力莊嚴三昧經

Thus have I heard. At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in Anathapindika’s Park in Prince Jeta’s Grove at Sravasti, together with a community of five hundred bhiksus. All were great arhats whose outflows had been exhausted and whose afflictions had ceased, well liberated in mind and well liberated through wisdom.

Their minds were gentle, like well-tamed elephants; inwardly and outwardly they were ultimately pure. They had laid down the burden of the five skandhas, accomplished what had to be done, and would receive no further existence. Like the Buddhas, they were liberated into the unconditioned and were no longer moved by conditioned birth and death.

Only one remained at the stage of training, the elder bhiksu Ananda. All the others had attained the Dharma of quiescent cessation, the Dharma of perfect discipline, and the supreme Dharma. None abided in discriminating consciousness; all had attained the various liberations and mastery of the superknowledges.

There were also eighty hundred thousand great bodhisattvas, foremost among whom were the youth Manjusri; the youth Wisdom-Wheel Ocean of Great Eloquence; the youth Lotus-Treasury Light, Eye of All Sentient Beings; the youth Boundless Mind, Vast Meaning and Wisdom; the youth Celestial Treasure Perfect Light, Well-Illuminating Wondrous Banner; the youth Incomparable Good Form Delightful to Behold; the youth Unblinking Eye Observing All Sentient Beings; the youth Unfailing Vision of the Great Vow; the youth Profound and Far-Reaching Thunder, Resounding Drum-Voice; the youth Unobstructed Eye of All Sentient Beings; the youth Treasure-Treasury Perfect Wheel of Vast Virtue; the youth Abundant Merit, Victory-Banner Beheld by Sentient Beings; the youth Wondrous Supreme Boundless Fragrant Light;

the youth Boundless Power, Vigorous and Excellent Great Exertion; the youth Firm Vigor, Banner of Boundless Wisdom-Light; the youth Supreme Wisdom of All Distinct Virtues; the youth Indestructible, Ever Capable and Supremely Victorious; the youth Accomplisher of All Mastery, Guiding Teacher; the youth Adorned with Excellent Marks, Pure Meritorious Conduct and Good Renown; and the youth Most Beloved and Delighting All Sentient Beings.

Such youths and others had all attained non-retrogression. They adorned their great vows with armor as hard as vajra. Their minds were ever tranquil; they had exhausted every extreme of existence and attained supreme purity, the purity of the other shore, and the complete purity of all pure practices.

At that time, during the first watch of the latter part of the night, the Blessed One entered samadhi. This samadhi was called Adornment of Power. Having entered it, he knew completely the conduct, karma, births, and deaths of all sentient beings throughout the past, present, and future.

Through the Buddha’s spiritual power, all the grounds and groves of Jeta’s Grove and the surrounding space became filled with celestial garments and jeweled canopies. Networks of curtains, parasols, banners, and streamers were spread everywhere. All manner of wonders descended; fine, fresh flower stamens poured down, and celestial flowers fell in profusion.

Amid the grove arose terraces of the seven treasures, and every kind of ornament covered the earth. Celestial fragrant leaves, celestial dinaras, celestial pillars of saffron, incense, and other fragrances sent forth cloudlike vapors that concealed and revealed themselves, filling heaven and earth in harmony, now gathering and now unfolding, delightful and pleasing. Thus adorned with all kinds of celestial treasures, Jeta’s Grove became vast, pure, and possessed of great majesty.

Many kinds of light illuminated space throughout all ten directions, and the manifestations that appeared were beyond measure. When all these adornments had been completed, a lion throne spontaneously appeared, extraordinary and wondrous, surpassing even the fruition attained by heavenly beings. Through the causes and conditions of the light adorning that throne, the entire trichiliocosm was illuminated, just as when a brilliant torch is lit at night and all darkness vanishes without remainder.

At that time, all the undesirable features of the Saha land throughout this trichiliocosm—mounds, earthen hills, banks, river sources, gravel, stones, sand, uneven pits and hollows, ponds, channels, springs, wells, streams, lakes, great rivers, small rivers, small seas, great seas, Mount Sumeru, islands, the mountains of the ten treasures, the abodes of the sages on Mount Nimindhara, Mount Cakravada, Great Mount Cakravada, and so forth—all became level.

