The Sūtra of the Question of Subāhu
Translation of འཕགས་པ་ལག་བཟངས་ཀྱས་ཞས་པ་ཞས་བྱ་བ་ཐག་པ་ཆན་པའ་མད (འཕགས་པ་ལག་བཟངས་ཀྱིས་ཞུས་པ་ཞེས་བྱ་བ་ཐེག་པ་ཆེན་པོའི་མདོ)
- Language
- English
- Translators
- Chloé Cramer, Ben Ewing, Lowell Cook, Oriane Lavolé, Sarah Evers
- Extent
- 106 passages, 16,106 words
- Text
- complete digital text
- Source
- 84000 · Translated by the Dharmachakra Translation Committeeunder the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating… · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha). Shown whole and unaltered, with its notes, on a…
Contents
- intro 84000's introduction — 7 parts
- 1 — 28 parts
- 2 — 26 parts
- notes Notes — 45 parts
Text
84000's introduction
intro.1
In this scripture Śākyamuni Buddha describes how a bodhisattva should ideally train in the six perfections. In the Veṇuvana near Rājagṛha, the Buddha teaches this sūtra in response to a single question put to him by the bodhisattva Subāhu: what are the qualities a bodhisattva should have in order to progress to perfect awakening? The Buddha responds by first listing the six perfections of generosity, ethical discipline, patience, diligence, concentration, and insight, and then expounding in greater detail on each perfection in turn.
intro.2
The Sūtra of the Question of Subāhu is a Great Vehicle sūtra in which Śākyamuni Buddha teaches how a bodhisattva should ideally practice the six perfections. According to the opening and closing phrases appended to its Tibetan translation, it constitutes “the twenty-sixth section of the Noble Dharma Discourse, the Great Heap of Jewels, in one hundred thousand sections.”
intro.3
Although it is no longer extant in Sanskrit and little can be known for certain about its provenance, there is some indication that it was well known in India. It was translated into Chinese in the fifth century ce by the famed translator Kumārajīva (344–413).¹ The Tibetan, according to its colophon, was translated, edited, and finalized, based on revisions done according to the language reform, by a translation team consisting of the Indian preceptors Dānaśīla and Jinamitra, and the Tibetan chief editor-translator Bandé Yeshé Dé, who were active in Tibet in the late eighth and early ninth centuries. Indeed, the sūtra is listed in the Denkarma (ldan/lhan dkar ma) catalog of imperial translations usually dated to 812,² and the mention of the “language reform” suggests that the translation may have been finalized only after 783/795.³ Korean and Mongolian translations were also made, and the Degé edition of the Tibetan Tengyur includes an aspiration prayer derived from it as well.⁴ Finally, to avoid confusion it should be noted that there is another Kangyur text that has the same Sanskrit title as The Question of Subāhu but that has no relationship to it, being a tantra of the Action (Kriyā) class.⁵
intro.4
The sūtra is set at the Kalandakanivāpa, in the Veṇuvana near Rājagṛha, where the Buddha is accompanied by a large assembly of monks. A bodhisattva great being by the name of Subāhu, with servants in tow, visits the Buddha from the nearby town of Rājagṛha to pose a single question: what are the qualities bodhisattvas should have in order to progress to perfect awakening? The entire sūtra consists of the Buddha’s response to this question. He begins by simply listing the six perfections of generosity, ethical discipline, patience, diligence, concentration, and insight, and then expounds in greater detail on each perfection in turn. Each of the six sections of the ensuing discourse stipulates first how bodhisattvas should ideally practice the perfection in question, and then how bodhisattvas should gradually train in that perfection if they lack the requisite capacity to undertake it as ideally stipulated. Each section ends by emphasizing how the aspiration to undertake that perfection ideally is, just by itself, the most sublime form of the perfection; it is the cultivation of this mental attitude, stresses the Buddha, suffused with compassion for all beings, that will enable bodhisattvas to swiftly and easily complete the perfections.
intro.5
Subāhu himself, as the sūtra’s opening frame seems to suggest, is probably a lay bodhisattva, and the stipulations for a bodhisattva’s ideal practice of generosity and ethical discipline thus reflect a resolutely lay orientation. For instance, a bodhisattva should give gifts as extravagant as land; he should never give in a way that harms his children, wives, male and female slaves, or servants and laborers; and his ethical discipline should consist primarily of observing the five lay vows of an upāsaka. Along with the explanations of paths of gradual training, and the emphasis on aspiring to practice it as the highest form of each perfection, these features taken together suggest an open appeal to an audience that extends beyond the circle of strict ascetics.
intro.6
If The Sūtra of the Question of Subāhu was therefore primarily intended for an audience of lay Buddhist practitioners, that is by no means exclusively so. Throughout the text, the Buddha presents the “Hearers’ Vehicle” as a perfectly viable approach. The ideal bodhisattva he describes should strive to preserve the integrity of the vehicles of the hearers (śrāvaka), solitary buddhas (pratyekabuddha), and bodhisattvas, teach each one as appropriate, and even acquire his own “great saṅgha of hearer attendants.” Despite this relative absence of perceived incompatibility between hearer and bodhisattva practitioners here in comparison to more disparaging statements in some other Mahāyāna sūtras, there is nonetheless a discernible hierarchy in the Buddha’s presentation that reflects the presumed superiority of the Bodhisattvas’ Vehicle.⁶
intro.7
The present translation is based mainly on the Tibetan version of the sūtra present in the Degé Kangyur, in consultation with the variant readings presented in the Comparative Edition (dpe bsdur ma) and the Stok Palace version.
