佛說觀佛三昧海經

CHAPTER SEVEN: CONTEMPLATION OF THE HORSE-KING’S TREASURE.

The Buddha told Ananda:

“How should sentient beings in future ages contemplate the Tathagata’s mark of the concealed male organ, like that of a stallion? Regarding this mark, when I was still living at home, Yasodhara and five hundred maidservants all thought: ‘Since the prince was born into the world, many extraordinary and wondrous things have occurred, yet there is one matter about which we remain doubtful.’ Among the palace women was one named Sumana, who said to the crown princess: ‘The prince is a divine man!

The Vedas say that one possessing the constitution of a divine man is pure by nature and, through the practice of celibacy, has a fully developed male organ. The prince appears to be one who practices celibacy. Although he took a consort long ago and these palace women have attended him for many years, none has ever seen his male organ, much less any worldly relations.’ Another woman named Pure Intention said: ‘My lady, I have attended the prince for eighteen years and have never seen him suffer any disorder concerning bodily functions, much less indulge in sensual desires.’

“At that time the women each offered a different opinion, but all believed the prince to be impotent. While apparently sleeping during the day, the prince heard all the women wishing to see his mark of the concealed male organ. Then, by the power of his vows, the prince responded to the women. Beneath his garments, his body gradually became visible, allowing them to see his radiant golden body. His knees then opened briefly, and they all saw that his sacred body was full and perfect like the full moon, radiating golden light like the sun. The women rejoiced and said: ‘Such a divine man is truly worthy of reverence and love, yet all our hopes of worldly affection are severed!’ After saying this, they wept sorrowfully, their tears falling like rain.

“At that moment, a white lotus appeared where the prince’s male organ was concealed. Its color was white tinged with red; one blossom was above and two below, the three flowers joined together. Having seen this, the women said to one another: ‘Since this divine man bears the mark of a lotus, how could his mind harbor defilement or attachment?’ After saying this, they choked with emotion and could speak no more. Then, within the flowers, a male organ suddenly appeared, resembling that of a young boy. Seeing it, the women again said to one another: ‘The prince has now manifested an extraordinary wonder—a male organ has suddenly appeared!’ It then gradually grew until it resembled that of a mature man. Seeing that it was fully developed, the women could not restrain their delighted hopes.

“When this mark appeared, Rahula’s mother saw one flower following another around that organ, like a celestial ornament of fine cotton. Upon every flower were innumerable great-bodied bodhisattvas holding white flowers in their hands and surrounding the organ. After appearing, it vanished again like the sun seen before. This is called the bodhisattva’s mark of the concealed male organ, like that of a stallion. Now that the Tathagata has attained bodhi, he possesses the complete male body of a Great Man. I shall again reveal this male mark for you.”

The Buddha told Ananda:

“Before you left the household life, the king of Mathura had a wet nurse named Dhumba, who had reared him for fifteen years. When the king had grown to maturity, she joined her palms, knelt upright before him, and petitioned him, saying:

“‘Great King, though I am lowly, I diligently reared Your Majesty for many years. I ask only that Your Majesty grant me one wish.’

“The king said:

“‘Wet nurse, what do you wish to request?’

“The wet nurse replied:

“‘Within the palace, which is like a heaven of merit, nothing is lacking. Only one thing is absent: the pleasure desired by a woman.’

“The king said:

“‘Wet nurse, I shall marry you to a great minister so that you may become husband and wife.’

“The wet nurse refused and said:

“‘Great King, eminent men have many affairs and are not to my liking. I beg the king to issue an edict commanding every male in the country from fifteen through thirty years of age to come to me. To anyone capable of satisfying me, I shall give one large gold coin; to anyone ugly in appearance, I shall give one silver coin.’

“To repay his wet nurse’s kindness, the king constructed a tall building and proclaimed throughout the realm that all men meeting the stated conditions were to assemble there. After many years, the wet nurse grew old and feeble. She gathered many girls, numbering as many as five hundred. Each girl in turn purchased maidservants adorned with all manner of ornaments, bringing their total number to eight thousand.

