大方廣佛華嚴經

When Sudhana heard the universally joyful Banner gateway to liberation, he believed and understood, entered into it, clearly comprehended it, followed it, contemplated it, and cultivated it. Remembering the instructions of his spiritual guide, he never abandoned them even for a moment and remained undistracted. Single-mindedly aspiring to encounter spiritual guides, he diligently sought them throughout the ten directions without weariness or delay. He vowed always to draw near to spiritual guides so that manifold virtues might arise; to share the same roots of goodness with spiritual guides; to attain their skillful practices and expedient means; and, relying upon spiritual guides, to enter the ocean of diligence and never depart from them throughout immeasurable kalpas.

Having made these vows, Sudhana went to where the Night Goddess Universally Saving Beings through Wondrous Virtue dwelt.

For Sudhana, this Night Goddess manifested the spiritual power of the bodhisattva liberation that disciplines sentient beings, adorning her body with auspicious marks and characteristics. From between her eyebrows she emitted a great radiance called Banner of the Lamp of Wisdom’s Universal, Pure Illumination, accompanied by immeasurable rays of light. This radiance illuminated all worlds everywhere, then turned back and shone upon the crown of Sudhana’s head, filling his entire body.

Sudhana immediately attained the samadhi called Wheel of Ultimate Purity.

Having attained this samadhi, Sudhana saw, throughout the space between the places of the two Night Goddesses, all particles of earth, water, and fire; the minute particles of every kind of vajra and mani jewel; and the minute particles of all flowers, fragrances, necklaces, and ornaments. Within every particle he saw worlds as numerous as the particles in Buddha-lands coming into being and passing away. He also saw the great masses of earth, water, fire, and wind.

He further saw all the successive worlds abiding securely, supported by the wheel of earth. He also saw all mountains, oceans, rivers, ponds, trees, forests, and palaces of devas, nagas, the eight classes of beings, humans, and nonhumans, as well as the realms of hell beings, hungry ghosts, and animals. He saw even the various kinds of beings revolving through birth and death, coming and going and receiving recompense according to their karma, with all their manifold differences.

He also saw the distinctions among all worlds: defiled and impure worlds; pure worlds; worlds tending toward defilement and impurity; worlds tending toward purity; worlds both defiled and pure; worlds both pure and defiled; worlds of unalloyed purity; and worlds whose forms were level, downward-facing, or upward-facing.

In all such worlds, in every place and among every class of beings, he saw the Night Goddess Universally Saving Beings. At all times and everywhere, according to the differences in beings’ forms, appearances, speech, conduct, and understanding, she employed the power of expedient means to appear before them and teach and transform each as appropriate. She freed hell beings from suffering.

She caused animals not to devour one another. She relieved hungry ghosts of hunger and thirst. She freed nagas from fear.

She enabled beings in the Desire Realm to escape the suffering of the Desire Realm. She freed human beings from fear of the darkness of night, fear of abuse, fear of ill repute, fear of assemblies, fear of lacking the necessities of life, fear of death, fear of falling into the evil destinies, fear of losing their roots of goodness, fear of retreating from the aspiration for bodhi, fear of encountering evil guides, fear of separation from spiritual guides, fear of falling into the Two Vehicles, fear of the various forms of birth and death, fear of dwelling together with beings of different kinds, fear of being born in an evil age, fear of being born into an evil family, fear of creating evil karma, fear of karmic obstructions and afflictive obstructions,

and fear of being bound by deluded thoughts and attachments.

She enabled human beings to abandon and become free from all such fears.

He also saw this Night Goddess manifesting everywhere among all beings—those born from eggs, born from wombs, born from moisture, and born by transformation; those with form and without form; those with perception and without perception; and those who are neither percipient nor non-percipient—constantly and diligently rescuing and protecting them.

This was to perfect the power of the bodhisattvas’ great vows; to enter deeply into the power of the bodhisattvas’ samadhis; to make firm the power of the bodhisattvas’ spiritual abilities; to bring forth the power of Samantabhadra’s practices and vows; to expand the ocean of the bodhisattvas’ great compassion; to perfect great, unobstructed loving-kindness that universally shelters sentient beings; to perfect immeasurable joy and happiness bestowed upon sentient beings; to perfect the wisdom and expedient means that universally gather in all sentient beings; to perfect the bodhisattvas’ vast liberation of sovereign spiritual powers; to adorn and purify all Buddha-lands; to awaken to and understand all dharmas; to make offerings to all Buddhas;

to receive and uphold all the Buddhas’ teachings; to accumulate all roots of goodness and cultivate all wondrous practices; to enter the ocean of mind of every sentient being without obstruction; to know the faculties and dispositions of all sentient beings and teach, transform, and bring them to maturity; to purify the faith and understanding of all sentient beings and remove their evil obstructions; to rend the dark veil of ignorance covering all sentient beings; and to enable sentient beings to attain the pure radiance of omniscience.

When Sudhana saw that this Night Goddess possessed such vast spiritual power, manifested such a profound and inconceivable realm, and displayed the spiritual power of the bodhisattva liberation that disciplines sentient beings, he rejoiced immeasurably, bowed at her feet, and gazed upon her single-mindedly.

At that time, the Night Goddess relinquished her majestic bodhisattva appearance and resumed her former form, yet without relinquishing her sovereign spiritual power.

Sudhana respectfully joined his palms and spoke these verses in praise:

I, Sudhana, have beheld

Such great spiritual power;

My heart rejoices beyond measure,

And I speak verses in praise.

I behold your body,

Beautifully adorned with auspicious marks,

Like radiant stars throughout space,

All splendidly pure.

You emit surpassing radiance,

As numerous as particles in measureless lands,

Of many wondrous colors,

Illuminating all the ten directions.

