Practitioners who looking for Easy Path

 Q&A (2021/09/26)

From the book The Way to Buddhahood, verse 139,

Those who are timid and inferior,

Wish to have an easy path to practice.

1. When the author refers to incalculable weath ...what is meant by that? Is it literal or of the wisdom mind?

～》This is a parable recorded in the Lotus Sūtra: It is said that the poor man was originally the son of the elder who has incalculable wealth (enormously rich), and was separated from the elder when he was very young.  Therefore, he didn't know his origin. After he grew up, he wandered around to the elders' homes. Seeing the luxurious mansion, he was terrified. He wanted to go away quickly, but he was kept by the elder, because the elder discovered that the young man was his long-lost child. The elderly hope that the young man can inherit his family business, but how can young people who have been poor for many years have the confidence to manage that huge asset? Therefore, the elder uses all kinds of convenience and skill to rebuild the young man's confidence, so that he gradually accepts his background and abilities.

～》This parable is used by the Buddha to encourage those who lack of self-confidence (in taking Bodhisattva path), just as the elders used various methods to guide the poor man to accept his origin and identity【potential to become a buddha】. In order to bear the huge family business and wealth fearlessly 【helping sentient beings with hesitation】.

2. What is the "Timid fundamental nature" in the 2nd paragraph?

～》In fact, all sentient beings have the "possibility of becoming Buddha." In other words, everyone has Buddha Nature.

～》From the inner possibility of becoming a Buddha, we are all extremely wealthy people. However, long-term behaviors in the cycles of birth and death corresponding to the defilements make us feel that we have a timid and inferior fundamental nature.

～》As a practitioner of the Two Vehicles (Śrāvaka & Pratyekabuddha), who usually focused on personal attainment, will feel timid and inferior when compared to the Buddha. 

～》However, please bear in mind: a Śrāvaka or Pratyekabuddha who is free from defilements will definitely not compare themselves with others and feel that they are inferior to others. The TIMIDITY mentioned in the sutra refers to being able to attain Buddhahood but without completing it, and being able to help sentient beings but only focusing on one's own liberation. 

～》By bringing up the concept of TIMIDITY is to ENCOURAGE everyone to realize their potential (having buddha nature and becoming buddha), and does not mean to belittle Śrāvaka or Pratyekabuddha at all.

3. What is your interpretation of the last paragraph in verse 139? Starting with “This is similar...…”

～》This is a Q&A excerpted from the Daśabhūmivibhāṣā Śāstra, “Chapter on Easy Practice”（《十住毘婆沙論．易行品》）between a questioner and Nāgārjuna（龍樹菩薩）.

～》Before going to their Q&A, there’s a Buddhist term that we should know, which is “avivartins” or “avaivartika”. It is usually rendered into English as 'irreversible', 'non-retrogressing,' in the book is ‘nonretreaters’, in chinese is 不退轉 or 阿惟越致.

～》“avaivartika” literally means 'not liable to turn back’, it refers to a particular type of bodhisattva whose future enlightenment is assured. When we say someone has attained the stage of non-retrogression（得不退轉地）, it means that they have be assured of becoming a buddha. Not to overstate, this is the dream achievement of every person who devotes themselves to the path of Bodhisattva. 

～》Now, comes the questioner’s query, “what a pity if one vows to attain buddhahood, but retrogress and just become a Śrāvaka or Pratyekabuddha! Please tell us, is there any Easy Path (Easy Practice) that we can take, which lead us to the stage of non-retrogression（得不退轉地）?”

～》Alas, looking for “Easy Path (Easy Practice)”? They will naturally be disagreed by Nāgārjuna as an unambiguous practitioners. Instead of being timid, inferior, and small-minded, keep looking for the “Easy Path (Easy Practice)”, Nāgārjuna encourages them “to be diligent day and night, as if one’s own head were on fire.”

～》In other words, this paragraph is actually a quotation from Daśabhūmivibhāṣā Śāstra to tell us the importance of diligence.

～》But, is there any “Easy Path (Easy Practice)”? Yes, there is, and you will discover it in verse 140.