1.1
Homage to all buddhas and bodhisattvas.
Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was at the Kalandakanivāpa in the Veṇuvana, by Rājagṛha, together with a great assembly of monks. At that time a bodhisattva great being named Subāhu set out with his servants from the city of Rājagṛha for the Kalandakanivāpa in the Veṇuvana, where the Blessed One was staying. As soon as he arrived, Subāhu touched his head to the feet of the Blessed One, circumambulated him three times, and sat down to one side. With palms joined, the bodhisattva great being Subāhu bowed to the Blessed One and asked him, “Blessed One, what are the qualities bodhisattva great beings should have if they are to awaken swiftly and completely to unsurpassed and perfect awakening?”
The Blessed One replied to the bodhisattva great being Subāhu as follows: “Subāhu, if bodhisattva great beings are to awaken swiftly and perfectly, they must constantly and relentlessly complete the six perfections. What are these six? They are the perfection of generosity, the perfection of ethical discipline, the perfection of patience, the perfection of diligence,
1.2
the perfection of concentration, and the perfection of insight. Subāhu, bodhisattva great beings must constantly and relentlessly complete these six perfections.”
“Subāhu, how do bodhisattva great beings complete the perfection of generosity? Subāhu, they seek resources in accordance with the Dharma, and not contrary to the Dharma. They practice generosity without bias, and not with bias. They practice generosity without harming or causing distress to creatures or other beings. It is not done for fame, reputation, or praise. It is not done out of cowardice, fear, hoping for reward, or for the sake of a high rebirth. It does not involve hypocrisy, pretense, or disdain. Bodhisattvas respect, venerate, serve, and honor the recipients no matter whether or not they are particularly worthy, have superknowledge,⁷ have ethical discipline, are familiar to them, or are their relatives. With great inspiration, intense joy, and strong faith, they give little if they possess⁸ but little, they give much if they possess much, they give excellent things if they possess excellent things,⁹ they give modest things if they possess but modest things, and they give exquisite things if they possess exquisite things. Subāhu, just as bodhisattvas give one hundred thousand gifts with a magnanimous and cheerful attitude, so do they give a simple coin with a magnanimous and cheerful attitude.
“To enable all beings to gain stability through the strength of the unsurpassed wisdom of omniscience, bodhisattvas give nourishment to those who desire nourishment.
1.3
To enable all beings to gain the strength that entirely quenches the thirst of afflictions, they give drink to those who desire drink. To enable all beings to acquire the clothing of shame and decency, they give clothing to those who desire clothing. To enable all beings to acquire the vehicle of bodhisattvas and the unsurpassed vehicle of complete buddhas, they give mounts to those who desire mounts. To enable all beings to acquire the fragrance of the buddhas’ ethical discipline, they give perfume to those who desire perfume. To enable all beings to acquire the unsurpassable flower of the thus-gone ones’ seven branches of awakening, they give flowers to those who desire flowers. To enable all¹⁰ beings to gain the strength of overcoming the stench of wrongdoing, they give fragrant powder to those who desire fragrant powder. To enable all beings to acquire the unguent of faultless ethical discipline and conduct, they give scented unguents to those who desire scented unguents. To enable all beings to acquire the strength that thoroughly pacifies any torment of afflictions, they give parasols to those who desire parasols. To enable all beings to attain the unsurpassable comfort of superknowledge,¹¹ they give shoes to those who desire shoes. To enable all beings to gain the strength to prepare for the comfort of bedding in the abodes of the gods, Brahmā, and the noble ones, they give bedding to those who desire bedding. To enable all beings to acquire the throne of the Hero, the seat of awakening unmoved by all the obstacles of māras and afflictions, they give seats to those who desire seats. To enable all beings to attain bodies that will serve as shelter, abode, protection, and refuge, they give shelter to those who desire shelter.
1.4
To enable all beings to attain bodies that will serve as reservoirs for the Dharma, they give pots, vases, and utensils to those who desire them.
To enable all beings to attain all the absorptions and attainments of unsurpassed tranquility and quiescence, bodhisattvas give the gift of groves for ascetic practice to the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha. To enable all beings to attain the thirty-two major and eighty minor marks of a great man, they give the gift of adornments to stūpas. To enable all beings to gain the limitless divine vision of the thus-gone ones, they give the gift of lamps at darkened stūpas and paths. To enable all beings to acquire the limitless divine hearing of the thus-gone ones, they give the gift of melodious music in their worship of the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha. To enable all beings to gain unsurpassed, exquisite appearance, ethical discipline, and conduct, bodhisattvas give the gift of alms bowls and monastic robes. To enable all beings to gain the power to give relief, they give the gift of sieves. To enable all beings to attain the completion of the accumulation of great insight, they give the gift of reed brushes, ink, palm leaves, and Dharma seats. To eliminate all the illnesses of afflictions from all beings, bodhisattvas give the gift of medicines to cure the sick and other standard resources. To enable all beings to attain the ground of the three kinds of awakening and the ground of the expanse of ambrosia, they give the gift of land. To enable all beings to obtain the lofty, sublime Dharma without a teacher,
1.5
they build lofty stūpas and statues.
