Sutra of the Compassionate Flower (悲華經)

Compassionate Flower Sutra, Volume 10

Translated by Dharmarakṣa of the Northern Liang Dynasty

Chapter 5, Part 3: The Perfection of Giving

The Buddha told the Bodhisattva Silence of Mind: "Good man! After that, countless, boundless, immeasurable eons passed. This world was then named Choosing the Wicked. At that time, the great kalpa was named Cover of Good and Equal, and the world was also in the five periods of impurity. To the east of this world, fifty-four worlds away, the land of Jambudvipa there was named Lupala. Through the power of a vow, I was born there as a wheel-turning sage king, ruling over the four continents. My name was Stainless Space, and I taught all living beings to abide in the ten good deeds and in the three vehicles. At that time I gave freely without any discrimination. Then a countless number of beggars came to me asking for all kinds of precious treasures—gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, coins, blue lapis lazuli beads, great blue lapis lazuli, fire beads, and mani jewels. The precious treasures I had were far too few to speak of, and the beggars were countless. So I asked my ministers: 'Where do such precious treasures come from?' The ministers replied: 'They appear through the manifestation of the dragon kings. Although such treasures exist, they are only for the sage king and cannot reach so many beggars.'

"At that time, I made a great vow: 'If in the future, amid the five corruptions when troubles are heavy and human lifespans last only a hundred years, I am certain to attain supreme perfect enlightenment—and if my vow is fulfilled and I gain my own benefit—then I will become a great dragon king, revealing treasuries of all kinds of precious jewels. In this way, I will choose evil worlds, and throughout the four continents in one world after another, I will take birth seven times in each continent. In each lifetime, I will reveal immeasurable, countless hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of treasuries of precious jewels. Each treasury will measure exactly one thousand yojanas in length and width, and each will be filled with all kinds of precious jewels, which I will give to sentient beings as described above. Just as I devote myself diligently to this in one world, so too will I do so in succession throughout the ten directions, in as many worlds of the five corruptions and evil ages without a Buddha as there are grains of sand in the Ganges River. In each buddha-land, in each continent, I will take birth seven times, and so on, as described above.'"

"Good man! I made such a good vow. At that time, hundreds of billions of celestial beings in the sky rained down all kinds of flowers and praised me, saying: 'Excellent! Excellent! All generosity—you have now attained it, according to your heart's wish.' Good man! At that time, the great assembly heard that the Pure King of Space, the heavens had given him the name 'All-Giver.' Having heard this, they said to one another: 'We should now go and beg him for things that are hard to give up. If he can give them up, he may truly be called All-Giver. If he cannot, how could he be called All-Giver?' Then each of these people went to the king and begged for his palace consorts, maidens, and children. When the wheel-turning king heard this, his heart was filled with great joy, and he gave them whatever they asked for. Then these people said to one another again: 'Wives and children like these are easy to give up—not a difficult matter. Now we should beg the king for parts of his own body. If he can give them up, he can truly be called one who gives up everything.'"

At that time, people went to the great king. Among the crowd was a beggar named Blue Light, who observed the dog precepts. He spoke to the Wheel-Turning King, saying: "Great King, if you are one who gives everything, please give me this Jambudvipa."

When I heard this, my heart was filled with great joy. I immediately bathed him with perfumed water, had him put on soft and excellent clothing, poured water over his head to consecrate him to inherit the sacred king's throne, and gave him Jambudvipa.

Then I made this vow: "By the cause and condition of giving away this Jambudvipa, may I attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. When my vow is fulfilled and I have gained my own benefit, may all the people of Jambudvipa respectfully follow and honor this person as their king. May this person also have immeasurable lifespan and become a Wheel-Turning King. After I attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, I shall bestow upon him a prediction that in one more lifetime he will reach the stage of Buddhahood."

There was a brahmin named Luzhi who came to me and begged for my two feet. When I heard this, my heart was filled with joy, and I immediately took a sharp knife and cut off both my feet, giving them to him. After giving them, I made a vow: "May I in a future life attain complete and unsurpassed precepts as my feet."

There was a brahmin named Ya who came to me and begged for my two eyes. When I heard this, my heart was filled with joy, and I immediately gouged out both my eyes and gave them to him. After giving them, I made a vow: "May I in a future life attain complete and unsurpassed five eyes."

Not long after, there was a brahmin named Pure and Firm who came to me and begged for my two ears. When I heard this, my heart was filled with joy, and I immediately cut off my ears and gave them to him. After giving them, I made a vow: "May I in a future life attain complete and unsurpassed wisdom as my ears."

Not long after, there was a Nirgrantha named Thought who came to me and begged for my male organ. When I heard this, my heart was filled with joy, and I immediately cut it off and gave it to him. After giving it, I made a vow: "May I in a future life attain complete and perfect enlightenment and obtain the mark of the horse-hidden."

Not long after, someone else came and begged me for my body, flesh, and blood. When I heard this, my heart was filled with joy, and I immediately gave them. After giving them, I made a vow: "May I in a future life attain complete and unsurpassed golden-colored marks."

Not long after, there was a brahmin named Honey Taste who came to me and asked for my two hands. When I heard this, my heart was filled with joy. Holding a knife in my right hand, I immediately cut off my left hand and said: "Now this right hand cannot cut itself—please take it yourself." Having made this gift, I again made a vow: "May I in a future life attain complete and unsurpassed hands of faith."

