On this occasion, the venerable Subhuti was also present in the assembly. Rising from his seat, he uncovered one shoulder and touched his right knee to the ground. Pressing his palms together and bowing to the Buddha, he said: "It is rare, Bhagavan, most rare, indeed, Sugata, how the Tathagata, the Arhan, the Fully-Enlightened One blesses fearless bodhisattvas with the best of blessings. And it is rare, Bhagavan, how the Tathagata, the Arhan, the Fully-Enlightened One entrusts fearless Bodhisattvas with the greatest of trusts.
"Even so, Bhagavan, if a noble son or daughter should set forth on the bodhisattva path, how should they stand, how should they walk, and how should they control their thoughts?"
The Buddha told the venerable Subhuti, "Well said, Subhuti. Well said. So it is, Subhuti. It is as you say. The Tathagata blesses fearless bodhisattvas with the best of blessings and entrusts fearless bodhisattvas with the greatest of trusts. You should therefore truly listen, Subhuti, and consider this well. I shall tell you how those who set forth on the bodhisattva path should stand, how they should walk, and how they should control their thoughts."
The venerable Subhuti answered, "May it be so, Bhagavan," and gave his full attention.[Translation: Red Pine]
A monk called Subhuit arose from his seat in the midst of the monks and, showing great respect for Buddha, said: "It is wonderful how much Buddha has helped the Bodhisattvas. How should men and women who set out on the Bodhisattva Path progress, and how should they control their thoughts?" [Translation: Joshua Pritikin]
At that time the elder Subhuti was in the crowd. He rose from his seat, uncovered his right shoulder, knelt on his right knee, joined palms in respect, and said to the Buddha, "It is wonderful, World Honored One, how well the Realized One minds the bodhisattvas, how well he instructs the bodhisattvas."
"World Honored One, when good men and good women set their hearts on supreme perfect enlightenment, how should they live? How should they conquer their minds?"
The Buddha said, "Good Subhuti! As you say, the Realized One minds the bodhisattvas well, and instructs the bodhisattvas well. Listen clearly now; I will explain to you.
"When good men and good women set their hearts on supreme perfect enlightenment, they should live and conquer their minds thus."
"Yes indeed, World Honored One. We would like to hear about it." [Translation: Thomas Cleary]
2 comments:
I like the multiple translations.
I am not familiar with these texts, so reading your blog should be an education for me. I admit, though, that anything that rings the least of religion terrifies the shit out of me. Probably why I have confined my textual studies in meditative practice to Zen Mind Beginner's Mind.
I felt oddly freaked out that you were publishing your thoughts on these "scriptures." Because I did not have my attention on what was before me, but was trapped in fantasies of the past and future.
"Scriptures" is a loaded word. I don't think of this sutra as being religious in the usual way. The fundamental doctrine of the sutra is that doctrines themselves are ultimately obstructions, and I believe that the sutra's teaching implies that we only stick to what is helpful to us, and that we abandon any beliefs that we have when they cease to be useful. Thus Buddhism basically says that you should constantly doubt and test your beliefs, including Buddhism itself. I think the supernatural elements that appear in some Buddhist literature are a bunch of hokey, but perhaps they are there for a reason, to help some people see the boddhisattva path. I'm like you. I have an allergy to religion. But I don't have an allergy to spirituality, and if I can find spirituality in a way that is deeply consistent with my strongly held beliefs against the supernatural, then I will be satisfied. Buddhism seems right in this regard precisely because it entreats us to abandon all doctrines and beliefs, yet still in a moral, spiritual way. The boddhisattva must vow to liberate all beings. In other words, the boddhisattva's primary concern is to help others. You can't really argue with a compassionate doctrine (hee hee) like that.
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