Common Ground - Islam and Buddhism
Common Ground - Islam and Buddhism
Common Ground - Islam and Buddhism
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Epilogue<br />
The <strong>Common</strong> <strong>Ground</strong> of Sanctity<br />
The following passage from the Prajnopāyaviniscayasiddhi, an<br />
important text in the Mahayana tradition, expresses that dazzling<br />
combination of wisdom <strong>and</strong> compassion, knowledge of the One <strong>and</strong><br />
compassion for all beings, which constitutes the essence of sanctity.<br />
The non-substantiality of things which is realized by reflection<br />
<strong>and</strong> by discriminating between the act of knowing <strong>and</strong><br />
what is known, is called the essence of Wisdom. Because<br />
one is passionately devoted to all beings who have failed to<br />
extricate themselves from a whole flood of suffering, this<br />
passionate devotion, of which their suffering is the cause, is<br />
known as Compassion. In that, one thereby brings a man to<br />
the desired end by a combination of appropriate measures;<br />
it is also called the Means (upāya).<br />
The mingling of both [wisdom <strong>and</strong> compassion] is<br />
known as Wisdom-Means in a union free of duality. It is<br />
the essence of Dharma, to which nothing may be added <strong>and</strong><br />
from which nothing may be withdrawn. It is free from the<br />
two notions of subject <strong>and</strong> object, free from being <strong>and</strong> nonbeing,<br />
from characterizing <strong>and</strong> characteristics; it is pure<br />
<strong>and</strong> immaculate in its own nature. Neither duality nor nonduality,<br />
calm <strong>and</strong> tranquil, it consists in all things, motionless<br />
<strong>and</strong> unflurried; such is Wisdom-Means, which may be<br />
known intuitively. It is this that is called the supreme <strong>and</strong><br />
wondrous abode of all Buddhas, the Dharma-sphere, the<br />
divine cause of the perfection of bliss. It is Nirvana Indeterminate<br />
(apratisthitanirvāna) … it is the blissful stage of<br />
self-consecration (svadhithāna), the beatitude of the perfection<br />
of Wisdom. The three Buddha-bodies, the three Buddhist<br />
vehicles, mantras in their innumerable thous<strong>and</strong>s …<br />
phenomenal existence <strong>and</strong> that which transcends it, arise<br />
from the same source … It is called the Great Bliss … the<br />
Supreme One, the Universal Good, the producer of Perfect<br />
Enlightenment. The great sages define this truth, which is<br />
the supreme bliss of self <strong>and</strong> others, as the union of limitless<br />
Compassion—which is intent alone on the destruction of<br />
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