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Commentary:
Having accumulated boundless blessings to
adorn themselves, they were wholesome and pure to
the utmost. Throughout empty space and the Dharma realm,
nothing escaped their contemplation. They observed
everywhere throughout empty space and the Dharma realm.
Whenever a Buddha appeared in any land in the worlds
of the ten directions, they would all diligently make
offerings. They would go and make offerings to
every Buddha that appeared in the worlds of the ten
directions.
At that time, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva named
King of Oceanic Wisdom and Sovereign Spiritual Powers
received the Buddha's awesome spiritual
might, contemplated the sea of all the multitudes
assembled in the Way-place, and spoke the following
verses to explain the principles mentioned earlier.
Sutra:
He already knows that to which all Buddhas awaken.
Unimpeded like space, he clearly illumines everything.
His brilliance pervades countless lands in the ten
directions.
He adorns and purifies all assemblies by his very presence.
The Thus Come One's merit cannot be measured.
It completely fills the Dharma realms of the ten directions.
He sits beneath the King of Trees in every place,
And those of great sovereignty gather like clouds.
The Buddha has such powers of spiritual penetrations
That he can manifest infinite forms in a single thought.
The realm of the Thus Come One has no bounds.
Each is able to perceive it according to his liberation.
Commentary:
He already knows that to which all Buddhas awaken.
The Buddha has already enlightened to that which all Buddhas
are enlightened. He already knows all dharmas.
Unimpeded like space, he clearly illumines everything.
The Buddha has attained wisdom resembling space and a Dharma
body that is also unimpeded like space. Since nothing
obstructs him, he universally illumines everything
throughout empty space and the Dharma realm. His
brilliance pervades countless lands in the ten directions.
The light of Buddha shines upon infinite lands throughout
the worlds of the ten directions. He adorns and
purifies all assemblies by his very presence. All
Bodhimandas and Dharma assemblies become adorned and pure.
The Thus Come One's merit cannot be measured.
No one can figure out how much merit the Buddha
has. It completely fills the Dharma realms of the
ten directions. The Thus Come One's merit is
present in every location throughout space and the Dharma
realm. He sits beneath the King of Trees in every
place. In every land throughout space and the
Dharma Realm, a Buddha sits in his Way-place under the Bodhi
tree, gains enlightenment, and attains Buddhahood.
And those of great sovereignty gather like clouds.
Those of great sovereignty refers to all the great
Bodhisattvas. Only great Bodhisattvas can attain great
sovereignty. Other beings cannot. Great sovereignty refers
to the absence of all afflictions. All the great
Bodhisattvas convene around the Buddha like clouds
gathering.
The Buddha has such powers of spiritual
penetrations / That he can manifest infinite forms in a
single thought. In a single thought, the Buddha can
display endlessly many images and states of the past,
present, and future.
Limitless eons can appear in a single thought.
A single thought can encompass limitless eons.
Limitless eons can shrink to become a single thought; a
single thought can extend to become limitless eons. Such
transformations are brought about by the Buddhas' spiritual
powers. The realm of the Thus Come One has no
bounds. If you wish to understand the realm of the
Thus Come One, contemplate the boundlessness of empty space.
Each is able to perceive it according to his
liberation. The Buddha uses different methods to
liberate each living being according to his or her own
potential. All these living beings are able to see the
Buddha's inconceivable spiritual powers and wonderful
functionings.
Sutra:
The Thus Come One, through an ocean of eons in the past,
Cultivated with diligence in all realms of existence .
Transforming living beings by means of various expedients,
He enabled them to accept and practice all
Buddhadharmas.
Commentary:
The Thus Come One, through an ocean of
limitlessly many great eons in the past, /
Cultivated with diligence in all realms of existence.
Before he became a Buddha, the Buddha lived in the
twenty-five planes of existence within the Triple Realm,
just like us. Within these twenty- five planes, he underwent
repeated births and deaths. However, at the same time, he
cultivated with diligence. He was not the least bit lazy. In
every moment, he practiced vigorously and never slacked off.
