THE LOTUS SUTRA

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BDK English Tipitaka Series

THE LOTUS SUTRA

(Taishō Volume 9, Number 262)

Translated from the Chinese of Kumārajiva by

Tsugunari KuboAkira Yuyamaand

BDK America, Inc.2007

Copyright © 2007 by Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai and BDK America, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—in a retrieval system, or transcribed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2006939375ISBN: 978-1-886439-39-9^{Third Printing, 2016}

Moraga, California 94556BDK America, Inc.1675Published by School Street

Printed in the United States of America

A Message on the Publication of the English Tipitaka

The Buddhist canon is said to contain eighty-four thousand different teachings. I believe that this is because the Buddha’s basic approach was to prescribe a different treatment for every spiritual ailment, much as a doctor prescribes a different medicine for every medical ailment. Thus his teachings were always appropriate for the particular suffering individual and for the time at which the teaching was given, and over the ages not one of his prescriptions has failed to relieve the suffering to which it was addressed.

Ever since the Buddha’s Great Demise over twenty-five hundred years ago, his message of wisdom and compassion has spread throughout the world. Yet no one has ever attempted to translate the entire Buddhist canon into English throughout the history of Japan. It is my greatest wish to see this done and to make the translations available to the many English-speaking people who have never had the opportunity to learn about the Buddha’s teachings.

Of course, it would be impossible to translate all of the Buddha’s eighty-four thousand teachings in a few years. I have, therefore, had one hundred thirty-nine of the scriptural texts in the prodigious Taishō edition of the Chinese Buddhist canon selected for inclusion in the First Series of this translation project.

It is in the nature of this undertaking that the results are bound to be criticized. Nonetheless, I am convinced that unless someone takes it upon himself or herself to initiate this project, it will never be done. At the same time, I hope that an improved, revised edition will appear in the future.

It is most gratifying that, thanks to the efforts of more than a hundred Buddhist scholars from the East and the West, this monumental project has finally gotten off the ground. May the rays of the Wisdom of the Compassionate One reach each and every person in the world.

Founder of the English                                                                      NUMATA Yehan

August 7, 1991                                                         Tipitaka Project

Editorial Foreword

(In January 1982, Dr. N Society for the Promotion of Buddhism), decided to begin the monumental MATA Yehan, the founder of the Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai task of translating the complete Taishō edition of the Chinese Tipitaka (Buddhist canon) into the English language. Under his leadership, a special preparatory committee was organized in April 1982. By July of the same year, the Translation Committee of the English Tipitaka was officially convened.

The initial Committee consisted of the following members: (late) H^ANAYAMA Shōyū (Chairperson), (late) BANDŌ Shōjun, ISHIGAMI Zennō, (late) KAMATA Shigeo, KANAOKA Shūyū, MAYEDA Sengaku, NARA Yasuaki, (late) SAYEKI Shinkō, (late) SHIOIRI Ryōtatsu, TAMARU Noriyoshi, (late) TAMURA Kwansei, URYÁZU Ryūshin, and YUYAMA Akira. Assistant members of the Committee were as follows: KANAZAWA Atsushi, WATA NABE Shōgo, Rolf Giebel of New Zealand, and Rudy Smet of Belgium.

After holding planning meetings on a monthly basis, the Committee selected one hundred thirty-nine texts for the First Series of translations, an estimated one hundred printed volumes in all. The texts selected are not necessarily limited to those originally written in India but also include works written or composed in China and Japan. While the publication of the First Series proceeds, the texts for the Second Series will be selected from among the remaining works; this process will continue until all the texts, in Japanese as well as in Chinese, have been published.

Frankly speaking, it will take perhaps one hundred years or more to accomplish the English translation of the complete Chinese and Japanese texts, for they consist of thousands of works. Nevertheless, as Dr. NUMATA wished, it is the sincere hope of the Committee that this project will continue unto completion, even after all its present members have passed away.

entrusting his son, Mr. ND r. NUMATA passed away on May 5, 1994, at the age of ninety-seven, UMATA Toshihide, with the continuation and completion of the Translation Project. The Committee also lost its able and devoted Chairperson, Professor HANAYAMA Shōyū, on June 16, 1995, at the age of sixty-three.

Editorial Foreword

After these severe blows, the Committee elected me, then Vice President of Musashino Women’s College, to be the Chair in October 1995. The Committee has renewed its determination to carry out the noble intention of Dr. NUMATA, under the leadership of Mr. NUMATA Toshihide.

ISHIGAMIThe present members of the Committee are MZennō, ICHISHIMA Shōshin, KANAOKA Shūyū, NAYEDA Sengaku (Chairperson),ARA Yasuaki, TAMARU Noriyoshi, URYÁZU Ryūshin, YUYAMA Akira, Kenneth K. Tanaka, WATANABE Shōgo, and assistant member YONEZAWA Yoshiyasu.

The Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research was established in November 1984, in Berkeley, California, U.S.A., to assist in the publication of the BDK English Tipitaka First Series. The Publication Committee was organized at the Numata Center in December 1991. Since then the publication of all the volumes has been and will continue to be conducted under the supervision of this Committee in close cooperation with the Editorial Committee in Tokyo.

 MAYEDA  Sengaku

  Chairperson

Editorial Committee of   

        the BDK English Tipitaka

Publisher’s Foreword

On behalf of the members of the Publication Committee, I am happy to present this volume as the latest contribution to the BDK English Tipitaka Series. The Publication Committee members have worked to ensure that each volume in the series has gone through a rigorous succession of editorial and bookmaking efforts.

The initial translation and editing of the Buddhist scriptures found in this and other BDK English Tipitaka volumes are performed under the direction of the Editorial Committee in Tokyo, Japan, chaired by Professor Sengaku Mayeda, Professor Emeritus of Musashino University. Both the Editorial Committee in Tokyo and the Publication Committee, headquartered in Berkeley, California, are dedicated to the production of clear, readable English texts of the Buddhist canon. In doing so, the members of both committees and associated staff work to honor the deep faith, spirit, and concern of the late Reverend Dr. Yehan Numata, who founded the BDK English Tipitaka Series in order to disseminate Buddhist teachings throughout the world.

The long-term goal of our project is the translation and publication of the texts in the one hundred-volume Taishō edition of the Chinese Buddhist canon, along with a few influential extracanonical Japanese Buddhist texts. The list of texts selected for the First Series of this translation project may be found at the end of each volume in the series.

As recently appointed Chair of the Publication Committee, I am deeply honored to serve in the post formerly held by the late Dr. Philip B. Yampolsky, who was so good to me during his lifetime; the esteemed Dr. Kenneth K. Inada, who has had such a great impact on Buddhist studies in the United States; and the beloved late Dr. Francis H. Cook, a dear friend and colleague.

In conclusion, I wish to thank the members of the Publication Committee for the extraordinary efforts they have undertaken in the course of preparing this volume for publication: Senior Editor Marianne Dresser, Hudaya Kandahjaya, Eisho Nasu, Reverend Kiyoshi Yamashita, and Reverend Brian Nagata, President of the Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research.

Publication Committee                John R. McRae                _Chairperson

Contents

A Message on the Publication of the English Tipitaka

NUMATA Yehan                          v Editorial Foreword                                         MAYEDA Sengaku                    vii Publisher’s Foreword                                     John R. McRae                        ix Translators’ Introduction                                Tsugunari Kubo

and Akira Yuyama                 xiii

The Lotus Sutra

Chapter I. Introduction                                                                                     3 Chapter II. Skillful Means                                                                              23 Chapter III. A Parable                                                                                     47 Chapter IV. Willing Acceptance                                                                     79 Chapter V. Herbs                                                                                             95 Chapter VI. Prediction                                                                                  103 Chapter VII. The Apparitional City                                                              113 Chapter VIII. The Five Hundred Disciples Receive Their Predictions        139

Chapter IX. The Predictions for Those Who Still Have More to Learn

and for Those Who Do Not                                                                      151 Chapter X. The Expounder of the Dharma                                                   157 Chapter XI. The Appearance of a Jeweled Stupa                                         167 Chapter XII. Devadatta                                                                                 179 Chapter XIII. Perseverance                                                                          187 Chapter XIV. Ease in Practice                                                                      193 Chapter XV. Bodhisattvas Emerging from the Earth                                   209 Chapter XVI. The Lifespan of the Tathāgata                                                223 Chapter XVII. Description of Merits                                                            233 Chapter XVIII. The Merits of Joyful Acceptance                                        245 Chapter XIX. The Benefits Obtained by an Expounder of the Dharma       251

Contents

Chapter XX. Bodhisattva Sadāparibhūta                                                      265 Chapter XXI. The Transcendent Powers of the Tathāgata                           271 Chapter XXII. Entrustment                                                                          277 Chapter XXIII. Ancient Accounts of Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja                 279 Chapter XXIV. Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara                                                  289

Chapter XXV. The Gateway to Every Direction [Manifested by

Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara]                                                                    295 Chapter XXVI. Dhāraṇī                                                                               303 Chapter XXVII. Ancient Accounts of King Śubhavyūha                             307 Chapter XXVIII. Encouragement of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra               313

Glossary                                                                                                        319 Bibliography                                                                                                 325 Index                                                                                                             327

A List of the Volumes of the BDK English Tipitaka (First Series)             345

xii

Translators’ Introduction

This translation was made from the Chinese version by Kumārajīva, the Miao fa lian hua jing, in seven fascicles (Taishō Vol. 9, No. 262, 1c12–62b1). Originally from the royal family of Kucha in the present-day autonomous province of Xinqiang, China, Kumārajīva is generally believed to have translated the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra (Scripture of the White Lotus of the Marvelous Law) into Chinese in 406 C.E.

In translating the Chinese text into English we used the Kasuga Edition of Kumārajīva’s version of the Lotus Sutra as the basic text, rather than the Taishō Edition. With very few exceptions the readings in these two editions are almost exactly the same in meaning, and the differences are too slight to have any significant effect on the translation. We have tried to make our translation as readable as possible without straying from the original meaning.

The last line of the first verse in Chapter XXIII (Taishō Vol. 9, No. 262, 53b25), which we have translated as, “I have paid homage to the Bhagavat/In order to attain the utmost wisdom,” has no corresponding reading in any extant Sanskrit manuscript, nor is it found in the Tibetan canon or the Chinese version translated from the Sanskrit by Dharmarakṣa in 267 C.E. (Taishō Vol. 9, No. 263). Furthermore, it is absent in a number of authoritative editions of the Buddhist canon in Chinese.

According to the late Professor Shōkō Kabutogi, the foremost specialist in various editions of Kumārajīva’s version of the Lotus Sutra, the Kasuga Edition is superior to other editions. The most reliable edition, printed in 1263, is now kept at the Tōshōdaiji in Nara. We are pleased to say that this text was published in facsimile under the editorship of Dr. Kabutogi (Tokyo: The Reiyukai, 1979). Furthermore, at the advice of Dr. Kabutogi, the late Professor Yukio Sakamoto included this version of the text along with his three-volume Japanese translation in the pocketbook series published by Iwanami Shoten (Tokyo, 1962–67). In many cases, however, we have not necessarily followed the traditional SinoJapanese interpretation.

Translators’ Introduction

In this connection we have consulted the Sanskrit and, on rare occasions, the Tibetan versions. Of the former, the so-called Central Asian recension, and in particular the Kashgar Manuscript, is of great importance. This manuscript was no doubt copied in the ancient oasis town of Khotan, but it is generally called the Kashgar Manuscript because the majority of the manuscript was obtained there in 1903 by N. F. Petrovsky, the Imperial Russian consul at the time. The manuscript unfortunately has not been kept intact. It is now scattered in a number of places throughout the world and some folios are missing or damaged. Never theless, the available portions have been almost completely reproduced in facsimile under the editorship of Professor Lokesh Chandra of the International Academy of Indian Culture in New Delhi (1976; reprinted by The Reiyukai in 1977). As the fruit of painstaking work, Professor Hirofumi Toda of Tokushima University published a romanization of this text (Tokushima, 1981).

It is interesting to note here that in a number of cases, particularly those of Chinese proper names, either in transliteration or translation, Kumārajīva’s version agrees with the readings of the Central Asian Sanskrit recension rather than that in others, such as those found in Nepal or at the ancient site of Gilgit in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent and some of those found in Tibet. In such cases we have gladly adopted the version from the Central Asian recension, since some of the readings in Chinese were puzzling.

Within the Buddhist canon, the Lotus Sutra is one text that should be read as a whole. We recommend reading the text from the beginning and continuing chapter by chapter so that this mag indicant drama can be fully grasped as it unfolds. In this sense, Chapter I can be seen as a dramatic prelude, while the well-known parables that emerge during the course of the sutra serve to clarify and enliven the entire narrative.

For the reader who wants a quick summary of the Lotus Sutra, we suggest the preface to Professor Leon Hurvitz’s meticulous work, The Scripture of the Lotus Blossom of the Fine Dharma (New York: Columbia University Press, 1976).

Those who wish to conduct further research into the Lotus Sutra are advised to consult an indispensable bibliographical work by Professor Hajime Nakamura, Indian Buddhism: A Survey with Bibliographical Notes (Hirakata: Kansai University of Foreign Studies Publication, 1980), and an earlier work by Akira Yuyama, A Bibliography of the Sanskrit Texts of the Saddhar ma puṇḍarīka sūtra (Canberra: xiv

Translators’ Introduction

Australian National University Press, 1970). The latter volume includes information on versions in other languages.

Acknowledgements

Our translation work on the first edition of this volume was first launched in the spring of 1980. Our hope was that the final result would be a text readily understandable to English readers. Since then the work has often been interrupted by other commitments. During these years we have been indebted to the assistance of a number of people. Among them, Dr. Gregory Shopen and Dr. Terry Abbott joined the first stage of our project and gave of their time selflessly. In the course of our revisions, Dr. James Hubbard spared no pains in going through the entire English text. We are grateful to him not only for his correction of our English but also for the suggestions stemming from his excellent knowledge of Buddhist Chinese.

In the very final stages, we decided to rapidly review the translation by once again comparing the Chinese with the Sanskrit versions. In this process we were assisted by Ms. Kiko Thiel and Dr. James Raeside, who helped us with nuances and shades of meaning in their native languages. We must also thank Mr. S. Kawabata and Mr. T. Torii, who was, throughout, unsparing in his efforts to guide the project to a conclusion. Last but not least, our heartfelt gratitude goes to the staff members of the International Institute for Buddhist Studies and the International Department of the Reiyukai for their untiring assistance.

We feel pleased and honored that our translation has been adopted in this series, and we believe this must indicate that the philosophy underlying our translation matches the goals of the Society for the Promotion of Buddhism (Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai) and its English Tipitaka Series.

THE LOTUS SUTRA

Chapter I

Introduction

Thus have I heard. Once the Buddha was staying in the city of Rājagṛha, on ^1c the mountain called Gṛdhrakūṭa, together with a great assembly of twelve thousand monks, all of whom were arhats whose corruption was at an end, who were free from the confusion of desire, who had achieved their own goals, shattered the bonds of existence, and attained complete mental discipline. Their names were Ājñāta kauṇḍinya, Mahākāśyapa, Uruvilvakāśyapa, Gayā kāśyapa, Nadī kāśyapa, Śāri putra, Mahā maudgalyāyana, Mahā kātyā- yana, Aniruddha, Kapphiṇa, Gavāṃ pati, Revata, Pilinda vatsa, Bakkula, Mahā kauṣṭhila, Nanda, Sundarananda, Pūrṇamaitrā yaṇī putra, Subhūti, Ānanda, and Rāhula. All of them were great arhats, known to the assembly. There were in addition two thousand others, both those who had more to learn and those who did not. The nun Mahā prajāpatī was there, together with her six thousand attendants; and also the nun Yaśodharā, Rāhula’s mother, 2a together with her attendants.

There were also eighty thousand bodhisattva mahāsattvas, all of whom were irreversible from highest, complete enlightenment (anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi). They had obtained the dhāraṇīs, were established in eloquence, and had turned the irreversible wheel of the Dharma. Each had paid homage to countless hundreds of thousands of buddhas, planted roots of merit in their presence, and had always been praised by those buddhas. They had also cultivated compassion within themselves, skillfully caused others to enter the wisdom of a buddha, obtained great wisdom, and reached the other shore. All of them were famous throughout countless worlds and had saved innumerable hundreds of thousands of sentient beings. They were Mañjuśrī, Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, Nityodyukta, Anikṣiptad hura, Rat na pāni, Bhaiṣajyarāja,

Pradānaśūra, Ratnacandra, Can drap rabha, Pūrṇa candra, Mahāvikramin, Anantavikramin, Trail okya vikrama, Bhadra pāla, Maitreya, Ratnākara, and Susātha vāha. There were altogether eighty thousand such bodhisattva mahāsattvas.

3

At that time Śakra, king of the devas, was also there, attended by twenty thousand devaputras. Candra, Samantagandha, and Ratnaprabha, and the great devas of the four quarters were there, together with a retinue of ten thousand devaputras. The deva putras Īśvara and Maheśvara were there, attended by thirty thousand devaputras. Brahma, the lord of the sahā world, as well as the great Brahma Śikhin and the great Brahma Jyotiṣprabha were there, together with a retinue of twelve thousand devaputras. The eight nāga kings—namely, Nanda, Upananda, Sāgara, Vāsukin, Takṣaka, Anavatapta, Manasvin, and Utpalaka—were also there, each of them surrounded by several hundreds of thousands of attendants.

There were four kings of the kiṃnaras whose names were Dharma, Su- dharma, Mahādharma, and Dharmadhara, and each had several hundreds of thousands of attendants. The four kings of the gandharvas were there. They were Manojña, Manojñasvara, Madhura, and Madhurasvara, each of them also with several hundreds of thousands of attendants. There, too, were four

2b kings of the asuras, called Baḍin, Kharaskandha, Vemacitra, and Rahu, each with several hundreds of thousands of attendants. Mahā tejas, Mahākāya, Mahā pūrṇa, and Maharddhiprāpta, the four kings of the garuḍas, were there together with several hundreds of thousands of attendants. Finally, King Ajāta śatru, Vaidehī’s son, was also there with several hundreds of thousands of his attendants. Each of them, after having bowed at the Buddha’s feet, withdrew and sat to one side.

At that time the Bhagavat was respectfully surrounded by the fourfold assembly (i.e., monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen), paid homage, honored, and praised. He then taught the bodhisattvas the Mahayana sutra called Immeasurable Meanings (Mahānirdeśa), the instruction for the bodhisattvas and the treasured lore of the buddhas. After having taught this sutra, the Buddha sat cross-legged, entered the samādhi called the “abode of immeasurable meanings” (ananta-nirdeśa-pratiṣṭhāna) and remained unmoving in both body and mind. Māndārava and great māndārava flowers, mañjūṣaka and great mañjūṣaka flowers then fell like rain from the sky, scattering upon the Buddha and all of his attendants; and the whole buddha world quaked in six ways. At that time, that whole assembly of such humans and nonhumans as monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, the devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas, kings, and noble emperors, having experienced something unprecedented, were filled with joy, and with their palms pressed together they gazed attentively at the Buddha.

Then the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows. It illuminated all the eighteen thousand worlds in the east, down as far as the lowest hell, Avīci, and up as high as the Akaniṣṭha Heaven. All the sentient beings in those worlds living in the six transmigratory states became visible from this world. The buddhas in those worlds were also seen, and the Dharma they were teaching could be heard. The monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen and those who had practiced and achieved the path were also to be seen, while the bodhisattva mahāsattvas, of various background causes and conditions, endowed in various degrees with the willingness to understand and having various appearances, were also seen practicing the bodhisattva path. All of the buddhas who had achieved parinirvāṇa were seen, as well as their relic stupas made of the seven precious treasures.

At that moment it occurred to Bodhisattva Maitreya: “The Bhagavat has now manifested the sign of great transcendent power. What could be the reason for this marvel? The Buddha, the Bhagavat, has now entered samādhi. Whom should I ask about this wonderful marvel? Who would be able to answer my question?”

Then he thought further: “This Mañjuśrī, Prince of the Dharma, has closely attended and paid homage to innumerable buddhas of the past. He must certainly have seen such a marvelous sign before. I should ask him now.”

At the same time it occurred to the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen,                                    ^2c

devas, nāgas, yakṣas, and others: “Now whom should we ask about the illumination and marvelous sign of this buddha?”

Then Bodhisattva Maitreya, wanting to clear up his own confusion, and knowing the minds of the fourfold assembly of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen and of the nāgas, yakṣas, and other beings in that gathering, asked Mañjuśrī: “What is the reason for this marvelous sign, this great ray of light that illuminates the eighteen thousand worlds in the east and renders visible the adornments of all the buddha worlds?”

Thereupon Bodhisattva Maitreya, wanting to elaborate the meaning of

this further, spoke to Mañjuśrī in verse:

O Mañjuśrī!

Why has the Leader

Emitted this great ray of light far and wide

From the tuft of white hair

Between his eyebrows,

Raining down māndārava and mañjūṣaka flowers, And gladdening the people

With the fragrant winds of sandalwood?

For this reason

The earth is completely adorned,

And this world quakes in six ways.

And the fourfold assembly

Is completely enraptured,

Delighted in body and mind at the experience of Such an unprecedented marvel.

From the depths of the Avīci Hell Up to the summit of existence,

The ray of light from between his eyebrows Illuminates the eighteen thousand worlds, Which shimmer like gold,

And, throughout all these worlds, The births and deaths of the living beings

Of the six transmigratory states of existence,

And the good and bad deeds,

Through which they have received Good and bad consequences, Are all to be seen from here.

The buddhas, the Sage Lord (Narendrasiṃhā), Who teach the subtle and supreme sutra Are also seen. Uttering soft sounds

With their pure voices,

They teach innumerable myriads Of koṭis of bodhisattvas.

With their voices, deep and enticing

Like the sounds of Brahma

They make the people eager to hear them.

In each world they teach the True Dharma;

They illuminate the Buddha-Dharma And enlighten sentient beings

By means of various explanations And innumerable illustrations.

To those who are suffering

And are cast down by old age, illness, and death                           

They teach nirvana

To extinguish their sufferings.

To those who have merit, Have paid homage to the buddhas And seek the excellent Dharma,

They teach the ideal of the pratyekabuddha.

To those heirs of the buddhas Who have practiced in various ways And are seeking the utmost wisdom, They teach the pure path.

O Mañjuśrī!

Abiding here, I see and hear

Thousands of koṭis of things in this way.

There are many such things.

I shall now explain them in brief.

In these worlds I see bodhisattvas,

Equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River, Seeking the path of the buddhas

According to their various situations.

Some undertake the practice of giving gifts, Joyfully giving gold, silver, coral, pearls, Jewels, conch shells, agates, diamonds,

Servants, carts, and ornamented litters— They give these things joyfully, Transferring the merit

To the path of the buddhas,

Wishing to obtain this vehicle

Which is the highest in the three worlds,

And praised by all the buddhas. Other bodhisattvas give gifts

Such as ornamented carts yoked with four horses And furnished with railings, Canopies, and decorated eaves.

Moreover, I see bodhisattvas

Who, seeking for the highest path, Give gifts such as their bodies, flesh, hands,

And feet, as well as their wives and children.

Moreover, I see bodhisattvas

Who are joyfully giving their heads, eyes, and bodies, While searching for the wisdom of the buddhas.

O Mañjuśrī!

I see kings making pilgrimages to the buddhas, Asking about the highest path,

Abandoning their prosperous lands, Palaces, subjects and harems, Shaving their heads and beards, And wearing the robes of the Dharma.

I see some bodhisattvas becoming monks,

Dwelling apart in tranquility, Reciting the sutras with contentment.

I also see bodhisattvas

Persistent and courageous, Going into remote mountains

And contemplating the buddha path.

I see some abandoning worldly desires, Dwelling always in lonely places,

Practicing profound meditations

And obtaining the five transcendent powers.

I see bodhisattvas

Meditating with palms pressed together,

Praising the Kings of the Dharma With thousands of myriads of verses.

I also see bodhisattvas,

Profound in wisdom and firm in resolution,

Asking the buddhas questions,

Listening carefully and retaining everything.

Furthermore, I see heirs of the buddhas,

Endowed with concentration and wisdom,

Teaching the Dharma by innumerable illustrations

For the benefit of living beings,

Leading and inspiring the bodhisattvas By joyously teaching the Dharma, Destroying Māra and his minions

And beating the drums of the Dharma.

I also see bodhisattvas

Who are tranquil and silent in ease,

And never exult

Even in the homage paid by devas and nāgas.

I see bodhisattvas

Dwelling in forests, radiating light,

Alleviating the suffering of beings in the hells                             3b

And causing them to enter the buddha path.

I also see heirs of the buddhas

Who have never fallen asleep,

And are constantly wandering in forests In search of the buddha path.

I see some who are pure like jewels, Endowed with integrity And faultless in behavior, In search of the buddha path.

Furthermore, I see heirs of the buddhas In search of the buddha path,

Who have the power of perseverance And patiently endure

Those of excessive pride

Who abuse them verbally and physically.

I see bodhisattvas

Who have been searching for the buddha path

For thousands of myriads of koṭis of years, And who have renounced idlers and foolish companions And approached the wise.

Having single-mindedly rid themselves of inner confusion They are meditating in mountain forests. I also see bodhisattvas seeking For the highest path, Who are giving food and drink,

And a hundred kinds of medicine To the Buddha and the sangha.

They give superb garments and clothing

Worth thousands of myriads, And priceless robes To the Buddha and the sangha.

They give thousands of myriads of koṭis

Of treasured monasteries made of sandalwood, And various kinds of excellent bedding To the Buddha and the sangha. They give clean garden groves Full of flowers and fruits, Fountains and bathing pools

To the Buddha and the sangha.

Thus they give such various excellent things,

With joy and vigor, Seeking the supreme path.

There are also bodhisattvas

Who are teaching innumerable sentient beings The Dharma of tranquility In various ways.

Furthermore, I see bodhisattvas

Who have perceived the essential character Of all dharmas (phenomena) to be without duality, Just like empty space. I also see heirs of the buddhas

Who are seeking the highest path

Through this subtle wisdom, Their minds free of attachment.

O Mañjuśrī!

There are bodhisattvas

Who pay homage to the relics (śarīras) of the buddhas After their parinirvāṇas.

I also see heirs of the buddhas

Who have built stupas

As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, With which to decorate the buddha worlds. These jeweled stupas are magnificent—

Five thousand yojanas in height and

Two thousand yojanas in both length and width.

On each of these stupas

Are one thousand banners, flags, and canopies, And jeweled bells ringing harmoniously.

And devas, nāgas, humans, and nonhumans

Constantly give offerings of Perfume, flowers, and music to them.

O Mañjuśrī!

The heirs of the buddhas

Have decorated the stupas

In order to pay homage to the relics.

These worlds have been spontaneously

Made as extraordinarily beautiful

As the king of the heavenly trees When his flowers bloom.

Because the Buddha has emitted this ray of light, I and those with me in the assembly can see

These worlds of marvelous and varied beauty.                            3c

The wisdom and transcendent powers

Of all the buddhas are extraordinary; By emitting a single ray of light

He has illuminated innumerable lands.

Seeing this, we attain

That which we have not met with before.

O Mañjuśrī, Heir of the Buddhas!

We entreat you to rid us of our confusion! The fourfold assembly is joyfully Looking up at you and me.

Why did the Bhagavat emit this ray of light?

O Heir of the Buddhas, now answer!

Resolve our confusion and gladden us!

Why is he emitting this ray of light?

Will the Buddha teach us the True Dharma That he obtained while he sat

On the terrace of enlightenment (bodhimaṇḍa)?

Will he predict enlightenment to us?

It is not for a trifling reason

That all the buddha lands, ornamented

With various jewels,

And all the buddhas have been made visible. O Mañjuśrī!

You should know that the fourfold assembly,

Nāgas,and devas, Look forward to hearing What you shall reveal.

Thereupon Mañjuśrī spoke to Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Mai treya and the other worthy beings: “O sons of a virtuous family! I am very sure that the Buddha, the Bhagavat, will now teach the great Dharma, rain down the great Dharma, blow the conch of the great Dharma, beat the drum of the great Dharma, and reveal the meaning of the great Dharma.

“O sons of a virtuous family! I have seen buddhas in the past who have shown this marvel and have taught the great Dharma immediately after emitting a ray of light. Therefore, you should know that in the very same way the Buddha has now emitted this light and has shown this marvel in order to cause all sentient beings to hear and understand the Dharma which in all the worlds is difficult to understand.

“O sons of a virtuous family! In the past, more than innumerable, unthinkable, incalculable kalpas ago, there was a buddha called Candrasūryapradīpa, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. He taught the True Dharma that was good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end. It was profound in meaning, elegant in speech, and endowed with the character of the pure path of discipline and integrity.

“To those seeking for the śrāvaka vehicle he taught the Dharma with respect to the Four Noble Truths, causing them to overcome birth, old age, illness, and death and to attain nirvana. He taught the Dharma with respect to dependent origination to the pratyekabuddhas; and to the bodhisattvas he taught the Dharma with respect to the six perfections (pāramitās), causing them to attain highest, complete enlightenment and perfect all-knowledge (sarva jñātā).

“Then there was another buddha named Candrasūryapradīpa, and after him another buddha also named Candrasūryapradīpa. And so in this way twenty thousand buddhas all had the same name Candrasūryapradīpa. They also had the same family name Bharadvāja.

“O Maitreya! You should know that these buddhas, beginning from the

first up to the last, all had the same name Candra sūrya pradīpa, endowed with 4a the ten epithets. The Dharma that they taught was good in the beginning, the middle, and the end.

“The last buddha fathered eight princes before he renounced household life. The first was called Mati, the second Sumati, the third Anantamati, the fourth Ratimati, the fifth was called Viśeṣa mati, the sixth Vimatisamudghātin, the seventh Ghoṣamati, and the eighth was called Dharmamati. These eight princes were endowed with dignity and power, and each of them ruled over four great continents. Having heard that their father had renounced household life and obtained highest, complete enlightenment, all of them abandoned their kingdoms and also renounced household life. Each caused the spirit of the Mahayana to arise within him, practiced the pure path of discipline and integrity, and became an expounder of the Dharma. They all planted roots of good merit under many thousands of myriads of buddhas.

“At that time, the Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa taught the Mahayana sutra called Immeasurable Meanings, the instruction for the bodhisattvas and treasured lore of the buddhas. Having taught this sutra, he sat down cross-legged, undisturbed in body and mind among the great assembly and entered the samādhi called the ‘abode of immeasurable meanings.’

“Then māndārava and great māndārava flowers, mañjūṣaka and great mañjūṣaka flowers fell like rain from the sky, scattering over the Buddha and all of his attendants. And the whole buddha world quaked in six ways. At that time all in that assembly of humans and nonhumans—monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen, devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas, kings, and noble emperors—having experienced such an unprecedented marvel, were filled with joy and pressing their palms together they gazed attentively at the Buddha.

“Then the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows which completely illuminated all the eighteen thousand worlds in the east, in the same way that all of these buddha worlds are visible now.

“O Maitreya! You should know that at that time there were twenty koṭis of bodhisattvas in the assembly who wanted to hear the Dharma. All of these bodhisattvas, having seen all the buddha worlds completely illuminated by this ray of light, were struck with wonder and wanted to know why it was emitted.

“A bodhisattva named Varaprabha was there with his eight hundred disciples. At that time the Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa, having emerged from samādhi, remained sitting for sixty intermediate kalpas and revealed to Bodhisattva Varaprabha the Mahayana sutra called Saddharmapuṇḍarīka, the White Lotus of the Marvelous Law (hereafter Lotus Sutra), which was the instruction for bodhisattvas and the treasured lore of the buddhas. The assembly also sat there undisturbed in body and mind listening to the Buddha’s exposition for sixty intermediate kalpas as if only a single mealtime had passed; during that time not a single person among them experienced fatigue of body or mind.

“Having taught this sutra for sixty intermediate kalpas, the Buddha Candra sūryapradīpa made this proclamation to the assembly of Brahmas, māras, 4b śrāmaṇas, brahmans, devas, humans, and asuras, saying:

On this day during the middle watch of the night, the Tathāgata will enter nirvana without residue.

“Then the Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa gave this prediction to a bodhi-

sattva called Śrīgarbha. Addressing the monks, he said:

This Bodhisattva Śrīgarbha will become the next buddha after me. He will be called Vimalāṅganetra, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened.

“The Buddha, after having made this prediction, entered nirvana without residue during the middle of the night. After the Buddha passed into extinction, Bodhisattva Varaprabha, having preserved the Lotus Sutra, taught it to humans for the full period of eighty intermediate kalpas.

“This Bodhisattva Varaprabha was made the teacher for the Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa’s eight princes. Varaprabha led and inspired them and caused them to be firm in highest, complete enlightenment.

“After paying homage to innumerable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas, all these princes attained the path of the buddhas. The last of these to become enlightened was named Dīpaṃkara.

“Among the eight hundred disciples of Bodhisattva Varaprabha there was a man named Yaśaskāma who was attached to profit. Even though he had repeatedly recited the sutras he never became versed in them and forgot the greater part. That is why he was called Yaśaskāma, ‘Fame Seeker.’ But because he had also planted various roots of good merit, he was able to meet innumerable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas whom he rendered homage to, honored, revered, and praised.

“O Maitreya! You should know that Bodhisattva Varaprabha at that time was none other than myself, and Bodhisattva Yaśaskāma was none other than you. The marvel we see here is exactly the same as the previous one. Therefore I am certain that today the Tathāgata will teach the Mahayana sutra called the Lotus Sutra, the instruction for bodhisattvas and treasured lore of the buddhas.”

Thereupon Mañjuśrī, wanting to explain the meaning of this further,

spoke to the great assembly in verse:

I remember that in the past,

Innumerable incalculable kalpas ago, There was a buddha, the Best of Humans, Called Candrasūryapradīpa.

This Bhagavat taught the Dharma,

Leading and inspiring innumerable sentient beings

And incalculable numbers of bodhisattvas, To attain the wisdom of the buddhas. Before renouncing household life The Buddha fathered eight princes.

Having seen the Great Sage Renounce household life,

They also followed him

And practiced the pure path of discipline and integrity. At that time the Buddha taught

And extensively illuminated the Mahayana sutra Called Immeasurable Meanings To the great assembly.

After having taught this sutra,

The Buddha sat down cross-legged

4c           On the seat of Dharma and entered the samādhi Called the “abode of immeasurable meanings.”

The heavenly māndārava flowers

Fell down like rain;

The heavenly drums resounded spontaneously. All the devas, nāgas, and yakṣas

Paid homage to the Best of Humans.

All of the buddha worlds suddenly quaked greatly. And the Buddha emitted a ray of light From the tuft between his eyebrows And manifested various marvels. This ray of light illuminated

The eighteen thousand buddha worlds in the east And revealed the conditions

Resulting from the karma of each sentient being. Through this light of the Buddha

All the buddha worlds appeared

As if they were decorated with various jewels Such as lapis lazuli or crystal.

All the devas, humans, nāgas,

Yakṣas, gandharvas, and kiṃnaras

Were each seen paying homage to the buddhas.

All the Tathāgatas, who had spontaneously attained

The path of the buddhas, Looked majestic and very beautiful

With bodies like golden mountains.

Each Bhagavat appeared like a golden image

In the midst of lapis lazuli,

Expounding the meaning

Of the profound Dharma to the great assembly. There were innumerable śrāvakas In each of the buddha worlds, And they saw all the great assemblies Because of the light of the Buddha.

There were also monks

Living in mountain forests,

Who, through persistence, possessed purity of conduct, Which they protected like a precious jewel.

There were bodhisattvas,

As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River,

Practicing by giving (dāna), perseverance (kṣānti), and so on

(i.e., the six perfections),

Who also became visible through the light of the Buddha.

There were bodhisattvas, who,

Having entered deep samādhi,

Were tranquil and undisturbed in body and mind, And who were seen seeking for the highest path.

