T262 The Lotus Sutra, Revised Second Edition

Chapter 20: Bodhisattva Sadāparibhūta

Chapter XX

Bodhisattva Sadāparibhūta

Thereupon the Buddha addressed Bodhisattva Mahā sattva Mahāsthāmaprāpta: "You should know that, as I have previously explained, those who revile, disparage, or slander monks, nuns, lay men, and laywomen who preserve the Lotus Sutrawill sow a bitter harvest; as I have just taught, the merit attained by preserving the Lotus Sutrawill result in the pure faculties of the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind.

"O Mahāsthāmaprāpta, in the past, immeasurable, limitless, inconceivable and incalculable kalpas ago, there was a buddha called Bhīṣmagarjita svararāja, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. His land was called Mahāsaṃbhavā and the kalpawas named Vinirbhoga. The Buddha Bhīṣmagarjitasvararāja expounded the Dharma for the devas, humans, and asuras in his world.

"To those who sought the śrāvakavehicle he expounded the Dharma in accordance with the Four Noble Truths, ferried them from birth, old age, illness, and death, and ultimately led them to nirvana. To those who sought the pratyekabuddhavehicle, he expounded the Dharma in accordance with the twelve-linked chain of dependent origination. To the bodhisattvas he expounded the Dharma in accordance with the six perfections, with reference to highest, complete enlightenment, and led them to the Buddha's wisdom. "O Mahāsthāmaprāpta, the lifespan of the Buddha Bhīṣma gar jita svararāja was as kalpas equal to forty myriads of koṭis of nayutas of sands of the Ganges River. The True Dharma abided for kalpas equal to the number of particles in Jambudvīpa. The Semblance Dharma abided for kalpas equal to the number of particles in the four continents. After having benefited the sentient beings, the Buddha entered parinirvāṇa. After the extinction of the True and Semblance Dharmas, there appeared in this land another buddha who was also called Bhīṣmagarjitasvararāja, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in 265

50c

51a

The Lotus Sutra

Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. In this way there appeared two myriads of koṭis of buddhas one after another, all of whom had the same name.

"After the parinirvāṇaof the first Tathāgata Bhīṣmagar jita svararāja, there were excessively proud and overbearing monks in the Age of the Semblance Dharma, after the True Dharma had been extinguished. At that time there was also a monk, a bodhisattva, called Sadāparibhūta (Never Despising). "O Mahāsthāmaprāpta, why was he called Sadāparibhūta? Because whenever he saw any monk, nun, layman, or laywoman, he would praise and pay homage to them, saying:

I deeply respect you. I dare not belittle you. Why is this? Because all of you practice the bodhisattva path, and will become buddhas. "Furthermore, this monk did not concentrate himself on reciting the sutras but only paid homage such that, even when he saw the fourfold assembly from afar, he would go up to them, praise, and pay homage to them, saying: I dare not belittle you, because you will all become buddhas. "In the fourfold assembly there were some whose minds were impure and who became angry, and reviled and disparaged him, saying: Where does this ignorant monk come from? He says that he himself does not belittle us and predicts that we shall all become buddhas. We do not need such an idle prediction.

"In this way he wandered about for many years and was always reviled. But he never got angry and always said,

'You will become a buddha.

'

"Whenever he spoke these words, people would assail him with sticks or stones; he fled from them yet still proclaimed loudly at a distance: I dare not belittle you. You will all become buddhas. "Since he always spoke these words, the excessively proud monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen called him Sadāparibhūta. When this monk was about to die, he heard in the air twenty thousands of myriads of koṭis of verses of the Lotus Sutraexpounded previously by the Buddha Bhīṣmagarjitasvararāja 266

Chapter XX

and, completely preserving them, he attained the purity of the eye, and the purity of the ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind that were described before. After having attained these pure faculties, his lifespan increased two hundreds of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of years and he taught this Lotus Sutrato the people far and wide.

"Then those excessively proud monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen in the fourfold assembly who had despised him and called him Sadāparibhūta saw that he had attained great transcendent powers, the power of joy in eloquence, and the power of great virtuous meditation. Hearing his teaching, all of them believed and followed him.

"Furthermore, this bodhisattva inspired a thousand myriads of koṭis of sentient beings and caused them to abide in highest, complete enlightenment. After his death, he met two thousand koṭis of buddhas, all of whom were called Candrasūryapradīpa. In accordance with his teaching he expounded this Lotus Sutra,and for this reason met another two thousand koṭis of buddhas, all of whom were called Meghasvararāja. He preserved and recited this sutra in accordance with the teaching of these buddhas and expounded it for the sake of the fourfold assembly. Thus he attained purity of the natural eye and purity of the ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind, and taught the Dharma to the fourfold assembly without fear.

"O Mahāsthāmaprāpta, this Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Sadāparibhūta respected, honored, praised, and paid homage to all these buddhas. Having planted roots of good merit, he again met thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas; and he expounded this sutra over again in accordance with the teaching of those buddhas. Having perfected his merits he attained buddhahood. "O Mahāsthāmaprāpta, what do you think about this? Was Bodhisattva Sadāparibhūta of that time someone unknown to you? He was none other than I myself. If I had not preserved and recited this sutra and taught it to others in my previous lives, I would not have swiftly attained highest, complete enlightenment. Because I preserved and recited this sutra and taught it to others in the presence of previous buddhas, I swiftly attained highest, complete enlightenment.

"O Mahāsthāmaprāpta, then the fourfold assembly of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen who became angry and disparaged me, did not, as a consequence, meet a buddha for two hundred koṭis of kalpas, nor did they 267

51b

The Lotus Sutra

hear the Dharma or see the Sangha. They suffered greatly in the Avīci Hell for a thousand kalpas. After having been freed from the consequences of their errors they finally met Bodhisattva Sadāparibhūta, who led and inspired them to highest, complete enlightenment. "O Mahāsthāmaprāpta, what do you think about this? Were those in the fourfold assembly of that time who disparaged this bodhisattva persons unknown to you? They are the five hundred bodhisattvas in this assembly, beginning with Bhadrapāla, the five hundred nuns beginning with Siṃhacandrā, and the five hundred laymen beginning with Sugatacetanā, all of whom will never turn back on the path to highest, complete enlightenment. "O Mahāsthāmaprāpta, know that this Lotus Sutrawill greatly benefit the bodhisattva mahāsattvas and lead them to highest, complete enlightenment. For this reason, after the Tathāgata's parinirvāṇathe bodhisattva mahāsattvas should always preserve, recite, explain, and copy this sutra. "

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this further, spoke these verses:

In the past there was a buddha Called Bhīṣmagarjitasvararāja. He had immeasurable transcendent powers, Led and guided all sentient beings, And was paid homage by devas, humans, and nāgas. After the parinirvāṇaof this buddha, When the True Dharma faced extinction, There was a bodhisattva called Sadāparibhūta. At that time the fourfold assembly Was becoming attached

To its own interpretation of the Dharma. Bodhisattva Sadāparibhūta

Would approach them and say:

I do not belittle you;

Practice the path

And you will all become buddhas. After hearing this,

All the people insulted and disparaged him; 268

Chapter XX

But Bodhisattva Sadāparibhūta Patiently bore this.

