悲華經

VOLUME III: CHAPTER THREE — PART II — THE GREAT GIVING

Shakyamuni Buddha said to Bodhisattva Tranquil Resolve: “Good man! At that time, the brahmin Ratnākara again thought: ‘If in a future life I shall certainly attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, and if my vows shall be fulfilled and I shall attain benefit for myself, then I should next teach and transform the Great Brahmā Heavenly King, causing him to generate the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.’

“At that time, the Brahmā Heavenly King knew the brahmin’s thought. He immediately appeared before him and asked: ‘What instruction do you have for me?’

“The brahmin asked: ‘Who are you?’

“The Brahmā King replied: ‘I am the Great Brahmā Heavenly King.’

“The brahmin said: ‘Excellent that you have come here! You should now return to the heavenly realm, assemble the devas, and convey these words of mine to them: “You should know that in Jambudvīpa there is a brahmin named Ratnākara who has invited the Buddha, the Blessed One, together with immeasurable members of the Sangha, to accept offerings, and for seven years has provided them with everything they require. I have now adorned that Jambu forest for the Buddha and the bhikshu Sangha with precious objects. You should rejoice in that merit. Having rejoiced, dedicate it toward the attainment of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.”’

“Having heard this instruction, the Brahmā King immediately returned to his heavenly palace, assembled the devas of the Brahmā Heaven, and said: ‘You should know that in Jambudvīpa there is a wheel-turning sage king named Araṇemin, and there is a brahmin named Ratnākara, who is the sage king’s chief minister. That chief minister has invited the Buddha, the Blessed One, together with immeasurable kotis of members of the Sangha, to accept offerings, and for seven years has provided them with everything they require. You should rejoice in this root of goodness. Having rejoiced, dedicate it toward the attainment of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, and also cause that brahmin Ratnākara to obtain what he has vowed for.’

“Good man! At that time, hundreds of thousands of immeasurable kotis of nayutas of devas from the Brahmā Heaven all reverently joined their palms and said: ‘We now all rejoice in that root of goodness. Through this rejoicing, may we all attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.’

“Afterward, the Brahmā King further said: ‘Today you should go to Jambudvīpa to see the Buddha Ratnagarbha and the bhikshu Sangha, bow before them, circumambulate them, reverently make offerings to them, honor them, and praise them.’

“Good man! At that time, the Brahmā Heavenly King, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of immeasurable kotis of nayutas of devas from the Brahmā Heaven, appeared together before the Buddha Ratnagarbha. They bowed their heads at the feet of the Buddha and the bhikshu Sangha, and then listened to and received the wondrous true Dharma.

“Good man! At that time, the brahmin Ratnākara again thought: ‘I should now teach and transform the Heavenly Kings of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, the Yāma Heaven, the Tuṣita Heaven, the Heaven of Delight in Creation, and the Heaven of Mastery over Others’ Creations in the second world-system.’

“Through the Buddha’s awe-inspiring spiritual power, these kings immediately appeared before the brahmin Ratnākara and said together: ‘What instruction do you have for us?’

“The brahmin asked: ‘Who are you?’

“Each announced his own name and identity, from the Heavenly King of Trāyastriṃśa to the Heavenly King of Mastery over Others’ Creations.

“The brahmin then said: ‘Each of you should now return to your own heavenly palace and convey these words of mine: “In Jambudvīpa there is a wheel-turning sage king named Araṇemin, and there is a brahmin named Ratnākara, who is the sage king’s chief minister. That chief minister has invited the Buddha, the Blessed One, together with immeasurable kotis of members of the Sangha, to accept offerings, and for seven years has provided them with everything they require. You should rejoice in this root of goodness. Having rejoiced, dedicate it toward the attainment of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.”’

“At that time, from the Heavenly King of Trāyastriṃśa to the Heavenly King of Mastery over Others’ Creations, after hearing these words, each immediately returned to his own heavenly palace, assembled the devas, and said: ‘You should know that in Jambudvīpa there is a wheel-turning sage king named Araṇemin, and there is a brahmin named Ratnākara, who is the sage king’s chief minister. That chief minister has invited the Buddha, the Blessed One, together with immeasurable kotis of members of the Sangha, to accept offerings, and for seven years has provided them with everything they require. You should rejoice in the causes and conditions of this root of goodness. Having rejoiced, dedicate it toward the attainment of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.’

“Good man! At that time, all the devas reverently joined their palms and said: ‘We now all rejoice in that root of goodness. Through this rejoicing, may we all attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.’

“Afterward, the Heavenly Kings further said to the devas: ‘Today you should go to Jambudvīpa to see the Buddha Ratnagarbha and the bhikshu Sangha, bow before them, circumambulate them, reverently make offerings to them, honor them, and praise them.’

“Good man! At that time, from the Heavenly King of Trāyastriṃśa to the Heavenly King of Mastery over Others’ Creations, each surrounded by hundreds of thousands of immeasurable kotis of nayutas of deva sons, deva maidens, boys, girls, and all their retinues, appeared together before the Buddha Ratnagarbha. They bowed their heads at the feet of the Buddha and the bhikshu Sangha, and then listened to and received the wondrous true Dharma.

“Next, the five asura kings, even Māra Pāpīyān and the Great Brahmā Heavenly King in the second world-system, were each in turn taught and transformed in the same way by the brahmin Ratnākara.

“Then, proceeding in turn through the third, fourth, and fifth world-systems, and so forth, extending throughout the trichiliocosm of the Buddhas, innumerable kings of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, the Yāma Heaven, the Tuṣita Heaven, the Heaven of Delight in Creation, and the Heaven of Mastery over Others’ Creations, as well as innumerable asura kings, Māras Pāpīyān, and Great Brahmā Heavenly Kings, together with their immeasurable and innumerable nayutas of retinues, were all taught and transformed by the brahmin Ratnākara and generated the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“Through the Buddha’s awe-inspiring spiritual power, they all appeared together in this world of four continents and came before the Buddha. They bowed their heads to the Buddha and the bhikshu Sangha, and then listened together to and received the wondrous true Dharma.

“At that time, the entire great assembly that had appeared in Jambudvīpa was so vast that it completely filled the realm, until not a single empty place remained anywhere in the trichiliocosm!

“Good man! At that time, the brahmin Ratnākara again thought: ‘I have now taught and transformed innumerable Vaiśravaṇa Heavenly Kings, up to innumerable Great Brahmā Heavenly Kings. Thus, my vow has attained a state of complete freedom and unobstructed fulfillment.’

“He then further thought: ‘If in a future life I shall certainly attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, if the vows I have made shall be fulfilled and bring benefit to myself, then may the Buddha, the Blessed One, for the sake of this great assembly, manifest all manner of miraculous transformations. May he employ his spiritual power to cause all animals, hungry ghosts, beings in the hells, and human beings throughout this trichiliocosm to be freed from every suffering and affliction and to experience only happiness. May he also cause an emanation Buddha to appear before each sentient being, exhorting and guiding that being to arouse the aspiration for Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.’

“Good man! At that time, the Tathagata Ratnagarbha clearly knew Ratnasamudra’s aspiration and immediately entered the Samadhi Free from Heat.

