Great Vehicle Yoga Vajra Nature Ocean Mañjuśrī Thousand-Armed Thousand-Bowl Great King Sutra (大乘瑜伽金剛性海曼殊室利千臂千缽大教王經)

Mahayana Yoga Vajra Ocean Manjushri Sutra, Volume 6

Translated by Master Amoghavajra of the Tripitaka, from Daxingshan Temple, under Imperial Edict

At that time, the Tathāgata Śākyamuni, within the great assembly, together with all beings, celestial deities, great bodhisattvas, the fourfold assembly, great Brahma deities, dragon spirits and the eight classes, virtuous men and women, entered a state of meditative absorption (samādhi) in the true suchness of the pure Dharma-realm. He emitted a golden light of enlightened nature, which illuminated the entire body, marks, and every pore of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's Dharma-body. Within each pore were inconceivable and inexpressibly vast Buddha-lands, and within each land, countless Buddhas appeared in the world, surrounded by assemblies of great bodhisattvas, teaching all beings and great bodhisattvas. The Tathāgata also manifested as the independent, pure Dharmakāya—the Vairocana—like empty space, and through his wisdom body, he displayed countless forms.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, emerging from the Tathāgata's immeasurable wisdom body, traveled throughout the ten directions to serve all Buddhas. He entered the Dharma-realms of all Buddhas and manifested an inconceivable and boundless body of wisdom, dwelling in the gateways of all-knowing knowledge. With the light of wisdom, he perfectly understood all phenomena and was fearless in teaching them. His eloquence was inexhaustible, extending to the ends of future time. With great wisdom, he opened the gateways of dhāraṇī (total retention). His wisdom-eye was pure, and his Dharma-eye was boundless. He deeply entered the realm of truth and reached the state of wisdom, free from all obstacles and boundaries, ultimately tranquil, like empty space.

Thus, in the worlds of these Buddhas and bodhisattvas, as well as in the Tusita Heaven with its great bodhisattvas, all witnessed Samantabhadra's miraculous displays and the spiritual powers of all Tathāgatas and bodhisattvas in pure Buddha-lands. All these Buddhas and bodhisattvas had, in the past, planted virtuous roots together with Vairocana Tathāgata, cultivated the bodhisattva path, and practiced Samantabhadra's vows. They had awakened to the profound liberation of all Buddhas, attained bodies of non-dual suchness, and entered all the pure Buddha-lands, dwelling in the oceanic treasury of enlightened nature. All this was due to the Tathāgata's sovereign spiritual power—the infinite, inconceivable power and virtue of the enlightened nature.

Then, Śākyamuni Tathāgata addressed the assembly: "Therefore, if any bodhisattva cultivates the practice of body-secrecy and diligently contemplates, they follow the vast vows of Samantabhadra from the past. Entering into the three secrets of sentient beings' essential nature, they cultivate and realize the thirty branches of the vajra three-secret gateway samādhi contemplation. With each branch, they enter the fundamental self-nature, the mind-nature of sentient beings, the true suchness and wisdom, and swiftly receive empowerment to abide, awakening the vajra samādhi. At that time, the original vow of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva—the vajra strength and wisdom of the enlightened nature—enables all beings to realize the gateway to enlightenment and liberation."

The World-Honored One then asked Samantabhadra: "You constantly dwell in the inconceivable, profound, secret gateway of the vajra-enlightened nature—the Dharma-realm of all Buddhas, the ocean of skillful means and samādhi. Within this same ocean of the true suchness of all Tathāgatas' enlightened virtue and awakening, how many gateways are there for empowering sentient beings to practice, swiftly attain liberation through the three secrets, realize the Dharmakāya, and actualize the secret samādhi of body-seals?"

Samantabhadra replied: "I have previously received the Buddha's sacred teachings and instructions and have cultivated the thirty secret contemplation gateways."

The World-Honored One affirmed: "So it is, so it is." Then Śākyamuni Tathāgata declared: "Among these thirty secret contemplation gateways, let us first discuss the ten branches of body-secrecy contemplation. The Tathāgata will analyze them one by one, enabling you to practice these contemplations."

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, together with the ten great bodhisattvas, bowed and asked: "What are the ten secret body-seal vajra contemplations that lead to awakening and spiritual attainment?"

The Buddha replied to Mahāsamantabhadra: "You and the ten great bodhisattvas shall be leaders, sharing the vow to cultivate and realize spiritual nature and power, entering the mind-nature and body of all sentient beings. As leaders, you guide beings to awakening. What are the ten body-secret seal contemplations for enlightenment?