From every pore there issue

Rays numerous as sentient beings’ thoughts;

At the tip of each ray of light

Appears a precious lotus flower.

Within each flower appears a transformation Buddha,

Able to extinguish sentient beings’ suffering;

The radiance sends forth a wondrous fragrance

That perfumes all sentient beings.

It also rains down every kind of flower

As offerings to all Buddhas.

From between your eyebrows shines wondrous light,

As vast as Mount Sumeru,

Illuminating all conscious beings

And dispelling the darkness of delusion.

From your mouth shines pure light,

Like immeasurable suns,

Illuminating everywhere the vast realm

Of Vairocana.

From your eyes shines pure light,

Like immeasurable moons,

Illuminating lands throughout the ten directions

And ending the world’s deluded blindness.

You manifest bodies of many kinds,

Whose forms resemble those of sentient beings;

Filling the lands of the ten directions,

You liberate them from the ocean of the three realms of existence.

Your wondrous body pervades the ten directions,

Appearing universally before sentient beings,

Dispelling fears of floods, fires, bandits,

Calamities, rulers, and every danger.

Following the guidance of Joyful Eyes,

I have now come to your dwelling;

I beheld the mark between your eyebrows

Emit pure radiance,

Illuminating lands throughout the ten directions

And dispelling all darkness.

Displaying the power of spiritual abilities,

It entered into my body;

When I encountered this radiance,

My heart rejoiced beyond measure.

I attained dharani and samadhi

And beheld the Buddhas throughout the ten directions.

Everywhere along the path I traveled,

I beheld the minute particles;

Within each and every particle

I saw lands as numerous as particles.

Some contained immeasurable lands,

All turbid and defiled,

Where sentient beings endured many sufferings,

Forever grieving, lamenting, wailing, and weeping.

Some lands were both defiled and pure,

With little happiness and much suffering;

You manifested bodies of the Three Vehicles

And went there to rescue and liberate beings.

Some lands were both pure and defiled,

Delighting all sentient beings who saw them;

Bodhisattvas always filled those lands,

Preserving and upholding the true Dharma.

Within each and every particle

Were immeasurable pure lands,

Which Vairocana

Had adorned and purified in kalpas past.

In all those lands, the Buddhas

Sat beneath their bodhi trees,

Attained awakening, and turned the Dharma wheel,

Liberating all multitudes of beings.

I beheld the Goddess Universally Saving Beings

In the presence of every Buddha;

Throughout those immeasurable lands,

You went everywhere to make offerings.

Having spoken these verses, the youth Sudhana addressed the Night Goddess Universally Saving Beings through Wondrous Virtue, saying:

“O great Sage! What is the name of this extremely profound and rare liberation? How long has it been since you attained this liberation? What practices did you cultivate to attain purity?”

The Night Goddess said:

“Good man! This matter is difficult to know. It is beyond the comprehension of all humans, devas, and those of the Two Vehicles.

“Why is this? Because this is the realm of those who abide in the practices of Samantabhadra. It is the realm of those who abide in the treasury of great compassion. It is the realm of those who rescue and protect all sentient beings. It is the realm of those who can purify all beings from the three evil destinies and the eight difficulties. It is the realm of those who, throughout all Buddha-lands, perpetuate the lineage of the Buddhas without interruption. It is the realm of those who can preserve and uphold all Buddha-Dharma.

“It is the realm of those who, throughout all kalpas, can cultivate bodhisattva practices and fulfill the ocean of great vows. It is the realm of those who, throughout the entire Dharma Realm, can use the pure light of wisdom to dispel the dark obstruction of ignorance. It is the realm of those who, within a single thought, can illuminate with the light of wisdom all skillful means throughout the three periods of time.

“Now, empowered by the Buddha’s awe-inspiring spiritual might, I shall explain it to you.

“Good man! Long ago, as many kalpas in the past as there are motes of dust in Buddha-lands, there was a kalpa named Perfect Purity. The world was named Vairocana’s Great Awesome Virtue. As many Tathagatas as there are motes of dust on Mount Sumeru appeared in that world.

“That world was composed of the precious mani jewel called King of All Fragrances and adorned with jewels. It rested upon an ocean of the mani-jewel king called Stainless Radiance. The world was perfectly round in shape and was formed from a combination of purity and impurity. Clouds of jeweled canopies and every kind of ornament were spread above it. Mani-adorned encircling mountains surrounded it in a thousand rings. There were one billion nayutas of four-continent worlds, all exquisitely adorned. In some four-continent worlds dwelt sentient beings with evil karma. In some four-continent worlds dwelt sentient beings with mixed karma. In some four-continent worlds dwelt sentient beings possessing roots of goodness. In some four-continent worlds dwelt bodhisattvas of complete purity.

“Beside the encircling mountains at the far eastern extremity of that world was a four-continent world named Jeweled Lamp Flower Banner. Its lands were pure, and food and clothing were abundant. No cultivation was needed, for grain and maize grew luxuriantly by themselves.

Its palaces, towers, and pavilions were all wondrous. Wish-fulfilling trees stood in rows everywhere. Fragrant trees constantly exuded sweet scents.

Garland trees continually produced clouds of flower garlands. Flowering trees constantly showered beautiful blossoms. Jeweled trees produced wondrous treasures.

Lights of immeasurable colors shone brilliantly all around. Musical trees produced many kinds of music; stirred by the wind, they emitted subtle and wondrous sounds. The radiance of the sun, moon, and mani-jewel kings illuminated every place.

Day and night, there were always scenes of complete joy.

“Within this four-continent world were a million kotis of nayutas of kingdoms. Each kingdom had a thousand great rivers flowing around it. The surfaces of the rivers were covered with beautiful flowers blooming in profusion; swaying with the currents, they produced celestial music. Many jeweled trees grew along the riverbanks, which were adorned with many rare and wondrous things. Boats traveled to and fro, allowing all to enjoy themselves to their hearts’ content.

