Flower Adornment Sutra
(Avatamsaka Sutra)
Commentary: Venerable Master Hsuan Hua (宣化)
Chinese translation: Tang Dynasty by the Tripitaka Master Shramana Shikshananda of Khotan
Vietnamese translation: Bhikshu Thích Minh Định
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Chapter 3 – Chapter on Samantabhadra’s Samādhi
Chapter Three In the Avatamsaka Sutra, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra is the foremost among the great Bodhisattvas and is also the principal Dharma teacher. He rides a great white elephant with six tusks (the elephant symbolizes great practice; the six tusks represent the six perfections, and the white color symbolizes purity). Any sentient being who sincerely chants and praises his sacred name will surely have Bodhisattva Samantabhadra appear before them to save and liberate them, enabling them to leave the sea of suffering and attain liberation. “Samadhi” is a Sanskrit word translated as “right concentration and right reception”; it refers to Bodhisattva Samantabhadra cultivating right concentration and attaining its benefits. Since this is the third chapter, it is called “The Third Chapter on Samantabhadra’s Samadhi.” At that time, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Samantabhadra, seated before the Tathāgata on a lion throne of a lotus treasury, entered samādhi through the Buddha’s spiritual power.
At that time, the great Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, seated before the Tathagata on the lion throne of the Lotus Treasury, entered samadhi through the Buddha’s spiritual power.
Commentary: After the second chapter had been expounded, the great Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, seated on the Lotus Treasury lion throne before Shakyamuni Buddha, relied on the Buddha’s majestic spiritual power and received the Buddha’s blessing, then entered samādhi.
When the great Bodhisattvas expound the Dharma, in every movement and action they say that they rely on the Buddha’s spiritual power, not their own. This is because Bodhisattvas have not yet become Buddhas; they are still “Those Who Have a Superior” (有上士), for above them there is still a Buddha, the “Unsurpassed One” (無上士). They have not yet attained Buddhahood. Therefore, in every movement and action, every word and deed, Bodhisattvas take the Buddha as their refuge. Hence they say that they rely on the Buddha’s spiritual power.
This samadhi is called the Tathāgata-garbha body of Vairocana of all Buddhas, which universally enters the equal nature of all Buddhas, can manifest myriad images throughout the Dharma realm, is vast and unobstructed, and is equal to space; the ocean-spring of the Dharma realm,
Commentary: This is the name of a samādhi, called “The Treasury Body of Vairocana Tathāgata of All Buddhas,” which is also just like Vairocana Buddha. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva enters everywhere into the equal nature of all Buddhas and manifests images of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Pratyekabuddhas, and all other forms throughout empty space and the Dharma realm. His spiritual powers are vast and unobstructed, as numerous as the oceans of empty space and the Dharma realm; there is no place he cannot reach.
There is nothing it does not enter; it gives rise to all the dharmas of samādhi and can universally encompass and contain the Dharma realms of the ten directions. The oceans of wisdom-light of all Buddhas of the three times arise from it, and it can manifest all the oceans of established arrangements throughout the ten directions.
Commentary: Bodhisattva Samantabhadra attained the samādhi that is the mother of all samādhis, the one from which all samādhi teachings arise. This samādhi can encompass and contain the entire Dharma realm in all ten directions. The ocean of wisdom and light of the Buddhas of the three times also arises from this samādhi. All the Buddha lands, Dharma teachings, and places of awakening throughout the ten directions are established within this samādhi, which manifests all these various realms.
It contains all the powers and liberations of the Buddhas and the wisdom of the bodhisattvas; it can enable every mote of dust in every land to contain boundless Dharma realms; it brings to completion all oceans of the Buddhas’ virtues; it reveals all oceans of the Tathāgatas’ great vows; and it circulates, upholds, and protects all the Dharma wheels possessed by all Buddhas, ensuring that they are never interrupted.
Commentary: The samādhi of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra contains all of the Buddha’s ten powers and powers of liberation, together with all the wisdom of the Bodhisattvas. It can cause the particles in all the lands of the Buddhas to contain innumerable, boundless worlds, and bring to fulfillment all the oceans of the Buddha’s qualities and merits. It also reveals all the oceans of the Buddha’s great vows. All the Buddhas of the ten directions and three times turn the Wheel of Dharma, propagate this Dharma, and uphold it, ensuring that the Buddhadharma never becomes extinct and remains in the world forever.
