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BDK English Tipitaka Series
TIANTAI LOTUS TEXTS
The Infinite Meanings Sutra The Sutra Expounded by the Buddha Contemplation of the Bodhisattva on Practice of the Way through All-embracing Goodness
(Taishō Volume 9, Number 276)
(Taishō Volume 9, Number 277)
Translated by Tsugunari Kubo and Joseph M. Logan
The Commentary on the Lotus Sutra A Guide to the Tanita Fourfold Teachings
(Taishō Volume 26, Number 1519) Translated by Terry Abbott
(Taishō Volume 46, Number 1931)
Translated by Masao Ichishima and David W. Chappell
Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai America, Inc.2013
Copyright © 2013 by Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai andBukkyō Dendō Kyōkai 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 meanswithout the prior written permission of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2012923174ISBN: 978-1-886439-45-0Second Printing, 2015
Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai America, Inc. Berkeley, California 947042620Published by Warring 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 UMATA Yehan, the founder of 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) HANAYAMA Shōyū (Chairperson), (late) BANDŌ Shōjun, ISHIGAMI Zennō, (late) KAMATA Shigeo, (late) KANAOKA Shūyū, MAYEDA Sengaku, NARA Yasuaki, (late) SAYEKI Shinkō, (late) SHIOIRI Ryōtatsu, TAMARU Noriyoshi, (late) TAMURA Kwansei, were as follows: KURYŪZU Ryūshin, and YANAZAWA UYAMA Atsushi, WAkira. Assistant members of the Committee ATA 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.
ing his son, Mr. ND r. NUMATA passed away on May 5, 1994, at the age of ninety-seven, entrust-UMATA Toshihide, with the continuation and completion of the
Translation Project. The Committee also lost its able and devoted Chairperson,
Editorial Foreword
these severe blows, the Committee elected me, then Vice President of Musashino Professor HANAYAMA Shōyū, on June 16, 1995, at the age of sixty-three. After
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.
ICHISHIMA The present members of the Committee are MShōshin, ISHIGAMI Zennō, KATSURA Shōryū, NAYEDA Sengaku (Chairperson),AMAI Chishō, NARA
Yasuaki, SAITŌAkira, SHIMODA Masahiro, Kenneth K. Tanaka, WATANABE Shōgo, and 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. In 2010, the Numata Center’s operations were merged into Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai America, Inc. (BDK America) and BDK America continues to oversee the English Tipitaka project in close cooperation with the Editorial Committee in Tokyo.
M Chairperson AYEDA Sengaku
Editorial Committee of the BDK English Tipitaka
viii
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 this volume, as all other volumes in the series, has gone through a rigorous process of editorial 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. Both the Editorial Committee in Tokyo and the Publication Committee, headquartered in Berkeley, California, are dedicated to the production of accurate and readable English translations 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 the 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 number of 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 Chair of the Publication Committee, I am deeply honored to serve as the fifth person in a post previously held by leading figures in the field of Buddhist studies, most recently by my predecessor, John R. McRae.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the members of the Publication Committee for their dedicated and expert work undertaken in the course of preparing this volume for publication: Senior Editor Marianne Dresser, Dr. Hudaya Kandahjaya, Dr. Carl Bielefeldt, Dr. Robert Sharf, and Rev. Brian Kensho Nagata, President of BDK America.
Publication Committee A. Charles Muller Chairperson
Contents
A Message on the Publication of the English Tipitaka
NUMATA Yehan v Editorial Foreword MAYEDA Sengaku vii Publisher’s Foreword A. Charles Muller ix
The Infinite Meanings Sutra
Contents 3 Translators’ Introduction 5 The Infinite Meanings Sutra 7
Notes 39
The Sutra on All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva
Translators’ Introduction 45
The Sutra Exponded by the Buddha on Practice of the Way through
Contemplation of the Bodhisattva All-embracing Goodness 49
Notes 79
The Commentary on the Lotus Sutra Contents 85 Translator’s Introduction 87
The Commentary on the Lotus Sutra 91
A Guide to the Tanita Fourfold Teachings
Contents 153 Translator’s Introduction 155
A Guide to the Tanita Fourfold Teachings 161 Glossary 211 Bibliography 221 Index 225
A List of the Volumes of the BDK English Tipitaka (First Series) 241
THE INFINITE MEANINGS SUTRA
Contents
The Infinite Meanings Sutra
Translators’ Introduction 5
Chapter I. Beneficial Works 9
Chapter II. Dharma Discourse 17
Chapter III. Ten Beneficial Effects 27
Notes 39
3
Translators’ Introduction
The original text on which this translation is based is the Wuliangyi jing, which we translate as “Infinite Meanings Sutra” (Jpn. Muryogi kyō; Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō vol. 9, no. 276, 384a23–389b22). The title has also been translated into English as “Innumerable Meanings Sutra” and “Immeasurable Meanings Sutra.” Following the title of the first chapter in the source text is the line Xiao qi tian du san chang tan ma mi jia tuo ye she yi: “Translated by Dharmajāta- yaśas, a monk from central India, during the reign of Emperor Xiao (479–482) of the Southern Qi dynasty (479–502).”
Similar to the case of the Sutra Expounded by the Buddha on Practice of the Way through Contemplation of the Bodhisattva All-embracing Goodness (Taishō no. 277, our translation of which also appears in this volume), the only existing historical manuscripts of the Infinite Meanings Sutra are in Chinese. There is no extant evidence of any Sanskrit original of the text other than indications of such as the basis for the Chinese translation. Thus, the provenance of this text in India or China remains a subject of speculation.
The Infinite Meanings Sutra may be regarded as an introduction to the Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra). In light of this, it is noteworthy that in English versions of the Lotus Sutra based on Kumārajīva’s Chinese translation (Taishō no. 260), in the beginning of the introductory chapter one can find a passage similar to the following:
[The Buddha] then taught the bodhisattvas the Mahayana sutra called Immeasurable Meanings. After having taught this sutra, the Buddha . . .
entered the samādhi called the “abode of immeasurable meanings.”1
Extant Sanskrit manuscripts of the Lotus Sutra, however, give mahā-nir deśa, “great exposition,” as the name of the sutra, and ābhujyūnanta-nirdeśa-pratiṣṭhāna, “foundation of infinite exposition,” as the name of the samādhi. Since anantanirdeśa, “infinite exposition,” is not found in reference to the name of the sutra that was taught, this gives rise to the speculation that if Kumārajīva translated
5
Translators’ Introduction
from manuscripts similar to those that now remain, he must have used the same Chinese translation, wu liang yi, “infinite (immeasurable/innumerable) meanings,” in both instances.
While the Lotus Sutra is never mentioned by name in this text, the Infinite Meanings Sutra, like the Lotus, is a strong proponent of the concept of bodhisattva practice. In his discourse in the sutra, the Buddha emphasizes that leading others to the Way is a prime factor in attaining ultimate enlightenment, and that the teaching of the sutra itself is infinite in its meanings because it relates to the unlimited desires of living beings.
It is also interesting to note the text’s attitude of emphasizing its own merit and influence, particularly in Chapter Three, which discusses how the sutra affects those who keep faith with it: how such practitioners, fueled by the power of the sutra, advance and come to maturity from the development of a bodhisattva’s requisite qualities to the final dramatic descriptions of the ultimate rewards of a bodhisattva’s active compassion.
It is our hope that the vibrancy and message of this sutra will become more tangible to readers through this translation. To that end, we encourage readers to “give voice” to the sutra so that as you read it, you may hear it as well.
Note on the Translation
In this translation nearly full accord was maintained with the source Chinese text in the Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō edition. However, the Taishō text contains annotations indicating where various differences occurred in other Chinese editions of the Infinite Meanings Sutra cited in the notes, and, depending upon the context, there were some instances in which we chose to use the alternative character or phrasing in our translation.
Another Chinese version of this text, the Kasuga edition, is widely used in Japan as a basic source text for translation. We also found that there are several textual differences between the Kasuga and Taishō editions.
Our choices from the notes in the Taishō source text as mentioned above, noteworthy differences observed in the Kasuga version, and any particular aspects of the translation that we believe merit comment are given in the Notes that follow the text.
6
THE INFINITE MEANINGS SUTRA
Translated from the Chinese of Dharmajātayaśas
Chapter I
Beneficial Works
Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Buddha was staying at the city of Rājagṛha, on Mount Vulture Peak, together with an assembly of twelve thousand eminent monks. Eighty thousand great-being (mahāsattva) bodhisattvas were also there, along with heavenly beings (devas), nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas, as well as various monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen.
Spontaneously gathered around them—each with retinues that were hundreds of thousands of myriads in number—were leaders of empires great and small: rulers of gold-wheel, silver-wheel, and lesser-wheel domains; kings, princes, and officials of state; and citizens who were noblemen, noblewomen, or people of great means. They all made their way to where the Buddha was, bowed their heads at his feet in homage, walked around him a hundred thousand times, burned incense and scattered flowers, and paid their respects in various ways. After they had honored the Buddha, they withdrew and sat to one side.
The bodhisattvas known by name were: Mañjuśrī, Prince of the Dharma;2 Wellspring of Great Majestic Virtue,3 Prince of the Dharma; Wellspring of Freedom from Anxiety, Prince of the Dharma; Wellspring of Effective Discourse, Prince of the Dharma; Maitreya Bodhisattva; Facilitating Leader Bodhisattva; King of Medicines Bodhisattva (Bhaiṣajyarāja); Incomparable Medicine Bodhisattva (Bhaiṣajyarājasamudgata); Flower Banner Bodhisattva;
Flower Radiance Bodhisattva;4 Sovereign Master of Dharma-grasping Empowerments Bodhisattva; Regarder of the Voices of the World Bodhisattva (Avalokiteśvara); Great Strength Achieved Bodhisattva (Mahāsthāmap rāpta); Constant Endeavor Bodhisattva (Nityodyukta/ Sata tasa mitābhiyukta);5 Hands Showing the Seal of the Dharma Bodhisattva; Store of Treasures Bodhi sattva (Ratnākara); Scepter of the Treasures Bodhisattva; Transcender of the Three Realms Bodhisattva (Trailokyavikrāmin); Bearer of the Loom Bodhisattva
(Vemabhara);6 Incense Elephant Bodhisattva (Gandhahastin); Great Incense
9
Elephant Bodhisattva; Majestic Roar of the Lion Bodhisattva; Lion Ranging the World Bodhisattva; Heroic Endeavor of the Lion Bodhisattva (Siṃhavikrīḍita); Relentlessness of the Lion Bodhisattva; Power of Courage and Dynamism Bodhisattva; Imposing Intensity of the Lion Bodhisattva; Well Composed Bodhisattva; and Fully Composed Bodhisattva (Mahāvyūha).
Such great-being bodhisattvas as these numbered eighty thousand in all.
Without exception, all such bodhisattvas as these are great beings that embody the Dharma. They have achieved perfection in behavioral principles, perfection in concentration, perfection in discernment, perfection in emancipation, and perfection in the perspective that pertains to emancipation. Their minds are calm and tranquil, constantly in contemplation, at peace and at ease—having no cravings and creating no causes, and immune to contrary thinking and distraction. Their quiet and pure resolve is boundlessly profound. Having steadfastly maintained this condition over hundreds of thousands of koṭis of kalpas, all of the countless approaches to the Dharma7 are before them here and now. Having gained great wisdom, they fathom all phenomena: their full grasp and discernment of the truth of natures and aspects, of existence and nonexistence, and of length and brevity is manifest and clear.
They are able, moreover, to clearly perceive conditioned desires of the senses. By means of Dharma-grasping empowerments (dhāraṇīs), and with unlimited facility of eloquence, they call upon the Buddha to turn a wheel of the Dharma; emulating him, they are able to turn it as well. They first bring it down in tiny drops that dissolve the dirt of delusive passions. They open nirvana’s gates and fan winds of emancipation—dispelling the world’s fevers and trials with the cool refreshment of the Dharma. Next, raining down the deeply profound twelve-linked chain of dependent origination (pratītya samutpāda), they drench the intense solar fires of assembled sufferings of ignorance, illness, aging, and death. Then, pouring the supreme Great Vehicle to overflowing, they immerse and soak the various roots of goodness that living beings possess, cast seeds of goodness widely over fields of beneficial effects, and inspire all beings everywhere to germinate the sprout of enlightenment. With wisdom accumulated over cycles of the sun and the moon, and with skillful means applied within a moment or over time, they advance and extend the work of the Great Vehicle: to enable living beings to quickly achieve the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment and always abide in the reality that is joyful beyond description. With boundless great compassion, they rescue living beings from suffering.
These are the true companions of good influence for all living beings. These are bountiful spheres of kindness for all living beings. These are the 384c spontaneous teachers of all living beings. These are centers of joyful tranquility, places of deliverance, shelters for protection, and great havens of reliability for all living beings. As such, they serve everywhere as extraordinary guides who are of benefit to all—capable of acting as eyes for those who do not see, as ears for those who do not hear, as a nose for those with no sense of smell, as a tongue for those who do not speak. They are able to make deficient faculties become whole, and to turn contrariness, unbalance, frenzy, and confusion into complete right mindfulness. They are the shipmasters and great captains that ferry living beings across the river of birth and death, landing them on nirvana’s shore. They are the greatest physicians and master doctors who distinguish the aspects of illnesses, know well the properties of medicines, offer remedies appropriate to an affliction, and have beings trustingly take them. They are directors and master directors who never lose control—like tamers of elephants or horses who are capable of training without fail. They are like valiant lions whose unconquerable majesty invites respect from all other beasts. Comfortably progressing in all bodhisattva practices of perfection, steadfast and immovable in the tathāgata realm, serenely abiding in the strength of their resolve, and refining buddha lands far and wide, they will realize and achieve the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment before long. All such great-being bodhisattvas possess this kind of wondrous power to do beneficial works.
The monks known by name were Greatly Wise Śāriputra; Transcendent Maud galyāyana; Lifelong Sage Subhūti; Mahākātyāyana; Pūrṇa, Son of Maitrā yaṇī; and Ājñātakauṇḍinya. Others like them were Supremely Perceptive Aniruddha; Upāli, Upholder of Behavioral Principles; Ānanda, the Attendant; Rāhula, Son of the Buddha; Upananda; Revata; Kapphiṇa; Vakkula; Acyuta; Svāgata; Mahākāśyapa, He of Constant Practice; Uruvilvā kāśyapa; Gayākāśyapa; and Nadīkāśyapa. Such monks as these were twelve thousand in number; all of them were arhats, had ended the outflow of all desires, were unhindered by attachments, and had gained true emancipation.
There came a certain moment when the great-being bodhisattva Fully Composed—having recognized that all at the gathering had seated themselves with a settled mind—arose from where he sat, as did the eighty thousand great-being bodhisattvas within the assembly. They made their way to where the Buddha was, bowed their heads at his feet in homage, walked around him a hundred thousand times, and burned incense and scattered flowers.8 Heavenly flowers, heavenly incense and garments, garlands of celestial jewels, and priceless celestial treasures accumulated like clouds in the four directions and spiraled down from the sky as offerings to the Buddha. Celestial bowls and containers were filled to overflowing with hundreds of heavenly delicacies that were spontaneously fully satisfying by appearance and aroma. Celestial flags, celestial banners and canopies, and marvelous celestial amusements were arranged everywhere, and heavenly music was played for the Buddha’s enjoyment. Thereupon they went before the Buddha, knelt formally on one knee, placed their palms together, and, with one mind and one voice, spoke words of praise in verse:
Great One! Most Venerable Fully Awakened Master!
You are without stain, contamination, or attachment!
Nurturer of human and heavenly beings! Tamer of elephants and horses!
You infuse the fragrance of virtue into all things by means of the winds of the Way!
You are serene in wisdom, calm in emotion, composed in deep reflection,
And—volition extinguished, discriminations set aside—likewise tranquil in mind.
You have forever cast away delusive ideas, reflections, and thoughts— No more to become entangled in all the facets of existence. What you embody is not existing, and yet not nonexistent;
Is neither direct nor indirect cause; has no sense of self or other; Is neither square nor round; is not brief or long;
Neither appears nor disappears; is without origination or cessation;
Is neither created nor self-arisen, nor is it produced;
Neither sits nor lies down; does not walk or stand;
Neither moves nor turns; is not static or idle;
Neither advances nor retreats; is not imperiled or secure;
Neither is, nor is not; has no gain or loss; Is neither here nor there; does not come or go; Is neither blue nor yellow; is not red or white;
Is not crimson, is not purple or multicolored;
Comes forth from the perfection of behavioral principles, concentration, discernment, emancipation, and perspective that pertains to emancipation;
Rises from three kinds of transcendent knowledge, the six transcendent powers, and the avenues to enlightenment;9
Emanates from kindness, compassion, ten capabilities, and dauntlessness;
And emerges according to the good karmic actions of living beings. Your manifestation is nearly sixteen feet tall, aglow in purple-gold, Well proportioned, greatly radiant, and lustrous.
The tuft between your eyebrows curves like the crescent moon; the nape of your neck glows like the sun.
Your hair is dark blue and curly; there is a wen on the top of your head.
Pure eyes shine brightly as they blink up and down.
Eyebrows and eyelashes are deep blue and long; mouth and cheeks have fine definition:
Your lips and tongue are beautifully red, like vermilion fruits; White teeth, forty in number, are like snowy agates.
Your forehead is wide, your nose is full, and you have a welcoming face.
Your chest is like that of a lion, and it is marked with the sign of virtue.
Hands and feet are flexible and have the mark of one thousand spokes. Your armpits and palms are rounded; nothing escapes your grasp.
Your arms are long from shoulder to elbow to wrist; fingers are slender and straight.
Your skin is soft and delicate, and the hair on it curls to the right.
Ankles and knees are not prominent; genitals, in equine manner, are concealed.
You have slender muscles and ligaments, and your calves are curved like a deer’s.10
Unblemished purity reflects on the outside and pervades within:
You are pure water, never muddied or stained. There are thirty-two aspects like these,
And eighty special features can similarly be seen.
But, in truth, you are without a form that has or does not have aspects.
All aspects of all things are beyond the scope of the eye.
The characteristic of your aspect-embodiment is that of having no aspects;
The characteristic of the aspect-bodies of all living beings is the same. You are able to inspire living beings to joyfully pay homage, To deeply, sincerely, and devotedly show respect, And, by such cause, to cast off arrogance and pride of self And achieve a consummate embodiment such as this. We, the assembled eighty thousand,
Collectively bow in homage to, and together take refuge in,
The Great Sage who is without attachment, the tamer of elephants and horses
Who has superseded emotion, conception, mind, volition, and discrimination;
We bow to and confide in the Dharma embodied—
The synthesis of perfection in behavioral principles, concentration, discernment, emancipation, and perspective that pertains to emancipation;
And we bow to and take refuge in the wonderfully symbolic robe.
We bow to, and take refuge in, that which is hard to give form to in thought or in word!
Your Brahma voice—that rolls like thunder, that has eight virtues, That is pure, deeply resonant, sublime, and far-reaching—
Conveys the Four Noble Truths, the perfection of the six spiritual attitudes,11 and the twelve-linked chain of dependent origination
To living beings according to their mindsets and their karmic actions.
The minds and hearts of those who hear you will invariably open;
They will not fail to sever themselves from the cycle of countless births and deaths (samsara).
Those who hear you will variously attain the fruit of entering the stream (srota-āpanna),
The fruit of one remaining return (sakṛdāgāmin), the fruit of non-returning (anāgāmin), the fruit of athwartship;
Or freedom from delusion and desire, and transcendence of cause and condition, in the status of a pratyekabuddha;
Or the bodhisattva stage in which phenomena are grasped as being without origination or cessation.
Or they will obtain countless Dharma-grasping empowerments;
Or the ability to expound pleasingly with unrestrained great eloquence—
To orate in verses profound and sublime
While bathing and reveling in the pure pond of Dharma.
Or they will manifest wondrous abilities to reach any place, to leap and to soar,
And to move at will into and out of water and fire. Such are the signs of a wheel of the Dharma;
Thus is it pure and limitless, and hard to give form to in thought or in word.
Together, all of us will bow again
And take refuge in a Dharma wheel whenever it is turned.
We will bow again and take refuge in the sound of your Brahma voice.
We will bow again and take refuge in the Four Noble Truths, the perfection of the spiritual attitudes, and dependent origination. World-honored One! Ever since innumerable kalpas ago,
You have cultivated and practiced all beneficial works devotedly
For our sake—human beings, heavenly beings, nāga kings— Extending universally to all manner of living beings.
You were able to give up everything that is difficult to forgo— Your wife, your child, all of your wealth, and your palaces and lands. As selfless with regard to inner matters as you are with material things,
You give your mind, your perceptions, and the essence of your being completely for the sake of all people.
You will reverently uphold the principles of pure behavior of all buddhas
With unbroken resolve until the end of your life.
Should someone bearing sword or staff come to do you harm,
Or to disparage or denounce you, you will be without anger to the end.
Through kalpa after kalpa of all-out endeavor, your intensity has never waned.
Night and day you govern your mind, keeping it constantly focused. You have completely mastered all ways to grasp the Dharma, And your insight penetrates deeply into the core of living beings:
Thus, you have come to achieve unhindered capabilities.
In total command of the Dharma, you are as its king.
Together we all bow to and take refuge in the one
So steadfast in purpose toward all that is difficult to overcome.
Chapter II Dharma Discourse
Having recited these verses in praise of the Buddha, the great-being bodhisattva Fully Composed and the eighty thousand great-being bodhisattvas then addressed the Buddha as one, saying:
World-honored One! We, the assembled eighty thousand bodhisattvas, now wish to put forth a question concerning the teachings of the Tathāgata. We wonder if the World-honored One would be kind enough to hear us.
The Buddha addressed the bodhisattva Fully Composed and the eighty
thousand bodhisattvas, saying:
Well done, you of good intent! Well done! You have correctly read this moment. Ask freely whatever you wish! The Tathāgata will be in the state of parinirvāṇa before long, and all should be made to have no remaining doubts after that. I am ready to respond to any question you wish to ask.
With that, the bodhisattva Fully Composed and the eighty thousand
bodhisattvas then addressed the Buddha with one voice, saying:
World-honored One! What approaches to Dharma should great-being bodhisattvas practice if they wish to realize—and quickly achieve— the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment? What approaches to Dharma can enable great-being bodhisattvas to achieve the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment quickly?
In answer to the bodhisattva Fully Composed and the eighty thousand
bodhisattvas, the Buddha said:
O you of good intent! There is one approach to Dharma that can let a bodhisattva quickly realize the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment.
17
If any bodhisattva masters this approach to the Dharma, he or she will then be able to realize the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment quickly.
“World-honored One! What is this Dharma approach called? What is
its essence? How does a bodhisattva practice it?” The Buddha replied:
O you of good intent! This particular Dharma approach is known as Infinite Meanings. A bodhisattva who wishes to achieve mastery in the practice of Infinite Meanings must perceive and observe that, in and of themselves, all phenomena intrinsically have been, successively will be, and currently are tranquil and empty in nature and aspect, without greatness or smallness, without origination or cessation, neither fixed nor moving, non-advancing and non-retreating. Like the emptiness of space, they are without duality. Living beings, however, thoughtlessly and falsely make polar assessments: “It is this,” “It is that”; “It is gain,” “It is loss.” Unwholesome thoughts arise in them, producing harmful karmic causes. They cycle and recycle in the six realms of existence, piling up harmful passions and sufferings, and for hundreds of millions of myriads of kalpas they cannot break themselves free. Clearly perceiving this, the great-being bodhisattva must bring forth a mind of mercy and give rise to great compassion—particularly wishing to relieve living beings of suffering.
He or she must then more completely fathom all phenomena: aspects of phenomena being as such, as such will phenomena come forth; aspects of phenomena being as such, as such will phenomena settle; aspects of phenomena being as such, as such will phenomena change; aspects of phenomena being as such, as such will phenomena become void.
Aspects of phenomena being as such, an unwholesome phenomenon is able to come forth. Aspects of phenomena being as such, a wholesome phenomenon is able to come forth. So it is also with regard to settling, changing, and becoming void.
After perceiving, observing, and fully understanding everything about these four modes from beginning to end, the bodhisattva must next perceive and observe that all phenomena are impermanent—coming forth and becoming void over and over again from moment to moment, and further grasp that their coming forth, settling, changing, and becoming void are instantaneously occurring. Having perceived and comprehended this, the bodhisattva will then have insight into the various conditioned desires of the senses of living beings.
Seeing that conditioned desires are innumerable, the bodhisattva expounds the teachings in infinite ways. Because there are infinite ways of exposition, there are infinite meanings as well. The infinite meanings stem from a single dharma. That one dharma, namely, is formlessness. Itself not a form and having no forms, itself not an aspect and having no aspects, this formlessness, as such, is called the reality of all things. When the great-being bodhisattva has become serenely composed in this true reality of all things, loving-kindness that is clearly real and unfeigned will arise; in any circumstance in which living beings may be found, he or she will be truly capable of taking their suffering away. After removing their suffering, the bodhisattva again expounds the teachings for them, causing all living beings to know happiness and joy.
O you of good intent! If a bodhisattva is able to practice this particular Dharma approach of Infinite Meanings in this way, he or she will surely realize—and quickly achieve—the full dynamic of ultimate 386a enlightenment.
O you of good intent! This is the deeply profound, incomparable, all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra!12 Its content and principles are true and correct, and its value is supreme and unsurpassed! It is embraced by the buddhas of the past, present, and future together! It is impervious to the influence of disruptive forces and the influence of differing views, and is neither corrupted nor destroyed by any deluded perception or the cycle of births and deaths! Therefore, you of good intent, if a great-being bodhisattva wishes to achieve ultimate enlightenment quickly, he or she must achieve mastery in the practice of this deeply profound, supreme, all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra!” At that time the bodhisattva Fully Composed again addressed the Buddha,
saying:
World-honored One! A Dharma discourse by the World-honored One is beyond thought and word; the fundamental nature of living beings is also beyond thought and word; and emancipation by a Dharma approach is likewise beyond thought and word! We have no doubts concerning the teachings the Buddha has expounded, but because the minds of living beings give rise to uncertainty, we put forth a question once more.
World-honored One! For more than forty years, ever since achieving enlightenment, the Tathāgata, for the benefit of living beings, has continuously discoursed on the principle of the four modes of all phenomena, the meaning of suffering, and the meaning of emptiness; on ever changingness, nonexistence of self, non-greatness, non-smallness, non-origination, and non-cessation; on the formlessness of all things; and on the natures and aspects of phenomena being intrinsically empty and tranquil—neither coming nor going, neither appearing nor disappearing.
Those who hear you variously realize the stage of an ardent mind, the stage of attaining the highest still-unsettled condition, the stage of attaining irreversible good roots,13 the stage of ultimate worldly perception; or the fruit of entering the stream, the fruit of one remaining return, the fruit of non-returning, the fruit of athwartship; or the way of pratyekabuddha; or the awakening of the aspiration for enlightenment (bodhicitta) and ascent to the first stage, the second stage, the third stage, or all the way to the tenth stage of development in bodhisattva practice.
In what way does the essence of what you have just now expounded differ from that of all the doctrines you have expounded in the past, such that you say that a bodhisattva who practices the deeply profound, supreme, all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra will surely realize—and quickly achieve—ultimate enlightenment? This is the matter in question. I earnestly wish that the World-honored One, out of compassion for all, would explain this in detail for the benefit of living beings far and wide, and ensure that those who hear this teaching in the present and in the future are not left enmeshed in doubt.
With that, the Buddha said to the bodhisattva Fully Composed:
Well done, you of great good intent! Well done! You have skillfully questioned the Tathāgata regarding this profound, unequaled, all-ferrying, transcendental essence. You should know that you will enable many to benefit, you will please and bring ease to human and heavenly beings, and you will relieve living beings of their suffering. This is great and real compassion—trust wholly and completely that this is true. By this direct cause and its outgrowths, you will surely realize and quickly achieve ultimate enlightenment; you will also enable all living beings, now and in the future, to realize and achieve ultimate enlightenment.
O you of good intent! By virtue of sitting upright and properly for six years at the place of the Way beneath the bodhi tree, I realized and achieved the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment. With the insight of a buddha I perceived that not everything should be explained. What is the reason for this? It is that the conditioned desires of all living beings are not the same. Since conditioned desires differ, ways of 386b expounding the Dharma are many and various. For more than forty years I have expounded the Dharma in all manner of ways through adeptness in skillful means, but the core truth has still not been revealed. That is why living beings differ regarding realization of the Way, and do not realize and quickly achieve ultimate enlightenment.
O you of good intent! The Dharma is like water that can wash away dirt and grime. Whether coming from a well or a pond, a stream or a river, a valley or a ditch, or an ocean, the water contained in all of these can effectively wash all kinds of dirt and grime away. So it is also with the water of the Dharma: it can cleanse living beings of the dirt of all delusive worldly passions. O you of good intent! The character of the water is the same even though streams, rivers, wells, ponds, valleys, ditches, and oceans are each different and distinct. So it is also with the character of the Dharma: it removes and washes away the dirt of delusive passions equally and without discrimination; the three teachings,14 the four fruits, and the two ways, however, are not one and the same.
O you of good intent! Although the water from all of these places is cleansing, a well is not a pond, a pond is neither a stream nor a river, and valleys and ditches are not oceans. The Tathāgata—Hero of the World, in total command of the Dharma—has expounded various teachings that are also like this. The initial-period discourses, the middle-period discourses, and the latter-period discourses are all able to remove and wash away delusive worldly passions of living beings. But the initial-period discourses are not the middle ones, and the middle-period discourses are not the latter ones. The initial-, middle-, and latter-period discourses express the same thing, yet they differ from each other in meaning.
O you of good intent! Arising from beneath the bodhi tree, I went to Deer Park in Vārāṇasī. When I turned the Dharma wheel of the Four Noble Truths for the five renunciants including Ājñātakauṇḍinya, I was also saying that all phenomena intrinsically are empty and tranquil, successively occurring but not remaining, coming forth and becoming void moment to moment. When I proclaimed, narrated, and lectured on the twelve-linked chain of dependent origination or the perfection of the six spiritual attitudes for the monks or for the assemblies of bodhisattvas, respectively, here and at other places during the middle period, I was also saying that all phenomena are intrinsically empty and tranquil, successively occurring but not remaining, coming forth and becoming void from moment to moment. Now, again at this place, discoursing on the all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra, I am also saying that all phenomena are intrinsically empty and tranquil, successively occurring but not remaining, coming forth and becoming void moment to moment. O you of good intent! This is why the initial-period discourses, the middle-period discourses, and the current discourse express the same thing even though they differ in meaning. Because meanings differ, living beings understand differently. Because their understanding differs, so does their grasp of the Dharma, their attainment of its fruits, and their realization of the Way.
O you of good intent! I expounded the Four Noble Truths for the benefit of those seeking to become śrāvakas during the initial period; yet, eight hundred million heavenly beings came down to hear the teaching and awakened the aspiration for enlightenment. I spoke about the sublimely profound twelve-linked chain of dependent origination at various locations during the middle period for the benefit of people seeking to become pratyekabuddhas; nevertheless, innumerable living beings awakened the aspiration for enlightenment or remained as śrāvakas. I next described kalpas-long bodhisattva practice by expounding twelve types of comprehensive sutras, the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (Mahāprajñāpāramitā-sūtra), and the similes of clouds and oceans in the Flower Garland Sutra (Avataṃsaka-sūtra); even so, a hundred thousand monks, hundreds of millions of myriads of human and heavenly beings, and innumerable living beings15 attained the fruit of entering the stream, attained the fruit of one remaining return, attained the fruit of non-returning, attained the fruit of athwartship, or stayed within their understanding of the principle of dependent origination as pratyekabuddhas. O you of good intent! Accordingly, it should be known that even though the discourse is the same, its meaning will vary. Because the meaning varies, living beings have various understandings. Because 386c their understanding varies, so also does their grasp of the Dharma, their attainment of its fruits, and their realization of the Way.
And so, you of good intent, starting from when I established the Way and first began to expound the Dharma, until this moment in which I am discoursing on the all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra, there has never been a time when I have not expounded suffering, emptiness, ever changingness, nonexistence of self, non-reality, non-unreality, nongreatness, non-smallness, intrinsic non-origination,16 continuing noncessation, the formlessness of all things, that aspects and natures of phenomena neither come nor go, and that the four modes are the dynamic of living beings.
O you of good intent! What all this means is that the buddhas have but one message: they are able to conform universally to all voices by means of a single sound. From a single body they are able to manifest embodiments as countless and immeasurable as millions upon millions of myriads of Ganges Rivers’ sands; then, in each embodiment, manifest various shapes as countless as millions upon millions of myriads of Ganges Rivers’ sands; then, in each shape, display appearances as countless as some millions upon millions of myriads of Ganges Rivers’ sands. O you of good intent! This, in fact, is the profound and unimaginable realm of all of the buddhas! It is neither knowable by those of the two vehicles nor reachable by bodhisattvas in the tenth development stage! Only a buddha together with a buddha can fathom it completely!
O you of good intent! Thus do I expound the transcendent, profound, incomparable, all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra! Its content and principles are true and correct, and its value is supreme and unsurpassed. It is embraced by the buddhas of the past, present, and future together. It is impervious to the influence of disruptive forces and the influence of differing views, and is neither corrupted nor destroyed by any deluded perception or the cycle of births and deaths. If great-being bodhisattvas wish to achieve ultimate enlightenment quickly, they should achieve mastery in the practice of this deeply profound, unsurpassed, all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra.
The Buddha having thus spoken, this universe of a thousand-million Sumeru worlds trembled and shook in six ways, and several varieties of heavenly blossoms—blue, crimson, yellow, and white lotus flowers—rained spontaneously from the sky. Also, a rain of many and various kinds of heavenly incense and garments, garlands of celestial jewels, and priceless celestial treasures came spiraling down from the skies above as offerings to the Buddha, the bodhisattvas, the śrāvakas, and the great multitude. Celestial bowls and containers were filled to overflowing with hundreds of heavenly delicacies. Celestial flags, celestial banners and canopies, and marvelous celestial amusements were arranged everywhere, and heavenly music and songs were played and sung in praise of the Buddha. Also, buddha worlds in the eastern direction, as numerous as the Ganges River’s sands, likewise trembled and shook in six ways. Heavenly flowers, heavenly incense and garments, garlands of celestial jewels, priceless celestial treasures, celestial bowls and containers with hundreds of heavenly delicacies, celestial flags, celestial banners and canopies, and marvelous celestial amusements also rained down. Heavenly music and songs were played and sung in praise of those buddhas as well as those bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, and great assemblies. In the southern, western, and northern directions, in the four intermediate directions, and in the upper and lower regions it was like this as well.
Within the gathering, thirty-two thousand great-being bodhisattvas
attained the specialized focus of mind of infinite meanings, and thirty-four 387a thousand great-being bodhisattvas gained access to countless and innumerable Dharma-grasping empowerments and became capable of turning all no retrogressing Dharma wheels of the buddhas of the past, present, and future. The monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, the heavenly beings, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas, and the leaders of empires great and small—rulers of silver-wheel, iron-wheel, and lesser-wheel domains, kings, princes, officials of state, and citizens who were noblemen, noblewomen, or people of great means—with hundreds of thousands of their numerous followers assembled together there, upon hearing the Buddha Tathāgata expound this sutra, variously realized the stage of an ardent mind, the stage of attaining the highest still-unsettled condition, the stage of attaining irreversible good roots,17 the stage of ultimate worldly perception, the fruit of entering the stream, the fruit of one remaining return, the fruit of nonreturning, the fruit of athwartship, or the fruit of pratyekabuddha. Or they achieved the bodhisattva stage in which phenomena are grasped as being without origination or cessation. Or they obtained one Dharma-grasping empowerment, or obtained two Dharma-grasping empowerments, or obtained three Dharma-grasping empowerments, or obtained four Dharma-grasping empowerments, or five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten Dharma-grasping empowerments, or obtained hundreds of millions of myriads of Dharma grasping empowerments, or obtained innumerable Dharma-grasping empowerments—as countless and immeasurable as the Ganges River’s sands; all, accordingly, became capable of turning a no retrogressing Dharma wheel. Innumerable living beings awakened the aspiration for the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment.
Chapter III Ten Beneficial Effects
The great-being bodhisattva Fully Composed then addressed the Buddha once again, saying:
World-honored One! The World-honored One has declared that this transcendent, profound, incomparable, all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra’s truth is surpassingly deep, and its depth is surpassingly profound! Why is this so? Upon hearing this profound, peerless, all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra, those in this gathering—all the great-being bodhisattvas, and all of the four kinds of followers, heavenly beings, nāgas and other guardian spirits, rulers and citizens, and various living beings as well—unfailingly gain access to Dharma-grasping empowerments, or realize the three teachings, or attain the four fruits or the aspiration for enlightenment.
It should be known that the content and principles of this sutra18 are true and correct, that its value is supreme and unsurpassed, and that it is embraced by the buddhas of the past, present, and future. It is impervious to the influence of disruptive forces and the influence of differing views, and is neither corrupted nor destroyed by any deluded perception or the cycle of births and deaths. Why is this so? Because upon hearing it one can intuit all dharmas.
If there are living beings who can hear this sutra, they will reap great benefit. Why is this so? If they are capable of practicing it, they will surely realize and quickly achieve the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment. As for those living beings who cannot hear it, it should be known that they are ones who miss out on great benefit: even after the passing of innumerable, unimaginable, infinite myriads of kalpas, they still will not realize and achieve the full dynamic of ultimate 387b enlightenment. What is the reason for this? It is because, not knowing the great direct route to enlightenment, they travel an uphill path full of hardships that detain them.
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World-honored One! This sutra is beyond thought and word! I earnestly wish that the World-honored One, out of compassion and sympathy for the great assembly, would explain the profound and wondrous matters of this sutra in detail. World-honored One! What is this sutra’s origin, what is its extent, and where does it abide to accordingly possess such immeasurable, inconceivably powerful beneficial effect that it enables all to quickly achieve the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment?
The World-honored One then addressed the great-being bodhisattva Fully Composed, saying:
Well done, you of good intent! Well done! It is just like this; it is just as you have said. O you of good intent! I have declared that this sutra is surpassingly profound in depth, and surpassingly deep in truth. Why is this so? Because it enables all to quickly achieve the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment, because upon hearing it one can intuit all dharmas, and because it greatly benefits all living beings—because of it they will travel the great direct route with no hardships to detain them.
O you of good intent! You ask, “What is this sutra’s origin, what is its extent, and where does it abide?” You must hear clearly and well! O you of good intent! This sutra originally comes from within the place where buddhas dwell;19 it encompasses all living beings that have awakened the aspiration for enlightenment; and it abides in any place where bodhisattvas practice. O you of good intent! This sutra has such an origin, such an extent, and such a place where it abides. That is why this sutra can possess such immeasurable, inconceivably powerful beneficial effect and enable all to quickly achieve the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment.
O you of good intent! Would you like, furthermore, to hear of ten inconceivable powers for beneficial effect that this sutra also possesses, or would you not?
The bodhisattva Fully Composed replied: “We gladly would like to
hear!”
The Buddha said:
O you of good intent! First, this sutra can enable a bodhisattva—whose mind has not yet produced it—to generate the aspiration for enlightenment; can awaken a mind of compassion in one who lacks kindness and sympathy; can awaken in one who is fond of killing a mind of expansive mercy; can awaken in one in whom envy arises a mind of sympathetic joy; can awaken in one who is in bondage to desires a mind that can rise above them; can awaken in a selfish one a mind of consideration for others; can awaken in the mind of an arrogant one the attitude of proper behavior; can awaken in one who is quick to anger a mind that is given to forbearance; can awaken in one who becomes lazy in discipline a mind of appropriate endeavor; can awaken in one who has unceasing thoughts a mind directed toward tranquility; can awaken an insightful mind in one who is deluded and confused; can awaken in one who is not yet able to ferry others a mind to convey them to freedom; can awaken in one who commits the ten harmful acts a mind of the ten virtues; can inspire in the mind of one drawn to conditioned phenomena the intent to transcend cause and condition; can create in one who tends to withdraw from commitment a mind that is resolute; can awaken in one whose conduct is unrestrained a mind to exert self-control; and can awaken in one who has delusive worldly passions a mind to purge and be rid of them. O you of good intent! This is known as the inconceivable power of the first beneficial effect of this sutra.
O you of good intent! Second, this sutra’s unimaginable power
for beneficial effect is this: If there are living beings who obtain this 387c sutra20—whether a section of it, whether a verse of it, or whether a phrase—and thus become able to perceive millions upon millions of meanings, even though uncountable numbers of kalpas may pass they will not be able to elucidate the teaching they have acquired and kept. Why is this so? It is because the meanings of this teaching are unlimited.
O you of good intent! This sutra can be likened to a single seed from which a thousand million seeds result. And each of these seeds, in turn, also results in a thousand million in number. In this way, the production of seeds is limitless in measure. So it is also with this sutra—it is a single teaching that gives rise to a hundred thousand meanings, and each one of these, in turn, produces a thousand million in number. In this way, meanings are produced to an unlimited and boundless extent. Thus is this sutra named Infinite Meanings. O you of good intent! This is known as the inconceivable power of the second beneficial effect of this sutra.
O you of good intent! Third, this sutra’s unimaginable power for beneficial effect is this: If there are living beings who can hear this sutra— whether a section of it, whether a verse of it, or whether a phrase—they will gain awareness of hundreds of millions of myriads of meanings. Then, even though they have delusive worldly passions, it will be as if their delusive passions do not exist. They will not feel that taking birth or experiencing death are things that need to be feared; they will give rise to a mind of compassion for all living beings; and they will come to have a dauntless attitude with regard to all things.
A person with great strength can bear and carry all manner of heavy things. So it is also with people who keep faith with this sutra: they can shoulder the great responsibilities21 of ultimate enlightenment, and they can carry living beings away from the path of recurring births and deaths. They are capable of ferrying others even though they still cannot ferry themselves.
Suppose a ship’s captain is rendered immobile by a serious affliction and must therefore remain on shore. But he has a fine, reliable vessel that is always equipped with everything needed to ferry others, which he makes available and on which they embark. So it is also with those who keep faith with this sutra: while enduring the circumstances of living in the five conditions of existence—the whole of their being constantly beset by one hundred and eight serious afflictions, one after another— they remain on this shore of ignorance, aging, and death. But they have this fine, reliable, all-ferrying sutra, equipped with infinite meanings, that is able to rescue living beings: those who practice it22 as expounded will attain deliverance from the cycle of births and deaths. O you of good intent! This is known as the inconceivable power of the third beneficial effect of this sutra.
O you of good intent! Fourth, this sutra’s unimaginable power for beneficial effect is this: If there are living beings who can hear this sutra— whether a section of it, whether a verse of it, or whether a phrase—they will gain a dauntless attitude, they will become capable of ferrying others even though they do not yet ferry themselves, and they will gain the company of bodhisattvas. The buddha tathāgatas will always attend to such people and will expound the teachings to them. After hearing them, these people will be fully able to accept them, uphold them, and follow them without opposition; they will also, in turn, expound them appropriately to others far and wide.
O you of good intent! Such people can be likened to the newborn
prince of a king and queen. One day becomes two days, and then seven; 388a one month becomes two months, and then seven; he becomes one year old, and then two, and then seven. Even though he cannot yet govern or administer the affairs of state, he is revered and respected by the people and enjoys the companionship of all great princes. The king and queen constantly give him earnest counsel and shower their affection upon him. Why is this so? It is because he is of tender age and has not yet matured.
O you of good intent! So it is also with one who keeps faith with this sutra. The convergence of the buddhas and this sutra—the union of “king” and “queen”—gives birth to this bodhisattva-child. If this bodhisattva can hear this sutra—whether a phrase of it or whether a verse, whether one, two, ten, a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand times, or, like myriad multiples of all the sands of the Ganges River, an infinite number of times—even though he or she will not yet be able to embody its principles and truths to the fullest extent, or be able to make lands in the universe of a thousand-million Sumeru worlds tremble and shake from the rolling thunder of a Brahma voice that turns a great wheel of the Dharma, he or she will have gained the respect and admiration of all of the four kinds of followers and eight kinds of ever-present guardian spirits, will gain the company of great bodhisattvas, and will see deeply into doctrines preserved by the buddhas and be able to speak on them without fault or lack. Because this bodhisattva is just beginning to learn, he or she will always be kept in mind by the buddhas and will be wrapped in their affection. O you of good intent! This is known as the inconceivable power of the fourth beneficial effect of this sutra.
O you of good intent! Fifth, this sutra’s unimaginable power for beneficial effect is this: Whether during or after the lifetime of a buddha, if there are men and women of good intent who accept, keep faith with, internalize, recite, and make records of this profound, peerless, all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra, even though such people may be caught up in delusive worldly passions and are not yet able to rise above common daily affairs, they will nevertheless be able to manifest a great dynamic of enlightenment23—lengthening one day into one hundred kalpas, and abbreviating one hundred kalpas into one day—thereby inspiring other living beings to become joyful and trusting. O you of good intent! These men and women of good intent will be just like a nāga’s child that, at the age of only seven days, is able to gather up the clouds and produce rain. O you of good intent! This is known as the inconceivable power of the fifth beneficial effect of this sutra.
O you of good intent! Sixth, this sutra’s unimaginable power for beneficial effect is this: Whether during or after the lifetime of a buddha, if men and women of good intent accept, keep faith with, and internalize and recite this sutra, although they themselves may have delusive worldly passions they nevertheless will expound the teachings for living beings, enabling them to overcome delusive worldly passions and the cycle of births and deaths and put an end to all suffering. Living beings that practice after hearing them will grasp the Dharma, attain its fruits, and realize the Way no differently than if they were with the buddha tathāgatas.
Suppose there is a youthful and inexperienced prince. When the king, while traveling or due to ill health, entrusts this prince to manage
the affairs of state, the prince, following the great king’s instructions, then leads the government officials and the various ministries, governing justly and properly according to the laws of the land. And all of the country’s citizens are at ease, following along in a manner no different than if it were the rule of the king.
So it is also with the women and men of good intent who keep faith with this sutra, whether during or after the lifetime of a buddha. Even though unable to initially become steadfast in the stage of equanimity, these men and women of good intent, following the discourses given by the Buddha, expound the teachings and spread them far and wide. Living beings that practice wholeheartedly after hearing them will cast delusive worldly passions away, grasp the Dharma, attain its fruits, and realize the Way. O you of good intent! This is known as the inconceivable power of the sixth beneficial effect of this sutra.
O you of good intent! Seventh, this sutra’s unimaginable power for beneficial effect is this: During or after the lifetime of a buddha, if men and women of good intent can hear this sutra and joyfully and willingly embrace and trust in it, realize its rarity in their minds, accept and keep faith with it, internalize and recite it, make records of and speak of it, practice the way of its teaching, awaken the aspiration for enlightenment, put forth many roots of goodness, promote great compassion, and aspire to ferry all suffering living beings, then, even though they do not practice to perfect the six spiritual attitudes, perfection in the six spiritual attitudes will naturally come to them. Just as they are, they will come to the understanding that phenomena are without origination or cessation; they will instantly cast away and destroy delusive worldly passions and the cycle of births and deaths; and they will immediately rise to the seventh stage of development, joining the level of great bodhisattvas.
Imagine that a powerful person settles a grudge on behalf of a king. After all hostility has been extinguished, the king is greatly pleased, and, as a reward, grants to that person full rights to all things in half of his realm. So it is also with the women and men of good intent who keep faith with this sutra. Being the strongest and most valiant of those who do practices, attainment of the Dharma treasure of the perfection of the six spiritual attitudes spontaneously comes to them without their pursuit of it, they naturally rout and remove the foes that are birth and death, and they come to the realization that phenomena are without origination or cessation. The treasure of half of a buddha realm with which they are rewarded is tranquility and joy. O you of good intent! This is known as the inconceivable power of the seventh beneficial effect of this sutra.
O you of good intent! Eighth, this sutra’s unimaginable power for beneficial effect is this: Among men and women of good intent—either during or after the lifetime of a buddha—if there are those who are able to obtain this sutra and revere it, trust it, and look upon it as being nothing less than the actual person of a buddha, such people will come to love and take joy in this sutra, accept and keep faith with it, internalize it, recite it, make records of it, and respectfully embrace it. Following and practicing the way of its teaching, they will strengthen their spiritual attitudes regarding the behavioral principles and forbearance while also perfecting their practice of having consideration for others. Compassion will awaken from deep within them through this unmatched all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra, and they will expound it widely for people’s benefit. If someone has long since completely disbelieved that there are things like impurities and virtues, their presentation of this sutra—employing various skillful means—will have the powerful effect of inspiring such a person to belief. Through the influence of the sutra they will awaken that person’s mind, and he or she will spontaneously experience a change of heart. With the now-awakened trusting mind, that person, through dauntless effort, can acquire this sutra’s dynamic power for great beneficial effect, and he or she will be able to realize the Way and attain its fruits.
388c By this means, men and women of good intent—just as they are— will come to the understanding that phenomena are without origination or cessation, achieve the highest stage of development, and become part of the company of bodhisattvas. They will quickly become able to bring living beings to accomplishment and refine buddha lands, and it will not take a long time for them to realize and achieve ultimate enlightenment. O you of good intent! This is known as the inconceivable power of the eighth beneficial effect of this sutra.
