Wisdom

"Tenth, his wisdom is perfect. By Wisdom is meant seeing the so-called Tathagata, the Eternal, Bliss, the Self, the Pure, and the fact that all beings possess the Buddha Nature. He sees the two phases of things, which are: Void versus non-Void, Eternal versus non-Eternal, Bliss versus non-Bliss, the Self versus not-Self, what is possible or not possible for crushing out the proposition of dissimilarity ['vaidharmya-drstanta'], the coming about or seeing of dissimilarity that arises out from the causal relations, and the fruition of dissimilarity that arises out from the non-causal relations or non-causality. This is what we call perfection of Wisdom.

Oh, good man! This is how we say that when the Bodhisattva is perfect in these ten things, he can clearly see the formlessness of Nirvana. "

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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Donation

"Ninth, if the Bodhisattva sees any of his brethren, or anyone who is upholding the same precepts, lacking in things; he goes to others, and begs for an incense burner, priestly robes, for what is required in nursing practice, clothing, food and drink, bedding, and accommodations. "

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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Pearls of the Universe - Volume 6

And for the sake of Kasyapa, he spoke in a gatha:

"If one does not feel anger,
even against a single being,
and prays to give bliss to these beings,
this is loving-kindness.

If one feels compassion
for all beings,
this is the holy seed.

Endless is the reward.

Even if the five-powered Rishis filled this earth,
and gave to Mahesvara elephants, horses,
and their various possessions,
the reward gained would not equal
one sixteenth of one [impulse of] loving-kindness
that is practiced. "

Read more at Pearls of the Universe, Volume 6.

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Protection of Dharma

"Eighth, there is protection of Dharma. By protecting the Dharma is meant to love the Wonderful Dharma, be always happy to talk about it, read and recite, write and copy it, think about its meaning and expound it widely, and make it prevail. If there is a person who copies, expounds, recites and praises [Dharma] and think about the meaning, one should seek things and offer him such as support, things such as clothing, food and drink, bedding and medicines. For the protection of Dharma, one must be ready to sacrifice his own body and life. This is protection of Dharma. "

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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Gentleness

"Seventh, he has gentleness of speech. By gentleness of speech is meant the true and wonderful words that one utters and queries before the mind acts. It is timely speech and words of truth. We call this 'gentle words'. "

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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Remembrance

"Sixth, he is perfect in remembrance. By perfection in remembrance is meant thinking about the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, the precepts, the heavens, and equanimity. We call this perfection in thought."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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Effort

"Fifth, there is effort. By effort is meant that someone thinks single-mindedly on the Four Noble Truths. Even if that person's head was on fire, he would not cast off this [the weighting on the Four Noble Truths]. This is effort. "

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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Quietude

"Fourth, he seeks quietude. By quietude is meant the quietude of body and mind, through which one meditates on the depths of all existences. We call this quietude."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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Friendship with Good Friends of the Way

"Third, the Bodhisattva makes friends with many good friends of the Way. By good friend of the Way is meant a person who speaks well about faith and precepts, erudition (culture), donation, Wisdom, and who makes people practice the Way. Such a person is called the Bodhisattva’s good friend of the Way."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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Precepts

"Second, there is perfection of purity in the observance of moral precepts. Oh, good man! There may be a Bodhisattva who is pure in upholding the precepts. And yet, he does not so for the sake of shila, for the sake of shilaparamita, nor by beings, nor for profit, nor for Bodhi, nor for Nirvana, and nor to [become] a Sravaka or Pratyekabuddha. He only observes the precepts for the highest 'Paramartha-satya’[Ultimate Reality]. Oh, good man! This is what we call perfection in purity of the precepts of a Bodhisattva."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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Faith

"First, he is perfect in faith. How is faith perfect? This is believe deeply that the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha are Eternal, that all the Buddhas of the ten directions effect expedients, and that all beings and icchantikas possess the Buddha Nature. It is not believing that the Tathagata is subject to birth, aging, illness and death, that he has undergone penance, that Devadatta truly caused the Buddha's body to bleed, that the Tathagata ultimately enters Nirvana, and that the Wonderful Dharma dies out. This is when we say that the Bodhisattva is perfect in faith."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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Abstract of Nirvana Sutra Chapter 35

"There is a man who is rich and has great wealth. He had only one son, who has already died. His son had a son, who is now abroad. This man, suddenly, dies. The grandson, on hearing this, comes back and takes over the property. It is unclear where the wealth is. But there is no one who obstructs or claim the possession (of property). Why not? Because the debt is one (of possessions). The case is the same with the Skandhas of the Srotapanna."

Skandhas: [are the five aggregates that comprise a being or individual, namely: 1. Matter (corporeality); 2. Feelings; 3. Perceptions; 4. Mental formations; 5. Consciousness].

Srotapanna: [a person who has entered the stream of Dharma and will be reborn at most seven times].

Read more on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 35, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 3.

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Right Time To Practice Equanimity

"Oh, good man! When the two phases of meditation and knowledge does not go together, know that this is not the right time to practice equanimity. When the two (phases) are in balance, know that this is the right time to practice equanimity. This is the sense in which we say that the Bodhisattva knows when is the time and when is not the time. Oh, good man! When the Bodhisattva experiences the rise of defilement, and if he practices meditation and Wisdom, knows that this is not the time to practice equanimity. He should actually read and recite, write and copy, expound the twelve types of sutras, think of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the precepts, the heavens, and equanimity. This is where we say we practice equanimity. Oh, good man! When the Bodhisattva practices these three phases of Dharma, he gains from this the formlessness Nirvana."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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Right Time To Practice Wisdom

“A Bodhisattva can make much effort and yet not be able to arrive at the Bliss of Nirvana. Not getting this, he feels regret; or because of a dull nature, he may not be able to subdue all his five sense organs. As all defilements and illusions have full strength, he may doubt and think that there is a weakening in the observance of moral precepts. Know that this time is not good for meditation. One should practice knowledge. This is how we say that the Bodhisattva knows well when is the time and when is not.”

Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 38, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 6.

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