BODHICITTA is like agada medicine because it can make human beings not sick, but healthy forever.

 

BODHICITTA is like agada medicine because it can make human beings not sick, but healthy forever.

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“I have already generated ANUTTARASAMYAKSAMBODHI mind.

I study the BODHISATTVA CONDUCT, and CULTIVATE THE BODHISATTVA WAY.“

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XXIX. THE SPIRIT GREAT DEVA, THE KINGDOM DVARAVATI

THE TRANSFERENCE OF UNBOUNDED AND UNFETTERED LIBERATION:

At that time, the youth Good Wealth entered a Bodhisattva's vast, great conduct.

He sought a Bodhisattva's states of wisdom. He beheld a Bodhisattva's deeds of spiritual penetrations. He recollected a Bodhisattva's supreme merit and virtue.

He produced a Bodhisattva's great happiness.

He gave rise to a Bodhisattva's resolute vigor.

He entered a Bodhisattva's inconceivable liberation of self-mastery. He coursed in the ground of a Bodhisattva's merit and virtue. He contemplated the ground of a Bodhisattva's samadhi.

He abided in the ground of a Bodhisattva's uniting and holding. He entered the ground of a Bodhisattva's great vows.

He attained the ground of a Bodhisattva's eloquence. He accomplished the ground of a Bodhisattva's various powers.

He progressively traveled until he arrived at that city. And asked where Great Deva could be found. The people all told him, “He is in this city, manifesting a vast, great body to speak Dharma for the assembly.”

At that time, the youth Good Wealth went to where Great Deva was and bowed at his feet.

Before Great Deva, he placed his palms together and said,

"Sagely One, I have already brought forth the resolve for ANUTTARASAMYAKSAMBODHI, but I still do not know how a Bodhisattva studies the BODHISATTVA CONDUCT, and CULTIVATES THE BODHISATTVA WAY.

I have heard that the sagely one is skilled at guiding and teaching. I wish you would explain this for me.”

At that time, Great Deva extended his four arms over a long distance, scooped up water of the four great seas, and washed his own face with it. 

Then he scattered a myriad golden flowers upon Good Wealth.

He said to him, "Good man, all Bodhisattvas are difficult to get to see and difficult to get to hear.

They rarely appear in the world. Among living beings they are foremost, like pundarika flowers among people. They act as the refuge of living beings, and the salvation of living beings.

They act as a haven of security for all worlds. They act as a great light for all worlds. They guide those who are confused and deluded along the proper path of security.

“They act as great guiding teachers. They lead all living beings into the doors of the Buddha-dharmas. They act as great Dharma generals, who can well guard and protect the city of all wisdom.

 In these ways the Bodhisattvas are difficult to get to meet.

 Only those whose body, speech, and mind are without error can get to see their appearances and listen to their eloquence. Then at all times, they will appear before those beings.

Good man, I have already accomplished a Bodhisattva’s liberation called Net of Clouds.”

Good Wealth said, "Sagely One, what are the states involved in the liberation called the Net of Clouds?”

At that time, Great Deva made appear before Good Wealth collections of gold, collections of silver, collections of vaidurya, collections of crystal, collections of mother-of-pearl, collections of carnelian, collections of great flaming gems, collections of immaculate treasury gems, collections of great brightness gems, collections of universally appearing throughout the ten directions gems, collections of jeweled crowns, collections of jeweled seas, collections of jeweled necklaces, collections of jeweled earrings, collections of jeweled bracelets, collections of jeweled chains, collections of nets of pearls, collections of various different mani gems, collections of all objects of adornment, collections of as-you-will manis, all of which were like great mountains.

 

Moreover, he manifested all flowers, all garlands, all incenses, all burning incense, all paste incense, all clothing, all banners and streamers, all music, all the articles of pleasure of the five desires—all of which were stacked up like mountains.

Moreover, he manifested countless hundreds of thousands of myriads of billions of assemblies of maidens.

