Sanghata Sutra
(Taisho Tripitaka No. 0423)
(Reference: Buddha speaks Great Assembly True Dharma Sutra, Taisho Tripitaka No. 0424)
(* According to the Buddhist Dictionary, Taisho 0423 & 0424 are two Chinese translations from a same Sanskrit source)
Taisho 0423 was translated during the YEUN, NGAY Dynasty by Udanni prince Upasunya;
Taisho 0424 was translated during the SONG Dynasty by Tripitaka master Danapala;
Chapter Two
"'The supernatural person continued:
'In the distant past,
immeasurable and boundless Asamkhya kalpas ago,
there was a king named Pure-Moon (Vimala-candra),
who ruled the world according to correct Dharmas.
When the king Pure-Moon got a son,
he summoned an augural master,
to foretell the child's signs of virtue and evil.
The augur told the king:
'According to my observation,
This child has very unpropitious signs.'
The king asked:
'What do the unpropitious signs mean?'
The augur said:
'When this child is seven years old,
he will kill his parents.'
The king said:
'I would rather let him kill me,
than kill my son.
A human body is difficult to obtain,
One has to cultivate for innumerable kalpas to obtain a human body,
thus one should not kill any living beings using his human body.'
One month after the birth of the child,
he was already like a one-year-old child.
Knowing that the son will kill him,
The king Pure-Moon abdicated the crown to the son, saying:
'You are the ruler of this kingdom from now on,
you can use all money and possessions freely,
and you should rule the kingdom according to the correct Dharmas,
and do not commit non-dharmas(immoral) acts.'
After his abdication,
the king Pure-Moon no longer give command in his kingdom.
At that time,
many ministers came to the king Pure-Moon and said to him:
'Great king, why did you give away your kingship?'
The king replied:
'I have been dealing with the affairs of kingdoms for many kalpas,
now I am tired of that,
thus I abandoned it to practice Dharmas.'
Not long after,
The son committed the heinous sin,
by killing both his father and mother.'
The supernatural person continued:
I remember that,
after killing his parents,
the son became worried.
He wept sorrowfully,
reproached himself,
and repented.
At that time,
I spoke the Dharmas for him with the great compassionate heart,
and his heinous sin was cleared after hearing the Dharma.'
The person then asked:
'What Dharma did you speak at that time?'
The supernatural one answered:
'What I spoke at that time, was Sanghata Dharma-Gate.
If one hears this Dharma,
He will achieve Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi,
clear all sins,
and conquer and cease all delusions.'
Now listen,
I will speak it for you,
to make you achieve the liberation quickly after hearing it.
If you can be mindful of even four Gathas of it uninterruptedly,
You will get immeasurable blessings.
By practicing it,
You will extinguish all your sins and become a Srota-apanna (stream-enterer),
You will practice charity, be distant from afflictions,
and liberate living beings from sufferings and fears.'
The person then joined his palms,
bowed to the feet of the supernatural one,
and praised:
'How virtuous, How virtuous!
you are really a virtuous knowledgeable one,
who is good at clearing all non-virtuous karmas,
and good at expounding the Sanghata Dharma-Gate.
Also, Virtuous are all who listen.'
At that time from the sky,
12 thousand heavenly gods went to where the supernatural one was,
joined their palms, bowed to his feet, and said:
'Great supernatural one (Maha-rsi),
for the events you just recalled,
when did they happen? '
Four dragon kings,
and 18 hundred billion Yaksa kings,
also arrived there,
bowed to his feet, and asked:
'For the events you just recalled,
when did these happen? '
The great supernatural one answered:
'Those events that I recalled,
had happened hundreds of thousands of billions Asamkhya kalpas before.'
The visitors asked:
'What virtuous roots allow you remember the events of so long ago?'
He answered:
'Because I had heard and accepted the Sanghata Dharma-Gate.
in that congregation,
everyone who heard this Dharma-Gate and aroused pure faith,
was awarded the mark of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.
If anyone had committed the five heinous sins,
after hearing this Dharma-Gate,
all those sins will be cleared in a moment.
For innumerable hundreds of thousands of billions of kalpas,
doors to the evil paths will be closed,
and paths to heavens will be open.
By hearing just four gathas(verses) of this Dharma-Gate,
one can gain such merits and virtues,
how much more so, of those who write, read, and recite it,
make offerings to it with flowers, incenses, streamers, canopies, etc.,
respect and pay homage to it,
join their palms and bow to it,
and praise it even with one word,
such merits and virtues will be unimaginable.''"
Having stated what Lotus-Repository Tathagata had spoken about the Sanghata Dharma-Gate, Sarvashura Bodhisattva asked Sakyamuni Buddha: "Bhagavan, if anyone join his palms and pay homage to this True Dharma, how many merits and virtues will he gain?"