“When that king fell ill and died, the crown prince succeeded to the throne. A wise minister said:

“‘To repay a kindness, the former king indulged this old servant and thereby caused a village of prostitutes to arise in the king’s realm. The damage and disgrace inflicted upon the nation’s reputation are truly considerable. Why should they remain here? They should be expelled elsewhere immediately.’

“Having said this, he went out, burned the tall building, and drove the women away. Terrified, the women went to the kingdom of Sravasti. After arriving there, they built a brothel at a crossroads and carried on their former mischief. Sravasti was a great and populous kingdom. Men who came to the prostitutes’ house paid two hundred gold coins for one night.

“In that country lived an elder named Ruludatta, whose accumulated wealth amounted to tens of billions. He had a son named Huade. The son and his two brothers were dissolute idlers who competed with one another in visiting the brothel. On their first visit, each paid fifteen gold coins. Day and night thereafter, they regularly paid many times more gold than ordinary men. After one month, an entire treasury had been emptied of gold.

“Their father, the elder, went to inspect his treasuries. Seeing one treasury empty, he asked its keeper: ‘Where has the gold in this treasury gone?’ The keeper replied: ‘My lord’s sons carry gold every day to the prostitutes’ house. Unless they are stopped, all the gold will be exhausted.’ Hearing this, the elder beat his breast and wailed loudly: ‘Alas! These thieving sons have ruined my household!’ He then took a large staff and struck their mother on the head. She wailed: ‘Alas, those thieving sons! I bore useless children who have stolen an entire treasury of gold! Their father never disciplined or strictly instructed them, so why beat me now?’

“The elder cried out angrily and went before the king. Beating his belly, he said: ‘Great King, the country has fallen into disorder. The female raksasis from Mathura have come to dwell in this city and have destroyed my family’s estate.’ The king said to the elder: ‘You are immensely wealthy, yet even your treasury has been emptied. How much more distressed must other ordinary people be!’ The elder said to the king: ‘I beg Your Majesty to have these evildoers killed at once!’ The king told him: ‘I have received the Buddha’s precepts and would not even harm an ant, much less kill a human being.’

“Hearing this, the elder raised his hands, struck his head, and said: ‘Great King, I have heard that when a king executes the wicked to remove calamity from his country, what fault can there be? Today Your Majesty befriends evildoers. If these prostitutes corrupt the true Dharma, devastate the country, and impoverish the people, what will remain of the precepts?’ The king told the elder: ‘The Tathagata has appeared in the world and subdued many kinds of beings. Angulimala, the outcaste Qixu, the mighty ghost king, the raksasa Huihui, and all the rest have been tamed. I shall now go to the Buddha and report this matter. Be patient for a little while.’

“After comforting his minister, the king mounted a carriage drawn by a renowned elephant and, accompanied by his attendants, went to Jeta Grove Monastery. He bowed to the Buddha, circumambulated him three times, joined his palms, knelt upright, and said:

“‘World-Honored One, the prostitutes of Mathura have now come to this region and are beguiling its young men. I beg the Buddha to deliver them.’

“The Buddha said:

“‘Great King, return seven days from now. The Buddha himself knows what is to be done.’

“King Prasenajit bowed to the Buddha and withdrew.

“The Buddha told Mahakasyapa:

“‘Go to the house of the elder Sudatta and say: “Lay donor, seven days from now the Buddha will go to the place of contest to deliver the prostitutes.”’

“When Sudatta heard this, he rejoiced greatly and prepared articles of offering. He made an eleven-zhang-high seven-jeweled flower to serve as the Buddha’s seat, suspended precious canopies of five-colored silk, and sprinkled the ground with fragrant water.

“When the appointed day arrived, the king sounded a golden drum and commanded all the country’s masters of debate to come to the place of contest. The elder Sudatta invited the bhiksus, bhiksunis, upasakas, and upasikas, and they all assembled for the offering ceremony. On the appointed morning, the king and the people went to the debating ground. The elder Ruludatta sent outcastes to summon the prostitutes, while the elder Sudatta informed the Buddha that the time had come.

“The Tathagata then commanded the one thousand two hundred and fifty bhiksus:

“‘Bhiksus, each of you should enter meditative concentration and manifest great spiritual powers.’

