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142 Two: The Story of Pu»yaraùmi [The Faults of Bodhisattvas] [34] These, Râ½¾rapâla, will as a rule be the faults of those persons who are on the bodhisattva vehicle.1 The undisciplined will pay homage to the undisciplined. The deceitful will pay homage to the deceitful. The ignorant will think the ignorant should be honored. They will value worldly goods, have numerous attachments,2 be avaricious for upperclass patrons, as well as deceitful, impudent,3 loquacious, hypocritical, and covetous of reputation.4 They will extort profit through mutual praise,5 and they will enter a village for the sake of seeking profit, not for the sake of bringing sentient beings to [spiritual] maturity or out of pity for sentient beings. These ignoramuses will assert themselves as wise,6 saying: “How will others discern me to be learned in the excellent Dharma?” They will be disrespectful like those here who are undisciplined . They will be like broken vessels, seeking after each others’ deficiencies. Their undertakings are fruitless; they are ignorant and slothful. They do not put much faith in gnosis.7 Because of their accord with one another in a deviant Dharma,8 they follow their own fancy, are relentlessly quarrelsome, and abound in malice. They will train [others] in the teaching at this time by convincing people with inappropriate exhortations.9 They will not be disposed toward [religious] inquiry10 nor will they be desirous of listening to the Dharma. They will receive rebirth in poor families on account of their undisciplined practice . Becoming renunciants from these poor families,11 they will take satisfaction in the teaching at this time only for the sake of profit.12 For them there will not even be the confession of sin, how much less the clear realization of gnosis. Leaving behind13 the virtues of the buddhas, they will assert about themselves “we are ascetics”14 only for the sake of reputation and profit. Râ½¾rapâla, I do not speak of even a preparatory tolerance15 for such persons, how much less buddha-gnosis. A fortunate destiny is far away for them, how much more enlightenment. I speak of eight things, Râ½¾rapâla, that cause an obstacle to enlight- The Story of Pu»yaraùmi 143 enment for persons such as these. Which eight? Rebirth in an unfortunate state,16 rebirth in a poor family, rebirth in a border region, rebirth in a lowly family, being ugly and blind, association with corrupting friends, being terribly sick,17 and dying in anguish.18 I say these eight things, Râ½¾rapâla, cause an obstacle to enlightenment. Why? I do not speak, Râ½¾rapâla, of the enlightenment [35] of one who professes through words alone. I do not speak of the pure practice of a hypocrite. I do not speak of the course toward enlightenment of one who is deceitful. I do not speak of the homage to the Buddha of one who values worldly possessions. I do not speak of the pure wisdom of one who is conceited. I do not speak of the cutting off of doubt of one who is stupid. I do not speak of the pure intentions of one who is avaricious. I do not speak of the acquisition of dhâra»îs of one who is without much commitment. I do not speak of the acquisition of a fortunate destiny of one who does not seek19 good qualities. I do not speak of the pure body of one who has a passion for upper-class patrons. I do not speak of the encountering of buddhas20 of one whose pursuit of the noble path is contrived.21 I do not speak of the pure speech of one who is attached to upper-class patrons. I do not speak of the pure thoughts of one who is not respectful.22 I do not speak of the desire for the Dharma of one who is immoderate. I do not speak of the quest for the Dharma23 of one who is overly concerned with his body and life. Râ½¾rapâla, I do not reproach the six heretical teachers24 as much as I reproach these deluded persons. Why? Because the latter are the ones who speak falsely and act wrongly. They break their word to the whole world, including the gods. Then at that time, the Blessed One spoke these verses: “Unbridled,25 haughty, proud, disrespectful, arrogant, abounding in avarice,26 overcome with defilements, callous, and attached to property...

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