Chapter 1: The Context

[V14] [F.1.b] [B1]

1.1Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was residing on Vulture Peak in Rājagṛha, with a large monastic gathering comprising some five thousand monks. All of them were arhats who had attained the cessation of contaminants, free of afflicted mental states, fully controlled, their minds thoroughly liberated, their wisdom well liberated, thoroughbreds, mighty elephants, their tasks accomplished, their work completed, their burdens relinquished, their own objectives fulfilled, the fetters binding them to the rebirth process completely severed, their minds thoroughly liberated through perfect instruction, supreme in their perfection of all mental powers, with the exception of just one person‍—the venerable Ānanda, a trainee who had entered the stream. Also present were some five hundred nuns‍—Yaśodharā and Mahāprajāpatī and so on‍— [F.2.a] and a great many laymen and laywomen, all of whom had seen the Dharma.

1.2There, too, were innumerable, inestimable bodhisattva great beings, all of whom had attained the dhāraṇīs and attained the meditative stabilities, acting in accord with emptiness, their perceptual range being one of signlessness, their aspirations free from deliberation. They had attained forbearance for the sameness of all phenomena, possessed inspired eloquence that was unimpeded, had comprehended the inexhaustible teachings according to their exact knowledge, and used miraculous displays through their great extrasensory powers. With their extrasensory powers never failing, and with engaging speech, without indolence but with perseverance, without regard for their bodies or their lives, their conduct unpretentious, without fawning, and without thoughts of ulterior fame, profit, or respect, free from self-interest they taught the Dharma. They had realized and integrated the sublime acceptance of the profound dharmas, had acquired the great fearlessnesses, were without discouragement, and they had gone completely beyond all the works of Māra. Having interrupted the continuity of karmic obscurations, they had overcome karma, the afflicted mental states, and hostile forces, and in the face of all challenges had remained undefeated. They were difficult for all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas to understand, and through their realization were skilled in analyzing and teaching the Dharma. They had energetically applied themselves to their aspirations over countless eons. Smiling and speaking first in welcome, their faces without frowns of anger, [F.2.b] with their sweet, gentle words they were skilled in addressing others in melodic verse. As their inspired eloquence flowed uninterrupted, they possessed the fearlessness that overwhelmed endless assemblies. They were skilled in emancipation by means of the transcendental knowledge from having taught for endless tens of millions of eons. They had comprehended that all phenomena are like an illusion, a mirage, a reflection of the moon in water, a dream, an echo, an optical aberration, empty space, a castle in the sky, a reflection, and a magical display. Without discouragement, they were skilled in comprehending the mental attitudes, subtle knowledge, conduct, and interests of all beings. Their attitude toward all beings was free of any animosity, and their tolerance was immense. They were skilled in the transcendental knowledge that brings the sameness of all phenomena to be understood, and because they were possessed of profound reality their depth was hard to estimate. They had fully attained power over their own minds, and they had entirely attained power over all phenomena. They were liberated from all karma, afflicted mental states, and obscurations of view. They were skilled in teaching in dependence on the audience, and had engaged in all the inexhaustible modes of dependent origination, were free from all views, latent impulses, and obsessions, and had abandoned all fetters. They were skilled in bringing peace from all actions and afflicted mental states, skilled in the transcendental knowledge that brings realization of the truth, constantly and uninterruptedly considering all phenomena to resemble an echo, fearless in their measureless teachings of the ways of the Dharma, and skilled in bringing forth comprehension of the true nature itself. Their progress was governed by their aspirational vow to establish infinite buddhafields. Constantly and uninterruptedly they actualized the meditative stability of recollecting the buddhas [F.3.a] who reside in countless world systems; they were skilled in going everywhere buddhas arise and skilled in requesting the innumerable buddhas to teach. They were skilled in bringing about peace from the afflicted mental states that are generated through the diverse false views of beings, and skilled in bringing forth realization of the transcendental knowledge that revels in the miraculous production of a hundred thousand meditative stabilities. Every one of them had qualities of which a full description would be incomplete even if infinite eons were spent on it.

1.3Among them were the following: the bodhisattva great being Bhadrapāla, the bodhisattva great being Ratnākara , the bodhisattva great being Ratnagarbha, the bodhisattva great being Ratnadatta, the bodhisattva great being Susārthavāha, the bodhisattva great being Naradatta, the bodhisattva great being Guhagupta, the bodhisattva great being Varuṇadeva, the bodhisattva great being Indradatta, the bodhisattva great being Bhadrabala, the bodhisattva great being Uttaramati, the bodhisattva great being Viśeṣamati, the bodhisattva great being Vardhamānamati, the bodhisattva great being Anantamati, the bodhisattva great being Amoghadarśin, the bodhisattva great being Anāvaraṇamati, the bodhisattva great being Susaṃprasthita, the bodhisattva great being Suvikrāntavikrāmin, the bodhisattva great being Anantavīrya, the bodhisattva great being Nityodyukta, [F.3.b] the bodhisattva great being Nityaprayukta, the bodhisattva great being Anikṣiptadhura, the bodhisattva great being Sūryagarbha, the bodhisattva great being Candragarbha, the bodhisattva great being Anupamamati, the bodhisattva great being Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva great being Mahāsthāmaprāpta, the bodhisattva great being Mañjuśrī­kumāra­bhūta, the bodhisattva great being Māra­bala­pramardin, the bodhisattva great being Vajramati, the bodhisattva great being Ratnamudrāhasta, the bodhisattva great being Nityotkṣiptahasta, the bodhisattva great being Mahā­karuṇā­cintin, the bodhisattva great being Mahāvyūha, the bodhisattva great being Vyūharāja, the bodhisattva great being Merukūṭa, the bodhisattva great being Maitreya, and many hundreds of thousands of one hundred million billion others as well.

1.4At that time, the Blessed One himself arranged his seat, the lion throne, and sat upright with his legs crossed, directing his mindfulness. Seated there, he was absorbed in the meditative stability called king of meditative stabilities , in which all meditative stabilities are gathered, comprehended, pursued, and subsumed.

