妙法蓮華經

Chapter Five -- The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs

At that time the World Honorded One told Mahakashyapa and all the great disciples, "Good indeed! Good indeed! Kashyapa has well spoken of the Thus Come One's real and true merit and virtue. It is just as he said. Furthermore, the Thus Come One has limitless, boundless Asankheyas of merit and virtue. If you were to speak of it throughout limitless millions of aeons, you could not finish.

"Kashyapa, you should know that the Thus Come One is the king of all the Dharmas. Nothing that he teaches is false. He extensively proclaims all Dharmas by means of wisdom and expedients, and whatever Dharmas he speaks all lead to the ground of all wisdom.

"The Thus Come One contemplates and knows the tendencies of all Dharmas. He also knows the depths of the mental processes of all living beings, having penetrated them without obstruction. Furthermore, he has ultimate and clear understanding of all Dharmas, and he instructs living beings in all-wisdom.

"Kashyapa, consider the world of three thousand great thousand worlds and the grasses, trees, forests, as well as the medicinal herbs, in their many varieties, with their different names and colors which the mountains, streams, valleys and flatlands produce. A thick cloud spreads out, covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, raining on them equally everywhere at the same time, its moisture reaching every part.

The grasses, trees, forests and medicinal herbs - those of small roots, small stalks, small branches and small leaves, those of medium-sized roots, medium-sized stalks, medium-sized branches, medium-sized leaves or those of large roots, large stalks, large branches, and large leaves, and also all the trees, whether great or small, according to their size, small, medium, or large, all receive a portion of it. From the rain of the one cloud each according to its nature grows, blossoms, and bears fruit.

Although they grow from the same ground and are moistened by the same rain, still, all the grasses and trees are different.

"Kashyapa, you should know that the Thus Come One is also like this. He manifests in the world like a great cloud rising; with his great sound he covers the world with its gods, humans, and Asuras, just like that great cloud covers the three thousand great thousand lands. In the midst of the great assembly he announces, "I am the Thus Come One, one worthy of offerings, one of proper and universal knowledge, one whose understanding and conduct are complete, well gone one who understands the world, an unsurpassed lord, a taming and regulating hero, teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the World Honored One.

Those who have not yet been crossed over, I cross over. Those who have not yet been liberated, I liberate. Those who have not yet been put at rest, I put at rest.

Those who have not yet attained Nirvana, I cause to attain Nirvana. I know things as they really are, both in the present and in the future. I am the all-knowing one, the all-seeing one, the one who knows the Way, the one who opens the Way, the one who proclaims the Way.

The entire assembly of gods, humans and Asuras, all should come here to listen to the Dharma."

Then, countless thousands of myriads of millions of kinds of living beings came before the Buddha to hear the Dharma.

Then, the Thus Come One, contemplating the sharpness and dullness of the faculties of these living beings, their vigor or laxness, according to their capacity, spoke the Dharma for their sakes in limitless varieties, causing them all to rejoice and quickly attain good benefit. After having heard this Dharma, all of these living beings presently are at ease; in the future, they will be born in a good place. By means of the Way, they will enjoy happiness and also be able to hear the Dharma. Having heard the Dharma, they will separate from all coverings and obstructions. Within all the Dharmas, according to their powers, they will gradually gain entry to the Way.

Just as that great cloud rains down on all the grasses, trees, forests, and medicinal herbs and each, according to its nature, fully receives the moisture and grows.

So, too, the Thus Come One speaks of a Dharma having one mark and one taste, that is to say: the mark of liberation, the mark of extinction, culminating in the wisdom of all modes.

Those living beings who, hearing the Thus Come One's Dharma, uphold read, recite and cultivate it as taught will not themselves be aware of the merit and virtue they obtain.

What is the reason? Only the Thus Come One knows the kinds, the marks, the substances, and the natures of these living beings, what they are recollecting, what they are thinking, and what they are cultivating; how they are recollecting, how they are thinking, and how they are cultivating; by means of what Dharma they cultivate; and by means of what Dharma they obtain what Dharma. Living beings dwell on a variety of levels. Only the Thus Come One sees them as they really are, clearly and without obstruction. Just as those grasses, trees, and forests and all the medicinal herbs do not know themselves whether their natures are superior, middle, or inferior.

The Thus Come One knows the Dharma of one mark, of one flavor, that is to say: the mark of liberation, the mark of separation, the mark of extinction, the mark of ultimate Nirvana which is constantly still and extinct and which in the end returns to emptiness.

Already understanding this the Buddha contemplates the desires in the minds of living beings and protects them. For this reason he does not immediately speak of the wisdom of all modes.

Kashyapa, you are all very rare in your ability to know that the Thus Come One speaks the Dharma as it is appropriate, and in your ability to believe and accept it. Why is this? All the Buddhas, the World Honored Ones speak an appropriate Dharma which is difficult to understand, difficult to know.

At that time the World Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning spoke verses, saying:

Destroyer of existence, the Dharma King

Manifests within the world;

According to living beings' desires,

He teaches the Dharma in various ways.

The Thus Come One, out of veneration

For this wisdom, deep and far-reaching,

Has long remained silent on this important matter.

Being in no hurry to set it forth.

Those with wisdom, if they heard it,

Would be able to believe and understand it,

But those lacking wisdom would doubt it

And thereby lose it for a long time

for this reason, Kashyapa,

It is spoken in accord with their powers

Employing various conditions

To lead them to the right view.

Kashyapa, you should know

It is like a great cloud

Rising above the world

And covering all

A wisdom cloud filled with moisture

illuminated with lightening flashes

And vibrating with thunderous roars

It brings delight to all,

Obscuring the light of the sun,

Refreshing the earth

The cloud lowers and expands

As if one could reach out and touch it.

It rains equally everywhere

Falling alike in the four directions

Pouring without measure

saturating all the land.

In the mountains, streams and steep valleys,

In deep recesses, there grow

Grasses, trees, and herbs,

And trees, both great and small,

The grains, shoots, and plants,

The sugar-cane and the grape vine;

All are nourished by the rain,

And none fail to be enriched.

The parched ground is soaked,

The herbs and trees together flourish.

Issuing from that cloud

Water of a single flavor

Moistens grasses, trees and forests

Each according to its measure

All of the trees,

Great, medium and small,

According to their size

Can grow and develop.

When reached by that single rain

The roots, stalks, branches, and leaves,

Flowers and fruits with luster and color,

All are fresh and shining.

According to their substance and marks,

And natures, either great or small

They alike receive moisture

And each one flourishes.

The Buddha, in the same way

Manifests within the world

Just like a great cloud

Covering over everything.

Having come into the world

For the sake of living beings,

He discriminates and expounds

The reality of all Dharmas.

The Great Sage, the World Honored One,

In the midst of the multitudes

Of gods and humans

Proclaims these words saying:

"I am the Thus Come One

The doubly complete honored one.

I appear within the world

Like a great cloud

Moistening all

The dried-out living beings,

So they all leave suffering

And gain peace and bliss

Worldly joy

And the joy of Nirvana.

All gods and humans assembled here

Listen singlemindedly and well.

You should all come here

To behold the Unsurpassed Honored One,

I am the World Honored One,

The one beyond compare.

To bring peace and ease to living beings

I manifest within the world

And for the sake of the assembly speak

The sweet dew of pure Dharma

The Dharma of a single flavor,

That of liberation and Nirvana.

using a single, wondrous sound

I proclaim this principle

Constantly creating the causes and conditions

For the Great Vehicle.

