Becoming a Keeper of the Sūtra
Chapter 11
The Bhagavān came to the street on which was the home of the youth Candraprabha, and soon arrived at the home of the youth Candraprabha. Once he had arrived, he sat on the seat prepared for him. The saṅgha of bodhisattvas and the saṅgha of bhikṣus also sat on the appropriate seats that had been arranged for each of them.
11.2 Then the youth Candraprabha, knowing that the Bhagavān, the saṅgha of bodhisattvas, and the saṅgha of bhikṣus were seated, [F.39.b] himself presented and served a series of great offerings: numerous excellent foods, with hundreds of flavors to savor as they chewed, licked, sucked, and drank.
11.3 When he saw that the Bhagavān had concluded his meal, which was signaled by his setting down his alms bowl,500 he offered for the Bhagavān’s body two lengths of cloth501 of the value of a trillion silver coins,502 and also to each of the bodhisattvas, and he offered three dharma robes to each one in the saṅgha of bhikṣus.
11.4 Then the youth Candraprabha rose from his seat, removed his robe from one shoulder and, casting toward the Bhagavān a divine coral tree flower, he made offerings and uttered praises. Then, his palms placed together, he bowed toward the Bhagavān and praised him with these appropriate verses:503
11.5
“You are unborn and unceasing;
Without a body, inconceivable,
You have the perfect body and primary signs.
I pay homage to you who are an ocean of qualities. {i}
11.6
“You are a hero who has been born from wisdom.
You possess the power of methods and strengths.
You are a buddha who is the same as space.
I pay homage to you who have perfected patience. {ii}
11.7
“Your conduct is to remain in constant mindfulness.
The Tathāgata’s bed is joy and happiness.
Your drink is samādhi and your food is supreme dhyāna.
I pay homage to you who reside in the solitude of emptiness. {iii}
11.8
“Oh! Inconceivable Buddha,
The Guide for the whole world!
When the beings of this world make offerings to you
They advance toward supreme nirvāṇa.” {iv}
11.9
Thus did he praise the one unequaled Lord, and then the youth said, with a joyous mind, “Unequaled Buddha, who has an inconceivable body, you have consumed the meal. Through this may I also become a buddha like you, the god of gods!” [F.40.a]
11.10 In that way, therefore, the youth Candraprabha provided divine food with a hundred flavors to the Bhagavān. He offered divine coral tree flowers to the Bhagavān, and praised him with appropriate verses.
11.11 Now, placing his palms together in homage toward the Bhagavān, in his mind he addressed him with these verses:
11.12
“Whatever the wise bodhisattvas do,
They always follow the nature of the Dharma.
I pray to the Guide to teach what actions are performed
When those with wisdom engage in actions. {1}
11.13
“In what way, Guide, are past lives remembered?
In what way is rebirth in a womb avoided?
In what way does the community not become divided?
In what way does one gain endless eloquence? {2}
11.14
“You know the activities of all beings.
You have the knowledge of all phenomena.
You are the invincible, supreme human.
I have asked my questions; give me your elucidation. {3}
11.15
“You know that nonexistence is the nature of phenomena;
You put into words that which cannot be described.
Just as a lion overpowers all jackals,504
That is how the Buddha overpowers the tīrthikas. {4}
11.16
“You know the conduct of all beings.
You have the wisdom of all phenomena.
You have wisdom without attachment, and activity that is pure.
Lord of the Dharma, elucidate those for me. {5}
11.17
“You know the past and also the future.
You also know what is happening in the present.
You have unimpeded knowledge of the three times.
Therefore I have asked you my questions, lion of the Śākyas. {6}
11.18
“You, Dharma king, know the true nature
That is the nature of the jinas of the three times.
You are skilled in the nature of phenomena, self-arisen one.
Therefore, ocean of wisdom, I have asked you my questions. {7}
11.19
“You do not have any quality of error.
Therefore you have a mind of complete elimination—
You have eliminated the fetters and the rigidity of ignorance.
Lord of humans, teach me the conduct of a bodhisattva. {8}
11.20
“You, Jina, know the characteristics of phenomena.
Teach me the characteristics of phenomena. [F.40.b]
When I have understood those characteristics of phenomena
I shall practice the conduct of enlightenment that has those characteristics. {9}
11.21
“The conduct of beings is infinitely different.
How do they engage in practicing their conduct?
Teach to me how conduct is engaged in
So that from your words, I may know the conduct of beings. {10}
11.22
“Different characteristics are characteristic of the nature of phenomena.
Their essence505 is empty and their nature506 is pure.
I pray that you teach me the way of phenomena
That a bodhisattva directly perceives. {11}
11.23
“In this there is the perfect knowledge of all phenomena.
There is skill in all the words of the teaching.