First, the bodhisattva called 'Universal Auspicious Majestic Power' enters Vairocana's great tranquil and pure wisdom. From this pure wisdom, they return to enter the consciousness-wisdom of the three secrets in sentient beings' own nature. The minds of beings become identical with the awakened nature of all Buddhas in the entire Dharma-realm. Through the body-seal of empowerment to tame sentient beings' minds, they quickly realize the wisdom body that fully escapes the ocean of birth and death.

Second, the bodhisattva 'Wondrous Summit of Excellence' enters the Buddha's spiritual power. In every state, they see all Buddhas' pure samādhi of the nature-ocean. They approach all Tathāgatas to receive the excellent states of the Mahāyāna secret samādhi, empowering the body through the Dharma-realm to enter the body-secret samādhi seal, thus attaining a changeless Dharmakāya and liberation.

Third, the bodhisattva 'Great Diligent Vajra Navel' enters the samādhi of all Tathāgatas' ultimate tranquility. They enter sentient beings' body-secret awakening and establish them in the stage of all bodhisattvas. Through the body-seal of empowerment, they enter the vajra samādhi of the three secrets, fulfilling all great vows and oceanic practices, realizing liberation like the nature of the Dharma-ocean.

Fourth, the bodhisattva 'Blue Lotus Eye' enters the samādhi of all Buddhas' perfect enlightenment. In samādhi, they manifest countless Buddhas of the Dharma-realm and their unlimited wonderful teachings, using the body-seal of empowerment to manifest the Dharmakāya and enter sentient beings' nature, becoming seeds of enlightenment, leading to liberation without obstacles.

Fifth, the bodhisattva 'Awakening Banner' realizes a clear, pure, and bright appearance like the moon, manifesting throughout all Dharma-realms. With unobstructed voice, they teach and awaken sentient beings' wisdom, entering samādhi, explaining the subtle and secret meanings, using the body-seal of empowerment to let beings fully know the nature of the Dharma-realm, seeing all Buddha-lands as pure, attaining inconceivable, non-dual wisdom and unobstructed liberation.

Sixth, the bodhisattva 'Immaculate Treasury' enters the samādhi of all Buddhas' wisdom-light—the state of the Tathāgata—unmoving, unchanging true-suchness wisdom. Entering all the countless Buddha-lands, they see infinite great bodhisattvas, empower them through the body-seal, and reach sentient beings' true nature. They quickly realize the state of enlightenment, spiritual powers, and liberation.

Seventh, the bodhisattva 'Net of Wish-Fulfilling Jewels Manifesting All Tathāgatas' Spiritual Powers' enters the samādhi of non-dual wisdom-light, where all Dharmas are one mark. With a single thought, empowered by the body-seal, they manifest the countless good and evil events of past, present, and future eons, their formation and dissolution, all equally realized as true suchness and purity, attaining liberation.

Eighth, the bodhisattva 'Tranquil Light' enters the vajra wisdom of the Tathāgata and various empowerments that help beings advance on the holy path of enlightenment. Through the body-seal of empowerment, they enable all bodhisattvas to enter their own faculties and the oceanic nature, each entering their own wisdom samādhi, attaining inconceivable spiritual power and liberation.

Ninth, the bodhisattva 'Holy Wisdom Swift Sovereign' enters the infinite samādhi of the space-like Dharma-body's great spiritual powers. Through the body-seal of empowerment, they manifest various wisdom bodies and respond with countless holy wisdoms, entering all sentient beings' nature, pervading all Buddha-lands, and revealing the boundless oceanic nature of wisdom and liberation of all Tathāgatas.

Tenth, the bodhisattva 'King of Thunderous Dharma-Ocean' enters samādhi, enabling all bodhisattvas to attain the power of enlightenment at each stage, entering the Buddha's liberation. They reveal the practice of Samantabhadra's Dharma-door, the power of vows, the sequential cultivation of the original vow of secret samādhi contemplation, and the body-seal of empowerment. They enter the great holy practice, skillful means, and vow-power of the bodhisattva nature, wisdom, and enlightenment in samādhi, enabling all beings to quickly realize the supreme liberation of enlightenment."

