They develop great means.
Free from the view of a real body and from all erroneous views,
Free from ego and possession, from living and gaining,
In this fourth stage the defilement of attachment
To the clusters, sense mediums, and elements is removed.
Whatever actions are condemned by buddhas
As being conducive to affliction and not beneficial
These enlightening beings abandon and with purified intent
Undertake good deeds for the benefit of the world.
They become gentle in mind,
Careful, mild, genial, honest, kind, easy to live with;
Unafflicted, they seek the highest path in quest of supreme knowledge,
Acting for the benefit of the world.
Respectfully approaching the worthy, wishing to learn,
They are grateful, easy to teach, not hypocritical.
Free from pride and guile, equanimous and courageous,
They arouse nonregressing vigor in cultivation.
Those established in the splendor of this stage
Have their minds set on pure truth;
Their zeal blazes, they increase good qualities—
All defilement, impurity, heedlessness, and doubt vanish.
The enlightening beings here, the best of people,
Pay respect to billions of buddhas, hear their teaching
And detach from the world to enter it,
Impossible to spoil, like ornaments of gold.
The virtuous state of mind, knowledge, expedient practice,
And the path of purification of the sages in this stage
Cannot be turned back even by billions of demons,
Just as the radiance of jewels cannot be leached away by rainwater.
Those in this stage, worthy of human and celestial respect,
Become lords of the heaven of timely portion, carrying out celestial justice;
They withdraw beings from the tangle of views and accumulate good
For the sake of enlightened knowledge.
Full of vigor, they see a billion buddhas,
Due to concentration, single-minded:
After that for many eons they carry out beneficial actions,
Supreme undertakings characterized by knowledge.
“Children of Buddha, I have explained this fourth stage of enlightening beings, called Blazing, which is pure and involves the immaculate conduct of those with virtue and knowledge.”
Having thus heard the practice of this excellent stage of the wise, the enlightening beings were pleased, delighted by the teaching. Uplifted, they showered a rain of flowers in the sky, saying, “Well have you spoken, great enlightening one!” The king of gods, with a group of celestials, stood in the sky to honor the Buddha, their minds elevated: delighted, happy, they made clouds of various glows for the Buddha, with pleasing lights. Goddesses in concert sang and played music to offer to the Teacher; manifesting such power of enlightening beings, they spoke these words:
At long last is the will of the Sage fulfilled;
At long last has the Victor attained the emancipation of enlightenment.
At long last is Shakyamuni seen in the celestial city,
Having accomplished human and divine weal.
At long last are the waters of the ocean stirred,
At long last is the pure light of the Victor released;
At long last do suffering beings become happy,
At long last is the Teaching of the Compassionate One heard.
At long last is the great Sage met
Who has attained the consummation of all virtues,
Having destroyed the darkness of conceit and heedlessness,
The great mendicant, worthy, respected.
Those who have honored him are gone to heaven,
Enjoying many kinds of happiness;
Those who have honored him put an end to all suffering
And gain supreme knowledge.
The Victor is pure as space,
Undefiled by the world, like a lotus in water,
Like the polar mountain rising from the sea—
So honor the Buddha glad in mind.
Then the wise one Moon of Liberation said to Diamond Matrix, “Please tell us the characteristics of the fifth stage.”
Diamond Matrix said, “Whoever has fulfilled the path of the fourth stage enters the fifth stage; one enters the fifth stage by tenfold impartiality with purity as the focus of the mind: by impartiality of focus on the purity of the teachings of past buddhas, by impartiality of focus on the purity of the teachings of future buddhas, by impartiality of focus on the purity of the teachings of present buddhas, by impartiality of focus on purity of conduct, by impartiality of focus on purity of mind, by impartiality of focus on purity of removal of views and doubt and uncertainty and perplexity, by impartiality of focus on purity of knowledge of right and wrong paths, by impartiality of focus on purity of knowledge of application and relinquishment, by impartiality of focus on purity of the final ultimate discernment and realization of all the elements of enlightenment, and by impartiality of focus on purity of perfecting all beings.
“Furthermore, the enlightening beings who have reached the fifth stage, from having cultivated these elements of enlightenment and branches of the path, and from having thoroughly purified their intent—practicing what is needed for the quest for a higher path in the future, being supported by the power of vows, compassionately and kindly not abandoning beings, accumulating provisions of virtue and knowledge, never ceasing, putting skill in means into operation, seeing the light of the later stages, seeking the power of the Buddha, being supported by the power of intellect and action and awareness and recollection—attain unwavering attention; and doing so, they accurately know as it really is what the truth of suffering recognized by sages is, what the truth of the cause of suffering is, what the extinction of suffering is, and what the truth of its attainment is. They become well versed in conventional truth, in ultimate truth, in the truth of characteristics, the truth of distinctions, the truth of structure, the truth of substance, the truth of becoming, the truth of knowledge of extinction and nonorigination, the truth of entry into knowledge of the path; and by having accomplished the continuity of accession to the stages of enlightening beings, they become well versed in the truth of the accumulation of the knowledge of the enlightened.