Not only did he cultivate himself, he devoted himself to
transforming living beings by means of various
expedients. He first understood the principles
himself, and then he taught those principles to other living
beings so that they also understood them and derived benefit
from Buddhism. He enabled them to accept and
practice all Buddhadharmas. He helped living beings
to take the Buddhadharma that he taught them to heart and to
put it into actual practice. "All Buddhadharmas" refers to
the Dharma of all Buddhas of the ten directions and the
three periods of time. He taught all living beings to
practice the Dharma doors of all Buddhas.
Sutra:
Vairochana, replete with the marks of
adornment,
Is seated on his lotus treasury lion throne.
All the assembled multitudes are pure.
In tranquil serenity they gaze up at him together.
Commentary:
Vairochana, the Buddha of the Pure Dharma
Body, is replete with the marks of adornment.
His body is adorned with the thirty- two hallmarks and the
eighty subtle characteristics. He is seated on his
lotus treasury lion throne. His throne is made of
huge, precious lotus flowers. The Buddha sits upon his
lion's throne to speak the Dharma and teach and transform
living beings. Even the most incorrigible living beings
become tame and well-behaved. All the assembled
multitudes are pure. All the Buddha's Dharma
assemblies throughout the lands of the ten directions are
simultaneously pure.
In tranquil serenity, without making a
sound, they gaze up at him together.
Everyone in the Dharma assembly gazes at the Buddha with an
unwavering gaze. They can't bear to take their eyes from him
for even a second. The Buddha is incredibly difficult to
encounter, so upon encountering him, they very earnestly
gaze at him.
Sutra:
The mani jewel treasury sends forth light,
Everywhere releasing boundless fragrant flaming clouds.
Countless strands of flowers trail down.
On such a throne the Thus Come One is seated.
All kinds of adornments at the door of
auspiciousness
Constantly emit lamplight like jeweled flaming clouds.
Nothing escapes the illumination of this vast blaze.
Muni's adorned hallmarks are enhanced as he sits there.
All kinds of mani embellish the beautiful
windows,
Wonderful precious lotuses ornamentally trail down.
Lovely sounds are emitted, delighting all who hear.
Seated there, the Buddha assumes special eminence.
The throne is supported by half-moon-shaped
precious wheels.
The dais is made of tujra and is the color of flames.
Bodhisattvas with topknots constantly gather round.
The Buddha is the most illustrious among them.
Various transformations fill the ten directions,
Proclaiming the Thus Come One's vast vows.
All reflections manifest within this state.
The Buddha sits serenely upon such a throne.
Commentary:
The mani jewel treasury sends forth light.
The multitude of mani gems emits bright light. That light
shines forth, everywhere releasing boundless
fragrant flaming clouds that pervade the Dharma
Realm, Countless strands of many varieties
of flowers trail down, adorning those
clouds. On such a throne of mani jewels
adorned with fragrant clouds the Thus Come One is seated as
he speaks the Dharma.
All kinds of adornments at the door of
auspiciousness / Constantly emit lamplight which appears
like jeweled flaming clouds. / Nothing escapes the
illumination of this vast blaze. No place fails to
be illumined by this dazzling light. Muni's adorned
hallmarks are enhanced as he sits there. On top of
the mani jewels, his adorned hallmarks are increased.
All kinds of mani embellish the beautiful
windows. The doors and windows are decorated with
exceptionally sublime and wonderful precious lotuses
that ornamentally trail down. From the doors and
windows, lovely and inconceivably wondrous
sounds of Dharma are emitted,
delighting all who hear. No matter what kind of
living beings hear this Dharma sound, they are delighted.
Seated there, the Buddha assumes special eminence.
The Buddha has an exceptional radiance about him as he sits
upon the Dharma seat.
The throne is supported by half-moon-shaped
precious wheels. Beneath the Buddha's lion throne
are jeweled wheels in the shape of half moons. The
dais from which the Buddha proclaims the Dharma is
made of vajra and is the color of flames. It is
remarkably brilliant.
~ To be continued
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