大般若波羅蜜多經

FIRST ASSEMBLY

FIRST PART

I. CHAPTER ON THE ARISING CONDITIONS

01

Thus have I heard: At one time, the Buddha was dwelling on Vulture Peak in the city of Rajagriha, together with an assembly of one thousand two hundred and fifty great bhiksus. All were arhats whose outflows had been exhausted, whose afflictions would never arise again, who had attained true mastery, whose minds were completely liberated and whose wisdom was completely liberated. They were like well-trained noble steeds and also like great dragons.

They had done what had to be done and completed what had to be completed, laid down their burdens, attained their own benefit, severed all bonds, rightly understood liberation, attained mastery of mind, and reached the ultimate consummation. Only Ananda, who had newly attained the fruit of stream-entry, remained at the stage requiring further training. Mahakasyapa was their foremost.

There were also five hundred bhiksunis, all of whom were arhats, with Mahaprajapati Gautami as their foremost. There were also immeasurable male and female lay devotees, all of whom had seen the noble truth.

There were also immeasurable and innumerable great bodhisattvas. All had attained the dharani gateways and the samadhi gateways. They abided in the realization that all dharmas are illusory, lack intrinsic reality, and are not to be sought.

They had attained impartial acceptance of all dharmas; accomplished the four unobstructed knowledges; and, whatever subject they expounded, their eloquence was inexhaustible. Possessing the five kinds of superknowledge, they roamed freely at will. They had attained wisdom and entirely eradicated the afflictions, never again to regress.

Their speech and conduct were majestic, and those who heard them respectfully followed their example. Diligent and courageous, they had abandoned indolence. They relinquished all possessions, begrudging neither body nor life.

They were far removed from pride and conceit, had abandoned deceit, and were free from attachment and seeking.

For the sake of all sentient beings, they proclaimed the True Dharma. They had attained the most profound and ultimate acceptance of all dharmas. Free from fear, their minds were at ease. They had transcended adverse conditions, escaped karmic obstructions, scattered all afflictions and hostile marauders, raised the banner of the True Dharma, and subdued false doctrines. Sravakas and pratyekabuddhas could not fathom them, for they had attained mastery over mind and mastery over the Dharma. They had cast off the hindrances caused by wrong conduct, persistent ignorance, and partial understanding.

In choosing practices and presenting doctrines, there was nothing they failed to comprehend. They penetrated the practice of dependent arising and cessation, remained far removed from partial understanding and persistent delusion, and released all bonds. Their wisdom penetrated the noble truths.

Throughout innumerable kalpas they had made vast vows. Their countenances were joyful; they first offered words of guidance and remained entirely free from frowning or irritation. Their speech was gentle and harmonious; they were highly skilled in praise and commendation, and their eloquence never faltered.

Amid great assemblies, their majestic virtue was dignified and serene. They advanced and withdrew freely, without any fear, and could teach skillfully without exhaustion for hundreds of thousands of kotis of kalpas.

Regarding all methods of practice, they contemplated profoundly: like illusions, mirages, dreams, the moon reflected in water, echoes, flowers in the sky, images, reflections of light, magical displays, and conjured cities, though wholly unreal, they nevertheless appeared as though real. Free from faintheartedness, they taught the Dharma without fear. They were able to practice and realize immeasurable methods of cultivation.

Knowing the thoughts and aspirations of sentient beings, they employed surpassing wisdom to teach and liberate them. Their minds remained unattached to sentient beings, and they had reached the highest perfection of patient endurance. Regarding the non-arising of all dharmas, they had completely entered the wisdom that penetrates the equality of all dharmas and knew, just as it truly is, their profound nature.

In accordance with beings’ aspirations, they skillfully guided them toward awakening. They constantly and skillfully expounded the practice of dependent arising. They undertook great vows throughout boundless Buddha lands.

Toward the innumerable Buddhas of the ten directions, they maintained impartial right mindfulness, as though those Buddhas were always present before them.

Whenever Buddhas appeared in the world, they were ready to serve them all. They also constantly entreated them to turn the wheel of the True Dharma, to delay entering nirvana, and to liberate immeasurable sentient beings. They were always skilled in subduing and extinguishing the bonds created by attachment to partial understanding and the fires of affliction in all sentient beings. In a single instant they roamed through hundreds of thousands of states of meditative concentration and generated boundless sublime merit.

