Chapter 1: The Context

[V26] [F.1.b] [B1] {Dt.4}

1.1Homage to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas!

1.2Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was staying on Vulture Peak near 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— [F.2.a] the venerable Ānanda, still a trainee who had entered the stream. Also present were some five hundred nuns headed by Yaśodharā and Mahāprajāpatī, and a great many laymen and laywomen, all of whom had seen the Dharma.

1.3There, 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, their attainments the acceptance of the sameness of all phenomena and the dhāraṇī of nonattachment. They possessed inspired eloquence that was unimpeded and had comprehended the inexhaustible teachings according to their exact knowledge. Using miraculous displays through their great extrasensory powers, 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 insincerity, 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. They had acquired great fearlessness, 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, [F.2.b] and in the face of all challenges had remained undefeated. They were difficult for all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas to fathom. Through their realization they were skilled in analyzing and teaching the Dharma, and they had energetically applied themselves to their aspirations over countless eons. Smiling and communicative, their faces without frowns of anger, 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. From the wisdom that they had taught for endless tens of millions of eons, they were skilled in emancipation. They had comprehended that all phenomena are like a magical display, a mirage, a reflection of the moon in water, a dream, an echo, an optical aberration, empty space, a castle in the sky, a phantom, or a reflection. {Dt.5} 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 wisdom 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 past actions, afflicted mental states, and obscurations of view. They were skilled in teaching how to understand dependence, 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. [F.3.a] They were skilled in bringing about peace from all actions and afflicted mental states, skilled in the primordial wisdom 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 aspiration to establish infinite buddhafields. Constantly and uninterruptedly they brought into being the meditative stability of recollecting the buddhas who reside in countless world systems; they were skilled in attending buddhas wherever they appear and skilled in requesting 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 wisdom 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.

1.4Among them were the following: the bodhisattva great being Bhadrapāla, along with Ratnākara , Ratnagarbha, Ratnadatta, Sārthavāha, Naradatta, Guhagupta, Varuṇadeva, Indradatta, Bhadrabala, Uttaramati, Viśeṣamati, Vardhamānamati, Anantamati, Amoghadarśin, Anāvaraṇamati, Susaṃprasthita, Suvikrānta­vikrāmin, Anantavīrya, Nityodyukta, Nityayukta, Anikṣiptadhura, Sūryagarbha, Candragarbha, Anupamamati, [F.3.b] Avalokiteśvara, Mahā­sthāma­prāpta, Mañjuśrī­kumāra­bhūta, Māra­bala­pramardin, Vajramati, Ratna­mudrā­hasta, Nityotkṣipta­hasta, Mahā­karuṇā­cintin, Mahāvyūha, Vyūharāja, Merukūṭa, and the bodhisattva great being Maitreya, heading many hundred billion trillions of accompanying bodhisattvas.

1.5At that time, the Blessed One himself arranged his seat, the lion throne, and sat upright with his legs crossed, directing his attention. 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.

1.6The Blessed One, mindful and with full awareness, then arose from that meditative stability and observed this buddhafield with clairvoyance. {Dt.6} Seeing in this manner, he sent forth lights from his entire body. Sixty hundred billion trillion rays of light issued from each of the two wheels with a thousand spokes that were imprinted on the soles of his feet. Sixty hundred billion trillion rays of light also issued from the ten toes of his two feet. Sixty hundred billion trillion rays of light also issued respectively from his two ankles, his two shins, his two knees, his two thighs, his two hips, his navel, the two sides of his ribs, and from the śrīvatsa at his heart, which is one of the major marks of a great person. Sixty hundred billion trillion rays of light also issued respectively from each of his ten fingers, [F.4.a] and similarly, sixty hundred billion trillion rays of light also issued respectively from his two arms, his two shoulders, his neck, his four incisors, his forty teeth, his two eyes, his two ears, his two nostrils, the hair ringlet between his eyebrows, his uṣṇīṣa , and his mouth. All those sets of sixty hundred billion trillion rays of light permeated this great trichiliocosm 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 each of the other cardinal directions‍—south, west, and north‍—and those of the intermediate directions‍—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest‍—along with those of the nadir and the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also permeated with a great brightness. All beings who beheld these rays of light and who were touched by that light became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. {Dt.7}

1.7Then again, the Blessed One caused light rays to be diffused from all his pores, and that light again permeated these world systems of the great trichiliocosm 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 each of the other cardinal directions‍—south, west, and north‍—and those of the intermediate directions‍—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest‍—along with those of the nadir and the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also permeated with a great brightness. All beings who beheld that light and who were touched by that light became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. [F.4.b]

1.8Then again, with the natural light of the tathāgatas the Blessed One caused these world systems of the great trichiliocosm 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 each of the other cardinal directions‍—south, west, and north‍—and those of the intermediate directions‍—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest‍—along with those of the nadir and the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also permeated with a great brightness. All beings who beheld that light and who were touched by that light became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment.