“The elder Kaundinya and four bhiksus transformed themselves into a great cavern like Mount Gandhamadana, containing hundreds of thousands of lotus flowers. Upon each lotus sat five bhiksus in the lotus posture. Their bodies emitted golden light, making them entirely golden, dignified, and lovely like Maitreya. There were also apparitional beings performing the eighteen transformations. Within every transformation were eighteen bhiksus performing eighteen wondrous spiritual transformations; some entered samadhi, while others practiced walking meditation. The spiraling light resembled a golden mountain producing jeweled flowers. The bhiksus within the cavern, their bodies and minds undistracted, flew to the place of contest and sat in the highest seats.

“Uruvilva Kasyapa sprang into the air and transformed himself into six dragons whose bodies intertwined to form a seat for the bhiksu. Seated upon it, he performed the eighteen transformations and flew to the place of contest.

“The two brothers Gaya and Nadi sprang into the sky, transformed themselves into a great rocky cavern, entered the samadhi of Fiery Radiance, performed the eighteen transformations, and flew to the place of contest.

“The venerable Mahakasyapa wore a robe sewn from a thousand patches and held his alms bowl in his hand. Maintaining dignified deportment, he walked through the air. At every step, a jeweled tree appeared. Beneath every jeweled tree was an apparitional Kasyapa practicing walking meditation in the grove and performing the eighteen transformations. He too reached the place of contest.

“The greatly wise Sariputra sprang into the air and performed the eighteen transformations. From his upper body radiated the brilliance of a thousand suns without their lights obstructing one another. From beneath his body shone the light of a thousand moons, lovely and perfectly round like the autumn moon. Having performed the eighteen transformations, he flew to the place of contest.

“Mahamaudgalyayana sprang into the air and conjured eighty-four thousand lion thrones. Each lion lay upon the ground with closed eyes, white as the Snow Mountain. Seated upon the lions’ backs, Mahamaudgalyayana performed the eighteen transformations and proceeded to the place of contest.

“The Venerable Upali sprang into the air, spread out his sitting mat in midair, sat in the lotus posture, and entered the samadhi of loving-kindness. Golden light streamed from every pore of his body. Performing the eighteen transformations, he proceeded to the place of contest.

“Mahakatyayana sprang into the air and conjured fifteen Mahesvaras. Each divine prince rode a lordly bull from whose head flowers grew. Seated upon this flower throne, Mahakatyayana performed the eighteen transformations and flew to the place of contest.

“Subhuti sprang into the air and disappeared into the darkness. Only his voice could be heard as he spoke this verse:

“After speaking this verse, he performed the eighteen transformations and flew to the place of contest.

“Aniruddha sprang into the air and conjured ten thousand Brahma kings and Brahma palaces. Seated within them, the bhiksu performed the eighteen transformations and flew to the place of contest.

“Rahula and Nanda, the two bhiksus, sprang into the air and conjured a jeweled tower. Seated within it, they entered profound meditation, performed the eighteen transformations, and flew to the place of contest.

“In this manner, all one thousand two hundred and fifty bhiksus displayed extraordinary transformations, performed the eighteen kinds of spiritual powers, and flew to the place of contest.

“At that time, the World-Honored One took only Ananda with him. Ananda carried a sitting mat upon his shoulder and held a bathing-water dipper in his hand. The World-Honored One walked in front, and Ananda followed behind. From the Buddha’s alms bowl emerged six lotus flowers. Each lotus emitted golden light that illuminated the kingdom of Sravasti and turned it golden. From the bathing-water dipper arose a great golden banner, from whose top streamed five hundred rays of light. Each ray transformed into a thousand apparitional Buddhas, complete with the thirty-two marks, who walked through the sky and flew to the place of contest.

“King Prasenajit and the great assembly scattered flowers, burned incense, and paid homage to the Buddha. Hundreds of thousands of celestial instruments sounded without being played, singing praises of the Tathagata’s immeasurable virtues. King Prasenajit knelt upright, joined his palms, and entreated the Tathagata to deliver the prostitutes. Seated upon the flower throne, the Buddha briefly taught the great assembly about suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and the paramitas. The prostitutes did not accept his teaching.

