Just as grammarians
Begin with reading the alphabet,
The Buddha teaches doctrines
That students can bear.
To some he teaches doctrines
For the reversal of sin;
To some, in order to win merit;
To some, doctrines based on duality.
To some he teaches doctrines based on nonduality.
To some, the profound, frightening to the fearful,
Having an essence of emptiness and compassion,
The means of achieving highest enlightenment.
—Arya Nagarjuna, Ratnāvalī (IV.94-96)