O you of good intent! Ninth, this sutra’s unimaginable power for beneficial effect is this: If men and women of good intent, upon obtaining this sutra—either during or after the lifetime of a buddha—dance with joy and delight at gaining something marvelous, accept and keep faith with it, internalize and recite it, make records of and honor it, and widely explain to people in great detail what this sutra means, they will immediately and instantly achieve the destruction and elimination of the heavy hindrances from karmic causes and other impurities that remain from the past. They will opportunely achieve purity, come to attain great eloquence, perfectly compose themselves in the spiritual attitudes one by one, and attain various kinds of specialized focus of mind, including that of courageous advancement (śūraṅgama-samādhi). They will gain access to great Dharma-grasping empowerments, obtain the power of diligent endeavor, and swiftly pass to the uppermost stage of development. They will be well capable of widely making their presence felt in all the lands of the ten directions. Rescuing greatly suffering living beings throughout the twenty-five states of existence, they will lead them all to emancipation. This is all because this sutra contains power of this kind. O you of good intent! This is known as the inconceivable power of the ninth beneficial effect of this sutra.
O you of good intent! Tenth, this sutra’s unimaginable power for beneficial effect is this: Whether during or after the lifetime of a buddha, if men and women of good intent who obtain this sutra give rise to great joy, realize its rarity in their minds, accept and keep faith with it, internalize and recite it, make records of it, honor it, and practice it as expounded for their own sake, and are similarly able to widely inspire both laypeople and renunciants to accept and keep faith with it, internalize and recite it, make records of and honor it, expound it, and practice the way of its teaching, then, through the energies gained from having led other people to practice this sutra, they will realize the Way and attain its fruits.
Fully by reason of the dynamic transformative power of their compassionate minds, these men and women of good intent—just as they are—will opportunely come to gain access to innumerable Dharma grasping empowerments. Still in the stages of having delusive worldly passions, they will for the first time be able to spontaneously produce countless and unlimited great vows and magnificent aspirations. They will generate a bottomless capacity to help all living beings, manifest great loving-kindness, skillfully and extensively relieve suffering, and amass acts of goodness for the benefit of all. Transmitting the Dharmaabundance that irrigates all that is parched, nurturing any living being with the Dharma’s many medicines, they will cause all to have ease and joy. Their perception will gradually become transcendent as they advance through the stage of the Dharma cloud (dharmameghā-bhūmi). With bountiful, all-embracing benevolence, and with compassion that blankets all without exception, they will lead all suffering living beings to enter the course of the Way. These people will accordingly realize and achieve the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment before long. O you of good intent! This is known as the inconceivable power of the tenth beneficial effect of this sutra.
389a O you of good intent! Such is the incomparable, all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra! It possesses awe-inspiring power to the highest extent, and its value is supreme and unsurpassed! It can open the way for every being that is bound by delusive passions to attain the most sublime fruit—to forever rise above the cycle of births and deaths and attain emancipation. Thus is this sutra named Infinite Meanings! It can open the way for all living beings still in the stages of having delusive worldly passions to germinate the sprouts of all of the countless ways of bodhisattvas and let the tree of beneficial works flourish, thrive, and increase in breadth and reach. That is why this sutra is marked by its ten unimaginable powers for beneficial effect!
With that, the great-being bodhisattva Fully Composed and the eighty thousand great-being bodhisattvas addressed the Buddha in one voice, saying: World-honored One! The profound, transcendent, incomparable, allferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra expounded by the Buddha is true and correct in its content and principles, and its value is supreme and unsurpassed! It is embraced by the buddhas of the past, present, and future together. It is impervious to the influence of disruptive forces and the influence of differing views, and is neither corrupted nor destroyed by any deluded perception or the cycle of births and deaths. This sutra therefore has the inconceivable power of ten such kinds of beneficial effect and greatly benefits all living beings inclusively. It enables each and every great-being bodhisattva to attain the specialized focus of mind of infinite meanings, or to gain access to a hundred thousand Dharma-grasping empowerments, or to achieve the various bodhisattva stages and insights, or to attain realization as pratyekabuddha, or to realize the fruits of the four stages of athwartship.
The World-honored One has willingly and compassionately expounded such a teaching for all of us and enabled us to harvest the great benefits of the Dharma. This is extremely unusual, unique, and unprecedented! The World-honored One’s compassionate favor is truly difficult to repay!
At that moment the universe of a thousand-million Sumeru worlds trembled and shook in six ways, and several kinds of heavenly blossoms—blue, crimson, yellow, and white lotus flowers— rained from the sky above. Also, a rain of many and various kinds of heavenly incense and garments, garlands of celestial jewels, and priceless celestial treasures came spiraling down from the skies above as offerings to the Buddha, the bodhisattvas, the śrāvakas, and the great multitude. Celestial bowls and containers were filled to overflowing with hundreds of heavenly delicacies that were spontaneously fully satisfying by appearance and aroma. Celestial flags, celestial banners and canopies, and marvelous celestial amusements were arranged everywhere, and heavenly music and songs were played and sung in praise of the Buddha. Also, buddha worlds in the eastern direction, as numerous as the Ganges River’s sands, likewise trembled and shook in six ways. Heavenly flowers, heavenly incense and garments, garlands of celestial jewels, priceless celestial treasures, celestial bowls and containers, hundreds of heavenly delicacies that were spontaneously fully satisfying by appearance and aroma, celestial flags, celestial banners and canopies, and marvelous celestial amusements also rained down. Heavenly music and songs were played and sung in praise of those buddhas, bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, and great assemblies. In the southern, western, and northern directions, in the four intermediate directions, and in the upper and lower regions it was like this as well.
At that time the Buddha addressed the great-being bodhisattva Fully 389b Composed and the eighty thousand great-being bodhisattvas, saying: Regarding this sutra, all of you should bring forth a deeply respectful attitude, practice the way of its teaching, and, with determined minds, disseminate it widely and inspire all living beings. You should always diligently endeavor to uphold it day and night and universally cause each and every living being to reap the benefits of the Dharma. In this you will truly be greatly merciful and highly compassionate. Cultivate a transcendent power of will to uphold this sutra, and never let doubt or hesitation arise. Make sure that it is widely practiced in this world
in the future, and see that all living beings surely come to experience it, hear it, internalize it, recite it, make records of it, and honor it. This will also enable all of you to swiftly achieve the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment.
The great-being bodhisattva Fully Composed and the eighty thousand great-being bodhisattvas then immediately rose from where they sat, respectfully made their way to where the Buddha was, bowed their heads at his feet in homage, and walked around him a hundred thousand times. They then knelt formally on one knee before the Buddha and addressed him in one voice, saying:
World-honored One! We are all happy to receive the World-honored One’s compassion. You have expounded this profound, transcendent, supreme, all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra for all of us equally. We respectfully accept the Buddha’s directive that, after your passing, we should be those who widely disseminate this sutra and inspire all living beings to accept it, keep faith with it, internalize it, recite it, make records of it, and honor it. May the World-honored One not be concerned! Through the strength of our resolve we will see that all living beings everywhere surely come to experience, hear, internalize, recite, make records of, and honor this sutra, and gain the dynamic transcendent power of its teaching.
The Buddha then said, in praise,
Well done, you of good intent! Well done! Truly you are now successors of the Buddha! You are surely the ones capable of thoroughly eliminating suffering and alleviating misfortune with great kindness and compassion! You will be bountiful spheres of kindness for all living beings, excellent guides who benefit all far and wide, sources of great support for all living beings, and all living beings’ great benefactors! Constantly, with the benefits of the Dharma, be of universal service to all!
Thereupon the entire assembly greatly rejoiced, paid homage to the Buddha, and, with understanding and acceptance, departed.
Notes
1 The Lotus Sutra,Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, 2007, Revised Second Edition), pp.4–5. translated by Tsugunari Kubo and Akira Yuyama (Berkeley: Numata
2 In the Numata Center edition of the Lotus Sutra, the characters fu-wang-zi are used
to describe the bodhisattva Mañjuśrī in particular, and are translated as “Crown Princeof the Dharma” in recognition of his generally accepted historical status. In the Meanings Sutra, however, the phrase is used as a description of several bodhisattvas,Infinite so we chose to use “Prince of the Dharma” consistently in this passage.
3 house.” In other texts, the Sanskrit source word of this character is the bodhisattvas. We elected to translate it as “wellspring” to convey the meaning of a “generative source” or a “source of continual and abundant supply” of the quality manifested by The character zhang in the Taishō text can be directly translated as “vault” or “store-garbha, “womb.”
4 While the Taishō text has the characters include the character here, according to note 9 in the Taishō, the Song, Yuan, and Ming editions do notin our translation. chang, “banner.” We elected to accord with this noted variancehua guang chang (“Flower Radiance Banner”)
5 In the Taishō text of the name appear at 2a9 in the Introduction, and 47c3 in Chapter Nineteen. In the first Lotus Sutra, the same Chinese characters for this bodhisattva’s responding Sanskrit is Satatasamitābhiyukta. Based on the Chinese, we translated for this the name as Constant Endeavor, but since there is no Sanskrit original to reference instance, the corresponding Sanskrit is Nityodyukta; in the second instance, the Sutra of Infinite Meanings, both possibilities for the Sanskrit name are given.
6 The exact combination of the characters of the name as it appears in the Taishō text, could not be found in any reference. The characters are transliterations here as “Bearer of the Loom” for the bodhisattva’s name. pi-mo-ba-luo,for Sanskrit sounds, and through our research we determined that the most likely vema bhara, literally, “possessor of the loom,” which we render
Sanskrit source was
7 The concept has also been translated as “doctrine,” “teaching,” etc. However, within The literal translation of the characters fa men of the original text is “Dharma gate.”
The Chinese the contextual flow of the sutra we chose “approach to Dharma” or “Dharma approach.”famen can be a translation of the Sanskrit dharma-paryāya, “turning
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The Infinite Meanings Sutra
(it in the most appropriate way according to our determination of its contextual meaning shades of meaning. In each instance of this character in the source text, we translated The character the Dharma wheel,” or e.g., method, way, Dharma, Way, teaching, phenomenon, etc.). fa, appearing here as the translation of the Sanskrit dharma-mukha, “mouth of (i.e., entrance to) the Dharma.” dharma, has many
8 The Taishō text shows only shao san, the characters for “burn” and “scatter,” which shao-xiang-san-hua, “burned
incense and scattered flowers,” which appear in a similar context above (384b3). we took, contextually, to be a shortened version of
9 in the verse for The Taishō text here reads san qi shi dao pin,dao pin, “thirty seven avenues to enlightenment.” which can also be taken as an abbreviated form
10 While the Taishō text here reads bo chang, “curved foreleg,” we followed the texts chuan-chang, of the Yuan and Ming editions as cited in note 14, using the characters “curved calf.”
11 The Chinese character combination to the six pāramitās, which we have rendered throughout our translation as “perfection liuduo in the verse portion is a shortened reference of the six spiritual attitudes.”
12 Use of the term “Great Vehicle” (teaching came into use many years after his passing. Because context and word order dacheng) as a description of a class of the Buddha’s between the Buddha and his audience. characters allow for it in this particular text, we use “all-ferrying” as our translation when the da cheng appear as part of a description of the sutra as a direct discourse
13 editions, cited in note 4, which include these characters. The Taishō text does not include the characters of the “stages of the four good roots.” We followed the texts of the Yuan and Mingren fa, indicative of the third stage
14 context that the Four Noble Truths, the twelve-linked chain of dependent origination,There is no traditional listing of san fa as “three teachings,” but it is clear from the portion of Chapter One, and twice referred to by the Buddha during his discourse inand the perfection of the six spiritual attitudes—cited twice as a group in the verse
Chapter Two—are what is meant here.
15 The Taishō text has only the characters for “innumerable.” However, considering the which give context, we chose to follow the texts of the Yuan and Ming editions, cited in note 19,wu liang zhong sheng, “innumerable living beings.” 16 The Taishō text has the characters bu ran here, but we follow note 22, in which the
Song, Yuan, and Ming editions and the Old Song edition of the Japanese Imperial Household Library have bu sheng, corresponding to the same reference at 386a12.
17 See note 13, above.
18 We follow the Taishō text here, which gives that the Song, Yuan, and Ming editions and the Old Song edition of the Japanese jing, “sutra”; however, note 10 shows
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Notes
jing. Imperial Household Library have the character The Kasuga version is also in accord with note 10. fa, “Dharma,” “law,” etc., instead of
19 While the Taishō text has the character to the sense of the character in note 15, gong,shi, “house,” following the Song, Yuan, and “palace,” we read the context according
Ming editions and the Old Song edition of the Japanese Imperial Household Library.
20 text indicating differing versions of this phrase. in the general text and in the description of the third, fourth, and seventh beneficial considered the possibility that the character While we follow the phrasing of the Taishō text here, which reads de wen shi jing.wen for “hear” was inadvertently omitted There is no note in the Taishō“ can hear this sutra,” appearsde shi jing, we from the original, because the phrasing de wen shi jing, effects. The Kasuga version also reads
21 editions and the Old Song edition of the Japanese Imperial Household Library. The Taishō text has the character strongly suggest a sense of honor or dedication, as reflected in the character in note, ren, “capability,” “integrity,” “role,” which appears in the Song, Yuan, and Mingbao, “treasure,” but we interpreted the context to
23
22 to which this character is absent in the Song, Yuan, and Ming editions and the Old Song edition of the Japanese Imperial Household Library. The Taishō text has the character neng, “able to,” but we follow note 27, according
23 reads We follow the Taishō text here, which reads pusa, “bodhisattva.” There is no note indicating differing versions of this phrase. puti, “enlightenment.” The Kasuga version
THE SUTRA ON ALL-EMBRACING GOODNESS BODHISATTVA
Translators’ Introduction
The original text on which this translation is based is the Foshuo guan Puxian pusa xingfa jing, “Sutra Expounded by the Buddha on Practice of the Way through Contemplation of the Bodhisattva All-embracing Goodness” (Jpn. Bussetsu kan Fugen bosatsu gyōhō kyō; Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō, vol. 9, no. 277, 389b24–394b11). Following the title in the source text is the line Song Yuanjia nian Tanwumiduo you Yangzhou yi, “Translated at Yangzhou by Dharmamitra (356–442) during the Yuanjia era (424–453) of the Song dynasty.” A corresponding footnote lists variations of this particular comment in various Chinese editions of this sutra, and the translator’s name is shown in them as Tan mo mi duo, instead of Tan wu mi duo; both names are transliterations of the Sanskrit Dharmamitra. Additionally, the variation from the Yuan edition also says, “third translation of this sutra.”
The title of this sutra has also been translated in English as “Sutra of Meditation on the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue” and “Sutra of Meditating on Fugen Bodhisattva.” In addition to Universal Virtue, the bodhisattva’s name has also been translated as “Universal Sage,” “Universal Worthy,” Universally Worthy,” and “Universal Excellence.” Considering that the name symbolizes a bodhisattva’s character as well as what he (or she) is deemed to represent, and considering the nature of this bodhisattva’s attitude and endeavor to understand and promote the best in living beings, we translate the name Puxian as “All-embracing Goodness” in order to express that the universal quality of this bodhisattva’s virtuousness is actively inclusive as well as far-reaching.
According to Chinese tradition, this text was also known as the Puxian guan jing (Jpn. Fugenkan gyō) and the Chu chen (or Chu shen) gongde jing (Jpn. Hitsujin kudoku kyō). The Kaiyuan shi jiao lu (Jpn. Kaigen shaku kyōroku) states that this sutra was also translated by Gītamitra (Ch. Chi duo mi duo) as the Puxian guan jing (Jpn. Fugenkan gyō), and by Kumārajīva as the Guan Pu xian pusa jing (Jpn. Kan Fugen bosatsu kyō), but neither of these versions is now extant.
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Translators’ Introduction
It is noteworthy that the only extant manuscripts of the text are in Chinese. There is no evidence of any Sanskrit original of the text other than indications of such as the basis for the Chinese translations. Thus, whether the provenance of this text was in India or China remains a subject of speculation.
Great attention was given to this sutra by Tanita Zhiyi, who claimed that its teaching, in its detail of practical applications, is the consummation of the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. The text is constructed as a narrative of how a practitioner who commits him- or herself to follow the comprehensive teachings of the Great Vehicle will be guided along the journey to realization by the bodhisattva All-embracing Goodness (Skt. Samantabhadra). Central to the story are the methods by which the practitioner can attain attitudes appropriate to a bodhisattva without the need of a specific tutor who exists in this visible world. Given this background, the sutra has several characteristics that merit attention:
- The phrase “without cutting off worldly passions and without abandoning the five desires” at the beginning of the text is a clear indication that lay practitioners are intended as the focus of its guidance.
- The sutra includes expressions that presuppose the contents of theLotus Sutra.
- The sutra seems to be encouraging us to touch the bodhisattva experience through a personal practice of self-amendment, i.e., endeavoring, in various ways, to become aware of excesses, shortcomings, and errors in our behavior and perspectives, determining to rectify them, and taking appropriate action to do so.
- Near the end of the sutra a procedure is described in which the practitioner, committing him- or herself to pursue and adopt attitudes and behaviors appropriate to a bodhisattva, seeks the advocacy of Śākyamuni Buddha, Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva, and other buddhas and bodhisattvas. This procedure is similar in form to the formal rites of the sangha in śrāvakayāna practice, but it differs in that the practitioner is to take up the quest alone.
It is our hope that the vibrancy and message of this sutra will become more tangible to the reader through this translation. To that end, we encourage you to “give voice” to the sutra so that as you read it, you may hear it as well.
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Translators’ Introduction
Note on the Translation
In this translation nearly full accord was maintained with the source Chinese text in the Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō edition. However, the Taishō text contains annotations indicating where various differences occurred within other Chinese editions of this sutra cited in the notes, and, depending upon context, there were some instances in which we chose to use the alternative character or phrasing in our translation.
Another Chinese text of this sutra, known as the Kasuga edition, is widely used in Japan as a basic source text for translation. We also found that there are several textual differences between the Kasuga and Taishō editions.
Our choices from the notes in the Taishō source text as mentioned above, noteworthy differences observed in the Kasuga version, and any particular aspects of this translation that we believe merit comment are given in the Notes that follow the text.
THE SUTRA EXPOUNDED BY THE BUDDHA
ON PRACTICE OF THE WAY THROUGH
CONTEMPLATION OF THE BODHISATTVA
ALL-EMBRACING GOODNESS
Translated from the Chinese of Dharmamitra
Thus have I heard:
On one occasion the Buddha was at the double-storied assembly hall of the Great Forest Monastery in the land of Vaiśālī. He announced to all the monks:
My state shall be that of parinirvāṇa1 after the passage of three months’
time.
Thereupon the esteemed Ānanda rose from where he sat, straightened his clothing, and folded his hands. Then, in homage, he placed his hands together palm-to-palm and walked around the Buddha three times. He then knelt formally on one knee, placed his palms together, and fixed his eyes intently and steadfastly upon the Tathāgata. The venerable Mahākāśyapa and the great-being (mahāsattva) bodhisattva Maitreya also rose from where they sat, brought the palms of their hands together in homage, and gazed up at the honored face. These three men of great distinction then addressed the Buddha in one voice, saying:
World-honored One! After you have passed away, O Tathāgata, how do living beings produce the bodhisattva mind, practice in accordance with the comprehensive sutras of the Great Vehicle (Mahayana), and, with right mindfulness, bring their thoughts into the realm of one reality? How do they avoid losing sight of the aspiration for ultimate enlightenment (bodhicitta)? Moreover, without cutting off worldly passions and without abandoning the five desires, how do they achieve purity of the sense faculties and eliminate accumulated impurities?2 Without giving up the five desires, how can they still become capable of seeing events and things free from encumbrance with the pure natural eyes received from their parents at birth?
The Buddha addressed Ānanda:
Hear me clearly! Hear me clearly, and consider this well! In the past, on Mount Vulture Peak and at other places, the Tathāgata has already expounded the one genuine path from many perspectives. And now, at this place, for the benefit of all living beings in the future who wish to
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follow the Supreme Way that is the Great Vehicle—and who wish to learn and follow the practice of All-embracing Goodness,3 I will now expound the method4 for that, which I have kept in mind. Impurities, in any number, should be eliminated whether one perceives All-embracing Goodness or not. This I will now explain to you, accordingly, in great detail.
O Ānanda! All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva was born in the Pure Wondrous Land in the east. Aspects of that land have already been thoroughly detailed in the Dharma Flower Sutra (Lotus Sutra),5 and these I will now outline and explain.
Ānanda! When monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen, heavenly beings (devas), nāgas, others of the eight classes of ever-present guardian spirits, or any living beings are internalizing6 the Great Vehicle sutras, practicing in accordance with the Great Vehicle, aspiring to a Great Vehicle consciousness, and would be pleased to see an embodiment of the bodhisattva All-embracing Goodness, take joy in seeing the stupa of Abundant Treasures Buddha, be happy to see Śākyamuni Buddha as well as buddhas that emanate from him, and be glad to achieve purification of the six sense faculties, they should learn this way of contemplation. Beneficial effects of this contemplation are the elimination of encumbrances and the perception of extraordinary and wondrous things.
As a result of resolutely internalizing and keeping faith with it, and wholeheartedly pursuing mastery of it, a practitioner will become continuously conscious of the Great Vehicle without immersion into a specialized focus of mind,7 and he or she will gain perception of All embracing Goodness within the course of one to three-times-seven days. A practitioner who has great encumbrances will gain perception of him after seven-times-seven days have passed. A practitioner with greater encumbrances will gain perception after one more rebirth, and a practitioner with yet more serious encumbrances will gain perception after two more rebirths. Further, a practitioner with even graver encumbrances will gain perception after three more rebirths. Karmic consequences differ like this—that is why there are variations in my ways of explanation.
The body of All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva is boundless in size, his voice is limitless in sound, and his figure is infinite in its forms. He desires to come to this land, and so—drawing upon the unlimited wondrous capabilities at his command—he will make his body become smaller in scale. Because people in this world8 are weighed down by the three hindrances, through his great insight he will manifest himself riding on a white elephant.
The elephant has six tusks, and seven limbs support it on the ground. From beneath its seven limbs, seven lotus flowers grow. The elephant’s color is vivid white, a white surpassed by no other of its hue: even crystalline Himalayan peaks cannot compare. The elephant’s body measures four hundred and fifty yojanas in length, and it is four hundred yojanas tall. At the tips of the six tusks are six bathing pools. Fourteen lotus flowers are growing in each pool, filling each pool completely and blossoming in all their glory like the king of celestial trees. Atop each flower is a maiden, as exquisite as a jewel, whose face glows with a color of rouge more radiant than that of maids in the heavens. Five harps spontaneously appear in the hands of each maiden, and five hundred musical instruments accompany each harp. Five hundred flying birds—wild ducks and geese and mandarin ducks, all colored like various jewels—come forth from the flowers and leaves. There is a lotus flower on the elephant’s trunk: its stalk has a color like that of a red pearl; the flower is a golden bud that has not yet bloomed.
A practitioner, having perceived these things, should reengage in selfamendment9—again plumb and ponder the Great Vehicle with total commitment, without rest or resignation. The practitioner will then see the golden bud blossom fully in an instant and radiate a golden glow. The lotus flower’s pod is a kimśuka gem, its calyx is made of wonderful brahma-maṇi jewels, and its stamens are made of diamonds. A manifested buddha form10 is seen sitting on the pod of the lotus flower, and a great number of bodhisattvas are seen sitting on the stamens.
The manifested buddha form emits from between its eyebrows a golden beam of light that enters the elephant’s trunk.11 Emerging from the elephant’s trunk, it goes into the elephant’s eyes. Coming out of the elephant’s eyes, it goes into the elephant’s ears. The beam then comes out of the elephant’s ears, illuminates the top of its head, and transforms into a golden platform. Three manifested human forms will be there on the elephant’s head: one is clutching a golden wheel, one is carrying a maṇi jewel, and one, holding a diamond cudgel, raises the cudgel and points it at the elephant, instantly enabling the elephant to move. The elephant floats seven feet above the ground and treads in the air. Without touching down it makes impressions in the ground, each containing a perfect imprint of a wheel, complete with one thousand spokes radiating from hub to rim. A great lotus flower comes forth from each space within the wheel, and an elephant form manifests itself above it. This elephant also has seven limbs, and it walks following the great elephant. With each raising and lowering of its limbs, seven thousand elephants appear and form a retinue that accompanies the great elephant.
The elephant’s trunk becomes the color of a red lotus flower. On the trunk, the manifested buddha form emits a beam of light from between its eyebrows. The beam is golden-colored and, as before, goes into the elephant’s trunk, emerges from inside the trunk and enters the elephant’s eyes, then comes out of the elephant’s eyes and curls back to enter its ears. The beam comes out of the elephant’s ears and extends to the top of its neck; then it gradually moves up to the elephant’s back and transforms into a golden saddle. The saddle is inlaid with the seven precious metals and gems, it has posts on four sides made of the seven precious metals and gems, and a multitude of jewels adorn it so as to form a jeweled platform. In the middle of the platform is a single lotus flower made of the seven precious metals and gems. One hundred jewels combine to form the stamens of this lotus flower, and its pod is a magnificent maṇi jewel. A single bodhisattva will be there, sitting erectly in the lotus posture: his name is All-embracing Goodness. His body is the color of a white jewel, fifty kinds of rays of light, in fifty kinds of colors, are radiating from the nape of his neck, and golden rays of light
are coming forth from all the pores of his body. Innumerable manifested buddha forms are at the ends of these golden rays, accompanied by manifested bodhisattva forms as their retinues.
Walking slowly and with quiet purpose,12 raining numerous jewel-like flowers, the procession will pass before the practitioner. The elephant will open its mouth, and the exquisite maidens in the pools at the tips of its tusks will sing and strum pleasant music, their sublime voices lauding the one genuine path of the Great Vehicle. Feeling both joy and reverence after perceiving this, the practitioner should further internalize and recite the extremely profound sutras, pay homage to all of the innumerable buddhas respectively in the ten directions, pay homage to the stupa of Abundant Treasures Buddha and to Śākyamuni, likewise pay homage to All-embracing Goodness and the various eminent bodhisattvas, and speak aloud this declaration:
If I am worthy of seeing All-embracing Goodness as a happy result of past actions, I petition you, O Universally Virtuous One, to show me your body and form!
Having made this appeal, the practitioner must pay homage to the buddhas of the ten directions at the six specified times of day and night, and must practice ways of self-amendment: internalize the Great Vehicle sutras, recite the Great Vehicle sutras, reflect on the Great Vehicle’s principle, be mindful of the Great Vehicle’s application, revere and render service to those who keep faith with the Great Vehicle, regard all people in the same manner as buddhas would regard them, and regard each living thing in the same manner as would a mother or father.
After the practitioner has effected such mindfulness, All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva will immediately emit a bright light from the white curl between his eyebrows—the sign of a great person. When made visible by this light, All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva’s body is as majestic as purple-gold mountains; it possesses all of the thirty-two characteristics, and it is dignified beyond description. Numerous rays of brilliant light will come forth from the pores of his body and illuminate the great elephant, making it a golden color. All of the manifested forms of elephants and bodhisattvas will likewise be made a golden color. These golden rays illuminate the innumerable worlds in the eastern direction with the same golden color; and the southern, western, and northern directions, the four intermediate directions, and the upper and lower regions will likewise be illuminated in turn.
At that moment there will be a bodhisattva mounted on a white, six tusked king of elephants facing each of the ten directions, each bodhisattva equal to and no different than All-embracing Goodness, and the ten directions will correspondingly be filled with innumerable and limitless manifested elephant forms. Through his wondrous capabilities, All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva enables a practitioner who has kept faith with the sutras to perceive all of this. Seeing the bodhisattvas at that moment, the practitioner’s body and mind will fill with joy, and he or she should then pay homage to them and address them, saying:
Most merciful and compassionate ones: Out of sympathetic concern for me, expound the teachings for my benefit!
When the practitioner says these words, the bodhisattvas will then speak in unison—each expounding the pure teachings found in the Great Vehicle sutras and reciting verses in praise of the practitioner. This is said as beginning the first stage of contemplating the bodhisattva All-embracing Goodness.
Having perceived these things, the practitioner should then concentrate on the Great Vehicle unceasingly day and night. In dreams while sleeping, the practitioner will see All-embracing Goodness expounding the teachings for his or her benefit, which will ease and comfort the practitioner’s mind exactly as though he or she were awake. Even so, the bodhisattva will say these words as well:
In the parts you have taken to heart and kept, you have forgotten this phrase; you have made a mistake in this verse.
Hearing All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva’s comments at such times, the practitioner will deeply grasp their meaning and objective13 and, without forgetting, will always keep them in memory. His or her mind will gradually increase in clarity as day after day passes in this way.
All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva will teach the practitioner to keep the buddhas of the ten directions in mind. Having proper disposition in mind and heart following All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva’s instruction, with his or her mind’s eye the practitioner will gradually perceive in the eastern direction a buddha whose body is golden-colored and majestic beyond expression. After discerning one buddha, the practitioner will then discern another. In this manner he or she will gradually perceive all of the buddhas everywhere in the eastern direction; and because of the clarity of this state of mind, he or she will perceive all of the buddhas everywhere in all of the ten directions. After perceiving the buddhas, joy will arise in the practitioner’s heart and mind, and he or she should say:
By means of the Great Vehicle, I have been able to see a great being; and through that great being’s power, I have been able to perceive buddhas. Although I have perceived the buddhas, my perception of them is still incomplete—I discern them when my eyes are closed, but when I open my eyes I lose sight of them.
Having said this, the practitioner should cast his or her whole body upon the ground and universally pay homage to the buddhas everywhere. After paying homage to the buddhas, the practitioner must kneel formally on one knee, place palms together, and say:
The buddhas, the World-honored Ones, possess the ten capabilities, dauntlessness, the eighteen unique merits, great mercy, great compassion, and three kinds of constancy of mind. They are always present in the world, and among forms and embodiments theirs is supreme. What impurities do I have that prevent me from seeing them?
After saying these words, the practitioner should undertake further selfamendment. When purification from self-amendment has been gained, Allembracing Goodness Bodhisattva will reveal himself again and constantly remain at the practitioner’s side, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. He will continually expound the teachings for the practitioner’s benefit, even in the practitioner’s dreams; when the practitioner awakes, she or he will realize the joy and comfort of the Dharma. After such a process has continued night and day for three-times-seven days, the practitioner will then attain a Dharma-grasping empowerment (dhāraṇī)14 of interaction and exchange. With the attainment of this Dharma-grasping empowerment, he or she will remember, retain, and never forget all the explanations of the marvelous Dharma given by the buddhas and bodhisattvas. The practitioner will also regularly see in dreams the seven past buddhas of this world, and although Śākyamuni Buddha alone among them expounds the Dharma for the practitioner, every one of these World-honored Ones gives praise to the Great Vehicle sutras.
At this time the practitioner should once again undertake self-amendment15 and pay homage to the buddhas of the ten directions. After homage has been offered to the buddhas of the ten directions, All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva, abiding before the practitioner, will teach and instruct the practitioner regarding all karmic causes and conditions from his or her past lives and to avow all of his or her very grave faults and impure acts. The practitioner must then avow them in his or her own words while facing the World honored Ones. When the practitioner’s avowal is completed, he or she will then immediately attain the specialized focus of mind in which buddhas reveal themselves.
While engaged in this specialized focus of mind, the practitioner will fully and clearly behold, in the eastern direction, the buddha Akṣobhya and the Land of Wonderful Joy. In this same manner he or she will clearly and completely behold buddhas and magnificent wonderful lands in each of the ten directions. After having seen buddhas in all of the ten directions, the practitioner will envision a person with a diamond cudgel on top of an elephant’s head who, with the cudgel, signifies each of the six sense faculties. After the six sense faculties have been so indicated, for the practitioner’s benefit All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva will expound the method of self-amendment to purify them. Over the course of one to seven days,16 the practitioner will do self-amendment as he or she is taught. Through the power of the engaged specialized focus of mind in which buddhas reveal themselves, and through
All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva’s well-composed explanation of the method, the practitioner’s ears will gradually hear sounds without encumbrance, the practitioner’s eyes will gradually see things without encumbrance, and the practitioner’s nose will gradually smell scents without encumbrance, as is extensively expounded in the Dharma Flower Sutra.
Having attained purification of the six sense faculties, the practitioner’s body and mind become joyful and free of unwholesome elements.17 Giving full devotion to this method, he or she will be in full accord with the Dharma. The practitioner will also gain a further hundred-thousand-myriad koṭis of Dharma-grasping empowerments of interaction and exchange, and he or she will once again perceive a hundred-thousand-myriad koṭis of innumerable buddhas far and wide. Each of these World-honored Ones will extend their right hand, gently stroke the practitioner’s head, and say:
Well done! Well done, Great Vehicle practitioner—you who aspires to the fully composed mind, you who are mindful of the Great Vehicle! When our aspiration for enlightenment was awakened in the past, we all supremely endeavored to never lose sight of it, in the very same manner as you. Because we practiced in accordance with the Great Vehicle throughout previous existences, we have now become the embodiments of purity and full enlightenment. You should also practice diligently now, and do not be remiss!
These Great Vehicle sutras are the buddhas’ treasury, the essence of past, present, and future buddhas in all of the ten directions, and the seed from which the tathāgatas of the past, present, and future come forth. One who keeps faith with these sutras is an embodiment of a buddha and is one who does a buddha’s work. You should know that such a person is an ambassador of the buddhas, is clothed in the garments of the buddhas, the World-honored Ones, and is a true and genuine Dharma successor of the buddha tathāgatas. Practice in accordance with the Great Vehicle, and do not sever yourself from the seed of Dharma! Now, focus your contemplation on the buddhas of the east! When these words are spoken, the practitioner will immediately perceive all of the innumerable worlds in the eastern direction. The lands are as level as the palm of a hand, with neither hills, nor mounds, nor brambles; and the ground is [composed of] lapis lazuli, with boundaries made of gold. Worlds in all directions will be successively perceived as being similar to this. Immediately after having seen these lands,18 the practitioner will behold a jewel tree that wondrously stands five thousand yojanas tall. The tree is composed of the seven precious metals and gems, and it continually produces white silver and gold. At the base of the tree, a jeweled lion seat spontaneously appears: it is twenty19 yojanas in height, and the brilliant lights of one hundred jewels are radiating from above it. There are other trees with other jeweled seats similar to this. Five hundred white elephants spontaneously appear by each of the jeweled seats, and the bodhisattva All-embracing Goodness is atop each one. The practitioner will then pay homage to the numerous Allembracing Goodness Bodhisattvas and say:
What impurities do I have that I perceive jewel lands, jeweled seats, and also jewel trees without perceiving buddhas?
When the practitioner finishes saying these words, a World-honored One—majestic beyond expression—will be present at each jeweled seat and will sit down upon it. After seeing the buddhas, the practitioner’s heart will fill with great joy, and he or she will again further internalize and master the Great Vehicle sutras.
Through the power of the Great Vehicle, words of praise will resound in the air:
Well done, you of good intent!20 Well done! You practice in accordance with the Great Vehicle! Your capacity to perceive buddhas is a beneficial effect of that cause! But even though you have now gained perception of buddhas, the World-honored Ones, you are not yet capable of perceiving Śākyamuni Buddha, the buddhas that emanate from him, or the stupa of the buddha Abundant Treasures.
After hearing the voice in the air, the practitioner will again devotedly internalize and master the Great Vehicle sutras. As a result of internalizing
391b the comprehensive Great Vehicle sutras, the practitioner soon envisions Śākyamuni Buddha in great assemblies at Mount Vulture Peak teaching the Dharma Flower Sutra and discoursing on the meanings of the one reality. After being taught, the practitioner will do self-amendment; then, reverentially wishing to see him, the practitioner will face toward Mount Vulture Peak, formally kneel, place his or her palms together, and say:
O Tathāgatha, Hero of the Universe, you are always present in the world: Out of compassion for me, reveal yourself to me for my sake!
After saying these words, the practitioner will perceive Mount Vulture Peak composed of the seven precious metals and gems, monks and śrāvakas with countless others together in a great assembly, rows of jewel trees lining level jewel ground on which a magnificent jeweled lion seat has been arranged, and Śākyamuni Buddha, who emits from between his eyebrows a beam of light that passes through the innumerable worlds of the ten directions and illuminates worlds everywhere in the universe. From everywhere this light reaches in the ten directions, the buddhas that emanated from Śākyamuni gather together at one time into a great assembly, as is extensively expounded in the Dharma Flower Sutra. Each emanated buddha has a body that is purple-gold in color and boundless in size, each sits on a lion seat, and each has a retinue of countless thousands of millions of great bodhisattvas. Each bodhisattva follows the same practice as All-embracing Goodness; it is like this as well in the bodhisattva retinues of all of the innumerable buddhas in the ten directions.
After gathering together, the great assembly sees Śākyamuni Buddha send forth golden-colored rays of light from the pores of his entire body. Thousands of millions of manifested buddha forms are present in each of these rays of light. The emanated buddhas will emit a beam of light from the white curl between their eyebrows—the sign of a great person; these beams will stream into the top of Śākyamuni Buddha’s head. When they see this condition, the emanated buddhas will then send forth golden-colored rays of light from all the pores of their bodies. Countless manifested buddha forms, as many as all the grains of sand21 in the Ganges River, will also be present in each of these rays of light.
At this time All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva will also emit a beam of light from between his eyebrows—the sign of a great person—and send it into the practitioner’s mind. After the light has entered his or her mind, the practitioner will remember that he or she accepted, kept faith with, recited, and internalized the Great Vehicle sutras in the presence of countless hundreds of thousands of buddhas in the past. As if possessing the wondrous faculty of remembrance of former states of existence, the practitioner clearly and completely perceives his or her former selves. Experiencing a sudden flash of great awakening, he or she attains a Dharma-grasping empowerment of interaction and exchange and access to a hundred thousand myriad koṭis of other Dharma-grasping empowerments.
Emerging from the specialized focus of mind, the practitioner will perceive, in front of him-or herself, all the emanated buddhas sitting on lion seats beneath numerous jewel trees. He or she will also perceive soil of lapis lazuli, resembling clusters of lotus flowers, springing up from the space below the ground. Between each flower are untold countless numbers of bodhisattvas sitting in the lotus posture. The practitioner will also discern bodhisattvas emanated from All-embracing Goodness giving praise to the Great Vehicle within their own assemblies.
Then, with one voice, the bodhisattvas will instruct the practitioner on
the purification of the six sense faculties. One instruction says:
Be steadfastly mindful of the Buddha!
Another instruction says:
Be steadfastly mindful of the Dharma!
Another says:
Be steadfastly mindful of the Sangha!
Another says:
Be steadfastly mindful of your attitude toward the behavioral principles!
Another says:
Be steadfastly mindful to have consideration for others!
Another instruction says:
Be steadfastly mindful that blissful conditions exist!
Becoming mindful in these six ways constitutes the aspiration for enlightenment and gives birth to bodhisattvas! Now, therefore, face the buddhas, avow your past wrongdoings, and sincerely undertake self-amendment!
Throughout innumerable existences, the function of your sense faculty of sight has caused you to yearn for and become attached to various kinds of forms. Because of your attachments to various forms, you are passionate about the smallest of matters. Because of your passions for the smallest of matters, your body is derived from a woman.22 Wherever you take birth, in life after life, you are attracted and attached to all kinds of forms. Forms spoil your eyes, and you become a slave to emotion and passion: forms thus make you23 wander throughout the three realms. Such impairment renders you blind, so that you can perceive nothing.
Now, take the comprehensive Great Vehicle sutras to heart! In these sutras it is taught that forms and embodiments of the buddhas of the ten directions never cease to exist: you must now be able to recognize whether or not this is true! The dysfunction of your sense faculty of sight does you great harm! Heed what we are saying: Take refuge in the buddhas and in Śākyamuni Buddha! Regarding the impurities and faults in your sense faculty of sight, say this:
May I be cleansed and be made to become pure by means of the Dharma water of the profound insight24 of buddhas and bodhisattvas!
After saying these words, the practitioner must pay homage to the buddhas of the ten directions and, directing his or her heart and mind toward Śākyamuni Buddha and the Great Vehicle sutras, speak again, saying: I now recognize that heavy impurities obstruct, cloak, defile, and cloud my sense faculty of sight: I am blinded and can perceive nothing! May the Buddha, with great mercy and compassion, protect me! O Bodhisattva All-embracing Goodness—aboard the great ship of Dharma in company with countless bodhisattvas of the ten directions, universally ferrying all living beings: Out of compassion and sympathy for me, please accept my way of amending myself of the unwholesome and harmful encumbrances of my sense faculty of sight!
The practitioner must say this three times, prostrate him- or herself on the ground, and maintain right mindfulness of the Great Vehicle, neither forgetting nor forsaking it. This is called the method of self-amendment regarding impurities of the sense faculty of sight.
One who calls upon the buddhas by name, burns incense, scatters flowers, generates a Great Vehicle consciousness, hangs banners, flags, and canopies, speaks to the faults and afflictions of the eye, and undertakes self-amendment for his or her impurities will behold Śākyamuni Buddha in this present world and innumerable buddhas emanated from him as well. He or she will not fall into bitter conditions for countless kalpas of time. Through the affirmation and the power of the Great Vehicle, such a person will constantly be among and accompany all of the bodhisattvas that possess Dharma-grasping empowerments. Producing such a focus of mind is the effecting of right mindfulness; focusing on other things is described as aberrant thought. This is said to be the condition of the first stage with regard to the sense faculty of sight.
After purifying the sense faculty of sight, the practitioner must further internalize and recite the Great Vehicle sutras and, at the six specified times of day and night, kneel formally and undertake self-amendment. Additionally, the practitioner must speak these words:
Why is it that I can now see only Śākyamuni Buddha and buddhas emanated from him, but not the stupa of Abundant Treasures Buddha, the reliquary of his entire body? The stupa of Abundant Treasures Buddha is always present—it does not cease to exist; I cannot see the stupa because my eyes are yet faulty and impaired.
After saying these words, the practitioner must do further self-amendment. After seven days have passed, the stupa of Abundant Treasures Buddha will emerge from the ground. Śākyamuni Buddha will then open the door of the stupa with his right hand, and Abundant Treasures Buddha—fully engaged in the specialized focus of mind regarding his universal manifestation in any
figure or form—will be perceived. Rays of brilliant light as numerous as all the grains of sand in the Ganges River flow out from every pore of his body, and a hundred-thousand myriad koṭis of manifested buddha forms are present in every ray of light. The practitioner will become joyful when this condition appears; then she or he must walk around the stupa while offering praise in verse. After seven circuits have been completed, Abundant Treasures Tathāgatha will praise the Dharma successor with a great voice, saying:
Truly you now capably practice in accordance with the Great Vehicle, faithfully following All-embracing Goodness and doing self-amendment for the sense faculty of sight! As the result of this act, I come to you as your proof!
Having spoken thus, he will then say in commendation:
Well done, Śākyamuni Buddha! Well done! You skillfully expound the Great Dharma, pouring down the Great Dharma’s rain to bring all manner of muddled living beings to clarity!
The practitioner, having seen the stupa of Abundant Treasures Buddha, must then turn again to All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva, place his or her palms together, pay homage, and say:
Great Teacher, teach me the way of self-amendment for my faults! All-embracing Goodness will respond, saying:
Throughout many kalpas, the function of your sense faculty of hearing
has caused you to chase after and follow external sounds. When you hear wonderful sounds, your mind develops infatuation and attachment. When you hear unwholesome sounds, one hundred and eight25 kinds of delusive worldly passions arise to do you harm. Adverse conditions are the consequences reaped from such a dysfunctional ear, and your constant hearing of unwholesome sounds gives rise to numerous complications. Because you hear things contrary to reality, you fall into bitter conditions, or into faraway realms where there are wrong views and where the Dharma is not heard.
You now internalize and keep faith with the Great Vehicle—the treasury of an ocean of beneficial effects. You see the buddhas in the ten directions by reason of this cause! The stupa of Abundant Treasures Buddha appears to you as proof! Accordingly, you must express your errors and faults yourself, and amend yourself of impurities!
Then, having heard these words, the practitioner must again place palms
together, cast his or her body upon the ground, and speak thus:
Fully Enlightened World-honored One! Manifest and bear witness for me that the comprehensive sutras are the core of mercy and compassion! May you commune with me and hear my words!
Throughout many kalpas—up to my existence at this point—my sense faculty of hearing has caused me to become deluded and to become attached to the sounds I hear, just as glue adheres to straw. The poisons of delusive worldly passions are stirred up whenever I hear unwholesome sounds, and I become deluded and attached to them unceasingly everywhere. Being around these hollow sounds exhausts my mental functions, and I fall into the three unwholesome realms. My awareness of this is now awakened for the first time. I face the World-honored One to make acknowledgement and amend myself!
Having completed self-amendment, the practitioner will see Abundant Treasures Buddha emit a great bright golden-colored light. Shining everywhere in the eastern direction, and extending to worlds in all of the ten directions as well, it highlights innumerable buddhas whose bodies are the color of pure gold. In the skies in the eastern direction, these words will be richly intoned:
Here is a buddha, a World-honored One, whose name is Splendid Virtue!26 Also here are innumerable buddhas emanated from him, sitting in the lotus posture on lion seats at the base of jewel trees. All of these World-honored Ones are engaged in the specialized focus of mind regarding their universal manifestation in any figure or form, and they are saying these words of praise:
Well done, you of good intent! Well done! You are now reciting and internalizing the Great Vehicle sutras! What you are taking to heart is the realm of buddhas!
After these words are spoken, All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva will
once again expound a method of self-amendment for the practitioner’s sake:
392b In your previous existences—throughout innumerable kalpas—because you so yearned for sweet scents, in every situation your evaluations of what you discerned were based upon attachment and you fell into the cycle of births and deaths (samsara). Accordingly, you must now contemplate the foundation of the Great Vehicle! The foundation of the Great Vehicle is the true reality of all things!
After hearing these words, the practitioner must cast his or her body to the ground and undertake further self-amendment. Having done so, the practitioner must then speak thus:
Namaḥ Śākyamuni Buddha! Namaḥ stupa of Abundant Treasures Buddha! Namaḥ all buddhas emanated from Śākyamuni Buddha in all of the ten directions!”
Having said this, he or she must universally pay homage thusly to the
buddhas in the ten directions:
Namaḥ Splendid Virtue Buddha of the East and all buddhas emanated from him!
As if seeing each one of them with his or her own eyes, the practitioner should, with reverent thoughts, make offerings of incense and flowers. When finished paying homage, the practitioner must then formally kneel, place his or her palms together, and give praise to the buddhas with a variety of verses. After praising them, the practitioner must speak to matters of the ten harmful karmic actions and do self-amendment for his or her impurities. Having completed self-amendment, the practitioner should speak these words:
In previous existences, throughout innumerable kalpas, I longed for scents, flavors, and contacts, and I produced many impurities. Throughout uncountable existences ever since, having such causes has resulted in my taking on various unsavory forms, being in hells and among hungry spirits and beasts, and being in faraway realms where there are wrong views. Today I avow harmful karmic acts like these! Taking refuge in the buddhas, masters of the correct Dharma, I acknowledge my impurities and I amend myself of them!
When the self-amendment process is completed, the practitioner must again internalize and recite the Great Vehicle sutras without laziness of body or mind. Through the power of the Great Vehicle, an ethereal voice will declare to the Dharma successor:
You must now face the buddhas of the ten directions and praise and give voice to the Great Vehicle! Before the buddhas, relate your faults yourself! The buddha tathāgatas are your compassionate fathers. You must yourself declare the unwholesome and harmful karmic acts produced by your sense faculty of speech:
This sense faculty of speech musters characteristics of undesirable karma: lies, flattery, deprecating words, duplicity, defamation and slander, praise of wrong views, and use of useless words. In the manner of such many and multiple varieties and kinds of harmful karmic acts, it instigates conflicts and confusion and asserts that Dharma is not Dharma. I now amend myself of all impurities such as these!
After saying these words before the Heroes of the World, the practitioner must cast him- or herself upon the ground and universally pay homage to the buddhas of the ten directions. The practitioner must then kneel erectly on both knees, place palms together, and say:
The troubles and faults of this tongue are innumerable and limitless! The thorns of harmful karmic causes grow from the sense faculty of speech. Estrangement from correct discourse on the Dharma begins with this tongue, and thus does this unwholesome tongue destroy seeds of beneficial effects. It forcefully discourses on many matters that have no meaning. Its praise of wrong views is like stoking their fires, thereby intensifying the flames that harm living beings. It is like something that poisons and brings death with no outward signs. The detrimental, adverse, dire consequence of all of this is to fall into bitter conditions for a hundred or a thousand kalpas. I sink into a great hell because of deceitful speech. I now take refuge in the buddhas of the southern direction and avow my very grave faults!
When the practitioner effects this mindfulness, a voice will fill the air:
There is a buddha in the southern direction whose name is Sandalwood Virtue. This buddha also has innumerable buddhas emanated from him, all of whom expound the Great Vehicle that destroys and eliminates impurities and faults. As for your impurities: you should now
face the innumerable buddhas of the ten directions, the greatly compassionate World-honored Ones! Avow your very grave faults and sincerely amend yourself!
After these words have been spoken, the practitioner must cast him- or herself onto the ground and pay homage to the buddhas again. At this time the buddhas will send forth rays of bright light that illuminate the practitioner’s body, causing the practitioner to become spontaneously joyful in body and mind and to bring forth great mercy and compassion pervasively in thoughts of all things. The buddhas will then extensively expound ways of great compassion and benevolence for the practitioner’s benefit. Furthermore, they will teach the practitioner to use kind words and to follow the six ways of harmony and respect. Hearing these teachings and commands, the practitioner’s heart will overflow with joy, and he or she will then fully internalize and master them without laziness or pause.
