The Perfection Of Wisdom In Eight Thousand Lines

13,106 words

'The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines' is the earliest text of the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom texts) The following is a less strict interpretation of the 'Eight Thousand Lines' in its original verse form only. ** Many thanks to Reverend Neil Christopher for his hard work on this translation and granting permissing for this c...

The Perfection of Vigor (Continued)

188. The bodhisattva who intends to wander about in birth-death for a long time, a Yogin, dedicated to the purification of other beings, and who does not produce the least bit of weary in doing so, is endowed with the perfection of vigor.

189. The unwise bodhisattva counts their numbers of birth-and-deaths, and soon has the notion that it is too long until the full attainment of enlightenment—such a person is bound to suffer, moving slowly towards the Dharma, due to their laziness.

190. Beginning with the production of the first thought of the foremost enlightenment, until the unsurpassed Bliss, if night and day one would persevere single-mindedly, the wise and learned should be known as one who has shown vigor.

191. If someone would say, “On the condition that you shatter Mount Sumeru you will attain the foremost enlightenment,” the bodhisattva who would feel weary and discouraged of their limitations of their efforts, is affected by their laziness.

192. But if upon hearing that, there rises up in them the thought, “That is nothing difficult. In a mere moment I will break that mountain into dust,” then this is the bodhisattva who shows vigor.

193. If one were to exert themselves in body, thought and speech, thinking, “Having now reached full maturity, I will work for the weal of the world,” then, having established a notion of self, will be affected by laziness (disinclined to exert oneself).

194. When one has no notion of body, thought or a being, ridding themselves of all perception, coursing in the non-dualism Dharma—that has been called by Him who bestows the perfection of vigor of those who desire the blissful, imperishable, foremost enlightenment.

The Perfection of Patience

195. When the wise bodhisattva hears someone else speaking to them harshly and offensively, they think, “Who speaks? Who hears?” The discerning is then devoted to the foremost perfection of patience.

196. If a bodhisattva, devoted to the Dharma, remains patient, and if someone else were to give an infinite, uncountable amount of precious gifts to the Buddhas—infinitesimal by comparison would be the merit from that heap of gifts.

197. The personality of one who is established in patience is completely purified, exalted by the thirty-to marks, it becomes boundless. Preaching the best empty Dharma to all beings, dear to the entire world do the patient and discerning become.

198. If someone were to take a basket full of the best fragrances, and, with the utmost affection and reverence, lovingly pour it over the bodhisattva, and if a second one were to throw firey coals upon them instead—the bodhisattva should be of equal (the same) mind (attitude) towards the both of them.

199. Being patient with such a person, the wise and learned bodhisattva dedicates that production of thought to the foremost enlightenment. The hero, who remains patient in all circumstances, surpasses the Arhats and the Pratyekabuddhas.

200. One who is patient should produce this thought, “In hell, in the world of animals, and in the world of ghosts, there are many suffering. With the five skandhas being the true cause, these beings experience so much pain and suffering. It is better, for the sake of enlightenment, to be patient today! Hurt me as they will, with blows, whips, imprisonment, torture, or even murder—as many evil things exist that they could do, I will endure them all.” Thinking thus, this bodhisattva stands in the perfection of patience.

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