The Manifestations of the Thus Come One

Chapter Two

V.B.6. Wisdom’s Lamp Universally Shining Bodhisattva of the Southeast

Sutra:

Then in the assembly’s midst, another Bodhisattva Mahasattva named Wisdom’s Lamp Universally Shining received the Buddha’s awesome spiritual power, contemplated the ten directions, and spoke a verse.  

All Thus Come Ones
Remain detached from appearances.
One who understands this Dharma
Sees the guiding teachers of the world.  

Bodhisattvas in samadhi,
Their wisdom light shining everywhere,
Are capable of knowing all Buddhas’
Free and independent nature.  

Commentary:

Then in the assembly’s midst, in the assembly convened upon the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha, another Bodhisattva Mahasattva named Wisdom’s Lamp Universally Shining received the Buddha’s awesome spiritual power, contemplated the ten directions of the Dharma Realm, and spoke a verse.  

All Thus Come Ones of the past, present, and future remain far detached from the myriad appearances. For the Buddhas, there are no appearances, and yet nothing lacks an appearance. One who understands this Dharma / Sees the guiding teachers of the world. One who understands the state of the Buddhas will truly see the World Honored Ones. 

Bodhisattvas in samadhi, abiding in proper concentration, their wisdom light shining everywhere throughout all worlds, are capable of knowing all Buddhas’ states and their free and independent nature. They know that the Buddhas, who have attained great self-mastery, firmly abide in reality. 

Sutra:

Seeing the Buddha’s true body,
One awakens to the profound Dharma.
Contemplating all dharma realms,
One takes birth wherever one wishes.  

Born from the ocean of blessings,
He dwells upon the ground of wisdom.
Observing all dharmas,
He cultivates the supreme Path.  

In the lands of all Buddhas,
In the places of all Thus Come Ones,
Pervading the Dharma Realm,
One sees the true body.  

In the great lands of the ten directions,
The Buddha practiced with vigor for billions of eons.
He roams in proper and universal knowledge
Across the ocean of all dharmas.  

His unique, indestructible body
Can be seen in every mote of dust.
Beyond birth, devoid of form,
It yet appears in all lands.  

Commentary:

Seeing the Buddha’s true body, / One awakens to the profound Dharma. If you understand the Buddha’s true substance and appearance, which is free and at ease, neither possessing an appearance nor lacking one, you will comprehend the Buddha’s deeply profound Dharma. Contemplating all dharma realms, / One takes birth wherever one wishes. You can be born anywhere in the Dharma Realm, according to your vows. 

Born from the ocean of blessings, / He dwells upon the ground of wisdom. The Buddha abides in the stage of wisdom. Observing all dharmas, / He cultivates the supreme Path. He cultivates the most superior dharma door. 

In the lands of all Buddhas of the past, present, and future, in the places, the bodhimandas of all Thus Come Ones, / Pervading the Dharma Realm, / One sees the true body of the Buddha. 

In the great Buddhalands of the ten directions, / The Buddha practiced with vigor for billions of eons. / He roams in proper and universal knowledge / Across the ocean of all dharmas. The Buddhas are called Ones of Proper and Universal Knowledge. There is nothing they do not know. They understand the ultimate reality of all phenomena.  

His unique, indestructible body / Can be seen in every mote of dust. The Buddha’s durable vajra body can be seen in every dustmote of the Dharma Realm. Beyond birth, devoid of form, / It yet appears in all lands. The Buddha’s Dharma body is unborn and undying, and it has no form. Yet the Buddha’s true substance manifests in all lands. The Buddha establishes bodhimandas in all lands. Sutra:

In accord with beings’ wishes,
The Buddha universally appears before them.
Taming and teaching them with various means,
He quickly sets them upon the Buddha Path.  

By virtue of the Buddha’s awesome spirit,
All the Bodhisattvas can appear.
Aided by the Buddha’s power,
They behold all Thus Come Ones.

All the guiding teachers,
With limitless, awesome spiritual powers,
Enlighten all the Bodhisattvas,
Who then roam throughout the Dharma Realm.  

Commentary:

In accord with beings’ wishes / The Buddha universally appears before them. The Buddha manifests according to beings’ inclinations. Beings who have affinities can meet the Buddha, hear the Dharma, and see the Sangha. The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha all appear before them. Taming and teaching them with various means, / He quickly sets them upon the Buddha Path. The Buddha employs all kinds of skill-in-means to subdue and regulate beings, so that they can quickly understand the Dharma, cultivate it, and realize Buddhahood. 

By virtue of the Buddha’s awesome spirit, / All the Bodhisattvas can appear. By means of the Buddha’s awesome spiritual power, Bodhisattvas appear in the light streaming from the Buddha’s pores. Aided by the Buddha’s power, / They behold all Thus Come Ones. The Buddha aids those Bodhisattvas with his Ten Powers, so that they can all see the Buddhas. 

All the guiding teachers of beings, all Buddhas, with limitless, awesome spiritual powers, aid and enlighten the Bodhisattvas, / Who then roam throughout the Dharma Realm to propagate the Buddhadharma and teach beings.

