Samdhinirmocana-sutra

The Scripture on the Explication of Underlying Meaningmeditation they do have is unable to produce transcendent discernment.However, they have accumulated the requisite of merit insome small part; and in their minds they do engender a vow to lessentheir passions in the future. Because of this vow their passionsweaken and they become capable of practicing zeal. Therefore I havetaught that the perfection of vow is an aid to the perfection of zeal.When bodhisattvas draw near a spiritual counselor and listen todoctrine with true attention, this becomes a cause for their turningaway from an inferior commitment and toward a superior commitment,for they become able to attain an otherworldly understanding.It is this that is termed the perfection of power. Due to suchpower they become capable of abiding within their [own] minds.Therefore I have preached that the perfection of power aids theperfection of meditation. If such bodhisattvas are able to properlycultivate the exercises they have heard, they become able to pro-705c duce meditation. And this is what is termed the perfection of wisdom.Because of this wisdom they are able to produce transcendentdiscernment. Therefore I have preached that the perfection of wisdomis an aid to the perfection of discernment."The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara addressed the Buddha andsaid: "World-honored One, what is the reason for the sequence ofthe six perfections in your preaching?"The Buddha answered the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and said:"Good son, [the former] are the support that enables one to producethe latter. This means that bodhisattvas are able to acquirepurified discipline through being generous with their physicalpossessions [through giving]. They practice patience because theyguard discipline. By practicing patience, they become capable ofproducing zeal. By producing zeal, they become capable of accomplishingmeditation. Endowed with meditation, they becomeable to obtain transcendent discernment. This, then, is the reasonfor the sequence of the six perfections in my preaching."The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara addressed the Buddha andsaid: "World-honored One, what are the various subdivisions ofthese six perfections?"86