I contemplate all

Everywhere as equal,

Without "this" or "that"

And without thoughts of love or hate.

I have no greed or attachment,

And no limitations or obstacles.

Constantly for everyone,

I speak the Dharma, equally,

Speaking for a single person,

As I would for the multitudes.

I constantly expound and proclaim the Dharma

And have no other work.

Coming, going, sitting and standing

I never grow weary,

Filling the entire world,

Like the moisture of the universal rain.

For the noble, the lowly, the superior and inferior;

Those who keep break them,

Those with perfect awesome manner

And those not perfect,

Those with right views and those with deviant views

The sharp rooted, the dull rooted

I send down equally the Dharma rain

And never grow weary.

All living beings

Who hear my Dharma

Receive it according to their power

And dwell on various levels.

They may dwell among humans or gods,

Or Wheel Turning Sage Kings,

Shakra or Brahma Kings:

These are the small herbs.

Those who know the non-outflow Dharma,

Those who can attain Nirvana,

Giving rise to Six Spiritual Penetrations

And attaining the Three Clarities,

Dwelling alone in mountain groves

Ever practicing Ch'an Samadhi

Attaining certification to condition-enlightenment:

Those are the middle-sized herbs.

Those who seek the place of the World Honored One.

Saying, "We will become Buddhas."

Vigorously practicing concentration,

These are the superior herbs.

Further, those disciples of the Buddha

Who turn their minds to the Buddha Way

Always practising compassion

Knowing they will become Buddhas,

For sure, without doubt:

These are called the small trees.

Those who dwell in spiritual penetrations,

Turning the irreversible wheel,

Saving limitless hundreds of thousands

Of millions of living beings -

Such Bodhisattvas as these

Are called great trees.

The Buddha speaks equally,

Like the rain of a single flavor.

According to living beings' natures

They receive it differently,

Just as those herbs and trees

Each receives a different measure.

The Buddha uses this analogy

To insturct expediently.

With various phrases, he

Expounds and proclaims a single Dharma which

In the Buddha's wisdom is

Like a drop within the sea.

I send down the rain of Dharma

Filling all the world

The Dharma of one taste is

Cultivated according to their power

Just like those forest groves

All the herbs and trees

According to their size

Grow and flourish well.

The Dharma of all the Buddhas

Is always of a single taste

It causes all the world

To attain perfection.

Through its gradual cultivation

All attain the fruits of the Way.

The Sound Hearers, those enlightened to conditions

Dwelling in mountain groves

Living in their final bodies

Hearing the Dharma gain the fruit;

They are called the herbs.

And each one does grow.

If there are Bodhisattvas,

Whose wisdom is firm and solid,

Who thoroughly comprehend theThree Realms

And seek the supreme vehicle;

They are called small trees,

And each one does grow.

Further, those who dwell in Ch'an

Attaining spiritual powers,

Who hear the Dharma of emptiness

And rejoice within their minds,

Emitting countless lights

Crossing over all beings;

They are called the large trees,

And each one does grow.

In this way, Kashyapa,

The Dharma spoken by the Buddha

Is like that great cloud.

With rain of a single flavor,

It moistens all the people and flowers,

So each one bears fruit.

Kashyapa, you should know

That by using causes and conditions

And various analogies

I demonstrate and reveal the Buddha Path.

These are my expedients

And other Buddhas are also thus.

Now, for your sakes,

I speak of this true matter:

All of you Sound Hearers,

None of you have reached extinction.

What you now are walking

That is the Bodhisattva Path.

Gradually, gradually, cultivate and study,

And you'll all accomplish Buddhahood.

Chapter Six -- Conferring Predictions

At that time, following his expounding of the verses, the World Honored One spoke to the great assembly in this manner, "My disciple, Mahakashyapa, in a future age will serve and behold three hundred thousand million Buddhas, World Honored Ones, making offerings, paying reverence, venerating and praising them; he will broadly proclaim the limitless Great Dharma of all the Buddhas.

"In his final body he will become a Buddha by the name of Light Brightness. Thus Come One, one worthy of offerings, of proper and universal knowledge, one whose understanding and conduct are complete, a well-gone one who understands the world, an unsurpassed Lord, a taming and regulating hero, a teach of gods and humans, a Buddha, a World Honored One. His country will be called Light Virtue and his aeon will be called Great Adornment. His lifespan as a Buddha will last for twelve minor aeons. The Proper Dharma will dwell there for twenty minor aeons. The Dharma Resemblance Age will also dwell there for twenty minor aeons.

"His realm will be adorned and free of any filth or evil, tiles or stones, thorns or brambles, excrement or other impurities. The land will be flat, without high or low places, gullys or hills. The land will be made of lapis lazuli, and set about with rows of jeweled trees. The roads will be bordered with golden ropes. Precious flowers will be scattered about, purifying it entirely. The Bodhisattvas in that land will number in the limitless thousands of millions, the assembly of Sound Hearers will be likewise uncountable. No deeds of Mara will be done there, and although Mara and his subjects will exist there, they will all protect the Buddha dharma."

At that time, the World Honored One, wishing to restate this principle, spoke verses saying,

I declare to the Bhikshus that

By using my Buddha Eye

I see that Kashyapa

In a future age

Countless aeons from now shall become a Buddha

And that in the future he

Shall make offerings to, revere and behold

Three hundred ten thousands of millions

of Buddhas, World Honored Ones.

And, for the sake of the Buddha's wisdom

He shall purely cultivate Brahman conduct.

He shall make offerings to the highest

Honored One, doubly complete and then

Cultivate and practice all

Unsurpassed wisdom.

In his final body

He shall become a Buddha.

His land will be pure,

With lapis lazuli for soil,

And with many jeweled trees

Lining the roadways,

And with the roads set off by golden cords,

Delighting all who see it.

Fine fragrance will always issue forth,

Rare flowers will be strewn about,

With all manner of rare articles

It shall be adorned.

The land will be flat and even

Without hills or gullys.

The assembly of Bodhisattvas

Will be unreckonable.

Their minds will be gentle

Having gained great spiritual powers;

They will reverently uphold the Buddha's

Great Vehicle sutras.

The assembly of Sound Hearers,

Without outflows, in their last bodies,

Sons of the Dharma King,

Will also be beyond all count.

So that, even with the Heavenly Eye,

Their number shall not be known.

His lifespan as a Buddha will be

Twelve minor aeons, and

His Proper Dharma will dwell in the world

Twenty minor aeons.

The Dharmas Image Age will dwell

Also for twenty minor aeons.

The World Honored One, Light Brightness

Shall have a history such as this.

At that time, Mahamaudgalyayana, Subhuti and Mahakatyayana were very agitated. They single-mindedly joined their palms, gazed upward at the World Honored One, not lowering their gaze for a moment, and with a single voice spoke these verses:

Great, brave hero, the World Honored One,

The Shakyan Dharma King,

Out of pity for us all

Bestow the Buddha Word!

If, knowing our profoundest thoughts,

you see that we gain predictions,

It will be like a sprinkling of sweet dew,

Dispelling heat and giving cool refreshment.

It'll be like a person from a famine-stricken land,

who suddenly encounters a royal feast:

His mind holds doubt and fear,

And he doesn't dare go ahead and eat.

But, if he gained the king's permission,

Then he would certainly dare to eat.

We, in the same way, ever think

Of the errors of the Small Vehicle

And do not know how we are

To gain the Buddhas unsurpassed wisdom.

