Toh 163The Noble Great Vehicle Sūtra “The Questions of Ratnajālin”

Summary

Prompted by a dream, the young Licchavi boy Ratnajālin invites the Buddha
to the city of Vaiśālī. When the Buddha arrives Ratnajālin asks whether there
are other buddhas whose names, when heard, bring benefit to bodhisattvas. The
Buddha replies that there are, and he proceeds to describe the power of the
names of buddhas in the four cardinal directions as well as above and below.
Once Ratnajālin has understood the teaching on the power of the names of these
thus-gone ones, the Buddha provides encouragement for the future propagation of
this discourse.

Acknowledgements

Translated by the Dharmachakra Translation Committee under the guidance
of Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche. The translation was produced by Timothy Hinkle, who
also wrote the introduction. Andreas Doctor checked the translation against the
Tibetan and edited the text.

The translation was completed under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.

Introduction

The Questions of Ratnajālin belongs to the
General Sūtra (mdo sde) section of the
Kangyur. It was translated into Tibetan some time during the late eighth or
early ninth century ce by a certain Yeshé Nyingpo (of whom we
know very little apart from his name) and the Indian preceptor Jñānagarbha,
who participated in numerous translation projects in Tibet during the early
translation period.
The translation was subsequently edited during the same period by the
prolific translator Kawa Paltsek. Therefore, the Tibetan translation, which we have
rendered into English here, would have been completed during the early
translation period, a dating that is also attested by the text’s inclusion
in the early-ninth-century Denkarma (ldan dkar
ma) catalogue.

The original Sanskrit no longer seems to be extant, but a single
translation was made into Chinese (Taishō vol. 14, no. 433). This Chinese
translation was produced much earlier than the Tibetan, sometime during the
end of the third century ce by the Indo-Scythian
monk Dharmarakṣa (c. 233–310 ce). Dharmarakṣa was
one of the most prolific translators of early Chinese Buddhism, producing
more than 150 translations of canonical scriptures during his life. With
this Chinese translation, we thus have a very early terminus ante quem for the composition of this
discourse that places it right in the formative period of the literature of
the Great Vehicle in India. The fact that it was translated into Chinese and
Tibetan with more than five hundred years separating the two events also
points to a certain popularity and longevity of the text in Buddhist
India. In producing
this translation, we have based our work on the Degé xylograph while
consulting the Comparative Edition (dpe bsdur ma) as well as the Stok Palace manuscript. We have
also occasionally consulted the Chinese translation and included any such
influence on the translation in the annotations.

The Questions of Ratnajālin is primarily
concerned with the benefits that arise from knowing the names of various
buddhas in different realms. Like many sūtras, this scripture begins with an
interlocutor raising a question to the Buddha. In this case, it is the young
boy Ratnajālin who asks whether or not there are buddhas whose very names
carry such transformative power as to elevate the knower to buddhahood in
addition to arousing virtually all other important spiritual qualities. The
Buddha replies that there are, in fact, several buddhas whose names hold
such power and he proceeds to describe and name these buddhas and their
realms as well as declare the specific effects that knowledge of their names
enacts. The notion that a devotee can become destined for awakening merely
by hearing the names of buddhas who live in other realms is shared by a
number of Great Vehicle sūtras. In the Degé Kangyur, however, since a number
of organizing principles were at play when the editors structured the canon,
the texts concerned with the liberating effects of the names of various
buddhas ended up not being grouped together based on their shared subject
matter but instead became dispersed throughout the different sūtra
collections due to other editorial concerns. Therefore, we find The Questions of Ratnajālin grouped together with
the twenty-six sūtras that all share a similar title element (The Questions of . . .).

As for the events in the sūtra, the story begins in Vaiśālī with
Ratnajālin, an eight-year-old boy of the Licchavi clan. Based on a dream,
Ratnajālin leaves the city to invite the Buddha and the saṅgha to visit
Vaiśālī for their daily alms round. The following day, the Buddha arrives in
Vaiśālī as many miracles delight the people. At the proper time Ratnajālin
asks the Buddha about the power inherent in the names of the buddhas, in
particular whether there are buddhas whose names, simply upon being heard,
have the efficacy to propel the listener forward on the path to awakening.
In reply, the Buddha mentions six specific buddhas living in distant buddha
realms in the four cardinal directions as well as in the directions above
and below. He mentions them by name and declares that trust in their names
and existence is the key factor that ensures a number of desired benefits,
including the eventual attainment of awakening. Thus, as long as one trusts
them, these buddha names have tremendous beneficial powers. Concluding his
teaching, the Buddha describes the benefits that ensue from hearing this
discourse—primarily that those who hear it will be able to attract many
beings and propel them onto the path of awakening. Lastly, he advises the
assembled community to uphold this discourse and offers Ratnajālin a
prophecy of his future meeting with the Buddha Maitreya.

The Translation

The Noble Great Vehicle Sūtra

The Questions of Ratnajālin

Homage to all buddhas and bodhisattvas!

Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was dwelling in Vaiśālī
in a mansion located by the Monkey Pond, together with a great assembly of
monks. In the assembly were four hundred twenty million bodhisattvas. Some
of the bodhisattvas, such as Maitreya, were held back by just one birth,
while others were held back by two, three, four, five, ten, thirty, or forty
births, with some bodhisattvas even held back by one thousand births. Also
in the assembly were six hundred million worthy ones and nine hundred ninety
million gods including the gods in the desire realm and form realm, the four
great kings, Śakra who rules the gods, Brahmā who rules the
Sahā world, the god Great Splendor, the god Candraprabha, the god
Sūryaprabha, the god Pinnacle of Renown, and the god Joyful. In
attendance were also the nāga kings Anavatapta, Sāgara, Vāsukin, Manasvin,
Nanda, Upananda, Mucilinda, and Mahāmucilinda, as well as the asura
sovereign Rāhu and the retinues of all the other asura sovereigns.

At that time, in the city of Vaiśālī, there was a Licchavi named
Limitless Strength, who was the son of Siṃha the captain. Limitless
Strength, son of Siṃha, himself had a son, a young Licchavi boy known as
Ratnajālin. Since this child had previously served many buddhas, he had come to possess the lamp that
shines with the immense light of the Dharma way. One time, when he was
around eight years old, he had a dream as he slept. In his dream, the god
Santuṣita descended from the Heaven of Joy and spoke to him, encouraging
Ratnajālin with this melodious song:

“The essential being, the Victor, the Buddha,

Abides, illuminating the entire trichiliocosm.

With vast accumulations of merit, he appears in golden hue.

The appearance of this great being is beautiful in all respects.

“He is endowed with the light of ten million suns

And shines like a thousand or even ten million

Luminous full moons—

As many as there are grains of sand in the Ganges.

