The Blessed One replied, “Śāradvatīputra, the term bodhisattva refers to someone who trains in the six perfections. Such a being is given the name ‘bodhisattva.’”
Śāradvatīputra said, “Blessed One, how is it that the mind set upon awakening is said to be more exalted than the mind that is free of defilements? I would like to understand this point based on the explanation given by the Blessed One.”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, tell me, if a worthy one who has exhausted defilements were to embrace all limitless beings with love and compassion, would they all become filled with happiness at that point?”
Śāradvatīputra said, “Blessed One, since the worthy ones are not skillful, how would they be able to embrace all limitless beings with love? Blessed One, as long as they rest in equipoise, their love might secure the happiness of some beings but others would continue to suffer. Blessed One, when bodhisattvas attain the state of omniscience, they neither accomplish, nor practice, love for a single instant in their mind. Blessed One, let me try to give an analogy for this non-abiding. Imagine, Blessed One, that this entire world was filled entirely with beings who, like me, were absorbed in the eight liberations. Even if all of them practiced the attainment of love, or even just attempted such an attainment, they would still not be fit for such an attainment.”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, in this way, compared to an undefiled mind, the mind of a bodhisattva is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled. Moreover, Śāradvatīputra, suppose all beings became worthy ones in possession of the six superknowledges and each of them could conjure displays of demonic hordes numbering into the trillions. Śāradvatīputra, tell me, would those trillions of demons not be numerous?”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, tell me, between these two, which would be more powerful? If all beings exhausted their defilements, would their undefiled minds be more powerful, or would the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva be of greater power?”
The Blessed One said, “Yes, the mind of awakening of a nonregressing bodhisattva would be more powerful. Śāradvatīputra, even though the undefiled mind may be able to perform miracles that display limitless trillions of demonic armies, that mind, which is without attachment, would be unable to measure up to the mind that is involved with attachment, anger, and delusion. Śāradvatīputra, tell me, between these types of mind, which is the one that is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled?”
Śāradvatīputra said, “Blessed One, the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled. And why? Because the undefiled mind is incapable of measuring up to it.”
The Blessed One said, “Moreover, Śāradvatīputra, let me ask you a question. Please reply as best you can. Śāradvatīputra, tell me, if one places a beryl gemstone next to several semiprecious stones, can the semiprecious stones compete with the luster and value of the beryl gemstone?”
Śāradvatīputra said, “No, Blessed One, they cannot. Even a large collection of semiprecious stones would be unable to compete with a single beryl gemstone.”
Śāradvatīputra replied, “Blessed One, because semiprecious stones are not pure, their color is not fine, their value is low, and they are common. Moreover, Blessed One, semiprecious stones are also not extracted from an expansive source. Blessed One, on the other hand, beryl gems are of an especially fine nature. They appear from the oceans due to the ripening of beings’ karma. Even a great number of semiprecious stones would be unable to compare with that.”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, that is correct. The mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being outshines the minds of all hearers. The Thus-Gone One sees this situation very clearly and therefore states that the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled. All the hearers and worthy ones together could not extinguish the loving and compassionate mind of a bodhisattva.
“Śāradvatīputra, the worthy ones who have exhausted the defilements and possess the six superknowledges may be able to miraculously hurl this world into another realm, but they would be unable to extinguish the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva.
“Śāradvatīputra, the worthy ones who have exhausted the defilements and possess the six superknowledges may be able to dry out the oceans with a single gulp, but they would be unable to overpower or extinguish the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being.
“Śāradvatīputra, the worthy ones who have exhausted the defilements and possess the six superknowledges may be able to extinguish as many great and blazing fires as there are grains of sand in the Ganges in a single puff, but they would be unable to overpower or extinguish the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being.
“Śāradvatīputra, as shown in these analogies, the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled.”
