T848 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

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Chapter X

The Wheel of Letters

Thereupon the Bhagavān Vairocana addressed the vajradharaLord of Mysteries, saying, "Listen attentively, Lord of Mysteries! There is an all-pervading gateway to the Dharma, and if, Lord of Mysteries, a bodhisattva dwells in these letter-gateways, all his undertakings will be completely successful. Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, a.[235 = 73] Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sa.(Homage to all Buddhas! Sa!) [236] Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, va. (Homage to all Vajras! Va!) [237] Ka kha ga gha, ca cha ja jha, ṭa ṭha ḍa ḍha, ta tha da dha, pa pha ba bha, ya ra la va, śa ṣa sa ha, kṣa. <The above represent the first vowel (i.e., -a) and are all in the rising tone; pronounce them short. >

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ā.[238 = 74] Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sā.(Homage to all Buddhas! Sā!) [239] Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, vā. (Homage to all Vajras! Vā!) [240] Kā khā gā ghā, cā chā jā jhā, ṭā ṭhā ḍā ḍhā, tā thā dā dhā, pā phā bā bhā, yā rā lā vā, śā ṣā sā hā, kṣā. <The above represent the first vowel and are all in the departing tone; pronounce them long. >

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, aṃ.[241 = 75] Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, saṃ.[242 = 89] 119

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Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, vaṃ.(Homage to all Vajras! Vaṃ!) [243] Kaṃ khaṃ gaṃ ghaṃ, caṃ chaṃ jaṃ jhaṃ, ṭaṃ ṭhaṃ ḍaṃ ḍhaṃ, taṃ thaṃ daṃ dhaṃ, paṃ phaṃ baṃ bhaṃ, yaṃ raṃ laṃ vaṃ, śaṃ ṣaṃ saṃ haṃ, kṣaṃ.

<These nasalized syllables all have the first vowel; pronounce them with their proper sound.

>

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, aḥ.[244 = 76]

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, saḥ.[245 = 80]

Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, vaḥ.[246 = 81]

Kaḥ khaḥ gaḥ ghaḥ, caḥ chaḥ jaḥ jhaḥ, ṭaḥ ṭhaḥ ḍaḥ ḍhaḥ, taḥ thaḥ daḥ dhaḥ, paḥ phaḥ baḥ bhaḥ, yaḥ raḥ laḥ vaḥ, śaḥ ṣaḥ saḥ haḥ, kṣaḥ. <These all have the first vowel; pronounce them with the entering tone.

>

I ī u ū ṛ ṝ ḷ ḹ e ai o au.

Ṅa ña ṇa na ma, ṅā ñā ṇā nā mā, ṅaṃ ñaṃ ṇaṃ naṃ maṃ, ṅaḥ ñaḥ ṇaḥ naḥ maḥ.

"Lord of Mysteries, the path of these letter-gateways is a gateway to the Dharma involving skill [in these letters], whereby one progressively comes to abide in the mantra path; it is empowered by the supernatural power of all Tathāgatas, one will [thereby] fully comprehend the path of the Perfectly Allknowing One, and it represents the dance of bodhisattva practices. The Worldhonored Buddhas of the past, future, and present have taught it, will teach it, and are now teaching it. Lord of Mysteries, as I now survey buddha fields everywhere, there is none where I do not see this all-pervading gateway to the Dharma, nor is there any among the Tathāgatas who does not proclaim it. Therefore, Lord of Mysteries, if they wish to understand [mantra rites], bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices via the gateway of mantras should diligently train in this all-pervading gateway to the Dharma. "If one adds initials, medials, and finals to ka, ca, ṭa, ta, and paand thereby enters the varieties of mental equipoise, one will spontaneously attain the bodhi-mind, practice, the accomplishment of full and perfect awakening, and parinirvāṇa.These letter-gateways explained [above], when combined with 120

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ritual instructions for mantras, may be accompanied by initials, medials, and finals. If a mantrinknows this, he will obtain mastery according to [the inclinations of] his mind. He should employ every single one of these phrases with resolve, and if he understands them with intelligence, he will be granted an unsurpassed and special state. In this way does the wheel of letters revolve from a single wheel. On account of having understood this, the mantrinwill always illuminate the world like the World-honored One Vairocana and turn the Dharma wheel.

"

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Chapter 11: The Secret Maṇḍala

Chapter XI

The Secret Maṇḍala

Thereupon the Bhagavān Vairocana surveyed the entire Dharma realm with the eyes of a Tathāgata and entered the kośa(treasury) of the Dharma realm, the samādhi"Treasury of the Adornments of Equality" with the Tathāgata's [lionlike] resolute speed, in order to manifest the inexhaustible adornments of the Dharma realm and in order to deliver realms of beings without remainder with this gateway of mantra practices and fulfill his original vow. Then, while in samādhi,the Buddha emitted throughout these inexhaustible realms of beings and from a multitude of vocal gateways sounds according to their kind, [sounds that] in accordance with their own nature [conformed with] their maturation of karma and [re]birth, their receiving of results and retribution, colors and shapes, various languages, and what they thought in their minds, and he expounded the Dharma for them, causing all beings to all obtain joy. Furthermore, from every single pore there emerged additional bodies of the Dharma realm, and after they had appeared, commensurate with empty space, they expounded throughout immeasurable world-systems and with the verbal manifestation of the Dharma realm consisting of a single sound the verses on generation of the Tathāgata. It produces in forms according to their kind the dharma-marks of dharmas,

Buddhas, śrāvakas, world-saving pratyekabuddhas, Multitudes of striving and heroic bodhisattvas, and likewise the honored among humans;85

Beings and the physical world are established in succession, And dharmas that are born, abide, and so on are forever produced in this manner.

On account of their being endowed with wisdom and expedient means, they are free from ignorance and doubt,

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And because they have observed this path, the Perfectly All-knowing Ones teach [thus].

Then the body of the Tathāgata born of the Dharma realm completely filled the entire Dharma realm with clouds of transformations of his own physical manifestation. The World-honored One Vairocana, in the mere time it takes to generate a thought, emitted immeasurable buddhas from his pores, and after they had been empowered one after another, they again entered the palace of the Dharma realm.

At this the World-honored One Vairocana again addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries, saying,

"Lord of Mysteries, there are instances in which

the positions, seed[-syllables], and insignia of the holy deities of the maṇḍala are set up [on the person of the practitioner]. You should listen attentively and consider it carefully as I now explain.

"

The vajradharaLord of Mysteries said,

"So be it, World-honored One.

I am eager to listen.

"

Then the Bhagavān spoke in verse:

The mantrinfirst situates circular altars (maṇḍalas) in his own body: From the feet to the navel constitutes a great vajracircle; From here to the heart he should imagine a water circle; Above the water circle is a fire circle, and above the fire circle is a wind circle.

