Kangyur Translations

Toh 127 — The King of Samādhis Sūtra

Samādhi­rāja­sūtra

Translated by Peter Alan Roberts under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha

The Mahāyāna Sūtra

The King of Samādhis, the Revealed Equality of the Nature of All Phenomena

Chapter 1

The Introduction

F.1.bB1 I pay homage to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas.[1]


Thus did I hear at one time: The Bhagavān was residing at Vulture Peak Mountain in Rājagṛha together with a great bhikṣu saṅgha of a full hundred thousand bhikṣus, and together with eighty quintillion[2] bodhisattvas,[3] all of whom had one rebirth remaining, were renowned for their higher cognitions,[4] and had gathered there from the worlds in the ten directions; they had complete mastery[5] of the dhāraṇīs[6] and sūtras; they satisfied all beings with the gift of the Dharma; they were skilled in speaking of the wisdom of the higher cognitions; they had attained the highest perfection of all the highest perfections;F.2.a they were skilled in the knowledge of remaining in all bodhisattva samādhis and samāpattis; they had been praised, extolled, and lauded by all the buddhas;[7] they were skilled in miraculously going to all buddha realms;

they were skilled in the knowledge of terrifying all māras;[8] they were skilled in the correct knowledge of the nature of all phenomena; they were skilled in the knowledge of the higher and lower capabilities of all beings; they were skilled in the knowledge of accomplishing the activity of offering to all the buddhas; they were unstained by any of the worldly concerns; they had perfectly adorned bodies, speech, and minds;[9] they wore the armor of great love and great compassion; they had great undiminishing diligence throughout countless eons; they roared the great lion’s roar; they could not be defeated by any opponent;[10] they were sealed with nonregression; and they had received the consecration of the Dharma from all buddhas.[11] They were the bodhisattva mahāsattvas Meru,Sumeru, Mahāmeru,[12] Meru­śikhara­dhara,[13] Meru­pradīpa­rāja, Merukūṭa, Merudhvaja, Merurāja,[14] Meru­śikhara­saṁghaṭṭana­rāja,[15] Merusvara, Megharāja, Dundubhisvara, Ratnapāṇi,[16] Ratnākara, Ratnaketu, Ratnaśikhara, Ratnasaṁbhava, Ratnaprabhāsa, Ratnayaṣṭi, Ratna­mudrā­hasta, Ratnavyūha, Ratnajāli, Ratnaprabha, Ratnadvīpa,F.2.b Ratiṁkara, Dharmavyūha, Vyūharāja, Lakṣaṇa­samalaṁkṛta, Svaravyūha, Svara­viśuddhi­prabha, Ratnakūṭa, Ratnacūḍa,[17] Daśa­śata­raśmihutārci,[18] Jyotirasa, Candrabhānu, Saha­cittotpāda­dharma­cakra­pravartin, and Śubha­kanaka­viśuddhi­prabha, the bodhisatta mahāsattva Satatam­abhayaṁdad,[19] and all the bodhisattva mahāsattvas of the Good Eon,

such as the bodhisattva mahāsattva Ajita,[20] and the sixty with incomparable minds,[21] such as Mañjuśrī, and the sixteen good beings,[22] such as Bhadrapāla,[23] and the Four Mahārājas and the other Cāturmahā­rāja­kāyika devas, and so on[24] up until Brahmā and the other Brahmakāyika devas. In addition there were also devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans, and nonhumans, who were all illustrious[25] and renowned as being very powerful.

[26]

They honored him,[27] worshiped him,[28] revered him,[29] made offerings to him,[30] praised him,[31] and venerated him.[32] The fourfold assembly and the worlds[33] of devas also paid homage to him,[34] made offerings to him, honored him, worshiped him, revered him, praised him, and venerated him.

Then the Bhagavān, encircled and esteemed by that assembly of many hundred thousands, taught the Dharma. He taught perfectly the spiritual conduct that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, that has a good meaning, that has good words, and is unalloyed, complete, pure, and wholesome.

At that time, within that gathered assembly there was a youth[35] named Candraprabha, who had honored the jinas in the past, had planted roots of merit, could remember his previous lives, had the confidence of speech, had correctly followed the Mahāyāna, and who was dedicated to great compassion.

The youth Candraprabha rose from his seat, removed his robe from one shoulder, F.3.a and, kneeling on his right knee, with palms placed together bowed toward the Bhagavān and made this request: “If the Bhagavān will give me an opportunity to seek answers to them, I have a few questions for the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha.”

The Bhagavān addressed the youth Candraprabha, saying, “Young man, ask whatever question you wish of the Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha, and I shall gratify you with answers to each and every question you have asked.

“Young man, I am omniscient.[36] I am all-seeing. I have attained preeminence because of my strengths and fearlessness concerning all Dharmas. I possess the unobscured wisdom of liberation.

“Young man, there is nothing in the endless, infinite worlds[37] that the Tathāgata does not know, has not seen, has not heard, has not understood, has not directly perceived, and about which he has not become completely enlightened.

“Young man, may you always have the opportunity to ask questions of the Tathāgata, and I will gratify you with answers for each of the questions you ask.”

The Bhagavān having given him this opportunity, the young man Candraprabha[38] recited these verses to the Bhagavān:

“Lord of the World, Buddha,
Illuminator, bringer of benefit,
Elucidate what kind of practice
Will bring the attainment of inconceivable wisdom. {1}
“Lord of humans, speaker of the truth, preeminent among humans,
To whom humans and devas make offerings, how should one practice
In order to attain the unfathomable,[39] supreme, highest yāna?
Lord who has supreme speech, answer this question. {2}
“I ask my question with a pure motivation.
There is no guile to be seen within me.[40]
I have no witness[41] to that
Other than you, sublime being. {3} F.3.b
“My prayer and my aspiration are vast.
Śākya lion, you know my conduct.
I will not be one who prizes words.
Lord of humans, quickly teach me the practice. {4}
“Which of the Dharmas included
In the vehicle of enlightenment are to be cherished?[42]
Elucidate for me, great hero,
The summit of all Dharmas. {5}
“Teach to me, Lord, a beneficial Dharma,
Through the practice of which a person will have sharp wisdom,
Will become free of terrible fears, will be fearless,
Will never abandon the aggregate of correct conduct, {6}
“Will be without arrogance, desire, anger,[43] and ignorance,
And will practice a conduct in which all faults have ceased.[44] {6b}
“How does one not abandon correct conduct?
How does one not depart from dhyāna?
How does one stay in a solitary place?
How does wisdom increase?[45] {7}
“How does one find joy in maintaining correct conduct
Within the vast teaching of the one with ten strengths?
How can the aggregate of correct conduct be flawless?
How does one examine the nature of the composite? {8}
“How can the wise be pure
In body and in speech,
And with an unafflicted mind
Seek the Buddha’s wisdom? {9}
“How can they have pure actions of the body?
How can they avoid faults in speech?
How can they have an unafflicted mind?
Best of men, give your answer to my questions.” {10}

The Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas will attain all those qualities and quickly attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood if they have one quality.[46] What is that one quality? Young man, it is the bodhisattva mahāsattvas’ evenness of mind toward all beings. They wish to benefit them, have no anger, and have no partiality. Young man, if bodhisattva mahāsattvas have that one quality F.4.a they will attain all those qualities and quickly attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood.”

The Bhagavān then recited these verses to the youth Candraprabha:

“Having obtained one quality,
Those bodhisattvas, whoever they are,
Will attain these qualities
And quickly attain enlightenment. {11}
“Anger toward anyone does not arise in the mind
Of the bodhisattva who has a mind without anger.
Those who are not hardhearted or wicked
Will attain exactly what has been described. {12}
“As they remain in evenness of mind,
There will be an evenness of ripening results:
The soles of their feet will be even
And their range of conduct will be even. {13}
“They meditate with even minds that are without unevenness.
Without the fault of hardheartedness and devoid of craving
They have even soles and palms.[47]
They are supremely bright and are seen as pure. {14}
“The bodhisattvas illuminate the ten directions,
Spreading splendor and light through a buddha realm.[48]
When they attain the level of peace,
They establish many beings in buddha wisdom. {15}

“Young man, in that way the bodhisattva mahāsattva who has evenness of mind toward all beings, wishes to benefit them, and has no anger or partiality will attain the samādhi known as the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena.

“Young man, what is the samādhi called the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena?

“It is restraint of the body.[49] It is restraint of the speech. It is restraint of the mind. It is purity of action. It is the transcendence of the mind’s perceptions.[50] It is knowledge of the skandhas. It is the equality of the dhātus. It is the elimination of the āyatanas.

“It is the renunciation of craving. It is having the direct perception of birthlessness. It is engagement in activity.[51] It is the illumination of causes.[52] It is the non-dissipation of the results of karma. It is insight into phenomena. It is the meditation of the path. It is meeting the tathāgatas.

“It is sharp wisdom. It is penetrating into beings.[53] It is knowledge of phenomena.[54]F.4.b It is the knowledge of engaging in discernment. It is the knowledge of the different kinds of letters and words. It is the transcendence of matter. It is the understanding of sounds. It is the attainment of joy. It is experiencing the joy of the Dharma. It is sincerity.[55] It is tolerance.[56] It is to be without deception.[57]

“It is to be without frowns. It is to be pleasant.[58] It is to have correct conduct.[59] It is to be friendly.[60] It is to be gentle.[61] It is having a smiling face.[62] It is being courteous.[63] It is to be welcoming.[64]

“It is to be without laziness.[65] It is having veneration[66] for the guru.[67] It is respect[68] for the guru. It is being content with occurrences. It is never being satisfied with the good actions one has done. It is having a pure livelihood. It is not forsaking the solitary life.

“It is the knowledge of successive levels. It is always maintaining mindfulness. It is being wise concerning the skandhas. It is being wise concerning the dhātus. It is being wise concerning the āyatanas. It is making one’s higher cognitions manifest to others.

“It is the elimination of kleśas. It is ceasing engagement with propensities.[69] It is having specific attainments.[70] It is the natural result of meditation.[71]

“It is skillfulness in eliminating transgressions.[72] It is the prevention of the arising of bad actions. It is the elimination of attachment.[73]

“It is transcending the existences. It is the memory of previous rebirths. It is being free from doubt concerning the ripening of karma.

“It is the contemplation of phenomena. It is seeking to hear the Dharma. It is having sharp knowledge. It is craving for wisdom. It is the realization of wisdom.

“It is the level of a noble being.[74] It is having a mind like a mountain. It is being unshakable. It is being immovable. It is the knowledge of the nature of the level of irreversibility.

“It is having the natural result of good qualities.[75] It is the abhorrence of bad qualities. It is being free of behavior caused by the kleśas. It is never abandoning the training.

“It is being established in samādhi. It is the knowledge of the thoughts of beings. It is the knowledge of the various rebirths of beings. It is knowledge of the infinite.[76] It is the knowledge of the intended meaning of words.[77]

“It is the rejection of living in a home. It is finding no joy in the three realms. It is having a motivation that is not discouraged. It is having no attachment to phenomena.

“It is having possession of the sacred Dharma. It is protecting the Dharma. It is conviction in the ripening of karma. It is skill in the vinaya. F.5.a

“It is the pacification of disputes. It is the absence of discord and the absence of quarrels. It is having reached the level of patience. It is maintaining patience.

“It is the equality of the different kinds of beings.[78] It is skill in examining phenomena.[79] It is skill in gaining certainty concerning phenomena.

“It is the knowledge of distinguishing between the words for phenomena.[80] It is skill in the presentation of the words for phenomena. It is the knowledge of the skill of presenting the distinction between words that have meaning and those that do not have meaning.[81]

“It is knowledge of the past. It is knowledge of the future. It is knowledge of the present.[82] It is the knowledge of the equality of the three times. It is the knowledge of the purity of the three aspects of actions.

“It is the knowledge of the body’s condition. It is the knowledge of the mind’s condition. It is guarding conduct. It is having unshakable[83] conduct. It is uncontrived conduct.[84] It is engaging in conduct that is attractive.[85]

“It is the knowledge of skill in what is beneficial and what is not beneficial.[86] It is rational speech.[87] It is knowledge of the world.

“It is unrestrained generosity. It is being openhanded.[88] It is having a nongrasping mind.

“It is having a sense of modesty and self-respect. It is an abhorrence of negative aspirations. It is not forsaking the qualities of purification. It is maintaining correct conduct. It is joyful conduct.

“It is standing up to welcome gurus and presenting them with a seat. It is the elimination of pride. It is controlling the mind. It is the knowledge of generating enthusiasm.

“It is the knowledge of discernment. It is the realization of wisdom. It is being without ignorance. It is knowledge of the processes of the mind. It is the knowledge that realizes the nature of the mind.[89]

“It is the knowledge of accomplishment and definite accomplishment.[90] It is the knowledge of all language. It is the knowledge of presenting definitions.[91] It is the knowledge of attaining certainty in meaning.

“It is abandoning that which is harmful. It is attending upon excellent beings.[92] It is being together with excellent beings. It is avoiding bad beings.

“It is the accomplishment of dhyāna.[93] It is not savoring[94] dhyāna.

“It is the utilization[95] of the higher cognitions. It is the knowledge that comprehends the nature of assigned names and designations. It is overcoming designations. It is disillusionment with saṃsāra.[96]

“It is the absence of yearning for respect.[97] It is indifference to lack of respect.[98] It is not being motivated by material gain. It is not being disheartened when there is no gain. It is the absence of interest in honor. It is the absence of anger at dishonor. F.5.b It is the absence of attachment to praise. It is the absence of displeasure in response to criticism. It is the absence of attachment to happiness. It is the absence of aversion to suffering. It is not being acquisitive of composite things. It is having no attachment to renown. It is accepting the lack of renown.[99]

“It is not associating with householders and mendicants.[100] It is avoiding that which is outside the scope of correct conduct. It is acting within the scope of correct conduct. It is a perfection of correct conduct. It is rejecting incorrect conduct.[101] It is not dishonoring your family.[102]

“It is preserving the teaching. It is speaking little. It is speaking softly.[103] It is speaking slowly.[104] It is skillfulness in answers. It is defeating opposition. It is arriving at the right time. It is not relying on ordinary people.

“It is not having contempt for those in suffering. It is giving them charity. It is not rebuking[105] the poor. It is having compassion for those with wrong conduct. It is having that which will bring benefit to others.[106] It is having a compassionate mind. It is benefiting others through the Dharma. It is giving away material things. It is the absence of hoarding.

“It is praising correct conduct. It is condemning incorrect conduct. It is unwaveringly[107] attending upon those who have correct conduct. It is giving up all possessions. It is welcoming others[108] with a higher motivation. It is doing exactly what one has said one will do. It is perpetual application. It is experiencing joy through veneration.

“It is the knowledge of using examples. It is being skilled in terms of past lifetimes. It is putting roots of merit first. It is skill in methods.

“It is the negation of attributes. It is rejecting identification. It is knowledge of the characteristics of things.[109]

“It is the accomplishment of the sūtras. It is skill in the vinaya.[110] It is certainty in the truth. It is the direct experience of liberation. It is the single teaching. It is not abandoning correct knowing and seeing.[111] It is speech free of doubt.[112]

“It is remaining in emptiness.[113] It is remaining in the absence of attributes.[114] It is understanding[115] the nature of the absence of aspiration.[116] It is the attainment of fearlessness.

“It is illumination by wisdom.[117] It is excellent[118] correct conduct. It is entering into samāpatti. It is the attainment of wisdom.[119]

“It is delighting in solitude. It is knowledge of oneself.[120]F.6.a It is contentment with having no high reputation.[121]

“It is the absence of pollution in the mind. It is rejecting incorrect views.[122] It is the attainment of mental retention.

“It is the entrance into knowledge.[123] It is the knowledge of the basis, the ground, the foundation, and the practice.[124]

It is the cause,[125] the method,[126] the way,[127] the creation,[128] the doorway,[129] the path,[130] the practice,[131] the guidance,[132] the explication,[133] and the conduct of the instruction.[134]

“It is appropriate patience.[135] It is the level of patience.[136] It is being free of impatience.[137] It is the level of knowledge. It is the elimination of ignorance. It is being established in knowledge.

“It is the level of spiritual practice.[138] It is the scope of practice of the bodhisattvas.

“It is attending upon wise beings. It is rejecting those who are not wise beings. It is the knowledge that analyzes and realizes the nature of all phenomena.[139]

“It is the level of buddhahood taught by the tathāgatas.[140] The wise rejoice in it. The foolish reject it. It is difficult for the śrāvakas to know. The pratyekabuddhas do not know it. It is not the level of the tīrthikas. The bodhisattvas possess it. It is realized by those who have the ten strengths. The devas make offerings to it. Brahmā praises[141] it. The Śakras[142] value it above all else.[143] The nāgas pay homage to it. The yakṣas rejoice in it. The kinnaras praise it in song. The mahoragas laud it. The bodhisattvas meditate on it. The wise comprehend it.

“It is the highest wealth. It is immaterial generosity. It is a medicine for the sick. It is a treasure of wisdom. It is unceasing eloquence.

“It is the way of the sūtras.[144] It is the domain[145] of heroes.[146] It is the comprehension of the entire three realms. It is a raft[147] for crossing to the other shore. It is like a boat for those in the middle of a river.

“It is fame for those who wish for renown. The buddhas praise it. F.6.b The tathāgatas laud it. Those who have the ten strengths praise it.

“It is the quality of the bodhisattvas. It is the equanimity of those with compassion. It is the love that brings anger[148] to an end.

“It is the delight of those with peaceful minds.[149] It provides relief for those who follow the Mahāyāna.

“It is the diligent practice of those with a lion’s roar. It is the path of the wisdom of the buddhas.[150]

“It is the seal upon all phenomena. It is the accomplishment of omniscient wisdom.[151]

“It is the pleasure grove of bodhisattvas. It is that which terrifies the māras.

“It is the knowledge of those who have reached happiness. It is the benefit of those who accomplish benefit.

“It is the refuge for those among enemies. It is the subjugation of adversaries by those who have the Dharma.

“It is the expression of truth for those who have fearlessness. It is the correct search for the strengths. It is the omen for the eighteen unique qualities of a buddha. It is the adornment of the Dharma body.[152] It is the natural result of bodhisattva conduct.[153] It is the adornment of the bodhisattvas.[154] It is the delight of those who desire liberation. It is the joy of the eldest sons.[155]

“It is the completion of buddha wisdom. It is not the level of śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas.

“It is the purity of the mind. It is the purity of the body. It is the completion of the doorways to liberation.

“It is the wisdom of buddhahood’s freedom from the kleśas.[156] It is the nonarising of desire.[157] It is devoid of anger.

“It is not the level of ignorance. It is the arising of wisdom. It is the birth of knowledge. It is the elimination of ignorance.

“It is the contentment of those dedicated to liberation. It is the satisfaction of those dedicated to samādhi. It is eyes for those who wish for the view. It is higher knowledge for those who wish to perform miracles. It is miraculous power for those who wish for accomplishment. It is retentive memory for those dedicated to listening to the Dharma.[158]

“It is unceasing mindfulness. It is the blessing of the buddhas. F.7.a It is the skillful method of the guides.

“It is subtle and difficult to know for those without dedication.[159] Those who are not liberated cannot know it.[160] It is beyond words and difficult to know through speech.

“It is known by wise beings. It is the knowledge of gentle beings.[161] Those with few desires realize it. Those who have unceasing diligence possess it. Those who are mindful maintain it.

“It is the cessation of suffering. It is the birthlessness of all phenomena. It is the single teaching on all existing beings and lifetimes.

“Young man, this is the samādhi called the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena.”

When the Bhagavān gave this teaching of the samādhi,the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, in the past, eighty times a hundred thousand million[162] devas and humans, who had previously generated the necessary karma, attained the patience of the birthlessness of phenomena, ninety-six times a hundred thousand million attained the corresponding patience, ninety-three times a hundred thousand million obtained the transmission of the teaching of that patience, and the entirety of the hundred thousand[163] bhikṣus attained liberation of mind through the defilements not arising. Sixty times a hundred thousand devas and human beings became free of desire, without stains, and gained the pure Dharma sight of the Dharmas. Eighty thousand bhikṣuṇīs[164] attained liberation of mind through the nonarising of defilements. Five hundred upāsakas attained the result of nonreturners. Six thousand upāsikās attained the result of once-returners. This universe of a thousand million worlds shook in six ways: it trembled, it trembled strongly, and it trembled intensely; it quivered, it quivered strongly, and it quivered intensely; it shook, it shook strongly, and it shook intensely; it shuddered, it shuddered strongly, and it shuddered intensely; it quaked, it quaked strongly, and it quaked intensely.

The east sank and the west rose,F.7.b the west sank and the east rose, the north sank and the south rose, the south sank and the north rose, the perimeter sank and the center rose, and the center sank and the perimeter rose. An immeasurable radiance shone in the universe so that whatever darkness there was between the worlds was illuminated by it. The beings who were born there could see each other and they cried, “Ah! Other beings have been born here too!” This occurred even as far down as the great Avīci hell.

Conclusion of the first chapter: “The Introduction.”

Chapter 2

Śālendrarāja

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, I remember that in the past, when I was practicing the conduct of a bodhisattva, I became a cakravartin. I desired this samādhi and I desired to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood. For many hundred thousand quintillions[165] of eons on this Vulture Peak Mountain I served, venerated, revered, honored, worshiped, and made offerings to many countless, innumerable tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly enlightened buddhas with the presentation of many hundred thousand quintillions of every kind of jewel, and various kinds of beautiful flowers, incense, perfume, garlands, ointments, powders, parasols, banners, flags, music, musical instruments, flags of victory, and precious monasteries.[166]

“Young man, I heard from those tathāgatas extensively the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena. I obtained it, asked questions about it, preserved it, recited it to others, promoted it, meditated on it with an unadulterated meditation, promulgated it, and made it widely known to others.

“Young man, the last of all those tathāgatas was the Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Śālendrarāja. F.8.a Young man, that Tathāgata Śālendrarāja had a saṅgha of a thousand trillion[167] śrāvakas and bodhisattvas. Their lifespans were seven million, six hundred thousand[168] years. I served and made offerings to the Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Śālendrarāja for a hundred and eighty thousand million[169] years and I built ten million monasteries made of sandalwood and precious materials. The Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Śālendrarāja’s lifespan was seven hundred and sixty thousand million[170] years. I entered homelessness in the presence of the Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Śālendrarāja and for a hundred and forty thousand million[171] years I listened to the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena. I obtained it, asked questions about it, preserved it, recited it to others, promoted it, meditated on it with an unadulterated meditation, promulgated it, and made it widely known to others.”[172]

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, if in that way you wish for this samādhi and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, then you too should dedicate yourself to making offerings to, serving, and being an attendant to all tathāgatas as I have done.

“Young man, why is that? The natural result of making offerings to, serving, and being an attendant to all tathāgatas is that it will not be difficult for the bodhisattva mahāsattvas to attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, let alone this samādhi, as their natural result.

“Young man, in that way you should never weary of making offerings to, serving, and being an attendant to all tathāgatas.” F.8.b

Then the Bhagavān taught extensively, as a praise in chanted verses, this chapter on the past lives of the youth Candraprabha:

“I remember [173] six hundred million of those who have the ten strengths,[174]
Dwelling on Vulture Peak Mountain in the past
Who taught me, when I was practicing bodhisattva conduct,[175]
This supreme peace of samādhi. {1}
“The last of all of them
Was the Lord of the World, the illuminator
Named Śālendrarāja,
And I asked him questions. {2}
“I had become of royal caste.
I was the principal king, the sovereign.
I had five hundred sons,
No less indeed than that. {3}
“For that buddha I built
Ten million monasteries
Made of special sandalwood,
And some of precious materials. {4}
“I was a king named Bhīṣmottara,
Beloved and adored by many beings.
For a hundred and eighty thousand million years
I made excellent offerings to that buddha. {5}
“The lifespan of the guide Śālendrarāja,
That jina, irreproachable,
Supreme among humans,[176]
Was seven hundred and sixty thousand million years. {6}
“The saṅgha of that supreme man
Was composed of eight trillion śrāvakas
Who had the three knowledges, the six higher cognitions, and controlled senses,
Whose defilements had ceased, and who were in their last body. {7}
“At that time I always[177] longed for this samādhi
In order to benefit the people of the world and the devas,
And so I made many kinds of offerings
To that[178] jina, that supreme human.[179] {8}
“I, with my sons and wives,[180] entered homelessness
In the presence of Jina Śālendrarāja
And I asked questions about this samādhi for
A hundred and forty thousand million years. {9}
“I acquired from that sugata
The single chapter of this samādhi,
Which has eight thousand trillion verses
And moreover another hundred septillion.[181] {10}
“Because I longed for this sublime samādhi
There was nothing that I had not previously offered:
Heads, hands, legs,[182] wives and likewise sons,
An abundance of riches, and similarly food to eat. {11}
“I remember ten thousand million buddhas F.9.a
And more, to the number of sand grains in the Ganges,
Residing on Vulture Peak Mountain
And teaching this supreme samādhi, this peace. {12}
“All of them had the name Śākyaṛṣabha.
All of their sons were named Rāhula.
All their attendants were named Ānanda.
All were mendicants from places named Kapilavastu.[183] {13}
“Their principal two students[184] were Kolita and Śāriputra,
The names of all the saviors were the same,
The names of their worlds were the same,
And they all appeared in a time of degeneration. {14}
“While I practiced this bodhisattva conduct,
I honored all those lords of men.
While I longed for this samādhi,
There was nothing I did not offer to the jinas. {15}
“This samādhi is attained through practicing.
Its practice has been taught in many forms.
This samādhi is not difficult to attain
For those who are established in all good qualities. {16}
“This samādhi is not difficult to attain
For those who do not grasp pleasures, who have no cravings,[185]
Who have no attachment to family, and are without envy,
Who are continually kind, and are without anger. {17}
“This samādhi is not difficult to attain
For those who do not desire honor or gain,
Whose subsistence is pure, who have nothing,
Whose conduct is pure, and who are without fear. {18}
“This samādhi is not difficult to attain
For those who are diligent, without lassitude,
And who are inclined to solitude, established in purification,
And continually remain in the patience of selflessness. {19}
“This samādhi is not difficult to attain
For those who are not agitated, who have a well-tamed mind,
Who remain within the conduct of mendicants and bodhisattvas,[186]
And who are predisposed toward generosity and are without miserliness. {20}
“The primary and secondary signs, the eighteen qualities of a buddha,
The strengths, and the fearlessnesses that have been described by the Guide
Will not be difficult to attain for one
Who maintains this samādhi of peace. {21}
“If all the beings that a buddha can see
Were simultaneously to attain buddhahood,
And the length of each of their lives
Were to be countless tens of thousands of millions of eons, {22}
“And if each of them were to have heads F.9.b
As numerous as the grains of sand in the ocean,
And if within each head there were tongues
As numerous as the number of heads, {23}
“And if all their voices were to describe the benefit
Of possessing one verse from this samādhi,
They would not be able to describe even a fraction of it,
Let alone describe the benefit of studying it, or of possessing it. {24}
“Whoever has accomplished the practice and developed qualities
Will be adored by devas, asuras, and yakṣas.
The ones who maintain the samādhi of peace, difficult to attain,
Will have kings as their attendants. {25}
“The ones who maintain the samādhi of peace that is difficult to attain
Will be in the care of the jinas.
They will always be attended by devas and nāgas
And opponents will not be able to withstand their brilliance. {26}
“The ones who maintain the samādhi of peace
Will have infinite eloquence.[187]
They will teach countless[188] thousands of sūtras
Without the slightest interval. {27}
“Those in the future time of great terrors
Who hear this samādhi and keep it
Will see the guide, Buddha Amitābha,
And also the realm of Sukhāvatī. {28}
“I have revealed these benefits
And I, the self-arisen Teacher, request
That you uphold this pure samādhi
In the time after I have passed into nirvāṇa. {29}
“The buddhas who have passed into nirvāṇa,
Those who will come in the future and those who have appeared now,[189]
All those jinas realize unstained, noncomposite enlightenment
Through the practice of this samādhi.” {30}
Conclusion of the second chapter, “Śālendrarāja.”

Chapter 3

Praise of the Buddha’s Qualities

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, therefore, if bodhisattva mahāsattvas wish to teach the buddha qualities as described by the Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha, without any loss of meaning or words, and for all their words to come forth as those of the Buddha, then those bodhisattva mahāsattvas, young man, F.10.a should, for the sake of all beings, obtain[190] this samādhi, understand[191] it, preserve it,[192] recite it to others,[193] promote it,[194] proclaim it,[195] chant it,[196] meditate on it with unadulterated[197] meditation, promulgate it,[198] and make it widely known to others.[199]

“Young man, what are the buddha qualities of a tathāgata?

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas, whether in solitude, at the foot of a tree, in the open air, or in an empty building, should learn well the following.

“The Bhagavān is thus: a tathāgata, an arhat, a fully enlightened buddha, one with perfect wisdom and conduct,[200] a sugata, one who knows the world’s beings, an unsurpassable guide who tames beings, a teacher of devas and humans, a buddha, a bhagavān.

“The Tathāgata is the natural result of merit. He is the inevitable result of roots of merit. He is adorned by patience. He is the manifestation[201] of a treasure of merit. He is beautified by the excellent primary signs of a great being. He has the blossomed[202] flowers of the secondary signs of a great being. He is exemplary in his conduct. His appearance is never disagreeable. He brings joy to those motivated by faith. He is invincible in his wisdom. He has the invulnerability of the strengths. He is the teacher of all beings. He is the father of all bodhisattvas. He is the king of all noble individuals. He is the caravan leader for those beginning on their journey. He is immeasurable in his wisdom. He is inconceivable[203] in his eloquence. He is pure in his voice. He is delightful in his speech. He is lovely in his physical form. He is unequaled in body. He is unstained by the desire realm. He is unsullied by the form realm. He is unadulterated by the formless realm. He is free from suffering.[204] He is liberated from the skandhas. He is separated from the dhātus. He has restrained[205] the āyatanas. He has cut through the knots.[206] He is free from torment.

[207]F.10.b He is released from craving.[208] He has crossed over the great river. He is complete in his wisdom. He is established in the wisdom of the buddha bhagavāns of the past, future, and present. He does not remain in nirvāṇa. He resides at the summit of existence. He is on the level of seeing all beings. Young man, those are the buddha qualities of a tathāgata.[209]

“If bodhisattva mahāsattvas who possess these buddha qualities and their praise,[210] and who have continuous confidence of speech based upon this samādhi, teach correctly the buddha qualities and praises of the Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha, there will be no loss of meaning or words and all their words will come forth as those of the Buddha.”

Then at that time the Bhagavān, in order to make the meaning clear, gave a detailed teaching by chanting the following extensive verses to the youth Candraprabha.[211]

“It would not be easy to recite all the praises of the jinas
Even if one were to speak for many thousands of eons;
And the jinas attained their qualities
Through seeking this supreme samādhi of peace. {1}
“In the past, when I sought this supreme samādhi of peace
With a mind that was indefatigable,
I gave away a maiden adorned in jewelry,
Who was perfectly beautiful and desirable. {2}
“In the past, when I sought this supreme samādhi of peace
With a mind that was indefatigable,
I gave away male and female servants, riches and grain,
And also jewels, pearls, gold, and silver. {3}
“When I sought this supreme samādhi of peace
In the past, I gave to the guides
Various kinds of precious jewels, strings of pearls,
Beautiful clothes, and necklaces of conch and gold. {4}
“In countless, endless millions[212] of eons
I developed the highest supreme aspiration, F.11.a
And gave the best of perfumes and summer flowers
To the caityas of the jinas. {5}
“Through my giving the gift of the Dharma[213]
I developed a pleasing following;
But the thought did not arise in my mind
Of gaining renown through giving the gift of the Dharma. {6}
“I never felt any reluctance to give away
The loveliest things that gave me pleasure.
I gave the gift of Dharma numerous times,[214]
And always my thoughts were of attaining buddha wisdom.[215] {7}
“In the past, to attain the qualities of this training,
I remained always in excellent, quiet forests.
I had immense compassion throughout that time
And always my thoughts were of attaining buddha wisdom. {8}
“I had a distinct conduct[216] that was gentle and sweet,
A smiling face, the memory of what I had heard, and affectionate speech.
My very sweet words were beloved by many
And all beings never had enough of looking at me. {9}
“I did not have any stinginess[217] for even a moment.
Throughout myriad existences I had no envy.[218]
I was always completely satisfied by alms.
I offered[219] everything and left no remainder. {10}
“Those who remember just one four-line verse from this
Become very learned and remember all they have heard.
Through it the highest, perfect faith[220] arose in me
And I always honored it. {11}
“I longed for the supreme peace of this samādhi
And made many offerings to the guides.
I gave to them an endless variety of gifts
And this maintained my correct conduct for a long time.[221] {12}
“From remembering one verse from this samādhi
The merit will be vastly greater
Than from endlessly offering numerous, various worlds
That are all filled with precious jewels. {13}
“If those wishing for merit
Were to offer to the jinas[222]
Whatever flowers and incense exist
For numerous, countless, endless eons, {14}
“And if those wishing for merit
Were to offer to the jinas
Every kind of music, light, food, and clothing
For numerous, countless, endless eons, {15}
“A person who develops the aspiration to enlightenment, F.11.b
Wishing to become a self-arisen jina, a lord of Dharma,
Will have merit that will be vastly greater
Through remembering one verse of this meditation.[223] {16}
“The merit from possessing this samādhi is most vast.
One would not be able to conclude reciting
The description of its benefits even in as many eons
As there are grains of sand in the Ganges.[224] {17}
“Therefore, having listened to
The excellent benefits of the buddhas,
You should quickly be one who has the transmission[225]
Of this samādhi praised by the Buddha. {18}
“In my past lives I have honored
Seven hundred and thirty million buddhas.
All of those buddhas
Promulgated this sūtra. {19}
“The name of this sūtra
Is Entering Great Compassion. [226]
Buddha qualities will not be hard to attain
For the learned one who trains in it. {20}
“When the World’s Guide is in nirvāṇa,
In that future time there will be
Many undisciplined bhikṣus
Who have no interest in becoming learned. {21}
“They will utter praises of correct conduct
But will have no interest in correct conduct.
They will utter praises of samādhi
But will have no interest in samādhi. {22}
“They will utter praises of wisdom
But will have no interest in wisdom.
They will utter praises of liberation
But will have no interest in liberation. {23}
“It is like when someone
Speaks of the qualities of sandalwood,
Saying, ‘Sandalwood is like this,
It makes a pleasing incense.’[227] {24}
“Then another person asks
That man this question:
‘Do you have some of the sandalwood
That you have been praising?’[228] {25}
“The man answers him,
‘I speak the praises of that incense
And in that way make my living,
But I have never seen that incense.’[229] {26}
“In such a way, in future times
There will be those who have no correct conduct,[230]
Yet they who do not engage in it
Will make their living by praising it. {27}
“In that way, in future times
There will be those who have no samādhi,[231]
Yet they who do not engage in it
Will make their living by praising it. {28}
“In that way, in future times
There will be those who have no wisdom,[232]
Yet they who do not engage in it
Will make their living by praising it.[233] {29} F.12.a
“In that way, in future times
There will be those who have no liberation,[234]
Yet they who do not engage in it
Will make their living by praising it. {30}
“When a certain poor person,
Despised by the populace,
Later finds a treasure
And becomes rich, he is respected by the people. {31}
“In that same way, not having attained the samādhi,
A bodhisattva is not esteemed
By gods[235] or humans, kumbhāṇḍas or rākṣasas,
Just like the poor person who has no wealth.[236] {32}
“Yet when the wise one attains the level
Of the unfathomable[237] Dharma treasure,[238]
Gods and humans will be attracted to him,
And he will give those beings the supreme wealth. {33}
“Therefore, having heard the Jina’s description
Of the perfect attainment of those benefits,
Forsake all happiness gained through reputation
And hold the transmission of this supreme peace of samādhi. {34}
“The buddhas in all directions who have passed away,
And those of the future, and those who are present,
All attain unequaled, inconceivable enlightenment
Through having trained in this samādhi.” {35}
The youth Candraprabha was overjoyed,
And in the presence of the Buddha he said these words:
“When the best of beings has passed into nirvāṇa,
I will uphold this sūtra in that very difficult time.[239] {36}
“I will give up my body and my life
And whatever happiness[240] there is in the world;
In that time of great terrors
I will hold this samādhi of supreme peace. {37}
“I will have compassion for many beings.
I will see beings suffering without a protector.
I will be endowed with love for them
And will uphold this supreme peace, this samādhi.” {38}
At that time, no less than five hundred people
Became holders of the samādhi.
The youth was their leader[241]
In this vast holding of the supreme sūtra. {39}
Conclusion of the third chapter, “Praise of the Buddha’s Qualities.” [242]B2

Chapter 4

Samādhi

Then the youth Candraprabha F.12.b rose from his seat, removed his robe from one shoulder, and, kneeling on his right knee with palms placed together, he bowed toward the Bhagavān and made this request: “If the Bhagavān will give me an opportunity to seek answers to them, I have a few questions for the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha.”

The Bhagavān addressed the youth Candraprabha, saying, “Young man, the Tathāgata will always give you that opportunity. Ask whatever question you wish of the Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha.”

As the Bhagavān had given him the opportunity, the young man Candraprabha asked the Bhagavān,[243] “The Bhagavān says, ‘samādhi, samādhi.’ What kind of Dharma does this word designate?”

The Bhagavān replied to Candraprabha, “Young man, when I say ‘samādhi, samādhi,’ it means the profound realization of the mind.

“[1] It is the absence of arising.[244] [2] It is the absence of continuation.[245] [3] It is the knowledge of continuation.[246] [4] It is putting down[247] the burden.[248] [5] It is the wisdom of the tathāgatas. [6] It is having the preeminence of a buddha. [7] It is the healing of desire, the pacifying of anger,[249] and the elimination of ignorance. [250]

“[8] It is engaging in what should be engaged in. [9] It is rejecting that which should not be engaged in. [10] It is the aspiration to good qualities.[251] [11] It is the wish to be free from saṃsāra.

“[12] It is practicing with a higher motivation. [13] It is remaining awake.[252] [14] It is not abandoning renunciation.[253] [15] It is maintaining good qualities.

“[16] It is not relying on rebirth.[254] [17] It is not accumulating karma. [18] It is not paying attention to the internal āyatanas.[255] [19] It is not engaging with the external āyatanas.

“[20] It is not praising oneself. [21] It is not criticizing others. [22] It is having no attachment to family. [23] It is not placing one’s trust in ordinary people. [256]

“[24] It is the natural result of correct conduct. F.13.a [25] It is that which is difficult to approach. [26] It is great majesty.[257] [27] It is self-knowledge.

“[28] It is the absence of inconstancy. [29] It is maintaining perfect behavior. [30] It is the absence of malice. [31] It is the absence of aggression. [32] It is not harming others. [33] It is taking care of companions. [258] [34] It is guarding secret mantras.

“[35] It is being nonviolent.[259] [36] It is not being harmful to those with correct conduct. [37] It is speaking gently.

“[38] It is not remaining anywhere in the three realms. [39] It is the patience that accords with the emptiness of all phenomena.[260] [40] It is the aspiration to omniscient wisdom.[261]

“That, young man, is what is meant by ‘samādhi.’ Young man, practicing those qualities and not practicing their opposite is what is meant by ‘samādhi.’ ”

Then the Bhagavān taught the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, and at that time gave a detailed teaching by chanting the following extensive verses to the youth Candraprabha.[262]

“I have opened the door to the elixir.
I have explained what the nature of phenomena is.
I have taught what births are.
I have explained nirvāṇa and its benefits. {1}
“Always avoid sinful companions,
Be in the company of good companions,
Dwell in the forest, avoiding crowds,
And always meditate with a loving mind. {2}
“Always protect pure conduct,
Gain the prosperity of renunciation,
Be familiar with generosity and wisdom,
And this samādhi will not be difficult to attain. {3}
“This is not the level of the numerous śrāvakas.
When you have attained[263] this level of peace,
You will have the direct perception of the Sugata’s Dharma
And you will attain the inconceivable buddha qualities. {4}
“When you see wise people who are worthy vessels,
Bring them to the aspiration for enlightenment,
Establish them in the highest knowledge,
And then this king of samādhis will not be difficult to attain. {5}
“This samādhi is not difficult to attain
For those who understand the natural results
That come[264] to those who become envious of wealth[265]
And to those who seek and enjoy it.[266] {6} F.13.b
“The meditation of this king of samādhis, emptiness,
Is at the summit of pure conduct.
The continuous meditation on the nature of phenomena
Is unknown to the foolish who practice incorrectly. {7}
“Those who long for this samādhi of peace
Will never have fear arise in their mind.[267]
Those who are on this level of peace
Will always see the supreme men.[268] {8}
“Whoever brings to mind the image of the Tathāgata’s body,
Their senses will be at peace and their mind at peace.
Their minds, free of error, will always be at rest.
What they have heard and what they know will be like an ocean. {9}
“Remaining in this samādhi,
Wherever the bodhisattvas tread
They will see ten thousand million buddhas
And even more, as numerous as the Ganges sands. {10}
“Anyone aiming to take the measure
Of the Buddha’s Dharma will go insane.
One cannot measure that which is immeasurable;
The qualities of the guides in their entirety are inconceivable. {11}
“There is no being in the ten directions
Who can equal the Lord of the World, let alone be greater.
You should long for and attain the wisdom of the buddhas,
Who possess all the qualities of omniscience. {12}
“The Lord of the World is completely beautiful,
With a body that is the color of gold.
Bodhisattvas will rest in meditation
When their mind is focused upon that image. {13}
“The wise who understand the composite and noncomposite[269]
Have ceased conceptualizing attributes.[270]
They remain in that meditation of the absence of attributes
And know the emptiness of all phenomena. {14}
“Those who remain in the dharmakāya
Know that all things are nothing.
Those who have ceased conceptualizing things[271]
Do not see the Lord of Jinas as a rūpakāya. {15}
“I proclaim to you and make it known to you
That to the extent that a person contemplates this,
To that extent their mind will be fixed upon it,
Through that contemplation that dwells upon it. {16}
“Those who remember in that way the appearance
And immeasurable wisdom of the Lord of Sages, F.14.a
They will have their mind completely focused upon him
Through constant meditation on that recollection. {17}
“When walking, sitting, or standing,
They desire the wisdom of the best of beings,
And pray for enlightenment, wishing to become
A jina who is unsurpassable in this world. {18}
“They will know the buddhas and see the buddhas;
They will realize the nature of the buddhas.
Remaining in this samādhi,
They will pay homage to the buddhas who have great might.[272] {19}
“With serene body, speech, and mind,
They constantly recite praises to the buddhas.
In that way, through the mind’s continuum of meditation,
Day and night they see the Lord of the World. {20}
“When the time comes that they are sick and unwell
And experience the suffering of dying,
They will not lose their recollection of the Buddha,
And it will not be stolen away by the experience of suffering.[273] {21}
“Having analyzed with wisdom in that way,
They know all present, past, and future phenomena[274] to be empty.
They remain in that nature of phenomena
And perform bodhisattva conduct without being disheartened. {22}
“Therefore, having heard these benefits,
You should long for unequaled enlightenment.
It is difficult to see the sublime Sugata,
So do not have cause for regret in the future. {23}
“I have taught this excellent Dharma
But if you do not practice it well
You will be like a sick man holding a bag[275] of medicine—
That alone will not cure his illness.[276] {24}
“Therefore, the wise and the realized
Are always aspiring to this samādhi.
And if they practice correct conduct, learning, and generosity
It will not be difficult for them to attain this samādhi.” {25}
Conclusion of the fourth chapter, “Samādhi.”[277]

Chapter 5

Ghoṣadatta

Then the Bhagavān again addressed the youth Candraprabha, saying, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should think that they are like someone whose hair and clothes are on fire, and they should cast off father, mother, F.14.b son, daughter, family, kinsmen, relatives, kindred, wife, and so on, as if they were fire, throw away all the pleasures of a kingdom as if they were a lump of phlegm, turn toward solitude, and depart from home.

“Why is that? Young man, attaining the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood will not be difficult for a bodhisattva mahāsattva who turns toward solitude and departs from home, let alone one who has this samādhi.

“Therefore, young man, you should always train in having this thought: ‘I shall cast off friends, children, family, kinsmen, relatives, kindred, wife, and so on, as if they were fire, throw away all the pleasures of a kingdom as if they were a lump of phlegm, turn toward solitude, and depart from home.’

“Therefore, young man, you should understand this through the following teaching, too:[278]

“Young man, in the past, countless, vast, immeasurable, inconceivable, innumerable, asaṃkhyeya eons ago,[279] at that time and in those days,[280] there appeared in the world the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta, who was perfect in wisdom and conduct, a sugata, a knower of the world, an unsurpassable guide who tamed beings, a teacher of devas and humans, a buddha, and a bhagavān.

“Young man, at that time and in those days, in the first assembly of the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta’s śrāvakas, there were eight hundred million who were arhats. In the second assembly there were seven hundred million arhats. In the third assembly of śrāvakas there were six hundred million arhats. F.15.a There were also countless bodhisattva mahāsattvas who possessed the Dharma.

“Young man, at that time and in those days, during the time of the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta, the lifespan was forty thousand years. This Jambudvīpa continent had wealth, increase, happiness, excellent harvests, joy, and was filled with a great multitude of human beings.

“In this Jambudvīpa there were two kings named Dṛḍhabala and Mahābala. One ruled the half of Jambudvīpa that had wealth, increase, happiness, excellent harvests, joy, and was filled with a great multitude of human beings. The other ruled the other half.

“Young man, at that time, the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta appeared in the kingdom of King Mahābala.

“Young man, for a hundred thousand years King Mahābala provided the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta, the saṅgha of bodhisattvas, and the saṅgha of bhikṣus with faultless, proper clothing, alms, medicine if they were ill, and monastic utensils for their use.

“Young man, at that time, the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta, the saṅgha of bodhisattvas, and the saṅgha of bhikṣus received greatly renowned gifts and honors.

“Brahmins and householders who had faith also bestowed great gifts and honors on the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta, the saṅgha of bodhisattvas, and the saṅgha of bhikṣus.

“Those brahmins and householders did this by following the example of King Mahābala, F.15.b dedicating themselves to bestowing great gifts and honors by making offerings of worldly material goods to the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta, the saṅgha of bodhisattvas, and the saṅgha of bhikṣus.

“Young man, the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta thought, ‘Alas! These beings who have adopted correct conduct and the poṣadha vows have come before the Tathāgata, have honored the Tathāgata, practice celibacy, have entered the homeless life, and have become fully ordained bhikṣus—they will go into decline. They are concerned about the happiness of their future lives.

“ ‘Why is that? It is because in their future lives their happiness will be from these offerings of worldly material things. The realms of the higher existences are the goal of these beings. They are concerned with this life. They are concerned with their [281] next life. They do not accumulate[282] roots of merit for the final ultimate goal.’[283]

“Young man, what are the roots of merit for the ultimate goal? They are pure conduct and celibacy going toward the ultimate goal and reaching the ultimate goal.

“Bhagavān Ghoṣadatta thought, ‘I must teach those beings the Dharma so that they will make the unsurpassable offering of the Dharma and the practice of the Dharma as their offering to the Tathāgata.’[284]

“Then, young man, at that time the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta, with the intention of creating revulsion toward saṃsāra,[285] recited these verses to King Mahābala, the brahmins, and the laypeople:

“ ‘The service of someone making a gift to another
Is not a cause for holding each other in high esteem.
The wise ones who are free of negative propensities,
The buddhas, they do not praise that service. {1}
“ ‘Those who teach the Dharma for the benefit of beings,
They are those who accomplish great service.
Then there will form an unbreakable bond of friendship,
Which not even ten million māras will be able to break. {2}F.16.a
“ ‘The service of those who keep to worldly material things
Will all be for the benefit of the present life.
The immaterial service of the Dharma
Leads to the greatest benefit for humans. {3}
“ ‘Those who have a nonmaterialistic motivation
And teach the nonmaterial Dharma,
Those individuals who gain nonmaterial joy,
They will quickly attain buddhahood. {4}
“ ‘Those who are addicted to their desires,
Who crave for children and wives,
Who are addicted to their revolting homes,
Will not attain unsurpassable, highest enlightenment. {5}
“ ‘Supreme enlightenment will not be difficult to attain
For those who avoid desire as if it were a pit of fire,
Who abandon craving for children and wives,
And, frightened and terrified, leave their homes. {6}
“ ‘There have been no buddhas in the past,
Nor will there be any in the future or now in the present,
Who attain the highest, most supreme enlightenment
While living inside their homes. {7}
“ ‘Casting away a kingdom like a lump of phlegm,
Longing for solitude and living in the forests,
Eliminating the kleśas and defeating the māras,
They will realize stainless, noncomposite enlightenment. {8}
“ ‘People who, with a disenchanted mind,
Leave their homes, they are superior
To those who serve, for many millions of eons,
Heroic buddhas as numerous as the Ganges sands. {9}
“ ‘People who leave their homes and practice the Dharma,
Without serving the supreme humans, the jinas,
With food, drink, and Dharma robes,
With flowers, incense, and ointments— {10}
“ ‘Those who, longing for enlightenment,
Disillusioned with the composite, and for the benefit of beings,
Take seven steps in the direction of the forests—
They will have the superior merit.’ {11}

“Young man, King Mahābala heard what the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta said about leaving one’s home. Having heard this, he thought, ‘I have understood the Bhagavān’s teaching to mean that he does not praise the perfection of generosity, F.16.b but gives the highest, ultimate praise to the perfection of conduct.[286] The Bhagavān has praised perfect purity, perfect celibacy, and perfect nirvāṇa.’

“He thought, ‘It is not easy to practice the unsurpassable Dharma and attain its goal while living in a home. I would decline in my practice of the unsurpassable Dharma. I shall cut off my hair and beard, wear the orange robes, and leave home for homelessness.’

“Then, young man, King Mahābala, accompanied by eighty thousand[287] brahmins and laypeople, came before the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta, bowed down to his feet, circumambulated the Bhagavān three times, and sat to one side.

“Young man, the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha, knowing the higher motivation of King Mahābala, taught this samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena.

“Young man, on hearing this, King Mahābala was pleased, delighted, joyful, inspired, and happy. He shaved off his hair and beard, put on the orange robes, and with faith left home for homelessness. Having entered homelessness he learned this samādhi, and having learned it he understood it. He dedicated himself to the practice of keeping it, reading it, and meditating on it. Through that root of merit, he did not fall into the lower existences for a hundred million eons. He served two hundred million buddhas and heard this samādhi from all those tathāgatas. He learned this samādhi, and having learned it he understood it. F.17.a He dedicated himself to the practice of keeping it, reading it, and meditating on it.

“Subsequently, through those roots of merit, after a hundred million eons had passed, and then another hundred thousand eons, he attained the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood. He became the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha named Jñānaśūra.[288] He benefited countless beings, and afterward he passed away into perfect nirvāṇa.

“Young man, the eighty thousand people who with King Mahābala came into the presence of the Bhagavān, the Tathāgata Ghoṣadatta all heard this samādhi also and were delighted, rejoicing, and joyful. Happy and joyful, they cut off their hair and beards, wore the orange robes, and with genuine faith they left home for homelessness. Having entered homelessness they learned this samādhi, and having learned it they understood it. They dedicated themselves to the practice of keeping it, reading it, and meditating on it. Through that root of merit, they did not fall into the lower existences for a hundred million eons. During all those eons, they served ten million buddhas and heard this samādhi from all those tathāgatas. They maintained this samādhi and comprehended it. They dedicated themselves to the practice of keeping it, reading it, and meditating on it.

“Through their previous roots of merit, after two hundred million eons had passed and a further hundred thousand eons, they attained the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood. They all became bhagavāns, tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly enlightened buddhas named Dṛḍhaśūra. They benefited countless beings, and afterward they passed away into perfect nirvāṇa. F.17.b

“Therefore, young man, because of this teaching, the bodhisattva mahāsattvas cherish in this way this samādhi. They know that it is composed of the unsurpassable wisdom of omniscience.”

Then, at that time, the Bhagavān gave a detailed teaching by chanting the following extensive verses to the youth Candraprabha.

“I remember, countless eons ago
In the past, a supreme human, a great sage
Who benefited beings appeared in the world,
And he was known by the name Ghoṣadatta. {12}
“The first assembly of his students
Numbered eight hundred million.[289]
The second was seven hundred million.
The third was six hundred million arhats. {13}
“All had eliminated defilements and were without kleśas.
All had attained the perfection of miraculous powers.
The lifespan was forty thousand years
And the realm was perfectly pure and beautiful. {14}
“The bodhisattvas of that protector
Were consecrated to immeasurably benefit others.
They were well established through their powers and levels.
They were near to buddhahood beneath the sacred tree.[290] {15}
“In this Jambudvīpa there were kings
Named Dṛḍhabala and Mahābala.
One king ruled half the world,
The other was king over the other half. {16}
“The Buddha, to whom humans and devas made offerings,
Had appeared within the domain of King Mahābala.
The king gained faith in the Sugata
And attended him for a thousand years. {17}
“Many other beings, following his example,
Also honored the Tathāgata
With worldly goods and not through the Dharma.[291]
They gave many things to the śrāvakas also. {18}
“The highest of beings had this thought:
‘I shall teach the Dharma to these who desire the Dharma
So that they will all give up desire
And enter into homelessness in my teaching.’ {19}
“The highest of humans taught in verses
The practice of following the Dharma of the sugatas, F.18.a
The endless suffering and harm of living in a home,
And that practicing the Dharma is offering to the Dharma. {20}
“When the king, the sovereign, had heard those verses,
That ruler of men contemplated entering solitude.
He thought that all who dwell at home
Are unable to make the supreme offering to the Dharma. {21}
“He cast away the kingdom like a lump of phlegm
And together with eighty thousand persons
He came into the presence of the Jina,
Bowed to his feet, and sat before him. {22}
“The Jina, knowing what they intended,
Taught this samādhi of peace that is difficult to see.
Happy, inspired, and joyful, they were satisfied.
Pleased and delighted, they entered homelessness. {23}
“Homeless, they possessed this samādhi.
They kept it, read it, and understood it.
For two hundred million eons
They did not fall into the lower existences. {24}
“Because of those roots of merit,[292]
They all saw ten thousand million buddhas
And in the teaching of those jinas
They entered homelessness and meditated on this samādhi. {25}
“In later times they became buddhas
With infinite diligence, all named Dṛḍhaśūra.
They benefited many millions of beings
And after, like an extinguished flame, attained nirvāṇa. {26}
“The one who previously had been King Mahābala
Appeared in the world as Buddha Jñānaśūra.
He brought many billions of beings
To enlightenment, and then attained nirvāṇa. {27}
“Therefore you who, in later times, hear and possess
This sūtra that has been taught by the buddhas:
If you possess this treasure of the Dharma
You will quickly become a supreme human.” {28}
Conclusion of the fifth chapter, “Ghoṣadatta.”

Chapter 6

Cultivating the Samādhi

The Bhagavān now said to the youth Candraprabha,[293] “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should cultivate this samādhi.

“Young man, what is the cultivation of this samādhi? F.18.b Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas with a compassionate mind are dedicated to making offerings to the tathāgatas, whether living or passed into nirvāṇa, of Dharma robes, alms, seat and bedding, medicines for when ill, and of monastic utensils, and of flowers, incense, perfume, garlands, ointments, aromatic powders, clothing, parasols, banners, and flags, and of music and musical instruments. They dedicate that root of merit to the attainment of samādhi. They do not make offerings to a tathāgata with the hope for anything at all—not with the hope for anything they desire, nor with the hope for any enjoyment, nor with the hope for a higher existence, nor with the hope for followers—but do so with the Dharma in mind. They do not even, with that wish, perceive the Tathāgata as the dharmakāya, let alone perceiving him as the rūpakāya.

“Young man, it is in that way that an offering is made to the tathāgatas. It is done without seeing the tathāgatas, without focusing on the self, and without any desire for the ripening of karma. Young man, if an offering made to a tathāgata is purified of those three aspects of the action, this samādhi will be attained and the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood will be quickly reached.”

At this point the Bhagavān gave a detailed teaching on the cultivation of the samādhi by chanting the following extensive verses to the youth Candraprabha.

“Through offering incense to infinite wisdom
Beings will have an infinite aroma.
In ten million eons they will not go to the lower realms,
And no bad smells will come from them. {1}
“For ten million eons they will practice bodhisattva conduct
And make offerings to ten thousand million buddhas.
The aroma of wisdom will arise so that they
Will become buddhas with the aroma of supreme conduct. {2}
“If any beings know that the incense they offer,
Those to whom they offer it,
And the minds that offer incense F.19.a do not exist,
The ‘concordant patience’ they have is of lesser kind. {3}
“But if a person maintains a patience that is great,[294]
Even were they cut up, for ten million eons,
Into tiny pieces as numerous as the Ganges sands,
Their mind will never regress. {4}
“Why is this termed ‘patience’?
And why is it called ‘concordant’?
For what reason is it said to be ‘nonregressive’?
And why are they called ‘bodhisattvas’? {5}
“Their patience being for the selfless nature of phenomena,
Those who perceive selflessness have no kleśas.
They know that all phenomena are like space.
That, therefore, is what is termed ‘patience.’ {6}
“They train in accord with all the jinas.
Those wise ones do not practice non-Dharma.
They do not doubt the Buddha’s Dharma.
That is the patience that is ‘concordant.’ {7}
“Even if all the māras in the world transformed
Into buddhas and said to such practitioners,
‘Enlightenment is too difficult! So become a śrāvaka!’
They would not believe those words and would not regress. {8}
“If they know of the incorrect view of beings
They say, ‘This is not the path to deathlessness!’[295]
So that they reject the wrong path and are brought to the true path.[296]
That is the reason why they are called bodhisattvas.[297] {9}
“They remain upon the path of concordant patience
And are awake through the knowledge of selflessness.
Even in a dream they do not believe
In humans, persons, souls, or beings. {10}
“Even if as many millions of māras as there are Ganges sands
Came before them in the forms of buddhas,
And said to them that there is a soul within the body,
They would reply that it was not so and say, ‘You are not buddhas.’[298] {11}
“Through wisdom I know that the skandhas are empty.
Because I know that, I am unaccompanied by kleśas.
In my conduct I use mere words
But within this world remain within nirvāṇa, {12}
“Just as when a man has a son born to him
And gives him a name, saying, ‘This is his name!’
But that name cannot be found anywhere.
And that name did not come from anywhere. {13}
“In that way the name ‘bodhisattva’ is given, F.19.b
But if one seeks for this ‘bodhisattva’
That name will not be found anywhere.
One who knows that is a bodhisattva. {14}
“The bodhisattvas do not believe in the existence of a self
Any more than that a fire can burn in the middle of the ocean.
Since they have developed the aspiration for enlightenment
They have not had the view that there is a soul within.[299] {15}
“There is no birth and there is no death
For beings, humans,[300] the descendants of Manu.
Phenomena have an empty nature, like illusions;
The tīrthikas are unable to know that. {16}
“Also those who crave for food,
Who desire and cling to alms bowls and robes,
Who are arrogant and are haughty,
They cannot understand the Buddha’s enlightenment. {17}
“The lazy who are overcome by sleepiness and dullness,
Who have stubborn minds,[301] and are shameless,
Who have no faith in the Buddha,
They are unable to understand[302] sublime enlightenment. {18}
“The ordinary beings with incorrect behavior,
Those who do not have faith in the Dharma,
Who have no respect toward celibates,
They are unable to understand enlightenment. {19}
“Those with correct behavior, who have modesty and self-respect,
Who delight in the Dharma and the buddhas,
Who show great respect to the practitioners of celibacy,
They will attain the supreme, highest enlightenment. {20}
“Those whose conduct is performed with mindfulness,
Who sit upon their cushion with joy and delight,
With dhyāna as food and samādhi for drink,
They will attain the supreme, highest enlightenment. {21}
“Those who understand selflessness all day long,
Who are mindful of emptiness as they walk,
Who bear the beautiful aromatic flowers of the aspects of enlightenment,
Those dedicated ones will attain supreme enlightenment. {22}
“They who are skilled in bodhisattva conduct
Are not on the level of other beings,
Of śrāvakas, or of pratyekabuddhas.
Who would not aspire to that realization? {23}
“If I were to have a lifespan that continued
For as many millions of eons as there are sands in the Ganges,
I would not even be able to finish reciting the praises
Of as little of the Buddha’s wisdom as a tiny pore. {24}
“Therefore, having heard the benefits F.20.a
That have been taught by the unsurpassable Jina,
You should quickly become instructed in this samādhi.
And then the attainment of supreme enlightenment will not be difficult.” {25}
Conclusion of the sixth chapter, “Cultivation of the Samādhi.”

Chapter 7

The Attainment of Patience

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should become skilled in the wisdoms of the three kinds of patience. They should know the first patience. They should know the second patience. They should know the third patience. They should become skilled in the differences between the three kinds of patience and skilled in the differences between the wisdoms of the three kinds of patience.

“Why is that? Young man, when bodhisattva mahāsattvas become skilled in the differences between the three kinds of patience and become skilled in the differences between the wisdoms of the three kinds of patience, then at that time, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas will quickly attain this samādhi, and will quickly attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood.

“Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish to attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood should learn this Dharma teaching on gaining the three kinds of patience. When they have learned it they should teach it widely to others. That will be of benefit to many beings, it will bring happiness to many beings, it will be a kindness to the world, it will bring fulfillment to a multitude of beings, and bring benefit and happiness to humans and devas.”[303]

Then the Bhagavān taught this Dharma discourse on gaining the three kinds of patience by chanting the following verses to the youth Candraprabha.

“Those who do not argue
Or speak unbeneficial words
But always bring benefit and maintain the Dharma,
Such people are explained as having the first patience. {1} F.20.b
“Knowing that all phenomena are like illusions,
Not having a conceptual field of experience,
And not falling from the level of increasing wisdom
Are distinctive qualities of the first patience. {2}
“Being skilled in all the paths of the sūtras,
Being wise and attracted to the Buddha’s words,
And having the infinite awareness of the sugatas’ wisdom
Are distinctive qualities of the first patience. {3}
“Whatever Dharma taught by the Buddha they hear,
They have no doubt about the Buddha’s teachings
But aspire to the Dharma of all the jinas.
These are distinctive qualities of the first patience. {4}
“They know the particular sūtra with the definitive meaning,
Such as the Sugata’s teaching on emptiness.
They know that all the Dharmas that teach
Of beings, individuals, and persons are provisional truth. {5}
“In this world there are many tīrthikas,
But they feel no anger toward them.
They are firmly established in compassion for them.
These are distinctive qualities of the first patience. {6}
“The retentions[304] become apparent to them
And they have no doubts concerning their appearance.
What they speak is in accord with the truth.
These are distinctive qualities of the first patience. {7}
“The four elements of air and water,
Fire and earth may change into something else,
But they will never turn away from the enlightenment of buddhahood.
These are distinctive qualities of the first patience. {8}
“Whatever skills there are in the world,
The bodhisattvas learn them all,
And no one sees anyone higher than them.
These are distinctive qualities of the first patience. {9}
“They are unwavering through the power of śamatha,
And through vipaśyanā they are like a mountain.
Even all beings together would be unable to disturb them.
These are distinctive qualities of the second patience. {10}
“In meditation they stand and talk;
Remaining in meditation they walk.
In meditation they master the perfections.
These are distinctive qualities of the second patience. {11}
“In meditation they attain the five higher knowledges.
Teaching the Dharma they go to a hundred realms.
They do not lose their miraculous powers. F.21.a
These are distinctive qualities of the second patience. {12}
“They remain in that kind of samādhi of peace.
They attain certainty of the mind,
And in their meditation there is no ‘being.’
These are distinctive qualities of the second patience. {13}
“With buddha wisdom they teach the Dharma
To all of the beings who are in the world,
And they are able to remember all that they have taught.
These are distinctive qualities of the second patience. {14}
“They see the lords of the worlds in all directions:
East, south, west, and north,
Above, below, and in the intermediate directions.
These are distinctive qualities of the third patience. {15}
“They have a body that is the color of gold
And emanate countless manifestations,
Teaching the Dharma to many millions of beings.
These are distinctive qualities of the third patience. {16}
“Each such bodhisattva appears throughout
This buddha realm of Jambudvīpa
And is renowned also among the devas and asuras.
These are distinctive qualities of the third patience. {17}
“The bodhisattvas train in accordance
With the field of activity of the buddhas
And the conduct of the sugatas.
These are distinctive qualities of the third patience. {18}
“If the beings that are in this world
Were to recite the praises of the bodhisattvas
And they were to take great joy in that
Then they would not be trained in the Buddha’s wisdom. {19}
“If all the beings that are in this world
Were to speak badly to the bodhisattvas,
And if they were to become angry toward them,
Then they would still not be trained in the Buddha’s wisdom. {20}
“If they gain wealth it does not make them happy;
If they do not gain wealth it does not make them unhappy.
Their minds always remain like a mountain.
These are distinctive qualities of the third patience. {21}
“These three patiences are taught to be the patience regarding what is spoken,
The patience that is beneficial for contemplation and meditation,
And the patience, from listening to the Dharma, regarding birthlessness.
These trainings are the path to enlightenment.[305] {22}
“When the bodhisattvas attain
These three unsurpassable patiences,
They see the supreme humans, the sugatas,[306]
And they give them the prophecy of their stainless enlightenment. {23} F.21.b
“When they have received that prophecy
The earth shakes in six ways,
The realm is illuminated by light,
And millions of devas send down a rain of flowers. {24}
“When they have received that prophecy
Countless quintillions of beings
Develop the aspiration to enlightenment,
Thinking, ‘We also shall become jinas, worthy of offerings.’[307] {25}
“When the bodhisattvas attain
These three unsurpassable patiences
They are not born, they do not die,
They do not pass away, and are not reborn. {26}
“When the bodhisattvas attain
These three unsurpassable patiences
They do not see beings born or dying,
But see all phenomena as remaining in the true nature. {27}
“In this way they know that they are untrue,
That phenomena are like illusions, that they are naturally empty.
Emptiness is not born and does not die.[308]
All these phenomena are by nature empty. {28}
“Whenever someone shows them respect,
Attending to them, honoring them, and making offerings,
They take no pleasure in it,
For they know that phenomena have an empty nature. {29}
“Toward beings who revile, threaten, or beat them,
They feel no anger, nor pride.
They only feel constant love for them,
Wishing for those beings to be liberated. {30}
“Even when beaten and cut with sticks and stones,
Those wise ones will feel no anger,
Remaining in the patience of selflessness,
And not having unyielding anger or pride. {31}
“In this way they know the lack of reality,
That phenomena are like illusions, with an empty nature.
They remain in that knowledge of phenomena
And are venerated by this world and its devas. {32}
“Even toward beings holding weapons
Who cut into pieces their body and limbs,
They would have no anger,
And their love and compassion would not diminish. {33}
“Toward such beings, while they are cutting up their body and limbs,
This is what arises in their mind:
‘Until I can bring these beings to enlightenment
I will not pass into the peace of nirvāṇa.’ {34} F.22.a
“The bodhisattvas of great renown
Continuously meditate throughout millions of eons
With that kind of unsurpassable power of patience,
Resting in the equanimity of the patience of selflessness. {35}
“For even more eons, as many as Ganges sand grains,
They do not accomplish benefit through the knowledge of a buddha.
They do not reach enlightenment,
Let alone the wisdom of the tathāgatas. {36}
“Even if one were to speak for countless hundreds of eons,
It would be difficult to conclude the praises,
The endless descriptions, of the greatly renowned ones
Who are established in the patience of selflessness. {37}
“Therefore, the one who desires supreme, unsurpassable enlightenment,
The accumulated wisdom of buddhahood,
Should meditate on the patience praised by the jinas,
And then supreme enlightenment will not be difficult to attain.” {38}
Conclusion of seventh chapter, “The Attainment of Patience.”

Chapter 8

Buddha Abhāva­samudgata

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should become skilled in the wisdom of the nonexistent nature of all phenomena.

“Young man, what is being skilled in the wisdom of the nonexistent nature of all phenomena? Bodhisattva mahāsattvas know that all phenomena have no existence, have no essence, have no attributes, have no characteristics, have no origin, have no cessation, have no words, are empty, are primordial peace, and are pure by nature.

“Young man, when bodhisattva mahāsattvas F.22.b know that all phenomena have no existence, have no essence, have no attributes, have no characteristics, have no birth, have no cessation, have no words, are empty, are primordial peace, and are pure by nature, then at that time, young man, those bodhisattva mahāsattvas have become skilled in the wisdom of the nonexistent nature of all phenomena.

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have become skilled in the wisdom of the nonexistent nature of all phenomena do not have desire for any form, sound, smell, taste, or touch. They do not become angry. They are never ignorant.

“Why is that? It is because they do not see phenomena; there is no object to perceive. They do not see the phenomena of desire, the desire, or the desirer; that which angers, the anger, or one who is angry; nor that of which one is ignorant, the ignorance, or the one who is ignorant, and therefore there is no such object to perceive.

“Because there is nothing to be seen and there is no object to perceive, they have no attachment to anything in the three realms and they will quickly attain this samādhi, and quickly attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood.

“On this topic, it has been said:

“All phenomena have no existence;
They are all devoid of attributes and without characteristics,
Without birth and without cessation.
That is how you should[309] perfectly understand phenomena.
“Everything is without existence, without words,
Empty, peaceful, and primordially stainless.
The one who knows phenomena,
Young man, that one is called a buddha.
“Therefore, the revealed nature of equality
Is that all phenomena in essence have no nature.
Whoever desires the mother of the sugatas
Will attain this mother of the jinas.

“Therefore, young man, that is what you should understand through this Dharma teaching.[310]

“Young man, in the past, countless, vast, immeasurable, inconceivable, unfathomable, asaṃkhyeya eons ago, at that time, in that time, there appeared in the world the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Abhāva­samudgata, who was perfect in wisdom and conduct, a sugata, F.23.a a knower of the world, an unsurpassable guide who tamed beings, a teacher of devas and humans, a buddha, and a bhagavān.

“Young man, what do you think? Why was that tathāgata named Abhāva­samudgata?[311]

“Young man, as soon as he was born he rose in the air up to the height of seven palm trees, took seven steps, and said these words: ‘All phenomena have arisen from nonexistence. From nonexistence have all phenomena arisen.’

“Young man, the sound of those words was heard in all the worlds in the trichiliocosm. It resounded and was heard by everyone from the devas on the earth up to those in Brahmā’s paradise. ‘Oh, as soon as this tathāgata was born, he rose in the air up to the height of seven palm trees, took seven steps and said the word nonexistence. Therefore he will be Abhāva­samudgata (Arisen from Nonexistence).’ Thus it was that the name Abhāva­samudgata arose, and that he was given the name Abhāva­samudgata.

“When that bhagavān attained enlightenment, the words ‘arisen from nonexistence’ sounded from the leaves of all the trees, from all the grass,[312] bushes, and forests,[313] and from the summits of all the mountains.

“Every sound in that world was heard as the words ‘arisen from nonexistence.’

“Young man, at the time, attending the teachings of the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Abhāva­samudgata, there was a young prince by the name of Mahā­karuṇā­cintin, who had an excellent body and was handsome and good-looking.

“Young man, the prince went to the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Abhāva­samudgata and bowed his head to the Bhagavān’s feet. He circumambulated the Bhagavān three times and then sat down. F.23.b Then the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Abhāva­samudgata, knowing the higher motivation of Prince Mahā­karuṇā­cintin, taught him this samādhi. When he had heard this he had complete faith in it. With complete faith he shaved off his hair and beard, put on the orange robes, and with such faith left home for homelessness. Having entered homelessness he learned this samādhi. He learned it, kept it, read it, understood it, and dedicated himself to the practice of meditation on it. Through that root of merit, he did not fall into the lower existences for two hundred million eons. He served two hundred million buddhas, and he heard this samādhi from all those tathāgatas. Having heard it, he learned it and understood it. He kept it, read it, propagated it, and repeatedly meditated on it with unadulterated meditation, remaining dedicated to that practice of meditation.

“Through those roots of merit, after twenty eons had passed he appeared in the world as the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Suvicintitārtha. He ripened countless beings and benefited countless beings, and afterward, like an extinguished flame, he passed away into perfect nirvāṇa.

“Therefore, young man, this samādhi of that Dharma teaching should be cherished by bodhisattva mahāsattvas. It should be known to cause the unsurpassable perfect wisdom of buddhahood.”

Then at that time the Bhagavān gave a detailed teaching on the preceding chapter by chanting the following extensive verses to the youth Candraprabha:

“I remember that countless eons ago
In the past, there appeared a supreme human,
One who benefited the world, a great rishi,
And his name was Abhāva­samudgata. {1}
“As soon as he was born he rose into the air F.24.a
And taught the nonexistence of all phenomena.
He was at that time given a corresponding name
And his words were heard throughout the trichiliocosm. {2}
“All the devas, they all called out,
‘He will be a jina named Abhāva!
As soon as he was born he took seven steps
And the Jina taught the nonexistence of phenomena.’ {3}
“When the sage became a buddha, a Dharma king,
Who taught the nature of all phenomena,
From plants, trees, bushes, mountains,[314] and rocks
There came the words ‘phenomena have no existence.’ {4}
“All the sounds there were in the world
Became the words ‘all are nonexistent.’
In that way there sounded
The words of the Guide of the World. {5}
“At that time there was a prince
Whose name had always been Karuṇāvicintin.
He had an excellent form and was handsome.
He came into the presence of that jina. {6}
“He bowed to the feet of the sage, that great being,
And respectfully circumambulated him.
In order to hear the stainless, unsurpassable Dharma
He sat there with a devout mind. {7}
“The heroic[315] Jina, knowing his aspiration,
Gave the teaching of this samādhi.
Having listened to this stainless samādhi
He quickly entered homelessness in the supreme Jina’s teaching. {8}
“Having entered homelessness he possessed,
Read, and understood this samādhi.
For a full two hundred million eons
He did not descend to an unfortunate existence. {9}
“Through the good karma that he had made
He pleased two hundred million buddhas,
And in the presence of those jinas
He cultivated this samādhi. {10}
“He afterward became a buddha in the world
Who was always known as Sucintitārtha.
He benefited many millions of beings
And afterward attained nirvāṇa,[316] like an extinguished flame.[317] {11}
Conclusion of the eighth chapter, “Buddha Abhāva­samudgata.”[318]B3

Chapter 9

The Patience of the Profound Dharma

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, F.24.b “Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood and liberate all beings from the ocean of existence should hear this king of samādhis, in which the equality of the nature of all phenomena is revealed, which is praised by all the buddhas and is the mother of the tathāgatas. They should obtain it, preserve it, understand it, recite it to others, promote it, proclaim it, chant it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, promulgate it, and make it widely known to others.

“Why is that? Young man, this king of samādhis, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, has given birth to all the tathāgatas, the arhats, the perfectly enlightened buddhas; all tathāgatas, śrāvakas, and pratyekabuddhas have come from it.

“Therefore, young man, you also should obtain this king of samādhis, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, which is praised by all the buddhas and is the mother of the tathāgatas.[319] It has been said:

“Therefore, those who wish for enlightenment and buddhahood,
And to liberate beings from the ocean of existence,
Should obtain this sūtra praised by the buddhas,
And then sublime enlightenment will not be difficult to attain.”[320]

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish[321] to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood should become skilled[322] in the patience of profound Dharma.[323]

“Young man, how do bodhisattva mahāsattvas become skilled in the patience of profound Dharma?

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas should know that all phenomena are like illusions. F.25.a They should know that all phenomena are like dreams, like mirages, like echoes, like optical illusions, like the moon on water, like hallucinations,[324] like reflections, and like space.

“Young man, when bodhisattva mahāsattvas know that all phenomena are like illusions,[325] they are skilled in the patience of profound Dharma. Those who have the patience of profound Dharma have no desire for any phenomenon that causes desire, have no anger toward any phenomenon that causes anger, and have no ignorance regarding any phenomenon that causes ignorance. Why is that? It is because they do not see that phenomenon; they do not perceive that phenomenon. They do not see the phenomena and they do not perceive the phenomena of that which is desired, the desire, or the desirer; that which angers, the anger, or one who is angry; nor that of which one is ignorant, the ignorance, or the one who is ignorant. Because they do not see and do not perceive those phenomena they have no desire, they have no anger, they have no ignorance, their minds do not regress, and they rest in meditation. They are without conceptual elaboration. They have crossed over to the other side. They have reached dry land. They have reached safety. They have attained freedom from fear.[326] They have correct conduct. They have knowledge. They have wisdom. They have merit. They have miraculous powers. They have memory.[327] They have intelligence. They have realization.[328] They have a sense of modesty. They have stability. They have bodhisattva conduct.

They have the austerity of the disciplines of mendicancy. They are unblemished.[329]F.25.b They have nothing. They are arhats. Their defilements have ceased. They have no kleśas. They have power. Their minds are liberated. Their wisdom is liberated. They are thoroughbred stallions.[330] They are great elephants.[331] They have done what had to be done. They have accomplished what had to be accomplished. They have put down their burden. They have reached their goals. They have ended engagement with existence. They have liberated their minds through true knowledge. They are mendicants who have attained all the perfect, highest, complete powers of the mind. They are brahmins.

[332] They are snātakas.[333] They are masters of the Vedas.[334] They know the Vedas.[335] They are śrotriyas.[336] They are children of the buddhas. They are children of the Śākya.[337] They have crushed the thorns.[338] They have not left the law behind.[339] They have left the trench barrier behind.[340] They have crossed over the trench barrier.

[341] They have extracted the splinters.[342] They have no illness.[343] They are bhikṣus. They are free from all bondage. They have been born as humans. They are good humans. They are supreme humans. They are great humans. They are human lions.[344] They are human elephants.[345] They are human stallions.[346] They are human carthorses.[347] They are human heroes.[348] They are human strongmen.[349] They are human flowers.[350] They are human lotuses.[351] They are human white lotuses.[352] They are human tamers.[353] They are human moons.[354] They are extraordinary humans. They are stainless humans.”[355]

Then the Bhagavān, in order to give this Dharma teaching on entering the patience of profound Dharma, recited these verses:

“At one time a world appears,
And later the entire world becomes space.
As it was before, so it is afterward.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {1}
“All that there is in this world
Later dissolves into the mass of water below.
As it is below, so it is above.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {2} F.26.a
“Just as in a completely cloudless sky
In an instant a mass of clouds appears—
From where did they first originate?
Know that all phenomena are like that. {3}
“If you think of a tathāgata who has passed into nirvāṇa,
His image will appear in your mind.
As he was before, so he is afterward.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {4}
“When a person sees a mass of foam
That is carried along in a river
And examines it, they see that it has no essence.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {5}
“When large drops of rain fall,
There appear separate bubbles of water.
They vanish as they appear; the bubbles have no existence.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {6}
“When a letter is sent to another town
With news of the good or bad that has been done,
A voice does not accompany the letter.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {7}
“When a man is intoxicated from alcohol,
He perceives the ground to be spinning,
But the earth is not moving or shaking.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {8}
“A woman sees her beautified face
On the surface of a mirror or a bowl of oil.
The fool feels passion for it
And runs in search for the desired. {9}
“The face was not transferred there.
The face will never be found in the reflection,
And yet fools have desire for it.
Know that all phenomena are like that.[356] {10}
“Just like optical illusions and fata morganas,
Just like dreams and just like illusions,
When their attributes are meditated on, their nature is empty.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {11}
“When the moon is in a clear sky,
Its reflection appears on the sea,
But the moon has not moved onto the water.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {12}
“A man who is inside a canyon[357]
Sees no one but hears the echoes
Of singing, speaking, and laughter.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {13} F.26.b
“Echoes are produced
By songs, music, and weeping,
But the song that is heard does not exist.
Know that all phenomena are like that.[358] {14}
“Although pleasures are enjoyed in a dream,
When the person awakes they are not be seen.
The fool, though, becomes attached to those pleasures.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {15}
“A magician causes forms to appear,
Creating horses, elephants, chariots, and so on.
But though they appear they do not exist at all.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {16}
“In a young woman’s dream
She gives birth to a son and then sees him die.
She is happy when he’s born and sad when he dies.
Know that all phenomena are like that.[359] {18}
“In the night the reflection of the moon
Appears on clear, undisturbed water,
But it is empty of a moon and there is nothing to grasp.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {19}
“A thirsty person traveling
At noon during the summer
Sees a lake that is a mirage.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {20}
“The water that is a mirage cannot be found.
Foolish beings want to drink it,
But water that is not real cannot be drunk.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {21}
“When a person in search of its essence
Pulls apart the trunk of a green banana plant,
They find no essence either inside or outside.
Know that all phenomena are like that. {22}
“The eyes, the ears, and the nose are unreliable.
The tongue, the body, and the mind are unreliable.
If the senses could be relied upon,
What need would there be for the path of the noble ones? {23}
“These senses are unreliable.
Their nature is material and neutral.
Therefore those who wish for the path to nirvāṇa
Must follow the path of the noble ones. {24}
“If one examines the body back into the past,
There is no body and no conception of a body.
When there is no body and no conception of a body
This is called the lineage of the noncomposite.[360] {25}
“There are no phenomena in the phenomena of nirvāṇa,
For if it is nonexistent there could never be an existence. F.27.a
Those who conceptualize teach existence and nonexistence,
But practicing in that way will not bring an end to suffering. {26}
“ ‘Existing,’ ‘not existing,’ and both are extremes.
‘Pure’ and ‘impure’ are also extremes.
Therefore, rejecting both extremes,
The wise do not even remain in the middle. {27}
“ ‘Existing’ and ‘not existing’ are in conflict.
‘Pure’ and ‘impure’ are also in conflict.
When there is conflict, suffering cannot be ended.
When there is no conflict, suffering ceases.[361] {28}
“When fools speak about remaining in mindfulness[362]
They become proud, saying, ‘I have witnessed it in my body.’[363]
But those who have witnessed it in their body have no pride;
They are those who are freed from all such pride.[364] {29}
“When speaking of the four dhyānas,
The foolish claim they can experience dhyāna.
But those who know and realize that dhyāna
Is without kleśas or pride reject such arrogance. {30}
“When speaking of the four truths,
The foolish say that they see the truth.
But there is no pride when the truth is seen.
The Jina taught the truth that is without pride. {31}
“Do not be proud of maintaining correct conduct.
Do not become proud through listening to the Dharma.
When those with little wisdom become proud,
That is the root of increasing suffering. {32}
“The world’s guide, the omniscient one,
Taught that pride is the root of suffering.
To be puffed up with pride makes suffering grow;
To have no pride brings suffering to an end. {33}
“However much Dharma you have learned,
If you feel proud of your learning and let your proper conduct lapse,
Your misconduct will take you to the lower realms
And all that great learning will not protect you. {34}
“If you feel proud of being renowned for correct conduct
And do not dedicate yourself to listening to many teachings,
When the results of your correct conduct have been used up
You will afterward experience suffering.[365] {35}
“If you meditate on a worldly samādhi
And do not eliminate the conception of a self,
Then the kleśas will arise once more,
As happened in the samādhi practice of Udraka.[366] {36} F.27.b
“If one examines the Dharma of selflessness,
And if after examining, one meditates,
That will be the cause resulting in the attainment of nirvāṇa.
It is impossible for peace to come from any other cause. {37}
“If a man is being attacked by bandits
And, wishing to save his life, he tries to run away
But his legs will not move and he cannot run,
He will be captured and killed[367] by the bandits. {38}
“In the same way, a stupid person without correct conduct
May try to escape from composite phenomena.
But without correct conduct he is not able to flee,
And will be killed by old age, illness, and death. {39}
“Just as many thousands of savages[368]
Do you harm in various ways,
The kleśas will in many ways,
Like savages, destroy that which is good. {40}
“Those who have understood the skandhas to be without a self,
Even if insulted or beaten, will not be dismayed.
They will not fall under the power of the kleśa demons.
Those who know emptiness will never become agitated. {41}
“Many people teach the emptiness of the skandhas
But have not understood that selflessness;
When those who have not understood are contradicted by others,
They will be overpowered by anger and speak harsh words. {42}
“There was a man[369] who was ill and suffering physically.
For many years he could not attain freedom from his illness.
For a long time he was tormented by his illness,
And in order to be cured he went in search of a physician. {43}
“Searching and searching, again and again,
He found a skilled and wise physician
Who had compassion for him
And said, ‘Take this medicine.’ {44}
“He gave him much excellent medicine,
But the sick man didn’t take the healing medicine.
That was not the fault of the physician or the medicine;
It was the fault of the sick person. {45}
“In the same way, those who have entered homelessness in this teaching,
Who know of the strengths, the dhyānas, and the powers
But do not dedicate themselves to meditation,
Are not endeavouring in what is correct, so how could they attain nirvāṇa? {46}
“All phenomena are always empty by nature.
The heirs of the jinas have eliminated all things.
The entirety of existence has always been empty.
The emptiness of the tīrthikas is limited. {47}
“The wise do not argue with fools,
They politely avoid them; F.28.a
Thinking, ‘They come to me with malicious intent,’
They do not engage with the Dharma of fools. {48}
“Knowing the nature and dispositions of fools,
The wise do not associate with fools.
Whenever they associate well with them
Those fools eventually turn into enemies. {49}
“The wise do not depend upon the foolish.
The wise and the foolish have different natures.
The nature of the foolish is naturally contrary,
So the wise do not have ordinary people as friends. {50}
“They may speak with words about the Dharma
But do not believe it, showing their anger and aggression.
Such is the Dharma of fools, and knowing this to be so
The wise do not rely on it. {51}
“The foolish are in accord with other fools
Like impurity with other impurities.
The wise are in accord with other wise people
Like butter[370] is with ghee. {52}
“They do not examine the faults of saṃsāra;
They pay no attention to the ripening of karma;
They have no faith in the words of the buddhas:
Those fools will be sliced and cut into pieces. {53}
“They have obtained a human life that is difficult to obtain,
But they have not become skilled in any craft.
They have become poor without any wealth.
In order to have a livelihood they become mendicants. {54}
“Having become mendicants in this teaching of the Buddha,
They become attached to their robes and alms bowls.
They fall under the influence of bad companions,
And they do not practice the teaching of the Sugata. {55}
“They are not observant of their own conduct.
Such fools do not perceive the states of their minds.
Day and night they do not follow the discipline,
And they do not abhor the path of bad actions. {56}
“They do not restrain their body and mind.
There is nothing that they will not say.
They are always looking for faults in others,
And criticize any mistake they make. {57}
“Such fools have attachment to food.
They know no limit to their eating.
They obtain their food through the Buddha’s merit,
But these fools do not keep that in mind. {58}
“When they find food that is delicious and pleasing,
They consume[371] it without engaging in the discipline.
For them that food becomes poison, F.28.b
Like an unclean lotus stem[372] for an elephant calf.[373] {59}
“The wise, the sagacious, the realized
Also eat food that is pure and pleasing,
But they have no attachment to it.
They eat without clinging, maintaining the discipline. {60}
“The wise, sagacious, and realized
Say ‘welcome’ when the foolish come,
Bringing them closer with pleasant words,
And maintaining compassion for them; {61}
“They are kind and helpful to them.
But the foolish are happy when harm comes to the wise.
Because of such faults, the wise avoid the foolish
And live alone like deer in the forest. {62}
“The wise, knowing these kinds of defects,
Do not associate with fools.
They think, ‘If I depend on those who have no wisdom,
There will be no higher rebirth, let alone the attainment of enlightenment.’ {63}
“The wise reach enlightenment by putting into practice
The samādhi of dwelling in love,
Of dwelling in compassion, of acting with joy,
And with constant equanimity toward all existences. {64}
“They attain the enlightenment that is peace, free of misery.
They perceive beings afflicted by illness and aging.[374]
They have compassion toward them,
And give them the teachings of ultimate truth. {65}
“Who can know the true nature of the jinas
And the truth of the sugatas, which is beyond description?[375]
It is they who hear this kind of Dharma
And attain the immaterial patience of the noble ones.” {66}
Conclusion of the ninth chapter, “The Patience of the Profound Dharma.”

Chapter 10

The Entry into the City

The Bhagavān then said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, you should be someone who makes practice essential, and always trains in that way. Why is that? Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who make practice essential will not even find it difficult to attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, not to mention attaining this samādhi.”

Then the youth Candraprabha rose from his seat, removed his robe from one shoulder, and, kneeling on his right knee, F.29.a with palms placed together, bowed toward the Bhagavān and exclaimed, “Bhagavān, that teaching and instruction that the bhagavāns have taught well, presented well, and explained well to the bodhisattva mahāsattvas, the entire bodhisattva training that they have explained well and presented well is marvelous.

“Bhagavān, this is the scope of activity of the tathāgatas, not of the śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas, let alone the tīrthikas.

“Bhagavān, I, too, will make practice essential, and without care for life or body I shall train as the tathāgatas have. Why is that? Bhagavān, I wish to train as the tathāgatas have. Bhagavān, I wish to attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood. Bhagavān, I wish to eliminate the evil māras. Bhagavān, I wish to free all beings from all fear and all suffering.[376] I pray that the Bhagavān will place his right hand upon my head.”

He said to the Bhagavān:

“You have an excellent body, like a clear sky.
You are the son of wisdom, who has no body or attributes.
You are a deep ocean of qualities, and have compassion.
You who are without equal, place your hand upon my head.”[377] {i}

The Bhagavān placed upon Candraprabha’s head his right hand, which was adorned with many characteristics that were the result of many roots of merit, and which was of the color of divine gold.

As soon as the Bhagavān placed his right hand upon Candraprabha’s head, in that very instant, more indescribable than indescribably many hundred thousand quintillions of samādhi entranceways that arise from the perfection of wisdom were revealed to Candraprabha, such as the heroic,[378]the treasury of space,[379]the vajra-like,[380]the speed of the mind,[381]the revealing of all forms,[382]F.29.bthe ultimate absence of obscurations, the revealing of all tathāgatas,[383]the consecration of all emptiness,[384] and so on. Many entranceways to dhāraṇīs and liberations[385] were revealed. He attained the knowledge of the joy and happiness that is described by the noble ones, of the countless vast number of beings in the deva realms, and the scope of experience of the buddhas and bodhisattvas.

It was said:

The Bhagavān placed upon the head of the youth Candraprabha
The hand that for many millions of eons had given away jewels,
Which was beautified by being webbed, and had markings of a vase and hook,
A knot of eternity, a wheel, a victory banner, a flag, and fishes. {ii}

Then Candraprabha, full of joy and happiness and the knowledge of the countless, vast number of beings in the deva realms, and the scope of experience of the buddhas and bodhisattvas, rose from his seat, removed his robe from one shoulder, and, kneeling on his right knee, with palms placed together, he bowed toward the Bhagavān and recited these appropriate verses of praise:

“I pay homage to you, the unsurpassable provider of freedom from fear.
I pay homage to you, a loving friend of beings who benefits others.
I pay homage to you, who possess the power of truth and the ten strengths.
I pay homage to you, who are the equal of the unequaled tathāgatas. {iii}
“I pay homage to you, the Lord who has the highest compassion.
I pay homage to you, the hero who has subjugated the four enemies.[386]
I pay homage to you, who know the benefits of sublime diligence.
I pay homage to you, the Lord[387] who has the supreme dharmakāya. {iv}
“I will always go for refuge to you, Lord,
The Jina who is a sun shining in the center of the vast sky of wisdom,
Dispelling darkness with the light of love and compassion,
And who is the teacher of the extremely profound Dharma of the ultimate truth.” {v} F.30.a

When the youth Candraprabha had recited these appropriate verses of praise to the Bhagavān, he said to him, “Bhagavān, so that you may show me your compassion I pray that you, with your saṅgha of bodhisattvas and saṅgha of bhikṣus, will assent to eat your meal tomorrow at my home.

“I pray to the Lord of men and your sons
That you eat a pure meal at my home.
Lord of sages, in order to show me your compassion,
Chief of devas, give your assent.” {vi}

The Bhagavān, because of his compassion, by remaining silent assented to eat a meal together with his saṅgha of bodhisattvas and saṅgha of bhikṣus at the home of the youth Candraprabha.

The youth Candraprabha, knowing that the Bhagavān had assented by his silence, rose from his seat, removed his robe from one shoulder, bowed his head to the Bhagavān’s feet, circumambulated the Bhagavān three times, and departed from the Bhagavān’s presence.

The youth Candraprabha then went down from Vulture Peak Mountain, and at that time he perfectly adorned the entire road in between Vulture Peak Mountain and the great city of Rājagṛha.

As an offering to the Bhagavān he cleared a great, wide roadway so that it was free of grass, tree stumps, thorns, stones, pebbles, and gravel, and spread pure sand over it, so that it was as soft and pleasant to the touch as down, and made a pleasant sound. He covered it with flowers from all seasons, such as divine blue lotuses, red lotuses, night lotuses, white lotuses, water lilies, kachnar flowers,sambac jasmines, magnolias, bignonias, star jasmines, sesame flowers, ironwood flowers, and aśoka flowers. Parasols, banners, flags, flags of victory, precious arches,[388] and canopies were set up along the road.F.30.b There were precious censers from which flowed the smoke of black agarwood.[389] Arranged in different places were dancers and performers skilled in performing divine songs, dance, and music. Beautifully adorned men, women, boys, and girls were arranged holding paṇava drums,[390] one-stringed lutes,[391] lutes, flutes, mṛdaṅga drums,[392] mukunda drums,[393] and muraja drums.[394] On both sides of the road tall palm trees were adorned with various divine jewels and a jingling network of bells made from Jambu River gold.

[395] There were many hundred thousand quintillions of pillars made of precious materials, and different kinds of trees of various heights and thicknesses made from the seven jewels, and on which were arranged the leaves, flowers, and fruits of all seasons.

The road was excellently adorned in various ways.
Canopies, parasols, and flags were erected.
The sound of music was perfectly played,
And similarly there was the beautiful sound of songs. {vii}
That perfect road was excellently adorned
By many women performing dances,
Many millions of various excellent cloths,
And beautiful, excellent garlands of flowers. {viii}
“The Buddha, the moon of sages, the compassionate one
Is coming to this pure excellent city.”
On hearing that, young Candraprabha with great faith
Perfectly adorned a great, vast road. {ix}
He spread out pure, divine sand
And scattered perfect, beautiful flowers.
He also set up precious pillars
And made the road as beautiful as a divine city. {x}
Young Candraprabha, with immense joy,
Perfectly adorned the road in various ways.
Devas, asuras, and nāgas, upon seeing it
Were astonished and cried out, “Ha ha ha!” {xi}
To the left and right of the road there were placed
Tall, excellent, round palm trees made of Jambu River gold,
Decorated and beautified by a network
Of numerous jingling, precious bells. {xii}
Similarly arranged were million of precious trees F.31.a
Adorned by blossomed flowers of all seasons,
Which were beautiful adornments for that vast road,
Like a blissful park in the deva realms. {xiii}
Pillars that were made from precious materials,
With beautiful strings of beads that shone like light—
An indescribable sight, huge and vast—
Were set up and arranged on the left and right of the road. {xiv}
The Buddha, the Lord of the three worlds,
Traveled on that road to the capital city.
That great road was adorned in that way
So that it was beautiful in every way. {xv}
On the right and left, precious censers were hung.
They were filled with black agarwood.
From all the censers there formed a cloud of smoke,
With divine, pleasant aromas of various kinds. {xvi}
The youth Candraprabha, for the sake of the Jina,
Arranged vast, incalculable ornaments of divine materials,
From the entrance to the water well of the city
Up to the king of mountains, Gṛdhrakūṭa. {xvii}

Young Candraprabha adorned the road with many different precious arrangements.[396] Then young Candraprabha descended from Vulture Peak and went to the great city of Rājagṛha, to his tall, vast, great, divine home. He reached there and he entered his home. He spent that night preparing a great amount of excellent, delicious[397] food and drink, and creating food that had a hundred flavors. Then he sprinkled well the ground in the great city of Rājagṛha and swept it clean, scattered flower petals, perfumed it with incense, put up canopies, hung ribbons and wreaths of silk, and set up parasols, banners, and flags.

