The Ten Patiences

Chapter Twenty-Nine

 

Sutra:

He uses a single expedient
To universally enter all worlds;
He knows the dharmas of the three periods of time
To be equal in their void-like nature.  

His wisdom, his voice,
The Bodhisattva’s body—
Their nature is void-like,
Completely quiescent.

Commentary:

He uses a single expedient dharma to create innumerable transformation-bodies in order to universally enter all worlds in the ten directions, and teach and transform sentient beings in these worlds. He knows the dharmas of the three periods of time / To be equal in their void-like nature.The Bodhisattva understands all dharmas of the past, present, and future, and knows them to be no different from the void. 

His wisdom, his voice, / The Bodhisattva's body— / Their nature is void-like, / Completely quiescent. The Bodhisattva’s wisdom, his sounds, and his body are essentially like empty space. They are still and absent of characteristics.

Sutra:

II.B. Concluding verses

These ten kinds of patience
Are cultivated by the disciple of the Buddha;
With his mind deftly dwelling in peace therein,
He expounds dharmas for all sentient beings.

Learning them well,
He achieves great power.
The power of Dharma and the power of wisdom
Provide expedients on his path to bodhi.  

Versed in the method of patience,
He accomplishes unimpeded wisdom,
Excelling the multitudes
In turning the unsurpassed Dharma wheel.

His extensive practices
Are immeasurable in scope;
Only the Taming Teachers’ sea of wisdom,
Can know them in detail.

Renouncing the self for the sake of cultivation,
He enters the profound Dharma nature.
His mind constantly abides in pure dharmas,
With which he ministers to the multitudes.

The number of sentient beings and dust motes in lands
Could still be reckoned;
But no limit to the Bodhisattva’s meritorious virtue
Can be ascertained.

The Bodhisattva manages to achieve
These ten kinds of patience;
His wisdom and practices remain
Unfathomable to the multitudes.

Commentary:

These ten kinds of patience, the dharma-gateways to wisdom, mentioned earlier are cultivated by the disciple of the Buddha. All disciples of the Buddha ought to cultivate them. With his mind deftly dwelling in peace therein. The Bodhisattva dwells in those ten kinds of patience, bearing what others cannot bear, and he expounds these dharmas for all sentient beings in great detail. 

Learning and practicing them well, / He achieves limitless, boundless, great power of wisdom. The power of Dharma and the power of wisdom / Provide expedients on his path to bodhi.They serve as initial expedients for the Bodhisattva on the path to enlightenment.

Versed in the method of the ten kinds of patience, / He accomplishes unimpeded wisdom. Excelling the multitudes, for the Bodhisattva’s wisdom surpasses the wisdom of all worldly and world-transcending beings, he constantly engages in turning the unsurpassed, wonderful Dharma wheel.

His extensive practices. The Bodhisattva cultivates extensive, great practices. We, on the other hand, do a small meritorious deed and consider ourselves terrific. Take a look: The Bodhisattva’s extensive practices are immeasurable in scope. How numerous are they? It cannot be known. Only the Taming Teachers’ sea of wisdom, / Can know them in detail. The Bodhisattva’s great practices can only be known through the Buddhas’ oceanic wisdom.

Renouncing the self for the sake of cultivation, / He enters the profound Dharma nature. / His mind constantly abides in pure, undefiled dharmas, / With which he ministers to the multitudes. The Bodhisattva uses pure dharmas to teach and transform sentient beings.

The number of sentient beings and dust motes in lands / Could still be reckoned; But no limit to the Bodhisattva’s meritorious virtue / Can be ascertained. No one can measure the extent of the Bodhisattva’s merit and virtue.

The Bodhisattva manages to achieve / These ten kinds of patience; / His wisdom and practices remain / Unfathomable to the multitudes. Human and celestial beings cannot fathom the states of the Bodhisattva’s cultivation.

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