“Shining like many millions of suns,

He shines like the supreme disk in the east,

Those in the south and the west,

And the supreme disk in the north.

“The light rays that stream forth

From each pore of this shining protector of the world

Will, each and every one,

Make all full moons appear gloomy.

“From each pore in the skin of those who are omniscient,

Light streams forth.

The light that shines from him illuminates as many worlds

As there are grains of sand in sixty-six Ganges rivers.”

In the morning, the Licchavi boy Ratnajālin told his father
Limitless Strength, “Father, last night the god Santuṣita arrived from the
Heaven of Joy and encouraged me with a melodious song. Father, I am telling
you this so that we can begin the practice of worshiping the Thus-Gone One.”

At this point the Licchavi boy Ratnajālin sang these verses to his
father Limitless Strength:

“The captain of all beings, the perfect Buddha,

The great being inconceivably learned in the ways of the world—

Please, may you worship this protector,

For such a guide rarely appears in the world.

“Just like the uḍumbara flower,

He has a beautiful color and delicious scent and fragrance.

He is stainless and without afflictions.

Such a perfect flower is hard to find.

“Father, thus I supplicate you:

Right now, may you joyfully agree

To worship the luminous protector of the world

Who perceives the ultimate!”

The Licchavi Limitless Strength was delighted and addressed the
Licchavi Siṃha:

“O Captain, follow my son’s advice

To worship the Victorious One!”

To worship the Guide, the Lion of the Śākyas,

And to delight the wonderful youth,

Six hundred million householders set to work.

Śakra with his thousand divine eyes,

The powerful gods Brahmā and Īśvara

And Susārthavāha, son of Māra,

Together with ten million earthly gods,

All came to the delight of Vaiśālī.

Here they produced

Billions of thrones made of gold and silver

And ornamented with the seven precious substances.

Each throne had billions of precious items.

Each side of the thrones was adorned with jewels

And had a fine victory banner of the seven precious substances
attached.

The size of the thrones was several leagues.

The victory banners were half a league high.

On either side of the victory banners

Was a platform higher than a league

Made exclusively of a single substance—

Precious jewels rising more than a league in height.

In between the thrones divine banners were hung

More than a league long.

The banners featured nets of golden tassels

Adorned with strings of bells.

Beneath the thrones were well-fastened columns,

More than one billion of them.

All of these perfect thrones

Were firmly placed, as if bolted to the ground.

The surface of the thrones was made of gold—

Golden and with silver and beryl,

Crystal, coral, and emerald too.

Also, at the bottom and the base

Were placed natural pearl parasols,

Numbering in the billions

And colored red with deep red sandalwood.

Having produced the thrones

And the heavenly ornaments, clear as water, on the thrones,

Golden nets were placed on them

And adorned with gold,

Silver, beryl, and crystal.

Having produced the ornaments of coral and emerald,

Affixed to those were sweet-sounding bells

Resounding with the voice of the Guide.

Fumigants were placed there for veneration.

In the sky above Vaiśālī

Was a canopy sewn of golden thread.

From each and every golden thread

Hung billions of tassels of the finest jewels

And billions of ornamental garlands of pearl

Strung with golden thread.

All the Licchavis who lived in the city of Vaiśālī

Were joyful, regardless of where they went.

They covered the ground of the city of Vaiśālī

With pieces of cloth the length of seven men

Printed with lattices of red sandalwood

And made of well-spun fabrics.

On the right side, seventy billion instruments

Of thousands of different varieties rang forth.

On the left side, a further seventy billion

Were also engaged in venerating the Lion of the Śākyas.

Having set forth such a great array,

The Licchavi boy named Ratnajālin

Joyfully announced to his parents,

“I am going before the Buddha.”

This learned one left the city

And went to where the great victorious lord was staying.

The young man bowed his head at the feet of this ocean of virtues

And stood to one side.

Then the Licchavi boy Ratnajālin left the city of Vaiśālī and went
to where the Blessed One was staying. He bowed to the feet of the Blessed
One and stood to one side. With him standing there to the side, the Blessed
One delivered a Dharma discourse to the
Licchavi boy Ratnajālin that delighted, captivated, and uplifted him, and
made him utterly delighted.

The Licchavi boy Ratnajālin then stood up, draped his shawl over one
shoulder, and knelt on his right knee. With his palms together he bowed
toward the Blessed One and asked, “Would the Blessed One and his monastic
saṅgha agree to take tomorrow’s midday meal at my home?”

Out of love for the Licchavi boy Ratnajālin, the Blessed One showed
his acceptance of the offer by remaining silent. The Licchavi boy Ratnajālin
understood that the Blessed One had accepted through his silence, and so he
circumambulated the Blessed One three times before taking his leave.

The Licchavi boy Ratnajālin then entered the city of Vaiśālī along
with Śakra who rules the gods, Brahmā who rules the Sahā world,
and the god Great Splendor. With enthusiasm and delight, they began to
prepare abundant varieties of food. When the night had passed, they set out
cushions and decorated Vaiśālī. They then returned to the Blessed One, bowed
to him, and stood to one side. The Licchavi boy Ratnajālin then said to the
Blessed One, “Blessed One, it is time for the midday meal. If it please you,
your meal is ready. The time has come.”

Accordingly, on that morning the Blessed One donned his lower
garments and Dharma robes. Bearing his alms bowl, with his infinite saṅgha
of monks he rose into the sky to the height of seven men and traveled to the city of Vaiśālī.
As soon as he moved, the transformative power of the
Thus-Gone One caused all the worlds of the great trichiliocosm to shake six
times as they quivered, trembled, and quaked; wobbled, rocked, and swayed;
vibrated, shuddered, and reeled; clattered, rattled, and clanged; and
tremored, shook, and convulsed. Thus they shook six times with eighteen
omens. He also displayed trillions of miracles as he
traveled to the city of Vaiśālī. At that time, trillions of gods scattered
and tossed blue, pink, red, and white lotuses, flowers made of precious
divine substances, the powdered aloewood of the gods, powdered gems, gold
from the Jambu river, and powdered divine gems upon the Blessed One.
Trillions of divine instruments resounded. Unfathomable divine ornaments
adorned him. In the sky above, a steady rain of red sandalwood powder fell
to the depth of a chariot axle.

The Blessed One then arrived at the Licchavi boy Ratnajālin’s home
and sat upon the seat that had been prepared for him along with the saṅghas
of fully ordained monks and nuns and the assemblies of novice monks and
nuns. Seeing that he had arrived, the Licchavi boy Ratnajālin personally
served the Blessed One with an abundance of the finest food, drink, and
sweets, to please him and serve him everything he wished for. When the
Licchavi boy Ratnajālin noticed that the Blessed One had finished eating, he
picked up the alms bowl, offered water, and covered the Blessed One’s hands.
He then dressed the Blessed One with
a priceless set of the three Dharma robes. He also dressed the saṅghas of
fully ordained monks and nuns and the assemblies of novice monks and nuns
with sets of the three Dharma robes. Why? He did this because he was moved
by the power of the Blessed One.