Thorns and dense forests likewise disappeared, and the land became pure and even like the palm of a hand made of vaidurya. It was adorned with every variety of the seven treasures, and heavenly mandarava flowers covered the ground. Celestial thousand-petaled lotus roots, celestial amalaka, and heavenly pillars of saffron fragrance sent forth cloudlike vapors that pervaded all of space.

There were also immeasurable celestial instruments of hundreds of thousands of millions of kotis of nayutas of kinds, which spontaneously produced sounds proclaiming the wondrous Dharma.

Throughout the space of this trichiliocosm were lotuses adorned with the seven treasures. Their supreme fragrant radiance was golden, their stems were entirely of blue vaidurya, their calyxes were seven cubits wide, and each rose seven fathoms high. The blossoming lotuses were exceedingly delightful to behold.

Celestial sandalwood trees, mandarava trees, celestial naga-flower trees, and other such trees each stood seven tala trees high. Their branches and leaves supported one another; they were perfect in fragrance and color, and were blue, yellow, white, and red like lotus blossoms. Thus were all the lands of the trichiliocosm adorned, up to the Heaven of the Summit of Existence, resembling the wondrous pure lands of celestial palaces.

After this miraculous transformation had appeared, innumerable sentient beings, sustained by the Buddha’s power, were without obstruction. They saw one another clearly, as through pure vaidurya—such was the inconceivable realm of the Buddha.

At that time, all the terrestrial devas of this trichiliocosm, up to all the devas of Akanistha Heaven, together with the five hundred arhat bhiksus, the eighty hundred thousand bodhisattvas, and the others, thought: “This is the adornment produced by the Tathagata’s power! This is the Tathagata, the Lion among Humans! This is the Tathagata of greatest exertion!

This is the Tathagata’s lionlike exertion! This is the great guiding lion of the Tathagata, advancing and leaping forth! This is the adornment of the Tathagata’s supremely great supernormal powers!

It is inconceivable! It is beyond praise!” Having seen this, the devas, sravakas, bodhisattvas, and the entire great assembly generated immense faith in the Buddha. Kneeling, joining their palms, and single-mindedly bowing their heads in homage, they stood before him.

At that time, to the east, beyond Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, was a Buddha-land called All-Light. In that land was a Buddha named Boundless Light Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha. He was accompanied by a great community of eighty million bhiksus, thirty million bhiksunis, eight hundred million great bodhisattvas, eight hundred eighty thousand upasakas, and seven hundred million upasikas, as well as devas and humans of supreme majesty. Those beings surrounded that Buddha’s seat and listened to him proclaim the essential Dharma.

At that time, to the south, beyond Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, was a Buddha-land called Great Light. In that land was a Buddha named Boundless Vigor Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, accompanied by a great community of one hundred million bhiksus, four hundred million great bodhisattvas, and six hundred million upasakas. Humans and devas of supreme majesty were also among that assembly, surrounding that Buddha’s seat and listening to him proclaim the Dharma.

At that time, to the west, beyond Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, was a Buddha-land called Universal Light. In that land was a Buddha named Universally Seeing Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, accompanied by a great community of two hundred million bhiksus, three hundred million bhiksunis, nine hundred sixty million bodhisattva-mahasattvas, eight hundred million upasakas, and six hundred million upasikas. Devas and humans of supreme majesty were also among that assembly, surrounding that Buddha’s seat and listening to him proclaim the essential Dharma.

At that time, to the north, beyond Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, was a Buddha-land called Great Lamp. In that land was a Buddha named Light-Producing Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, accompanied by a great community of six hundred million bhiksus, forty thousand bhiksunis, eight hundred million great bodhisattvas, nine hundred million upasakas, and eight hundred million upasikas. Devas and humans of supreme majesty were also among that assembly, surrounding that Buddha’s seat and listening to him proclaim the essential Dharma.