1.5The Blessed One, mindful and with full awareness, [F.4.a] then arose from that meditative stability and observed this buddhafield with divine clairvoyance. Seeing in this manner, he sent out light from his entire body. Sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of the two thousand-spoked wheels that were imprinted on the soles of his feet. Sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of the ten toes of his two feet. Sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of his two ankles, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of his two shins, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of his two knees, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of his two thighs, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of his two hips, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from his navel, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of the two sides of his ribs, and sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from the śrīvatsa at his heart, which is one of the major marks of a great person. Sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light also issued from each of his ten fingers, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of his two arms, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of his two shoulders, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from his neck, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of his four incisors, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of his forty teeth, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of his two eyes, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from each of his two ears, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued [F.4.b] from each of his two nostrils, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from the hair ringlet between his eyebrows, sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from his uṣṇīṣa, and sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light issued from his mouth.

1.6All of those sets of sixty hundred thousand ten million billion rays of light permeated all the world systems in the great billionfold world system with a great brightness. The world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems in the direction of the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. All the beings who beheld the light and who were touched by that light became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment.

1.7Then again, the Blessed One caused light rays to be diffused from all his pores, [F.5.a] and that light again permeated this great billionfold world system with a great brightness. The world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems in the direction of the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. All the beings who beheld that light and who were touched by that light became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment.

1.8Then again, with the natural light of the tathāgatas the Blessed One caused this great billionfold world system to be permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the northern direction, [F.5.b] numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems in the direction of the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. The world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated with a great brightness. All the beings who beheld that light and who were touched by that light became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment.

1.9Then the Blessed One extended his tongue from his mouth. Covering this entire great billionfold world system with his tongue, he smiled, and from his tongue issued forth many hundred thousand ten million billion variegated rays of light. On all those rays of light, in their entirety, appeared manifold lotus flowers, fashioned of diverse gemstones, shining like gold, with a thousand petals, diverse, beautiful to behold, captivating, brilliant, scented, soft, and blissful to the touch like kācalindika. On these lotuses, furthermore, were seated many embodied tathāgatas, and the Dharma teaching they taught was this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. They departed for the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, and on arriving there [F.6.a] the Dharma teaching they taught was this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. They departed for the world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, and on arriving there the Dharma teaching they taught was this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. They departed for the world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, and on arriving there the Dharma teaching they taught was this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. They departed for the world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, and on arriving there the Dharma teaching they taught was this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. They departed for the world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, and on arriving there the Dharma teaching they taught was this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. They departed for the world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, and on arriving there the Dharma teaching they taught was this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. They departed for the world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, and on arriving there the Dharma teaching they taught was this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. They departed for the world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, and on arriving there the Dharma teaching they taught was this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. They departed for the world systems in the direction of the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, and on arriving there the Dharma teaching they taught was this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. And they departed for the world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, [F.6.b] and on arriving there the Dharma teaching they taught was this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. All the beings who heard those teachings became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment.

1.10Then, while seated on the lion throne, the Blessed One became absorbed in the meditative stability of the buddhas called the lion’s play and manifested his miraculous abilities. By manifesting those miraculous abilities, he caused this great billionfold world system to shake in six ways. That is to say, it shook, shuddered, and juddered; it rocked, reeled, and tottered; it quivered, careened, and convulsed; it trembled, throbbed, and quaked; it rumbled, roared, and thundered; and it faltered, lurched, and staggered. As its eastern sides reared up its western sides plunged down; as its western sides reared up its eastern sides plunged down; as its southern sides reared up its northern sides plunged down; as its northern sides reared up its southern sides plunged down; as its edges reared up its centers plunged down; and as its centers reared up its edges plunged down. Then, slowly and gradually, it settled down, producing benefit and happiness for all beings.

1.11Then, at that time‍—at that moment, minute, and second‍—in this great billionfold world system, the hells, the animal realms, the world of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the terrible forms of life, and the degenerations, as many as there are, were all interrupted. All of the beings there were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings; they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, or the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin realms. Then those gods and those human beings joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives, [F.7.a] they then joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease departed for where there were blessed ones, and on arriving there paid homage to the blessed ones.

1.12Then, at that time‍—at that moment, minute, and second‍—in the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, the hells, the animal realms, the world of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the terrible forms of life, and the degenerations, as many as there are, were all interrupted. All of the beings there were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings; they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, or the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin realms. Then those gods and those human beings joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives, they then joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease departed for the respective buddhafields where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided, and on arriving there paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas.

1.13Then, at that time‍—at that moment, minute, and second‍—in the world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, the hells, the animal realms, the world of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the terrible forms of life, and the degenerations, as many as there are, were all interrupted. All of the beings there were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings; they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, or the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin realms. Then those gods and those human beings joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives, they then joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease departed for the respective buddhafields where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided, [F.7.b] and on arriving there paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas.

1.14Then, at that time‍—at that moment, minute, and second‍—in the world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, the hells, the animal realms, the world of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the terrible forms of life, and the degenerations, as many as there are, were all interrupted. All of the beings there were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings; they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, or the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin realms. Then those gods and those human beings joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives, they then joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease departed for the respective buddhafields where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided, and on arriving there paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas.

1.15Then, at that time‍—at that moment, minute, and second‍—in the world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, the hells, the animal realms, the world of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the terrible forms of life, and the degenerations, as many as there are, were all interrupted. All of the beings there were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings; they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, or the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin realms. Then those gods and those human beings joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives, they then joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease departed for the respective buddhafields where the tathāgatas, arhats, [F.8.a] perfectly complete buddhas resided, and on arriving there paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas.

1.16Then, at that time‍—at that moment, minute, and second‍—in the world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, the hells, the animal realms, the world of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the terrible forms of life, and the degenerations, as many as there are, were all interrupted. All of the beings there were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings; they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, or the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin realms. Then those gods and those human beings joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives, they then joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease departed for the respective buddhafields where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided, and on arriving there paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas.

