The Manifestations of the Thus Come One

Chapter Two

II. The Buddha emits lights to summon those with affinities
A. The purpose for emitting lights
B. The source of the lights
C. The substance of the lights
D. Listing the lights

Sutra:

At that time, the World Honored One, knowing what the Bodhisattvas were thinking, emitted from his mouth, from between his teeth, as many lights as there are dustmotes in a Buddhaland. For example , there was a light from multitudes of precious flowers that shone everywhere; a light that produced various sounds to enhance the Dharma Realm; a light of softly trailing ethereal clouds; a light of Buddhas seated in bodhimandas and displaying spiritual transformations throughout the ten directions; a light in the form of a canopy composed of clouds of scintillating jewels; a light that suffused the Dharma Realm without obstruction.  

Commentary:

At that time, Shakyamuni Buddha, the World Honored One, knowing what the Bodhisattvas were thinking, emitted from his mouth, from between his teeth, as many lights as there are dustmotes in a Buddhaland. This light shone on the assemblies throughout the ten directions: the Bodhisattvas of the ten directions, the Buddhas, the Hearers, those Enlightened by Conditions, the gods, the ghosts, the spirits, and so forth. It summoned them all to come to the bodhimanda. This is like when we want to invite someone to come over, we send them a telegram, or perhaps we telephone them, or send a message via wireless; this is the meaning here. When the Buddha attained Buddhahood, he also invited the Buddhas of the ten directions to attend this auspicious assembly in honor of his attaining Buddhahood. And so the Bodhisattvas throughout the ten directions went there and produced all kinds of clouds of offerings, and requested the Buddha to speak the Dharma.

The Buddha knew what each of the Bodhisattvas wished to know, what they hoped to understand, and what questions they wanted to ask. He already knew about these matters early on, and now, “from his mouth” he emitted light. Now, most people would read these two characters (mian men) as “face,” but actually, they refer to the place below the nose and above the mouth; this is just referring to the mouth. The face doesn’t have any door (men) that can be entered. The mouth, on the other hand, can open, like a door. So the text reads, “emitted from his mouth, from between his teeth, as many lights as there are dustmotes in a Buddhaland.” The Buddha emitted all kinds of lights, as many as there are dustmotes in limitless and boundless Buddhalands. There were lights in numbers like fine dustmotes, and they were of various colors. Some were golden colored of gold light, some were white colored of white light, some were red colored of red light, and some were blue colored of blue light. The lights were of all different colors.

For example, there was a light from multitudes of precious flowers that shone everywhere; a light that produced various sounds to enhance the Dharma Realm; a light of softly trailing ethereal clouds; a light of Buddhas seated in bodhimandas and displaying spiritual transformations throughout the ten directions; a light in the form of a canopy composed of clouds of scintillating jewels; a light that suffused the Dharma Realm without obstruction.

What kinds of lights were there? For example, there was a light from multitudes of precious flowers that shone everywhere. There were jeweled lotus flowers that emitted light that shone everywhere. There was a light that produced various sounds to enhance the Dharma Realm. All kinds of sounds came forth adorning the Dharma Realm. There was a light of softly trailing ethereal clouds. That light came trailing down just like wonderful and inconceivable clouds.

There was a light of Buddhas seated in bodhimandas and displaying spiritual transformations throughout the ten directions. The Buddhas throughout the ten directions were seated in the bodhimanda manifesting great spiritual powers and inconceivable transformations. There was a light in the form of a canopy composed of clouds of scintillating jewels. There were also light from brilliantly shining jewels, and there was a light that suffused the Dharma Realm without obstruction. This light completely filled up the ten directions of the Dharma Realm without any hindrance. There were various kinds of light.

Sutra:

[There was] a light that pervasively adorned all Buddhalands; an extraordinary light from the creation of pure, precious banners of vajra; a light that universally graced all bodhimandas where Bodhisattvas assemble; a light that resonated with exquisite tones praising all Buddhas’ epithets.  

