Praise of Dependent Origination (緣起贊)

Seeing what was taught, The Wise One declared it supreme— The Victor saw dependent origination, I bow to that compassionate teaching!

All decline and ruin in the world Has ignorance as its root; What is seen that can bring its end— This is why dependent origination is taught.

At that time, those with wisdom, How could they fail to understand The heart of the noble teaching— The path of dependent origination itself?

So for the Refuge, There is always a gateway of praise; Apart from teaching dependent origination, Who could find any other?

Through this and that arisal, Emptiness of this and that is taught; Beyond this, what other Marvelous instruction could there be?

Whatever the ignorant cling to, They are bound by tight, extreme views; For the wise, this very teaching Is the door that severs the web of illusion.

This teaching is not found elsewhere, So only the Awakened One is called the Great Teacher; Outsiders steal the name to adorn their praise, Like calling a jackal a lion. Rare is the Great Teacher, rare is the refuge,

Rare is the excellent teaching, rare is the protector, Supremely well-expounded is the teaching of Dependent Origination— To that Great Teacher, I bow in reverence.

The One who always benefits others, For the sake of living beings, Taught the treasury of Emptiness, The peerless and certain cause— The principle of Dependent Origination. If one sees contradiction where there is none, How can one understand this sacred teaching?

The Master taught: when you see, Emptiness is the very meaning of Dependent Origination. Selflessness and establishment, Action and agent—these are not contradictory. If one sees them as opposites, Then Emptiness would render function impossible,

And if there were function, there would be no Emptiness— One would fall into dreadful suffering. Therefore, in the Master's teaching, Seeing Dependent Origination is highly praised. It is neither mere nothingness Nor existence by intrinsic nature. Without dependence, like a flower in the sky,

So what is non-dependent does not exist. If something existed by its own nature, Its dependence on causes would be contradictory. Therefore, apart from Dependent Origination, There is not a single thing; And apart from Emptiness, Not a single thing exists either.

If things had intrinsic nature, Then Nirvana would be impossible, And the cessation of all conceptual elaboration— For intrinsic nature can never cease. Thus, among the wise assembly, He roared the great lion's roar, Proclaiming again and again: freedom from intrinsic nature—

Who can challenge this excellent teaching? Moreover, without any intrinsic nature, And through the arising of this from that, All conventions are established; The two are harmonious, not contradictory. Through the very reason of Dependent Origination, One is free from extreme views—

This excellent teaching is The Master's unsurpassed rationale. All this is empty by nature; Through this, that result arises. These two certainties are mutual, Unobstructed and supporting each other. What else could be more Wonderful and amazing than this?

With this reasoning, I praise the Master— This is true praise, not otherwise. If someone, driven by ignorance, Is hostile toward the Master, They cannot bear the sound of selflessness— That is no wonder!

But if someone accepts the Master's words, Cherishes the teaching of Dependent Origination, Yet cannot bear the roar of Emptiness— That, I say, is truly amazing! Dependent Origination means absence of intrinsic nature— This is the supreme guiding path. But if one, by that very name, Instead clings to intrinsic existence—

What means remain to lead such beings To the noble path of excellent practice, The unsurpassed path that delights the Master? Intrinsic nature needs nothing; Dependent Origination depends on conditions. How can one thing Contain two without contradiction?

Therefore, although Dependent Origination's nature Is inherently free from intrinsic existence, It still appears as if it had one— All this is like an illusion. As the Master taught, No opponent can Find fault with this teaching When it is properly understood.

Why is this so? Because by explaining this, Regarding both seen and unseen matters, One avoids the extremes of exaggeration And denial alike.

The characteristic of the Dependent Origination path— I see the Master declared it peerless. Through this, I gain certainty That his other words are valid. Those who follow the Master's teaching, Seeing its meaning and excellent expression, Are freed from all decline and harm—

For the roots of all faults are destroyed. But those who turn away from the noble teaching, Though they long endure wearisome practices, Fault after fault arises, like echoes— For their view of self is firm. How amazing that the wise Truly understand this difference—

At that moment, toward the Noble One, Would they not feel reverence from the very marrow? Even if one gains but a small certainty Regarding a fraction of this meaning, It brings such supreme joy— How much more when the Master teaches so much? Alas! Ignorance has ruined my wisdom—

Though I long took refuge In this collection of virtues, I never knew even a fraction of his qualities! Yet fortunately, as my life draws near its end, While my life-stream has not yet ceased, I have gained a little faith in the Master— I think this too is a seed of merit.

Among teachings, the teaching of Dependent Origination; Among wisdoms, the wisdom of Dependent Origination— These two, like a sovereign of the world, The Master knew perfectly; no other did. All that the Master taught Turns upon the principle of Dependent Origination— All of it is for Nirvana's sake;

The Master never failed to lead toward peace. How beautiful is the Master's teaching! Whoever hears it Is led toward peace— Who would not cherish it? It subdues all foes within, Free from contradiction front and back, And brings benefit to self and others— This teaching fills me with joy.

For the sake of this, the Master, Over countless eons, Gave away his body, life, Loved ones, and possessions again and again. What quality did he see in this Dharma That, like a hook drawing fish, Could draw his mind to it so completely?

I have not heard this directly from the Master; I lament my inferior merit. Yet through the power of that sorrow, My mind never lets go— Like a mother's heart following her child.

Reflecting on the Master's words, His glorious marks shining brightly, His radiant halo surrounding him, The great teacher's sublime Brahmā-voice— He spoke thus. The sublime image of the Sage Appears within my mind, Like the moon cooling the heat of distress.

Upon this wondrous and excellent teaching, Foolish beings everywhere Create endless disputes, Like tangled grass. Seeing this state of things, I strove with great effort, Following the conduct of the wise, Repeatedly seeking the Master's hidden intent.

Later, while studying the many teachings Of my own and other traditions, I found myself tormented by webs of doubt That burned my mind. But the Master prophesied Nāgārjuna— Who would reveal the supreme Mahāyāna, Beyond the extremes of existence and non-existence—

Like a night-blooming garden opened wide, The stainless moon of wisdom full, Moving freely through the sky, Dispelling the darkness of extreme views, Outshining the stars of wrong philosophy—

This glorious moon of excellent speech, Illumined by the garland of sunlight, When I saw it through my teacher's kindness, My mind found rest at last. Among all enlightened activities, The activity of speech is supreme— And that, in turn, arises from this;

Through this wisdom, I recall the Buddha.

Having gone forth rightly under that great Teacher, And studied the sublime Dharma without decline— A monk who diligently cultivates the yogic path Shows such reverence for that great Sage. Encountering this unsurpassed Teacher's doctrine,

All arises from the profound kindness of my guides— I dedicate this virtue to all beings, Becoming the cause of being received by good spiritual friends. May the Teacher's teaching that benefits all endure to the end of existence, Unshaken by the winds of wrong conceptions,

And may I, understanding the Dharma's reasoning, Be filled with faith and certainty in the Teacher always. May I, in every life, give up body and life To uphold the Sage's wonderful Dharma, And illuminate the profound nature of Dependent Origination—

Never slackening even for a moment. May the supreme Guide's countless hardships, Accomplished with earnest resolve at heart, Grow ever more—by what means? Day and night I focus and contemplate.

When I strive with pure, excellent intention, Brahma, Indra, and the world's protectors, The glorious Black One and other Dharma-guardians, Always stand by me as companions, never forsaking me for an instant.