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Then he should keep in mind the ground and draw the various images. Then Vajrapāṇi rose to the stage of the body, speech, and mind of the World-honored One Vairocana; observing that [all] dharmas are equal, he thought of future beings, and in order to sever all doubts he uttered the great king of mantras: Namaḥ samanta buddhānāṃ asamāptadharmadhātugatiṃ gatānāṃ, sarva thā āṃ khāṃ aṃ aḥ saṃ saḥ haṃ haḥ raṃ raḥ vaṃ vaḥ svāhā, hūṃ raṃ raḥ hra haḥ svāhā, raṃ raḥ svāhā.(Homage to all Buddhas who have gone to the state of the unending Dharma realm! In every way āṃ khāṃ aṃ aḥ saṃ saḥ haṃ haḥ raṃ raḥ vaṃ vaḥ svāhā! hūṃ raṃ raḥ hra haḥ svāhā!raṃ raḥ svāhā!) [247]

When the vajradharaLord of Mysteries had finished uttering this king of mantras, all Tathāgatas dwelling in world-systems in the ten directions each extended their right hand and caressed the vajradhara's head, and with 124

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exclamations of applause they praised him, saying, "Excellent, excellent,

Son of the Buddha! You have ascended to the stage of the body, speech, and mind of the World-honored One Vairocana, and out of a desire to illumine bodhisattvas everywhere dwelling in the mantra path of equality you have uttered this king of mantras. Why? The World-honored One Vairocana, worthy [of worship] and perfectly and fully awakened, when seated on the bodhiseat observed the Dharma realm with [these] twelve syllables and vanquished the four demons. These [syllables] born of the Dharma realm flowed forth from three places [in his body] and destroyed the hosts of the army of the heavenly demon (i.e., Pāpīyas). Then he obtained the equality of the body, speech, and mind of a World-honored One, the measure of his body being identical with that of empty space and likewise the measure of his speech and mind. He attained the arising of boundless knowledge, became sovereign over all dharmas, and expounded the Dharma, namely, this twelve-syllable king of mantras. Son of the Buddha, because you have now realized the equal body, speech, and mind of the World-honored One Vairocana, you will be recognized by all as being identical to a perfectly all-knowing one. "

They then spoke these verses:

You have asked the omniscient Vairocana, the Honored One who is perfectly awakened,

About the supreme mantra practices, and he will explain the ritual instructions.

In former times we awakened wondrous bodhiby this means, Revealed all dharmas, and caused [others] to reach nirvana. The buddhas presently in realms in the ten directions have all realized this.

Then Vajrapāni, endowed with virtue, rejoiced greatly in his heart and, empowered by the awesome divinity of the buddhas, he spoke these verses: This Dharma is never exhausted, has no own-nature, and does not abide [in one place];

It is liberated from karma and [re]birth, and is the same as the Perfectly All-knowing One.

The expedient means of world-saviors operating in accordance with their vows of compassion,

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I have come to understand unborn knowledge, that the characteristics of dharmas are thus.

Then the vajradharaLord of Mysteries again spoke some udānaverses, asking the World-honored One Vairocana to resolve for the sake of beings in future ages any doubts concerning this great maṇḍala"Born of the Matrix of Great Compassion.

"

"You have severed all doubts, your [all-]faceted knowledge is free from torments,

And for the sake of beings I beg leave to ask questions of you, the Guiding Teacher.

Please explain, Great Muni, what is to be done first in the maṇḍala. How many [kinds of] ācāryas are there, and how many kinds of disciples?

How does one recognize the characteristics of the site? And how does one select and prepare it?

How should one purify it? How does one make it firm And purify the disciples?—I beg the Guiding Teacher to explain. What are the signs that they have been purified? With what does one perform protection?

How does one empower the site? Which of the [ritual] deeds comes first?

How many sūtras (cords) are there? How does one demarcate the site?

How many kinds of offerings does one make? What are the flowers, incense, and so on?

To whom should one offer these flowers and likewise incense? How should one make offerings, and with which flowers and incense?

Which rites are used for food [offerings] and homarespectively? And the seats of the holy divinities—I beg you to explain the instructions for them.

Please elaborate in due order on the color and form of their physical appearance,

On the mystic seals of the honored ones, and on the seats laid out for them.

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Why are they called "seals"? From where do these seals arise? Again, how many kinds of consecration are there? How many samayas are there?

For how long does the mantrindiligently cultivate mantra practices To complete the bodhisattva path? How does he see the truth? How many kinds of siddhiare there? And times of accomplishment? How does one rise up into the open sky? What is the secrecy (i.e., invisibility) of the body?

[How] does one achieve a divine body without forsaking this body? Again, from where do various [supernatural] transformations arise? The bad omens that appear because of the sun, moon, fire, directions, Planets, lunar mansions, stars, and divisions of time, as well as the sufferings experienced in birth-and-death—

How does one prevent them from occurring and, once they have occurred, completely eliminate them?

And [how] is one able to constantly serve the buddhas, honored among two-legged beings?

How many kinds of homafires are there? And with how many deeds does one increase their potency?

I but beg the Guiding Teacher to explain the different natures of the buddhas.

The results and their number and measure and the special samādhis Of world-systems without remainder and supramundane [realms]— Where does their maturation lie, and why do they not maturate? Again, how much time will elapse before one obtains liberation from karma and [re]birth?"

The World-honored One, perfectly awakened, omniscient, and free from torments,

Addressed Vajrapāṇi, saying,

"Excellent, Great Striving Hero!

The secret maṇḍala,with the positions of the holy divinities fixed, Born from the root of great compassion, the unsurpassed Mahayana, Is the supreme secret of the buddhas. In accordance with your questions,

Vajradhara of great power, I shall now explain in brief. You should listen attentively, Son of the Buddha, to the initial deeds [to be performed] in the maṇḍala.

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The very powerful vidyārāja,

87 born of twelve component syllables,

Should be recited at the very start while dwelling in one's own samādhi,

And comprehending the path of yoga,one performs the various deeds.

There are two [kinds of] ācāryas, who have [both] mastered seals and mantras;

Their characteristics are likewise divided into the profound and the superficial.

[The former] are familiar with the profound and extensive meanings [of the teachings] and confer them on those to whom they may be transmitted;

They are the eldest sons of the Perfectly Awakened Ones and are far removed from worldly pleasures.

The second seeks the present world and is deeply attached to delusory objects of cognition;

Mundane maṇḍalas are all made for them,

And they have been consecrated and had the teachings transmitted to them by the buddhas, honored among two-legged beings. Four kinds of disciples are explained, owing to distinctions between the ready and the unready:

One is those who are ready to recite, and there are those who are not ready, those who are both, and those who are neither; He who possesses all characteristics is described by the Buddha as a close disciple.