Commentary:

There was a light that pervasively adorned all Buddhalands. This kind of light made all the Buddhalands exquisitely adorned, inspiring reverence in all who saw them. There was an extraordinary light from the creation of pure, precious banners of vajra.It’s not that the above adornments were not adorned, but that this adornment was an extraordinary one: it was the pure among the pure, a light of precious vajra banners. And there was a light that universally graced all bodhimandas where Bodhisattvas assemble. There was light that adorned all bodhimandas everywhere in which there were assemblies of Bodhisattvas. And there was a light that resonated with exquisite tones praising all Buddhas’ epithets. It put forth subtle, wondrous sounds causing listeners to bring forth the resolve for bodhi. This light praised all Buddhas’ titles.

II. The Buddha emits lights to summon those with affinities
E. Giving the number
F. Showing the retinue
G. Describing the hues
H. Clarifying the far-reaching scope
I. The multitudes can see in response
J. Beckoning with verses

Sutra:

[There were those lights] and others such as those, as numerous as dustmotes in a Buddhaland. Each and every light further had a retinue of lights as numerous as dustmotes in a Buddhaland. Those lights all came in myriads of exquisite, precious hues and shone everywhere throughout the ten directions, each illuminating as many seas of worlds as there are dustmotes in a hundred million Buddhalands. Within that illumination, all the Bodhisattva multitudes in those seas of worlds were able to see this Flower Treasury Adorned Sea of Worlds. By means of the Buddha’s spiritual power, those lights spoke verses before all those assemblies of Bodhisattvas.  

Commentary:

[There were those lights] and others such as those, as numerous as dustmotes in a Buddhaland. Previously the text spoke about there being as many lights as there are dustmotes in a Buddhaland. Within every world in numbers like fine motes of dust in Buddhalands, each and every light further had a retinue of lights as numerous as dustmotes in a Buddhaland as its retinue. Those lights all came in myriads of exquisite, precious hues.Each light possessed infinite colors and lights like those of myriads of wondrous jewels. And they shone everywhere throughout the ten directions, each illuminating as many seas of worlds as there are dustmotes in a hundred million Buddhalands. Within that illumination afforded by the lights emitted by the Buddha from between his teeth, all the Bodhisattva multitudes in those seas of worlds were able to see this Flower Treasury Adorned Sea of Worlds. All Bodhisattvas, no matter how many worlds away they were, saw the Flower Treasury Sea of Worlds as if it were right before them. By means of the Buddha’s spiritual power, those lights spoke verses before all those assemblies of Bodhisattvas. Those lights were due to the great spiritual power of the Buddha. Before the assemblies in the bodhimandas of all the Bodhisattvas, those lights spoke Dharma for the Bodhisattvas. Within the light emitted from the Buddha’s teeth, which shined upon the assemblies in the ten directions, Dharma was spoken. 

Sutra:

Through countless eons, the Buddha did oceans of practices.
Making offerings to oceans of Buddhas in the ten directions.
He transforms and liberates oceans of beings, who become
Wonderfully Enlightened Honored Ones of universal illumination.  

Clouds appear magically from his pores.
Their radiance lights up the ten directions.
Those ripe for teaching open to enlightenment.
They strive for bodhi, pure and unhindered.  

The Buddha traveled every path and way,
Teaching and nurturing beings, helping them mature.
So boundless are his spiritual powers and self-mastery.
That in one thought he brings them to liberation.  

The bodhi tree with its wondrous mani gems
Has a myriad ornaments most sublime.
In its shade, the Buddha realized Proper Enlightenment
And shone with a magnificent, universal resplendence.  

His booming roar resounds in the ten directions,
As he everywhere preaches the Dharma of still quiescence.
Catering to beings’ wishes and delights,
He employs sundry expedients to help them understand.

Commentary:

Through countless eons, he cultivated oceans of practices. Limitless eons in the past, the Buddha set his mind on cultivation. He has cultivated so many dharma doors for such a long period of time that they can be called oceans of practices. Making offerings to oceans of Buddhas in the ten directions. What was the main dharma door that he practiced? It was making offerings to the Buddhas of the ten directions. He used his body, mouth, and mind to make all kinds of offerings. With his body he revered and bowed to the Buddhas. With his mouth he praised the Buddhas’ inconceivable merit and virtue. And with his mind he constantly reflected upon the Buddhadharma. That was how he made offerings to the Triple Jewel with his body, mouth, and mind.

