Chapter 14

The Bodhisattva and Enlightenment

87. The bodhisattva of firm faith, who is resolute in their intent on the perfection of wisdom; who has gone beyond the first two levels of discipleship, will soon attain, unhindered, the enlightenment of the Buddhas.

The Simile of the Ship

88. When a ship breaks apart, sinking into the ocean, those who do not grab a hold of something — some floating scrap of wood, a log, or even a corpse; will reach their demise in that water, without reaching the other shore, but those who hold on to something, travel to the other shore and reach it.

89. Just so, those already endowed with a certain measure of faith are the ones traveling in the ocean; yet, if they reject the Mother, the perfection of wisdom, then in the ocean of birth, decay, death and sorrow they must wander in for ever and ever.

90. But those who have taken hold of the supreme wisdom, skilled in seeing the one-being of existence; they will speedily reach the other shore, being worthy of the vehicle who has collected the wealth of merit and applied knowledge, being worthy of Sugata-enlightenment.

The Simile of the Jar

91. It is as if someone were to try to carry water in a clay jar which was not fully baked and hardened; one should know well enough that it would break too easily. But when the water is carried in a fully hardened jar, there is no fear of its breaking, and it gets to the destination safely. Although a bodhisattva be full of faith, if their wisdom is not hardened they will swiftly reach their destruction. But when such faith is contained in wisdom, going beyond the two levels, this one will attain the supreme enlightenment.

The Simile of the Two Ships

92. When a ship, which was not ready yet to be seaworthy, is put hastily in the water, it goes to its destruction, together with any goods and persons inside it. But when a ship is well ready, and well joined together, then it does not break apart in the water, and everything makes it safely to the other shore. Just so, a bodhisattva, of much faith, but of little wisdom, swiftly comes to failure in their enlightenment. But one who is well joined to wisdom, the foremost perfection, experiences the enlightenment of the Jinas.

The Simile of the Aged Man

93. An old man, sick and ailing, of 120 years old, although maybe capable of getting up, is not capable of walking on their own; but when two people help him, one on his left and one on his right, he has no fear of falling, and moves along with ease of mind. Just so, a bodhisattva, who is weak in wisdom, although able to set out on the journey, breaks down midway; but when one takes a hold of skillful means and wisdom, then one does not breakdown; experiencing the enlightenment of the mightiest of beings.