In that way he made the main road of Rājagṛha up to the town free of stones, pebbles, and gravel, scattered it with various flowers, and sprinkled it with sandalwood powder. He adorned the windows, porticoes, doors,[398] roofs,[399] lattices,[400] and the crescent moons,[401] and perfumed them with sandalwood. In that way he adorned the city of Rājagṛha with countless displays F.31.b and adorned his own house, too, with a variety of many adornments. He hung it with many precious strings of beads. He adorned it with the raiment of the Tuṣita deities and also beautified the grounds. He had many kinds of garlands and wreaths put up as adornments. He arranged a hundred thousand precious seats. In order to make offerings to the Bhagavān he placed in their center a lion throne of divine materials that surpassed the work of devas and humans. In the four directions he hung censers made of various precious materials, from which flowed the smoke of black agarwood. In that way the youth Candraprabha arranged his excellent home so that for the enjoyment of the Bhagavān there was the sound of divine songs, performances, and music; pure parasols and banners were erected; an audience of a hundred thousand devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans, and nonhumans thronged it; and it was filled with many various kinds of precious flowers.

Candraprabha perfectly, extensively adorned
His vast and excellent home.
In the center he placed a lion throne of divine materials
Where the lamp of the world would sit. {xviii}
He perfectly set out countless millions
Of extremely precious, beautiful seats
Where the saṅgha of the lamp of the world,
The Lord of jinas, would sit. {xix}
Censers made of all kinds of precious materials,
Completely filled with agarwood,
Were hung in all directions,
And from them a beautiful aroma spread. {xx}
Candraprabha, in order to attain the ten strengths,
Spread throughout the entire excellent grounds of the house
Various kinds of beautiful, precious flowers—
A multitude of excellent, aromatic flowers. {xxi}
The sound of dancers, singers, and of music
Filled the entire excellent house with sound.
He erected also parasols and banners F.32.a
So that the house was intensely beautiful, like that of a deity. {xxii}
The vast excellent home of the youth Candraprabha
Was adorned by a multitude of young people.
It was filled with many nāgas, yakṣas, and asuras,
And was gazed upon by many hundreds of devas.[402] {xxiii}

The young man Candraprabha, having adorned the great city of Rājagṛha and having perfectly beautified his own home, after the night was over, in the early morning, departed, accompanied by the music of hundreds of various kinds of instruments, with many millions of parasols, banners, and flags held high, and with an encircling vanguard of a great assembly of eight million quintillion bodhisattvas, their cupped hands filled with divine coral tree flowers. Among them were bodhisattvas with one life remaining, such as Avalokiteśvara, Mahā­sthāma­prāpta, Gandhahasti, Ratnaketu, Dundubhisvara,[403] Durabhisambhava, Mañjuśrī Kumārabhūta, Vīrasena, Subāhu, Ratnakusuma, Amoghadarśin, Maitreya, and others, accompanied by many adorned horses and elephants without riders that were being led along, with an assembly of countless people of the country, his own cupped hands filled with divine coral tree flowers; and they were accompanied by the enchanting, beautiful, harmonious sound of the laughter of the deities as they cried, “Oh, the bodhisattva’s great power! The bodhisattva’s great miracles! The bodhisattva’s great manifestations! The bodhisattva’s—a la la!”

He came out through the hot springs gateway[404] of the great city of Rājagṛha and went toward Vulture Peak Mountain, and to the Bhagavān.

When he arrived, he bowed his head to the Bhagavān’s feet, circumambulated the Bhagavān three times,[405] sprinkled the divine coral tree flowers that filled his cupped hands over the Bhagavān, and went to sit down to one side.

Maitreya and the other F.32.b bodhisattva mahāsattvas bowed their heads to the Bhagavān’s feet, circumambulated the Bhagavān three times, sprinkled the divine coral tree flowers that filled their cupped hands over the Bhagavān, and also sat down to one side.

Then the youth, who had sat to one side, rose from his seat, removed his robe from one shoulder, and, kneeling on his right knee, with palms placed together bowed toward the Bhagavān and said, “It is midday, Bhagavān, the time to eat. If the Bhagavān considers the time has come, then together with the saṅgha of bodhisattvas, the saṅgha of bhikṣus, and the devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, rishis, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, kumbhāṇḍas, pretas, pūtanas, humans, and nonhumans who have great power, who are widely renowned for their great power and have great influence, come to the great city of Rājagṛha, as the time has come to eat the midday meal in my garden. Sugata, it is midday.[406]

“I have adorned well the entire, excellent city,
And similarly, Lord, my garden.
I have prepared and laid out divine food with a hundred flavors.
As it is midday, I pray to the Sugata to arise. {xxiv}
“Supreme Rishi, you who hold the qualities of the ten strengths in your hands,
Encircled by the assembly of your sons, come to the city.
I pray that you, the illuminating sun who dispels darkness, will arise.
Bhagavān, the time has come for the midday meal in my garden. {xxv}
“I pray that you come, with your sons, to my garden.
You will benefit an assembly of many beings.
Just as Dīpaṃkara granted a prophecy to you,
Grant me likewise a direct prophecy in this world. {xxvi}
“When I have heard that prophecy in this world,
I will also develop a vast and perfect aspiration,
And all these beings will become buddhas. F.33.a
There are no unworthy beings present here. {xxvii}
“Arise, arise, Lord who has the ten strengths.
Benefit me and come to my garden.
Just as you come to my garden,
In that way I will go to the supreme tree of enlightenment. {xxviii}
“When I have gone to the foot of the supreme tree of enlightenment,
I will remain there unshakable and unwavering.
I will defeat with love the māras and their claws,
And just as you attained it, I, too, will attain enlightenment.” {xxix}

Then the Bhagavān, who had known what the youth Candraprabha would request, addressed these lines of verse to him:

“Arise Candraprabha, son of the jinas!
Arise, you who are joyful in generosity, you supreme being!
Arise, you who have compassion and firm conduct!
Let us go to the meal![407] Let us proceed[408] to your home.” {xxx}

After speaking these lines,[409] the Bhagavān arose from his seat. He put on his lower robe, picked up his Dharma robe and alms bowl, and with the great saṅgha of a hundred thousand bhikṣus, and accompanied by a multitude of bodhisattva mahāsattvas, he proceeded. Many hundreds of thousands of devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, rishis, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, kumbhāṇḍas, pretas, pūtanas,[410] humans, and nonhumans made offerings to him and praised him. Through his great buddha powers, his great buddha miracles, his great buddha manifestations, and his buddha conduct he radiated many quintillions[411] of light rays. He emanated flocks of melodious, soft, and beautiful birds of many different shapes and colors, such as geese, cranes, ruddy shelducks, swans, partridges, peacocks, rollers,[412] parrots,[413] mynas, cuckoos, avadavats,[414] and snipe, so that like devas in the sky, each with its own song, they emitted the sound of music.[415]F.33.b

The yakṣa lords Surūpa, Indraketu, Vikaṭa, Bakula, Pāñcika, Śākyavardhana, and many quintillions of yakṣa lords holding pestles[416] with both hands, offered many quintillions of huge, vast censers made of various divine precious materials, with handles of beryl, sapphire, crystal, and white coral, filled with uragasāra sandalwood, gośīrṣa sandalwood, vetiver, yellow sandalwood, Malaya sandalwood, red sandalwood, agarwood, and so on, and from which smoke flowed.

There were the superior kings of great power, renowned as having great power, from their own regions, accompanied by many divisions of perfectly adorned horses and elephants being led without their riders, chariots, and infantry,[417] in lines marching in front, holding in their hands many streamers and precious garlands. The horses and elephants, even though they were being led along without riders, were proceeding magnificently and emitting beautiful cries.

The Bhagavān was accompanied on his right-hand side by Brahmā, who was making offerings to him and attending upon him, and on his left-hand side by Śakra, lord of the devas, and by countless devas with great power, who were renowned for their great power, who were mighty and illustrious, and whose bodies were adorned by excellent divine crowns, ornamented anklets, earrings, bracelets, flowers on their ears, bejeweled necklaces, and flower garlands. Their forms were made visible and they were holding coral tree flowers, asters, orchids, hibiscus, amaranths, magnolias, karnikara flowers, aśoka flowers,[418] bignonias, kachnar flowers, blue lotuses, medlar flowers,[419]sambac jasmine, star jasmine, ironwood flowers, red lotuses, night lotuses, white lotuses, water lilies, precious garlands, precious agarwood, and precious fruit. They were playing hundreds of thousands of different kinds of musical instruments, waving millions of pieces of cloth, crying out, “Ha! Ha! Ha!” and sending down a great rain of flowers. In order to make offerings to the Bhagavān they filled the entire sky without leaving any space F.34.a and sent down a great rain of flowers, incense, garlands, perfumes, powders, and jewels.

The Bhagavān entered at midday the great city of Rājagṛha through the hot springs gateway. The nature of this is described in these verses:[420]

The Tathāgata Buddha, knowing it was time,
That hero adorned with all qualities,
Who illuminates countless realms,
The Bhagavān, the lion of men, set forth. {xxxi}
Avalokiteśvara, Mahā­sthāma­prāpta,[421] and Amoghadarśin;[422]
Gandhahasti, Ratnakusuma,[423] and Ratnabāhu;[424]
And Ratnaketu, Durabhisambhava,[425] Vīrasena,[426]
And others followed in the Jina’s footsteps.[427] {xxxii}
On his right was Ajita, who is named Maitraka,[428]
Who has the wealth of infinite qualities,
Who will become the following buddha
And has completed the accumulation of merit and wisdom. {xxxiii}
He is one who has cultivated[429] love, rejoicing, and equanimity.
He is a great being of the Dharma who has developed compassion.
He understands the infinite qualities, the qualities of the Lord of sages.[430] {xxxiv}
He followed behind[431] the compassionate Sugata
And was followed by those[432] who will be
Those with great realization in the Good Eon:
The thousand buddhas less four, {xxxv}
Who were preceded by Maitraka.
And also he who in the past, in this city of Rājagṛha,
While born in divine bodies that were like beautiful moonlight,
Made infinite offerings to jinas throughout eons, {xxxvi}
That hero Candraprabha was also present at the front.
To the left of the one with supreme compassion
Was Mañjuśrī,[433] along with many thousands of millions[434]
Of heroes who have sublime qualities of miraculous powers,[435] {xxxvii}
Who traveled to endless hundreds of realms.
Following him were those in the śrāvaka saṅgha:
Śārisuta,[436] Maudgalyāyana,[437] Kāla,
Kāśyapa, Subhūti, Nanda, and Kapphiṇa; {xxxviii}
Bhadrikarāja,[438] and similarly Kauṇḍinya;
Ānanda, and similarly Sthavira Rāhula;
And Svāgata, Kañcika,[439] Pūrṇa, Udāyin,
Revata, Kauṣṭhila,[440] Upāli, and Aniruddha. {xxxix}
A full nine thousand[441] of those with matted hair F.34.b
Followed behind the śrāvaka saṅgha.
They were all mighty ascetics who knew the Vedas and the rituals,[442]
And had mastered curses, renunciation, and beneficial incantations.[443] {xl}
Self-controlled rishis with peaceful minds,
With disciplined minds, bowing with palms together,
Followed behind the Buddha, the lamp of the world,
The lion of men, endowed with compassion, {xli}
The liberator of thousands of beings, as he proceeded.
Like the completely pure lord of the host of stars,
The full moon of the last month of autumn,[444]
The Teacher who is without equal was encircled {xlii}
By many hundred thousands of Brahmās.
As he stepped on the threshold of the city’s gateway,
The earth and its thick forests shook.
The devas, asuras,[445] and mahoragas {xliii}
Scattered excellent flowers and supreme incense.[446] {xliv}

The moment the Bhagavān placed his right foot, adorned by a precious wheel from the accumulation of countless roots of merit, upon the threshold of the gate, this universe of a thousand million worlds shook in six ways. It trembled, trembled strongly, and trembled intensely; it quivered, quivered strongly, and quivered intensely; it shook, shook strongly, and shook intensely; it shuddered, shuddered strongly, and shuddered intensely; it quaked, quaked strongly, and quaked intensely; the east sank and the west rose, the west sank and the east rose, the north sank and the south rose, the south sank and the north rose, the perimeter sank and the center rose, and the center sank and the perimeter rose. A great radiance shone in the world, and countless, numberless other amazing, wonderful, miraculous manifestations appeared.[447]B4

The nature of this is described in these verses:

When the Guide came to that supreme city
And placed his supreme foot upon the gateway’s threshold,
That magnificence caused this earth to shake,
And the beings in this supreme city were overjoyed. {1}
When the Jina placed his foot on the gateway’s threshold
The people who were hungry and thirsty F.35.a
At that time became free of the need to eat or drink.
They became free of hunger and thirst. {2}
When the Jina placed his foot on the gateway’s threshold
All those people who were blind,
Deaf, and had no protector and little merit
Were all able to see and hear. {3}
When the Jina placed his foot on the gateway’s threshold
All the pretas in the realm of Yama,
Suffering greatly and eating snot and spit,
Were touched by light and became happy. {4}
When the Jina placed his foot on the gateway’s threshold
The supreme trees—the sal and the karnikara—
At the summit of crags and on mountaintops,
They all bowed toward the Buddha. {5}
When the Jina placed his foot on the gateway’s threshold
The entire ground shook in six ways
Throughout the villages and towns as far as the ocean,
Without causing harm to anyone. {6}
Devas, humans, kumbhāṇḍas, and rākṣasas—
Wherever beings lived, there was happiness and joy.
They developed faith in supreme, sublime enlightenment
And held a parasol for the guide of the world. {7}
When the Jina placed his foot on the gateway’s threshold,
Thousands of musical instruments sounded without being played;
Hearing the beautiful sound of music,
All beings were filled with joy. {8}
Hundreds of thousands of trees bowed down,
And all flowers blossomed at that time.
Hundreds of thousands of devas in the sky
Made nonhuman offerings to the Jina. {9}
When the Jina placed his foot on the gateway’s threshold,
Hundreds[448] of bulls[449] lowed with joy.
The kings of horses and elephants[450] raised their bodies;
The lions, the kings of animals, roared. {10}
The kings, the rulers, however many there were,
Came from the cardinal and intermediate directions.
When they saw the glorious majesty of the Jina,
With minds filled with joy they bowed to him. {11}
Some praised the Lord of the World;
Some scattered a rain of flowers on the Jina;
Some placed their ten fingers together in homage,
And they cried, “Oh, the Jina, compassionate one!” {12}
Some scattered excellent strings of pearls F.35.b
And various ornaments that give rise to joy,
And some scattered clothing and jewels.
They developed the supreme, unequaled aspiration to enlightenment. {13}
Some scattered excellent meshes of gold;
Some also scattered mukhaphullaka adornments.
Some scattered excellent ornaments of gold,
And some, likewise, scattered anklets.[451] {14}
Some scattered excellent bracelets,[452]
Some scattered armlets inset with jewels,
And some aspired to enlightenment, scattering excellent
Pieces of cloth,[453] saying, “May we become buddhas!” {15}
When the Lord of the World stood in the gateway,
Some people scattered golden necklaces.
Some with minds filled with faith scattered excellent crest jewels;[454]
Some scattered networks of jewels. {16}
Those beings who were in extreme suffering,
Tormented by many kinds of miseries,
All attained happiness through the majesty
Of the Guide, the supreme human. {17}
Cuckoos, mynas, and peacocks,
And similarly cranes and other water birds[455]—
All the flocks of birds were in the sky
Emitting their beautiful, perfect songs. {18}
Desire, anger, and ignorance
Ceased in whoever heard
The sweet, beautiful songs
Of those flocks of joyous birds. {19}
The millions of beings who heard that joyful sound
All attained the patience that is concordant with the Dharma.
The Sugata gave them all this prophecy:
“You will in the future become buddhas.” {20}
At that time the kleśas did not arise,
And everyone was respectful to the Dharma king.[456] {21}
At that time, when they saw the form of the Guide’s body,[457]
They developed the aspiration for the supreme wisdom of buddhahood.
They wondered, “When will we attain this kind of wisdom?”
And the Jina, knowing that, gave them their prophecies. {22}
From each pore of the Sugata
There shone hundreds of thousands of light rays
And more, as many as there are sand grains in the Ganges—
It would not be possible to perceive all their attributes. {23}
At that time, the sunlight did not shine.
Nor was there light from jewels, fire, or the devas. F.36.a
There was no other light at that time
When there was the splendor of the Buddha entering the city. {24}
When with that great assembly the Sugata proceeded on the path,
Wherever the feet of the one with the ten strengths trod
There appeared from the ground a hundred thousand lotuses
That were pure and had ten thousand million petals. {25}
When the Guide entered the supreme city,
At that time there was no dirt or refuse.
Throughout the entire city there arose
The lovely aroma of the most fragrant incense. {26}
The entire city and its streets were purified.
They had no stones or gravel and were sprinkled with perfume
And bestrewn with the petals of various kinds of flowers.
That is the kind of merit the one with ten strengths had. {27}
When a hundred thousand yakṣas with ferocious minds
Saw the Buddha, the Lord of men who was like gold,
They felt an immense love for the Guide
And took refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha. {28}
All of the million millions[458] of devas
Who had come to see the Lord of men[459]
Let fall a rain of flowers on the Sugata.
They scattered flowers while in the middle of the sky. {29}
The flowers scattered by humans for the Jina
Formed a parasol of flowers in the sky.
The flowers scattered by the devas
Were strewn on the ground as divine flowers. {30}
The devas, humans, kumbhāṇḍas, and rākṣasas
Never tired of gazing upon him.
When they saw the Lord[460] with the ten strengths,
They were overjoyed and felt the highest delight. {31}
When they saw the body of the supreme being,
All beings were overjoyed and delighted;
They did not even think of the divine flowers,
Which did not seem at all wonderful.[461] {32}
Brahmā upon the right of the one with ten strengths,
Śakra, the king of the devas, on his left,
And the many millions of deities in the middle of the sky
Showed great veneration to the supreme being. {33}
Devas and asuras encircled the Jina,
Who eclipsed all the majesty of devas and humans.
With the soles of his feet making patterns on the ground,
The invited Bhagavān entered into the city. {34}
His body was beautified by excellent primary signs,
Like the firmament filled with stars. F.36.b
The Buddha shone upon the king’s road[462]
Like the full moon in the sky. {35}
Just as an excellent, pure, precious jewel
That is free of all impurities shines
So that a pure light goes in all directions,[463]
In that way the Jina illuminated the entire world. {36}
Devas and asuras encircled the Jina.
The supreme human who entered Rājagṛha
With the soles of his feet leaving patterns on the ground,
The Buddha, came to the home of the youth Candraprabha. {37}
The supreme city was perfectly adorned,
Millions of banners had been erected,
The entire ground was anointed with the best perfumes,
And beautiful summer flowers were scattered. {38}
When the Sugata spoke to teach
With compassion for the people in the streets,
The Jina manifested emanations
That taught to them the excellent Dharma of the Buddha. {39}
[The Jina manifested emanations;
Bodies that were like gold were manifested.
The Buddha, the Jina, through his emanations,
Remained in emptiness, peace, the enlightenment of buddhahood.][464] {40}
When the hundreds of thousands of beings heard that,
They prayed for the supreme wisdom of the Buddha,
Wondering, “When will I attain this kind of wisdom?”
Knowing their thoughts, the Jina prophesied to them. [465]{41}
There were those who aspired to attain
That inconceivable supreme attainment.
They had invited the Jina, the Lord of men,
And there was no limit to the offerings they made. [466] {42}
There were those who developed an excellent aspiration,
Thinking, “I will tomorrow invite the compassionate one,
He who wishes to benefit beings,
Whom it is difficult to see in saṃsāra.”[467] {43}
Some who were upon the roofs
Developed the sublime, supreme aspiration to enlightenment
And they scattered divine flowers on the handsome,
Beautifully adorned body of the one with the ten strengths. {44}
Some developed the supreme, highest aspiration
And scattered garlands of magnolias,
Kachnar flowers, the scents of summer,
And wreaths of silken ribbons. {45}
Some stood, holding excellent flowers,
Their bodies perfectly beautified by their raiment.
They held various flowers and wreaths of silk
That they cast in the direction of the Jina with great power.[468] {46}
Some scattered red lotuses, night lotuses,
Blue lotuses, and excellent golden flowers. F.37.a
Some scattered precious flowers,[469]
And some scattered sandalwood powder. {47}
When the Guide entered the supreme city
The wonders that appeared were uncountable,
Unequaled, impossible to describe,
And they brought many millions of beings to buddha wisdom. {48}
Those in Avṛha, Atapa, who had seen the truth,
The devas of Sudṛśa and Sudarśana,
And those in Akaniṣṭha, who are free of desire—
They all came to see the Lord of humans. {49}
Similarly, countless Parī­ttaśubha[470] devas,
Apramāṇaśubha[471] devas, filled with joy,
And countless millions of Śubhakṛtsna devas
Came to see the Guide, the great Rishi. {50}
Countless Apramāṇābha devas,
And similarly the Parī­ttābha devas,
And countless millions of Ābhāsvara devas
Came to see the Lord of the World.[472] {51}
Many hundreds of thousands of Brahmā’s entourage,[473]
And similarly the faithful Brahmapurohita devas
And many hundreds of Brahmakāyika devas,
All came so as to see the Guide. {52}
Also the Para­nirmita­vaśa­vartin[474] devas,
And the pure beings who dwell in Nirmāṇaratin,
And the joyful devas of Tuṣita and Yāma
All came to pay homage to the Buddha. {53}
Śakra, king of the devas, and the Trāyastriṃśa[475] devas [476]
Came with hundreds of millions of apsarases
And they sent down a rain of flowers,
Having come to see the Buddha, the Lord of sages. {54}
Also the world guardians of the four directions
Vaiśravaṇa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra the nāga king,[477]
Virūḍhaka, and Virūpākṣa, their minds filled with joy,
All came in order to praise the Lord of men. {55}
Ailavila, the powerful king of the yakṣas,
With a delighted mind and encircled by a hundred yakṣas,
Was in the middle of the sky and joyfully
They sent down a rain of numerous various flowers. {56}
Also the Sadāmatta[478] and Mālādhāra devas,
Holding various kinds of incense and flowers,
With their retinues, all joyful, F.37.b
Made offerings there to the supreme individual. {57}
Also numerous Karoṭapāṇi yakṣas
And adorned yakṣa maidens
Made offerings to the Buddha
With hundreds of compositions of
The beautiful, melodious music of the yakṣas. {58}
Druma, the king of the kinnaras,
With thousands of kinnara maidens skilled
In sweet and melodious songs and music,
Arrived from Gandhamādana to make offerings to the supreme Jina. {59}
Śambara, Bala, Vemacitra, and Rāhu,
Together with an entourage of thousands of asura maidens,
And together with crowds of other powerful asuras,
Came and sent down a rain of jewels. {60}
From countless trillions of rākṣasas
A thousand million rākṣasas honored him.
They respectfully scattered a multitude of various
Flower petals upon the supreme individual. [479] {61}
The nāga king Girivalgu,
With a great entourage came before the Tathāgata,
Holding great numbers of perfect, precious flowers,
And bowed down at the Sugata’s feet.[480] {i}
The nāga lords Padma and Mahāpadma,
And also Vāsuki, Ananta, and Phanaka,[481]
Came before the great leader
And respectfully bowed to the Sugata. {ii}
The nāga king Maṇi, filled with joy,
Came before the feet of the great leader
Holding fragrant, perfect nāga flowers
And sat before the Sugata at no great distance. {iii}
Also the nāga king Anavatapta,
With perfectly trained nāga maidens
Playing a hundred thousand musical instruments and drums,
Came and made offerings there to the Lord of the World. {62}
The five hundred sons of Anavatapta,
Encircled by their kindred and filled with joy,
Seeking the highest, vast wisdom,
Came to make offerings to the self-arisen one. {63}
Similarly, the nāga king Apalāla,
Palms together, bowed to the supreme individual
Holding beautiful, excellent nāga pearls.
He remained in the sky, making offerings to the king of sages. {64}
Similarly, the nāga king Mucilinda,
With great happiness and filled with joy,
Holding various jewels and pearls, F.38.a
Came and scattered them for the Guide. {65}
Similarly, the nāga king Kālika
Came before the Tathāgata.
Joyful and holding perfect, beautiful strings of jewels,
He made offerings to the supreme individual.[482] {66}
He[483] felt great veneration as he thought
Of the qualities of the Tathāgata.
Encircled by his many nāga kindred,
He recited many praises of the Guide. {67}
Similarly, the nāga kings Nanda and Upananda—
Similarly, also, Takṣaka and Kṛṣṇagautama—
Came there gazing upon the Jina
And bowed down to the Sugata’s feet. {68}
The nāga king Elapatra
Came weeping, encircled by a hundred nāgas.
He remembered the supreme sage Jina Kāśyapa
And saw what an unfavorable rebirth he himself had obtained. {69}
“Alas! I had doubts in the past.
In the past I cut down an elapatra[484] bush,[485]
And therefore I obtained this unfavorable rebirth.
It is not easy to know the Dharma of the Jina. {70}
“I forsake this rebirth into a nāgī’s womb,
And this birth in an extremely detestable body.
I will realize the Dharma, the state of peace,
That the best of men realized in the Bodhimaṇḍa.” {71}
Sāgara, the nāga cakravartin king,
Accompanied by an entourage of thirty million nāgas,
And the majestic Varuṇa, holding necklaces of jewels,
Came in order to make offerings to the Bhagavān.[486] {72}
The yakṣa of Rājagṛha who caught
While he was in the sky
The rock thrown at the Buddha
Was respectfully present before the Sugata. {73}
The entire domain of the king of Alakavatī[487]
Became empty, with no yakṣa remaining there.
They had all promised each other
To come and see the Lord of the World. {74}
In the same way, Kharakarṇa and Sūciromā,
The terrifying yakṣas of the forests,
And the yakṣa Gardabhaka, who lives in the snow mountains,
Had come into the presence of the self-arisen Jina.[488] {75}
Indraketu, Vikaṭa, and Surūpa,
Bakula, Pañcika, and Śākyavardhana,[489]
And a thousand other yakṣa lords F.38.b
Came holding censers of incense.[490] {76}
Many with ugly, misshapen bodies,
Many kinds of bodies, destitute of adornment,
In their hundreds of thousands
Came into his presence, holding yakṣa flowers. {77}
Gautama, Rishi Bṛhaspati, and Jahnu,
Kauśika, Kāśyapa, and Markandeya,
Viśvāmitra, Parāśara, and Gargā,
They all came to pay homage to the Buddha. {i}
And similarly, there were the joyous and enraptured Nārada,
And the rishis Vyāsa, Kutsa, and Aṅgiras,
And Manu, Bhṛgu, Vātsyāyana, and Vaśiṣṭha,
Who came to pay homage to the Buddha. {ii}
Jaimini, Vāmana,[491] and Vaiśampāyana,
Jamadagni and supreme rishi Vālmīki,
Durvāsa, and also Cyavana
Came to the supreme city to see the Guide. {iii}
When they saw the Rishi, the rishis were overjoyed
And they bowed down to the feet of the king of sages.
They paid homage to the lamp of the world and praised him,
Standing before the Hero with palms placed together. {iv}
The entire multitude of rishis in the world
Came in order to see the Lord of men.
When they saw him they made vast offerings
And stood before him with palms placed together. {v}
The garuḍas that live at the ocean’s shore
Came, having transformed into the appearance of brahmins.
Holding various beautiful kinds of crowns
And positioned in the sky, they paid homage to the Sugata. {78}
All of the devas that dwell in Jambudvīpa,
Whether in hundreds of towns or in its forests,
And all the goddesses of the towns
Came and made offerings to the Lord. {79}
The countless devas of the forests
And all the mountain devas came,
And also the countless devas of rivers[492]
Arrived to make offerings to the Guide. {80}
The hundreds of devas of desert wildernesses,
All the devas of mountain peaks,
The devas of lakes, springs, and ponds,
And the devas of the ocean came into the Buddha’s presence. {81}
Assemblies of devas, asuras, and nāgas,
Yakṣas, kinnaras, mahoragas, and garuḍas, F.39.a
And similarly, a multitude of pretas and pūtanas
Showed their respect to the supreme being. {82}
They made offerings to the supreme Jina
When the Guide entered the supreme city.
The kings of the devas, asuras, nāgas, and yakṣas
Could not get their fill of looking at him. {83}
In previous existences the Lord of the World
Had made perfect offerings to the jinas of the past.
This was the ripened result of that merit.
The beings could not stop looking at the Lord of humans. {84}
When the Jina shone light through the buddha realm,
Meru, and similarly Sumeru and Cakravāla
The Himagiri and Gandhamādana
Could not obscure the Jina’s light. {85}
All of the oceans in this buddha realm
At that time all became land,
And the entirety of this buddha realm
Became equally scattered with flowers. {86}
Countless hundreds of thousands of light rays
Came from the soles of the King of Dharma’s feet.
All the beings in the hells were cooled
And, freed from suffering, experienced happiness. {87}
The one with the ten strengths taught the Dharma
So that the sight of devas and humans was purified.
Countless hundreds of thousands of beings
All gained certainty in the Buddha’s wisdom. {88}
The numerous miracles manifested by the Sugata
Could not easily be described in ten million eons.
When the Guide entered the supreme city
All beings rejoiced at the Jina, the Sugata.[493] {89}
These qualities of the Sugata are immeasurable.
They are the supreme human’s perfection of qualities.
They have transcended all unique qualities.
Bow your heads to the realm of the Buddha’s merit! {90}
Conclusion of the tenth chapter, “The Entry into the City.”

Chapter 11

Becoming a Keeper of the Sūtra

The Bhagavān came to the street on which was the home of the youth Candraprabha, and soon arrived at the home of the youth Candraprabha. Once he had arrived, he sat on the seat prepared for him. The saṅgha of bodhisattvas and the saṅgha of bhikṣus also sat on the appropriate seats that had been arranged for each of them.

Then the youth Candraprabha, knowing that the Bhagavān, the saṅgha of bodhisattvas, and the saṅgha of bhikṣus were seated, F.39.b himself presented and served a series of great offerings: numerous excellent foods, with hundreds of flavors to savor as they chewed, licked, sucked, and drank.

When he saw that the Bhagavān had concluded his meal, which was signaled by his setting down his alms bowl,[494] he offered for the Bhagavān’s body two lengths of cloth[495] of the value of a trillion silver coins,[496] and also to each of the bodhisattvas, and he offered three dharma robes to each one in the saṅgha of bhikṣus.

Then the youth Candraprabha rose from his seat, removed his robe from one shoulder and, casting toward the Bhagavān a divine coral tree flower, he made offerings and uttered praises. Then, his palms placed together, he bowed toward the Bhagavān and praised him with these appropriate verses:[497]

“You are unborn and unceasing;
Without a body, inconceivable,
You have the perfect body and primary signs.
I pay homage to you who are an ocean of qualities. {i}
“You are a hero who has been born from wisdom.
You possess the power of methods and strengths.
You are a buddha who is the same as space.
I pay homage to you who have perfected patience. {ii}
“Your conduct is to remain in constant mindfulness.
The Tathāgata’s bed is joy and happiness.
Your drink is samādhi and your food is supreme dhyāna.
I pay homage to you who reside in the solitude of emptiness. {iii}
“O Inconceivable Buddha,
The Guide for the whole world!
When the beings of this world make offerings to you
They advance toward supreme nirvāṇa.” {iv}

Thus did he praise the one unequaled Lord, and then the youth said, with a joyous mind, “Unequaled Buddha, who has an inconceivable body, you have consumed the meal. Through this may I also become a buddha like you, the god of gods!” F.40.a

In that way, therefore, the youth Candraprabha provided divine food with a hundred flavors to the Bhagavān. He offered divine coral tree flowers to the Bhagavān, and praised him with appropriate verses.

Now, placing his palms together in homage toward the Bhagavān, in his mind he addressed him with these verses:

“Whatever the wise bodhisattvas do,
They always follow the nature of the Dharma.
I pray to the Guide to teach what actions are performed
When those with wisdom engage in actions. {1}
“In what way, Guide, are past lives remembered?
In what way is rebirth in a womb avoided?
In what way does the community not become divided?
In what way does one gain endless eloquence? {2}
“You know the activities of all beings.
You have the knowledge of all phenomena.
You are the invincible, supreme human.
I have asked my questions; give me your elucidation. {3}
“You know that nonexistence is the nature of phenomena;
You put into words that which cannot be described.
Just as a lion overpowers all jackals,[498]
That is how the Buddha overpowers the tīrthikas. {4}
“You know the conduct of all beings.
You have the wisdom of all phenomena.
You have wisdom without attachment, and activity that is pure.
Lord of the Dharma, elucidate those for me. {5}
“You know the past and also the future.
You also know what is happening in the present.
You have unimpeded knowledge of the three times.
Therefore I have asked you my questions, lion of the Śākyas. {6}
“You, Dharma king, know the true nature
That is the nature of the jinas of the three times.
You are skilled in the nature of phenomena, self-arisen one.
Therefore, ocean of wisdom, I have asked you my questions. {7}
“You do not have any quality of error.
Therefore you have a mind of complete elimination—
You have eliminated the fetters and the rigidity of ignorance.
Lord of humans, teach me the conduct of a bodhisattva. {8}
“You, Jina, know the characteristics of phenomena.
Teach me the characteristics of phenomena. F.40.b
When I have understood those characteristics of phenomena
I shall practice the conduct of enlightenment that has those characteristics. {9}
“The conduct of beings is infinitely different.
How do they engage in practicing their conduct?
Teach to me how conduct is engaged in
So that from your words, I may know the conduct of beings. {10}
“Different characteristics are characteristic of the nature of phenomena.
Their essence[499] is empty and their nature[500] is pure.
I pray that you teach me the way of phenomena
That a bodhisattva directly perceives. {11}
“In this there is the perfect knowledge of all phenomena.
There is skill in all the words of the teaching.
There is no doubt; all doubt and uncertainty have been cut through.
Teach me the enlightenment of buddhahood.” {12}

The Bhagavān, knowing the thoughts that were in the mind of the youth Candraprabha, said to him, “Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas will attain all these qualities, and they will quickly attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, if they possess just one quality. What is that one quality? Young man, it is when the bodhisattva mahāsattvas know the nature of all phenomena.

“Young man, how do bodhisattva mahāsattvas know the nature of all phenomena? Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas know that all phenomena are nameless; they have no names. They know that all phenomena have no vocalization, they have no expression in speech, they have no letters, they have no birth, they have no cessation, they have no characteristics of cause, they have no characteristics of conditions,[501] they are devoid of characteristics, they have the one characteristic of having no characteristics, they are devoid of attributes, they cannot be conceived of, they have no thought, and they have no mentality.”

Then the Bhagavān taught this in the following verses:

“The single teaching on phenomena
Is that phenomena have no characteristics.
That is the teaching of supreme wisdom
From having true, correct knowledge. {13} F.41.a
“The bodhisattvas who know
That teaching on phenomena
Will not cease from elucidation[502]
Even though they teach ten million sūtras. {14}
“Through the blessing of the Guide
The ultimate truth is known.
When the ultimate is known
There is nothing to be taught. {15}
“Through one thing, everything is known.
Through one thing, everything is seen.
However much they teach
They will not become proud. {16}
“With their minds they have ascertained
The selflessness of all phenomena,
And as they are trained in teaching using terms,
They speak with words that are correct. {17}
“Whatever sound they hear,
They know its past.[503]
Knowing the past[504] of that sound
They are not captivated[505] by that sound. {18}
“Just like the past[506] of a sound,
So are the characteristics of phenomena.
Knowing phenomena to be like that
They will not be reborn in a womb. {19}
“They know that all phenomena are unborn
And that they have no origin.
Knowing this teaching on birth[507]
They always remember their previous lives. {20}
“When they remember those lives
They perform their actions.
For those who perform those actions
Their community of followers remains united. {21}
“The bodhisattvas who know
The emptiness of phenomena
Will never be without that knowledge.
It is the summit of nothingness. {22}
“When the foolish think about
The summit of nothingness
They continue in saṃsāra
For millions of eons. {23}
“If they are able to understand it
Just as the Guide knows it,
Then they will have no suffering
And they will not go to the lower realms. {24}
“All ordinary individuals
Are ignorant of this nature.
They reject this kind of Dharma
That brings the cessation of suffering.[508] {25}
“Phenomena are perceived when
No phenomena can be found.
Recognize that perception
When that perception occurs. {26}
“The foolish conceptualize
Through consciousness and perception.
The wise do not become ignorant
In conceiving of phenomena. {27} F.41.b
“The unpolluted phenomena of emptiness
Are within the field of experience of the bodhisattvas.[509]
This level of those who are wise
Is not within the field of experience of the foolish. {28}
“This level of the bodhisattvas
Is that of bodhisattva practice.
It is the adornment of the Buddha’s Dharma.
It is the peace and emptiness that has been taught. {29}
“When the bodhisattvas
Eliminate their propensities
They remain in the family of the buddhas
And are not captured by form. {30}
“All phenomena are without location;
They have no location that can be known.
For the one who knows this about their location,
Enlightenment is not difficult to attain. {31}
“Generosity, conduct, learning, and patience,
And relying upon a good friend:[510]
Those who know these activities
Will quickly attain enlightenment. {32}
“Devas, nāgas, yakṣas, and asuras,
Mahoragas and gandharvas, will always honor them.
All the kings of the garuḍas, kinnaras,
And rākṣasas [511] will make offerings to them. {33}
“Millions of buddhas will recite their praises
Continuously for many millions of eons.
It is not possible to reach the end
Of such praise for one who teaches this Dharma. {34}
“The bodhisattvas who know emptiness
Benefit many millions of beings.
They kindly teach the Dharma to assemblies[512]
And those who hear it are delighted and respectful.{35}
“They gain vast knowledge
So that they see the supreme humans.
They see the beautiful display of their realms
And the lords of the worlds teach them the Dharma.[513] {36}
“Know that all phenomena are like illusions;
Know that just as space is naturally empty,
Phenomena are also naturally like that.
In that way there will be no attachment in any kind of activity. {37}
“With unimpeded wisdom, benefiting others,
Performing supreme bodhisattva conduct in the world,
With wisdom examining all phenomena,
They send emanations to other realms. {38}
“Those emanations accomplish buddha activities.
They go naturally, just as is their nature.
The beings who remain in the aspiration to enlightenment F.42.a
Will attain whatever goals they wish for. {39}
“Those who are steadfastly within the buddha family
Will always honor the buddhas.
Their bodies will shine brightly,
Adorned by the thirty-two excellent signs. {40}
“They will attain the conduct that is within the supreme samādhi
And an endless multitude of other benefits.
They will always have great, unshakable strength
And a majesty that outshines that of kings. {41}
“The wise who practice the Buddha’s Dharma
Will have an excellent appearance and great beauty.
Their merit and majesty and splendor will increase.
Their majesty will outshine even that of the devas. {42}
“Those who steadfastly remain in the aspiration to enlightenment
Will always be friends to all beings.
There will never be any darkness
In their teaching of the enlightenment of buddhahood. {43}
“The nature of phenomena is like that of space,
Inexpressible, beyond speech and words.
Those who know that supreme nature
Will have an unceasing confidence in teaching. {44}
“Even though they teach a hundred thousand sūtras,
They know the finest details of the past.
The wise will always have unimpeded speech,
Knowing the subtlety of the nature of phenomena. {45}
“They will be skilled[514] in hundreds of ways.
They will have mastered the many kinds of words and definitions.
They have certainty in the ripening[515] of actions and results.
They become distinctively preeminent in that way. {46}
“They will possess unimpaired power.
They are great wise ones, the heirs of those with the ten strengths.
Knowing the subtle nature of phenomena,
They will always have a completely pure memory.[516] {47}
“Because they know the subtle nature of phenomena,
They will never hear an unpleasant sound.
They always hear pleasant and melodious sounds
And their words are always pleasant. {48}
“Because they know the very subtle nature of phenomena,
They have memory, understanding, wisdom, and realization.
Similarly, their minds are clear and unpolluted
And they teach many hundreds of sūtras. {49}
“They are learned in the categories of letters and words.
They know many different kinds of sounds,
And they are skilled in meanings and letters. F.42.b
They have these qualities through knowing the nature of phenomena. {50}
“Because they know the subtle nature of phenomena
They are always attractive and charming
To devas, humans, nāgas,[517] and rākṣasas,
Asuras, mahoragas, and kinnaras. {51}
“Because they know the subtle nature of phenomena
They never perceive as frightening
The extremely terrible and flesh-devouring
Crowds of spirits, pretas, and rākṣasas. {52}
“Those who hear the vast[518] teaching of the wise
Experience vast joy and their hairs stand on end.
They develop a vast attraction to the buddhas,
And gain a vast, inconceivable benefit.[519] {53}
“Even by speaking for many thousands of eons
It is not possible to describe the power of the merit
That comes from memorizing this Dharma treasure of the sugatas.
It is immeasurable, infinite, and unquantifiable. {54}
“The jinas to whom offerings have been made in the past,
The countless buddhas of the future,
And the buddhas who are present in the ten directions,
Are so by having memorized this supreme samādhi of peace. {55}
“If a person who wishes for merit,
With immeasurable affection for them
Serves compassionate ones with the ten strengths
For countless endless millions of eons, {56}
“And if a second person who wishes for merit
Memorizes, during future times,
One verse from this way of the ultimate truth,
Then the previous person’s merit will not even be a fraction of that. {57}
“This will be the supreme offering to the buddhas.
During the future dreadful times
Hearing one of these four-line verses
And memorizing it will be an offering to all the buddhas. {58}
“They will always obtain the best provisions.
They will always eat the best alms of the land.[520]
As the best senior heirs of the one with ten strengths,
They will for a long time make offerings to many jinas. {59}
“They will also see myself here on Vulture Peak Mountain.
And I, in buddha wisdom, will thus prophesy to them.
Also, after my passing away, there will be Maitreya,[521]
Who at that time will also prophesy to them. {60}
“Similarly, Buddha Amitāyus also
Has taught many other kinds of benefits:
‘All will enter my Sukhāvatī,
And go to Abhirati and see Buddha Akṣobhya.’[522] {61} F.43.a
“For countless hundreds of thousands of eons
They will never have the fear of downfalls.
In this supreme practice of bodhisattva conduct
They will always experience happiness. {62}
“In that way it has been taught that this,
Which is preeminent, has the most excellent merit.
May I learn every single word,
And in future times be a keeper of this sūtra.”[523] {63}
Conclusion of the eleventh chapter, “Becoming a Keeper of the Sūtra.”

Chapter 12

The Training According to the Samādhi

“Young man, those are the qualities and benefits that bodhisattvas who know the nature of all phenomena will have. They will describe the true, excellent qualities of the tathāgatas. They will not falsely say that which is untrue about the tathāgatas. Why is that? It is because they know perfectly that nature, which is the nature through which a tathāgata comes to be.[524] They know the infinite qualities of a buddha. Why is that? Young man, the qualities of a buddha are infinite, inconceivable, beyond thought. They cannot be conceived or measured. Why is that? The mind, young man, is taught to be without a nature of its own,[525] to be without form.[526] Young man, that nature of the mind is also the nature of the qualities of a buddha. That nature of the qualities of a buddha is also the nature of the tathāgatas, and that is the nature of all phenomena.

“Young man, the bodhisattva mahāsattvas who know correctly that teaching on the nature of all the qualities are, young man, called bodhisattva mahāsattvas with profound comprehension. They are skilled in emancipation. They know perfectly emancipation from the three realms. They have perfect knowledge, do not teach that which is erroneous, and do not say that which is anything other than true.F.43.b Their conduct is in line with what they teach. They have no attachment to the three realms. They have transcended the three realms. They have transcended the level of desire, the level of form, the level of formlessness, the level of the kleśas, the level of names, and the level of language. They are skilled in the way of letters and words. They know freedom from letters.[527] They have mastered the inexpressible Dharma. They know letters. They are skilled in letters. They are skilled in the knowledge of the categories of letters and words. They are skilled in the knowledge of the detailed categories of letters and words. They are skilled in the knowledge of the categories of all the words[528] of the Dharma. They are skilled in the knowledge of the detailed categories of all the words[529] of the Dharma.

They are skilled in the knowledge[530] of the presentation of all the Dharma. They are endowed with the certainty of understanding, so that all the evil māras and all the devas in their entourages cannot overcome them.”

At that time, when this Dharma teaching was given, ninety-eight times a hundred thousand million devas and human beings who had created the karma in previous lifetimes,[531] had accumulated[532] a trillion retentions,[533] were unobscured, and had insight into the Dharma, all attained patience.[534] The Bhagavān prophesied to them all that after four million, eight hundred thousand countless eons they would attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood. He prophesied to each of them their separate names, their identical lifespans, and the individual buddha realms where they would attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood.

It was said:

“The wise bodhisattvas who seek to attain
The highest, supreme enlightenment,
Who are skilled in meaning and the Dharma,
Practice the nature of phenomena. {1}
“They say nothing that is untrue
About the unique qualities of the buddhas.
The heroes, free of all doubt,
Know the nature of the jinas. {2}
“They know that all phenomena have but a single meaning,
And that is solely emptiness.
They do not have different meanings.
They become adept in that single meaning. {3}
“The wise know that they are without thought,
Are devoid of thought, and that there is no object. F.44.a
They have eliminated without remainder
Every conception of cessation and noncessation. {4}
“They do not see the one with ten strengths as form,
But see the lion of men as the dharmakāya.
Neither do they conceive of attributes
Because they have eliminated all error. {5}
“The qualities are inconceivable, beyond thought.
They have the nature of complete peace.
With this knowledge they thus see
The buddhas as the supreme among humans. {6}
“Just as they know their own conceptions to be,
Thus they direct their understanding of everything.
All phenomena have that nature,
Which is as completely pure as space.[535] {7}
“Nothing arises to their conceptual mind.
They know emancipation[536] from all phenomena.
They are liberated from the three realms
And they have no aspiration for them.[537] {8}
“They are those who see correctly and do not say
Anything to the contrary or any untrue words.
All the words that they speak
Come forth through the power of the jinas. {9}
“They transcend the level of desire,
And the levels of kleśas, form, and formlessness.
Their minds have no attachment to phenomena.
They practice with joy, benefiting beings. {10}
“They have transcended the level of words;
Their knowledge of language is obtained from its nature.
For however long they speak
They know those words have no basis. {11}
“There is no activity of conceptualization;
Incorrect views have completely ceased.
Their understanding is completely assured.
It has a stability like that of space. {12}
“Even though quintillions of māras
Come to disturb their mind,
They overcome all the māras
And do not fall under their power. {13}
“They have rejected the net of the māras.
They have pure, untroubled conduct.
They aspire to the bliss of dhyāna
And know the world to be empty. {14}
“Even though it is said the world is an aggregate,
They know it to be empty,
And that all phenomena are like space,
Without birth and without cessation. {15}
“They have forsaken the self, but not the conduct[538]
Or listening to the teaching of the one with ten strengths.[539]F.44.b
They have attained perfect conduct
And will be reborn wherever they pray to be. {16}
“They go to the buddha realms.
They see many millions of buddhas.
They have no desire for the deva realms
And they do not pray to be there. {17}
“While they are practicing the Dharma,
Their diligence does not waver for an instant.
They are highly praised by
The buddhas in the ten directions. {18}
“Therefore, young man, when you have received
This Dharma teaching of the samādhi,
Rejecting the profits of the intellect,
Teach this Dharma to the people. {19}
“One who wishes for the numerous qualities
Possessed by the self-arisen buddha
Should train in this goodness
And become a buddha with the ten strengths.” {20}
Conclusion of the twelfth chapter, “The Training According to the Samādhi.”

Chapter 13

The Teaching of the Samādhi

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should be skilled in teaching this samādhi.

“Young man, what is the teaching of this samādhi? It is the true nature of all phenomena; it is equality; it is the absence of inequality; it is devoid of notions; it is devoid of concepts; it is devoid of creation; it is devoid of arising; it is devoid of production; it is devoid of cessation; it is the termination of notions, concepts, and assumptions; it is devoid of an object for the mind; it is devoid of a focus of the mind;[540] it is the termination of designations; it is the termination of concepts from analysis; it is the termination of desire, anger, and ignorance; it is without a limited or limitless focus of the mind; it is the termination of any focus of the mind; it is the knowledge of the nature of the skandhas, dhātus, and āyatanas; it is the state of accomplishing the field of activity that is the performance of the conduct of mindfulness, understanding, comprehension, conscience, and stability; it is the level of freedom from corruptions;[541] it is the level of peace; it is the termination of all conceptual elaboration; it is the training of all bodhisattvas; it is the field of activity of all tathāgatas; F.45.a and it is the perfection of all good qualities.

“Young man, that is what the teaching of samādhi is said to be. Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who are established in this teaching of samādhi become inseparable from samādhi—their minds become free of delusion, they become endowed with great compassion, and they accomplish the benefit of countless beings.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān spoke these verses:

“The level of unequaled samādhi[542]
Is peaceful, subtle, and difficult to see.
All conceptions have been eliminated.
Therefore it is called samādhi. {1}
“There are no notions, there are no concepts,
There is nothing to be grasped, there is nothing to be shown,
And there is no object for the mind.
Therefore it is called samādhi. {2}
“When in a state of meditation
There is no pride concerning any phenomenon.
That very absence of pride—
That is what is called samādhi. {3}
“There does not exist[543] even an atom of phenomena.
That which is called ‘an atom’ does not exist.
There are no phenomena as objects for the mind.
Therefore it is called samādhi. {4}
“ ‘The mind has no object’
Is also itself a concept.
When there are no concepts of phenomena,
Then that is known as samādhi. {5}
“A word indicates a meaning.
That word is not a thing.
A word is like an echo,
Like the space of the sky. {6}
“These phenomena are not present;
There is no presence to be perceived.
The nonpresence is through the word ‘presence.’
Its nature is that there is nothing to be found. {7}
“One says ‘going’ and ‘passing away,’
But that ‘going’ does not exist.
Through the word ‘going’ there is the absence of going.
That is given the name samādhi. {8}
“Saying ‘I am not meditating’ is called pride.[544]
‘I am meditating’ is a second kind of pride.[545]
Practicing for enlightenment without pride,[546]
And attaining[547] the absence of pride is the highest enlightenment.[548] {9}
“This unequaled equality is the level of peace;[549]
It is śamatha and vipaśyanā,[550] devoid of attributes.
Relying upon this peace, the level of buddhahood,
Is engaging in the meditation[551] of samādhi. {10}
“It is not possible through words to enter
Into the understanding of the meaning. F.45.b
When all sounds and words are abandoned
There will be meditation without pride. {11}
“When there is the fire of the eon’s end in this world
That fire does not burn the supreme mountain in its center,
Just like space that has never been burned in the past,
Even though the fire burns for many hundreds of eons.[552] {12}
“The bodhisattvas who remain engaged
In this samādhi as it has been taught,
And know that phenomena are the same as space,
Will also not be burned by fire.[553] {13}
“If the buddha realm were burning
And in this samādhi they prayed
For the burning to completely cease,
Though the earth was destroyed it would be unchanged. {14}
“They will have infinite miraculous powers.
They will travel through the air unimpeded.
The bodhisattvas will have these qualities
By remaining in samādhi just as they have been taught. {15}
“Though one is born and though one dies,
There is no birth and there is no death.
For the one who understands that
This samādhi will not be difficult to attain. {16}
“The Lord of the World has taught
That there is no death and there is no birth.
Just as the Lord of the World knew that,
You should also know it through this samādhi. {17}
“Unstained by the world,
They have no attachment to worldly phenomena.
With a body free of impediment
They go to the buddha realms. {18}
“They constantly see in those realms
The perfect buddhas, the guides of the world.
They listen there to the Dharma
That is taught in the realms of the buddhas.[554] {19}
“They will never be in ignorance.
They will teach the essence of phenomena.
They always know the way of phenomena,
Which is composed[555] of the essence of phenomena. {20}
“Even though they teach for ten million eons,
Their confidence in speech will not decline.
They emanate many other bodhisattvas
Who have wisdom. {21}
“The emanated bodhisattvas
Travel from realm to realm.
They are seated, cross-legged,
Upon lotuses that have a thousand petals. {22}
“They teach the enlightenment of buddhahood,
Wonderful dhāraṇīs and sūtras, F.46.a
And ten million other sūtras,
While meditating peacefully in samādhi. {23}
“They establish in irreversibility
Countless multitudes of beings,
And teach the enlightenment of buddhahood
Without their confidence in speech ever declining. {24}
“They go to a pinnacled hall
That is adorned with jewels
And scatter aromatic
Flowers upon the guides. {25}
“They also sprinkle scented
Powders upon the guides.
They all make vast offerings
In order to attain enlightenment. {26}
“Those countless qualities
Are the refuge of the bodhisattvas.
When they are free of kleśas
They attain those miraculous powers. {27}
“Because the kleśas are not created
They are clear, pure, and bright.
The field of activity of the bodhisattvas
Is noncomposite and inviolate. {28}
“They have perfect peace, complete peace;
They have no kleśas, and they have no misery.[556]
They have no conceptualization, are free of conceptualization,
And have transcended conceptualization. {29}
“This characteristic of phenomena
Is beyond the scope of words.[557]
It is difficult[558] to know through language[559]
And therefore it is called samādhi. {30}
“It is unending; it is complete peace;
It is effortless, and it cannot be shown.
The field of activity of all the buddhas
Is the completely pure summit of the truth. {31}
“The training of all the buddhas
Is in the nature of all phenomena.
The perfect buddhas, having trained in it,
Have reached the perfection of qualities.[560] {32}
“Without any concepts of the past,
Of this side and the further side,
In that way all those buddhas
Have reached the perfection[561] of qualities. {33}
“Knowing the nature of phenomena
As having no coming or going,
They have reached the perfection
That is nonconceptual and effortless.” {34}
Conclusion of the thirteenth chapter, “The Teaching of the Samādhi.” B5

Chapter 14

The Buddha’s Smile

Then the youth Candraprabha rose from his seat, removed his robe from one shoulder, and, kneeling on his right knee, F.46.b with palms placed together he bowed toward the Bhagavān and said to him,[562] “Bhagavān, it is marvelous that the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha has taught the equality that is the nature of all phenomena, which is the samādhi that all bodhisattvas train in.

“Bhagavān, it was thus, in this training, that the Bhagavān trained for a long time, and accomplished the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood. Bhagavān, that gives me confidence to speak.[563] Sugata, it gives me confidence to speak.”

The Bhagavān said, “Young man, if you think the time has come, be confident to speak.”

Since the Bhagavān had granted the youth Candraprabha this opportunity, Candraprabha spoke the following verses of praise directly to the Bhagavān.

“You saw beings tormented by suffering,[564]
Constantly overpowered by desire and anger,
And developed the aspiration to attain enlightenment:
‘May I become a buddha who liberates beings!’ {1}
“Hero,[565] for many millions of eons, constantly,
You practiced generosity, self-restraint and self-control,
Patience, correct conduct, and similarly diligence,
And your acts of generosity were vast and infinite. {2}
“Without ever any sadness in your mind
You gave away your legs, arms, and even your life,
And similarly, without attachment you gave away
Gold, silver, sons, wives, and your kingdom. {3}
“Your conduct was stainless and pure.
You made a gift of yourself without ruining your conduct.
You controlled well your body, speech, and mind.
Sugata who has a self-restrained mind, I pay homage to you. {4}
“Delighting in patience, residing on the path of patience,
Even though your body was cut into pieces you were not angered;[566]
Through your meditation on love, milk flowed from you.
Marvelous Sugata, I pay homage to you. {5}
“You possess the strength of the ten strengths.
With wisdom free of attachment you know all phenomena. F.47.a
With compassion, Lord of Dharma, you benefit the world.
Through your kindness you wish to benefit beings. {6}
“You know emptiness and that there are no such beings,
And likewise you see that the world’s beings have lost that path.
You have realized that the nature of phenomena is selfless
And that though you bring beings to liberation, there is no such liberation. {7}
“With discrimination you reject all carelessness.
You have conquered the infinite, powerful māras.
Enlightened at buddhahood, you have vast, infinite wisdom.
You teach the supreme Dharma of completely pure peace. {8}
“The sky with its moon and the stars may fall,
The earth with its mountains and towns may be destroyed,
The element of space may change into something else,
But you will never speak an untrue word. {9}
“You have seen the suffering of beings
Who take joy in the perception of objects.
You teach the profound peace, emptiness,
In which there is no perception of objects. {10}
“Great hero, you trained
For countless millions of eons
In the training of nonperception,
And so you are free of error. {11}
“Just as you have trained in the Dharma,
In that way you teach the Dharma.
Yours is not the level of foolish beings,
And neither is it the level of all the tīrthikas. {12}
“Those who have the conception of a self,
They are unwise beings who are in error.
You know that phenomena have no self,
And so you are free of any error. {13}
“You speak the truth, great hero;
You are established in the true Dharma.
Lord, you remain within truth, within veracity,
And you speak words that are true. {14}
“Your conduct has been true,
Just as you have prayed for.
You have the consequence of that true conduct
And you speak words that are true. {15}
“You have perfected true conduct.
You have trained in the summit of truth.
You have truly practiced with a true motivation.
I pay homage to you who have true wisdom. {16}
“There is no equal to your wisdom.
Your words of wisdom illuminate.
You have attained unique wisdom.
I pay homage to you who speak words of wisdom. {17}
“You have meditated on kindness
And become a friend to all beings. F.47.b
You are as unshakable as Sumeru.
You are completely stable and unwavering. {18}
“Teacher, your following is vast.
You have attracted these followers.
Sugata who has profound wisdom,
Make your voice resound within this assembly. {19}
“The voice of the Buddha is a lion’s roar.
You walk with the gait of a lion.
You defeat all the tīrthikas
Like a lion defeats jackals. {20}
“Hero who subdues the unsubdued,
The unsubdued are subdued by you.
They become friends who are reliable,
Inseparable, and pleasant to be with. {21}
“You see the beings who are suffering
Because they maintain the view of a self.[567]
You teach the Dharma of no-self
In which there is neither like nor dislike. {22}
“The foolish who are untrained
Take up the wrong paths.
You show them the path
That the guides have followed. {23}
“Whoever holds to the concept of a self,
They will remain in suffering.
They do not know selflessness,
Within which there is no suffering. {24}
“You teach the Dharma with words that are without error.
Lord of the World, you make no error.
You are one who speaks words that are never incorrect.
I pay homage to you, who bring freedom from suffering. {25}
“In the sky there are many quintillions
Of devas, nāgas, and yakṣas.
They all feel joy in the Guide
When they hear the meaningful words of the Bhagavān. {26}
“Your words are mild, gentle, and pleasing,
Timely, melodious, appropriate, and beloved.
You have the countless qualities of speech
That benefit and bring liberation to many beings. {27}
“Countless hundreds of thousands of musical instruments
Are all played melodiously and simultaneously,
But the Sugata with one word eclipses them all
With his unique, divine, beloved voice.[568] {28}
“Avadavats[569] and flocks of birds[570] with beautiful songs,
With their beautiful songs that are pleasing to everyone—
All of the songs of these many flocks of birds[571]
Cannot equal a fraction of the Buddha’s speech. {29} F.48.a
“Deva maidens with beautiful voices
And with melodious music and songs,
And the sound of lutes, paṭaha[572] drums, bherī drums,[573] and conches,
Cannot equal a fraction of the Buddha’s speech.[574] {i}
“The songs of cuckoos, parrots, and mynas,
Of cranes, peacocks, and kinnaras—
All these beautiful, melodious sounds
Cannot equal a fraction of the Buddha’s speech.[575] {30}
“Delightful, melodious, beautiful, enjoyable,
Exquisite, peaceful voices singing praises—
All such voices singing simultaneously
Are not as delightful as the Tathāgata’s perfect speech. {31}
“The light from all luminous beings,
From devas,[576] humans, kings, and asuras,[577]
And from all beings in the three existences,
Are eclipsed by one light ray from the Sugata. {32}
“The Sugata’s body is like a blossomed flower
With the various adornments of all the special signs.
A pure and clear accomplishment of hundreds of merits,
The body of the Jina shines on the entire world. {33}
“The sound of conches and of paṇavas,[578]
And the sound of bherī drums[579] and kimpalas[580]—
All those beautiful and delightful sounds
Cannot equal a hundredth of the Buddha’s voice. {34}
“The sounds of quintillions of musical instruments,
Clear and beautiful voices like those of the devas,[581]
And the delightful voices of male and female devas[582]
Cannot equal a hundredth of the Buddha’s voice.[583] {35}
“Flocks of a multitude of birds—cranes, peacocks,
Shelducks, cuckoos, geese, and snipe—
May simultaneously sing their songs, but they
Cannot equal a hundredth of the Buddha’s voice.[584] {36}
“The voices of nāgas, yakṣas, asuras, mahoragas,
Devendra,[585] Brahmā, and the lords of the devas—
All the lovely and beautiful voices in the three existences
Cannot equal a hundredth of the Buddha’s voice. {37}
“The light of Brahmā and lords of the devas, 117
The light of the sun and precious jewels,
The many different kinds of light—
All those lights are eclipsed by the brilliance of the Jina’s light.[586] {38}
“Your body, speech, and mind are perfectly pure.
The purity of your wisdom is unstained by the three existences. F.48.b
Lord of men, you have the wealth of qualities, precious qualities.
Self-arisen one, through all your qualities, you are without equal.” {39}
In that way the youth spoke those words with great joy,
Praising the one with ten strengths, the speaker of truth.
He said, “By offering to the measureless,[587] unquantifiable Buddha
May I also become a buddha like Śākyamuni!” {40}
Knowing his perfect conduct, the Sugata,
The Lord of humans, the one with wisdom free of attachment, smiled.
Maitreya, the senior son of the one with ten strengths, asked him,
“For what reason did the Guide smile? {41}
“The earth has shaken in six ways.
The devas and nāgas in the sky are filled with joy.
They are gazing at the Buddha with great delight and happiness.
I pray to the unconquerable Sugata that you elucidate this to them. {42}
“You have a supreme being’s wisdom,
Which is not the level of the Bhagavān’s śrāvakas.
You who have pure wisdom beyond examples, wise one,
Tell[588] us the entire reason, Jina, why you smiled.[589] {43}
“You are the Śākya lion, possessor of the ten strengths, the Guide,
The chief of humans, the one who has reached the perfection of wisdom.[590]
You have eliminated intractable desire, anger, and ignorance.
To you who shine with intense light, I ask this question: {44}
“Seeking the supreme, highest enlightenment,
You, the Guide, practiced for millions of eons
As numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges.
For what reason did you show a smile? {45}
“Seeking the supreme, highest enlightenment,
You, the Teacher, gave away your arms and legs.
You gave away sons, wives, companions, and relations.
Sage, for what reason did you show a smile? {46}
“You gave away horses, elephants, and chariots,[591]
Slaves, jewels, silver, and pearls.[592]
When you practiced the sublime conduct
There were no jewels or wealth that you did not give away. {47}
“You have the supreme wisdom in the three existences.
You know the conduct of all beings. F.49.a
You are skilled in knowing their natures, minds, and aspirations.
For what reason did you smile? {48}
“Who made the offering to you, best of men?
For whom has vast merit been created?
Who has gained that excellent conduct?
Sage, for what reason did you smile? {49}
“The earth has shaken in six ways.
Millions of lotuses have appeared on the ground.[593]
They shine and have millions of excellent petals.
They are the color of gold, beautiful and delightful. {50}
“Present here are the heart sons of the Jina
Who show the greatest bodhisattva miracles.
Many[594] dharmabhāṇakas have gathered here.
Guide, I ask my question for their sake. {51}
“The sound of bherī drums,[595] conches, and gongs,[596]
Of quintillions of instruments has resounded.
That music was heard coming from the sky,
But compared to that the Sugata’s speech is inconceivable. {52}
“Many flocks of birds have gathered,
Cranes,[597] geese, avadavats,[598] and cuckoos.
They have sung their perfect, beautiful songs,
But they do not equal a fraction of the Buddha’s speech. {53}
“Who in the past with generosity, self-restraint, and self-control
Has served well for many millions of eons?
Who has made offerings to you, supreme among men?
For what reason did you smile? {54}
“Who in the past, having shown you the greatest veneration,
Asked you, supreme among men, the question,
‘How can I attain the enlightenment of buddhahood?’
For what reason did you smile? {55}
“Those with the ten strengths in the past,
The sugatas of the present and the future,
And you, supreme among men, know all.
Therefore for the benefit of beings I ask this question. {56}
“You know the thoughts in the minds of beings
And all beings’ infinite ways of conduct;
You know the aspirations that humans have.
Therefore I ask this question to you, supreme among men. {57}
“Those who are practicing the supreme conduct,
Who are adept in causes, reasons, and discipline,
They ask, ‘How does one attain the Buddha’s wisdom?’
Therefore, supreme human, I ask this question. {58}
“There are those who meditate on the field of experience of those with the ten strengths:
The subtle Dharma that is difficult to perceive, F.49.b
And emptiness and peace that is unequaled and inconceivable.
For their sake, Guide, I ask you this question. {59}
“Those who meditate on love and compassion
For all the countless beings in the world,
Without their having the concept of beings—
Supreme human, for their sake I ask this question. {60}
“Those who have inconceivable, unequaled wisdom,
They are never known to have any grasping.
They have reached the perfection of the mind’s field of activity.
Lord, it is for their sake that I ask this question. {61}
“You have reached the perfection of conduct and wisdom’s qualities.
You have unequaled knowledge of the three times.
You will never make an error.
For what reason did you smile? {62}
“Śāriputra, Aniruddha, and Kolita,
And the other śrāvakas of the Sugata,
Do not have that wisdom.
It is the unsurpassable field of activity of the buddhas. {63}
“You have reached the perfection of power over all phenomena.
You have ascended through the practice of the training.
Guide, you have developed compassion.
You who know the ultimate truth, release your voice! {64}
“You have had, in the past for many millions of eons,
The goal of being the ultimate refuge and protector,
And have inquired, supreme human, with just that intention;
Guide, tell us the result of that today. {65}
“Yakṣas, rākṣasas, kumbhāṇḍas, and guhyakas
Are gazing upon the supreme among humans.
They are all respectful, their palms together in homage,
In order to listen to the elucidation from the great being. {66}
“Many bodhisattvas with miraculous powers
Have come from millions of buddha realms.
These senior sons, born form the minds of the sugatas,
Are all respectfully present, their palms together in homage. {67}
“Gandhahasti with millions of bodhisattvas
Has come into your presence from the east,
From the famous world of Akṣobhya’s realm
For this question, Lion of the Śākyas, supreme human. {68}
“Avalokiteśvara and Mahā­sthāma­prāpta
Have come before you with millions of bodhisattvas
From the supreme realm of Sukhāvatī F.50.a
For this question, Lion of the Śākyas, supreme human. {69}
“In the past for many millions of eons
They have served countless sugatas
As numerous as the sand grains in all the oceans,
Seeking this supreme sublime wisdom. {70}
“Mañjughoṣa is present, his palms together in homage.
He has been praised and extolled by all the buddhas.
He has reached the perfection of all good qualities
And is renowned throughout the worlds in all directions. {71}
“They have practiced in millions of buddha realms.
It is very rare to see such beings.
They have the qualities of sons of the buddhas and excellent training,
And are all present, with their palms together respectfully in homage. {72}
“There is no one here other than worthy recipients.
That is what these wise ones[599] are like,
The holders of the Dharma treasures of all teachers.
Guide, release your gentle speech.[600] {73}
“The jinas, the guides, the supreme humans
Have never been seen to smile without a reason.
Grant us your supreme speech, which is like the beat of a drum.
What is the reason that we saw you smile? {74}
“The supreme beings resound like thunder,[601]
Geese, cuckoos, peacocks, and swans,[602]
And they emit the melodious music of the devas.
Liberator of beings, elucidate with your words. {75}
“You develop kindness, you increase joy,
You teach wisdom, you eliminate ignorance,
You realize the meaning, you expand wisdom,
And you have purified for quintillions of eons. {76}
“You have realized the nature of things with certainty,
You have taught the meaning in words that end suffering.
You have routed the teachings of all tīrthikas.
You meditate on emptiness, the absence of being, and the absence of a soul. {77}
“You are adorned by thousands of merits.
You have practiced with hundreds of thousands of buddhas,
Are praised by hundreds of thousands of devas,
And hundreds of thousands of Brahmās pay homage to you. {78}
“Yakṣas, rākṣasas, and kumbhāṇḍas have faith in you. F.50.b
You have liberated nāgas, mahoragas, and garuḍas.
You are constantly without any attachment.
Speak the words[603] that are the result of good actions. {79}
“All the jinas that have passed into nirvāṇa,
Those who will live in the future, and those now present,
You know them all without impediment.
Guide, you are sublime because of all your qualities. {80}
“This earth that supports beings, with its mountains
And oceans, has been shaken in six ways.
The devas have thrown down flowers from the sky.
There has arisen the beautiful aroma of the incense of the devas. {81}
“Desire, anger, and darkness of the mind have been completely eliminated.
Conduct has become completely pure and the mind has become completely pure.
There is delight in complete peace, emptiness, and the absence of attributes.
There is the sound of the lion’s roar, the sound of the compassionate ones. {82}
“You have the confidence of speech, and great renown.
You have perfected wisdom, the wisdom of the jinas.
Compassionate one, there is no one like you in this world.
Tell us, for what reason did you smile? {83}
“The songs of peacocks, cuckoos, and avadavats,
And likewise the beautiful song of the partridge,[604]
All those pleasant sounds simultaneously
Do not equal a fraction of the Sugata’s speech. {84}
“Bherī drums, mṛdaṅgas, and similarly paṇavas;
Conches, flutes, and similarly lutes:
The simultaneous sound of a thousand instruments
Does not equal a fraction of the Sugata’s speech. {85}
“The divine, sublime sound of thousands of instruments
And the beautiful songs of deva maidens,
The excellent songs that bring delightful sounds to the mind,
Do not equal a fraction of the Sugata’s speech. {86}
“With one sound you benefit the world
As it resounds to those with different aspirations,
Each person thinking, ‘The Jina is speaking to me.’
For what reason did you smile? {87}
“The music of the devas and the music of the nāgas,
And also the melodious music of the kinnaras,
Are never able to pacify the kleśas.
The Buddha’s speech always dispels the kleśas. {88}
“You create joy but not joy in desire.
You create love and not a mind of anger.
You create wisdom and not a mind of stupidity. F.51.a
The Buddha’s speech eliminates all stains. {89}
“The sound of your voice does not go beyond your followers.
It cuts through everyone’s hundreds of doubts.
It is never too quiet nor too loud.
The Sage’s voice teaches everyone equally and easily. {90}
“This earth with its mountains and forests may perish,
And so may the waters of the ocean.
The moon and the sun may fall to the earth,
But the Jina’s speech will never change. {91}
“Your voice has all the qualities of pure speech.
Your beautiful voice is a gentle lion’s roar.
Compassionate one, you have the voice of Brahmā.
For what reason did you smile? {92}
“You know the minds and conduct
Of all the beings in the world,
Those in the past, the future, and the present.
Tell us the reason why you smiled. {93}
“All of the jinas, the compassionate ones,
They who have reached the perfection of power and wisdom,
The jinas whose faces are like stainless moons,
Have never smiled without a reason. {94}
“If for millions of eons one were to describe your unequaled qualities,
Which are as numerous as the sands of the Ganges,
One would not be able to describe them fully.
Teach us the reason why you smiled.”[605] {95}
Conclusion of the fourteenth chapter, “The Buddha’s Smile.”

Chapter 15

The Elucidation of the Buddha’s Smile

At that time the Bhagavān spoke these appropriate verses to Bodhisattva Maitreya:

“This youth, Candraprabha,
Has praised the Buddha with unequaled joy.
He described the unique superior qualities of the buddhas.
All the time he is reciting their praises.[606] {1}
“In this very city of Rājagṛha in the past
He has seen ten thousand million buddhas.
In the presence of all those jinas
He asked about this supreme samādhi of peace. {2}
“He has always been my son,
Practicing this supreme bodhisattva conduct.
He has always had the confidence of speech,
And always he has been practicing celibacy. {3} F.51.b
“In the very fearful future times
You, Ajita, will be my witness.[607]
Always remaining in a state of celibacy,
He will make this samādhi widespread. {4}
“Those who seek entry into this sublime samādhi,
Through that path will attain enlightenment.
He will be adopted by many millions of buddhas
And he will make supreme offerings to those guides. {5}
“I prophesy that, remaining in wisdom,
Candraprabha’s conduct will be exceptional.
In the future times there will be no obstacle
To his celibacy or to his life. {6}
“He will know millions of buddhas as clearly
As five myrobalan plums in the palm of the hand.
And he will make offerings in the future to even more,
As numerous as sand grains in the Ganges. {7}
“Eight hundred million devas and nāgas,
And seven hundred billion yakṣas,
In future times will be zealous
And make offerings to the supreme among humans. {8}
“He will make offerings to the supreme human
And will practice this unsurpassable wisdom.
In a future time he will become a Lord of the World,
A jina by the name of Vimalaprabha.”[608] {9}
The young man was overjoyed
On hearing this prophecy about himself.
Candraprabha floated up to the height of seven palm trees
And remaining in the sky he made this declaration: {10}
“O Jina, you who teach the supreme Dharma,
You have the power of a lord of liberating wisdom.
You remain in the certainty of supreme wisdom
And cannot be defeated by adversaries. {11}
“You have abandoned attachment and reached liberation.
You have no attachment to existence, which is devoid of things.
You have no conceptualization whatsoever.
You have the wisdom of nonattachment toward the three existences. {12}
“You are unstained by any conceptualization.
You are free of all conceptualized views.
You have meditated perfectly on the path that has no location.
You cannot be defeated or hindered[609] by anyone. {13}
“You have no residence in the three realms.
You are free from the floods[610] and the knots.[611]
You have cut through the bondage of the creepers of craving.[612]F.52.a
You are free of existence and are devoid of existence. {14}
“You know the nonexistence that is the nature of phenomena.
You make understood in words that which cannot be described.
Just as the lion destroys the jackal,
You defeat the unwise tīrthikas. {15}
“I have obtained today the highest treasure,
The treasure of the Dharma taught by the Sugata.
I am freed from falling into any of the lower existences.
I will never have doubts that you are my guide. {16}
“He placed upon my head his hand,
Which was shining, beautiful, the color of gold.
He gave me the consecration to be a supreme leader of humans,
With the world and its devas as witnesses.” {17}
Conclusion of the fifteenth chapter, “The Elucidation of the Buddha’s Smile.”

Chapter 16

The Past

The Bhagavān then said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas thus wish to liberate all beings from all the suffering of existence. They wish to establish beings in the noble, unsurpassable bliss and joy of samādhi. Therefore they should hear this king of samādhis, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, obtain it, understand it, preserve it, recite it to others, promote it, proclaim it, chant it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, promulgate it, and make it widely known to others.

“Why is that? Young man, this king of samādhis, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, causes one to transcend all lower existence and be freed from all illness.

“Young man, when bodhisattva mahāsattvas hear this king of samādhis, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, obtain it, and meditate on it, then, young man, F.52.b those bodhisattva mahāsattvas liberate all beings from all the sufferings of existence. They will establish them in the noble, unsurpassable bliss and joy of samādhi, this samādhi will be quickly attained, and the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood will be quickly attained.”[613]

Thereupon the Bhagavān, in order to teach this meaning to Candraprabha, repeated what he had previously said by explaining it in the following verses.

“I remember that, as I was practicing in the past,
In the teaching of Sugata Siṃhadhvaja
There was a wise bhikṣu, a dharmabhāṇaka
Whose name was Brahmadatta. {1}
“At that time I was Prince Mati.
I was tormented by the pain of an illness.
The dharmabhāṇaka Brahmadatta
Became my teacher at that time. {2}
“More than five hundred physicians
Diligently sought to cure that illness,
But they were unable to cure me of my disease.
Everyone in my family was in suffering. {3}
“The bhikṣu heard about my illness,
And he came to me and asked about it.
Brahmadatta felt great pity for me,
And he taught me this supreme samādhi. {4}
“When I had heard this sublime samādhi
I experienced a noble, nonworldly joy.
I understood the essential nature of phenomena
And at that time I was healed of my disease. {5}
“That wise dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣu was Dīpaṃkara
While he was practicing bodhisattva conduct,
And I was Prince Mati, who was freed from illness
Through the wisdom of the samādhi. {6}
“Therefore, young man, in the future
Remember past declines like that.
Tolerate the bad things the foolish will say
And keep and recite[614] this samādhi. {7}
“In future time, there will be many bhikṣus
Who will be covetous,[615] malicious, and without restraint.[616]
They will enjoy bad actions and be attached to alms bowls and robes,
And they will reject completely this samādhi. {8} F.53.a
“They will be unstable, distracted by their senses, and envious,
Attached to families[617] and desiring gain.
They will always be engaged in familiarity with them
And they will reject completely[618] this samādhi. {9}
“They will strike with their hands and feet.
They will always engage in fun and play.
They will embrace each other and hold hands,
And will do other kinds of laypeople’s activities.[619] {10}
“They will have the signs of inappropriate activity.
They will always desire the daughters of others.[620]
They will be excited and captivated by bodies,
And roam through the villages, towns, and regions. {11}
“They will always be engaged in eating and drinking,
And similarly in dance, song, and music.
They will always be dedicated to buying and selling.
Attached to drinking, they will cast aside their shame. {12}
“They will carry letters, engaging in inappropriate activity,
And likewise discard correct conduct and the pure path.[621]
They will break the rules through dwelling with families,
And having broken them continue engaging in incorrect conduct. {13}[622]
“They will be fraudulent with weights and measures,
Always engaging in actions that the buddhas have rejected.
Through doing those actions that are sinful and defiled,
They will have bad karma and will go to the lower realms. {14}
“They will enter homelessness, forsaking home,
Conches, gold and jewels, and great wealth;
But having entered homelessness within the Buddha’s teaching,
They will continually engage in bad actions. {15}
“They will see wealth and grain as essential.
They will be attached to dairy cows,[623] cattle, and carriages.
These people who do not follow the training,
Why will they have shaved their heads? {16}
“In the past I practiced bodhisattva conduct,
Which was extremely difficult, for thousands of eons.
I did so seeking this samādhi of peace,
But they will laugh when they hear of it. {17}
“For a long time they will lie and will not be celibate.
Always enjoying what is harmful, they will descend to the lower realms.
They will hold up the banner of celibacy,
But will have bad conduct and what they teach will not be the Dharma. {18}
“They will be divided against each other.
They will yearn for that which is acquired inappropriately.
They will say unpleasant things to each other,
And when they die they will go to the level of the lower existences. {19} F.53.b
“It will be hard to find among a hundred, a thousand,[624]
One who has the power of patience.
Therefore there will be many who are deeply involved in quarreling.
They will explain elaborately, having rejected patience. {20}
“They will say the words, ‘I am a bodhisattva,’
And those words will spread in every direction.
They will become conceited[625] through their arrogant, false words,[626]
But how can there be enlightenment for someone whose conduct has gone astray? {21}
“I have never heard of, nor have I seen,
Someone whose motivation is not pure
And who has no patience for these phenomena,
Attaining enlightenment after discarding the Dharma. {22}
“It is through fear and anxiety they will have abandoned their homes
And held firmly to the homeless life.
But having acute desires they will proceed toward destruction,
Forsaking the way of the supreme humans. {23}[627]
“They will have inferior wisdom and be devoid of good qualities,
And they will always be criticizing the supreme yāna.
They will always be talking about the hundreds of faults
Of that in which they have taken refuge. {24}[628]
“Many will have entered homelessness because they had no livelihood.
They will have no wish at all for the enlightenment of buddhahood.
Those foolish ones will maintain the view of a self
And become afraid when they hear of emptiness. {25}
“They will quarrel with each other[629]
And develop intractable evil malice.
They will say unpleasant things to each other
And find great joy in having done bad things. {26}
“Those who have correct conduct will have good qualities.
They will always remain loving and be skilled in patience.
They will be perfectly gentle, kind, and controlled—
Yet they will be the ones despised at that time. {27}
“Those who have wicked minds,
Who are dreadful, and accomplish terrible, very low actions,
Those whose conduct is not that of the Dharma and who enjoy fighting:
They will have offerings made to them at that time. {28}
“I declare this, I know this.
Young man, if you have faith in me,
Remember this teaching by the Sugata
And never depend on those others. {29}
“They will have strong desire and strong anger.
They will have strong ignorance and be conceited and arrogant.
They will have unrestrained bodies and unrestrained speech
And unrestrained minds, and will descend to the lower existences. {30} F.54.a
“I have recited the praises of those qualities
But the bhikṣus will not practice these qualities.
Enlightenment is not attained by mere words.
For one who is dedicated to practice, enlightenment will not be difficult to attain.” {31}
Conclusion of the sixteenth chapter, “The Past.”

Chapter 17

The Entranceway to the Samādhi That Is Taught by Many Buddhas

When the Bhagavān had finished speaking, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya, who was seated there, in his mind recited this verse to the Bhagavān.[630]

“I am going, Tathāgata,[631] to the king of mountains,
Gṛdhrakūṭa, which is always the residence of the buddhas.
When I have gone there, lamp of the world,[632]
I will make inconceivable offerings to you.” {i}

The Bhagavān knew the thoughts that were in the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya’s mind, and from his own mind sent this verse to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya:

“Go, Ajita, you who have conquered the māras,[633]
To the king of mountains where jinas reside.
There you will quickly accomplish
A great unsurpassable benefit for beings.” {ii}

So the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya, having received in his mind that verse from the Bhagavān, paid homage to the Bhagavān in his mind and, again in his mind, circumambulated him three times. He then left the assembly and went to Gṛdhrakūṭa, the king of mountains, which has been the residence of countless buddhas, as numerous as the grains of sand in the ocean, and where there is a great caitya.

The moment he arrived there, for the enjoyment of the Bhagavān, he magically transformed the king of mountains to become level and vast, without any tree stumps, thorns, stones, pebbles, or gravel, and with a surrounding wall made of the seven jewels. The ground was composed of countless shining sapphire jewels and was adorned by divine adornments and jewels, all of them beyond compare, and beautified by an array of innumerable, different kinds of jewels. All the area was decorated by the clothing of Tuṣita devas, F.54.b pervaded by the aroma of incense from a variety of censers, adorned by garlands and wreaths, scattered with various flowers; it resounded with the sound of divine music, was filled with erect and fluttering banners and flags, and over it canopies were suspended.

In the center of this area a divine lion throne made from the seven jewels was emanated. It was draped in cloth that was not woven, and covered with divine clothing from Tuṣita that was as soft and pleasant to the touch as down. A central awning hung above, and there were two red cushions placed upon it. It was a yojana wide and a yojana high.

Its beautiful footstool, made of Jambu River gold, transcended that of humans and devas. It was covered with a net of strings of pearls, and it was draped in divine, precious cottons.

Strung upon the lion throne were strings of divine, precious bells from which came clear, beautiful, gentle sounds. In all directions there were great shining jewels. And there was emanated a precious, vast parasol, with a handle made of a great, precious jewel of stainless beryl.

The bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya now emanated an inconceivable, adorning array of various jewels on Gṛdhrakūṭa, the king of mountains, and in its entire environs. Then, in an instant, he returned to the home of the youth Candraprabha.

Once he was back there, in his mind he paid homage to the Bhagavān, and in his mind circumambulated him three times. He then sat on his seat.

It was said:

He manifested the mountain as a divine, vast place
With excellent, beautiful jewel flagstones—
Inconceivable, divine, formed from the mind—
And he placed in the center a precious lion throne. {iii}
Jinaputra Ajita also manifested
A divine, splendid parasol that emitted delightful sounds
With great shining jewels all around,
And a handle of pure, beautiful beryl. {iv}
Maitreya, the hero, having emanated
A variety of jewels on the mountain,
And a precious seat that was a krośa in size, F.55.a
In one instant returned to the house.[634] {v}

Then the Bhagavān taught the Dharma to the great assembly that was like an ocean. He inspired them, he filled them with joy, and he guided them. Then he rose from his seat and departed. And with the miraculous power of a buddha he emerged through Rājagṛha’s gate of the hot springs and proceeded toward Gṛdhrakūṭa, the king of mountains. When he arrived he went to the site created by Maitreya, and having arrived there he sat upon the great lion throne that Maitreya had manifested.[635]

He was encircled by the assembly of bhikṣus, and the saṅgha of bodhisattvas gazed upon him from the front. The devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, rishis, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans, and nonhumans paid homage to him. Within the ocean-like assembly, he taught the Dharma.

Then the youth Candraprabha arrived together with a hundred thousand quintillion beings, and many millions of bodhisattva mahāsattvas who had come from other worlds. They were holding flowers, incense, and garlands; playing musical instruments and percussion; holding parasols, banners, and divine flags; and holding great garlands as offerings.

In order to make this offering to the Bhagavān they left the great city of Rājagṛha through the gateway of peace,[636] and went to Gṛdhrakūṭa, to the Bhagavān. They bowed down their heads to the Bhagavān’s feet, circumambulated him three times, made a great offering to him of flowers, incense, perfume, garlands, ointments, powders, clothes, food, parasols, banners, and flags, playing music and percussion, and then they sat down in one place. In order to ask about the Dharma they sat in that place with veneration and with respect while the youth Candraprabha, kneeling on his right knee, F.55.b with palms placed together, bowed toward the Bhagavān[637] and said to him, “If the Bhagavān will give me an opportunity to seek answers to them, I have a few questions for the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha.”

The Bhagavān addressed the youth Candraprabha, saying, “Young man, the Bhagavān will always give you the opportunity. Ask whatever question you wish to the Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha.”

The Bhagavān having given him this opportunity, the young man Candraprabha asked, “Bhagavān, it is through possessing what qualities that bodhisattva mahāsattvas attain the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena?”

The Bhagavān replied to Candraprabha, “Young man, if bodhisattva mahāsattvas possess four qualities, they will attain the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena.

“What are those four qualities? Young man, one is that bodhisattva mahāsattvas are calm, and pleasant company. They have self-restraint, and have attained a level of self-restraint such that when others abuse them or insult them, they will be patient with the abuse and the insults that are spoken, for it is their nature to have endurance; they have the view of karma, have overcome pride, and their desire is for the Dharma. Young man, if bodhisattva mahāsattvas have this first quality, they will attain this samādhi.[638]

“Another, young man, is that bodhisattva mahāsattvas have correct conduct. They have pure conduct, conduct that is not impaired, conduct that is free of faults, conduct that is unshakable, conduct that is unstained, conduct that has not declined, conduct that is unattached, F.56.a conduct that is inviolate, conduct that is beyond conceptualization, conduct that is praised by the āryas, and conduct that is praised by the wise. Young man, if bodhisattva mahāsattvas have these two qualities, they will attain this samādhi.[639]

“Another, young man, is that bodhisattva mahāsattvas are frightened of the three realms. They are terrified of them, saddened by them,[640] do not value them, take no delight in them,[641] and have no attachment or clinging to them.[642] Because they are distressed by the three realms they are dedicated to the thought, ‘I shall deliver other beings from their suffering, to somewhere other than the three realms!’ and they thus proceed to the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood. Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have these three qualities will attain this samādhi.[643]

“Moreover, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas have faith.[644] They insatiably seek the Dharma. They listen to many teachings. They have confidence. They long for the Dharma. They are devoted to the Dharma. They are not devoted to obtaining material gain or honors. They are not devoted to attaining success through knowledge. They think first of what will benefit others, and they teach and explain extensively to others the Dharma that they have received. They have no desire for material gain through their reputation. They think, ‘If these beings can hear this Dharma then they will proceed irreversibly to the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood.’[645] Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have these four qualities will attain this samādhi.

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have these four qualities will attain the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, and they will quickly attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood.

“Young man, the samādhi has been taught through this Dharma discourse by many buddhas, has been commended by many buddhas, F.56.b has been explained by many buddhas, and has been praised[646] by many buddhas.

“Young man, I have entered homelessness in the presence of many buddha bhagavāns. I heard extensively from them this samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena. I obtained it, asked questions about it, preserved it, recited it to others, promoted it, meditated on it with unadulterated meditation, promulgated it,[647] and made it widely known to others.”[648]

Thereupon the Bhagavān taught extensively in verse what he had previously said about the samādhi doorway taught by many buddhas.

