A história do Budismo Shingon

2010-02-07 15:43

O BUDISMO SHINGON é uma religião que foi estabelecida por Kôbô Daishi (Kûkai) no começo do período Heian (século IX), e seus ensinamentos são conhecidos como o Budismo Esotérico Shingon (Budismo Shingon).

Esta forma de Budismo é também conhecida em japonês como mikkyô, que significa "ensinamento secreto".Mikkyô é uma das várias linhas de práticas dentro da tradição Budista Mahâyana.

Mikkyô engloba muitas doutrinas, filosofias, divindades, rituais religiosos e técnicas de meditação de uma variedade ampla de fontes. A assimilação das divindades locais e Hindus e seus rituais foram especialmente marcantes para o Budismo que tornou-se Mikkyô. Tais elementos diversos foram sendo incorporados ao longo do tempo e, combinando com os ensinamentos filosóficos Mahâyana, formaram um sistema compreensivo de doutrina e práticas Budistas.

Os ensinamentos Shingon são baseados na Sutra Mahâvairocana (Japonês: Dainichi-kyô) e na Sutra Vajrasekhara (Japonês: Kongôchô-kyô), as Sutras fundamentais do Shingon. Estas Sutras foram provavelmente escritas durante a última metade do século VII na Índia. Elas contém a primeira apresentação sistemática da doutrina e práticas Mikkyô.

Shingon representa o período médio do desenvolvimento do Budismo esotérico na Índia. O desenvolvimento, que se estendeu desde o século VII até o século VIII, foi o tempo quando a Sutra Mahâvairocana e a Sutra Vajrasekhara foram compiladas. A história do Budismo Esotérico foi praticada desde a Índia até a Ásia Central, Ceilão, China, Coréia, Japão, Mongólia, Nepal, Indonésia, Sudeste da Ásia e Tibete. A tradição Mikkyô continua no Japão dos dias de hoje, mas em outras localidades onde a tradição inicial indiana foi desenvolvida em diversas maneiras, os ensinamentos esotéricos Budistas foram em sua maioria sendo dispersos, alguns até o ponto de extinção total.

Os ensinamentos Shingon

Shingon é uma forma de Budismo Esotérico japonês, por isso é também conhecido por Shingon Mikkyo. Esta escola foi fundada em 804 DC por Kukai (Kobo Daishi) no Japão. Como mencionado acima, os ensinamentos são baseados nas Sutras Mahavairocana Sutra e Vajrasekhara, as sutras fundamentais da Shingon. Através da observação a três segredos - as ações do corpo, fala e mente, nós somos capazer de alcançar iluminação ainda nesta vida. Quando conseguimos manter este estado mental, podemos nos tornar unos/integrados com a força vital do Universo, conhecida como Buda Mahavairocana.

As atividades simbólicas estão presentes em qualquer lugar do Universo. Os fenômenos naturais tais como montanhas, oceanos e até os humanos expressam as verdades descritas nos sutras.

O Universo em si encarna e não pode ser separado do ensinamento. Na tradição Shingon, o praticante usa as mesmas técnicas que foram utilizadas há mais de 1200 anos por Kukai e tem sido transmitidas verbalmente geração pra geração até o momento presente. Como Budistas Shingon, existem três votos a serem observados em nossa vida:

• Nós podemos alcançar o estado búdico nesta vida;
• Nós podemos nos dedicar ao bem estar das pessoas;
• Nós podemos estabelecer o Mundo de Buda neste planeta.

Tornar-se um Buda nesta vida (Sokushin Jobutsu) - a característica deste ensinamento Shingon é que alguém não se torna Buda somente em sua mente nem se torna Buda depois que desencarna. Isso significa que somos capazes de alcançar a perfeição de todas as qualidades de Buda enquanto estamos vivos neste corpo encarnado. Um texto no Bodhicitta (Bodaishin-ron) diz: " Alguém que rapidamente alcançou o grande Despertar em seu corpo nascido de mãe e pai".

