No More Learning

It is knowing moderation in food, and striving not to sleep in the early and latter parts of the night. It is reliance on the holy man. It is knowing what the faults are and, having seen them, avoiding them or confess- ing them honestly. It is preserving and extending every
good deed that is in harmony with these virtues. 30
And thus, if you keep the Conduct of Garnering Virtue, your life of virtue will become well integrated. For, if you do not consent to looking for pleasures even in small things, then how much less in greater. This Conduct is the very heart of the Ten Perfections, of the Four Means of Attrac- tion, of the Four Infinitudes, and of the Ten Thoughts of Enlightenment.
Conduct for the Good o f Others
Conduct for Others' Sake means that you must work for the good of creatures. It is being a companion to those in suffering as a nurse is to the sick, and so on.
It is being a guide for the blind, and teaching the deaf by signs, and carrying those who have no hands or feet, and cleansing those who hanker after desire, and purifying the suffering of anyone overcome or contemned by
? 98 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
others, and [309b] giving food and drink to the weary traveller, and helping with clothes and lodging. It means being indefatigable in helping the sick with your healing abilities, and having no thought of reward. 31
In short, it is cleansing away all the suffering that creatures have, and keeping the intention to remove it, and bestow- ing all your virtues on others for their benefit. For the full significance of these practices, you must study the Chapter on Conduct.
Perfecting the Equipment
It was in my reflecting that these three kinds of Conduct for the [Bodhisattva's] vow are actually the Equipment of Merit, and should therefore quickly bring that Equipment to perfection, I wrote the verse:
HENCE, WHEN ONE HAS STRIVEN IN THE VOWS WHICH MAKE UP THE PURE AND PERFECT BODHISATTVA VOW,
HE WILL BRING TO COMPLETE PERFECTION
THE VERY EQUIPMENT FOR PERFECT ENLIGHTENMENT. (Stanza 33)
Consequently, you should understand that if you wish to reach the Perfect Enlightenment, and want to achieve the merit which is the condition for it, you will bring that Equipment of Merit to perfection by striving diligently in the V ow of the Bodhisattva.
Striving in Both Vows
By the words "VOWS WHICH MAKE UP THE . . . VOW", I include both the Vow of a Bodhisattva who is following Arya ~sanga's , s y s t e m , a n d t h e V o w o f a B o d h i s a t t v a w h o f o l l o w s Adirya Santideva's. If you have striven and laboured perseveringly in the paths of both these great Wagons, you will have fulfilled the Equipments of Merit and Knowledge alike, and the Gurus say that you will be directly and perfectly Enlightened. My Guru [Bodhibhadra, for instance] says in his Commentary on "Twenty Verses on the
V ow":
? THE BODHISATTVA VOW 99
"These Three Trainings of Conduct are virtuous because to take and observe them correctly works for one's own and others' good, benefit, and happiness. [310a] They are measureless because they comprise the measureless trainings of a Bodhisattva. They are useful because they accomplish the benefit and happiness of all creatures. And one can understand how much greater their effect is [than other trainings] by the fact that through them one lays hold of the supreme and perfect Enlightenment, the greatest result of all. " 32
Five Effects
Now then, to undertake such a training from a holy Guru and desire the basic virtues of the Equipment Path's Aids- to-Liberation, as is proper for a Bodhisattva, means that one has had the right disposition for it from previous rebirths. For as Maitreyanatha says in the Classification of the Middle and Extremes:
"Scriptures declare that the maturing [of karma] includes: [1] becoming a Vessel, and [2] Strength because ofthat capacity, and [3] Desire, and [4] Growth, and [5] Purification. These are the successive stages of the effects [of karma]. " 33
And the great and learned Guru Santipa [explains this as]:34
"The bodhisattvas' becoming Vessels [for Mahayana] in this life is because of their having trained to cultivate virtue in their previous lives. This is the Maturation Effect. [1] Their becoming strong is because of what they have done in this life. This is the Dominant Effect.