First know the characteristics of the site, that is to say, the mindground; I have already explained its purification: practice those deeds as before. If it is free from faults, there is nothing to fear in the mind-ground, And it will [then] achieve true purity and be free from all faults. Dwelling firmly in this knowledge, one will see one's own saṃbodhi; If one does otherwise, one will not be able to purify the site. If the practitioner purifies the site while dwelling in false differentiation,

Lord of Mysteries, he is not purifying it because he is dissociated from the bodhi-mind.

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Therefore, one must abandon differentiation before purifying any site.

I have explained in full about maṇḍalas in the ritual instructions, And the things that come first among them are not understood by the stupid:

They will not be called enlightened in the world, nor will they be omniscient,

And they will be unable to abandon differentiation, the cause of sufferings.

[The ācārya] should purify the bodhi-mind for the disciple And protect him with Acalanātha or by using Trailokyavijaya. If the disciple is not swayed by false attachment, He will accomplish supreme and perfect awakening, unsullied like empty space.

The initial empowering of this site is based on the buddhas' teachings, And the second on freedom of the mind, which is found only here and not in other teachings.

The four kinds of sūtras [of which the marking cord is made] are, namely, white, yellow, red, and black;

What should be thought of as the fifth is, namely, the color of empty space.

[First,] holding [the cord] level in midair, one demarcates the maṇḍala[visualized in the air];

Second, one holds a [second] cord and lays it out on the ground of the ritual site.

The seats of all Tathāgatas and those of the wise sons of the buddhas Are wondrous lotus flowers pleasing to the mind, praised as auspicious by the world at large.

As for pratyekabuddhas and śrāvakas, that is to say, those of [one-]sided knowledge,

One should know that the seats laid out for them are the leaves of lotuses and blue lotuses.

For heavenly divinities of mundane realms, foremost among whom are Brahmā and his hosts,

There is the red-colored padmaflower, praised as the king of seats. 32c

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As for those below these [gods], mindfully place them as appropriate in their sections of the site.

There are four kinds of worship, namely, making obeisance with palms clasped together,

Also kindness and compassion, flowers and incense as given by the world at large,

And flowers [mentally] generated from one's hands, and these one offers up to the world-saviors.

Binding the seal 'birth from [all the Tathāgata's] limbs, ' one

observes the bodhi-mind,

And to each of the Tathāgatas and the sons born of them, With these flawless flowers, fragrant and radiant, And the Dharma realm having become an [enormous] king of trees, one makes offerings, to the honored among humans. Empowered with mantras and freely controlled by samādhi, Clouds wondrous and vast arise in the Dharma realm, And from them flowers always rain down everywhere in front of the buddhas.

For the other mundane gods one should also scatter these flowers, And when offering them up, conform with their own mantras and their nature and type.

In this manner unguent and so on should also accord with what is appropriate.

Hold [the tips of] the thumb and ring finger together: this is called the auspicious seal.

The flowers and so on to be offered up should be brought to one's chest and [then] offered;

In the case of mundane heavenly divinities, one should know that they are [held] level with the navel.

Alternatively, with the adamantine fist seal or again with the lotus-flower garland [seal],

[Hold the offering] up in the air and offer it to the guiding teachers, world-saviors,

And through to the mundane gods, each in their proper order. There are two kinds of homa,namely, internal and external: 130

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One obtains liberation from karma and [re]birth, and there is also the arising of sprouts and seeds [of awakening]. Because it is able to burn away karma, it is called 'internal homa. '

For external use there are three positions (i.e., practitioner, hearth, and deity), and these three positions dwell within [each of] the three.

Accomplishing the path of the three actions88 is the excellent mundane homa.

Whoever does otherwise does not comprehend the deeds of homa; Ignorant, he will not obtain any results, having forsaken mantra knowledge.

Mantras of the Tathāgata Family and those uttered by Perfectly Awakened Ones

Should be known to be white and yellow, and those of Vajra[pāṇi] are multicolored;

The mantras of Avalokiteśvara are pure white, and they change according to the [ritual] deed.

[The altar] is doubly square everywhere [in the center and on the perimeter] or, in order, circular,

And likewise its shape is described as a triangle or a semilunar disc. First one should know the physical forms [of the deities]: they have, namely, male or female bodies.

Moreover, in all places and in accordance with the form and color of their type,

They are born of inconceivable knowledge, and therefore they are inconceivable.

There are distinctions in conformity with things, but knowledge and the realization of knowledge are always one.

One should know that the extensiveness of one's mind constitutes their measure,

And so too is it for the seats and seals and also the heavenly divinities. From that same place whence buddhas are born seals are similarly born,

And with these seals born of the Dharma [the ācārya] seals his disciples.

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Therefore, it is taught in brief that the Dharma realm uses these (i.e., seals) as its insignia.

There are three kinds of consecration—listen wholeheartedly, Son of the Buddha!

The expedient means with secret seals is dissociated from [other] actions;

It is called the first excellent method, and one is consecrated by the Tathāgata.

That which is called the second gives rise to the performance of many [ritual] deeds.

The third is conferred by the mind and is completelydissociated from time and place;

In order to please the honored [ācārya], one should perform it as explained,

And one will be consecrated directly by the Buddha: this is the most excellent.

The Perfectly Awakened One has explained in brief five kinds of samaya.

The first is possessing the samayaon seeing a maṇḍala; Words of truth (i.e., mantras) are not yet transmitted, nor are mystic seals conferred.

The second samayais entering and looking at the assembly of holy divinities.

In the third, complete with altar and seals, one practices wondrous actions in accordance with the teachings. Next, [the ācāryagrants] permission to transmit the teachings, and this is described as possessing the [fourth] samaya. Although one may possess [knowledge of] seals and the positions [of the deities] in the altar as explained in the teachings, So long as one has not obtained the consecration of the mind, secret wisdom does not arise.

Therefore, in the center of the secret ritual site the mantrin, Possessing the fifth pledge (samaya), should be consecrated in accordance with the rules.

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One should know that anything other than this is not called samaya. If, well abiding [in the precepts] and meditating on the mind, the mantrinawakens to the mind

Without apprehending the three loci,

89 he is described as a bodhisattva.

Having attained the practice of meditating without any object, he benefits beings with expedient means

In order to plant the roots of goodness, and therefore he is called honored among humans.

In dharmas originally quiescent and always without own-nature, He rests like [Mount] Sume[ru]: this is called seeing the truth. This emptiness corresponds to the apex of reality, and it is not false words;

What is seen [by him] is like [that which is seen by] the Buddha, and previous buddhas have [also] seen thus.

The siddhiof attaining the bodhi-mind is quite unsurpassed; Apart from this, there is a fivefold distinction among the siddhis: That is to say, entry into the cultivation of practice, advancing up through the stages,

The five mundane supernatural faculties, [the state of] buddhas, and [the state of] pratyekabuddhas and so on. If one practices unceasingly until the continuum of the mind is pure, Causing that which has not yet matured to maturate, it is then that siddhiis accomplished.