There is no doubt; all doubt and uncertainty have been cut through.
Teach me the enlightenment of buddhahood.” {12}
11.24
The Bhagavān, knowing the thoughts that were in the mind of the youth Candraprabha, said to him, “Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas will attain all these qualities, and they will quickly attain the highest, complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood, if they possess just one quality. What is that one quality? Young man, it is when the bodhisattva mahāsattvas know the nature of all phenomena.
11.25 “Young man, how do bodhisattva mahāsattvas know the nature of all phenomena? Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas know that all phenomena are nameless; they have no names. They know that all phenomena have no vocalization, they have no expression in speech, they have no letters, they have no birth, they have no cessation, they have no characteristics of cause, they have no characteristics of conditions,507 they are devoid of characteristics, they have the one characteristic of having no characteristics, they are devoid of attributes, they cannot be conceived of, they have no thought, and they have no mentality.”
Then the Bhagavān taught this in the following verses:
11.26
“The single teaching on phenomena
Is that phenomena have no characteristics.
That is the teaching of supreme wisdom
From having true, correct knowledge. {13} [F.41.a]
11.27
“The bodhisattvas who know
That teaching on phenomena
Will not cease from elucidation508
Even though they teach ten million sūtras. {14}
11.28
“Through the blessing of the Guide
The ultimate truth is known.
When the ultimate is known
There is nothing to be taught. {15}
11.29
“Through one thing, everything is known.
Through one thing, everything is seen.
However much they teach
They will not become proud. {16}
11.30
“With their minds they have ascertained
The selflessness of all phenomena,
And as they are trained in teaching using terms,
They speak with words that are correct. {17}
11.31
“Whatever sound they hear,
They know its past.509
Knowing the past510 of that sound
They are not captivated511 by that sound. {18}
11.32
“Just like the past512 of a sound,
So are the characteristics of phenomena.
Knowing phenomena to be like that
They will not be reborn in a womb. {19}
11.33
“They know that all phenomena are unborn
And that they have no origin.
Knowing this teaching on birth513
They always remember their previous lives. {20}
11.34
“When they remember those lives
They perform their actions.
For those who perform those actions
Their community of followers remains united. {21}
11.35
“The bodhisattvas who know
The emptiness of phenomena
Will never be without that knowledge.
It is the summit of nothingness. {22}
11.36
“When the foolish think about
The summit of nothingness
They continue in saṃsāra
For millions of eons. {23}
11.37
“If they are able to understand it
Just as the Guide knows it,
Then they will have no suffering
And they will not go to the lower realms. {24}
11.38
“All ordinary individuals
Are ignorant of this nature.
They reject this kind of Dharma
That brings the cessation of suffering.514 {25}
11.39
“Phenomena are perceived when
No phenomena can be found.
Recognize that perception
When that perception occurs. {26}
11.40
“The foolish conceptualize
Through consciousness and perception.
The wise do not become ignorant
In conceiving of phenomena. {27} [F.41.b]
11.41
“The unpolluted phenomena of emptiness
Are within the field of experience of the bodhisattvas.515
This level of those who are wise
Is not within the field of experience of the foolish. {28}
11.42
“This level of the bodhisattvas
Is that of bodhisattva practice.
It is the adornment of the Buddha’s Dharma.
It is the peace and emptiness that has been taught. {29}
11.43
“When the bodhisattvas
Eliminate their propensities
They remain in the family of the buddhas
And are not captured by form. {30}
11.44
“All phenomena are without location;
They have no location that can be known.
For the one who knows this about their location,
Enlightenment is not difficult to attain. {31}
11.45
“Generosity, conduct, learning, and patience,
And relying upon a good friend:516
Those who know these activities
Will quickly attain enlightenment. {32}
11.46
“Devas, nāgas, yakṣas, and asuras,
Mahoragas and gandharvas, will always honor them.
All the kings of the garuḍas, kiṃnaras,
And rākṣasas 517 will make offerings to them. {33}
11.47
“Millions of buddhas will recite their praises
Continuously for many millions of eons.
It is not possible to reach the end
Of such praise for one who teaches this Dharma. {34}
11.48
“The bodhisattvas who know emptiness
Benefit many millions of beings.
They kindly teach the Dharma to assemblies518
And those who hear it are delighted and respectful.{35}
11.49
“They gain vast knowledge
So that they see the supreme humans.
They see the beautiful display of their realms
And the lords of the worlds teach them the Dharma.519 {36}
11.50
“Know that all phenomena are like illusions;
Know that just as space is naturally empty,
Phenomena are also naturally like that.
In that way there will be no attachment in any kind of activity. {37}
11.51
“With unimpeded wisdom, benefiting others,
Performing supreme bodhisattva conduct in the world,
With wisdom examining all phenomena,
They send emanations to other realms. {38}
11.52
“Those emanations accomplish buddha activities.