1.17Then, at that time‍—at that moment, minute, and second‍—in the world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, the hells, the animal realms, the world of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the terrible forms of life, and the degenerations, as many as there are, were all interrupted. All of the beings there were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings; they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, or the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin realms. Then those gods and those human beings joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives, they then joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease [F.8.b] departed for the respective buddhafields where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided, and on arriving there paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas.

1.18Then, at that time‍—at that moment, minute, and second‍—in the world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, the hells, the animal realms, the world of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the terrible forms of life, and the degenerations, as many as there are, were all interrupted. All of the beings there were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings; they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, or the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin realms. Then those gods and those human beings joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives, they then joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease departed for the respective buddhafields where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided, and on arriving there paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas.

1.19Then, at that time‍—at that moment, minute, and second‍—in the world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, the hells, the animal realms, the world of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the terrible forms of life, and the degenerations, as many as there are, were all interrupted. All of the beings there were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings; they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, or the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin realms. Then those gods and those human beings joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease recollected their former lives. [F.9.a] Having recollected those lives, they then joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease departed for the respective buddhafields where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided, and on arriving there paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas.

1.20Then, at that time‍—at that moment, minute, and second‍—in the world systems in the direction of the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, the hells, the animal realms, the world of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the terrible forms of life, and the degenerations, as many as there are, were all interrupted. All of the beings there were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings; they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, or the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin realms. Then those gods and those human beings joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives, they then joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease departed for the respective buddhafields where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided, and on arriving there paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas.

1.21Then, at that time‍—at that moment, minute, and second‍—in the world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, the hells, the animal realms, the world of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the terrible forms of life, and the degenerations, as many as there are, were all interrupted. All of the beings there [F.9.b] were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings; they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, or the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarati, or Paranirmitavaśavartin realms. Then those gods and those human beings joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives, they then joyfully, with serene confidence, and with ease departed for the respective buddhafields where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided, and on arriving there paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas.

1.22Then, at that time, in this great billionfold world system, the beings who were blind, as many as there were, saw sights with their eyes. The deaf heard sounds with their ears. The insane came to their senses. Those who were agitated attained a state of mind without agitation. Those without clothing obtained clothing. The poor obtained wealth. The hungry obtained food. The thirsty obtained drink. Those struck with illness were healed. Those with physical disabilities and with imperfect sense faculties were restored to full perfection of the body and sense faculties, and flourished. The weary were refreshed. Those who had not forsaken nonvirtuous deeds of body, speech, and mind, or nonvirtuous livelihoods, gave up their nonvirtuous deeds of body, speech, and mind, and nonvirtuous livelihoods. All beings too became even-minded toward all other beings, considering one another as just like their father, mother, brother, sister, partner, close relative, or friend. All beings too acquired the path of the ten virtuous actions, and they maintained the practice of chastity [F.10.a] and purity, without the stench of immorality and without the notion of nonvirtue. At that time all beings possessed happiness such that it resembled, by comparison, the happiness experienced by monks absorbed in the third meditative concentration. They possessed all such happiness. At that time all beings possessed wisdom such that they knew, “Excellent is generosity! Excellent is discipline! Excellent is restraint! Excellent is truth! Excellent is carefulness! Excellent is loving kindness! Excellent is compassion! Excellent is nonviolence with respect to all living creatures!” And at that time the blessed buddhas in other buddhafields cried out cries of delight: “Ah! It is wonderful that these beings are possessed of wisdom such that they know, ‘Excellent is generosity! Excellent is discipline! Excellent is peace! Excellent is restraint! Excellent is truth! Excellent is carefulness! Excellent is loving kindness! Excellent is compassion! Excellent is the practice of chastity! Excellent is nonviolence with respect to all living creatures!’ ”

1.23At that time the Blessed One, seated on this very lion throne, resembled, as an analogy, the unobscured sun in the clear expanse of space, or the disk of the full moon. He outshone the great billionfold world system with its Sumerus and encircling mountain ranges, with its god realms, with its Indra realms, with its Vaśavartin realms, with its classes of gods and asuras, with its Brahmās, and with its Śuddhāvāsas. He was adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining. And while the Blessed One remained seated, outshining this great billionfold world system, [F.10.b] being adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining, he similarly outshone the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining. Similarly, he outshone the world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining. Similarly, he outshone the world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining. Similarly, he outshone the world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining. Similarly, he outshone the world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining. Similarly, he outshone the world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining. Similarly, he outshone the world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining. Similarly, he outshone the world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining. Similarly, he outshone the world systems in the direction of the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, [F.11.a] sparkling, gleaming, and shining. And similarly, he outshone the world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining.

1.24To illustrate, just as Sumeru, king of mountains, stands outshining all other dark mountains, adorned, sparkling, gleaming, and shining; just as, to illustrate, the disk of the moon stands outshining all the stars, adorned, sparkling, gleaming, and shining; and just as, to illustrate, the disk of the sun stands outshining all other lights, adorned, sparkling, gleaming, and shining, so too the Blessed One stood outshining the worlds of the ten directions with their gods, Indras, Brahmās, and Śuddhāvāsa realms, adorned with light, a lustrous complexion, splendor, and glory, sparkling, gleaming, and shining.

1.25Then again, the Blessed One showed, in this great billionfold world system, his original body, just as it is. All the gods, as many as there are, of the Śuddhāvāsas, the Ābhāsvara and Brahmakāyika, and the Paranirmitavaśavartin, Nirmāṇarati, Tuṣita, Yāma, Trayastriṃśa, and Cāturmahārājika realms saw the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha seated on the lion throne. They were pleased. They were delighted. They were contented and overjoyed, giving rise to such delight and contentment that they took many divine flowers, divine garlands, divine incenses, [F.11.b] divine unguents, divine powders, and divine perfumes; divine blue lotuses, day lotuses, red lotuses, white lotuses, water lilies, and saugandhaka lilies; divine kesara flowers and tamāla leaves; divine robes, divine ornaments, divine parasols, divine victory banners, and divine flags, and set out for the place where the Blessed One was seated. Going there, they sprinkled, scattered, and showered down upon the Blessed One those flowers, garlands, incenses, unguents, powders, and perfumes; blue lotuses, day lotuses, red lotuses, white lotuses, water lilies, and saugandhaka lilies; kesara flowers and tamāla leaves; robes, ornaments, divine parasols, victory banners, and flags of the gods. Those human beings who were disciplined and suitable recipients of the teachings, as many as there were in this great billionfold world system, also brought manifold flowers, ones that grow in water and grow on the plains, and they set out for the place where the Blessed One was seated. Going there, they offered these to the Blessed One.