“To enable all beings to quickly acquire the different kinds of superknowledge upon seeing what they have acquired, bodhisattvas give gifts quickly and without reluctance.¹² To enable beings to attain complete awakening without hindrance, they give suitable gifts, not unsuitable ones. To enable all beings to acquire unimpeded great eloquence, they give gifts limitlessly. To enable all beings to acquire unparalleled great compassion, they give equally to all beings. To enable all beings to perfectly and completely awaken to the Dharma that cannot be destroyed or harmed by any māras or non-Buddhists, bodhisattvas give gifts that do no harm to others.
“Subāhu, if bodhisattvas are without the wealth and means to give these gifts, they make aspirations, mentally yearning and wishing to give these limitless, immeasurable gifts to all beings throughout all world systems. Subāhu, whether or not bodhisattvas have the capacity to give these gifts, they make aspirations, mentally yearning and wishing as follows: ‘May all beings throughout all world systems become connected to and filled with my own happiness! May absolutely all their intentions be effortlessly fulfilled in all ways,¹³ and may all their wishes without exception be fulfilled, so that they may abide in happiness! May this aspiration of mine be auspicious! May this aspiration of mine be virtuous!’
“Bodhisattvas make such aspirations,
1.6
yearning and wishing to give oceans of jewels to all beings throughout all world systems. Bodhisattvas make aspirations, yearning and wishing to give endless, immeasurable mountains of wealth, mountains of gold, mountains of clothing, mountains of all utensils, oceans of food, oceans of drink, and finely wrought abodes where one can comfortably dwell. They also delight and rejoice at least three times a day in all the acts of giving, offering, and bestowing material possessions, protection from fear, and the gifts of Dharma performed by all beings of the past, future, and present throughout all the world systems in the entirety of cyclic existence.
“Even if bodhisattvas are unable to give wealth to those who request it, they offer them their own share of food, provide them with assistance, or show them the means to seek what they want, and then eradicate their desire with a Dharma discourse.
“Should bodhisattvas even just wish to give those gifts, they dedicate this generosity to unsurpassable, perfect, and complete awakening so that all beings are ferried across, liberated, and relieved, and so that they may transcend suffering, attain omniscience, and perfect all the qualities of a buddha. Having offered their gift, they again dedicate this generosity to unsurpassable, perfect, and complete awakening so that all beings are ferried across, liberated, and relieved, and so that they may transcend suffering, attain omniscience, and perfect all the qualities of a buddha.
“Should bodhisattvas lack the capacity to train in giving, offering, and bestowing, this is how they properly train: From time to time,
1.7
or little by little, they strive and exert themselves in abandoning, forsaking, and eliminating attachment, stinginess, and fear of giving. From time to time, or little by little, they also strive and exert themselves in training, developing, and perfecting the acts of giving, offering, and bestowing. Even when they take another birth, they do not lose heart or become discouraged. Subāhu, bodhisattvas’ formation of the resolve to awaken, their recollection and cultivation of the resolve to awaken, and their wishes and aspirations to awaken are themselves their immeasurable, incalculable great acts of giving, offering, and bestowing. Why is that? It is because among all acts of giving, offering, and bestowing, the foremost and supreme is the wish to give, offer, and bestow to all beings in all world systems a shower of sublime Dharma and a shower of the expanse of ambrosia.
“Subāhu, in this way bodhisattvas will very quickly complete the perfection of generosity, with ease and pleasure, little difficulty, and little pain.
“Subāhu, bodhisattvas do not cut off limbs or other body parts when requested by beggars, nor would they offer them to beggars, even if they were cut off. Why is that? Because by that very act the beggars would fall into the severe hells and incur more¹⁴ severe non-virtuous deeds.
1.8
Yet it is not the case that they would not surrender their own limbs and body parts for the sake of other beings, or their benefit.
“Subāhu, if beggars ask bodhisattva great beings for all their possessions, bodhisattvas do not give away all their possessions in a way that harms, neglects, or causes suffering for their parents, or in a way that harms, neglects, or causes suffering for their children, wives, male and female slaves, or servants and laborers.
“Why is that? Bodhisattvas love all beings equally. Just as they practice generosity without harming, neglecting, or causing suffering for their parents, and without harming, neglecting, or causing suffering for their children, spouses, male and female slaves, or servants and laborers, so do they care the same for all beings. Yet, it is also not the case that they would not surrender all their possessions for the sake and benefit of other beings.
“Subāhu, the thus-gone ones have not praised generosity that brings harm to beings. Therefore, how could they do so regarding bodhisattvas’ cutting off of limbs?”
“Subāhu, how do bodhisattvas complete the perfection of ethical discipline? Subāhu, even at the cost of their own lives, bodhisattvas do not beat, kill, or rejoice in the killing of other creatures and beings. Even at the cost of their own lives, they do not take what is not given, incite others to take what is not given, or rejoice in the taking of what is not given. Even at the cost of their own lives, they do not engage in sexual misconduct, incite others to engage in sexual misconduct,
1.9
or rejoice in sexual misconduct. Even at the cost of their own lives, they do not tell lies, incite others to tell lies, or rejoice in the telling of lies. Even at the cost of their own lives, they do not drink alcohol, incite others to drink alcohol, or rejoice in the drinking of alcohol. They practice these five moral precepts, adhering to them at length, resolutely, firmly, and without lapsing. Similarly, they endeavor to abandon, discard, and relinquish the activities of tilling fields and having others till fields; tethering beings and having others tether beings; entrapping beings and having others entrap beings; beating beings and having others beat beings; or slaughtering beings and having others slaughter beings. Thus do they practice these five moral precepts at length, resolutely, firmly, and without lapsing. They similarly abandon, discard, and relinquish divisive words, harsh speech, and idle chatter.