The Buddha said: "Virtuous man, suppose someone has personally committed, or asked others to commit, or compliantly rejoiced in the five heinous sins, if he can hear even four gathas from this Dharma-Gate, join his palms, pay homage to it, and have pure faith in it, then his five heinous karma will be eliminated. How much more so, of those who fully write, read, recite, and make offerings to it, such merits and virtues are immeasurable. "
"Virtuous man, for example, Anavatapta Lake (the Lake of No hot affliction), which the light of the sun cannot reach, is the source of the five great rivers. Sarvashura, do you think that any one can count all the water drops of those five great rivers one by one?"
Sarvashura replied: "No, Bhagavan."
The Buddha said to Sarvashura Bodhisattva Mahasattva: "The virtuous roots gained by hearing this Dharma-Gate are like that, if someone were to count them, he would not be able to finish even if he did the counting for hundreds of thousands of myriads of kalpas."
"Sarvashura, what do you think, is it difficult to hear this Dharma-Gate, even for a moment?"
Sarvashura said: "Yes Bhagavan, it is difficult."
The Buddha told Sarvashura "Having faith in this Dharma-Gate is more difficult than that. The merits gained by the believers are like the water drops of the five great rivers that originate from the Anavatapta Lake, they are countless."
Sarvashura Bodhisattva Mahasattva asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, what are those five great rivers?"
The Buddha told Sarvashura Bodhisattva: "The five great rivers are: Ganges river, Sita river, Vaksa river, Yamuna river, and Chandrabhaga river, they all flow into the oceans. Each of these five great rivers has five hundred small rivers as its branches."
"Sarvashura, there are also five great rivers in the sky, each of which has one thousand small rivers as its branches."
Sarvashura Bodhisattva asked the Buddha: "What are those five great rivers, each of which has one thousand branches?"
The Buddha told Sarvashura Bodhisattva: "The first river with one thousand branches is called Sudhara, the second river with one thousand branches is called Shamkha, the third river with one thousand branches is called Vahanti, the fourth river with one thousand branches is called Chitrasena, and the fifth river with one thousand branches is called Dharmavritta."
"Sarvashura, these five great rivers often benefit Jambudvipa. They often produce rains to make flowers and fruits grow, and the pure water that they rain down to Jambudvipa also make crops grow. "
"Sarvashura, the world-protecting heavenly gods comfort and please Jambudvipa. Likewise, this Sutra benefits, comforts and pleases all living beings in Jambudvipa, like the gods of the Thirty-three Heavens (Trayastrimsa)."
Sarvashura Bodhisattva asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, what is the Heaven of the thirty-three gods? "
The Buddha told Sarvashura Bodhisattva: "Where Sakra-Devanam-Indra dwells in, is the Heaven of the thirty-three gods."
"Sarvashura, the gods of that heaven always say: if any living being practices virtuous speeches, his merits and virtues will be countless; if any living being practices evil speeches, his sins will be countless so that he will fall into hell, hungry ghosts, and animals, and suffer solely from great afflictions in those three evil paths of hell, animal, and hungry ghost, with no salvation."
"Those who practices evil speeches are evil advisors, and those who practices virtuous speeches are virtuous advisors. Meeting a virtuous advisor can make one see Tathagatas, and seeing Tathagatas can clear all non-virtuous dharma (phenomena/things)."
"Sarvashura, for example, the guardian heavenly gods benefit Jambudvipa, likewise, this Sutra does Buddha-Works (Buddha-karya) in Jambudvipa. Without hearing this Dharma-Gate, one cannot achieve Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, cannot turn the Dharma-Wheels, cannot strike the Dharma-Drum, cannot sit on the Lion Dharma-Throne, cannot enter into the realm of Nirvana, cannot achieve boundless luminosity, and so forth, Sarvashura, without hearing this Dharma-Gate, one cannot sit under the Bodhi-Tree."
Sarvashura Bodhisattva Mahasattva then asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, I have a minor question and wish to ask the Bhagavan."
The Buddha said to Sarvashura: "Whatever you ask about, I will remove your doubts."
Sarvashura said to the Buddha: "Who was the supernatural one that ferried the person who had committed the five heinous sins, and made him stay in the non-retrograde stage?"
The Buddha told Sarvashura Bodhisattva: "Virtuous man, listen now, the Tathagata's words are subtle and difficult to understand. It was this Sanghata Dharma-Gate who manifested itself as a supernatural person, and, this Dharma-Gate can also appear as a Buddha's body. For example, in Ganges river, the sands can be seen everywhere, likewise, this Dharma manifests itself to speak Dharma for people. For example, only a Buddha, a Tathagata, is equal to another Buddha, likewise, this Dharma is equal to a Buddha. Wherever this Dharma exists, the Buddhas are also there."
