Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes “sekha-sutta” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.
The Sekha-sutta
Moreover, when Ānanda was preaching the seven minds of awakening (saṃbodhyaṅga) to the bhikṣus and had come to the mind of awakening called exertion (vīrya), the Buddha said to Ānanda:
“Are you talking about the mind of awakening called exertion?”
Ānanda replied
“Yes, I am speaking about the mind of awakening called exertion.”
Three times [the Buddha asked] the same question and [Ānanda made] the same reply. Then rising from his seat, the Buddha said to Ānanda:
“People who know, love and practice exertion, there is nothing that they cannot obtain; they will infallibly succeed in reaching buddhahood.”
It is thus by considering the benefits of exertion in many ways that one succeeds in increasing this energy.
Notes on the Sekkha-sutta:
A slightly different version form the Sekkhasutta of the Pāli tradition of Majjhima, I, p. 353–359. See above, Traité, I, p. 244F, n. 1.