Explore/Chapter 2 - Confession of Negativity: Difference between revisions
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|quote-text=In accordance with the formula "The Buddha is the teacher unsurpassed; the sacred Dharma is the guardian unsurpassed, the Sangha is the leader unsurpassed," the actual protector or refuge for beginners is in fact the Dharma. The Buddha said, "I have taught you the methods that lead to liberation. Practice with diligence; your liberation depends on you."<ref>Helena Blankleder and Wulstan Fletcher (Padmakara Translation Group), trans., ''The Nectar of Manjushri's Speech: A Detailed Commentary on Śāntideva's Way of the Bodhisattva'' (Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2007), 90.</ref> | |quote-text=In accordance with the formula "The Buddha is the teacher unsurpassed; the sacred Dharma is the guardian unsurpassed, the Sangha is the leader unsurpassed," the actual protector or refuge for beginners is in fact the Dharma. The Buddha said, "I have taught you the methods that lead to liberation. Practice with diligence; your liberation depends on you."<ref>Helena Blankleder and Wulstan Fletcher (Padmakara Translation Group), trans., ''The Nectar of Manjushri's Speech: A Detailed Commentary on Śāntideva's Way of the Bodhisattva'' (Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2007), 90.</ref> | ||
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The Buddha is telling us that for beginners the main refuge is the teachings and realizations. But he also makes sure to point out that although he has revealed the way, walking the path must be done by ourselves. Thus, taking refuge is not giving up responsibility to another higher power who will pull us along the path but is a process of relying on someone with deep experience and knowledge and then integrating their advice and teachings into our own lives. | The Buddha is telling us that, for beginners, the main refuge is the teachings and realizations. But he also makes sure to point out that although he has revealed the way, walking the path must be done by ourselves. Thus, taking refuge is not giving up responsibility to another higher power who will pull us along the path but is a process of relying on someone with deep experience and knowledge and then integrating their advice and teachings into our own lives. | ||
As the famous lines from the [NEED to identify] sūtra say: | As the famous lines from the [NEED to identify] sūtra say: | ||
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<h4>Confession of our negative actions</h4> | <h4>Confession of our negative actions</h4> | ||
The next branch of the seven-limb prayer is confession or literally "laying aside" or "laying or putting down" of all negative actions of body, speech, and mind that we have performed in the past. | The next branch of the seven-limb prayer is confession, or literally "laying aside" or "laying or putting down," of all negative actions of body, speech, and mind that we have performed in the past. | ||
{{PullBcaVerses|2.29}} | {{PullBcaVerses|2.29}} | ||