At that time, the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, having made vast vows before the Tathagata, entered into samadhi. Together with the ten great Bodhisattvas as leaders, he vowed to uphold and practice these great vows, establishing them in enlightenment. Dwelling within the Buddha-nature that pervades all beings, he became one with the ocean of true suchness, empowering all great Bodhisattvas to enter the body-seal and advance toward enlightenment. Therefore, Samantabhadra, responding at that moment before the Tathagata, entered into the samadhi of the vajra dharmadhatu nature. Within the ocean of his own dharma-nature body, he manifested worlds of Buddha-nature as numerous as motes of dust, teaching and guiding the great Bodhisattvas and countless beings also as numerous as motes of dust. He further revealed the Tathagata sitting on the lion throne beneath the Bodhi tree, a presence equal in magnitude to the vast sky, pervading the entire vajra dharma-ocean of great jeweled lotuses. Within the ocean of suchness, these appearances were displayed, all contained within Samantabhadra’s own body, within the wisdom and sacred virtue of the dharma-nature—unobstructed, endowed with the transcendental power and sovereign freedom of holy might. At that time, the Tathagata praised the great Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, saying: “Excellent, excellent! You are able to manifest the inconceivable, deeply subtle power of the Buddhas’ realm, giving rise to the samadhi of the ocean of buddha-virtues, an inexhaustible ocean of vast vows and practices. The Tathagata’s great vows are therefore inconceivable, beyond all measure. The profound vajra sacred nature-ocean is unspeakably unspeakable.”

At that time, the Tathāgata addressed the great bodhisattva Pure Virtue Wondrous Light: "You should go to all the Dharma-realm natures of the Buddhas, where enlightenment and sacred virtues abide at the Dao-field. There, you shall question and receive the secret Dharma teachings of all Tathāgatas, their oral secret samādhi instructions."

Pure Virtue Wondrous Light, together with the ten great bodhisattvas as his leaders, generated vast and great vows and practiced the conduct of Samantabhadra. They entered the body and mind of all beings' essential natures. With sacred power supporting the oral secret, they realized the unhindered wisdom of the mind-ground and the great eloquence of wisdom, the oral secret mantra-mudrās. They entered the ten-stage samādhi contemplation. How many types of doors were there? Pure Virtue Wondrous Light, the great bodhisattva, addressed the Tathāgata with a bow on behalf of the ten great bodhisattvas:

"There is a tenfold liberation approach taught by all Buddhas of the ten directions chanting the oral secret mantra-mudrā samādhi contemplation together. It empowers practitioners and consists of ten kinds of liberation doors. What are these ten Dharma-doors? One enters the essential natures of sentient beings and quickly attains unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. The ten are:

"First, the bodhisattva Great Teacher of Names, Expounding All Past, Present, and Future Syllables and Crowns, enters the samādhi of sacred power supporting the oral secret mantra-mudrā. He enters the pure natures of all beings and realizes the samādhi called 'Universal Virtue's Supreme Lamp-Net Effulgent Light,' which allows one to display the inexhaustible Dharma-realm of diamond-like wisdom shining on the ocean of ultimate Buddha-nature, immediately achieving equal enlightenment and liberation.

"Second, the bodhisattva Great Teacher of All Beings' Enlightenment Sounds, enters the samādhi of sacred wisdom supporting the oral secret mantra-mudrā. He enters the supreme totality-samādhi as numerous as atoms, attaining realization through countless eons of teaching and maturing beings through inconceivable samādhi contemplation, deeply secret liberation.

"Third, the bodhisattva Diamond Wisdom and Potency King, enters the samādhi of sacred wisdom supporting the oral secret mantra-mudrā. He enters the samādhi of universal light, lion's enthusiasm, and diamond banner. He realizes the support of diamond-like sacred natures, empowering practitioners to cultivate saints' virtues and adorn Buddha-lands. He brings forth lands as many as atoms, and Samghas as many as the sands of the Ganges, achieving liberation through the Tathāgatas' saving of beings.

"Fourth, the bodhisattva All Vows' Ocean Sound Jewel King Crown, enters the samādhi of sacred natures supporting the oral secret mantra-mudrā. He realizes the samādhi of universal subtle jewel radiant light. He perceives the Tathāgatas' unhindered supernatural freedom, their pure Dharma-nature, right views, and right wisdom, free from confusion and attaining liberation.