1.9Then the Blessed One extended his tongue from his mouth. Covering this entire great trichiliocosm with his tongue, he smiled, and from his tongue emanated many hundred billion trillion variegated rays of light. On all those rays of light, in their entirety, manifold lotus flowers appeared, fashioned of diverse gemstones, of golden color, with a thousand petals, diverse, beautiful to behold, pleasant, exquisitely shaded, scented, soft, and blissful to the touch like kācalindika. On those lotus flowers were seated many forms of 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, they taught this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. {Dt.8} They departed for the world systems of each of the other cardinal directions‍—south, west, and north‍—and those of the intermediate directions‍—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest‍—along with those of the nadir and the zenith, [F.5.a] numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, and on arriving there, they also taught this very Dharma teaching concerning the six perfections. All beings who heard those teachings became assured of reaching unsurpassed, 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 these world systems of the great trichiliocosm to shake in six ways. That is to say, they shook, shuddered, and juddered; they rocked, reeled, and tottered; they quivered, careened, and convulsed; they trembled, throbbed, and quaked; they rumbled, roared, and thundered; and they faltered, lurched, and staggered. As their eastern sides reared up their western sides plunged down; as their western sides reared up their eastern sides plunged down; as their southern sides reared up their northern sides plunged down; as their northern sides reared up their southern sides plunged down; as their edges reared up their centers plunged down; and as their centers reared up their edges plunged down. Then, slowly and gradually, they all settled, whereupon all beings experienced spiritual and temporal well-being.

1.11At that time, in a single fleeting instant, in this great trichiliocosm, the hells, the animal realms, the worlds of Yama, the states that lack freedom, the lower realms, the evil destinies, and as many places of unfortunate rebirth as there are, were all interrupted and emptied of the beings born in them. All of those beings were then reborn equal in fortune to human beings, or similarly they were reborn equal in fortune to the gods of the Caturmahā­rāja­kāyika, [F.5.b] Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarata, and Para­nirmita­vaśa­vartin realms. {Dt.9} Then those gods and those human beings, with joy, appreciation, and ease, recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives they felt joy, appreciation, and ease, and departed for where there were blessed ones. On arriving there they paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas.

1.12In the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, and in the world systems of each of the other cardinal directions‍—south, west, and north‍—and those of the intermediate directions‍—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest‍—along with those of the nadir and the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, the hells, the animal realms, and the worlds of Yama were again all interrupted, and the states that lack freedom vanished. All the beings in them were reborn equal in fortune to human beings and to the gods. Then those human beings and those gods, with joy, appreciation, and ease, recollected their former lives. Having recollected those lives they felt joy, appreciation, and ease, and each departed for the buddhafields where those respective tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas resided. On arriving there they paid homage at their feet. Placing their hands together, they bowed toward those tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas.

1.13At that time, in this great trichiliocosm, all those who were blind, as many as there were, saw sights. Those who were deaf [F.6.a] heard sounds. Those who were insane regained their wits. Those who were agitated attained a state of mind without agitation. Those without clothing obtained clothing. Those who were destitute obtained wealth. Those who were hungry obtained food. Those who were thirsty obtained drink. Those afflicted with ill health became free from disease. Those with physical disabilities and imperfect sense faculties were restored to full perfection of body and senses, and flourished. Those who were weary were refreshed. Those who had not forsaken nonvirtuous ways of acting and livelihood of body, speech, and mind forsook those nonvirtuous ways of acting and livelihood of body, speech, and mind. {Dt.10} All beings too became even-minded toward all other beings, considering one another as just like their father, mother, brother, sister, partner, ally, or friend. All beings too acquired the paths of the ten virtuous actions, and they maintained the practice of chastity and purity, without the stench of immorality and without the notion of nonvirtue. At that time all beings possessed every kind of happiness such that their happiness resembled, by comparison, the happiness experienced by monks absorbed in the third meditative concentration. At that time all beings possessed wisdom such that they knew as follows: “Excellent is generosity! Excellent is peace! Excellent is discipline! 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!”

