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Virya: Difference between revisions
Used version of 1st paragraph from MOI
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[[File:Indian Museum Sculpture - Bodhisattva Maitreya Meditating, Loriyan Tangai (9220953362).jpg|thumb|Maitreya exemplifies the Bodhisattva’s virtues of kindness, fearless compassion and virya.]] | [[File:Indian Museum Sculpture - Bodhisattva Maitreya Meditating, Loriyan Tangai (9220953362).jpg|thumb|Maitreya exemplifies the Bodhisattva’s virtues of kindness, fearless compassion and virya.]] | ||
In Buddhist teachings ''virya'' is one of the ten ''paramitas'' (“perfect virtues” or “highest perfections”) that one must practice and perfect as a prerequisite to the attainment of Bodhisattvahood. Virya has been translated as “strength,” “energy,” “strenuousness,” “manliness,” “zeal,” “courage,” “power,” “diligence,” or “vigor.” | |||
This “active compassion” of the [[Bodhisattva]], embracing both fearlessness and virya, finds its ultimate expression as forgiveness. It is impossible to extend compassion to someone if you have not first forgiven him for his transgressions. And in order to be charitable or forgiving, you need virya. If you don’t have strength, you have nothing to give—you don't even have the energy to forgive. It takes strength to fulfill your own needs and then have something left over to give to others. | This “active compassion” of the [[Bodhisattva]], embracing both fearlessness and virya, finds its ultimate expression as forgiveness. It is impossible to extend compassion to someone if you have not first forgiven him for his transgressions. And in order to be charitable or forgiving, you need virya. If you don’t have strength, you have nothing to give—you don't even have the energy to forgive. It takes strength to fulfill your own needs and then have something left over to give to others. | ||
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<blockquote>The ''Dhamma-sangani'' defines it thus: “The striving and onward effort, the exertion and endeavour, the zeal and ardour, the vigour and fortitude, the state of unfaltering effort, the state of sustained desire, the state of not putting down the yoke and the burden, the solid grip of the yoke and the burden, energy, right endeavour, this is ''virya''.”...</blockquote> | <blockquote>The ''Dhamma-sangani'' defines it thus: “The striving and onward effort, the exertion and endeavour, the zeal and ardour, the vigour and fortitude, the state of unfaltering effort, the state of sustained desire, the state of not putting down the yoke and the burden, the solid grip of the yoke and the burden, energy, right endeavour, this is ''virya''.”...</blockquote> | ||
<blockquote>''Virya'' is often praised by the Mahayanist writers, and its fundamental importance is indicated in unequivocal terms. Enlightenment depends entirely on ''virya''; where there is ''virya'', there is ''bodhi''. ''Virya'' is the chief and paramount cause of all the auspicious principles that are conducive to Enlightenment. It promotes a ''bodhisattva’s'' material and spiritual well-being. It is far better to live only for a day with full ''virya'' than to vegetate without energy during a hundred years.<ref>Har Dayal, ''The Bodhisattva Doctrine in Buddhist Sanskrit Literature'' (1932; reprint, New York: | <blockquote>''Virya'' is often praised by the Mahayanist writers, and its fundamental importance is indicated in unequivocal terms. Enlightenment depends entirely on ''virya''; where there is ''virya'', there is ''bodhi''. ''Virya'' is the chief and paramount cause of all the auspicious principles that are conducive to Enlightenment. It promotes a ''bodhisattva’s'' material and spiritual well-being. It is far better to live only for a day with full ''virya'' than to vegetate without energy during a hundred years.<ref>Har Dayal, ''The Bodhisattva Doctrine in Buddhist Sanskrit Literature'' (1932; reprint, New York: Samuel Weiser, 1978), pp. 216–17.</ref></blockquote> | ||
Helena Roerich, who in the 1920s began releasing the teachings of [[El Morya]] through the Agni Yoga books, wrote of Maitreya and the path of the Bodhisattva. In her book Foundations of Buddhism, she presents a profile of the Bodhisattva and lists energy among his chief qualities: | Helena Roerich, who in the 1920s began releasing the teachings of [[El Morya]] through the Agni Yoga books, wrote of Maitreya and the path of the Bodhisattva. In her book Foundations of Buddhism, she presents a profile of the Bodhisattva and lists energy among his chief qualities: | ||