The Blessed One then spoke to the bodhisattva great being Sāgaramati: “Sāgaramati, bodhisattvas must practice diligence. Bodhisattvas must always persevere and show great determination. They should not give up their dedication. Sāgaramati, unsurpassed and perfect awakening is not difficult to discover for bodhisattvas who practice diligence. And why not? Sāgaramati, where there is diligence there is awakening. Awakening is far and distant from those who are lazy. Those who are lazy have no generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, concentration, insight, personal benefit, or benefit for others. Sāgaramati, one should understand from this lesson that unsurpassed and perfect awakening is not difficult for bodhisattvas who practice diligence.

“Sāgaramati, at one point in the past, seven immeasurable eons ago, there was an eon called Flower Origin. At that time there was a world called Astounding Sight in which the blessed buddha Dīptavīrya appeared. He was a thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha, someone learned and virtuous, a well-gone one, a knower of the world, a charioteer who guides beings, an unsurpassed being, and a teacher of gods and humans.

“Why was that eon called Flower Origin? Sāgaramati, when the worlds of that trichiliocosm burned and were subsequently destroyed by water, eighty-four thousand radiant and beautiful lotuses with tens of trillions of petals appeared and filled that mass of water. When the gods of the pure realms saw those lotuses, they were satisfied, happy, delighted, joyful, and at ease. Experiencing such joy and pleasure, they saw these flowers to be indicative of the extent of the perfect buddhas to appear in the world. Thus, they exclaimed, ‘Amazing! This eon Flower Origin will not be empty of blessed buddhas.’ And that is how Flower Origin came to be called Flower Origin.

“Why was that world called Astounding Sight, Sāgaramati? When countless and fathomless numbers of bodhisattvas came from the buddha realms of the ten directions to behold this universe, they immediately achieved an absorption called ‘joyful appearance’ and were satisfied with every kind of pleasure. This world was that pure. Thus, this world was called Astounding Sight. Sāgaramati, in this world the seven precious materials existed by the thousands. The jeweled trees and jeweled mansions were luminous. This world was free from female lust and pregnancy. Instead, everyone there was born miraculously, seated cross-legged in lotuses. Nobody in this world practiced any other vehicle than the Great Vehicle. The gods and humans subsisted by enjoying food and drink at their wish, like the gods of the Heaven of Joy. They sported with super-knowledge and flew through space.

“The blessed thus-gone Dīptavīrya’s bodhisattva saṅgha was composed of 360 million ordained bodhisattva great beings. The limitless lay and ordained practitioners were all engaged in the Great Vehicle.

“Sāgaramati, the blessed thus-gone Dīptavīrya gave extensive teachings on diligence, encouraging these bodhisattvas, saying, ‘Sublime beings, you must practice diligence. You must persevere and show fierce determination. You must not lose your dedication.’

“At that point, Sāgaramati, the bodhisattva great being Solid Armor was among the bodhisattva assembly. He asked the Blessed One, ‘Blessed One, how should a bodhisattva practice diligence? Please describe the diligence that the Thus-Gone One has encouraged in the bodhisattvas.’

“Sāgaramati, the blessed thus-gone Dīptavīrya answered the bodhisattva Solid Armor, saying, ‘Noble son, there are four types of diligence that assemble the virtuous qualities of bodhisattvas. What are these four? They are endeavor, commitment, contemplation, and accomplishment. Noble son, these four types of diligence assemble the virtuous qualities of bodhisattvas. What then are endeavor, commitment, contemplation, and accomplishment?