The Licchavi boy Ratnajālin then asked the Blessed One, “If the
Blessed One were to grant me the opportunity to request a teaching, I would
like to ask the Blessed Thus-Gone One a few questions.”

The Blessed One responded to the Licchavi boy Ratnajālin, “Young
man, you may ask the Thus-Gone One anything you are concerned with. Then I
shall delight you with teachings that answer your questions.”

The Licchavi boy Ratnajālin then asked the Blessed One, “Blessed
One, in other worlds, are there blessed buddhas that through their previous
aspirations have names that, when merely heard, help noble sons and
daughters who follow the Bodhisattva Vehicle to end all doubt and
hesitation, to become irreversible and fully awaken to unsurpassed and
perfect buddhahood, to gain recollection of past lives, to never have a
stingy attitude, to be surrounded by the bodhisattva assembly and to be
without the assembly of hearers, to acquire countless trillions of virtues,
to satisfy all beings by pleasing all the buddhas, to terrify the māras, to
purify all buddha realms, to cleanse the stains in the minds of all beings,
to inspire all beings to the virtuous
Dharma, to be protected by the gods, to be considered by the bodhisattvas,
to be blessed by the thus-gone ones, to never be separated from the blessed
buddhas, to perfect bodhisattva conduct by possessing the finest qualities,
to gain the entirety of the 84,000 verbal expressions, to attain the voice
of Brahmā, and to gain a voice that is in conformity with all
worlds?”

The Blessed One answered the Licchavi boy Ratnajālin, “Excellent,
excellent, young man. Your thought to ask the Thus-Gone One about such
subjects reflects excellent eloquence and fine analysis. Thus, listen well,
young man, and bear what I say in mind. Then I will teach you.”

“Blessed One, I shall do just that.”

The bodhisattva Ratnajālin listened as the Blessed One had
instructed, and so the Blessed One said, “Young man, to the east of here
there is a world called Pearled. Young man, consider this: There are as many
peaks of existence as there are grains of sand in the Ganges. And all those
too are filled with the smallest possible particles. If a person then came
along and carried away one single such particle and placed it in a spot past
as many trillions of buddha realms as there are smallest particles in all
those world systems under the peaks of existence—then, young man, by
repeating this in the same way for a long time, would that great mass of
particles eventually run out and reach
its limit? Now, young man, tell me, would it be easy to consider, count,
assess, or determine the places in the universe where that person placed or
did not place those particles?”

“Blessed One, it would not be easy. Blessed One, for that reason,
anyone who gets the right sense of this analogy that you have expressed
would gain a great degree of understanding.”

The Blessed One said, “Young man, if all the worlds in which that
person placed a particle, or alternatively the worlds in which that person
did not place a particle—ranging from the mass of water underlying these
worlds up to their peaks—were filled with minute particles, and if a second
person came along and removed a single particle from them at a time and
placed it in a spot past as many trillions of buddha realms as there were
minute particles in those worlds, then, young man, by repeating this for a
long time, eventually that great mass of particles would become dispersed.
Young man, by this way of proceeding, the latter person would travel past
nine million nine hundred thousand incalculable numbers of worlds and thus
arrive past countless trillions of buddha realms.

“That is where the world called Pearled is located. There the
thus-gone one, the worthy one, the perfect Buddha Majestic King with the
Splendorous Voice of Learning Adorned by Precious Moonlight lives, abides,
and teaches the Dharma. Young man, those noble sons or daughters who abide
in the Bodhisattva Vehicle, who have no doubt regarding the name of the
thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha Majestic King with the Splendorous Voice
of Learning Adorned by Precious Moonlight, and who trust in my vision, will attain the dominion of a universal
monarch after their lives are over. A buddha will appear within their
dominions. When they see that thus-gone one, they will perform boundless
veneration, practice pure conduct, and master the five types of miraculous
abilities. Immediately upon beholding that thus-gone one, they will achieve
the hundred-swirled dhāraṇī. They will serve as many
buddhas as there are grains of sand in the Ganges. They will turn away from
saṃsāra for an equivalent number of eons. Their minds will be undeluded, and
they will fully awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood. Their bodies
will become solid like that of Nārāyaṇa. Residing in a single place, they
will possess the four necessities. Their bodies will take on golden
complexions. They will be adorned with the thirty-two major marks of a great
being. They will gain the melodious voice of Brahmā. They will
eliminate all unfree states and attain an abundance of leisure.”

In order to elaborate on the meaning of what he had taught, the
Blessed One then spoke in verse:

“Those who hear the name of this world protector

And entertain no doubt,

Trusting in what I see,

Shall become worthy of veneration.

“They will attain the eternal dominion

Of universal monarchs and behold buddhas.

Having beheld them, they will perform

Boundless and inconceivable veneration.

“They will always practice pure conduct.

They will realize all forms of miraculous abilities.

Once they see the Buddha, they will achieve

The hundred-swirled dhāraṇī.

“They will behold as many buddhas

As there are sands in the Ganges.

They will abandon saṃsāra

For that many billions of eons.

“Those who hear the name of the world protector

Spoken to the assemblies and saṅghas

Will become undeluded,

And it will be a cause for awakening to buddhahood.

“They will always be like Nārāyaṇa.

Residing in a single place, they will possess the four necessities.

Their bodies will be golden colored

And display the thirty-two marks.

“Those who hear his name

And prostrate with their five points

Will permanently gain the voice of Brahmā

And abandon the unfree states.

“Those who hear the name of this world protector

And entertain no doubt

Will not shy away from awakening.

They shall never have any hesitation.

“Those who remember the victor’s name

For a full seven days and nights

Will purify the infinite seeing eyes

Praised by the buddhas.

“They shall refine the eyes of flesh

Into the eyes of a god.

They will perceive as many buddhas

As there are grains of sand in the Ganges.

“They will venerate each of them

And receive teachings from each as well.

Seeing all the buddhas with their own eyes,

They will bring comfort to all humanity.

“Those who hear the name of this thus-gone one

Have already offered unfathomable service

To the buddhas,

All of whom they will recollect.

“If his name is relayed

Before any being at all,

When those other beings hear this name,

They too will definitely proceed to awakening.

“By generating faith in this buddha,

The unfree states are dispelled,

While by engaging in debate and quarreling,

One will be born into the unfree states.

“Once beings have heard

The name of this great sage,

They shall no longer be interested

In debate and quarreling.

“The actions that lead to the Hell of Ultimate Torment,

Which could last for eons,

As well as the actions that produce a simple headache—

All such actions will not ripen for these beings.

