Shastra on Attaining a Rebirth By Vasubandhu Bodhisattva ( a revised edition)

Shastra on Attaining a Rebirth

Composed by Vasubandhu Bodhisattva

Translated by Bhikshu Bodhiruci from Northern India

(Upadesa on the Sutra of Immeasurable Lifespan- Verses on Vowing to attain a Rebirth)

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Upadesa on the Sutra of Immeasurable Lifespan-the Verses on Vowing to attain a Rebirth

1. World Honoured One, I single-mindedly take refuge in the Thus Come One of Unobstructed Light in the endless ten directions. I vow to be born in the Land of Serenely Blissful.

2. By relying on the Sutra which is the genuine mark of merits and virtues, I will speak about the Vows, verses of praise and Dharani in accord with the Buddha’s Teachings.

3. On contemplating the appearance of that world, it far-surpasses the paths in the Triple Realm. Ultimately it resembles the empty space which is spacious with no limits.

4. With the proper path of great kindness and compassion, the wholesome roots of leaving the world comes forth.  He is fully replete with the pure illumination that resembles the shining mirror, the sun and moon.

5. With the fulfilment of various precious Jewel nature, he is perfectly replete with the wonderful adornment. The Light of No-filth is burning tremendously, illuminating the worlds with its brightness of purity.

6. The grass of merits and virtues of the innate Jewel Nature is soft and gentle, swirling to the left and right. On touching it one feels the supreme bliss far-surpassing the softness of Kaclindi birds.

7. Jewel lotuses of myriad species fully cover the ponds and flowing streams. The soft breeze passes by the brightly illuminated flowers and leaves, with their shines interweaving one another.

8. The palaces, bungalows and pavilions can be seen in the ten directions with no obstruction. The mixed species of trees shine forth in unique lights. The jewel railings pervasively surround the Land.

9. Immeasurable gems are interlaced among the shining nets pervasively, occupying the empty space. An array of jewel bells tinkling and spreading the wonderful Dharma Sounds.

10. The adornment of the rain showers down clothes and flowers with immeasurable fragrance pervasively permeating the Land. The Buddha’s Wisdom resembles the bright and pure sunshine eradicating the darkness of worldly ignorance.

11. The Brahman sound of his Name which is subtly wonderful can be heard in the ten directions. It resonates deeply and travels far to enlighten those who hear it. Amitabha Buddha the Proper Enlightened One is the Dharma King who is good at governing the Land.

12. The Thus Come One’s assemblies of pure lotuses are transformed from the Flowers of Proper Enlightenment. They love the taste of the Buddha Dharma as they consume the blissful food of Samadhi.

13. They have forever left the afflictions of the body and mind. They only enjoy the uninterrupted bliss constantly. The Great Vehicle Realm of Wholesome Roots is in equality without any names of slanders and disdain.

14. Women, those with defects in roots, the two vehicles are not born.  All the vows of living beings, all their wishes can fully be fulfilled.

15. That is why I wish to be born in the Buddha Land of Amitabha Buddha. The subtly wonderful pure lotus platform is made from Immeasurable great jewel kings.

16. His brightly shining countenance emits light to a distance of one Yojana. His adorned form features far-surpass all the living beings. The amazing Name of the Thus Come One echoes afar, to the ten directions.

17. It resembles the earth, water, fire and wind, the space which is without differentiation. The heavenly beings with immovable minds are born from the seas of pure wisdom.

18. He resembles the King of Mount Sumeru that far-surpasses all wonders. Nothing is comparable to Him. He is surrounded respectfully by man and god, the assemblies of masculine gender who contemplate the Buddha with admiration.

19. Contemplating the Original Vow of the Buddha, those who meet Him will not be in vain. They will swiftly fulfil all the great jewel seas of merits and virtues.

20. The Land of serene bliss is pure and the Dharma Wheel of No filth is constantly being turned. The transformation Buddhas and Bodhisattvas resemble the brightly illumined sun. They uphold the Land just like the Mount Sumeru.

21. The Adorned Lights of No-filth pervasively illumine the various Buddha Assemblies to benefit all living beings, in every thought, every instant.

22. From the sky the heavenly music is played. All kinds of offerings such as the flowers and clothes, wonderful incense and others rain down continually as offerings to the Buddha. Voices of praise are sung forth to praise the merits and virtues of the Buddha with no differentiation.

23. In all the worlds where there is no Buddha Dharma, the Jewel of merits and virtues, I vow to be born there to teach to them the Buddha Dharma, in the way just the same as the Buddha.