As he neared the time of his death, When he had expiated his past errors, He was able to hear this sutra, And his six sense faculties became pure. Through his transcendent powers He prolonged his life

And explained this sutra far and wide, Acting, once again, for the benefit of others. Those who were attached To their own interpretations of the Dharma Were led and inspired by this bodhisattva And were enabled to abide Within the buddha path. After the end of his life, Bodhisattva Sadāparibhūta Met innumerable buddhas. Because he explained this sutra, He attained immeasurable happiness. Gradually accumulating his merits, He quickly attained the buddha path. The Bodhisattva Sadāparibhūta of that time Was none other than I.

Because the fourfold assembly, Which was then attached to Particular aspects of the Dharma, Heard Bodhisattva Sadāparibhūta say: You will all become buddhas, They have since met innumerable buddhas. Those people are none other Than the five hundred bodhisattvas And laymen and laywomen of pure belief Who are now gathered before me 269

The Lotus Sutra

51c

In this assembly to hear the Dharma. In my previous lives I taught them And led them to hear and accept this sutra, Which is the ultimate Dharma. I revealed it and taught it to others, And caused them to abide in nirvana. Throughout many lifetimes they preserved and kept A sutra such as this.

Only after myriads of koṭis of koṭis Of kalpas have passed,

A time inconceivable,

Can they hear this Lotus Sutra. Only after myriads of koṭis of koṭis Of kalpas have passed,

A time inconceivable,

Do the Buddha Bhagavats Expound this sutra.

For this reason, all you practitioners Who hear this sutra

After the nirvana of the Buddha Should feel no doubt about it. You must wholeheartedly Expound this sutra far and wide. You will then meet the buddhas lifetime after lifetime And quickly attain the buddha path. 270

Chapter 21: The Transcendent Powers of the Tathāgata

Chapter XXI

The Transcendent Powers

of the Tathāgata

Thereupon the bodhisattva mahāsattvas equal to the number of particles in the great manifold cosmos, who had emerged from the earth, all in the presence of the Buddha gazed singlemindedly at his face with their palms pressed together, and spoke to the Buddha, saying: "O Bhagavat, after the parinirvāṇa of the Buddha, we will teach this sutra extensively in the lands of the Bhagavat's separate forms, at the time of his extinction. Why is this? Because we also wish to attain this true, pure, great Dharma, and to preserve, recite, explain, copy, and make offerings to it.

"

Then the Bhagavat manifested his great transcendent powers in the presence of Mañjuśrī and other immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of bodhisattva mahāsattvas who had long lived in this sahāworld, such humans and nonhumans as monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas. He put out his wide and long tongue which reached upward to the Brahma world. He emitted innumerable and immeasurable colored rays of light from all his pores and universally illuminated the worlds of the ten directions. All the buddhas sitting on the lion seats under the jeweled trees also put out their wide and long tongues and emitted immeasurable rays of light in the same way. Śākyamuni Buddha and the other buddhas under the jeweled trees manifested transcendent powers while fully hundreds of thousands of years passed.

After this they drew back their tongues, coughed, and snapped their fingers together in unison. Those two sounds penetrated throughout the various buddha worlds of the ten directions and the earth quaked in six ways. Through the transcendent powers of the Buddha, all the sentient beings in these worlds—humans and such nonhumans as devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas—saw all the buddhas 271

52a

The Lotus Sutra

sitting on the lion seats under the immeasurable, limitless hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of jeweled trees in this sahāworld. They saw Śākyamuni Buddha sitting on the lion seat in the jeweled stupa, together with Tathāgata Prabhūtaratna. They also saw immeasurable, limitless hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of bodhisattva mahāsattvas and the fourfold assembly respectfully surrounding Śākyamuni Buddha. After seeing this, they all rejoiced greatly at having attained this unprecedented experience. At the same time all the devas spoke loudly while in the air, saying: "Beyond these immeasurable, limitless hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of incalculable worlds, there is a land called Sahā. In it is a buddha called Śākyamuni. For the sake of the bodhisattva mahāsattvas he now teaches the Mahayana sutra called the Lotus Sutra,the instruction for bodhisattvas and treasured lore of the buddhas. You should rejoice deeply. You should also honor and pay homage to Śākyamuni Buddha. "

Hearing this voice in the air, all those sentient beings pressed their palms together, faced the sahā world and said: "We take refuge in Śākyamuni Buddha. We take refuge in Śākyamuni Buddha.

"

All of them scattered various kinds of flowers, incense, necklaces, banners, canopies, ornaments, jewels, and other beautiful things over the sahā world from afar. All that had been scattered formed together from the ten directions like a cloud and was transformed into a jeweled screen that covered all the buddhas. Then the worlds of the ten directions became pellucid, without obstruction, as if they were one buddha land.

Thereupon the Buddha addressed the great assembly of bodhisattvas, beginning with Viśiṣṭacāritra:

"The transcendent powers of the buddhas are as immeasurable, limitless, and inconceivable as this. Yet if I were to use these transcendent powers to teach the benefits of this sutra so that it would be entrusted to you for immeasurable, limitless, hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of incalculable kalpas, I would not be able to reach the end of these qualities. To sum up, in this sutra I have clearly revealed and taught all the teachings of the Tathāgata, all the transcendent powers of the Tathāgata, all the treasure houses of the hidden essence of the Tathāgata, and all the profound aspects of the Tathāgata. For this reason, after the pari nirvāṇa of the Tathāgata, you should wholeheartedly preserve, recite, explain, and copy it, and practice according 272

Chapter XXI

to the teaching. Those who accept, recite, explain, and copy it, and practice according to the teaching, in whichever land they may be, in a place where the sutra abides—either in a garden, a forest, under a tree, in a monk's chamber, in a layman's house, in a palace, on a mountain, in a valley, or in the wilderness—in all of these places they should erect and pay homage to a monument. Why is this? Because you should know that these places are the terraces of enlightenment where all the buddhas have attained highest, complete enlightenment, where all the buddhas have turned the wheel of the Dharma, and where all the buddhas entered parinirvāṇa. "

Thereupon the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this further, spoke these verses: The buddhas, world-inspirers, Abiding in their great transcendent powers, Manifest this immeasurable power In order to gladden sentient beings. Their tongues reach up to the Brahma world And they emit innumerable rays of light From their bodies.

They manifest this marvel

For those who seek for the buddha path. The coughing and snapping sounds Of the buddhas are universally heard In the lands of the ten directions. The earth quakes in six ways. Because this sutra can be preserved After the nirvana of the Buddha, All the buddhas rejoice and manifest Their immeasurable transcendent powers. Even if, for immeasurable kalpas, They praise those who preserve this sutra, In order to entrust it,

They will not reach the limit of their merit. The qualities of those people are Limitless and endless,

Just like the boundless sky 52b

273

The Lotus Sutra

In the ten directions.