1.26Through the sustaining power of the Blessed One, all those flowers, garlands, incenses, unguents, powders, and so on, and the robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and flags immediately formed a towering mansion of flowers and so on, as large as the great billionfold world system, in the sky above the head of the Blessed One. From that towering mansion, many tassels made of divine flowers and silk were suspended, draped, and floated in the air. This whole great billionfold world system [F.12.a] was exquisitely adorned by these tassels made of flowers and silk, and it was exquisitely adorned, too, by the golden light of the Blessed One, sparkling, gleaming, and shining. And just like this great billionfold world system, so too the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were pervaded and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. The world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also pervaded and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. The world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also pervaded and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. The world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also pervaded and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. The world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also pervaded and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. The world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also pervaded and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. The world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also pervaded and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. The world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also pervaded and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. The world systems in the direction of the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also pervaded and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. And the world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also pervaded and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. [F.12.b]

1.27There, the human beings of the Jambudvīpas, beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.”

1.28And just as the human beings of the Jambudvīpas had that thought, in the same manner, the human beings of the Godānīyas in the west, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The human beings of the Videhas in the east, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The human beings of the Kurus in the north, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.”

1.29The gods of the Cāturmahārājika realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Trayastriṃśa realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Yāma realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Tuṣita realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, [F.13.a] “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Nirmāṇarati realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Paranirmitavaśavartin realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.”

1.30The gods of the Brahmakāyika realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Brahmapurohita realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Brahma­pārṣadya realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Mahābrahmā realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.”

1.31The gods of the Ābha realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Parīttābha realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, [F.13.b] looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Apramāṇābha realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Ābhāsvara realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.”

1.32The gods of the Śubha realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Parīttaśubha realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Apramāṇaśubha realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Śubhakṛtsna realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.”

1.33The gods of the Vṛhat realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Parīttavṛha realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, [F.14.a] thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Apramāṇavṛha realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Vṛhatphala realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.”

1.34The gods of the Avṛha realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Atapa realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Sudṛśa realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Sudarśana realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” The gods of the Akaniṣṭha realms, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” [F.14.b]

1.35Similarly, all the human beings and all the gods in the thousandfold world system, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” All the human beings and all the gods in the millionfold world system, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” All the human beings and all the gods in the great billionfold world system, on beholding the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.”

1.36Then again, while seated on that lion throne, the Blessed One sent forth light, and again that light illuminated this great billionfold world system. It also illuminated the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. It also illuminated the world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. It also illuminated the world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. It also illuminated the world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. It also illuminated the world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. It also illuminated the world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. It also illuminated the world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, [F.15.a] numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. It also illuminated the world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. It also illuminated the world systems in the direction of the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. And it also illuminated the world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā.

1.37Through that light all beings, as many as there were in this great billionfold world system, beheld the many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, along with their communities of śrāvakas and their assemblies of bodhisattvas. And in these world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, those beings dwelling there, as many as there were, also beheld in this great billionfold world system the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas.

1.38Through that light all beings, as many as there were in this great billionfold world system, beheld the many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, along with their communities of śrāvakas and their assemblies of bodhisattvas. And in these world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, those beings dwelling there, as many as there were, also beheld [F.15.b] in this great billionfold world system the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas.

1.39Through that light all beings, as many as there were in this great billionfold world system, beheld the many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, along with their communities of śrāvakas and their assemblies of bodhisattvas. And in these world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, those beings dwelling there, as many as there were, also beheld in this great billionfold world system the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas.

1.40Through that light all beings, as many as there were in this great billionfold world system, beheld the many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, along with their communities of śrāvakas and their assemblies of bodhisattvas. And in these world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, those beings dwelling there, as many as there were, also beheld in this great billionfold world system the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, [F.16.a] residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas.

1.41Through that light all beings, as many as there were in this great billionfold world system, beheld the many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, along with their communities of śrāvakas and their assemblies of bodhisattvas. And in these world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, those beings dwelling there, as many as there were, also beheld in this great billionfold world system the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas.

1.42Through that light all beings, as many as there were in this great billionfold world system, beheld the many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, along with their communities of śrāvakas and their assemblies of bodhisattvas. And in these world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, those beings dwelling there, as many as there were, also beheld in this great billionfold world system the Blessed One, [F.16.b] the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas.

1.43Through that light all beings, as many as there were in this great billionfold world system, beheld the many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, along with their communities of śrāvakas and their assemblies of bodhisattvas. And in these world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, those beings dwelling there, as many as there were, also beheld in this great billionfold world system the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas.

1.44Through that light all beings, as many as there were in this great billionfold world system, beheld the many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, along with their communities of śrāvakas and their assemblies of bodhisattvas. And in these world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, those beings dwelling there, as many as there were, also beheld in this great billionfold world system the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas.

1.45Through that light all beings, as many as there were in this great billionfold world system, beheld the many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the world systems in the direction of the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, along with their communities of śrāvakas and their assemblies of bodhisattvas. And in these world systems in the direction the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, those beings dwelling there, as many as there were, also beheld in this great billionfold world system the Blessed One, [F.17.a] the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas.

1.46Through that light all beings, as many as there were in this great billionfold world system, beheld the many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, along with their communities of śrāvakas and their assemblies of bodhisattvas. And in these world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, those beings dwelling there, as many as there were, also beheld in this great billionfold world system the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas.