“They shall not be burned by fire,

Nor drown in water.

Even when they draw the ire of the king,

It shall be quickly assuaged.

“Those who remember this sage’s name

Shall be spared many illnesses

Including blindness, defective sight,

Paralysis, hunchback, and decrepitude.

“Evil and malevolent

Yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras,

Kumbhāṇḍas, rākṣasas, and humans

Shall be unable to harm them.

“Those who remember this sage’s name

Shall be favored and preferred

By all the bhūtas, gandharvas, yakṣas,

Nāgas, and gods.

“Those who hear this protector’s name

Shall swiftly attain vast accumulations,

Sublime voices, and absorption.

Their myriad virtues will be renowned.

“Having heard this world protector’s name

Without doubting it,

They will hew to awakening

Throughout all their subsequent lives.

“Those who hear this great sage’s name

Shall uphold and preach

The way of the well-spoken Dharma

Taught by the buddhas who have gone beyond anguish.

“They shall uphold the teachings

Well spoken by all the buddhas.

They shall manifest the supreme array

And serve all the buddhas.

“Once they pass away,

They will swiftly behold myriad buddhas

And uphold the teachings

Spoken by the buddhas.

“Those who hear this protector’s name

Shall earnestly train and establish

Millions of beings on the path,

Bringing them all to awakening.

“Those who trust what I have seen

Shall uphold the teachings

Of all the buddhas, the protectors,

And additionally venerate the buddhas.

“Those who have faith in this buddha’s wisdom,

Trusting in what I have seen,

Shall be liberated from many fetters.

They will cross the abyss and become fearless.

“Whosoever abandons the sublime Dharma

Is among Māra’s ranks.

“The body hairs of every being

Who migrates among the five types of beings

Could be consolidated

Within one hair on the teacher’s kneecap.

“From a single pore

Of the protector, the guardian of the world,

As many rays of light as there are

Grains of sand in the Ganges stream forth.

“Those who trust in the infinite light

Of the world protector

Shall in one life behold many buddhas—

Millions of buddhas.

“Those who hear the teaching

Of this discourse by the Dharma king

And never doubt it

Shall become like me.

“Those who hear the teaching

Of this discourse in Vaiśālī

Shall themselves preach it to others

At a later time.

“Those who preach this widely

Shall come to pervade as many worlds

As there are grains of sand in the Ganges

With a single burst of light.

“One may fill with gold

All the buddha realms,

The numbers of which defy counting,

And offer it to the world protectors.

“Yet, in comparison, those who hear this name

And who are truly delighted by it

And utter their homage to the buddhas

Obtain inconceivably more merit.

“The mass of merit gained

By repeatedly paying homage

To all the world protectors

Cannot be expressed by any measure.

“Those who hear the world protector’s name

And do not hesitate about it

Will have their bodies filled with light

And become like precious gems.

“After they have passed beyond,

Those who remember the name of the sage

Will have the sweet scent of divine red sandalwood

Waft from their mouth.

“Those who hear the name

Of the Buddha, the protector, the essential being,

Will have light stream from their pores,

Beautifying their bodies.

“In all of their ensuing lives

They will become deeply learned.

They will retain their unfathomable erudition,

Just like Ānanda does for the Buddha.

“When they behold the one who illuminates the world,

They will attain boundless happiness.

As they engage in bodhisattva conduct,

They will recall all their lives.

“Even when they see the victors’ heart sons,

They will attain boundless happiness.

They will make extensive offerings

With incense, flowers, and ointments.

“This does not include those who do not remember

The name of this world protector when it is spoken,

Or those who are on Māra’s side,

Or those who have previously been extremists.

“As I have taught this Dharma way,

Those who have heard it now

Shall also receive this discourse in their hands

In a future life.

“Those who hear the explanation

Of this sublime discourse

Have previously venerated and served,

And they shall receive it in their hands again.

“Those who make aspirations

Shall, in a future life,

Receive into their hands

This discourse spoken by the Dharma King.

“Having faith in this discourse

Brings even more merit

Than honoring countless buddhas

With a one-pointed mind.

“They forever will have beautiful bodies and lots of merit

And be fearless and wealthy.

They will be mindful

And ornamented with the major marks.

“Thus, having heard

The teaching of this discourse,

In the future retain it, teach it,

And explain it to others!

“Those who have honored hundreds of thousands

Of buddhas, universal monarchs,

Shall also in the future

Have vision free from doubt.

“Those who have performed service

For countless world protectors in the past

Will trust what they hear and see

Of this world protector.

“Those who hear his name

Will actualize the form of a buddha.

They will guard the teachings

And the sublime Dharma of all the buddhas.

“However, those who abandon the teachings of awakening

Shall become like sheep—mute and with poor eyesight,

Or even with no eyes at all

For millions of eons.

“Compared to destroying countless caityas,

With one’s own hands,

It is a far viler deed

To abandon this discourse.

“Thus when, at a future time,

You attain that which I am preaching,

Do not harbor any doubt

About the unsurpassed wisdom of the buddhas.

“Once you have heard this discourse,

Perform respectful veneration

With flowers, incense, streamers,

Parasols, and powders!”

Then, with his soft and supple hands,

The Thus-Gone One

Repeatedly caressed

The Licchavi boy’s head.

After this, the gods

Made a loud cry

And scattered pleasing divine flowers,

Filling the realm.

The gods, having remained in the sky,

Then sang countless songs.

Millions of brahmā gods

Cast down a rain of red sandalwood powder.

When Ratnajālin heard this discourse

Spoken by the Thus-Gone One,

He was pleased and delighted,

And spoke these words to the Thus-Gone One:

“In the future,

I will become a monk

And fearlessly preach this discourse

In towns and villages.

“I will act according to the Buddha’s teaching,

Which the perfect Buddha has spoken so gloriously.

Traveling millions of leagues

I will preach the way.

“I will serve all the gods, nāgas,

And kinnaras,

And other non-human beings,

Satisfying them with the gift of Dharma.”

When this unsurpassed discourse

Was taught by the Buddha,

The assembly of asuras celebrated

And scattered countless flowers.

A single hair of the Dharma King,

The Lion of the Śākyas,

Who is the supreme being in all buddha realms,

Illuminated all the realms.

Then, the tongue of the Teacher,

The great being, the essential being,

Emerged and covered millions of realms

As numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges.

As the Thus-Gone One covered millions of realms

Throughout the ten directions of the universe,

The youth Ratnajālin,

As well as other heroes and Licchavis

Numbering six hundred million,

Arrived saying, “Please teach us!”

The Teacher then introduced

The Dharma to them all.

The buddhas gift every form of happiness,

And their eyes are unimpeded.

