Great Mother Earth All creatures Provides and nourishes, But from none of them She seeks a favor special, nor is she to any partial: So is the Bodhisattva. Since his awakening of the Heart, Until he gains the depths of the Law And realises the highest knowledge, He toils to save all creatures, Himself no favor seeking, nor to others granting any; Regardless of friend and enemy, Embracing all with single heart, He fashions one and all for Bodhi. * * * {392} The element Water All permeating Makes herbs and trees In luxury grow, Yet any favor special it nor shows nor seeks; So is the Bodhisattva; With a pure heart of love All sentient beings equally embraces he; All permeating gradually, universally, The seeds immaculate he nourishes, Which, breaking down all evils powerful, Obtain the fruit of Buddha-knowledge. * * * The element Fire Matures and ripens all The tender shoots of the cereals; Yet the element fire From those young plants No favor seeks, nor any shows to them; So is the Bodhisattva: With knowledge-fire Matures he all The tender shoots of creatures; Yet he from them No favor special seeks, nor shows he any. * * * The element Air, By reason of its virtue, Pervades all over Buddha-lands; With the Bodhisattva ’Tis even so, Who with consummate skill To Buddha’s children Preaches the Doctrine Holy. --- {393} THE BODHISATTVA. /His Firmness/. As Mâra, the evil one, Commanding his four armies, Even by the devas in the Kâmaloka, Cannot be overwhelmed; So is the Bodhisattva, Whose heart, pure and clean, By all the hosts of Evil, Cannot be tempted, nor confused. /His Progress/. As the new moon, In size increasing gradually, Becomes perfect and full in the end; Even so the Bodhisattva, With a heart defilement-free, All the good dharmas seeking and performing, In virtue gradually progresses, And finally obtains the Law of Purity, perfect and full. /His Enlightenment/. The rising sun, All illumining, All forms and images in the world In glory are revealed; So is the Bodhisattva: The light of knowledge emitting, And sentient beings illumining, Bringeth he all to wisdom. {394} /His Fearlessness/. Lion, the king of beasts, Majestic, overpowering, And in the forest wandering, Knows he no fear, no terror; So is the Bodhisattva: Calmly abiding in Learning, Intelligence, and Morality, Throughout the universe, Wherever he wanders about, Knows he no fear, no doubt. /His Energy/. The giant elephant, With energy wondrous, A burden heavy carrying, Shows not the least fatigue; So is the Bodhisattva: Bearing, for the sake of the masses, The misery of the flesh, He shows not the least apathy. /His Purity/. The lotus-flower, Though growing in the marshy land, By dirt, or mire, or filth Is not defiled; So is the Bodhisattva: Though living in this world, No form of passion Ever touches him. {395} /His Self-sacrifice/.