The Ten Dharmas of Non-Negligence

At that time, Dharma Wisdom Bodhisattva said to Diligent Wisdom Bodhisattva:

"Excellent! Excellent, son of the Buddha! You now, wishing to bring much benefit, much peace and happiness, much favor and profit, and out of compassion for the devas and humans of the world, have asked about just such a pure practice as bodhisattvas cultivate. Son of the Buddha, you abide in the true Dharma, having given rise to great diligence, ever increasing and never turning back, having already attained liberation — that you are able to ask such a question is the very same as a Tathāgata himself. Listen closely! Listen closely! Reflect well upon it! I shall now, relying upon the Buddha's own awesome spiritual power, expound for you a small portion of it."

"Son of the Buddha! A bodhisattva-mahāsattva who has already given rise to the mind of all-knowing wisdom should leave behind the darkness of delusion, diligently and vigilantly guarding it, never allowing negligence to arise. Son of the Buddha, a bodhisattva-mahāsattva who abides in ten kinds of dharma is called one who abides in non-negligence. What are the ten? First, upholding and guarding every precept. Second, staying far from foolishness and delusion, purifying the mind of bodhi. Third, delighting in a mind that is honest and upright, leaving behind every flattery and deception. Fourth, diligently cultivating wholesome roots, never turning back. Fifth, forever skillfully reflecting on the very mind they themselves gave rise to. Sixth, taking no delight in growing close to any ordinary person at all, whether householder or renunciant. Seventh, cultivating every wholesome deed while wishing for no worldly recompense in return. Eighth, forever leaving behind the two vehicles, practicing the bodhisattva path. Ninth, delighting in cultivating every wholesome deed, never letting it be interrupted. Tenth, forever skillfully contemplating their own continuous power. Son of the Buddha, if bodhisattvas practice these ten dharmas, this is then called abiding in non-negligence."

"Son of the Buddha! A bodhisattva-mahāsattva who abides in non-negligence attains ten kinds of purity. What are the ten? First, practicing exactly as it has been taught. Second, mindfulness and wisdom brought to accomplishment. Third, abiding in profound concentration, neither sinking nor becoming agitated. Fourth, delighting in seeking the buddha-dharma, without any slackening or rest. Fifth, contemplating in accordance with reason whatever Dharma they have heard, fully bringing forth a skillful and wondrous wisdom. Sixth, entering profound meditative absorption and attaining the Buddha's own spiritual powers. Seventh, a mind that is equal, with nothing high and nothing low. Eighth, toward every living being of the higher, middling, and lower kinds, a mind without any obstruction at all, benefiting them equally, just as the great earth does. Ninth, upon seeing any living being, even one who has given rise to the mind of bodhi only once, revering and attending them just as one would a preceptor. Tenth, toward the preceptor who confers the precepts, and toward every teacher, every bodhisattva, every good spiritual friend, and every Dharma-master, forever giving rise to reverence, attending upon and making offerings to them. Son of the Buddha, this is called the bodhisattva's ten kinds of purity in abiding in non-negligence. Son of the Buddha! A bodhisattva-mahāsattva who abides in non-negligence gives rise to great diligence; arousing right mindfulness, they give rise to a supreme delight, their practice never resting; toward every dharma their mind has no place of reliance at all; toward the most profound dharma they are able to diligently cultivate and practice; entering the gate of contentionlessness, they increase their vast and expansive mind; the buddha-dharma is boundless, and they are able to understand it in accordance, causing every Tathāgata to entirely rejoice."