THE MAHAPRAJNAPARAMITA SUTRA
Chinese translation: Tang Dynasty, Tripitaka Master Xuanzang
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VOLUME 10
Section 5: PRAISING THE SUPREMELY EXCELLENT MERITS
At that time, the Elders Shariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakashyapa, Subhuti, and others – those greatly known and revered – together with the great monks and nuns, the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, male and female lay practitioners, all rose from their seats, placed their palms together in reverence, and addressed the Buddha in unison:
World-Honored One, the Prajnaparamita attained by the great Bodhisattvas is a great, vast, deep, foremost, supremely excellent, profound, wondrous, venerable, lofty, surpassing, ultimate, supreme, most supreme, transcendent, incomparable, pinnacle, absolute perfection – like empty space, without self-mark, without common marks, without marks among all dharmas, without graspable marks, without non-nature, without own-nature, without non-nature of own-nature, without transformation, without arising, without ceasing, without defilement, severing all empty verbal disputes, tranquil, far removed from everything, completely quiescent, subduing and mastering all things, all-retaining, true and real, unfolding and developing all merits, accomplishing all merits, capable of destroying all things, and unconquerable.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle generosity; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle generosity; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle Perfection of Generosity; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle pure precepts; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle pure precepts; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle Perfection of Pure Precepts; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle patience; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle patience; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle Perfection of Patience; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle diligence; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle diligence; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle Perfection of Diligence; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle meditation; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle meditation; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle Perfection of Meditation; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle Prajnaparamita; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle Prajnaparamita; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle Prajnaparamita; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of abiding in the supremely pinnacle inner emptiness, outer emptiness, inner-outer emptiness, emptiness of emptiness, great emptiness, ultimate emptiness, emptiness of the conditioned, emptiness of the unconditioned, emptiness of the ultimate, boundless emptiness, scattered emptiness, non-transforming emptiness, emptiness of essential nature, emptiness of self-mark, emptiness of common marks, emptiness of all phenomena, emptiness of the ungraspable, emptiness of non-nature, emptiness of own-nature, emptiness of non-nature of own-nature; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle inner emptiness through emptiness of non-nature of own-nature; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle inner emptiness through emptiness of non-nature of own-nature; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of abiding in the supremely pinnacle suchness, dharma realm, dharma nature, the non-deceptive nature, the unchanging nature, the nature of equality, the nature apart from birth, fixed dharma, abiding dharma, true actuality, the realm of space, the inconceivable realm; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle suchness through the inconceivable realm; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle suchness through the inconceivable realm; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle four foundations of mindfulness, four right efforts, four bases of supernormal powers, five faculties, five powers, seven factors of enlightenment, and noble eightfold path; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle four foundations of mindfulness through the noble eightfold path; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle four foundations of mindfulness through the noble eightfold path; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of abiding in the supremely pinnacle Noble Truths of Suffering, Origination, Cessation, and Path; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle Noble Truths of Suffering, Origination, Cessation, and Path; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle Noble Truths of Suffering, Origination, Cessation, and Path; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle four dhyanas, four immeasurables, and four formless absorptions; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle four dhyanas, four immeasurables, and four formless absorptions; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle four dhyanas, four immeasurables, and four formless absorptions; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle eight liberations, eight mastery bases, nine successive absorptions, and ten totality bases; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle eight liberations, eight mastery bases, nine successive absorptions, and ten totality bases; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle eight liberations, eight mastery bases, nine successive absorptions, and ten totality bases; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle liberation doors of Emptiness, Signlessness, and Wishlessness; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle liberation doors of Emptiness, Signlessness, and Wishlessness; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle liberation doors of Emptiness, Signlessness, and Wishlessness; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle dharani and samadhi gateways; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle dharani and samadhi gateways; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle dharani and samadhi gateways; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle great Bodhisattva stages; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle great Bodhisattva stages; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle great Bodhisattva stages; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle five eyes and six supernormal powers; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle five eyes and six supernormal powers; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle five eyes and six supernormal powers; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle ten powers of the Buddha, four fearlessnesses, four analytical knowledges, great lovingkindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, and eighteen unshared dharmas of the Buddha; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle ten powers of the Buddha through the eighteen unshared dharmas of the Buddha; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle ten powers of the Buddha through the eighteen unshared dharmas of the Buddha; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle non-forgetfulness and always-equanimous nature; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle non-forgetfulness and always-equanimous nature; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle non-forgetfulness and always-equanimous nature; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita are fully endowed with great power – most venerable, most excellent, most supreme, most wondrous – capable of practicing the supremely pinnacle knowledge of all, knowledge of paths, and knowledge of all aspects; capable of fulfilling the supremely pinnacle knowledge of all, knowledge of paths, and knowledge of all aspects; capable of fully carrying out the supremely pinnacle knowledge of all, knowledge of paths, and knowledge of all aspects; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle self-body, which is a body of immeasurably excellent and supremely adorned marks; capable of attaining the supremely pinnacle wondrous dharma, which is supreme enlightenment.