Just as in this world, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra entered this samadhi before the Bhagavan, so too, throughout the Dharma realm and the realm of space, in the ten directions and the three times, in all subtle, unobstructed, vast and luminous realms seen by the Buddha-eye, reached by the Buddha’s power, and manifested by the Buddha-body—and in every mote of dust in these realms—within each mote there are as many Buddha-lands as motes in an ocean of worlds; in each land there are as many Buddhas as motes in an ocean of worlds; and before each Buddha there are as many Bodhisattvas Samantabhadra as motes in an ocean of worlds. They all likewise enter this samadhi of the treasury-body of Vairocana Tathagata, the Buddha of all Buddhas.
Commentary: In this Saha world, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, in the presence of Shakyamuni Buddha, entered the samadhi of the treasury-body of Vairocana Tathagata, all Buddhas. In this samadhi, throughout the Dharma realm, the realm of space, and the ten directions and three times, there is no obstruction—not even in the tiniest place, nor even in a vast area of a hundred thousand yojanas. There is no obstruction anywhere among the heavens, humans, sun, moon, or radiance. Wherever the Buddha’s eye can see, wherever the Buddha’s power can reach, and wherever the Buddha’s body can manifest, the samadhi of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra can reach throughout all the lands in the ten directions.
All the dust particles in the Saha world and all the lands in the ten directions contain, within each dust particle, Buddha-lands as numerous as the dust particles in the world-ocean. Within each Buddha-land are Buddhas as numerous as the dust particles in the world-ocean. Before each Buddha are Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas, as numerous as the dust particles in the world-ocean, entering this samādhi of the Treasury Body of Vairocana Tathāgata of all Buddhas.
At that time, before each and every Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, all the Buddhas of the ten directions appeared. Those Tathāgatas praised him in unison, saying, “Excellent! Excellent, good man! You are able to enter this bodhisattva samādhi of the treasury body of Vairocana Tathāgata, the Buddha of all Buddhas.”
Commentary: At that time, before each Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Buddhas from the ten directions appeared. With different mouths but in one voice, they praised Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, saying, “Well done! Well done! Samantabhadra, you are a good man. You have entered this samadhi of the Tathagata Treasury Body of Vairocana, the Buddha of all Buddhas.”
O child of the Buddha, this is the joint empowerment bestowed upon you by all the Buddhas of the ten directions, through the power of the original vows of the Tathāgata Vairocana, and also through the power of your practice of the conduct and vows of all the Buddhas.
Commentary: After all the Buddhas had praised Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, they said further: “Son of the Buddha! This is because the Buddhas of the ten directions have all bestowed their blessings upon you, enabling you to enter this samādhi. You have attained this samādhi through the power of Vairocana Buddha’s original vows and through cultivating the power of the practices and vows of all the Buddhas.”
That is, because it can turn the Dharma wheel of every Buddha; reveal the ocean of wisdom of all Tathagatas; universally illuminate, without exception, the oceans of all world systems throughout the ten directions; enable all sentient beings to purify and hold in check their defilements, thereby attaining purity; embrace all great lands without attachment; penetrate the realms of all Buddhas without obstruction; universally reveal the virtues of all Buddhas; enter the true aspect of all dharmas and increase wisdom; observe all Dharma gates; understand the faculties of all sentient beings; and retain the ocean of teachings of all Buddhas and Tathagatas.
Commentary: When Bodhisattva Samantabhadra entered this samādhi, he attained various accomplishments: He was able to turn the wondrous Dharma wheel of all Buddhas throughout the ten directions and three periods of time; reveal and expound the ocean of wisdom of all Buddhas; and shine throughout all the oceans of arrangements established in the Dharma realms of the ten directions. He turned the Dharma wheel to teach and transform sentient beings, enabling all their habitual tendencies and faults to be completely eliminated, ignorance to be eradicated, afflictions to be extinguished, and their minds to become pure and unstained.
The good deeds we do have a little of an evil cause mixed in. The bad karma we create also has a little good karma mixed in. Thus, good and evil are mixed together, and purity and defilement intermingle. Purification means removing the evil causes and retaining the good ones. It is like panning for gold in the sand, searching bit by bit. Purity and defilement are originally mixed together; through purification, the defiled dharmas are eliminated, and purity is attained.
While dwelling in this samādhi, although Bodhisattva Samantabhadra can encompass and uphold all lands, he has no attachment. He enters deeply into all the realms of the Buddhas without obstruction, universally manifests all the virtues of all the Buddhas, and can increase great wisdom by entering into the true nature of all dharmas. He can also contemplate the eighty-four thousand Dharma gates. To teach the Dharma and guide sentient beings, one must first understand their faculties; only then can the teaching be effective. Bodhisattva Samantabhadra skillfully cultivates and upholds the teachings of all the Buddhas. Although the treasury of sutras is vast as the ocean, he cultivates them all to perfection.
