and cognitive obscurations to omniscience – caused by grasping at the three spheres –); surpassing the dualistic teachings, practices and goals of the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas; etc.
Everything a Bodhisattva may want comes from practicing the Perfection of Wisdom [U2T].
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Conclusion: Bodhisattvas use without using ordinary dharmas, perform without performing ordinary activities, practice without practicing ordinary practices, … but without any grasping / attachment / apprehension / obsession / fixation / reification / reference points / absolutes … thus are not contaminated by them. Why? Because Bodhisattvas are fully aware of the true nature & dynamic as it is [U2T] of all dharmas involved, they are not fooled by illusory appearances, not grasping them, not attached to them, not slaves to them, not creating more karma because of them, not suffering because of them. And that is nirvana here & now. That is the benefits of practicing the perfection of Wisdom, or directly realising the Union of the Two Truths about all dharmas.)
(i.e. From the introduction – The Structure of the Eighteen Thousand:
According to that structure, there are five major divisions [I–V] and eleven sections [(1)–(11)].
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I. Introduction: Chapter 1
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II. Brief Exegesis: Chapter 2 ⇐
Following the introduction there is the single statement by the Lord at the beginning of chapter 2.:
"Here, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings who want to fully awaken to all dharmas in all forms
should make an effort at the perfection of wisdom."
This says it all in brief.
The reader should understand that the Lord remains silent after saying this.
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III. Intermediate Exegesis: Chapters 2-21
Then, beginning the intermediate exegesis there is Śāriputra's question (2.2), ⇐
"How then, Lord, should bodhisattva great beings who want to fully awaken to all dharmas in all forms
make an effort at the Perfection of Wisdom?"
followed by the Lord's response.
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Śāriputra's inquiry raises the following questions:
- What is a bodhisattva and a great being?
- What is it to want fully to awaken to all dharmas in all forms?
- What is "making an effort"?
- And, what is the Perfection of Wisdom?
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Śāriputra's inquiry thus introduces the reader to
(i) bodhisattva great beings,
(ii) all dharmas,
(iii) the Perfection of Wisdom,
(iv) full awakening, and
(v) making an effort — that is, actually putting the Perfection of Wisdom into practice.
These five provide the outline of the intermediate exegesis.”
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Informing both the Lord's statement and Śāriputra's question is the important word want — a word that signals a bodhisattva's compassionate aspiration because it references a bodhisattva's motivation. Hence, what truly informs the statement is bodhicitta ("the thought of awakening"), a technical term for a special altruism.
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This section has two parts:
(1) the explanation for and by Śāriputra that goes from chapter 2 through chapter 5 and ⇐
(2) the explanation for and by Subhūti, from chapter 6 through chapter 21.
This two-part section corresponds to the first chapter of the Eight Thousand (8k).”
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IV. The detailed exegesis of the opening statement goes from chapters 22 to 82.”
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It comprises an explanation of the conceptual and non-conceptual Perfection of Wisdom in
a detailed exposition based on relative [T1] and ultimate truth [T2] [U2T]
for the sake of those who understand from a longer explanation.
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The explanation is subdivided into
(3) an explanation for the head god Śatakratu (chapter 22) and
(4) an explanation by Subhūti (chapters 23–32).
(5) Then there is an explanation that includes an exchange with Maitreya (chapter 33) and
(6–9) three more sections associated with Subhūti and one with Śatakratu.
(10) A second explanation for Maitreya is chapter 83, titled "The Categorization of a Bodhisattva's Training."
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V. Summaries
– Chapter 84 is the summary in verse for Subhūti that circulates separately as The Verse Summary of the Jewel Qualities. In the Eighteen Thousand it is not divided into chapters.
(11) Chapters 85 and 86 are a summary of the earlier chapters in the form of a story about Sadāprarudita's quest to find his teacher Dharmodgata and learn the Perfection of Wisdom, and the final chapter is a short one in which the Lord entrusts the Perfection of Wisdom to Ānanda and the retinue rejoices.)
When the Lord understood that the world with its celestial beings, Māras and Brahmās, śramaṇas and brahmins, gods and humans, as well as bodhisattvas, most of them in youthful form, had assembled, he said to venerable Śāriputra,
"Here, Śāriputra, (i.e. the single, all-encompassing statement – the 'single thought'.)
_
bodhisattva great beings who want to fully awaken to all dharmas in all forms
should make an effort at the perfection of wisdom [U2T]."
[Because that thought [T1] is no thought [T2] [U2T]
because the basic nature of thought is clear light [U2T].]
[Thus, it (the perfection of wisdom) should be taken up by way of no causal sign [T2] and no absence of causal sign [T1], without taking it up.]
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(i.e. Pure perception / cognition & pure actions: Bodhisattvas should always combined conventional relative virtuous activities (all actions of the body, speech & mind) / perceptions / feelings / concepts / symbols / images / ideas / thoughts / views / methods / practices / goals / tools / adapted skillful means <==> with more and more wisdom / genuine-emptiness [U2T]; thus acting more and more in accord with the inconceivable true & dynamic nature of Reality as it is, with the inconceivable Union of the Two Truths about all dharmas [U2T / U2T-3S / U2T-opp / U2T-2T].
Why?