In that single moment of time, pure action and the mind are both identical,

And the mantrinwill achieve the arising of siddhiat will: He ascends into the sky through siddhilike one who is unafraid of illusions;

His ensorcellments by means of the net of magical arts are like Indra's net;

Just like all the people in a gandharvacity (i.e., mirage), So too is the secrecy (i.e., invisibility) of his body, being neither of the body nor of consciousness.

Again, just as in a dream while asleep one may visit the palaces of the gods

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Without forsaking this body and without [actually] going there, So too in yogic dreams, for him who dwells in mantra practices, His physical appearance born of meritorious actions is like a rainbow. The wish-fulfilling gem of mantras is born of mind, speech, and body, And it causes many things to rain down as desired without any thoughts of differentiation.

Just as empty space in the ten directions is dissociated from conditioned formations,

So too is the mantrinundefiled by any differentiated formations. Realizing that there is only thought, he observes everything in this manner,

And then the mantrinrejoices together with the buddhas. The Perfectly Awakened One, honored among two-legged beings, has described two kinds of homa,

That is to say, internal and external, and increasing the potency [of offerings] is also like this.

Having examined the special types and natures of the deities, one should recognize them.

I shall now explain the limited measure of the mantras of mundane [gods].

In the case of heavenly divinities known by many, such as the blessed Īśvara,

The spells uttered by them, as well as the seals of the very powerful ones,

All have results in the present world, and therefore it is taught that they have a certain measure.

Even though [results] are accomplished, they are not enduring and are all characterized by birth and extinction. Mantras of the supramundane are unproduced and originally unborn; Karma and [re]birth are completely severed, and, victorious, they are dissociated from the three faults.

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I shall [now] explain the measure of the mantras of unicornlike [pratyekabuddhas,] without a teacher,

And of the multitudes of the Buddha's śrāvakas and of bodhisattvas: They transcend the three ages and arise from many conditions, 134

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And their results, visible and invisible, are born of mind, speech, and body.

The results and their span circulated in the world are for one eon; The mantras taught by the Perfectly Awakened One go beyond numbers of eons.

The samādhis of the Great Seer, perfectly awakened, and of the multitudes of the Buddha's sons

Are pure and dissociated from thought; those that are associated with thought are mundane.

In the acquisition of results through action, there is maturation and a time for maturation;

If one achieves siddhi,one performs actions freely. Because the mind has no own-nature, it is far removed from cause and result,

And liberated from karma and [re]birth, one's birth is commensurate with empty space.

"Again, Lord of Mysteries, listen attentively! The mystic seals, 91 the

appearance [of the deities], the layout of the positions of the holy divinities, the actual manifestation of their awesome efficacy, and the goals of their samādhis—these five are the practices of the empty space of the Dharma realm whereby buddhas of former times accomplished bodhi,and their original vow was to liberate realms of beings without remainder out of a desire to benefit and make happy those bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices via the gateway of mantras.

"

Vajrapāṇi said,

"So be it, World-honored One. I am eager to listen. "

Then the Bhagavān spoke in verse:

First, the layout of the maṇḍalaof the Perfectly Awakened One, That born of the matrix of great compassion, the [most] secret of secrets,

As well as immeasurable mundane and supramundane maṇḍalas— All the figures for these I shall explain in proper order. Be sure to listen.

[The maṇḍala] is square all around, with one entrance and a passageway;

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It is adorned right around with vajraseals, and in the center is a karma-vajra(crossed vajra),

On top of which is a wondrous lotus flower, open and containing seeds.

On it is the seal of a great lotus, adorned with great dots of emptiness; Its eight petals are perfectly arranged and lovely, with stamens. The syllables born of the twelve-limbed [mantra]92 are [placed] right around the inside of the flowery pedestal, On top of which [sits] the Guiding Teacher and Perfectly Awakened One, honored among two-legged beings, Himself surrounded by attendants on eight maṇḍalas. 93

You should know that this is foremost, the maṇḍala"Born of Compassion.

"

From this there emanate the [other] altars (i.e., maṇḍalas), each in accordance with their own teachings,

Together with [ritual] deeds, shapes, siddhi,and installation of the Buddha's sons (i.e., deities).

Next, Lord of Mysteries, the Tathāgata's maṇḍala Is [circular] like a clear round moon, manifesting the color of a śaṅkhawithin.

The triangle of all buddhas is on a white lotus flower [in the center],

Marked with dots of emptiness and surrounded by vajraseals. From the mantra-lord (i.e., the central deity) light rays are emitted all around,

And without any doubt they issue forth everywhere. Next, Lord of Mysteries, to the secret maṇḍala Of Avalokiteśvara listen singlemindedly, O Son of the Buddha. It has the appearance of a square right around, with an auspicious śaṅkhain the center,

Which puts forth a padmaflower, open and containing seeds. Above, adamantine wisdom is represented [by a vajra], which bears the seal of a great lotus,

Arrayed with seed[-syllables], skillfully made to represent his seed[-syllables].

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Tārā, Bhṛkuṭī, and the honored one Pāṇḍaravāsinī, The vidyārājñīBhogavatī and Mahāsthāmaprāpta, Auspicious ones and servants are all in the maṇḍala. For the seals of these who have obtained mastery, make their insignia especially fine.

Hayagrīva resides in a triangle as prescribed, Surrounded by the maṇḍalas [of his attendants], imposingly fine, like the first light of day,

Which he of skillful wisdom should install beside the vidyārāja (i.e., Hayagrīva).

Next, Lord of Mysteries, I shall now explain the second altar: It has the appearance of a perfect square and is surrounded by vajraseals;

It is all a fine golden color, with a lotus flower laid out in the center. In the center [of the flower] a kalaśa(flask) appears, its lucent color like that of a clear moon,

And it is encircled by large dots of emptiness, with which it is adorned.

On top [of the flask] there is displayed the seal of great wind (i.e., a half moon), overcast [in color] like dark clouds; It has the appearance of a waving banner and is marked with a dot of emptiness.

Above, it produces fierce flames, like the fire of the [fire] calamity [at the end] of an eon,

Made triangular in shape, and surrounded by triangles. It is encircled right around with a wreath of rays, the color of early morning sunlight.

Within it is a padma,dark red like the fire [at the end] of an eon, And a vajraseal on top scatters forth fiery radiance; It has the excellent seed-syllable with the sound of the letter Hūṃ. Previous buddhas have explained this rite, the maṇḍalaof [you,] the Striving Hero.

The mother of the [Vajra] Family (Māmakī), [Vajra]śṛṅkhalā, the lord of the Vajra Family,

Vajrāṅkuśī, [Vajra]sūcī, and vidyārājas94 of great virtue 137

The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

34c

Are all inside this great maṇḍala.