At that time, all the Buddhas of the ten directions bestowed upon Samantabhadra Bodhisattva Mahāsattva the wisdom of the power to enter the nature of omniscience; the wisdom of entering the immeasurable expanse of the Dharma Realm; the wisdom of accomplishing the realms of all Buddhas; the wisdom of knowing the arising and destruction of all world-oceans; the wisdom of knowing the vastness of all realms of sentient beings; the wisdom of abiding in the profound liberation of all Buddhas and in all samādhis without distinction; the wisdom of entering the ocean of faculties of all Bodhisattvas; the wisdom of compassionate eloquence in turning the Dharma wheel, knowing the ocean of languages of all sentient beings; the wisdom of a body that universally enters all worlds throughout the Dharma Realm; and the wisdom of attaining the sounds of all Buddhas.
Commentary: At that time, all the Buddhas of the ten directions came to bless and empower the great Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, bestowing upon him all kinds of powers and enabling him to enter into all wisdom.
1). The Buddhas of the ten directions bestow wisdom upon Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, enabling him to enter the power of the nature of all wisdom.
2). The Buddhas of the ten directions bestow wisdom upon Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, wisdom that enables him to enter throughout all of empty space and the immeasurable, boundless Dharma realm.
3). The Buddhas of the ten directions bestow wisdom upon Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, enabling him to attain all the realms of the Buddhas. Because he possesses this wisdom, he serves as the principal expounder of this Sutra.
4). The Buddhas of the ten directions bestow wisdom upon Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, enabling him to know that all world-oceans have the four phases of formation, abiding, decay, and emptiness.
The period of a world’s formation is twenty small kalpas; its period of abiding is twenty small kalpas; its period of destruction is twenty small kalpas; and its period of emptiness is twenty small kalpas. A world passes through eighty small kalpas—that is, four intermediate kalpas (one intermediate kalpa is twenty small kalpas)—to make one great kalpa. Once this world is formed, sentient beings dwell in it. After it has abided, it will deteriorate and be destroyed; after its destruction, it becomes empty, with nothing left. Once empty, it becomes a world again. It ends and begins anew, changing in a cycle without end.
The Bodhisattva Samantabhadra fully understands how this world comes into being, how it abides, how it is destroyed, and how it becomes empty. He has this wisdom.
5). The Buddhas of the ten directions bestow wisdom upon Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, enabling him to know the vast ocean of all sentient beings.
6). The Buddhas of the ten directions bestow wisdom upon Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, causing him to abide in the profound liberation that is identical to all the samādhis of the Buddhas.
7). The Buddhas of the ten directions bestow wisdom upon Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, enabling him to enter the oceans of the faculties of all Bodhisattvas.
8). The Buddhas of the ten directions bestow wisdom upon Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, enabling him to thoroughly understand all the oceans of sentient beings’ languages and to turn the Dharma wheel with eloquence.
9). The Buddhas of the ten directions bestow wisdom upon Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, enabling him to deeply enter the Dharma realm of all world-oceans; this also means that he manifests his body wherever appropriate.
10). The Buddhas of the ten directions bestow wisdom upon Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, enabling him to attain all the Buddhas’ sounds—that is, sounds identical to those of the Buddhas, without distinction.
In this world, before the Tathagata, the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra received such wisdom from the Buddhas. Likewise, in all the oceans of worlds, and in every single mote of dust in those oceans of worlds, all the Samantabhadras are also thus. Why? Because the Dharma of realizing that samadhi is thus.
Commentary: In this Saha World, Shakyamuni Buddha, before Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, was compassionately bestowed ten kinds of wisdom by the Buddhas of the ten directions. It is the same in other world-oceans as well. In every particle of those world-oceans, through the miraculous manifestations of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra’s spiritual powers, it is just as in the Saha World: the Buddhas of the ten directions empower and bestow all kinds of wisdom.
Why is there such a state? Because Bodhisattva Samantabhadra attained the samādhi of the Tathāgata-garbha body of Vairocana, the Buddha of all Buddhas, and because this is also in accordance with the prescribed principles of this Dharma.
