佛本行集經

Chapter 1: AROUSING THE MIND TO MAKE OFFERINGS (Part 1)

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Tathagata was dwelling at the Bamboo Grove Monastery, the haunt of the kalandaka birds, in the city of Rajagriha, together with five hundred great bhikshus. At that time, the Tathagata abided in the conduct of a Buddha and was free from afflictions; therefore, he was called the Victorious One. He had realized omniscience, practiced omniscience, and knew omniscience.

He abided in the conduct of devas, pure conduct, and noble conduct, and his mind had attained mastery. Whatever practices the Blessed Ones wished to undertake, he accomplished them all. Among the four assemblies—bhikshus, bhikshunis, male lay devotees, and female lay devotees—he received abundant offerings, reverence, and honor.

Likewise, among kings, great ministers, chancellors, followers of other paths, brahmins, shramanas, and others, the Buddha always received the four requisites: food and drink, clothing, bedding, and medicines. Everything was complete and excellent, beyond compare.

His wisdom was supreme, and his renown resounded everywhere. Although he received offerings, his mind was not attached to them, just as a lotus flower is not defiled by foul mud and water. The Blessed One’s voice in teaching the Dharma was praised as utterly transcendent, unsurpassed in the world. He was endowed with the ten epithets: Blessed One, Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, and so forth.

He constantly appeared among humans and devas—including Mara’s devas, Brahma devas, Shakra, shramanas, and brahmins. Through his spiritual powers, he knew the capacities of all beings, and only after knowing them did he teach the wondrous Dharma. As he journeyed throughout the world, at all times he spoke skillfully; his teaching was good at the beginning, good in the middle, and good at the end, with fluent words, profound meaning, and subtle excellence. He lacked none of the excellent marks, maintained pure conduct, and proclaimed the true Dharma.

At daybreak, Venerable Maudgalyayana adjusted his robe, took up his alms bowl, and prepared to enter the city to seek alms. Standing alone, he thought: “It is still too early and not yet time to seek alms. I shall go to the Heaven of the Pure Abodes.” Having thought thus, in the time it takes a strong man to extend his arm, the venerable disappeared from the city of Rajagriha and suddenly appeared in the celestial palaces of the devas of the Pure Abodes.

At that time, as soon as immeasurable devas of the Pure Abodes saw Venerable Maudgalyayana approaching slowly, they rejoiced greatly and said to one another, “We should all go now to welcome the venerable.” They then went together to Venerable Maudgalyayana, bowed with their heads and faces at his feet, withdrew to one side, and said:

“Venerable Maudgalyayana, how rare! How rare!

“Venerable Maudgalyayana, those who are difficult to see and difficult to encounter in the world are the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, the Tathagatas, the Worthy Ones, the Perfectly Enlightened Ones, who diligently cultivated the practices throughout immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kalpas.” They then spoke this verse:

When the great Venerable Maudgalyayana heard this verse in the Heaven of the Pure Abodes, his whole body trembled and his hair stood on end. He thought: “How rare! Inconceivable, difficult to see and difficult to encounter! The Blessed One, the Tathagata, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is difficult to encounter in the world, appearing only once throughout immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of kalpas.”

In the Heaven of the Pure Abodes, the great Venerable Maudgalyayana taught the devas immeasurable doctrines, instructed them in immeasurable pure meanings of the Dharma, and explained profound and essential teachings, causing all the devas to give rise to joy. After instructing and guiding them in these important teachings, the venerable disappeared and returned to Jambudvipa. In the time of a blink, as a strong man might bend or extend his arm, he reached the city of Rajagriha, sought alms in due order, and then returned to the Bamboo Grove Monastery. After eating, he put away his robe and bowl, washed his feet, went to the Buddha, bowed at the Blessed One’s feet, withdrew, and sat to one side. He then related to the Buddha everything that had occurred:

“Blessed One, early this morning, while on my way to the city of Rajagriha to seek alms, because it was still early, I went to the Heaven of the Pure Abodes. The devas said to me: ‘The Tathagata, the Blessed One, is truly difficult to see and difficult to encounter in the world…’” The venerable reported the entire matter to the Buddha as described above.

