Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes “healing the sick and the unfortunate” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.
Part 6 - Healing the sick and the unfortunate
Sūtra (cf. Pañcaviṃśati, p. 32, l. 4–8; Śatasāhasrikā, p. 106, l. 20). – Furthermore, O Śāriputra, the bodhisattva-mahāsattva must practice the perfection of wisdom if [he formulates the following wish] in regard to beings in the ten directions in universes as numerous as the sands of the Ganges: “By my power may the blind see, the deaf hear, madmen recover their minds, may naked people receive clothing and may those who are hungry and thirsty be satisfied” (Punar aparaṃ Śāriputra ye daśasu dikṣu gaṅganadīvālukpameṣu lokadhātuṣv andhāḥ sattvās te mamānubhāvena cakṣuṣā rūpāṇi drakṣyanti, badhirāḥ śrotreṇa śabdān śroṣyanty, unmattāḥ smṛtiṃ pratilapsyante, nagnaś cīvarāṇi pratilapsyante, kṣudhitapipāsitāḥ pūrṇapātrā bhaviṣyantīti bodhisattvena mahāsattvena prajñāpāramitāyāṃ śikṣitavyam).
Śāstra. –
The bodhisattvas who practice the unhindered (apratihata or anāvaraṇa) prajñāpāramitā become Buddha if they attain unhindered deliverance (vimokṣa). But if they become bodhisattvas with a body born from the fundamental element (dharmadhātujakāya), like Mañjuśrī, etc., dwelling on the tenth bhūmi (vihārabhūmi), they are endowed with many perfections of qualities (guṇasaṃpad). Everyone who sees them obtains what they wish for (yathāpraṇidhānam). Just as with the cintāmaṇi wishes are all fulfilled, so it is with the bodhisattvas of dharmadhātujakāya: everyone who sees them obtains what they desire.
Moreover, from his first production of the mind of bodhi (prathamacittotpāda) and during innumerable kalpas, the Bodhisattva has healed the 96 eye diseases;[1] for innumerable lifetimes, he has given his eyes to beings; by the brilliance of his wisdom (prajñāvabhāsa), he has destroyed the darkness of wrong views (mithyādṛṣṭitamas); out of his great compassion (mahākaruṇā), he wants the wishes of all beings to be fulfilled. As a result of such actions, how would beings not recover their sight on seeing the body of the Bodhisattva? And it is the same for all the other sick people.
Concerning these [miraculous cures], see what has been said above (p. 485–495F) in [the chapter XIV entitled] Fang-kouang (Raśmipramokṣa).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
See above, p. 486–487F.