At that time, to the northeast, beyond Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, was a Buddha-land called Golden Light Shining Splendidly. In that land was a Buddha named Golden-Colored Light Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, accompanied by a great community of seven hundred million bhiksus, three hundred million bhiksunis, eight hundred million great bodhisattvas, nine hundred million upasakas, and eight hundred million upasikas. Devas and humans of supreme majesty were also among that assembly, surrounding that Buddha’s seat and listening to him proclaim the essential Dharma.

At that time, to the southeast, beyond Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, was a Buddha-land called Great Blazing Light. In that land was a Buddha named Inconceivable Sunlight Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, accompanied by a great community of eight hundred forty million bhiksus, one hundred eighty million bhiksunis, nine hundred sixty million great bodhisattvas, eight hundred eighty million upasakas, and eight hundred million upasikas. Devas and humans of supreme majesty were also among that assembly, surrounding that Buddha’s seat and listening to him proclaim the essential Dharma.

At that time, to the southwest, beyond Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, was a Buddha-land called Excellent Victorious Light. In that land was a Buddha named Great Light Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, accompanied by a great community of nine hundred sixty million bhiksus, eight hundred million bhiksunis, nine hundred twenty million great bodhisattvas, nine hundred million upasakas, and nine hundred sixty million upasikas. Devas and humans of supreme majesty were also among that assembly, surrounding that Buddha’s seat and listening to him proclaim the essential Dharma.

At that time, to the northwest, beyond Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, was a Buddha-land called Jeweled Wisdom-Mind. In that land was a Buddha named Jeweled-Treasury Light Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, accompanied by a great community of eight hundred million bhiksus, two hundred million bhiksunis, eight hundred million great bodhisattvas, eight hundred eighty million upasakas, and seven hundred million upasikas. Devas and humans of supreme majesty were also among that assembly, surrounding that Buddha’s seat and listening to him proclaim the essential Dharma.

At that time, above, beyond Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, was a Buddha-land called Sun-Moon Light. In that land was a Buddha named Moon-Banner Light Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, accompanied by a great community of one billion bhiksus, three hundred million bhiksunis, eight hundred million great bodhisattvas, nine hundred twenty million upasakas, and nine hundred million upasikas. Devas and humans of very great majesty were also among that assembly, surrounding that Buddha’s seat and listening to him proclaim the essential Dharma.

At that time, below, beyond Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, was a Buddha-land called Stainless Light. In that land was a Buddha named Universal-Eye Vision Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, accompanied by a great community of nine hundred sixty million bhiksus, four hundred million bhiksunis, nine hundred forty million great bodhisattvas, eight hundred million upasakas, and seven hundred million upasikas. Devas and humans of very great majesty were also among that assembly, surrounding that Buddha’s seat and listening to him proclaim the essential Dharma.

At that time, the youth Manjusri and all the youths greatly beloved by sentient beings—twenty youths in all—rose simultaneously and went before the Buddha. When they arrived, Buddha Sakyamuni was still in samadhi, adorned with a hundred merits, tranquil and unmoving. Each youth silently bared his right shoulder, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, and circumambulated the Tathagata three times to the right. Then, as swiftly as a strong man might bend and extend his arm, they all departed for the ten directions.

At that time, the youth Manjusri and the youth Wisdom-Wheel Ocean of Great Eloquence traveled eastward beyond lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. There was a world called All-Light, in which a Buddha named Boundless Light Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One—fully endowed with the ten epithets—was teaching the wondrous Dharma to the great assemblies. Having reached that land, the two youths bowed to the Buddha and sat within the assembly.

At that time, the youth Lotus-Treasury Light, Eye of All Sentient Beings, and the youth Boundless Mind, Vast Meaning and Wisdom traveled southward beyond lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. There was a world called Great Light, in which a Buddha named Boundless Vigor Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One—fully endowed with the ten epithets—was teaching the wondrous Dharma to the great assemblies. Having reached that land, the two youths bowed to the Buddha and sat within the assembly.

