Chapter XIII of the Nirvana Sutra

Excerpt Nirvana Sutra

Chapter XIII of the Nirvana Sutra (Faxian) Translated by Stephen Hodge This is a complete translation (the first ever

undertaken in English) of the "Tathagatagarbha" chapter of Faxian's Mahaparinirvana Sutra, translated exclusively for this website by Stephen Hodge. Some scholars (e.g. Professor Shimoda of Japan) believe that the Faxian version of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra is the earliest extant version of the scripture that we possess. Some terms in the original Chinese text, however, are obscure, and where there is uncertainty as to the correct translation, the relevant words have been underlined by Stephen Hodge.

Note that two kinds of self are spoken of in this

chapter: the ephemeral mundane or worldly self (the skandhaic ego), and the True Self, which is the indwelling (within each being) totality of Buddha-Dharma-Sangha. I have capitalised "Self" where it refers to the True Self, for ease of reading.

(Please forgive the erratic font sizes. The website has a

mind of its own and does not respond to my attempts at font regularisation!) - Dr. Tony Page.

THE TATHĀGATA-GARBHA Again, the Bodhisattva Kāśyapa said to the Buddha, "Blessed One, the Tathāgata has a Self, but

do the twenty-five modes of existence also have it or not ?"

The Buddha said to Kāśyapa, "The True Self is the Tathāgata-dhātu. You should know that all

beings do have it, but it is not apparent since those beings are enveloped by immeasurable afflictions

[kleshas]. It is, for example, like a cache of precious treasure that exists within an impoverished

dwelling though unknown [to anybody]. Then, somebody who is skilled in the characteristics of

treasure said to the poor man, "Do some work for me and I'll give you wealth and treasure". The

poor man replied, "I can't come. Why ? Because there is a cache of treasure within my old home and

I can't abandon it". The man said, "You are foolish, for you do not know the location of the treasure.

Work for me and I'll give you a precious treasure which you will be able to use without its ever

becoming exhausted." After he had said this, that person then removed the precious treasure from

;


that house and gave it to him. The poor man was delighted and amazed, knowing that that person

was truly reliable. All beings are also like that, for each one of them has the Tathāgata-dhātu, but

they are unaware of that because it is enveloped and submerged beneath immeasurable afflictions.

The Tathāgata skilfully encourages them and reveals it, causing them to know that the Tathāgata-

dhātu exists within their bodies and accept this with confidence.

"Moreover, noble son, it is like, for example, the new-born child of some woman which is small

and sickly. A doctor skilfully mixes a good medicine with ghee and sugar and administers it to the

child. He advises the mother that she should not give any milk to the child, to allow the child to

digest the medicine, after which time she can give milk. He also mixes some bitter herbs and smears

it on her breasts. When the child wanted to suckle milk, he tasted the bitter flavour and turned away

[from her breast]. After the mother knew that the medicine had been digested, she washed her

breasts and let the child drink milk from them. In the same way, noble son, the Tathāgata first

taught people to cultivate the notion that all phenomena are devoid of a self in order to encourage

and train them. When they have cultivated non-self, they eliminate the false view of the Self.

Having eliminated the false view of the Self, they enter nirvāṇa. I have taught non-Self in order to

eradicate the mundane / conventional self [i.e. the impermanent ego]. Subsequently, I teach the

Tathāgata-dhātu with skilful words of implicit intent. This is called the True Self, which is divorced

from the mundane [self]."

The Bodhisattva Kāśyapa said to the Buddha, "Blessed One, when a person is first born, their knowledge is slight but, as they gradually grow up, their knowledge also becomes more perspicacious. Yet if there were a self, it would remain the same. Because their knowledge gradually increases, we know that there is no self. Again, a self should not be subject to birth and death and yet there is birth and death, so one should know that there is no self. If we suppose that all beings do have the Tathāgata-garbha, then there should be no differences between them, and yet there are presently apparent a variety of beings who have adopted dissimilar bodies due to various different kinds of karma, such as elders, brahmins, kṣatriyas, eminent citizens, caṇḍalas and so forth. If we suppose that beings have the Tathāgata-dhātu, they should all be identical and yet they are not currently the same. Therefore, we know that they do not have the Tathāgata-dhātu. If again it were true that they have the Tathāgata-dhātu, then they would not engage in various kinds of unwholesome actions such as killing and stealing. If we allow that beings have the Tathāgata-dhātu, then the deaf would hear, the blind would see and the dumb would speak. If we suppose that each being has the Tathāgata-dhātu, then where is it located ? Is it mingled with the body, in different colours such as blue, yellow, red or white ? Is it located in one single place or does it pervade the entire body ?"