In making offerings to the Buddha, you must have no anger on your face. If you have no temper, then you are making an offering. If your mouth is free from anger, it will give off a wondrous fragrance. If your mouth doesn’t utter angry words—if it doesn’t engage in harsh speech, backbiting, idle chatter, or false speech—then you make the offering of a wondrous fragrance. If your mind is devoid of anger, then you are offering a true jewel, a real treasure, to the Buddhas. The basic thing to remember about making offerings is to have no anger. If you have a temper, then it prevents you from making an offering.  

He teaches and liberates oceans of beings. After realizing Buddhahood, the Buddha wants to teach and transform beings. Since there are limitlessly many of them—as numerous as motes of dust—they are referred to as oceans of beings. Although there are so many of them, the Buddha wants to teach and transform all the oceans of beings, who become Wonderfully Enlightened Honored Ones of universal illumination. All beings are led to become Buddhas, World Honored Ones, who illuminate the entire Dharma Realm.  

Clouds appear magically from his pores. From each pore of the Buddha, infinite numbers of clouds appear by transformation. Their radiance lights up the ten directions. / Those ripe for teaching open to enlightenment. All those who should receive the Buddha’s teaching are led to develop wisdom and become deeply awakened. They strive for bodhi, pure and unhindered. The light and the retribution they attain are pure and unhindered.  

The Buddha traveled every path and way . In the past, the Buddha also went around and around in the six paths of the wheel of rebirth. He did this for the sake of teaching and nurturing beings, helping them mature./So boundless are his spiritual powers and self-mastery. The Buddha has innumerable and immeasurable spiritual powers and self-mastery. That in one thought he brings them to liberation. In a single thought, the Buddha can enable infinite numbers of beings to be liberated.  

The bodhi tree with its wondrous mani gems, / Has a myriad ornaments most sublime. / In its shade, the Buddha realized Proper Enlightenment / And shone with a magnificent, universal resplendence. The bodhi tree, the king of trees, is adorned with mani gems and all kinds of precious and rare jewels. After realizing Buddhahood while seated at the foot of the tree, the Buddha gave forth a magnificent light that shined throughout the world and the Dharma Realm.  

His booming roar resounds in the ten directions . The Buddha’s voice is extremely loud—his booming roar can be heard throughout the worlds of the ten directions, as he everywhere preaches the Dharma of still quiescence, speaking the Dharma of nirvana for all beings. Catering to beings’ wishes and delights, their hopes and dreams, he employssundry skillful expedients to enlighten them and help them understand. 

Sutra:

The Buddha has cultivated to perfection, paramitas
As numerous as the dustmotes in a thousand lands.
He has fully achieved all the powers.
All of you should go and make obeisance.  

Commentary:

Within the light, another verse was spoken: The Buddha has already cultivated to perfection, paramitas, the dharmas for reaching the “other shore,” as numerous as the dustmotes in a thousand lands. / He has fully achieved all the powers—various powers such as the Buddha’s Ten Powers. All of you should go and make obeisance to the World Honored One, Shakyamuni. 

Sutra:

Disciples of the Buddha, numerous as the dustmotes in a land,
Joyfully gather from the ten directions.
Having rained down clouds of offerings,
They are now before the Buddha, eagerly gazing upward.  

One sound from the Thus Come One is yet limitless.
He can give discourses as deep as the mighty ocean.
He rains wondrous Dharma everywhere, in response to beings’ minds.
You ought to go see that Doubly Perfect Honored One.  

Commentary:

Disciples of the Buddha ,all of the worthy sages, mumerous as the dustmotes in a land, / Joyfully gather from the ten directions. They were so happy they jumped for joy and came to the Buddha’s bodhimanda under the bodhi tree. Having rained down various kinds of clouds as offerings to Shakyamuni Buddha, before the Buddha’s Vajra Jeweled Seat, they now intently gaze upon him, bowing and paying reverence to the Buddha. 

One sound from the Thus Come One is yet limitless. When Shakyamuni, the World Honored One, speaks the Dharma with a single sound, limitless beings each understand it according to their capacity. One sound disperses into infinite sounds; infinite sounds come from a single sound. The Buddha’s sound transforms into infinite sounds, and he can give discourses, “tallying texts,” whose wondrous meanings are as deep as the mighty ocean. 