Venerable Śāradvatīputra then said to the Blessed One, “Blessed One, it is amazing how vast the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being is—and also how impossible it is to extinguish or resist that mind.”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, that is true. The reason it is true, Śāradvatīputra, is that the blessed buddhas do not speak in uncertain terms. The thus-gone ones speak definitively, conclusively, and with certainty. Śāradvatīputra, imagine that all beings in all the limitless and countless worlds, which are as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges, were to appear here, and along with them, as many beings as there are particles of the earth element, the water element, the fire element, and the wind element. Now, Śāradvatīputra, tell me, would that not be a lot of beings?”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, imagine then if all those beings mastered the six superknowledges and had miraculous abilities, just like Mahāmaudgalyāyana, and all those beings with miraculous abilities then emanated an amount of evil Māras equal in number to the beings themselves, each demon possessing that same number of elephants, horses, chariots, and infantrymen. Then, imagine if each of these worthy ones with miraculous abilities were to further project an identical set of emanations from each of the already emanated displays. Now tell me, Śāradvatīputra, would anyone be able to count that number of emanations?”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, imagine if all those beings were to miraculously manifest a conflagration to consume the trichiliocosm wherever a nonregressing son or daughter of noble family lived. Tell me, Śāradvatīputra, would that be a great miraculous manifestation on the part of those beings?”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, even if those countless and limitless worlds were to remain ablaze for as many eons as there are grains of sand in the Ganges, that intensely terrifying display would not be able to discourage, overwhelm, or shake the mind of those nonregressing bodhisattva great beings. Śāradvatīputra, tell me, if you compare the miraculous manifestations of those limitless beings and demons to the miraculous ability of a nonregressing bodhisattva, which of them is the greatest and most powerful?”
Śāradvatīputra replied, “Blessed One, between these two types of miraculous ability, the miracles and the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva are greater and more powerful.”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, tell me then, should those who possess this type of miraculous ability and strength be considered supreme and perfect?”
Śāradvatīputra replied, “As far as I understand the meaning expounded by the Blessed One, according to this teaching, except for the mind of omniscience, the mind of a bodhisattva is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled. Why is that? Because the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva is impossible to resist.”
Then the Blessed One said to Venerable Śāradvatīputra, “Śāradvatīputra, that is correct. That is true. The mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva cannot possibly be resisted.”
The Blessed One replied, “Śāradvatīputra, the term bodhisattva refers to someone who trains in the six perfections. Such a being is given the name ‘bodhisattva.’”
Śāradvatīputra said, “Blessed One, how is it that the mind set upon awakening is said to be more exalted than the mind that is free of defilements? I would like to understand this point based on the explanation given by the Blessed One.”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, tell me, if a worthy one who has exhausted defilements were to embrace all limitless beings with love and compassion, would they all become filled with happiness at that point?”
Śāradvatīputra said, “Blessed One, since the worthy ones are not skillful, how would they be able to embrace all limitless beings with love? Blessed One, as long as they rest in equipoise, their love might secure the happiness of some beings but others would continue to suffer. Blessed One, when bodhisattvas attain the state of omniscience, they neither accomplish, nor practice, love for a single instant in their mind. Blessed One, let me try to give an analogy for this non-abiding. Imagine, Blessed One, that this entire world was filled entirely with beings who, like me, were absorbed in the eight liberations. Even if all of them practiced the attainment of love, or even just attempted such an attainment, they would still not be fit for such an attainment.”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, in this way, compared to an undefiled mind, the mind of a bodhisattva is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled. Moreover, Śāradvatīputra, suppose all beings became worthy ones in possession of the six superknowledges and each of them could conjure displays of demonic hordes numbering into the trillions. Śāradvatīputra, tell me, would those trillions of demons not be numerous?”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, tell me, between these two, which would be more powerful? If all beings exhausted their defilements, would their undefiled minds be more powerful, or would the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva be of greater power?”
The Blessed One said, “Yes, the mind of awakening of a nonregressing bodhisattva would be more powerful. Śāradvatīputra, even though the undefiled mind may be able to perform miracles that display limitless trillions of demonic armies, that mind, which is without attachment, would be unable to measure up to the mind that is involved with attachment, anger, and delusion. Śāradvatīputra, tell me, between these types of mind, which is the one that is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled?”
Śāradvatīputra said, “Blessed One, the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled. And why? Because the undefiled mind is incapable of measuring up to it.”