1.47Now then, beyond all the world systems in the eastern direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Ratnavatī. [F.17.b] There the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha called Ratnākara resides and maintains himself, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Now then, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Samantaraśmi who, on beholding that great light, the great trembling of the earth, and the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, and set out for the place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnākara was residing. Going there, he inquired of the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnākara, “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to manifest in the world, for the earth to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.48The bodhisattva great being Samantaraśmi having thus inquired, the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnākara, replied to him, “Child of a good family, in the western direction, beyond world systems numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is a world system called Patient Endurance. There a tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha named Śākyamuni resides and maintains himself at present. He is teaching the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.49Then the bodhisattva great being Samantaraśmi [F.18.a] said to the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnākara, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and also to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are crown princes who have acquired the dhāraṇīs and exact knowledges, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and absorptions.”

1.50The Blessed One, the Tathāgata Ratnākara, then replied, “Go then to that world system of Patient Endurance, child of a good family, if you think it is timely.”

1.51Then the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnākara, gave the bodhisattva great being Samantaraśmi a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, and instructed him, “Child of a good family, strew these over the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, and inquire of the Blessed One in my words, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ Child of a good family, you should conduct yourself with care in that buddhafield. If you ask why, it is because bodhisattva great beings who are born in that world system are hard to satisfy. So, beware of harm there.”

1.52Then the bodhisattva great being Samantaraśmi received from the Blessed One, [F.18.b] the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnākara, those golden thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred thousand ten million billion bodhisattvas in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas residing and maintaining themselves in the eastern direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and flags, through the bodhisattvas’ great miraculous ability and the bodhisattvas’ great power he set out for the place where the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni resided.

1.53Arriving there, he bowed his head toward the feet of the Blessed One and took a place to one side. Having taken a place to one side, the bodhisattva great being Samantaraśmi then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnākara, has inquired of the Blessed One, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ And the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnākara, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord.” [F.19.a]

1.54The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them into the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided. Then those lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon those lotuses many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching the doctrine that takes these very six perfections as its point of departure. All the beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma also became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. And those bodhisattva great beings in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women also served, respected, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, through the roots of their respective virtuous actions. [B2]

1.55Now then, beyond all the world systems in the southern direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Sarvaśokāpagata. There the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha called Aśokaśrī resides and maintains himself, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Now then, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Vigataśoka who, on beholding that great light, the great trembling of the earth, [F.19.b] and the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, and set out for the place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Aśokaśrī, was residing. Going there, he inquired of the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Aśokaśrī, “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to manifest in the world, for the earth to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.56The bodhisattva great being Vigataśoka having thus inquired, the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Aśokaśrī, replied to him, “Child of a good family, in the northern direction, beyond world systems numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is a world system called Patient Endurance. There a tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha named Śākyamuni resides and maintains himself at present. He is teaching the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.57Then the bodhisattva great being Vigataśoka said to the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Aśokaśrī, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, [F.20.a] and also to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are crown princes who have acquired the dhāraṇīs and exact knowledges, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and absorptions.”

1.58The Blessed One, the Tathāgata Aśokaśrī, then replied, “Go then to that world system of Patient Endurance, child of a good family, if you think it is timely.”

1.59Then the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Aśokaśrī, gave the bodhisattva great being Vigataśoka a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, and instructed him, “Child of a good family, strew these over the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, and inquire of the Blessed One in my words, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ Child of a good family, you should conduct yourself with care in that buddhafield. If you ask why, it is because bodhisattva great beings who are born in that world system are hard to satisfy. So, beware of harm there.”

1.60Then the bodhisattva great being Vigataśoka received from the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Aśokaśrī, those golden thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred thousand ten million billion bodhisattvas in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping [F.20.b] all the blessed lord buddhas residing and maintaining themselves in the southern direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and flags, through the bodhisattvas’ great miraculous ability and the bodhisattvas’ great power he set out for the place where the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni resided.

1.61Arriving there, he bowed his head toward the feet of the Blessed One and took a place to one side. Having taken a place to one side, the bodhisattva great being Vigataśoka then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Aśokaśrī, has inquired of the Blessed One, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ And the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Aśokaśrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord.”

1.62The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them into the world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided. Then those lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon those lotuses many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching the doctrine [F.21.a] that takes these very six perfections as its point of departure. All the beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma also became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. And those bodhisattva great beings in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women also served, respected, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, through the roots of their respective virtuous actions.

1.63Now then, beyond all the world systems in the western direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Upaśāntā. There the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha called Ratnārcis resides and maintains himself, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Now then, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Cāritramati who, on beholding that great light, the great trembling of the earth, and the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, and set out for the place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnārcis, was residing. Going there, he inquired of the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnārcis, “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to manifest in the world, for the earth to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?” [F.21.b]

1.64The bodhisattva great being Cāritramati having thus inquired, the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnārcis, replied to him, “Child of a good family, in the eastern direction, beyond world systems numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is a world system called Patient Endurance. There a tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha named Śākyamuni resides and maintains himself at present. He is teaching the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.65Then the bodhisattva great being Cāritramati said to the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnārcis, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and also to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are crown princes who have acquired the dhāraṇīs and exact knowledges, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and absorptions.”

1.66The Blessed One, the Tathāgata Ratnārcis, then replied, “Go then to that world system of Patient Endurance, child of a good family, if you think it is timely.”

1.67Then the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnārcis, gave the bodhisattva great being Cāritramati a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, and instructed him, “Child of a good family, [F.22.a] strew these over the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, and inquire of the Blessed One in my words, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ Child of a good family, you should conduct yourself with care in that buddhafield. If you ask why, it is because bodhisattva great beings who are born in that world system are hard to satisfy. So, beware of harm there.”

1.68Then the bodhisattva great being Cāritramati received from the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnārcis, those golden thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred thousand ten million billion bodhisattvas in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas residing and maintaining themselves in the eastern direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and flags, through the bodhisattvas’ great miraculous ability and the bodhisattvas’ great power he arrived at the place where the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni resided.