At that time, the youth Celestial Treasure Blazing Light, Well-Illuminating Wondrous Banner, and the youth Incomparable Good Form Delightful to Behold traveled westward beyond lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. There was a world called Universal Light, in which a Buddha named Universally Seeing Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One—fully endowed with the ten epithets—was teaching the wondrous Dharma to the great assemblies. Having reached that land, the two youths bowed to the Buddha and sat within the assembly.

At that time, the youth Unblinking Eye Observing All Sentient Beings and the youth Unfailing Vision of the Great Vow traveled northward beyond lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. There was a world called Great Lamp, in which a Buddha named Light-Producing Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One—fully endowed with the ten epithets—was teaching the wondrous Dharma to the great assemblies. Having reached that land, the two youths bowed to the Buddha and sat within the assembly.

At that time, the youth Profound and Far-Reaching Thunder, Resounding Drum-Voice, and the youth Unobstructed Eye of All Sentient Beings traveled northeastward beyond lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. There was a world called Golden Light Shining, in which a Buddha named Golden-Colored Light Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One—fully endowed with the ten epithets—was teaching the wondrous Dharma to the great assemblies. Having reached that land, the two youths bowed to the Buddha and sat within the assembly.

At that time, the youth Jeweled-Treasury Blazing Wheel of Radiant Virtue and the youth Abundant Merit traveled southeastward beyond lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. There was a world called Great Blazing Light, in which a Buddha named Inconceivable Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One—fully endowed with the ten epithets—was teaching the wondrous Dharma to the great assemblies. Having reached that land, the two youths bowed to the Buddha and sat within the assembly.

At that time, the youth Supreme Wondrous Boundless Fragrant Light and the youth Boundless Power, Vigorous and Excellent Great Exertion traveled southwestward beyond lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. There was a world called Excellent Victorious Light, in which a Buddha named Great Light Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One—fully endowed with the ten epithets—was teaching the wondrous Dharma to the great assembly. Having reached that land, the two youths bowed to the Buddha and sat within the assembly.

At that time, the youth Firm Vigor, Banner of Boundless Wisdom-Light, and the youth Supreme Distinctive Virtue traveled northwestward beyond lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. There was a world called Jeweled Mind-Wisdom, in which a Buddha named Jeweled-Treasury Light Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One—fully endowed with the ten epithets—was teaching the wondrous Dharma to the great assemblies. Having reached that land, the two youths bowed to the Buddha and sat within the assembly.

At that time, the youth Indestructible, Ever Capable and Supremely Victorious, and the youth Accomplisher of All Mastery, Guiding Teacher, traveled upward beyond lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. There was a world called Sun-Moon Light, in which a Buddha named Jeweled-Banner Light Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One—fully endowed with the ten epithets—was teaching the wondrous Dharma to the great assemblies. Having reached that land, the two youths bowed to the Buddha and sat within the assembly.

At that time, the youth Adorned with Excellent Marks, Pure Meritorious Conduct and Good Renown, and the youth Most Beloved and Delighting All Sentient Beings traveled downward beyond lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. There was a world called Stainless Light, in which a Buddha named Universal-Eye Vision Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One—fully endowed with the ten epithets—was teaching the wondrous Dharma to the great assemblies. Having reached that land, the two youths bowed to the Buddha and sat within the assembly.

At that time, Boundless Light Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, wishing to inform the great assemblies, asked the youth Manjusri and the youth Wisdom-Wheel Ocean of Great Eloquence:

“Great beings, from where have you two come?”

The two youths replied to that Buddha:

“Blessed One, west of this land, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, is a land called Saha. Its Buddha is Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, who has entered samadhi with great adornment. We respectfully bowed before that Buddha, the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and then came here.”

At that time, Boundless Vigor Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, wishing to inform the great assemblies, asked the youth Lotus-Treasury Light, Eye of All Sentient Beings, and the youth Boundless Mind, Vast Meaning and Wisdom:

“Great beings, from where have you two come?”

The two youths replied to that Buddha:

“Blessed One, north of this land, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, is a land called Saha. Its Buddha is Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, who has entered samadhi with great adornment. We respectfully bowed before that Buddha, the Blessed One, circumambulated him three times, and then came here.”