"Good man! After I had cut off all those limbs and joints, my body streamed with blood, and I made this vow: 'By this giving, may I surely attain supreme, perfect enlightenment. If my vow is fulfilled and I gain my own benefit, may the rest of my body parts grow back and be restored.' At that time, those who were not noble ones did not understand the meaning of this thought, and the lesser kings and ministers all said: 'How foolish this man is! How could he cut off his own body's limbs and joints, causing all his freedom and power to wither away in an instant? What value could the remaining lumps of flesh possibly have?' Then the ministers took my body and cast it into the wild graveyard outside the city, and each returned to their own place. At that time, countless mosquitoes, horseflies, and other insects sucked and ate my blood, while foxes, wolves, jackals, eagles, and vultures all came to devour my flesh. Yet at that time, before my life had ended, joy arose in my heart, and I made another vow: 'Just as I have given up all freedom and power along with all my limbs and joints—and even for a single thought never gave rise to anger or regret—if my vow is fulfilled and I gain my own benefit, may this body become a great mountain of flesh, so that all beings who drink blood and eat flesh may come here and eat and drink as they wish.' After making this vow, beings immediately came and ate their fill. By the power of my original vow, my body grew vast, a thousand yojanas high, and five hundred yojanas in length and breadth. For a full thousand years, I gave this flesh and blood to feed living beings. At that time, I also gave my tongue to satisfy tigers, wolves, owls, eagles, and vultures. By the power of my vow, it grew back just as before—even if it were gathered together, it would be as large as Vulture Peak Mountain. Having made this gift, I made yet another vow: 'May I in a future life fully attain the mark of a broad and long tongue.'"

"Good man! When my life ended in Jambudvipa, by the power of my original vow, I was born among dragons and became a great dragon king named Manifesting Treasure Stores. On the very night of my birth, I manifested hundreds of thousands of billions of nayutas of various treasures and proclaimed: 'In this region there are many treasure stores, fully endowed with all kinds of precious and rare things — gold, silver, and even mani jewels.' When beings heard this proclamation, each took treasures freely as they wished. Having taken them, they fully practiced the ten wholesome paths, gave rise to the aspiration for supreme perfect enlightenment, or gave rise to the aspiration of hearers or solitary buddhas. At that time, among the dragon kings, I received a body seven times, with a lifespan of seven hundred seventy thousand times a hundred million nayutas of hundreds of thousands of years, manifesting immeasurable, boundless, incalculable treasure stores and giving them to beings. Then I established immeasurable, boundless, incalculable people in the three vehicles, encouraged them to fully practice the ten wholesome paths, and after satisfying beings with various immeasurable precious treasures, I made a vow: 'May I in future lives be fully endowed and attain the thirty-two marks.' Thus in the second heaven realm, I was also born seven times as a great dragon king, and even throughout the world of Chosen, in every place and every one of the four continents, I did all such immeasurable benefit. Even in the immeasurable, boundless worlds without buddhas in the ten directions, in each world, in each continent, I was likewise born seven times as a great dragon king, with a lifespan of seven hundred seventy thousand times a hundred million nayutas of hundreds of thousands of years, manifesting such immeasurable, boundless, incalculable treasure stores, and doing likewise. Good man! You should now know that this is the causal basis of the Tathagata's profound and weighty diligence in seeking the thirty-two marks when he was a bodhisattva."

"Good man, when the Tathagata was still a bodhisattva, the diligence he practiced surpassed that of all but eight kinds of people. Throughout the past, no one could equal it. If no one in the past could match it, you should know that bodhisattvas in the future will likewise be unable to match the deep and strenuous diligence that I have practiced."

Good man, after immeasurable, boundless, and incalculable eons had passed, this world was renamed Coral Pool, and the eon was named Flower Hand. At that time there was no Buddha, and the world was in the five periods of turbidity. I then took birth as Shakra, the ruler of the gods, named Good Sun Light. Observing the Jambu Continent, I saw that sentient beings were increasingly engaging in evil practices. I then transformed myself into the form of a yaksha, a fearsome and terrifying shape, and descended to the Jambu Continent, standing before the people. When they saw me, they were all filled with dread and asked me, "What do you need? Please tell us quickly." I replied, "I need only food and drink, nothing else." They asked again, "What kind of food do you wish to eat?" I answered, "I wish only to kill people and eat their flesh and blood. But if all of you can, for the rest of your lives, uphold the precept of not killing, and further cultivate Right View, and give rise to the mind of supreme, perfect Enlightenment, or give rise to the mind of a Shravaka or Pratyekabuddha, then I will no longer eat any of you."

"Good man! At that time, I constantly manifested as a created being to provide food and drink. When the beings of that time saw me like this, they became even more fearful, and all of them, for the rest of their lives, undertook the precept of not killing, and even embraced Right View. Some gave rise to the aspiration for supreme perfect enlightenment, while others gave rise to the aspiration of the Shravaka or Pratyekabuddha path. After I had encouraged all beings throughout Jambudvipa in this way to practice the ten wholesome deeds and established them in the three vehicles, I made this vow: 'If I shall certainly attain supreme perfect enlightenment, and if my vows are fulfilled and I obtain my own benefit, then I shall further encourage the people of the four continents to practice the ten wholesome paths. And even throughout this entire world, in every place and every region, throughout the four continents, by such means I shall lead beings to practice the ten wholesome paths and inspire them to give rise to the aspiration for the three vehicles.' Having thus filled one world entirely, I shall do the same throughout the ten directions—in measureless, boundless, countless worlds of the five turbidities, in lands without a Buddha, as numerous as asamkhyeyas—in just the same way."