[2] For the same reason, but later, is their desire [for more training]. This is the Causally-Similar Effect. [3] Their great growth in training in this life is the Human-Activity Effect. [4] Their being dissociated from the impurities of the Obscurations is the Dissociation Effect. [5] Four of these effects, excepting the Dominant, are listed as effects of the same [causal] category, but the list would not be complete if that were true. "
? 100 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
And the great and learned Acarya Vasubandhu says: [310b]
"The Bodhisattva who has the Thought for Enlighten- ment, from then on in rebirth after rebirth,
'Has happy destinies, noble birth, all his faculties, is born a male, remembers rebirths, and does not turn back. '
He does not regret suffering in the cause of helping creatures. A servant not bought with worldly goods is this bodhisattva. And, even with his special eminence in the good fortune of a Great Being, he will not be proud and arrogant. Out of compassion, he is controlled by others, and lives at their feet like a dog, a servant or a low-caste. And although others hold him in contempt and hurt him, he is forbearing, and takes unto himself all weariness and anxiety. "35
This is the kind of person we know as a Mahayanist.
Marks o f Unfailing Thought
The Sutras also speak of the signs of Enlightenment Thought, unimpaired through rebirth after rebirth:
"[Because of the Thought] one is spared the evil destinies. He avoids birth in remote areas, and is reborn In a place where there is a holy man. His birth is of noble family, and he is handsome in body, and has great insight, and is free of sickness. He is endowed with
compassion. "
Hence, you avoid the Eight Unfavourable Conditions and possess the qualities of the Ten Favourable ones. Or again, the signs [of Enlightenment Thought] are to be naturally endowed with the Six Perfections; for the Sutras say, "One is endowed with [the Perfection of] Giving without being taught it", on through each of the Perfections to "He is endowed with Insight without being taught it. "
? THE BODHISA TTV A VOW 101 And Acarya Candrakirti says this:
"If while [on the Paths of] the Ordinary Person/6
One hears ofEmptiness and inner joy comes again and again, And from that joy the eyes fill with teai:s,
And even the body hairs begin to rise; [311a]
Then to that one, whoever he be who has this
Seed of Enlightenment, let Ultimate Truth be taught.
For from that seed springs the quality of realising it. " 37
Acarya Vasubandhu puts it this way:
"Regarding the Aids to Liberation: when anyone hears a sermon on Non-Self, or on the defects of the cycle of rebirth, or on the qualities of Nirval). a, and the tears flow and his scalp tingles, then we recognise a man who has
the basic virtues of the Aids to Liberation- just as surely as we know that seed has been sown in the furrows of the field when we see the summer's sprouting. "38
And the holy Descent into Lanka Sutra:
" A s from seeing smoke, one knows there is fire;
And from the presence of herons, that water's nearby; SoJthe Family of intelligent Bodhisattvas
Is recognised by their characteristics. " 39
Beginner Bodhisattvas
And so, the Beginner Bodhisattva should be constantly aware that his whole body and life and enjoyments, and all the phenomena of Samsara and Nirval). a alike are as but a dream. Dreamlike are the Three Jewels to which he pays dreamlike reverence. Dreamlike the cycle of rebirth in which he must sorrow; dreamlike the creatures for whom
his compas~ion labours with dreamlike mind; and dream- like the creatures whom he must respect.