At that time, Universally Seeing Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, wishing to inform the great assemblies, asked the youth Celestial Treasure Blazing Light, Well-Illuminating Wondrous Banner, and the youth Incomparable Good Form Delightful to Behold:

“Great beings, from where have you two come?”

The two youths replied to that Buddha:

“Blessed One, east of this land, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, is a land called Saha. Its Buddha is Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, who has entered samadhi with great adornment. We respectfully bowed before that Buddha, the Blessed One, circumambulated him three times, and then came here.”

At that time, Great Lamp Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, wishing to inform the great assemblies, asked the youth Unblinking Eye Observing All Sentient Beings and the youth Unfailing Vision of the Great Vow:

“Great beings, from where have you two come?”

The two youths replied to that Buddha:

“Blessed One, south of this land, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, is a land called Saha. Its Buddha is Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, who has entered samadhi with great adornment. We respectfully bowed before that Buddha, the Blessed One, circumambulated him three times, and then came here.”

At that time, Golden-Colored Light Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, wishing to inform the great assemblies, asked the youth Profound and Far-Reaching Thunder, Resounding Drum-Voice, and the youth Unobstructed Eye of All Sentient Beings:

“Great beings, from where have you two come?”

The two youths replied to that Buddha:

“Blessed One, southwest of this land, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, is a land called Saha. Its Buddha is Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, who has entered samadhi with great adornment. We respectfully bowed before that Buddha, the Blessed One, circumambulated him three times, and then came here.”

At that time, Inconceivable Sunlight Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, wishing to inform the great assemblies, asked the youth Jeweled-Treasury Blazing Wheel of Vast Virtue and the youth Abundant Merit, Victory-Banner Beheld by Sentient Beings:

“Great beings, from where have you two come?”

The two youths replied to that Buddha:

“Blessed One, northwest of this land, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, is a land called Saha. Its Buddha is Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, who has entered samadhi with great adornment. We respectfully bowed before that Buddha, the Blessed One, circumambulated him three times, and then came here.”

At that time, Excellent Light Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, wishing to inform the great assemblies, asked the youth Supreme Wondrous Boundless Fragrant Light and the youth Boundless Power, Vigorous and Excellent Great Exertion:

“Great beings, from where have you two come?”

The two youths replied to that Buddha:

“Blessed One, northeast of this land, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, is a land called Saha. Its Buddha is Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, who has entered samadhi with great adornment. We respectfully bowed before that Buddha, the Blessed One, circumambulated him three times, and then came here.”

At that time, Jeweled-Treasury Light Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, wishing to inform the great assemblies, asked the youth Firm Vigor, Banner of Boundless Wisdom-Light, and the youth Supreme Wisdom of All Distinct Virtues:

“Great beings, from where have you two come?”

The two youths replied to that Buddha:

“Blessed One, southeast of this land, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, is a land called Saha. Its Buddha is Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, who has entered samadhi with great adornment. We respectfully bowed before that Buddha, the Blessed One, circumambulated him three times, and then came here.”

At that time, Jeweled-Banner Light Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, wishing to inform the great assemblies, asked the youth Indestructible, Ever Capable and Supremely Victorious, and the youth Accomplisher of All Mastery, Guiding Teacher:

“Great beings, from where have you two come?”

The two youths replied to that Buddha:

“Blessed One, below this land, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, is a land called Saha. Its Buddha is Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, who has entered samadhi with great adornment. We have just come from that Tathagata. We respectfully bowed before him, circumambulated him three times, and then came here.”

At that time, Universal-Eye Vision Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, wishing to inform the great assemblies, asked the youth Adorned with Excellent Marks, Pure Meritorious Conduct and Good Renown, and the youth Supreme Peace and Happiness of All Sentient Beings:

“Great beings, from where have you two come?”

The two youths replied to that Buddha:

“Blessed One, above this land, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, is a land called Saha. Its Buddha is Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, who has entered samadhi with great adornment. We have just come from that Buddha, the Blessed One. We respectfully bowed before him, circumambulated him three times, and then came here.”