At that time, the Buddhas of the ten directions each extended their right hands and stroked the crown of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra. Their hands were all adorned with excellent marks and features, spreading a wondrous net of light and sending forth streams of fragrance and flames. They also emitted the Buddhas’ various wondrous sounds and displayed the workings of their sovereign supernatural powers.
Commentary: At that time, all the Buddhas throughout the ten directions each extended their right hand and touched the head of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra. The hands of all the Buddhas were adorned with every auspicious mark and with a wondrous, inconceivable net of light, which gradually unfolded. Their hands emitted fragrance and brilliant light, while also producing all kinds of wondrous sounds and displaying all kinds of miraculous powers and自在 wonders. They bestowed their blessings upon Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, and thus all these wondrous things appeared.
The ocean of vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva throughout the past, present, and future; all the pure Dharma wheels of the Tathagatas; and all images of the Buddhas of the three times—all appear within it.
Commentary: When the Buddha attained enlightenment, he first wished to expound the Avatamsaka Sutra. Not only did Shakyamuni Buddha first expound this sutra, but all the Buddhas of the ten directions and three periods of time also first expound this sutra upon attaining enlightenment, in order to teach and transform all the great Bodhisattvas of the Dharma body. Therefore, those of the Two Vehicles neither believe in nor uphold the Dharma of the Avatamsaka Sutra. This is because this Dharma is inconceivable, and is also a Dharma that certain beings can never understand.
Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, abiding in the samadhi of the Tathagata-garbha body of Vairocana, the Buddha of all Buddhas, knows that the past is thus, the present is thus, and the future is likewise thus. All bodhisattvas cultivate in accordance with Bodhisattva Samantabhadra’s ten great vows. All the Tathagata’s pure Dharma wheels and all the images of all the Buddhas of the three times appear within the net of light.
Just as, in this world, the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra is jointly touched on the crown of his head by the Buddhas of the ten directions, so too, in all the oceans of worlds and in every particle of those oceans of worlds, all the Samantabhadras are likewise touched on the crown of their heads by the Buddhas of the ten directions.
Commentary: In this Saha world, at the Bodhi site, all the Buddhas of the ten directions and three times came together and touched Bodhisattva Samantabhadra on the head, empowering him with all wisdom. At that time, someone raised a doubt: “There are so many Buddhas, and they all extend their right hands at the same time to touch Bodhisattva Samantabhadra’s head. How could they all touch his head?” This is the view of an ordinary person. You should know that Bodhisattva Samantabhadra manifested transformation bodies as numerous as the dust particles in the world-ocean, so each Buddha could touch his head without obstruction.
As mentioned above, all the ocean-worlds and manifestations of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, within every particle of dust in those ocean-worlds, are touched on the head by all the Buddhas of the ten directions and the three times.
At that time, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra arose from this samādhi. As he arose from this samādhi, he arose from the ocean-gates of samādhi, as numerous as the fine dust particles in all the oceans of worlds.
Commentary: At that time, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra immediately arose from the samadhi of the treasury-body of Vairocana Tathagata, the Buddha of all Buddhas—that is, he arose from all the oceans of samadhi-gates, as numerous as the dust particles in the world-ocean.
That is, they arose from the samādhi gate of knowing the skillful wisdom that is without distinction from moment to moment throughout the three times; from the samādhi gate of knowing all the particles in all the dharma realms of the three times; from the samādhi gate of manifesting all the Buddha lands of the three times; from the samādhi gate of manifesting the abodes of all sentient beings; from the samādhi gate of knowing the ocean of the minds of all sentient beings; from the samādhi gate of knowing the distinct names of all sentient beings; from the samādhi gate of knowing the various distinct locations of the dharma realms in the ten directions; from the samādhi gate of knowing that within every particle there are clouds of boundless, immense Buddha bodies; and from the samādhi gate of expounding the ocean of principles and meanings of all dharmas.
Commentary: Bodhisattva Samantabhadra emerged from various samādhis. He arose from the samādhi gate of skillful wisdom, knowing that the moment-to-moment thoughts of all sentient beings throughout the three times are without distinction. He arose from the samādhi gate that manifests all the Buddha lands of the three times. He arose from the samādhi gate that manifests all the dwellings of sentient beings. He arose from the samādhi gate that knows the ocean of minds of all sentient beings. The Bodhisattva also knows and sees the ocean of minds of all sentient beings, for all their thoughts are completely encompassed within the Bodhisattva’s samādhi. He arose from the samādhi gate that knows the different names of all sentient beings. He arose from the samādhi gate that knows the different places throughout the Dharma Realm in the ten directions. He arose from the samādhi gate that knows that within every mote of dust there are boundless, vast clouds of Buddha bodies. He arose from the samādhi gate that expounds all the oceans of Dharma principles and meanings.