Although we hear the Buddha's voice

Saying that we shall become Buddhas,

Our minds hold worry and fear,

Like one who dares not yet to eat.

If we were favored by the Buddha's prediction,

Then we should be happy and at peace.

Great, brave hero, World Honored One,

You who always wish peace for the world

Please bestow predictions upon us

Like giving the famished permission to eat!

At that time, the World Honored One, knowing the thoughts in the minds of his great disciples, told the Bhikshus, "Subhuti will in a future age serve and behold three hundreds of myriads of millions of Nayutas of Buddhas, making offerings, paying reverence, venerating, and praising them, ever cultivating the Brahman conduct, and perfecting the Bodhisattva Way.

"In his final body, he will become a Buddha called Name Appearance Thus Come One, one worthy of offerings, of proper and universal knowledge, one whose understanding and conduct are complete, a well-gone one who understands the world, an unsurpassed lord, a taming and regulating hero, teacher of gods and humans, Buddha, World Honored One. His aeon will be called Possessing-Jewels. His country will be called Giving Birth to Jewels.

His land will be level, with crystal for soil, and jeweled trees for adornments. It will be without hills or gullys, stones, thorns, filth or excrement. Jeweled flowers will cover the ground, purifying it entirely.

The people of his land will all dwell on jeweled terraces or in precious, fine towers. The assembly of Sound Hearers will be limitless and boundless, so that they cannot be known by resort to number or analogy. The assembly of Bodhisattvas will number in the countless thousands of myriads of millions of Nayutas.

His lifespan as a Buddha will last for twelve minor aeons.

The Proper Dharma will dwell there for twenty mino aeons. The Dharma Image Age will also dwell there for twenty mino aeons. This Buddha will constantly dwell in empty space speaking Dharma for the multitudes and crossing over limitless Bodhisattvas and Sound Hearers."

At that time the World Honored One, wishing to restate this principle spoke verses saying,

Assembled Bhikshus

I shall now tell you,

Listen singlemindedly

To what I'm going to say.

My great disciple,

Subhuti,

Will become a Buddha

Called Name-Appearance.

After making offerings to countless

Myriads of millions of Buddhas

Following the Buddhas' practices,

He will gradually perfect the Great Way.

In his final body he shall

Obtain Thirty-two Marks,

Upright and beautiful

Like a jeweled mountain.

His Buddha land will be

Foremost in purity and adornment.

Living beings who see it

All will take delight in it.

And as a Buddha therein

He will save limitless multitudes.

Within his Buddha Dharma

Will be many Bodhisattvas,

All of sharp faculties,

Turning the non-retreating wheel.

This land will ever be

Adorned with Bodhisattvas;

The assembly of Sound Hearers

Will be beyond all reckoning.

All having gained the Three Clarities,

And perfected the Six Spiritual Powers

Abiding in the Eight Liberations

And possessing great awesome virtue.

When this Buddha speaks the Dharma

He will manifest limitless

Spiritual powers and transformations,

Inconceivable.

The people, both gods and humans,

Their numbers like the Ganges sands,

All will join their palms

To hear and accept that Buddha's words.

The Buddha's lifespan will be

Twelve minor aeons,

The Proper Dharma will dwell in the world

For twenty minor aeons;

The Dharma Resemblance Age will dwell

For twenty minor aeons, also.

At that time, the World Honored One further addressed the assembly of Bhikshus saying, "I will now tell you: In a future age, Mahakatyayana will make offerings of various articles to, and will reverently serve eight thousand million Buddhas, honoring and venerating them. After the extinction of those Buddhas, he will erect a stupa for each, one thousand Yojanas in height, five hundred Yojanas in breadth, and made of the seven jewels: gold, silver, lapis lazuli, mother of pearl, carneilian, pearls, and agate.

He will make offerings of many flowers, beaded necklaces, paste incense, powdered incense, burning incense, silk canopies and banners to the stupa. After that, he will further make offerings to twenty thousand million Buddhas in the same manner. Having made offerings to those Buddhas, he will perfect the Bodhisattva Way.

"He will then become a Buddha called Jambunada Gold Light Thus Come One, one worthy of offerings, of proper and universal knowledge, one whose understanding and conduct are complete, a well-gone one who understands the world, unsurpassed lord, a taming and regulating hero, teacher of gods and humans, Buddha, World Honored One.

"The land will be flat and even with crystal for soil and jeweled trees as adornments. The roads will be bordered with golden ropes, and the ground covered with fine flowers, purifying it entirely, so that those who see it are delighted. The Four Evil Paths will not exist there, that is, the hells, hungry ghosts, animals, and Asuras. There will be many gods, humans, assembled Sound Hearers and Bodhisattvas who will number in the limitless myriads of millions, and all adorning that land. His lifespan as a Buddha will be twelve minor aeons. His Proper Dharma will dwell in the world twenty minor aeons. The Dharma Resemblance Age will dwell also for twenty minor aeons."

At that time, the World Honored One, wishing to restate this principle spoke verses saying,

O Bhikshus, all of you,

Listen with a single mind,

For that which I say

Is true, real, and without error.

Katyayana, shall

with a variety

Of fine and subtle articles

Make offerings to the Buddhas.

After the extinction of thos Buddhas

He will build stupas of the seven jewels

And also, with flowers and incense

Make offerings to their Sharira.

In his final body

He will attain the Buddha wisdom

And realize proper enlightenment.

His country will be pure

And he will cross over limitless

Myriads of millions of beings;

From the ten directions

He will receive offerings.

His Buddha light

Will be unsurpassed

As a Buddha his name will be

Jambunada Gold Light.

Bodhisattvas, and Sound Hearers

Having severed all existence

Unlimited and innumerable

Will adorn his land.

At that time, the World Honored One, further spoke to the assembly. "I now tell you that Mahamaudgalyayana will in the future, with various articles, make offerings to eight thousand Buddhas, honoring and venerating them. After the extinction of those Buddhas, he will erect for each of them a stupa one thousand Yojanas in height and five hundred Yojanas in breadth, and made of the seven jewels, gold, silver, lapis lazuli, mother of pearl, carneilian, pearls, and agate. He will make offerings to it of many flowers, beaded necklaces, paste incense, powdered incense, burning incense, silk canopies and banners. After that, he will further make offerings to two hundred myriads of millions of Buddhas in the same manner.

"He will then become a Buddha called Tamalapattracandana Fragrance Thus Come One, one worthy of offerings, of proper and universal knowledge, one whose understanding and conduct are complete, a well-gone one who understands the world, an unsurpassed lord, a taming and regulating hero, teacher of gods and humans, Buddha, World Honored One. His aeon will be called Full of Joy. His country will be called Delighted Mind.

His land will be flat and even with crystal for soil, and jeweled trees for adornments. Real pearl flowers will be scattered about, purifying it entirely, so that those who see it rejoice. There will be many gods, humans, Bodhisattvas and Sound Hearers, limitless and uncountable in number.

His lifespan as a Buddha will last for twenty-four minor aeons. The Proper Dharma will dwell there for forty minor aeons. The Dharma Resemblance Age will dwell also for forty minor aeons."

At that time, the World Honored One, wishing to restate this principle spoke verses, saying:

My disciple

Mahamaudgalyayana

Having cast aside this body

Will view eight thousand

Two hundred myriads of millions

Of Buddhas, World Honored Ones.

And, for the sake of the Buddha Way

Will honor and make offerings to them.