“Among them was a prostitute named Qiai, who said to the others:

“‘The sramana Gautama is naturally without desire. People say he is not a man, and therefore he speaks to the assembly of suffering and emptiness and denounces desire as impure. If his body is complete, he should cast aside shame before the assembly, as the Nirgranthas do, and expose himself for us to examine. If he possesses this mark, we shall submit and become his disciples. If he lacks it, his teaching that desire is impure is false. Since one who lacks this organ is naturally without desire, how could he not declare desire impure?’

“When she said this, the Tathagata transformed himself into an elephant like the precious elephant of a wheel-turning sage king. From between the elephant’s legs grew a white flower resembling an elephant’s member, which gradually lengthened until it touched the ground. Seeing it, the prostitutes laughed with delight and said to one another: ‘This sramana is skilled in illusion and has merely conjured this thing.’ The Buddha then transformed himself into a lordly stallion and displayed the horse-king’s treasure, like a tube of vaidurya hanging to its knees. Seeing it, the prostitutes again considered it an illusion.

“Queen Mallika saw these apparitional marks and said to the bhiksunis and upasikas:

“‘We women should all withdraw and return home. We should not listen to the words of these prostitutes! In his great compassion, the World-Honored One now wishes to deliver them and will surely perform many more extraordinary transformations. We should avoid this, bow to the Buddha, and withdraw.’

“The Buddha commanded Ananda:

“‘Tell King Prasenajit and the bhiksus to go elsewhere as they please.’

“King Prasenajit said to the venerable ones:

“‘In his great compassion, the Tathagata wishes to teach the prostitutes. We should now all go far away.’

“Having said this, he stepped back and departed. Only the one thousand two hundred and fifty bhiksus remained standing behind the Buddha. The Buddha told Kaundinya:

“‘Take your assembly into the grove to practice walking meditation.’

“Five hundred bhiksus led by the greatly wise Sariputra remained standing with joined palms on either side of the Buddha. The Buddha told Sariputra:

“‘You too may go as you please and discuss essential teachings with the masters of debate.’

“The five hundred bhiksus followed Sariputra into the flower grove, where he again taught King Prasenajit the Four Noble Truths. Only Ananda remained. The Buddha told Ananda:

“‘Leave my sitting mat here, and then you too should go.’

“After saying this, the World-Honored One went alone to the prostitutes. Seeing that the Buddha was alone, they laughed loudly and asked:

“‘Sramana, do you possess a male organ?’

“The Buddha said:

“‘I possess the complete male body and am a Great Man.’

“Hearing this, the prostitutes covered their mouths and laughed. The World-Honored One then spread out his sitting mat. The vajra earth spirit transformed himself into a golden couch with seven-jeweled legs beneath the mat. The Buddha sat upon the mat on that golden couch, folded his sanghati robe aside, opened his samkaksika, and displayed the svastika mark upon his chest for the prostitutes to see. Within that mark they saw hundreds of thousands of strong men whose extraordinary appearances greatly pleased them.

“The Buddha then opened his lower garment. They saw that most of the Buddha’s body was full and perfect, radiating golden light like a thousand suns. Seeing this, the prostitutes all said that Gautama was a man without a male organ. Upon hearing this, the Buddha gradually caused it to emerge in the manner of the horse king. When it first appeared, it resembled the organ of an eight-year-old boy. It gradually grew to resemble that of a youth. Seeing it, all the prostitutes rejoiced.

“The concealed male organ gradually expanded like a garland of lotuses. Within each layer were ten billion lotus flowers. Each lotus possessed ten billion jeweled colors. Within every color were ten billion apparitional Buddhas. Each apparitional Buddha had ten billion bodhisattvas and an immeasurable assembly as attendants. Speaking different words with one voice, the apparitional Buddhas denounced the prostitutes’ faults and the evils of lust, saying this verse:

“After hearing this, the women became ashamed and distressed. They fell rolling upon the ground, raised their hands, struck their heads, and said:

“‘Alas! Because of sensual craving, we have caused the Buddhas to speak of such matters! We harbored evil intentions and clung to filthy lust, unaware of its suffering and peril. We have caused the Buddhas to hear of such wickedness, which now burns us like a raging fire.’

