The Flower Ornament Scripture

 

A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra

Thomas Cleary

BOOK EIGHTEEN

 

18. Clarifying  Method

 

 

THEN THE ENLIGHTENING BEING Vigorous Wisdom said to the enlight­ ening being Truth Wisdom:  "0 Child of Buddha: when great enlighten­ ing beings first arouse the mind to seck all-knowledge, they fulfill such infinite virtues, are replete with great adornments, climb up into the vehicle of omniscience, enter the correct state of enlightening beings, give up all worldly things and attain the transmundane truths of the Buddhas, are taken into the company of all the Buddhas  of  past, present, and future, and will certainly reach the ultimate point of unexcelled enlightenment: how should those enlightening beings prac­ tice the Buddha-teachings so as to cause all the Enlightened Ones joy, enter the abode of all enlightening beings, attain purity of all great actions, ful fill all great vows, obtain the vast treasuries of enlightening beings, always teach according to necessity and potential for edification without ever giving up the transcending practices, cause all sentient beings under their care to attain deliverance, and continue the lineage of the three treasures unbroken, that their good roots  and adaptive skills not be wasted? 0 Child of Buddha, by what techniques can they cause these things to be ful filled? Please extend your compassion to explain for us-everyone in this assembly wants to hear.

"Furthermore, if great enlightening beings always diligently practice, to annihilate  all the darkness of ignorance,  conquer demons and ene­ mies and control heretics, forever wash away all a fflictions defiling the mind,  they will all be able to perfect all roots of goodness,  forever escape the difficulties of all miserable realms of being, puri fy all spheres of great knowledge,  accomplish  all the stages  of enlightenment  and their pure virtues-the transcending practices, mnemonic mastery, concentration, the six superknowlcdges, and the four fearlessnesses­ adorning all Buddha-lands; their physical refinements as well,  their bodily, verbal, and mental actions will all be perfectly complete.  They will know well all the powers, fcarlessnesses, unique qualities, omni­ science,  and spheres of action of all the Enlightened Ones, the Buddhas. In order to develop and mature all living beings according to their mentalities, they will take appropriate buddha-lands and expound the

425

 

426  The Flower Omammt Scripture

 

truth as necessary in accord with beings' faculties and in accord with the time and situation. They will ful fill various immeasurable great Buddha­ works, as well as innumerable other virtuous things, various practices, paths, and realms, and soon be equal to the enlightened ones. They can maintain and protect all the treasuries of truths assembled by the per­ fectly enlightened ones over their hundreds and thousands of immeasur­ able cons of cultivating enlightening practices, and can expound them unhindered and undisrupted by demons or heretics. They will hold the true teaching forever, and in all worlds when they teach they will be protected  by celestial beings, yaksha kings,  gandharva kings,   titan kings, garuda kings, kinnara kings, mahoraga kings, human  kings, Brahma kings, and enlightened kings of truth. All worlds will respect and support them, alike crowning them. They will always be under the care of the Buddhas, and will also be loved and respected by all enlightening beings.  Attaining  the power of roots of goodness,  they will increase  virtuous ways,  expound  the treasury of profound teach­ ings of the Enlightened,  and hold the true teaching,  wherewith  they will adorn themselves. Please expound the process of enlightening beings' practices."

Then the enlightening being Vigorous Wisdom, wanting to reiterate his intention, spoke these verses:

 

0 famous one, well do you expound

The virtues accomplished by enlightening beings, Deeply entering boundless great action

Fulfilling pure teacherless knowledge.