There were also bodhisattvas,

Who, knowing the tranquil character of the Dharma,

Were seen teaching the Dharma

And seeking the path of the buddhas In each of the buddha worlds.

At that time the fourfold assembly,

Having seen the Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa Manifest these great transcendent powers, Became delighted, and asked each other What the reason for this could be.

The Noble One, revered by devas and humans,

Then emerged from samādhi and

5a     Praised Bodhisattva Varaprabha, saying:

You are the Eye of the World.

You are believed in by all and

Possess the treasure house of the Dharma. You are the only one who can understand The Dharma that I have taught!

The Bhagavat praised Varaprabha, delighting him, And taught this Lotus Sutra

For the full period of sixty intermediate kalpas Without rising from his seat.

This expounder of the Dharma, Varaprabha, Firmly and completely

Preserved this most excellent Dharma That was taught by the Buddha.

After having taught this Lotus Sutra

And having then gladdened the assembly

On that very day,

The Buddha told the assembly of devas and humans:

I have already taught you the meaning Of the essential character of all dharmas. Today I will enter nirvana

In the middle of the night.

Exert yourselves attentively

And rid yourselves of negligence!

The buddhas are extremely hard to meet

And can be encountered only once In koṭis of kalpas!

All the sons of the Bhagavat,

On hearing that the Buddha was to enter nirvana, Became sad, thinking:

Why will the Buddha enter nirvana so soon?

The Noble Lord, the King of the Dharma, Consoled the innumerable beings saying:

Do not fear after I enter nirvana!

This Bodhisattva Śrīgarbha has fully realized

The true character of freedom from corruption And after me he will become A buddha named Vimalāṅganetra.

And then he will bring

Innumerable sentient beings to the path.

And that night the Buddha entered nirvana,

Like a fire that goes out when the wood is exhausted.

His relics were distributed And innumerable stupas were built.

There were monks and nuns,

As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, Who increased their efforts And sought for the highest path.

This expounder of the Dharma, Varaprabha,

Possessed of the treasure house of the Buddha,

Extensively proclaimed the Lotus Sutra For eighty intermediate kalpas. All of the eight princes

Led and inspired by Varaprabha,

Became firmly established In the highest path,

And met innumerable buddhas.

After having paid homage to the buddhas

And following them in their practice of the great path,

They all in turn received their predictions,                                   5b

Becoming buddhas in succession.

The last Buddha, the Highest of Devas, Was called Dīpaṃkara,

And, as the leader of all the sages,

Had brought innumerable sentient beings to the path.

This expounder of the Dharma, Varaprabha, Had one disciple who was lazy

And attached to fame and fortune. This disciple ceaselessly sought these things And amused himself from house to house. He abandoned recitation of the sutras, And, forgetting them,

Never became versed in them.

For this very reason he was named Yaśaskāma. But since he had also performed many good deeds, He was able to meet innumerable buddhas. He paid homage to all these buddhas

And having practiced the great path after them, Acquired all the six perfections and Now meets the Lion of the Śākyas.

He shall subsequently become a buddha called Maitreya Who will extensively bring

Innumerable sentient beings to the path. After the parinirvāṇa of that

Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa,

The lazy one was none other than you; And the expounder of the Dharma, Varaprabha, Was no one but myself.

When I saw the Buddha Dīpaṃkara

He also revealed this marvel of light.

That is why I know that this buddha Will now teach the Lotus Sutra.

This sign is just like the previous marvel.

It is the skillful means of all the buddhas.

The Buddha has now emitted this ray of light In order to reveal

The essential character of dharmas. Now it should be clear to everyone.

Wait attentively with palms pressed together!

Having rained the Dharma,

The Buddha will satisfy those seeking the path. If there is anyone seeking the three vehicles Who still has any doubts, The Buddha will completely remove them, Extinguishing them with none left over.

Chapter II

Skillful Means

At that time the Bhagavat arose tranquilly with insight out of samādhi and addressed Śāriputra: “Profound and immeasurable is the wisdom of the buddhas. The gate to their wisdom is hard to enter and difficult to understand. None of the śrāvakas and pratyeka buddhas may be capable of understanding it. Why is this? The buddhas have closely attended innumerable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of other buddhas. They have exhaustively carried out practices with courage and persistence under uncountable numbers of buddhas, their names becoming universally renowned. They have perfected this profound and unprecedented Dharma, and their intention in adapting their

explanations to what is appropriate is difficult to understand.     5c

“O Śāriputra! After attaining Buddhahood I expounded the teaching extensively with various explanations and illustrations, and with skillful means (upāya) led sentient beings to rid themselves of their attachments. Why is this? Because all the Tathāgatas have attained perfect mastery of skillful means, wisdom, and insight.

“O Śāriputra! The wisdom and insight of the Tathāgatas is extensive, profound, immeasurable, and unhindered. They are possessed of power, fearlessness, meditation, liberation, and samādhi that is profound and endless. They have completely attained this unprecedented Dharma.

“O Śāriputra! The Tathāgatas can, through various methods, skillfully illuminate the Dharma with gentle speech and gladden the hearts of the assemblies.

“O Śāriputra! To put it briefly, the buddhas have attained this immeasurable, limitless, and unprecedented Dharma. Enough, O Śāriputra, I will speak no further. Why is this? Because the Dharma that the buddhas have attained is foremost, unique, and difficult to understand. No one but the buddhas can completely know the real aspects of all dharmas—that is to say their character, nature, substance, potential, function, cause, condition, result, effect, and essential unity.”

23

Thereupon the Bhagavat spoke these verses to explain this meaning

again:

The Heroes of the World are inconceivable, Neither devas, humans, nor any other sentient beings Are able to comprehend them.

No one is able to discern the power, fearlessness, Liberation, samādhi, and Other attributes of the buddhas.

Formerly, under innumerable buddhas,

They have fully accomplished their practices

And the Dharma, which is profound and excellent, Hard to perceive and difficult to understand. Having pursued these practices

For innumerable koṭis of kalpas,

I attained the result on the terrace of enlightenment And understood completely.

I and the buddhas of the ten directions Know such matters,

Such as the great results and rewards,

And the meaning of various aspects and characteristics. It is impossible to explain this Dharma; The powers of speech fail.

No other sentient being is able to understand it,

Except for those bodhisattvas

Who, in their belief, are willing to understand.

Even the multitude of the Buddha’s disciples,

Who have formerly paid homage to all the buddhas,

Who have put an end to all their corruption

And are bearing their last bodies, 6a    Are not able to understand it. Even if this whole world

Were filled with those such as Śāriputra,

And they tried together to comprehend it,

They still would not be able to understand completely

The wisdom of the buddhas.

Again, even if the worlds of the ten directions

Were filled with such disciples

As Śāriputra,

And they tried together to comprehend it,

They still would not be able to completely understand. And even if the worlds of the ten directions Were filled with pratyekabuddhas,

As numerous as bamboo trees in a grove, Who had keen wisdom

And were bearing their last bodies,

Free from corruption,

Even if they tried together single-mindedly, For innumerable kalpas,

To comprehend the wisdom of the buddhas, Still they would not understand it in the least.

Even if the worlds of the ten directions Were packed as thick as stalks of rice,

Flax, bamboo, and reeds

With bodhisattvas, recent aspirants to enlightenment, Who had paid homage to innumerable buddhas— Though they fully understood the meaning And could expound the Dharma,

Even with this subtle wisdom,

If they tried together single-mindedly to comprehend,

For as many kalpas as the sands of the Ganges River, They still would not be able to know The wisdom of the buddhas.

Even if bodhisattvas,

As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, Who had reached the stage of no retrogression, Tried together single-mindedly to comprehend it, Still they would not be able to know.

The Buddha, still speaking to Śāriputra, said:

I have already attained the profound and subtle Dharma

That is incorruptible

And beyond all comprehension.

Only I and the buddhas of the ten directions know this. O Śāriputra! You should know that the words Of the buddhas are never inconsistent. You should trust fully in the Dharma

That the Buddha expounds;

The Dharma of the Bhagavat Has been in existence for a long time.

I will now definitely expound the truth. I address myself to the śrāvakas

And those seeking the pratyekabuddha vehicle. It was I who caused them to become free

From the bondage of suffering, and to attain nirvana. I have revealed the teaching of the three vehicles

With the power of the skillful means of the buddhas So as to free the sentient beings

From their various human attachments.

At that time it occurred to the great assembly of twelve hundred śrāvakas, arhats free from corruption, beginning with Ājñāta kauṇḍinya, and the other

6b monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen who had set out to become śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas: “Why has the Bhagavat just now so earnestly praised skillful means? For what reason has he declared that the Dharma that the buddhas have attained is very profound and difficult to understand? Why has he said that their intention in adapting their teaching to what is appropriate is so difficult to comprehend that all the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas are not able to understand it?

“As long as the Buddha taught the meaning of the single liberation we thought we had attained that Dharma and achieved nirvana. But now we do not understand what he means.”

At that time Śāriputra, aware of the confusion of the fourfold assemblies and himself also feeling confused, addressed the Buddha saying: “O Bhagavat! For what reason and on what grounds have you so earnestly praised the unique skillful means of the buddhas and the profound and subtle Dharma that is difficult to understand? Never before have I heard such a thing from the Buddha. Now Bhagavat, I entreat you to explain this because the fourfold assemblies are confused. O Bhagavat! Why have you so earnestly praised the Dharma that is profound, subtle, and difficult to understand?”

Thereupon Śāriputra, wanting to further explain what he meant, spoke

these verses:

O Great Seer, Sun of Wisdom!

Now, after a long time,

You have taught this Dharma, saying, I have attained the inconceivable Dharma, That is to say, power, fearlessness,

Samādhi, meditation, and liberation.

No one has ever questioned the Dharma

That I attained on the terrace of enlightenment. No one has ever questioned my intentions, So difficult to conceive.

Without being asked

You explained it by yourself

And praised the path you have practiced, saying,

The wisdom the buddhas have attained Is extremely subtle! The arhats free from corruption

And those seeking nirvana

Have all fallen into confusion.

Why has the Buddha said this?

Those seeking to become pratyekabuddhas,

Monks, nuns, devas, nāgas, Yakṣas, gandharvas, and the others

Glanced at each other in confusion

And looking toward the Best of Humans asked:

O Buddha! We entreat you to explain why this is so!

The Buddha has said that I am the foremost

Among the śrāvakas, yet now I am confused About my own knowledge and unable to understand.

Is it the ultimate Dharma?

Is it a path to be practiced?

6c           The sons born from the mouths of the buddhas Stand waiting with palms pressed together, Looking at the Buddha.

I entreat you to proclaim the truth, Speaking in the finest voice!

The devas, nāgas, and others,

As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, As many as eighty thousand bodhisattvas

Who are seeking Buddhahood, and noble emperors

Who have come from myriads of koṭis of countries, Are all standing respectfully with palms pressed together Asking how to accomplish the path.

Then the Buddha addressed Śāriputra, saying: “Enough, enough! Speak no more! If I explained this matter, the devas and humans in all the worlds would be astounded.”

Then Śāriputra again addressed the Buddha: “O Bhagavat! Please explain it! I entreat you to explain it, because in this assembly there are innumerable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of incalculable sentient beings, sharp in faculties and possessed of wisdom, who have previously encountered the buddhas. When they hear the teaching of the Buddha they will trust, believe, and accept it.”

Thereupon Śāriputra spoke in verse to explain this again:

O King of the Dharma, the Best of Humans!

I entreat you to explain it.

Please explain it without hesitation!

In this assembly there are innumerable sentient beings Who will trust and accept it.

Then the Buddha again tried to dissuade Śāriputra, saying: “If I explain

it, the devas, humans, and asuras in all the worlds will be astounded, and

arrogant monks will certainly go to their downfall.”

At that time the Bhagavat again spoke in verse:

Enough, enough! Speak no more! The Dharma that I have attained

Is excellent and incomprehensible. Though the arrogant hear it, They will never accept it.

And again Śāriputra addressed the Buddha, saying: “O Bha ga vat! Please explain it! Please explain it! In this assembly there are people like me and others, numbering into the hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of beings, who have been led and inspired by the buddhas in their former existences. Such people will certainly trust, believe, and accept it. And they will benefit, profit, and receive solace from it for a very long time.”

Thereupon Śāriputra spoke these verses to elaborate on what he meant:

O Best of Humans!

Please teach the ultimate Dharma!

I am the eldest son of the Buddha.

Please illuminate and explain it!

Innumerable beings in this assembly

Will certainly trust and accept this Dharma,

Because the Buddha in former existences Led and inspired such people.

All of them will attentively listen and accept,                                 7a

Their palms pressed together, To the words of the Buddha.

I entreat you to illuminate and explain it

For the assembly of twelve hundred people like me, And the others seeking Buddhahood. When they hear this Dharma

They will bring forth great joy.

Then the Bhagavat spoke to Śāriputra, saying: “You have now persistently asked me three times. How could I possibly not explain it to you?

Therefore listen carefully and pay close attention! I will now illuminate and explain it.”

When he said this, five thousand monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen in the assembly immediately got up from their seats, bowed to the Buddha, and left. What was the reason for this? Because the roots of error among this group had been deeply planted and they were arrogant, thinking they had attained what they had not attained and had realized what they had not realized. Because of such defects they did not stay. And the Bhagavat remained silent and did not stop them.

Then the Buddha addressed Śāriputra: “My assembly here is free of use-

less twigs and leaves; only the pure essence remains.

“O Śāriputra! Let the arrogant ones go! Listen carefully and I will explain

it to you.”

Then Śāriputra replied: “Indeed, O Bhagavat, I greatly desire to hear it.”

Then the Buddha addressed Śāriputra: “Only very rarely do the Buddha Tathāgatas teach such a True Dharma as this, as rarely as the uḍumbara flower blooms.

“O Śāriputra! Trust and accept what the Buddha teaches! My words are

never false.

“O Śāriputra! The real intention of all the buddhas in adapting their explanations to what is appropriate is difficult to understand. Why is this? Because I have expounded the teachings with innumerable skillful means and various kinds of explanations and illustrations. Yet this Dharma is beyond reason and discernment. Only the buddhas can understand it. Why is this? Because the Buddha Bhagavats appear in this world for one great purpose alone. O Śāriputra! Now I will explain why I said that the Buddha Bhagavats appear in this world for only one great purpose.

“The Buddha Bhagavat appear in this world to cause sentient beings to aspire toward purity and the wisdom and insight of the buddhas. They appear in this world to manifest the wisdom and insight of the buddhas to sentient beings. They appear in this world to cause sentient beings to attain the wisdom and insight of a buddha’s enlightenment. They appear in this world in order to cause sentient beings to enter the path of the wisdom and insight of a buddha.

“O Śāriputra! For this one great reason alone the buddhas have appeared

in this world.”

The Buddha addressed Śāriputra, saying: “The Buddha Tathāgatas lead

and inspire only bodhisattvas. All the acts of a buddha are always for one 7b purpose. The buddhas manifest their wisdom and insight solely to inspire sentient beings to enlightenment.

“O Śāriputra! A Tathāgata teaches sentient beings the Dharma only through the single buddha vehicle. There is no other, neither a second nor a third.

“O Śāriputra! The true nature of all the buddhas of the ten directions is

exactly like this.

“O Śāriputra! All the buddhas of the past expounded the teachings for the sake of sentient beings, using incalculable and innumerable skillful means and various explanations and illustrations. These teachings were all for the sake of the single buddha vehicle. All these sentient beings, hearing the Dharma from the buddhas, finally attained omniscience.

“O Śāriputra! All the future buddhas who will appear in the world will expound the teachings for the sake of sentient beings, using incalculable and innumerable skillful means and various explanations and illustrations. These teachings will all be for the single buddha vehicle. All sentient beings who hear this Dharma from these buddhas will ultimately attain omniscience.

“O Śāriputra! All the Buddha Bhagavats of the present, in immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddha worlds of the ten directions, teach the Dharma to sentient beings using incalculable and innumerable skillful means with various explanations and illustrations to benefit many of them and cause them to feel at peace. These Dharmas are all of the single buddha vehicle. All the sentient beings who hear the Dharma from these buddhas will ultimately attain omniscience.

“O Śāriputra! These buddhas lead and inspire only bodhisattvas, because they want to teach sentient beings with the wisdom and insight of the Buddha, to enlighten sentient beings with the wisdom and insight of the Buddha, and to cause sentient beings to enter the path of the wisdom and insight of the Buddha.

“O Śāriputra! I too am now like this. Having understood the various desires and deep-rooted inclinations of sentient beings, I teach the Dharma according to their capacities through the power of skillful means, using various explanations and illustrations.

“O Śāriputra! I do this in order to cause them to attain the omniscience

of the single buddha vehicle.

“O Śāriputra! Since there is no second vehicle in the worlds of the ten

directions, how could there be a third!

“O Śāriputra! The buddhas appear in the troubled world of the five defilements, which are the defilement of the kalpa, the defile ment through desire’s confusion, the defilement of sentient beings, the defilement of views, and the defilement of lifespan. Therefore, O Śāriputra, in the period of the decadent kalpa, because sentient beings are filthy, greedy, jealous, and develop roots of error, all the buddhas illuminate the three [vehicles] with the power of skillful means in order to teach the single buddha vehicle.

“O Śāriputra! If any of my disciples declare that they are arhats or pratyekabuddhas, and do not listen or comprehend that all the Buddha Tathāgatas teach only the bodhisattvas, they are not disciples of the buddhas, nor are they arhats or pratyekabuddhas.

7c “Again, O Śāriputra! If there are any monks or nuns who would declare that they have attained athwartship, that they are bearing their last bodies and are destined for complete nirvana, and yet who have not sought highest, complete enlightenment, they should be considered arrogant people.

“Why is this? Because there is no case in which a monk who has actually achieved athwartship does not believe in this Dharma, except after the Buddha has entered parinirvāṇa and there is no buddha present.

“What is the reason for this? Because after the parinirvāṇa of the Buddha it is hard to find people who preserve, recite, and understand the meaning of the sutras like this. But if they should meet other buddhas they will immediately understand this teaching.

“O Śāriputra! You should wholeheartedly accept and preserve the words of the Buddha. The words of the Buddha Tathāgatas are never false. There are no other vehicles, only the single buddha vehicle.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate the meaning of this further,

uttered these verses:

In the fourfold assembly there were five thousand

Monks and nuns who were excessively proud,

Laymen who were arrogant,

And laywomen who were unaccepting.

They did not see their own defects, Being faulty in self-discipline,

And clung to their shortcomings; These of little wisdom have already left. Through the virtuous dignity of the Buddha The dregs of the assembly have departed.

Having little virtue,

These people were incapable of accepting this Dharma. Free of useless twigs and leaves,

Only the pure essence of this assembly remains.

O Śāriputra, listen carefully!

All the buddhas teach the Dharma

That they have attained

Through the immeasurable power of skillful means, For the sake of sentient beings.

Completely knowing their intentions,

Their various ways of practice, Their wishes and capacities,

And the good and bad karma

Of their previous lives,

The Buddha gladdens all sentient beings With the power of words and skillful means, Using examples and illustrations.

The Buddha teaches by means of sutras, verses,

Stories of his past deeds, and of past events, Miraculous tales, explanatory tales, Allegories, poems, and exegeses.

The Buddha teaches nirvana                                                           8a

To those with dull faculties,

Who are satisfied with lowly aspirations And attached to birth and death,

Who have not practiced the profound path In the presence of innumerable buddhas And are confused by suffering.

Having devised this skillful means

I enable them to enter the wisdom of the buddhas.

But I have never said That all of you would attain The path of the buddhas.

I have never said this Because the occasion never arose. Now is precisely the right time for me To teach definitively the Mahayana.

I apply these nine kinds of teachings

According to the capacities of sentient beings.

I teach these sutras

Because they are the basis for entering the Mahayana. I teach the Mahayana sutras

To those heirs of the buddhas

Who are pure in mind, mild, and receptive, Have keen faculties,

And who have practiced the profound path Under immeasurable buddhas.

I predict that such people

Will attain the path of the buddhas In their future lives,

Because they keep the buddhas in mind

With profound thoughts And practice pure conduct.

Hearing that they shall attain Buddhahood They will be filled with great joy; Because a buddha knows their intentions He teaches the Mahayana.

Those śrāvakas or bodhisattvas, Who have heard even a single verse Of the Dharma that I have taught, Will all become buddhas.

There can be no doubt about it.

In the buddha worlds of the ten directions

There is only the Dharma of the single vehicle.

Apart from the skillful means of the buddhas,

There is neither a second nor a third [vehicle]. A buddha merely uses provisional words In order to lead sentient beings.

All the buddhas appear in the world To teach the wisdom of the buddhas.

Only this one thing is real, The other two are not true.

In the end,

A buddha does not save sentient beings Through an inferior vehicle. The buddhas themselves

Abide in the Mahayana;

The Dharma that they have attained,

Is adorned with meditation, wisdom, and power; And through these they save the sentient beings.

I would be ungenerous

If I were to lead and inspire even a single person

Through an inferior vehicle,

Having attained the highest path, The universal Dharma of the Mahayana.

This is simply not possible. If anyone takes refuge in the Buddha, The Tathāgata will not deceive him.

A Tathāgata has neither stinginess nor jealousy

And has detached himself

From the evils of the phenomenal world.

That is why the buddhas of the ten directions                               8b

Are the only ones who have no fear.

Having a body adorned with the marks of a buddha, Emitting a ray of light that illuminates the worlds

And revered by immeasurable sentient beings, I teach the signs of the true aspects Of the phenomenal world.

O Śāriputra! You should now know

That originally I made a vow To make all sentient beings my equal Without any difference. Now I have already fulfilled this vow That I made in the past.

I will lead and inspire all sentient beings

And cause them to enter the path of the buddhas. If I met sentient beings

And taught them till the end the path of the buddhas, Those with little understanding Would be confused and perplexed And would not accept the teaching. I know that these sentient beings

Have never cultivated the roots of good merit.

They are attached to the desires of the five senses, Disordered by delusion and passion,

And have fallen into the three troubled states of being Because of these desires. They are wandering through

The six transmigratory states,

Tormented by every kind of suffering. They are continually being born as tiny embryos In one world after another.

These people of few qualities and little merit Are afflicted by various sufferings.

They enter into the jungle of sixty-two false views Such as “This exists” or “This does not exist.” They are so firmly and deeply attached to false teachings That they cannot get rid of them.

They are arrogant, proud, deceitful, and dishonest. They have heard neither the names

Nor the True Dharma of the buddhas For thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas.

Such people are difficult to save.

That is why, O Śāriputra, I devised the method of teaching The way to extinguish all suffering through nirvana. Even though I taught nirvana, It is not the true extinction.

Every existing thing from the very beginning Has always had the mark of quiescence.

The heirs of the buddhas who practice this path Will thereafter become buddhas in the future.

With the power of skillful means

I have presented the teachings of the three vehicles.

Yet all of the Bhagavats

Teach the path of the single vehicle.

This great assembly

Should now rid itself of confusion.

The words of the buddhas are not inconsistent.                            8c

There is only the single vehicle; There is no other.

In the past innumerable kalpas

There appeared immeasurable and incalculable buddhas, Hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis in number, Who have attained parinirvāṇa.

All the Bhagavats

Taught the characteristics of all dharmas

With the power of innumerable skillful means, Using various examples and illustrations. All these Bhagavats

Taught the Dharma of the single vehicle, Led and inspired immeasurable sentient beings,

And enabled them to enter the path of the buddhas.

Understanding the deepest desires of the entire world

Of the devas, humans, and other beings, The Great Sage Lord has illuminated

The highest meaning With diverse skillful means. All those sentient beings

Who encountered and heard the teaching

Of the buddhas of the past,

And who accumulated various merits

Through acts of giving (dāna), integrity (śīla), perseverance (kṣānti),

Diligence (vīrya), meditation (dhyāna), and wisdom (prajñā)     (i.e., the six perfections)

Have certainly attained the path of the buddhas.

And after the parinirvāṇa of the buddhas, Those sentient beings with well-governed minds Have certainly attained the path of the buddhas. After the buddhas attained parinirvāṇa,

All those who paid homage to the relics, Who made myriads of koṭis of stupas

Extensively and beautifully adorned with gold, silver,

Crystal, mother of pearl, agate, ruby,

Lapis lazuli, and pearl;

Those who made rock stupas,

Stupas out of sandal, aloe, deodar, and other woods, As well as brick, tile, mud, and other materials; All those who made buddha stupas

Out of piles of earth in desolate places;

And even children in play

Who made buddha stupas out of heaps of sand—

All such people have certainly attained The path of the buddhas.

And all those who made images of the buddhas Carved with their extraordinary marks

Have certainly attained the path of the buddhas. All those who made buddha images

Out of the seven treasures,

Decorated with brass, copper, pewter, lead,

Tin, iron, wood, mud, glue, lacquer, and cloth,

       Have certainly attained the path of the buddhas.

All those who made or had others make buddha images Painted with the one hundred embellishing

Marks of merit,

Have certainly attained the path of the buddhas. This even includes children in play Who have drawn a buddha image With a blade of grass or a twig, Brush or fingernail.

Such people, having gradually accumulated merit And perfected great compassion,

Have certainly attained the path of the buddhas. Leading and inspiring the bodhisattvas, They save countless sentient beings.

All those who paid homage to stupas, Sculpted or painted images,

Honoring them with flowers, perfumes,

Banners, and canopies;

Those who paid homage with all kinds of sweet music— With drums, horns, conches, pipes, flutes, lutes, harps, Mandolins, gongs, and cymbals;

Those who joyfully praised the qualities of the buddhas With various songs or

Even with a single low-pitched sound,

Have certainly attained the path of the buddhas. Those who, even with distracted minds

Have offered a single flower to a painted image Will in time see innumerable buddhas.

Or those who have done obeisance to images, Or merely pressed their palms together, Or raised a single hand, or nodded their heads, Will in due time see immeasurable buddhas. They will attain the highest path

And extensively save innumerable sentient beings. They will enter nirvana without residue

Just as a fire goes out after its wood is exhausted.

Those who, even with distracted minds, Entered a stupa compound

And chanted but once, “Homage to the Buddha!”

Have certainly attained the path of the buddhas. Anyone who heard this teaching,

Either in the presence of a past buddha

Or after their parinirvāṇa,

Has certainly attained the path of the buddhas. The future Bhagavats, Tathāgatas,

Immeasurable in number,

Will teach the Dharma with skillful means.

9b        All the Tathāgatas

Will save sentient beings

With immeasurable skillful means,

Causing them to enter the wisdom of the buddhas That is free from corruption.

Of those hearing this Dharma

There will be no one Who will not become a buddha.

The original vow of the buddhas

Was to cause all sentient beings to universally Attain the very same buddha path That I have practiced.

Even though the buddhas of the future Will teach hundreds of thousands of koṭis Of innumerable paths to the Dharma, Their teachings will actually be

For the sake of the single vehicle.

All the buddhas, the Best of Humans,

Know that all dharmas are ever without substance And that the buddha-seeds germinate Through dependent origination.

That is why they will teach the single vehicle.

Having realized on the terrace of enlightenment That the state of the Dharma

Is permanent and unchangeable in this world, The Leaders will teach with skillful means.

The present buddhas of the ten directions,

As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, Revered by devas and humans,

Appear in the world and teach this Dharma To make sentient beings feel at peace. They know the utmost tranquility,

And although they teach various paths

With the power of skillful means,

Their teachings are actually for the buddha vehicle. Knowing the character of sentient beings— Their deep intentions, past acts,

Wishes, persistence, and strength, Their keen or dull faculties— The buddhas teach with skillful means

Using various explanations, illustrations, and words, In accordance with the capacities of sentient beings. Now I too reveal the path of the buddhas Through various paths to the Dharma To make sentient beings feel at peace.

Through the power of my wisdom

I know the dispositions and desires of sentient beings, And explain various teachings with skillful means, Enabling them all to obtain joy.

O Śāriputra!

You should know that through the buddha-eye

I see beings wandering in the six states of existence Who are poor, deprived of merit and wisdom,

Who are entering into the bitter path of birth and death, And are suffering repeatedly and without end.

They are deeply attached to the desires of the five senses, Just as yaks are attached to their tails.

Obstructed by greed, they are blind and cannot see.

They do not seek the buddha who has great power,                    9c

Nor the Dharma that cuts off suffering.

Deeply immersed in false views,

They try to eliminate suffering through suffering.

I feel great compassion For such sentient beings.

Sitting on the terrace of enlightenment for the first time,

Looking at the bodhi tree And walking about,

During those twenty-one days I was thinking thus: The wisdom I have attained Is subtle and supreme.

But the faculties of sentient beings are dull.

They are attached to pleasures and blinded by delusion. How can I save such beings?

Then Brahma and his devaputras, Śakra,

The world-protectors of the four quarters, Maheśvara and the other devas,

Together with a retinue of hundreds

Of thousands of myriads of attendants,

Paid their respects with palms pressed together And begged me to turn the wheel of the Dharma. Then I thought:

If I only praise the buddha vehicles, Those beings who are submerged in suffering Will not believe this Dharma.

Because they reject and do not believe the Dharma,

They will fall into the three troubled states of being. I would rather not teach the Dharma And instead immediately enter nirvana. Then I thought of the power of skillful means Practiced by past buddhas.

This path that I have attained

Should now also be taught as the three vehicles.

When I thought this,

The buddhas of the ten directions appeared

And with beautiful voices praised me saying:

O Śākyamuni! Splendid!

O Supreme Leader,

You have attained the highest Dharma, And yet still use the power of skillful means, Following all the other buddhas.

We too have attained the best and utmost Dharma And with discretion have explained the three vehicles For the sake of sentient beings. Those with little wisdom

Seek inferior teachings

And do not believe that they will become buddhas.

That is why we use skillful means And with discretion teach of various results. Although we teach the three vehicles

It is just for the instruction of the bodhisattvas!

O Śāriputra!

You should know

That when I heard this profound

And beautiful roar of the Noble Lions,

I chanted with joy, “Homage to the buddhas!”

And I thought:                                                                                10a

Since I have been born in this defiled world I will follow the other buddhas

And expound what they have expounded.

After contemplating this I set out for Vārāṇasī.

All dharmas have the tranquil character Of the Dharma:

This could not be expressed in words, So I taught the five monks

Through the power of skillful means. This I named: “Turning the Wheel of the Dharma,” And immediately the word nirvana appeared in it And the different designations for Arhat (Buddha), Dharma, and Sangha. From a great many kalpas ago I have always taught like this:

I have praised and illuminated The teaching of nirvana, Saying that it ends the sufferings Of birth and death.

O Śāriputra!

You should know that I see

Immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭis Of the Buddha’s heirs,

Who, having set out for the buddha path,

And heard the Dharma explained with skillful means, Have respectfully come before the Buddha. Then I thought:

The reason why the Tathāgatas appear is To explain the wisdom of the buddhas.

Now is precisely the right time for this!

O Śāriputra!

You should know that

Those who have dull faculties and little wisdom,

And those who are attached to mere signs and Are arrogant cannot accept this teaching.

Now I am happy and fearless.

Having openly set aside skillful means,

I will teach only the highest path To all the bodhisattvas.

Having heard this teaching

The bodhisattvas and twelve hundred arhats, Freeing themselves from the web of doubt, Will all become buddhas.

Just as the buddhas in the three periods Of the past, present, and future, Teach the true nature of the Dharma, Now I too will expound the Dharma That is beyond conception.

All the buddhas Appear in worlds far away And are difficult to meet.

Even if they appear in this world It is difficult to hear their teaching.

Even in immeasurable, innumerable kalpas It is difficult to hear this Dharma, And those who are able to hear this Dharma Are also hard to find.

They are just like the uḍumbara flower

Which appears only once in a very long while

And, beloved by all,

Is considered a wonder among devas and humans.

Those who, hearing this teaching,

Happily praise the buddhas

By uttering even a single word Have already paid homage to all buddhas Of the three periods.

Such people are even more extraordinary Than the uḍumbara flower.

All of you, have no doubts! I, the King of the Dharma,

Now proclaim to the great assembly:

I lead and inspire the bodhisattvas Only with the path of the single vehicle; I am here without disciples.

O Śāriputra and all of you!

The śrāvakas and bodhisattvas should know

That this True Dharma is the hidden essence Of all the buddhas.

In the troubled worlds of the five kinds of defilement, Sentient beings are only attached to various desires, And ultimately do not seek the path of the buddhas. In the future the impure will hear

The Buddha teach the single vehicle,

But they will be confused and will not accept it. They will reject the Dharma

And fall into the troubled states of being.

To those who are modest and pure, And seek the path of the buddhas, I will praise extensively The path of the single vehicle.

O Śāriputra!

You should know that the Dharma Of all the buddhas is like this.

They teach the Dharma

With myriads of koṭis of skillful means,

According to the capacities of sentient beings; The inexperienced cannot understand this.

You have come to know with certainty the skillful means

Of the buddhas, the Teachers of the World, That are expounded in accordance With people’s capacities.

All of you, have no further doubts!

Let great joy arise in your hearts

And know that you will all become buddhas!

Chapter III

A Parable

Thereupon Śāriputra stood up ecstatic and joyful, pressed his palms together and, gazing at the Buddha, the Bhagavat, said: “Now, hearing the words of this Dharma from the Bhagavat, my heart is full of joy for I have experienced ^10c something unprecedented. What is the reason for this? In the past when I heard this Dharma from the Buddha and saw the bodhisattvas receive their predictions, I was not included. I grieved because I thought I had been deprived of the immeasurable wisdom and insight of the Tathāgata.

“O Bhagavat! While I was dwelling alone under forest trees, whether sitting or walking, I was constantly thinking this: ‘Since we have also realized the true nature of the Dharma, why has the Tathāgata tried to save us with the teachings of the inferior vehicle?’

“The fault is ours, not the Bhagavat’s. Why is this? If we had waited for your explanation about the way to achieve highest, complete enlightenment, we certainly would have been able to save ourselves by means of the Mahayana. However, we did not understand that you were teaching with skillful means, according to what is appropriate to us. When we first heard the Buddha’s teaching, we immediately accepted, contemplated, and understood it.

“O Bhagavat! Since long ago I have reproached myself incessantly day and night. But now from the Buddha we have heard the unprecedented Dharma that we have never heard before, and it has removed all our doubts.

“I have obtained peace and tranquility in body and mind. Today I have finally realized that I am truly the heir of the Buddha, born from the mouth of the Buddha, incarnated from the Dharma, and that I have inherited a part of the Buddha-Dharma.”

Then Śāriputra, wanting to elaborate this meaning, spoke again in verse:

When I heard the words of this Dharma,

Experiencing something unprecedented,

My heart overflowed with joy, And I was rid of all my doubts.

From long ago, ever since I heard The teaching of the Buddha, I have not lost the Mahayana.

The words of the buddhas are extremely rare And are capable of ridding sentient beings Of their suffering.

Although I had already attained Freedom from corruption, By hearing the Buddha’s voice,

I have also been rid of my anxiety.

Whether I was dwelling

In mountain valleys or under forest trees, Whether I was sitting or walking, Grieving and blaming myself deeply, I thought incessantly:

How have I deceived myself!

I am also the heir of the buddhas,

Having entered the same incorruptible Dharma. Nevertheless, in the future,

I shall not be able to explain the highest path. The golden color, the thirty-two marks,

The ten powers, and the liberations

Are all in the same Dharma;

And yet I have not attained any of these.

Moreover, such qualities as

The eighty excellent and eighteen special characteristics Are completely lost to me.

11a      When I was wandering alone,

I saw the Buddha in the great assembly Filling the ten directions with his fame And greatly benefiting sentient beings.

I then thought:

I have lost all these benefits

Because I have been deceiving myself. I thought about this constantly day and night And wanted to ask the Bhagavat:

Have I or have I not lost these?

I always saw the Bhagavat Praising the bodhisattvas.

That is why I pondered over such matters As these both day and night.

