The Ten Penetrations

Chapter Twenty-Eight

 

 

Sutra:

In each eon, there are names of Buddhas as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands. Each name represents Tathagatas as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands. He has complete knowledge of how each and every Tathagata will bring forth his initial resolve for bodhi, make vows and practices, make offerings to all Buddhas, tame sentient beings, and speak Dharma for his congregations.

He knows the length of each Buddha’s life, his spiritual powers of transformation, and even his entry into nonresidual parinirvana, the length of time his Dharma will remain after he enters parinirvana, and the stupas and temples that will be constructed with various adornments, causing sentient beings to plant and nurture good roots.

This is called a Bodhisattva Mahasattva’s fourth wisdom-based spiritual power of knowing future eons of time.

Commentary:

In each eon, there are names of Buddhas as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands. Each name represents Tathagatas as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands. He has complete knowledge of how each and every Tathagata will bring forth his initial resolve for bodhi, make vows and practices, make offerings to all Buddhas, tame sentient beings, and speak Dharma for his congregations.

He knows the length of each Buddha’s life, his spiritual powers of transformation, and even his entry into nonresidual parinirvana, the length of time his Dharma will remain after he enters parinirvana, and the stupas and temples that will be constructed with various adornments, such as the seven precious things, causing sentient beings to plant and nurture various good roots.  

We’re providing opportunities for sentient beings to plant good roots when we build stupas and temples, and to plant those good roots deeply. The Bodhisattva can know all of this.

This is called a Bodhisattva Mahasattva’s fourth wisdom-based spiritual power of knowing future eons of time. This great Bodhisattva among Bodhisattvas knows all eons to the end of future time.

II.5. Wisdom-based Spiritual Power of the Unobstructed Purity of the Heavenly Ear

Sutra:

Disciples of the Buddha! With the perfection of the unobstructed purity of the heavenly ear, a Bodhisattva Mahasattva’s hearing is perfect, extensive, keen, and penetrating. Unhindered and unimpeded in its reach, the heavenly ear is fully endowed and accomplished. With self-mastery, he can hear or not hear any or all sounds as he chooses.

Disciples of the Buddha! Buddhas as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands exist in the east. The Bodhisattva Mahasattva can accept and practice all of the profound, vast, pure Dharma with its various distinctions, limitless expedients, and limitless skillful means, that all these Buddhas proclaim, reveal, impart, expound, establish, teach, use to discipline beings, recollect, and analyze.  

Further, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva can remember and uphold all of this Dharma, both the meaning as well as the words, whether it is spoken for a single person or an assembly, and including the Buddhas' tone of voice, their articulation, their wisdom, their understanding, their manifestations, their ability to tame, their states of mind, their ground of being, and their ways of transcendence. He never forgets this Dharma, nor dismisses it, nor severs it, nor retreats from it, nor becomes confused.  

He explains this Dharma for others so that they in turn awaken to understanding and never forget a single word or sentence of this Dharma. Just as he is able to do this in the east, he can do the same in the south, west, north, the four intermediate directions, as well as above and below.  

This is called a Bodhisattva Mahasattva’s fifth wisdom-based spiritual power of the unobstructed purity of the heavenly ear.

Commentary:

Disciples of the Buddha! With the perfection of the unobstructed purity of the heavenly ear, a Bodhisattva Mahasattva’s hearing is perfect, extensive, keen, and penetrating. Unhindered and unimpeded in its reach, the heavenly ear is fully endowed and accomplished. With self-mastery, he can hear or not hear any or all sounds as he chooses.  

Disciples of the Buddha! Buddhas as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands exist in the east. The Bodhisattva Mahasattva can accept and practice all of the profound, vast, pure Dharma with its various distinctions, limitless expedients, and limitless skillful means, that all these Buddhas proclaim, reveal, impart, expound, establish, teach, use to discipline beings, recollect, and analyze.  

Further, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva can remember and uphold all of this Dharma, both the meaning as well as the words, whether it is spoken for a single person or an assembly, and including the Buddhas' tone of voice, their articulation, their wisdom, their understanding, their manifestations, their ability to tame, their states of mind, their ground of being, and their ways of transcendence.  