Those who preserve this sutra Have already seen me,

The Buddha Prabhūtaratna, And the various magically created forms; And today they see all the bodhisattvas I have led and inspired up until now. Those who preserve this sutra Will gladden me, my magically created forms, As well as the Buddha Prabhūtaratna Who has entered nirvana. They will also see, gladden, and pay homage to The past and future buddhas, and those who are present In the ten directions.

Those who preserve this sutra Will before long attain the Dharma, The hidden essence,

Which was attained by the buddhas Seated upon the terrace of enlightenment. Those who preserve this sutra Will explain the meaning of the Dharma, The names and phrases, joyfully and with undying vigor, Like the wind in the sky That has no obstruction whatsoever. After the parinirvāṇaof the Tathāgata, They will know the causes and conditions And the sequences of the sutras Taught by the Buddha,

And will explain the truth In accordance with its meaning. As the light of the sun and moon Eliminates the darkness, These people practicing in the world Will extinguish the blindness of sentient beings, Teaching innumerable bodhisattvas 274

Chapter XXI

To dwell ultimately in the single vehicle. For this reason,

The wise, hearing of the benefits of these merits, Should preserve this sutra After my nirvana.

Those people will be resolute and will Unwaveringly follow the buddha path. 52c

275

Chapter 22: Entrustment

Chapter XXII

Entrustment

Thereupon, having arisen from the Dharma seat and manifested his great transcendent powers, Śākyamuni Buddha caressed the heads of the innumerable bodhisattva mahāsattvas with his right hand, and addressed them, saying: "For immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of incalculable kalpas, I practiced this Dharma of highest, complete enlightenment, which is hard to attain. I now entrust it to you. You should wholeheartedly spread this teaching and so extensively benefit others.

"

Having caressed the heads of the bodhisattva mahāsattvas three times in this way, he further addressed them, saying: "For immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of incalculable kalpas, I practiced this Dharma of highest, complete enlightenment, which is hard to attain. I now entrust it to you. You should preserve and recite it. You should spread this teaching extensively. You should let all the sentient beings hear and know it. Why is this? Because with his great compassion, unstinting and unafraid, the Tathāgata gives the wisdom of the Buddha, the wisdom of the Tathāgata, and the knowledge of the self-arising one to the sentient beings. The Tathāgata is nothing but the great donor to all the sentient beings. You should accordingly practice the teaching of the Tathāgata. Never allow the thought of avarice to awaken in you! If there are sons and daughters of a virtuous family who believe in the wisdom of the Tathāgata in the future, you should expound this Lotus Sutra;and let them hear and know it so that they may attain the wisdom of the Buddha. If there are sentient beings who do not accept it, you should reveal, teach, benefit, and gladden them with the other profound teachings of the Tathāgata. If you do this, you will repay your indebtedness to the Buddha. "

Having heard the Buddha teach this, all the bodhisattva mahā sattvas were filled with joy, inclined their bodies, bowed their heads with increased respect, and, with their palms pressed together, faced the buddhas and uttered these words: "We will certainly do as the Bhagavat directs us. O Bhagavat, we entreat you to feel no anxiety.

"

277

The Lotus Sutra

53a

All the bodhisattva mahāsattvas uttered these words three times in this way, saying: "We will do as the Bhagavat directs us. O Bhagavat, we entreat you to feel no anxiety.

"

At that time, in order to cause all the buddhas who were his magically created forms and who had come from the ten directions to return to their own lands, Śākyamuni Buddha said this: "All the buddhas should be at ease. The Buddha Prabhūtaratna will be restored as before.

"

When he said this, all the innumerable buddhas in their magically created forms from the ten directions sitting on the lion seats under the jeweled trees, the Buddha Prabhūtaratna, the great assembly of the limitless and incalculable bodhisattvas beginning with Viśiṣṭacāritra, the fourfold assemblies of the śrāvakas beginning with Śāriputra, and the devas, humans, and asuras in all the worlds, having heard what the Buddha had taught, rejoiced greatly. 278

Chapter 23: Ancient Accounts of Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja

Chapter XXIII

Ancient Accounts of

Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja

Thereupon Bodhisattva Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña addressed the Buddha, saying: "O Bhagavat, why does Bodhisattva Bhaiṣa jyarāja wander in this sahāworld? O Bhagavat, this Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja has performed hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of difficult and arduous practices. Splendid, O Bhagavat! I entreat you to explain it even a little, so that all the devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃ naras, maho ragas, humans, and nonhumans, and also the assemblies of the bodhisattvas who have come from the other lands and these śrāvakas, will rejoice on hearing it.

"

Then the Buddha spoke to Bodhisattva Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusu mitābhijña, saying: "In the remote past, beyond kalpas as immeasurable as the sands of the Ganges River, there was a buddha called Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī, an Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. With this buddha were eighty koṭis of great bodhisattva mahā sattvas and an assembly of great śrāvakas, as many as the sands of seventy-two Ganges Rivers. The lifespan of this buddha was forty-two thousand kalpas, and the lifespans of the bodhisattvas were also equal to this. In his land there were no women, no hell-dwellers, no hungry ghosts, no animals, no asuras, and no calamities. The land was level like the palm of one's hand and was made of lapis lazuli. It was adorned with jeweled trees, and was covered with jeweled canopies with various hanging, flowered banners. This world was filled with jeweled vases and incense burners. There were platforms made of the seven treasures. For each tree there was a platform, and each tree stood away from the platform a distance of no more than a bow-shot. All the bodhisattvas and śrāvakas sat under these jeweled trees. On the top of every jeweled platform were hundreds of koṭis of devas who played divine music and sang in praise and homage to the 279

53b

The Lotus Sutra

Buddha. Then the Buddha expounded the Lotus Sutrafor Bodhisattva Sarva rūpasaṃdarśana and numerous other bodhisattvas and śrāvakas. Bodhisattva Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana devoted himself entirely to severe practices. Following the teachings of the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī, he strove and wandered up and down in the singleminded search for enlightenment for a full twelve thousand years; and he attained the samādhicalled sar va rūpasaṃ darśana.After having attained this samādhi, he rejoiced a great deal and thought thus:

I have attained the samādhi called sarvarūpasaṃdarśana entirely because of the power I attained through hearing the Lotus Sutra.I will now pay homage to the Buddha Candra sūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī and the Lotus Sutra.