In the presence of those Buddhas,

He will always practice Brahman conduct,

Throughout limitless aeons,

Reverently upholding the Buddhadharma.

After the extinction of those Buddhas,

He will build stupas of the seven jewels,

Displaying golden spires

And with flowers, incense, and instrumental music

He will make offerings

To the Buddhas' stupas.

Gradually, having perfected

The Bodhisattva Path,

In a land called Delighted Intent,

He will become a Buddha

Called Tamala

Candana Fragrance.

His lifespan as a Buddha will be Twenty-four minor aeons.

Always, for gods and humans

He will expound and proclaim the Buddha Way.

There will be limitless Sound Hearers

In number like the Ganges sands,

With the Three Clarities and Six Penetrations

And great, awesome virtue.

There will be uncountable Bodhisattvas

Vigorous and solid resolve

And who, with regard to the Buddhas' wisdom

Are irreversible.

After that Buddha's extinction

The Proper Dharma will dwell

For Forty minor aeons,

And the Dharma Resemblance Age will be the same.

All my disciples

Having perfected their awesom virtue,

All five hundred of them

Shall be given predictions

And in a future age

Will become Buddhas.

Of my own and your former

Causes and conditions

I now will tell:

All of you, listen well!

Chapter Seven -- The Analogy of the Transformed City

The Buddha told the Bhikshus, "long ago, past limitless, boundless, unconceivable, Asankheya aeons, there was a Buddha called Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory, Thus Come One, One Worthy of Offerings, One of Proper and Universal Knowledge, One Whose Understanding and Conduct are Complete, Well-Gone One Who Understands the World, Unsurpassed Lord, Taming and Regulating Hero, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World Honored One. His country was named "Good City", and his aeon was named "Great Mark". O Bhikshus, it has been a great, long time since that Buddha passed into extinction.

Suppose someone were to grind all the earth in the three thousand great thousand worlds into ink powder, and then suppose he passed through a thousand lands to the east and then dropped a particle the size of a mote of dust, and then passing through another thousand lands deposited another mote, and continued to do this until all the ink made of earth was exhausted. What do you think? Could a mathematician or his disciple ever reach the limit of the lands and know their number?

"No, World Honored One."

"O Bhikshus, if the lands this person had passed through, whether or not he set down a particle in them, were all ground into dust, and if each dust mote was equal to an aeon, then the time since that Buddha passed into extinction would exceed their number by limitless, boundless, hundreds of thousands of tens of thousands of millions of Asankheya aeons.

Using the power of the Thus Come One's knowledge and vision, I behold that time in the distant past as if it were today.

At that time, the World Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke verses, saying,

"I recall that in a past age,

Limitless, boundless aeons ago,

There was a Buddha, doubly honored,

By the name of Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory.

Suppose a person ground

All of the earth that there was

In three thousand great thousand lands

Entirely into ink powder;

And then suppose he passed through a thousand lands,

And then let fall one particle of it,

Continuing to drop particles in this way

Until all the ink particles were gone.

Suppose all of the countries he passed through,

Whether he dropped particles in them or not,

Again were completely ground into dust motes,

And each dust mote were an aeon;

These grains of dust would in number

Be exceeded by the number of aeons

Since that Buddha has passed into extinction;

It has been limitless aeons such as this.

The Thus Come One, with unobstructed wisdom,

Knows of that Buddha's extinction,

And of his Sound Hearers and Bodhisattvas,

As if seeing his extinction now.

Bhikshus, you should know

The Buddha's wisdom is pure, subtle, and wondrous;

Without outflows and without obstructions

It penetrates limitless aeons.

The Buddha told the Bhikshus, "the Buddha Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory had a life-span of five hundred forty myriads of millions of Nayutas of aeons."

When this Buddha was seated on the Bodhimanda, having destroyed the troops of Mara, although he was on the point of attaining Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, still the Buddhadharmas did not appear before him. So it was for one minor aeon and then onwards to ten minor aeons that he sat in the lotus posture, body and mind unmoving, and yet the Buddhadharmas still did not appear before him. Thereupon, the gods of the Triyastrimsha Heaven, spread out for the Buddha, under a Bodhi tree, a lion throne one Yojana in height; on that throne the Buddha was to attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.

Just as he sat down upon that throne, the kings of the Brahma Heavens rained down heavenly flowers over a distance of one hundred Yojanas. A fragrant wind from time to time swept away the withered flowers as fresh ones rained down. This continued without interruption for a full ten minor aeons as an offering to the Buddha, the rain of these flowers continuing right up until his extinction.

In the same way the gods of the four heavenly kings constantly played heavenly drums as an offering to that Buddha and the other gods made heavenly instrumental music for a full ten minor aeons, right up until his extinction.

Bhikshus, the Buddha Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory passed through ten minor aeons before the Buddhadharmas finally manifested before him and he attained Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.

Before that Buddha left home he had sixteen sons, the first of whom was named Accumulation of Knowledge. Each of them had a variety of precious, unusual fine toys. When they heard that their father had realized Anuttarasamyaksambodhi they all cast aside these things they valued and went before the Buddha, escorted by their weeping mothers.

Their grandfather, a Wheel Turning Sage King, together with a hundred great ministers and with hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of citizens all surrounded them and accompanied them to the Bodhimanda, all wishing to draw near to the Thus Come One Great Penetrating Wisdom Victory, to make offerings to him, to honor, revere and praise him. When they arrived, they bowed with their head at his feet, and having circumambulated him, they single-mindedly joined their palms, respectively gazed upwards at the World Honored One, and uttered these verses:

World Honored One of great and awesome virtue,

For the sake of crossing over living beings

After limitless millions of aeons,

You accomplished Buddhahood,

And perfected all your vows;

Unsurpassed is our good fortune.

Very rare you are, World Honored One,

In one sitting, passing through ten minor aeons,

With body, hands and feet,

Still, secure, and unmoving.

Your mind, ever tranquil,

Never knows distraction.

Ultimate, your eternal extinction,

As you dwell firmly in the non-outflow Dharma.

Now we see the World Honored One

Serenely realize the Buddha Path;

We all gain good benefit

And proclaim our delight and great joy.

Living beings, ever tormented by suffering,

Blind, and without a guide,

Fail to recognize the path which ends that pain,

And do not know to seek their liberation.

During the long night the evil destinies increase,

While the hosts of gods are reduced in number;

From darkness they proceed into darkness,

Never hearing the Buddha's name.

Now, the Buddha's gained the utmost

Peace, rest, the non-outflow way;

And we, and all of the gods,

To attain the greatest benefit

Therefore bow our heads

And return our lives to the Unsurpassed Honored One.

When the sixteen sons had finished praising the Buddha, they then entreated him to turn the Dharma wheel, saying, "World Honored One, speak the Dharma and bring us peace show us pity, and benefit both gods and humans." Then they spoke more verses saying:

"O Hero of the World, incomparable

Adorned with a hundred blessings,

And having attained unsurpassed wisdom,

Pray speak for the sake of this world

To cross over and liberate us and

All classes of living beings as well.

Demonstrate it: speak it in detail

and lead us to attain that wisdom,

For, if we can attain Buddhahood,

Other living beings can do the same.

The World Honored One knows the profound thoughts

Within the minds of living beings;

He knows the ways on which they walk

And the strength of their wisdom,

The pleasures and the blessings they have cultivated,

And all the deeds done in former lives.

The World Honored One, knowing all of this,

Should turn the unsurpassed wheel!"