De acordo com os ensinamentos Shingon, todas as coisas neste Universo - tanto matéria física, mente ou estados mentais - são feitos de alguns dos seis (6) elementos primários - terra (o princípio da solidez), água (umidade), fogo (energia), vento (movimento), espaço (o estado de ser desobstruído) e consciência (os seis modos de conhecer objetos). Buda assim como os seres humanos comuns são feitos destes seis elementos e, neste sentido, ambos Buda e seres humanos são idênticos basicamente e em essência. Quando compreendemos esta verdade nossas ações, palavras e pensamentos perecerão do modo como são atualmente e uma experiência de fé que criará a vontade de ser correto e purificar tudo ao seu redor. Este corpo físico, ser humano, será capaz de alcançar o estado Búdico.

Salvação e Iluminação - O Budismo Shingon oferece salvação e iluminação ao ser humano que seria envolvido no ciclo de nascimento e morte das encarnações. Assim que uma pessoa é capaz de entrar o portal de sua fé, ele/ela será capaz de receber a salvação e orientação de muitos Budas e Bodhisattvas. É uma religião em que cada pessoa será afortunada o bastante para recitar os mantras que são as próprias palavras de Buda.

Kobo Daishi ressaltou dois pontos como características especiais:

• Alcance de iluminação nesta vida
• O presente momento que claramente ensina o conteúdo da iluminação

Ele explicou estes dois aspectos através de suas escrituras, tais como "O significado de tornar-se Buda neste Corpo", "Os 10 estágios no desenvolvimento da Mente", "O significado dos preceitos Samaya secretos de Buda".

Disciplina Shingon

As formas a seguir são as mais praticadas por muitos seguidores: Susokukan (meditação básica para encontrar o próprio ritmo de respiração), Gachirinkan (meditação do Disco da Lua) e Ajikan (meditação de uma sílaba). Estas práticas nos levam ao entendimento da natureza da Realidade. Através destas práticas podemos experimentas muitos estados de consciência e assim como nossos conhecimentos se desenvolvem, começamos a ter um insight real sobre a natureza do estado não matéria. Através destas meditações podemos experimentar o fluxo de energia deste estado até o plano material de existência. Porém tal estado não pode ser experimentado sem correto entendimento de sua doutrina e a orientação de um mestre autêntico.

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Kobo Daishi

Kobo Daishi (Kukai), o fundador do Budismo Shingon, nasceu na cidade de Zentsuji na Prefeitura de Kagawa no Japão em 774. Ele se tornou monge quando tinha 19 anos e foi a China para estudar Budismo Esotérico quando tinha 31 anos. Estudou Sânscrito sob orientação de mestres da Índia e se aperfeiçoou em ensinamentos esotéricos sob orientação do mestre chinês Jui-kuo, o 7º patriarca da tradição Budista esotérica. Quando retornou ao Japão, estabeleceu o Budismo Shingon e propagou seus ensinamentos durante sua vida. O imperador Saga garantiu a ele o Koyasan (monte Koya) como o local para fundar o centro monástico em 816.

Kukai escreveu vários ensinamentos e comentários, tais como: A chave secreta do Sutra do Coração, A diferença entre Budismo Exotérico e Budismo Esotérico, Alcançando a iluminação nesta existência e Os 10 estágios de desenvolvimento da Mente. 1200 anos depois, estes textos continuam a iluminar os seguidores ao redor do mundo todo.

Conhecido por muitos como o pai da cultura japonesa, sua contribuição se extendeu além dos campos religiosos para as esferas cultural, acadêmica e engenharia. Ele introduziu o método de fazer e utilizar pincéis de tinta para escrtia, criou o alfabeto fonético de 47 letras conhecido como japonês Kana, símbolos Iroha; inaugurou também uma escola para o público em Kyoto e a chamou de Shugei-shuchiin; dirigiu a construção do dique Mannoike Dam para prevenir inundações em Sanuki na Ilha Shikoku.

Sendo exemplo vivo dos três votos, Kukai entrou para o Samadhi eterno no Monte Koya no dia 21 de março de 835. Mais tarde, o imperador Daigo lhe concedeu o título honorário de Kobo Daishi em 921.

Koyasan (Monte Koya)

Koyasan é localizada na Prefeitura de Wakayama no oeste do Japão. Kobo Daishi iniciou seu monastério budista no topo desta montanha que está a três mil pés de altura acima do nível do mar. Há inúmeros templos, stupas e salas religiosas em Koyasan. O Templo Knogobuji é o prédio matriz da Missão Koyasan Shingon, que é composta de mais de 4000 templos no Japão

fonte: .http://budismojapones.webnode.com.br/news/a-historia-do-budismo-shingon/

Que tipo de mérito eu posso obter através da Iluminação?

