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The Humanism of Haribhadra
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9. This is something that yogis must experience personally. For other
[common people, however, Nirvāna) is something they may hear about from the sacred texts. Since it cannot be compared to anything, it
cannot, obviously, be spoken about. 10. The good karma I have acquired by composing this text called "Eight
Verses"-may all people become happy by being free from bad karma thanks to that!
Appendix
A Settlement with Popular Principles
(Lokatattvanirnaya)
1. With devotion I first bow down before [Mahāvīra) who is one, and not
one, who by nature is absolute (knowledge), the supreme among Jinas. In order to enlighten capable students, I will now describe the principal doctrines of common people.
2. It is, of course, quite correct that [good men] engaged in favouring
[all other people) should not discriminate between students] who are capable and incapable [of achieving liberation]. Nevertheless, an intelligent (teacher) must first investigate the kind of audience he has to address).
3. (An incapable student] whose mind during the sermon is hard as
a thunderbolt/diamond, who is as void as a sieve, who creates dust like a buffalo, and who absorbs impurity like a filter...
4. To preach (anything) to such (an incapable student), who is like a deaf
person, is just as useless as to churn water. Also, [preaching to him would be like] dancing before a blind man. In fact, only a capable student can understand [what he is told).
5. Opponent : If a student cannot be enlightened it is only due to
the stupidity of his teacher ! When (students] are turned down by a bad teacher, he is like [a bad] cowherd (leading astray his] cattle.
6. Reply : But what can even an eloquent teacher do about [stupid
students] who are not Aryans ? Even if a carpenter may have a sharp axe, he still will spoil wood that is of bad quality.
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