(continued from previous issue)

*　*　*

The Heavens of Desire Realm is the realm where one receives blessings that far surpass the delights of the human realm. They are the most wondrous, most delightful, most sublime, and highest places.

What is most delightful?

The maidens of the six heavens of the desire realm are celestial maidens. No woman on this world can even come close.

These celestial maidens are the most beautiful, alluring, scented, feminine, and gentle.

The celestial rainbow is the most colorful.

The celestial palace is made of seven precious jewels.

The celestial garments are the most scented and clean.

The celestial foods are the most delicious.

The celestial crown is the most wondrously sublime.

The celestial flowers are the most sublimely good.

The celestial paintings are without equals.

The longevity of heaven is almost without end.

The kindness of heaven allows wishes to be fulfilled.

The wills of the heaven are naturally expressed.

.....

If I were to be asked to write down all the delights that one can experience in the six heavens of desire realm, it is possible that not even the pen in my hand could fully write it all down. Everyone should understand that all the delights that one can experience in this human realm are contained in the celestial palaces of the six heavens of desire realm. Furthermore, these delights last longer, are more wondrous, more intense, and even more without equal, even more luminous and wonderful in the heavens.

Once, when I ascended the Dharma throne to give a Dharma sermon, I said:

"I am like the immortals."

This is precisely the validation of the great bliss! A mundane cultivator must ascertain that he/she has attained the realm of the great bliss. How to validate this? What is true great bliss?

We, the true cultivators, cannot stop advancing once we reach the heaven of great bliss. We must surpass the great bliss. We must cultivate the four dhyana and eight concentrations, aspire the four boundless vows, validate the six divine powers, realize the wisdom of Mahayana, and surpass the heavens of the trailokya (desire, form, and formless realm).

(the end)

(From Book #191 "Staircases to the Heavens")

(本文選自蓮生活佛第191冊著作「諸天的階梯」文章「欲界天即是大樂天」)