World-Honored One, the Tathagata as well, through practicing the Prajnaparamita, is able to practice, abide in, and completely fulfill all kinds of merits – attaining supremely pinnacle form; attaining supremely pinnacle feeling, perception, formations, and consciousness; attaining the supremely pinnacle fruit of enlightenment; turning the supremely pinnacle wheel of dharma; liberating immeasurable kinds of sentient beings, causing them all to attain supremely excellent benefit and happiness. All the Buddhas of the past, present, and future likewise, through diligent study and practice of the Prajnaparamita, have all their merits fulfilled, have attained supreme enlightenment, will attain supreme enlightenment, and are presently attaining supreme enlightenment; they turn the wondrous wheel of dharma, liberate immeasurable sentient beings, causing them all to attain supremely excellent benefit and happiness. Therefore, World-Honored One, if any great Bodhisattva wishes to reach the shore of enlightenment, they should study the Prajnaparamita with regard to all dharmas.
World-Honored One, the great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita – all the world, whether devas, humans, asuras – should all reverently make offerings, show respect, and offer praise, and protect them, so that their diligent practice of the Prajnaparamita is never obstructed.
The World-Honored One said to the Shravakas and all the great Bodhisattvas:
Excellent, excellent, just as you have said! The great Bodhisattvas practicing the Prajnaparamita – all the world, whether devas, humans, asuras – should all reverently make offerings, show respect, and offer praise, and protect them, so that their diligent practice of the Prajnaparamita is never obstructed. Why? Because it is because of this great Bodhisattva that the world comes to have humans and devas appearing – that is, the great Kshatriya lineage, the great Brahmin lineage, the great Elder lineage, the great Lay Practitioner lineage; or the Wheel-Turning Monarchs; or the devas of the Four Great Heavenly Kings, the Thirty-Three Heavens, the Yama Heavens, the Tushita Heavens, the Nirmanarati Heavens, the Paranirmitavasavartin Heavens, the Brahma’s Retinue Heavens, the Brahma’s Ministers Heavens, the Brahma’s Assembly Heavens, the Great Brahma Heavens, the Light Heavens, the Limited Light Heavens, the Immeasurable Light Heavens, the Radiant Light Heavens, the Pure Heavens, the Limited Purity Heavens, the Immeasurable Purity Heavens, the Pervading Purity Heavens, the Vast Heavens, the Limited Vast Heavens, the Immeasurable Vast Heavens, the Vast Fruit Heavens, the No-Oppression Heavens, the No-Heat Heavens, the Good-Appearance Heavens, the Good-Vision Heavens, the Akanittha Heavens; or the heavens of the sphere of infinite space, sphere of infinite consciousness, sphere of nothingness, sphere of neither perception nor non-perception – all appear in the world. It is because of this great Bodhisattva that the fruits of stream-entry, once-returning, non-returning, arhatship, pratyekabuddhahood, great Bodhisattva stages, and the Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones appear in the world. It is because of this great Bodhisattva that the Three Jewels appear in the world, bringing benefit to all sentient beings. It is because of this great Bodhisattva that the world comes to have the things needed for livelihood and enjoyment – food and drink, clothing, bedding, lodging, lamps and lights, mani jewels, pearls, lapis lazuli, conch shells, jade, coral, gold, silver, and various precious things – appearing in the world. In brief, all the happiness of devas and humans in the world and the happiness of nirvana are all due to that great Bodhisattva. Why? Because that great Bodhisattva personally practices – and also teaches others to practice – the Perfections of Generosity, Pure Precepts, Patience, Diligence, Meditation, and Prajnaparamita; personally abides – and also teaches others to abide – in inner emptiness, outer emptiness, inner-outer emptiness, emptiness of emptiness, great emptiness, ultimate emptiness, emptiness of the conditioned, emptiness of the unconditioned, emptiness of the ultimate, boundless emptiness, scattered emptiness, non-transforming emptiness, emptiness of essential nature, emptiness of self-mark, emptiness of common marks, emptiness of all phenomena, emptiness of the ungraspable, emptiness of non-nature, emptiness of own-nature, emptiness of non-nature of own-nature [text continues: …and other emptiness