These bodhisattvas were all endowed with such vast and wondrous qualities. Even if one praised them throughout immeasurable hundreds of thousands of kotis of great kalpas, their virtues could not be exhausted. Their names were: the great bodhisattva Bhadramukha, the great bodhisattva Jewel Nature, the great bodhisattva Jewel Treasury, the great bodhisattva Jewel Beacon, the great bodhisattva Guide, the great bodhisattva Benevolent Beacon, the great bodhisattva Star Beacon, the great bodhisattva Divine Beacon, the great bodhisattva Truth Beacon, the great bodhisattva Vast Wisdom, the great bodhisattva Supreme Wisdom, the great bodhisattva Highest Wisdom, the great bodhisattva Increasing Wisdom, the great bodhisattva Boundless Wisdom, the great bodhisattva Unerring Vision,

the great bodhisattva Unobstructed Wisdom, the great bodhisattva Well-Directed Progress, the great bodhisattva Excellent Courage, the great bodhisattva Utmost Diligence, the great bodhisattva Constant Diligence, the great bodhisattva Constant Application, the great bodhisattva Never Relinquishing the Yoke, the great bodhisattva Sun Treasury, the great bodhisattva Moon Treasury, the great bodhisattva Incomparable Wisdom, the great bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, the great bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta, the great bodhisattva Manjusri, the great bodhisattva Jewel-Seal Hand, the great bodhisattva Power That Crushes Mara, the great bodhisattva Vajra Wisdom, the great bodhisattva Vajra Treasury, the great bodhisattva Ever-Raised Hand, the great bodhisattva Great Compassionate Mind,

the great bodhisattva Great Adornment, the great bodhisattva King of Adornment, the great bodhisattva Mountain Peak, the great bodhisattva Jewel Peak, the great bodhisattva King of Virtue, the great bodhisattva Maitreya, and others.

Such immeasurable hundreds of thousands of innumerable great bodhisattvas, all children of the Dharma King and capable of succeeding to Buddhahood, were the foremost among the assembly.

At that time, the Blessed One was upon the lion throne. Having arranged his own seat, he sat cross-legged, held his body upright, established right resolve, and abided in present mindfulness. He entered the wondrous King Samadhi. All other samadhis were encompassed within this samadhi, for it was the source from which all samadhis flowed.

At that time, the Blessed One, knowing rightly and contemplating rightly, emerged serenely from the wondrous King Samadhi and surveyed with his purified divine eye the Buddha worlds throughout the ten directions. His whole body became relaxed and at ease. From the marks of the thousand-spoked wheels beneath the soles of his two feet, he emitted sixty hundred thousand innumerable rays of light.

From his ten toes, the tops of his two feet, his two heels, four ankles, two shins, two calves, two knees, two sitting-bones, two thighs, back, sides, abdomen, shoulder blades, the mark of virtue () directly above the navel and over the heart at the center of his chest, his two breasts, two armpits, two shoulders, two upper arms, two elbows, two forearms, two wrists, two hands, two palms, ten fingers, nape, throat, lips, chin, cheeks, forehead, head, crown, two eyebrows, two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, mouth, four incisors, forty teeth, and the curled white hair between his eyebrows—from every part of his body he emitted sixty hundred thousand innumerable rays of light.

Each ray illuminated the entire trichiliocosm and then, in succession, shone throughout innumerable Buddha lands in the ten directions. Any sentient being therein who encountered this light would certainly attain unsurpassed awakening.

At that time, every pore of the Blessed One’s body opened and emitted sixty hundred thousand innumerable rays of light. Each ray illuminated the entire trichiliocosm and then, in succession, shone throughout innumerable Buddha lands in the ten directions. Any sentient being therein who encountered this light would certainly attain unsurpassed awakening.

At that time, light issued from the Blessed One’s body and continuously illuminated the entire trichiliocosm. Then, in succession, it shone throughout innumerable Buddha lands in the ten directions. Any sentient being therein who encountered this light would certainly attain unsurpassed awakening.

At that time, the Blessed One extended from his mouth his broad and long tongue, covering the entire trichiliocosm, and smiled joyfully. From that broad and long tongue there again streamed immeasurable hundreds of thousands of innumerable rays of light. Those rays were of many colors.

From within each multicolored ray appeared a precious lotus. Each lotus had a thousand petals, all of pure gold, adorned with jewels, exquisitely interwoven, delightful to behold, and richly fragrant, its perfume pervading everywhere. It was smooth, delicate, and soft, and contact with it produced pure and transcendent joy.

Upon the receptacle of each lotus sat a transformation Buddha cross-legged, uttering wondrous sounds of Dharma. Each sound proclaimed Dharma corresponding to prajnaparamita. Any sentient being who heard it would certainly attain unsurpassed awakening.

Then, in succession, these sounds pervaded innumerable Buddha lands throughout the ten directions, where they likewise proclaimed beneficial Dharma.

