The Manifestations of the Thus Come One

Chapter Two

Sutra:

Brilliant clouds such as those, as numerous as the dustmotes in a sea of worlds, completely filled the air and did not disperse. Having displayed those clouds, the Bodhisattvas bowed to the Buddha and offered them to him. Then, in the lower direction, each Bodhisattva created a lion’s throne from blazing, jeweled lamps and abundant lotuses, and seated himself upon that throne in full lotus posture.  

Commentary:

Brilliant clouds such as those described above, as numerous as the dustmotes in a sea of worlds, completely filled the air and did not disperse. Every one of the clouds pervaded space without obstructing the others; they each appeared clearly and distinctly. If these brilliant clouds had been ordinary clouds, they would have scattered and disappeared, but instead they lingered in the air. Having displayed all those brilliant clouds, the Bodhisattvas bowed to the Buddha and offered them to him. Then, in the lower direction, each Bodhisattva among the infinite numbers of great Bodhisattvas created a lion’s throne from blazing, jeweled lamps and abundant lotuses—there were lots of lotuses—and sat upon his Dharma throne in full lotus posture, entering the Vajra Samadhi and waiting for the Buddha to speak Dharma.  

Sutra:

Above this sea of worlds of the Flower Treasury, there was another sea of worlds called Adorned with Dazzling Mani Jewels. Within the seed of those worlds there was a land called Wondrous Radiance Beyond Appearances. The Buddha there was named Radiant King of Unobstructed Merit and Virtue.  

Within the great sea-like assembly of that Thus Come One was a Bodhisattva Mahasattva named Unimpeded Strength of Vigorous Wisdom. He and as many Bodhisattvas as dustmotes in a sea of worlds all came to where the Buddha was.  

Each Bodhisattva displayed ten effulgent clouds made from jewels of boundless colors and forms, which filled all of space and did not disperse. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from a net of mani jewels. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from the adornments in all the magnificent Buddhalands. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from all sublime fragrances. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from all adornments.  

Commentary:

Above this sea of worlds of the Flower Treasury, there was another sea of worlds. Our sea of worlds is called Flower Treasury, and that one was called Adorned with Dazzling Mani Jewels. Mani jewels must have been plentiful in that sea of worlds. They illuminated the world and made it a beautiful and happy place. Within the seed of those worlds there was a land called Wondrous Radiance Beyond Appearances. In that country there was a Buddha teaching and transforming beings. The Buddha there was named Radiant King of Unobstructed Merit and Virtue. That Buddha’s virtue was perfect and unobstructed. It was full to the extreme, and so it appeared radiant.  

Within the great sea-like assembly of that Thus Come One, there were Hearers, those Enlightened to Conditions, and Bodhisattvas waiting to hear the Buddha speak Dharma. Among them was a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, a leader of Bodhisattvas, named Unimpeded Strength of Vigorous Wisdom. He had tremendous power, which was based on courageous and vigorous wisdom. He was so vigorous that no amount of suffering or hardship could daunt him. He and as many Bodhisattvas as dustmotes in a sea of worlds all came to where the Buddha was. By means of their spiritual powers and self-mastery, they all came to the Saha World to gather before Shakyamuni Buddha at the foot of the bodhi tree. Since they used their spiritual powers, they came without coming. With their powers of self-mastery, they went and yet did not go. Although it was an extremely great distance, they were as if face-to-face with the Buddha.  

Each displayed ten effulgent clouds made from jewels of boundless colors and forms, which filled all of space and did not disperse. If this were not a state manifested by the spiritual powers of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the clouds would have vanished after a while. Instead they remained in space while the Buddha was speaking Dharma, and they have not dispersed even up to the present time. If you attain such a state, you should know that it is the state of the Flower Adornment. The state of the Flower Adornment is beyond all conception. And so there is no way to talk about it. Yet even though it is beyond conception, we still try to think about it. Although it is impossible to express, we try to talk about it. We are talking about something that is impossible to talk about or conceptualize. This is “the talking of not talking”—speaking about the unspeakable. So what am I talking about? I’m just babbling nonsense.