dharmas; personally abides and teaches others to abide in suchness, the dharma realm, dharma nature… through the inconceivable realm]; personally practices – and also teaches others to practice – the four foundations of mindfulness, four right efforts, four bases of supernormal powers, five faculties, five powers, seven factors of enlightenment, and noble eightfold path; personally abides – and also teaches others to abide – in the Noble Truths of Suffering, Origination, Cessation, and Path; personally practices – and also teaches others to practice – the four dhyanas, four immeasurables, and four formless absorptions; personally practices – and also teaches others to practice – the eight liberations, eight mastery bases, nine successive absorptions, and ten totality bases; personally practices – and also teaches others to practice – the liberation doors of Emptiness, Signlessness, and Wishlessness; personally practices – and also teaches others to practice – all dharani and samadhi gateways; personally practices – and also teaches others to practice – the Bodhisattva stages; personally practices – and also teaches others to practice – the five eyes and six supernormal powers; personally practices – and also teaches others to practice – the ten powers of the Buddha, four fearlessnesses, four analytical knowledges, great lovingkindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, and eighteen unshared dharmas of the Buddha; personally practices – and also teaches others to practice – non-forgetfulness and the always-equanimous nature; personally practices – and also teaches others to practice – the knowledge of all, knowledge of paths, and knowledge of all aspects. Therefore, through the Bodhisattvas’ practice of the Prajnaparamita, all sentient beings attain supremely excellent benefit and happiness.
Section 6: MANIFESTATION OF THE TONGUE MARK
At that time, the World-Honored One manifested the broad and long tongue mark, covering the entire three-thousand-fold world system three times; and from that tongue mark, emitted immeasurable and innumerable kinds of multi-colored light rays, illuminating throughout the innumerable Buddha-worlds of the ten directions.
At that time, in the innumerable Buddha-worlds in the eastern direction, each world had immeasurable and innumerable great Bodhisattvas who, upon seeing those light rays, all came before the
Buddha, prostrated, and reverently said:
World-Honored One, whose spiritual power is this? And for what reason is there such an auspicious sign?
At that same moment, all the Buddhas in those realms said to the great Bodhisattvas:
Good men, to the west of this realm, there is a Buddha-land called Endurance; the Buddha’s title is Shakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagavan, who is now expounding the Great Prajnaparamita for the assembly of great Bodhisattvas; he has manifested the broad and long tongue mark covering the entire three-thousand-fold world system; and from that tongue mark, emitted immeasurable and innumerable kinds of multi-colored light rays, illuminating throughout the innumerable Buddha-worlds of the ten directions; the light rays you are now seeing are the tongue mark of that Buddha manifested.
Having heard this, all the great Bodhisattvas were greatly joyful and all addressed their Buddhas:
We wish to go to the world of Endurance to behold, pay homage, and make offerings to the Buddha Shakyamuni, the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, and to hear the dharma of the Prajnaparamita. We humbly entreat the World-Honored One to compassionately consent!
All the Buddhas in those realms said:
Now is the right time, you may go!
Immeasurable and innumerable assemblies of great Bodhisattvas from those Buddha-lands all prostrated at the feet of the Buddhas, circumambulated clockwise seven times, solemnly carrying immeasurable banners, jeweled canopies, incense, garlands, ornamental garlands, gold, silver, and various flowers; harmoniously playing all kinds of beautiful music; in an instant, they arrived before the Buddha Shakyamuni, reverently made offerings, showed respect, and offered praise, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
At that time, in the innumerable Buddha-worlds in the southern direction, each world had immeasurable and innumerable great Bodhisattvas who, upon seeing those light rays, all came before the Buddha, prostrated, and reverently said:
World-Honored One, whose spiritual power is this? And for what reason is there such an auspicious sign?
