The Ten Good Teachers of the Ten Dwellings
VIII. Rishi Bhishmottaranirghosha, Kingdom of Nalayur
True Dwelling of Youth
At that time, the Youth Good Wealth accordingly reflected upon the Bodhisattva's proper teachings. He accordingly reflected upon the Bodhisattva's pure conduct. He brought forth a mind of increase in the power of a Bodhisattva’s blessings. He brought forth a mind of clearly seeing all Buddhas. He brought forth a mind of giving rise to all Buddhas. He brought forth a mind of increasing and developing all great vows. He brought forth a mind of universally seeing the dharmas of the ten directions. He brought forth a mind of clearly illumining the actual nature of all dharmas. He brought forth a mind of universally dispelling all obstructions. He brought forth a mind of contemplating the Dharma Realm as devoid of darkness. He brought forth a mind of jeweled adornment of pure intent. He brought forth a mind of conquering and subduing all demons.
He gradually traveled to the country of Nalayur, and searched everywhere for Bhishmottaranirghosha. He saw a great forest which was adorned with asamkhyeyas of trees. Specifically, various leafy trees branched out with lush foliage. Various flowering trees blossomed with luxuriant and fresh.
Various fruit trees ripened in close succession. Various jeweled trees rained down fruits of mani. Great chandana trees were everywhere arranged in rows. Sinking-in-water trees constantly emitted fine fragrance. Mind-delighting fragrant trees gave off wonderful redolence as adornment. Patra trees stood on all sides. Nyagrodha trees were aspiring and profuse. Jambunada trees perpetually rained down sweet fruits. Utpala flowers and padma flowers adorned the ponds and lakes.
At this time, the Youth Good Wealth saw the Rishi seated on some grass spread out beneath the chandana tree. He commanded some ten thousand disciples. Some of whom were clothed with deerskin, some of whom were clothed with tree bark, some of whom wore clothes that were woven from grass. Their hair was tied up in topknots or hung down in braids. And they were gathered all around him.
Upon seeing this, Good Wealth came to his side and prostrated with his five limbs on the ground.
He said, "I have now met a true good advisor! A good advisor is a door that tends toward All-Wisdom, for he enables me to enter the true and actual way. A good advisor is a vehicle that tends toward All-Wisdom, for he enables me to arrive at the ground of a Thus Come One. A good advisor is a boat that tends toward All-Wisdom, for he enables me to arrive at the jeweled continent of wisdom. A good advisor is a torch that tends toward All-Wisdom, for he enables me to produce the brightness of the Ten Powers. A good advisor is a road that tends toward All-Wisdom, for he enables me to enter the city of Nirvana. A good teacher is a lamp that tends toward All-Wisdom, for he enables me to recognize safe and perilous paths. A good teacher is a bridge that tends toward All-Wisdom, for he takes me across treacherous and evil places. A good teacher is a canopy that tends toward All-Wisdom, for he enables me to produce the coolness of great kindness. A good teacher is an eye that tends toward All-Wisdom, for he enables me to obtain the door of seeing the nature of dharmas. A good teacher is a tide that tends toward All-Wisdom, for he fills me with the water of great compassion.”
After speaking these words, he arose from the ground. He circumambulated him a countless number of times, then stood before him with palms placed together, and said, "Sagely One, I have already brought forth the resolve for anuttarasamyaksambodhi. But I still do not know how a Bodhisattva studies the Bodhisattva conduct, and how he cultivates the Bodhisattva path. I heard the Sagely One is skilled at guiding and teaching. I wish you would speak them for me.”
At that time, Bhishmottaranirghosha regarded his group of disciples and said, “Good men! This youth has already brought forth the resolve for anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Good men! This youth universally bestows fearlessness upon all living beings. This youth universally grants benefit to all living beings. This youth constantly contemplates the wisdom sea of all Buddhas. This youth wishes to drink the rain of all dharmas of sweet dew. This youth wishes to fathom the sea of all vast and extensive dharmas. This youth wishes to cause living beings to dwell within the sea of wisdom. This youth wishes to universally raise up the great cloud of compassion. This youth wishes to universally rain down the vast and great Dharma rain. This youth wishes universally to illumine the world with the moon of wisdom. This youth wishes to destroy the poisonous heat of afflictions in the world. This youth wishes to increase all the good roots of sentient creatures.”
At that time, upon hearing these words, each one of the multitude of immortals scattered superior wondrous fragrant flowers upon Good Wealth. They prostrated themselves on the ground and made obeisance, circumambulated him in reverence and respect, and said, “This pure youth will most certainly save and protect all living beings. He will most certainly destroy the suffering in all the hells. He will most certainly forever sever the paths of the animals. He will most certainly turn away the realm of King Yama. He will most certainly shut the door to all places of difficulties. He will most certainly dry up the sea of all love and craving. He will most certainly forever destroy the sufferings of the skandhas. He will most certainly forever smash the darkness of ignorance. He will most certainly forever sever the fetters of greed and love. He will most certainly surround the world with the great ringed mountain of blessings and virtue. He will most certainly reveal to the world the Sumeru-like great jewel of wisdom. He will most certainly make appear the pure sun of wisdom. He will most certainly reveal and disclose the Dharma treasury of good roots. He will most certainly enable the world to clearly recognize the dangerous and the safe.