“Bodhisattvas train in the following line of thinking: ‘All creatures and all beings are just like my parents. They are just like a beloved only son. If my parents or my beloved only son were to harm me, I would not harm them back. Even if my parents or beloved only son were to strike me with their hands, clods of earth, sticks, knives, or arrows, I would not strike them back. Even if they attempted to kill me, I would not attempt to kill them back. Just as I would not harm my parents or beloved only son even if they were to harm me, I would not strike back even if all people and all beings were to strike me with their hands, clods of earth, sticks, knives, or arrows. Even if they attempted to kill me, I would not attempt to kill them back.’ Just as when one is, for example, glad and overjoyed upon seeing one’s father, mother, or only beloved son return after traveling abroad for a long time,
1.10
so too, Subāhu, bodhisattva great beings are pleased and overjoyed upon seeing all creatures and beings.
“Bodhisattvas keep the ethical discipline of abandoning killing in order to establish all beings in the ethical discipline of abandoning killing at the level of no-more-training. They keep the ethical discipline of abandoning taking what is not given in order to establish all beings in the ethical discipline of abandoning taking what is not given at the level of no-more-training. They keep the ethical discipline of abandoning sexual misconduct in order to establish all beings in the ethical discipline of pure conduct at the level of no-more-training. They keep the ethical discipline of abandoning lying in order to establish all beings in the ethical discipline of abandoning lying at the level of no-more-training. They keep the ethical discipline of abandoning alcohol in order to establish all beings in the ethical discipline of abandoning alcohol at the level of no-more-training.
“Bodhisattvas keep the ethical discipline of abandoning tilling fields and having others till fields so that all beings may attain undivided, vajra-like absorption. They keep the ethical discipline of abandoning tethering and having others tether so that all the bonds of afflictions may be shorn from all beings. They keep the ethical discipline of abandoning entrapping and having others entrap so that all beings may be prevented from and divested of the five destinies.¹⁵ Bodhisattvas keep the ethical discipline of abandoning beating and inciting beatings so that all beings may attain the intrinsic nature that is not overpowered by any of the obstacles of māras and afflictive obscurations. They keep the ethical discipline of abandoning cutting and having others cut so that all beings may be protected in all actions of body, speech, and mind.
“Bodhisattvas keep the ethical discipline of abandoning divisive speech in order to obtain an undivided great saṅgha of hearer attendants.
1.11
They keep the ethical discipline of abandoning harsh speech in order to acquire the melodiousness of Brahmā, and be imbued with a voice that has the five aspects of clarity. They keep the ethical discipline of abandoning idle chatter for the sake of acquiring unimpeded speech that is worthy of retaining.
“Bodhisattvas keep the ethical discipline of sheltering those terrified by death in order to put all beings at peace from fear of birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, suffering, unhappiness, and despair. They keep the ethical discipline of guarding against the squandering and destruction of others’ wealth and belongings so that all beings may obtain the unsurpassable wealth of the factors conducive to awakening.
“Bodhisattvas keep the ethical discipline of giving up attachment to others’ spouses and enabling others to give up such attachment for the sake of obtaining the unwavering intrinsic nature. They keep the ethical discipline of giving up exerting control over others and having others exert control so that all beings may obtain mastery over their own minds. They keep the ethical discipline of untying bonds and of having others untie bonds in order to destroy all the fetters of the armies of māras and the afflictions on the throne of the Hero, the seat of awakening. Their ethical discipline of going forth from the household is in order to attain a liberated, undefiled mind.
“Bodhisattvas keep the ethical discipline of confessing¹⁶ to striking others for the sake of uprooting fear through the four kinds of fearlessness. They keep the ethical discipline of averting quarrels¹⁷ in order to obtain the four features of protection. They keep the ethical discipline of using non-deceptive speech in order to obtain the intrinsic nature that cannot be controverted by any obstacles of māras or afflictive obscurations, while on the throne of the Hero, the seat of awakening. They keep the ethical discipline of reconciling those who are divided and stabilizing relations so that there is no schism in the great saṅgha of noble hearer attendants.
1.12
They keep the ethical discipline of using gentle and pleasant words so that truthful speech that is melodious and pleasing may reach the ears of all beings. They keep the ethical discipline of harmonious speech so that they may receive fruitful Dharma teachings that are inviolable and worthy of retention. They keep the ethical discipline of praising the qualities of the Buddha so that they may obtain a great saṅgha entourage¹⁸ endowed with the qualities of the noble ones.
“Bodhisattvas keep the ethical discipline of prostrating three times a day to the innumerable, immeasurable buddhas, dharmas, saṅghas, and bodhisattvas of the past, present, and future throughout all world systems, touching the five points of their bodies to the ground. This is so that all beings may obtain the five sublime properties of supreme faith, diligence, mindfulness, absorption, and insight, which are so stable that beings will be unwavering and firm on the throne of the Hero, the seat of awakening. They keep the ethical discipline of venerating all stūpas of the buddhas three times a day so that they may attain the fulfillment of all the qualities of a buddha.
“Bodhisattvas keep the ethical discipline of extolling the qualities of the Dharma three times a day so that the unsurpassable, non-abiding wheel of Dharma will be turned. They keep the ethical discipline of extolling the qualities of the saṅgha three times a day, in order to obtain the great entourage of an undivided saṅgha of noble ones. They keep the ethical discipline of going for refuge to the supreme Three Jewels three times a day, for the sake of giving unsurpassable refuge to all beings. They keep the ethical discipline of supplicating three times a day that all world systems may never be bereft of the Three Jewels and bodhisattvas, in order to attain perfect awakening, which is the only certain promise of well-being.