At that time, without leaving his seat, the Blessed One entered the Lion’s Play Samadhi and manifested supernormal power, causing this trichiliocosm to undergo six kinds of transformation: it moved, moved intensely, and moved intensely throughout; surged, surged intensely, and surged intensely throughout; shook, shook intensely, and shook intensely throughout; quaked, quaked intensely, and quaked intensely throughout; roared, roared intensely, and roared intensely throughout; resounded, resounded intensely, and resounded intensely throughout.

He further caused the eastern part of this realm to rise while the western part sank, and the western part to rise while the eastern part sank; the southern part to rise while the northern part sank, and the northern part to rise while the southern part sank; the center to rise while the surrounding parts sank, and the surrounding parts to rise while the center sank. This realm became pure, bright, cool, and tranquil, bringing benefit, peace, and happiness to sentient beings.

At that time, all sentient beings in the hells, the animal realm, the realm of hungry ghosts, and other perilous pits of miserable destinies throughout this trichiliocosm were freed from their sufferings. Dying there, they were reborn among humans or in the six heavens of the desire realm. They all remembered their former lives, rejoiced and leapt with delight, and together approached the Buddha.

With purified minds, they bowed their heads at the Buddha’s feet. Then, in succession, this transformation pervaded innumerable Buddha lands throughout the ten directions. Through the Buddha’s spiritual power, those lands also underwent the six kinds of transformation.

At that time, all sentient beings in the miserable destinies of those worlds were freed from suffering. Dying there, they were reborn among humans or in the six heavens of the desire realm. They all remembered their former lives and rejoiced and leapt with delight.

Each, within their own realm, approached the Buddha and bowed their heads at his feet.

At that time, throughout this trichiliocosm and innumerable other worlds of sentient beings in the ten directions, the blind gained sight, the deaf gained hearing, the mute gained speech, the insane recovered their senses, the disturbed became calm, the poor gained wealth, the unclothed obtained clothing, the hungry received food, the thirsty received drink, the sick were cured, the ugly became beautiful, the disabled were made whole, those with deficient faculties had them completed, the deluded became lucid, and the weary became vigorous.

At that time, sentient beings treated one another with impartial minds, regarding one another as parents, brothers, sisters, friends, and relatives. They abandoned the way of life based on perverse speech and cultivated the way of life based on upright speech. They abandoned the ten unwholesome deeds and cultivated the ten wholesome deeds. They abandoned evil thoughts and cultivated wholesome thoughts. They abandoned impure conduct and cultivated pure conduct. Delighting in purity, they forsook defilement; delighting in tranquility, they forsook commotion. Their bodies and minds became relaxed and at ease, and they immediately experienced pure and transcendent joy, like practitioners entering the third dhyana.

Moreover, supreme wisdom suddenly arose in them, and they thought: “To give universally, tame and master oneself, patiently endure in peace, advance with courageous vigor, remain utterly quiescent, contemplate thoroughly, abandon heedlessness completely, cultivate purity, and maintain loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity toward all sentient beings without troubling one another—how excellent this is!”

At that time, seated upon the lion throne, the Blessed One emitted extraordinary light of immense majesty and virtue. Its radiance covered the trichiliocosm and innumerable Buddha lands throughout the ten directions. Mount Sumeru, the encircling mountain ranges, all abodes of nagas and spirits, the heavenly palaces, and even the Pure Abodes were universally illuminated. Just as the full autumn moon dims the stars, as the summer sun’s radiance overwhelms all colors, and as the four great and wondrous jewel-kings of lofty mountains outshine all other mountains, so did the Buddha, through his spiritual power, manifest his Buddha body anew and enable all sentient beings in this trichiliocosm to behold him.

At that time, immeasurable and innumerable devas of the Pure Abodes within this trichiliocosm, down to the devas of the Heaven of the Four Great Kings in the desire realm, together with all humans, nonhumans, and others, saw the Tathagata seated upon the lion throne, his majestic radiance blazing like a great golden mountain. They rejoiced and leapt with delight, praising this unprecedented sight. They took innumerable kinds of heavenly flowers, garlanded incense, anointing incense, burning incense, powdered incense, garments, jeweled necklaces, banners, canopies, musical instruments, precious gems, immeasurable varieties of blue heavenly lotuses, red heavenly lotuses, white heavenly lotuses, fragrant heavenly lotuses, yellow heavenly lotuses, pink heavenly lotuses,

heavenly flowers from trees of gold and silver, heavenly fragrant leaves, and immeasurable fresh flowers growing on land and in water.

Bringing them before the Buddha, they scattered them in offering over him.

