Property:SanskritTranslation
From Bodhicitta
This is a property of type Text.
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On the other hand, wherever the evildoer’s desire for happiness goes, there his own sins cut his body to pieces with the swords of sorrow. +
Due to their good works, the sons of the sugatas are reborn before the eyes of the Sugata. Each son is born in the heart of a magnificent, fresh, perfumed lotus, whose splendor grows nourished by the sweet voice of the victorious conquerors. Each one is born with a perfect body when the lotus blooms, awakened by the rays of light emanating from the Buddha. +
The doer of evil, on the other hand, due to his sins, will fall suddenly on the red-hot iron pavement of hell. He will cry in pain as he is skinned by Yama’s henchmen, as his body is bathed in molten copper from the fires of hell, as his flesh is diced by hundreds of flaming swords and spears. +
Therefore, I should exercise my will in meritorious activities, having cultivated it zealously in this way. One should cultivate it by adopting pride as it is recommended in the Vajradhvaja<span class="smw-highlighter" data-type="8" data-state="inline" data-title="Note 3" title="3" tabindex="0"><span class="smwtticon bca-note note">3</span><span class="smwttcontent">A Mahayana sutra.</span></span> +
First one should consider the circumstances, and then decide whether to go ahead or not. For it is better not to begin at all than to begin and then give up. +
The habit will persist in future lives too, and the suffering resulting from sin will increase. Another worthy enterprise will be neglected, time and effort will be lost, and you will have not accomplished the task you had begun. +
One should show pride in three ways: with regard to action, with regard to the afflictions, and with regard to one’s own capacity. Pride with respect to action consists of this thought: “I will do it myself.” +
Don’t you see how your friends and acquaintances, one after another, fall to death? Still you give yourself to sleep, like a pariah's water buffalo. +
“This world, enslaved by the afflictions, is not capable of attaining its own good. Therefore, I will bring this good to the world; for I am not unable to do it, like the rest.” +
“How can I stand back and see another one performing menial tasks for me? If it is my pride that holds me back from carrying them out myself, then let my pride die!” +
A mere crow becomes the great eagle garuda<span class="smw-highlighter" data-type="8" data-state="inline" data-title="Note 4" title="4" tabindex="0"><span class="smwtticon bca-note note">4</span><span class="smwttcontent">A huge bird of Buddhist myth.</span></span> when it lands on a dead lizard. The most insignificant obstacle or lapse will defeat me if my spirit is weak. +
Is it not easier to fall if you are paralyzed by dejection? But one who raises his spirit and remains active will be invincible even in the most unfavorable conditions. +
Therefore, with the mind made firm I will bring down every occasion for falling. If I allow myself to be defeated by misfortune, my desire of conquering the three worlds is laughable. +
“I must conquer everything, I will not let anything conquer me.” This is the only pride I should carry with me, for I am the son of the lion of conquerors. +
Persons conquered by pride are miserable wretches, not proud<span class="smw-highlighter pagebreaks" data-type="8" data-state="inline" data-title="Page number from:" title="423" tabindex="0"><span class="smwtticon pagebreak note text-80">[p.423]</span><span class="smwttcontent"><big>[[How to Be a Bodhisattva: Introduction to the Practice of the Bodhisattva Path (The Bodhicaryāvatāra)]]</big> <br> <span class="muted">Gómez, Luis O., trans. "How to Be a Bodhisattva: Introduction to the Practice of the Bodhisattva Path (''The Bodhicaryāvatāra'')." In ''Norton Anthology of World Religions: Buddhism'', edited by Donald S. Lopez Jr., 395–441. New York: Norton, 2017.</span></span></span> persons. The truly proud do not give in to their enemies. Those you regard as proud have given in to pride, their enemy. +
Pride carries them to evil destinies, and even in this human life takes away all their joy. They live on the crumbs others give them, they behave like slaves, like fools, they become repugnant and emaciated. +
Everywhere they go they are rejected, they are paralyzed by pride, tortured by it. If you count these among the proud, then tell me, who do you consider pitiful? +
Truly proud, conquering heroes are only those who carry their pride in order to defeat pride, their enemy; they will attack pride, their enemy, aggressive as he is, and will display to the world the fruit of their conquest. +
How can you enjoy eating, sleeping, and sensual pleasures while you are being closely watched by Yama, the King of Death, and all your exits are closed? +
In the midst of the host of the afflictions he will become a thousand times more arrogant, as invincible by the horde of the afflictions as a lion by a herd of deer. +