2010-03-21 16:23

Se alguém alcançar a iluminação, ele/ela é liberado do renascimento.

Do ponto de vista Budista, nossos espíritos estão continuamente rencarnando nos 6 reinos. Estes reinos são: inferno, seres famintos, animal, demônios violentos, humano e devas (deuses). Nossa mente está sempre viajando entre estes reinos. Por exemplo, quando você está com forme, sua maior preocupação é como conseguir comida. Você está vivendo com seu forte instindo de sobrevivência assim como animais fazem. Quando você está discutindo/argumentando com outra pessoa, sua ação é baseada em sua emoção e não em sua compaixão. Você está no reino dos demônios violentos. É difícil manter o espírito de caridade especialmente em circunstâncias quando seus esforços de compaixão não são reconhecidos tal como quando você ajuda uma pessoa que tenha caído na rua e ela não lhe agradece.

Nós não aceitamos quando as coisas não acontecem de acordo com nossa vontade porque temos forte apego ao assunto que acreditamos ser importante. Nós chamamos isto de Sofrimento, e enquanto vivemos como pessoas normais, nossos espíritos estão sempre em um destes 6 reinos. Quando alcançamos a iluminação, nosso espírito é libertado deste ciclo e nós não temos que sofrer mais. Este estado da mente é chamado Nirvana.

Alcançar o estado Arhat é o objetivo humano na tradição Theravada e somente um Arhat pode praticar o procedimento de liberação para o Nirvana.

Algumas escolas da tradição Mahayana acreditam que as pessoas irão renascer na Terra Pura e terão alegria eterna com a assistência de Buda Amitabha ou com o poder do Sutra Lotus.

A tradição Vajrayana acredita que alguem iluminado se torna uno com a força universal de vida. O objetivo parece diferente, mas na verdade trata-se do mesmo objetivo porém com um ponto de vista diferente.

Quem é Buda (ou Buddha)?

1. Quem é Buda (ou Buddha)?

2010-03-21 15:45

Quando você escuta a palavra Buda, a maioria das pessoas tem a imagem de Shakyamuni, o Buda histórico, que viveu no Índia em cerca de 500 AC. O ensinamento de Buda foi fundado e reconhecido por ele e propagado através de esforço incondicional. Porém ele pregou às pessoas que Buda é a verdade bem como a pessoa que despertou para a verdade, e que todos tem a oportunidade de tornar-se Buda.

Os vários grupos formados para praticar este ensinamento foram chamados de tradição Theravada. Portanto o ensinamento de Buda espalhou-se para outros países. Nos anos antigos, o ensinamento foi praticado exatamente como Shakyamuni os havia dito, porém poucos seguidores encontraram dificuldades devido a diferença de cultura, condições do tempo, moral, etc. As tradições Mahayana e Vajrayana foram estabelecidas para resolver estas necessidades e transcender as diferenças.

"Quem é Buda?" - Esta questão tem sido perguntada muitas vezes e sua resposta difere de acordo com a tradicão. Uma tradição acredita que Shakyamuni é o único Buda na hist´øria. Por muitos anos, esta crença foi reconhecida como a única. Eventualmente, um outro ponto de vista apareceu - que existem três modos de reconhecer o Buda:

• Forma de Vida Universal Dharmakaya

O Dharmakaya ou Vida Universal é eterno e imutável. Este é o fundamento de todos os seres e reconhecido como Mahavairocana, o Grande Buda Sol, que é a fonte de todas as formas vivas.

• Forma da manifestação Sambhogakaya

A Sambhogakaya ou Forma de manifestação é a forma simbólica do Buda que é alcançada através da prática. Há muitas destas formas simbólicas. Estes Budas são adorados em templos como imagens foco de contemplação. Alguns exemplos são Akshobya e Amitabha.

• Forma histórica Nirmanakaya

O Nirmanakaya ou Buda histórico, Shakyamuni, nasceu para ensinar seres senscientes. Assim como ele, há muitas formas históricas de Buda no mundo.

