FIRST ENLIGHTENMENT
Impermanence characterizes everything in the universe. Both dangerous
and frail is the whole earth, subject to disintegration. The human
body analyzed into four chief elements, inhere in sorrow and emptiness.
The combination of the five elements of life impulse possesses no
real ego. It is a law that all conditioned things arise and disappear.
All is found to be in a state of change and decay. There is no control
at all over the body and worldly objects. Consequently, the mind is
the root of evil, while the attachment to worldly objects, the refuge
of crimes or sins. Observing all phenomena from this angle, we shall
bit by bit free ourselves from the suffering of birth and death.
SECOND ENLIGHTENMENT
Excessive desire begets suffering. The suffering of birth and death
as well as the leading of a weary life are all caused by greed. Few
desires along with no craving make our mind and body comfortable.
THIRD ENLIGHTENMENT
The insatiable ambitions seek only for acquisition, thus increasing
sins. Those who practise the Bodhisattvaship will never do such things.
They should bear contentment in mind, and endure poverty in following
the Buddha's doctrine. They are looking for nothing but wisdom.
FOURTH ENLIGHTENMENT
Laziness degrades a man. One should always go ahead with all one's
energy to acquire wisdom. Only by this means, one will destroy all
evil of worries and overcome the four devils and put them under one's
control, in order to get out of the prison from the five aggregates
of life impulses and the suffering world.
FIFTH ENLIGHTENMENT
Ignorance constitutes the suffering of birth and death. Followers
of the Bodhisattvaship must remember to store up knowledge by learning
or listening, in order to develop their wisdom and prepare their eloquence
for the spread of Buddhist scriptures to all beings, conferring on
them the great happiness.
SIXTH ENLIGHTENMENT
The poor often foster hatred that keeps up everywhere bad term with
others. In practicing charity, followers of the Bodhisattvaship should
treat friend and foe alike, with the same degree of love, without
malice whatsoever nor repugnant feeling towards the wicked persons.
SEVENTH ENLIGHTENMENT
The five passions fall into sins and woe though laymen should not
taint with worldly pleasures, yet they have always to think of the
three kinds of robes and tiled bowls as well as other instruments
used by monks or bhikkus. In case of the desire manifested by laymen
to be bhikkhus, they must scrupulously observe the Buddhist scriptures
and keep themselves pure from evil. Thus their perfect life may be
known for a long time and far and wide. Besides, they will impart
a deep compassion with every creature that suffers.
EIGHTH ENLIGHTENMENT
The wheel of birth and death are like the flame burning in the house.
There are innumerable sufferings. First we have to dedicate ourselves
to the service of mankind, then to suffer for their sake and finally
to let them attain Nibbana, the ultimate state of supreme bliss.