“After the Blessed One entered that samadhi, he manifested all manner of miraculous transformations exactly in accordance with Ratnasamudra’s aspiration. From every pore of his body streamed immeasurable, boundless rays of brilliant light. That wondrous, subtle light illuminated the entire trichiliocosm, penetrating even into the hell realms. Beings suffering from bone-piercing cold felt warmth when touched by that light; beings suffering from scorching heat felt coolness when touched by that light; and beings tormented by hunger and thirst became fully satisfied when touched by that light. All experienced supremely wondrous happiness.

“Before each sentient being there then appeared an emanation Buddha endowed with the thirty-two excellent marks, the eighty beautiful characteristics, and jeweled necklaces adorning his body.

“After experiencing such ease and happiness, those beings each thought: ‘Through what cause have we been freed from all suffering and affliction and come to experience such wondrous ease and happiness?’

“At that time, every being saw the emanation Buddha endowed with the thirty-two excellent marks, the eighty beautiful characteristics, and jeweled necklaces adorning his body. Having seen him, each being said: ‘It is through the grace of this One who has perfected Great Compassion that we have been freed from all suffering and affliction and now experience wondrous ease and happiness.’

“Then all those beings joyfully gazed upon the honored countenance of the emanation Buddha.

“At that time, each emanation Buddha said to the beings: ‘All of you should recite “Namo Buddha” and then arouse the aspiration for Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. By doing so, from this time onward you will no longer undergo suffering and affliction but will always experience the foremost wondrous ease and happiness.’

“Those beings then recited in unison: ‘Namo Blessed One!’ Thereafter, they all aroused the aspiration for Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Through these roots of goodness, all their evil was immediately eradicated. Among those beings, some passed away not long afterward and were reborn in the human realm. Those who had been suffering from scorching heat became cool when the light shone upon them, were freed from the suffering of hunger and thirst, experienced wondrous happiness, and eventually were reborn in the human realm. The same occurred for all beings among the animals, hungry ghosts, and denizens of the hells.

“After the Blessed One’s light had illuminated all the world realms, it returned, circled the Buddha’s body three times, and reentered his body through the crown of his head.

“At that time, immeasurable and boundless devas, humans, yakshas, asuras, gandharvas, nagas, and rakshasas attained the stage of non-retrogression from Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“Countless other sentient beings beyond reckoning attained Dharma gates of dharani and samadhi, as well as the realization of patient acceptance.

“At that time, the people of Jambudvipa all heard that immeasurable devas, wishing to make offerings to the Buddha, the Blessed One, and the Sangha of bhikshus, had adorned the area outside the city of Anjula, where the Jambu Grove was located, with all manner of celestial treasures, making it identical in every respect to the magnificent scenery of the heavenly realms. The people then thought: ‘We should now go there to see it. We shall also be able to behold the Tathagata and the Sangha of bhikshus and thereby hear and receive the wondrous true Dharma.’

“Good man! At that time, every day hundreds of thousands of immeasurable kotis of nayutas of men, women, boys, and girls came together to the Buddha’s dwelling place. They bowed their heads in homage to the Buddha and the Sangha of bhikshus, circumambulated them three times to the right, and then reverently made offerings, honored them, and praised them.

“When those people arrived to see the Jambu Grove, it was already surrounded by twenty thousand dwellings, all fashioned from the seven precious substances. Before the entrance of each dwelling stood five hundred precious couches, likewise made of the seven precious substances, with a Brahmin seated upon each couch. Whenever a sentient being wished to enter the grove, the Brahmins welcomed, exhorted, instructed, and guided that being, causing the being to take refuge in the Three Jewels and arouse the aspiration for Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Only then did the being enter the grove to behold the Blessed One and the Sangha of bhikshus, pay homage to them, circumambulate them reverently, make offerings, honor them, and praise them.

“Good man! At that time, over the course of seven years, the Brahmin Ratnasamudra instructed and guided countless devas, causing all of them to abide firmly upon the path to Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. He likewise caused innumerable nagas, asuras, gandharvas, rakshasas, kumbhandas, pishachas, hungry ghosts, animals, denizens of the hells, and human beings all to abide firmly upon the path to Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“Good man! At that time, after seven years had passed, the Brahmin Ratnasamudra offered to the Buddha and the Sangha eighty-four thousand golden wheels, excluding the precious golden wheel; eighty-four thousand white elephants adorned with the seven precious substances, excluding the precious elephant; and, in the same manner, eighty-four thousand kinds of medicinal substances. All such objects were presented as offerings to the Buddha and the Sangha.

“At that time, throughout the seven years, the Wheel-Turning Sage-King Aranemin gave rise to no craving, anger, delusion, or arrogance. He had no craving for kingdoms, descendants, women, food or drink, garments, flowers, fragrances, vehicles, or sleep and rest. He entertained no thoughts of desire for any sensual pleasure, neither for himself nor for others.

“Thus, throughout those seven years, he did not give rise to even a single thought of craving. He always remained seated and never lay down. He entertained no discriminating thought of day or night, no thought of weariness, and no conception of sounds, fragrances, flavors, or tangible objects. During that time, he constantly beheld all the world realms throughout the ten directions, clearly perceiving every aspect of them, and saw innumerable Buddha realms as numerous as motes of dust.”

“Those worlds of the Buddhas were all pure and adorned. Neither Mount Sumeru nor the lesser mountains could be seen, nor could the two great and small Iron Ring Mountains and the dark, gloomy region between them be seen. Even the sun, moon, stars, and celestial palaces could not be seen. What the Wheel-Turning Noble King alone saw were pure and adorned Buddha-lands. Having seen them in this way, he then chose one in accordance with his own vow.

“Throughout those seven years, the Wheel-Turning Noble King enjoyed ease and happiness. Having seen the worlds of the Buddhas with all their various adornments, he vowed to choose the foremost, wondrous, and pure Buddha-land.

“In the same way, Prince Bất Huyễn and all the other sons of the king, as well as the eighty-four thousand lesser kings and the nine trillion two hundred billion sentient beings, each remained entirely free of any thought of desire throughout those seven years. They did not even entertain any perception of sounds, fragrances, tastes, or tangible objects. Each stayed in a secluded place, entered meditative concentration, and contemplated. They likewise saw throughout all the worlds of the ten directions, clearly and in every respect, Buddha-lands as numerous as countless motes of dust.

“Those worlds of the Buddhas were all pure and adorned. Neither Mount Sumeru nor the lesser mountains could be seen, nor could the two great and small Iron Ring Mountains and the dark, gloomy region between them be seen. Even the sun, moon, stars, and celestial palaces could not be seen. What they alone saw were pure and adorned Buddha-lands. Having seen them in this way, each then chose one in accordance with his own vow.

“Throughout those seven years, everyone in that entire assembly cultivated and practiced all manner of Dharma gates. Some vowed to attain a pure Buddha-land, while others vowed to accept an impure Buddha-land.

“Good man! After seven years had passed, the brahmin Bảo Hải brought seven kinds of precious treasures and presented them to the Buddha Bảo Tạng and the Sangha of bhikshus. He then approached the Buddha, joined his palms toward him, and said: ‘World-Honored One! I have now exhorted and guided the Wheel-Turning Noble King to arouse the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. I caused him to retire to a secluded place, sit quietly, and contemplate, and I did not permit anyone to disturb him.

