Tag Archives: Vimalakirti

Vimalakirti Unbound

Posted on October 26, 2024 by Vajragoni

Vimalakirti Unbound

Based on Vimalakirti and his Sutra with the themes of Noble Silence and Maha-Bodhisattvahood. read more

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The Ascetic’s Hermitage

Posted on August 24, 2023 by Vajragoni

Kindly take note that the major content in this blog has been freely paraphrased from the exceptional literary work of Kazi K. Ashraf, The Hermit’s Hut Architecture and Asceticism in India, University of Hawaii Press 2013. It is my belief that the comprehensive conclusion of this blog series necessitates an allusion to the environment in which an ascetic dwells, a crucial element for the advancement of one’s spiritual development and purification. read more

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Seeds of Faith

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Vajragoni

(Hakeda)

CHAPTER THREE

Analysis of the Types of Aspiration for Enlightenment, or The Meanings of Yāna  read more

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Out on a Limb: Part 2

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Vajragoni

12.Vision of the Universe Abhirati and the Tathagata Aksobhya, cont’d

The venerable Sariputra then asked the Buddha, “Lord, in which buddha-field did the noble Vimalakirti die, before reincarnating in this buddha-field?” The Buddha said, “Sariputra, ask this good man directly where he died to reincarnate here.” Then the venerable Sariputra asked the Licchavi Vimalakirti, “Noble sir, where did you die to reincarnate here?” Vimalakirti declared, “Is there anything among the things that you see, elder, that dies or is reborn?” Sariputra: There is nothing that dies or is reborn. Vimalakirti: Likewise, reverend Sariputra, as all things neither die nor are reborn, why do you ask, “Where did you die to reincarnate here?” Reverend Sariputra, if one were to ask a man or woman created by a magician where he or she had died to reincarnate there, what do you think he or she would answer? Sariputra: Noble sir, a magical creation does not die, nor is it reborn. Vimalakirti: Reverend Sariputra, did not the Tathagata declare that all things have the nature of a magical creation? Sariputra: Yes, noble sir, that is indeed so. Vimalakirti: Reverend Sariputra, “death” is an end of performance, and “rebirth” is the continuation of performance. But, although a bodhisattva dies, he does not put an end to the performance of the roots of virtue, and although he is reborn, he does not adhere to the continuation of sin. read more

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Mystical Spice

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Vajragoni

10.The Feast Brought by the Emanated Incarnation

At the opening of this chapter we once again find Śāriputra still with that dull-witted, conventional outlook on life; before he was concerned with the lack of chairs for the assembly, now he’s concerned that they don’t have any food. Vimalkirti responds with, “Are you so overly-concerned with your belly—just watch, and I’ll show you food the like of which you’ll never hunger again”! read more

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Are You Enlightened?

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Vajragoni

4. The Reluctance of the Bodhisattvas

Then, the Buddha said to the bodhisattva Maitreya, “Maitreya, go to the Licchavi Vimalakirti to inquire about his illness.” Maitreya replied, “Lord, I am indeed reluctant to go to that good man to inquire about his illness. Why? Lord, I remember that one day I was engaged in a conversation with the gods of the Tusita heaven, the god Samtusita and his retinue, about the stage of non-regression of the great bodhisattvas. At that time, the Licchavi Vimalakirti came there and addressed me as follows: “‘Maitreya, the Buddha has prophesied that only one more birth stands between you and unexcelled, perfect enlightenment. What kind of birth does this prophecy concern, Maitreya? Is it past? Is it future? Or is it present? If it is a past birth, it is already finished. If it is a future birth, it will never arrive. If it is a present birth, it does not abide. For the Buddha has declared, “Bhikshus, in a single moment, you are born, you age, you die, you transmigrate, and you are reborn.” “‘Then might the prophecy concern birthlessness? But birthlessness applies to the stage of destiny for the ultimate, in which there is neither prophecy nor attainment of perfect enlightenment. “‘Therefore, Maitreya, is your reality from birth? Or is it from cessation? Your reality as prophesied is not born and does not cease, nor will it be born nor will it cease. Furthermore, your reality is just the same as the reality of all living beings, the reality of all things, and the reality of all the holy ones. If your enlightenment can be prophesied in such a way, so can that of all living beings. Why? Because reality does not consist of duality or of diversity. Maitreya, whenever you attain Buddhahood, which is the perfection of enlightenment, at the same time all living beings will also attain ultimate liberation. Why? The Tathagatas do not enter ultimate liberation until all living beings have entered ultimate liberation. For, since all living beings are utterly liberated, the Tathagatas see them as having the nature of ultimate liberation. read more

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Mara

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Vajragoni

On Wednesday for many quarters the solemn season of Lent begins. The whole premise is based on the encounter that the Bodhisattva Jesus had with Satan (Mara) in the desert of karmadhautu for 40 days. For many, they just outwardly “deny” themselves something for this time period before Easter rolls-around—but it’s all really just superficial—no true inner Metanoia occurs. Yet, that encounter in the desert is another metaphor for something that constitutes the inner warfare that occurs daily between the force of Good and Evil—that bifurcation that denies the Self its rightful Recollection in the realm of dharmadhatu. That’s the choice really…either to continue bowing allegiance to the collective forces that keep one imprisoned within the samsara of their own mind—or to truly make that inner-turn-about (Metanoia) and awaken to the Noble discovery of Self-Realization that Alone can break the endless karmic cycle of the no-self regenesis. read more

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