“Blessed One, I have never before heard such words. It is truly inconceivable that Buddhas—the Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones—appear only once throughout immeasurable hundreds of thousands of kalpas.”

The Buddha said to Venerable Maudgalyayana:

“Maudgalyayana, the devas of the Pure Abodes do not see broadly or far. Because their wisdom remains shallow and limited, they can know only what occurs within hundreds of thousands of kalpas. Why is this so?

“Maudgalyayana, recalling the past, I planted roots of goodness in the presence of immeasurable and boundless Buddhas, seeking even the fruit of unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I encountered three billion Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, Shakyamuni Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I always followed their instructions and reverently honored them, making complete offerings of the four requisites: clothing, food and drink, bedding, and medicines. At that time, those Buddhas bestowed a prediction upon me: ‘In a future life, you will become the Unsurpassed Perfectly Enlightened One, Knower of the World, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One.’

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I encountered eight hundred million Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, Dipankara Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I reverently honored them and made the four kinds of offerings—clothing, food and drink, bedding, and medicines—together with parasols, banners, flowers, and incense. At that time, all those Buddhas bestowed a prediction upon me: ‘You will become the Unsurpassed Perfectly Enlightened One, Knower of the World, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One.’

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I encountered three hundred million Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, Pushya Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I always made the four kinds of offerings to them in full. At that time, all those Buddhas bestowed a prediction upon me: ‘You will become a Buddha…,’ as stated above.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I encountered ninety thousand Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, Kashyapa Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I made the four kinds of offerings to them in full… up to the statement that they all bestowed a prediction upon me that I would become a Buddha, as stated above.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I encountered sixty thousand Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, Luminous Lamp Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I made the four kinds of offerings to them in full… up to the statement that they all bestowed a prediction upon me that I would become a Buddha, as stated above.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I made offerings to eighteen thousand Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, King of Sala Trees Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I made the four kinds of offerings to them in full and afterward left the household life, thinking: ‘In a future life, I shall become a Buddha and uphold the precepts.’ At that time, all those Buddhas bestowed a prediction upon me, up to my becoming a Buddha, as stated above.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I made offerings to ten thousand Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, One Capable of Crossing to the Other Shore Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I made the four kinds of offerings to them in full, up to the statement that they all bestowed a prediction upon me that I would become a Buddha.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I made offerings to one million five hundred thousand Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, Sun Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I made the four kinds of offerings to them in full, up to the statement that they all bestowed a prediction upon me that I would become a Buddha.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I made offerings to two thousand Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, Kaundinya Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I made the four kinds of offerings to them in full, up to the statement that they bestowed a prediction upon me that I would become a Buddha.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I made offerings to six thousand Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, Naga Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I made the four kinds of offerings to them in full, up to the statement that they all bestowed a prediction upon me that I would become a Buddha.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I made offerings to one thousand Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, Purple Banner Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I made the four kinds of offerings to them in full, up to the statement that they all bestowed a prediction upon me that I would become a Buddha.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I made offerings to five hundred Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, Supreme Lotus Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I made the four kinds of offerings to them in full… up to the statement that they all bestowed a prediction upon me that I would become a Buddha.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I made offerings to sixty-four Buddhas who all bore the same epithet, Conch-Crest Tathagata, together with their assemblies of shravakas. I made the four kinds of offerings to them in full… up to the statement that they all bestowed a prediction upon me that I would become a Buddha.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, when I was a wheel-turning sage-king, I made offerings to one Buddha named Right Conduct Tathagata, together with his assembly of shravakas. I made the four kinds of offerings to them in full. That Buddha also bestowed a prediction upon me that I would become the Unsurpassed Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Knower of the World.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past, I made offerings of banners, parasols, incense, flowers, and the four requisites in full to eight trillion eight hundred billion pratyekabuddhas. After the Buddha of that time entered parinirvana, I also built a stupa and made offerings as before; therefore, he bestowed this prediction upon me: ‘You will attain the fruit of unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment.’

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past there was a Buddha named Good Reflection Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One. In the presence of this Buddha, Bodhisattva Maitreya first aroused the aspiration, planted roots of goodness, and sought the fruit of unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment. At that time, Bodhisattva Maitreya was a wheel-turning sage-king named Vairocana. Maudgalyayana, at that time, human beings lived for eighty thousand years. The first Dharma assembly of the Buddha Good Reflection brought nine trillion six hundred billion people to arhatship. The second Dharma assembly brought eight trillion four hundred billion people to arhatship. The third Dharma assembly brought seven trillion two hundred billion people to arhatship.