If enlightening beings, at their first inspiration, Accomplish the practice of virtue and wisdom,

Enter the rank of freedom from birth, transcending the world, Universally attaining  the principle  of true enlightenment, Then how should they, in the Buddha-teaching,

Stably and strongly practice with diligence, to progress further, To cause all the Enlightened Ones to rejoice,

To be able to quickly enter the state of the Buddhas, Fulfill all the pure vows they carry out,

And attain the vast treasury of knowledge and wisdom, And also be able to teach the truth to liberate beings Without their minds relying on or attached to anything, Fulfill all the transcendent ways of enlightening beings, Rescue and liberate all beings under their care,

Forever maintain the lineage of Buddhas unbroken, So all they do is sure and not in vain,

And they accomplish all tasks and win emancipation. Please explain this pure path,

In accord with what all the Victors practice,

 

Clar�fyi1l/!,  Method   427

 

To forever destroy the darkness of ignorance, Overthrow all demons and heretics,

Wash away all defilements,

To be able to approach the great knowledge and wisdom of the Enlightened

And forever leave the dangers of the evil ways,

To purify the extraordinary spheres of great knowledge,

Attain the powers of the sublime way, next to the Supreme Honored One,

To ful fill all virtues,

Realize the supreme knowledge of the Enlightened, Live in innumerable lands

And expound the truth according to the mentalities of the beings there,

And perform the various great deeds of Buddhas. How can they attain the wonderful paths

And expound the treasury of true teachings of the Enlightened, Always able to accept and hold the Buddha-teachings, Unsurpassable and incomparable?

How can they be fearless like lions, Their acts pure as the full moon?

How can they cultivate the Buddhas' virtues, Like lotuses to which water does not adhere?

 

Then the enlightening being Truth Wisdom said to the enlightening being Vigorious Wisdom, "Vcry good, Child of Buddha;  you  have asked about the pure practice cultivated by enlightening beings, out of compassion for the world, because  you wish that many  be aided  and com forted, that many be benefited. Child of Buddha, you abide by the truth, you activate great vigor, increasing without recession;  having already attained liberation, you arc able to pose this question,  the same as an enlightened one. Listen clearly, think well upon this; now, by the spiritual power of Buddha, I will explain a little of it for you.

"Child of Buddha, once enlightening beings have developed the determination for omniscience, they should leave the darkness of igno­ rance and diligently guard themselves from indulgence and laxity. If enlightening beings abide by ten things,  that is called nonindulgence: one is to keep the behavioral precepts; second is to abandon folly and purify the will  for enlightenment;  third is to like straightforwardness and reject flattery and deception; fourth is to earnestly cultivate virtues without regressing; fifth is to continually reflect on one's aspiration; sixth is not to enjoy association with ordinary people, whether they be householders or monks; seventh is to do good deeds without hoping for worldly rewards; eighth is to forever leave lesser vehicles and practice the path of enlightening beings; ninth is to gladly practice what is good,

 

not letting goodness be cut o ff; tenth is to always examine one's own power of perseverance. If enlightening beings practice these ten things, this is called abiding in nonindulgcnce.

"When enlightening beings persist in nonindulgence, they attain ten kinds of purity:  (1) acting in accord with what they say; (2) consumma­ tion of attention and discernment; (3) abiding in deep concentration without torpor or agitation; (4) gladly seeking Buddha-teachings with­ out flagging; (5) contemplating the teachings heard according to reason, fully developing skillfully flexible knowledge; (6) entering deep medita­ tion and attaining the psychic powers of Buddhas; (7) their minds arc equanimous, without sense of high or low status; (8) in regard  to superior, middling, and in ferior types of beings, their minds arc unobstructed,  and like the earth, they benefit all equally; (9) if they sec any beings who have even once made the determination for enlighten­ ment, they honor and serve them as teachers; (1 0) they always respect, serve, and support their preceptors and tutors, and all enlightening beings, wise friends, and teachers. These are called  the ten kinds  of purity of enlightening beings persisting in nonindulgcnce.

"Enlightening beings abide in nonindulgence, evoke great vigor, produce correct mindfulness, engender supreme aspiration, and work unceasingly. Their minds arc free from dependence on any thing. They are able to diligently  cultivate  the most profound teaching,  and enter the gate of noncontention. Broadening their minds, they are able to accordingly comprehend boundless Buddha-teachings, causing the Enlightened Ones to all rejoice.