“I remember countless, innumerable eons ago
There was a jina named Svarāṅgaghoṣa.
Tathāgata Svarāṅgaghoṣa
Had a lifespan of six thousand years. {1}
“After him there was a buddha,
A supreme man named Jñāneśvara.
Jñāneśvara, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of twelve thousand years. {2}
“After Jñāneśvara there was a buddha,
A jina who was named Tejeśvara.
Tejeśvara, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of sixty-seven thousand years. {3}
“After Tejeśvara there was a buddha,
A jina who was named Matīśvara.
Matīśvara, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of ten million years. {4}
“After Matīśvara there was a buddha,
A jina who was named Brahmeśvara.
Brahmeśvara, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of fourteen thousand years.[649] {5}
“After Brahmeśvara there was a buddha,
A jina who was named Agnīśvara.[650]
Agnīśvara, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of seventy-six thousand years. {6}
“After Agnīśvara there was a buddha,
A jina who was named Brahmānana.
Brahmānana, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of seven days. {7}
“After Brahmānana there was a buddha, F.57.a
A jina who was named Gaṇeśvara.
Gaṇeśvara, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of a full ten million years.[651] {8}
“After Gaṇeśvara there was a buddha,
A jina who was named Ghoṣeśvara.
Ghoṣeśvara, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of ninety million years. {9}
“After Ghoṣeśvara there was a buddha,
A jina who was named Ghoṣānana.
Ghoṣānana, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of a hundred million years. {10}
“After Ghoṣānana there was a buddha,
A jina who was named Candrānana.
Candrānana, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of one day.[652] {11}
“After Candrānana there was a buddha,
A jina who was named Sūryānana.
Sūryānana, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of eighteen thousand years. {12}
“After Sūryānana there was a buddha,
Another jina who was named Brahmānana.
Brahmānana, highest of humans, [DP.138]
Had a lifespan of twenty thousand years.[653] {13}
“After Brahmānana there was a buddha,
A jina who was named Brahmaśrava.
Brahmaśrava, highest of humans,
Had a lifespan of eighteen thousand years. {14}
“In one eon these buddhas appeared
Among two hundred guides of the world.
Listen as I shall proclaim the names
Of these invincible tathāgatas:[654] {15}
“Anantaghoṣa and Vighuṣṭaghoṣa,
Vighuṣṭatejas and Vighuṣṭaśabda,
Svarāvighuṣṭa and Svarārcita,
Svarāṅgaśūra and Svarāṅgaśabda, {16}
“Jñānābala and Jñānaviśeṣaga,
Jñānābhibhū and Jñānasamudgata,
Jñānārcimat and Jñānābhyudgata,
Vighuṣṭajñāna and likewise Jñānaśūra, {17}
“Brahmābala, Brahmavasu, Subrahma,
Brahmādeva[655] and similarly Brahmaghoṣa,
Brahmeśvara, Brahma­narendra­netra, F.57.b
Brahmasvarāṅga, Brahmadatta,[656] {18}
“Tejobala, Tejavati, Sutejas,
Tejeśvara and Tejasamudrata,
Tejovibhu and Tejaviniścita,
Tejasvarendra and Suvighuṣṭatejas, {19}
“Bhīṣmabala, Bhīṣmamati, Subhīṣma,
Bhīṣmānana and Bhīṣmasamudgata,
Bhīṣmārci, Bhīṣmottara, and Bhīṣmaghoṣa—
These jinas were guides of the world. {20}
“Gambhīraghoṣa and Śiridhāraṇa,
Viśuddha­ghoṣeśvara, Śuddhaghoṣa,[657]
Anantaghoṣa, Suvimuktaghoṣa,
Mārabala[658] and Māravitrāsana, {21}
“Sunetra, Śuddhānana, Netraśuddha,
Viśuddhanetra and Anantanetra,
Samantanetra and Vighuṣṭanetra,
Netrābhibhu, Netrānindita, {22}
“Dāntottara, Dānta, Sudāntacitta,
Sudānta, Śāntendriya, Śāntamānasa,
Śāntottara, Śāntaśirin, Praśānta,
Śāntīya­pāraṃgata and Śāntiśūra, {23}
“Sthitottara, Śānta, Sudāntacitta,
Sudānta, Śāntendriya, Śāntamānasa,
Śāntottara, Śānta­śriya­jvalanta,
Śānta, Praśānteśvara, Śāntiśūra,[659] {24}
“Gaṇendra, Gaṇamukhya, and Gaṇeśvara,
Gaṇābhibhu, Gaṇivara, Śuddhajñānin,
Mahāgaṇendra and Gaṇendraśūra,
And also Gaṇivara­pramocaka, {25}
“Dharmadhvaja and similarly Dharmaketu,
Dharmottara, Dharma­svabhāvodgata,
Dharmabala and Sudharmaśūra,
And Svabhāva­dharmottara­niścita. {26}
“Also there were eight hundred million with the same name
Of Svabhāva­dharmottara­niścita.
These are the guides that appeared in two eons.
I made offerings to them for the sake of enlightenment. {27}
“Whoever hears the name of those jinas,
Svabhāva­dharmottara­niścita,
And having heard it remembers that renowned name, F.58.a
They will quickly attain this samādhi.” {28} B6

Then the Bhagavān, through many verses, taught extensively to the youth Candraprabha the samādhi entranceway accomplished by many buddhas in the past.[660]

“After inconceivable, countless eons
Following these buddhas,
There was a buddha named Narendraghoṣa,
To whom humans and devas made offerings. {29}
“Tathāgata Narendraghoṣa
Lived for seventy-six thousand years,
And three billion śrāvakas
Gathered for his first assembly. {30}
“At that time he had a shining saṅgha
Of those who had the six higher cognitions, the three knowledges,
Subdued senses, great powers, great miracles,
The cessation of outflows, and who were in their last bodies. {31}
“There was a saṅgha of bodhisattvas
Who numbered eight thousand quintillion.
They had profound understanding, fearlessness,[661]
Great powers, and great miracles. {32}
“They had attained the higher cognitions, eloquence,
And they had realized emptiness in everything.
They miraculously went to millions of realms
And to even more, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. {33}
“They came into the presence of that jina
And addressed questions to that supreme human.
They were accomplished in the sūtras and skilled in definitions.
They were shining and moved upon the earth. {34}
“They performed bodhisattva conduct for the benefit of beings.
They were powerful sons of the Sugata.
They performed no bad actions through desire,
And toward them even the devas developed aspirations. {35}
“They had no longings and were detached from the realms of existence.
They were in meditation, the field of experience of remaining in dhyāna.
They had certainty in the true meaning, and were fearless.
They maintained celibacy and were free of defilement. {36}
“They had the confident eloquence of unceasing speech.
They were skilled in the meaning of the words and the teaching of definitions.
They were the sons of the Buddha who taught everywhere,
And they perfectly possessed good karma. {37}
“They maintained superior conduct throughout an infinity of eons; F.58.b
They were always praised and extolled by the guides.
They taught the words and meaning of liberation.
They had perfectly pure conduct free of kleśas. {38}
“They were as unstained as a lotus by water.
They were liberated from the three realms, and were vigilant.
They were unstained by the eight worldly concerns.
They had pure bodies and pure actions. {39}
“They had contentment, great power, and few desires.
They were free of grasping and were established in buddha qualities.
They were a refuge and friend for all classes of beings.
They considered practice, not words, as the essence. {40}
“Wherever they dwelt, there they taught others.
They were adopted by all the buddhas.
They were trustworthy holders of the treasure of the jinas.
They were terrified of the entire three realms.[662] {41}
“Their minds were at peace, they always had the conduct of protectors,
And they were blessed by the guides of the world.
They taught ten thousand million sūtras,
And the buddhas praised their teachings. {42}
“They had forsaken all worldly words.[663]
They aspired to emptiness and taught the ultimate.
They were like an ocean of good qualities; there was no end to their being praised.
Their learning was vast; they were wise and endowed with knowledge. {43}
“If a young man were to recite their praises
Continuously for many millions of eons
He would have only uttered a small amount,
Like a drop of water from an ocean. {44}
“At that time Narendraghoṣa
Taught this samādhi of peace, which is difficult to see.
This universe of a thousand million worlds
Was filled with devas and nāgas. {45}
“When he taught this samādhi of peace
The ground shook in six ways.
Devas and humans as numerous as the Ganges sands
Became irreversible within the buddha’s wisdom. {46}
“There was a human king, a sovereign
Named Śirībala, who was very powerful.
He had five hundred sons
Who were handsome and attractive to the sight. {47}
“The king had a harem
Of eighty thousand million women.
The king had daughters F.59.a
Who numbered a full four hundred billion. {48}
“He took the eight poṣadha vows
On the full moon day of the Kārtika month,
And with the eighty thousand million others
He came before the Lord of the World. {49}
“The king bowed down to the feet of the supreme human
And sat down before the Jina.
The supreme human knew the king’s aspiration
And he taught this samādhi. {50}
“When the king had heard this samādhi
He abandoned his kingdom as if it were spittle.
He renounced his beloved family and kinsmen
And entered homelessness in that jina’s teaching. {51}
“His five hundred sons entered homelessness,
And also his harem and his daughters,
And also his other relatives,
Numbering seventy-five quintillion. {52}
“Having entered homelessness along with his children and wives,
He kept to the station of acquiring alms food[664]
And steadfastly wandered in this way for eight years.
While remaining[665] in wandering his life came to an end. {53}
“His life having ended, that preeminent king,[666]
Being always perfectly focused on a samādhi mind,
Was reborn into a king’s family,
Appearing miraculously, unstained by a womb. {54}
“Dṛḍhabala was his father’s name.
And his mother’s name was Mahāmatī.
As soon as he was born, the prince asked,
‘Is the Lord of the World present? {55}
“ ‘The Lord of the World, who knows my mind,
Taught to me the samādhi of peace. 143
It has no causal factors, is free of causal factors,
And is the one teaching for beings in existence. {56}
“ ‘It is the seal of the nature of all phenomena.
It is the transmission of a quintillion sūtras.
It is the unsurpassable wealth of the bodhisattvas.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {57}
“ ‘It is the purity of the body, the purity of speech,
The purity of the mind, and the purity of view.
It transcends all objects of the mind.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {58}
“ ‘The result of this Dharma teaching is imperishable.
It is the meditation of the supreme eightfold path.
It is the sharp wisdom of the congregation of the tathāgatas. F.59.b
It is entering truth and constant knowledge of the Dharma.[667] {59}
“ ‘It is understanding the skandhas, the equality of the dhātus,
And the complete elimination of the āyatanas.
It is the direct perception of birthlessness.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {60}
“ ‘It is discernment, the wisdom that enters peace.[668]
It is the knowledge of the different categories of all letters.
It is transcending focusing upon the material.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {61}
“ ‘It is the comprehension of all sounds, and the attainment of joy.
It is the enjoyment of praising the sugatas.
It is the kindness and honesty that is the way of the āryas.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {62}
“ ‘It is being pleasant and never frowning.
It is being friendly and gentle with a smiling face.
It is being first to speak on seeing beings.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {63}
“ ‘It is being without laziness and respecting the gurus.
It is being reverential, paying homage, and being pleasant to see.
It is being content with whatever arises, and virtuous.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {64}
“ ‘It is having a pure livelihood and dwelling in solitary places.[669]
It is maintaining the disciplines of mendicancy with no loss of mindfulness.
It is being adept in the āyatanas and in the dhātus.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {65}
“ ‘It is skill in the āyatanas, and the knowledge of the higher cognitions;
It is the elimination of the kleśas, and the level of self-subjugation.
It is the termination[670] of all the multitudes of mantras.[671]
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {66}
“ ‘It transcends all the states of being in existence.
It is remembering previous lives and having no doubt in the Dharma.
It is aspiring to the Dharma and seeking to hear it.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi?[672] {67}
“ ‘It is a special attainment, being always engaged in meditation.
It is the knowledge of downfalls and remaining in emancipation.[673]
It is the elimination of propensities through remaining in that emancipation.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi?[674] {68}
“ ‘It is the attainment of the perfection of sharp wisdom.
It is being as unwavering and unshakable as a mountain.
It is the dhāraṇī entranceway that has the characteristic of irreversibility.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {69}
“ ‘It is always longing for good qualities. F.60.a
It is always[675] avoiding bad qualities.
It is never going to the side of the kleśas.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {70}
“ ‘The one who is wise in mastering[676] all training,
The one who has mastered remaining in samādhi,
The one who inspires beings through knowing their thoughts
Teaches the Dharma for the supreme enlightenment of buddhahood. {71}
“ ‘It is unique knowledge, the knowledge of births.
It is infinite knowledge, completely perfect knowledge.
It is the knowledge of the transition between all existences.
Does the Jina teach this samādhi? {72}
“ ‘Abandoning home, aspiring to mendicancy,
Finding no joy in the three realms, having no grasping,
And rejoicing in controlling the mind:
The supreme human teaches that Dharma. {73}
“ ‘Having no attachment for phenomena,
Always grasping the supreme Dharma,
And having a stable aspiration for the ripening of karma:
The supreme human teaches that Dharma. {74}
“ ‘Skill in the vinaya, knowledge of the ripening of karma,
The pacification of conflict and quarrels,
Freedom from discord, the level that is free of quarrels:
The supreme human teaches that Dharma. {75}
“ ‘Having complete patience, never having anger,
Always having skill and certainty in the Dharma,
Distinguishing between words and having the insight of wisdom:
Having developed compassion, he teaches that Dharma. {76}
“ ‘He has taught the knowledge of the past, knowledge of the future,
The equality of the three times in the teaching of the sugatas,
And the cessation of the three aspects of an action:
That is what the Jina, the Lord of the Dharma, teaches. {77}
“ ‘The mind’s perfect stability and one-pointedness,
The body’s perfect stability as on the level of the āryas,
And at all times guarding the conduct of a mendicant:
That is the Dharma that the sage, the preeminent human, teaches. {78}
“ ‘A pleasing sense of modesty and self-respect,
Speaking appropriate words, knowledge of the world,
The origination of phenomena, and the nature of beings:
He teaches that Dharma of the supreme, perfect enlightenment. {79}
“ ‘Benefiting and having a sense of modesty,
Abhorring the wickedness of the mind, F.60.b
Never abandoning the mendicant’s discipline, and begging for alms:
That is the Dharma that the supreme human teaches. {80}
“ ‘Always maintaining a sense of modesty and self-respect,
Speaking reverently to the guru and rising to greet him,
Having overcome pride from the beginning:
That is what the Jina, the Lord of the Dharma, teaches. {81}
“ ‘That which arises from the mind is the goodness of the mind;
There is wisdom’s discrimination, and thus realization,
And the region of ignorance is always avoided:
He teaches that Dharma of supreme, perfect enlightenment. {82}
“ ‘There is understanding of the mind, the knowledge of words,
Being established in definitions, with certainty of meanings,
And all that is meaningless[677] is always avoided:
That is what the Jina, the Lord of the Dharma, teaches. {83}
“ ‘Always associating with good persons
And always avoiding bad persons,
And always being attracted to and delighting in the Jina:
That is the supreme Dharma that the Jina teaches. {84}
“ ‘The description of designations and appellations,[678]
The continual avoidance of the suffering of saṃsāra,
And indifference to whether there is gain or no gain:
That is the supreme Dharma that the Jina teaches. {85}
“ ‘There is no amazement if honors are gained,
There is equanimity when there are no honors,
And there is never pride when there are praises:
This is nature of the teaching that benefits the world. {86}
“ ‘All abuse and disgrace is endured,
There is no association with any householder,
And there is no mingling with homeless mendicants:[679]
That is what the Jina, the Lord of the Dharma, teaches. {87}
“ ‘Remaining in the Buddha’s scope of conduct,
Rejecting all that is not that conduct,
And having perfect conduct and a well-controlled mind:
That is the way of the Dharma that the Sugata teaches. {88}
“ ‘Always rejecting the dharma of the foolish,
Rejecting all that disgraces the family of the Buddha,
Always protecting the teaching of the Buddha:
That is what the Jina, the Lord of the Dharma, teaches. {89}
“ ‘Speaking little, pleasantly, and articulately,
Speaking good and gentle words to others,
Subjugating adversaries through the Dharma:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {90}
“ ‘Arriving at the right time, and not the wrong time, F.61.a
Never depending on any ordinary being,
Not being saddened on encountering suffering:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {91}
“ ‘When seeing the poor, bringing them wealth;
When seeing those with bad conduct, feeling compassion;
Always teaching those things that are beneficial:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {92}
“ ‘Benefiting beings through the Dharma,
Always giving away worldly material things,
Never accumulating, never amassing:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {93}
“ ‘Praising correct conduct and condemning bad conduct,
Being free of dishonesty and relying on those with correct conduct,
Giving away one’s possessions and not relying on wealth:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {94}
“ ‘Providing for the guru with a higher motivation,
Doing all that he has told one to do,
Never ceasing from serving the dharmabhāṇaka:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {95}
“ ‘Always being respectful and delighted,
Remaining continually in a peaceful view,
Always being sure of one’s past conduct:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {96}
“ ‘Always following those with correct conduct,
With skillful methods shunning[680] concepts,
Repelling identification and the characteristics of things:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {97}
“ ‘Being skilled in the words produced within the sūtras,
Having certainty in the words that teach the truth,
The manifestation of the wisdom of liberation:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {98}
“ ‘Speaking words that are never contradictory,
Skillful in the certainty of what is taught,[681]
And using words that will not be doubted:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching.[682] {i}
“ ‘Always relying on the Dharma of emptiness,
Maintaining fearlessly the power of correct conduct,
And applying equality through remaining in samādhi:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {99}
“ ‘Not wishing to attain intellectual knowledge,
Keeping the mind free from hypocrisy,
And rejecting the creation of any view:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {100} F.61.b
“ ‘Supreme confidence in speech and sublime retention,
The limitless radiance of wisdom,
And correct eloquence with the power of mantra:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {101}
“ ‘Meditation on the path through this doorway of correct conduct,[683]
Excellent practice, instruction, and conduct,[684]
And teaching that follows practicing the teaching:[685]
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {102}
“ ‘The appropriate patience that is praised by the buddhas,
The maintenance of patience that avoids bad actions,
And eliminating ignorance by being established in knowledge:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {103}
“ ‘The level of yoga[686] that is based upon wisdom,
The mastery of yoga through entering enlightenment,
The continual reliance on good beings:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {104}
“ ‘It is the constant avoidance of unrestrained practitioners,[687]
It is the level of buddhahood taught by tathāgatas,
And it is rejoiced in by all who are wise:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {105}
“ ‘It is rejected by the foolish and ignorant.
It is not the level[688] of the numerous śrāvakas,[689]
And it is always obtained by the bodhisattvas:
That is the nature of the Jina’s teaching. {106}
“ ‘It is realized[690] by the tathāgatas.
It is offered to and honored by the devas.
It is rejoiced in by a hundred billion Brahmās.
Is the Jina teaching this samādhi? {107}
“ ‘Thousands of nāgas always pay homage to it,
And so do garuḍas, yakṣas, and kinnaras.
It is the supreme enlightenment taught by the Jina.
Is the Jina teaching this samādhi? {108}
“ ‘It is always obtained by those who are wise.
It is the perfect attainment of the best, supreme wealth.
It is the supreme nonmaterial medicine of wisdom.
Is the Jina teaching this samādhi? {109}
“ ‘It is wisdom’s treasure of unceasing eloquence.
Ten million sūtras are contained within it.
It is accurate knowledge, the complete knowledge of the three realms.
Is the Jina teaching this samādhi? {110}
“ ‘It is a boat that crosses to the other shore,
It is a ship that crosses a great river, F.62.a
And it increases fame and garlands of praises
For those to whom this samādhi of peace is taught. {111}
“ ‘Those who teach this samādhi of peace
Are praised by all the tathāgatas,
Extolled by the chiefs among humans,
And unceasingly commended by bodhisattvas. {112}
“ ‘It is the teaching of love to end bad actions.
It is the level of compassion’s equanimity.
It is the comfort of the greatly famed ones[691]
For the ones to whom this samādhi is taught. {113}
“ ‘It is the practice of the teaching of the lion’s roar.
It originates from the supreme wisdom of buddhahood.
It is the seal of the nature of all phenomena.
This is the samādhi taught by the guides. {114}
“ ‘It brings the attainment of omniscient wisdom,
It is the conduct of those established in enlightenment,
And it also terrifies the army of the māras.
This is the samādhi of peace taught by the Jina. {115}
“ ‘This knowledge[692] is the protection that is based in the Dharma.
It is the supreme protection in the midst of enemies.
It is the subjugation of adversaries through the Dharma:
This is the samādhi of peace taught by the Jina.[693] {116}
“ ‘This is the teaching of the level of eloquence.
It is the strengths, the liberations, and likewise the powers,
And it is the eighteen unique qualities of a buddha:
That is the practice of this samādhi, this peace. {117}
“ ‘It is seeking the ten strengths,
It is the omen of the coming of buddha wisdom,
It is the buddhadharma taught by the supreme being,
And it is the teaching that compassionately benefits the world. {118}
“ ‘It is possessed by the sons of the buddhas.
It is the path taught for those who seek enlightenment.
It is rejoiced in by the offspring of the sugatas
When they hear this samādhi of peace that is difficult to see. {119}
“ ‘It is the complete wisdom of buddhahood.
It is what the wise bodhisattva seeks.
One with a pure mind, clear and unblemished,[694]
Practices the peace of this samādhi. {120}
“ ‘One who has a pure body like that of the jinas,
Who has the knowledge of liberation, the vision of liberation,
And who is never afflicted by the bondage of desire,
Practices this excellent samādhi. {121} F.62.b
“ ‘One who is not on the level of anger and is free of ignorance,
In whom wisdom has arisen[695] and who seeks liberation,[696]
In whom knowledge has developed and ignorance is destroyed,
Practices the peace of this samādhi. {122}
“ ‘This samādhi of peace is taught to the meditator
For whom liberation is central, and is fulfilled by this teaching.
The one with the sight of the faultless buddhas
Practices the peace of this samādhi. {123}
“ ‘The clairvoyance that reveals many realms,
The miraculous powers that reveal infinite buddhas,
And dhāraṇī is also not difficult to attain
For the one who practices this samādhi. {124}
“ ‘The senses are pacified in this state of enlightenment.
There is the revelation of infinite blessings,
And subtle, vast, and pure wisdom
For the one who practices this samādhi. {125}
“ ‘For the one who has not heard this samādhi of peace,
Practice without self-restraint will bring no realization,
And as all the words will have been subverted,
No understanding will be possible from speech. {126}
“ ‘This is known by wise bodhisattvas
Just as taught by the Lord of Dharma.
There is faultless realization of peace
For the one who practices this samādhi. {127}
“ ‘For the one who practices this samādhi
With diligent application, having possession of it,
Constantly serving it, and perfectly keeping it,
There will be cessation of suffering and the end of rebirth. {128}
“ ‘It has been taught that all phenomena are birthless,
As are all the existences of beings.
Is the Jina teaching this samādhi
Of the greatly famous, supremely wise buddhas?’ {129}
“A full eighty-eight trillion beings
Heard these verses recited by the prince,
Attained the patience that corresponded to those words,
And were established in irreversible progress toward buddha wisdom. {130}
“Dṛḍhabala said to the prince,
‘The Lord of the World is still present.
I have a question for you, my son:
Where did you hear of this samādhi?’ {131}
“The prince said to the king, ‘Listen! F.63.a
During one eon I have seen
A quintillion buddhas, honored them all,
And asked them for this samādhi of peace. {132}
“ ‘And for another ninety-four[697] eons,
And for a thousand quintillion eons,
I remember all my births wherever they were,
And I was never born from a womb. {133}
“ ‘Then I meditated upon this samādhi.
I listened correctly to the teaching of those jinas.
Having heard it I had longing for what had been described.
Free from uncertainty I embraced enlightenment. {134}
“ ‘I questioned whatever bhikṣus
Had understood this samādhi.
I venerated them respectfully
As if they were benefactors of the world. {135}
“ ‘When I received even one verse from them
I practiced that teaching properly
And considered them to be teachers,
Venerating them with the respect shown to buddhas. {136}
“ ‘Whenever someone questioned me
About my understanding of this samādhi,
Even in dreams I had no doubts
That I would become a jina, a guide of the world. {137}
“ ‘I respectfully attended
To senior, middle, and junior bhikṣus.
With that respect my renown increased,
As did my merit, fame, and qualities.[698] {138}
“ ‘I had no desire for conflict or quarrels.
At that time, I had few desires.
Those who do bad actions are reborn in certain existences.
Those who do good actions are reborn in other existences. {139}
“ ‘One hears unpleasant words from those
Who, without restraint, act inappropriately.
At that time I became the lord of my own actions.
The karma that is created is never lost. {140}
“ ‘I did not at that time become absorbed in anger.
I maintained the power of patience, which is praised by the buddhas.
The guides have always praised patience;
Attaining enlightenment is not difficult for those who practice patience. {141}
“ ‘I continually had correct conduct
And established others in correct conduct.
I always spoke the praises of correct conduct, F.63.b
And what I spoke at that time was praiseworthy. {142}
“ ‘I was always speaking the praises of solitude.
I always maintained correct conduct.
I established others in the poṣadha vows
And I introduced them to enlightenment. {143}
“ ‘I established them in celibacy,
I introduced them to the meaning of the Dharma,
And I awoke them to the path to enlightenment,
For which they had endless devotion.[699] {144}
“ ‘I remember an eon in the past
When there was the jina Svarāṅgaghoṣa.[700]
I took a vow in his presence
To have the power of patience at all times. {145}
“ ‘I remained faithful to that vow
For eight hundred and forty million years.
Although Māra reviled and abused me,
My mind remained unshakable. {146}
“ ‘Māra put me to the test,
And discovered my love and patience to be enduring.
And with faith[701] he bowed down to my feet,
And I established five hundred beings on the path to supreme enlightenment. {147}
“ ‘At all times I was free of avarice
And always praised generosity.
I became wealthy, possessing many riches
And was a benefactor in times of famine. {148}
“ ‘I pay homage to any monks
Who possess this samādhi,
Who recite it and teach it.
They all become supreme men. {149}
“ ‘Because of that unsurpassable karma
I saw many buddhas, many lords of the world.
I entered into homelessness in the teachings of those jinas
And I always became a wise dharmabhāṇaka. {150}
“ ‘I was always engaged in the discipline of a mendicant.
I always remained in the solitude of forests.
I never gave the appearance of spirituality in order to obtain food.
I was content with whatever I obtained. {151}
“ ‘At all times I was free of envy.
I had no attachment to a family.
Attachment to family causes envy.
Without envy I remained in the pleasant forests. {152}
“ ‘At all times I had loving-kindness. F.64.a
When I was abused I did not become angry.
As I was always kind, the garland of fame
Of my compassion spread in the four directions. {153}
“ ‘I was always content, with few desires.
I was dedicated to mendicancy in solitary places.
I never abandoned begging for alms.
I remained unwaveringly committed to mendicancy. {154}
“ ‘I always had faith and belief.
I always had great belief in the Buddha’s teaching.
I obtained many benefits from having belief.
I became attractive with faultless faculties. {155}
“ ‘I practiced whatever I taught.
I always valued practice above all else.
As I valued practice above all else,
Devas and nāgas believed in me and honored me. {156}
“ ‘There are also numerous other qualities,
Other than these that I have described.
They should always be trained in by the wise ones
Who wish for the enlightenment of buddhahood. {157}
“ ‘I remember the greatest number of hardships
That I practiced through numerous eons,[702]
So numerous[703] I am unable to describe them.[704]
I will now go[705] into the presence of the Sugata.’ {158}
“That wise bodhisattva with sharp wisdom
At that moment attained the five higher cognitions.
Through miraculous power he came before the Jina,
Accompanied by eight hundred million beings. {159}
“Dṛḍhabala was extremely pleased,
And, accompanied by one billion six hundred million beings,
He came into the presence of the Buddha,
Bowed down to his feet, and sat before him. {160}
“Knowing the aspiration of that king,
The Lord of humans taught this samādhi.
When the king had heard that samādhi
He renounced his kingdom and entered homelessness. {161}
“Homeless, he meditated on this samādhi,
And he recited it and taught it.
After sixty eons had passed
He became a jina named Padmottara. {162}
“The one billion six hundred million beings
Who had come with the king into the presence of the Jina
Also heard this samādhi, F.64.b
And with the highest joy they entered homelessness. {163}
“Homeless, they possessed this samādhi,
And recited it and taught it.
After six trillion eons had passed
They all reached supreme enlightenment in the same eon. {164}
“They all had the name Ananta­jñānanottara.
They were buddhas to whom devas and humans made offerings.
Each of those supreme humans liberated as many beings
As there are grains of sand in the Ganges. {165}
“I was King Śirībala.[706]
The practitioners of this supreme bodhisattva conduct,
Those who were my five hundred sons,
Are these guardians of the Dharma. {166}
“The one who was my mother
Was Māyādevī[707] in this time.
My four hundred billion daughters
All entered nirvāṇa. [708] {166b}
“The king who was named Dṛḍhabala,
The powerful cakravartin with many treasures,
Became King Śuddhodana[709] in this age,
And has been my father in various lifetimes.[710] {166c}
“Thus have I for ten billion eons
Exercised diligence that is free of laziness.
The pure yearning for this samādhi
Brings the accomplishment of supreme enlightenment. {167}
“Therefore, young man, those bodhisattvas
Who wish to meditate[711] on this samādhi
Should exercise diligence, regardless of risks to their lives,
And always follow, young man, my example.” {168}
Conclusion of the seventeenth chapter, “The Entranceway to the Samādhi That Is Taught by Many Buddhas.” [712]

Chapter 18

The Entrustment of the Samādhi

The Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, in that way know that there are four beneficial qualities possessed by bodhisattva mahāsattvas who obtain this samādhi, understand it, preserve it, recite it to others, promote it, proclaim it, chant it, and make it widely known to others.

“What are those four beneficial qualities? They will be unsurpassable in merit, they will be undefeatable by opponents, they will have unlimited wisdom, and they will have unending confidence of speech.

Young man, you should know[713] that bodhisattva mahāsattvas F.65.a who obtain this samādhi, study it, keep it, read it out loud, disseminate it, teach it, chant it, and make it widely known to others will possess these four beneficial qualities.”

The Bhagavān then recited these verses:

“Throughout time they will be
Unsurpassable in merit
Through attaining this samādhi of peace.
That is the range of activity of all the buddhas. {1}
“Throughout time these heroes
Will be protected by merit,
Practicing supreme, pure,
Unique bodhisattva conduct. {2}
“There will be no adversary
Whatsoever who can harm them.
They will, throughout time,
Be in the care of the buddhas. {3}
“Throughout time their wisdom
Will be immeasurable.
Their confidence will be eternal
Through their possessing this state of peace. {4}
“They will have an eternally unsurpassable accumulation of merit.
They will have most excellent bodhisattva conduct.
They will not be attacked by adversaries,
Having come into possession of this samādhi of supreme peace. {5}
“They will have vast and sharp wisdom
And thus will have eternal confidence and pure sight.
Those wise ones will always have
The power of memory and the power of retention. {6}
“The meaningful words that they teach
Will be most beautiful to the minds of the wise.
Many beings with wisdom will know
This supreme peaceful samādhi that is taught. {7}
“They will obtain perfect, excellent Dharma robes,
Bedding, invitations, and hard and soft food.
The ones who possess this supreme samādhi of peace
Will be very youthful and handsome. {8}
“They will see many buddhas, lords of worlds,
And make unequaled offerings to those guides.
In seeking this supreme samādhi of peace
They will encounter no impediment. {9}
“They will be in the presence of the lords of worlds
And made happy by hundreds of beautiful verses. F.65.b
Having gained this supreme samādhi of peace
They will never experience decline. {10}
“A Lord of the World will be present before them
With the beautiful primary and secondary signs of the body.
Having gained this supreme samādhi of peace
There will be no decline in their wisdom. {11}
“They will never be disheartened.
They will always be wealthy and never poor.
Having gained this supreme samādhi of peace
There will be no attachment in their mind. {12}
“They will never have an unfavorable existence.
They will be world rulers, cakravartin kings.
Having gained this supreme samādhi of peace
Their kingdoms will always be happy. {13}
“They will have vast wisdom free of uncertainty
Through unceasing teachings for hundreds of eons.
Having heard this samādhi, this level of peace,
Constant, they will follow whatever has been taught. {14}
“Though one were to describe the benefits of the ten strengths
Throughout countless, endless millions of eons,
One would not have spoken of even a fraction of them.
It would be like taking a drop of water from the ocean.” {15}
At that time the young man, with great joy,
Stood up and paid homage with his palms together.
Joyfully standing before the one with the ten strengths
He uttered these inspired words: {16}
“Inconceivable great hero,
Lord of the World, illuminator,
These benefits have been taught to me
By you, the Lord of humans. {17}
“Compassionate one who wishes to bring benefit,
Great hero, pray tell me,
Who, in the future,
Will listen to this samādhi?” {18}
The one with a voice like the avadavat’s song,
The Teacher who had taught this to him,
The Bhagavān, who had unimpeded wisdom,
Answered him with these words: {19}
“Listen, young man, and I will explain
That which is the highest practice.
Those who follow the Dharma
Will be the ones who listens to this sūtra. {20}
“They will make offerings to the lords of humans;
They will seek the wisdom of buddhahood.
Developing a loving mind,
They will listen to this sūtra. {21} F.66.a
“Those who have the qualities of mendicancy[714]
And the qualities of austerity,[715]
And who maintain this practice,
Will be ones who listen to this sūtra. {22}
“They will not listen to this sūtra
When it is in the hands of those whose acts are evil,
Nor of those who have lost their correct conduct
Regarding the teaching of the lords of worlds. {23}
“They will hear it when in the hands
Of the celibates, the heroes,
Those who have a mind free of craving
And who have been consecrated by the buddhas. {24}
“In future times they will hear
This sūtra when it is in the hands
Of those who have served the buddhas,
The lords of the world, in the past. {25}
“Those who in previous lifetimes
Have been tīrthikas
Will experience no joy
When they hear this sūtra. {26}
“Those who have entered homelessness
In my teaching in order to have a livelihood
Will be under the power of gain and honor,
And they will criticize each other. {27}
“Many bhikṣus with unrestrained senses,
Who covet the wives of others,
Who wish for gain and have poor conduct,
Will have no faith in this sūtra. {28}
“Those who do not intend to attain
Merit for buddhahood or to attain dhyāna,
And who maintain the conception of a self,
Will have no faith in this sūtra. {29}
“In future times there will be those
Who are intent on the result of worldly dhyānas.
They will eat the alms food of arhats
And criticize the enlightenment of buddhahood. {30}
“One who rejects this sūtra
Will have greater bad karma
Than someone who destroys
All the caityas in this Jambudvīpa. {31}
“One who rejects this sūtra
Will have greater bad karma
Than someone who kills as many arhats
As there are grains of sand in the Ganges. {32}
“Who among you has the fortitude
To teach this sūtra
In the dreadful future time
When the Dharma is ruined?”[716] {33}
The young man stood up, weeping,
And at that time spoke to the Jina.
This heart-born son of the Buddha
Roared thus this lion’s roar: {34} F.66.b
“In the dreadful time in future
When the Buddha has passed away,
Without concern for my life or body
I will spread this sūtra widely. {35}
“I will endure
The false talk of fools
And, Guide, I will undergo
Their abuse and threats. {36}
“I shall cleanse myself of whatever bad actions
I have done in the past
And any maliciousness
Toward other bodhisattvas.” {37}
The Buddha, who was the color of gold,
Placed his hand upon Candraprabha’s head.
The Tathāgata, who had a gentle voice,
The Teacher, then said to him, {38}
“I give you my blessing.
Young man, in the future
There will be no obstacle to your celibacy
Nor will there be to your life.” {39}
Eight hundred dharmabhāṇakas
Who were present stood up and said,
“In future times we also
Will be holders of this sūtra.” {40}
Eight hundred million
Devas, nāgas, and yakṣas stood up,
And another six trillion,
And said to the guide of the world, {41}
“Guide, in future times
We will protect
These bhikṣus who
Stood up today.” {42}
When this sūtra was taught,
Through the blessing of the Teacher,
Buddha realms shook, in numbers
Equal to the Ganges sands. {43}
The Lord of the World sent
To all those shaken buddha realms
Emanations of the Buddha
Who taught the Dharma there. {44}
In each of those realms
Countless millions of beings
Were established in the wisdom of buddhahood
When they had heard that Dharma. {45}
In those buddha realms
Nine hundred million devas[717]
Developed the aspiration to enlightenment
And scattered flowers on the Buddha. {46}
The Lord of men prophesied that
After eight hundred million eons
They would all, within the same eon,
Become guides of the world.[718] {47}
Bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs,
Upāsakas and upāsikās— F.67.a
Seven hundred and sixty million beings—
All heard this sūtra. {48}
The Lord of humans[719] prophesied
That they would see as many guides of the world
As there are grains of sand in the Ganges
While practicing bodhisattva conduct. {49}
“They will make offerings to them all,
Seeking the wisdom of enlightenment,
And here and there they will hear
This unsurpassable sūtra. {50}
“They will make unsurpassable offerings
To Buddha Maitreya.
They will possess the highest Dharma
And they will go to Sukhāvatī. {52}[720]
“There they will make offerings
To the stainless buddha,
The Tathāgata Amitāyus,
For the sake of supreme enlightenment. {53}
“Having heard this unsurpassable sūtra
They will not go in future
To the lower existences
For seventy-three[721] countless eons. {54}
“Those who in future times
Listen to this unsurpassable sūtra,
And keep it and read it,[722]
Will all be honoring[723] me. {55}
“I make this declaration[724]
To all those who are standing before me.
I bestow this enlightenment gained[725] with difficulty.” {56}
Conclusion of the eighteenth chapter, “The Entrustment of the Samādhi.”

Chapter 19

The Teaching of the Inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha

The Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, in that way bodhisattva mahāsattvas, having heard the inconceivable and measureless benefits of the qualities that come from the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, through wishing not to be fearful, wishing not to be terrified, and not to be gripped by terror, will become learned in the teaching of the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha. Aspire to the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha. Be wise in asking questions about the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha. Be wise in seeking the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha. Do not be fearful, do not be terrified, and do not be gripped by terror on hearing the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha.” F.67.b

The youth Candraprabha placed his palms together, bowed toward the Bhagavān, and asked him, “Bhagavān, in this way how do bodhisattva mahāsattvas aspire to the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha, become wise in asking questions about the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha, become wise in seeking the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha, and not be fearful, not be terrified, and not be gripped by terror on hearing the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha?”

The Bhagavān replied to the youth Candraprabha, “Those bodhisattva mahāsattvas who listen to and hear this samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, and obtain it, understand it, keep it, read it out loud, disseminate it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, promulgate it, and make it widely known to others, will become wise in the teaching of the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha. They will aspire to the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha, they will become wise in asking questions about the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha, and will not be fearful, will not be terrified, and will not be gripped by terror on hearing the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha.”[726]

“After the youth Candraprabha had been taught by the Bhagavān these words on accomplishing the benefits of the qualities that come from the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, he again heard from the Bhagavān countless, innumerable verses[727] describing the benefits of the qualities that come from the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena; and it was at that time that the youth Candraprabha attained this king of samādhis, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena.[728]

Innumerable, countless bodhisattva mahāsattvas attained the great, higher cognitions. F.68.a Countless beings also developed the motivation that is directed toward great compassion.

This universe of a thousand million worlds shook in six ways. It trembled, trembled strongly, and trembled intensely; it quivered, quivered strongly, and quivered intensely; it shook, shook strongly, and shook intensely; it shuddered, shuddered strongly, and shuddered intensely; it quaked, quaked strongly, and quaked intensely; the east sank and the west rose, the west sank and the east rose, the north sank and the south rose, the south sank and the north rose, the perimeter sank and the center rose, and the center sank and the perimeter rose. An immeasurable radiance shone in the universe. There fell a great rain of divine incense. Devas and their sons gathered in order to listen to the Dharma. High in the sky they heard the innumerable verses on the benefits of the qualities that come from the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena. All the devas and their sons felt pleased, delighted, thrilled, joyous, happy, and glad, and they emitted cries of joy[729] and laughter. They let fall a great rain of divine flowers of various kinds. They played many thousands of trillions of divine musical instruments. And they proclaimed the following words together as one voice:

“Aho![730] We have obtained something that is excellent to obtain. We have heard the innumerable verses on the benefits of the qualities from the Bhagavān. Bhagavān, just as the bodhisattva mahāsattva, the youth Candraprabha, attained this samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, we also, Bhagavān, will all together at the same time attain this samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena.” F.68.b

At the time when the Bhagavān was teaching the Dharma on Vulture Peak Mountain to the assembly that was like an ocean, the gandharva[731] Pañcaśikha, in order to honor and serve him, descended from the sky accompanied by the sound of five hundred musical instruments, and remained before the Bhagavān.

The gandharva Pañcaśikha thought, “Just as I[732] render service and honor in Sudharma before the devas of Trāyastriṃśa and Śakra, the lord of the devas, by singing them songs, in that same way I shall sing in order to make an offering to the god of gods, the Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha.”

Then the gandharva Pañcaśikha stood up before the Bhagavān holding a lute, the body of which was made of beryl. He was accompanied by the music[733] of five hundred other gandharvas[734] holding musical instruments.

The Bhagavān thought, “I shall perform a miracle so that the youth Candraprabha will attain skill in the realization of the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha, so that he will not waver from the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, and so that I may manifest the gandharva Pañcaśikha’s skill in singing and playing the lute.”

Then the Bhagavān performed that miracle, and through the power of the Buddha the five hundred instruments were played excellently. From that excellent playing there came the sound of the inconceivable meaning, which was united[735] with the true nature. And these verses of the realization of the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha were sung:[736]

“Within the breadth of one hair there are as many buddhas
As the number of grains of sand in the Ganges.
And those jinas have as many buddha realms, too,
Each one separate and with distinct characteristics. {1}
“Within the breadth of one hair there are the five kinds of beings:
The beings in hell, those who are animals, F.69.a
Those in the realm of Yama, the devas, and humans,
Without overlapping or being squeezed.[737] {2}
“Within that space there are the lakes and oceans,
All rivers, and similarly ponds and springs,
Without overlapping or being squeezed.
In that way the Buddha’s Dharma is inconceivable. {3}
“Within that space there are numerous mountains:
Cakravāla, Meru, and Sumeru,
Mucilinda and Mahāmucilinda,
Vindhya, Gṛdhrakūṭa, and Himavat. {4}
“Within that space there are the terrible hells,
The horrible Tāpana and Pratāpana.
Those who have fallen into those hells
Experience the sensation of suffering. {5}
“Within that space there are divine palaces,
Twelve[738] yojanas in size and beautiful.[739]
Within them there are many thousands of devas[740]
Who experience bliss in divine pleasures. {6}
“Within that space there are the births of buddhas.
There is illumination from the teaching of those who know the world.
Those[741] who have not trained in pure conduct
And who have no wisdom will not see them. {7}
“Within that space they hear the words,
‘The Dharma has ceased, the Guide has passed away.’
Within that space there are some who hear,
‘The Guide lives and he teaches the Dharma.’ {8}
“Within that space there are some who perceive
That they live for countless years.
Within that space there are those whose time is ending.
They hear the words, ‘You have not long to live.’ {9}
“Within that space there are some who have the perception,
Believing what their mind perceives,
Of seeing and making offerings to sugatas[742] and pleasing the buddhas.
Yet there is no arising and no making of offerings. {10}
“A man dreams he is in a house
Experiencing the bliss of sensory pleasures.
When he awakes he does not see those pleasures.[743]
He knows that it was a dream. {11}
“In that way, what is seen, heard, thought, or known,[744]
All of this is unreal, like a dream.
The one who has attained the samādhi
Will know this nature of phenomena. {12}
“For people such as this there is no pleasure or displeasure.
They are always perfectly happy in the world. F.69.b
Those who delight in vast forests
Become perfectly happy mendicants. {13}
“Those who have no thought of ‘mine,’
Those who have abandoned all attachments,
Wander in the world like rhinoceroses
And roam like the wind through the air. {14}
“Meditation on the path, the development of wisdom,
The emptiness and selflessness of all phenomena:
He who meditates on these Dharmas
Will have unending confidence. {15}
“The people in the world whose minds have no attachment,
They are perfectly happy in this world.
Their minds are always like the wind,
Knowing no attachment to pleasure or displeasure. {16}
“It is suffering to be with that which is unpleasant;
It is suffering to be separated from that which is pleasant.
Finally abandoning both of these,
Those happy people delight in the Dharma. {17}
“The one who has attachment on hearing this Dharma,
And animosity on hearing that which is not Dharma,
Goes astray through conceit and pride,
And overpowered by pride, experiences suffering. {18}
“Those who remain in equanimity
Are always free of arrogance and depression.
When faced with the pleasant and the unpleasant
They always have a liberated mind. {19}
“Those who maintain perfectly pure correct conduct,
Who remain always in inconceivable dhyāna
And delight in the peace of the forests,
Will never know the arising of doubts. {20}
“Those who engage in that which is unreal,
The fools who are always enjoying sensory pleasures
Like vultures attracted to a corpse,
They always fall under the power of Namuci.”[745] {21}

When these verses had been created through the sound of the lutes,[746] the youth Candraprabha attained skill in the realization of the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha; the gandharva Pañcaśikha attained the patience that was in accord with that sound; countless beings, both devas and humans, developed the aspiration to the highest, complete enlightenment; F.70.a and countless beings were benefitted.

Conclusion of the nineteenth chapter, “The Teaching of the Inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha.”

Chapter 20

Indra­ketu­dhvaja­rāja

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, in that way bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this Dharma teaching of entering great compassion and wish to attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood quickly should rely upon all roots of merit, training, qualities, and completely pure conduct.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have few involvements, avoid bad companions, rely on kalyāṇamitras, have an inquiring nature, unrelentingly seek the Dharma, have the Dharma as their goal, desire the Dharma, delight in the Dharma, obtain the Dharma, and practice the Dharma in accord with the Dharma will, young man, develop great compassion for beings and will develop the aspiration for the highest, complete enlightenment.

“Moreover, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this Dharma teaching of entering great compassion and wish to attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood quickly should be diligent, without regard for life or body, and should continuously seek kalyāṇamitras who teach this Dharma teaching of entering great compassion, and unwaveringly serve them, rely upon them, and honor them.

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who with a higher motivation seek kalyāṇamitras should hear from them the Dharma teaching of entering great compassion, and should obtain it, understand it, preserve it, recite it to others, promote it, proclaim it, chant it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, F.70.b promulgate it, and make it widely known to others. They should, with joy and veneration, perceive as the Teacher the person from whom they hear this Dharma teaching on entering great compassion.

“Young man, when bodhisattva mahāsattvas search for kalyāṇamitras, and respect them and serve them without weariness, at that time, young man, those bodhisattva mahāsattvas easily attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood and they obtain this Dharma teaching on easily entering great compassion.

“Young man, in that way bodhisattva mahāsattvas should constantly seek for kalyāṇamitras as if their head or clothing were on fire, and unwaveringly attend upon them, serve them, and venerate them.

“Why is that? Young man, for bodhisattva mahāsattvas the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, not even to speak of this Dharma teaching on entering great compassion, depends upon kalyāṇamitras.

“Therefore, young man, you should always practice by thinking, ‘I will not weary of seeking kalyāṇamitras, venerating them, and serving them.’ ”

Thereupon the Bhagavān, in order to make clear this Dharma teaching on entering great compassion, gave the youth Candraprabha the teaching that had been given in the past in detail in the form of the following verses:[747]

“Many incalculable, innumerable,
Inconceivable millions of eons in the past,
There was the highest of humans,
The Guide named Indra­ketu­dhvaja­rāja. {1}
“He taught this samādhi of peace
In which there is no human, soul, or person:
‘All phenomena are like the moon on water,
Illusions, bubbles, mirages, and lightning. {2}
“ ‘There is no human, no descendant of Manu, to be found F.71.a
Who goes to the next world when his time has come to an end.
However, the karma that has been created will not disappear,
But will give corresponding black or white results. {3}
“ ‘This is the excellent doorway of the way of logic,
The subtle, difficult-to-see realm of experience of the jinas.
The Bhagavān knows the enlightenment of buddhahood
In which there are there no words or letters to be found. {4}
“ ‘Vast retention and the accumulation of wisdom
Come from a hundred thousand trillion sūtras.
The Bhagavān teaches the samādhi
That is the field of experience of a hundred thousand trillion buddhas. {5}
“ ‘This frees the sick from their illness.
It is the wealth accomplished by bodhisattvas.
It is praised and extolled by all buddhas;
A hundred thousand trillion devas make offerings to it. {6}
“ ‘It is condemned by all foolish beings,[748]
And the tīrthikas always reject it.
It is the supreme wealth of conduct that is praised by the buddhas.
It is as undefiled as lightning in the sky. {7}
“ ‘Those who make offerings to millions of jinas
Are wise in the practice of generosity and correct conduct,
Have forsaken their previous bad companions,
And have an unsurpassable inheritance of wealth.’[749] {8}
“There was present a bhikṣu, a dharmabhāṇaka,
A celibate who was the heart son of the Sugata.
When he had heard this benevolent Dharma,
He developed the aspiration to be a guide of the world.[750] {9}
“The Guide, Indra­ketu­dhvaja­rāja,
Said to the dharmabhāṇaka,
‘Bhikṣu, develop the supreme, difficult-to-attain
Motivation for the highest enlightenment. {10}
“ ‘Maintain the conduct that is like a precious jewel,
Always depend on favorable friends,
Never depend on friends whose actions are evil
And before long you will attain buddha wisdom.’ {11}
“The one who developed the aspiration to enlightenment
In the presence of Indra­ketu­dhvaja­rāja
Became a supreme dharmabhāṇaka,
A celibate who was the heart son of the Sugata.”[751] {12}
Conclusion of the twentieth chapter, “Indra­ketu­dhvaja­rāja.” F.71.bB7

Chapter 21

The Past

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas should entertain no misgivings about all the teachings on the root of merits, the training, and the qualities.[752] They should have few involvements, avoid bad companions, rely on kalyāṇamitras, have an inquiring nature, unrelentingly seek the Dharma, have the Dharma as their goal, desire the Dharma, delight in the Dharma, obtain the Dharma, and practice the Dharma in accord with the Dharma. They should perceive every buddha and bodhisattva as the teacher. They should with joy and veneration perceive as the teacher the person from whom they hear this Dharma teaching.

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who adopt and follow this Dharma teaching of entertaining no misgivings about all the teachings on the root of merits, the training, and the qualities will quickly display unending confidence of speech. They will accomplish[753] the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha. They will realize the profound Dharma of the Buddha. They will be like a light that dispels the darkness of perplexity, uncertainty, and doubt of the people of the world and the devas.”

Then at that time, in order to relate this Dharma teaching of entertaining no misgivings about all the teachings on the root of merits, the training, and the qualities, he spoke to the youth Candraprabha these verses that told of the past.[754]

“In the past, in this world named Jambudvīpa,[755]
There were two excellent sons[756] who were not heedless.
They entered homelessness in the teaching of a sugata,
And dwelt like rhinoceroses in a grove of trees. {1}
“They had miraculous powers and had attained the four dhyānas,
They were very learned and skilled in composing poetry and texts, F.72.a
They had mastered levitating up into the air,
And they could travel freely through the sky. {2}
“They were engaged in conversation
In that cool grove of trees
That was filled with a variety of beautiful flowers
And attended by flocks of varieties of birds. {3}
“A king who was pursuing a deer
Heard their voices and entered that grove.
The monarch saw the two dharmabhāṇakas
And with the greatest joy he approached them. {4}
“They addressed each other agreeably
And the king sat down before them.
The king’s multitudinous army
Of sixty quintillion soldiers approached. {5}
“Then both of those dharmabhāṇakas
Said to the king, ‘Listen, Kṣatriya![757]
It is very difficult to reach supreme buddhahood.
Monarch, always be careful! {6}
“ ‘Life is always passing and never stays.
It passes as quickly as a mountain stream.
From the torment of illness, misery, and aging
You have no other refuge than good actions.[758] {7}
“ ‘Supreme king,[759] be a protector of the Dharma.
Guard the teaching of the one with ten strengths
In this utterly terrible time of degeneration.
Remain on the side of Dharma, supreme king!’ {8}
“Thus the wise ones at that time
Gave much advice to that sovereign,
Following which the monarch, with the other six quintillions,[760]
Developed the aspiration to enlightenment. {9}
“When the supreme king had heard the Dharma,
He was joyful, very happy, and enraptured
With those who had spoken it so gently and pleasantly,
And bowed down to their feet before departing. {10}
“Under that king there were many other bhikṣus
Who desired gain and who entered homes.
When he saw how dissimilar was their conduct
The king did not show them respect. {11}
“The teacher of the teaching had passed away
And this was the time of the latter years.
There were very few worthy recipients in Jambudvīpa,
And there were present many who were without self-control. {12}
“The many bhikṣus, who were desirous and greedy,
Yearned for acquisitions, held the view of objective reality, F.72.b
And had fallen away from the Sugata’s teaching,
At that time repeatedly urged the king to action. {13}
“ ‘You must kill those two dharmabhāṇakas.
They are tīrthikas who are teaching nihilism.
Among those who have adopted that practice for a long time
There are none who have attained nirvāṇa. {14}
“ ‘They deny karma, they deny ripening;
Those imposters teach that there are no skandhas.
Your Majesty, banish them from the land
And then the Dharma will remain for a long time.’ {15}
“When he had listened to what they had to say,
The elephant-like king became distrustful.
‘I shall kill these two dharmabhāṇakas.
I must not leave them alone, for that would be harmful.’[761] {16}
“The king was attended by a goddess[762]
Who had practiced with him in a previous lifetime.
She was wise and had benefited him for a long time,
And at this time she said to the sovereign king, {17}
“ ‘Kṣatriya,[763] do not think in this way
Because of what bad associates have said.
Do not kill[764] those two wise dharmabhāṇakas
Because of what bad associates have said. {18}
“ ‘Lord of men, do you not remember even a little
Of what they said to you in the forest grove?
In this perfectly terrible time of degeneration,
Remain on the side of Dharma, elephant-like king!’ [765] {19}
“The king, inspired by those true words,
Did not abandon the teachings of the jinas.[766]
But the king had a cruel brother
Who was persuaded by those around him.[767] {19b–20a}[768]
“They told him, ‘The king, your brother, is wicked;
He has no joy in being alive.[769]
Those two bhikṣus possess dreadful spells.
With those spells they can fly through the sky.[770] {20}
“ ‘Having heard this we have come to you,
To tell you all that has occurred.
Quickly kill those dreadful magicians,
Or afterward you will be filled with regret.’ {21}
“Then the king’s brother[771] put on his armor,
Under the influence of those bad associates.
The king’s brother, encircled by his entire army,
Came to the forest where the two bhikṣus dwelt. {22}
“The nāgas and yakṣas that lived in that forest
Knew the intention of the king’s dreadful, cruel brother F.73.a
And hurled upon them a rain of bricks and stones
That killed the king’s brother and his army. {23}
“See how the life of the king’s cruel brother came to an end
Because he listened to what bad associates said.
Those who were angry at the dharmabhāṇakas
Took rebirth sixty times in the Avīci hell. {24}
“Those numerous bhikṣus who believed in reality
And drove the kṣatriya king to action
Experienced the sufferings of hell
For countless billons of rebirths. {25}
“The goddess who influenced the king
And protected the dharmabhāṇakas
Saw buddhas as numerous as sand grains in ten million Ganges,
Made offerings to them, and engaged in practice. {26}
“The multitudinous six quintillion men,
Who with the king had heard the Dharma
And developed the aspiration to enlightenment,
Became buddhas in numerous different realms. {27}
“Their lifespans were many millions of eons.
They had inconceivable, unequaled wisdom.
They all taught this excellent samādhi,
And then those supreme humans passed into nirvāṇa. {28}
“Having heard this unsurpassable teaching
On the accumulation of correct conduct, purity, qualities, and wisdom,
You must practice intently, without distraction,
And quickly attain the wisdom of buddhahood.[772] {29}
“Look upon us, you tathāgatas in the ten directions,
Who have peaceful minds and compassionate, loving eyes.
You are the refuge and protection for all beings.
Send down your rain of Dharma upon the world.[773] {30}
“Do not think that those two young men,
Those perfect sons,[774] were anyone else:
Dīpaṃkara was at that time one of them,
And I was the second dharmabhāṇaka. {30a}
“At that time Maitreya was the king[775]
Who listened favorably to the Dharma.
And you, young man, at that time,
Were the wise goddess who wished to help. {30b}
“At that time, Devadatta
Was the king’s brother,
Influenced by the acquisitive bhikṣus F.73.b
Who said, ‘Kill those two dharmabhāṇakas.’ ” {30c}
Conclusion of the twenty-first chapter, “The Past.”

Chapter 22

The Teaching on the Body

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should have no attachment to their life or body. Why is that? Because, young man, beings accomplish bad actions due to attachment to their lives and bodies.[776]

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have no attachment to their life and body will not even find it difficult to attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, not to mention this samādhi. Therefore, young man, have no attachment to your life and body. That is how you should practice.”

It was said concerning this:

“Foolish beings always unceasingly
Have strong attachment to the putrid body.
Grasping at life, and for the sake of happiness,
The unwise always commit bad actions. {i}
Those who do not know attachment
To body and life, which have no essence,
Will defeat the armies of Māra
And realize enlightenment at the foot of the Bodhi tree. {ii}
Those who have attachment to these two things—
The body that is empty and selfless,
And life, which is like a dream or a fleeting dewdrop—
Those people will go to hell when they die. {iii}
Conclusion of the twenty-second chapter, “The Teaching on the Body.”[777]

Chapter 23

The Teaching on the Tathāgata’s Body

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should not know the Tathāgata to be the rūpakāya.[778] Why is that? It is because the Buddha Bhagavān manifests because of the dharmakāya and does not manifest because of the rūpakāya. F.74.a

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas whose wish is to aspire to the body of the tathāgata, who wish to know the body of the tathāgata, should obtain this samādhi, understand it, preserve it, recite it to others, promote it, proclaim it, chant it, meditate on it with dedication to the practice of meditation, and make it widely known to others.

“Young man, the body of the tathāgata[779] is taught to be one meaning,[780] with the understanding that it arises from a hundred merits. It arises from the Dharma.[781] It is without attributes. It is devoid of all attributes. It is profound.[782] It is immeasurable. It is an immeasurable phenomenon.[783] It has the nature of the absence of attributes.[784] It is free of all attributes.[785] It is unwavering.[786] It has no location. It completely has the nature of space. It is invisible. It transcends the scope of the eye’s vision. That should be known as the dharmakāya.[787]

“It is inconceivable. It is beyond the level of thought. It is unaffected by bliss or suffering. It transcends all conceptual elaboration.[788] It has no location,[789] because it transcends the scope of the words of those who aspire to the wisdom of buddhahood. It is the quintessence[790] because it transcends desire. It is indivisible because it transcends anger.[791] It is stable because it transcends the scope of ignorance. It is taught through the teaching of emptiness. It is unborn because it transcends birth.[792] It is ‘permanent’ in terms of words, and terminology is empty.[793] It is undifferentiated because it is nirvāṇa.

[794] It is ‘nirvāṇa’[795] because of a word. It is ‘peace’ because of speaking.[796] There is equality in terms of conventional appellations.[797] There are appellations in terms of ultimate truth. There is ultimate truth through correct speech.[798]

“It is calmness, the absence of anguish.[799] It is groundless,[800] and cannot be comprehended.[801] There is no end to its description.[802]

“Young man, it arises from training in the great, higher cognitions, and it is known as the tathāgatakāya.”

Thereupon, the Bhagavān spoke these verses: F.74.b

“Someone who wishes to know
This body of the Lord of the World[803]
Should meditate on this samādhi,
And then they will know the Buddha’s body.[804] {1}
“A buddha’s body is born from merit.[805]
It[806] is pure and it is brilliant.
It is the same as space;
There is no difference between them. {2}
“The characteristics of a buddha
Are the same as those of enlightenment.
The characteristics of the body
Are the same as those characteristics. {3}
“The body has enlightenment’s characteristics
And a buddha realm has the same.
The strengths, liberations, and dhyānas
Are all also a single characteristic. {4}
“That is the nature of the emergence
Of the buddhas, of the lords of worlds.
There is no being who with physical eyes
Is able to see their bodies. {5}
“There are many who declare,
‘I have seen the guide of the world.
He is the color of gold and his body
Illuminates the entire world.’ {6}
“This body that is seen,
Beautified by characteristics,
Is a manifestation through the power
Of the blessing of the buddhas. {7}
“The Buddha’s body is displayed
As having a height and a width,
But that body cannot be measured,
And therefore it is inconceivable. {8}
“If the Buddha’s body could be measured
And found to be of a certain size,
Then the Teacher would be the same
As a deva or a human. {9}
“That characteristic is the ripening
Of a mind in meditation.
There will be pure, radiant names-and-form
That have that characteristic. {10}
“There is no being whatsoever
Who has meditated on this samādhi of peace
It is in that way that the Lord of the World
Has practiced for millions of eons. {11}
“I have developed this samādhi
Through a multitude of good qualities.
Because of the vastness of that samādhi
My body cannot be seen. {12}
“As is someone’s mind,
So are their names-and-form;
The mind that has no nature of its own
Has names-and-form with that characteristic. {13}
“Those who have a gross perception
Of names-and-form,
Their inharmonious perception F.75.a
Gives rise to a mind that is gross. {14}
“Those who have a subtle perception
Within their names-and-form
Will have a mind that is radiant
And without attachment to names-and-form. {15}
“I remember that in my previous lives
During seven countless eons,
The three bad perceptions[807]
Never arose in me at any time. {16}
“My mind has been undefiled
For countless millions of eons.
I bring benefit to beings
And my body is not visible. {17}
“The one whose mind
Is liberated from existents
Will never again be
Connected with existents. {18}
“My consciousness is liberated
Completely from all things.
I know the nature of the mind,
So that henceforth wisdom will arise. {19}
“My emanations proceed
To thousands of millions of realms.
There they benefit beings
Though there is no body to be found. {20}
“Without characteristics, without attributes,
It is the same as space.
My body is indescribable.
It is taught to be difficult to understand. {21}
“The dharmakāya, the great hero,
Is a body born from the Dharma.
The Jina cannot be made known
By means of the rūpakāya. {22}
“Māra will find no opportunity
To cause harm to the one
Who has felt joy on hearing
These words that have been taught. {23}
“Those who have heard the profound Dharma
And have not been frightened by it,
Will not even for the sake of their lives
Forsake the enlightenment of buddhahood. {24}
“They will know the truth that is taught
In thousands of millions of sūtras.
They will be a light for the world
Wherever it is that they will go.[808] {25}

“Young man, the body of the Tathāgata is not easily known through attributes or actions. It is blue, or is colored blue, or is like blue, or shines with blue light; or it is yellow, or is colored yellow, or is like yellow, or shines with yellow light; or it is red, or is colored red, or is like red, F.75.b or shines with red light; or it is white, or is colored white, or is like white, or shines with white light; or it is madder, or is colored madder, or is like madder, or shines with madder light; or it is crystal, or is crystal-colored, or is like crystal, or shines with crystal light; or it is fire, or is fire-colored, or is like fire, or shines with fire light; or it is distilled ghee, or is ghee-colored, or is like ghee, or shines with ghee-colored light; or it is gold, or is gold-colored, or is like gold, or shines with golden light; or it is beryl, or is beryl-colored, or is like beryl, or shines with beryl light; or it is lightning, or is lightning-colored, or is like lightning, or shines with lightning’s light; or it is Brahmā, or is Brahmā-colored, or is like Brahmā, or shines with Brahmā’s light; or it is a deva, or is deva-colored, or is like a deva, or shines with a deva’s light. It is not easy to know it.

“Young man, in that way the body of the tathāgata is pure. It cannot be conceived of through attributes, and so it is taught to be inconceivable. It cannot be conceived of[809] through any attribute, and so it is taught to be inconceivable. It cannot be conceived of through external appearances. It is immeasurable. The beings and devas of this world cannot easily grasp its extent even through the perfect rūpakāya.”[810]

The Bhagavān then spoke these verses:

“All the particles in the world
And all that can be conceived of as dust,
And all the water that is in springs,
Lakes, ponds, and the ocean— {26}
“One may ask how many particles there are,
But one can never find the end.
Even if, with the tip of a hair, one could measure out
How much water there is in an ocean,[811] {26–27}
“Even that could not be taught
As an analogy for the Lord of the World.
There are countless drops of water F.76.a
And it is the same for atoms, {27}
“But I see that even a single sentient being
Has far more numerous
Aspirations and motivations
That are developed at numerous times.[812] {28}
“Yet even the aspirations of all beings
Are not adequate as an analogy
For those qualities of the body
That I have indicated. {29}
“One cannot[813] through[814] attributes and actions
Know the appearance of these kinds
Of qualities[815] of a buddha,
And that is my distinctive characteristic. {30}
“The buddhas are devoid of attributes.
They are the manifestation of the dharmakāya.
They are profound and immeasurable,
And therefore the buddhas are inconceivable. {31}
“The inconceivable buddha body
Of a buddha is also inconceivable.
Those bodies are inconceivable.
They are the manifestation of the dharmakāya. {32}
“The mind is incapable of conceiving
The bodies of the buddhas.
One cannot, therefore, obtain
The measure of such a body. {33}
“Those immeasurable qualities
I have practiced for ten million eons.
Therefore have I accomplished
A body that is inconceivable and radiant, too. {34}
“There is no being that can grasp it
Or that can obtain its measure.
In that way the body of a buddha
Is inconceivable and immeasurable. {35}
“Because the qualities are immeasurable
There is no measure that can be conceived for them.[816]
Because the qualities are not conceived
The buddha also is inconceivable. {36}
“The measured is taught to be a conception;
The measureless is nonconceptual.
That which is not conceived is without conception;
Therefore the buddha is inconceivable. {37}
“Just as space is limitless
And no one is able to measure it,
Likewise a buddha’s body
Is just the same as space. {38}
“Those who thus know the body
Of the buddhas are the progeny of the jinas.
They will also become buddhas,
Inconceivable lords of worlds.” {39}
Conclusion of the twenty-third chapter, “The Teaching on the Tathāgata’s Body.”[817]

Chapter 24

The Inconceivable Tathāgata

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, F.76.b “Young man, aspiring bodhisattva mahāsattvas think, ‘How can I make manifest the four discernments? What are these four? They are the discernment of meaning, the discernment of phenomena, the discernment of definitions, and the discernment of eloquence. I shall manifest these four!’ On having this thought, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas should obtain this samādhi, understand it, preserve it, recite it to others, promote it, proclaim it, chant it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, and make it widely known to others.

“Young man, what is the discernment of phenomena?

“Young man, however many words there can be for forms, the tathāgata has that many appellations for them.[818] It is the same for sensation, identification, mentation; and, young man, for consciousnesses. Young man, in that way there are infinite, endless, inconceivably numerous[819] words for forms, and the tathāgata, too has inconceivably numerous appellations for them. It is the same for sensation, identification, mentation, and, young man, for consciousnesses: there are infinite, endless, inconceivably numerous words for them, and the tathāgata, too has inconceivably numerous appellations for them.[820]

“Young man, there are countless faults in those composite phenomena; there are also countless benefits in nirvāṇa, and the tathāgata, too, has that many countless appellations. Young man, as numerous as are the names for nirvāṇa, the tathāgata has that many appellations. F.77.a Thus, young man, there are countless names of nirvāṇa, and the tathāgata, too, has that many appellations.

“Young man, the tathāgata has spoken of four kinds of appellations that are inconceivably numerous because it is not easy to state that there is an end to them. What are these four? They are the inconceivably numerous appellations in regard to the composite, the inconceivably numerous appellations for sounds, the inconceivably numerous appellations for kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous appellations for purification. Young man, those are the tathāgata’s four kinds of inconceivably numerous appellations. Young man, those four, the tathāgata’s inconceivably numerous appellations, are taught to be inconceivably numerous as it is not easy to state that there is an end to them. To understand what those four are, they should be taught in detail.

“Young man, there are the four ways of the bodhisattvas. What are the four ways? They are the inconceivably numerous ways of the composite, the inconceivably numerous ways of teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous ways of the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous ways of purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of reasoning.[821] What are the four kinds of reasoning? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of reasoning concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of reasoning concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of reasoning concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of reasoning concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of doorways. What are the four kinds of doorways? They are the inconceivably numerous doorways concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous doorways concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous doorways concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous doorways concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of elucidation. What are the four kinds of elucidation? F.77.b They are the inconceivably numerous elucidations concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous elucidations concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous elucidations concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous elucidations concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of speaking. What are the four kinds of speaking? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of speaking concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of speaking concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of speaking concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of speaking concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words. What are the four kinds of words? They are the inconceivably numerous words concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous words concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous words concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of recitation. What are the four kinds of recitation? They are the inconceivably numerous recitations concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous recitations concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous recitations concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous recitations concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of pertinent speech. What are the four kinds of pertinent speech? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of pertinent speech concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of pertinent speech concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of pertinent speech concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of pertinent speech concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of comprehension of the devas. What are the four kinds of comprehension of the devas? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of the devas concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of the devas concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of the devas concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of the devas concerning purification. F.78.a Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of comprehension of humans. What are the four kinds of comprehension of humans? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of humans concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of humans concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of humans concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of humans concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of comprehension of names. What are the four kinds of comprehension of names? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of names concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of names concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of names concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of comprehension of names concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of engagement. What are the four kinds of engagement? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of engagement concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of engagement concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of engagement concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of engagement concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of ascension.[822] What are the four kinds of ascension? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of ascension concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of ascension concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of ascension concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of ascension concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of vajra words. What are the four kinds of vajra words? They are the inconceivably numerous vajra words concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous vajra words concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous vajra words concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous vajra words concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of mantra words. F.78.b What are the four kinds of mantra words? They are the inconceivably numerous mantra words concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous mantra words concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous mantra words concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous mantra words concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of attainment. What are the four kinds of attainment? They are the inconceivably numerous attainments concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous attainments concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous attainments concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous attainments concerning purification. Those are the four.[823]

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of sūtra words. What are the four kinds of sūtra words? They are the inconceivably numerous sūtra words concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous sūtra words concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous sūtra words concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous sūtra words concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of designations.[824] What are the four kinds of designations? They are the inconceivably numerous designations concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous designations concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous designations concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous designations concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words concerning illumination.[825] What are the four kinds of words concerning illumination? They are the inconceivably numerous words concerning illumination in regard to the composite, the inconceivably numerous words concerning illumination in regard to teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words concerning illumination in regard to the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous words concerning illumination in regard to purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words concerning clarification.[826] What are the four kinds of words concerning clarification? They are the inconceivably numerous words concerning clarification in regard to the composite, the inconceivably numerous words concerning clarification in regard to teaching the composite, F.79.a the inconceivably numerous words concerning clarification in regard to the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous words of clarification in regard to purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words concerning conduct. What are the four kinds of words concerning conduct? They are the inconceivably numerous words of conduct concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of conduct concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of conduct concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous words of conduct concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words concerning behavior.[827] What are the four kinds of words concerning behavior? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of words concerning behavior in regard to the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of words concerning behavior in regard to teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of words concerning behavior in regard to the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of words concerning behavior in regard to purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words of inconceivability. What are the four kinds of words of inconceivability? They are the inconceivably numerous words of inconceivability[828] concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of inconceivability concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of inconceivability concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous words of inconceivability concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words of limitlessness.[829] What are the four kinds of words of limitlessness? They are the inconceivably numerous words of limitlessness concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of limitlessness concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of limitlessness concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous words of limitlessness concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words of nonmovement.[830] What are the four kinds of words of nonmovement? They are the inconceivably numerous words of nonmovement concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of nonmovement concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of nonmovement concerning the kleśas, F.79.b and the inconceivably numerous words of nonmovement concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words of boundlessness. What are the four kinds of words of boundlessness? They are the inconceivably numerous words of boundlessness concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of boundlessness concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of boundlessness concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous words of boundlessness concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words of incomparability.[831] What are the four kinds of words of incomparability? They are the inconceivably numerous words of incomparability concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of incomparability concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of incomparability concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous words of incomparability concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words of innumerability. What are the four kinds of words of innumerability? They are the inconceivably numerous words of innumerability concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of innumerability concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of innumerability concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous words of innumerability concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words of unquantifiability. What are the four kinds of words of unquantifiability? They are the inconceivably numerous words of unquantifiability concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of unquantifiability concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of unquantifiability concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous words of unquantifiability concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words of immeasurability. What are the four kinds of words of immeasurability? They are the inconceivably numerous words of immeasurability concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of immeasurability concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of immeasurability concerning the kleśas, F.80.a and the inconceivably numerous words of immeasurability concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of words of wisdom. What are the four kinds of words of wisdom? They are the inconceivably numerous words of wisdom concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of wisdom concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous words of wisdom concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous words of wisdom concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of accumulation of wisdom. What are the four kinds of accumulation of wisdom? They are the inconceivably numerous accumulations of wisdom concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous accumulations of wisdom concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous accumulations of wisdom concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous accumulations of wisdom concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of families of wisdom.[832] What are the four kinds of families of wisdom? They are the inconceivably numerous families of wisdom concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous families of wisdom concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous families of wisdom concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous families of wisdom concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of accumulation of eloquence. What are the four kinds of accumulation of eloquence? They are the inconceivably numerous accumulations of eloquence concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous accumulations of eloquence concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous accumulations of eloquence concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous accumulations of eloquence concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of sūtras. What are the four kinds of sūtras? They are the inconceivably numerous sūtras concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous sūtras concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous sūtras concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous sūtras concerning purification. Those are the four. F.80.b

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of accumulations of sūtras. What are the four kinds of accumulations of sūtras? They are the inconceivably numerous accumulations of sūtras concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous accumulations of sūtras concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous accumulations of sūtras concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous accumulations of sūtras concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of great learning. What are the four kinds of great learning? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of great learning concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of great learning concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of great learning concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of great learning concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of wealth. What are the four kinds of wealth? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of wealth concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of wealth concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of wealth concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of wealth concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of training. What are the four kinds of training? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of training concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of training concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of training concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of training concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of fields of conduct. What are the four kinds of fields of conduct? They are the inconceivably numerous fields of conduct concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous fields of conduct concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous fields of conduct concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous fields of conduct concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of action. What are the four kinds of action? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of action concerning the composite, F.81.a the inconceivably numerous kinds of action concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of action concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of action concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of eloquence. What are the four kinds of eloquence? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of eloquence concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of eloquence concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of eloquence concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of eloquence concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of meditation on the path. What are the four kinds of meditation on the path? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of meditation on the path concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of meditation on the path concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of meditation on the path concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of meditation on the path concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of the kleśas. What are the four kinds of knowledge of the kleśas? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the kleśas concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the kleśas concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the kleśas concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the kleśas concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of the result. What are the four kinds of knowledge of the result? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the result concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the result concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the result concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the result concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of ignorance. What are the four kinds of knowledge of ignorance? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of ignorance concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of ignorance concerning teaching the composite, F.81.b the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of ignorance concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of ignorance concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of suffering. What are the four kinds of knowledge of suffering? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of suffering concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of suffering concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of suffering concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of suffering concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of unhappiness. What are the four kinds of knowledge of unhappiness? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of unhappiness concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of unhappiness concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of unhappiness concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of unhappiness concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of poverty. What are the four kinds of knowledge of poverty? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of poverty concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of poverty concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of poverty concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of poverty concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of birth. What are the four kinds of knowledge of birth? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of birth concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of birth concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of birth concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of birth concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of inner knowledge. What are the four kinds of inner knowledge? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of inner knowledge concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of inner knowledge concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of inner knowledge concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of inner knowledge concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of external knowledge. What are the four kinds of external knowledge? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of external knowledge concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of external knowledge concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of external knowledge concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of external knowledge concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of modesty. What are the four kinds of knowledge of modesty? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of modesty concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of modesty concerning teaching the composite, F.82.a the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of modesty concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of modesty concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of truth. What are the four kinds of knowledge of truth? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of truth concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of truth concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of truth concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of truth concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of existence. What are the four kinds of knowledge of existence? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of existence concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of existence concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of existence concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of existence concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of existents. What are the four kinds of knowledge of existents? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of existents concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of existents concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of existents concerning the kleśas, F.82.b and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of existents concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of the individual. What are the four kinds of knowledge of the individual? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the individual concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the individual concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the individual concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of the individual concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of knowledge of apprehensions. What are the four kinds of knowledge of apprehensions? They are the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of apprehensions concerning the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of apprehensions concerning teaching the composite, the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of apprehensions concerning the kleśas, and the inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of apprehensions concerning purification. Those are the four.

“Young man, those are the four inconceivably numerous kinds of knowledge of apprehensions that are taught to be inconceivably numerous. It is not easy to state an end to them.

“Young man, the bodhisattvas have four kinds of retention. What are the four kinds of retention? The first retention is of what is known concerning the teaching of all infinite composites. The second retention is of what is known concerning the teaching of all infinite sounds. The third retention is of what is known concerning the teaching of all infinite kleśas. The fourth retention is of what is known concerning the teaching of all infinite purifications. Those are the four retentions. The four retentions are those.

“So it is in these ways that there is the discernment of phenomena through knowing phenomena.

“The discernment of meaning is the meaning in the knowledge of phenomena. F.83.a

“The discernment of definitions is delight[833] in the knowledge of phenomena.

“Young man, the discernment of eloquence is teaching terminology, explaining, expounding,[834] clarifying,[835] disseminating,[836] analyzing, differentiating, proclaiming,[837] having unimpeded speech, having unalloyed[838] speech, not being mute,[839] not stammering,[840] and speaking without loss of confidence in relation to the knowledge of phenomena.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān spoke these verses:

“As numerous as are the knowledges of the Buddha,
There are that many designations for forms.
As numerous as are the designations for forms,
There are that many appellations of forms.[841] {1}
“As numerous as are the appellations of forms,
There are that many names for conduct.
As numerous as are the names for conduct,
There are that many names of buddhas. {2}
“As numerous as are the names of buddhas,
There are that many names of beings.
I know[842] whatever number of names
Even one single being has. {3}
“The names for conduct, names of buddhas,
And names of beings are equal
To the infinity of names and appellations
That I have previously taught. {4}
“As numerous as are the faults in the composite,
There are that many qualities[843] in nirvāṇa.
I have taught as many analogies
As there are qualities of the buddhas. {5}
“As numerous as are the motivations
That I have taught beings to have,
There are that many light rays
From a single hair of a Lord of the World. {6}
“As numerous as are the names
And aspirations of all beings,
A lord of humans has even more
Qualities of the aspects of his speech. {7}
“The names of all beings that have been taught
To be those of one being
Are the names of one being
That have been taught to be those of all beings. {8}
“The Buddha has taught
This engagement with discernment.[844]
Infinite names have been taught
For the sake of the bodhisattvas. {9}
“Those who wish to teach in some way
The endless millions of sūtras F.83.b
Should recite this sūtra
And teach it with full confidence. {10}
“They should teach in the middle of an assembly
Millions of sūtras without impediment.
They should teach the Dharma in the way
That space is without any limit. {11}
“In that way the bodhisattvas,
The pure beings, the protectors,
Having taken up this sūtra
Will become endowed with wisdom. {12}
“Through the way this path is taught
By those who have faith,
That is how wisdom grows,
Like a tree on a snow mountain.” {13}
Conclusion of the twenty-fourth chapter, “The Inconceivable Tathāgata.” B8

Chapter 25

Engaging in Discernment

“Young man, how do bodhisattva mahāsattvas who practice that discernment of phenomena, who view phenomena as phenomena, attain the highest, complete enlightenment?

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who practice that discernment of phenomena, who view phenomena as phenomena, do not perceive enlightenment as other than form. They do not approach enlightenment as other than form. They do not seek enlightenment as other than form. They do not attain enlightenment as other than form. They do not inspire beings to an enlightenment that is other than form. They do not see a tathāgata as other than form. They see a tathāgata in this way: ‘The Tathāgata is the fearlessness that is the nature of form.’ They do not see the tathāgata as other than form, as other than the nature of form. They do not see the nature of form as other than the tathāgata. The nature of that which is called form and that of the tathāgata are nondual. The bodhisattva mahāsattvas who see in that way are engaging in the discernment of phenomena.

“In that same way they do not perceive enlightenment as other than sensation, F.84.a other than identification, other than mentation, or other than consciousness. They do not approach enlightenment as being other than consciousness. They do not seek enlightenment as other than consciousness. They do not attain enlightenment as other than consciousness. They do not inspire beings to an enlightenment that is other than consciousness. They do not see a tathāgata as other than consciousness. They see a tathāgata in this way: ‘The Tathāgata is the fearlessness that is the nature of consciousness.’ They do not see the tathāgata as other than consciousness, as other than the nature of consciousness. They do not see the nature of consciousness as other than the tathāgata. The nature of that which is called consciousness and that of the tathāgata are nondual. The bodhisattva mahāsattvas who see in that way are engaging in the discernment of phenomena.”[845]

Thereupon the Bhagavān spoke these verses:

“Enlightenment is taught through form;
Form is taught through enlightenment.
Through these dissimilar words
The highest of Dharma is taught. {1}
“The highest form is taught through words;
Its nature is profound.
Form and enlightenment are the same:
There is no difference that can be found. {2}
“Nirvāṇa is profound
And it is taught through words,[846]
Yet nirvāṇa is not to be found
And words are not to be found. {3}
“Both words and nirvāṇa,
Neither of them are to be found.
Thus nirvāṇa has been taught
In terms of empty phenomena. {4}
“Nirvāṇa is not to be found
In saying ‘passed into nirvāṇa.’
There is no development of phenomena.
It is afterward just as it was before. {5}
“All phenomena are by nature
Exactly the same as nirvāṇa. F.84.b
That is known by those dedicated to renunciation,
By those engaged in the Buddha’s teachings. {6}
“Some say, ‘I have seen the Guide,
For I saw the Buddha’s body.’
But it is not possible for anyone
To see me because of my rūpakāya. {7}
“The known nature of form,
That is the characteristic of form.
When the nature of form is known,
Then my body is revealed.[847] {8}
“In that way I know the characteristics
Of phenomena, of the five skandhas.
Knowing that nature of phenomena,
I remain in the dharmakāya. {9}
“I teach the Dharma to beings
Without departing from the dharmakāya.[848]
But the qualities of the buddhas
Cannot be expressed in words. {10}
“Those who do not know this way
Listen to the Buddha’s words
And then merely say with words,
‘I have seen the Guide of humans.’ {11}
“Whoever casts off all conceptual identification
Brings to an end the identification of existence.
Whoever has a conceptual identification of words
Will never be able to see the Teacher. {12}
“Whoever knows emptiness
As the characteristic of form
Will not say that emptiness
Is other than the nature of form.
Whoever knows form,
Knows emptiness.[849] {13}
“Whoever knows emptiness
As the characteristic of form
Will overcome and defeat
Tens of millions of māras.[850] {14}
“Whoever knows form,
Knows emptiness.
Whoever knows emptiness,
Knows nirvāṇa.[851] {15}
“Those who do not know this way,
Those who conceptualize, are lost.[852]
They conceive of the unreal as being real
And the real as being unreal.[853] {16}
“They are deceived by acquisitions through reputation[854]
And wander far[855] from my teaching.
They maintain the conception of a result
And lose all their wealth of mendicancy. {17}
“Those who are lazy and lacking in diligence,
Who do not maintain the aspect of conduct,
They will stand up and state, F.85.a
‘That is not the teaching of the Buddha!’ {18}
“Some of them will declare,
‘We are enlightened!’
But they will be uncontrolled, untrained,
And disrespectful to each other. {19}
“They will delight in words
And have no stability in the Dharma.
They will have that kind of aspiration,
Desiring what is gained through reputation. {20}
“They will be motivated to have a following.
They will delight in acquisition.
They will be overpowered by arrogance and carelessness.
Their goal will be gain and honors. {21}
“Based upon gains and honors
They will desire the intellect’s accomplishments.
They will build temples and stūpas.
Their interest will be in the women of families. {22}
“They will depend upon their perception.
They will dwell in craving and desire.
They will be within the realm of Māra
And they will do the work of laypeople. {23}
“Their desire will be like the flames of a fire.
They will give teachings to laypeople.
They will enter into their homes
And they will corrupt those families. {24}
“The laypeople will come to think of them
As their teachers.
They will take up residence with them
And they will corrupt their sons and daughters. {25}
“They will treat with kindness
Those who give them food and drink,
And they will think of those people’s wives
And daughters as their own wives.[856] {26}
“Laymen will not be as attracted
To their own wives
As the mendicants will be
Attracted to the wives of others. {27}
“There are the trainings[857] that I have taught
To the laymen who wear white clothing.[858]
At that time, those bhikṣus
Will not even have those trainings. {28}
“They will make offerings to me
With bherī drums,[859] conches, and mṛdaṅga drums.[860]
The offerings that are superior
Will not be included in their practices. {29}
“When they who have very poor conduct
See those who are maintaining correct conduct
They will say, one to another,
‘They are the same as us.’ {30}
“When those with bad conduct and wicked behavior
Hear correct conduct being praised,
They will stand up and state,
‘That is not the Buddha’s teaching.’ {31} F.85.b
“They will be devoid of shame.
They will have lost the wealth of the mendicant.
They will debate with words that are false
And reject the enlightenment of buddhahood.[861] {32}
“They who have wicked minds
Will reject the Buddha’s teaching.
They will cast aside the Dharma
And they will dwell in the Avīci hell. {33}
“Those who have that kind of conduct
Will neither hear me nor see me.
Those who follow the Dharma of fools
Will not attain[862] the wisdom of buddhahood.[863] {34}
“They will be hypocrites
Who will deceive by saying,
‘I know everything about that.
That wisdom is within me.’ {35}
“If I were to teach them for an eon
Their confusion would still be vast.
They do no more than make
Promises to be bodhisattvas.[864] {36}
“They will be young men
Whose bad behavior is incessant.
You should not in the future
Be associated[865] with them. {37}
“Should you speak with them or converse,
Treat them with respect;
Honor them without being disheartened,
In order to attain the highest enlightenment. {38}
“You should ask their age,
And if they are your senior
Show them respect
And bow your head to their feet. {39}
“Do not look at their errors,
But see the essence of enlightenment.
Do not feel anger toward them
But always have a loving mind. {40}
“If you see an error of theirs
Do not mention that fault.
Whatever karma they create
The corresponding result will come to them. {41}
“Have a smiling face that is like the moon
For both the seniors and the novices.
You should always speak sincerely,
Gently, and without pride. {42}
“You should help them in adopting
Dharma robes and receiving alms.
You should keep in your mind the thought,
‘They are all going to become buddhas.’[866] {43}
“If they request from you
The gift of the Dharma,
First you should say to them,
‘I do not have much learning.’[867] {44}
“You should speak in this way: F.86.a
‘Brother, wise scholar,
How can I say anything
In front of such a great being?’ {45}
“Do not speak too hastily.
Examine the one who would be the recipient.
If you know that he is a worthy recipient
Teach him even if he has not requested it. {46}
“If you see that there are many present
Among your followers who have bad conduct
You should not teach them austerity,
But instead you should praise generosity.[868] {47}
“If they have few desires
And maintain pure conduct,
Have a loving mind
And speak to them of austerity. {48}
“If there are many with correct conduct
Who have restrained bad desires,
When that aspect has been attained
Then you should praise correct conduct. {49}
“First you should know your students,
And if they are known to be pure
Then teach to them every one
Of the virtuous qualities that there are. {50}
“Always praise and teach
Generosity, conduct, patience,
Diligence, meditation, and learning,
Contentment, few desires, and austerity.[869] {51}
“Living in solitary places, practicing meditation,[870]
And abandoning living among many people
Should be praised by you
As the doorway to the power of retention.[871] {52}
“They should have perfect conduct
By staying in solitary places.
They should have perfect generosity
Through remaining in seclusion. {53}
“Maintaining the aspect of conduct,
They should become very learned.
Those who seek for this samādhi
Should make offerings to the Buddha’s relics. {54}
“Those who seek this peaceful samādhi
Should make offerings to the Buddha
With parasols, banners, and flags,
And with incense, garlands, and ointments. {55}
“Without being indolent or disheartened,
They should offer to the Buddha’s relics
Delightful music,
United with song. {56}
“For the highest enlightenment[872]
They should offer to the Lord
As much incense, garlands, parasols,
Clothing, and powders as there are. {57}
“For the sake of this peaceful samādhi, F.86.b
All the immeasurable, inconceivable
Offerings that there can be
They should make to all the buddhas.[873] {58}
“Those who seek unimpeded wisdom,
Who are without attachment,
Give the highest wisdom of buddhahood,
Equally shared for all beings. {59}
“I, too, having become unattached,
And seeking this peaceful samādhi,
Made inconceivable offerings
To the buddhas of the past. {60}
“It is difficult to attain the appearance of the buddhas.
It is difficult to attain birth as a human.
It is difficult to attain faith in the teachings,
And to become a mendicant. {61}
“One whose mind is dedicated to enlightenment
Is one who pleases the Buddha.[874]
Do not deviate from that commitment,
But remain within that practice. {62}
“One who maintains this sūtra
During the time of destruction
Should quickly gain eloquence
And continue its teaching. {63}
“For someone who has wished to hear it,
There is an inconceivable accumulation of merit
In possessing just one verse,
Let alone obtaining the entire sūtra. {64}
“For even if as many beings as there are in a kalpa
Were diligently to make offerings
To all the beings who have attained enlightenment,
And do so continuously with veneration, {65}
“All the merit from the latter
Will come not even to a sixteenth part
Of the merit from possessing
Just one verse of this samādhi. {66}
“One who hears this samādhi
Will be free of uncertainty.
I know these inconceivable benefits
Through my wisdom of buddhahood.” {67}
Conclusion of the twenty-fifth chapter, “Engaging in Discernment.”

Chapter 26

Rejoicing

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should be skillful in methods. F.87.a[875]

“Young man, in what way should bodhisattva mahāsattvas be skillful in methods? For that, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas focus their minds upon all beings. Those bodhisattva mahāsattvas rejoice in whatever roots of merit and accumulations of merit all beings have. Three times every day and three times every night they rejoice in whatever roots of merit and accumulations of merit all beings have, and the roots of merit and accumulation of merit that come from their taking omniscience as the focus of their aspiration they donate to all beings.

“Young man, because those bodhisattva mahāsattva possess the accumulation of merit that comes from being skillful in methods, they will quickly attain this samādhi, and they will quickly attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān spoke these verses:

“Three times a day and three times a night
I develop the aspiration to enlightenment
And rejoice in the entirety of the merit accumulated
By all these beings who are my family. {1}
“I rejoice in those who have pure conduct,
Who will do nothing bad even to save their lives.
I rejoice in whatever merit is possessed
By bodhisattvas with perfect aspiration. {2}
“I rejoice in those who have faith in the Buddha,
Faith in the Dharma, and also the Saṅgha.
I rejoice in those who make offerings to the Sugata
Because of their desire for enlightenment.[876] {3}
“I rejoice in those who develop the aspiration
For the highest, supreme, unsurpassable enlightenment,
Doing so with great understanding, for the sake of beings,
And so that the lineage of enlightenment will remain.[877] {i}
“I rejoice in the bodhisattvas overwhelmed by compassion
Who give away their wealth, grain, and jewels,
Their queens, sons, and daughters,
Their vast kingdoms, and even their own flesh.[878] {ii}
“I rejoice in those who give away their own bodies
With joyful minds for the sake of beings,
Having trained in the training of skillful methods F.87.b
And subdued their bodies through meditation on wisdom.[879] {iii}
“I rejoice in those who live in the forest,
Always alone and solitary like a rhinoceros,
Always with pure livelihood and few activities,
Without acting hypocritically for the sake of reputation. {6}
“I rejoice in those who have no entanglements,
Who have no envy or yearning for a home,
Who are always terrified of the three realms
And act without attachment to the world. {7}
“I rejoice in those who are without complication
And are saddened by every rebirth into existence.
This samādhi will not be difficult to attain
For those who do not dispute but have peaceful minds. {8}
“I rejoice in those who see the harmfulness of crowds,
Who avoid every kind of disagreement,
Who live in solitude, dwelling at the foot of trees,
And who are heirs of the sugatas focused upon liberation. {9}
“I rejoice in those who live in solitude,
Neither praising themselves nor criticizing others.
I rejoice in those who are not careless
But careful in the Buddha’s teaching. {10}
“That carefulness is the very root
Of all the qualities of the aspects of enlightenment.
This samādhi is not difficult to attain
For any heirs of the Buddha who are always careful. {11}
“The teaching of the Sugata is a treasure that has been found.
Attaining homelessness is a second treasure.
The attainment of faith is a third treasure.
This samādhi is a fourth treasure. {12}
“On learning of emptiness, of the field of activity of the buddhas,
If it is not rejected, that is a treasure that has been found.
Endless eloquence is a treasure that has been found,
And any dhāraṇī is a supreme treasure. {13}
“That carefulness is the very root
Of all the virtuous qualities that have been proclaimed,
And of correct conduct, learning, giving, and patience.
The Sugata has taught that it is a treasure that has been found. {14}
“For those who are careful in the Buddha’s teaching,
For those who have perfect aspirations, F.88.a
This samādhi will not be difficult to obtain.
They are established in the Buddha’s teaching.” {15}
Conclusion of the twenty-sixth chapter, “Rejoicing.”

Chapter 27

The Benefits of Generosity

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, as it has been said, ‘Be careful,’ you, young man, should consequently train in that way. Why is that? Because, young man, for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who are careful, the highest, complete enlightenment is not difficult to attain, let alone this samādhi.

“Young man, in what way should bodhisattva mahāsattvas be careful? For that, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas should have perfectly pure conduct. Young man, in what way should bodhisattva mahāsattvas have perfectly pure conduct? For that, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have perfectly pure conduct, never separating from an all-knowing mind, should practice the six perfections. Listen, for I shall teach you their benefits.

“Young man, there are ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who aspire to generosity. What are the ten benefits? They are: [1] the kleśa of avarice is overcome; [2] their minds are constantly devoted to generosity; [3] from the ordinary wealth of the populace they obtain what is essential; [4] they are reborn into a wealthy family, and as soon as they are born they have a mind that aspires to generosity;[880] [5] they are beloved by the fourfold assembly; [6] they enter the assembly without fear or lack of confidence; [7] verses that praise their greatness spread to the cardinal and intermediate directions; [8] they have soft and youthful arms and legs; [9] they stand on feet with level soles;[881] and [10] they are never apart from kalyāṇamitras [882] until they are seated at the Bodhimaṇḍa. F.88.b

“Young man, those are the ten benefits for the bodhisattva mahāsattvas who aspire to generosity.”

It was said:

“Avarice is overcome.
Their generosity increases.
They are those who obtain the essentials
And are reborn into a wealthy family. {1}
“As soon as they are born
There is generosity in their minds.
They are beloved by beings,
Both the laity and mendicants. {2}
“They enter the assembly
Fearlessly and confidently.
Their renown spreads
Through the villages and towns. {3}
“They have soft arms and legs
That they gain without difficulty.
They obtain kalyāṇamitras,
Both buddhas and śrāvakas. {4}
“They never have an avaricious mind;
Their minds always delight in generosity.
They are beloved by millions of beings.
Those are the benefits of being without avarice. {5}
“They are reborn into a family with great wealth.
At birth they have minds that delight in generosity.
They obtain the essentials and choose the time of passing away.
Those are the benefits of being without avarice. {6}
“Fearlessly they enter an assembly.
Their renown spreads in all directions.
They always have soft arms and legs.
Those are the benefits of being without avarice. {7}
“It is not difficult for them to obtain kalyāṇamitras.
They also see buddhas and śrāvakas.
Seeing them, they make offerings to them with faith.
Those are the benefits of being without avarice.” {8}
Conclusion of the twenty-seventh chapter, “The Benefits of Generosity.”

Chapter 28

The Teaching on Correct Conduct

“Young man, there are ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas from perfectly pure, correct conduct. What are the ten benefits? They are: [1] they devote[883] themselves to wisdom and perfect it; [2] they follow the example of the buddhas; [3] they do not criticize the wise; [4] they do not waver from their vows; [5] they maintain their practice; [6] they turn away[884] from saṃsāra; [7] they are led to attain nirvāṇa;[885] [8] they live without faults arising; F.89.a [9] they attain samādhi; and [10] they will never be poor.[886]

“Young man, those are the ten benefits for the bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have perfectly pure, correct conduct.”

It was said concerning this:

“They bring wisdom to perfection,
Follow the example of the buddhas,
Do not criticize those who are wise,
And they are always without fear. {1}
“They do not waver from their vows,
They maintain their practice,
They are led to attain nirvāṇa,
And they turn away from saṃsāra. {2}
“They live without faults arising,
They quickly attain samādhi,
They will not be poor,
And they maintain correct conduct. {3}
“Their wisdom will be perfected,
And they follow the example of the buddhas.
They never make criticisms of the wise,
And thus their conduct is completely pure. {4}
“The wise ones never waver from their vows.
The heroic ones[887] maintain their practice.
Seeing the many faults of saṃsāra
They go toward nirvāṇa. {5}
“There are no faults[888] that arise in their minds;
Thus, they maintain the strength of correct conduct,
And quickly attain an immaculate[889] samādhi.
Those are the benefits of pure, correct conduct.” {6}
Conclusion of the twenty-eighth chapter, “The Teaching on Correct Conduct.”

Chapter 29

Ten Benefits

“Young man, there are ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas from maintaining patience and being kind. F.89.b What are these ten? They are: [1] they are not burned by fire; [2] they are not slain by weapons; [3] they are not affected by poison; [4] they do not drown in water; [5] the devas protect them; [6] they attain a body adorned by the primary signs of a great being; [7] all the doorways to their rebirth in lower existences are closed; [8] it is not difficult for them to be reborn in the paradise of Brahmā; [9] they are happy day and night; and [10] their physical sensations of comfort and pleasure are never lost.

“Young man, those are the ten benefits for the bodhisattva mahāsattvas from maintaining patience and being kind.”

On this topic, it was said:

“They are not burned by fire,
They are not killed by weapons,
They are not affected by poison,
They do not drown in water, {1}
“They are protected by devas,
They have the thirty-two primary signs,
And the lower existences are closed to them.
Those are the benefits of patience. {2}
“The state of Brahmā and the state of Śakra
Are not difficult for them to attain.
They always dwell in happiness
And have inconceivable pleasure. {3}
“They are not slain by fire or weapons;
They are not killed by poison or drowning.
They are protected by devas, nāgas, and yakṣas.
Those are the benefits of maintaining kindness. {4}
“Their bodies will have the thirty-two primary signs.
They will not fall into the lower existences,
And at death they will be reborn in the realm of Brahmā.
Those are the benefits of maintaining patience. {5}
“They have happiness day and night.
Their bodies will have pleasurable sensations.
They will have the power of patience and bliss.
Those wise ones will always have a tranquil mind. {6}

“Young man, there are ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas from taking up diligence. What are the ten benefits? They are: [1] it is difficult to approach their level;[890] [2] they attain the state of being cared for by the buddhas; [3] they will be cared for by the devas; [4] they maintain the Dharma they have received; [5] they obtain the Dharma they have not previously received; [6] they attain the lineage of samādhis;[891] [7] they have few illnesses; [8] they digest their food well; [9] they are like lotuses; and [10] they are not like pestles.[892]

“Young man, those are the ten benefits for the bodhisattva mahāsattvas from taking up diligence.”

On this topic, it was said:

“It is difficult to approach their level.[893]
They are without idleness.[894]
The devas protect them.
They quickly[895] see the buddhas. {7}
“Their prayers are fulfilled,[896]
They attain the lineage of samādhis,
And they do not become ill.[897]F.90.a
Those are the benefits of diligence.[898] {8–9}[899]
“They digest pleasurably, without harm,
That which they eat and drink. {10}
They gradually develop
Like a blue lotus in the middle of water.[900]
“In that way the bodhisattvas
Develop through good qualities. {11}
The days and the nights
Pass fruitfully for them.[901]
“The Tathāgata who has engaged in diligence,
Gaining accomplishments for numerous eons,
Has taught to the bodhisattvas
These benefits of possessing diligence. {12}
“Those who engage in diligence
Are in the care of the jinas.
The devas, too, make aspirations for them.
They will soon attain the Buddha’s enlightenment. {13}
“What they have learned will never diminish,
And they give many other Dharma teachings.
Their confidence of speech increases immensely.
Those are the benefits of engaging in diligence. {14}
“They will quickly attain the lineage of samādhis.
They will never become ill.
Whatever food they eat
They will comfortably digest completely. {15}
“Day and night the good qualities
Of their powerful diligence increase.
Through the power of this diligence,
Before long they will attain enlightenment. {16}

“Young man, there are ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas from being devoted to meditation. What are the ten benefits? They are: [1] they maintain their bodhisattva conduct; [2] they engage in the field of that conduct;[902] [3] they live free from anguish; [4] their sensory faculties are protected;[903] [5] they experience pleasure;[904] [6] they are separated from desire; [7] they have insatiability for meditation; [8] they are free from the domain of Māra; [9] they are established in the domain of the Buddha; and [10] they ripen the state of liberation.

“Young man, those are the ten benefits for the bodhisattva mahāsattvas from being devoted to meditation.”