Buda não é o criador mas é o mesmo que a verdade universal. O Universo está sempre revelando a verdade e cada indivíduo é quem deve compreender isso. Todos os seres estão aqui no mundo fenomênico como parte de sua vida. Todos os seres tem o potencial de compreender a verdade através da prática religiosa.

Se alguém pergunta "Quem é Buda?" na tradição Theravada, a resposta é o Buda histórico, Shakyamuni. A tradição Mahayana enfatiza as formas histórica e simbólica de Buda. A tradição Vajrayana acredita em todas as três formas de Buda. As maneiras de ver diferem, porém são somente como caminhos alternativos para o topo da montanha. Está tudo bem escolher quaisquer um destes Caminhos se assim você preferir. A velocidade para alcançar o topo é diferente de acordo com o caminho escolhido e suas habilidades.

Os Ensinamentos da Sutra Vajrasekhara

Ensinamento 04: Os Ensinamentos da Sutra Vajrasekhara

2010-02-07 15:52

A Sutra Vajrasekhara (Kongocho-kyo), juntamente com a Sutra Mahavairocana (Dainichi kyo) são as sutras básicas do Budismo Shingon. A fé no Budismo Shingon é propagada com estas duas grandes sutras formando as duas rodas de uma carroça.

O professor de Kobo Daishi, Mestre Hui-kuo (Keika) do Templo do Dragão Azul em Chiang-an de T'ang na China, consolidou o Budismo Esotérico baseado no Dainichi-kyocom aquele baseado no Kongocho-kyo, e Kobo Daishi recebeu o conteúdo destas duas linhas.

Assim como a Sutra Mahavairocana (Dainichi-kyo), a Sutra Vajrasekhara explica o ensinamento para tornar-se um buda neste corpo físico, que é a doutrina central do Budismo Esotérico. Seu título formal é "Sutra do Rei do Grande Ensinamento atestado na Verdade Mahayana de Todos os Budas no Pico Vajra." Conforme expressado no título, este sutra ensina o processo pelo qual as trinta e sete divindades da Mandala Vajradhatuencarnaram a verdade de tornar-se buda em seus corpos físicos.

Portanto, em contraste com a Sutra Mahavairocana, que é a sutra para o aspecto de ensinamentos dos fundamentos da doutrina, a Kongocho-kyo é considerada a sutra para o aspecto prático que ensina as práticas e processos para verdadeira tornar-se um buda.

No centro de Kongocho-kyo temos o que é chamada "A Meditação para alcançar o Corpo de Buda em Cinco Aspectos", que é o processo de práticas e um método para tornar-se um buda neste corpo físico. Também é referenciada como "Alcançando o Corpo Búdico através de Cinco Transformações", ou "Alcançando o Corpo Búdico através de Cinco Métodos."

Elas são apresentadas a seguir:

1. Entrando em contato com a mente básica.

Esta é auto-concientização que nós temos quando a mente aspira por iluminação de dentro de nossos corações.

2. Colocando em prática a mente que aspira por iluminar-se.

Isto envolve o cultivo da mente que aspira ser iluminada e assim ela torna-se gradualmente pura e expandida.

3. Alcançando a Mente Vajra

Como resultado do cultivo, a mente que aspira ser iluminada torna-se firme e forte como uma gema de diamante.

4. Alcançando o Corpo Vajra

Isso envolve a consciência sobre a natureza de Buda que está dentro da mente e do corpo, com o alcance de um corpo indestrutível e tornando-se um Bodhisattva que sempre salva os seres humanos.

5. O perfeito preenchimento do corpo Búdico

Este é o chamado Estado da Mente Vajra no qual nossas próprias mentes e corpos físicos vêm a tornar-se a mesma essência que as de Buda, e por alcançar a eterna iluminação nós concluímos o processo de tornar-se um buda neste corpo físico.

Mesmo olhando brevemente sobre as doutrinas centrais do Kongocho-kyo, podemos entender a essência geral dos ensinamentos do Budismo Shingon. A fonte da fé e os ensinamentos para desenvolvimento completo de nossas mentes e corpos assim como a vida de Buda é explicada no Knogocho-kyo. Certamente os fundamentos para a crença na vida que dá vida são encontrados aqui.