The Buddha, Shakyamuni, told the Bhikshus, "When the Buddha Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory attained Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, in each of the ten directions, five hundred myriads of millions of Buddha worlds quaked in six ways. The dark recesses between those lands that the awesome light of the sun and moon could not illumine then were brightly lit, and the living beings therein were able to see one another. They all said 'where have all these living beings come from?' Further, in those lands, all the heavenly palaces, up to the Brahma palaces, quaked in six ways. A great light shone everywhere, illumining the entire universe and surpassing the light of the heavens."

At that time, in five hundred myriads of millions of lands to the east, the Brahma Heaven palaces shone with a light twice that of their usual brightness. Each of the Brahma Heaven Kings had this thought, "now the palaces are brighter than ever before. What is the reason for this manifestation?"

Then, the Brahma Heaven Kings visited one another and discussed this matter. In the assembly there was one great Brahma Heaven King by the name of Rescuing All, who on behalf of the Brahma hosts spoke verses, saying,

All of our palaces

Are bright as never before;

What is the reason for this?

Let us seek it together.

Is it because a great and virtuous god had been born?

Or because a Buddha has appeared in the world

That this great light

Shines throughout the ten directions?

At that time, the Brahma Heaven Kings from five hundred myriads of millions of lands, together with their palaces, each with sacks filled with heavenly flowers, went to the west to seek out this manifestation. They saw the Thus Come One Great-Penetrating-Wisdom Victory seated on the lion throne beneath the Bodhi tree in the Bodhimanda, revered and circumambulated by gods, dragon kings, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, and beings both human and non-human. They saw as well the sixteen sons of the king requesting the Buddha to turn the Dharma Wheel.

Then, the Brahma Heaven Kings bowed with their heads at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him a hundred thousand times, and scattered heavenly flowers upon him. The flowers were piled as high as Mount Sumeru, and they offered them as well to the Buddha's Bodhi tree, which was ten Yojanas in height. Having made offerings of flowers, each presented his palace to the Buddha, saying, 'pray show us pity, and benefit us by accepting and occupying these palaces that we offer you!'

Then the Brahma Heaven Kings, in front of the Buddha, with a single mind and the same voice, spoke verses in praise, saying:

"World Honored One, you are very rare,

And difficult to encounter;

Complete with limitless meritorious virtues,

You are able to rescue and protect all creatures.

Great teacher of gods and humans,

You who pity all the world

All beings in the ten directions

Receive your beneficence.

We have come from

Five hundred myriads of millions of lands,

Setting aside the bliss of deep Dhyana samadhi,

For the sake of making offerings ot the Buddha.

Blessings we've gained in former lives

Well ornament our palaces.

Now we offer them to the World Honored One,

Only praying you will show mercy and accept them.

At that time, the Brahma Heaven Kings, having praised the Buddha, said "We only pray that the World Honored One will turn the Dharma wheel, crossing over living beings, opening up the way to Nirvana." Then; all the Brahma Heaven Kings with one mind and the same voice, proclaimed these verses:

"Hero of the World, doubly perfect honored one,

We only pray that you will expound and proclaim the Dharma,

And through the power of your great compassion and pity

Cross over suffering and tormented living beings.

Thereupon, the Thus Come One Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory, assented by his silence.

Furthermore, O Bhikshus, to the southeast the great Brahma Kings in five hundred myriads of millions of lands, seeing their palaces in dazzling brilliance as never before, jumped for joy, thinking it rare indeed.

They visited one another and discussed this matter. Then, in the assembly, a Brahma Heaven King by the name of Great Compassion, on behalf of the Brahma hosts spoke these verses:

"What is the reason for this event?

Whey has this sign appeared?

All of our palaces

Are aglow as never before.

Has a greatly virtuous god been born?

Or has a Buddha appeared in the world?

We have never seen such signs before.

With one mind we should investigate it,

Passing through a thousand myriads of millions of lands,

Searching for the light, investigating it together.

It must be that a Buddha has appeared

To take across the suffering living beings.

At that time, five hundred myriads of millions of Brahma Heaven Kings, together with their palaces, each with sacks filled with heavenly flowers, went to the southwest to seek out this manifestation. They saw the Thus Come One Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory seated on the lion throne beneath the Bodhi tree in the Bodhimanda, revered and circumambulated by gods, dragon kings, Grandharvas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, and beings both human and non-human. They saw, as well, the sixteen sons of the king requesting the Buddha to turn the Dharma wheel.

Then the Brahma Heaven kings bowed with their heads at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him a hundred thousand times, then scattered heavenly flowers upon him. The flowers were piled as high as Mount Sumeru, and they offered them as well to the Buddha's Bodhi tree. Having made offerings of flowers, each presented his palace to the Buddha saying, "Show us pity and benefit us by accepting and occupying these palaces that we offer you!" Then the Buddha, with a single mind and the same voice, spoke verses in praise, saying,

"Sagely Lord, king among gods,

With the kalavinka sound,

To you who pity living beings,

We now reverently bow.

The World Honored One is most rare,

Appearing but once in long ages.

One hundred and eighty aeons have passed

Empty, without a Buddha.

The three evil paths are full.

The hosts of gods decrease.

Now the Buddha has appeared in the world.

To act as eyes for living beings,

As a refuge for the world,

Rescuring and protecting all creatures,

A father for all beings,

Pitying and benefitting them.

Now, through blessings gained in former lives,

We are enabled to meet the World Honored One.

At that time, the Brahma Heaven Gods, having praised the Buddha, said, "We only pray that the World Honored One will take pity on all beings and turn the Dharma wheel to liberate living beings."

Then, the Brahma Heaven Kings, with one mind and a single voice, spoke verses saying,

"Great Sage, turn the Dharma wheel,

To reveal the marks of all Dharmas,

To cross over tormented living beings,

So they may gain great joy.

When living beings hear the Dharma,

They may gaint he way, or be reborn in the heavens;

The evil paths will decrease

And those of patience and goodness will increase.

At that time, the Thus Come One Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory assented by his silence.

Furthermore, O Bhikshus, tothe south, the great Brahma Kings in five hundred myriads of millions of Buddhalands, seeing their palaces in dazzling brilliance as never seen before, jumped for joy, thinking it rare indeed.

Thereupon, they visited one another and discussed this matter, wondering, "why do our palaces glow with the light?" Then, in the assembly a Brahma Heaven King called Wonderful Dharma, on behalf of the Brahma hosts, spoke these verses,

"All of our palaces

Shine with awesome brilliance;

This cannot be for no reason;

We should seek out this sign.

In a hundred thousand aeons,

Such a sign has never been seen.

Has a great and virtuous god been born?

Or has a Buddha appeared in the world?

At that time, five hundred myriads of millions of Brahma Heaven Kings, together with their palaces, each with sacks filled with heavenly flowers, went to the north to seek out this manifestation. They saw the Thus Come One Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory seated on the lion throne beneath the Bodhi tree in the Bodhimanda, revered and circumambulated by gods, Dragon Kings, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, and beings both human and non-human. They saw as well, the sixteen sons of the king requesting the Buddha to turn the Dharma wheel.

Then the Brahma Heaven Kings bowed with their heads at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him a hundred thousand times and scattered heavenly flowers upon him. The flowers were piled as high as Mount Sumeru, and they offered them, as well to the Buddha's Bodhi tree. Having made offerings of flowers, each presented his palace to the Buddha, saying, "Show us pity and benefit us by accepting and occupying these palaces that we offer you." Then the Brahma Heaven Kings, before the Buddha, with a single mind and the same voice, spoke verses in praise, saying,

"The World Honored One is very hard to meet;

He who breaks through all afflictions.