“Between every pair of rivers were a million kotis of cities. Each city had a million kotis of nayutas of villages. Every city, town, and village had a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of palaces.

“In Jambudvipa within this four-continent world was a country named Jeweled Flower Lamp. It was peaceful and prosperous, densely populated, and all its people practiced the ten wholesome deeds. A wheel-turning king appeared in that country named Vairocana Wondrous Jeweled Lotus Topknot. He was born from a lotus flower, possessed the thirty-two auspicious marks, and was endowed with the seven treasures. He ruled the four continents and constantly taught and transformed sentient beings through the true Dharma. The king had a thousand princes, all handsome, courageous, and strong, who could subdue their enemies.

“A million kotis of nayutas of palace maidens had planted roots of goodness together with the king, cultivated meritorious practices together with him, and were born at the same time as he. They were as beautiful as celestial maidens, their bodies were the color of pure gold and constantly emitted light, and a sweet fragrance continually issued from their pores.

“There were one billion worthy ministers and valiant generals.

“The king’s principal consort was named Perfect Countenance. She was a precious woman of surpassing beauty and grace, with skin the color of pure gold and eyes and hair of deep blue-green. Her voice resembled the Brahma voice, her body possessed a celestial fragrance, and she constantly emitted light that illuminated a thousand yojanas. She had a princess named Universal Wisdom Blazing Wondrous Virtue Eye. Her form was dignified, her features beautiful, and all who saw her delighted in beholding her without ever growing weary.

“At that time, humans enjoyed immeasurably long lives, though some, whose lifespans were uncertain, died prematurely. They differed in their physical forms, voices, names, clans, intelligence and ignorance, strength and weakness, poverty and wealth, suffering and happiness. Their immeasurable varieties were all dissimilar.

“Some would say, ‘My body is beautiful, while another’s is ugly.’

“They would then insult others and create evil karma. Consequently, their lifespans, complexions, strength, and every kind of meritorious happiness diminished.

“To the north of the city stood a bodhi tree named Universal Light Dharma-Cloud Sound Banner. Its roots were made of a mani-jewel king called Firmness and, thought after thought, produced all the adornments of Tathagatas’ sites of enlightenment. The trunk was made entirely of mani jewels, and its leaves were composed of various precious substances. Its branches and leaves were arranged in harmonious order; above, below, and in all four directions, it was perfectly adorned. It emitted precious light and wondrous sounds that proclaimed the extremely profound realm of the Tathagata.

“In front of this bodhi tree was a fragrant pond named Jeweled Flower Radiance Proclaiming the Thunderous Sound of Dharma, whose banks were made of wondrous jewels. Surrounding the pond were a million kotis of nayutas of jeweled trees. The forms of these trees resembled the bodhi tree, and jeweled necklaces hung down on all four sides. Immeasurable towers and pavilions, all composed of precious substances, adorned the entire site of enlightenment.

“Within the fragrant pond grew a great lotus flower named Cloud Universally Revealing the Adorned Realms of All Tathagatas of the Three Periods. As many Buddhas as there are motes of dust on Mount Sumeru appeared within it.

“The first Buddha was named Universal Wisdom Jeweled Flame Wondrous Virtue Banner. Upon this great lotus flower, he was the first to attain unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment. That Buddha proclaimed the true Dharma and brought sentient beings to maturity for immeasurable thousands of years.

“Ten thousand years before the Tathagata Universal Wisdom attained Buddhahood, this great lotus emitted a pure light named Manifesting All Spiritual Powers to Bring Sentient Beings to Maturity. When any sentient being was illuminated by this light, that being’s mind naturally awakened and understood everything clearly, knowing that a Buddha would appear in the world ten thousand years later.

“Nine thousand years beforehand, this great lotus emitted a pure light named Lamp Freeing All Sentient Beings from Defilement. When any sentient being encountered this light, that being attained the pure eye, saw all forms, and knew that a Buddha would appear in the world nine thousand years later.

“Eight thousand years beforehand, this great lotus emitted a pure light named Sound of the Karmic Results of All Sentient Beings. When any sentient being encountered this light, that being came to know all karmic causes and their retributions, and knew that a Buddha would appear in the world eight thousand years later.

“Seven thousand years beforehand, this great lotus emitted a pure light named Sound Giving Rise to All Roots of Goodness. When any sentient being encountered this light, all that being’s faculties became perfect and complete, and that being knew that a Buddha would appear in the world seven thousand years later.

“Six thousand years beforehand, this great lotus emitted a pure light named Sound of the Buddha’s Inconceivable Realm. When any sentient being encountered this light, that being’s mind became vast and attained all-pervading mastery, and that being knew that a Buddha would appear in the world six thousand years later.”

Five thousand years before, this great lotus emitted a pure radiance named Sound Adorning and Purifying All Buddha-Lands. Any beings who encountered this radiance saw all Buddha-lands purified. Thus they knew that, after five thousand years, a Buddha would appear in the world.

Four thousand years before, this great lotus emitted a pure radiance named Lamp of the Undifferentiated Realms of All Tathagatas. Any beings who encountered this radiance were all able to go and behold all Buddhas. Thus they knew that, after four thousand years, a Buddha would appear in the world.

Three thousand years before, this great lotus emitted a pure radiance named Lamp Illuminating the Three Times. Any beings who encountered this radiance were all able to see manifestly the past deeds of all Tathagatas. Thus they knew that, after three thousand years, a Buddha would appear in the world.

Two thousand years before, this great lotus emitted a pure radiance named Lamp of the Tathagata’s Unobscured Wisdom. Any beings who encountered this radiance attained the universal eye, saw the miraculous transformations of all Tathagatas, saw all Buddha-lands, and saw the beings of all worlds. Thus they knew that, after two thousand years, a Buddha would appear in the world.

