Sacrifice of the Four Selves

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wisdom
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Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:33 am

Sacrifice of the Four Selves

Post by wisdom »

Inspired by my study of Nagarjunas commentary on the Prajnaparamita Sutra.

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If there is a self
And you cling to that self
Verily you cannot give that self in service to others

If there is not a self
And you cling to that not self
Verily you cannot abandon that self in service to others

If there both is and is not a self
And you cling to that dual self
Verily you cannot use its duality in service to others

If there neither is nor is not a self
And you cling to that negated self
Verily you cannot use its negation in service to others

Therefore the self of the Boddhisattva
Is the self of the Middle Way
Following that way
The four selves can be given in compassionate service
Working under the guidance of the supreme Buddha-self
In accordance to the needs of others

They who would be Boddhisattvas
Must first master these four forms of self
So one can make the four sacrifices of the self
With the aim of correcting the four wrong views
Rooted in the Ground of Groundless Being
Acting from the Heart of Perfected Wisdom

In the first sacrifice one gives oneself to others
Using ones very life force in service to them
This is the case of one who strives to teach the Dharma
And of one who gives charity, or does work for another in need

In the second sacrifice one yields oneself to others
Allowing the self to be used by them for their sake
This is the case of one who allows the self to be misconceived
Or allows the self to be in some way insulted or even "harmed"

In the third sacrifice one both gives and yields to others
Using ones very life force in service to them
This is the case of one who rushes to the aid of another
Yet knows that the aid in some way may result in insult or "harm"

In the fourth sacrifice one neither gives nor yields to others
Withholding ones energies and actions from the other individual
This is the case of one who sees that inaction is most beneficial
And knows that the best good will come from within the other alone

Of these four sacrifices of the self all are noble
Each gives its own understanding to the one who practices it
The first, that we are important and precious
The second, that we are unimportant, and the praise and views of others matter little
The third, that our unimportance can give rise to important actions
The fourth, that the best good can sometimes come from inaction or non-existence
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Virgo
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Re: Sacrifice of the Four Selves

Post by Virgo »

Profound.

Kevin
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