"Immediately after he had entered this samādhi, māndāravaand great māndārava flowers and finely powdered solid and black sandalwood fell from the sky, filling the air like clouds and raining down upon the earth. It also rained the perfume of sandalwood from the inner seacoast of Mount Sumeru. With this quantity of perfume, six drams of which equal the worth of this sahāworld, he paid homage to the Buddha. Having paid homage to the Buddha, he emerged from samādhiand thought this: I have paid homage to the Buddha using my transcendent power. This is, however, by no means equal to the tribute of offering my body. "For a full one thousand two hundred years, he inhaled the fragrance of sandalwood, olibanum, frankincense, clove, aloeswood, and glue trees and drank the fragrant oil of campakaflowers. He then anointed his body with scented ointment. In the presence of the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī he covered his body with a divine jeweled garment and with the fragrant oil. Through his transcendent power and vows he set his body alight, which illuminated worlds equal in number to the sands of eighty koṭis of Ganges Rivers. At the same time all the buddhas in these worlds praised him, saying:

Splendid, splendid, O son of a virtuous family! This is the true perseverance. This is called the true Dharma offering to the Tathāgata. It 280

Chapter XXIII

stands no comparison, even if one were to pay tribute with flowers, perfumes, necklaces, burning incense, scented powders, ointments, divine silk banners, canopies, perfumes of sandalwood from the inner seacoast of Mount Sumeru, and various other things like this. It stands no comparison, even if one were to offer one's kingdom or wife and children. O son of a virtuous family, this is the supreme offering. This is the highest and best of all offerings, because you offer the Dharma to the Tathāgatas.

"Having spoken these words, all became silent. His body was alight for one thousand two hundred years. After this period passed, his body burned out. Because he had paid tribute to the Dharma like this, Bodhisattva Sarva rūpasaṃdarśana was reborn after his death in the land of the Buddha Candra sūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī. He was born spontaneously, sitting cross-legged in the house of King Vimaladatta.

"Then he immediately spoke these verses for the sake of his father, saying:

O Great King! You should now know

That I, in an instant, attained

The samādhicalled sarvarūpasaṃdarśana

In the place where I wandered;

And, practicing with enthusiasm and perseverance, I set aside this, my beloved body.

I have paid homage to the Bhagavat

In order to attain the utmost wisdom.

"After having spoken these verses, he addressed his father, saying: The Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī is now in this world. Having previously paid homage to the Buddha, I attained the dhāraṇīof understanding the speech of all sentient beings and heard eight hundred thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of verses and tens of billions of verses, hundreds of billions of verses and thousands of billions of verses of the Lotus Sutra.O Great King, I will now once again pay homage to this buddha.

53c

281

The Lotus Sutra

"Having spoken this, he sat on the seven-jeweled platform and ascended into the air as high as seven tālatrees. Having come before the Buddha, he bowed until his forehead touched the Buddha's feet. He praised the Buddha in verse with his ten fingers pressed together, saying: Your countenance is rare and wonderful.

Your brilliance illuminates the ten directions.

Once, long ago, I paid you homage.

I now come to behold you again.

"Thereupon Bodhisattva Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana, having spoken this verse, addressed the Buddha, saying:

O Bhagavat! The Bhagavat is yet in this world!

"Then the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī said to Bodhisattva Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana:

O son of a virtuous family! The time of my parinirvāṇahas come. The time of extinction has come. I ask you now to prepare my bed. I will enter parinirvāṇatonight.

"The Buddha said again to Bodhisattva Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana: O son of a virtuous family! I entrust you with the Buddha-Dharma, and all the bodhisattvas and great śrāvakas as well as the Dharma for highest, complete enlightenment. I will also entrust you with the sevenjeweled world, all the jeweled trees, jeweled platforms, and the devas who are my servants in the great manifold cosmos. After my pari nirvāṇaI will also entrust you with all my relics. You should distribute them far and wide and pay them homage. You should also erect a great many thousands of stupas.

"Having addressed Bodhisattva Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana in this way, the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī entered pari nirvāṇain the last watch of that night.

"Thereupon, having seen the Buddha's parinirvāṇa,Bodhisattva Sarva rūpasaṃdarśana was grieved and saddened, and longed and yearned for the Buddha. Having prepared a pyre with sandalwood from the inner seacoast 282

Chapter XXIII

of Mount Sumeru, he cremated the Buddha's body in homage. After the fire had gone out, he collected all the relics. He had eighty-four thousand jeweled urns made and erected eighty-four thousand stupas as high as three worlds. They were adorned with poles from which hung all kinds of banners and canopies and various kinds of jeweled bells.

"Then Bodhisattva Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana thought this: Although I have paid tribute in this way, I am not yet satisfied. I will now further pay homage to the relics.

"Then he spoke to all the great assemblies of bodhisattvas, great śrāvakas, devas, nāgas, and yakṣas, saying:

You should pay full attention: I will now pay homage to the relics of the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī.

"Having said these words, he made an offering before the eighty-four thousand stupas by burning his arms adorned with hundreds of merits for seventy-two thousand years. He thus made innumerable śrāvakas and immeasurable, incalculable people set forth toward highest, complete enlightenment. All of them were made to dwell in the samādhicalled sarvarūpasaṃdarśana. "At that time all the bodhisattvas, devas, humans, and asuras saw that his arms were missing and became grieved and distressed. They said: This Bodhisattva Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana is our teacher. He has led and inspired us. He has now burned his arms, and his body is deformed. "Then Bodhisattva Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana made a vow and said to the great assembly:

I have abandoned both my arms, and I shall definitely attain the golden body of the Buddha. If this is true and not false, then may both arms be restored as before.

"Because this bodhisattva was endowed with profound merit and wisdom, after he had made this vow his arms recovered spontaneously. At that very time the great manifold cosmos quaked in six ways. It rained jeweled flowers from the heavens and all the devas and humans experienced an unprecedented marvel.

"

283

54a

54b

The Lotus Sutra

The Buddha addressed Bodhisattva Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, saying: "What do you think about this? Is Bodhisattva Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana someone unknown to you? He is none other than this Bodhisattva Bhaiṣa jyarāja. He undertook the practice of giving by abandoning his body immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of times in this way. O Nakṣa tra rāja saṃkusumitābhijña! If there is anyone who sets forth and wishes to attain highest, complete enlightenment, he should pay homage to the stupas of the Buddha by burning either a finger or a toe. He is superior to those who pay homage by giving their countries and cities, their wives and children, or the mountains, forests, rivers, ponds, and many other rare treasures.

"If there is anyone who pays homage to all the buddhas, great bodhisattvas, pratyekabuddhas, and arhats by filling the great manifold cosmos with the seven precious treasures, the merit of this person will not be equal to the surpassing merit of one who receives and holds to even a single verse consisting of four lines of the Lotus Sutra.

"O Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña! Just as the ocean is the greatest of streams and rivers and of all waters, this Lotus Sutrais the most profound of the sutras taught by the Tathāgatas. Just as Mount Sumeru is the greatest of mountains—greater than Earth Mountain, Black Mountain, Mount Cakravāḍa, Mount Mahācakra vāḍa, and the ten jeweled mountains—this Lotus Sutrais the greatest of the sutras. Just as the moon is the greatest among all the stars, this Lotus Sutrais the most illuminating of the thousands of koṭis of sutras. Just as the sun destroys darkness, in the same way this sutra destroys the darkness of erring thought. Just as the noble emperor is the best of all the kings, this sutra is the noblest of all the sutras. Just as Śakra is the king of the thirtythree devas, this sutra is the King of Sutras. Just as Great Brahma is the father of all the sentient beings, in the same way this sutra is the father of all the wise, the noble, those who have more to learn and those who do not, and those in whom the thought of enlightenment has awakened. Just as those who have entered the stream of the teaching (srota-āpannas), those who are to return to this world once again (sakṛdāgāmins), those who are never to return (anāgā mins), arhats, and pratyekabuddhas are the best of all the common people, in the same way this is the best of all the sutras taught by all the Tathāgatas, bodhisattvas, or śrāvakas.