“‘I have also exhorted and guided the Noble King’s one thousand sons to arouse the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. I caused each of them to retire to a secluded place, sit quietly, and contemplate, and I did not permit anyone to disturb them.

“‘Likewise, the eighty-four thousand lesser kings and the nine trillion two hundred billion sentient beings have now all aroused the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Each is sitting quietly and contemplating in a secluded place, and I have not permitted anyone to disturb them.

“‘World-Honored One! I now wish to have the Wheel-Turning Noble King and all these people emerge from samadhi and come to the Buddha’s presence. Together with those whom I previously guided to arouse the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, they will all assemble before the Buddha, the World-Honored One. They will sit solemnly and single-mindedly accept their own pure Buddha-lands, become irreversible from anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, and, after receiving the Buddha’s prediction, each will accept a land and a name.’

“Good man! The Tathagata Bảo Tạng then entered the King of Samadhis. Having entered this samadhi, he emitted from his mouth rays of light in various colors—blue, yellow, red, white, and purple.

“At that time, the Wheel-Turning Noble King and all those abiding in meditative concentration each saw before them a conjured Brahma King, who said: ‘You should now emerge from concentration and go to the Buddha. Bow to the World-Honored One and the Sangha of bhikshus, circumambulate them, and respectfully make offerings, honor, and praise them. You should know that the Dharma assembly conducted by the brahmin Bảo Hải over the past seven years has now been completed, and the Buddha, the World-Honored One, is about to journey to another land.’

“When the Wheel-Turning King and all the others heard these words, they immediately emerged from meditative concentration. Celestial beings in midair then played various kinds of music. The Noble King ordered his stately carriage to be prepared and, surrounded by his one thousand sons, eighty-four thousand lesser kings, and nine trillion two hundred billion ministers and subjects, departed from the city of An-chu-la and proceeded toward the Jambu Grove. Upon reaching the edge of the grove, they dismounted in accordance with proper decorum and proceeded on foot to the Buddha. They bowed their heads before the Buddha and the Sangha of bhikshus, and then sat to one side.

“Good man! The brahmin Bảo Hải then said to the Noble King: ‘Great King! Please dedicate toward the attainment of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi the merit from offering these treasures today, together with the merit from everything you previously offered to the Tathagata and the Sangha of bhikshus throughout the past three months. You should likewise instruct your one thousand sons, the eighty-four thousand lesser kings, and the nine trillion two hundred billion people to dedicate their merit toward the attainment of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“‘Great King, you should know that you must not use this generosity to seek rebirth as the king of the Trayastrimsha Heaven, a Great Brahma King, or the like. Why is this? The meritorious rewards and precious treasures possessed by the king today are all impermanent and have no fixed character; they are no different from a swiftly passing breeze. Therefore, you should use the meritorious rewards gained from this generosity to attain mastery of mind, swiftly accomplish anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, liberate countless sentient beings, and enable them to enter the realm of nirvana.’

CHAPTER FOUR - PART I: PREDICTIONS FOR BODHISATTVAS

“At that time, the Tathagata Bảo Tạng again had this thought: ‘Countless sentient beings here have all attained the stage of irreversibility from anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. I shall now bestow a prediction upon each of them and, at the same time, manifest all the Buddha-lands for them to see.’

“The World-Honored One then entered the Samadhi of Never Losing the Bodhi Mind. Through the power of that samadhi, he emitted a great radiance that illuminated countless worlds, enabling the Wheel-Turning Noble King and countless sentient beings to see innumerable worlds of the Buddhas.

“At that time, throughout the other immeasurable and boundless worlds in the ten directions, there were great bodhisattvas in every world. Touched by the Buddha’s radiance, they relied upon the Buddha’s awesome spiritual power and came together to his presence. Each employed the miraculous transformations attained through his own spiritual powers to make offerings to the Buddha and the Sangha of bhikshus. They all bowed their heads at the Buddha’s feet, respectfully circumambulated him three times, and then sat before him, wishing to hear the Tathagata bestow upon each bodhisattva a prediction of his attainment of Buddhahood.

“Good man! The brahmin Bảo Hải then again said to the Noble King: ‘Great King! You should now be the first to make a solemn vow to accept a wondrous Buddha-land.’

“Good man! When the Holy King heard these words, he immediately arose, joined his palms, knelt facing the Buddha, and said: ‘World-Honored One! I now sincerely aspire to attain bodhi. Just as I have made offerings to the Buddha and the bhiksus of all necessities for three months, I now dedicate the roots of goodness arising from those offerings to the attainment of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, and vow never to accept an impure Buddha-land.

“World-Honored One! Throughout the past seven years, I have sat quietly contemplating the countless Buddha-lands, each pure and adorned in a different way.

“World-Honored One! I now make this vow: When I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, there shall be no realms of hell beings, animals, or hungry ghosts in my world, and after death no sentient being shall fall into the three evil paths. The entire world and all its sentient beings shall be wholly golden in color. There shall be no difference between devas and humans, and all shall attain the Six Superknowledges.

“Through the knowledge of former lives, they shall know the events of hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of past kalpas. Through the pure divine eye, they shall see hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of worlds throughout the ten directions, and shall also see the Buddhas in each of those worlds presently expounding the sublime Dharma. Through the pure divine ear, they shall hear the voices of the Buddhas presently teaching the Dharma in hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of worlds throughout the ten directions.

Through the wisdom that knows the minds of others, they shall know the thoughts of all sentient beings in immeasurable and boundless kotis of nayutas of worlds throughout the ten directions. Through the superknowledge of unhindered manifestation, they shall be able, in a single instant, to travel throughout hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of Buddha-worlds. As they come, go, and journey about, they shall enable all sentient beings to comprehend fully the meaning of there being neither self nor anything belonging to a self, and all shall attain the stage of non-retrogression from anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“May there be no women in my world, nor even the designation ‘woman.’ All sentient beings shall be born only once through transformation and shall possess immeasurable lifespans, except those who have made other vows. There shall be no unwholesome names whatsoever. The world shall be pure, without any evil or defilement, and the subtle fragrances of the devas shall always pervade every place. All sentient beings shall possess the thirty-two excellent marks and shall naturally be adorned with jeweled necklaces around their bodies. All bodhisattvas in my world shall attain the stage of one more birth, except those who have made other vows.

“May the sentient beings in my world, within the time of a single meal, be able to rely upon the Buddha’s majestic power to travel throughout immeasurable and boundless worlds, encounter the present Buddhas, bow to them, circumambulate them reverently, and employ the miraculous transformations they have attained to make offerings to those Buddhas. Then, within that same mealtime, they shall return to this world and constantly praise and extol the treasury of the Buddhas’ true Dharma.

“Those sentient beings shall all possess bodies as powerful as the celestial strongman Narayana. Even one who has attained the divine eye shall be unable to describe fully such excellent adornments of my world! All sentient beings shall attain the fourfold unhindered eloquence. Every tree beneath which the bodhisattvas sit shall spread its branches and leaves over ten thousand yojanas.