An ethereal voice will again fill the air, intoning thus:
You must now amend both body and mind! The body, by killing, stealing, and behaving licentiously, and the mind, by conceiving various unwholesome things, produce the ten harmful karmic actions as well as the five grievous acts. Moreover, their monkey-like and glue-like attachments to things everywhere thoroughly permeate all of the six sense faculties. All of the karmic actions of these six faculties—their branches, twigs, flowers, and leaves—extend fully throughout the three realms, the twenty-five states of existence, and all places where beings take birth, and they function to facilitate ignorance, aging, death, and others of the twelve factors that cause suffering. You cannot but be immersed in the eight improper practices and the eight conditions in which it is difficult to see a buddha. You must now amend yourself of unwholesome and harmful karmic acts such as these!
After hearing these words, the practitioner should then inquire of the
voice in the air:
At what place may I now practice the way of self-amendment?
The ethereal voice will then immediately reply, saying:
Śākyamuni Buddha is Vairocana27—the One Who Is Present in All Places. Where this buddha abides is called Perpetual Tranquil Light— where perpetuity is perfectly achieved, where the perfect truth of self is constituted, where perfect purity casts off the aspects of existence, where perfect happiness is no longer a characteristic that occupies body and mind, where phenomena are no longer perceived as having or not having aspects, where likewise there is serene liberation as well as perfect wisdom. As these are features of the ever-abiding Dharma, you must accordingly contemplate the buddhas of the ten directions! Thereupon the buddhas of the ten directions will each extend their right
hand, gently stroke the practitioner’s head, and speak these words: Well done, you of good intent! Well done! Because you internalize and recite the Great Vehicle sutras, the buddhas of the ten directions will expound the method of self-amendment practiced by bodhisattvas:
Neither cut off all ties to the impulses of desire, nor live fully in the ocean of such impulses! Contemplate the nonexistence of what is grasped as mind!
Conceptualizations arise based on error that is mistaken for truth; in this way delusion gives rise to the concept of mind. In the same manner that wind has no foundation in the air, aspects of phenomena are without origination or cessation. What is guilt? What is bliss? As one’s mind—by nature—is emptiness, guilt and bliss have no owner. All phenomena are the same as this—they neither abide nor decay.
Amend yourself in this way: Contemplate the nonexistence of what is grasped as mind! A phenomenon does not stay fixed in itself. All phenomena conform to liberation, to the truth of the extinguishment of suffering, and to complete tranquility. Grasping things in this way is described as ultimate self-amendment; it is described as fully composing
393a self-amendment; it is described as self-amendment free from aspects of guilt; it is described as destroying the distinction of mind. Those who practice this self-amendment will be as flowing water: pure and clean in body and mind, not staying fixed in themselves. They will be able to discern All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva, and the buddhas of the ten directions as well, in any moment of concentration.
With their bright light of great compassion, the World-honored Ones will then expound the truth of formlessness to the practitioner—he or she will hear the explanation of the ultimate principle of emptiness (śūnyatā). There will be neither fear nor alarm in the practitioner’s mind after hearing the explanation and, when the time comes, he or she will be prepared to take up the true status of bodhisattvahood. The Buddha addressed Ānanda:
Practicing in this way is called doing self-amendment. This self-amendment is the method of self-amendment of the buddhas and great bodhisattvas in the ten directions.
The Buddha said to Ānanda:
When followers of Buddha undertake to amend themselves of unwholesome and harmful karmic acts after the Buddha has passed away, they must resolutely internalize and recite the Great Vehicle sutras. This comprehensive teaching is the buddha eye of the buddhas, it is the means by which buddhas perfect the five kinds of vision, and, from it, the Buddha’s three manifestations arise. This is great evidence of the Dharma, and it attests to the realm of nirvana:28 it is within such a realm that the Buddha’s pure threefold manifestation is able to come forth. This threefold manifestation is a source of benefit for human and heavenly beings, and it is supremely worthy of reverence. It should be known that those who internalize and recite the comprehensive Great Vehicle sutras will be endowed with the Buddha’s merit, and that they will lastingly eliminate unwholesomeness and live in keeping with the Buddha’s wisdom.
Then, expounding further, the World-honored One spoke in verse:
When the sense faculty of sight is corrupted By karmic encumbrances that make it impure, You must resolutely internalize the Great Vehicle And ponder its ultimate principle!
This is called doing self-amendment for the eye To bring unwholesome karmic influences to an end. The sense faculty of hearing gives ear to disruptive sounds And spoils your sense of accord. Because such confusion occurs,
You become just like a foolish monkey.
You must resolutely internalize the Great Vehicle
And contemplate the emptiness and formlessness of all things! You will lastingly bring an end to unwholesomeness And hear in all ten directions with a celestial ear! The sense faculty of smell has attachments to scents And, so affected, drives you to make contacts.
The nose is thus crazed and seduced, And, so affected, begets impure perceptions.
When you internalize the Great Vehicle sutras And contemplate the true reality of all things,
You will lastingly part from harmful karmic actions
And, in lives to come, not produce them again!
The sense faculty of speech promotes the five wrong views29—
An unwholesome karmic cause resulting from the wanton use of words.
When you aspire to effect self-control,
Diligently foster a heart of compassion!
Reflect on how the tranquil true reality of all phenomena Has no aspects for you to discern!
The sense faculty of the mind, just as a monkey, Takes not even one moment of rest. When you aspire to govern it,
You must diligently internalize the Great Vehicle!
Focus on the buddhas—on their fully awakened embodiments, With the capabilities and dauntlessness they have achieved! The material body, the agency of actions,
Behaves like dust blown about by the wind: Six thieves have their way within it— Without limit and free from control.
When you aspire to end this inferior condition,
To lastingly part from overwhelming desires, To abide always in the city of nirvana,
And to be serene and have a calm mind, You must internalize the Great Vehicle sutras And turn your mind to the mother of bodhisattvas! Countless surpassing skillful means are gained By reflecting on the true reality of all things.
These six ways
Are thus named the governing of the six sense faculties. The ocean of all karmic encumbrances Is produced by deluded perceptions.
When you aspire to amend yourself of them,
Focus on the true reality of all phenomena while sitting upright and properly!
All impurities, like frost and dew,
Can be dispelled by wisdom’s sun;
Accordingly, with utmost dedication,
Do self-amendment for the six sense faculties!
Having expounded these verses, the Buddha said to Ānanda:
You should now embrace this method of doing self-amendment for the six sense faculties through contemplation of the bodhisattva Allembracing Goodness! Expound it widely and skillfully to human and heavenly beings everywhere in the ten directions!
When followers of Buddha accept, keep faith with, recite, internalize, and give voice to the comprehensive sutras after the Buddha’s passing, they must recite and internalize30 the comprehensive sutras and reflect on the Great Vehicle’s principle in some tranquil place—whether in a cemetery, or at a hermitage, or under a tree in the woods. Because the power of their concentration will become strong, they will gain perception of my being and likewise perceive the stupa of Abundant Treasures Buddha, innumerable emanated buddhas in the ten directions, Allembracing Goodness Bodhisattva, Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva, King of Medicines Bodhisattva, and Incomparable Medicine Bodhisattva. Because they so venerate the Dharma, we—bearing wondrous flowers— will permeate the skies to praise those who revere, follow, and keep faith with the Way. And because those who keep faith with this method are resolutely internalizing the comprehensive Great Vehicle sutras, they will be honored and sustained, day and night, by buddhas and bodhisattvas. The Buddha addressed Ānanda:
By means and because of reflection on the true principle of the Great Vehicle, I have become rid of impurities from a cycle of countless numbers of births and deaths spanning hundreds of millions of myriads of kalpas, as have the bodhisattvas of the current era and the buddhas of the ten directions. And each of those now in the ten directions has been able to become an Awakened One by means and because of this wonderful and surpassing method of self-amendment. Anyone who aspires to quickly achieve the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment and aspires to perceive, in present time, the buddhas of the ten directions and All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva as well, must purify him- or herself with a bath, don pure clean clothing, burn fine incense, and seek out a quiet secluded location; there, he or she must internalize and recite the Great Vehicle sutras and reflect on the Great Vehicle’s principle. The Buddha spoke thus to Ānanda:
When living beings wish to contemplate the bodhisattva All-embracing Goodness, they should do this contemplation. Contemplating in this manner is known as correct contemplation; contemplation done in any other manner is called errant contemplation.
When followers of Buddha practice self-amendment according to the Buddha’s instructions after the Buddha has passed away, it should be known that they are doing the practice of All-embracing Goodness. Those who follow the practice of All-embracing Goodness will not experience negative situations or detrimental karmic consequences. Those living beings who pay homage to the buddhas of the ten directions at the six specified times of day and night, internalize the Great Vehicle sutras, and reflect on the ultimate principle—the most profound truth of emptiness—will, in an instant, become rid of the impurities from innumerable hundreds of millions of myriads of kalpas of the cycle of births and deaths. Those who follow this practice are truly buddha successors, born of all of the buddhas. The buddhas of the ten directions, and the bodhisattvas as well, will be their mentors. They will be recognized as those who fully conform to the behavioral principles of bodhisattvas: without the need of a ceremony, they will fulfill them on their own. They will become worthy of being honored and rendered service by all human and heavenly beings.
When a practitioner desires to fully conform to a bodhisattva’s behavioral principles, he or she must then seek out a quiet secluded location, place palms together, pay homage universally to the buddhas of the ten directions, admit to his or her faults, and amend him- or herself of impurities. And then, in a tranquil place, the practitioner must address the buddhas of the ten directions, saying these words:
The buddhas, the World-honored Ones, are always present in this world. Yet even though I believe in the comprehensive sutras, I am unable to clearly discern the buddhas because of my karmic encumbrances. I now take refuge in the Buddha! May you, Śākyamuni, Fully Enlightened World-honored One, please become my mentor! O Mañjuśrī, possessor of great wisdom:31 With your wisdom and understanding, please initiate me in the pure bodhisattva ways! Thereby, out of compassion for me, Maitreya Bodhisattva, the sun of surpassing mercy, will permit me to take up the bodhisattva ways; the buddhas of the ten directions will appear to bear witness for me; and the eminent bodhisattvas—those supreme great leaders who safeguard living beings, who inspire and watch over those like me—will each make themselves known by name.
On this day I accept and embrace the comprehensive sutras! Even if I should fall into hells and suffer innumerable hardships upon reaching the end of this life, through it all I will never renounce the correct Dharma of the buddhas! By means and reason of these causes and the power of their beneficial effects, Śākyamuni Buddha now becomes my mentor and Mañjuśrī becomes my steward! O Maitreya who is to come—please impart the teachings to me! O buddhas of the ten directions—please bear witness for my assurance! O great virtuous bodhisattvas—please be my companions!
Trusting now in the wonderful and most profound principle of the Great Vehicle sutras, I take refuge in Buddha, I take refuge in Dharma, and I take refuge in Sangha!
The practitioner must say this three times. Having taken refuge in the Three Treasures, the practitioner must personally vow to adopt the six appropriate behaviors. Having embraced the six appropriate behaviors, she or he must then diligently strive to cultivate unwavering pure conduct, awaken a mind to universally ferry others, and adopt the eight appropriate behaviors.32 Having made this commitment, the practitioner, in a quiet secluded location, must burn fine incense, scatter flowers, offer respects to all buddhas and bodhisattvas and to the comprehensive Great Vehicle as well, and say these
words:
Here, this day, I have awakened the aspiration for enlightenment! Through the beneficial effects of this, may I universally ferry all living beings!
After saying this, the practitioner must again humbly pay homage to all buddhas and bodhisattvas, and reflect on the comprehensive principle over the course of one to three-times-seven days. Whether renunciant or layperson, the practitioner will not need a mentor, will not need stewards, and will not need to take vows in a ceremony because of the power of accepting, keeping faith with, reciting, and internalizing the Great Vehicle sutras, and because of All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva’s encouragement to engage in this practice. This is the core of the true Way of the buddhas in the ten directions. By means and reason of this Way, the practitioner will naturally attain the five attributes of an enlightened one: perfection in behavioral principles, perfection in concentration, perfection in wisdom, perfection in emancipation, and perfection in the perspective that pertains to emancipation. Buddha tathāgatas become so by following this Way; the promise of their Buddhahood is obtained in the Great Vehicle sutras.
Based on this, O wise one, suppose a śrāvaka practitioner repudiates his or her attitude toward the threefold taking of refuge, or toward the five behavioral principles, or toward the eight behavioral principles—or toward the behavioral principles of a monk or nun, of a novice monk or nun, of a novice nun in the final two years of training, or toward matters of dignified conduct. Numerous offenses against the behavioral principles and the rules of dignified conduct are generated by such a foolish, ignorant, unwholesome, and contrary mind. If such a person desires to eliminate and become free of faults and afflictions, and be restored as one who conforms to the rules of the renunciants, he or she must diligently follow and recite the comprehensive sutras, ponder the ultimate principle—the most profound truth of emptiness—and make discernment based on this emptiness become intrinsic to his or her mind. It should be known that this person then, lastingly and with no residue, brings all moral defilements to an end within a moment of thought.33 Such a person is recognized as one who conforms to the codes of the renunciants and fully manifests the ways of dignified conduct. He or she will become worthy of being honored and rendered service by all human and heavenly beings.
Suppose a man who is a lay follower flouts the ways of dignified conduct and does unwholesome things. To do unwholesome things means to claim that there are errors and faults in the Buddha’s teachings, to talk at length about bad things and offenses the fourfold assembly has committed, to steal, to behave licentiously, and to feel no shame. If he desires to amend himself and remove and destroy these impurities, he must diligently recite and internalize the comprehensive sutras and reflect on the ultimate principle.
Suppose kings, ministers of state, spiritual leaders, people of privilege, wealthy persons, civic leaders, and others of this kind untiringly pursue their cravings, commit the five grievous acts, speak ill of the comprehensive sutras, and embrace the ten harmful karmic actions. The consequence of these great wrongs is to fall into bitter conditions that exceed even those of a raging storm. They will most certainly fall to the Avīci Hell. If they desire to rid themselves of and destroy the encumbrances resulting from these karmic causes, they must evince shame and amend themselves of impurities.
What are said to be ways of self-amendment34 for leaders and the priv-
ileged?
A way of self-amendment is that they must fundamentally maintain a pure heart and mind, not speak ill of the Three Treasures, not cause hindrances for renunciants, and not cause hardship for or act maliciously toward those who practice pure living; they must fix their thoughts on and cultivate the six manners of mindfulness; they must also support, render service to, and honor, but do not need to worship,35 those who keep faith with the Great Vehicle; and they must keep in mind the extremely profound truth that is found in the sutras—the ultimate principle of emptiness. Being mindful in this way is called practicing the first self-amendment for leaders and the privileged. A second self-amendment is to act filially toward their parents and respect their teachers and elders. This is called practicing the second way of self-amendment. A third self-amendment is to govern their domains with appropriate laws and not restrict people unjustly. This is called practicing 394b the third self-amendment. A fourth self-amendment is to direct that all within their spheres of influence refrain from killing and observe other such specified ways during the six abstaining days of the month. This is called practicing the fourth self-amendment. A fifth self-amendment is that they must, fundamentally, deeply believe in karmic cause and effect, trust the one genuine path, and be aware of the timeless presence of the Buddha. This is called practicing the fifth self-amendment.
The Buddha spoke thus to Ānanda:
If there are any in future worlds who pursue mastery of these methods of self-amendment as such, it should be known that they don the clothes of humility, that buddhas will watch over and inspire them, and that it will not take a long time for them to achieve the full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment.
When these words were spoken, ten thousand heavenly beings attained the Dharma eye that clearly sees the truth of all things; and Maitreya Bodhisattva, the other eminent bodhisattvas, and Ānanda, hearing the Buddha’s teachings, rejoiced and faithfully followed them.
Notes
1 We used the original Sanskrit term panniepan. parinirvāṇa, indicated by the Chinese transliteration 2 Buddhist sense is closer to “impurity, impurities.” The character zui in the Taishō text is often translated as “sin,” but the meaning in a
3 Household Library, as indicated in note 32 (Our translation follows the phrasing of the Old Song edition of the Japanese ImperialThe Taishō text has (you xue pu xian xing)/you xue pu xian xingpu shien xing zhe. )/xing pu shien xing.
4 The Chinese character that we here translate as “method,” of the Sanskrit dharma, a word that carries many meanings depending on the contextfa, is the Chinese translation text, we translated it according to our determination of its contextual meaning, e.g.,in which it appears. On each occasion of this character’s appearance in the Taishō
“method,” “way,” “Dharma,” “Way,” “teaching,” “phenomenon,” etc.
5 epithet of the Kegon gyō In the Taishō Chinese text, the title appears. We follow the Taishō text in our translation, although note 33 corresponding to this wording says that three Chinese editions of this sutra, the Song, Yuan, andMing editions, give the name ). The Kasuga version has the title Flower Garland SutraZahua jingFahua jing, Dharma Flower Sutra(Skt. (Avataṃsaka-sūtra;Jpn. ZakkekyōZahua jing,), which is thought of as an and a previous English Ch. Huayan jing; (Lotus SutraJpn.),
translation of this sutra translates the title as “Sutra of Miscellaneous Flowers.” 6 The Chinese song translated as such describes the internal attitude of the practitioner, within the various contexts of their appearances, and translated accordingly, e.g., “take to heart.” shou, recite.” In the process of preparing our translation, especially in light of this sutra’s although it is traditionally rendered as “to recite; recitation.” The traditional sequence shou, chi, dou, song“accept”; chi,Lotus Sutra, “keep,” “keep faith with”; often appears in direct translation as “accept, keep, read, and we evaluated each instance of the terms independently Dou, “recite”; song, “internalize,” relationship to the
7 Our translation of sanmei, the Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit samādhi.
8 The Taishō text has yen fu ti, the Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit Jambudvīpa, which, according to Buddhist cosmology, is the name of the continent south of the Himalayas that includes India. It later came to simply mean “this world.”
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The Sutra on All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva
9 We chose to render the Chinese as “self-amendment” since this is more descriptive of the process that is meant i.e., becoming aware of one’s own excesses, shortcomings, and errors in behavior and attitude, determining to rectify them, and taking appropriate action to do so. chanhui, a term more commonly translated as “manifested bodhisattva form,” etc. motional manifestation and uniqueness, instead of using a more literal translation such as “transformed buddha” or “transformational buddha.” In like manner we render huafo as “manifested buddha form” to indicate the aspect of a transfer
10 “a golden beam of light that enters the elephant’s trunk” is followed by “having In the Kasuga version, and in a previous English translation of this sutra, the phrase there is no note in the Taishō text regarding this difference. color of a red lotus flower.” The latter phrase does not appear in the Taishō text, and
11 means “ancient school,” while the character given in note 15, from the Song, Yuan, character shown in note 15 are the same, the character read Although the pronunciation of the character in the Taishō text and the alternative song in the source text
Thus we have rendered it here as “quiet purpose.” The Kasuga version shows the same character given in note 15 in the Taishō in this location. and Ming editions and the Old Song edition of the Japanese Imperial Household Library, means “a sense of mindfulness,” which is more appropriate in the context.
12 a previous English translation of this sutra) as “Hearing All-embracing Goodness According to the Kasuga version, this passage can be read (and appears similarly in in the Taishō text regarding this difference. preach the profound Dharma, and understanding its meaning. . . .” There is no note
13 ability to utilize them can be achieved by a practitioner as a result of correct guidance generally accepted (and usually defined in Buddhist dictionaries) as “magical words or syllables.” The context of its use in this sutra indicates that the term refers to unique powers that propel one toward the attainment of enlightenment. The original Chinese tuoluoni is the transliteration of the Sanskrit dhāraṇī, which is
by the Buddha or others, as shown at this point in the sutra, for example, by the practitioner’s attainment of action and exchange” through the tutelage of All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva. xuan tuoluoni, the “Dharma-grasping empowerment of inter-
14 of the sutra follows this reading. There is no note regarding the difference in theThe Kasuga version reads “further rejoice” here, and a previous English translation
Taishō text.
15 translation of the sutra follows this reading. There is no note regarding this difference the Kasuga version reads “one to three-times-seven days” here, and a previous English in the Taishō text.
16 The Kasuga version reads “ideas” here, and a previous English translation of the sutrafollows this reading. There is no note regarding this difference in the Taishō text.
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Notes
17 The Kasuga version reads “matters” or “events” here, and a previous English translation of the sutra follows this reading. There is no note regarding this difference in the Taishō text.
18 however, it is possible to misread the script of the character for “ten” as “thou-In the common Japanese translation of this sutra, and in a previous English translation, this number is given as “two thousand.” In the corresponding part of the Kasuga vers and.” A comparison with the similarly written character for “ten” in the nearby com-pound “ten directions” in the same Kasuga text makes clear that this character should also be read as “ten.”
19 literally, but the Chinese translation of it does not carry the aspect of “family.” In keeping with our intention to use inclusive language in the translation whenever pos-The original Sanskrit of this phrase would read “son[s] of good family” if translations, and since, in the context of this sutra the practitioner is the one being addressed, the phrase shannanzi is translated as “you of good intent.”
20 From the context, we believe that the character sha, “sand,” would be the appropriate character miao, “subtle,” that appears in the
Taishō version is a misprint, and that in the reference to the “sands of the Ganges.”
21 in the genitive; and in a previous English translation of this sutra, this phrase is trans-In traditional interpretations of the Chinese lasted as “[you] receive the body of a woman.” In our translation we have read as ablative, and therefore render the phrase as “your body is derived from a woman.” shou nu ren shen, nu ren has been readnu ren
22 ru,Yuan, and Ming editions and the Old Song edition of the Japanese Imperial Household We chose to follow note 15 in the Taishō text here, according to which the Song,gu se shi ru, “forms thus make you,” in place of se shi shi
Library have the phrase which appears in the Taishō text.
23 Song, Yuan, and Ming editions have We follow note 17 in the Taishō text here, which indicates that instead of huiyen, which we render as “profound insight.”huiming, the
24 number eight hundred that appears in the source text. 3We chose to follow the phrasing of the Yuan and Ming editions, as indicated in note in the Taishō text, which give the number as one hundred and eight rather than the
25 The name of this buddha, Shan-te, has also been translated as “Good Virtue” and “Excellent Virtue.”
26 We used the original Sanskrit name Vairocana, indicated by the Chinese transliteration Piluzhenuo.
27 niepan.We used the original Sanskrit term nirvana, indicated by the Chinese transliteration
28 We understand the sutra’s use of “wrong views” errantly praised by the sense faculty of speech in the correspondingwuzhong, “five kinds,” here as referring to the
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The Sutra on All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva prose sections at 392b18, characters 1–4, and 392b23, character 15, to 392b24, char-acter 1.
29 See note 6, above. ductory phrasing of this section at 393b16, characters 11–14: here, but we chose to follow the phrasing of the Song, Yuan, and Ming editions, which The Taishō text has the two characters in the order dou song, “recite and internalize.” This ordering matches the intro-song dou, “internalize and recite,” shou, chi, dou, song. give the order as
30 as The Kasuga version and a previous English translation give the epithet of Mañjuśrī great wisdom,” in the Taishō text, which is consistent with traditional descriptions of this bodhisattva’s character. There is no note regarding this difference in the Taishōda beizhe, “possessor of great compassion,” instead of da huizhe, “possessor of text.
31 We have translated the two phrases “six appropriate behaviors” and “eight appropriate behaviors” based on information from the Sutra for the Behavior of Laymen Sutra of Good Behavioral Principles for Bodhisattvas) and the Bosatsuzenkaigyō Ubasokukaigyō ), in which both groups are((Ch. Ch. Pusa shan jie jing,Youposai jie jing, mentioned.
32 Song, Yuan, and Ming editions and the Old Song edition of the Japanese Imperial the phrasing Household Library, as indicated in note 5 of the Taishō text. Although the source text reads wu yi nian qing, wu nian nian qing,“within a moment of thought,” which appears in the “in every thought,” here, we follow
33 “What are said to be the ways of self-amendment. . . .” Additionally, the source text con-The Kasuga version here contains the phrase “The Buddha said,” as introductory to tinues, at character 12, with “A way of self-amendment is. . . ,” while the Kasuga version in the Taishō edition regarding these differences. has the phrase “A way of self-amendment for leaders and the privileged is. . . .” A previous English translation of this sutra conforms to the Kasuga version. No notes are found
34 version reads The Taishō edition reads ke bi li bai, bu bi li bai, “must worship”; a previous English translation has “must “but do not need to worship,” while the Kasuga
surely salute.” There is no note in the Taishō text regarding the opposing readings.
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THE COMMENTARY ON THE LOTUS SUTRA
Contents
The Commentary on the Lotus Sutra
Translator’s Introduction 87 Fascicle One 93 Chapter I. The Introduction to the Lotus Sutra 95 Chapter II. Expedient Means 117 Fascicle Two 123 Chapter II. Expedient Means (continued) 123
Chapter III. Parables 137
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Translator’s Introduction
The Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa (Jpn. Myōhorengekyō upadaisha) is a commentary on the Lotus Sutra attributed to the eminent Buddhist philosopher Vasubandhu. According to the Hokke Denki (Taishō no. 2068, 52c25–29), over fifty commentaries were written on the Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra) in India, including one by the renowned philosopher Nāgārjuna. The Saddhar mapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa (hereafter also referred to as the Commentary) has the distinction of being the only Indian commentary on the Lotus Sutra to have been preserved in any Buddhist canon; it may, however, be an apocryphal text.
The Commentary is divided into three chapters. Chapter I, “The Introduction to the Lotus Sutra,” contains only quotations from the first chapter of the Lotus Sutra, “Nidāṇa-parivarta.” This chapter is structured around a discussion of the seven meritorious accomplishments presented in the first chapter of the sutra. It also contains a well-known section on the seventeen titles of the Lotus Sutra.
Chapter II, “Expedient Means,” contains only quotations from the second chapter of the Lotus Sutra, “Upāyakauśalya-parivarta.” In this chapter of the Commentary the significance of the Dharma as realization, the Dharma as teaching, and predictions are explained. Most of the discussion about the tathāgatagarbha (lit., “womb of the buddha”), the dharmakāya (Dharma body or absolute body), and the ekayāna (One Vehicle or single vehicle) occurs here.
Chapter III, “Parables,” contains quotations or references to twenty-four chapters of the Lotus Sutra. Only the “Utsāha-parivarta” and “Anuparīndanāpari varta” chapters are not mentioned. The chapter that is most frequently referred to here is the “Tathāgatāyuṣpramāṇa-parivarta.” Important topics discussed in this chapter of the Commentary are the seven parables that act as counteragents to the seven kinds of arrogance, the three equalities, the ten supreme meanings, and the three kinds of enlightenment of the three kinds of buddhas.
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The Commentary on the Lotus Sutra
Vasubandhu and the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa
Vasubandhu, a versatile and brilliant scholar of Buddhism, may have written the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa. Based on all the evidence, it is impossible to establish beyond all reasonable doubt that he is in fact the author of this text.
Vasubandhu wrote over ten different commentaries on various Mahayana sutras. Many of these commentaries are concerned with sutras that are philosophically affiliated with the Prajñāpāramitā (Perfection of Wisdom) school of Buddhism. The Commentary differs in this respect. Rather than the elucidation of śūnyatā (emptiness), its main philosophical emphasis is the explication of the ekayāna (the single buddha vehicle to enlightenment); the tathāgatagarbha and its relation to the dharmakāya; the relation of the dharmakāya to the adherents of the three vehicles: the Mahayana (Great Vehicle), the śrāvakayāna (vehicle of the disciples, śrāvakas), and the pratyekabuddhayāna (vehicle of the selfenlightened buddhas, pratyekabuddhas); and the merits of the sutra. The fact that the author of the Commentary mentions the tathāgatagarbha several times in the text indicates that he affiliated this concept with the Lotus Sutra and its ekayāna doctrine.
The Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa states that the tathāgatagarbha, which is equated with the dharmakāya, is equal and undifferentiated, thus everyone shares it; however, only the bodhisattva vehicle leads to its realization. Based on these statements, it can be inferred that the author of the Commentary presupposes the existence of two types of gotra (religious lineage): one that is conditioned (samudānīta-gotra) and one that is unconditioned (prakṛtiṣṭhagotra). According to the text, only the bodhisattva path leads to the true enlightenment of a buddha. The conditioned results, or conditioned gotras, obtained through the other two paths, of the disciples (śrāvakas) and of the self-enlightened buddhas (pratyekabuddhas), are inferior and do not lead to true enlightenment. For the author of the Commentary, there is only one vehicle (ekayāna) that leads to the enlightenment of a buddha: the Mahayana (Great Vehicle), which is exclusively the vehicle of the bodhisattvas.
The Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa in China and Japan
The history and influence of this text in India are obscure due to the lack of historical records. However, beginning with its translation in China during
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Translator’s Introduction
sūtra-upadeśathe early part of the sixth century began to exert some influence on the great Chinese Buddhist C.E., it is clear that the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkascholars of that age, particularly Zhiyi (538–587) and Jizang (549–623). Although Jizang is commonly associated with the Mādhyamaka school in China, he had extensive knowledge of the other schools of Buddhism as well. He wrote several commentaries on the Lotus Sutra and is the author of the only commentary in China on the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa, the Fahua lun shu (Taishō no. 1818).
One particular feature of Jizang’s philosophy is his interest in the various kāya (buddha body) theories found in Buddhist sutras and śāstras. Jizang and Zhiyi both quote the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa in their discussions on the trikāya (three bodies of the Buddha). Credit for the introduction of the trikāya theory to Chinese Buddhism should therefore go mainly to this text, along with another sutra commentary by Vasubandhu, the Daśabhūmika-sūtraśāstra (Taishō no. 1522), which was translated into Chinese shortly before the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa. Also in regard to Jizang’s philosophy, the clear association of the tathāgatagarbha with the ekayāna (One Vehicle) theory in the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa appears to have influenced his understanding of the buddha-nature as an intrinsic part of all sentient beings.
Beginning in the ninth century in Japan, many commentaries were written on the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa. It has been a particularly important text for the Japanese Tendai school. Both Saichō (767–822) and Enchin (814– 891), who are associated with the Tendai school, produced commentaries on it. Enchin’s commentary, the Hokkeronki (Nihon Daizōkyō, vol. 49) is very significant since it establishes the doctrinal basis for Japanese Tendai.
Philological Issues Regarding the Chinese Translation of the
Commentary
This text, like many of the other sutra commentaries attributed to Vasu- bandhu, is now extant only in Chinese translation. There are three Chinese versions of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa mentioned in the various Chinese catalogues of Buddhist scriptures. The first was translated by Ratnamati and Senglang in 508 (Taishō no. 1520). The second was translated by Bodhiruci and Tanlin between 508 or 509 and 535 (Taishō no. 1519). A third translation reportedly done by Yijing has never been found.
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The Commentary on the Lotus Sutra
An examination of T. 1519 and T. 1520 along with the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra-upadeśa manuscripts that are quoted in full in the commentaries by Jizang and Enchin show that these are not actually two different translations. T. 1519, attributed to Bodhiruci, appears to be a revised version of T. 1520. Since there are discrepancies in the information in the catalogues about these two alleged translations, it is difficult to determine whether Ratnamati is actually the translator of T. 1520. The original translation may have been done by Bodhiruci since he also translated many of Vasubandhu’s other sutra commentaries.
One particularly interesting feature about the Chinese rendition of the Commentary is how the quotations from the Lotus Sutra have been translated. A majority of these quotations, especially those that have been abridged, seem not to have been directly translated from the Sanskrit manuscript but instead copied from Kumārajīva’s translation of the Lotus Sutra (Taishō no. 262). In this English translation of the Commentary, the abridged quotations have been restored following Kumārajīva’s rendition of the Lotus Sutra, since the translators of the Commentary in China were so influenced by his translation of the sutra. These abridged quotations, in particular, should not be taken to represent the actual Sanskrit manuscript of the Lotus Sutra on which the author of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśa based his commentary. That manuscript may well have been a longer version of the Lotus Sutra than is represented by any of the present Sanskrit manuscripts, and it was undoubtedly very different from T. 262.
The research on T. 1519 and this subsequent translation were undertaken from 1982 to 1985 under the gracious direction of Prof. Seiji Kimura and other faculty in the Department of Buddhism at Komazawa University in Tokyo, Japan. It is my hope that this translation will assist others in the further study and improved translation of this text.
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THE COMMENTARY ON THE LOTUS SUTRA
Fascicle One
A commentary by Vasubandhu, the Commentator on the Great Vehicle
Translated by Bodhiruci, the Tipitaka Master from Northern India, with the Buddhist monk Tanlin and others in Yexia, between 509–535 during the Later Wei dynasty.
I give reverence to the Sea of Perfect Enlightenment (Buddha), the Immaculate Doctrine (Dharma), and the Immutable Assembly (Sangha). For those of profound intellect I shall elucidate an explanation [of the Lotus Sutra].
In honor of the Venerable Sage, the bodhisattvas, and the disciples, I shall briefly put forth this synopsis in order to have the Dharma benefit myself and others.
I pay homage to the buddhas and bodhisattvas of the past, present, and
future.
With their extensive benevolence and overwhelming supernatural powers, I entreat them to bestow me with self-confidence.
Having great compassion and stopping the four Māras, they protect the
dominant factor for enlightenment.
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Chapter I
The Introduction to the Lotus Sutra
Thus have I heard at one time. The Buddha was staying in the city of 1a16 Rājagṛha, on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa together with a great gathering of twelve thousand monks—all of them were arhats, free of depravities, undefiled, fully controlled, quite mentally freed, with fully emancipated wisdom, well refined, great dragons among men, their work done, their task accomplished, their burden laid down, their own goal achieved, fetters all destroyed. Their minds were fully emancipated through right knowledge. They had complete mastery of all thoughts and had reached the highest perfection.
There were also eighty thousand bodhisattvas, great beings, who were irreversible from highest, complete enlightenment. All of them had attained the magical spells and were inspired speakers. They had set the irreversible wheel of the Dharma in motion, worshiped countless hundreds of thousands of buddhas, planted the roots of good merit under them, and always received their praise. They had cultivated themselves with great friendliness, fully entered the Buddha’s wisdom, penetrated the highest knowledge, and reached the other shore. They had achieved fame throughout countless worlds and ferried across innumerable hundreds of thousands of living beings.
The Commentary says: The gateway to this sutra begins with an introduction that reveals the accomplishment of seven types of merit. 1) [The merit] 1b accomplished in the opening statement; 2) [the merit] accomplished with the gathering of the great assembly; 3) [the merit] accomplished when the Tathāgata wants to teach the Dharma; 4) [the merit] accomplished when the comportment by which [the Tāthagata] teaches the Dharma accords with his station; 5) [the merit] accomplished when he establishes the ground to teach;
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6) [the merit] accomplished when the assembly wants to hear about the event; 7) [the merit] accomplished by Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī.
I. [The Merit] Accomplished in the Opening Statement
It should be known that “the accomplishment [of merit] shown in the opening statement” indicates an accomplishment of two supreme meanings in this religious discourse. What are these two? 1) It shows the accomplishment of the highest meaning in all religious discourse; 2) it shows the accomplishment of sovereignty. Thus Rājagṛha, which excels all other cities, and Gṛdhrakūṭa, which surpasses all other mountains, [are used to] illustrate the highest meaning found in this religious discourse. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “The Blessed
One was staying in the city of Rājagṛha, on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa.”
II. [The Merit] Accomplished with the Gathering of the Assembly
There are four accomplishments regarding the assembly. These four should be known as follows: 1) the accomplishment regarding calculation; 2) the accomplishment regarding practice; 3) the accomplishment regarding the accumulation of merit; 4) the accomplishment regarding deportment based on the Dharma.
The accomplishment regarding calculation refers to [the members of]
the great assembly who are countless.
The accomplishment regarding practice includes four types: 1) the disciples (śrāvakas) who cultivate the practice of the Small Vehicle; 2) the bodhisattvas who cultivate the practice of the Great Vehicle; 3) the bodhisattvas who through their supernatural powers manifest themselves according to the circumstance so that the practice of the Great Vehicle can be cultivated. For example, among the sixteen virtuous ones there is Bodhisattva Bhadrapāla, who completed the incomprehensible tasks of a bodhisattva and constantly revealed various forms, such as [that of] a layman or laywoman, a monk or nun; and 4) the ordained disciples whose deportment is stipulated. They are not the same as the bodhisattvas.
The sixteen statements that begin with “all of them were arhats” illustrate the merits that the disciples have accomplished. The thirteen statements that begin with “who were irreversible from the highest, complete enlightenment” illustrate the merits that the bodhisattvas have accomplished.
The sixteen statements regarding the merits accomplished by the disciples are consolidated into three categories. What are these three? 1) The explanation based on the preceding statement, 2) the generic and individual characteristics, and 3) incorporated subjects.
The explanation based on the preceding statement: Since they were “free of depravities” the disciples were referred to as “arhats.” They were referred to as being “free of depravities” since they were “fully controlled.” They 1c were referred to as being “fully controlled” since they were “undefiled.” They were referred to as being “fully controlled” since they were “quite mentally freed,” “with fully emancipated wisdom.” They were referred to as being “undefiled” since they had rid themselves of any distinction between subject and object. They were referred to as being “well refined” since they were “quite mentally freed,” “with fully emancipated wisdom.” They were “great dragons among humans” since they had undauntedly traveled on all dangerous paths as if they were smooth roads, gone where they should have gone, and arrived where they should have arrived. “Their work done” means these “dragons among men” had attained the antidotes for suppressing the antagonism of the defilements. “Their task accomplished” means they had no further rebirths since they had already completed the relevant tasks. “Their burden laid down” means that since “their task was accomplished” and “their work was done,” they had already rid themselves of the burden of further rebirths. “Their own goal achieved” means that with “their burden laid down” they had realized nirvana. “Their fetters all destroyed” means that with “their own goal achieved” they had eliminated the causes for all defilements. “Fully emancipated through right knowledge” means they were “free of depravities.” “They had complete mastery of all thoughts” means they had fully comprehended the knowledge of the paths of insight and practice. “They had reached the highest perfection” means “they were fully emancipated through right knowledge” and fully possessed the supernatural powers and all the merits of the passionless meditative trances.
They were “great arhats” because they were “fully controlled” and “had reached the highest perfection.” That they were well known means kings, crown princes, ministers, commoners, Indra, and Brahma all knew them.
Moreover, they were also well known by those of superior knowledge, that is, the disciples, bodhisattvas, and buddhas. Therefore they were referred to as “well known.”
As for the category of the features of the generic and individual characteristics, among the sixteen statements beginning with “all of them were arhats,” the first statement illustrates the generic characteristic while all the others illustrate individual characteristics. As for “all of them were arhats,” the term “arhat” means “one who is worthy.” The fifteen meanings of one who is worthy should be known. What are these fifteen?
1) One who is worthy receives food and bedding, honor, and reverence; 2) one who is worthy leads the great assembly in giving guidance to all [living beings]; 3) one who is worthy enters such places as cities and villages; 4) one who is worthy overcomes all heretical systems; 5) one who is worthy quickly surveys all phenomena (dharmas) with wisdom; 6) one who is worthy teaches the Dharma untiringly and in good physical condition in accordance with the truth (Dharma); 7) one who is worthy sits tranquilly in a secluded forest, does not accumulate or gather food, clothing, or possessions, and is
2a satisfied with little; 8) one who is worthy intently practices good conduct and does not become attached to any meditation; 9) one who is worthy carries out the noble practice of emptiness; 10) one who is worthy carries out the noble practice of sinlessness; 11) one who is worthy carries out the noble practice of witlessness; 12) one who is worthy suppresses [their desire for] the tranquility of worldly meditation; 13) one who is worthy has produced the superior qualities of all the supernatural powers; 14) one who is worthy has realized the superior merits of the supreme meaning; and 15) with their knowledge of true reality, one who is worthy [knows] the merits that those of the same group have attained in order to benefit all living beings.
As for the category of incorporated subjects, it should be known that [the remaining] fifteen statements incorporate ten types of merit that illustrate both expressible and inexpressible results. What are these ten?
- The arhats, having acquired the special merit [of being rid of defilements], are described in the Lotus Sutra by the two statements “free of depravities” and “undefiled.”
- Their having acquired all merits is illustrated in the Lotus Sutra by three statements. One statement illustrates the merit of overcoming that which pertains to the mundane. This is expressed in the Lotus Sutra as “fully controlled.” Two statements illustrate the merit of one with still more to learn who overcomes that which pertains to the supramundane. This is expressed in the Lotus Sutra as “quite mentally freed,” “with fully emancipated wisdom.”
- Their having acquired the merit of conformity means their practice was in accordance with the Tathāgata’s teaching. This is expressed in the Lotus Sutra by the statement “well refined.”
- Their having acquired the most excellent merits is expressed in the Lotus Sutra by the statement “great dragons among men.”
- Their having acquired the most excellent merit of having done what was to be done means they have worshiped, revered, and respected the tathāgatas in accordance with the Dharma. This is expressed in the Lotus Sutra by the statement “their work done.”
- Their having acquired the merit of completion means they have completed the stage of one who has more to learn. This is expressed in the Lotus Sutra by the statement “their task accomplished.”
- Their having acquired the merit of transcendence is illustrated by three statements in the Lotus Sutra. The three obstacles they have overcome are craving, honoring and revering the desire for life, and [rebirth in] the lower and the upper realms. The arhats have acquired this type of merit because they have transcended the state of having more to learn. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “their burden laid down,” “their own goal achieved,” “their fetters all destroyed.”
- Their having acquired the merit of the unsurpassable is expressed in the Lotus Sutra by the statement “fully emancipated through right knowledge.”
- Their having acquired the merit of doing what should be done to benefit living beings is expressed in the Lotus Sutra by the statement “they have complete mastery of all thoughts.”
- Their having acquired the merit that is foremost is expressed in the
Lotus Sutra by the statement “they have reached the highest perfection.”
The merits accomplished by the bodhisattvas are described in thirteen statements that are consolidated into two categories. What are these two? 1) The category of primary and secondary divisions and 2) the category of incorporated subjects.
It should be known that the category of primary and secondary divisions is called the category of the generic and individual characteristics. The general characteristic is indicated by the statement, “They were irreversible from the
2b highest, complete enlightenment.” All the remaining statements are individual characteristics.
There are ten irreversibility summarized by the generic characteristic. What are these ten?
- The bodhisattvas are irreversible from being established in listening to the Dharma. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “They had all attained the magical spells.”
- They are irreversible from eloquence. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “[They were] inspired speakers.”
- They are irreversible from teaching, having set [the irreversible wheel
of the Dharma] in motion.”
- They are irreversible from relying on [the buddhas], their beneficialfriends, since the actions of body and mind are predicated on the material bodies [of the buddhas]. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “[They had] worshiped countless hundreds of thousands of buddhas” and “planted the roots of good merit under them.”
- They are irreversible from having eliminated all doubts. Just as it says
in the Lotus Sutra, “[They] were always praised by the buddhas.”
- They are irreversible from entering into various doctrines in order to teach the Dharma in any situation. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “They had cultivated themselves with great friendliness.”
- They are irreversible from having entered the true realm of omniscience. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “They had fully entered the Buddha’s wisdom.”
- They are irreversible from relying on the insubstantiality of the individual and the insubstantiality of phenomena (dharmas). Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “They had penetrated the highest knowledge.”
- They are irreversible from having entered the realm of true reality. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “They had reached the other shore.”
- They are irreversible from their work being done. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “They had achieved fame throughout countless worlds and ferried across innumerable hundreds of thousands of living beings.”
One category of “basis of support” shows in which pure stage a bodhisattva resides and which expedient means he uses in that state to do what has to be done. “Pure state” means the serenity and purity of the practice of sinlessness in the three stages of the bodhisattva path starting with the eighth stage. There are four types of expedient means:
- The expedient means of incorporating the true Dharma (saddharma), since [a bodhisattva] upholds the true Dharma when using the power of eloquence to explain it to people.
- The expedient means of incorporating beneficial friends, since [abodhisattva] relies on beneficial friends to accomplish what must be done.
- The expedient means of incorporating living beings, since [a bodhi-
sattva] does not abandon them.
- The expedient means of incorporating knowledge, since by giving guidance to living beings [the bodhisattva] causes them to enter that knowledge.
Furthermore, there is another category of “basis of support” that illustrates the most excellent merits incorporated in the stages [of the bodhisattva path], since the merits [acquired through] the two vehicles (i.e, those of the disciples, śrāvakas, and the self-enlightened buddhas, pratyekabuddhas) are not the same. The knowledge of effortless [practice, a merit that is acquired] in the eighth stage [of the bodhisattva path], is different [from the merits acquired in] the lower [six stages] and the upper [seventh stage]. That it is different from the lower [six stages] means that in these [stages a bodhisattva has] established a practice that requires effort. That it is different from the upper seventh [stage] means that in this [stage a bodhisattva has] established the practice of sinlessness. [In the eighth stage] practice is spontaneous. In the ninth stage a bodhisattva attains the special magical spells and is endowed with the four analytical knowledges. In the tenth stage, a bodhisattva sets the irreversible wheel of the Dharma in motion because he acquires the status of a buddha, as if he were the crown prince of a universal monarch (cakravartin), 2c and because he likewise attains the benefits of his accumulation of merits.
The accomplishment regarding the accumulation of merits shows that [a bodhisattva has] relied on some basis, thought, knowledge, realm of action, and objective support. The basis upon which he relied was that which gives aid (kalyāṇamitra). The thought upon which he relied was the thought of giving guidance to living beings and completely benefiting them all. The knowledge upon which he relied was threefold: 1) the secret knowledge of receiving a prediction, 2) the super knowledges, and 3) the knowledge of true reality. It should be known that the realm of action and objective support upon which he relied were understood through the three types of knowledge.
As for the accomplishment regarding deportment based on the Dharma, four types are shown. What are these four? 1) The assembly surrounding [the Buddha]; 2) [the assembly] bowing [to touch the feet of the Buddha] and then withdrawing [to one side]; 3) [the assembly] worshiping and revering [the Buddha]; 4) [The assembly] respecting and praising him. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “At that time the Blessed One was surrounded, worshiped,
revered, respected, and praised by the fourfold assembly.”
III. [The Merit] Accomplished When the Tathāgata Wants to Teach the Dharma
That merit is accomplished when the Tathāgata wants to teach the Dharma means the Tathāgata explains the Sutra of the Great Vehicle to the bodhisattvas. It should be known that this [Lotus] Sutra of the Great Vehicle has seventeen titles that reveal its profound merit. What are these seventeen and what do they show?
- [The Lotus Sutra] is called “The Infinite Meanings Sutra” because it completes the meaning of words, and because this religious discourse explains the subtle realm of their profound truth (Dharma). “The subtle realm of their profound truth” means the ultimate realm of all the buddhas, the tathāgatas.
- It is called “The Most Excellent Sutra.” This shows that among the three divisions of the Buddhist scriptures, the most excellent division is well completed in this religious discourse.
- It is called “The Greatly Expanded Sutra” since it well completes the foundation of all the vast discourses of the Great Vehicle in accordance with the faculties of living beings.
- It is called “The Instruction for the Bodhisattvas,” since it well completes the instruction for those bodhisattvas with mature faculties in accordance with their capacities.
- It is called “[The Sutra] that is Protected by the Buddhas,” since the
buddhas, the tathāgatas, abide in this Dharma.
- It is called “The Mysterious Dharma of All the Buddhas,” since the
profundity of this Dharma is known only by the buddhas.
- It is called “The Storehouse of All the Buddhas,” since the storehouse
of all the meritorious meditative states of the tathāgatas is in this sutra.
- It is called “The Mysterious Subject of All the Buddhas,” since it isnot conferred on those who do not have the capacity [to understand it], such as living beings with immature faculties.
- It is called “The Sutra that Produces All the Buddhas,” since the greatenlightenment of all the buddhas can be produced by hearing this religious discourse.
- It is called “The Seat of Enlightenment of All the Buddhas,” sincethe highest, complete enlightenment of all the buddhas can be produced through this religious discourse, and not through any of the other sutras.
- It is called “The Wheel of the Dharma Set in Motion by All the 3a Buddhas,” because all the obstructions can be destroyed through this religious discourse.
- It is called “The Adamantine Relic of All the Buddhas,” since thetrue absolute body (dharmakāya) of all the tathāgatas [that is found] in this sutra does not decay.
- It is called “The Sutra that is the Great Skillful Expedient Means ofAll the Buddhas,” since they rely on this religious discourse to develop great enlightenment and use it to explain all the good attributes of the heavenly beings (devas), disciples, and self-enlightened buddhas to living beings.
- It is called “The Sutra that Teaches the One Vehicle,” since this religious discourse reveals the ultimate essence of the highest, complete enlightenment of the tathāgatas, whereas the way of the other two vehicles does not.
- It is called “The Sutra that is the Abode of the Highest Meaning,” because this religious discourse is the ultimate abode of the dharmakāya of all the buddhas, the tathāgatas.
- It is called “The Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra.” This title has two
meanings. What are these two?
The first meaning is [that of a lotus] emerging from water. This indicates that which cannot be destroyed emerges from the turbid water of the Small Vehicle. There is another significance, [that of the disciples who are] just like a lotus emerging from turbid water. When all the disciples obtain entry to the Tathāgata’s great assembly, they too, like all the bodhisattvas, are seated on lotuses. And while listening to the explanation about the pure realm of the Tathāgata’s unsurpassed knowledge, they directly apprehend this profound subject matter.