The countless thus-gone ones

Have abandoned doubt about awakened qualities.

The buddhas’ wisdom is unimpeded—

It perceives the three times.

Given that they have dominion over all phenomena,

There is nothing unknown to the buddhas.

The Guide of Humans preaches

That the aggregates are nonexistent.

The four elements are as if hollow,

And nowhere are there sounds to be attached to.

The essence of the aggregates

Of form, feeling, perception,

Thoughts, formations, and consciousness

Should be known to be nonexistent.

Just as the Buddha has taught,

If one distinguishes the aggregates,

One will swiftly attain the dhāraṇīs

And become undeluded.

All phenomena are void—

All of them are empty and without self.

Of this there can be no debate or delusion.

This is what the Thus-Gone One has taught.

“Young man, located in the south, past twelve buddha realms
reckoned as twice the number of smallest particles in the previous analogy,
there is a world called Adorned by the Moon. There resides the thus-gone,
worthy, perfect Buddha King of Knowledge of Floral Light Displays. He is
alive and well and teaches the Dharma. Young man, when those noble sons or
daughters who abide in the Bodhisattva Vehicle hear the name of the blessed
one, the thus-gone one King of Knowledge of Floral Light Displays—as long as
they do not doubt this but trust in my vision—they will achieve the
absorption of emitting light rays once they have passed
away. They will become knowledgeable in ten thousand countless trillions of
methods to gain absorption. They will
become knowledgeable in sixty countless trillions of dhāraṇī methods—from
the oceanic dhāraṇī to the precious
treasury dhāraṇī. They will be undeluded in this regard until
reaching final awakening. When they die, ten million buddhas will come
from the east and reveal themselves, and the same will occur from all other
directions. They will retain the Dharma that these blessed buddhas teach.
Until they reach awakening they will not lose this Dharma way. Having worked
to turn away from cyclic existence for five hundred eons starting from the
time they began as bodhisattvas, they will reach unsurpassed and perfect
awakening.”

The Blessed One then expressed this in verse:

“Hearing the name of this protector,

The lord of humans, the world protector,

They will eliminate five hundred eons

Of cyclic existence.

“When death comes to those noble sons and daughters,

Millions of buddhas will appear to them.

Having seen them, paying homage with their faculties,

They will listen to the Dharma and retain it.

“When they hear that thus-gone one’s name

And engage in sacred practice,

They will not waste the Dharma taught by them—

Even for millions of eons.

“By proclaiming the name of this buddha,

They will attain seventy thousand

Absorptions known as precious,

And they will proclaim millions of virtues.

“Those who apprehend the name of this sage

Will come to abide

In countless millions

Plus sixty million absorptions.

“Thus, when heroes of equilibrium

Engage in bodhisattva conduct,

They establish many thousands of beings

In supreme awakening.

“Until reaching perfect awakening,

They will not engage in desirous conduct.

The beings to whom they teach the name of this buddha

Will also turn away from desire.

“Those who hear the name of this buddha

And teach it to all beings

Will never again enter unfree states;

It will not be hard for them to find leisure.

“By pleasing the excellent buddhas

That appear,

They will abandon all the unfree states

That I have described.

“Young man, if you were to understand

What the guide knows,

Once you knew the name of this teacher,

You would spread it throughout the ten directions.

“Thus, young man,

If you share this name with others,

You will acquire genuine awakening

And become a protector of the world.

“Those who hear this buddha’s name,

Remember it without distraction,

And share it with others,

Will guard their awakening.

“Those who hear this discourse

And teach it to others

Will guard these teachings

Of the well-spoken Dharma way.”

“Young man, located in the west, past worlds numbering three times
the number of smallest particles in the previous analogy, there is a world
called Citraratna. There the thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha King of
Blossoming Sal Tree Flowers lives. He is alive and well and teaches the
Dharma. Young man, when those noble sons or daughters who abide in the Great
Vehicle hear the name of the thus-gone one King of Blossoming Sal Tree
Flowers—as long as they do not doubt this but trust in my vision—they will
acquire five qualities once they have passed away. What are these five? When
their bodies are destroyed, buddhas will appear and they will attain the
position of a universal monarch, the five forms of miraculous abilities, the
recall of Dharma teachings, the thousand-swirled
dhāraṇī, and the thirty-two marks of a great being until they attain
awakening. They will achieve these five qualities.”

The Blessed One then expressed the meaning of this in verse:

“Those who hear the name of this leader of men, this protector,

And are faithful, without hesitation,

Will acquire these five qualities,

Which shall not be lost until they attain awakening.

“They will gain a golden-colored appearance,

The supreme knowledge of a universal monarch,

Merit rivaling that of Nārāyaṇa,

And the unceasing turning of the wheel of the sacred Dharma.

“They will be fortunate and have a thousand sons

Who are heroic and courageous, capable of defeating their opponents.

Adorned with marks, their bodies will have perfect limbs.

Therefore, their power will resemble that of a supreme ruler.

“They will have many thousands of queens

Who are fine and beautiful, with golden complexions.

Going late to bed and rising early,

They will never cause their supreme rulers any sorrow.

“The vassals, ministers, and major householders

Living in his realm

Will never cause the king any grief when they meet.

Their merit will even be greater than that.

“Even the crafty gods will find them difficult to match.

All the yakṣas and nāgas living in the human world

And all the other beings living in his realm

They will establish at the seat of awakening.

“Their dominion will expand and the harvests grow bountiful.

Their realm will be happy and buddhas will appear.

They will perform sacred worship of them.

The land of the king will be free from malice.

“Even those scholars who hear the perfect name of this buddha,

Yet doubt it or become displeased with it,

Will benefit from the perfect Dharma

In the sublime discourse that I have spoken today.

“However, this is not the case for those who abandoned the Dharma

Of previous victors, or those in the grip of demons,

Or those who in the past despised

The essential beings, the perfect victors.

“Young man, those who haven’t witnessed the delights

Of the royal palace and this realm of the Licchavis

And who haven’t seen me

Will harbor doubts when they hear the name of this buddha.

“Young man, located in the north, past sixty buddha realms reckoned
as thrice the number of smallest particles in the previous analogy, there is
a world called Covered with a Jewel Net. There the thus-gone, worthy,
perfect Buddha Pure Moon Disk lives. He is alive and well and teaches the
Dharma. Young man, when those noble sons or daughters who abide in the Great
Vehicle hear the name of the thus-gone one Pure Moon Disk—as long as they do
not doubt this but trust in my vision—they will obtain the absorption called
source of jewels and behold as many buddhas as
there are grains of sand in the Ganges once they have passed away. For as
many millions of eons, they will turn away from cyclic existence. Such
beginning bodhisattvas will reach unsurpassed and perfect awakening. They
will also attain the absorption called pleasant melody.
They will not turn away from unsurpassed and perfect awakening.