1.14At that time the Blessed One, seated on the lion throne, [F.6.b] resembled, as an analogy, the unobscured sun in the pure expanse of space, or the orb of the full moon. His light filled this great trichiliocosm, with its Mount Sumerus and all that surrounded them, its god realms, Indra realms, Vaśavartin realms, gods, asuras, Brahmā realms, and Pure Abodes, outshining them all. While he remained seated, he himself was adorned with light, of lustrous complexion, sparkling, gleaming, and shining in splendor and glory. And while the Blessed One remained seated, outshining this great trichiliocosm, adorned with light, of lustrous complexion, sparkling, gleaming, and shining in splendor and glory, he similarly outshone the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, of lustrous complexion, sparkling, gleaming, and shining in splendor and glory. Similarly, he outshone the world systems of each of the other cardinal directions‍—south, west, and north‍—and those of the intermediate directions‍—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest‍—along with those of the nadir and the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, being adorned with light, of lustrous complexion, sparkling, gleaming, and shining in splendor and glory. Just as Sumeru, king of mountains, continues to outshine all other dark mountains, beautiful, sparkling, gleaming, and shining; just as the orb of the moon continues to outshine all the constellations of stars, adorned, sparkling, gleaming, and shining; and just as the orb of the sun continues to outshine all other lights, adorned, sparkling, gleaming, and shining, so did the Blessed One, adorned with light, of lustrous complexion, sparkling, gleaming, and shining in splendor and glory, outshine the worlds of the ten directions, [F.7.a] with their gods, Indra realms, Brahmā realms, and Pure Abodes.

1.15Then the Blessed One again showed, in this great trichiliocosm, his own original body just as it is. All the gods, as many as there are, of the Pure Abodes, {Dt.11} the Ābhāsvara realms, the Brahmā realms, and the Para­nirmita­vaśa­vartin, Nirmāṇarata, Tuṣita, Yāma, Trayastriṃśa, and Caturmahā­rāja­kāyika realms, saw the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha seated on the lion throne. They were delighted. They rejoiced. They were contented. Their extreme joy gave rise to such delight and contentment that they took many heavenly flowers, garlands, perfumes, unguents, powders, and heavenly pastes; heavenly blue lotuses, day lotuses, night lotuses, white lotuses, water lilies, and fragrant water lilies; and heavenly crocuses, mangosteen leaves, heavenly robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and heavenly ribbons, and set out for the place where the Blessed One was seated. [F.7.b] Going there, they sprinkled, scattered, and showered down upon the Blessed One those flowers, garlands, perfumes, unguents, powders, pastes, blue lotuses, day lotuses, night lotuses, white lotuses, water lilies, fragrant water lilies, crocuses, mangosteen leaves, heavenly robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and heavenly ribbons.

1.16All human beings who were disciplined and suitable recipients of the teachings, as many as there were in this great trichiliocosm, also brought all kinds of 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.

1.17Through the blessings of the Blessed One all these flowers, garlands, perfumes, unguents, powders, and so forth, and the robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and ribbons, immediately formed a towering mansion of flowers and the like, extending into the sky above the head of the Blessed One, and as large as the great trichiliocosm. From that towering mansion, heavenly flowers and many wreaths of silk were suspended, draped, and floated in the air. This whole great trichiliocosm was exquisitely adorned by the flowers and wreaths of silk, and it was exquisitely adorned, too, by the golden light of the Blessed One, sparkling, gleaming, and shining. In this great trichiliocosm the world systems of the eastern direction, as many as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were permeated and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. The world systems of each of the other cardinal directions‍—south, west, and north‍—and those of the intermediate directions‍—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest‍—along with those of the nadir and the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, were also permeated and illuminated by that light of the Blessed One. {Dt.12} There, the human beings of the Jambudvīpas beheld the body of the Tathāgata that [F.8.a] one can never tire of beholding, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.” And just as the human beings of the Jambudvīpas had that thought, in the same manner, the inhabitants of the Aparagodānīyas, Pūrvavidehas, and Uttarakurus, the gods of Caturmahā­rāja­kāyikas, and those of the other realms, up to and including the Akaniṣṭhas, and similarly all the human beings and all the gods of the chiliocosm, the dichiliocosm, and the great trichiliocosm, beheld the body of the Tathāgata that one can never tire of beholding, thinking, “The Tathāgata is seated before us, teaching the Dharma.”

1.18Then again, while seated on that lion throne, the Blessed One sent forth lights that illuminated this great trichiliocosm. He illuminated all the world systems of the eastern direction, and each of the other cardinal directions‍—south, west, and north‍—and those of the intermediate directions‍—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest‍—along with those of the nadir and the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. Through that light all beings, as many as there were in this great trichiliocosm, beheld the many tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas of the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, along with their monastic 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 assemblies of beings, as many as there were, also beheld in this great trichiliocosm the Blessed One, [F.8.b] the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas. Similarly, in the world systems of each of the other cardinal directions‍—south, west, and north‍—and those of the intermediate directions‍—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest‍—along with those of the nadir and the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, those assemblies of beings, as many as there were, also beheld in this great trichiliocosm the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, residing together with the community of monks and the assembly of bodhisattvas.