The second meaning is [that of] a blossoming lotus. Because of the trepidation living beings have regarding the Great Vehicle, they are unable to produce faith in it. Therefore a blossoming lotus represents the pure dharmakāya of all the tathāgatas, which causes living beings to engender faith.
- It is called “The Supreme Religious Discourse,” because of its accomplishment of verses. “The accomplishment of verses” means it includes countless words, phrases, syllables, and ten millions and hundreds of tens of millions of verses.
These seventeen statements about the religious discourse are general, while all others are particular. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “[Buddha Candrasūryaprabhā] taught the sutra of the Great Vehicle called “[The Sutra] of Infinite Meanings” to the bodhisattvas. . . .”
IV. [The Merit] Accomplished When [the
Comportment that is Based on His Station Tathāgata] Teaches the Dharma with
As for the merit, on what means does he rely to teach the Dharma? He utilizes three methods:
- [He] utilizes the accomplishments of meditative trance. There aretwo types of accomplishments: The first is the power of self-mastery, since [in meditative trance] the body and mind remain imperturbable. The second is the elimination of all the obstructions, something that occurs along with the power of self-mastery. The power of self-mastery also has two types:
The first type is for [the Tathāgata] to conform [the teaching] to living beings to illustrate the antidotes [and enable them to] attain the elements conducive to enlightenment. The second type functions as an antidote to the tenacious defilements that exist from beginningless time. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
The Buddha, having expounded this sutra, sat in the posture of meditation and entered the meditative trance called “the abode of the exposition of infinity” where he remained imperturbable in body and mind. . . .
- He utilizes the physical worlds.
- He utilizes the human worlds. 3b
That is why [the Tathāgata] caused the earth to quake and knew what had happened over the past countless world-ages (kalpas). Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
Then mandārava [and great mandārava, mañjūṣaka and great mañjū ṣaka flowers fell like rain from the sky, scattering over the Buddha and the great assembly. And the entire buddha world quaked in six ways. Thereupon the entire assembly of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen in that gathering, the devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahorāgas, humans and nonhumans, kings and noble emperors, attained an unprecedented experience]. Joyfully, and with the palms of their hands pressed together in reverence, they gazed attentively at the Buddha.
V. [The Merit] Accomplished When the Tathāgata Establishes the Grounds to Teach
This merit means that he reveals an unusual, incomprehensible event to the great assembly. Seeing it, the great assembly is struck with wonder. Delighted, they want to hear about it and think: “The Tathāgata should now explain something to us.” Therefore it is called the accomplishment of a basis to explain the motive. That is why the Tathāgata emits a great ray of light that reveals various events occurring in the worlds of another direction.
The Tathāgata first displays for the great assembly external events, such as the earth quaking in six ways. Then he reveals the profound and subtle truth (Dharma) within this religious discourse that he realized by himself. He also utilizes the physical and human worlds; a variety of types and dimensions; the different defilements and purities possessed; the different buddhas, doctrines (Dharmas), and disciples in order to illustrate the Three Jewels; the different vehicles; the worlds with buddhas and those without buddhas. He causes living beings to see practitioners who have not yet attained the result [of the path] as well as those who have gained the path and attained the result. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “[A]ll who had achieved the path through practice. . . .”
“A variety of types” means various sights. Briefly expressed, there are four: 1) nourishment, 2) listening to the Dharma, 3) practice, and 4) delight. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
At that moment the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows [which totally illuminated all of the eighteen thousand worlds in the east, down as far as the lowest hell and up as far as the highest heaven. In those lands the beings of the six destinies were completely visible. Moreover the buddhas present in those lands were seen and the Dharma they were teaching was heard. Also seen there were the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen who had achieved the path through practice. Moreover, all the bodhisattvas, great beings, possessed of various inclinations, motives, and appearances, were seen practicing the bodhisattva path.
Furthermore all the buddhas in final nirvana (parinirvāṇa) were seen. Also seen were all the buddhas after their final nirvana], and their buddha-relic stupas made of the seven precious treasures.
It should be known that those practicing the bodhisattva path give guidance to living beings using the expedient means of the four methods of conversion. [The four methods of conversion] should be individually applied in accordance with what is taught in the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra.
VI. [The Merit] Accomplished When the Great Assembly Wants to Hear About This Event
Hereafter is shown the accomplishment [of merit that occurs when] the great assembly wants to hear about this event. That one person was asked means that many people, who were quite astonished, wanted to hear [an explanation from someone capable of explaining it]. That is why only Mañjuśrī was asked. Thus, it shows that the Blessed One’s disciple could explain it correctly.
Now why did the Buddha, the Blessed One, manifest this miraculous sign? He did so to explain the great Dharma; he manifested a great sign to explain the reason; he manifested a great sign to teach the Lotus Sutra. The Tathāgata manifested a great marvel in order to explain the words and passages of the incomprehensible meaning of the true Dharma (saddharma) that he had attained.
There are two explanations [for why the great assembly] esteemed and
relied on Mañjuśrī. What are these two? 1) Because [Mañjuśrī] had [previ- 3c ously] witnessed these states (dharmas), and 2) because he was removed from the causes and conditions [that affected the great assembly] and had accomplished these states (dharmas) within his mind.
A variety of marvels were revealed in order to show various events. It should be well known that the marks of the events were [the marks of] origination, decay, subsistence, and impermanence. Since Mañjuśrī was able to recall these events, and since he had accomplished his task and the cause and the result were complete, he witnessed these states (dharmas).
There are two tasks that he had accomplished: 1) the accomplishment of merits and 2) the accomplishment of wisdom. “That the cause was complete” means he had accomplished omniscience. There is also another type of cause referred to as the condition. “That the condition was complete” means that the various signs had occurred. “That the result was complete” means that Mañjuśrī would explain the true Dharma (saddharma) [to the assembly].
It should be known that various different buddha lands were revealed in order to show the various differences and distinctions in those lands. “Pure land” means the dwelling place of living beings that have no defilements.
Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra,
[The Buddha’s ray of light] illuminated all the eighteen thousand worlds in the east . . . and rendered visible the splendor of all those buddha worlds.
“The tathāgatas were foremost” since all the bodhisattvas and others take refuge in them, and since the tathāgatas are the ones who have attained self-mastery among those in the great assemblies of the [buddha] lands, just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “And all the buddhas abiding in those lands were seen. . . .”
VII. [The Merit] Accomplished by Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī
Hereafter, [the accomplishment of merit regarding] the Noble (i.e., Mañjuśrī) is clarified. Through the knowledge of his former lives, Mañjuśrī witnessed the marks of the causes and the results in the past and ten events accomplished as if they were right before him. That is why he was able to answer Bodhisattva Maitreya.
“That he witnessed the marks of the causes in the past” means Mañjuśrī saw himself carrying out various practices in those lands in his past [lives]. “That he witnessed the marks of the results in the past” means Mañjuśrī saw himself in a past life as Bodhisattva Varaprabhā who had taught living beings this religious discourse [called the Lotus Sutra] that he had heard from that buddha.
What were the ten events whose accomplishment he witnessed?
- He witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for the Buddha’s
great intention.
- He witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for the [Buddha
to explain] his profound intention through conventional words and passages.
- He witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for that which is
astonishing.
- He witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for the process
of completion.
- He witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for experiencing
that which is great.
- He witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for [others] to
take up the wheel of the Dharma that all the buddhas have set in motion.
- He witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for the Tathāgata
having very forcefully set the wheel of the Dharma in motion.
- He witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for [the eight
princes] to progress and enter [enlightenment].
- He witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for his remembrance.
10. He witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for his own experience of the event.
The Accomplishment of the Conditions for the Buddha’s Great
Intention
Eight statements illustrate the accomplishment of the conditions for the Buddha’s great intention. The meaning of these eight statements should be known. What are they?
- [The Tathāgata] wanted to expound the great Dharma.
- He wanted to rain down the rain of the great Dharma.
- He wanted to beat the drum of the great Dharma.
- He wanted to raise the banner of the great Dharma.
- He wanted to light the torch of the great Dharma.
- He wanted to blow the conch of the great Dharma.
- He wanted the drum of the great Dharma to incessantly beat.
- He wanted to teach the great Dharma.
These eight statements show that the Tathāgata wanted to teach the great Dharma. Why are these called the eight great intentions? It is because they eliminate the doubts of skeptics, and also because they cause those who have already eliminated their doubts to nourish and fully develop their knowledge body. The Buddha teaches two subtle realms to those with fully developed faculties: The subtle realm of the disciples and the subtle realm of the bodhisattvas.
The two statements referring to the drum of the great Dharma show that it can be heard even at a distance. To enter a subtle realm is to advance to a higher pure truth; to have already advanced to the unsurpassed pure truth is to advance to omniscience and attain direct perception; to have [already] advanced to omniscience and attained direct perception is to establish the meaning of the words and passages for all the Dharma. To have established the meaning of the words and passages is to enter the inexpressible knowledge of realization and to see the wheel of the Dharma in motion.
The Accomplishment of the Conditions for [the Buddha to Explain] the Profundity of His Import through Conventional Words and
Passages
As for his witnessing the accomplishment of the conditions for the profundity of [the Buddha’s] import [to be explained through] conventional words and passages, it says in the Lotus Sutra:
I have seen buddhas in the past who have revealed this marvel and have taught the great Dharma immediately after emitting a ray of light. Therefore I know that this buddha, who is now emitting a ray of light, is also like this. He wants to make living beings have the experience of hearing and understanding the Dharma, which in all the worlds is difficult to believe. That is why the Buddha has now revealed this marvel.
The Accomplishment of the Conditions for That which is Astonishing
That he witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for that which is astonishing means [he saw] that the countless time [that had elapsed since the first buddha, called Candrasūryaprabhā, taught the Dharma] was inconceivable. “Incomprehensible” “unnameable,” and “countless” indicate the inconceivability of the past countless world-ages [that had elapsed]. Moreover, five time periods are shown, namely: 1) a night, 2) a day, 3) a month, 4) a season, and 5) a year. These indicate countless and limitless world-ages. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
[I]n the past, more than countless, limitless, incomprehensible and incalculable world-ages ago, there was a buddha called Candra sūrya prabhā—[a Tathāgata, Arhat, Fully Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Sugata, Knower of the World, the Most Excellent Being, the Leader of Tameable Humans, the Teacher of Heavenly Beings and Humans, a Buddha, a Blessed One. He taught the true Dharma (saddharma) that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, profound in meaning, elegant in form, complete, entire, pure, and characterized by the perfect and stainless religious life. To those seeking the way of the disciples (śrāvakas) he taught the Dharma of the four truths leading to complete nirvana in order to overcome birth, old age, sickness, and death. He taught the doctrine of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda) to the self-enlightened buddhas (pratyekabuddhas). And to the bodhisattvas he taught the six perfections (pāramitās)], causing them to attain highest, complete enlightenment and achieve omniscience.
The Accomplishment of Seeing the Most Marvelous Event
This means [he saw] that all the buddhas and bodhisattvas personally
had the [same] experience. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra: 4b Then there was another buddha also named Candrasūryaprabhā, [and after him another buddha also named Candrasūryaprabhā. And so in this way twenty thousand buddhas all had the same name of Candra sūryaprabhā. They also had the same family name of Bharadvāja. O Maitreya! You should know that these buddhas, from the first to the last, all had the same name of Candrasūryaprabhā, endowed with ten epithets]. The Dharma that they taught was good in the beginning, [good in] the middle, and [good in] the end.
The Accomplishment of Perceiving the Conditions of Renunciation
This means that at that time [he saw] the princes, who had experienced the most excellent pleasures, each abandon [their kingdoms] and renounce household life, and [he saw] that the great assembly did not become fatigued during the entire time [the Lotus Sutra was taught]. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
The last buddha, before he renounced household life, [had eight princes. The first was called Mati; the second, Sumati; the third, Anantamati; the fourth, Ratnamati; the fifth, Viśeṣamati; the sixth, Vimatisamudghātin; the seventh, Goṣamati; the eighth, Dharmamati. These eight princes had dignity and power, and each of them controlled four great continents. Having heard that their father had renounced household life and had attained the highest, complete enlightenment, they all abandoned their kingdoms and also renounced household life. They set out on the path of the Great Vehicle, practiced the religious life, and became disciples. They all planted roots of good merit under many hundreds of thousands of buddhas.
At that time, Buddha Candrasūryaprabhā taught a sutra of the Great Vehicle called “The Exposition of Infinity,” a doctrine protected by all the buddhas, which was instruction for the bodhisattvas. Having taught this sutra, he sat down in the posture of meditation and entered the meditative trance called the “abode of the exposition of infinity,” where he remained imperturbable in body and mind. Then mandārava and great mandārava flowers, mañjūṣaka and great mañjūṣaka flowers fell like rain from the sky, scattering over the Buddha and the great assembly. And the whole buddha world quaked in six ways.
Thereupon the whole assembly of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen in that gathering, the humans and nonhumans, kings and noble emperors, attained an unprecedented experience. Joyfully, with the palms of their hands pressed together in reverence, they gazed attentively at the Buddha. Then the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows that 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, it should be clear to you now. At that time there were twenty koṭis of bodhisattvas in the assembly who wanted to hear the Dharma. All of these bodhisattvas, having seen the buddha worlds illuminated by this ray of light, were struck with wonder and wanted to know why it appeared. A bodhisattva named Varaprabhā was there with his eight hundred disciples. At that time Buddha Candra sūrya prabhā, having emerged from the meditative trance, sat there for sixty intermediate world-ages and revealed to Bodhisattva Varaprabhā the sutra of the Great Vehicle called the the Sutra of the Lotus of the True Doctrine (Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra), a doctrine protected by all the buddhas, which was instruction for the bodhisattvas. The assembly also sat there imperturbable in body and mind listening to the Buddha’s exposition for sixty intermediate world-ages as if only a single mealtime had passed. And during that time not a single person among them experienced fatigue of body or mind.
Buddha Candrasūryaprabhā, after teaching this sutra for sixty intermediate world-ages, made this proclamation to the assembly consisting of Brahmas, Māras, disciples, brahmans, heavenly beings, humans, and asuras, saying: “On this day during the middle watch of the night the Tathāgata will enter final nirvana.” Then Buddha Candra sūryaprabhā gave this prediction to a bodhisattva called Śrīgarbha. Addressing the monks, he said, “This Bodhisattva Śrīgarbha will become the next buddha after me. He will be called Vimalakāya (Vimalanetra), a Tathāgata, Arhat, Fully Enlightened One”]. The Buddha, after making this prediction, entered final nirvana during the middle watch of the night.
The Accomplishment of the Conditions for Others to Take Up the
Wheel of the Dharma That All the Buddhas Have Set in Motion
That he witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for others taking up the wheel of the Dharma that all the buddhas have set in motion means [he saw that] the wheel of the Dharma [turns] without ceasing. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
After the final nirvana of the Buddha, Bodhisattva Varaprabhā, having preserved the Lotus Sutra, expounded it to living beings for the full period of eighty intermediate world-ages.
The Accomplishment of the Conditions for the Tathāgata Having Very
Forcefully Set the Wheel of the Dharma in Motion
That he witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for the Tathāgata having very forcefully set the wheel of the Dharma in motion means [he saw] that after the final nirvana of that buddha, the Dharma would be taught for an incalculable period of time. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra: [This Bodhisattva] Varaprabhā [was made] the teacher of Buddha Candrasūryaprabhā’s eight princes. [He matured them] and caused them to become firm in the thought of highest, complete enlightenment.
The Accomplishment of the Conditions for [the Eight Princes] to
Progress and Enter Enlightenment
That he witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for [the eight princes] to progress and enter [enlightenment] means [he saw] that all the princes had attained great enlightenment. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “All these princes, [after having worshiped innumerable koṭis of buddhas,] attained the path of the buddhas.”
The Accomplishment of the Conditions for His Remembrance
That he witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for his remembrance means [he saw] that he had taught the Dharma to others for their benefit. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
The last of these to become a buddha was named Dīpaṃkara. [Among the eight hundred disciples of Bodhisattva Varaprabhā there was a man named Yaṣakāma who was attached to gain. Even though he had repeatedly read the sutras he never became versed in them and forgot most of what he read. That is why he was called Yaṣakāma. But because he had also planted various roots of good merit, he was able to meet innumerable koṭis of buddhas whom he] worshiped, revered, honored, and praised.
The Accomplishment of the Conditions for His Own Experience of the Event
That he witnessed the accomplishment of the conditions for his own experience of the event means [he saw that] he had personally felt marvelous joy. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
O Maitreya! It should be clear [to you now that Bodhisattva Varaprabhā at that time was none other than myself, and Bodhisattva Yaṣakāma 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 a sutra of the Great Vehicle called the Sutra of the Lotus of the True Doctrine (Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra), an instruction for the bodhisattvas, which is] protected by all the buddhas.
“You were called Yaṣakāma” shows that Mañjuśrī knew about that event in the past. It also shows [that he knows] they will acquire that Dharma and become enriched.
Furthermore, there are three things incorporated in this meaning: 1) The explanation for others. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “The Buddha, the Blessed One, now wants to teach the great Dharma. . . .”; 2) the explanation in accordance with reality. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “I have met buddhas in the past. . .”; and 3) the explanation causing them to wait [for the teaching]. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “Now it should be clear to everyone. . . .”
It should be known that hereafter are shown the characteristics of the
causes and the results of the Dharma that is to be explained.
Chapter II Expedient Means
It says in the Lotus Sutra:
At that time the Blessed One was in a profound meditative trance where he was imperturbable in right mindfulness. With reflection in accordance with his knowledge of true reality, he then emerged clearly conscious from this meditative trance. And after having emerged from it, he
directly addressed Venerable Śāriputra, saying:
O Śāriputra! The wisdom of all the buddhas is profound and vast. The gateway to their wisdom is difficult to ascertain, difficult to apprehend, difficult to know, difficult to comprehend, and difficult to enter. None of the disciples or self-enlightened buddhas are capable of knowing what the tathāgatas have realized. Why is this?
O Śāriputra! The Tathāgatas, Arhats, Fully Enlightened Ones, have already met and honored countless hundreds of thousands of koṭis of innumerable buddhas. And under these hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas they have exhaustively practiced the way to highest, complete enlightenment undertaken by those buddhas.
O Śāriputra! Throughout countless hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of world-ages, the tathāgatas have vigorously and diligently accomplished what had to be done and achieved fame.
O Śāriputra! The tathāgatas have completely perfected a marvelous Dharma. O Śāriputra! The tathāgatas are capable of knowing that [Dharma] that is difficult to comprehend. O Śāriputra! That [Dharma] that is difficult to comprehend refers to the import, which is difficult to comprehend, of what the buddhas, the tathāgatas, teach whenever the opportunity arises. None of the disciples or self-enlightened buddhas are capable of knowing it.
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Why is this, Śāriputra? It is because all the buddhas, the tathāgatas, are accomplished in explaining that which has its own cause. O Śāriputra! The tathāgatas have perfected various expedient means, various insights, various interpretations, and various explanations. O Śāriputra! Since I became a buddha, I have broadly expounded the teachings in various places. Through innumerable expedient means I have attracted living beings and caused them to attain emancipation from all attachments. O Śāriputra! The insight and expedient means of the tathāgatas are perfect.
O Śāriputra! The insight of the tathāgatas is vast and deep, without any hindrances or obstructions. They are endowed with powers, fearlessnesses, special attributes, excellent faculties, factors of enlightenment, contemplations, emancipations, meditative trances, and meditational attainments.
O Śāriputra! All the buddhas, the tathāgatas, have deeply penetrated that which is boundless and have attained all marvelous Dharmas. O Śāriputra! The tathāgatas can, with various distinctions, ingeniously teach all the Dharmas with versatility, using explanations to gladden the assembly.
Enough, Śāriputra, I will speak no more. O Śāriputra! The Dharmas that the buddhas have accomplished are the most astonishing and difficult to comprehend. O Śāriputra! The buddhas only teach the Dharmas among themselves, since [only] the buddhas, the tathāgatas, are able to know these Dharmas and master [their] characteristic of true reality.
O Śāriputra! Only the buddhas, the tathāgatas, know all the Dharmas. O Śāriputra, only the buddhas, the tathāgatas, can teach all the Dharmas: what they are, how they are, what they resemble, what characteristics they have, what their essence is, what, how, which, what characteristics, what essence. The tathāgatas directly perceive all Dharmas like this. It is not the case that they are not directly perceived.
The Commentary says: “At that time the Blessed One was in a profound meditative trance where he was immovable in right mindfulness. With reflec-
5a tion in accordance with his knowledge of true reality, he emerged clearly
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conscious from this meditative trance. And after having emerged from it, he directly addressed Venerable Śāriputra.”
[This passage from the Lotus Sutra] shows that the Tathāgata has attained the power of self-mastery because he has entered a trance in which he cannot be distracted.
Why did he address only Venerable Śāriputra and none of the other disciples? It is because [Śāriputra’s] deep wisdom was in accordance with the Tathāgata.
There are five explanations of why [the Tathāgata] did not address the bodhisattvas: 1) [he wanted] to make the disciples do what had to be done; 2) [he wanted] to make the disciples change their minds and strive for great enlightenment; 3) [he wanted] to protect the disciples from fears and trepidation; 4) he wanted to make the others [gathered there have] good intentions; and 5) he wanted all the disciples not to give rise to the thought of having completed their task.
[The Tathāgata says] “The wisdom of all the buddhas is profound and vast,” causing those in the great assembly to feel respect and openly want to hear what the Tathāgata teaches. It should be known that two kinds of profundity are included in the meaning of the word “profound.” What are these two? 1) The profundity of realization that is expressed as “the wisdom of all the buddhas is profound and vast” and 2) the profundity of the scripture that is expressed as “the gateway to their wisdom is profound and vast.” “Profundity” is the generic characteristic for the former and the individual characteristic for the latter.
The profundity of realization has five types: 1) the profundity of the meaning means the profundity that is based on a certain meaning, 2) the profundity of the essence of true reality, 3) the profundity of inner realization, 4) the profundity of the basis, and 5) the profundity of the unsurpassable. What is “profound” is great enlightenment. “Great enlightenment” means the highest, complete enlightenment realized by the tathāgatas. Why is it profound? It is profound because “none of the disciples or self-enlightened buddhas are capable of knowing it.” “Wisdom” means all-encompassing omniscience. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
The wisdom of all the buddhas is profound and vast. The gateway to their wisdom is difficult to ascertain, difficult to apprehend, difficult
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to know, difficult to understand, and difficult to enter. None of the disciples or self-enlightened buddhas are capable of knowing it. There are eight profundities regarding the scripture:
- The profundity of accepting, preserving, reading, and reciting it. Just
as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
[The Tathāgatas, Arhats, Fully Enlightened Ones] have already met and honored countless hundreds of thousands of koṭis of innumerable buddhas.
- The profundity of practice. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
And under these hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas they have exhaustively practiced the way to highest, complete enlightenment undertaken by those buddhas.
- The profundity of the progress toward the result. Just as it says in theLotus Sutra:
Throughout countless hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of world-ages, the tathāgatas have vigorously and diligently accomplished what had to be done [and achieved fame].
4. The profundity of the thought of increasing merit. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “. . . and achieved fame.”
- The profundity of the thought of marvelous accomplishment. Just asit says in the Lotus Sutra, “O Śāriputra! The tathāgatas have completely accomplished that which is marvelous (the Dharma).”
- The profundity of the unsurpassed. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “O Śāriputra! The tathāgatas are capable of knowing that [Dharma] that is difficult to comprehend.”
- The profundity entering [the gateway]. The profundity of entering[the gateway] means comprehending the words and passages [of the Dharma] whose import is difficult to attain. What [the tathāgatas] intrinsically uphold is called “profound,” unlike the doctrine of causation taught in heretical systems. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
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O Śāriputra! That [Dharma] that is difficult to comprehend refers to the import, which is difficult to comprehend, of what the buddhas, the tathāgatas, teach whenever the opportunity arises.
8. The profundity of the dissimilarity [between the Dharma upheld by the buddhas] and that which is upheld by the disciples and self-enlightened buddhas. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “None of the disciples or self enlightened buddhas are capable of knowing it.”
Fascicle Two
Expedient Means(continued)
Chapter II
Thus the merits of true Dharma (saddharma) have already been elucidated. It should be known that what are to be subsequently explained are the merits that the Tathāgata has accomplished as a Dharma teacher.
It says in the Lotus Sutra, “Why is this, Śāriputra? Because all the buddhas, the tathāgatas, are accomplished in explaining that which has its own cause.” Since the tathāgatas have accomplished four types of merit they are able to emancipate living beings. What are these four?
- The accomplishment of being established. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “The tathāgatas have perfected various expedient means, [various insights, various interpretations, and various explanations].” [The perfection of ] “various expedient means” indicates [a tathāgata’s] descent from Tuṣita Heaven until he reveals his entrance into [final] nirvana.
- The accomplishment of teaching that converts [living beings]. Just as itsays in the Lotus Sutra, “various insights. . . .” [The perfection of] “various insights” shows [the tathāgatas can reveal] the causes of defilement and purity.
- The accomplishment of distinctions. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “various interpretations. . . .” [The perfection of] “various interpretations” means that he is able to achieve results by how he preaches in accordance with the Dharma.
- The accomplishment of teaching. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “various explanations.” [The perfection of] “various explanations” means [the tathāgatas] use the four analytical knowledges to teach [the Dharma] through whichever names, words, or letters [are required] according to whatever capacity a living being has to accept it.
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5c Furthermore, there is another meaning for “various expedient means.” [The perfection of] “various expedient means” indicates [the tathāgatas can show that] all the false doctrines of heretical systems have such and such faults. [The perfection of] “various expedient means” indicates [the tathāgatas can show] that the true Dharma of all the buddhas has such and such merits. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
O Śāriputra! Since I became a buddha I have broadly expounded the teachings. Through innumerable expedient means I have attracted living beings and caused them to attain emancipation from all attachments. Furthermore, as for “innumerable expedient means,” [the tathāgatas use them] to cause [living beings] to enter beneficial teachings. They also use expedient means to cut off all doubts and to cause [living beings] to enter the highest knowledge. Furthermore, [they use] expedient means, based on the four methods of conversion, to influence living beings and to cause them to attain emancipation. “All attachments” means the attachment to objects— that is, the attachment to the spheres, stages, positions, or vehicles. “Attachment to the realms” means [being attached to] the realms of desire, form, or formlessness. “Attachment to the stages” means being attached to [the stages of contemplation in] the [three] realms. According to the meditative trance, it means taking up the stages of contemplation, namely, the stage of the first contemplation to the stage of [the contemplation called] “neither perception nor nonperception” and the stage of the contemplation [called] the “cessation [of consciousness and feeling].” “Attachment to positions” means being attached to the position of either a lay Buddhist or a renunciant. “Attachment to the position of a lay Buddhist” means being attached to one’s relatives and producing various actions, false views, and so on. “Attachment to the position of a renunciant” means being attached to fame, gain, enlightenment, and various defilements, an so on. “Attachment to the vehicles” means being attached to either the vehicle of the disciples or the bodhisattva vehicle. “Attachment to the vehicle of the disciples” means to take delight in upholding the precepts of the Small Vehicle and seek [to become] a stream-winner (srota-āpanna), once-returner (sakṛdāgāmin), never-returner (anā gāmin), or arhat. “Attachment to the Great Vehicle” means being attached to gain, honor, veneration, and so on, and also to be attached to distinctions, the marks of various things (dharmas), and the stage of Buddhahood.
Furthermore, “various insights” means that although [the Tathāgata has] personally achieved an incomprehensible and marvelous realm, he [uses his perfection of insight to show that he] is the same as the disciples and bodhisattvas. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “O Śāriputra, the insight and expedient means of the tathāgatas are perfect.” That [a tathāgata] has arrived at perfection means he has surpassed all the bodhisattvas.
Furthermore, there are the practices [that a tathāgata has perfected]. Just
as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
O Śāriputra! The knowledge of the tathāgatas is vast and deep, without any hindrances or obstructions. They are endowed with the [ten] powers, [four] fearlessnesses, [eighteen] special attributes, excellent faculties, [thirty-seven] factors of enlightenment, contemplations, emancipations, meditative trances, and meditational attainments.
First, [a tathāgata] accomplishes the maturation of those who can be guided through beneficial friends. Second, he accomplishes having living beings with mature faculties attain emancipation. Third, he accomplishes powers, virtues, self-mastery, purity, and control. Fourth, he accomplishes 6a [the art of] teaching.
This fourth one, the accomplishment of the art of teaching, has seven
types:
- The accomplishment of variety. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra: O Śāriputra! All the buddhas, the tathāgatas, have deeply penetrated that which is boundless and have attained all marvelous teachings (Dharmas).
- The accomplishment of locution, which means [that they have attained] the five pleasing sounds and the locution to teach the Dharma. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
O Śāriputra! The tathāgatas can, with various distinctions, ingeniously teach all the Dharmas with versatility using explanations that gladden the assembly.
- The accomplishment of [knowing] the characteristics [of the audience]. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “Enough, Śāriputra, I will speak no more.” [The tathāgatas said this] since the minds of those who were capable of receiving the Dharma had already been satisfied.
- The accomplishment of adequacy, since all those who could be given guidance knew that the Tathāgata had accomplished the most marvelous merit and could explain the Dharma. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “O Śāriputra! The Dharma that the buddhas have accomplished are the most marvelous and the most difficult to comprehend.”
- The accomplishment of countless variety, since the explanations [of
the Dharma] are inexhaustible. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra: O Śāriputra! The buddhas only teach the Dharma among themselves, since [only] the buddhas, the tathāgatas, are able to know these Dharmas and master [their] characteristic of true reality.
“The characteristic of true reality” means the unchangeability of the
essence of the tathāgatagarbha and the absolute body (dharmakāya).
- The accomplishment of apprehensibility, since all the Dharmas thatthe tathāgatas teach can only be personally realized by the buddhas, the tathāgatas. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “O Śāriputra! Only the buddhas, the tathāgatas, know all the Dharmas.”
- [The buddhas] have accomplished those Dharmas, “what they are,”and so on, whereby they teach the Dharma to be practiced according to the intentions of living beings. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “O Śāriputra! Only the buddhas, the tathāgatas, can teach all the Dharmas.” [Why is this?] First, since [the tathāgatas use] various religious discourses to attract living beings. Second, since they cause [living beings] to abide without distraction. Third, since they cause [living beings] to take up [the Dharma]. Fourth, since they cause [living beings] to attain emancipation. Fifth, since they cause [living beings] to accomplish a practice and to attain the antidotes. Sixth, since they cause [living beings] to accomplish progress in a practice. Seventh, since they cause [living beings] not to fall away from a practice that has been attained. These seven ways are for living beings to become well accomplished through their own endeavors.
Furthermore, there are two ways [a tathāgata] gives guidance to cause living beings to become accomplished. What are these two? 1) He gives what he has realized and 2) he gives instruction. That [a tathāgata] gives what he has realized to cause the accomplishment [of living beings] means he uses what he has realized and gives [this knowledge to others]. That he gives instruction to cause the accomplishment [of living beings] means that through teaching the Dharma he instructs [others, causing them to become accomplished]. These two are like the previous explanation [of the profundity of realization and the profundity of the scripture]. Through these two ways there is a certain progression and [living beings] obtain a practice.
Furthermore, the Dharma as realization also has five types: 1) what it
is, 2) how it is, 3) what it resembles, 4) what characteristics it has, and 5) 6b what its essence is.
“What it is” means that it is [both] the Dharma of the disciples and the self-enlightened buddhas and the Dharma of all the buddhas. “How it is” means that it is a teaching that gives rise to various things. “What it resembles” means it resembles [ultimate reality], since it is through the three gateways that purity is obtained. “What characteristics it has” means it is a Dharma of three meanings that have a single characteristic. “What essence it has” means it has the essence of nonduality. “That it has the essence of nonduality” means that for the countless vehicles there is only the single buddha vehicle and no others.
There is also another meaning. [In regard to all dharmas or states, and so on]: “What they are” means they are either conditioned or unconditioned. “How they are” means they are either caused or uncaused. “What they resemble” means [they resemble that which is] either eternal or non-eternal. “What characteristics they have” means they have either the three marks of arising, [abiding, and decay] or the three marks of non-arising, and so on. “What essence they have” means they have either an essence of the five aggregates or an essence not of the five aggregates.
Furthermore, “What they resemble” means they resemble that which is non-eternal, and which is conditioned and caused. Also, “what characteristics they have” means they have characteristics that can be perceived, and so on. And “what essence they have” indicates the subjective and objective [aspects] of the five aggregates, since the five aggregates are the essence that appropriates suffering. Moreover, the five aggregates are the essence of the truth of the path.
There is also a different interpretation of these [terms] based on the explanation of the Dharma as teaching. “What it is” means [that it consists of] names, words, or letters, and so on. “How it is” means it is a Dharma [that exists] having been explained by the Tathāgata. “What it resembles” means it [resembles] that which can guide those who can be guided. “What characteristic it has” means it [has the characteristic of being] apprehended through sound, since the Dharma is apprehended through sound. “What essence it has” refers to the truth about the characteristic of the Dharma [as teaching], which is that a nominal designation indicates its essence.
Hereafter is shown the meaning of three things [concerning the great assembly]. It should be known that these [three] are: 1) the meaning of fixedness, 2) the meaning of doubt, and 3) the meaning of doubt that is based on a certain event.
Regarding “the meaning of fixedness,” there are disciples who through the expedient means [of the tathāgatas] have obtained a profound Dharma to be realized, and they have become fixed in resolve. And there are those in the path of the disciples who have attained the realization of an expedient nirvana. These two types of Dharma as realization illustrate the Dharma as conditioned and as unconditioned. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
At that time in the great assembly there were disciples, arhats [who were free of depravities, beginning with Ājñātakauṇḍinya, twelve thousand in all, monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen who had set out to become disciples or self-enlightened buddhas. Each of them thought, “Why has the Buddha so wholeheartedly praised expedient means and said, ‘The Dharma that the buddhas have attained is profound and difficult to comprehend. The import of what they say is difficult to understand. None of the disciples or self-enlightened buddhas are capable of knowing it.’ As long as the Buddha taught the meaning of one emancipation, I thought I had also] attained that Dharma and reached nirvana.”
“The meaning of doubt” refers to all the disciples, self-enlightened buddhas, and so on who became doubtful because they could not understand.
Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “now we do not understand the import of this meaning.”
“The meaning of doubt that is based on a certain event” means [those in the assembly] became doubtful when they heard the Tathāgata say, “The emancipation of the disciples is neither different nor distinct from my emancipation.” The skeptics became doubtful about the reason [for this statement], saying “What is this all about?” Since the Tathāgata uses various [means] to 6c explain his profound realm, the profundity of what he explains in the beginning is different from the profundity of what he explains in the end. This is why they became doubtful. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
At that time Śāriputra, being aware of the doubt in the minds of those in the fourfold assembly, [and being in doubt himself, addressed the Buddha saying, “O Blessed one! What is the cause and what is the reason for your wholehearted praise of the foremost expedient means of the buddhas and their profound and subtle Dharma that is difficult to understand? Never before have I heard the Buddha say anything like this. Now the fourfold assembly is in doubt. Please, O Blessed One, explain this matter. O Blessed One! Why have you so wholeheartedly praised this profound and subtle Dharma that is difficult to understand?” Thereupon, Śāriputra, wanting to further explain what he meant,] spoke these verses.
Hereafter is shown an explanation of four things [regarding the Tathāgata]. It should be known that these [four] are: 1) [the Tathāgata’s] fixed resolve, 2) the reason for the prediction, 3) taking the prediction, and 4) giving the prediction.
The Tathāgata’s Determination
For what purpose is [the Tathāgata’s] “fixed resolve”? It eliminates the dread of those who have produced the feeling of dread. Thus it is used to benefit the two types of people. This is why the Tathāgata has “fixed resolve.” The five types of dread should be known:
- The “dread of loss” refers to those of the Small Vehicle who take whatthey have heard as the truth, criticizing [and denying the existence of] the Great Vehicle. They think, “The Tathāgata has said the fruit of athwartship is the ultimate nirvana. I have completely apprehended such a nirvana.” Thus, this is the dread that the arhats have not entered nirvana.
- The “dread of excessive toil” refers to those of the Great Vehicle whoupon hearing about the extreme duration, which extends through numbers of world-ages, and the various difficult practices of the bodhisattva path, produce this thought: “The path of the buddhas is extremely long. For countless, immeasurable world-ages I will be carrying out the bodhisattva practice and undergoing great hardship for a long time.” Thinking of this, they feel dread. Therefore they produce the thought of taking up a different vehicle.
- The “dread of biased views” refers to [the fear of] consciousness thatdiscriminates the various forms of “I” and “mine,” that the body and self are real, and that [wholesome] factors are unwholesome.
- The “dread of regret” refers to [those like] Venerable Śāriputra whogave rise to the thought “I should not have practiced or realized the way of the Small Vehicle.” Having recognized the compulsion for this regret, there is the feeling of dread.
- The “dread of being deceived” refers to the arrogant disciples whothink, “Why has the Tathāgata deceived us?” It is such a dread as this. Regarding the reason for the prediction, it says in the Lotus Sutra:
Stop, Śāriputra, I will speak no further. If I explain this, all those in the world—the living beings, the heavenly beings, and others—will become frightened.
The elucidation of his reason [for not giving an explanation]—that all beings will become frightened—has three purposes: 1) [the Tathāgata] wants to make those in the great assembly think about and seek his profound and
7a subtle realm; 2) [the Tathāgata] wants to make those in the great assembly feel respectful and completely wish to hear what he will explain; 3) [the Tathāgata] wants to cause the arrogant disciples to depart from the religious gathering.
[Śāriputra’s] second request illustrates that all the immeasurable buddhas of the past have given guidance to living beings. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
In this assembly there are innumerable [hundreds of thousands of countless koṭis of living beings who have previously met all the buddhas.
They all have sharp faculties and are wise.] When they hear the Buddha’s explanation they will believe it.
[Śāriputra’s] third request illustrates that the present buddha will give
guidance to living beings. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
Now in this assembly, there are people like me, [numbering into the hundreds of thousands of koṭis, who have met buddhas in their past lives and received guidance from them. Such people can certainly believe it.] They will be profited, benefited, and pleased for a very long time.
Regarding the reason for the prediction, it illustrates that since Śāriputra and the others wanted an elucidation, they received one. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
The Buddha spoke to Śāriputra, saying: “You have already asked me three times. How could I possibly not explain it to you? Now listen carefully. . . .”
The Tathāgata has six reasons for giving the prediction: 1) to make heard what has not yet been heard, 2) to teach, 3) for a certain meaning, 4) to cause [living beings] [to become] established [in the single buddha vehicle], 5) for the Dharma, and 6) to repudiate [the Small Vehicle].
1. In regard to “making heard what has not yet been heard,” it says in
the Lotus Sutra:
O Śāriputra! Only very rarely do the buddhas, the tathāgatas, teach such a true Dharma (saddharma) as this, as rarely as the udumbara flower blooms.
2. In regard to “teaching,” it says in the Lotus Sutra,
O Śāriputra! I have extensively taught all the doctrines using innumerable expedient means, various reasons, illustrations, and explanations.
“Various reasons” indicates the three vehicles. These three vehicles are merely the verbal expression of names, words, and letters. It is not the case that they indicate the real meaning, since the real meaning cannot be expressed.
- In regard to “for a certain meaning,” it says in the Lotus Sutra, “O Śāriputra! All the buddhas, the Blessed Ones, appear in the world for just one great purpose and reason.” The four meanings of “one great purpose” should be well understood. What are these four? 1) The meaning of that which is unsurpassed indicates [that the tathāgatas appear in the world to show that] there is nothing else [to achieve] but the omniscient knowledge solely of the tathāgatas. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “[The tathāgatas] appear in the world because they want to reveal the insight of the buddhas in order to purify the knowledge of living beings.” “The insight of the buddhas” means the tathāgatas are able to realize the profound truth with their knowledge of true reality. 2) The meaning of sameness indicates [that the tathāgatas appear in the world to manifest] the equality of the absolute body of the disciples, the self-enlightened buddhas, and the buddhas. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “[The tathāgatas] appear in the world because they want to manifest the insight of the buddhas to living beings.” “Equality of the absolute body” means that the absolute body and the buddha-nature are undifferentiated. 3) The meaning of what is not known indicates [that the tathāgatas appear in the world to manifest what is not known] to all the disciples, self-enlightened buddhas, and others who are not able to know the real basis [of the tathāgatas]. “Not able to know the real basis” means they
7b do not understand that there is only the ultimate, unique buddha vehicle. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “[The tathāgatas] appear in the world because they want to enlighten living beings about the insight of the buddhas.” 4) The meaning of wanting to cause [living beings] to realize an irreversible stage indicates that [the tathāgatas appear in the world because they] want to give countless acts of knowledge. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “[The tathāgatas] appear in the world because they want to make living beings enter the insight of the buddhas.” Furthermore, “to make manifest” means that [the tathāgatas] want to cause all those bodhisattvas with doubts to know a practice in accordance with the truth. Also, “to make enlightened” means to cause those who have not yet produced the thought of enlightenment to produce it, and to cause those who have already produced it to enter the truth (Dharma). Moreover, “to cause to realize” means to cause those who are following heretical systems to produce realization. Also, “to cause to enter” means to cause living beings who have attained the fruits of the Small Vehicle of the disciples to enter enlightenment.
- [In regard to] “causing [living beings] to become established [in thesingle buddha vehicle],” it says in the Lotus Sutra, “O Śāriputra! The Tathāgata teaches living beings the Dharma only through the single buddha vehicle.” 5. As for utilizing the Dharma, it says in the Lotus Sutra:
O Śāriputra! All the past buddhas taught the Dharma for the sake of living beings using countless, innumerable expedient means and the expediency of various illustrations, reasons, and interpretations. In all cases this Dharma has been for the sake of the single buddha vehicle.
“Parables” are like the story about the cow, from which are obtained milk, cream, curds, butter, and [ghee] (clarified butter). The best of these five flavors is that of [ghee]. The Small Vehicle is not like this [flavor] but instead resembles [the flavor] of milk. The Great Vehicle, which is the best, is like [the flavor] of [ghee]. This parable clarifies that the Great Vehicle is the highest, and that the highest meaning of the Great Vehicle is also the same for all the disciples and others. “The same for all the disciples” means that this shows that the nature of the absolute body of all the buddhas, the tathāgatas, is the same for ordinary people, disciples, self-enlightened buddhas, and buddhas. The absolute body is equal and undifferentiated. This meaning is shown by parables.
“Reasons” has been previously explained.
“Interpretations” refers to various perspectives, [such as] the insubstantiality of the individual, [that are found] among the truths of the Small Vehicle; and suchness, ultimate reality, the realm of phenomena (dharma dhātu), the nature of phenomena (dharmas), as well as various views about the insubstantiality of the individual and the insubstantiality of phenomena (dharmas) [that are found] among the truths of the Great Vehicle.
“Expedient means” in the Small Vehicle refers to the contemplation of the [five] aggregates, the [eighteen] elements, and the [twelve] bases of cognition; becoming repulsed by and eliminating suffering; and the attainment of emancipation. In the Great Vehicle it means all the perfections (pāramitās), utilizing the four methods of conversion to appropriate the antidotes, and that which benefits oneself and others.
6. In regard to “repudiating [the Small Vehicle],” it says in the Lotus Sutra, “O Śāriputra! In all the worlds of the ten directions there are no two vehicles, let alone three.” “There are no two vehicles” means there is no nirvana attained through the two vehicles. There is only the great enlightenment realized by the tathāgatas. To completely perfect all wisdom is called the great nirvana. It is not the case that the disciples and self-enlightened buddhas [are able to attain] nirvana since there is only the single buddha vehicle. It should be known that “the single buddha vehicle” has been explained by the 7c four meanings [of the Buddha’s great purpose].
The Tathāgata has six reasons for giving the prediction. Therefore, [in regard to these six reasons]—what it is, how it is, what it resembles, what characteristic it has, what its essence is—that have been previously explained, are illustrated [as follows]: “What it is” means it is that which has not yet been heard. “How it is” means it is taught through the exposition of various explanations and illustrations. “What it resembles” means [it resembles] only that which is for one great purpose. “What characteristic it has” means [it has the characteristic of] the Dharma of all the buddhas that is taught in accordance with the capacity of living beings. “What its essence is” means there is only the essence of the single vehicle. “The essence of the single vehicle” means the universal absolute body of all the buddhas, the tathāgatas. It is not the case that the vehicles of the disciples and the self-enlightened buddhas have the essence of this universal absolute body, because the cause and result, practice and vision [of the vehicles of the disciples and the self-enlightened buddhas] are not the same [as those of the Great Vehicle].
It should be known that hereafter the Tathāgata’s teaching of the Dharma for eliminating the four types of doubt [will be discussed]. What are the four doubts? 1) Doubt about teaching in a certain age, 2) doubt about whether [the Tathāgata] knows someone is arrogant, 3) doubt about whether [the Tathāgata] has the adequacy to teach, and 4) doubt about whether the Tathāgata does not speak falsely.
Regarding “[doubt about] teaching in a certain age,” all the buddhas, the tathāgatas, at a certain age produce various expedient means to teach the Dharma in order to eliminate this doubt. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “O Śāriputra! All the buddhas appear in the vile age of the five corruptions, such as the corruption of the world-age. . . .”
Regarding “whether [the Tathāgata] knows someone is arrogant,” [it should be known that] the Tathāgata does not teach any Dharma to arrogant people. This is for eliminating the doubt about whether he knows someone is arrogant. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
If there are monks who have actually attained athwartship, and if they do not believe this Dharma, it is not the case that they have attained that realm. . . .
Regarding “whether [the Tathāgata] has the adequacy to teach,” those who have heard the Dharma from the Buddha give rise to this slanderous thought: “The Tathāgata certainly does not have the adequacy to teach.” [The Tathāgata teaches the Dharma] in order to eliminate the doubt about whether he is inept or lacks the adequacy to teach. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “. . . except after the Buddha has entered nirvana and there is no buddha present.”
Regarding “whether the Tathāgata does not speak falsely,” [this doubt] occurs since there is a difference between what the Tathāgata has taught previously and what he teaches now. [The Tathāgata teaches the Dharma] in order to eliminate this doubt about whether the Tathāgata does not speak falsely. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
O Śāriputra! You should resolutely believe and preserve the words of the Buddha. The words of the buddhas, the tathāgatas, are not false. There are no other vehicles, only the single buddha vehicle.
“[E]ven a child in play who has built a stupa for the Buddha out of a heap of sand—all are people who have attained the path of the buddhas.” This means that those who have produced the thought of enlightenment and who are carrying out bodhisattva practice will plant good roots of merit and be able to realize enlightenment. It is not the case that those who have not originally produced the thought of enlightenment, such as ordinary people 8a and the disciples who are fixed [in the Small Vehicle], are able to attain it. The same applies to those such as the ones [who have honored the Buddha]
“by nodding their head.”
Chapter III Parables
Venerable Śāriputra spoke these verses:
The golden color, thirty-two [special marks], powers, and emancipations are all together in a single Dharma, yet I have gained none of these.
The eighty excellent [marks], the eighteen special attributes, and other qualities such as these, I have also missed.
The Commentary says: What is the meaning of these verses? Venerable Śāriputra has reproached himself, saying: “I have not seen the buddhas; I have not gone to the buddhas; I have not heard the buddhas teach the Dharma. I have neither worshiped nor venerated the buddhas. I have done nothing to benefit living beings, and I have retreated from a Dharma that I have not yet obtained.” Venerable Śāriputra has reproached himself in this way.
“I have not seen the buddhas” shows that he has not seen the marks of the great being of all the buddhas, the tathāgatas, because he has not produced the thought of veneration or worship. “To go to the buddhas” means to be shown their power of giving guidance to living beings. “To see them emit a ray of golden light” means to be shown the one body and different bodies of the buddhas and to obtain countless merits. “To hear the buddhas teach the Dharma” means to be shown how they are able to benefit all living beings. “Powers” means that [tathāgatas] utilize their ten powers to eliminate the doubts of skeptics.
To revere [the buddhas] means [to venerate] the power they have in giving guidance to living beings. “Eighteen special attributes” means that [the tathāgatas] are completely rid of all the obstructions. “To venerate [the buddhas]” means to venerate the countless virtues they have produced because emancipation is obtained through the tathāgatas’ teaching. Since there is insubstantiality of the individual and insubstantiality of phenomena, everything is equal. Therefore, Venerable Śāriputra reproached himself, saying,
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“I have not yet obtained such a Dharma as this, and have retreated even before obtaining it.”
Hereafter, seven parables will be explained. It should be known that [these parables] act as the antidotes for the seven types of arrogance of the seven types of living beings whose nature is sullied with defilements. Moreover, the three equalities will be explained. It should be known that these equalities act as the antidotes for taking sullied pride in meditative trances and emancipations, and for the [wrong] views possessed by the three types of people who have sullied pride but no defilements.
8b What are the seven types of living beings whose nature is sullied with defilements? 1) The type of person who seeks eminence, 2) the type of person who seeks the emancipation of the disciples, 3) the [type of person who is affiliated with] the Great Vehicle, 4) the type of person who is fixed [in the path of the Small Vehicle], 5) the type of person who is not fixed [in the path of the Great Vehicle], 6) the type of person who accumulates [false] merit, and 7) the type of person who does not accumulate [beneficial] merit.
What are the seven types of arrogance and what are the seven parables
that act as their antidotes?
