English
Regarding how others cannot attain accomplishment, it is stated in the Shri Paramadya Tantra: 'Through unbearable ascetic vows, the body becomes withered and suffers. Suffering distracts the mind, and due to distraction, accomplishment is transferred elsewhere.' This clearly illustrates the point. Is this merely demonstrating the greatness of mantra, and not an argument that enlightenment cannot be attained through the path of the Paramitas? The name and meaning of the Sutra called 'Great Secret Skillful Means' also implicitly mention mantra, and through meaning, it shows the path of union and liberation. For example, by engaging with the daughter of a merchant, one accumulates the merit of ten thousand kalpas; by killing a black man with a short spear, one accumulates the merit of one hundred thousand kalpas. These refer solely to the Mantra Vehicle, which grants enlightenment in one lifetime, etc. If it were not so, it would contradict the accumulation of merit over countless three asamkhyeya kalpas. The reason for presenting such diverse views is that in Tibet, people seize upon a small portion of the Tantras that they deem reasonable and then claim that the vast ocean of Dharma is untrue, thereby purchasing the sixth root downfall with money. As the Vajra Dakini Tantra states: 'The scriptures are easy to find, but their application is difficult to find.' Therefore, it is difficult to ascertain the extent of the categories of Tantras, which are the basis for the application of the scriptures, and it is difficult to infer with the mind the tenets expounded by those known as scholars and accomplished ones.