1.69Arriving there, he bowed his head toward the feet of the Blessed One and took a place to one side. Having taken a place to one side, the bodhisattva great being Cāritramati then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, [F.22.b] perfectly complete buddha Ratnārcis, has inquired of the Blessed One, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ And the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ratnārcis, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord.”

1.70The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them into the world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided. Then those lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon those lotuses many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching the doctrine that takes these very six perfections as its point of departure. All the beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma also became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. And those bodhisattva great beings in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women also served, respected, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, through the roots of their respective virtuous actions.

1.71Now then, beyond all the world systems in the northern direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Jayā. There the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha called [F.23.a] Jayendra resides and maintains himself, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Now then, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Jayadatta who, on beholding that great light, the great trembling of the earth, and the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, and set out for the place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Jayendra, was residing. Going there, he inquired of the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Jayendra, “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to manifest in the world, for the earth to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.72The bodhisattva great being Jayadatta having thus inquired, the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Jayendra, [F.23.b] replied to him, “Child of a good family, in the southern direction, beyond world systems numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is a world system called Patient Endurance. There a tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha named Śākyamuni resides and maintains himself at present. He is teaching the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.73Then the bodhisattva great being Jayadatta said to the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Jayendra, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and also to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are crown princes who have acquired the dhāraṇīs and exact knowledges, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and absorptions.”

1.74The Blessed One, the Tathāgata Jayendra, then replied, “Go then to that world system of Patient Endurance, child of a good family, if you think it is timely.”

1.75Then the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Jayendra, gave the bodhisattva great being Jayadatta a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, and instructed him, “Child of a good family, strew these over the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, and inquire of the Blessed One in my words, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ Child of a good family, you should conduct yourself with care in that buddhafield. If you ask why, it is because bodhisattva great beings who are born in that world system are hard to satisfy. So, beware of harm there.”

1.76Then the bodhisattva great being Jayadatta received from the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Jayendra, those golden thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many [F.24.a] hundred thousand ten million billion bodhisattvas in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas residing and maintaining themselves in the northern direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and flags, through the bodhisattvas’ great miraculous ability and the bodhisattvas’ great power he arrived at the place where the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni resided.

1.77Arriving there, he bowed his head toward the feet of the Blessed One and took a place to one side. Having taken a place to one side, the bodhisattva great being Jayadatta then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Jayendra, has inquired of the Blessed One, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ And the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Jayendra, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord.”

1.78The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them into the world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where [F.24.b] the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided. Then those lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon those lotuses many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching the doctrine that takes these very six perfections as its point of departure. All the beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma also became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. And those bodhisattva great beings in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women also served, respected, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, through the roots of their respective virtuous actions.

1.79Now then, beyond all the world systems in the intermediate northeastern direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Samādhyalaṅkṛta. There the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha called Samādhihastyuttaraśrī resides and maintains himself, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Now then, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Vijayavikrāmin who, on beholding that great light, the great trembling of the earth, and the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, and set out for the place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Samādhihastyuttaraśrī, was residing. Going there, he inquired of the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, [F.25.a] perfectly complete buddha Samādhihastyuttaraśrī, “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to manifest in the world, for the earth to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.80The bodhisattva great being Vijayavikrāmin having thus inquired, the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Samādhihastyuttaraśrī, replied to him, “Child of a good family, in the intermediate southwestern direction, beyond world systems numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is a world system called Patient Endurance. There a tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha named Śākyamuni resides and maintains himself at present. He is teaching the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.81Then the bodhisattva great being Vijayavikrāmin said to the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Samādhihastyuttaraśrī, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and also to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are crown princes who have acquired the dhāraṇīs and exact knowledges, and have mastered all [F.25.b] the meditative stabilities and absorptions.”

1.82The Blessed One, the Tathāgata Samādhihastyuttaraśrī, then replied, “Go then to that world system of Patient Endurance, child of a good family, if you think it is timely.”

1.83Then the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Samādhihastyuttaraśrī, gave the bodhisattva great being Vijayavikrāmin a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, and instructed him, “Child of a good family, strew these over the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, and inquire of the Blessed One in my words, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ Child of a good family, you should conduct yourself with care in that buddhafield. If you ask why, it is because bodhisattva great beings who are born in that world system are hard to satisfy. So, beware of harm there.”

1.84Then the bodhisattva great being Vijayavikrāmin received from the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Samādhihastyuttaraśrī, those golden thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred thousand ten million billion bodhisattvas in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas residing and maintaining themselves in the intermediate northeastern direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, [F.26.a] robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and flags, through the bodhisattvas’ great miraculous ability and the bodhisattvas’ great power he arrived at the place where the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni resided.

1.85Arriving there, he bowed his head toward the feet of the Blessed One and took a place to one side. Having taken a place to one side, the bodhisattva great being Vijayavikrāmin then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Samādhihastyuttaraśrī, has inquired of the Blessed One, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ And the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Samādhihastyuttaraśrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord.”

1.86The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them into the world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided. Then those lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon those lotuses many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching the doctrine that takes these very six perfections as its point of departure. All the beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma [F.26.b] also became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. And those bodhisattva great beings in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women also served, respected, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, through the roots of their respective virtuous actions.

1.87Now then, beyond all the world systems in the intermediate southeastern direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Bodhi­maṇḍalālaṃkāra­surucitā. There the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha called Padmottaraśrī resides and maintains himself, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Now then, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Padmahasta who, on beholding that great light, the great trembling of the earth, and the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, and set out for the place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmottaraśrī, was residing. Going there, he inquired of the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmottaraśrī, “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to manifest in the world, for the earth to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.88The bodhisattva great being Padmahasta having thus inquired, the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely perfect [F.27.a] Buddha Padmottaraśrī, replied to him, “Child of a good family, in the intermediate northwestern direction, beyond world systems numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is a world system called Patient Endurance. There a tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha named Śākyamuni resides and maintains himself at present. He is teaching the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.89Then the bodhisattva great being Padmahasta said to the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmottaraśrī, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and also to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are crown princes who have acquired the dhāraṇīs and exact knowledges, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and absorptions.”