Passing through a hundred and thirty aeons,

Only now do we get to see him.

May living beings, starving and thirsty,

Be filled with the rain of Dharma.

He, whom we have never seen before,

One of unlimited wisdom,

Rare as the Udumbara blossom

Today, at last we have met.

All of our palaces

Receiving your light, are adorned.

In your great compassion, World Honored One

Pray accept and live with them."

At that time, the Brahma Heaven Kings, having praised the Buddha, said "we only pray that the World Honored One will turn the Dharma wheel, causing the entire world with its gods, Maras, Brahmans, Shramanas, all to become peaceful and calm and to attain liberation." Then, the Brahma Heaven Kings, with a single mind and the same voice, spoke verses in praise, saying,

"Honored One among gods and humans,

Pray turn the unsurpassed wheel of Dharma.

Beat upon the Dharma drum,

And blow the great Dharma conch,

Let fall everywhere the great Dharma rain,

To cross over limitless living beings.

We all beseech you to expound and proclaim

The profound, far reaching sound.

Thereupon, the Thus Come One Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory assented by his silence.

And so it was in all directions from the southwest to the lower direction.

Then, five hundred myriads of millions of great Brahma Kings in the upper directions, seeing the palaces they rested in shining with awesome brilliance as never before jumped for joy, thinking it rare indeed.

They visited one another and discussed this matter, wondering, "why do our palaces shine with this bright light?"

Then, in the assembly, a Brahma Heaven King by the name of Shikhin, on behalf of the Brahma hosts, spoke verses, saying,

Now, for what reason

Do our palaces shine

With such an awesome light

Adorned as never before.'

Wondrous marks, such as these

We have never seen before

Has a great and virtuous god been born?

Has a Buddha appeared in the world?

At that time, five hundred myriads of millions of Brahma Heaven Kings, together with their palaces, each with sacks filled with heavenly flowers, went to the lower direction to seek out this sign. They saw the Thus Come One Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory seated on the lion throne beneath the Bodhi tree in the Bodhimanda, revered and circumambulated by gods, Dragon Kings, Gradharvas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, and beings both human and non-human. They saw, as well, the sixteen sons of the king requesting the Buddha to turn the Dharma wheel.

Then, the Brahma Heaven Kings bowed with their heads at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him a hundred thousand times, and scattered heavenly flowers upon the Buddha. The flowers that they scattered were as high as a Mount Sumeru, and they offered them as well to the Buddha's Bodhi tree. Having made offerings of flowers, they each presented their palace as an offering to the Buddha, saying, "We only pray that you will show us pity and benefit us by accepting and occupying these palaces." Then the Brahma Heaven Kings, before the Buddha, with one mind and a single voice, spoke these verses:

"It's good indeed to see the Buddhas,

Honored Sages who save the world

And who, from the prison of the Three Realm

Can affect escape for living beings,

All-wise, revered by gods and humans,

Pitying the flocks of beings

Opening the door of sweet dew,

Vastly saving all beings.

Limitless aeons of yore

Have passed emptily, without a Buddha.

Before the World Honored One emerged,

The ten directions were ever in darkness,

The Three Evil Paths increased,

And the Asuras flourished,

While the hosts of gods diminished,

Most falling into evil paths at death.

They did not hear the Dharma from the Buddha,

But ever followed unwholesome paths.

Their bodily strength and wisdom,

Both decreased.

Because of offense Karma

They lost joy and thoughts of joy.

They dwelt in Dharmas of deviant views,

Not knowing the rules of goodness.

Failing to receive the Buddha's transforming,

They constantly fell into evil paths.

The Buddha acts as eyes for all the world,

And but once in a long while does appear.

Out of pity for living beings,

He manifests in the world,

Transcends it and realizes right enlightenment.

We rejoice exceedingly;

We and all the other beings,

Are happy as never before,

And all of our palaces

Receive the light and are adorned.

We now offer them to the World Honored One.

May we pity us and accept them.

We vow that this merit and virtue

May extend to all living beings,

So that we and all beings

May together realize the Buddha Way.

At that time, the five hundred myriads of millions of Brahma Heaven Gods, having praised the Buddha in verse, addressed the Buddha, saying, "We only pray that the World Honored One will turn the Dharma Wheel to bring tranquility and liberation to many beings." Then, the Brahma Heaven King spoke these verses of praise:

"World Honored One, turn the Dharma Wheel

Sound the sweet dew Dharma-drum,

To cross over tormented living beings,

Showing them Nirvana's path.

Pray, accept our request,

And, with the great and subtle sound,

Pity us, and set forth,

Dharma gathered through countless aeons.

At that time, the Thus Come One Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory, having received the request of the Brahma Heaven Kings of the ten directions, as well as the sixteen princes. Thereupon, three times turned the Dharma Wheel of twelve parts which cannot be turned by Shramanas, Brahmans, Gods, Maras, Brahmas, or other beings of the world. He said, "This is suffering. This is the origination of suffering. This is the extinction of suffering. This the way to the extinction of suffering.

And he extensively set forth the Dharma of the twelve causes and conditions: ignorance conditions dispositions. Dispositions condition consciousness. Consciousness conditions name and form.

Name and form condition the six sense organs. The six sense organs condition contact. Contact conditions feeling.

Feeling conditions craving. Craving conditions grasping. Grasping conditions becoming.

Becoming conditions birth. Birth conditions old age and death, worry, grief, suffering and distress. When ignorance is extinguished, dispositions are extinguished.

When dispositions are extinguished, then consciousness is extinguished. When consciousness is extinguished, then name and form are extinguished. When name and form are extinguished, then the six sense organs are extinguished, then contact is extinguished.

When contact is extinguished, then feeling is extinguished. When feeling is extinguished, then craving is extinguished. When craving is extinguished, then grasping is extinguished.

When grasping is extinguished, then becoming is extinguished. When becoming is extinguished, then birth is extinguished. When birth is extinguished, then old age and death, worry, grief, suffering and distress are extinguished.

When the Buddha spoke this Dharma, amidst the great assembly of gods and humans, six hundred myriads of millions of Nayutas human beings, because they did not grasp at any Dharmas, had their minds liberated from all outflows. All attained profound and subtle Dhyana concentration, the Three Clarities, the Six Penetrations, and perfected the Eight Liberations. The second, third, and fourth times he set forth this Dharma, thousands of millions of Nayutas of living beings, their numbers like the Ganges' sand, also because they did not grasp at any Dharmas, had their minds liberated from outflows. From that time onwards, the assembly of Sound Hearers was unlimited, boundless, and unreckonable.

At that time the sixteen princes all left home as virgin youths and became Shramaneras. They all possessed sharp faculties and clear wisdom. They had already made offerings to hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of Buddhas, purely cultivating Brahman conduct, seeking Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.

They all spoke to the Buddha, saying, "World Honored One, all these limitless thousands of myriads of millions of greatly virtuous Sound Hearers already have reached accomplishment. World Honored One, you should, for our sakes, also, speak the Dharma of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Having heard it, we will all cultivate and study it. World Honored One, we all aspire to the Thus Come One's knowledge and vision. As to the thoughts deep within our minds, the Buddha himself knows."