One thousand years before, this great lotus emitted a great radiance named Causing All Beings to See the Buddha and Accumulate Roots of Goodness. Any beings who encountered this radiance attained accomplishment of the samadhi of seeing the Buddha. Thus they knew that, after one thousand years, a Buddha would appear in the world.

Seven days before, this lotus emitted a great radiance named Joy of All Beings. Any beings who encountered this radiance saw all Buddhas everywhere and felt immense joy. Thus they knew that, after seven days, a Buddha would appear in the world.

When the full seven days had passed, all worlds quaked, becoming wholly pure and undefiled. In every thought, all the pure Buddha-lands throughout the ten directions appeared universally, together with all the adornments of those lands.

All beings whose faculties were mature and who were fit to see the Buddha came to the site of enlightenment.

At that time, in the world called Vairocana Great Majestic Virtue, all the Cakravada Mountains and Mount Sumerus, all mountains and seas, continents, cities, walls, palaces, musical instruments, and spoken words resounded with voices praising and proclaiming the realms of the spiritual powers of all Tathagatas.

They also produced clouds of every kind of fragrance: incense and powdered incense. They produced clouds of fragrances shaped like mani-jewel images, clouds of precious flames, clouds of treasuries of flames, clouds of mani-jewel garments, clouds of jeweled necklaces, clouds of wondrous flowers, clouds of the Tathagata’s radiance, clouds of the Tathagata’s aureoles, clouds of music, clouds of the voices of the Tathagata’s vows, clouds of the Tathagata’s speech, and clouds of the Tathagata’s marks and excellent characteristics, revealing the inconceivable signs of the Tathagata’s appearance in the world.

Good man! This great precious lotus was surrounded by as many lotuses as there are dust motes in ten Buddha-lands. Within each of these lotuses was a lion throne formed from a treasury of mani jewels. Upon every throne sat a bodhisattva in the lotus posture.

Good man! When the Tathagata Universal Wisdom Precious Flame Wondrous Virtue Banner attained unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment upon this great precious lotus, he simultaneously manifested the attainment of Buddhahood in all worlds throughout the ten directions.

In accordance with the minds of beings, he appeared before them and turned the Dharma wheel. He caused immeasurable beings to escape the sufferings of the evil destinies. He caused immeasurable beings to be born in the heavens.

He established immeasurable beings in the stages of shravakas and pratyekabuddhas. He caused immeasurable beings to accomplish the bodhi practice of emancipation. He caused immeasurable beings to accomplish the bodhi practice of the banner of courageous vigor.

He caused immeasurable beings to accomplish the bodhi practice of the radiance of Dharma. He caused immeasurable beings to accomplish the bodhi practice of pure faculties. He caused immeasurable beings to accomplish the bodhi practice of the power of equality.

He caused immeasurable beings to accomplish the bodhi practice of entering the city of Dharma. He caused immeasurable beings to accomplish the bodhi practice of entering the path of skillful means through the universal gateway. He caused immeasurable beings to abide in the bodhi practice of the gateways of samadhi.

He caused immeasurable beings to accomplish the bodhi practice of giving rise to the aspiration for enlightenment in response to all realms. He caused immeasurable beings to abide in the pure path of the paramitas. He caused immeasurable beings to abide in the bodhisattva’s First Ground.

He caused immeasurable beings to abide in the bodhisattva’s Second Ground and onward through the Tenth Ground. He caused immeasurable beings to enter the bodhisattvas’ supreme practices and vows. He caused immeasurable beings to abide in Samantabhadra’s pure practices and vows.

Good man! The Tathagata Universal Wisdom Precious Flame Wondrous Virtue Banner manifested such inconceivable, sovereign spiritual powers. As the Buddha turned the Dharma wheel, in each of those worlds and in accordance with what was appropriate, he subdued and guided immeasurable beings in every thought.

At that time, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra knew that the beings in the city of Precious Flower Lamp King relied proudly upon their physical beauty and circumstances, arrogantly despising and insulting others. The bodhisattva therefore manifested an exceptionally handsome and wondrous form, entered that city, and emitted a great radiance that shone everywhere, dimming the radiance of the Noble King and his people, as well as that of the sun, moon, and stars. It was like the sun rising high and shining brilliantly everywhere, or like Jambunada gold placed beside a heap of black ink.

The beings in the city said to one another, “Who is this? Is it a heavenly deity or Brahma King, whose dazzling radiance has dimmed our luster and beauty?”

Bodhisattva Samantabhadra stood in the sky directly above the Noble King’s palace and proclaimed:

“Great King! A Buddha has now appeared in your kingdom and abides beneath the bodhi tree called Universal Radiance Dharma-Cloud Sound Banner.”

The princess Universal Wisdom Wondrous Eye saw Bodhisattva Samantabhadra’s physical form and sovereign radiance and heard the wondrous sounds emitted by the adornments upon his body. Her heart filled with joy, and she thought, “May all the roots of goodness I possess be entirely dedicated so that I may attain such a body and such excellent marks, dignified bearing, and sovereign mastery. This noble being can now emit a great radiance amid the darkness of beings’ birth and death and announce the Tathagata’s appearance in the world. May I also become like this, serving as the radiance of wisdom for all beings and dispelling the darkness of their ignorance. Wherever I am born, may I never be separated from this spiritual guide.”

At that time, through the Noble King’s spiritual power, the Noble King, the precious princess, the thousand princes, their retinues, the great ministers, the four divisions of the army, and the people of the city all flew together into the sky to a height of one yojana. They emitted a great radiance that illuminated the four continents, enabling everyone everywhere to behold them. Wishing all beings to come and see the Buddha, the Noble King spoke verses in praise of the Buddha:

The Tathagata appears in the world,

Universally saving all living beings.