On this topic, it was said:

“They are never without bodhisattva conduct,
As they are established in bodhisattva conduct.
The yogins practice the field of that conduct,
And reject that which is not the field of that conduct. {17}
“They live without anguish.
Their senses hidden and bound,
They experience pleasure. F.90.b
Their field of conduct is practicing meditation. {18}
“They are without desire, or the craving of desire.
They abide in the bliss of meditation.
They are free from the domain of Māra
And dwell in the Buddha’s domain. {19}
“This is the particular quality of the yogins:
That they delight in being alone in the forest.
They bring liberation to fruition.
Those are the ten aspects. {20}
“The bodhisattvas remain in bodhisattva conduct
And they reject everything that is not that conduct.
They reject that which is not the field of that conduct and remain in that which is.
Those are the benefits of endeavoring in samādhi. {21}
“They never experience anguish.
They reach the state of higher bliss.
Both their body and mind become blissful.
These are the benefits of endeavoring in meditation.[905] {22}
“They live secretly in solitary places.
They never have any distractions.
Thus their bodies are in isolation
And they attain happiness free of desires. {23}
“They are unstained by desires and have no kleśas.
Thus they are free from the domain of Māra
And are established in the domain of the tathāgatas.
They bring their liberation to fruition. {24}

“Young man, there are ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas from engaging in wisdom. What are these ten? They are: [1] they give away all their possessions without becoming proud that they are pure; [2] they have immaculate, correct conduct without forming an attachment to that conduct; [3] they maintain the power of patience without maintaining the conceptualization that there are beings; [4] they take up diligence in isolation from body and mind;[906] [5] in meditating they meditate with a non-abiding meditation; [6] they are invincible to the māras; [7] they are unshakable to all adversaries;[907] [8] they attain illumination regarding all engagement with the composite;[908] [9] they engage in vast great compassion for all beings, and have no aspiration for the level of the śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas;[909]F.91.a and [10] they enter into the dhyānas, samādhis, and samāpattis of the buddhas.[910]

“Young man, those are the ten benefits for the bodhisattva mahāsattvas from engaging in wisdom.”

On this topic, it was said:

“The heroic ones give away all their possessions
But do not become proud that they are pure.
They keep their correct conduct immaculate
But they form no attachment to that. {25}
“The wise ones meditate on patience
But have expelled the conceptualization of beings.
They are those who engage in diligence
But in isolation from body and mind. {26}
“They are those who cultivate meditation,
But without abiding and independent;
They are invincible to the māras.
Those are the qualities of those who have wisdom. {27}
“They are unshakable
To every adversary
And have obtained the illumination of saṃsāra.
Those are the qualities of wisdom. {28}
“They have attained great compassion
Toward all beings.
They never have an aspiration
For the wisdom of the śrāvaka or pratyekabuddha. {29}
“They are not proud of being pure through giving away all their possessions.
They have immaculate correct conduct but have no attachment to conduct.
They meditate on patience but have no conceptualization of beings.
Those are the benefits of being devoted to wisdom. {30}
“They engage in diligence but in isolation.[911]
They meditate without being bound, without fixation.
They are wise[912] and are invincible to Māra.[913]
Those are the benefits of being devoted to wisdom. {31}
“They are unshakable to adversaries.[914]
They have discovered the shallowness[915] of the composite,
And they have vast compassion for beings.
Those are the benefits of being devoted to wisdom. {32}
“They never give rise to an aspiration to be
A pratyekabuddha or śrāvaka,
And thus they are established in the qualities of a buddha.
Those are the benefits of being devoted to wisdom.[916] {33}

“Young man, there are ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas from becoming very learned. What are the ten benefits? They are: [1] they do not create kleśas;[917] [2] they do not develop malice;[918]F.91.b [3] they expose doubts; [4] they make views accurate; [5] they shun the wrong paths; [6] they are established on the true path; [7] they have reached the doorway to deathlessness; [8] they are close to enlightenment; [9] they are a light for beings; and [10] they have no fear of the lower existences.

“Young man, those are the ten benefits for the bodhisattva mahāsattvas from becoming very learned.”

On this topic, it was said:

“These are taught to be the ten benefits
From becoming very learned
Just as they are known
By the Tathāgata, the Buddha. {34}
“They know the two aspects
Of the kleśas and of purification.
They reject the kleśas
And follow[919] the path of purification. {35}
“The wise ones reject doubts
And develop accurate views.
They shun the wrong path
And follow the correct path. {36}
“They are at the door to deathlessness
And they are close to enlightenment.
They are a light for beings
And they are not afraid of the lower existences. {37}
“They know the numerous properties of having the kleśas,
And in the same way they know the aspect of purification.
They completely reject the kleśas
And train in the supreme quality of purification. {38}
“They expose the doubts of all beings.
They have a view that is always accurate.
They shun the wrong path
And are always upon the true path of peace. {39}
“They are always beside the doorway to deathlessness;
They are always close to stainless enlightenment.
They have become a light to all the multitudes of beings
And they have no fear of the lower existences. {40}

“Young man, for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who are intent on giving the Dharma, there are ten benefits that come from giving the Dharma. What are the ten benefits? They are: [1] they reject that which should not be done; [2] they engage in that which should be done; [3] they follow the Dharma of a worthy person; [4] they purify buddha realms; [5] they reach the Bodhimaṇḍa; [6] they give away material things; [7] they overcome the kleśas; F.92.a [8] they give their portion[920] to all beings; [9] they meditate on love toward those on whom their minds are focused; and [10] they attain happiness in this life.

“Young man, for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who are intent on giving the Dharma, those are the ten benefits that come from giving the Dharma.”

On this topic, it was said:

“Those who give the supreme gift,
The gift of the Dharma, are not misers.
The Lord of the World has taught
That they will have ten benefits. {41}
“They reject all that should not be done;
The wise ones engage in what should be done.
They obtain the Dharma of a worthy person
And maintain a motivation of generosity. {42}
“They purify a buddha realm.[921]
Their realm is inconceivable.[922]
They are always on the Bodhimaṇḍa,[923]
Which is the result of giving the Dharma. {43}
“They give away all material things.
They follow the king of the Dharma.
For those who have overcome the kleśas,
Enlightenment is not hard to attain. {44}
“With a loving mind they give
Their portion to all beings.
They are those who have no envy,
And they have a happiness higher than that of humans. {45}
“They are learned people who reject what should not be done.
They are wise people who are always doing what should be done.
They always follow the Dharma of great beings.
They are learned people who always give the gift of the Dharma. {46}
“Their realm is one that is always pure.
They increase those qualities that are aspects of enlightenment.
They are always close to the Bodhimaṇḍa.
Those are the benefits of giving the Dharma. {47}
“They have no kleśas, and give material things away.
They know the characteristics of things.
They are liberated from all attachment.
They never have any impediments. {48}
“They have a wise one’s mind.
They wish for all beings to be happy.
They have loving minds free of envy,
And in this life their happiness is not little. {49}

“Young man, there are ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who dwell in emptiness. What are the ten benefits? They are: [1] they dwell in the dwelling of the Buddha;[924]F.92.b [2] their meditation is nondwelling;[925] [3] they are not intent on rebirth;[926] [4] they have no clinging to conduct;[927] [5] they do not criticize superior beings; [6] they live in an appropriate manner; [7] they do not conceptualize the objects of perception;[928] [8] they remain detached;[929] [9] they do not disparage the buddhas;[930] and [10] they possess the Dharma.

[931]

“Young man, those are the ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who dwell in emptiness.”

On this topic, it was said:

“The yogins dwell in that which is
The dwelling of the lords of men
And the field of activity of all the buddhas,
Without the conception of a life. {50}
“Without dependence on any existence
They never give up the superior dhyāna.
Having seen the nature of phenomena
They have no intention of being reborn. {51}
“Those who have no clinging to conduct
Will not be dependent on conduct.[932]
They do not criticize in any way
Another superior being[933] who is without defilement.[934] {52}
“They live in an appropriate manner
And are not known to quarrel.
The yogins do not conceptualize things
But live always detached. {53}
“They do not disparage the Buddha
Even for the sake of their life.
While remaining in the emptiness of phenomena
They are fearlessly visible in their body. {54}
“They teach the Dharma with veneration
For the inconceivable enlightenment of buddhahood
Of all the lords of the worlds,
And they have no doubt in the Dharma of the Buddha. {55}
“The dwelling place of the supreme individuals,
The level not that of the many kinds of tīrthika,
There where there is no being, soul, or person:
That is where the bodhisattvas dwell.[935] {56}
“They have no dwelling whatsoever.
They remain in the bliss of nondwelling dhyāna.[936]
They see that phenomena have no self, no being,
And they do not give rise to the concept of creation. {57}
“They understand the nature of phenomena.
They have no dependence even on conduct.
They do not conceive of themselves as pure because of conduct,
And always have faith in the buddhas.[937] {58}
“They meditate on the empty nature of all phenomena
And they are never in any way inappropriate. F.93.a
They possess the pure Dharma of the tathāgatas
And do not disparage the guides. {59}

“Young man, there are ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who remain intently in meditative seclusion. What are the ten benefits? They are: [1] their minds are unpolluted; [2] they remain careful; [3] they keep the Buddha in mind; [4] they have faith in bodhisattva conduct;[938] [5] they have no uncertainty concerning wisdom;[939] [6] they have gratitude toward the buddhas;[940] [7] they do not abandon[941] the Dharma; [8] they maintain vows perfectly; [9] they have attained the level of self-discipline; and [10] they have the direct perception of the four discernments.

“Young man, those are the ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who remain intently in meditative seclusion.”

On this topic, it was said:

“Their minds are unpolluted.
They have rejected all carelessness.
They maintain carefulness.
Their field of activity is meditative seclusion. {60}
“They have faith in the buddhas, having heard
Of the conduct of the Lord of the World.
The yogins have no doubt concerning wisdom,
The inconceivable wisdom of the buddhas. {61}
“They have gratitude toward the buddhas,
And have no doubt concerning the Dharma of the buddhas.
They maintain their vows perfectly,
And have attained the level of self-discipline. {62}
“They have attained discernment.
They delight in being alone in the forest.
They have forsaken gain and honors,
And their field of activity is meditative seclusion. {63}
“Their minds are unpolluted.
They have forsaken all carelessness.
They are great beings who are always careful.
Those are the benefits of being dedicated to samādhi. {64}
“They keep in mind the buddhas, the supreme humans,
And they have faith in their supreme conduct.
They do not doubt the wisdom of the tathāgatas.
Those are the benefits of being dedicated to samādhi. {65}
“They always have gratitude toward the buddhas.
They do not forsake the Dharma even for the sake of their life.
At all times they keep their vows perfectly.
Those are the benefits of being dedicated to samādhi. {66}
“They have attained the level of self-discipline. F.93.b
They quickly attain the direct perception of discernment.
They speak with the unceasing confidence of speech.
They teach millions and billions of sūtras. {67}
“They quickly attain the enlightenment of buddhahood.
They protect the teaching of the Guide.
They defeat all who are adversaries.
They extensively propagate the enlightenment of buddhahood. {68}
“When those bodhisattvas pass away,
They go to the realm of Sukhāvatī.
They hear the highest Dharma from Amitāyus
And attain the acceptance of the nonorigination of phenomena. {69} B9

“Young man, there are ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who are dedicated to solitude. What are the ten benefits? They are: [1] they have few activities; [2] they have gone far from busy crowds; [3] they have no quarrels; [4] they have no harm; [5] they do not increase defilements;[942] [6] they do not create any cause for disputes; [7] they have perfectly peaceful conduct; [8] they maintain perfect self-restraint; [9] their minds are prepared for liberation; and [10] they quickly manifest liberation.

“Young man, those are the ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who are dedicated to solitude.”

On this topic, it was said:

“They always have few activities.
They have gone far from busy crowds.
They have no quarrels.
They live alone in the forest. {70}
“Without an intention to cause harm
They do not increase their defilements.
They have no cause for disputes.
Those are the qualities of living in a forest. {71}
“They are peaceful in their conduct.
They restrain their body, speech, and mind.
They are prepared for liberation;
They will quickly reach liberation. {72}
“They are yogins who always have few activities.
They have shunned the many faults of busy gatherings.
The yogins[943] do not ever quarrel.
Those are the qualities of living in a solitary place. {73}
“When they have become saddened by the composite,
They never harbor any longing for the world,
And they do not increase their defilements.
The ones who live in a forest gain these benefits. {74}
“There never arises in them a cause for disputes. F.94.a
They live in solitude, delighting in peace.
Their body, speech, and mind are restrained.
The ones who live in solitude will have many qualities. {75}
“They are prepared for liberation.
They will quickly attain the peace of liberation.
They dwell in the forest and are close to liberation.
Those who dwell in solitude will have all these qualities. {76}

“Young man, there are ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who live by receiving alms in the austerity of the disciplines of mendicancy. What are the ten benefits? They are: [1] they have no desire for a reputation; [2] they have no desire for fame; [3] they have no desire for honors or gains; [4] they remain within the four noble families;[944] [5] they have no hypocrisy or boasting; [6] they do not praise themselves; [7] they do not criticize others; [8] they engage with households without aversion or attachment;[945] [9] they give the Dharma without expectation of a reward;[946] and [10] the Dharma they teach while remaining in the austerity of the disciplines of mendicancy will be remembered.

“Young man, those are the ten benefits for bodhisattva mahāsattvas who live by receiving alms in the austerity of the disciplines of mendicancy.”

On this topic, it was said:

“They have no desire for a reputation.
They do not wish for fame.
Those who remain in the disciplines of mendicancy
Are indifferent to gain and loss. {77}
“They do not abandon the noble family.
They have no hypocrisy or boastfulness.
They do not praise themselves
And they do not criticize others. {78}
“They have no attachment or aversion,
And teach the Dharma with no thought of reward.
The words they speak will be remembered.
Recipients of alms will have those qualities.[947] {79}
“They do not seek reputation, fame, or gain.
They remain within the four noble families.
The wise ones are neither hypocritical nor boastful.
Those are the qualities of dedication to mendicancy. {80}
“They do not praise themselves or criticize others.
They are not upset when spoken to harshly.
They are not delighted when they hear themselves praised. F.94.b
Recipients of alms will have that contentment.[948] {81}
“They give the gift of the Dharma without thought of reward.
They do not search for fame or gain.
The words they speak will be remembered.
Those are the benefits that come from dedication to mendicancy. {82}

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who dwell in solitude while maintaining those qualities of the Dharma will obtain the treasure of the buddhas, they will obtain the treasure of the Dharma, they will obtain the treasure of wisdom, and they will obtain the treasure of knowing the past, the future, and the present.

“Young man, how do bodhisattva mahāsattvas obtain the treasure of the buddhas? Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who practice alone, who dwell in solitude, will attain the five higher cognitions. What are the five higher cognitions? They are divine sight, divine hearing, the knowledge of others’ minds, remembering past lives, and possessing miraculous powers. Young man, those are the five higher cognitions that are obtained. Through divine vision, which transcends human vision, the countless, innumerable buddha bhagavāns in the eastern direction are seen. In the same way the countless, innumerable buddha bhagavāns in the southern, western, and northern directions are seen. They constantly have this vision of the buddhas. Young man, in that way the bodhisattva mahāsattvas obtain the treasure of the buddhas.

“Young man, how do bodhisattva mahāsattvas obtain the treasure of the Dharma? The bodhisattva mahāsattvas hear with their divine hearing the Dharma that is taught by those buddha bhagavāns in the ten directions. They are constantly hearing the Dharma. Young man, in that way the bodhisattva mahāsattvas obtain the treasure of the Dharma.

“Young man, how do the bodhisattva mahāsattvas obtain the treasure of wisdom? Young man, the bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have that wisdom obtain the entire Dharma. They do not forget anything that they have obtained, and teach the Dharma to beings, F.95.a knowing what will be beneficial for any one person. Young man, in that way bodhisattva mahāsattvas obtain the treasure of wisdom.

“Young man, how do bodhisattva mahāsattvas obtain the treasure of knowing the past, the future, and the present? Through the higher cognitions they gain the knowledge of the minds and conduct of all beings in the past, the future, and the present. Young man, in that way bodhisattva mahāsattvas obtain the treasure of knowing the past, the future, and the present.

“Young man, in brief, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who maintain the qualities of the Dharma in that way will obtain the entire Dharma of the buddhas. This level is not reached by śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas, let alone any adversary of the Dharma.”

On this topic, it was said:

“The wise ones who remain in solitude
Will quickly attain the treasure of the buddhas,
The treasure of the Dharma, the treasure of wisdom,
The treasure of the past, and the five higher cognitions.”[949] {83}
Conclusion of the twenty-ninth chapter, “Ten Benefits.”

Chapter 30

Tejaguṇarāja

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, you should train in this way, thinking, ‘I will abandon even the pleasures of the kingship of a divine cakravartin and enter homelessness.’

“Young man, having entered homelessness you should maintain the disciplines of mendicancy, live in solitude, and develop perfect mildness and patience.

“Young man, you should apply yourself diligently, as if your hair and clothes were on fire, and listen to the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, learn it, understand it, keep it, recite it to others, promote it, proclaim it, chant it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, promulgate it, and make it widely known to others.

“Young man, you should always, like a rhinoceros, dwell without a companion in the forest.”[950]F.95.b

Thereupon the Bhagavān, in order to explain this topic,[951] gave a detailed teaching on this episode from the past by chanting the following verses to the youth Candraprabha:

“I remember many hundreds of eons ago
There was a guide of limitless renown.
Multitudes of humans, devas, and nāgas made offerings to him.
He was a jina named Tejaguṇarāja. {1}
“During that time there formed a community
Of a hundred and sixty million bhikṣus with higher cognitions,
Who had completely attained the power of the discernments,
Who practiced the austerity of the disciplines of mendicancy, and who had peaceful minds. {2}
“At that time there were in this Jambudvīpa
One billion seven hundred and sixty million towns,
And each of them was five yojanas wide,
And was particularly supreme, made of the seven precious materials. {3}
“At that time, all of those perfect towns
Were adorned by many hundreds of parks,
And all those parks were adorned
With fresh flowers and fruit, like massed clouds. {4}
“Those perfect parks were adorned
With various beautiful trees with edible fruits—
Covered with jackfruits, mangos, rose apples, and breadfruit,
And with hundreds of karnikara, magnolia, and puṇṇaga trees. {5}
“At that time, flocks of birds in banyan trees would sing—
Hundreds of cuckoos, avadavats, and peacocks,
And flocks of many other birds were heard:
The songs of parrots,[952] partridges, and snipes. {6}
“There was the supreme sound of the songs of bees and partridges
That equaled that of Dhṛtarāṣṭra,[953] the king of geese.
They had bright, multicolored bodies, brilliant with great hues,
And sang delightful, beautiful, charming songs. {7}
“At that time, there were gatherings of these birds,
There were the songs of avadavats, peacocks, and parrots,[954]
Cuckoos, mynas, and a variety of other birds—
Various kinds of songs from many birds. {8}
“They dwelt in those hundreds of parks
Where there were the blossoms of karnikara,
Gardenia, aśoka, and kachnar trees,
As well as red lotuses, blue lotuses, night lotuses, and white lotuses. {9}
“They were beautified by lotus flower ponds
That were adorned by a hundred thousand lotuses.
There were beautiful, exquisite lotus ponds F.96.a
Adorned by the fragrance of the most delightful scents. {10}
“At that time, the king in this Jambudvīpa
Was the lord of men whose name was Dṛdhadatta.
He had five hundred sons
Who were handsome and beautiful to see. {11}
“At that time the kingdom was peaceful and happy,
Free of calamities, and filled with joy and peace.
Jambudvīpa was adorned by many flowers.
It was identical to a paradise, with no difference. {12}
“At that time there was a jina, one with the ten strengths,
Without bad actions, who taught this supreme samādhi:
‘The beings within existence are like dreams.
There is no one who is born and no one who dies. {13}
“ ‘There is no being to be found, and no soul,[955] or person.[956]
These phenomena are like dreams[957] or a plantain tree;[958]
Like illusions, the same as lightning in the sky;
Like the moon on water, the same as a mirage.[959] {14}
“ ‘There is no person who dies in this world,
Who departs and goes to another world.
But the karma that has been created is not destroyed.
It will ripen as good and bad results within saṃsāra. {15}
“ ‘It is neither eternal nor is it annihilated.
There is no accumulation or presence of karma,
Yet if it has been created there is no way to avoid encountering it,
While that which is created by others will not be experienced. {16}
“ ‘There is no passing away or returning.
There is no existence of all things, yet neither are they nonexistent.
There is no pure engagement with the locus of a view.
There is no conduct of beings and no engagement with peace. {17}
“ ‘The conduct of the sugatas, the qualities of the jinas,
Are birthlessness, peace, and the absence of attributes.
The supreme leaders, the buddhas, have these strengths and retentions,
And the strength of the ten strengths. {18}
“ ‘The supreme good qualities, the accumulation of qualities,
Are the supreme qualities, wisdom, retentions, strengths,
The supreme manifestation of miraculous powers,
And the attainment of the five[960] supreme higher cognitions. {19}
“ ‘There is no essence here to be known whatsoever.
There is no coming, no going; that is the subtle[961] mode of phenomena.[962]
The essence of phenomena has no movement whatsoever,
Thus the mode of phenomena is the mode of no movement. {20}
“ ‘The natural mode is not in the accumulation of words.
This mode, this nature, does not dwell anywhere. F.96.b
The natural mode is without dwelling, is nondependent.
It is the level of peace, the stainless domain of the jinas. {21}
“ ‘It is the mode of peace, complete peace, total peace.
That mode does not dwell anywhere.
It always accompanies the nature of things.
It is subtle,[963] difficult to see, and an unfluctuating state. {22}
“ ‘It does not fluctuate but continues to be itself.
It is a continuing nature that neither stays nor comes.
This continuing nature cannot be described.
It is the empty, unfluctuating continuity of phenomena. {23}
“ ‘It is taught in words but it is not the mode of words.
The mode of the nature of words is the mode of phenomena.
The aggregation of words has no location anywhere,
And that mode of its nature is the mode of phenomena. {24}
“ ‘The words that describe the mode are not the mode of being.
The nature of phenomena is a mode of subtle[964] meaning.
Though words are spoken, that is not the mode of being;
Words cannot be found and neither can the mode of being. {25}
“ ‘There is no endlessness, nor an end, nor a mode in between.
There is no existence nor nonexistence, nor a partial mode.
The knowledge of that mode of nature
Is the same in the teachings of all the supreme jinas. {26}
“ ‘The stainless, pure, ultimate state—
Peace, complete peace, without stain, free of stain—
There are no concepts or pride in the state of peace
That is taught by the Jina, the one with perfect compassion. {27}
“ ‘In this there is no usage of letters.
It is a vast mode, a vast mode of meaning.
The buddhas honor it; the jinas praise it.
The appearance of the Dharma is a subtle mode. {28}
“ ‘The unequaled sugatas remain in that
Stainless, vast treasure of the Dharma.
They teach the stainless, precious Dharma,
The ultimate truth of emptiness, the subtle[965] mode of meaning.’ [966] {29}
“When King Dṛdhadatta heard
That the supreme human was teaching this samādhi,
He then[967] came into the presence of the compassionate Jina
Accompanied by eighty quintillion others. {30}
“The sovereign over men felt veneration for the Jina
Who was endowed with the strengths, and bowed down to his feet.
While he stayed in front of the one with the ten strengths,
Filled with joy, he placed his ten fingers together in homage. {31}
“The Jina, who was perfect, with control over his senses,
Perceived the king’s pure conduct. F.97.a
The supreme human knew his aspiration
And taught him this supreme samādhi. {32}
“When the king had heard this ultimate truth
He experienced a vast, superior joy.
He gave up all of the four continents.
He abandoned pleasures and left his home. {33}
“When the king gave up the world and entered homelessness
For the sake of enlightenment and to become a jina,
All the people in this Jambudvīpa[968]
Gave up all sensory pleasures and entered homelessness too. {34}
“At that time there was a vast assembly with the ten strengths.
There were many diligent bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs.
At that time, herbs grew without ploughing,
And devas came to serve and attend to them. {35}
“The three orange Dharma robes manifested,
Perfectly cut and sewn, without parallel,
Unsullied, stainless, adorned, beautifully golden,
Arising from the Buddha’s qualities and the power of merit. {36}
“See, young man, look how that supreme king
Gave up the entire world and entered homelessness.[969]
In the age of destruction there will be many beings
Who will have few possessions but will not leave their homes.[970] {37}
“There will be many in chains and suffering punishments,
Who are abused, threatened, and have unwished-for suffering.
There will be many who will have to endure harm from royal families,[971]
Who will have very few possessions and no food in their homes. {38}
“They will have very short lives and no wealth.
They will be very careless and have no power of merit.
They will be stupid, and unskilled in any craft.
They will be in poverty with nothing in their homes. {39}
“They will be impure and desire the wives of others.
They will be envious and extremely rash.
They will be degenerate and behave badly—
Yet they will say, ‘I am going to be a buddha.’[972] {40}
“They will make deceptive promises and be brazen, saying,
‘I am wealthy and I will give the wealth of the Dharma to the world.’[973]
They will cause harm, be hypocritical and dishonest—
Yet they will say, ‘I am going to be a buddha.’ {41}
“They will delight in killing, binding, and attacking others;
They will have bad conduct, and be cruel and aggressive.
They will have no gratitude, be divisive and violent— F.97.b
Yet will say, ‘I am a noble practitioner of bodhisattva conduct.’ {42}
“They will become angry with anyone
Who they hear teaching bodhisattva conduct.
When they hear something that is stupid[974] and mistaken
They will repeat those blameworthy words a hundred times.[975] {43}
“Young man, having heard these words of mine,
Do not follow[976] those others.
If you wish to reach the highest enlightenment
They are not to be trusted, even in a dream. {44}
“One could recount for hundreds of eons the many qualities
Ascribed to the austere disciplines of mendicancy,
But without possessing those qualities
One will not attain the peace of the highest enlightenment. {45}
“Always be good and gentle.
Always have pure conduct and a serene mind.
Continually maintain pure conduct,
And before long you will attain the supreme samādhi. {46}
“Do not be proud and do not be harsh.
Always have a mind that is serene.
Eliminate all pride, arrogance, and hiding of your faults,
And attain this supreme samādhi. {47}
“Always remember the Jina’s qualities.
The color of perfect gold, shining brightly,
Like the sky at night filled with stars:
The Sage’s body is filled with signs. {48}
“The descendant of Manu who remembers the moon of the Sage
While walking, sitting, standing, or lying down
Will always have the Teacher present before him,
And he will have vast happiness.[977] {i}
“Holding many powders and ointments,
And excellent parasols, banners, canopies, and flags,
Always make offerings to the Sugata
And this supreme samādhi will soon be attained. {49}
“Holding many musical instruments
And excellent, exquisite[978] incense, garlands, and flowers,
Make offerings always to the Jina’s stūpas
And this supreme samādhi will soon be attained. {50}
“With many kinds of excellent songs and dance,
With amusements and performances made with a pure mind,
With excellent lights and incense,
Always make excellent offerings to the unequaled one.[979] {i}
“With hundreds of paṇava drums and loud mṛdaṅga drums,
With paṭaha drums, lutes,[980] the excellent sound of flutes, F.98.a
With the qualities of music of various kinds of melodious sounds,
Make an offering to the Guide with a pure mind. {51}
“Create beautiful images of the Buddha,
Perfectly made of precious materials,[981]
That are attractive and extremely beautiful,
And this supreme samādhi will soon be attained. {52}
“Make excellent images that are fashioned
From gold or silver, and also sandalwood,
That are attractive and extremely beautiful,
And this supreme samādhi will soon be attained.[982] {i}
“Make images that are fashioned of clay,
Or stone, or wood, or painted,
That are attractive and extremely beautiful,
And this supreme samādhi will soon be attained.[983] {ii}
“Always remain in the solitude of forests,
Forsaking the joys of villages and towns.
Be without a companion, like a rhinoceros,
And this supreme samādhi will soon be attained. {53}
“I am the Lord of the Dharma; you are my son.
Train in this samādhi practice of mine.
I was at that time Dṛdhadatta, the world-renowned
Ruler over the descendants of Manu.[984] {54}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
I made offerings to countless buddhas in the past.
I always maintained pure conduct
And I honored those with the ten strengths.[985] {55}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
In the past I gave up my sons and wives.
I gave away my supreme, excellent head, legs,
Arms, and eyes without ever being disheartened. {56}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
I gave away wealth and grain,
Hundreds of male and female slaves, and many jewels,
And satisfied numerous beggars. {57}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
In the past I gave away great quantities
Of pearls, crystals, gold, conches, ammonite stones,[986] beryls,
Perfectly pure jewels, and a mass[987] of coral, {58}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
I gave away vast amounts of excellent jewelry
Of various kinds, such as perfect strings of pearls,
Lion jewelry,[988] and nets of jewels. {59} F.98.b
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
In the past I gave away many millions
Of fine, excellent clothes that were perfectly clean,
Made of the finest silk and cloth and beautified by gold threads. {60}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
I gave away various kinds of elephants, horses, chariots,
And my own beloved sons and women,
Without ever experiencing any unhappiness. {61}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
Whenever I saw people who were very poor,
Who were in distress and suffering because of their need,
I freed them from their poverty. {62}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
I have in the past given to beggars
Trillions of[989] horses, elephants, and chariots
Draped in nets of precious jewel adornments. {63}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
I have in the past joyfully and with compassion
Given away many trillions
Of excellently decorated parks. {64}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
I have in the past given away beautifully adorned
Villages, towns, regions, and market towns,
And having given them felt continuous joy. {65}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
I have in the past given to those who requested them
Heaps of jewels as large as Sumeru
And a similar amount of clothes and adornments. {66}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
I have made those who are very poor rich,
I have protected those who were in great distress,
And I have made happy many who were enduring suffering. {67}
“When I was a sovereign over this world
And saw the suffering of the population,
I felt compassion and wished them to be happy,
And gave my kingdom to them. {68}
“Young man, the marvelous things that I have done,
And the hardships I have undergone for many hundreds of eons,
I would not be able to complete recounting them
Even in a quintillion eons. {69}
“Seeking this peace, this supreme samādhi,
I underwent astonishing hardships.
The people without faith in the Sugata’s conduct
Will have minds that become crazed and polluted. {70}
“Young man, I declare this to you: F.99.a
Have faith in me; my words are not untrue.
The Sugata does not speak words that are false.
The compassionate Jina always speaks the truth. {71}
“These many different kinds of practices
I will have carried out for many[990] eons.[991]
However I attain this supreme samādhi
I will then free millions of beings from suffering.[992] {72}
“In the moment that I have attained
This samādhi, the path of great wisdom,
Having attained this supreme samādhi
I will see numerous millions of buddhas. {73}
“I will have attained infinite miraculous powers,
And my emanations will go to hundreds of realms,
And there I will ask the compassionate ones
Many quintillions of questions. {74}
“The sugatas will give me answers
For my quintillions of questions,
And having obtained them I will remember them all
And I will not forget even a single word. {75}
“Having listened to the answers to those
Quintillions of correct questions,
I will teach the stainless state of peace
And establish many beings on the path of wisdom. {76}
“I will remain in this samādhi
And train in it for many hundreds of eons,
And will first bring many quintillions of beings
On to the highest stainless path. {77}
“Those who have not seen the previous sugatas
Who have taught this stainless way
Will not be able to have faith
In the supreme samādhi of emptiness, the ultimate truth. {78}
“The people who have faith, are wise, and know the practice,
Are always joyful when they hear
The way that is correct and profound,
And do not become frightened or terrified. {79}
“They hold the supreme enlightenment.
They have been reborn as my sons.
They are like fig-tree flowers,
And I practice for hundreds of eons for their sake. {80}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Have no fear of falling into unfortunate existences,
Are always free of the eight disadvantageous states,
And will see numerous millions of buddhas. {81}
“They who have this supreme samādhi in their hands, F.99.b
I prophesy, will have unending understanding,
And like the kind Jina[993] who has infinite fame,[994]
They will accomplish many benefits for beings. {82}
“They who possess this samādhi
Will have understanding and memory,
High wisdom, will retain what they have heard,
And will possess vast confidence of speech. {83}
“They who possess this samādhi
Will receive the offerings of devas,
Will be continually revered by humans,[995]
And will be constantly protected by the hosts of spirits.[996] {84}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Do not die in fire or water,
Are not harmed by poison or weapons,
And cannot be reached by enemies. {85}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will always dwell in forest bowers,
Where they will be constantly attended by devas,
And where many yakṣas will be their servants. {86}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will have wisdom that is as vast as the ocean,
Will describe without impediment the qualities of the Sage,
And make known correctly the qualities of the Buddha. {87}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will have endless, boundless learning
That is beyond measure, like space,
And will hold the torch of wisdom that dispels darkness. {88}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will always be gentle, will speak appropriate words,
Will be beloved in the midst of their followers,
And their speech will be like the lion’s roar. {89}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will be like healing physicians,
The support, protector, and refuge of many,
And will bring illumination to the worlds. {90}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will not take pleasure in sexual intercourse.[997]
They will enjoy śamatha and reach the bliss of dhyāna.
With a peaceful voice[998] they will speak of peace. {91}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will not take pleasure in conceptualization,
Will be free of the entire multitude of concepts,
And those wise ones will constantly be in meditation. F.100.a {92}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will attain extraordinary vision
And will see the infinite jinas.
They will be leaders with infinite sight. {93}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will have the sweet and melodious voice of a crane,[999]
The sound of the avadavat and a drumbeat,[1000]
And a singing sound and gentle voice. {94}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will have a voice that is like resounding thunder.
Their gentle speech will be like the song of a goose
And their voice will have the fifty aspects of speech.[1001] {95}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will speak with an inconceivable voice
That has the pleasant sound of the various aspects of speech
For numerous quintillions of eons. {96}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will not have attachment to food,
Will not delight in alms bowls or dharma robes,
But with few desires they will be content and abstinent. {97}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Do not praise themselves
And never criticize others.
They always delight in dhyāna and have a subtle mind. {98}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Always examine themselves,
Do not look for mistakes in others,
And the entire world does not impede them. {99}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Have pure conduct and untroubled minds,
Are never deceitful or dishonest,
Are always gentle, and always delight in liberation. {100}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Are always motivated to generosity,
Take no delight in avarice,
And always have correct conduct. {101}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Are handsome, good looking, and attractive.
Their bodies shine like the purest gold
And have the thirty-two primary signs of a great being. {102}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Always have an attractive appearance,
Are observed and beloved by many people, F.100.b
And those people never have enough of gazing upon them. {103}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Always delight, gladden, and enchant
Devas, nāgas, and likewise the yakṣas,
Who enter towns[1002] and praise them.[1003] {104}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Always have Brahmā, Śakra, and many powerful deities
Acting as their attendants,
But there is no pride in their minds. {105}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Have no fear of the lower existences.
They have no fear of the disadvantageous existences or bad rebirths.
They are completely free of all fear of bad rebirths. {106}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Have no doubts or uncertainties
On hearing in detail the supreme Dharma of the Buddha,
And they follow that profound wisdom. {107}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi,
Whatever subtle Dharma teachings they hear
They attain perfect mastery of them all,
And gain their power and detailed reasoning. {108}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Constantly think, ‘I will always act in accordance
With what the Jina’s words have taught,’
And attain unique, supreme retention. {109}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Will, when the time of their death comes,
Have before them the compassionate Amitābha
And his host of bhikṣus.[1004] {110}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Are those who have attained the retentions,
Have perfect mastery over the treasure of the Dharma,
And possess the unceasing words of eloquence. {111}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi,
With peaceful conduct and peaceful[1005] minds
Will be an illumination for beings
Wherever those holders of the Dharma go.[1006] {112}
“They attain the ten bhūmis:[1007]Perfect Joy,
Stainless, Shining, Brilliance, Difficult to Master,
Manifest, Gone Far, Unwavering,
Perfect Understanding, and Clouds of Dharma.[1008] {i}
“Those heroes attain the ten powers:[1009]
Life,[1010] karma,[1011] materials,[1012] and devotion,[1013]
And the strengths of aspiration,[1014] miracles,[1015] and birth,[1016]F.101.a
Dharma,[1017] mind,[1018] and likewise great wisdom.[1019] {ii}
“They who possess this supreme samādhi
Are skilled in the various aspects of the supreme Dharma treasure,
Have attained the perfect power of the dharmakāya,
And cut through the doubts of all beings.[1020] {113}
“If all beings were compassionate bhagavāns,
And were sugatas until existence comes to an end,
And if someone were to make offerings to them for many hundreds of eons
Or for more eons than there are sand grains in the Ganges, {114}
“And if in this latter time of destruction
Someone were to hear this samādhi
And say only the words ‘I rejoice in this!’
The previous merit would not be a fraction of this accumulation. {115}
“Young man, whoever has this practice of peace,
This supreme samādhi, the ultimate truth of emptiness,
Propagates it and creates copies of it,
That one is a dharmabhāṇaka with wisdom.” {116}
Conclusion of the thirtieth chapter, “Tejaguṇarāja.”

Chapter 31

Benefits

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who think, ‘I shall understand the languages of all beings and, knowing their higher or lesser capabilities, I will teach them the Dharma,’ those bodhisattva mahāsattvas should listen to the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, learn it, understand it, keep it, recite it to others, promote it, proclaim it, chant it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, promulgate it, and make it widely known to others.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān spoke these verses:

“They who, desiring liberation, possess this stainless samādhi
See the countless guides of the past,
Ask those lords of the world about their previous practice,
And those bodhisattvas dwell in supreme roots of merit. {1}
“They who, desiring liberation, possess this stainless samādhi
Obtain the highest happiness of devas and humans, F.101.b
Obtain the supreme offerings of devas and humans,
And obtain the happiness of dhyāna, the supreme, noble happiness.[1021] {2}
“They who, desiring liberation, possess this stainless samādhi
Do not become thrilled on hearing the highest praises,
Do not become saddened by being criticized,
And like a mountain are unmoved by the eight worldly concerns. {3}
“They who, desiring liberation, possess this stainless samādhi
Speak perfectly[1022] pleasantly, with gentle words,
Do not frown, always speak sincerely,
Have a smiling face, and have been instructed by the guides. {4}
“They who, desiring liberation, possess this stainless samādhi
Are pleasant, good company, have a gentle mind,
Are always restrained[1023] and established in self-discipline,
And are very gentle, have pleasing speech,[1024] and speak tenderly.[1025] {5}
“They who, desiring liberation, possess this stainless samādhi
Do not quarrel or cause conflict when they speak.
They have freed themselves from all stubbornness[1026] and anger
And are always joyful,[1027] pleasant, and gentle. {6}
“They who, desiring liberation, possess this stainless samādhi
Are always wise and are constantly motivated to generosity.
When they see beings in great suffering they give them their food;
They delight in giving to others, and not in their own enjoyment. {7}
“They who, desiring liberation, possess this stainless samādhi
Are admired by a hundred thousand devas,
Are always attended by nāgas, asuras, and yakṣas,
And are protected by those who dwell in the forest and its environs.[1028] {8}
“They speak with unimpeded words, like the voice of Brahmā,
Have a voice like the song of a goose, a voice like a kinnara’s song,[1029]
Have the fifty aspects of speech and have a sound that brings joy,[1030]
And have a resounding voice, a proclaiming voice, a perfect voice.[1031] {9}
“Even if someone knew how to reduce
All the worlds into their smallest particles,
They who possess this supreme, stainless samādhi
Would voice sounds that were even more numerous. {10}
“They who possess this stainless samādhi
Attain the ten powers, and attain the eight and two bhūmis.
The wise ones attain the inconceivable qualities of a buddha, F.102.a
Subjugate all māras, and reach the highest enlightenment.”[1032] {i}
Conclusion of the thirty-first chapter, “Benefits.”

Chapter 32

The Teaching on the Nature of All Phenomena

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wonder, ‘How can I know the nature of all phenomena?’ should listen to this samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, learn it, understand it, keep it, recite it to others, promote it, proclaim it, chant it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, promulgate it, and make it widely known to others.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān spoke these verses:

“In the ones who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena
No desire arises, no anger arises,
Nor in those great leaders does ignorance ever arise.
They have eliminated all kleśas without remainder. {1}
“They who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena
Are heart children of the Sugata who do not abandon the training.
They are heroes who never fall under the power of women.
Everywhere they rejoice in the teaching of the sugatas. {2}
“They who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena
Are wise, sagacious, and know the way of wisdom.[1033]
They see infinite, endless buddhas
And know infinite dhāraṇīs[1034] and wisdom.[1035] {3}
“They who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena
Will before long become a lord of humans.
They know the skills of healing and bestow happiness,[1036]
And they are able to remove all the pain of suffering.[1037] {4}
“They who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena
Know that sentient beings are suffering.
They always beat the drum of the elixir.
They will before long become a guide.[1038] {5}
“They are the supreme physicians, skilled in healing.
They know the origin of all illnesses and how to be freed from them. F.102.b
They have wisdom and train correctly.
Having trained they liberate many lost beings. {6}
“They who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena
Are wise heroes who are skilled in the nature of emptiness.
They have no attachment to the world and always their food is alms,
And they bring many beings to supreme enlightenment.[1039] {7}
“They who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena[1040]
Are moons[1041] among people, superior through the power of patience.
They are not angry even if struck with stones and sticks,
And they are not disturbed even if their limbs are severed. {8}
“They who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena
Have the strength of being established in the strength of patience.[1042]
Not seeing a thing that is tolerated, they are perfectly at peace.[1043]
They are wise heroes who do not become proud of the strength of their patience.[1044] {9}
“They who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena,
Never have in mind the idea ‘I am cutting through things’;
For them all things are nonexistent, always empty,
And they have eliminated every single conceptual identification. {10}
“Such are they who teach the supreme nature of phenomena.
They will before long reach the highest enlightenment.
They comprehend the scope of the nature of phenomena.
They give a gift that is infinite and endless. {11}
“They who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena
Teach infinite millions of sūtras
That are more numerous than sand grains in the Ganges,
And there is no interruption in their eloquence. {12}
“They who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena
Have wisdom as high as Sumeru,
Constantly for a hundred trillion eons,
And their teaching of the Dharma knows no end. {13}
“They who know the peace that is the nature of phenomena
Have a vast, abundant, inconceivable eloquence.
They constantly seek supreme enlightenment
And teach infinite millions of sūtras. {14}
“They who know that these phenomena have no substance
Perfectly hear and remember the entirety
Of the Dharma that the lords of humans have taught F.103.a
And do not doubt even a single word. {15}
“They who know that phenomena are always empty
Are at all times uniquely superior in their generosity.
They are patrons who give happiness to those who suffer.
When they see beings suffer they satisfy them with jewels. {16}
“They who know that phenomena are always empty
Will always become the kings of Jambudhvaja.
At all times they have love for all the living
And always bring infinite happiness to beings. {17}
“They who know that phenomena are always empty
Are heroes who give away their sons, daughters, and slaves.
Those great leaders’ minds never waver,
As they give away their hands, their feet, their head, and their kingdom. {18}
“They who know that phenomena are always empty
Have no anger in their mind, even in a dream,
Even though their limbs are cut from their body;
For them it is an offering to the guides, the lords of humans. {19}
“They who know that phenomena are always empty
Make offerings to all the guides of the past,
Make offerings to the lords of humans in the future,
And venerate all the guides in the present. {20}
“They who hear and retain this sūtra in the degenerate times
Are wise individuals who possess the treasure of the sugatas.
They are established in the supreme retentions,[1045]
And before long will become guides of the worlds. {21}
“They who do not forget but teach this sūtra
Are wise individuals who will never become blind.
Throughout many eons they will not lose a limb,
And will always avoid the eight disadvantageous states. {22}
“They will never be reborn in the lower existences.
They will always have a beautiful body with the primary signs of a great being.
They will always cultivate the five higher cognitions,
And those heroes will always be in the presence of the sugatas. {23}
“Endowed with wisdom they will manifest many emanations
That will go to millions of realms to guide beings.
Of all those who see this multitude of buddha emanations, F.103.b
That many beings will be brought to supreme enlightenment. {24}
They who hear and retain this sūtra in the degenerate times
Will be endowed with memory, understanding, wisdom, and constancy.
They will become powerful through the strength of their diligence.
They will have great brilliance and they will reach the culmination of the Dharma. {25}
They who hold this samādhi of peace in the degenerate time
Are heroes established in the brahmavihāras.
They quickly attain the eight and two bhūmis,
And swiftly subjugate the māras.[1046] {i}
Those who always meditate on this sūtra of peace
Will attain power and possess the highest strengths.
They will always be ones who are intent on benefiting beings,
And will realize the highest enlightenment at the foot of the Bodhi tree.[1047] {ii}
“Those who meditate that these phenomena are empty
Constantly radiate ten billion light rays
And eclipse even the disks of the suns.
Those heroes will, before long, become guides of the worlds. {26}
“In the past I practiced this field of peace
For many quintillions of eons.
My diligence upon this path was unceasing
And Dīpaṃkara prophesied I would become a jina. {27}
“You also should follow my practice of this sūtra,
This teaching that leads to the profound ultimate truth.
There are many tīrthikas who are lost in error concerning this.
They revile enlightenment and fall into the terrible lower realms. {28}
“During many quintillions of eons
They will experience unendurable sufferings of heat.
And even after many millions of eons have passed
They will still not die for that reason. {29}
“Those who in the terrible latter times
Protect this sūtra of the Sugata, this state of peace,
Will attain the highest enlightenment without difficulty.
They are the prophesied holders of the Dharma in the future.” {30}
Conclusion of the thirty-second chapter, “The Teaching on the Nature of All Phenomena.”[1048]B10F.104.a

Chapter 33

The Benefits of Possessing the Sūtra

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish to train in purifying[1049] the great higher cognition of all phenomena should listen to the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, learn it, understand it, keep it, recite it to others, promote it, proclaim it, chant it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, promulgate it, and make it widely known to others.[1050]

“Young man, what is the purification of the great higher cognition of all phenomena? It is having no grasping toward all phenomena, it is having no clinging to the aggregate of correct conduct,[1051] it is having no pride in the aggregate of samādhi, it is the absence of movement in the aggregate of wisdom, it is having the discerning insight[1052] of the aggregate of liberation, and it is seeing correctly as it is the aggregate of the insight of the wisdom of liberation.[1053]

“The bodhisattva mahāsattva who has those higher cognitions manifests all the manifestations of samādhi and teaches the Dharma to beings.

“This, young man, is what is called ‘the purification of the great higher cognition of all phenomena.’ ”

Then at that time the Bhagavān gave a detailed Dharma teaching on purifying the great higher cognition of all phenomena by chanting the following extensive verses to the youth Candraprabha:

“The purification of the great higher cognitions
Is an incontrovertible teaching.
Someone who practices in contradiction to it
Will not become free of attachment. {1}
“That higher cognition, that wisdom,
Is the inconceivable wisdom of buddhahood.
Someone who remains in attachment
Will never know that wisdom. {2}
“The numerous inconceivable Dharmas
Are taught by using words.
Someone who is attached to words
Will not know the meaning of the teaching. {3} F.104.b
“How can someone teach the meaning
Who does not know the meaning behind the words?
Someone who has not learned what the true nature is
Teaches that which is not the Dharma as the Dharma. {4}
“The one meaning of the differing words
Of the sūtras that have been taught by me
Within thousands of worlds
Is something that cannot be stated. {5}
“Through contemplating a single word
All of them will be meditated on—
All of the many kinds of Dharma that have been taught
By however many buddhas there have been. {6}
“For people who have mastered the meaning
That all phenomena are selfless,[1054]
When they have learned this word
The Dharmas of the Buddha will not be hard to attain.[1055] {7}
“All phenomena are the Buddha’s Dharma.[1056]
They who have learned the nature of phenomena,
They know the nature of phenomena
And do not contradict the nature of phenomena. {8}
“All words are the Buddha’s words,
As all words have no substance.
Although one seeks them in the ten directions
The words of the Buddha will not be found. {9}
“These words are the Buddha’s words.
Though one seeks them in the ten directions,
These unsurpassable words are not to be found.
They have never been found and never will be found.[1057] {10}
“The Buddha’s words are unsurpassable.
There is nothing higher than the Buddha’s words.
There is not an atom of them that is to be found,
And that is why they are called unsurpassable. {11}
“An atom, a phenomenon, is not produced.
Although explanations use the term ‘atom,’
Something the size of an atom cannot be found;
It is a term used in teaching on the worldly level. {12}
“The unfindability of phenomena is found,
But that finding also cannot be found.
Thus they who know phenomena
Realize the highest enlightenment, {13}
“And having realized the highest enlightenment
They will turn the wheel of the Dharma.
Through turning the wheel of the Dharma
They teach the Buddha’s Dharma. {14}
“The bodhisattvas who realize
The highest wisdom of buddhahood,
Because of that are called buddhas,
As they have realized buddhahood’s wisdom. {15}
“The absence of existents, the absence of aspiration,
The absence of attributes, and emptiness—
It is these doorways to liberation
That the Buddha taught as doorways. {16}
“The eyes, the ears, and the nose,
The tongue, the body, and likewise the mind,
The buddhas have explained
That they are by nature empty. {17}
“They who know in that way
The nature of phenomena, F.105.a
Knowing the characteristics of phenomena,
They will not be in disagreement with it. {18}
“This is the realm of experience of the heroes,
Of the bodhisattvas, the protectors.
They know the emptiness of phenomena
And they never have any doubt. {19}
“Those who know the nature of phenomena,
Those ones are called a buddha.
They guide countless, innumerable
Beings to enlightenment. {20}
“That which is accomplished by the word buddha
Is also accomplished by the words correct conduct.
The words buddha and correct conduct
Have the same characteristic. {21}
“However many[1058] words are spoken
Whether superior, middling, or lesser,
They are all taught in the one word meditation,
And in the one word buddha. {22}
“The Buddha’s Dharma[1059] is stated
To have no location and no direction.
It has no birth and no cessation.
Neither is it single nor multiple. {23}
“It is not new and it is not old.
There is nothing to be proud of.
It is not blue and it is not yellow;
Neither is it white, nor red. {24}
“That which is taught through verses
Is inexpressible and ungraspable.
This miraculous activity of the Sage
Is beyond the level of verses. {25}
{26}[1060]
“The buddha who has passed into nirvāṇa
Is seen in the form of a buddha.
The one who imagines that he is present
Will also see the buddha’s miracles. {27}
“When someone has reached nirvāṇa
There is no being that is to be found.
That is how the Dharma is taught
And many beings are liberated. {28}
“Just as the sun and moon
Appear in a bronze bowl
Without their own form going there,
Such is the nature of phenomena. {29}
“Those who know the nature
Of phenomena to be like reflections,[1061]
They do not see the Buddha’s body
As being a body of form.[1062] {30}
“This phenomenon has no body;[1063]
There is no body in it at all.
A phenomenon has no body,
And that is the body of the Buddha. {31}
“Those who see the dharmakāya, F.105.b
They are the ones who see the Guide.
The dharmakāyas[1064] are the buddhas.
That is seeing the buddhas. {32}
“That which is specified through dependence
Is specified to not be specific.
Those who wish to be renunciants
Should understand this approach. {33}
{34}[1065]
“Whoever thinks, ‘I have attained,’
Is for that reason said to be without attainment.
The one who is said to be a renunciant
Is the one who thinks, ‘I have not attained renuncation.’ {35}
“Those who have not learned this profundity,
How can they teach the Dharma?
They cannot describe it
Through using profound words. {36}
“The five skandhas are insubstantial.
Being nonexistent they arise.
For the one to whom the skandhas arise,
There is nothing that arises. {37}
“Those characteristics of the skandhas
Are the characteristics of all phenomena.
Those characteristics are taught
But there are no characteristics that exist. {38}
“The characteristic of phenomena
Is the same as that of space and sky,
As seen in the past, the future,
And as in the present. {39}
“Space is taught to be ungraspable;
There is nothing there to be grasped.
That is the nature of phenomena:
It is ungraspable like space. {40}
“That is how phenomena are taught,
That there is nothing to be seen.
For the one who does not see phenomena,
Phenomena are beyond conception. {41}
“These phenomena have no nature;
They have no nature to be found.
For those dedicated to buddhahood’s enlightenment
This is the domain of the yogin. {42}
“The ones who know phenomena in that way
Will not have attachment to phenomena.
Not being attached to phenomena,
They understand the conceptualization of phenomena. {43}
“The bodhisattvas, the protectors,
Have annihilated all phenomena.
Having annihilated the conceptualization of phenomena
They do not become proud in the Buddha’s Dharma. {44}
“Having no pride in that preeminence,
They examine and teach that preeminence.
The ones who know that preeminence
Will have no pride throughout ten million eons. {45}
“The foolish examine that preeminence
And subsequently continue in saṃsāra.
It has no location that can be found
Even though one searches throughout the ten directions. {46}
“The bodhisattva,[1066] knowing emptiness,
Has no attachment to saṃsāra.[1067]F.106.a
They[1068] practice to attain enlightenment
But their practice cannot be found. {47}
“Their passage cannot be found,
Like that of a bird through the sky.
The bodhisattvas realize
That nature of enlightenment. {48}
“Just as a well-trained conjurer
Is able to display illusions,
Although there are many kinds of forms
There is no form that can be grasped. {49}
“There is no pride in acquisition or nonacquisition,
As there is no acquisition in acquisition.
That wisdom is like an illusion,
And that illusion has no location. {50}
“Thus the understanding of fools
Is a conceptualization of empty phenomena.
Engaging in conceptualization,
They are doomed to the six existences. {51}
“Beings undergo rebirth and aging;
There is no end to their being reborn.
There is no end to the suffering
Of skandhas that are born and die. {52}
“The suffering of birth and saṃsāra
Is the conceptualization of foolish understanding.
This does not cease throughout eons;
Beings continue in saṃsāra for millions of eons. {53}
“They continue in the performance of activities,
Whether that of engagement or disengagement.
They delight in the actions they perform,
But those activities will not liberate them. {54}
“They are carried along on a river of actions,
And their actions will have no end.
They will die over and over,
Always dwelling in the realm of the māras. {55}
“Overpowered by the māras, with poor understanding,
They act through being afflicted by the kleśas.
They experience births and deaths
That take place in various worlds. {56}
“Those various beings who are blind fools,
They proceed toward death.
They are killed and destroyed,
And their existences are terrible. {57}
“Those with foolish understanding
Kill each other with weapons.
By continuing with that kind of activity
Their sufferings only increase. {58}
“Those with foolish understanding think,
‘My sons’ and ‘my wealth.’
They conceive of that which has no existence
And thereby continue to extend saṃsāra. {59}
“They who extend saṃsāra,
Those individuals continue in saṃsāra.
They each go their individual ways
And therefore they are called individual beings. {60}
“They reject the Buddha’s teaching F.106.b
And teach numerous other doctrines.
They are under the power of Māra
And they will not attain liberation. {61}
“These fools, because of their desires,
Have intercourse with putrid women.
They will be reborn as putrid beings,
Falling into the lower realms as a result. {62}
“The buddhas praise neither desire,
Nor having intercourse with women.
That is a terrifying noose,
The dreadful noose of women. {63}
“Those who are wise avoid it
Like a vicious poisonous snake.
They do not put their trust in women.
That is not the path to enlightenment. {64}
“They meditate on the path to enlightenment
That has been taught[1069] by all the buddhas.
Having meditated on that path
They become unsurpassable buddhas. {65}
“Those who have become unsurpassable
Become shrines in the world.
With unsurpassable wisdom
They become unsurpassable buddhas. {66}
“They follow the poṣadha vows
And follow the path of correct conduct.
They lead toward enlightenment
Countless millions of beings. {67}
“They accomplish the benefit of
Innumerable, countless beings.
They are heroes with great wisdom
Who beat the drum of deathlessness. {68}
“They make the realm of Māra shudder;
They make the māras shake.
They lead to enlightenment
Countless millions of māras. {69}
“They overcome their opponents.
They defeat the tīrthikas.
They shake the entire earth
With its mountains and oceans. {70}
“The great leaders[1070] through many transformations
Manifest miraculous manifestations of the body.
The great wise ones display
Inconceivable miracles. {71}
“They shake millions of realms
As numerous as the Ganges sands.
They defeat the māras
And are greatly famed buddhas.[1071] {72}
“They manifest trees[1072]
Adorned with jewels,
Aromatic and beautiful,
Bearing flowers and fruits. {73}
“Those heroes emanate
Delightful[1073] mansions,[1074]F.107.a
Palaces and pinnacled halls,
And beautiful lotus ponds[1075] {74}
“Filled with water that has the eight qualities,
That is clear, cool, and unstained.
Those who drink that water
Cease yearning for the three existences. {75}
“They become irreversible,
Those who drink that supreme water.
Through supreme wisdom
They become supreme buddhas. {76}
“Know that they enter
The supreme way of peace.
Those who do not know that way,
Those focused on perceptions,[1076] will perish. {77}
“The beings who follow that way,
And those who depend upon them,
Will fall into the great terror
Of unendurable Avīci. {78}
“The terrible sufferings there
Are beyond description,
But I and the bodhisattvas,
The protectors, know them. {79}
“They doubt the Dharma,
Which is profound and difficult to see.
It is not on the level of fools,
Those who remain focused on perceptions. {80}
“The manifestations of displays,
Of appearances of many forms,
They are all of them seen in
The supreme buddha realms. {81}
“All the appearances of manifested forms
That are in every buddha realm
Are all revealed here by bodhisattvas
With great miraculous powers. {82}
“Those great heroes with great strength
Wear the armor of the great Dharma.
They strike with the blows
Of the great vajra of the meaning of emptiness. {83}
“Many thousands of millions of light rays
As numerous as the sands in the Ganges
Are radiated from their bodies
And they illuminate the world. {84}
“They find no pleasure in women
And have no desire for them.
Those conceptions have been destroyed
Naturally with their conceptions of women. {85}
“Wherever those heroes are present,
Those buddha realms are not empty.
How could the māras and evil ones
Create an obstacle for them? {86}
“Those who remain in fabricated views
Displease a multitude of buddhas.
Those who are based upon maliciousness
Maintain their desires and attachments. {87}
“All of those who maintain those views F.107.b
Should be known to be māras.
But those māras and evil ones
Cannot cause them an obstacle.[1077] {i}
“When all conceptualization has ceased
They do not relapse into conceptualization.
That is how one should know wisdom to be,
The inconceivable wisdom of buddhahood. {88}
“They see the past, the future,
And also the present.
Phenomena are revealed in that way,
But there is nothing to be revealed. {89}
“They do not know through knowledge.
They are not despondent because of no knowledge.
When knowledge and no knowledge have been examined
That is what is said to be ‘the knowledge of buddhahood.’[1078] {90}
“The bodhisattvas know
Communication, words, and terms,
And they accomplish immeasurable,
Inconceivable benefits for beings. {91}
“In order for a concept to be known,
It is taught through grasping.
The non-grasping of a concept
Is taught for the sake of detachment. {92}
“That which is detachment is taught
To be detachment from conceptions.[1079]
As the nature of conceptions is known,[1080]
There will be no[1081] conceptions.[1082] {93}
“When someone has the conception
‘I must eliminate this conception,’
They cause conceptions to increase,
And they will not be free from conceptions. {94}
“For whom has this conception arisen?
Who has made this conception arise?
Who perceives this conception?
Who ends this conception? {95}
“When a conception arises for anyone,
Even a buddha could not find any such phenomenon.
Contemplate the meaning of this
And there will be no conception. {96}
“When does a conception arise?
For whom does the conception appear?
How does liberation arise
In the process of the mind? {97}
“When liberation is experienced,
All thoughts become nonthought.
When thoughts become nonthought,
At that time there is nonthought. {98}
“When one is on the level of thoughts,
Having thus contemplated,
All thoughts are eliminated
And there is nonthought. {99}
“This is the ripening of good qualities, F.108.a
Which is seen without mentation,
And the thoughts of all beings
Are known in a single instant. {100}
“As beings are, so are their thoughts;
As are their thoughts, so are the jinas.
The inconceivable Buddha
Has taught these thoughts. {101}
“When will thoughts cease for those
Who think of being alone in solitude?
When they do not think that thought
Then all thoughts will cease to be. {102}
“When it comes to the time of death
And their thoughts are continuing,
Their consciousness will follow the thoughts
And they will not be free from thought. {103}
“If a man retains the concept of a woman,
His desire will continue to arise.
If this concept has ceased
He will not be stained by desire. {104}
“This thought is a great thought;
It is the unsurpassable thought of the Dharma.
Through this thought of the Dharma
There will be a continuity of correct thoughts. {105}
“Through incorrect thought
There will be numerous, countless thoughts,
And though one thinks for a very long time
There will still be no cessation to thinking. {106}
“When someone has the thought of a name,
In that cessation there is no wisdom.[1083]
There is no cessation in the knowledge of a word—[1084]
That is the nature of cessation. {107}
“Through words, speech, and communication,
Phenomena are taught using the term cessation.
Between phenomena there is no distinction,
And through knowing that there is cessation; {108}
“Even if it is explained for ten million eons
That they are unproduced and unceasing,
Without attributes and without characteristics,
They are taught to be without attributes. {109}
“When all existents have ceased to exist
And they remain in nonexistence,
Existence is not taught to be other than nonexistence,
And nonexistence is not taught to be other than existence. {110}
“The teaching of nonexistence
Is given through the word nonexistence,
But not even all the buddhas
Can see nonexistence. {111}
“That which exists is taught
As this nonexistence of all that exists.
Knowing existents in this way,
They are taught to be nonexistent. {112}
“There is no one whosoever
Who can connect with this nonexistence.
The connection with this nonexistence
Results in a teaching that is one of conventions.[1085] {113}
“The ones who have in their minds the thought F.108.b
‘I shall become a buddha in this world’
Will not be afflicted by craving for existence,
And those wise ones will attain enlightenment. {114}
“The bodhisattvas in meditation
Do not long for any phenomenon.
When nothing is apprehended,[1086]
That is called enlightenment. {115}
“There are many who say,
‘I am in a state of enlightenment,’
But not knowing this approach
They are far from buddhahood’s enlightenment. {116}
“The Dharma that is taught through words
Is entirely composite and empty.
The nature of these words
Is profound, subtle, and difficult to see. {117}
“It is through great higher cognition
That the teaching of this sūtra is given.
It is taught by all the buddhas
For the sake of the bodhisattvas. {118}
“Remedies defeat
However many kleśas they have.
Remaining in higher cognition,
They cultivate miraculous powers. {119}
“They maintain the knowledge of contemplation
And then that knowledge also ceases.
There is an insatiable acquisition
Of inconceivable, immeasurable wisdom. {120}
“Their samādhi and miraculous actions
Are devoid of mentation.
Such is the ripening of these heroes
Who are always in a state of meditation. {121}
“With these ripened miraculous powers
They go to millions of realms
And they see those who are the illumination of the worlds,
Who are as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. {122}
“Their births and their deaths
Are the processes of their minds.
They have attained power over their minds
And their bodies are bright. {123}
“The Buddha’s śrāvakas who maintain
The miraculous powers they have cultivated
Do not even approach a sixteenth fraction
Of the miraculous activities free of mentation. {124}
“All the devas are unable
To know their thoughts.
Only the lords of the worlds,
And those who are equal to them, can do so. {125}
“They do not become bald
And their hair does not become white.
They do not have evident aging
And thus have no suffering or death. {126}
“They do not have doubt or mistrust
And they have no uncertainty. F.109.a
Day and night they seek for
Thousands of millions of sūtras. {127}
“All their propensities
For the kleśas are eliminated.
They always have an equal mind
Toward all beings. {128}
“They teach quintillions of samādhis
Throughout the ten directions.
Without respite they answer
Thousand of millions of questions. {129}
“The concept of male, the concept of female,
And all other concepts have ceased.
They remain in the recognition of nonexistence
And they teach that which is certain and true. {130}
“With completely pure wisdom
They teach the Dharma correctly.
They are dedicated to proclaiming the Dharma,
And are in the domain of samādhi and wisdom. {131}
“Though they practice dhyāna,
They do not remain in existence.
Their words are not meaningless;
Their teaching of the Dharma is fruitful. {132}
“Those who delight in this sūtra
Will easily become human,
Avoid all disadvantageous existences,
And repay the kindness of all the buddhas. {133}
“Those who possess one verse
Of this precious sūtra
Will abandon saṃsāra
For countless eons. {134}
“Those who delight in this sūtra
Are seen by all the buddhas.
They will serve the buddhas
And quickly attain enlightenment. {135}
“Those who delight in this sūtra,
They will have no doubt or uncertainty
Concerning the entire Dharma,
And they are near to nirvāṇa. {136}
“They will see a great hero,
A tathāgata on Gṛdhrakūṭa.
All the buddhas will give them prophecies
And they will appear to be compassionate jinas. {137}
“Those who follow this sūtra
In this time of destruction
Will see Buddha Maitreya
And attain excellent patience. {138}
“They will remain at the summit of existence,
The inconceivable summit of existence,
And at that inconceivable summit
They will know no doubt. {139}
“They will not have any doubt at all,
Not even an atom of doubt.
As they have eliminated every atom of doubt,[1087]
Enlightenment will not be difficult to attain. {140} F.109.b
“In the terrifying age of destruction
They will undergo hardship,
Train in this precious sūtra,
And have an unceasing eloquence.[1088] {141}
“They will promulgate this sūtra
And will guard the treasure of the buddhas.
This is an offering to all the buddhas,
An inconceivable offering of the Dharma. {142}
“Those who maintain this sūtra
During the cruel age of destruction
Will without difficulty attain wisdom,
The inconceivable wisdom of buddhahood. {143}
“Those who received this sūtra
From the buddhas of the past
Will come into possession of it
And promulgate it in the age of destruction. {144}
“Their voices will proclaim
The conduct of the Śākya lion
In the presence of lords of the world
In millions of buddha realms. {145}
“And in the presence of the buddhas[1089]
They will always roar the lion’s roar
With an endless confidence of speech,
Teaching the enlightenment of buddhahood. {146}
“Those who have been prophesied by the Buddha
Will be born into the Ikṣvāku family.
They will protect this enlightenment
During the terrifying age of destruction. {147}
“Their bodies will be perfect,
Adorned by the primary signs of a great being.
They will send emanations
To make homage to millions of buddhas. {148}
“There will be the manifestation
Of golden, illusory flowers,
And flowers made of beryl,
Of crystal, and of silver, {149}
“And every kind of jewel
Appearing from their hands,
Which they will scatter toward the buddhas
In seeking the path to enlightenment. {150}
“Various kinds of offerings,
And perfectly created music,
As numerous as the Ganges sands,
Will be emitted from the pores of their bodies. {151}
“The countless millions of beings
Who hear that music
Will progress irreversibly toward
Buddhahood’s highest wisdom. {152}
“Those millions of buddhas
Recite countless praises
And their sound is heard
Within countless realms. {153}
“For those who hear that sound
All their conceptualization ceases. F.110.a
When their conceptualization has ceased
They will see endless[1090] buddhas. {154}
“With that kind of wisdom
They will practice bodhisattva conduct.
They will benefit all beings
And become jinas who benefit others. {155}
“Those who possess this samādhi
Are wise ones who will obtain
These benefits and qualities,
And also countless others. {156}
“Even a female who hears
This sūtra and retains a single verse
Will change from having a female existence
And will become a dharmabhāṇaka. {157}
“She will never again afterward
Have a female existence,
And will always be handsome
And adorned by the primary signs of a great being. {158}
“They will all come to possess
These supreme qualities
Described in this supreme sūtra,
And they will quickly attain enlightenment. {159}
“Having obtained this sūtra,
Which is the domain of all the buddhas,[1091]
Throughout all their lifetimes
They will always be without fear. {160}
“Teaching this samādhi, this peace
Is the creation of bodhisattvas.
Whoever wishes to attain enlightenment
Should give the teaching of this sūtra. {161}
“They will be close to the lords of sages
And will be close to buddhahood’s enlightenment.
They will before long attain
This level of peace and meditation. {162}
“The bodhisattvas, the heroes,
Always remain in this enlightenment.
They see millions of buddhas
As numerous as the Ganges sands. {163}
“They will become cakravartin kings who rule the world,
See stainless buddhas who have minds of perfect peace,
Praise those lords of the worlds with hundreds of verses,
And obtain the peace of this stainless samādhi. {164}
“They will make unequaled offerings to those guides[1092]
Who have perfect, great fame and are supreme among humans and devas,
And they will cast aside the kingdom like spittle,
And pure, perfectly pure, will practice celibacy. {165}
“They will enter homelessness in the Sage’s teaching
And obtain the peace of this stainless samādhi. F.110.b
They will have friendly speech with gentle words,
And become empowered and wise in teaching[1093] a million sūtras. {166}
“Having attained this samādhi they will teach it to many beings:
Empty and without attributes, the perfect attainment of peace,
The perfect and unimpeded practice of the Dharma of complete peace,
The empty nature that is constant, stainless peacefulness. {167}
“They have profound realization, continuous endless realization,
A vast realization, a realization that is incalculably beneficial.
Having attained profound peace, this samādhi,
They will become an illumination for all worlds. {168}
“Having attained this peace, this stainless samādhi,
They will be continually pure in celibacy,
Unsullied, always free of the kleśas,
And lead millions of other beings to be the same. {169}
“Having attained this peace, this stainless samādhi,
They will have exceedingly sharp wisdom, supreme wisdom;
They will gain an ocean of learning and always have infinite understanding,
Virtuous speech, excellent understanding, and knowledge of the instructions. {170}
“Having attained this peace, this stainless samādhi,
They will gain skill in works and skill in the arts,
Skill in healing and likewise skill in herbs.
In everything they will be constant and perfect. {171}
“Having attained this peace, this stainless samādhi,
They will be perfect and completely skilled
In poetry, treatises, comedy, music, song, and dance,
Always becoming masters of these in this world. {172}
“Having attained this peace, this stainless samādhi,
Such people will be those who always have a retinue.
They will not cause division, but will always keep harmonious unity
And practice the supreme, highest, peaceful bodhisattva conduct. {173}
“Having attained this peace, this stainless samādhi,
Those wise people will never have
Sorrow, pain, or mental anguish,
And will at all times be free of illness. {174}
“Having attained this peace, this stainless samādhi,
In this human world they will not have any illness,
No physical pain, nor likewise mental pain,
No toothache, and similarly no headache. {175} F.111.a
“Having attained this peace, this stainless samādhi,
They will never have any illness occur:
None of the various sicknesses of the mortal world,
Whether physical illness or likewise mental illness. {176}
“Having attained this peace, this stainless samādhi,
They will never have the many different kinds of afflictions,
Whether they are the various kinds of mental afflictions
Or the various kinds of physical illnesses. {177}
“Having attained this peace, this stainless samādhi,
Just as space, the air, is undefiled,
Has a pure nature, and is vast[1094] and bright,
In the same way their minds will be completely pure. {178}
“Having attained this peace, this stainless samādhi,
Just as moonlight, and likewise sunlight, too,
Are pure, ungraspable, and radiant,
In the same way their minds will be bright. {179}
“Just as it is not easy, using pigments,
To paint various forms in the air,
In the same way it is not easy to create pictures in the minds[1095]
Of those who remain in this stainless samādhi of peace. {180}
“Just as the wind blows in the four[1096] directions,
Going in every direction without impediment,
Their continuum of mind is like the wind,
Moving unimpeded, without attachment,[1097] throughout the world. {181}
“One may be able to catch the wind with a net,
One may be able to bind the wind with a noose,
But it is not so easy to know the mind of someone
Who has meditated on this stainless samādhi of peace. {182}
“One may be able to catch a reflection on water,
And obtain from it a bowl of sesame oil,
But it is not so easy to know the mind of someone
Who has meditated on this stainless samādhi of peace. {183}
“Someone may be able to catch in their hands
The lightning that flashes from the thundering clouds,
But it is not so easy to know the extent of the mind of someone
Who has meditated on this stainless samādhi of peace.[1098] {184} F.111.b
“One may be able to know the languages of all beings,
The beings in the buddha realms in the ten directions,
But it is not so easy to know the heights of the mind
Of bodhisattvas who have attained this samādhi. {185}
“When they have attained this stainless samādhi of peace
They will have no kleśas and be undefiled.
Those who have attained this samādhi of peace
Will never again have attachment[1099] to the three existences.[1100] {186}
“Having attained this stainless samādhi of peace,
They have no longing for objects of desire, no longing for forms;[1101]
They have no longing for women and have unconfused minds.
They are peaceful, completely peaceful, and undefiled. {187}
“Having attained this stainless samādhi of peace,
They have no longing for sons, no longing for daughters;
They have no longing for a wife, and no longing for attendants.
Their conduct is peaceful and they are undefiled. {188}
“They have no longing for gold and no longing for wealth.
They have no longing for higher rebirth and no attachment to money and jewels.
They have completely pure minds and are free of thought.
That is the uniqueness of this attainment of samādhi. {189}
“They do not practice celibacy for a higher rebirth.[1102]
The wise are not generous out of yearning for a higher rebirth;
Bodhisattvas are generous because they desire enlightenment.
That is the uniqueness of this attainment of samādhi. {190}
“Those who accomplish this stainless samādhi
Do not practice asceticism in order to have a kingdom,
Nor in order to become sovereign over the three existences.
They benefit many beings because they long for enlightenment. {191}
“They have no longing for songs and no longing for dance,
They have no longing for incense[1103] and no longing for drink,
And they have no longing for food and no longing for clothes.
That is the uniqueness of this attainment of samādhi. {i}[1104]
“They have no longing for eyes and no longing for ears,
They have no longing for a nose and no longing for a tongue,
And they have no longing for a body and no longing for a mind.
That is the uniqueness of this attainment of samādhi. {ii}
“They have no longing for home and no longing for the forest, F.112.a
They have no longing for a monastery and no longing for a village,
And they have no longing for a region and no longing for a town.
That is the uniqueness of this attainment of samādhi. {iii}
“They have no longing for generosity and no longing for conduct,
They have no longing for patience and no longing for diligence,
And they have no longing for meditation and no longing for wisdom.
That is the uniqueness of this attainment of samādhi. {iv}
“They have no longing for being and no longing for life,
They have no longing for the Buddha and no longing for the Dharma,
And they have no longing for the Saṅgha and no longing for enlightenment.
That is the uniqueness of this attainment of samādhi. {v}
“They have no longing for existence and no longing for nonexistence,
They have no longing for the middle way and no longing for the extremes,
And they have no longing for everything and no longing for nothing.
That is the uniqueness of this attainment of samādhi. {vi}
“When they have attained this stainless samādhi of peace,
Desire can never cause them harm.
Those who yearn for women have confused minds
And they know that this is the nature of desire. {192}
“When they have attained this stainless samādhi of peace,
Anger can never cause them harm.
The wise ones destroy malice;
Through love they completely overcome anger.[1105] {193}
“Ignorance can never cause them harm;
Wisdom eliminates ignorance and stupidity.
They attain measureless wisdom free of darkness.
These qualities from attaining samādhi are measureless. {194}
“Desire is always overcome by repulsiveness.[1106]
Anger is constantly defeated by love.
Wisdom cuts through ignorance, the net of the kleśas.
Those who have attained samādhi are majestic to the whole world. {195}
“Sleep can never cause them harm.
They eliminate the various subsidiary kleśas.
They are undefiled and liberated.
These qualities from attaining samādhi are measureless. {196}
“Desire can never cause harm
To the bodhisattvas who possess this samādhi. F.112.b
They delight always in generosity:
They give away their possessions and give happiness. {197}
“The bodhisattvas who possess this samādhi
Possess power that is beyond compare.
At all times they are in the possession of strength.
There is no one who is their equal in the world. {198}
“They become cakravartins in this world.
They come to Jambudvīpa as the sovereign of humans
And many beings make offerings to them,
And in particular they attain the unique wisdom free of darkness. {199}
“Such bodhisattvas become the leaders in a special, jewellike family.[1107]
They have great wealth and are lords over many people.[1108]
They have horses, elephants, and perfect chariots to ride upon.
They have abundant gold and precious jewels.[1109] {200}
“Those who have faith in the supreme wisdom of the Buddha,
They are called the jewellike families in Jambudvīpa.
They are born there into special, jewellike families
And they benefit a multitude of their kin. {201}
“They carefully engender faith in those
Who are of families in Jambudvīpa who have no faith.
They bring a multitude of beings to aspire to enlightenment,
And they become self-arisen buddhas, supreme jinas. {202}
“They attain unequaled, highest enlightenment
And turn the unequaled Dharma wheel in buddha realms.[1110]
Those who then know that Dharma wheel
Will all remain in the birthlessness of phenomena. {203}
“The bodhisattvas will perform many activities.
Beings will constantly make offerings to them.
They will constantly accomplish unequaled benefit.
They will remove the darkness from the eyes of beings. {204}
{205}[1111]
“The bodhisattvas, joyous, with loving minds
And unstained, will become buddhas.
Wherever those bodhisattvas are present
They will create an immeasurable benefit for beings. {206}
“They will protect correct conduct and have matchless celibacy.
They will meditate on samādhi for many endless eons. F.113.a
They will constantly have certainty in dhyāna and liberation.
Those bodhisattvas will be the sons of the buddhas. {207}
“They always practice the bases of miraculous powers,
And they go to various infinite realms.
They listen to the Dharma taught by the sugatas
And, having the power of retention, they remember everything. {208}
“Those bodhisattvas who have the power of retention
Teach endless, countless sūtras.
Those bodhisattvas who have the power of retention
Accomplish countless benefits for beings. {209}
“They know the deaths and rebirths
And the coming and going of beings,
What kind of actions they do,
And the ripening of their karma. {210}
“In that transference of karma
There are not even atoms to be found.
Those greatly famous bodhisattvas
Know, too, that this is so. {211}
“Emptiness is the supreme
Dwelling of the great beings.
They establish countless millions
Of beings in the great yāna. {212}
“When they are teaching
They have no concept of beings.
The bodhisattvas teach
Without engaging in phenomena. {213}
“When they teach the Dharma
There is no apprehending of an object.
They reside in emptiness,
Established in enduring wisdom. {214}
“When someone has been taught this samādhi,
In which all the teachers reside,
No conceptions arise in him,
He naturally has no conceptions about women. {215}
“When conceptions of women have ceased,
He sits at the Bodhimaṇḍa.
Once he has sat at the Bodhimaṇḍa
The conceptions of Māra cease. {216}
“The wise one does not see
Māra[1112] and Māra’s army,[1113]
And neither does he see
The three daughters of Māra. {217}
“Once he is seated upon the Bodhimaṇḍa,
All his conceptions are eliminated.
Once all his conceptions are eliminated
This entire world is shaken. {218}
“So, too, are all the worlds in the ten directions F.113.b
With their Sumerus and their oceans,
And this is known
By all the beings in the ten directions.[1114] {219}
“This shaking of the world
Is the miracle of the bodhisattva;
It is shaken six times
When he attains supreme enlightenment. {220}
“All the composite phenomena there are,
And all the noncomposite phenomena—
All phenomena are understood
That are taught by the word phenomena.[1115] {221}
“There is nothing there to be understood,
And that lion’s roar arises.
Knowing this process of arising,
He becomes an illuminating buddha. {222}
“Phenomena appear dependently.
Phenomena are produced dependently.
The wise ones know the entirety
Of the dependence of phenomena. {223}
“They know the development of all phenomena.
They have complete understanding through emptiness.
They have wisdom concerning states of existence.
They have complete understanding of all phenomena. {224}
On seeking for these states of existence,
The bodhisattva does not find them.
That is the same as the inconceivable knowledge
Of all the buddhas concerning states of existence. {225}
“The one who has that complete knowledge
Knows all states of existence.[1116]
Knowing the characteristic of the true Dharma,
He brings to an end all illusions.[1117] {226}
“Knowing the characteristic of the true Dharma,
He gazes upon all the realms.
Having gazed upon all the realms,
He seats himself at the Bodhimaṇḍa.[1118] {i}
“Having sat at the Bodhimaṇḍa,
There is the sound of the lion’s roar,
Which thus resounds throughout
Countless, innumerable millions of realms. {227}
“All those greatly renowned buddha heroes
Also cause those realms to shake.
The leader of beings guides beings
In the way that they are to be guided. {228}
“Having reached the highest enlightenment,
He rises from the Bodhimaṇḍa.
He guides the countless, innumerable beings
Who are to be guided. {229}
“Then the Buddha emanates
Infinite buddha emanations.
These buddha emanations[1119] go
To thousands of millions of realms.[1120] {230}
“They lead countless millions
Of beings to the highest enlightenment. F.114.a
He teaches the supreme Dharma
For the benefit of all beings. {231}
“That kind of great wisdom
Is the inconceivable wisdom of a buddha.
Therefore develop the aspiration,
The supreme aspiration to enlightenment.[1121] {232}
“Develop veneration for those with the highest qualities:
The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha,
And the heroes, the bodhisattvas,
Who seek for the highest enlightenment. {233}
“Without becoming disheartened,
Venerate them unflaggingly,
And become before long
An illuminating buddha. {234}
“Those bodhisattvas who come here
From thousands of realms
See the lamp of the world
Teaching the supreme Dharma. {235}
“Those great heroes throw down
Great jewels for the Guide,
And in order to attain enlightenment
They cast down coral tree flowers. {236}
“They adorn this realm,
The highest buddha realm.
All of the ten directions[1122]
Are covered with networks of jewels. {237}
“They string up flags
And erect millions of banners,
And they adorn this realm
With endless adornments. {238}
“They create countless, beautiful
Pinnacled halls with balconies,[1123]
Upper chambers,[1124] and towers[1125]
Adorned with every jewel. {239}
“They create palaces with crescents,
Round windows and aviaries,
Incense, banners, and vases,[1126]
And adorned with many jewels. {240}
“The aroma[1127] of incense
Spreads through this buddha realm.[1128]
That delightful incense
Pervades a billion[1129] realms. {241}
“When it has spread through them
A rain of incense falls.
Those who smell that incense
Become buddhas, guides. {242}
“They cast away the pain[1130] of desire.
They do not have anger and craving.[1131]
The net of ignorance[1132] is destroyed
And all darkness comes to an end. {243}
“There they attain the miraculous powers,
And the strengths, powers, and aspects of enlightenment. F.114.b
They attain the dhyānas and the liberations
And become worthy of offerings. {244}
“Fifty million[1133] beautiful
Seats are arranged,
Draped with millions[1134] of cloths
And nets of jewels.[1135] {245}
“The bodhisattvas, the famous heroes,
Are gathered there upon those seats.[1136]
They shine with the primary signs
And also with the secondary signs. {246}
“This entire buddha realm
Is adorned by trees made of jewels.
There are emanated ponds that are filled
With water that has the eight qualities. {247}
“Those on the banks of those pools
Who drink from their waters
Are freed from all craving
And become worthy of veneration by the world. {248}
“In other realms, too,
Bodhisattvas gather.
They praise the Buddha,
The lion of the Śākyas, the protector. {249}
“Those who hear that praise
Become guides of the worlds.
Here I have described
This sūtra’s inconceivable benefits. {250}
“Countless millions of lotuses
Are emanated, which have
Petals made of gold,
And pericarps of uragasāra.[1137] {251}
“They have stems[1138] of beryl,
They have leaves[1139] of crystal,
They have stamens of emerald,[1140]
And have beautifully appeared. {252}
“They have an inconceivable aroma
That they continuously emit.
The inconceivable aroma of the lotuses
Fills millions of realms.[1141] {i}
“Those who smell that aroma
That they delightfully emanate
Will have delight in their minds
And all their illnesses will cease. {253}
“Desire, anger, and ignorance
Will cease without trace.
When those three faults have ceased in them
They will be buddhas who bestow happiness. {254}
“From them are emitted sounds,
Countless numbers of the word buddha.
And from them also the words
dharma and saṅgha emanate everywhere, {255}
“And also the words emptiness,
Absence of attributes, and absence of aspiration.
The progress of the numerous millions of beings
Who hear them becomes irreversible. {256} F.115.a
“These words that are emanated
Also reach millions of realms.
They establish countless millions
Of beings in this buddha wisdom. {257}
“The birds that are peacocks,[1142]
Avadavats, and partridges
Also sing out a word,
The unsurpassable word buddha. {258}
“The birds that are snipes,
Mynas, cranes, and cuckoos
Also sing out a word,
The inconceivable[1143] word dharma.[1144] {i}
“The birds that are parrots, geese,
Ducks, shelducks, and swans
Also sing out a word,
The unsurpassable word saṅgha. {ii}
“All the birds that there are
In the deva or the human worlds
Are continuously singing
Praises of the Three Jewels. {iii}
“Trees made of jewels
Are manifested in this realm.
Those delightful jewel trees
Are uniquely beautiful. {259}
“On all those trees are hung
Every kind of ornament.
They have manifested in this realm
Through the power of the Buddha.[1145] {260}
“This display does not exist
Anywhere in any realm.
This unique, superior sight
Is not to be seen in this realm.[1146] {261}
“This is what has been taught
By the Śākya lion, the protector.
The greatly famed bodhisattvas
Have no doubt in that wisdom. {262}
“They comprehend that highest point.
Their way is inconceivable.
Their wisdom increases
Like an ocean into which rivers flow. {263}
“They have no final end.
It is like drinking an ocean.
This is the inconceivable way
Of the bodhisattvas that has been taught. {264}
“The greatly famed bodhisattvas,
The heroes, are at the highest point.
They give forth aspects of speech
That are as numerous as the Ganges sands. {265}
“There is such inconceivable speech
But the bodhisattvas have no pride.[1147]
They have eliminated pride
And are near to enlightenment, {266}
“They will not ruin their correct conduct
Even for the sake of their life.
The bodhisattvas are resolute F.115.b
And behave immaculately. {267}
“They do not become ruined
By any concept of desire.
They have eliminated all conceptions
And they have countless samādhis. {268}
“They practice them while in meditation
Yet have no attachment to those samādhis.
They have no clinging, they are attentive,
And they have no attachment to the world. {269}
“When they leave this world
They go to Sukhāvatī.
When they have arrived there
They see Buddha Amitābha. {270}
“Those bodhisattva heroes
Are adorned by the primary signs.
They have reached the domain of the five higher cognitions,
Great wisdom,[1148] and the retentions. {271}
“They go to millions of realms
And bow down to the feet of the buddhas.
Shining, they travel
To countless buddha realms. {272}
“They have eliminated all faults
And are purified of all kleśas.
With the kleśas completely eradicated
They are one lifetime from becoming a jina. {273}
“They will not go to the lower realms.
From that realm of humans
All rebirth into the lower realms
Has been eradicated in that realm. {274}
“Do not doubt what has been revealed
Concerning that protector,
The Lord of the World, Amitābha,
And you will go to Sukhāvatī.[1149] {275}
“A woman who has faith on hearing
The praise of this precious sūtra[1150]
Will soon become a superior wise man
Who miraculously goes to billions of realms. {276}
“Many offerings of innumerable kinds,
Offered continuously to supreme beings
Within the appearance of a quintillion realms,
Cannot equal a fraction of a loving mind. {277}
“Those who always practice correct conduct and samādhi,
And also countless dhyānas and liberations,
Who always practice emptiness devoid of attributes—
They will soon become sugatas in the world. {278}
“The bodhisattvas who maintain the aggregate of correct conduct
Make the greatest, most special offering to me.
Those who maintain the aspiration to enlightenment in the time of degeneration
Are continuously making an offering to all the buddhas.[1151] {279} F.116.a
“The bodhisattvas in the dreadful time of degeneration
Who protect this supreme Dharma[1152] taught by the sugatas,
Are my offspring and protectors of the Dharma in the later times.[1153]
They have been entrusted by ten billion buddhas.” {280}
Conclusion of the thirty-third chapter, “The Benefits of Possessing the Sūtra.” B11

Chapter 34

Kṣemadatta

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha,[1154] “Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should abide in the absence of attributes and be dedicated to making vast offerings to a present tathāgata or to the stūpa of a tathāgata who has passed into nirvāṇa.

“Young man, those bodhisattva mahāsattvas should develop an aspiration focused upon all beings as they wish for this samādhi. And, wishing to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, they should abide in the absence of attributes, without aspiration for the ripening of karma, and use even their own body and life to perform vast actions of making offerings to a present tathāgata or to the stūpa of a tathāgata who has passed into nirvāṇa.

“With their mind and attention focused on compassion; with a loud, clear voice, elevated and pleasant; and with especially noble vocabulary and a continuity of words they should teach extensively to others, propagate, and explain the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena. Why is that? Because, young man, this king of samādhis, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, is the basis and root of the entire Dharma.

“Young man, when bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have great compassion F.116.b and diligently rely on methods are dedicated to making vast offerings to a present tathāgata or to the stūpa of a tathāgata who has passed into nirvāṇa, they should teach extensively to others this king of samādhis, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena.

“At that time, young man, those bodhisattva mahāsattvas should abide in the doorways to liberation that are emptiness, the absence of attributes, and the absence of aspiration, and should not apprehend any phenomenon whatsoever. The bodhisattva mahāsattvas who abide in the practice of the samādhi that is free of apprehending will abide in all aspirations. Young man, the bodhisattva mahāsattvas who abide in all aspirations will fulfill all the aspirations of all beings, will quickly attain this samādhi, and will quickly attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood.[1155]

“Young man, you should understand this through the following teaching.

“Young man, in the past, uncountable, vast, immeasurable, inconceivable, innumerable countless eons ago,[1156] at that time and in those days, there appeared in the world the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta, who was perfect in wisdom and conduct, a sugata, a knower of the world, an unsurpassable guide who tamed beings, a teacher of devas and humans, a buddha, and a bhagavān.

“Young man, the Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ghoṣadatta established countless, innumerable beings in the cessation of defilements, in arhatship, and having established them in that state, he passed into nirvāṇa. He also established countless, innumerable beings in irreversible progress toward the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood and then passed into nirvāṇa. F.117.a

“Young man, at that time and in those days,[1157] in Jambudvīpa there was a king named Śrīghoṣa. In order to make offerings to the Tathāgata who had passed into nirvāṇa he built eighty-four quintillion stūpas that contained the relics of the Tathāgata and he presented eighty-four quintillion lights to each of those stūpas. In the same way he offered eighty-four quintillion musical instruments, percussion instruments, flowers, incense offerings, perfumes, garlands, ointments, powders, robes, parasols, banners, and flags to each of those stūpas.

“Young man, in that way King Śrīghoṣa made offerings to the stūpas that contained the relics of the Tathāgata. Then he gathered eighty quintillion bodhisattvas and dedicated himself to making offerings of all the most pleasing necessities to those bodhisattvas.

“Every one of all those bodhisattva mahāsattvas was a dharmabhāṇaka. They had uninterrupted eloquence, the attainment of samādhi, and the attainment of unimpeded retention. They were teachers of the pure Dharma, and had attained the perfection of the supreme powers of a bodhisattva.

“Young man, at that time, within that assembly there was a bodhisattva mahāsattva[1158] named Kṣemadatta. He was a young boy with black hair, in the first stage of youth. He had become a youth who did not indulge in desires, but was a young celibate, who had been keeping the vow for a year.

“Young man, at that time, King Śrīghoṣa made a request to that great assembly of bodhisattvas. He made a request to those bodhisattva mahāsattvas that he might, combining the six perfections, accomplish the great retention of the bodhisattva piṭaka, skill in methods, and unimpeded power and guidance. F.117.b That evening he lit a quintillion lights before the stūpas that contained the relics of the Tathāgata. He also swept clean the circumambulation walkway, moistened and washed it, scattered flowers upon it, and arranged various seats. King Śrīghoṣa then came there accompanied by his harem and the people of the villages, towns, and regions. Holding musical instruments, percussion instruments, cymbals, flowers, incense, perfumes, garlands, ointments, powders, robes, parasols, banners, and flags, they made offerings to the stūpa, which contained the relics of the Tathāgata. Afterwards, in order to hear the Dharma, accompanied by his harem of queens, he ascended to the roof of the palace. Gatherings of devas and humans also assembled in order to hear the Dharma.

“The bodhisattva Kṣemadatta saw them and the lights from the numerous quintillions of offered lamps that shone as one pervading radiance. Knowing that many devas and humans had assembled in order to hear the Dharma, he thought, ‘I have entered the Mahāyāna, and because I now long for this samādhi I shall make an offering to the Tathāgata. It will be such an offering to the Tathāgata that it will amaze the worlds of devas, humans, and asuras, and bring them joy, delight, pleasure, and happiness, and they will obtain the light of the Dharma. I shall make an offering that will surpass all the offerings made to the Tathāgata by King Śrīghoṣa and amaze King Śrīghoṣa, his harem of queens, and his attendants, and bring them joy, delight, pleasure, and happiness.’ F.118.a

“The bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣemadatta was joyful and happy, and knowing that the great assembly of people had gathered to hear the Dharma, that evening he sat in front of the Tathāgata’s stūpa, bound his right hand in cotton, and immersed it in sesame oil. Having immersed it in sesame oil he set it alight.

“At this point the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣemadatta developed the supreme intention. He developed the supreme intention for the highest, complete enlightenment and, seeking complete enlightenment, although his right hand was burning brightly, his mind and the expression of his face remained unchanged.

“Young man, as the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣemadatta’s right hand burned brightly, and was transformed into a single flame, at that time this great earth shook. The light from his burning right hand made that of the many quintillions of offering lamps seem dark, and its great illumination spread in all directions, its radiance illuminating and pervading every direction.

“He became joyful and happy, and with a gentle and pleasing voice, a uniquely superior vocabulary, and a continuity of words and letters, he taught[1159] the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena so that the entire assembly understood it in detail.

“The one thousand two hundred Trāyastriṃśa devas assembled there to listen to the Dharma were made joyous and happy and made various divine offerings. The apsarases engaged in singing divine songs.[1160]

“King Śrīghoṣa, who was keeping the eight poṣadha vows, was in the middle of his harem of queens, with his court before him, seated on the roof of his palace. He saw that the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣemadatta’s hand was burning and outshining all other lights, F.118.b creating a brightness that transcended the lights of devas and the lights of humans.

“He thought, ‘This bodhisattva mahāsattva has attained great higher cognition,’ and felt intense joy, faith, veneration, and reverence for the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣemadatta. Supported by his great accumulation of merit and roots of merit he leapt from the roof of the palace, together with his harem of eighty queens. He leapt because of his joy on having seen the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣemadatta.

“Because of the roots of merit that were produced by his veneration, he and his retinue were caught by devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas. After they had been caught by devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas, King Śrīghoṣa and his retinue, even though they had jumped from a building that was a hundred thousand cubits high, were physically unharmed, mentally unharmed, and were not unnerved.

“King Śrīghoṣa extended both his hands, and together with the great assembly of people saw the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣemadatta’s hand on fire and burning brightly. All of them cried out loudly and wailed. Then the king, together with the great assembly of people, weeping and shedding tears, came before the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣemadatta.

