Bodhisattvas and Three Jewels

Discuss and learn about the traditional Mahayana scriptures, without assuming that any one school ‘owns’ the only correct interpretation.
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Nicholas Weeks
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Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:21 am
Location: California

Bodhisattvas and Three Jewels

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

A passage from chapter 18 of the Avatamsaka Sutra showing the great importance Bodhisattvas give to the Three Jewels:
Child of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, endowed with such knowledge and wisdom, cause the lineage of the three treasures never to end. How? Great Bodhisattvas teach creatures to awaken the will for enlightenment, and therefore are able to cause the lineage of Buddhas not to be broken off.
They always expound the treasury of the Teaching for sentient beings, and therefore are able to cause the lineage of the Teaching not to be cut off.
They maintain the principles of the Teaching well, without opposition or violation, and therefore can cause the lineage of the religious community not to be cut off.
Furthermore, they are able to praise all great vows, and therefore are able to cause the lineage of Buddhas not to be cut off.
They analyze and explain the aspects of causality, and are therefore able to cause the lineage of the Teaching not to be cut off.
They always earnestly practice the six principles of harmony and respect and therefore are able to cause the lineage of the religious community not to be cut off.
Also, they plant the seeds of buddhahood in the field of sentient beings, and therefore are able to cause the lineage of Buddhas not to be cut off;
they protect and keep the Teaching unreservedly, and therefore are able to cause the lineage of the Teaching not to be cut off;
they unify and order the great community tirelessly, and therefore are able to cause the lineage of the religious community not to be cut off.
Also, they serve and uphold the teachings spoken and the precepts established by the Buddhas of past, present, and future, and therefore are able to cause the lineage of the Buddha, Teaching, and Community to never be cut off.
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
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windsweptliberty
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Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2012 9:36 pm

Re: Bodhisattvas and Three Jewels

Post by windsweptliberty »

Such nobility and compassion in this.


Last bumped by Nicholas Weeks on Wed Mar 01, 2017 5:14 am.
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