Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

unstained by worldliness.
The other lotus on the precious palace floor: This is the
actual seat of the yidam. This lotus has the meaning of
renunciation even of dharmas, accomplished during the
sublimation process in the Mahayana. If one's
renunciation is not complete, one should still try to
visualize these lotuses in their proper positions, after
which, renunciation may become perfect. This is an
example of a method in the position of consequence.
We repeatedly notice the close correspondence of all
these details with the attainment of Buddhahood. For
example, there are four gates of the palace and different
books say that they mean the four Noble Truths, the
four boundless minds, or the four mindfulnesses. We
should make this point certain. When the yidam is a
nirmanakaya form such as Sakyamuni, then the gates
stand for the four Noble Truths. When Avalokitesvara is
the yidam, then their meaning is the four boundless
minds; and if the center of the mandala is occupied by a
yidam of wisdom (as Manjusri), then the gates must
correspond to the character of the yidam.
In the palace, the roof is held up by eight pillars: They
stand for the factors of the Noble Eightfold Path.
"Even if we talk for a month," said the yogi, "we
cannot finish explaining all the symbolic meanings
of the parts of the various mandalas, for we must
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