The Bhagavan continued to tell Sarvashura Bodhisattva: "Virtuous man, I remember that 99 Asamkhya kalpas ago, there was a Buddha called Treasure-Superior Tathagata, and after him, there were 1.2 billion Buddhas, all of them were called Treasure-Superior too. At that time, my name was Pure-Moon. I was practicing charity extensively, those 1.2 billion Tathagatas were all offered and sustained by me. I made offerings to them with clothes, beds, drinks, foods, soups, medicines, incenses, flowers, lamps, and all delightful things, but those Tathagatas did not award me the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi."
"Sarvashura, I also remember that in the past, 1.8 billion Tathagatas had appeared in the world, all of them were called Precious-Light. At that time my name was Dragon-Correctitude, and I was also practicing charity extensively. I made offerings to those Buddhas with fragrances, flowers, precious ornaments (keyura), etc., and they did not award me the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi either."
"Sarvashura, I also remember that in the past, 2 billion Buddhas had appeared in the world, all of them were called Sikhin Thus Come One, Worthy of offerings, Of correct and universal knowledge. At that time I was also practicing charity extensively. I made offerings to those Buddhas with various delightful things, and those Tathagatas did not award me the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi either."
"Sarvashura, I also remember that in the past, 2 billion Buddhas all called Kasyapa had appeared in the world. At that time I was also practicing charity extensively. I made offerings to those Buddhas with fragrances, flowers, streamers, canopies, clothes, and all delightful things, and those Tathagatas did not award me the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi either."
"Sarvashura, I also remember that in the past, 1.6 billion Buddhas, Tathagatas, all called Pure-Light, had appeared in the world. At that I was a great rich man's son, practicing charity extensively and giving away everything. I made offerings to all those 1.6 billion Buddhas, Tathagatas, with fragrances, flowers, streamers, canopies, clothes, beds, foods, drinks, soups, medicines, etc., any they did not award me the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi either."
"Sarvashura, I also remember that in the past, 9.5 billion Buddhas, Tathagatas, had appeared in the world, all of them were called Sakyamuni, Worthy of offerings, Of correct and universal knowledge. At that time I was a great king and ruling the nation according to proper laws. I made offerings to all those 9.5 billion Sakyamuni Tathagatas with fragrances, flowers, streamers, canopies, drinks, foods, clothes, beds, soups, medicines, and all delightful things, and they did not award me the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi either."
"Sarvashura, I also remember that in the past, 900 million Buddhas had appeared in the world, all of them were called Krakutsanda Thus Come One, Worthy of offerings, Of correct and universal knowledge. At that time I was a Brahman's son. I was extremely rich, my properties were countless, and I was also donating everything. I made offerings to those Buddhas with various fragrances, flowers, streamers, canopies, clothes, beds, drinks, foods, and all delightful things, and those Tathagatas did not award me the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi either."
"Sarvashura, I also remember that in the past, 1.8 billion Tathagatas had appeared in the world, all of them were called Kanakamuni Thus Come One, Worthy of offerings, Of correct and universal knowledge. At that time I was also practicing charity extensively. I made offerings to all those Tathagatas with fragrances, flowers, streamers, canopies, clothes, beds, drinks, foods, soups, medicines, and all delightful things, and those Tathagatas did not award me the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi either."
"Sarvashura, I also remember that in the past, 1.3 billion Buddhas, Tathagatas, had appeared in the world, all of them were called Luminous Virtues Thus Come One, Worthy of offerings, Of correct and universal knowledge. I worshiped and made offerings to all of them with various flowers, fragrances, streamers, canopies, clothes, beds, drinks, foods, and all delightful things, and those Tathagatas did not award me the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi either."
"Sarvashura, I also remember that in the past, 2.5 billion Buddhas, Tathagatas, had appeared in the world, all of them were called Pushya Thus Come One, Worthy of offerings, Of correct and universal knowledge. At that time I was a monk carrying out Sramana-Practices. I made offerings to all those Buddhas according to proper laws, with various fragrances, flowers, precious ornaments (Keyura), streamers, canopies, clothes, beds, drinks, foods, and all delightful things, and worshiped and glorified those Tathagatas, and they did not award me the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi either."
"Sarvashura, I also remember that in the past, 1.2 billion Buddhas, Tathagatas, had appeared in the world, all of them were called Vipasyin Thus Come One, Worthy of offerings, Of correct and universal knowledge. At that time I was also a monk, and made offerings to all those Tathagatas with flowers, fragrances, streamers, canopies, clothes, drinks, foods, beds, soups, medicines, and all delightful things, and those Tathagatas did not award me the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi either."
"The last Vipasyin Tathagata spoke this Dharma-Gate, then, after the living beings in Jambudvipa had heard that, myriads of the seven treasures were rained down from the sky, thereupon, no one in Jambudvipa was poor. At that time, I was still not awarded the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi, but heard a voice from the sky telling me: 'You will be awarded the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi shortly.'"