Through the Buddha’s spiritual power, those garlands rose successively and formed flower terraces whose number filled the entire trichiliocosm. Heavenly flower canopies hung down, adorned with precious bells and intricately woven jeweled banners, delightful to behold. At that time, this Buddha land became wondrously adorned, resembling the Land of Utmost Bliss in the west. The Buddha’s light brilliantly illuminated all beings, and throughout the trichiliocosm the whole of space became a single radiant golden hue. The realms in innumerable Buddha lands throughout the ten directions likewise became so.

At that time, the people of the four continents within the Buddha lands of this trichiliocosm—Jambudvipa in the south, Purvavideha in the east, Aparagodaniya in the west, and Uttarakuru in the north—through the Buddha’s spiritual power, each saw the Buddha seated directly before them and thought that the Tathagata was teaching the Dharma especially for them.

Likewise, through the Blessed One’s spiritual power, each deva in the realms of the Four Great Kings, the Thirty-three, Yama, Tusita, Enjoying Transformations, Mastery over Others’ Transformations, the Brahma Host, Brahma Ministers, Brahma Assembly, Great Brahma, Light, Lesser Light, Immeasurable Light, Utmost Pure Light, Purity, Lesser Purity, Immeasurable Purity, Universal Purity, Vastness, Lesser Vastness, Immeasurable Vastness, Abundant Fruit, No Affliction, No Heat, Excellent Manifestation, Excellent Vision, and the Ultimate Form Realm saw the Buddha seated directly before them and thought: “The Tathagata is teaching the Dharma especially for me.”

At that time, without leaving his seat, the Blessed One smiled joyfully and emitted great light from his face, illuminating all the Buddha lands within the trichiliocosm and innumerable Buddha lands throughout the ten directions.

At that time, following the Buddha’s light, all sentient beings in the Buddha lands within this trichiliocosm saw throughout innumerable Buddha lands in the ten directions all the Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, Perfectly Awakened Ones, surrounded by assemblies of sravakas and bodhisattvas. They also saw all other sentient and insentient things there.

At that time, following the Buddha’s light, all sentient beings in innumerable Buddha lands throughout the ten directions likewise saw in this realm the Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Awakened One Sakyamuni surrounded by assemblies of sravakas and bodhisattvas. They also saw all other sentient and insentient things here.

At that time, beyond innumerable worlds to the farthest world in the east was a world named Many Jewels. There a Buddha named Jewel Nature Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Persons, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One, was dwelling securely and teaching the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to an assembly of great bodhisattvas.

Among them was a bodhisattva named Universal Light. Seeing this great radiance, the earth’s transformations, and the manifestation of the Buddha’s body, he became perplexed. He approached the Buddha, bowed his head at the Buddha’s two feet, and said: “Blessed One, through what causes and conditions has this auspicious sign appeared?”

The Buddha Jewel Nature then told the great bodhisattva Universal Light: “Good man, west of this realm, beyond innumerable worlds, is a world at the farthest limit named Endurance. There dwells a Buddha named Sakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Persons, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One. He is dwelling there securely and is about to teach the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to an assembly of great bodhisattvas. Through that Buddha’s spiritual power, this auspicious sign has appeared.”

Having heard this, Universal Light rejoiced and leapt with delight. He again addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One, I now request permission to go to the world of Endurance to behold, venerate, and make offerings to the Tathagata Sakyamuni and to the assemblies of great bodhisattvas who have attained penetrating understanding, dharani gateways, samadhi gateways, and mastery of supernormal powers, who are in their final body and will succeed to Buddhahood. I pray that you will compassionately permit me.”

The Buddha Jewel Nature then told the bodhisattva Universal Light: “Excellent! Excellent! Now is the proper time. You may depart.”

The Buddha then took one thousand pure-gold lotus blossoms. Each had a thousand petals and was adorned with jewels. He gave them to the bodhisattva Universal Light and instructed him: “Take these flowers to the Buddha Sakyamuni and, conveying my words, say: ‘The Tathagata Jewel Nature respectfully inquires after you. Are you free from illness and affliction? Do you move with ease? Are your strength and vital energies in harmony? Are you peaceful and happy? Are worldly conditions bearable? Are sentient beings easy to guide?’ Then present these lotus blossoms to the Blessed One for the performance of Buddha work.

“When you reach that realm, perceive it correctly. On seeing that Buddha land and its great assemblies, do not give rise to contempt and thereby harm yourself. Why? Because the majestic virtue of those bodhisattvas is difficult to equal. Impelled by their vows to liberate beings and because of great causes and conditions, they were born in that realm.”