24. I write down the Shastra, I speak the verses of praise, because I vow to see Amitabha Buddha. May these merits be pervasively transferred to all living beings to attain a rebirth in the Land of Serenely Blissful.

These are the verses from the Immeasurable Lifespan Sutra and I have generally finished praising it in verses.

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In this discussion, I would like to explain the meaning of the verses.

The verses are composed to show the contemplation of the world of serenely blissful, to see Amitabha Buddha as I desire to be born in that Land.

How does a man contemplate and how does he give rise to good faith?

If a good man or a good woman cultivates the five doors of mindfulness and accomplishes the practices, he will ultimately be born in the Land of Serenely Blissful, to see Amitabha Buddha.

What are the five doors of mindfulness?

1. The door of making obeisance

2. The door of praising

3. The door of bringing forth the vows

4. The door of contemplation

5. The door of transference

What is meant by making obeisance?

Physically we make obeisance to Amitabha Buddha, the Thus Come One, the Arahant and the One with the Proper Pervasive Knowledge.

This is because we wish to be born in His Land.

What is meant by praising?

Verbally we venerate the Buddha by reciting The Name of the Thus Come One.

The Name is the Thus Come One’s bright illumination, his mark of wisdom.

This is in accordance with the meanings of His Name as we desire to cultivate genuinely in response to his teaching.

What is meant by bringing forth the vows?

We should continually bring forth the vows and we recite single-mindedly and exclusively.

We will ultimately be able to attain a rebirth in the Land of Serenely Blissful as we desire to cultivate the Samantha genuinely.

What is meant by contemplation?

We contemplate with wisdom and right mindfulness as we desire to cultivate Vipassana genuinely.

There are three types of contemplation.

What are the three contemplations?

a. Contemplating the adorned merits and virtues of the Buddha Land

b. Contemplating the adorned merits and virtues of Amitabha Buddha

c. Contemplating the adorned merits and virtues of the multitude of Bodhisattvas

What is meant by the transference of merits and virtues?

We will not leave all the afflicted suffering living beings behind.

The priority of our cultivation is to transfer the merits and virtues to all sufferings beings as this will enable us to develop and accomplish a mind of Great Compassion.

Why do we contemplate the adorned merits and virtues of that Buddhaland?

It is because the merits and virtues of the adorned Buddhaland are the accomplishment of inconceivable strength.

It is the same as the Mani Wish Fulfilling Jewel Nature in that land as it has the dharma nature of resemblance and contrast.

In the accomplishment of the contemplation of adorned merits and virtues of that Buddha Land, we should know the following seventeen matters

What are the seventeen accomplishments?

1. The accomplishment of the meri ts and virtues of adorned purity.

2. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned capacities.

3. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned nature.

4. The accomplishment of merits and virtues of adorned form features.

5. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the various adorned matters.

6. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned wonderful form.

7. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned tangibles.

8. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of three types of adornment.

9. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned rains.

10. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned bright illumination.

11. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the wonderfully adorned Name.

12. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned Master.

13. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned retinues.

14. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned self-enjoyment.

15. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adornment of being free from disasters.

16. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned doors of great meaning.

17. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned fulfilment of all wishes.

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Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned purity as it is thus stated:

‘I contemplate the appearance of that Land as it far-surpasses the paths in the Triple Realm.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned capacities as it is thus stated:

‘Ultimately it resembles the empty space which is spacious with no limits.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned nature as it is thus stated:

‘With the proper path of great kindness and compassion, the wholesome roots of leaving the world arises.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned forms features as it is thus stated:

‘He is fully replete with the pure illumination that resembles the shining mirror, the sun and moon.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the various adorned matters as it is thus stated:

‘With the fulfilment of various precious Jewel nature, he is perfectly replete with the wonderful adornment.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned wonderful form as it is thus stated:

‘The Light of No-filth is burning tremendously, illuminating the worlds with its brightness of purity.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned tangibles as it is thus stated:

‘The grass of merits and virtues of the innate Jewel Nature is soft and gentle, swirling to the left and right. On touching it one feels the supreme bliss far-surpassing the softness of Kaclindi birds.’

In the accomplishment of the merits and virtues three adorned elements, we should know the three matters refer to water, the ground and the empty space.

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned water as it is thus stated:

‘Jewel lotuses of myriad species fully cover the ponds and flowing streams. The soft breeze passes by the brightly illuminated flowers and leaves, with their shines interweaving one another.’  