Because, in Reality as it is, everything is like an inconceivable Union of being empty of inherent existence [T2], not really existent / caused / functional <==> because of being conventionally dependently co-arisen (interdependent) relatively functional ever-changing impermanent appearances / tools / adapted skillful means [T1], merely labeled / imputed by the mind in dependence of its conditioning / karma, not completely non-existent / non-caused / non-functional. And vice versa; one aspect / truth implies / proves / enables the other (<==>) [U2T]. Everything is like illusions, reflections, mirages, dreams, magical tricks: 'There, but not there.' [U2T]. Not really existent / caused / functional, not completely non-existent / non-caused / non-functional, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; not 'this', not 'non-this', not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth – for whatever 'this' is. Meaning that everything is indescribable / inconceivable for our flawed dualistic conceptual conditioned ordinary mind(s); it has to be personally spontaneously non-dualistically non-conceptually non-conditionally perceived / realised / experience in the here & now. Meaning there is no independent / universal / absolute / inherently existing basis for any discrimination / differentiation / ranking / judgment / acceptation / rejection in absolute terms, just conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively if it helps someone to get closer to the inconceivable liberating Truth [U2T]. In that sense everything is primordially equal, pure, perfect, divine, complete, free, enlightened, the inseparable three pure kayas, the true Buddha.)
[Question: How to make an effort at the perfection of wisdom?]
The Lord having spoken thus, venerable Śāriputra inquired of him,
"How then, Lord, should bodhisattva great beings who want to fully awaken to all dharmas in all forms
make an effort at the perfection of wisdom?"
[Answer: By practicing without practicing the six paramitas – combined with more and more wisdom / emptiness – without any attachment / fixation / absolutes. Thus, acting more and more in accord with the Union of the Two Truths [U2T], with the true nature & dynamic of Reality as it is.]
Venerable Śāriputra having thus inquired, the Lord said to him, "Śāriputra, here bodhisattva great beings,
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having stood in the perfection of wisdom [T1] by way of not taking their stand on it [T2] [U2T], 18
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should complete the perfection of giving [T1] by way of not giving up anything [T2] [U2T],
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because a gift (object-1), a giver (subject), and a recipient (object-2)
are not apprehended [in absolute terms] [T2] [U2T].
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[i.e. Completed / perfected / purified by uniting virtuous methods / views / interdependence and wisdom / emptiness.]
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(i.e. Ex. Giving without giving, without any attachment / fixation / absolutes – about the three spheres of giving – subject / giver, relation / action / giving, objects / gift / recipient; or about cause, causality, effect –. That is, not grasping at any of those three spheres as if existing independently / separately / absolutely / inherently, and as having inherently existing characteristics / properties / attributes / qualities / features / relations / oppositions / processes / activities / changes, and names / labels.
The same for all other virtuous practices – ex. the other five perfections and generating Bodhicitta –;
the same for all activities of the body, speech and mind.
Acting / practicing / giving without acting / practicing / giving,
but without any grasping / attachment / apprehension / obsession / fixation / reification / reference points / absolutes;
without falling into any extreme or middle;
without any duality / di-vision between subject & object & action, cause & causality & effect, right & wrong, movement & rest, samsara & nirvana;
more and more in accord with the Middle Way: not accepting / affirming / seeking / adding / improving / doing in absolute terms, not rejecting / negating / abandoning / eliminating / subtracting / not-doing anything in absolute terms, just conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively;
thus more and more in accord with the transcendent perfection of wisdom;
more and more in accord with the inconceivable true nature & dynamic of Reality as it is;
more and more in accord with the inconceivable Union of the Two Truths about all dharmas [U2T / U2T-3S / U2T-opp / U2T-2T]
beyond all extremes & middle, beyond all dualistic conceptual proliferations, beyond all defining limitations, beyond all conditioning / karma.)
They should also complete
[i.e. Completed / perfected / purified by uniting virtuous methods / views / interdependence and wisdom / emptiness.]
the perfection of morality [T1] because no downfall is incurred and no compounded downfall is incurred [T2] [U2T], 19
the perfection of patience [T1] because there is no disturbance [T2] [U2T],
the perfection of perseverance [T1] because there is no physical or mental effort expended [T2] [U2T],
the perfection of concentration [T1] because there is no experience [T2] [U2T], and
the perfection of wisdom [T1] because all phenomena are not apprehended [in absolute terms] [T2] [U2T].
(i.e. Note about 'apprehended': … "commonly refers to the apprehending of a subject, an object, and the relationships that exist between them." — Meaning: Those three spheres – subject / bodhisattva, relation / action / awakening, object / the perfection of wisdom – cannot be apprehended in absolute terms, as three separate / independent / related or opposed entities; just conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively [U2T-3S].)
[Answer: The same for all activities, all practices / trainings. Always acting without acting, without any attachment / fixation / absolutes.]
"Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings, having stood in the perfection of wisdom,
(i.e. The same for all other Buddhist virtuous practices; the same for all activities of the body, speech and mind. Acting / practicing without acting / practicing, without any attachment / fixation / absolutes. Always combining all activities of the body, speech and mind with more and more Perfection of Wisdom, with more and more awareness of the Union of the Two Truths [U2T] about all dharmas involved – ex. about the three spheres (subject, relation / action, object) [U2T-3S], about all apparent opposites / dualities [U2T-opp], even about the two truths themselves [U2T-2T] –.)
should perfect the four applications of mindfulness [T1] because 20 mindfulness cannot be apprehended [in absolute terms] [T2] [U2T], and
[i.e. Completed / perfected / purified by uniting virtuous methods / views / interdependence and wisdom / emptiness.]they should perfect the four right efforts, four legs of miraculous power, five faculties, five powers, seven limbs of awakening, and eightfold noble path.
They should cultivate the emptiness meditative stabilization, signlessness meditative stabilization, and wishlessness meditative stabilization.
They should cultivate the four concentrations, four immeasurables, four formless absorptions, eight deliverances, nine serial absorptions, and nine perceptions.
What are the nine?