1.19Beyond 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. There resided and lived the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha called Ratnākara, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. At that time, 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 a tathāgata that one can never tire of beholding, set out for the place where that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Ratnākara was residing. Going there, he asked that blessed one, the tathāgata Ratnākara, the following: “Blessed Lord, what are the causes {Dt.13} and what are the conditions for such a great light to emerge in the world, [F.9.a] for a narrow stretch of land to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.20That blessed one, the tathāgata Ratnākara, replied to the bodhisattva great being Samantaraśmi, “Noble son, west from here, 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, completely awakened buddha named Śākyamuni resides and is alive at present. He teaches the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.21Then the bodhisattva great being Samantaraśmi said to that blessed one, the tathāgata Ratnākara, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and indeed to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are youthful ones, have acquired dhāraṇī and exact knowledge, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and meditative absorptions.”

1.22That blessed one, the tathāgata Ratnākara, then replied, “Go then, noble son, for I know the right time for this has arrived!”

1.23The tathāgata Ratnākara gave the bodhisattva great being Samantaraśmi a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, [F.9.b] and instructed him, “Noble son! You should scatter these lotuses toward the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, saying, ‘Blessed Lord, these golden-colored lotuses with a thousand petals have been sent as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, by that blessed one, the tathāgata Ratnākara, who inquires if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?’ Noble son, 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. Beware of harm there.” {Dt.14}

1.24Then the bodhisattva great being Samantaraśmi received from that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Ratnākara those golden thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred billion trillions of bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas who resided and were alive in the eastern direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and ribbons, through the great miraculous ability of the bodhisattvas and through the great power of the bodhisattvas, he then set out for that place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni resided. [F.10.a] Arriving 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: “That blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Ratnākara, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, inquiring if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?”

1.25The Blessed One, the tathāgata Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them in the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas resided. The lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon those lotuses many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching this very doctrine, from the six perfections onward. All beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. Those bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women also served, venerated, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, through the roots of their respective virtuous actions, and took places to one side. [F.10.b] {Dt.15}

1.26Beyond 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 resides and lives the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha called Aśokaśrī, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. At that time, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Vigataśoka who, on beholding that great light, the great trembling of the earth, and the body of a tathāgata that one can never tire of beholding, set out for the place where that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Aśokaśrī was residing. Going there, he asked that blessed one, the tathāgata Aśokaśrī, the following: “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to emerge in the world, for a narrow stretch of land to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.27That blessed one, the tathāgata Aśokaśrī, replied to the bodhisattva great being Vigataśoka, “Noble son, north from here, 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, completely awakened buddha named Śākyamuni resides and is alive at present. He teaches the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.” [F.11.a]

1.28Then the bodhisattva great being Vigataśoka said to that blessed one, the tathāgata Aśokaśrī, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and indeed to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are youthful ones, have acquired dhāraṇī and exact knowledge, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and meditative absorptions.”

1.29That blessed one, the tathāgata Aśokaśrī, then replied, “Go then, noble son, for I know the right time for this has arrived!”

1.30The tathāgata 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, “Noble son, you should scatter these lotuses toward the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, saying, ‘Blessed Lord, these golden-colored lotuses with a thousand petals have been sent as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, by that blessed one, the tathāgata Aśokaśrī, who inquires if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?’ Noble son, 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. Beware of harm there.”

1.31Then the bodhisattva great being Vigataśoka [F.11.b] received from that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Aśokaśrī, those golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred billion trillions of bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas who resided and were alive in the southern direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and ribbons, through the great miraculous ability of the bodhisattvas and through the great power of the bodhisattvas, he then set out for that place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni resided. Arriving 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: “That blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Aśokaśrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, inquiring if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?”

1.32The Blessed One, the tathāgata Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them in the world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas resided. [F.12.a] The lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon them many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching this very doctrine from the six perfections onward. All beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. Those bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women also served, venerated, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, with the roots of their respective virtuous actions, and then took places to one side.

1.33Beyond 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 resides and lives the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha called Ratnārcis, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. At that time, in that world system there was a bodhisattva great being named Cāritramati who, on beholding that great light, the trembling of the earth, and the body of a tathāgata that one can never tire of beholding, set out for the place where that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Ratnārcis, was residing. Going there, he asked that blessed one, the tathāgata Ratnārcis, the following: “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to emerge in the world, for a narrow stretch of land to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?” [F.12.b]

1.34That blessed one, the tathāgata Ratnārcis, replied to the bodhisattva great being Cāritramati, “Noble son, east from here, 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, completely awakened buddha named Śākyamuni resides and is alive at present. He teaches the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.35Then the bodhisattva great being Cāritramati said to that blessed one, the tathāgata Ratnārcis, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and indeed to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are youthful ones, have acquired dhāraṇī and exact knowledge, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and meditative absorptions.”