He never forgets this Dharma, nor dismisses it, nor severs it, nor retreats from it, nor becomes confused. For example, when we don’t really understand true Dharma, we simply follow the sentiments and ways of the world rather than practicing transcendental Dharma. Transcendental Dharma and worldly phenomena are opposites.  

He explains this Dharma for others so that they in turn awaken to understanding and never forget a single word or sentence of this Dharma. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas expound the Dharma for others so that they become enlightened. Not only do they themselves not retreat or forget, they also make sure that others do not forget or lose it. Just as he is able to do this in the east, he can do the same in the south, west, north, the four intermediate directions, as well as above and below. The situation in each place is the same as in the east.

This is called a Bodhisattva Mahasattva’s fifth wisdom-based spiritual power of the unobstructed purity of the heavenly ear.

II.6. Wisdom-based Spiritual Power of Being Devoid of Substance and Unmoving as One Reaches to All Buddhalands

Sutra:

Disciples of the Buddha! When dwelling in spiritual power devoid of substance, spiritual power devoid of effort, spiritual power based in equality, vast spiritual power, infinite spiritual power, spiritual power devoid of reliance, spiritual power that accord with one’s wishes, spiritual power that arises, spiritual power that does not arise, spiritual power that does not retreat, spiritual power that is not cut off, indestructible spiritual power, increasing spiritual powers, and spiritual powers that reach wherever they are sent, a Bodhisattva Mahasattva hears the names of Buddhas in extremely distant worlds, that is, in countless worlds, measureless worlds, even worlds as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands. He sees himself in each Buddha’s presence as soon as he hears that Buddha’s name.

Those worlds may be upright or inverted—each unique in shape, locale, and features. Boundless and unobstructed is the assortment of lands and epochs, each adorned with infinite meritorious virtues. Every Tathagata will appear in these worlds to manifest spiritual transformations and praise the unique names of limitless and countless Buddhas. Once this Bodhisattva hears the name of a Tathagata, he sees himself in that Buddha’s presence without leaving his original place. There he bows, pays respect, attends and makes offerings to that Buddha. He asks about the Dharma of Bodhisattvas and enters the Buddha’s wisdom. He thoroughly and utterly knows the assemblies and the Dharma spoken in bodhimandas in all Buddhalands, yet remains unattached.

In this way, he passes through as many eons as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands, reaching all places throughout the ten directions without going anywhere. Nonetheless, he travels to every land to see the Buddhas, to listen to the Dharma and to inquire about the Path without pausing, giving up, resting, or growing weary. He cultivates the Bodhisattva’s practice and realizes his vast vows. To fulfill his vows he never retreats, for he does not wish the vast seed-nature of the Tathagatas to be cut off.  

This is called a Bodhisattva Mahasattva’s sixth wisdom-based spiritual power of being devoid of substance and unmoving as one reaches to all Buddhalands.

Commentary:

Disciples of the Buddha! Universal Worthy Bodhisattva again calls out, “All of you disciples of the Buddha!” A Bodhisattva Mahasattva may be dwelling in spiritual power devoid of substance, spiritual power devoid of effort, spiritual power that isn’t fabricated, vast spiritual power, infinite spiritual power, spiritual power devoid of reliance, spiritual power that accord with one’s wishes, spiritual power that arises, spiritual power that does not arise, spiritual power that does not retreat, spiritual power that is not cut off, indestructible spiritual power, increasing spiritual powers, and spiritual powers that reach wherever they are sent, the spiritual power to go anywhere as one wishes.

A Bodhisattva Mahasattva can hear very far. He hears the names of Buddhas in extremely distant worlds, that is, in countless worlds, measureless worlds, even worlds as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands. He sees himself in each Buddha’s presence, in the bodhimandaof that Buddha, as soon as he hears that Buddha’s name.

Those worlds may be upright or inverted—each unique in shape, locale, and features. Boundless and unobstructed is the assortment of lands and epochs, each adorned with infinite meritorious virtues. Every Tathagata will appear in these worlds to manifest spiritual transformations and praise the unique names of limitless and countless Buddhas.In every Buddhaland, Buddhas appear to reveal the Buddhas’ spiritual transformations, to extol limitlessly and countless many names of Buddhas.