Este é um site não oficial sobre Budismo Shingon. Este texto foi traduzido da página original do site http://www.shingon.org/teachings/ShingonMikkyo/KongochoKyo.html na data de 5 de setembro de 2009, para ajudar na divulgação da religião entre os povos de língua portuguesa.

fonte: http://budismojapones.webnode.com.br/news/ensinasmento-04-os-ensinamentos-da-sutra-vajrasekhara/

Sutra of the Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma

Sutra of the Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma



Translated by Burton Watson

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• Chapter One: Introduction
• Chapter Two: Expedient Means
• Chapter Three: Simile and Parable
• Chapter Four: Belief and Understanding
• Chapter Five: The Parable of Medicinal Herbs
• Chapter Six: Bestowal of Prophecy
• Chapter Seven: The Parable of the Phantom City
• Chapter Eight: Prophecy of Enlightenment for Five Hundred Disciples
• Chapter Nine: Prophecies conferred on Learners and Adepts
• Chapter Ten: The Teacher of the Dharma
• Chapter Eleven: The Emergence of the Treasure Tower
• Chapter Twelve: Devadatta
• Chapter Thirteen: Admonition to embrace the Sutra
• Chapter Fourteen: Peaceful Practices
• Chapter Fifteen: Emerging from the Earth
• Chapter Sixteen: The Life Span of the Tathagata
• Chapter Seventeen: distinction of Benefits
• Chapter Eighteen: The Benefits of Joyful Acceptance
• Chapter Nineteen: The Benefits of the Teacher of the Dharma
• Chapter Twenty: Bodhisattva Never Disparaging
• Chapter Twenty-One: The Mystic Powers of the Tathagata
• Chapter Twenty-Two: Entrustment
• Chapter Twenty-Three: The Former Deeds of the Bodhisattva Medicine King
• Chapter Twenty-Four: Bodhisattva Myozon
• Chapter Twenty-Five: The Universal Gate of Bodhisattva Kanzeon
• Chapter Twenty-Six: Dharani
• Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Former Deeds of King Wondrous Splendor
• Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Encouragement of Bodhisattva Universally Worthy

Chapter One: Introduction

Chapter One: Introduction

This is what I heard:

At one time the Buddha was in Rajagriha, staying on Mount Gridhrakuta. Accompanying him were a multitude of leading monks numbering twelve thousand persons. All were arhats whose outflows had come to an end, who had no more earthly desires, who had attained what was to their advantage and had put an end to the bonds of existence, and whose minds had achieved a state of freedom.

Their names were Ajnata Kaundinya, Mahakashyapa, Uruvilvakashyapa, Gayakashyapa, Nadikashyapa, Shariputra, Great Maudgaly~yana, Mahakatyayana, Aniruddha, Kapphina, Gavampati, Revata, Pilindavatsa, Bakkula, Mahakaushthila, Nanda, Sundarananda, Purna Maitrayaniputra, Subhuti, Ananda, and Rahula. All were like these, great Arhats who were well known to others.

There were also two thousand persons, some of whom were still learning and some who had completed their learning.

There was the nun Mahaprajapati with her six thousand followers. And there was Rahula's mother, the nun Yashodhara, with her followers.

There were bodhisattvas and mahasattvas, eighty thousand of them, none of them ever regressing in their search for anuttara-samyaksambodhi. All had gained dharanis, delighted in preaching, were eloquent, and turned the wheel of the Dharma that knows no regression. They had made offerings to immeasurable hundreds and thousands of Buddhas, in the presence of various Buddhas had planted numerous roots of virtue, had been constantly praised by the Buddhas, had trained themselves in compassion, were good at entering the Buddha wisdom, and had fully penetrated the great wisdom and reached the farther shore. Their fame had spread throughout immeasurable worlds and they were able to save countless hundreds of thousands of living beings.

