THE BODHISATTVA VOW OF NAGARJUNA.
Oct 19, 2009 16:53:21 GMT 1
Post by Shi Da Dao on Oct 19, 2009 16:53:21 GMT 1
Nagarjuna lived around 200 AD. He founded the Madhyamika School of Buddhist thought (famous for its ‘middle way’ perspective), and developed the ‘Profound View’ Bodhisattva Vow. It has Fourteen Root Vows, and Four Branch Vows. The Vow embodies compassionate action, and as with the Vast Understanding Vow of Arya Asanga, is designed for a practitioner of any background – either layperson or ordained. The Vows, in either version, emphasises the cultivation of ‘Bodhichitta’, or ‘Enlightened Mind Essence’. The mind essence underlies all phenomena, and its cultivation rescues the practitioner from the many and varied quagmires of delusion and desire. A practitioner thus freed, can help all beings. Nagarjuna’s Vow is separated into three social groupings – the Kingly, Ministerial and the Common People – and this categorisation is thought to represent ancient Indian society, as Nagarjuna experienced it. It is also separated into the ‘higher’, ‘medicore’ and ‘lessor’ level of ability.
The Fourteen Root Transgressions of Individuals of Superior Capabilities are Divided into Three Groups.
1) The Kingly Transgressions (1-5).
2) The Ministerial Transgression (6).
3) The Eight People Transgression (7-14).
The Five Kingly Transgressions.
1) Steeling the Three Jewels. Taking of goods dedicated to temples, statutes, stupas or goods that have been offered to the Sangha.
2) Abandoning the Dharma. Whether it be Hinayana or Mahayana, particularly in the case of a king who orders the Dharma to be abandoned, whether in total or by condemning one vehicle for the sake of another.
3) Harming Monastics. Whether they are respecting their Vows or have broken their Vows, by condemning, whipping or imprisoning them.
4) Accomplishing Any One of the Five Acts with Immediate
Consequences. Killing one’s father, Killing one’s mother, killing an Arhat, creating a schism in the Sangha, making a Buddha bleed with the intention of harming. These five acts are the transgressions particular to a king abusing his power.
5) Professing Nihilistic Opinions. Claiming that the Law of Karma does not exist, that there are no past or future lives, and so on. Nihilisitc opinions lead to negative actions.
The Ministerial Transgression.
6) Destroying a City. A city is designated as a human group whatever its size. A minister is the person to whom the king as delegated power and can give the order to destroy a people in war.
The Common People Transgressions.
7) Teaching Emptiness to a Person Not Reading for it. A person who gives teaching on the profound meaning of empty to someone whose mind is not ready to receive them, will risk shacking the recipient’s confidence and scare them.
8) Diverting the Person who has Taken the Bodhisattva Vow from Awakening. Discouraging this person who is engaged in Mahayana practice by saying they can not practice the Six Paramitas and it would be better for them to return to the Hinayana.
9) Making Someone Abandon the Hinayana. Advising a person who has a natural affinity for Hinayana to abandon it to enter the Mahayana.
10) Believing that the Small Vehicle Does not neutralise Conflicting Emotions. As in making others believe that the Hinayana is useless.
11) Praising Oneself and Criticising Others. To profit from, or to advertise one’s good reputation, praising oneself, declaring that one has understood and realised everything, when one does not deserve it, and criticising others when they do not deserve criticisim.
12) Being Proud of One’s Own Realisation. Being proud to be versed in profound practices, and pretending to have attained realisation when they are both not true. And doing this with the goal of attaining profit or fame.
13) Diverting Offerings made to a Monastery. By using corrupt means and deceit when one is a position of power, or accepting money or goods coming from this.
14) Abandoning the Support of a Practitioner, to give to a Student. Taking food away from secluded meditators, and giving it to sutra reciters.
The Four Root Transgressions of Mediocre Individuals.
1) Completely rejecting Bodhichitta.
2) Not giving to those who ask.
3) Hitting in anger.
4) Teaching false Dharma.
The Unique Root Precept of Individuals with Lessor Capabilities.
A practitioner should never abandon Bodhichitta, but always bear it in-mind. As Bodhichitta is the essence of all things, including the higher and mediocre
1) The Kingly Transgressions (1-5).
2) The Ministerial Transgression (6).
3) The Eight People Transgression (7-14).
The Five Kingly Transgressions.
1) Steeling the Three Jewels. Taking of goods dedicated to temples, statutes, stupas or goods that have been offered to the Sangha.
2) Abandoning the Dharma. Whether it be Hinayana or Mahayana, particularly in the case of a king who orders the Dharma to be abandoned, whether in total or by condemning one vehicle for the sake of another.
3) Harming Monastics. Whether they are respecting their Vows or have broken their Vows, by condemning, whipping or imprisoning them.
4) Accomplishing Any One of the Five Acts with Immediate
Consequences. Killing one’s father, Killing one’s mother, killing an Arhat, creating a schism in the Sangha, making a Buddha bleed with the intention of harming. These five acts are the transgressions particular to a king abusing his power.
5) Professing Nihilistic Opinions. Claiming that the Law of Karma does not exist, that there are no past or future lives, and so on. Nihilisitc opinions lead to negative actions.
The Ministerial Transgression.
6) Destroying a City. A city is designated as a human group whatever its size. A minister is the person to whom the king as delegated power and can give the order to destroy a people in war.
The Common People Transgressions.
7) Teaching Emptiness to a Person Not Reading for it. A person who gives teaching on the profound meaning of empty to someone whose mind is not ready to receive them, will risk shacking the recipient’s confidence and scare them.
8) Diverting the Person who has Taken the Bodhisattva Vow from Awakening. Discouraging this person who is engaged in Mahayana practice by saying they can not practice the Six Paramitas and it would be better for them to return to the Hinayana.
9) Making Someone Abandon the Hinayana. Advising a person who has a natural affinity for Hinayana to abandon it to enter the Mahayana.
10) Believing that the Small Vehicle Does not neutralise Conflicting Emotions. As in making others believe that the Hinayana is useless.
11) Praising Oneself and Criticising Others. To profit from, or to advertise one’s good reputation, praising oneself, declaring that one has understood and realised everything, when one does not deserve it, and criticising others when they do not deserve criticisim.
12) Being Proud of One’s Own Realisation. Being proud to be versed in profound practices, and pretending to have attained realisation when they are both not true. And doing this with the goal of attaining profit or fame.
13) Diverting Offerings made to a Monastery. By using corrupt means and deceit when one is a position of power, or accepting money or goods coming from this.
14) Abandoning the Support of a Practitioner, to give to a Student. Taking food away from secluded meditators, and giving it to sutra reciters.
The Four Root Transgressions of Mediocre Individuals.
1) Completely rejecting Bodhichitta.
2) Not giving to those who ask.
3) Hitting in anger.
4) Teaching false Dharma.
The Unique Root Precept of Individuals with Lessor Capabilities.
A practitioner should never abandon Bodhichitta, but always bear it in-mind. As Bodhichitta is the essence of all things, including the higher and mediocre