Once this Bodhisattva hears the name of a Tathagata, he sees himself in that Buddha’s presence without leaving his original place. Without having to leave where he was situated and using his spiritual powers, he sees his own body at that Buddha’s place. There he bows, pays respect, attends and makes offerings to that Buddha. He asks about the Dharma of Bodhisattvas and enters the Buddha’s wisdom. He thoroughly and utterly knows the assemblies and the Dharma spoken in bodhimandas in all Buddhalands, yet remains unattached. He has not the least bit of attachment or inability to let go.

In this way, he passes through as many eons as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands, reaching all places throughout the ten directions without going anywhere. Bodhisattvas can universally reach as many worlds as there are places in the ten directions throughout as long a time as kalpas as numerous as dust motes. Although he travels everywhere, his fundamental substance is still, so he remains immobile too.

Nonetheless, he travels to every land to see the Buddhas, to draw near and admire the Buddhas in the ten directions, to listen to the Dharma at the feet of each Buddha, and to inquire about the Path He requests the Buddhas throughout the ten directions explain the wondrous Path that leads to liberation from birth and death, and he does this without pausing, giving up. A Bodhisattva Mahasattva never stops working; he works without resting, or growing weary. A Bodhisattva is never tired. Unlike we who get tired after listening to the sutras for a while, he does not become tired. He always cultivates the Bodhisattva’s practice and makes and realizes his vast vows. To fulfill his great vows and the Bodhisattva Path, he never retreats, for he does not wish the vast seed-nature of the Tathagatas to be cut off . He wishes never to stop the process of creating seeds for Buddhahood.  

This is called a Bodhisattva Mahasattva’s sixth wisdom-based spiritual power of being devoid of substance and unmoving as one reaches to all Buddhalands . This is a great Bodhisattvas’ sixth kind of spiritual power grounded in wisdom, which is being devoid of substance and movement and yet being able to be in all Buddhalands.

II.7. Wisdom-based Spiritual Power of Clearly Discerning All Words and Phrasing

Sutra:

Disciples of the Buddha! With the wisdom-based spiritual power of clearly discerning sentient beings’ words and voices, a Bodhisattva Mahasattva understands the various spoken words of sentient beings in worlds as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands.

He understands the language of sages, the language of those who are not yet sages, the language of heavenly beings, the language of dragons, language of yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and nonhumans, and so forth to the languages of ineffably ineffable sentient beings. He understands all their individual expressions and distinctions.

In any world that this Bodhisattva enters, he discerns the dispositions and desires of all beings therein. He communicates in ways suited to these beings' dispositions and desires so that they completely understand without a doubt. Just as sunshine appears to illumine all forms so that those with eyes will see clearly, a Bodhisattva Mahasattva is the same way. With the ability to proficiently differentiate all spoken words, he deeply enters all clouds of verbal communication. All of his speech aims to ensure that those intelligent and wise in the world understand.

This is called a Bodhisattva Mahasattva’s seventh wisdom-based spiritual power of clearly discerning all words and phrasing.

Commentary:

Disciples of the Buddha! With the wisdom-based spiritual power of clearly discerning sentient beings’ words and voices, a Bodhisattva Mahasattva understands the various spoken words of sentient beings in worlds as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddhalands . He is able to know the language of all kinds of sentient beings throughout so many Buddhalands in so many worlds, regardless of what type of sentient being one may be, the Bodhisattva understands one’s speech.

The Bodhisattva understands the spoken words of all sentient beings intimately. He understands the language of sages, whichinclude the speech of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats, that is, words of sages in the Four Dharma Realms of Sages. He understands the language of those who are not yet sages, that is, those who have not reached the stage of the Four Dharma Realms of Sages.

He understands the language of heavenly beings. There are various heavens with various types of words. He understands the language of dragons. Dragons have the language of dragons. He comprehends the language of yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and nonhumans, and so forth to words of ineffably ineffable sentient beings. He understands all their individual expressions and distinctions. They may use verbal or wordless expressions to communicate, as well as various distinctions. A Bodhisattva understands each and every kind of utterance.

In any world that this Bodhisattva enters, he knows the sentient beings of that world. He discerns the dispositions and desires of all beings therein. He knows their preferences, desires and cravings. He communicates in their language in ways suited to these beings' dispositions and desires according to what he has contemplated so that they completely understand without a doubt, without skepticism.