Their names were Bodhisattva Manjushri, Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds, Bodhisattva Gainer of Great Authority, Bodhisattva Constant Exertion, Bodhisattva Never Resting, Bodhisattva Jeweled Palm, Bodhisattva Medicine King, Bodhisattva Brave Donor, Bodhisattva Jeweled Moon, Bodhisattva Moonlight, Bodhisattva Full Moon, Bodhisattva Great Strength, Bodhisattva Immeasurable Strength, Bodhisattva Transcending the Threefold World, Bodhisattva Bhadrapala, Bodhisattva Maitreya, Bodhisattva Jeweled Accumulation, and Bodhisattva Guiding Leader. Bodhisattvas and mahasattvas such as these numbering eighty thousand were in attendance.

At that time Shakra Devanam Indra with his followers, twenty thousand sons of gods, also attended. There were also the sons of gods Rare Moon, Pervading Fragrance, Jeweled Glow, and the Four Great Heavenly Kings, along with their followers, ten thousand sons of gods.

Present were the sons of gods Freedom and Great Freedom and their followers, thirty thousand sons of gods, Present were King Brahma, lord of the saha world, the great Brahma Shikhin, and the great Brahma Light Bright, and their followers, twelve thousand sons of gods.

There were eight dragon kings, the dragon king Nanda, the dragon king Upananda, the dragon king Sagara, the dragon king Vasuki, the dragon king Takshaka, the dragon king Anavatapta, the dragon king Manasvin, the dragon king Utpalaka, each with several hundreds of thousands of followers.

There were four kimnara kings, the kimnara king Great Dharma, and the kimnara king Upholding the Dharma, each with several hundreds of thousands of followers.

There were four gandharva kings, and gandharva king Pleasant, the gandharva king Pleasant Sound, the gandharva Beautiful Sound, each with several hundreds of thousands of followers.

There were four asura kings, the asura king Balin, the asura king Kharaskandha, the asura king Vemachitrin, and the asura king Rahu, each with several hundreds of thousands of followers.

There were four garuda kings, the garuda king Great Majesty, the garuda king Great Body, the garuda king Great Fullness, and the garuda king As One Wishes, each with several hundreds of thousands of followers. And there was King Ajatashatru, the son of Vaidehi, with several hundreds of thousands of followers.

Each of these, after bowing in obeisance before the Buddha's feet, withdrew and took a seat to one side.

At that time the World-Honored One, surrounded by the four kinds of believers, received offerings and tokens of respect and was honored and praised. And for the sake of the bodhisattvas he preached the Great Vehicle sutra entitle Immeasurable Meanings, a Dharma to instruct the bodhisattvas, one that is guarded and kept in mind by the Buddhas.

When the Buddha had finished preaching this Sutra, he sat with his legs crossed in lotus position and entered into the samadhi of the place of immeasurable meanings, his body and mind never moving. At that time heaven rained down mandarava flowers, great mandarava flowers, manjushaka flowers, and great manjushaka flowers, scattering them over the Buddha and over the great assembly, and everywhere the Buddha world quaked and trembled in six different ways.

At that time the monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen, heavenly beings, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, human and nonhuman beings in the assembly, as well as the petty kings and wheel-turning sage kings - all those in the great assembly, having gained what they had never had before, were filled with joy and, pressing their palms together, gazed at the Buddha with a single mind.

At that time the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows, one of his characteristic features, lighting up eighteen thousand worlds in the eastern direction. There was no place that the light did not penetrate, reaching downward as far as the Avichi hell and upward to the Akanishtha heaven.

From this world one could see the living beings in the six paths of existence in all of those other lands. One could likewise see the Buddhas present at that time in those other lands and could hear the sutra teachings which those Buddhas were expounding. At the same time one could see the monks, nuns laymen, and laywomen who had carried out religious practices and attained the way. One could also see the bodhisattvas and mahasattvas who, through various causes and conditions and various types of faith and understanding and in various forms and aspects were carrying out the way of the bodhisattva. And one could also see the Buddhas who had entered parinirvana, towers adorned with the seven treasures were erected for the Buddha relics.

At that time the Bodhisattva Maitreya had this thought: Now the World-Honored One has manifested these miraculous signs. But what is the cause of these auspicious portents? Now the Buddha, the World Honored One, has entered into samadhi. An unfathomable event such as this is seldom to be met with. Whom shall I question about this? Who can give me an answer?

And again he had this thought: this Manjushri, son of a Dharma King, has already personally attended and given offerings to immeasurable numbers of Buddhas in the past. Surely he must see these rare signs. I will now question him.

