02 Complete Enlightenment (Michell)

02 Complete Enlightenment (Michell)

THE SUTRA OF COMPLETE ENLIGHTENMENT
Translated from the Chinese of Buddhatrata
by Ven. Guo-go Bhikshu.

http://www.tranlich.com/phathoc/kinhviengiac.htm


Bodhisattva Samantabhadra

if these sentient beings come to understand
illusion, then body and mind are also illusory.
How can they then use illusion to remedy
illusion?
How could they be liberated from illusory conceptualization?




you have asked about the expedient,
gradual stages of the bodhisattvas practice
of the samadhi in which all is seen to be like an illusion,
and which frees sentient beings from illusion.




all illusory projections of sentient beings
arise from the wondrous mind of
the Tathagatas Complete Enlightenment,
just like flowers in the sky which
come into existence from out of the sky.




When the illusory flower vanishes,
the nature of the sky is not marred.
When all illusions are extinguished,
the enlightened mind remains unmoved.




the extinction of illusion is called
the unmoving mind of enlightenment.
to know illusion is to depart from it;
there is no need to contrive expedient means!
To depart from illusion is to be enlightened;
there are no gradual steps!




Samantabhadra, you should know
that the beginningless illusory ignorance
of all sentient beings
is grounded on the Tathagatas
mind of Complete Enlightenment.

Like a flower in empty space,
its appearance relies on the sky.
When the illusory flower vanishes,
the empty space remains in
its original unmoving state.

Illusion depends on enlightenment for its arising.
With the extinction of illusion,
enlightenment is wholly perfect,
for the enlightened mind is ever unmoving.

All bodhisattvas and sentient beings
in the Dharma Ending Age
should forever leave illusions far behind
until all illusions are extinguished.

It is like producing fire with wood,
when the wood is burned out,
the fire is also extinguished.
Enlightenment has no gradual steps;
the same applies to expedient means.

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