“My world shall always be filled with pure and sublime light, within which all the magnificent adornments of the immeasurable Buddha-lands in other directions shall appear. Until the sentient beings in my world attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, they shall never perform impure deeds and shall always be revered, honored, and presented with offerings by all devas, humans, and nonhumans. From the time they first resolve to cultivate the path until they attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, their six sense faculties shall always remain pure.

As soon as they are born, they shall experience joy free from affliction, enjoy comfort and happiness, and naturally perfect all roots of goodness. Immediately after birth, they shall naturally be clothed in new kasayas and shall attain a samadhi called Skillful Discernment. Through the power of this samadhi, they shall be able to travel to immeasurable and boundless Buddha-lands throughout the ten directions, encounter the present Buddhas, bow to them, circumambulate them reverently, make offerings to them, praise them, and honor them.

Until they attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, they shall never regress from this samadhi.

“All bodhisattvas in my world shall, in accordance with their vows, personally cultivate the adornments of a pure and sublime world. Looking into precious trees made of the seven treasures, they shall see distant Buddha-worlds together with all the sentient beings dwelling there. Immediately after birth, they shall attain the samadhi of universal manifestation. Through the power of this samadhi, they shall constantly see the present Buddhas in immeasurable and boundless worlds throughout the ten directions, and until they attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, they shall never regress from it.

“May all sentient beings in my world possess palaces, garments, jeweled necklaces, and every kind of magnificent adornment like those in the sixth heaven, the Heaven of Freely Enjoying Manifestations by Others. In my world there shall be no mountains, hills, or mounds; no greater or lesser Iron Ring Mountains, Mount Sumeru, or oceans. Nor shall there be such terms as the five skandhas, the five hindrances, or the obstructing afflictions. There shall be no names for the three evil paths or the eight difficult circumstances, nor any terms denoting painful feelings or feelings that are neither painful nor pleasant.

“World-Honored One! Such is the vow I have made, for I wish to attain a Buddha-land of such purity and magnificent adornment.

“World-Honored One! In future lives, I vow to cultivate the bodhisattva path through many lives and kalpas until I attain such a pure Buddha-land.

“World-Honored One! In future lives, I vow to accomplish rare and extraordinary deeds, and only afterward attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“World-Honored One! When I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, I shall sit at the place of enlightenment beneath a great Bodhi tree extending ten thousand yojanas both across and lengthwise, and in a single instant I shall attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“After attaining anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, my radiance shall illuminate immeasurable and boundless hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of Buddha-worlds. My lifespan shall be immeasurable and boundless hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of kalpas, which no one shall be able to know fully except one endowed with all-knowing wisdom. In my world there shall be neither the Sravaka Vehicle nor the Pratyekabuddha Vehicle; the entire assembly shall consist solely of bodhisattvas, immeasurable and boundless in number, whom no one shall be able to count except one endowed with all-knowing wisdom.

“After I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, may all the Buddhas throughout the ten directions proclaim and praise my name.”

“I vow that, after I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, if any beings in immeasurable, boundless asamkhyeyas of other Buddha-worlds hear my name and then cultivate roots of goodness, aspiring to be born in my world, those beings, after relinquishing their lives, will certainly be born there, except for those who commit the five heinous offenses, malign the noble ones, or destroy the True Dharma.

“I vow that, after I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, if any beings in immeasurable, boundless asamkhyeyas of other Buddha-worlds arouse the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi and cultivate roots of goodness, seeking birth in my world, then, as they approach the end of life, I, surrounded by a great assembly, will appear directly before them. Upon seeing me, they will rejoice because of me. Through seeing me, they will be freed from every obstruction, and immediately after relinquishing their lives, they will be born in my world.

“I vow that, after I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, if any great bodhisattvas wish to hear from me Dharmas they have never heard before, they will hear them in accordance with their vows.

“I vow that, after I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, if bodhisattvas dwelling throughout immeasurable, boundless asamkhyeyas of other worlds hear my name, they will immediately attain the stage of non-retrogression toward anuttara-samyak-sambodhi and attain the first, second, and third levels of patience. If they aspire to attain dharani Dharma-gates or samadhis, they will certainly attain them according to their aspirations and will never regress until they attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“After my passing into nirvana, when incalculably many kalpas have elapsed, if any bodhisattvas in immeasurable, boundless asamkhyeyas of worlds hear my name, pure faith will immediately arise in their minds, and they will experience supreme joy. They will then bow in homage to me and praise me, saying: ‘Never before has there been such a thing! When this Buddha, the World-Honored One, was practicing the bodhisattva path, he performed the works of a Buddha throughout many lives and many kalpas before attaining anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.’ Once those bodhisattvas have gained joyful minds and profound, steadfast faith, they will assuredly attain the levels of patience, from the first through the second and third.

If they aspire to attain dharani Dharma-gates and samadhis, they will certainly attain them according to their aspirations and will never regress until they attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“After I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, if any woman in immeasurable, boundless asamkhyeyas of other worlds hears my name, joy will immediately arise in her mind; she will bring forth profound, steadfast faith and arouse the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. From then on, until she attains Buddhahood, she will certainly never again be born in a woman’s body.

“I vow that, after my passing into nirvana, even when immeasurable, boundless asamkhyeyas of kalpas have elapsed, if any woman in immeasurable, boundless asamkhyeyas of Buddha-worlds hears my name, joy will immediately arise in her mind; she will bring forth profound, steadfast faith and arouse the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. From then on, until she attains Buddhahood, she will certainly never again be born in a woman’s body.

“O World-Honored One! My vow is to bring to fulfillment such a Buddha-land and such beings.

“O World-Honored One! Only when I attain such a pure world and such beings will I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.’

“Good man! At that time, the Tathagata Ratnagarbha praised the Wheel-Turning King, saying: ‘Excellent, excellent! Great King, your present aspiration is indeed exceedingly profound: you wish to embrace a pure Buddha-land whose beings also possess pure minds.

“Great King! You have seen, to the west, beyond hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of Buddha-lands, a world named Honored Goodness Free from Defilement. In that world a Buddha has appeared, named Tathagata King of Honored Sound, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One.

He is presently expounding the True Dharma for the bodhisattvas. In that world, even the names shravaka and pratyekabuddha do not exist, nor does anyone teach the Lesser Vehicle Dharma. There is only the pure and unmixed teaching of the Great Vehicle.

The beings in that world are born by transformation only once. There are no women there, nor is there even a word designating women.

“That Buddha-land is fully endowed with pure and magnificent qualities precisely as the Great King has vowed. It is in no way different from the countless splendid adornments of other Buddha-lands, and it has gathered and embraced immeasurable, boundless beings who have been tamed. I now therefore change your name to Immeasurable Purity.’

“At that time, the World-Honored One then said to Immeasurable Purity: ‘After one more intermediate kalpa, that Buddha King of Honored Sound will enter nirvana. After he enters nirvana, the True Dharma will remain in the world for fully ten intermediate kalpas. After the True Dharma has disappeared and sixty intermediate kalpas have elapsed, that world will be renamed Meru Radiance. At that time, a Tathagata named King of Inconceivable Merit will appear in the world, a Worthy One, Perfectly and Completely Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One.