He must bear in mind that all creatures are his lord; he must bear in mind the Non-arising [of all phenomena]; he must bear in mind the Thought of Enlightenment. He must bear Death in mind. He must bear Conduct in mind. He must bear in mind detachment from all material things. He
? 102 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
must bear in mind his mindfulness, deliberateness, attention, and careful reflection. [311b]
Skilled in Means
Moreover, this Beginner should at all times be skilled in the Means, [reflecting in this way:]
"Taking my own sins to be others' sins, I confess them; and taking others' sins to be my own, I confess them. Making my own roots of virtue to be others' root~ of virtue, and others' to be my own - making my own happiness to be others' happiness, and making their suffering to be mine - I cleanse away the suffering of others through my own suffering. When I see or hear of the happiness of others, my heart is glad. And when I see or hear of their suffering, my heart is cast down like a mother's, thinking 'Ah alas, when will I free them from their suffering? '
"I put aside all thought of worldly things. I must not be jealous of others' gain, honour, and fame. Here am I, with this family, good health, attendants and wherewithal; I have the five branches of knowledge; I have my own goods, honour, and reputation; so, without pride or arrogance, I will not hold lesser people in contempt. In sharing my virtue with others, I completely bestow [its merits on them] for the Great Enlightenment;
and the virtues that others have shared with me, I also completely bestow for the Great Enlightenment. And in sharing my own sins with others' sins, I confess each one; and the sins they have shared with me, I confess them all. "
Unremitting Practice
The [Beginner Bodhisattva's] daily practice is to be unremitting;40 for as the Cloud ofJewels says:
"In eating . . . in drinking . . . in going forth . . . in lying down . . . in lying on the right side . . . [he is mindful]. "41 [312a]
You must study the rest of the Sutra for the description.
? THE BODHISA TTV A VOW 103
And then again his pledge is unremitting too, as these words ofKing Akasa ofold say:42
"From this day forward, even if the Thought of attachment arise in me, I will never betray all the Buddhas Who dwell in the ten directions.
Beginning from this moment and henceforth, [Until I obtain the Highest Enlightenment,]
I shall not permit ill-will or anger,
Avarice or envy, to occupy my mind. [Stanza 27]
I shall practise the Pure Life,
And renounce sin and base desire;
I shall imitate the Buddha
By rejoicing in the vow of Conduct. " [Stanza 28]
And the Exhortation to Higher Intention Sutra:
"0 Blessed One, from this day forward, we make this solemn promise in the presence of the Tathagata. 0 Blessed One, from this day forward, if we talk about the failings of a person in the Bodhisattva Vehicle, be it true or not, we will be betraying the Tathagata, the Arhat, the completely perfect Buddha . . . "43
And you must study the siitra for the rest [of that idea].
The Beginner's Bestowal [of merit] is likewise un- remitting: study the Bestowal prayer in the Golden Splendour, the Ten Great Bestowals of the Bodhisattva yajradhvaja, and the Twenty Verses on Gathering Merit by Arya Nagarjuna, and others such as the Bestowal Chapter of the Progress in Practice.
His Resolve is also unremitting: read the holy Good Practice, the Ten Great Resolves of the Siltra on the Ten Stages, the Twelve Great Resolves of the king in the Glory_of the Blessed One, Vaidurya, Teacher of Healing, and Acarya Asvagho~a's Seventy Resolves, and so on.
[312b]
From time to time, recall the fifty [simile] teachings that
my Guru collected from quotes out of the entire body of Siitras: "Mother and Father-like" and "Son and Daughter- like" [is the BodhisattvaV4
? 104 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
Sutra Study
A Beginner should also read the whole Siitra collection through at least once. And why is that? Because the beginner has only studied a small part of the remedy and its superficial conditions; and so he needs to study the Siitras diligently [for basic understanding]. He should also read, listen to, and ask questions about the books that summarise the complete Siitra meaning: the Compendium of Sutras,
the Progress in Bodhisattva Practice, the Chapter on Conduct, and the Twenty Verses on the Vow. Since the great Acaryas of the past- and the great'and learned Gurus of our own day- gave much reflection to the meaning of the Mahayana Siitras, their treatises too ought to be studied, listened to, and copied.