Gatha in praise of the merits and virtues of the adorned ground as it is thus stated:

‘The palaces, bungalows and pavilions can be seen in the ten directions with no obstruction. The mixed species of trees shines forth in a variety of lights. The jewel railings pervasively surround the Land.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned empty space as it is thus stated:

‘Immeasurable gems are interlaced among the shining nets pervasively, occupying the empty space. An array of jewel bells tinkling and spreading the wonderful Dharma Sounds’.

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned rains as it is thus stated:

‘The adornment of the rain showers down clothes and flowers with immeasurable fragrance pervasively permeating the Land.’　

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned bright illumination as it is thus stated:

‘The Buddha’s Wisdom resembles the bright and pure sunshine eradicating the darkness of worldly ignorance.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the wonderfully adorned Name as it is thus stated:

‘The Brahman Sound of his Name which is subtly wonderful can be heard in the ten directions. It resonates deeply and travels far to enlighten those who hear it.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned Master as it is thus stated: 

‘Amitabha Buddha the Proper Enlightened one is the Dharma King who is good at governing the Land.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned retinues as it is thus stated:

‘The Thus Come One’s assemblies of pure lotuses are transformed from the Flowers of Proper Enlightenment.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned self-enjoyment as it is thus stated:

‘They love the taste of the Buddha Dharma as they consume the blissful food of Samadhi.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adornment of being free from disasters as it is thus stated:

‘They have forever left the afflictions of the body and mind. They only enjoy the uninterrupted bliss constantly.’

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned doors of great meaning as it is thus stated: 

‘The Great Vehicle Realm of Wholesome Roots is in equanimity without any names of slanders and disdain. Women, those with defects in roots, the two vehicles are not born.’

We should know the fruits of rewards of the Pure Land are apart from two types of faults: blames and slanders.

1.The form body which is free from blames and slanders.

2.There is no names of blames and slanders.

There are three types of form body:

1.Two vehicles practitioners,

2.Women,

3.Deformed people who are deficiency in roots.

The living beings there do not have these faults. This is known as the form body which is free from blames and slanders.

There are also three types of names.

Not only that there are no three types of form body, there is no way to hear the names of two vehicles, women and those with deficiency in roots.

This is known as being apart from the blames and slanders of names.

It is in equality means everyone is equal with the same appearance.

Gatha in praise of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned fulfilment of all wishes as it is thus stated,

‘All the vows of living beings, all their wishes are fully fulfilled.’

This is a brief discussion of the accomplishment of the seventeen types of adorned merits and virtues of the Land of Amitabha Buddha.

This is the revelation of the self-benefit of the Thus Come One as He has accomplished the strength of great merits and virtues.

And He has also accomplished the merits and virtues of benefiting others.

The adornments of the Land of the Buddha of Immeasurable Lifespan are the marks of the wonderful states of the Foremost Ultimate Truth.

They are as described in the first and the sixteenth verses in sequence. We should be clear about this point.

What is meant by the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of contemplating the adornment of the Buddha?

The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of contemplating the adornment of the Buddha consists of eight marks. We should thus know.

1. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned seat.

2. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned bodily karma.

3. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned mouth karma.

4. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned mind karma.

5. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned great assembly.

6. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned Supreme Leader.

7. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned Master.

8. The accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the genuine adornment in upholding and supporting all beings.

What is meant by the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of adorned seat?

It is thus described in the gatha, ‘As the subtly wonderful pure lotus platform is made from Immeasurable great jewel kings.’

What is meant by the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned bodily karma?

It is thus described in the gatha: ‘As His brightly shining countenance emits light to a distance of one Yojana. His adorned form far-surpasses all living beings.’

What I s meant by the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned mouth karma?

It is thus described in the Gatha: ‘As the wonderfully amazing Name of the Thus Come One echoes afar, to the ten directions.’

What is meant by the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned mind karma?

It is thus described In the Gatha: ‘As it resembles the earth, water, fire and wind, the space which is without differentiation.’

No differentiation refers to a mind which does not differentiate.

What is meant by the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned great assembly?

It is thus described in the Gatha: ‘As the heavenly beings with immovable minds are born from the seas of pure wisdom.’

What is meant by the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned Supreme Leader?

It is thus described in the Gatha: ‘As he resembles the King of Mount Sumeru that far-surpasses all wonders. Nothing is comparable to Him.’

What is meant by the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned Master?

It is thus described in the Gatha: ‘As he is surrounded respectfully by man and god, the assemblies of masculine gender who contemplate the Buddha with admiration.’

What is meant by the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the genuine adornment in upholding and supporting all living being?