1.90The Blessed One, the Tathāgata Padmottaraśrī, then replied, “Go then to that world system of Patient Endurance, child of a good family, if you think it is timely.”

1.91Then the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmottaraśrī, gave the bodhisattva great being Padmahasta a thousand lotus flowers, [F.27.b] made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, and instructed him, “Child of a good family, strew these over the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, and inquire of the Blessed One in my words, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ Child of a good family, you should conduct yourself with care in that buddhafield. If you ask why, it is because bodhisattva great beings who are born in that world system are hard to satisfy. So, beware of harm there.”

1.92Then the bodhisattva great being Padmahasta received from the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmottaraśrī, those golden thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred thousand ten million billion bodhisattvas in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas residing and maintaining themselves in the northern direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and flags, through the bodhisattvas’ great miraculous ability and the bodhisattvas’ great power he arrived at the place where the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni resided.

1.93Arriving there, he bowed his head toward the feet of the Blessed One and took a place to one side. Having taken a place to one side, [F.28.a] the bodhisattva great being Padmahasta then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmottaraśrī, has inquired of the Blessed One, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ And the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmottaraśrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord.”

1.94The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them into all the world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided. Then those lotuses fully covered those world systems, and upon those lotuses many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching the doctrine that takes these very six perfections as its point of departure. All the beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma also became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. And those bodhisattva great beings in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women also served, respected, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, [F.28.b] through the roots of their respective virtuous actions.

1.95Now then, beyond all the world systems in the intermediate southwestern direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Vigatarajaḥsañcayā. There the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha called Sūryamaṇḍalaprabhāsottamaśrī resides and maintains himself, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Now then, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Sūryaprabhāsa who, on beholding that great light, the great trembling of the earth, and the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, and set out for the place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Sūryamaṇḍalaprabhāsottamaśrī, was residing. Going there, he inquired of the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Sūryamaṇḍalaprabhāsottamaśrī, “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to manifest in the world, for the earth to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.96The bodhisattva great being Sūryaprabhāsa having thus inquired, the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Sūryamaṇḍalaprabhāsottamaśrī, replied to him, “Child of a good family, in the intermediate northeastern direction, beyond world systems numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is a world system called Patient Endurance. There a tathāgata, [F.29.a] arhat, perfectly complete buddha named Śākyamuni resides and maintains himself at present. He is teaching the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.97Then the bodhisattva great being Sūryaprabhāsa said to the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Sūryamaṇḍalaprabhāsottamaśrī, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and also to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are crown princes who have acquired the dhāraṇīs and exact knowledges, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and absorptions.”

1.98The Blessed One, the Tathāgata Sūryamaṇḍalaprabhāsottamaśrī, then replied, “Go then to that world system of Patient Endurance, child of a good family, if you think it is timely.”

1.99Then the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete Buddha Sūryamaṇḍalaprabhāsottamaśrī gave the bodhisattva great being Sūryaprabhāsa a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, and instructed him, “Child of a good family, strew these over the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, and inquire of the Blessed One in my words, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, [F.29.b] free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ Child of a good family, you should conduct yourself with care in that buddhafield. If you ask why, it is because bodhisattva great beings who are born in that world system are hard to satisfy. So, beware of harm there.”

1.100Then the bodhisattva great being Sūryaprabhāsa received from the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Sūryamaṇḍalaprabhāsottamaśrī, those golden thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred thousand ten million billion bodhisattvas in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas residing and maintaining themselves in the intermediate southwestern direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and flags, through the bodhisattvas’ great miraculous ability and the bodhisattvas’ great power he arrived at the place where the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni resided.

1.101Arriving there, he bowed his head toward the feet of the Blessed One and took a place to one side. Having taken a place to one side, the bodhisattva great being Sūryaprabhāsa then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Sūryamaṇḍalaprabhāsottamaśrī, has inquired of the Blessed One, [F.30.a] ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ And the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Sūryamaṇḍalaprabhāsottamaśrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord.”

1.102The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them into all the world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided. Then those lotuses fully covered those world systems, and upon those lotuses many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching the doctrine that takes the six perfections as its point of departure. All the beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma also became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. And those bodhisattva great beings in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women also served, respected, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, through the roots of their respective virtuous actions.

1.103Now then, beyond all the world systems in the intermediate northwestern direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Vaśībhūtā. There the tathāgata, [F.30.b] arhat, perfectly complete buddha called Ekacchatra resides and maintains himself, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Now then, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Ratnottama who, on beholding that great light, the great trembling of the earth, and the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, and set out for the place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ekacchatra, was residing. Going there, he inquired of the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ekacchatra, “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to manifest in the world, for the earth to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.104The bodhisattva great being Ratnottama having thus inquired, the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ekacchatra, replied to him, “Child of a good family, in the intermediate southeastern direction, beyond world systems numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is a world system called Patient Endurance. There a tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha named Śākyamuni resides and maintains himself at present. He is teaching the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.105Then the bodhisattva great being Ratnottama [F.31.a] said to the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ekacchatra, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and also to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are crown princes who have acquired the dhāraṇīs and exact knowledges, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and absorptions.”

1.106The Blessed One, the Tathāgata Ekacchatra, then replied, “Go then to that world system of Patient Endurance, child of a good family, if you think it is timely.”

1.107Then the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete Buddha Ekacchatra, gave the bodhisattva great being Ratnottama a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, and instructed him, “Child of a good family, strew these over the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, and inquire of the Blessed One in my words, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ Child of a good family, you should conduct yourself with care in that buddhafield. If you ask why, it is because bodhisattva great beings who are born in that world system are hard to satisfy. So, beware of harm there.”

1.108Then the bodhisattva great being Ratnottama received from the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ekacchatra, [F.31.b] those golden thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred thousand ten million billion bodhisattvas in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas residing and maintaining themselves in the intermediate northwestern direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and flags, through the bodhisattvas’ great miraculous ability and the bodhisattvas’ great power he arrived at the place where the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni resided.