“As they said this, they saw all the apparitional Buddhas in the sky extensively teach the meditation on impurity for their sake: the nine perceptions, the ten perceptions, the thirty perceptions, and anapana mindfulness of breathing. Hearing the teaching on impurity, the women delighted in the Dharma and meditation and no longer delighted in sensual desire.

“The World-Honored One then withdrew his bodily radiance and sat upright upon the golden couch. The great assembly gathered once again before the Buddha. King Prasenajit said:

“‘World-Honored One, the appearance of the Tathagata in the world brings immense benefit. If even this part of his body manifests such great light, how immeasurable must be the merit of his other bodily parts! All the devas in the sky also praise the Tathagata’s hundreds of thousands of pure practices. Only through such pure conduct could the Tathagata possess this transcendent concealed male organ, hidden without any location, yet revealing golden flowers and innumerable apparitional Buddhas. This is the magnificent karmic fruit of the merit of observing the precepts.’

“After the women heard these words, four thousand of them generated the aspiration for unsurpassed, complete enlightenment; two thousand became free from dust and defilement and attained the pure Dharma eye; and two thousand, during twelve successive kalpas in future lives, would attain the path of a pratyekabuddha.

“When the elder Ruludatta saw the Buddha manifest transformations to deliver these demonic women, he exclaimed:

“‘Excellent! Excellent! In the past the Tathagata defeated Mara Papiyan’s army; now he has delivered these women in exactly the same manner.’

“When this mark appeared, innumerable devas generated the aspiration for bodhi. Among the soldiers brought by King Prasenajit, five hundred sought ordination from the Buddha. Their hair and beards fell away of themselves, and the clothes upon their bodies changed into kasaya robes. They immediately attained arhatship. Seeing the concealed male organ, the great assembly rejoiced and eliminated the samsaric offenses of five billion kalpas. They bowed to the Buddha and withdrew.

“The Buddha told Ananda:

“‘Formerly, while I was spending the summer retreat in Varanasi, there was a brothel in which lived a woman named Wondrous Intention. She had formed profound karmic connections with a Buddha in the past. Together with Nanda and you, I went daily to this prostitute’s house for alms. She never showed me respect, but developed a partial attachment to Nanda. After seven days, she thought: “If the sramana Gautama can send young Nanda or Ananda to me, I vow to make all manner of offerings to the sramana.”

“‘The Buddha told Ananda and Nanda:

“‘“From this day onward, do not go to that village again.”

“‘The World-Honored One went alone carrying his bowl. For three days he went to the woman’s building and radiated golden light to teach devas and humans, yet the woman did not awaken. The following day, the World-Honored One again took Ananda and Nanda beneath the building. Because the prostitute loved and revered the two bhiksus, she scattered all manner of flowers from afar upon the Buddha and the two bhiksus. Ananda told her:

“‘“You should bow to the Buddha.”

“‘Because the woman loved and revered Ananda, she immediately bowed. The World-Honored One then conjured three youths, each fifteen years old, whose handsome features surpassed those of every human being in all worlds. Seeing them, the woman rejoiced in body and mind. Before the apparitional youths, she prostrated with all five limbs upon the ground, bowed respectfully to them, and said:

“‘“Good sir, this house of mine is like a heaven of merit. Through the sovereign power of my blessings, it is adorned with every treasure. I now offer my body and my maidservants to you, that we may attend upon you and serve your every need. If you will kindly accept us in accordance with my wish, I shall provide you with everything, withholding nothing.”

“‘After saying this, before the meal had ended, the woman approached and said:

“‘“Good sir, please fulfill my desire!”

“‘The apparitional man did not oppose her but complied with her desire. After the woman had drawn near him, she remained insatiable for a full day and night. On the second day, her passion gradually subsided. On the third day, she said:

“‘“Good sir, you should rise and take food and drink.”

“‘The apparitional man rose, yet continued clinging to her without cessation. The woman became weary and regretful and said:

“‘“This man is truly extraordinary!”

“‘The apparitional man said:

“‘“According to the custom of my former land, whenever a man has relations with a woman, he does not stop until twelve days have passed.”

“‘Hearing this, the woman was like someone choking, unable either to spit out the obstruction or swallow it. Her body suffered as though being pounded with a pestle. On the fourth day, she felt as though crushed beneath a cart. On the fifth, it was as though an iron ball had entered her body. By the sixth day, every joint ached as though arrows had pierced her heart.