All of you should quickly arise

And go to where the Teacher abides.

Only after immeasurable, countless kalpas

Does a Buddha appear in the world,

Proclaiming the profound and wondrous Dharma

For the benefit of all beings.

The Buddha sees that beings of all worlds,

Confused by delusion, are ever mistaken,

Cycling through the sufferings of birth and death,

And therefore gives rise to great compassion.

For countless billions of thousands of kalpas,

He cultivated the practices of bodhi.

Wishing to liberate all beings—

This arose from the power of great compassion.

His head, eyes, hands, feet, and all else—

He was able to relinquish them all.

In seeking the path of bodhi,

For immeasurable kalpas he practiced giving.

For immeasurable billions of thousands of kalpas,

A Tathagata is difficult to encounter.

Those who see, hear, or make offerings to him

All attain great benefit.

Now, together with the great assembly,

We shall go behold the Tamer,

Seated upon the Tathagata’s precious throne,

Subduing Mara and attaining perfect enlightenment.

Behold the body of the Tathagata,

Emitting immeasurable rays of light

Of many wondrous colors,

Dispelling all darkness.

From each and every pore

He emits inconceivable light,

Illuminating all sentient beings everywhere

And causing them all to rejoice greatly.

The entire assembly should bring forth

A vast and diligent mind,

Go to the place of the Tathagata,

And reverently make offerings to the Buddha.

After the Wheel-Turning Sage King had spoken these verses in praise of the Buddha and awakened all sentient beings, through the virtuous roots of the Wheel-Turning King, ten thousand kinds of great offering-clouds appeared and proceeded directly toward the Tathagata’s bodhimanda.

There were clouds of all kinds of jeweled canopies, clouds of all kinds of flower curtains, clouds of all kinds of jeweled garments, clouds of all kinds of jeweled bell-nets, clouds of all kinds of wondrous incense, clouds of all kinds of jeweled seats, clouds of all kinds of jeweled banners, clouds of all kinds of palaces, clouds of all kinds of wondrous flowers, and clouds of all kinds of adornments, beautifully arrayed throughout space. The Sage King bowed his head at the feet of the Tathagata Universal Wisdom Jeweled Flame Wondrous Virtue Banner, circumambulated him to the right countless times, and then sat upon a jeweled lotus seat that universally illuminated the ten directions before the Buddha.

The princess Universal Wisdom Flame Wondrous Virtue Eye removed the ornaments from her body, held them in her hands, and scattered them as offerings to the Buddha. Those ornaments immediately transformed in midair into a net of jeweled canopies hanging downward. Dragon kings held aloft these jeweled canopies. Palaces were interspersed among them. Ten kinds of jeweled canopies encircled them, resembling towers that were pure both within and without, adorned with jeweled necklaces, jeweled trees, seas of fragrance, and mani jewels. Within those jeweled canopies stood a bodhi tree whose luxuriant branches and leaves covered the entire Dharma Realm, manifesting measureless adornments in every thought-moment.

Vairocana Tathagata sat beneath this bodhi tree. He was surrounded by bodhisattvas as numerous as the dust motes in ineffably many Buddha-lands. All these bodhisattvas had arisen from Samantabhadra’s practices and vows and abided in the bodhisattvas’ non-differentiated abiding.

She also saw all the Lords of Worlds. She also saw the Tathagata’s sovereign spiritual powers. She also saw worlds coming into being and passing away throughout the succession of kalpas.

Moreover, she saw within all those worlds that in each and every world Samantabhadra Bodhisattva made offerings to all Buddhas and tamed sentient beings. She also saw that all those bodhisattvas were within the body of Samantabhadra. She saw her own body within that body as well.

She also saw herself before all Tathagatas, all Samantabhadras, all bodhisattvas, and all sentient beings. Moreover, she saw that each of all those worlds contained worlds as numerous as the dust motes in a Buddha-land, together with their boundaries, sustaining bases, shapes, essential natures, arrangements, adornments, purities, clouds of adornment covering them, names of kalpas, Buddhas appearing in the world, three periods of time, directions and locations, abiding in the Dharma Realm, entering the Dharma Realm, abiding in space, the Tathagatas’ bodhimandas, the Tathagatas’ spiritual powers, the Tathagatas’ lion seats, the Tathagatas’ great assemblies, the distinctions among the Tathagatas’ assemblies, the Tathagatas’ skillful means, the Tathagatas’ turning of the Dharma wheel,

the Tathagatas’ wondrous voices, the Tathagatas’ discourses, and the Tathagatas’ sutras.

Having seen all this, the princess rejoiced greatly, and her mind became pure.

For the princess, the Tathagata Universal Wisdom Jeweled Flame Wondrous Virtue Banner taught a sutra entitled The Turning of the Dharma Wheel by All Tathagatas, accompanied by sutras as numerous as the dust motes in ten Buddha-lands.

After hearing the sutra, the princess perfected ten thousand gateways of samadhi. Her mind became gentle and pliant, without hardness or coarseness, like one newly conceived in the womb, like one newly born, or like a sala tree whose bud has just sprouted. Such too was her mind of samadhi.

These included the Samadhi of Directly Beholding All Buddhas, the Samadhi of Universally Illuminating All Lands, the Samadhi of Entering All Gateways of the Three Periods of Time, the Samadhi of Teaching the Dharma Wheels of All Buddhas, the Samadhi of Knowing the Oceans of Vows of All Buddhas, the Samadhi of Awakening All Sentient Beings and Causing Them to Escape the Suffering of Birth and Death, the Samadhi of Constantly Vowing to Dispel the Darkness of All Sentient Beings, the Samadhi of Constantly Vowing to Extinguish the Suffering of All Sentient Beings, the Samadhi of Constantly Vowing to Give Rise to the Happiness of All Sentient Beings, the Samadhi of Teaching and Transforming All Sentient Beings without Weariness or Aversion,

the Samadhi of the Unobstructed Banner of All Bodhisattvas, and the Samadhi of Universally Proceeding to All Pure Buddha-Lands…

The princess attained ten thousand samadhis such as these.