The Buddha is now under the bodhi tree speaking Dharma. He rains inconceivably wondrous Dharma everywhere, in response to beings’ minds. He speaks the Dharma that beings wish to hear. You ought to go see that Doubly Perfect Honored One, Shakyamuni Buddha, who is perfect in both blessings and wisdom. He is a fertile “field of blessings” in which beings can plant blessings. All of you Bodhisattvas, disciples of the Buddha, and worthy sages should quickly go to see him.

Sutra:

All the vows of the Buddhas of the three periods of time
Are proclaimed beneath the bodhi tree.
In an instant they are all revealed.
You should make haste to the Thus Come One.  

Vairochana has wisdom like a great ocean.
None have not seen the light from his mouth.
He now waits for all to assemble, and soon he will speak.
Go now to see and hear what he will say.  

Commentary:

All the vows of the Buddhas of the three periods of time . The three periods of time are past, present, and future. We could also think of them as last year, this year, and next year, or as yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Buddhas of the past have already become Buddhas; Buddhas of the present are now becoming Buddhas; Buddhas of the future are beings who will become Buddhas in the future. All of the beings of the present are future Buddhas. Those who are now cultivating the Way will definitely become Buddhas in the future. Therefore, cultivators should take care not to become afflicted with one another, or find fault with one another. Take a look at the Buddhas. They are all one with each other. They don’t scowl or lose their tempers upon seeing each other. If you can regard all beings as future Buddhas, then losing your temper at beings is the same as losing your temper at the Buddhas. If you can think in that way, your temper will vanish.

We are talking about the vows made by Buddhas in the three periods of time. Cultivators should definitely make vows. If you vow to become a Buddha, you will do so. If you vow to become a ghost, you’ll become a ghost. If you vow to be a human being, you will be a person. If you vow to do the deeds of asuras, you’ll become an asura. Everything is made from the mind. Everything is made from vows. The fundamental reason the Buddha could become a Buddha was that he made a vow to realize the Buddha Way.

We often make the vow, saying, “I vow to dedicate this merit and virtue to all beings, so that we in this Dharma assembly and all other beings can realize the Buddha Way.” This is making a vow to attain Buddhahood. Then there are the Four Vast Vows:

1. I vow to save the limitless beings. Ask yourself if you have saved them yet. If not, then you should.

2. I vow to cut off the inexhaustible afflictions. Although there is no end to our afflictions, we make a vow to cut them off. If we haven’t cut them off, we should do so.

3. I vow to study the infinite dharma doors. We make this vow to learn the limitless and boundless dharma doors [methods of practice ] taught by the Buddha. If we haven’t learned them yet, we should do so.

4. I vow to realize the unsurpassed Buddha Way. There is nothing loftier or more noble than the Buddha Way, so we should vow to realize it. If we haven’t done so, we must cultivate. Only through cultivation can we become Buddhas.

The Buddhas of the three periods of time made such vows, which enabled them to attain Buddhahood. Now, all the vows made by the Buddhas are proclaimed beneath the bodhi tree by Shakyamuni Buddha upon his realization of Buddhahood. He proclaimed these vows so that beings would also be able to make them and thus eventually attain Buddhahood as well. In an instant they are all revealed. It didn’t take a very long time, but just a kshana—the briefest instant of time—for all the vows to be revealed.

This verse being spoken from within the light continues: You, all of you Bodhisattvas, Hearers, and Those Enlightened to Conditions—all the holy sages in the ten directions—should make haste to the Thus Come One. Hurry to the bodhi tree, where Shakyamuni Buddha has realized Buddhahood.  

Having realizing Buddhahood, Shakyamuni Buddha manifests the appearance of Vairochana Buddha. Vairochana has wisdom like a great ocean. The Buddha’s wisdom is even greater than the ocean. None have not seen the light from his mouth. From between his teeth, he sends forth innumerable rays of light, which shine upon Buddhalands as numerous as motes of dust. And the light is seen by all the sages of the ten directions. None fail to see it.

He now waits for all to assemble, and soon he will speak. The Buddha is waiting for the worthy sages of the ten directions—the Bodhisattvas, Hearers, and Those Enlightened to Conditions—to gather together, like clouds gathering in the sky. The Buddha is about to proclaim the wonderful Dharma. Go now to see and hear what he will say. All of you should go to see the Buddha. This verse is spoken from within the light to invite all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and sages of the ten directions to hear the Buddha speak Dharma.

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