The bodhisattva Universal Light accepted the flowers and respectfully obeyed. Together with immeasurable hundreds of thousands of innumerable great bodhisattvas, both monastic and lay, and innumerable hundreds of thousands of boys and girls, he bowed his head at the Buddha’s feet, circumambulated him to the right, and took his leave. Each carried immeasurable varieties of flowers and incense, banners, precious canopies, garments, precious ornaments, and other articles of offering, and they set out. Passing through innumerable Buddha lands in the east, they respectfully made offerings and offered reverence and praise in every Buddha land, omitting none.

Upon arriving before the Buddha Sakyamuni, they bowed their heads at his two feet, circumambulated him hundreds of thousands of times, and withdrew to stand at one side. The bodhisattva Universal Light stepped forward and addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One, east of this realm, beyond innumerable worlds, at the farthest limit is a world named Many Jewels. There is a Buddha named Jewel Nature Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Persons, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One.

He respectfully inquires after the Blessed One: ‘Are you free from illness and affliction? Do you move with ease? Are your strength and vital energies in harmony?

Are you peaceful and happy? Are worldly conditions bearable? Are sentient beings easy to guide?’” He then presented the thousand pure-gold lotus blossoms to the Blessed One for the performance of Buddha work.

At that time, the Buddha Sakyamuni accepted the lotus blossoms and scattered them back toward innumerable Buddha worlds in the east. Through the Buddha’s spiritual power, those flowers fell throughout all those Buddha lands. Upon the receptacle of each flower sat a transformation Buddha cross-legged, teaching Dharma corresponding to the Great Prajnaparamita to the bodhisattvas. Every sentient being who heard it attained unsurpassed awakening.

Seeing this, Universal Light and his retinue rejoiced and leapt with delight, praising it as unprecedented. Each, according to the measure of their roots of virtue and the abundance or scarcity of their articles of offering, respectfully made offerings and rendered reverence and praise to the Buddha and the bodhisattvas. They then withdrew and sat to one side.

In the same way, from that world at the farthest limit to this realm, in every Buddha land throughout the east there was a Tathagata then teaching the wondrous Dharma to a great assembly. In the presence of each of those Buddhas was a foremost bodhisattva who, on seeing the great light, the earth’s transformations, and the manifestation of the Buddha’s body, approached the Buddha and asked: “Blessed One, through what causes and conditions has this auspicious sign appeared?”

Each of those Buddhas replied: “West of this realm is the world of Endurance, where a Buddha named Sakyamuni is about to teach the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to the bodhisattvas. Through that Buddha’s spiritual power, this auspicious sign has appeared.”

Having heard this, each foremost bodhisattva rejoiced and requested permission to go to the world of Endurance to behold, venerate, and make offerings to the Buddha and the bodhisattvas. Those Tathagatas praised them and permitted them to go. Each gave them thousand-petaled pure-gold lotus blossoms adorned with jewels and instructed them: “Take these flowers to that Buddha and convey my message in full: ‘I respectfully inquire after you. Are you free from illness and affliction? Do you move with ease? Are your strength and vital energies in harmony? Are you peaceful and happy? Are worldly conditions bearable? Are sentient beings easy to guide?’ Then present these lotus blossoms to the Blessed One for the performance of Buddha work.

“When you reach that realm, perceive it correctly. On seeing that Buddha land and its bodhisattvas, do not give rise to contempt and thereby harm yourself. Why? Because the majestic virtue of those bodhisattvas is difficult to equal. Impelled by their vows to liberate beings and because of great causes and conditions, they were born in that realm.”

Each foremost bodhisattva accepted the flowers and respectfully obeyed. Together with immeasurable and innumerable bodhisattvas, boys, and girls, they took leave of their Buddha, carried articles of offering, and set out. In every Buddha land through which they passed, they made offerings to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, omitting none.

Upon arriving before the Buddha Sakyamuni, they bowed their heads at his two feet, circumambulated him hundreds of thousands of times, offered the flowers, and reported everything. After accepting the flowers, the Buddha scattered them back toward the east. Through his spiritual power, the flowers fell throughout all the Buddha lands. Upon the receptacle of each flower was a transformation Buddha teaching the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to the bodhisattvas, ensuring that all who heard it would attain unsurpassed awakening.

The foremost bodhisattvas and their retinues saw this, rejoiced, and praised it as unprecedented. Each, according to the measure of their roots of virtue and the abundance or scarcity of their articles of offering, respectfully made offerings and rendered reverence and praise to the Buddha and the bodhisattvas. They then withdrew and sat to one side.