When Bodhisattva Samantabhadra arose from such samādhi-gates, each of those Bodhisattvas attained clouds of oceans of samādhis as numerous as the dust motes in oceans of worlds, clouds of oceans of dhāraṇīs as numerous as the dust motes in oceans of worlds, clouds of oceans of skillful means in all the Dharma as numerous as the dust motes in oceans of worlds, clouds of oceans of modes of eloquence as numerous as the dust motes in oceans of worlds, and clouds of oceans of practices as numerous as the dust motes in oceans of worlds,
Commentary: When Bodhisattva Samantabhadra emerges from the ten kinds of samadhi (as explained earlier), the other bodhisattvas also attain benefits from the Dharma. This is because Bodhisattva Samantabhadra entered the samadhi of the Tathagata Treasury Body of Vairocana, the Buddha of all Buddhas. When Bodhisattva Samantabhadra manifests this samadhi, the other bodhisattvas are also affected and naturally receive its benefits.
Each Bodhisattva attained oceans of clouds of samādhis, as numerous as the dust particles in the oceans of worlds. They also attained oceans of clouds of dhāraṇīs, as numerous as the dust particles in the oceans of worlds. They also attained oceans of clouds of skillful means in the Dharma, as numerous as the dust particles in the oceans of worlds. They also attained oceans of clouds of practice, as numerous as the dust particles in the oceans of worlds.
Oceans of clouds of wisdom-light illuminating throughout the Dharma realm the treasury of virtues of all Tathāgatas, as numerous as the dust motes in an ocean of worlds; oceans of clouds of the powers and wisdom of all Tathāgatas, and of their skillful means without distinction, as numerous as the dust motes in an ocean of worlds; oceans of clouds in which each and every pore manifests many lands, as numerous as the dust motes in an ocean of worlds; and oceans of clouds in which each and every Bodhisattva manifests departing from Tusita Heaven, descending to be born, attaining Buddhahood, turning the true Wheel of Dharma, entering Parinirvāṇa, and so forth, as numerous as the dust motes in an ocean of worlds.
Commentary: Each Bodhisattva also attains an ocean of clouds of luminous wisdom, illuminating the treasury of merits of all Tathagatas throughout the Dharma realm, as numerous as the dust motes in an ocean of worlds. Each also attains an ocean of clouds of skillful means, comprising all the Tathagatas’ powers and wisdom, undifferentiated, as numerous as the dust motes in an ocean of worlds. Each also attains an ocean of clouds of realms appearing in every pore of all Tathagatas, as numerous as the dust motes in an ocean of worlds. Each Bodhisattva also manifests descending from Tusita Heaven, being born, attaining Buddhahood, turning the wheel of the True Dharma, and entering Nirvana—oceans of clouds as numerous as the dust motes in an ocean of worlds.
As in this world, when Bodhisattva Samantabhadra arose from samādhi, the assembly of bodhisattvas obtained such benefit; so too in all the oceans of worlds, and in every particle of dust within those world-oceans, in each and every particle, it is likewise.
Commentary: In this Saha World, when Bodhisattva Samantabhadra emerged from samadhi, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra in the other world-oceans also emerged from samadhi at the same time. The great assembly of Bodhisattvas, as numerous as the dust motes in the ocean of worlds, all attained various benefits of the cloud-ocean.
Just as in all the world-oceans mentioned above, every dust particle in each world-ocean contains the realms described above; therefore, it is said that every dust particle is like this.
At that time, all the oceans of worlds in the ten directions were shaken by the awe-inspiring spiritual power of all the Buddhas and the samādhi power of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra. Each and every world was adorned with various jewels and emitted wondrous sounds proclaiming all the Dharmas. Moreover, throughout the oceans of the assemblies and bodhimandas of all the Tathāgatas, clouds of ten kinds of Great Maṇi Kings rained down everywhere.
Commentary: At that time, all the world-oceans in the ten directions, through the great awesome spiritual power of all the Buddhas of the ten directions and three times, and the samadhi power of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, all trembled slightly. This was to awaken sentient beings, so that they would no longer be deluded, but understand that the world is impermanent and that, in the future, the world will be destroyed.