At that same moment, all the Buddhas in those realms said to the great Bodhisattvas:
Good men, to the north of this realm, there is a Buddha-land called Endurance; the Buddha’s title is Shakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagavan, who is now expounding the Great Prajnaparamita for the assembly of great Bodhisattvas; he has manifested the broad and long tongue mark covering the entire three-thousand-fold world system; and from that tongue mark, emitted immeasurable and innumerable kinds of multi-colored light rays, illuminating throughout the innumerable Buddha-worlds of the ten directions; the light rays you are now seeing are the tongue mark of that Buddha manifested.
Having heard this, all the great Bodhisattvas were very joyful and together addressed their Buddhas:
We wish to go to the world of Endurance to behold, pay homage, and make offerings to the Buddha Shakyamuni, the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, and to hear the dharma of the Prajnaparamita. We humbly entreat the World-Honored One to compassionately consent!
All the Buddhas in those realms said:
Now is the right time, you may go.
Immeasurable and innumerable assemblies of great Bodhisattvas from those Buddha-lands all prostrated at the feet of the Buddhas, circumambulated clockwise seven times, solemnly carrying immeasurable banners, jeweled canopies, incense, garlands, ornamental garlands, gold, silver, and various flowers; harmoniously playing all kinds of beautiful music; in an instant, they arrived before the Buddha Shakyamuni, reverently made offerings, showed respect, and offered praise, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
At that time, in the innumerable Buddha-worlds in the western direction, each world had immeasurable and innumerable great Bodhisattvas who, upon seeing those light rays, all came before the
Buddha, prostrated, and reverently said:
World-Honored One, whose spiritual power is this? And for what reason is there such an auspicious sign?
All the Buddhas in those realms said to the great Bodhisattvas:
Good men, to the east of this realm, there is a Buddha-land called Endurance; the Buddha’s title is Shakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagavan, who is now expounding the Great Prajnaparamita for the assembly of great Bodhisattvas; he has manifested the broad and long tongue mark covering the entire three-thousand-fold world system; and from that tongue mark, emitted immeasurable and innumerable kinds of multi-colored light rays, illuminating throughout the innumerable Buddha-worlds of the ten directions; the light rays you are now seeing are the tongue mark of that Buddha manifested.
Having heard this, all the great Bodhisattvas were very joyful and addressed their Buddhas:
We wish to go to the world of Endurance to behold, pay homage, and make offerings to the Buddha Shakyamuni, the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, and to hear the dharma of the Prajnaparamita. We humbly entreat the World-Honored One to compassionately consent!
All the Buddhas in those realms said:
Now is the right time, you may go.
Immeasurable and innumerable assemblies of great Bodhisattvas from those Buddha-lands all prostrated at the feet of the Buddhas, circumambulated clockwise seven times, solemnly carrying immeasurable banners, jeweled canopies, incense, garlands, ornamental garlands, gold, silver, and various flowers; harmoniously playing all kinds of beautiful music; in an instant, they arrived before the Buddha Shakyamuni, reverently made offerings, showed respect, and offered praise, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
At that time, in the innumerable Buddha-worlds in the northern direction, each world had immeasurable and innumerable great Bodhisattvas who, upon seeing those light rays, all came before the
Buddha, prostrated, and reverently said:
World-Honored One, whose spiritual power is this? And for what reason is there such an auspicious sign?
All the Buddhas in those realms said to the great Bodhisattvas:
Good men, to the south of this realm, there is a Buddha-land called Endurance; the Buddha’s title is Shakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagavan, who is now expounding the Great Prajnaparamita for the assembly of great Bodhisattvas; he has manifested the broad and long tongue mark covering the entire three-thousand-fold world system; and from that tongue mark, emitted immeasurable and innumerable kinds of multi-colored light rays, illuminating throughout the innumerable Buddha-worlds of the ten directions; the light rays you are now seeing are the tongue mark of that Buddha manifested.
Having heard this, all the great Bodhisattvas were very joyful and addressed their Buddhas:
We wish to go to the world of Endurance to behold, pay homage, and make offerings to the Buddha Shakyamuni, the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, and to hear the dharma of the Prajnaparamita. We humbly entreat the World-Honored One to compassionately consent!
All the Buddhas in those realms said:
Now is the right time, you may go.