“Young man, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣemadatta saw King Śrīghoṣa, and having seen him asked, ‘Great king, why are you and this great assembly of people here before me crying out loudly, wailing, sorrowful, and weeping?’ F.119.a

“King Śrīghoṣa spoke these verses to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣemadatta:

“ ‘These beings have cried out[1161]
Because they have seen that Kṣemadatta,
The one with great wisdom, the learned one,
The dharmabhāṇaka, has lost a limb. {1}
“ ‘Seeing that this body
That emits this brilliant light
Has had a hand destroyed,
I also feel great suffering. {2}
“ ‘The light from your burning hand
Has shone into the ten directions.
The divine light you have emitted
Has obscured the light of these lamps. {3}
“ ‘This earth has been shaken
And you are not disheartened.
There arose in me the thought,
“That is no ordinary wise man.” {4}
“ ‘I leapt a hundred thousand cubits
From the roof of my palace,
Together with my harem of queens,
But my body was not harmed. {5}
“ ‘How excellent your wonderful wisdom!
How excellent your unsurpassable mind!
How excellent your dedicated diligence!
How excellent your great aspiration! {6}
“ ‘Your hand[1162] is burning
But you are not disturbed.
You are happy and joyous
And again teach the Dharma. {7}
“ ‘Worthy friend, you are as beautiful
As the moon that is full,
Or the sun high in the sky,
Or Sumeru, the king of mountains. {8}
“ ‘Wise one, may I also
Fulfill such a prayer!
Rejecting my care for the body
I will accomplish benefit for beings. {9}
“ ‘I delight in joy for the Dharma;
My happiness in that is inconceivable.
That you have lost a limb
Causes me the highest suffering.’ {10}
“Kṣemadatta, through devas and nāgas,
Made offerings to the king
And he spoke these verses
With infinite confidence: {11}
“ ‘Someone who has no hand
Is not the one who lacks a limb;
Someone who has no correct conduct
Is the one who is lacking a limb. {12}
“ ‘This putrid[1163] body of mine
I have offered to the tathāgatas,
The inconceivable recipients of offerings,
The ones to whom offerings should be made by all the world. {13} F.119.b.
“ ‘Seeking the wisdom of buddhahood
I offer to the lords of the worlds
Infinite billion-world universes
Entirely filled with jewels. {14}
“ ‘There are these material offerings
But there are other inconceivable offerings.
Those who know that phenomena are empty
Give away their bodies and their lives. {15}
“ ‘I shall speak words of truth.
Great king, listen to me!
All the people gathered here,
Understand the meaning of these verses! {16}
“ ‘If it is true that I will become a buddha,
One who is revered by the world,
May that truth cause this earth
To shake in six ways!’ {17}
“He spoke those words
And the earth shook.
Millions of devas were overjoyed,
Amazed, and astonished. {18}
“The joyous devas and humans
Developed the aspiration for enlightenment.
Immeasurable, incalculable numbers
Were established in the supreme yāna. {19}
“The benefit accomplished
By the bhikṣu Kṣemadatta
Is the unending and inconceivable engagement
With the wisdom of the buddhas. {20}
“ ‘If it is true that this phenomenon
That is called “hand” does not exist,
Then may that truth cause my hand
To be instantly restored as it was before! {21}
“ ‘If it is true that this phenomenon
Called “Kṣemadatta” does not exist,
Though one seeks for it in the ten directions,
It will be not be found, because it is empty. {22}
“ ‘Whatever sound arises,
Know it to be empty.
Sound is like an echo:
Know phenomena to be like that. {23}
“ ‘When there is fearlessness,
Emptiness is fully comprehended.
Through those words of truth
May the entire world not be burned! {24}
“ ‘May all the beings in the three existences,
The devas and the humans,
All rest in a state of meditation
Because of the brilliance of omniscience. {25}
“ ‘All the misfortunes
That devas and humans have,
May they all come to cessation
Through the brilliance of irreversibility!’ {26}
“After Kṣemadatta spoke those verses
His hand grew back, F.120.a
And Kṣemadatta’s body became
Adorned by the primary signs. {27}
“Ten thousand million devas
Who were residing in the sky
Threw down at that moment
Coral tree flowers upon the bhikṣu. {28}
“Those divine flowers
Filled up this world.
A quintillion apsarases
Engaged in performing songs. {29}
“When Kṣemadatta
Emitted these words,
Ten thousand million buddhas
Witnessed this miracle. {30}
“In each of their realms
They made his great fame known
To their bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs,
Upāsakas and upāsikās:[1164] {31}
“ ‘This bhikṣu Kṣemadatta
Is wise and has great might.
He burned his hand in order to gain
The wisdom of buddhahood.’ {32}
“Thousands of realms,
As numerous as the Ganges sands,
Were illuminated by that lamp,
Which was like the fire at an eon’s end. {33}
“All the realms became filled
With flowers and sandalwood[1165] powder,
Up to kneeheight
From the ground.[1166] {34}
“Jewels and flowers of every kind
Filled the buddha realm.
Nāgas brought down a rain of pearls
As an offering to Kṣemadatta. {35}
“This realm became adorned
By a display of every kind of jewel.
Jewels and pearls were spread out
As an offering to Kṣemadatta. {36}
“Devas, nāgas, and yakṣas,
kinnaras [1167] and mahoragas,
As numerous as the Ganges sands,
Were established in the highest enlightenment.” {37}
The Śākya lion, the Buddha,
Was on Vulture Peak Mountain.
In front of his assembly of bhikṣus
The Jina roared this lion’s roar: {38}
“It is I who was Kṣemadatta
And Ajita was Śrīghoṣa.
For ten thousand million eons
I practiced the bodhisattva conduct. {39}
“Countless women,
The moment they saw
Bhikṣu Kṣemadatta,
Ceased being women.[1168] {40}
“The Lord of humans prophesied
That they would not return
But that they all would become
Self-arisen guides of the world.[1169] {41} F.120.b
“The wise who have heard this sūtra,
The teaching on the disciplines of mendicancy, [1170]
Should have no cherishing for the body
And should study well this Dharma.” {42}
Conclusion of the thirty-fourth chapter, “Kṣemadatta.”[1171]

Chapter 35

Jñānāvatī

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should plant roots of merit and apply themselves to practicing generosity through the Dharma or generosity through material things.

“Those bodhisattva mahāsattvas should dedicate that generosity through four prayers of dedication.

“What are the four dedication prayers? The first dedication prayer is: ‘I plant[1172] the roots of merit of this generosity so that I may attain skills in methods, those skills in methods by which the buddha bhagavāns attained the highest, complete enlightenment of buddhahood.’

“The second dedication prayer is: ‘I plant the roots of merit of this generosity so that I may listen to those skills in methods from kalyāṇamitras, remember them, understand them, possess them, and recite them, and so that I will always be in the company of those kalyāṇamitras who will attain the highest, complete enlightenment of buddhahood.’

“The third dedication prayer is: ‘I plant the roots of merit of this generosity so that all may obtain the requisites that sustain life in the world, and so that these requisites may come together for me.’[1173]

“The fourth dedication prayer is: ‘I plant the roots of merit of this generosity so that I may attain an existence in which I take care of beings, taking care of them in two ways: taking care of them through the Dharma and taking care of them through material things.’

“Young man, the bodhisattva mahāsattvas dedicate those roots of merit through those four prayers of dedication. F.121.a

“Moreover, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who yearn for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, whether they are homeless renunciants or householders, should sincerely[1174] serve, provide for,[1175] and attend upon a bodhisattva mahāsattva who has correct conduct, good qualities, and wisdom.[1176] If that bodhisattva mahāsattva bhikṣu who possesses this samādhi were to become ill, afflicted by a powerful illness, then they should eagerly cure him of the illness with their own flesh and blood. Young man, the bodhisattva mahāsattvas who with the perfect higher motivation yearn for this samādhi and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood should fearlessly and confidently[1177] give even their own flesh and blood so that the dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣu will be healed from his illness.

“Young man, this is how that teaching is to be understood.

“Young man, in a past countless eon—numerous, incalculable, countless eons ago—at that time and in those days, there was a tathāgata, an arhat, a perfectly enlightened buddha perfect in wisdom and conduct, a sugata, a knower of the world, an unsurpassable guide who tamed beings, a teacher of devas and humans, the Bhagavān Buddha Acintya­praṇidhāna­viśeṣa­samudgata­rāja who had appeared in the world.

“Young man, before the end of the day on which he attained the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, he manifested incalculable, innumerable buddha emanations and guided countless beings, establishing them in the arhathood in which all outflows have ceased, F.121.b and he established countless beings in irreversible progress toward the highest, complete enlightenment. And then, before that day had ended, he passed into nirvāṇa.

“The Dharma of that Bhagavān who had passed into nirvāṇa remained for a hundred thousand quintillion years.

“Young man, in the last five hundred years before the Dharma of Bhagavān Acintya­praṇidhāna­viśeṣa­samudgata­rāja finally came to an end, there were many bhikṣus who held the view of objective existence. They had no yearning, no aspiration for a sūtra like this and opposed it and attacked it. They harmed and even killed the bhikṣus who possessed this sūtra. They had attachment to gain and honor and therefore they killed thousands of bhikṣus who possessed a sūtra like this.

“Young man, at that time and in those days, King Jñānabala ruled over Jambudvīpa. He possessed the Dharma and had appeared because of his perfect prayers in previous lifetimes.

“Young man, at that time and in those days, in this Jambudvīpa there was a bhikṣu named Bhūtamati who possessed this sūtra. That dharmabhāṇaka went to the king’s palace and became a kalyāṇamitra who was altruistic, was compassionate, and wished to benefit others. The king never tired of gazing upon him and always longed to see him. He came to him for teaching and for discussions on the Dharma. He honored him, asked him questions, obtained answers, and was able to understand what was spoken.

“That dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣu was wise in the behavior,[1178] conduct, aspirations, natures, and propensities of beings. He knew the extent of the powers, strengths, and diligence of beings. He was wise in natures and propensities.[1179] He was wise in implying the truth. He was also wise in giving answers without implied meaning. He had profound eloquence and was wise in the ways of guiding all beings. He spoke sincerely.[1180] His face was free of frowns. F.122.a He remained in a state of greatness of mind. He was dedicated to great compassion. He could not be defeated by any opponent.

“Young man, at that time and in those days, King Jñānabala’s daughter was sixteen years old and she was beautiful, attractive, and charming. She had a lovely complexion, and was magnificent. Her name was Jñānāvatī. The bhikṣu Bhūtamati was her ācārya. He taught her the virtuous qualities, extolled them, delighted in them, and made her develop them.

“Young man, at that time and in those days, the dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣu developed widespread, black erysipelas on both his thighs, which did not respond to treatment and had no known cure, so that the physicians gave up trying to heal him. King Jñānabala with his harem, sons, daughters, and attendants, on learning that the bhikṣu was ill, wept and shed tears.

“Eighty thousand women, the inhabitants of the cities and towns, the people of the kingdom, the people of the market towns and the regions, the astrologers, ministers, and prime ministers, and the doorkeepers and attendants, hearing that the bhikṣu was ill, wept and shed tears and cried, ‘May this bhikṣu not die!’

“Young man, at that time and in those days, the goddess of King Jñānabala’s family since ancient times, who was always by his side, instructed the king in a dream, saying, ‘Great king, if fresh, unspoiled human blood[1181] is applied to this bhikṣu’s erysipelas, and if fresh, untarnished human flesh is prepared with various flavors and given to him to eat, then this bhikṣu will be cured of his illness.’

When that night had passed and King Jñānabala awoke from his sleep he entered his harem and he described the dream to his harem, saying, ‘This is the kind of dream that I have had.’ F.122.b

“Young man, none of the women in the harem, the king’s wives, had the fortitude to provide that remedy for the bhikṣu.

“Princess Jñānāvatī also dreamed that kind of dream. When she awoke, she went into the harem and described the dream to her circle of mothers, but none of the women had the fortitude to provide that remedy for the bhikṣu.

“Then Princess Jñānāvatī became happy, delighted, thrilled, joyful, pleased, and glad, and made this resolution: ‘In that case I shall cut from myself the remedy, and as instructed will give him the fresh blood and fresh flesh. I am the youngest and least within the royal household, and my body, speech, and mind are untarnished. I seek untarnished wisdom, and therefore I shall offer my flesh and blood to the untarnished dharmabhāṇaka, so that I may heal this bhikṣu of his illness!’

“Then Princess Jñānāvatī returned to her own dwelling and, taking up a sharp knife and with her mind focused on the Dharma, she cut flesh from her own thigh. She prepared it, adding various excellent flavors. Bringing the blood, too, she went to her ācārya[1182] and, seated before King Jñānabala, she applied the blood onto the black erysipelas and nourished the bhikṣu with the well-prepared meal.

“Then the bhikṣu, not knowing, unaware, and unsuspecting, ate that food. As soon as he had eaten it, the bhikṣu’s illness completely vanished and he was entirely cured of his illness. Freed from pain and happy, he taught the Dharma so that twelve hundred beings from among the harem and the assembled people from the land, towns, and countryside developed the aspiration to highest, complete enlightenment.

“King Jñānabala then recited these verses to his daughter: F.123.a

“ ‘Daughter, from where did you obtain this blood?
And from where did you obtain this human flesh?
Daughter, by your preparing this food
The dharmabhāṇaka has become healthy. {1}
“ ‘Was it from someone slain or who had died that you obtained
This flesh prepared with various flavors?
Daughter, where did you obtain this blood
That has freed him from this evil sickness?’ {2}
“The daughter listened to her father’s words
And Jñānāvatī then addressed him.
With no despondency, she spoke these words:
‘Listen, father, to what I have to say. {3}
“ ‘I too, father, had the dream
That was sent by the goddess.
Lord of the World, listen to me,
And understand its true meaning. {4}
“ ‘That goddess said to me
That whoever gives to the bhikṣu
The flesh and blood of a human
Will cure him of his evil illness. {5}
“ ‘I arose from my bed
And I entered the harem.
I then related my dream
To my superiors, my mothers. {6}
“ ‘I asked the servants who among them
Would be able to do this,
To make perfectly delicious
Human blood and flesh? {7}
“ ‘If that food is given to him
And if the blood is applied,
The bhikṣu will be freed
From this black erysipelas. {8}
“ ‘If we do not use this method,
If we do not apply this remedy,
This bhikṣu will soon die
Because of this illness that he has. {9}
“ ‘What being in the three existences
Would not give their flesh and blood?[1183]
What wise ones on seeing this
Would hold fast to their body? {10}
“ ‘Though I told the harem of this,
Not even one woman said she would give.
The bhikṣu is beloved and he is beloved by me,
So I gave him my flesh and blood for the sake of enlightenment. {11}
“ ‘Those who seek enlightenment, peace, and freedom from misery
Have no devotion to their body or dependence on it;
Of themselves they cherish not even an atom,
And are not saddened to give themselves away. {12}
“ ‘When the harem heard those words, F.123.b
They were all perplexed.
None of them had the fortitude
To take on such an act. {13}
“ ‘Then I developed the intention
That I would provide the food for the bhikṣu,
Cutting off pieces of my own flesh
And using for lotion my own blood. {14}
“ ‘I cut into my own thighs
And obtained the flesh and blood.
I myself cooked the pieces of flesh
And added various flavorings. {15}
“ ‘In the presence of my father
I gave to the sick bhikṣu
The meal of human flesh
And the lotion of blood. {16}
“ ‘Lord of men, listen to my words!
Sovereign, there not being any human flesh,
I cut the flesh from my own thighs,
And having cooked it gave it to the dharmabhāṇaka. {17}
“ ‘It was for the sake of the highest enlightenment
That I accomplished this great purpose with my body.
The bhikṣu is cured and returned to health
And I have created immeasurable merit.’ {18}
“The king inquired of his daughter,
‘How did you cut the flesh from your body?
Daughter, when you engaged in creating this remedy,
Did you not suffer from physical pain?’ {19}
“The wise and fearless princess replied to him,
‘King, lord of the earth, listen!
Having listened, understand correctly
The inconceivable ripening of karma. {20}
“ ‘Father, through having done bad actions,
Beings fall into dreadful hell.
They lose their flesh, and again have flesh.
See the inconceivable result of actions! {21}
“ ‘Through bad karma they have no flesh or blood,
And in an instant they again have flesh and blood.
Therefore, needless to say that, because of good karma,
Through aspiration flesh and blood will be created. {22}
“ ‘I had no pain when I cut my flesh.
When the blood flowed I did not become dizzy.
Even if I were to cut off all of my flesh,
The body of the Dharma would have no wound or cut. {23}
“ ‘Feeling perfect joy in the Dharma,
I cut the flesh to be given from my thighs.
I had no suffering because of the wounds, F.124.a
And my body became as it was before. {24}
“ ‘Father, just like a fig-tree flower is only seen
A few times in many millions of eons,
This dharmabhāṇaka is just like that,
Seen rarely in this Jambudvīpa. {25}
“ ‘Just as humans never tire of gazing
Upon shining Jambu River gold,
Devas and humans never tire of gazing
In that way upon this dharmabhāṇaka. {26}
“ ‘Just as a thirsty man is freed from thirst
When he drinks clear water,
In the same way wise dharmabhāṇakas
Free beings of thirst with the nectar of Dharma. {27}
“ ‘This my flesh and blood that I bestowed
Upon the bhikṣu who was afflicted by illness
Eliminated the dharmabhāṇaka’s erysipelas,
And I thus respectfully rendered homage to the Buddha. {28}
“ ‘I gave of my own flesh
To the learned one with correct conduct,
Who is a holder of this supreme samādhi.
May I obtain from him this Dharma! {29}
“ ‘Just as the fragrant aroma of the incense
Of yellow sandalwood and red sandalwood[1184]
Spreads throughout the ten directions,
So, too, does the aroma of the dharmabhāṇaka. {30}
“ ‘Just as Meru is seen from every direction,
And seeing its beauty brings joy
And it illuminates, shining in all directions,
In that way the dharmabhāṇaka is like Meru. {31}
“ ‘Just as when a wise man rebuilds
A stūpa that has fallen into ruin,
His having faith in that stūpa
Is the cause for it to be rebuilt, {32}
“ ‘Likewise, this stūpa of the Dharma was ill
And I cured it by applying blood.
With veneration for the Dharma, with my own flesh
I have lit the lamp for Jambudvīpa. {33}
“ ‘If this bhikṣu had passed away,
The words of this samādhi would have been
Forever silenced for the beings in this world.
By healing him, this samādhi will be obtained. {34}
“ ‘This bhikṣu is a protector of the whole world,
And gives sight to the blind world.
With the king of medicines he even heals
Desire, anger, and ignorance. {35} F.124.b
“ ‘He always has a mind that is vast,
The extent of his conduct is immeasurable,
He is learned in words and their definite meaning,
And he cannot be defeated by opponents. {36}
“ ‘I have no fear that I will fall into lower realms,
And I will not again become a woman
Throughout thousands of millions of eons,
As I have performed a supreme service for the dharmabhāṇaka.’ ” {37}

At this point, the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, when the princess had heard this Dharma of the bodhisattva, which is marvelous, wonderful, and very difficult to practice, in order to serve the sick dharmabhāṇaka for whom there was no medicine, she used her own flesh and blood to heal him. Even the gift of just one finger will be a service to the stūpa of the Dharma for beings.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān gave a detailed teaching on that account of the past by chanting the following extensive verses to the youth Candraprabha:[1185]

“The one who makes an offering of a single toe
Gains excellent merit that is millions of times greater
Than that from offering to the guides
Jewels filling buddha realms as numerous as the Ganges sands. {38}
“After that girl had passed away
She saw ten thousand million buddhas.
She entered homelessness in all their teachings
And obtained the supreme peace of this samādhi. {39}
“When all those supreme humans
Had passed into nirvāṇa
As bodhisattvas,[1186] unafflicted,
She always maintained homelessness. {40}
“She practiced celibacy within the teachings
Of the tathāgata Dīpaprabha.[1187]
Never again reverting to being a woman,
She became a dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣu. {41}
“Maitreya was Jñānabala, the ruler of men,
Who always maintained the supreme Dharma.
Dīpaṃkara was that dharmabhāṇaka,
And I was then that princess. {42}
“Akṣobhya, when he was practicing bodhisattva conduct,
Was at that time the ancient goddess of the family,
Who was the attendant of sovereign Jñānabala
And revealed the dream to the king.[1188] {i} F.125.a
“Because of my longing for this samādhi,
Avoiding all wickedness
I served that dharmabhāṇaka
With my flesh and my blood. {43}
“Those who wept when they saw the bhikṣu
Afflicted by the agony of his illness
Became irreversible in their progress in all their lifetimes
And were never reborn into the lower existences. {44}
“They never had illness of the eyes,
No illness of the head, no illness of the ears,
No illness of the nose, no illness of the tongue,
And never any illness of the teeth. {45}
“Those who attended the sick monk
Became always very attractive,
Their bodies shining with splendor and majesty,
Adorned by the vivid thirty-two signs of hundreds of merits. {46}
“They have entered homelessness in my teaching
And in future times when the supreme enlightenment is vanishing
They will obtain the treasure of the tathāgatas,
And see ten thousand million buddhas. {47}
“Having obtained this supreme enlightenment,
They will always keep it and venerate it.
And having accomplished great benefit for beings,
They will see the supreme human, Akṣobhya. {48}
“When they have heard this unsurpassable conduct
They will attain the superior, unworldly joy.
When they hear of my past conduct
They will make vast offerings to the buddhas. {49}
“When wise bhikṣus with correct conduct are seen
They should always be served with sincerity.
Forsaking harshness and anger,[1189]
Always serve the bhikṣu dharmabhāṇakas. {50}
“Forsaking aggression and wrath,
Make offerings to my sons, the protectors of the Dharma.
Do not be blind for many millions of eons
And fall into the lower existences and experience suffering. {51}
“Those who are malicious toward each other
Will not be protected by correct conduct, or by learning.
They will not be protected by dhyāna or by solitude,
Nor by generosity or offering to buddhas.” {52}
Conclusion of the thirty-fifth chapter, “Jñānāvatī.”

Chapter 36

Supuṣpacandra

Then at that time Brother Ānanda rose from his seat, F.125.b removed his robe from one shoulder, and, kneeling on his right knee, with palms placed together he bowed toward the Bhagavān and made this request: “If the Bhagavān will give me an opportunity to seek answers to them, I have a few questions for the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha.”

The Bhagavān addressed Brother Ānanda, saying, “That is why, Ānanda, I am seated upon this seat. Ask whatever question you wish to the Tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha, and I shall gratify you with answers to each and every question you have asked.”

Brother Ānanda then said to the Bhagavān: “Bhagavān, I have been given the opportunity. Sugata, I have been given the opportunity to receive answers to my questions.”

So Brother Ānanda, having received the Bhagavān’s permission, sat upon a seat before the Bhagavān and asked him, “Bhagavān, what is the cause and what are the factors whereby when bodhisattva mahāsattvas are practicing infinite bodhisattva conduct, they do not regress from enlightenment even if their hands are cut off, their feet are cut off, their ears are cut off, their noses are cut off, their eyes are gouged out, their heads are cut off, their bodies are cut up, and their limbs are cut off, or they experience various other kinds of suffering? What is the cause and what are the factors for that?”

The Bhagavān replied to Brother Ānanda, “Ānanda, in order to truly accomplish the highest, complete enlightenment, I experienced every kind of suffering. You know and remember this, so what made you decide to ask the Tathāgata this question? F.126.a

“Ānanda, as an analogy, if there were a person who was on fire from his feet to the crown of his head, burning so that he was a single flame, and someone else were to come up to him and say, ‘Oh, you sir, while you are still burning, should encounter, be provided with, delight in, enjoy, and indulge in the five sensory pleasures!’ what would he think? Would that person, while he was still burning, encounter, be provided with, delight in, enjoy, and indulge in the five sensory pleasures?”

“No, Bhagavān, he would not,” replied Ānanda.

The Bhagavān continued, “Ānanda, consider whether that person, while still burning, could encounter, be provided with, delight in, enjoy, and indulge in the five sensory pleasures. The tathāgata, while practicing bodhisattva conduct in the past, was not happy or joyful on seeing beings suffering and in poverty in the three lower existences.

“Ānanda, when bodhisattva mahāsattvas of the past were practicing bodhisattva conduct, they had perfect correct conduct, faultless correct conduct, pure correct conduct, unalloyed correct conduct, immaculate correct conduct, unwavering correct conduct, unshakable correct conduct, imperturbable correct conduct, resolute correct conduct, sincere correct conduct, trustworthy correct conduct, honest correct conduct, correct conduct that was faithful to the vows they had taken, and correct conduct that benefits beings. That is the kind of correct conduct they had.

“Ānanda, the bodhisattva mahāsattvas of the past who were practicing infinite bodhisattva conduct did not regress if their hands were cut off, did not regress if their feet were cut off, F.126.b did not regress if their ears were cut off, did not regress if their noses were cut off, did not regress if their eyes were gouged out or their heads were cut off, and did not regress if their body or limbs were severed. Even if they experienced various kinds of suffering, they quickly attained the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood. B12

“Ānanda, you should understand this through the following teaching:

“Ānanda, in the past, countless, vast, immeasurable, inconceivable, innumerable countless eons ago, at that time and in those days, there appeared in the world the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ratna­padma­candra­viśuddhābhyud­gata­rāja, who was perfect in wisdom and conduct, a sugata, a knower of the world, an unsurpassable guide who tamed beings, a teacher of devas and humans, a buddha, and a bhagavān.

“At that time and in those days, the lifespan of the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ratna­padma­candra­viśuddhābhyud­gata­rāja was ninety-nine quintillion eons. Each day, every day, he established ninety-nine hundred thousand quintillion beings irreversibly in the Dharma. Having established them in the Dharma, he passed into nirvāṇa. He established countless, innumerable beings in the state of arhathood without outflows, and having done so passed into nirvāṇa. He established countless, innumerable beings in irreversible progress toward the highest, complete enlightenment and then he passed into nirvāṇa.[1190]

“Ānanda, at that time, after the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Ratna­padma­candra­viśuddhābhyud­gata­rāja F.127.a had passed into nirvāṇa, during the last five hundred years when the supreme Dharma was vanishing, at the time when the supreme Dharma was being destroyed, there was, Ānanda, a king named Śūradatta. King Śūradatta had eighty-four thousand women in his harem. He had a thousand sons, and five hundred daughters.

“At that time and in those days, King Śūradatta had a capital city named Ratnāvatī, which was vast and immense, and had four gateways. It was adorned and beautified by balconies,[1191] porticoes,[1192] entranceway arches,[1193] windows,[1194] upper pavilions,[1195] towers,[1196] and gardens. It was beautiful, and appeared like the abode of a deity. It was the residence of countless, innumerable beings.[1197]

“Ānanda, at that time and in those days, many people detested sūtras like this. Many people rejected them. Many people were hostile to them. Many people dismissed them. It was a time of great terrors. It was a time of great calamites, of excessive rains, and of droughts. It was a time of many snakes. It was a time of disasters caused by lightning. It was a time of famines. It was a time of false views. It was a time of wrong views. It was a time of seeking out the mantras of the tīrthikas. It was the time when the enlightenment of buddhahood was vanishing.

“Seven thousand bodhisattvas were expelled from the villages, the towns, the market towns, the regions, the capital, and the kingdom. They, along with the dharmabhāṇaka Supuṣpacandra, resorted to the forest called Samantabhadra and dwelt there. Supuṣpacandra taught those bhikṣus there the Dharma teaching of retention.

“Ānanda, in that forest a variety of flowers, blossoms, vines, and fruits were always displayed, and the forest was filled with a variety of trees that were like wish-fulfilling trees. F.127.b The ground was covered with the adornment of many different forms and colors of seeds and seedlings; beautified by a variety of rocks and stones, and stainless water;[1198] and adorned by beautiful, vast, high, golden mountains. Siddhas, vidyādharas,[1199] gandharvas, yakṣas,[1200] kiṃpuruṣas,[1201] sages, and kinnaras dwelt there. It was inhabited by flocks of birds[1202] of various colors and shapes. Many buddhas had dwelt there. It was like a delightful garden. It was completely good. It was in that excellent forest called Samantabhadra, perfect for practice,[1203] that those bodhisattvas dedicated to practice dwelt.

“Ānanda, the dharmabhāṇaka Supuṣpacandra went to stay alone in a secluded place. With his pure divine sight, which transcended that of humans, he saw that many trillions of bodhisattvas who had developed roots of goodness in various buddha realms had been reborn in this world. If they were able to hear this Dharma teaching of retention they would proceed irreversibly to the highest, complete enlightenment. However, if they did not hear this Dharma teaching of retention they would regress from the highest, complete enlightenment.

“Then the dharmabhāṇaka Supuṣpacandra mindfully and knowingly arose from that samādhi and went to the great assembly of bodhisattvas. When he had reached it, he announced to that great assembly of bodhisattvas, ‘Noble sons, I am going to the villages, the towns, the market towns, the kingdom, the regions, and the capital, where I will teach the Dharma to beings.’

“The great assembly of bodhisattvas said to the dharmabhāṇaka Supuṣpacandra, ‘We do not wish you to go from this forest to the villages, the towns, the market towns, the kingdom, the regions, and the capital. F.128.a Why? Because the time has come when there are many bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas and upāsikās who are extremely arrogant and have rejected the good Dharma. Brother, it will not be good if they kill you.

“ ‘Brother, you are very handsome, attractive, and good looking, in the flush of youth, a young adult, with a complexion that is like excellent polished gold. On your forehead there is the adornment of an ūrṇā hair that is like a conch, the moon, or a jasmine flower. Your hair and uṣṇīṣa are blue-black, and the locks of your hair curl. Therefore the princes,[1204] the king’s ministers,[1205] and such others will be envious, hostile, and aggressive, and if they kill you that would not be good.’[1206]

“Then the dharmabhāṇaka Supuṣpacandra said to the great assembly of bodhisattvas, ‘If I protect myself I cannot protect the teaching of the past, future, and present buddha bhagavāns.’ Thereupon he recited these verses:

“ ‘I cannot protect this teaching
While maintaining the concept of a self.
In these dreadful latter times there is the great presentation
Of the Sugata’s teaching of enlightenment. {1}
“ ‘The one who completely abandons the concept of self
And the doctrine of an individual that these beings follow,
The one who abandons form, sound, smell,
Taste, and touch, is one who protects the teaching. {2}
“ ‘Compared to someone who, with a pure mind,
Has honored for millions of eons, as numerous as the Ganges sands,
Quintillions of buddhas with food, drink,
Parasols, flags, and rows of lights, {3}
“ ‘Another who practices a single teaching day and night
When the good Dharma is being destroyed,
When the Sugata’s teaching is coming to an end,
Will have merits that are far greater than the first {4}
“ ‘Someone who cultivates indifference
While the good Dharma of the leader of beings is being destroyed
Is not showing respect for the Jina
And is not honoring the guides. {5}
“ ‘You should remain happy
And preserve your own welfare. F.128.b
Always be kind and take care
Of those who are to be guided.
Sincerely maintain
Unalloyed, pure, pristine, stainless conduct.
Those who keep their conduct stainless
Are praised by the buddhas.[1207] {6}
“ ‘Those who have honored
The buddhas in the past
Are protectors who lead all beings
To enlightenment.
Those who keep the stainless conduct
That has been praised by the past buddhas
Become those who save many beings
From the hells and from bad karma. {7}
“ ‘Give the precious gift of the supreme Dharma
And always maintain patience.
Remain in solitude, be skilled in samādhi,
Meditate, and be gentle.
Never engage in quarrels
And maintain supreme, peaceful conduct.
I am going to the capital,
To the city, in order to protect beings.’ {8}
“When that sage, the supreme, sublime being
Who had great realization, was leaving,
Some held him by his feet,
Weeping with compassion and shedding tears.
‘Wise one with great realization, do not leave!
Look at how beautiful are this charming forest’s trees,
With their sweet and fragrant aromas.[1208]
Protect yourself, and do not leave. {9}
“ ‘The guides of the past, who had the ten strengths,
Who had pacified senses, and kindness,
Went to forests, cliffs, and mountain summits
And there reached the highest enlightenment.
They practiced the highest conduct, enlightenment’s cause.
They possessed supreme merit and wisdom.
Follow their example and remain in the forest.
You, who have perfect discipline, do not leave. {10}
“ ‘Your beautiful body is adorned by the signs.
Your hair is blue-black in color,
You shine with the color of gold
And you illuminate this earth.
An ūrṇā hair is between your eyebrows, F.129.a
As beautiful and bright as a conch.
The king and his followers[1209] will thus
Become envious and destroy your body.’ {11}

“Then the dharmabhāṇaka Supuṣpacandra recited the following verses to that great assembly of bodhisattvas:

“ ‘The sugatas who lived in the past
Were omniscient and without outflows.
They all benefited the world
And reached supreme enlightenment within the three existences.
They practiced the highest conduct, enlightenment’s cause.
They possessed supreme merit and wisdom.
Follow their example, bodhisattvas,
In order to protect millions of beings.’ {12}
“They all circumambulated the wise sage
And they bowed down to his feet.
Overwhelmed with compassion, they cried out,
Distressed, unhappy, wailing, and collapsing.
Some lost consciousness and fainted,
Falling to the ground like sal trees that had been cut down.
But the sage, determined to benefit beings
Through his accumulation of merit, did not turn back. {13}
“The sage took up his robes and bowl
And was prepared, like the maned lion.
He remained in the nature of the Dharma
And was unaffected by good or bad qualities.
If in this world I remain in this forest,
Beings will fall into lower realms, which would not be good.
Therefore in order to protect beings
I am going to the city and the supreme palace.’ {14}

“So the dharmabhāṇaka Supuṣpacandra went to the villages, the towns, the market towns, the kingdom, the regions, and the capital, where he taught the Dharma to beings. In the morning as he was going there, he established nine hundred and ninety million beings in irreversible progress toward the highest enlightenment, and that was before he had reached the capital city of Ratnāvatī. Once he had reached the capital city of Ratnāvatī, and was at the side of the capital city of Ratnāvatī, he sat at the feet of a wavy-leaf fig tree and a sal tree. F.129.b

“When that night had passed he went into the capital city of Ratnāvatī. After entering inside he established three hundred and sixty million[1210] beings irreversibly in the Dharma. However, he had not had his meal and therefore, fasting that day, he emerged from the capital city of Ratnāvatī and went to the stūpa that contained the fingernail of the Bhagavān; there he stood all day and night.

“When that night was over, on the second morning, he went back into the capital city of Ratnāvatī. After entering inside he established two hundred and thirty million beings irreversibly in the Dharma. However, he had not had his meal and therefore, fasting for a second day, he emerged from the capital city of Ratnāvatī and went to the stūpa that contained the fingernail of the Bhagavān; there he stood all day and night.

“When that night was over, on the third morning, he went back into the capital city of Ratnāvatī. After entering inside he established nine hundred and ninety million beings irreversibly in the Dharma. However, he had not had his meal and therefore, fasting for a third day, he emerged from the capital city of Ratnāvatī and went to the stūpa that contained the fingernail of the Bhagavān; there he stood all day and night.

“When that night was over, on the fourth morning, he went back into the capital city of Ratnāvatī. After entering inside he established nine million, nine hundred thousand beings in irreversible progress toward the highest enlightenment. However, he had not had his meal and therefore, fasting for a fourth day, he emerged from the capital city of Ratnāvatī and went to the stūpa that contained the fingernail of the Bhagavān; there he stood all day and night.

“When that night was over, on the fifth morning, he went back into the capital city of Ratnāvatī and entered the harem. After entering inside he established eighty thousand women in irreversible progress toward the highest enlightenment. He also established countless, innumerable townspeople in irreversible progress toward the highest enlightenment. F.130.a However, he had not had his meal and therefore, fasting for a fifth day, he emerged from the capital city of Ratnāvatī and went to the stūpa that contained the fingernail of the Bhagavān; there he stood all day and night.

“When that night was over, on the sixth morning, he went back into the capital city of Ratnāvatī. He established the thousand sons of the king in irreversible progress toward the highest enlightenment. However, he had not had his meal and therefore, fasting for a sixth day, he emerged from the capital city of Ratnāvatī and went to the stūpa that contained the fingernail of the Bhagavān; there he stood all day and night.

“When that night was over, on the seventh morning, he went back into the capital city of Ratnāvatī. After entering inside he saw King Śūradatta riding toward the park in a chariot of made of gold with side panels of silver, shafts of uragasāra sandalwood, wheels of beryl, and adorned by a parasol, banners, and flags. The chariot’s shafts were bound with silk and tied with cotton ribbons. Eight hundred maidens were pulling the chariot with precious cords. They were beautiful, pretty, and attractive, with perfect, lovely complexions. They brought delight and satisfaction to the foolish but not to the wise.

“Eighty-four thousand kṣatriyas, who were like great sal trees, followed in the rear.[1211] Eighty-four thousand brahmins, who were also like great sal trees, followed in their rear. Eighty-four thousand prominent citizens, they, too, like great sal trees, followed in their rear.

“The king’s five hundred daughters were being carried in precious palanquins in front, and when they saw the bhikṣu they were instantly established in irreversible progress toward the highest enlightenment. F.130.b When the retinue of sixty-eight hundred thousand queens, too, saw the bhikṣu, they also were instantly established in irreversible progress toward the highest enlightenment.

“That whole great gathering of people took off their jewels and rings, took off their shoes, removed their robes from one shoulder, and, kneeling on their right knees, with palms placed together bowed toward the bhikṣu.

“Then the princesses, too, inspired by their previous roots of goodness, alighted from their palanquins, took off their jewels and rings, took off their shoes, removed their robes from one shoulder, and, kneeling on their right knees, with palms placed together recited these verses to the bhikṣu:

“ ‘The arrival of this bhikṣu
Has been like the sun,
Illuminating everywhere
And inspiring the people. {15}
“ ‘The faults[1212] of desire have gone,
Ignorance also has been cleared away,
And the faults[1213] of anger and envy
Have also instantly departed. {16}
“ ‘The sons of King Śūradatta,
His retinue, and so on—
None of these followers
Are looking at the king. {17}
“ ‘The beauty of this bhikṣu
Being honored by the princes
Is like the full moon
Encircled by the stars. {18}
“ ‘The beauty of this bhikṣu
Is like a painting in gold
Created by an expert artist,
And like a blossoming king of the sal trees. {19}
“ ‘The beauty of this bhikṣu’s arrival
Is like powerful Śakra, the lord of devas,
The lord with a thousand eyes, the destroyer of strongholds,
And lord of the thirty-three devas on the summit of Sumeru. {20}
“ ‘The beauty of this bhikṣu’s arrival
Is like Brahmā residing in Brahmā’s world,
Like the deva lord Sunirmita,
And like deva Suyāma in the desire realm. {21}
“ ‘The beauty of this bhikṣu’s arrival
Is like the sun shining in the sky,
Dispelling darkness with a thousand light rays,
Illuminating completely every direction. {22} F.131.a
“ ‘He is beautiful with the physical signs
Of endless eons of vast generosity,
The constant maintenance of unsullied conduct,
And unequaled patience within in all worlds. {23}
“ ‘This bhikṣu has appeared in the world
Having developed the diligence praised by the noble beings,
Having confidently practiced the four dhyānas,
And having developed wisdom and destroyed the net of the kleśas. {24}
“ ‘The unequaled teaching of the buddhas, which is dedicated to beings,
That supreme Dharma has been taught by the heroes of the past.
The same will occur in future times and in the present.
They are the sons who obtain the power of a Dharma king.[1214] {25}
“ ‘Bhikṣu, may you never be impermanent!
May your body in this way shine throughout the world
With your great majesty and beautiful voice.
Even the majesty of the king does not shine so brightly. {26}
“ ‘Just as you have realized the Dharma
And practiced the Buddha’s instructions in the world,
May we abandon the condition of womanhood
And all become bhikṣus like you.’ {27}
“They placed their fingers together in homage,
Recited these verses, and cast toward him
Clothing, gold chains, strings of jewels,[1215]
And their necklaces and earrings. {28}
“ ‘Just as the cakravartin kings,
Who had great power, surveyed the entire earth,
Traveled through the four continents,
And perceived all as being their children,
Likewise he does not have stronger affection
For the kṣatriyas, head merchants, and brahmins,
Or heads of households, local governors, and relations,
But instead has love for everyone equally.[1216] {29}
“ ‘It is the same for this kind bhikṣu,
Who is trained and has the power of retention,
And who elucidates the aspects of enlightenment,
The strengths, the powers, and the eightfold path. F.131.b
He is majestic and illuminating
Like the moon at night,
Shining in the midst of the stars,
Or the disk of the rising sun. {30}
“ ‘He pays homage to all the kind buddhas
Who have the ten strengths and pacified senses.
If someone were to recite their praises
They could not finish even in a hundred eons.
One could not conclude describing their qualities
Even after many thousands of millions of eons.
One could not even conclude the praises
Of just one body hair of the most excellent in the world. {31}
“ ‘The omniscient buddhas have turned the Dharma wheel
And taught the unequaled level of wisdom;
They have taught the detailed, stainless Dharma
That is not to be found anywhere else.
The renunciants, brahmins, devas, and nāgas,
The asuras, māras, Brahmakāyika devas, and so on,
Are not able to describe the ocean of qualities
That the omniscient buddhas have. {32}
“ ‘We praise the unequaled Jina, the king of healing,
And this bhikṣu who is his heart son.’
The young daughters of the king joyfully
Recited those verses and at that time
They cast gold and gold dust
And spread out clothing
And top-knot jewels and necklaces
Worth a hundred million.[1217]
They presented these to the bhikṣu
And were joyfully established on the path to enlightenment.[1218] {33}

“Then King Śūradatta thought, ‘Alas! My harem has gone astray, and so has the populace. These people have cast off their jewels and rings, taken off their shoes, bared one shoulder, knelt on their right knees, and with palms placed together they have paid homage to that bhikṣu.’

“King Śūradatta was not as handsome and not as attractive as that good-looking bhikṣu. Fearing for his royal status he became furious. F.132.a When he saw the perfection of the bhikṣu’s body, he became extremely enraged. As the bhikṣu had been walking upon the king’s road, some dust had blown into one of his eyes. The king thought, ‘This bhikṣu is looking at my queens with lust in his mind and he is winking at them! Now, who will slay this bhikṣu?’

“King Śūradatta summoned his thousand sons who were following behind, and commanded them, ‘Princes, you must slay this bhikṣu!’

But the princes refused to obey King Śūradatta and he thought, ‘Because of this bhikṣu even my own sons refuse to obey me! I will be left alone and friendless, so who will slay this bhikṣu?’

“King Śūradatta had an executioner named Nandika, who was cruel, merciless, and ferocious, and he was not far from King Śūradatta upon the king’s road. When King Śūradatta saw him, he rejoiced and was happy, joyful, hopeful, and comforted, thinking, ‘Nandika will slay this bhikṣu.’

“Then the executioner Nandika approached King Śūradatta. King Śūradatta inquired of Nandika, ‘If you wish to greatly please me, are you able to slay this bhikṣu?’

“Nandika answered, ‘Your Majesty, I am very able! I will fulfill your command and I will slay this bhikṣu.’

“The king said, ‘Therefore, Nandika, know the time has come. Take a sharp sword and cut off the bhikṣu’s hands and feet, and cut off his ears and nose, and, because he has looked upon my harem with desire, gouge out his eyes!’

“So Nandika the executioner thereupon took a sharp sword and severed the bhikṣu’s hands and feet, cut off his ears and nose, and gouged out both his eyes. F.132.b

“From the places where the bhikṣu’s head, ears, feet, hands, and eyes had been cut, many quintillions of light rays shone forth, and many streams of milk, that circled the ten directions and then returned into the bhikṣu’s body. Śrīvatsas, svastikas, wheels,[1219] and so on, also emerged from and reentered[1220] his severed body, and the thirty-two signs of a great being became visible.[1221]

“After the king had proceeded on from the crowd of people, that crowd of people came[1222] and saw that the bhikṣu had been cut and chopped up on the road.[1223] They were distressed, unhappy, and shocked. Weeping, crying out, and wailing, they went back into the capital city of Ratnāvatī.[1224]

“King Śūradatta spent seven days in the park, but he was not happy, did not take part in amusements, and did not go for walks. After seven days had passed he left the park and went into the capital city of Ratnāvatī. He saw the bhikṣu’s body, which had been left on the king’s road, and although seven days had passed since he had died, the color of his body was unchanged.

“He thought, ‘The color of this bhikṣu’s body has not changed, which means that without any doubt this bhikṣu was irreversibly progressing to the highest, complete buddhahood. I have accumulated the bad karma that will cause me to be reborn in a great hell. I will soon fall into a great hell.’

“In the sky above him eighty thousand[1225] devas proclaimed in one voice, ‘It is as you have said, great king. This bhikṣu was irreversibly progressing to the highest, complete enlightenment.’

“When King Śūradatta heard the words of the devas in the sky, he became frightened, paralyzed with fear, with the hairs on his body standing on end, and was filled with remorse. In suffering, distressed, and filled with remorse, he wailed[1226] and recited these verses:

“ ‘Forsaking the kingdom and the royal capital,
Jewels, gems, pearls, gold, and wealth,
I myself took up a weapon and myself killed. F.133.a
Foolishly I have created bad karma. {34}
“ ‘The bhikṣu Supuṣpacandra was here,
Armored in the thirty-two characteristics.
Shining, he entered the royal capital
Like the full moon, the king of the stars. {35}
“ ‘Agitated by the evil of sensory pleasures,
I set forth in the pleasurable company of my wives,
Riding in chariots accompanied by a retinue of kṣatriyas,
When this fragrant, beautiful-eyed bhikṣu arrived. {36}
“ ‘When my company of wives saw him they were overjoyed.
With adoration they cast off their gold necklaces.
They all placed their ten fingers together in homage
And praised that monk by singing verses. {37}
“ ‘They were riding in chariots, accompanied by kṣatriyas,
But they stopped singing to their king[1227]
When this powerful, supreme son of the sugata,
This fragrant, beautiful-eyed bhikṣu arrived. {38}
“ ‘When this bhikṣu came into the capital
My mind became extremely wicked.
Ignorant, I was furious and jealous
On seeing the joy of that great gathering of my wives. {39}
“ ‘He illuminated completely the four directions
Like the beautiful moon freed from an eclipse.
My assembly of wives was overjoyed and cried out
When they saw the bhikṣu come into the capital.[1228] {39}
“ ‘At that moment I spoke with wrathful words,
Saying to my thousand sons,
“Chop to pieces that bhikṣu
Who is my dreadful, worst enemy.” {40}
“ ‘All the princes, whose conduct was gentle,
Wished to benefit themselves and bowed down[1229] to the bhikṣu.[1230]
They bowed down and said, “Majesty, that command should not be obeyed,”
And I became at that time overcome by sadness. {41}
“ ‘When I saw this bhikṣu who had perfect conduct,
And who had kindness like that of a father,
With an evil[1231] intention I had the opportunity to kill him,[1232]
And in the future I will burn in the Avīci hell. {42}
“ ‘Nandika, who was upon the king’s road,
With extremely cruel actions makes people suffer; F.133.b
He was someone who would carry out my command,
And he cut up the bhikṣu like cutting up a garland of flowers. {43}
“ ‘In the pleasant, supreme forest Samantabhadra,
Filled with birds and the aroma of flowers,
The vast community of bhikṣus
Are like only sons who have lost their mothers. {44}
“ ‘Arise, bhikṣu, who dwelt in that forest![1233]
You came to the king’s capital
To accomplish vast benefit for beings.
Weeping, they long for the greatly compassionate bhikṣu. {45}
“ ‘I have had the road swept and covered with cloth.
Banners of flowers have been arranged on the right
And other beautiful images on the left.
Arise, bhikṣu, and teach the supreme Dharma! {46}
“ ‘You have been long absent from the king’s capital.
Weeping, they long for the greatly compassionate bhikṣu.
May there be no obstacle to our life
In this time of the destruction of the supreme Jina’s teaching. {47}
“ ‘Just as some beings who have great power—
Ever renowned throughout the ten directions
And outshining all in these three existences—
Leap down from a great height on to the earth, {48}
“ ‘In the same way, this bhikṣu has fallen to the earth
With a body beautified by the supreme signs.
With an evil intention, I have reduced to pieces
Supuṣpacandra, who was faultless and blameless.[1234] {49}
“ ‘All the bhikṣus will be stricken by suffering,
Will be dismayed and similarly grief-stricken
As soon as they see this dharmabhāṇaka,
Supuṣpacandra, slain and fallen to the ground.[1235] {50}
“ ‘Supuṣpacandra, who was like the king of mountains,
Adorned by the thirty-two signs,
Has in an instant been broken into pieces
Like a flower garland held by a woman.[1236] {51}
“ ‘I have created the worst bad karma.
I shall helplessly go to Avīci, to Yama’s realm.
Having reduced the bhikṣu to pieces,
I am at the furthest distance from buddhahood. {52}
“ ‘My sons will not save me, nor my family,
Nor my ministers, nor the slaves at my feet.
They will not save me from going to hell
For I have myself created the worst bad karma. {53} F.134.a
“ ‘I go for refuge to the buddhas of the past, of the future,
And those now present in the ten directions,
Those leaders who have the ten strengths,
Have no kleśas, and have bodies as invincible as vajras!’ {54}
“The devas there wailed pitifully
When they saw the bhikṣu in pieces.
They went to inform the saṅgha
That Supuṣpacandra had been slain in the capital. {55}
“ ‘The wise and learned dharmabhāṇaka,
Powerful and renowned in all directions,
The bodhisattva who was established in retention,
Supuṣpacandra, has been slain in the capital. {56}
“ ‘He who for countless eons practiced generosity,
Maintained faultless, unwavering conduct,
And had unequaled patience within all worlds,
Supuṣpacandra, has been slain in the capital. {57}
“ ‘He who for countless eons was always diligent,
Confidently meditated on the four dhyānas,
And had the wisdom that eliminated the kleśas,
Supuṣpacandra, has been slain in the capital. {58}
“ ‘He who gave up all attachment to his body,
Who had no regard for his own life,
And departed from Samantabhadra Forest,
Supuṣpacandra, has been slain in the capital.’ {59}
“Having heard the pitiful wailing of the devas,
All the bhikṣus experienced great suffering.
They all went to the city in order to see
The slain, innocent Supuṣpacandra.[1237] {i}
“Those compassionate ones came to the capital
And when they saw the bhikṣu cut into pieces
They all wailed terribly in distress
And they fainted and fell to the ground. {60}
“The saṅgha of bhikṣus asked the king,
‘Why did you commit this offence against a bhikṣu
Who maintained correct conduct without a fault,
And could remember countless previous lives? {61}
“ ‘He had attained the power of wisdom and retention,
He knew that everything composite was empty,
He taught the absence of attributes to beings,
And had abandoned all concepts of aspiration. {62}
“ ‘He had pleasant and delightful speech, F.134.b
He had pacified senses and was amiable,[1238]
He had complete knowledge of others’ previous lives,
And he had transcended the world.
He was the portrait of a supreme leader
With the wisdom of self-arisen buddhahood;
He saw with pure and unobscured eyes
And had extremely great love and compassion.[1239] {63}
“ ‘Killing through evil desires and causing suffering
Destroys rebirth in the upper realms.
People who are dedicated to their desires
Become deaf and devoid of wisdom.
People who are dedicated to their desires
Become blind and murder their fathers and mothers.
People who are dedicated to their desires slay those with correct conduct,
And therefore people should forsake desires. {64}
“ ‘The kings who are dedicated to their desires,
Those rulers of the world throw away their prosperity
And go to the dreadful, terrible hells
That cause suffering and endless fear.
This kind of bad karma is always created
By the slaying of a wise bhikṣu.
Therefore one who wishes for the peace of enlightenment
Should abandon every kind of bad action. {65}
“ ‘A jina, without dismay, gives away the best forms,
Sounds, tastes,[1240] smells, tangibles, and phenomena.
He knows the body is like an illusion and chaff,
As are the ears, eyes, nose, and tongue. {66}
“ ‘He trains in unequaled generosity,
correct conduct, patience, and diligence.
He is dedicated to dhyāna, attains perfect wisdom,
And accomplishes the benefit of beings.
The entire world with its devas and humans
Together look with love upon a jina.
Thereby, with eyes that have been freed from blindness,
They become enlightened, attaining the peace of buddhahood.[1241] {67}
“ ‘The jinas joyfully give away horses,
Elephants, litters, palanquins,
Couches, bulls, and carriages,
Wagons, villages, and regions.
They give away towns and kingdoms,
Gold, silver, crystal, and coral.
They give away wives,[1242] sons, daughters,
And their own heads, and are established in enlightenment. {68}
“ ‘They joyfully make unequaled
Offerings of flowers and incense,
Holding parasols, banners, divine flags, F.135.a
And musical instruments of various kinds.
They know existence to be empty
And do not rejoice in rebirth in existence.
They have the ten strengths, are adorned by the signs,
And they illuminate all ten directions. {69}
“ ‘The bodhisattvas established in retention
Have no attachment to the phenomena of the three realms.
They have no attachment to the realm of desire,
To the form realm, or to the formless realm. {70}
“ ‘The bodhisattvas established in retention
Have no concept of a self, no concept of being,
No concept of a soul, and no concept of an individual,
And always practice unsullied celibacy. {71}
“ ‘The bodhisattvas established in retention
Have no concept of things and no concept of nothing,
No concept of happiness and no concept of unhappiness,
And no concept of number and no concept of numberlessness.[1243] {72}
“ ‘They have no concept of existence and no concept of nonexistence,[1244]
No concept of woman and no concept of man,
No concept of villages and no concept of towns,
And no concept of regions and no concept of market towns.[1245] {73}
“ ‘The bodhisattvas established in retention
Have no concept of desire and no concept of no desire,
No concept of stupidity and no concept of no stupidity,
And no concept of ignorance and no concept of no ignorance.[1246] {74}
“ ‘The bodhisattvas established in retention
Have no concept of pride and no concept of no pride,
No concept of ignorance and no concept of no ignorance,
And no concept of view and no concept of no view.[1247] {i}
“ ‘The bodhisattvas established in retention
Have no attachment to the powers and the strengths,
No attachment to the dhyānas and the aspects of enlightenment,
And have abandoned all the evils in the three realms. {75}
“ ‘They have no desire or passion, no anger or rage;
They have no ignorance or dullness, and are always honest.
When they see the buddhas with their ten strengths, they honor them.
And they do not gain knowledge for the sake of rebirth in the higher realms. {76}
“ ‘When they hear the unique Dharma from another,
They never have any doubt in it.
They know if there is deficiency or not in others’ minds, F.135.b
Like looking into a clear, pure bowl of sesame oil. {77}
“ ‘If attachment develops,
That friendliness is a great kleśa.
If anger develops then that aggression
Brings evil, enmity, and fear.
Completely rejecting both of those,
The wise ones are established in enlightenment.
They become here the great leaders of humans,
Endowed with the ten strengths, appearing in the world.[1248] {78}
“ ‘They abandon the internal and the external
And remain in the nature of phenomena.
They have correct conduct that is pure,
Without defect, unsullied, and faultless.
Their conduct is never sullied
And it is never corrupted.
The wise ones avoid attachment and anger[1249]
And attain the peace of enlightenment.’ {79}

“After King Śūradatta had heard from the saṅgha what vast, extensive, and special qualities the dharmabhāṇaka Supuṣpacandra had, he was in suffering and unhappy, and therupon he recited these lines of verse to that great assembly of bodhisattvas:[1250]

“ ‘The dense forest of Samantabhadra,
Filled with great trees and beautified by fruit,
Adorned by beautiful flowers that appear in all seasons
And where various birds sing their songs, {i}
“ ‘And adorned by tall, stately, golden mountains
And by the tuneful song of kinnaras,
By skillfully created, pleasant music,
And the constant dancing of adept maidens— {ii}
“ ‘That forest is like a deva’s park,
With trees that have beautiful, shining forms,
With a carpet of various kinds of flowers,
And with rivers adorned by blue and red lotuses. {iii}
“ ‘Sages constantly live in harmony
Within such a delightful forest.
He departed from it wishing to benefit beings
And came to my city, which is a mass of sin. {iv}
“ ‘That dharmabhāṇaka with excellent qualities,
Supuṣpacandra, came here to this city.
When he came I committed the evil action of having him slain,
And because of his death I am going to fall down into hell. {v} F.136.a
“ ‘May the bodhisattvas who have the power of compassion,
The heroes who act in this world to benefit beings,
Give their protection to me, who have done such evil things:
I go to those bodhisattvas for refuge. {vi}
“ ‘Secondly, those who are pratyekabuddhas,[1251]
And also śrāvakas with miraculous powers,
Whose outflows have ceased and are in their last body,
Save me from the suffering of being reborn in the Avīci hell!’ ” {vii}

Then at that time the Bhagavān said to Ānanda, “In that way, Ānanda, the bodhisattva mahāsattva has no attachment to life or body. Why is that? Because, Ānanda, beings who have attachment to life and body create bad karma.

On this topic it was said:

“Beings who have attachment
To this body, which is constantly rotting,
And to this life, unstable and powerless,
Which is like a dream or an illusion, {viii}
“They fall under the power of ignorance
And create extremely dreadful karma.
Devoid of wisdom, following Māra,[1252]
They are reborn in the terrible hells. {ix}
“Those humans who are indifferent
To their bodies, which are like lumps of foam,
And their lives, which are like water bubbles,
Will become supreme beings.” {x}

Then the Bhagavān said to Brother Ānanda, “Ānanda, in that way bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for this samādhi, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should train in this samādhi, and should have no regard for their bodies or lives. They should be as diligently dedicated as they would if their hair or clothes were on fire, and have great compassion for all beings. For example, they should give up living happily in solitude, solitary places, and forests, and enter the villages, the towns, the market towns, the regions, the kingdom, the capital, and district capitals,[1253] and there teach the Dharma to beings so that beings can attain irreversible progress toward the enlightenment of the śrāvaka, irreversible progress toward the enlightenment of the pratyekabuddha, or irreversible progress toward the highest, complete enlightenment.”[1254]F.136.b

Thereupon the Bhagavān gave a detailed teaching on this episode from the past by chanting the following verses to Brother Ānanda:[1255]

“At that past time, when I was practicing bodhisattva conduct,
I was King Śūradatta.
I left my capital city Ratnāvatī
On the way to a place that was a park. {80}
“While riding in the chariot I saw a bhikṣu
Who was perfectly handsome and attractive,
Wearing the armor of the thirty-two signs,
And he illuminated all directions. {81}
“He was renowned as Supuṣpacandra,
And was compassionate, beneficial, and kind.
He was beautiful with his splendor and majesty,
And through his love for beings he had come to town. {82}
“I could not be his equal in appearance,
And a malevolent envy arose within me.
I was attached to desires and clung to my kingdom,
And thought he would deprive me of my kingdom. {83}
“I had sons that numbered a full thousand,
Who were following behind me riding in chariots,
And who wore various kinds of diadems and jewelry,
As if the devas who were lords of Trāyastriṃśa had come. {84}
“I also had there five hundred daughters,
Who were very beautiful and wore bejeweled shoes,
Beautified by ribbons, diadems, and jewelry,
Who pulled my chariot with cords of gold.[1256] {85}
“I had my eighty thousand wives,
Who were all alluring and very beautiful.
From within their chariots they saw the bhikṣu,
Whose body had the shining splendor of Mount Meru. {86}
“When they saw him they conceived of him as like a father,
And they developed the aspiration to attain supreme enlightenment.
Then they adopted the practice of celibacy
And they cast off their delightful jewelry. {87}
“At that time there arose within me envy
And intractable, pitiless malice and anger.
Proud of my power, I said to my sons,
‘Slay that bhikṣu who is before me!’ {88}
“The princes, on hearing my words,
Became distressed and unhappy. F.137.a
They said, ‘Father, do not speak such words!
We will not slay such a bhikṣu! {89}
“ ‘Even if our bodies and limbs were to be cut up
For as many eons as there are sand grains in the Ganges,
Nevertheless we would never slay this bhikṣu,
As we have developed the aspiration for enlightenment.’[1257] {90}
“When the king had heard the words of his sons
He furiously ordered his serving executioner,
‘Quickly bring to me this bhikṣu slain,
Who is standing in front of my harem!’ {91}
“Then the executioner named Nandika,
Cruel and malevolent, followed him.
He took a sword oiled with sesame oil,
And with it he cut the bhikṣu into eight pieces. {92}
“When he cut into the body and limbs,
Instead of blood a thousand light rays were emitted,
And where it was cut open, inside the body
Were symbols, such as śrīvatsas and wheels.[1258] {i}
“Having committed such a dreadful act,
The king instantly departed for the park.
Thinking of the bhikṣu Puṣpacandra,[1259]
He could not join in amusements or be happy. {93}
“He very quickly and in a hasty manner
Departed from the park to return to his palace.
His chariot on the way came to the place
Where the bhikṣu lay in eight pieces. {94}
“There he heard the sound of the wailing
Of many millions of devas in the sky.
They cried, ‘King, you have created so much bad karma
That when you die you will go to the miseries of the Avīci hell!’ {95}
“When the king had heard those words
He became distressed, sorrowful, and afraid.
He thought, ‘I have created so much bad karma
Through my having Puṣpacandra killed! {96}
“ ‘He was the son of the buddhas, of the leaders of men,
Of the tathāgatas who have infinite wisdom.
He controlled his senses, was caring, had a peaceful mind,
But because of my desires I had him slain. {97}
“ ‘He possessed the Dharma of the tathāgatas.
In the age of destruction he was a treasure of the Dharma.
He was a lamp of wisdom for the entire world,
But because of my desires I had him slain. {98}
“ ‘He was a king of physicians for this entire world
And he was always healing beings. F.137.b
He gave them the shining elixir of amrita,
But because of my desires I had him slain.[1260] {i}
“ ‘He explained to beings the Dharma
That is profound, peaceful, and difficult to see.
He was a teacher of the supreme essence of enlightenment,
But because of my desires I had him slain. {99}
“ ‘He possessed the Dharma treasure of the guides,
And he was a lamp for a world in darkness.
He possessed the retention of the king of sūtras,
But because of my desires I had him slain. {100}
“ ‘He was free of the kleśas and possessed pure wisdom,
And he constantly rested in a state of peace, perfect peace.
I had him killed today because of my desires,
Which was extremely evil, and I will go to hell. {101}
“ ‘The buddhas of the past and of the future,
And the jinas, the supreme men, of the present,
Who are endlessly praised and have an ocean of qualities,
With my hands together in homage I go to them for refuge.’ {102} B13

“When King Śūradatta saw that the body of the slain dharmabhāṇaka Supuṣpacandra that lay on the ground had not altered in color he was distressed, sorrowful, and remorseful. He became crazed and wailed loudly.

“He recited these mournful verses that praised the qualities of the dharmabhāṇaka Supuṣpacandra:[1261]

“ ‘The noble saṅgha in Samantabhadra Forest
Requested you in many different ways
Not to go to Ratnāvatī, the capital city,
Because there would be a danger to your life. {i}
“ ‘You did not listen to that saṅgha of bhikṣus.
Why, venerable one, did you come to the town?
Whatever the reason might be that you came,
You should accomplish it, O lamp for the world! {ii}
“ ‘The ground is adorned by a variety of divine plants.
There is a dense multitude of shining, beautiful trees.
It is protected by supreme siddhas and vidyādharas,[1262]
It is frequented by devas, and the lords of birds sing there.[1263] {iii}
“ ‘You departed from the perfect, delightful
Samantabhadra Forest, where the buddhas always dwell. F.138.a
Gentle one, explain to me today
The reason why you came here. {iv}
“ ‘When I have heard your words, I will fulfill your command.
Son of the Buddha, arise and give me your instruction.
Alas, what shall I do, god of gods,
I am helpless and go to you for refuge! {v}
“ ‘Alone like a lion, the king of animals,
You left your pride,[1264] a supreme saṅgha of bhikṣus,
And with compassion for endless beings,
With no regard for your own life, you came here. {vi}
“ ‘I was overcome with desire and envy
And had this hero cut into pieces.
Now your entire saṅgha of bhikṣus
Has come to the capital in order to see you. {vii}
“ ‘That which I, terrified, request of you,
It is a request that is worthy to be fulfilled.[1265]
Puṣpacandra, I pray you free me from fear
And that you rise like the moon when it is full. {viii}
“ ‘Dharmabhāṇaka who is liberated from anger,
Lord of beings, bestow this favor on me.
Today, bestow this one favor on me:
I pray that you arise, shining like the sun. {ix}
“ ‘I have committed an evil, sinful act.
I have slain the supreme dharmabhāṇaka.
When I die I will be reborn in a terrible hell,
And I have no one who can save me from that. {103}
“ ‘Shame upon this sinful mind that creates calamity!
Shame upon this kingship of pride and arrogance!
I will have to go alone, leaving all behind,
Without taking any possessions[1266] with me.[1267] {104}
“ ‘You have the pure Dharma, and have defeated desire and anger.
You speak pleasant words, are self-controlled, and compassionate.
You do no wrong, and are the sole friend of beings.
Supreme Puṣpacandra, why did I slay you? {105}
“ ‘Ah![1268] You who are wealthy in discipline, patience, and austerity!
Ah! You who possess the qualities of a handsome form and kindness!
Ah! You who are honest, glorious, and trustworthy—
Where have you gone, leaving us behind? {106}
“ ‘Noble one, when your body and limbs were cut,
Milk flowed out and thousands of light rays shone forth.
The entire world was astonished.
My wondrous[1269] guide, I pray that you arise![1270] {i} F.138.b
“ ‘Ah! Puṣpacandra, you are self-controlled and compassionate!
Ah! Come here, you mountain of love and compassion!
Ah! You are a supreme teacher of the profound Dharma—
Divine one, I pray that you be compassionate to me and arise. {ii}
“ ‘Ah! Come here, you who have the face of a full moon!
Ah! Come here, you who are upon the ten bhūmis!
Ah! You are a hero who has power over the ten bhūmis—
You, who have power over life, where you have gone? {iii}
“ ‘Ah! Come here and speak to me!
Ah! You who are so diligent and compassionate, where have you gone?
Ah! You have meditated for a long time on patience—
You who have great love, arise and speak to me! {iv}
“ ‘Ah! God of gods, you who are worthy of offerings,
Dharmabhāṇaka, why do you continue to remain silent?
Arise, wise one, come into my home
And teach the Dharma to the city’s women. {v}
“ ‘Divine one, it is not possible to cut up your body.
Even the devas, asuras, yakṣas,[1271] and rākṣasas
Are unable to destroy this body of yours.
Wise one, do not perform this illusion today. {vi}
“ ‘Divine one why do you continue with this illusion?
This is not a beautiful bodhisattva illusion.
Abandon all illusions and arise,
And teach the Dharma in the city of Ratnāvatī. {vii}
“ ‘Ah! Come here, noble Puṣpacandra!
Ah! Come here, you who are without desire for the three realms!
Ah! Come here, guide who is like a father and mother—
And close the door through which I will go to hell. {viii}
“ ‘You are the refuge for those beings reborn in the lower realms,
And for beings who are falling into the great Avīci hell.
Come here, Protector Supuṣpacandra,
And open the door through which I can go to the higher realms! {ix}
“ ‘Lord, for seven days you did not eat.
Arise and eat a meal in my home.
Having eaten a meal, then in Ratnāvatī
Establish many beings in the Dharma. {x}
“ ‘Ah! My father who is wise in the supreme Dharma!
Ah! You who have no enmity toward any being!
Ah! Come here before me and teach me the Dharma!
Ah! Come here and quickly fulfill my prayers! {xi}
“ ‘Ah! The saṅgha of bhikṣus do not have their lord! F.139.a
Ah! They are blinded, distressed,[1272] and in sorrow!
Ah! Arise quickly, you who are the most precious being—
And having arisen bring relief to this saṅgha of bhikṣus. {xii}
“ ‘Ah! Come here, you who are a light for the three realms!
Ah! Come and enter the Samantabhadra Forest!
Enter the supreme forest, Samantabhadra,
And teach so as to benefit the bhikṣus.[1273] {xiii}
“ ‘Oh! Oh![1274] You possess the Dharma and have marvelous qualities.
You are as rare as a flower on the sacred fig tree.
Oh! Oh! Look upon the saṅgha of bhikṣus
With your stainless eyes of wisdom and compassion.
Oh! Oh! Teach to the bhikṣus
The retention[1275] that is beyond words.
Oh! Oh! Puṣpacandra, arise here today
Like the rising moon.[1276] {xiv}
“ ‘Oh! Oh! Son of the jinas, who has compassion for me,
Unsurpassable teacher, bring me relief.
Oh! Oh! You who when struck by swords and sticks
Have the power of great patience and kindness.
Oh! Oh! Compassionate Supuṣpacandra,
Generous guide, I pray that you arise.
Oh! Oh! Arise and teach to me
The retention that is difficult to see. {xv}
“ ‘Oh! Oh! You are the supreme lamp of wisdom
That illuminates the entire world.
Oh! Oh! You are dedicated to the benefit of beings;
You are the guide with the strength of compassion.[1277]
Oh! Oh! Arise, Puṣpacandra, the hero[1278]
Who accomplishes the benefit of beings.
Oh! Oh! Arise and bring trillions
Of beings to the city of peace. {xvi}
“ ‘Oh! Oh! You who have the wealth of correct conduct,
You have understanding, the wealth of training, and are wise.
Oh! Oh! You remain in the discipline of correct conduct
And rejoice in the seedlings of the trees of Dharma.
Oh! Oh! You wear the orange dyed dharma robes,
And are always satisfied by renunciation.
Oh! Oh! Arise, glorious Puṣpacandra,
Who has perfect discipline, generosity, and austerity. {xvii}
“ ‘Oh! Oh! Tamed one who tames untamed beings,
Who always has the state of being tamed. F.139.b
Oh! Oh! Tamed one who follows those who are tamed,
Who is peaceful, and who has pacified senses.
Oh! Oh! You continually with the sound of the Dharma
Awaken beings who are asleep, deeply asleep.
Oh! Oh! You awaken millions of beings
And establish them in the highest yāna. {xviii}
“ ‘Oh! Oh! With the planks of generosity
You have made a ship and tied it with the ropes of diligence.
Oh! Oh! You rescue the beings who
By craving[1279] have fallen into the great ocean.
Oh! Oh! Arise, Supuṣpa,[1280] with the ten strengths,
You who are the wise pilot of the ship.
Oh! Oh! Sail that stable ship
And come and rescue me too. {xix}
“ ‘Oh! Oh! You are the supreme doctor, practiced in discipline;
You are the unsurpassable doctor, learned in healing.
Oh! Oh! You have attained the perfection of liberation through wisdom
And you bestow the medicine that is the good Dharma.
Oh! Oh! When you see beings who are sick,
Afflicted with all kinds of illnesses,
Oh! Oh! arise quickly and give them
The medicine of the Dharma.[1281] {xx}
“ ‘Oh! Oh! King of the medicine of wisdom, unequaled,
You have reached the perfection of superior wisdom.
Oh! Oh! You completely cure all illnesses.
With compassion you accomplish the benefit of beings.
Oh! Oh! Everyone in the realm of sick beings
Is afflicted by the illness of desire.
Oh! Oh! You make all those beings
Happy, healthy, and reach nirvāṇa. {xxi}
“ ‘Oh! Oh! Wise one, who has a vast training in wisdom,
Beat loudly the drum of the Dharma!
Oh! Oh! With your ocean of wisdom cut through
All the world’s creepers of doubt.
Oh! Oh! You who are excellently learned,
Stainless, a holder of the Dharma, a supreme human,
Oh! Oh! be seated in the midst of your assembly
And, wise one, recite thousands of millions of stainless sūtras. {xxii}
“ ‘Ah! Puṣpacandra, you are adorned by the supreme primary signs.
Ah! Your body has all the eighty excellent secondary signs complete.[1282]
Ah! Come here, honest one, who has crossed the ocean of existence.
Ah! Arise, you who have escaped from the prison of existence. F.140.a
Ah! You have sacred, supreme wisdom and knowledge.
Ah! Puṣpacandra, you have great compassion.
Ah! Have love and compassion and arise!
Ah! Puṣpacandra,[1283] I pray to you. {xxiii}
“ ‘Ah! Puṣpacandra, give your instruction![1284]
Ah! Do not forsake your saṅgha of bhikṣus!
Ah! Come here and lead your saṅgha!
Ah! Arise and go to that forest!
Ah! Puṣpacandra, you enjoy the four[1285] dhyānas.
Ah! You have love equally for friends and enemies.
Ah! Arise, you who maintain unequaled retention.
Ah! Come here, arise, you who are a tree of pure wisdom. {xxiv}
“ ‘Ah! You are as unshakable as Meru.
Ah! You for whom buddhas and beings are equal[1286]—
Ah! Puṣpacandra, who has perfect discipline—
Ah! Arise and attain buddhahood at the foot of the Bodhi tree.[1287]
Ah! You have divine hearing and possess the supreme Dharma.
Ah! You have divine vision, and are wise and adept in wisdom.
Ah! Arise, compassionate one, and look at me!
Ah! Endlessly famous one, listen to my words! {xxv}
“ ‘Ah! You help and benefit the entire world.
Ah! Puṣpacandra, you delight in great generosity.
Ah! Arise and quickly[1288] fulfill my prayer.
Ah! Do not remain here in pieces.
When the men and the women of this city
Saw you lying dead,[1289]
Their hearts were withered by sorrow.
Look upon them with your compassionate eyes! {xxvi}
“ ‘Arise, Supuṣpa, so that you may fulfill
The reason for cultivating the strength
Of love, wisdom, and method,
And your vast rejoicing in compassion and equanimity.
Devas, nāgas, and asuras with great miraculous powers,
Yakṣas, rākṣasas, humans, and kinnaras
Bring flowers and incense in their cupped hands;
They have all come to delight in seeing you. {xxvii}
“ ‘Today I have understood the words of the Sage:
The desires of beings are harmful[1290] murderers.[1291]
This fever[1292] of the mind is the cause of the lower realms.[1293]
Therefore I shall forsake acting out of desire. {107}
“ ‘I have committed the sin of slaying the bhikṣu,
Which was extremely wicked and will destroy my happiness.
I am going to go to the terrible Avīci hell F.140.b
And I have no protector who can save me from that.
I shall forsake the kingdom and practice celibacy.
I shall make excellent offerings
With incense, flowers, and perfumes,
And I shall build a beautiful stūpa.[1294] {108}[1295]
“ ‘I give a command to all my sons,
Daughters, wives, prominent citizens,
Ministers, head merchants,
Heads of guilds, and many kṣatriyas:
Quickly make a bier with a casket
Of agarwood, sandalwood, cherry wood,
And whatever is splendid, aromatic, and beautiful,
For the cremation of this bhikṣu.’[1296] {109}
“Having heard the king, all the townspeople
Brought the very best incense,
Fashioned a bier, and placed
The bhikṣu inside the casket.
With agarwood, sandalwood, and magnolia,[1297]
Valerian, fenugreek, and begonia,
With flowers and perfumed garlands,
And with sesame oil he was cremated. {110}
“The bhikṣus collected
A droṇa of his burned bones.[1298]
The king created for them a stūpa
And said, ‘I wish to make an offering to it.’
Holding flowers, garlands, and perfumes,
The king had others hold parasols, flags, and banners,
And play the music of a thousand
Quintillion musical instruments. {111}
“The king came to the stūpa of the bhikṣu
During each of the three periods[1299] of every day,[1300]
And confessed absolutely whatever bad actions, however small,
He may have committed in this life or throughout the three times.[1301]
For nine hundred and fifty billion years
He repented all his misdeeds,[1302]
And from then on perfectly maintained correct conduct
That was unimpaired, pure, unsullied, and stainless. {112}
“For nine hundred and fifty billion years[1303]
He kept the poṣadha vows.
Then when my body[1304] was destroyed
I fell into the terrible Avīci Hell.
I had committed cruel actions out of desire
And therefore I experienced many sufferings.
I had displeased nine hundred
And fifty billion buddhas. {113} F.141.a
“For nine hundred and fifty billion years
I was blind throughout that time.
For sixty-two quintillion eons
In the past my eyes were destroyed.
For many thousand quintillions
Of eons, my eyes were gouged out.
For countless millions of eons,
My head, ears, feet, and hands were cut off. {114}
“For another quintillion eons
I was born into human lives
In which I experienced suffering,
Tormented for a long time by saṃsāra’s suffering.
For a long time in saṃsāra I experienced
The suffering created by my bad actions.
Therefore those who wish for the peace of enlightenment
Should commit no bad actions within the three realms. {115}
“Although the supreme king confessed his past action,[1305]
He was not freed from the evil that he had done.
Because he had created such terrible karma,
When he passed away he fell to the terrible Avīci hell. {116}
“While I was practicing bodhisattva conduct,
For many endless eons my hands, feet, ears, and nose
Were cut off and my eyes were forcefully gouged out
While I was being hit with sticks and weapons. {117}
“For the sake of enlightenment I gave away my body, head, and hands,
My sons, my wives, my eyes, and my flesh.
I joyfully gave away my feet and my hands,
But even that did not exhaust my previous bad karma. {118}
“Ānanda,[1306] that is how I practiced for endless eons.
I saw countless buddhas endowed with glory.
Those are the sufferings I experienced in the past
While practicing this supreme bodhisattva conduct.[1307] {121}
“The bodhisattva who maintains retention
Remains loving, always unwavering and unshakable,
Makes offerings to the buddhas, the purified gods of gods,
And will never go to the lower realms. {122}
“The one who wishes to become a buddha, a lord of the Dharma
Who is adorned by the thirty-two signs,
Should maintain unsullied, uninterrupted correct conduct,
And be established in the retention of the Dharma that has been taught. {123}
“I was at that time King Śūradatta.
My sons were subsequently protectors of the Dharma.
Padmottara was Supuṣpacandra,
And Vasunandi was Śāntirāja[1308] with the ten strengths. {119} F.141.b
“The Tathāgata was the principal human,
A hero for the three worlds, the sole friend of beings.
He accomplished a vast benefit for beings.
He passed into nirvāṇa and was a guide like a lamp.[1309] {i}
“The host of women and the multitude of kṣatriyas,
The leading citizens, the generals, and the ministers,
The heads of guilds, head merchants, and regional commanders
All gained the ten strengths and freedom from the kleśas.”[1310] {120}
Conclusion of the thirty-sixth chapter, “Supuṣpacandra.”

Chapter 37

Teaching the Aggregate of Correct Conduct

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood should hear the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, should obtain it, study it, keep it, recite it, disseminate it, transmit it, chant it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, and in other ways make it widely known. They should also maintain the aggregate of correct conduct.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān recited the following verses:

“Bodhisattvas who maintain the aggregate of correct conduct,
Who practice the conduct wishing for benefit,
Will quickly go to the Abhirati buddha realm,
Attain patience, and become kings of the Dharma. {1}
“Therefore, be agreeable without malice,
And always be pleasant to everyone.
Having seen countless glorious buddhas
You will reach enlightenment and become a lord of Dharma. {2}
“Therefore, having heard this supreme benefit,
And having seen bhikṣus who have excellent correct conduct,
A wise person would always depend upon them
And quickly become one who has attained the samādhi. {3}
“If there were an incalculable, immeasurable treasure
Filled with the seven precious jewels, F.142.a
And if there were realms as numerous as the sands of the Ganges
That were filled with those precious jewels, {4}
“And if there were a bodhisattva who aspired to generosity,
Who made a gift of these every single day,
And made this gift continuously
For as many eons as there are sands of the Ganges, {5}
“That entire gift would not produce a fraction
Of the accumulation of merit that is obtained
By the bodhisattva who, having heard this samādhi,
Becomes a holder of this supreme treasure of the sugatas. {6}
“This supreme, incomparable accumulation of merit
Is the source of the immeasurable treasure of wisdom.
A person who has the appropriate faith
Should possess this supreme, stainless samādhi. {7}
“Bodhisattvas will have great riches
Through possessing this stainless peace of samādhi.
They will be a great ocean of the wealth of hearing the Dharma.
The merit of this is beyond any measure. {8}
“Bodhisattvas are said to be those who have become developed[1311]
Through the supreme, inconceivable Dharma.[1312]
The ones who teach this samādhi
Never doubt enlightenment. {9}
“The ones who have become teachers for the world, guides,
Buddhas, self-arisen, having great compassion,
Have attained a supreme accumulation of merit,
Which is inconceivable and beyond any measure. {10}
“In this billion-world universe there is not to be found
Any being superior[1313] to them,
Or who is their equal in the accumulation of merit
And unrivaled, inconceivable wisdom. {11}
“There is no one who can equal their wisdom
Other than one who has heard this samādhi,
Possesses it, recites it, and understands it,
And seeks the unequaled enlightenment of buddhahood.[1314] {12}
“Young man, if the amount of merit that is obtained
By those who possess and recite this samādhi
Were to become a phenomenon that has form,
It would be too great to be contained within these many worlds. {13}
“Therefore, young man, the bodhisattvas
Who wish to make an offering to all the buddhas,
The tathāgatas of the past and present, F.142.b
Should possess and recite this samādhi. {14}
“This is the enlightenment of the tathāgatas.
Young man, have faith in my words.
The tathāgata does not speak untrue words;
He does not tell lies, like beings do. {15}
“Throughout countless hundreds of eons in the past
I purified myself of believing in a self
And practiced the supreme bodhisattva conduct
Because I was seeking this samādhi. {16}
“Therefore listen to this treasure of the Dharma
From which trillions of sūtras arise.
This is a vast, inconceivable aggregation of merit
Through which buddha wisdom will quickly be attained. {17}
“That which is taught by the wise, fearless ones
Is the supreme sūtra among all sūtras
And the source of inconceivable virtues.
It is a Dharma for which no end can be found. {18}
“It may be possible to break apart and cut to pieces
A billion-world universe and count its atoms,
But it is not possible to count the innumerable
Hundreds of sūtras that they constantly teach. {19}
“It may be possible to count the inhalations and exhalations
Of all the beings that are in this buddha realm,
But it is not possible to know the limit of the sūtras
Taught by those who are established in this samādhi. {20}
“It may be possible to count the beings
In as many buddha realms as there are Ganges sands,
And the thoughts that arise in those beings’ minds,
But the sūtras constantly taught by such people cannot be counted. {21}
“One may be able to count, over millions of eons,
All the grains of sand in the great ocean,
And of sand in the rivers, ponds, and pits,
But one cannot know the extent of the sūtras they expound. {22}
“One may be able to count out, with the tip of the hundredth part of a hair,
The masses of water ever present
In many millions of buddha realms,
But one cannot count the different aspects of their speech. {23}
“One may be able to count after many millions of eons
All the beings who have appeared in the past
Who have cherished their own bodies,
But one cannot know the extent of the sūtras they have accomplished. {24}
“It may be possible to count all the sounds made by all creatures,
By all beings who are living in the ten directions,
But one cannot count the number of sūtras
That are uninterruptedly taught by them. {25} F.143.a
“They know how to teach the entire Dharma.
They are skilled in etymologies, teaching, and the meaning of words.
They have trained in the way of definitive knowledge,
Have vast understanding, and constantly have joyful wisdom. {26}
“They have analytic comprehension, cognize vast meaning,
And they always know the conceivable and inconceivable.
They know all the languages spoken on the earth
And with those words teach without attachment to them. {27}
“The dharmabhāṇakas teach unobstructedly.
They teach all beings without attachment.
They are skilled in the words of answering questions,
And thus they know the ultimate truth. {28}
“Without attachment they teach
Countless millions of teachings from within one sūtra.
Without attachment they are skilled in teaching and the meaning of words;
Without attachment they teach in the middle of the assembly. {29}
“The ones who are established in this samādhi
Have become unshakable bodhisattvas.
They have attained unique strength in the Dharma
So that they can benefit many millions of beings. {30}
“Just as Sumeru, unshakable and immovable,
Cannot be shaken by the winds,
In that way the dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣus
Cannot be shaken by any opponent. {31}
“It may be possible for the winds to shake
Those mountains declared to be unshakable
In the worlds of this billion-world universe,
But the bhikṣus dwelling in emptiness cannot be shaken. {32}
“The ones who are constantly engaged with emptiness
Are those who certainly dwell with the buddhas.
They know with certainty the emptiness of phenomena
And cannot be swayed by any opponent. {33}
“They cannot be shaken by any opponent,
And they cannot be overcome by any opponent.
They teach this peace, this samādhi,
And are invincible and irreproachable. {34}
“Having taught this peace, this samādhi,
They have the realization of emptiness
And they have no doubt in any of the Dharma,
And continuously remain in endless wisdom. {35}
“Attaining the strengths and the aspects of enlightenment
Is not difficult for those who have obtained and recited this samādhi.
It is not difficult to attain the inconceivable
Discernments, miracles, and higher cognitions. {36} F.143.b
“Within created existences, with infinite wisdom
It is not difficult for them to see the jinas.
The ones who possess this samādhi will see
Countless quintillions of buddhas. {37}
“They will hear this peace, this samādhi,
Directly from all of those jinas.
They will reach the perfection of the discernments and powers,
And will possess the supreme wisdom of the buddhas. {38}
“If all the worlds in the billion-world universe
Were to be filled with precious jewels,
With the wealth of divine, supreme precious jewels
From the depths to the summit of existence, {39}
“And if all of the various, infinite realms
Were covered with gold from the Jambu River
From the depths to the summit of existence,
And all of it were given as an offering to the jinas, {40}
“And if all of the various beings there are
Made this offering to them for endless eons,
Making this gift, giving constantly to the buddhas
And creating this accumulation of generosity for the sake of enlightenment, {41}
“And if there were a bhikṣu who rejoiced in emptiness
And with hands together paid homage to those with the ten strengths,
Then the former accumulation of generosity would not even be a fraction
Of that of the bodhisattva who rejoiced in emptiness. {42}
“The supreme being has given the example
Of a person with merit who has that attainment,
Develops vast faith, and performs acts of generosity
In seeking the unequaled enlightenment of buddhahood. {43}
“All that generosity cannot be even a hundredth
Of the accumulation of merit that is acquired
By someone who with a pleased mind obtains
One four-line verse of this supreme excellent samādhi. {44}
“Bodhisattvas who, wishing to benefit, practice generosity,
But who have not heard this peace, this stainless samādhi,
Will not quickly attain the wisdom of buddhahood;
But having heard it they will quickly attain the wisdom of buddhahood. {45}
“Bodhisattvas who rejoice in this lineage
Of those who, having attained this level of supreme peace,[1315]
Have heard[1316] the stainless samādhi, will gain understanding
And will quickly attain the wisdom of buddhahood.[1317] {46}
“They have obtained such a treasure as infinite realms
That are as numerous as the Ganges sands, F.144.a
Filled with precious jewels
Both human and divine. {47}
“Bodhisattvas who obtain this samādhi
And who always insatiably study it
Have gained a wealth, a treasure of precious jewels.
That is a treasure difficult to acquire. {48}
“Someone with knowledge will never rejoice
In gaining a kingdom that has vast wealth,
But bodhisattvas are overjoyed and thrilled
To have obtained this stainless samādhi.[1318] {49}
“They become constant holders of
The Dharma of all the omniscient buddhas
And thus they hold the supreme way of the Dharma
During the final age of degeneration.
They are holders of the treasure of the Dharma and great realization;
They are holders of the treasure of omniscience.
They bring happiness to quintillions
Of beings through the words of the Dharma.[1319] {50}
“They are people who have gained the wealth of correct conduct,
Who have understanding and the wealth of the trainings.
They maintain the discipline of correct conduct
And they rejoice in seedlings of the tree of the Dharma.
They are holders of the precious orange Dharma robes
And they are constantly happy in homelessness.
They are unequaled in benefiting beings
And they are established in omniscience. {51}
“They are tamed and are tamers of untamed beings.[1320]
They are constantly in the state of being tamed.
They are tamed and follow those who are perfectly tamed.[1321]
They have pacified senses—perfectly pacified.
They constantly awaken with the sound of the Dharma
Those beings who are asleep, who are fast asleep,
And having awakened those beings they establish them
In the supremely good jewel of the Dharma. {52}
“They become lords of generosity
Who are constantly giving freely.
They are wise and do not associate with the envious,
And they always rejoice in great generosity.
When they see poor and suffering beings
They content them with possessions.
They are constantly focused on omniscience
In order to bring benefit and happiness to beings. {53}
“They constantly train in wisdom
And beat loudly the drum of the Dharma.
They cut through the creepers of doubt in all beings
And are constantly engaged in wisdom.
They are stainless, well-learned holders of the Dharma.
They are wise and have understanding.
They sit upon a seat within the assembly F.144.b
And they teach millions of sūtras. {54}
“They are greatly learned and hold what they have learned;
They are holders of the Dharma of the buddhas.
They are holders of the treasure that is the Dharma
And they rejoice in the treasury of the Sage.
They have become possessors of immense wisdom
And they are constantly giving rise to vast joy.
They teach the peace of the supreme Dharma,
Which is subtle, liberating,[1322] and difficult to see. {55}
“They know what is Dharma and what is not.
They are gentle, wise, and remain within the Dharma.
They are unequaled teachers of the kingdom of the Dharma
And constantly practice the supreme, unequaled Dharma.
They are devoted to the excellent Dharma
And maintain veneration of the guru.
They dwell in the supreme city of the Dharma.
They who are wise raise up the banner of the Dharma. {56}
“When they see beings who are proud,
Arrogant,[1323] and constantly heedless,
Who are on a destructive, wrong path,
Who are following the path of saṃsāra,
They have vast love and compassion for them
While remaining in joy and equanimity.
They teach them the supreme eightfold path
Of peace that is difficult to see. {57}
“They build the strong ship of the Dharma
To save and carry the many beings
Who have fallen into the great ocean
And into the rivers of saṃsāra.
Armored in the strengths, powers, and aspects of enlightenment,
They set out upon the ship of the Dharma,
And they always easily and without fear
Bring beings to the far shore.[1324] {58}
“They practice the discipline of the supreme medicine.
They are physicians who possess the supreme medicine.
They have perfectly attained liberation through knowledge and wisdom,
And they dispense the medicine of the good Dharma.
When they see sick beings
Afflicted by many illnesses,
They give them the medicine of the Dharma
And they heal them through the Dharma. {59}
“They are lords of the world, sovereigns of speech,
And they defeat their adversaries in debate.
They shine with the light of omniscience.
They have understanding and are on the level of the highest wisdom.
They are heroes with the strength of wisdom that defeats other strengths. F.145.a
They are praised by those who have wisdom.
With their wisdom they bring happiness to many
Trillions of beings, establishing them in the Dharma. {60}
“They are the masters, the leaders of merchant caravans,[1325]
Who are dedicated to protecting beings from misfortune.[1326]
When they see beings bewildered on a path of jewels
Who are constantly caught in the trap of Māra,
They explain to them the supreme path
Of constant peace, happiness, and emancipation.
Through that path of wisdom
The wise ones guide many billions of beings. {61}
“They are a sanctuary, they are a shelter,
They are a refuge; they are eyes and a lamp.
They give freedom from fear to those who are afraid.
They constantly bring relief to those who are fearful.
When they know of beings in great suffering,
Of beings who have been completely blind from birth,[1327]
With the precious teachings on correct training
They shine the light of the Dharma. {62}
“They are the best artisans in the world,
Who benefit beings with their craft.
They always make beings happy
Through being well trained in their craft.
They have attained perfection in the supreme training
And are completely skilled, with wondrous attainment in the world.
They who are established in enlightenment
Have realization and give sight to the world. {63}
“They never cease longing to listen
To the supreme, unequaled Dharma of the buddhas.
They have perfected conduct, patience, and samādhi,
And have heard the profound Dharma.
They never cease wishing to teach
The precious Dharma of peace.
They send down a rain of methods for liberation,
Satisfying beings with the rain of the Dharma. {64}
“However many beings, wise ones,
Come to them for the sake of the Dharma,
Thinking, ‘We will listen to the true, honest path
Of the supreme jewel of the excellent Dharma,’
The realized ones cut through their doubts
And bring them happiness through the Dharma.
They have perfect conduct, patience, and samādhi,
And they know the aspirations of beings. {65}
“They have wisdom, the perfection of the highest wisdom,
And they are wise concerning the aspirations of beings.
They know the motivations and conduct of other beings F.145.b
And they know what should be said to them.
Through their speaking words of wisdom
Millions of beings attain the sight of the supreme Dharma.
They have attained the perfection of the highest wisdom
And they give the teachings of the path. {66}
“Even billions of māras cannot know
The minds of those wise ones,
Just as no one can know the path
That a bird has flown through the air.
They are peaceful, tamed, tranquil, have the power of wisdom,
And are established in superior wisdom.
They are heroes, leaders who have destroyed Māra
And realized the peace of enlightenment. {67}
“They have attained perfect miraculous powers
And are always traveling to hundreds of realms.
They see many quintillions of buddhas,
As numerous as the sands of the Ganges.
Their sight is free of impediment
And they see many forms in the ten directions.
They are guides for all the beings
Who are present throughout the ten directions. {68}
“If one were to describe the entirety of their benefits,
Even if one spoke with eloquence
For many billions of eons,
One could not finish praising their past conduct.
Any human who possesses
This unequaled, stainless samādhi
Has the inexhaustible wealth of the buddhas
And an extremely vast ocean of wisdom.”[1328] {69}
Conclusion of the thirty-seventh chapter, “Teaching the Aspect of Correct Conduct.”

Chapter 38

Yaśaḥprabha

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who wish for these and countless other wonderful[1329] and marvelous bodhisattva qualities, and wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, should hear this revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena samādhi and obtain it, understand it, preserve it, recite it to others, promote it, proclaim it, chant it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, promulgate it,[1330] and make it widely known to others. F.146.a

“They should meditate on the strength of patience, rely on patience, and promulgate patience. They should be dedicated to the Dharma, long for the Dharma, possess the Dharma, engage in the Dharma in a way that accords with the Dharma, and apply themselves to making offerings to the buddhas.

