The Flower Ornament Scripture
Page 183
Then Sudhana asked the night goddess, “How did you manage to attain such a liberation?” She replied, “There are ten great provisions of enlightening beings, great accomplishments, great encompassing practices, great illuminations, great manifestations of power, great good fortunes, great heritages, great capacities, great powers, by the practice of which enlightening beings attain this liberation. What are the ten? Enlightening beings’ great encompassing practice of giving, devoted to satisfying all sentient beings according to their wishes; enlightening beings’ great encompassing practice of appropriate conduct, devoted to embodying the virtues of all buddhas; enlightening beings’ great encompassing practice of forbearance, devoted to contemplating the nature of all things; enlightening beings’ great encompassing practice of vigor, devoted to undertaking the attainment of omniscience without turning back; enlightening beings’ great encompassing practice of meditation, devoted to extinguishing the fire of afflictions of all sentient beings; enlightening beings’ great encompassing practice of wisdom, devoted to higher knowledge of all things; enlightening beings’ great encompassing practice of skill in means, devoted to guiding all sentient beings to perfection; enlightening beings’ great encompassing practice of vows, going to all lands to go into the practice of enlightening beings for all time in all lands; enlightening beings’ great encompassing practice of power, going to all universes to ceaselessly manifest realization of enlightenment in each instant in all lands; enlightening beings’ great encompassing practice of knowledge, intent upon the powers of all buddha-lands in those oceans of structures of all realms of reality. And in each of those buddha-lands I see Vairocana Buddha at the pinnacle of enlightenment manifesting the miracle of perfect enlightenment in each moment of consciousness, pervading the oceans of structures of all reality realms with each miraculous display of enlightenment. I also perceive myself in the presence of each of those buddhas and listen to what the buddhas in those worlds teach. And as multitudes of emanations of all those buddhas come forth from all their pores, proclaiming myriad teachings and showing various miracles, and turn the wheel of teaching in all realms by mastery of sentient beings’ minds, using various ideas, I remember, apply, and contemplate it all. I pick it up by mental command, able to swiftly grasp all meanings and expressions, clarify it by wisdom penetrating the inner sanctum of purity of all realities, follow its course by higher knowledge investigating the ocean of all realities, encompass it by awareness as vast as past, present, and future, balance it by wisdom conforming to the equality of those who arrive at Thusness. I carry out all the principles of the Teaching, I bring forth multitudes of scriptures from all the clouds of teaching, I arrange oceans of doctrines in all the multitudes of scriptures, I gather cycles of doctrine in all the oceans of doctrines, I find oceanic floods of spiritual joy in all the waves of doctrine, I produce momentum in attainment of the stages of enlightenment in all the oceans of spiritual joy, I produce momentum in attainment of oceans of concentration in the momentum through all the stages, I attain oceans of visions of buddhas in all the multitudes of oceans of concentration, I attain oceans of awareness in all the oceans of visions of buddhas, I order the stages of knowledges of past, present, and future in all the oceans of awareness; by concentration on pervading the endlessly variegated ocean of realms, by concentration on comprehending the ocean of past practices of infinite buddhas, by concentration on the range of knowledge of the ocean of past efforts of infinite buddhas, by concentration on attainment of the light of knowledge of infinite buddhas, by concentration on perception of the purity of conduct of infinite buddhas, by concentration on perfection of the stage of forbearance of infinite buddhas, by concentration on attainment of the scope of knowledge of the mighty effort increasing the great force of energy of infinite buddhas, by concentration on attainment of perception of the efforts to purify the ocean of contemplative attainments of the meditations of infinite buddhas, by concentration on the perception of the purity of the ocean of means of consummation of transcendent wisdom of infinite buddhas, by concentrating on penetrating the ocean of ways of consummation of transcendent skill in means of infinite buddhas, by concentration on comprehending the ocean of ways of consummation of transcendental vows of infinite buddhas, by concentration on attainment of knowledge of increasing and perpetuating the good and wise transcendent power of infinite buddhas, by concentration on attainment of contemplation of the ocean of principles of the perfect knowledge of infinite Buddhas, by concentration on attainment of the scope of knowledge of infinite buddhas’s past progress through the stages of enlightening beings, by concentration on infinite buddhas’ past entry into the spheres of the stages of enlightening beings, by concentration on infinite buddhas’ abiding in the stages of enlightening beings, by concentration on infinite buddhas’ perfection of the stages of enlightening, by concentration on contemplation of the ocean of knowledge of infinite buddhas, by concentration on attaining manifestation of the knowledge of infinite buddhas, by concentration on communication of all meetings and association with past buddhas on the part of infinite buddhas when they were enlightening beings, by concentration on attainment of the scope of knowledge of infinite buddhas’ productions of bodies going throughout all lands in the past when they were enlightening beings, by concentration on infinite buddhas’ extension of their past enlightening practices throughout all universes, by concentration on the manifestation of infinite buddhas’ past practices as enlightening beings using various methods to develop and guide all sentient beings, by concentration of infinite buddhas’ pervasion of all realms with their light, by concentration on infinite buddhas’ demonstration of miracles to sentient beings, by concentration on the scope of knowledge of infinite buddhas’ ascent through the stages of enlightenment, by concentration on attainment of the scope of knowledge of the miracle of perfect enlightenment of infinite buddhas, by concentration on receiving and holding all the doctrines preached by infinite buddhas, by concentration on attainment of knowledge of the oceans of marks of distinction manifested by infinite buddhas, by concentration on awareness of infinite buddhas’ oceans of embodiments representing practices, by concentration on attaining the scope of knowledge of the vast realm of infinite buddhas, in every moment of thought I comprehend everything about those buddhas from their first determination to the cessation of their true teaching.
