TANTRIC BUDDHISM (INCLUDING CHINA AND JAPAN)great crimes. However, once they see this Grand mm:u!ala of the
Vajradhiitu and enter into it, they will get rid of all the crimes.
0 Reverend Tathagatas! There might be some people who are cov-
etous of all kinds of food, drink and objects of sense, who hate religious
precepts (samaya =:!*$) and who are not competent for preparatory
rites. Nevertheless, once they enter into this ( Vajradhiitu-mm;qala ), all
the desires will be fulfilled completely even for them as things are
effected in conformance with their desire (in this maf}qala).
0 Reverend Tathagatas! There might be some people who indulge
in all kinds of dances, songs, comical or lascivious dances, food and
games, entering into the maf}qalas of the families of heretical deities
without realizing the truth through the clear understanding of the
Mahayana of all the tathiigatas. They do not enter into the ma1J¢ala of
the family of all the tathiigatas which is the aggregate of those which
fulfill all the desires and which brings about the highest pleasure, satis-
faction and joy, as they are frightened by the fear of moral precepts. For
these people who face the evil maf}qalas, it is suitable to enter into the
Grand ma1J¢ala of the Vajradhiitu as they can enjoy the pleasure and
happiness of the highest accomplishment of all the pleasures and joys,
and turn back from the way leading to all evil states.
Furthermore, 0 Reverend Tathagatas! There might be some virtuous
people who, wishing to attain the enlightenment of a buddha by
means of the highest accomplishment of precepts, concentration of
mind and wisdom, make efforts on the (four) stages of meditation,
(eight kinds of) getting rid (of attachments) and so on. Still they might
be afflicted (not getting enlightenment). For them, the state of all the
tathiigatas is not difficult to attain simply by entering into the Grand
maf}qala of the Vajradhiitu on the spot, much less the other accom-
plishments. "^39Thus, the new concept of quick attainment of enlightenment (11!P~n.J(;f!Jl!) was
declared definitely and logically as the antithesis of the Mahayanic ideal of the
gradual attainment of enlightenment through the accumulation of moral and
intellectual merits. The secret of the quick attainment of enlightenment was
actually presented to everyone in a logically thorough manner. However, this
logical thoroughness, extreme easiness and quickness of attaining enlighten-
ment, and the structural adventitiousness of moral and intellectual efforts, in
short, all the features of this Tantric concept of quick attainment of enlighten-
ment effected the dissolution of the religion of the Tattvasarizgraha-tantra itself.
When it declared "the truth of all the tathiigatas" or the universal formula of
quick attainment of enlightenment triumphantly, it found itself standing on the
brink of the dizzy precipice of nihilism. This religious vacuity undoubtedly
caused great uneasiness in the minds of subsequent Tantrists and drove them to
the opposite extreme. In fact, a group of Tantrists who were the orthodox inheri-