“This Buddha will be like the previous Tathagata King of Honored Sound, and his world will be as splendidly adorned as the former world Honored Goodness Free from Defilement, without any difference. That Buddha’s lifespan will be sixty intermediate kalpas. After that Buddha passes into nirvana, the True Dharma will continue to remain in the world for sixty intermediate kalpas.

After the True Dharma has disappeared and another thousand intermediate kalpas have elapsed, that world will again assume its former name, Honored Goodness Free from Defilement. Another Buddha will appear in the world, named Tathagata Treasure Radiance, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One.

“At that time, the lifespan of beings in that world, as well as the length of time during which the True Dharma remains in the world, will be no different from when the Buddha King of Inconceivable Merit appeared. After the True Dharma has disappeared, that world will again be renamed Good Firmness. Another Buddha will appear in the world, named Tathagata King of the Honored Sound of the Jewel, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One. At that time, the splendid adornments of this world will remain as before, without any change.”

“The Buddha King of the Precious and Honored Voice will have a lifespan of thirty-five intermediate kalpas. After that Buddha enters nirvana, the true Dharma will remain in the world for a full seven intermediate kalpas. After the true Dharma has disappeared, immeasurable and boundless Buddhas will successively appear in the world. In the times of those Buddhas, the world, their lifespans, and the periods during which the true Dharma abides in the world will all be as before, without any difference.

“Now I clearly behold all those Buddhas, from the time each first attains the Way until entering nirvana. Throughout that period, this world will constantly abide without change, undergoing neither formation nor destruction.

“Great King! After all those Buddhas have entered nirvana, as many asamkhya kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges will pass. At the beginning of the second period of as many asamkhya kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges, that world will be renamed Peace and Bliss. At that time, you will attain Buddhahood with the name Amitayus Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One.’

“When the Holy King had heard the Buddha’s teaching, he asked the Buddha, ‘Blessed One! In which worlds will all the people present here eventually attain Buddhahood?’

“The Buddha told the Holy King, ‘The bodhisattvas now present in this Dharma assembly are immeasurably numerous and cannot all be counted. They have assembled here from other Buddha lands throughout the ten directions to make offerings to me and hear and receive the wondrous true Dharma. In the past, these bodhisattvas studied under the Buddhas and all received predictions of attaining anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. At present, they are again studying under the Buddhas throughout the ten directions and likewise receive predictions of attaining anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Therefore, they will attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi before you.

“Great King! These bodhisattvas have made offerings to immeasurable and boundless hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of Buddhas, planted roots of goodness, and cultivated wisdom. Great King! For these reasons, all these bodhisattvas will attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi before you.’

“At that time, the Wheel-Turning King again asked the Buddha, ‘Blessed One! This brahmin Ratnagarbha has exhorted me and my retinue to bring forth the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. How long will it be before this brahmin attains anuttara-samyak-sambodhi in a future life?’

“The Buddha told the king, ‘This brahmin has perfected the practice of great compassion. Therefore, in the future, when he attains Buddhahood, you will be able to know it for yourself.’

“At that time, the Wheel-Turning King again addressed the Buddha, saying, ‘Blessed One! If my vow will be fulfilled just as the Buddha has predicted, then now, when I bow my head in homage to the Buddha, may all the worlds throughout the ten directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, quake in the six ways. May the Buddhas in those worlds also bestow upon me predictions that I shall attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.’

“Good man! At that time, after King Immeasurable Purity had spoken these words, he bowed before the Buddha with his head touching the ground in reverence.

“At that very moment, all the Buddha lands throughout the ten directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, quaked in the six ways. The Buddhas in those worlds all proclaimed this prediction: ‘In the world of Sandilam, during the kalpa called Well-Sustained, when the human lifespan is eighty thousand years, a Buddha named Ratnagarbha appears in the world. There is a Wheel-Turning Holy King named Immeasurable Purity, who rules the Four Continents.

For three full months, he makes offerings to the Tathagata Ratnagarbha and the Sangha of bhiksus. Through these roots of goodness, after as many asamkhya kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges have passed, at the beginning of the second period of as many asamkhya kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges, he will attain Buddhahood with the name Amitayus. His world will be called Peace and Bliss.

The radiance emanating from his body will constantly illuminate the ten directions, penetrating in each direction as many Buddha worlds as there are sands in the Ganges.’

“At that time, the Tathagata Ratnagarbha spoke this verse for the Great King:

Throughout the worlds of the ten directions,

All the lands quake,

Together with the mountains and forests,

As numerous as the sands of the Ganges.

Now you should arise;

You have received the prediction

That you will become the Honored One of gods and humans,

Supreme in Dharma, the Tamer.

“Good man! When the Wheel-Turning Holy King heard this verse, joy arose in his heart. He immediately rose, joined his palms respectfully before the Buddha, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, then withdrew to a nearby place, where he sat silently and listened to the teaching of the Dharma.

“Good man! At that time, the brahmin Ratnagarbha again said to the Holy King’s crown prince, ‘Good man! Dedicate the merit from this offering of precious objects, together with the merit from previously offering all kinds of treasures to the Tathagata and the Sangha of bhiksus for three full months, toward seeking the attainment of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“Good man! With the merit of today’s giving and offerings, you should not seek to become the Lord of the Trayastrimsa Heaven or the Great Brahma King. Why is this? Everything obtained today through meritorious rewards is impermanent and has no fixed characteristic, like a gust of wind that swiftly passes. Therefore, use the blessings gained through the merit of this giving and these offerings to attain mastery of mind, swiftly accomplish anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, liberate immeasurable and boundless sentient beings, and cause them all to enter nirvana.’

“At that time, after hearing this exhortation, the crown prince replied to the brahmin, ‘I now contemplate and see that sentient beings in the hells endure much suffering and anguish. If sentient beings in the two realms of gods and humans harbor evil thoughts, then because of those evil thoughts, they must be reborn in the three unwholesome paths for many lifetimes.’

“The crown prince then formed this thought: ‘Those sentient beings have drawn near to evil people, causing their understanding of the true Dharma to regress. They fall into dark and obscure places, lose all their roots of goodness, and cling to all manner of wrong views. Because these obscure their true minds, they follow false paths.’

“The crown prince then addressed the Buddha, saying, ‘Blessed One! I shall now proclaim in a great voice so that all sentient beings may know: I dedicate all my roots of goodness to the attainment of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. I vow that while cultivating the bodhisattva path, if any sentient beings endure suffering and anguish, fear and anxiety; if their understanding of the true Dharma regresses and they fall into dark and obscure places; if they are sorrowful, anguished, lonely, and without anyone to rescue them; if they have no home and no refuge—then, if they can recollect me and recite my name, I shall hear and know them with the divine ear and see and know them with the divine eye, and I shall cause those sentient beings to be freed from every suffering and affliction.

If this does not come to pass, I resolve never to attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi!

“Blessed One! For the sake of all sentient beings, I now further bring forth lofty and supremely excellent vows.’