“Maudgalyayana, the wheel-turning sage-king Vairocana made offerings to the Buddha Good Reflection and his assembly of shravakas. He reverently honored them, always providing banners, parasols, flowers, incense, and the four requisites in full. Maudgalyayana, when the wheel-turning sage-king Vairocana saw that this Tathagata possessed the thirty-two marks of a great person and the eighty excellent characteristics, together with his assembly of shravakas, the adornments of his buddha-land, and the measure of his lifespan, he aroused the mind of bodhi and declared: ‘Rare indeed is the Blessed One!

I vow that in a future life I shall become a Buddha endowed with the ten epithets, just as the Tathagata Good Reflection is today. May I be reverently surrounded by a great assembly of shravakas, humans, and devas who listen to the Buddha teach the Dharma, faithfully accept it, receive it, uphold it, and practice it, in every respect without difference.’

“Bodhisattva Maitreya further said: ‘I vow that in a future life I shall bring abundant benefit to all sentient beings, bestow peace and happiness upon them, and have compassion for all devas and humans in the world.’ Maudgalyayana, Bodhisattva Maitreya aroused the mind of bodhi more than forty kalpas before I did. Only later did I arouse the aspiration for the path, plant roots of goodness, and seek the fruit of unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment.

“Maudgalyayana, I remember that in the past there was a Buddha named Manifested Banner of Repentance Tathagata. Maudgalyayana, at that time, in that Buddha’s land, I was a wheel-turning sage-king named Lao-cung. There I first aroused the mind of bodhi, planted roots of goodness, and sought the fruit of unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment. At that time, for a full thousand years, I made offerings to that Buddha, the Blessed One, and his assembly of shravakas. I offered five hundred sets of supremely beautiful garments, reverently honoring, worshiping, praising, and making offerings to them, and providing the four requisites in full.

“After that Buddha entered nirvana, I built a stupa one yojana high and half a yojana wide, adorned with the seven precious substances, to enshrine his relics. Those seven precious substances were gold, silver, crystal, lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl, red pearl, and agate. I also made offerings of various banners, precious parasols, ringing bells, flowers, incense, lamps, and torches.

“Maudgalyayana, after arranging such offerings, day and night I diligently exerted myself and made this great vow: ‘In a future life, I shall become a Buddha in a world where sentient beings are unfilial toward their parents; do not honor shramanas and brahmins; do not recognize seniors and juniors, distant and close relatives within their clans; have no reverence or faith; do not believe in karmic retribution or the causes and conditions of the three periods of time; do not believe that noble beings exist in the present; do not act in accordance with the Dharma; follow only craving, anger, and delusion; are filled with the ten evil deeds; create only defiled karma; and possess not a single wholesome quality.

I vow to be born into that world and attain the fruit of unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment. Taking pity upon all those sentient beings, I shall teach the Dharma and guide them, bringing them abundant benefit and aid. Through the power of loving-kindness and compassion, I shall rescue them from the sea of suffering and establish them in peace and happiness.

I shall then expound many teachings of the Buddha for the humans and devas of that world.’ Maudgalyayana, for the sake of sentient beings, Buddhas and Tathagatas cultivate such rare ascetic practices.

“Maudgalyayana, all bodhisattvas possess four wondrous kinds of conduct. What are these four? First, conduct of inherent nature; second, conduct of the nature of vows; third, conduct in accord with that nature; and fourth, conduct that transforms one’s nature.

“Maudgalyayana, what is conduct of inherent nature? Bodhisattvas whose nature has always been gentle and upright, who obey their parents, faithfully revere shramanas and brahmins, clearly recognize seniors and juniors and close and distant relatives within their clans, and, having recognized them, reverently attend upon them without negligence; who fully practice the ten wholesome deeds and also perform many other wholesome actions—this is called a bodhisattva’s conduct of inherent nature.

“What is conduct of the nature of vows? If bodhisattvas make this vow: ‘At a certain time, I shall become a Buddha, a Worthy One, a Perfectly Enlightened One, endowed with the ten epithets,’ this is called a bodhisattva’s conduct of the nature of vows.