Sarvashura Bodhisattva asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, when were you awarded the mark of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi?"
The Buddha told Sarvashura Bodhisattva: "Listen attentively, virtuous man. 9.2 billion Asamkhya kalpas after then, a Buddha named Burning-Lamp (Dipamkara) Thus Come One, Worthy of offerings, Of correct and universal knowledge, had appeared in the world. At that time I was a Manavaka(youth) named Megha(cloud), and was carrying out pure practices in the dwelling of Burning-Lamp Buddha. Once I saw the Burning-Lamp Tathagata, I made offering to him with a seven-stemmed green lotus, and transferred that virtuous root to Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi. Right after that, Burning-Lamp Tathagata awarded me the mark: 'Manava, in the future, after an Asamkhya kalpa, you will become a Buddha named Sakyamuni Thus Come One, Worthy of offerings, Of correct and universal knowledge.'"
"Sarvashura, at that time, having heard the sound of the awarding of the mark, I flew upward, stayed in the sky at a height of twelve Tala-trees, and achieved the Uncreated-Dharma-Forbearance (anutpattika-dharma-ksanti). Then, the pure practices that I had been cultivating for countless Asamkhya kalpas, the correspondences with the Six Paramitas, and the virtuous roots, were all revealed in front of me, I saw them like seeing an Amala fruit on my palm."
"Sarvashura, at that time, I had made innumerable living beings stay in Virtuous Dharmas, how much more so, when I have now achieved Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi, and am benefiting all living beings. I observe living beings to find out how they should be ferried (to the shore of liberation), and speak Dharma for them with expedient means, according to their suitability."
"For heavenly beings, I appear as heavenly beings and speak Dharma for them; in dragons' palaces, I appear as dragons and speak Dharma for them; among Yaksas, I appear as Yaksas and speak Dharma for them; among hungry ghosts, I appear as hungry ghosts and speak Dharma for them; for human beings, I appear as human beings and speak Dharma for them; for those who should be enlightened through Buddhas' Bodies, I manifest Buddhas' Bodies and speak Dharma for them; for those who should be enlightened through Bodhisattvas' Bodies, I manifest Bodhisattvas' Bodies and speak Dharma for them."
"By observing living beings to find out how they should be ferried, in such ways, I manifest myself in front of the living beings and speak Dharma for them according to their suitability."
"Sarvashura, why do I use various expedient means, and appear as various forms to speak Dharma for living beings? Because, after hearing the Dharma, those living beings who have virtuous roots will have all their virtuous roots grow; those who are miserly will begin to donate; those who lack blessings and virtues will cultivate blessings and virtues, will benefit themselves and others, and meditate on death. Because of hearing the Dharma, they will produce such virtuous roots, and their previous virtuous roots will also grow and become brighter, then they will gain benefits throughout the long night, and will be able to bring peace and happiness to heavenly and human beings. Sarvashura, once this Dharma-Gate reaches anyone's ear, it will produce countless merits and virtues."
"Sarvashura, at one time, some living beings were discussing with each others about whether there are virtuous Dharma, cultivations, and the achievement of Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi. The virtuous living beings said: 'There are Dharmas, which are donating, cultivating, virtuous speaking, and so forth. Such Dharmas can make us gain virtuous fruit-repayment, up to the unsurpassed Way.' The ignorant persons said: 'There is no Dharma, no donating, no virtuous or evil fruitions, and no karmic rewards for virtuous speeches.'"
"Those ignorant persons then gained tremendous sinful retributions of revolving within the evil paths: They fell into hells and had been suffering from great bitter retributions for eight great kalpas; had been Asuras for 16 kalpas; had been reborn as ghosts and spirits for nine thousand kalpas; had been hungry ghosts for twelve kalpas; had been born dumb for fourteen thousand kalpas; had died inside their mothers' wombs myriads of times for sixteen thousand kalpas; had been reborn as flesh lumps for twelve thousand kalpas; and had been born blind for eleven kalpas. Their parents said: 'For this child that I have given birth to, I have been toiling in vain. I have been protecting the fetus for nine months, and endured the afflictions of hunger, thirst, cold, heat, etc., but cannot gain the repayment of my kindness from this child.'"
"Sarvashura, it is thus. Those living beings who slander Dharma will fall into the categories of hell being, animal, and hungry ghost. When they are about to die, they will be shot and carried away by the arrow of worry."
"Sarvashura, those who had been practicing virtuous speaking, had said: 'There are Dharmas and donating, and there are fruit-repayment for virtues and evils.' By reason of such virtuous roots, those persons had been reborn in Uttara-kuru (the best one of the four great continents) for 25 kalpas, had been reborn in the heaven of the 33 gods (Trayastrimsha) and enjoying heavenly bliss for 25 kalpas. When their heavenly lifetimes ended, they were reborn in Uttara-kuru without entering wombs. At that time, their eyes saw hundreds of thousands of worlds all called Peace-and-Bliss, and saw all the Buddhas in those worlds. Then, without a movement, they achieved Sambodhi (Correct Awakening)."