- The arrogance [of the type of person who] perversely seeks merit [fora prominent position]. That is to say, although [the kind of merit this type of person seeks] is only the highest type of worldly defilements and impurities, he [still wishes to accumulate it because he] seeks the result with outflows of the sublime realm of the heavenly beings. It should be known that “The Parable of the Burning House” is given as the antidote to this.
- The arrogance of the disciples who believe they have the highestattainment. They say to themselves, “There is no difference between our vehicle and the vehicle of the tathāgatas.” It should be known that “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” is given as the antidote to this misconception. 3. The arrogance of the determination of [those affiliated with] the Great Vehicle who give rise to this thought: “[Our vehicle] and the vehicles of the disciples and of the self-enlightened buddhas are not separate.” It should be known that “The Parable of the Cloud and Rain” is given as the antidote to this misconception.
- The arrogance [of those who] refer to what is actually nothing assomething. Having [attained] mundane meditative trances and meditational attainments, they form the notion [that what they have attained is] nirvana, [though] [what they have] actually [attained] is not nirvana. It should be known that “The Parable of the Phantom City” is given as the antidote to this misconception.
- The arrogance [of those who] are distracted and have no firm establishment in reality. Although in the past they planted the roots of good merit in the Great Vehicle, they do not realize it. Since they do not realize it, they do not seek the Great Vehicle. From their irresoluteness they produce a false comprehension, and refer to [their way as] the “ultimate vehicle.” It should be known that “The Parable of the Concealed Jewel” is given as the antidote to this misconception.
- The arrogance of [those who think that which has no merit] actuallyhas merit. When such people hear the teaching of the Great Vehicle, [although it has merit] they take up that which does not pertain to the Great Vehicle. It should be known that “The Parable of the Crest Jewel” is given as the antidote to this misconception.
- The arrogance of [those who think that which has merit] actually hasno merit. Such people do not cultivate the roots of good merit in the ultimate vehicle, and when they hear about it they do not consider it the ultimate one. It should be known that “The Parable of the Excellent Physician” is given as the antidote to this misconception.
[The parable] for the first type of person shows him the various good roots in the world, meditative trances, merits, and expedient means to cause him to rejoice and then later to enter the great nirvana.
[The parable] for the second type of person causes him to enter the Great 8c Vehicle through utilizing the three [vehicles] as the single [vehicle].
[The parable] for the third type of person causes him to know about the various vehicles and to know that the buddhas, the tathāgatas, universally teach the Dharma in accordance with the seeds of good roots of living beings in order to cause those seeds to sprout.
[The parable] for the fourth type of person cause him, through expedient means, to enter the city of nirvana. The “city of nirvana” refers to the city of contemplations and meditative trances. Having gone past this city, he is then later made to enter the city of great nirvana.
[The parable] for the fifth type of person shows him all the good roots he has planted in the past and causes him to remember this. After teaching him this, he is then made to enter a meditative trance.
[The parable] for the sixth type of person teaches him the Dharma of the Great Vehicle. Through this teaching he will complete the practice of the same ten [bodhisattva] stages because the tathāgatas have secretly given his prediction.
[The parable] for the seventh type of person cause his faculties, which have not yet matured, to reach maturation. Thus it reveals that he will attain the limit of nirvana. The tathāgatas have taught the seven parables for these reasons.
What are the three types of sullied pride for the three types of people who have no defilements? They are referred to as the three biased beliefs. What are these three? 1) The belief that the various vehicles are different, 2) the belief that the conventional world and nirvana are different, and 3) the belief that the bodies [of the Buddha] are different. It should be known that [the Buddha] has explained the three equalities as the antidotes to [those who possess] these three types of sullied pride.
What are the three equalities and what do they remedy? 1) The equality of the vehicles means that the disciples receive the prediction of enlightenment since there are not two vehicles, only the single Great Vehicle, and this vehicle is equal and undifferentiated. 2) The equality of the conventional world and nirvana means that in accordance with Prabhūtaratna Tathāgata being in [final] nirvana [even while appearing in the world], the conventional world and nirvana are equal and undifferentiated. 3) The equality of the bodies [of the Buddha] means that although Prabhūtaratna Tathāgata had already entered [final] nirvana, he manifested his body since his own body, the other bodies, and the absolute body [of all the buddhas] are equal and undifferentiated. Thus, the three types of people with sullied pride but no defilements who see this and the other bodies make distinctions and do not understand that the buddha-nature and the absolute body are equal. These people think they have realized the Dharma although they have not. It should be known that as a counteragent to this, the disciples are given a prediction [of their enlightenment].
Question: Is it the case that the disciples are given their prediction because they will actually achieve Buddhahood, or are they given it even though they will not achieve [Buddhahood]? If disciples can actually achieve Buddhahood, why [then] do bodhisattvas practice and accumulate a countless variety of merit for immeasurable world-ages? If disciples cannot achieve Buddhahood, then why do [the tathāgatas] give them a false prediction?
Answer: That the disciples have received their prediction [shows that] they have attained fixed resolve. It is not the case that these disciples have perfected the true nature (dharmatā). The tathāgatas teach the Dharma of the single vehicle through the three equalities. [They] give the disciples their 9a predictions because the absolute body of the Buddha and the absolute body of the disciples are equal and undifferentiated. It is not the case that [the disciples] have completed the practice of cultivating merit. Therefore [the distinction between the disciples and the bodhisattvas is that] the merit of a bodhisattva is complete, while the merit of a disciple is not.
Predictions occur on six occasions [in the Lotus Sutra]; on five occasions the prediction is given by the Buddha and in one occasion it is given by a bodhisattva. The predictions given by the tathāgatas include those for Śāriputra, Mahākāśyapa, and the other well-known [disciples]. Since they will have different names [as buddhas], they receive their predictions separately. The five hundred disciples, including Pūrṇa and the others, and the twelve thousand disciples are given their predictions at the same time, since they will all have the same name [as buddhas]. Those who have more to learn and those who do not [have more to learn] all have the same name [as buddhas], and since they are not well known they are given their predictions together. That the Tathāgata gives Devadatta his prediction separately shows the Tathāgata has no enmity. That the nuns and maidens of the heavenly realm receive their predictions from the Buddha shows that women, either lay Buddhists or renunciants, who cultivate the bodhisattva practice will also realize the fruit of Buddhahood.
It should be known that the prediction of enlightenment given by a bodhisattva is illustrated as follows in the chapter “Bodhisattva Sadāparibhūta” [where it says]:
[D]oing obeisance and praising them, he would make this proclamation, “I do not disrespect you. You will all certainly become buddhas.” This shows that all living beings have buddha-nature.
Regarding the disciples’ attainment of a prediction, [it should be known that] there are four types of disciples: 1) disciples who are fixed [in the path of the Small Vehicle], 2) arrogant disciples, 3) disciples who have retreated from the thought of enlightenment, and 4) transformation disciples.
The two types of disciples who receive a prediction from the tathāgatas are the transformation disciples and the disciples who have retreated from the thought of enlightenment. Since disciples who are fixed [in the path of the Small Vehicle] and arrogant disciples have faculties that are not yet mature, they are not given predictions of enlightenment.
Regarding a bodhisattva giving a prediction, it shows expedient means
being used to cause [the disciples] to produce the thought of enlightenment.
Furthermore, based on what meaning does the Tathāgata teach the three vehicles and call them the single vehicle? [His teaching] is based on the meaning of sameness. Therefore he gives the disciples their prediction of great enlightenment. “The meaning of sameness,” refers to the absolute body of the buddhas and the absolute body of the disciples that are equal and undifferentiated. There is a distinction, since the vehicles of the disciples and self enlightened buddhas are not identical, and since these two vehicles are not the Great Vehicle. The tathāgatas have said, “[You] are not separate from my [absolute] body. This is the supreme meaning.” This meaning is not taught anywhere in the Dharma of the two vehicles of disciples and self-enlightened buddhas. Subsequently [adherents of these two vehicles] are not able to understand in accordance with true reality. Because of this [supreme] meaning, the practice undertaken by the bodhisattvas is not false.
The supreme meaning is clarified in other parts of this sutra. It should be known that, briefly expressed, there are ten things that illustrate this meaning. What are these ten?
- “The Parable of [the Cloud and] Rain” is given in order to illustrate the supreme meaning of the seeds. “What you are practicing is the bodhisattva path” indicates that, even though those who having produced the thought of enlightenment had greatly withdrawn from it, the roots of good merit they had cultivated previously had not disappeared and those roots would later bear fruit.
- The previous lives and deeds of Mahābhijñānābhibhu Tathāgata are
explained in order to illustrate the supreme meaning of practice.
- “The Parable of the Merchant” is given in order to illustrate the
supreme meaning of the power that increases [along with practice].
- “The Parable of the Concealed Jewel” is given in order to illustrate the supreme meaning of causing [living beings] to comprehend [enlightenment].
- The stupa of Prabhūtaratna Tathāgata is revealed in order to illustrate
the supreme meaning of the pure land.
- “The Parable of the Crest Jewel” is given in order to illustrate the
supreme meaning of teaching.
- The immeasurable bodhisattvas, great beings, emerge from the earth
in order to illustrate the supreme meaning of living beings who were guided.
- The enlightenment of the three types of buddhas is explained in order
to illustrate the supreme meaning of achieving great enlightenment.
First, [the supreme meaning of achieving great enlightenment] is illustrated by the enlightenment of the transformation buddha (nirmāṇakāya). [This type of buddha] manifests himself wherever he needs to be seen. Just as it says [in the chapter on “The Life Span of the Tathāgatas”] in the Lotus Sutra:
They all said the tathāgatas left the palace of the Śākyas, sat on the terrace of enlightenment not far from the city of Gayā, and attained highest, complete enlightenment.
Second, it is illustrated by the enlightenment of the enjoyment buddha (saṃbhogakāya), since the realization of permanent nirvana is attained by completing the practice of the ten stages. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra: O sons [and daughters] of good family! Countless and limitless, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands of myriads of koṭis of world-ages have elapsed since I actually became a buddha.
Third, it is illustrated by the enlightenment of the absolute buddha (dharma kāya), “the tathāgatagarbha that is pure by nature and nirvana that is eternally permanent, quiescent, and changeless.” Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra: The Tathāgata perceives all the aspects of the triple world in accordance with his knowledge of true reality. [He perceives there is no birth or death, no coming or going, no existence or extinction, no truth or falsehood, no this way or otherwise.] He does not perceive the triple world as those of the triple world perceive it.
“Aspects of the triple world” means that the realm of living beings is the realm of nirvana and that the tathāgatagarbha is not separate from the realm of living beings. “There is no birth or death, coming or going” refers to that which is permanent, quiescent, and unchangeable. Also, “no existence or extinction” refers to the essence of suchness of the tathāgatagarbha, which is neither [part of] the realm of living beings nor separate from it. “No truth or falsehood, no this way or otherwise” refers to [true reality] being apart from the four marks [of existence] because that which possesses the four marks is impermanent. “He does not perceive the triple world as those in the triple world perceive it” means the buddhas, the tathāgatas, are able to perceive and able to realize the true absolute body, [even though] ordinary people do not perceive it. Therefore it says in the Lotus Sutra, “The Tathāgata clearly perceives [that which pertains to the triple world] without any delusion.”
“That the bodhisattva path I have previously practiced is even now incomplete” is due to his original vow, because his vow is incomplete as long as the realm of living beings remains unextinguished. “Incomplete”
9c does not mean [that his] enlightenment is incomplete. “I furthermore have twice the number [of world-ages mentioned above] before my life span is complete.” This passage illustrates the Tathāgata’s eternal life, which through skill in expedient means is shown as an extremely great number. [That his life span] surpasses the number above means that it is countless.
“My pure land does not decay yet living beings perceive its conflagration” means the true pure land of the enjoyment buddha, the Tathāgata, is incorporated in the highest truth.
- “The Parable of the Physician” is given in order to illustrate the
supreme meaning of nirvana.
10. It should be known that the remainder of the [Lotus] Sutra illustrates
the supreme meaning of marvelous power.
The stupa of Prabhūtaratna Tathāgata manifesting the purity of all the buddha lands shows that in the realm of the true characteristic of the buddhas there is the splendor of various jeweled arrays. It reveals eight things: 1) the stupa, 2) the extent, 3) the consolidation, 4) the establishment, 5) the manifestation of countless buddhas, 6) being removed from impurities, 7) the prolific adornment, and 8) occupying the same seat in the stupa.
- “The stupa” is revealed to show the establishment of the Tathāgata’s
relics.
- “The extent” is an expediency showing the splendor and purity of allthe buddha lands. This purity, which transcends mundane reality, is produced from roots of good merit without outflows. It is not the case that it is produced from mundane roots of good merit with outflows.
- “The consolidation” is revealed to show that the pure absolute bodyof all the buddhas is incorporated in the single essence of the body of Buddha Prabhūtaratna.
- “The establishment” is revealed to show the self-mastery of the absolute
body of all the buddhas, the tathāgatas.
- “The manifestation of countless buddhas” is revealed to show there
is no difference in the acts done by the buddhas.
- “Being far removed from impurities” is revealed to show the univer-
sality and the purity of all the buddha worlds.
- “The prolific adornment” is revealed to show the same adorned nature
of all buddha worlds.
- “[Prabhūtaratna and Śākyamuni] occupying the same seat in the stupa”is revealed to show that transformation buddhas and non-transformation buddhas, absolute buddhas and enjoyment buddhas, all accomplish a great deed.
Hereafter, it should be known that the power of the Dharma, the power
of preserving it, and the power of practice are shown.
I. The Power of the Dharma
Five entrances are shown for the power of the Dharma: 1) the entrance of realization; 2) the entrance of faith; 3) the entrance of honor; 4) the entrance of hearing the Dharma; and 5) the entrance of reading, reciting, preserving, and explaining it. Four entrances are illustrated in the chapter “Bodhisattva Maitreya” (also called “The Distinction of Merits”) and one entrance is illustrated in the chapter “The Constantly Persevering Bodhisattvas” (also called “The Merits of the Disciples”).
There are four entrances to the [power of the] Dharma shown in the
chapter “Bodhisattva Maitreya”:
- The entrance of realization. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
While I was explaining about the duration of this Tathāgata’s life span, living beings equal [in number] to the sands of sixty-eight hundred thousand myriads of koṭis of Ganges Rivers realized receptivity to the truth that all things have no origination.
It should be known that “receptivity to the truth that all things have no origination” refers to the knowledge that is realized in the first stage [of the bodhisattva path]. That those of one to eight rebirths realized highest, complete
10a enlightenment means they realized the enlightenment of the first stage. “Those of one to eight rebirths” refers to ordinary people who are established [in the path of the Great Vehicle] and are able to realize the first stage. According to their powers and capacities, they will all achieve the first stage in one to eight rebirths. That the [knowledge attained in the first stage] is called “highest, complete enlightenment” means [that those who attain it] are released from [the cycle of] birth and death in the divisions of the three realms, and that according to their capacities they are able to perceive the true buddha-nature. Although they are considered to have attained enlightenment, they are not considered to have totally completed the expedient nirvana of a tathāgata.
- The entrance of faith. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
Moreover there were living beings, equal to the number of particles in the eight worlds, who all produced the thought of highest, complete enlightenment.
- The entrance of honor. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
[When the Buddha explained that] all these bodhisattvas, great beings, had attained the great benefit of the Dharma, mandārava flowers rained down from the sky. . . .
- The entrance of hearing the Dharma. It should be known that this[entrance] is explained in the chapter “Joyful Acceptance.”
- The fifth entrance to [the power of the] Dharma is explained in thechapter “The Constantly Persevering Bodhisattvas.” Here it means that the purity of the six sense faculties is attained by reading, reciting, explaining, and copying [the sutra]. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
If the sons and daughters of good family accept and preserve this Lotus Sutra, if they read, recite, explain, or copy it, they will attain the eight hundred qualities of the eye, [the twelve hundred qualities of the ear, the eight hundred qualities of the nose, the twelve hundred qualities of the tongue, the eight hundred qualities of the body,] and the twelve hundred qualities of the mind.
“Attaining the purity of the six sense faculties” means that ordinary people acquire the use of superior sense faculties through the power of the sutra. But it should be known that they have not yet entered the certainty of a first-stage bodhisattva. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “Through the purification of the eyes received from their parents they will see [everything in] the trichiliocosm. . . .”
Furthermore, in regard to the purity of the six sense faculties, everything is well completed for each sense faculty: Forms [and colors] are perceived, sounds are heard, odors are determined, flavors are discriminated, tangibles are felt, and [mental] objects are known. It should be known that all the sense faculties function in the capacity of the others. What is perceived by the eye can well be known by [the nose] smelling odors. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:
[Moreover, they can smell and know whether the gods] in the palace of Śakra, the king of gods, are enjoying the five desires or listening to the Dharma.
“Smelling odors and knowing them” means that the sphere of the sense
faculty of the nose is comprehended by the sense faculty of the mind. II. The Power of Preservingthe Dharma
There are three entrances to the Dharma showing the power of preserving it. These are extensively explained in the chapter “The Disciples,” the chapter “Ease in Practice,” and other chapters.
The power of [preserving] the doctrine should be understood according to the [following passage from the Lotus] Sutra: “With determination he knows that the water is certainly near.” This means that by accepting and preserving this sutra [living beings] will acquire the water of buddha-nature and achieve highest, complete enlightenment.
III. The Power of Practice
The power of practice is illustrated by five entrances: 1) the power from teaching, 2) the power from the practice of undertaking hardships, 3) the power from protecting living beings from difficulties, 4) the power from the excellence of merits, and 5) the power from protecting the Dharma.
1. The power from teaching has three entrances to the Dharma that are shown in the chapter “Supernatural Powers”: [the buddhas] extend their long, broad tongues in order to cause [those present] to remember; [they] coughed [before] speaking the verses in order to cause [those present to listen, and after having made them listen they caused them not to abandon the true practice; [they] snapped their fingers to enlighten living beings and to cause those who were practicing the path to attain enlightenment.
- The power from the practice of undertaking hardships is illustratedin the chapter “Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja.” The chapter “Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara” also illustrates the power from the practice of undertaking hardships [in regard to] giving guidance to living beings.
- The power from protecting living beings from difficulties is shown
in the chapter “Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara” and the chapter “Magical Spells.” 4. The power from the excellence of merits is shown in the chapter “King Śubhavyūha.” The two boys have such power through the roots of good merit [they had planted] in past lives.
5. The power from protecting the Dharma is shown in the chapter “Bodhi-
sattva Samantabhadra” and in later chapters.
Furthermore it is said, “He who accepts and upholds the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, and he who accepts and upholds the names of all the buddhas as numerous as the sands of sixty-two koṭis of Ganges Rivers, will each produce equal merit.” This has two meanings: 1) the power of faith and 2) complete knowledge.
The power of faith has two types: 1) complete faith that one’s body is no different from the body of Avalokiteśvara, and 2) reverence felt toward Avalokiteśvara, so that one also believes one can completely attain such qualities as his.
Complete knowledge means the ability to be determined and to know the element of reality (dharmadhātu). “The element of reality” is referred to as the nature of reality (dharmatā). This “nature of reality” is referred to as the universal absolute body of all the buddhas and the bodhisattvas. “The universal body” is the true absolute body.
Bodhisattvas in the first stage are able to penetrate it. Therefore, one who accepts and upholds the names of all the buddhas as numerous as the sands of sixty-two koṭis of Ganges Rivers and one who accepts and upholds the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara will both produce merit without any difference.
The first chapter [of the Lotus Sutra,] “Introduction,” illustrates seven accomplishments of merit. The second chapter, “Expedient Means,” has five parts and clarifies the single [vehicle] by abrogating the two [vehicles]. The remaining chapters [of the Lotus Sutra] are easily understood according to their section [in the commentary].
A GUIDE TO THE TIANTAI FOURFOLD TEACHINGS
Contents
A Guide to the Tanita Fourfold Teachings
Translator’s Introduction 155
Introduction 163
I. The Four Methods of Conversion and the Five Periods 164 II. The Four Doctrines of Conversion 172
III. Practice 204
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Translator’s Introduction
The Tanita sijiao yi (Kor. Cheontae sagyo ui; Jpn. Tendai shikyōgi; Taishō vol. 46, no. 1931, 774c–780c) was written by a Korean monk named Chegwan in the late tenth century as an introduction to the teachings of Tanita Zhiyi (538–597), the de facto founder of the Tanita tradition. The title of Chegwan’s text echoes the much larger text by Zhiyi on the “meaning of the fourfold teachings” (Si jiao yi, Taishō vol. 46, no. 1929, pp. 721–769) and refers to the main systematic contribution of Tanita based on its doctrine of three truths. However, the scheme of “five periods and eight teachings” that serves as the organizing structure of Chegwan’s work is not from Zhiyi but is based on a later Tian tai development found in an eighth-century work entitled Ba jiao da yi (Taishō vol. 46, no. 1930, pp. 769–773) written by Mingkuang, a disciple of Zhanran (711–782).
Tanita emerged during the sixth century in response to the confusion created after the transmission to China over several centuries of hundreds of different Buddhist texts that claimed to be teachings of the Buddha. Zhiyi developed his doctrinal system based on the view that the Buddha had taught different things and used various methods of instruction in response to the different situations, needs, and capacities of his listeners. The fourfold doctrinal classification devised by Zhiyi became important because it integrated these many Buddhist teachings in an understandable, accessible, and inclusive way. Zhiyi’s system unified Buddhism at the same time that China was becoming united politically under the Sui dynasty (589–618), after more than three hundred years of division, and because of this he received political support that helped consolidate and spread his teachings, which became part of the foundation of Chinese Buddhism.
State sponsorship of Tanita ended two decades after the death of Zhiyi, however, when the Sui dynasty was replaced by the Tang (618–906). Although Tanita was destined to become the first enduring Chinese school of Buddhism, it declined under the Tang and its doctrines drifted into obscurity when nearly all Tanita texts were destroyed as a result of the An Lushan rebellion (755) and
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A Guide to the Tanita Fourfold Teachings
Translator’s Introduction
the Huichang suppression of 845. At the end of the Tang dynasty, the fifteenth patriarch of Tanita, Loqi Xiji (919–987), the national master Dezhao (891–972), and a southern king, Zhongyi of Wuyue, attempted to recover copies of the Tanita texts from Korea and Japan. In response to King Zhongyi’s request for the lost texts, copies were sent back to China from Korea. To ensure that the texts would be properly interpreted, the Korean monk Chegwan accompanied them to China, and he composed the Tanita sijiao yi as a guide to ensure correct understanding of the technical Tanita terminology.
Chegwan begins his work by outlining four methods of teaching (sudden, gradual, secret, and variable) that are expressed in different scriptures from five major periods of the Buddha’s life: the first period of sudden teaching shown by the Huayan Sutra, the gradual way of teaching as shown by the next three periods (illustrated by the non-Mahayana teachings in the Deer Park), and by two periods of shared and distinctive Mahayana teachings. For some people in the second to fourth periods, the teachings had secret and variable meanings, as well as gradual ones. The fifth period of the Buddha’s teaching, in which the Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra) and the Nirvana Sutra (Mahāpari- nirvāṇa-sūtra) were taught, transcended all these categories (see diagram 1, left). The Japanese scholar Sekiguchi Shindai has demonstrated that the system of “five periods” used by Chegwan to organize Buddhist scriptures in terms of different periods of the Buddha’s career was a later Tanita development devised not by Zhiyi but by Zhanran. Instead, Zhiyi emphasized that the Buddha’s teaching had many different shadings, which for the sake of convenience could be illustrated by the idea of five main flavors (wu-wei) based on the analogy of milk, cream, curds, butter, and ghee used in the Nirvana Sutra.
The majority of Chegwan’s text consists of an outline of the Tanita fourfold teachings central to Zhiyi’s thought: the Tipitaka teaching, the shared teaching, the distinctive teaching, and the complete teaching. The Tipitaka teaching consists of foundational, non-Mahayana teachings to be learned by all Buddhists. This is followed by other teachings shared by both non-Mahayana and Mahayana texts, such as the truth of emptiness (śūn yatā) and the ten stages (bhūmis) to Buddhahood. The third category refers to the special Mahayana teaching of returning from emptiness to the temporary world out of compassion, including the fifty-two stages of the bodhisattva path, that goes beyond the inferior Buddhahood of non-Mahayana Buddhists.
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A Guide to the Tanita Fourfold Teachings
The complete teaching is the name for the teaching revealed in the Lotus Sutra and the Nirvana Sutra, which includes but supercedes the other teachings and is described as the middle truth that embraces the truths of emptiness and temporary existence. In addition to the bodhisattva stages, it outlines five preliminary grades that were characteristic of early Chinese Tanita, including insight into the three truths and the five dimensions of repentance. The structure of the five preliminary grades is as follows.
- Joy from according with the truth
- Three truths
- Five dimensions of practice
- Principle and practice
i. In terms of principle ii. In terms of practice
- Imploring
- Rejoicing
- Merit transference
- Making bodhisattva vows
- Reading and reciting
- Teaching the Dharma
- Practicing the six perfections (pāramitās) in a concurrent way
- Correctly practicing the six perfections
All teachings are embraced in the complete teaching, from preliminary realization up to supreme enlightenment (anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi). Chegwan illustrates this claim by showing how Zhiyi understood the truth of the identity of all things as being progressively realized by the practitioner in terms of six different levels: identity as embedded in reality, verbal statements about identity in texts, its personal realization in contemplative practice, its manifestation in outer appearances, its embodiment by the practitioner in partial realization, and ultimate identity experienced in supreme enlightenment. Just as there are different levels of understanding the truth of identity, so practitioners may attain lower and higher levels of Buddhahood according to their different levels of attainment (see diagram 2, right).
In a brief final section, Chegwan outlines the twenty-five expedient conditions to be fulfilled in preparation for practice, followed by the ten modes of contemplation taught by Zhiyi. Because of the scant attention given to practice
Translator’s Introduction
in this work, in contrast to its focus on doctrine, some scholars contend that Chegwan may originally have compiled a second fascicle devoted to practice that is no longer extant.
Diagram 2: Comparative Stages in the Four Doctrines from the Point of View of the Complete Doctrine of Tanita
Six Degrees Identity in Doctrine Complete Doctrine Distinctive Doctrine Shared Doctrine Tripiṭaka
In Principle
Verbal Identity tive Practice In Contempt Grades 10 Faiths Stages 1–2 Ordinary Stage Śrāvaka:
1stFaith 1stAbode Stages 3–4 1st Attainment
2nd Faith 2nd Abode 5th Stage 2nd Attainment 3rd Faith 3rd Abode 6th Stage 3rd Attainment
4th Faith 4th Abode 7th Stage 4th Attainment
Appearances In Outer65th Faith 65th Abode
7th Faith 7th Abode Buddhahood Buddhahood
8th Faith 8th–10th Abodes
9th Faith 10 Practices
10th Faith Transferences10 Merit
10 Abodes 10 Bhūmis
1st Practice EnlightenmentPreliminary
RealizationOf Partial 10TransferencesPractices2nd–10th Merit EnlightenmentSupreme
10 Bhūmis
Enlightenment Preliminary
Identity Ultimate Enlightenment Supreme
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A Guide to the Tanita Fourfold Teachings
For the past three hundred years Chegwan’s work has been accepted as the most useful and reliable introduction to the complexities of Tanita thought, and more than two hundred commentaries and sub commentaries have been written on it. A list of these commentaries is included in the definitive modern edition of the text prepared by Sekiguchi Shindai, Shōwa kōtei Tendai shikyōgi (Tokyo: Sankibō busshorin, 1935; reprinted 1971). The main classical commentaries are the Tanita sijiao yi jizhu (ten fascicles) by Mengr un (1275–1342), which can be found in a subcommentary by Xingquan in his Sijiao yizhu huibufu hongji; Xuzang jing (1967): 102: 123–424 (ZZK 2.7.2–4). For those who wish to locate the sources mentioned by Chegwan, it is useful to consult the annotated version of the text by Shioiri Ryōdō in Kokuyaku issaikyō, Wa-kan senjutsu no. 57, Shoshūbu 14 (Tokyo: Daitō shuppansha, 1960), pp. 61–90. In additon, Leon Hurvitz’s article, “Chih-i (538–597),” Mélanges chinois et bouddhiques 12 (1962): 1–372, is invaluable for a discussion of many of the technical terms and ideas.
Since the text was written for those who already had some familiarity with Buddhism, Chegwan often does not explain technical terms before he uses them. Also, following Chinese literary conventions, supportive documentation in the form of quotations and allusions are profuse, usually unacknowledged, and almost always abbreviated. For example, a quadruple analogy of the “historical” period to the hours of the day, to the process of making ghee, and to two parables in the Lotus Sutra appears in Part I. The many quotations used in these analogies all function as validations of the scheme of periodization by showing that they are echoed in Buddhist writings, in everyday life, and in the very structure of the cosmos.
Material that appears in brackets are additions and interpolations that fill in the content of abbreviated quotations and enigmatic terms; parentheses indicate terms and glosses. Chegwan’s notes appear in italics within parentheses. This translation has been greatly aided and enriched by the students in my graduate seminars at the University of Hawai‘i in 1974–1975 and by the members of the Buddhist Translation Seminar led by Bishop Ryōkan Ara and Assistant Bishop Masao Ichishima of the Tendai Mission of Hawaii. The research results of that earlier work were published as T’ien-t’ai Buddhism: An Outline of the Fourfold Teachings (Tokyo: Daiichi-shobō, 1983).
A GUIDE TO THE TIANTAI FOURFOLD TEACHINGS
Recorded by the Buddhist Monk Chegwan of the Goryeo
Introduction
Great Master Tanita Zhiyi used the classification of five periods and eight teachings to arrange and explain, in a complete and exhaustive way, the sacred teachings of the Buddha which were flowing east [from India to China].
The five periods are:
- The period of the Huayan [Sutra] (Flower Ornament Sutra)
- The period of the Deer Park (in which the four Āgamas were taught)
- The period of expanded [Vaipulya] teaching (in which the Vimalakīrti- nirdeśa, Brahmaviśeṣacintīparipṛcchā, Laṅkāvatāra, Śūraṃgamasamādhi, Suvarṇaprabhāsottama, and Śrīmālā sutras were taught)
- The period of wisdom (in which the various wisdom sutras weretaught, such as the Mohe boruo, Guangzan boruo, Jingang boruo, and Dapin boruo)
- The period of the Lotus and Nirvana [Sutras].
These are the five periods and are also called the five flavors.
The eight teachings are:
- The sudden
- The gradual
- The secret
- The variable
- The Tipitaka
- The shared7. The distinctive 8. The complete.
These are called the eight teachings.
The four teachings beginning with the sudden are the methods of conversion, which are like medical prescriptions for the world. The four teachings beginning with the Tipitaka are the doctrines of conversion, which are like the flavors of various medicines. These ideas are scattered through a wide range of texts. Now, relying on the Great Text [of Zhiyi, the Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra], I shall briefly summarize their essential points. First, I shall distinguish the five periods, the five flavors, and the four methods of
163
conversion. Then I shall explain the Tipitaka, shared, distinctive, and complete [doctrines].
I. The Four Methods of Conversion and the Five Periods
A. Four Methods of Conversion and the First Four Periods
1. The Sudden Method and the Huayan Period
First, is the sudden method, which is identified with the Huayan Sutra. According to its category, its period, and its flavor, it is called “sudden.” That is to say, when the Buddha Tathāgata first attained complete enlightenment in the place where the way to nirvana was acquired (bodhimaṇḍa), the great dharmakāya masters of the first forty-one stages, and the devas, nāgas, and others of the eight classes [of beings that protect Buddhism and] who had developed their capacities in previous existences, all at once surrounded him, just as clouds encircle the moon. At that time, the Tathāgata manifested the radiant Vairocana body and taught the complete sutra (i.e., the Huayan). Therefore, it is called the sudden method.
If [we consider the sudden method of the Huayan Sutra] in terms of the capacities [of its listeners] and its teaching, then we cannot help but call it “combined with expediency.” For example, [when this scripture says] “the moment one sets one’s mind on attaining enlightenment, one immediately achieves perfect enlightenment” and so on, the text is teaching the complete doctrine for those who have complete capacities. But whenever the text preaches a sequence of gradual training, it is teaching the distinctive doctrine for those with particular capacities. Therefore, according to its category [the Huayan Sutra] acts as a sudden method, while according to its contents it is called “combined.”
In this scripture it says, “It is just like when the sun rises and first shines on the highest mountains” (the first period). The Nirvana Sutra says, “Just
775a as milk comes from a cow, the twelvefold sutras come from the Buddha” (the first flavor, milk). The Lotus Sutra says, “Just as milk comes from a cow, the twelvefold sutras come from the Buddha” (the first flavor, milk). The Lotus Sutra, “Faith and Understanding Chapter,” says, “And instantly [the wealthy father] ordered servants to pursue and bring back [his long-lost son].
The poor son was alarmed and indignantly shouted out,” and so forth. What does this mean? This means that the many Hinayanist disciples who were seated [while the Buddha preached the Huayan Sutra] were as though deaf and dumb.
2. The Gradual Method
Secondly, there is the gradual method. (The following three periods and
three flavors are all known as the gradual method.)
a. Period of the Deer Park.
Next, because of the nature of the capacities [of the disciples] of the three vehicles who received no benefit from the sudden method, [the Buddha,] while being unmoved from the place of his enlightenment, traveled to the Deer Park. There he took off his radiant Vairocana robes and put on a sixteen-foot worn, dusty robe.
The Buddha had revealed himself by descending from the Tuṣita Heaven and entering into the womb of Queen Māyā, by staying in the womb, being born, taking a wife, having a son, and then leaving home. After six years of ascetic practices, he arranged grass for a seat and sat under the bodhi tree and attained the lesser transformation body. From the beginning at the Deer Park, he first taught five people the Four Noble Truths, the twelvefold chain of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda), the six pāramitās, and so on.
If [we consider this teaching] according to the period, then the sun is shining into deep valleys (the second period). If [we consider this teaching] according to the flavor, then the cream has come from the fresh milk, and the ninefold sutras have come from the twelvefold sutras (the second flavor, cream).
The “Faith and Understanding” chapter [of the Lotus Sutra] says, “With tactful method [the wealthy father] secretly dispatched two men (a śrāvaka and a pratyekabuddha) whose appearance was haggard and unimposing, saying: ‘Go to him and gently tell the poor fellow, “You are hired to remove excrement. . . .”’” What is the meaning of this? The answer is that after the sudden method, [the Buddha] taught the Tipitaka doctrine for twenty years. This is like constantly being told to remove excrement, i.e., to destroy the defilements of false views and wrong attitudes. (See below, section II, 1A, ii.)
b. The Period of Expanded (Vaipulya) Teaching
Next, I shall explain the content of the expanded (Vaipulya) sutras, such as the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa and others, that “criticize the biased teachings of the Hinayana and praise the complete teachings of the Mahayana.”
The four doctrines all teach that the Tipitaka is a doctrine of “half words,” while the shared, distinctive, and complete are doctrines of “full words.” Thus, they are called the “contrasted” teachings because they explain the “full” in contrast to the “half.”
If [we consider this teaching] in terms of the period, it is breakfast time (the third period). If [we consider this teaching] according to the flavor, then it is the flavor of curds, which are produced from cream. This then is the expanded (Vaipulya) teaching that develops from the ninefold sutras of the Hinayana (the third flavor, curds).
The “Faith and Understanding” chapter [of the Lotus Sutra] says, “After this [work of removing excrement for twenty years], there was great mutual trust so that [the poor son] felt no hesitation in going in and out [of his father’s house], although he still lived in his old place [outside the gate].” What does this mean? The reply is that after the Tipitaka doctrine, then the Buddha taught the expanded (Vaipulya) teaching. Having attained the fruit of athwartship (enlightenment), there is great mutual trust, so that one feels no resentment when being cursed, but bearing shame inwardly one’s mind gradually becomes calm and pure.
c. The Period of Wisdom
Next, I shall explain the period of wisdom. [This is characterized by the Buddha] expounding the [wisdom] teaching [to his disciples, just as the wealthy man] entrusted his possessions [to his son]. This integrates [all the teachings so far] and washes away [all delusions by means of emptiness (śūnyatā) and wisdom (prajñā)]. In the wisdom texts of the various scriptural collections, [the Buddha] does not present the Tipitaka doctrine but, girded with the shared and distinctive doctrines, he correctly explains the complete doctrine.
[If we consider the teaching] in terms of the period, it would be midmorning (the fourth period). [If we consider the teaching] in terms of the flavors, then it would be fresh butter produced from curds. In the same way, the Great Wisdom (mahāprajñā) appears following the period of expanded (Vaipulya) teaching (the fourth flavor, butter).
The “Faith and Understanding” chapter [of the Lotus Sutra] says, “At that time, the father became ill. Knowing that he was soon going to die he said to his impoverished son, ‘I now have much gold, silver, and precious jewels. My granaries and treasuries are filled to overflowing. You can take as much as you wish from them.’” What does this mean? The reply is that after [the Buddha] clarified the expanded (Vaipulya) teaching he then expounded the wisdom teachings. The practice of the wisdom teachings is 775b then the family enterprise. Expounding the wisdom teachings that were presented to [the disciples] Subhūti and Śāriputra is identical to [the father’s] entrusting [the family enterprise to his son].
The above three flavors are generally called the gradual method, in con-
trast to the sudden method of the Huayan Sutra.
3. The Secret Method
Third, the secret method means that within the previous four periods, the three vehicles [of bodily, verbal, and mental activities] of the Tathāgata were beyond comprehension. Therefore, for the sake of some he expounded the sudden method, and for the sake of others he expounded the gradual method. There was no mutual awareness between the two groups that the others were enabled to receive benefits. Therefore, it is called the secret method.
4. The Variable Method
Fourth, the variable teaching means that within the previous four flavors “. . . although the Buddha expounded the Dharma with a single voice, yet every sentient being gained comprehension each in his own way.” This means that the Tathāgata, while expounding the gradual method, with his incomprehensible power could cause sentient beings to obtain the benefits of the sudden method; and while expounding the sudden method [he could cause them to] obtain the benefits of the gradual method. Because the benefits that are obtained in this way differ, it is called the variable method.
However, the doctrines included under these two teachings, the secret and the variable, are simply the Tipitaka, the shared, the distinctive, and the complete. So far, I have explained the four methods of conversion.
B. The Fifth Period
1. The Lotus Sutra
Next, I shall explain [the period of] the Lotus [Sutra], which comprehends that which is neither sudden nor gradual by exposing the previously [discussed] sudden and gradual methods [for what they are]. Therefore, it is called “exposing the expedient and revealing the real,” “setting aside the expedient and setting up the real,” and “encompassing the three and returning to the One [Vehicle].”
Even though the names “expedient” and “real” pervade [the five periods] from beginning to end, the contents and aims are quite different. That is to say, before the period of the Lotus Sutra, the expedient and the real were not identified, and the Hinayana and Mahayana were separate from each other. For example, in the period of the Huayan [Sutra] the one expedient part and the one real part did not match each other. (The real part was of the complete doctrine, but the expedient part was of the distinctive doctrine.) Because the Mahayana [teaching of the Huayan period] did not include the Hinayana, Hinayanists sat [before the Buddha] as if deaf and dumb. Therefore, though the teaching expounded [by the Buddha during the period of the Huayan Sutra] was vast and complete, since it was not exhaustive in bringing together the faculties [of all the listeners], it did not fully express his original purpose for coming into the world.
Why is this so? The contents of the initial sudden method have one crude part (the distinctive doctrine) and one wonderful truth (the complete doctrine). The one wonderful truth [of the Huayan period], then, is the same as the Lotus Sutra, without any distinction. In the same way, the crude part [in the Huayan period] had to wait to be “exposed,” “encompassed,” and “set aside” by the Lotus Sutra before it could be called the wonderful truth.
Next, [the doctrine of the period of] the Deer Park was only crude and
not wonderful (the Tipitaka doctrine).
Next, [the teaching of the period of] expanded (Vaipulya) teaching had three crude parts (the Tipitaka, shared, and distinctive doctrines) and one wonderful part (the complete doctrine).
Next, [the doctrines of the period of] wisdom contained two crude parts (the shared and distinctive doctrines) and one wonderful truth (the complete doctrine).
Arriving at the assembly where he taught the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha totally “exposed,” “encompassed,” and “set aside” the crudeness of the previous four flavors and perfected the wonderful truth of the One Vehicle.
The complete doctrine in the various flavors [of the Huayan, Vaipulya, and wisdom periods] need not be “exposed” because basically it is complete in itself and does not have to wait to be revealed [by the Lotus Sutra]. But because the contents of these doctrines were only “combined,” “sole,” “contrasting,” and “inclusive,” they are not equal to the pure and untainted unity of the pure and untainted unity of the Lotus Sutra. This is why [the latter] alone has obtained the name of “wonderful.”
Therefore, the text [of the “Expedient Means” chapter in the Lotus Sutra]
says:
Within the buddha lands of the ten directions, There is only the Dharma of the One Vehicle, Not two or three vehicles,
[Except when the buddhas teach expediently].
(The Teaching is one.)
Immediately I put aside expedient teachings,
And only proclaim the supreme enlightenment.
(Practice is one.)
[I expound the One Vehicle,] Only for bodhisattvas Not for Hinayanists.
(The Perfected Person is one.)
The character of the world
Always remains just as it is.
(Reality is one.)
People of today have not yet understood the wonderful truth of the Lotus Sutra but merely see the parables of the three carts, of the impoverished son (Chapter Four), of the illusory city (Chapter Seven), and so on. Thus they say that [the Lotus Sutra] does not measure up to the other sutra, [the Huayan jing]. They do not know that the Lotus Sutra repeatedly illustrates the expediency of the previous four periods solely in order to reveal the Great Vehicle, merely to hand over the family enterprise, and only to reach the jeweled city 775c [of perfect nirvana]. Because of this [ignorance], they commit the error of slandering [the Lotus Sutra].
[If we consider this teaching] according to the time, then the sun is at its noontime zenith and casts no shadows at all (the fifth period). [If we consider this teaching] in terms of the flavor, then it is clarified butter (ghee) produced from fresh butter. In the same way, the Lotus Sutra is produced from the great wisdom teachings (the fifth flavor, ghee).
The “Faith and Understanding” chapter [of the Lotus Sutra] says:
Assembling his close relatives, [the wealthy man] himself declared, “This really is my son. I really am his father. All of my possessions are my son’s. I entrust my family enterprise to him.” The impoverished son was happier than he had ever been before.
What is the meaning of this passage? The reply is that after wisdom [period], [the Buddha] expounded the Lotus Sutra. From the start [the impoverished son] had already been entrusted with everything in the treasure house, so at the moment of his father’s death he directly received the family enterprise, and that was it! In the same way, everyone knew the doctrine because the Buddha had previously expounded the [wisdom] teaching. The moment he taught the Lotus Sutra [those who heard and accepted its truth] “opened, revealed, awakened to, and penetrated” the insight and understanding of the Buddha and received the prediction that they would attain Buddhahood, and that was it!
2. The Nirvana Sutra
Next, there are two points in the teaching of the Nirvana Sutra. First, for the sake of those who were not yet mature [the Buddha] taught the four doctrines [of the Tipitaka, shared, distinctive, and complete, and told everyone about their buddha-nature. Having been prepared for true eternity, they entered the great nirvana (parinirvāṇa). Therefore, this is called the “teaching that gathers up [the remnants].”
Second, for those of dull capacities during the last period who give rise to nihilistic views with regard to the Buddha’s teaching and who, “threatening the life of wisdom, discard the body of the Dharma,” [the Buddha in the Nirvana Sutra] established the three expediencies [of the Tipitaka, shared, and distinctive doctrines] in order to promote the one complete reality. Therefore, it is called the “teaching that promotes rules of discipline and discusses the eternal.”
If we consider [the Nirvana Sutra] in terms of its period and the flavor, then it is the same as the Lotus Sutra. In discussing the contents [of both scriptures], there are some minor differences in terms of [their relative use of] the pure truth or the mixed [expedient teaching]. Therefore, the text [of the Nirvana Sutra, “Sheng-xin” chapter,] says, “the great nirvana [teaching] develops from the great wisdom [teaching].” This scripture, together with the previous Lotus Sutra, corresponds to the fifth period.
Question: Are the four doctrines [of Tipitaka, shared, distinctive, and complete] that this [Nirvana] Sutra teaches the same as or different from the four doctrines that are fully described in the expanded [Vaipulya] sutras discussed previously?
Answer: The names are the same but the meanings are different. As for the four doctrines in the expanded [Vaipulya period], the complete doctrine from beginning to end fully understands the eternal. The distinctive doctrine does not understand at the beginning but understands only later. The Tipitaka and shared doctrines from beginning to end do not understand. The four doctrines in the Nirvana Sutra from the first to last all understand [the eternal].
C. Five Flavors and Five Periods
Question: What meaning does the five flavors have in regard to the teach-
ings of the five periods?
Answer: There are two. The first meaning only considers the steps in the process [of making ghee]. That is to say, the cow symbolizes the Buddha, and the five flavors symbolize the teaching. Fresh milk comes from the cow. Cream is produced from fresh milk. Curds and the two [others], butter and ghee, follow in order. Therefore, [the five flavors] symbolize steps in the progression of the five periods.
The second point selects the degrees of richness [of the five flavors]. This then [begins by] taking the most inferior kind of capacity, that is to say, those at the Huayan assembly with the capacity of the two vehicles who could neither believe nor understand [the Buddha’s teaching] and who could not transform their worldly passions. Therefore, it is symbolized by fresh milk.
Next, coming to [the period of the] Deer Park, those with the capacity of the two vehicles heard the Tipitaka doctrine. Based on that teaching, they cultivated their practice, transformed their worldliness, and became sages. Therefore, this is symbolized by fresh milk becoming cream.
Next, coming to [the period of] expanded [Vaipulya teaching, those with the capacities of the two vehicles] heard the criticism of the śrāvaka path, yearned for the Mahayana, and were ashamed of the Hinayana. They obtained the benefit of the shared doctrine. This is like changing cream into curds.
Next, arriving at [the period of] wisdom, those minds that respectfully received the sovereign [wisdom] teachings expounded [by the Buddha] gradually became harmonized and obtained the benefits of the distinctive doctrine. This is like transforming curds into fresh butter.
Next, coming to the Lotus Sutra, those [with the capacities of the two vehicles] heard “the Dharma taught in three different forms” and obtained
776a the prediction of their future Buddhahood. This is like transforming fresh butter into clarified butter (ghee).
This being so, from the point of view of the most inferior capacities everyone must pass through the five flavors. Those who are [at the] next [level of capacity] may pass through one, two, three, or four [flavors]. However, those with the highest capacities can penetrate into the real character of true reality (dharmadhātu) in every flavor. Why must they wait for the Lotus assembly?
So far I have presented a major outline of the fourfold methods of conversion in terms of the five flavors and the five periods. From here on I shall explain the fourfold doctrines of conversion.
II. The Four Doctrinesof Conversion
1. Tipitaka Doctrine
First, the Tipitaka doctrine [consists of three collections of scriptures]: i. The Sutra collection (four Āgama sutras)
ii. The Abhidharma collection (Abhidharmakośa and Vibhāṣā-śāstra, etc.) iii. The Vinaya collection (Vinayas of the five schools).
This name “Tipitaka” applies to both Mahayana and Hinayana. Now I
shall take up the Hinayana Tipitaka. The Da zhidu lun says:
Kātyāyanīputra himself, with his brilliant mind, explained the meaning of the Tipitaka in the Vibhāṣā-śāstra but had not read the Mahayana scriptures and [therefore] was not a great bodhisattva.
Also, the Lotus Sutra says, “Students of the Tipitaka being attached to Hinayana. . . .” Therefore, based on these passages, Great Master [Tanita Zhiyi] designated Hinayana to be the Tipitaka doctrine. This is appropriate for the basic capacities of all three vehicles. First of all, [I shall discuss] members of the śrāvaka [vehicle] who depend on the “Four Noble Truths in relation to the arising and perishing [of all things].” A. The Four Noble Truths
i. Suffering
As for the Four Noble Truths, the first is the truth of suffering. [As for suffering,] the twenty-five kinds of existence have two forms of retribution: direct and indirect. The twenty-five kinds of existence that we are talking about are the four continents, the four evil rebirths, the six heavens of the [realm of] desire (kāmadhātu) and the Brahmā heavens [of the realm of form (rūpadhātu)], the four meditation [stages of the realm of form], the four stages of the formless [realm (arūpyadhātu), the state of] non-returner (anāgāmin). (Four continents plus four evil rebirths make eight. The six desire heavens together with the Brahmā heavens make fifteen. The four meditation stages and the four formless states make twenty-three. The Heaven of Nonperception and the anāgāmin heaven add up to twenty-five.)
Specifically, then, there are twenty-five kinds of existence. More generally,
then, there are six conditions of [evil] rebirth:
- Hell. In Sanskrit, hell is called naraka or niraya. In Chinese it is translated as “an instrument of torture.” The reason that we call it “earthly prison” is that it lies beneath the earth. As for hell, it is said that there are [sixteen] great prisons, eight cold and eight hot, to which innumerable sub-hells are connected. Those who suffer within these hells [receive retribution] according to their previous deeds (karma). Each being has his own degree and length [of suffering] to go through. In the most serious case, one goes through eighty-four thousand births and deaths each day for an infinite period of time. Those who commit the five deadly wrongs and the ten evils to an extreme degree suffer the fate of this rebirth.
- Animal. Second, there is rebirth as an animal or beast. This form ofrebirth is found everywhere [from the hells up to the fifth heaven]. Those covered with hair; having horns; having scales and shells; having feathers; those with four feet or many feet, with feet, or without feet; living in the water, on land, and in the air; eating and swallowing each other—they suffer endlessly. Those who, due to ignorance and desire, commit the five deadly wrongs and the ten evils to a moderate degree suffer the fate of this rebirth.
