temple wedding, vairocana buddha, avatamsaka sutra

 

THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES, WE WILL PRACTICE THE WAY-PLACE AVATAMSAKA

 EVERY WEEK, REGULARLY.

6. TOTAL GIVING

“WHAT IS MEANT BY A BODHISATTVA’S TOTAL GIVING?

Disciples of the Buddha, as before, this Bodhisattva inherits the position of a Wheel Turning King, is replete with the Seven Jewels, and rules over the Four Continents.

At one time, limitless poverty-stricken people approached him and said, ‘Great King, your renown pervades and is heard throughout the ten directions.

Out of veneration we have come. We each have certain things we would like and we hope that you will be compassionate and fulfill our wishes.’

Then the poor people begged variously of the king:

Some asked for his country, some wanted HIS WIVES OR CHILDREN, some wished for his hands and feet, some wanted his blood, flesh, heart, lungs, head, eyes, marrow, and brains.

The Bodhisattva at that time, had this thought:

‘I will eventually have to part from all those for whom I have fondness and love, but it will have been of no benefit to living beings.

Now, with the hope of forever casting out greed and emotional love, I will use all of these things that are destined to disperse, to fulfill these living beings’ wishes.’”

“Having had this thought, he bestowed upon them all the things they wanted, without any thoughts of regret, nor any sense of repulsion or contempt toward those living beings.

This is called total giving.”

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-chapter 22: "The Ten Inexhaustible Treasuries"

Avatamsaka sutra

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