On to Lines of
Experience Verse 21
Generosity (32) is the
wish-fulfilling gem by which you can fulfill the hopes of all sentient beings.
It is the best weapon for cutting the selfish knot of miserliness. It is the
basis of the Enlightened Conduct of the Bodhisattvas in that it develops the
selflessness and undaunted courage to help all sentient beings towards
Enlightenment. It is the reason for your good reputation to be spread in the ten
directions. Knowing this, the wise masters have taught the path of giving away
to others your body, wealth and the merit from your virtuous actions.
I, who actually have traveled a true path that leads to Enlightenment, have
had the experience of doing just that. If you would also seek Liberation, please
cultivate yourself in the same way.
The discipline of moral self-control (33) is the
water to wash away the dirt of non-virtuous actions. It is the ray of moonlight
to cool the heat of the defilements. (34) With
this type of discipline, you stand above the masses of sentient beings, glorious
as Mount Meru. By its power, you are able to be a good influence on others
without any additional effort. Knowing this, the wise masters have protected as
preciously as they would their eyes, the vows they have sworn to keep pure.
I, who actually have traveled a true path that leads to Enlightenment, have
had the experience of doing just that. If you would also seek Liberation, please
cultivate yourself in the same way.
Patience (35) is the
best adornment for the mighty ones to wear and is the best means of endurance
for those who are tormented by the suffering of defilements. It is like the
high-soaring garuda (36) in that
it is the enemy of the snake of anger. (37) It is
the strongest armor to wear against the weapons of abusive language. Knowing
this, wise masters have developed the habit in various ways of wearing the best
armor, patience.
I, who actually have traveled a true path that leads to Enlightenment, have
had the experience of doing just that. If you would also seek Liberation, please
cultivate yourself in the same way.
Once you wear the armor of resolute and unfluctuating enthusiastic
perseverance (38), its
beneficial effect towards your gaining both knowledge of the scriptural texts
and insights into their meanings will increase like the waxing moon. All your
actions will become effective for your attainment of Buddhahood and whatever you
have undertaken will produce its result exactly as you had wished. Knowing this,
the Bodhisattvas have exerted great waves of enthusiastic perseverance,
eliminating all laziness.
I, who actually have traveled a true path that leads to Enlightenment, have
had the experience of doing just that. If you would also seek Liberation, please
cultivate yourself in the same way.
Meditative concentration (39) is the
king who rules over the dominion of the mind. If you focus it on one point, it
stays there immovable like Mount Meru. If you project it, it can fix on any
object of virtuous and religious value you choose. It leads to your attainment
of great exhilaration and bliss at being able to have your body and mind (always
at attention and under your control.) Knowing this, the yogis, who have
gained control (over their mind and are above the power of the defilements,)
have always devoted themselves to single-minded concentration (40), which
overcomes the enemies of mental wandering and mental dullness.
I, who actually have traveled a true path that leads to Enlightenment, have
had the experience of doing just that. If you would also seek Liberation, please
cultivate yourself in the same way.
Wisdom (41) is the
eye with which to see the meaning of Sunyata and is the path by which to cut
through ignorance, the root of samsara. It is the treasure of knowledge praised
in all the scriptural texts. It is well known as the lamp that eliminates all
the darkness of closed-mindedness (42).
Knowing this, the masters who have wished to attain Liberation have made all
efforts to progress along this path.
I, who actually have traveled a true path that leads to Enlightenment, have
had the experience of doing just that. If you would also seek Liberation, please
cultivate yourself in the same way.
