The Buddha Speaks the Great Assembly's True Dharma Sutra, Volume 4

At that time, the great Bodhisattva Medicine King Army rose from his seat. With even greater reverence, he knelt upon the ground, touched his forehead to the World-Honored One's feet, and then, with palms joined, respectfully addressed the Buddha: "World-Honored One, for what reason are these Bodhisattvas able to manifest miraculous transformations in the sky and display various forms before the Tathagata?"

The Buddha said, "Listen carefully, Medicine King's Army! These virtuous men have already received the shared acceptance of all Buddhas. Soon they will attain Supreme Perfect Enlightenment, take their place on the great Dharma seat, turn the wondrous Dharma wheel, and with the light of the Dharma illuminate all beings. For this reason, they are capable of manifesting transformations."

At that time, Medicine King Army Bodhisattva again addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One, you have liberated countless beings from the three realms throughout the long night. How is it that their number is never exhausted?"

The Buddha said: "Excellent, excellent, Medicine King's Army! It is like a person who sows various grains and wheat as seeds, each kind distinct and not mixed together. In due time, all those seeds fully ripen. The person then harvests them in order—grain by grain, wheat by wheat—without mixing them up. In this way, after harvesting, they sow again; after sowing, they harvest again, without end.

Medicine King's Army! Sentient beings are just like this. Due to the causes and conditions of their karma, they sow all kinds of seeds—good and bad—without mixing them up. Later, when these ripen, they experience the corresponding results, also without mixing them up. In this way, life after life, they continue without end."

King of Medicine! For all those who cultivate the practice of a Bodhisattva, they are able to sow the seeds of all wholesome qualities, each one maturing fully. Once matured, they give birth to all wholesome qualities. With the birth of these wholesome qualities, great joy arises, and they delight in the Dharma of the Buddhas. Those seeds of wholesome qualities, even after passing through many eons, can never be destroyed.

King of Medicine! You should understand that this is called the Bodhisattva who has first aroused the mind of enlightenment. All the wholesome qualities they attain are gathered, fully understood, and become increasingly powerful and excellent. Even if they see things in dreams, they are able to be free from all fears. Why is this? Because all karmic obstructions have been purified. They do not create unwholesome actions, are free from all distress, and when adverse circumstances appear before them, they remain unmoved.

If in a dream they see a great mass of fire, its flames blazing fiercely, the Bodhisattva, upon seeing it, does not give rise to fear. Why? Because the fuel of all afflictions is burned by the fire of Wisdom, and nothing can disturb them.

Also, if in a dream they see a great body of water that is not clear, utterly turbid and foul, the Bodhisattva, upon seeing it, also does not give rise to fear. Why? Because they have exhausted all karmic actions to be done, like an ox freed from its yoke, attaining liberation.

Furthermore, if in a dream they take a sharp blade and cut off their own head, and also cut off the heads of others, the Bodhisattva at that time also does not give rise to fear. Why? Because greed, hatred, and delusion are the root among all afflictions. The Bodhisattva has already cut them off, so there is nothing to fear.

King of Medicine! That Bodhisattva who has first aroused the mind has already attained liberation from the cycle of rebirth in the six realms. Yet, they still willingly take birth within it. All of this is the Bodhisattva employing skillful means, manifesting in order to teach and liberate all beings. In truth, the Bodhisattva constantly dwells in the pure buddha-lands, embraced and sustained by all the Tathagatas.

"Medicine King's Army! You should now understand that in the later age of decline, if there are beings who can arouse the mind of turning toward enlightenment, they will thereby abide in all the wisdom of the buddhas, behold the complete virtuous dharmas of all buddhas, and never again give rise to a mind of doubt. Medicine King's Army! For countless hundreds of thousands of nayutas of kalpas, I diligently practiced asceticism and cultivated all virtuous dharmas. I awakened to the nature of all dharmas and thereby attained unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment. Having accomplished this, I again, through skillful means and wise discernment, extensively taught the dharmas so that beings may be born in the pure buddha-fields, experience sublime bliss, and come to fully understand the dharmas of cessation and the path, fully understand the sublime fundamental dharmas, fully understand the sublime dharmas of good abodes, fully understand the sublime dharmas of spiritual powers, and fully understand the sublime dharmas of the peaceful cessation of good abodes. Medicine King's Army! What is the meaning of 'cessation'?"

Medicine King Army Bodhisattva said: "World-Honored One, it is what is called the realm of Dharma."