The seals, altars, and form and color of the Buddha's sons (i.e., deities), each in sequence,

Conform with their category [so that] the [ritual] deeds may well succeed.

Next, there are those sovereign over the vajra(i.e., vajradharas) whom I have described:

Namely, Gaganāmala, Vajracakra, [Vajra]daṃṣṭra, Sūrata, Vikhyāta, Mahābhāga,

95 Vajrāgra,

Śiva[vajra], Mahāvajra, Nīlavajra,

[Vajra]padma, Viśālanetra, Suvajra[dhara], Vajra, Aprapañcavihārin, and Gaganānantavikrama. Their maṇḍalas are described as white, yellow, red, And the color black, and the shapes of their seals and so on— Three-spiked, a single-pronged seal, double-headed with five prongs at both ends,

Or the wreath of a vajradhara—are distinguished according to their color category.

For all fashion seed[-syllables], and know that they have great merit. The maṇḍalaof Acala has both a circle of wind and of fire; He is in the direction of Nairṛti (i.e., southwest), below the Tathāgata Vairocana,

Surrounded by seed[-syllables], and a sublime great wisdom sword Or a noose seal he who possesses wisdom lays out. Trailokyavijaya is different in that he is in a wind circle, Surrounded by vajraseals, and dwells in three places. 96

Next, Lord of Mysteries, I shall first explain in the maṇḍala How to install the altar figure of the mother of buddhas and bodhisattvas.

Square, the color of genuine gold, and surrounded by vajraseals: This is the supreme maṇḍala,and I shall now reveal the appearance of the deities.

In its center is a large lotus flower, blazing radiantly and completely yellow in color,

In the middle of which is placed the Tathāgata-Crown; going past the middle subsection,

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And on reaching the third subsection, one should fashion Tathāgatalocanā (= Buddhalocanā): She dwells in the midst of blazing light, and her seed[-syllables] are arrayed all around.

Next is the honored Great Wish-fulfilling Jewel of all bodhisattvas,

Whose maṇḍalais a white circle with a cross, 97

Is completely tranquil and very pure, and fulfills all wishes. Next, you should listen attentively to the altar of Śākyasiṃha (i.e., Śākyamuni),

Which is a great indra(mahendra) [circle]: it is exquisite and the color of genuine gold,

Its four sides are equal to each other, and as before there is a vajra seal [in the center],

On top of which there appears a padma,with a yellow radiance all around.

A large almsbowl [on top of the lotus] has blazing light and is surrounded by vajraseals;

Place a kāṣā[ya] (monk's robe), staff, and so on in their proper order. As for the five kinds of Tathāgata-Crowns, 98 listen attentively as

I now explain them:

Sitātapatra [is represented] by a parasol seal; Jayoṣṇīṣa, endowed with wisdom,

Is surrounded by swords of great wisdom which all emit light right around;

For Vijayoṣṇīṣa a disc seal; for Vikiraṇoṣṇīṣa a hook seal; A great being's attribute of a topknot—this is called the seal of Tejorāśi;

For Mahodgata a vajra,for Abhyudgata a lotus flower, And for Anantasvaraghoṣa a śaṅkha—know their image types by observation.

For Ūrṇā a maṇi-gem; next you should listen to Buddhalocanā's: It is a topknot, completely yellow in color and surrounded by vajras. The seal of Aparājitā is a lotus flower held in her hand; Aparājita's is a large mouth on a black lotus. 35a

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The so-called gods of Pure Abode (Śuddhāvāsa), whose conduct purifies the objective realm—

Son of the Buddha, you should listen attentively to how to place their seal-marks:

Namely, a hand [representing] contemplation, a hand [representing] goodness, a hand [representing] a smile, A hand [holding] a flower, and a hand [representing] empty space— draw these in accordance with the rules. [The insignia of] Pṛthivī is a kalaśain a white circle surrounded by vajras.

For the seal for summoning Agni one should use the hand of a great seer.

Kāśya[pa], Gautama, Mārkaṇḍa, Garga, Vasi[ṣṭha], and [Aṅ]giras—each [of these seers] in their proper order Should be drawn with a hand [representing] the Vedas inside a fire altar (i.e., red triangle).

For Yama a daṇḍa(staff) seal which is always in a wind circle; For Mṛtyu a bell seal, for Kālarātri a ketu(banner) seal, For Rudra a śūla(trident), for Great Brahmā's consort (Brahmāṇī) a lotus flower,

For Kaumārī a śakti(lance), and for Viṣṇu's woman (Vaiṣṇavī) a disc seal;

You should know that Yama's consort (Yamī) [is represented] by a mudgara(mallet) seal,

And Kauberī, the consort [of Kubera], uses a kapāla(skull) seal. These are all in wind maṇḍalas

And are surrounded by crows, eagles, bhāsas (vultures), jackals, and so on.

If you wish to accomplish siddhi,draw them in accordance with the rules.

For Nairṛti a large sword, for Viṣṇu a fine disc, For Kumāra a śakti,and for Nanda and Upananda Thick clouds with lightning; [Nanda and Upananda] both have the complexion of a clear pool

And render assistance in the sentry posts on either side of the entrance in Śākyasiṃha's altar.

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For Śaṃkara a trident, and for his consort fashion the seal of a paṭṭi[śa] (spear with three points);

For Candra a kalaśa,pure white and placed on a lotus flower; Āditya, in a vajracircle, is represented by the figure of a chariot; Know that Jayā and Vijayā, the very powerful ones, Are both [represented] by the seal of a large bow in a [great] indra circle.

In the direction of Vāyu (i.e., northwest) is the seal of a banner [waving] in the wind, for Sarasvatī the seal of a musical instrument (vīṇā),

And for Varuṇa a noose in a circular altar, Which you, Great Self, should know is encircled by seed-syllables. These insignia are in sequence those of Śākyasiṃha's attendants In the maṇḍala,which I have now finished describing in brief. Son of the Buddha, next listen attentively to the altar of Varadavajra (Mañjuśrī):

Its four sides are equal to each other right around, and it is protected by vajraseals.

In the center fashion a [triangular] maṇḍalaborn of fire; In its center further install the seal of an exquisite blue lotus, Surrounded by the mantra of the wise one Mañjughoṣa— Array seed[-syllables] in accordance with the rules, making of them his seed[-syllables].

Then adorn the four sides with blue lotuses And draw a multitude of striving heroes, each in their proper order. Jālinīprabha [is represented] by a hook seal, Ratnamukuṭa has a jewel seal,

And for the youth Vimalaprabha a blue lotus not yet open. As for the messengers described for Mañjughoṣa, possessing great wisdom,

You should know their mystic seals, each as is appropriate: For Keśinī a sword seal; for Upa[keśinī] aśūlaseal; For Citrā a staff seal; Vasumatī [is represented] by a banner seal; And the messenger Ākarṣaṇī by an aṅkuśi(hook) seal. Do everything in this manner and surround them with blue lotus flowers;

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36a

All the servants [are represented by] khaṅgari(knife) seals. Next, the seal in the southern quarter is Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin's, The seed of great energy, namely, a cintāmaṇi, Which resides in a fire circle, flanked by fine-looking multitudes. You should know the secret insignia of his attendants, And you should draw them in sequence: I shall now describe them in full.