They go naturally, just as is their nature.
The beings who remain in the aspiration to enlightenment [F.42.a]
Will attain whatever goals they wish for. {39}
11.53
“Those who are steadfastly within the buddha family
Will always honor the buddhas.
Their bodies will shine brightly,
Adorned by the thirty-two excellent signs. {40}
11.54
“They will attain the conduct that is within the supreme samādhi
And an endless multitude of other benefits.
They will always have great, unshakable strength
And a majesty that outshines that of kings. {41}
11.55
“The wise who practice the Buddha’s Dharma
Will have an excellent appearance and great beauty.
Their merit and majesty and splendor will increase.
Their majesty will outshine even that of the devas. {42}
11.56
“Those who steadfastly remain in the aspiration to enlightenment
Will always be friends to all beings.
There will never be any darkness
In their teaching of the enlightenment of buddhahood. {43}
11.57
“The nature of phenomena is like that of space,
Inexpressible, beyond speech and words.
Those who know that supreme nature
Will have an unceasing confidence in teaching. {44}
11.58
“Even though they teach a hundred thousand sūtras,
They know the finest details of the past.
The wise will always have unimpeded speech,
Knowing the subtlety of the nature of phenomena. {45}
11.59
“They will be skilled520 in hundreds of ways.
They will have mastered the many kinds of words and definitions.
They have certainty in the ripening521 of actions and results.
They become distinctively preeminent in that way. {46}
11.60
“They will possess unimpaired power.
They are great wise ones, the heirs of those with the ten strengths.
Knowing the subtle nature of phenomena,
They will always have a completely pure memory.522 {47}
11.61
“Because they know the subtle nature of phenomena,
They will never hear an unpleasant sound.
They always hear pleasant and melodious sounds
And their words are always pleasant. {48}
11.62
“Because they know the very subtle nature of phenomena,
They have memory, understanding, wisdom, and realization.
Similarly, their minds are clear and unpolluted
And they teach many hundreds of sūtras. {49}
11.63
“They are learned in the categories of letters and words.
They know many different kinds of sounds,
And they are skilled in meanings and letters. [F.42.b]
They have these qualities through knowing the nature of phenomena. {50}
11.64
“Because they know the subtle nature of phenomena
They are always attractive and charming
To devas, humans, nāgas,523 and rākṣasas,
Asuras, mahoragas, and kiṃnaras. {51}
11.65
“Because they know the subtle nature of phenomena
They never perceive as frightening
The extremely terrible and flesh-devouring
Crowds of spirits, pretas, and rākṣasas. {52}
11.66
“Those who hear the vast524 teaching of the wise
Experience vast joy and their hairs stand on end.
They develop a vast attraction to the buddhas,
And gain a vast, inconceivable benefit.525 {53}
11.67
“Even by speaking for many thousands of eons
It is not possible to describe the power of the merit
That comes from memorizing this Dharma treasure of the sugatas.
It is immeasurable, infinite, and unquantifiable. {54}
11.68
“The jinas to whom offerings have been made in the past,
The countless buddhas of the future,
And the buddhas who are present in the ten directions,
Are so by having memorized this supreme samādhi of peace. {55}
11.69
“If a person who wishes for merit,
With immeasurable affection for them
Serves compassionate ones with the ten strengths
For countless endless millions of eons, {56}
11.70
“And if a second person who wishes for merit
Memorizes, during future times,
One verse from this way of the ultimate truth,
Then the previous person’s merit will not even be a fraction of that. {57}
11.71
“This will be the supreme offering to the buddhas.
During the future dreadful times
Hearing one of these four-line verses
And memorizing it will be an offering to all the buddhas. {58}
11.72
“They will always obtain the best provisions.
They will always eat the best alms of the land.526
As the best senior heirs of the one with ten strengths,
They will for a long time make offerings to many jinas. {59}
11.73
“They will also see myself here on Vulture Peak Mountain.
And I, in buddha wisdom, will thus prophesy to them.
Also, after my passing away, there will be Maitreya,527
Who at that time will also prophesy to them. {60}
11.74
“Similarly, Buddha Amitāyus also
Has taught many other kinds of benefits:
‘All will enter my Sukhāvatī,
And go to Abhirati and see Buddha Akṣobhya.’528 {61} [F.43.a]
11.75
“For countless hundreds of thousands of eons
They will never have the fear of downfalls.
In this supreme practice of bodhisattva conduct
They will always experience happiness. {62}
11.76
“In that way it has been taught that this,
Which is preeminent, has the most excellent merit.
May I learn every single word,
And in future times be a keeper of this sūtra.”529 {63}
11.77
Conclusion of the eleventh chapter, “Becoming a Keeper of the Sūtra.”