At this time the monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen, as well as the heavenly beings, dragons, spirits, and the others all had this thought: this beam of brightness from the Buddha, these signs of transcendental powers - now whom shall we question about them?

At that time Bodhisattva Maitreya wished to settle his doubts concerning the matter. And in addition he could see what was in the minds of the four kinds of believers, the monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen, as well as the heavenly beings, dragons, spirits and the others who made up the assembly. So he questioned Manjushri, saying, "What is the cause of these auspicious portents, these signs of transcendental powers, this emitting of a great beam of brightness that illumines the eighteen thousand lands in the eastern direction so we can see all the adornments of the Buddha worlds there?"

Then Bodhisattva Maitreya, wishing to state his meaning once more, asked the question in verse form:

Manjushri,
Why from the white tuft between the eyebrows
of our leader and teacher
does this great light shine all around?
Why do mandarava
and manjushaka flowers rain down
and breezes scented with sandalwood
delight the hearts of the assembly?
Because of these
the earth is everywhere adorned and purified
and this world
quakes and trembles in six different ways.
At this time the four kinds of believers
are all filled with joy and delight,
they rejoice in body and mind,
having gained what they never had before.
The beam of brightness from between the eyebrows
illumines the eastern direction
and eighteen thousand lands
are all the color of gold.
From the Avichi hell
upward to the Summit of Being,
throughout the various worlds
the living beings in the six paths,
the realm to which their births and deaths are tending,
their good and bad deeds,
and the pleasing or ugly recompense they receive -
all these can be seen from here.
We can also see Buddhas,
those sage lords, lions,
expounding and preaching sutras
that are subtle, wonderful and foremost.
Their voices are clear and pure,
issuing in soft and gentle sounds,
as they teach bodhisattvas
in numberless millions.
Their Brahma sounds are profound and wonderful,
making people delight in hearing them.
Each in his own world
preaches the correct Dharma,
following various causes and conditions
and employing immeasurable similes,
illuminating the Dharma of the Buddha,
guiding living beings to enlightenment.
If a person should encounter troubles,
loathing old age, sickness and death,
the Buddhas preach to him on nirvana,
explaining how he may put an end to all troubles.
If a person should have good fortune,
having in the past made offerings to the Buddhas,
determined to seek a superior Dharma,
the Buddhas preach the way of the pratyekabuddha.
If there should be Buddha sons
who carry out various religious practices,
seeking to attain the unsurpassed wisdom,
the Buddhas preach the way of purity.
Manjushri,
I have been dwelling here,
seeing and hearing in this manner
many things numbering in the thousands of millions.
Numerous as they are,
I will now speak of them in brief.
I see in these lands
bodhisattvas numerous as Ganges sands,
according with various causes and conditions
and seeking the way of the Buddha.
Some of them give alms,
gold, silver, coral,
pears, mani jewels,
seashell, agate,
diamonds and other rarities,
men and women servants, carriages,
jeweled hand carriages and palanquins,
gladly presenting these donations.
Such gifts they give to the Buddha way,
desiring to achieve the vehicle
that is foremost in the threefold world
and praised by the Buddhas.
There are some bodhisattvas
who give jeweled carriages drawn by teams of four,
with railings and flowered canopies
adorning their top and sides.
Again I see bodhisattvas
who give their own flesh, hands and feet,
or their wives and children,
seeking the unsurpassed way.
I also see bodhisattvas
who happily give
heads, eyes, bodies and limbs
in their search for the Buddha wisdom.
Manjushri,
I see kings
going to visit the place of the Buddha
to ask him about the unsurpassed way.
They put aside their happy lands,
their palaces, their men and women attendants,
shave their hair and beard
and don the clothes of the Dharma.
Or I see bodhisattvas
who become monks,
living alone in quietude,
delighting in chanting the sutras.
Again I see bodhisattvas
bravely and vigorously exerting themselves,
entering the deep mountains,
their thoughts on the Buddha way.
And I see them removing themselves from desire,
constantly dwelling in emptiness and stillness,
advancing deep into the practice of mediation
until they have gained the five transcendental powers.
And I see bodhisattvas
resting in meditation, palms pressed together,
with a thousand, ten thousand verses
praising the king of the doctrines.
Again I see bodhisattvas,
profound in wisdom, firm in purpose,
who know how to question the Buddhas
and accept and abide by all they hear.
I see Buddha sons
proficient in both meditation and wisdom,
who use immeasurable numbers of similes
to expound the Dharma to the assembly,
delighting in preaching the Dharma,
converting the bodhisattvas,
defeating the legions of the devil
and beating the Dharma drum.
And I see bodhisattvas
profoundly still and silent,
honored by heavenly beings and dragons
but not counting that a joy.
And I see bodhisattvas
living in forests, emitting light,
saving those who suffer in hell,
causing them to enter the Buddha way.
And I see Buddha sons
who have never once slept,
who keep circling through the forest
diligently seeking the Buddha way.
And I see those who observe the precepts,
no flaw in their conduct,

