The Analogy of the Transformed City

Chapter 7

 

Sutra:

“The World Honored One is very hard to meet;
He who breaks through all afflictions.
Passing through a hundred and thirty aeons,
Only now do we get to see him.

May living beings, starving and thirsty,
Be filled with the rain of Dharma.
He, whom we have never seen before,
One of unlimited wisdom,
Rare as the Udumbara blossom
Today, at last we have met.

All of our palaces
Receiving your light, are adorned.
In your great compassion, World Honored One
Pray accept and live with them.”

Commentary:

With a single mind and the same sound, the Brahma Kings praised the Buddha. They had the same thought, the same wisdom, the same sound, and the same inconceivable state. That is why they said, the World Honored One is very hard to meet. It is extremely hard to meet up with the Buddha. Not only that, it is very rare even to see a Buddha image. For example, in America just a hundred years ago there were no Buddha images.

He who breaks through all afflictions. The Buddha has already broken through all afflictions, and because he is greatly compassionate, he breaks through others’ afflictions for them. Not only does he break through his own, but he wishes to relieve all living beings of their troubles and afflictions. Someone is afraid, now, thinking, “My afflictions are so dear to me. I do not want to break through them,” and, they open the door and run out! They do not want to listen to the Sutra lectures and they do not want to break their afflictions. Hah! “If the Buddha broke through my afflictions, I would not know what to do with myself! That will never do.” They think their afflictions are more important than their daily bread.

Passing through a hundred and thirty aeons. The Brahma Kings from the southwest had passed through a hundred and eighty eons, but the Brahma Kings from the south had only passed through a hundred and thirty eons, before they got to see the Buddha. Only now do we get to see him.

May living beings, starving and thirsty. Living beings in the three evil ways are said to be hungry and thirsty. Be filled with the rain of Dharma. May the rain of Dharma all at once saturate these parched and hungry living beings. He, whom we have never seen before. They had never seen the Buddha, heard the Dharma, or met the Sangha. One of unlimited wisdom. The Buddha has limitless, boundless great wisdom and compassion. Rare as the Udumbara blossom. I have already told you about the udumbara flower. If you want to know what it is, look it up in your notes. I am not going to tell you now. Someone says, “Maybe you forgot!” Well, maybe I did, but you are going to have to remember it! Tomorrow I am going to ask you what it is, and if you cannot answer, then I am not going to lecture to you anymore. Did you hear me? The Buddha is as rare as the udumbara blossom. It is a very long while before one meets one.

Today, at last we have met. The Buddha is like the udumbara flower which blooms only once in a great, long while.

All of our palaces, our most prized possessions, our most beautiful possessions. The things we cannot put down! Our favorite things! Our palaces!!! Now, having met the Buddha, we are going to renounce that which we cannot renounce. Receiving your light, are adorned. In the Buddha’s light, the palaces appear especially ornate and beautiful. We give them to the Buddha now, and in your great compassion, World Honored One, pray accept and live with them. Accept our offering to you, so that we may plant blessings and grow in wisdom.

Sutra:

At that time, the Brahma Heaven Kings, having praised the Buddha, said, “We only pray that the World Honored One will turn the Dharma-wheel, causing the entire world with its gods, maras, Brahmans, shramanas, all to become peaceful and calm and to attain liberation.” Then, the Brahma Heaven Kings, with a single mind and the same voice, spoke verses in praise, saying,

“Honored One among gods and humans,
Pray turn the unsurpassed wheel of Dharma.
Beat upon the Dharma drum,
And blow the great Dharma conch,
Let fall everywhere the great Dharma rain,
To cross over limitless living beings.
We all beseech you to expound and proclaim
The profound, far reaching sound.”

Outline:

N5. Requesting the turning of the Dharma-wheel.

Commentary:

At that time, the Brahma Heaven Kings, having praised the Buddha, said, “We only pray that the World Honored One will turn the Dharma-wheel, the wonderful wheel of Dharma, causing the entire world with its gods, maras, Brahmans, shramanas, left-home people who diligently cultivate morality, samadhi, and wisdom and eradicate greed, hatred, and stupidity, all to become peaceful and calm and to attain liberation. To be delivered from the sufferings of the three evil paths. Then, the Brahma Heaven Kings, with a single mind and the same voice, spoke verses in praise, saying.