At that time, beyond innumerable worlds to the farthest world in the south was a world named Free from All Sorrow. There a Buddha named Sorrowless Virtue Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Persons, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One, was dwelling securely and teaching the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to assemblies of great bodhisattvas.

Among them was a bodhisattva named Free from Sorrow. Seeing this great radiance, the earth’s transformations, and the manifestation of the Buddha’s body, he became perplexed. He approached the Buddha, bowed his head at the Buddha’s two feet, and said: “Blessed One, through what causes and conditions has this auspicious sign appeared?”

The Buddha Sorrowless Virtue told the bodhisattva Free from Sorrow: “Good man, north of this realm, beyond innumerable worlds, is a world at the farthest limit named Endurance. There dwells a Buddha named Sakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Persons, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One. He is dwelling there securely and is about to teach the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to an assembly of great bodhisattvas. Through that Buddha’s spiritual power, this auspicious sign has appeared.”

Having heard this, Free from Sorrow rejoiced and leapt with delight. He again addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One, I now request permission to go to the world of Endurance to behold, venerate, and make offerings to the Tathagata Sakyamuni and to the assemblies of great bodhisattvas who have attained penetrating understanding, dharani gateways, samadhi gateways, and mastery of supernormal powers, who are in their final body and will succeed to Buddhahood. I pray that you will compassionately permit me.”

The Buddha Sorrowless Virtue told the bodhisattva Free from Sorrow: “Excellent! Excellent! Now is the proper time. You may depart.”

The Buddha then took one thousand pure-gold lotus blossoms. Each had a thousand petals and was adorned with jewels. He gave them to the bodhisattva Free from Sorrow and instructed him: “Take these flowers to the Buddha Sakyamuni and, conveying my words, say: ‘The Tathagata Sorrowless Virtue respectfully inquires after you. Are you free from illness and affliction? Do you move with ease? Are your strength and vital energies in harmony? Are you peaceful and happy? Are worldly conditions bearable? Are sentient beings easy to guide?’ Then present these lotus blossoms to the Blessed One for the performance of Buddha work.

“When you reach that realm, perceive it correctly. On seeing that Buddha land and its great assemblies, do not give rise to contempt and thereby harm yourself. Why? Because the majestic virtue of those bodhisattvas is difficult to equal. Impelled by their vows to liberate beings and because of great causes and conditions, they were born in that realm.”

The bodhisattva Free from Sorrow accepted the flowers and respectfully obeyed. Together with immeasurable hundreds of thousands of innumerable great bodhisattvas, both monastic and lay, and immeasurable hundreds of thousands of boys and girls, he bowed his head at the Buddha’s feet, circumambulated him to the right, and took his leave. Each carried immeasurable varieties of flowers and incense, banners, precious canopies, garments, precious ornaments, and other articles of offering, and they set out. Passing through innumerable Buddha lands in the south, they respectfully made offerings and offered reverence and praise in every Buddha land, omitting none.

Upon arriving before the Buddha Sakyamuni, they bowed their heads at his feet, circumambulated him hundreds of thousands of times, and withdrew to stand at one side. The bodhisattva Free from Sorrow stepped forward and addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One, south of this realm, beyond innumerable worlds, at the farthest limit is a world named Free from All Sorrow. There is a Buddha named Sorrowless Virtue Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Persons, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One.

He respectfully inquires after the Blessed One: ‘Are you free from illness and affliction? Do you move with ease? Are your strength and vital energies in harmony?

Are you peaceful and happy? Are worldly conditions bearable? Are sentient beings easy to guide?’” He then presented the thousand pure-gold lotus blossoms to the Blessed One for the performance of Buddha work.

At that time, the Buddha Sakyamuni accepted the lotus blossoms and scattered them back toward innumerable Buddha worlds in the south. Through the Buddha’s spiritual power, those lotus blossoms fell throughout all those Buddha lands. Upon the receptacle of each flower sat a transformation Buddha cross-legged, teaching Dharma corresponding to the Great Prajnaparamita to the bodhisattvas. Any sentient being who heard it would certainly attain unsurpassed awakening.

Seeing this, Free from Sorrow and his retinue rejoiced and leapt with delight, praising it as unprecedented. Each, according to the measure of their roots of virtue and the abundance or scarcity of their articles of offering, respectfully made offerings and rendered reverence and praise to the Buddha and the bodhisattvas. They then withdrew and sat to one side.

In the same way, from that world at the farthest limit to this realm, in every Buddha land throughout the south there was a Tathagata then teaching the wondrous Dharma to a great assembly. In the presence of each Buddha was a foremost bodhisattva who, on seeing the great light, the earth’s transformations, and the manifestation of the Buddha’s body, approached the Buddha and asked: “Blessed One, through what causes and conditions has this auspicious sign appeared?”

