Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes “generosity and the virtue of exertion” 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.
4. Generosity and the virtue of exertion
How does generosity engender the virtue of exertion (vīryapāramitā)?
In making gifts, the bodhisattva always uses his exertion. Why? At the moment when the bodhisattva produces the mind of Bodhi (prathamachittotpāda) for the first time, his resources (guṇa) are not great. And so, when he wants to practice the twofold generosity and gratify the wishes of all beings, since his resources (dravya) are insufficient, he is forced to acquire wealth (dhana) so as to give sufficiently.