Honored One among gods and humans, pray turn the unsurpassed wheel of Dharma. The Buddha is honored in and beyond the world. We only pray that you will turn the unsurpassed great wheel of Dharma, beat upon the Dharma drum, and blow the great Dharma conch. Before the Dharma is spoken, before ceremonies, or before we start translating, we beat the drums and bells. Do not think they cannot hear it in the heavens. They do! They hear it and think, “Oh, they are going to work, there, in San Francisco; they are translating! And, unseen by ordinary people, they stop by to see how the work is going, “Hmm, are they translating correctly? Are they just goofing off?” So, do not think you can get away with anything!!

In the Forty-two Hands, there is a Jeweled Conch Hand. When you blow the jeweled conch, it fills the space and the Dharma Realm.

Let fall everywhere the great Dharma rain. Speaking the Dharma for the benefit of all beings, to cross over limitless living beings. There are a great many living beings. If I had been translating these two lines, I would have said,

Let fall everywhere the great Dharma rain,
And everywhere save great living beings!

But, the text, as it stands, is okay, too.

Why do I want to change the line to read, “And everywhere save great living beings?” Because living beings, in the future, all can become Buddhas. Everyone is really very great. If I had said, “And everywhere save insignificant living beings,” people would have assumed that they were very small and would not cultivate. Great living beings can, in the future, realize the great Buddha Way. That is the way I would have translated it, but it is already been done the other way, and it cannot be changed now!

We all beseech you to expound and proclaim. We take refuge with the Buddha and beg you to turn the Dharma-wheel, and proclaim the profound, far reaching sound. You simply must proclaim the profound, far-reaching sound. Would you say it was far reaching, or not? Shakyamuni Buddha is telling us about the Buddha Great Penetrating Wisdom Victory. Wouldn’t you say his sound has reach far into the future?

Sutra:

Thereupon, the Thus Come One Great Penetrating Wisdom Victory assented by his silence.

Outline:

N6. The Thus Come One assents by silence.

Commentary:

Thereupon, the Thus Come One Great Penetrating Wisdom Victory assented by his silence. He had been asked to speak the Dharma. His silence indicated that he would do so.

Sutra:

And so it was in all directions from the southwest to the lower direction.

Outline:

M4. Including the other six directions.

Commentary:

And so it was in all directions from the southwest to the lower direction. This includes six directions not yet mentioned: the southwest, west, northwest, north, northeast, and the lower direction. There are a total of ten regions. “And so it was” that the ten regions include the four directions and represent the six other directions.

Sutra:

Then, five hundred myriads of millions of great Brahma Kings in the upper directions, seeing the palaces they rested in shining with awesome brilliance, as never before, jumped for joy, thinking it rare indeed.

Outline:

M5. Above.
N1. Startled by the portents.

Commentary:

Then, five hundred myriads of millions of great Brahma Kings in the upper directions, seeing the palaces they rested in, where they lived, shining with awesome brilliance, as never before. It was a state they had never experienced. They were startled, amazed! Why? They had never seen such a thing before. They jumped for joy. They were so happy. They were like children at their first puppet show; they danced with glee and forgot all about who they were and where they were and just jumped for joy, thinking it rare indeed. They thought, “since being born in heaven, we have seen many fine light shows, but this is the best one we have seen. And they were very happy.

Sutra:

They visited one another and discussed this matter, wondering, “Why do our palaces shine with this bright light?”

Then, in the assembly, a Brahma Heaven King by the name of Shikhin, on behalf of the Brahma hosts, spoke verses, saying,

“Now, for what reason
Do our palaces shine
With such an awesome light
Adorned as never before?

Wondrous marks, such as these
We have never seen before
Has a great and virtuous god been born?
Has a Buddha appeared in the world?”

Outline:

N2. Talking it over among themselves.

Commentary:

They visited one another and discussed this matter. Because the light was so unusual, they wanted to find out where it was coming from. Wondering, “Why do our palaces shine with this bright light?”

They all got together for a meeting, asking one another, “Does your palace shine with that bright light, too?” “Yes! Does yours?” And they all asked one another. Thinking it weird, they decided to go find out.

Then, in the assembly, a Brahma Heaven King by the name of Shikhin, on behalf of the Brahma hosts, spoke verses, saying, “Now, for what reason do our palaces shine with such an awesome light, adorned as never before? Wondrous marks, such as these, we have never seen before has a great and virtuous god been born? Has a Buddha appeared in the world?”