Now I have heard the words of the Buddha, Explaining to sentient beings The incorruptible Dharma,

Which is difficult to comprehend, And making them enter

The terrace of enlightenment. Formerly, I was attached to false views And was a teacher of brahmans.

The Bhagavat, knowing my mind, Removed the false views and taught nirvana. I got rid of false views completely

And attained the teaching of emptiness. At that time I considered myself To have attained nirvana.

But now I have become aware That this was not the real nirvana.

When I become a buddha

I shall be endowed with the thirty-two marks,

And be honored by devas, humans, yakṣas, and nāgas.

Only then can it be said that I have Permanently attained nirvana without residue.

Before the great assembly

The Buddha has proclaimed

That I will become a buddha.

After hearing these words of the Dharma, I was immediately rid of all my doubts. When I first heard this teaching of the Buddha’s, I was greatly startled and thought:

I wonder if Māra, acting like the Buddha, Is confusing me!

But the Buddha, who teaches skillfully By means of various explanations and illustrations, Has made my mind tranquil like the ocean.

While listening to him

I was freed from the web of my doubts.

The Buddha has said that immeasurable buddhas

Who have attained Parinirvana in the past, Established in the use of skillful means, Have also taught this Dharma.

Immeasurable buddhas in the present and future Will also teach this Dharma With various skillful means. The present Bhagavat,

From the time he was born And renounced household life

Until he obtained the path And turned the wheel of the Dharma, Has also taught through skillful means.

The Bhagavat teaches the real path, But the Wicked One does not.

Therefore I know definitely

That it was not Māra acting like the Buddha. Because I fell into a web of doubt,

I thought that Māra was impersonating the Buddha.

When I heard the voice of the Buddha,

Profound and very subtle, Fluently explaining the pure Dharma, I became full of great joy.

My doubts are completely and forever exhausted, And I have achieved the true wisdom. I will definitely become a buddha, Honored by devas and humans.

I will turn the wheel of the highest Dharma And lead and inspire the bodhisattvas.

At that time the Buddha said to Śāriputra: “I will now reveal to you before the great assembly of devas, humans, śrāmaṇas, and brahmans that in the past, in the presence of two hundred thousand koṭis of buddhas, I led and inspired you constantly for the sake of the highest path. You have followed my instructions for a long time. Because I led you with skillful means, you were born in my Dharma.

“O Śāriputra! In the past I inspired you to seek the buddha path. Yet just now you had completely forgotten this and considered yourself to have attained nirvana. Now, because I want you to remember the path that you practiced according to your original vow in the past, I will teach the śrāvakas the Mahayana sutra called the Lotus Sutra, the instruction for the bodhisattvas and treasured lore of the buddhas.’

“O Śāriputra! In the future after immeasurable, limitless, and inconceivable kalpas, you will have paid homage to thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas, preserved the True Dharma, and mastered the path practiced by the bodhisattvas. You will become a buddha called Padmaprabha, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, WellDeparted, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat.

“Your land will be called Viraja. Its earth will be level and pure, ornamented, peaceful, and rich. The devas and humans will prosper. The earth will be made of lapis lazuli with a well-planned network of roads like a chessboard bordered with golden cords. Rows of seven-jeweled trees, which are always full of flowers and fruits, will line the borders of these roads. The Tathāgata Padma prabha will also lead and inspire sentient beings by means of the three vehicles.

“O Śāriputra! When that buddha appears, even though his will not be a troubled world, he will teach the three vehicles because of his original vow.

This kalpa will be called Mahāratnaprati maṇḍita, meaning ‘Adorned with Great Jewels.’ Why will it be called Mahā ratnapratimaṇḍita? Because in that world the bodhisattvas will be like great jewels. The number of these bodhisattvas will be immeasurable, limitless, inconceivable, and beyond all comparison, known only by those with the power of the Buddha’s wisdom.

“When they want to walk they will step on jeweled flowers. And these

11c bodhisattvas will not be those who are just setting out. Over a long time they will have planted roots of good merit and practiced the pure path of discipline and integrity in the presence of immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas. They will always be praised by the buddhas and continually practice the buddha wisdom. They will be endowed with transcendent powers and know well all the teachings of the Dharma. They will be honest, without falsity, and firm in recollection. That world will be filled with bodhisattvas like these.

“O Śāriputra! The lifespan of this buddha Padmaprabha will be twelve intermediate kalpas, not including the period after he becomes a prince and before he becomes a buddha; and the lifes pan of the people in that world will be eight intermediate kalpas.

“After these twelve intermediate kalpas have passed, the Tathāgata Padmaprabha will predict Bodhisattva Dhṛti pari pūrṇa’s attainment of highest, complete enlightenment and will address the monks, saying:

This Bodhisattva Dhṛti paripūrṇa will become the next buddha after me. His name will be Padmavṛṣabhavikrama, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened. His buddha world will also be like this one.

“O Śāriputra! After the parinirvāṇa of the Buddha Padma prabha the True Dharma will remain in the world for thirty-two intermediate kalpas and the Semblance Dharma will also remain in the world for thirty-two intermediate kalpas.”

Then the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this again,

spoke these verses:

O Śāriputra! In the future

You will become a buddha of universal wisdom Named Padmaprabha,

Who will save innumerable sentient beings.

Having paid homage to innumerable buddhas, Perfected the bodhisattva practice, And the qualities, including the ten powers, You will attain the highest path.

After immeasurable kalpas have passed, The kalpa will be called Prabhūtaratna, And the world will be called Viraja, Pure and without dirt.

The earth will be made of lapis lazuli

And the roads, bordered with golden cords,

Will be lined with variegated trees of the seven treasures Which are always full of flowers and fruits. The bodhisattvas in that world Will be always firm in recollection.

All of them will be completely endowed

With transcendent powers and the perfections And will have properly practiced the bodhisattva path In the presence of innumerable buddhas. Such mahasattvas as these

Will be led and inspired by the Buddha Padmaprabha.

When this buddha becomes a prince He will abdicate his kingship And give up his worldly fame.

Bearing his last body, He will renounce household life And attain the path of the Buddha.

This Buddha Padmaprabha will live in the world For twelve intermediate kalpas.

And the lifespan of the people in this world Will be eight intermediate kalpas.

After the parinirvāṇa of this buddha,

The True Dharma will last in the world

For thirty-two intermediate kalpas,                                                     

During which time many sentient beings Will be saved.

After the extinction of the True Dharma, The Semblance Dharma will last

For thirty-two intermediate kalpas.

The relics of the Buddha

Will be distributed widely

And devas and humans will pay them homage. All that the Buddha Padmaprabha does Will be exactly like this.

That very Best of Humans,

Who will be foremost and without comparison, Is none other than you.

You should be delighted to hear this!

At that time the fourfold assembly of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen and the great assembly of devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas saw Śāriputra receive his prediction of highest, complete enlightenment in the presence of the Buddha. They rejoiced greatly and became immeasurably happy. All of them removed their outer garments and proffered them to the Buddha as offerings.

Śakra, the lord of devas, and Brahma, together with innumerable devaputras also made offerings to the Buddha of their heavenly beautiful garments, heavenly māndārava flowers, and great māndārava flowers. Their heavenly garments floated and fluttered in the air, while in the sky the devas played hundreds of thousands of myriads of kinds of music together at one time. They rained down various heavenly flowers and said: “In the past the Buddha turned the wheel of the Dharma for the first time in Vārā ṇasī. Now he has turned the wheel of the utmost and greatest Dharma again.”

Thereupon the devaputras spoke these verses in order to explain this

again:

In the past you turned the wheel of the Dharma Of the Four [Noble] Truths in Vārāṇasī;

And you illuminated and explained the Dharma

Of the origination and extinction of the five aggregates.

You have now again turned the wheel

Of the subtlest, utmost, and greatest Dharma.

This Dharma is extremely profound; Only a few will be able to believe it.

Since long ago we have frequently heard

The teaching of the Bhagavat,

Yet we have never before heard Such a profound and supreme teaching. When the Bhagavat taught this Dharma We were all delighted.

And now Śāriputra, possessed of great wisdom, Has received his prediction from the Bhagavat. In the same way, we too,

Shall certainly become buddhas. We shall become peerless, Unrivaled in all the world.

The path of the Buddha,

Which is difficult to understand,

Is taught with skillful means

According to what is appropriate for sentient beings.

May the merits of our beneficial acts,

Whether of the past or the present,

And those acquired in meeting the Buddha,                                      

Be completely transferred to the buddha path.

At that time Śāriputra said this to the Buddha: “O Bhagavat! I now have no further doubts. I have received the prediction of the highest supreme enlightenment in the presence of the Buddha.

“When all those twelve hundred who have attained complete mental discipline were still under training in the past, the  Buddha constantly led and inspired them, saying: ‘My teaching overcomes birth, old age, illness, and death and it leads to nirvana.’ Both those who were still in training and those who were not thought that they were free from false views about the self, existence and nonexistence, and declared that they had attained nirvana. Yet now, in the presence of the Bhagavat, they have heard what they have never heard before and have fallen into doubt.

“Splendid, O Bhagavat! I entreat you to explain to the fourfold assembly

the reason why, and free them from their doubts!”

Then the Buddha said to Śāriputra: “Did I not previously tell you that all the Buddha Bhagavats explain the Dharma with various explanations and illustrations using skillful means, all for the sake of highest, complete enlightenment!? All of these teachings are for leading and inspiring the bodhisattvas. “Moreover, Śāriputra, I will now clarify what I mean with illustrations. Those with wisdom will be able to understand through these illustrations.

“O Śāriputra! Suppose there were an aged and extremely affluent man, either in a town, city, or country, who has immeasurable wealth, abundant estates, mansions, and servants. He has a spacious house, yet it only has a single entrance. Suppose many people live there, as many as one, two, or even five hundred people. The buildings are in poor repair, the fences and walls are crumbling, the pillar bases are rotten, and the beams and framework are dangerously tilted.

“Suddenly and unexpectedly, fires break out everywhere, setting the house swiftly aflame. The children of this man, ten, twenty, or thirty in number are in the house.

“The affluent man, seeing the fire breaking out everywhere, becomes

alarmed and terrified. He thinks:

I am capable of escaping through the burning entrance in safety, but my children are absorbed in play within the burning house and are not aware [of the fire], do not know, are not alarmed or terrified, and the fire is approaching them! They are not troubled about their suffering nor do they intend to leave the house.

“O Śāriputra, this affluent man thought:

Since I am still physically strong I could take the children out of the house in the folds of my garment or on top of a desk.

“He further thought:

There is only one entrance to this house and it is very narrow. The children, who are immature and still unaware, are attached to their place of play. They may fall into danger and be burned by the fire. I should now tell them of the danger; this house is already burning! They must escape as quickly as they can to avoid being burned by the fire! “After considering this he urged the children according to his thought: Children! Run out immediately!

“Although their father in his concern has given them the proper advice,                                          12c

the children are immersed in their play and do not accept it; they are neither alarmed nor afraid and have no intention of leaving [the burning house]. Moreover, they do not even know what a fire is, the condition of the house, or what they may lose. They merely run about, back and forth, looking at their father.

“Thereupon the affluent man thought:

This house is already engulfed in flames. If my children and I do not get out, we shall perish in the fire. I will now use skillful means to help my children escape from this disaster.

“Since the father already knew that his children were attached to various

rare toys and unusual things that each of them liked, he said to them: The toys you are fond of are rare and hard to obtain. If you do not take them you will certainly regret it later. Right now, outside the house, there are three kinds of carts. One is yoked to a sheep, one to a deer, and one to an ox. Go play with them. Children! Run out of this burning house immediately and I will give you whatever you want!

“The children, hearing what their father had said about the rare toys, became excited and, in their eagerness to get to them they pushed each other out of the way in a mad rush out of the burning house.

“Then the affluent man saw that his children had got out safely and were sitting unharmed in an open area at a crossroad. He was relieved, happy, and joyful. The children said to their father:

Father, please give us the toys you promised: those [three] carts, one yoked to a sheep, one to a deer, and one to an ox!

“O Śāriputra, the affluent man then gave each child the same kind of large cart. These carts were tall and spacious, adorned with various jewels, and encircled with railings full of hanging bells. On the tops of the carts were canopies also decorated with various kinds of jewels. These carts were draped with jeweled cords and hung with flower garlands. They were thickly piled with fabrics, and red pillows had been placed about. These carts were each yoked to an ox with a spotlessly white hide. These oxen had beautiful bodies with powerful muscles, even gaits, and were as swift as the wind; and there were many attendants guarding them. Why did the affluent man give these carts? Because the man had great and immeasurable wealth and his abundant storehouses were full. He thus thought further:

Since my treasure has no limit, I should not give my children inferior carts. These are my children and I love them all equally. I have an immeasurable number of large carts such as these, decorated with the seven treasures. I should equally distribute them to each child without discrimination. Why is this? Even if I gave carts like these to everyone in the country, their number would not be exhausted. Why should I not give them to my own children?

 “At that time, the children each climbed into a great cart and had an unprecedented experience, one beyond their original expectations.

“O Śāriputra! What do you think about this? This affluent man gave to his children equally a large cart decorated with precious treasures. Has he deceived them or not?”

Śāriputra replied: “No Bhagavat! The affluent man only tried to help his children escape from the disastrous fire. He saved their lives and did not deceive them. This is by no means a deception. Why? Because by saving their lives they obtained marvelous toys. Moreover, they were saved from the burning house by skillful means.

“O Bhagavat! If this affluent man had not given them even the smallest cart, it still would not have been a deception. Why is this? Because this affluent man thought before:

I will help my children escape with skillful means.

“This is why it was not a deception. How much more so, since the affluent man, knowing that he had immeasurable wealth and wanting to benefit them equally, gave each of his children a large [ox]cart.”

The Buddha said to Śāriputra: “Splendid, splendid! It is exactly as you have said. O Śāriputra, the Tathāgata is also just like this. That is to say, as the father of the entire world, he permanently dispels fear, distress, anxiety, ignorance, and blindness. He has attained immeasurable wisdom, insight, power, and fearlessness, as well as great transcendent powers and the power of wisdom. He has attained the perfection of skillful means and of wisdom. With his great mercy and compassion he incessantly and indefatigably seeks the welfare of all beings and benefits them all.

“The Tathāgata appears in the triple world, which is like a decaying old house on fire, to rescue sentient beings from the fire of birth, old age, illness, and death, anxiety, sorrow, suffering, distress, delusion, blindness, and the three poisons of greed, hatred, and ignorance. Thus he leads and inspires sentient beings and causes them to attain highest, complete enlightenment.

“The Tathāgatas see all sentient beings burning in the fire of birth, old age, illness, and death, anxiety, sorrow, suffering, and distress. Because of the desires of the five senses and the desire for monetary profit they also experience various kinds of suffering. Because of their attachment and pursuits they experience various kinds of suffering in the present; and in the future they will suffer in the states of existence of hell, animals, and hungry ghosts (pretas). If they are born in the heavens or in the human world they will experience a variety of sorrows such as suffering from poverty and destitution, separation from loved ones, or suffering from encounters with those they dislike.

“Although sentient beings are immersed in such sorrows, they rejoice and play. They are not aware, shocked, startled, or disgusted nor do they seek release. Running around in the burning house of the triple world, they experience great suffering and yet they do not realize it.

“O Śāriputra! Seeing these things the Buddha thought:

Since I am the father of sentient beings I must rid them of their immeasurable suffering and distress. I will cause them to rejoice through the immeasurable and limitless pleasure of the buddha wisdom.

“O Śāriputra! The Tathāgata further thought:

If I proclaim the Tathāgata’s wisdom, insight, power, and fear lessness to sentient beings with my transcendent powers and the power of my 13b wisdom alone, without using skillful means, it will be impossible to

save them. Why is this? Because these sentient beings have not escaped from birth, old age, illness, and death; anxiety, sorrow, suffering, and distress; and are being burned in the blazing house of the triple world. How would they be able to understand the Buddha’s wisdom?

“O Śāriputra! Although that affluent man had physical strength he did not use it. He only earnestly employed skillful means to save his children from the disaster of the burning house, and later he gave each of them a large cart decorated with precious treasures. The Tathāgata is exactly like this.

“Although the Tathāgata has power and fearlessness he does not use them, but rescues sentient beings from the burning house of the triple world only through wisdom and skillful means, teaching the three vehicles to the śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and the buddhas, saying:

Do not take pleasure in living in this burning house of the triple world. And do not thirst after inferior objects, sounds, smells, flavors, and tangibles. If you are attached to these objects and have desires, then you will be burned. Leave the triple world in haste and you will obtain the three vehicles—the vehicles for the śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and buddhas. I definitely guarantee this to you. In the end it will come true. You should be diligent and persistent!

“The Tathāgata attracts sentient beings through this skillful means, saying

further:

You should know that the Noble Ones praise the teachings of these three vehicles that are self-directed, unrestricted, and independent. When they ride in them, sentient beings will enjoy faculties free from corruption and also powers, paths to enlightenment, meditation, liberation, and concentration. And they themselves will attain immeasurable ease and pleasure.

“O Śāriputra! Those beings, wise by nature, who accept the Dharma from the Buddha Bhagavat, who are diligent, persistent, and wish to escape from the triple world quickly, and who are seeking nirvana, are all practicing the śrāvaka vehicle. They are like those children who left the burning house seeking the cart yoked to a sheep.

“Those beings who accept the Dharma of the Buddha Bhagavat, who are diligent and persevere in seeking the wisdom of the Self-generated One and enjoy tranquility for themselves, who profoundly know the causes of and reasons for existence, are all practicing the pratyekabuddha vehicle. They are just like those children who left the burning house seeking the cart yoked to a deer.

“Those beings who accept the Dharma of the Buddha Bhagavat, who are diligent and persevere in seeking the wisdom of the Omniscient One, the wisdom of the Buddha, the wisdom of the Self-generated One, the wisdom acquired without a teacher, the wisdom and insight, powers, and fearlessness of the Tathāgata; who are compassionate, put immeasurable sentient beings at ease, benefit devas and humans, and save all beings, are all practicing the Mahayana. Bodhisattvas are called mahāsattvas (great beings) because they seek this vehicle. They are just like those children who left the burning house seeking the cart yoked to an ox.

“O Śāriputra! That affluent man saw his children leave the burning house                                           13c

safely and arrive at a safe place. Knowing that he had immeasurable wealth, he gave a large cart equally to each child. The Tathāgata is exactly like this. As the father of all sentient beings he sees that immeasurable thousands of koṭis of sentient beings escape from the dangers, sufferings, and fears of the triple world through the gates of the Buddha’s teaching and attain the pleasure of nirvana.

“Then the Tathāgata thought:

Because I possess the treasure house of the Dharma of all the buddhas, which contains immeasurable limitless wisdom, power, and fearlessness, and because all sentient beings are my children, I will give them equally the Mahayana. I will not allow anyone to attain nirvana merely for himself but will cause everyone to attain it through the Tathāgata’s nirvana.

I will give sentient beings who have escaped from the triple world all the toys of the Buddha’s meditations and liberations, which are of one character and one kind, are praised by the Noble Ones, and which produce pure and supreme pleasure.

“O Śāriputra! At first that affluent man attracted his children with three kinds of carts, then later gave them only the safest and best large [ox]cart, adorned with jewels. Moreover, that affluent man was never accused of telling a lie. The Tathāgata is exactly like this. He tells no lies.

“In the beginning the Tathāgata teaches the three vehicles in order to lead sentient beings. And later he saves them through only the Mahayana. Why is this? Because the Tathāgata possesses the treasure house of the Dharma, which contains immeasurable wisdom, power, and fearlessness. And although he is able to give the teaching of the Mahayana to all sentient beings, not all of them can accept it.

“O Śāriputra! You should know that the buddhas, with the power of skillful means, teach the single buddha vehicle, dividing and teaching it as three.”

Then the Buddha, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this again,

spoke these verses:

Suppose there were an affluent man

Whohad a large house, And this house was very old, On the verge of collapsing.

The halls were extremely dangerous,

The pillar bases rotten and disintegrating, The beams and framework dangerously tilted, And the stairways were falling apart. The fences and walls were cracked, The plaster was peeling off,

The thatched roof was falling down, The rafters and eaves were coming apart, The partitions were everywhere askew,

And the whole place was covered with filth. Five hundred people lived there,

And moving around helter-skelter were

Kites, owls, hawks, eagles, crows, magpies,

Doves, pigeons, lizards, snakes, vipers, Scorpions, centipedes, millipedes,

Newts, myriapods, ferrets, badgers, mice, Rats, and other harmful creatures.

It was filled with stench,

And there were places overflowing with excrement. All kinds of bugs

Had gathered there.

There were foxes, wolves, and vermin

Devouring, trampling, and gnawing on corpses,

Scattering bones and flesh about;

And a pack of dogs,

Forcing each other out of the way,                                                     

Rushed to the spot—

Frightened and exhausted from hunger,

They were searching everywhere for food,

Fighting among themselves, snatching at food, Biting, snarling, and barking at each other.

This house was terrifying,

Corrupted to this grotesque condition: Ogres of the mountains and valleys, Yakṣas, and demons were everywhere Devouring human flesh.

There were various poisonous insects, All kinds of harmful birds of prey, And beasts who were producing, rearing, And protecting their offspring.

Yakṣas were scrabbling and fighting to devour them. And after sating themselves,

Evil thoughts would arise in them. The sound of their fighting Was terrifying.

The kumbhāṇḍa demons were crouching on the ground, Sometimes rising up a foot or two.

Roaming about, pleasing themselves as they liked, They would catch two legs of a dog, Beat it until it could not bark

And grabbing the dog’s neck with their legs, Terrify it for their own amusement.

There were also other demons living there With large bodies, naked, dark, and gaunt. They were screaming horrifying howls, Crying out while searching for food.

Other demons were there,

Some with needlelike throats,

While others had necks

Like a cow’s head;

Some had those of human flesh-eaters or dog-devourers. Their hair was disheveled like rank weeds And they were destructive and malicious. Driven by hunger and thirst, They were crying and scurrying about.

Yakṣas, hungry ghosts,

And various malicious birds and beasts Were peering out of the windows And running frantically in all directions, Driven by hunger.

In this house, with its immeasurable terrors,

There were many such horrendous things as these. Now suppose this old and decaying house

Belonged to a man,

And this man came out from it a short distance. Soon after, the house suddenly Burst into flames behind him.

The fire instantly spread in all directions.

The frame, beams, rafters, and pillars exploded,

And shaking, split and crashed, While the fences and walls collapsed.

All the demons screamed out loudly.

The hawks, eagles, other birds,

And kumbhāṇḍa demons, panicked and terrified, Could not get out.

Malicious beasts and poisonous insects Concealed themselves in holes.

There were also piśāca demons dwelling there Who, because of little merit, Were chased by the flames.

They were tearing at each other,

Drinking blood and eating flesh.

A horde of vermin had already died off, And the large malicious beasts

Raced to devour them,

While the smoke of the stench flowed And filled everywhere.

As the centipedes, millipedes,

And poisonous snakes rushed,

Burning, out of their holes                                                                   

The kumbhāṇḍa demons devoured them One after another.

The hungry ghosts, with their hair on fire, Ravenous, thirsty, and suffering from the heat, Frantically scurried about.

In this way, the house was extremely terrifying With poison and fire,

And disasters more than one.

Then the householder, who was standing

Outside the entrance of the house, Heard someone say:

Just a moment ago,

In the midst of their play,

Your children entered this house.

Being young and ignorant, They are attached to playing games. Hearing this, the affluent man was startled And went into the burning house

To save them from the disaster of the fire. As he thought fit, he warned the children And explained the various dangers:

There are malicious demons, poisonous insects, And the fire is raging everywhere. There are endless horrors, One right after another.

There are poisonous snakes, lizards, vipers,

Yakṣas, kumbhāṇḍa demons, vermin, Foxes, dogs, hawks, eagles, kites,

Owls, and centipedes, all acutely suffering From hunger and thirst And all extremely terrifying. These horrors are difficult to deal with, How much more so the conflagration!

But the children, being ignorant, Would not listen to their father’s warning. Still attached to their games, They kept right on playing.

Thereupon the affluent man thought:

My children by doing this Increase my distress!

There is nothing to enjoy now in this house.

Nevertheless, my children who are absorbed in play Will not accept my instructions And so will be hurt by the fire.

Then he immediately thought That he should advise his children Using various skillful means, and said:

I have a variety of unusual toys

Such as fine carts adorned with beautiful treasures, Yoked to sheep, deer, and oxen.

They are just outside the gate.

O children! Come out of the house!

I had these carts made for you.

Play with them as you like!

Hearing about these carts, The children immediately started To push each other out of the way To get out of the house.

Arriving at an open area, They escaped from the disaster.

The affluent man, seeing that his children Had escaped from the burning house And were standing at the crossroads, Sat down on his lion seat. Then he joyously said:

Now I am happy!

It is extremely difficult to raise these children.

Foolish and ignorant, They entered a dangerous house

Full of various poisonous insects,

Terrifying ogres from mountains and valleys, And a raging fire that broke out in all directions.

In spite of this, 14c

These children were attached to playing their games. But by causing them to escape from the disaster, I have saved them.

Therefore, my people, I now feel at ease.

Thereupon the children,

Seeing their father sitting in peace, Approached him saying:

Please, father,

Give us the three kinds of carts Adorned with treasures

That you just promised us,

When you said that if we, your children, came out You would give us three kinds of carts Just as we like.

Now is the right time.

Give them to us right away!

This affluent man,

Who was extremely wealthy,

Had an abundance of treasures. He had a number of great carts made,

Adorned with various precious things Like gold, silver, lapis lazuli, Mother-of-pearl, and agate.

They were beautifully decorated, Encircled with railings,

And were covered with hanging bells Attached to golden cords.

Over them was hung a net of pearls With golden flower tassels Hanging down everywhere. They were all completely

Decorated in a variety of colors.

The bedding was made of soft silk That was covered with

An extremely fine carpet of spotless white Which cost thousands of koṭis.

There were large white oxen,

Healthy and powerful with beautiful bodies, Yoked to the jeweled carts, And they were guarded by many attendants. When they were given these fine carts, The children were joyful and excited. They got on the carts And drove delightedly all about.

Amusing themselves in play,

They mastered them without difficulties.

The Buddha said to Śāriputra:

I am also like this. I am the father of the world, The best of the sages.

All sentient beings are my children. They are deeply attached to worldly pleasures And have no wisdom.

There is no peace in the triple world, Just like in the burning house, Which is full of various suffering And which is extremely terrifying. There are always the sufferings Of birth, old age, illness, and death. Such fires as these burn endlessly. The Tathāgata, who has already left

The burning house of the triple world,

Lives in tranquility

And dwells at ease in the forest.

Now this triple world is my property And the sentient beings in it are my children.

There are now many dangers here

And I am the only one who can protect them. Although I give them advice,

They do not accept it,

Because they are tainted with desires And have deep attachments.

On this occasion                                                                              15a

I teach the three vehicles Using skillful means.

Realizing the sufferings of the triple world,

I reveal and explain it

To cause sentient beings to

Escape from the mundane path.

If these children are resolute,

They are endowed with the three knowledges

And six transcendent powers.

Or they can become pratyekabuddhas or Bodhisattvas who have reached The stage of no retrogression.

O Śāriputra!

I explain the single buddha vehicle

To sentient beings, using this illustration. If you are able to accept what I say, You will all attain the buddha path.

This vehicle is subtle, pure, and peerless. There is nothing superior to it In all the worlds.

This is what the Buddha enjoys. All the sentient beings should praise, Honor, and revere it.

There are immeasurable thousands of koṭis Of powers, liberations, meditations, Wisdoms, and other attributes of the Buddha.

I cause my children to obtain such a vehicle And let them play continuously, Day and night, for kalpas.

I cause the bodhisattvas as well as the śrāvakas To board this jeweled vehicle, And lead them directly

To the terrace of enlightenment.

For this reason,

There is no other vehicle but

The skillful means of the buddhas, Even if one seeks in all the ten directions.

I tell you, O Śāriputra: All of you are my children, And I am thus your father.

Since you were burned by the fire

Of various sufferings for many kalpas, I saved you all

By leading you out of the triple world.

Although I have previously told you About your parinirvāṇa,

You have only extinguished birth and death And have not actually attained nirvana. You should now seek only The wisdom of the Buddha.

If there are any bodhisattvas in this assembly, They should listen single-mindedly

To the real teaching of all the buddhas.

Those sentient beings

Whom the Buddha Bhagavats Lead and inspire with skillful means Are all bodhisattvas.

Because people have little knowledge And are deeply attached to pleasures,

I teach them the truth of suffering (i.e., the First Noble Truth). And those sentient beings rejoice,

Having attained

Such an unprecedented experience. The truth of suffering taught by the Buddha Is nothing but the truth.

To those who do not know the origin of suffering (i.e., the Second     Noble Truth),

Who are deeply attached to its causes

And unable to abandon them even for a while, I teach the truth about the path to its cessation Using skillful means.

All the causes of suffering

Originate from excessive craving. When this craving is extinguished, The source is removed.

The cessation of suffering

Is called the Third [Noble] Truth.

One practices the path leading to its cessation (i.e., the Fourth Noble                                           15b

Truth]

In order to attain the truth of cessation.

Removing the bonds of sufferings is called liberation.

In what sense have these people attained liberation? They have merely removed false views And called that liberation.

But actually, they have not yet completely attained it. The Buddha has explained that these people Have not actually attained nirvana:

I do not intend to lead them to nirvana

Because they have not yet attained the highest path. I am the Lord of the Dharma

And have mastered the Dharma.

I appear in the world

To cause sentient beings to be at peace.

O, you, Śāriputra! Teach this my Dharma sign To benefit the world!

Wherever you may go, Never propagate it recklessly.

You should know that those who hear, Rejoice, and fully accept it

Have reached the stage of no retrogression.

Those who accept the teaching of this sutra

Have formerly seen the buddhas in the past,

Honored, and paid homage to them, And also heard this teaching.

Those who are able to accept what you teach, Will see me, you, the monks and the bodhisattvas. This very Lotus Sutra shall be taught Only to the profoundly wise.

Those of superficial awareness who hear it Will become confused and will not comprehend it.

This sutra is beyond the comprehension Of all the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas.

O, you, Śāriputra!

Even you understood this sutra only through faith; It is no wonder that the other disciples cannot.

They accept this sutra

Because they believe the Buddha’s teaching, But it is beyond their intellectual comprehension.

O Śāriputra!

Never teach this sutra

To those who are arrogant and lazy, Or to those who hold False views about the self.

Never teach it to those people Of superficial awareness, Who are deeply attached

To the desires of the five senses, Since even if they heard it, They would not understand.

Those people who will not accept And who disparage this sutra,

Will consequently destroy the seed of the Buddha In the entire world.

Now listen to what I teach

About the results of the errors of those people

Who frown upon and have doubts about this sutra.

Listen also to what I teach

Concerning the results of the errors of those people, Who, whether at the time

Of the Buddha’s presence in this world

Or after his parinirvāṇa, disparage this sutra,

And despise, hate, and hold grudges

Against the people who recite, copy, and preserve it.

When such people die,

They will go to the Avīci Hell,

And after spending a kalpa there,

Will be born in the same way

Again and again for innumerable kalpas.     15c After coming out of this hell, They will be reborn as animals.

If born as dogs or vermin,

Their bodies will be emaciated, dark-spotted, Devoid of hair, with scabies and leprosy.

Tormented, hated, and despised by people,

They will constantly suffer from hunger and thirst.

With withered bones and flesh, They will be in anguish while living

And covered with stones after death.

Because they destroyed

The seed of the Buddha, They will suffer the consequences Of their errors.

If they are born as camels or mules,

They will always have heavy burdens to carry. They will be whipped repeatedly

And think of nothing but water and grass. It is because they disparaged this sutra

That they suffer the consequences of their errors in this way.

If they are born as vermin and enter a village, Children will beat them because they have scabies, Leprosy, and perhaps a missing eye.

At times they will be tortured even to death. After dying,

They will be reborn as giant snakes

With great bodies as long as five hundred yojanas.

Deaf, dumb, legless, slithering on their bellies, Eaten at by small insects,

They will suffer day and night without respite. They suffer the consequences of their errors in this way, Because they disparaged this sutra.

If they are born as humans,

They will have dull faculties

And be runts who twitch and are crippled,

Blind, deaf, and humpbacked. No matter what they may say People will not believe them.

Their breath will always be foul.

They will be snatched at by demons.

Being poor and degraded and enslaved by others, They will be emaciated from many illnesses And will have nowhere to turn. When they approach others, They will be disdained. Even if they manage to get something They will immediately lose it.

Even if they study medicine

And cure themselves according to the correct method, They will suffer from other illnesses again And may even die.

When they get sick

No one will tend to them;

And even if they take the proper medicine Their pain will increase.

Every hand will be turned against them,

Threatening them, pilfering and stealing from them. They will fall helplessly into this plight Because of their transgressions. Such erring people will never see

The Buddha, the king of seers,

Preaching the Dharma and leading and inspiring people. Such people will always be born Into difficult circumstances. Crazed, unheeding, and unthinking, They will never hear the teaching. They will be born deaf and dumb, With defective faculties For as many immeasurable kalpas As the sands of the Ganges River.

Though they will always find themselves in hell,

16a           They will feel as if they were playing In a pleasure garden.

Although they are in other troubled states of being, They will feel as if they were in their own home.

They will live among camels, mules, boars, and dogs. These are the results of their error In disparaging this sutra. If they are born as human beings, They will be deaf, blind, mute, Impoverished, and decrepit.

Such will be their adornments. They will have dropsy, gonorrhea, Scabies, leprosy, and tumors.

Such diseases as these will be their clothing.

Their bodies will always be foul, filthy, and impure. Their deep attachment to false views About the self will cause

Their anger and passion to increase.

Their sexual desires will be insatiable,

With either birds or beasts as their objects. These are the results of their

Errors in disparaging this sutra.

The Buddha said to Śāriputra:

If one were to explain The consequences of the errors

Of those who disparage this sutra, It would take more than a kalpa.

For that reason I am now telling you Never to expound this sutra To those who have little wisdom.

You should teach it

Only to those people of sharp faculties

Who are wise, learned, and understanding,

Who have good memories and erudition, And are seeking the buddha path. You should teach it to those who have seen Hundreds of thousands of koṭis of buddhas,

Who have planted good roots, and are resolute.

Teach it to those who strive,

Always practice compassion,

And give unsparingly of their bodies and lives. You should teach it to those who are respectful

And devoid of hypocrisy,

Who are living alone

In mountains and valleys away from fools.

O Śāriputra!

You should teach it

To those who have left their bad companions And made friends with virtuous people.

Teach it to the heirs of the Buddha Who have good conduct, are as pure as jewels, And who are seeking the Mahayana sutras.

You should teach it

To those who are free of anger,

Honest, flexible, always sympathetic to everyone, And who honor all the buddhas.

Teach it to the heirs of the Buddha In the great assembly,

Who have pure thoughts

And who teach the Dharma without doubts,

Using various reasonings, Illustrations, and explanations.

You should teach it to those monks

Who, always and everywhere in search of the Dharma, Seek the Omniscient One,

To whom they joyfully press their palms together,

Touch their heads, and preserve

Only the Mahayana sutras with pleasure,

Who never preserve even a single verse Of any other sutra.

16b    Teach it to those who seek this sutra

As intently as they seek for the relics of the Buddha, Who after obtaining it will accept it Respectfully, with bowed heads;

And will not seek any other sutra

And will never think about heretical scriptures.

O Śāriputra! I say to you:

I have described the characteristics of those Who seek the buddha path,

Though a kalpa would not suffice to do so in full. You should teach the Lotus Sutra

To those who are able to accept it.