Kautūhala [is represented] by a jeweled flask with a single-pronged vajraplaced [on top];

For the holy one Abhayaṃdada fashion the hand [gesture] of bestowing fearlessness;

Sarvāpāyaṃjaha is characterized by a hand being raised; The bodhisattva Paritrāṇāśayamati always has the hand [gesture] of compassion over his heart;

The bodhisattva Mahāmaitryabhyudgata should [be represented] by a hand holding a flower;

For Karuṇāmṛḍita a hand over his heart with the middle finger bent down;

For Sarvadāhapraśāmin fashion the hand [gesture] of granting wishes, With nectarous water flowing forth from the tips of the fingers; And for Acintyamati a hand holding a wish-fulfilling gem. All reside on lotus flowers within maṇḍalas. Next, I shall explain the mystic seal of the honored one Kṣitigarbha in the northern quarter.

First, fashion a decorated seat in a [great] indraaltar, [On top of which] is a great lotus emitting blazing light variegated with many colors;

On top of this erect a great banner with a great jewel on its tip: This is called supreme, the form of his mystic seal. Then you should diligently fashion the mudrās Of the immeasurable and innumerable multitudes of his foremost attendants.

For Ratnākara99 a three-pronged vajraseal on a jewel; For Ratnapāṇi a single-pronged vajraseal on a jewel; For Dharaṇiṃdhara a double-headed vajraseal on a jewel; 142

Fascicle Five

For Ratnamudrāhasta a five-pronged vajraseal on a jewel; And for Dṛḍhādhyāśaya a karma-vajraseal: All these should reside in their maṇḍalas. In the western quarter Ākāśagarbha is in an altar that is round, white, and pleasing to the mind;

On a great white lotus-flower seat place the seal of a great wisdom sword,

Whose hard and keen blade is sharp like hoarfrost. With [Ākāśagarbha's] own seed[-syllables] as seed[-syllables], the wise person should arrange them,

As well as drawing the forms of the seals of his attendants in accordance with the ritual instructions. The honored one Gaganāmala should [be represented] by a disc seal, Itself surrounded by figures of discs and all in a wind altar; For Gaganamati a śaṅkhain a wind maṇḍala; For Viśuddhamati a white lotus in a wind maṇḍala; The seal-mark of Cāritramati should [be represented] by a seashell flask

With a blue lotus flower inserted on top in a wind maṇḍala; And for Sthiramati a vajra[on top of] a lotus in a wind maṇḍala. I have finished explaining in brief the mystic seals of the deities in the Buddha's secret treasury.

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Chapter 12: The Ritual for Entering the Secret Maṇḍala

Chapter XII

The Ritual for Entering the

Secret Maṇḍala

Thereupon the World-honored One next proclaimed the ritual for entering the Secret Maṇḍalawith an udāna:

He who is fully learned in mantras and has mastered the Secret Altar Burns away for his disciple all his sins in accordance with the rules. He completely extinguishes [the disciple's] life so that it is never reborn,

And having been reduced to ashes, his life is again restored. That is to say, with a letter (i.e., Ra) [representing fire] he burns a letter (i.e., A) [representing the disciple's body], And on the basis of a letter (i.e., Va) [representing water] he is born again.

All his lives and births are [now] pure and completely unsullied, And the twelve component syllables are formed on that receptacle. 100

With this samayahe is equal to and not at variance with All Tathāgatas and world-saving bodhisattvas, As well as multitudes of the Buddha's śrāvakas and mundane [gods]. He who understands this pledge of equality in the Secret Maṇḍala Enters all ritual teachings and obtains mastery of all altars (i.e., maṇḍalas).

My (i.e., Vairocana's) body is equal to his, and so too in the case of the mantrin,

For they are not different: this is called samaya. 101

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Chapter 13: Entry to the Station of the Secret Maṇḍala

Chapter XIII

Entry to the Station of the

Secret Maṇḍala

Thereupon the World-honored One Mahāvairocana entered a samādhiof mental attainment (samāpatti), and in order to observe beings in future ages he dwelled in meditation. Immediately the buddha lands became flat like the palm of a hand, studded with the five precious things, hung with a great jeweled canopy, and adorned with archways, which had multicolored pennants, long and broad in appearance, and jeweled bells, white whisks, fine raiments, and bannered ornaments hanging prettily as decoration for them; in the corners in the eight directions maṇi-standards stood erect, and there were various bathing pools brimming with water that possessed eight special qualities102 and was fragrant, where immeasurable birds such as mandarin ducks, geese, and swans emitted elegant sounds and where seasonal flowers and sundry trees flourished and stood at intervals in rows, luxuriant and imposingly lovely; in the eight directions strings of the five precious things were linked together; the ground was soft, like cotton, and those who touched and trod on it all experienced pleasure; immeasurable musical instruments played naturally in harmony, their sounds exquisite and such that people would want to listen; and there were palaces, halls, and mentally produced seats created in response to the merits of immeasurable bodhisattvas. There appeared a great king of lotus flowers, the insignia of the Dharma realm, born by virtue of the Tathāgata's vow of faith-and-understanding, and the Tathāgata's body, having the nature of the Dharma realm, was resting in the middle of it and bringing joy to beings in accordance with their various inclinations.

Then, from all the Tathāgata's limbs, whose strength cannot be impeded, there immediately emerged signs of adornment with immeasurable shapes and colors born of faith-and-understanding in the ten powers of wisdom, bodies that had been nurtured by the merits of the perfections of giving, 147

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morality, forbearance, energy, meditation, and wisdom over incalculable hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of eons. When they had emerged, in great assemblies throughout all world-systems they uttered these verses in a loud voice:

The buddhas are most remarkable, and their expedients and knowledge are inconceivable;

Their wisdom without any ālaya(substratum) incorporates the exposition of dharmas.

If one understands the dharma-marks of dharmas which are inapprehensible,

One will apprehend that which is not apprehended and obtain [the state of] the buddhas and Guiding Teachers.

When they had uttered these sounds, they reentered the inconceivable Dharma body of the Tathāgata.