The Buddha said to Kāśyapa, "It is, for example, like this: a certain king has a great wrestler

who has fixed to the top of his head a precious jewel which can purge all infections. He had a bout

with someone from a rival country which caused the jewel he was wearing to be forced into his body.

Blood, flesh and skin covered it over and the jewel seemed to have disappeared. Though the


wrestler searched for it, he could not find it and thought that he had lost it. Now, there was a skilled

doctor who had come to treat the injury. Consequently, the wrestler said to the doctor, 'I had a

jewel, but I seem to have lost it. I have searched in various places for it, but I don't know where it is.

You should know that a precious jewel is an impermanent thing, just like froth on water – quick to

arise and quick to perish, elusive like a phantom.' In that manner, he thought he had lost his jewel

forever. The doctor replied, 'The jewel is not lost – don't think that you have lost it ! When you

were fighting, the jewel entered into your body. It is not visible because it is concealed by your

blood, flesh and skin.' The wrestler did not believe the doctor and said to him, 'Whereabouts is the

jewel in my blood and flesh ? You are just speaking empty words !' Then the skilled doctor

extracted the jewel. Having got his jewel, the wrestler then believed the good doctor and was amazed

at his knowledge.

"All beings are also like this. Each one of them has the Tathāgata-dhātu but, through having

recourse to evil acquaintances, they give rise to attachment, hatred and stupidity and fall into the

three miserable states and so forth, adopting various kinds of bodies throughout the twenty-five

modes of existence. The precious jewel that is the Tathāgata-dhātu is buried within the wound of the

afflictions of attachment, hatred and stupidity, so that they are unaware of its presence there.

Engaging in the notion that there is no Self with regard to the mundane / conventional self, they do

not understand the skilful words of implicational import of the Tathāgata, who is like a good doctor.

They have the notion that there is no Self, and are unable to know the True Self. Regarding this, the

Tathāgata again utilizes skilful means: he causes them to extinguish the raging fires of the countless

afflictions, revealing and elucidating the Tathāgata-dhātu to them.

"Moreover, noble son, it is, for example, like this: there is a very sweet medicinal herb in the

Himālayas called 'superior taste', which remains hidden and invisible as long as there is no universal

emperor in the world. Sick people went to the location of the medicine and, digging into the ground,

they buried pipes to draw off the medicinal sap. They obtained sap with a sweet taste, a bitter taste,

a pungent taste, a sour taste, a salty taste or an astringent taste. Though the sick people got these

various tastes, they were unable to get the medicine with the true superior taste, because they did

not dig the ground deeply enough and because their merits were slight. Due to the power of a

universal emperor's merit, he is able to obtain the medicine with the true superior taste when he

appears in the world. Similarly, noble son, the Tathāgata-dhātu is hidden by a multitude of different

tastes, the countless afflictions [arising from] stupidity. Hence, beings are unable to obtain the

superior taste of the Tathāgata-dhātu, and, engaging in various kinds of actions, they come to be born


in different places.

"The Tathāgata-dhātu cannot be killed. Those who die are said to be short-lived, while the

Tathāgata-dhātu is said to be true life. It cannot be severed or destroyed right up to the attainment

of buddhahood. The Tathāgata-dhātu can neither be harmed nor killed but only nurtures the person,

while those who can be harmed or killed, like those sick people, engage in a mass of perverse actions

and encounter various kinds of fruitional recompense as kṣatriyas, brahmins and so forth, being born

and dying in the twenty-five modes of existence, because they cannot obtain the true Tathāgata-

dhātu.

"Furthermore, noble son, it is like a person who digs the earth searching for diamonds. Holding

a sharp pick-axe in his hands, he digs into the ground and rocks, able to pulverise them all.