"Sarvashura, such a Dharma-Gate has great holy powers, can arouse pure faith, prevent living beings from being born in outlying-regions (where there are no Buddhas' teaching), and make them fully observe the pure precepts."
"Moreover, Sarvashura, there are some living beings saying: 'The Tathagatas ferry living beings (to the shore of liberation) day and night, but the realms of living beings did not come to an end. Innumerable living beings had aroused the will to Bodhi, innumerable living beings had been born in heavens, and innumerable living beings had entered into Nirvana, but it did not come to an end, why?'"
At that time, some Brahmans and other Exterior-path practitioners said: "We should query Sramana Gautama about this. Then, 9.4 billion Exterior-path practitioners including the Brahmans, came to Rajagriha.
The Bhagavan then smiled kindly and radiantly. Maitreya Bodhisattva then arose from his seat, bowed to the feet of the Buddha, joined his palms towards the Buddha, and asked: "Bhagavan, for what cause and relationship did the Tathagata smile? If there is no cause and relationship, the Tathagata will not manifest rare things. Please Bhagavan, tell us the reason for the smile." The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva: "Virtuous man, listen attentively, and I will tell you. Maitreya, today in this Rajagriha city, there will be a great congregation." Maitreya Bodhisattva asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, what gathering of beings will join the congregation? Are they heavenly gods, dragons, Yaksas, human beings or non-human beings?"
The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva: "Virtuous man, many heavenly gods, dragons, Yaksas, and so forth, will come to the congregation, and besides, 84 thousand Brahmans and 900 billion Nirgranthas are coming to debate with me. I will convince them and speak Dharma for them, then the Brahmans will all arouse Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi Heart, and the 900 billion Nirgranthas will all achieve the Reverse of Streams (Srota-apanna). Moreover, 18 thousand dragon kings will come to the congregation, and all will arouse Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi Heart after hearing my Dharma-Speech; and, six thousand billion lords of Pure-Abode heavens(*) will also come to the congregation, three thousand billion demons and their followers will also come to the congregation, 12 thousand Asura kings will also come to the congregation, and five hundred great kings and their followers will also come to the congregation and listen to my Dharma-Speech, and after hearing the Dharma, they will all arouse Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi Heart."
(* Pure-Abode heavens: the five heavens of form/material realm, above the heavens of desire realm.)
Then, Maitreya Bodhisattva arose from his seat, bowed to the feet of the Buddha, circumambulated the Buddha clockwise three times, and suddenly disappeared.
At that time, Sarvashura Bodhisattva Mahasattva arose from his seat, uncovered his right shoulder, placed his right knee on the ground, joined his palms towards the Buddha, and said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, what are the names of those five hundred kings?"
The Buddha told Sarvashura: "Listen attentively virtuous man. The first one is called Joyful King, the second is called Virtuous Joy King, the third is called Upananda, the forth is called Superior Jump King, the fifth is called Brahma Commander King, the sixth is called Brahma Sound King, the seventh is called Virtuous Vision King, the eighth is called Virtuous Bliss King, the ninth is called Joyful Commander King, the tenth is called Joyful Righteous King, the eleventh is called Bimbisara King, the twelfth is called Prasenajit King, the thirteenth is called Growth King, and so forth. Such five hundred great kings, each has hundreds of billions of followers, will all arouse Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi Heart, except the Growth King."
"Moreover, from the east, three thousand billion Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas will come to the congregation; from the south, five thousand billion Bodhisattvas will come to the congregation; from the west, six thousand billion Bodhisattvas will come to the congregation; from the north, eight thousand billion Bodhisattvas will come to the congregation; from the downward direction, nine thousand billion Bodhisattvas will come to the congregation; and from the upward direction, ten thousand billion Bodhisattvas will come to the congregation. Those Bodhisattva, who are all of the tenth Bhumi(stage), will come to this Rajagriha great city, the location of the Tathagata. They will never retrograde from Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi."
At that time, the Bhagavan said to Sarvashura Bodhisattva Mahasattva: "Virtuous man, go to the Buddha-Worlds in the ten directions, and tell those Bodhisattvas: 'The Tathagata is speaking great Dharma in Rajagriha city today, you Bodhisattvas in the ten directions, should all join your palms and pay homage.' And you should come back quickly, to listen to the Dharma among the congregation."
Sarvashura Bodhisattva then arose from his seat, bowed to the feet of the Buddha, circumambulated the Buddha three times, and suddenly disappeared.