The Blessed One said, “Moreover, Śāradvatīputra, let me ask you a question. Please reply as best you can. Śāradvatīputra, tell me, if one places a beryl gemstone next to several semiprecious stones, can the semiprecious stones compete with the luster and value of the beryl gemstone?”
Śāradvatīputra said, “No, Blessed One, they cannot. Even a large collection of semiprecious stones would be unable to compete with a single beryl gemstone.”
Śāradvatīputra replied, “Blessed One, because semiprecious stones are not pure, their color is not fine, their value is low, and they are common. Moreover, Blessed One, semiprecious stones are also not extracted from an expansive source. Blessed One, on the other hand, beryl gems are of an especially fine nature. They appear from the oceans due to the ripening of beings’ karma. Even a great number of semiprecious stones would be unable to compare with that.”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, that is correct. The mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being outshines the minds of all hearers. The Thus-Gone One sees this situation very clearly and therefore states that the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled. All the hearers and worthy ones together could not extinguish the loving and compassionate mind of a bodhisattva.
“Śāradvatīputra, the worthy ones who have exhausted the defilements and possess the six superknowledges may be able to miraculously hurl this world into another realm, but they would be unable to extinguish the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva.
“Śāradvatīputra, the worthy ones who have exhausted the defilements and possess the six superknowledges may be able to dry out the oceans with a single gulp, but they would be unable to overpower or extinguish the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being.
“Śāradvatīputra, the worthy ones who have exhausted the defilements and possess the six superknowledges may be able to extinguish as many great and blazing fires as there are grains of sand in the Ganges in a single puff, but they would be unable to overpower or extinguish the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being.
“Śāradvatīputra, as shown in these analogies, the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled.”
Venerable Śāradvatīputra then said to the Blessed One, “Blessed One, it is amazing how vast the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva great being is—and also how impossible it is to extinguish or resist that mind.”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, that is true. The reason it is true, Śāradvatīputra, is that the blessed buddhas do not speak in uncertain terms. The thus-gone ones speak definitively, conclusively, and with certainty. Śāradvatīputra, imagine that all beings in all the limitless and countless worlds, which are as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges, were to appear here, and along with them, as many beings as there are particles of the earth element, the water element, the fire element, and the wind element. Now, Śāradvatīputra, tell me, would that not be a lot of beings?”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, imagine then if all those beings mastered the six superknowledges and had miraculous abilities, just like Mahāmaudgalyāyana, and all those beings with miraculous abilities then emanated an amount of evil Māras equal in number to the beings themselves, each demon possessing that same number of elephants, horses, chariots, and infantrymen. Then, imagine if each of these worthy ones with miraculous abilities were to further project an identical set of emanations from each of the already emanated displays. Now tell me, Śāradvatīputra, would anyone be able to count that number of emanations?”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, imagine if all those beings were to miraculously manifest a conflagration to consume the trichiliocosm wherever a nonregressing son or daughter of noble family lived. Tell me, Śāradvatīputra, would that be a great miraculous manifestation on the part of those beings?”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, even if those countless and limitless worlds were to remain ablaze for as many eons as there are grains of sand in the Ganges, that intensely terrifying display would not be able to discourage, overwhelm, or shake the mind of those nonregressing bodhisattva great beings. Śāradvatīputra, tell me, if you compare the miraculous manifestations of those limitless beings and demons to the miraculous ability of a nonregressing bodhisattva, which of them is the greatest and most powerful?”
Śāradvatīputra replied, “Blessed One, between these two types of miraculous ability, the miracles and the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva are greater and more powerful.”
The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, tell me then, should those who possess this type of miraculous ability and strength be considered supreme and perfect?”
Śāradvatīputra replied, “As far as I understand the meaning expounded by the Blessed One, according to this teaching, except for the mind of omniscience, the mind of a bodhisattva is supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled. Why is that? Because the mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva is impossible to resist.”
Then the Blessed One said to Venerable Śāradvatīputra, “Śāradvatīputra, that is correct. That is true. The mind of a nonregressing bodhisattva cannot possibly be resisted.”
Sutraya