1.13
They keep the ethical discipline of supplicating three times a day that all the buddhas teach the Dharma for an eon, in order to attain the tenth bodhisattva level, the Cloud of Dharma.¹⁹ They keep the ethical discipline of confessing, forsaking, and condemning every misdeed three times a day, in order to destroy the entire sequence of habitual tendencies. They keep the ethical discipline of taking up all roots of virtue three times a day, in order to complete all the perfections. They keep the ethical discipline of rejoicing three times a day in all the roots of virtue of the past, present, and future buddhas, solitary buddhas, the noble saṅgha of hearers, bodhisattvas, and all beings in all destinies belonging to all world systems, in order to complete the infinite, immeasurable accumulations of awakening. They keep the ethical discipline of aspiring for complete awakening three times a day, in order to reach certainty in attaining perfect awakening. They keep the ethical discipline of dedicating all roots of virtue to the attainment of perfect awakening three times a day, solely in order to obtain the different kinds of power and fearlessness of the thus-gone ones.
“Bodhisattvas keep the ethical discipline of serving²⁰ their parents, teachers, elders, preceptors, and masters in order to attain the unassailable intrinsic nature. They keep the ethical discipline of comforting the frightened, the terrified, the destitute, and the defenseless, in order to become skilled in tirelessly elucidating the answers to all questions. They keep the ethical discipline of protecting and helping those who are immersed in suffering caused by kings, thieves, fire, water, or retribution,
1.14
in order to obtain the protection²¹ of the great states, levels, and perfections.
“Bodhisattvas keep the ethical discipline of praising the miraculous feats performed by the buddhas, solitary buddhas, noble hearers, and bodhisattvas, in order to obtain the unsurpassable miraculous powers of the thus-gone ones. They keep the ethical discipline of performing bodily actions that are conducive to protecting the minds of others, bodily actions that delight and gladden others’ minds, verbal actions conducive to protecting the minds of others, and verbal actions that delight and gladden others’ minds, in order to obtain the infinite power of the thus-gone ones to know the minds of others. They keep the ethical discipline of properly engendering mindfulness of the goal of this life, other lifetimes, the Hearers’ Vehicle, the Solitary Buddhas’ Vehicle, and the Perfect Awakening Vehicle, as well as the ethical discipline of making this mindfulness arise in those who are forgetful and careless, in order to attain the unforgettable intrinsic nature. They keep the ethical discipline of listening to, retaining, cultivating, and expounding the Dharma in order to attain the discriminations and perfections.
“Should they even just wish to take up and practice ethical discipline, bodhisattvas dedicate all of their roots of virtue of body, speech, and mind so that all beings
1.15
are ferried across, liberated, and relieved, and so that they may attain omniscience and perfect all the qualities of a buddha. While taking up and practicing ethical discipline, and again after having done so, they dedicate it so that all beings are ferried across, liberated, and relieved, and so that they may attain omniscience and perfect all the qualities of a buddha.
“Should they lack the capacity to train in that ethical discipline without breaching, violating, or corrupting it, this is how they properly train: From time to time, or little by little, they strive and exert themselves in abandoning, forsaking, and eliminating non-virtue. From time to time, or little by little, they also strive and exert themselves in training in, developing, and perfecting virtue. Even when they take another rebirth, they do not lose heart or become discouraged.
“Subāhu, bodhisattvas’ formation of the resolve to awaken, their recollection and cultivation of the resolve to awaken, and their wishes and aspirations to awaken are themselves the bodhisattvas’ incalculable and immeasurable acts of undertaking and engaging in ethical discipline.
“Why is that? It is because among all the ways of undertaking and engaging in virtuous ethical discipline, foremost and supreme is the wish to engender undefiled ethical discipline and ethical discipline at the level of no-more-training, and to do so perfectly, in all beings throughout all world systems.
1.16
“Subāhu, in this way bodhisattvas will very quickly complete the perfection of ethical discipline, with ease and pleasure, little difficulty, and little pain.”
“Subāhu, how do bodhisattvas complete the perfection of patience? Subāhu, even if others take their lives, steal all their possessions, ravish their spouses, or lie, slander, speak harshly, or idly gossip about them—even if they abuse them, kill them, seize them, hit them, or cut them—bodhisattvas do not retaliate, get angry in return, or harbor animosity or resentment toward them.
“This is how they train: They think, ‘This is the result of the negative actions I have committed and accumulated in previous lives and in this one. This is their karmic ripening. Why should I retaliate, get angry in return, or harbor animosity or resentment, when I am experiencing the results and karmic ripening of my own actions?’
“Furthermore, Subāhu, bodhisattvas properly train by thinking the following: ‘Even if others were to take my life, steal all my possessions, ravish my spouse, or lie, slander, speak harshly, or idly gossip about me—even if they were to abuse me, kill me, seize me, hit me, or cut me—should I retaliate, get angry in return, or harbor animosity or resentment toward them, I will incur the further unwanted, unpleasant, and disagreeable suffering of fully ripened effects and effects similar to their cause that are more severe than this unwanted, unpleasant, and disagreeable sensation of suffering—that are a hundred times greater, or a thousand times,
1.17
or more.’