Thereupon, Sarvashura Bodhisattva traveled to the worlds in the ten directions, and told those Bodhisattvas: "Today, the Tathagata is speaking great Dharma in Rajagriha city, you all should praise 'How virtuous it is! -- so that you will gain everlasting peaces, bliss, and benefits. Then, having traveled to the worlds in the ten directions and made offerings to the Buddhas, and delivered the message to the Bodhisattvas, Sarvashura Bodhisattva returned to this world. Just in the time it takes for a vigorous man to bend and extend his arm, Sarvashura reached Rajagriha city and appeared in front of the Tathagata.
At that time, all those Brahmans and Exterior-path practitioners had congregated, many heavenly gods, dragons, Yaksas, Asuras, human and non-human beings had also joined the congregation, the five hundred great kings and their followers had also joined the congregation, and three thousand billion demons and their followers had also joined the congregation.
At that time, in Rajagriha city, the earth shook greatly; in all Buddha-Worlds of the ten directions, myriads of sandalwoods, powdered incenses, and wonderful heavenly flowers were rained down, they fell on the Tathagata, and then became a great platform made of flowers; and, many Vajra Mighty Ones, who were holding Vajra-pestles, appeared in front of the Tathagata.
At that time, from the four directions, there came four Lords of wind. They entered into Rajagriha city and blew away the city's excrements, dirt, dusts and sands. Then, in the worlds of the ten directions, myriads of fragrant water, Utpala flowers, Kumuda flowers, and Pundarika flowers were rained down, and transformed into great canopies in the sky. Moreover, there appeared in the sky eight thousand and four hundred billion lion-thrones made of the seven treasures, and on each of the thrones was a Buddha speaking wonderful Dharma. At that time, the three-thousand-great-thousand worlds shook in six ways.
Then Sarvashura Bodhisattva Mahasattva asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, for what cause and relationship did such rare things appear in Rajagriha city?"
The Buddha said to Sarvashura Bodhisattva: "Virtuous man, listen carefully. Suppose there was a person who was poor but arrogant. One day, he went in front of the gate of the king's palace, and due to his arrogance, he entered it directly. The guards then caught him, hit him and tied him up. Having heard that someone entered directly into the royal gate, the king thought: 'This person must want to murder me so that he entered directly.' Then the king became angry and ordered his officers: 'Execute this person, and his parents, brothers, and sisters!' that person's relations then became worried and wept sorrowfully."
"Likewise, when the Tathagata is speaking Dharma, the mundane persons who are arrogant, having seen the Buddha's body and heard the Dharma speaking, might say various words according to their arrogance. They might adhere to egotism, might not listen or accept the Dharma, much less that they would speak Dharma. If someone says even one verse or one simile, they also might not listen or accept it. They might say: 'I had already known such things.' Why? Because they are in the state of Self-arrogance."
"Or, a person might be proud of his wide knowledge and therefore become indolent. He might stay together with fools or ignorant persons without hearing correct Dharma. Being proud of his wide knowledge, he might be indolent and speak not according to the correct Dharma. He might create sermons by himself and preach to all people in the world. He might cheat himself by saying: 'You should offer money to me if you have, because I am the farmland of blessings.' Such an ignorant person cheats both himself and the world. He accepts offerings given by his believers, but he does not deserve it, therefore he becomes greatly frightened when he is about to die."
"When others ask him: 'You have many techniques, why don't you save yourself?' he will answer: 'Now my techniques cannot save myself, I am sorrowful and worrying!' His followers might say: 'But we had killed our parents and relations on account of you!'"
"It is like thus, many living beings fall into hells or become animals or hungry ghosts, because they draw themselves near to evil advisers."
"Therefore", the Buddha said to the Brahmans and Nirgranthas, "Do not be lazy. For example, a baby bird who has not yet grown his feathers and wings cannot fly high in the sky, likewise, you have no holy power so that you cannot fly to the realm of Nirvana. And, what you are practicing, which is not the ultimate Way, will finally decay. When you are about to die, you will regret: 'I have gained this body and lifetime in vain, because my practices cannot gain heavenly bliss, human happiness, or Nirvana. This body of mine is wasted, what path of transmigration will I go to? What body will I have?'"
Then the Bhagavan told the Brahmans and Nirgranthas -- the exterior-path practitioners, saying: "It is like a great treasure in Jambudvipa, which fulfills all your wishes, in the midst of the Buddhas' Dharma treasures, you should not study others. If you have any question, just ask the Tathagata, and the Buddha will analyze and explain for you."
Then the Brahmans and Nirgranthas all arose from their seats, uncovered their right shoulders, placed their right knees on the ground, joined their palms, paid homage to the Buddha, and said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, days and nights, the Tathagatas ferry living beings from birth and death to the shore of liberation, but the realm of living beings does not expand or shrink. Bhagavan, why are living beings still coming into being and vanishing uninterruptedly?"
At that time, in order to light up a great Dharma Torch -- to ask about a great thing, Medicine King Army (Bhaisajya-sena) Bodhisattva Mahasattva, who was sublimed by his great vows, said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, in the future there will be no young living beings or old living beings who come into being and vanish."
