Teaching the Aggregate of Correct Conduct

Chapter 37

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood should hear the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, should obtain it, study it, keep it, recite it, disseminate it, transmit it, chant it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, and in other ways make it widely known. They should also maintain the aggregate of correct conduct.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān recited the following verses:

37.­2
“Bodhisattvas who maintain the aggregate of correct conduct,
Who practice the conduct wishing for benefit,
Will quickly go to the Abhirati buddha realm,
Attain patience, and become kings of the Dharma. {1}
37.­3
“Therefore, be agreeable without malice,
And always be pleasant to everyone.
Having seen countless glorious buddhas
You will reach enlightenment and become a lord of Dharma. {2}
37.­4
“Therefore, having heard this supreme benefit,
And having seen bhikṣus who have excellent correct conduct,
A wise person would always depend upon them
And quickly become one who has attained the samādhi. {3}
37.­5
“If there were an incalculable, immeasurable treasure
Filled with the seven precious jewels, [F.142.a]
And if there were realms as numerous as the sands of the Ganges
That were filled with those precious jewels, {4}
37.­6
“And if there were a bodhisattva who aspired to generosity,
Who made a gift of these every single day,
And made this gift continuously
For as many eons as there are sands of the Ganges, {5}
37.­7
“That entire gift would not produce a fraction
Of the accumulation of merit that is obtained
By the bodhisattva who, having heard this samādhi,
Becomes a holder of this supreme treasure of the sugatas. {6}
37.­8
“This supreme, incomparable accumulation of merit
Is the source of the immeasurable treasure of wisdom.
A person who has the appropriate faith
Should possess this supreme, stainless samādhi. {7}
37.­9
“Bodhisattvas will have great riches
Through possessing this stainless peace of samādhi.
They will be a great ocean of the wealth of hearing the Dharma.
The merit of this is beyond any measure. {8}
37.­10
“Bodhisattvas are said to be those who have become developed1318
Through the supreme, inconceivable Dharma.1319
The ones who teach this samādhi
Never doubt enlightenment. {9}
37.­11
“The ones who have become a teacher for the world, a guide,
A buddha, self-arisen, having great compassion,
Have attained a supreme accumulation of merit,
Which is inconceivable and beyond any measure. {10}
37.­12
“In this billion-world universe there is not to be found
Any being superior1320 to them,
Or who is their equal in the accumulation of merit
And unrivaled, inconceivable wisdom. {11}
37.­13
“There is no one who can equal their wisdom
Other than one who has heard this samādhi,
Possesses it, recites it, and understands it,
And seeks the unequaled enlightenment of buddhahood.1321 {12}
37.­14
“Young man, if the amount of merit that is obtained
By those who possess and recite this samādhi
Were to become a phenomenon that has form,
It would be too great to be contained within these many worlds. {13}
37.­15
“Therefore, young man, the bodhisattvas
Who wish to make an offering to all the buddhas,
The tathāgatas of the past and present, [F.142.b]
Should possess and recite this samādhi. {14}
37.­16
“This is the enlightenment of the tathāgatas.
Young man, have faith in my words.
The tathāgata does not speak untrue words;
He does not tell lies, like beings do. {15}
37.­17
“Throughout countless hundreds of eons in the past
I purified myself of believing in a self
And practiced the supreme bodhisattva conduct
Because I was seeking this samādhi. {16}
37.­18
“Therefore listen to this treasure of the Dharma
From which trillions of sūtras arise.
This is a vast, inconceivable aggregation of merit
Through which buddha wisdom will quickly be attained. {17}
37.­19
“That which is taught by the wise, fearless ones
Is the supreme sūtra among all sūtras
And the source of inconceivable virtues.
