BuddhismSutra-obooko-mind0029

modern buddhism
and showed him rare scriptures that he had never seen before.
They asked him ‘What do these texts mean?’, but he had no
idea. When he awoke, his pride was gone.
Later, Chandragarbha began to think that he should imitate
Avadhutipa’s way of practising and strive as a layman to attain
enlightenment quickly by practising Mahamudra depending
upon an action mudra; but he received a vision of Heruka who
told him that if he were to take ordination he would be able to
help countless beings and spread Dharma far and wide. That
night he dreamt that he was following a procession of monks
in the presence of Buddha Shakyamuni, who was wondering
why Chandragarbha had not yet taken ordination. When he
awoke from his dream he resolved to become a monk. He
received ordination from Shilarakshita, and was given the
name Dhipamkara Shrijana.
From the Spiritual Guide Dharmarakshita, Dhipamkara
Shrijana received extensive instructions on the Seven Sets of
Abhidharma and the Ocean of Great Explanation – texts written
from the point of view of the Vaibhashika system. In this way
he mastered the Hinayana teachings.
Still not satisfied, Dhipamkara Shrijana went to receive
detailed instructions at Bodh Gaya. One day he overheard a
conversation between two ladies who were in fact emanations
of Arya Tara. The younger asked the elder ‘What is the principal
method for attaining enlightenment quickly?’ and the elder
replied ‘It is bodhichitta.’ Hearing this, Dhipamkara Shrijana
became determined to attain the precious bodhichitta. Later,
while he was circumambulating the great stupa at Bodh Gaya,
a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni spoke to him, saying ‘If you
wish to attain enlightenment quickly you must gain experience
of compassion, love and the precious bodhichitta.’ His desire
to realize bodhichitta then became intense. He heard that the
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