V.B.7. Exquisitely Blazing Cowl Bodhisattva of the Southwest

Sutra:

Then in the assembly’s midst, another Bodhisattva Mahasattva named Exquisitely Blazing Cowl of Universally Bright Wisdom received the Buddha’s awesome spiritual power, contemplated the ten directions, and spoke a verse.  

Each and every land
Echoes with wondrous sounds.
Lauding the Buddhas’ merit and virtue,
They permeate the Dharma Realm.  

The Dharma is the Buddha’s body,
Pure and clear like space.
All the colors and forms appearing therein
Cause beings to enter this Dharma.  

Commentary:

Then in the sea-vast assembly’s midst, another Bodhisattva Mahasattva, a great Bodhisattva among the Bodhisattvas, named Exquisitely Blazing Cowl of Universally Bright Wisdom received the Buddha’s awesome spiritual power, contemplated the worlds in the ten directions, and spoke a verse.  

Each and every land / Echoes with wondrous sounds of inconceivable Dharma. Lauding the Buddhas’ merit and virtue, / They permeate the Dharma Realm. Every place in the Dharma Realm is filled with the sound of praises for the Buddhas’ merit and virtue.

The Dharma is the Buddha’s body. The Buddha has three kinds of bodies:

1. The pure, clear Dharma body
2. The perfect reward body
3. The hundred billion transformation bodies.

Vairochana Buddha takes the Dharma as his body. The Dharma body is pure and clear, like space, yet containing the myriad phenomena. All the colors and forms appearing therein speak the Dharma for beings and cause beings to enter this Dharma, so that they can also attain the pure Dharma body, the perfect reward body, and the hundred billion transformation bodies. 

Sutra:

Those who rejoice in deep faith
Will be guided by the Buddha.
Such people, you should know,
Will understand the Buddha’s wisdom in this very life.  

Those of scanty wisdom
Cannot know this Dharma.
Only pure ones with the wisdom eye
Are capable of such perception.  

With the Buddha’s awesome spiritual power,
They can contemplate all dharmas.
Whether engaged in contemplation or not,
They comprehend all that they see.  

Among all the dharmas that there are,
dharma doors are boundless
For realizing All-Wisdom, and
Entering the deep Dharma ocean.  

Commentary:

Those rejoicing in deep faith , beings who give rise to great faith and delight in the Buddhadharma, and who have affinities with the Buddha, will be guided by the Buddha. / Such people, you should know, / Will understand the Buddha’s wisdom in this very life. They will be able to comprehend the Buddha’s wisdom in this present life.  

Those of scanty wisdom , ignorant people, cannot know this Dharma. / Only pure ones with the wisdom eye / Are capable of such perception. People who are intelligent and pure can understand this kind of principle. 

With the Buddha’s awesome spiritual power, / They can contemplate all dharmas.

Whether engaged in contemplation of all dharmas or not, / They comprehend all that they see, whatever dharmas they encounter. 

Among all the dharmas that there are, / dharma doors are boundless /For realizing All-Wisdom / And entering the deep Dharma ocean. There are limitless methods to help beings realize All-Wisdom and enter the Dharma, which is like a great ocean. 

Sutra:

Dwelling in Buddhalands,
The Buddhamanifests everywhere
Yet neither goes nor comes.
The Dharma of all Buddhas is thus.  

In the ocean of all beings,
The Buddha’s body appears, like a reflection.
According to their various understandings,
They perceive that guiding teacher.  

In each and every pore,
The Buddha displays spiritual powers,
Leading beings to cultivate Universal Worthy’s vows.
Pure individuals can behold the Buddha.  

The Buddha, in every single body,
Turns the Dharma wheel in all places.
Pervading the Dharma Realm,
He transcends thought and speech.  

Commentary:

Dwelling in Buddhalands, / The Buddha manifests everywhere. He gives rise to All-Wisdom. The Buddha uses all kinds of wisdom to teach beings. Yet neither goes nor comes. / The Dharma of all Buddhas is thus. The Buddha’s Dharma body neither comes nor goes.  

In the ocean of all beings, / The Buddha’s body appears, like a reflection. All the beings that exist can be compared to a huge ocean. The Buddha’s body is reflected in the ocean of beings, just like sunlight. According to their various understandings, / They see that guiding teacher. Every being, in the light of his own understanding, sees the Buddha coming to teach him or her. 

In each and every pore, the Buddha can make appear lands in the ten directions as numerous as dustmotes, and in these lands, Buddhas speak Dharma. He displays spiritual powers. In each pore, there are Buddhas manifesting their spiritual powers, leading beings to cultivate Universal Worthy’s vows. All beings are seen cultivating the vows made by Universal Worthy Bodhisattva. Pure individuals can behold the Buddha. Whoever evokes a response in the Way and brings his mind to a state of purity can see the Buddha.  