 

And the Great Deva said to Good Wealth,

 "Good man, you can present these objects as offerings to the Thus Come One, so as to cultivate all blessings and virtues. And give away everything so as to gather in living beings.

 Cause them to cultivate and study the dana-paramita and to renounce what is difficult to renounce.

“Good man, just as I manifest these objects for you and teach you to practice giving, so also do I do the same for all living beings. I cause all of them to thoroughly develop these good roots. Toward the Triple Jewel, toward good-knowing advisors, they should respectfully make offerings, increase and grow in wholesome Dharmas, and bring forth the resolve for unsurpassed Bodhi.

“Good man, if there are living beings, who are greedy for and attached to the five desires, and who engage in self-indulgence, I make appear the states of impurity for their sake.

 If there are living beings, who are angry, hateful, and arrogant, who like to fight and compete, then I make appear extremely horrifying shapes, such as rakshasas and so forth that drink blood and devour flesh.

Upon seeing this, they become frightened and apprehensive; their minds become tamed and compliant, and they renounce and separate from the knots of resentment.

“If there are living beings, who are muddled and lazy, I manifest for them the difficulties of imperial law, thieves, water and fire, and a myriad grave illnesses.

 Upon seeing this, their hearts are terrified. Knowing that there are such miseries and sufferings, they urge and spur themselves forward.

“Thus with those various different expedients, I cause beings to renounce all unwholesome conducts and cultivate wholesome Dharmas.

I cause them to be rid of all obstructions to the paramitas, so they perfect the paramitas. I cause them to leap out of the dangerous paths of all obstructions and arrive at the place of non-obstruction.

“Good man, I only know this liberation of The Net of Clouds. But as to how all Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas are like Lord Shakra, in that they have already quelled and subdued the asura army of all afflictions;

how they are like the great waters, in that they can universally put out the blaze of myriad afflictions of all living beings;

how they are like a fierce fire, in that they can universally dry up the waters of myriad loves and desires of all living beings;

 how they are like a strong wind, in that they can universally blow down the banner of the myriad views and grasping of all living beings;

how they are like vajra, in that they can completely smash the mountain of myriad views of the self of all living beings—how could I possibly know or speak of the conduct of their merits and virtues?

“Good man, in the Bodhi Way-place at the kingdom of Magadha in Jambudvipa, is an earth-ruling-spirit called Secure Dwelling.

Go to where she is and ask her how a Bodhisattva studies the Bodhisattva conduct and cultivates the Bodhisattva Way.”

At that time, the youth Good Wealth bowed at the feet of Great Deva, circumambulated him countless times, bade farewell, and took his leave.

 

XXX. THE EARTH SPIRIT SECURE DWELLING, THE BODHI WAY PLACE AT MAGADHA

THE TRANSFERENCE OF LIMITLESSLY ENTERING THE DHARMA REALM:

At that time the youth Good Wealth progressively traveled, tending toward the Bodhi Way-place at the kingdom of Magadha, to where the spirit Secure Dwelling was.

A million earth spirits were gathered in its midst. They said to one another,

“The youth who has come is the Buddha treasury. He will most certainly universally act as a place of refuge for all living beings. He will most certainly universally destroy the crust of all living beings’ ignorance.

This person has already been born into the lineage of Dharma kings. He will be crowned with the emblems of immaculate and unobstructed Dharmas. He will open the great treasure trove of wisdom. He will conquer all those of deviant theories and heterodox ways.

At that time, Secure Dwelling and the million earth spirits emitted great light, which pervasively illuminated the three thousand great thousand worlds.

It universally caused the great earth to quake and roar at the same time.

 Every place became adorned with various different kinds of jeweled objects. Their pure reflections and streaming light meshed in continual interpenetration.

All leafy trees sprouted shoots at the same time.

All flowering trees simultaneously burst into bloom. All fruit trees’ fruits ripened without exception.

All rivers flowed and poured into one another. All the lakes and ponds were completely filled to the brim. A shower of fine incense fell and spread over the grounds.

 Flowers were borne along by the wind and universally dispersed over all. Countless types of music were played at the same time. Heavenly objects of adornment all brought forth melodious sounds.