"There are ten more things by which enlightening beings can cause the Buddhas to rejoice: (1) persevering without regression; (2) not begrudging their physical life; (3) not seeking profit or support; (4) knowing all things are like space; (5) being skillful at contemplation, entering into all realms of reality; (6) knowing the definitive marks of all things; (7) always invoking great vows; (8) developing the light of pure tolerant knowledge; (9) examining one's own  virtues without exaggeration or underestimation; (1 0) cultivating pure practices  in  ac­ cord with the way of nonstriving. This is called enlightening beings persisting in ten things whereby they are able to bring joy to all the Enlightened Ones.

"There  are ten   more things  by which they can make  all Buddhas joy ful: abiding securely in nonindulgence; abiding securely in accep­ tance of nonorigination; abiding securely in great kindness; abiding securely in great compassion; abiding securely in the ful fillment of the transcendent ways; abiding securely in the enlightening practices; abid­ ing securely in great vows; abiding securely in skillful means; abiding securely in dauntless power; abiding securely in knowledge and wisdom, observing all things have no abode, like empty space. If enlightening beings abide in these ten things, they can cause all Buddhas joy.

"There are ten things which cause enlightening beings to quickly

 

Clarifying Method 429

enter the stages: (1) skillfully fulfilling the twin practices of virtue and knowledge; (2) ability to greatly adorn the path  of the transcendent practices; (3) knowledge clearly comprehending, not following others' words; (4) serving good friends, never abandoning them; (5) always practicing perseverance, without laziness; (6) skillful ability  to abide in the psychic powers of Buddhas;  (7) cultivating roots of goodness with­ out growing wearied; (8) with a deep mind and incisive knowledge, adorning oneself with the teaching of the Great Vehicle;   (9)   the   mind not dwelling on the teachings of each stage; (10)  being of the same essential nature as all Buddhas of all   times   in   virtue   and   liberative means . These ten things cause enlightening beings  to quickly enter the stages .

"Furthermore, when enlightening beings are in the first stage,  they should  carefully investigate all   the principles   and knowledge pertaining to it, the causes cultivated there, the effects realized, the spheres, functions, manifestations , distinctions, and attainments pertaining to it. They should carefully examine and realize that all things are one's  own mind,  and have no attachments to anything;  with this knowledge they enter the stages of enlightening beings and can steadfastly continue therein.

"Those enlightening beings formulate these thoughts:  'We  should quickly enter the stages.  Why?  If we sojourn in stage after stage,  we will develop such great virtuous qualities; being replete with virtue,   we will gradually  enter the stage of buddhahood;  once we are in the stage of buddhahood,   we can perform boundless great buddha-works.   There­ fore we should always practice diligently and unremittingly, without wearying, adorning ourselves with great virtues and enter the stages of enlightening beings.'

"There  are ten things which cause the practices   of enlightening beings to be pure: (1) giving up all possessions to satisfy the wishes of sentient beings; (2) adhering to pure morality, not transgressing; (3) being inexhaustibly gentle and tolerant; (4) cultivating practices   diligently without regressing; (5) being free from confusion and mental disturbance, through the power of correct mindfulness; (6) analyzing and compre­ hending the innumerable teachings; (7) cultivating all practices without attachment; (8) being mentally imperturbable, like a great mountain; (9) extensively liberating living beings, like a bridge; (1 0) knowing that all living beings arc in essence the same as the Buddhas.  These ten things make enlightening beings' practices pure.

"Once enlightening beings have attained purity in practice, they also attain ten even greater things: (1) the Buddhas of other realms always protect them; (2) their roots of goodness increase, going beyond any comparison; (3) they arc able to receive the boosting  power of the Buddhas;  (4) they always find good people and are relied on by them;

(5)   they remain diligent and are never heedless; (6) they know all things are equal and not different; (7) their minds always abide in unexcelled great compassion;  (8) they observe things as they really are, producing

 

sublime wisdom; (9) they are able to practice skillful techniques of liberation; (1 0) they arc able to know the Enlightened Ones' power of skill in liberativc means . These are the ten excellent qualities of enlight­ ening beings.