“Should women hear the name of the blessed thus-gone one Pure Moon
Disk without feeling any hesitation or doubt and with trust in my vision,
they will abandon their female faculties and gain male faculties once they
have passed away. They will establish many beings in unsurpassed and perfect
awakening. They will achieve the absorption called pleasant
melody. They will not turn back from unsurpassed and perfect
awakening.”

The Blessed One then expressed this in verse:

“Those who hear the name of this sublime human

And do not doubt it

Will, after as many eons as there are grains of sand in the Ganges,

Abandon rebirth and change to a state free from anguish.

“They will behold and venerate

Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.

All those buddhas they will venerate

In a single life, as the victors pass beyond anguish.

“Those who hear the name of this leader of men

As they engage in the perfect actions of sacred awakening

And remember it without ever doubting it

Will achieve a similar exalted state.

“Those who hear the name of this supreme human

And do not doubt it at all

Shall obtain self-existing wisdom, buddhahood itself,

And skillfully attain the absorption called pleasant
voice.

“As they engage in the perfect actions of sacred awakening,

They will achieve the faculties of a pure individual.

They will be beautiful and endowed with all qualities—

Such distinctions they will attain.

“They will shine in all directions

And proceed to countless millions of realms.

As they behold the great sage engaging with the world,

They will escape anguish and later discover awakening.

“Having heard the name

Of that great lord, that thus-gone one,

They will attain such distinctions as perfect miraculous powers,

And also the desire to attain awakening.

“Having developed interest in immaculate awakening,

They will share the name of the victor with others.

They will obtain virtues similar to his—

As brilliant as the full moon.

“Such learned persons will establish

Fathomless multitudes of beings in supreme awakening.

Like the chariot of the moon in the sky,

They will be beautiful and shine brightly.

“Those who remember the name of this victor

Will have bodies that are just as beautiful.

Yet some scholars who hear the name of this victor

Might doubt it, finding displeasure in it.

“As they engage in the perfect actions of sacred awakening,

These teachings will be helpful for them.

Due to the supreme great sage who engages with the world,

Such scholars will not come to ruin.

“Young man, located below us, past ninety-nine times the number of
particles in the previous analogy, there is a world called Lord of the
Supreme Banner. There resides the thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha King Who
Is Peaceful and Splendorous in His Learning and Rich in Melody. He is alive
and well and teaches the Dharma. Young man, when those noble sons or
daughters who abide in the Great Vehicle hear the name of the thus-gone one
King Who is Peaceful and Splendorous in His Learning and Rich in Melody—as
long as they do not doubt this but trust in my vision—they will achieve the
absorption called utterly illuminating once they have
passed away. At the time of death, they will see trillions of buddhas. In
all directions, as in the east, they will see trillions of buddhas. They
will retain all the Dharma teachings given by these blessed buddhas. Until
reaching awakening, they will be blessed by trillions of buddhas. Such
beginning bodhisattvas, having turned from cyclic existence for ninety-nine
trillion eons, will reach unsurpassed and perfect awakening.”

The Blessed One then expressed the meaning of this in verse:

“Those in this world who hear the supreme name

Of this buddha with an ocean of virtues

Will swiftly perform unsurpassed veneration

Of one hundred billion buddhas.

“Once they have venerated these limitless beings free from stains,

They will engage in the splendorous activity

Of the magnificent buddhas in all existences.

Later, they will also reach the perfect insight of awakening.

“Those who, in a single life, venerate as many guides

As there are grains of sand in the Ganges

Attain the utterly illuminating absorption

And subsequently reach awakening beyond anguish.

“Having obtained immaculate awakening, great awakening,

They will turn the sublime wheel of Dharma,

Whereby they will establish beings in the supreme awakening of
buddhahood,

Transcending anguish just as rainfall quenches flames.

“The guide of humans, the charioteer of humans,

Is the single field of merit, the single mount of merit.

If people simply develop faith toward that buddha,

They will instantly discard all unfree states.

“Those who recite the name of this well-gone one

Will obtain human bodies and gain leisure.

Then these wise persons will create merit

In the limitless ocean wherein the thus-gone ones dwell.

“Those who chant the name of this buddha

A mere one hundred thousand times will attain concordant acceptance

And the attainment of the divine eye, just as I did.

“When I saw the Buddha Dīpaṃkara I scattered flowers

And thereby attained acceptance.

They will acquire that sort of acceptance.

“Only those who are extremists,

Or who suffer from jealousy

Would not want teachings

Upon hearing the name of this illuminating sage who protects the world.

“Those who hear such a discourse taught

Directly from the guide, the Buddha,

Will remember it in the future

And teach it to others.

“Young man, located above this buddha realm, as in the previous
analogy, past as many realms as there are grains of sand in the Ganges,
there is a world called Wide Open. There the thus-gone, worthy, perfect
Buddha Stable in Immeasurable Diligence lives. He is alive and well and
teaches the Dharma. Young man, when those noble sons or daughters who abide
in the Great Vehicle hear the name of the thus-gone one Stable in
Immeasurable Diligence—as long as they do not doubt this but trust in my vision—their diligence will never
decrease once they have passed away. Never again will they indulge in
desire. Never again will they be stained by the suffering of a mother. Never
again will they be stained by the suffering of a father, relative, and
friend. Never will they be stained by the suffering of a sister. Never again
will they be stained by the suffering of a companion, ally, clansman, or
kinsman. Never will their bodies not be adorned by the thirty-two marks of a
great being. Never again will their attachment, aggression, and ignorance
increase. Never again will any diseases proliferate. Never again will any
anguish grow. Instead, they will gain limitless happiness. On the way to
awakening, they will gain countless trillions of limitless virtues.”

The Blessed One then expressed the meaning of this in verse:

“Those who hear the name of this world protector

And do not doubt it

Will never have to witness

The suffering of parents and many relatives.

“Above us abides the supreme human,

Who illuminates the world.

He illuminates the three realms of existence

And teaches beings the Dharma.

“Those who hear the name of this perfect buddha

And teach it to others

Will be perennially adorned

With the thirty-two marks.

“Those who remember the name of this sage

Will not have their insight impaired.

When they are engaged in the practices of awakening,

They will venerate the bodhisattvas as well.

“By teaching this buddha’s name,

When later they practice for awakening,

These insightful ones shall constantly venerate

Inconceivable millions of buddhas.

“Those who hear the name of this perfect buddha

And then reveal it to others

Will obtain a mass of merit

The measure of which is impossible to describe.

“Those who hear this name

Shall never come to doubt—

Even for the longest time in the future—

The unsurpassed wisdom of buddhahood.

“Those who see this perfect buddha

And render service and honor unto him

Shall receive this discourse

In their hands at a future time.