284

Chapter XXIII

"Those who hold to this sutra are the best of all sentient beings. The bodhisattvas are the best of all śrāvakas and pratye kabuddhas. In the same way, this sutra is the best of all sutras. Just as the Buddha is the King of the Dharma, this sutra is the King of Sutras.

"O Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña! This sutra saves all sentient beings. This sutra makes all sentient beings free from suffering. This sutra greatly benefits all sentient beings and brings their aspirations to fulfillment, just as a clear, cool pond satisfies the thirsty, as a fire satisfies those suffering from cold, as clothes for the naked, as a caravan leader for merchants, as a mother for her children, as a boat for the traveler, as a physician for the sick, as a lamp for the gloom, as a treasure for the poor, as a king for the people, as the sea for traders, and a torch for those in darkness. In the same way, this Lotus Sutrafrees sentient beings from every suffering, all the pains and bonds of illness and of birth and death. If there is anyone who hears this Lotus Sutra, copies it, or moves others to copy it, their merit will be limitless even if it is measured through the Buddha's wisdom. If there is anyone who copies it and pays it tribute with flowers, perfumes, necklaces, burning incense, scented powders, fragrant ointments, banners, canopies, clothes, various kinds of ghee lamps, oil lamps, fragrant oil lamps, lamps of oil made from campaka, sumanas, pāṭala, vārṣika,and navamā likātrees, that person's merit will also be immeasurable.

"O Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña! If there is anyone who hears this chapter 'Ancient Accounts of Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja,

' they will attain

immeasurable and limitless merit. If there is any woman who hears and holds to this chapter 'Ancient Accounts of Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja, ' she will

never be reborn with a female body. If there is any woman five hundred years after the pari nirvāṇa of the Tathāgata who hears this sutra and practices according to the teaching, she will immediately reach the dwelling of the Buddha Amitāyus in the Sukhāvatī world, surrounded by great bodhisattvas, and will be born on a jeweled seat in a lotus flower. Never again troubled by the [three poisons] of greed, anger, or ignorance, by arrogance or jealousy, he will attain the bodhisattva's transcendent powers and the acceptance of the nonorigination of all dharmas. After attaining this acceptance, his faculty of sight will be pure; and with this pure eye faculty, he will see all the Buddha Tathāgatas, equal in number to the sands of seventy-two million koṭis of 285

54c

The Lotus Sutra

nayutas of Ganges Rivers. At that time all the buddhas will praise him from afar, saying:

Splendid! Splendid! Son of a virtuous family! You have preserved, recited, and contemplated this sutra from the teachings of the Buddha Śākyamuni and taught it to others. The merit you have obtained is immeasurable and limitless. Even fire cannot burn it. Even water cannot wash it away. Even thousands of buddhas cannot give a complete description of your merit. You have already destroyed the māras. You have already conquered the armies of birth and death. You have defeated all enemies. O son of a virtuous family! Hundreds of thousands of buddhas together protect you with their transcendent powers. There is no one equal to you among the devas and humans of the entire world. With the exception of the Tathāgata, the wisdom and meditation of all śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and bodhisattvas can never equal yours. "O Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña! Such is the power of the merit and wisdom that this bodhisattva has perfected. If there is anyone who hears this chapter 'Ancient Accounts of Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja, ' rejoices in it, and

praises it well, in his present life he will always exhale the fragrance of blue lotus flowers from his mouth and will always emit the fragrance of the sandalwood on Mount Oxhead from his pores. The benefits of the qualities he has obtained are just as mentioned above. For this reason, O Nakṣatrarāja saṃkusumitābhijña, I will entrust you with this chapter 'Ancient Accounts of Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja.

' During the period of five hundred years after

my parinirvāṇayou must spread it far and wide in Jambudvīpa and not allow it to be destroyed. You must not give Māra and his men, or the devas, nāgas, yakṣas, and kum bhāṇḍademons any chance of destroying it. O Nakṣatrarāja saṃkusumitābhijña! You should protect this sutra with your transcendent power. Why is this? Because this sutra is good medicine for the ills of the people of Jambudvīpa. If there is any sick person who hears this sutra, his illness will disappear, and he will neither die nor grow old. O Nakṣatrarāja saṃkusumitābhijña! If you see anyone who holds to this sutra, you should scatter blue lotus flowers full of scented powder on him. After scattering them, you should think like this:

286

Chapter XXIII

This man will before long destroy the army of Māra, sitting on the grass-covered terrace of enlightenment. He will blow the conch of the Dharma, beat the drum of the great Dharma, and ferry all sentient beings across the ocean of old age, illness, and death. "Therefore, if those seeking the buddha path see those who hold to this sutra, the thought of respect should awaken in them. "

When this chapter,

"Ancient Accounts of Bodhisattva Bhaiṣa jyarāja, "

was being taught, eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas attained the dhāraṇīof understanding the speech of all sentient beings. The Tathāgata Prabhūtaratna in the jeweled stupa praised Bodhisattva Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, saying: "Splendid! Splendid! O Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña! You have attained marvelous merit, for you have questioned the Buddha Śākya muni about these things and benefited all of the immeasurable numbers of sentient beings.

"

55a

287

Chapter 24: Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara

Chapter XXIV

Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara

Thereupon, the Buddha Śākyamuni emitted a ray of light from his topknot (uṣṇīṣa), the mark of a great person, and also from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows (ūrṇā), thus illuminating all the buddha worlds in the east equal to the sands of one hundred and eight myriads of koṭis of nayutas of Ganges Rivers. Beyond this number of worlds was the buddha world called Vairocana raśmipratimaṇḍitā. In that world was the buddha named Kamala dala vimalanakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Com pletely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. He was respectfully surrounded by a great assembly of countless, innumerable bodhisattvas, and he expounded his teaching for them. The ray of light emitted from the tuft of white hair between the eyebrows of Śākyamuni Buddha illuminated that entire world.