- Hungry ghost. Third, there is rebirth as a hungry ghost, called preta in Sanskrit. This rebirth is found everywhere [from the hells to the fifth heaven]. Those with virtue become spirits of mountains and forests, cemeteries, and temples. Those without virtue dwell in impure places without food, always enduring beatings, [and are forced to] fill in rivers and dam up oceans—they suffer immeasurably. Those whose hearts and minds are flattering and deceptive, and who commit the five deadly wrongs and ten evils to the least degree, suffer this rebirth as their fate.
- Asura. Fourth, there is rebirth as an asura, which can be defined either
776b as “being deprived of alcohol,” “lacking beauty,” or “without heavenly [virtues].” Whether on the shore or at the bottom of the sea, their sea palaces are very ornate. Asuras constantly like to fight and their fear knows no bounds. [This rebirth] is caused when jealousy is harbored in the heart. Although they practice the five virtues, because they desire to surpass others, they reap the lowest degree of the ten good deeds and receive the fate of this rebirth.
- Human. Fifth, there is rebirth as a human being in the four differentcontinents, namely: in the east, Pūrvavideha (life span of five hundred years); in the south, Jambudvīpa (life span of one hundred years); in the west, Apara godānīya (life span of two hundred and fifty years); in the north, Uttarakuru (life span of one thousand years without premature death). Sages are not born in this place [so the Dharma is never taught there]. Thus, this place is one of the eight difficult rebirths [where it is impossible to obtain the benefits of the Buddha’s Dharma]. In all the above, suffering and bliss follow one another. [This rebirth] is caused when the five virtues and the five precepts are practiced. The five virtues are benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness. The five precepts are not to kill, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to lie, and not to drink alcoholic beverages. By practicing these ten good deeds to a moderate degree the fate of this rebirth is received.
- Heaven. Sixth, there is a heavenly rebirth. There are twenty-eightdifferent heavens. (The realm of desire has six heavens, the realm of form has eighteen, and the formless realm has four.) First, the six heavens of the realm of desire are: the Heaven of the Four Divine Kings (Cāturmahārājakāyikā) (that dwell [on the four peaks] to the west of Mount Sumeru); the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven (that dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and in itself has thirtythree heavens; one only attains rebirth in these first two heavens by cultivating the ten good deeds to the highest degree); the Yāma Heaven; the Tuṣita Heaven; the Nirmāṇarataya Heaven; and the Paranirmitavaśavartinaḥ Heaven. (The last four heavens exist in the space [above Mount Sumeru]. To be reborn among these, one cultivates the ten good deeds to the highest degree along with the practice of sitting without yet reaching the first stage of meditation.)
Next, the eighteen heavens in the realm of form are divided among the four meditations. In the first meditation, there are three heavens (those of the Brahmā assembly, Brahmā officials, and Great Brahmā). In the second meditation, there are three heavens (those of little light, of unlimited light, and of piercing light). In the third meditation, there are three heavens (those of little purity, of unlimited purity, and of universal purity). In the fourth meditation, there are nine heavens. (The first three are the cloudless heaven, the heaven of blessed rebirth, and the heaven of fruitfulness. Ordinary people reside there. Those who cultivate the ten good deeds to a high degree and sit in meditation are reborn in them. Then there is a heaven of no-thought where those with heterodox views reside. The last five are the heaven devoid of troubles, the heaven free from heat, the heaven with beautifying activity, the heaven with a beautiful appearance, and the highest heaven of form. In the above five heavens dwell the non-returners [anāgāmin]. The above eighteen heavens are beyond the crude method of eliminating desire, and yet are still not free from the ensnarements of form. Therefore, they are called the realm of form. [To be reborn there] one sits [in meditation] and obtains samādhi. Hence the name of meditation [heavens].)
[Finally], there are the four heavens of the formless realm. (These are the heavens of infinite space, of [space-like] consciousness, of “nothing exists,” and of neither perception nor nonperception. Because the above four heavens are only of the last four skandhas, without the skandha of form, they receive the name [heavens of the formless realm].)
What is explained above spans from the hells to the heaven of [neither perception] nor nonperception. Although suffering and happiness differ [at each level], birth and death cannot be avoided, because having died, one is again reborn. Therefore, they are said to be [within the cycle of] birth and death (samsara).
This is the Tipitaka doctrine that the truth of suffering has real substantiality.
ii. The Cause of Suffering
Second is the truth of accumulation [of ignorance and attachments that produce suffering]. This is identical to “[obsession with] false views and wrong attitudes,” which also means:
[1.] [The illusions that are cut off] by seeing [the truth] and by cultivating
[the Way]
[2.] Four levels of attachment
[3.] Ignorance due to defilements
[4.] The delusion of being attached to forms [under the illusion that they
have real substantiality]
[5.] Secondary [illusions stemming from fundamental] ignorance
[6.] Common illusions [that all three vehicles can eliminate] [7.] Illusions within the three realms.
Although the names differ they only are “[obsession with] false views
and wrong attitudes,” and that is all.
First, I shall explain the [illusions derived from] false views in terms of
their eighty-eight defilements, namely:
- The illusion of an [enduring] self
- Extreme views [of either nihilism or externalism]
- Attachment to the [above] views
- Attachment to [non-Buddhist] precepts
- Perverse views [denying the validity of causality in one’s personal
destiny]
(The above are the “subtle defilements.”)
- Greed
- Hatred
- Stupidity
- Arrogance
- Irresoluteness.
(The above are the “blunt defilements.”)
These ten defilements, when included under [each of] the Four Noble Truths of the three realms, differ in quantity but add up to eighty-eight. That is to say, under [the truth of] suffering in the realm of desire, the ten defilements are complete. [The truths of] the cause of suffering and the cessation of suffering each have seven defilements, but lack the defilements of the [enduring] self [1], extreme views [of nihilism and externalism] [2], and attachment to [non-Buddhist] precepts [4]. [The fourth noble truth of] the path has eight defilements excluding those of the [enduring] self [1] and extreme views [of nihilism and externalism] [2]. Under the Four Noble Truths [in the 776c realm of desire, the defilements] add up to thirty-two.
The remainder [of the defilements] under the Four Noble Truths of the upper two realms [of form and formlessness] are all the same as those in the realm of desire, except that under each noble truth the defilement of hate is also excluded. Thus, each of these realms has twenty-eight [defilements]. Combining [the defilements] of these two realms adds up to fifty-six, and together with the previous thirty-two [defilements of the realm of desire] totals eighty-eight defilements.
Second, I shall explain [the illusions derived from] wrong attitudes, in terms of eighty-one degrees. Specifically, the three realms are divided into nine stages. The realm of desire is one stage, and the four meditation [heavens of the realm of form] and the four meditation [heavens of the formless realm] equal eight, so altogether there are nine stages. In the first stage of the realm of desire there are nine degrees [of the wrong attitudes of] greed, hatred, stupidity, and arrogance. The nine degrees are called extremely intense, moderately intense, and mildly intense; more than moderate, moderate, and less than moderate; more than mild, mild, and very mild.
Each of the eight higher stages [of the form and formless realm] has these nine degrees [of wrong attitudes] but lack the defilement of hatred. Therefore, [the degrees of wrong attitudes] total eighty-one. [Although] the above “false ideas and wrong attitudes” are diverse, in total this comprises the Tipitaka doctrine, which holds that the noble truth of the cause of suffering has real substantiality.
iii. Cessation of Suffering
Third is the truth of cessation. The cessation of suffering and of the accumulation [of causes that produce suffering] discussed above reveals ultimate truth in a partial way. The reason is that it is comprehended in terms of cessation. Yet ultimately this cessation is not the ultimate truth. iv. The Path
Fourth is the truth of the path [to nirvana]. Briefly, it is the [threefold practices of] precepts, meditation, and wisdom (śīla, samādhi, and prajñā). More broadly, it is the thirty-seven conditions of the path [leading to enlightenment]. These thirty-seven conditions are grouped into seven categories:
- The four spheres of mindfulness are 1) to observe the impurity of thebody (skandha of form), 2) to observe that sensation is suffering (skandha of sensation), 3) to observe the impermanence of thoughts (skandha of consciousness), and 4) to observe that the objects of cognition lack any enduring essence (skandha of interpretation and volition).
- The four right efforts are 1) not to produce evil that has not yet arisen,2) to eliminate evils that have already arisen, 3) to develop good that has not yet arisen, and 4) to increase the good that has already arisen.
III. The four foundations for supernatural power are: (will, thought,
effort, and discursive reasoning).
IV. The five faculties are: (faith [preventing deception], efforts [preventing laziness], mindfulness [preventing hatred], concentration [preventing remorse], and wisdom [preventing animosity]).
- The five powers (whose names are the same as the above faculties [but actively engaged]).
VI. The seven factors of enlightenment are: (mindfulness, discernment,
effort, joy, tranquility, concentration, and equanimity).
- The eightfold noble path is: (right view, right attitude, right speech, right behavior, right endeavor, right concentration, right mindfulness, and right livelihood).
The above seven categories pertain to the truth of the path [to nirvana] of the Tipitaka doctrine in relation to arising and perishing. Moreover, the above arrangement of the names and numbers of the Four Noble Truths also applies to the following three doctrines (i.e., the shared, distinctive, and complete).
However, they differ from each other as arising and perishing, non arising, innumerable, and actionless according to the breadth or narrowness, superiority, or inferiority of their doctrines, and that is all. Therefore, I will not repeat the names and numbers [of the Four Noble Truths] in the following text.
Furthermore, the Four Noble Truths are divided into [two categories:] “of the world” and “transcending the world.” The first two noble truths are the cause and effect in the midst of the world (suffering is the effect and accumulation is the cause); and the last two noble truths are the cause and effect in the midst of transcending the world (cessation is the effect and the path is the cause).
Question: Why are effects arranged before the causes in [the categories
of] both “of the world” and “transcending the world”?
Answer: Because śrāvakas have dull capacities: [only after] they realize suffering do they stop the accumulation, and [only after] they admire the effect [of the cessation of suffering in nirvana] do they practice the cause, [that is, the path to nirvana]. I shall now briefly explain the stages and the people who follow the practice of the Tipitaka doctrine. B. Stages to Buddhahood for the Three Vehicles
i. The Śrāvaka Vehicle
First, the śrāvaka stage is explained as divided into two: [1] the ordinary stage, and [2] the sagehood stage. The ordinary stage is further divided into two levels: [a] the ordinary stage of a lower level, and [b] the ordinary stage of a higher level.
1a. Explaining the ordinary stage of a lower level, there are three sub-
stages.
1. First, [there is the stage of] “five meditations for settling the mind”: meditation on the impurity [of things] for beings who have many desires; meditation of compassion [toward others] for beings who are full of anger; meditation by counting breaths for beings who have many distractions; meditation on causes and conditions for beings who are ignorant; and meditation of invoking the Buddha for beings who have many obstructions.
2. Second, there is the stage of [the four types of] mindfulness that [eliminate false views and] are practiced individually. (These are like the previous four spheres of mindfulness.)
3. Third, there is the stage of [the four types of] mindfulness that [elim-
777a inate false views and] are practiced together. First there is mindfulness of the impurity of the body and [mindfulness that the other three categories of] sensations, consciousness, and objects of cognition [are also all impure. One also goes through each of the four categories as involving suffering, impermanence], and up to mindfulness that objects of cognition lack any enduring essence, and that the body, sensations, and consciousness also have no enduring essence.
[The meditations] in the middle [on the suffering and impermanence of the four categories of the body, sensations, consciousness and objects of cognition] can be understood since we have listed them. (The above three classes are called the ordinary stage of a lower level, which is also named the “level of basic necessities” [the stage of sambhāra].)
1b. Second, I shall explain the four [sub-stages] of the ordinary stage of a higher level, which are: heat, summit, patience, and highest mundane Dharma. (These four stages comprise the ordinary stage of a higher level that is also called the stage of intensified effort or the stage of the four good roots.)
The general name for the lower and higher levels of the ordinary stage just discussed is the stage of ordinary followers. It is also called the stage of the seven expedient means.
2. Next, I shall explain the sagehood stage, which is further divided into three levels [and four attainments]: the level of realization (the first attainment), the level of practice (the second and third attainments), and the level of nomore-learning (the fourth attainment).
First is the srota-āpanna. This is translated as “entering the stream [of the Buddhist path].” At this level, the false views of the eighty-eight defilements of the three realms are cut off. Because ultimate truth is seen, this level is known as the “way of realization” or the sagehood stage.
Second is the sakṛdāgāmin. This means “one more rebirth.” At this level, among the nine degrees of wrong attitudes in the realm of desire, the first six are cut off completely but the final three still remain. Therefore, there still is one more rebirth.
Third is the anāgāmin. This means “non-returning.” At this level, the remaining wrong attitudes of the realm of desire have been completely cut off. Furthermore, the wrong attitudes of the upper eight stages have also been cut off.
Fourth is the arhat. This means “nothing [more] to learn,” “no rebirth,” “conquering defilements,” and “worthy of worship.” At this level, false views and wrong attitudes have been completely cut off. Although the seeds of bondage have already been cut off, the efforts of previous bondage still remain, so this is called “nirvana with remainder.” [But upon death,] when the body is burned and awareness is extinguished, it is called “nirvana without
remainder” or “liberation for oneself alone.”
This concludes the brief explanation of the śrāvaka stage.
ii. The Pratyekabuddha Vehicle
Next I will explain the stage of the pratyekabuddha, or “self-enlightened.” On meeting the Buddha when he appeared in the world, [the pratyekabuddha] received the teaching of the twelvefold conditions of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda), namely:
- Ignorance (avidyā) (obstructions [to enlightenment] of defilements
and their path [to suffering]);
- Volitional activities (saṃskāra) (obstructions produced by karma and the path of karma [that leads to rebirth]: these first two conditions belong to the past);
- Consciousness (vijñāna) (a single breath of life transmitted into the
womb at conception);
- Name and form (nāmarūpa) (“name” means mental phenomena; “form” means physical entities);
- The six gateways (ṣaḍāyatana) (formation of the six sense organs
within the womb);
- Contact (sparśa) ([contact of the six sense organs with their sense
objects] when the baby comes out of the womb);
- Sensation (vedanā) (receiving the pleasantness or unpleasantness of the sense objects immediately before you: the conditions from “consciousness” to “sensation” are called the five present results [and are derived from the two past conditions of ignorance and volitional activities]);
- Craving (tṛṣṇā) (this is a craving for material things such as man and
woman, gold and silver, money and possessions, and so forth);
- Grasping (upādāna) (whenever one perceives any kind of object, a feeling of attachment is always produced. These two [craving and grasping] become causes of the future. Both of these are defilements like ignorance in the past);
10. Becoming (bhāva) (since one’s karmic action is accomplished, this becomes the cause of future existence. This belongs to the path of karma, just like “volitional activities” in the past);
11. Rebirth (jāti) (this is the phenomena of rebirth in the future);
12. Old age and death (jarāmaraṇa).
These [twelve] are objective conditions that are to be extinguished [by enlightenment]. These differ from the previous Four Noble Truths only in “revealing and combining.” What is “revealing and combining”? The five conditions of ignorance, volitional activities, craving, grasping, and becoming “combine” to form the second noble truth of the accumulation [of the causes of suffering]. The remaining seven conditions “combine” to form the first noble truth of suffering.
If the meanings are the same while the names are different, why repeat them? Because the capacities of people differ. People of the pratyekabuddha path first meditate on the second noble truth of accumulation: namely, that ignorance conditions volitional activities, that volitional activities condition consciousness, and so forth up to birth, which conditions old age and death. This, then, is the arising of rebirth. Then there is the meditation of extinction; that is, when ignorance is extinguished, and so forth up to when birth is extinguished, then old age and death will be extinguished.
Through meditating on the twelvefold conditions of dependent origination they realize the principle of ultimate truth. Therefore, they are called “those who achieve realization of the conditions” (pratyekabuddha). Those who are called “self-enlightened” appear in a world where there is no buddha. Living alone on a remote mountaintop, they meditate on the changing nature of things and realize by themselves the nonorigination [of all things]. Accordingly, they are called “self-enlightened.” Although the two names are different, they are the same in regard to the level of practice.
In this way people who discard the wrong ideas and false attitudes of the three realms are the same as the śrāvaka. But because they also overcome 777b recurring delusions they are above the śrāvaka.
iii. The Bodhisattva Vehicle
Next I shall explain the stage of the bodhisattva. From the moment he develops the mind [dedicated to attaining enlightenment, bodhicitta], basing himself on the Four Noble Truths, [the bodhisattva] makes the four great vows and cultivates the practice of the six perfections (pāramitās).
- The Four Great Bodhisattva Vows
1. There are those who have not yet transcended [the stream of birth and
death]. I must carry them over.
Beings are numberless; I vow to save them all.
This vow is based on the fact of the noble truth of suffering.
2. There are those who are not yet free [from delusion]. I must liberate
them.
Defilements are inexhaustible; I vow to end them all.
This vow is based on the fact of the noble truth of the accumulation [of
the causes of suffering].
3. There are those who are not yet settled [in practicing the thirty-seven
conditions leading to enlightenment]. I must assure them.
The teachings are innumerable; I vow to master them all.
This vow is based on the fact of the noble truth of the path [to enlight-
enment, the fourth noble truth].
4. There are those who have not yet attained nirvana. I must bring them
to nirvana.
The path to Buddhahood is unsurpassed; I vow to attain it.
This vow is based on the fact of the noble truth of cessation [of suffering,
the third noble truth].
- Three Periods of Practice
Since [the bodhisattva] has developed the mind [dedicated to enlightenment], he must cultivate the practices in order to fulfill the vows. For three innumerable eons (asaṃkhya kalpas), [the bodhisattva] cultivates the practice of the six perfections. For a hundred eons (kalpas) he plants the [conditions for the thirty-two primary] marks and the [eighty secondary] signs [of Buddhahood]. Speaking of the three innumerable eons, I shall discuss the divisions in terms of the time when Śākyamuni was cultivating the bodhisattva path.
[1.] [The period during which Śākyamuni] met seventy-five thousand buddhas, starting with the elder Sākya and on up to Sikhin Buddha, is called the first innumerable eon. From then on, he always avoided [sexual desire for] the female form, and avoided the four evil rebirths while constantly cultivating the six perfections. However, he himself did not know that he would become a buddha. In terms of the śrāvaka stage, he was at [the level of practicing] the five meditations for settling the mind and the meditations that are practiced together and individually (ordinary stage of a lower level).
[2.] Next, [the period during which Śākyamuni] met seventy-six thousand buddhas, starting with Sikhin Buddha and on up to Dīpaṃkara Buddha, is called the second innumerable eon. At this time, using the seven stalks of the lotus flower as offerings, he spread his hair, covered it with mud, and then received the prediction [that he would become a buddha], and was given the name of Śākyamuni. From that time on he knew that he would become a buddha, and yet he could not say so aloud. In terms of the śrāvaka stages he was at the stage of heat [in the ordinary stage of a higher level].
[3.] Next, [the period during which Śākyamuni] met seventy-seven thousand buddhas, starting with Dīpaṃkara Buddha and on up to Vipaśyin Buddha, is called the completion of the third innumerable eon. At this time, he himself knew and he let others know that he must become a buddha. Neither he himself nor others had any doubt. In terms of the śrāvaka stages, he was at the stage of the summit [in the ordinary stage of a higher level].
c. The Six Perfections
The six perfections are completely cultivated during the time it takes [a bodhisattva] to pass through the given time [of three innumerable eons]. Furthermore, [a bodhisattva must] live through a thousand kalpas in order to plant the conditions for the [thirty-two primary] marks and the [eighty secondary] signs [of Buddhahood], cultivating one hundred merits to bring even one mark to perfection. The meaning of “merit” is manifold and difficult to define. Some say that one merit is equal to curing all the blind men of this world system, and so on.
In cultivating the six perfections, each has a given moment for fulfillment. For example, 1) to fulfill the perfection of giving (dāna-pāramitā), King Sivi [offered his body to a hungry eagle] to save a pigeon; 2) to fulfill the perfection of discipline (śīla-pāramitā), King Srutasoma [was willing to] sacrifice [his life and] his country; 3) to fulfill the perfection of patience (kṣānti-pāramitā), Kṣāntivādi ṛṣi endured mutilation by King Kali without giving in to hatred; 4) to fulfill the perfection of exertion (vīrya-pāramitā), Prince Mahādāna scooped up the seawater [to recover his wish-granting gem (maṇi). In another story, Śākyamuni Bodhisattva was so absorbed] in worshiping Puṣya Buddha he kept his foot raised for seven days. 5) To fulfill the perfection of meditation (dhyāna-pāramitā), Jāliya ṛṣi [continued in meditation in order not to disturb] a magpie that had built a nest on his head; 6) to fulfill the perfection of wisdom (prajñā-pāramitā), Prime Minister Go bin da divided the country of Jambudvīpa into seven parts, [one each for the seven kings,] which put an end to their fighting.
In terms of the śrāvaka stages, [the bodhisattva at this point] is at the
stage of the lowest level of patience [in the ordinary stage of a higher level].
Next, [Śākyamuni, in preparing] to take the position [of the previous buddha] was born in Tuṣita Heaven, was conceived in the womb, born in the world, left home, drove away Māra, and calmly sat [in meditation] without being disturbed. This is the [śrāvaka] stage of patience at a middle level. Next, he entered instantly into the stage of patience at the upper level. Then he immediately entered into the stage of the highest mundane Dharma [in the ordinary stage of a higher level].
Having achieved true nondefilement (anāśrava) in the thirty-four mental 777c
states, he suddenly cut off false ideas and wrong attitudes, and the recurrence [of delusion]. Sitting under the bodhi tree, he made a grass sitting mat and took on the sixteen-foot-high inferior apparitional body (nirmāṇakāya). At the request of King Brahmā, he taught the Dharma (lit., “turned the wheel of the Dharma”) three times and saved people with capacities of three different levels (upper, middle, and lower). He lived in the world for eighty years, took on the appearance of an aged monk, and entered into nirvana without remainder, just as the fire goes out when the fuel is exhausted. This is Buddhahood according to the Tipitaka teaching.
As explained above, although the attainments that are realized by the practices of people in the three [vehicles] are different, still they are the same in cutting off false views and wrong attitudes, in transcending the three realms, and in realizing the partial truth. However, [the followers of the Tipitaka doctrine] have only walked three hundred yojanas (about three thousand miles) and have merely entered the magic city.
This concludes our brief explanation of the Tipitaka of the Tipitaka
doctrine.
2. The Shared Doctrine
Next, I shall explain the shared doctrine. Because it is shared by the preceding Tipitaka doctrine and by the following distinctive and complete [doctrines], it is called the “shared doctrine.” The name also comes from the content of the doctrine. This means that persons of all three vehicles share in using the path of “teaching without words” in order to understand phenomena [as causally conditioned] and to realize their no substantiality.
A. Ten Stages to Buddhahood
The steps in the stages of this teaching are identical to the ten stages
according to the Dapin jing beginning with the stage of dry wisdom:
- Stage of dry wisdom. [Those who have attained this stage] do not yethave the water of truth. Therefore, it acquires this name [of dry wisdom] and is identical to the ordinary stage of a lower level. It is also equal to the three stages of the Tipitaka teaching: viz., [a] the five meditations for settling the mind, [b] [the four types of mindfulness] that are practiced together, and [c] [the four types of mindfulness] that are practiced individually.
ii. Stage of [true] nature. This seems to acquire the water of Dharma-nature, and controls the defilements of false views and wrong attitudes. It is equal to the ordinary stage of a higher level, and also to the stage of the four good roots of the Tipitaka doctrine.
- Stage of those who have the eight [endurances].
- Stage of insight. [Those who attain] the above two stages enter unin-terrupted mindfulness, completely cut off the eighty-eight defilements of false views in the three realms, give rise to real nondefilement [of the wisdom that transcends the stream of rebirth], and have insight into the principle of real truth. It is equal to the first attainment in the Tipitaka doctrine.
v. Stage of thinner [defilements]. The first six degrees of wrong attitudesof the nine degrees [of attachment] in the realm of desire are cut off. It is equal to the second attainment of the Tipitaka doctrine.
- Stage of freedom from desire. All nine degrees of wrong attitudes inthe realm of desire are completely cut off. This is equal to the third attainment in the Tipitaka doctrine.
- Stage of completion. The defilements of false views and wrong atti-tudes in the three realms are completely cut off. However, [those in this stage] are only freed from the primary defilements and are not able to overcome the recurrence [of delusions], just like charcoal remains after wood is burned. This is equal to the fourth attainment or the śrāvaka stage in the Tipitaka doctrine.
- Stage of the pratyekabuddha. The recurring delusions are further
attacked, just as through burning charcoal is reduced to ashes.
- Stage of the bodhisattva. Insofar as the primary defilements are completely cut off, this stage is equal to the first two vehicles. [However, a bodhisattva] encourages the recurrence [of delusion] to nourish his rebirth [in the three realms to save all beings]. The religious practice [of helping others] and the inner contemplation [of no substantiality] flow together so that he roams freely exercising supernatural powers and thus purifies his buddha land.
x. Stage of the Buddha. When the inner capacities and other conditions are ripe, based on a flash of insight that fully corresponds [to the way things truly are], the rest of the recurring [delusions] are suddenly cut off. Sitting under the seven-jeweled bodhi tree using celestial robes as a seat and manifesting the transformation body, which is at once superior and inferior, he becomes a buddha.
B. Three Vehicles
For the sake of those with the various capacities of the three vehicles, he turns the Dharma wheel of the Four Noble Truths of nonerasing. When all the conditions are exhausted and he enters nirvana, then the primary defilements and recurring delusions are both cut off, just like when both charcoal and coals are extinguished.
The scriptures talk about “the three beasts who cross the river,” meaning the elephant, the horse, and the rabbit. These are compared [to the three vehicles] because they differ in cutting off delusion. Also, the [Huayan] Sutra says: “The true reality of all things can be attained by all three vehicles. Nevertheless, it is not to be called [complete] Buddhahood.” This is the [shared] doctrine.
The causes [that are nurtured by] the three vehicles based on this doctrine are the same, but their attainments are different. Although the attainments
that are realized are different, they are the same in [a] cutting off false views and wrong attitudes, [b] in transcending the limitations of life [in the three realms], and [c] in realizing one-sided truth.
Moreover, among the bodhisattvas there are two kinds, namely, sharp and dull. The dull see only a one-sided no substantiality and do not see beyond no substantiality. They only achieve Buddhahood as the highest attainment of this [shared] doctrine. Although the conditions that are nurtured are different, the attainment is on the same level as the Tipitaka doctrine. Therefore, we say it “shares” [the same result as] the previous [Tipitaka doctrine].
In the case of bodhisattvas with sharp capacities, they not only see “a one-sided no substantiality” but they also see “beyond no substantiality.” Beyond no substantiality, then, is the middle path. This is divided into two kinds, namely, “only [the middle]” and “not only the middle.”
If [bodhisattvas] see “only the middle,” they succeed to the distinctive doctrine. If they see “not only the middle,” they succeed to the complete doctrine. Therefore, we say this doctrine “shares” [the same result as] the later [distinctive and complete doctrines].
C. Comparison with Other Doctrines
Question: From which stage [in the shared doctrine] does one succeed
to [a higher stage] and to which stage does one advance?
Answer: The three capacities of those who succeed are not the same. If one is has a higher capacity, one succeeds from the third or fourth stage; if one has a middle capacity, from the fifth or sixth stage; and if one has a lower capacity, from the seventh or eighth stage.
Among the stages to which one succeeds, there is a difference between “real” and “imitation.” If one succeeds to an “imitation” stage, it is the tenth stage of merit transference in the distinctive [doctrine], or the tenth level of faith in the complete [doctrine]. If one succeeds to “real” stages, one is grafted to the first bhūmi in the distinctive [doctrine] or to the first abode in the complete [doctrine].
Question: Since these two doctrines, the Tipitaka and the shared, are the same in having three vehicles; in cutting off the four levels of attachment, thus transcending only the three realms; in realizing a one-sided truth [of no substantiality]; and in having walked three hundred yojanas, thus entering the magic city [of nirvana], then why are they differentiated into two?
Answer: It is just as you have said. However, they are the same and yet not the same. Even though what they realize is the same, there is an enduring difference between “great” and “small,” between “skillful” and “awkward.” These two doctrines are doctrines [limited to the three] realms. Yet the Tipitaka doctrine is “small” and “awkward” within the realm. It is “small” because it does not share anything with the “great.” It is “awkward” because it understands no substantiality only through analyzing phenomena.
As for people of the three [vehicles] of this [shared] doctrine, although there are the differences of high, intermediate, and low within the doctrine itself, regarding the people of the three [vehicles] they are uniformly of dull capacities. Therefore, they can only analyze and negate [phenomena]. But the shared doctrine is “great” and “skillful” within the realms. It is “great” because it is the first entrance to the Great Vehicle (Mahayana). It is “skillful” because it understands no substantiality by directly experiencing phenomena. Although members of the three [vehicles] involved in this doctrine have the differences of high, intermediate, and low [capacities], when compared with those in the Tipitaka doctrine, they are uniformly of sharp capacities.
Question: Since the doctrine already pertains to the Great Vehicle, why
are there people of two [lower] vehicles?
Answer: Why prevent common people from going in and out of the scarlet-bird gate? Therefore, even if [the capacities of] people are “small,” the doctrine here is certainly “great.” The Great Vehicle includes the small vehicles and gradually draws them toward understanding reality. Isn’t this skillful!
The wisdom held in common by the texts of the wisdom and expanded [Vaipulya] periods is identical to this [shared] doctrine. This concludes a brief explanation of the shared doctrine.
3. The Distinctive Doctrine
Next, I shall explain the distinctive doctrine. This teaching explains the doctrine that transcends the [three] realms and belongs to the bodhisattva alone, [as outlined by the following eight categories]: teaching, principle, wisdom, cutting off [defilements], practices, stages, causes, and attainment. This is distinct from the two previous doctrines, [Tipitaka and shared,] and is distinct from the complete doctrine that follows. Therefore, it is called distinctive. The Nirvana [Sutra] says: “The causes and conditions of the Four Noble Truths have innumerable forms which are not understood by śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas.”
A. Fifty-two Stages of a Bodhisattva
The various Mahayana scriptures give extensive explanations of bodhisattva practices throughout many kalpas and the sequence of the stages of these practices. These explanations are not synchronized with each other. This is also a characteristic of the distinctive doctrine. The Huayan [Sutra] gives an explanation of the ten abodes, ten practices, and ten merit transferences that constitute saintliness; the ten bhūmis (stages) that constitute sagehood; and the supreme enlightenment that constitutes a buddha. The [Pusa]
Yingluo [jing] explains the fifty-two stages [of a bodhisattva]. The [Hebu] 778b Jinguangming [jing] gives only the ten bhūmis (stages) and Buddhahood. The Shentian wang [boruo jing] explains the ten bhūmis. The Nirvana [Sutra] explains the five practices.
The fact that these various scriptures differ like this in the number [of stages] means that the bodhisattvas who transcend the [three] realms attain benefits according to their [differing] capacities. How could there be a fixed version? However, none can surpass the Yingluo jing for the completeness of these stages. Therefore, based on it I shall now briefly explain the characteristics of the sequence of stages for cutting off [delusions] and realizing [the truth] for the bodhisattva.
The fifty-two stages are grouped into seven categories, namely, faith, abodes, practices, merit transference, bhūmis, preliminary enlightenment, and supreme enlightenment. Furthermore, these seven categories can be combined into two: ordinary stages and sagely stages. As for the ordinary stages, they also have two levels: the degrees of faith being the lower ordinary; and the abodes, practices, and merit transference being the higher ordinary. The latter are also called saintly.
As for the sagely stages, they also can be divided into two: the ten bhūmis and preliminary enlightenment are the preparation; supreme enlightenment is the attainment. Generally the classification is like this. A more detailed explanation follows.
- Ten Degrees of Faith
First, I shall state the ten degrees of faith [in the fifty-two stages of a bodhisattva]: 1) faith, 2) mindfulness, 3) zeal, 4) wisdom, 5) concentration, 6) nonretrogression, 7) merit transference, 8) Dharma protection, 9) discipline, and 10) vow. These ten stages control the delusions of false views and wrong attitudes in the three realms. Therefore, they are called the stage of patience through self-control (lower level of the ordinary stage). This is equal to the seven saintly stages of the Tipitaka doctrine, and the dry wisdom and [true] nature [stages one and two] in the shared doctrine.
- Ten Abodes
Next, I shall explain the ten abodes [in the fifty-two stages of a bodhisattva]: 1) arousing the mind [that resolves to attain enlightenment, bodhicitta]. (This exhaustively cuts false views in the three realms, and is equal to the first attainment of the Tipitaka doctrine, and to the stage of the people who have the eight [endurances] and the stage of insight [stages three and four] in the shared doctrine.); 2) putting things in order; 3) practice; 4) nobility of spiritual rebirth; 5) perfection of expedient means; 6) rectification of the mind; 7) nonretrogression. (In the above six abodes, the bodhisattva exhaustively cuts off the wrong attitudes in the three realms and attains the stage of nonretrogression, which is equal to the stage of Buddhahood in both the Tipitaka and shared doctrines.); 8) childlike goodness; 9) prince of truth; and 10) coronation. (In the above three abodes, the bodhisattva cuts off the innumerable delusions [about the means to cure all beings] within the [three] realms, and controls these countless items beyond the [three] realms. The previous two [doctrines, the Tipitaka and the shared,] do not even know the names [of these stages].)
These abodes are also called “the nature that has the seed [of Buddhahood] based on cultivating [mindfulness of no substantiality].” By using “the contemplation that moves from provisional existence to penetrate no substantiality,” the bodhisattva sees the principle of ultimate truth (para mārtha), opens the wisdom eye, and perfects the knowledge of all things. He accordingly has walked three hundred yojanas.
iii. Ten Kinds of Practice
Next, I shall explain the ten practices [in the fifty-two stages of a bodhisattva]: 1) joyful, 2) beneficial, 3) unobstructed, 4) unwavering, 5) unconfused, 6) attractive, 7) unattached, 8) hard-won, 9) exemplary, and 10) true. (These cut off the countless illusions that transcend the [three] realms.) These practices are also called “the nature that has the seed [of Buddhahood] based on the nature [of ultimate reality, dharmatā].” By using “the contemplation that moves from no substantiality to penetrate provisional existence,” the bodhisattva sees conventional truth (samvṛtti), opens the Dharma eye, and perfects the wisdom that knows every possible way [to save beings].
- Ten Dimensions of Merit Transference
Next, I shall explain the ten merit transferences [in the fifty-two stages of a bodhisattva]: 1) saving all beings yet free from the form of all beings; 2) not destroying [phenomenal distinctions while realizing the no substantiality of all distinctions]; 3) equality with all the buddhas; 4) reaching every corner of the universe [to pay homage to all the buddhas]; 5) a treasury of inexhaustible merit [accumulated from the above practices to be used for the salvation of others]; 6) entering into the “good root” of nondifferentiation; 7) treating all beings as equally deserving; 8) the form of suchness [seen underlying all phenomenal distinctions]; 9) being liberated without restraints or attachments [though realizing that all things are one]; and 10) penetrating into the infinitude of every single thing. (Having controlled fundamental ignorance, the bodhisattva cultivates the “middle view” [between emptiness and provisional existence].)
These merit transferences are also called the “nature having the seed [of Buddhahood] based on the [middle] path.” Having walked four hundred yojanas, the bodhisattva dwells in the land where [fundamental ignorance] still remains because of his practice of expedient means [based on his knowledge of the middle path]. (The above thirty stages are the three levels of saintliness, and are also called the higher level of the ordinary stage. The eighth abode up to these [ten merit transferences] constitute the stages of nonretrogression with regard to practice.)
- Ten Bhūmis (Stages)
Next, I shall explain the ten bhūmis [in the fifty-two stages of a bodhisattva]: 1) Joyful (pramuditā). (From now on, in view of the middle truth, the bodhisattva destroys a fraction of fundamental ignorance and manifests a fraction of the three attainments, and so on up to preliminary enlightenment. Altogether they are called the “nature possessing the seed [of Buddhahood] based on sagehood.”) This is also the stage of “beholding the truth” or the stage of “no effort.” [Bodhisattvas in this stage] become buddhas in the one hundred worlds [of every direction]. By perfecting the path of enlightenment through the eight events, they benefit all beings. Having walked five hundred yojanas, they enter for the first time the “land of true reward without obstruc- 778c tion.” Thus, they take the first step into the “place of treasures”; 2) free from defilement (vimalā); 3) light-giving (prabhākarī); 4) brilliant wisdom (arciṣmati); 5) difficult to conquer (sudurjayā); 6) facing [true reality] (abhimukhī); 7) thoroughgoing practice (dūraṃgamā); 8) immovable (acalā); 9) wonderfully wise (sādhumatī); and 10) Dharma cloud [enveloping all things through the “middle truth”] (dharmameghā).
(At each of the last nine stages, a part of fundamental ignorance is cut
off and a part of the middle path is realized.) vi. Preliminary and Supreme Enlightenment
Further, [when a bodhisattva] cuts off one [more] part [of fundamental ignorance] he enters the stage of preliminary enlightenment. It is also called the “diamond mind.” It is also called “replacing the position of the previous buddha in one more rebirth.” It is also called “one who is next to the top.”
Further, [the bodhisattva] destroys the [last] part of fundamental ignorance, enters the stage of supreme enlightenment, sits on the throne of the great jewel flower under the seven-jeweled bodhi tree in the lotus treasure realm, and manifests the fully complete saṃbhogakāya. This then is the buddha who turns the Dharma wheel of the infinite Four Noble Truths for the sake of bodhisattvas of dull capacities.
According to some scriptures and treatises, the first seven stages are called the path of effort, and [those] from the eighth stage are called the path without effort. At the stage of supreme enlightenment, the bodhisattva simply destroys the last part of fundamental ignorance.
This in general is an explanation according to the scheme of the distinctive
teaching.
In another place it is said that at the first bhūmi false ideas are cut off, from the second to the sixth bhūmis wrong attitudes are cut off. This is equal to athwartship. This then borrows the terminology of the stages (bhūmis) of the distinctive doctrine to name the stages in the shared doctrine, [namely, athwartship].
Some say, “The three saintly levels and ten sagely levels are in the land of true reward, but only the Buddha dwells in the Pure Land.” This borrows the terminology of the distinctive doctrine to explain the stages in the complete doctrine.
There are very many differing classifications like this. Thus, one has to know in detail the stages of cutting off [defilements] and realization [of the truth] in each teaching: at what stage are which defilements cut off and what truth is realized. Then one can begin to classify the various stages of the various teachings, and there will be nothing that you cannot understand.
This concludes the brief explanation of the distinctive teaching.
4. The Complete Doctrine
Next I shall explain the complete doctrine. The term “complete” means completely marvelous, completely full, completely capable, completely sudden. Therefore, it is called the “complete doctrine.” That is to say, [the complete doctrine embodies] [1] complete suppression [of the five levels of attachment], [2] complete faith [in true reality], [3] complete cutting off [of all illusion], [4] complete practice, [5] complete stage [embracing all other stages], [6] complete majesty that is free [from karmic retribution in the midst of a causally conditioned world], and [7] complete salvation of all beings.
The realm of Buddhahood described by the various Mahayana scriptures and treatises has nothing in common with the sequences and stages of the three vehicles but basically belongs to this [complete] doctrine. The four words from the Lotus [Sutra]—“open, reveal, awaken, and penetrate”—correspond to the forty stages of the complete doctrine: [ten] abodes, practices, merit transferences, and bhūmis. The Huayan [Sutra] says:
The moment one first arouses one’s mind [to attain enlightenment], perfect enlightenment is immediately achieved. The substance of any wisdom is not derived from the awakening of others. The marvelous ultimate reality (dharmakāya), pure and clear, serenely reverberates in all things. . . .
This illustrates the forty-two stages of the complete doctrine. The Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra says:
[Just as] one does not smell other fragrances in a campaka grove, so those who enter this room [of Vimalakīrti] smell only the fragrance of the various buddha merits [and not the aroma of attainments by śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas].
It also says “one is to enter the truth of nonduality.” The wisdom [texts] illustrate the highest vehicle, and the Nirvana Sutra explains the five deeds of singlemindedness. Also, the [Nirvana] Sutra says, “When someone enters the great ocean and bathes, he already has used water from all the various rivers.” Also, [the Huayan Sutra says,] “The dragon king Sāgara poured forth torrential rains. Only the great sea could hold it; other places could not.” Also, [the Śūraṃgamasamādhi-sūtra says], “When one has pounded ten thousand kinds of incense into pellets, [the fragrance of] burning just one grain completely fills the atmosphere.” Passages like these pertain to the complete doctrine.
A. Eight Groups of Stages to Buddhahood
Now based on the Lotus Sutra and the Yingluo [jing], the sequence of
stages can be briefly explained as having eight groups: i) the stages of five 779a preliminary grades of disciples (the lower level of the ordinary stage as set forth in the Lotus Sutra); ii) the stages of the ten degrees of faith (the higher level of the ordinary stage); iii) the stages of the ten abodes (the initial sagely stages); iv) the ten practices; v) the ten merit transferences; vi) the ten bhūmis; vii) preliminary enlightenment (this is the end of the stages of preparation); and viii) supreme enlightenment (this is the stage of final attainment).
i. Preliminary Grades
First, the stage of five preliminary grades: 1) The preliminary grade of joy from according with [the truth]. The [Lotus] Sutra says, “If anyone hears this scripture and does not slander it, but gives rise to a joyful mind in accord with it. . . .”
Question: What does one rejoice at?
Answer: The marvelous Dharma. The marvelous Dharma, then, is this mind. This marvelous mind embodies completely [all Dharmas] like the wish-granting gem (cintāmaṇi). This mind, the Buddha, and all beings, these three have no essential difference.
A. Three Truths
This mind is identical to emptiness, is identical to temporary existence, is identical to the middle.
Enduring phenomenal existence is beyond form, enduring wisdom is beyond conditions.
There are no conditions, and yet everything is conditioned.
There is nothing that is beyond the threefold contemplation.
There are no forms, and yet everything is formed. The three truths are all there is.
When the mind first realizes this, it celebrates and causes others to celebrate. Therefore, this grade is called “the joy of according with [the truth].” Inwardly, by means of the threefold contemplation, one sees the phenomena of the three truths. Outwardly, by means of the five [dimensions of] repentance, one is diligent and zealous to help complete one’s understanding.
B. Five Dimensions of Repentance
I shall explain the five dimensions of repentance.
a. [The first repentance] has two aspects: one is the principle, the other
practice.
- Repentance in terms of principle means that “when one wishes torepent, one sits upright and concentrates one’s mind on true reality. Then all of one’s sins are like dew and frost that the sun of wisdom can evaporate.” This is the meaning.
- Repentance in terms of practice means that at the six [liturgical] timesof the day and night, having purified the three activities [of thought, word, and deed], one faces the image of the Honored One and confesses all one’s sins committed from the beginningless past up to the present life. Generally those that are committed are [the five deadly sins of] patricide, matricide, killing an arhat, disrupting the harmony of the sangha, and shedding the blood of a buddha; [the ten wrong deeds of killing,] adultery, stealing, lying, flattery, being duplicitous (lit., “double-tongued”), using foul language, greed, anger, and stupidity, etc. In this way, the five deadly sins, ten wrong deeds, and all other sins are exposed intentionally and never again are concealed. Thus, old sins are exhausted and new ones are not committed.
If this is done, external obstructions are gradually eliminated and inner insight becomes increasingly brighter. This is like adding an oar to a boat sailing with a favorable current. Would it not reach its destination much faster? One who cultivates the complete doctrine is just like this. If you correctly contemplate the complete principle and mutually support it with the repentances in practice, would you not reach the other shore of supreme enlightenment much faster?
No one should see this explanation and hastily conclude that it is a gradual practice. To say that within the complete and sudden teaching there is no practice like this is a grave mistake, indeed! Where is there a Maitreya spontaneously [falling full-blown from heaven] and a Śākyamuni automatically [springing from the earth]? When one has scarcely heard that “samsara is identical to nirvana,” or that “kleśas (the afflictions of passions and delusions) are identical to enlightenment,” or that “mind is buddha,” or that “without moving one immediately reaches [the other shore],” or that “without practice one attains the supreme enlightenment,” [then one might conclude that] “all the worlds in every direction without exception are pure lands” or that “[everyone that] one meets face to face is none other than the Enlightened One.”
Granting that we are identical to the Buddha, this is only identification in principle, and is the unadorned ultimate reality (dharmakāya) without glory and splendor. What has this to do with practice and realization? We foolish people, having scarcely heard that [all things] are identical to emptiness, put aside our practices because we misunderstand the source of this identification. [We sound like] “the squeaking of mice” or “the cuckoo of birds.” [This doctrine] exists widely in the scriptures and treatises, and we should carefully investigate it and think about it.
b. Imploring. This means imploring the tathāgatas of every direction to retain a physical body and remain for a long time [in the world] to save beings.
779b c. Rejoicing. This means rejoicing in praise of the various good roots.
d. Merit transference. This means that all the good [merits] that are
praised are exhaustively transferred toward enlightenment.
e. Making a vow. This means that unless one has aroused the mind[resolved to attain enlightenment, bodhicitta], not a single thing will be achieved. Therefore, one must arouse this mind in order to guide the preceding four [dimensions of repentance].
These are called the five [dimensions of] repentance. The following stages right up to the stage of preliminary enlightenment all depend upon these five [dimensions of] repentance. I will not repeat them again because I assume that we know them.
- The Preliminary Grade of Reading and Reciting
The [Lotus] Sutra says, “How much more those who read, recite, and uphold it. . . .” This means that through complete contemplation inwardly, the [value of] reading and reciting increases still more. This is like adding oil to a fire.
- The Grade of Teaching the Dharma
The [Lotus] Sutra says, “If anyone keeps, reads, or recites [this scripture], or expounds it to others. . . .” As inner understanding increasingly excels, people in the earlier grades are guided and benefited. The merit of teaching others returns back to oneself, so that one’s understanding is redoubled. 4. Practicing the Six Perfections Concurrently
The [Lotus] Sutra says, “How much more if there is someone who is able to keep this scripture and simultaneously practice the [six perfections of] giving (dāna), etc. . . .” Because of the power of the merits [acquired from these practices] one redoubles one’s contemplative insight into mind. 5. Correctly Practicing the Six Perfections
The [Lotus] Sutra says, “If anyone reads, recites, or expounds [this scripture] to others and, moreover, if he is able to keep the [six perfections of] precepts (śīla), etc. . . .” This means that self-cultivation and the teaching of others, in fact and in principle, are totally fulfilled. Contemplative insight into mind becomes unhindered, and increasingly surpasses the previous [grades to such an extent as] to be beyond compare.
This stage of the five preliminary grades is the ordinary stage of a lower level [in the Tipitaka doctrine] and completely controls the afflictions (kleśas) of the five levels of attachment. This is the same as the stage of the ten degrees of faith in the distinctive doctrine.
ii. Ten Degrees of Faith
Next, one progresses to the stage of purification of the six sense organs,
which is identical to the ten degrees of faith.
1. The first degree of faith cuts off false views and reveals the truth. It is equal to the first attainment in the Tipitaka doctrine; to the stage of those who have the eight [endurances] and the stage of insight in the shared doctrine; and to the first abode of the distinctive doctrine. Having realized this stage, there is no retrogression.
2–7. Next, in the second to seventh degrees of faith wrong attitudes are completely eliminated. This is equal to Buddhahood in the Tipitaka and shared doctrines, and to the seventh abode in the distinctive doctrine.
The accumulation of suffering in the three realms is completely destroyed without a trace. Therefore, the Sutra for Humane Kings (Renwang jing) says, The bodhisattvas of the ten good deeds arouse the great mind [dedicated to enlightenment, bodhicitta] in order to depart forever from the restless sea of suffering within the three realms.
To explain the “ten good deeds,” each [degree of faith] contains the ten good deeds. Because the ten degrees of faith of the distinctive [doctrine] subdue but do not eliminate [the various kleśas, these degrees of faith in the Sutra for Humane Kings] definitely belong to complete faith.
However, the original purpose of those who are in the complete doctrine is not to destroy the innumerable false ideas and wrong attitudes. Their intention is to enter the state that destroys fundamental ignorance and to see the buddha-nature. For example, just like in melting iron, although the impurities first run off, this is not what one had originally set out to do; the intention had been to make a vessel. Of course, before the vessel is cast [the impurities must] first be removed. Although he sees them leave, this person does not have a sense of excitement at all. Why? Because he has not yet accomplished his purpose. A practitioner of the complete doctrine is also like this. Although [eliminating false ideas and wrong attitudes] is not his original purpose, they are naturally removed first.
Master Yongjia (665–713) said,
[The stage of Buddhahood according to the Tipitaka doctrine] is the same [as the complete doctrine] in removing the four levels of attachment. In this regard, they are identical. But as for overcoming fundamental ignorance, the Tipitaka [doctrine] is inferior [to the complete doctrine].
[What he was talking about] is identical to this stage.
In explaining the “four levels of attachment,” these are simply false ideas and wrong attitudes. This means that false ideas are one [level of attachment]. This is called “the state of false ideas everywhere [in the three realms].”
