Bodhisattvas Asks for Clarification

Chapter Ten

 

 

X. The Profoundness of the States of the Buddhas

SUTRA:

At that time, all those Bodhisattvas said to Manjushri Bodhisattva, “Disciple of the Buddha, we have each finished speaking about what we understand. We only hope that the Humane One, using wonderful eloquence, will extensively elucidate all the states of the Thus Come Ones. 

COMMENTARY:

At that time, after Worthy Leader Bodhisattva finished answering Manjushri Bodhisattva’s questions, all those Bodhisattvas: Worthy Leader Bodhisattva, Wisdom Leader Bodhisattva, Dharma Leader Bodhisattva, Wealthy Leader Bodhisattva, Jeweled Leader Bodhisattva—all  those Bodhisattvas who spoke earlier—said to Manjushri Bodhisattva, “Disciple of the Buddha, we have each finished speaking about what we understand.” “We” refers to all those Bodhisattvas to whom Manjushri Bodhisattva directed his questions. We have already finished speaking about what we understand, what we know. Each one of us has spoken about the principles we clearly understand.

Now, we only hope that the Humane One will use his wonderful eloquence. Now that we have finished speaking, we wish to listen to you, Humane One. You, the senior Bodhisattva among us, are benevolent and kind. Please speak for us. Use the Four Unlimited Aspects of Mind, and the Four Kinds of Unobstructed Eloquence: unobstructed eloquence with words, unobstructed eloquence in regard to meaning, unobstructed eloquence of delight in speaking, and unobstructed eloquence in regard to the Dharma.

Using those various kinds of eloquence, please explain for us so that we may all hear. We hope you will extensively elucidate all the states of the Thus Come Ones. Please speak in detail about all the Buddhas’ states for us to hear. What are all the Buddhas’ states like? And how may one reach those states?

SUTRA:

“What is the state of being of a Buddha like? What are the causes of the states of a Buddha like? What are the states of a Buddha’s rescuing like? What is the entry into the state of a Buddha like? What is the wisdom of the state of a Buddha like? What are the dharmas of the state of a Buddha like? What are the words of the state of a Buddha like? What is the knowledge of the states of a Buddha like? What is the realization of the state of a Buddha like? What are the manifestations of the state of a Buddha like? What is the vastness of the state of a Buddha like?” 

Then Manjushri Bodhisattva answered in verse. 

COMMENTARY:

All the great Bodhisattvas among Bodhisattvas, these leaders among Bodhisattvas, asked Manjushri Bodhisattva: What is the state of being of a Buddha like? What constitutes a Buddha’s state, and how can one understand it?

A verse in an earlier section of this sutra explains this very well.

If a person wishes to know
The states of all Buddhas,
He must purify his thoughts
And be like empty space.

If you want to know what states are the states of the Buddhas, you must first purify your own thoughts. Having purity of thought is simply being free of greed, anger, and delusion; being free of deluded, false thoughts; and not having a crazy mind and wild nature. It is being devoid of arrogance, jealousy, or obstructiveness, and any of the other various afflictions. One must be pure and clear like empty space. If you are able to purify your own thoughts and be like empty space, you will be able to understand the Buddhas’ states.

What are the causes of a Buddha’s state like? What causes must one cultivate to realize the state of a Buddha? What are the states of a Buddha’s rescuing like? What is the state of Buddha as he liberates sentient beings? What kind of state of mind does a Buddha use when he teaches and transforms sentient beings? What methods, what formulas are used in order to teach and transform sentient beings?

What is the entry into the state of a Buddha like? What are the states through which one can enter into the state of a Buddha? These are some of the questions that we Bodhisattvas would like to know the answers to.

What is the wisdom of the state of a Buddha like? Of course, the wisdom of a Bodhisattva, a Hearer, or a Sage Enlightened by Conditions is not the same as that of a Buddha. What dharma doors, what states can be cultivated, in order to attain the wisdom of a Buddha?

What are the dharmas within the state of a Buddha like? What is the state of the Buddha’s speaking of Dharma? What are the states and the methods for realizing Buddhahood like? This is what we really need to know. What are the words used in the state of a Buddha like? What is the state of the Buddhas speaking the Dharma? What kind of language do they use when they speak the Dharma? We really want to understand this.