“What is conduct in accord with that nature? If bodhisattvas fully accomplish the six paramitas—what are these six? They are the perfection of generosity through the perfection of prajna—this is called a bodhisattva’s conduct in accord with that nature.

“What is called conduct that transforms one’s nature? When I made offerings to the Blessed One Dipankara, through these causes and conditions I recited the scriptures and came to understand the Buddha-Dharma. This is called a bodhisattva’s conduct that transforms one’s nature.

“Maudgalyayana, these are the four kinds of conduct of a bodhisattva.”

At another time, the Buddha was dwelling in Anathapindika’s Park in the Jeta Grove in the kingdom of Shravasti. Having attained buddhahood, he abided in the conduct of a Buddha, generally as described above.

After the Buddha had eaten, he entered samadhi for seven days, contemplating the Buddhas, Blessed Ones, Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past.

After seven days, Venerable Ananda came and bowed at the Buddha’s feet, withdrew, sat to one side, and said:

“Blessed One, the Tathagata is truly rare! His body is pure, his complexion radiant, and his bearing majestic. I have gazed upon him in the past, but today his noble countenance shines with an extraordinary radiance, many times brighter than before. The Blessed One’s faculties are utterly serene. I do not know what right samadhi he has entered or what characteristics of the Dharma he has contemplated.”

The Tathagata then said to Venerable Ananda:

“Ananda, it is just as you have asked. While in samadhi, the Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, may contemplate the Buddhas and Tathagatas of the past, who attained utterly sovereign spiritual powers and could remain for one kalpa or less than one kalpa. Or I may contemplate the wisdom of hundreds of thousands of kotis of Buddhas, and my wisdom remains entirely unobstructed. Why is this? Because I have fully attained the wisdom of the Buddhas and crossed to the shore of liberation.

“Ananda, within the time of a single meal, I may abide for one kalpa or less than one kalpa. Whether I wish to remain in samadhi for a long or short time, I do so freely, without weariness. Why is this? Because I have attained the right samadhi of the Buddhas and crossed to the shore of liberation. Among all samadhis, this samadhi is supreme.”

The Buddha said to Venerable Ananda:

“I remember that in the past, immeasurable, boundless asamkhyeya kalpas ago, there was a Buddha named Banner of Shakra Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One. He served as a refuge for all sentient beings and as an abode of loving-kindness and compassion. He skillfully extended loving care to all living beings and enabled them all to reach a place of peace and happiness. This Buddha was endowed with great majestic virtue and was surrounded before and behind by immeasurable noble assemblies.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Banner of Shakra had fifty billion shravakas, all of whom attained arhatship, and his lifespan was five thousand years. The Buddha Banner of Shakra bestowed a prediction upon a bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Supreme Banner Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Supreme Banner then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Banner Mark Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Banner Mark then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Joyful Banner Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Joyful Banner then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Ten Banners Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Ten Banners then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Invincible Banner Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Invincible Banner then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Luminous Lamp Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Luminous Lamp then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Good Luminous Lamp Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Good Luminous Lamp then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Establishment Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Establishment then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Good Establishment Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Good Establishment then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Naga Seer Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Naga Seer then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Incomparable Majestic Virtue Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Incomparable Majestic Virtue then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Born of the Noble Ones Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Buddha Born of the Noble Ones then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Wondrous Victory Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Buddha Wondrous Victory then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Seer’s Victory Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Buddha Seer’s Victory then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Universal Seal Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Buddha Universal Seal then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Auspicious Mark Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Buddha Auspicious Mark then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Supreme Clan Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Supreme Clan then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named One’s Own Realm Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata One’s Own Realm then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Unequaled Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Unequaled then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Krakucchanda Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Krakucchanda then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Great Radiance Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Great Radiance then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Free from Sorrow Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Free from Sorrow then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Renouncing the Great Flood Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Renouncing the Great Flood then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Great Strength Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Great Strength then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Reached the Other Shore Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Reached the Other Shore then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Sun Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Sun Tathagata then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Quiescent Cessation Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Quiescent Cessation then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Great Resounding Voice Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Great Resounding Voice then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named King of Words Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata King of Words then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Treasure King Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Treasure King then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Constellation King Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Constellation King then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Subtle and Wondrous Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Buddha Subtle and Wondrous then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Brahma Voice Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Brahma Voice then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Born of Merit Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Born of Merit had seven billion shravaka disciples, all of whom attained arhatship. This Buddha’s lifespan was fully seventy thousand years. After the Buddha entered nirvana, the true Dharma remained in the world for a full three thousand years.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Born of Merit then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Naga Contemplation Tathagata.