“Those who see me surrounded by bodhisattvas,

As well as Ratnajālin,

And hear this discourse

Will not come to doubt it.

“They will abandon any doubt

In the boundless thus-gone ones and their buddha qualities.

They will continue their earlier practices

For many billions of eons.

“They will give up their hands and legs

And give away their ears, noses, heads,

Sons, daughters, and subjects

Without any displeasure.

“When those who hear this discourse

Come in contact with it in the future,

They shall teach it to others,

And so become worthy of veneration.

“Let those who desire complete awakening,

Which is the domain of all the buddhas,

Never doubt the teachings

Of the world protector!

“Those who have heard this discourse

Must uphold it free from deceit.

They should preach this discourse again and again,

Wherever they may go.

“If they can perfect the meaning of this discourse,

Entirely within three months,

They shall attain the wisdom of recall

That recollects all teachings.”

Once the Young Licchavi Ratnajālin had heard these well-spoken
teachings of the Blessed One, he draped the Blessed One in priceless fabrics
ornamented with gold. Then the Blessed One performed a miracle such that
from every pore of the Blessed One’s body, light streamed forth,
illuminating all the countless, infinite worlds in the east. All the beings
born in those buddha realms beheld this buddha realm, and all the beings
gathered in the Thus-Gone One’s assembly
in this buddha realm also beheld this buddha realm. At that moment as many
blessed buddhas, including their fourfold assemblies, were illuminated as
ninety-nine times the number of grains of sand in the Ganges. Such was the
miracle that he performed.

The Blessed One then asked the young Licchavi Ratnajālin, “Young
man, when you look above, do you see all the blessed buddhas, who are so
unfathomably, innumerably, limitlessly, immeasurably, and indescribably
many?”

“Blessed One, I see them. Well-Gone One, I see them.”

“Noble son, the names of these thus-gone ones vastly outnumber the
names of the gods and humans gathered in the worlds of the great
trichiliocosm. Each of them has an inconceivable and boundless agglomeration
of names. This also applies to the thus-gone one Majestic King with the
Elegant Peaceful Voice in the east, and likewise to the thus-gone one Pure
Moon Disk, the thus-gone one King of Knowledge of Floral Light Displays, the
thus-gone one King of Blossoming Sal Tree Flowers, and the thus-gone one
Majestic King with the Splendorous Voice of Learning Adorned by Precious
Moonlight. Just as it is with the name of a single thus-gone one, so it is
with that of any thus-gone one. Do you see that?”

“Blessed One, I see it. Well-Gone One, I see it. So it is in the
south, in the west, in the north, below,
and above—in each of the ten directions there are countless names of the
individual thus-gone ones and myriad different names of the thus-gone ones.”

“Young man, do you see how the blessed buddhas vastly exceed those
who abide in the realm of a universal monarch?”

“Blessed One, I see it. Well-Gone One, I see it.”

The young Licchavi Ratnajālin became pleased, delighted, joyful,
and happy. At that moment when he was happy and delighted the earth quaked.
A great burst of light appeared that benefitted all beings, brought them
happiness, pleased their minds, and aroused roots of virtue in them.
Trillions of gods stationed in the sky cast down powdered gold from the
divine Jambu River. Trillions of brahmā gods tossed, scattered, and
sprinkled divine red sandalwood powder upon the Blessed One. Trillions of
gods tossed, scattered, and sprinkled divine blue, pink, red, and white
lotuses, as well as smaller and larger māndārava flowers. Trillions of gods
offered thousands of jeweled parasols. Trillions of gods wept as they bowed
their heads to the Blessed One’s feet, recalling trillions of their past
lives. It was the blessings of the Blessed Buddha that allowed these
trillions of miracles to occur.

About this, it was said,

Billions of gods

Stationed in the periphery

Tossed fine red sandalwood powder

Upon the perfect Buddha.

Tens of billions of śakra gods

Stationed in the sky

Tossed much powdered gold from the Jambu River

Upon the Thus-Gone One.

Ten million brahmā gods arrived

And tossed powdered red sandalwood

Upon the perfect Buddha

And sang melodious songs.

Seeing the immaculate light,

The gods arrayed themselves in the sky.

They sang countless songs

And waved fabrics in the sky.

The gods arrayed in the sky,

Holding thousands of lotus flowers,

Displayed them to the World Illuminator

And venerated him with banners and so forth.

With minds filled with joy,

They honored the unparalleled supreme Victor, the Lord of Sages.

They praised him and scattered upon him

Garlands of precious jewels and pearls.

A trillion people

Venerated the unparalleled supreme Victor.

They remembered hundreds of their past lives

And bowed their heads to the unparalleled Lord of Sages.

Then, the World Illuminator

Beat the Dharma drum;

Its sound was heard throughout many billions

Of buddha realms.

At that moment,

Countless millions of beings arrived from all directions.

They were established in the wisdom of buddhahood

By the perfect Buddha.

The young man was delighted;

He offered a seat of uraga sandalwood

And venerated the supreme Buddha

With powdered gems.

The light of one precious gem

Shone throughout thousands of worlds.

The light of that single gem

Radiated throughout billions of worlds.

In the same way, light sprang forth

From every gem without exception.

At that moment, they also

Illuminated Vaiśālī.

All of these gems were used

To venerate the principle Buddha.

A great pile of gems

Also was offered to the Great Sage.

Parasols adorned

With pearl garlands surrounded him.

Each had twenty-five thousand

Surrounding layers.

They venerated the Great Sage

Through such excellent means.

Woven fabrics were offered

To all the bodhisattvas.

Lion thrones were placed

Before emanated trees of awakening.

All told, two hundred fifty million

Were set out.

For millions of years,

Countless bodhisattvas—

Hundreds of millions in fact—

Arrived there.

They arrived first from the east,

And then from the south, west, and north,

From above and below,

And from the intermediate directions.

The golden-colored light

Of the Refuge, the World Protector,

Filled as many realms

As the eye could see.

Bodhisattvas arrived

From all worlds

To the place where the Teacher was sitting

And the Dharma was shining.

In this fashion, Ratnajālin,

The young Licchavi,

Performed boundless,

Limitless, and inconceivable homage.

Then the great person,

The supreme human, the Lion of the Śākyas,

Brought comfort to the assembled

Gods, nāgas, and humans:

“Standing before me,

You have performed such veneration.

This veneration has been done with offerings

As numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges.

“Those who hear this discourse,

Which has been taught for the sake of Ratnajālin,

Shall not turn back from awakening;

They will become supreme preachers of buddhahood.

“One cannot describe

The measure of the mass of merit

That ensues from remembering this discourse

By saying, ‘It shall be this much.’

“While one can describe the extent

Of the earth, water, fire, and wind

Throughout the ten directions,

It is impossible to describe this mass of merit.