“‘The woman thought: “I have heard it said that the son of King Suddhodana of Kapilavastu has a purple-golden body with the thirty-two marks. He pities the blind and ignorant and rescues those who suffer. He is always in this city, continually bestowing blessings, radiating golden light, and helping everyone. Why does he not come to save me today?” Having thought this, she reproached herself in anguish: “From this day until the end of my life, I shall certainly never again crave sensual pleasure! I would rather share a cave with tigers, wolves, lions, and savage beasts than crave sensual desire and endure this torment.”

“‘After saying this, she rose, ate and drank, walked and sat together with him, but could ask for nothing further. The apparitional man also became angry and shouted: “You wicked demoness! You have ruined my undertaking! Now that you and I have joined our bodies together, I would rather die at once! If my parents and relatives come looking for me, where could I hide? I would rather die than endure such disgrace!” The woman said: “Wicked creature, I do not want you! If you wish to die, do as you please.”

“‘The apparitional man then took a knife and stabbed his neck. Blood flowed everywhere, smearing the woman’s body as he rolled upon the ground. The woman could neither control herself nor escape. After two days, the corpse became green, swollen, putrid, and black. On the third day it bloated; on the fourth it decomposed, discharging feces, urine, and vile worms. Blood, pus, and other filth spilled forth and smeared the woman’s body all over. The woman was utterly disgusted but could not separate herself from it. On the fifth day, its skin and flesh gradually disintegrated; on the sixth, all its flesh fell away; and on the seventh, only a putrid skeleton remained, adhering tightly to the woman’s body like glue or lacquer.

“‘The woman made this vow: “If the devas, spirits, sages, or the son of King Suddhodana can free me from this suffering, I shall give away all the precious treasures in this house!”

“‘When this thought arose in her, the Buddha came with Ananda and Nanda following him. Sakra walked in front holding a precious incense burner in which priceless incense burned. Brahma followed behind, holding a great jeweled canopy. Innumerable devas played celestial music. The Buddha emitted light that illuminated heaven and earth. The entire assembly saw the Tathagata approaching the woman’s building.

“‘When the woman saw the Buddha, she felt ashamed and had no means of concealing the skeleton. She took white cloth and immeasurable quantities of various fragrances and wrapped the putrid skeleton in them, but its stench remained unchanged and could not be concealed. Seeing the World-Honored One, the woman bowed her head to him. Because of her shame, her body arched over the bones, and the rotten skeleton suddenly lay upon her back. Overcome with shame, the woman wept and said:

“‘“The Tathagata’s compassionate virtue is immeasurable! If you can free me from this suffering, I vow to become your disciple and never retreat in my resolve!”

“‘Through the Buddha’s spiritual power, the putrid skeleton vanished. The woman rejoiced greatly, bowed to the Buddha, and said:

“‘“World-Honored One, today I offer all my precious possessions to the Buddha!”

“‘In a fluent Brahma voice, the Buddha pronounced a blessing for the woman. Hearing it, she rejoiced greatly and immediately attained the path of stream-entry. Upon hearing the Buddha’s voice, five hundred maidservants all generated the aspiration for unsurpassed bodhi. Innumerable members of Brahma’s assembly saw the Buddha’s spiritual transformation and attained the patience regarding the non-arising of dharmas. Among the divine princes accompanying Sakra, some generated the aspiration for bodhi and others attained non-returning.

“The Buddha told Ananda:

“‘Formerly, when I had first attained enlightenment and was dwelling beside the Nairanjana River near Gaya, there were five Nirgranthas. The first, named Sajjata, had five hundred followers. Each of the other four had two hundred and fifty disciples. All the Nirgranthas claimed to have attained the path. They came before me with their male organs wrapped seven times around their bodies. Having arrived, they spread grass, sat down, and said: “Gautama, because I am without desire, I have perfected the mark of pure conduct. Thus my male organ can be like this, resembling that of Isvara. My spiritual powers now surpass those of the sramana by hundreds of thousands of myriads of times. If the sramana performs one feat, I shall perform two!”

