Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was staying in Śrāvastī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park, along with a great saṅgha of 1,250 monks. At that time the Blessed One said to Venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra, “Pūrṇa, could you please elucidate the perfection of patience practiced by those bodhisattva great beings who seek to awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood.”
EN
Encouraged in this way, Venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra said to the Blessed One, “Honorable Blessed One, when bodhisattva great beings strive to awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood, they should be tolerant with those who speak harshly and negatively of them. Instead, without wishing to retaliate, they should remain loving toward them. Even though bodhisattva great beings may strive to embrace the perfection of patience and develop a loving mind in this way, it is, however, by dedicating the merit toward omniscience that they come to observe the perfection of patience.”
EN
Venerable Śāradvatīputra said to Venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra, “Venerable Pūrṇa, could you please explain the differences and the distinctions between the patience of the bodhisattvas and the patience of the hearers.”
EN
Venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra said to Venerable Śāradvatīputra, “Venerable Śāradvatīputra, the patience of the hearers is limited, while the patience of the bodhisattvas is boundless. The patience of the bodhisattvas is boundless because it is aimed at accomplishing the welfare, benefit, and happiness of boundless beings. To that end they don their armor and free limitless and countless beings from suffering. The patience of the hearers is merely aimed at abandoning their personal disturbing emotions and therefore, Venerable One, it is a limited form of patience, while the patience of the bodhisattvas is boundless. Anyone who becomes hostile, disrespectful, or impatient toward an individual who has adopted the bodhisattvas’ perfection of patience will produce a great deal of nonvirtue. Venerable Śāradvatīputra, moreover, even if the Thus-Gone One were to scold bodhisattva great beings, they should not get hostile. Similarly, if they should be criticized and rebuked by people such as outcasts, bamboo workers, and those of the lower castes, they must not become hostile or angry, even at such people. If they can avoid becoming hostile and angry, those bodhisattva great beings will uphold the perfection of patience. Then they can gradually train in the perfection of patience until they finally accomplish it. If they observe the perfection of patience in this way, they become able to have patience in the face of harshly delivered words.”
EN
Venerable Śāradvatīputra said to Venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra, “Venerable Pūrṇa, suppose someone were to rub the body of a bodhisattva great being with sandalwood oil while another were to hurl fire at him. How would he feel about these two people?”
EN
Venerable Pūrṇa replied, “Venerable Śāradvatīputra, bodhisattva great beings who wish to awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood should not have any fondness for the person who rubbed their body with sandalwood oil, nor should they feel any hostility toward the person who hurled fire at them. Rather, they should be impartial with regard to both of these people. If bodhisattva great beings can do that, practicing in that manner, they are training in the perfection of patience. Bodhisattva great beings who are practicing the perfection of patience are engaged in the sphere of experience of a bodhisattva. When bodhisattva great beings practice in that way, they find themselves in the realm of bodhisattvas. Bodhisattva great beings should not be hostile. Instead, they should be genuinely patient, mindful, and grounded. They should be benevolent, be unaggressive, hold no grudges, and love everyone. Whenever they should come across people who are hostile, aggressive, confrontational, or argumentative, bodhisattvas should be conciliatory and try to make peace. They should think to themselves, ‘I will not quarrel with or provoke you. Nor will I be confrontational or divisive. And when I awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood, I will teach you the Dharma.’ When that karmic act ripens, the signs of a great being will manifest on the bodhisattva great beings’ body in the form of teeth that are well arranged, perfect, and even.
Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was staying in Śrāvastī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park, along with a great saṅgha of 1,250 monks. At that time the Blessed One said to Venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra, “Pūrṇa, could you please elucidate the perfection of patience practiced by those bodhisattva great beings who seek to awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood.”
EN
Encouraged in this way, Venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra said to the Blessed One, “Honorable Blessed One, when bodhisattva great beings strive to awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood, they should be tolerant with those who speak harshly and negatively of them. Instead, without wishing to retaliate, they should remain loving toward them. Even though bodhisattva great beings may strive to embrace the perfection of patience and develop a loving mind in this way, it is, however, by dedicating the merit toward omniscience that they come to observe the perfection of patience.”
EN
Venerable Śāradvatīputra said to Venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra, “Venerable Pūrṇa, could you please explain the differences and the distinctions between the patience of the bodhisattvas and the patience of the hearers.”
EN
Venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra said to Venerable Śāradvatīputra, “Venerable Śāradvatīputra, the patience of the hearers is limited, while the patience of the bodhisattvas is boundless. The patience of the bodhisattvas is boundless because it is aimed at accomplishing the welfare, benefit, and happiness of boundless beings. To that end they don their armor and free limitless and countless beings from suffering. The patience of the hearers is merely aimed at abandoning their personal disturbing emotions and therefore, Venerable One, it is a limited form of patience, while the patience of the bodhisattvas is boundless. Anyone who becomes hostile, disrespectful, or impatient toward an individual who has adopted the bodhisattvas’ perfection of patience will produce a great deal of nonvirtue. Venerable Śāradvatīputra, moreover, even if the Thus-Gone One were to scold bodhisattva great beings, they should not get hostile. Similarly, if they should be criticized and rebuked by people such as outcasts, bamboo workers, and those of the lower castes, they must not become hostile or angry, even at such people. If they can avoid becoming hostile and angry, those bodhisattva great beings will uphold the perfection of patience. Then they can gradually train in the perfection of patience until they finally accomplish it. If they observe the perfection of patience in this way, they become able to have patience in the face of harshly delivered words.”
EN
Venerable Śāradvatīputra said to Venerable Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra, “Venerable Pūrṇa, suppose someone were to rub the body of a bodhisattva great being with sandalwood oil while another were to hurl fire at him. How would he feel about these two people?”
EN
Venerable Pūrṇa replied, “Venerable Śāradvatīputra, bodhisattva great beings who wish to awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood should not have any fondness for the person who rubbed their body with sandalwood oil, nor should they feel any hostility toward the person who hurled fire at them. Rather, they should be impartial with regard to both of these people. If bodhisattva great beings can do that, practicing in that manner, they are training in the perfection of patience. Bodhisattva great beings who are practicing the perfection of patience are engaged in the sphere of experience of a bodhisattva. When bodhisattva great beings practice in that way, they find themselves in the realm of bodhisattvas. Bodhisattva great beings should not be hostile. Instead, they should be genuinely patient, mindful, and grounded. They should be benevolent, be unaggressive, hold no grudges, and love everyone. Whenever they should come across people who are hostile, aggressive, confrontational, or argumentative, bodhisattvas should be conciliatory and try to make peace. They should think to themselves, ‘I will not quarrel with or provoke you. Nor will I be confrontational or divisive. And when I awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood, I will teach you the Dharma.’ When that karmic act ripens, the signs of a great being will manifest on the bodhisattva great beings’ body in the form of teeth that are well arranged, perfect, and even.
Sutraya