It is a Dharma for which no end can be found. {18}
37.­20
“It may be possible to break apart and cut to pieces
A billion-world universe and count its atoms,
But it is not possible to count the innumerable
Hundreds of sūtras that they constantly teach. {19}
37.­21
“It may be possible to count the inhalations and exhalations
Of all the beings that are in this buddha realm,
But it is not possible to know the limit of the sūtras
Taught by those who are established in this samādhi. {20}
37.­22
“It may be possible to count the beings
In as many buddha realms as there are Ganges sands,
And the thoughts that arise in those beings’ minds,
But the sūtras constantly taught by such people cannot be counted. {21}
37.­23
“One may be able to count, over millions of eons,
All the grains of sand in the great ocean,
And of sand in the rivers, ponds, and pits,
But one cannot know the extent of the sūtras they expound. {22}
37.­24
“One may be able to count out, with the tip of the hundredth part of a hair,
The masses of water ever present
In many millions of buddha realms,
But one cannot count the different aspects of their speech. {23}
37.­25
“One may be able to count after many millions of eons
All the beings who have appeared in the past
Who have cherished their own bodies,
But one cannot know the extent of the sūtras they have accomplished. {24}
37.­26
“It may be possible to count all the sounds made by all creatures,
By all beings who are living in the ten directions,
But one cannot count the number of sūtras
That are uninterruptedly taught by them. {25} [F.143.a]
37.­27
“They know how to teach the entire Dharma.
They are skilled in etymologies, teaching, and the meaning of words.
They have trained in the way of definitive knowledge,
Have vast understanding, and constantly have joyful wisdom. {26}
37.­28
“They have analytic comprehension, cognize vast meaning,
And they always know the conceivable and inconceivable.
They know all the languages spoken on the earth
And with those words teach without attachment to them. {27}
37.­29
“The dharmabhāṇakas teach unobstructedly.
They teach all beings without attachment.
They are skilled in the words of answering questions,
And thus they know the ultimate truth. {28}
37.­30
“Without attachment they teach
Countless millions of teachings from within one sūtra.
Without attachment they are skilled in teaching and the meaning of words;
Without attachment they teach in the middle of the assembly. {29}
37.­31
“The ones who are established in this samādhi
Have become unshakable bodhisattvas.
They have attained unique strength in the Dharma
So that they can benefit many millions of beings. {30}
37.­32
“Just as Sumeru, unshakable and immovable,
Cannot be shaken by the winds,
In that way the dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣus
Cannot be shaken by any opponent. {31}
37.­33
“It may be possible for the winds to shake
Those mountains declared to be unshakable
In the worlds of this billion-world universe,
But the bhikṣus dwelling in emptiness cannot be shaken. {32}
37.­34
“The ones who are constantly engaged with emptiness
Are those who certainly dwell with the buddhas.
They know with certainty the emptiness of phenomena
And cannot be swayed by any opponent. {33}
37.­35
“They cannot be shaken by any opponent,
And they cannot be overcome by any opponent.
They teach this peace, this samādhi,
And are invincible and irreproachable. {34}
37.­36
“Having taught this peace, this samādhi,
They have the realization of emptiness
And they have no doubt in any of the Dharma,
And continuously remain in endless wisdom. {35}
37.­37
“Attaining the strengths and the aspects of enlightenment
Is not difficult for those who have obtained and recited this samādhi.
It is not difficult to attain the inconceivable
Discernments, miracles, and higher cognitions. {36} [F.143.b]
37.­38
“Within created existences, with infinite wisdom
It is not difficult for them to see the jinas.
The ones who possess this samādhi will see
Countless quintillions of buddhas. {37}
37.­39
“They will hear this peace, this samādhi,
Directly from all of those jinas.