“‘Immediately, one of them conjured a great tree from the earth and wrapped his male organ seven times around it, causing the tree to be enveloped in clouds and mist like the breath of a dragon king. He then shouted loudly, raised his hand, and proclaimed: “Gautama, the mark of my pure conduct is proven in this manner! You claim to be a man and call yourself a Great Man—what proof do you possess?”

“‘The World-Honored One then conjured a jeweled cangue, with fourteen jewels at its two ends. Each bright jewel emitted a thousand rays of light. Each ray transformed into an apparitional Buddha who performed the eighteen transformations while standing in the air.

Manifesting this transformation, the World-Honored One stood upside down in the sky with his feet above the cangue. From the Buddha’s two feet appeared a thousand lotus flowers. Each lotus emitted a trillion rays of light.

Within every ray were ten billion jeweled terraces. Within every jeweled terrace were innumerable apparitional Buddhas. Each apparitional Buddha drew in one foot as though rolling up a crystal tube, causing that foot to disappear.

All the apparitional Buddhas, together with Sakyamuni, hung by one foot and stood upside down in the sky.

“‘Only the Nirgranthas saw the Buddha standing upside down. Innumerable devas, nagas, and the eight classes of spirits saw the Buddha, the World-Honored One, seated peacefully in the lecture hall, expounding the great Dharma—the teachings of signlessness, non-self, and so forth. A voice from the sky said to the Nirgranthas: “The Buddha has performed one feat; now perform two!”

“‘The Nirgranthas leapt upward, grasped the tree’s branches, and stood embracing its trunk. Though they exhausted all their Nirgrantha arts, they could not stand upside down. The tree spirit manifested a body, slapped their faces, and rebuked them: “You madmen! You are tiny insects, yet you dare contend with the lion, king of beasts. You dared shout that if the Buddha performed one feat, you would perform two. The Buddha now abides in the power of great spiritual mastery—why do you do nothing?”

“‘After the tree spirit rebuked them, the firm earth spirit emerged from beneath the ground and stood in the air. With great iron fetters, he bound the Nirgranthas’ feet and suspended them upside down in the sky, while five yaksa ghosts beat them with clubs. In their agony, the Nirgranthas struggled until they fell toward the ground. Before reaching it, one Nirgrantha cried, “Namo Buddha!” The World-Honored One extended his hand and caught him, sparing his body from pain.

“‘After the Nirgranthas reached the ground, their jealousy remained unabated. They said to the earth spirit: “You lack compassion and favor Gautama. Because you committed offenses in a former life, you now endure the body of a yaksa beneath this earth. Today you again lack impartial loving-kindness and torment us solely for Gautama’s sake!”

“‘The spirit of the Ganges River flew into the air holding a great stone and said: “Nirgrantha, you are like a fool. You eat cow dung, smear ashes and stone powder upon your head until your hair falls out, and go naked without shame, like an ass or horse. You are also like an impoverished dragon unable to moisten or benefit anything. The Tathagata, the sun of the Buddha, shines universally upon all. Why do you now bring your darkened body to vie in brightness with the sun?” Having proclaimed this, the water spirit entreated the World-Honored One to subdue the Nirgranthas.

“The World-Honored One then told the Nirgranthas:

“‘You do not understand the Tathagata’s male body. Anyone who wishes to see it may examine it as he pleases. For many kalpas the Tathagata cultivated pure conduct. While living at home, he entertained no thoughts of illicit desire, and his mind was neither defiled nor entangled. Thus he obtained this karmic result, which, like the organ of a precious stallion, is not always visible. I shall now reveal to you a small portion of my male body.’

“The World-Honored One descended from the sky and immediately conjured four bodies of water upon the ground, resembling four great oceans. Within the four seas stood Mount Sumeru. The Buddha lay flat upon his back beneath the mountain and emitted golden light. Its brilliance dazzled the devas’ eyes. He then gradually revealed his concealed male organ, which encircled the mountain seven times like golden lotus flowers following one another and extended upward to the Brahma world.

“From the Buddha’s body appeared a hundred million nayutas of lotus flowers made from assorted jewels, like a flower garland covering the concealed male organ. This lotus garland had one billion tiers. Each tier held hundreds of thousands of immeasurable apparitional Buddhas. Each apparitional Buddha had ten billion bodhisattvas and innumerable bhiksus as attendants. The apparitional Buddhas emitted light illuminating the worlds of the ten directions.