“World-Honored One! If I accomplish the benefit I seek, may this Wheel-Turning Sage King, after passing through as many asaṃkhya kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges, then, at the beginning of a second period of as many asaṃkhya kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges, become a Buddha in a world called Peace and Bliss, with the name Amitāyus. His world will be adorned, its beings will be pure, and he will be a king of the true Dharma.

That Buddha, the World-Honored One, will perform Buddha deeds for immeasurable kalpas. When all his work has been completed, he will enter nirvana without remainder. For as long as his true Dharma remains in the world, I will always abide there, cultivate the bodhisattva path, and constantly perform Buddha deeds.

When that Buddha’s true Dharma becomes extinct in the first watch of the night, immediately after midnight that same night I will attain anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi.

“World-Honored One! May the World-Honored One bestow a prediction upon me. With single-minded resolve, I now also beseech all the presently abiding Buddhas throughout the ten directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. May each of them bestow a prediction upon me.’

“Good man! The Buddha Ratnagarbha then bestowed this prediction: ‘Good man! You contemplate all beings in the two realms of devas and humans, as well as those in the three evil destinies, and give rise to great compassion. You wish to eliminate all suffering and distress for sentient beings, to eliminate all their afflictions, and to enable all beings to abide in peace and bliss. Good man! I now give you the name Avalokiteśvara.

“Good man! While you cultivate the bodhisattva path, hundreds of thousands of immeasurable koṭis of nayutas of sentient beings will be freed from all suffering and distress. While cultivating the bodhisattva path, you will be able to accomplish magnificent Buddha deeds!

“Good man! After the Buddha Amitāyus enters nirvana, during the latter half of the second period of as many asaṃkhya kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges, when his true Dharma becomes extinct in the first watch of the night, after midnight that world will immediately be renamed Accomplished from All Precious Jewels. The magnificent adornments of that world will be immeasurable and boundless, surpassing even those of the world of Peace and Bliss.

“Good man! After midnight that night, you will spontaneously possess all magnificent adornments. Seated upon a precious vajra throne beneath the Bodhi tree, within the space of a single thought you will attain anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi. You will be called the Tathagata King of the Mountain of Merit Manifesting All Radiance, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One.

“The lifespan of that Buddha will be ninety-six koṭis of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of kalpas. After he enters nirvana, his true Dharma will remain in the world for sixty-three koṭis of kalpas.’

“At that time, Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara addressed the Buddha: ‘World-Honored One! If my aspiration is to be fulfilled, then now, as I bow my head in reverence before the Buddha, may all the presently abiding Buddhas in worlds throughout the ten directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, each bestow a prediction upon me. May the lands, rivers, and mountains throughout all the worlds in the ten directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, quake in the six ways and produce every kind of music, and may all sentient beings attain minds free from sensual desire.’

“Good man! Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara then bowed his head to the ground in reverence before the Tathagata Ratnagarbha.

“At that moment, all the worlds throughout the ten directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, quaked in the six ways, and every mountain and forest produced countless kinds of music. Upon hearing that music, sentient beings immediately became free from all sensual desire. The Buddhas in all those worlds each proclaimed this prediction: ‘In the world of Sandīrana, during the kalpa Good Sustenance, when the human lifespan is eighty thousand years, a Buddha named Ratnagarbha will appear in the world.

There will be a Wheel-Turning Sage King named Immeasurable Purity who rules the Four Continents. That king’s crown prince is presently named Avalokiteśvara. For three months, he has made offerings to the Tathagata Ratnagarbha and the Sangha of bhikṣus.

Through this root of virtue, after passing through as many asaṃkhya kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges, during the latter half of the second period of as many asaṃkhya kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges, he will attain Buddhahood with the name Tathagata King of the Mountain of Merit Manifesting All Radiance. That world will be called Accomplished from All Precious Jewels.’

“At that time, the Tathagata Ratnagarbha spoke these verses for Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara:

Greatly compassionate one of merit,

Now you should arise!

The lands throughout the ten directions

Have all already quaked.

The Buddhas, moreover, for your sake,

Have bestowed their predictions.

You will certainly become a Buddha;

Give rise to a joyful heart.

“Good man! After hearing these verses, Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara became joyful and arose. Before the Buddha, he joined his palms respectfully, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, and then withdrew to a place nearby, where he sat silently and listened to the teaching of the Dharma.

“Good man! The brahmin Ratnasamudra then said to the second prince, Nima: ‘Good man! All the pure deeds of merit and virtue that you have performed were undertaken for the sake of all sentient beings, so that you might attain the wisdom that knows all things. You should therefore dedicate them to the attainment of anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi.’

“Good man! Prince Nima then approached the Buddha, joined his palms, and said: ‘World-Honored One! All the merit and virtue I have obtained by making offerings to the Tathagata and the Sangha of bhikṣus for the past three months, together with all the pure deeds of body, speech, and mind that I have performed, I now dedicate entirely to the attainment of anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi. I do not aspire to obtain an evil and impure world. May my land, including even its Bodhi tree, be in every respect like the world of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. May all its magnificent adornments and its precious Bodhi tree, and even my attainment of anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi, likewise be the same.

“Furthermore, when the Buddha King of the Mountain of Merit Manifesting All Radiance first attains awakening, may I be the first to request that Buddha to turn the wheel of the true Dharma. I will follow that Buddha, listen to his teaching of the Dharma, and cultivate the bodhisattva path in that realm. After that Buddha enters nirvana and his true Dharma becomes extinct, I will succeed him and attain anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi. When I become a Buddha, may the Buddha deeds I perform, all the magnificent adornments of my world, my entrance into nirvana, and the duration of my true Dharma in the world all be identical to those of the Buddha King of the Mountain of Merit Manifesting All Radiance, without any difference.’

“The Buddha Ratnagarbha then said to Prince Nima: ‘Good man! Your present aspiration is to receive a great world. Therefore, in a future life, you will obtain such a great world, exactly as you aspire.

“Good man! In a future life, you will attain anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi in the greatest of worlds. You will be called Tathagata King of the Mountain of Precious Jewels, Well-Abiding, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One.

“Good man! Because your aspiration is to obtain a great world, I give you the name Mahāsthāmaprāpta.’

At that time, Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta addressed the Buddha, saying: ‘World-Honored One! If my aspiration is to be fulfilled and I am to attain benefit for myself, then now, as I reverently bow to the Buddha, may all the Buddha lands throughout the ten directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, tremble in the six ways; may sumana flowers rain down from the sky; and may each of the Buddhas presently dwelling in those worlds bestow upon me a prediction of Buddhahood.’

“Good man! Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta then bowed his head to the ground before the Buddha. At that very moment, all the worlds throughout the ten directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, trembled in the six ways; sumana flowers rained down from the heavens; and all the Buddha World-Honored Ones in those worlds proclaimed predictions of his Buddhahood.

“At that time, Tathagata Ratnagarbha spoke these verses to Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta:

Steadfast one of meritorious virtue,

Rise now to your feet!

The lands have trembled,

And sumana flowers have rained from the heavens.

The Buddhas throughout the ten directions

Have bestowed predictions upon you.

