Dedicated to BOROBUDUR
Gaṇḍavyūha
“Just as there is a medicine called ‘liberated’ that frees one from fear of attack, in the same way a Bodhisattva who has taken the medicine of knowledge of aspiration for Awakening has no fear of being impinged upon by the mundane whirl.”
“Just as there is an herb whose scent repels all poisonous snakes, in the same way the scent of the determination for Awakening wards off the vipers of afflictions.”
“Just as there is a water-clarifying jewel that will clear all turbidity and foulness from water in which it is placed, in the same way the water clarifying jewel of the determination for Awakening clears all the murk and turbidity of afflictions.”
“Just as fishers wearing the water dwelling gem do not die in water, in the same way a Bodhisattva protected by the water-dwelling gem of the will for omniscience does not die in the sea of the mundane whirl.”
“Just as someone with a wish-fulfilling jewel does not fear poverty, the enlightening being with the wish-fulfilling jewel of the aspiration for omniscience has no fears about livelihood.”
“Just as a ‘sun beauty’ jewel emanates fire when exposed to the sun, in the same way the sunny jewel of the will for omniscience emanates the fire of knowledge when touched by the light rays of the jewel of wisdom.”
“Just as the moon beauty jewel emits water when touched by moonlight, in the same way the moon beauty jewel of the aspiration for Awakening emits the water of commitment to all good when touched by the light of the moon of dedication of roots of goodness.”
“Just as everything bathed in sapphire light becomes blue, wherever the sapphire of the aspiration for omniscience is taken, and whatever roots of goodness are dedicated by the will for omniscience, all become the color of the jewel of omniscience.”
“Just as a jewel in a shower of filth does not absorb any foul odors, in the same way the jewel of the aspiration for Awakening is not defiled though in the realm of desire, because it is essentially pure.”
“Just as one fiery jewel disperses all darkness, in the same way one fiery jewel of the aspiration for omniscience, coupled with objective observation and correct thought, dispels the darkness of ignorance.”
“Just as an armed warrior is invulnerable to enemy troops, the enlightening being armed with the determination for omniscience becomes invulnerable to the enemy troops of afflictions.”
“Just as the precious snowy sandalwood stops all burning and cools the whole body, in the same way the snowy sandalwood of the aspiration for omniscience stops the burning of all afflictions, false notions, lust, hatred and delusion, and cools the body of knowledge.”
“Just as all who come to the polar mountain become one color, gold, in the same way all who approach Bodhisattvas who are entirely dedicated to omniscience become one color, the color of omniscience.”
“Just as millions of lamps can be lit from one lamp, without the one lamp being exhausted or diminished by all the lamps taking their flame from it, in the same way from the one lamp of the aspiration for omniscience the lamps of aspiration for omniscience of all buddhas of past, future, and present are lit, yet the one lamp of aspiration for omniscience is not exhausted, and shines undiminished by the lights of the lamps of aspiration to omniscience proceeding from it.”
“Just as when a lamp is put into a room, even a thousand years of darkness immediately vanishes and it lights up the place, in the same way when the lamp of the aspiration for omniscience enters the room of the mind of sentient beings, dark with ignorance, immediately untold eons of darkness caused by the obstruction by afflictions is dispelled, and the lamp produces the light of knowledge.”
“Just as a spear in the hand of a powerful man can pierce any armor, how ever strong it is, in the same way the spear of the determination for omniscience, in the hand of a Bodhisattva of steadfast vigor, pierces the armor of all views and propensities.”
“Just as the first step in learning archery is to learn the stance, in the same way for a Bodhisattva learning about omniscience is the first step to understanding all the buddha-teachings in the act of setting out with the determination for omniscience.”