1.109Arriving there, he bowed his head toward the feet of the Blessed One and took a place to one side. Having taken a place to one side, the bodhisattva great being Ratnottama then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ekacchatra, has inquired of the Blessed One, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ And the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Ekacchatra, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord.”

1.110The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha [F.32.a] Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them into all the world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided. Then those lotuses fully covered those world systems, and upon those lotuses many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching the doctrine that takes these very six perfections as its point of departure. All the beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma also became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. And those bodhisattva great beings in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women also served, respected, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, through the roots of their respective virtuous actions.

1.111Now then, beyond all the world systems in the direction of the nadir, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Padmā. There the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha called Padmaśrī resides and maintains himself, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Now then, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Padmottara who, on beholding that great light, the great trembling of the earth, and the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, and set out for the place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmaśrī, was residing. Going there, he inquired of the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, [F.32.b] perfectly complete buddha Padmaśrī, “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to manifest in the world, for the earth to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.112The bodhisattva great being Padmottara having thus inquired, the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmaśrī, replied to him, “Child of a good family, in the direction of the zenith, beyond world systems numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is a world system called Patient Endurance. There a tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha named Śākyamuni resides and maintains himself at present. He is teaching the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.113Then the bodhisattva great being Padmottara said to the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmaśrī, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and also to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are crown princes who have acquired the dhāraṇīs and exact knowledges, and have mastered [F.33.a] all the meditative stabilities and absorptions.”

1.114The Blessed One, the Tathāgata Padmaśrī, then replied, “Go then to that world system of Patient Endurance, child of a good family, if you think it is timely.”

1.115Then the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete Buddha Padmaśrī, gave the bodhisattva great being Padmottara a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals and instructed him, “Child of a good family, strew these over the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, and inquire of the Blessed One in my words, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ Child of a good family, you should conduct yourself with care in that buddhafield. If you ask why, it is because bodhisattva great beings who are born in that world system are hard to satisfy. So, beware of harm there.”

1.116Then the bodhisattva great being Padmottara received from the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmaśrī, those golden thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred thousand ten million billion bodhisattvas in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas residing and maintaining themselves in the direction of the nadir, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and flags, [F.33.b] through the bodhisattvas’ great miraculous ability and the bodhisattvas’ great power he arrived at the place where the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni resided.

1.117Arriving there, he bowed his head toward the feet of the Blessed One and took a place to one side. Having taken a place to one side, the bodhisattva great being Padmottara then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmaśrī, has inquired of the Blessed One, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ And the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Padmaśrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord.”

1.118The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them into all the world systems in the direction of the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided. Then those lotuses fully covered those world systems, and upon those lotuses many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching the doctrine that takes these very six perfections as its point of departure. All the beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma also became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. And those bodhisattva great beings in the form of householders, [F.34.a] those gone forth , young men, and young women also served, respected, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, through the roots of their respective virtuous actions.

1.119Now then, beyond all the world systems in the direction of the zenith, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Nandā. There the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha called Nandaśrī resides and maintains himself, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Now then, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Nandadatta who, on beholding that great light, the great trembling of the earth, and the body of the Tathāgata, looked upon him insatiably, and set out for the place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Nandaśrī, was residing. Going there, he inquired of the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Nandaśrī, “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to manifest in the world, for the earth to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.120The bodhisattva great being Nandadatta having thus inquired, the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Nandaśrī replied [F.34.b] to him, “Child of a good family, in the direction of the nadir, beyond world systems numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is a world system called Patient Endurance. There a tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha named Śākyamuni resides and maintains himself at present. He is teaching the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.121Then the bodhisattva great being Nandadatta said to the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Nandaśrī, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and also to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are crown princes who have acquired the dhāraṇīs and exact knowledges, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and absorptions.”

1.122The Blessed One, the Tathāgata Nandaśrī, then replied, “Go then to that world system of Patient Endurance, child of a good family, if you think it is timely.”

1.123Then the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete Buddha Nandaśrī, gave the bodhisattva great being Nandadatta a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, and instructed him, “Child of a good family, strew these over the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, [F.35.a] and inquire of the Blessed One in my words, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ Child of a good family, you should conduct yourself with care in that buddhafield. If you ask why, it is because bodhisattva great beings who are born in that world system are hard to satisfy. So, beware of harm there.”

1.124Then the bodhisattva great being Nandadatta received from the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Nandaśrī, those golden thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred thousand ten million billion bodhisattvas in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas residing and maintaining themselves in the direction of the zenith, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and flags, through the bodhisattvas’ great miraculous ability and the bodhisattvas’ great power he arrived at the place where the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni resided.

1.125Arriving there, he bowed his head toward the feet of the Blessed One and took a place to one side. Having taken a place to one side, the bodhisattva great being Nandadatta then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Nandaśrī, [F.35.b] has inquired of the Blessed One, ‘I trust you are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good spirits, have your physical strength, and are comfortable and well?’ And the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Nandaśrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord.”

1.126The Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them into all the world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas resided. Then those lotuses fully covered those world systems, and upon those lotuses many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching the doctrine that takes these very six perfections as its point of departure. All the beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma also became assured of reaching unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. And those bodhisattva great beings in the form of householders, those gone forth , young men, and young women also served, respected, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Śākyamuni, through the roots of their respective virtuous actions.

1.127Thereupon, at that moment, minute, and second, the great billionfold world system was completely transformed into the nature of gemstones, replete with scattered flowers, and completely bedecked with tassels and bundles of silk. Various kinds of incense wafted from various containers, [F.36.a] and it was completely adorned with wish-fulfilling trees with the tips of their branches bent down with ornaments and various fruits, and with flower trees, fruit trees, fragrance trees, garland trees, powder trees, and incense trees, just like, to illustrate, the world system of Padmavatī , the buddhafield of the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha Samantakusuma, where Mañjuśrī­kumāra­bhūta resides alongside Susthitamati Devaputra and other bodhisattva great beings of mighty splendor.

1.128This completes the first chapter, “Introduction,” from The Perfection of Wisdom in One Hundred Thousand Lines. [B3]