“When a monk or nun,

Or a novice monk or nun,

Hears this discourse,

All beings including gods, nāgas, and mahoragas

“Will arrive near them

And find their splendor overwhelming.

While it is possible that fire can turn cold,

Their splendor will never diminish.

“When someone who remembers this discourse

Engages in the conduct of awakening,

All beings will attend to them

And venerate the mind of awakening.

“A powerful person

Might hold up a thousand worlds

For millions of eons

On the tip of a hair that has been split a billion times.

“Still, compared to that, during the latter days

One may teach to others

A discourse of the buddhas’ awakening

That one has heard in this fashion.

“In that case the great wonder

Of the former example

Shall not measure even a hundredth of that—

As no number, figure, or example could suffice.

“In the latter days,

When people hear the unsurpassed teachings

Of the lion’s roar in this manner,

It will not be contradicted or opposed.

“In the future, when people hear

Of those who have seen the World Protector—

The shining perfect Buddha—

They will act with respect and reverence.

“If all beings

In millions of buddha realms

Were endowed with the wisdom of buddhahood—

As many of them as there are grains of sand in the Ganges—

“One might perform service to them

For many hundreds of eons,

And offer them as many fine temples

As there are worlds in the great trichiliocosm.

“The temples could be made of sandalwood;

And each supreme and divine temple

Would have ten billion assembly halls.

“Each of the billion assembly halls

Could be made from divine jewels as an offering.

One could arrange thrones for everyone,

Complete with a billion servants.

“Skillfully, one could take nets of jewels

And adorn the thrones.

For eons as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges,

The great sages who wander through the world could then abide there.

“One could offer all that is fit to be offered

To each of those buddhas.

One could also create caityas for their parinirvāṇas

As numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges.

“One could create a caitya to every single buddha

In all the worlds of the great trichiliocosm—

Composed of jewels, with thousands of divine doors,

Reaching as high as the peak of existence.

“One could offer parasols as numerous as the grains of sand in the
Ganges

To each of these caityas.

The parasols offered at that time would be

Covered with ornamental garlands of pearl.

“One could also offer millions of streamers

As numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges

And billions of banners made of various precious jewels

To these caityas as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges.

“One could play billions of instruments

At each caitya of the omniscient illuminators.

Trillions of respectful humans too

Would join in making offerings.

“They would offer hundreds of flowers and parasols to the caitya

And venerate the great sages in this manner every day

For as many eons as there are grains of sand in the Ganges.

“Compared to all this, hearing just one verse from this discourse

While not doubting it, developing interest,

And reciting these victors’ names

Brings merit that is unsurpassed and supreme.

“Wise ones should listen to the names of absorptions,

Maintain flawless discipline, remember these names,

And venerate the thus-gone buddhas.

Thereby, they will behold as many buddhas as the grains of sand in the
Ganges.

“Having directed their minds to the sacred veneration

Of the supreme humans, the great sages,

They will always be sane, they will teach the Dharma,

And for millions of eons they will remain undeluded.

“As the World Protector teaches

This supreme king of discourses,

Those who hear what the Supreme Victor has previously seen

Will obtain happiness in the future.

“They will discard desires, knowing them to have faults,

Like a person tossing away a vessel filled with foul-smelling
excrement.

Such wise beings will delight in emancipation and peace,

Be constantly sane, and rely on the protectors.

“Those who saw me teach this

In the city of Vaiśālī,

Including Ratnajālin, who beheld and venerated me,

Shall remember this supreme discourse in the future.

“Those of my children who always follow me,

Engage in the supreme acts of awakening and peace,

And constantly train beings

Shall uphold this supreme discourse in the future.

“Those who serve the buddhas, the guides,

As they engage in the fathomless and incalculable practices,

And likewise engage in perfect worship,

Shall uphold this teaching of the Supreme Victor in the future.

“One could have engaged in pure conduct for a million eons

Or previously worked for the benefit of infinite worlds;

Yet the merit of hearing this discourse in the future

Shall not be countable at all.

“Let those intelligent beings who desire to behold

These peaceful and immortal buddhas—

The unfathomable and limitless buddhas—

Uphold the unfathomable greatness of this discourse!

“Let those who wish to behold all these buddhas,

Including Amitāyus, Akṣobhya, Vimalaprabhā,

and Siṃhaketu,

Uphold this teaching of the Supreme Victor in the future!

“Let those who wish to behold these principle illuminators,

The buddhas Maitreya and Vimalaprabhā,

Mahātman, and Siṃhaketu,

Uphold this teaching of the Supreme Victor in the future!

“I have taught this noble and supreme discourse

to Ratnajālin.

In the future,

Do not stay in heedless places!

“When the future times come,

Be careful and always keep your discipline flawless.

Then, when your time comes to die,

You will go to the realm of the victor Infinite Light.

“His realm is known as Jeweled,

And is located in a world above us.

Following that, when your time comes to die,

You will swiftly behold the Buddha Maitreya.”

Once the Blessed One gave this teaching, the young Licchavi
Ratnajālin as well as four hundred million bodhisattvas such as Maitreya,
and also six hundred million worthy ones and nine hundred ninety million
gods rejoiced and praised what the Blessed One had said.

This completes the Great Vehicle sūtra “The Questions of Ratnajālin.”

Colophon

It was translated by the Indian preceptor Jñānagarbha and the
translator Bandé Yeshé Nyingpo. It was proofed and finalized by the
editor-translator Bandé Paltsek.

Notes

Bibliography

The head, arms, and legs.
five points

A god; a member of the Buddha’s retinue.

A buddha.

A god; a member of the Buddha’s retinue.

A buddha who lives in a buddha realm to the west
of this world.

A buddha who lives in a buddha realm to the
south of this world.

A buddha who lives in a buddha realm below this
world.

A leader of the Licchavis.

A buddha who lives to the east of this
world.

A buddha who lives in a buddha realm to the east
of this world.

The editor of this discourse.
Paltsek

A god; a member of the Buddha’s retinue.

A buddha who lives in a buddha realm to the
north of this world.

A buddha who lives in a buddha realm above this
world.

The Tibetan translator of this discourse.

A buddha realm to the south.

A buddha realm to the north.

The buddha realm of the Buddha Infinite Light,
located above this world.

A buddha realm below this world.

A buddha realm to the east.

Vaiśālī
yangs pa can
ཡངས་པ་ཅན།
Vaiśālī
The ancient capital of the Licchavi republican
state, the Buddha visited this city several times during his
lifetime. It is perhaps most famous as the location where, on
different occasions, the Buddha cured a plague, admitted the first
nuns into the Buddhist order, was offered a bowl of honey by
monkeys, and announced his parinirvāṇa three months prior to his
departure.

A buddha realm above this world.