“Moreover, Subāhu, bodhisattvas properly train by thinking as follows: ‘Because I have life, my life is taken. Because I have possessions, my possessions are stolen. Because I have an ear faculty, I hear lies, slander, harsh words, and idle gossip. Because I have a body, my body is led along, fettered, seized, beaten, and cut. Since I myself have assumed the life faculty, the ear faculty, and the body that form the substance and basis of my suffering, how could I retaliate, get angry in return, or harbor hostility or enmity?’
“Moreover, Subāhu, bodhisattvas properly train by thinking the following: ‘For example, the defining feature of the earth element is solidity. That is its identity, its character, and its nature. The defining feature of the water element is moisture. The defining feature of the fire element is heat. The defining feature of the wind element is lightness and movement. These are their identities, their characters, their natures. In the same way, all life forms have the character of exhaustion, abandonment, and extinction. Moreover, all faculties are characterized by contact with suffering and the experience of suffering. All bodies, for that matter, have the quality of suffering, the quality of contact with suffering, and the quality of the experience of suffering. That is their identity, their character, and their nature. How could I retaliate, get angry in return, or harbor hostility or enmity just because²² the life faculty, which is characterized by exhaustion, abandonment, and extinction, is exhausted, dissolved, and extinguished, or because the six faculties, which are characterized by suffering, contact with suffering, and the experience of suffering,
1.18
are in contact with suffering? Why is that? It is because that is their identity, their character, and their nature.’
“Moreover, Subāhu, bodhisattvas properly train by thinking as follows: ‘My eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind are neither “me” nor “mine.” Others’ eyes, ears, noses, tongues, bodies, and minds are also neither them nor theirs. Such being the case, how could the wise, knowing the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind to be neither them nor theirs, delight in, be attached to, or truly enjoy them? And how could they retaliate by hitting, harming, getting angry, or harboring hostility or enmity toward others?’
“Moreover, Subāhu, bodhisattvas properly train by thinking as follows: ‘The sufferings experienced by humans are few and minor. Yet, the sufferings of anguished spirits are much more terrible and difficult to endure, while the sufferings of the animal realm and the hells are even more terrible and difficult to endure than those. Such being the case, why would I, on account of just a few minor sufferings, retaliate, get angry in return, or harbor hostility or enmity?’
“Moreover, Subāhu, bodhisattvas properly train by thinking as follows: ‘It is unreasonable and improper for someone who wishes only for their own happiness and welfare to retaliate, get angry in return, or harbor hostility or enmity. Such being the case, how much more unreasonable and improper would it be for someone who wishes for the happiness of all worlds, wishes to benefit all worlds, has donned the great armor, has taken a vow with great resolve, has entered
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the Great Vehicle, and who wishes to perfect the vast qualities of a buddha? One will not gather, develop, or perfect the qualities of a buddha by being impatient, retaliating, getting angry in return, or harboring hostility or enmity. Rather, one will gather, develop, and perfect the qualities of a buddha through having patience, not retaliating, not getting angry in return, and not harboring hostility or enmity.’
“Subāhu, sons or daughters of noble family who wish to fulfill all the qualities of a buddha should not retaliate, get angry in return, or harbor hostility and enmity, even if they are subjected to the sufferings of the Hell of Endless Torment, let alone the sufferings of humans. Even if they are insulted, reviled, deprecated, or disgraced, they endure and embrace it in order to acquire the sentiment of love, the sentiment of compassion, and the immaculate, pure, and pristine awakened mind of the thus-gone ones. Even if they are dragged away, bound, and captured, they endure and embrace it for the sake of the sentiment of love, the sentiment of compassion, and in order to crack the shell of the obscuration of ignorance for a single instant. Even if they are beaten, they endure and embrace it for the sake of the sentiment of love, the sentiment of compassion, and to divest all beings of their passion and aggression.
“Even if their ears are cut off, they endure and embrace it for the sake of the sentiment of love, the sentiment of compassion, and to engender in all beings the ear for Dharma that arouses faith. Even if their noses are cut off, they endure and embrace it for the sake of the sentiment of love, the sentiment of compassion, and to enable all beings to enjoy the exquisite and unsurpassable qualities of ethical discipline.
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Even if their legs are cut off, they endure and embrace it for the sake of the sentiment of love, the sentiment of compassion, and for all beings to obtain the thus-gone ones’ four bases of miraculous power. Even if their hands are cut off, they endure and embrace it for the sake of the sentiment of love, the sentiment of compassion, and for all beings to obtain the generosity of the outstretched²³ hand of the Dharma—peace and tranquility. Even if all their limbs are cut off, they endure and embrace it for the sake of the sentiment of love, the sentiment of compassion, and in order to complete all the major and minor limbs of the six perfections. Even if their eyes are gouged out, they endure and embrace it for the sake of the sentiment of love, the sentiment of compassion, and for all beings to obtain the eternal eye of vigilance. Even if their heads are cut off, they endure and embrace it for the sake of the sentiment of love, the sentiment of compassion, and for all beings to obtain the summit of Dharma—omniscience.
“Should they even just wish to focus upon and bring to mind these kinds of patience and acquiescence, they dedicate this so that all beings are ferried across, liberated, and relieved, and so that they may attain omniscience and perfect all the qualities of a buddha. While focusing upon and bringing them to mind, and again after, they dedicate this so that all beings are ferried across, liberated, and relieved, and so that they may attain omniscience and perfect all the qualities of a buddha.