“ ‘Noble son, endeavor is developing the mind directed toward awakening. Commitment is cultivating all roots of virtue. Contemplation is the means of benefiting all beings. Accomplishment is accepting that which brings this about.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is seeking out study. Commitment is displaying learnedness. Contemplation is appropriate mental engagement. Accomplishment is the right view of noble beings.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is eliminating the mind of stinginess. Commitment is giving up all one’s things. Contemplation is dedicating everything to awakening alongside all beings. Accomplishment is not hoping for ripening.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is professing great charity. Commitment is perceiving all beggars as spiritual friends. Contemplation is weariness with one’s impermanent possessions. Accomplishment is not regretting giving.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is seeking out the wealth of Dharma. Commitment is having a pure livelihood. Contemplation is having the sense that one is living meaningfully. Accomplishment is not becoming proud about being generous.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is eliminating the stain of corrupt discipline. Commitment is not letting up on discipline and asceticism. Contemplation is ripening beings who have corrupt discipline. Accomplishment is not becoming proud about the qualities of discipline.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is purifying the body. Commitment is purifying the speech. Contemplation is purifying the mind. Accomplishment is purifying phenomena.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is giving malice no chance. Commitment is understanding the power of patience. Contemplation is protecting self and other. Accomplishment is not becoming proud about patience.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is maintaining faith in the face of criticism and aggression. Commitment is not becoming familiar with criticism and aggression. Contemplation is eliminating inner pain. Accomplishment is not apprehending self or other.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is eliminating the stain of laziness. Commitment is disengaging from the stain of diligence. Contemplation is ripening lazy beings. Accomplishment is engaging in these actions.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is accomplishing one’s tasks. Commitment is mastering one’s tasks. Contemplation is not putting one’s hopes in other vehicles. Accomplishment is not losing faith in karmic ripening.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is mindfulness. Commitment is understanding. Contemplation is intelligence. Accomplishment is aspiration.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is knowledge. Commitment is a way. Contemplation is a gateway. Accomplishment is the occurrence of those.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is mastering language. Commitment is using language. Contemplation is eliminating language. Accomplishment is realizing the Dharma to be indescribable.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is relying on a spiritual friend. Commitment is abandoning evil companions. Contemplation is equanimity toward friends and enemies. Accomplishment is not acting contrary to what one espouses.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is the mind that goes forth. Commitment is to disregard joy and displeasure. Contemplation is investigating what virtue is. Accomplishment is attaining wisdom without relying on anything else.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is staying in seclusion. Commitment is disliking distractions. Contemplation is delighting in solitude. Accomplishment is living without afflictions.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is having few desires. Commitment is being content. Contemplation is being easily sated. Accomplishment is knowing the right measures.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is training in higher discipline. Commitment is not relaxing one’s discipline. Contemplation is training in higher motivation. Accomplishment is training in higher insight.

“ ‘Also, endeavor denotes the perfections of generosity and discipline. Commitment denotes the perfections of patience and diligence. Contemplation denotes the perfections of concentration and insight. Accomplishment denotes the perfections of wisdom and skill in means.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is giving. Commitment is speaking pleasantly. Contemplation is acting meaningfully. Accomplishment is being in tune with the truth.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is great love. Commitment is great compassion. Contemplation is great joy. Accomplishment is great equanimity.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is purifying realms. Commitment is perfecting the major and minor marks of perfection. Contemplation is upholding the sublime Dharma. Accomplishment is ripening beings.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is understanding the māra of the aggregates. Commitment is transcending the māra of the afflictions. Contemplation is abandoning the māra of the Lord of Death. Accomplishment is defeating the māra of the gods.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is understanding suffering. Commitment is abandoning its origin. Contemplation is cultivating the path. Accomplishment is actualizing cessation.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is the application of mindfulness to the body. Commitment is the application of mindfulness to sensations. Contemplation is the application of mindfulness to mind. Accomplishment is the application of mindfulness to phenomena.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is faith. Commitment is diligence. Contemplation is mindfulness and concentration. Accomplishment is insight.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is abandoning nonvirtuous phenomena. Commitment is perfecting virtuous phenomena. Contemplation is making the body and mind pliant. Accomplishment is attaining unconditioned miracles.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is the branches of awakening. Commitment is the path. Contemplation is tranquility and special insight. Accomplishment is knowledge and liberation.

“ ‘Also, endeavor is engaged conduct. Commitment is the conduct aimed at the good. Contemplation is a refined mind. Accomplishment is irreversible wisdom.’

“Moreover, Sāgaramati, the blessed thus-gone Dīptavīrya said to the bodhisattva Solid Armor, ‘Noble son, diligence purifies body and mind. Diligence understands name and form. Diligence ends self-grasping and grasping to what is “mine.” Diligence casts aside grasping and bondage. Diligence eliminates obscurations and upheavals. Diligence abandons regret and doubt. Diligence eliminates knots and pain. Diligence transcends reference points and discontinuity. Diligence discards both ordinary pride and excessive pride. Diligence transcends ground and location. Diligence discards attachment and aggression. Diligence purifies ignorance and the craving for existence. Diligence is not motivated by attachment and aggression. Diligence is free of stupidity and lack of discrimination. Diligence understands inner and outer sense sources. Diligence sees that the aggregates and elements are primordially unborn. Diligence pacifies, quells, and calms the mind. Diligence does not observe any phenomena when it contemplates them. Diligence is nondual and inseparable. Diligence fully understands reality. Diligence is without proliferation or inactivity. Diligence is without acquisition or abandonment. Diligence does nothing, yet neither is it without action. Diligence is without raising up or setting down. Diligence is without taking up or discarding. Diligence is without bondage or liberation. Diligence is untrammeled and does not trammel upon others. Diligence is neither arrogant nor careless. Diligence neither views nor beholds. Diligence neither pacifies nor blazes. Diligence neither guards nor does not guard. Diligence does not arrive, nor does it not arrive.’