At that time, in the buddha world of Vairocanaraśmiprati maṇḍitā there was a bodhisattva whose name was Gadgadasvara (Wonderful Voice). Having planted many roots of good merit over a long period, he paid homage to and closely attended immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas, and accomplished complete and profound wisdom. He attained the samādhis called dhvajā grakeyūra, saddharmapuṇḍarīka, vimala datta, nakṣa tra rā ja vikrīḍita, anilambha, jñānamudrā, sarva rutakauśalya, sarva puṇyasamuccaya, prasādavatī, ṛddhi vikrīḍita, jñānolkā, vyū harāja, vimalaprabhāsa, vimalagarbha, apkṛtsna, and sūryāvarta.He thus attained great samādhis equal in number to the sands of hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of Ganges Rivers. As the light of the Buddha Śākyamuni illuminated his body, he addressed the Buddha Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṃkusu mi tā bhijña, saying: "O Bhagavat! I shall go to the sahāworld, approach the Buddha Śākyamuni in homage and reverence, and see Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī, the Prince of the Dharma, as well as Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja, Bodhisattva 289

55b

The Lotus Sutra

55c

Pradānaśūra, Bodhisattva Nakṣatra rāja saṃ ku su mitābhijña, Bodhisattva Viśiṣṭacāritra, Bodhisattva Vyūharāja, and Bodhisattva Bhaiṣa jya samud gata. "

Then the Buddha Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṃkusu mitā bhijña addressed Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara, saying: "You must not despise that world nor think it inferior. O son of a virtuous family! The land of that sahā world is uneven and irregular and is filled with mud, stones, mountains, and filth. The Buddha is short of body, as are the bodhisattvas. By contrast, your body is forty-two thousand yojanas tall, and my body is six million eight hundred thousand yojanas tall. Your body is perfect in its bearing and illuminated most beautifully with hundreds of millions of merits. Yet, when you go there you must not despise that country nor think the Buddha, bodhisattvas, or the world itself inferior.

"

The Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara addressed the Buddha, saying: "O Bhagavat! I am now going to the sahāworld through the power of the Tathāgata, the carefree play of the transcendent powers of the Tathāgata, and the adornment of the qualities and wisdom of the Tathāgata. "

At that time Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara, without rising from his seat or moving his body, entered samādhi. Through the power of the samādhi he caused eighty-four thousand jeweled lotus flowers to appear on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa, not far from the seat of the Dharma. The stems were made of Jambūnāda gold, the leaves of silver, the pistils of diamond, and the calyces of ruby.

On seeing these lotus flowers, Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī, the Prince of the Dharma, addressed the Buddha, saying: "O Bhagavat! Why has this marvel appeared? There are a great many millions of lotus flowers, whose stems are made of Jambūnāda gold, leaves of silver, pistils of diamond, and calyces of ruby.

"

The Buddha Śākyamuni answered Mañjuśrī, saying: "The Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara wishes to come to this sahā world from the buddha world called Kamala dala vimala nakṣatra rāja saṃ kusu mitā bhijña, together with eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas as his retinue. He approaches me in homage and reverence, wishing to make offerings and to hear the Lotus Sutra. "

Mañjuśrī asked the Buddha, saying: "O Bhagavat! What roots of good merit has he planted, and what merits has he practiced to attain his great transcendent powers? What kind of samādhihas he practiced? I entreat you to 290

Chapter XXIV

tell us the name of this samādhi.We wish to practice it with diligence. By practicing this samādhi we wish to see the shape, appearance, size, and manner of this bodhisattva. I entreat you, O Bhagavat, to use your transcendent powers and let us see the appearance of that bodhisattva. "

Then, the Buddha Śākyamuni spoke to Mañjuśrī, saying: "The Tathāgata Prabhūtaratna, who long ago entered parinirvāṇa, will manifest the signs for you.

"

At that time the Buddha Prabhūtaratna addressed that bodhisattva, saying: "Come, O son of a virtuous family! Mañjuśrī, the Prince of the Dharma, wishes to see you.

"

Thereupon Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara disappeared from his world and arrived together with eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas. In the worlds through which he passed, the land quaked in six ways, seven-jeweled lotus flowers rained everywhere, and hundreds of thousands of heavenly musical instruments sounded spontaneously without being played. The eyes of this bodhisattva were as large as blue lotus leaves. Even if hundreds of thousands of myriads of moons were gathered together they would not exceed the beauty of his countenance. His body was pure gold in color, adorned with immeasurable hundreds of thousands of merits, radiant with virtuous dignity, and brilliantly illuminated like the adamantine body of the god Nārāyaṇa. Having entered the seven-jeweled platform and ascended into the air, he flew above the earth at a height of seven tālatrees. Surrounded by respectful bodhisattvas, he arrived at Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa in this sahāworld and descended from the seven-jeweled terrace. He came before the Buddha Śākyamuni with a necklace worth hundreds of thousands in his hand and bowed until his forehead reached the Buddha's feet. He presented the necklace to the Buddha, saying: "O Bhagavat! The Buddha Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarāja saṃ kusu mitā bhijña in quires of the Bhagavat: Are you without illness or pain? Is your daily life pleasant? Are you at ease in practice? Is the world around you harmonious? Are your worldly affairs bearable? Is it easy to save sentient beings? Are they not filled with greed, anger, foolishness, avarice, and pride? Are they mindful of their parents? Do they respect śrāmaṇas? Do they not have false views or erring thoughts? Do they control the desires of their five senses? O Bhagavat! Do the sentient beings conquer māras? Has the Tathāgata 291

56a

The Lotus Sutra

Prabhūtaratna sitting in the seven-jeweled stupa long after his parinirvāṇa come here to hear the Dharma?

Furthermore, he inquired of the Tathāgata Prabhūtaratna, saying: "Are you at ease and without pain? O Bhagavat! Will your life be long and endured with patience? I now wish to see the body of the Buddha Prabhūtaratna. I entreat you, O Bhagavat, to manifest and show it to me. "

At that time the Buddha Śākyamuni said to the Buddha Pra bhū ta ratna: "This Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara wants to see you.

"

Then, the Buddha Prabhūtaratna addressed Gadgadasvara, saying: "Splendid! Splendid! You have paid homage to the Buddha Śākya muni and heard the Lotus Sutra,and have come here in order to see Mañjuśrī and others. "

Thereupon Bodhisattva Padmaśrī addressed the Buddha, saying: "O Bhagavat! What roots of good merit has this Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara planted, and what merits has he practiced to attain these transcendent powers?" The Buddha answered Bodhisattva Padmaśrī, saying: "In the past there was the Buddha called Meghadundubhisvararāja, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened. His world was called Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana and the kalpa was called Priyadarśana. For a period of twelve thousand years Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara paid homage to the Buddha Meghadundubhisvararāja with a hundred thousand kinds of music and eighty-four thousand seven-jeweled bowls. As a result of his deeds he was born in the world of the Buddha Kamala dalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña and has attained his transcendent powers. O Padmaśrī! What do you think about this? Is Bodhisattva Gadgada svara, who paid homage to the Buddha Meghadundubhisvararāja with music and jeweled vessels, someone unknown? Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Gad ga dasvara here present is one and the same. O Padmaśrī! Having closely and respectfully attended innumerable buddhas and planted roots of good merit over a long time, this Bodhisattva Gadgada svara met hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of buddhas equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River. O Padmaśrī! You think that the body of Bodhisattva Gadgada svara exists only here; however, this bodhisattva manifests himself in various bodies. He has thus taught this sutra in many places for the sake of the sentient beings. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of Brahma. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of Śakra. Sometimes he has appeared in the form 292

Chapter XXIV

of Īśvara. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of Maheśvara. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of the great commander of the devas. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of Vaiśravaṇa. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of a noble emperor. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of a minor king. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of a wealthy man. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of a householder. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of a state official. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of a brahman. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of a monk, nun, layman, or laywoman. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of the wife of a wealthy man or a householder. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of the wife of a state official. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of the wife of a brahman. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of a boy or a girl. Sometimes he has appeared in the form of a human, or a nonhuman such as a deva, nāga,yakṣa, gandharva, asura,garuḍa, kiṃnara, or maho raga.