Chapter IV

Willing Acceptance

At that time the noble Subhūti, Mahākātyāyana, Mahākāśyapa, and Mahāmaudgalyāyana, having heard the unprecedented teaching from the Buddha and the Bhagavat’s prediction of Śāriputra’s highest, complete enlightenment, were filled with wonder and ecstatic joy. They immediately rose from their seats, straightened their garments, leaving their right shoulders bared, and touched their right knees to the ground. With rapt attention and with palms pressed together they bowed in veneration and, gazing at the Bhagavat’s face, said to the Buddha: “We are the seniors of the sangha, old and feeble. We considered ourselves to have attained nirvana and to be incapable of further seeking highest, complete enlightenment, so we did not do so.

“It has been a long time since the Bhagavat taught the Dharma in the past. Now we sit with weary bodies and only contemplate emptiness, signlessness, and witlessness. Neither the bodhisattva teaching, nor the carefree sporting with transcendent powers, nor the pure buddha worlds, nor helping sentient beings attain enlightenment produced any eager desire in us.

“Why is this? Because the Bhagavat caused us to leave the triple world and to attain nirvana. But now we are old and feeble. We did not take even a single thought of pleasure in the Buddha’s inspiration of the bodhisattvas to highest, complete enlightenment. And now in the presence of the Buddha we have heard the śrāvakas receive their prediction of highest, complete enlightenment and we are very joyful to have obtained such an unprecedented experience. We never considered that we would suddenly be able to hear this marvelous teaching; and we are overjoyed that we have attained such great benefits—an immeasurable treasure which we attained, though unsought and awaited.

“O Bhagavat! We now wish to give an illustration to clarify what we mean: Suppose there were a man who, when he was still a child, left his father and ran away. Living in another region for a long time he passed the age of ten, twenty, even fifty years. The older he got the more impoverished

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he became. He went searching everywhere for food and clothing, and while he was wandering about he started back by chance in the direction of his native country. From the first the father had looked for his son but in vain; in the meantime he had stayed in the city and become extremely wealthy, and now possessed uncountable treasures.

16c “[The father’s] storehouses were all filled to overflowing with gold, silver, lapis lazuli, coral, amber, crystal, and other such things. He had many servants, subordinates, and clerks as well as innumerable elephants, horses, carriages, cows, and sheep. He profited through lending and his trade with other countries was also great.

“Then the impoverished son, after wandering through many villages, from one country and city to another, finally reached the city where his father lived. Although the father had constantly thought about the son from whom he had been separated for over fifty years, he nevertheless had spoken to no one about it. He brooded and grieved in his heart, thinking to himself: I have become old and feeble; and although I have many treasures, and storehouses filled with gold, silver, and precious jewels, I have no son. When I die my treasures will be scattered and lost for lack of someone to whom to entrust them.

“It was for this reason that he was always thinking anxiously about his

son. He also thought:

If I could get my son back and leave my fortune to him I would be relieved and happy, and without further worry.

“O Bhagavat! At that time the impoverished son, who had been wandering about, taking odd jobs, by chance finally reached his father’s house. Standing at the side of the gate he saw his father in the distance sitting on the lion seat with his feet propped up on a jeweled stool, respectfully surrounded by many brahmans, kṣatriyas, and householders. His body was adorned with pearl necklaces worth thousands of myriads. He was attended on both sides by clerks and servants holding whisker fans. Above was a jeweled canopy with various hanging flowered banners. Perfume was sprinkled on the ground, which was strewn with a variety of beautiful flowers. There were rows of precious objects, and people were coming and going, buying and selling. With various trappings such as these, the father appeared very majestic indeed.

“The impoverished son, seeing his father wielding such great power, became terrified and regretted that he had ever come to that place. He thought to himself:

He must be a king or of a similar rank. This is not a place where I can obtain things as a hired worker. It would certainly be better for me to go to a poor village, a place where I can use my ability and easily obtain clothing and food. If I stay here for very long I will be seized and put to forced labor.

“Thinking this way, he quickly fled. At that time the wealthy man, sitting on the lion seat, realized that he had seen his son and became extremely happy. He then thought:

Now there is someone to whom I can leave my fortune and treasures. I have been constantly thinking about my son but had no way to meet him, and now suddenly he has come. This is exactly what I wanted. Although I am old I still yearn for him.

“The man immediately dispatched his attendants to chase his son and bring him back. Then the attendants quickly ran and overtook him. The impoverished son was frightened and cried out in fear:

I did nothing wrong! Why are you seizing me?

“The attendants grabbed him more firmly and forced him to return. Then

the impoverished son thought:

They have seized me even though I have done nothing wrong. I shall certainly be killed.

“He was so terrified that he collapsed unconscious on the ground. His                                                17a

father, seeing this from a distance, told the attendants:

I don’t need him. Don’t force him to come! Pour cold water on his face and bring him to consciousness. Don’t say anything more to him. “What was the reason for this? The father knew that his son was of lowly aspiration, and that his own wealth and position would cause him problems. Although the father knew without doubt that the man was his son, he used

skillful means and did not say to others, ‘This is my son.’ “The attendant then said to the son:

You are free to go wherever you wish.

“Then the impoverished son, happy because he had never felt such relief,

stood up and went to a poor village to seek for food and clothing.

“At that time, wanting to get his son back, the wealthy man employed skillful means and secretly dispatched two attendants of wretched and humble appearance. He said to them:

Approach the impoverished fellow and gently tell him that there is a place for him to work where he will be paid double. If he gives his assent then bring him back to work. If he asks you what kind of work there is for him to do, tell him that he will be employed to sweep dung and that both of you will work with him.

“Then the two attendants immediately went in search of the impoverished son. When they found him they told him this. At that time he took his pay and immediately went to work sweeping dung.

“The father, seeing his son, felt pity and wondered what to do. Then one day while looking through the window he saw his son in the distance appearing emaciated and wretched, soiled with dung and dirt. The father took off his necklaces, fine garments, and ornaments and put on torn, filthy clothes. Covering himself with dirt and taking a dung sweeper in his right hand, he made himself look fearsome. He said to his workers: ‘Work hard and don’t be lazy!’ “Through this kind of skillful means he was able to approach his son. He spoke to him further saying:

You! I want you to always work here. Don’t go anywhere else and I will pay you more. There will be no difficulty in getting the things you need, like utensils, rice, noodles, salt, and vinegar. I also have an old servant. If you need him I’ll give him to you. Be at ease! I am just like your father, so don’t worry about anything! Why am I doing this?

Because I am old and you are still young. Whenever you work you are never lazy or sullen and never complain. I never see in you the bad qualities the other workers have. From now on you will be just like my own son.

“Then the wealthy man immediately addressed him as his child. At that time, even though the impoverished son rejoiced at being treated this way, he nevertheless still considered himself a humble employee. For this reason his father let him continue to sweep dung for twenty years. At the end of this period of time each had come to trust the other. Yet even though the son had free access to his father’s house, he still lived in the same place as before.

“O Bhagavat! One day the wealthy man became ill and knew he was

going to die before long. He said to the impoverished son:       17b

This is what I have been thinking and I want you to understand my intentions: I now have plenty of gold, silver, and precious treasures filling my storehouses. Get to know exactly how much is being taken in and out of them. Why do I want you to do this? Because you and I are one and the same. Take good care of our fortune and don’t let it be lost!

“Then the impoverished son obeyed his instructions. Although he learned everything about the gold, silver, precious treasure, and the storehouses, he never wanted to take even the least amount. Nevertheless he still lived in the same place as before and was still not able to get rid of his feeling of inferiority.

“After a short time had passed the father knew that his son’s mind had become composed, that his will had increased, and that he was ashamed of his former feelings. When the father was just on the verge of death he ordered his son to meet the king, ministers, kṣatriyas, householders, and relatives, who had already assembled there. The father then declared:

This is my son, my own progeny. When we were in a certain city he left me and fled. He wandered around for more than fifty years undergoing hardships. His original name is Such-and-such, and my name is Such-and-such. Long ago when I was in that city I worried and searched for him. At last and unexpectedly I met up with him. This is my true son and I am, in truth, his father. All of the fortune I now possess belongs to my son. He already knows about our finances.

“O Bhagavat! At that time the impoverished son, hearing what his father said, became extremely happy at having obtained such an unprecedented experience. Then he thought:

I never even considered receiving this; nevertheless, this treasure house has come into my possession, though unsought and awaited.

“O Bhagavat! This very wealthy man is the Tathāgata, and all of us are the heirs of the Buddha. The Tathāgata has always said that we are his children. Because of the triple sufferings, O Bhagavat, we experienced pain, were confused, ignorant and attached to inferior teachings in life after life. Today the Bhagavat has made us think about getting rid of the dung of fallacies regarding the reality of the world and that, in this respect, we diligently strove to attain the nirvana only as one seeking a salary for a single day’s labor. We had already attained it and were extremely happy and satisfied with it. We said to ourselves:

Because we have made diligent efforts to comprehend the Buddha’s teaching we have attained a great deal.

“But the Bhagavat had formerly perceived that we were attached to desires and content with lowly aspirations. While letting us be so he did not explain that we were to have a portion of the treasure house of the Tathāgata’s wisdom and insight. Through the power of skillful means the Bhagavat has taught the wisdom of the Tathāgatas. Although we had attained nirvana from the Buddha as our salary for one day’s labor, we thought we had attained much and did not seek the Mahayana.

“Furthermore, we have manifested and explained the wisdom of the Tathāgata for the bodhisattvas; but we ourselves had no aspirations regarding it.

17c “Why is this? The Buddha, knowing that we were content with lowly aspirations, taught us according to what is appropriate through the power of skillful means. But we did not know that we really were the heirs of the Buddha.

“Now we fully know that the Bhagavat is unstinting in regard to the wisdom of the buddhas. What is the reason for this? We have actually been the heirs of the Buddha from long ago, even though we only yearned for the inferior teaching. If we had yearned for the superior teaching, then the Buddha would have taught the teachings of the Mahayana to us. Yet, in this sutra he has taught only the single vehicle.

“Now, in the past the Buddha reviled the śrāvakas—those who yearned for the inferior teaching—in the presence of the bodhisattvas, but actually the Buddha inspired them also with the Mahayana. That is why we say that though we originally had no desire to seek the great treasure of the King of the Dharma it has now come to us unsought and awaited. We have all attained what we should attain as the heirs of the Buddha.”

Thereupon Mahākāśyapa, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

Today we have heard the Buddha’s words,

And we are joyful and ecstatic

At having attained such an unprecedented experience.

The Buddha has said

That the śrāvakas will be able to become buddhas.

The most magnificent jewels

Have been obtained without being sought or awaited.

Suppose there were a young and inexperienced child

Who left his father

And ran away to a distant country.

He wandered around for more than fifty years.

And his worried father looked for him everywhere. The father, exhausted from searching for him,

Remained in a city

Where he had a house built

And enjoyed the desires of the five senses.

His family built up a vast wealth of much gold, silver, Mother-of-pearl, agate, pearls, lapis lazuli,

Elephants, horses, cows, sheep, floats, carriages, Peasants, servants, and other employees.

He earned interest through loans and deposits And had buyers and sellers

Throughout all the other regions.

He was surrounded by thousands of Myriads of koṭis of people, Who held him in awe;

Always loved by the king,

And deeply respected by the subjects And powerful families.

There were many people

Coming and going on different business. He was thus extremely wealthy And very powerful.

And yet as he grew older,

He increasingly worried about his son. Day and night he thought:

Soon I will die.

My foolish son has abandoned me For over fifty years.

What should I do with the Various goods in my treasure houses?

At that time the impoverished son Was going from town to town,

From one country to another, Seeking food and clothing. Sometimes he obtained them, And sometimes he did not.

18a     He was emaciated from hunger,

And his body was covered with scabies.

Through his wanderings,

He gradually reached the city Where his father lived,

And, after having been employed

At one place after another, Finally ended up at his father’s home.

At that time the wealthy man

Was sitting within the gate

On a lion seat, sheltered by A huge jewel-covered canopy. He was surrounded by his attendants And guarded by his men.

Some were counting gold, silver, and jewels; And some were settling the finances,

While others were keeping the accounts. The impoverished son saw his father, Who was extremely wealthy and dignified. He wondered if this man were a king Or someone of equal rank. He became intimidated

And wondered why he had gone there. He thought to himself:

If I stay here for long

I will be harassed and coerced into working.

Thinking this, he ran away In search of a poor village Where he could find employment.

At that time the wealthy man,

Who was sitting on the lion seat, Saw his son in the distance.

Though he recognized him he told no one, But sent his attendants

To pursue him and bring him back.

The impoverished son was terrified, Cried out, and collapsed on the ground In confusion, thinking: Since this man has seized me I shall certainly be killed. In vain did I come here

In search of food and clothing.

The wealthy man knew that his son’s thoughts Were humble and foolish,

And that he would not believe what he said, Nor believe that he was his father. Then using skillful means, He dispatched other men With squint eyes, of small stature

And little dignity, saying to them:

Tell him:

We will employ you To sweep dung, at double your wages.

When he heard this The impoverished son was overjoyed

And returned to sweep dung and clean houses. The wealthy man

Constantly watched his son

Through the window and thought

That his son was foolish And willingly did menial things.

Then the wealthy man Put on torn and filthy clothes, And, holding a dung sweeper, Went out to his son.

He approached his son Through this skillful means And said to him:

Work hard!

I have already increased your wages

And given you more balm for your feet, Given you sufficient food And warm, thick mats.

He further advised him, saying sternly:

You should work diligently.

Then he gently added:

I will treat you like my son.

The wealthy man, being wise,

Gradually gave him freedom of the house;

And, after twenty years had passed, Let him become involved In the family business. He showed him the gold, Silver, pearls, and crystal,

And made him learn about All aspects of the finances. Yet the impoverished son still lived In a thatched hut outside the gate,

And considered himself poor, thinking                                               

That these things were not his own.

The father knew that his son Was gradually becoming more noble;

And, wanting to give him his fortune, He assembled the king, ministers,

Kṣatriyas, householders, and relatives.

He informed this great assembly, saying:

This is my son.

He left me and stayed away For fifty years.

Twenty years have already passed Since I saw my son return here.

Long ago I lost my son in a certain city And, after wandering around in search of him, I ended up staying here.

I entrust to him all the houses and men That I possess.

They are all at his disposal.

The son thought:

Long ago I was poor and of lowly aspiration. Now at my father’s place

I have obtained an immense fortune

Of such things as precious jewels and houses. I am overjoyed at having obtained

Such an unprecedented experience!

The Buddha is also like this.

He knew that we yearned for the inferior teaching,

So he never taught us That we should become buddhas.

Yet he did tell us that we had attained The stage of noncorruption,

That we had achieved the inferior vehicle,

And that we were the disciples of the śrāvaka vehicle. The Buddha told us to teach that

Those who practiced the highest path Would be able to become buddhas. Accepting the Buddha’s teaching, We explained the highest path For the great bodhisattvas,

Using various explanations and illustrations, And many figures of speech.

The heirs of the Buddha Heard the teachings from us, Contemplated day and night, And practiced diligently.

The buddhas instantly made their predictions saying:

You will all be able to become buddhas in the future.

We have explained the essence Of the treasured teaching of the buddhas

Only for the sake of the bodhisattvas, But did not expound it for ourselves. Just as the impoverished son

Who, after approaching his father,

Learned of various things

Yet did not want them,

So, although we explained the treasure house Of the teaching of the buddhas, We never aspired to it.

We thought that we had ourselves attained nirvana And considered this enough.

We understood only this

And did not think there was anything else.

Even if we heard

About the pure buddha lands

And leading and inspiring sentient beings, We never rejoiced in it.

Why is this?

Because although we thought thus:

Every existence is quiescent,

Neither produced nor extinguished, Neither large nor small,

In corrupted and unconditioned,

We felt no eagerness.

For days and nights we neither craved for

Nor were attached to the wisdom of the buddhas,                           

Neither did we aspire to it.

Furthermore, we ourselves thought, With regard to the Dharma itself, That this was the ultimate goal.

After practicing the teaching Of emptiness day and night, We were able to shake off

The suffering of the triple world,

And, bearing our last bodies, Abided in the nirvana with residue.

We were led and inspired by the buddhas

So that our attainment of the path was not in vain;

And we have already been able To pass on the benefits We received from the Buddha.

Although we have expounded

The teaching of the bodhisattvas To the heirs of the Buddha To seek the buddha path, We never longed for this teaching. Because he knew our minds The Leader turned away from us.

At first he did not arouse our zeal With the explanation that there exists Real profit in the teaching. Just as the wealthy man,

Who, knowing that his son was of lowly aspiration,

Broadened his son’s mind using

The power of skillful means,

And only then entrusted his entire fortune to him.

The Buddha is also exactly like this.

He has manifested marvelous things But perceiving that we were content With lowly aspirations.

He brought control to our minds using

The power of skillful means,

And only then taught us the great wisdom. Thus today we have obtained

An unprecedented experience.

The fact that we have now spontaneously obtained

What we had not longed for

Is just like the impoverished son Who obtained innumerable jewels.

O Bhagavat!

We have now obtained the path and its fruit

And have obtained pure sight

Into the incorruptible Dharma.

For a long while we have maintained

The pure conduct of the Buddha;

Today for the first time We have obtained the results.

For a long time we have practiced

The pure path of discipline and integrity

Based on the teaching of the Dharma King, And now we have attained The supreme fruit of noncorruption. We are now real śrāvakas

And cause everyone to hear the words “buddha path.” We are now real arhats and shall be revered Among the devas, humans, māras, and Brahmas In all the worlds.

The Bhagavat, the Great Benefactor, Benefits us with marvelous things By his inspiration and compassion.

Who can repay him for it Even in immeasurable koṭis of kalpas!

Even if one were to serve him With one’s hands and feet, Bow one’s head in reverence, And give all kinds of offerings, One could not repay him.

Even if one were to bear him On one’s head and shoulders Out of deep respect, for as many kalpas As there are sands in the Ganges River, One could not repay him.

Or even if one were to honor him With delicious food,

Uncountable jeweled garments,

Beddings, various medicines,

Famed sandalwood from Mount Oxhead,

And various precious jewels;

19a       Or by building temples,

Spreading jeweled clothing and other such things For as many kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges River, One could not repay him.

The buddhas have marvelous, immeasurable, Limitless, inconceivable great transcendent powers.

They are the Kings of the Dharma.

Without depravities and unconditioned, They are patient in all matters, For the sake of the humble ones. They teach the common people, Who are attached to tangible things,

According to what is appropriate to them. All of the buddhas having attained

Complete mastery over the Dharma,

Perceive the various desires and intentions

Of sentient beings and explain the teachings

With innumerable illustrations, According to what is appropriate to them.

Judging from the roots of good merit

That sentient beings have planted in former lives, The buddhas perceive who are mature And who are not.

Considering this in various ways

And understanding the distinctions completely,

The buddhas teach the single path, Explaining it as three

In accordance with what is appropriate.

Chapter V

Herbs

Thereupon the Bhagavat addressed Mahākāśyapa and other great disciples saying: “Splendid! Splendid! O Kāśyapa! You have skillfully explained the real merit of the Tathāgata. It is exactly as you have said. The Tathāgata has immeasurable, unlimited, and incalculable merits. Thus even in a period of immeasurable koṭis of kalpas you will never fully be able to explain all of his merits.

“O Kāśyapa! You should know that the Tathāgata is the king of all the teaching. What he teaches is never false. He explains all the teaching using his wisdom and skillful means and what he teaches leads everyone to the stage of omniscience.

“The Tathāgata perceives the goal of all teachings and knows the underlying mental disposition of all sentient beings, perceiving all with no obstructions. He completely understands all teachings and displays omniscience to all sentient beings.

“O Kāśyapa! Suppose in the great manifold cosmos there are mountains, rivers, valleys, and plains where many kinds of grasses, trees, shrubs, and herbs of different names and colors grow. Dense clouds thoroughly cover this great manifold cosmos and rain falls at the same time everywhere, mois- 19b tening the small, medium, and large roots, stems, branches, and leaves of all the grasses, trees, shrubs, and herbs.

“The sizes of all the trees depend on whether their capacities are superior, mediocre, or inferior; and the rain falling from the same cloud makes them grow according to the nature of their various seeds. Flowers blossom in the same place and fruit ripens in the same place moistened by the same rain, yet there are differences among these grasses and trees.

“O Kāśyapa! You should know that the Tathāgata is exactly like this. He appears in this world like a great overspreading cloud. His great voice resounds over the devas, humans, and asuras in the world, just as the great cloud thoroughly covers the great manifold cosmos. He declares to the assembly:

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I am the Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. I set free those who have not been freed. I enlighten those who have not been enlightened and bring calm to those who have not been calmed. I cause those to obtain nirvana who have not yet obtained it. I am the one who knows the present and future worlds exactly as they are. I am the All-Knower, the All-Seer, the Knower of the Path, the One who discloses the path and explains it. All of you devas, humans, and asuras! Come and listen to my teachings.

“At that time innumerable thousands of myriads of koṭis of sentient beings approach the Buddha and listen to his teaching. Then the Tathāgata, perceiving the faculties of sentient beings—whether they are sharp or dull, diligent or idle—explains the teachings according to their capacities in a variety of immeasurable ways, gladdening and benefiting them all.

“Having heard his teaching, all of these beings are at peace in this world and are born into a good existence in the future. Through this they will receive peace of mind and be able to hear the teaching. Having already heard the teaching they will become free from obstructions and be able to gradually enter the path to the Dharma according to their capacities.

“Just like the great cloud that rains upon all the grasses, trees, shrubs, and herbs, whose seeds are watered and which grow according to their capacities, the Tathāgata teaches the Dharma of one aspect and character; that is to say, the character of liberation, dispassion, and cessation which ultimately leads to omniscience.

“Those sentient beings who hear, hold, and recite the teachings of the Tathāgata and practice it accordingly will nevertheless not perceive the merit that they have obtained.

“Why is this? Only the Tathāgata knows the seed, character, disposition, and capacity of sentient beings. Only he knows what they contemplate, think, and practice; how they contemplate, think, and practice; what teachings they

19c contemplate, think, and practice; and what teaching they obtain through what teaching. Only the Tathāgata exactly perceives and knows without obstructions the various states in which sentient beings reside.

“It is just like the grasses, trees, shrubs, and herbs that do not know their own natures, whether they are superior, mediocre, or inferior. Yet the Tathāgata knows the teachings of one aspect and character, the character of liberation, dispassion, cessation, complete nirvana, and eternal tranquility which ultimately leads to emptiness.

“The Buddha knows this and perceives the aspirations of sentient beings. For this reason, in order to protect them, he does not immediately teach omniscience.

“O Kāśyapa! It is a rare thing that all of you know that the Tathāgata teaches according to your capacities and that you believe and accept it.

“Why is this? Because the Dharma taught by all the Buddha Bhagavats, according to what is appropriate to sentient beings, is difficult to understand and difficult to know.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

The King of the Dharma,

The destroyer of delusive existence,

Appears in the world

And keeping in mind the aspirations of sentient beings Teaches the Dharma in various ways According to the wishes of sentient beings.

The Tathāgata is greatly distinguished, And his wisdom is profound.

He has been silent for a long time

And intentionally has not taught the essential in haste.

Those who are wise

Will be well convinced when they hear it; Those who are not wise will have doubts And remain confused for a long time.

That is why, O Kāśyapa, the Tathāgata teaches According to the capacities of sentient beings, And enables them to attain the correct perspective By using various illustrations.

O Kāśyapa, you should know

That it is as if a great cloud Arises in the world And covers everything.

This beneficent cloud contains moisture And bright lightning flashes from it. The sound of its thunder shakes the earth afar And gladdens the people. It conceals the sun And cools the earth.

The spreading cloud hangs so low, As if it could be touched.

Everywhere, equal, and immeasurable

The rain pours down and moistens the earth. Grasses, herbs, large and small trees,

All kinds of crops, seedlings, sugarcane, and grapes Growing in the depths of the mountains, In rivers and in precipitous valleys,

Are all watered and completely nourished by the rain. The dry earth is moistened everywhere

And the herbs and trees grow up thickly. Out of this cloud the same rain Waters these grasses, trees, and shrubs Each according to their capacities.

All the trees, small, medium, or large

Are able to grow in accordance with their capacities. The luster and colors of the roots, stems,

Branches, leaves, and flowers Are all freshened by the same rain.

Each of these, although receiving the same moisture,

Reaches a greater or lesser size

In accordance with their different

Dispositions, characteristics, and natures.

The Buddha is exactly like this.

He appears in the world

20a        As a great cloud

Which covers everything universally.

Once appearing in this world He illuminates and explains The essence of the teachings For the sake of sentient beings.

The Great Seer, the Bhagavat, expounds this To the assembly of all the devas and humans.

I am the Tathāgata, the Best of Humans.

I appear in the world to nourish sentient beings Just as the great cloud Moistens all the withered trees.

I cause everyone to be rid of suffering

And attain ease of heart,

Worldly happiness, and the joy of nirvana.

So, devas and humans, listen carefully! Come, all of you,

And look at the Highest One!

I am the Bhagavat.

No one is equal to me.

I appear in this world

To bring peace of mind to sentient beings And to teach the Dharma of immortality To the great assembly. This Dharma has a single flavor Of liberation and nirvana.

I expound its meaning with the same subtle voice,

Always making the Mahayana

The subject of my illustrations.

I see everywhere, and regard all as equal. I have no feelings of like or dislike; For me there is no this or that.

Nor do I have either love or hate.

I have no attachments and make no distinctions,

And so always teach the Dharma equally to all; And teach the same thing to one person

As I teach to everyone else.

I always teach the Dharma and nothing else. Going or coming, sitting or standing,

I never tire of satisfying the world,

Just like the rain that gives nourishment universally.

I tirelessly pour down the rain of the Dharma Equally on those who are noble or humble, Superior or inferior, who keep or break the precepts, Who have good or bad conduct, right or wrong views, Sharp or dull faculties.

According to their power to understand, All sentient beings who hear my teaching Dwell in various stages.

Those living among humans,

Devas, noble emperors, Śakra, and Brahma kings Are like the small herbs.

Those who know the incorruptible Dharma, Who are able to attain nirvana,

Have the six transcendent powers, and Have attained the three sciences.

Those who live alone in mountain forests Always practicing meditation, and

Who attain the enlightenment of the pratyekabuddhas Are like the medium-sized herbs.

Those who seek the stage Of the Bhagavat, thinking that

They will become buddhas, And practice persistence and meditation, Are like the large herbs.

The heirs of the buddhas

Who concentrate on the path of the Buddha,

Who always cultivate compassion within themselves And know definitely without a doubt That they will become buddhas, Are like the small trees.

Those who are comfortable with transcendent powers,               20b

Who turn the irreversible wheel [of the Dharma]

And save innumerable hundreds

Of thousands of koṭis of sentient beings, Are the bodhisattvas Who are like the large trees. The Buddha’s equal teaching Is like the rain of one flavor.

The sentient beings accept it

According to their different capacities, Just as the grasses and trees Each differently absorb the rain. The Buddha reveals the single teaching With illustrations, using skillful means

And explains it with various explanations,

And yet it is just a drop in the ocean Compared to the Buddha’s wisdom.

I pour down the rain of the Dharma,

Fulfilling the world,

And the sentient beings Practice the Dharma of one flavor According to their capacities.

Just as the shrubs, herbs, and trees

Flourish in accordance with their capacities, Reaching either a greater or lesser size,

The teaching of the buddhas Is always of one flavor

And fulfills the entire world. Anyone who practices it little by little Obtains the fruit of the path.

The śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas

Living in mountain forests, Who, in their last bodies,

Hear the Dharma and attain its fruit, Are just like the flourishing herbs.

The bodhisattvas who are firm in wisdom,

Who completely understand the triple world, And seek the highest vehicle,

Are just like the flourishing small trees. Those who abide in meditation,

Attain transcendent powers,

Listen to the teaching regarding the emptiness Of every existence with great joy, And save sentient beings

By emitting innumerable rays of light,

Are just like the flourishing large trees.

In this way, O Kāśyapa,

The Dharma that the Buddha teaches

Is just like the great cloud that enriches human flowers With the rain of one flavor, So that each attains its fruits.

O Kāśyapa!

You should know that I reveal the buddha path Using various explanations and illustrations And that this is my skillful means.

All of the buddhas are just like this.

I will now teach the highest truth for your sake:

There are no śrāvakas who attain nirvana.

What you practice is the bodhisattva path; And if you practice step by step, You will all become buddhas.

Chapter VI

Prediction

At that time, after the Bhagavat had spoken these verses, he addressed the great assembly, proclaiming: “This disciple of mine, Mahākāśyapa, in the future will be able to meet three hundred myriads of koṭis of Buddha Bhagavats to whom he will pay homage, respect, veneration, and praise; and he will extensively expound the immeasurable great teachings of these buddhas. In his last body he will become a buddha called Raśmiprabhāsa, a Tathāgata, 20c

Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, WellDeparted, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. “His world will be called Ava bhāsaprāpta in the kalpa called Mahāvyūha. The lifespan of this buddha will be twelve intermediate kalpas. The True Dharma will last in the world for twenty intermediate kalpas and the Semblance Dharma will also last for twenty intermediate kalpas.

“His world will be adorned and there will be no dirt, shards, thorns, excrement, or other impurities. The earth will be level without irregularities, hollows, or hills. The earth will be made of lapis lazuli with jeweled trees in rows. Golden cords will line the borders of these roads, which will be scattered with precious flowers, and everywhere will be pure.

“In his world there will be immeasurable thousands of koṭis of bodhisattvas as well as innumerable śrāvakas. All malice will be far removed; and even though Māra and his minions will be there, they will all protect the Buddha-Dharma.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to explain the meaning of this further,

spoke these verses:

I tell you, O monks,

That I see with the buddha-eye

That Kāśyapa in the future

Will become a buddha

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After innumerable kalpas have passed.

In the future he will meet and pay homage

To three hundred myriads of koṭis of Buddha Bhagavats And practice the pure path of discipline and integrity, Seeking for the wisdom of the buddhas.

Having offered respect to the highest and best of humans And having completely grasped the ultimate wisdom, He will become a buddha while in his last body.

His land will be pure.

The earth will be made of lapis lazuli,

And many jeweled trees will be in rows

Along roads bordered with golden cords, And those who see it will be gladdened. The air will be always filled With a pleasant fragrance, And many beautiful flowers Will be strewn about. Various wonderful things Will adorn this earth, Which will be level

Without hills or hollows.

There will be an incalculable number Of bodhisattvas there

Who will have the power of self-control,

Be versed in transcendent powers,

And who will preserve the sutras of the Mahayana Taught by the buddhas.

The multitude of śrāvakas,

Bearing their last bodies, free from corruption,

Heirs of the Dharma King,

Will also be unreckonable;

Their number will be impossible to calculate Even with the divine eye.

The lifespan of this buddha

Will be twelve intermediate kalpas.

The True Dharma will last in the world For twenty intermediate kalpas. And the Semblance Dharma will also last For twenty intermediate kalpas. Thus will things be with The Bhagavat Raśmiprabhāsa.

At that time Mahāmaudgalyāyana, Subhūti, and Mahākātyā yana were all charged with excitement, and with palms pressed together they attentively gazed at the Bhagavat, never turning their eyes from him. They immediately

spoke these verses in unison:                                                         21a

O Bhagavat, Great Hero!

O King of the Dharma of the Śākyas! Bestow the Buddha’s words upon us Out of your compassion for us.

If, knowing the depths of our hearts, You give us your predictions,

It will be like cooling our fevers

By sprinkling us with the Dharma of immortality.

It is as though someone coming

From a country suffering from famine Were suddenly to find

A great king’s feast spread before him,

Yet is stricken with doubt

And does not venture to eat, Until, being instructed by the king, He dares at last to do so.

We are exactly like this.

We have been constantly thinking

About the faults of the inferior vehicle, And so we had no knowledge of the way To obtain the highest wisdom of the Buddha.

Although we hear the Buddha’s voice Saying that we will become buddhas, We still have doubt in our minds

As if we dare not eat the meal. If we receive the Buddha’s prediction It will immediately put us at ease. The Bhagavat, the Great Hero,

Always wants to put the world at ease; And so we entreat you to bestow Upon us your predictions, As though to starving people Waiting for permission to eat.

Then the Bhagavat, knowing what lay in the thoughts of the great disciples, addressed the monks saying: “This Subhūti in the future will meet, respect, venerate, praise, and pay homage to three hundred myriads of koṭis of nayutas of buddhas; and he will always practice the pure path of discipline and integrity, and complete the bodhisattva path. In his last body he will become a buddha called Yaśasketu, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat.

“His land will be called Ratnasaṃbhava in the kalpa called Ratnāva bhāsa. The land will be even and the earth will be made of crystal and adorned with jeweled trees. It will be without pits, pebbles, thorns, or the filth of excrement. The earth will be covered with precious flowers and will be everywhere pure.

“The people in this world will all live in wonderful towers with jeweled terraces. The śrāvakas, the disciples there will be innumerable and limitless, beyond calculation and metaphor, and there will also be innumerable thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of bodhisattvas.

“The lifespan of this buddha will be twelve intermediate kalpas. The True Dharma will last in the world for twenty intermediate kalpas and the Semblance Dharma will also last for twenty intermediate kalpas. This Buddha will always dwell in the air, teaching the Dharma for the multitude, and he will save incalculable bodhisattvas and śrāvakas.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to explain the meaning of this further,

spoke these verses:

O monks! 21b

I shall now make something known to you. You should attentively listen To what I have to say.

My great disciple Subhūti

Will become a buddha called Yaśasketu. He will pay homage to innumerable Myriads of koṭis of buddhas,

And, following the Buddha’s practice,

He will gradually come to complete the great path.

He will attain the thirty-two marks

In his last body,

And his form will be fine and beautiful Just like a jeweled mountain.

His buddha world will be ultimately pure. Of the sentient beings who see it There will be none who do not rejoice.

There the Buddha will bring

Incalculable sentient beings to enlightenment. In the midst of his Dharma

There will be many bodhisattvas

With keen faculties,

Who turn the irreversible wheel [of the Dharma].

This world will always

Be graced with bodhisattvas.

There will also be

Incalculable numbers of śrāvakas.

All of them will have perfected the three sciences,

And the six transcendent powers,

Will abide in the eight liberations,

And have great dignity and virtue.

The Buddha will expound the Dharma And reveal immeasurable,

Unthinkable, transcendent powers.

All the devas and humans,

As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, Will listen to the Buddha’s words With palms pressed together. The lifespan of this buddha Will be twelve intermediate kalpas.

The True Dharma will last in the world For twenty intermediate kalpas,

And the Semblance Dharma will also last For twenty intermediate kalpas.

Thereupon the Bhagavat addressed the monks, saying: “I will now tell you that this Mahākātyāyana in the future will honor, respect, and pay homage to eight thousand koṭis of buddhas with offerings. After the parinirvāṇas of these buddhas, he will erect stupas, each of which will be one thousand yojanas in height and five hundred yojanas in both width and depth. These stupas will all be constructed of the seven precious treasures—gold, silver, lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl, agate, pearls, and rubies. He will pay homage to these stupas with many flowers and necklaces, fragrant ointments, scented powders, burning incense, canopies, flags, and banners.

“After this he will also pay homage to two myriads of koṭis of buddhas in exactly the same way and, having done so, he will perfect the bodhisattva path and become a buddha called Jāmbūna dābhāsa, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat.

“His land will be level. The earth will be made of crystal and it will be adorned with jeweled trees. The roads will be bordered with golden cords and beautiful flowers will cover the earth. It will be pure everywhere and those who see it will rejoice.

“There will be none of the four troubled states of being, namely the hells, hungry ghosts, animals, and asuras. There will be many devas and humans,

and immeasurable myriads of koṭis of śrāvakas and bodhisattvas will grace this world.

“The lifespan of this buddha will be twelve intermediate kalpas. The True Dharma will last in the world for twenty intermediate kalpas and the

Semblance Dharma will also last for twenty intermediate kalpas.”

At that time the Bhagavat, wanting to explain the meaning of this further,

spoke these verses:

O monks, listen carefully! What I shall say Is nothing but the truth.