The nine perceptions are the perception of a bloated corpse, the perception of it chopped in half, 21 the perception of it as putrid, the bloodied perception, the black-and-blue perception, the savaged perception, the torn-asunder perception, the bones perception, and the burnt-bones perception.They should cultivate mindfulness of the Buddha, mindfulness of the Dharma, mindfulness of the Saṅgha, mindfulness of morality, mindfulness of giving away, and mindfulness of the gods.
They should cultivate mindfulness of breathing in and out, mindfulness of disgust, mindfulness of death, and mindfulness of what is included in the body.
They should perfect the perception of impermanence, the perception of suffering, the perception of selflessness, the perception of the unclean, the perception of death, the perception that there is no delight in the entire world, and the perception that there is nothing to trust in the entire world;
[i.e. Completed / perfected / purified by uniting virtuous methods / views / interdependence and wisdom / emptiness.]knowledge of suffering, knowledge of origination, knowledge of cessation, knowledge of the path, knowledge of extinction, knowledge of non-production, 22 knowledge of dharma, subsequent realization knowledge, conventional knowledge, knowledge of mastery, and knowledge in accord with sound; 23 and
meditative stabilization with applied and sustained thought, meditative stabilization without applied thought but with sustained thought, meditative stabilization without either applied or sustained thought, what one does not understand,
the faculty of understanding, the faculty of having understood,
the stations of mastery, the stations of complete immersion,
the four ways of gathering a retinue, the four presentations, the ten levels and ten practices, the ten forbearances,
the twenty surpassing aspirations,
the knowledge of a knower of all, 24 the knowledge of calm abiding and insight,
the three knowledges, the four detailed and thorough knowledges,
the four fearlessnesses, the five undiminished clairvoyances,
the six perfections, the six principles of being liked, 25 the seven riches, the eight ways great persons think,
the nine places beings live, the ten tathāgata powers, the eighteen distinct attributes of a buddha,
great love, and great compassion.
[i.e. Completed / perfected / purified by uniting virtuous methods / views / interdependence and wisdom / emptiness.]
[Benefits: Obtaining the three types of knowledge (all-knowledge of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, knowledge of all path aspects of Bodhisattvas, knowledge of all aspects of Buddhas), transcending the two types of obscurations (emotional obscurations – caused by grasping at an ego –, and cognitive obscurations to omniscience – caused by grasping at the three spheres –).]
"Bodhisattva great beings who want to fully awaken to [i.e. the three types of knowledge:]
the knowledge, furnished with the best of all aspects, of a knower of all aspects [I.e. the knowledge of all aspects],
who want to perfect the knowledge of all path aspects,
who want to perfect all-knowledge, 26 and
who want to perfect the knowledge of the aspects of the thought activity of all beings
[i.e. Completed / perfected / purified by uniting virtuous methods / views / interdependence and wisdom / emptiness.]
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should make an effort at the perfection of wisdom.
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Bodhisattva great beings
who want to destroy [transcend / transmute] all residual impressions,
connections, and afflictions [i.e. the two types of obscurations] 27
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should make an effort at the perfection of wisdom.
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"Śāriputra, thus should bodhisattva great beings train in the perfection of wisdom.
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(i.e. To solve all problems and obtain all benefits, Bodhisattvas should train in the perfection of wisdom, in the inconceivable inseparability / interdependence / harmony / Union of the Two Truths [U2T / U2T-3S / U2T-opp / U2T-2T]; combining it with all other virtuous concepts, ideas, truths, views, methods, practices, goals, trainings & teachings.)
(Note: The three types of omniscience, as described in this text, are
i. the all-knowledge of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas;
ii. the knowledge of path aspects of bodhisattva great beings; and
iii. the knowledge of all aspects which pertain to the tathāgatas.
These are explained in detail in 63.174.
63.174
"Lord, the Tathāgata has also said all-knowledge,
the Tathāgata has also said 'knowledge of path aspects' in the sutra, 659 and
the Tathāgata has also said knowledge of all aspects.
What distinction and what differentiation, Lord, is there between these three types of omniscience?" 660
63.175
"Subhūti, all-knowledge belongs to śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas;
the knowledge of path aspects, Subhūti, to bodhisattva great beings; and
the knowledge of all aspects, Subhūti, to the tathāgatas, worthy ones, perfectly complete buddhas."
63.176
"Lord, why does the knowledge of all aspects belong to tathāgatas,
why the knowledge of path aspects to bodhisattva great beings, and
why all-knowledge to śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas?"
63.177
"Subhūti," replied the Lord, "it is because śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas know all those inner and outer dharmas, as many as there are, but not all paths and all aspects.
63.178
"Subhūti, you have asked, 'Lord, why does the knowledge of path aspects belong to bodhisattva great beings?'
Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings have to produce all paths, have to understand all paths, and they have to fully complete all paths—the śrāvaka paths, pratyekabuddha paths, and bodhisattva paths. On those paths they do the path work to be done but do not actualize the very limit of reality."-
63.190
"Subhūti, that one aspect on account of which the 'knowledge of all aspects' spoken of again and again is called 'knowledge of all aspects' is thus the calm aspect. Subhūti, also those aspects, tokens, and signs on account of which phenomena are described as 'empty'—those aspects, tokens, and signs are understood by the Tathāgata as well. Therefore, it is called the 'knowledge of all aspects.' ")
[Benefits: Surpassing the dualistic teachings, practices and goals of the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas.]
"Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to enter into the secure state of a bodhisattva, 28
who want to pass beyond the level of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas,
who want to stand on the irreversible level,
who want to know the activity and continual movement of the thoughts of all beings,
who want to surpass the knowledge of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas,
who want to acquire the dhāraṇī gateways, and
who want to surpass gift-giving to all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas
by producing a single thought with associated rejoicing
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should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
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Bodhisattva great beings
who want to surpass the morality of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas
by producing a single thought with associated rejoicing 29
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should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
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Bodhisattva great beings
who want to surpass the meditative stabilization, wisdom, liberation,
and knowledge and seeing of liberation of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas
by producing a single thought with associated rejoicing
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should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
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Bodhisattva great beings
who want to surpass the concentrations, meditative stabilizations, and absorptions of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas
by producing a single thought with associated rejoicing
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should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
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(i.e. To solve all problems and obtain all benefits, Bodhisattvas should train in the perfection of wisdom, in the inconceivable inseparability / interdependence / harmony / Union of the Two Truths [U2T / U2T-3S / U2T-opp / U2T-2T]; combining it with all other virtuous concepts, ideas, truths, views, methods, practices, goals, trainings & teachings.)
[Benefits: It multiplies the merit gained from any virtuous practices / activities.]
"Bodhisattva great beings who, for the sake of all beings,
want giving even a little gift to become immeasurable and incalculable
by turning it over to all-knowledge with skillful means
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should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
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Similarly, bodhisattva great beings who, for the sake of all beings,
want even the little morality they have guarded,
the little patience they have developed,
the little effort they have exerted,
the little concentration they have become absorbed in, and
the little wisdom they have developed
to become immeasurable and incalculable
by turning them over to all-knowledge with skillful means
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should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
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"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings practicing the perfection of giving
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should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
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Similarly, bodhisattva great beings practicing the perfection of morality,
the perfection of patience,
the perfection of perseverance,
the perfection of concentration, and
the perfection of wisdom
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should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
[Benefits: Whatever a Bodhisattva wants come from training in the Perfection of Wisdom [U2T].]
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to thoroughly establish a buddha's body
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
If they want to acquire the thirty-two major marks and the eighty minor signs of a great person,
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to be born in the buddha's line
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
Bodhisattva great beings
who want to step onto the heir apparent's level, and
want never to be without the buddhas and bodhisattvas,
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, were bodhisattva great beings to feel this longing — 'May I be richly endowed with the wholesome roots with which I will respect, revere, honor, and worship the tathāgatas, the worthy ones, the perfectly complete lord buddhas' —
___________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
___________________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to satisfy all the desires of all beings with requirements such as food, drink, flowers, perfume, garments, flower garlands, incense, powders, creams, bedding, seats, houses, money, grain, medicines for relief of sickness, ornaments, jewels, gems, beryl, conch shells, crystals,30 corals, parks, and kingdoms
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to establish all beings in a world as vast as the dharma-constituent and as far reaching as the space element 31 in the perfection of giving, and
who want to establish them in the perfection of morality, the perfection of patience, the perfection of perseverance, the perfection of concentration, and the perfection of wisdom,
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to make a single wholesome thought of awakening inexhaustible until reaching complete awakening at the site of awakening
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who think, 'May the buddhas in the ten directions praise me,'
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want, through a single production of the thought, 32 to approach as many world systems in the eastern direction as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
Similarly, bodhisattva great beings
who want, through a single production of the thought, to approach as many world systems as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River in each of the southern, western, northern, northeastern, southeastern, southwestern, and northwestern directions, and below and above,
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want by uttering a single sound to instruct as many world systems in the eastern direction as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
Similarly, bodhisattva great beings
who want by uttering a single sound to instruct as many world systems as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River in each of the southern, western, northern, northeastern, southeastern, southwestern, and northwestern directions, and below and above,
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to ensure that the line of buddhas will be unbroken
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to stand in inner emptiness
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
Similarly, bodhisattva great beings
who want to stand in outer emptiness, inner and outer emptiness, the emptiness of emptiness, great emptiness, the emptiness of ultimate reality, the emptiness of the compounded, the emptiness of the uncompounded, the emptiness of what transcends limits, the emptiness of no beginning and no end, the emptiness of non-repudiation, 33 the emptiness of a basic nature, the emptiness of all dharmas, the emptiness of its own mark, the emptiness of not apprehending, 34 the emptiness of a non-existent thing, the emptiness of an intrinsic nature, and the emptiness that is the non-existence of an intrinsic nature
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to comprehend the suchness of all dharmas, the suchness of the dharma-constituent, and the suchness of the very limit of reality
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to know how many tiny particles of earth there are in the great billionfold world system;
who want to know the tiny particles of water in the oceans, torrents, lakes, ponds, wells, and rivulets;
who want to know the tiny particles of fire; and
who want to know the tiny particles of wind in all the world systems in the great billionfold world system
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to blow out with one puff of breath the fire in the great billionfold world system when the eon is burning up
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to blunt with the tip of one finger the force of the whirling, shaking circle of wind as it is circulating in the great billionfold world system, rocking, scattering, and pervasively shaking every mountain and the entire earth starting with the axial mountain Sumeru, the great Sumeru, the encircling mountain ranges, and the great encircling mountain ranges
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
thinking, 'I should toss immeasurable world systems by bundling up every mountain there is in the great billionfold world system — the axial mountain Sumeru, the great Sumeru, the encircling mountain ranges, the great encircling mountain ranges, and so on — with a single strand of hair,'
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want their single cross-legged posture to expand into and fill up the space of the great billionfold world system in its entirety
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want with a single begging bowl to distribute food to each of 35 the lord buddhas, together with their śrāvaka saṅghas, in as many world systems as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River to the east
_________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom;
_________________________________________
-
and similarly, bodhisattva great beings
who want to respect,
want to revere,
want to honor, and
want to worship those tathāgatas, worthy ones, perfectly complete buddhas with clouds of flowers, incense, perfumes, garlands of flowers, creams, aromatic powders, clothes, parasols, flags, and banners
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
Similarly, bodhisattva great beings
who want with a single alms bowl to distribute food to each of the lord buddhas, together with their śrāvaka saṅghas, in each of as many world systems as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River to the south, west, and north, in the intermediate directions to the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest, and below and above, and similarly
want to respect,
want to revere,
want to honor, and
want to worship with clouds of flowers, incense, perfumes, garlands of flowers, creams, aromatic powders, clothes, parasols, flags, and streamers those tathāgatas, worthy ones, perfectly complete buddhas
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to establish beings in as many world systems as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River to the east in the aggregate of morality;
who want to establish them in the aggregate of meditative stabilization, in the aggregate of wisdom, in the aggregate of liberation, and in the aggregate of knowledge and seeing of liberation; and
similarly want to establish them in the result of stream enterer, once-returner, and non-returner, in the state of a worthy one, in a pratyekabuddha's awakening, up to in the element of nirvāṇa without any aggregates left behind
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
(i.e. To solve all problems and obtain all benefits, Bodhisattvas should train in the perfection of wisdom, in the inconceivable inseparability / interdependence / harmony / Union of the Two Truths [U2T / U2T-3S / U2T-opp / U2T-2T]; combining it with all other virtuous concepts, ideas, truths, views, methods, practices, goals, trainings & teachings.)
