འཕགས་པ་གང་པས་ཞས་པ་ཞས་བྱ་བ་ཐག་པ་ཆན་པའ་མད 1.2

1.2

“I have questions about these holy beings. How do bodhisattvas amass great knowledge, such that it will not be exhausted, like the ocean? Having amassed a precious treasure of erudition, how is it that, by comprehending the meaning that is definitive with regard to all phenomena, they correctly penetrate the meaning of words?” He then spoke again in verse:

“How do bodhisattvas seek
A level of erudition like a vast ocean,
And having comprehended the meaning that is definitive with regard to phenomena,
How do they gain an understanding of the path to awakening?

“How do they understand boundless meanings
Through a single word,
So that, through the power of such insight,
They can comprehend all phenomena?

“Since their erudition is infinite,
Their minds do not waver, even when faced with opponents.
Teaching the Dharma out of compassion,
They eliminate the doubts of sentient beings.

“Blessed One,” continued the venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra, “I have another question for the Thus-Gone One about the force of the wisdom that follows from the attainment of the bodhisattva levels. How is it that bodhisattva great beings’ progress toward unsurpassed and perfect awakening will be irreversible?” He then went on in verse:

“Having abandoned the states without freedom,
How do they encounter many buddhas?
And having seen many buddhas,
How do they swiftly develop sincere faith?

“Having developed that unsurpassed type of faith,
How do they give away that which is extremely difficult to give away?
Having completely given everything away,
How with that force do they practice unhindered on the path?

“Having developed the aspiration to go forth,
How do they cultivate the wisdom of emptiness in isolated places?
How do they act in ways that do not contradict the Dharma?
Please elucidate these matters.

“Blessed One,” continued the venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra, “the thus-gone ones have reached perfect omniscience. They have mastered all miraculous powers and are the supreme beings within the three realms.