"Enlightening  beings  have  ten  pure  vows:  (1)  they  vow  to  develop living beings to maturity, without  wearying;  (2) they vow to fully practice all virtues and purify all worlds; (3) they vow to serve the Enlightened,  always engendering honor and respect;   (4)   they vow to keep and protect the true teaching,  not begrudging their lives;  (5) they vow to observe with wisdom  and enter the lands of the Buddhas; (6) they vow to be of the same essence as all enlightening beings; (7) they vow to enter the door of realization of thusness  and comprehend  all things;  (8) they vow that those who sec them will develop faith and all be benefited; (9) they vow to stay in the world forever by spiritual power; (1 0) they vow to fulfi ll the practice of Universal Good, and master the knowledge of all particulars and all ways of liberation. These arc the ten pure vows of enlightening beings.

" Enlightening beings can  success full y  fulfill their great  vows by abiding  by  ten  principles:   (1)  never  wearying  in  mind;  (2)  preparing great adornments; (3) remembering the superlative will power of en­ lightening beings; (4) when hearing about the Buddha-lands,  vowing to be born in  them all; (5) keeping their profound determination everlasting;

(6)   vowing to develop all living beings fully; (7) staying  through  all ages without considering  it troublesome; (8) accepting all   suffering without aversion; (9) having no craving for or attachment to any pleasures; (1 0) always diligently protecting the unexcelled teaching.

"When enlightening beings ful fill such vows, they attain ten inex­ haustible  treasuries:  perception  of the  Buddhas;  perfect  memory  power; certain understanding of all the teachings; compassionate  salvation; various states   of concentration;   extensive blessings   and   virtues   satisfy­ ing the hearts of all beings; profound knowledge to expound all truths; spiritual powers gained as a consequence of practice; subsistence for immeasurable cons; entry into boundless  worlds.  These are enlighten­ ing  beings'  ten  inexhaustible  treasuries.

"When enlightening beings have attained these ten treasuries, their virtue is complete, their knowledge is pure; they explain  the truth to sentient beings according to their needs and capacities . How do enlight­ ening beings  explain the truth to   sentient   beings   according   to   their needs and capacities?  They know what beings do; they know  their causes and conditions;  they know their mental behavior;  they know their inclinations. To those with much greed and desire they expound impurity; to those with much anger and hatred they expound  magna­ nimity and kindness; to those with much ignorance and delusion they teach diligent contemplation; to those in whom these poisons of greed, hatred, and ignorance arc equal, they expound the teaching of the development of the knowledge to overcome them. Those who like

 

birth and death they teach about the three kinds of suffering.   To those who arc attached to where they are, they teach the empty  nullity of places. To those who arc lazy they talk of great vigor. To those who harbor conceit they explain the equality of things.  To flatterers and deceivers they tell of the simple  honesty of the hearts of enlightening beings. To those who like silence and tranquility they expound the Teaching extensively, so that they will accomplish it.  Thus do enlight­ ening beings teach according to what is necessary and appropriate.

"When they expound the Teaching, their expressions interlink, the meanings are free from contradiction and confusion. They observe the context of the teachings , analyze them wisely,  determine  right  and wrong,   accord   with   the   definitive   marks   of  things-impermanence, dispassion, and selflessness-and progressively set up  boundless  practi­ cal approaches, to cause all sentient beings to  cut off all  doubt.  They know all faculties well, enter into the teachings of the enlightened, experience true reality, know things arc equal, cut off all attachment to things, eliminate all clinging, and always remember the Buddhas,  their minds never leaving them for a moment. They know the substance and essence of sounds  are equal, and have no attachment to verbalizations. They can skillfully expound examples and allegories, without any contradiction, to make everyone able to realize the impartial body of wisdom which all  the Buddhas manifest everywhere according  to  need and suitability.