Sutra:

At that time, five hundred myriads of millions of Brahma Heaven Kings, together with their palaces, each with sacks filled with heavenly flowers, went to the lower direction to seek out this sign. They saw the Thus Come One Great Penetrating Wisdom Victory seated on the lion throne beneath the Bodhi tree in the Bodhimanda, revered and circumambulated by gods, dragon kings, gandharvas, kinnaras, mahoragas, and beings both human and non-human. They saw, as well, the sixteen sons of the king requesting the Buddha to turn the Dharma-wheel.

Outline:

N3. Following the light, they see the Buddha.

Commentary:

At that time, refers to the time when the five hundred myriads of millions of Brahma Heaven Kings from the upper region finished praising the Buddha with verses. Together with their palaces. These five hundred myriads of millions of Brahma Kings all got together in their palaces. Since their palaces can undergo limitless changes and transformations, “as you will”, it is possible to use them as cars, planes, and even boats. Land, sea, and air are all covered. The palaces are very much like our present-day cars, except that they are much bigger than cars. Each Brahma King brought his sack full of flowers. These sacks can hold Mount Sumeru! Mount Sumeru can fit in their sacks without even shrinking down in size. It is an inconceivable state. You cannot figure it out with your ordinary mind.

Scientists do their research and philosophers make their inquiries. They research and inquire coming and going, but they never get their questions all answered. Eventually they get old and their wits grow dull; their eyes go on strike, their ears refuse to help them out, and their teeth fall out. These signs are telling them that they should “know when to advance and when to retreat.” They should know that their time to die is drawing near, and that is why their six organs are all getting lazy. They say, “We have helped you out for so many years. What have you ever done for us, your eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind, huh?”

“Well, nothing, I guess,” you mutter.

“That is right. And now it is time to say fare-thee-well, because we are splitting!” Then, you cannot see, cannot hear, and your sense of smell starts failing. That reminds me, in Paris there are people who make their living smelling perfumes. They can tell you exactly what fragrances are combined to make any perfume. It may be made of hundreds of different ingredients but they can name them all. However, they are prone to developing lung disease. Their lungs give out, saying, “Knock it off, for heaven’s sake. We cannot stand inhaling all that perfume.” The tongue hangs in there however. No matter how old you are, you can still taste. The tongue may have a sense of loyalty, but your teeth do not. They run off.

“That is no problem,” you say. “I can get false teeth.”

You can, but they would not work as well.

I once had a conversation with an old man over eighty. “Sir,” I said, “you are advanced in years and have a great deal of experience. No doubt you have seen people lose their teeth.”

“I certainly have,” he replied.

“Well, have you ever run across anyone who had their tongue fall out?”

“No, indeed I have not,” he said, “have you?”

“Of course I have not!” I said. “If I had, I would not be asking you!”

“What are you asking me for?” he said.

“Since you do not understand, I will tell you. Why do people lose their teeth but never their tongue? It is because their teeth are too stiff and rigid. They insist on chewing on bones and other hard things. The tongue is not so stiff. It is very pliable. The teeth know when to advance, but the tongue knows when to retreat. Consequently, one’s tongue does not fall out while one’s teeth do. The teeth are like a knife made out of steel that is too rigid. When it hits a stone, it snaps in two. If the blade is just right, it will give a bit when it hits the stone and therefore not break.

When the body gets old, it falls apart. Once the body starts falling apart, the mind starts going, and soon it is time to die. Nobody can avoid this.

Each with sacks filled with heavenly flowers, went to the lower direction to seek out this sign. The gods got in their palaces and went off with their sacks of flowers to seek out the light. They saw the Thus Come One Great Penetrating Wisdom Victory seated on the lion throne beneath the Bodhi tree in the Bodhimanda. The Buddha of great spiritual penetrations, great wisdom, a great victor with great power in morality, samadhi, and wisdom. He was in the Bodhimanda beneath the Bodhi tree, the Tree of Enlightenment, seated on the Lion Throne.

He was being revered and circumambulated by gods, dragon kings, gandharvas, kinnaras. Why do the kinnaras have just one horn of their heads? Oxen have two horns, moose have horns with lots of forks on the top, but kinnaras have only one single horn atop their heads. Guo Hu said he saw a woman who had two horns on top of her head. She looked just like a woman except she had these horns. Hmm. How come oxen have horns and dogs do not? What is the reason for this? If you have been raised in a scientific society, you should be aware of these things. The oxen did not listen to what their parents said. Whenever their parents said anything, they would lose their heads, like an ox butting up against something. “Hey! Shut up!” they said, striking out at their parents, hitting them over the head with their words.