In every world, they are adorned with the seven treasures, and wondrous, melodious sounds resound, expounding the Dharma. Throughout the ocean of assemblies at the bodhimandas of all the Buddhas, ten kinds of the most excellent and auspicious clouds of king maṇi jewels (wish-fulfilling jewels) rain down everywhere.
What are the ten? They are as follows: mani jewel-king clouds of wondrous golden star banners; mani jewel-king clouds whose light shines brilliantly; mani jewel-king clouds with jeweled wheels hanging down; mani jewel-king clouds displaying images of Bodhisattvas within treasuries of many jewels; mani jewel-king clouds proclaiming the names of Buddhas; mani jewel-king clouds whose blazing light illuminates the bodhimandas of all Buddha-fields; mani jewel-king clouds whose light illuminates the various transformations throughout the ten directions; mani jewel-king clouds praising the virtues of all Bodhisattvas; mani jewel-king clouds blazing like sunlight; and mani jewel-king clouds of pleasing, delightful music and jewel nets throughout the ten directions.
Commentary: What exactly are the ten kinds of maṇi clouds?
1). Cloud of the Maṇi King’s wondrous golden star banner.
2). Clouds of the Maṇi King radiate brilliant light.
3). The jeweled wheel of the king of mani clouds hangs down.
4). Clouds of king maṇi jewels and various treasure troves appeared in the form of a Bodhisattva.
5). The King Maṇi Cloud praises the names of all the Buddhas of the ten directions and the three times.
6). The cloud of the maṇi jewel king radiates intense light, illuminating all the bodhimaṇḍas throughout the Buddha realms.
7). Clouds of radiant light from the king of maṇi jewels shine throughout the ten directions, manifesting all kinds of transformations.
8). The Maṇi Cloud King praises the virtues of all the Bodhisattvas. He praises the Bodhisattva of Great Wisdom, Mañjuśrī, who is foremost in wisdom. He praises the Bodhisattva of Great Practice, Samantabhadra, who is foremost in the practices. He praises the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion, Avalokiteśvara, who is foremost in compassion. He praises the Bodhisattva of Great Vow, Kṣitigarbha, who is foremost in the power of vows.
9). The cloud of the king of maṇi jewels has a radiance as intense as the sun.
10). Clouds of kingly maṇi jewels emit sounds that delight the mind, heard throughout the Dharma realms of the ten directions.
Having universally rained down such clouds of ten kinds of great maṇi kings, all the pores of the Tathāgatas emitted rays of light, and within the light they spoke verses, saying:
Commentary: Through the great supernatural powers of all the Buddhas and the samādhi power of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, ten kinds of great maṇi-king clouds rain down everywhere. From every pore of all the Buddhas of the ten directions and the three periods of time, great rays of light shine forth, and within the light, verses are spoken.
Samantabhadra dwells throughout all realms;
Seated upon a jeweled lotus, he is seen by all.
All miraculous powers are made manifest;
He can enter all immeasurable samādhis.
Commentary: The power of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s practices and vows extends throughout all of space and the Dharma Realm, filling every place. Thus, throughout all the Buddha lands in the ten directions, He appears in the place of awakening, seated upon a jeweled lotus-treasure lion throne. All sentient beings with the karmic affinity to do so can behold His venerable countenance. He enters the samādhi known as the Treasury Body of Vairocana Tathāgata of All Buddhas. All supernatural powers manifest, and every one of the countless samādhis can enter this concentration.
Samantabhadra constantly manifests in countless forms,
Pervading and filling the entire Dharma Realm.
Through the power of samadhi, supernatural abilities, and skillful means,
He expounds broadly with a perfect voice, unhindered in every way.
Commentary: Bodhisattva Samantabhadra always manifests all kinds of bodies to teach and transform sentient beings, filling the entire Dharma realm. With the powers of concentration, spiritual penetrations, and skillful means, He uses perfect sounds, continually manifesting the sign of a broad and long tongue to expound the wondrous Dharma for all sentient beings, perfectly and without obstruction.
At the places of all Buddhas in every realm,
Various samādhis manifest supernatural powers;
Each supernatural power pervades everywhere,
Not a single land in the ten directions is left out.
Commentary: At the bodhimandas of all the Buddhas of the ten directions, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra uses all kinds of samādhi to manifest all kinds of spiritual powers. Every one of these spiritual powers reaches throughout the Dharma realms of the ten directions. He can also go to the lands of the ten directions to teach and transform sentient beings, leaving no land out; all lands are filled with the power of his spiritual abilities.