“Should they lack the capacity to be unwavering, flawless, and uncorrupted in training in these kinds of patience and acquiescence, this is how they properly train: From time to time, or little
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by little, they strive and exert themselves in abandoning, forsaking, and eliminating their lack of patience and acquiescence. From time to time, or little by little, they also strive and exert themselves in training, developing, and perfecting their patience and acquiescence. Even when they take another rebirth, they neither lose heart, nor get discouraged. Subāhu, bodhisattvas’ formation of the resolve set on awakening, their recollection and cultivation of the resolve for awakening, and their wishes and aspirations for awakening are themselves the bodhisattvas’ immeasurable and incalculable virtues of practicing and truly accomplishing patience.
“Why is that? It is because among all the virtues of practicing and truly accomplishing patience, foremost and supreme is the wish to engender undefiled patience and patience at the level of no-more-training, and to do so perfectly, in all beings throughout all world systems.
“Subāhu, in this way bodhisattvas very quickly complete the perfection of patience with ease and pleasure, little difficulty, and little pain.”
“Subāhu, how do bodhisattvas complete the perfection of diligence? Subāhu, bodhisattvas properly train in this by thinking as follows: ‘In each of the ten directions, there are infinite and limitless world systems, and in each of these world systems there are infinite beings. Thus, this infinite and limitless multitude of beings has neither limit nor end. I shall don armor to benefit this infinite multitude of beings.
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If I don armor to bring happiness to the infinite multitude of beings, then even when I am careless, distracted, or asleep, the infinite roots of virtue from the infinite goal of benefiting and bringing happiness to all beings will grow, expand, and be perfected²⁴ in each and every moment of thought, throughout the day and night. Thus, since in each and every moment of thought there will arise infinite roots of virtue and infinite heaps of accumulations conducive to awakening, it will not be difficult to obtain perfect awakening. That being the case, I shall now sincerely tend to the infinite growth and expansion of these roots of virtue in each and every moment of thought. On that basis, I will ensure that perfect awakening will not be difficult to obtain. In so doing, why would I slacken my diligence, even at the cost of my own life, when it enables me to attain perfect awakening?’
“Moreover, Subāhu, bodhisattvas train properly by thinking as follows: ‘Even those who wish to eliminate and overcome only the suffering of aging on behalf of the infinite multitude of beings will have roots of virtue grow and expand in each and every moment of thought. Such being the case, how much more so will that be the case for those who wish to eliminate the infinite multitude of beings’ suffering of birth and death, their suffering of being separated from what they like and encountering what they dislike, their suffering of not acquiring what they want, the suffering of animal births and Yama’s world, and the suffering of the hells, the cold hells, and the hot hells?’
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“Moreover, Subāhu, bodhisattvas train properly by thinking as follows: ‘Even those who wish to eliminate the infinite multitude of beings’ suffering for just a single moment of thought will have infinite roots of virtue grow and expand in each and every moment of thought. Such being the case, how much more so will that be the case for those who wish to eliminate all the suffering—from the suffering of birth up to that of becoming²⁵—of the infinite multitude of beings throughout the infinite and immeasurable eons that have yet to come and go?’
“In addition, Subāhu, bodhisattvas train properly with the following thought: ‘Even those who wish for the qualities of a solitary buddha or a hearer will have roots of virtue grow and expand throughout each and every moment of thought. Such being the case, how much more so will that be the case for the sons or daughters of noble family who seek, wish, and aspire to perfect the mastery²⁶ of the infinite and boundless qualities and powers of a buddha? For even when they are careless or asleep, the four causes, four conditions, and four aims will grow and expand in each and every moment of thought into four infinite and boundless heaps of roots of virtue and four infinite and boundless heaps of accumulations conducive to awakening. With the emergence in each and every moment of thought of the four infinite heaps of roots of virtue and the four infinite and boundless heaps of accumulations conducive to awakening it will not be difficult to attain awakening. Therefore, I shall now tend to the four infinite heaps of roots of virtue
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and the four infinite heaps of accumulations for perfect awakening in each and every moment of thought. On that basis, I will ensure that perfect awakening will not be difficult to obtain. In so doing, why would I slacken my diligence, even at the cost of my own life, when it enables me to attain perfect awakening?
“ ‘The four great oceans are evidently finite and limited in the east. They are obviously finite and limited as well in the south, west, north, nadir, and zenith. Yet, the four infinite and boundless great oceans of the accumulations of roots of virtue and factors conducive to awakening have neither end nor limit. Thus, given that I will attain perfect awakening once these four great oceans of the accumulations of roots of virtue and factors conducive to awakening have grown and expanded throughout each and every moment of thought, why would I slacken my diligence, even at the cost of my life?’
“Furthermore, Subāhu, bodhisattvas train properly by thinking as follows: ‘If even lions, tigers, dogs, jackals, vultures, curlews, crows, owls, worms, bees, horseflies, and gadflies can perfectly and completely awaken to buddhahood, then as a human being, why should I slacken my diligence, even at the cost of my own life, when it allows me to attain perfect awakening?’
“Moreover, Subāhu, bodhisattvas train properly by thinking as follows: ‘If even a hundred or a thousand people can realize and attain buddhahood, why should I not also realize and attain buddhahood now? Thus-gone ones, worthy ones, perfect buddhas equal in number to the grains of sand in the Ganges River have also realized and attained it. If thus-gone ones, worthy ones, perfect buddhas equal in number to the grains of sand in the Ganges River have realized and attained it, then
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why should I slacken my diligence, even at the cost of my life, when it allows me to attain perfect awakening?’