Then the World-honored One again addressed the vajradharaLord of Mysteries, saying,

"Good sir, listen attentively to [the exposition of] the internal maṇḍala.Lord of Mysteries, the bodily site (i.e., one's body) is empowered by the empowerment of mantras and mystic seals which have the own-nature of the Dharma realm, for their original nature is pure. Through the protection of Karma-Vajra[sattva] all defilements are cleansed away, [that is,] the stumplike faults such as [beliefs in] a self, a person, a being, a life-force, mindborn, youngster, and a creator. 103

"A square altar, it has four entrances, is accessed from the west, and is encircled by a boundary path. Inside there appears a great king of lotus flowers, born of the mind and eight-petaled: it has a stalk and is spread with stamens, brightly colored, and beautiful. In its center is a Tathāgata, the body of the most revered in all worlds, who has transcended the levels of body, speech, and mind, reached the mind-ground, and attained results that are special and pleasing to the mind. To his east is the Tathāgata Ratna ketu, in the south is the Tathāgata Saṃkusumitarāja, in the north is the Tathāgata Dundubhisvara, in the west is the Tathāgata Amitāyus, in the southeast is the bodhisattva Samantabhadra, in the northeast is the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, in the southwest is the bodhisattva Mañjuśrīkumārabhūta, and in the northwest is the bodhisattva Maitreya. Among all the stamens is the Mother of buddhas 148

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and bodhisattvas, adorned with her attendant six pāramitās and samādhis. Below are arrayed multitudes of vidyādharas and wrathful ones. The bodhisattva Lord of Vajradharas (i.e., Vajrapāṇi) acts as its stalk, and it is situated in an inexhaustible ocean, encircled by all earth-dwelling gods and so on, immeasurable in their number.

"Then the practitioner, in order to accomplish the samaya, should, with incense, flowers, lamps, unguents, and various dishes born of the mind, make to it offerings of them all. An udānasays: The mantrinshould conscientiously draw the maṇḍala; Regarding his own person as the Great Self, he purifies the sullies with the letter Ra.

Resting in the yogaposture, he thinks of the Tathāgatas, And bestows on the heads of the disciples the letter Awith a great dot of emptiness (i.e., Aṃ).

The wise person hands fine flowers [to the disciples] and has them scatter them over his own person.

He explains to them the places [in the maṇḍala] to be revered by the practitioners which he sees within [himself]. Since this is the supreme altar, he should confer [on them] the "

samaya.

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Chapter 14: The Eight Secret Seals

Chapter XIV

The Eight Secret Seals

Thereupon the World-honored One Vairocana again gazed upon the entire great assembly and addressed the vajradharaLord of Mysteries, saying, "Son

of the Buddha, there are eight secret seals which are most secret. [When used in] the stations of the holy divinities [in the maṇḍala], their awesome divinity is the same [as that of the deities]; they are characterized by their own mantra path (i.e., mantras) and have [their own] maṇḍalas, and one should intercorrespond with them as with one's own deity. If they rely on [this] ritual teaching, bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices via the gateway of mantras should know that they themselves will dwell in the form of their own deity, firm and unmoving, and after having known [the state of] their own deity, they will abide in the manner of their own deity and obtain siddhi. "What are the eight seals? With the right and left hands form the hollow hand-clasp and spread the little fingers and forefingers apart as if to radiate blazing light. This is the seal 'birth of the World-honored One's great majesty. '

Its maṇḍala is triangular and has rays of light. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, raṃ raḥ svāhā.(Homage to all Buddhas! Raṃ raḥ! svāhā!) [248]

"Then with this [same] seal, bend the forefingers [down] on top of the thumbs like the shape of the [Sanskrit] letter Va.This is the seal 'adamantine indestructibility of the World-honored One.

' Its maṇḍalais like the letter Va

in appearance (i.e., round) and has adamantine light. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta buddhā nāṃ, vaṃ vaḥ svāhā.(Homage to all Buddhas! Vaṃ vaḥ! svāhā!) [249]

"Then, with the first seal, spread the ring fingers and middle fingers apart. This is called 'lotus-flower matrix seal.

' Its maṇḍalais like a lunar

disc in appearance and is surrounded by padmaflowers. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, saṃ saḥ svāhā.(Homage to all Buddhas! Saṃ saḥ!svāhā!) [250]

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"Then, with this [same] seal, bend the two little fingers and insert them in between the palms. This is the seal 'adornment with the Tathāgata's myriad virtues.

' Its maṇḍalais like a half-moon in shape and is surrounded by great dots of emptiness. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, haṃ haḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Haṃ haḥ!svāhā!) [251] "Then, with the left and right hands form the hand-clasp [hollow] like an unopened flower, raise the two thumbs, and bend them slightly. This is the seal 'birth from all the Tathāgata's limbs.

' Its maṇḍalais in shape like a

kalaśa,[round like] a full moon, and is surrounded by vajras. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhā nāṃ, aṃ aḥ svāhā.(Homage to all Buddhas! Aṃ aḥ!svāhā!) [252]

"Then, with this [same] seal, bend the middle fingers; the appearance of the remaining [fingers] is as before. This is the seal 'World-honored One's dhāraṇī.

' Its maṇḍalais like a rainbow, and it is completely surrounded [by the insignia surrounding the foregoing maṇḍalas] and is hung with a vajrabanner. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, buddhadhāraṇi smṛti bala dhānakari dharaya sarvaṃ bhagavaty ākāravati samaye svāhā.(Homage to all Buddhas! O Buddha's memory! you who act as the receptacle of the power of remembrance! uphold everything! O Blessed Lady of [fine] form! pledge! svāhā!) [253]

"Then, with the hollow hand-clasp, spread the middle fingers apart, while the little fingers and thumbs are joined together to support each other. This is called 'seal of the Tathāgata's abiding state of the Dharma. ' Its maṇḍala

is like empty space, surrounded by variegated colors, and it has two dots of emptiness. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ā vedavide svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas.Ā! O you who are conversant with [sacred] knowledge! svāhā!) [254] "As before, make the hollow hand-clasp and, with the right and left hands placed together, rotate them. This is called 'seal of the World-honored One's swift support.

' Its maṇḍalais again like empty space; use blue dots to decorate it.

104 The mantra is:Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, mahāyoga yogini yogeśvari khāñjalike svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O yoginīof the great yoga! mistress of yoga! you of the hollow hand-clasp! svāhā!) [255] "Lord of Mysteries, these are called the secret seals of the Tathāgata, and they are supreme and secret. You should not confer them indiscriminatelyon 152

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people, except on those who have been consecrated, are adaptable in nature, diligent and firm, have made special vows, revere their teacher, think of those to whom they are indebted, are pure within and without, and renounce their own bodies and lives in seeking the Dharma. "

153

Chapter 15: The Prohibitory Precepts for Reciting Vidyās

Chapter XV

The Prohibitory Precepts

for Reciting Vidyās

Thereupon Vajrapāṇi, for the sake of bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices via the gateway of mantras, further asked the World-honored One Vairocana in verse about the prohibitory precepts for reciting vidyās. How does one accomplish the prohibitory precepts? How does one abide in śīla?