Just as in all lands where the Tathagatas abide,
So too in every particle of those lands,
The samadhi and spiritual powers manifested
Are due to Vairocana’s power of vows.
Commentary: Just like all the world-oceans, all the realms of the Buddhas, and all the places of the Tathagatas, within every dust mote in those lands there are Buddhas dwelling, turning the great Dharma wheel to teach and transform sentient beings. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva manifests great spiritual powers throughout all realms in just this way. His samadhi and spiritual powers manifest through the empowering vow-power of Vairocana Buddha, and also because he himself diligently strives to cultivate the practice-gates and the vow-power cultivated by the Buddhas. Thus he possesses such wondrous spiritual powers and inexhaustible transformations.
Samantabhadra’s body and marks are like empty space;
Abiding in true suchness, he dwells in no land.
According to the wishes in the minds of all beings,
He manifests bodies everywhere, equal to all.
Commentary: The Buddha’s Dharma body is like space, and the Dharma body of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra is likewise pure, like space. His Dharma body abides in suchness, not in any realm. His Dharma body is nowhere and yet everywhere. In accordance with the wishes of all sentient beings, it manifests bodies everywhere so that they may have their wishes fulfilled.
Samantabhadra abides in all great vows,
He attains this immeasurable power of supernatural abilities,
All lands belonging to the bodies of all Buddhas,
He manifests his form in them all and goes there.
Commentary: The vows of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra are vast and boundless. He abides in the great vows and attains immeasurable, boundless supernatural powers. These supernatural powers cannot be compared with those of other Bodhisattvas. In all Buddha-bodies and throughout all lands, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra manifests himself before the Buddhas to make offerings to them, pay reverence to them, draw near to them, and praise them.
All oceans of assemblies are boundless;
The emanation bodies dwelling there are likewise immeasurable.
The lands they manifest are all adorned and pure;
Within a single instant, one sees many kalpas.
Commentary: All oceans of sentient beings and oceans of worlds have no boundaries. The emanation bodies of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra abiding there are likewise immeasurable and boundless. The power of his vows transforms into realms, all adorned and pure. In a single instant, he can see the realms of immeasurable great kalpas.
Samantabhadra abides in all lands
The spiritual powers he manifests are incomparable
He shakes the ten directions, reaching everywhere
He enables all who behold him to see;
Commentary: Bodhisattva Samantabhadra abides in all the lands of the Buddhas. The miraculous powers he manifests surpass those of other Bodhisattvas. This power of miraculous abilities shakes the Dharma realms in the ten directions; there is no place it does not reach, enabling all sentient beings with an affinity to behold his Dharma body.
The powers of all Buddhas’ wisdom and virtues,
All kinds of great Dharma are fully perfected;
Through the skillful means of the various samādhis,
He manifests the Bodhi practices of times past.
Commentary: The Bodhisattva Samantabhadra is endowed with all the wisdom, powers, and merits of all the Buddhas. He has cultivated and perfected all the various great Dharmas of the Buddhas. He also uses all samadhi Dharma-gates and expedient means to manifest the practices of Bodhi that he cultivated in the past.
Such freedom is inconceivable;
The lands of the ten directions are all manifested;
To reveal entry into all the samādhis;
Amid clouds of Buddha-light, merits are praised.
Commentary: The inconceivable, sovereign spiritual powers of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra are manifested throughout the lands of the ten directions. Because he manifests universally through all the powers of samadhi, all the Buddhas emit clouds of various kinds of light, and within those clouds praise the virtues of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra.
At that time, the entire assembly of bodhisattvas turned toward Samantabhadra, palms joined and gazing reverently. By the Buddha’s spiritual power, they spoke in unison in praise, saying:
Commentary: After the Buddha had used clouds of radiant light to praise the virtues of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, all the Bodhisattvas, as numerous as the dust motes in the world-oceans, turned toward Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, joined their palms in reverence, and gazed at him without taking their eyes away for even a moment. Each Bodhisattva, relying on the Buddha’s great majestic spiritual power, spoke the same words with a different mouth, praising Bodhisattva Samantabhadra and uttering this verse:
Born from the Dharma of all Buddha
Also arising through the power of the Tathagata’s vows,
True suchness, equality, and the treasury of space,
You have adorned and purified this Dharma body.
Commentary: Bodhisattva Samantabhadra is born from all the Buddha-Dharma and is also brought to completion through the power of vows made by all the Buddhas of the ten directions and the three times. His Dharma body is true suchness, equal and like the treasury of space. He has attained an adorned and pure Dharma body.