It is thus described in the Gatha: ‘by contemplating the Original Vow of the Buddha, those who meet Him will not be in vain. They will swiftly fulfil all the great jewel seas of merits and virtues.’

On seeing the Buddha, a Bodhisattva who has not attained the pure mind will ultimately certify to the dharma body of equality.

It is because they will ultimately attain the still extinction of equality just the same as the bodhisattva with pure mind, the bodhisattva who has certified to the supreme grounds.

This is a brief discussion on the above eight descriptions to reveal the sequential accomplishment of merits and virtues of the Thus Come One in benefitting self and others.

We should thus know.

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What is meant by the contemplation of the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of an adorned bodhisattva?

Those who contemplate the accomplishment of merits and virtues of an adorned bodhisattva contemplate the bodhisattva has accomplished four kinds of merits and virtues in the proper cultivation.

What are the four types of cultivation?

Firstly, a bodhisattva dwells in one Buddha Land and without leaving the Land he is able to transform himself into various forms pervasively in the ten directions. 

As the bodhisattva cultivates genuinely, he is able to do the Buddha work always.

Hence in the Gatha, it is thus stated,

‘The Land of serene bliss is pure and the Dharma Wheel of No filth is constantly being turned. The transformation Buddha and Bodhisattva resemble the brightly illumined sun. They uphold the Land just like the Mount Sumeru.’

‘They transform living beings so that they will bloom like lotuses in the mud.’

Secondly the transformation bodies of the bodhisattva emit the bright lights at all times in the arising of every thought, every mindfulness without being too early or too late.

The lights pervasively illumine the worlds in the ten directions just in time to teach and transform living beings.

It is because a bodhisattva uses all kinds of expedience in cultivation to put to extinction, to eradicate the sufferings of all living beings.

As it is thus stated in the Gatha,

‘The Adorned Lights of No-filth pervasively illumine the various Buddha Assemblies to benefit all living beings, in every thought, every instant.’

Thirdly, in all the worlds, the lights of the bodhisattva fully illumine all the great assemblies of all the Buddha.

He whole-heartedly makes the broad and expansive, immeasurable offerings to all the Buddha with respect.

He venerates the Buddha by praising the merits and virtues of the Thus Come One.

In the Gatha it is thus stated,

‘From the sky the heavenly music is played. All kinds of offerings such as the flowers and clothes, wonderful incense and others rain down continually as offerings to the Buddha. Voices of praise are sung forth to praise the merits and virtues of the Buddha with no differentiation.’

Fourthly, in all the worlds in the ten directions where there is no Triple Gem, he will uphold and support the great seas of merits and virtues of the adorned Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

He pervasively shows and guides the living beings so that they can understand and cultivate genuinely.

In the Gatha it is thus stated,

‘In all the worlds where there is no Buddha Dharma, the Jewel of merits and virtues, I vow to be born there to teach them the Buddha Dharma, in the way just the same as the Buddha.’

We have already discussed the accomplishment of merits and virtues in the contemplation of adorned Buddhaland, the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned Buddha, the accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned bodhisattva.

We should thus know these three accomplishments bring about the mind of adorned vows.

This is a brief explanation of entering the phrase of one dharma.

The phrase of one dharma is a pure phrase.

The pure phrase is the genuine wisdom as it is the noumenon Dharma Body.

We should know the two types of purity.

What are they?

Firstly, it is the purity of the realm of environment.

Secondly it is the purity of the realm of living beings.

The pure environmental realm has been discussed in the above 17 kinds of accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned Buddha land.

These are known as the pure environmental realm.

The pure realm of living beings has been discussed in the eight types of accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned Buddha and the four types of accomplishment of the merits and virtues of the adorned bodhisattvas.

This is known as the pure realm of living beings.

In this phrase of one dharma carries the meanings of two types of purity. We should thus know.

In this way a bodhisattva who practises the samantha, vipasanna briefly or expansively will accomplish a soft and pliant mind.

He genuinely knows the various brief or expansive dharma.

Hence, he is able to accomplish the skilful expedience in transference.

What is the bodhisattva skilful expedience in transference?

The skilful expedience of transference refers to the five kinds of cultivation such as making obeisance to the Buddha.

All the merits, virtues of good roots accrued are not meant to seek for self-enjoyment in life.

But they are practised for the sake of eradicating the sufferings of all living beings.

A bodhisattva brings forth the vow to gather in all living beings to attain a rebirth in the Buddha Land of Serenely Blissful.

This is known as the accomplishment of expedient transference by a bodhisattva.  

A bodhisattva who knows well the accomplishment of transference will stay away from the discord dharma which goes against the three Bodhi Door.

