Chapter XXXVII

The Bodhisattva Worthy of Homage

To the wise, who courses thus, many congregations of gods,
Having bent forth their outstretched hands, in respectful salutation, will pay homage.
The Buddhas also, as many as there are in the world-systems in the ten directions,
Effect the proclamation of the garland of the praises of his qualities.

Mara Is Powerless against Certain Bodhisattvas

If as many beings as there are in the fields countless like the sands of the Ganges
Would all, let us assume, become Maras;
And if every single hair on their bodies would again magically create a snare,
They all could not hinder the wise.

For four reasons does the powerful and wise Bodhisattva
Become unassailable by the four Maras, [and] unshakable:
He becomes one who dwells in the empty; and yet he is not one who abandons beings;
He acts as he speaks; he is sustained by the Sugatas.

The True Attitude to Suchness

The Bodhisattva who resolutely believes when this perfection of wisdom,
The mother of the Tathagatas, is being taught,
And who practises the progressive path with resolution,
He should be known as having well set out towards all-knowledge.

But he does not come to a standing place in the Suchness of the Dharma-element.
He becomes as one who, like a cloud, stands in the sky without anywhere to stand on,
As a sorcerer who, like a bird, rides on the wind which offers him no support,
Or as one who, by the force of his spells, miraculously produces on a tree full-blown flowers out of season.

The Bodhisattva Dwells Supreme

The wise and learned Bodhisattva who courses thus
Does not get at one who wakes up to enlightenment, nor also at the Buddha-dharmas,
Nor at one who demonstrates, nor also at one who loves and sees the Dharma.
This is the dwelling of those who desire calm, of those who delight in the precious qualities.

As many as there are the dwellings of Disciples and Pratyekabuddilas,
Associated with the peace and happiness of calm concentration:
With the exception of the Arhat-liberation of the Tathagatas
This dwelling is among all the foremost and the unsurpassed.

How and Why One Should Dwell in Emptiness

A bird dwells in space, but does not fall down.
A fish dwells amidst water, but does not die.
Just so the Bodhisattva who through the trances and powers has gone beyond,
Dwells in the empty, but does not reach the Blessed Rest.

One who wants to go to the summit of the qualities of all beings,
To experience the best, the exceedingly wonderful, Buddha-cognition,
To give the best gift of the highest and supreme Dharma,
He should resort to this best dwelling of those who bring benefit.