The Three Great Hindrances

The hindrances of defilement are greed, hatred, ignorance and anger at what is unpleasant, the illusion that overshadows the mind, thus hindering the good to shoot out its buds; [the hindrances are also] burning worry, jealousy, stinginess, cheating, flattery, not feeling ashamed of one's own self, not feeling ashamed of others, pride, pride-inordinate, simulative pride, pride of self-esteem, pride of self, distorted pride, arrogance, indolence, self-importance, mutual resentment, arguing (dispute, controversy), wrong living, flattering, cheating using different appearances, pursuing profit by profit, seeking things through wrong ways, seeking a lot, lacking respect, not observing the injunctions, and associating with bad friends.

There is no end to the pursuit of profit, to entwine and bind one's own self, so that all becomes difficult to understand. A person abides in evil desires and greed. A person is greedily intentioned based on heretical views of life regarding his carnal existence, the visions of 'is' and 'not-is’ of life; a person utters a groan or is pleased to doze, yawns or is not satisfied, or eats greedily; his mind is weak and thinks about strange things, does evil with body and takes pleasure in talking much, and all his sense organs are dark, it talks too much and is always overshadowed by the senses such as greed, anger and harming. These are the hindrances of defilement.

The hindrances [which arise] from deeds [karma] are the five deadly sins and the grave diseases.

The hindrances from karmic retribution give one life in the realms of hell, animals, hungry pretas, also in slandering of Wonderful Dharma, and the icchantika. These are the hindrances from retribution.

These three hindrances (defilements, deeds (karma) and retribution) are the evils. However, the Bodhisattva, when practicing the Way through innumerable kalpas, dispensed medicines for all illnesses and always vowed to release beings eternally from the grave illnesses of the three hindrances.

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 18 - On Actual Illnesses.

Last words of the Tathagata

Bodhisattva Kasyapa said to the Buddha: "Oh World Honored One! Please condescend to explain to me the virtue which this Mahayana Great Nirvana Sutra has."

The Buddha said to Kasyapa: "Oh good man! Anyone who hears the name of this sutra gains virtue, which is so great that Sravakas and Pratyekabuddhas cannot speak well [on it]. Only the Buddha well knows. Why? Because the world of the Buddha is inconceivable. How much more will be [this virtue] if one possesses, recites, understands and copies it [this sutra]?"

Then all the devas, asuras and people of the world said in a gatha:

"The world of the Buddha is inconceivable.
So too are those (worlds) of the Dharma and the Sangha.
This being the case, we beg that you stay a little longer.
The venerable Mahakashyapa and Ananda,
the two of the Sangha, will soon be here.
Also, the great king Ajatasatru, king of Magadha,
who very much respects the Buddha, the World Honored One, is not here.
Have a little pity and stay awhile,
be with us, the great congregation, and eliminate our doubts."

Then, the Tathagata, for the sake of the great crowd, spoke in a gatha:

"The eldest of my sons is Mahakashyapa.
Ananda makes much effort and may well eliminate your doubts.
Be satisfied with that. Ananda is one who has heard much.
It will understand in a natural way
the eternal and the non-eternal.
For this reason, do not get hurt more."

Then the great crowd offered many things to the Buddha. Their offerings made, they all aspired to unsurpassed Enlightenment. All Bodhisattvas, who were as numerous as the sands of innumerable Ganges, all attained the first "bhumi" [stage of development of Bodhisattva].

Then the World Honored One gave prophecies to Manjushri, Bodhisattva Kasyapa and Cunda. The prophecies given, he said: "All good men! Straighten your minds. Be wary and not indolent. Now, I feel pain in my back and my whole body. Now, I desire lie down."

[And so] he did, like a child or someone who is sick.

"Oh Manjushri! All of you! Disseminate the Great Dharma amongst the four classes of people. I now entrust this sutra to you. Likewise, when Mahakashyapa and Ananda have arrived, entrust them the Wonderful Dharma also."

Then, the Tathagata, having thus spoken, laid himself down on his right side, like any child sick in bed, all to disseminate the Dharma to all beings.

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 17 - On the Questions Raised by the Crowd.