"Good man! After I made that vow, everything was fulfilled. In the Coral Pond world, I transformed into a fearsome yaksha form to tame and guide living beings, leading them to practice the ten virtuous deeds and to follow the three vehicles. In this way, throughout the ten directions — immeasurable, boundless, countless worlds of the five turbid evil ages where no Buddha has appeared — I took the form of a yaksha to tame and guide living beings, leading them to practice the ten virtuous deeds and to follow the three vehicles. Because of the karma from terrifying living beings in the past to lead them to practice the ten virtuous deeds and follow the three vehicles, today I am able to sit beneath the Bodhi tree. When I am about to attain supreme perfect enlightenment, the heavenly demon Mara and his great assembly will come to where I am, seeking to disrupt and destroy my path to enlightenment.

"Good sir, to speak briefly of the alms-giving perfection when I was a bodhisattva: Good sir, the profound acceptance of the Dharma, the subtle and wondrous retention of teachings, and the liberations and meditative absorptions of the great bodhisattvas—at that time I had not yet attained any of these, except for the two bodies and the five worldly powers with their defilements. Yet even then I accomplished this great work: I established countless, boundless, incalculable beings firmly on the path to supreme, perfect enlightenment; I established countless, boundless, incalculable beings firmly on the pratyekabuddha path; I established countless, boundless, incalculable beings firmly in the shravaka path. How much more did I also gain by making offerings to all the Buddhas—as numerous as the dust motes in a single Buddha-world. The merit I gained from each and every Buddha was as countless as the drops of water in the great ocean. My offerings to countless shravakas, solitary realizers, teachers, parents, and five-powered sages were likewise the same. In the past, when I was a bodhisattva, I gave my own flesh and blood to nourish living beings—such great compassion as this. But now, all these arhats completely lack such a mind."

Compassionate Flower Sutra, Chapter 6: Entering Concentration Samadhi Gate

At that time, the Buddha addressed the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Silent Mind, saying: "Good man, just as I now behold with the Buddha-eye the Buddhas and World-Honored Ones throughout the ten directions—as numerous as the dust particles of a single Buddha-land—who have entered Nirvana, all of them were beings I once encouraged and guided to first give rise to the mind set on supreme, perfect Enlightenment, and who practiced the perfection of giving, and so on up to the perfection of wisdom. In future ages as well, it will be just the same."

"Good man! I now see the countless, boundless, immeasurable Buddhas and World-Honored Ones in the eastern worlds, who are presently in this world turning the wheel of the true Dharma. They too are the ones I first encouraged long ago to awaken the mind of supreme enlightenment and to practice the six perfections. In the southern, western, and northern directions, the four intermediate directions, and above and below, it is the same."

"Good man! To the east of here, beyond eighty-nine billion buddha-worlds, there is a world called Fine Flower. In it resides a Buddha named Stainless Merit and Radiance King Tathagata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Wisdom and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One, who is now present and teaching the Dharma to beings. That Buddha was also first inspired by me in the past to awaken the mind set on supreme perfect enlightenment, and I led him to practice the perfection of giving, and on through the perfection of wisdom.

To the east there is also the world called Wonder and Joy, where there is a Buddha named Akshobhya Tathagata. There is also the Jambu world, where there is a Buddha named Sun Treasury Tathagata. There is also a world called Joyful Freedom, where there is a Buddha named Joyful Freedom Sound and Radiance Tathagata. There is also a world called Peace and Bliss, where there is a Buddha named Wisdom Sun Tathagata. There is also a world called Supreme Merit, where there is a Buddha named Dragon Freedom Tathagata. There is also a world called Good Marks, where there is a Buddha named Vajra Renown Tathagata. There is also a world called River and Sea King, where there is a Buddha named Radiance Tathagata. There is also a world called Unloved, where there is a Buddha named Sun Treasury Tathagata. There is also a world called Free of Defilement and Radiant, where there is a Buddha named Freedom Renown Tathagata. There is also a world called Mountain Light, where there is a Buddha named Inconceivable King Tathagata. There is also a world called Gathering, where there is a Buddha named Great Merit Treasury Tathagata. There is also a world called Flower Radiance, where there is a Buddha named Radiance of Mind's Marks Tathagata. There is also a world called Peaceful and Blazing, where there is a Buddha named Peaceful and Free See-Mountain King Tathagata. There is also a world called Good Earth, where there is a Buddha named Knowing Image Tathagata. There is also a world called Flower Day, where there is a Buddha named Pure Unstained Eye Tathagata.

Good man! In this way, all the countless, boundless, immeasurable Buddhas now present in the east who turn the wheel of Dharma for the sake of beings—when they had not yet awakened the mind set on supreme enlightenment, I was the one who first encouraged them to awaken the mind set on supreme perfect enlightenment. I also guided them and brought them to the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, in every place throughout the ten directions. Wherever they arrived, they practiced and dwelt in the perfection of giving, and on through the perfection of wisdom, and I caused them to receive the prediction of supreme perfect enlightenment."