The princess also attained a mind of wondrous concentration, an unmoving mind, a joyful mind, a comforted mind, a vast mind, a mind compliant with spiritual benefactors, a mind focused upon the exceedingly profound wisdom of all modes, a mind abiding in the vast ocean of skillful means, a mind that relinquished all attachments, a mind that did not abide in worldly states, a mind that entered the realm of the Tathagatas, a mind that universally illuminated all oceans of forms, a mind free from affliction and harm, a mind free from arrogance, a mind free from weariness, an irreversible mind, a mind free from indolence, and a mind contemplating the intrinsic nature of all dharmas.

She attained a mind abiding in all Dharma gateways, a mind contemplating all Dharma gateways, a mind fully understanding all sentient beings, a mind rescuing and protecting all sentient beings, a mind illuminating all worlds everywhere, a mind universally giving rise to all the vows of the Buddhas, a mind completely demolishing all mountains of obstruction, a mind accumulating merit and virtue as aids to the path, a mind directly beholding the ten powers of all Buddhas, a mind universally illuminating the realm of bodhisattvas, a mind increasing the bodhisattvas’ aids to the path, a mind encompassing all directions, and a mind contemplating Samantabhadra’s great vows.

The princess further brought forth oceans of the Tathagatas’ vows as numerous as the dust motes in ten Buddha-lands:

She vowed to adorn and purify all Buddha-lands; vowed to tame all sentient beings; vowed to know all worlds universally; vowed to enter all Dharma Realms universally; vowed to cultivate the bodhisattva practices in all Buddha-lands until the end of all future kalpas; vowed never to abandon the bodhisattva practices throughout all future kalpas; vowed to draw near to all Tathagatas; vowed to attend upon all spiritual friends; vowed to make offerings to all Buddhas; and vowed in every thought-moment to cultivate the bodhisattva practices and uninterruptedly increase the wisdom of all modes. Having brought forth oceans of vows as numerous as the dust motes in ten Buddha-lands, she perfected Samantabhadra’s great vows.

The Tathagata Universal Wisdom further taught the princess about the virtuous roots she had accumulated since first bringing forth the aspiration, the wondrous practices she had cultivated, and the great fruits she had attained. He caused the princess to awaken and perfect the Tathagatas’ oceans of vows and single-mindedly dedicate everything toward the stage of wisdom of all modes.

The Night Goddess Universal Salvation of Sentient Beings through Wondrous Virtue continued:

Good man! Ten great kalpas before that, there was a world named Sun Wheel Light Mani, and a Buddha named Wondrous Marks Indra Banner.

Within the residual Dharma of that Tathagata, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva encouraged the princess Wondrous Eye to repair an old, damaged Buddha image seated upon a lotus throne. After repairing it, she painted it. After painting it, she adorned it with precious jewels and then brought forth the aspiration for unsurpassed bodhi.

Good man! I remember that in the past, through the spiritual benefactor Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, the princess was able to plant this virtuous root. From that time onward, she never fell into the evil destinies but was always born into the lineages of heavenly kings and human kings. She was beautiful and lovely, endowed with excellent marks, delightful for everyone to behold. She always encountered Buddhas and was always able to draw near to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, receiving the bodhisattva’s instruction, awakening, and maturation, continuing until the present day.

Good man! The Wheel-Turning Sage King Vairocana Treasury Wondrous Jeweled Lotus Topknot is now Maitreya Bodhisattva.

The queen Perfect Countenance is now the Night Goddess Ocean of Serene Sounds, who dwells nearby.

The princess Wondrous Virtue Eye was none other than I.

In that former time, when I was a maiden, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva encouraged me to repair a Buddha image. Through that cause and condition, I brought forth the aspiration for unsurpassed bodhi. That was when I first brought forth the aspiration.

Thereafter, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra guided me to behold the Buddha Wondrous Virtue Banner. I removed my jeweled necklace and scattered it as an offering. Upon witnessing the Buddha’s spiritual powers and hearing him expound the Dharma, I immediately attained the liberation called “The Bodhisattva Universally Appearing in All Worlds to Tame Sentient Beings.” In every thought, I beheld Buddhas as numerous as the dust motes of Mount Sumeru. I also beheld their assemblies at the bodhimandas and the pure lands of all those Buddhas. I honored, revered, and made offerings to them all, listened to them proclaim the true Dharma, and practiced according to their teachings.

Good man! Beyond the world called Great Awesome Virtue of Vairocana, during the kalpa called Perfect Purity, there was a world called Wondrous Adornment of the Jeweled Wheel. Its kalpa was called Great Light, and five hundred Buddhas appeared therein. I revered, attended, and made offerings to them all. The first Buddha was named Great Compassion Banner. When he first renounced the household life, I was a Night Goddess and reverently made offerings to him.

Next, a Buddha named Vajra Narayana Banner appeared in the world. I was a Wheel-Turning Sage King and reverently made offerings to that Buddha. That Buddha expounded for me a sutra called The Appearance of All Buddhas, accompanied by sutras as numerous as the dust motes in ten Buddha-lands.

Next, a Buddha named Vajra Unobstructed Virtue appeared in the world. I was a Wheel-Turning King and reverently made offerings to that Buddha. That Buddha expounded for me a sutra called Universal Illumination of the Faculties of All Sentient Beings, accompanied by sutras as numerous as the dust motes of Mount Sumeru. I accepted and upheld them all.