1.36That blessed one, the tathāgata Ratnārcis, then replied, “Go then, noble son, for I know the right time for this has arrived!”

1.37The tathāgata 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, “Noble son, you should scatter these lotuses toward the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, saying, ‘Blessed Lord, these golden-colored lotuses with a thousand petals have been sent as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, by that blessed one, the tathāgata Ratnārcis, who inquires if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, [F.13.a] free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?’ Noble son, 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. Beware of harm there.”

1.38Then the bodhisattva great being Cāritramati received from that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Ratnārcis, those golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred billion trillions of bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas who resided and were alive in the western direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and ribbons, through the great miraculous ability of the bodhisattvas and through the great power of the bodhisattvas, he then set out for that place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni resided. Arriving 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.13.b] the bodhisattva great being Cāritramati then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “That blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Ratnārcis, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, inquiring if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?”

1.39The Blessed One, the tathāgata Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them in the world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas resided. The lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon them many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching this very doctrine, from the six perfections onward. All beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. Those bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women also served, venerated, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha Śākyamuni, with the roots of their respective virtuous actions, and then took places to one side.

1.40Beyond all the world systems in the northern direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, [F.14.a] there is the world system called Jayā. There resides and lives the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha called Jayendra, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. At that time, 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 a tathāgata that one can never tire of beholding, set out for the place where that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Jayendra was residing. Going there, he asked that blessed one, the tathāgata Jayendra, the following: “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to emerge in the world, for a narrow stretch of land to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.41That blessed one, the tathāgata Jayendra, replied to the bodhisattva great being Jayadatta, “Noble son, south from here, 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, completely awakened buddha named Śākyamuni resides and is alive at present. He teaches the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.42Then the bodhisattva great being Jayadatta said to that blessed one, the tathāgata Jayendra, “Blessed Lord, [F.14.b] I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and indeed to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are youthful ones, have acquired dhāraṇī and exact knowledge, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and meditative absorptions.”

1.43That blessed one, the tathāgata Jayendra, then replied, “Go then, noble son, for I know the right time for this has arrived!”

1.44The tathāgata 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, “Noble son, you should scatter these lotuses toward the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, saying, ‘Blessed Lord, these golden-colored lotuses with a thousand petals have been sent as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, by that blessed one, the tathāgata Jayendra, who inquires if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?’ Noble son, 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. Beware of harm there.”

1.45Then the bodhisattva great being Jayadatta received from that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Jayendra, [F.15.a] those golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred billion trillions of bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas who resided and were alive in the northern direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and ribbons, through the great miraculous ability of the bodhisattvas and through the great power of the bodhisattvas, he then set out for that place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, resided. Arriving 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: “That blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Jayendra, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, inquiring if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?”

1.46The Blessed One, the tathāgata Śākyamuni, took those lotuses, and scattered them in the world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas resided. [F.15.b] The lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon them many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching this very doctrine, from the six perfections onward. All beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. Those bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women also served, venerated, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, with the roots of their respective virtuous actions, and then took places to one side. {Dt.16}

1.47Beyond all the world systems in the northeastern intermediate direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Samādhyalaṅkṛta. There resides and lives the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha called Samādhi­hastyuttara­śrī, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. At that time, 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 a tathāgata that one can never tire of beholding, set out for the place where that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Samādhi­hastyuttara­śrī was residing. Going there, [F.16.a] he asked that blessed one, the tathāgata Samādhi­hastyuttara­śrī, the following: “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to emerge in the world, for a narrow stretch of land to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.48That blessed one, the tathāgata Samādhi­hastyuttara­śrī, replied to the bodhisattva great being Vijayavikrāmin, “Noble son, in the intermediate direction southwest from here, 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, completely awakened buddha named Śākyamuni resides and is alive at present. He teaches the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.49The bodhisattva great being Vijayavikrāmin said to that blessed one, the tathāgata Samādhi­hastyuttara­śrī, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and indeed to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are youthful ones, have acquired dhāraṇī and exact knowledge, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and meditative absorptions.”

1.50That blessed one, the tathāgata Samādhi­hastyuttara­śrī, then replied, [F.16.b] “Go then, noble son, for I know the right time for this has arrived!” [B2]

1.51The tathāgata 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, “Noble son, you should scatter these lotuses toward the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, saying, ‘Blessed Lord, these golden-colored lotuses with a thousand petals have been sent as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, by that blessed one, the tathāgata Samādhi­hastyuttara­śrī, who inquires if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?’ Noble son, 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. Beware of harm there.”