The Sin of King Ajatasatru

The Buddha said to Manjushri: "Oh good man! I granted this gatha. It is not for beings [in general]. It was to none other than King Ajatasatru. The Buddha, World Honored One, does not contradict what was said, if there is no reason to do so. When there is a reason, he then speaks. Oh good man! King Ajatasatru, after murdering his father, came to me, and to prevail over me, put me this question: 'Oh World Honored One, are you All-Knowledge, or are you not? Devadatta through countless ages past had an evil intent and thought of chase and harm the Tathagata. Why is it that you allowed him to become ordained’? Oh good man! Because of this, I granted this gatha for that king:

I follow what others say
and do not speak against [them].
And do not look for others [to see]
if they do or do not do [according to the Dharma];
I only look back upon the good

or evil of what I do.

I, the Buddha, said to the great king: 'Now you have killed your father. The deadly sin has already been committed. It is the greatest of sins, whose consequence is life in Avichi Hell. Confess and purify yourself. Why do you look for the ill of others (in the case of Devadatta)’?  Oh good man! For this reason, I granted this sermon in a gatha just for his sake. Also, in addition, oh good man! I also grant this sermon for those who strictly uphold the precepts, who do not transgress them, who are perfect in conduct, and who see well what evil deeds others commit. Any person who is [rightly] guided by others, who keeps away from all evil deeds, who teaches others and makes them keep away from evil, is none other than one of my disciples."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 17 - On the Questions Raised by the Crowd.

The Medicinal Tree

Then the World Honored One said to Cunda: "The things you see are not rare?"

"Yes, indeed, oh World-Honored One! The innumerable Buddhas that I saw all had the 32 marks (signs) of perfection and the 80 minor characteristics of excellence. They were so adorned. All Bodhisattvas are big in size, all wonderful, and their visages are incomparable. Thus I saw. Only the Buddha's body is like a medicinal tree, surrounded by all Bodhisattvas."

The Buddha said to Cunda: "All the Buddhas that you saw before you were of my own transformation [i.e. projections]. It was to benefit all beings and make them happy. All such Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas here have countless things to practice. They all do what countless Buddhas do. Oh Cunda! Now you have accomplished what the Bodhisattvas do and are perfect in what the Bodhisattva of the ten 'bhumis' does."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 17 - On the Questions Raised by the Crowd.

Pearls of Universe - Volume XVI

"The cause of karma is the touch of ignorance. Due to the touch of ignorance, beings see 'existence'. The causal relation of existence is 'craving'. Due to the causal relation of craving, a person performs the three actions of body, mouth and mind." 

Read more at Pearls of Universe - Volume XVI. 

Contents

SEVEN KINDS OF FRUITION  3
FRUITION BY MEANS  3
FRUITION BY REPAYING OBLIGATIONS  3
FRUITION BY BEFRIENDING  4
FRUITION OF THAT WHICH REMAINS  4
EQUAL FRUITION  4
FRUITION OF REWARD  5
FRUITION OF SEGREGATION  5
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’  5
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’ – NIRVANA  5
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’ – LIGHT  6
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’ – PLACE  6
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’ – GRADUAL  7
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’ – THREE THINGS 7
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’ – NO HINDRANCE  7
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’ – NO HINDRANCE  8
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’ – ETERNAL  8
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’ – DUAL  8
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’ – DIRECTION  9
THE VOID AS ‘NOT-IS’ – ELEMENT  9
LIKE THE UTPALA – THE BLUE LOTUS  10
MEDITATE ON DEFILEMENTS  11
THE SKANDHAS OF THE WISE 13
THE DEFILEMENT OF DESIRE - THE PREJUDICE  14
THE DEFILEMENTS OF IGNORANCE  15
THE ALL-WONDERFUL MEDICINE OF THE HIMALAYAS  15
MEDITATE ON IMAGE 16
MEDITATE ON THE CAUSE OF THE IMAGE  17
MEDITATE ON DESIRE  19
MEDITATE ON KARMA  20
MEDITATE ON CAUSE OF KARMA  21
MEDITATE ON KARMIC RESULT  21
THE UNDEFILED KARMA  22
MEDITATE ON SUFFERING  22