"When enlightening  beings  expound  the  Teaching  to  sentient  beings in this way, they practice it themselves, increasing its benefit,  not giving up the ways of transcendence, fully setting out the path of the transcendent practices. At this time, enlightening beings give up every­ thing external and internal, without attach ment, to satisfy the hearts  of sentient beings-thus they can purify the transcendent practice of giving. They keep ethical precepts without attachment, forever divorcing conceit-thus they can purify  the  transcendent  practice  of  morality. They are able to tolerate all evils, with minds cquanimous toward all beings, without disturbance or wavering, just like the  earth,  able  to bear all-thus they can purify the transcendent   practice   of forbearance . They undertake all practices without laziness, never regressing  in  what they do,  with indomitable courage and energy,  not grasping or reject­

in g  all  virtues,   but  able  to  fulfill  all  aspects  of knowledge-thus  they can   purify   the transcendent practice of vigor.  They   have no   attachment or greed for any objects of desire, arc able to consummate the succes­ sive  degrees of concentration,   always meditate correctly,   neither dwell­

ing in or leaving con centration, yet able to dissolve all afflictions, produce innumerable facets of concentration, develop boundless  great psychic  powers,  going back and forth successively   from   meditation state to meditation state, in one meditation enter boundless meditations,

knowing all spheres of meditation, not discordant with the  seal of knowledge of all concentrations and trances,   able to quickly enter the

 

stage of omniscience-thus they can purify the transcendent practice of meditation. Hearing the Teaching from the Buddhas and accepting and keeping it, associating with wise companions, serving them tirelessly, always glad to hear the teaching, never growing weary of it, thinking about what is heard according to the true principle, entering genuine concentration, divorcing all biased views, obscrvins all things well, apprehending  the definite mark of the character of reality,   comprehend­ ing the effortless path of the Enlightened, riding on universal wisdom, entering the gate of the knowledge of all knowledge, attaining eternal rest-thus can they purify transcendent wisdom.

"Manifesting all worldly  occupations to teach living  beings , never getting tired of it, appearing to them in forms pleasing   to   them,   having no attachments to anything done, sometimes manifesting the acts of ordinary people, sometimes manifesting the acts of sages, sometimes manifesting birth and death,  sometimes  manifesting  nirvana,  able  to keenly observe all doings and manifest all adornments without covetous­ ness,  entering all  realms   of  existence  to  liberate  sentient  beings-thus can they purify the transcendent practice of skill in means.

"Thoroughly developing all living beings, thoroughly adorning all worlds,  making  offerings to all  Buddhas,  completely arriving at the state of nonobstruction, thoroughly cultivating practice extending throughout the universe, physically remaining throughout all times, knowing the thoughts of all minds, being fully aware that all cyclic transformations return to extinction, appearing in all lands, completely realizing the knowledge and wisdom of the enlightened-thus   they   can purify the transcendent practice of vows.

"Replete with the power of profound will, being without defilement, replete with   the power of profound faith, being invincible,  replete with the power of great compassion,  never being wearied, replete with the power of great   kindness,   being impartial  in action,   replete with mem­ ory power, being able to skillfully retain all meanings,  replete with the power of elucidation, causing all beings to   be   happy   and   fulfilled, replete with the power of transcendent practices,  adorning the great vehicle, replete with   the   power   of vows,  never ceasing,   replete  with the power  of spiritual  abilities, producing innumerable miracles, replete with the power of strengthening and sustaining, able to induce faith and acceptance-thus can they purify the transcendent practice of power.

"Knowing  those who act on covetousness,   knowing  those who act

on anger, knowing  those who act on folly, knowing  those who act equally  on all of these, knowing those who   cultivate learning,  in a single thought knowing the actions of boundless sentient beings, knowing the minds of boundless sentient beings, knowing the truth of all things, knowing   the powers   of all enlightened   ones,   being aware of all aspects of the   cosmos   of reality-thus   can they purify   the   transcendent   practice of knowledge.