At that time, in the Eastern realm of Good Flowers, the Buddha named Stainless Merit and Light King, seated on his lion throne, and the entire land trembled in six ways. A great radiance appeared, and a rain of countless wonderful jewel lotuses fell. When the bodhisattvas there witnessed this, they were astonished and puzzled, thinking such a thing had never occurred before. They said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, for what reason does the Tathagata's throne tremble like this? We have never seen such a thing before."

That Buddha then told the bodhisattvas: "Good men, eighty-nine billion Buddha worlds to the west of here, there is a land called Saha. In it there is a Buddha named Shakyamuni Tathagata, who is now present teaching the Dharma of former causes to the four assemblies. When that World-Honored One was a bodhisattva, he first encouraged me to awaken the mind of supreme, perfect enlightenment. He then guided me to the presence of many Buddhas and first led me to practice the perfection of giving and all the way to the perfection of wisdom. At that time, wherever I went, I immediately received my first prediction of supreme, perfect enlightenment. That World-Honored One, Shakyamuni, is truly my good spiritual friend. He is now in the west, among the great assembly, teaching the Sutra of Former Causes to the four assemblies. It is by that Tathagata's miraculous power that the lion throne I sit upon trembles. Good men, which of you now can go to that Saha world and inquire after that Buddha's well-being, whether he is at ease and in good health?"

Then the bodhisattvas all said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, the bodhisattvas in this Good Flowers world all have spiritual powers and are at ease with the merits of bodhisattvas. This morning at dawn we saw this great light, and that light came here from all the Buddha worlds. The earth trembled in six ways time and again, and a rain of various flowers fell. Having seen this, immeasurable hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of bodhisattvas wish to use their spiritual powers to go to the Saha world to see Shakyamuni Buddha, to make offerings, to pay respect, to honor, and to praise him, and also to seek and receive the all-understanding dharani gate. Yet none of us knows in which direction Shakyamuni of the Saha world is located."

Then that Buddha immediately extended his golden right arm and emitted various subtle rays of light from the tips of his five fingers. These rays illuminated eighty-nine billion Buddha lands, reaching as far as the Saha World. At that time, the bodhisattvas were able to see the Saha World by means of that light. They saw it filled and crowded with bodhisattvas and great bodhisattvas, and also with gods, dragons, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, and others filling the sky. Having seen this, they said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, we have now seen that world and know its direction, and we also see the great assembly of bodhisattvas, gods, and others completely filling that land with no empty space. Yet Shakyamuni Tathagata pays no attention to us and does not teach the subtle Dharma."

That Buddha then addressed the great bodhisattvas: "Good sons, Shakyamuni Tathagata constantly surveys all beings with his pure, supreme Buddha-eye, and there is nothing he does not see. Good sons, every living being in the Saha world—whether on the ground or in the air—each thinks to themselves: 'Shakyamuni Tathagata is watching over my mind alone, and speaking the Dharma just for me.' Good sons, that Shakyamuni Tathagata teaches the Dharma to all kinds of different beings with a single voice, and each being understands according to their own kind—he does not use different voices to speak to many people. In that land, some beings worship Brahma, and they see the Tathagata's body as a Brahma figure and thereby hear the Dharma. Those who worship Mara, Indra, the sun and moon, Vaishravana, Virupaksha, Virudhaka, Dhritarashtra, or Maheshvara—throughout all eighty-four thousand such kinds—each sees a figure corresponding to what they worship and thereby hears the Dharma, giving rise to the thought that he appears for them alone."

At that time, there were two bodhisattvas in the assembly. One was named Rahu Lightning, and the second was named Fire Light. Then the Buddha Stainless Merit Light King said to the two bodhisattvas, "Good men, you may now go to the Sahā world. Carry my words and greet the World-Honored One Shakyamuni: 'Is your daily life comfortable and at ease? Are your energy and strength well?'"

Then the two bodhisattvas said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One, we see that in that Buddha's every world, great assemblies gather like clouds, filling the ground and the sky completely, packed tightly with no empty space anywhere. If we go there, where would we stay?"

Then the Buddha said, "Good men, do not speak such words, saying that world has no place to stay. Why? The place where that Buddha dwells is vast and boundless. That Buddha's immeasurable merit is inconceivable. Because of his original vows and the greatness of his compassionate heart, he leads countless beings into the Dharma, where they take the Three Refuges. Then he teaches them the Dharma of the Three Vehicles, further teaches the Three Precepts, reveals the Three Gates of Liberation, and rescues immeasurable and boundless beings from the three lower realms, establishing them securely in the three higher realms.

"Good men, furthermore, at one time, not long after Shakyamuni Tathagata attained the supreme awakening, wishing to tame and guide beings, he sat cross-legged for seven days and seven nights in the Indasāla Cave on Mount Vaideha, entering meditative absorption and the bliss of liberation. At that time, the Buddha's body filled the entire cave so completely that there was not even a space of four fingers' width. After seven days had passed, twelve nayutas of great bodhisattvas from the ten directions came to the Sahā world and stood at the edge of that mountain, wishing to see Shakyamuni Tathagata, to make offerings, pay respect, honor, and praise him, and to receive the wondrous Dharma."