“If you ask also how long ago I attained this enlightening liberation of supernal manifestations in a moment of thought producing great floods of joy, when I was an enlightenment tree goddess named Exemplary Light Serving As a Beacon of Good in the world Pure Golden Radiance as many eons ago as atoms in a buddha-land, I first aspired to enlightenment on hearing the teaching of the buddha Unremitting Voice of the Reality Realm, and after having carried out the practice of enlightening beings for as many eons as atoms in a buddha-land, I was born in this world and propitiated the buddhas of the eon of Virtue from Krakucchanda to Shakyamuni. And I will propitiate and honor all the buddhas yet to come, in this world and in all worlds. Even now that world of Pure Golden Radiance still exists, and the lineage of the buddhas there is unbroken. So you should apply yourself to this doctrine with the great strength of enlightening being.”
Then the goddess further explained her liberation to Sudhana in verse:
Listen to me tell, O Sudhana,
How I attained this pure liberation.
Hearing this and generating the power of joy,
Enter this way of liberation.
I practiced for many eons past
And purified my mind;
Generating great momentum of zealous application,
I came into the presence of the citadel of omniscience.
Hearing of the buddhas, supreme in all times,
And developing great faith in them,
I served them and their retinues for hundreds of eons
With all that is pleasing.
Seeing the buddhas of the past,
I honored them for the benefit of
all beings;
And I heard their incomparable teaching,
Generating immense power of joy.
I always paid respect to my parents and elders,
Taking pleasure in their welfare;
I served them and honored them,
While entering this liberation.
Many people who were old, infirm, poor,
Handicapped, suffering, helpless,
I made happy, rich, and protected,
Over hundreds of lifetimes.
In my past practice I rescued those
In the sea of existence from various perils—
From the perils of kings and robbers,
Fire and water, wild beasts and enemies.
I saved those always burning with afflictions in the world,
Made that way by impure deeds,
In dangerous straits in the mundane whirl,
Born in the paths of existence.
The terrors of the calamities in the woeful states of misery
Are harsh and violent, continuous and manifold;
The terrors of birth, old age, death and sickness in the world
I put an end to entirely.
Stilling the intense pains of the mundane world,
Producing all happiness in sentient beings,
Producing the ultimate bliss of the enlightened,
For endless eons—this is my vow.
“I only know this enlightening liberation of supernal manifestations in a moment of thought producing vast floods of joy—how can I know the practice or tell the virtues of the enlightening beings who have plunged into the ocean of all principles of the cosmos of reality, who are freed from all internal and external suffering, who know all eons are in the thoughts, who are versed in the knowledge of the becoming and dissolution of all worlds?
“At this same enlightenment site, in the circle of Vairocana Buddha, is a night goddess named Sarvanagararakshasambhavatejahshri—go ask her how an enlightening being is to learn and carry out the practice of enlightening beings.”
Then Sudhana spoke these verses to the night goddess Prashantarutasagaravati:
Instructed by a spiritual benefactor,
I came to you, O goddess;
I see you sitting on your seat
Of infinite height.
Those whose minds are on appearances,
Who cling to existence or conceptualize being,
And the low-minded with false views,
Cannot know this realm of yours.
No worldly or celestial beings can know
The features of your appearance and form,
Even if they look for endless eons—
So endless is the sight of your form.
You are free from dependence on the body-mind clusters,
And you do not rest on the sense media either;
Gone beyond the world and transcended desire,
You appear in the world, transforming.
You have attained immovability, faultless and unattached,
You have clarified the eye of higher knowledge;
In every atom you see as many buddhas as all atoms
Magically transforming.
Your body contains the body of truth,
Your mind is made of knowledge, unhindered.
Illumined by universal light,
You produce endless light in the world.
You produce endless deeds from the mind,
So all worlds are adorned by your deeds;
Knowing that worlds are mental in nature,
Your manifest yourself in bodies
Equal to beings.
Knowing this world is like a dream
And all buddhas are like reflections
And all phenomena like echoes,
You live in the world without clinging to anything.
In each moment you show yourself
To the beings of past, present, and future,
Yet there is no inclination to dualism in your mind,
And thus do you expound the Teaching in all realms.
The oceans of beings are as infinite
As the endless oceans of atoms,
And infinite too are the oceans of Buddha—
All are the sphere of your practice of liberation.