Diamonds alone he cannot shatter. The Tathāgata-garbha is like this, for it cannot be harmed by the

sharp weapons of the gods and demons. It only nurtures the person and anything that can be

harmed or damaged is not the Tathāgata-dhātu. Hence, you should know that the Tathāgata-dhātu

cannot be harmed or killed. This means that the extensive sūtras, the Tathāgata's definitive

teachings, are both elixir and poison."

The Bodhisattva Kāśyapa said to the Buddha, "Blessed one, in what sense are the definitive

teachings both elixir and poison ?"

The Buddha replied, "Noble son, listen now for I shall explain this to you", and then he uttered a

verse:

"One person consumes nectar and achieves long life.

another person takes nectar and soon dies, his life damaged.

Because of drinking it, death is poisoned,

or else because of drinking it, life is poisoned.

"Nectar is the unimpeded Mahāyāna awareness [jnana], while the poison is also the unimpeded

Mahāyāna awareness. It is like ghee, sesame oil or sugar – when eaten but not digested they are

said to be poisons, but when eaten and digested they are said to be nectar. Ignorant people do not

understand the extensive secret teaching of Mahāyāna, so for them it is said to be poison. For

śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas who dwell in the Mahāyāna Dharma and for bodhisattvas, heroes

among people, it is said to be nectar. This is like, for example, cows – although their colours may be

different, their milk has the same taste. Similarly, Kāśyapa, you should know that the Tathāgata-

dhātu is the refuge of bodhisattvas who have attained fearlessness. Their dhātu and my dhātu are

completely identical in taste."


Regarding this, the Bodhisattva Kāśyapa spoke this verse:"I take refuge now in the three Jewels,

[that are] the profound Tathāgata-dhātu.

The Tathāgata-garbha within my body

is these three: the Buddha, Dharma and Saṅgha.

Such a refuge as this is called the highest refuge".

Then again the Blessed One uttered these verses for Kāśyapa:

"How can it be said that refuge is known

to those who do not know the three Jewels ?

If going to the Buddha for refuge

is deemed to be the most auspicious,

then again for what reason

do they also go to Dharma for refuge ?

Going to the Dharma for refuge

is just an idea in one's mind.

Moreover, for what reason

do they go to the Saṅgha for refuge ?

How can those without faith in the Buddha

as refuge, the definitively real and true,

gain any knowledge at all

of the tathāgata-dhātu of the Three Jewels ?

Why do those who do not understand its meaning

give rise to the confused notion that

the Buddha, the Dharma and the Saṅgha,

are a stairway of the Three Jewels ?

This is like a somebody who is not pregnant

having the notion that they will give birth to a child !

Those who think like that

only increase their confusion.

Like somebody who xxx an echo,

they are far from being true upāsakas.

You should strive to find with skilful means


the definitive meaning of the Mahāyāna !

Teachings concordant with the Tathāgata

will cause you to eliminate your doubts."

The Bodhisattva Kāśyapa then spoke these verses:

"Those who go to the Buddha for refuge,

adopting the upāsaka dharma,

will not consider going for refuge

to any of the various gods.

Those who go to the Dharma for refuge,


will not act with pernicious teachings (dharma)

nor will they engage in improper rituals.

Those who go to the Saṅgha for refuge,


will not seek out deserving recipients [of alms]

amidst the followers of false paths.

Therefore, I go to the Three Jewels as refuge

and shun the three mundane non-dharmas.

These three objects of refuge

were also taught by the Tathāgata,

I relied upon these objects in the past

and now have attained a place of security:

You too should also go to them

for refuge and attain what I have.

You too who travel along

this path of sameness

will swiftly eliminate the mass of sufferings

and the confusions of the cycle of life and death.

As for the tathāgata-dhātu,

in accordance with what the Tathāgata teaches,

I, together with other beings,

am identical to this tathāgata-dhātu.


Even including the Māras,

we shall all rely upon this,

the path followed by the Buddhas,

and be endowed with this ambrosia,

going for refuge as do the Buddhas,

eschewing the existent Muni."

Then the Bhagavat spoke these additional verses to Kāśyapa:

"Do not be like the Śrāvakas,

with their immature understanding:

know that there is only one refuge and not three.

Though the Buddha, Dharma and Saṅgha

are identical in this path of sameness,

I established these three objects

in order to extinguish false views.