You shall become the Honored One,

Foremost throughout the Three Realms.

“Good man! After hearing these verses, Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta rejoiced. He rose, joined his palms reverently before the Buddha, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, then withdrew to one side, where he sat silently and listened to the teaching of the Dharma.

“Good man! At that time, the brahmin Ratnasamudra again said to the third prince, Rajajana: ‘Good man! You should seek the attainment of omniscience for the sake of all sentient beings and dedicate all the pure deeds and merits you have performed to the fruit of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.’

“Good man! The third prince then joined his palms before the Buddha and said: ‘World-Honored One! I now dedicate to the fruit of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi all the merit gained from making offerings to the Tathagata and the Sangha of bhiksus during these three months, together with all the pure deeds of body, speech, and mind that I have performed. I do not aspire to attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi in an impure world, nor do I aspire to attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi swiftly.

“World-Honored One! While I cultivate the bodhisattva path, may all the sentient beings whom I teach and transform throughout the immeasurable, boundless Buddha lands in the ten directions bring forth the aspiration for Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, abide firmly upon the path to Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, and be encouraged and instructed to dwell securely in the six paramitas.

“May I, with a purified divine eye, see all the Buddhas throughout the worlds of the ten directions who have attained Buddhahood and taught the Dharma before me, in lands as numerous as the motes of dust in Ganges-sands-numbered Buddha lands.

“While cultivating the bodhisattva path, may I accomplish immeasurable Buddha-works. In future lives, I shall cultivate the bodhisattva path without limit. May all the sentient beings whom I teach and transform attain minds as pure as those of Brahma devas. When those sentient beings are born in my world, they shall all attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, and with such sentient beings I shall splendidly adorn my Buddha land.

“May Buddha lands throughout the ten directions, each comprising as many trichiliocosms as there are sands in the Ganges, be united into a single Buddha land. May that Buddha land be encircled by a great jeweled wall, with every hollow and depression filled with the seven treasures. May that wall rise as high as the Formless Realm. May the ground be paved with azure vaidurya, free from dust, dirt, sand, stones, and all impurities; free from thorns and from every unpleasant object of touch. May there be no women there, nor even any term denoting women.

“May all sentient beings there be born by transformation. They shall not eat food by chewing and swallowing but shall sustain themselves solely upon the bliss of samadhi. In that world there shall be neither the Sravaka Vehicle nor the Pratyekabuddha Vehicle. Throughout the entire world there shall be only a great multitude of bodhisattvas who have abandoned craving, anger, and delusion and who cultivate pure brahmacarya.

“In that world, immediately upon birth, their hair and beards shall fall away naturally, and their bodies shall be clothed in the three Dharma robes. After being born, the moment they form the thought of eating, a precious bowl shall appear in the palm of their right hand, naturally filled with hundreds of exquisite and wondrous foods.

“At that time, those newly born bodhisattvas shall each think: ‘We should not consume this food that must be chewed and swallowed. We should now carry it throughout the ten directions as offerings to the Buddhas, the great assemblies of sravakas, and the poor and destitute. There are also hungry ghosts suffering the torment of hunger and thirst, their bodies scorched by fire; we should go to them and enable them to eat their fill. We ourselves should cultivate the practice and sustain ourselves solely upon the bliss of samadhi.’

“As soon as they have formed this thought, they shall attain the Bodhisattvas’ Samadhi of Inconceivable Conduct. Through this samadhi, they shall acquire unobstructed spiritual powers and immediately manifest themselves in the presence of all the Buddhas dwelling in immeasurable, boundless worlds. They shall make offerings to the Buddhas and the Sanghas of bhiksus and give provisions in charity to all the poor and destitute, down to the hungry ghosts. After giving in this way, they shall teach the Dharma to those sentient beings. Before long, by the time the meal hour arrives, they shall already have journeyed everywhere and returned to their own world.

“Likewise, they shall offer robes, precious treasures, and all other necessities to the Buddhas and give them in charity even to hungry ghosts, just as they offer and distribute food; only afterward shall they use such things themselves.

“May my world be free from the eight difficulties, from all unwholesome states and suffering, and also from such matters as receiving precepts, breaking precepts, and repentance. May there not even be terms denoting such things.

“May my world always possess immeasurable precious treasures of every kind, with which every hollow and depression shall be filled. The precious treasures, garments, and trees there shall be such as have never existed in any world throughout the ten directions and have never been seen or heard of. Even if one were merely to recite the names of those things for hundreds of thousands of years, one could not exhaust them!

“May the bodhisattvas in my world, whenever they wish to see the color of gold, see it according to their will, and whenever they wish to see the color of silver, likewise see it according to their will. While seeing the color of silver, they shall not lose the appearance of gold; and while seeing the color of gold, they shall not lose the appearance of silver. The same shall hold true for crystal, vaidurya, mother-of-pearl, agate, red pearls, and every kind of precious treasure: they shall see each according to their will.

“If they wish to see a-kiet-luu incense, da-gia-luu incense, da-ma-la-bat incense, sandalwood, agarwood, red sandalwood, Ox-Head sandalwood, or pure sandalwood of a single kind, they shall see each according to their will. If they wish to see agarwood alone, they shall also see it according to their will. While seeing agarwood, they shall not lose sight of sandalwood; and while seeing sandalwood, they shall not lose sight of agarwood. So shall it be with all other kinds. Every aspiration shall be fulfilled.”

“May my world have neither sun nor moon. All the bodhisattvas shall possess brilliant halos of light, which naturally shine forth according to their wishes and can illuminate even hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of worlds. Because of the radiance of these halos, there shall be no distinction between day and night. When the flowers open, it shall be known that it is daytime; when the flowers close, it shall be known that it is nighttime.

“That world shall be temperate and pleasant, without heat or cold, and there shall not even be such things as aging, sickness, or death. If any bodhisattva in the position of one lifetime remaining is to attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi in another world, that bodhisattva shall go in their present body to dwell in the Tusita Heaven of that world, remaining there until relinquishing that body and attaining Buddhahood.

“After I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, I shall not enter nirvana in that world. When I enter nirvana while abiding in midair, whatever the bodhisattvas wish for shall naturally be fulfilled.

“Throughout that world, hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of kinds of music shall constantly arise of themselves. That music shall not produce sounds that arouse desire, but shall always proclaim the six paramitas, the Buddha, the Dharma, the bhiksu Sangha, the bodhisattva scriptural treasury, and meanings of the utmost profundity. The bodhisattvas shall understand each of these sounds according to its kind.

“World-Honored One! While cultivating the bodhisattva path, throughout hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of asamkhyeyas of Buddha lands I have seen every excellent adornment, every manner of ornamentation, every kind of form, every dwelling place, and every aspiration. May all such excellent adornments be realized in my world exactly as I have seen them, except that it shall contain no sravakas or pratyekabuddhas.

Nor shall there be such things as the five defilements or the three evil realms. There shall be no Mount Sumeru, greater Iron-Enclosing Mountain, lesser Iron-Enclosing Mountain, earth, sand, gravel, rocks, oceans, forests, or the like. That world shall consist entirely of jeweled trees surpassing even the jeweled trees of the heavens.

