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.