The Buddha said to Medicine King Army: "Living beings become old, and then become young again, it is in this way that they come into being and vanish. Virtuous man, for example, a person washed his hair and came out from his house wearing a new cloth, when others saw him, they said: 'How nice it is, that he washed his hair and is wearing a new clean cloth! ' And, another person also washed his hair, and wore an old but washed cloth. Although his old cloth was washed, others said: 'It is nice that his hair is washed, but his cloth is not good.' Likewise, Medicine King Army, being old is considered not good in Jambudvipa, but being young, though it is considered good, it is also in births and deaths."
Then the Brahmans and Nirgranthas asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, who are called old, and who are young?"
The Buddha told those Exterior-path practitioners: "Those who frequently fall into the categories of hungry ghosts, animals, hell beings, and so forth, and suffer from that, but never feel tired of it, are called old beings."
Then all the Brahmans, heavenly gods, dragons, and great kings said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, we can no longer bear to suffer from births and deaths."
At that time, the Nirgranthas said: "Then there is no young living being at all."
Then Medicine King Army said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, see how difficult it is to ferry these living beings (to the shore of liberation)!"
The Buddha said to Medicine King Army Bodhisattva: "The Tathagata will analyze and explain it today, you should listen attentively. Now there are 9400 billion youths (Manavaka) in the presence of the Tathagata, they did not pay obeisance to, and did not inquire after the Tathagata."
Medicine King Army Bodhisattva asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, why is it that these living beings did not pay obeisance to, and did not inquire after the Tathagata, and did not request the Buddha to solve their doubts?"
The Buddha told Medicine King Army Bodhisattva: "Virtuous man, listen attentively and I will tell you. Virtuous man, if someone says that there is no young living being at all, he should know that these youths are young living beings."
Those youths then said: "We are young living beings, Bhagavan, we are young living beings."
The Buddha said: "Yes, yes, you are young living beings. You are just born, like the rising sun, whose light universally illuminate all things, who is looked up to by innumerable living beings. You have been in the Buddha-Way for long time, your hearts are matured, and you had mastered myriads of Bodhisattva-Dharmas. Although you are called 'young', you have been cultivating and practicing for eons."
At that time, those 9400 billion youths all gained the tenth stage (of Bodhisattva), they flied upward and stayed in the sky.
Medicine King Army Bodhisattva then said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, these living beings are joyful that they have gained the great benefit and have terminated their births and deaths. Bhagavan, these living beings are free from births and deaths and are staying at the tenth stage."
At that time, the dragons, kings, demons and their followers, and the Exterior-path practitioners -- the Brahmans and Nirgranthas, came close to the Buddha and said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, we have come to where the Buddha is, to listen to this Dharma-Gate. We wish that we will all gain the wonderful and beautiful body of the Tathagata -- will have the same appearance as the Tathagata; we wish that we will have the correct and universal omniscience like the Tathagata."
The Buddha said: "Yes, yes, virtuous men, you have come to where the Buddha is to listen to this Dharma-Gate, and have aroused Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi Heart, you will achieve Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi shortly."
Right after the Tathagata had spoken those words, that host of beings, including those Exterior-path practitioners, all achieved the Uncreated-Dharma-Forbearance (Anutpattika-Dharma-Ksanti), and became Bodhisattvas of the tenth stage.
Then those Bodhisattvas, by using their own supernatural power, ascended into the sky at a height of seven Tala-trees, miraculously created myriads of mansions made of the seven treasures to make offering to the Tathagata, and manifested myriads of transcendental transformations.
At that time, being mindful of the Buddha, the gods of heavens rained down from the sky myriads of wonderful flowers onto the Tathagata, and an idea arose in their minds that their own bodies are Buddha-Bodies. Innumerable hundreds of thousands of Chiefs of heavenly gods scattered flowers upon the Buddha and said: "What a great benefit that they have gained! Sramana Gautama is really a great excellent farmland of blessings for the universe. He fully has all the Samadhis and unrestricted powers, therefore, those living beings, who have gained expedient means of Dharma gradually, can be free from births and deaths, by just one virtuous speech of the Buddha."
At that time, Medicine King Army Bodhisattva Mahasattva arose from his seat, uncovered his right shoulder, joined his palms and said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, for what cause and relationship did those heavenly lords speak such words, manifest such supernatural scenes, and praise the Tathagata?"
The Buddha told Medicine King Army Bodhisattva: "Virtuous man, those Bodhisattvas were not praising me, they were praising themselves, because they were sitting on the throne of Dharma King, and emitting forth the light of Dharma from their own bodies. They are protected by all Buddhas, and speak Dharma with the Correct Awakening -- Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi."
Then Medicine King Army Bodhisattva Mahasattva asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, the great virtuous World Honored Ones ferry innumerable living beings day and night, but living beings are still endless, why?"