At that time, when the worlds of the Buddhas throughout the ten directions heard the name of Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, all the Buddha-lands throughout those ten directions quaked mightily: they moved, moved everywhere, and moved everywhere equally; they trembled, trembled everywhere, and trembled everywhere equally; they surged upward, surged upward everywhere, and surged upward everywhere equally. After this great movement, the attendants of the Buddhas throughout the ten directions each joined their palms and addressed their respective Buddha:

“Blessed One, for what cause and condition has this trichiliocosm quaked so mightily?”

The Buddhas throughout the ten directions immediately told their respective attendants:

“Good man, west of this land, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, is a land called Saha. Its Buddha is Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha. Today he has entered the Samadhi of the Adornment of Power and sits surrounded by the fourfold assembly, preparing to proclaim the exceedingly profound Dharma of equality. For this reason, the earth throughout this trichiliocosm has quaked. In the same sequence, throughout all the other directions down to the region below, the lands likewise quake in this way.”

The Buddhas throughout the ten directions further told the great assemblies of bhiksus and others:

“You should know that the appearance of a Buddha in the world is as rare as the udumbara flower! Once a Buddha has appeared, encountering him is many times more difficult still! Yet compared with this difficulty, encountering Sakyamuni Tathagata is a hundred million times more difficult. Why is this? Long ago, through the power of the causes and conditions of his vows, that Buddha, the Blessed One, resolved to be born within a defiled land of the five turbidities. This is exceedingly difficult!

“Bhiksus, moreover, that Tathagata’s name is not proclaimed in vain. If sentient beings throughout the Buddha-lands of the ten directions hear of Sakyamuni’s courageous vigor, his cultivation of difficult and painful practices, the great vows he made in past lives, the deeds difficult to perform that he carried out in the bodhisattva path, and the many kinds of merit with which he is fully endowed, then through his name they shall all attain benefit. After hearing this, immeasurable and incalculable sentient beings throughout all the Buddha-lands of the ten directions receive predictions of unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment. How much more so do others attain the fruits of stream-enterer, once-returner, non-returner, and arhatship!

“Therefore, bhiksus, when the great renown of Sakyamuni Tathagata is proclaimed, all the Buddhas in lands throughout the ten directions, in trichiliocosms as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, each praise the immeasurable merits of Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha. This praise is heard in still other regions beyond countless worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges throughout the ten directions. In further lands, likewise numbering as many Buddha-realms as the sands of the Ganges, the Buddhas there also raise their voices and proclaim to their assemblies the name of Sakyamuni Tathagata.”

When the great bodhisattvas in those Buddha-lands heard this, they addressed their respective Buddhas:

“How rare, Blessed One! We wish to go to the Saha world to behold Sakyamuni Tathagata, bow to him and make offerings, and hear what we have never heard before.”

Each of those Buddhas told his great bodhisattvas:

“Excellent! Excellent, good men! You should know that now is the time to accompany the two great youths there. Why? Because that Buddha, the Blessed One, is difficult to encounter and difficult to behold. It is exceedingly difficult to hear and receive the Dharma from him and to sit together within his assembly!”

At that time, Sakyamuni Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha arose from the Samadhi of the Adornment of Power. He walked slowly and serenely, like a king of geese, gazing straight ahead as he approached the lion throne. Upon arriving, he ascended the throne and spread the seat with his own hand. Having arranged it, he sat there majestically in full lotus posture, while the entire great assembly surrounded him on all four sides.

At that time, the youth Manjusri and the youth Wisdom-Wheel Ocean of Great Eloquence returned from the east together with immeasurable asamkhyeyas of thousands of millions of kotis of bodhisattva-mahasattvas. They all came before Buddha Sakyamuni, the Blessed One. Those two youths and the other bodhisattvas each bowed with their heads and faces at the Buddha’s feet. Having paid homage, they withdrew and sat upon lotus thrones.

