Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Ch枚dr枚n | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes 鈥渢he bodhisattvas sitting cross-legged preaching the six virtues鈥� as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. 鈥渢he treatise on the great virtue of wisdom鈥�) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.
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Act 10.5: The bodhisattvas sitting cross-legged preaching the six virtues
厂奴迟谤补: On each of these lotuses there were bodhisattvas[1] sitting cross-legged preaching the six virtues. Those who heard them were settled in supreme perfect enlightenment (te峁 ca padme峁 bodhisattv膩岣� parya峁卥a峁� baddhv膩 ni峁峁囜箛膩 abh奴van 峁峁璸膩ramit膩dharmade艣an膩峁� de艣ayanta岣�. yai艣 ca sattvai岣� sa 诲丑补谤尘补岣� 艣rutas te niyat膩 abh奴van anuttar膩y膩峁� samyaksa峁僢odhau).
艢腻蝉迟谤补: Question. 鈥� The Buddha had previously created thousand-petalled lotuses of precious stones by the rays of his tongue; on each of them there was a seated Buddha; why are there bodhisattvas now seated on each lotus?
Answer. 鈥� Previously, it was a question of lotuses created by the Buddha; this is why there were Buddhas seated on them. Here it is a matter of lotuses offered by the bodhisattva 厂补尘补苍迟补谤补艣尘颈; this is why there are bodhisattvas seated on them. Previously, beings had to see the seated Buddhas in order to be saved; here they must see bodhisattvas in order to be saved. These bodhisattvas, seated cross-legged, are preaching the six virtues, and those who hear them are settled in supreme perfect enlightenment.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
In the Sanskrit text of the Pa帽cavi峁兣沘ti (p. 14), it is Buddha forms (buddhavigraha) that are seated on the lotuses.