If you now want to comport yourself:

in conformity with mundane people,

then you should go to the Three Jewels for refuge

in accordance with this teaching:

'If somebody goes to the Buddha for refuge,

then let them take refuge in me !

If somebody goes to perfect Awakening for refuge,

I have already achieved perfect Awakening.

Those who separate the refuges

are confused about the tathāgata-dhātu:

they should have an attitude of sameness

as regards the Tathāgata.

If they join their hands in obeisance [to me],

they then venerate all Buddhas;

I am the most real refuge for other beings,

because I am already endowed with

the pure and wondrous Dharmakāya.


If they venerate a caitya,

they should venerate me,

for I am the most real caitya for other beings.

I am also the true caitya,

therefore they should venerate me.

If they go to the Dharma for refuge,

they should take refuge in me,

because I am already endowed with

the pure and wondrous Dharmakāya

and I am the most real Dharma for other beings.

If they go to the Saṅgha for refuge,

they should take refuge in me.

All other beings are all

included within the Buddha's Saṅgha.

I am the fully awakened Saṅgha for other beings,

I shall generate the eye of the path

for those beings who lack vision.

Hence, the community of the Śrāvakas

and Saṅgha of the Pratyekabuddhas

should go for refuge to the most real

Saṅgha of the Tathāgata, which includes them all.' "

The Buddha said to Kāśyapa, "Thus noble son, a bodhisattva-mahāsattva should think, 'Even

though I might have an accumulation of unwholesomeness and ignorance, I should remember that I

have the buddha-dhātu', just as a heroic warrior at the time of battle knows that he is the leader of

the army and acts as the bulwark of all the ranks. For example, when a prince is made crown-prince,

he knows that he is superior to all the other princes and that he will act as a real refuge for the

princes when he is made king. No ignoble notions arise in his mind. Noble son, bodhisattva-

mahāsattvas are also like this. They generate adamantine determination and transcend those three

objects, becoming fearless like that prince. They are divorced from notions of diversity concerning the

three objects, for the Tathāgata is foremost, just as the crown of the head is uppermost. XXXX

division in separate things, like a stairway. In order to train people in the world by providing them

with a mundane refuge, they teach separate aspects with regard to the real object, and utilize the


three objects in order to convert immature ignorant people and cause them to penetrate the

profoundly acute insight of the Mahāyāna."

The Bodhisattva Kāśyapa uttered these verses:

"Though I understand the true significance of this,

I asked the Tathāgata about it

because I want to explain [to others]

the unsullied valour of a bodhisattva.

It is excellent that the Bhagavat has explained

the practice of a bodhisattva,

the profoundly acute Mahāyāna wisdom,

the insight which is like a cut diamond.

It is excellent that the Bhagavat has explained

how bodhisattvas are to be established,

for now I shall also [impart to others]

what the Tathāgata has fully revealed.

All the different kinds of beings

should all examine themselves:

they themselves are the tathāgata-dhātu,

all of them are the three refuges.

All the different kinds of beings

who have faith and uphold this sūtra,

whether they have already eliminated the afflictions

or have not yet distanced themselves from desires,

they should all take refuge in the tathāgata-garbha

which inheres within themselves:

this alone is the authentic taking of refuge,

without a second or a third [object].

What is the reason for that ?

Because the Bhagavat has explained

that the subtle tathāgata-garbha

is present in each individual.


Because they know the significance of this,

they do not take refuge in the three [objects];

they have become the true refuge for the entire world,

for they encompass in their totality

the Dharma and the Community of monks.

The Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas

will all venerate them.

Thus the tathāgata-dhātu is inconceivable,

because it is also endowed with

the thirty-two major and eighty minor attributes.”

The Buddha said to Kāśyapa, "Excellent, excellent, noble son ! These bodhisattvas should thus

train themselves in the extremely profound and incisive insight. Furthermore, noble son, I shall

explain to you how one is to approach / enter the tathāgata-garbha".

Then he uttered these verses:If there were an enduring self,

then there would be no experience of pain;

whereas if there were no Self,

the cultivation of the holy life would be in vain.

All phenomena are devoid of a Self:

this is called an annihilationist teaching;

to say that there is an enduring self:

this is a doctrine that posits eternality.