Next, a Buddha named Wondrous Adornment of the Blazing Mountain appeared in the world. At that time, I was the daughter of an elder. That Buddha expounded for me a sutra called Universal Illumination of the Treasury of the Three Times, accompanied by sutras as numerous as the dust motes of Jambudvipa. I heard and understood them all and accepted and upheld them according to the teaching.

Next, a Buddha named Lofty Victorious King of the Ocean of All Dharmas appeared in the world. At that time, I was an Asura King and reverently made offerings to that Buddha. The Buddha expounded for me a sutra called Discernment of All Dharma Realms, accompanied by five hundred sutras. I heard and understood them all and accepted and upheld them in accordance with the Dharma.

Next, a Buddha named Dharma Light of the Ocean Peak appeared in the world. At that time, I was the daughter of a Dragon King, and I rained down clouds of wish-fulfilling mani jewels as offerings to the Buddha. That Buddha expounded for me a sutra called Increasing the Ocean of Joy, accompanied by a hundred trillion sutras. I heard and understood them all and accepted and upheld them in accordance with the Dharma.

Next, a Buddha named Lamp of the Jeweled Blazing Mountain appeared in the world. At that time, I was an Ocean Goddess, and I rained down clouds of jeweled lotus flowers, reverently making offerings to the Buddha. That Buddha expounded for me a sutra called Vast Light of the Ocean of Skillful Means of the Dharma Realm.

It was accompanied by sutras as numerous as the dust motes in a Buddha-land. I heard and understood them all and accepted and upheld them in accordance with the Dharma.

Next, a Buddha named Radiant Wheel of the Ocean of Merit appeared in the world. At that time, I was an Immortal possessing the five superknowledges. I manifested great spiritual powers and, surrounded by sixty thousand immortals, rained down clouds of incense and flowers as offerings to the Buddha. That Buddha expounded for me a sutra called Unattached Dharma Lamp, accompanied by sixty thousand sutras. I heard and understood them all and accepted and upheld them in accordance with the Dharma.

Next, a Buddha named Vairocana Treasury of Merit appeared in the world. At that time, I was an Earth Goddess named Producer of the Meaning of Equality. Together with innumerable Earth Goddesses, I rained down every kind of jeweled tree, every treasury of mani jewels, and every cloud of jeweled necklaces as offerings to the Buddha. That Buddha expounded for me a sutra called Producing the Treasury of the Wisdom of All Tathagatas, accompanied by innumerable discourses. I heard, understood, accepted, and upheld them all without ever forgetting them.

Good man! In this sequence, the last Buddha was named Wondrous Virtue Lamp Filling the Realm of Space and the Dharma Realm. At that time, I was a courtesan named Beautiful Countenance. When I saw the Buddha entering the city, I immediately offered song and dance to him. Through the Buddha’s spiritual power, I rose into the sky and spoke a thousand verses in praise of the Buddha. The Buddha then emitted from between his brows a light called Great Radiance Adorning the Dharma Realm, which illuminated my entire body. When the Buddha’s radiance shone upon my body, I attained the liberation called Irreversible Treasury of the Skillful Means of the Dharma Realm.

Good man! In this world, throughout kalpas as numerous as the dust motes in Buddha-lands, all the Tathagatas who appeared therein were revered, attended, and offered to by me.

Whatever true Dharma those Buddhas taught, I remembered it all, never forgetting so much as a single phrase or word. In the presence of those Buddhas, I praised all the Buddhadharmas and extensively benefited innumerable sentient beings.

In the presence of each Tathagata, I attained the light of all-knowledge, manifested the ocean of Dharma realms throughout the three times, and entered all the practices of Samantabhadra.

Good man! Because I rely upon the light of all-knowledge, in every thought I behold innumerable Buddhas. Having beheld those Buddhas, all the practices of Samantabhadra that I had neither attained nor seen before have now been perfectly fulfilled.

Why is this? Because I have attained the light of all-knowledge.

Wishing to restate the meaning of this liberation, the Night Goddess Universal Salvation of Sentient Beings, empowered by the Buddha’s spiritual might, spoke these verses for the youth Sudhana:

Sudhana, listen as I speak

Of this extremely profound Dharma, difficult to behold,

Which universally illuminates the three times

And all their distinct gateways.

How I first awakened the aspiration,

Single-mindedly sought the Buddha’s merit,

And attained these liberations—

You should now listen attentively.

I recall that in the distant past,

Beyond kalpas as numerous as the dust motes of lands,

There was, before those, a kalpa

Called Perfect Purity.

At that time there was a world

Called Lamp of Universal Illumination,

Where Buddhas as numerous as the dust motes of Mount Sumeru

Appeared in the world.

The first Buddha was Wondrous Wisdom Flame;

The next Buddha was named Dharma Banner;

The third was Dharma Sumeru;

The fourth, Virtuous Lion;

The fifth, King of Tranquility;

The sixth, Destroyer of All Views;

The seventh, Lofty Renown;

The eighth, Great Merit;

The ninth Buddha, Victorious Sun;

The tenth Buddha, Moon Countenance.

In the presence of these ten Buddhas,

I first realized this Dharma gateway.

Next, in sequence thereafter,

There were another ten Tathagatas:

The first, Dwelling Place of Space;

The second, Buddha Universal Light;

The third, Dwelling in All Directions;

The fourth, Ocean of Right Mindfulness;

The fifth, Lofty Victorious Light;

The sixth, Sumeru Cloud;

The seventh, Buddha Dharma Flame;

The eighth, Buddha Victorious Mountain;

The ninth, Flower of Great Compassion;

The tenth, Flower of the Dharma Realm.

When these ten Buddhas appeared in the world,

I attained my second awakening.

