Fragment II The Two Paths · 4

Know that the Bodhisattva who liberation changes for Renunciation to don the miseries of "Secret Life," [34] is called, "thrice Honoured," O thou candidate for woe throughout the cycles.

The PATH is one, Disciple, yet in the end, twofold. Marked are its stages by four and seven Portals. At one end — bliss immediate, and at the other — bliss deferred. Both are of merit the reward: the choice is thine.

The One becomes the two, the Open and the Secret [35]. The first one leadeth to the goal, the second, to Self-Immolation.

When to the Permanent is sacrificed the Mutable, the prize is thine: the drop returneth whence it came. The Open PATH leads to the changeless change — Nirvâna, the glorious state of Absoluteness, the Bliss past human thought.

Thus, the first Path is LIBERATION.

But Path the Second is — RENUNCIATION, and therefore called the "Path of Woe."

That Secret Path leads the Arhan to mental woe unspeakable; woe for the living Dead [36], and helpless pity for the men of Karmic sorrow, the fruit of Karma Sages dare not still.

For it is written: "teach to eschew all causes; the ripple of effect, as the great tidal wave, thou shalt let run its course."

The "Open Way," no sooner hast thou reached its goal, will lead thee to reject the Bodhisattvic body and make thee enter the thrice glorious state of Dharmakâya [37] which is oblivion of the World and men for ever.

The "Secret Way" leads also to Paranirvânic bliss — but at the close of Kalpas without number; Nirvânas gained and lost from boundless pity and compassion for the world of deluded mortals.

But it is said "The last shall be the greatest," Samyak Sambuddha, the Teacher of Perfection, gave up his SELF for the salvation of the World, by stopping at the threshold of Nirvâna — the pure state.

* * * * * * * *

Thou hast the knowledge now concerning the two Ways. Thy time will come for choice, O thou of eager Soul, when thou hast reached the end and passed the seven Portals. Thy mind is clear. No more art thou entangled in delusive thoughts, for thou hast learnèd all. Unveiled stands truth and looks thee sternly in the face. She says:

"Sweet are the fruits of Rest and Liberation for the sake of Self; but sweeter still the fruits of long and bitter duty. Aye, Renunciation for the sake of others, of suffering fellow men."

He, who becomes Pratyeka-Buddha [38], makes his obeisance but to his Self. The Bodhisattva who has won the battle, who holds the prize within his palm, yet says in his divine compassion:

"For others' sake this great reward I yield" — accomplishes the greater Renunciation.

A SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD is he.

* * * * * * * *

Behold! The goal of bliss and the long Path of Woe are at the furthest end. Thou canst choose either, O aspirant to Sorrow, throughout the coming cycles!....

OM VAJRAPÂNI HUM.

Foot notes

.mw-parser-output.wst-endnote-italics{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output.wst-endnote-no-italics{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output.wst-endnote-bold{font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output.wst-endnote-no-bold{font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output.wst-endnote:target{background-color:var(--background-color-progressive-subtle--active,#cbd6f6)}↑ (1). The two schools of Buddha's doctrine, the esoteric and the exoteric, are respectively called the "Heart" and the "Eye" Doctrine. Bodhidharma called them in China — from whence the names reached Tibet — the Tsung-men (esoteric) and Kiau-men (exoteric school). It is so named, because it is the teaching which emanated from Gautama Buddha's heart, whereas the "Eye" Doctrine was the work of his head or brain. The "Heart Doctrine" is also called "the seal of truth" or the "true seal," a symbol found on the heading of almost all esoteric works.

↑ (2). The "tree of knowledge" is a title given by the followers of the Bodhidharma (Wisdom religion) to those who have attained the height of mystic knowledge — adepts. Nâgârjuna the founder of the Mâdhyamika School was called the "Dragon Tree," Dragon standing as a symbol of Wisdom and Knowledge. The tree is honoured because it is under the Bodhi (wisdom) Tree that Buddha received his birth and enlightenment, preached his first sermon and died.

↑ (3). "Secret Heart" is the esoteric doctrine.

↑ (4). "Diamond Soul" "Vajrasattva," a title of the supreme Buddha, the "Lord of all Mysteries," called Vajradhara and Âdi-Buddha.

↑ (5). SAT, the one eternal and Absolute Reality and Truth, all the rest being illusion.

↑ (6). From Shen-hsiu's Doctrine, who teaches that the human mind is like a mirror which attracts and reflects every atom of dust, and has to be, like that mirror, watched over and dusted every day. Shen-hsiu was the sixth Patriarch of North China who taught the esoteric doctrine of Bodhidharma.

↑ (7). The reincarnating EGO is called by the Northern Buddhists the "true man," who becomes in union with his Higher-Self — a Buddha.

↑ (8). "Buddha" means "Enlightened."

↑ (9). See No. 1. The exoteric Buddhism of the masses.