Good man, at that time the Tathagata, dwelling in that place, used great supernatural powers to make the cave dwelling vast and immeasurable, so that it could fully accommodate twelve nayutas of bodhisattvas, mahasattvas. Once those bodhisattvas had entered, they saw that the cave dwelling was vast and magnificently adorned. There were bodhisattvas who, with the lion's play of sovereign supernatural powers, made offerings to the Buddha, and each bodhisattva sat upon a manifested jeweled seat and listened to the Dharma. Good man, such was the power of that Buddha. When those bodhisattvas had heard the Dharma, they immediately rose from their seats, bowed their heads in reverence to the Buddha, circumambulated him three times to the right, and each returned to their own Buddha realm. Not long after they had gone, the cave returned to its original state.

The second lord of the four continents, Indra, chief of the gods, whose name was Kaushika, was approaching the end of his life and was certain to fall into the realm of animals. Because of this, fear arose in his heart. Together with eighty-four thousand gods of the Trayastrimsha heaven, he descended and came to the Indasala Cave, wishing to see the Tathagata. At that time there was a yaksha named King's Eye, the spirit of that cave, dwelling outside. Then Indra, through the power of the Buddha, had this thought: "Now I will send the gandharva youth Panchashikha ahead to the Buddha's presence, to praise the Tathagata with wonderful music, so that the World-Honored One may arise from his concentration." Good sir, having thought this, Indra immediately had the gandharva youth Panchashikha play his lapis lazuli lute and praise the Tathagata with subtle and wondrous sounds, whose distinct tones numbered five hundred kinds.

Good man, when Pancasikha was praising the Buddha, the Tathagata then entered into the samadhi of marks. Through the power of that samadhi, he manifested great supernatural power in this world, causing all yaksas, raksasas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, and the gods of the desire realm and form realm to gather together there. If there were those who wished to hear wonderful sounds, they heard them as they pleased and their hearts were filled with great joy. Or there were those who wished to hear praises of the Buddha; having heard the praises, joy arose in their hearts, and they gave rise to even greater feelings of respect and reverence toward the Tathagata. Or there were beings who wished to hear musical sounds; they immediately heard them, and having heard them, they rejoiced.

At that time, Shakyamuni Buddha arose from concentration and pointed out the entrance of the sala cave to the great assembly. Shakra, lord of the gods, then came to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and stood to one side. He said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One, where should I sit now?" The Buddha replied, "Kaushika, let your followers simply join the gathering. I will now expand this sala cave, making it extremely vast, so that it can hold all the followers of this great assembly—as numerous as twelve Ganges Rivers' worth of sand—and provide them all with seats."

At that time, Shakyamuni Tathagata, amid the great assembly, expounded the true Dharma with a single wondrous voice, causing the eighty-four thousand beings of various capacities to hear according to their inclinations. Among the assembly, some who were studying the Shravaka path heard the Shravaka teachings, and immediately ninety-nine billion beings attained the fruit of Srotaapanna. Those who were cultivating the Pratyekabuddha vehicle immediately heard the Pratyekabuddha teachings. Those who were cultivating the Great Vehicle heard purely the Great Vehicle. The foremost among the assembly, Pancashikha and other sons of Gandharvas, numbering eighteen nayutas, attained non-retrogression on the path to Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Among those who had not yet aroused the aspiration, some aroused the aspiration for supreme enlightenment, some for Pratyekabuddhahood, and some for Shravakahood. At that time, Shakra Devanam Indra's fear was immediately dispelled; his lifespan increased by a thousand years, and he attained the fruit of Srotaapanna.

Good man, because of Shakyamuni Tathagata's divine powers, he can produce such vast and boundless sounds of teaching the Dharma, and it is the same with everything else—no one can find the limit of that Buddha's voice. That Buddha's skillful means are immeasurable and boundless, and none of the beings he transforms can know such skillful means. Good man, that Buddha's physical form is also immeasurable and boundless; no one can grasp the measure of his body or see the top of his head. Good man, if this great assembly wished to enter that Buddha's belly, they would all be accommodated, and once inside, if they then wished to find the edge of his belly, there would be no such place—yet the Tathagata's belly neither increases nor decreases. If all kinds of living beings were to gather together and wish to come and go, within a single hair there would be no obstruction at all; even the heavenly eye could not find the edge of a single pore, and that pore neither increases nor decreases. Such is the Buddha, the World-Honored One—his body is thus immeasurable and boundless.

"Good man, that Buddha's world is also immeasurable and boundless. Good man, suppose beings from worlds as numerous as the sands of one Ganges River in the ten directions all entered that Buddha's world—it could still contain them all. Why is that? Because when that Buddha first awakened the mind of Enlightenment, the vows he made were immeasurable and boundless. Good man, setting aside beings from worlds as numerous as the sands of one Ganges River—even if beings from worlds as numerous as the sands of a thousand Ganges Rivers in the ten directions entered that world, it could still contain them all, neither increasing nor decreasing from its original form. Good man, when Shakyamuni Tathagata first awakened the unsurpassed mind of Enlightenment, he made great vows in order to attain the fullness of all wisdom. That is why the world he now possesses is immeasurable and boundless."

"Good man, Shakyamuni possesses these four qualities that all Buddhas and World-Honored Ones cannot surpass. Good man, now take this Moonlight Immaculate Pure Flower and go to the West, to the Sahā World as you see it before your eyes, and carry my words to greet that Buddha: 'May you be at ease and well, light and comfortable, with strength and vitality at peace?'"

At that time, the Buddha Undefiled Merit and Radiant Light took pure, spotless moonlight flowers and, giving them to the two bodhisattvas, said to them: "Now, by my great spiritual power, go to that world."