At that time, Bhishmottaranirghosha told the multitudes of immortals, “Good men, if there are those who can bring forth the resolve for anuttarasamyaksambodhi, they will most certainly accomplish the path of All-Wisdom. This good lad has already brought forth the resolve for anuttarasamyaksambodhi. He will purify the merit and virtue of the ground of all Buddhas.
At that time, Bhishmottaranirghosha told Good Wealth, “Good man, I have attained the Liberation of the Bodhisattva’s Insurpassable Banner.”
Good Wealth asked, “Sagely One, what is the state of the Liberation of the Insurpassable Banner like?”
At that time, the Rishi Bhishmottaranirghosha stretched out his right hand and rubbed Good Wealth’s crown. Then he took Good Wealth’s hand. Thereupon Good Wealth immediately saw his own body traveling to worlds as many as dust motes in the Buddha kshetras of the ten directions. He arrived at the places of Buddhas as many as dust motes in ten Buddha kshetras. He saw these Buddha kshetras along with their assemblies, and the Buddhas’ marks and characteristics, and their various adornments. He also heard the Dharma which the Buddhas proclaimed according to what was liked by the minds of living beings. He completely penetrated every single word and phrase. He received and upheld each of them without any disorder or confusion. He also understood how these Buddhas purified and regulated their vows with various understandings. He also understood how these Buddhas accomplished their powers with pure vows. He also saw the physical characteristics which these Buddhas manifested according to the minds of living beings. He also beheld the great vari-colored nets of brightness of these Buddhas, which were pure and perfect. He also understood the power of unobstructed wisdom and great light of these Buddhas.
Moreover, he saw himself situated at the places of all these Buddhas. Perhaps for one day and night, or for seven days and nights, or half a month, one month, one year, ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years, or a hundred million years, or an ayuta of millions of years, or a nayuta of millions of years, or through a duration of half a kalpa, or one kalpa, a hundred kalpas, a thousand kalpas, or hundreds of millions, up to and including kalpas as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddha kshetras.
At that time, upon being illuminated by the light of liberation of the Bodhisattva’s Insurpassable Banner, the Youth Good Wealth obtained the Light of the Vairochana Treasury Samadhi. Upon illumination by the light of the endless wisdom liberation samadhi, he obtained the Light of Universally-Gathering-All-Directions Dharani.
Upon illumination by the Light of the Vajra Wheel Dharani Door, he obtained the Light-of-Ultimate-Pure-Wisdom-Mind Samadhi. Upon illumination by the Light of Prajna Paramita of the Universal Door Adornment, he obtained the light from the Wheel-of-the-Buddha’s-Treasury-of-Emptiness Samadhi. Upon illumination by the Light-of-the-Wheel-of-All-Buddhadharmas Samadhi, he obtained the light from Samadhi of Endless Wisdom of the three periods of time.
At that time the Rishi Bhishmottaranirghosha let go of the hand of Good Wealth. Immediately, the Youth Good Wealth saw his own body was still at its original place. At that time the Rishi asked Good Wealth, “Good man, do you remember this?”
Good Wealth said, “Yes! I do. This is due to the power of the Sagely One, my good knowing advisor.
The Rishi said, “Good man, I only know this liberation of the Bodhisattva’s Insurpassable Banner. But as to how all Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas accomplish all supreme samadhis; how they obtain self-mastery with respect to all times; how in the space of a thought they can give rise to the limitless wisdom of all Buddhas; how they use the Buddha’s wisdom lamp as adornment and universally illumine the world; how in the space of a single thought they universally enter the states of the three periods of time; how they divide their forms and pervasively travel throughout the ten directions’ countries; how their wisdom bodies universally enter all Dharma realms; how according to the minds of living beings they can universally appear before them; how they contemplate their faculties and conduct to benefit them; how they emit pure light which is extremely delightful—how could I possibly know or speak of their conduct of merit and virtue; of their supreme vows; of their adornments of kshetras;of their states of wisdom; of their activities in samadhi; of their spiritual penetrations and transformations; of the playful roaming of their liberation; of the differences of their physical characteristics; of the purity of their sounds; and of the light of their wisdom?
"Good man, south of here is a village called Ishana where dwells the brahman Victorious Heat. Go to where he is and ask him how a Bodhisattva studies the Bodhisattva conduct and cultivates the Bodhisattva path."
At that time, the Youth Good Wealth leapt with joy. He bowed at his feet, circumambulated him countless times, and gazed up at him with longing admiration. Then he bade farewell and took his leave.
previous next Contents
Chapter 39 pages, Part 2: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
return to top