"In this way he has expounded this sutra and saved those in the states of being of hell-dwellers, hungry ghosts, animals, and those in difficult circumstances. Sometimes he has transformed himself into a female in royal harems and taught this sutra. O Padmaśrī! This Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara saves all sentient beings in the sahāworld. This Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara has transformed himself into various forms and taught this sutra for the sake of all sentient beings. Nevertheless, his transcendent power has never decreased, nor his power of transformation or his wisdom. This bodhisattva illuminates the sahāworld with his great wisdom and causes every sentient being to attain what should be known. He does exactly the same in all the worlds of the ten directions, which are equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River. If he is able to save them in the form of a śrāvaka,he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a śrāvaka.If he is able to save them in the form of a pratyekabuddha,he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a pratyekabuddha.If he is able to save them in the form of a bodhisattva, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a bodhisattva. If he is able to save them in the form of a buddha, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a buddha. Thus he transforms himself in various ways according to the capacities of those who are to be saved. If he is able to save them by means of parinirvāṇa,he manifests parinirvāṇa to them. O Padmaśrī! Bodhisattva Mahāsattva 293

56b

Chapter 25: The Gateway to Every Direction [Manifested by Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara]

56c

The Lotus Sutra

Gadgadasvara has achieved his transcendent powers and the power of wisdom in just such a manner.

"

Thereupon, Bodhisattva Padmaśrī addressed the Buddha, saying: "O Bhaga vat! Deep are the roots of good merit that this Bodhi sattva Gadgada svara has planted! O Bhagavat! In what samādhidid this bodhisattva dwell, such that he was able to appear in various places in this way, and bring sentient beings to the path?"

The Buddha answered Bodhisattva Padmaśrī, saying: "O son of a virtuous family! That samādhi was called sarvarūpa saṃ darśana. Dwelling in this samādhi, Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara has benefited innumerable sentient beings in this way.

"

When this chapter "Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara,

" was being taught, those

eighty-four thousand people who had come with Bodhi sattva Gadgadasvara attained the samādhicalled sarva rūpa saṃdarśana.Innumerable bodhisattvas in this sahāworld also attained this samādhiand dhāraṇī.Then Bodhisattva Mahā sattva Gadgadasvara paid homage to the Buddha Śākyamuni and the stupa of the Buddha Prabhūtaratna and returned to his own world. Those worlds through which he traveled quaked in six ways and it rained jeweled lotus flowers. Hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of variegated music was heard. Having returned to his own world, he approached the Buddha Kamaladalavimala nakṣatra rāja saṃkusumitābhijña, surrounded by eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas, and said to him: "O Bhagavat! I have been to the sahā world and benefited the sentient beings. Having seen the Buddha Śākyamuni and the stupa of the Buddha Prabhūtaratna, I paid homage to them and made them offerings. Having seen Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī, the Prince of the Dharma, Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja, Bodhisattva Vīryabalavegaprāpta, and Bodhisattva Pradānaśūra, I caused these eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas to attain the samādhicalled sarvarū pasaṃ darśana. "

When this chapter,

"The Coming and Going of Bodhisattva Gadgada svara, " was taught, forty-two thousand sons of the devas attained the acceptance of the nonorigination of all dharmas; and Bodhisattva Padmaśrī attained the saddharmapuṇḍarīkasamādhi.

294

Chapter XXV

The Gateway to Every Direction

[Manifested by Bodhisattva

Avalokiteśvara]

Thereupon arising from his seat with his right shoulder bared, Bodhisattva Akṣayamati faced the Buddha with his palms pressed together, and spoke thus to him: "O Bhagavat! For what reason is Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Hearer of the Sounds of the World) called Ava lo kiteśvara?" The Buddha answered Bodhisattva Akṣayamati, saying: "O son of a virtuous family! If innumerable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of sentient beings who experience suffering hear of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara and wholeheartedly chant his name, Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara will immediately perceive their voices and free them from their suffering. Even if those who hold to the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara were to enter a great fire, because of this bodhisattva's transcendent power, the fire would not be able to burn them. If they were adrift on the great waters, by chanting his name they would reach the shallows. There are hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of sentient beings who enter the great ocean to seek such treasures as gold, silver, lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl, agate, coral, amber, and pearl. Even if a cyclone were to blow the ship of one of these toward the land of rākṣasademons, they would all become free from the danger of those rākṣasademons if there were even a single person among them who chanted the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. For this reason he is called Avalokiteśvara.

"If anyone who is about to be beaten chants the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, the sticks and swords will immediately be broken into pieces and he will be delivered. If the yakṣas and rākṣasas filling the great manifold cosmos come with the intent to afflict the people but hear them chanting, those demons' evil eyes will be unable to see them, so how could they possibly hurt them?

295

57a

The Lotus Sutra

"If anyone, whether guilty or innocent, is bound with fetters or chains, such bonds will be broken into pieces; and those who have been bound will become free by chanting the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. When a caravan leader travels on a dangerous road together with his fellow merchants, carrying precious treasures in a great manifold cosmos filled with evil robbers, if there be a single person who says:

O sons of a virtuous family! Do not fear! You should wholeheartedly chant the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. This bodhisattva bestows fearlessness upon sentient beings. If you chant his name, you will be free from these evil robbers.

"Now, if those merchants chant loudly in unison, saying: Homage to Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara!