They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from a precious net of mani jewels. Don’t think this is true. It’s all false. Why? Even if it were true, if you don’t cultivate, it becomes false. If you cultivate according to the sutra, then it’s true. If you don’t, then it’s false. No matter what sutra it is, if you study and recite the sutra but don’t actually cultivate according to it, then the sutra is false for you. In that case not a single sutra is true. If they are true, why can’t you practice them? If you don’t cultivate, then no matter how well you lecture on the sutras, it’s of no use. If you cultivate, then even if you don’t know how to lecture, you’ll still gain some benefit.

They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from the adornments of all the magnificent Buddhalands. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from all sublime fragrances. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from all adornments —the adornments of Buddhalands as well as those of the lands of beings.

When I said earlier that all sutras are false, someone disagreed. “All the sutras are true,” he insisted. If they are true but you can’t apply them, of what use are they? If they are false but you can use them, then they become true. If they are true but no one uses them, they become false. Consider the analogy of food. If you eat it, it can cure your hunger. If you don’t, then the food is food and you are you—the food doesn’t do you any good. Therefore, once you understand the principles, you have to diligently cultivate. Don’t be casual. Don’t say, “I know.” What do you know? You have nothing to say.  

Sutra:

They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from the transformations of all Buddhas. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from the flowers of myriad beautiful trees. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from all kinds of vajra. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from mani jewels that expounded boundless Bodhisattva practices. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from lamps of pearl.  

Effulgent clouds such as those, as numerous as the dustmotes in a sea of worlds, completely filled the air and did not disperse. Having displayed those clouds, the Bodhisattvas bowed to the Buddha and offered them to him. Then, in the upper direction, each Bodhisattva created a lion’s throne from a profusion of lotuses, which issued the sounds and light of the Buddhas, and seated himself upon that throne in full lotus posture.  

In this way, in seas of worlds as numerous as the dustmotes in a billion Buddhalands, there were Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas as numerous as the dustmotes in a billion Buddhalands, each surrounded by a gathering of Bodhisattvas as numerous as the dustmotes in a sea of worlds.  

Commentary:

They further displayed ten …Actually it wasn’t just ten, but limitlessly many, as numberless as the grains of sand in the Ganges. Generally speaking, ten are mentioned to represent infinitely many layers of effulgent clouds made from the transformations of all Buddhas. These effulgent clouds were magically created by the Buddhas. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from the flowers of myriad beautiful trees. There were many varieties of bodhi trees, trees of mani jewels, and chandana trees. All of these wonderful trees were adorned with flowers and fruits. Since they were blossoming trees, they also bore fruit. 

They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from all kinds of vajra. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from mani jewels that expounded boundless Bodhisattva practices. The practices cultivated by all Bodhisattvas are aimed at benefitting, enlightening, and liberating themselves as well as others. Bodhisattvas cultivate the Six Perfections and myriad practices. The perfections are used to benefit, teach, and enlighten beings, and to lead them to make the resolve for bodhi. Bodhisattvas cultivate the Bodhisattva Path, aiming to take all beings to Buddhahood before they themselves become Buddhas. They further displayed ten effulgent clouds made from lamps of pearl. Lamps represent the esteemed quality of wisdom.  

Effulgent clouds such as those, as numerous as the dustmotes in a sea of worlds, completely filled the air and did not disperse. From the point of view of an ordinary person, you might say, “If one cloud fills all of space, how could the other clouds fill space as well?” Each and every cloud pervaded space without obstructing the others. They certainly didn’t interfere with or destroy one another. They all remained intact. Ordinary people find this state hard to understand.