-
As with the east, also connect this with as many world systems as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River in the south, west, and north, in the intermediate directions to the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest, and below and above.
(ie. For more like this see Chapter 7)
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings practicing the perfection of wisdom should know, when giving a gift, that
having given such a gift there is a great result:
having given such a gift, they will be born in great sāla tree – like royal families, and similarly in great sāla tree–like brahmin families, and in great sāla tree – like business families;
having given such a gift they will be born among the Cāturmahārājika gods, and similarly, born among the gods of Trāyastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, and Nirmāṇarati;
having given such a gift, they will reach the first concentration, and similarly reach the second concentration and the third concentration;
having given such a gift they will reach the fourth concentration;
having given such a gift they will reach the station of the non-perception absorption;
having given such a gift they will reach the station of the endless-space absorption, and similarly,
having given such a gift, they will reach the station of endless consciousness
and the station of the nothing-at-all absorption;having given such a gift they will reach the station of the neither perception nor non-perception absorption; and
having given such a gift they will acquire the thirty-seven dharmas on the side of awakening,
and similarly they will reach the result of stream enterer,
and reach the result of once-returner, the result of non-returner,
and the state of a worthy one.
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings practicing the perfection of wisdom should know that
_______________________________________________________________
a gift thus given with skillful means completes the perfection of giving,
_______________________________________________________________
and similarly completes the perfection of morality, the perfection of patience, the perfection of perseverance, the perfection of concentration, and the perfection of wisdom."
[i.e. Completed / perfected / purified by uniting virtuous methods / views / interdependence and wisdom / emptiness.]
[Question: How all six paramitas are completed when practicing any one of them ?]
The Lord having spoken thus, venerable Śāriputra then inquired of him,
"How, Lord, does the perfection of giving become complete when bodhisattva great beings are giving a gift?How do the perfection of morality, the perfection of patience, the perfection of perseverance, the perfection of concentration, and the perfection of wisdom become complete when bodhisattva great beings are giving a gift?"
Venerable Śāriputra having thus inquired, the Lord said to him, "Śāriputra,
_____________________________________________________________________
the perfection of giving is completed by way of the purity of the three spheres,
not apprehending a gift, giver, or recipient [U3s / U2T-3S];
_____________________________________________________________________the perfection of morality is completed because no downfall is incurred and no compounded downfall is incurred;
the perfection of patience is completed because of not being disturbed;
the perfection of perseverance is completed because of not expending physical or mental effort;
the perfection of concentration is completed because of not being distracted and not constructing any ideas;
and the perfection of wisdom is completed by way of not apprehending the knowledge of all dharmas [U2T].
Thus, Śāriputra, when bodhisattvas give a gift like that, 36 the six perfections are completed.
[i.e. Completed / perfected / purified by uniting virtuous methods / views / interdependence and wisdom / emptiness.]
Similarly all six perfections are completed in
[all six perfections are completed in] the perfection of morality, and similarly
all six perfections are completed in the perfection of patience,
[all six perfections are completed in] the perfection of perseverance,
[all six perfections are completed in] the perfection of concentration, and
[all six perfections are completed in] the perfection of wisdom.
[i.e. Completed / perfected / purified by uniting virtuous methods / views / interdependence and wisdom / emptiness.]
[Benefits: Whatever a Bodhisattva wants come from training in the Perfection of Wisdom [U2T].]
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to acquire all the buddha qualities of the past, future, and present lord buddhas
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
(i.e. To solve all problems and obtain all benefits, Bodhisattvas should train in the perfection of wisdom, in the inconceivable inseparability / interdependence / harmony / Union of the Two Truths [U2T / U2T-3S / U2T-opp / U2T-2T]; combining it with all other virtuous concepts, ideas, truths, views, methods, practices, goals, trainings & teachings.)
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to transcend all compounded and uncompounded phenomena
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to comprehend the suchness of all past, future, and present dharmas, and similarly,
who want to reach the dharma-constituent, the limit of the absence of production, 37
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to be foremost among śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to be attendants of the lord buddhas
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to be in the inner circle of the lord buddhas
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to be in the inner retinue of the lord buddhas
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to have a large retinue
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to purify a donation
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to stop miserly thoughts
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T], and similarly, those
_______________________________________________
who want to prevent immoral thoughts from arising,
who want to prevent malicious thoughts from arising,
who want to quit having lazy thoughts,
who want to quit having distracted thoughts, and
who want to quit having confused thoughts
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to establish all beings in the bases of meritorious action arisen from giving, and
who want to establish all beings in the bases of meritorious action arisen from morality, arisen from meditation, that accompany service, and arisen from material things
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to produce the five eyes
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
And what are the five eyes?
