VIMALAKIRTI SUTRA
Translated by Imperial Edict
Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva of Yao Qin
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Chapter Fourteen
ENTRUSTMENT
At that time, the Buddha said to Bodhisattva Maitreya:
“Maitreya, I now entrust to you this Dharma of unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment, gathered over immeasurable hundreds of millions of asaṃkhyeya kalpas. After the Buddha’s passing, in the final age, you and others should, by spiritual power, widely proclaim and spread sutras such as this throughout Jambudvipa, and do not let them be cut off.
“Why? In future times there will be good men and good women, as well as devas, dragons, spirits, gandharvas, raksasas, and others who bring forth the mind of unsurpassed enlightenment and delight in the Great Dharma. If they do not hear sutras such as this, they will lose great benefit. If such people hear this sutra, they will deeply trust and rejoice, give rise to a rare and extraordinary mind, and receive it with highest reverence. Then, according to what benefits beings should receive, they should teach it widely.
“Maitreya, know that bodhisattvas have two outward marks. What are the two?
“First, delight in embellished phrases and rhetorical ornament.
“Second, fearlessness before profound meaning and ability to enter reality as it is.
“Those who delight in ornate phrasing are newly learning bodhisattvas. Those who, regarding such unstained and unattached profound scriptures, are unafraid, can enter them, and after hearing them keep a pure mind, receive, uphold, recite, and practice as taught-these should be known as those long-cultivated in the path.
“Maitreya, there are again two traits of newly learning bodhisattvas who cannot become settled in profound Dharma. What are they?
“First, when they hear profound sutras, they become frightened and doubtful, cannot accord with them, slander and disbelieve, saying, ‘I never heard this before; where did it come from?’
“Second, if there are those who protect, uphold, and explain such profound sutras, they do not draw near, make offerings, or show respect; sometimes they even speak of those teachers’ faults.
“Whoever has these two traits should be known as a newly learning bodhisattva harming himself, unable to tame his mind in profound Dharma.
“Maitreya, there are also two traits whereby bodhisattvas, though believing and understanding profound Dharma, still harm themselves and cannot attain the patience of non-arising. What are they?
“First, they belittle newly learning bodhisattvas and do not teach or guide them.
“Second, though they believe and understand profound Dharma, they still grasp marks and discriminate.
“These are the two.”
When Maitreya heard this, he said to the Buddha:
“World-Honored One, unprecedented indeed. As the Buddha has taught, I will stay far from such faults and uphold the Dharma of unsurpassed enlightenment gathered by the Tathagata over immeasurable asaṃkhyeya kalpas.
“In future ages, if good men and good women seek the Great Vehicle, I will enable them to obtain sutras such as this, grant them mindful power, and help them receive, uphold, recite, and expound it widely for others.
“World-Honored One, in the final age, those who can receive, uphold, recite, and teach it to others should be known as established through Maitreya’s spiritual power.”
The Buddha said:
“Excellent, excellent, Maitreya. As you have spoken, I rejoice and approve.”
Then all bodhisattvas joined their palms and said to the Buddha:
“After the Tathagata’s passing, in lands of the ten directions, we too will widely proclaim and spread the Dharma of unsurpassed enlightenment. We will further guide all Dharma teachers so they may obtain and understand this sutra.”
At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings said to the Buddha:
“World-Honored One, wherever there are cities, towns, villages, forests, or wildernesses where this sutra is held, recited, and explained, we will lead our retinues there to hear the Dharma and protect that person. Within a radius of one hundred yojanas, we will ensure no one can find an opportunity to harm them.”
Then the Buddha said to Ananda:
“Receive and uphold this sutra, and widely proclaim and spread it.”
Ananda said:
“Yes, World-Honored One, I have received and upheld its essentials.
“World-Honored One, by what title should this sutra be known?”
The Buddha said:
“Ananda, this sutra is called The Teaching of Vimalakirti. It is also called The Dharma-Gate of Inconceivable Liberation. Receive and uphold it accordingly.”
When the Buddha finished teaching this sutra, the elder Vimalakirti, Manjusri, Sariputra, Ananda, devas, humans, asuras, and the entire great assembly, hearing what the Buddha had taught, all rejoiced greatly, believed, accepted, and faithfully practiced.
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THE END