“They know the conventional truth from satisfying other beings according to their inclinations. They know the ultimate truth by comprehending all in one principle. They know the truth of characteristics from awareness of individual and common characteristics. They know the truth of differentiation from learning the definitions of differentiations in the Teaching. They know the truth of structure from learning the definitions of the clusters, elements, and sense mediums. They know the truth of substance from realizing the pressure of the body and mind. They know the truth of becoming from the continuity of realms of existence. They know the truth of knowledge of extinction and nonorigination from the ultimate extinction of all burning torments. They know the truth of entry into the knowledge of the path from the accomplishment of nonduality. By accomplishment of continuity of accession to the stages of enlightening beings from perfect awareness of all their features, ultimately they know the truth of accumulation of the knowledge of the enlightened. This is, however, on the basis of the power of knowledge in the process of application, not by ultimate exhaustive knowledge.
“By means of the awareness effected by this knowledge of truths, they know in truth that all that is conditional is void, unreal, delusive, deceptive, fooling the ignorant. They become all the more compassionate toward beings, and the light of great goodwill shines forth. Supported by the power of knowledge, with concern for all beings, seeking enlightened knowledge, they examine all conditioned activities, past and future. They know for a fact how the mass of suffering of beings, sprung from ignorance and craving for existence from th
e past, borne along in the stream of cyclic existence, never having gotten free from the dwelling of the physical and mental clusters, increases, and that it has no self, no being, no life, no soul, no personality, no self or personal possessions. They also know in truth whether or not there is an end, limit, or escape from their deluded wishing for the nonexistent future.
“It occurs to the enlightening beings, ‘How strange and pitiful these ignorant, deluded creatures, whose countless bodies have perished, will perish, and are perishing, yet even while they are passing away they do not give rise to disaffection with the body; they increase the fetters of suffering, flowing along in the stream of the mundane whirl, not turning back from great danger and trouble, not letting go of the dwelling of the body-mind clusters; they do not reject the vipers of the elements, they are unaware of the prison of greed for happiness; they do not pull out the arrows of pride and views, they do not extinguish the flames of desire, hatred, and delusion; they do not disperse the darkness of ignorance; they do not evaporate the flood of craving; they do not seek an enlightened guide; going along with maniacs, they swim around in the sea of the mundane whirl, in the confusion of grasping of various bad thoughts. Being without refuge, they fall into intense distress and individually experience many pains, such as birth, old age, sickness, death, grief, lament, dejection, mental disturbance. For the sake of these beings, who are suffering distress, without a leader, without a savior, without a refuge, without a reliance, without an island of safety, without direction, in the dark, wrapped up in the shell of ignorance, overcome by darkness, we alone will gather such stores of virtue and knowledge as will enable these beings to be ultimately purified, and finally that they may arrive at the state of unimpeded knowledge of those with the ten powers.’
“Whatever goodness the enlightening beings undertake with this mind which has realized well-considered knowledge, they undertake it all for the salvation of all beings, for the benefit of all beings, for the happiness of all beings, out of compassion for all beings, so that all beings will be free from trouble, for the liberation of all beings, to take care of all beings, for the purification of all beings, to lead all beings to freedom, for the ultimate nirvana of all beings.
“The enlightening beings in this fifth stage, the stage Difficult to Conquer, become all the more mindful, by not forgetting the nature of things; they become wise, by certain knowledge; they become wayfarers, by realizing the hidden meanings intended by the scriptures; they become conscientious because of protecting self and others; they become steadfast, by maintaining disciplined behavior; they become awake because of careful consideration of what is true and what is not; they become followers of knowledge because of not being led by others; they become followers of wisdom because of skill in expression distinguishing the meaningful and meaningless; they become skilled in maturing beings because of skill in effecting higher knowledge; they become accomplished in mystic knowledge because of skill in accomplishing meditation; they become skilled in expedients because of adaptation to the world; they become tireless because of accumulation of virtues; they become ceaselessly energetic because of seeking knowledge; they become unflagging in determination because of having accumulated great kindness and compassion; they become devoted to tireless seeking because of being in quest of the ten powers, infallible expertise, and unique qualities of buddhas; they become imbued with well-accomplished attention because of having accomplished buddha-land adornment; they become engaged in various good works because of having accumulated the distinctive marks and embellishments of buddhahood; they become constantly engaged in right effort because of seeking the physical, verbal, and mental adornments of the enlightened; they become most respectful in conduct because of listening to all enlightening beings and expounders of truth, they become unhindered in mind because of continually traveling through the world by the great skill in means of enlightening beings; they become undistracted at all times because of application of effort to the full development of all beings.
“Thus engaged, the enlightening beings develop people by means of charity, kind speech, beneficial action, and cooperation; they develop people by showing forms, by revelation of enlightening action by making clear the greatness of the enlightened, by showing the ills of the mundane whirl, by lauding the knowledge of buddhas, and by production of great spiritual manifestations and application to various practices and works.