“They should apply themselves to three points. What are the three points? They are ending the kleśas, mastering merit,[1331] and generating the roots of goodness out of longing for the wisdom of the buddhas and not out of desire for reaching worldly happiness. Apply yourself to those three points.”[1332]

Thereupon the Bhagavān, to explain what this meant, related an account of the past by chanting the following extensive verses to the youth Candraprabha:[1333]

“Young man, listen to me as I tell you
How I practiced for thousands of eons.
Seeking this sublime, excellent samādhi,
I made offerings to hundreds of thousands of buddhas. {1}
“In that way, after countless eons had passed,
As numerous as the grains of sand in a hundred worlds,
When such a number had passed by
There appeared a jina named Gaṇeśvara. {2}
“There were no fewer than six hundred billion
In the saṅgha of that jina.
All were without ouflows, their kleśas had come to an end,
They had dhyāna, and were established in the eight liberations. {3}
“At that time the entire surface of this earth
Was pleasant and had good harvests, and no disorder.
All the people were joyful and happy,
And the happiness of humanity was widespread. {4}
“Everyone possessed the strength of merit.
They were attractive and beloved.
All were rich and possessed much wealth,
And physically they experienced divine pleasures. {5}
“They were gentle, with good discipline and few kleśas.
They enjoyed[1334] the strength of patience and had good features.
They were like devas within the paradises.
They possessed the qualities of correct conduct and understanding. {6}
“At that time there was a sovereign, F.146.b
A king named Varapuṣpasa.
He had no fewer than five hundred sons,
All endowed with mindfulness and realization. {7}
“That king and his sons offered to the Jina,
To that compassionate one,
Six hundred thousand parks,
All beautified by flowers and fruits,[1335] {8}
“And a hundred thousand various parks
With thousands of walkways, seats, and beds,
And with a trillion Dharma robes
Spread on the ground where they walked and sat. {9}
“Thus the king with great faith
Presented to that Sugata
In many thousands of ways
Whatever renunciants would enjoy. {10}
“That king, who followed the path
Of the ten good actions,
Came to see the Guide, accompanied by
A hundred thousand trillion beings. {11}
“Holding flowers, perfumes, and incense,
Parasols, banners, and musical instruments,
He made offerings to that Jina,
And with his hands in homage sat before him. {12}
“The thousands of bhikṣus were pleased,
As were the devas, humans, asuras, and yakṣas, wondering,
‘The Jina to whom these offerings were made, will he give a prophecy?
Will this lord of humans teach the Dharma?’ {13}
“The self-arisen one knew their thoughts
And knew the king’s supreme motivation,
That his aspiration was to the further shore,
And therefore taught him the samādhi of peace. {14}
“When the Sugata’s voice came forth
The earth and its forests shook.
A rain of flowers fell from the sky
And hundreds of lotuses appeared out of the ground. {15}
“The Teacher had trained in the words and their meaning,
And the Guide, knowing the king’s thoughts, gave a prophecy.
That lord of men taught the samādhi of peace.
Listen to these words and their meaning. {16}
“ ‘All existences are nonexistent: they are concepts,
They are insubstantial, they are like mirages and illusions.
They are like lightning and clouds, unstable and empty.[1336]
All are without a self, without a being, without a soul.[1337] {17}
“ ‘Primordially empty, phenomena do not come. F.147.a
They have not come, they are not present, and they have no location.
They are always without essence; they have the nature of an illusion.
They are all pure—completely pure like space. {18}
“ ‘They are neither blue, nor yellow, nor white.
Those are just names, vacuous, with a nature that is just sound.
They are devoid of mind; their nature is not mind.
They are momentary and are devoid of sound. {19}
“ ‘Words do not go anywhere if spoken.
Words are not diminished if not spoken.
Words do not go in any direction.
Words do not come from anywhere.[1338] {20}
“ ‘Words do not perish, cease, or end,
Whether they are spoken or unspoken.
Words are said to be always unceasing.
Those who know that will be unceasing. {21}
“ ‘In the past, hundreds of thousands of buddhas
Have taught the Dharma hundreds of thousands of times.
But the Dharma does not cease; words do not cease,
And as there is no arising, there is no cessation. {22}
“ ‘Those who know the unceasing Dharma
Will always know the unceasing Dharma.
Having taught a hundred thousand sūtras,
They know that the Dharma is devoid of words.[1339] {23}
“ ‘The Dharma that the jinas have taught
Is unceasing and therefore is not seen.
The Dharma is primordially without a self, without a being.
Although[1340] it is taught, it does not cease. {24}
“ ‘The wise teach using all words,
But their minds are not captivated by the words.
All words are like echoes on a mountain,
So therefore never have attachment to words. {25}
“ ‘The Dharma is taught through illusory words
And all those words cease in that instant.
That which is the characteristic of those words
Is the characteristic that all phenomena have. {26}
“ ‘All phenomena have no characteristics, are devoid of characteristics;
They all have no characteristics, and are pure of characteristics.
They are always empty, and they are as pure as space.
In brief, they cannot be enumerated. {27}
“ ‘They are devoid of “composite” or “noncomposite,”
And the sages have no concepts concerning them;
They have arrived at the noncomposite in all the existences of beings
And are always devoid of contrived views. {28}
“ ‘The one whose mind is at rest in that nature
Is always without desire, anger, and ignorance.
The one who knows phenomena in that way F.147.b
Becomes strong with the strength of samādhi. {29}
“ ‘Just as echoes are created through conditions
In caves, mountains, and canyons,
All that is composite is known to be the same:
The entire world is like an illusion, a mirage. {30}
“ ‘This samādhi of peace is taught by one
Who has the strength of wisdom, the qualities of the Dharma,
Who with the strength of knowledge has the higher cognitions of the sages,
And who has skill in methods of speech and knows the definitions of words. {31}
“ ‘The appellations that are spoken are merely appellations;
Within saṃsāra there is no end to be found.
That which was in the past is devoid of characteristics,
And one should be certain that the future is the same. {32}
“ ‘Through engaging in creating karma
There will be the best and the worst.
Knowing that all things are always empty,
Empty by nature, and that all things are without a self, {33}
“ ‘The Jina thus teaches the relative Dharma:
Regard the composite and noncomposite in that way.
There truly is no self and no human.
That is the characteristic of all beings. {34}
“ ‘Good and bad karma are indestructible.
Whatever I have created I will have to experience;
The result of one’s actions cannot be transferred to others.
Nothing is experienced without a cause.[1341] {35}
“ ‘All existences are illusory and powerless,
As insubstantial and insignificant as foam.
They are always empty, like illusions and mirages.[1342]
They are taught through words, but are devoid of them. {36}
“ ‘Understand in that way without having pride.
Have correct conduct but without attachment,
With the power of patience have no conceptualization,
And, practicing in that way, rest in equanimity.’ {37}
“The king understood the Dharma
That was taught by the Jina.
When the king had heard this Dharma from the Jina,
Together with his entourage he took up the training. {38}
“The king, having heard this samādhi,
Joyous and happy, said these words:
‘This samādhi you have taught is excellent
And I bow down to your feet.’ {39}
“Eighty thousand beings who were there F.148.a
Had heard this excellent nature of phenomena,
This teaching on the ultimate truth,
And attained the acceptance of birthlessness. {40}
“A person has no origination or cessation,
And likewise these phenomena have always been empty.
When that is known there is no loss,
And the king attained the acceptance of birthlessness. {41}
“The king[1343] renounced his kingdom
And entered homelessness in that Jina’s teaching.
And all five hundred princes, no less,
Followed him into the homeless state. {42}
“When the king and his princes had entered homelessness,
Many thousands of other beings also at that time
Entered homelessness in the presence of the Sugata,
Seeking to receive the Dharma of that Jina. {43}
“For a full two thousand years
The Jina taught the Dharma.
And the king, his sons, and the people
Practiced the Dharma for those two thousand years. {44}
“And then at a later time
The Jina passed into nirvāṇa.
The Jina’s śrāvakas also passed away
And his Dharma became diminished. {45}
“At that time there was a prince,[1344]
Puṇyamatin, who had faith and trust.
There was a bhikṣu connected with his family
Who taught to him this samādhi of peace. {46}
“The bhikṣu was gentle and mild,
Honored by a hundred thousand beings,
Was followed by a billion devas,
And was praised when he came to the city. {47}
“He had recollection and realization.
He was disciplined and compassionate, and he delighted in correct conduct.
His lovely voice was not harsh but gentle,
And he had attained the power of knowledge of the sensory constituents. {48}
“That bhikṣu was named Yaśaḥprabha.
He received a billion Dharma robes.
Unable to endure the strength of his merit
A thousand monks became jealous of him. {49}
“He had the strength of merit and the strength of body,
The strength of wisdom and the strength of miracles,
The strength of correct conduct, the strength of samādhi,
And the strength of the Dharma, and therefore was a superior bhikṣu. {50}
“He delighted and was beloved by people.
Bhikṣus, upāsakas, and bhikṣuṇīs,
Those beings who had faith in the Jina’s teaching, F.148.b
Made offerings to him and honored him. {51}
“The one who was the king’s son was there,
Puṇyamatin, who had constant faith and trust.
When he knew that many bhikṣus had wickedness in mind,
He became a protector for his teacher. {52}
“Five hundred thousand people,
Armored and holding swords and clubs,
Constantly surrounded the bhikṣu
Who taught the conduct that is endlessly correct. {53}
“He taught to his followers the Dharma
That phenomena are empty, with no self and no soul.
Those who were fixated on objects and were attached to a self
Did not approve of the bhikṣu’s teaching. {54}
“Those bhikṣus rose up and took up weapons,
As they did not approve of emptiness and peace.
They said, ‘What this bhikṣu is teaching is not the Dharma,
It will be meritorious if we kill him.’ {55}
“The bhikṣu was not afraid when he saw their weapons.
He was aware of the emptiness of phenomena,
That there was no being or man there to be killed,
That these phenomena were as insubstantial as plaster. {56}
“The bhikṣu placed his hands together upon his head
And spoke these words of homage to the jinas:
‘Through the truth of the emptiness of phenomena
May these weapons become coral tree flowers!’ {57}
“He possessed the conduct and discipline of the Sage
And as soon as he spoke those words and no others,
The earth and its forests shook
And the weapons became coral tree flowers. {58}
“At that time, the bhikṣus who believed in objective reality
And who were holding weapons became ill-shaped in body.
They could not approach any nearer
And became frightened and greatly amazed. {59}
“Those who had faith and trust in the Lord of sages,
Those who delighted in emptiness and peace,
They cried out ‘A la la!’[1345] a thousand times,
And presented the bhikṣu with hundreds of lengths of cloth. {60}
“The bhikṣu had love for them
And said to all the people before him,
‘I will practice bodhisattva conduct
For the sake of those beings who are angry with me.’ {61}
“Then for no fewer than eighty years
He taught emptiness, the treasure of the jinas.
And the son of the king protected him
From the thousands of bhikṣus who were his adversaries. {62}
“During that time he was despised,
And his bhikṣus became few in number.
Evil things were heard said about him, F.149.a
But the power of his patience never declined.[1346] {63}
“Then at another time he accomplished
A great benefit for hundreds of beings.
He recollected countless Dharma teachings[1347]
And at that time Puṇyamatin felt great joy.[1348] {64}
“He[1349] respectfully honored the bhikṣu
And then Puṇyamatin said to him,
‘No one at all should do anything
That is displeasing to my teacher.’ {65}
“He[1350] replied, ‘Young prince, listen to me.
It is through the power of patience that buddhas appear.
When someone speaks unpleasantly to me,
Toward him I feel a great love.’ {66}
“I was that bhikṣu Yaśaḥprabha,
Who meditated on patience in previous lives
Throughout a hundred thousand eons.”
Those were the words Bhagavān Śākyamuni spoke. {67}
“The prince Puṇyamatin, who was
The protector of Bhikṣu Yaśaḥprabha,
Has been my companion in thousands of lifetimes,
And I prophesy that he will be Buddha Maitreya.[1351] {68}
“The one who made offerings to the teacher Gaṇeśvara,
The one who had built a perfect monastery,
The one who was previously known as Varapuṣpasa[1352]
Became the Lord of humans Padmottara.[1353] {69}
“In that way, for many endless eons
I held the Dharma of the jinas.
In the past, I accomplished the power of patience.
Young man, having heard this, follow my example. {70}
“After I have passed into nirvāṇa, in future times
When the Dharma is being destroyed
Bhikṣus will follow the thoughts of tīrthikas
And will forsake my Dharma of peace. {71}
“They will be arrogant, conceited, wicked, and reckless.
They will associate with sinners and be greedy for food.
They will be attached to their robes and alms bowls, greedy for cloth,
And be devoted to acquisition and forsake the Dharma. {72}
“They will be aggressive, fierce, and ungrateful.
They will come from vile families, poor families,
Enter homelessness within my teaching
And will reject the Dharma of peace. {73}
“They will have Māra’s thoughts and will be beings in darkness.
They will be under the power of desire and have strong attachment. F.149.b
They will be under the power of ignorance and be ignorant fools,
And they will not delight in the Dharma of emptiness and peace. {74}
“The bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, and laypeople,
With wicked minds, will be avaricious and stupid.
They will always become overpowered in that way,
And in the later times they will reject enlightenment. {75}
“Listen, young man, to these my words.
A bhikṣu should always dwell in solitude.
Those who long for peace and emptiness
Should possess this Dharma of the jinas. {76}
“The one who possesses this samādhi
Has practiced homelessness in my teaching,
Is ordained as a bhikṣu and practices poṣadha,
And eats free of craving, without attachment to food. {77}
“Forsaking all concern for life and body,
Meditate on emptiness, upon perfect peace.
Meditating with dedication, complete dedication.
Like a deer, live always in the forests. {78}
“Always make offerings to the jinas[1354]
With parasols, banners,[1355] and with dwellings.[1356]
Make offerings to stūpas of the sugatas
And quickly attain this samādhi. {79}
“Develop the aspiration for the state of enlightenment.
Beautify the stūpas of the sugatas,
Adorning them with gold and covering them with silver,
And have beautiful images from precious materials made. {80}
“Make a commitment to attain enlightenment
And make all the good offerings that there are in the world,
Of all that is pleasing to devas and humans,
And honor the buddhas with desirable offerings. {81}
“See as the true nature, too, all the lords of humans;
For within the worlds in all ten directions,
The jinas who are present and those who have passed away
Have come to be buddhas through the true nature. {82}
“Have the aspiration to be generous to all.
Have pure conduct and a stable mind.
Delight in patience and always delight in kindness,
And know that all phenomena are empty. {83}
“Develop diligence confidently and fearlessly.
Delight in dhyāna and delight in solitude.
Develop wisdom, completely pure wisdom,
And quickly become compassionate. {84} F.150.a
“Always pacify desire through contemplating ugliness,
Overcome anger with the power of patience,
Overcome ignorance with the power of wisdom,
And attain the enlightenment praised by the jinas. {85}
“The body has no essence; it is like foam.
It creates suffering, and is putrid and foul smelling.
Know all aggregates to be insubstantial
And quickly attain the highest wisdom. {86}
“Never hold views that give rise to bad actions:
That there is a self, an individual, and a soul.
Know that all phenomena are empty
And quickly reach the highest enlightenment. {87}
“Never have yearning for possessions.
Do not be distressed if you do not obtain alms,
Be unmoved by praise or blame,
And be as unshakable as Mount Meru. {88}
“With veneration seek the Dharma;
Having heard it then become that.
Maintain the conduct of the jinas
And quickly go to the realm of Sukhāvatī. {89}
“Be even-minded toward all beings.
Do not have likes or dislikes in your mind.
Do not long for gain and fame,
And quickly become a buddha, a lord of sages. {90}
“Always describe the qualities of the buddhas
Correctly through their definitions,
So that the beings who hear about the qualities will have faith
And you cause them to aspire to the qualities of a buddha. {91}
“Always venerate your teacher,
Your parents, and similarly all beings.
Do not fall under the power of pride,
And attain the thirty-two signs of a great being. {92}
“Avoid all crowds without exception,
And always delight in solitude.
Always be pleasant, disciplined, and peaceful.
Be beneficial for yourself and beneficial to other beings. {93}
“Cultivate kindness and compassion,
And always aspire to rejoicing and equanimity.
Always follow the teaching of the jinas
And quickly become one who benefits the world. {94}
“Never gain wicked friends;
Have friends who are noble.[1357]F.150.b
Those who long for emptiness and peace
Are established in the path to supreme enlightenment. {95}
“Do not train on the level of the śrāvakas,
And do not delight in their practice.
Do not turn your mind away from the buddha qualities
And quickly become a buddha, a lord of jinas. {96}
“Always speak pure, true words.
Do not speak harshly or tell lies.
Always speak gently and pleasantly
And obtain the speech of the world’s teacher. {97}
“Do not be concerned with your life and body.
Do not criticize others and praise yourself.
Accomplish your own good qualities
And have equanimity toward the conduct of others. {98}
“Always delight in the liberations and emptiness.
Do not make prayers for rebirth in the realms of beings.
Abandon all concepts without exception
And always abide in a state without concepts. {99}
“Reject the extremes at all times.
Do not follow nihilism or eternalism.
Always know that everything is dependent,
And in that way become such a teacher. {100}
“Reject delighting in the pleasures of desires,
Reject the stains of rigid anger,
Reject all the darkness of ignorance,
And become a lion among men, delighting in peace. {101}
“Always see that the permanent is impermanent.
Be liberated from the happiness and suffering of all existences.
See that self and purity are nonself and impure.
Meditate and become a lord of men. {102}
“The jinas, the lamps for the world,
Taught whatever Dharma would be beneficial.
They defeated the armies of the māras
And attained the supreme, highest enlightenment. {103}
“I have taught the good qualities that there are
And described hundreds of faults.
Reject the faults and practice the qualities.
Then, young man, in this life you will become a buddha.” {104}
Conclusion of the thirty-eighth chapter, “Yaśaḥprabha.”[1358]B14

Chapter 39

Restraint of the Body, Speech, and Mind

Then the Bhagavān F.151.a said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, you should train by thinking, ‘I shall have self-control through physical restraint.’

“Young man, what is meant by physical restraint? That which is called ‘physical restraint’ is the physical restraint through which bodhisattva mahāsattvas are free of attachment to all phenomena.

“Young man, that which is called ‘physical restraint’ is the physical restraint through which bodhisattva mahāsattvas attain the thirty-two primary signs of a great being.

“That which is called ‘physical restraint’ is the physical restraint through which bodhisattva mahāsattvas attain the eighty secondary signs of a great being.

“Young man, that which is called ‘physical restraint’ is the physical restraint through which bodhisattva mahāsattvas attain the ten strengths, the four fearlessnesses, and the eighteen distinct qualities of a buddha.

“Young man, that which is called ‘physical restraint’ is the physical restraint through which bodhisattva mahāsattvas attain the three doorways to liberation. What are these three? They are emptiness, the absence of attributes, and the absence of aspiration. They attain those three doorways to liberation.

“Young man, that which is called ‘physical restraint’ is the physical restraint through which bodhisattva mahāsattvas attain the four great brahmavihāras. What are the four great brahmavihāras? They are great love, great compassion, great joy, and great equanimity. They attain those four great brahmavihāras.

“Young man, that which is called ‘physical restraint’ is the physical restraint through which bodhisattva mahāsattvas attain the four discernments. What are the four discernments? They are the discernment of meaning, the discernment of phenomena, the discernment of definitions, and the discernment of eloquence. F.151.b They attain those four discernments.

“Young man, that which is called ‘physical restraint’ is the physical restraint through which bodhisattva mahāsattvas attain the thirty-seven aspects of enlightenment. What are the thirty-seven aspects of enlightenment? They are the four kinds of mindfulness, the four correct exertions, the four bases for miraculous powers, the five powers, the five strengths, the seven aspects of enlightenment, and the noble eightfold path. They attain those thirty-seven aspects of enlightenment.

“Young man, that which is called ‘physical restraint’ is the physical restraint through which bodhisattva mahāsattvas attain the state of great compassion, attain the state of great equanimity, and attain easeful examination and analysis of phenomena.

“Moreover, young man, that which is called ‘physical restraint’ is the physical restraint through which bodhisattva mahāsattvas desist from killing, taking what is not given, not maintaining celibacy, lying, slandering, harsh speech, idle talk, avarice, malice, and wrong views; desist from fraud in weights, fraud in measures, and fraud in wealth;[1359] desist from capturing,[1360] binding, restraining,[1361] beating,[1362] threatening,[1363] severing,[1364] impaling, and terrorizing; desist from desire and greed; desist from wild hand movements, wild leg movements, and unrestrained movements of the legs and arms; and desist from wicked habits of body, speech, or mind so that, like palm trees that have had their tops cut off, they will not arise again in the future.

“Therefore, young man, understand this teaching in the following way. F.152.a Young man, in the past, innumerable, vast, immeasurable, inconceivable, unfathomable countless eons ago, at that time and in those days, there appeared in the world the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Jñānaprabhāsa, who was perfect in wisdom and conduct, a sugata, a knower of the world, an unsurpassable guide who tamed beings, a teacher of devas and humans, a buddha, and a bhagavān.

“At that time and in those days, the lifespan of the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Jñānaprabhāsa was six hundred million years. He had a śrāvaka saṅgha of six hundred million arhats. There were countless bodhisattva mahāsattvas who held the supreme Dharma.

“Young man, at that time and in those days, there was a king named Viveśacintin. King Viveśacintin came with eight hundred million people into the presence of the Tathāgata. When he arrived he bowed his head down to the feet of the Tathāgata, circumambulated the Bhagavān three times, and sat down in one place. Once King Viveśacintin had sat down in one place, he honored the Tathāgata.

“Then the Bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha Jñānaprabhāsa, knowing the superior aspiration of King Viveśacintin and his followers, taught them from this Dharma teaching by chanting the following verses on entering through the doorway of the samādhi of physical restraint:

“ ‘Just as space and the sky are pure,
Ultimately pure, and with a clear nature,
The restraint of the body, too, is pure,
And cannot be taught in verse. {1}
“ ‘This physical restraint is devoid and empty,
And those are also the two characteristics of the body.
Just like space it is without characteristics.
That is taught to be the characteristic of the body’s restraint. {2} F.152.b
“ ‘Those who know that characteristic of the body’s restraint
Will never be ones without restraint.
How can those without activity have a field of conduct?
Those who are immaculate have no birth. {3}
“ ‘One cannot have this restraint while pursuing desires
Through yearning for forms and enjoyments.
Not knowing the wickedness of existence,
One cannot know this restraint of the body. {4}
“ ‘There will never be birth
For those who have immaculate restraint.
They have qualities like those of the arhats,
Which cannot easily be known by tīrthikas. {5}
“ ‘Those who are terrified of the three realms
Will not develop desire for sensual gratification.
They who do not wish for the pleasures of a king
Will know this kind of restraint of the body. {6}
“ ‘The restraint of the body is said to have this meaning.
It is a meaning that cannot be taught through words.
The one who knows this way of the Dharma
Is firmly established in this restraint. {7}
“ ‘I teach the meaning to those who are engaged with the meaning,
To those wise ones intent upon the way of the meaning.
Those engaged in the meaning shun that which is not the meaning
And are always firmly established in that restraint. {8}
“ ‘How can one know the meaning
That is spoken of in the teaching of the jinas?
Those who know the nature of that way of meaning
Are said to be established in the restraint of the body. {9}
“ ‘Those who know insubstantiality, emptiness,
The absence of a self, and the absence of attributes
Will never be without that restraint,
And in that way they will train in correct certainty. {10}
“ ‘They know that existents are nonexistent
And do not give rise to attachment to existents.
They will never give rise to attachment to any existent
And will reach the samādhi of the absence of attributes. {11}
“ ‘Those who know that phenomena have no self,
Have an empty nature and the characteristic of clarity,
Will never be without that restraint,
And thus will have definite correct understanding.[1365] {12}
“ ‘Those who know the five skandhas to be empty
Know their empty nature that is devoid of a self.
They will never be without that restraint
In any physical activity that they perform. {13}
“ ‘Those who focus on attributes, who are without restraint,
Who are constantly fixed in the conception of a self— F.153.a
Those beings who are attached to forms
Are overcome by unrestrained desires. {14}
“ ‘Those who are trained in the true, highest point,
The gentle ones who have realized emptiness,
Are never overcome by the arising of desires
That cause the unrestrained to go to the lower realms. {15}
“ ‘Just as all the ants together cannot shake
And cannot move great Mount Sumeru,
Even divine forms cannot unsettle
A wise one who is correctly trained. {16}
“ ‘Someone may be able to paint a picture on space,
Someone may be able to grasp space in his hand,
But desire, anger, or millions of māras
Will not be able to unsettle such a wise one. {17}
“ ‘Someone may be able to catch an echo,
A stone may be able to float on the water,
But no one can see the thoughts of someone
Who is trained in this restraint of the body. {18}
“ ‘Someone may be able to catch all the sounds
In the entire world and put them in a box,
But they cannot know whether someone who maintains
The restraint of the body is or is not maintaining it. {19}
“ ‘Someone may be able to catch the light from the disk of the sun,
Or the thunder and lightning that burst from the clouds,
But they cannot know the nature of the body
Of someone who has trained in the restraint of the body. {20}
“ ‘Someone may be able to catch in a trap or a net
The circle of wind that moves through the four directions,
But they cannot come to know the body
Of someone who is established in the restraint of the body. {21}
“ ‘This is not the domain of activity of beings.
It is the domain of a wise one who has a controlled mind.
It is the domain of activity of someone with restraint of the body
Who, like space, is unstained by worldly qualities. {22}
“ ‘Someone may be able to see the tracks of all the creatures
That move through the sky in all four directions,
But they would not be able to know the extent
Of the fields of activity of such a person’s mind or body. {23}
“ ‘Those who are established in this restraint of the body
Do not have any of the various kinds of kleśas.
They have eliminated even the minor kleśas,[1366]
And thus are trained in the restraint of the body. {24}
“ ‘They cannot be harmed by weapons or by fire, F.153.b
And in that way their bodies are ungraspable.
They remain in the peace, perfect peace, of samādhi,
And in that way they are trained in the restraint of the body. {25}
“ ‘Thus established, they have no fear, they have no terror,
Their minds are undisturbed, and they feel no envy.
They who are thus trained in the restraint of the body
Have become liberated from all misfortune. {26}
“ ‘They are not afraid of poison or weapons;
They are not afraid in the middle of fire or water.
They who are thus trained in the restraint of the body
Have become liberated from all misfortune. {27}
“ ‘They are without fear among thieves,
Swindlers, criminals, and poisonous snakes.
In this way they have no conception of a self
And, liberated from that concept, they have no fear. {28}
“ ‘Those who are freed from fear do not become frightened.
As there is no fear, there is no instability.
How can those who are unshakable feel fear?
Even millions of māras cannot disturb them. {29}
“ ‘The one who benefits bodhisattvas
Explains and teaches the practice of restraint.
Even millions of māras cannot disturb
The one who has trained in this restraint of the body. {30}
“ ‘Unimpeded knowledge of the entire Dharma,
The complete eighty secondary signs,
And the thirty-two primary signs of a pure mind
Are not difficult to obtain for one established in restraint. {31}
“ ‘Whoever wishes to realize the qualities of a buddha,
Which are inconceivable and beyond measure,
Should train in this kind of restraint of the body
And become a shrine for the entire world. {32}
“ ‘Whoever wishes for these qualities of a great sage,
For the ten inconceivable strengths of a buddha,
Should train in this restraint of the body.
The strengths are not difficult to attain for one thus trained. {33}
“ ‘The eighteen distinct qualities of a buddha,
In which the jinas are established,
Are not difficult to attain for someone
Who has trained in this restraint of the body. {34}
“ ‘The seven limbs of enlightenment of the great sages,
And their discernments and bases of miraculous powers,
Are not difficult to attain for someone
Who has trained in this restraint of the body. {35} F.154.a
“ ‘The four brahmavihāras and the dhyānas,
The doorways to liberation that have been taught,
And easeful examination and analysis
Are not difficult to attain for one established in restraint. {36}
“ ‘One who is established in this supreme restraint
Dwells in compassion and also in equanimity,
And likewise practices the conduct of supreme love,
And has the motivation to benefit all beings.[1367] {37}
“ ‘Maintaining mindfulness and correct exertion,
The five strengths and five powers of the great sages,
And the eight branches of the supreme path of the noble ones
Are not difficult to attain for one trained in restraint of the body. {38}
“ ‘Also, the other sublime qualities of a buddha,
Which are inconceivable and beyond measure,
Are all not difficult to attain for someone
Who has trained in this restraint of the body.’ {39}
“When he had listened to this restraint of the body,
The eminent king[1368] gained exceptional accomplishment.[1369]
He felt the highest joy and unequaled happiness
And entered homelessness in that Jina’s teaching. {40}
“For a hundred million years he entered homelessness
And practiced a pure and perfect celibacy.
He also meditated on the four brahmavihāras
In order to benefit the world and its devas. {41}
“Having meditated well on the brahmavihāras,
He saw eight hundred million buddhas,
And even more, as numerous as the Ganges sands,
And he practiced this supreme celibacy. {42}
“He entered homelessness in all of their teachings
And practiced a pure and perfect celibacy.
He became an excellent bhikṣu dharmabhāṇaka
Who was very learned and had eloquent speech. {43}
“Knowing well this restraint of the body,
He had unimpaired conduct, faultless conduct,
Pure conduct, and unalloyed conduct,
And maintained noble conduct that was immaculate. {44}
“If you think, young man, that Viśeṣacintin,
The eminent king of that time, was someone else,
Do not see him as being anyone else:
That was me while I was practicing bodhisattva conduct. {45} F.154.b
“Therefore, young man, follow my teaching,
And maintain this restraint of the body.
Teach it, too, to millions of other beings,
And before long you will become the same as me.” {46}

Then the Bhagavān said to Candraprabha, “Young man, you should train by thinking, ‘I will practice completely pure physical conduct in that way.’ Why is that? Because, young man, the bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have completely pure physical conduct have no fear of the hells, of rebirth as an animal, of the realm of Yama, or of any other lower existences. They have no fear of water, and no fear of fire, of poison, of weapons, of lions, of tigers, of bears,[1370] of elephants, of bulls, or of humans and nonhumans.

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have completely pure physical conduct can place the great billion-world universe on the palm of their hand and throw it up to the height of one palm tree, two palm trees, three palm trees, four palm trees, five palm trees, six palm trees, seven palm trees, or as high as they wish to throw it.

“Moreover, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have completely pure physical conduct attain the perfection of supreme miraculous powers. They have ripened the bases of miraculous powers, possess pure merit, and have detachment. They can go anywhere, have attained this samādhi, have completely perfected immaculate merit, and have unimpeded vision of all worlds, and therefore have gained miraculous powers. What is this attainment of miraculous powers? Through miraculous powers there is the perfection of the accomplishment of aspirations[1371] and success.[1372]

“What kind of attainment of miraculous powers are these miraculous powers that are spoken of? F.155.a Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who possess miraculous powers experience a range of different kinds of miracles: they transform from one to many, from many to one, and from visible to invisible; they pass without impediment through house walls, through city walls, and through mountains; they travel through the air just like a bird; they dive into the ground and emerge from it, just as they would in water; they stand on water just like they would on the ground; they give off smoke and flames, just like a great blaze of fire; their bodies emit many thousands of trillions of great torrents of water, just like a great cloud that can extinguish the great fire of a thousand-billion world universe being on fire;[1373] they grasp in their hands and polish the moon and the sun, which are so miraculous, powerful, and majestic; and just as they wish, their bodies have power over beings, as far up as those in Brahmā’s realm.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān recited these verses:[1374]

“They dive into the earth and reemerge,
They walk unimpeded on water,
They travel through the air like a bird,
And they miraculously emit smoke and flames.[1375] {47}
“Just as the wind is unimpeded by space,
And a multitude of clouds move through it,
In that way the yogins fly through the air,
Unimpeded like the wind and the clouds. {48}
“The skilled bodhisattvas, on seeing
Realms burning in a blazing inferno,
Emit water from their bodies,
Extinguishing the fire of millions of realms. {i}[1376]
“The skilled bodhisattvas, while seated,
Grasp the sun and moon in their hands.
Seated, they know the realm of Brahmā
And teach the Dharma to millions of Brahmās.[1377] {49} F.155.b
“When they wish to teach the Dharma,
The entire billion-world universe hears them.
As they wish, they teach the Dharma
In millions of realms to millions of beings.” {50}

Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, you should train by thinking, ‘I will practice completely pure physical conduct in that way.’ Why is that? Because, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have completely pure physical conduct have a divine sense of hearing so that they can hear from afar the voices of devas, humans, beings in the hells, those reborn as animals, and those in the realm of Yama.

“Moreover, young man, you should train by thinking, ‘I will practice completely pure physical conduct in that way.’ Why is that? Because, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have completely pure physical conduct, while they are seated, with their divine sense of smell can smell from afar all the divine pleasant aromas of the Dharma that there are in all the worlds in the billion-world universe.”[1378]

Then again the Bhagavān said to Candraprabha, “Young man, you should train by thinking, ‘I will practice completely pure physical conduct in that way.’ Why is that? Because, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have completely pure physical conduct know accurately the motivation, conduct, and thoughts of other beings and individuals. They accurately know a mind that has desire to be a mind that has desire. They accurately know a mind that is without desire to be a mind that is without desire.

“It is the same as that for having anger and being without anger, having ignorance and being without ignorance, having craving and being without craving, F.156.a having grasping and being without grasping, having concentration and distraction, having error and no error, having greatness and no greatness, having clarity and no clarity, being valid and being invalid, being surpassable and unsurpassable, being in meditation and not being in meditation, and being liberated and not being liberated, and they accurately know a mind that has kleśas to be a mind that has kleśas, and they accurately know a mind that has no kleśas to be a mind that has no kleśas.

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have completely pure physical conduct remember previous lives in many ways: they remember one previous life, or two, or three, or four, or five, or ten, or twenty, or thirty, or forty, or fifty, or remember a hundred previous lifetimes. They remember a thousand lives, a hundred thousand lives, and so on, up to many quintillions of previous lives.

“They remember an eon of dissolution and an eon of origination, and so on up to many eons of dissolution and eons of origination.

“They remember one eon, and they remember a hundred eons, a thousand eons, a hundred thousand eons, and so on, up to remembering many quintillions of eons.

“They remember as many as ten million past lives, saying, ‘I was born as such and such a being, this was my name, this was my family, this was my caste, this was my color, this was the food that I ate, this was my livelihood, this is how long a lifespan was, this is how long I lived, and this was the happiness and suffering I experienced. Then when I died I was reborn as such and such; then when I died again I was reborn here.’

“They remember correctly the many different aspects of their previous lives, such as what appearance they had, the place where they lived, and the cause for that rebirth. F.156.b

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have completely pure physical conduct have divine vision, which surpasses human vision, so that they know accurately, according to the karma of beings, their deaths and their rebirths, whether they have good color or bad color, whether they are fortunate or unfortunate, whether it is a good rebirth or a bad rebirth, and whether they are going to the higher realms or the lower realms.

“They say, ‘These beings conducted themselves badly with their bodies, conducted themselves badly with their speech, and conducted themselves badly in their minds. They maligned the noble ones, had wrong views, and truly held those wrong views. Because of those causes, after they died they fell to the lower realms and were reborn in the hells. These beings conducted themselves well with their bodies, conducted themselves well with their speech, and conducted themselves well in their minds. They did not malign the noble ones, had correct views, and truly held those correct views. Because of those causes, after they died they went to the higher realms and were reborn in the paradises.’

“In that way they have the pure divine vision that transcends that of humans, so that they know correctly, according to the karma of beings, their deaths and their rebirths, whether they have good color or bad color, whether they are fortunate or unfortunate, whether it is a good rebirth or a bad rebirth, and whether they go to the higher realms or the lower realms.

“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have completely pure physical conduct in one instant of wisdom accurately know, hear, see, and understand everything that is to be known, to be heard, to be seen, to be realized, and to be manifested.”[1379]

Thereupon the Bhagavān recited these verses:

“The levels of higher cognitions
Of the protector bodhisattvas are taught. F.157.a
The ones who remain in samādhi
Are known as bodhisattvas. {51}
“Their hearing is purified to become
Inconceivable divine hearing.
They hear the Dharma that is
Taught by all the buddhas. {52}
“The skilled bodhisattvas, while sitting,
With a divine sense of smell
Smell all the divine Dharma aromas
In the great billion-world universe.[1380] {i}
“They know the minds of all beings:
Whether they have or do not have desire,
Whether they have or do not have anger,
Whether they have or do not have ignorance. {53}
“They know where they lived in the past,
Those places where they previously lived
Throughout billions of eons;
They know them without any impediment. {54}
“Their sight, too, is purified;
They have insurpassable, divine sight.
They see perfectly the deaths
Of beings and their rebirths. {55}
“Within a single instant
They know all lifetimes.
They know correctly every single
Phenomenon that can be known.”[1381] {56}

Then the Bhagavān said to Candraprabha, “Young man, you should train by thinking, ‘I will engage in completely pure conduct of speech in that way.’

“Young man, what is the restraint of speech? Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have completely pure conduct of speech attain the inconceivable, unimpeded buddha’s speech, which has sixty aspects. Young man, that is the restraint of speech.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of speech have the attainment of noble words. Young man, that is the restraint of speech.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of speech attain the thirty-two primary signs of a great being. Young man, that is the restraint of speech.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of speech attain the eighty secondary signs of a great being. Young man, that is the restraint of speech. F.157.b

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of speech attain the ten strengths of a tathāgata, the four fearlessnesses, and the eighteen distinct qualities of a buddha. Young man, that is the restraint of speech.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of speech attain the three doorways to liberation. What are these three? They are emptiness, the absence of attributes, and the absence of aspiration. They attain those three doorways to liberation. Young man, that is the restraint of speech.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of speech attain the four great brahmavihāras. What are the four great brahmavihāras? They are great love, great compassion, great joy, and great equanimity. They attain those four great brahmavihāras. Young man, that is the restraint of speech.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of speech attain the four discernments. What are the four discernments? They are the discernment of meaning, the discernment of phenomena, the discernment of definitions, and the discernment of eloquence. They attain those four discernments. Young man, that is the restraint of speech.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of speech attain the thirty-seven aspects of enlightenment. What are the thirty-seven aspects of enlightenment? They are the four kinds of mindfulness, the four correct exertions, the four bases for miraculous powers, the five powers, the five strengths, the seven aspects of enlightenment, and the noble eightfold path. They attain those thirty-seven aspects of enlightenment. Young man, that is the restraint of speech.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of speech attain the state of great compassion, F.158.a attain the state of great equanimity, attain easeful examination, and attain the quality of being devoid of examination. Young man, that is the restraint of speech.

“Moreover, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of speech desist from killing, taking what is not given, not maintaining celibacy, lying, slandering, harsh speech, and idle talk. Those bodhisattva mahāsattvas desist from speaking untrue words to their parents and their teachers; from maligning the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha; and from any other words that are harmful words. They know those words to be like echoes. They perceive them to be like apparitions, mirages, hallucinations, and illusions, and in that way they do not objectify words, conceptualize them, become proud of them, view them, or become attached to them. Young man, that is the restraint of speech.”

Then the Bhagavān said to Candraprabha, “Young man, you should train by thinking, ‘I will engage in completely pure conduct of speech in that way.’ Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of speech have no fear of any lower realm and obtain the entire Dharma of the buddhas. They attain all the miraculous powers and higher cognitions of the buddhas. Young man, that is the restraint of speech.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān recited these verses:[1382]

“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which
The bodhisattvas will attain the unimpeded knowledge
Of the entirety of the Dharma.[1383] {57}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Attain the unimpeded, inconceivable buddha speech
That has sixty aspects.[1384] {i} F.158.b
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Attain the thirty-two primary signs,
The ten strengths, and the distinct qualities of a buddha. {58}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Attain all the qualities of buddhahood
That have previously been taught by me. {59}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Attain the brahmavihāras, the discernments,
And marvelous, inconceivable qualities. {60}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Attain the mindfulnesses, the correct exertions,
The strengths, the powers, and the bases for miraculous powers. {61}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Attain great equanimity, the fearlessnesses,
And the state of great compassion. {62}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Attain pure, easeful examination
And the peace of being devoid of examination. {63}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Do not lie, speak words of slander,
Indulge in idle talk, or speak harsh words. {64}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Will never say that they forsake the Dharma
Or forsake the Buddha or the Saṅgha. {65}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Do not speak words that are unture
In front of their parents or teachers. {66}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Desist from all other words
That are harmful, without exception. {67}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the restraint of speech through which the wise
Fearlessly use words that are like echoes
And that are analogous to dreams. {68}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the bodhisattva’s use of words
As being without self, without a soul, unmoving, F.159.a
Arising through conditions, and as deceptive as a dream. {69}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is the bodhisattva’s use of words,
With cessation always being like a dream,
And nirvāṇa also being like a dream. {70}
“That which is called the restraint of speech
Is when there are no words at all to be found.
It is not conceptualizing them or being proud of them,
And not being dependent on them or attached to them.” {71}

Then the Bhagavān said to Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, you should train by thinking, ‘I shall be endowed with the restraint of the mind.’

“Young man, what is the restraint of the mind?[1385] Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind are without fear of the Dharma of the buddhas,[1386] and have attained the unshakable, liberated mind. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind obtain the samādhi that is like a vajra. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind obtain the light rays that are called as bright as flames. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind attain the perfect voice of a buddha, which has sixty aspects. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind have the attainment of noble words. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind attain the thirty-two primary signs of a great being. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind attain the eighty secondary signs of a great being. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind. F.159.b

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind attain the ten strengths of a tathāgata, the four fearlessnesses, and the eighteen distinct qualities of a buddha. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind attain the three doorways to liberation. What are the three doorways to liberation? They are emptiness, the absence of attributes, and the absence of aspiration. They attain those three doorways to liberation. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind attain the four great brahmavihāras. What are the four great brahmavihāras? They are great love, great compassion, great joy, and great equanimity. They attain those four great brahmavihāras. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind attain the four discernments. What are the four discernments? They are the discernment of meaning, the discernment of phenomena, the discernment of definitions, and the discernment of eloquence. They attain those four discernments. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind attain the thirty-seven aspects of enlightenment. What are the thirty-seven aspects of enlightenment? They are the four kinds of mindfulness, the four correct exertions, the four bases for miraculous powers, the five powers, the five strengths, the seven aspects of enlightenment, and the noble eightfold path. They attain those thirty-seven aspects of enlightenment. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind attain the state of great compassion, attain the state of great equanimity, and attain easeful examination F.160.a and the quality of being devoid of examination. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind attain engagement in conduct with the wish to benefit others. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have the restraint of the mind do not associate with wrong views in order to desist from wrong views; they do not associate with avarice in order to desist from avarice; they do not associate with malice in order to desist from malice; they do not associate with laziness in order to desist from laziness; they do not wish to deceive their parents or their teachers; and they do not develop desire, anger, or ignorance and do not associate with them. They do not abandon the aspiration to enlightenment, they do not destabilize their superior aspiration, and also the bodhisattvas desist from all other harmful thoughts in their minds, and do not associate with them. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.

“They perceive the mind as being like a dream, being like a mirage, being like an apparition, and being like a hallucination, something that does not come from anywhere and does not go anywhere. They perceive happiness as being like a dream, perceive it as being impermanent like a dream, perceive it as being devoid of self like a dream, perceive it as being devoid of a soul like a dream, and they do not objectify it, conceptualize it, become proud of it, view it, or become attached to it. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.”

Then the Bhagavān said to Candraprabha, “Young man, you should train by thinking, ‘I will practice completely pure conduct of the mind in that way.’ Why is that? F.160.b Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have completely pure conduct of the mind avoid all unfavorable conditions and obtain the countless Dharma teachings of the buddhas. They obtain from all the buddhas the higher cognitions of the buddhas and the unshakable, liberated mind. Young man, that is the restraint of the mind.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān recited these verses:

“All of you listen with an unwavering mind,
For I will teach the restraint of the mind.
If you wish to attain buddhahood quickly,
Listen to me and then practice this. {72}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Attain the vast, unshakable, supreme peace,
The wonderful, inconceivable Dharma of the jinas,
That is what is called the pure restraint of the mind. {73}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Attain the liberated, eternally unshakable mind,
And likewise the supreme samādhi that is like a vajra,
That is what is called the most splendid restraint of the mind. {74}
“That which wise ones practice and through which
They accomplish light rays of great benefit,
And attain the voice with sixty aspects,
That is what is called the purest restraint of the mind. {75}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Quickly attain the thirty-two primary signs
And attain the ten strengths and every quality of buddhahood,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {76}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Attain the discernments and the fearlessnesses,
And wonderful, inconceivable, supreme qualities,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {77}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Attain the mindfulnesses, the bases of miraculous powers,
The correct efforts, and the five powers and strengths,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {78}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Attain all of the four brahmavihāras, and likewise
Emptiness, the absence of attributes, and the absence of aspiration,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind.[1387] {i}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones F.161.a
Attain the state of compassion, great equanimity,
And the practice of correct conduct, great love, and peace,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {ii}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Quickly attain the seven limbs of enlightenment
And similarly the eight aspects of the supreme path,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {79}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Attain the supreme state of equanimity
And the stainless, supreme state of compassion,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {80}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Attain easeful examination, a mind of pure peace,
And detachment through a wealth of qualities,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {81}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Do not associate with evil people and those with wrong views,[1388]
And do not develop a mind of malice, or a mind of avarice,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {82}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Do not act with pretense for even an instant,
And do not act with deception toward the guru,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {83}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Do not develop desire or anger in their minds,
And similarly never give rise to ignorance,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {84}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
In their minds do not forsake enlightenment,
And whose superior motivation is never shaken,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {85}
“That restraint of the mind through which wise ones
Do not keep with any of the other numerous faults
Of the mind that there may be,
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {86}
“They understand the mind as being like an illusion,
Like a dream, and similarly like a mirage,
Always having the characteristic of a hallucination:
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {87}
“They understand happiness to be like a dream,
And similarly, impermanent, empty, and transient.
Wise ones understand the mind in that way:
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {88}
“They understand the mind to be without a soul, without being, F.161.b
And arising from conditions like a whirled torch’s circle of fire,
Not coming from anywhere nor going anywhere:
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {89}
“They never objectify the mind at all,
And are without conceptualization or pride;
They do not fixate upon it or become attached to it:
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind. {90}
“They understand the ultimate truth to be like a dream,
And nirvāṇa to be the same as a dream;
Wise ones understand the mind in that way:
That is what is called the supreme restraint of the mind.” {91}
Conclusion of the thirty-ninth chapter, “Restraint of the Body, Speech, and Mind.”[1389]B15

Chapter 40

[Untitled]

“Young man, what is purity of action? Seeing the three existences as being like a dream and becoming free of desire. Young man, that is purity of action.

“Young man, what is the transcendence of the mind’s fixation on perceptions? It is knowing that the skandhas, dhātus, and āyatanas are like illusions, and renouncing them. That is the transcendence of the mind’s fixation on perceptions.

“What is the knowledge of the skandhas? It is perceiving the skandhas to be like mirages.

“What is the equality of the dhātus? It is renouncing the dhātus as being like apparitions.

“What is the elimination of the āyatanas? It is renouncing the āyatanas as being like hallucinations.

“What is the renunciation of craving?[1390] It is not fixating on any phenomena. That is the renunciation of craving.

“What is the direct realization of birthlessness? It is not having the perception of any phenomena.

“What is engagement in activity? It is not giving up because of suffering arising from diligence.

“What is the illumination of causes? It is perceiving that the skandhas are like echoes.

“What is the non-dissipation of the results of karma? It is knowing that the results of karma do not dissipate like a dream.

“What is insight into phenomena? It is not seeing phenomena.

“What is the meditation of the path? F.162.a It is meditation on the nonperception of all phenomena.

“What is meeting the tathāgatas? It is practicing the training of all the buddhas.

“What is sharp wisdom? It is the patience of the birthlessness of phenomena.

“What is penetrating into beings?[1391] It is knowing the higher and the lower faculties.

“What is knowledge of phenomena? It is the nonperception of phenomena.

“What is the knowledge of engaging in discernment? It is engaging in the true nature of phenomena.

“What is the knowledge of the different kinds of letters and words? It is the knowledge of engaging with the three mantras,[1392] and knowing what is the form and what is not the form of words.

“What is the transcendence of matter? It is the understanding of immateriality.

“What is the understanding of sounds? It is knowing them to be like echoes. Young man, that is the understanding of sounds.

“What is the attainment of joy? It is the nonperception of all phenomena, the ending of the suffering that arises from saṃsāra, and putting down one’s burden.

“What is experiencing the joy of the Dharma? It is never abandoning teaching, pleasing, and seeing the excellence of one’s yāna.[1393]

“What is abiding? It is the realization of the truths of the noble ones.[1394]

“What is sincerity? It is uncontrived conduct.

“What is no longer having frowns? It is being without anger.

“What is being pleasant?[1395] It is being good company.

“What is being gentle?[1396] It is being beneficial to others.[1397]

“What is being courteous? It is being welcoming and standing up quickly.[1398]

“What is having veneration[1399] for the guru? It is being fearful[1400] of the guru and perceiving the guru as the kalyāṇamitra.

“What is respect for the guru? It is honoring and serving the guru.

“What is being content with occurences? F.162.b It is having no attachment to anything that occurs.

“What is never being satisfied with the good actions one has done? It is pursuing every kind of good action and seeking for any good action.

“What is having a pure livelihood? It is being satisfied with anything, using no trickery,[1401] no flattery, not being covetous, and not having the desire to acquire.

“What is not forsaking the solitary life? It is not abandoning dedication to good actions and delighting in residing in a remote place; delighting in dense forests, inaccessible mountain sites, and the interior of caves;[1402] experiencing the joy of the Dharma; not mixing laypeople and renunciants; not having attachment to gain, honors, or praise; rejecting craving; and experiencing the joy of dhyāna. That is not forsaking the solitary life.

“What is the knowledge of successive levels? It is the knowledge of the distinctive result of the śrāvaka, knowledge of the distinctive level of the pratyekabuddha, and knowledge of the distinctive level of the bodhisattva.

“What is always maintaining mindfulness? It is being attentive to impermanence, suffering, emptiness, and the absence of self.

“What is being wise concerning the skandhas, wise concerning the dhātus, and wise concerning the āyatanas? It is having the knowledge of the categories of the skandhas, dhātus, and āyatanas, but having no perception of them.

“What is making one’s higher cognitions manifest to others? It is attaining the four bases of miraculous powers and manifesting miracles.

“What is the elimination of kleśas? It is the elimination of desire, anger, and ignorance.

“What is ceasing engagement with propensities? It is reviling previous foolish conduct and not wishing for the level of the śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas.

“What is having specific attainments? It is accomplishing a buddha’s strengths, F.163.a fearlessnesses, and discernments.[1403]

“What is the natural result of meditation? It is the elimination of attachment and aversion.[1404]

“What is skillfulness in eliminating transgressions? It is the restraint of the prātimokṣa and the vinaya.

“What is the prevention of the arising of bad actions? It is confessing bad actions and the virtue of restraining from them in the future.

“What is the elimination of attachment? It is destroying all the creepers of craving for the three existences, developing the good qualities that have not yet been developed,[1405] and not losing the good qualities that have been developed.

“What is transcending the existences? It is not focusing the mind upon or engaging the mind with the three realms.

“What is the memory of previous rebirths? It is the knowledge of previous lifetimes.

“What is being free of doubt concerning the ripening of karma? It is rejecting eternalism and nihilism.

“What is the contemplation of phenomena? It is correct contemplation.

“What is seeking to hear the Dharma? It is possessing and meditating upon the piṭaka of the śrāvakas, the piṭaka of the pratyekabuddhas, and the piṭaka of the bodhisattvas.

“What is having sharp knowledge? It is knowing the nonorigination of phenomena to be like a dream.

“What is craving for wisdom? It is seeking wisdom.

“What is the realization of wisdom? It is the attainment of the highest, complete enlightenment.

“What is the level of a noble being? It is the state of bodhisattva training.

“What is having a mind like a mountain? It is not abandoning the aspiration to enlightenment.

“What is being unshakable? It is not being led astray by the kleśas.

“What is being immovable? It is the mind not being engaged with any attribute.

“What is irreversibility?[1406] It is the unimpaired six perfections, and the continuous vision of the buddhas who reside in other worlds. F.163.b

“What is the natural result of good qualities?[1407] It is being near to the highest, complete enlightenment.

“What is the abhorrence of bad qualities? It is restraint and not performing bad actions in the first place.

“What is being free of behavior caused by the kleśas? It is being free of that which is caused by ignorance, craving for existence, and anger.

“What is never abandoning the training? It is conviction in the ripening of karma, and having veneration for the buddhas.

“What is being established in samādhi? It is a one-pointed mind that is skilled in the nonproduction and nonperishing of the phenomena of the mind and mental events.[1408]

“What is the knowledge of the thoughts of beings? It is the wisdom that knows the superior and inferior faculties of beings.

“What is the knowledge of the various rebirths of beings? It is the knowledge of the different states of the five kinds of existence.

“What is knowledge of the infinite? It is the effortless knowledge of mundane and supramundane skills.

“What is the knowledge of the intended meaning of words? It is the knowledge of the intended meaning of the Tathāgata’s words.

“What is the rejection of living in a home? It is leaving home for physical and mental solitude.

“What is finding no joy in the three realms? It is seeing the realms for what they truly are.

“What is having a motivation that is not discouraged? It is not giving up the motivation and not giving up meditation.

“What is having no attachment to phenomena? It is the renunciation of all that one has affection for.

“What is having possession of the sacred Dharma? It is preserving the Buddha’s enlightenment, and possessing sūtras such as this.

“What is protecting the Dharma? It is subjugating, in a way that is in accord with the Dharma, those who malign the Buddha’s Dharma.

“What is conviction in the ripening of karma? F.164.a It is forsaking bad actions through a sense of shame, and dedicating oneself to seeking good qualities.

“What is skill in the vinaya? It is the knowledge of what are natural transgressions and what are not natural transgressions, and the knowledge of what are proscribed transgressions and what are not proscribed transgressions.

“What is the pacification of disputes? It is the avoidance of gatherings.

“What is the absence of discord and the absence of quarrels? It is the absence of desire for worldly conversation.

“What is having reached the level of patience? It is enduring harm to the body and mind.

“What is maintaining patience? It is maintaining equanimity and not losing one’s patience when others speak badly, saying unpleasant words.[1409]

“What is skill in examining phenomena? It is distinguishing the skandhas, dhātus, and āyatanas, distinguishing the aspects of kleśas and purification, and not objectifying them.

“What is skill in gaining certainty concerning phenomena? It is the inexpressibility of all phenomena.

“What is the knowledge of distinguishing between the words for phenomena?[1410] It is the accomplishment of the differentiation of all phenomena.

“What is skill in the presentation of the words for phenomena?[1411] It is teaching phenomena exactly as they are.

“What is the knowledge of the skill of presenting the distinction between words that have meaning and words that do not have meaning?[1412] It is that the nature of phenomena cannot be taken away from or added to.

“What is knowledge of the past? It is the knowledge of causes.

“What is knowledge of the future? It is the knowledge of contributing factors.

“What is the knowledge of the equality of the three times? It is the true nature of the way of things, which is that there is no differentiation to be made between all phenomena.[1413]

“What is the knowledge of the purity of the three aspects of actions? It is not objectifying and having no mental engagement with phenomena of the past, future, or present.

“What is the knowledge of the body’s condition? It is mindfulness of the body. F.164.b

“What is the knowledge of the mind’s condition? It is not objectifying the mind.

“What is guarding[1414] conduct? It is conduct that is unsullied.

“What is having unshakable conduct? It is conduct without error.[1415]

“What is uncontrived conduct?[1416] It is being free of the desire for bad actions.

“What is having attractive conduct?[1417] It is the mind being focused upon engagement with the Dharma, speaking rationally, being aware of time, and teaching the Dharma correctly.

“What is knowledge of the world? It is the knowledge of going and coming.

“What is unrestrained generosity? It is not holding on to things and being without miserliness.

“What is being openhanded?[1418] It is having a virtuous nature.

“What is having a mind without fixation? It is having unsullied faith.

“What is having a sense of self-respect? It is not being talkative.[1419]

“What is having a sense of modesty? It is that which is not evident to others.[1420]

“What is an abhorrence of negative aspirations? It is understanding what are the qualities of foolishness, and not associating with them.

“What is not forsaking the qualities of purification? It is being stable in commitments.

“What is maintaining correct conduct? It is developing disciplined conduct.

“What is joyful conduct? It is the contemplation of virtuous qualities.

“What is standing up to welcome gurus and presenting them with a seat? It is overcoming pride and not being lazy.

“What is the elimination of pride? It is not objectifying or depending upon a self.

“What is controlling the mind? It is the knowledge of how not to lose good qualities.

“What is the knowledge of generating enthusiasm? It is the knowledge of how not to lose the results of diligence.

“What is the knowledge of discernment? It is the wisdom that understands the truth exactly as it is.

“What is the realization of wisdom? It is the realization of both mundane and supramundane qualities.

“What is being without ignorance? It is not imposing embellishments on phenomena as they truly are.

“What is the knowledge of the processes of the mind? F.165.a It is the knowledge of the absence of creation and destruction.

“What is the knowledge of accomplishment and definite accomplishment?[1421] It is sharp wisdom.

“What is the knowledge of all language? It is correctly teaching the Dharma.

“What is the knowledge of presentation?[1422] It is the knowledge of correct engagement.

“What is the knowledge of attaining certainty in meaning? It is cutting through the skandha of mental activities.

“What is abandoning that which is harmful? It is transcending existence and causing others to transcend existence.

“What is relying upon excellent beings? It is not being apart from a buddha.

“What is being together with excellent beings? It is attending upon buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratyekabuddhas, and śrāvakas.

“What is avoiding bad beings? It is avoiding those who are fixated on perceptions and those who are lazy.

“What is delighting[1423] in dhyāna?[1424] It is avoiding the thorns of desire, not forsaking dhyāna, and not abandoning joy.

“What is not clinging to dhyāna? It is wishing to transcend the three existences, wishing to ripen beings, and wishing for the light of higher wisdom.

“What is the utilization of the higher cognitions? It is teaching to others, through the five higher cognitions, the Dharma teachings of the Buddha that are difficult to understand.

“What is the knowledge of assigned names? It is the understanding that names are without reality.

“What is the use of designations? It is worldly usage.

“What is employing designations? It is the knowledge of speaking.

“What is disillusionment with saṃsāra? It is reflecting upon the harm of saṃsāra.

“What is not being motivated by material gain? It is having few desires.

“What is having no interest in gain or honors? It is being free of regret and free of the wish to commit sinful actions. F.165.b

“What is not being upset by criticism? It is the knowledge that comprehends the skandhas and the dhātus.

“What is not being fixated upon praise? It is not making known one’s good actions, and it is knowing gain and honor to be obstacles.

“What is indifference to respect? It is understanding the ripening of karma.

“What is not being upset by lack of respect? It is not forsaking the practice.

“What is being undisturbed by disrespect? It is being aware of worldly qualities.

“What is being indifferent to praise? It is seeking good actions and abandoning worldly life.

“What is not being disheartened when there is no gain? It is being aware of the qualities that oneself has given rise to.

“What is not associating with householders? It is avoiding any kind of worldly enjoyment.[1425]

“What is not associating with renunciants?[1426] It is avoiding that which is inappropriate and seeking that which is appropriate.[1427]

“What is avoiding that which is outside the scope of correct conduct? It is abandoning the five obscurations.

“What is acting within the scope of correct conduct? It is meditation on the four mindfulnesses.

“What is the perfection of conduct? It is its perfect preservation.

“What is rejecting incorrect conduct? It is preserving your good qualities.

“What is not dishonoring your family? It is avoiding profiting from wisdom.

“What is preserving the teaching? It is the determined seeking of the Dharma and practicing the Dharma in accord with the Dharma.

“What is speaking little? It is the attainment of śamatha.

“What is speaking softly? It is the attainment of vipaśyanā.[1428]

“What is skillfulness in answers? It is the knowledge of replies and rejoinders.

“What is defeating opposition? It is the correct presentation and teaching of the Dharma and defeating those who believe in objective reality.[1429]

“What is arriving at the right time? It is knowledge of the time. F.166.a

“What is not relying on ordinary people?[1430] It is seeing the qualities of the foolish to be faults.

“What is not having contempt for those in suffering?[1431] It is having impartiality toward all beings.

“What is giving wealth to those who are in suffering?[1432] It is giving them worldly goods.

“What is not rebuking the poor? It is having kindness toward others.

“What is having compassion for those whose conduct is incorrect? It is saving others from transgression and establishing them in correct conduct.

“What is having that which will bring benefit to others? It is benefiting others.

“What is having a compassionate mind? It is consideration of the future suffering of beings.

“What is benefiting others through the Dharma? It is bringing others correctly into the Dharma.

“What is giving away material wealth? It is giving away whatever has been accumulated and benefiting others through material things.

“What is not hoarding? It is renouncing material wealth and seeing it as harmful to the maintenance of correct conduct.

“What is praising correct conduct? It is the knowledge of the result[1433] of correct conduct.

“What is condemning incorrect conduct? It is the understanding of the faults of incorrect conduct.

“What is unwaveringly attending upon those who have correct conduct? It is the knowledge that perceives those who have correct conduct to be difficult to find.

“What is giving up all possessions? It is having a virtuous motivation.

“What is welcoming others[1434] with a higher motivation? It is wishing to benefit others.

“What is doing exactly what one has said one will do? It is having a completely virtuous motivation.

“What is perpetual application? It is seeking for and inquiring about any virtue.

“What is having veneration[1435] and experiencing joy? It is knowledge through realization and knowledge through scripture.

“What is the knowledge of using examples? It is having the knowledge of similarities and the knowledge of teaching.

“What is being skilled concerning past lifetimes? It is remembering lifetimes F.166.b and having received many teachings.

“What is putting roots of merit first? It is having a strong longing for enlightenment and also inspring that in others.

“What is skill in methods? It is being skilled in confession, rejoicing, supplication, and the dedication of the roots of goodness.

“What is the negation of attributes? It is realizing that all phenomena are like a dream, and the extinction of things.

“What is turning away from conceptualization? It is the rejection of error.

“What is the knowledge of the characteristics of things?[1436] It is the knowledge of things having no characteristics.

“What is skill in the accomplishment of the sūtras? It is teaching through describing accurately the understanding of, and the examples for, good and bad qualities.

“What is certainty in the truth? It is the cessation of consciousness, and the nonarising of names-and-form.

“What is the direct experience of liberation? It is not wavering from the samādhi that is like a vajra.

“What is the single teaching? It is not being reborn in the inferior state of a tīrthika.

“What is the attainment of fearlessness? It is understanding the Buddha’s Dharma and developing the strength of dhyāna.[1437]

“What is the basis[1438] of correct conduct? It is the restraint of the body and the prātimokṣa vows.

“What is entering into samāpatti? It is being free of desire for the three existences.

“What is the attainment of wisdom? It is the knowledge of power and having no objectification.

“What is delighting in solitude? It is avoiding the faults from being with others and not forsaking good qualities.

“What is contentment with having no high reputation? It is being pleased with whatever there is.

“What is the absence of pollution in the mind? It is the suppression of the obscurations.

“What is rejecting incorrect views? It is rejecting the view of objective reality.

“What is the attainment of mental retention? F.167.a It is teaching correctly and without impediment the Dharma just as it has been seen.

“What is the entrance into knowledge?[1439] It is the entrance into the true nature.

“What is the basis? It is the basis of correct conduct.

“What is the ground? It is the ground of the mind.

“What is the foundation? It is the foundation of faith.

“What is the practice? It is the practice of the path.

“What is the knowledge[1440] of the cause? It is the knowledge that ignorance is the cause of saṃsāra.

“What is the method? It is knowledge[1441] as the method of liberation.

“What is the way? It is the way of the rejection of craving.

“What is the doorway? It is abandoning faults.

“What is the path? It is the knowledge of impermanence, suffering, emptiness, and selflessness.

“What is the level?[1442] It is the tenfold level[1443] of the absence of aspiration.

“What is being free from rebirth?[1444] It is putting an end to rebirth.

“What is the level of knowledge? It is being free of stupidity.

“What is the elimination of ignorance? It is the elimination of stupidity.

“What is the basis of wisdom? It is without a basis.

“What is the level of spiritual practice? It is meditation on the qualities of the thirty-seven aspects of enlightenment.

“What is the scope of practice of the bodhisattvas? It is composed of the six perfections.

“What is attending upon wise beings? It is attending upon buddhas.

“What is rejecting those who are not wise beings? It is rejecting tīrthikas who have the view of objective reality.

“What is the teaching of the tathāgatas? It is liberation through knowledge of the true nature, having gained the strengths of buddhahood.

“What is the level of buddhahood? It is the attainment of all good qualities.

“What is meant by the wise rejoicing in it? It means the buddha bhagavāns, and the śrāvakas of the past, future, and present, rejoicing.

“What is meant by the foolish rejecting it? It means that it is difficult for all who are foolish to understand. F.167.b

“What is meant by it being difficult for the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas to know? It means that the Buddha’s Dharma is inconceivable.

“What is meant by it not being the level of the tīrthikas? It means that their level is the false pride of a practitioner.

“What is meant by the bodhisattvas[1445] possessing it? It means that it is difficult to obtain and is a great medicine.[1446]

“What is meant by its being realized by those who have the ten strengths? It means that it is an arduous practice.

“Why should the devas make offerings to it? They should do so in order to attain every happiness.

“Why should Brahmā praise[1447] it? Because it is a practice that brings the attainment of all liberations.

“Why should the nāgas pay homage to it? Because it destroys all habitual tendencies.

“Why should the yakṣas rejoice in it? Because it closes the pathways to all the lower realms.

“Why should the kinnaras praise it in song? Because it brings the attainment of all the happiness of liberation.

“Why should the mahoragas laud it? Because it destroys saṃsāra.

“Why should the bodhisattvas meditate on it? Because it brings the attainment of omniscient wisdom.

“Why should the wise comprehend it? Because it brings the attainment of irreversibility.

“Why is it the highest wealth? Because it brings the attainment of an excellent rebirth as a deva or human and it brings the attainment of liberation.

“Why is it immaterial generosity? Because it destroys all the kleśas.

“Why is it a medicine for the sick? Because it brings desire, anger, and ignorance to an end.

“Why is it a treasure of wisdom? Because it is meditation.

“Why is it unceasing eloquence? Because it is truly correct knowledge and vision.

“Why is it freedom from misery? Because it is the realization that harm and suffering are meaningless F.168.a and that suffering has no self.

“Why is it the comprehension of the entire three realms? Because it is the realization that they are like dreams and illusions.

“Why is it a raft[1448] for crossing to the other shore? Because it is the meditation on impermanence, suffering, and emptiness by those who have the higher motivation of desiring to attain nirvāṇa.

“Why is it like a boat for those in the middle of a river? Because it brings the attainment of nirvāṇa.

“Why is it fame for those who wish for renown? Because it brings the attainment of vast qualities.

“Why do the buddhas praise it? Because it is the benefactor that provides a medicine with infinite good qualities.

“Why do the tathāgatas laud it? Because it is the benefactor that provides all qualities and happiness and liberation.

“Why do those who have the ten strengths praise it? Because it is the benefactor that provides the precious Dharma that is difficult to find.

“Why is it the quality[1449] of the bodhisattvas? Because it is the acquisition of training in the Dharma.

“Why is it the equanimity of those with compassion? Because it is the activity that accomplishes a buddha’s deeds.

“Why is it the love that brings evil to an end? Because it provides the remedy.

“Why does it provide relief for those who follow the Mahāyāna? Because it fulfills all the wishes for the Buddha’s Dharma.

“Why is it the diligent practice of those with a lion’s roar? Because it brings the attainment of the best Dharma, the superior Dharma.

“Why is it the path of the wisdom of the buddhas? Because it brings the attainment of all good qualities.

“Why is it the seal upon all phenomena? Because it brings the realization of this side from the other side.

“Why is it the accomplishment of omniscient wisdom?[1450] Because it eliminates all bad qualities, accomplishes all good qualities, F.168.b and brings liberation to all beings.[1451]

“Why is it the pleasure garden of bodhisattvas? Because their every happiness, joy, and pleasure bring happiness to all beings.

“Why does it terrify the māras? Because it accomplishes all the strengths and because it brings all the kleśas to an end.

“Why is it the knowledge of those who have reached happiness? Because it is the cessation of all distress.[1452]

“Why is it the benefit from those who accomplish benefit? Because it brings the accomplishment of all good fortune.

“Why is it the refuge for those among enemies? Because it brings defeat to all those who believe in objective reality and have wrong views.

“Why is it the subjugation of adversaries by those who have the Dharma? Because it brings the defeat of the tīrthikas by those who have the Dharma.

“Why is it the expression of truth for those who have fearlessness?[1453] Because it brings the tranquility[1454] of having analyzed well and analyzed precisely[1455] all phenomena.

“Why is it the correct search for the strengths? Because it is a practice that is not incorrect.

“Why is it the omen for the eighteen unique qualities of a buddha? Because it brings the attainment of all good qualities.

“Why is it an adornment? Because it brings the attainment of the thirty-two primary signs of a great being.

“Why is it the delight of those who desire liberation? Because it is good in the beginning, the middle, and the end.

“Why is it the joy of the eldest sons? Because it brings the attainment of experiencing their father’s wealth, the Buddha’s wealth.

“Why is it the completion of buddha wisdom? Because it brings the maintenance of all good qualities and the attainment of the cultivation of all good qualities and nothing else.

“Why is it not the level of śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas? Because it brings the accomplishment of the vast, inconceivable qualities of buddhahood.

“Why is it the purity of the mind? Because there is the elimination of all stains. F.169.a

“Why is it the purity of the body? Because it brings the cessation of all illness.

“Why is it the completion of the doorways to liberation? Because it brings the accomplishment of contemplating impermanence, suffering, emptiness, and selflessness.

“Why is it devoid of the kleśa of desire?[1456] Because it brings the accomplishment of the deathless state.

“Why is it devoid of anger? Because it brings the accomplishment of great love.

“Why is it not the level of ignorance? Because it brings the accomplishment of seeing phenomena as they truly are.

“Why is it the arising of wisdom? Because it brings the development of knowing all that is necessary, both mundane and supramundane.

“Why is it the birth of knowledge? Because it brings the accomplishment of all appropriate mental engagement.

“Why is it the elimination of ignorance? Because it brings freedom from all inappropriate mental engagement.

“Why is it the contentment of those dedicated to liberation? Because it brings the accomplishment of noble greatness.

“Why is it the satisfaction of those dedicated to samādhi? Because it brings the accomplishment of all bliss, joyful bliss, and a one-pointed mind.

“Why is it eyes for those who wish for the view? Because it brings the accomplishment of seeing for oneself.

“Why is it higher knowledge for those who wish to perform miracles? Because it brings freedom from obscuration and the desired true nature of phenomena.

“Why is it miraculous power for those who wish for accomplishment? Because it brings the accomplishment of the unobscured, inconceivable knowledge of all phenomena.

“Why is it retentive memory for those dedicated to listening to the Dharma? Because it brings the equality of all phenomena and nirvāṇa.

“Why is it unceasing mindfulness? Because it is the natural peace of focusing upon nirvāṇa.

“Why is it the blessing of the buddhas? Because it brings infinite accomplishment. F.169.b

“Why is it the skillful method of the guides? Because it conveys all to happiness and goodness.

“Why is it subtle? Because it brings the peace of focusing on nirvāṇa.

“Why is it difficult to know? Because it is difficult to discern.

“Why is it difficult to know for those without dedication? Because they have not previously obtained it.

“Why is it beyond words and difficult to know through speech? Because of the inconceivability of all phenomena.

“Why is it known by the wise? Because it is a great, precious meaning.

“Why is it the knowledge of pleasant beings? Because they know all forms of reverence.

“Why is it realized by those with few desires? Because they give rise to reverence.[1457]

“Why is it possessed by those who have undertaken it? Because they do not abandon their undertaking.

“Why is it kept by those who are mindful? Because they do not allow it to perish.

“Why is it the cessation of suffering? Because it brings the elimination of desire, anger, and ignorance.

“Why is it the birthlessness of all phenomena? Because it brings the cessation of all consciousness.

“Why is it the single teaching? Because all classes of existence, all death and transference, and all rebirths are like dreams, which means that all phenomena are without origination.

“You should know these three hundred points. Young man, they are the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena.”[1458]

Thereupon the Bhagavān spoke these verses:

“The Buddha’s Dharma is vast.
The teaching of its practice is vast.
When the Dharma is taught in a vast way
The qualities attained will be vast. {1}
“The characteristics of the Dharma
Are just as vast as space.
It contains vast jewels and light rays[1459]
And therefore it is called vast. {2} F.170.a
“The ways beings act are vast,
The teachings for them are vast,
The meaning of the scripture is vast,[1460]
And therefore it is called vast.” {3}

When the Bhagavān taught this Dharma teaching of the samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, countless beings developed the aspiration for complete enlightenment. Countless beings attained irreversibility from the highest, complete enlightenment. Countless beings developed the aspiration for their own enlightenment. Countless beings developed the aspiration for attaining the result of becoming an arhat.

This universe of a thousand million worlds shook in six ways. It trembled, trembled strongly, and trembled intensely; it quivered, quivered strongly, and quivered intensely; it shook, shook strongly, and shook intensely; it shuddered, shuddered strongly, and shuddered intensely; it quaked, quaked strongly, and quaked intensely; the east sank and the west rose, the west sank and the east rose, the north sank and the south rose, the south sank and the north rose, the perimeter sank and the center rose, and the center sank and the perimeter rose. In all the world there shone an immeasurable radiance, there fell a great rain of divine incense, the devas threw down a great rain of flowers, hundreds of thousands of divine musical instruments were played up in the sky, the sky above was covered with divine food, and these words were spoken:

“The beings who hear this Dharma teaching on entering great compassion will easily reach attainment, and those beings will serve and honor many buddhas. F.170.b

“Those who hear this samādhi, the revealed equality of the nature of all phenomena, and, having heard it, write it out, possess it, keep it, recite it to others, promote it, meditate on it with unadulterated meditation, promulgate it, and teach it extensively to others will become the subject of offerings from all beings.”

Then the Bhagavān said to Brother Ānanda, “Ānanda, you must hold this Dharma teaching, recite it, promulgate it, and teach it extensively to others.”

Then Brother Ānanda asked the Bhagavān, “What is the name of this teaching? In what way shall I keep it?”

The Bhagavān said, “Ānanda, you should keep this sūtra as having the name Entering Great Compassion. You should also keep this sūtra as having the name The Samādhi, the Revealed Equality of the Nature of All Phenomena.”

Ānanda said, “Bhagavān, I shall keep this Dharma teaching.”

The Bhagavān, having spoken those words, the youth Candraprabha, Brother Ānanda, the fourfold assembly of bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, and upāsikās, the devas of Śuddhāvāsa, and the world with its devas, humans, asuras, and gandharvas rejoiced and praised the words of the Bhagavān.[1461]


“The Samādhi, the Revealed Equality of the Nature of All Phenomena,” is concluded.

Colophon

The Indian preceptor Śrīlendrabodhi, and the chief editor Lotsawa Bandé Dharmatāśīla, translated and revised this work. It was later modified and finalized in terms of the new translation.

Notes

  1. This line of homage, as is customary for Kangyur texts, was added by the Tibetan translators, and therefore does not appear in the Sanskrit or Chinese. The Gilgit Sanskrit manuscript has 12 initial verses, Hodgson 14 verses, and Shastri 43 verses, none of which are in the Tibetan.

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  2. This number depends on whether niyuta is taken to mean “one million,” as in Classical Sanskrit, or “a hundred thousand million,” as is found in BHS. The Tibetan has chosen the latter meaning, translating it as khrag khrig. Therefore the resulting number in Tibetan is “ten million [times] a hundred thousand million times eighty,” i.e., eighty million million million (eighty quintillion in the American or short scale system) (bye ba khrag khrig phrag brgyad bcu, apparently translating koṭiniyutena aśityā). The translation of the commentary by Mañjuśrīkīrti, however, has khrag khrig phrag brgyad bcu: “a hundred thousand million times eighty,” which would be eight million million, i.e., eight trillion. The Vaidya Sanskrit edition has niyuta­śata­sahasrena aśītyā which would be literally “a hundred thousand million [times] a hundred [times] a thousand times eighty,” which comes to eight hundred thousand million million, i.e., eight hundred thousand trillion. However if niyuta is taken as only one million, this would be eight million million, i.e., eight trillion, which would agree with the resulting number in Mañjuśrīkīrti’s commentary. The Dutt edition of the Gilgit manuscript has aśityā ca bodhisattva-niyutaiḥ and accordingly the translation of Gómez et al. is “eighty million,” where niyuta has presumably been given the value of one million. The Chinese simply transliterates as na-yo-ta. The Chinese tradition gives numerous, widely differing explanations of what this number means.

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  3. In the Chinese the description of the bodhisattvas and the list of names do not appear. The Chinese continues at this point with Ajita.

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  4. According to the BHS abhi­jñābhijñātair. The Tibetan, translating both abhijña and abhijñāta as mngon par shes pa, has mngon par shes pas mngon par shes pa. However, the translation of the commentary has a preferable translation of the second abhijñāta: rab tu grags pa.

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  5. According to the BHS gatiṃgata. The Tibetan translates as rtogs par khong du chud pa.

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  6. According to the commentary these are not only the dhāraṇī in recited form, but comprise the four kinds of retention (dhāraṇī): the recited dhāraṇī sentences and phrases themselves, the retention of the memory of the words of all teachings given, the retention of the memory of the meaning of these teachings, and the retention of the realization gained through meditation on that meaning.

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  7. According to the Tibetan, though the Sanskrit compound could also be interpreted to mean “who had praised, extolled, and lauded all the buddhas.”

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  8. According to the Tibetan and the commentary. The Sanskrit could also be interpreted, as in Gómez et al., as “knowing all the terrors [that come from] the māras.”

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  9. According to the commentary, this means “adorned by the ten good actions: three of body, four of speech, and three of mind,” or, among the primary and secondary signs of a great being: “the voice of Brahmā, and the mind’s realization of the nature of beings so that they may be guided.”

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  10. According to most Kangyurs, the commentary, and the Sanskrit. The Degé has kyi instead of kyis.

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  11. According to the commentary, this means the bodhisattvas are on the tenth bhūmi, as taught in the Sūtra of the Ten Bhūmis. The ten-bhūmi system does not appear in the Gilgit version or the Chinese but does in the later Sanskrit versions and the Tibetan.

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  12. According to the Sanskrit. Absent from the Tibetan.

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  13. According to the Tibetan lhun po’i rtse mo ’dzin and Matsunami. Vaidya: Meruśikhariṁdhara. Dutt: Meruśikharindhara.

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  14. According to the Tibetan lhun po’i rgyal po and Matsunami. Dutt: Merugāja. Does not appear in Hodgson.

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  15. According to the Tibetan and Matsunami. Dutt: Meruśikhare saṁghaṭṭanarājena. Hodgson: Meruśikhare saṃghaḍanagajena. Shastri: Meruśikhare saṃghaṭanagajena.

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  16. According to the Sanskrit. Absent in the Tibetan.

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  17. According to the Sanskrit. Absent in the Tibetan.

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  18. According to the Tibetan (nyi ma me’i ’od ’phro can) and the Hodgson. The Tibetan takes daśaśataraśmi, “a hundred thousand rays,” as an epithet of the sun and translates it simply as nyi ma (“sun”). Gilgit and Shastri: Daśaśataraśmikṛtārci with huta (“fire,” equivalent to the Tibetan me) replaced by kṛta (“made,” “created”).

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  19. According to the Tibetan and Hodgson. Vaidya: Satatam­abhayaṁdadāna. Dutt has both versions.

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  20. Another name for Maitreya, the bodhisattva who will be the fifth buddha of the Good Eon.

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  21. According to the Sanskrit anupamacitta. The Tibetan has dpe med sems dpa’, whereas one would expect dpe med sems pa. The Sūtra of the Samādhi of the Seal of the Wisdom of the Tathāgatas (see bibliography) refers to this group as sems dpa’ dpe med pa, naming two of them: Pramodyarāja (mchog tu dga’ ba’i rgyal po) and Mañjuśrī (Degé Kangyur, vol. 55, F.248.a). The Sūtra of Possessing the Roots of Goodness (see bibliography) refers to byang chub sems dpa’ dpe med pa sems pa (“bodhisattvas with incomparable minds”), with Bhadrapāla being the one that is named (Degé Kangyur, vol. 48, F.48.a). Bhadrapāla is also listed as one of a group of five hundred bodhisattvas in that sūtra (F.22.b).

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  22. This is referencing a group of beings that is listed in the White Lotus of the Good Dharma Sūtra (Degé Kangyur, vol. 67, 2.b). In that sūtra Bhadrapāla is also listed as one of a group of fifty bodhisattvas (F.142.b).

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  23. A bodhisattva who appears prominently in certain sūtras, such as The Samādhi of the Presence of the Buddhas, and perhaps also the merchant of that name who is the principal interlocutor in the Sūtra of the Questions of Bhadrapāla the Merchant (see bibliography).

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  24. This refers to the standard list of god realms beginning with the lowest, that of the Four Mahārājas.

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  25. According to the Sanskrit udārodārair, which repeats udāra. The Tibetan translates as “vast and illustrious.”

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  26. According to the Sanskrit, which uses repetition to state that each one of them has that quality, maheśākhya­maheśākhyair. The Tibetan translates as “very powerful and renowned to be very powerful.”

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  27. Tibetan: bkur stir bya ba. Sanskrit: satkṛta.

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  28. Tibetan: bla mar bya ba. Sanskrit: gurukṛta.

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  29. Tibetan: ri mor bya ba. Sanskrit: mānita.

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  30. Tibetan: mchod par bya ba. Sanskrit: pūjita.

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  31. Tibetan: rjed par bya ba. Sanskrit: arcita.

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  32. Tibetan: gsol ba. Sanskrit: apacāyita.

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  33. According to the Sanskrit repetition of lokasya lokasya.

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  34. Tibetan: phyag bya ba. Sanskrit: vandanīya.

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  35. This epithet “youth” or “young man” has been translated by others as part of his name, resulting in “Candraprabhakumāra.” However, in the Sanskrit it is not compounded as it would be in a name, but is clearly in adjectival apposition. Kumāra can also have the meaning of “prince” and is so translated in the translation of the Gilgit manuscript. However, there is no indication that he is a prince, and therefore it more likely has its usual meaning of “a youth.”

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  36. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit at this point has in addition, “I am a perfectly enlightened buddha,” which does not appear in the Chinese or the Tibetan.

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  37. According to the Tibetan, Chinese, and later Sanskrit manuscripts. The Gilgit has an additional part in the sentence: “there is nothing among all phenomena in the endless, infinite worlds….”

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  38. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. The Sanskrit here has a number of adjectives describing his state of joy.

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  39. According to the Tibetan gzhal med. The BHS has atuliyu (“unequaled”).

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  40. According to the Sanskrit śāṭhyaṁ mama na vidyate.

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  41. According to the Sanskrit sākṣī and the Tibetan dpang in the Lithang and the Lhasa Kangyurs; other Kangyurs have dbang (“power”).

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  42. According to the Tibetan gces spras bgyid. The BHS has bahuṃkāra (“beneficial”).

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  43. According to the Tibetan zhe sdang and Matsunami. The Dutt and Vaidya have doṣa, which is the BHS equivalent of the Classical Sanskrit dveṣa (“anger”), while the Classical Sanskrit doṣa means “fault.”

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  44. Only this half-verse appears in the Hodgson and the Tibetan. In the Chinese, no part of this verse is present. The Shastri manuscript has a second half to this verse: “Will be without arrogance, desire, anger, and ignorance, / And will practice conduct in which all faults have ceased / So that his body becomes like space, / And all phenomena are destroyed.” The Matsunami version of this last line has prakṛti-prabhāsa instead of pramṛtiprahāra: “And all phenomena will have a radiant nature.”

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  45. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan has: “How is there increase through wisdoms?”

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  46. Different words are translated as quality and qualities here: the one quality is the Sanskrit dharma (Tibetan chos), which has a wide range of other meanings, while for qualities the word is the more specific guṇa (Tibetan yon tan).

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  47. According to the Tibetan and the commentary, which must have translated from caraṇapāṇatalāḥ (“feet and hands”) instead of caraṇavaratalāḥ (“soles of the perfect feet”) as in the Sanskrit. The Chinese has only “soles.”

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  48. The singular is according to the Sanskrit. In the commentary it is in the plural.

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  49. From this point on in the Chinese translation, the qualities are grouped into 21 sets with 10 qualities in each set.

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  50. The explanation of these first three qualities (counting the three kinds of restraint as one) will form chapter 39, and all of the others are explained in chapter 40.

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  51. According to the commentary and the definitions in chapter 40. The commentary states that this is engagement in actions in order to benefit beings.

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  52. According to the Tibetan gsal ba, the commentary’s bstan pa, and the Chinese 顯示諸因 (xian shi zhu yin). The Sanskrit dīpanā could mean “burning up.”

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  53. According to the commentary and chapter 40, where the Sanskrit is sattvānupraveśa and the Tibetan translates accordingly. Here the Sanskrit is satyānupraveśa (“penetrating the truth”) in all available editions, and is translated accordingly in the Tibetan, although it does not match the definition given in the commentary or in chapter 40.

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  54. According to the commentary, dharma here means “knowing the nature of phenomena” rather than “the Dharma teachings.”

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  55. The Tibetan drang ba, literally “straight,” can also mean “honest.” The Sanskrit ārjavatā could also mean straightforwardness and honesty, as well as sincerity. In chapter 40 [F.162.a] it is defined as “uncontrived.” The commentary defines it as both “sincerity” and “directness,” as in a direct route to buddhahood, unlike the paths of the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas

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  56. According to the Tibetan mnyen pa and the Sanskrit mārdavatā. It is missing from the definitions of the terms in chapter 40 and also from the commentary. It is followed in the Sanskrit by ṛjakatā, “It is being honest,” which is absent from the Tibetan and the commentary.

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  57. According to the Tibetan gya gyu med pa and the Sanskrit akutilatā. It is missing from the definitions of the terms in chapter 40 and also from the commentary. Apparently Matsunami has yet another item, translated by Gómez et al. as “lack of deviousness.”

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  58. According to the Tibetan des pa, the commentary, and the Sanskrit suratatā. The list in chapter 40 [F.162.a.6] has dge ba instead of des pa, although the definition matches that in the commentary for des pa. This may be the remainder of the following ngang tshul dge ba, which is absent from the chapter 40 definitions and the commentary.

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  59. According to the Tibetan ngang tshul dge ba and the Sanskrit suśīlatā. This is absent from the chapter 40 definitions and the commentary.

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  60. According to the Tibetan ’byams par ’dzin pa and the Sanskrit sākhilyam. This is absent from the chapter 40 definitions and the commentary.

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  61. According to the Tibetan ’jam pa and the Sanskrit mādhuryam, which can also mean “sweet.” In the chapter 40 definitions it is translated as mnyen pa, which in the first chapter had just been used to translate mārdavat. This was translated as “tolerant,” although it can also according to context mean “lenient,” “pliable,” “kind,” “soft,” “weak,” or “gentle.”

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  62. According to the Tibetan, Sanskrit, and commentary. Absent from the list in chapter 40 [F.162.a.6].

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  63. According to the BHS pūrvābhilāpitā (literally, “speaking first”), translated into Tibetan as “speaking honestly” (gsong por smra ba).

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  64. According to the Degé Tibetan tshur shog legs par ’ong so and the Sanskrit ehīti svāgatavāditā. In both the commentary and chapter 40 [F.162.a.6-7] this item appears within the definition of “courteous.” The Degé appears to divide this into two: legs par ’ong so / tshur shog ces smra ba.

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  65. From the Tibetan le lo med pa and the Sanskrit anālasya. Absent from the list in chapter 40 [F.162.a.7] and in the commentary, it is included within the definition of “serving the guru.”

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  66. Tibetan: gus pa. Sanskrit: gaurava. The commentary’s explanation is to be fearful in the guru’s presence while seeing him as your teacher and being his follower at all times.

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  67. The Chinese divides this into two qualities (respecting and making offerings) and has “venerable elders” instead of guru.

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  68. Tibetan: sri zhu che ba. Sanskrit: guruśuśrūṣā. The Tibetan means “respect or reverence,” while the Sanskrit is “wish to listen” or “obedience.” The definition in chapter 40 [F.162.a.7] is to honor and serve the guru. The commentary defines it as the wish to listen to the guru, be near him, and look at him.

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  69. There are spelling mistakes in the online version of the Vaidya Sanskrit: saṃghi­samuddhāta should be saṃdhi­samudghāta.

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  70. According to the Tibetan khyad par du ’gro ba, and its definition in chapter 40 [F.162.b.7-8] and in the commentary, which say that this refers to the strengths, fearlessness, distinct qualities, and knowledge of the buddhas; the Sanskrit has jñāna­viśeṣa­gāmitā (“being brought to superior or special knowledge”).

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  71. Bhāvanābhiniṣyandaḥ could be translated literally as “irrigation” or “outflow of meditation.” The Tibetan rgyu mthun pa has also been translated literally as “having a concordant cause.”

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  72. According to the Sanskrit āpatti, which in this chapter was translated as nyes pa (“bad action,” “fault”). In chapter 40, when it is being defined, it is translated as ltung ba.

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  73. According to the BHS Sanskrit (anunaya) and the Tibetan (rjes su chags pa) of chapter 40, and the first part of its definition. There appears to be a scribal error in this chapter in all the extant Sanskrit manuscripts of anuśaya for anunaya, and the Tibetan translates accordingly as bag la nyal (“latent tendency”). It is possible the scribal error is the other way around.

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  74. Sanskrit: ājāneya. Tibetan: cang shes. Ājāneya was incorrectly defined as meaning “all-knowing” and was translated therefore into Tibetan as cang shes (“all-knowing”). The term ājāneya was primarily used for thoroughbred horses, but was also applied to people in a laudatory sense. According to chapter 40 [F.163.a.6] and the commentary, here it refers to a bodhisattva.

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  75. According to the Tibetan and the Sanskrit. In chapter 40 [F.163.b.1] and the commentary it is translated as “a perfection of good qualities.”

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  76. According to the definition in chapter 40 [F.163.b.4] and the commentary, where mtha’ yas pa’i ye shes is obviously translated from anantajñāna; in chapter 1 the term is samatajñāna (“knowledge of equality”), but the definition indicates that to be a scribal corruption. The word samatā appears just over a dozen items later.

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  77. Pratisaṃdhi is translated into Tibetan in chapter 1 as tshig gi mtshams sbyor (“the connection of words”), while the commentary to chapter 1 translates this as tshig gi dgongs pa (possibly from abhisaṃdhi). The definition in chapter 40 of tshig gi mtshams sbyar ba [F.163.b.4-5] is ldem po ngag (saṃdhābhāṣya) (“words in which the intended meaning is not obvious”).

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  78. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. It is absent from the list in chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  79. The Gilgit manuscript has here an extra term pravrajyācittam, “the aspiration to mendicancy,” which does not appear in the Hodgson, Shastri, commentary, or Tibetan.

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  80. According to the Tibetan, commentary, and Sanskrit. In the translation of chapter 40, “the words of” is omitted.

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  81. Absent from chapter 1, but in the list in chapter 40 [F.164.a.5], the commentary, and the Sanskrit. Therefore it is added here for consistency, as it is evidently an unintended omission.

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  82. Absent from the list of definitions in chapter 40, and from the translation of the commentary to chapter 1.

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  83. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has īryā­patha­vikopanam instead of īryā­pathāvikopanam, so that the negation is omitted.

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  84. The Tibetan translates avikalpa here and in the commentary as mi ’chos pa’i, but as rnam par mi rtog pa (“not conceptually fabricated”), a particular BHS meaning of the word, in chapter 40, [F.164.b] when it is being defined. The Sanskrit has īryā­patha­vikalpanam instead of īryā­pathāvikalpanam here, so that the negation is omitted, but the negation is present in chapter 40 in the Sanskrit. The commentary encompasses both meanings by saying that this means being free of negative thoughts and therefore the conduct is uncontrived, unfabricated.

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  85. Here the Tibetan translates īryāpatha-prāsādikatā as spyod pa mdzes pa (“beautiful conduct”). The Chinese translates prāsādikatā as two different qualities: 端 (duan) (“proper,” “upright,” “dignified”), and 雅 (ya) (“elegant,” “graceful”). However, in chapter 40 [F.164.b] the Tibetan translates prāsādikatā in the more usual way as dang ba (“clear,” “serene,” “attractive”), but the Sanskrit has indriyapatha, presumably a corruption of īryāpatha, and therefore the Tibetan has dbang (“faculties”) instead of spyod pa (“conduct”). In that chapter the term is defined as the mind “being focused upon engagement with the Dharma, speaking rationally, knowing the right time, and teaching the Dharma correctly.” In this translation, for consistency, it will be translated here and in chapter 40 as spyod lam dang ba, in accord with the Sanskrit. The commentary to chapter 1, however, has dbang mdzas pa (“beautiful faculties”). The commentary states that this means seeing the equality of all phenomena, and therefore seeing what is correct and incorrect, and teaching others according to their aspirations. However, both the commentary and the definition in chapter 40 have subsumed the following two qualities as given in the sūtra’s first chapter.

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  86. In chapter 40, this forms part of the definition of attractive conduct.

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  87. In chapter 40, this forms part of the definition of attractive conduct.

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  88. Literally, “the hands are always extended.” The commentary says “ready to give material possessions or the Dharma.”

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  89. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Absent from the definitions in chapter 40 [F.165.a.1] and in the commentary.

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  90. According to the Tibetan sgrub pa dang nges par sgrub pa. Sanskrit: āhāranirhāra. Cf. Edgerton (112), where āharaṇatā means “winning, getting, attainment.” The Mahāvyutpatti has ’phrogs pa (“take”), zas (“food”), and when with prefixes as brjod (“say”) and gsol (“request”), and also ’snyod cing stobs pa, which means “to feed someone.” Also there is āharana, “to take” or “to hold.” The Tibetan translators have not been consistent, as in the definitions of the terms in chapter 40 where the Tibetan is zas sgrub pa (“attainment of food”), [F.165.a.1] with āhāra here translated as “food.” The definition is “sharp wisdom,” which does not appear to be food related. The commentary also defines it as “perfecting good qualities and eliminating negative ones, and that sharp wisdom develops from that.” Gómez et al. (n. 18, p. 85) describe this compound as a problematic term and give a conjectural translation as “bringing together and taking away” (p. 57).

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  91. According to the Tibetan nges pa’i tshig rnam par gzhag pa shes pa and the Sanskrit nirukti­vyavasthāna­jñānam. Chapter 40 and the commentary omit “definitions” and define rnam par gzhag pa shes pa and vyavasthāna­jñānam, which the commentary describes as “skill in presenting the teachings to various kinds of individuals.”

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  92. This is absent from the list in chapter 1, but present in the list in chapter 40, in the commentary, the Sanskrit, and the Chinese.

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  93. In chapter 40 this is called “delight in dhyāna.”

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  94. In chapter 40 this is called “no clinging” (Tibetan: ma chags pa; BHS: anadhyavasāna).

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  95. According to the Sanskrit kurvaṇa. Translated into Tibetan as cho ’phrul.

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  96. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit of chapter 40, its definition there, and the commentary. Here in chapter 1 the Sanskrit has saṃskāra, translated into Tibetan as ’du byed, “composite activity.”

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  97. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Absent from chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  98. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. It is later in the list in chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  99. This paragraph differs in its order and contents from chapter 40 and the commentary, with an extra term, “no interest in gain and honors,” and without the two items of happiness and suffering.

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  100. This is presented in two separate points in chapter 40.

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  101. At this point the Matsunami Sanskrit apparently has another item in the list, translated by Gómez et al. as “gentleness.”

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  102. According to chapter 40 [F.168.b.5], this is “not gaining profit from wisdom,” and in the commentary it is “not dishonoring the family of the tathāgata, by keeping one’s commitment.”

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  103. The Tibetan smra ba nyung zhing mnyen pa literally means “speaking little and softly,” which could be taken as one quality. The BHS (malpabhāṣaṇatā / mitabhāṣaṇatā) and Chapter 40 have these two qualities clearly separated. In chapter 40 mnyen pa translates mārdavatā, which more explicitly means “softly.”

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  104. According to the Tibetan; apparently does not appear in the Sanskrit, chapter 40, or the commentary.

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  105. According to the Tibetan and the BHS meaning of avasādanatā.

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  106. According to the commentary this is “the path of the Dharma.”

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  107. According to the Tibetan (mi g.yo ba) and the Gilgit Sanskrit (akampya) of chapter 1, and the Sanskrit and Tibetan of chapter 40. For chapter 1 the Vaidya has aśāṭhya and the Hodgson and Shastri have sasādhya.

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  108. According to the Tibetan gnyer pa. Sanskrit nimantraṇatā (Shastri: nimantrahatā): “to invite”; chapter 40 [F.166.a.6], and the commentary: mgron du gnyer ba (take care of as one’s guests). Does not appear in the Matsunami.

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  109. In accordance with the commentary and chapter 40. In chapter 1, “characteristics” is absent.

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  110. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Absent in chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  111. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Absent in chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  112. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Absent in chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  113. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Absent in chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  114. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Absent in chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  115. From the Sanskrit upalakṣanatā. The Tibetan has rtogs, which can mean “realize” or “understand.”