In the assemblies of all Buddha-lands,
Samantabhadra dwells everywhere there,
The radiant ocean of merit and wisdom,
Shines equally throughout the ten directions; none fail to see.
Commentary: In all the assemblies at the bodhimandas, in all the Buddha lands, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra is present, joyfully participating in the Dharma assemblies. The light of merit and the ocean of wisdom shine equally throughout the ten directions; there is no place where Bodhisattva Samantabhadra is not seen.
Samantabhadra’s vast ocean of merit and virtue
Pervading the ten directions, drawing near to the Buddhas
All the lands that exist within every particle
Can all go there and manifest clearly
Commentary: The merit and virtue of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra are vast and boundless as the ocean. He travels throughout the lands of the ten directions to draw near to all the Buddhas. He goes to every dust mote and every land, as numerous as the dust particles in an ocean of worlds, to expound the Dharma for sentient beings or manifest his Dharma body, enabling all sentient beings with affinities to see him.
We disciples of the Buddha often see you,
You are always close to all the Tathagatas,
Abiding in the true realm of samadhi,
Throughout all lands, for kalpas countless as dust motes,
Commentary: Among the Buddha’s disciples—speaking only of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra—we often see him drawing near to all the Buddhas. Therefore, his merits are immeasurable and boundless. He abides in the samādhi of the true realm. In all lands, throughout kalpas as numerous as dust motes, he teaches and transforms sentient beings.
Buddha’s disciples can manifest bodies that pervade everywhere,
And visit all the lands of the ten directions.
They ferry all beings across the great ocean of sentient beings,
Entering every mote of dust throughout the Dharma realm.
Commentary: O disciple of the Buddha! You skillfully use the Dharma body, which pervades everywhere, reaching all the lands in the ten directions to teach and transform sentient beings. Although sentient beings are as numerous as the ocean, you ferry them all across. In the Dharma realms of the ten directions, in every land within each mote of dust, you turn the great Dharma wheel there. Truly, your merit is immeasurable.
Enter into every particle of the Dharma realm
Its body is endless, without distinction
Like space, pervading everywhere
Expound the Tathāgata’s vast and great Dharma
Commentary: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva enters every particle of dust throughout the Dharma realms of the ten directions. His Dharma body is likewise boundless and inexhaustible, without distinction, like space, pervading everywhere and constantly expounding the vast, wondrous Dharma of all the Buddhas.
The light of all merits and virtues,
Vast as clouds, with surpassing power,
All go to the ocean of sentient beings
To teach the peerless Dharma practiced by the Buddha.
Commentary: Bodhisattva Samantabhadra possesses all merits and virtues, and all the radiance of wisdom. He is like a vast cloud, with exceptionally supreme power. He comes before every ocean of sentient beings to expound for them the Dharma gate of the Buddhas’ practice. That Dharma is the foremost, unsurpassed by any other.
For the sake of delivering sentient beings in an ocean of kalpas,
All of Samantabhadra’s supreme practices are cultivated,
Expounding all the Dharma like great clouds,
Its sound is vast and expansive—who does not hear it?
Commentary: Its Dharma sound is vast and great—who could fail to hear it? Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, in order to liberate all sentient beings, has fully cultivated the supremely excellent practices of Samantabhadra throughout immeasurable oceans of great kalpas. He can expound all the Buddha-dharma like great clouds, pervading the Dharma realm in the ten directions. His voice, vast and resonant, shakes all worlds; there is no place where this wondrous sound cannot be heard.
How are the realms established?
How do the Buddhas appear?
And the ocean of all sentient beings—
Please speak truthfully, in accordance with their meaning.
Commentary: Bodhisattva Samantabhadra can explain the causes and conditions for the establishment of every land, and tell us why all the Buddhas appear in the world. He also knows and sees every kind of sentient being, numerous as the ocean. Please accord with the thoughts and wishes of sentient beings and expound the true meaning of the Buddha’s teachings.
Within this boundless ocean of great assemblies
All stand reverently before the Venerable One
To turn the pure, wondrous Dharma wheel
All Buddhas rejoice
Commentary: Throughout all of space and the Dharma Realm, there are immeasurable, boundless assemblies, as numerous as the ocean. They are all gathered before Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, respectfully waiting to hear the Dharma. We hope you will turn the pure, wondrous Dharma wheel for them. Not only do we Bodhisattvas rejoice in your teaching the Dharma, but the Buddhas of the ten directions also rejoice in it.
END OF CHAPTER 3