They will reach the perfection of the discernments and powers,
And will possess the supreme wisdom of the buddhas. {38}
37.­40
“If all the worlds in the billion-world universe
Were to be filled with precious jewels,
With the wealth of divine, supreme precious jewels
From the depths to the summit of existence, {39}
37.­41
“And if all of the various, infinite realms
Were covered with gold from the Jambu River
From the depths to the summit of existence,
And all of it were given as an offering to the jinas, {40}
37.­42
“And if all of the various beings there are
Made this offering to them for endless eons,
Making this gift, giving constantly to the buddhas
And creating this accumulation of generosity for the sake of enlightenment, {41}
37.­43
“And if there were a bhikṣu who rejoiced in emptiness
And with hands together paid homage to those with the ten strengths,
Then the former accumulation of generosity would not even be a fraction
Of that of the bodhisattva who rejoiced in emptiness. {42}
37.­44
“The supreme being has given the example
Of a person with merit who has that attainment,
Develops vast faith, and performs acts of generosity
In seeking the unequaled enlightenment of buddhahood. {43}
37.­45
“All that generosity cannot be even a hundredth
Of the accumulation of merit that is acquired
By someone who with a pleased mind obtains
One four-line verse of this supreme excellent samādhi. {44}
37.­46
“Bodhisattvas who, wishing to benefit, practice generosity,
But who have not heard this peace, this stainless samādhi,
Will not quickly attain the wisdom of buddhahood;
But having heard it they will quickly attain the wisdom of buddhahood. {45}
37.­47
“Bodhisattvas who rejoice in this lineage
Of those who, having attained this level of supreme peace,1322
Have heard1323 the stainless samādhi, will gain understanding
And will quickly attain the wisdom of buddhahood.1324 {46}
37.­48
“They have obtained such a treasure as infinite realms
That are as numerous as the Ganges sands, [F.144.a]
Filled with precious jewels
Both human and divine. {47}
37.­49
“Bodhisattvas who obtain this samādhi
And who always insatiably study it
Have gained a wealth, a treasure of precious jewels.
That is a treasure difficult to acquire. {48}
37.­50
“Someone with knowledge will never rejoice
In gaining a kingdom that has vast wealth,
But bodhisattvas are overjoyed and thrilled
To have obtained this stainless samādhi.1325 {49}
37.­51
“They become constant holders of
The Dharma of all the omniscient buddhas
And thus they hold the supreme way of the Dharma
During the final age of degeneration.
They are holders of the treasure of the Dharma and great realization;
They are holders of the treasure of omniscience.
They bring happiness to quintillions
Of beings through the words of the Dharma.1326 {50}
37.­52
“They are people who have gained the wealth of correct conduct,
Who have understanding and the wealth of the trainings.
They maintain the discipline of correct conduct
And they rejoice in seedlings of the tree of the Dharma.
They are holders of the precious orange Dharma robes
And they are constantly happy in homelessness.
They are unequaled in benefiting beings
And they are established in omniscience. {51}
37.­53
“They are tamed and are tamers of untamed beings.1327
They are constantly in the state of being tamed.
They are tamed and follow those who are perfectly tamed.1328
They have pacified senses—perfectly pacified.
They constantly awaken with the sound of the Dharma
Those beings who are asleep, who are fast asleep,
And having awakened those beings they establish them
In the supremely good jewel of the Dharma. {52}
37.­54
“They become lords of generosity
Who are constantly giving freely.
They are wise and do not associate with the envious,
And they always rejoice in great generosity.
When they see poor and suffering beings
They content them with possessions.
They are constantly focused on omniscience
In order to bring benefit and happiness to beings. {53}
37.­55
“They constantly train in wisdom
And beat loudly the drum of the Dharma.
They cut through the creepers of doubt in all beings
And are constantly engaged in wisdom.
They are stainless, well-learned holders of the Dharma.
They are wise and have understanding.
They sit upon a seat within the assembly [F.144.b]
And they teach millions of sūtras. {54}
37.­56
“They are greatly learned and hold what they have learned;
They are holders of the Dharma of the buddhas.
They are holders of the treasure that is the Dharma
And they rejoice in the treasury of the Sage.
They have become possessors of immense wisdom
And they are constantly giving rise to vast joy.
They teach the peace of the supreme Dharma,
Which is subtle, liberating,1329 and difficult to see. {55}
37.­57
“They know what is Dharma and what is not.
They are gentle, wise, and remain within the Dharma.
They are unequaled teachers of the kingdom of the Dharma
And constantly practice the supreme, unequaled Dharma.
They are devoted to the excellent Dharma
And maintain veneration of the guru.
They dwell in the supreme city of the Dharma.
They who are wise raise up the banner of the Dharma. {56}
37.­58
“When they see beings who are proud,
Arrogant,1330 and constantly heedless,
Who are on a destructive, wrong path,
Who are following the path of saṃsāra,
They have vast love and compassion for them
While remaining in joy and equanimity.