1.52The bodhisattva great being Vijayavikrāmin received from that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha Samādhi­hastyuttara­śrī, those golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred billion trillions of bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas who resided and were alive in the northeastern intermediate direction, [F.17.a] as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and ribbons, through the great miraculous ability of the bodhisattvas and through the great power of the bodhisattvas, he then set out for that place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, resided. Arriving 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: “That blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Samādhi­hastyuttara­śrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, inquiring if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?”

1.53The Blessed One, the tathāgata Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them in the world systems of the northeastern intermediate direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas resided. The lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon them many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, [F.17.b] teaching this very doctrine, from the six perfections onward. All beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. Those bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women also served, venerated, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, with the roots of their respective virtuous actions, and then took places to one side.

1.54Beyond all the world systems in the southeastern intermediate direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Bodhi­maṇḍalākāra­surucirā. There resides and lives the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha called Padmottaraśrī, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. At that time, 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 a tathāgata that one can never tire of beholding, set out for the place where that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Padmottaraśrī, was residing. Going there, he asked that blessed one, the tathāgata Padmottaraśrī, the following: “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to emerge in the world, for a narrow stretch of land to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.55The Blessed One, [F.18.a] the tathāgata Padmottaraśrī, replied to the bodhisattva great being Padmahasta, “Noble son, in the intermediate direction northwest from here, 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, completely awakened buddha named Śākyamuni resides and is alive at present. He teaches the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.56Then the bodhisattva great being Padmahasta said to that blessed one, the tathāgata Padmottaraśrī, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and indeed to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are youthful ones, have acquired dhāraṇī and exact knowledge, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and meditative absorptions.”

1.57That blessed one, the tathāgata Padmottaraśrī, then replied, “Go then, noble son, for I know the right time for this has arrived!”

1.58The tathāgata Padmottaraśrī gave the bodhisattva great being Padmahasta a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, and instructed him, “Noble son, you should scatter these lotuses toward the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, saying, ‘Blessed Lord, these golden-colored lotuses with a thousand petals have been sent as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, by that blessed one, the tathāgata Padmottaraśrī, who inquires if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, [F.18.b] free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?’ Noble son, 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. Beware of harm there.”

1.59The bodhisattva great being Padmahasta received from that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Padmottaraśrī, those golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred billion trillions of bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas who resided and were alive in the southeastern intermediate direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and ribbons, through the great miraculous ability of the bodhisattvas and through the great power of the bodhisattvas, he then set out for that place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, resided. Arriving there, he bowed his head toward the feet of the Blessed One and took a place to one side. [F.19.a] Having taken a place to one side, the bodhisattva great being Padmahasta then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “That blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Padmottaraśrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, inquiring if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?”

1.60The Blessed One, the tathāgata Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them in the world systems of the southeastern intermediate direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas resided. The lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon them many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching this very doctrine, from the six perfections onward. All beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. Those bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women also served, venerated, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat. completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, with the roots of their respective virtuous actions, and then took places to one side. [F.19.b]

1.61Beyond all the world systems in the southwestern intermediate direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Vigata­rajaḥsañcayā. There resides and lives the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha called Sūrya­maṇḍala­prabhāsottama­śrī, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. At that time, 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 a tathāgata that one can never tire of beholding, set out for the place where that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Sūrya­maṇḍala­prabhāsottama­śrī, was residing. Going there, he asked that blessed one, the tathāgata Sūrya­maṇḍala­prabhāsottama­śrī, the following: “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to emerge in the world, for a narrow stretch of land to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.62That blessed one, the tathāgata Sūrya­maṇḍala­prabhāsottama­śrī, replied to the bodhisattva great being Sūryaprabhāsa, “Noble son, in the intermediate direction northeast from here, beyond world systems numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is a world system called Patient Endurance. [F.20.a] There a tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha named Śākyamuni resides and is alive at present. He teaches the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.63The bodhisattva great being Sūryaprabhāsa said to that blessed one, the tathāgata Sūrya­maṇḍala­prabhāsottama­śrī, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and indeed also to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are youthful ones, have acquired dhāraṇī and exact knowledge, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and meditative absorptions.”

1.64That blessed one, the tathāgata Sūrya­maṇḍala­prabhāsottama­śrī, then replied, “Go then, noble son, for I know the right time for this has arrived!”