He should also recite the Three Heaps three times a day and night, as the Questions of Ugra says:
"Washing himself three times a day and three times a night, and? donning clean robes, he should recite the Three Heaps. "45
And the Instruction on the Non-Production of All Phenomena:
"Three times a day as well as night, pay homage to the Bodhisattvas with head [to the ground]. "46
And the Cloud ofJewels:
"To all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, he performs
worship three times a day and three times a night. " 4 7
And in the Questions of Upali, it says: "He confesses day andnight. "48 (313a]AndAryaAsariga:
"The bodhisattva who wants to be enlightened swiftly, directly, and perfectly, must three times a day and times a night: pay Homage, perfom1 Worship, Confess his sins, Rejoice, make Entreaty, offer Petition, and make the Bestowal. " 4 9
? THE BODHISA TTV A VOW 105
For the beneficial qualities of these practices, study the Avalokitesvara Sutrq, the ,Hundred Explanations of the Doctrine, and Acarya Sura's Precious Garland of Discourses. They should all be performed as given in the text of the Good Practice, and the Three Heaps Sutra should then be recited again.
Kinds of Beginners
The keen and intelligent Bodhisattva, adorned with learning, will enlarge upon these ritual practices with the instruction he receives from his Guru - but only after he gas grounded himself in the holy Good Practice. Hence,
Santideva says in the Progress in Practice:
"Three times in the day and in the night
Recite the Three Heaps Sutra, and then
Relying on the Victor and Enlightenment Thought, The rest of your failings will be calmed. "50
So, following such methods, he makes the Three Refuges and confesses the wrong of his failings, and then creates the twofold Enlightenment Thought [of resolving and progressing]. He tells himself that he must practise the complete and entire Training of a Bodhisattva preached in the Mahayana Sutras. A full ritual for doing all of this c'an
be sought from his Guru. [313b]
A yogin who is not found lacking in these daily practices
can be said to be endowed with Three Excellences. As my own Guru [Bodhibhadra] put it:
"I will be in touch with happiness by means of Three Excellences: Excellence of Practice, of Intention, and of Prior Cause. By Excellence of Practice I am not con- tinually committing sins of body, speech and mind; and I confess my wrongs. By Excellence of Intention I am motivated by the Teaching, and not its contrary, like Wrong Livelihood, etc. And, caring about the goal of Great Enlightenment, I have no use for the goal of
? 106 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
worldly happiness. By Excellence of Prior Cause I have acted out of virtue and merit in previous lives, and therefore I am not now impoverished in food, clothing and the necessities. I am naturally diposed to share my lot with others. " 51
A beginning disciple of less keen intelligence should not embark on this path [of vowed Conduct] right at the start. The Gurus say that he should first have all the siitras and commentary explained to him which show him the wide scope of Bodhisattva Training. And, when he has mastered these, then let the [vow] ritual for entering the path of a beginning individual be applied.
Here I suggest [an examination by] Watches to determine the extent of his reverence for the Three Jewels, or renunciation of a~tachment, or mindfulness of death, keeping the Conduct uppermost, or his honesty and trusting reverence towards his Guru:
The eighteen hours [of a day] are divided into Six W atches [of three hours each]. I f there is a failure in the first or second hour of the Morning Watch, and in the third the Enlightenment Thought is forgotten, that individual [should be judged] weak. Let the [examen] be repeated in the next five Watches again. [314a]
The Superior Individual corrects his failures from hour to hour; the Mediocre in two hours; and the Inferior corrects his only in the last [hour of any Watch].
The superior-Superior corrects himself within a minute [of any failing], the mediocre-Superior corrects himself in two minutes, and the inferior-Superior in the last minute [of any given hour in which the fault is committed]. In this fashion the examination can be applied to all the rest of the nine [degrees]: superior-Mediocre, and so onY
There are, however, some famous learned Gurus who say that a Superior Person is one who corrects his fault immediately after it is committed, the Mediocre Person corrects his after two or more minutes, and the Inferior
[only] corrects his by the end ofthe six Watches.
THIS COMPLETES THE TEACHING ON THE TRAINING FOR HIGHER CONDUCT
? THE BODHISA TTV A VOW 107 Notes to Chapter 4
I Ot. 897,V ol. 35:178. 1.