Wrong attitudes are divided into three [levels of attachment]: a) the state of craving throughout the desire [realm, namely], the wrong attitudes of the nine stages of the desire realm; b) the state of craving throughout the [realm
779c of] form: each of the four stages of the realm of form has nine stages of wrong attitudes; and c) the state of craving throughout the formless realm: each of the four stages of the formless realm has nine stages of wrong attitudes.
As for the four levels of attachment, Buddhahood in the Tipitaka [doctrine] is the same in eliminating [false ideas and wrong attitudes] as those who are in the stage of purification of the six sense organs [in the complete doctrine]. Therefore, it is called “the same in removing the four levels of attachment.”
When it is said that “in controlling fundamental ignorance, the Tipitaka [doctrine] is inferior,” this fundamental ignorance is identical to an obstacle beyond the three realms, a special delusion pertaining to the middle path. The Tipitaka doctrine is limited to discussing general delusions within the three realms. It does not even know the name “fundamental ignorance” (wuming). How could it possibly control and eliminate [this ignorance]? Therefore, it is said that “the Tipitaka [doctrine] is inferior.”
8–10. Next, from the eighth to the tenth degrees of faith, the innumerable delusions inside and outside the three realms are eliminated completely. As the contemplation of provisional existence appears before one, the reality of conventional truth is seen, the Dharma eye is opened, one completes the detailed knowledge of the paths, and travels four hundred yojanas.
This is equal to the stages of the eighth, ninth, and tenth abodes, [the ten kinds of] practice, and [the ten dimensions of] merit transference in the distinctive doctrine. As for practice, there is no retrogression.
iii. Ten Abodes
Next, one enters into the first abode, eliminating one part of fundamental ignorance and realizing a fraction of the three attainments. This means liberation (mokṣa), wisdom (prajñā), and ultimate reality (dharmakāya). These three attainments are arranged neither perpendicularly nor horizontally, just like the three dots of the letter “i” in Sanskrit or the three eyes of Deva Master [Maheśvara].
Then one manifests his body in the hundred worlds, perfects the path [of enlightenment] through experiencing the eight events [in becoming a buddha], and extensively benefits all beings. The Huayan Sutra says:
The moment one first arouses his mind [to attain enlightenment (bodhicitta)], then perfect enlightenment is immediately achieved. The substance of any wisdom is not derived from the awakening of others. The marvelous ultimate reality (dharmakāya), pure and clear, serenely reverberates in all things. . . .
In interpreting this, “the moment one first arouses his mind to attain enlightenment” is the name of the first abode. “Perfect enlightenment is immediately achieved” means becoming a buddha through the eight events. This is the fruit of a partial realization, which is identical to true preparation [but is not the final result], according to this [complete] doctrine. If anyone says that supreme enlightenment has been achieved, this is a great mistake! If [supreme enlightenment has been achieved at this point], then all the later stages from the second abode on would be in vain. If anyone says that the later stages are repetitions, then the Buddha would be charged with having been needlessly verbose.
However, there are the sayings that “stage by stage, each one contains all the other stages” and that “as for arousing one’s mind [to attain enlightenment] and the ultimate [stage], there is no difference between the two.” But one must know that which is the source of this unification and must carefully scrutinize the point of nonduality. “The dragon maiden immediately achieves perfect enlightenment” and “the various śrāvakas received the assurance of future Buddhahood” are both examples of achieving Buddhahood from this stage [of the first abode].
“The substance of wisdom” is identical to the attainment of wisdom (prajñā). The [buddha]-nature of the enlightening cause shows forth.
“The marvelous ultimate reality” is identical to the attainment of dhar-
makāya. The [buddha]-nature of the innate cause shows forth.
“Reverberates in all things” is identical to the attainment of liberation (mokṣa), and is identical to showing forth the [buddha]-nature of the concomitant causes.
Acquiring this kind of threefold body (trikāya) exists from the beginning. Therefore, [the scripture] says, “It is not derived from the awakening of others.”
The insight into the middle appears before one, the buddha eye is opened, and one achieves a detailed knowledge of all things. Having walked five hundred yojanas, one reaches the treasure palace and now begins to dwell in the Land of True Reward without Obstruction.
2–10. Next, at each abode, from the second to the tenth, one part of fundamental ignorance is eliminated and one fraction of the middle path is realized. These stages are equal to the ten bhūmis of the distinctive doctrine.
iv–vi. The Ten Dimensions of Practice, the Ten Dimensions of Merit Transference, and the Ten Bhūmis
1. Next, one enters the first dimension of practice and eliminates anotherpart of fundamental ignorance. This is equal to the preliminary enlightenment of the distinctive doctrine.
2. Next, one enters the second dimension of practice, which is equal to
supreme enlightenment in the distinctive doctrine.
The followers of the distinctive doctrine do not even know the names
[of the stages] from the third practice on. How much less could they control
780a and eliminate fundamental ignorance, since, based on the distinctive doctrine, they only destroy twelve parts of fundamental ignorance? Therefore, what in our school is taken as the true preparation they consider to be the ultimate fruit of their school.
This only recognizes that the more expedient the teaching is, the higher the stages are [ranked]; but the more true the teaching is, the lower the stages are [ranked]. It is like the situation in unpacified border areas, where conferred ranks are temporarily high, but when determining salaries and considering merits the positions are in fact low. Thus, in terms of an expedient teaching, it may be called “supreme enlightenment,” but it is only the second dimension of practice in the true teaching.
3–10. Next, from the third practice on to the tenth bhūmi, each stage eliminates one part of fundamental ignorance, and increases by a fraction [the realization of] the middle path. Thus, all forty parts of delusion are eliminated. vii–viii. Preliminary Enlightenment and Supreme Enlightenment
Then, by destroying one more part of fundamental ignorance, one enters the stage of preliminary enlightenment. From here, Buddhahood will be attained in one more rebirth.
Further, by destroying one more minute particle of fundamental ignorance, one enters the stage of supreme enlightenment, where one forever separates oneself from the father and mother of fundamental ignorance, and finally ascends the pinnacle of nirvana.
No things arise, No wisdom arises. Nonarising, nonerasing,
Call it “great nirvana.”
Taking space as one’s abode, the pure and clear dharmakāya is achieved, and one resides in the Eternally Calm and Radiant Land. This is the form of Buddhahood in the complete doctrine.
B. Identity in Six Degrees
However, if one does not use “identity in six degrees” to classify the stages of the complete doctrine, then one often will falsely assign high sagehood [to the unqualified]. Therefore, one must [use the categories of] identity in six degrees to classify the stages.
- Identity in reality. This means that “all beings have the buddha-nature.Whether there is a buddha or no buddha, the presence of this nature always remains.” Also it is said that “every single form, every single fragrance, is nothing but the middle truth.” These statements basically are “identity in reality.”
- Verbal identity. Next, hearing the above sayings from spiritual friends
and reading them in volumes of scripture can be considered “verbal identity.”
- Identity in contemplative practice. To cultivate practices according to the teachings develops “identity in contemplative practice” (the stages of the five preliminary grades).
- Identity in outer appearances. The manifestation [of harmony] in outer appearances can be considered “identity in outer appearances” (the states of the ten degrees of faith).
- Identity of partial realization. Partially destroying [fundamental ignorance] and partially seeing [reality] is considered “identity through partial realization” [of the truth] (the stages from the first abode to preliminary enlightenment).
- Ultimate identity. The complete fulfillment of wisdom and the elimination [of all ignorance] is “ultimate identification” (the stage of supreme enlightenment).
In terms of the successive stages of cultivation and practice, one starts from the shallow stage and ultimately arrives at the deepest. Therefore we call them “six [degrees].” In terms of the substance of reality that is manifested, there is no difference from one stage to another. Therefore we call it “identity.”
Thus, being deeply aware of the “six degrees,” one never produces the attitude of extreme arrogance; being really clear about “identity,” one never puts oneself down. [Identity in six degrees] can be turned to and relied on. Think about it and decide!
This concludes the brief explanation of the stages of the complete doctrine.
III. Practice
However, when one embarks upon the path of cultivation and practice based on the above four doctrines, each has its own expedient preparations and correct cultivation. These are called the twenty-five expedient [preparations] and the ten modes of contemplation.
If I were to explain [these preparations and ways] in each doctrine, the wording would become somewhat complicated. Although the meanings may
differ, the terms are the same. Therefore, I will now give a general description so that the underlying intent can be understood.
A. Twenty-five Expedient Preparations
As for the twenty-five expedient [preparations], they are grouped into five categories: a) fulfill the five favorable conditions; b) abandon the five desires; c) remove the five hindrances; d) regulate the five activities; e) practice the five virtues.
a. The Five Favorable Conditions
First I shall explain the five favorable conditions:
- Observe the precepts with purity. As the scripture says:
By means of the precepts one attains the various states of mindfulness and the wisdom that extinguishes suffering. This is why monks should “observe the precepts with purity.”
[The precepts for] laity and clergy in the Mahayana and Hinayana are
not the same.
- Adequate food and clothing. There are three kinds of clothing. First is
the robe that is like that acquired by the great masters of the Snow Mountains 780b (Himalayas). To cover the body is sufficient because they do not associate with society and are perfecting the power of endurance. Second are the cast-off robes that are like those collected by Kāśyapa and others. Also, there are only three robes—they did not keep any extra. Third, in many cold countries the Tathāgata permits one hundred and one items aside from the three robes.
There are also three kinds of food. First, great masters of high spiritual capacity who are deep in the mountains cut off from the world sustain their body with whatever they can obtain, whether green leaves, roots, grass, or fruits. Second, there is always almsbegging. Third, there is food given by a lay patron [to the sangha], and there is the pure food given by a lay patron [to the sangha], and there is the pure food [prepared by the monks] in the sangha.
- Quietly stay in a tranquil place. Not being busy with a lot of thingsis called “being quiet.” A place free of disturbances is called a “tranquil place.” Be aware that there are three kinds [of tranquil places] paralleling [the three kinds of] clothing and food.
- Give up all dependencies. Give up working for a living, give up human
affairs, give up finesse and clever techniques, and so on.
- Associate with good spiritual friends. There are three kinds: i) goodspiritual friends who offer external support, ii) good spiritual friends who are fellow practitioners, and iii) good spiritual friends who teach and guide you.
b. Rebuke the Five Desires
Second, one rebukes the five desires:
- Rebuke [the desire for] form. This means the physical splendor ofmen and women, elongated eyes and high eyebrows, red lips and white teeth, as well as treasured worldly objects, marvelous forms in all their variety of black, yellow, red, and purple, and so forth.
- Rebuke [the desire for] sounds. This means the sounds of the lute andflute, the tinkling of ornaments, as well as the music of men and women singing, and so forth.
- Rebuke [the desire for] fragrances. This means the physical fragranceof men and women, as well as the aroma of worldly food and drink, and so forth.
- Rebuke [the desire for] taste. This means the many varieties of drink
and food, appetizers, delicacies, and so forth.
- Rebuke [the desire for] touch. This means “parts of the male or femalebody, soft and smooth, warmth in winter, coolness in summer, as well as many more pleasant sensations of touch,” and so forth.
- Remove the Five Hindrances
Third, remove the five hindrances, namely, [1] desire, [2] anger, [3]
drowsiness, [4] restlessness and remorse, and [5] doubt.
- Regulate the Five Activities
Fourth, regulate the five activities, namely, [1] regulate your mind not to drown or drift, [2] regulate your body not to be sluggish or tense, [3] regulate your breathing not to be harsh or too light, [4] regulate your sleep not to be too short nor to be unrestrained, and [5] regulate your eating not to be hungry nor to be full.
- Practice the Five VirtuesFifth, practice the five virtues:
- Resolve: resolve to abandon all the false discrimination (vikalpa) and wrong views of the world, and resolve to gain entry into all varieties of mindfulness and wisdom.
- Zeal: strictly keep the Vinaya rules and remove the five hindrances.Through the evening and the middle of the night to the end of night, practice diligently and be zealous.
- Mindfulness: by being mindful you can shun and reject the deceptions
of the world, and can honor and revere meditation and wisdom.
- Skillful wisdom: carefully assess the gain or loss and relative weight ofworldly happiness in comparison to the happiness of meditation and wisdom.
- Singlemindedness: with wisdom and incisiveness one clearly sees thedestructive and evil possibilities of the world and becomes conscious that the merit of meditation and wisdom is honorable and valuable.
Because these twenty-five items are “expedient preparations” that are prerequisites for the four doctrines, we should totally fulfill them. If there are those who do not have these expedient preparations, how could they possibly achieve meditation here in this world, much less the marvelous truth that transcends the world?
However, as I previously explained in the teachings that gradual and sudden are not the same, so also the expedient preparations are different. Based on whatever teaching you are practicing, you should carefully evaluate
[the twenty-five expedient preparations] in terms of your own situation.
B. Ten Modes of Contemplation
Next, I shall explain the ten modes of contemplation for correct cultivation. 780c Again, [in terms of each of] the four doctrines their meanings differ even though their names are the same. Now I shall merely explain them according to the complete doctrine. The other [three] doctrines follow the same patterns. 1. Viewing the Inconceivable “Object”
First is viewing the inconceivable “object.” This means that in a single moment of consciousness to view completely and totally all three thousand categories of existence, including the hundred realms and thousand suchnesses. This, then, is the “object” [of contemplation]:
It is identical to emptiness,
It is identical to provisional existence, and It is identical to the middle.
Furthermore, it does not have [spatial differentiation into] front and back. It is vast and complete with perfect freedom in every direction. Therefore, the Lotus [Sutra] says, “The vehicle is tall and wide. . . .” (Those with the highest capacities correctly view this “object.”)
- Correctly Arousing the Mind of Enlightenment
Second, truly and correctly arousing [the resolve to attain] the enlightened mind (bodhicitta) means that based on the supreme reality one arouses the uncreated four great bodhisattva vows, and with compassion for oneself and others, seeks enlightenment above and to save others below. Therefore, the [Lotus] Sutra says, “A canopy was placed on the top [of the vehicle as a shelter].”
- Skillfully Pacifying the Mind
Third, skillfully pacifying the mind through correct calming and contemplation means that by realizing the marvelous reality described previously, one is in the constant serenity that is called meditation. Being serene, there is constant illumination that is called wisdom. Therefore, the [Lotus] Sutra says, “A red pillow was placed [in the vehicle].”
- Destroying Attachment
Fourth, destroying attachment to all things means that based on the threefold contemplation [the bodhisattva] destroys the three delusions. There is no delusion that is not destroyed in a single moment of the threefold contemplation.
Therefore, the [Lotus] Sutra says, “The vehicle is as swift as the wind.” 5. Distinguishing the Passageways and the Obstructions
Fifth, distinguishing the passageways and obstructions means that suffering and the cause of suffering, the twelvefold causes and conditions [of dependent origination], the six hindrances, the innumerable delusions, and fundamental ignorance are obstructions. The path [to nirvana] and the cessation [of suffering], the wisdom that extinguishes the causes and conditions, the six perfections, and the threefold contemplation in a single moment of consciousness, these are the passageways.
Whenever there are passageways, one should maintain them. Whenever there are obstructions, one should destroy them. When the passageway becomes an obstruction [because of attachment to it], then that which destroys, like that which is destroyed, should be carefully sorted out and set in order section by section. This is called “distinguishing the passageways and obstructions.” The
[Lotus] Sutra says, “A red pillow was placed [outside the vehicle].”
- Integrating the Conditions for Enlightenment
Sixth, coordinating the [thirty-seven] conditions for enlightenment and adapting to them means to adjust to the [thirty-seven] conditions for uncreated enlightenment one by one, and to enter into them when it is appropriate. The [Lotus] Sutra says, “There is a great white ox. . . .” (The above five modes are for those of medium capacities.)
- Curing Hindrances and Assisting Enlightenment
Seventh, curing [hindrances] and assisting enlightenment means that if there are many hindrances to the correct practice, and the complete truth is not revealed, then one should cultivate secondary aids, such as the five meditations for settling the mind, the six perfections, and so forth. The [Lotus] Sutra says, “And there were many attendants. . . .” (This and the following modes are for those with low capacities.) 8. Knowing the Sequence of Stages
Eighth, knowing the sequence of stages means that a person cultivating practices avoids the arrogance of assuming one is [at a] higher [stage] than [the stage] one is [actually in].
- Having Patience
Ninth, being able to be calm and patient means to be tranquil and undisturbed by favorable or adverse conditions, and to advance in [the practice of] the five preliminary grades while entering [the stage of purification of] the six sense organs.
- Free from Attachment to Dharma
Tenth, being free from attachment to Dharma means not to be attached to the ten degrees of faith and the way [of identity] through outer appearances. One must [not get stuck at an early stage but] enter the first abode, the principle of true reality. The [Lotus] Sutra says, “Driving this jeweled vehicle, one journeys to the four directions (traversing the forty stages) and directly arrives at the place of enlightenment (the stage of supreme enlightenment).”
Thus, humbly relying on the extensive sources of the Tanita teaching, I have recorded the five periods and eight teachings, briefly informing you in this way.
If there are those who wish to really understand, they should read the Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra [by Zhiyi] in ten fascicles, which carefully classifies the patterns of teachings by the various buddhas in the ten directions and of the past, present, and future. It is like a clear mirror. Also, the four fascicles of the Profound Meaning of the Vimalakīrti Sutra [by Zhiyi] completely distinguish the forms of the teachings.
From here on, I shall briefly outline the classifications of the teachings
according to the various [other] schools.
Glossary
absolute body. See dharmakāya. adamantine relic: An indestructible object associated with the Buddha’s physical body, stupas, where they were respected and venerated for their magical power. The ven-such as a tooth or small bone. These objects were highly prized and placed into Lotus Sutra. See also stupa. elation of stupas is an important practice found in the
All-embracing Goodness (Samantabhadra): The name of the bodhisattva who is the principal figure in the Contemplation of the Bodhisattva All-embracing Goodness Sutra Expounded by the Buddha on Practice of the Way through(T. 277), in which he is in Buddhist art as the right-hand attendant of Śākyamuni Buddha, with Mañjuśrī as beings and manifest his good qualities widely. This bodhisattva is often portrayed as being able to alter his appearance in order to communicate with human in this sutra and the Virtue, Universal Worthy, and Universal Excellence, but is rendered as “All-embracing the left-hand attendant. A popular image depicts him riding on a white elephant, as Lotus Sutra. His name has also been translated as Universal inclusive as well as far-reaching. Goodness” here in order to express that his universal quality of virtuousness is activelySee also Mañjuśrī; Śākyamuni. antidotes: Positive mental qualities that are acquired through practice and serve to block the arising of mental depravities. anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi: enlightenment. In Mahayana Buddhism, and in the is depicted as the spiritual realm that exists in the minds of full dynamic of ultimate enlightenment; complete, perfect Lotus Sutra in particular, anuttarā that awaits them at the end; and attaining Buddhahood, the goal of bodhisattva practitioners at the place and time of their actual practice, rather than being something samyaksaṃbodhi abhisaṃbudh) in that realm. tice, is depicted as becoming completely awakened (See also Mahayana.
arhat (“one who is worthy of veneration”): The highest of the four stages in the Thera emancipation from the cycle of births and deaths (samsara). Capitalized, the termvāda path; one who has completely abandoned delusive passions and has attained See also birth and death; Hinayana; Theravāda. is an epithet for a buddha.
asura: Buddhism; one of the six realms of existence of living beings. A fierce demonic being, one of the eight kinds of supernatural beings that protect See also six realms.
Avalokiteśvara: The name of a great bodhisattva who represents great compassion.
211
behavioral principles (of Buddhism the behavioral precepts are given in the Vinaya, the rules of conduct for śīla): Traditionally translated as “precepts,” in the traditional framework one’s individual ability to bring appropriate mental and emotional attitudes into playmonastics. From the Mahayana perspective, behavioral principles relate to developing See also six perfections, six spiritual attitudes. in all one’s actions in daily life.
bodhi. See enlightenment. birth and death (samsara): The cycle of existence, the continuous round of births and the bliss of nirvana. deaths through which beings transmigrate; the world of suffering, contrasted withSee also nirvana; triple world. bodhisattva: Lit., “enlightenment (aspiration for highest enlightenment (bodhi) being bodhicitta(sattva) and is on the path to Buddhahood.).” One who has generated the
In the Mahayana, the bodhisattva seeks to awaken not only him- or herself but com-passionately offers aid to other beings to help them attain liberation as well. The bodhisattva path entails the perfection of six spiritual attitudes (completion of ten stages (six perfections, six spiritual attitudes; stage. bhūmis) of spiritual development. See also pāramitā Mahayana;s) and Buddhahood: The state of becoming or being a buddha; the goal of the bodhisattva path. buddha land: A cosmic world or realm in which a particular buddha dwells.
dependent origination (through correlated cause and effect, which reflects the concept of interdependence pratītyasamutpāda): The fundamental establishment of existence of all things. Every action, which is a cause, will have a result or an effect. Likewise, a simultaneous unit rather than as separate actions. every resultant action has its causes. Thus cause and effect should be thought of as
dhāraṇī: control magic spells in the final stages of their practice. In the are said to protect those who recite them. them to remember and never forget all the teachings. empowerment. A powerful verbal incantation or mantra. Bodhisattvas acquire the ability to Dhāraṇīs also cause those who recite See alsoLotus Sutra, dhāraṇī Dharma-grasping’s dharma: phenomenal world. Any phenomenon, thing, or element; the elements that make up the perceived Dharma: The truth, law; the teachings of the Buddha.
Dharma-grasping empowerment (formulas that have mystical power.”munication that, of itself, enables and facilitates one’s progress toward awarenessDhāraṇīs are often described or defined as “phrases, spells, or dhāraṇī): A mode or manner of expression or comand enlightenment.
dharmakāya:ultimate reality. The true absolute body of the Buddha; the manifestation of the Buddha as dragon: In Chinese Buddhism, the dragon was adoped as a symbol of englightenment. Inthe men,” an epithet for the Buddha. It is also used to translate the Sanskrit term Commentary on the Lotus Sutra it may be used in place of the phrase “lion amongSee also nāga.nāga, one of the eight kinds of supernatural beings that protect Buddhism.
eight appropriate behaviors: One of the groupings of guidelines for those who aspire torenunciants: 1) to refrain from sexual misconduct, 2) to refrain from stealing, 3) tofrom taking intoxicants, 6) to refrain from denigrating others, 7) to refrain fromrefrain from killing, 4) to refrain from using false or duplicitous speech, 5) to refrainbecome bodhisattvas in the Mahayana tradition, whether as lay practitioners orSix of these guidelines apply to lay practitioners, while all eight are applicable tohiding one’s own faults, and 8) to refrain from finding fault in and criticizing others. renunciants.
emanated buddhas: Independent and separate manifestations of a buddha. In theMahayana, one who has fully accomplished Buddhahood can produce limitless in those worlds from suffering.emanations that can appear simultaneously in countless worlds to rescue beings
emptiness (all phenomena (of causes and conditions (śūnyatā):prajñādharma The absence of substantiality or inherent existence of the self and(transcendental wisdom). s); all pratītyasamutpādadharmas arise only through the dependent origination). Direct insight into emptiness is theSee also dependent origination;
dharma; prajñā.attainment of
enlightenment: The state of the highest perfection of wisdom (filed purity and bliss, equated with nirvana. See also nirvana.prajñā); the state of undefive skandhasciousness that comprise the personality and give rise to the mistaken view of apermanent, inherent self.s: The five elements of form, feeling, conception, mental process, and con-
five wrong views: The five false views that are contrary to the Buddha’s teachings: 1)the view that a “self” exists permanently, 2) belief in either complete extinction(4)nihilism) or complete permanence (externalism), 3) denial of dependent origination, holding the previous three views as absolute truth, and 5) the view that extreme ascetic practices lead to enlightenment.
Gadgadasvara (“Wonderful Sound”): A bodhisattva who appears only in Chapter 24 offour forms in order to propagate the with Pure Light. He acquired his name because he propagates the throughout the ten directions with his wondrous voice.the Lotus Sutra, and who possesses the faculty of assuming at will any of thirty-Lotus Sutra. He lives in a land called AdornedLotus Sutra gandharva:protect Buddhism.A heavenly musician; one of the eight kinds of supernatural beings that garuḍa:that protect Buddhism.A mythological giant birdlike being; one of the eight kinds of supernatural beings gold-wheel domain: The domain of a ruler that encompasses the four continents sur-iron-wheel domain encompasses one continent. rounding Mount Sumeru. A silver-wheel domain encompasses three continents; anSee also Mount Sumeru.
(
Great Vehicle (Mahayana): A fundamental school of Buddhism that developed and crys-tallized over several centuries beginning around the second century “the teaching that ferries all sentient beings to Buddhahood” (e.g., internalizationThe Mahayana tradition considers that all beings can become buddhas through prac-ticing as bodhisattvas, who endeavor selflessly to lead all beings to enlightenment.contrasted with earlier traditions of Buddhism encompassed by the term TheravādaIn some contexts, “Great Vehicle” can also be taken to mean “the supreme Way”;or Hinayana), in which the spiritual goal is the individual attainment of arhatship.B.C.E. It is often
the Great Vehicle sutras). of the Great Vehicle); “the realm of the buddhas”; or “all-ferrying” (e.g., masteringSee also bodhisattva; Hinayana; Theravāda.
Hinayana (“Lesser Vehicle”): A derogatory term applied by Mahayana Buddhists to earlybuddhaHinayana followers are grouped into the two categories of schools of Buddhism whose primary soteriological aim is individual salvation.s, and there are four stages of spiritual attainment, culminating in arhatship.arhat; Mahayana; pratyekabuddha; śrāvaka; Theravāda.śrāvakas and pratyeka-
See also
Immeasurable Meanings: The name of a sutra expounded by Candrasūryaprabhā Buddha,erenced in the first chapter of the beginning a lineage of twenty thousand buddhas with the same name. This is ref-Lotus Sutra.
kalpa:area if one seed is removed every three years. defines it as the time required to remove all the poppy seeds in a ten-square-mileAn eon; an immeasurably long period of time. An example from Indian cosmology kiṃnara: Buddhism. A heavenly musician; one of the eight kinds of supernatural beings that protect kimśuka gem: A red gemstone, possibly ruby or red pearl. koṭi: A very large number, variously given in Indian sources as ten million, one hundred million, etc.
Mahākāśyapa: One of the ten foremost disciples of the Buddha, said to have become his disciple just a few days after the Buddha had attained enlightenment.
Mahayana. See Great Vehicle.
mahoraga: snake; one of the eight kinds of supernatural beings that protect Buddhism. A supernatural being said to have the body of a human and the head of a Maitreya (“one who is compassionate and friendly”): The bodhisattva that will come tothis world in the future as the successor to Śākyamuni. See also Śākyamuni. maṇihis teachings. Also called jewel: A pearl or crystal; a symbol of purity, therefore symbolic of the Buddha andbrahma-maṇi jewel.
Mañjuśrī: A powerful bodhisattva who personifies the perfection of wisdom, he appears with All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva as one of the bodhisattva attendants of in the sutras as the leader of the bodhisattvas. Often portrayed in Buddhist art along See also All-embracing Goodness; Śākyamuni.
Śākyamuni Buddha.
Mount Sumeru: In ancient Indian cosmology, the mountain situated in the center of sur-million such worlds make up one buddha world. rounding continents, seas, and mountain ranges that form one small world. A thousand nāga: body of a flying serpent; they are believed to inhabit the waters or live under the A recurrent figure in Indian mythology, depicted as having a human head and the Nāgas were earth and to have various powers, such as the ability to cause rain.
Buddhism. adopted into Buddhism as one of the eight kinds of supernatural beings that protect Namaḥ: An honorific expression of respect, devotion, and trust. nayuta: hundred billion. A large unit of numerical measurement, said to be equal to ten million or one
nirvana: Liberation from the cycle of birth and death, a state in which all passions are ultimate goal of Thera vāda practice, in which it generally represents the concept of extinguished and the highest wisdom (several perspectives, and enlightenment. In the Mahayana, however, the concept of nirvana is discussed from followers. Mahayana; See also anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi;prajñā; Theravāda. anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi prajñā) attained; birth and death; enlightenment; appears as the main goal for bodhi, enlightenment. The
non-returner (Hinayana; one who has attained this stage is no longer subject to rebirth in the realm of desire. Anāgāmin See also Hinayana; triple world.) The third of the four stages of spiritual attainment in the once-returner (triple world. Hinayana; one who has attained this state is subject to rebirth only once in each of sakṛdāgāmin): The second of the four stages of spiritual attainment in the See also Hinayana; the three realms of the triple world before attaining nirvana. One Vehicle. See single vehicle. parinirvāṇa: used to designate the death of the Buddha. The state of complete nirvana experienced by a buddha; the term is also See also nirvana. prajñā: factions, six spiritual attitudes. Transcendental, liberative wisdom; one of the six perfections. See also six per pratyekabuddha :truth of dependent origination, without the aid of a teacher, and who does not teach One who attains enlightenment through the direct apprehension of the See also dependent origination. others. Also referred to as self-enlightened buddha.
prediction: In the future attainment of Buddhahood is very important, indicating that they are firmly situated on the path to highest, complete enlightenment. Lotus Sutra the notion of practitioners receiving a prediction of their
Sadāparibhūta (“Never Disparaging”): The bodhisattva who appears in Chapter 20 of the For many years Sadāparibhūta was cursed and humiliated, beaten with sticks and Lotus Sutra. He describes his practice in terms of a past life of Śākyamuni Buddha. pelted with stones by other members of the sangha, yet he refused to disparage them for their abusive actions, saying that they would all certainly attain Buddhahood. Śākyamuni: Lit., “sage (Born a prince of the Gautama family, his given name was Siddhārtha.muni) of the Śākya clan,” the name of the historical Buddha. samādhi: Mental concentration; a meditative state. samsara. See birth and death. sangha: The traditional community of renunciant followers (monks and nuns) created It is thought that the Mahayana tradition, which includes all followers of Buddhism, by Śākyamuni Buddha, and which are still maintained in the The ravāda tradition. the term refers to one of the Three Treasures. not just ordained monastics, developed outside the concept of sangha. Capitalized, See also Mahayana; Three Treasures.
self-amendment: The practice of endeavoring, in various ways, to become aware of the them, determining to change them, and taking appropriate action to do so. This con-excesses, shortcomings, and errors in one’s perspective and behavior, expressing is more commonly translated into English as “repentance.”
self-enlightened buddha. See pratyekabuddha.
seven parables: There are seven famous parables in the same amount of rain, they grow in different ways; 4) “The Phantom City” (Chap-illustrate various principles and teachings of the sutra: 1) “The Burning House”((extraordinarily wealthy; 3) “Cloud and Rain” (“The Plants” or “Medicinal Herbs”)Chapter 5): although many different plants all grow in the same area and receive Chapter 3): a man lures his children out of a burning house; 2) “The Merchant” “The Lost Heir”) (Chapter 4): a poor, unhappy man gradually learns that he is Lotus Sutra, which are used to
(
city to motivate them onward, and the apparitional city vanishes after they have 7): a guide leading a group of people on a difficult journey conjures a beautiful
rested; 5) “The Gem in the Jacket” (“The Concealed Jewel”) (Chapter 8): a wealthy his cabinet, and some of them become so seriously ill that they refuse to take the antidote and must be tricked into taking it. man resumes his life as a vagrant and only realizes he has always had this jewel man has sewn a jewel into the jacket of a poor man without his knowledge; the poor priceless gem to a person of extraordinary merit; 7) “The Excellent Physician”(when he meets his rich friend once again; 6) “The Gem in the King’s Topknot” “The Physician’s Sons”) (Chapter 16): The sons of a physician take medicine from “The Crest Jewel”) (Chapter 14): a king bestows many gifts but only gives this
(
single vehicle (the Lotus Sutraekayānathat leads to complete enlightenment and attainment of Buddhahood,): The one buddha vehicle, the Mahayana teaching espoused in bodhisattva paths. includes and transcends all three vehicles of the contrasted with the teachings of the two Hinayana vehicles. The single vehicle See also Hinayana; three vehicles; two vehicles. śrāvaka, pratyekabuddha, and
six manners of mindfulness: 1) mindfulness of the Buddha; 2) mindfulness of the Dharma, principles, 5) mindfulness of having consideration for others, 6) mindfulness of the3) mindfulness of the Sangha, 4) mindfulness of one’s attitude toward the behavioral existence of blissful conditions. six realms: The six conditions in which sentient beings exist: in hells, as hungry ghosts((devapretas). s), animals, demonic beings (asuras), human beings, or heavenly beings six sense faculties: The eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind, and their associated processes of sight, hearing, smelling, taste, tactile sensation, and thought. Sometimes translated as “six sense organs.”
six perfections, six spiritual attitudes (of a practitioner consists of six qualities: giving (others, behavioral attitudes (dhyāna), and wisdom (prajñāśīla)), forbearance . The practice to perfect each of these qualities leadspāramitās): The entirety of the spiritual condition(kṣāntidāna), endeavor ), or having consideration for(vīrya), concentration
(to complete fulfillment of one’s spiritual condition.
skillful means (to guide and teach sentient beings, adapted to their different capacities. Also referred Upaya): The various methods and means used by buddhas and bodhisattvas to as expedients or expedient means.
Śrāvaka Buddha who directly heard his teachings. The term later came to designate a follower of the The ravāda (Hinayana). (“one who hears the voice”): Originally, this term referred to disciples of the See also Hinayana; The ravāda. stage (See also highest of the ten stages is the stage of the Dharma cloud (bodhisattva path is called the stage of equanimity (on the path to enlightenment. The eighth of these ten stages of development in the bhūmi): The ten stages of development through which a bodhisattva progresses acalā-bhūmidharmameghā-bhūmi); the tenth and). bodhisattva.
stream-enterer (Hinayana; one who has entered the stream of the Dharma by destroying various wrong views. srota-āpanna See also Hinayana.): The first of the four stages of spiritual attainment in the stupa: In the Indo-Buddhist tradition, a reliquary structure or monument in which some requested that laypeople carry out the enshrinement of his relics; stupas also serve of the remains of Śākyamuni Buddha are enshrined. According to legend, the Buddha as loci of worship and pilgrimage.
Sugata (“Well-gone”): An epithet for a buddha; one who has attained bliss.
sutra: A discourse attributed to the Buddha. After his death, followers used the term for the compilations they made of his teachings. Capitalized, the term refers to the com-piliations of his teachings that form part of the Tipitaka. See also Tipitaka.
Tathāgata: An epithet for a buddha. It means “one who has gone to ((ness.”āgata) the truth of suchness (tathā),” i.e., “one who embodies the truth of such gata) and come from-
The ravāda (“Way of the Elders”): Along with the Mahayana, one of the two major Hinayana; Mahayana. also referred to as Hinayana. Thera vāda places emphasis on personal liberation divisions of Buddhist teachings; sometimes referred to as “traditional” Buddhism, See also arhat; from attachments, and practitioners aim to attain the state of arhat. three hindrances (that confront practitioners on the path of enlightenment. There are several groupingstrīṇy āvaraṇāni): Obstacles, impediments, encumbrances, or difficulties actions (karma), and those due to karmic consequences of being reborn in hells or of three, e.g., the hindrance of passions (desire, hatred, etc.), those arising from external objects, unwholesome passions of the “flesh,” i.e., wrong views, and unwholesome realms; or unwholesome passions of the “skin,” i.e., delusions from envy, and desire. unwholesome passions of the “mind,” i.e., basic ignorance; or self-importance,
three kinds of constancy of mind: The mind of a buddha remains focused and tranquil appointment when both kinds of listeners are present. Ings; 2) does not give rise to feelings of disappointment when people do not wish and 1) does not give rise to feelings of joy when people willingly listen to his teach-to hear his teachings or listen unwillingly; and 3) gives rise neither to joy
Three Treasures: The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, the community of Buddhists. three vehicles: The paths of the See also bodhisattva; pratyekabuddha; śrāvaka.śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and bodhisattvas, respectively. Tipitaka: The three “baskets” (teachings of the Buddha; Vinaya, rules of monastic discipline; and Abhidharma, piṭakas) of the Buddhist teachings: Sutra, the words and treatises.
triple world: The three realms of samsaric existence in which living beings transmigrate as a result of their karma: 1) the realm of desire (nary consciousness accompanied by desires; the realm of form (realm (which desires have been eliminated but the physical body remains; and the form lessārūpyadhātu), in which the physical body no longer exists. kāmadhātu), i.e., the world of or dirūpadhātu), intrude Dharma: The first of the three ages of the Buddhist Dharma, in which the Buddhist teaching is properly practiced and enlightenment can be attained. two vehicles: The paths of the See also Hinayana; pratyekabuddha; śrāvaka. śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, the two Hinayana paths.
Universally Virtuous One: An epithet for All-embracing Goodness Bodhisattva. embracing Goodness.See Allyakṣa: beings that protect Buddhism. A demonic being said to eat human flesh; one of the eight kinds of supernatural yojana: I indicating that the term relates to the distance that oxen yoked to royal carts could A unit of distance used in ancient India. The Sanskrit word implies “yoking,” travel in one day. Various sources give different distances, with approximately 4.35miles (7 kilometers) as the shortest.
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Index
A
Acyuta 11AbhidharmakośaAbundant Treasures 52, 55, 60, 64, 65,Abhidharma 17266, 73 172
Āgamas, four 163, 172affliction(s) 11, 30, 63, 76, 197, 199see also skandha)
aggregates, five (
anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi. See Aniruddha 11An Lushan rebellion 155Ānanda 11, 51, 52, 70, 73, 74, 77, 78Anantamati 111 anāgāminAll-embracing Goodness 45, 46, 52–56,Ājñātakauṇḍinya 11, 22, 128ultimatement, highest, complete; supreme;173returner, non-returning) 15, 124,5774127–128–58, 59, 61, 63, 64, 66, 70, 73,, 76, , 175, 180 (see also80, 133 never-returner, non-enlighten -
arūpyadhātu. SeeAra, Ryōkan 160arhat(s) (Aparagodānīya 17499, 124, 128, 130, 181, see alsosee alsosage) 11, 95, 96, 97, 98,sagehood, sagely) 15,197 194 athwartship (20, 23, 25, 36, 130, 135, 166, realm, formless, of asuraformlessness(s) 9, 25, 105, 113, 174 Avalokiteśvara 9, 148, 149attachment(s) 11, 12, 14, 62, 65, 66, 69,18971, 118, 124, 176, 177, 182, 187,, 192, 194, 199, 200, 208, 209
Avataṃsaka-sūtra. See Flower GarlandHuayan jing, Huayan SutraSutra; Flower Ornament Sutra;
Avīci Hell 77
B
Ba jiao da yi
Bhadrapāla 96Bhaiṣajyarāja (behavioral principles (Bearer of the Loom 910cines) 9, 148, 13, 14, 34, 62, 74, 155see alsosee alsoKing of Medi-See76Incompara-precepts)
Bhaiṣajyarājasamudgata.