There shall be no other flowers, but only heavenly flowers such as mandarava and mahamandarava blossoms. That world shall have no foul or putrid odors, but only wondrous fragrances pervading every place. All the bodhisattvas shall be in the position of one lifetime remaining, and none shall have to take birth anywhere else, except those who are to attain Buddhahood in another region; they shall go to dwell in the Tusita Heaven of that region until relinquishing that body and attaining anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“World-Honored One! There shall be no limit to the length of time for which I cultivate the bodhisattva path, provided that I succeed in bringing into being precisely such a wondrous and pure Buddha land. Throughout that world there shall be a great multitude of bodhisattvas in the position of one lifetime remaining. All of them shall be those whom I instructed, from the time they first generated the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi until they came to abide securely in the six paramitas. If this Sāntilam world is incorporated into my world, all its sufferings and afflictions shall immediately cease.

“World-Honored One! While cultivating the bodhisattva path, I must accomplish such rare things before I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. May there be a Bodhi tree named Selective Vision of Excellent Precious Jewels, whose canopy extends all around across ten thousand worlds of four continents, and whose fragrance and light fill ten trichiliocosms. Beneath that Bodhi tree shall stand a diamond-jeweled throne fashioned from all kinds of precious jewels and as broad as five worlds of four continents. That jeweled throne shall be named Excellent Discernment of Quiescent Wisdom, Fragrance, and Equal Proximity, and shall rise to a height of fourteen thousand yojanas. Seated cross-legged upon that jeweled throne, I shall attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi in a single thought-moment.

“From that time until I enter nirvana, I shall constantly remain at the seat of enlightenment beneath that Bodhi tree, seated upon the diamond-jeweled throne, which shall never disintegrate or perish. I shall also emanate immeasurable Buddhas together with assemblies of bodhisattvas and send them to other Buddha lands to teach and transform sentient beings. During the time it takes to eat a single meal, each emanated Buddha shall expound the wondrous true Dharma for sentient beings. In that brief period, each shall cause immeasurable and boundless sentient beings to generate the aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Not long after generating that aspiration, they shall attain the stage of non-retrogression from anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

“These emanated Buddhas and assemblies of bodhisattvas shall constantly perform such rare deeds!

“After I have attained anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, may sentient beings in all other worlds behold my body. If any sentient being beholds my body, endowed with the thirty-two excellent marks and eighty fine characteristics, that being shall immediately generate a firm and unchanging aspiration for anuttara-samyak-sambodhi and, from then until attaining nirvana, shall always be able to see the Buddha.

“May all sentient beings in my world possess the six sense faculties, complete and without defect. If any bodhisattva wishes to see me, that bodhisattva shall be able to see me in their own dwelling, whether walking, reclining, or sitting. As soon as these bodhisattvas form the thought that they wish to see me, they shall immediately behold me seated at the seat of enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree. When they see me, I shall expound the Dharma to them, eliminating all the doubts and hindrances they have previously had regarding the characteristics of phenomena and enabling them to understand the meaning of those characteristics even more deeply.

“May my lifespan in the future be immeasurable and incalculable by anyone other than one possessing omniscience. The lifespans of the bodhisattvas shall likewise be immeasurable. When I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi in a single thought-moment, immediately afterward, likewise in a single thought-moment, the hair and beards of immeasurable bodhisattvas shall fall away of themselves, and three Dharma robes shall appear upon their bodies. Until they enter nirvana, not one of them shall grow long hair or a beard or wear lay clothing. All shall wear only the robes of renunciants.’

“At that time, Buddha Ratnagarbha said to the third prince: ‘Good man! Excellent, excellent! You truly are a thoroughly virtuous great being, deeply and skillfully discerning, capable of forming such a momentous and difficult vow. The merit of your deeds is exceedingly profound and inconceivable. This is indeed the work of one endowed with wondrous and subtle wisdom!’

“Good man! It is for the sake of sentient beings that you have made such a great vow, worthy of reverence and esteem, aspiring to obtain a wondrous and pure land. For this reason, I now give you the name Manjusri. In a future age, after immeasurable, boundless asamkhya kalpas as numerous as the sands of two Ganges Rivers have passed, during the third immeasurable and boundless asamkhya kalpa, to the south of this land there will be a Buddha-world called Pure Stainless Precious Wisdom. This world of Sandilam will merge into that world.

“That world will be replete with every kind of splendid adornment. In that world, you will attain the fruit of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi and will be called Universally Manifest Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Those to Be Tamed, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One. The assembly of bodhisattvas there will all be pure. All your vows will be completely fulfilled, exactly as you have declared.

“Good man! While cultivating the bodhisattva path, you planted roots of goodness in the presence of immeasurable hundreds of millions of Tathagatas. Therefore, all sentient beings regard you as a precious medicine: your pure mind can dispel afflictions and increase roots of goodness.’

“At that time, Manjusri addressed the Buddha, saying: ‘World-Honored One! If my vows shall be fulfilled and I shall attain benefit for myself, may the immeasurable, boundless asamkhya worlds throughout the ten directions all quake in six ways. In those worlds, may all the Buddhas presently teaching the Dharma bestow upon me a prediction of enlightenment.

Furthermore, may all sentient beings experience joy like that of a bodhisattva who has entered the second dhyana, freely and at will. May mandārava flowers rain down from the sky and fill all those worlds. May those flowers constantly emit the sounds of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha of bhiksus, as well as the sounds of the six paramitas, the powers, the fearlessnesses, and so forth.

When I bow in homage to the Buddha, may all such signs appear.’

“Having spoken these words, Manjusri bowed his head to the ground in homage to the Buddha Ratnagarbha. At that very moment, immeasurable, boundless asamkhya worlds throughout the ten directions quaked in six ways, and mandārava flowers rained down from the sky. All sentient beings experienced delightful ease like that of a bodhisattva who has entered the second dhyana, freely and at will. At that time, the bodhisattvas heard only the sounds of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha of bhiksus, as well as the sounds of the six paramitas, the powers, the fearlessnesses, and so forth.

“Then the bodhisattvas in other directions, seeing and hearing these events, were astonished and regarded them as unprecedented. Each asked the Buddha in their own land: ‘World-Honored One! What causes and conditions have brought forth these auspicious signs?’

“All those Buddhas told the bodhisattvas: ‘All the Buddhas throughout the ten directions are now bestowing upon the bodhisattva Manjusri the prediction of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Therefore, these auspicious signs have appeared.’

“At that time, the Tathagata Ratnagarbha spoke these verses for Manjusri:

Noble one of vast and lofty vows,

Now you should arise!

The Buddhas throughout the ten directions

Have bestowed a prediction upon you;

Therefore, in a future age,

You will attain perfect enlightenment.

The earth throughout all worlds

Has quaked in six ways,

And each and every sentient being

Has experienced bliss.

“Good man! At that time, after Manjusri heard the Buddha speak these verses, joy arose in his heart. He immediately stood before the Buddha, respectfully joined his palms, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, then withdrew to a nearby place, where he sat silently and listened to the teaching of the Dharma.”

THE COMPASSIONATE LOTUS SUTRA

END OF FASCICLE III