ng stories of the
Bodhisattva's reincarnations, there are several hundred tales of
that kind.

112. Q. _What lesson do these stories teach?_

A. That a man can carry, throughout a long series of reincarnations,
one great, good purpose which enables him to conquer bad tendencies and
develop virtuous ones.

113. Q. _Can we fix the number of reincarnations through which a
Bodhisattva must pass before he can become a Buddha?_

A. Of course not: that depends upon his natural character, the state
of development to which he has arrived when he forms the resolution to
become a Buddha, and other things.

114. Q. _Have we a way of classifying Bodhisattvas? If so,
explain it._

A. Bodhisattvas--the future Buddhas--are divided into three classes.

115. Q. _Proceed. How are these three kinds of Bodhisats named?_

A. Pannadhika, or Udghatitajna--"he who attains least quickly";
Saddhadhika, or Vipachitajna--"he who attains less quickly"; and
Viryadhika, or Gneyya--"he who attains quickly". The Pannadhika
Bodhisats take the course of Intelligence; the Saddhadhika take
the course of Faith; the Viryaahika take the course of energetic
Action. The first is guided by Intelligence and does not hasten; the
second is full of Faith, and does not care to take the guidance of
Wisdom; and the third never delays to do what is good. Regardless of
the consequences to himself, he does it when he sees that it is best
that it should be done.

116. Q. _When our Bodhisattva became Buddha, what did he see was
the cause of human misery? Tell me in one word._

A. Ignorance (Avidya).

117. Q. _Can you tell me the remedy?_

A. To dispel Ignorance and become wise (Prajna).

118. Q. _Why does ignorance cause suffering?_

A. Because it makes us prize what is not worth prizing, grieve when we
should not grieve, consider real what is not real but only illusionary,
and pass our lives in the pursuit of worthless objects, neglecting what
is in reality most valuable.

119. Q. _And what is that which is most valuable?_

A. To know the whole secret of man's existence and destiny, so that we
may estimate at no more than their actual value this life and its
relations; and so that we may live in a way to ensure the greatest
happiness and the least suffering for our fellow-men and ourselves.

120. Q. _What is the light that can dispel this ignorance of ours and
remove all sorrows?_

A. The knowledge of the "Four Noble