key moral lessons from the section of The Accomplishment of the Sets of Four Qualities:
Diligence in Virtue: Cultivate and apply consistent effort towards virtuous qualities. Just as one meticulously plans and builds a city, one should diligently develop spiritual qualities.
Earnest Study and Practice: Engage deeply with the Dharma. Just like following a doctor’s prescription leads to recovery, dedicated study and practice of the teachings lead to the quick ripening of virtuous qualities.
Non-Attachment: Practice non-clinging to phenomena, recognising the dangers of attachment. By perceiving all things as transient and potentially harmful, one avoids reliance on them, fostering spiritual freedom and happiness.
Compassionate Action: Maintain unwavering diligence in alleviating the suffering of others. With the determination to bring peace and joy to all sentient beings, one reflects and spreads the experience of uncontaminated bliss.
Sutras – Part 1 or 9
Homage to the Blessed Mañjuśrī Kumārabhūta!
Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was staying at Vulture Peak near Rājagṛha together with a great Saṅgha of 1,250 monks—Venerable Śāriputra, Maudgalyāyana, and others—who were all worthy ones, whose defilements were exhausted, who were without afflictions, and who had gained mastery. A great many bodhisattva great beings were also present.
Then it happened that Venerable Śāriputra went before the Blessed One, bowed down at his feet, and sat to one side. While seated to one side, Venerable Śāriputra asked the Blessed One, “Blessed One, what are the deeds related to the aspects of the bodhisattvas’ truth? Blessed One, how do bodhisattvas speak truthfully and genuinely, thereby quickly awakening in a perfect manner to unexcelled and perfect buddhahood?”
The Blessed One replied to Venerable Śāriputra, “Śāriputra, when bodhisattvas have four qualities they speak truthfully and genuinely, and will quickly awaken in a perfect manner to unexcelled and perfect buddhahood. What are these four?
“Śāriputra, in their pursuit of all virtuous qualities, noble sons or noble daughters generate the mind set on unexcelled and perfect buddhahood, and then practice the application of diligence. Śāriputra, as an analogy, when a man wishes to survey a city, he first generates effort regarding what is to be done for the city. Śāriputra, he then hopes that the city will develop, and that people will come to live there. Wishing to settle in that city, he comes to know all its places based on genuine insight.
Similarly, Śāriputra, in their pursuit of all virtuous qualities, bodhisattvas practice the application of diligence and comprehend all qualities. Śāriputra, this way of quickly awakening in a perfect manner to unexcelled and perfect buddhahood is the first aspect of the bodhisattvas’ truth.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, bodhisattvas who study the Dharma with earnest application will quickly ripen virtuous qualities. As an analogy, Śāriputra, when a doctor prescribes medicine to someone suffering from an illness, the person who carefully follows the doctor’s instructions will quickly recover from that illness. Why? Because that person has properly and carefully followed the doctor’s prescription. Similarly, Śāriputra, the virtuous qualities of bodhisattvas who study the Dharma with earnest application will quickly ripen. Śāriputra, this way of quickly awakening in a perfect manner to unexcelled and perfect buddhahood is the second aspect of the bodhisattvas’ truth.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, bodhisattvas do not cling to any phenomenon in the slightest while they perceive all phenomena as being alien. Why? Because they seek out the path while thinking, ‘Since danger arises from appropriation, I perceive danger in all phenomena. Perceiving danger, I do not rely on them. If they are unreliable, how will I be free? How will I be happy?’
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, bodhisattvas seek out the path and seek out the well-spoken teachings in the four directions while thinking, ‘If one is completely enveloped by birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, suffering, unhappiness, and distress, how will there be freedom in unexcelled and perfect buddhahood? How will there be happiness?’ Śāriputra, this way of quickly awakening in a perfect manner to unexcelled and perfect buddhahood is the third aspect of the bodhisattvas’ truth.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, bodhisattvas become benefactors, and since they are totally unafraid of and untainted by the phenomena of suffering, they maintain constant diligence. They arouse the determination that thinks, ‘I will clear away whatever suffering, unhappiness, and distress that arises in sentient beings in order to bring them to peace.’ They practice the application of diligence while thinking, ‘I will induce in all sentient beings the same experience of uncontaminated bliss that has arisen in me.’