All phenomena are impermanent:

this is an annihilationist doctrine;

all phenomena are permanent:

this is an eternalist doctrine.

All phenomena involve suffering:

this is an annihilationist doctrine;

all phenomena are pleasurable:

this is a doctrine that posits eternality.

To cultivate the notion that everything is permanent:

this swiftly results in an annihilationist doctrine;


To cultivate the notion that everything is impermanent:

this swiftly results in an eternalist doctrine.

As for example a leech / caterpillar,

which reaches one place and soon focuses on the next,

those who thus cultivate the notion of permanence

will swiftly become annihilationists,

while those who cultivate the notion of extinction

will swiftly get the notion of permanence:

as with the example I have taught,

they achieve one and then seek another.

On the one hand, the cultivation of suffering

is predicated with regard to the unwholesome;

on the other hand, the cultivation of happiness

is predicated with regard to the wholesome.

On the one hand, the cultivation of no self

concerns the immeasurable afflictions;

on the other hand, the cultivation of one that endures

concerns the buddha-dhātu and nirvāṇa.

On the one hand, the cultivation of impermanence

concerns the ephemeral body;

on the other hand, the cultivation of permanence

concerns the Three Jewels – the Tathāgata and so forth,

and equally liberation:

this is the true reality of phenomena.

What the Tathāgata has explained

is not like [the caterpillar] in that simile:

you should know that he expounds the Dharma,

abiding in the middle, free from the two extremes,

devoid of both eternalism and annihilationism.

Foolish mundane people are confused

about the Buddha's teachings,

just as those who are malnourished


become deranged if they precipitately eat butter.

Existence and non-existence increase their troubles,

just as in the case of somebody who is seriously ill,

the four elements mutually increase the harm

when not functioning in balanced harmony.

When the phlegm humour (doṣa) increases unabated,

then the various winds produce parching;

when the wind humour is in disarray,

then salivation will also increase.

Such disharmonies as these

causes the body to become disordered.

A good doctor with skilful therapy

can regulate these four kinds [of disorders],

eliminate all kinds of diseases,

and bring about comfort throughout the body.

The Good Doctor can cure with skilful therapy

the countless diseases of the afflictions

that are like the four highly venomous snakes

by balancing the dhātus and bringing about comfort.

These balanced dhātus are called the 'tathāgata-garbha'.

When they hear about the tathāgata-dhātu,

which is divorced from all realms / dhātus,

permanently abiding, without change,

and unattached to both existence and non-existence,

foolish people make deluded assertions

and do not understand the hidden teachings.

When the Tathāgata teaches with skilful means

about suffering for the sake of beings,

foolish people are incapable of understanding

and say that their bodies are liable to extinction;

but wise people truly understand that

this is not to be upheld with regard to everything,


for they know that within their bodies

the seed of bliss is present.

When they hear me teach with skilful means

about impermanence for the sake of beings,

foolish people say that their body

is like a vessel made by a potter;


this is not to be upheld with regard to everything,

for they know that the subtle seed of the Dharmakāya

inheres within their bodies.

When they hear me teach with skilful means

about not-Self for the sake of beings,

foolish people say that according to the Buddha's Dharma

[it teaches] that everything is devoid of a Self;


provisional discourse is not exhaustive,

for they are not confused concerning the purity

of the true nature (dharmatā) of the Tathāgata.

When they hear me expound with skilful means

teachings about emptiness for the sake of beings,

foolish people are incapable of comprehending them,

saying that all these utterances [imply] extinction;

but wise people truly understand

that these are not to be upheld with regard to everything,

for they know that the Tathāgata's Dharmakāya

is enduring and devoid of change.

When they hear me expound with skilful means

teachings about liberation for the sake of beings,

foolish people say that the body of the Buddha

is utterly destroyed when he is liberated;

but wise people truly understand

that there is no ending to the coming and going


of the Tathāgata, the lion of a man,

who freely travels about by himself.

When they hear me teach with skilful means for the sake of beings

that the saṃskāras are dependent upon ignorance,

foolish people are incapable of comprehending this,

and say that these are two [distinct] factors;

but the wise truly understand

that although ignorance and knowledge are different,

these two aspects do not exist

with respect to the true nature of liberation.