“Furthermore, Subāhu, bodhisattvas have applied diligence, whenever they constantly and perpetually listen to, ascertain, and reflect upon—as though their hair and clothes were on fire—any Dharma teaching that is reported to be a teaching by a buddha, whether it be taught by a buddha, explained by a worthy one, explained by a bodhisattva, or even explained by madmen, as well as any Dharma teaching that leads to the completion of the perfections of generosity, ethical discipline, patience, diligence, concentration, and insight, and that leads to the attainment of the qualities of a buddha, and the attainment of perfect awakening and omniscience.
“By carefully heeding and keeping in mind the Dharma, the wise and industrious constantly and perpetually receive, master, explain, recite, contemplate, teach, and convey to others those Dharma teachings as if their own hair and clothes were on fire, even if they are turned back with spears.
“By carefully heeding and keeping in mind the Dharma, the wise and industrious use their own bodies as instruments in the service of all beings’ welfare and to practice any activity connected with the Dharma²⁷ for happiness in this and other worlds, whether they are turned back with spears, or whether they have been entrusted with this or not. Just as the four great elements, unobstructed and unbound, are like instruments in the service of all beings, likewise, Subāhu, do bodhisattvas use their own bodies as instruments in the service of all beings. For they are distinguished by venerating the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha; serving bodhisattvas, preceptors, and teachers; and attending upon
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the elderly, sick, and defenseless. As if their hair and clothes were on fire, they attract others, inspiring faith in them by being agreeable with them through speech that brings joy to others’ hearts and minds; by acting in conformity with them; by sharing liberally with them, supporting them, and serving as their companions; and by acting in harmony with virtue.
“They induct, tame, and establish in the Hearers’ Vehicle those suited to the Hearers’ Vehicle. They induct, tame, and establish in the Solitary Buddhas’ Vehicle those suited to the Solitary Buddhas’ Vehicle. They induct, tame, and establish in the Perfect Awakening Vehicle those suited to the Perfect Awakening Vehicle. Even if they are turned back with spears, the wise and industrious act as if their hair and clothes were on fire, disregarding cold for the sake and purpose of the sublime Dharma, for the sake and purpose of the six perfections, and for the sake and purpose of virtue. They also disregard heat, hunger, thirst, gadflies, horseflies, wind, sun, encounters with scorpions and snakes, others’ offensive words, insulting name-calling, leisure, misfortune, sleep, displeasure, their bodies, and their lives. For the sake and purpose of perfect awakening, the wise and industrious, even if turned back with spears, also disregard the sufferings of gods; the sufferings of asuras, humans, and anguished spirits; and the sufferings of the animal realms and hells. The wise and industrious, even if turned back with spears, maintain firm diligence and courage in order to attain the fulfillment of the unequaled qualities of a buddha
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and to attain the completion of all conduct and perfections.
“Should they even just wish to focus on and apply this diligence and courage, they dedicate this so that all beings are ferried across, liberated, and relieved, and so that they may attain omniscience and perfect all the qualities of a buddha. While focusing upon and applying diligence and courage, and again after having done so, they dedicate this so that all beings are ferried across, liberated, and relieved, and so that they may attain omniscience and perfect all the qualities of a buddha.
“Should they lack the capacity to be unwavering, flawless, and uncorrupted in training in this diligence, bodhisattvas train as follows: From time to time, or little by little, they strive and exert themselves in abandoning, forsaking, and eliminating indolence and laziness. From time to time, or little by little, they also strive and exert themselves in training, developing, and perfecting diligence and courage. Even when they take another rebirth, they become neither disheartened nor discouraged. Subāhu, bodhisattvas’ formation of the resolve set on awakening, their recollection and cultivation of the resolve for awakening, and their wishes and aspirations for awakening are themselves the bodhisattvas’ immeasurable and incalculable virtues of diligence and exertion.
“Why is that? It is because among all the virtues of diligence and exertion, foremost and supreme is the wish to engender undefiled diligence and diligence at the level of no-more training,
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and to do so perfectly, in all beings throughout all world systems. Subāhu, in this way bodhisattvas very quickly complete the perfection of diligence with ease and pleasure, little difficulty, and little pain.”
“Subāhu, how do bodhisattvas complete the perfection of concentration? Subāhu, when bodhisattvas see sights with their eyes they do not cling to their characteristics and features. They are attentive and vigilant about restraining the mind’s movements toward worldly covetousness, unhappiness, and factors connected with evil deeds and non-virtues that occur when the eye faculty is left uncontrolled by restraint. Thus, they control the eye faculty with the eye faculty. Similarly, when their ears hear sounds, their noses perceive smells, their tongues experience tastes, their bodies feel contact, and their minds cognize phenomena, they do not cling to characteristics and features. They are attentive and vigilant about restraining the mind’s movements toward worldly covetousness, unhappiness, and factors connected with evil deeds and non-virtues that occur when the mental faculty is left uncontrolled by restraint. Thus, they control the mental faculty with the mental faculty.
“Whether they are walking, standing, sitting, lying, or silent, bodhisattvas neither dispense with nor forsake the states of meditative equipoise and calm abiding. Whether they are in solitude or not, their behavior is uncorrupted: their hands are not restless, they do not talk nonsense, they do not speak too much, their eyes and other sense faculties are neither distracted nor agitated, they do not indulge in idle talk, and they are constant physically, verbally, and mentally.
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