"Child of Buddha,  when enlightening beings thus purify the transcen-

 

dent practices, fulfill the transcendent practices, do not give up the transcendent practices,   they   abide   in   the   magnificently   adorned   vehicle of enlightening beings,  and expound the Teaching to all sentient beings who come to their attention, causing them to increase pure conduct and attain liberation.  Those who have fallen into evil ways  they cause to aspire to enlightenment, those in difficulty they cause to diligently persevere. To the greedy they teach desirelessness.  The wrathful they induce to practice equanimity. To those attached to views they explain interdependent origination. Beings in the realm of desire they teach to divorce unwholesome things like craving and hatred.  To beings in the realm   of form they teach   analytic insight.  To beings in the formless realm they expound  subtle wisdom.  To people of the two lesser vehi­ cles they teach the practice of dispassion  and tranquility. To those who like the great vehicle they expound the great adornment of the   ten powers.

"As in the past when they first aspired to enlightenment they saw innumerable beings fallen into evil ways,  they made the great  lion's roar and said,  'I  should by means of various teachings appropriate to their needs and potentials rescue and liberate them'; enlightening beings, replete with such knowledge   and wisdom,  are able to liberate all sen­ tient beings.

"Child  of Buddha,  enlightening beings,   endowed with such knowl­ edge and wisdom, cause the lineage of the three treasures never to end. How? Great enlightening beings teach creatures to awaken the will for enlightenment,  and therefore are able to cause the lineage of Buddhas not to   be broken   off.   They always  expound the treasury of the Teach­ ing for sentient beings, and therefore are able to cause the lineage of the Teaching not   to   be cut off.   They maintain the principles   of the Teach­ ing well, without opposition  or violation, and therefore can cause the lineage of the   religious   community not to be cut off   Furthermore,   they are able to praise all great vows, and therefore are able to cause the

lineage of Buddhas not to be  cut  off.  They  analyze  and  explain  the aspects of causality, and are therefore able to cause the lineage of the Teaching not to be cut off. They always  earnestly  practice  the  six principles of harmony and respect and therefore are able to cause the lineage of the religious community not to be cut off.  Also,  they plant

the seeds of buddhahood in the field of sentient beings,  and therefore are able to cause the lineage   of Buddhas   not to   be cut off;   they   protect and keep the Teaching unreservedly, and therefore are able to cause the lineage of the Teaching not to be cut off; they unify and order the great community tirelessly, and therefore are able to cause the lineage of the religious community not to be cut off. Also, they serve and uphold the teachings spoken and the precepts established by the Buddhas  of past, present, and future, and therefore are able to cause  the lineage of the Buddha, Teaching, and Community to never be cut off.

 

"Thus enlightening beings succeed to the Three Treasures, free from error in all  they do: all  of their actions they dedicate to omniscience, and therefore their physical, verbal, and mental actions  arc free from flaws; being free from flaws, all  the  good deeds they do, all  the practices  they carry out, edifying beings,  teaching them according   to their needs,  arc never in error even for a moment; all arc in consonance with skill and knowledge, all arc dedicated to omniscient  knowledge, none passmg In vam.

"Cultivating and practicing good ways like this,  enlightening beings fulfill ten kinds of adornments moment after moment: adornment of bodies-they appear as appropriate to beings who can be taught;  adorn­ ment of speech-they cut off all doubts and cause everyone to rejoice; adornment of mind-they enter all meditations  in a single  instant; adornment of buddha-lands-all arc pure,   free from   afflictions;   adornment of auras-they radiate boundless light, illumining sentient beings everywhere;  adornment of community-they unify communities  and gladden   them   all;   adornment   of spiritual   powers-they   can   appear freel y, adapting to the minds of sentient beings; adornment of true teaching-they arc able   to attract  all intelligent  people;  adornment  of the state  of nirvana-becoming enlightened in one  place,  they  pervade the whole universe; adornment  of skillful   explanation-they   teach   in accord with the place, the time, the faculty, and capacity.