Let’s not talk about so many kinds of effulgent clouds. Let’s just consider light. Lights can blend together and shine upon one another. For example, the electric lamps in this Buddha hall each illuminate the entire hall, yet there is no conflict among them. The lamps don’t fight and say, “Keep your light away from me. Don’t shine over here, and I won’t shine over there.” The lights all shine together. One light doesn’t obliterate another one. They enhance their brightness with each others’ light. These effulgent clouds are the same way. They all pervade the Dharma Realm, and yet remain distinct from one another.

Having displayed those clouds, the Bodhisattvas bowed respectfully to the Buddha and offered them to him. Then, in the upper direction, above the Flower Treasury sea of worlds, each Bodhisattva created a lion’s throne from a profusion of lotuses, which issued the sounds and light of the Buddhas, and seated himself upon that throne in full lotus posture and cultivated his own samadhi. 

In this way, in seas of worlds as numerous as the dustmotes in a billion Buddhalands as described above, there were Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas as numerous as the dustmotes in a billion Buddhalands, each surrounded by a gathering of Bodhisattvas as numerous as the dustmotes in a sea of worlds. If you asked me how many Bodhisattvas there were, I wouldn’t know. They all came to the great Dharma assembly where Shakyamuni Buddha was expounding the Great Flower Adornment Sutra after his enlightenment under the bodhi tree.

Sutra:

Each of those Bodhisattvas displayed clouds of offerings of all kinds of adornments, as numerous as the dustmotes in a sea of worlds, which completely filled the air and did not disperse. Having displayed those clouds, they bowed to the Buddha and offered them to him. Then, in the direction from which he had come, each Bodhisattva created a lion’s throne adorned with all kinds of jewels, and seated himself upon that throne in full lotus posture.  

Commentary:

This passage describes the state of the Flower Adornment, in which Bodhisattvas manifest various lights, and each light manifests infinite numbers of Bodhisattvas. These limitless Bodhisattvas then universally enter into innumerable motes of dust. Each mote of dust in turn displays an infinite number of vast Buddhalands. In each land, a Buddha is speaking Dharma and Bodhisattvas make offerings to the Buddha and assist him in propagating the Dharma and benefiting beings. That’s the essential meaning of this passage of text.  

Each of those great Bodhisattvas displayed clouds of offerings of all kinds of supremely fine adornments, as numerous as the dustmotes in a sea of worlds, which completely filled the air and did not disperse. Having displayed those various clouds of offerings, they reverently bowed to the Buddha and offered them to him. Then, in the direction from which he had come, in whichever of the ten directions they came from, each Bodhisattva created a lion’s throne adorned with all kinds of jewels, and seated himself upon that throne in full lotus posture. Full lotus is the best posture for meditation.

III. Those summoned gather like clouds
B. Manifesting the functions of their self-mastery

Sutra:

Having seated themselves, all of the Bodhisattvas, from each and every pore on their bodies, displayed lights of various colors from all jewels, as numerous as the dustmotes in ten seas of worlds. Within each light appeared Bodhisattvas as numerous as the dustmotes in ten seas of worlds, all seated upon lion thrones made from a profusion of lotuses.  

All of those Bodhisattvas were able to pervasively enter into all the dustmotes in the oceans of arrangements of Dharma realms. Each dustmote contained vast lands as numerous as the dustmotes in ten Buddha worlds. In each land there dwelt the Buddhas, World Honored Ones, of the three periods of time. Those Bodhisattvas were all able to draw near to these Buddhas and make offerings to them.  

Commentary:

Having seated themselves in full lotus, all of the Bodhisattvas displayed their spiritual powers. From each and every pore on their bodies, they displayed lights of various colors from all jewels, as numerous as the dustmotes in ten seas of worlds. Innumerable jewels emitted multi-colored rays of light. Within each light appeared Bodhisattvas as numerous as the dustmotes in ten seas of worlds, all seated upon lion thrones made from a profusion of lotuses.  

All of those Bodhisattvas mentioned earlier were great Bodhisattvas with inconceivable spiritual powers and transformations. Their wisdom is even more inconceivable. And so they were able to pervasively enter into all the dustmotes in the oceans of all arrangements