1.65The tathāgata 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, “Noble son, you should scatter these lotuses toward the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, saying, ‘Blessed Lord, these golden-colored lotuses with a thousand petals have been sent as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, by that blessed one, the tathāgata Sūrya­maṇḍala­prabhāsottama­śrī, who inquires if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?’ [F.20.b] Noble son, 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. Beware of harm there.”

1.66Then the bodhisattva great being Sūryaprabhāsa received from that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha Sūrya­maṇḍala­prabhāsottama­śrī, those golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred billion trillions of bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas who resided and were alive in the southwestern intermediate direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and ribbons, through the great miraculous ability of the bodhisattvas and through the great power of the bodhisattvas, he then set out for that place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, resided. Arriving 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 [F.21.a] Sūryaprabhāsa then addressed the Blessed One as follows: “That blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Sūrya­maṇḍala­prabhāsottama­śrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, inquiring if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?”

1.67The Blessed One, the tathāgata Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them in the world systems of the southwestern intermediate direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas resided. The lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon them many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching this very doctrine, from the six perfections onward. All beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. Those bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women also served, venerated, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, with the roots of their respective virtuous actions, and then took places to one side. [F.21.b]

1.68Beyond all the world systems in the northwestern intermediate direction, more numerous than the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, there is the world system called Vaśībhūtā. There resides and lives the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha called Ekacchatra, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. At that time, 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 a tathāgata that one can never tire of beholding, set out for the place where that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Ekacchatra, was residing. Going there, he asked that blessed one, the tathāgata Ekacchatra, the following: “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to emerge in the world, for a narrow stretch of land to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.69That blessed one, the tathāgata Ekacchatra, replied to the bodhisattva great being Ratnottama, “Noble son, in the intermediate direction southeast from here, 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, completely awakened buddha named Śākyamuni resides and is alive at present. He teaches the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.” [F.22.a]

1.70The bodhisattva great being Ratnottama said to that blessed one, the tathāgata Ekacchatra, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and indeed to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are youthful ones, have acquired dhāraṇī and exact knowledge, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and meditative absorptions.”

1.71That blessed one, the tathāgata Ekacchatra, then replied, “Go then, noble son, for I know the right time for this has arrived!”

1.72The tathāgata 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, “Noble son, you should scatter these lotuses toward the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, saying, ‘Blessed Lord, these golden-colored lotuses with a thousand petals have been sent as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, by that blessed one, the tathāgata Ekacchatra, who inquires if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?’ Noble son, you should conduct yourself with care in that buddhafield. If you ask why, [F.22.b] it is because bodhisattva great beings who are born in that world system are hard to satisfy. Beware of harm there.”

1.73The bodhisattva great being Ratnottama received from that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha Ekacchatra, those golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred billion trillions of bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas who resided and were alive in the northwestern intermediate direction, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and ribbons, through the great miraculous ability of the bodhisattvas and through the great power of the bodhisattvas, he then set out for that place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, resided. Arriving 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: “That blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha Ekacchatra, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, inquiring if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?” {Dt.17} [F.23.a]

1.74The Blessed One, the tathāgata Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them in the world systems of the northwestern intermediate direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas resided. The lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon them many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching this very doctrine, from the six perfections onward. All beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. Those bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women also served, venerated, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, with the roots of their respective virtuous actions, and then took places to one side.

1.75Beyond 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 resides and lives the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha called Padmaśrī, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. [F.23.b] At that time, 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 a tathāgata that one can never tire of beholding, set out for the place where that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Padmaśrī, was residing. Going there, he asked that blessed one, the tathāgata Padmaśrī, the following: “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to emerge in the world, for a narrow stretch of land to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.76That blessed one, the tathāgata Padmaśrī, replied to the bodhisattva great being Padmottara, “Noble son, from here, 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, completely awakened buddha named Śākyamuni resides and is alive at present. He teaches the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.77The bodhisattva great being Padmottara said to that blessed one, the tathāgata Padmaśrī, “Blessed Lord! I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, [F.24.a] to pay homage and respect to him, and indeed to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are youthful ones, have acquired dhāraṇī and exact knowledge, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and meditative absorptions.”

1.78That blessed one, the tathāgata Padmaśrī, then replied, “Go then, noble son, for I know the right time for this has arrived!”

1.79The tathāgata 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, “Noble son, you should scatter these lotuses toward the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, saying, ‘Blessed Lord, these golden-colored lotuses with a thousand petals have been sent as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, by that blessed one, the tathāgata Padmaśrī, who inquires if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?’ Noble son, 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. Beware of harm there.”