The Highest Vow of the Tathagata

"If any bhiksu, upasaka or upasika aspires to the highest vow of the Tathagata, know that such person will not have ignorance and will be worthy of receiving offerings. By dint of the power of the vow, the virtues and fruits of the actions of that person in the world, will be like those of an Arhat. Anyone who cannot meditate on the eternity of the Three Treasures is a Candala. If a person can indeed conceive the eternity of the Three Treasures, such a person will leave behind the suffering that arises from the causality of existence, will attain peace, and there will be no temptation, difficulties or troubles of worries, which will be left behind."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 17 - On the Questions Raised by the Crowd.

I'm Always Here

Then, all those gathered there, in accordance with the wish of the Buddha, thought so: ‘The Tathagata now accepts our offerings. Before long, he will enter Nirvana.’

Thinking thus, they were both glad and sad. Through the divine power of the Buddha, in a space the size of the tip of a needle, there were gathered together innumerable Buddhas and their retinues, who all sat and ate. What they ate was all equal [the same food], without difference.

Then the devas, asuras and all others wept and were sad. They said: ‘The Tathagata has received our final offerings. Having received them, he will enter Nirvana. To whom can we make offerings now? Now, with the unsurpassed Trainer parted from us, we are all like blind men.’

Then the World Honored One, in order to comfort all those gathered there, spoke in a gatha:

"Do not weep! The Dharma of all Buddhas is thus.
There are already innumerable kalpas since I entered Nirvana.
I have reached the best of the Bliss
and rested myself forever in the peace.

Now, listen with all your heart!
I shall now speak about Nirvana.
I am now segregated from the sense of [the tasting] food;
I now do not feel thirsty.
I shall now, for your sake,
Speak about the vows, step by step

and cause all to be blessed with peace

Listen carefully and practice the eternal Dharma of all Buddhas.
If crows and owls live in a tree
and become friends of each other like brothers,
I will enter Nirvana for eternity.
The Tathagata sees all beings as he sees Rahula.
I will always be the most honored to all beings.
How could I enter Nirvana for eternity?

If snakes, rats and wolves live in a hole
and become friends of each other like brothers,
I will enter Nirvana for eternity.
The Tathagata sees all beings as he sees Rahula.
He always becomes the most honored by the beings.
How can he stay long in Nirvana?

If saptaparna [a bitter plant] transmutes into varsika [jasmine],
if karu [gentian] transmutes into tinduka [diospyros embryoteris],
then I might well enter Nirvana.
The Tathagata sees everyone as he sees Rahula.
How could he abandon compassion
and enter Nirvana for a long time?

If an icchantika could, in his present body,
attain Enlightenment and Bliss in first-grade,
then surely I would enter Nirvana.
The Tathagata sees everyone as he sees Rahula.
How could he abandon compassion
and enter Nirvana for a long time?

If everyone at once attain Enlightenment,
and abandon all evils,
I certainly would reach Nirvana.
The Tathagata sees everyone as he sees Rahula.
How could he abandon compassion
and enter Nirvana for a long time?

If the water (impure) of mosquitoes and flies
could indeed wet the whole earth
and fill the rivers, valleys and seas,
I would enter Nirvana.
My compassionate heart sees everyone as I see Rahula.
I'm always the most honored of all beings,
How could I stay long in Nirvana?

For this reason, seek deeply for the Wonderful Dharma.
Do not be overmuch worried, do not cry, do not weep.
If you desire to act properly,
practice the eternity of the Tathagata;
keep the thought that such a Dharma lives long
and that there is no change.

Also, be aware of the fact that the Three Treasures are all eternal.
This will beget a great protection.
It is as in the case of a dead tree
which, as a result of magic charms, brings forth fruit.
These are the Three Treasures.
 
All of you, the four classes of people! Listen up!
On listening well, the joy will arise and Bodhicitta will come about.
If the Three Treasures come about as (being) eternals
and are like 'Paramartha-satya’ [Ultimate Reality],
This is the utmost of vows of all the Buddhas."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 17 - On the Questions Raised by the Crowd.