Toh 44-18Chapter 18: The Tathāgata Ascends to the Peak of Mount Meru
Pāli / Sanskrit:de bzhin gshegs pa ri rab rtser gshegs le'u/
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Scriptural Commentary: The Tathagata Ascends to the Peak of Mount Meru
Context
This Chapter 18 appears in the scriptures of the Northern Transmission canon, which record the wondrous activities of Buddha Shakyamuni after his awakening. According to the Northern Mahayana tradition, the Buddha also manifests countless nirmāṇakāya bodies, each acting to save beings in different realms. Mount Meru (Sanskrit: Sumeru) is the center of the world according to Buddhist cosmology, the dwelling place of the heavenly kings, and a symbol of the highest vertical axis of truth. The Tathagata’s ascent to the summit of this mountain is not merely an activity throughout the ten directions, but a manifestation of the dharmakāya pervading all realms.
This scripture was transmitted in order to demonstrate that the Buddha is never confined to a single place or a single time, but is always present everywhere to protect and teach. This is an important feature of the Mahayana in comparison with other traditions.
Main Content
When the Tathagata ascends to the peak of Mount Meru, he manifests with immeasurable radiance, causing the heavenly kings, Śakra, and all beings dwelling in the heavenly realms to behold his marvelous presence. This appearance is not simply the physical body of one Buddha, but the manifestation of immeasurable Buddhas, all ceaselessly and eloquently transmitting the Dharma King’s teaching.
From the peak of this mountain, the Buddha emits a profound Dharma voice, teachings that give all who hear them, from devas to beings in hell, the opportunity to approach the Dharma. Seers, devas, and even sentient beings in the darkest worlds are illuminated by the Buddha’s wisdom. This expresses a fundamental principle of the Mahayana: buddha-nature is innate in all sentient beings, and the Buddha never refuses to save anyone.
The scripture records that the Buddha does not remain long in any one place, because he is present in countless places at the same time. From Mount Meru, he displays the act of going to other realms, teaching according to the needs of each being.
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