This Kātyāyana

Will pay homage to the buddhas

With various wonderful offerings.

After the parinirvāṇas of those buddhas, He will erect stupas constructed Of the seven precious treasures And offer respect to their relics With flowers and incense. In his last body

He will attain the wisdom of the Buddha And will achieve complete enlightenment.

His world will be pure And he will save incalculable

Myriads of koṭis of sentient beings.

He will be venerated in the ten directions.

There is nothing that surpasses

This Buddha’s ray of light,

So this buddha

Will be called Jāmbūnadābhāsa.

There will be innumerable, uncountable Bodhisattvas and śrāvakas gracing this world, Who have shaken free from every state of being.

Thereupon the Bhagavat again addressed the assembly saying: “I will now tell you that this Mahāmaudgalyāyana will respect, venerate, and pay homage to eight thousand buddhas with various offerings; and after the parinirvāṇas of these buddhas, he will erect stupas, each of which will be one thousand yojanas in height and five hundred yojanas in both depth and width. These stupas will be constructed with the seven precious treasures— gold, silver, lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl, agate, pearls, and rubies. He will offer them various flowers, necklaces, fragrant ointments, scented powders, burning incense, canopies, flags, and banners.

“After this he will pay homage to two hundred myriads of koṭis of buddhas in exactly the same way, and will become a buddha called Tamālapatracandanagandha, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat.

“His world will be called Mano’bhirāma in the kalpa called Ratiprapūrṇa. The land will be level. The earth will be made of crystal, adorned with jeweled trees, and strewn with flowers of pearls. It will be pure everywhere and those who see it will rejoice. There will be many devas and humans, innumerable bodhisattvas, and śrāvakas.

“The lifespan of this buddha will be twenty-four intermediate kalpas. The True Dharma will last in this world for forty intermediate kalpas and the Semblance Dharma will also last for forty intermediate kalpas.”

Then the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on this meaning, spoke these

verses:

22a           This disciple of mine, Mahāmaudgalyāyana, Having abandoned this body,

Will meet eight thousand and then two hundred Myriads of koṭis of Buddha Bhagavats.

For the sake of the buddha path

He will pay them homage and respect them,

And always practice holy conduct (brahmacarya) Of discipline and integrity

In the presence of these buddhas. He will uphold the Buddha-Dharma For immeasurable kalpas.

After the parinirvāṇas of these buddhas

He will erect stupas

Constructed with the seven precious treasures On which golden banners Will be long displayed. He will pay homage to

These stupas of the buddhas

With flowers, incense, and music.

After having mastered The bodhisattva path step by step,

In a land called Manobhava, He will become a buddha Called Tamālapatracandanadha.

The lifespan of this buddha

Will be twenty-four intermediate kalpas. He will always expound the buddha path For the sake of devas and humans. There will be countless śrāvakas,

As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, Who will have perfected the three sciences, And six transcendent powers, And have great dignity and virtue.

There will be innumerable bodhisattvas, Resolute and persevering, who will never turn away From the wisdom of the buddhas.

After the parinirvāṇa of this buddha The True Dharma will last For forty intermediate kalpas, And the Semblance Dharma

Will also be like this. All of my disciples,

Five hundred in number,

Who are endowed with dignity and virtue, Will also receive my prediction.

In the future they will all become buddhas.

I will now explain the relationships That you and I have formed in past lives.

All of you, listen carefully!

Chapter VII

The Apparitional City

The Buddha addressed the monks, saying: “Once upon a time, immeasurable, limitless, inconceivable, incalculable kalpas ago, there was a buddha called Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū Tathāgata, an Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. His land was called Susaṃbhavā in the kalpa called Mahārūpa.

“O monks, it has been an extremely long time since this buddha entered nirvana. Suppose there were a man who ground the earth of the entire great manifold cosmos into powdered ink, and he were to then pass through a thousand worlds to the east, where he let fall a single particle of ink, the size of a speck of dust.

“After passing through another thousand worlds, he let fall another particle; and he continued in this way until he had completely used all the ink.

“What do you think about this? Do you think that a mathematician or a mathematician’s pupil would be able to count those worlds to the last particle or not?”

“O Bhagavat! No, they could not.”

“O monks! Suppose that all the worlds this man passed through, whether letting fall a particle or not, were all ground into dust, and one speck of this dust were equal to one kalpa. The time since the parinirvāṇa of this buddha ^22b surpasses this number by immeasurable, limitless, incalculable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas; and through the power of the Tathāgata’s wisdom and insight, I can see his distant past, as if it were today.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

I recall that in the past,

Immeasurable kalpas ago,

There was a buddha, the most honored among two-legged beings,

113

Called Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū.

Suppose there was a man

Who vigorously ground up in its entirety The earth of the great manifold cosmos And turned it all to powdered ink.

After passing through one thousand worlds, He let fall one particle of ink; And in this way

He continued to let fall particles Until he had used up all the ink.

If all these worlds,

Those where he let fall a particle And those where he did not,

Were to be ground into specks of dust,

And one speck of dust were equal to a single kalpa,

Their number would be surpassed

By the number of kalpas

That have passed since that buddha’s parinirvāṇa, So incalculable has this number of kalpas been. With the Tathāgata’s unobstructed wisdom, I know of these bodhisattvas and śrāvakas And the parinirvāṇa of this buddha;

It is as if I see his parinirvāṇa today.

O monks, you should know

That with the knowledge of the Buddha, Which is pure and subtle,

In corrupted and without obstructions,

I perceive what happened immeasurable kalpas ago.

The Buddha addressed the monks, saying: “The lifespan of this buddha Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū was five hundred and forty myriads of koṭis of nayutas of kalpas. When that buddha was seated on the terrace of enlightenment after having defeated Māra’s army, he tried to obtain highest, complete enlightenment, yet the Dharma of the buddhas did not appear to him. In this way, even after having sat cross-legged for one to ten intermediate kalpas, undisturbed in body and mind, the Dharma of the buddhas still did not appear to him.

“At that time a group of thirty-three devas first prepared for that buddha a lion seat one yojana in height under the bodhi tree, for this buddha was to attain highest, complete enlightenment on that seat. As soon as the Buddha sat on this seat, all the Brahmas rained down various heavenly flowers for a hundred yojanas around; periodically a fragrant breeze would blow away the withered flowers and they would rain down fresh ones.

“In this way they unceasingly paid homage to the Buddha for a full ten intermediate kalpas, raining down these flowers continuously until his parinirvāṇa. The devas of the four quarters constantly struck heavenly drums to honor the Buddha, and in the same way all the other devas made divine 22c music for a full ten intermediate kalpas until his parinirvāṇa.

“O monks! The Dharma of the buddhas appeared to the Buddha Mahā bhijñājñānābhibhū after ten intermediate kalpas had passed, and he attained highest, complete enlightenment.

“This Buddha had had sixteen children before he renounced household life. The eldest child was called Jñānākara. Each child had various kinds of rare toys. After hearing about their father’s attain ment of highest, complete enlightenment, they all put aside their toys and set out for where the Buddha was. Weeping sad tears, their mothers saw them off. Their grandfather, the wheel-turning sage king, went with them, along with a hundred ministers and hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of people.

“When they arrived at the terrace of enlightenment, they all wanted to approach the Tathāgata Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū, and pay homage and respect, honor, and praise him. They came up to him and bowed until their foreheads touched his feet, and then circled around him. Attentively, with palms pressed together, they gazed at the Bhagavat and spoke these verses:

The Bhagavat of great, virtuous dignity,

In order to bring sentient beings to the path,

After immeasurable koṭis of kalpas And perfecting all the vows, Finally became a buddha.

How wonderful!

There is nothing more auspicious!

The Bhagavat is truly extraordinary! He sat tranquil for ten intermediate kalpas With his body and limbs immobile.

His mind was always calm and never distracted.

He has attained ultimate, eternal tranquility, And is firmly established In the incorruptible Dharma. Now seeing the Bhagavat,

Who has serenely attained the buddha path, We receive benefit and celebrate With great joy.

Sentient beings, ever suffering, Are blind and without a teacher.

They are unaware of the path that leads

To the extinction of suffering, Ignorant of the way to seek liberation.

From one blind state to the next,

Those in the troubled states of being daily increase While the devas decrease.

They never hear the Buddha’s name. Now the Buddha has attained the highest, Serene, and incorruptible Dharma. Thus we and the devas and humans, Shall obtain the greatest benefit. Therefore we all bow and pay homage To the highest Lord.

“At that time the sixteen princes, having praised the Buddha in verse,

requested that the Bhagavat turn the wheel of the Dharma, saying:

23a O Bhagavat, teach the Dharma! Put all the devas and people at ease and benefit them through your compassion!

“They spoke further in verse, saying:

O Hero of the World,

The One Who Has No Equal,

Who is adorned with a hundred merits, And has attained the highest wisdom!

We entreat you to teach

For the sake of the world,

And bring us and all the other Sentient beings to the path. Illuminate and reveal this wisdom So that we may attain it.

If we can become buddhas,

So can the other sentient beings.

The Bhagavat knows

The deep-seated intentions of sentient beings

And the paths they practice, As well as the power of their wisdom.

May the Bhagavat, being wholly aware Of their positive intentions, Accumulated merits, and past deeds,

Turn the highest wheel of the Dharma.

The Buddha addressed the monks, saying: “When the Buddha Mahā- bhijñājñānābhibhū attained highest, complete enlightenment, five hundred myriads of koṭis of buddha worlds in each of the ten directions quaked in six ways. The dark places between the worlds, where the rays of the sun and moon had been unable to penetrate, were brightly illuminated. The sentient beings there were able to see each other and said:

How is it possible that sentient beings have suddenly appeared here? “Moreover, those worlds from the heavenly palaces up to the palaces of the Brahmas, also quaked in six ways. The great ray of light shone everywhere, filling the worlds with a radiance that surpassed the light of the devas.

“At that time the palaces of Brahmas in the five hundred myriads of koṭis of worlds in the east were illuminated twice as brightly as usual. The great Brahmas each thought:

The palaces are illuminated now as never before. What has caused this phenomenon?

“At that time all of the great Brahmas approached each other to discuss this matter. In that assembly there was a great Brahma called Sarvasattvatrātar who spoke to the assembly of Brahmas in verse, saying:

This illumination of our palaces Has never occurred before! Let us find out

The reason for this!

This great ray of light

Has illuminated the ten directions.

Has a deva of great merit been born,

Or has a buddha appeared in the world?

“Then the great Brahmas of the hundred myriads of koṭis of worlds went toward the west with their palaces to enquire about this phenomenon, carrying heavenly flowers in their robes. They saw the Tathāgata Mahābhijñā jñānā- 23b bhibhū on the terrace of enlightenment, sitting on the lion seat under the bodhi tree. He was respectfully surrounded by humans and such non humans as devas, nāga kings, gandharvas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas. They also saw the sixteen princes requesting the Buddha to turn the wheel of the Dharma. Then the great Brahmas bowed until their foreheads touched the Buddha’s feet and then circled around him one hundred thousand times. They scattered heavenly flowers on the Buddha, and the flowers they scattered were piled as high as Mount Sumeru. They also paid homage to the Buddha’s bodhi tree, which was ten yojanas in height. Having reverently offered him flowers, they presented their palaces to the Buddha, saying:

Please accept the palaces we now offer you, and benefit us through your compassion!

“Then the great Brahmas spoke these verses wholeheartedly and in

unison before the Buddha:

The Bhagavat, who is truly extraordinary, Is extremely difficult to meet.

He is endowed with immeasurable qualities And seeks to protect all.

The Great Teacher of Devas and Humans

Feels compassion for the world And causes all sentient beings In the ten directions To be universally benefited.

All of us, who have come from

Five hundreds of myriads of koṭis of worlds, Have given up the pleasure of deep meditation In order to pay homage to the Buddha.

To the Bhagavat we now present our palaces, Which the merits of our previous lives

Have caused to be completely adorned.

Please accept them through your compassion!

“Thereupon, having praised the Buddha in verse, the great Brahmas each

said this:

O Bhagavat! We entreat you to turn the wheel of the Dharma, open the path to nirvana, and guide sentient beings to it.

“Then the great Brahmas attentively spoke these verses in unison: O Hero of the World, the most honored among two-legged     beings!

We entreat you to expound the Dharma

And bring the suffering beings to the path

Through the power of your great compassion.

“Then the Tathāgata Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū silently consented.

“Furthermore, O monks, the great Brahmas in the five hundred myriads of koṭis of worlds in the southeast saw their palaces illuminated with a ray of light that had never occurred before. Joyful and ecstatic, they were struck with wonder. They assembled to discuss this matter. At that time there was a great Brahma called Adhimātrakāruṇika. He spoke to the assembly of Brahmas in verse saying:

What is the reason

That this phenomenon has appeared?

Even since the olden times,

This illumination of all of our palaces Is without precedent.

Has a deva of great merit been born,

Or has a buddha appeared in the world?

         Since we have never seen such a phenomenon,

We should seek thoroughly for its source.

Even if we have to pass

Through thousands of myriads of koṭis of worlds,

We should seek together for the source of this light. Possibly a buddha has appeared in the world To save suffering sentient beings.

“Thereupon five hundred myriads of koṭis of great Brahmas went toward the northwest with their palaces, carrying heavenly flowers in their robes, to enquire about this phenomenon. They saw the Tathāgata Mahābhijñā jñānābhibhū on the terrace of enlightenment, sitting on the lion seat under the bodhi tree. He was respectfully surrounded by humans and such nonhumans as devas, nāga kings, gandharvas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas. They also saw the sixteen princes requesting the Buddha to turn the wheel of the Dharma.

“Then all the Brahmas bowed until their foreheads touched the Buddha’s feet and then circled around him one hundred thousand times. They scattered heavenly flowers on the Buddha, and the flowers they scattered were piled up as high as Mount Sumeru. They also paid homage to the Buddha’s bodhi tree. Having reverently offered the Buddha flowers, they presented their palaces to him, saying:

Please accept the palaces we now offer you and benefit us through your compassion!

“Then the great Brahmas spoke these verses wholeheartedly and in

unison before the Buddha: O Great Sage, Deva of Devas!

We now bow to the one

Whose voice is as beautiful as the kalaviṅka bird’s

And who has compassion for sentient beings.

The Bhagavat is truly extraordinary And can only be seen once In an extremely long time. One hundred and eighty kalpas

Have passed away fruitlessly,

And no buddhas have appeared during this time. The worlds have been filled

With people in the three troubled states of being, And the devas have decreased.

The Buddha has now appeared in the world To be the eyes of sentient beings. He will be the refuge of the world And will seek to protect all.

As the father of sentient beings,

He is the compassionate benefactor.

Because of our past merits,

We now have the good fortune to be able To meet the Bhagavat!

“Thereupon, having praised the Buddha in verse, the great Brahmas

said this:

O Bhagavat! We entreat you to turn the wheel of the Dharma out of your compassion for all and save sentient beings.

“Then the great Brahmas spoke these verses wholeheartedly and in

unison:

O Great Sage! Make us very happy!

Turn the wheel of the Dharma, Reveal the character of all dharmas, Save the suffering beings!

If sentient beings hear this Dharma

They will attain the path and be born as devas.

The beings in the troubled states of being will decrease

While those who persevere in the good will increase.“Then the Tathāgata Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū silently consented.

“Furthermore, O monks, the great Brahmas in the five hundreds of thousands of koṭis of lands in the south each saw their palaces illuminated as they had never been before. Joyful and ecstatic, they were struck with wonder. They immediately assembled to discuss this matter together, asking:

Why have our palaces been illuminated?

“At that time there was a great Brahma, called Sudharma. He spoke to

the assembly of Brahmas in verse saying:

Our palaces are illuminated With brilliant light.

There must be a reason for this, And we should seek its source.

We have not seen such a phenomenon

During the past hundreds of thousands of kalpas. Has a deva of great merit been born,

Or has a buddha appeared in the world?

“Thereupon five hundred myriads of koṭis of great Brahmas went toward the north with their palaces, to enquire about this phenomenon, carrying heavenly flowers in their robes. They saw the Tathāgata Mahābhijñā jñānābhibhū on the terrace of enlightenment, sitting on the lion seat under the bodhi tree. He was respectfully surrounded by humans and such nonhumans as devas, nāga kings, gandharvas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas. They also saw the sixteen princes requesting the Buddha to turn the wheel of the Dharma.

“Then all the great Brahmas bowed until their foreheads touched the Buddha’s feet and then circled around him one hundred thousand times. They scattered heavenly flowers on the Buddha, and the flowers they scattered piled up as high as Mount Sumeru. They also paid homage to the Buddha’s bodhi tree. Having revered the Buddha with flowers, they offered their palaces to him, saying:

Please accept the palaces we now offer you, and benefit us through your compassion!

“Then the great Brahmas spoke these verses wholeheartedly and in

unison before the Buddha:

O Destroyer of Afflictions!

It is extremely difficult to meet a Bhagavat.

We are now meeting the Buddha for the first time Since one hundred and thirty kalpas have passed away.

Please satisfy sentient beings,

Who are suffering from hunger and thirst, By pouring down the rain of the Dharma!

O One Possessed of Immeasurable Wisdom, Whom we have never met before! Today we have encountered

The one who appears as rarely As the uḍumbara flower blooms. Our palaces are beautifully adorned By this ray of light.

We entreat you to accept them Out of your great compassion!

“Thereupon, having praised the Buddha in verse, the great Brahmas 24b said this:

O Bhagavat! We request that you turn the wheel of the Dharma, thus causing the devamāras, Brahmas, śrāmaṇas, and brahmans to be at ease and saving them all!

“Then the great Brahmas spoke these verses wholeheartedly and in

unison:

We entreat you, O Best of Devas and Humans,

To turn the wheel of the highest Dharma, Beat the drum of the great Dharma,

Blow the conch of the great Dharma,

Rain the rain of the great Dharma everywhere, And save incalculable sentient beings!

We have all come to request

That you expound it

With your profound voice!

“Then the Tathāgata Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū silently consented.

“The very same thing happened in the worlds from the southwestern to

the lower regions, as well as those in other directions.

“Then all the great Brahmas in the five hundred myriads of koṭis of lands in the upper region saw their palaces illuminated with a light that had never existed before. Joyful and ecstatic, they were struck with wonder. They immediately assembled to discuss this matter together, asking:

Why have our palaces been illuminated?

“There was a great Brahma in that assembly called Śikhin. He spoke to

the assembly of Brahmas in verse, saying:

Why have all our palaces

Been brilliantly illuminated

With this light of virtuous dignity

And adorned in this unprecedented way?

We have never seen such a wonderful phenomenon! Has a deva of great merit been born,

Or has a buddha appeared in the world?

“Thereupon five hundred myriads of koṭis of great Brahmas went into the lower regions with their palaces to enquire about this phenomenon, carrying heavenly flowers in their robes. They saw the Tathāgata Mahābhijñā jñānābhibhū on the terrace of enlightenment sitting on the lion seat under the bodhi tree. He was respectfully surrounded by humans and such nonhumans as devas, nāga kings, gandharvas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas. They also saw the sixteen princes requesting the Buddha to turn the wheel of the Dharma.

“Then all the great Brahmas bowed until their foreheads touched the Buddha’s feet and then circumambulated him one hundred thousand times. They scattered heavenly flowers on the Buddha, and the flowers they scattered were piled up as high as Mount Sumeru. They also paid homage to the Buddha’s bodhi tree. Having reverently offered him flowers, they presented their palaces to the Buddha, saying:

Please accept the palaces we now offer you, and benefit us through your compassion!

“Then all the great Brahmas spoke these verses wholeheartedly and in                                           24c

unison before the Buddha:

How splendid it is to meet the buddhas,

The Great Sages who deliver the world, Who diligently work to get sentient beings Out of the hell of the triple world!

The Best of Devas and Humans, Who has universal wisdom, Out of compassion for everyone Opens the gate to immortality And extensively saves all.

Since olden times, immeasurable kalpas

Have passed away in vain

Without the presence of the Buddha.

In the time before the Bhagavat appears,

The ten directions are in constant darkness. Those in the three troubled states of being increase And the asuras also flourish.

The devas decrease all the more,

And when they die

Many of them fall into those troubled states.

Having never heard the teaching from the Buddha, All of them always behave badly,

And their physical power and wisdom decreases. Because of their erring deeds

They lose happiness or any notion of it. Abiding in the teaching of false views They know nothing of good conduct.

Deprived of the buddhas’ inspiration,

They always fall into the troubled states of being. After a very long time, the Buddha has now

Appeared as the Eye of the World.

It is out of compassion for sentient beings That the Buddha appears in the world. Transcending everything, the Buddha

Has attained complete enlightenment. We are all extremely happy,

And all the other beings joyfully acclaim This unprecedented experience. All our palaces are beautifully adorned By this ray of light.

We now offer them to the Bhagavat.

Please accept them out of your compassion! By the universal transference of this merit, May we and all other beings

Together attain the buddha path!

“Thereupon the five hundred myriads of koṭis of great Brahmas, having

praised the Buddha in verse, each spoke to him, saying:

O Bhagavat! We strongly entreat you to turn the wheel of the Dharma, give ease to many, and enable them to attain the path. “Then all the great Brahmas spoke these verses:

O Bhagavat! Turn the wheel of the Dharma,

Beat the drum of the Dharma of immortality, Save the suffering sentient beings, And reveal the path to nirvana!

We strongly entreat you to accept our request; And out of your compassion

And with your wonderful voice,

Expound the Dharma That you have perfected

Over immeasurable kalpas.

25a   “And then the Tathāgata Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū acceded to the request made by all the great Brahmas from the ten directions and the sixteen princes. He then immediately turned three times the Dharma wheel of twelve spokes

that no śrāmaṇas, brahmans, devamāras, Brahmas, or any other being in the world could turn. He taught:

This is suffering. This is the origination of suffering. This is the cessation of suffering, and this is the path that leads to the cessation of suffering. (i.e., the Four Noble Truths)

“He also extensively taught the Dharma of the twelve-linked chain of

dependent origination, saying:

Conditioned states are dependent on ignorance. Consciousness is dependent on conditioned states. Name and form are dependent on consciousness. The six sense fields are dependent on name and form. Contact is dependent on the six sense fields. Feelings are dependent on contact. Craving is dependent on feelings. Grasping is dependent on craving. Becoming is dependent on grasping. Birth is dependent on becoming. And old age, illness, death, anxiety, sorrow, suffering, and distress are dependent on birth.

When ignorance ceases, then conditioned states cease. When conditioned states cease, then consciousness ceases. When consciousness ceases, then name and form cease. When name and form cease, then the six sense fields cease. When the six sense fields cease, then contact ceases. When contact ceases, then feelings cease. When feelings cease, then craving ceases. When craving ceases, then grasping ceases. When grasping ceases, then becoming ceases. When becoming ceases, then birth ceases. When birth ceases, then old age, illness, death, anxiety, sorrow, suffering, and distress cease.

“When the Buddha explained this Dharma to the great assembly of the devas and humans, at that time six hundred myriads of koṭis of nayutas of people, because they were not attached to any existent thing, became free of all corruption. All of them perfected profound meditations, the three sciences, the six transcendent powers, and were endowed with the eight liberations.

“When he taught the Dharma for the second, third, and fourth time, thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of sentient beings, equal to the sands of the Ganges River, who were not attached to any existent thing, became free of all corruption. Innumerable, immeasurable, incalculable śrāvakas followed in their turn.

“At that time the sixteen princes who were still young renounced household life and became śrāmaṇeras. All their faculties were sharp, and their wisdom was penetrating. They had paid homage to hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas, practiced the pure path of discipline and integrity, and sought highest, complete enlightenment. “They all spoke to the Buddha, saying:

O Bhagavat! All of these immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭis of śrāvakas of great merit have all attained perfection. O Bhagavat! You should also expound the teaching of highest, complete enlightenment to us! Hearing it, we shall all practice it. O Bhagavat! We aspire for the wisdom and insight of the Tathāgata. The Buddha himself knows what is deep in our minds.

“At that time eight myriads of koṭis of people in the assembly who served the noble emperor saw the sixteen princes renounce household life and appealed to the emperor to allow their own renunciation. The emperor immediately gave his permission.

“Then the Buddha accepted the request of the śrāmaṇeras. After twenty thousand kalpas had passed he taught to the fourfold assembly this Mahayana sutra called the Lotus Sutra, the instruction for bodhisattvas and treasured lore of the buddhas.

“After the Buddha taught this sutra, all the sixteen śrāmaṇeras preserved, 25b recited, and understood it in order to achieve highest, complete enlightenment. When the Buddha taught this sutra, all the sixteen śrāmaṇeras, the bodhisattvas, completely accepted it. There were also some among the śrāvakas who believed it. But all the other thousands of myriads of koṭis of sentient beings became confused.

“The Buddha continuously taught this sutra for eight thousand kalpas without stopping. After teaching this sutra, he immediately entered a quiet place and abided in meditation for eighty-four thousand kalpas.

“At that time each of the sixteen śrāmaṇeras, the bodhisattvas, knowing that the Buddha had entered the quiet place and was abiding tranquilly in meditation, ascended the Dharma seat and extensively taught and explained the Lotus Sutra to the fourfold assembly for eighty-four thousand kalpas. Each of them saved six hundred myriads of koṭis of nayutas of sentient beings equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River. By revealing and teaching it, they gladdened these sentient beings and awoke in them the thought of highest, complete enlightenment.

“Having arisen from samādhi after eighty-four thousand kalpas had passed, the Buddha Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū approached the Dharma seat and sat down with complete mindfulness. He addressed everyone in the great assembly, saying:

These sixteen śrāmaṇeras, bodhisattvas, are extraordinary. All their faculties are sharp and their wisdom is penetrating. In times past they have paid homage to immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas and have constantly practiced the pure path of discipline and integrity under them. They preserved the wisdom of the buddhas and revealed it to sentient beings, causing them to enter into it. All of you should approach and pay them homage again and again. Why is this?

If there are any śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and bodhisattvas who are able to believe and preserve the teaching in this sutra expounded by these sixteen bodhisattvas and not disparage it, they will all attain the wisdom of the Tathāgata, highest, complete enlightenment.

The Buddha addressed the monks, saying: “These sixteen bodhisattvas always willingly taught this Lotus Sutra. Each bodhisattva has inspired six hundred myriads of koṭis of nayutas of sentient beings equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River. In life after life, they remained with these bodhisattvas and, hearing this teaching from them, they believed and understood. For this reason they were able to meet four myriads of koṭis of Buddha Bhagavats during a period uninterrupted up to the present.

“O monks! I shall now tell you that these sixteen śrāmaṇeras, disciples of that buddha Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū, have now attained highest, complete enlightenment and presently teach the Dharma in the lands of the ten directions. There are immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of bodhisattvas and śrāvakas who have become their attendants.

“Two of these śrāmaṇeras have became buddhas in the east. One is called Akṣobhya in the land called Abhirati and the other is called Merukūṭa. In the southeast there are two buddhas. One is called Siṃhaghoṣa and the other is called Siṃhadhvaja. In the south there are two buddhas called 25c Ākāśapratiṣṭhita and Nitya parinirvṛta. There are also two buddhas in the southwest. One is called Indra dhvaja and the other is called Brahmadhvaja. In the west there are two buddhas called Amitāyus and Sarvalokad hātūpadra vodvega pratyuttīrṇa. There are two buddhas in the northwest. One is called Tamāla patracandanagandhābhijña. The other is called Meru kalpa. In the north there are two buddhas. One is called Megha svaradīpa and the other is called Meghasvara rāja. In the northeast there is a buddha called Sarva loka bha ya cchambhitatva vidhvaṃsanakara. And the sixteenth one is myself, Buddha Śākyamuni, who in this sahā world achieved highest, complete enlightenment.

“O monks! When we were śrāmaṇeras, each of us inspired immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of sentient beings equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River. Those sentient beings who heard the teaching from me attained highest, complete enlightenment. There are sentient beings who still abide in the stage of a śrāvaka and whom I will inspire to attain highest, complete enlightenment. By means of this teaching, they will gradually enter the buddha path. Why is this?

“The wisdom of the Tathāgatas is hard to believe and hard to understand. Those incalculable sentient beings equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River who were inspired at that time were you, O monks, and those disciples who will be śrāvakas in the future after my parinirvāṇa.

“After my parinirvāṇa there will be disciples who will not hear this sutra and will neither know nor understand the bodhisattva practice; yet through the merit they have acquired, the thought of extinction will awake in them and they will enter parinirvāṇa.

“I will become a buddha in another land with a different name. Although the idea of extinction has awoken in these disciples and they have entered parinirvāṇa, in that land they will still seek the wisdom of the buddhas and will then be able to hear this sutra. They can obtain parinirvāṇa only through the buddha vehicle. There are no other vehicles except the one taught through the skillful means of the Tathāgatas.

“O monks! When the Tathāgata realizes that the time of his parinirvāṇa is approaching, knowing that the assembly is pure, firm in belief and understanding, has penetrated the teaching of emptiness, and has deeply entered meditation, he will then gather the assembly of bodhisattvas and śrāvakas together and teach this sutra to them. In this world there is no second vehicle through which one can attain parinirvāṇa; only through the single buddha vehicle can one attain it.

“You should know, O monks, that the Tathāgata through skillful means deeply penetrates the dispositions of sentient beings. Knowing their inclination toward the inferior teachings and that they are deeply attached to the desires of the five senses, he teaches nirvana for their sake. If they listen, they will accept it.

“Suppose in a desolate, fearful place there were a dangerous road five hundred yojanas long. There is a large group that wants to travel along this road to reach a place where there is great treasure. They have a leader who is wise and penetrating and who knows the passable and impassable parts of this dangerous road very well. Although he wants to guide these people past the danger, they become exhausted along the way. Addressing the leader they say: We are extremely tired and frightened. We cannot go any further. We are still far away from our destination, and we want to turn back. “The leader, knowing many skillful means, thinks:

These people are to be pitied. How could they want to turn back and abandon the great treasure?

“After thinking this the leader, through his skillful means, magically creates a city three hundred yojanas away along the dangerous road. He addresses the people, saying:

Do not be frightened. Do not turn back! You may now stay in this great city and be at your leisure. If you enter this city, you can be comfortable and at ease. Once you are able to go on and reach the treasure site, then you can depart once more.

“Then the exhausted people rejoice greatly and praise this unprecedented

experience, saying:

We are now free of this evil road and will be comfortable and at ease.

“Then they proceed to the apparitional city and enter it. They believe that their hardships are over and feel at ease. Then the leader realizes that they are rested and their fatigue has gone. He immediately makes the apparitional city vanish and says to the people:

All of you, come along! The treasure site is near. I made that great apparitional city only in order to let you rest.

“O monks! The Tathāgata is exactly like this. Now for your sake he has become a great leader who knows the long, dangerous, and evil road of birth, death, and desire’s confusion. You should leave it and be saved.

“If sentient beings hear only about the single buddha vehicle they will then want neither to see nor approach a buddha. They will think that the buddha path is long and attainable only after enduring severe and protracted suffering. The Buddha, knowing their minds, knowing that they are weak-willed and of lowly aspiration, teaches them the two nirvanas through skillful means in order to let them rest halfway to the goal. If there are sentient beings who abide in either of these two stages, the Tathāgata immediately teaches:

What you have accomplished is not complete. The stage you abide in is close to the wisdom of the buddhas. You should observe and consider that the nirvana you have obtained is not the true one. It is only through the power of the Tathāgata’s skillful means that the single buddha vehicle is explained as three.

“The Buddha is just like that leader who conjured a great apparitional city to let the people rest. Knowing that they were rested, he addressed them, saying: “The treasure site is near. This city is not real. It is only my invention.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

The Buddha Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū sat

On the terrace of enlightenment for ten kalpas, But still the Dharma of the buddhas Did not appear to him,

And he did not attain the buddha path.

The devas, nāga kings, asuras, and others Constantly rained down heavenly flowers In order to pay homage to that buddha.

The devas beat heavenly drums                                                          

And played various kinds of music.

The fragrant winds blew the withered flowers away And then they rained down fresh, beautiful ones.

After ten intermediate kalpas had passed, He then attained the buddha path; And all the devas and humans Became joyful and ecstatic.

The sixteen princes of that buddha, Surrounded by thousands of

Myriads of koṭis of attendants, Came to the place where the Buddha was.

Having bowed until their foreheads touched his feet, They requested him to turn the wheel of the Dharma Saying:

O Noble Lion!

Fill us and everyone else with the rain of the Dharma! It is extremely difficult to meet a Bhagavat,

Since he appears only once in a very long time!

To get the attention of the beings,

The Buddha shook the entire world.

The palaces of the Brahmas in the five hundred

Myriads of koṭis of lands in the east Were illuminated as never before.

All of the Brahmas, seeing this phenomenon, Came to the place where the Buddha was. They reverently scattered flowers And offered him their palaces. Requesting the Buddha To turn the wheel of the Dharma, They praised him in verse.

The Buddha knew that the right time Had not yet arrived,

And although he had been asked,

He sat in silence.

The other three directions, the four remaining quarters, And the upper and lower regions were all like this.

All the Brahmas scattered flowers,

Offered their palaces, and requested the Buddha To turn the wheel of the Dharma, Saying:

It is extremely difficult to meet a Bhagavat.

We entreat you to open wide the gate to immortality And turn the wheel of the highest Dharma Through your great compassion! The Bhagavat, having immeasurable wisdom, Accepted their request

And expounded various teachings,

Such as the Four [Noble] Truths

And the twelve-linked chain of dependent origination, saying:

Beginning with ignorance

And ending with old age and death, All these derive from birth.

You should know about such miseries!

When the Buddha expounded this teaching,

Six hundred myriads of koṭis of trillions of people Attained the complete extinction of all suffering, And became arhats.

At the time of the second teaching,

Thousands of myriads of people,

Equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River,

Unattached to any existent thing, Also attained athwartship. After that an incalculable number Of beings attained the path.

Even if one were to count

For myriads of koṭis of kalpas,

One could not finish counting their number. Then the sixteen princes renounced Household life and became śrāmaṇeras. They all asked the Buddha to expound The teaching of the Mahayana, saying:

Let us and all of our attendants Attain the buddha path!

We entreat you to let us obtain

The Bhagavat’s eye of wisdom, supreme in purity!

The Buddha, knowing the minds of his children

And their past conduct, taught the six perfections And various transcendent powers Through incalculably numerous explanations And various illustrations.

Explaining the true teaching

And the path to be practiced by the bodhisattvas,

He taught this Lotus Sutra in verses Equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River. After the Buddha taught this sutra,

He entered meditation in a quiet place

And sat with complete concentration in the same spot For eighty-four thousand kalpas.

Those śrāmaṇeras, knowing that the Buddha Had not arisen from meditation,

Taught the highest wisdom of the buddhas To immeasurable koṭis of beings. Each sat on the Dharma seat And explained this Mahayana sutra.

After the great parinirvāṇa of that buddha,

They propagated the Dharma and inspired others.

Each śrāmaṇera saved

Six hundred myriads of koṭis of sentient beings,

Equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River.

Those who heard the teaching

After the Buddha’s parinirvāṇa

Were always born together with their teachers In various other buddha lands. These sixteen śrāmaṇeras

Completely cultivated the buddha path And now, in the ten directions,

They have attained highest, complete enlightenment.

Then those who heard the Dharma In the presence of each of these buddhas And those who are in the śrāvaka stage Will gradually be taught the buddha path.

I am one of the sixteen.

I have also taught you in the past.

Therefore through skillful means

I will now also lead you to the goal Which is the wisdom of the buddhas.

Through these former causes and conditions, I will now teach the Lotus Sutra

In order to let you enter the buddha path.

Do not be worried or frightened! Suppose there were a dangerous road In a deserted wasteland far away, Where there are many harmful beasts.

There is neither water nor grass.

It is a fearful place for human beings. Innumerable thousands of myriads of beings Wish to pass along this dangerous way. But that road is very long,

Some five hundred yojanas.