"Fifth, the bodhisattva Wisdom Banner, enters the samādhi of sacred virtue supporting the oral secret mantra-mudrā. He realizes the samādhi called 'Universal Virtue Ocean Banner.' He enters the assemblies of bodhisattvas in all Buddha-kṣetras as many as atoms, Lotus-Ocean Depositories, and Dharma-realm Dao-fields, manifesting inconceivable sacred natures and sacred powers. Entering the minds of all beings, he leads them to realize the Tathāgatas' Dharma-nature pure lands and attain the Buddhas' ocean of wisdom, achieving liberation.

"Sixth, the bodhisattva Supreme Practice of Buddha-Seed Wisdom, enters the samādhi of sacred path supporting the oral secret mantra-mudrā. He realizes the samādhi called 'Universal Wisdom Light,' which illuminates the Tathāgatas' Buddha-nature sacred wisdom-body. He enters the sacred mind-ground natures of all great bodhisattvas. He realizes unhindered cultivation of Tathāgata essence, enters the vast Dharma-realm depository of truth and reality, and attains liberation.

"Seventh, the bodhisattva Sound Everywhere in All Dharma-Realms, enters the samādhi of sacred practice supporting the oral secret mantra-mudrā. He realizes the samādhi called 'Universal Purification of Boundless Fortune, Virtue, and Splendor.' He enters all worldly and transcendent states with unhindered freedom. He generates support for all great bodhisattvas, accomplishing Samantabhadra's vast vows' boundless practices, entering the Dharma-realm and the sky, achieving liberation.

"Eighth, the bodhisattva Brahma's Ocean-Sound Measure, enters the samādhi of sacred penetration supporting the oral secret mantra-mudrā. He realizes the samādhi called 'Universal Door's Supreme.' In the duality of 'existence of forms' and 'no forms,' he finds one nature—equality. In the Dharma-realm, he blesses all beings to realize the Tathāgatas' spiritual penetrations and self-nature's nirvāṇa liberation.

"Ninth, the bodhisattva Inexhaustible Teaching Eloquence with Pure Undefiled Wisdom, enters the samādhi of sacred powers and states supporting the oral secret mantra-mudrā. He realizes the samādhi called 'Universal Door's Word-Wheel Unobstructed Application.' He blesses all bodhisattvas to enter all Dharma-doors of the Tathāgatas' indescribable secret vault. Entering the consciousness natures of all beings with unhindered wisdom, all attain awakening and eloquence without end, achieving liberation.

"Tenth, the bodhisattva Teaching and Turning the Dharma-Wheel Sound Crown, enters the samādhi of sacred wisdoms supported by words with the oral secret mantra-mudrā. He realizes the samādhi called 'Diamond Summit.' He blesses all bodhisattvas to enter the Noble Eightfold Path in accordance with enlightenment.

"These bodhisattvas practice right view, noble path—they are far from all wrong views. They give rise to right thought, abandoning false discriminations, always following right wisdom. They practice right speech, free from the four faults of speech, following noble words. They maintain right action, teaching beings to bring them into harmony. They abide in right livelihood, practice asceticism with contentment, with dignified manner, diligent practice in the noble path's ways and four wisdoms' noble seeds. They enter the Buddha's knowledge and vision, sharing the Tathāgata's Buddha-heart. They forever abandon all ten misdeeds and evils. They give rise to the mind of beings—their right exertion—diligently practicing all bodhisattva ascetic practices, entering the Buddha's ten powers with no hindrances. Their minds constantly have right mindfulness—able to recall all noble words, sacred wisdom-speech—devoid of worldly conducts, wrong views, wrong means, scattered and restless minds. Their minds constantly abide in right concentration—attaining the three kinds of 'Mind-Born Body,' well entering the inconceivable liberation doors of all Buddhas and bodhisattvas.

"At that time, Pure Virtue Wondrous Light, the great bodhisattva, bowed and prostrated himself before the Tathāgata. He entered samādhi. Immediately, he entered the equality nature of all Buddhas, the Dharma-realm ocean—sharing the Tathāgata's sky-like sacred nature—which universally contains the ten directions' Dharma-realms, the three times' Buddhas, and all bodhisattvas in the same samādhi. He entered the essential natures of sentient beings, empowering wisdom-force to liberate all."

At that time, the Tathāgatas of the ten directions praised Pure Virtue Wondrous Light, the great bodhisattva: "Excellent, excellent! You are well able to bless and support with sacred power and sacred natures. You enter all sentient beings' body-mind pure wisdom-natures, approaching enlightenment, rapidly achieving the Buddha-fruit."