“Sāgaramati, when the blessed thus-gone Dīptavīrya gave extensive teachings on diligence, ten thousand beings attained the acceptance that phenomena are unborn. Having heard this teaching on diligence, the bodhisattva Solid Armor pursued virtuous qualities and practiced diligence. Practicing diligence, ten million years passed without him giving up his dedication, whereupon he attained the lesser level of acceptance. Practicing diligence, he exerted himself in the pursuit of virtue, and while doing so, he passed away. Dying and transmigrating, he was miraculously born in the presence of that very Thus-Gone One and heard this condensed Dharma teaching from him. Thus, he diligently sought the Dharma and while doing so, he passed away. Sāgaramati, this bodhisattva pleased eighty-four thousand buddhas with this teaching and used everything that occurred in the Flower Origin eon to practice diligence. Thus, he diligently sought virtuous qualities and while doing so, he passed away.

“Sāgaramati, you should not think that the bodhisattva Solid Armor is someone unknown to you. If you are uncertain, vacillating, or doubtful, do not think that way. Why not? Sāgaramati, it was I who was at that time the bodhisattva Solid Armor. Sāgaramati, by putting forth this quality of effort, I distinguished myself from hundreds of thousands of other bodhisattvas. Sāgaramati, if it took me such effort and that much hardship to awaken to buddhahood, what can be said about those who are lazy and have weak diligence? How could they gain awakening? They are far, very far from it. Sāgaramati, the point of this anecdote is that practicing diligence brings purification, being lazy does not. Sāgaramati, one should understand from this anecdote that where there is diligence and carefulness, there will be awakening.”

When the Blessed One had related this story from the past, expressing the meaning of diligence, five thousand bodhisattvas gained acceptance that phenomena are unborn. Seven thousand gods and human beings developed the mind directed toward unsurpassed and perfect awakening. The Blessed One then expressed this in verse:

“I recall that in the past, In the Flower Source eon—a time beautiful to behold— In the supreme world, Astounding Sight, There was the blissful Dīptavīrya.

“He was the last of eighty-four thousand Victors to appear in that eon. His world was like the Heaven of Joy, Replete with food and drink at one’s wish.

“There were no women, nor time spent in the womb. All the beings there were born miraculously. The Lesser Vehicle was unheard of. Everyone entered the Great Vehicle of superior beings.

“Bodhisattvas came from all directions To behold Astounding Sight. They all received the absorption of joyful appearance, Experiencing a novel form of bliss.

“This famous assembly Comprised 360 million humans And many other humans and gods, Who had entered the supreme buddha vehicle.

“The great sage who was an ocean of wisdom qualities Repeatedly sang the praises of diligence. Then he, learned and steeped in diligence, Arose and asked of the Victor this question:

“ ‘How do bodhisattvas practicing diligence Come to maintain the power of diligence? Explain this point to me, O Blessed One, And I will earnestly apply it.’

“The Dharma Lord understood his intention, And taught the qualities that come through diligence: Endeavor, commitment, Contemplation, and accomplishment.

“ ‘Endeavor,’ he said, ‘is the mind of awakening. Commitment, accomplishing thousands of virtues. Contemplation, the means of benefiting beings. Accomplishment, accepting the Dharma that brings this about.

“ ‘Endeavor is respectfully seeking learning. Commitment, to teach properly. Contemplation, speaking appropriately. Accomplishment, the correct view.

“ ‘Endeavor is eliminating the stain of stinginess. Commitment, giving up all possessions. Contemplation, the mind of perfect awakening. Accomplishment, not hoping for ripening.

“ ‘Endeavor is accomplishing great giving. Commitment, being loving toward beggars. Contemplation, considering the impermanence of possessions. Accomplishment, being without regret after giving.

“ ‘Endeavor is seeking out the wealth of Dharma. Commitment, having pure livelihood. Contemplation, knowing that one is living meaningfully. Accomplishment, not becoming proud about being generous.

“ ‘Endeavor is eliminating the stain of corrupt discipline. Commitment, not letting up on discipline and asceticism. Contemplation, being generous with those with corrupted discipline. Accomplishment, to be disciplined but without pride.

“ ‘Endeavor is purity. Commitment, purifying the body. Contemplation, purifying the mind. Accomplishment, purifying phenomena.

“ ‘Endeavor is giving malice no chance. Commitment, showing the power of patience. Contemplation, protecting self and other. Accomplishment, never being proud.

“ ‘Endeavor is keeping the faith when criticized. Commitment, completely disregarding criticism. Contemplation, inner peace. Accomplishment, apprehending neither self nor other.