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  116. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Absent in chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  117. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Absent in chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  118. In chapter 1 the Sanskrit has śīladṛdhatā (“stability of conduct”) and the Tibetan has tshul khrims dam pa (“excellent conduct”). In chapter 40 the Sanskrit has śīlādhiṣṭhānatā and the Tibetan has tshul khrims kyi gnas (“the basis of conduct”).

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  119. According to the Sanskrit prajñā­pratilambhaḥ in chapter 40 [F.166.b.6] and in the commentary. Although it is absent in chapter 1, it is included here, as it has evidently been inadvertently omitted.

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  120. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Nevertheless, this does not appear in the list of qualities as given in chapter 40 [F.166.b]. According to Gómez et al. (n.20, p.85) this ātmajñatā and the preceding item, ekāramatā, form the single compound ekālambātajñatā (“knowledge of relying on solitude”) in Matsunami’s edition, even though they are separate items in all his three sources, and in the Gilgit. However, ekārāmatjñānatā is a possible original form of the compound.

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  121. According to the Tibetan and Matsunami. The Sanskrit separates “contentment” and “little known” into separate items: alpajñatā / santuṣti. Although the phrase alpajñatā can mean “ignorance” in Sanskrit, here the BHS meaning is being assumed (Edgerton 68).

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  122. According to the BHS meaning of dṛṣṛikṛta (Tibetan: lta bar gyur pa in chapter 1; lta bar byas pa in chapter 40 [F.166.b.7]; and lta bas byas pa in the commentary). Edgerton (269) translates them as “heresy.”

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  123. According to the Tibetan, the Sanskrit here and in chapter 40, and the commentary.

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  124. According to the Sanskrit and chapter 1 in the Tibetan, which could be read as dividing these into separate terms, with “knowledge” applying to the last. According to the commentary and chapter 40 [F.167.a.1-2], sthāna is translated as gnas, and is defined as the basis or root for a time of opportunity to practice good actions. The second part of the compound according to the commentary and chapter 40 is āsthāna (“basis” or “ground”) and not asthāna (Tibetan: gnas min) as translated in chapter 1. In chapter 40 the Sanskrit is avasthāna, translated as gzhi (“basis,” “foundation,” “ground”) and in the commentary as gnas skabs (“state,” “level,” “situation”), and this is defined as “the mind as the basis for all phenomena.” Third, in chapter 1, prasthāna was translated as ’jug pa (“entry,” “engagement”). The commentary translates this as rab tu gnas, and in chapter 40 the Sanskrit is pratisthāna, translated as rten. The commentary defines this as “faith as the foundation for all buddha qualities.” The commentary agrees with the translation in chapter 1 of pratipatti as sgrub pa (“accomplishment,” or “practice”), while chapter 40 translates it as nan tan (“application”). The commentary defines it as “perfecting that which is to be accomplished through familiarization with the path.” Neither the commentary nor chapter 40 have the concluding part of the compound: jñāna (Tibetan: shes pa, “knowledge”). The Tibetan translation of chapter 1 seems to be at fault in comparison to chapter 40 and the commentary, and therefore for consistency it has not been followed. gnas dang gnas min would be the standard way of saying “the appropriate and the inappropriate.”

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  125. According to the Sanskrit hetu, chapter 40 (rgyu), and the commentary. In chapter 1, hetu is translated as gtan tshigs (“reason”).

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  126. According to the Sanskrit yukti. Tibetan: rigs pa.

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  127. Sanskrit: naya. Tibetan: tshul.

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  128. Sanskrit: kāraṇa. Tibetan: rgyu. Absent in chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  129. Sanskrit: dvāra. Tibetan: sgo. Defined in chapter 40 [F.167.a.3] as “giving up bad actions,” and defined by the commentary as “skill in methods of eliminating faults, which is the doorway into the city of liberation.”

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  130. Sanskrit: mārga. Tibetan: lam. In chapter 40 this is part of the definition of “practice.”

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  131. The Tibetan here in chapter 1 appears to translate pratipatti as two separate terms: nan tan dang sgrub pa, which does not occur in chapter 40 or in the commentary. The Sanskrit follows pratipatti with saṃdeśa (“teaching”), which is absent from the Tibetan, the commentary, and chapter 40.

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  132. From the Tibetan phrin. Does not appear in the Sanskrit, chapter 40, or the commentary.

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  133. Sanskrit: avavāda. Tibetan: gdams pa. The Sanskrit is in chapter 40, but the Tibetan is absent.

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  134. According to the Tibetan of most Kangyurs: bstan pa la spyod pa. The Sanskrit divides this into two: anuśasanī caryā (“the instruction and the conduct”). The Degé has bsten pa (“reliance”), which is a scribal error.

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  135. Absent from chapter 40 and the commentary. In chapter 6 [F.19.a.3] it is defined as patience that is in accord with the Buddha’s teaching, in which there is no doubt about the Buddha’s teaching and no negative conduct is engaged in.

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  136. According to the Sanskrit and chapter 1 Tibetan. In chapter 40 and the commentary there is only “the level.”

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  137. According to the Sanskrit akṣāntivigama and the Tibetan mi bzod pa dang bral ba. However, in chapter 40 and the commentary this is jātivigama (skye ba dang bral ba), “freedom from rebirth.”

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  138. Yogācārabhūmi. Here, “yoga” according to chapter 40 is “meditation on the thirty-seven aspects of enlightenment.” It does not refer here to “the Yogācāra tradition of Asaṅga.”

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  139. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Absent from chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  140. This is divided into two points in chapter 40.

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  141. According to the Sanskrit vandanīyā. Tibetan: phyag bya ba (“pays homage,” “bows down to”).

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  142. This is in the plural, because although Brahmā is the presiding deity over a thousand million worlds, each of those worlds has a Śakra or Indra upon its central mountain.

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  143. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Absent from chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  144. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Absent from chapter 40 [F.167.b.7] and the commentary, which instead have, “It is freedom from misery.”

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  145. According to the Sanskrit viṣaya. Tibetan: g.yul, “battle,” which may be a scribal corruption of yul, perhaps because they are homophones and the copying was done by dictation.

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  146. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Absent from chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  147. According to the Sanskrit kola. The Tibetan gzings can mean “a boat,” but also “a ferry,” which in Tibet was sometimes a raft.

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  148. According to the commentary and chapter 40, which has “anger” (zhe sdang), while this chapter has “evil” or “wickedness” (nyes pa), mistakenly translating doṣa according to its meaning in Classical Sanskrit, while the BHS doṣa is the equivalent of the Classical Sanskrit dveṣa (“anger”).

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  149. In the Sanskrit this appears earlier in the list, after “medicine for the sick.” Absent from chapter 40 and the commentary.

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  150. In the Vaidya Sanskrit there follows at this point, “It is the liberation of all beings,” which is absent in the Tibetan, the commentary, and the Matsunami edition. The Dutt edition, online page 225, is not available.

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  151. According to the Tibetan in chapter 1: sgrub pa. The Sanskrit āhārikā was translated by Gómez et al. according to an alternate meaning, “that which brings.” Chapter 40 has asaṃhartya, and therefore in that chapter and in the commentary it is accordingly translated as mi ’phrogs (“cannot be taken away”). The Sanskrit and Tibetan of chapter 1 better fit the definition of this term as given in chapter 40, but the commentary specifies that it cannot be undermined by māras or tīrthikas.

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  152. Sanskrit: dharmakāya. Tibetan: chos kyi sku. Here, according to the commentary and chapter 40 [F.168.b.4], this does not refer to the immaterial state of buddhahood, but to the thirty-two physical signs that adorn the evident body of a buddha. However, this definition explaining what is meant by “adornment” may possibly refer instead to the next item but one, “the adornment of the bodhisattvas,” since both in chapter 40 and the commentary only one instance of “adornment” is mentioned.

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  153. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Absent from chapter 40 and the commentary. The text has only “conduct,” and “bodhisattva” is implied.

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  154. Sanskrit: buddhaputra, Tibetan: sangs rgyas kyi sras. Literally, “sons of the buddhas.”

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  155. Literally, “eldest sons.” Sanskrit: jyeṣṭhaputra; Tibetan: sras thu bo. A designation for the principal bodhisattvas.

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  156. In chapter 40 this is combined with the next quality, while omitting “the wisdom of buddhahood.”

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  157. In the commentary and chapter 40 this and the preceding quality appear to have been combined into one, perhaps due a scribal ommission.

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  158. According to the Tibetan thos pa, and the Sanskrit śruta. The commentary has thob pa (“attainment”) in error for thos pa.

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  159. This is separated into three points in chapter 40.

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  160. According to the Tibetan and the Vaidya Sanskrit. Absent from chapter 40 and the commentary, but apparently partially present, conjoined with the preceding term, in the Matsunami.

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  161. Sanskrit: sūratā. Tibetan: des pa. It can also mean “pleasant,” “heroic,” “noble.”

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  162. Depending on the value of nayuta, which means “a million” in classical Sanskrit and can mean “a hundred thousand million” in BHS. It is the latter meaning that has been taken here, translated as khrag khrig. Thus, “eighty hundred thousand,” which is “eight million million,” which is “eight trillion.”

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  163. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has just “a thousand,” though “a hundred thousand” is mentioned at the beginning of the sūtra.

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  164. According to the Tibetan dge slong ma. The Sanskrit repeats bhikṣu.

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  165. Literally, “ten million times a hundred thousand times a hundred thousand million.”

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  166. According to the Sanskrit vihāra. Tibetan: gtsug lag khang. These are equivalents in the Mahāvyutpatti, but gtsug lag khang can also mean “temple” in Tibetan.

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  167. Literally, “a hundred thousand [times a] hundred thousand million.”

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  168. Literally, “seventy-six hundred thousand.”

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  169. Literally, “eighteen thousand ten-millions.”

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  170. Literally, “seventy-six thousand ten-millions.”

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  171. Literally, “fourteen thousand ten-millions.”

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  172. According to the Tibetan and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts. The prose up to this point does not appear in the Chinese or the Gilgit manuscript.

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  173. The Sanskrit is in the third person in this first line of the verse, and the Tibetan is non-specific, but the first person is used here to avoid an appearance of contradiction.

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  174. I.e. buddhas. In the Chinese, “who have the ten strengths” does not appear, but it is in the Tibetan and all Sanskrit versions.

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  175. In all appearances in the translation that read “bodhisattva conduct,” “bodhisattva” is only implied in the original, but added in the translation for clarity.

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  176. Literally, “biped” in the Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan.

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  177. According to the Sanskrit sadā. Does not appear in the Tibetan or Chinese.

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  178. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has the plural “those jinas,” which does not fit the narrative here. The Chinese does not specify singular or plural.

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  179. Literally, “biped.” The Chinese has “who save(s) beings from lower realms.”

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  180. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan btsun mo is honorific for “wife,” but could also mean “queen.”

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  181. Sanskrit: bimbara (variants: viṃbara, viṃvara, vivara). Tibetan: dkrigs. In the Sanskrit the value of the number varies between “a hundredth of a kaṅkara” or “a hundred kaṅkara.” According to Edgerton (p. 400), bimbara in the Tibetan tradition is synonymous with kaṅkara. In the Tibetan tradition of numbers, dkrigs is “a hundred thousand trillion.” In this verse, the number is “a thousand million dkrigs,” yielding “a hundred million million million million,” a hundred followed by 24 zeros, i.e., a hundred septillion. The Chinese has a number that is most likely four billion.

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  182. According to the Tibetan lag rkang and the Chinese. “Legs” does not appear in the available Sanskrit. Unavailable in the Gilgit manuscript.

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  183. The Buddha’s hometown. In the Sanskrit and Chinese there is only the shorter form, Kapila.

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  184. According to the Sanskrit yuga. According to the Mahāvyutpatti, the Tibetan equivalent would be zung (pair). The Tibetan here seems corrupt. The Degé has ’phrul (“miracle”). Kangyurs such as Lithang, Peking, and Narthang have phrugs. However, this is clearly intended to be a reference to the Buddha’s two principal students. The Chinese has a transliteration that resembles śiṣya.

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  185. According to the Sanskrit alolupa, the Chinese, and the Yongle and Peking Kangyurs, brkam. The Degé has bskam (“withered”).

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  186. According to the Sanskrit īryāya caryāya, īryā (lifestyle of a mendicant) and caryā, which regularly implies that the conduct is that of a bodhisattva. Tibetan: spyod dang spyod lam, which could be translated as “just conduct and behavior.” The Chinese combines them both into one: 安住威儀諸行等 (an zhu wei yi zhu xing deng), which usually refers to the conduct of the ordained saṅgha, but can refer to bodhisattva conduct as well.

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  187. According to the Sanskrit pratibhāna and the Chinese. The Tibetan spobs pa is “confidence,” though it implies confidence in teaching.

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  188. According to the Sanskrit ananta and the Chinese. Absent from the Tibetan.

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  189. According to the Tibetan, Hodgson, and Shastri. The Gilgit and Chinese have “the buddhas in the ten directions / who have appeared in the past.”

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  190. From the Sanskrit udgrahītavya. Tibetan: gzung.

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  191. From the BHS paryavāptavya. Tibetan: kun chub pa.

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  192. From the Sanskrit dhārayitavya. Tibetan: bcang.

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  193. From the Sanskrit vācayitavya. Tibetan: klog.

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  194. From the Sanskrit pravartayitavya. Tibetan: rab tu gdon pa.

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  195. From the Sanskrit uddeṣṭavya. Tibetan: lung mnod par bya.

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  196. From the Sanskrit svādhyātavya. Tibetan: kha ton du bya.

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  197. From the Sanskrit araṇa, which also means “passionless, sinless, without impurity.” This is regularly translated into Tibetan as nyon mongs, which is also used to translate kleśa. Gómez et al. have interpreted it as “being in solitude,” presumably from an edition with araṇya (“solitude”).

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  198. From the Sanskrit bahulīkartavya. Tibetan: mang du bya.

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  199. From the Sanskrit parebhyaśca vistarena saṃprakāśayitavya. Tibetan: gshan dag la yang rgya cher rab tu bstan par bya. This entire list is simplified in the Chinese to three elements: “should recite, uphold / retain, and explain it to others widely.”

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  200. Sanskrit: vidyā­caraṇa­saṃpannaḥ; Tibetan: rig pa dang zhabs su ldan pa. A common description of buddhas. According to the commentary, it refers to the eightfold path, with “wisdom” being the right view and “conduct” the other seven aspects of the path.

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  201. From the Sanskrit āgama. Tibetan: gzhi (“basis”), but the commentary defines it as “a direct perception by those who are worthy.”

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  202. According to the Tibetan. “Blossomed” does not appear in the Sanskrit. The Chinese is similar to the Tibetan interpretation, but uses the verb “attain” 得諸相花 (de zhu xiang hua).

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  203. According to the Tibetan bsam gyis mi khyab. The Sanskrit has ananta (“infinite,” “endless”) and the Chinese has “infinite.” Apparently absent from the Mitsunami.

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  204. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. Absent from the Tibetan.

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  205. From one of the meanings of the Sanskrit saṃvrta. Tibetan: bsdams pa.

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  206. According to the Tibetan. BHS Sanskrit: grantha (“fetters”); the Chinese corresponds to the Sanskrit. The commentary defines this as “the bondage of the māras.”

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  207. Sanskrit literally, “burning” (paridāha).

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  208. According to the Sanskrit tṛṣṇa and the Yongle and Peking sred pa. The Degé has srid pa (“becoming”) in error for sred pa. Sred pa is also confirmed by the commentary. The Chinese seems to have combined this with the preceding quality into one 盡諸渴愛 (jin zhu ke ai): literally, “the exhaustion of all thirsts (渴, ke, derived from “burning”) and cravings (愛, ai),” which can be understood as “strong cravings.”

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  209. This long passage, starting from “The Bhāgavan is thus…” (#UT22084-055-001-427) forms the text of the sūtra Remembering the Buddha (Toh 279, Buddhanusmṛti).https://read.84000.co/translation/toh279.html Although composed of groups of epithets, many of which are found elsewhere (particularly in the Vinaya texts), the passage as a whole is only found in the Kangyur in these two places, and the King of Samādhis is therefore presumably the source of the shorter text. See also #UT22084-055-001-20.

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  210. According to the Tibetan bsngags pa. The Sanskrit varṇa has a number of meanings, including “color” and “caste.” In this instance it could mean “qualities,” “nature,” “splendor,” and so on, which could have been a more appropriate translation.

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  211. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit and Chinese are much briefer: “Then at that time, the Bhagavān recited these verses.”

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  212. Literally, “ten millions.” Sanskrit: koṭi. Tibetan: bye ba. The highest number in Classical Sanskrit. Does not appear in the Chinese.

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  213. The Chinese adds 無量 (wu liang), “numerous, countless times.”

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  214. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “I showed great kindness at all times.”

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  215. The order of verses 7 and 8 is reversed in the Sanskrit. Verse 7 is not present in the Chinese.

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  216. According to the Sanskrit śīla. Tibetan: ngang tshul.

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  217. According to the Tibetan translation of matsarī, which accords with the Mahāvyutpatti and the Chinese, whereas in Sanskrit dictionaries it is said to mean “envy.”

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  218. According to the Sanskrit īrṣya, the Mahāvyutpatti definition, and the Chinese. The Tibetan repeats ser sna (“stinginess”).

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  219. According to the Sanskrit nimantraṇa. The Tibetan and Chinese translate it by the more usual meaning “invite.”

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  220. According to the Tibetan dad pa. Sanskrit: prema (affection).

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  221. The order of the first and second half of this four-line verse is reversed in the Sanskrit and Chinese.

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  222. Chinese: “those with the ten strengths” 諸十力 (zhu shi li).

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  223. According to the Sanskrit where samāhita is in the accusative. The Tibetan translates it as instrumental, “through meditation,” probably through an error of pas for pa’i, which was used in an earlier verse: “verses of meditation.” Chinese: “one verse of this samādhi.”

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  224. At this point in the Gilgit, Sanskrit, and Chinese (but not in the Tibetan, Hodgson, or Shastri), there is a prose section where the Buddha tells Candraprabha that a bodhisattva should preserve and promulgate this teaching.

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  225. According to the Tibetan, which here has the unusual spelling mnod pa. For the Sanskrit here, uddiśatha, the Mahāvyutpatti has both “give” (phog pa) and “receive” (nod pa), as in “receive instruction.” Uddiśatha is a BHS word that usually means “propose” or “calculate.” The Classical Sanskrit uddiśatha can mean “show, explain.” The Chinese word used here is 說 (shuo), which literally means “tell,” but can also mean “teach, explain.”

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  226. This alternative title for the sūtra was used in a few instances by Indian authors quoting it, e.g. Śāntarakṣita and Kamalaśīla (see Gómez et al., 1989, p. 16).

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  227. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Chinese: “sandalwood is the best of all kinds of incense.”

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  228. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has vana (“wood”) in error for varṇa (“praise”).

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  229. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Chinese: 實不聞香 (shi bu wen xiang), “never smelled that incense.”

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  230. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Chinese: “There will be bhikṣus with inappropriate conduct,” 不應式比丘 (bu ying shi bi qiu).

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  231. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Chinese: “There will be bhikṣus...”

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  232. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Chinese: “There will be bhikṣus...”

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  233. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Chinese: “…by teaching it.”

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  234. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Chinese: “There will be bhikṣus...”

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  235. The Sanskrit is maruta, which can mean specifically the deities of storms and winds, but is also used generally for “deities,” and therefore like deva was translated into the Tibetan as lha. Chinese: “gods and dragons.”

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  236. Verses 31 and 32 are combined into one in the Chinese.

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  237. According to the Tibetan. BHS: atuliyu (“unequaled”).

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  238. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Chinese: 若得三昧微妙地，智者便得廣智藏 (ruo de san mei wei miao di, zhi zhe bian de gang zhi zang), “If he attains the level of subtle samādhi, the wise will gain the vast treasure of wisdom (or the treasure of vast wisdom).”

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  239. Verse 33 in the Chinese.

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  240. According to the BHS saukhya. The Tibetan has skyed (“born”) in error for skyid (“happiness”). Chinese: “all kinds of happiness.”

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  241. According to the Sanskrit pūrvamgama (“going first”), which is usually translated as ’dren pa (“leader”). The Chinese also has 上首 (shang shou, “leader”).

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  242. According to the commentary, the title of this chapter is “Mindfulness of the Buddha’s Qualities.”

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  243. According to Tibetan, Hodgson, and Shastri. In the Gilgit manuscript, the opening of this chapter is just one sentence: “Then the youth Candraprabha asked the Bhagavān.” This opening does not appear in the Chinese.

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  244. Sanskrit: upapatti. Tibetan: skyes pa. Chinese: 無所起 (wu suo qi) This term is also used for “physical,” but here the commentary defines it as “the non-arising of thoughts in samādhi.”

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  245. Sanskrit apratisaṃdhi. Tibetan: mtshams sbyor ba med pa. This is the negation of pratisaṃdhi, a term that is used for the transition between lives, i.e., conception in the womb, but here the commentary defines it as being “the continued process of thinking.”

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  246. Sanskrit pratisaṃdhi­jñāna. According to the commentary this means that it is not a state of cessation but a continuous clear knowledge. Translation according to the Tibetan, Gilgit, Hodgson, and Shastri. However, the Matsunami edition apparently has “knowledge of non-continuation.” The Chinese agrees with the Matsunami edition: 無和合智 (wu he he zhi).

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  247. The commentary has khung in error for khur.

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  248. According to the commentary, the burden comprises the skandhas, the kleśas, vows, and diligence.

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  249. According to the Tibetan, Matsunami, and Chinese. The BHS Sanskrit doṣa is the equivalent of the Classical Sanskrit dveṣa (“anger”), while in Classical Sanskrit doṣa means “fault” or “wickedness.”

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  250. These are listed as three, 7-9, in Chinese.

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  251. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. The Vaidya Sanskrit has akuśala (“wickedness”) in error for kuśala (“goodness”).

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  252. According to the commentary, this means “abstaining from sleeping in the first and last of the three periods of the night, in order to engage in virtuous activities.”

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  253. Sanskrit: prahāṇa. Tibetan spong ba. Gómez et al. (p. 87) discuss its alternative meaning of “exertion.” Its definition seems to not be present in the commentary. The Chinese has “not abandoning samādhi,” 不捨禪定 (bu she chan ding).

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  254. According to the Sanskrit upapattiṣu, most Kangyurs skye ba, and the Chinese. The Degé has skye bo (“beings”), which occurs later in this list as the translation of pṛthagjaneṣu. The commentary defines it as “not creating the causes of continuing in saṃsāra.”

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  255. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. The Vaidya Sanskrit adds karmaṇām, “the activities of the internal āyatanas.”

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  256. [23] is not present in the Chinese.

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  257. According to Tibetan gzi chen po and Matsunami. The Vaidya has BHS mahaujaskatā, which can mean both “great might” and “great majesty” or “great brilliance.” The Chinese has “great merit” 大福德 (da fu de).

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  258. The Chinese has 善知識 (shan zhi shi) from the Sanskrit kalyāṇa-mitra.

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  259. According to the Sanskrit. In the Tibetan, this has been conjoined with “not harming those with good conduct.” The Chinese has combined [30], [31], and [35] into one, 無怒恚心 (wu nu hui xin), and added “abandoning crude and malicious speech” 捨麁惡言 (she cu er yan) and “helping and protecting others” 救護於彼 (jiu hu yu bi).

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  260. According to the Tibetan and the commentary. The Vaidya Sanskrit divides this into two: “the emptiness of phenomena” and “analogous patience.”

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  261. The Chinese has combined [39] and [40] into one quality: 於一切智而得順忍 (yu yi qie zhi er de shun ren).

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  262. The Gilgit and Chinese have simply, “Then, the Bhagavān taught these extensive verses.”

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  263. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan has thos (“hear”), apparently in error for thob (“attain”).

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  264. As elsewhere in the sūtra, āhārī is translated into Tibetan as “taking food.” This does not make much sense here, and so it is translated here in one of its other Sanskrit meanings. The Chinese also translates as 食 (shi), which is “food” as a noun and “eating (and drinking)” as a verb, but interprets the entire verse as a vipaśyanā practice: “If jealousy arises in your mind because of food, you should meditate on the impurity of food. If you strive for accomplishment with boundless effort and meditate deeply on this, you will attain samādhi.” 若為食起嫉妬心, 當觀食已無有淨, 用功無量乃得成, 若深觀此能得定 (ruo wei shi qi ji du xin, dang guan shi yi wu you jing, yong gong wu liang nai de cheng, ruo shen guan ci neng de ding).

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  265. According to the BHS arthi. Absent from the Tibetan, but added here for clarity.

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  266. This verse is described by Gómez et al. as being problematic in Sanskrit. The Tibetan and Chinese translations differ from each other.

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  267. According to the Tibetan and Dutt. The Hodgson, Shastri, and Matsunami have the unusual na yubuddhi instead of bhayubuddhi. The Chinese has a slightly different translation of this line.

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  268. I.e., the buddhas.

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  269. The commentary explains that this means “knowing the equality of the composite and noncomposite.”

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  270. Chinese: 此緣佛相是有作, 能除一切有相想 (ci yuan fo xiang shi you zuo, neng chu yi qie you xiang xiang) “such an attribute of the Buddha is created, it can eliminate the conceptualization of attributes.”

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  271. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit and Chinese: “having ceased conceptualizing ‘nothing.’ ”

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  272. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit mahānubhava has many meanings, such as “great experience” or “great authority.” Gómez et al. translate it as “overpowering inspiration.” Chinese: “buddhas of the ten directions.”

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  273. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. The Sanskrit does not have “suffering.”

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  274. According to the Tibetan ’ongs dang mi ’ongs, literally, “come (i.e. ‘is present’) and not come,” and the Sanskrit anāgatā āgatā. This was translated in Gómez et al. (p. 78) as “past and future,” though “past” is usually gata (which also means “gone”), but “past” is implied and therefore added to the translation. The Chinese has simply “all phenomena.”

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  275. According to most Kangyurs rkyal pa and the Sanskrit vastra. The Degé has the scribal corruption rgyal ba. Chinese: “excellent medicines,” 良妙藥 (liang miao yao).

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  276. According to the Tibetan, Vaidya, Sanskrit, and Chinese. The Matsunami edition appears to be quite different from the translation by Gómez et al.

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  277. According to the Tibetan. The title of this chapter in the Sanskrit is Buddhānusmṛti (“Remembering the Buddha,” or “Mindfulness of the Buddha”). This is the end of fascicle 1 in the Chinese.

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  278. This entire opening does not appear in the Gilgit or Chinese. There is simply, “Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha.”

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  279. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan appears to translate as “more innumerable than innumerable.”

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  280. The Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Chinese use two synonymous phrases.

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  281. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan in the Degé has the negative: “they are not concerned with their next life.” Chinese: “They are merely concerned with this life and their next life.”

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  282. Chinese: “They do not emphasize the accumulation …”

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  283. There is a paragraph in the Gilgit Sanskrit and the Chinese that does not appear in the later Sanskrit or the Tibetan: “What, young man, is the concern for the present life? It is the intention to have the five sensory pleasures. What, young man, is the concern for the next life? It is attaining rebirth in higher existences.”

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  284. The Chinese has a different interpretation here: 我今說如是法, 令眾生於其檀行不為究竟勝供養, 但以無上行而供養我 (wo jin shuo ru shi fa, ling zhong sheng yu qi tan xing bu wei jiu jing sheng gong yang, dan yi wu shang xing er gong yang wo) “I will now teach this Dharma so that beings will not perceive their acts of generosity as the ultimate supreme offering; instead, they will make their unsurpassable conduct / practice as their offering to me.”

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  285. According to the Tibetan skyo bar bya ba (literally, “to make sad”) and the BHS saṃvejana (“to shudder at”). Chinese: 覺悟 (jue wu), literally, “waking them up,” and also “making them realize, or enlightening them.”

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  286. According to the Tibetan, the commentary, and the Hodgson Sanskrit. The commentary states that the Buddha has praised entering the homeless life. In the Gilgit and Shastri Sanskrit: “He does not praise the perfection of generosity, he does not praise the perfection of conduct. He praises the ultimate conclusion.” Chinese: 如來非說檀波羅蜜以為究竟清淨，究竟吉祥，究竟梵行，究竟窮盡，究竟最後，究竟涅槃 (ru lai fei shuo tan po luo mi yi wei jiu jing qing jing, jiu jing ji xiang, jiu jing fan xing, jiu jing qiong jin, jiu jing zui hou, jiu jing nie pan) The Chinese interprets this as, “He does not consider the generosity paramita as ultimate purity,” and so on. The Chinese sentence includes more items.

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  287. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. Sanskrit: “800,000.”

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  288. This name does not appear in the Sanskrit, but śūra as the original of dpa’ ba, rather than vīra, is based on the name that his followers attain.

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  289. According to the bye phrag of the Urga Kangyur. The Degé has bye brag, which does not match the prose passage. The Chinese has eight “yi” 八億, which can be “800,000” or “80 million.”

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  290. This verse does not appear in the Chinese, but is present in the Sanskrit, including the Gilgit.

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  291. According to the Tibetan, Hodgson, and Chinese. The Gilgit and Shastri Sanskrit have “as an offering to the Dharma.”

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  292. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has “Through all that good karma.”

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  293. Not in the Gilgit or Chinese.

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  294. Chinese: 若人增上修此忍 (ruo ren zeng shang xiu ci ren), “If a person practices this patience with great force.”

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  295. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary. The Tibetan translation here reads, “This is the path to deathlessness.” Chinese: 非此能證甘露道 (fei cie neng zheng gan lu dao), which can mean, “abandoning this (incorrect view) is the path to deathlessness.”

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  296. Chinese: 勸捨惡道住善趣 (quan she er dao zhu shan qu), “Therefore they advise beings to abandon the wrong / nonvirtuous path and dwell in the correct / virtuous path.”

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  297. There is a play on words in the Sanskrit in relation to why the word bodhisattva is used, which is not evident in Tibetan or English. In the first line, the words “knows” (Tibetan: rtogs) and “beings” (sems can), which are the first two words of the verse, are in Sanskrit: bodheti sattvān.

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  298. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese for clarity. The Tibetan has “There is no soul within the body / And you have not attained buddhahood.” The commentary has “If as many millions of māras as there are sands in the Ganges came before them in the forms of buddhas, and said, ‘There are beings and souls,’ and so on, they would, with an unwavering mind, answer them in this way: ‘Through the power of the realization of selflessness by valid knowledge, I have realized correctly that there are no beings, souls, and so on. And you are not buddhas!’ ”

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  299. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan omits “within.” Chinese: 悉斷惡見煩惱盡 (xi duan er jian fan nao jin), “They have terminated all wrong views and exhausted all defilements.”

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  300. According to the Sanskrit nara, the commentary skye ba, and the Chinese 眾生及壽命 (zhong sheng ji shou ming). The Tibetan has ming (“name”) in error for mi (“human,” “man”).

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  301. According to the Sanskrit stabdha. The Tibetan translates as “proud” (nga rgyal). The Chinese has 姦偽 (jian wei, “crafty”), 兇暴 (xiong bao, “cruel, violent”), and 不攝斂 (bu she nian, “unrestrained, undisciplined”).

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  302. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. The Sanskrit (BHS) has prasādu (to be attracted to, or to have faith in).

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  303. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese, for the sake of clarity. The Tibetan appears to have blended together the last two groups to create “brings fulfilment” (don, artha), “benefit” (phan pa, hita), “and happiness to a multitude of beings, to humans, and devas.”

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  304. These are the four retentions (dhāraṇī) explained in this sūtra (see #UT22084-055-001-2336) to be retention of all that is taught about the infinite composite phenomena, retention of what is said in infinite sounds, retention of everything that is taught about the infinite kleśas, and retention of everything that is taught about the infinite benefits of the qualities of purification.

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  305. The corresponding Chinese verse is a summary of the three kinds of patience.

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  306. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has “the best of humans, the sugatas, see him.” The Chinese has, “When the sugatas see such bodhisattvas,” 善逝見彼菩薩時 (shan shi jian bi pu sa shi).

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  307. BHS: āryacetikā (revered noble ones). The Tibetan mchod rten could be misunderstood to mean “stūpa.” The Chinese devotes the last three lines to various auspicious signs instead.

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  308. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan seems to be the result of a corruption so that jāyati (birth) was changed to perhaps jānāti (“know,” “perceive”): “The emptinesses do not see / are not seen and have no death.”

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  309. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit vijānatha is the present-tense, second-person-plural form, but presumably this is the Sanskritization of a second-person-plural middle-Indic optative, such as the Pali second-person-plural optative ending yetha.

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  310. The first part of the chapter until this point is missing in the Gilgit and the Chinese.

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  311. The name means “arising from nonexistence,” 無所有起 (wu suo you qi) in the Chinese.

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  312. According to the Sanskrit tṛṇa and the Yongle and Peking rtswa. The Degé has rtsa ba (“roots”).

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  313. The Sanskrit adds auṣadha (“herbs”) before “forests.” Chinese: “trees, forests, and medicinal herbs.”

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  314. According to the Tibetan ri. Sanskrit: auṣadha (“herbs”).

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  315. According to the Tibetan dpa’ bo. The Sanskrit dhīra can mean “constant and resolute and calm” as well as “brave and courageous.”

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  316. The past passive participle nirvṛta means “extinguished,” so the line reads literally, “he was extinguished like a flame.” Nirvāna literally means “extinguishment.”

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  317. These concluding eleven verses do not appear in the Chinese. Instead there is this concluding sentence: “Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, ‘Young man, you should reflect that this samādhi has such great power. It can cause a bodhisattva to attain perfect buddhahood.’ ”

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  318. The Sanskrit has an additional concluding verse exhorting those who wish to attain buddhahood to possess this sūtra.

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  319. This opening of the chapter until this point is absent in the Gilgit and the Chinese.

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  320. In Gilgit, this verse was the last verse of the preceding chapter. This verse and the preceding prose that begin this chapter do not appear in the Chinese.

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  321. Sanskrit: “who wish for this samādhi.” Absent from the Tibetan. “Who wish to attain quickly the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood” does not appear in the Chinese.

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  322. Chinese: “should rest in.”

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  323. According to the Sanskrit, including Gilgit. The Chinese is briefer: “Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas should rest in the patience of profound Dharma.” The entire passage in Chinese is: “Young man, you should know that this samādhi has such great power; it will enable bodhisattva mahāsattvas to attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood. Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas should rest in the patience of profound Dharma.”

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  324. According to the commentary: “They arise from oneself and not from illusions created by another.” In this sentence, the Chinese includes another analogy: “like a wild horse” 如野馬 (ru ye ma).

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  325. The Chinese repeats all the analogies here.

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  326. According to the Tibetan mi ’jigs pa thob pa, the Gilgit abhayaprāpta, and the Chinese 無畏 (wu wei). The Dutt has arūpaprāpta (attainment of formlessness), apparently from the Hodgson and Shastri, which is repeated in the Vaidya edition.

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  327. According to the commentary, this means “the memory of previous lives.”

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  328. According to the Tibetan rtogs pa can and the BHS meaning of gatiman. The Chinese has translated it literally as 去者 (qu zhe), “those who have gone to.”

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  329. According to the BHS ananganaḥ and the Chinese. The Tibetan translates as nyon mongs med pa, which it also uses as the translation for niṣkleśa (being without kleśas) just a little further on in this list.

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  330. Sanskrit: ājāneya. Tibetan: cang shes. Ājāneya was incorrectly defined as meaning “all-knowing” and was translated therefore into Tibetan as cang shes (“all-knowing”). The term ājāneya was primarily used for thoroughbred horses, but was also applied to people in a laudatory sense. The commentary at a later point states this this means both “tamed” and “fearless.” Chinese translates as “those who are tamed” 調伏者 (tiao fu zhe).

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  331. This term probably has its origins in the Middle Indic mahānāga, from which came the BHS Sanskrit mahānagna, meaning “a great champion,” “a man of distinction and nobility.” The BHS nagna can mean both “champion” and “naked” while in Classical Sanskrit it only means “naked.” Nāga can mean “elephant” and can also refer to the cobra deity that is called “nāga” in this translation. Therefore the Chinese translated this as “great dragon” 大龍 (da long).

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  332. In this passage the prestigious titles of those in the traditional brahmanical tradition are used as titles of those who have mastered the Buddhist path. The commentary states, “the bodhisattvas are brahmins because they do no bad actions.”

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  333. For snātaka, see glossary; Chinese: “one who has bathed” 沐浴者 (mu yu zhe). However, the commentary states here that bodhisattvas are snātaka because they have been washed clean of all the stains of the kleśas and remain in the water of patience.

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  334. The Sanskrit of the threefold description here (of which this is the first) is pāragaḥ vedakaḥ śrotriyaḥ. The commentary states that bodhisattvas are masters (pāraga, pha rol du song ba) of the Vedas, as they have reached their ultimate conclusion (rig byed kyi mthar thug pa’i pha rol du song bas so, F.43.b.4).

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  335. The commentary states that bodhisattvas are vedaka (rig par byed), as they know the nature of whatever is taught.

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  336. For śrotriya, see glossary. However, the commentary states here that bodhisattvas are śrotriya because they have renounced everything.

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  337. The commentary states that “Śākya” refers to Buddha Śākyamuni, who was born in the Śākya clan.

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  338. The commentary states that this means there are no more “thorns of māras, kleśas, and so on,” that appear.

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  339. According to the Tibetan and Chinese; does not appear in the Vaidya Sanskrit or the commentary.

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  340. This is an analogy to the defensive trench around a fortification, which the commentary states is a boundary created by anger, and so on.

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  341. The commentary states this is a boundary created by the kleśas.

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  342. The commentary states this refers to the habitual tendency for the kleśas.

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  343. The commentary states this means the vicious disease of the kleśas.

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  344. The commentary states this means that they utter the lion’s roar that proclaims selflessness.

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  345. The commentary states this means that their minds are at rest in meditation at all times.

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  346. The commentary states this means that they are both trained and fearless in the battle with the kleśas.

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  347. The commentary states this means that they are able to pull the heavy burden of benefiting all beings.

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  348. The commentary states this means that they are victorious over the māras.

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  349. The commentary states this means that they can single-handedly overcome the strength of the māras.

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  350. The commentary states this means that their qualities are a delight to beings.

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  351. The commentary states this means that they are unstained by the mud of saṃsāra.

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  352. The commentary states this means that thay are filled with “white,” i.e. good, qualities.

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  353. The commentary states this means that they know how to tame the most malicious beings.

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  354. The commentary states this means that they bring delight and light that is like amrita to beings.

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  355. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan and Chinese omit “human.”

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  356. Verses 9 and 10 are condensed into one verse in the Chinese.

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  357. According to the Sanskrit śailavanāntare and the commentary gcong rong du. The Tibetan translates this as nags ri’i khrod (“a mountain forest”). The Chinese translates it as “mountain valley” 山谷 (shan gu).

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  358. Verses 13 and 14 are condensed into one verse in the Chinese.

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  359. The numbering follows the Sanskrit. Verse 17 is absent in the Tibetan, but it is commented on in the commentary. It repeats much of the content of verse 16: “When the mother’s son dies / In a dream she loudly laments. / But no son died for that mother. / Know that all phenomena are like that.” Absent in the Chinese as well.

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  360. Tibetan: de ni ’dus ma byas kyi rigs zhes bya. Sanskrit: asaṃskṛtaṃ gotramidaṃ pravucyati. The language of the Tibetan and the commentary, and the notion of a noncomposite lineage (gotra) is here reminiscent of tathāgatagarbha theory.

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  361. This verse is not present in the Chinese.

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  362. The Chinese has “four methods of mindfulness.”

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  363. The Sanskrit uses the term kāyasakṣin, “one who has the body as a witness,” which is explained in, for example, the Pali Kāyasakkhisutta as someone whose body has experienced the qualities, such as bliss and samādhi, of the four dhyānas. That is, they have directly experienced it for themselves.

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  364. BHS: pṛthu sarva manyanā, “all worldly pride.”

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  365. The order of verses 7–35 is heavily rearranged in the Chinese.

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  366. The commentary states that Udraka was also known as Digambhara, which is also the name of a Jain school. However, the name Udraka (Rudraka in some texts) is best known in Buddhism as one of the first teachers of the Buddha. The Buddha stated that after death he was born in the formless realm but would eventually be reborn as an animal. The story for Udraka given in the commentary is that his motivation to meditate was to attain miraculous powers. He succeeded and was famous for being able to fly. But when he was told that his path was not genuine, he fell from the sky and went to the hells.

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  367. According to the Sanskirt hanyate. The Tibetan translates as bcom (“vanquished”). The Chinese has “he will be killed ….”

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  368. According to the Tibetan mi rgod. The Sanskrit caura is “bandit” or “thief.” The Chinese omits “thousands” and describes the bandits or thieves as “strong and carrying spears.” In Tibetan mi rgod can also mean “an ape” and could be used for “bandits.”

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  369. The singular form is according to the Sanskrit.

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  370. According to the Tibetan mar. The Sanskrit arpimaṇḍa actually means the scum formed when heating melted butter in order to create ghee. The Chinese has “like two clarified butters in accord” 猶二醍醐合 (you er ti hu he).

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  371. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has “eat and drink.” The Chinese does not contain either verb and inteprets generally as, “Without proper understanding of the way.” 不應於其法 (bu ying yu qi fa).

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  372. According to the Sanskrit bisā and the commentary pad ma’i rtsa ba. The Tibetan here has simply rtsa ba. Here the Chinese translates the Sanskrit bisā as 泥藕 (ni ou), “mud and lotus roots,” rather than simply as “lotus roots,” denoting that lotus roots grow in the mud and are covered in mud when the elephants rip them up from the mud.

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  373. According to the Sanskrit hastipota. The Mahāvyutpatti has glang for “elephant,” though in later translations this was used exclusively for “oxen.” The Chinese has “elephant.”

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  374. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. The Sanskrit has “birth and illness.”

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  375. According to the Sanskrit. In Tibetan “beyond description” is an adjective only for the true nature of the jinas. In Chinese, it works both as a noun and an adjective.

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  376. The prose and verse from this point down to “Young Candraprabha adorned the road with many different precious arrangements” #UT22084-055-001-979 do not appear in the Chinese, apart from the one prose sentence in which Candraprabha requests the Buddha to come to his home. There is somewhat more in the Gilgit manuscript than in the Chinese.

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  377. The Roman numerals indicate verses that are not contained in the Gilgit manuscript and therefore are not in the Vaidya edition, but are given in footnotes in the Dutt edition of the Gilgit manuscript.

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  378. The commentary states that this means that anything the samādhi is focused upon will be overcome.

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  379. The commentary states that this means that whatever is desired will appear from space.

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  380. The commentary states that this means that it is invulnerable to all distractions.

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  381. The commentary states that this means that one can go miraculously anywhere at the speed of thought.

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  382. The commentary states that this means that all forms can be perceived.

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  383. The commentary states that this means that one can directly perceive the tathāgatas in infinite realms.

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  384. The commentary states that this means the consecration of the perfection of wisdom, which has the direct perception of the essence of all emptiness.

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  385. The usual traditional list is of eight liberations, but as in the Gaṇḍavyūhasūtra, this term can be used for any method that brings liberation.

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  386. According to the commentary, these four enemies are the four māras: the māra of the kleśas, the māra of death, the divine māra (of distracting pleasures), and the māra of the aggregates (of the mind and body).

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  387. Literally deva, and translated into Tibetan as lha, but this was a term of respect used for kings, as the equivalent of “Your Majesty,” and so on. It is not meant to be taken literally as “a deity.”

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  388. According to the Sanskrit toraṇa. Translated into Tibetan as rta babs.

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  389. Synonymous with agallochum and aloeswood. A dark resin in the heartwood of certain tropical trees.

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  390. According to the Sanskrit. Basically the same as damaru. Translated into Tibetan as mkhar rnga.

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  391. The text gives both the Sanskrit tuṇava and the Tibetan translation pi wang rgyud gcig pa.

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  392. A kettle drum played horizontally, wider in the middle with the skin at both ends, played by the hands. One drumhead is smaller than the other. It is a South Indian drum, and maintains the rhythm in Karnataka music.

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  393. Tibetan rnga mu kun da. Also called rnga zlum (“round drum”). From its representation in a sculpture of a mukunda drummer, it appears to be a much smaller version of the mṛḍaṅga drum, held in the middle with one hand with one end beaten by the other hand.

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  394. Tibetan rdza rnga chen po (“large kettle drum”). It is a kettle drum played horizontally. Unlike the mṛdaṅga, one half of the body of the drum is wider than the other. The Sanskrit for the list of instruments is in Dutt (116). There the spelling is muruja.

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  395. Considered the purest form of gold, found in the rivers, and believed to have come from a legendary site beyond the Himalayas.

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  396. The Chinese account of this event resumes here, after a few introductory sentences. The Gilgit also omits all the preceding passage, apart from the description of Candraprabha taking leave of the Buddha and returning home.

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  397. From the Sanskrit svādanīya (“tasty,” “flavorful”). The Tibetan translates as a noun: myang ba.

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  398. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit niryūha can also mean “a pinnacle” or “turret.”

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  399. According to the Tibetan ba gam, which is an ornamental roof. The Sanskrit pañjara principally means “a cage,” and therefore could be “railings.”

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  400. Tibetan: skar khung dra ba ris (“window-net pattern”). Sanskrit jāla (“net”), though jālaka does mean “lattice-window.”

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  401. Sanskrit: ardhacandra. Tibetan: zla ba kham pa. This appears to have been a prominent part of a building’s design.

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  402. None of the verses with Roman numerals appear in the Gilgit or the Chinese.

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  403. According to the Sanskrit. Absent in the Tibetan, perhaps as a result of a scribal omission in the Sanskrit manuscript, or an omission in translation, as the next name is Durabhisambhava.

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  404. The commentary states that this is on the south side of the city. Rājagṛha is well known for its natural hot springs. This passage does not appear in the Chinese from “accompanied by many adorned horses” up to this point.

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  405. From this point until Candraprabha speaks does not appear in the Chinese.

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  406. The following seven verses and two lines of prose do not appear in the Chinese or the Gilgit manuscript.

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  407. According to most Kangyurs: zan. Degé: bran.

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  408. According to the Narthang, Cone, and Degé: ’dong. Pedurma: ’dod.

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  409. “After speaking these lines” does not appear in the Gilgit or the Chinese.

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  410. “kumbhāṇḍas, pretas, pūtanas” does not appear in the Gilgit.

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  411. Literally “ten million [times] a hundred thousand million [times] a hundred thousand, which adds up to “a hundred thousand quintillion.” The Chinese has 百千萬億那由他 (bai qian wan yi na yu ta), “one thousand million” (yi’ nayuta).

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  412. Also known in the past as “Indian blue jay.”

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  413. According to the Gilgit Sanskrit. Absent in the Tibetan, presumably accidentally.

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  414. Also called “red avadavats,” “strawberry finches,” and “kalavinka sparrows.” Dictionaries have erroneously identified them as cuckoos; kalaviṅka birds outside India have evolved into a mythical half-human bird. The avadavat is a significant bird in the Ganges plain and is renowned for its beautiful song.

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  415. The birds do not appear in Gilgit manuscript. The following prose and verses do not appear in the Chinese.

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  416. From the Sanskrit muṣala. Yongle, Lithang, Peking Narthang, Cone, and Lhasa: rdung ’dzin. Degé: gtun ’dzin. Musala here refers to a large pestle, about three feet long, which is also used as a weapon, like a mace, by a deity such as a yakṣa who hurls it at an enemy.

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  417. These are the four traditional divisions of the army: cavalry, elephants, chariots, and infantry. These are also the basis for the game of chess, which originated in India.

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  418. These do not appear in the Gilgit manuscript.

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  419. The Gilgit manuscript fragment has tilaka[ba]kula with what appears to be an omission of the syllable ba (sesame flowers, medlar flowers).

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  420. This prose section does not appear in the Gilgit, but is present in the Shastri and Hodgson (Dutt p. 121).

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  421. In the BHS verse their names are given as Avalokitu and Sthāmu.

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  422. In the BHS verse this name is shortened to Amogha.

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  423. In the verse this is given in the short form, “Ratna.” The commentary states that this is another name for Ratnapāṇi, a bodhisattva who appears in Mahāyāna sūtras.

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  424. The BHS verse uses this synonym for Subāhu.

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  425. In the BHS verse his name is given as Durabhisambhavu.

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  426. In the BHS verse the name is shortened to Vīra.

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  427. According to the BHS jina­pādānubaddha. The Tibetan could be interpreted as just meaning “attendants.”

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  428. Synonym for Maitreya. In the BHS verse the form is Matraku.

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  429. The Tibetan erroneously translates the kāya in bhāvitakāya as lus (body).

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  430. Here the Tibetan has three lines of verse, where the Sanskrit has four. The BHS verse is: “He is one who has cultivated love, rejoicing, and equanimity, / He is a great being who has developed compassion, / And through the qualities of the teaching of the Dharma / He has infinite understanding of the qualities of the Lord of jinas.” The Tibetan translation therefore has the last line of each verse being the first line of the following verse, as compared to the Sanskrit. In addition, the last three lines of the final śloka in Sanskrit are not present in the Tibetan.

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  431. According to the BHS. The Tibetan, zhabs ’bring byed, could be interpreted as “attended to.”

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  432. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “those humans.”

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  433. In the verse, for the sake of the meter, the name is given as Mañjuśirī.

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  434. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan appears to mean “many thousands of millions of Mañjuśrīs.”

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  435. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “Who have accomplished bodies with the qualities of superior powers.” The Tibetan may have been translating śura instead of śarira.

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  436. The Sanskrit here uses the synonym Śārisuta for Śāriputra.

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  437. The Sanskrit here is “Maudgal,” which is the name shortened for the verse.

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  438. BHS: Bhradrikurāja. Usually referred to simply as “Bhadrika.”

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  439. In the BHS verse the name is given as Kauñciku. This may be Katyayāna (also known as Kaccāyana or Kaccāna), the only one of the Buddha’s ten principal students not to appear in this list.

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  440. In the BHS verse the name is given as Koṣṭhilu.

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  441. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has stong du, which appears to be a scribal error for stong dgu.

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  442. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit also has vrata (“vows of discipline”), which would have been translated into Tibetan as brtul zhugs.

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  443. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “And had mastered the recitation of curses and beneficial incantations.”

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  444. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: Kārttika, the twelfth month of the Indian year, named after the Pleiades constellation, as the full moon appears near that constellation. In the Western calendar it is in October / November. In India, this is the time after the monsoon has ended and the sky is at its clearest.

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  445. The Sanskrit uses the synonym dānava instead of asura.

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  446. The Tibetan concludes here. The Sanskrit has the final line of that verse being the first of a four-line verse: “Scattered excellent flowers and supreme incense, / And an abundant variety of sandalwoods. / They circumambulated the Instructor, / And bowed down to the enlightened one.”

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  447. The Chinese account of this event resumes again. This paragraph is brief in the Gilgit and Chinese.

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  448. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: ṛṣabha-gaṇa, “herds of bulls.” Chinese: “a hundred thousand.”

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  449. Chinese: “kings of bulls.”

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  450. According to the Sanskrit dvirada and the Chinese. The Tibetan translates both “bull” and “elephant” with glang.

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  451. The BHS has parihāraka, equivalent to the Sanskrit parihaṭaka, which can mean “anklet” or “bracelet.” “Anklet” is chosen here, as the others follow. The Tibetan translates this and the following ornament identically as gdu bu.

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  452. From the Sanskrit kaṭaka.

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  453. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: ambarakusumān (“cloth and flowers”).

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  454. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: maṇisūtra (“strings of jewels”).

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  455. According to the Tibetan mtsho bya (“lake birds”). The Sanskrit has haṃsa-krauñca (“ducks / geese and cranes”).

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  456. The last half of this verse in the Sanskrit does not appear in the Tibetan. The entire verse does not appear in the Chinese. In the Gilgit and Shastri the second half is: “They were free from the net of fear, evil, and ignorance / And wished to bow down before the Sugata.” Hodgson has “stains” (mala) instead of “fear” (bhaya).

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  457. The Chinese has “the body of the Buddha with the ten strengths.”

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  458. Literally, a hundred-thousand ten-million.

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  459. Chinese: “The celestial palaces became empty, as devas had come to see the Buddha.”

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  460. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: lokanātha (“Lord of the World”). Chinese: “the Buddha, the Lord with the ten strengths.”

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  461. This verse is absent in the Chinese.

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  462. The main road connecting towns.

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  463. Literally “principal and intermediate directions.” Chinese: “ten directions.”

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  464. This verse is in the Gilgit, Shastri, and Hodgson, but does not appear in the Tibetan or the Chinese.

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  465. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  466. This verse does not appear in the Chinese, but there is an alternative verse that relates how joy arose in those who saw the Buddha and that they wondered when they, too, could make supreme offerings.

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  467. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit does not have “in saṃsāra.” Chinese: “difficult to encounter for a long time,” 久遠難值遇 (jiu yuan nan zhi yu).

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  468. According to the Sanskrit mahānubhāva and most Kangyurs. The Degé has thub chen (“great muni / sage”). The Chinese has 大比丘眾 (da bi qiu zhong), from the Sanskrit bhikṣu-saṃgha.

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  469. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit and Chinese: “precious jewels.” (BHS maṇiratana = Sanskrit maṇiratna.)

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  470. The Sanskrit has Śubhamarutāḥ. Maruta is a synonym for deva, and Śubha is a shorter form for the name of the Parī­ttaśubha paradise.

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  471. The Sanskrit has the synonym “Aparimitaśubha.”

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  472. The Chinese has an additional verse about other devas coming to see the Lord of the World.

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  473. This refers to the Mahābrahma paradise, where Brahmā resides, and is the highest of the three deva realms that are the realms of the first dhyāna in the form realm.

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  474. Both the Sanskrit and Tibetan give here the shortened form of the name of this realm: Paranirmita; gzhan ’phrul. Chinese: 他化天 (ta hua tian), a shortened form too.

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  475. The Sanskrit gives a shortened form tridaśa (thirty) instead of the usual Trāyastriṃśa (“thirty-three”). The Tibetan and Chinese, however, translate as thirty-three.

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  476. This first line is conjoined into Verse 53 in the Chinese; the rest is omitted.

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  477. It is Virūpākṣa that is traditionally said to be the lord over the nāgas. Nevertheless, this may reflect an earlier variant tradition. Not mentioned in the Chinese.

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  478. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. The Sanskrit omits this and instead has “Also countless Māladhāra devas.”

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  479. This verse is in the Gilgit manuscript but not present in the Chinese.

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  480. This verse and the following two do not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese. They are present in the Shastri and Hodgson. The Tibetan corresponds with the Hodgson version of the verses.

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  481. According to the Tibetan gdengs ka can and the Mahāvyutpatti. Gilgit: Bhogaka.

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  482. This verse is not present in the Gilgit or the Chinese.

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  483. According to the Sanskrit, which is in the singular. The Chinese assumes the plural, referring to all the previous nāga kings.

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  484. The Sanskrit name is kept in both the English and Chinese translation because it is the origin of the nāga’s name.

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  485. According to the Sanskrit, which has the adjective “little,” and also the account in the Vinaya, which states that as a monk in the time of Buddha Kāśyapa he cut down the thorny bush at the entrance of his cave because it always snagged his robes. Cutting down bushes or even grass is contrary to the bhikṣu rules. Therefore he was reborn as a nāga with a tree growing out of his head. This caused him pain whenever the wind blew. In Chinese the word 小 (xiao), as an adjective, means “little,” as in the Sanskrit. As a verb it means “belittle” or “make something small.” The main verb used is 壞 (huai), i.e., “to destroy or damage,” rather than “to cut down.” These two verbs together, 壞小 (huai xiao), could be interpreted as “cutting the bush to make it small,” or “cutting the bush in contempt.”

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  486. This verse is considerably different in the Chinese.

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  487. In terms of early Mahāyāna cosmology, “the king of Alakavatī” is Kubera, king of the yakṣas. In the tantric tradition, Alakavatī is the realm of Vajrapāṇi.

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  488. This is the first of eight verses that in the Chinese are reduced to three verses listing names.

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  489. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan here translates the names, earlier translated as lngas rtsen and shā kya ’phel, as dus ’phel lnga po, which appears to indicate a corruption in the Sanskrit text that was used for the translation, resulting in kālavṛddho (“time increase”), which would match dus ’phel (“time increase”).

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  490. This verse and the following verses are absent in the Chinese.

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  491. This name seems to appear twice, once in transliteration and once in translation in another line: mi’u thung (dwarf).

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  492. According to the Sanskrit nadi and the Chinese 河 (he). The Tibetan ’bab chu could have been interpreted to mean “waterfall.”

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  493. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “rejoiced at the Jina’s entry.” The line order follows the Sanskrit. The last two lines are not present in the Chinese.

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  494. Chinese: “When the Buddha and others had concluded their meals, put down their alms bowls, and washed their hands…”

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  495. The Tibetan ras bcos bu (literally, “processed cotton”) is said in Tibetan-English dictionaries to mean “calico.” The Sanskrit has “divine duṣya cloths.” Duṣya in Sanskrit can mean “cotton” and “calico.” Calico was traditionally made in Karnataka, but was always the cheapest cloth, and therefore it is unlikely that it would have that meaning here. Dūṣya is probably a Sanskritization of a Middle Indic word such as the Pali dussa, which means “woven cloth.” In ancient India, cloth was usually made of cotton, but as the cloth referred to here is extremely expensive it may literally mean “divine cotton,” or alternatively, “silk,” which at that time in ancient India could only be imported from China and was very expensive.

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  496. Only the number is given. In the Sanskrit the number is ninety-nine trillion. In the Chinese it is ten thousand. It is assumed that the reader will know this refers to silver coins, the raupya (the origin of the present day rupee), which was also tied to the value of silver until the end of the nineteenth century.

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  497. The following verses are not in the Gilgit, Sanskrit, or Chinese, but are in the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts.

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  498. According to the Sanskrit kroṣṭaka. The Tibetan translates this as wa (“fox”), and the Chinese also translates it as “fox,” as the jackal is not native to China. However, the analogy is clearly concerning the rivalry between lions and jackals, the latter generally eating what the lions leave. The Chinese has “lion’s roar” rather than “lion.”

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  499. The Sanskrit uses the same word as in the first line, svabhāva, translated in the first line as rang bzhin. In this second line svabhāva is translated into Tibetan as ngo bo nyid instead of rang bzhin (“nature”), and prakṛti (which can also mean “character” as well as “nature”) is translated as rang bzhin.

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  500. The Tibetan translates prakṛti as rang bzhin, which in the first line had been used to translate svabhāva.

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  501. In the Sanskrit but absent in the Tibetan is vipāka­lakṣaṇānārambhaṇa­lakṣaṇān.

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  502. This is repeating with different words what is said in verse 27 of chapter 2. Here prabhāṣa is equivalent to pratibhāṇa (“confident eloquence”) in that verse. The Tibetan has here byang chub (“enlightenment”), possibly from a corruption of bhoti (“will be”) to bodhi (“enlightenment”) in the manuscript it was translated from. The Chinese version is slightly different: 若說如是法, 菩薩了知者, 彼得無愛辯, 說億修多羅 (ruo shuo ru shi fa, pu sa liao zhi zhe, bi de wu ai bian, shuo yi xiu duo luo). The equivalent of pratibhāṇa is used.

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  503. The Tibetan sngon pa’i mtha’ from the Sanskrit pūrvāntaṃ means “the past.” The commentary explains this as knowing that phenomena have no past or future. However, this may be the result of an early corruption in the text, perhaps of prakṛtatvaṃ or similar, as the Chinese translates it more cogently as “they know the nature of the sound,” and so on.

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  504. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. The Chinese has “nature.”

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  505. The Sanskrit has hriyate (“ashamed”). The Tibetan ’phrogs appears to have translated from something like hāryate (“taken away”). Chinese: 染 (ran), (“polluted / afflicted”).

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  506. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. The Chinese has “nature.”

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  507. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan omits “on birth.”

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  508. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan appears to have translated from a manuscript in which duḥkhaṃ had been corrupted to dharmaṃ, with the resulting meaning “cessation of phenomena.”

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  509. Literally, buddhaputra (“sons of the buddhas”).

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  510. Sanskrit: mitrabhadra. This is synonymous with kalyāṇamitra.

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  511. According to the Tibetan srin po. Sanskrit: niśācarā, a synonym for rākṣasa.

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  512. According to the Tibetan and the Chinese 柔何處眾演說法 (rou he chu zhong yan shuo fa). Vaidya Sanskrit: paryāyasūtrato, “teaches the Dharma according to the way of the sūtra.”

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  513. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan appears to say, “they teach the buddhas.”

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  514. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit and Chinese: “always skilled.”

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  515. According to the Tibetan and Dutt’s Gilgit vipāka (ripening). The Shastri and Gilgit have vibhakti (“different categories”) and the Hodgson has the corruption virakti instead of vipāka. Chinese: 為人顯示因果理 (wei ren xian shi yin guo), “they reveal to others the principle / law of cause and results.”

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  516. According to the Tibetan and Dutt’s Gilgit. The Vaidya Sanskrit has sbhṛti (“no meaning”) instead of smṛti (“memory”). The Chinese does not have “pure.”

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  517. Unusually here nāga has been translated not just as klu but as klu ’brug, adding the syllable for “dragon.” Chinese: “dragon.”

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  518. All four lines of this verse begin with vipula (“vast”), though this is not reflected in the Tibetan translation. There the word is translated differently in each line, but here an attempt has been made to keep the repetition in English.

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  519. Chinese: 廣大 (guang da), “vast,” appears in the first and third line only.

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  520. According to the Sanskrit rāṣṭra, translated into Tibetan as grong, which could mean “village,” “town,” or “city.” Chinese: “of the world” 世間.

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  521. The name is in a BHS form: Maitraka.

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  522. According to the Sanskrit. The order of the lines in the Tibetan translation is rather awkward, and it appears that the second and third lines have changed place. Rearranged they would be: “Similarly Buddha Amitāyus also / Has taught many kinds of benefits: / ‘All who wish (’dod) for my Sukhāvatī / Will go to Abhirati and see Buddha Akṣobhya.’ The Chinese does not include the name “Abhirati.”

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  523. This last verse appears to be spoken by Candraprabha in the Sanskrit and Tibetan. In the Chinese, however, these are the words of the Buddha: “Now I have explained such innumerable benefits and merits / qualities. Those who wish to attain merits / qualities similar to mine should uphold this sūtra during the time of degeneration.”

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  524. From the Sanskrit prabhāvyate. The Tibetan appears to have translated from a manuscript with something like pravbhidyate or prabhedyate (“divide,” “categorize”).

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  525. According to the Sanskrit, the commentary, and the Chinese. The Tibetan translates as “the nature of the mind is without form,” presumably translating from svabhāvam arūpyam as a corruption of niḥsvabhāvam arūpyam.

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  526. The Chinese adds “and cannot be seen.”

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  527. According to the BHS and the Chinese. The Tibetan has either translated from a corruption in a manuscript from akṣara-vibhāvita-jñāna to akṣaya-vibhāvita-jñāna (“letters” being changed into “indestructible, unending”) or chosen akṣara’s alternative meaning, “imperishable.” The BHS meaning of vibhāva can be “to be free of.” However, vibhāva can be translated into Tibetan as “meditation” as well as “non-existing,” and so on. Therefore the Tibetan has, “They meditate on unending wisdom,” which does not appear to fit the context.

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  528. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan and Chinese omit “the words.”

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  529. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan and Chinese omit “the words.”

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  530. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan omits “the knowledge.”

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  531. According to the Sanskrit karmakṛtāyāḥ. The Tibetan yongs su sbyang ba could be translated as “completely purified.” The Chinese omits “who created the karma (or completely purified) in previous lifetimes.”

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  532. According to the Tibetan ’khyil ba and the Sanskrit avartāyāḥ, though it could also be translated as “repetition of dharāṇīs.”

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  533. The commentary states that here “retention” (dhāraṇī) is equivalent to wisdom. The reference to retentions does not appear in the Chinese.

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  534. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has the list of qualities as all being attainments. The commentary has “unobscured patience.” The Chinese 得修無障法忍 (de xiu wu zhang fa ren) can be interpreted as “became capable of practicing unobscured patience.”

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  535. This verse is very different in the Chinese.

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  536. According to the Sanskrit. Tibetan has only “They know all phenomena.”

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  537. This verse is very different in the Chinese.

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  538. According to the Tibetan, presumably translating from śīlaṃ, though the Sanskrit has śikṣāṃ (“learning,” “study”).

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  539. Chinese: “They would rather forsake their own life than violate the teaching of the tathāgatas.”

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  540. The Sanskrit manasikāra and the Tibetan yid la byed pa can mean, according to context, “fixed attention,” “concentration,” “focused reflection,” etc. The commentary states that the samādhi being devoid of such factors is in relation to mind and thoughts, subject and object, action and object, and so on. The negative of the term (amanasikāra, yid la mi byed pa) was later adapted into the mahāmudrā tradition.

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  541. The BHS term raṇā is synonymous with kleśa, and both are translated into Tibetan as nyon mongs.

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  542. In the Chinese, this line uses an unusual expression in conjunction with equality: 平等非嶮地 (ping deng fei xian di). 平等 (ping deng) is “equality,” 非 (fei) “not,” 嶮地 (xian) is the same as 險 and means “steep, lofty, precipitous,” and 地 (di) is “land, level, bhūmi.” The term samādhi does not appear.

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  543. According to the Sanskrit: na… asti. The commentary and various Kangyurs, including the Degé, have yod med. The Pedurma has yong med.

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  544. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit and Chinese: “grasping.”

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  545. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit and Chinese: “grasping.”

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  546. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit and Chinese: “without attachment.”

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  547. According to the Sanskrit spṛśi. Tibetan: dran pa, translated from a corruption of spṛśi to smrti (“mindfulness” without pride).

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  548. According to the Tibetan, Sanskrit, and Chinese: “is the noble path.”

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  549. According to the Sanskrit śantibhūmi. The Tibetan has “level of buddhahood,” perhaps translating from buddhabhūmi.

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  550. According to the Tibetan, Sanskrit, and Chinese: “meditation and wisdom.”

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  551. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary. The Tibetan has “peace” instead of “meditation.”

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  552. Some of the lines of this verse have been exchanged with lines from the subsequent verse for a clearer reading.

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  553. In the Chinese, the order of this and the preceding verse is reversed.

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  554. According to the Sanskrit and the Kangyurs that have the genitive gi. The Degé has the instrumental gis.

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  555. From the Sanskrit dharmadhātumaya, and as in the Chinese. The Tibetan may be translated from a manuscript that read dharmadhātunaya: “the way of the essence of phenomena.”

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  556. According to the Tibetan mya ngan. The BHS has aṅgana (“blemish,” “impurity,” “evil”). The Chinese 惱 agrees with the BHS.

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  557. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. The Chinese has “It cannot be understood through words. This is because phenomena do not have characteristics.” This is also a legitimate translation if it is assumed that in sarvadharmāṇa lakṣaṇam the latter word is actually alakṣaṇam.

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  558. According to the Sanskrit and most Kangyurs. The Degé has dga’ (“joy”).

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  559. The Chinese appears to mean, “through language only knowledge is gained.”

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  560. The Degé has erroneously repeated the first two lines of the last verse at the beginning of this penultimate verse, making it into six lines.

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  561. There is a play of words here on saṃpāra (“the further side”) and the BHS pārami (“perfection”). The Chinese translates as “the other side” and translates the verse as “a command to the listener.”

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  562. Chinese: “Then the youth Candraprabha said these words to the Bhagavān.”

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  563. According to the Tibetan spobs. The Sanskrit pratibhāti could also mean “elucidates this for me.”

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  564. Chinese: “tormented by sickness, old age, and death.”

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  565. According to the Tibetan dpa’ bo, which appears to have translated from a manuscript that had vīra instead of the Sanskrit vīrye, “with diligence.” Chinese: 善哉, the most common translation of Sanskrit sādhu, (“holy man,” “saint”).

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  566. According to the Sanskrit krudhyase. The Tibetan translates as ’khrugs, which primarily has the meaning of “disturbed.” According to the Mahāvyuttpati this would be a translation of kṣubhyase, meaning “disturbed.” Therefore this may be a translation from a scribal corruption in the Sanskrit.

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  567. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan has “maintain various views.”

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  568. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan appears to make this line the voice of devas that are accompanying the music.

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  569. According to the Sanskrit kalaviṅka, translated into Tibetan here as “cuckoo,” even though earlier they were listed separately where kalaviṅka was simply transliterated. The Chinese transliterates as 迦陵頻伽. The avadavat was unknown in Tibet while the cuckoo was very familiar. However, the avadavat is a bird known in North India for its beautiful song.

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  570. The Sanskrit is literally “twice born,” referring to first the egg being laid and then the hatching.

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  571. According to the Tibetan, the Gilgit manuscript, and the Chinese. The later Sanskrit manuscripts from Nepal (the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts) have here the line about musical instruments—conches, drums, and so on—that will occur in the next verse in this version. There are two verses in the Tibetan and Gilgit version compared to one in the later Sanskrit manuscripts and the Chinese.

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  572. The Tibetan here translates paṭaha as rdza rnga, which is usually the translation for the mṛḍaṅga drum.

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  573. The Tibetan translation here (rnga bo che) does not make a very strong distinction between the bherī and the earlier muraja drum (rdza rnga chen po). The Chinese has simply “drums” and does not differentiate the two kinds, but also has “three-stringed lutes, lutes, and flutes.”

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  574. This verse is in the Gilgit manuscript and the Tibetan. It does not appear in the later Sanskrit versions. In the Chinese this is a continuation of the previous verse without the line about the deva maidens.

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  575. In the Chinese, this verse is preceded by a verse describing how the songs and music played by the king of the kinnaras cannot compare to the Buddha’s speech. This verse is not found in the Tibetan or Sanskrit.

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  576. In the Sanskrit the synonym sura is used.

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  577. In the Sanskrit the synonym dānu is used. In the Chinese both deva and dānu were translated by the same term.

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  578. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan translates it as mkhar rnga (“gong”).

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  579. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has just rnga (“drums”).

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  580. Unidentified Indian musical instrument. It appears in two lists of instruments in the Lalita­vistara­sūtra (see The Play in Full15.39 and 15.67) with a stringed instrument preceding and following it, but some recent Tibetan-English dictionaries have “cymbals.”

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  581. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit appears to be still describing the music: “delightful, beautiful, and divine.”

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  582. Literally, marutas and apsarases.

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  583. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  584. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  585. Literally, “Lord of the Gods,” another name for Indra / Śakra.

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  586. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has “by the Buddha’s light rays.” The Chinese has “one light ray emitted by the Buddha.”

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  587. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “unequaled.”

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  588. According to the Tibetan and close to the version in Dutt’s “manuscript A” (the Shastri manuscript). Chinese: “requests the Buddha to be compassionate.”

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  589. The Chinese has an extra verse here, requesting a prophecy, which does not appear in the Tibetan or the Sanskrit.

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  590. The Chinese has different epithets.

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  591. From the first half of the Sanskrit compound ratha-pattiya; the meaning of the second half is obscure, as is the Tibetan translation: rta rkang thang. The commentary glosses it as shing rta mchog (“perfect chariots”).

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  592. According to the Tibetan. “Pearls” does not appear in the Sanskrit, but instead, “male and female slaves” (dāsadāsi). The Chinese has “male and female slaves, jewels, pearls, gold, cows, and sheep.”

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  593. The commentary states that these lotuses appear as seats for the bodhisattvas.

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  594. Chinese: “innumerable.”

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  595. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has rnga (“drums”) and the Chinese also just has “drums.”

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  596. According to the Tibetan mkhar rnga. Sanskrit: tunava (“flutes”). Chinese: 鐃, similar to “cymbals.”

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  597. From the Sanskrit krauñca. Tibetan: khrung khrung. According to the Mahāvyutpatti, the Tibetan for krauñca is krung krung. See Julia Leslie, A Bird Bereaved: The identity and significance of Vālmīki’s krauñca, for the identification of this bird. Present Sanskrit dictionaries state it is a curlew. However, it is specifically the Sarus crane, which in Sanskrit is also called the sārasa krauñca, which can also be confusing because sārasa, as in this sūtra, is the word for “swan.”

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  598. Chinese: 拘翅 (jue chi), 頻迦 (pin jia), 鵞鶴 (er he). The first two are from the pronunciation of the Sanskrit, and the third is a Chinese name, referring to one kind of crane.

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  599. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “tender ones.” Chinese: “tamed and gentle ones.”

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  600. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan could have been interpreted as “speak to Mañjughoṣa,” except for the adverbial particle su. Chinese: 和潤語, “harmonious and gentle speech.”

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  601. Literally in Sanskrit, “sound of the clouds.” Chinese: “thunder” 雷霆.

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  602. Although translated earlier in the text as bzhad (in accord with the Mahāvyutpatti), the Tibetan here simply transliterated sārasa (sa ra sa).

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  603. According to the Tibetan. Vaidya Sanskrit: “You are sublime because of the results of good actions.”

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  604. From the Sanskrit jīvaṃjīva (Tibetan: shang shang te’u). According to the Mahesh Sharma (141), jīvjīva is a pheasant, and jīvaṃjīva (as in Monier-Williams) is the chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar, also known as the Greek partridge). In later times, in China and Tibet this became a legendary half-human bird, or a two-headed bird. The Chinese transliterates: 命命鳥.

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  605. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  606. The Chinese has 47 consecutive verses: the first 16 verses are in chapter 15 of the Tibetan-Sanskrit version and the remaining 31 verses are in chapter 16.

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  607. According to the Sanskrit, and the Degé, Lithang, Narthang, and Lhasa Kangyurs: dpang. The Pedurma has dbang (“power”).

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  608. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  609. According to the Sanskrit aviruddha, and the Chinese 不為他壞不違他.

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  610. Sanskrit: ogha. A term also found in the Pali tradition, it refers to ignorance, desire, and so on. Translated in the Chinese as its implied meaning.

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  611. Sanskrit: grantha. A term also found in the Pali tradition (gantha), it refers to the knots that bind one to existence. Chinese: “knots.”

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  612. According to the Sanskrit tṛṣṇa. The Tibetan has srid pa (“existence”) in error for sred pa.

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  613. The prose section that begins this chapter does not appear in the Chinese.

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  614. According to the Sanskrit, the Tibetan klag, and the Chinese. Degé: lhogs.

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  615. According to the commentary (’dod pa can) and the Sanskrit lubdha, which can also mean “confused,” hence the Tibetan translation brkam (“scattered”).

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  616. Chinese: 放逸 (“careless”), 毀禁 (“do not follow precepts”), and 多慳吝 (“covetous”).

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  617. According to the commentary, the Sanskrit, and the Chinese. The Tibetan has “attached to towns.”

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  618. Chinese: “slander.”

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  619. A euphemism for sexual activity. The Chinese is less specific in its descriptions.

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  620. According to the Sanskrit parakumārī and the Tibetan gzhan gyi bu mo (“the girls of others”). Chinese: 童女 “girls” or “virgins.”

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  621. Sanskrit: “path of the mendicant.”

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  622. In the Chinese this verse is preceded by “one describing deviations from the path of the mendicant.”

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  623. According to dhenu in the Sanskrit and gzho in the Mahāvyutpatti. The Tibetan Kangyurs have gzhon and bzhon in error for gzho or bzho.

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  624. According to the Tibetan. In the Sanskrit and Chinese it could mean “among a hundred thousand.”

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  625. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has, “They become intoxicated.”

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  626. Chinese: 若得虛名自欣慶 (ruo de xu ming zi xin qing), “if they gain false reputation and become overjoyed.”

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  627. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  628. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  629. According to the Tibetan, Chinese, and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts. The Dutt and Vaidya have vihāru, “play with each other.”

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  630. This entire opening section about Maitreya and his miraculous activities does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript and therefore not in the Vaidya either. The Tibetan follows the version in the Hodgson manuscript.

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  631. According to the Sanskrit, where tathāgata is clearly in the vocative and the verb “to go” is in the first-person singular.

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  632. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “Lamp of the three worlds.”

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  633. There is a play on words here as “conquered the māras” is jitamārā, and Maitreya’s alternative name is “Ajita.”

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  634. The first part of this chapter up to this point does not appear in the Gilgit or the Chinese.

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  635. This sentence does not appear in the Gilgit or the Chinese.

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  636. “Through the gateway of peace” does not appear in the Gilgit or the Chinese.

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  637. “Kneeling on his right knee, with palms placed together, bowed toward the Bhagavān” does not appear in Gilgit or the Chinese.

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  638. The Chinese gives the full name of the samādhi.

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  639. The Chinese gives the full name of the samādhi.

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  640. The Sanskrit has an additional quality at this point: “wish to leave them.”

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  641. The Sanskrit has an additional quality at this point: “have no endurance for them.”

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  642. Chinese: 深怖三界起驚畏心 (shen bu san jie qi jing wei xin), “they are deeply terrified of the three realms and develop a fearful mind”; 厭離三界起不染心 (yan li san jie qi bu ran xin), “they are determined to leave the three realms and develop the aspiration to be free from defilements”; 不著三界起逼惱心 (bu zhuo san jie qi bi nao xin), “they are not attached to the three realms and develop the aspiration to overcome suffering.”

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  643. The Chinese omits part of these two sentences, apparently in error, resulting in: “If they accomplish this, they will attain this samādhi” and gives the full name of the samādhi.

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  644. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Chinese: “are widely learned.”

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  645. According to the Tibetan. In the Sanskrit and Chinese this is phrased as a question.

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  646. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has “proved,” “tried.” The Chinese has “trained in.”

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  647. According to the Sanskrit (Hodgson and Shastri manuscripts). Absent in the Tibetan.

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  648. According to the Tibetan and all Sanskrit. This paragraph does not appear in the Chinese.

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  649. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. The Chinese has one yi一憶 (yi yi), which can mean 100,000, one million, or ten million in various Buddhist scriptures.

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  650. According to the Sanskrit and most Kangyurs. The Degé has mi in error for me.

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  651. According to the Tibetan bye ba. The Sanskrit has ṣaḍvarṣakoṭyaḥ: “sixty times ten million,” i.e., six hundred million.

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  652. According to the Tibetan nyin zhag. The Sanskrit has rātrimdivā (“day and night”).

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  653. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has “thirty thousand years.”

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  654. The Chinese lists twelve buddhas in twelve verses up to this point.

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  655. According to the Tibetan. The Nepalese manuscripts appear to divide this into two names, and the Gilgit certainly does: brahmā ca devas tathā.

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  656. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: Svara­brahma­datta.

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  657. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has Brahmaghoṣa (tshangs pa’i dbyangs).

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  658. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit appears to be two names.

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  659. Much of this verse repeats the names from the preceding verse, and there may have been a corruption. It is possible that they were meant to be variations of the same compounds but with a group beginning with Dānta, followed by a group beginning with Śānta. This would give: “Dāntottara, Dānta, Sudāntacitta, / Sudānta, Dāntendriya, Dāntamānasa, / Dāntottara, Dāntaśirin, Pradānta, / Dāntīyapāraṃgata and Dāntaśūra, [23] Śantottara, Śānta, Suśāntacitta, / Suśānta, Śāntendriya, Śāntamānasa, / Śāntottara, Śānta­śriya­jvalanta, / Śāntapraśānteśvara, Śāntiśūra. [24]”

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  660. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan here translates parivarta as le’u (“chapter”) and omits nirhāra. This paragraph is absent in the Chinese.

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  661. According to the Sanskrit viśārada. Tibetan: “very great fame” (grags pa shin tu che). Absent from the Chinese.

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  662. The last line of this verse is in the next verse in the Chinese version.

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  663. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. Sanskrit: “forsaken the world in all their words.”

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  664. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has, literally, “He renounced the earth for accomplishing food,” which differs from all Sanskrit versions. In the Tibetan rendering, nirhāra is translated as sgrub pa (“accomplish”), though its other meanings are “to extract, remove, take, acquire, accumulate, or store,” which seems more appropriate here for food; and sthapetva (“established in”) as bor ba (“renounce”). The Chinese has “remained in peace and practiced great diligence.”

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  665. According to the BHS vasthitu. The Tibetan apparently translates as “being upright, standing” (’greng).

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  666. Literally, “elephant-king.”

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  667. The order of this and the previous verse is reversed in the Chinese.

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  668. According to the Sanskrit śānti. The Tibetan has bzhi (“four”) in error for zhi (“peace”).

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  669. The Chinese has an additional line: 於諸白法常無厭 (yu zhu bai fa chang wu yan), “never tired of engaging in virtuous actions [white dharmas].”

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  670. The Tibetan ’chad could mean “to teach” or “to explain,” as well as “to cut through, destroy.” The latter meaning is supported by the Sanskrit uccheda and the Chinese 斷 (duan).

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  671. Chinese: “termination of the speech (or views) of ordinary people.”

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  672. The Chinese has an additional verse at this point concerning not violating precepts and not having attachment to families.

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  673. According to the BHS niḥsṛti. The Tibetan translates as ’byung ba.

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  674. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  675. According to the Sanskrit sadā. The Tibetan and Chinese use synonyms for the first and second line: the Tibetan has rtag tu and khor mo; Chinese: 常 (chang) and 恆 (heng). The third line also uses sadā but with a negative in Tibetan. The Chinese is a simple negative without the meaning “never.”

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  676. According to the BHS gatiṃgata.

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  677. According to the Sanskrit anartha, translated into Tibetan as gnod pa (“harm”), interpreting it to mean “non-beneficial.” The Chinese also translates as “non-beneficial.” Its other meaning has been translated here, as it appears to be more appropriate to the context.

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  678. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan lists three separate elements.

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  679. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. The Sanskrit appears to have no negative: “there is mingling with…”

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  680. The online Vaidya has vajane in error for varjane.

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  681. Darśī is translated into Tibetan as “seen.” The Chinese translation focuses on how the certainty is arrived at: 心境相稱詞決定 (xin jing xiang chen ci jue ding).

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  682. This verse is absent in the Gilgit and Hodgson, but present in the Tibetan and Shastri.

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  683. According to the Sanskrit śīla. The Tibetan has only tshul instead of tshul khrims.

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  684. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. The Chinese lists all four qualities as doorways that are entered.

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  685. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan makes the second and third lines into a single sentence.

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  686. The Chinese here translates yoga as “method.”

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  687. Sanskrit: ayuktayogin. Translated into Tibetan as mi rigs brtson pa.

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  688. The online Vaidya has abhūbhi in error for abhūmi.

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  689. In Chinese the order of the first two lines is reversed, and it begins, “the level of buddhahood is vast but not the level of the two [other] yānas.”

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  690. According to the Sanskrit anubuddha and the Chinese. The Tibetan translates as rjes su ’brang (“followed”) instead of the expected khong du chud pa, or the like.

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  691. According to the Tibetan grags pa chen po, which appears to have translated mahāyaśānām, although all Sanskrit versions have mahāśayānām (“those with great aspiration”). The Chinese translates as “those of the Mahāyāna.”

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  692. The Tibetan adds “mantra” to make it vidyāmantra. The Chinese uses the unusual term 作明術 (zuo ming shu), literally meaning “techniques of clarifying,” which can be understood as “knowledge.”

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  693. The Chinese has an additional verse before this one. It refers to emptiness and cessation.

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  694. According to BHS niraṅga. Chinese: “free of kleśas.”

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  695. Chinese: “can quickly attain wisdom.”

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  696. According to the Sanskrit. Tibetan: “seeks bliss.”

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  697. According to all Sanskrit versions and the Chinese. The Tibetan has “ninety-nine,” which appears to be an early scribal corruption in the Tibetan transmission.

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  698. In the Chinese this verse is preceded by an additional verse not found in the Sanskrit or Tibetan.

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  699. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has “In which there are no extremes or desire,” where anantasaṅga was taken as being negated and saṅga as having a negative meaning. The Chinese has “So that they can see many buddhas after their lives have ended.”

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  700. At the beginning of this chapter he is the first in the list of past buddhas related by Śākyamuni, though the Tibetan and Chinese translations of the name differ from previous translations of the name.

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  701. According to the Sanskrit prasannacitta. The Tibetan only translates citta (“mind”).

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  702. Chinese: “in the past” instead of “numerous eons.”

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  703. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “numerous acts of generosity.”

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  704. Chinese: “If I were to describe them it would take a long time.”

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  705. Chinese: “go with you.”

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  706. The Sanskrit has, in contrast to the earlier spelling, Śīrībala.

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  707. Buddha Śākyamuni’s mother.

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  708. This verse is not in the Gilgit or Chinese, but is in the Tibetan and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts, and is mentioned in the commentary.

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  709. Buddha Śākyamuni’s father.

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  710. This verse is not in the Gilgit or Chinese, but is in the Tibetan and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts, and is referred to in the commentary.

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  711. According to the Tibetan, and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts.

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  712. Chinese: End of fascicle 4.

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  713. According to the Tibetan.

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  714. Chinese: “mendicancy and perfect conduct.”

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  715. According to the Sanskrit. Tibetan: “Those who have qualities of conduct and who have few requisites.” Chinese: “Numerous qualities of meditation and peace.”

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  716. According to the Tibetan, Chinese, and the Dutt edition of the Sanskrit: literally, “destroyed.” The Vaidya edition has loke, “in the world,” in error for lope, “destroyed, ruined.”

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  717. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan repeats “beings.”

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  718. This verse does not appear in the Chinese, though a variation of it appears four verses later.

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  719. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “Buddha.” Chinese: “Lord of Munis.”

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  720. A verse in the Sanskrit and Chinese, which is a variation of a preceding verse, is absent in the Tibetan: “After eight hundred million eons / They will all, within the same eon, / Become guides of the world, / Compassionate and wishing to benefit.” The earlier version is absent in the Chinese.

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  721. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Chinese: “seventy.”

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  722. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Chinese: “and are moved to tears and weep.”

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  723. From the Sanskrit satkṛta. Tibetan: mchod pa. Chinese: “offering.”

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  724. According to the BHS ārocayāmi.

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  725. According to the Sanskrit sparśita (“reached”). The Tibetan has thob corrupted to thos (“heard”).

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  726. The passage from this point on until “the gandharva Pañcaśikha” (#UT22084-055-001-2026) is present in the Tibetan, Shastri, and Hodgson; it is briefly referenced in the commentary, but it is absent in the Gilgit.

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  727. According to the Sanskrit padāni. The Tibetan tshig could mean “words.”

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  728. These preceding three paragraphs are absent in the Chinese.

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  729. The Sanskrit has them making the sounds ha ha and kilikilā. The Tibetan translates as “a la la.”

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  730. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan translates as “a la la.”

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  731. Literally, “son of a gandharva.”

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  732. According to the Sanskrit ahaṃ. The Tibetan has bdag cag (“we”).

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  733. The Sanskrit pañcamātra, “fivefold” music, was not translated into Tibetan. It presumably refers, as in the White Lotus of Compassion Sūtra, to the five tempos (Sanskrit: pañcāṅgika; Tibetan: yan lag lnga dang ldan pa), referring to the number of strokes per beat. This is a characteristic of South Indian music, particularly that of Karnataka.

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  734. According to the Sanskrit. Tibetan: “five hundred holders of musical instruments.”

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  735. According to the Sanskrit saṃyukta. Tibetan: dang ldan pa (“possessing”).

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  736. This paragraph does not appear in the Chinese.

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  737. According to the BHS upīḍa for utpīḍa, and the Chinese 逼窄. Tibetan: gnod par byed pa (“causing harm”).

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  738. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Chinese: “sixteen.”

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  739. According to the Sanskrit ramaṇīyāḥ. The Tibetan dbyangs dga’ ba may be a scribal corruption. Absent in the Chinese.

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  740. Literally, maruta, here used as a synonym for deva. Both the Tibetan and Chinese translate deva and maruta by the same term.

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  741. The Sanskrit here changes to the singular. The plural has been kept for consistency.

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  742. The Sanskrit has “tathāgatas.”

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  743. According to the Sanskrit kāmān and the Chinese. The Tibetan has a scribal corruption of ’dod to gdod.

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  744. According to the BHS mata jñātaṃ. The Tibetan has rig dang bye brag phyed (“known and discriminated”). Chinese: 憶念, literally, “remembered”; can mean “have known.”

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  745. According to the Sanskrit. Translated into Tibetan as bdud (“Māra”), which here has the same meaning. Chinese: 魔, a simple term that refers to both Māra and Namuci.

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  746. In accordance with the Tibetan and the Hodgson and Shastri manuscripts. “The sound of the lute” is absent in the Gilgit manuscript and the Chinese.

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  747. The prose introduction for this chapter is more concise in the Chinese.

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  748. According to the BHS. Tibetan: “It is taught to all foolish (childlike) beings.”

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  749. According to the Sanskrit paitṛkadhana. The Tibetan translates as “the wealth of the other shore” or “transcendent wealth,” pha rol nor, presumably from a corruption in a Sanskrit manuscript.

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  750. According to the BHS and the commentary, where this is singular. The Kangyur version translates it as plural in this and the next verse. The commentary adds that Buddha Śākyamuni is stating that this is his previous life.

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  751. This verse is in the Tibetan, and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts, but not in the Gilgit manuscript.

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  752. According to the Tibetan, in which the verb here is gdon mi za bar bya’o. The Sanskrit of the Hodgson and Shastri manuscripts has “…should depend upon the duties and qualities of the training that is the root of all merit” (śikṣāguṇa­dharmaniśrita). They also have at this point “…should have pure conduct through depending on roots of merit…” and so on. The Gilgit manuscript chapter is composed only of the verses.

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  753. According to the BHS nirhāra. The Tibetan translates as mos pa (“aspire”), which does not appear to fit the context.

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  754. The prose introduction to this chapter is absent in the Gilgit manuscript and the Chinese.

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  755. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. The Sanskrit has jambusāhvaye (“called Jambu”).

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  756. According to the commentary they were sons of merchants. Chinese: 二不放逸長者子 (er bu fang yi zhang zhe zi) “two sons of elders.”

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  757. Kṣatriya is absent in the Chinese.

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  758. According to the Sanskrit and the Yongle Kangyur. The other editions have lam in error for las.

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  759. Tibetan rgyal po’i glang po, translating the Sanskrit rājakuñjara (literally, “king-elephant”), which has the meaning “preeminent king.” It is classified in Sanskrit as a metaphor, i.e., “a king who is an elephant,” meaning “an elephant among kings,” in contrast to the simile “a king who is like an elephant.” The Chinese translates this epithet either as simply “king” or “great king.”

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  760. The Sanskrit and Tibetan omit the number “ten million” so that it becomes six trillion, but this is evidently a brief way of referring to the entire sixty quintillion in the army, as later that number is said to have all developed the aspiration to enlightenment. Chinese: six yi, which can mean “sixty thousand,” “six million,” or “sixty million.”

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  761. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  762. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Chinese: “protector.”

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  763. According to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. Chinese: “great king.”

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  764. According to the Sanskrit ghātaya and the Chinese. Tibetan: spong (“abandon”).

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  765. Chinese: “The king should remain with friends who act according to the Dharma.”

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  766. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. Chinese: “This deva speaks the truth to the king; please do not abandon the Buddhadharma.”

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  767. The commentary states that this refers to the bhikṣus. The Chinese translates as “was stationed at the border to safeguard the nation.”

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  768. The Dutt and therefore the Vaidya divide the verses into fewer numbers with six lines each.

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  769. The Chinese adds: “and would not let you live.”

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  770. In the Chinese this verse is preceded by an additional verse. The Gilgit manuscript repeats the earlier verse that begins, “You must kill those two dharmabhāṇakas.”

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  771. According to the commentary, “the king” in this and the succeeding three verses is not the king himself but “the king’s brother.” This is further established by the supplementary verses that were not present in the Gilgit manuscript. The Chinese translates as “the king’s brother.” The Sanskrit and Tibetan have just “king” or “elephant king,” which is confusing.

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  772. In the Chinese the last line states that one should avoid bad friends. The following verses are absent in the Chinese.

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  773. This is the final verse in the Gilgit manuscript. The Hodgson and Shastri manuscripts and the Tibetan have three additional verses.

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  774. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “Those dharmabhāṇakas.”

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  775. According to the Tibetan rgyal po. This verse is absent in the Gilgit. The Hodgson and Shastri have maitreyurāhu. The Tibetan may have been translating from a manuscript that read maitreyurāju.

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  776. The Chinese adds: “Therefore, bodhisattvas should know about the dharmakāya and the rūpakāya.” The rest of this chapter does not appear in the Chinese.

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  777. In the Sanskrit manuscripts and in the commentary, chapter 22 continues and includes the chapter numbered 23 in the Tibetan.

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  778. This paragraph does not appear in the Chinese.

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  779. The Chinese adds “born from immeasurable merit.”

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  780. According to the Tibetan, Chinese, and Hodgson manuscript, budhyā ekarthani. The Gilgit and Shastri have budhyānekarthani (“many meanings” instead of “one meaning”).

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  781. Chinese: “this is because all phenomena arise from causes.”

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  782. Chinese: “It is devoid of all features because it is profound.”

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  783. Chinese: “It is immeasurable because it has no limits.”

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  784. Chinese: “It is without attributes because it has no nature of its own.”

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  785. Chinese: “It is without attributes because it is devoid of attributes.”

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  786. Chinese: “It is unwavering because it abides in tranquility.” This is followed by a few additional descriptions: “It is nondual because it has only one aspect. It is unchanging because it is free from conceptualization. It is indescribable because it transcends words / languages.” After these, there are a few extra and missing verses here and there, compared to the Tibetan and Sanskrit. For example, an extra verse is: “Phenomena have no base because they transcend all views.”

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  787. This sentence does not appear in the Chinese.

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  788. The Gilgit manuscript follows this with “It cannot be shown,” which is absent in the later manuscripts and the Tibetan.

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  789. Sanskrit: aniketa. The Tibetan translates as gnas med pa. Earlier in the list apratiṣṭhita (“no location”) was translated as mi gnas pa. Not present in the Chinese.

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  790. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary. The Tibetan here interprets this as “has the quintessence that transcends the scope of words …”

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  791. According to the Tibetan and the BHS: doṣapatha in Classical Sanskrit would mean “the path of wickedness.” The Chinese puts “transcendence of desire, anger, and ignorance and their respective causes” together in one phrase, and follows it with “because all phenomena are empty in essence.”

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  792. Chinese: “It is unborn because it has ended all births.” At this point the Gilgit manuscript also has “It is undefiled as it transcends the ripening [of karma]. It is permanent…” This is all absent in the later manuscripts and the Tibetan. See also the following note.

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  793. According to the Gilgit Sanskrit nityo vyāhāreṇa vyavahāraś ca śūnyaḥ. The words vyavahāraś ca śūnyaḥ are omitted from the later Sanskrit manuscripts, whereas the commentary was evidently based on a text that omitted only ca śūnya, but retained nityo vyāhāreṇa (“ ‘permanent’ in terms of words”). The Tibetan appears to be based on a manuscript that also omitted nityo so that the resulting vyāhareṇa vyavahāra was translated as meaning “through language there is terminology.” The commentary, because of the absence of ca śūnya, explains “terminology” as referring to nirvāṇa. The corresponding Chinese phrase seems to be 以無常但言説故（yi wu chang dan yan shuo gu), which could be understood as “It is impermanent because it is [permanent] only in terms of words or speech.”

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  794. According to the commentary no differentiation is taken as a cause for nirvāṇa, which is just a term used in the world, and there is no difference between the nirvāna of buddhas, pratyekabuddhas, and śrāvakas.

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  795. Literally, nirvṛta, the past passive participle “extinguished.” According to the commentary this means that it is indescribable through words.