Just as sunshine appears to illumine all forms and all colors show up so that those with eyes will see the sun clearly, a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, a great Bodhisattva among Bodhisattvas, is the same way. Like the sun, he also appears to shine upon all forms and ensures that all those with eyes see. With the ability to proficiently differentiate all spoken words, he deeply enters all clouds of verbal communication, expressions resembling clouds. All of his speech aims to ensure that those intelligent and wise in the world understand—thoroughly.

This is called a Bodhisattva Mahasattva’s seventh wisdom-based spiritual power of clearly discerning all words and phrasing.

II.8. Wisdom-based Spiritual Power of Manifesting Countless Physical Bodies

Sutra:

Disciples of the Buddha! With the wisdom-based spiritual power of producing infinite asankheyas of adorned physical bodies, a Bodhisattva Mahasattva knows that all dharmas are apart from characteristics of form, being free from distinctive characteristics, various characteristics, limitless characteristics, and differentiated characteristics, and not being characterized as green, yellow, red, or white.  

A Bodhisattva who enters the Dharma Realm in this way manifests a body that takes on various forms—boundless forms, infinite forms, pure forms, adorned forms, all-pervasive forms, incomparable forms, all-illumining forms, enhanced forms, harmonious forms, forms replete with various features, forms removed from all vice, forms of awesome impact, honorable forms, inexhaustible forms,

forms of intermingling wonders, extremely stately forms, incalculable forms, well-guarded forms, forms capable of maturation, forms that adapt and transform, unobstructed forms, thoroughly lucid forms, unsullied forms, extremely translucent forms, forms of courageous might, forms of inconceivable expedience, incorruptible forms, flawless forms, unclouded forms, well-settled forms, magnificently ornamented forms, forms with various stately features,

various forms of subsidiary fine characteristics, forms of dignified nobility, forms of marvelous states, well-polished and glistening forms, forms of a pure and profound mind, forms of blazing luster, forms of supreme grandeur, uninterrupted forms, independent forms, matchless forms, forms filling inexpressibly many Buddhalands, increasing forms, steadfast and receptive forms, forms of supreme virtue, forms complying with the heart’s joy, forms of pure understanding, forms of collected wonders, forms of adroit determination, unimpeded forms…  

Commentary:

Universal Worthy Bodhisattva again called out, “All of you disciples of the Buddha! A great Bodhisattva among Bodhisattvas, with the wisdom-based spiritual power of producing infinite asankheyas of adorned physical bodies, a Bodhisattva Mahasattva knows that all dharmas are apart from characteristics of form, being free from distinctive characteristics, various characteristics, limitless characteristics, and differentiated characteristics, and not being characterized as green, yellow, red, or white.

A Bodhisattva who enters all forms of the Dharma Realm in this way manifests a body that takes on various forms, using the Bodhisattva body to manifest various forms. He manifests boundless forms, infinite forms, pure forms, adorned forms, all-pervasive forms, incomparable forms, all-illumining forms, enhanced forms, harmonious forms, forms replete with various features, forms removed from all vice, forms of awesome impact, honorable forms, inexhaustible forms, forms of intermingling wonders, extremely stately forms, incalculable forms, well-guarded forms, forms capable of maturation, forms that adapt and transform—

he manifests in the form of other sentient beings, unobstructed forms, thoroughly lucid forms, unsullied forms, extremely translucent forms, forms of courageous might, forms of inconceivable expedience, incorruptible forms, flawless forms, unclouded forms, well-settled forms, magnificently ornamented forms, forms with various stately features, various forms of subsidiary fine characteristics, forms of dignified nobility, forms of marvelous states, well-polished and glistening forms, forms of a pure and profound mind, forms of blazing luster, forms of supreme grandeur, uninterrupted forms,

independent forms, matchless forms, forms filling inexpressibly many Buddhalands, increasing forms, steadfast and receptive forms, forms of supreme virtue, forms complying with the heart’s joy, forms of pure understanding these various wondrous forms, forms of collected wonders, forms of adroit determination, unimpeded forms…The Bodhisattva manifests these forms constantly.

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