The Buddha, in every single body, / Turns the Dharma wheel in all places. Each Buddha goes everywhere in his Dharma body, turning the great Dharma wheel and speaking Dharma to teach beings. Completely pervading every place in the Dharma Realm, / He transcends thought and speech. Beings cannot conceive of this in their thoughts or express it in words.

V.B.8. Awesome Virtue and Wisdom Bodhisattva of the Northwest

Sutra:

Then in the assembly’s midst, another Bodhisattva Mahasattva named Infinite Light of Awesome Virtue and Wisdom received the Buddha’s awesome spiritual power, contemplated the ten directions, and spoke a verse.  

In every Buddhaland,
A Buddha sits in a bodhimanda.
The multitudes gather ‘round,
And all demon armies are subdued.  

Light streams from the Buddha’s body,
Suffusing the ten directions.
In response to beings, he manifests
Various forms, not just a single kind.  

Within every mote of dust,
Glowing with luminous radiance,
A panorama of ten directions’ lands are seen,
Their qualities and features each unique.  

The ten directions’ oceans of lands
Contain lands, infinite and various.
All are level and pristine,
Formed and constituted of sapphires.  

They may be overturned, or sideways,
Or resemble a closed lotus bud.
They may be circular or rectangular,
Or of other sorts of shapes and forms.  

Commentary:

Then in the assembly’s midst, in the sea-like assembly of Shakyamuni Buddha, there was another Bodhisattva Mahasattva, a great Bodhisattva among the Bodhisattvas, named Infinite Light of Awesome Virtue and Wisdom. There was no end to this Bodhisattva’s light. He received the Buddha’s awesome spiritual power, contemplated the causes and conditions throughout the ten directions, and spoke a verse.  

In every Buddhaland, / A Buddha sits in a bodhimanda. In every Buddhaland, a Buddha sits under the bodhi tree and turns the great Dharma wheel. The multitudes gather ‘round. When a Buddha is seated in his bodhimanda, the Bodhisattvas come to praise and surround him. And all demon armies are subdued. All the demon kings are vanquished. 

Light streams from the Buddha’s body, / Suffusing the ten directions. The Buddha’s light fills the Dharma Realm. In response to beings, he manifests / Various forms of various causes and conditions, not just a single kind. Buddhas manifest in all kinds of bodies. They manifest in whatever kind of body is appropriate to speak the Dharma for beings and to guide them to liberation. 

Within every mote of dust in every land, glowing with luminous radiance./A panorama in a single pore, the ten directions’ lands and the beings within them are seen,/ Their qualities and features each unique. 

The ten directions’ oceans of lands / Contains lands, infinite and various. Each ocean of lands contains limitless oceans of lands. All the Buddhalands are level and pristine, / Formed and constituted of sapphires.  

They may be overturned, or sideways , lying side by side with each other, or resemble a closed lotus bud. Some worlds resemble lotus buds that have not yet opened. They may be circular or rectangular, / Or of other sorts of shapes and forms.  

Sutra:

Through every land of the Dharma Realm,
They travel without hindrance.
At every gathering and assembly,
They ever turn the wondrous Dharma wheel.  

Inconceivable, the Buddha’s body
Holds within it all lands.
He is present everywhere,
Guiding beings and teaching true Dharma.  

He turns the wheel of wondrous Dharma.
The Dharma nature is free of discriminations.
In accordance with the one and only Truth,
He expounds the characteristics of all dharmas.  

The Buddha, with perfect sound,
Clearly sets forth the principle of Truth.
Yet for beings with different understandings,
He reveals infinite dharma doors.  

Somewhere in the midst of every land,
One can see a Buddha seated in a bodhimanda.
Like a reflection, the Buddha’s body
Is beyond all birth and death.  

Commentary:

Through every land of the Dharma Realm, / They travel without hindrance. The Buddha travels unhindered through every land, teaching beings. At every gathering and assembly, every Buddha’s assembly in every land, they ever turn the wondrous and inconceivable Dharma wheel. 

Inconceivable, the Buddha’s body / Holds within it all lands. In every land, there is a Buddha speaking Dharma. He is present everywhere, / Guiding beings and teaching true Dharma. The Buddha is at every Dharma assembly, teaching beings and speaking the wonderful Dharma. 

He turns the wondrous Dharma wheel. / The fundamental Dharma nature is free of discriminations. What is the fundamental Dharma nature? It is in accordance with the one and only Truth. Based on the only truth, he expounds the true characteristics of all dharmas. 

The Buddha, with perfect sound, with his perfect, wondrous voice, clearly sets forth the principle of Truth. / Yet for beings with different understandings, / He reveals infinite dharma doors.  

Somewhere, in the midst of every Buddha’s land, / One can see a Buddha seated in a bodhimanda. / Like a reflection of moonlight in water, the Buddha’s body appears. The Buddha is like the moon, and beings’ minds are like water. When their minds are pure, the moon is reflected in the water. The Buddha’s body is beyond all birth and death. It is unborn and undying, neither pure nor defiled, neither increasing nor decreasing.

previous   next   Contents

Chapter 2 pages:   1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11    12    13    14

return to top