Immeasurable and innumerable assemblies of great Bodhisattvas from those Buddha-lands all prostrated at the feet of the Buddhas, circumambulated clockwise seven times, solemnly carrying immeasurable banners, jeweled canopies, incense, garlands, ornamental garlands, gold, silver, and various flowers; harmoniously playing all kinds of beautiful music; in an instant, they arrived
before the Buddha Shakyamuni, reverently made offerings, showed respect, and offered praise, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
At that time, in the innumerable Buddha-worlds in the northeast direction, each world had immeasurable and innumerable great Bodhisattvas who, upon seeing those light rays, all came before the Buddha, prostrated, and reverently said:
World-Honored One, whose spiritual power is this? And for what reason is there such an auspicious sign?
All the Buddhas in those realms said to the great Bodhisattvas:
Good men, to the southwest of this realm, there is a Buddha-land called Endurance; the Buddha’s title is Shakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagavan, who is now expounding the Great Prajnaparamita for the assembly of great Bodhisattvas; he has manifested the broad and long tongue mark covering the entire three-thousand-fold world system; and from that tongue mark, emitted immeasurable and innumerable kinds of multi-colored light rays, illuminating throughout the innumerable Buddha-worlds of the ten directions; the light rays you are now seeing are the tongue mark of that Buddha manifested.
Having heard this, all the great Bodhisattvas were very joyful and addressed their Buddhas: “We wish to go to the world of Endurance to behold, pay homage, and make offerings to the Buddha Shakyamuni, the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, and to hear the dharma of the Prajnaparamita. We humbly entreat the World-Honored One to compassionately consent!”
All the Buddhas in those realms said:
Now is the right time, you may go.
Immeasurable and innumerable assemblies of great Bodhisattvas from those Buddha-lands all prostrated at the feet of the Buddhas, circumambulated clockwise seven times, solemnly carrying immeasurable banners, jeweled canopies, incense, garlands, ornamental garlands, gold, silver, and various flowers; harmoniously playing all kinds of beautiful music; in an instant, they arrived before the Buddha Shakyamuni, reverently made offerings, showed respect, and offered praise, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
At that time, in the innumerable Buddha-worlds in the southeast direction, each world had immeasurable and innumerable great Bodhisattvas who, upon seeing those light rays, all came before the Buddha, prostrated, and reverently said:
World-Honored One, whose spiritual power is this? And for what reason is there such an auspicious sign?
All the Buddhas in those realms said to the great Bodhisattvas:
Good men, to the northwest of this realm, there is a Buddha-land called Endurance; the Buddha’s title is Shakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagavan, who is now expounding the Great Prajnaparamita for the assembly of great Bodhisattvas; he has manifested the broad and long tongue mark covering the entire three-thousand-fold world system; and from that tongue mark, emitted immeasurable and innumerable kinds of multi-colored light rays, illuminating throughout the innumerable Buddha-worlds of the ten directions; the light rays you are now seeing are the tongue mark of that Buddha manifested.
Having heard this, all the great Bodhisattvas were very joyful and addressed their Buddhas:
We wish to go to the world of Endurance to behold, pay homage, and make offerings to the Buddha Shakyamuni, the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, and to hear the dharma of the Prajnaparamita. We humbly entreat the World-Honored One to compassionately consent!
All the Buddhas in those realms said:
Now is the right time, you may go.
Immeasurable and innumerable assemblies of great Bodhisattvas from those Buddha-lands all prostrated at the feet of the Buddhas, circumambulated clockwise seven times, solemnly carrying immeasurable banners, jeweled canopies, incense, garlands, ornamental garlands, gold, silver, and various flowers; harmoniously playing all kinds of beautiful music; in an instant, they arrived before the Buddha Shakyamuni, reverently made offerings, showed respect, and offered praise, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
At that time, in the innumerable Buddha-worlds in the southwest direction, each world had immeasurable and innumerable great Bodhisattvas who, upon seeing those light rays, all came before the Buddha, prostrated, and reverently said:
World-Honored One, whose spiritual power is this? And for what reason is there such an auspicious sign?
All the Buddhas in those realms said to the great Bodhisattvas:
Good men, to the northeast of this realm, there is a Buddha-land called Endurance; the Buddha’s title is Shakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagavan, who is now expounding the Great Prajnaparamita for the assembly of great Bodhisattvas; he has manifested the broad and long tongue mark covering the entire three-thousand-fold world system; and from that tongue mark, emitted immeasurable and innumerable kinds of multi-colored light rays, illuminating throughout the innumerable Buddha-worlds of the ten directions; the light rays you are now seeing are the tongue mark of that Buddha manifested.