"Then, by chanting his name, the caravan will immediately gain deliverance. O Akṣayamati! The transcendent power of Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalo kiteśvara is as great and mighty as this. "If there are any sentient beings who are greatly subject to sensual desires, if they contemplate Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara with respect, they will become free from these desires. If there are any sentient beings who often become angry, if they contemplate Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara with respect, they will become free from anger. If there are any sentient beings who are greatly confused, if they contemplate Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara with respect, they will become free from their confusion. O Akṣayamati! Thus Bodhisattva Avalo kiteśvara greatly benefits sentient beings through his transcendent power. For this reason sentient beings should always turn their thoughts to him. "If any woman wanting to have a baby boy pays homage and makes offerings to Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, she will bear a baby boy endowed with good merit and wisdom. If she wants to have a baby girl, she will bear a beautiful and handsome baby girl who has planted roots of good merit and will have the love of sentient beings. O Akṣayamati! Such are the transcendent powers of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara that if any sentient being reverently respects him, the merit they achieve will never be in vain. For this reason sentient beings should hold to the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. O Akṣayamati! What do you think of someone who holds to the names of the 296

Chapter XXV

bodhisattvas equal in number to the sands of sixty-two koṭis of Ganges Rivers and pays homage to them with drink and food, clothes, bedding, and medicine. Is the merit of this son or daughter of a virtuous family great or not?" Akṣayamati answered, saying: "O Bhagavat! It is great. "

The Buddha said: "If there is anyone who holds to the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara and anyone who pays homage to him and makes offerings even for a moment, the merit of these two people will be equal and the same; it will never be extinguished after hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas. O Akṣayamati! Those who hold to the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara will attain such benefits of immeasurable and limitless merit. "

The Bodhisattva Akṣayamati addressed the Buddha, saying: "O Bhagavat! How does Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara wander through this sahāworld? How does he teach the Dharma for the sake of sentient beings? What of his power of skillful means?"

The Buddha said to Bodhisattva Akṣayamati: "O son of a virtuous family! If there is any land where sentient beings are to be saved by the form of a buddha, Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a buddha. To those who are to be saved by the form of a pratyekabuddha,he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a pratyekabuddha.To those who are to be saved by the form of a śrāvaka, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a śrāvaka.To those who are to be saved by the form of Brahma, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of Brahma. To those who are to be saved by the form of Śakra, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of Śakra. To those who are to be saved by the form of Īśvara, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of Īśvara. To those who are to be saved in the form of Maheśvara, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of Maheśvara. To those who are to be saved by the form of the great commander of the devas, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of the great commander of the devas. To those who are to be saved by the form of Vaiśravaṇa, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of Vaiśravaṇa. To those who are to be saved by the form of a minor king, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a minor king. To those who are to be saved by the form of a wealthy man, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a wealthy 297

57b

57c

The Lotus Sutra

man. To those who are to be saved by the form of a householder, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a householder. To those who are to be saved by the form of a state official, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a state official. To those who are to be saved by the form of a brahman, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a brahman. To those who are to be saved by the form of a monk, nun, layman, or laywoman, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a monk, nun, layman, or laywoman. To those who are to be saved by the form of a wife of either a wealthy man, a householder, a state official, or a brahman, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of such a wife. To those who are to be saved by the form of a boy or a girl, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of a boy or a girl. To those who are to be saved by the form of a human or of a nonhuman such as a deva,nāga,yakṣa,gandharva,asura,garuḍa,kiṃnara,or mahoraga,he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into any of these forms. To those who are to be saved by the form of Vajrapāṇi, he teaches the Dharma by changing himself into the form of Vajrapāṇi.

"O Akṣayamati! This Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara displays such qualities, wanders through many lands in various forms, and saves sentient beings. For this reason you should wholeheartedly pay homage to Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. This Bodhisattva Avalo kiteśvara bestows fearlessness in times of fearful calamity. For this reason everybody in this sahāworld calls him Abhayaṃ dada (Giver of Fearlessness). The Bodhisattva Akṣayamati addressed the Buddha, saying: "O Bhagavat! I shall now pay homage to Bodhisattva Avalo kiteśvara. "

He then took from his neck a many-jeweled necklace worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins, gave it to him, and said: "I entreat you to accept this rare-jeweled necklace for the Dharma.

"

At that time Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara did not dare to receive it. Akṣayamati addressed Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, saying: "I entreat you to accept this necklace out of pity for us.

"

Then the Buddha said to Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara: "You should accept this necklace out of pity for such humans and nonhumans as this Bodhisattva Akṣayamati, the fourfold assembly, devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas.

"

298

Chapter XXV

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara accepted the necklace out of pity for the fourfold assembly, devas, nāgas, humans, non humans, and the rest. He then divided it into two parts and gave one part to the Buddha Śākyamuni and the other part to the stupa of the Buddha Prabhūtaratna. "O Akṣayamati! With such inherent transcendent powers Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara wanders throughout the sahāworld. "

Thereupon, Bodhisattva Akṣayamati asked a question in verse, saying: O Bhagavat, endowed with excellent marks! I now wish to ask you about him once again: For what reason is the heir of the Buddha Named Avalokiteśvara?

The Bhagavat, endowed with excellent marks, answered Akṣaya mati in verse:

Listen to the practices of Avalokiteśvara, Which have their application to all! His vow is deep like the ocean And his kalpais of inconceivable length. After having attended

Many thousands of koṭis of buddhas, He made a great, pure vow.

I will now explain it to you in brief: If you hear his name and see his body, And contemplate him in thought, Your life will not be in vain; And you will extinguish all suffering. If anyone wants to hurt you

And pushes you into a great firepit, If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, The firepit will change into a pond. If you drift upon the great ocean and meet danger From dragons, fish, and demons, If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, You will not be swallowed by the waves. 299

The Lotus Sutra

58a

If you are on the peak of Sumeru And are pushed by somebody,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, You will stay suspended in the air like the sun. If any evil one chases you

And pushes you from Mount Diamond, If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, Not even a single hair will be hurt. If evil robbers surround you

Each with a sword and the intent to harm, If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, The thought of mercy will awaken in them. If you suffer under the punishment of a king And your life is to be ended by execution, If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, The sword will be immediately broken into pieces. If you are imprisoned with a neck chain, Your hands and feet fettered,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, They will disappear and you will be released. If anyone wants to hurt your body With a curse or poison,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, These ills will return and afflict their authors. If you meet evil rākṣasas,

Poisonous dragons, or demons,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, They will not dare to hurt you. If you are surrounded by evil animals Whose teeth and claws are fearfully sharp, If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, They will run away swiftly

And to an immeasurable distance. If there are lizards, snakes, vipers, or scorpions, Whose breath is poisonous like a flaming smoke, 300

Chapter XXV

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, They will turn away swiftly at the sound of your voice. If thunder resounds, lightning flashes, Hail falls, and a great rain pours out of the clouds, If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, They will disappear immediately. If sentient beings are in great adversity, And immeasurable pain afflicts them, The wonderful power of the wisdom of Avalokiteśvara Can relieve the suffering of the world. Endowed with transcendent powers And having fully mastered wisdom and skillful means, In all the worlds of the ten directions, There is no place where he will not manifest himself. The suffering of those in the troubled states of being: Hell-dwellers, hungry ghosts, and animals; And the suffering of birth, old age, illness, and death Will gradually be extinguished. He who perceives the world with truth, purity, And vast knowledge,

And with benevolence and compassion, Should be ever longed for and looked up to. He is a spotless pure ray of light, A sun of wisdom that destroys the darkness, A flame that withstands the winds of calamity. He brilliantly illuminates the entire world. His will, the essence of which is compassion, Shakes like thunder;

And the mind of mercy

Is like a beautiful overspreading cloud, Which pours the Dharma rain of immortality And extinguishes the flame of desires. In a dispute before judges,

Or fearful in the midst of battle, If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, 301