If one examines the words of the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, the passage “May I attain the supreme reward”²²² clarifies that the reward of the Buddha realm is supreme. The reward of Buddhahood is already recognized as supreme; the appearances, nature and all the [other] nine suchlike characteristics [of the Buddha] are [also] supreme. The reason is that the appearances, nature, and so forth of those in the six destinies [from hell to heaven] manifest all the five types of passions and delusions.²²³

The appearances, nature, and so forth of those in the two vehicles manifest their destruction of four types of passions and delusions but still manifest ignorance. The appearances, nature, and so forth of the bodhisattvas manifest a gradual destruction of the five types of passions and delusions, but the appearance, nature, and so forth of the Buddha manifests universal wisdom,²²⁴ which is pure like space and not defiled by the five types of passions and delusions. Therefore the ten dharmas [of the suchlike characteristics] of the Buddha are most supreme.

222

From the second chapter “On Cunda” in the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra. See note 211. return

223

This compound is discussed above in note 47. return

224

Omniscience; sarvajñājñāna? return