2 Ot. 5538, Vol. 110:166-77. The nine topics of the Conduct Chapter are
3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10
Asanga's own verses, but by themselves do not give complete compre- hension of their content. All but topic [2], the All-inclusive, represent succinct meditational or ascetical practices. The ''all-inclusive" Conduct is a detailed description and enumeration of the entire Bodhisattva course, beginning with the development of the Enlightenment Thought, the con- ditions of a bodhisattva in both the lay and religious states, the prerequisite of Pratimok~a vows (the opinion Atisa follows), and a complete ritual with formulae and rubrics for taking the Bodhisattva Vow, along with a long list of Priitimok~a-like offences to be avoided by a bodhisattva.
The inspiration for this stanza is taken almost verbatim from Candragomin's Twenty Verses on the Bodhisattva Vow [Ot. 5582, Vol. 114:253. 1].
The entire paragraph here, although not indicated as a quotation in the text, is taken from Candragomin, op. cit. , pp. 266. 5f.
Ot. 5538. Vol. 110:169. 3 to 170. 2.
Ritual for Begetting the Thought and for the Vow, Ot. 5364.
Ot. 5336, Vol. 102:187. 2f.
One of Mafijusrl's rebirths as a king, recounted in the Ornament of Mafzjusri's Buddhafield [Ot. 760(15). Vol. 23:129. 2f]. and also quoted by Santideva in SS, p. IS.
op. cit. , pp. 177. 2.
SS: p. 19.
II BCA:V:lOO.
12 13 14 15
16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Commentary on "Twenty Verses on the Vow", Ot. 5584, Vol. ll4:276. 2f. SS: p. 19.
SS: pp. 12-13.
mi brda phrad-pa. The term is borrowed from the conditions surrounding the giving up of the Pratimok~a vows. See Chapter 3, note 31.
The phrase "to give back the vow" (sdom-pa phul) has the technical sense of being legitimately released from it by appropriate authority for honest reasons. The Hooks of Mara (his "Evil Works") are found in SS: pp. 46f; the Fourteen Evil Things are described in SS: pp. 70-71.
Ot. 5584, Vol. 114:269. 1. See note 16.
op. cit. . pp. 175. 4f.
SS: p. 158.
op. cit. , p. 177. 1ff.
SS: pp. 17-18.
op. cit. , p. 266. 1.
ibid.
Candragomin, op. cit . . pp. 253. 1.
BCA: III:25-26.
Ot. 814. Vol. 32:278. 2.
Ot. 824, Vol. 33:159. 4.
The Three Conduct Trainings used for explanation here are taken from Asaitga's "All-inclusive Conduct" topic of the Conduct Chapter (see note 2), and form the broad outline for his treatment of Bodhisattva practices. These three Conduct Trainings should not be confused with the Three Higher Trainings (lhag-pa'i bslab-pa gsum): Higher Conduct, Higher Con-
? 108 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
30
31
32 33 34
centration. Higher Vision, which are also a common division of the elements of Bodhisattva life.
The practices mentioned here are again from Asanga's list in the Hearer's
Level [Ot. 5537, Vol. 110:37. 4f].
All of the graphic. examples listed here are taken from Bodhibhadra's explanation of this Conduct Training [op. cit. . p. 263. 3f. ].
op. cit. . p. 262. 2f.
Ot. 5522. Vol. 108:21. 1.
Santipa is also known as Ratnakarasanti (Rin-chen 'byung-gnas zhi-ba), but the quotation here. although obviously a commentary on Maitreyanatha's work. remains unidentified as no such commentary is ascribed to Santipa in the catalogues. The five types of effect. however. are classical Buddhist divisions in any discussion of the good and bad effects of actions (las/karma).
See A K(L VP): II:287ff.
I) Maturation (rnam-par smin-pa/vipiika): the effects of one's actions in
terms of level of rebirth: whether in higher or lower destiny.
2) Dominant (bdag-po/adhipati): external circumstances viewed as the result of good or bad actions: natural calamity. fire. flood, etc. from bad actions; friends. material sufficiency. pleasant surroundings. etc. from good
actions.
3 ) H u m a n - A c t i v i t y ( s k y e s - b u ' i byed-pa/puru~a-kilra): t h e i m m e d i a t e
effects in today's life of good or bad actions, as distinguished from the more remote effect in Maturation Effect.
