Bodhisattva
Nagarjuna on The Path of Easy Practice
(excerpts)
from The Ninth Chapter of the Discourse
on the
Ten
Stages
(Translated from Chinese by Hisao Inagaki)
The Path of
Difficult Practice and the
Path of Easy Practice
To the
practicers of Mahayana,
the
Buddha said:
To make vows and seek the Path to Buddhahood is a task
harder
than
lifting the whole universe.
You say that the Stage of
Non-retrogression is extremely difficult to enter, requiring a long
period of practice, and ask me if there is a path of easy practice
whereby you can attain this stage quickly. These are words of a
cowardly and contemptible man, and not those of a brave man with a
strong aspiration. If, however, you insist on hearing from me about
this method of practice, I will explain it to you.
There are innumerable modes of entry into the Buddha's teaching. Just
as there are in the world difficult and easy paths - travelling on foot
by land is full of hardship and travelling in a boat by sea is pleasant
- so it is among the paths of the bodhisattvas. Some exert themselves
diligently, while others quickly enter Non-retrogression by the easy
practice based on faith.
The Path of Easy Practice Based on Amida's
Vow
Amida Buddha's Primal Vow is as
follows:
If anyone contemplates me, recites my name, and takes
refuge in
me,
he will instantly enter the Stage of Assurance and subsequently attain
the highest perfect Bodhi.
For this reason, you should
always be
mindful of him. I will now
praise
him in verse.
The Buddha of Infinite Light and Wisdom, whose body is
like a
mountain
of genuine gold,
I worship with my body, speech and heart by joining hands and bowing
down
toward him. (40)
His glorious golden radiance reaches all the worlds,
Manifesting its forms in accordance with the beings he saves. So I bow
down and worship him. (41)
If anyone, after the end of his life, obtains birth in
Amida's
land,
He will be instantly endowed with immeasurable merit. So I take refuge
in Amida. (42)
If anyone is mindful of that Buddha's infinite power and
merit,
He will instantly enter the Stage of Assurance. So I am always mindful
of Amida. (43)
Even though people of his land may be subject to various
sufferings
after
death,
They will not fall into the evil realm of hell. So I take refuge in him
and worship him. (44)
If anyone is born in that land, he will never again fall
into the
three
evil realms
Or the realm of asuras. So I now take refuge in him and worship him.
(45)
Human and heavenly beings [in his land] are all alike in
physical
appearance,
each as glorious as a golden mountain.
He is the refuge for all superior beings. So I prostrate myself and
worship
him. (46)
Those born in his land are endowed with the divine eye
and ear. Nothing in the ten directions can hinder [their sight and
hearing]. So
I bow down to the Most Holy One of all Sages. (47)
People of that land have supernatural powers of
transforming
themselves
at will, of knowing the thoughts of others,
And of knowing the previous lives of themselves and others. So I take
refuge
in him and worship him. (48)
Those born in his land are free from attachment to
'myself' and
'mine.'
They do not produce discriminative thoughts. So I bow down and worship
him. (49)
There are innumerable shravakas [in his land], who have
attained
release
from the prison of the Three Worlds;
Their eyes are like lotus-petals. So I bow down and worship him. (50)
All the sentient beings of his land have a gentle nature,
And spontaneously perform the ten good deeds. So I bow down to the King
of Sages. (51)
They shine brightly and purely through performing good
deeds;
their
number
is infinite and incalculable.
They are the most distinguished of all humans. So I take refuge in him.
(52)
If anyone, aspiring to become a Buddha, contemplates Amida
in his
heart,
Amida will instantly manifest himself before him. So I take refuge in
him.
(53)
By the power of the Buddha's Primal Vow, bodhisattvas of
the ten
directions
Come to make offerings to him and hear the Dharma. So I bow down to
him.
(54)
Bodhisattvas of this land possess excellent physical marks
and
characteristics
Which glorify their bodies. So I now take refuge in him and worship
him.
(55)
The Great Bodhisattvas of his land can make offerings to
the
Buddhas of
the ten directions
Three times daily. So I bow down and worship him. (56)
If there is anyone who plants roots of goodness but
entertains
doubts,
the flower [he will be born into] will not bloom;
For those who have pure faith, flowers will bloom, and they will see
the
Buddha. (57)
The present Buddhas of the ten directions praise this
Buddha's
merit
In various ways. So I now take refuge in him and worship him. (58)
The land is adorned everywhere and is superior to the
heavenly
palaces;
His merit is exceedingly vast and deep. So I kneel at the Buddha's
feet.
(59)
Each sole of the Buddha bears the mark of
a thousand-spoked wheel and is soft and lotus-colored.
Anyone who sees this rejoices. So I prostrate myself and worship at his
feet. (60)
The light emanating from the white curl of hair between
his
eyebrows
resembles
that of the pure moon,
And adds to the luster of his countenance.
So I kneel down at his feet. (61)
When he was seeking the Path to Buddhahood,
he performed many marvelous practices
As described in various sutras. So I prostrate myself and worship him.
(62)
The Buddha's sermons destroy the roots of evil;
They are beautifully worded and bring great benefit. So I bow down and
worship him. (63)
With these beautifully worded sermons, he cures people's
addiction to
pleasures;
He saved beings in the past and is saving beings now; all gods kneel
down
and worship him. (64)
He is the most honored of all human
and heavenly beings; all gods kneel down
and worship him,
With their crowns made of seven treasures touching his feet. So I take
refuge in him. (65)
All wise and holy sages and multitudes of human and
heavenly
beings
Together take refuge in him. So I, too, worship him. (66)
Boarding the boat of Eightfold Noble Teaching, he ferries
people
over
the
sea that is difficult to cross;
He has crossed it himself and now carries others across. So I worship
the
one who possesses unrestricted power. (67)
Even if all the Buddhas praised his merit for innumerable
kalpas,
They could not fully honor it. So I
take refuge in the Pure Person. (68)
Like those Buddhas, I have praised his boundless virtue.
By this act, I pray that the Buddha may always think of me. (69)
With whatever merit I have acquired in this and previous
lives,
I wish to be in the presence of the Buddha and attain eternal purity of
heart. (70)
May the supreme merit I have acquired by this meritorious
act
Be shared with all other sentient beings. (71)
Source:@H.
Inagaki,
Nagarjuna's Discourse
on the Ten Stages:
Dashabhumika-vibhasa
- translation and study of Verses and Chapter 9. Ryukoku
Literature Series V, Ryukoku University, 1998, pp. 135-159.
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