Pearls of Universe - Volume XIV

The Buddha said: "Oh, good man! [Suppose that] there is a flat road. Beings walk [along it], and there is nothing to hinder their progress. In the middle of the road there is a tree, whose shade is fresh. The travellers make a stop in this place with their palanquin and take a rest. But there is always the shade of the tree there, and there is no difference. The shade does not die out, and nobody takes it away. The road is the Holy Way, and the shade the Buddha Nature."

Read more at Pearls of Universe - Volume XIV.

Contents

The Kushinagar Castle History  3

The Kapilavastu Castle History  4

The Jetavana Vihara History  5

The Unsurpassed Boy  7

The Eleven Virtues of the Full Moon  7

Right Time To Practice Meditation  8

Right Time To Practice Wisdom  9

Right Time To Practice Equanimity  9

Ten Virtues of the Bodhisattva  10

• Faith  10
• Precepts  11
• Friendship with Good Friends of the Way  11
• Quietude  11
• Effort  12
• Remembrance  12
• Gentleness  12
• Protection of Dharma  12
• Donation  13
• Wisdom  13

Karma Definite and the Indefinite  14

The Karmic Retribution of Bodhisattva  14

True Word  15

Two Kinds of People  16

The Body and the Fire  17

The Practice of the Body  17

The Practice of the Precepts  18

The Practice of the Mind  18

The Practice of Wisdom  19

Getaway from Hell  20

The Bodhi Tree  21

Abstract of Nirvana Sutra - Chapter 42

"Oh good man! When a sick person knows that his illness is mild and can be easily healed, it will not feel unhappy when a bitter medicine is prescribed to him, and will take it. It is the same case with the wise person, too. It makes effort, practices the Holy Way, is happy, does not cease (efforts) and does not feels regret.

Oh good man! If a person comes to know the defilements, the cause of defilements, the result of defilements, the lightness and heaviness of defilements, it will make efforts, eliminate defilements and practice the Way. With such a person, 'matter' [physical form] does not come about, nor provokes feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness. If a person does not see defilements, the cause of defilement, the result of defilement, the lightness and heaviness of defilements, and does not undertake efforts in the practice of the Way, for such a person matter, feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness will come about.

Oh good man! 'He' who sees the defilements, the cause of defilements, the result of defilements, the lightness and heaviness of defilements, and who practices the Way is the Tathagata. For this reason, the body ['rupa'] of the Tathagata is Eternal. So it is with ['his'] feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness, all of which are Eternal."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 42 - On Bodhisattva Kasyapa 3.

The Skandhas of the Wise

"Oh good man! When a sick person knows that his illness is mild and can be easily healed, it will not feel unhappy when a bitter medicine is prescribed to him, and will take it. It is the same case with the wise person, too. It makes effort, practices the Holy Way, is happy, does not cease (efforts) and does not feels regret.

Oh good man! If a person comes to know the defilements, the cause of defilements, the result of defilements, the lightness and heaviness of defilements, it will make efforts, eliminate defilements and practice the Way. With such a person, 'matter' [physical form] does not come about, nor provokes feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness. If a person does not see defilements, the cause of defilement, the result of defilement, the lightness and heaviness of defilements, and does not undertake efforts in the practice of the Way, for such a person matter, feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness will come about.

Oh good man! 'He' who sees the defilements, the cause of defilements, the result of defilements, the lightness and heaviness of defilements, and who practices the Way is the Tathagata. For this reason, the body ['rupa'] of the Tathagata is Eternal. So it is with ['his'] feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness, all of which are Eternal."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 42 - On Bodhisattva Kasyapa 3.

the skandhas of the wise.mp3

The Bodhi Tree

The Buddha said: "Oh, good man! [Suppose that] there is a flat road. Beings walk [along it], and there is nothing to hinder their progress. In the middle of the road there is a tree, whose shade is fresh. The travellers make a stop in this place with their palanquin and take a rest. But there is always the shade of the tree there, and there is no difference. The shade does not die out, and nobody takes it away. The road is the Holy Way, and the shade the Buddha Nature."

Read more on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 36, on Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 4.

the bodhi tree.mp3