The Fourth Abode
4. The Abode of the Precious Life
The Flower
Garland Sutra says:
"These Bodhisattvas study and learn the Noble
Doctrine and they realize these ten things:
- Never retreating from the presence of the Buddhas
- Deeply bearing pure faith
- Skillfully observing all things spiritual (dharmas)
- Thoroughly understanding living beings
- Thoroughly understanding the country and the land
- Thoroughly understanding the world
- Thoroughly understanding karmic deeds
- Thoroughly understanding retribution
- Thoroughly understanding Life & Death
- Thoroughly understanding Nirvana
Bodhisattvas are encouraged to study these ten
things:
- Thoroughly understanding the Buddha’s teachings of
the past
- Thoroughly understanding the Buddha’s teachings of
the present
- Thoroughly understanding the Buddha’s teachings of
the future
- Cultivating and training in the Buddha’s teachings
of the past
- Cultivating and training in the Buddha’s teachings
of the present
- Cultivating and training in the Buddha’s teachings
of the future
- Totally fulfilling the Buddha’s teachings of the
past
- Totally fulfilling the Buddha’s teachings of the
present
- Totally fulfilling the Buddha’s teachings of the
future
- Thoroughly understand the equality of all the
Buddhas
This is to make Bodhisattvas progress in
understanding the equanimity of the mind through the past, the present and the
future so
that they grasp what they hear without having to depend upon others to explain
it."
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© Peter Johnson 2001 - All rights reserved
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Since
July 9, 2001
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