"Perfecting these adornments,  the physical,  verbal,   and mental ac­ tions of enlightening beings,  moment after moment,  arc never wasted; all they dedicate to entering into omniscience.  If any sentient beings sec these enlightening beings,  know that this also will not be in vain, for they will surely attain unexcelled complete perfect enlightenment.  Any who hear their names, or make offerings to them, or live with them, or remember them,  or leave home to follow them,  or listen to   them preach,  or rejoice in   their   virtues,  or respect  them   from   afar,   or even praise their names, will all attain unexcelled complete perfect enlightenment.

"For example, it is as though there were a medicine, called 'good to sec, ' which removed all toxins from those who saw it; so it is with enlightening beings who have accomplished this teaching-if sentient beings sec them, all the poisons of afflictions will be destroyed, and wholesome states will increase.

"Enlightening beings, abiding by this teaching and earnestly applying it, destroy the darkness of ignorance by means of the light of wisdom; they conquer the armies of demons by the power of compassion;  they check  heretics by means  of great knowledge and the power of virtue; they  wipe  out  all  afflictions  staining  the  mind  by  means  of adamantine concentration; they gather roots of goodness by the power of diligence; they avoid the difficulties of evil ways by   means  of the   power  of virtues of purifying buddha-lands;  they  purify their spheres  of knowl­ edge by the power of nonattachmcnt; by the power of skill in means

 

ClarUyitzg lvlcthod        435

and knowledge they produce the transcendent practices of the stages of enlightening, as well as the various concentrations, six superknowlcdges, and   f(mr   fcarlcssncsscs .   making   them  all   pure;  by  the  power  of  all virtues they fully develop the pure lands of all Buddhas, their boundless distinguishing marks and refinements, and complete physical, verbal, and mental adornments; by the power of observation with independent knowledge  they know  the powers,  fcarlessncsses, and unique qualities of all enlightened ones arc equal; by the power of vast knowledge they comprehend the realm of omniscience; by the power of their past vows they manifest buddha-lands  according  to the needs of those  to be taught, turn the wheel of the great teaching,  and liberate innumerable living beings.

"Great enlightening beings diligently practice these things, gradually accomplishing all the deeds of enlightening beings, till they attain equality with the Buddhas, become great teachers in boundless worlds, maintaining the true teaching, protected by all  the Buddhas,  guarding and upholding the vast treasury of truth. Attaining unhindered intellect, they enter deeply into the facts of the teaching, and in boundless worlds among the great masses they manifest ditTercnt physical  forms, accord­ ing to type, replete with supremely excellent features; with unhindered powers of elucidation they skillfully explain the profound teaching. The spheres of their speech, well rounded, skillfully reach everyone,  there­ fore arc able to cause those who hear to enter the gate of inexhaustible knowledge.  Knowing  the afflictions current in the minds  of beings, they teach them accordingly; because the sounds  of the speech  they utter arc completely pure, they can, preaching with 'one sound, ' cause all to become joyful. They arc physically well formed, and have great strength, so among the masses none can surpass  them.  Because  they know sentient  beings'  minds  well,  they arc able to appear in any way. l3 ccausc they explain the truth skillfully, their voice is unhindered. Because they have freedom of mind, they explain the great teaching adaptively, and no one can obstruct them . Because they have attained fea rlessness, their hearts arc free from cowardice. Because they arc masters of teaching, none can excel them. Because they arc masters of knowledge, none can surpass them. Because they arc masters of tran­ scendent wisdom, the teachings they expound arc not contradictory. Because they arc masters of powers of elucidation, they teach continu­ ously with eloquence. Because they arc masters of mental command, th ey definitively disclose the real character of all things. Because they arc masters of elocution, whenever they speak they can  bring  forth all sorts of exam ples and metaphors. Because they arc masters of great compassion, they diligentl y teach sentient beings without fl agging. Because they arc masters of great kindness , they emanate a great web of lights pleasing all hearts. Thus do enlightening beings, on the high and wide lion th rone. expound the Great Teaching; aside from the Enlight­ ened ( )ncs and the great enlightening beings of surpassing will and

 

knowledge, no other beings can excel them, none can see their crowns, none can outshine them, and no one can stump them with difficult questions.