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  796. According to the commentary: “The words that are like an echo pacify the concepts of the subject that is talked about, and therefore there is peace.”

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  797. According to the commentary: “Designations are merely concepts, and therefore mere designations can act as terminology for anything.”

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  798. According to the commentary the correct speech uses synonyms, such as “truth,” “true nature,” and “the ultimate,” which are used to teach the ultimate truth.

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  799. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary. The Tibetan in the Kangyur translates as “there is calmness because of the absence of anguish” because they are corollaries. The same words could mean “There is coolness, the absence of fever.” The commentary states: “anguish or fever means the kleśas.” The Chinese has 以清涼離惱熱故 (yi qing liang li nao re gu), in which 清涼 (qing liang) literally means “coolness” but can be understood as “calmness.” 惱熱 (nao re) literally means “the fever of agitated mind,” but can also mean “anguish” and “kleśas.”

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  800. From the Sanskrit animitta, translated into Tibetan as gnas med pa, here meaning “baseless,” or “groundless,” even though gnas med pa had just been used to translate aniketa.

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  801. The Sanskrit has anindita, and the commentary has smad du med pa (“cannot be denigrated” or “irreproachable”).

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  802. The commentary states that this is because its qualities are endless. The Tibetan translates “description” literally as “teaching its color,” which is not quite appropriate in this context. In the Chinese this is followed by: “There is no end to the description of its merit.”

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  803. Chinese: “If someone wishes to see the Lord of the World and know his body.”

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  804. The commentary states that this is because the nature of the samādhi and the Buddha’s body are the same.

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  805. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has added “hundred,” presumably for metrical reasons.

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  806. Chinese: “His body.”

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  807. According to the commentary, these three bad perceptions are those arising from aversion, attachment, and ignorance.

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  808. According to the commentary, but not the Sanskrit manuscripts, chapter 22 ends here.

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  809. According to the Sanskrit acintya and most Kangyurs. The Degé has bstan (resulting in “unteachable,” or “unshowable”) instead of bsam.

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  810. This paragraph is more concise in the Chinese.

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  811. The Dutt divides up the verses unevenly.

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  812. According to the Sanskrit naikakāle prajānitum. The Tibetan may have been translated from a corrupt manuscript and has du ma dag ni shes mi sla (“the numerous that are not easy to know.”) Chinese: “I can look at all beings, whose number is greater than that of these particles, and know their aspirations and motivations all at the same time.” 我觀一切生, 多於彼塵數, 發心及起信, 於一時悉知 (wo guan yi qie zhong sheng, duo yu bi chen shu, fa xin ji qi xin, yu yi shi xi zhi).

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  813. According to the Tibetan, Chinese, Gilgit, and Shastri manuscripts (naiva). The Hodgson has only caiva, without any negation.

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  814. According to the Sanskrit niittakarmanā, which is in the instrumental, but the Tibetan has dang (“and”) instead of kyis (“through”).

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  815. Sanskrit: varṇa. Translated into Tibetan as kha mdog (“color”).

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  816. According to the Tibetan, presumably translating from tatrākalpitam. There appears to be no negation in the Sanskrit tatra kalpitam.

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  817. End of the fascicle 5 and beginning of fascicle 6 in the Song, Yuan, Min, Gong, and Sheng editions, but in the Taisho edition fascicle 5 continues. 卷第五終【宋】【元】【明】【宮】【聖】本.

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  818. According to the Sanskrit varṇavyāhāra and the Mahāvyutpatti’s translation of varṇa and vyāhāra as brjod pa. The Tibetan in both the sūtra and the commentary is bsngags brjod pa (“expression of praise”), which does not fit the context here, and may be a scribal corruption of ngag brjod pa.

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  819. The text has just “inconceivable,” which is used numerous times in this chapter, but with the meaning of an inconceivable number, rather than one of the inconceivability of the words expressed.

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  820. This first part of the chapter up to this point does not appear in the Chinese.

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  821. From this point on, the Gilgit lists the names of the sets of four with the nature of the four merely implied because of the repetition. The Tibetan, Hodgson, and Shastri have the same variation in the list, and the contents of each set of four are given in full.

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  822. From the Sanskrit udbhāva. The Tibetan translates this freely as sgrol ba (“liberation”). The Chinese translates as 度 (du), which means “reach the other shore.” This is the same word that translates paramitas.

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  823. This is followed in the Sanskrit by a list of vyavāhāra (“practices”), absent in the Tibetan and Chinese.

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  824. According to the Tibetan and the commentary. Not present in the Sanskrit.

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  825. According to the Tibetan and the commentary. Not present in the Sanskrit.

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  826. According to the Tibetan and the commentary. Not present in the Sanskrit.

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  827. According to the Tibetan spyad pa. Not present in the Sanskrit manuscripts or the commentary.

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  828. Here both “countless” and “inconceivable” are translating the same word: acintya; bsam gyis mi khyab pa. However, the first appears from context to mean “an inconceivable number.”

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  829. According to the commentary these words prove that there is no center and no edge, no past and no future.

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  830. According to the Tibetan rgyu ba med pa and the commentary. The commentary explains that this means that there is no coming or going by anyone. The Hodgson and Shastri have pracārapadāni (“conduct”) at this point.

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  831. Tibetan: gzhal du med pa, which in the Mahāvyutpatti corresponds with atulya. Gilgit: [a]tulyapatha. The Chinese translates from atulya (不可稱, bu ke cheng). Hodgson and Shastri: aparyantapāda (“unlimited words”). The commentary states that the words describe qualities that are unequaled or incomparable because there are no phenomena like them.

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  832. According to the commentary, this means that these words are the cause for the listening, contemplation, and meditation that give rise to wisdom.

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  833. According to the BHS chanda. The commentary states that this means “teaching definitions through various languages so as to bring delight to beings.”

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  834. According to the Sanskrit and BHS prajñapana.

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  835. According to the Sanskrit prakāśana.

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  836. According to the Sanskrit prasthānapa.

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  837. According to the BHS uttānīkaraṇa. The Tibetan has gsal bar byed pa (“make clear”).

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  838. According to the BHS anela. The commentary has tshig mi ’dres pa (“unmixed”). Tibetan: tshig mi ’dor (“casting out”).

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  839. According to the Tibetan. Absent in the Sanskrit and commentary.

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  840. According to the Tibetan. Absent in the Sanskrit and commentary.

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  841. The Chinese has an additional verse that precedes this one.

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  842. According to the BHS jānamī and the Chinese 我知 (wo zhi). The Tibetan has bshad pa (“teach”), which may be a scribal corruption of shes through copying from dictation.

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  843. According to the Sanskrit guṇāḥ and the Chinese 功德 (gong de). The Tibetan has bsngags (“praise”).

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  844. Sanskrit: “highest of engagements with discernment.”

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  845. From “They do not seek enlightenment as other than consciousness” to this point does not appear in the Chinese.

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  846. According to the Tibetan, presumably translating from a text that read śabdena saṃprakāśitam, and the commentary. The Sanskrit has śabdenāsaṃprakāśitam (“is not taught through words”).

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  847. Dutt’s edition accidentally numbers this verse as 9, so that all subsequent verses are misnumbered.

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  848. According to the Sanskrit niḥsṛta and the Chinese. The Tibetan has mi brten par (“without being based on”), perhaps from a text that had śrita instead of sṛta.

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  849. These apparently extra lines in this verse appear in both the Sanskrit and the Tibetan.

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  850. According to the Tibetan. All the Sanskrit manuscripts have “Cannot be defeated / By many ten millions of māras.” The Chinese has “will not be disturbed by millions of māras.”

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  851. In the Chinese the order of this and the preceding verse is reversed.

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  852. According to one meaning of the Sanskrit pranaṣṭa, and the Chinese. Translated into Tibetan in this verse as brlag (destroyed) and in the next verse as shin tu ’khyams (“wandering far”).

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  853. According to the Sanskrit bhave cābhāvasaṃjinaḥ, the Chinese, and the commentary, which explains that this means “not believing in the existence of nirvāṇa and the ultimate nature.” The Tibetan basically repeats the first line.

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  854. According to the Tibetan interpretation of the Sanskrit compound jñātralabha. However, these terms appear uncompounded in other texts, meaning “acquisition and reputation.” The Chinese has “close relations (families) 親 (qin) (presumably from a manuscript that had jñatri), wealth / possessions 財 (cai), and profits 利 (li).”

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  855. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit pranaṣṭa literally means “destroyed” or “lost.” The Chinese has “lost” (有失, you shi).

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  856. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit, including the Gilgit, has “will think of their sons and daughters as being their wives.”

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  857. The Chinese specifies the five lay precepts.

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  858. According to the Sanskrit avadata. The Degé hasskya bo (“white”). The Yongle, Peking, Narthang, and Lhasa Kangyurs have skye bo.

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  859. A conical or bowl kettle drum, also called a nagada. The upper surface is beaten with sticks. Often played in pairs, one larger than the other.

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  860. A kettle drum played with the hands. Held horizontally, it is wider in the middle with the skin at both ends. One drumhead is smaller than the other. It is a South Indian drum; it maintains the rhythm in Karnataka music.

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  861. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “They will perceive the enlightenment of buddhahood / Through being incited by false words.”

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  862. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “Will prattle on about the wisdom of buddhahood.”

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  863. The Chinese of this verse is different: “I have never heard of or seen those with that kind of conduct, who are ignorant and dwell in bad ways, attaining the wisdom of buddhahood.”

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  864. The Chinese of this verse is different: “If I were to talk for an eon / About the various faults of those / Who claim to be bodhisattvas, / I could mention only a fraction. 我若一劫中, 說彼諸過失, 自謂菩薩者, 但能說小分 (ruo wo yi jie zhong, shuo bi zhu guo shi, zi wei pu sa zhe, dan neng shuo xiao fen).

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  865. According to the Sanskrit saṃstava, the Lithang, Narthang, and Cone Kangyurs, and the Chinese. The Degé has ston (“teach”) instead of sten.

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  866. Literally, “guides.” Chinese: “buddhas.”

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  867. According to the Sanskrit vaipulya and the Chinese 我學習不廣 (wo xue xi bu guang). The Tibetan mtshungs med appears to have translated from a corruption to atulya (“unequaled”). The Hodgson manuscript has a corruption to puṇya (“merit”).

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  868. Chinese: “the merit of correct conduct.”

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  869. The Chinese has an additional verse following this one.

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  870. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit and Chinese: “the bliss of meditation.”

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  871. According to the Tibetan, Chinese, Shastri (vidhāraṇīmukham), and Hodgson (dhāraṇīye mukham). The Gilgit manuscript, however, has evaṃ hi dhārayet sukham (“and thus you should possess happiness”).

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  872. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit and Chinese: “the wisdom of enlightenment.”

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  873. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  874. Literally, “the Teacher.” Chinese: 汝今得值佛, 發於菩提心 (ru jin de zhi fo, fa yu pu ti xin), “Now that you have met the Buddha, you should arouse bodhicitta.”

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  875. Beginning of fascicle 6 of the Taisho ed., and fascicle 7 of the Song, Yuan, Ming, Gong, and Sheng eds.

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  876. There are two verses in the Gilgit manuscript, numbered 4 and 5, that are also present in the Chinese, but do not appear in the later Sanskrit manuscripts, are not mentioned in the commentary, and are absent in the Tibetan: “I rejoice in those who do not believe in a self, / Who do not believe in existence or believe in a soul. / I rejoice in those who do not have bad views, / Who have seen emptiness and developed contentment. / I rejoice in those who follow the Sugata’s teaching, / Who attain the state of a mendicant, / And who have few desires, dwell content in the forest, / And have peaceful conduct and the practice of meditation.”

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  877. This verse does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese, and does not appear to be mentioned in the commentary.

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  878. According to the Tibetan and the commentary. This verse does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  879. According to the Tibetan and the commentary. This verse does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  880. Divided into two points in the Chinese.

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  881. Points 8 and 9 are combined into one point in the Chinese.

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  882. The Chinese adds “that is, the disciples of the buddhas, the bodhisattvas, and śrāvakas.”

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  883. From the BHS anuparivārayati and according to the definition in the commentary. The Tibetan translates with the alternative meaning of “encircling” or “surrounding.” The Gilgit version has pariśodhayati (“purifies”). The Chinese translates this sentence as “They will perfect wisdom of all kinds.” 滿足一切智 (man zu yi qie zhi).

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  884. According to the Sanskrit, the commentary, and most Kangyurs, except for the Degé which has ’byor pa in error for ’byol ba. Chinese: “They abandon all concern about life and death.” 棄捨生死 (qi she sheng si).

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  885. Tibetan: thob par byed pa (“cause to obtain”). Sanskrit: arpayati (see Mahāvyutpatti 7428). Chinese: “They long for the joy of nirvāṇa,” 慕樂涅槃 (mu le nie pan).

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  886. Chinese: “They will not lack faith or wealth,” 不乏信財 (bu fa xin cai).

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  887. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan repeats “the wise ones.”

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  888. Chinese: “obstructions” or “obstacles,” 無障礙 (wu zhang ai).

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  889. According to the Sanskrit niraṅga. Translated into Tibetan as nyon mongs med pa.

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  890. Literally, “they are difficult to approach.” The commentary explains that this means they have such a complete attainment of qualities that they cannot easily be surpassed. Chinese: “Others cannot surpass their attainments.”

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  891. The Chinese adds the point: “their confidence of speech increases,” 增長辯才 (zeng zhang bian cai).

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  892. According to the Sanskrit musala and the Mahāvyupatti. The Chinese combines 9 and 10 as the tenth point. The verses that follow do not expand on the last analogy, but the commentary’s explanation (F.85.a.7) of these two last benefits is: “Their positive qualities progressively increase without being contaminated by the mud of saṃsāra’s defects, without gradually being worn down like the metal of a pestle, and without giving rise to suffering.”

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  893. Chinese: “their attainments are difficult to surpass.” See note #UT22084-055-001-2540.

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  894. Gilgit and Chinese: “without anguish or kleśas,” 其心無惱熱 (qi xin wu nao re).

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  895. Chinese: “always,” 常 (chang).

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  896. Does not appear in the Chinese.

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  897. At this point the Chinese has an additional two lines concerning discernment and wisdom.

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  898. This line does not appear in the Chinese.

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  899. The first half of this verse is absent in the later Sanskrit and the Tibetan. The Gilgit has: “He maintains what he has learned / And is presented with what he has not learned.” The order of qualities in this and the succeeding verse differs in the Tibetan from all three Sanskrit manuscripts.

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  900. In the Chinese this four-line verse is in a shorter form as the first half of a verse.

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  901. At this point, Dutt has a second half-verse that is said to be reconstructed from the Tibetan and absent in the Sanskrit (although these lines are not present in the Degé, their absence is not noted in the Pedurma, and they are not present in the Stok Palace): “When it comes time to die, / It is similarly fruitful for them.” The commentary does not gloss any of these verses. Here, the Chinese has: “In this way, after hearing the Dharma / They develop the Dharma they have heard. / They remember it constantly, / Day and night, without intermission.”

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  902. The commentary states that this refers to “the levels, the six perfections, and so forth.” The Chinese has “engage in the field of loving kindness,” 行慈境界.

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  903. According to the commentary, this means that in a state of meditation the senses are disengaged from their objects. The Chinese has “protected,” 守護 (shou hu).

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  904. Chinese: “bliss without food.” “Without food” is a synonym for the meditative state.

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  905. The Tibetan here has bsam gtan (as in the prose opening on this topic), while the Sanskrit has samādhi both here and in the last line of the preceding verse.

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  906. According to the commentary, this means that there is no conceptualized fixation upon the diligent activity of body, speech, or mind.

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  907. Chinese: “Their minds cannot be swayed by other views,” 於他言論其心不動 (yu ta yan lun qi xin bu dong).

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  908. The commentary explains that involvement with the composite is like darkness and the bodhisattvas’ wisdom is like a light that eliminates that darkness. The Chinese here has: 能達生死海底 (neng da sheng si hai), literally, “they have reached the bottom of the ocean of life and death,” which means, “they know the depth of the ocean of saṃsāra” or “they transcend saṃsāra.”

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  909. These two qualities are the ninth and tenth benefits in the Chinese.

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  910. This does not appear in the Chinese.

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  911. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. Here the Sanskrit has vimukta (“liberation”) instead of the earlier vivikta (“isolation”).

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  912. “Wise” does not appear in the Chinese.

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  913. According to the Sanskrit, here māra is in the singular, while earlier it was in the plural. Neither is indicated in the Tibetan or Chinese.

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  914. Chinese: “They are unswayed by other views.”

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  915. According to the Sanskrit gādha. The Tibetan has gting, “depth.” The Chinese uses the expression, “have reached the bottom of (the ocean of) life and death (compare #UT22084-055-001-2581),” to mean “knowing the depth of samsara, or the composite.” Gādha translated into Chinese can mean “shallowness” or “depth.”

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  916. Chinese: “faith and wisdom.”

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  917. Chinese: “They know the kleśas.”

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  918. Chinese: “They know purification.”

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  919. According to the Sanskrit pratiṣthate (“to be upon”) and the Yongle and Peking Kangyur sten (“to rely upon”). The Degé has ston (“teach”).

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  920. The commentary explains that this means that they dedicate the merit they have to the beings who do not have that merit. The Chinese translates as “portion of merit.”

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  921. According to the Sanskrit singular form. The Chinese has “realms.”

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  922. According to the later Sanskrit manuscripts and the Tibetan. The Gilgit has “the highest.” Chinese: “as the Buddha has taught.”

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  923. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit bodhimaṇḍaṃ samārūḍha means, “He has taken his seat upon the Bodhimaṇḍa.”

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  924. According to the commentary, the dwelling of the Buddha is emptiness.

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  925. According to the Tibetan mi gnas pa. The BHS aniśrita and the Chinese could be translated as “nondependent.”

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  926. The Chinese adds “of any kind.”

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  927. According to the Sanskrit parmāṛṣati and the Chinese 於戒不取 (yu jie bu qu). Translated into Tibetan as mchog tu ’dzin pa (literally, “holding as supreme”). According to the commentary this means there is freedom from the concepts of a self who maintains conduct, a conduct that is being maintained, and a goal that is to be achieved through that conduct. Śīla­vrata­parāmarśa (tshul khrims dang brtul zhugs mchog tu ’dzin pa), “clinging to conduct and observance,” is one of the four kinds of attachment (upādana, len pa) as well as one of the ten fetters (saṃyojana, kun tu sbyor ba).

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  928. Commentary: “they see the empty nature of all things.” Chinese: “they are without conflict.”

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  929. According to the commentary: “they remain in the meditation of emptiness, which is detached, separate, or isolated from all kleśas.” Chinese: “detached from all bad matters.”

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  930. According to the commentary, disparaging the Buddha means claiming that the Buddha’s true teaching was the existence of individuals, and so on, instead of the emptiness of all phenomena.

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  931. Chinese: “all white, pure Dharma.”

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  932. Chinese: “have immaculate conduct,” 成就無漏戒 (cheng jiu wu lou jie), from anāsravaśīla.

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  933. According to the Sanskrit and the prose section. The Tibetan adds “path” here, making it the superior, or noble, path rather than a superior being.

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  934. The Chinese has a different version of the second half of the verse: “They will not be born in lower realms, 不生惡道中 (bu sheng yu er dao zhong) / And will always remain within noble families 常安住聖種 (chang an zhu sheng zhong).”

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  935. Chinese: “There is no fixation on the bliss of dhyāna,” 不依禪定樂 (bu yi chan ding le).

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  936. Sanskrit: aniśrita (“nondependent”). Chinese: “teachings on emptiness.”

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  937. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has āryas (the superior, noble ones). The Chinese has “buddhas and āryas” (佛勝人, fo sheng ren).

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  938. According to the Sanskrit and Tibetan. The commentary, however, has chos (“Dharma”) instead of the similarly sounding spyod (“conduct”). However, the definition of it as both “realization” and “scriptural transmission” indicates that it was “Dharma” in the Sanskrit commentary.

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  939. According to the commentary: “they do not have any doubt as to whether the Buddha’s wisdom exists, or their ability to attain it.” Chinese: “wisdom of the Buddha.”

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  940. According to the commentary this means engaging in looking at the Buddha, paying homage to him, making offerings to him, and so on, as a result of knowing the qualities that come from hearing, contemplating, and meditating on the Dharma. The Chinese has only “they have gratitude.”

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  941. Chinese: “disparage,” 謗 (bang).

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  942. According to the commentary these are the kleśas and karma that arise from ignorance, aversion, and attachment.

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  943. The Tibetan has the plural here, while the Sanskrit is in the singular, as in other lines of this passage. For this translation, as in many other similar passages, the plural has been preferred because it avoids the use of gender-specific pronouns.

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  944. According to the commentary, this means the four noble truths. The Chinese does not have “four.”

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  945. According to the commentary, this is referring to “households from which they receive food on their alms rounds, maintaining equanimity or impartiality toward them all.” Chinese: “they are devoid of attachment and aversion.”

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  946. According to the Sanskrit nirāmiṣa and the commentary. The Tibetan translates vaguely as zang zing (“material goods”). Āmiṣa can mean gifts in general and also specifically food. The Chinese integrates this into the previous point. Chinese: “They teach the Dharma without expectation of food.”

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  947. Chinese: “These are the qualities of austere mendicancy.”

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  948. Chinese: “These are the qualities of austere mendicancy.”

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  949. This verse is absent in the Chinese.

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  950. The beginning of this chapter, up to this point, is absent in the Chinese.

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  951. “In order to explain this topic” does not appear in the Chinese.

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  952. According to the Sanskrit. Absent in the Tibetan.

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  953. This is a reference to the Haṃsajātaka, the story of the Buddha’s previous life as a goose king named Dhṛtarāṣṭra who taught the Dharma to a king and queen.

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  954. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit vihaga is usually a generic word for “birds.”

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  955. According to the commentary this is referring to the Samkhya view of a puruṣa (“individual”) and his or her jīva (“soul”), which keeps them bound to prakṛti (“nature”). Chinese: “lifespan,” 壽 (shou).

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  956. According to the Sanskrit nara, Chinese 人 (ren), and Yongle, Peking, Lithang, Narthang, and Cone Kangyurs mi. Degé: ming (“name”).

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  957. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has phena (“foam”), and this is matched by the Tibetan of the commentary (dbu ba). The Tibetan may therefore have been translated according to a variant Sanskrit manuscript not represented today.

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  958. Instead of “dreams / foam or a plantain tree,” the Chinese has “like a wild horse.”

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  959. At this point in the Shastri manuscript there is a verse that begins, “The three realms are like a dream…” which is absent in the Gilgit, Chinese, Tibetan, and the Hodgson manuscript, and yet is quoted by Candrakīrti in the seventh century.

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  960. Chinese: “six.”

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  961. According to the BHS nipuṇa. The Tibetan translates incorrectly according to its classical Sanskrit meaning mkhas pa (wise, or skillful). Absent in the Chinese.

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  962. In this and the following verses, there is much word-play in both Sanskrit and Tibetan between the closely related (see glossary) terms for “movement” or “going” (Sanskrit gati, Tibetan ’gro), and “mode” (Sanskrit gatī, Tibetan ’gros).

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  963. According to the BHS nipuna and the Chinese 微細 (wei xi). The Tibetan translates incorrectly according to its classical Sanskrit meaning mkhas pa (“wise,” “skillful”).

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  964. Chinese: “true.”

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  965. According to the Sanskrit nipurṇārtha. The Tibetan has zhi ba’i don (“peaceful meaning”). The Sanskrit nipurṇārtha is sometimes translated into Chinese as “true,” and sometimes as “subtle.” Here it is translated as “mode of true meaning,” 真義道 (zhen yi dao).

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  966. The Chinese has a different order for this and the preceding three verses.

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  967. According to the Gilgit manuscript tada, and the commentary; does not appear in the Shastri. The Hodgson has sadā, and the Tibetan has translated from sadā as rtag (“always”), which does not seem to fit the context.

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  968. Here the synonym “Jambudhvaja” (Jambu Banner) is used. The Chinese has “Jambudvīpa,” 閻浮提 (yan fu ti).

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  969. In the Chinese there are an additional two lines to make the second half of a verse, about pursuing the bliss of bodhicitta.

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  970. In the Chinese there are an additional two lines to make the second half of a verse, about suffering and lack of faith.

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  971. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan has the obscure bla ma yi chad pa, presumably meaning “punishment from on high.”

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  972. Replaced by a different verse in the Chinese.

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  973. Chinese: “they guard their own fortune but rob others of their wealth.”

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  974. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has translated as mkhas pa (“wise”).

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  975. Chinese: “When they see a Dharma teacher make a small mistake, / They would exaggerate it and add hundreds or thousands more to it.” 若見法師少過失，增長加說百千種 (ruo jian fa shi shao guo shi, zeng zhang jia shuo bai qian zhong).

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  976. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “do not praise.” Chinese: “do not get close to,” 勿親近 (wu qin jin).

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  977. According to the Sanskrit nirvrtti. The Tibetan translates as mnya nga las ’das pa (nirvāṇa). This verse does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  978. According to the Sanskrit rucira. The Tibetan perhaps translated from a text that had cūrna (“powders”) translated as “incense.”

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  979. This verse does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  980. According to the Sanskrit vipañcī. Apparently replaced in Tibetan by the word sna tshogs (“various”).

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  981. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has “wiped clean.” The Chinese has “skillfully made and adorned with precious materials,” 眾寶善巧而雕飾 (zhong bao shan qiao er diao shi).

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  982. This verse is absent in the Gilgit manuscript and the Chinese.

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  983. This verse is absent in the Gilgit manuscript and the Chinese.

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  984. Absent in the Chinese.

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  985. In the Chinese, this verse is followed by an additional verse about offerings.

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  986. Sanskrit: śila. These are ammonite shell fossils, of great significance and value in India.

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  987. From the Sanskrit ghana. The Tibetan appears to have translated from a manuscript that had dhāna (“grain”).

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  988. Sanskrit sīhanukāḥ, Tibetan seng ge can rin chen. The meaning is obscure.

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  989. No number in the Chinese.

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  990. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “hundreds.”

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  991. Chinese: “There were hundreds and thousands (or many hundred thousands) of other kinds of hardship, which I endured to the point that my body was totally exhausted.”

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  992. Chinese: “How did I attain this samādhi? By freeing others from hundreds and thousands of kinds of suffering.”

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  993. According to the Sanskrit, in which, in all manuscripts, there is the adjective maitraka. The commentary glosses this as meaning Maitreya after he has attained buddhahood. The Tibetan rgyal ba byams pa grags pa mtha’ yas could be translated as “infinitely famous Jina Maitreya,” and possibly, “the Jina with infinitely famous kindness.”

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  994. “Infinite fame” does not appear in the Chinese.

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  995. According to the Tibetan, presumably translating from manuja and the Chinese 人. The Sanskrit has maruta, which is a synonym for “the devas.”

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  996. According to the Tibetan ’byung po and the Gilgit manuscript bhūta. The Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts have deva. The Chinese has a combination of two words: “spirits” and “worldly gods,” 鬼神.

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  997. Chinese: “Do not have a mind of love and desire.”

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  998. According to the Sanskrit gira and the Yongle and Peking Kangyurs dbyangs. Other Kangyurs have the incorrect dbyings. Chinese: “delightful voice.”

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  999. According to the Sanskrit krauñca. The Tibetan translation is khrung khrung, which usually means “the crane.” Sanskrit dictionaries normally identify this as “the curlew.” The Mahāvyutpatti has krung krung for krauñca.

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  1000. The Chinese does not have “crane,” but has “peacocks, avadavats, and various musical instruments.”

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  1001. This refers to the sixteen vowels and thirty-four consonants in Sanskrit. The Chinese describes the voice as the melodious sounds of geese, bells, and drums blended with the sound of a hundred musical instruments.

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  1002. According to the Tibetan grong. The Sanskrit has kula (“families”).

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  1003. Chinese: “every family who has come to pay their respects all praise them,” 往詣家家皆讚歎.

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  1004. This verse is followed in the Chinese by an additional verse about rebirth in Sukhāvatī.

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  1005. According to the Tibetan, presumably from supraśāntamana. The Sanskrit has suviśuddhamana (“a pure mind”).

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  1006. The Sanskrit is in the singular, the Tibetan in the plural. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1007. These are taught in the Sūtra of the Ten Bhūmis (see bibliography).

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  1008. This verse is not in any of the Sanskrit sources, nor in the Chinese, but is glossed in the commentary.

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  1009. These are taught in,the Tathāgatotpattisambhavanirdeśa (“The Teaching on the Emergence of the Tathāgata”), chapter 43 in the Avataṃsaka Sūtra.

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  1010. According to the commentary, power over life means that the bodhisattva can remain alive for countless eons.

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  1011. According to the commentary, power over karma means that the bodhisattva can control the time when it ripens.

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  1012. According to the commentary, power over materials means that the bodhisattva can adorn many worlds.

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  1013. According to the commentary, power over devotion means that the bodhisattva can see all worlds filled with buddhas.

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  1014. According to the commentary, power over aspiration means that the bodhisattva can choose the time and world of his buddhahood.

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  1015. According to the commentary, power over miracles means that the bodhisattva can manifest every kind of miracle.

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  1016. According to the commentary, power over birth means that the bodhisattva can manifest taking birth in every world.

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  1017. According to the commentary, power over Dharma means that the bodhisattva can teach every kind of Dharma.

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  1018. According to the commentary, power over mind means that the bodhisattva is able to remain in countless samādhis.

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  1019. According to the commentary, power over wisdom means that the bodhisattva can without fear teach the understanding of all the strengths of the Buddha. This verse is not in any of the Sanskrit sources, or in the Chinese, but is glossed in the commentary.

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  1020. This verse is absent in the Chinese.

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  1021. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “He obtains the highest happiness, the happiness of dhyāna, the noble happiness.” Chinese: “nirvāṇa.”

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  1022. According to the Sanskrit akhila (“complete,” “without a gap”) and the Yongle and Peking Kangyurs dag (“pure,” “correct”). Other Kangyurs have dge (“virtuous”).

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  1023. Chinese: “restrain the sense faculties.”

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  1024. According to the Tibetan and the Shastri manuscript priyabhaṇi. Other Sanskrit manuscripts: priyavāṇi.

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  1025. The Sanskrit and Chinese add “and truthfully.”

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  1026. Chinese: “pride.”

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  1027. Chinese: “patient,” and also “they remain honest, avoid sharp language, and are lovable.”

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  1028. This verse is expanded into two in the Chinese.

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  1029. “Like a kinnara’s song” does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1030. Chinese: “Their voice is like five hundred kinds of pleasant sounds,” 亦如五百美妙音 (yi ru wu bai mei miao yin).

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  1031. Chinese: “Their fame spreads into numerous worlds,” 名聞遍彰諸世間 (min wen pian zhang zhu shi jian).

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  1032. This verse is in the Tibetan, and referred to in the commentary. It is in the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts, but does not appear in the Gilgit or Chinese.

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  1033. Chinese: “they have wisdom and miraculous power,” 智慧及神足 (zhi hui ji shen zu).

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  1034. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary. The Tibetan in all Kangyurs has gzugs in error for gzungs.

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  1035. Chinese: “they know dhāraṇīs and have reached the other shore” (or “the way to reach the other shore”), 總持到彼岸 (zong chi dao bi an).

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  1036. Chinese: “They know how to cure kleśas.”

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  1037. Chinese: “they are skilled in removing poisonous arrows.”

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  1038. The Sanskrit adds: “and a jina.” This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1039. This verse does not appear in the Chinese, which has another verse about the quality of non-attachment and being worthy of offering.

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  1040. Chinese: “the skandhas are empty in nature.”

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  1041. Chinese: “lions.”

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  1042. Chinese: “The strength of their patience is as vast as Mt. Meru.”

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  1043. The Degé and other Kangyurs of the tshal pa group have the verb of this sentence as mi gtong (“not letting go”), which would not make much sense. The Stok Palace Kangyur has mi mthong (“not seeing”), closer to the sense of the Sanskrit and the commentary.

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  1044. In the Chinese this verse is followed by an additional verse concerning knowing the three times and the three realms.

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  1045. These are, according to the commentary, the four retentions (dhāraṇīs), which might mean either of the two sets of four (see glossary). The commentary has gzugs (“forms,” or “bodies”) in error for gzungs.

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  1046. The Sanskrit has “ten million māras.” This verse is present in the Tibetan, and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts, but absent in the Gilgit and Chinese.

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  1047. This verse is present in the Tibetan, and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts, but absent in the Gilgit and Chinese.

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  1048. Conclusion of fascicle 6 in the Chinese.

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  1049. According to the Tibetan byi dor bya ba yongs su sbyang ba. The Sanskrit pari­karma­dhāraya could be translated as “maintaining or gaining the preparation for.”

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  1050. This paragraph is in a simpler form in the Gilgit and Chinese.

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  1051. See also #UT22084-055-001-2634.

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  1052. According to the main classical meaning of vivekadarśana and its description and translation, or gloss, in the commentary as de bzhin nyid mthong ba. The Tibetan translates according to its alternate meaning of “separation,” dben pa.

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  1053. The five “aggregates” mentioned here are the “five undefiled aggregates” (Tibetan zag med kyi phung po lnga, known in Sanskrit according to Mahāvyutpatti 103 as the “five aggregates of those equal to the unequaled ones,” asamasama­pañca­skandhaḥ). See glossary under “aggregate of correct conduct.” The Gilgit manuscript adds here “insight into the empty nature of all phenomena,” which is absent in the later Sanskrit manuscripts and the Tibetan.

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  1054. According to the Tibetan of the commentary, the Sanskrit, and the Chinese. The Tibetan of the sūtra has “emptiness.”

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  1055. According to the Sanskrit na durlabhāḥ and the Chinese. The Tibetan has dkon ma yin (“are not rare”), perhaps in a scribal error of dkon for dka’.

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  1056. There is a play on words here that is lost in translation, as phenomena and the Buddha’s teaching are both called “dharma.” The commentary explains that this is because the nature of phenomena (dharmatā) is such that no phenomenon ever transcends its nature of emptiness.

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  1057. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1058. According the commentary and the Sanskrit yāvanta. The Tibetan ’jig rten (“worldly”) in the sūtra may be a translation of a corruption in a Sanskrit manuscript. Chinese: “various.”

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  1059. According to the commentary, the Sanskrit, and the Chinese. The sūtra’s Tibetan has sangs rgyas sgra (“the word buddha”), perhaps translating from buddhaśabda in error for buddhadharma. Also, throughout this passage, Dharma is in the plural, meaning “the numerous Dharma teachings,” though rendered here into English as singular.

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  1060. The Gilgit manuscript has a verse 26 (anāsravā hi te dharmā […] nena ucyanti hi / stṛtā aparyāpannā daśadiśe eṣā buddhan deśanā) that does not appear in the Hodgson, Shastri or Tibetan, but is present in the Chinese.

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  1061. According to the Sanskrit pratibhāsa, the commentary, and the Chinese. The Tibetan here has mig yor (“mirages” or “optical illusions,” as defined by the tshig mdzod chen mo), another meaning of pratibhāsa, and the Mahāvyupatti gives mig yor as the equivalent, while gzugs brnyan (“reflection”) is given as the equivalent of pratibimba. Pratibhāsa and pratibimba both appear in the same list of types of illusory appearances, where pratibhāsa evidently does not mean “reflection.” The etymology of mig yor makes it unlikely that the Tibetan translator intended it to mean “reflection.”

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  1062. I.e., rūpakāya (“form body”).

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  1063. Here the word for “body” in Sanskrit is vigraha and not kaya. The Tibetan translates as lus gzugs (“body-form”). Chinese: “shapes and forms / images,” 形像 (xing xiang). The Sanskrit vigraha is variably translated as “images,” “shapes,” “body,” and so on.

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  1064. The plural forms of dharmakāya and buddha are in accordance with the Sanskrit. The Tibetan and Chinese could be either singular or plural.

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  1065. The Gilgit manuscript has a verse 34 (aprāpti [prāpti] nirdiṣṭā sattvānāṃ jñātva āśayam / yo sandhābhāṣyottarate na so kena vihanyate) that does not appear in the Hodgson, Shastri, or Tibetan. It is present in the Chinese.

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  1066. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan has the synonym rgyal ba’i sras (jinaputra).

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  1067. The Chinese has simply “no attachment.”

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  1068. Intentional change from singular to plural.

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  1069. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit and Chinese: “practiced by all the buddhas.”

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  1070. According to the Tibetan. Not present in the Sanskrit or Chinese.

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  1071. According to the Tibetan and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts. According to the Gilgit manuscript and the Chinese it would be “And they attain the highest enlightenment.”

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  1072. According to the Sanskrit vṛkṣa and the Chinese “marvelous trees,” 復化作妙樹 (fu hu zuo miao shu). The Tibetan has zhing (“realm”), which appears to be a scribal corruption of shing (“tree”), though a translation from a manuscript corruption to kṣetra is possible.

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  1073. According to the Sanskrit saharṣika, which is an obscure term, but presumably adjectival from saharṣa (“delight”). The Tibetan translates as pu shu bcas, (“having harṣa” which would still seem to mean “having delight”) with pu shu meaning “the water gutter” usually, but can mean “balcony” or “upper level.” The Chinese has no adjective.

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  1074. Sanskrit vimāna. This term, while it can generally mean “a palace” may refer, as it seems to here, to a particular architectural style. Vimāna is a South Indian term (South Indian terminology appearing to be distinctively present in a number of sūtras), with the northern equivalent being śikhara. It means “a tapering tower with progressively smaller stories of pavilions.”

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  1075. According to the Sanskrit puṣkariṇī. The Tibetan translates simply as “ponds.” The Chinese has literally, “flower ponds,” implying, as does the Sanskrit, “lotuses.”

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  1076. According to the Tibetan and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts (upalambhika). The Gilgit and Chinese have tīrthikas.

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  1077. This verse is in the Tibetan and the later Sanskrit manuscripts, but not in the Gilgit. However, it is present in the Chinese.

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  1078. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1079. According to the Sanskrit. Tibetan: “That which is a concept is taught.”

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  1080. According to the Gilgit, Chinese, and the Shastri manuscript. The Hodgson manuscript has “The nature of conceptions is wisdom” (with jñāna in error for jñāta); the Tibetan translates accordingly.

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  1081. According to the Tibetan, the Hodgson manuscript, the Vaidya edition, and the Chinese. The Gilgit and Shastri manuscript do not have the negative na but have ca (“and”) instead.

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  1082. Chinese: 不寂者是想 (bu ji zhe shi xiang), “Conceptions are detachment”; 寂滅者是智 (ji mie zhe shi zhi), “Detachment is wisdom.” 若知想自性 (ruo zhi xiang zi xing), “If one knows the nature of conception,” 便離於諸想 (bian li yu zhu xiang), “Then he is free from conceptions.”

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  1083. Chinese: 名心盡法者 (ming xin jin fa zhe), “[though] the name and thought of cessation exist,” 盡中本無智 (jin zhong ben wu zhi), “there is no wisdom in [that] cessation.”

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  1084. According to the Tibetan sgra shes pa. The Sanskrit and Chinese have “knowledge of a level” (bhūmi; 地).

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  1085. According to the Tibetan and the Hodgson manuscript, which has saṃvṛti (“conventional” or “relative”). According to the Gilgit and Shastri, it is nirvṛti (extinction).

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  1086. According to the Tibetan dmigs pa med, and the Shastri manuscript nirālambhā. The Gilgit and Hodgson have nirābhogā, which in BHS means “without desire.” Chinese: “naturally free of defilements.”

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  1087. This line is missing in the Degé. The Chinese has “having faith in the teaching of the Buddha,” 於佛語決定 (yu fo yu jue ding).

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  1088. This verse is followed by an additional verse in the Chinese that is absent in all Sanskrit versions and the Tibetan.

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  1089. According to the Tibetan and the later Sanskrit manuscripts. The Gilgit has, “They roar the lion’s roar, / The inconceivable roar of the buddhas.”

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  1090. According to the Tibetan mtha’ yas. The Sanskrit analpa and the Chinese 無量 (wu liang) mean “a great number,” or “a multitude.”

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  1091. According to the Tibetan and the Shastri manuscript. The Gilgit, Hodgson, and Chinese have “domain of the bodhisattvas.”

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  1092. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit (atuliyanāyakānāṃ) could mean “offerings to the unequaled guides.” Chinese: “buddhas” 佛 (fo).

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  1093. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. “Teaching” does not appear in the Sanskrit.

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  1094. According to the Tibetan and the commentary’s explanation. The Sanskrit and Chinese have “stainless” (vimala; 無垢, wu gou ). The Tibetan has rgya che (“vast”) perhaps translating from a corruption in a Sanskrit manuscript from vimala to vipulya.

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  1095. According to the commentary, this means that one cannot color with thoughts the mind that is in the nondual state of the samādhi.

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  1096. Chinese: “ten.”

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  1097. According to the Tibetan ma chags. Sanskrit: anopalipta (“undefiled”); Chinese: “undefiled by the world.”

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  1098. This verse does not appear in the Chinese,

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  1099. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “will never dwell in…”

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  1100. The Chinese has a different version of the second half of this verse: “No beings in the three existences are comparable to them. / Only buddhas of the three existences are their equals.”

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  1101. According to the commentary this is referring, of the three realms, to the desire realm and the form realm, with the formless realm implied. Chinese: “rebirth in the gods’ realm,” 生天 (sheng tian).

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  1102. According to the Sanskrit svarga. The Tibetan has rgyal srid (“kingdom”), which from the context may be a translation of a corruption to rājya.

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  1103. According to the Tibetan spos. Sanskrit: saṃga (“meeting”).

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  1104. The following six verses are not present in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  1105. According to the Tibetan and the Chinese.

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  1106. Referring to the contemplation of that which is unpleasant. Chinese: “the unpleasantness of one’s own body.”

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  1107. Chinese: “born in the most excellent, wealthy, and prominent family,” 最勝賢善豪貴家 (zui sheng xian shan hao gui jia).

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  1108. According to the Sanskrit bahujana. Tibetan: g.yogs bran (“servants and slaves”). Chinese: “live in abundance with great wealth and extensive retinues,” 資生眷屬悉豐備 (zi sheng juan shu xi feng man).

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  1109. The Tibetan adds “and cowries.” Cowrie shells were used as currency in ancient India. Chinese: “abundant silver, gold, and all kinds of treasures / precious jewels,” 豐饒金銀具眾寶 (feng rao jin yin ju zhong bao).”

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  1110. According to the Tibetan. Hodgson manuscript: “And turn the Dharma wheel in thousands of buddha realms.” The Sanskrit could be interpreted as “unequaled buddha realms.” “Buddha realms” does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1111. Verse 205 is not present in the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “Unending, numerous hundreds of thousands of millions of beings / Who there hear of the roots of merit, / will also attain the highest aspiration to enlightenment / when the Jina, the great being, teaches the bodhisattva.” Chinese: “…teaches one bodhisattva.”

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  1112. The singular is in accordance with the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has the plural. The Chinese indicates neither.

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  1113. The Chinese does not mention Māra’s army, but has “subdues māras” (in the plural).

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  1114. According to the Sanskrit sattvā vijānanti and the Chinese. The Tibetan has presumably read it as sattvā-avijānanti, which includes the negative, and translates it “all beings do not know this.”

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  1115. There is a play on words here, as the Sanskrit for “phenomena” is “dharma” and the teaching given by a Buddha is also “Dharma;” also, the word “understood” here is budhyate.

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  1116. According to the BHS gatiṃgata, and the Chinese. Gatiṃgata is not translated consistently into Tibetan. Previously it was translated as rtogs pa khong du chud, and here its two elements are split up into ’gro ba and shes pa (“knowing states of existence”). There is here as elsewhere a play on words in using both gati (“state of existence”) and gatiṃgata (“complete understanding”).

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  1117. According to the Sanskrit sarvasya māyā. Hodgson: sarvepy māyā. The Tibetan appears to have been translated from a text that read as sarvasyāpāyā, translating as ngan song thams cad (“all lower realms”), which does not appear to fit the context. The Chinese has “lower realms” instead of “illusions” and reverses the order of the lines: “He is free from lower realms / And knows the characteristics of all dharma / phenomena,” 遠離於惡道，能知諸法相 (yuan li yu e dao, neng zhi zhu fa xiang).

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  1118. According to the Tibetan, and the Hodgson and Shastri manuscripts. This verse does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  1119. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit and Chinese have “These teachers of the Dharma.”

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  1120. Chinese: “Go to various worlds to benefit beings.”

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  1121. This verse is followed by an additional verse in the Chinese.

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  1122. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan has “main and intermediate directions.”

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  1123. According to the Sanskrit, taking prāsāda as the first part of a bahuvrīhi compound. The Tibetan translates as khang pa (“house”), which appears to be the meaning of prāsāda in verse 74 (the Tibetan khang pa is translated as “mansions”). The Chinese translation conforms with ideas of Chinese architecture.

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  1124. According to the Sanskrit harmya, which is usually translated into Tibetan as bsil khang (“cool room”) as it is designed to benefit from both shade and breeze. Here the Tibetan translates it as pu shu, which in verse 74 was used to translate saharṣika.

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  1125. According to the Sanskrit. Translated here as stegs bu, which can mean “a turret,” although according to the Mahāvyupatti it should be ba gam, which has a range of meanings from “dome” to “tower.”

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  1126. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan here has “and incense in censers,” which appears to be a corruption brought in from the first line of the next verse. The Chinese has 香瓶 (xiang pin) “and so on,” which could be interpreted as “incense and vases” or “vases of fragrances.”

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  1127. According to the Gilgit gandhena. The Hodgson is corrupted and the Shastri has dhūpena in agreement with the Tibetan bdugs pa, repeating “incense.”

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  1128. According to the Tibetan, Hodgson, and Shastri. Gilgit: “spreads to the summit of the sky.” The Chinese translation is roughly “spread out [to] the beautiful platform of clouds,” and therefore corresponds more to the Gilgit version.

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  1129. Literally, “a thousand ten-million,” which would be “ten billion.” The translation here follows the spirit of a poetic description of a great number rather than a mathematically precise enumeration of realms. Chinese: 千世界, literally, “one thousand worlds.”

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  1130. Could also be translated as “thorn,” as in the Chinese.

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  1131. According to the Tibetan and BHS doṣaśalya (“the pain of faults / wickedness”). The BHS doṣa is the equivalent of the Classical Sanskrit dveṣa (“anger”), while doṣa in Classical Sanskrit means “fault” or “wickedness.” The Tibetan appears to have been translating from tṛṣna or perhaps chanda instead of śalya. The Chinese has “the kleśa of anger.”

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  1132. According to the Sanskrit mohajālaṃ and the Chinese. The Tibetan appears to have translated from a manuscript that had mahājālam (“great net”).

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  1133. The number of seats in Chinese is 億 (yi), which can mean a wide range of numbers, but many scholars simply interpret the term as an expression of “numerous.”

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  1134. The specific number of ten million cannot be intended here, because there would not be enough cloths for the seats!

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  1135. There is considerable variation between the Gilgit (which does not have in this verse the words “beautiful seats,” but only their descriptions), the Shastri, and the Hodgson (though they both agree in also having parasols as an adornment, which is absent in the Tibetan). The Tibetan is closest to the Hodgson, though the Tibetan translation has literally, “cloths adorned by the lattices of jewels,” and omits the parasols.

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  1136. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan does not have the word “seats,” which appears instead in the previous verse.

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  1137. The Sanskrit has “pure uragasāra.”

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  1138. According to the Sanskrit daṇḍa. The Tibetan translates as yan lag (“branches”).

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  1139. The Sanskrit pañjara usually means “an enclosing cage.” The Tibetan has khog pa, which means “interior.” However, the leaves are the part of the lotus that is usually described in this way, and pañjara may be an early corruption in the text, perhaps of palāśa.

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  1140. Sanskrit: girigarbha, (“mountain essence”). Tibetan: dpal gyi snying po can (“glorious essence”). The Hodgson has sirigarbha, which is a corruption. The Tibetan appears to have translated from śrīgarbha. This appears to be a synonym for aśmagarbha (“stone-essence”), which is an emerald. The commentary repeats ’dab ma, though this can mean “leaves” as well as “petals.” Compare with the Ten Bhūmi Sūtra in which a lotus has a beryl stem, a pericarp of sandalwood, emerald stamens, and leaves of gold. The Chinese has “stems and leaves of crystal, and stamens of gold.”

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  1141. Absent in the Gilgit, Shastri, Hodgson, and Tibetan. The Chinese has a combination of this and the following verse.

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  1142. According to the Tibetan and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts. The Gilgit has śakunta (“jays”).

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  1143. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has “unsurpassable,” as in the preceding and following verses.

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  1144. Three verses here (this one and the following two) are absent in the Gilgit manuscript and the Chinese, but present in the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts, and the Tibetan.

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  1145. This verse is followed in the Chinese by an additional verse summarizing the marvelous decorations and sights.

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  1146. This verse is followed in the Chinese by an additional verse stating that these decorations are blessings from the Buddha to benefit beings.

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  1147. Chinese: “grasping.”

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  1148. According to the Tibetan and the Hodgson manuscript.

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  1149. This verse is followed by an additional verse in the Chinese that reiterates that there should be no doubt and that strong faith will surely lead to rebirth in Sukhāvatī.

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  1150. According to the Tibetan, Hodgson, and Shastri. The Gilgit has “this supreme realm.”

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  1151. This verse is expanded into two verses in the Chinese.

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  1152. Chinese: “pure conduct.”

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  1153. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has “practitioners who are Dharma protectors.” In the Chinese, “in later times” is absent and this verse is followed by six additional verses.

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  1154. In the Gilgit manuscript, the prose is absent from this point until “Young man, in the past…” (#UT22084-055-001-3397).

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  1155. In the Chinese the prose up to this point is absent.

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  1156. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan appears to translate as “more innumerable than innumerable.”

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  1157. The Chinese has three synonymous phrases.

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  1158. The Chinese refers to him in this chapter as “bhikṣu.”

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  1159. Chinese: “he composed melodious verses on…”

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  1160. According to the Sanskrit saṃgīti. The Tibetan rol mo usually means “music.” In the Chinese, “The apsarases engaged in singing divine songs” is absent.

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  1161. According to the Sanskrit; absent in the Tibetan.

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  1162. The Sanskrit here is specifically in the dual form hastau, meaning both hands, although the preceding prose specifies his right hand only. The Tibetan and Chinese have no specific plural form and so could be read as singular. This appears to be an instance of inconsistency revealing the different authorship of verses and prose. For consistency in English the singular of “hand” is used here.

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  1163. According to the Sanskrit pūti, the Chinese, and the commentary rul pa. In the Tibetan version of the sūtra there is a scribal corruption of rul pa (“rotten”) to rus pa (“bones”).

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  1164. The Chinese has some variation in the preceding two verses and they are followed by an additional verse.

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  1165. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan and Chinese omit “sandalwood.” The Chinese has “incense.”

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  1166. In the Chinese this verse is followed by an additional verse.

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  1167. Sanskrit: kinnaras, apsarases, and mahoragas.

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  1168. Chinese: “All became men.”

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  1169. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan associates “all” with “worlds.” The Chinese does not indicate singular or plural.

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  1170. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has saṃlekhaguṇa (“the qualities / disciplines of austerity”).

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  1171. In the Chinese, at this point fascicle 7 comes to an end in the Taisho edition, and fascicle 8 in the Song, Yuan, Ming, Gong, and Sheng editions.

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  1172. From the Sanskrit avaropayāmi. The Tibetan is bskyed (“generate,” “create”).

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  1173. The Chinese version of this sentence differs.

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  1174. From the Sanskrit aśāṭhyena (literally “without craftiness”) and the Chinese. The Tibetan translation g.yo ba med pa could otherwise be understood as meaning “unwaveringly.”

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  1175. According to the Sanskrit sevitavyā bhjitavyāḥ.

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  1176. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary, which mentions correct conduct. The Tibetan omits the qualifying characteristics, which obscures the meaning. “Good qualities and wisdom” does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1177. According to the Sanskrit visaradena. Translated into Tibetan as g.yo ba med pa.

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  1178. According to the BHS (īrya), the commentary (spyod lam), and the Chinese 威儀. In the Tibetan of the sūtra it is translated as g.yo ba (“movement,” “wandering”), which is one meaning of īrya but does not fit the context well.

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  1179. The Sanskrit and Chinese have here the additional sentence, “He was wise in certainty in meaning,” which is absent in the Tibetan version of the sūtra and the commentary.

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  1180. Tibetan: gsong por smra. The BHS has pūrvabhilāpī (“respectfully”). In Sanskrit this is followed by, “He had a smiling face,” which is absent in the Tibetan but incorporated to make a single sentence in the Chinese.

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  1181. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary. The Tibetan here has “blood and flesh,” which does not appear to fit the context. Chinese: “fresh blood of a young virgin.”

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  1182. According to the Sanskrit ācārya and the Tibetan of the commentary slob dpon. The Tibetan has ’phags pa (“noble one”), which appears to be translated from a corruption of cācāryam (“and the ācārya”) to cāryam (“and the ārya”). Chinese: “She went to the king who then called the sick bhikṣu into the palace. He was seated in front of the king…”

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  1183. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan omits the negative, and gang could be misunderstood as a personal pronoun rather than the interrogative.

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  1184. According to the Tibetan, which specifies “red sandalwood” for candana, and translates kālānusārī literally as ’dusbrang (“following time”). The Chinese has simply “sandalwood.”

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  1185. This prose section does not appear in the Gilgit, Sanskrit, or Chinese, but is present in the Tibetan, and in the Hodgson and Shastri.

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  1186. The BHS sugatāna putrakāḥ appears to be specifically male as “sons of the sugatas,” although putra can be taken in the more general sense of “child.” The Tibetan translates as byang chub sems mo, specifically meaning a female bodhisattva, which accords with the use of the female personal pronoun, but although the female pronoun is used she is also described as having become irreversibly male.

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  1187. Translated into Tibetan in the sūtra and commentary as mar me mdzad, and therefore this may have been from a text that had dīpaṃkara instead of dīpaprabha, although that would be in contradiction with the standard account of Buddha Śākyamuni’s previous life as a student of Dīpaṃkara.

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  1188. This verse is in the Tibetan, the commentary, and the Shastri and Hodgson manuscripts, but absent in the Gilgit manuscript and the Chinese.

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  1189. According to the Tibetan and the BHS doṣa, which is the equivalent of the Classical Sanskrit dveṣa (“anger”), while the Classical Sanskrit doṣa means “fault” or “wickedness.” Chinese: “anger and pride,” though doṣa has been translated variably as “faults, pride, and anger.”

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  1190. These last three sentences are absent in the Gilgit manuscript and the Chinese.

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  1191. The Sanskrit has the obscure vitardda, while the Mahāvyutpatti gives vitardi and vedika as the corollary of the Tibetan stegs bu. A vedika is a raised platform, usually with a railing, around a building or stūpa.

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  1192. The Sanskrit niryūha, which the Mahāvyutpatti defines as sgo khang or ba gam according to context, is translated here as sgo khang.

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  1193. Sanskrit: toraṇa. Tibetan: rta babs. The name of the outer gateways for entering a courtyard, it was also an ornamental form above the doorways of a building.

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  1194. Sanskrit: gavakṣa. Tibetan: skar khung. Literally, “ox-eye.” This does not refer to the modern glass windows, but rather apertures, usually round, for the breeze or wind to pass through.

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  1195. Sanskrit: harmya. Tibetan: pu shu. The Tibetan has various meanings, such as “rainwater spouts,” but here probably means “the pavilion or upper room in a palace, open to cool breezes.”

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  1196. Sanskrit: kūṭāgāra. Tibetan: khang pa brtsegs pa. Here this means, not a building that has a tower, but the tower itself. Here the Tibetan has khang pa, “twice,” without an equivalent in Sanskrit, therefore probably a scribal error. Otherwise, according to the Mahāvyutpatti, khang pa could be a translation of kuṭikā, which could mean “a belvedere.”

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  1197. The description of the king and his palace does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  1198. According to the commentary. The sūtra translation omits “water.”

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  1199. According to the Sanskrit siddha-vidyādhara… and the commentary (grub pa dang rig pa ’dzin pa dang). The Tibetan of the sūtra has grub pa’i rig sngags ’chang.

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  1200. According to the Sanskrit. Omitted in the Tibetan.

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  1201. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan omits translating kiṃ, or has lost the word in ci in skyes bu’am ci (literally, “person or what?”) in a scribal omission, leaving only skyes bu’am (“person and”).

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  1202. According to the Sankrit. The Tibetan omits “It was inhabited by flocks of birds.” The commentary mentions them.

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  1203. The entire description of the forest does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  1204. According to the Sanskrit rājaputrāḥ. Literally, “king-sons.” The Tibetan translates as just “king,” omitting “sons.” The translation of the commentary also has just “king.”

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  1205. According to the Tibetan. Not present in the Sanskrit or the commentary.

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  1206. This paragraph is absent in the Chinese.

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  1207. Verses 6 to 14 in the Sanskrit have longer lines than the others, and each four-line verse in Sanskrit was therefore translated into eight lines of Tibetan. This English translation maintains the Tibetan verse structure, although the numbering (as elsewhere) is from the Sanskrit.

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  1208. According to the Sanskrit gandha and the Chinese. However, the Tibetan has sgra (“sound”) instead, which does not fit the context.

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  1209. According to the Sanskrit. Chinese: “ministers,” 大臣 (da chen).

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  1210. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary. The Tibetan numbering in the sūtra translation appears to be in disarray. Chinese: “36 yi,” 三十六億 (xan shi liu yi), which can be 360,000, or 36 million, or 360 million.

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  1211. According to the Sanskrit pṛṣṭhaḥ samanubaddhāni, and the Chinese.

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  1212. According to the Sanskrit doṣa and the Chinese. The Tibetan translation has dveṣa (“anger”), which seems to be an obvious error for this sentence.

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  1213. See the preceding note. The Chinese switches to “bondage,” 結縛 (jie fu).

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  1214. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit could be translated as: “The unequaled buddha heroes, dedicated to beings, / The heroes of the past, disseminated the supreme Dharma. / They will also appear in that way in future times. / Thereby, the son has gained the power of a king of the Dharma.”

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  1215. Gilgit: “strings of pearls.” Chinese: “jewels strung as long necklaces.” Includes the word 珠 (zhu), which can mean “pearls” or “pearl-shaped jewels.”

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  1216. Verses 29 to 33 in the Sanskrit have longer lines than the others, and each four-line verse in Sanskrit was therefore translated into eight lines of Tibetan. This English translation maintains the Tibetan verse structure, although the numbering (as elsewhere) is from the Sanskrit.

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  1217. The original assumes that the reader will know this refers to silver coins, the raupya—the origin of the present day rupee, which was itself tied to the value of silver until the end of the nineteenth century.

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  1218. This verse has an extra line in the Sanskrit (two extra lines in the Tibetan format) and here both the Hodgson and Shastri have an additional verse of offerings that is not present in the Tibetan, Gilgit manuscript, or the Chinese.

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  1219. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “vajras.”

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  1220. The Tibetan has nang las byung ba (“emerged from”) and the Sanskrit has antargata (“entered”), though in both cases the other verb is implied.

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  1221. This paragraph does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1222. According to the Sanskrit. Absent in the Tibetan.

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  1223. This paragraph does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript.

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  1224. The Chinese does not mention what the crowd saw.

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  1225. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit and Chinese: “eighty-four thousand.”

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  1226. According to the Tibetan. Not present in the Sanskrit or Chinese.

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  1227. The first two lines are divided into four in the Tibetan. This line does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1228. This verse does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript, but is present in the Chinese.

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  1229. According to the Tibetan, “Made joyous by the bhikṣu …”

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  1230. Chinese: “They all loved and sympathized with the bhikṣu.”

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  1231. From the Sanskrit suduṣṭa. The Vaidya online edition has sudṛṣṭa.

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  1232. Chinese: “At that time, driven by anger, I ordered someone to kill him.” 我時瞋心遣令殺 (wo shi chen xin qian ling sha).

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  1233. The commentary explains that as the bhikṣu’s body parts are not decomposing, the king believes him to still be alive and able to return to his former condition.

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  1234. According to the Sanskrit adoṣaduṣṭa, and in accordance with the commentary. The Tibetan has zhe sdang gtum med pa (“neither anger nor wrath”), translating in accordance with the BHS meaning of the phrase, which does not seem to fit the context here. There is a different verse here in the Chinese.

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  1235. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1236. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1237. This verse is in the Tibetan, the commentary and the Hodgson manuscript. It is absent in the Gilgit, Chinese, and Shastri.

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  1238. According to the Sanskrit sūrata and the Chinese 善調柔 (shan tiao rou); the Tibetan has nges in error for des.

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  1239. The Tibetan divides the Sanskrit four-line verses into eight-line verses from verses 63 to 65.

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  1240. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese; “tastes” has been omitted in Tibetan.

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  1241. The Tibetan and Chinese again divide the Sanskrit four-line verses into eight-line verses from verses 67 to 69.

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  1242. According to the commentary and the Sanskrit. The Kangyur has gnas (“places”), probably being translated from a scribal corruption of bhārya.

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  1243. This fourth line is according to the Tibetan, Chinese, Hodgson, and Shastri.

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  1244. This is according to the Gilgit manuscript. The addition of the line, “The bodhisattvas established in retention,” in the later versions creates an unequal number of lines in the verses. The extra line is in the Chinese, while retaining a four-line format.

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  1245. According to the Gilgit manuscript. Following later versions, this line would be in the next verse, where it clearly does not belong. Does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1246. The Chinese makes this a verse on the “three poisons” by speaking of anger in the third line instead of stupidity: 非非貪想非貪想 (fei fei tan xiang), 非非瞋想非瞋想 (fei fei chen xiang fei chen xiang), 非非癡想非癡想 (fei fei chi xiang fei chi xiang). In Chinese Buddhist literature, the word 癡 (chi) can mean either “stupidity” (as in 愚痴, yu chi) or “ignorance” (無明, wu ming, literally “not clear,” “not knowing”) or both. However, when refering to the “three poisons” 三毒 (san du), the word 癡 (chi) is used.

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  1247. This verse does not appear in the Gilgit or Chinese.

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  1248. The Tibetan and Chinese divide the Sanskrit four-line verses 78 and 79 into eight-line verses. This verse marks the end of fascicle 8 of the Taisho editon and fascicle 9 of the Song, Yuan, Ming, Gong, and Sheng editions.

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  1249. The verse literally says, “avoid both of those,” referring back to the verse on attachment and anger.

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  1250. This paragraph and the following ten verses, along with the prose paragraph they include, do not appear in the Gilgit or the Chinese.

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  1251. The Sanskrit is literally, pratyekajina.

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  1252. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has mṛtyu (“death”) instead of māra. Probably a scribal corruption in the Sanskrit, or perhaps a free translation, since Mṛtyu can also mean Yama, the lord of death, and by extension Māra.

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  1253. According to the BHS karvaṭaka, which is equivalent to the Sanskrit karvaṭa. They are defined as being the central administrative town for two to four hundred villages. It is also said to mean “a mountain village,” though that is not the meaning here. However, the Tibetan translation ri khrod means just “mountains,” which does not fit the context.

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  1254. This paragraph does not appear in the Gilgit or the Chinese.

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  1255. This sentence is simpler in the Gilgit and Chinese. Fascicle 9 in the Taisho edition, and fascicle 10 in the Song, Yuan, Ming, Gong and Sheng editions, begin here.

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  1256. This does not quite match the description of the princesses in palanquins, and simply “maidens” pulling the chariot, as given in the prose, perhaps indicative of different origins for these passages. Chinese: “Their chariots are completely covered in nets of gold,” 金網彌覆於車上 (jin wang mi fu yu che / ju shang).

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  1257. This verse is followed by an additional verse in the Chinese in which the sons elaborate on their reasons for refusal.

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  1258. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has “glorious svastikas and wheels.” This verse not in the Gilgit manuscript, but is present in the Chinese.

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  1259. From this point on in the verses, Supuṣpacandra is frequently referred to as Puṣpacandra, and once as Supuṣpa, presumably because of the verse meter. The Tibetan translates all as if they were Supuṣpacandra (me tog zla mdzes, “beautiful flower moon”), although, literally, Puṣpacandra would be me tog zla ba (“flower moon”) and Supuṣpa would be me tog mdzes pa (“beautiful flower”). The Chinese consistently translates the name as 善花月 (shan hua yue), the equivalent of Supuṣpacandra, except for three instances of Puṣpacandra 花月 (hua yue, flower moon). Rather than “beautiful,” it uses the word 善 (shan, “excellent,” “virtuous”) which in the Chinese perception is more befitting and dignified for a dharmabhāṇaka.

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  1260. This verse is not in the Gilgit manuscript, but is in the Chinese.

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  1261. This paragraph of prose and the subsequent nine verses are not in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  1262. According to the Sanskrit siddha-vidyādhara, and to the commentary (grub pa dang rig pa ’dzin pa dang). The sūtra translation has grub pa’i rig sngags ’chang.

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  1263. “Lord of birds” (Sanskrit, khagādhipa; Tibetan, bya rgyal) is usually a synonym for garuḍa.

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  1264. A group of lions is called a “pride.”

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  1265. The Degé here has bde in error for de, as in the Yongle and Peking Kangyurs.

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  1266. According to one of the meanings of the Sanskrit sāra, and the commentary. The Tibetan translation of the sūtra has snying po (“essence”).

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  1267. This sentence does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1268. Sanskrit: hā. Translated into Tibetan in the commentary as ha ha, and in the sūtra as kye ma.

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  1269. According to the Tibetan, which presumably translated from a manuscript with āścarya. The Shastri and Hodgson have ācārya (“master,” “spiritual teacher”).

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  1270. This and the twenty-six verses that follow are not in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  1271. The Sanskrit has also kinnaras .

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  1272. According to the Sanskrit vihvala. The Tibetan translation has mi dran (“without memory”).

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  1273. According to the Tibetan and the commentary. Sanskrit: “In a pure body come and teach beings.”

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  1274. According to the Sanskrit bho bho. The Tibetan translates as kye ma and kye kye. The commentary explains that this is an exclamation to keep someone’s attention.

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  1275. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary. The sūtra in Tibetan has a scribal corruption of gzungs to gzugs.

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  1276. The four-line verses from 14 to 27 in the Sanskrit are each made into eight-line verses in the Tibetan.

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  1277. The Degé has bcu (“ten”) in error for dang, which is in most Kangyurs. The Tibetan appears to have translated from a manuscript with bala (“strength”), while present manuscripts have vara (“supreme”).

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  1278. According to the Tibetan, which may have translated from a text that had vīrāya (“heroism”), or vīrayā (“heroically”), or less likely vīrya (“heroism”), or vira (“hero”). The Sanskrit has virajā (“stainless one”).

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  1279. According to the Sanskrit tṛṣṇāya and the Yongle and Peking sred pas. Other Kangyurs have srid pas (“by existence”).

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  1280. According to the Sanskrit. Another variation of the shorter form of Supuṣpacandra.

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  1281. These lines are actually from verse xxi, but in the Tibetan and in this translation have been moved forward to make the passage more readable in these languages.

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  1282. In the Tibetan, this line is erroneously repeated in a slightly different translation. That repetition has been avoided here.

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  1283. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has instead sattvān nātha (“lord of humans”).

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  1284. According to the Sanskrit. This line is absent in the Tibetan.

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  1285. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary. “Four” is omitted in the translation of the sūtra.

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  1286. According to the commentary’s sangs rgyas dang sangs rgyas ma yin pa’i sems can (“buddhas and beings who are not buddhas”). The sūtra translation has the obscure sangs rgyas sangs rgyas sems can (“buddhas, buddhas, beings”). The Sanskrit has buddhaputra-sattva (“bodhisattvas and beings”).

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  1287. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary. The Tibetan translation of the sūtra has just “tree.”

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  1288. According to the Tibetan; “quickly” is absent in the Sanskrit.

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  1289. According to the Sanskrit patitaṃ mṛttikaṃ. The Tibetan has shing bzhin ’gyel (“fallen like a tree”), presumably from a corruption in a Sanskrit manuscript of mṛttikaṃ (“dead”) to vṛkṣaṃ (“tree”).

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  1290. According to the Tibetan gnod byed. The Sanskrit has anitya (“transient,” “impermanent”).

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  1291. Chinese: “The world is destroyed by desires.”

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  1292. According to the Tibetan, which unusually here is in accord with the Gilgit jvara (“fever”) while the Shastri and Hodgson have jala (“net”).

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  1293. Chinese: “This fever and anxiety of the body and mind.”

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  1294. This is followed by an additional verse in the Chinese.

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  1295. The four-line verses from 108 to 115 in Sanskrit are each rendered as eight-line verses in the Tibetan and Chinese.

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  1296. This is followed by two additional verses in the Chinese.

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  1297. The Gilgit has padmaka (“cherry wood”).

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  1298. These two lines translated according to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has de yi rus pa sgrom ni byas par gyur / dge slong dag gis de yang der bsregs te, interpreting droṇa according to one of its other Sanskrit meanings of “bucket,” as sgrom (“box”) and seeming to mean that the bhikṣus then burned the relics, which is surely not the intended meaning; the verb here in the Sanskrit, māpita, meant “measure” or “amount,” as in the Pali equivalent doṇamāpaka. One droṇa is said to be roughly equivalent to 5 liters or 9.5 kilograms, and therefore this is a substantial amount of relics.

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  1299. Morning, noon, and evening.

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  1300. Chinese: “made offerings three times a day.” This is followed by two additional lines describing the offerings in the Chinese.

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  1301. Past, present, and future. Chinese: “To correct all the wrongdoings resulting from stupidity, he confessed in front of the stūpa.”

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  1302. The Chinese adds “tirelessly.”

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  1303. This line does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1304. The text suddenly switches to first-person narrator, the reason for this—that the Buddha was King Śūradatta in one of his previous lives—having been explained in verse 80 (#UT22084-055-001-3789) and to be repeated some verses later in verse 119 (#UT22084-055-001-3923).

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  1305. The text reverts briefly to the third-person narration at this point.

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  1306. The Gilgit and Chinese have “young man!” (kumāra; 童子, tong zi) instead of “Ānanda.”

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  1307. As throughout this translation, the bracketed verse numbers are those of the Sanskrit text; here, the order of the verses in the Tibetan differs and verses 119-120 appear below. In the Chinese, this verse is followed by an additional verse.

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  1308. According to the Sanskrit, the Tibetan of the commentary zhi ba’i rgyal po, and the Chinese 寂王佛 (ji wang fo). The Tibetan translation of the sūtra has zhi ba’i rgyal ba, which appears to have been a scribal corruption. A buddha of this name is briefly mentioned elsewhere in the Kangyur.

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  1309. This verse does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  1310. This is followed by an additional verse in the Chinese.

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  1311. According to the sūtra translation, Chinese, Shastri, and Gilgit susamvṛta. The commentary translates as bsdams (“restrained”), which is in accordance with the Dutt saṃbṛhita.

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  1312. The Chinese has: “the bodhisattva is learned in the Dharma, which is like a vast ocean, and has limitless merit.”

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  1313. According to the Sanskrit and the commentary. The sūtra translation has “below them.” The Chinese has “comparable.”

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  1314. The division of the lines into verses in this passage differs in the Chinese. The last line of this verse is the first of a Chinese verse that has three additional lines not present in the Sanskrit or the Tibetan.

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  1315. The Degé has zhing (“realm”) in error for zhi (“peace”).

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  1316. Translated according to the Sanskrit śrutasya and the Tibetan thos in the Narthang, Coné, Peking, Lithand and Yongle Kangurs. The Degé, Lhasa, and Stok Palace Kangyurs have stong (“thousand” or “empty”).

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  1317. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1318. In the Chinese this verse is followed by a short prose passage.

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  1319. From this point to the end of the chapter, each four-line Sanskrit verse is rendered in Tibetan as an eight-line verse.

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  1320. According to the Tibetan, presumably translating from a Sanskrit text that read adānta instead of the extant Sanskrit text’s sudānta, according to which this line would be translated as “They are tamed, perfectly tamed, and tamers of beings.”

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  1321. According to the Tibetan and the Hodgson. The Gilgit and the Shastri have, “pacified and follow the perfectly pacified.”

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  1322. According to the Sanskrit nairyāṇika. The Tibetan has simply ’byung bar ’gyur ba (“arising”).

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  1323. According to the Tibetan. The Sanskrit has “wild and intoxicated.”

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  1324. This verse is followed by an additional verse in the Chinese.

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  1325. The Chinese has, “They are supreme ones, leaders of the three realms.”

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  1326. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. The Tibetan has gsal (“clarity”).

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  1327. According to the Sanskrit jātyandha and the Chinese 生盲無所睹 (sheng mang wu suo du). The Tibetan has just “blind.”

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  1328. The Chinese has a different verse.

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  1329. According to the Tibetan. Sanskrit: “immeasurable.”

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  1330. According to the Sanskrit bahulīkartavya. The Tibetan mang du bya, a regular element in this list elsewhere, is missing here.

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  1331. According to the Sanskrit puṇya­balādhipataye and the Tibetan of the commentary bsod nams kyi dbang du gyur pa. The Tibetan translation of the sūtra has bsod nams kyi zhing du gyur pa (“becoming a field of merit”), which from the context appears to be an error.

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  1332. The prose up to this point does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1333. The Chinese version of this sentence is more detailed.

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  1334. According to the Sanskrit abhirata and the Tibetan dga’ zhing of the Narthang, Coné, Peking, and related Kangyurs. The Degé, Lhasa, and Stok Palace have dpa’ zhing (“heroic”), which may be a scribal corruption of dga’ zhing. but could also mean “were heroic” [with the strength of patience].

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  1335. In the Chinese the last line of this verse is the first line of a verse with three additional lines. The division into verses of this entire passage differs in the Chinese.

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  1336. The Chinese uses the analogies of a wild horse and foam.

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  1337. The commentary explains this verse at great length (18 pages in the Degé Tengyur, from F.239.a.1 to F.248.a.3).

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  1338. This verse is translated according to the Tibetan and accords with the Chinese.

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  1339. The order of this and the preceding verse is reversed in the Chinese.

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  1340. Chinese: “because.”

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  1341. The order of this and the preceding verse is reversed in the Chinese.

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  1342. Chinese: “moon on water.”

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  1343. The Chinese uses the name 善花 (shan hua), which translates Supuṣpa, the name of the bhikṣu in chapter 36, which appears to be a scribal error for 善化 (shan hua, Varapuṣpasa). The first character is the same, while the second characters sound very similar; one is “flower” 花 (hua, the first tone), the other one is “tamable” 化 (hua, the fourth tone): “transformation, transformable, teachable, tamed, tamable.” However, both Varapuṣpasa and Supuṣpa have been prophesied to become Maitreya.

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  1344. Chinese: “At that time King Supuṣpa (in error for Varapuṣpasa) had a son named …”

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  1345. In the Sanskrit, this interjection translated into Tibetan as a la la is actually hūṃ. Hūṃ, though presently associated with seed-syllables and mantras in tantric practice, in this context is clearly an expression of rejoicing. The Chinese has literally, “uttered loud voices and wept aloud.”

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  1346. The order of this and the preceding verse is reversed in Chinese.

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  1347. The Gilgit has “unblemished correct conduct” instead of “countless Dharma teachings.” The Chinese agrees with the Gilgit, but adds “thought” or “motivation.”

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  1348. The Gilgit has “said these words to him” instead of “felt great joy.” Chinese: “even when he went to visit Puṇyamatin.”

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  1349. Chinese: “The king…”

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  1350. Chinese: “The king…”

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  1351. The Sanskrit actually has an alternative version of his name: Maitraka. The Chinese has an alternative name as well, 慈尊 (ci zun), but the Chinese translation does not make a distinction between Maitreya and Maitraka.

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  1352. The Chinese has Supuṣpa, 善花 (shan hua).

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  1353. According to the BHS padumotturu, and the commentary’s pad ma’i mchog. The Tibetan translation of the sūtra has rkang gnyis gtso bo (“Chief of the two-legged”), perhaps translating from a corruption that included padma (“lotus”) becoming pada (“legs”).

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  1354. Chinese: “at the places of the jinas.”

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  1355. The Chinese adds: “flowers and incense.”

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  1356. The Sanskrit is vihāra, but here with its meaning of huts, forest abodes for renunciants. This is absent in the Chinese.

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  1357. According to the Sanskrit udāra and the Chinese. The Tibetan translates this as rgya che (“vast”) according to one of its other meanings.

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  1358. Conclusion of fascicle 9, in the Taisho edition.

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  1359. According to the commentary, which gives gold as an example. The Sanskrit kāṃsya, which the Tibetan translates as nor (“wealth”), means brass or bell metal, so that the phrase kāṃsya-kūṭa could literally mean “brass-fraud.” Edgerton (p. 175) defines the BHS equivalent kāṃsa-kūṭa as meaning someone who substitutes brass for gold.

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  1360. According to the commentary. The Sanskrit karṣaṇa (which could be translated as “dragging”) the Tibetan translates as gzung or omits.

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  1361. From the Sanskrit rhodana. The Tibetan omits or translates as gzung (“grasp”).

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  1362. From the Sanskrit taḍaṇa. The Tibetan translates as gtse (“harm”).

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  1363. According to the Tibetan bsdigs pa.

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  1364. The commentary specifies this means “cutting off hands, feet, ears, nose, and so on.”

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  1365. According to the Tibetan and Chinese.

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  1366. According to the Sanskrit upakleśa and the commentary’s nye ba’i nyon mongs. In the Chinese, instead of the usual translation for the Sanskrit upakleśa as 隨煩惱 (sui fan nao), the Chinese puts another word, “gathering after kleśa,” 煩惱聚 (fan nao ju), which can mean all aspects of kleśa, and will include both major and minor aspects: 遠離一切煩惱聚 (yuan li yi qie fa nao ju).

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  1367. This verse does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1368. Literally, “elephant king.” The Chinese simply has “the king.”

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  1369. Chinese: “The king gained supreme benefits”是王獲得最勝利.

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  1370. According to the Sanskrit ṛkṣa and the Chinese. The Tibetan translates as dred.

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  1371. According to the Sansrit prārthana. The Tibetan lists “accomplishment” and “aspiration” as separate qualities.

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  1372. According to the Sanskrit. Saṃṛddhi was translated into Tibetan as ’byor pa according to alternate meanings such as “wealth.”

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  1373. According to the Sanskrit of the Hodgson and Shastri. It is absent in the Gilgit and the Chinese.

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  1374. There is an additional first verse in the Chinese.

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  1375. This is followed by an additional verse in the Chinese, and another two lines about water flowing from the body.

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  1376. This and the other verses with Roman numerals do not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or the Chinese.

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  1377. This is followed by an additional verse in the Chinese.

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  1378. This paragraph does not appear in the Chinese.

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  1379. In the Chinese, in place of this paragraph there is a long prose passage on knowing all views in one instant.

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  1380. This verse is in the Hodgson manuscript and the Tibetan. It does not appear in the Chinese, or the Gilgit or Shastri manuscripts.

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  1381. The Chinese has a variation of this verse.

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  1382. According to the Sanskrit. Absent in the Tibetan.

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  1383. In the Tibetan this four-line verse is reduced to three lines.

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  1384. This verse does not appear in the Gilgit manuscript or in the Chinese.

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  1385. According to the Sanskrit and the Chinese. Absent in the Tibetan.

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  1386. Chinese: “have attained all the Dharma of the buddhas,” 得一切佛法 (de yi qie fo fa), and adds “have attained all higher cognitions,” 得一切神通 (de yi qie shen tong).

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  1387. The verses with Roman numerals are absent in the Gilgit manuscript and the Chinese.

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  1388. According to the Stok Palace reading log pa’i lta ba ngan dang mi grogs shing. The Degé has log pa’i lta ba phan dang mi grogs shing.

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  1389. According to the Sanskrit kaya-vāṅmanaḥ-saṃvara-parivartaḥ. The title does not appear in the Tibetan translation. The commentary divides this chapter into three chapters.

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  1390. According to the Sanskrit tṛṣṇa and the Chinese. The Tibetan has srid, which is a scribal error for sred.

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  1391. According to chapter 1, where the Sanskrit is satyānupraveśa, and the Chinese. In this chapter, the Sanskrit in all versions is sattvānupraveśa (“entering beings”) and is translated accordingly into Tibetan. This therefore appears to be a very early scribal error in the Sanskrit.

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  1392. The commentary explains this to mean the birthlessness of all letters, such as a. Otherwise, the identity of the three mantras is a mystery. Chinese: 三種語言 (san zhong yu yan), literally, “three kinds of languages,” which may mean “teachings” or “theories,” and may be a translation of the Sanskrit vāc or vākya.

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  1393. Does not appear in the Chinese, which has instead “the quality of being generous to beggars.”

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  1394. This is absent in the list of chapter 1, and in the commentary to that chapter. The commentary does not discuss the list in chapter 40, but this is also absent in the Sanskrit for that chapter. It is present in the Chinese as “the four noble truths.”

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  1395. According to the Tibetan des pa, the commentary, and the Sanskrit suratatā. Here there is dge ba instead of des pa, presumably the remainder of “correct conduct” listed in chapter 1 but missing here. The definition given here matches the commentary given for des pa in chapter 1. Chinese: “the face is always pleasant.”

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  1396. According to the Tibetan ’jam pa in chapter 1, and the Sanskrit mādhurya, which can also mean “sweet.” Here in chapter 40 there is mnyen pa, presumably from “tolerance” (mārdavatā), which was in the list of chapter 1 but is missing in this chapter. Chinese: 美妙言; the adjective 美妙 accords with mādhurya but adds 言 (yan, “speech / speak”) so that it means “gentle speech.”

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  1397. Chinese: “It is saying beneficial things to others.”

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  1398. In chapter 1, being welcoming is also in the list, and “standing up quickly” one would expect to be its definition. It may be that there was an early loss of the definition of “courteous.” Chinese: 先言善來速起迎接 (xian yan shan lai su qi ying jie), literally, “saying words of greeting first, and standing up quickly to welcome visitors.”

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  1399. Tibetan: gus pa. Sanskrit: gaurava. The commentary’s explanation is to be fearful in the guru’s presence while seeing him as your teacher and being his follower at all times.

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  1400. Chinese: “respectful and fearful.”

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  1401. According to the BHS akūhaṇatā and the Chinese 無諂曲 (wu chan chu).

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  1402. According to the Sanskrit. Instead of “interior” the Tibetan has sman shong (“valley of herbs”). The Chinese has just “caves” 巖穴 (yan xue).

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  1403. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. “Strengths” and “fearlessnesses” are absent in the Sanskrit.

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  1404. According to the Tibetan and the Chinese 斷除憎愛. The BHS anunaya­pratigha­prahāṇa means “the elimination of the obstacle of attachment.”

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  1405. According to the Tibetan and the Chinese 發起未生之善 (fa qi wei sheng zhi shan). Sanskrit: “Not developing the bad qualities that have not been developed.”

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  1406. According to the Tibetan. In chapter 1 this was listed as “the knowledge of the nature of the level of irreversibility.” In this chapter it is simply “irreversibility,” while the Sanskrit for this chapter is “the characteristic of irreversibility” (avaivartya­lakṣaṇam). Chinese: 不退相 (bu tui xiang), which accords with the Sanskrit. In chapter 1, this is translated as 住不退相 (zhu bu tui xiang), “remaining in the state of irreversibility.”

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  1407. According to the Tibetan and the Sanskrit of chapter 1. Here in chapter 40, and also in the commentary on chapter 1, it is translated as dge ba’i chos phun sum tshogs pa (“a perfection of good qualities”) from the Sanskrit kuśala­dharmābhisaṃpat (which could be translated as “the attainment of good qualities”). Chinese: 出生善法 (chu sheng shan fa).

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  1408. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan appears to have translated from a manuscript that had utpāda (“production”) in error for anutpāda (“nonproduction”), translating therefore as “the production and nonperishing of the phenomena of the mind and mental events.” The Tibetan translation in the commentary’s first chapter of this definition omits both negations, and therefore has “skilled in the realization of the essence of the arising and cessation of the phenomena of the mind and mental events.” Chinese: 知心及數善巧方便而得一心 (zhi xin ji shu shan qiao fang bian er de yi xin), “a one-pointed mind that is skilled in knowing the mind and mental events.” It does not mention production or nonproduction.

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  1409. Absent in the list of definitions here, and in the commentary, is chapter 1’s “the equality of the different kinds of beings.” The Chinese uses three descriptions here: 捨棄 (she qi), “disregard”; 忍辱 (ren ru), “tolerate the insult”; and 無減 (wu jian), “without decreasing.” The third can refer to patience, thus “without losing patience.”

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  1410. According to the Tibetan of chapter 1, the commentary, and the Sanskrit. In the Tibetan translation of chapter 40, the word “words” is omitted. Chinese: 句義 (ju yi), “verses and meanings,” “meaning of verses.”

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  1411. The commentary gives as an example “the sixteen emptinesses.” Chinese: 法句 (fa ju), “Dharma verses.”

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  1412. Chinese: 知義非義差別智 (zhi yi fei yi cha bie zhi), which can also be interpreted as “the knowledge to distinguish between correct and incorrect meanings.”

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  1413. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. Absent in the Sanskrit in this chapter, though present in the list in chapter 1.

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  1414. According to the Tibetan, the Chinese, and the Sanskrit rakṣaṇam (“guarding”) in chapter 1, the Tibetan in chapter 40, and the commentary on chapter 1. The Sanskrit for chapter 40 has lakṣaṇam (“characteristic”), which would give the meaning “characteristic of conduct.”

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  1415. According to the Sanskrit asaṃbhrantatā and its Mahāvyutpatti definition as ma nor ba. The Tibetan editions have spyos and spyoms. The Chinese has 覆藏善事 (fu cang shan shi), literally, “concealing virtuous acts,” which may refer to training in the conduct of a bodhisattva: “revealing one’s own nonvirtuous acts, concealing virtuous acts.”

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  1416. The Tibetan translates avikalpa in chapter 1 and in the commentary as mi ’chos pa, but here in chapter 40 it is translated as rnam par mi rtog pa (“not conceptually fabricated”), which is a particular BHS meaning of avikalpa. The Chinese 不分別威儀 (bu fen bie wei yi) accords with the BHS. The commentary’s definition does, however, encompass both meanings by saying that this means being free of negative thoughts and therefore the conduct is uncontrived, unfabricated.

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  1417. According to chapter 1, where the Sanskrit īryāpatha-prāsādikatā was translated as spyod pa mdzes pa (“beautiful conduct”). In chapter 1 the Chinese translated prāsādikatā as two qualities: 端 (duan), “proper, upright, dignified,” and 雅 (ya), “elegant, graceful.” However, here in chapter 40 [F.164.b] the Tibetan translates prāsādikatā in the more usual way as dang ba (“clear,” “serene,” “attractive”), but the Sanskrit has indryapatha, presumably a corruption of īryāpatha, and therefore the Tibetan has dbang (“faculties”) instead of spyod pa (“conduct,” “beautiful faculties”), and therefore appears to have been translating from indryapatha.

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  1418. Literally, “the hands are always extended.” The commentary says, “ready to give material possessions or the Dharma.” Chinese: 常舒施手 (chang shu shi shou), “always extending hands of generosity.”

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  1419. Chinese: 恥諸暴惡 (chi zhu bao er), “embarrassed by [one’s own] nonvirtuous actions, which are exposed.”

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  1420. According to the Sanskrit anabhimukhatā. The Tibetan does not have the negative and has simply mngon du gyur pa. The commentary to chapter 1 appears to follow the absence of the negative. The Chinese adds 羞諸愚害 “ashamed of the stupidity and harms committed by oneself.”

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  1421. According to the Tibetan in chapter 1, sgrub pa dang nges par sgrub pa, and the Sanskrit āhāranirhāra. Cf. Edgerton (112) where āharaṇatā means “winning, getting, attainment.” Here in chapter 40, the Tibetan is zas sgrub pa (“attainment of food”) with āhāra here translated as “food.” The definition is “sharp wisdom,” which does not appear to be food related. The commentary also defines it as “perfecting good qualities and eliminating negative ones, and that sharp wisdom develops from that.” Gómez et al. (n. 18, p. 85) describe this compound as a problematic term and give a conjectural translation as “bringing together and taking away” (p. 57). Chinese: 部分別巧便智 (bu fen bien qiao bian zhi) from the Sanskrit āhāranirhāra-kauśalya-jñāna. This consists of two elements: the first is 部分別智, “knowledge based on analysis of various categories of Buddha’s teachings”, and the second element, 巧便智, is “knowledge based on skillful means.”

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  1422. In chapter 1 the Tibetan is nges pa’i tshig rnam par gzhag pa shes pa and the Sanskrit is nirukti­vyavasthāna­jñānam. The commentary makes “definitions” (nges pa’i tshig) part of the definition of rnam par gzhag pa shes pa and the Tibetan and Sanskrit in chapter 40 has rnam par gzhag pa shes pa and vyavasthāna­jñānam only. Chinese: 知處所智 (zhi chu suo zhi), in accord with the Sanskrit. Literally, “the wisdom of knowing,” 處所 (chu suo). The term 處所 (chu suo) literally means “place” or “how to place, set forth, establish.”

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  1423. According to the Sanskrit abhirati. The Tibetan has mi ’dor ba (“not abandon”). In chapter 1 the word used was nispādana, translated into Tibetan as sgrub and into English as “accomplishment.”

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  1424. Chinese: 修禪發通 (xiu chan fa tong), which can be understood as “miraculous powers or higher cognitions that arise from meditation practice.”

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  1425. According to the BHS āmiṣa. Translated into Tibetan as zang zing. Chinese: 不悕資生 (bu xi zi sheng), literally, “not expecting to receive things for daily needs.”

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  1426. Chinese: “inappropriate mendicants.”

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  1427. According to the commentary, this means that pointless conversations with other mendicants will prevent the development of one’s own meditation. Chinese: “associating with those who are appropriate and avoiding those who are inappropriate.”

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  1428. Absent from the Chinese.

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  1429. According to the Sanskrit upālambhā and the Chinese 取著 (qu zhuo). Translated into Tibetan as klan ka, “objectors.”

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  1430. Chinese: 凡愚 (fan yu), “ordinary foolish people.”

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  1431. Chinese: 貧賤 (pin jian), “who are impoverished and in low social ranks.”

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  1432. Chinese: 貧苦 (pin ku), “impoverished and suffering.”

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  1433. According to the Sanskrit, Chinese, and the commentary. “The result” is absent from the Tibetan, apparently by error.

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  1434. Sanskrit nimantraṇatā (Shastri: nimantrahatā): “to invite.” Tibetan and commentary: mgron du gnyer ba (“take care of as one’s guests”). Chinese: 勸請 (quan qing), “urging” or “encouraging.”

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  1435. According to chapter 1 and the commentary. “Having veneration” is absent in chapter 40.

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  1436. “Knowledge” is according to chapter 1. It is absent in the Sanskrit for chapter 40. The Tibetan has, “What is the rejection of the characteristics of things?” Chinese: “skill in discerning the characteristics of things.”

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  1437. According to the Hodgson manuscript. The Tibetan lacks “of dhyāna.” The Sanskrit has solely “the knowledge of the teachings.” The Chinese has solely 知佛法力 (zhi fo fa li), “understanding the strength of the Buddha’s Dharma.”

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  1438. In chapter 1 the Sanskrit has śīladṛdhatā (“stability of conduct”) and the Tibetan has tshul khrims dam pa (“excellent conduct”). In chapter 40 the Sanskrit is śīlādhiṣṭhānatā and the Tibetan has tshul khrims kyi gnas (“the state of conduct”). Chinese: 安住於戒 (an zhu yu jie), “remaining in correct conduct.”

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  1439. According to the Tibetan of chapter 1, the Sanskrit in both chapter 1 and chapter 40, and the commentary. The Tibetan here has “the light of wisdom.” Chinese: 得智照明 (de zhi zhao ming), “attainment of the illumination of wisdom.”

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  1440. “Knowledge” has been added in the English translation for clarity, but is only implied in the Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan.

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  1441. According to the Sanskrit vidyā. The Tibetan has rigs in error for rig.

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  1442. In chapter 1 this is “the level of patience.”

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  1443. “Level” is clearly singular in the Sanskrit bhūmiḥ. The commentary identifies this with the ten bhūmis (“levels”) of the bodhisattva. Chinese: “ten levels.”

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  1444. In chapter 1 this is “being free from impatience.”

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  1445. Chinese: “tathāgatas.”

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  1446. According to the Sanskrit bhaiṣajya and the Chinese 醫王 (yi wang); translated into Tibetan as rtsi.

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  1447. According to the Sanskrit vandanīyā. Tibetan: phyag bya ba. Chinese: 禮拜 (li bai), “pays homage,” “bows down to.”

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  1448. According to the Sanskrit kola. The Tibetan gzings can mean “a boat,” but also “a ferry,” which in Tibet was sometimes a raft. Chinese: 舟筏 (zhou fa), “boat” or “raft.”

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  1449. In chapter 1 “quality” is singular, and in this chapter it is plural. This difference is not discernible in the Tibetan.

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  1450. According to the Tibetan in chapter 1, which has sgrub pa (“accomplishment”). The Sanskrit āhārikā was translated by Gómez et al. according to an alternate meaning, “that which brings.” Chapter 40 has asaṃhartya, which in that chapter and in the commentary is translated as mi ’phrogs (“cannot be taken away”). The Sanskrit and the Tibetan of chapter 1 better fit the definition of this term as given in chapter 40, which includes the word āharaṇa. However, the commentary differs in its definition, specifying that it cannot be undermined by māras or tīrthikas. Chinese: 獲得一切智智, “attainment of the wisdom that accomplishes all wisdom”; the word “wisdom,” 智, appears twice consecutively in chapter 40. In chapter 1, it is 引導一切智, where the word “wisdom” appears only once, “[the wisdom] that brings all wisdom.”

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  1451. According to the Sanskrit and Chinese. “Beings” is absent in the Tibetan.

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  1452. According to the Sanskrit upadrava. The Tibetan translates as gtse ba (“violence”) and the commentary as gnod pa (“harm”). The Chinese 苦難 (ku nan), “sufferings and hardships,” accords with the Sanskrit upadrava.

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  1453. Chinese: “Why have they obtained fearlessness?”

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  1454. According to the Sanskrit kṣema. The Tibetan translates as bzod pa.

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  1455. According to the Tibetan yongs su brtag pa dang phyir brtag pa. The commentary has btran par byas (“made stable”) and the Sanskrit ākoṭi and pratyākoṭi is obscure as it appears to mean “to beat,” but presumably “examine” is meant. Chinese: “because they have examined 觀察 (guan cha) and reexamined 溫習 (wen xi) all phenomena thoroughly,” or alternatively, “because of the familiarity of having examined all phenomena thoroughly.”

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  1456. This appears to be a combination, perhaps with some scribal omission, of two qualities listed in chapter 1.

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  1457. According to the Sanskrit. The Tibetan has the negative: “they don’t give rise to reverence.” Chinese: 謂知多欲過故 (wei zhi duo yu guo gu), “because they know the faults of having many desires.”

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  1458. In the Dutt this is the conclusion of a penultimate chapter at this point.

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  1459. According to the Tibetan. “Light rays” is absent in the Sanskrit and Chinese.

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  1460. According to the Tibetan and Chinese. “The meaning” is absent in the Sanskrit.

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  1461. The title of this final chapter, which would normally appear here at the conclusion of the chapter, is not given in the Sanskrit or Tibetan.

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