They teach them the supreme eightfold path
Of peace that is difficult to see. {57}
37.­59
“They build the strong ship of the Dharma
To save and carry the many beings
Who have fallen into the great ocean
And into the rivers of saṃsāra.
Armored in the strengths, powers, and aspects of enlightenment,
They set out upon the ship of the Dharma,
And they always easily and without fear
Bring beings to the far shore.1331 {58}
37.­60
“They practice the discipline of the supreme medicine.
They are physicians who possess the supreme medicine.
They have perfectly attained liberation through knowledge and wisdom,
And they dispense the medicine of the good Dharma.
When they see sick beings
Afflicted by many illnesses,
They give them the medicine of the Dharma
And they heal them through the Dharma. {59}
37.­61
“They are lords of the world, sovereigns of speech,
And they defeat their adversaries in debate.
They shine with the light of omniscience.
They have understanding and are on the level of the highest wisdom.
They are heroes with the strength of wisdom that defeats other strengths. [F.145.a]
They are praised by those who have wisdom.
With their wisdom they bring happiness to many
Trillions of beings, establishing them in the Dharma. {60}
37.­62
“They are the masters, the leaders of merchant caravans,1332
Who are dedicated to protecting beings from misfortune.1333
When they see beings bewildered on a path of jewels
Who are constantly caught in the trap of Māra,
They explain to them the supreme path
Of constant peace, happiness, and emancipation.
Through that path of wisdom
The wise ones guide many billions of beings. {61}
37.­63
“They are a sanctuary, they are a shelter,
They are a refuge; they are eyes and a lamp.
They give freedom from fear to those who are afraid.
They constantly bring relief to those who are fearful.
When they know of beings in great suffering,
Of beings who have been completely blind from birth,1334
With the precious teachings on correct training
They shine the light of the Dharma. {62}
37.­64
“They are the best artisans in the world,
Who benefit beings with their craft.
They always make beings happy
Through being well trained in their craft.
They have attained perfection in the supreme training
And are completely skilled, with wondrous attainment in the world.
They who are established in enlightenment
Have realization and give sight to the world. {63}
37.­65
“They never cease longing to listen
To the supreme, unequaled Dharma of the buddhas.
They have perfected conduct, patience, and samādhi,
And have heard the profound Dharma.
They never cease wishing to teach
The precious Dharma of peace.
They send down a rain of methods for liberation,
Satisfying beings with the rain of the Dharma. {64}
37.­66
“However many beings, wise ones,
Come to them for the sake of the Dharma,
Thinking, ‘We will listen to the true, honest path
Of the supreme jewel of the excellent Dharma,’
The realized ones cut through their doubts
And bring them happiness through the Dharma.
They have perfect conduct, patience, and samādhi,
And they know the aspirations of beings. {65}
37.­67
“They have wisdom, the perfection of the highest wisdom,
And they are wise concerning the aspirations of beings.
They know the motivations and conduct of other beings [F.145.b]
And they know what should be said to them.
Through their speaking words of wisdom
Millions of beings attain the sight of the supreme Dharma.
They have attained the perfection of the highest wisdom
And they give the teachings of the path. {66}
37.­68
“Even billions of māras cannot know
The minds of those wise ones,
Just as no one can know the path
That a bird has flown through the air.
They are peaceful, tamed, tranquil, have the power of wisdom,
And are established in superior wisdom.
They are heroes, leaders who have destroyed Māra
And realized the peace of enlightenment. {67}
37.­69
“They have attained perfect miraculous powers
And are always traveling to hundreds of realms.
They see many quintillions of buddhas,
As numerous as the sands of the Ganges.
Their sight is free of impediment
And they see many forms in the ten directions.
They are guides for all the beings
Who are present throughout the ten directions. {68}
37.­70
“If one were to describe the entirety of their benefits,
Even if one spoke with eloquence
For many billions of eons,
One could not finish praising their past conduct.
Any human who possesses
This unequaled, stainless samādhi
Has the inexhaustible wealth of the buddhas
And an extremely vast ocean of wisdom.”1335 {69}
37.­71
Conclusion of the thirty-seventh chapter, “Teaching the Aspect of Correct Conduct.”

Source

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