Consciousness arises in dependence upon the saṃskāras:

foolish people say that there is a duality here,

but intelligent people know that the conditions of saṃskāras

are two things and yet they are non-dual.

Foolish people uphold two aspects regarding

the ten wholesome and ten unwholesome [deeds],

but the wise truly understand that

although they are two, they are non-dual.

Regarding faults and the absence of faults,

foolish people say that there are two things,


they are non-dual by their nature.

Regarding purity and impurity,

foolish people say that there are two things,



When I speak of all phenomena

in terms of created (saṃskṛta) and uncreated (asaṃskṛta),

foolish people are incapable of understanding this

and say that there are two things,

but the intelligent truly understand that



When I teach that all phenomena

are either painful or pleasurable,

foolish people are incapable of understanding this

and say that there are two things,



When they hear me teach for the sake of beings

that all saṃskāras are impermanent,

foolish people are incapable of comprehending this

and cultivate this notion in connection with the tathāgata-dhātu,



When they hear me teach for the sake of beings

that all phenomena are devoid of a self,

foolish people are incapable of comprehending this

and say that the Buddha teaches the non-existence of Self,

but the intelligent understand that

intrinsically Self and not-Self are non-dual.

Immeasurable and countless Buddhas

have taught this tathāgata-garbha,

and I too have taught

in the Sarva-puṇya/guṇa-samuccaya-sūtra

that Self and not-Self are non-dual:

you should carefully uphold this !"

"Noble son, you should recollect the Sarva-puṇya/guṇa-samuccaya-sūtra ! I have taught non-

duality in the Mahā-praj ๑ ā-pāramitā-sūtra, and that likewise expounds the non-duality of Self and

not-Self.

"For example, curds arise from milk, fresh butter arises from curds, ripe butter arises from

fresh butter and the essence of butter arises from ripe butter. Is it one substance from start to finish

or does it come from somewhere else ? If this were just one substance, then it would be created as

the basic, original substance. If the milk were the curds, then it would even now remain at the milk

phase, devoid of any attributes of curds. For this reason, they are mutually produced in succession.


One says that they evolve in succession because they do not already exist. If it comes from

somewhere else, then in what place does it exist ? But one does not see the curds and so forth

coming from somewhere else during the milk phase. All of those elements have the essence of

butter as their intrinsic nature but they merely appear as different elements because it is obscured by

defects.

"When a cow's food is xxx {= defective}, its milk has the flavour of blood. A cow that eats

sweet grass produces milk with a sweet odour, a cow that eats bitter grass produces milk that has a

bitter odour. In the foothills of the Himalayas, there is a sweet, unctuous grass. A cow that eats this

produces only sapir-maṇḍa [essence of ghee] and nothing of any other colour. According to the

differently flavoured grasses that a cow eats, the milk has various different colours. Similarly,

knowledge and ignorance are not two distinct phenomena, for in that manner knowledge turns into

ignorance because of the xxxx of indulgence in karmic actions. All wholesome and unwholesome

factors are devoid of duality. Therefore, you should know that the tathāgata-dhātu is like that sapir-

maṇḍa: it is intrinsically pure, but it appears with different features because of the xxxx of the

afflictions.

"For example, people say that the water of the oceans is salty, but not all of the water is salty

because some of them [i.e. some of the oceans] contain water which has the eight flavours. For

example, there are many poisonous herbs in the Himalayas, but the Himalayas primarily have

beneficial medicinal herbs. The bodies of all beings are likewise: they are a composite of the four

elements, which are like venomous snakes, and yet the buddha-dhātu primordially exists in these

bodies. Like those beneficial medicinal herbs, the tathāgata-dhātu is constantly present from start to

finish, not a product of any action, but it grows [subsists?] in the midst of immeasurable afflictions.

