Shurangama Mantra with Verses and Commentary

by Venerable Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua

25. XÁ BA NOA

舍波奴

 

 

Tha Hóa Tự Tại diệu vô cùng

Khoái lạc thao thao tối an ninh

Đạm bạc thiểu tham ly chư dục

Tích đức tu thiện kiêm lập công.

 

他化自在妙無窮

快樂滔滔最安寧

淡泊少貪離諸欲

積德修善兼立功

 

 

SHE PWO NU

THE COMFORT FROM OTHERS' TRANSFORMATIONS HAS WONDERS WITHOUT END.

IN BLISS PROFUSE TO OVERFLOWING, ONE IS QUITE AT PEACE.

SERENE, WITH LITTLE GREED AND FREE OF ANY PASSION,

ONE AMASSES VIRTUE, PRACTICES GOODNESS, AND FURTHER SETS UP MERIT.

COMMENTARY:

SHE PWO NU refers to the Heaven of the Comfort from Others' Transformations, The gods in this heaven receive wonderful, supreme joy.

The Comfort from Others' Transformations has wonders without end. / They do not have any sufferings, they enjoy only bliss. There is no end to this inconceivable state, because it's done by transformation--they use other people's spiritual penetrations and transformations to adorn their own heavenly merit.

In bliss profuse to overflowing, one is quite at peace. / The happiness is so abundant that it's like overflowing water. It just doesn't stop. You don't know what they are happy about. An atomic bomb would not disturb them. A hydrogen bomb would not alarm them. Even the laser--the "death light"--wouldn't get them, it's such a peaceful place. However, it's up in the heavens; it's not in the human realm.

Serene, with little greed and free of any passion. / Their minds are "plain"--literally, "bland," which means they don't have much false thinking. They are mild-mannered, clear, and lofty, which means they know contentment and have very few desires. They don't get up- set by anything. Nothing is that important. They are devoid of greed. They are no longer greedy for wealth, form, fame, food, or sleep. They have already cut off these five roots of the hells.

One amasses virtue, practices goodness, and further sets up merit. / They can amass virtue and cultivate the good, and then they can do meritorious deeds. Of course they make a lot of progress. However, when people get up to the heavens, they enjoy the bliss so much, that it is harder to cultivate. In the Sutras, it says that if you have wealth, it's hard for you to study the Way. With so much bliss in this heaven, it's also hard to cultivate the Way. People only bring forth the resolve for Bodhi when they are afflicted, when they are suffering. It doesn't occur to them to cultivate when they are happy. They think everything is fine. "Why should I cultivate?" is their attitude.