“After the Buddha Naga Contemplation attained bodhi, he remained in the world for one kalpa for the sake of all sentient beings.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Naga Contemplation then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Supreme Fearlessness Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Supreme Fearlessness then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Supreme Naga Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Supreme Naga then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Celestial Virtue Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Celestial Virtue then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Supreme Bodily Form Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Supreme Bodily Form then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Incomparable Moon Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Incomparable Moon then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Supreme Among Humans Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Supreme Among Humans had one thousand six hundred shravaka disciples, all of whom were arhats.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Supreme Among Humans then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Supreme Son Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Supreme Son then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Tagarashikhin Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Tagarashikhin then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Supreme Lotus Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Supreme Lotus then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Kaundinya Tathagata.

“Ananda, there were one hundred Buddhas bearing the same name as this Buddha Kaundinya, all dwelling during the Kalpa of the Little Lotus. Each Buddha Kaundinya had thirty billion shravaka disciples, all of whom were arhats. Each of these Buddhas remained in the world for three hundred years. After those Buddhas entered nirvana, the true Dharma also remained in the world for three hundred years.

“Ananda, the last Tathagata Kaundinya then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Sandalwood Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Sandalwood then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Luminous Lamp Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Luminous Lamp then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Benefit Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Benefit then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Good Virtue Tathagata.

“The Buddha Good Virtue surveyed all sentient beings with the Buddha-eye. Out of compassion for them and because he did not wish the lineage of the Buddhas to be interrupted, he remained in the world for one thousand kalpas. This Buddha Good Virtue, the Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, had three billion two hundred million nayutas of shravaka disciples, all of whom were arhats. The Tathagata Good Virtue then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Bright Star Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Bright Star then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named World-Protector Contentment Tathagata.

“This Buddha World-Protector Contentment became a Buddha only after immeasurable nayutas of kalpas had passed. Ananda, the Buddha World-Protector Contentment had two billion shravaka disciples, all of whom were arhats.

“Ananda, the Tathagata World-Protector Contentment then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Shikhin Tathagata.

“Ananda, this Buddha Shikhin attained buddhahood during the Lotus Kalpa. During that kalpa, sixty-two Buddhas, all bearing the epithet Shikhin Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, successively attained buddhahood.

“Ananda, after the last Tathagata Shikhin attained bodhi, he bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Emergence Tathagata.

“Ananda, out of compassion for all sentient beings, that Buddha Emergence Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, remained in the world teaching and transforming beings for a full two thousand kalpas. Ananda, the Tathagata Emergence then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Good Eye Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Good Eye then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Merchant Chief Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Merchant Chief then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Good Birth Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Buddha Good Birth Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, had an extremely short lifespan and remained in the world for only one day. During that time, he taught and transformed eighty-four thousand shravakas, all of whom attained arhatship.

“Ananda, that Tathagata Good Birth then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Brahma Virtue Tathagata.

“Ananda, this Buddha Brahma Virtue had three billion two hundred million shravaka disciples, all of whom were arhats. After the Buddha Brahma Virtue entered cessation, the true Dharma remained in the world for a full thirty thousand years.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Brahma Virtue then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Blue Lotus Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Blue Lotus then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Good Vision Tathagata.

“Ananda, this Buddha Good Vision Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, had three hundred billion shravaka disciples, all of whom were arhats.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Good Vision then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Perceiver of the True Reality Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Perceiver of the True Reality then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Faculty Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Faculty Tathagata then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Purple-Hued Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Purple-Hued then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named For the Sake of Others Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata For the Sake of Others then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Southern Dipper Constellation Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Southern Dipper Constellation then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Sala Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Sala then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Leader Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Leader then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Great Leader Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Great Leader then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Wisdom Victory Tathagata.

“Ananda, the Tathagata Wisdom Victory then bestowed a prediction upon another bodhisattva that he would next become a Buddha named Samantabhadra Tathagata.”