Next, in sequence thereafter,

There were another ten Buddhas:

The first, Buddha Light Banner;

The second, Buddha Wisdom;

The third, Buddha Mind and Meaning;

The fourth, Buddha Lord of Virtue;

The fifth, Buddha Celestial Wisdom;

The sixth, Buddha King of Wisdom;

The seventh, Buddha Victorious Wisdom;

The eighth, Buddha King of Light;

The ninth, Buddha Courageous and Mighty;

The tenth, Buddha Lotus Flower.

In the presence of these ten Buddhas,

I realized the Dharma for the third time.

Next, in sequence thereafter,

Ten Buddhas appeared in the world:

The first, Jeweled Blazing Mountain;

The second, Ocean of Merit;

The third, Dharma Light;

The fourth, Lotus Treasury;

The fifth, Eye of Sentient Beings;

The sixth, Fragrant Light Jewel;

The seventh, Merit of Sumeru;

The eighth, King of the Gandharvas;

The ninth, Mani Treasury;

The tenth, Buddha Form of Tranquility.

Next, in sequence thereafter,

Ten Buddhas appeared in the world:

The first, Vast Wisdom;

Next, Buddha Jeweled Light;

The third, Cloud of Space;

The fourth, Supreme Marks;

The fifth, Perfect Precepts;

The sixth, Narayana;

The seventh, Virtue of Sumeru;

The eighth, Wheel of Merit;

The ninth, Unsurpassed Banner;

The tenth, Great Tree Mountain.

Next, in sequence thereafter,

Ten Buddhas appeared in the world:

The first, Brahma Treasury;

The second, Deity Lord of the World;

The third, Lofty Manifest Light;

The fourth, Vajra Illumination;

The fifth, Awesome Power of the Earth;

The sixth, Extremely Profound Dharma;

The seventh, Sound of Dharma Wisdom;

The eighth, Sumeru Banner;

The ninth, Victorious Light;

The tenth, Wondrous Jeweled Light.

Next, in sequence thereafter,

Ten Buddhas appeared in the world:

The first, Brahma Light;

The second, Sound of Space;

The third, Body of the Dharma Realm;

The fourth, Wheel of Light,

Fifth, Banner of Wisdom,

Sixth, Lamp of Empty Space,

Seventh, Subtle and Wondrous Virtue,

Eighth, Universally Illumining Light,

Ninth, Light of Supreme Merit,

Tenth, Cloud of Great Compassion.

In the sequence that followed,

Ten Buddhas appeared in the world:

First, Wisdom of Powerful Light,

Second, Universally Manifest Before All,

Third, Loftily Revealed Light,

Fourth, Body of Radiance,

Fifth, Arising of the Buddha-Dharma,

Sixth, Buddha of Precious Marks,

Seventh, Swift Wind,

Eighth, Banner of Valiant Courage,

Ninth, Canopy of Precious Countenance,

Tenth, Illuminator of the Three Times.

In the sequence that followed,

Ten Buddhas appeared in the world:

First, Light of the Ocean of Vows,

Second, Vajra Body,

Third, Virtue of Mount Sumeru,

Fourth, King of the Banner of Mindfulness,

Fifth, Wisdom of Merit,

Sixth, Lamp of Wisdom,

Seventh, Banner of Radiance,

Eighth, Banner of Vast Radiance,

Eighth, Vast Wisdom,

Ninth, Wisdom of the Dharma Realm,

Tenth, Wisdom of the Ocean of Dharma.

In the sequence that followed,

Ten Buddhas appeared in the world:

First, Bestower of Dharma,

Second, Wheel of Merit,

Third, Cloud of Supreme Wonder,

Fourth, Lamp of Patience and Wisdom,

Fifth, Voice of Tranquillity,

Sixth, Banner of Tranquillity,

Seventh, Lamp of the World,

Eighth, Profound and Great Vow,

Ninth, Unsurpassed Banner,

Tenth, Ocean of Wisdom Flames.

In the sequence that followed,

Ten Buddhas appeared in the world:

First, Mastery of the Dharma,

Second, Unobstructed Wisdom,

Third, Wisdom of the Ocean of Mind,

Fourth, Myriad Wondrous Voices,

Fifth, Mastery of Giving,

Sixth, Universally Manifest Before All,

Seventh, Body Conforming to the Joys of Beings,

Eighth, Abiding in Supreme Virtue,

Ninth, Buddha of Original Nature,

Tenth, Buddha of Worthy Virtue.

Throughout kalpas as numerous as the dust motes of Mount Sumeru,

All the Buddhas therein

Universally became lamps for the world;

I made offerings to them all.

Throughout kalpas as numerous as the dust motes in Buddha-lands,

All the Buddhas who appeared in the world—

I made offerings to them all

And entered this gateway of liberation.

Throughout immeasurable kalpas,

I cultivated and attained this path;

If anyone can practice it,

Before long, they too shall attain it.

Good man! I know only this gateway of liberation called “The Bodhisattva’s Universal Manifestation in All Worlds to Tame and Guide Sentient Beings.”

As for the great bodhisattvas, they accumulate boundless practices, give rise to manifold understandings, manifest manifold bodies, possess manifold faculties and marks, fulfill manifold aspirations, enter manifold samadhis, display manifold miraculous transformations, are able to contemplate the Dharma, enter manifold gateways of wisdom, and attain manifold lights of Dharma.

How could I know or speak of their meritorious practices?

Good man! Not far from here is a Night-ruling Deity named Ocean of Tranquil Sound, seated upon an adorned lotus throne with a banner of radiant mani jewels. A million asamkhyeyas of Night-ruling Deities surround her.

Go to her and ask how a bodhisattva should train in the bodhisattva practices and cultivate the bodhisattva path.

The youth Sudhana bowed at the Night-ruling Deity’s feet, circumambulated her to the right countless times, gazed upon her earnestly, and then departed.