Property:English
From Buddha-Nature
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T
Suppose the earth became completely free from all uneven places, gaps, and dirt<br>And were a surface of clear and spotless beryl, with the stainless qualities of a jewel, splendid, and even.<br>Due to its purity, a reflection of the array of the abode of the lord of gods, Indra [himself], and the maruts would appear in it,<br>But since the earth would gradually lose those qualities, [that reflection] would disappear again. +
In order [to attain] this state, the assemblies of men and women who are devoted to generosity and such,<br>Through observing the rules of fasting and spiritual discipline and with a determined mind, would strew flowers and so on.<br>Likewise, for the sake of attaining the reflection of the lord of sages in their minds, which resemble a transparent beryl,<br>The children of the victors give rise to the mind-sets [of awakening] with a joyful mind. +
Just as on the pure ground of beryl <br>The reflection of the body of the lord of gods appears,<br>On the pure ground of the minds of beings,<br>The reflection of the body of the lord of sages is displayed. +
Since they lack conceptions as to<br>For whom, whereby, where,<br>And when which guiding activity [is to be performed],<br>[The activity] of the sages is always effortless. +
The appearance and disappearance of this reflection manifests in the world<br>Through the power of one’s own mind manifesting in a clear or turbid way.<br>Just as the appearance of a reflection in the worlds,<br>It should not be regarded as either real or unreal. +
Just as in the heaven of the gods,<br>As a result of their previous virtue<br>And free from effort, location,<br>Mind, form, and conception, +
The drum of the gods again and again<br>Summons all the heedless gods<br>Through the sounds "impermanence,"<br>"Suffering," "lack of self," and "peace," +
So the lord, who pervades the world<br>In its entirety, with his buddha voice,<br>Teaches the dharma, free from effort<br>And so on, to those who are suitable. +
Just as the sound of the divine drum in the heaven of the gods arises from their own karma,<br>The sage’s teaching of the dharma in the world also arises from [the world’s] own karma.<br>Just as [the drum’s] sound, free from effort, location, body, and mind, brings forth peace,<br>So this dharma devoid of those four factors brings forth peace. +
Just as, when engaging in the troubles of battle in the city of the gods, the sound of this drum<br>Arises as the cause for them to be fearless and to engage in the [war]play of being victorious over the forces of the asuras,<br>So in the world the dhyānas, formless [absorptions], and so on, arise as the cause for the [Buddha’s] speech<br>About the principle of the unsurpassable path that destroys the afflictions and pacifies the suffering in sentient beings. +
Since it is universal, beneficial, pleasant,<br>And endowed with the three miraculous displays,<br>The voice of the sage is more eminent<br>Than the divine cymbals. +
The great sounds of the drums in heaven<br>Do not reach the hearing of those dwelling on earth,<br>But the sound of the drum of the perfect Buddha<br>Reaches [even] those in the lowest region of saṃsāra. +
In heaven, the many myriads of divine cymbals<br>Sound [only] for the sake of kindling the flame of desire,<br>But the single voice of those whose character is compassion<br>Manifests for the sake of pacifying the cause of the fire of suffering. +
The beautiful and pleasing sounds of the cymbals in heaven<br>Are the causes for increasing mind’s agitation,<br>But the voice of the magnanimous tathāgatas<br>Encourages the intention of entrusting the mind to samādhi. +
"For whom" [refers to] the constitutions of those to be guided;<br>"Whereby," to the abundant means;<br>"Which," to the guiding activity;<br>And "where and when," to the [proper] place and time for this [activity]. +
In brief, what is the cause of happiness in [all]<br>Infinite worldly realms, the celestial and the earthly,<br>Is stated with reference to this voice that appears<br>Pervasively in all worlds without exception. +
Just as those deprived of ears do not hear subtle sounds<br>And not all [sounds] become audible even for those with the divine ear,<br>So the subtle dharma, the object of the most acute wisdom,<br>Becomes audible only for those whose minds are not afflicted. +
Just as in the rainy season<br>Clouds effortlessly rain down<br>Their masses of water on the earth,<br>Thus causing abundant harvests, +
So the victor showers down<br>The rain of the genuine dharma<br>From the clouds of compassion without a thought<br>For the sake of the harvests of virtue of beings. +
Just as clouds, driven by the wind, pour down rain<br>On the world where people engage in the path of virtuous actions,<br>So, due to the growth of virtue in the world by the wind of compassion,<br>The cloud that is the Buddha showers down the rain of the genuine dharma. +
