Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes “establishing beings in the five pure elements” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.
Part 8 - Establishing beings in the five pure elements
Sūtra (cf. Pañcaviṃśati, p. 32, l. 9–15; Śatasāhasrikā, p. 110, l. 4–13). – The bodhisattva must practice the perfection of wisdom if he wishes, by the his own power, to establish (pratiṣṭhāpita) beings in each of the ten directions in universes as many as the sands of the Ganges in morality (śīla), concentration (samādhi), wisdom (prajñā), deliverance (vimukti), knowledge and the vision of deliverance (vimuktijñānadarśana), and attain the fruit of srotaāpanna and the others up to supreme complete enlightenment.
Śāstra. –
Question. – Above (p. 2213F), the five pure elements (anāsravaskandha) and the fruits of the Path (mārgaphala) were already discussed; why speak of them again?
Answer. – Above, it was a matter of the attributes only of the śrāvaka, the fruit of srotaāpanna and the others up to nirvāna without conditioned residue (nirupadhiśeṣanirvāṇa); here we are speaking of the three Vehicles all together: śrāvaka, pratyekabuddha [and Buddha] all attaining supreme complete enlightenment.