Then there is a leader,

Endowed with deep wisdom and knowledge,

Discerning and resolute,

Who saves the people from various calamities When they meet with danger.

The people all get tired

And address the leader, saying:

We are all now totally exhausted. We want to turn back from here!

The leader thinks:

These people are really to be pitied. How could they possibly want to return And lose the great treasure!

He immediately thinks of skillful means

And how he should now use his transcendent powers; And he makes a great apparitional city With houses adorned and surrounded With gardens, moats, and ponds. There are fortified gates and tall towers, And it is full of men and women.

When the apparition is complete,

He immediately consoles the people, saying:

Do not be afraid!

When you enter the city,

You can each do as you please.

All the people enter the city. They are very happy and feel at ease, Thinking they have been saved.

When the leader knows they are rested, He gathers them together and addresses them, saying:

You should now proceed, For this is just an apparitional city!

Seeing that you were extremely fatigued And that you wanted to turn back After coming halfway,

I made this apparitional city through skillful means. You should now strive

To reach the treasure site together.

I am exactly like this.

I am the leader of all.

Perceiving that those seeking the way

Have become timid, have stopped halfway,

And are unable to walk to the end of the dangerous road Of birth, death, and desire’s confusion, I use skillful means and teach nirvana So that they may rest, saying:

You have extinguished suffering, And you have completed what must be done.

Knowing that they have reached nirvana

And attained athwartship, the Buddha immediately Gathers the great assembly together And teaches the True Dharma.

27b     All the buddhas explain and teach

The three vehicles through skillful means.

Although there is only the single buddha vehicle, They teach two in order to provide a place of rest. For your benefit I now teach the truth:

What you have attained is not the ultimate goal. You must call forth great efforts

In order to obtain the omniscience of a buddha.

If you attain omniscience

And the qualities of the Buddha,

Such things as the ten powers,

And become endowed with the thirty-two marks, Then you will have attained the ultimate goal.

The buddhas, the Leaders, teach nirvana In order to let beings rest in comfort.

When they know that they have rested,

They lead them to the wisdom of the buddhas.

Chapter VIII

The Five Hundred Disciples Receive Their Predictions

At that time, Pūrṇa, the son of Maitrāyaṇī, after hearing the Buddha teach the Dharma according to what is appropriate to sentient beings through the wisdom of skillful means and bestow the prediction of highest, complete enlightenment on all the great disciples, and then hearing stories about past causes and conditions and that all the buddhas have obtained perfect mastery of transcendent powers, obtained an unprecedented experience and became pure in mind and joyful. He immediately rose from his seat, went into the presence of the Buddha, bowed until his forehead touched the Buddha’s feet, and then stood to one side gazing unwaveringly at the Buddha and thought this:

The Bhagavat is truly marvelous. His actions are rare. He teaches the Dharma according to the natural capacities of the beings in the world through skillful means, wisdom, and insight. He leads sentient beings away from their various attachments. We have no words to describe the Buddha’s qualities. Only the Buddha, the Bhagavat, is able to know our deep intentions and original vow.

Then the Buddha addressed the monks, saying: “Do you see Pūrṇa, the son of Maitrāyaṇī? I always praise him as the foremost among the teachers of the Dharma. I also always praise his various qualities. He diligently maintains and propagates my teaching and is able to gladden and benefit the fourfold assembly. He interprets the True Dharma of the buddhas perfectly and 27c greatly benefits those who practice the pure path of discipline and integrity together with him. With the exception of the Tathāgata no one else explains the doctrine more eloquently.

“You must not think that Pūrṇa is only now able to protect and propagate my teaching. He also protected and propagated the True Dharma of the buddhas in the presence of ninety koṭis of buddhas in the past when he was

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always the foremost among the teachers of the Dharma. Moreover he was completely versed in the teaching of emptiness that the buddhas taught, and attained the fourfold unobstructed wisdom. He has always been able to teach the Dharma clearly and purely. He never had any doubts and was endowed with the transcendent powers of the bodhisattvas.

“Throughout each life he always practiced the pure path of discipline and integrity. The people who lived in the same buddha world all thought he really was a śrāvaka, yet Pūrṇa benefited immeasurable hundreds of thousands of sentient beings through this skillful means and also led and inspired immeasurable incalculable numbers of beings and caused them to attain highest, complete enlightenment. In order to purify the buddha land he always did what the buddhas have done and led and inspired sentient beings.

“O monks! Pūrṇa also was able to become the foremost among the teachers of the Dharma under the past seven buddhas; and he is also the foremost of those who preach the Dharma under me. He will also be the foremost among the teachers of the Dharma under the future buddhas in this auspicious kalpa. He will protect and propagate the Buddha-Dharma; and also in the future he will protect and propagate the Dharma of incalculable limitless buddhas. He will lead, inspire, and benefit incalculable sentient beings and cause them to attain highest, complete enlightenment. In order to purify the buddha lands he will always be diligent and persevering, leading and inspiring sentient beings.

“He will gradually perfect the bodhisattva path and, after immeasurable incalculable kalpas, he will attain highest, complete enlightenment in this land. He will be called Dharmaprabhāsa, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. That Buddha’s land will consist of all the worlds in the great manifold cosmos, equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River. The earth will be made of the seven treasures and it will be level, just like the palm of one’s hand. There will be no mountains, valleys, or hollow places. This land will be filled with towers of the seven treasures. The heavenly palaces will be in the sky close at hand, and the humans and devas will come and go between them, so that they will be able to see each other. There will be no troubled states of being nor any women. All the sentient beings will be born here spontaneously, without any sexual desires. They will attain great transcendent powers, emit rays of light from their bodies, and fly freely through the air.

“These beings will be firm in recollection, persevering, and wise. They will all be of golden hue and adorned with the thirty-two marks. The sentient beings in that land will always eat two meals: one being the meal of delight in the Dharma, and the other the meal of pleasure in meditation.

“There will be immeasurable incalculable thousands of myriads of koṭis                                               ^28a

of nayutas of bodhisattvas who have attained great transcendent powers and the fourfold unobstructed wisdom. They will be able skillfully to lead and inspire sentient beings. The number of śrāvakas there will be impossible to calculate. They will all perfect the six transcendent powers, the three sciences, and the eight liberations.

“Such will be the immeasurable merits of this buddha’s land, being perfect in adornment. The kalpa will be called Ratnāva bhāsa and his land will be called Suviśuddha. This buddha’s lifespan will last for immeasurable incalculable kalpas, and the Dharma will abide for a very long time. After the parinirvāṇa of that buddha, stupas of the seven treasures will be erected everywhere throughout the land.”

Then the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this further,

spoke these verses:

O monks! Listen carefully!

The path that the heir of the buddhas Has practiced by learning skillful means Cannot be conceived.

Because the bodhisattvas know

That sentient beings long for inferior teachings

And are afraid of great knowledge, They make themselves either śrāvakas Or pratyekabuddhas.

They inspire those sentient beings

Using innumerable skillful means, saying: We are śrāvakas and still very far away From attaining the buddha path.

They save immeasurable sentient beings,

All of whom they cause to attain perfection; And they even cause those who are lazy, Or who have lowly intentions, Gradually to become buddhas.

These beings secretly carry out the bodhisattva practice While outwardly calling themselves śrāvakas. Having little desire,

Their thoughts fixed on birth and death, They in fact purify the buddha lands.

These bodhisattvas show sentient beings That they have the three poisons

And further they reveal the mark of false views. In this way my disciples save

Sentient beings through skillful means.

If I fully disclosed

That they had taken on various forms, The sentient beings hearing this Would immediately become doubtful.

This Pūrṇa has now practiced the path

Under thousands of koṭis of buddhas in the past, And he has propagated and protected The teaching of these buddhas.

Seeking the highest wisdom

Under all these buddhas,

He showed that he was the foremost

Among the disciples,

And that he was knowledgeable and wise.

Fearless in his teaching,

He was able to gladden the people. He never tired in performing The actions of a buddha.

He has already attained the great transcendent powers And is endowed with the fourfold unobstructed wisdom.

Knowing whether the faculties

Of sentient beings are sharp or dull, He always teaches the pure Dharma.

Expounding such doctrines as these,

He has taught thousands of koṭis of beings

And, by making them abide in the Mahayana teaching, He himself has purified his buddha land. In the future he will also pay homage to Incalculable innumerable buddhas,

Protect and propagate the True Dharma, And also purify his buddha land.

He will always fearlessly teach the Dharma

Using his skillful means,

Save incalculable sentient beings,

And enable them to achieve omniscience. Paying homage to all the Tathāgatas

And preserving the treasure house of the Dharma, He will eventually become the Buddha Called Dharmaprabhāsa.

His land will be called Suviśuddha Which will consist of the seven treasures; His kalpa will be called Ratnāvabhāsa. There will be a large number of bodhisattvas there Numbering immeasurable koṭis.

His buddha land will be filled

With bodhisattvas who have attained

Great transcendent powers, And are endowed with dignity. There will also be innumerable śrāvakas

Who have perfected the three sciences, The eight liberations,

And the fourfold unobstructed wisdom.

Such beings as these will form the sangha.

The sentient beings in his land

Will have already cut themselves off from sexual desires.

Everyone there will thus be pure and born spontaneously, With bodies adorned with the thirty-two marks. They will feast on delight in the Dharma And pleasure in meditation,

Never thinking of eating anything else. There will be neither women Nor troubled states of existence.

The qualities of the monk Pūrṇa Will be completely perfected And there will be many wise people In this pure land.

I am now only briefly explaining These immeasurable things.

Thereupon there were twelve hundred arhats, who had attained complete mental discipline, who thought this: “We have joyfully attained an unprecedented experience. If the Bhagavat would give each of us a prediction like those he has given the other great disciples, we would be overjoyed!”

The Buddha, knowing their minds, addressed Mahākāśyapa, saying: “I shall now bestow the prediction of highest, complete enlightenment one by one on these twelve hundred arhats who are in my presence.

“My great disciple, the monk Ājñātakauṇḍinya who is in this assembly, will pay homage to sixty-two thousands of koṭis of buddhas. He will thereafter

become the buddha called Samanta prabha, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat.

“The five hundred arhats beginning with Uruvilvakāśyapa, Gayākāśyapa, Nadīkāśyapa, Kālodāyin, Udāyin, Aniruddha, Revata, Kapphiṇa, Bakkula, Cunda, Svāgata, and the others will all attain highest, complete enlightenment. They will all have the same name, that of Samantaprabha.”

Then the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate the meaning of this further,

spoke these verses:

The monk Kauṇḍinya

Will meet immeasurable buddhas

And, after incalculable kalpas have passed,

He will attain perfect enlightenment.

He will always emit a great ray of light

And will be endowed with transcendent powers. His fame will spread universally Throughout the ten directions.

He will be honored by all beings And will always teach the highest path;

He will therefore be called Samantaprabha.

His land will be pure, And the bodhisattvas there Will all be of great vigor.

They will all ascend marvelous towers

And roam in the lands of the ten directions; They will present the most excellent offerings To all of the buddhas.

After having shown their reverence in this way,

They will be full of great joy And immediately return to their own lands.

Such will be their transcendent powers.

The lifespan of this buddha

Will be sixty thousand kalpas

And the True Dharma will last Twice as long as his lifespan.

The Semblance Dharma

Will last twice as long as this.

When the Dharma disappears, The devas and humans will grieve.

Those five hundred monks

Will become buddhas each in their turn,

All having the same name Samantaprabha. They will give predictions One after the other, saying:

After my parinirvāṇa So-and-so will become a buddha.

The world he inspires

Will be exactly like mine today.

The embellishments of their lands, All the transcendent powers,

The assembly of bodhisattvas and śrāvakas, The True and Semblance Dharma,

The lifespan and duration of the kalpa, Will be just as I explained before.

O Kāśyapa! You now know

That the five hundred arhats Whose minds are free,

And the remaining śrāvakas Will also be exactly like this. You should teach those

Who are not in this assembly!

Thereupon the five hundred arhats, having obtained their predictions from the Buddha, were joyful and ecstatic. They rose from their seats, approached the Buddha, bowed until their foreheads touched his feet, repented of their faults, and reproached themselves, saying: “O Bhagavat! We have always thought we had attained complete nirvana. We now realize that we were ignorant. Why is this? We should have attained the wisdom of the Tathāgatas. Yet we were satisfied with little wisdom!

“O Bhagavat! Suppose there were a man who came to the house of a close friend and went to sleep after becoming intoxicated with wine. The intimate friend, having to go out on official business, sews a priceless jewel into the inside of his friend’s garment and, giving it to him, leaves. But the man who was drunk and asleep is totally unaware of this. After getting up he leaves and roams around until he arrives in another country. Although he diligently seeks for food and clothing they are very difficult to obtain. He is satisfied if he just obtains a very meager amount. Later on the intimate friend happens to meet this man. Seeing him, he says:

O poor fellow! How have you come to this state through lack of food and clothing? Once, on such-and-such a day in such-and-such a month and year, I sewed a priceless jewel into the inside of your garment, wanting to make things easier for you and to let you enjoy the desires of the five senses as much as you wished.

It is still there, although you aren’t aware of it, and you seek your livelihood with great effort and hardship! You have been very foolish. Sell this jewel and use it to buy what you need. From now on you will know neither poverty nor want and can live as you wish.

“The Buddha is exactly like this. When he was a bodhisattva he aroused in us the aspiration for omniscience. Nevertheless we forgot, we did not know or understand. We attained the path of the arhats and considered that we had attained nirvana. It was very hard for us to support ourselves and we were satisfied with little. But we never fully lost our wish for all-knowledge. Now the Bhagavat, perceiving our minds, has said this:

O monks! What you have attained is not the complete nirvana. For a long time I have made you plant the various roots of good merit of a buddha and shown you the marks of nirvana through skillful means. That is why you consider yourselves to have actually attained nirvana!

“O Bhagavat! We now know that we are actually bodhisattvas and will obtain a prediction of highest, complete enlightenment. For this reason we are extremely happy at having obtained such an unprecedented experience.”

At that time Ājñātakauṇḍinya and the others, wanting to elaborate on

the meaning of this further, spoke these verses:

We have heard his voice

Giving the prediction of utmost ease.

Rejoicing in this unprecedented experience,

We bow to the Buddha whose wisdom is immeasurable. We now repent of our faults

In the presence of the Bhagavat. Although we had attained

Only a small measure of nirvana,

Out of the immeasurable treasures of the Buddha,

We were self-satisfied,                                                                         

Just like ignorant fools!

Suppose there were a poor man

Who went to the house of a close friend Whose family was very wealthy. He was entertained with a feast

And had a priceless jewel sewn To the inside of his garment.

The wealthy friend made him this gift

Without saying anything, and went away. The poor man had fallen asleep And did not know of this.

Shortly afterward this man gets up, And after wandering around Arrives in another country.

He manages to seek out

Enough food and clothing to live

But has great difficulty in supporting himself. Yet he is satisfied to obtain a little

And does not desire anything better. He is still unaware of the priceless jewel Sewn inside his garment.

The intimate friend who gave him the jewel Meets this poor man later

And bitterly reproaches him, Showing him the jewel

That had been sewn into his garment.

The poor man, seeing this jewel, rejoices greatly And with this rich treasure he enjoys To his satisfaction the desires of the five senses.

We are exactly like this.

For a long time, the Bhagavat Has led and inspired us

Through his compassion, And planted in us the highest aspiration.

Because we were ignorant We neither noticed nor knew;

We were satisfied with attaining

Only a small measure of nirvana And did not seek for the rest.

Now the Buddha has enlightened us, saying:

This is not the real nirvana.

Attaining the highest wisdom of the buddhas Is indeed the only real nirvana.

Now, having heard the predictions from the Buddha

And of the adorned lands,

And the subsequent predictions,

We universally rejoice in body and mind!

Chapter IX

Who Still Have More to Learn and for Those Who Do Not

At that time Ānanda and Rāhula thought this: “The delight we would feel if we were to receive our predictions is constantly before our minds!”

Then arising from their seats and going into the presence of the Buddha, they bowed until their foreheads touched his feet, and spoke to him in unison, saying: “O Bhagavat! We should also be qualified to receive our predictions! Both of us take refuge only in the Tathāgata. Moreover we are well known by the devas, humans, and asuras throughout the entire world! Ānanda has always attended the Tathāgata, preserving the treasure house of the Dharma; and Rāhula is the son of the Buddha. If the Buddha would bestow upon us the prediction of highest, complete enlightenment then our vows would be fulfilled and our wishes also realized!”

Then two thousand disciples, śrāvakas, some who still had more to learn,                                             ^29c

and some who did not, all arose from their seats and with their right shoulders bared went into the presence of the Buddha. Attentively, with palms pressed together, they gazed at the Bhagavat, all having the same wish as Ānanda and Rāhula, and stood to one side. Then the Buddha addressed Ānanda, saying: “In the future world you will become a buddha called Sāgara dharabuddhivi krīḍitarājābhijña, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. You will pay homage to sixty-two koṭis of buddhas, preserve the treasure house of the Dharma and ultimately attain highest, complete enlightenment. Further, you will inspire twenty thousands of myriads of koṭis of bodhisattvas, equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River, causing them to attain highest, complete enlightenment.

“Your land will be called Avanāmitavaijayantā. It will be pure and the earth will be made of lapis lazuli. The kalpa will be called Manojñaśabdā bhigarjita.

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The lifespan of this buddha will be for immeasurable, incalculable thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas. Their number would be incalculable even if one were to count for immeasurable, innumerable thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas. The True Dharma will abide in the world twice as long as his lifespan and the Semblance Dharma will abide in the world twice as long as the True Dharma.

“O Ānanda! The virtues of this buddha Sāgaradharab uddhi vikrīḍita- rājābhijña will be praised by immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭis of Buddha Tathāgatas in the ten directions, equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River.”

Thereupon the Tathāgata, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

I now tell the assembly

That Ānanda, the preserver of the Dharma,

Will pay homage to the buddhas

And ultimately attain complete enlightenment. He will be called the Buddha

Sāgaradhara buddhivikrīḍitarājābhijña.

His land will be pure

And called Avanāmitavaijayantā

He will lead and inspire bodhisattvas

In numbers equal to the sands of the Ganges River. This buddha will be endowed

With great virtue and dignity, and his fame Will fill the ten directions.

His lifespan will be immeasurable

Due to his compassion for sentient beings.

The True Dharma will abide

Twice as long as his lifespan And the Semblance Dharma will abide Twice as long as the True Dharma. Countless sentient beings

Within the Dharma of this buddha,

Equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River,

Will plant the seed of the buddha path.”

Chapter IX

At that time the eight thousand bodhisattvas in the assembly, in whom the thought of enlightenment (bodhicittta) had recently awakened, all thought this: “Since we have never heard the great bodhisattvas receive predictions 30a like this, why should the śrāvakas now obtain it?”

Then the Bhagavat, knowing what the bodhisattvas were thinking, spoke to them, saying: “O sons of a virtuous family! The thought of highest, complete enlightenment once awoke simultaneously in Ānanda and myself in the presence of the Buddha Dharma gaganābhyudgatarāja. Ānanda always wanted to hear a great deal about the Dharma, and I always made diligent efforts. For this reason I was shortly able to attain highest, complete enlightenment, whereas Ānanda preserves my teaching and in the future will uphold the treasure house of the Dharma of all the buddhas. He will lead, inspire, and perfect the bodhisattvas. Since this was his original vow, he has obtained this prediction!”

Ānanda, while facing the Buddha in the audience, heard his own prediction and about the adornments of his land. His vow fulfilled, he rejoiced greatly at attaining such an unprecedented experience. With his unobstructed penetration he immediately remembered the treasure house of the Dharma of the past immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭ is of buddhas as if he had just heard of it today; and he also became aware of his original vow. Thereupon Ānanda spoke these verses:

The Bhagavat is truly extraordinary.

He has enabled me to recollect the Dharma

Of incalculable numbers of buddhas of the past, Just as if I had first heard of the matter today.

I now have no further doubts.

I am established in the buddha path.

I have become an attendant of the Tathāgata

And, as an attendant, I will preserve

The Dharma of all the buddhas, using skillful means.

Then the Buddha addressed Rāhula, saying: “In the future you will become a buddha called Saptaratnapadmavikrama, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed,

Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas

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and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. You will pay homage to the Buddha Tathāgatas, whose number is equal to that of the grains of dust in the ten worlds; and you will always become the eldest son of all the buddhas just as you are my eldest son now.

“The adornments of the land, the number of disciples led and inspired, the duration of the True and Semblance Dharma of this buddha Saptaratnapadmavikrama will be just like those of the Buddha Sāgaradharabuddhi vikrīḍitarājābhijña, without the slightest difference. You will also become the eldest son of this buddha and after that attain highest, complete enlightenment.”

At that time the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

When I was a prince, Rāhula was my eldest son.

And now that I have perfected the buddha path,

He accepts my teaching as the heir of the Dharma. In the future he will meet Immeasurable koṭis of buddhas.

Becoming the eldest son of all these buddhas, He will wholeheartedly seek The buddha path.

Only I am able to discern

Rāhula’s unseen practice.

         But now that he has become my eldest son,

He reveals it to the sentient beings.

His thousands of myriads

Of koṭis of merits are uncountable and incalculable;

He will become established in the Buddha-Dharma And seek the highest path.

Then the Bhagavat perceived that the minds of those two thousand people, some of whom had more to learn and some of whom did not, were sincere, mild, and receptive. They were all attentively gazing at the Buddha. The Buddha said to Ānanda: “Do you not see these two thousand people, some of whom have more to learn and some of whom do not?”

Chapter IX

Ānanda replied: “Yes, I see them.”

The Buddha said: “O Ānanda! All of these people will pay homage to the Buddha Tathāgatas, whose number is equal to that of the grains of dust in fifty worlds. They will respect, honor, and preserve the treasure house of the Dharma and will later all become buddhas simultaneously in the worlds of the ten directions. They will all have the same name, Ratnaketurāja, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. Their lifespans will last one kalpa. The adornments of their lands, the number of śrāvakas and bodhisattvas, and the duration of the True and Semblance Dharma will be the same for all.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

Now in my presence

These two thousand śrāvakas

Have all received their predictions.

In the future they will all become buddhas. The buddhas they will revere

Will be equal to the number of grains of dust, Just as mentioned above.

Preserving this treasure house of the Dharma,

They will later attain complete enlightenment. They will all have the same name

And dwell in the lands of the ten directions. All sitting at the exact same time, On the terrace of enlightenment, They will attain the highest wisdom.

All of them will be called Ratnaketurāja.

Their lands, the number of disciples, Duration of the True and Semblance Dharma Will all be the same without any difference.

Moreover, through their transcendent powers,

They will save sentient beings Throughout the ten directions.

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Their fame will spread universally

And they will gradually enter nirvana.

Then the two thousand people, some of whom had more to learn and some of whom did not, having heard their predictions from the Buddha, rejoiced ecstatically and spoke in verse:

O Bhagavat, the Light of Wisdom!

We have just heard you give us our predictions

And our minds are full of joy,

Just as if we had been sprinkled

With the Dharma of immortality.

Chapter X

The Expounder of the Dharma

Thereupon the Bhagavat by addressing Bodhisattva Bhaiṣa jyarāja (Medicine King), through him addressed eighty thousand mahā sattvas, saying: “O Bhaiṣajyarāja! In this assembly do you see innumerable humans and nonhumans such as devas, nāga kings, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas, monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, those seeking the śrāvaka vehicle, the pratyekabuddha vehicle, and the buddha path? If, in the presence of the Buddha any beings such as these hear a single verse or line of the Lotus Sutra, and thereupon have even one thought of rejoicing in it, I will bestow upon them my prediction that they will attain highest, complete enlightenment.”

The Buddha addressed Bhaiṣajyarāja, saying: “If, after the parinirvāṇa of the Tathāgata, any being hears even a single verse or line of the Lotus Sutra, and thereupon has even one thought of rejoicing in it, I will bestow upon them the prediction that they will attain highest, complete enlightenment.

“If there is anyone who preserves, recites, explains, or copies even a single verse of the Lotus Sutra, or who respects this sutra as if it were a buddha, or who reverently offers it various flowers, perfumes, necklaces, fragrant ointments, scented powders, burning incense, canopies, flags, banners, clothing, or music, or who simply honors it with his palms pressed together, know, O Bhaiṣa jyarāja, that this person has already paid homage to tens of myriads of koṭis of buddhas of the past! Such people have completed their great vow in the presence of all the buddhas and yet they have been born as humans out of their compassion for sentient beings.

“O Bhaiṣajyarāja! If anyone should ask you what kind of sentient being will become a buddha in the future, you should inform them that it is those of this kind who will definitely become buddhas in the future. Why is this?

“If there are any sons or daughters of a virtuous family who preserve, recite, explain, and copy even a single line of the Lotus Sutra, or who pay homage to this sutra with various offerings of flowers, perfumes, necklaces,

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scented powders and ointments, burning incense, canopies, flags, banners, clothing, or music, or who honor it with their palms pressed together, such people should be respected by the entire world. They should be revered in the same way as the Tathāgata is revered. Know that these people are great bodhisattvas who are to attain highest, complete enlightenment. Out of their compassion for sentient beings they wish to be born among them in order to expound and explain the Lotus Sutra far and wide. How much more to be honored are those who completely preserve the entire sutra and pay homage to it with various offerings!

“O Bhaiṣajyarāja! You should know that after my parinirvāṇa these people will set aside the rewards of their pure karma and be born in the troubled world out of their compassion for sentient beings, and in order to expound this sutra far and wide. After my pari nirvāṇa, if there are any sons and daughters of a virtuous family who expound even a single line of the Lotus Sutra in private to even a single person, they should be acknowledged as the ambassadors of the Tathāgata. They have been dispatched by the Tathāgata and carry out the Tathāgata’s work. As for those who extensively teach among the common people, know that they are yet greater ambassadors.

 “O Bhaiṣajyarāja, if there are erring people during a kalpa, those with troubled thoughts who always disparage the Buddha in his presence, their fault is nonetheless slight. Yet if there are those who disparage the laity or ordained people who recite the Lotus Sutra even with a single evil word, their fault is extremely grave.

“O Bhaiṣajyarāja! Know that those who recite this Lotus Sutra adorn themselves with the adornments of a buddha. This means that they will carry the Tathāgata on their shoulders and pay him homage wherever they go. They should be respected, revered, honored, and praised wholeheartedly with palms pressed together, through offerings of flowers, perfumes, necklaces, scented powders, ointments, burning incense, canopies, flags, banners, clothing, delicious food, music, and the best offerings that people can make. They should have heavenly jewels scattered upon them and offered to them. Why is this? Because these people joyfully expound the Dharma and those who hear it even for an instant will fully attain highest, complete enlightenment.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate upon the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

Those who want to abide in the buddha path

And perfect the wisdom of the Self-generated One, Should always diligently pay homage

To those who preserve the Lotus Sutra.

Those who want to quickly attain omniscience

Should hold to this sutra

And pay homage to those who preserve it.

Know that anyone who preserves the Lotus Sutra

Is an ambassador of the Buddha Who feels compassion for sentient beings. Those who preserve the Lotus Sutra

Were born here in this world,

Withholding themselves from the Pure Land Out of their compassion for sentient beings. Know that such people are born Where and when they will.

They are born in this troubled world To extensively expound the highest Dharma.

Such expounders of the Dharma should be revered

With offerings of divine flowers, perfumes,

Heavenly jeweled clothing, and exquisite celestial jewels.

Those who preserve this sutra

In the troubled world after my parinirvāṇa,

Should be paid homage with palms pressed together Just as one pays homage to the Bhagavat.

These heirs of the buddhas should be revered With delicious food, various delicacies, And a variety of clothing, in the hope of hearing The teaching even for an instant.

If in the future there is anyone

Who preserves this sutra,

I will dispatch him to the world of humans                                        

To carry out the Tathāgata’s task. If throughout one entire kalpa

There is anyone with erring thoughts

Who always disparages the Buddha

With an angry countenance, the consequences of His grave errors will be incalculable.

If there is anyone who speaks

A hostile word even for an instant

About those who recite and preserve this Lotus Sutra, His fault will be even greater.

If throughout one entire kalpa

There are people seeking for the buddha path Who praise the Buddha in my presence With incalculable numbers of verses And with palms pressed together,

The merits they attain will be immeasurable Because of praising this buddha.

If there are people who praise Those who preserve the sutra, Their merit will be even greater.

You must pay tribute to those who preserve the sutra

Throughout eighty koṭis of kalpas With the best objects, sounds, Fragrances, flavors, and materials.

If you are able to hear the teaching for even a moment, After having paid tribute in this way,

You will then become delighted, thinking:

I have now attained great benefits.

O Bhaiṣajyarāja! I now tell you that

I have taught many sutras;

Among these sutras, however, The Lotus Sutra is the utmost and best.

Then the Buddha spoke further to Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Bhaiṣajyarāja, saying: “There are immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭis of sutras I have taught in the past, which I teach now, and which I will teach in the future. Among them, however, this Lotus Sutra is the most difficult to accept and to understand.

“O Bhaiṣajyarāja! This sutra is the treasure house of the hidden essence of all the buddhas. It must not be distributed or heedlessly bestowed upon the people. Since times long past all the Buddha Bhagavats have protected it and have never openly taught it. Moreover, people show great hostility to this sutra, even in the presence of the Tathāgata. How much more so after the parinirvāṇa of the Tathāgata!

“O Bhaiṣajyarāja! You should know that after the parinirvāṇa of the Tathāgata, those who copy, preserve, recite, and revere this sutra and expound it for the sake of others will be clothed with the Tathāgata’s garments and treasured by the present buddhas of the other directions. Such people will have the power of great faith, the power of aspiration, as well as the power of the roots of good merit. You should know that these people have dwelled together with the Tathāgata, and his hand has caressed their heads.

“O Bhaiṣajyarāja! Wherever this sutra is taught, read, recited, copied, or wherever it is to be found, one should build a seven-jeweled stupa of great height and width and richly ornamented. There is no need to put a relic inside. Why is this? Because the Tathāgata is already in it. This stupa should be respected, honored, praised and rendered homage with offerings of all kinds 31c of flowers, perfumes, necklaces, canopies, flags, banners, music, and songs. If there is anyone able to see this stupa and to pay it homage and honor it, know that such a one is nearing highest, complete enlightenment.

“O Bhaiṣajyarāja! Among the many people, either among the laity or the ordained, who practice the bodhisattva path, if they are unable to see, hear, recite, copy, preserve, and pay homage to this Lotus Sutra, know that they are people who are not yet properly practicing the bodhisattva path. If anyone is able to hear this sutra, such a one is skillfully practicing the bodhisattva path. Among sentient beings seeking the buddha path, if there are those who see or hear this Lotus Sutra and, after hearing it, are drawn to it and preserve it, know that they are those who are approaching highest, complete enlightenment.

“O Bhaiṣajyarāja! Suppose there were a thirsty man seeking water. He drills in search of water on a high plain, yet he sees only dry earth and thus realizes that water is still far away. But he does not cease his efforts until he turns up moist earth and gradually reaches mud. Now he is sure that water must be near.

“The bodhisattvas are exactly like this. If they have not yet heard, understood, or been able to practice this Lotus Sutra, they should be known as people who are still far away from highest, complete enlightenment. If they hear, understand, contemplate, and are able to practice it, they realize that they are certainly nearing highest, complete enlightenment. Why is this? Because the highest, complete enlightenment of all the bodhisattvas is within this sutra. This sutra opens the gate of skillful means and reveals the marks of the truth. The treasure house of this Lotus Sutra is deep and remote. No one is able to discover its depths. That is why the Buddha now reveals it, inspiring and perfecting the bodhisattvas.

“O Bhaiṣajyarāja! If there are bodhisattvas who hear this Lotus Sutra and are confused and frightened, know that they are bodhisattvas in whom the thought of enlightenment has only recently awakened. If there are śrāvakas who hear this sutra and are confused and frightened, know that they are people who have excessive pride.

“O Bhaiṣajyarāja! If there are any sons and daughters of a virtuous family who, after the parinirvāṇa of the Tathāgata, want to teach this Lotus Sutra to the fourfold assembly, how should they teach it? These sons and daughters of a virtuous family, after entering the abode of the Tathāgata, wearing the Tathāgata’s garments, and sitting on his seat, should then extensively teach this sutra to the fourfold assembly. The Tathāgata’s chamber is nothing but the great compassion toward all sentient beings. The Tathāgata’s garments are the thoughts of gentleness and perseverance, and the Tathāgata’s seat is the very emptiness of all existing things. After settling among them one should tirelessly and extensively expound this Lotus Sutra for the sake of the bodhisattvas and the fourfold assembly.

“O Bhaiṣajyarāja! I will dispatch transformed beings to other worlds who will gather the people together to hear the teaching. I will also dispatch

transformed monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen to hear this teaching. All these transformed beings will hear the Dharma, believe and accept it, and not reject it.

“If an expounder of the Dharma resides in a secluded place, I will then dispatch many devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, and asuras to hear his teaching. Although I will be in a different land, I will periodically let the expounders of the Dharma see me. If they forget a line of this sutra I will explain it again, enabling them to master it.”

Thereupon, the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this further.

Chapter XI

The Appearance of a Jeweled Stupa

At that time there appeared before the Buddha a seven-jeweled stupa, five hundred yojanas in height and two hundred and fifty yojanas both in length and width, which emerged from the ground and hovered in the air. It was adorned with various jewels, had five thousand railings, and thousands of myriads of chambers. It was decorated with innumerable flags and banners and hanging jeweled necklaces, and myriads of koṭ is of jeweled bells hung from the top. The fragrance of tamāla leaves and sandalwood trees exuded from all sides of the stupa, covering the world. The banners and umbrellas were composed of the seven jewels such as gold, silver, lapis lazuli, mother of-pearl, agate, pearl, and ruby; and they rose as high as the palaces of the world-protectors of the four quarters.

The thirty-three devas rained down heavenly māndārava flowers in homage to the jeweled stupa. The other thousands of myriads of koṭis of humans, and such nonhumans as devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, and maho ragas also respected, honored, revered, and praised the precious stupa by offering all kinds of flowers, perfumes, necklaces, flags, banners, and music.

Then a tremendous voice issued forth in praise from the jeweled stupa, saying: “Splendid, splendid! O Śākyamuni! The Bhaga vat teaches the Lotus Sutra to the great assembly: the instruction for bodhisattvas and treasured lore of the buddhas, which is the wisdom attainable by every sentient being! ^32c

Just so! Just so, O Śākyamuni Bhagavat! What you teach is true!”

Thereupon the fourfold assembly saw the great jeweled stupa hovering in the air and also heard the voice that issued forth from the stupa. They all were pleased with the teaching and marveled at this unprecedented experience. They stood up from their seats, honored Śākyamuni with their palms pressed together, and withdrew to one side.

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At that time there was a bodhisattva mahāsattva called Mahā pratibhāna who, realizing that the devas, humans, and asuras of the entire world were puzzled, addressed the Buddha saying: “O Bhagavat! Why has this jeweled stupa emerged from the earth? And why has this voice come forth from it?”

Then the Buddha told Bodhisattva Mahāpratibhāna: “The Tathāgata is in this jeweled stupa. In the remote past, immeasurable, incalculable thousands of myriads of koṭis of worlds away in the east there was a land called Ratnaviśuddha. In that land there was a buddha called Prabhūtaratna. When this buddha was practicing the bodhisattva path in his previous lives he made a great vow, saying:

If I become a buddha, after my parinirvāṇa if the Lotus Sutra is being taught anywhere in all the lands of the ten directions, my stupa shall appear there so that this sutra may be heard, and in order that I may bear testimony to it and praise it with the word “Splendid!”

“After the Buddha had perfected the path and immediately before his parinirvāṇa, he addressed the monks among the great assembly of devas and humans, saying:

After my parinirvāṇa anyone who wishes to pay me homage should build a great stupa!