Then Sudhana paid his respects to the night goddess and left her.
Sarvanagararakshasambhavatejahshri
Then, contemplating that enlightening liberation of supernal manifestations in a moment of thought producing floods of joy, fostering it and making it manifest, remembering the instruction of the night goddess Prashantarutasagaravati, absorbing it, keeping in mind knowledge of the principles inherent in it, a measureless repository of many principles to be found in each statement, fixing it in memory, examining it intellectually, putting it into practice, consciously extending it, physically feeling and dwelling in it, entering into it, Sudhana made his way to the night goddess Sarvanagararakshasambhavatejahshri.
He saw the night goddess sitting on a great lotus seat full of diamonds illumining the dwelling places in all cities, accompanied by untold numbers of night goddesses, with a body appearing to the beings in all realms, with a body equal in form to all beings, with a body appearing to all beings, with a body unstained by all worlds, with a body equal to all beings in number of manifestations, with a body transcending all worlds, with a body adapted to developing and guiding all beings, with a body proclaiming the truth in all realms, with a body reaching everywhere, with a body ultimately freed from obstructions, with a body of the essence of those who arrive at Thusness, with a body guiding all beings to ultimate perfection.
Sudhana, enraptured upon seeing the night goddess, paid his respects to her and said, “O goddess, I have set out for supreme perfect enlightenment; please tell me how an enlightening being is to be a benefactor to others while carrying out enlightening practice, and how an enlightening being is to take care of sentient beings with the highest protection and care, and how an enlightening being, engaged in the work of enlightening beings by the assent of the enlightened, is to approach the seat of a spiritual sovereign?”
The night goddess replied, “It is very good that you ask about the way of practice of distributing teachings to sentient beings according to their mentalities, to attain the goal of guiding all sentient beings to perfection, to attain the goal of the effort to preserve the family of all buddhas, to apply all-pervasive knowledge, to confront entry into the ocean of means leading to all realms of reality, to penetrate all knowables by knowledge boundless as space, to receive and hold the teachings of all buddhas.
“I have attained an enlightening liberation, ‘entry into the profound miracle of pleasing sound.’ Having attained this liberation, engaged in preaching the great Teaching, free from attachment, dedicated to dissemination of the treasury of teachings of all buddhas, imbued with the power of great compassion and goodwill, set on working for the welfare of all sentient beings to inspire them to seek enlightenment, set out to become a leader of all sentient beings to ceaselessly accumulate stores of virtues in determination for enlightenment, engaged in producing clouds of teaching and suns of teaching in all worlds to guide all sentient beings on the path of omniscience, ceaselessly reaching out impartially to all sentient beings to illumine all worlds so as to produce infinite roots of goodness, applying a purified mind to practical knowledge of sustaining the performance of good works of all sentient beings, set out to lead all sentient beings to accord with all paths of good action, engaged in the work of directing all sentient beings in good ways, engaged in showing all sentient beings the way to peace and security, set out to lead all sentient beings to emancipation, engaged in directing all sentient beings to all good practices, set out to serve all spiritual friends uninterruptedly, engaged in directing all sentient beings to the teaching of the enlightened, engaged in undertaking all pure and good practices such as giving, firmly resolved to realize omniscience, with a broad mental sphere firmly focused on the powers of buddhas, I sta
y by the spiritual benefactor, determined to shatter the mountains of afflictions and obstructions to enlightenment caused by actions, undertaking the preparations for omniscience, engaged in developing all good qualities, engaged in application of thought to the infinite variety of objects confronting omniscience.
“Furthermore, as I purify this medium of light of the Teaching, communicating to all sentient beings, accumulating roots of goodness, I observe, approach, and proceed through the reality realm in terms of ten aspects. What are the ten? I realize that the reality realm is immeasurable, by gaining vast vision of knowledge. I realize that the reality realm is infinitely various, so as to perceive the miracles of all buddhas. I realize that the reality realm is endless, so as to fulfill travel to all buddha-lands and service of buddhas. I realize that the reality realm is boundless, so as to show the practice of enlightening beings in all oceans of worlds. I realize that the reality realm is uninterrupted, so as to enter the sphere of unfragmented knowledge of those who arrive at Thusness. I realize that the reality realm is one, so as to enter the sphere of the voice of those who realize Thusness, which communicates to all sentient beings according to their mentalities. I realize that the reality realm is inherently pure, so as to realize the ultimate end of the past vow to guide all sentient beings to perfection. I realize that the reality realm is equal in all worlds, so as to enter the range of the practice of universal good. I realize that all realms of reality are adorned with one adornment, so as to comprehend the adornment of the miracle of the universally good enlightening being. I realize that the reality realm is imperishable, because of the imperishable nature of the purity of all good pervading the reality realm. Thus do I observe, approach, and proceed through the whole reality realm in terms of ten aspects, to accumulate all roots of goodness, to realize the greatness of buddhas, to arrive at the inconceivable sphere of buddhas.