4) Dissociation ('bral-ba/visaiflyoga): the necessary effect of knowledge gained; that is, the dispelling of ignorance.
5) Causa1ly-Similar (rgyu-mthun-pa/n~yanda): one's character retaining the good or bad tendencies toward which it was habituated by good or bad actions: a murderer toward more killing, a saint toward more virtue. Explanation ofthe "Treasure ofPhenomenology", Ot. 5591, Vol. 115:218. 5. Paths of the Ordinary Person refers to the Equipment and Practice Paths, also called Mundane or Worldly. A person at this level has just begun to desire the goal of Enlightenment, but has not yet reached the immediate direct experience of the Four Truths' significance of the higher levels. See Chart I.
Supplement to the "Treatise on the Middle Way", Ot. 5261, chap. 6, vv. 4-5.
AK(LVP): IV: p. 252.
Ot. 775, Vol. 29.
phyin-ci-ma-log-pa/aviparyiisa.
Ot. 897. In SS: p. 134.
The quotation is from the Ornament ofManjufri's Buddhafield [Ot. 760(15), Vol. 23:129. 2f], the same siitra and verses Atlsa used in the root poem
[Stanzas 26-31] for the formula of a Bodhisattva Vow without a Guru. The discrepancy here is that the king's name is given as Akasa (nam-mkha'), whereas in the root text he is ca1led Ambaraja (am-ba-ra-dza).
In SS: p. 100.
The reference is to the Instruction on the Concise Meaning ofthe Sutra [Ot. 5395], translated by Atlsa and Tshul-khrims, but without mention of the author- either in the catalogues or in AtiSa's text here. The first metaphor given here reads "The doctrine is Mother and Father-like, as Emptiness and Compassion. There can be no bodhisattva who is not born of these two. "
In SS: p. 263. In SS: p. 101.
35 36
37
38 39 40 41 42
43
44
45 46
? 47 48 49
50 51 52
In SS: p. 264.
In SS: p. 165.
The same unidentified quotation is used again in Chapter 5, merely ascribing the familiar Sevenfold Worship to Asanga. The repetition possibly indicates insertion by later editors.
BCA: V: 98.
Bodhibhadra, op. cit. , pp. 276. 2.
The nine degrees means the three qualitative degrees that are applied to the three qualities of persons, totalling nine: superior-Superior, mediocre- Superior, inferior-Superior; superior-Mediocre, mediocre-Mediocre,
inferior-Mediocre, and so on.
THE BODHISA TTV A VOW 109
? PART TWO
Higher Meditation
? CHAPTER 5
The Superknowledges
Stanza Page
I RELATION OF CONDUCT TO
CONCENTRATION 114
II THE SUPERKNOWLEDGES
A Perfecting of the Equipment
B For the Good of Others
114
34 115 35 115 115 117
118 36-37 118
38 119 39 119
120 40 121 121 121 122 123
123
1 Dangers of Preaching
2 Need of the Superknowledges
3 NeedofaGuru
4 Relation to Calmness
III CALMNESS
A The Nine Limbs
B Defects and Remedies in Meditation
c Topics for Calmness
1 With Signs
2 Without Signs
D Practice of the Yogin
1 Of Keen Ability 2 OfSlowerAbility
? 5
The Superknowledges
Relation of Conduct to Concentration
The Path to Enlightenment is not a matter of just Conduct by itself. Y ou must develop Concentration and Insight too. However, from your foundation in Conduct, Concentration arises. As the holy Moon-Lamp says:
"The Concentration- free from afflictions is swiftly Attained: that is the advantage of purified Conduct. " 1
And Acarya Santideva:
"In Conduct, Concentration is achieved. . . . Hence we must understand that any activity concerned with Con- cent. ration is? [really] a part of Conduct. In striving for Concentration, we must have dispositions of mindfulness and deliberateness. . . . And in striving for Conduct also we must work on Concentration. . . . The interaction of both is what makes Conduct grow, and by means of both, purification of mind [Concentration] is achieved. "2
[314b]
So, if you cannot have Concentration without having Conduct, then you must strive for Conduct for the sake of having Concentration.