Those Buddhas each replied: “North of this realm is the world of Endurance, where a Buddha named Sakyamuni is about to teach the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to the bodhisattvas. Through that Buddha’s spiritual power, this auspicious sign has appeared.”

Having heard this, each foremost bodhisattva rejoiced and requested permission to go to the world of Endurance to behold, venerate, and make offerings to the Buddha and the bodhisattvas. Those Tathagatas praised them and permitted them to go. Each gave them thousand-petaled pure-gold lotus blossoms adorned with jewels and instructed them: “Take these flowers to that Buddha and convey my message in full: ‘I respectfully inquire after you. Are you free from illness and affliction? Do you move with ease? Are your strength and vital energies in harmony? Are you peaceful and happy? Are worldly conditions bearable? Are sentient beings easy to guide?’ Then present these lotus blossoms to the Blessed One for the performance of Buddha work.

“When you reach that realm, perceive it correctly. On seeing that Buddha land and its bodhisattvas, do not give rise to contempt and thereby harm yourself. Why? Because the majestic virtue of those bodhisattvas is difficult to equal. Impelled by their vows to liberate beings and because of great causes and conditions, they were born in that realm.”

Each foremost bodhisattva accepted the flowers and respectfully obeyed. Together with immeasurable and innumerable bodhisattvas, boys, and girls, they took leave of their Buddha, carried articles of offering, and set out. In every Buddha land through which they passed, they made offerings to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, omitting none.

Upon arriving before the Buddha Sakyamuni, they bowed their heads at his two feet, circumambulated him hundreds of thousands of times, offered the flowers, and reported everything. After accepting the flowers, the Buddha scattered them back toward the south. Through his spiritual power, the flowers fell throughout all the Buddha lands. Upon the receptacle of each flower was a transformation Buddha teaching the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to the bodhisattvas, ensuring that all who heard it would attain unsurpassed awakening.

The foremost bodhisattvas and their retinues saw this, rejoiced, and praised it as unprecedented. Each, according to the measure of their roots of virtue and the abundance or scarcity of their articles of offering, respectfully made offerings and rendered reverence and praise to the Buddha and the bodhisattvas. They then withdrew and sat to one side.

At that time, beyond innumerable worlds to the farthest world in the west was a world named Near to Quiescence. There a Buddha named Jewel Flame Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Persons, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One, was dwelling securely and teaching the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to the great bodhisattvas.

In that realm was a bodhisattva named Practicing Wisdom. Seeing this great radiance, the earth’s transformations, and the manifestation of the Buddha’s body, he became perplexed. He approached the Buddha, bowed his head at the Buddha’s two feet, and said: “Blessed One, through what causes and conditions has this auspicious sign appeared?”

The Buddha Jewel Flame told the great bodhisattva Practicing Wisdom: “Good man, east of this realm, beyond innumerable worlds, is a world at the farthest limit named Endurance. There dwells a Buddha named Sakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Persons, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One. He is dwelling there securely and is about to teach the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to an assembly of great bodhisattvas. Through that Buddha’s spiritual power, this auspicious sign has appeared.”

Having heard this, Practicing Wisdom rejoiced and leapt with delight. He again addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One, I now request permission to go to the world of Endurance to behold, venerate, and make offerings to the Tathagata Sakyamuni and to the assemblies of great bodhisattvas who have attained penetrating understanding, dharani gateways, samadhi gateways, and mastery of supernormal powers, who are in their final body and will succeed to Buddhahood. I pray that you will compassionately permit me.”

The Buddha Jewel Flame told the bodhisattva Practicing Wisdom: “Excellent! Excellent! Now is the proper time. You may depart.”

The Buddha then took one thousand pure-gold lotus blossoms. Each had a thousand petals and was adorned with jewels. He gave them to the bodhisattva Practicing Wisdom and instructed him: “Take these flowers to the Buddha Sakyamuni and, conveying my words, say: ‘The Tathagata Jewel Flame respectfully inquires after you. Are you free from illness and affliction? Do you move with ease? Are your strength and vital energies in harmony? Are you peaceful and happy? Are worldly conditions bearable? Are sentient beings easy to guide?’ Then present these lotus blossoms to the Blessed One for the performance of Buddha work.

“When you reach that realm, perceive it correctly. On seeing that Buddha land and its great assemblies, do not give rise to contempt and thereby harm yourself. Why? Because the majestic virtue of those bodhisattvas is difficult to equal. Impelled by their vows to liberate beings and because of great causes and conditions, they were born in that realm.”