Kinnaras, now, they did not strike out at both parents, only at their mother. They would listen to their father, but not their mother. This was because they were afraid they would get clobbered by their father! Since they only struck out at one parent, they grew only one horn. They would not listen to their mother. They insisted on listening to music, running off to the movies or going dancing all the time. When they came back, their mother would entreat them: “Why don’t you do a little work around the house?” Hah! And then they would blast her. “What? Me, get a job? I have got a place to live and food to eat and my allowance. What in the heck do I want with a job?” They just did nothing but play and so they turned into musical spirits, kinnaras with one horn on their head. Since they like to play so much, they go play music for the Jade Emperor.

The gandharvas love to smell incense, and when he Jade Emperor burns the incense, they run off to play music for him. They are incense addicts, sort of like present-day dope addicts. They get intoxicated on the incense and play music and jump around thinking it the greatest thing in the world.

Although asuras are not mentioned outright in this list, they are implied. I have lectured on them many times before, but ultimately, I do not know if you would recognize one if you saw one. In case you would not, I will introduce you again. Have you ever seen people who are just downright hostile? Who are always fighting? Who carry guns and knives? They are asuras in the home, in the country, among people, and who are themselves humans. Asuras in the home are people who just would not listen to each other. They prefer to fight and get all afflicted, thinking it more fun than entertaining guests.

In fact, they would rather eat afflictions than food! The husband invites the wife to eat some afflictions, and the wife says, “Okay, I will return the invitation!” The two of them eat two helpings of afflictions but still are not satisfied. They want to share it with their children. They have a meeting and invite the kids to join in. When the kids have had their fill of afflictions, they run outside and treat their friends to some afflictions, too.

Their friends return home and invite their own parents to eat some afflictions. One may want to cut off afflictions, but it is not easy. They just keep rolling along. That is the realm of asuras--ever-widening circles of affliction. Constant fighting and lack of joy in the home all day long. Afflictions in the home all day long. They taste much better than pancakes. They are filling and do not cost anything. That is why they enjoy eating afflictions. Better than bread and butter! Now do you understand?

If you have afflictions, you are an asura. If I have afflictions, I am an asura. If he has afflictions, he is an asura, Afflictions just means getting angry, giving people a bad time. It means thinking, “Everyone is bad, I am the only good person there is. Where can I go to get away from these bad people?” You think about it all day long, but you never come up with anything. Why not? Because you are afflicted. If you had no afflictions, you would see everyone else as the Buddha.

Just take me, for example. I look upon all of you disobedient disciples with such patience! I teach you to be filial to your parents, but you are not. I teach you not to get angry, and you insist on getting even angrier. I tell you not to have a temper, and you say, “How can I do that? I was born with this temper. It is my old friend. How can you expect me to break off with my old friend?” You do not listen to me, but I do not get angry. If you want to be asuras, it is up to you. When you have been asuras long enough, you will turn into something else.

Garudas, too, are included in the eightfold division. They are the great gold-winged Peng bird. No one has ever seen one. How big are they? Well, dragons are several thousand feet long, and the Peng birds eat them like we eat noodles! They grab them by the legs. Hold them upside down, and gulp them down, one after another. Now, if you want to see one, I will let you see one. But you must promise not to eat them. It is dangerous! If they see a person, they will want to eat him. He will take you for lazy worm and swallow you in one gulp. How big is the garuda? His wingspread is three hundred and sixty yojanas! Pretty big! With one flap of his wings he fans the ocean dry, and all the dragons in the sea are exposed. He gulps them all down, as he considers dragons his optimal diet.

Kinnaras are partners with the Gandharvas. Mahoragas are the big snakes. They are not like the snakes that we can see. They are so big that they wind around Mount Sumeru three times. And just how big is Mount Sumeru? You do not know? I do not know either! If you opened your Heavenly Eye, you would know though.

And beings both human and non-human. How do people get to be people? If you are filial to your parents, you can become a person. How does one get to be “non-human,” that is, an animal, a hell-being, or a hungry ghost? By not being filial to one’s parents. People differ from animals, in that people know to be filial to their parents, to repay their kindness, and to respond to their virtue. Some animals know how to do this, too, but most of them do not, because they do not have enough sense; they are too stupid. Stupid people do not even know if you are being good to them or not. Eventually, they become “non-human.” Reverently circumambulated--the gods, dragons, and eightfold division paid their respects to the Buddha Great Penetrating Wisdom Victory.

They saw, as well, the sixteen sons of the king requesting the Buddha to turn the Dharma-wheel, to lecture on the Sutras, teach the Dharma, and transform living beings.

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