They are the flesh eye, divine eye, wisdom eye, dharma eye, and buddha eye.
-
If they want to produce them,
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
-
Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to see with their divine eye as many buddhas and lords as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River to the east
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
and similarly, if they want to see with their divine eye as many buddhas and lords as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River in the south, west, and north, in the intermediate directions to the northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest, and below and above
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
-
If they want to hear with their divine ear the doctrine those buddhas and lords explain
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
-
And if they want to comprehend with their mind the thought of those buddhas and lords exactly as it is
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to hear the entire doctrine that the lord buddhas in all world systems in all ten directions explain, and having heard it take it up perfectly by applying the power of memory uninterruptedly,
and who do not want any to be lost up until they awaken to unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to see the buddhafields of past buddhas and lords, and of future buddhas and lords as well, and
who want to see the buddhafields of present buddhas and lords now dwelling and maintaining themselves in world systems in all ten directions
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to master all that the tathāgatas have taught in discourses, melodious narrations, predictions, verses, summaries, introductions, accounts, birth stories, expanded texts, marvels, tales, and expositions, and what has not been heard by śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas,
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to take up all that the lord buddhas in the eastern direction have said, are saying, and will say,
who want to bear it in mind,
who want to read it aloud, and similarly
who want to practice it and
want to elaborate upon it in detail for others,
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
Similarly, if they want to take up all that the lord buddhas in the southern, western, northern, northeastern, southeastern, southwestern, and northwestern directions, below and above, have said, are saying, and will say,
want to bear it in mind,
want to read it aloud, and similarly
want to practice it and
want to elaborate upon it in detail for others,
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to shine down on the blinding darkness where the sun and moon do not shine, in as many world systems in the eastern direction as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River,
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
Similarly, if they want to shine light down on the blinding darkness where the sun and moon do not shine, in as many world systems as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River in the southern, western, northern, northeastern, southeastern, southwestern, and northwestern directions, below and above,
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to proclaim to all the beings born in various buddhafields in as many world systems in the eastern direction as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River the word Buddha, the word Dharma, and the word Saṅgha, and
who want to establish them in right view,
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
Similarly, bodhisattva great beings
who want to proclaim the words Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha and establish in right view beings in as many world systems as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River in the southern, western, northern, northeastern, southeastern, southwestern, and northwestern directions, below and above, where there is no sound of the words Buddha, Dharma, Saṅgha, or right view,
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want beings who are blind, in as many world systems in the eastern direction as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River, to see shapes with their eyes through their might
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
Similarly, thinking, 'May those who are deaf hear sounds with their ears, those who have gone mad regain their senses, the naked be clothed, hungry beings have their fill, the thirsty quench their thirst, beings who are stuck in terrible forms of life be freed from all the terrible forms of life and gain birth as humans, and may I establish the immoral in the aggregate of morality';
and similarly,
thinking, 'May I establish those who are not stabilized in meditation in the aggregate of meditative stabilization, in the aggregate of wisdom, in the aggregate of liberation, and in the aggregate of knowledge and seeing of liberation';
and thinking, 'May I establish those who do not see the truths in the result of stream enterer';
and thinking, 'May I establish them in the result of once-returner, the result of non-returner, the state of a worthy one, in a pratyekabuddha's awakening, and in unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening,'
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
"Similarly, bodhisattva great beings
who want beings who are blind, in as many world systems as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River in the southern, western, northern, northeastern, southeastern, southwestern, and northwestern directions, below and above, to see shapes with their eyes through their might
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
-
Similarly, thinking, 'May those who are deaf hear sounds with their ears, those who have gone mad regain their senses, the naked be clothed, hungry beings have their fill, the thirsty quench their thirst, beings who are stuck in terrible forms of life be freed from all the terrible forms of life and gain birth as humans, and may I establish the immoral in the aggregate of morality';
and similarly, thinking, 'May I establish those who are not stabilized in meditation in the aggregate of meditative stabilization, in the aggregate of wisdom, in the aggregate of liberation, and in the aggregate of knowledge and seeing of liberation';
and thinking, 'May I establish those who do not see the truths in the result of stream enterer';
and thinking, 'May I establish them in the result of once-returner, the result of non-returner, the state of a worthy one, in a pratyekabuddha's awakening, and in unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening,'
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings
who want to train in the tathāgatas' way of carrying themselves
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings practicing the perfection of wisdom should contemplate like this:
'When, oh when, will I look down as an elephant looks? How will it come to be that I will walk on the earth without my feet touching it by the measure of four fingers?'
Thinking thus,
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
-
(i.e. To solve all problems and obtain all benefits, Bodhisattvas should train in the perfection of wisdom, in the inconceivable inseparability / interdependence / harmony / Union of the Two Truths [U2T / U2T-3S / U2T-opp / U2T-2T]; combining it with all other virtuous concepts, ideas, truths, views, methods, practices, goals, trainings & teachings.)
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings practicing the perfection of wisdom should contemplate like this as well:
'How will it come to be that I, surrounded by and at the head of many hundred thousand one hundred million billion Cāturmahārājika gods, and Trāyastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, Paranirmitavaśavartin, Brahmapurohita, Brahmakāyika, Brahmapārṣadya, Parīttābha, Apramāṇābha, Ābhāsvara, Parīttaśubha, Apramāṇaśubha, Śubhakṛtsna, Bṛhatphala, Śuddhāvāsa, 38 Sudṛśa, Sudarśana, Avṛha, Atapa, and Akaniṣṭha gods, go forth to the site of awakening?'