“The enlightening beings, thus engaged in the development of sentient beings with minds continually following buddha-knowledge engaged in unregressing goodness, intent on the search for supreme truth, practice whatever in the world would benefit sentient beings, such as writing, teaching, mathematics, sciences of various realms or elements; medical sciences; prevention of consumption, epilepsy, and possession; warding off poison, zombies, and witchcraft; song and dance, drama, music, storytelling, and entertainment; the construction of villages, cities, par s, canals, reservoirs, ponds abounding in lotuses, groves producing flowers, fruits and medicines; the discovery of gold, jewels, and other precious substances; methods of pointing out the signs of the sun, moon, planets stars, constellations, movements of the earth, omens, dreams, and the characteristics of coordination of general and specific actions and forms of limbs and parts of the body; points of cultivation of discipline, meditation, mystic knowledge, the immeasurables and formless states—and whatever else is not harmful or injurious, that which is conducive to the benefit and well-being of all creatures, that the enlightening beings undertake, guided by compassion, to establish them in the way of buddhas.
“To the enlightening beings in this stage, Difficult to Conquer, there appear many buddhas, by great vision and willpower—many hundreds of buddhas, many thousands, many hundreds of thousands, many millions, many billions, many trillions of buddhas. Having seen those buddhas, the enlightening beings honor and serve them with great resolution, providing the necessities of life, also providing comforts for enlightening beings and honoring the religious community, and dedicate these roots of goodness to unexcelled, complete, perfect enlightenment. The enlightening beings also attend those buddhas and with greatest respect and reverence listen to, take up, and remember their teachings and, having heard them, apply them as much as possible.
“Many enlightening beings go forth from society into the tutelage of those buddhas and, having gone forth, become holders of learning and preachers of the Teaching. Moreover, they become preachers who have attained command of the practices they have learned, because of not forgetting what they have learned from billions of buddhas over billions of eons.
“The roots of goodness of many eons of the enlightening beings in this stage are refined, purified thoroughly, and become more radiant, over hundreds and thousands and millions and billions of eons, just as gold adorned with jewels becomes brighter, purer, and more radiant. Because of accomplishment of the virtues of application of knowledge, they also become impeccable in conduct. Just as the light of the sun, moon, planets, and stars cannot be diverted by the winds and is not of a class with the winds, in the same way the roots of goodness of the enlightening beings in the Difficult to Conquer stage, in accord with the thought of the skillful, wise, knowing mind, cannot be surpassed by any who learn or attain individual liberation, and are not of the same class as the worldly.
“For enlightening beings in this stage the transcendent way of meditation is paramount, while they practice the rest as best they can. This is the stage of enlightening beings called Difficult to Conquer. Most of the enlightening beings in this stage become celestial sovereigns of the heaven of complete satisfaction, capable, powerful, able to detach beings from all false teachers and to establish them in the truth. Whatever acts they undertake, whether by giving, kind speech, beneficial action, or cooperation, it is all never apart from thoughts of Buddha, the Teaching, the Community, enlightening beings, the conduct of enlightening beings, the ways of transcendence, the stages, the powers, expertise, and unique qualities of buddhas, including omniscien
ce complete in all respects. Why? Because they want to be the best of beings, unexcelled leaders and guides, and ultimately omniscient refuges.
“Those who seek to be thus undertake the appropriate effort, by the energy of which they instantly attain a trillion concentrations, see a trillion buddhas and perceive their power, shake a trillion worlds, go to a trillion lands, illumine a trillion realms, mature a trillion beings, abide for a trillion eons, penetrate a trillion eons past and future, contemplate a trillion doctrines, and manifest a trillion bodies, each appearing surrounded by a trillion enlightening beings.
“Beyond that, enlightening beings with the power of vows, by the excellence of their vows, perform countless transformations of body, aura, mystic powers, vision, sphere of operation, voice, conduct, adornments, power, resolution, and performances.”
Then Diamond Matrix spoke these verses describing this stage:
Thus purified in the excellent practices of the fourth stage,
They contemplate the equality of the buddhas of past, present, and future—
In conduct, mental attainment, purity of the Path,
And freedom from doubt—and enter the fifth stage.
Their bow is recollection, their arrows the spiritual faculties, undeflected;
Their horses the right efforts, the bases of mystic power their chariot,
The five powers their armor, which no bandits can break through;
Heroic, never retreating, they enter the fifth stage.
Clothed in conscience and modesty, wise, with the fragrance of pure conduct,
With the garland of the elements of enlightenment, the unguent of high meditation,
With excellent methods adorned by wisdom and reflection,
Entering the garden of mental command, they come to this fifth stage.
The four bases of mystic power their feet, pure mindfulness their necks,
Noblest kindness and compassion their eyes, lofty wisdom their teeth,
The roar of selflessness overcoming the thieving afflictions,
The human lions, equanimous, wise, enter this fifth stage.
The Flower Ornament Scripture Page 95