“If there is anyone teaching the Lotus Sutra anywhere in the worlds of the ten directions, this buddha makes a jeweled stupa emerge out of the ground in that place through his transcendent powers and the power of his vow. He is in the stupa giving praise with the words, ‘Splendid, splendid!’

“O Mahāpratibhāna! The Tathāgata Prabhūtaratna has now emerged from the earth, within his stupa, so that he may hear the Lotus Sutra and give praise with the words, ‘Splendid, splendid!’”

At that time Bodhisattva Mahāpratibhāna spoke to the Buddha through the Tathāgata’s transcendent powers, saying: “O Bhagavat! We all want to see this buddha’s form.”

The Buddha answered Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Mahāprati bhāna, saying: “This Buddha Prabhūtaratna made a great vow, saying:

Whenever my jeweled stupa appears in the presence of a buddha in order to hear the Lotus Sutra, if that buddha wants to show my form to the fourfold assembly he should gather into one place all his magically created forms that are teaching the Dharma in the worlds of the ten directions. After that my form will appear.

“O Mahāpratibhāna! I shall now gather all my magically created forms

who are teaching the Dharma in the worlds of the ten directions.”

Mahāpratibhāna spoke to the Buddha, saying: “O Bhagavat! We also strongly wish to see the Bhagavat’s magically created forms, to honor and pay homage to them!”

Then the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows; and they immediately saw the buddhas in five hundred myriads of koṭis of nayutas of lands in the eastern direction equal in number to the 33a sands of the Ganges River. In these lands the soil was of crystal and adorned with treasure trees and jeweled garments; and these lands were full of innumerable thousands of myriads of koṭis of bodhisattvas. Jeweled drapes were hung everywhere and were covered with jeweled nets. All the buddhas in these lands were teaching the Dharma in most harmonious voices. They also saw immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭis of bodhisattvas, filling all the lands and teaching the Dharma to sentient beings.

The other directions to the south, north, and west, the four intermediary directions, and the upper and lower regions were also illuminated by the ray of light emitted from the tuft of white hair between the Buddha’s eyebrows; and they were also exactly like this.

Then all the buddhas in the ten directions each addressed the assembly of bodhisattvas, saying: “O sons of a virtuous family! We will now go to the place where Śākyamuni is in the sahā world and pay homage to the jeweled stupa of the Tathāgata Prabhūta ratna.”

At that time the sahā world was immediately purified; the earth was of lapis lazuli, adorned with jeweled trees, its roads laid out like a chessboard and bordered with golden cords; and there were no villages, towns, cities, oceans, rivers, mountains, streams, forests, or groves. Very precious incense was burning, māndā rava flowers were spread everywhere on the earth, and it was covered with jeweled nets and drapes from which jeweled bells hung. With the exception of this assembly the devas and human beings were all moved to other lands.

Then the buddhas each took one great bodhisattva as an attendant and arrived under a jeweled tree in the sahā world. Each jeweled tree was five hundred yojanas in height and adorned with branches, leaves, blossoms, and fruits in their proper turn. Under all these jeweled trees were lion seats five yojanas in height that were adorned with great jewels. The buddhas each sat cross-legged on these seats. They sat one after another in this way, filling the great manifold cosmos. Yet the separate forms of Śākyamuni Buddha of even one direction had not all arrived yet.

At that time Śākyamuni Buddha, wanting to be able to receive all of his magically created forms, transformed and purified two hundred myriads of koṭis of nayutas of lands in each of the world-systems in the eight directions. There were no hells, hungry ghosts, animals, or asuras; and all the devas and humans were moved to other lands.

In these transformed lands the earth was made of lapis lazuli and adorned with jeweled trees. These trees were five hundred yojanas in height and were adorned with branches, leaves, blossoms, and fruits in their proper turn. Under every tree was a jeweled lion seat five yojanas in height which was adorned with various jewels. There were no oceans, rivers, or great mountain kings such as Mount Mucilinda, Mount Mahāmucilinda, Mount Cakravāḍa, Mount Mahācakravāḍa, or Mount Sumeru. The lands were all made into one buddha world throughout. The jeweled earth was level and covered everywhere with

jewel-studded drapes. Banners and umbrellas were set up, precious incense was burning, and heavenly jeweled flowers covered the ground everywhere.

Then Śākyamuni Buddha again transformed and purified two hundred myriads of koṭis of nayutas of lands in each of the eight directions so that the buddhas could come and sit. There were no hells, hungry ghosts, animals, or asuras; and the devas and humans were moved to other lands.

In the transformed lands the earth was of lapis lazuli and adorned with jeweled trees. The trees were five hundred yojanas in height and were adorned with branches, leaves, blossoms, and fruits in their proper turn. Under these trees were jeweled lion seats that were five yojanas in height and decorated with great jewels. There were no oceans, rivers, or great mountain kings such as Mount Mucilinda, Mount Mahāmucilinda, Mount Cakravāḍa, Mount Mahācakravāḍa, or Mount Sumeru. The lands were all made into one buddha world throughout. The jeweled earth was level and covered everywhere with jewel-studded drapes. Banners and umbrellas were set up, precious incense was burning, and heavenly jeweled flowers covered the ground everywhere.

Then the magically created forms of Śākyamuni Buddha, which had been teaching the Dharma in the hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of lands in the east, equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River, gathered here.

In this way all the buddhas in the ten directions gradually came until all were assembled, sitting in the eight directions. At that time these Buddha Tathāgatas filled four hundred myriads of koṭis of nayutas of lands in each direction. Then sitting on the lion seats under the jeweled trees, the buddhas each dispatched their attendants with hands full of jeweled flowers to inquire after the Buddha Śākyamuni, saying: “O son of a virtuous family! You should approach the Buddha Śākyamuni on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa and give him a greeting, saying:

Are you without illness and pain and are you full of vigor and at ease; and are the assemblies of bodhisattvas and śrāvakas all at ease or not?

“Then, having paid homage to the Buddha by scattering him with these

jeweled flowers, say this to him:

The Buddha So-and-so wishes you to open this jeweled stupa.

All the other buddhas dispatched their messengers like this.”

Then the Buddha Śākyamuni saw that his magically created forms had already gathered and were each sitting on a lion seat. And he heard that all the buddhas also wanted him to open the treasured stupa. Immediately rising, he hovered in the air and the entire fourfold assembly rose and gazed attentively at the Buddha with their palms pressed together.

Thereupon Śākyamuni Buddha opened the entrance to the seven-jeweled stupa with his right finger. There was a tremendous sound as if the bar and lock to the gateway of a large city were being pushed aside. Then immediately the entire gathering saw the Tathāgata Prabhūtaratna in the jeweled stupa sitting on a lion seat as if he were in meditation, his body whole and undecomposed.

They heard him say: “Splendid, splendid! The Buddha Śākyamuni is                                                    ^33c

teaching the Lotus Sutra and I have come in order to hear it.”

At that time the fourfold assembly saw the Buddha who had entered parinirvāṇa immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas ago speaking those words. They praised this unprecedented experience and scattered heavenly jeweled flowers upon the buddhas Prabhūtaratna and Śākyamuni.

Then from within the stupa the Buddha Prabhūtaratna offered half of his seat to the Buddha Śākyamuni, saying: “O Śākyamuni Buddha, please take a seat here!”

The Buddha Śākyamuni immediately entered the stupa and sat crosslegged on half of the seat. Thereupon the great assembly saw the two Tathāgatas sitting cross-legged on the lion seat in the seven-jeweled stupa and they each thought thus: “The buddhas are seated far away. O Tathāgata, we entreat you to use your transcendent powers so that we may be in the air together with you.”

The Buddha Śākyamuni immediately moved the entire fourfold assembly into the air through his transcendent powers and addressed them with a great voice, saying: “Who in the sahā world is able to extensively teach the Lotus Sutra? It is now the right time! The Tathāgata will enter parinirvāṇa before long and the Buddha wants to transmit this Lotus Sutra to you.

Thereupon the Buddha, wanting to further elaborate upon the meaning

of this.

Chapter XII

Devadatta

The Buddha then addressed the assembly of bodhisattvas, and also the devas, humans, and the fourfold assembly, saying: “In the past, immeasurable kalpas ago, I tirelessly sought the Lotus Sutra. Throughout many kalpas I always became a king and made a vow to seek highest enlightenment. My mind became irreversible. Wanting to fulfill the six perfections I diligently carried out practices: unstintingly giving elephants, horses, the seven precious treasures, countries and cities, wives and children, male and female servants, my head, eyes, marrow and brains, the flesh of my body, hands, and feet, without stinginess, not even hesitating to give my own life.

“At that time the lifespan of the people in the world was immeasurable. In order to seek the Dharma I abandoned my kingdom and abdicated my 34c throne to the crown prince. Beating a drum I proclaimed to the four directions that I was seeking the Dharma, saying:

I will be as a servant for the rest of my life to whosoever can teach me the Mahayana.

“At that time there was a sage who came to this king and said: I possess the Mahayana teaching called the Lotus Sutra. If you faithfully obey me I will expound it to you.

“Having heard the sage, the king became joyful and ecstatic and, accompanying the sage, he did everything he was asked. He gathered fruits, drew water, collected firewood, and provided meals. He even provided his own body as a bed for the sage. Yet he never tired in either body or mind and in this way served the sage for one thousand years. For the sake of the Dharma he served him diligently, making certain the sage never lacked for anything.

The Buddha addressed the monks, saying: “The king at that time was I myself, and the sage was he who is now Devadatta. Through the virtuous friendship of Devadatta I was able to become endowed with the six perfections, benevolence, compassion, sympathetic joy, generosity, the thirty-two marks, the eighty excellent characteristics, reddish-gold skin, the ten powers, the four kinds of fearlessness, the four methods of gaining trust, the eighteen excellent qualities, the transcendent powers, and the power of the path. It is all due to the good and virtuous friendship of Devadatta that I attained complete 35a enlightenment and extensively saved innumerable sentient beings.”

The Buddha addressed the fourfold assembly, saying: “After immeasurable kalpas have passed, Devadatta will then become a buddha called Devarāja, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. His world will be called Deva sopānā. At that time the Buddha Devarāja will abide in the world for twenty intermediate kalpas and extensively teach the True Dharma to sentient beings. Sentient beings equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River will attain athwartship. The thought of a pratyekabuddha has awakened in incalculable numbers of sentient beings. The thought of the highest path will awaken in sentient beings equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River, and they will become convinced of the non arising of all dharmas and reside in the stage of no retrogression.

“Then, after the parinirvāṇa of the Buddha Devarāja, the True Dharma will abide in the world for twenty intermediate kalpas. A seven-jeweled stupa, sixty yojanas in height and forty yojanas in both length and width, will be built for all his relics; and all the devas and humans will honor and revere this beautiful seven-jeweled stupa with various flowers, scented powders, burning incense, fragrant ointments, clothing, necklaces, banners, flags, jeweled canopies, music, and songs. Incalculable sentient beings will attain athwartship. Innumerable sentient beings will be enlightened as pratyekabuddhas; and the thought of enlightenment will awaken in an inconceivable number of sentient beings, and they will reach the stage of no retrogression.”

The Buddha addressed the monks, saying: “If, in the future, there are sons and daughters of a virtuous family who, upon hearing the Devadatta chapter of the Lotus Sutra, accept it with pure minds and without doubt, they shall not fall into the realms of hell or to the states of hungry ghosts or of animals, but will be born in the presence of the buddhas in the ten directions. Wherever they may be, they will always hear this sutra. If they are born among humans or devas, they will enjoy a supreme and delightful contentment; and if in the presence of a buddha, they will be born spontaneously in a lotus flower.”

At that time, in the lower region there was a bodhisattva called Prajñā kūṭa who was accompanying the Bhagavat Prabhūtaratna. He urged the Buddha Prabhūtaratna to return to their original land. The Buddha Śākyamuni addressed Prajñākūṭa, saying: “O son of a virtuous family! Wait for a moment! There is a bodhisattva called Mañjuśrī. Let us meet him together and discuss the True Dharma. After that you can return to your original land.”

At that time Mañjuśrī, sitting on a thousand-petaled lotus flower as large as a carriage wheel, together with attendant bodhisattvas also seated on jeweled lotus flowers, emerged spontaneously out of the ocean from the palace of the nāga king Sāgara and floated in midair. Arriving at Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa they descended from the lotus flowers and went into the presence of the buddhas, where they bowed until their foreheads touched the feet of both Bhagavats. Having honored them, Mañjuśrī approached Prajñā kūṭa. They greeted each other and withdrew to sit at one side. Then Bodhisattva Prajñā kūṭa asked Mañjuśrī, saying: “Your Eminence! How many sentient beings did you lead and inspire at the palace of the nāga king?”

Mañjuśrī answered: “The number is immeasurable and incalculable. It is not possible to express it in words nor is it possible to calculate it with one’s 35b mind. Wait a moment and you will have proof!”

Before he had finished speaking, innumerable bodhisattvas emerged from the ocean, seated on jeweled lotus flowers. Arriving at Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa they floated in midair. All of these were bodhisattvas who had been led and inspired by Mañjuśrī. Those who had perfected the bodhisattva practices discussed the six perfections together. Those who were originally śrāvakas explained the śrāvaka practices in the air; and now they all practice to understand the meaning of emptiness of the Mahayana.

Mañjuśrī said to Prajñākūṭa: “Thus did I lead and inspire people in the

ocean!”

Thereupon Bodhisattva Prajñākūṭa spoke these verses in praise:

O One of great wisdom, virtue, and courage!

This assembly and I have now all witnessed that You have led and inspired

Incalculable numbers of sentient beings.

You have expounded the essential character of dharmas And revealed the teaching of the single vehicle. You have extensively led many sentient beings, Causing them to quickly attain enlightenment.

Mañjuśrī said: “In the ocean I always expounded only the Lotus Sutra.”

Then Prajñākūṭa questioned Mañjuśrī, saying: “This sutra is profound and subtle. It is a jewel among sutras and rare in the world. If sentient beings diligently strive to practice this sutra, will they immediately become buddhas or not?”

Mañjuśrī answered: “Yes, they will. There is the daughter of the nāga king Sāgara who is only eight years old. She is wise; her faculties are sharp; and she also well knows all the faculties and deeds of sentient beings. She has attained the power of recollection. She preserves all the profound secret treasures taught by the buddhas, enters deep meditation, and is well capable of discerning all dharmas. She instantly produced the thought of enlightenment and attained the stage of no retrogression. She has unhindered eloquence and thinks of sentient beings with as much compassion as if they were her own children. Her virtues are perfect. Her thoughts and explanations are subtle and extensive, merciful, and compassionate. She has a harmonious mind and has attained enlightenment.”

The Bodhisattva Prajñākūṭa said: “I see the Tathāgata Śākyamuni who has been incessantly carrying out difficult and severe practices for immeasurable kalpas, accumulating merit and virtue while seeking the bodhisattva path. Looking into the great manifold cosmos, there is not a single place even the size of a mustard seed where this bodhisattva has not abandoned his life for the sake of sentient beings. He attained the path to enlightenment only after this. It is hard to believe that this girl will instantly attain complete enlightenment.”

Before he had finished speaking the daughter of the nāga king suddenly appeared in their presence. Bowing until her forehead touched their feet, she withdrew to one side and spoke these verses in praise:

At that time Śāriputra spoke to the daughter of the nāga king, saying: “You say that you will soon attain the highest path. This is difficult to believe. Why is this? The female body is polluted; it is not a fit vessel for the Dharma. How can you attain highest enlightenment?

“The buddha path is long. One can only attain it after diligently carrying out severe practices, and completely practicing the perfections over immeasurable kalpas. Moreover, the female body has five obstructions. The first is the inability to become a great Brahma. The second is the inability to become Śakra. The third is the inability to become Māra, and the fourth is the inability to become a universal monarch (cakravartin). The fifth is the inability to become a buddha. How can you with your female body quickly become a buddha?”

Then the daughter of the nāga king presented to the Buddha a jewel worth the great manifold cosmos, and the Buddha accepted it. The daughter of the nāga king spoke to Bodhisattva Prajñā kūṭa and the noble Śāri putra, saying: “I offered a jewel and the Bhagavat accepted it. Was that done quickly or not?”

They answered, saying: “It was done extremely quickly!”

The daughter said: “Through your transcendent powers watch me become

a buddha even more quickly than that!”

Then the assembly there all saw the daughter of the nāga king instantly transform into a man, perfect the bodhisattva practices, go to the vimalā world in the south, sit on a jeweled lotus flower, and attain highest, complete enlightenment, become endowed with the thirty-two marks and eighty excellent characteristics, and expound the True Dharma universally for the sake of all sentient beings in the ten directions.

Then the bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, eight kinds of devas, nāgas, and so on, humans and nonhumans of the sahā world, all saw in the distance that the daughter of the nāga king had become a buddha and was universally teaching the Dharma for the sake of the humans and devas in that assembly. They rejoiced greatly and honored her from afar.

On hearing the Dharma, incalculable numbers of sentient beings became enlightened and attained the stage of no retrogression. Incalculable numbers of sentient beings received their predictions to the path and the vimalā world quaked in six ways. In the sahā world three thousand sentient beings attained the stage of no retrogression, and three thousand sentient beings, in whom the thought of enlightenment had awakened, received their predictions. The Bodhisattva Prajñākūṭa, Śāriputra, and the entire assembly accepted and believed in silence.

Chapter XIII

Perseverance

At that time Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Bhaiṣajyarāja and Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Mahāpratibhāna made this declaration in the presence of the Buddha, together with two thousand bodhisattvas: “O Bhagavat! We entreat you not to be concerned since, after the Buddha’s parinirvāṇa we will preserve, 36a recite, and teach this [Lotus] Sutra! In the troubled world to come, sentient beings will have hardly any roots of good merit but will have excessive pride and will be greedy to receive offerings. They will increase their roots of bad merit and thus will be far away from liberation. It will be difficult to lead and inspire them. Therefore, we will produce the power of great patience and recite, preserve, teach, and copy this sutra as well as pay it homage in various ways, even willingly giving up our bodies and lives.”

Then in the assembly, five hundred arhats who had received their predictions addressed the Buddha, saying: “O Bhagavat! We also declare that in other lands we will extensively teach this sutra.”

Moreover, eight thousand of those who had received their predictions, including those who had more to learn and those who did not, rose from their seats and with their palms pressed together, faced the Buddha and made this declaration: “O Bhagavat! We also will extensively teach this sutra in other lands. Why is this? Because in the sahā world there are many erring people, with excessive pride and superficial virtue, those who are quick to anger, deceitful, and untrue.”

Thereupon the Buddha’s aunt, the nun Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī, with six thousand nuns, some of whom had more to learn and some who did not, rose from their seats and with their palms pressed together gazed attentively at the Buddha, never turning their eyes away. Then the Bhagavat spoke to Mahāprajā patī Gautamī, saying:

“Why are you anxiously staring at the Tathāgata? Are you thinking that

I have not given you your prediction of highest, complete enlightenment? O

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Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! I have previously said that all of the śrāvakas would receive their predictions. Now if you wish to know your prediction, I will tell you that in the future you will become a great expounder of the Dharma, taught by sixty-eight thousand koṭis of buddhas. These six thousand nuns, some of whom have more to learn and some who do not, will all become expounders of the Dharma together. In this way you will gradually be able to complete the bodhisattva path and become a buddha called Sarvarūpa- saṃdarśana, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. O Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! This Buddha Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana will give predictions of highest, complete enlightenment one by one to bodhisattvas totaling six thousand in number.”

Then the nun Yaśodharā, the mother of Rāhula, thought this: “While giving the predictions, the only name the Bhagavat did not mention was mine.”

The Buddha addressed Yaśodharā, saying: “In the future you will cultivate the bodhisattva practice of the teachings of hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas. You will become a great expounder of the Dharma, and gradually complete the buddha path. In a land called Bhadrā you will become a buddha called Raśmiśatasahasraparipūrṇadhvaja, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed,

36b Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. This buddha’s lifespan will be for immeasurable, incalculable kalpas.”

At that time the nun Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī and the nun Yaśo dharā together with their attendants all rejoiced greatly at having attained such an unprecedented experience. In the presence of the Buddha they immediately spoke in verse.

Chapter XIII

Having spoken this verse all the nuns addressed the Buddha, saying: “O

Bhagavat! We also will extensively expound this sutra in other lands.”

Then the Bhagavat saw eighty myriads of koṭis of nayutas of bodhisattva mahāsattvas, all of whom were at the stage of no retrogression. They had turned the irreversible wheel of the Dharma and attained the power of recollection. Arising from their seats they went before the Buddha with their palms pressed together and with this wholehearted thought: “If the Bhagavat commands us to preserve and teach this sutra, then we will extensively expound this Dharma exactly as the Buddha has taught.”

They also thought: “The Buddha now keeps silent and does not command

us. What should we do?”

Then all of the bodhisattvas, respecting the Buddha’s intention and also wanting to fulfill their original vow, uttered a lion’s roar in the presence of the Buddha and declared: “O Bhagavat! After the Tathāgata’s parinirvāṇa we will roam throughout the worlds of the ten directions enabling sentient beings to copy, preserve, and recite this [Lotus] Sutra, and to explain its meaning, practice it according to the Dharma, and remember it correctly. This will all be due to the Buddha’s majestic power.

Chapter XIV

Ease in Practice

Thereupon the Prince of the Dharma, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Mañ juśrī addressed the Buddha, saying: “O Bhagavat! These bodhisattvas are very rare. In respectful obedience to the Buddha they have made this great vow: ‘In the troubled world to come, we will preserve, recite, and teach this Lotus Sutra!’

“O Bhagavat! How can these bodhisattva mahāsattvas teach this sutra

in the troubled world to come?”

The Buddha addressed Mañjuśrī, saying: “If the bodhisattva mahā sattvas want to teach this sutra in the troubled world to come, they should abide in the four kinds of practices. The first is to establish the sphere of their bodhisattva practice and the sphere of their relationships and thereupon expound this sutra for the sake of sentient beings.

“O Mañjuśrī! What is the sphere of the practice of the bodhisattva mahāsattva? If a bodhisattva mahāsattva abides in the stage of perseverance, is gentle, tranquil, nonviolent, and unafraid; and furthermore if he remains unmoved with regard to existent things and perceives them in their true aspect, and neither acts nor discriminates, this is called the sphere of the practice of the bodhisattva mahāsattva.

“What is the sphere of the relationships of the bodhisattva mahāsattva? The bodhisattva mahāsattva should not consort with kings, princes, ministers, and chief officials. He should not consort with heretics, brahmans, Jains, and others, or with worldly writers, critics of poetry, materialists, or extreme materialists. Nor should he become acquainted with pranksters, boxers, wrestlers, clowns, and various jugglers, nor with outcastes and people who raise boars, sheep, chickens, and dogs, nor with hunters, fishermen, and those with evil conduct. A bodhisattva should teach such people the Dharma if they come to him, but expect nothing.

“Nor should a bodhisattva consort with monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen who seek the śrāvaka vehicle. Nor should he greet them. The bodhisattva should avoid their company in chambers, on roads, or while in lecture 37b

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halls, and not remain with them. If they come, teach them the Dharma according to their capacities, but expect nothing!

“Moreover, O Mañjuśrī! The bodhisattva mahāsattva should expound the teaching without any thought of desire for, or wish to see, a woman’s body.

“If a bodhisattva enters someone else’s home he should not talk to young girls, maidens, and widows. A bodhisattva should also not approach the five kinds of impotent men nor be intimate with them. He should not enter someone else’s home alone; and if for any reason he should enter it alone a bodhisattva should do nothing but single-mindedly contemplate the Buddha.

“If he should teach the Dharma to women he should not show his teeth when smiling nor reveal his chest. A bodhisattva should not be intimate with them even for the sake of the Dharma. How much less for other things!

“A bodhisattva should take no pleasure in keeping young disciples, śrāmaṇeras, or young boys. Nor should he take pleasure in having the same teacher as them. He should always take pleasure in meditation and, in a quiet place, practice to control his mind. O Mañjuśrī! This is what is known as the first sphere of relationships.

“Furthermore, the bodhisattva mahāsattvas perceive the emptiness of all dharmas in their true aspect. All things are unerring, unmoving, nonreturning, irreversible, and like empty space which lacks substance. They are beyond all language. They are not produced, nor do they emerge, nor do they arise. They do not have any name or mark, and in reality they have no substance. They are immeasurable, limitless, without obstacles or obstructions. They exist only through dependent origination, arising through error. That is why I teach the permanent joy of perceiving the aspects of all existent things in this way. This is what is known as the second sphere of relationships of a bodhisattva mahāsattva.”

At that time the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate upon the meaning of

this further, spoke these verses:

If, in the troubled world to come,

A bodhisattva with a fearless mind.

“Furthermore, O Mañjuśrī, after the Tathāgata’s parinirvāṇa, anyone who wants to teach this sutra in the Age of the Decadent Dharma should abide in ease of practice. When he expounds or recites this sutra he should 38a not take pleasure in talking about the faults of people or of the sutra. Nor should he slander other expounders of the Dharma or talk of the good and bad, strong and weak points of others.

“As for the śrāvakas, a bodhisattva should not name them and point out their faults, nor name them and praise their virtues. Moreover, he should not feel any hatred; because if he skillfully practices ease of mind in this way, those who listen to him will not oppose his intentions. If he is asked difficult questions, he should not answer using the teaching of the inferior vehicle. He should take his explanation only from the Mahayana, which will enable them to attain omniscience.”

At that time the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate the meaning of this further, spoke these verses

Thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas.

“Furthermore, O Mañjuśrī, in the future when the Dharma becomes extinct, any bodhisattva mahāsattva who preserves and recites this sutra will not feel jealous or be deceitful, nor will he insult those who study the buddha path by pointing out their good qualities or their deficiencies.

“If there are any monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen who are seeking the śrāvaka vehicle, the pratyekabuddha vehicle, or the bodhisattva path, a bodhisattva will not worry them, causing them to have doubts by saying: You are very far away from the path and will never be able to attain omniscience. Why is this? Because you are negligent and idle in the path.

“Moreover, a bodhisattva also should not devise hollow sophistries concerning the teachings and argue about them. In him the thought of great compassion for all sentient beings should awaken, together with the thought that all Tathāgatas are compassionate fathers and that all bodhisattvas are great teachers. He should always deeply respect and pay homage to all of the great bodhisattvas in the ten directions. He should teach the Dharma equally to all sentient beings in accordance with the Dharma, explaining neither too much nor too little. Nor should he teach too much even to those who are deeply enthusiastic about hearing the Dharma.

“O Mañjuśrī! In the future world, when the Dharma is to be extinguished, this bodhisattva mahāsattva, having perfected the third sphere of ease in practice, will not be perplexed when he teaches this Dharma. He will become acquainted with good fellow students who will recite this sutra together. He will also acquire a great following who come to hear his teaching, preserve it after hearing it, recite it after preserving it, teach it after reciting it, copy it after teaching it, and enable others to copy, respect, honor, praise, and pay homage to the [Lotus] Sutra.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

If anyone wants to teach this sutra,

He should get rid of jealousy, anger,

Pride, flattery, deceitfulness, and falsity.

He should always practice honest conduct.

He should not slander others

Or make up fallacies about the Dharma.

Nor should he cause others to be doubtful by saying:

You will not become a buddha.

This heir of the Buddha who teaches the Dharma Should always be gentle, patient, And compassionate to all.

The wise should preserve it.

Those who practice wholeheartedly and at ease

Will be honored by innumerable sentient beings.

“Furthermore, O Mañjuśrī, in the future world when the Dharma is to be extinguished, any bodhisattva mahāsattva who preserves this Lotus Sutra will awaken the thought of great kindness toward lay Buddhists and renunciants and also awaken the thought of great compassion toward non-bodhi sattvas. He should think:

People like these have really missed the Tathāgata’s teaching of the

Dharma according to their capacities through skillful means. They do not hear, know, or realize it. They do not ask, believe, or understand. Those people do not even ask questions about this sutra, believe it, or understand it. When I attain highest, complete enlightenment, wherever I am, I will lead them and enable them to abide in this teaching through my transcendent powers and power of wisdom.

“O Mañjuśrī! After the Tathāgata’s parinirvāṇa, this bodhisattva mahāsattva, who has perfected the fourth sphere of the teaching of ease in practice, will be faultless when he teaches this Dharma. He will always be paid homage to, respected, honored, and praised by monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen, kings, princes, ministers, commoners, brahmans, and householders. The devas in the sky will always accompany him in order to hear the Dharma. If he is in a village, city, secluded spot, or forest and the people want to come and ask difficult questions, the devas will protect him both day and night, always for the sake of the Dharma, and he will cause all of those who listen to him to rejoice. Why is this? Because this sutra is preserved through the transcendent powers of all the buddhas of the past, present, and future.

“O Mañjuśrī! Even the title of this Lotus Sutra cannot be heard in incalculable lands. How much more is it unable to be seen, accepted, preserved, and recited!

“O Mañjuśrī! Suppose a very powerful noble emperor wanted to subdue other countries with his might, but the lesser kings would not obey his command. In such a case the noble emperor gathers an army together to overcome them. He recognizes the soldiers who have committed brave deeds in war and, greatly rejoicing, he bestows boons according to their merit, such as estates, villages, cities, garments, ornaments, various treasures, gold, silver, lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl, agate, coral, amber, elephants, horses, chariots, servants, and subjects, but he never gives them the precious jewel in his topknot. Why is this? Because only the noble emperor has this precious jewel in his topknot. If the emperor gives it away his attendants would certainly be very surprised and mistrustful.

 “O Mañjuśrī! The Tathāgata is exactly like this. He has attained the land of the Dharma through his powers of concentration and wisdom. Thus he has become the king of the triple world. Since the māra kings will not obey him, the wise and noble generals of the Tathāgata come to do battle with them. The Tathāgata rejoices at the meritorious ones and teaches various sutras to the fourfold assembly, gladdening them. He bestows upon them the property of all the teachings about concentrations, liberations, faculties without corruption, and powers. He also bestows upon them the city of nirvana. Saying that they

have attained nirvana, he leads their minds onward and gladdens them all. And yet he does not teach them the Lotus Sutra.

“O Mañjuśrī! It is just as if the noble emperor finally gives the jewel that has been long concealed in his topknot. Although he perceived the great merit of those soldiers and was deeply pleased, he did not rashly give them the marvelous jewel. The Tathāgata is also exactly like this. Since he is the great King of the Dharma in the triple world he inspires all the sentient beings through the Dharma. When he sees the wise and noble soldiers who have done battle with the māra of the five aggregates, the māra of desires, and the māra of death, who have great merit in battle, and have extinguished the three poisons, left the triple world, and broken out of Māra’s net, he then rejoices greatly. He now teaches the Lotus Sutra, which is treated with hostility by the entire world and is difficult to believe in, and which he has never taught before, and enables sentient beings to attain omniscience.

“O Mañjuśrī! This Lotus Sutra is the ultimate teaching of all the Tathāgatas, the most profound among all the teachings, and conferred at the very end. It was in the same way that the very powerful and noble emperor gave the jewel after having preserved it for a long time.

“O Mañjuśrī! This Lotus Sutra is the secret treasure house of all the Buddha Tathāgatas, and the foremost among all the sutras. The Buddha has preserved it for a long time and he has not taught it indiscriminately. Now, for the first time he teaches it.”

At that time the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses.

And through his treasury of wisdom

And great power of patience,

He inspires the world according to the Dharma.

Seeing all the sentient beings suffering,

Seeking liberation

And doing battle with the māras,

He explains various teachings for the beings

Knowing that the sentient beings have

Finally attained the power to understand,

He teaches this Lotus Sutra only at the very end, Just like the noble emperor

Who gave the jewel in his topknot. This sutra is the utmost,

Superior to all the sutras.

I have constantly preserved it And have not revealed it indiscriminately.

Now is the right time to teach it to you.

After my parinirvāṇa

Those seeking the buddha path, Who want to attain ease and expound this sutra, Should become familiar with these four spheres Of the teaching concerning ease in practice. Those who recite this sutra will always Be free from anxiety and illness, And will have a noble countenance. They will not be born into poverty, Lowliness or ugliness. Sentient beings will want to meet them Just as they long to meet a wise seer,

And all of the devaputras will serve them. Sticks and swords cannot hurt them, And poison cannot harm them.

If people slander them

The light of their wisdom

Will illuminate just like the sun.

If they dream they see only subtle things.

They see the Tathāgatas seated on lion seats, Teaching the Dharma to the assembly Of monks surrounding them.

They see nāgas and asuras,

As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, Honoring the Tathāgatas

With their palms pressed together. Revealing themselves,

They teach the Dharma to these beings.

They also see the buddhas, with golden bodies, Emitting immeasurable rays of light

They attain the power of recollection

And achieve the wisdom of no retrogression.

The Buddha, knowing their minds,

And that they have deeply entered the buddha path,

Gives them a prediction of the highest,

Complete enlightenment, saying:

O son of a virtuous family!

In the future you will attain immeasurable

Wisdom and the great path of the Buddha. Your land will be pure and vast, Beyond all comparison.

The fourfold assembly will also be there Listening to the Dharma with their palms Pressed together.

They who recite this sutra also see themselves

In mountain forests, practicing excellent teachings,

Experiencing the real aspect,

Deeply entering into concentration,

And looking at the buddhas in the ten directions, All of whom have golden bodies

Adorned with a hundred auspicious marks.

They will always have such pleasant dreams And, hearing the Dharma taught,

They will teach it to others.

They will also dream about becoming

The king of a realm who abandons his palace And retinue, and the highly pleasing Desires of the five senses, Approaches the terrace of enlightenment, Sits on the lion seat under the bodhi tree, Attains the wisdom of all the buddhas

After seeking the path for seven days,

And who, arising, turns the wheel of the Dharma After having attained the highest path. They will teach the Dharma to the fourfold assembly For thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas. Explaining the true and incorruptible Dharma, They will save innumerable sentient beings.

Later they will enter nirvana

Just as smoke dies away

When the flame of a candle is extinguished.

If anyone in the troubled world to come

Teaches this highest Dharma

They will attain great benefits

Like the merits mentioned above.

Chapter XV

Bodhisattvas Emerging from the Earth

At that time the bodhisattva mahāsattvas, who had arrived from other lands and whose number exceeded that of the sands of eight Ganges Rivers, stood up in the great assembly, bowed with their palms pressed together, and then spoke to the Buddha, saying: “O Bhagavat! If you give us permission to diligently strive to preserve, recite, copy and pay homage to this [Lotus] Sutra after the parinirvāṇa of the Buddha in this sahā world, then we will extensively teach it in this land.”

Then the Buddha addressed the assembly of bodhisattva mahā sattvas, saying: “Enough, O sons of a virtuous family! There is no need for you to preserve this sutra. Why is this? In my sahā world there are bodhisattva mahāsattvas, equal to the sands of sixty thousand Ganges Rivers in number; and each of these bodhisattvas, in turn, has a retinue equal to the sands of sixty thousand Ganges Rivers. After my parinirvāṇa they can preserve, recite, and extensively teach this sutra.”

When the Buddha said this all the lands of the great manifold cosmos

in the sahā world quaked and the earth split. From out of this crevice there 40a simultaneously appeared incalculable thousands of myriads of koṭis of bodhisattva mahāsattvas. All of these bodhisattvas had golden bodies endowed with the thirty-two marks and radiating immeasurable rays of light. They had all previously been living in the space under the earth of the sahā world. Having heard the sound of Śākyamuni’s teaching, all of these bodhisattvas emerged from below.