At that time, the youth Lotus-Treasury Light, Vision of the Eye of All Sentient Beings, and the youth Boundless Mind, Vast Meaning and Wisdom returned from the south together with immeasurable asamkhyeyas of thousands of millions of kotis of bodhisattva-mahasattvas. They all came before Buddha Sakyamuni, the Blessed One. Those two youths and the other bodhisattvas each bowed with their heads and faces at the Buddha’s feet. Having paid homage, they withdrew and sat upon lotus thrones.

At that time, the youth Celestial Treasure Excellent Light, Illuminating Wondrous Banner, and the youth Incomparable Good Form Delightful to Behold returned from the west together with immeasurable asamkhyeyas of thousands of millions of kotis of bodhisattva-mahasattvas. They all came before Buddha Sakyamuni, the Blessed One. The two youths and the other bodhisattvas each bowed with their heads and faces at the Buddha’s feet. Having paid homage, they withdrew and sat upon lotus thrones.

At that time, the youth Unblinking Eye Observing All Sentient Beings and the youth Unfailing Vision of the Great Vow returned from the north together with immeasurable asamkhyeyas of thousands of millions of kotis of bodhisattva-mahasattvas. They all came before Buddha Sakyamuni, the Blessed One. Those two youths and the other bodhisattvas each bowed with their heads and faces at the Buddha’s feet. Having paid homage, they withdrew and sat upon lotus thrones.

At that time, the youth Profound and Far-Reaching Thunder, Resounding Drum-Voice, and the youth Eye Free from All Sentient Beings returned from the northeast together with immeasurable asamkhyeyas of thousands of millions of kotis of bodhisattva-mahasattvas. They all came before Buddha Sakyamuni, the Blessed One. Those two youths and the other bodhisattvas each bowed with their heads and faces at the Buddha’s feet. Having paid homage, they withdrew and sat upon lotus thrones.

At that time, the youth Jeweled-Treasury Blazing Wheel of Vast Virtue and the youth Abundant Merit, Victory-Banner Beheld by Sentient Beings, returned from the southeast together with immeasurable asamkhyeyas of thousands of millions of kotis of bodhisattva-mahasattvas. They all came before Buddha Sakyamuni, the Blessed One. Those two youths and the other bodhisattvas each bowed with their heads and faces at the Buddha’s feet. Having paid homage, they withdrew and sat upon lotus thrones.

At that time, the youth Supreme Wondrous Boundless Fragrant Light and the youth Boundless Power, Great Vigor and Excellent Great Exertion returned from the southwest together with immeasurable asamkhyeyas of thousands of millions of kotis of bodhisattva-mahasattvas. They all came before Buddha Sakyamuni, the Blessed One. Those two youths and the other bodhisattvas each bowed with their heads and faces at the Buddha’s feet. Having paid homage, they withdrew and sat upon lotus thrones.

At that time, the youth Firm Vigor, Banner of Boundless Wisdom-Light, and the youth Supreme Wisdom of All Distinct Virtues returned from the northwest together with immeasurable asamkhyeyas of thousands of millions of kotis of bodhisattva-mahasattvas. They all came before Buddha Sakyamuni, the Blessed One. Those two youths and the other bodhisattvas each bowed with their heads and faces at the Buddha’s feet. Having paid homage, they withdrew and sat upon lotus thrones.

At that time, the youth Indestructible, Ever Capable and Supremely Victorious, and the youth Accomplisher of All Mastery, Guiding Teacher, returned from above together with immeasurable asamkhyeyas of thousands of millions of kotis of bodhisattva-mahasattvas. They all came before Buddha Sakyamuni, the Blessed One. Those two youths and the other bodhisattvas each bowed with their heads and faces at the Buddha’s feet. Having paid homage, they withdrew and sat upon lotus thrones.

At that time, the youth Adorned with Excellent Marks, Pure Meritorious Conduct and Good Renown, and the youth Most Beloved and Delighting All Sentient Beings returned from below together with immeasurable asamkhyeyas of thousands of millions of kotis of bodhisattva-mahasattvas. They all came before Buddha Sakyamuni, the Blessed One. Those two youths and the other bodhisattvas each bowed with their heads and faces at the Buddha’s feet. Having paid homage, they withdrew and sat upon lotus thrones.