English
English version ‘Good in the beginning’: Observe that the body is composed of the four great elements (earth, water, fire, and wind), which are inherently without inherent nature, arising from the union of conditions, but in reality, without any inherent connection. ‘Good in the middle’: Realize that there is no self, no person, no one who lives long, and no one who has a life. If one clings to these four things, then one receives this body. Without any inherent connection or clinging, from where does one obtain the cause? It is like building a house, with wood, earth, water, and grass. These four materials are separated and scattered in different places. People work together to build a house, and thus the name ‘house’ is obtained. Considering the four elements of the body is also like this, each existing independently, while the mind clings to self, person, lifespan, and life. The combination of the four elements results in the name ‘person’. ‘Good in the end’: Understand that the body is illusory and unreal, not relying on the three realms (desire realm, form realm, formless realm), and that everything is empty. ‘Good in the beginning’: Practice the path of generosity, moral discipline, patience, diligence, concentration, and wisdom. ‘Good in the middle’: Understand the methods of the six supernormal powers and enter the forbearance of gentleness and compliance with the Dharma. ‘Good in the end’: Know that the body is natural, all dharmas are natural, and people and things are natural. Everything is like a transformation or illusion, originally empty. ‘Good in the beginning’: Generate the mind of unsurpassed, complete, and perfect enlightenment. ‘Good in the middle’: Understand the wisdom of sounds and attain the forbearance of the Dharma of non-origination. ‘Good in the end’: Attain the position of a Bodhisattva who will be reborn only once more, traveling through all beings with courageous vigor, realizing that all dharmas have no origination, saving all beings, like the sun shining universally, reaching everywhere. This is the ‘good in the beginning’, ‘good in the middle’, and ‘good in the end’ of a Bodhisattva.’ The Buddha said, ‘Practicing the Bodhisattva path can liberate countless beings, like the moon among the stars, shining alone; like the sun rising, illuminating everything at once; like a torch, illuminating all darkness; like a good doctor, curing all diseases; like a boatman, ferrying beings across the sea of birth and death; like a ruler, stabilizing the three realms; like a lion, subduing all heretics. The Bodhisattva's mind is vast like space, the heart is equal like the earth, washing away defilements like water, burning away sins like fire, traveling unhindered like the wind. This is what the ‘good in the beginning, middle, and end’ Bodhisattva does, which is the state of ultimate understanding.’ After the Buddha spoke these words, all the Bodhisattvas and all the Bhikshus, the Devas, Nagas, and Asuras (demigods), hearing the sutra, were all delighted. The Sutra of the Four Unattainables Spoken by the Buddha --------------------------------------------------------------------------------