Then twenty thousand bodhisattvas in the assembly said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, so be it, so be it! We shall now ride the Buddha's spiritual power and go to that world to see Shakyamuni Tathagata, to make offerings, to show respect, to honor, and to praise him."

That Buddha said: "Good men, you should know that the time has come."

At that time, the two bodhisattvas and the twenty thousand great beings, through the Buddha's spiritual power, set out from the realm of Good Flowers and in a single thought-moment suddenly arrived at Vulture Peak in the Saha World. Before the Tathagata, they knelt with palms pressed together and said to the Buddha:

"World-Honored One, eighty-nine billion buddha-worlds to the east of here, there is a world called Good Flowers. In it there is a Buddha named Stainless Merit and Radiance King Tathagata. He is now surrounded by a great assembly of bodhisattvas and mahasattvas, praising the World-Honored One's immeasurable merit, saying: 'In the Saha World there is Shakyamuni Tathagata, who is now turning the wheel of the true Dharma for the great assembly. When that Buddha was a bodhisattva, he first encouraged me to arouse the mind of enlightenment. Because of this, I then gave rise to the unsurpassed mind of the path. After I had aroused that mind, he further encouraged me to cultivate the six paramitas. Even up to the Tathagata's level—these four dharmas are something that buddhas and world-honored ones cannot surpass.'

Therefore, that Buddha sends these moon-radiance stainless pure flowers as offerings to the World-Honored One, and asks the Tathagata: 'Is your daily life light and at ease? Are your strength and vitality well?'"

"Good man! In the eastern world of Wonderful Joy, the place where Akshobhya Tathagata sits on the lion throne also quaked in six ways. Countless great bodhisattvas, seeing this happen, said to the Buddha: 'World-Honored One, for what reason does the lion throne where the Tathagata sits shake like this?'"

Just as described above, the same is true of all the eastern directions. At that time, countless, boundless, immeasurable great bodhisattvas from all the eastern directions all came to this Saha world, each holding pure, unstained lunar-light flowers. They saw the Buddha, made offerings, paid reverence, showed respect, and praised him. Good man, in this way, the immeasurable Buddhas of all the eastern directions all sent bodhisattvas to praise me.

Good man, I now see that to the south of this world, beyond a distance equal to the sands of one Ganges River in Buddha-lands, there is a world called Free from All Sorrows. In it is a Buddha named Sorrow-Free Merit Tathagata, who is now present and teaching the Dharma.

There is also a world called Jambu Light, where a Buddha named Dharma Master Lion's Play Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Peaceful Sumeru, where a Buddha named Path Master Sala King Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Merit Tower King, where a Buddha named Lion's Roar King Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Adorned with Precious Treasures, where a Buddha named Eight-Armed Victorious Thunder Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Pearl Light Shining Everywhere, where a Buddha named Precious Treasury Merit Roar Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Heavenly Moon, where a Buddha named Fire Treasury Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Sandalwood Root, where a Buddha named Star Constellation Renown Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Renowned Fragrance, where a Buddha named Merit Power Sala King Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Good Explanation, where a Buddha named Wondrous Voice Master Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Thirst-Quenching Grove, where a Buddha named Sala Victorious King Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Moon Master, where a Buddha named Light Master Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Good Thunder Sound, where a Buddha named Wondrous Voice Master Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Treasure Harmony, where a Buddha named Treasure Palm Dragon King Tathagata is present.

There is also a world called Hanging Jewel Trees, where a Buddha named Rain Sound Master Dharma Moon Light Tathagata is present.

Thus, in the south, there are immeasurable, boundless, countless Buddhas now present. All of them were those whom I, in the past when I was a Bodhisattva, first inspired to awaken the mind of Enlightenment. The lion thrones of all these World-Honored Ones also shook, and all those Buddhas each praised my merit. They also sent immeasurable, boundless, countless great Bodhisattvas, bearing moon-light, stainless, pure flowers, all of whom have come to this Saha World, to Vulture Peak, to see the Buddha, pay homage, make offerings, show reverence and respect, praise him, and then sit to one side in turn to listen to the Dharma.

"Good man! I now also see that seventy-seven thousand seven hundred thousand times a hundred million yojanas to the west from here, there is a Buddha world. In that world named Stillness, there is a Buddha called Precious Mountain, who is now present, teaching the subtle and wonderful Dharma to the four assemblies. There are also the Buddha Unsurpassed Light Without Sorrow, the Buddha Storehouse of Sound and Wisdom, the Buddha Called Vast, the Buddha Storehouse Everywhere, the Buddha Progress of Brahma Flower Power, the Buddha Courage of the Dharma Lamp, the Buddha Mountain of Supreme Sound, the Buddha King of Renowned Sound, and the Buddha King of Brahma Sound. Thus, in the west, immeasurable, boundless, innumerable Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones—they too are those whom I, when I was a Bodhisattva, first encouraged to arouse the aspiration for Enlightenment. The lion thrones of all these World-Honored Ones have also all trembled, and all those Buddhas have each praised my merit and virtue. They have also sent immeasurable, boundless, innumerable great Bodhisattvas, bearing moon-light immaculate precious flowers, all coming here to this Saha World, to Vulture Peak, to see the Buddha, pay homage, make offerings, show respect, honor, and praise him. Then they sat to one side and listened to the Dharma in turn."