What are the three Bodhi Doors? 

Firstly, by relying on the Wisdom Door he does not seek for self-enjoyment.

Hence, he is able to stay away from the mind of a self that is attached greedily to one’s body.

Secondly, by relying on the Door of Kindness and Compassion he eradicates sufferings from all living beings.

As such he will stay away from the mind of not caring for living beings.

Thirdly by relying on the Door of Expedience he gives rise to a mind to take pity on all living beings.

So, he will stay away from the mind of respecting oneself, making offerings to oneself.

This is known as staying away from the discord dharma which goes against the three Bodhi Doors.

A bodhisattva who stays away from the discord dharma which goes against the three Bodhi Doors will obtain the dharma satisfaction as he acts in accord with the three Bodhi Doors.

What are the three?

Firstly, he obtains a pure and undefiled mind because he does not seek for any personal enjoyment.

Secondly, he obtains a pure and calm mind because he aims to eradicate the sufferings of all beings.

Thirdly he obtains a pure and happy mind as he is able to lead all living beings to obtain the Great Bodhi.

So, he will be able to gather in and bring living beings to attain a rebirth in the Pure Land.

We should know this is known as the dharma satisfaction from the three types of accordance in the Bodhi Door.

We have already discussed the three doors of wisdom, kindness and compassion and expedients to gather in the Prajna.

With Prajna we will have expedients. We should know this.

We have already discussed by staying away from the mind of self-attachment, by staying away from the mind for neglecting living beings, by staying away from the mind of seeking offerings and respect for oneself.

We are staying away from these three dharmas that hinder the Bodhi Mind. We should thus know.

We have already discussed the pure and undefiled mind, the pure and calm mind, the pure and happy mind. 

With the coming together of the three states of mind it enables us to accomplish the wonderfully blissful, the supremely genuine mind. We should thus know.

In this way, a bodhisattva with a wise mind, the mind of expedients, the unobstructed mind, the supremely genuine mind is able to bring forth the Pure Buddha Land. We should thus know.

This is known as a Bodhisattva Mahasattva acting in accord with the five Dharma Doors will accomplish the ease in fulfilling whatever he desires to do.

They are as we have discussed on the bodily karma, the mouth karma, the mind karma, the wise karma, the expedients wise karma because he acts in accord with the Dharma Door.

Moreover, we should know there are the five doors that gradually bring one to accomplish the five types of merits and virtues.

What are the five doors?

1. the Nearby door

2. the Great Assembly door

3. the Gate door

4. the House door

5. roaming in the garden and forest play-ground door.

Among the five doors, the first four doors are the accomplishment on the entrance into merits and virtues. The fifth door is the accomplishment of sharing the merits and virtues.

A bodhisattva enters the first door by making obeisance to Amitabha Buddha as he desires to be born in His Land.

He will attain a rebirth in the World of Serenely Bliss.

This is known as entering the first door.

A bodhisattva enters the second door by praising Amitabha Buddha in accord with the meaning of the Name.

He recites the Thus Come One’s Name because he wants to rely on the Thus Come One’s wisdom of bright illumination as a mean of cultivation.

He will join the other cultivators in the Great Assembly.

This is known as the entrance into the second door.

On entering the third door he recites the Buddha Name single-mindedly and he brings forth the vows to attain a rebirth there.

As he is cultivating Samantha and dwelling in the Samadhi of stillness, he will enter the Lotus Treasury World.

This is known as entering the third door.

On entering the fourth door, he recites the Buddha Name single-mindedly and contemplates the wonderfully adorned Land. 

As he is cultivating vipassana he will arrive at that Land and enjoy the various tastes of dharma bliss.

This is known as entering the fourth door.

On exiting the fifth door, he is replete with great kindness and great compassion.

He contemplates all the afflicted living beings and reveals in transformation bodies among them by entering the garden of birth and death, the forests of afflictions.

Roaming in the playful spiritual penetration, he will arrive at the ground of teaching and transforming relying on the strength of the Original Vows and the Transference of merits and virtues.

This is known as exiting the fifth door.

We should know that a bodhisattva enters the first four doors and accomplishes the cultivation on self-benefits.

We should know that a bodhisattva exits the fifth door accomplishes the transference of merits to benefit others.

A bodhisattva who cultivates the five doors in this way benefits oneself and others will swiftly attain Annutaraksamyaksambodhi.

A brief explanation on the verses of vowing to attain a rebirth on the upadesa of Immeasurable Lifespan Sutra.

An English Translation of the Shastra on Attaining a Rebirth by Vasubhandu Bodhisattva

The End