“Seeing this, the Nirgranthas were greatly astonished. Their minds subdued, they said: ‘The Buddha’s mark of pure conduct is inconceivable! Its form is not ugly but resembles a lotus. We now bow to the Buddha, Ocean of Merit! The Buddha’s boundless wisdom can never be exhausted! May the Buddha accept our repentance and gather us in!’

“Having said this, the five hundred Nirgranthas joined their palms, folded their hands, knelt upright upon the ground, and asked the Buddha for ordination. The Buddha said:

“‘Welcome, bhiksus!’

“The Buddha commanded Kasyapa to prepare clothing for them. Kasyapa then went to the sages and said to the great seers:

“‘Today the World-Honored One has subdued the Nirgranthas. I beg the seers to donate a small amount of clothing.’

“The sages selected fine tree bark and tala leaves, cut them, and sewed them into robes. Their teacher, named Luminous Eyes, joined his palms, folded his hands, and told his disciples:

“‘The Buddha’s merit is immeasurable, and his vast vows encompass all. Now he has gathered in these people of wrong views! We should prepare clothing for those who are naked. They too revere the Buddha-Jewel and deserve liberation from suffering.’

“After saying this, they followed the venerable Kasyapa to the World-Honored One. The five hundred sages saw lotus terraces emerging from the Buddha’s body, like innumerable lotuses surrounding Mount Sumeru and extending to the Brahma world. Having seen this, they rejoiced, joined their palms, and reverently bowed to the World-Honored One. They gazed intently at him without looking away even momentarily. They saw the light of the white urna mark between the Buddha’s brows curling gracefully to the right, and they saw all the marks of the Buddha’s body.

“They reflected: ‘These excellent marks must have arisen because, in former lives, he was unfettered and unattached, without self, action, mind, consciousness, person, or entity; without giver or receiver; and because he purified the dana-paramita. These marks also arose from the prajnaparamita of great wisdom—universal equality and signlessness.’

“After contemplating this meaning, they immediately attained the patience regarding the non-arising of dharmas. Wearing sanghati robes, the five hundred Nirgranthas bowed to the Buddha. Before they could raise their heads, they immediately attained arhatship, possessing the three knowledges, the six superknowledges, and the eight liberations. Each Nirgrantha vowed to deliver five hundred Nirgranthas.

“When this mark appeared, innumerable devas, nagas, and yaksas saw the karmic fruit of the Buddha’s pure conduct. Rejoicing in body and mind, they generated the aspiration for unsurpassed, complete enlightenment.

“The Buddha told Ananda:

“‘After the Buddha’s nirvana, if devas, nagas, yaksas, sramanas, brahmins, or others ask what karmic result the World-Honored One obtained in past lives by remaining pure and free from desire and cultivating pure conduct, you should answer: “The Buddha possesses the mark of the horse-king’s treasure, level with the body, perfectly joined and full like a vajra implement, pure both within and without. To deliver sentient beings, he manifested this mark: light transformed into Buddhas who upheld wondrous lotus flowers, and their number was immeasurable. Such a body arose through countless lives of undefiled, peaceful, skillful observance of the sila-paramita endowed with wisdom.”’

“The Buddha commanded Ananda:

“‘After the Buddha’s nirvana, if the Buddha’s disciples wish to contemplate the Tathagata’s mark of the concealed male organ, like that of a stallion, they should form this visualization. Contemplation performed in this way is called correct contemplation; contemplation performed otherwise is called wrong contemplation.

“‘After the Buddha’s nirvana, if any of his disciples collect their minds in right mindfulness and contemplate the mark of the Buddha’s pure conduct and the light of the apparitional Buddhas, they will frequently see the Buddhas of the ten directions in their dreams. Life after life, they will always cultivate pure conduct and eliminate the samsaric offenses of two hundred thousand kalpas.’

“When this mark was taught, eight thousand yaksas among the yaksa assembly rejoiced in body and mind, praised the Tathagata’s immeasurable virtues, and immediately generated the aspiration for unsurpassed, complete enlightenment.

— End of Fascicle Eight —