To the northeast of here, beyond hundreds of thousands of nayutas of Buddha worlds, there is a world called Stainless. In that world there is a Buddha named Freedom from Feverish Affliction, Increasing Vaiśravaṇa, Sāla King Tathāgata. He has two bodhisattvas: one named Jewel Mountain, the second named Light Contemplation. There are also the Buddha Destroyer of All Demons, the Buddha Sāla King, the Buddha Great Strength Light, the Buddha Increasing Lotus, the Buddha Candana, the Buddha Meru King, the Buddha Firm Sinking Sandalwood, and the Buddha Fire Wisdom Great Strength. Countless Buddhas and Tathāgatas such as these—and likewise in the north, the four intermediate directions, above, and below—are all the same.

At that time, Shakyamuni Tathagata, with his great spiritual power, wanting to make room for all these assembled beings, transformed each one of those who had come to the gathering, making their bodies extremely small, like tiny mustard seeds. The sky and the earth of the Saha World became so completely packed and crowded with them that there was no empty space left, not even the width of a single hair. At that moment, none of the beings could see one another. They also could not see the great and small mountains, Mount Sumeru, the great and small iron ring mountains, the dark and gloomy places between them, or the palaces of all the heavens above. Down below, they could not even see the edge of the diamond ground. Only one person was visible—the Buddha, the World-Honored One.

At that time, Shakyamuni Tathagata again entered the concentration called "Pervading Space and Cutting Through All Dharmas," and caused these countless pure moonlit flowers to enter every pore of his body, so that the entire assembly could all see themselves. At that time, living beings no longer recalled the Buddha's physical form; they saw only the pores, and within those pores were wondrous gardens, and in those gardens were jeweled trees, and those trees had various stems and leaves, with abundant flowers and fruit, and various jeweled garments, celestial banners, victory banners, canopies, celestial crowns, jeweled ornaments, pearls, and necklaces—all their adornments were like those of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. When the great assembly saw this, they thought: "Now we should go and stroll through those gardens." At that time, except for beings in the three lower realms and those in the formless heaven, all the rest of the great assembly entered the Tathagata's body through his pores and sat down within those gardens. Then the Tathagata withdrew his supernormal power, and the great assembly each regained their original appearance and saw one another, and said to one another: "Where is the Tathagata now?"

At that time, the Bodhisattva Maitreya said to the great assembly: "You should know that I and all of you are now within the body of the Tathagata." Then the assembly saw the inside and outside of the Tathagata's body, and they realized they were gathered together with countless multitudes, all dwelling within the Tathagata's body. They said to one another: "From where did we enter? Who led us in here?" The Bodhisattva Maitreya spoke to them again: "Listen carefully! Listen carefully! The Tathagata is now displaying great supernormal powers and transformative abilities. To benefit us all, he is about to teach the Dharma. You should all now focus your minds wholeheartedly." When the assembly heard these words, they knelt with palms pressed together, accepted the teaching, and listened.

At that time, the World-Honored One taught the Dharma through the gateway of all practices: "What is called the gateway of all practices? It is emerging from the mire of birth and death, entering the Noble Eightfold Path, and fully accomplishing the attainment of all wisdom. Good men, there are ten kinds of single-minded dedication that give rise to Enlightenment and enable entry through this gateway. What are these ten?

First, the desire to lead all beings to Liberation, dedicating and rejoicing in merit.

Second, giving rise to great compassion to embrace all beings.

Third, the desire to ferry across those not yet ferried, diligently cultivating the unsurpassed ship of Dharma.

Fourth, the desire to bring understanding to those who do not yet understand, adorned by contemplating liberation from false and inverted views.

Fifth, the desire to roar the lion's roar without fear, adorned by contemplating that all dharmas are Non-self in nature.

Sixth, the desire that wherever one goes in all worlds, the mind holds no discrimination, skillfully learning all dharmas as being like the ten similes.

Seventh, the desire to obtain a world adorned with radiance, cultivating the aggregate of Precepts to make it pure.

Eighth, accomplishing the adornment of the Tathagata's ten powers, fulfilling all paramitas.

Ninth, accomplishing the adornment of the four fearlessnesses, acting in accordance with what is taught.

Tenth, adorning the eighteen exclusive dharmas, fully comprehending whatever Dharma is heard without remainder, through non-negligence.

These are called the ten dharmas of single-minded dedication that give rise to unsurpassed Enlightenment, enabling entry through this gateway of all practices. One then attains the irreversible unsurpassed Enlightenment, the gateway of signlessness, the gateway of the path of wisdom. All dharmas are Non-self, beyond thought, neither arising nor ceasing. This is called the Bodhisattva's stage of non-retrogression. Therefore, it is neither retrogressing nor non-retrogressing, neither annihilated nor eternal, neither concentrated nor scattered."

When the Dharma was being taught, eighty billion times more Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas than the sands of the Ganges River in the Tathagata's assembly became irreversible in their progress toward supreme, perfect enlightenment. Countless Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas attained profound meditative concentrations and deep acceptance of the Dharma. They all emerged from the pores of the Tathagata's body, their minds filled with great astonishment, marveling at what had never been before. Immediately before the Buddha, they bowed their heads to the ground in reverence. After rising, they suddenly returned to their original Buddha-worlds throughout the ten directions. Yet they again heard the voice of Shakyamuni Tathagata proclaiming the teachings, reaching across immeasurable, boundless, countless Buddha-worlds in the ten directions without any obstruction. Though these Bodhisattvas had returned to their own realms, they continued to hear the Tathagata's teachings, and not a single phrase or meaning was lost — it was no different from sitting right before the Buddha, listening up close. Their bodies too were like this, pervading immeasurable worlds throughout the ten directions. Immeasurable, boundless, countless Bodhisattvas and voice-hearers also saw themselves passing freely in and out of those pores. In this same way — throughout every single pore — entry and exit were unobstructed, and the ten directions of the world were likewise.