“ ‘Endeavor is eliminating the stain of laziness. Commitment, having the strength and might of diligence. Contemplation, ripening lazy beings. Accomplishment, accepting the things they do.

“ ‘Endeavor is accomplishing one’s tasks. Commitment, mastering one’s tasks. Contemplation, not putting hope in other vehicles. Accomplishment, not wasting actions.

“ ‘Endeavor is being mindful and aware. Commitment, penetrating the realization of the Dharma. Contemplation, protecting one’s intelligence. Accomplishment, constantly being motivated toward that.

“ ‘Endeavor is understanding; commitment, the way of discipline; Contemplation, the gateway to the Dharma; Accomplishment, understanding their occurrence. These are the applications of diligence.

“ ‘Endeavor is mastering language. Commitment, giving teachings. Contemplation, eliminating sound. Accomplishment, the ineffability of phenomena.

“ ‘Endeavor is relying on a spiritual friend. Commitment, abandoning evil companions. Contemplation, studying reality. Accomplishment, being free from contradictions in one’s qualities.

“ ‘Endeavor is to go forth into the Buddha’s teachings. Commitment, discarding all joys. Contemplation, living a life of virtue. Accomplishment, not contradicting the teachings.

“ ‘Endeavor is achieving joy in remote areas. Commitment, discarding distractions. Contemplation, delighting in solitude. Accomplishment, living without afflictions.

“ ‘Endeavor is having few desires and accepting advice. Commitment, being content. Contemplation, being gentle. Accomplishment, knowing appropriate limits.

“ ‘Endeavor is training in higher discipline. Commitment, not relaxing one’s discipline. Contemplation, training in higher motivation. Supreme accomplishment, training in higher insight.

“ ‘Endeavor is generosity and discipline. Commitment, patience and diligence. Contemplation, concentration and insight. Accomplishment, wisdom and means.

“ ‘Endeavor is giving material things and Dharma. Commitment, speaking pleasantly. Contemplation, acting meaningfully. The heart of accomplishment, being consistent with the meaning.

“ ‘Endeavor is pure love. Commitment, having compassion. Contemplation is having joy for the Dharma. Accomplishment of wisdom is equanimity.

“ ‘Endeavor is purification. Commitment, perfecting the major marks of excellence. Contemplation, upholding the sublime Dharma. Accomplishment, ripening beings.

“ ‘Endeavor is eliminating the māra of the aggregates. Commitment, destroying the māra of the afflictions. Contemplation, destroying the māra of the Lord of Death. With the essential accomplishment, what can the māras do?

“ ‘Endeavor is understanding suffering. Commitment, eliminating the basis of saṃsāra. Contemplation, cultivating the path. Accomplishment, experiencing cessation.

“ ‘Endeavor is mindfulness of the body, free from ties. Commitment, not having views about sensations. Contemplation, mindfulness of mind. Sublime accomplishment, mindfulness of phenomena.

“ ‘Endeavor is the strength and faculty of faith. Commitment, the strength and might of diligence. Contemplation, the faculties of mindfulness and absorption. Accomplishment, the faculty of insight.

“ ‘Endeavor is abandoning nonvirtues. Commitment, not wasting virtues. Contemplation, refers to body and mind. Accomplishment, manifesting miracles.

“ ‘Endeavor is being learned and cultivating the branches of awakening. Commitment, realizing the path. Contemplation, tranquility and special insight. The essential accomplishment, insight and liberation.

“ ‘Endeavor is engagement; commitment, conduct. Contemplation is purifying the mind. Reversing all experience related to signs Is described as the way of accomplishment.

“ ‘The noble ones praise supreme diligence as Achieving pliancy of body and mind, Transcending causation and views, And understanding name and form.

“ ‘When “I” and “mine” are put to a stop, Then one is liberated from all bondage, Origination is eliminated, and one is free from the five obscurations. The learned will discard all doubt and regret.

“ ‘When all knots and pain are lost, When there are no obscurations or upheavals, When pride and manifest pride are discarded, This is a function of diligence’s power.

“ ‘The learned praise diligence as being The elimination of all signs, Disengaging from all elaborations, And discarding all afflictions.’

“When they heard the qualities of diligence As extolled by Dīptavīrya, Ten thousand glorious ones Achieved acceptance of the unborn.

“Having heard this teaching, five thousand beings Trained in patience in that buddha realm. Seven thousand humans, gods, asuras, and kinnaras Set forth toward supreme awakening.

“Back then, it was I who was that monk of stable diligence, The one who had reached supreme diligence. Practicing diligence, I relinquished my body, And thus, I passed away from that existence.

“More than eighty-four thousand times I let this body wither. For an eon, I pleased a guide And distinguished myself from other bodhisattvas.”