"Child of Buddha, once enlightening beings have attained such inde­ pendent power, even if there were a vast sanctuary the size of unspeak­ ably many worlds filled with beings,  each of whom had the majesty of a lord of a billion worlds,  as soon as any of the enlightening beings showed  themselves,  they would outshine the whole   crowd   of such beings . With great kindness and compassion they would   give   them security where they were afraid and weak, and with   profound   wisdom they would examine their inclinations and teach them with fearless eloquence, causing joy to all.   Why?  Because great enlightening beings have developed the sphere of immeasurable  knowledge and wisdom; because they have developed immeasurable  skillful   discernment;  be­ cause   they   have   developed   vast   power of right   mindfulness;   because they have developed infinitely flexible intellect; because they have devel­ oped the total mental command  to ascertain the true character of all things; because they have developed a boundless determination for enlightenment; because they have developed unerring powers of elucidation; because they have developed profound faith and resolve boosted by the Buddhas; because they have developed the power of knowledge to enter the assemblies of all Buddhas; because they have developed the   pure   mind that knows the Buddhas  of all   times   are   of the same essential  nature; because  they have developed   the knowledge of enlightened ones of all times, and the great will and knowledge of all enlightening beings,  and are able to be teachers of the truth, to open up the treasury  of the true teaching of the Buddhas,   and to protect and keep it. "

Then, to restate what he meant, the enlightening being Truth Wisdom, by  the spiritu al power of the Buddha uttered these verses:

 

 

Mind dwelling on enlightenment, gathering myriad  virtues, Never self-indulgent, planting unshakable wisdom,

Always  mindful  of the aspiration  for  enlightenment- At this all Buddhas rejoice .

 

Mindfulness   and   will firm,   self-motivated,

Relying on nothing in the world, and never shrinking in fright, Entering  the profound   truth  by   the   practice   of noncontention­ At this the Buddhas all rejoice.

 

Once the Buddhas rejoice, enlightening beings are firm in effort­ They cultivate virtue and wisdom, and all that assists the Path.

Entering into the pure practices of all the stages,

They fulfill the aspiration spoken of by the Enlightened.

 

Clar�(ying Method

 

Practicing this,  they attain the wondrous truth,

And having attained to truth, they pass it on to others­ According to mentalities, faculties, and natures,

They teach in accord with whatever is fitting .

 

437

 

 

Enlightening beings expound the Teaching for others Without giving up their own transcendent  practices: Once they have accomplished the transcendent ways,

They remain forever in the sea of existence, rescuing living beings.

 

They practice diligently day and night, never flagging, Causing the seeds of the three treasures not to perish. All the pure practices they carry out

They dedicate to the stage of enlightenment.

 

The virtuous acts performed by enlightening beings Arc all to develop and complete the living,

To have them destroy obscurity and annihilate affliction , Subdue the demon armies and fulfill true awakening.

 

Thus practicing, they attain Buddha-knowledge,

Entering deeply into the treasury of truth of the Enlightened. As great teachers they expound the subtle truth,

Like sweet elixir refreshing all.

 

Their compassion and pity extends to  all­ They know the mind of every sentient being

And expound to them in accord with their predilections Infinite, boundless enlightening teachings .

 

Their deportment is calm as a majestic elephant, Their fearless courage is like that of a lion:

Imperturbable as a mountain, their knowledge is like an ocean, And like a great rain , removing all heat.

 

 

When Truth Wisdom had spoken these verses, the Buddha was delighted, and everyone reverentially put them into practice.