An unprejudiced, intelligent and interested

Listener is called a vessel.

Neither the teacher’s nor the student’s

Good qualities will be taken as faults. [12.276]

He explained existence and its causes,

The means to peace and peace itself.

What people do not understand

Is seen as the Subduer’s [fault]. [12.277]

These strange people all agree that by

Giving up everything one attains nirvana.

For what reason do they dislike

That which puts an end to all? [12.278]

How will one who does not know

The means to give it up, do so?

Certainly, therefore, the Subduer said

There is no peace in any other [teaching]. [12.279]

Whoever doubts what the Buddha said

About that which is hidden

Should rely on emptiness

And gain conviction in him alone. [12.280]

Those who find it hard to see

This world are ignorant of others.

Those who follow them will be

Misled for a very long time. [12.281]

The unwise take no delight in letting

Their mind follow a guide

Who has done that which is

Most difficult-- attained nirvana. [12.282]

When it is not see, fear does not begin.

When seen, it stops completely.

Thus one can say with certainty:

Those who know a little are afraid. [12.283]

Childish beings are certainly only

Familiar with that which involves them.

Because of unfamiliarity

They fear that which extricates them. [12.284]

If someone who is shrouded in

Complete ignorance and impedes suchness

Will not even attain good fortune,

What need to mention liberation? [12.285]

Lapsing from ethics is preferable

To lapsing from the view.

Through ethics one gains a high rebirth;

The supreme state is reached by means of the view. [12.286]

For the unreceptive, conceptions of a self are best;

To teach them selflessness is not.

They would go to bad rebirths,

While the extraordinary attain peace. [12.287]

There is no other door to peace,

And it destroys wrong views.

That which is the object of

All Buddhas is called selflessness. [12.288]

The unreceptive are terrified

Just by its very name.

What so-called strong man is seen

Who does not frighten the weak? [12.289]

This principle is not taught

By Tathagatas for the sake of debate,

Yet it burns up others’ contentions

As fire does its fuel. [12.290]

Whoever knows this teaching

Will not relish others.

Thus to me this teaching seems

Like the door to destruction. [12.291]

From those who think there is

In reality no self and abide in this thought,

How will existence cause pleasure

Or non-existence cause fear? [12.292]

Seeing the many Forders

Who are seeds of futility,

Who would not feel pity

For people who long for a teaching? [12.293]

The teaching of the Sakyas,

Nirgranthas and Brahmins are perceived

By the mind, the eyes and the ears.

Thus the Subduer’s teaching is subtle. [12.294]

Brahmin practices are said

Mainly to be an outward show.

The practices of Nirgranthas

Are said to be mainly stultifying. [12.295]

Brahmins are revered

Because they adopt the orthodox.

Nirgranthats are pitied

Because they adopt the deluded. [12.296]

Suffering is a maturation

And thus is not virtuous.

Similarly, birth too is not virtuous,

Being a maturation of actions. [12.297]

In brief Tathagatas explain

Virtue as non-violence

And emptiness as nirvana ---

Here there are only these two. [12.298]

To ordinary people their own position,

Like their birthplace, is attractive,

Why would you find attractive

That which precludes it? [12.299]

The intelligent who seek what is good

Adopt what is worthwhile even from others.

Does the sun not belong to all

On earth who have sight? [12.300]