The Superknowledges
Through the Concentration born of excellent Conduct, one develops the Superknowledges. And the Superknowledges are the means both for working for the good of others, and for acquiring the Two Equipments. This I showed when I wrote:
? THE SUPERKNOWLEDGES 115
"ALL THE BUDDHAS HAVE HELD THAT
PERFECTING THIS EQUIPMENT,
THE NATURE OF WHICH IS MERIT AND KNOWLEDGE,
LIES ESSENTIALLY IN THE SUPERKNOWLEDGES. " (Stanza 34]
Perfecting o f the Equipment
Let me show briefly what I mean by this:
If a man wants to build up the Two Equipments, And has the constant desire to work for others' good, But has not developed the Superknowledges,
Then he is acting like a blind man,
And behaving as though insane-
A veritable brute beast, as it were.
If he cannot achieve even his own good, How will he (ever] achieve others'?
For the Good ofOthers
Dangers of Preaching
"JUST AS A BIRD WITH UNFLEDGED WINGS
CANNOT FLY UP INTO THE SKY,
SO WITHOUT THE SUPERKNOWLEDGES' POWER,
ONE CANNOT WORK FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS. " (Stanza 35]
It is absurd to explain the (Buddha's] Teaching and to gather disciples, having only your own Insight from study- when you have not even yet acquired the Superknowledges or developed the Insight born of contemplation. 3 Hence the saying "How can it not be madness, to preach before even learning one's own measure? " Or to quote from the Exhortation to Higher Intention on this subject of liking to talk [about religion] and observing the evils that result from it:
"Proud of his learning, he has no respect;
He loves conversations with dispute and debate; (315a] He becomes unmindful and loses deliberateness- These are the evils of liking to talk.
His inner thought is quite far away; Neither his body nor mind become very pure;
? 116 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
His arrogance is turned into great humiliation- These are the evils of liking to talk.
He is a child too frail to reflect on the Doctrine; His thoughts turn unfriendly and become very harsh; He is a long way off from Calmness and Insight- These are the evils of liking to talk.
He is ever disrespectful of his Gurus,
And finds his delight in obscene conversation; Pointlessly he lives and lacking in Insight- These are the evils of liking to talk. . . .
At the hour of death, this child makes moan:
'Alas! my meditation's so weak! what shall I do? '
So with the depths unfathomed, his suffering is great- These are the evils of liking to talk.
Like grass in the wind, he is blown to and fro; His only conviction is that he's in doubt; Firmness of mind will never be his-
These are the evils of liking to talk.
He is like an actor before a crowd watching His play: he declaims the hero's virtues While his own character grows weaker- These are the evils of liking to talk.
He is a hypocrite and in despair;
He is remorse-stricken ever afterwards;
? He is far off from the noble and holy Teaching- These are the evils of liking to talk.
Of little ability, he is delighted by attention, And his ignorance makes him impulsive;
His mind is restless as a monkey's:
These are the evils of liking to talk. " 4
Further on, the Sutra continues:
"The man. who likes to talk at great length, [315b] And then still says that he's not had enough,
Would be far better off to reflect on a word,
And that one word would give him infinite delight.
The sugar-cane bark has no juice at all; The taste-giving delight is all found inside; The man who chews on only the bark Cannot find the sugar's sweet taste.
Talking is like the husk of the cane;
But thought and meaning, these are the taste.
? THE SUPERKNOWLEDGES 117 So renounce this delight in talking,
And be ever attentive and think on meaning. " 5 This same Sutra also has this passage:
"The Great Bodhisattva Maitreya questioned the Blessed One in these words:
'The bodhisattva who has rejected the highest Doctrine and is occupied with evil deeds will have very little Insight and his Insight will be impaired, will it not? '
And the Blessed One answered the Great Bodhisattva Maitreya:
'Maitreya, that is exactly how it is. The words you have spoken are true.