At that time, the great assembly emerged from the pores of Shakyamuni Tathagata. They bowed their heads to the Buddha's feet, circled him three times to the right, and stood before the Buddha, praising him with various sounds and voices. Then the gods of the desire realm and the form realm rained down all kinds of flowers, perfumed ointments, powdered incense, banners, and jeweled necklaces, and offered subtle and wondrous music as offerings to the Tathagata.

At that time, there was a bodhisattva in the assembly named Fearless Ground, who knelt with joined palms and spoke to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, what should this great sutra be called? How should we receive and uphold it?"

The Buddha told the Bodhisattvas of the Ground of Fearlessness and others: "This sutra should be called 'The Gate of Dharanis That Completely Liberates,' and also 'Immeasurable Buddha,' also 'The Great Assembly,' also 'The Bestowal of Bodhisattva Predictions,' also 'The Four Fearlessnesses Appearing in the World,' also 'The Gate of All Samadhis,' also 'Revealing the Worlds of the Buddhas,' also 'Like the Great Ocean,' also 'Immeasurable,' and also 'The Great Compassionate Lotus.'"

The Bodhisattva Mahasattva Fearless Ground again spoke to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, if a good man or good woman receives and upholds this sutra, reads and recites it fluently, and explains it to others, even if only a single verse, how much merit would they gain?"

The Buddha said to the Bodhisattvas who were present, including Fearless: "I have already spoken of the merit that is gained. Now I will explain it to you again, more briefly.

Good men and good women, if there are those who receive and uphold this sutra, read it, recite it, master it smoothly, and explain it to others—even if only a single verse—and in the last fifty years, if there are even those who can write out a single verse, the merit they gain surpasses that of Bodhisattvas who practice the six perfections for ten great kalpas.

Why is this? Because when all the heavenly demons, Brahma kings, ascetics, brahmins, yakshas, rakshasas, nagas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, kumbhandas, hungry ghosts, pishachas, humans and non-humans—any being with a mind of anger—hears this sutra, they immediately attain purity, gentleness, and joy. They are freed from all illnesses, anger, enemies and thieves, and all kinds of quarrels and disputes. All violent winds and terrible rains cease. The sick are healed. The hungry and thirsty are filled and satisfied, and receive all kinds of happiness, living in harmony and accord. Those who are angry are led to patience. The fearful become free from fear and receive all kinds of joy. Those with afflictions are freed from afflictions. All wholesome roots are made to grow. Beings in the lower realms are rescued. The essential path of the three vehicles is revealed. One can attain the profound acceptance of the Dharma, samadhi, and the gates of dharani. One can bring great benefit to sentient beings. One can sit at the seat of awakening on the diamond throne. One can defeat the four maras. One can reveal all the aids to enlightenment. One can turn the wheel of Dharma. Those lacking the wealth of the noble ones are made complete. Countless and boundless beings are led into the city of fearlessness.

For this reason, if one can uphold this sutra, read it, recite it, master it smoothly, and explain it to others—even a single verse—or in the last age, in the last fifty years, if one can even write out a single verse, one gains a gathering of merit as vast and boundless as this.

Therefore I now teach this sutra. To whom should this great sutra be entrusted? Who can uphold this Dharma in the last fifty years? Who can proclaim it so that non-regressing Bodhisattvas everywhere may hear it? Who again can expound this teaching for those who act against the Dharma, who are filled with evil desires, greed, and wrong views, who do not believe in good and evil and their karmic results?"

At that time, everyone in the assembly understood the Buddha's mind. Then there was a great immortal yaksha named Wuyuan Feisu, who was seated among the crowd. At that moment, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Maitreya rose from his seat and led this yaksha to where the Buddha was. Then the Tathagata said to this yaksha immortal: "You should now receive and uphold this sutra, and even in the final fifty years, for the sake of non-retreating bodhisattvas, and even for those who do not believe in the retribution of good and evil, you should expound and spread this teaching."

At that time, the Yaksha said to the Buddha: "Over the past eighty-four great kalpas, because of my original vow, I practiced as a spirit-yaksha, cultivating the path to supreme, perfect enlightenment. At that time, I taught and guided countless, immeasurable, innumerable beings, establishing them in the Four Immeasurable Minds, and also caused countless, immeasurable beings to never regress from supreme, perfect enlightenment. World-Honored One, now, in order to protect all beings in future ages, during the last fifty years of the final age, I shall uphold this sutra. Even if I hear only a four-line verse from someone else, I will read and recite it until I am fully fluent, spread it to others, and ensure that it is never cut off."

When the Buddha finished speaking this sutra, Bodhisattva Stillness of Mind, the assembled gods and humans, the heavenly musicians, and all other beings, both human and non-human, were filled with great joy. They bowed deeply, touching their heads to the ground, then withdrew and departed.

Compassionate Flower Sutra, Volume 10