What is the knowledge encompassed in the state of a Buddha like? What kind of state must one have to understand the state of a Buddha? What dharmas can be cultivated to attain an understanding of the state of a Buddha? What is the realization enjoyed in the state of a Buddha like? What dharmas can be cultivated in order to realize the state of a Buddha? What are the manifestations found in the state of a Buddha? What is the state like within which the Buddhas are able to manifest? We also need to know about this. What is the vastness of the state of a Buddha like? What is the expansive and mighty state of a Buddha like? We need to clearly understand all the states we have just asked about, so that we can cultivate the states of the Buddhas according to these methods.

Then Manjushri Bodhisattva, this great Bodhisattva known among the Bodhisattvas for his great wisdom, answered the Bodhisattvas’ questions in verse.

SUTRA:

The Thus Come Ones’ profound state
Is equal in measure to empty space.
All sentient beings enter within it,
Yet actually nothing is entered. 

COMMENTARY:

The Vajra Sutra says, “The Thus Come One comes from nowhere, and goes nowhere. Therefore, he is named the Thus Come One.” This is an explanation of the title, “Thus Come One”. There is another line that explains this:

He travels the path that is Thus
And Comes to realize Proper Enlightenment.

The above line is another explanation for “Thus Come One”. Each of the two characters, Thus Come, can be explained in another way: “Thus” means to be unmoving: “Thus, thus unmoving.” And “Come” refers to the method for being “clearly understanding, and eternally bright.”

The first stanza discusses the Thus Come Ones’ profound state. And just how profound is the state of a Buddha? Nothing can compare to it in depth. The Buddhas’ state is equal in measure to empty space. It reaches to the ends of space and pervades the Dharma Realm. There is no state that is not included in the state of the Thus Come Ones. All states are the Buddha’s states. The Buddhas’ so-called “profound” state is also a great state, an ultimate state, a vast state, and a state of perfectly interpenetration without obstruction. It is because of all these qualities that it is called a profound state. How profound is it? The Thus Come Ones’ state horizontally pervades the ten directions and vertically exhausts the three periods of time. Its measure is as deep, as vast, and as great as space.

All sentient beings enter within it, that is, they are included within the state of the Thus Come One; no being can go beyond it or exist outside of it. Since there is essentially no getting outside of it or entering into it, the text says: yet actually nothing is entered. Truly and actually, there is not a single being who can go beyond the state of a Thus Come One, nor is there any being who can enter the state of a Thus Come One, because all beings are within the state of a Thus Come One to begin with. The state of a Thus Come One pervades space and the Dharma Realm and encompasses all the myriad things that exist. Absolutely everything exists within the state of a Thus Come One. That’s why it is said to be a profound state, a vast state, an ultimate state, and a great state.

SUTRA:

The Thus Come Ones’ profound state,
Results from sublimely wonderful causes.
Describing them ceaselessly for a million eons
Would still not elucidate them all. 

COMMENTARY:

You have all asked what the Buddha’s state is like. The Thus Come Ones’ profound state, / Results from sublimely wonderful causes. They are inconceivable; they are extraordinarily profound and wondrous. We could go on describing them ceaselessly for a million eons. Since the causes of the Buddhas’ state are so excellent and wonderful, one can speak of them for as long as a million kalpas, constantly proclaiming them, and would still not elucidate them all. It would still not be easy to finish speaking of them even in a hundred thousand million kalpas. That is the extent of the state of a Buddha.

SUTRA:

Attuned to sentient beings’ wisdom, the Buddhas
Induce them to advance, to gain good benefit;
In that way they rescue sentient beings.
Such is the state of all the Buddhas. 

COMMENTARY:

Attuned to sentient beings’ wisdom, whether those beings are wise or lacking in wisdom, the Buddhas pay no attention to whether they are intelligent or stupid, but simply induce them to advance, to gain good benefit; / In that way they rescue sentient beings.

The Buddhas use various expedient methods to lead sentient beings to advance along the Buddha Path and to obtain the benefit they thus deserve. This is talking about the states of a Buddha’s rescuing.

Since sentient beings are all different, in rescuing them, the Buddhas must use different methods to teach and transform them. The Buddhas use all the previously mentioned various principles and expedient dharma doors to save the various kinds of sentient beings. That is the state of all Buddhas of the ten directions and three periods of time. That is the extent of the state of their rescuing sentient beings.

The Buddha nature is inherent to all sentient beings, but, in them, it is covered by ignorance. Those sentient beings whose ignorance is heavier, have a little less wisdom. Those whose ignorance is lighter have a little more wisdom. Those with greater ignorance have more afflictions. Those with more wisdom have fewer afflictions. Those with more wisdom also have more samadhi power. Since sentient beings are of so many classes and kinds, their thoughts and ideas are not the same, and so their wisdom is likewise different.

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