Prologue

[B1] [F.6.b]

p.1Homage to all buddhas and bodhisattvas.

p.2Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagṛha at Vulture Peak Mountain together with a great bodhisattva saṅgha of bodhisattva great beings [F.7.a] who had gathered there from various buddha realms. Every one of them had conquered the demons and all adversaries. They were far removed from the fluctuations of the habitual tendencies of all disturbing emotions and subsidiary disturbing emotions. They had attained the level of great mastery where one can demonstrate birth into existence at will. They had attained the power that springs from giving away their bodies and abodes throughout limitless eons. They had realized the limitless workings of the demons along with all obstacles. They knew the conduct that is the means for achieving all the aims of all beings. They had obtained the great power that comes from knowing all types of liberation. They were skilled in refuting all the claims of non-Buddhists. They were skilled in attracting large crowds by means of their great miraculous emanations. Through cultivating the immense perfections , they had attained all the features of great practitioners. Like the sky, their minds were unstained by worldly phenomena.

p.3Five thousand bodhisattvas were in attendance, such as the bodhisattva great being Clear Trust , the bodhisattva Stainless Trust, the bodhisattva Unwavering Trust, the bodhisattva Acting with Trust, the bodhisattva Fully Settled in Trust, the bodhisattva Undiminished Trust, the bodhisattva Immutable Trust, the bodhisattva Investigating Trust, the bodhisattva Even Trust, the bodhisattva Great Trust, the bodhisattva Always Following Trust, the bodhisattva Genuinely Entering Trust, the bodhisattva Leading towards Trust, the bodhisattva Destroying Doubt regarding Trust, the bodhisattva Teaching Trust, the bodhisattva Establishing Trust, the bodhisattva Increasing Trust, [F.7.b] the bodhisattva Training in Trust, the bodhisattva Searching for the Vessel of Trust, and the bodhisattva great being Great Skillful Trust. There were also 1,250 monks in attendance, such as Mahākāśyapa. From all sides the Blessed One was surrounded by innumerable gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans, and nonhuman beings. In this way the Blessed One was sitting amidst a retinue of hundreds of thousands of beings.

p.4At that point, many novice bodhisattvas who were dwelling on the level of devoted engagement assembled and took their places in the retinue. Then, considering those novice bodhisattvas who were dwelling on the level of devoted engagement, the Blessed One began to speak: “Noble children, if bodhisattvas possess trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle, it will be very meaningful, have a great result, and confer great benefits. Therefore, novice bodhisattvas should develop firm trust in the Great Vehicle by proceeding with devoted engagement.”

p.5At this point, inspired by the power and blessing of the Buddha, the bodhisattva Great Skillful Trust rose up from his seat, draped his upper robe over one shoulder, and knelt on his right knee. With his palms together he bowed toward the Blessed One and supplicated, “Blessed One, what are the characteristics of the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle? How do bodhisattvas come to trust the Great Vehicle? Blessed One, what kinds of trust in the Great Vehicle do bodhisattvas possess? [F.8.a] And what kinds of benefits result from such trust in the Great Vehicle?”

p.6The Blessed One replied, “Noble son, excellent! It is excellent that you have come here on behalf of limitless bodhisattvas to ask the Thus-Gone One about the meaning of this. Therefore, noble son, listen and I shall teach you.”