Having heard this, all the great Bodhisattvas were very joyful and addressed their Buddhas:
We wish to go to the world of Endurance to behold, pay homage, and make offerings to the Buddha Shakyamuni, the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, and to hear the dharma of the Prajnaparamita. We humbly entreat the World-Honored One to compassionately consent!
All the Buddhas in those realms said:
Now is the right time, you may go.
Immeasurable and innumerable assemblies of great Bodhisattvas from those Buddha-lands all prostrated at the feet of the Buddhas, circumambulated clockwise seven times, solemnly carrying immeasurable banners, jeweled canopies, incense, garlands, ornamental garlands, gold, silver, and various flowers; harmoniously playing all kinds of beautiful music; in an instant, they arrived before the Buddha Shakyamuni, reverently made offerings, showed respect, and offered praise, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
At that time, in the innumerable Buddha-worlds in the northwest direction, each world had immeasurable and innumerable great Bodhisattvas who, upon seeing those light rays, all came before the Buddha, prostrated, and reverently said:
World-Honored One, whose spiritual power is this? And for what reason is there such an auspicious sign?
All the Buddhas in those realms said to the great Bodhisattvas:
Good men, to the southeast of this realm there is a Buddha-land called Endurance; the Buddha’s title is Shakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagavan, who is now expounding the Great Prajnaparamita for the assembly of great Bodhisattvas; he has manifested the broad and long tongue mark covering the entire three-thousand-fold world system; and from that tongue mark, emitted immeasurable and innumerable kinds of multi-colored light rays, illuminating throughout the innumerable Buddha-worlds of the ten directions; the light rays you are now seeing are the tongue mark of that Buddha manifested.
Having heard this, all the great Bodhisattvas were very joyful and addressed their Buddhas:
We wish to go to the world of Endurance to behold, pay homage, and make offerings to the Buddha Shakyamuni, the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, and to hear the dharma of the Prajnaparamita. We humbly entreat the World-Honored One to compassionately consent!
All the Buddhas in those realms said:
Now is the right time, you may go.
Immeasurable and innumerable assemblies of great Bodhisattvas from those Buddha-lands all prostrated at the feet of the Buddhas, circumambulated clockwise seven times, solemnly carrying immeasurable banners, jeweled canopies, incense, garlands, ornamental garlands, gold, silver, and various flowers; harmoniously playing all kinds of beautiful music; in an instant, they arrived before the Buddha Shakyamuni, reverently made offerings, showed respect, and offered praise, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
At that time, in the innumerable Buddha-worlds in the lower direction (nadir), each world had immeasurable and innumerable great Bodhisattvas who, upon seeing those light rays, all came before the Buddha, prostrated, and reverently said:
World-Honored One, whose spiritual power is this? And for what reason is there such an auspicious sign?
All the Buddhas in those realms said to the great Bodhisattvas:
Good men, in the upper direction (zenith) of this realm, there is a Buddha-land called Endurance; the Buddha’s title is Shakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagavan, who is now expounding the Great Prajnaparamita for the assembly of great Bodhisattvas; he has manifested the broad and long tongue mark covering the entire three-thousand-fold world system; and from that tongue mark, emitted immeasurable and innumerable kinds of multi-colored light rays, illuminating throughout the innumerable Buddha-worlds of the ten directions; the light rays you are now seeing are the tongue mark of that Buddha manifested.
Having heard this, all the great Bodhisattvas were very joyful and addressed their Buddhas:
We wish to go to the world of Endurance to behold, pay homage, and make offerings to the Buddha Shakyamuni, the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, and to hear the dharma of the Prajnaparamita. We humbly entreat the World-Honored One to compassionately consent!
All the Buddhas in those realms said:
Now is the right time, you may go.
Immeasurable and innumerable assemblies of great Bodhisattvas from those Buddha-lands all prostrated at the feet of the Buddhas, circumambulated clockwise seven times, solemnly carrying immeasurable banners, jeweled canopies, incense, garlands, ornamental garlands, gold, silver, and various flowers; harmoniously playing all kinds of beautiful music; in an instant, they arrived
before the Buddha Shakyamuni, reverently made offerings, showed respect, and offered praise, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
At that time, in the innumerable Buddha-worlds in the upper direction (zenith), each world had immeasurable and innumerable great Bodhisattvas who, upon seeing those light rays, all came before the Buddha, prostrated, and reverently said:
World-Honored One, whose spiritual power is this? And for what reason is there such an auspicious sign?