"Beings who seek after buddhahood should eradicate the ensnarements of the immeasurable

afflictions. For example, there are great clouds and lightning in the spring months but it does not

rain. In summertime, everything is awash/flourishing with the great torrents of rain. The tathāgata-

dhātu is also like that: it is enveloped by the ensnarements of immeasurable afflictions, so although

people may have heard about the sūtras and the meditative concentrations (samādhi), they do not

know about the tathāgata-dhātu because of that. Because they do not know about it, they give rise

to notions of Self and not-Self. When the extensive (vaipulya) Mahā-parinirvāṇa-sūtra, the Dharma

treasury of secret teachings, is heard in the world and people have heard about the tathāgata-dhātu,

they sprout and grow, nourished by its great significance/content. For this reason, it is called the

Mahā-parinirvāṇa-sūtra. Thus, noble son, those beings who study this extensive Mahā-parinirvāṇa-


sūtra are said to fully repay the Tathāgata's kindness.

The Bodhisattva Kāśyapa said to the Buddha, "Excellent, Bhagavat ! The tathāgata-dhātu is a

treasure extremely difficult to perceive or obtain for the Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas."

The Buddha replied, "It is thus, it is thus, noble son ! I also always say that it is extremely

difficult to perceive. For example, there is a somebody with cataracts that cover his eyes, so that he

cannot see the five colours. He goes to a good doctor to have his cataracts treated. [The doctor]

removes a small piece of tissue and then points out some object and tells the man to look at it.

Because his vision is still blurred, he says that there are two or three objects there, but gradually his

vision is corrected and he sees it distinctly. Similarly, noble son, bodhisattva-mahāsattvas who [have

completed] the course of purification and have accomplished the tenth level [i.e. the highest level of

Bodhisattva attainment, just prior to becoming a Buddha] are able to xxx [make out ?] the reality of

the tathāgata-dhātu within their bodies, but they still suffer the confusion of the wheel of non-Self.

What can be said of the ability of Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas to know it ! You should know,

noble son, that the tathāgata-dhātu is thus difficult to perceive.

" Again, there is somebody who looks up and sees a flying bird. It is so distant that he is unsure

whether it is or is not [a bird], but xxx his eyes, he then discerns it distinctly. Bodhisattvas who dwell

on the tenth level are also like this: when they perceive the tathāgata-dhātu within their bodies, they

first have confused notions about it, but after some time they eventually see it distinctly. What can be

said of the Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas !

"Again, there is somebody who becomes bewildered about the direction in which lies his

destination. He racks his brains, thinks carefully and ponders upon it and yet he still loses his way.

Bodhisattvas who dwell on the tenth level are also like this: when they perceive the tathāgata-dhātu

within their bodies, they carefully focus on it and yet they still have confused notions about it. What

can be said of the Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas !

"Again, there is somebody travelling far through a wilderness who becomes confused with the

heat and thirst. He sees a wild horse in the distance, but is uncertain if it is water, a tree or a village.

Bodhisattvas who dwell on the tenth level are also like this: even when they perceive the tathāgata-

dhātu within their bodies, they still have confused notions about it.

"Again, there is somebody who climbs up to a high place and sees a caitya [monument for

veneration of the Buddha] below in the distance. He thinks it might be water, or the sky, or a house,

or else a wild horse, a hill, a rock, a shrub or a tree. But when he eventually sees it properly, he then

knows that it is a caitya. Bodhisattvas who dwell on the tenth level are also like this: even when they


perceive the tathāgata-dhātu within their bodies, they still have confused notions about it. When they

eventually see it distinctly, then they know its true nature.

"Again, there is somebody travelling in a ship on the ocean and sees a xxx in the distance but

becomes confused about it, thinking that it is the sky or a statue. Bodhisattvas who dwell on the

tenth level are also like this: even when they perceive the tathāgata-dhātu within their bodies, they

still have confused notions about it.

"Again, there is a prince who has spent the whole night watching entertainments until sunrise.

He sees somebody but is uncertain whether it is a relative or somebody else. Bodhisattvas who dwell

on the tenth level are also like this: even when they perceive the tathāgata-dhātu within their bodies,

they still have confused notions about it.

"Again, there is a minister who has summoned to the royal palace for consultations. Returning

home in the darkness of the night, he sees something that might be a white cow in a flash of

lightning but he is confused as to whether it is a house or a mound of earth. Bodhisattvas who dwell

on the tenth level are also like this: even when they perceive the tathāgata-dhātu within their bodies,

they still have confused notions about it.

"Again, there is a monk who observes the moral precepts and, when he looks again carefully at

water he has strained himself, he sees something that might be a hair but he thinks it could be an

insect or a dust mote. Bodhisattvas who dwell on the tenth level are also like this: even when they

perceive the tathāgata-dhātu within their bodies, they still have confused notions about it.