How does one practice in any situation, free from attachments? For how long does one practice before the prohibitory precepts come to an end?

Abiding in which ritual teachings does one recognize their potency? Freedom from time, place, activity, and right and wrong— How does one quickly accomplish [this]? I beg the Buddha to explain that length [of time].

About that which was taught by previous buddhas, which brings about siddhi,

I ask the Omniscient One, perfectly awakened and honored among two-legged beings,

For the sake of future beings. May you who are honored among humans bear witness [to my true intent]!

Then Bhagavān Vairocana, out of pity for beings, spoke these verses: Excellent, O Striving Hero, Vajradhara of great virtue! The special precepts of which you have spoken were expounded by buddhas of yore.

The precepts that arise in dependence on vidyās—abide in these precepts like a perfectly awakened one,

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And they will bring about the accomplishment of siddhifor the benefit of the world.

Generating the truth of the self, and without engendering any doubting thoughts,

One always abides in mental equipoise, and [then] the cultivation of the precepts will end.

If the bodhi-mind and dharmas, as well as training, action, and results, Are combined into a single characteristic, one will be far removed from all activities;

One will be like the Buddha's knowledge in one's possession of the precepts, and anyone who does otherwise does not possess the precepts.

One will gain sovereignty over all dharmas and master how to benefit beings,

And if one always cultivates the practice of nonattachment, pebbles and jewels will be alike.

When one reaches a full lakṣaor the number of mantra [recitations] explained,

105

Or when one completes the [prescribed] period, the length [of time] for [observing] the prohibitory precepts comes to an end. First, with the meditation on the golden (i.e., earth) circle, 106 and

dwelling in the great indra[circle],

One should bind the vajraseal and drink milk so as to nourish the body,

And when one month has passed, the practitioner will be able to control his breath going out and coming in. Next, in the second month, carefully arranging himself in the water circle,

He should use the lotus-flower seal and imbibe pure water. Next, in the third month, with the meditation on the most wondrous fire circle,

He eats food which he has not sought out, and for the seal he uses the great wisdom sword;

He will burn up all sins produced by body, speech, and mind. In the fourth month, with [the meditation on] the wind circle, the practitioner constantly ingests wind,

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And binding the seal for turning the Dharma wheel, he recites with his mind concentrated.

With the meditation on the adamantine (i.e., earth) and water circles, he abides in yoga:

This is in the fifth month, and far removed from gain and non-gain, The practitioner, without attachment, becomes like a saṃbuddha. 107

Combining the wind and fire circles, and beyond all faults, He recites for another month, abandoning profit and non-profit. Heavenly hosts such as Brahmā, Śakra, and so on, maho[ragas], and piśācas

Will salute him from afar, will all protect him, And all will carry out his commands—he will always obtain this [state].

Humans, gods, divinities of medicinal herbs, vidyādharas, and numinous transcendents

Will attend upon him on his left and right and do as he commands. Wicked obstructors, rākṣasas, the Seven Mothers, and so on, Seeing the mantrin,will revere him while keeping their distance, And seeing the radiance of that place [where he is], they will scatter as if it were a raging fire.

In accordance with the ritual teachings by which he abides, and all because he follows the prohibitions for vidyās, The true son of the Perfectly Awakened One will gain sovereignty over everything.

He will subjugate those difficult to vanquish, like the Great Vajradhara, And he will bring benefit to living beings, just like Avalokiteśvara. When six months have elapsed, he will achieve results according to his wishes,

And he will always take pity on and save himself and others. 38a

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Chapter 16: The True Knowledge of the Ācārya

Chapter XVI

The True Knowledge of the Ācārya

Thereupon the vajradhara[Vajrapāṇi] next further asked the World-honored One Mahāvairocana about the essence of the mantras of the maṇḍalas, uttering these verses:

"What is the essence of all mantras, or true speech? What should one understand so as to be called an ācārya?" Then the Bhagavān Mahāvairocana

Exhorted Vajrapāṇi, [saying,] "Excellent, Mahāsattva!" And making his heart rejoice, he further addressed him with these words:

"How to understand the most secret of secrets, the great essence of the knowledge of mantras—

I shall now explain it for you: with singlemindedness you should listen attentively!

The letter Ais the essence of all mantras, And from it there issue forth everywhere immeasurable mantras; All frivolous arguments cease, and it is able to produce skillful wisdom.

Lord of Mysteries, why is [the letter A] the essence of all mantras? The Buddha, honored among two-legged beings, has taught that the letter Ais called the seed.

Therefore, everything is like this, [having the letter Aas its seed,] and it rests in all the limbs;108

Having allocated it as appropriate, bestow it everywhere in accordance with the rules.

Because that primordial letter (i.e., A) pervades the augmented letters,

109

The letters form sounds, and the limbs arise from this. 159

38b

The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

38c

Therefore, this pervades all bodies and produces various virtues. I shall now explain where [the letters] are to be distributed: listen singlemindedly, Son of the Buddha! Assign the essence (i.e., A) to your heart and allocate the remaining [letters] to your limbs.

110

If you do everything in this manner, then you will be identical to my person.

Resting in the yogaposture, think of the Tathāgatas. If one comprehends this vast knowledge in these teachings, The Perfectly Awakened One, of great virtue, has taught that [such a person] is an ācārya.

He is a Tathāgata and is also called a Buddha, A bodhisattva, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Mahe[śva]ra, Āditya, Candra, Varuṇa, Śakra, Lord of the World (Prajāpati), Kālarātri, Yama, and so on, Pṛthivī, Sarasvatī, A brahman, and an initiated householder, 111 and is also called a

celibate,

A monk who has exhausted his outflows (āśrava), auspicious, a holder of secrets,

All-knowing and all-seeing, sovereign over dharmas, and wealthy. 112

If one dwells in the bodhi-mind and in the nature of the knowledge of sound,

And is not attached to any dharmas, one is called all-pervading; This is a mantrin,a holder of auspicious mantras, A king of true speech (i.e., mantras), and the seal of Vajradhara. If the entire wheel of letters is [to be placed] on one's limbs, One should know that between the eyebrows there resides the letter Hūṃ,the locus of the Vajra (i.e., Vajrapāṇi); The letter Sais below the chest, and this is called the locus of the Lotus (i.e., Padmapāṇi).

I (i.e., A) am identical with the position of the heart, sovereign everywhere,

And universally pervade various sentient and non-sentient beings. The letter Ais primary life, the letter Vais called 'water, '

The letter Rais called 'fire,

' the letter Hūṃis called 'wrath,

'

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Fascicle Five

The letter Khais the same as empty space, and [it has,] namely, the dot of ultimate emptiness (resulting in Khaṃ). He who knows this supreme truth is called an ācārya. Therefore, one should with expedient means understand what was taught by the Buddha,

And if one constantly practices with diligence, one will attain the deathless state.

"

161