Thinking thus,
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings practicing the perfection of wisdom should contemplate like this as well:
'How will it come to be that the Cāturmahārājika gods, up to the Akaniṣṭha class, spread out my seat at the root of the tree at the site of awakening?'
Thinking thus,
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings practicing the perfection of wisdom should contemplate like this as well:
'How will it come to be that this region of the earth on which I will fully awaken to unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening, and walk, stand, sit, or lie down, become all diamond?'
Thinking thus,
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
___________________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings practicing the perfection of wisdom should contemplate like this as well:
'How will it come to be that on that very day that I go forth I will fully awaken, on that very day, to unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening, and, having fully awakened on that very day, that I will turn the wheel of the Dharma so that, having turned it, dust-free and stainless, the Dharma eye of countless beings beyond measure will become clear about the dharmas, countless beings beyond measure will stop appropriating anything and their minds will become freed from outflows, and countless beings beyond measure will not turn back from unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening?'
Thinking thus,
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
"Moreover, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings practicing the perfection of wisdom should contemplate like this as well:
'How will I come to have a community of countless śrāvakas beyond measure? How through my one single teaching of the Dharma will countless beings beyond measure become worthy ones in one sitting, become bodhisattvas in one sitting,39 become bodhisattvas who will not turn back from unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening? How will I come to have an infinite community of bodhisattvas, a measure of life that is infinite, and infinite splendid light?'
Thinking thus,
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
"Bodhisattva great beings thinking,
'How will there come to be not even the sound of the words greed, hatred, and confusion in any way at all in that buddhafield where I fully awaken to unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening?'
_______________________________________________
should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
_______________________________________________
"Bodhisattva great beings thinking,
'How will all beings in that buddhafield where I fully awaken to unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening come to be endowed with the form of wisdom that knows 'giving is good, discipline is good, restraint is good, celibacy is good, non-violence toward all creatures and spirits is good?';
bodhisattva great beings thinking,
'After I have passed into complete nirvāṇa, how will it come to be that there are not even the words disappearance of the good Dharma?';
[i.e. Completed / perfected / purified by uniting virtuous methods / views / interdependence and wisdom / emptiness.]
bodhisattva great beings thinking,
'How will it come to be that just from hearing my name beings present in as many world systems as there are sand particles in the Gaṅgā River become assured of unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening?'—
____________________________________________________
they should train in the perfection of wisdom [U2T].
____________________________________________________
"Śāriputra, at the time a bodhisattva great being practicing the perfection of wisdom produces these good qualities,
then the Four Mahārājas present in the great billionfold world system are enraptured and think as follows: 'Just as the Four Mahārājas of yore presented begging bowls to the tathāgatas, the worthy ones, the perfectly complete buddhas of yore, we too will present four begging bowls to this bodhisattva, this great being.'
The Trāyastriṃśa gods, along with the Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, and Paranirmitavaśavartin gods, are enraptured as well and think, 'With this the hosts of asuras will decline and the hosts of gods will flourish, so we will make attendants available for this bodhisattva, this great being.'
And the gods in the great billionfold world system, from the Mahābrahmās and Brahmakāyika, and all the Brahmās up to Akaniṣṭha, are enraptured and think, 'We will request this bodhisattva, this great being, awakened to complete awakening, to turn the wheel of the Dharma.'
"Moreover, Śāriputra, at the time a bodhisattva great being practicing the perfection of wisdom prospers with the six perfections,
the sons and daughters of good families are enraptured as well and think, 'Let us become the mother and father, wife, son, friend, kinsman, and blood relative of that great being.'
The Four Māhārājas and the Trāyastriṃśa gods, as well as the gods up to the Akaniṣṭha gods, are enraptured and think, 'In order to definitely join beings to awakening the bodhisattva great being is celibate, not conjoined with the qualities that fetter.'
They make the prayer, 'Starting from when I first produce the thought of awakening, I will be celibate, I will not be non-celibate.
And why?
Because pursuing sense objects becomes a block even to birth in the world of Brahmā, so it goes without saying it is a block to unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening.
Therefore, having gone forth to homelessness, I will fully awaken to unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening just as a celibate person, not as a non-celibate person.'
Hence, they shun sexual intercourse."
(i.e. To solve all problems and obtain all benefits, Bodhisattvas should train in the perfection of wisdom, in the inconceivable inseparability / interdependence / harmony / Union of the Two Truths [U2T / U2T-3S / U2T-opp / U2T-2T]; combining it with all other virtuous concepts, ideas, truths, views, methods, practices, goals, trainings & teachings.)
[Conclusion: Bodhisattvas use without using ordinary dharmas, perform without performing ordinary activities, but without any grasping / attachment / apprehension / obsession / fixation / reification / reference points / absolutes … thus are not contaminated by them, not slaves to them, not creating more karma because of using them.]
The Lord having spoken thus, venerable Śāriputra then asked him,
"Lord, do bodhisattva great beings definitely have to be with parents, wives, sons, friends, kinsmen, and blood relatives?"
Venerable Śāriputra having asked this, the Lord said to him,
"Śāriputra, some bodhisattva great beings definitely come with parents, a wife, and sons.
Some bodhisattva great beings embrace celibacy starting from when they first produce the thought of awakening, always remaining unmarried persons practicing the bodhisattva practices until they fully awaken to unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening.
Some bodhisattva great beings, through skillful means, in order to bring beings to maturity, make use of the five sorts of sense objects and then go forth from the harem 40 and fully awaken to unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening.
