¡Discípulos Budistas! En todo momento, sea de día o de noche, deberían recitar y meditar sinceramente sobre estas ocho verdades que permiten que los Mahasattvas despierten.

La Primera Comprensión: El mundo es impermanente. Todos los regímenes políticos están sujetos a la caída; todas las cosas compuestas de los cuatro elementos están vacías y contienen las semillas del sufrimiento. Los seres humanos están compuestos de los cinco Skandhas, agregados, y existen sin un yo separado. Siempre están en proceso de cambio (constantemente naciendo y constantemente muriendo). Están vacíos de un yo, sin soberanía. La mente es la fuente de toda la confusión, y el cuerpo el bosque de todas las acciones impuras. Si meditamos en estos hechos, podemos ser gradualmente liberados del Samsara, el círculo de nacimiento y muerte.

La Segunda Comprensión: Too much desire brings pain. Death and rebirth are wearisome ordeals, originating from our thoughts of greed and lust. By lessening desires we can realize absolute truth and enjoy peace, freedom, and health in body and mind.

La Tercera Comprensión: Our minds are never satisfied or content with just enough. The more we obtain, the more we want. Thus we create offenses and perform evil deeds. Bodhisattvas don’t wish to make these mistakes. Instead, they choose to be content. They nurture the Way, living a quiet life in humble surroundings—their sole occupation, cultivating wisdom.

La Cuarta Comprensión: Idleness and self-indulgence are the downfall of people. With unflagging vigor, great people break through their afflictions and baseness. They vanquish and defeat the four kinds of demons, and escape from the prison of the five skandhas.

La Quinta Comprensión: Stupidity and ignorance are the cause of death and rebirth. Bodhisattvas apply themselves and deeply appreciate study and erudition, constantly striving to expand their wisdom and refine their eloquence. Nothing brings them greater joy than teaching and transforming living beings.

La Sexta Comprensión: Suffering in poverty breeds deep resentment. Wealth unfairly distributed creates ill-will and conflict among people. Thus, Bodhisattvas practice giving. They treat friend and foe alike. They do not harbor grudges or despise amoral people.

La Septima Comprensión: The five desires are a source of offenses and grief. Truly great people, laity included, are not blighted by worldly pleasures. Instead, they aspire to don the three-piece precept robe and the blessing bowl of monastic life. Their ultimate ambition is to leave the home life and to cultivate the Path with impeccable purity. Their virtuous qualities are lofty and sublime; their attitude towards all creatures, kind and compassionate.

La Octava Comprensión: Like a blazing inferno, birth and death are plagued with suffering and affliction. Therefore, great people resolve to cultivate the Great Vehicle, to rescue all beings, to endure hardship on behalf of others, and to lead everyone to ultimate happiness.

Estas son las Ocho Verdades a las que todos los Budhas, Bodhisattvas y los grandes seres han despertado. Once awakened, they even more energetically continue to cultivate the Path. Steeping themselves in kindness and compassion, they grow in wisdom. They sail the Dharma ship across to Nirvana’s shore, and then return on the sea of birth and death to rescue living beings. They use these Eight Truths to show the proper course for living beings, causing them to recognize the anguish of birth and death. They inspire all to forsake the five desires, and to cultivate their minds in the manner of Sages.

If Buddhist disciples recite this Sutra on the Eight Awakenings, and constantly ponder its meaning, they will certainly eradicate boundless offenses, advance towards Bodhi, and will quickly realize Proper Enlightenment. They will always be free of birth and death, and will abide in eternal bliss.

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