a. Text

If you want to transcend life and death, you must first cut off your desires and lust.

 

b. Commentary

Desire is the basis for transmigration. Lust (which our parents had for one another) is the condition for receiving a human life. The Buddha said, “If you cannot eradicate lust-filled mental states, you will not be able to break free of defilement.” He also said, “Once you get caught up in sensual desires, you are dragged to the gate of misconduct.” Desire is also called “thirst,” because it is so extreme.

 

a. Text

All unobstructed, pure wisdom arises through samadhi.

 

b. Commentary

The ability to transcend the mundane and enter sagehood and the ability to die while sitting down, or to die while standing up⁷⁸ are all due to the power of samadhi. For this reason, it has been said, “For those seeking the path of the sages, there is no road without samadhi.”

 

a. Text

When the mind is in samadhi, one perceives all of the transient characteristics of the world.

 

b. Commentary

Fine specks of dust dance in sunlight falling through a crack,

Reflections vividly appear in a clear pool of water.

 

 

a. Text

If the mind does not become activated when it encounters objects, it is said to be “non-arising.” “Non-arising” is called “no-thought.” “No-thought” is called liberation.

 

b. Commentary

The Threefold Training is such that, in developing one you develop all three. They do not appear separately.

 

a. Text

The idea that one cultivates the path and thereby realizes nirvana is also not true. The mind is originally quiescent. Realizing this is authentic nirvana. For this reason, it has been said, “From the very beginning, all dharmas have always been characterized by nirvana.”

 

b. Commentary

The eye cannot see itself. If someone says that he can see his own eye, he is lying. For this reason, Vimalakirti remained silent when Manjushri engaged in discursive thought.⁷⁹

 

a. Text

If a poor man comes begging, give him a portion of what you have. Have great pity for him as if you and he were parts of the same body. This is true giving.

 

b. Commentary

When you and others become one, you are said to be “of the same body.” It is a fact for all of us in the family of man that we come into the world empty-handed and leave empty-handed; this is the lifetime plan for the family of man.

 

a. Text

If someone comes to do you harm, you must keep a settled mind. You must not give rise to anger or hatred. If a single thought of hatred arises within your mind, a million obstacles appear.

 

b. Commentary

The defilements are endless. Of these, anger is the worst. The Nirvana Sutra says, “Whether someone rubs you with spring-water and ointment or stabs you, you should maintain No-mind.⁸⁰ Anger is like a flash of lightning coming from a black cloud.”

 

a. Text

Without patience, the Six Perfections⁸¹ and the Ten Thousand Virtuous Deeds of the Bodhisattvas cannot be achieved.

 

b. Commentary

There are unlimited approaches to practice, but compassion and patience are the foundation for all the others. With patience, you see things as if they are a magical creation or a dream. Insults are no more real than the hair of a tortoise.

 

a. Text

Keeping the original, True Mind is first rate effort - the most important perfection.

 

b. Commentary

If you attempt to create the mind of effort, such effort will be fake. It won’t really be effort. For this reason, it has been said, “Do not be deluded! Do not be deluded!”⁸² Those that are lazy always look towards the future and thereby they lead themselves to ruin.

 

a. Text

On reciting mantras. It is easy to control the karma of the present life; you can turn it around through your own effort. But it is difficult to eradicate the karma from previous lives; for this, you must borrow the spiritual power of a mantra.

 

b. Commentary

The story of a Matangi woman⁸³ obtaining the fruit of awakening is not false. Indeed, there are few who can escape from the activity of demons without reciting a mantra.