The bodhisattva Practicing Wisdom accepted the flowers and respectfully obeyed. Together with immeasurable hundreds of thousands of innumerable great bodhisattvas, both monastic and lay, and innumerable hundreds of thousands of boys and girls, he bowed his head at the Buddha’s feet, circumambulated him to the right, and took his leave. Each carried immeasurable varieties of flowers and incense, banners, precious canopies, garments, precious ornaments, and other articles of offering, and they set out. Passing through innumerable Buddha lands in the west, they respectfully made offerings and offered reverence and praise in every Buddha land, omitting none.

Upon arriving before the Buddha Sakyamuni, they bowed their heads at his two feet, circumambulated him hundreds of thousands of times, and withdrew to stand at one side. The bodhisattva Practicing Wisdom stepped forward and addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One, west of this realm, beyond innumerable worlds, at the farthest limit is a world named Near to Quiescence. There is a Buddha named Jewel Flame Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Persons, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One.

He respectfully inquires after the Blessed One: ‘Are you free from illness and affliction? Do you move with ease? Are your strength and vital energies in harmony?

Are you peaceful and happy? Are worldly conditions bearable? Are sentient beings easy to guide?’” He then presented the thousand pure-gold lotus blossoms to the Blessed One for the performance of Buddha work.

At that time, the Buddha Sakyamuni accepted the lotus blossoms and scattered them back toward innumerable Buddha worlds in the west. Through the Buddha’s spiritual power, those flowers fell throughout all those Buddha lands. Upon the receptacle of each flower sat a transformation Buddha cross-legged, teaching Dharma corresponding to the Great Prajnaparamita to the bodhisattvas. Any sentient being who heard it would certainly attain unsurpassed awakening.

Seeing this, Practicing Wisdom and his retinue rejoiced and leapt with delight, praising it as unprecedented. Each, according to the measure of their roots of virtue and the abundance or scarcity of their articles of offering, respectfully made offerings and rendered reverence and praise to the Buddha and the bodhisattvas. They then withdrew and sat to one side.

In the same way, from that world at the farthest limit to this realm, in every Buddha land throughout the west there was a Tathagata then teaching the wondrous Dharma to a great assembly. In the presence of each Buddha was a foremost bodhisattva who, on seeing the great light, the earth’s transformations, and the manifestation of the Buddha’s body, stepped forward and asked the Buddha: “Blessed One, through what causes and conditions has this auspicious sign appeared?”

Those Buddhas each replied: “To the east is the world of Endurance, where a Buddha named Sakyamuni is about to teach the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to an assembly of great bodhisattvas. Through that Buddha’s spiritual power, this auspicious sign has appeared.”

Having heard this, each foremost bodhisattva rejoiced and requested permission to go to the world of Endurance to behold, venerate, and make offerings to the Buddha and the bodhisattvas. Those Tathagatas praised them and permitted them to go. Each gave them thousand-petaled pure-gold lotus blossoms adorned with jewels and instructed them: “Take these flowers to that Buddha and convey my message in full: ‘I respectfully inquire after you. Are you free from illness and affliction? Do you move with ease? Are your strength and vital energies in harmony? Are you peaceful and happy? Are worldly conditions bearable? Are sentient beings easy to guide?’ Then present these lotus blossoms to the Blessed One for the performance of Buddha work.

“When you reach that realm, perceive it correctly. On seeing that Buddha land and its bodhisattvas, do not give rise to contempt and thereby harm yourself. Why? Because the majestic virtue of those bodhisattvas is difficult to equal. Impelled by their vows to liberate beings and because of great causes and conditions, they were born in that realm.”

Each foremost bodhisattva accepted the flowers and respectfully obeyed. Together with immeasurable and innumerable bodhisattvas, boys, and girls, they took leave of their Buddha, carried articles of offering, and set out. In every Buddha land through which they passed, they made offerings to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, omitting none.

Upon arriving before the Buddha Sakyamuni, they bowed their heads at his two feet, circumambulated him hundreds of thousands of times, offered the flowers, and reported everything. After accepting the flowers, the Buddha scattered them back toward the west. Through his spiritual power, the flowers fell throughout all the Buddha lands. Upon the receptacle of each flower was a transformation Buddha teaching the Great Prajnaparamita Dharma to the bodhisattvas, ensuring that all who heard it would attain unsurpassed awakening.

The foremost bodhisattvas and their retinues saw this, rejoiced, and praised it as unprecedented. Each, according to the measure of their roots of virtue and the abundance or scarcity of their articles of offering, respectfully made offerings and rendered reverence and praise to the Buddha and the bodhisattvas. They then withdrew and sat to one side.

Volume 01

End