"Again, there is somebody who is gazing at a high mountain peak, but he is not sure whether

there is a traveller there or a wild animal. Bodhisattvas who dwell on the tenth level are also like this:

even when they perceive the tathāgata-dhātu within their bodies, they still have confused notions

about it.

"Again, there is somebody with weak eyes who sees a painting in the gloom of the night, but he

is not sure whether it is a portrait of a person or of a god, or else a portrait of the Buddha, Indra,

Brahma or some bodhisattva. Bodhisattvas who dwell on the tenth level are also like this: even

when they perceive the tathāgata-dhātu within their bodies, they still have confused notions about it.

"Thus, noble son, the tathāgata-dhātu is extremely profound and difficult to see, for it is only

within the perceptual domain of a Buddha and it is not something that may be known or seen by

Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas. Thus, noble son, you should accept with trust the Tathāgata's

teachings, which are known to the intelligent.


The Bodhisattva Kāśyapa said to the Buddha, "Would the Bhagavat explain how those with

mere mortal eyes can see the tathāgata-dhātu that is so profoundly subtle ?

The Buddha replied, "For example, the divine sphere neither with ideation nor without ideation

is only within the perceptual domain of a Buddha, so how could any of the Śrāvakas and

Pratyekabuddhas see it ? Only [by acting] in conformity with the Tathāgata's sutras, they later come

to perceive it by means of trusting faith. Similarly, noble son, all Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas

should develop trusting faith in the extensive Parinirvāṇa-sūtra and then they will know that there is

the tathāgata-dhātu within their bodies. Hence, you should know that the tathāgata-dhātu is only

within the perceptual domain of a Buddha and not of the Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas."

The Bodhisattva Kāśyapa said to the Buddha, "Bhagavat, people in the world all say that they

have a Self. What does this signify ?"

The Buddha replied, "For example, there were once two people who were friends. One was a

prince and the other a poor man but they were bound by friendship and went about together. This

prince had a tame rhinoceros and the poor man saw it. Some time later, they travelled together to

another country and stayed together overnight in a certain guest-house. Then, the poor man cried

out in a dream, "The rhinoceros is coming ! The rhinoceros is coming !", his voice carrying through

the walls. At that moment, somebody heard him and went to the palace to report what he had heard

to the king of that country. The king asked, "Where is the rhinoceros ?". Then the poor man said to

the king, "I do not have the rhinoceros, but I know that it exists because I once saw it." The king

again asked about its appearance and the poor man told him that its horn resembled that of a goat.

When he had told the king that, the king said to the poor man, "xxx [this is ?] nothing but an empty

story", and the notion that the rhinoceros resembled a goat spread throughout the kingdom. Not

long after that, that king died and his crown prince came to the throne. He too searched for the

rhinoceros but could not find it. Then his son succeeded him as King and he too similarly searched for

the rhinoceros but could not find it. Thereafter, successive generations for a long time had the notion

that the rhinoceros was a goat.

"Similarly, when a bodhisattva mahāsattva emerges in the world, he expounds the True Self for

the sake of beings. Those who are ignorant of it hear that all beings have the Buddha-nature but,

because they do not know its true [nature], they speak about it with deluded notions, 'The Self- is like

a inch-sized lamp located in the heart' and other various notions such as the 'being' (sattva), the 'Self'

(ātman), the 'person' (puruṣa) or the 'life-force' (jīva). Such dream-like utterances are passed on


successively, but they all give rise to false views. [Or else] they consider whether they have a

personal self and seek out the nature of their personal self but, not finding the True Self, they come

up with the theory that there is no Self. Thus all people in the world constantly have deluded ideas,

considering whether they have a personal self or having the idea that there is no Self. Thus, noble

son, I teach that the Tathagata's nature is the ultimate truth. You should know that any person in the

world who expounds the Self in accordance with the Dharma is separated from conventional [truth].

You should know that all of these manifestations of bodhisattvas appear in the same manner as

mundane/conventional utterances."

| ฉ Dr Tony 04 |

Chapter XIII of the Nirvana Sutra

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Transcript of Chapter XIII of the Nirvana Sutra