Overall Teaching

The Bodhisattva transforms the world with his merit and the devas honour him, seeing countless bodhisattvas doing the same. The Bodhisattva gives his last teaching in Tuṣita Heaven on the Gateways to the Dharma—the requisites for a bodhisattva to attain his last birth. Then he encourages the devas to practice and to come to hear him after he attains Buddhahood.

Summary

1.     The Bodhisattva then proceeds to Ucchadhvaja Palace in Tuṣita Heaven, where he gave his final teaching as Śvetaketu Bodhisattva. After the Bodhisattva blessed the palace and it transformed, the devas thought their own lands were like charnal grounds in comparison. The throne the Bodhisattva sat on was adorned from the ripening of his merit and the thousands of devas honoured it.

2.     The Bodhisattva implored the devas to look upon him and the features of the world around him and they saw countless bodhisattvas surrounding him and bowing down to him, which the devas were amazed at.

3.     The Bodhisattva then suggest that the devas listen to the 108 Gateways to the Dharma which a bodhisattva must tell a gathering of devas before passing, each has benefits which are enumerated, but will be skipped for summary purposes: Mental qualities:

(1)   Faith

(2)   Inspiration

(3)   Supreme Joy

(4)   Contentment Restraints:

(5)   Physical restraint

(6)   Verbal restraint

(7)   Mental restraint Recollections:

(8)   Buddha

(9)   Dharma

(10)                  Saṅgha

(11)                  Giving

(12)                  Discipline

(13)                  The divine Immeasurables:

(14)                  Love

(15)                  Compassion

(16)                  Joy

(17)                  Equanimity Investigations:

(18)                  Impermanence

(19)                  Suffering

(20)                  No-self

(21)                  Peace Virtues:

(22)                  Good conscience

(23)Modesty

(24)                  Truth

(25)                  Authenticity Practices:

(26)                  Dharma practice

(27)                  Refuge in the Three Jewels

(28)                  Acknowledging the kindness of others

(29)                  Gratitude Knowledges:

(30)                  Oneself

(31)                  Sentient beings

(32)                  Dharma

(33)                  The right time

Overcoming negative states:

(34)                  Conquering pride

(35)                  Freeing the mind from vindictiveness

(36)                  Not holding grudges

(37)                  Having sincere interest free of doubt Overcoming the Three Poisons:

(38)                  Investigating repulsiveness to overcome desire

(39)                  Absence of malice to overcome anger

(40)                  Absence of stupidity to overcome ignorance Approaches to the Dharma:

(41)                  Pursuit of the Dharma

(42)                  Desiring the Dharma

(43)                  Seeking to hear the Dharma

(44)                  Correctly applying the Dharma

Actions related to knowledge of Dependent Origination:

(45)                  Knowledge of names and forms

(46)                  Conquering views about causes

(47)                  Eliminating attachment and aversion

(48)                  Expertise concerning the aggregates

Approaches to three things that are not armours (Ratnaguṇasamuccāya, 15):

(49)                  Equality of the elements

(50)                  Withdrawal of the senses

(51)                  Acceptance of non-arising [of the skandhas] Foundations of Mindfulness:

(52)                  Body

(53)                  Sensations

(54)                  Mind

(55)                  Phenomena

Relinquishments and Powers:

(56)                  Four thorough relinquishments[1]

(57)                  Four bases of power[2] Five Faculties:

 (58)Faith[3]

(59)                  Diligence

(60)                  Mindfulness/recollection

(61)                  Samādhi/meditation

(62)                  Knowledge Powers:

(63)                  Faith

(64)                  Diligence

(65)                  Mindfulness/recollection

(66)                  Samādhi/meditation

(67)                  Knowledge

Aspects of Awakening:

(68)                  Complete mindfulness

(69)                  Complete discernment

(70)                  Complete diligence

(71)                  Complete joy

(72)                  Complete agility

(73)                  Complete meditation

(74)                  Complete equanimity Noble Eightfold Path:

(75)                  Right view

(76)                  Right intention

(77)                  Right speech

(78)                  Right action

(79)                  Right livelihood

(80)                  Right effort

(81)                  Right mindfulness

(82)                  Right meditation

Mental Qualities related to the Mahāyāna:

(83)                  Bodhicitta—continues the Three Jewels

(84)                  Intention—lack of desire for the Hīnayāna

(85)                  Superior Intention—distinct focus on vast Buddhadharma

(86)                  Application—leads to perfection Six Perfections:

(87)                  Generosity

(88)                  Discipline

(89)                  Patience

(90)                  Diligence

(91)                  Meditation

(92)                  Wisdom Qualities for teaching:

(93)                  Skilful means

(94)                  Four ways of attracting students

(95)                  Ripening sentient beings

(96)                  Grasping the True Dharma Four Accumulations/Collections:

(97)                  Merit

(98)                  Wisdom

(99)Calm abiding

(100)               Insight Two Accesses:

(101)               Authentic discerning awareness—leads to eye of the Dharma

(102)               The trustworthy—leads to eye of the Buddha Two attainments:

(103)               Dhāraṇī/retention

(104)               Confidence—to satisfy with clear explanation Two Acceptances:

(105)               Of the Concordant Dharma—being in accord with Dharma

(106)               Of the Dharma of non-Arising—attainment of prophecy Three Grounds (Bhūmis/Levels):

(107)               Ground of non-returning (8th Bhūmi)

(108)               Wisdom evolving from Ground to Ground (9th Bhūmi)

(109)               Ground of Empowerment (10th Bhūmi)[4] 

4.     Then 84000 devas gave rise to bodhicitta, 32000 gods gained acceptance of the nonorigination of dharmas, and 360 million devas obtained the pure Dharma-eye. The entire realm was knee-deep in celestial flowers.

5.     The Bodhisattva then explained in verse form:

a.     When the Bodhisattva descends from Tuṣita he teaches the devas to abandon mindlessness. 

b.     All pleasures arise from virtuous actions, so acknowledge kindness done and don’t fall back to the lower realms where there is suffering. 

c.     Once you hear the Dharma, apply yourself earnestly to practicing it to attain boundless joy.

d.     All is impermanent as lightning or a water bubble.

e.     Pleasures of the world are like drinking salt water, but those with pristine wisdom are satisfied.

f.      There are no allies, friends, relatives in the conditioned real—the karma from good deeds also binds you and follows behind your back.

g.     Thus only do good, but also recall the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

h.     Investigate suffering, impermanence, and no-self.

i.      All of the Bodhisattva’s qualities are from discipline, study, & conscientiousness. Thus emulate the Bodhisattva

j.      Practice what you teach, and don’t follow only what others say. Without acting nothing is accomplished.

k.     Recall past suffering—if you again fall prey to distortion nirvāṇa won’t be attained.

l.      Thus, now you have a teacher, pacify your attachment and afflictions without pride, arrogance, or conceit.

m.   Disperse ignorance with the lamp of wisdom and error with the vajra of wisdom.

n.     If you do not abide by the teaching, it is not the fault of the teaching.

o.     When the Bodhisattva attains Buddhahood, those with pure minds whould come to listen to the True Dharma.

[1] Relinquishing negative acts in the present and the future and enhancing positive acts in the present and the future.

[2] Determination, discernment, diligence, and meditative concentration.

[3] Interestingly states “The faculty of faith is a gateway to the light of the Dharma, for it leads one to not depend on the guidance of others.”

[4] I suppose they should be called the 109 Gateways to the Dharma instead of 108.