Ten Realms in a Thought
All of these ten realms—a single thought—
Are not apart from your present thought.
If you can awaken to that thought,
You'll arrive immediately at the other shore.
Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Hearers, and Those Enlightened to Conditions are the Four Sagely Dharma Realms;
gods,
human beings,
asuras,
hell-beings,
hungry ghosts, and
animals
are the Six Common Dharma Realms.
Together, they make up the Ten Dharma Realms.
Where do the Ten Dharma Realms come from? From the single thought which is right now in your mind. All of these ten realms—a single thought— Are not apart from your present thought.
If you can awaken to that thought, if you can understand it, you'll arrive immediately at the other shore. The other shore is enlightenment. When you become enlightened, you are no longer confused. When ignorance is smashed and the Dharma-body appears, you arrive at the other shore. This is Mahaprajnaparamita.