All the Buddhas in those realms said to the great Bodhisattvas:
Good men, in the lower direction (nadir) of this realm, there is a Buddha-land called Endurance; the Buddha’s title is Shakyamuni Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagavan, who is now expounding the Great Prajnaparamita for the assembly of great Bodhisattvas; he has manifested the broad and long tongue mark covering the entire three-thousand-fold world system; and from that tongue mark, emitted immeasurable and innumerable kinds of multi-colored light rays, illuminating throughout the innumerable Buddha-worlds of the ten directions; the light rays you are now seeing are the tongue mark of that Buddha manifested.
Having heard this, all the great Bodhisattvas were very joyful and addressed their Buddhas:
We wish to go to the world of Endurance to behold, pay homage, and make offerings to the Buddha Shakyamuni, the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, and to hear the dharma of the Prajnaparamita. We humbly entreat the World-Honored One to compassionately consent!
All the Buddhas in those realms said:
Now is the right time, you may go.
Immeasurable and innumerable assemblies of great Bodhisattvas from those Buddha-lands all prostrated at the feet of the Buddhas, circumambulated clockwise seven times, solemnly carrying immeasurable banners, jeweled canopies, incense, garlands, ornamental garlands, gold, silver, and various flowers; harmoniously playing all kinds of beautiful music; in an instant, they arrived before the Buddha Shakyamuni, reverently made offerings, showed respect, and offered praise, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
At that time, all the devas from the Four Great Heavenly Kings up through the Paranirmitavasavartin Heavens, and from Brahma’s Retinue Heavens up through the Akanittha Heavens, all carried immeasurable kinds of incense and garlands – including anointing incense, powdered incense, burning incense, wood incense, leaf incense, and various blended incenses; Pleasing-Mind flower garlands, All-Species flower garlands, Dragon-Before flower garlands, and immeasurable kinds of mixed flower garlands; also carrying immeasurable kinds of heavenly flowers such as Utpala flowers, Padma flowers, Kumuda flowers, Pundarika flowers, Fine Sound flowers, Great Fine Sound flowers, and immeasurable other kinds of heavenly flowers – came before the Buddha Shakyamuni, reverently made offerings, showed respect, and offered praise, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
At this time, the assemblies of great Bodhisattvas from the ten directions, and immeasurable devas from the other heavens of the realm of desire and the form realm, came and offered various banners, jeweled canopies, precious gems, beautiful music, and all kinds of incense and flowers. By the spiritual power of the Buddha, all these things rose up into the sky and formed a great canopy pavilion, covering the entire three-thousand-fold world Buddha-land; at all four corners of the top of that pavilion were precious banners, jeweled canopies, and ornamental garlands hanging down; beautiful banners, fine silks, precious gems, and rare flowers – all kinds of adornments – were truly beautiful and pleasing.
At that time, in this assembly, immeasurable hundreds of thousands of billions of sentient beings all rose from their seats, placed their palms together in reverence, and addressed the Buddha:
World-Honored One, we vow that in future lifetimes we will attain Buddhahood, with all marks of excellence and majestic virtue just like the Buddha today; the adornment of our lands, the assemblies of Shravakas, Bodhisattvas, devas, and humans, and the places where we turn the wheel of dharma will all be like the Buddha today.
At that time, the World-Honored One, knowing their minds and vows – that with regard to all dharmas they had already awakened to the acceptance of the non-arising of dharmas, penetrating completely that all things are non-arising, non-ceasing, non-fabricated, and unconditioned – immediately smiled; from between his eyebrows, he again emitted various kinds of multi-colored light rays. The Venerable Ananda then rose from his seat, placed his palms together in reverence, and said:
World-Honored One, for what reason do you smile in this way?
The Buddha said to Ananda:
Those immeasurable hundreds of thousands of billions of sentient beings who just rose from their seats have, with regard to all dharmas, awakened to the acceptance of the non-arising of dharmas; in future lifetimes, passing through sixty-eight immeasurable great eons, cultivating the Bodhisattva practices, in the Flower-Store Kalpa they will become Buddhas, all sharing the same title: Enlightenment-Part Flower Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagavan.
– o0o –
End Of Volume 10