| The Eight Realizations of the Great Beings |
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| Wholeheartedly, day and nite, a disciple of the Buddha should recite and meditate on the eight realizatons of the Mahasattavas, the Great Beings. The First Realization is the awareness that the world is impermanant. All political Regimes are subject to fall; all things composed of the four elements are empty and contain the seeds of suffering. Human beings are compsoed of five skandhas, aggregates, and are without a seperate self. They are always in the process of change - constantly being born and constantly dieing. They are empty of self, without soverignty. The mind is the source of all impure actions. If we mediatate on these facts we can gradually be released from samsara, the round of birth and death. The Second Realization is the awareness that more desire brings more suffering. All hardships in daily life arise from greed and desire. Those with little desire and ambition are able to relax, their bodies and minds free from entanglements. The Third Realization is that the human mind is always searching for possesions and never feels fulfilled. This causes impure actions to ever increase. Bodhisvattas, however, always remember the principle of having few desires. They live a simple life in peace in order to practice the Way, and consider the realization of perfect understanding as their only career. The fourth Realization is the awareness of the extent to which laziness is an obsticle to practice. For this reason we must practice diligently to destroy the unwholesome mental factors which blind us, and concour the four kind of Mara in order to free ourselves from the prison of the five aggregates and the three worlds. The fifth Realization is the awareness that ignorance is the cause of endless round of birth and death. Therefore, Bodhisattvas always remember to listen and learn in order to develop their understanding and eloquence. This enables them to educate living beings and bring them to the realm of great joy. The Sixth Realization is the awareness that poverty creates hatred and anger, which creates a vivacious cycle of negative thoughts and activity. When practicing generosity, Bodhisattvas consider everyone, friend and enemy, as equal. They do not condemn anyone's past wrong doings, nor do they hate those who presently causing harm. The Seventh Realization is that the five catagories of desire lead to difficulties. Although we are in the world was held try not to get caught up in the worldly matters. A monk, for example, has in his possession, three robes and one bowl. He lives simply in order to practice the Way. His precepts keep him free of attatchmentto worldly things, and he treats everyone equally and with compassion. The Eighth Realization is the awareness that the fire of birth and death is raging causering endless suffering everywhere, we should take the great vow to help everyone, to suffer with everyone and to guide all beings to the realm of great joy. These eight realizations are the discoveries of the great beings, Buddha and the Bodhisattvas, who have diligently practiced the Way of compassion and understanding. They have sailed the dharmakaya, boat to the shore of Nirvana but then they return to the ordinary world, having abandoned the five desires, with their minds and hearts directed toward the noble Way, using these eight realizations to help all beings recognize the suffering in the world. If the disciples of the Buddha recire these eight realizations and meditate on them, they will put an end to countless misunderstandings and difficulties and progress towards Enlightenmint, leaving behind the world of birth and death, dwelling forever in peace. |
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