Each of those bodhisattvas presided over a great assembly and each led a retinue equal to the sands of sixty thousand Ganges Rivers in number. How much more numerous were the bodhisattvas who emerged leading retinues equal in number to the sands of fifty thousand, forty thousand, thirty thousand, twenty thousand, or ten thousand Ganges Rivers! How much were the bodhisattvas who emerged leading retinues even equal to the sands of one Ganges River, half a Ganges River, a quarter of a Ganges River, or even just one thousandth of a myriad of a koṭi of a nayuta of the sands of a Ganges River! How many more retinues were there numbering thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas! How many more retinues were there numbering myriads of koṭis! How many more were those numbering ten million, one million, or even ten thousand! How many more were those numbering one thousand, one hundred, or even ten! How much more numerous were bodhisattvas leading disciples numbering five, four, three, two, or even one! And how many more bodhisattvas were there who had eagerly practiced alone and far from the worldly life! The number of such bodhisattvas as these is incalculable and limitless, beyond all calculation and metaphor.

Having emerged from the earth, each of these bodhisattvas approached the Tathāgatas Prabhūtaratna and Śākyamuni, still seated in the beautiful seven-jeweled stupa in the air. Going up to them, they bowed until their foreheads touched the feet of both Bhagavats. Then, having bowed to the other buddhas, each sitting on a lion seat under the jeweled trees, they circumambulated them to the right three times, honoring them with their palms pressed together. Having praised them with various bodhisattva eulogies, they withdrew to one side and joyfully gazed at the two Bhagavats. All these bodhisattva mahāsattvas, having emerged from the earth, praised the buddhas with various bodhisattva eulogies. While they did, fifty intermediate kalpas passed.

During this time the Buddha Śākyamuni sat in silence; and the fourfold assemblies were also silent while the fifty intermediate kalpas passed. Because of the Buddha’s transcendent powers, the great assemblies believed that the time that had passed was only half a day. Then, through the transcendent powers of the Buddha, the fourfold assemblies also saw the bodhisattvas filling the air throughout immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of lands.

There were four leaders among those bodhisattvas gathered there. They were called Viśiṣṭacāritra, Anantacāritra, Viśuddha cāritra, and Supratiṣṭhita cāritra. These four bodhisattvas were the foremost leaders in the assembly. At the head of the great assembly, they each pressed their palms together, gazed at Śākyamuni Buddha, and inquired of him, saying: “O Bhagavat! Are you without illness or pain? Are you at ease in practice or not? Do those who should be saved accept your teaching easily or not? Do they not make you weary, O Bhagavat?”

Thereupon the four great bodhisattvas spoke these verses:

Do they not tire the Bhagavat?

At that time the Bhagavat spoke to the great assembly of bodhisattvas, saying: “It is exactly like this, O sons of a virtuous family! It is exactly so! The Tathāgata is at ease and without illness or pain. It is easy to save sentient beings, and I am not fatigued. Why is this? Because sentient beings have continually received my guidance throughout many lives, and they have also planted roots of good merit by revering and honoring the buddhas of the past.

“When these sentient beings first saw me and heard my teaching, all, except for those who had previously practiced and studied the inferior vehicle, immediately believed and accepted it and entered the Tathāgata’s wisdom. Now I enable even such people as these to listen to this sutra

At that time the Bhagavat praised the foremost of the great bodhisattvas, saying: “Splendid, splendid, O sons of virtuous family! Thoughts of joy regarding the Tathāgata have awakened in you.”

Then Bodhisattva Maitreya and the assembly of bodhisattvas equal in

number to the sands of eight thousand Ganges Rivers thought this: Looking far into the past, we have never seen or heard of such an assembly of great bodhisattva mahāsattvas, who have now emerged from the earth and are standing before the Bhagavat with their palms pressed together in reverence, asking the Tathāgata questions.

Then Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Maitreya, knowing the minds of the bodhisattvas whose number was equal to the sands of eight thousand Ganges Rivers, and wanting to clear up their confusion, faced the Buddha with the palms of his hands pressed together and addressed him in verse, saying:

We have never seen such a great assembly Of incalculable thousands of myriads of koṭis Of bodhisattvas before.

We entreat you, O Best of Humans, To explain it to us!

Where have they come from?

For what reason have they gathered here?

They look magnificent

And have great transcendent powers.

Their wisdom is beyond our comprehension.

They are firm in their resolve, Have the power of great perseverance, And an appearance that sentient beings Desire to see.

Where have they come from?

Each of these bodhisattvas is leading

                 A retinue whose number is incalculable, Like the sands of the Ganges River.

Some great bodhisattvas are leading retinues Equal in number to the sands

Of sixty thousand Ganges Rivers.

Great are the assemblies,

Single mindedly seeking the buddha path.

These great leaders, equal in number

To the sands of sixty thousand Ganges Rivers, Have come all together to pay homage to the Buddha And preserve this sutra.

The number of bodhisattvas leading retinues

Equal in number to the sands of fifty thousand Ganges Rivers is even greater;

And the number of bodhisattvas who lead retinues Equal in number to the sands of forty thousand, Thirty thousand, twenty thousand, ten thousand, One thousand, one hundred, even one, one half, One third, one fourth, one myriads’ of a koṭi Of the sands of a Ganges River exceeds even these.

All of a sudden

They have emerged from the earth.

We entreat you to explain the reason why.

All of the immeasurable hundreds of thousands

Of koṭis of bodhisattvas in this great assembly

          Now wish to know about this matter.

There must be underlying causes for this, To explain all of these bodhisattvas.

O Bhagavat, He of Immeasurable Qualities! We entreat you to clear up

The confusion of the assembly!

Thereupon the buddhas who were the magically created forms of Śākyamuni Buddha arrived from other incalculable thousands of myriads of koṭis of lands and sat cross-legged on lion seats under the jeweled trees in the eight directions. Each attendant of these buddhas had seen the great assembly of bodhisattvas as they emerged from out of the earth and floated in midair in the four directions of the great manifold cosmos. Each of them addressed his Buddha, saying: “O Bhagavat! Where has this great assembly of immeasurable, limitless, incalculable bodhisattvas come from?”

Then the buddhas answered their attendants, saying: “O sons of a virtuous family! Wait a moment! There is a bodhisattva mahā sattva called Maitreya, who has received a prediction from the Buddha Śākyamuni that he will become a buddha after Śākyamuni in the future. Since he has already asked about this, the Buddha will now answer him. You shall be able to hear the reason yourselves.”

Then the Buddha Śākyamuni addressed Bodhisattva Maitreya, saying: “Splendid, splendid, O Ajita! You have asked the Buddha an important question. You should all single-mindedly don the armor of perseverance and be of firm will. The Tathāgata now wants to reveal the wisdom of the buddhas, the inherent transcendent powers of the buddhas, the lionlike dignified power of the buddhas, the majestic and mighty power of the buddhas.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

Then the Bhagavat, after speaking these verses, addressed Bodhisattva Maitreya, saying: “I will now proclaim it to all of you in this assembly. O

Ajita! All of you have never seen these immeasurable, innumerable, incalculable great bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have emerged from out of the earth. Having attained highest, complete enlightenment in this sahā world, I led, inspired, and instructed these bodhisattvas, restrained their thoughts, and caused the thought of the path to awaken in them. When these bodhisattvas lived in the space under the earth of this sahā world, they recited various sutras, became well versed in them, and contemplated, analyzed, and correctly remembered them.

“O Ajita! All these sons of a virtuous family did not wish to be among the multitude where there is always much discussion. They always wanted to be in quiet places. They diligently strove without resting or relying upon devas or humans. They always desired the profound wisdom without obstructions; they always wanted the Dharma of the buddhas. They strove wholeheartedly in seeking the highest wisdom.”

In the city of Gayā,

I attained highest, complete enlightenment,

And turned the wheel of the highest Dharma.

I then led and inspired them

So that the thought of the path Awakened in them for the first time.

All of them are now at the stage of no retrogression, And will certainly become buddhas with no residue.

I now teach the truth.

You should wholeheartedly believe that

From long, long ago I have been

Leading and inspiring all these bodhisattvas.

Then Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Maitreya and the innumerable other bodhi-

sattvas became doubtful and confused concerning this unprecedented expe- 41c rience. They thought this:

How is it possible in such a short time for the Bhagavat to have inspired such an immeasurable, limitless, incalculable number of great bodhisattvas, enabling them to abide in highest, complete enlightenment? Immediately they addressed the Buddha, saying: “O Bhagavat! When the Tathāgata was a prince he left the palace of the Śākyas, sat on the terrace of enlightenment which is not far from the city of Gayā, and attained highest, complete enlightenment. Since then more than forty years have passed. How is it possible, O Bhagavat, for you to have done such great buddha acts in such a short period of time? Is it through the might of the Buddha and through the Buddha’s qualities that you have inspired such an assembly of incalculable great bodhisattvas to achieve highest, complete enlightenment?

“O Bhagavat! Even if someone counted the number of the great bodhisattvas for thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas they would not be able to finish. There would be no end. From long ago these bodhisattvas have been planting roots of good merit in the presence of immeasurable, limitless buddhas. They have perfected the bodhisattva path and have always practiced the pure path of discipline and integrity. It is, O Bhagavat, difficult to believe such things in this world.

“Suppose a handsome man with dark hair, twenty-five years of age, were

to point to a hundred-year-old man and say:

He is my son.

“And the one-hundred-year-old man points to the young fellow and says: He is my father and he raised me!

“This would be difficult to believe; and what the Buddha has now taught is exactly like this. It has not, in fact, been so long since the Buddha attained the path. Yet for the sake of the buddha path this great assembly of bodhisattvas has been diligently striving for innumerable thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas. They have skillfully entered, abided in, and emerged from immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭis of samādhis. They have attained great transcendent powers and practiced the pure path of discipline and integrity for a long time. They have gradually and ably practiced wholesome teachings and are skilled at discussions. They are jewels among humans and a great rarity in the entire world.

“Today the Bhagavat has correctly said that after he attained the path of the Buddha he caused the thought of enlightenment to awaken in the bodhisattvas for the first time. He then led, inspired, and instructed them to approach highest, complete enlightenment. O Bhagavat! Although it has not been so long since you attained Buddhahood yet you have really done these great meritorious acts.

“We believe the Buddha’s words, spoken according to our capacities, and that what he says is never false. We are all well versed in the Buddha’s knowledge. However, if the bodhisattvas in whom the thought of enlightenment has recently awakened hear this after the Buddha’s parinirvāṇa, they will not accept it; and this will bring about conditions for erring deeds that destroy the Dharma. That is why, O Bhagavat, we entreat you to explain it to us and remove our doubts. Moreover, in the future, when the sons of a virtuous family hear this, they will also be free from doubt.”

Thereupon Bodhisattva Maitreya, wanting to elaborate upon the meaning

of this further, spoke these verses:

But still we entreat you, O Buddha, to expound it And make it clear for the future.

Anyone in whom doubts awaken

And who does not believe in this sutra Will certainly fall into the troubled states of being. That is why we now entreat you to explain How in such a short time. You have led and inspired These innumerable bodhisattvas

So that the thought of enlightenment

Has awakened in them，And they abide in the stage of no retrogression.

Chapter XVI

The Lifespan of the Tathāgata

Thereupon the Buddha addressed the bodhisattvas and the entire great assembly, saying: “O sons of a virtuous family! You should believe the true words of the Tathāgata.”

He addressed the great assembly again, saying: “You should believe the Tathāgata’s true words.”

He repeated this to them, saying: “You should believe the Tathāgata’s

true words.”

Then the great assembly of bodhisattvas, headed by Maitreya, addressed the Buddha with their palms pressed together, saying: “O Bhagavat! We entreat you to explain it. We will accept the Buddha’s words.”

After they had spoken in this way three times, they again said: “We

entreat you to explain it. We will accept the Buddha’s words.”

Then the Bhagavat, realizing that the bodhisattvas continued to entreat him after those three times, addressed them, saying: “Listen carefully to the Tathāgata’s secret and transcendent powers. The devas, humans, and asuras in all the worlds all think that the present Buddha, Śākyamuni, left the palace of the Śākyas, sat on the terrace of enlightenment not far from the city of Gayā, and attained highest, complete enlightenment. However, O sons of a virtuous family, immeasurable, limitless, hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of kalpas have passed since I actually attained Buddhahood.

“Suppose there were a man who ground five hundreds of thousands myriads of koṭis of nayutas of incalculable great manifold cosmos into particles. While passing through five hundred thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of incalculable lands to the east, he dropped just a single particle; and in this way he continued to drop the particles as he went toward the east, until they were all gone.

“O sons of a virtuous family! What do you think about this? Can all of these worlds be calculated or not? Can one imagine all of these worlds, calculate, and know their number or not?”

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Bodhisattva Maitreya and the others together addressed the Buddha, saying: “O Bhagavat! These worlds are immeasurable, limitless, incalculable, and beyond our powers of conception. Even all the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, with their knowledge free from corruption, are not able to comprehend them, or know their number. Although we abide in the stage of no retrogression we cannot understand it. O Bhagavat! Such worlds as these are incalculable and limitless.”

Then the Buddha addressed the assembly of the great bodhisattvas, saying: “O sons of a virtuous family! I will now explain it clearly to you. Suppose all these worlds, whether or not a particle was left in them, were reduced to particles, and each particle represented a kalpa. The period of time since I became a buddha would exceed this by hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of incalculable kalpas. Since then I have constantly been residing in the sahā world, teaching the Dharma and inspiring sentient beings. I have also been leading and benefiting sentient beings in incalculable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of other worlds.

“O sons of a virtuous family! During this interim I explained about the 42c Buddha Dīpaṃkara and others. Furthermore, I also said that they had entered parinirvāṇa. I have explained such things through skillful means.

“O sons of a virtuous family! If any sentient being comes to me, I perceive the dullness or sharpness of his faith and other faculties with my buddha-eye. According to the way I should bring them to the path, I, myself, proclaim different names and lifespans in various places. In each case I have also clearly stated that I would enter parinirvāṇa. Through various skillful means I have explained subtle teachings and have made the sentient beings rejoice.

“O sons of a virtuous family! To those beings whom the Tathāgata perceives as taking pleasure in the inferior teachings, who have few qualities and grave defilements, he teaches that the Buddha attained highest, complete enlightenment after he re announced household life in his young age. However, it has been a very long time indeed since I attained Buddhahood. I give such an explanation only to lead and inspire the sentient beings to enter the buddha path through skillful means.

“O sons of a virtuous family! The sutras that the Tathāgata has expounded are all to save the sentient beings. Whether the Tathāgata teaches about himself or others, whether he reveals his form or that of others, whether he shows his acts or those of others, everything he says is true, never false. “Why is this? Because the Tathāgata perceives all the marks of the triple world as they really are: that there is no birth and death, coming or going; that there is also no existence or extinction in the world, truth or falsehood, sameness or difference. The Tathāgata does not view the triple world as sentient beings in the triple world see it. The Tathāgata perceives such things clearly and without mistakes.

“Since sentient beings have various natures, desires, behaviors, thoughts, and distinctions, the Tathāgata, wanting to cause them to plant roots of good merit, has explained various teachings through a variety of examples, explanations, and illustrations. He has not desisted from doing buddha acts even for a single moment and in this way it has been an extremely long time since I attained Buddhahood. My lifespan is immeasurable and incalculable. I abide forever without entering parinirvāṇa.

“O sons of a virtuous family! The lifespan that I first attained through practicing the bodhisattva path has not yet expired. It is twice as great as the number previously mentioned. Although I do not actually enter parinirvāṇa I proclaim that I do. It is through this skillful means that the Tathāgata leads and inspires sentient beings.

“Why is this? Because if the Buddha abides a long time in this world,

those who have few qualities do not plant roots of good merit, acquire poor and superficial characters, are attached to the desires of the five senses, and enter into the web of illusions and false views. If they see the Tathāgata always existing without extinction, they then become proud, self-willed, and negligent. The thought that the Buddha is difficult to meet and that he is to be respected cannot awaken in them. That is why the Tathāgata teaches through skillful means, saying:

O monks! You should know that the appearance of the buddhas in the world is very difficult to encounter.

“Why is this? Because some of those with little merit may not see the Buddha during the passage of immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas.

“For this reason I say:

O monks! It is difficult to meet the Tathāgata.

“Hearing such words, the thought that it is very difficult to meet the Tathāgata will certainly awaken in these sentient beings. Longing and yearning for the Buddha, they will plant roots of good merit. For this reason, although the Tathāgata does not really pass into extinction, he nevertheless says he does.

“Furthermore, O sons of a virtuous family, the teaching of all the Buddha Tathāgatas is exactly like this. It is entirely true, never false, all for the sake of saving sentient beings.

“Suppose there were an excellent doctor. He is wise, knowledgeable, his prescriptions are effective, and he has skillfully cured a variety of diseases. This man has many sons, say ten, twenty, or even one hundred in number. For some reason, he has to go far off to another country and, while he is away, his children, whom he has left behind, drink some poison. The poison starts to take effect and they roll on the ground in agony.

“At this moment their father returns home. Some of the children who have taken the poison are delirious, while others are not. Seeing their father in the distance they all rejoice greatly and kneeling respectfully address him, saying:

It is good that you have returned safely. In our ignorance we took this poison by mistake. We entreat you to cure and save us, and restore us to life.

“Seeing his children suffering in this way, the father searches for beneficial herbs possessed of good color, aroma, and flavor, according to the medical manual. Blending them together after grinding and sifting, he gives the mixture to the children and says:

This is an extremely beneficial medicine with good color, aroma, and flavor. All of you take it! It will quickly remove your pain and you will never be afflicted again.

“Then the children who have not become delirious see this beneficial medicine of good color and aroma, and immediately take it. The affliction is completely removed and they are cured. The remaining children, those who are delirious, seeing their father coming to them, rejoice and ask him to seek a cure for their illness. Although he offers them the medicine, they will not take it. Why is this? The poison has so deeply penetrated them that they have become delirious. They do not think that the medicine with good color and aroma is good. “The father thinks:

These children are to be pitied. The poison has completely warped their minds. Although they rejoiced upon seeing me and sought a cure they will not take this beneficial medicine. I will now cause them to take this medicine through skillful means.

“Then he says to them:

You should know that I am now old and feeble, close to death. I will now leave this beneficial medicine here. You should take it. Do not worry about not recovering.

“Having left these instructions he goes to another country and sends a messenger back home to tell them: ‘Your father has already died.’ Upon hearing that their father is dead, the children become very distressed and think: If our father had lived he would have taken pity on us and protected ^43b us. But now, abandoning us, he has died in a distant country.

“They now consider themselves orphans having no one to rely upon. Through constant grieving their minds become clear, and only then do they realize that the medicine has fine color, aroma, and flavor. They immediately take it and the poison is completely driven out. The father, hearing that all his children have completely recovered, immediately returns and makes his appearance.”

The Buddha then asked the bodhisattvas: “O sons of a virtuous family! Do you think there is anyone who would say that this good doctor is guilty of lying?”

The bodhisattvas replied: “No, we do not, O Bhagavat!”

The Buddha said: “I am just like this. Since I became a buddha, immeasurable, limitless, hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of incalculable kalpas have passed. Though for the sake of sentient beings, I use skillful means and say that I will enter parinirvāṇa, there is no one who could rightly say that I am guilty of falsehood.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

Since I attained Buddhahood,

Immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads Of koṭis of incalculable kalpas have passed.

I have been constantly teaching the Dharma, Through these immeasurable kalpas, Leading and inspiring

Innumerable koṭis of sentient beings

And enabling them to enter the buddha path.

Using skillful means

I have manifested the state of nirvana To bring sentient beings to this path;

Yet I have not actually entered nirvana,

But continually abide here expounding the Dharma.

Although I am always among these erring beings, With my transcendent powers, I prevent them from seeing me.

The sentient beings, Seeing me enter perfect extinction Earnestly revere my relics And, filled with longing, Yearn for me. When the sentient beings become Sincere, mild, and receptive, And, wanting wholeheartedly to meet the Buddha, Are willing to give unsparingly Of their bodies and lives, Then I, together with the sangha, Will appear on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa. I will declare this to sentient beings:

Although I am always here without extinction, Through the power of skillful means I manifest extinction and no extinction.

If there are any sentient beings in other worlds Who respect and believe in me, I will also teach them the highest Dharma. Not knowing this, you only think That I have entered parinirvāṇa.

I see all sentient beings Submerged in the ocean of suffering. That is why, by not manifesting my form, I cause them to yearn for me. Then, after awakening this longing, I appear and expound the Dharma; Such are my transcendent powers.

For innumerable kalpas

I have constantly resided On Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa and elsewhere. When sentient beings see themselves Amidst a conflagration At the end of a kalpa, It is in fact my tranquil land, Always full of devas and humans. All the gardens and palaces Are adorned with various gems. The jeweled trees abound with flowers and fruits, And the sentient beings are joyful among them. The devas beat heavenly drums Making constant and varied music.

They rain down māndārava flowers Upon the Buddha and the great assembly.

Finally see the Buddha, I teach that it is difficult to meet him. Such is the power of my wisdom.

The light of my wisdom illuminates immeasurably And my lifespan is of innumerable kalpas. This has been achieved through long practice.

You wise ones, do not give in to doubt!

Banish all doubt forever! The Buddha’s words are true, never false. It is like the physician Who proclaimed his own death, Although it was untrue.

He did this to cure his delirious sons, Through excellent skillful means; So no one could say he really spoke falsehood. I, also, being the father of the world, Cure those who suffer.

To the deluded and unenlightened I say that

I have entered nirvana, Although, in fact, I am really here.

For if they were to see me, They would become lazy and arrogant.

Attached to the desires of the five senses, They would fall into the troubled states of being.

Always aware of which sentient beings

Practice the path and which do not,

I teach the Dharma in various ways, According to their ability to be saved. I am always thinking:

By what means can I cause sentient beings to be able to Enter the highest path

And quickly attain the Dharma?

Chapter XVII

Description of Merits

Thereupon, when the great assembly heard the Buddha explain that his lifespan was of such a great number of kalpas, an immeasurable, limitless, incalculable number of sentient beings were greatly benefited.

Then the Bhagavat addressed Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Mai treya, saying: “O Ajita! When I explained the great length of this Tathāgata’s life span, sentient beings, equal to the sands of the six hundred and eighty myriads of koṭis of nayutas of Ganges Rivers in number, gained understanding of the truth of the non origination of all dharmas. Furthermore, a thousand times this number of bodhisattva mahāsattvas attained the power of recollecting what they hear; and bodhisattva mahāsattvas equal to the number of particles in one world attained unhindered eloquence. Moreover, there were bodhisattva mahāsattvas equal to the particles in one world who attained the power of tenacious memory which revolves hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of immeasurable times. There were also bodhisattva mahāsattvas equal to the number of particles in the great manifold cosmos who turned the irreversible wheel of the Dharma, and bodhisattva mahāsattvas equal to the number of particles in two medium-sized manifold cosmos who turned the purified wheel of the Dharma.

“Furthermore, there were bodhisattva mahāsattvas equal to the number of particles in one small-sized cosmos who will be able to attain highest, complete enlightenment after eight births; bodhisattva mahāsattvas equal to the number of particles in the four fourfold continents who will attain highest, complete enlightenment after four births; bodhisattva mahāsattvas equal to the number of particles in the threefold four continents who will attain highest, complete enlightenment after three births; bodhisattva mahā sattvas equal to the number of particles in the twofold four continents who will attain highest, complete enlightenment after two births; and bodhisattva mahāsattvas equal to the number of particles in the four continents who will attain highest, complete enlightenment after one birth. Moreover there were sentient beings

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equal to the number of particles in the eightfold great manifold cosmos, in all of whom the thought of highest, complete enlightenment had awakened.”

When the Buddha explained that these bodhisattva mahā sattvas had attained deep insight into the Dharma, māndārava and great māndārava flowers rained down from the sky, scattering over the buddhas who were seated on lion seats under immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of jeweled trees; and they scattered over Śākyamuni Buddha and the Tathāgata Pra bhū taratna, who had attained parinirvāṇa long ago, both of whom were sitting on the lion seat in a seven-jeweled stupa; they also scattered

over all of the great bodhisattvas and the fourfold assembly. Finely powdered sandalwood and aloeswood incense also rained down, and heavenly drums resounded in the sky with a deep and beautiful sound. One thousand kinds of heavenly garments, draped with strings of pearl, jewels, and wish-fulfilling gems (maṇi), rained down, filling the nine directions. Priceless incense burned in various jeweled incense holders, and its fragrance spread spontaneously throughout the great assembly as an offering. Above each buddha there were bodhisattvas holding banners and umbrellas that extended upward to the Brahma world. These bodhisattvas praised the buddhas by singing immeasurable verses with beautiful voices.

Then Bodhisattva Maitreya rose from his seat, leaving his right shoulder bared, faced the Buddha with the palms of his hands pressed together, and spoke these verses:

The Buddha has taught this marvelous Dharma That we have never heard before.

The Bhagavat has great powers And his lifespan is immeasurable. Innumerable heirs of the Buddha

Attained the benefit of the Dharma After hearing the Bhagavat’s explanation, And became completely filled with joy.

Some attained the stage of no retrogression, And others the power of recollection.

Some attained unhindered eloquence,

And others the power of tenacious memory Which revolves many koṭis of times.

There were also bodhisattvas, Equal to the number of particles In the great cosmos,

Who each turned the irreversible wheel Of the Dharma. There were also bodhisattvas, Equal to the number of particles In a medium cosmos, Who each turned the purified Wheel of the Dharma. There were also bodhisattvas,

Equal to the number of particles

In a small cosmos,

Who after eight births Will complete the buddha path. There were also bodhisattvas,

Equal to four times, three times,

And two times the number of particles In the four continents,

Who after four, three, and two births Will attain Buddhahood.

There were also bodhisattvas,

Equal to the number of particles In the four continents,

Who will obtain omniscience After one birth;

And sentient beings, having heard about

The great length of the Buddha’s lifespan, Attained immeasurable results

That were pure and without corruption.

There were also sentient beings, Equal to the number of particles

In the eight worlds,

In whom, having heard about the lifespan of the Buddha, The thought of highest enlightenment awakened.

The Bhagavat has taught the Dharma

That is immeasurable and inconceivable, And from which come benefits As limitless as space.

Heavenly māndārava

And great māndārava flowers rained down; And Śakras and Brahmas

Came from innumerable buddha lands, Equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River.

Sandalwood and aloeswood powder,

Scattered like birds in the sky Flying in all directions, And rained down over the buddhas.

Heavenly drums resounded spontaneously And beautifully in the air;

And thousands of myriads of koṭis Of heavenly garments floated whirling down.

Precious incense was burned

In various jeweled incense holders, Its fragrance naturally penetrating everywhere, In homage to the Bhagavats.

The great assembly of these bodhisattvas

Held myriads of koṭis of tall and beautiful

Seven-jeweled banners and umbrellas, Which extended gradually to the Brahma world.

They hung jeweled flags and excellent banners In the presence of each of these buddhas, And chanted thousands of myriads of verses In praise of the Tathāgatas. Such things had never been Experienced before.

Hearing of the Buddha’s

Immeasurable lifespan, all rejoiced;

And, the Buddha’s name being heard

Throughout the ten directions,

Sentient beings were greatly benefited.

Everyone became endowed

With the roots of good merit,

And the thought of highest, complete enlightenment Awakened in them.

At that time the Buddha addressed Bodhisattva Mahā sattva Maitreya, saying: “O Ajita! Those sentient beings who hear about the great length of the Buddha’s lifespan, and can awaken even a single thought of willing acceptance, will all obtain immeasurable merit. If there are sons and daughters of a good family who, for the sake of highest, complete enlightenment, practice the five perfections of giving (dāna), good conduct (śīla), perseverance (kṣānti), effort (vīrya), and meditation (dhyāna), with the exception of the perfection of wisdom (prajñā), for eighty myriads of koṭis of nayutas of kalpas, their merit is not even a hundredth, a thousandth, a hundred thousandth of a myriad of a koṭi of the former person’s merit. It is so small that it cannot be conceived of through calculation or illustration. If there are sons and daughters of a virtuous family who possess such merit as the former, they will never revert from highest, complete enlightenment.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

Those who seek the Buddha’s wisdom                                             

Throughout these kalpas they will pay homage to

The buddhas, pratyekabuddhas, śrāvakas,

And all the bodhisattvas by offering

Rare delicacies, excellent garments, and bedding,

Or by building monasteries out of sandalwood Which are adorned with gardens.

Through offering such a variety of precious things Throughout all of these kalpas,

They will transfer the merits to the buddha path.

And those who abide in tranquil places

For immeasurable kalpas

Will always discipline their minds, avoiding sleep, While either sitting or wandering.

Their merits will be as mentioned above.

If those sons and daughters of a virtuous family,

Upon hearing me explain about my lifespan In this way, are able to awaken

Even a single thought of willing acceptance, Their merit exceeds that of the former.

Such will also be the merit

Of those who have no doubts whatsoever And believe deeply even for a single moment. Those bodhisattvas who practice the path For a period of immeasurable kalpas,

And who believe my explanation of my lifespan

When they hear it, are the ones                                                           

Who fully accept this sutra, Saying:

Let us in the future devote a long life To saving sentient beings!

Just as the present Bhagavat,

King among the Śākyas, who roars the lion’s roar On the terrace of enlightenment,

Is fearless in teaching the Dharma,

Let us in the future be respected by all

And teach of the lifespan

While seated upon the terrace of enlightenment.

Those who have profound thoughts, are pure, Honest and learned, have good recollection,

And understand the Buddha’s words in accordance

With what is appropriate,

Will have no doubts regarding this.

“Furthermore, O Ajita, those who hear of the great length of the Buddha’s lifespan and understand the intent of these words will obtain limitless merit that will give rise to the highest wisdom of the Tathāgata. How much more merit will they gain who extensively hear this sutra, move others to listen to it, preserve it, move others to preserve it, copy it, or move others to copy it; and pay homage to the sutra by offering flowers, incense, necklaces, flags, banners, canopies, lamps of scented oil, and ghee! The merit of these people will be immeasurable and limitless. They will be able to achieve omniscience. “O Ajita! Those sons and daughters of a virtuous family, who, hearing me teach the great length of the Buddha’s lifespan, wholeheartedly accept it, will see the Buddha, who always dwells on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa together with the great bodhisattvas and śrāvakas, teaching the Dharma to the assembly. Moreover, they will see the land of this sahā world, which is made of lapis lazuli, level and even. The network of roads is laid out like a chessboard, paved with Jambūnāda gold and bordered with jeweled trees. All its foundations, towers, and balconies will be made of treasures and the multitude of these bodhisattvas will be dwelling in them. Those who can see such things should know that to be able to do so is a sign of their full and willing acceptance.

“Furthermore, after the Tathāgata’s parinirvāṇa, those who hear this sutra do not disparage it and rejoice in their hearts, should know that this is a sign of their full and willing acceptance. How much more do those who recite and preserve this sutra show a sign of full and willing acceptance! Such are the people who hold the Tathāgata in respect.

“O Ajita! These sons and daughters of a virtuous family do not have to build stupas and monasteries for me, make chambers for the monks, or pay homage to the sangha with the four kinds of offerings. Why is this? Because these sons and daughters of a virtuous family recite and preserve this sutra, which means they have already built stupas, made chambers for the monks, and paid homage

to the sangha. They have already erected seven-jeweled stupas for the Buddha’s relics, which are tall and wide, gradually narrowing to a pinnacle that reaches to the Brahma world. They have hung various banners, canopies, and variegated jeweled bells; offered flowers, incense, necklaces, scented powder, and ointment; burned incense; played drums, music, flutes, pipes, harps, and various dances; and adorned the stupas and relics of the Buddha by praising with verses and songs in beautiful voices. In this way they have already paid homage for immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas.

“O Ajita! After my parinirvāṇa, those who hear this sutra and who can preserve it, copy it and move others to copy it, have already built chambers for monks, as well as thirty-two red sandalwood monasteries of the height of eight tāla trees, wide and fine, housing hundreds of thousands of monks. The monasteries they have built have gardens, ponds, paths for wandering, meditation caves, garments, food and drink, bedding, medicine, and are replete with all other necessities. Such hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of monks’ chambers and towers will be incalculable. With these they pay homage to me and to the assembly of monks.

“I have explained that, for this reason, after the Tathāgata’s parinirvāṇa those who preserve and recite this sutra, and explain it to others, who copy it or move others to copy it and who pay it homage to it no longer have to build stupas, monasteries, or erect chambers for the monks, or revere the sangha. How much less do those who preserve this sutra and practice the perfections of giving (dāna), good conduct (śīla), perseverance (kṣānti), effort (vīrya), meditation (dhyāna), and wisdom (prajñā) need to do so! Their merit is the highest, immeasurable and limitless. It is immeasurable and limitless in the same way that space is immeasurable and limitless in the ten directions—east, west, south, north, the four intermediate directions, and the zenith and nadir—and they will thus quickly obtain omniscience.

“Those who recite and preserve this sutra, who explain it for others, who copy it or move others to copy it, build monuments and make chambers for monks, revere and praise the sangha of śrāvakas, and praise the merits of the bodhisattvas in hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of ways; those who explain this Lotus Sutra for the sake of others in accordance with its meaning through various illustrations, who preserve pure conduct and dwell together with gentle people, who are patient and have no anger, are firm in their intentions and always hold meditation in high regard, who attain profound samādhi and make vigorous efforts, persevere in all good practices, whose wisdom is keen and who answer difficult questions skillfully; O Ajita! Those sons and daughters of a virtuous family, who preserve and recite this sutra after my parinirvāṇa will attain good qualities like those mentioned above. You should know that such people have already set out for the terrace of enlightenment, are near to highest, complete enlightenment, and are seated under the bodhi tree.

“O Ajita! Wherever these sons and daughters of a virtuous family sit,

stand, or walk, there a monument should be built; and all of the devas and 46a humans should pay homage to these monuments as they would do to those of the Buddha.”

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

further, spoke these verses:

Chapter XVIII

The Merits of Joyful Acceptance

Thereupon Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Maitreya addressed the Buddha, saying: “O Bhagavat! If sons and daughters of a virtuous family rejoice in hearing this sutra, how much merit do they acquire?” And he spoke in verse, saying:

After the Bhagavat’s parinirvāṇa,

If there is anyone who hears this sutra And rejoices in it,

How much merit do they acquire?

Then the Buddha addressed Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Maitreya, saying: “O Ajita! After the Tathāgata’s parinirvāṇa, suppose those monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen and other wise ones, whether old or young, having rejoiced in hearing this sutra, take leave of the Dharma assembly and go to other places—either dwelling in monasteries or tranquil places, cities, towns, ^46c villages, or forests—and teach what they have heard to their parents, relatives, good friends, and acquaintances according to the various capacities of these people. Having heard the teaching, they will rejoice and go on to teach it to others. These people having heard it will also joyfully teach it to others in turn, and so it continues in this way until it reaches the fiftieth person.

“O Ajita! I will now explain about the merit which this fiftieth son or daughter of a virtuous family acquires from joyful acceptance. You should listen attentively!

“Suppose that in the four hundreds of myriads of koṭis of incalculable worlds, there are sentient beings in the six transmigratory states and of the four modes of birth—born from an egg, born from the womb, from moisture, or born spontaneously—either with or without form, either with or without consciousness, either unconscious or not unconscious, having no legs, two, four, or many legs; and that, among the number of such beings, there is a person who seeks to acquire merit and gives pleasurable things to these

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beings, according to their desire. He gives each of those sentient beings gold, silver, lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl, agate, coral, amber, and other treasures such as would fill this continent of Jambudvīpa, as well as elephant carts, horse carts, and palaces and towers made out of the seven treasures. Having performed such acts of giving for a full eighty years, this great donor thinks: I have already given these sentient beings such pleasurable things as they wished. Yet now these sentient beings are old and feeble. They are over eighty years old, with white hair and wrinkles, and they will die before long. I should now instruct them by means of the Buddha-Dharma.

“He immediately gathers these sentient beings together, inspires them by proclaiming the Dharma, and gladdens them by revealing its benefits. In an instant they all successively attain the first stage of the śrāvakas called stream-winner (srota-āpanna), the second stage called once-returner (sakṛdāgāmin) the third stage called non-returner (anāgāmin), and finally the stage of the arhat, free from corruption, entering profound meditations, gaining complete mastery of all, and attaining the eight liberations.