Hello, everyone. Welcome to this episode of the podcast provided by the Buddhas’ Practice Incorporated of Australia.
Today, we continue our study of Volume Three, focusing on the core message of accepting and slandering this sutra.
So, who are the people capable of believing and practicing this profound and mysterious sutra? The Buddha makes it clear:
- Those with sharp faculties and wisdom, who are widely learned, have a strong memory, and seek the Buddha-path.
- Those who have seen hundreds of thousands of Buddhas, upheld good roots, and have a deeply firm mind.
- Those who are diligent in their practice and will not spare their bodies or lives.
- Those who are respectful and without hypocrisy, who stay away from ordinary, foolish people and live in quiet seclusion.
- Those who have abandoned evil companions and become close with virtuous friends, who uphold pure precepts and seek the Mahayana sutras.
- Those who are without guile and are straightforward, whose hearts are always gentle, and who respect all Buddhas.
- Those who, in a great assembly, use a pure mind and various reasons, parables, and words to teach the Dharma without obstruction.
- Those who, in their quest for omniscience, travel in all four directions to seek the Dharma, who accept and uphold the Mahayana sutras, and no longer seek external scriptures.
Conversely, if a person is arrogant and lazy, attached to the view of self, or if a foolish person with shallow understanding is deeply attached to the five desires and cannot comprehend this sutra, the Buddha will not teach it to them. Even more, one should be vigilant, because if a person slanders this sutra, it is like destroying the seed of the Buddha in the world. The retribution for this sin is extremely severe: upon death, they will fall into the Avici Hell, endure countless eons of suffering, and be reborn as an animal. If they are reborn as a human, their faculties will be dull, they will be poor, lowly, and emaciated by many diseases, and they will never see a Buddha or hear the Dharma.
May everyone be cautious. Thank you for listening.