The Bhagavan said to Medicine King Army Bodhisattva Mahasattva: "How virtuous, how virtuous, virtuous man, that you can ask the Tathagata about this. Virtuous man, for example, there is a very rich person, who has lots of servants, extensive farmlands, houses, gardens, forests, and plenty of paddies, rice, barleys, wheat, beans, sorghums, sesames, and so forth. He plants all the crops in spring, when the crops are mature, he harvests them and stores them separately. In every year, he repeats the same work again and again."
"Medicine King Army, living beings are like such. Because of the causes and relationships affected by their karma, they separately plant various seeds, some are virtuous, and some are evil; when these karma mature, the fruit-repayments they gain are also separately obtained. In such a way, they revolve in the endless cycles of births and deaths."
"Medicine King Army, those who carry out Bodhisattva-practices can plant the seeds of all virtuous Dharmas, and mature them one by one. When they are mature, they will produce all virtuous Dharmas; when the virtuous Dharmas are produced, the Bodhisattvas will gain the great joy. Medicine King Army, because of their joyful heart, they will not lose their blissful repayments even though hundreds of billions of kalpas elapse. Then, Medicine King Army, they are called the Bodhisattvas who have initially aroused their hearts. They will not fall into the evil categories (of hell beings, animals, ghosts, etc.), and will know all Dharmas collectively."
Medicine King Army Bodhisattva asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, why do the Bodhisattvas who have initially aroused their hearts have dreams?"
The Buddha told Medicine King Army Bodhisattva: "Virtuous man, a Bodhisattva who has initially aroused his heart will dream of many frightening things, why? Because almost all of his karma are purified, thus he cannot suffer from any affliction bodily, then, being affected by the remaining sins, he will dream of frightening things."
Medicine King Army Bodhisattva asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, what frightening things will a Bodhisattva who has initially aroused his heart dream of?"
The Buddha told Medicine King Army Bodhisattva: "Virtuous man, he will dream of a group of blazing fire. Then the Bodhisattva should think like this: 'Let this group of fire burn out all my defilements and delusions!' Medicine King Army, this is the first frightening thing that he will dream of."
"Furthermore, he will dream of a flowing stream of water, which is defiled and turbid. Then the Bodhisattva, who has initially aroused his heart, should think like this: 'Let it rinse all my afflictions, and the ropes and knots of delusions.' Medicine King Army, this is the second frightening thing that a Bodhisattva who has initially aroused his heart will dream of."
"Furthermore, he will dream that he shaves his own head. Medicine King Army, when he dreams of this he should not be afraid. Why? He should think like this: 'Let me shave off my greed, anger, ignorance, and the possibility of being born in the six realms of transmigration (heaven, human, Asura, animal, hungry ghost, and hell)"
"Virtuous man, such a Bodhisattva will not fall into the categories of hell beings, animals, hungry ghosts, dragons, or heavenly beings. Medicine King Army, a Bodhisattva who has initially aroused his heart will only be reborn in pure Buddha-Worlds."
The Buddha told Medicine King Army: "In the future ending age, in the last five hundred years, there will be some Bodhisattvas who wish to achieve Bodhi with their hearts. Since they have aroused their hearts, they will be rebuked, insulted, beaten, and scolded by many people. Medicine King Army, you should speak Dharma for them, that a Bodhisattva should not arouse anger from his heart."
The Buddha said to Medicine King Army: "I had been carrying out myriads of austerities for immeasurable hundreds of thousands of billions of kalpas. Virtuous man, I did it not for necessities of life, lands, or any possessions; I did it just to understand the Reality of all things. Medicine King Army, I did not achieve Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi by the austerities, but virtuous man, when I heard this Dharma, I achieved Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi in that very day."
"Medicine King Army, this Dharma is very profound, and the name of such a Dharma-Gate is difficult to hear. If anyone hears the name of this Dharma-Gate, he will surely achieve Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi. Medicine King Army, such a person will transcend births and deaths of one thousands kalpas and be reborn in a pure Buddha-World. He will understand well about the truth of the cessation of suffering and the truth of the Way to Nirvana; he will understand the first Way and the first virtuous root, will achieve matchless supernatural powers, and will understand the matchless extinction."
"Medicine King Army, what do you think, what is called extinction?"
Medicine King Army Bodhisattva said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, where the Dharma is, is called extinction."
The Buddha said to Medicine King Army: "Where is the Dharma?"
Medicine King Army said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, the Dharma is where the Dharma is. Just as what the Bhagavan said, be diligent in advancing, be diligent in precepts-keeping, and be diligent in forbearance, then it is called the Dharma-Store."
The Buddha praised Medicine King Army Bodhisattva: "Excellent! Excellent! Virtuous man, on this question of the Buddha, you have explained well."
(End of Chapter Two)
(Last revised: Feb/12/2008)
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