Then, the multitudes, led by the Wheel Turning Sage King, eighty thousand million of them, upon seeing the sixteen princes leave home, also sought to leave home, and the king permitted them to do so.

At that time, the Buddha, having received the request of the sixteen Shramaneras, after twenty thousand aeons, then at last, amidst the four-fold assembly, spoke the Great Vehicle sutra by the name of the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower, a Dharma for instructing Bodhisattvas of whom the Buddha is protective and mindful. After he spoke the Sutra, the sixteen Shramaneras, for the sake of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, all received, upheld and recited it and keenly penetrated its meaning.

When the Sutra was spoken, the sixteen Bodhisattva Shramaneras all received it with faith. Among the host of Sound Hearers, too, there were those who had faith in it and understood it. The remaining thousands of myriads of millions of living beings, however, all gave rise to doubts.

The Buddha spoke this Sutra for eighty thousand aeons without cessation.

When he had finished speaking the Sutra, he entered a quiet room where he remained in Dhyana Samadhi for eighty-four thousand aeons.

Then the sixteen Bodhisattva Shramaneras, knowing that the Buddha had entered his room and was silently absorbed in Dhyana Samadhi, each ascended the Dharma seat. For a period of eighty-four thousand aeons, for the sake of the four-fold assembly, they spoke the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra extensively and in detail. Each one of them crossed over six hundred myriads of millions of Nayutas of Ganges' sands of living beings, instructing them with the teaching, benefitting them, making them rejoice and causing them to bring forth the thought of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.

After eighty-four thousand aeons had passed, the Buddha Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory arose from Samadhi, approached the Dharma throne and serenely sat down upon it. He addressed the great assembly, saying, "These sixteen Bodhisattva Shramaneras are very rare. All their faculties are keen and their wisdom is clear. They have in the past already made offerings to limitless thousands of myriads of millions of Buddhas. In the presence of those Buddhas, they constantly cultivated Brahman conduct, accepting and upholding the Buddha's wisdom, instructing living beings and causing them to enter into it.

"You should all make a point of drawing near to and making offerings to them. Why? Those Sound Hearers, Pratyeka Buddhas, or Bodhisattvas who can have faith in the Dharma of the Sutra spoken by these sixteen Bodhisattvas, accept and uphold it without defaming it, will all attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, that is, the wisdom of the Thus Come One."

The Buddha told the Bhikshus, "These sixteen Bodhisattvas always delight in speaking the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra. Each Bodhisattva has transformed six hundred myriads of millions of Nayutas of Ganges' sands of living beings who, life after life were born together with the Bodhisattvas and heard the Dharma from them, fully believing and understanding it. For this reason, they have met up with forty thousand millions of Buddhas, World Honored Ones and to this moment have not stopped doing so.

"Bhikshus, I will tell you, those disciples of the Buddha, the sixteen Shramaneras, have all now attained Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, and in the lands of the ten directions, are presently speaking the Dharma. They have as their retinues limitless hundreds of thousands of millions of Bodhisattvas and Sound Hearers. Two have become Buddhas in the East: One is named Akshobhya, in the Land of Happiness.

The other is named Sumeru Peak. Two have become Buddhas in the Southeast: One is named Lion Sound. The other is named Lion Sign.

Two have become Buddhas in the South: One is named Space Dweller. The other is named Eternal Extinction. Two have become Buddhas in the Southwest: One is named Royal Sign.

The other is named Brahma Sign. Two have become Buddhas in the West: One is named Amitayus. The other is named Savior of all Worlds from Suffering and Anguish.

Two have become Buddhas in the Northwest. One is named Tamalapa-trachandana Fragrance and Spiritual Penetrations. The other is named Sumeru Sign.

Two have become Buddhas in the North. One is named Cloud Self-Mastery. The other is named King of Cloud Self-Mastery.

In the Northeast there is a Buddha by the name of Destroyer of All Worldly Fear. The other Buddha, the sixteenth, is myself, Shakyamuni Buddha, here in the Saha World, where I have realized Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.

"Bhikshus, we, are Shramaneras each taught and transformed limitless hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of Ganges' sands of living beings, who, hearing the Dharma from us, were set towards Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.

"Of these living beings, there are those who dwell at the level of Sound Hearers. I constantly instruct and transform them in Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. All these people will, by means of this Dharma, gradually enter the Buddha Path. Why? The Thus Come One's wisdom is hard to believe and hard to understand.

"The living beings, limitless as Ganges' sands, who I transformed at that time are you, yourselves, Bhikshus, and are also those who will be Sound Hearer disciples in the future, after my extinction.

"After my extinction, furthermore, there will be disciples who will not hear this Sutra, who will not know or be aware of the Bodhisattva conduct, but who will through the attainment of their own merit and virtue give rise to the thought of extinction and who will enter Nirvana. I shall be a Buddha in another land, with another name. Although these people will have produced the thought of extinction and enter into Nirvana, they will, in those lands, seek the Buddha's wisdom and get to hear this Sutra and that it is only by means of the Buddha-vehicle that extinction can be attained. There are no other vehicles, except for those expedient devices taught by other Thus Come Ones.

"Bhikshus, when the Thus Come One knows of himself, that the time of his Nirvana has come, that the assembly is pure, that their faith and understanding are solid and firm, that they fully comprehend the Dharma emptiness and have deeply entered into Dhyana Samadhi, he will gather together the host of Bodhisattvas and Sound Hearers and speak this Sutra for them, saying, 'there are not two vehicles by which extinction is attained. There is only the One Buddha Vehicle by which extinction can be attained.'

"Bhikshus, you should know, the expedients of the Thus Come deeply enter the natures of living beings. Knowing that they aspire to and are content with lesser Dharmas and are deeply attached to the Five Desires, he speaks to them of Nirvana. When they hear him, then they immediately believe and accept it.

"It is as if, for example, there is a road, five hundred Yojanas long, steep dangerous and bad, an uninhabited and terrifying place. A large group of people wish to travel this road to reach a cache of precious jewels. Among them, there is a guide, intelligent, wise and clear-headed, who knows the road well, both its passable and impassable features. And who wishes to lead the group through this hardship.

"Midway, the group he is leading grows weary and wishes to turn back. They say to the guide, 'We are exhausted and afraid. We cannot go forward. Its too far. We want to turn back now.'

"Their leader, who has many expedients, has this thought; 'How pitiful they are. How can they renounce the great and precious treasure and wish to turn back?' Having had this thought, through the power of his expedient devices, he transforms a city in the center of the dangerous road, three hundred Yojanas in extent, and says to them, 'Do not be afraid. Do not turn back; stay here now in this great city I have created just for you. If you go into this city, you will be happy and at peace. If you then wish to proceed to the jewel cache, you may do so.'

"Then the exhausted group rejoiced greatly, having gained what they had never had. 'We have now escaped this bad road and gained happiness and peace.' Then the group went forward and entered the transformed city; thinking that they had already been saved, they felt happy and at peace.

"At that time, the guide, knowing that they were rested and no longer weary, made the city disappear, saying to them, 'All of you, come, let us go. The jewel cache is near. The great city was merely something I created from transformation to give you a rest.'

"Bhikshus, the Thus Come One is also like this. He now acts as a great guide for all of you. He knows that living beings should leave and cross over the evil road of the torments of birth and death which is so steep, difficult and long.

If living beings only hear of the One Buddha Vehicle, they will not wish to see the Buddha or to draw near to him. Instead, they will think, 'the Buddha path is long and far; it can only be accomplished after much labor and suffering.' The Buddha knows their minds to be weak and lowly. When they are half-way there, he uses the power of expedients to speak of the two Nirvanas in order to give them a rest.