Ox kings, elephant kings, and lion kings all became happy.

 They leapt in joy and roared. And the sounds emitted were like the clashing together of great mountains. Hundreds of thousands of hidden treasuries simultaneously emerged.

At that time, the Earth Spirit Secure Dwelling said to Good Wealth,

“You have come well, young man. In the past, you have planted good roots at this place. I can manifest them for you. Would you like to see them?”

At that time, Good Wealth bowed at the feet of the earth spirit, circumambulated her countless times. Placing his palms together, he stood and said, "Sagely One, yes, I do wish to see them"

At that time, the earth spirit Secure Dwelling pressed her foot on the ground, whereupon hundreds of thousands of millions of asamkhyeyas of treasure troves spontaneously welled forth.

She said, "Good man, these treasure follow in your wake. They are the reward of good roots you planted in the past. They are gathered in and received by the power of your blessings.

You can receive them and enjoy them as you please. Good man, I have attained a Bodhisattva's liberation called the Treasury of Indestructible Wisdom. I constantly use this Dharma to bring living beings to accomplishment.

“Good man, I recall ever since Burning Lamp Buddha, having constantly followed all Bodhisattvas, venerating, guarding, and protecting them. I contemplated the states of wisdom of all the mental activities of Bodhisattvas;

their myriad conducts of the purity of all vows, all samadhis, and vast, great spiritual penetrations; their great powers of self-mastery; and their indestructible Dharmas.

 I pervasively traveled to all Buddhalands. I universally received predictions from all Thus Come One. I turned the Dharma wheels of all Buddhas. I extensively proclaimed the doors of all Sutras.

My great Dharma light universally illumined.

I taught and transformed, tamed, and subdued all living beings. I manifested the spiritual transformations of all the Buddhas. All of that I am able to receive; all of that I am able to recollect and uphold.

“Good man, in the ancient past, beyond kalpas many as the dust motes of piled up like Mount Sumeru, was a kalpa named Adornment.

The world was called Moon Banner, and the Buddha's title was Wonderful Eyes. It was at this Buddha's place that I attained this Dharma Door.

“Good man, regarding this Dharma door—whether entering or coming out of it—I have cultivated it and cause it to increase and grow.

 I constantly see all Buddhas, never forsaking or separating from them. From the time of my initial attainment, all the way up to the Worthy Kalpa, and during the period in between, I have encountered Thus Come Ones, Ones Worthy of Offerings, of Proper and Equal Enlightenment, their number as many as dust motes in ineffably ineffable Buddha kshetras.

 I have served, venerated, and made offerings to all of them. I have also seen these Buddhas travel to the Bodhi throne, and manifest great spiritual powers. I have also seen all the merits and virtues and good roots of these Buddhas.

“Good man, I only know this Dharma door of the Treasury of Indestructible Wisdom. But as to how all Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas constantly follow all Buddhas; how they can uphold that which all Buddhas speak; how they enter the most profound wisdom of all Buddhas; how in thought after thought they fill Dharma Realms;

how they achieve likeness of the Thus Come Ones’ bodies;

how they give rise to the minds of all Buddhas;

how they are complete with all the Buddha-dharmas;

how they perform the deeds of all Buddhas—

how could I possibly know or speak of their conduct of merit and virtue?

“Good man, in the city Kapilavastu, in the kingdom Magadha of Jambudvipa, is a night-ruling-spirit called Vasanti.

Go to where she is and ask her how a Bodhisattva studies the Bodhisattva conduct and cultivates the Bodhisattva Way.”

At that time, the youth Good Wealth bowed at the feet of the earth spirit, circumambulated her countless times, and gazed up at her in longing admiration.

Then he bid farewell and took leave.

 

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 Chapter 39 : ”ENTERING THE DHARMA REALM” PART 4

THE TEN GOOD TEACHERS OF THE TEN TRANSFERENCES

~~AVATAMSAKA SUTRA

source: http://www.cttbusa.org/