Śāriputra, some bodhisattva great beings gain a standing in the deep perfection of wisdom and, separated from the desire realm afflictions, in order to bring beings to maturity, make a show of taking to 41 the five sorts of sense objects, but they do not make use of them.
To illustrate, Śāriputra, a clever, well-trained magician or magician's apprentice with knowledge of magic spells and magic performance conjures up the five sorts of sense objects and makes a show of themselves dallying with, enjoying, and acting gratified by the five sorts of sense objects. What do you think, Śāriputra, does that magician or magician's apprentice make use of those five sorts of sense objects?"
"No, Lord," Śāriputra replied.
"Similarly, Śāriputra," said the Lord,
"bodhisattva great beings, through skillful means,
make use of those five sorts of sense objects in order to bring beings to maturity, [T1]
and still those bodhisattva great beings are not contaminated by those sense objects [T2] [U2T].
Alternatively, bodhisattva great beings speak disparagingly of sense objects:
'Sense objects are ablaze, disgusting, murderous, and against you.'
So, Śāriputra, bodhisattva great beings take to these sorts of sense objects in order to bring beings to maturity."
This was the second chapter, "Production of the Thought," of "The Perfection of Wisdom in Eighteen Thousand Lines."
Access to other chapters on the Blog:
(Work in progress. Empty files means they are not done yet.)
Chapter 0 – Introduction to the Sutra
Chapter 1 – Introduction / the Assembly
Chapter 2 – Production of the Thought
Chapter 3 – Designation
Chapter 4 – Equal to the Unequal
Chapter 5 – Tongue
Chapter 6 – Subhūti
Chapter 7 – Entry into flawlessness
Chapter 8 – The Religious Mendicant Śreṇika
Chapter 9 – Causal Signs
Chapter 10 – Illusion-like
Chapter 11 – Embarrassment
Chapter 12 – Elimination of Views
Chapter 13 – The Six Perfections
Chapter 14 – Neither Bound nor Freed
Chapter 15 – Meditative Stabilization
Chapter 16 – Dhāraṇī Gateway
Chapter 17 – Level Purification
Chapter 18 – The Exposition of Going Forth in the Great Vehicle
Chapter 19 – Surpassing
Chapter 20 – Not Two
Chapter 21 – Subhūti
Chapter 22 – Śatakratu
Chapter 23 – Hard to Understand
Chapter 24 – Unlimited
Chapter 25 – Second Śatakratu
Chapter 26 – Getting Old
Chapter 27 – Reliquary
Chapter 28 – Declaration of the Good Qualities of the Thought of Awakening
Chapter 29 – Different Tīrthika Religious Mendicants
Chapter 30 – The Benefits of Taking Up and Adoration
Chapter 31 – Physical Remains
Chapter 32 – The Superiority of Merit
Chapter 33 – Dedication
Chapter 34 – Perfect Praise of the Quality of Accomplishment
Chapter 35 – Hells
Chapter 36 – Teaching The Purity of all Dharmas
Chapter 37 – Nobody
Chapter 38 – Cannot Be Apprehended
Chapter 39 – The Northern Region
Chapter 40 – The Work of Māra
Chapter 41 – Not Complete Because of Māra
Chapter 42 – Revealing the World
Chapter 43 – Inconceivable
Chapter 44 – Made Up
Chapter 45 – A Boat
Chapter 46 – Teaching the Intrinsic Nature of All Dharmas
Chapter 47 – Taming Greed
Chapter 48 – A Presentation of the Bodhisattvas' Training
Chapter 49 – Irreversibility
Chapter 50 – Teaching the Signs of Irreversibility
Chapter 51 – Skillful means
Chapter 52 – Completion of the Means
Chapter 53 – The Prophecy about Gaṅgadevī
Chapter 54 – Teaching the Cultivation of Skillful Means
Chapter 55 – Teaching the Stopping of Thought Construction [in absolute terms]
Chapter 56 – Equal Training
Chapter 57 – Practice
Chapter 58 – Exposition of the Absence of Thought Construction [in absolute terms]
Chapter 59 – Non-attachment
Chapter 60 – Entrusting
Chapter 61 – Inexhaustible
Chapter 62 – Leaping Above Absorption
Chapter 63 – Many Inquiries about the Two Dharmas
Chapter 64 – Perfectly Displayed
Chapter 65 – Worshiping, Serving, and Attending on Spiritual Friends as Skillful Means
Chapter 66 – A Demonstration of Skillful Means
Chapter 67 – Morality
Chapter 68 – Growing and Flourishing
Chapter 69 – An Explanation of Meditation on The Path
Chapter 70 – An Explanation of Serial Action, Training, and Practice
Chapter 71 – The True Nature of Dharmas That Cannot Be Apprehended
Chapter 72 – Teaching the Absence of Marks
Chapter 73 – Exposition of the Major Marks and Minor Signs and the Completion of Letters
Chapter 74 – Exposition of the Sameness of Dharmas
Chapter 75 – Exposition of Non-complication –
Chapter 76 – The Armor for Bringing Beings to Maturity
Chapter 77 – Teaching the Purification of a Buddhafield
Chapter 78 – Teaching the Skillful Means for the Purification of a Buddhafield
Chapter 79 – Teaching the Non Existence of an Intrinsic Nature
Chapter 80 – Teaching that there is No Defilement or Purification
Chapter 81 – Yogic Practice of the Ultimate
Chapter 82 – The Unchanging True Nature of Dharmas
Chapter 83 – Categorization of a Bodhisattva's Training
Chapter 84 – Collection
Chapter 85 – Sadāprarudita
Chapter 86 – Dharmodgata
Chapter 87 – Entrusting
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