bhūmiBharadvāja 111ble Medicine(s) (see also stage) 157, 159, 190,
birth(s) and death(s) 11, 30, 33, 73, 173,cycle, stream of (first 189, 194ten 159, 190, 191, 193, 195, 202dharmameghā-176194, 189, 190, 194, , tenth 35, 203see also203rebirth;
36samsara) 15, 19, 24, 27, 30, 32, 33,, 66, 74, 146, 176, see also Blessed One(s) (102132, 107, 110, 114, 117, 118, 129,Buddha) 96,183 Bodhiruci 89, 90, 93bodhicittaaspiration for, mind of, thought of), 51, 183, 191, 198, 199, 201, (see also enlightenment, 208
20
bodhisattva(s) 5, 6, 9, 10, 17, 18–19, 20,512298, 53, 54, 55–56, 57, 60–61, 62, 63,, 24, 29, 31, 34, 37, 39, 41, 45, 46,, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 82, 93, 96, 97,
69
109, 99, 100, 101, 102, 104, 106, 107,
manifested form(s) of 54, 55, 80great-being (eminent, great 31, 33, 55, 60, 70, 75,103678191159132, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 27,, 37, 38, , , 192, 193–194, 199, , 111, 112, 113, 114, 119, 125,, 169, 184, 185, 187, 188, 190,, 141, 142, 143, 146, 147, 149,173 see also mahāsattva95 208 ) 9,
stage(s) (practice(s) 6, 11, 20, 23, 130, 135,path, way(s) 36, 75, 101, 106, 130,101191141142, 140, 158, 159, 183, 187, 190,, 192, , , 144, 146, 157, 190see also 193 stage) 15, 25, 36,184
bodhiseven-jeweled 187, 193vows (vehicle 88, 124, 183see also208 four great vows) 158,see
183tree 21, 22, 165, 185,
23
body(ies), of buddha(s), tathāgata(s) (three, threefold (134also, 56, 60, 61, 65, 89, 100, 137,, 145, 164, buddha, body, embodiment)see also) 87, 103, 126, 132, 133,198buddha, absolute;149) 185
absolute (dharmakāya140
apparitional (, 140, 141, 142, 144, 145, see also nirmāṇa kāyasee also trikāya) 89,
202
transformation (see also nirmāṇa kāya
Brahmā 173, 175, 185Brahma(s) 97, 113Bosatsuzenkaigyōvoice 14, 15, 31165, 187 jewels (82 see also maṇi ) brahmans 113brahma-maṇijewel) 53 163 Brahmaviśeṣacintīparipṛcchā
buddha(s) (245767, 28, 31, 34, 37, 46, 52, 55, 56,, 58, 59–60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66,, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74–75,, 78, 81, 88, 95, 98, 100, 101,, 103, 105–106, 108, 110, 111,see also Buddha) 16, 21, 23,
137149192
absolute;
emanated 60, 61, 66, 73countless, innumerable, of the tenbody(ies), embodiment(s) 14, 23, 56,absolute (7665directions 55, 56, 57, 58, 61, 63,1405910276112120129, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 73, 74, 75,, 117, 120, 130, 145, , 62, 72, 89, 100, 133, 134, 137,, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119,, 142, 145, , 121, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128,, 139, 141, 143, 144, 145, 148,, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135,, 169, 182, 184, 185, 187, 190,, 193, 195, 197, 201, see alsosee also saṃbhogakāyadhar makāya145 149body, of buddha,) 143, 210203 145)
enjoyment (
insight of 63, 132form, manifested 53, 54, 61, 62, 64, 80eye 71, 202143, 144,
path, Way 76, 114, 130, 135of the past, present, and future 19, 24,lifetime 31, 32, 33, 34, 3525, 27, 36, 59, 93 Buddha (womb of. vehicle 88, 127, 131, 132, 133, 134,transformed, transformation 80, 143,three kinds, types of 87, 143tathāgata(s) 31, 32, 59, 67, 76Dharma, and Sangha; Sage; Śākya -135145, see also140See tathāgatagarbhaBlessed One; Buddha,
and Ānanda 51, 70, 73–74, 77–782571106128155169196muni; Tathāgata) 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 24,, 32, 36, 37–38, 40, 51, 61, 63,, 75, 77, 80, 82, 95, 102, 105,, 107, 109, 110, 112, 113, 114,, 129, 131, 135, 140, 141, 146,, 157, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168,, 170, 171, 174, 179, 181, 194,, 201
great intention, purpose 108, 109, 134and Fully Composed 17–20, 21,27–28, 37–38
three bodies, manifestations (teaching(s) 20, 40, 76, 78, 155, 157,and Śāriputra 129, 131163, 168, 170, 171, 172 see also
wisdom 71, 95, 100bodies, of buddha) 71, 89, 140see also
Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha (
Buddhahood 76, 125, 140, 141, 157, 158,159186Three Jewels) 75, 93, 170, 172, 179, 183, 184, 185, buddha land(s), realm(s), world(s) 11,24195, 188, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194,, 199, 200, 202, 203
Bussetsu kan Fugen bosatsu gyōhō kyō.buddha-nature 89, 132, 140, 141, 146,xingfa jingSee Foshuo guan Puxian pusa148108, 33, 34, 37, 66, 102, 105, 107,, 169, 170, 199, 202, , 112, 144, 145, 169, 187203
C
Chegwan 155, 156, 157, 160, 161Cāturmahārājakāyikā. Candrasūryaprabhā 104, 110–111,eight princes of 108, 111–112,Four Divine Kings112–113113–114 See Heaven of the
China 5, 46, 88, 89, 90, 155, 157, 163Cheontae sagyo ui. See Tanita sijiao yi
Chinese 5, 6, 7, 39, 40, 45, 46, 47, 49, 79,cintāmaṇi. See80, 81, 89, 90, 155, 158, 160, wish-granting gem 173 -
Commentarcomplete doctrine, teaching 156, 157,compassion 6, 13, 20, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35,great 11, 18, 21, 33, 57, 63, 68, 70,1581691908238ḍa89, , 60, 63, 65, 72, 75, 157, 179, rīka-sūtra-upadeśa–90, 95, 118, 137 , 159, 163, 164, 166, 167, 168,, 170, 171, 178, 186, 188, 189,, 194–204, 93 y (see also Saddharma puṇ see also207meditation) 70,) 87–88, 208
concentration (73, 178, 191
Constant Endeavor 9, 39perfection in 10, 13, 14, 76
contemplation(s) 10, 52, 59, 73, 74, 98,118198, 124, 125, 133, 139, 187, 192,, 200, 207–209 threefold 196, 208ten modes of 158, 204, 207–209
D
Dapin boruo
Daśabhūmika-sūtra-śāstraDapin jingDa zhidu lun186163172 89 defilement(s) 76, 97, 98, 104, 105, 107,Deer Park 22, 157, 165period 156, 163, 165, 168, 172181123, 182, 183, 186–187, 190, 193,, 124, 138, 140, 165, 176–177, eighty-eight 176–177, 180, 187194
delusion(s) 15, 70, 144, 166, 176, 183,recurring 182, 185, 187, 188188, 190, 191, 197, 200, 203, 208
dependent origination 10, 14, 15, 22, 23,40s) , 111, 165, 181, 182, (see also dhāraṇī. SeeDezhao 157Devadatta 141deva(103, 105, Dharma-grasping empower-164heavenly being) 9, 52,208
Dharma (dharmaSangha) 10, 14, 15–17, 19–23,9328133ment; magical spell–33, 35, 37–38, 40–41, 57–59,–63, 65, 67–69, 71, 73, 79–80, 87,, 40, 79, 98, 100, 107, 125, 127,(s) see also(see alsoBuddha, Dharma, andphenomena) 19, 27,
1131231321401581983110462, 95, 96, 98, 99, 100, 102–103,, 114, 115, 117, 118, 120, 121,, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 131,, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139,, 141, 142, 145, 146, 147, 148,, 167, 169, 172, 174, 185, 191,, , 105, 106, 109, 110, 111, 112,209
correct 67, 75cloud (approach(es) 10, 17, 18, 19, 20, 3935, 193see also stage, Dharma cloud)
great 64, 107, 109, 110, 114eye 78, 192, 200 marvelous 57, 117, 118, 196highest mundane 180, 185 power of 145–146true 101, 107, 110, 123, 124, 131successor 59, 64, 67wheel 10, 15, 22, 25, 31, 40, 95, 100,101187, 103, 108, 109, 113, 185–186,, 193
Dharma body (see also body, of buddha,tathāgata, absolute; dharmakāya
Dharmajātayaśas 5, 7Dharma-grasping empowerment(s) 10,Dharma Flower Sutradharmadhātu15Sutra14987, 25, 27, 35, 36, 57, 58, 61, 63, 80 , , 172 170) 52, 58, 60, (see also(see alsobodies, of buddha,(reality, true) 133,see also Lotus79 )
dharmakāyaabsolute; buddha, absolute; reality, true) 87, 88, 103, 104, 126, 143,
Dharmamitra 45, 49Dharmamati 111164, 195, 197, 200, 202, 203 dharmatāDharma-nature 186
discernment 10, 13, 14, 76, 178Dīpaṃkara 114, 184 141, 149, (see alsosee also śrāvaka192 reality, ultimate)) 88, 93, 96,
disciple(s) (97111121133155, 98, 103, 104, 105, 107, 109,, 112, 113, 114, 117, 119, 120,, 125, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132,, 134, 135, 138, 140–141, 142,, 165, 166, 167, 195
distinctive doctrine, teaching 156, 157,vehicle 88, 101, 124, 133, 134, 138,path, way 88, 110, 128159171190–194142, 163, 164, 166, 167, 168, 170,, 172, 178, 186, 188, 189,, 199, 201, 202 dragon(s) (195, 202see also nāga) 95, 97, 99,
E
eight classes, kinds of beings (eight appropriate behaviors 75, 82see also
eight endurances 186, 191, 199eighteen elements, special attributes125guardian spirits) 31, 52, 164, 133, 137 ekayānaeight teachings 155, 156, 163, 209eightfold noble path 178single) 87, 88, 89(see alsosee alsoOne Vehicle; vehicle,liberation) 10,
Enchin 89, 90emptiness (emancipation (7016611125, 13, 14, 20, 35, 36, 76, 118, 124,, 71, 74, 76, 77, 88, 98, 157, 158,, 192, 196, 197, , 126, 128, 129, 133, 137, see also śūnyatā207) 18, 20, 23,138
enlightenment 10, 13, 20, 27, 32, 40, 41,aspiration for, mind of, thought of (31also bodhicitta59135178209, 51, 58, 62, 75, 132, 135, 142,, 80, 87, 88, 104, 108, 124, 133,, 184, 191, 195, 198, 199, 201,, 143, 144, 146, 148, 164, 166,, 181, 183, 190, 197, 198, 208,) 20, 23, 27, 28, 29,see
183
factor(s) of 93, 118, 125avenue, path, route to 13, 27, 40, 148,178208, 183, 193, 201
perfect 93, 164, 195, 201, 202highest, complete 95, 97, 100, 103,great 103, 113, 119, 134, 142, 143111148, 113, 117, 119, 120, 143, 146,
prediction(s) of 140, 141, 142
seat, place, terrace of 103, 143, 165preliminary 159, 190, 191, 193, 195,198, 202, 203, 204
supreme 158, 159, 169, 190, 191, 193,194, 195, 197, 201, 202, 203, 204,
Eternally Calm and Radiant Land 203ultimate 6, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24,25209, 27, 28, 30, 34, 36, 38, 51, 73, 78
existence(s) 10, 12, 30, 62, 65, 67, 69,143, 144, 182, 196, 207 previous 59, 61, 66, 67, 164four marks of 107, 144 six realms of 18provisional, temporary 158, 192, 196,200, 207
expediency 133, 145, 164, 169twenty-five states of 35, 69, 173
expedient 158, 168means (106129, 117, 118, 121, 124, 125, 128,, 131, 133, 134, 139, 142, see also skillful means) 101,144
teaching(s) 169, 171, 202, 203preparations, twenty-five 158, 204,nirvana 128, 146205–207 eye, buddha, Dharma, wisdom 71, 78,192, 200, 201
F
five aggregates (Fahua lun shuFahua jing. See Lotus SutraFacilitating Leader 9133 89see also skandha) 127–
five desires 46, 51, 147, 205, 206five flavors 133, 157, 163, 171–172five hindrances 205, 207five deadly wrongs, five grievous acts69128, 77, 173, 174, , 197
five virtues 174, 205, 206five periods 155, 156, 157, 163,164–172, 209
Flower Ornament Sutra. See FlowerFlower Garland SutraFlower Banner 9 Huayan SutraGar land Sutra; Huayan jing,jing, Huayan Sutra(see also Huayan) 23, 79
four continents 112, 173, 174Foshuo guan Puxian pusa xingfa jingFlower Radiance 9 45 fourfold teachings (fourfold assembly, four kinds of follow-of conversion) 155, 157, 163ers 27, 31, 77, 129see also four methods secret 156, 157, 163, 167gradual 156, 157, 163, 164, 165–167,168, 197, 207 variable 156, 157, 163, 167 sudden 156, 157, 163, 164, 165, 167,168, 194, 197, 207
Four Noble Truths 14, 15, 22, 40, 165,Fully Composed 10, 12, 17, 19, 21, 27,four methods of conversion 106, 124,four great vows 183, 208four fruits 21, 2713328173, 35, 36, 37, , 156, 164–167, , , 177, 178, 179, 182, 183, 187,193 38 172
190
G
garuḍagandharvaGanges River(s) 23, 24, 25, 31, 37, 61,Gandhahastin. Gadgadasvara 14864(, 81, 146, 148, s) 9, 25, (s) 9, 25, 105 See105Incense Elephant149
Gayākāśyapa 11Gayā 143
Great Forest Monastery 51 gotraGoṣamati 111Goryeo 161Gītamitra 4588
Great Strength Achieved 9Great Perfection of Wisdom SutraGreat Incense Elephant 9–10see also Mahayana) 10,23
Great Vehicle (406072124140, 46, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59,, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 71,, 75, 77, 88, 93, 96, 102, 104,, 129, 130, 133, 134, 138, 139,, 142, 169, 189
power of 60, 63, 67sutra(s) 51, 52, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 61,path 54, 111, 138, 146principle 55, 73, 74consciousness 52, 636275, 63, 66, 67, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74,, 76, 104, 112, 163see also114 eight classes,
Guangzan boruoguardian spirit(s) (kinds of beings) 27, 31, 52
H
Hands Showing the Seal of the Dharma 9heaven(s) 53, 173–177, 197six, of the realm of desire 173, 175highest 106, 175see also deva) 9, 12,
heavenly being(s) (15
Heaven of the Four Divine Kings 175 Heaven of Nonperception 17374, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 52, 71, 73,, 76, 78, 103, 113, 130, 190 138
hell(s) 67, 68, 75, 106, 173, 174, 176Hebu Jinguangming jingsee also133non-Buddhist) 98,
heretical (
Himalayas. Heroic Endeavor of the Lion 10120, 124, See Snow Mountains Hinayana, Hinayanist (Vehicle) 165, 166, 168, 169, 172,, 205 see also Small
173
Huayan period (Huayan jing, Huayan SutraHokkeronkiHokke Denkiings) 156, 164–165, 168, 169, 171Flower Garland Sutra, 165, 167, 168, 188, 190, 194,2018987see also fourfold teach-) 79, 157,(see also 195163,
hungry ghost(s), spirit(s) 67, 174Huichang suppression 157
Hurvitz, Leon 160
I
India 5, 46, 79, 87, 88, 93, 163Incomparable Medicine 9, 73Incense Elephant 9Imposing Intensity of the Lion 10illusion(s) 176, 177, 192, 194Ichishima, Masao 160
Infinite Meanings SutraIndra 9723, 24, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 5–6, 19, 20, 22,39
Old Song edition 40, 41Kasuga edition 6, 41
Taishō edition 6, 39, 40, 41 Song, Yuan, and Ming editions 39, 40,41
J
Jingang boruoJizang 89, 90Japanese Imperial Household LibraryJapan, Japanese 6, 47, 81, 88, 89, 90,Jambudvīpa 79, 174, 185Jāliya 18540157–41, 79, 80, 81, 82 163
K
Kaigen shaku kyōroku. See Kaiyuan shijiao lu
kalpaKali, King 165Kaiyuan shi jiao lu(s) , 23, 27, 29, 32, 63, 64, 65, 66,, 68, 73, 74, 105, 184, (see also world-age) 10, 15, 16,45
67
karma 13, 67, 173, 181, 182Kapphiṇa 11kāmadhātu. See18 realm, of desire190
karmic 71, 194cause(s) 18, 34, 58, 68, 72, 73act(s), action(s) 14, 67, 68, 70, 71, 77,182 consequences 52, 74
Kātyāyanīputra 173Kāśyapa (encumbrances 71, 72, 73see also Mahākāśyapa) 205
Kimura, Seiji 90kiṃnarakimśukaKegon gyō. See Flower Garland Sutra(gem 53s) 9, 25, 105see also Bhaiṣajya -
King of Medicines (
kleśa. Seeknowledge(s) 89, 101–102, 108, 109,complete 148, 149125rāja) 9, 73, 127, 132, 146, 192, 200, affliction 202 highest, superior, transcendent, unsur-four analytical 101, 123passed 13, 95, 98, 100, 104, 124,
Komazawa University 90of true reality 98, 102, 117, 118, 132,right 95, 97, 99143
Kumārajīva 5, 45, 90Kubo, Tsugunari 39Kṣāntivādi 185Korea, Korean 155, 157
L
Land of Wonderful Joy 58Land of True Reward without Obstruction202 163
liberation (laywoman, laywomen 9, 25, 52, 96, 105,layman, laymen 9, 25, 52, 96, 105, 106,lay, laypeople, layperson 35, 76, 124,Laṅkāvatāra-sūtraLater Wei dynasty 9370106112141, 181, 201, , , 112, , 128205see also128202emancipation) 69,
Lotus Sutralotus 193Loqi Xiji 157Lion Ranging the World 10flower(s) 24, 37, 53, 54, 61, 80,posture (rīka-sūtra87104–108123–126143–14416020861103–104, , 163–172, 173, 194, 195, 198,, 66209see also(see also Saddharma puṇḍa -, )184 5, 6, 39, 46, 52, 79,meditation, posture)
–90, 93, 95, 96, 98–100, 102,, 110–115, 117, 119–121,, 128, 129–135, 141,, 146–149, 156, 157, 158,
seven parables in 87, 138–140seven meritorious accomplishments,Kumārajīva translation 5, 90types of merit in 87, 95–96, 149
Taishō text 39, 79seventeen titles of 102–10439
Lotus Sutra, Theloving-kindness 19, 35
M
Mādhyamaka school 89 Mahābhijñānābhibhu 142magical spell(s) (95, 100, 101see also dhāraṇī) 80,
Mahākāśyapa (Mahādāna, Prince 185see also
Mahāsthāmaprāpta. Mahāprajñāpāramitā-sūtra. See GreatMahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra. See NirvanaMahākātyāyana 11Perfection of Wisdom SutraSutra141 (s) 9, 51SeeKāśyapa) 11, 51,Great Strength mahāsattva
Mahayana (Mahāvyūha. scriptures, sutras, texts 88, 157, 173,19051Achieved , 88, 157, 166, 168, 172, , 194, see alsoSee205Fully ComposedGreat Vehicle) 5,189
Maheśvara 201
Majestic Roar of the Lion 10Maitreya 9, 46, 51, 75, 78, 96, 108, 111,mahoragaMaitrāyaṇī 11112, 114, 145, 146, (s) 9, flowers 105, 112, 146see also brahma-maṇi25 197 mandāravamaṇi
Māyā, Queen 165Mati 111Maudgalyāyana 11mañjūṣakaMañjuśrī 9, 39, 46, 73, 75, 82, 96, 107Māra(s) 93, 113, 185mark(s) 107, 108, 125, 127of Buddhahood, eighty, thirty-two 13,137108jewel; wish-granting gem) 54, 185jewel(s) (, 184, , 115flowers 105, 112see also185 concentration)
meditation(s) (98185, 175, 178, 179, 180, 182, 184,, 207, 208 posture (five 179, 184, 186, 209heaven(s) 175, 177see also lotus, posture) 105,
stages, four 173, 175112
mind(s) 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 20, 29, 31,Mengrun 160merit(s) 6, 57, 71, 88, 95–102, 104, 105,meditational attainments 118, 125,ardent, determined 20, 25, 37transference 158, 159, 189, 190, 191,336377113192–193106–107124142198138–139, 34, 35, 51, 52, 56, 57, 58, 61,, 65, 67, 68, 69, 70, 72, 75, 76,, 95, 100, 104, 105, 107, 112,, 119, 126, 129, 147, 164, 166,, 173, 174, 179, 184, 186, 191,, 126, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141,, 145, 148, 149, 185, 192, 195,, 203, 207 , 194, 195, 198, 201, , 108, 111, 114, 120, 123,209202
193172, 196, 197, 198, 206, 208,
composed, settled 12, 58, 72compassionate, of compassion, mercy18, 29, 30, 35
mindfulness 55, 58, 61, 62, 68, 80, 186,specialized focus of 25, 35, 36, 52,of enlightenment 183, 184, 191, 195,18758198, 61, 63, 64, , 191, 192, 205, 206, , 199, 201, 66208 207
Mingkuang 155Mohe boruomonk(s) (right 11, 51, 63, 117, 118six manners of 77four spheres, types 178, 179, 180, 1862296155, 23, 25, 51, 52, 60, 76, 93, 95,, 105, 106, 112, 113, 128, 135,, 157, 161, 186, see also163 renunciant) 5, 9, 11,205 Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa (Vulture Peak) 95, 96see alsosee alsoSumeru worlds)Mount Mount Sumeru (Mount Vulture Peak (Gṛdhrakūṭa) 9, 51, 60175 see also Mount
Myōhorengekyō upadaisha. See SaddharMuryogi kyō. See Infinite Meaningsma puṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśaSutra -
N
Nāgārjuna 87nāgaNadīkāśyapa 1132(s) , 52, 105, (see also164dragon) 9, 15, 25, 27,
nirmāṇa kāyanever-returner, non-returner, non-return-ing (25, 124, 173, 175, see also anāgāmin(see also body, of buddha,180 ) 15, 20, 23, tion) 143, 185apparitional; buddha, transforma-
nirvana 10, 11, 80, 97, 128, 130, 134,Nirmāṇarataya Heaven 175135183, 139, 140, 143, 144, 179, 181,, 187, 197, 203 expedient 128, 146city of 72, 139, 170, 189 see final, great, permanent, ultimate (also parinirvāṇa123
path, way to 164, 178, 179, 208realm of 71, 144171, 130, 134, 139, 140, 143, 170,, 203 ) 106, 110, 113,
Nirvana Sutra Nityodyukta. without remainder 183, 186with remainder 183156, 157, 158, 163, 164,195
170, 171, 190, Seesee alsoConstant Endeavor
non-Buddhist (177 heretical) 176, nun(s) (nonduality 127, 195, 20276, 96, 105, 106, 112, 128, see also renunciant) 9, 25, 52,141
O
omniscience, omniscient 100, 107, 109,once-returner (One Vehicle (111, 119, see also ekayāna;132see also sakṛdāgāminvehicle,) 124 single) 87, 89, 103, 169
P
Paranirmitavaśavartinaḥ Heaven 175pāramitā158six spiritual attitudes) 40, 111, 133,, 165, 183, s, six ((see alsosee also185nirvana, final,perfections, six;
79
path(s) 27, 97, 106, 178, 179, 181, 186,passions (parinirvāṇa19322great, permanent, ultimate) 17, 51,, 65, 171, , 29, 30, 32, 33, 35, 36, 46, 51,, 106, , see also200170197delusion) 10, 18, 21,
62
eightfold noble 178of disciples, bodhisattva 88, 101, 106, 130, 142,of buddhas, Buddhist 114, 130, 135,of cultivation/insight and practice 97,of birth and death, karma 30, 181, 182204144180, 146, 157, śrāvaka184s 88, 128, 172
genuine 51, 54, 77to enlightenment, nirvana 148, 178,179, 183, 193, 201, 208
middle 188, 192, 193, 200, 202, 203of the Great Vehicle 111, 138, 146pratyekabuddhas 88, 182 truth of 128, 177, 178, 183of the Small Vehicle 138, 142of
133
perfection(s) (of discernment 10, 13, 14of concentration, meditation 10, 13,of behavioral principles, discipline,14precepts 10, 13, 14, 76, 185, 198spiritual attitudes) 11, 14, 123, 125,, 76, , 185185see also pāramitās, six; six
of expedient means 123, 124, 191of exertion 185of emancipation 10, 13, 14, 76 highest 95, 97, 99of giving 185, 198
of wisdom 76, 185six, of six spiritual attitudes 14, 15,of the perspective that pertains toof patience 185of insight 123, 12522198emancipation 10, 13, 14, 76, 23, 40, 111, 158, 183, 184–185,, 208, 209 see also Prajñā-
Perfection of Wisdom (pāramitā) 88 see also
phenomena, phenomenon (dharma2598, 29, 33, 34, 40, 69, 70, 72, 79,) 10, 15, 18–19, 20, 22, 23,
power(s) 6, 11, 29, 30–36, 57, 58, 73,four modes of 18, 2075143189, 76, 80, 101, 111, 118, 125, 132,, 100, 133, 137, 181, 182, 186,, 144, 145–149, 167, 198, , 196 205
of self-mastery 104, 119five 178of the Great Vehicle 60, 63, 67
ten 28–36, 125, 137supernatural 93, 96, 97, 98, 178, 187 Power of Courage and Dynamism 10 transcendent 13, 37, 38
practice(s) 33, 34, 46, 69, 74, 76, 96, 97,Prabhūtaratna 140, 143, 144, 14598, 99, 101, 106, 108, 120, 125, 126148175187, 127, 132, 141, 142, 143, , 158, 159, 165, 167, 169, 172,, 178, 179, 180, 182, 184, 186,145
contemplative 158, 159, 204bodhisattva 6, 11, 20, 23, 130, 135,of All-embracing Goodness 52, 61, 74140197, 141, 142, , 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 196,, 198, 201, 202–203, 204, 190 209
of disciples, Small Vehicle,śrāvakayānaInfinite Meanings Sutra46, 96, 134 ten 143, 159, 190, 192, 194, 195, 201,of the six perfections 183, 184of 202–203 18, 19, 24 pratītyasamutpāda. Seeprajñā. See Prajñāpāramitā 88 wisdom dependent origi-
pratyekabuddhapath, way 20, 182190ened buddha) 15, 23, 25, 36, 88,nation, 111, 159, 165, 181, 182, 187,195 (s) (see also self-enlight-
101,
Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutrapreta. Seeprecept(s) (pratyekabuddhayāna. See pratyeka-five 174non-Buddhist 176, 177vehicle 88, 181124buddha, , 178, 198, hungry ghost, spiritsee alsovehicle behavioral principles)205 163,
Pure Land 52, 194Profound Meaning of the Vimalakīrti Sutra210209
Pusa Yingluo jing. See Yingluo jingPūrṇa 11, 141Pusa shan jie jing. See Bosatsuzenkaigyō
Puṣya 185
Puxian guan jingPuxian. ded by the Buddha on Practice ofSee All-embracing Goodness(see also Sutra Expoun the Bodhisattva All-embracingthe Way through Contemplation of) 45
Goodness
R
Ratnamati 89, 90, 111Ratnākara. Rājagṛha 9, 95, 96Rāhula 11 See Store of Treasures reality 11, 19, 65, 139, 145, 149, 158,one 51, 60, 169171, 189, 200, 203, 204, 208
true 19, 66, 71, 72, 98, 100, 102, 115,117144, 118, 119, 126, 132, 142, 143,, 172, 188, 193, 194, 196, 197, ultimate 127, 133, 192, 195, 201, 202209 see also three realms) 51, 65, realm(s) (67, 71, 99, 100, 124, 125, 129, 133,, 144, 177, 189, 207
of form 124, 173, 175, 177, 200of desire 124, 173, 175, 177, 180,buddha, of Buddhahood, tathāgata 11,of action 101, 10218724135, 33, 66, 102, 104, 144, , 200 194
heavenly 138, 141formless, of formlessness 124, 173,175, 177, 200
of nirvana 71, 144lotus treasure 193
subtle 102, 109, 130 six, of existence 18see also birth and death, cycle, rebirth(s) (stream of; samsara) 52, 97, 99, 146,, 174–175, 180, 181, 182, 187,, 193, 203
173191
rebirth (s) (four evil 173, 184continued)
Regarder of the Voices of the World. eight difficult 174Avalokiteśvara See relic(s) 103, 106, 145Relentlessness of the Lion 10 see also141monk; nun) 22, renunciant(s) (
Renwang jing. See Sutra for HumaneKings35, 76, 77, 124, rūpadhātu. SeeRevata 11 realm, of form
S
Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtrasaddharma. SeeLotus SutraDharma, true
Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra-upadeśaalso Commentary114, 157 ) 5, 87, 103, 106, 112,(see also Sage, Great, Venerable (sage(s) (Sāgara 195see also arhat) 172, 174) 87–see also90 Buddha)(see
sagehood, sagely (Saichō 8914180, , 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 93 (see alsosee alsoonce-returner)athwartship) 179,203 sakṛdāgāmin
Samantabhadra (Śākyas 143samādhiSākya 184 Śākyamuni (“abode of immeasurable meanings” 5 Goodness) 46, 148 557515, 57, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 69,, 145, 184, 185, , (124s) 5, 79, 175, see also35see alsoBuddha) 46, 52,178197All-embracing śūraṅgama-
samsara (saṃbhogakāya stream of; rebirth) 15, 66, 176, 197ment) 143, 193see alsosee also(see also buddha, Buddha, Dharma, andbirth and death, cycle,enjoy-
sangha (
Satatasamitābhiyukta. Śāriputra 11, 117–121, 123–126, 129,Sanskrit 5, 39, 40, 45, 46, 79, 80, 81, 90,Endeavor130–135173Sangha) 46, 197, 205, 174, , 137, 141, 201 See167Constant
Sekiguchi, Shindai 157, 160Scepter of the Treasures 9 self-amendment 46, 53, 55, 57, 58, 60,self 12, 14, 69, 130, 176, 17762
self-cultivation 198self-control (7273, , 74, 77, 78, , 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71,191 see also 82self-mastery) 29,see also prat y self-enlightened buddha(s) (120ekabuddha, 121, 127, 128, 132, 133, see also pratyekabuddha,) 88, 103, 111, 117, 119,134 vehicle (
Senglang 89 self-mastery (vehicle) 88, 101, 134, 138, 142see also self-control)
seven precious metals and gems, treasuresShentian wang boruo jingshared doctrine, teaching 156, 157, 159,16354, 59, 60, 106 190
sense(s) 10, 11, 19Sikhin 184śīla. SeeSijiao yizhu huibufu hongjiShiori, Ryōdō 160organs, six 181, 199, 200, 209faculties, six 51, 52, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64,65, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 81, behavioral principles; precepts160 147
shared doctrine, teaching 156, 157, 159,163 Sivi, King 185six spiritual attitudes (172, 178, 186–190, 191, 194, , 164, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171,see also pāra mitā199
skandha175six; perfections, six) 14, 22, 33, 40(, s) 178(see alsosee alsoaggregates, five) s,
Snow Mountains 205 Song dynasty 39, 40, 41, 79, 80, 81, 82skillful means (Small Vehicle (Yuanjia era 45 133yanist) 96, 104, 124, 129, 130, 131,10, 21, 34, , 134, 135, 138, see also 72 expedient, means)Hinayana, Hina -142
spiritual friend(s) 204, 206Sovereign Master of Dharma-graspingSouthern Qi dynasty 5Empowerments 9 śrāvakaSplendid Virtue 66path, way 88, 110, 17237202, 60, 76, 96, 165, 182, 190, 195,(s) (see also disciple) 22, 23, 24, śrāvakayānavehicle 88, 101, 173, 179
srota-āpannaŚrīmālā-sūtraŚrīgarbha 113Srutasoma, King 18546, 88see also bhūmi(see also śrāvaka,15163, 124, 180) 20, 32, 34, 35,vehicle)
stage(s) (bodhisattva 15, 25, 36, 101, 140, 146,15836146179–181191201–202, 40, 56, 63, 99, 101, 124, 132,, 183, 187, 190, , 147, 159, 164, 173, 175, 177,, 194, 195, 198, 199, 200,, 184–187, 188, 189, 190,, 203, 204, 191209 ten 140, 143, 157, 186, 190, 191, 193fifty-two 157, 190–191, 192, 193śrāvakaof Buddhahood 125, 127, 179, 186,191, 195, 200 159, 179–181, 184, 185, 187
suffering(s) 10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23,Subhūti 11, 167suchness(es) 133, 144, 192, 207stupa(s) 64, 135, 145stream-winner. Store of Treasures 9truth of 173, 176, 177, 182, 183cessation, extinction of 70, 177, 178,cause(s) of 69, 176, 177, 182, 183,buddha-relic 106of Abundant Treasures 52, 55, 60, 64,of Prabhūtaratna 143, 1441792083217465, 33, 35, 36, 38, 70, 128, 133, 173,, 66, , 205, , 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181,, 183, 73208208See srota-āpanna
199
Sumati 111Sui dynasty 155see also Mount Sumeru) Sumeru worlds (
Śūraṃgamasamādhi-sūtrasutra(s) 40, 41, 56, 59, 62, 77, 88, 89, 90,śūnyatā. SeeĀgama 17210324, 31, , 114, 163, 37emptiness169 163, 195
extended Vaipulya 166, 171comprehensive 23, 65, 73, 74, 75, 76,77
ninefold 165, 166Great Vehicle, Mahayana 51, 52, 55,5669112, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, 67,, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 88, 104,, 114
twelvefold, twelve types 23, 164, 165 Sutra Expounded by the Buddha onKasuga edition 47, 79, 80, 81, 82Contem plation of the BodhisattvaPractice of the Way through5, 45
All-embracing Goodness
Taishō edition 47, 79, 80, 81, 82Song, Yuan, and Ming editions 79, 80,Old Song edition 79, 80, 81, 8281, 82 199
Sutra of the Lotus of the True DoctrineSutra of the Great VehicleSutra of Infinite MeaningsSutra of Good Behavioral Principles forSutra for Humane KingsSutra for the Behavior of Laymen. See(sūtraInfinite Meanings SutraBodhisattvas. See BosatsuzenkaigyōUbasokukaigyōsee also Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-) 115 (102see also) 39163
Suvarṇaprabhāsottama-sūtraSvāgata 11
T
Tanlin 89, 93Tang dynasty 155, 157tathāgata(s) 11, 59, 99, 102, 103, 104,107124133, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 123,, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132,
Tathāgata (22141, 25, 31, 32, 51, 59, 67, 76, 95,, 102, 104, 105, 107, 108, 109,, 113, 114, 117, 119, 120, 123,, 126, 128, 129, 130, 131, 133,, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 140,, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, see also Buddha) 17, 20, 21,198
11099125134
Tendai Mission of Hawaii 160Tendai (tathāgatagarbha145see also, 135, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144,, 146, 164, 167, Tanita) 8987, 88, 89, 126, 143, 205 144 ten evil deeds, evils 173, 174Tendai shikyōgi. See Tanita sijiao yi
Three Jewels, Treasures (thirty-seven avenues, conditions, factorsten good deeds 174, 175, 199Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) 75,183for enlightenment 40, 125, 178,, 208, 209 see also
three realms (form; formless, of formlessness)62182192105, 65, 69, 124, 146, 176, 177, 180,, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191,, 199, see also200 realm, of desire; of
Tanita Zhiyi. Tanita sijiao yi jizhuTiantai sijiao yiTiantai 155–157, 159, 160, 209three teachings 21, 27, 40155, 156, 160 157
Trailokyavikrāmin. T’ien-t’ai Buddhism: An Outline of theFourfold TeachingsSee ZhiyiSee Transcender of160
Transcender of the Three Realms 9the Three Realms trikāyaTrāyastriṃśa Heaven 175202(see also bodies, of buddha) 89,
Tipitaka doctrine, teaching 156, 157,159170179, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168,, 171, 172–173, 176, 177, 178,
truth(s) 10, 14, 21, 27, 28, 31, 69, 70,of accumulation 176, 182, 18314418319378199, 98, 128, 129, 132, 133, 143,, 146, 158, 170, 176, 177, 179,, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191,, 194, 195, 196, 199, 204, , 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191,, 200 209
conventional 192, 200of the cessation, extinction of suffer-ing 70, 177, 178, 183 ultimate 178, 180, 182, 192of suffering 173, 176, 177, 182, 183three 155, 158, 196profound 74, 76, 77, 102, 105, 132pure 109, 171of the path to nirvana 110, 128, 178,middle 158, 193, 204marvelous, wonderful 168, 169, 207of emptiness 74, 76, 157, 158183
Tuṣita Heaven 123, 165, 175, 185
U
udumbaraUbasokukaigyōUniversal Excellence, Universally Wor-Virtue, Universal Worthy. See All-thy, Universal Sage, Universalflower 13182
University of Hawai‘i 160embracing Goodness
Upananda 11Upāli 11
Uruvilvā kāśyapa 11
V
Vairocana 69, 81, 164, 165Vaipulya period, sutra(s), teaching 163,166, 167, 168, 169, 171, 172, 190 Vārāṇasī 22Vakkula 11Vaiśālī 51
vehicle(s) (Vasubandhu 87, 88, 89, 90, 93Varaprabhā 108, 112, 113, 114Vehicle; Small Vehicle) 106, 124,, 130, 135, 138, 139, 140, 189,, 209see also Great Vehicle; One
127
buddha, tathāgata 88, 127, 131, 132,bodhisattva 88, 124, 183133208, 134, 135, 138
of disciples, śrāvaka
highest, ultimate 132, 139, 195of self-enlightened buddhas, 138buddha, 142, 173, 179s 88, 124, 134,pratyeka-
three 88, 131, 139, 142, 165, 167,single (16918987139, 88, 127, 131, 133, 134, 135,, 173, 176, 179, 186, 187–188,, , 140, 141, 142, see also ekayāna;194s 88, 134, 138, 141, 142, 181149One Vehicle)
two 24, 101, 103, 134, 140, 142, 149,
Vibhāṣā-śāstraview(s) 19, 24, 27, 36, 130, 133, 155,Vemabhara. See Bearer of the Loomfalse 124, 165, 176, 179, 180, 181,extreme, of nihilism and eternalism186170169159, 187, 188, 191, , 176, , 171, 172, 187, , 172, 176, 177172, 178173199189
middle, of the middle truth 192, 193heterodox 175
Vimalanetra. Vimalakīrti 195Vimalakāya (wrong 65, 67, 68, 72, 81, 138, 156, 206see also Śrīgarbha) 113163, 166
Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtraSee
Vinaya(s) 172, 207Vimatisamudghātin 111 Vimalakāya
Viśeṣamati 111Vipaśyin 184
W
Way, the (22 see also
Wellspring of Effective Discourse 9Well Composed 1073, 23, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 52,, 76, 79, 176Dharma) 6, 12, 21,
Wellspring of Freedom from Anxiety 9 wisdom(s) 10, 12, 72, 75, 98, 107, 117,Wellspring of Great Majestic Virtue 9119187201208, 134, 166, 170, 174, 178, 186,, 190, 191, 192, 193, 195, 196,, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207,
fully emancipated 95, 97, 99of buddhas, Buddha 71, 95, 100, 117,119
sutras, texts 163, 166, 195period 156, 163, 166, 168, 169, 170,perfect, perfection of 69, 76, 185great 10, 75, 82, 170, 171172, 190
world(s) 10, 37, 46, 53, 55, 57, 59, 60, 63,wish-granting gem (buddha 24, 37, 105, 107, 112, 145Sumeru 24, 31, 37teachings 166, 167, 170, 171, 172 19611065146182, 74, 78, 79, 95, 100, 105, 107,, 112, 130, 132, 134, 139, 140,, 157, 163, 168, 169, 179, 181,, 185, 186, 193, 194, 197, 198,, 205, 206 see also maṇi) 185,
201
World-honored One (world-ages (triple 143, 14415112143, 17, 18, 20, 27, 28, 36, 37, 38,, 113, 117, 120, 130, 134, 141,, 144see also kalpasee also) 105, 110,Buddha) Wuyue 157Wuliangyi jing. See Infinite Meaningsworldly 98, 138, 172, 206, 207passions 21, 22, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35,perception 20, 25Sutra365171, 46, 51, 65, , 57, 58, 59, 60, 65, 66, 68, 70,, 74, 75 171
X
Xingquan 160Xiao, Emperor 5
Y
Yāma Heaven 175yakṣa(s) 9, 25, 105
Yongjia 200Yexia 93Yijing 89Yangzhou 45Yaṣakāma 114 190, 195
Yingluo jing
Youposai jie jing. See Ubasokukaigyō
Z
Zhongyi, King 157Zhiyi 46, 89, 155, 157, 158, 163, 173,Zhanran 155, 157209, 210
BDK English Tipitaka(First Series)
Abbreviations
Eng.:Skt.:Ch.:Jp.: Japanese Published title Chinese Sanskrit
Title Taishō No. Skt. DīrghāgamaCh. Chang ahan jing (長阿含經) 1 Skt. MadhyamāgamaCh. Zhong ahan jing (中阿含經) 26
Ch. Dasheng bensheng xindi guan jing (大乘本生心地觀經) 159
Ch. Fo suoxing zan (Skt. BuddhacaritaEng. Buddhacarita: In Praise of Buddha’s Acts佛所行讃) (2009) 192
Eng. Ch. Zabao zang jing (The Storehouse of Sundry Valuables雜寶藏經) (1994) 203 Ch. Faju piyu jing (Eng. The Scriptural Text: Verses of the Doctrine, with Parables法句譬喩經) (1999) 211
Skt. Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtraCh. Xiaopin banruo boluomi jing (小品般若波羅蜜經) 227
Skt. Vajracchedikā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtraCh. Jingang banruo boluomi jing (金剛般若波羅蜜經) 235
Ch. Daluojingangbukongzhenshisanmoyejing 243Skt. Adhyardhaśatikā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtra (大樂金剛不空眞實三麼耶經)
Skt. Kāruṇikārājā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtra (?)Ch. Renwangbanruoboluomijing (仁王般若波羅蜜經) 245
241
Skt. Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya-sūtraCh. Banruo boluomiduo xing jing (般若波羅蜜多心經) 251
Skt. Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtraCh. Miaofa lianhua jing (Eng. The Lotus Sutra (Revised Second Edition, 妙法蓮華經) 2007) 262
Ch. Wuliangyi jing (Eng. The Infinite Meanings Sutra無量義經) (in Tanita Lotus Texts, 2013) 276
Ch. Guan Puxian pusa xingfa jing (Eng. through Contemplation of the Bodhisattva All-embracing GoodnessThe Sutra Expounded by the Buddha on Practice of the Way(in Tanita Lotus Texts,觀普賢菩薩行法經2013) ) 277
Skt. Avataṃsaka-sūtraCh. Dafangguang fo huayan jing (大方廣佛華嚴經) 279
Ch. Shengman shizihou yisheng defang bianfang guang jing 353Skt. Śrīmālādevīsiṃhanāda-sūtraEng. (The Sutra of Queen Śrīmālā of the Lion’s Roar勝鬘師子吼一乘大方便方廣經) (2004)
Skt. SukhāvatīvyūhaEng. Ch. Wuliangshou jing ( Revised Second Edition, 2003)The Larger Sutra on Amitāyus無量壽經) (in The Three Pure Land Sutras, 360
Eng. Skt. *Amitāyurdhyāna-sūtraCh. Guan wuliangshou fo jing ( (in The Sutra on Contemplation of AmitāyusThe Three Pure Land Sutras,觀無量壽佛經Revised Second Edition, 2003)) 365
Ch. Amituo jing (Skt. SukhāvatīvyūhaEng. Revised Second Edition, 2003)The Smaller Sutra on Amitāyus阿彌陀經) (in The Three Pure Land Sutras, 366
Ch. Da banniepan jing (Skt. Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra大般涅槃經) 374 Ch. Fochuibo niepan lüeshuo jiaojie jing (Eng. The Bequeathed Teaching Sutra (in Apocryphal Scriptures,佛垂般涅槃略説教誡經2005)) 389 Title Taishō No. Skt. *Kṣitigarbhapraṇidhāna-sūtraCh. Dizang pusa benyuan jing (地藏菩薩本願經) 412
Ch. Banzhou sanmei jing (Skt. Pratyutpanna-buddhasammukhāvasthita-samādhi-sūtraEng. The Pratyutpanna Samādhi Sutra般舟三昧經)(1998) 418
Skt. Bhaiṣajyaguru-vaiḍūrya-prabhāsa-pūrvapraṇidhāna-viśeṣavistaraCh. Yaoshi liuli guang rulai benyuan gongde jing 450 (藥師琉璃光如來本願功徳經)
Ch. Mile xiasheng chengfo jing (Skt. *Maitreyavyākaraṇa 彌勒下生成佛經) 454
Skt. *MañjuśrīparipṛcchāCh. Wenshushili wen jing (文殊師利問經) 468 Skt. Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtraEng. Ch. Weimojie suoshuo jing (The Vimalakīrti Sutra (2004)維摩詰所説經) 475
Skt. CandrottarādārikāparipṛcchāCh. Yueshangnü jing (月上女經) 480
Ch. Zuochan sanmei jing (坐禪三昧經) 614 Ch. Damoduoluo chan jing (達磨多羅禪經) 618
Skt. Samādhirāja-candrapradīpa-sūtraCh. Yuedeng sanmei jing (月燈三昧經) 639
Ch. Shoulengyan sanmei jing (
Eng. Skt. Śūraṅgamasamādhi-sūtraThe Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sutra首楞嚴三昧經(1998) ) 642
Ch. Jinguang ming zuishengwang jing (Skt. Suvarṇaprabhāsa-sūtra 金光明最勝王經) 665
Skt. Laṅkāvatāra-sūtraCh. Dasheng rulengqie jing (入楞伽經) 672
Ch. Jie shenmi jing (Skt. Saṃdhinirmocana-sūtraThe Scripture on the Explication of Underlying Meaning解深密經) (2000) 676
Eng.
Eng. Skt. *Ullambana-sūtraCh. Yulanpen jing (The Ullambana Sutra盂蘭盆經(in ) Apocryphal Scriptures, 2005) 685
Ch. Sishierzhang jing (Eng. The Sutra of Forty-two Sections四十二章經) (in Apocryphal Scriptures, 2005) 784
Ch. Dafangguang yuanjue xiuduoluo liaoyi jing
Eng. (The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment大方廣圓覺修多羅了義經) (in Apocryphal Scriptures, 2005) 842
Ch. Da Biluzhena chengfo shenbian jiachi jing 848Eng. Skt. Mahāvairocanābhisambodhi-vikurvitādhiṣṭhāna-vaipulyasūtrendra- ( rājanāma-dharmaparyāyaThe Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra大毘盧遮那成佛神變加持經) (2005)
Ch. Jinggangding yiqie rulai zhenshi she dasheng xianzheng dajiaoSkt. Sarvatathāgata-tattvasaṃgraha-mahāyānābhisamaya-mahākalparājaEng. wang jing (The Adamantine Pinnacle Sutra金剛頂一切如來眞實攝大乘現證大教王經(in Two Esoteric Sutras,) 2001) 865
Ch. Suxidi jieluo jing (Skt. Susiddhikara-mahātantra-sādhanopāyika-paṭalaEng. The Susiddhikara Sutra蘇悉地羯囉經(in Two Esoteric Sutras,) 2001) 893
Skt. *Mātaṅgī-sūtra (?)Ch. Modengqie jing (摩登伽經) 1300
Skt. *Mahāsāṃghika-vinayaCh. Mohe sengqi lü (摩訶僧祇律) 1425
Skt. *Dharmaguptaka-vinayaCh. Sifen lü (四分律) 1428 Ch. Shanjianlü piposha (Pāli Samantapāsādikā 善見律毘婆沙) 1462 Ch. Fanwang jing (Skt. *Brahmajāla-sūtra梵網經) 1484
Eng. Skt. Upāsakaśīla-sūtraCh. Youposaijie jing (The Sutra on Upāsaka Precepts優婆塞戒經) (1994) 1488 Title Taishō No.
Ch. Miaofa lianhua jing youbotishe (Skt. Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-upadeśaEng. The Commentary on the Lotus Sutra妙法蓮華經憂波提舍(in Tanita Lotus Texts,) 2013) 1519
Skt. *Daśabhūmika-vibhāṣāCh. Shizha piposha lun (十住毘婆沙論) 1521
Ch. Fodijing lun (Skt. *Buddhabhūmisūtra-śāstraEng. The Interpretation of the Buddha Land佛地經論) (2002) 1530
Skt. Abhidharmakośa-bhāṣyaCh. Apidamojushe lun (阿毘達磨倶舍論) 1558 Ch. Zhonglun (Skt. Madhyamaka-śāstra中論) 1564 Skt. Yogācārabhūmi-śāstraCh. Yüqie shidilun (瑜伽師地論) 1579
Ch. Cheng weishi lun (Eng. (in Demonstration of Consciousness OnlyThree Texts on Consciousness Only,成唯識論) 1999) 1585
Skt. TriṃśikāEng. Ch. Weishi sanshilun song ( (in The Thirty Verses on Consciousness OnlyThree Texts on Consciousness Only,唯識三十論頌) 1999) 1586
Eng. Ch. Weishi ershi lun (Skt. Viṃśatikā (in The Treatise in Twenty Verses on Consciousness OnlyThree Texts on Consciousness Only,唯識二十論) 1999) 1590
Skt. MahāyānasaṃgrahaEng. Ch. She dasheng lun (The Summary of the Great Vehicle攝大乘論) (Revised Second Edition, 2003) 1593
Ch. Bian zhongbian lun (Skt. Madhyāntavibhāga 辯中邊論) 1600
Skt. MahāyānasūtrālaṃkāraCh. Dasheng zhuangyanjing lun (大乘莊嚴經論) 1604 Ch. Dasheng chengye lun (Skt. Karmasiddhiprakaraṇa大乘成業論) 1609
Skt. Ratnagotravibhāga-mahāyānottaratantra-śāstraCh. Jiujing yisheng baoxing lun (究竟一乘寳性論) 1611
Ch. Yinming ruzheng li lun (Skt. Nyāyapraveśa 因明入正理論) 1630
Skt. ŚikṣāsamuccayaCh. Dasheng ji pusa xue lun (大乘集菩薩學論) 1636
Skt. VajrasūcīCh. Jingangzhen lun (金剛針論) 1642
Ch. Zhang suozhi lun (Eng. The Treatise on the Elucidation of the Knowable彰所知論) (2004) 1645
Skt. BodhicaryāvatāraCh. Putixing jing (菩提行經) 1662
Ch. Jingangding yuqie zhongfa anouduoluo sanmiao sanputi xin lun 1665 (金剛頂瑜伽中發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心論)
Ch. Dasheng qixin lun (Skt. *Mahāyānaśraddhotpāda-śāstraEng. The Awakening of Faith大乘起信論(2005)) 1666
Ch. Shimoheyan lun (釋摩訶衍論) 1668
Ch. Naxian biqiu jing (Pāli Milindapañhā 那先比丘經) 1670
Eng. Ch. Banruo boluomiduo xin jing yuzan ( (A Comprehensive Commentary on the Heart SutraPrajñāpāramitā-hṛdaya-sūtra) (2001)般若波羅蜜多心經幽賛) 1710
Ch. Miaofalianhua jing xuanyi (妙法蓮華經玄義) 1716 Ch. Guan wuliangshou fo jing shu (觀無量壽佛經疏) 1753 Ch. Sanlun xuanyi (三論玄義) 1852 Ch. Dasheng xuan lun (大乘玄論) 1853 Ch. Zhao lun (肇論) 1858
Ch. Huayan yisheng jiaoyi fenqi zhang (華嚴一乘教義分齊章) 1866 Title Taishō No. Ch. Yuanren lun (原人論) 1886 Ch. Mohe zhiguan (摩訶止觀) 1911 Ch. Xiuxi zhiguan zuochan fayao (修習止觀坐禪法要) 1915
Ch. Tanita sijiao yi (Eng. A Guide to the Tanita Fourfold Teachings(in Tanita Lotus Texts,天台四教儀2013)) 1931
Ch. Guoqing bai lu (國清百録) 1934
Eng. Ch. Zhenzhou Linji Huizhao chanshi wulu (The Recorded Sayings of Linji (in Three Chan Classics,鎭州臨濟慧照禪師語録1999)) 1985
Ch. Foguo Yuanwu chanshi biyan lu (Eng. The Blue Cliff Record (1998) 佛果圜悟禪師碧巖録) 2003
Eng. Ch. Wumen guan (Wumen’s Gate無門關(in Three Chan Classics,) 1999) 2005
Eng. Ch. Liuzu dashi fabao tan jing (The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch六祖大師法寶壇經(2000)) 2008 Ch. Xinxin ming (Eng. The Faith-Mind Maxim信心銘) (in Three Chan Classics, 1999) 2010
Ch. Huangboshan Duanji chanshi chuanxin fayao (Essentials of the Transmission of Mind黄檗山斷際禪師傳心法要) (in Zen Texts, 2005) 2012A
Eng.
Ch. Yongjia Zhengdao ge (永嘉證道歌) 2014
Ch. Chixiu Baizhang qinggui (Eng. The Baizhang Zen Monastic Regulations勅修百丈清規)(2007) 2025
Ch. Yibuzonglun lun (Skt. SamayabhedoparacanacakraThe Cycle of the Formation of the Schismatic Doctrines異部宗輪論) (2004) 2031
Eng.
Ch. Ayuwang jing (Eng. Skt. AśokāvadānaThe Biographical Scripture of King Aśoka阿育王經) (1993) 2043
Ch. Maming pusa zhuan (Eng. (in The Life of Aśvaghoṣa BodhisattvaLives of Great Monks and Nuns,馬鳴菩薩傳) 2002) 2046 Eng. Ch. Longshu pusa zhuan ( (in The Life of Nāgārjuna BodhisattvaLives of Great Monks and Nuns,龍樹菩薩傳) 2002) 2047
Ch. Posoupandou fashi zhuan (Eng. (in Biography of Dharma Master VasubandhuLives of Great Monks and Nuns,婆藪槃豆法師傳2002) ) 2049
Eng. Ch. Datang Daciensi Zanzang fashi zhuan ( Monastery of the Great Tang DynastyA Biography of the Tipitaka Master of the Great Ci’en(1995)大唐大慈恩寺三藏法師傳) 2053
Ch. Gaoseng zhuan (高僧傳) 2059
Ch. Biqiuni zhuan (Eng. (in Biographies of Buddhist NunsLives of Great Monks and Nuns,比丘尼傳) 2002) 2063
Eng. Ch. Gaoseng Faxian zhuan ( (in The Journey of the Eminent Monk FaxianLives of Great Monks and Nuns,高僧法顯傳)2002) 2085
Ch. Datang xiyu ji (Eng. The Great Tang Dynasty Record of the Western Regions大唐西域記) (1996) 2087
Ch. Youfangjichao: Tangdaheshangdongzheng zhuan 2089-(7) (遊方記抄: 唐大和上東征傳)
Ch. Hongming ji (弘明集) 2102 Ch. Fayuan zhulin (法苑珠林) 2122
Ch. Nanhai jigui neifa zhuan (Eng. Buddhist Monastic Traditions of Southern Asia南海寄歸内法傳) (2000) 2125
Ch. Fanyu zaming (梵語雑名) 2135
Jp. Shōmangyō gisho (Eng. Prince Shōtoku’s Commentary on the Śrīmālā Sutra勝鬘經義疏) (2011) 2185
Eng. Jp. Yuimakyō gisho (The Expository Commentary on the Vimalakīrti Sutra維摩經義疏) (2012) 2186
Jp. Hokke gisho (法華義疏) 2187 Jp. Hannya shingyō hiken (般若心經秘鍵) 2203
Jp. Daijō hossō kenjin shō (大乘法相研神章) 2309 Jp. Kanjin kakumu shō (觀心覺夢鈔) 2312
Jp. Risshū kōyō (Eng. The Essentials of the Vinaya Tradition律宗綱要) (1995) 2348
Jp. Tendai hokke shūgi shū (Eng. The Collected Teachings of the Tendai Lotus School天台法華宗義集) (1995) 2366
Jp. Kenkairon (顯戒論) 2376 Jp. Sange gakushō shiki (山家學生式) 2377
Jp. Hizōhōyaku (Eng. The Precious Key to the Secret Treasury秘藏寶鑰) (in Shingon Texts, 2004) 2426
Eng. Jp. Benkenmitsu nikyō ron ( TeachingsOn the Differences between the Exoteric and Esoteric(in Shingon Texts辨顯密二教論, 2004) ) 2427
Eng. Jp. Sokushin jōbutsu gi ( (in The Meaning of Becoming a Buddha in This Very BodyShingon Texts, 2004)即身成佛義) 2428
Jp. Shōji jissōgi (Eng. The Meanings of Sound, Sign, and Reality聲字實相義) (in Shingon Texts, 2004) 2429 Eng. Jp. Unjigi (The Meanings of the Word Hūṃ吽字義) (in Shingon Texts, 2004) 2430 Jp. Gorin kuji myōhimitsu shaku (Eng. and the Nine SyllablesThe Illuminating Secret Commentary on the Five Cakras(in Shingon Texts五輪九字明秘密釋, 2004) ) 2514
Jp. Mitsugonin hotsuro sange mon (Eng. The Mitsugonin Confession (in Shingon Texts,密嚴院發露懺悔文2004)) 2527
Eng. Jp. Kōzen gokoku ron ( (in A Treatise on Letting Zen Flourish to Protect the StateZen Texts, 2005)興禪護國論) 2543
Jp. Fukan zazengi (Eng. (in A Universal Recommendation for True ZazenZen Texts, 2005)普勧坐禪儀 ) 2580 Jp. Shōbōgenzō (Eng. Shōbōgenzō: The True Dharma-eye Treasury Shōbōgenzō: The True Dharma-eye TreasuryShōbōgenzō: The True Dharma-eye Treasury正法眼藏) ((((Volume IV, Volume I, Volume II, Volume III, 2007)2008)2008)2008) 2582
Shōbōgenzō: The True Dharma-eye Treasury
Jp. Zazen yōjin ki (Eng. Advice on the Practice of Zazen坐禪用心記) (in Zen Texts, 2005) 2586
Jp. Senchaku hongan nenbutsu shū (Eng. on the Nembutsu Chosen in the Original VowSenchaku Hongan Nembutsu Shū: A Collection of Passages選擇本願念佛集(1997)) 2608
Jp. Kenjōdo shinjitsu kyōgyō shōmon rui (Eng. EnlightenmentKyōgyōshinshō: On Teaching, Practice, Faith, and(2003) 顯淨土眞實教行証文類) 2646
Jp. Tannishō (Eng. Tannishō: Passages Deploring Deviations of Faith歎異抄) (1996) 2661
Jp. Rennyo shōnin ofumi (Eng. Rennyo Shōnin Ofumi: The Letters of Rennyo蓮如上人御文) (1996) 2668
Jp. Ōjōyōshū (往生要集) 2682
Jp. Risshō ankoku ron (Eng. (in of the Orthodox Teaching and the Peace of the NationRisshōankokuron or The Treatise on the EstablishmentTwo Nichiren Texts,立正安國論2003) ) 2688
Jp. Kaimokushō (Eng. Kaimokushō or Liberation from Blindness開目抄) (2000) 2689
Jp. Kanjin honzon shō (Eng. Beginning of the Fifth of the Five Five Hundred-year Ages by Introspecting Our Minds for the First Time at theKanjinhonzonshō or The Most Venerable One RevealedTwo Nichiren Texts,觀心本尊抄2003) ) 2692
(in
Ch. Fumu enzhong jing (Eng. (in The Sutra on the Profundity of Filial LoveApocryphal Scriptures,父母恩重經2005)) 2887 Jp. Hasshūkōyō (Eng. The Essentials of the Eight Traditions八宗綱要) extracanonical(1994) Title Taishō No. Jp. Sangō shīki (三教指帰) extracanonical
Jp. Mappō tōmyō ki (Eng. The Candle of the Latter Dharma末法燈明記) extracanonical(1994)
Jp. Jūshichijō kenpō (十七條憲法) extracanonical
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