If living beings dwell on these two levels, the Thus Come One then tells them, 'You have not yet finished your job. The level you are dwelling at is near the Buddhas' wisdom. You should observe and ponder this: the Nirvana you have attained is not the real one.

The Thus Come One has but used the power of his expedients and, within the One Buddha Vehicle, discriminated and spoken of three.'

At that time the World Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke verses saying,

The Buddha Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory

Sat in the Bodhimanda for ten aeons,

Without the manifestation of the Buddha Dharmas,

And he did not realize the Buddha Way.

Heavenly spirits and Dragon Kings,

And the host of Asuras,

Consantly rained down heavenly flowers,

As an offering to that Buddha.

The Gods beat upon their heavenly drums

And made all kinds of music;

Fragrant breezes blew away the withered flowers

And fine, new ones rained down.

When ten aeons had passed,

He then realized the Buddha Way.

All the gods and humans,

Danced for the joy within their minds.

The sixteen sons of that Buddha

As well as their retinues,

Thousands of millions surrounding them,

All went before that Buddha.

They bowed with their heads at his feet

"May the sagely lion's Dharma rain

Fill us and everyone!"

A World Honored One is very hard to encounter,

Appearing but once in a long time.

In order to awaken all creatures,

He shakes all things.

In five hundred myriads of millions of lands,

In worlds in the eastern direction,

Brahma palaces shone with a light

Such as they never had before.

The Brahmas, seeing these signs,

Followed them to the Buddha;

They scattered flowers as an offering,

And offered up their palaces,

Asking the Buddha to turn the Dharma wheel,

With verses in his praise.

The Buddha knew the time had not yet come

And received their request seated in silence.

From the other three directions, and four points between,

And, likewise, from above, and below,

They scattered flowers and offered their palaces,

Asking the Buddha to turn the Dharma wheel:

"The World Honored One is very hard to meet;

We pray that through his great compassion and pity.

He will open wide the sweet dew door

And turn the supreme Dharma wheel."

The World Honored One, having limitless wisdom,

Received the multitude's request

And proclaimed various Dharmas for their sakes.

The Four Turths, the Twelve Conditions,

From ignorance up to old age and death -

All arise because of birth.

In this way the host of calamities comes to be;

You should all know this.

When he expounded on this Dharma

Six hundred myriads of millions of billions

Exhausted the limits of all suffering

And all became Arhats.

When he spoke the Dharma the second time,

Hosts like the sands of a thousand myriads of Ganges Rivers

Their minds grasping no Dharmas,

Also attained Arhatship.

After that, those who gained the Way,

Were incalculable in number;

Were one to count through myriads of milions of aeons.

One could not reach their limit.

At that time, the sixteen princes,

Left home and became Shramaneras.

Together they requested that the Buddha

Extensively proclaim the Dharma of the Great Vehicle:

"May we and our followers

All perfect the Buddha Way.

We wish to become like the World Honored One,

With the wisdom eye and foremost purity."

The Buddha, knowing the intentions of the youths,

Their practices in former lives,

Used limitless causes and conditions

And various analogies,

To teach them the Six Paramitas,

As well as matters of spiritual penetrations.

He discriminated the real Dharma,

And the pathway walked by the Bodhisattvas.

He spoke The Dharma Flower Sutra

Its verses in numbers like Gange's sands.

After that Buddha had spoken the Sutra

In a quiet room he entered Dyhana Samadhi

Single-mindedly sitting in one place,

For eighty-four thousand aeons.

All the Shramaneras,

Knowing the Buddha had not yet left Dhyana,

For the sake of the limitless millions assembled,

Spoke of the Buddha's unsurpassed wisdom.

Each seated on his Dharma throne,

Spoke this Great Vehicle Sutra.

After the Buddha had become peacefully still,

They propagated and taught the Dharma.

Each one of the Shramaneras

Took across living beings

To the number of grains of sand

In six hundred myriads of Ganges rivers.

After that Buddha had crossed over into extinction,

All those who heard the Dharma,

In whatever Buddhalands they might be,

Were reborn there together with their teachers.

The sixteen Shramaneras

Perfectly practiced the Buddha Path.

Presently in the ten directions

Each has realized proper enlightenment.

Those who heard the Dharma then,

Are each in the presence of a Buddha;

Those who are Sound Hearers,

Are gradually taught the Buddha Path.

I was one of the sixteen;

In the past, I taught all of you.

I therefore use expedients

To draw you into the Buddha's wisdom.

Through these former causal conditions,

I presently speak The Dharma Flower Sutra,

Leading you to enter the Buddha Path.

Take care not to become frightened.

Suppose there is a steep and bad road,

Remote and teeming with venomous beasts,

Lacking, as well as, water or grass

– A place feared by all.

Countless thousands of myriads

Wish to traverse this dangerous road

With its pathways so distant,

Extending five hundred Yojanas.

There is among them a guide,

Intelligent and wise,

Clear and resolute in mind,

Who can rescue them from their difficulty.

The group grows weary

And says to the guide,

"We are all exhausted, now

And want to turn back."

The guide thinks to himself,

"How very pitiful they are.

How can they wish to turn back

and lose the great and precious treasure?"

Instantly he thinks of a device:

Using the power of spiritual penetrations

He conjures up a great city

Adorned with houses,

Surrounded by gardens and groves,

Brooks and bathing ponds,

Layered gates and tiered pavilions,

Filled with men and women.

After creating this,

He pities them saying, "Do not be afraid.

But go into this city

And enjoy yourselves as you wish."

When they had entered the city,

They rejoiced greatly at heart

Thinking they were safe and sound,

And that they had been saved.

The guide, knowing they were rested,

Assembled them together and said,

"You should all go forward,

For this is nothing but a transformed city.

Seeing that you were exhausted

And wanted to turn back midway,

I used the power of expedients,

To transform provisionally this city.

You should now be vigorous

And proceed to the jewel cache."

I, too, am like this,

I am the guide of all;

Seeing those who seek the way,

Exhausted in mid-course

Unable to cross the dangerous paths,

Of birth, death and affliction,

Therefore, I use the power of expedients,

To speak of Nirvana and give them a rest,

Saying, "Your sufferings are ended.

You have done what you had to do.

Then, knowing they have reached Nirvana,

And had all become Arhats,

I gather them together,

To teach them the genuine Dharma.

The Buddhas use the power of expedients,

To discriminate and speak of Three Vehicles

But there is only the One Buddha Vehicle.

The other two were spoken as a resting place.

What I am telling you now is the truth;

What you have gained is not extinction.

For the sake of the Buddha's all wisdom,

You should exert yourselves with great vigor.

When you have certified to all wisdom,

And have the Ten Powers and other Buddha Dharmas

And have perfected the Thirty-two Marks,

Then that is genuine extinction.

The Buddhas, the guiding masters,

Speak of Nirvana to give living beings rest,

But once they know that they are rested,

They lead them into the Buddhas' wisdom.

Verse in Summary:

Moistening all the three dispositions

The disciples receive the (Buddha's) kindness;

But the transformed city is falsely created and is not real.

One takes another look at the causes behind

(the Buddha Great Penetrating Wisdom Victory.)

So the sixteen grandsons,

In the eight directions, certify to a golden body.

Homage to the Dharma Flower Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Homage to the Dharma Flower Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Homage to the Dharma Flower Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.