1.80Then the bodhisattva great being Padmottara received from that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Padmaśrī, [F.24.b] those golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred billion trillions of bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas who resided and were alive in the direction of the nadir, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, and ribbons, through the great miraculous ability of the bodhisattvas and through the great power of the bodhisattvas, he then set out for that place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, resided. Arriving 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: “That blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Padmaśrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, inquiring if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?”

1.81The Blessed One, the tathāgata Śākyamuni, took those lotuses [F.25.a] and scattered them in the world systems in the direction of the nadir, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas resided. The lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon them many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching this very doctrine, from the six perfections themselves onward. All beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. Those bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women also served, venerated, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, with the roots of their respective virtuous actions, and then took places to one side.

1.82Beyond 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 resides and lives the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened buddha called Nandaśrī, teaching this very perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. At that time, 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 a tathāgata that one can never tire of beholding, set out for the place where that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Nandaśrī, was residing. Going there, he asked that blessed one, the tathāgata Nandaśrī, the following: [F.25.b] “Blessed Lord, what are the causes and what are the conditions for such a great light to emerge in the world, for a narrow stretch of land to tremble in this manner, and for the body of a tathāgata, such as this, to be present?”

1.83That blessed one, the tathāgata Nandaśrī, replied to the bodhisattva great being Nandadatta, “Noble son, from here, 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, completely awakened buddha named Śākyamuni resides and is alive at present. He teaches the perfection of wisdom to bodhisattva great beings. Such is his power.”

1.84The bodhisattva great being Nandadatta said to that blessed one, the tathāgata Nandaśrī, “Blessed Lord, I too will go to that world system of Patient Endurance to behold the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, to pay homage and respect to him, and indeed to see all those bodhisattva great beings, most of whom are youthful ones, have acquired dhāraṇī and exact knowledge, and have mastered all the meditative stabilities and meditative absorptions.”

1.85That blessed one, the tathāgata Nandaśrī, then replied, “Go then, noble son, for I know the right time for this has arrived!”

1.86The tathāgata [F.26.a] Nandaśrī gave to the bodhisattva great being Nandadatta a thousand lotus flowers, made of diverse jewels, golden in color, each with a thousand petals, and instructed him, “Noble son, you should scatter these lotuses toward the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, saying, ‘Blessed Lord, these golden-colored lotuses with a thousand petals have been sent as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, by that blessed one, the tathāgata Nandaśrī, who inquires if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?’ Noble son, 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. Beware of harm there.”

1.87Then the bodhisattva great being Nandadatta received from that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Nandaśrī, those golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses. Accompanied by many hundred billion trillions of bodhisattvas in the form of householders, mendicants, young men, and young women, he vanished from that buddhafield. After serving, respecting, honoring, and worshiping all the blessed lord buddhas who resided and were alive in the direction of the zenith, as many as there were, with flowers, perfumes, incense, garlands, unguents, powders, robes, ornaments, parasols, victory banners, [F.26.b] and ribbons, through the great miraculous ability of the bodhisattvas and through the great power of the bodhisattvas, he then set out for that place where the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, resided. Arriving 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: “That blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Nandaśrī, has sent these golden-colored, thousand-petaled lotuses as an offering to you, Blessed Lord, inquiring if you, Blessed Lord, are free from sickness, free from all harms, in good health, strong, comfortable, and well?”

1.88The Blessed One, the tathāgata Śākyamuni, took those lotuses and scattered them in the world systems in the direction of the zenith, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā, where the tathāgatas, arhats, completely awakened buddhas resided. The lotuses fully covered all those world systems, and upon them many bodies of the tathāgatas were seated, teaching this very doctrine, from the six perfections onward. All beings who heard that teaching of the Dharma became assured of reaching unsurpassed, complete enlightenment. Those bodhisattvas in the form of householders, [F.27.a] mendicants, young men, and young women also served, venerated, honored, and worshiped the Blessed One, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Śākyamuni, with the roots of their respective virtuous actions, and then took places to one side.

1.89At that time, in a single fleeting instant, this great trichiliocosm was completely transformed into the nature of gemstones, replete with scattered flowers and completely bedecked with wreaths and bundles of silk. Various kinds of incense wafted from various containers, and it was completely adorned with wish-granting trees, the tips of their branches ornate and fully ripe with fruits, and with all kinds of flowering trees, fruit trees, trees of fragrance, trees of garlands, trees of powders, and trees of incense, just like the world system of Padmavatī , the buddhafield of that blessed one, the tathāgata, arhat, completely awakened Buddha Samantakusuma, where the crown prince Mañjuśrī resides alongside the god Susthitamati and other bodhisattva great beings of mighty splendor.

1.90This completes the first chapter, “The Context,” from “The Perfection of Wisdom in Twenty-Five Thousand Lines.”