pure as jewels and gems,
and in that manner seeking the Buddha way.
And I see Buddha sons
abiding in the strength of fortitude,
taking the abuse and blows
of persons of overbearing arrogance,
willing to suffer all these,
and in that manner seeking the Buddha way.
I see bodhisattvas
removing themselves form frivolity and laughter
and from foolish companions,
befriending persons of wisdom,
unifying their minds, dispelling confusion,
ordering their thoughts in mountain and forest
for a million, a thousand, ten thousand years
in that manner seeking the Buddha way.
Or I see bodhisattvas
with delicious things to eat and drink
and a hundred kinds of medicinal potions,
offering them to the Buddha and his monks;
fine robes and superior garments
costing in the thousands or ten thousands,
or robes that are beyond cast,
offering them to the Buddha and his monks;
a thousand, ten thousand, a million kinds
of jeweled dwellings made of sandalwood
and numerous wonderful articles of bedding,
offering them to the Buddha and his monks;
immaculate gardens and groves
where flowers and fruit abound,
flowing springs and bathing pools,
offering them to the Buddha and his monks;
offerings of this kind,
or many different wonderful varieties
presented gladly and without regret
as they seek the unsurpassed way.
Or there are bodhisattvas
who expound the Dharma of tranquil extinction,
giving different types of instruction
to numberless living beings.
Or I see bodhisattvas
viewing the nature of all phenomena
as having no dual characteristics,
as being like empty space.
And I see Buddha sons
whose minds have no attachments,
who use this wonderful wisdom
to seek the unsurpassed way.

Manjushri,
there are also bodhisattvas
who after the Buddha has passed into extinction
make offerings to his relics.
I see Buddha sons
building memorial towers
as numberless as Ganges sands,
ornamenting each land with them,
jeweled towers lofty and wonderful,
five thousand yojanas high,
their width and depth
exactly two thousand yojanas,
each of these memorial towers
with its thousand banners and streamers,
with curtains laced with gems like dewdrops
and jeweled bells chiming harmoniously.
There heavenly beings, dragons, spirits,
human and nonhuman beings,
with incense, flowers and music
constantly making offerings.
Manjushri,
these Buddha sons
in order to make offerings to the relics
adorn the memorial towers
so that each land, just as it is,
is as outstandingly wonderful and lovely
as the heavenly king of trees
when its flowers open and unfold.
When the Buddha emits a beam of light
I and the other members of the assembly
can see these lands
in all their various outstanding wonders.
The supernatural powers of the Buddhas
and their wisdom are rare indeed;
by emitting one pure beam of light,
the Buddhas illuminate countless lands.
I and the others have seen this,
have gained something never known before.
Buddha son, Manjushri,
I beg you to settle the doubts of the assembly.
The four kinds of believers look up in happy anticipation,
gazing at you and me.
Why does the World-Honored One
emit this beam of brightness?
Buddha son, give a timely answer,
settle these doubts and occasion joy!
What rich benefits will come
from the projecting of this beam of brightness?
It must be that the Buddha wishes to expound
the wonderful Dharma he gained
when he sat in the place of practice.
He must have prophecies to bestow.
He has showed us Buddha lands
with their adornment and purity of manifold treasures,
and we have seen their Buddhas -
this is not done for petty reasons.
Manjushri, you must know.
The four kinds of believers, the dragons and spirits
gaze at you in surmise,
wondering what explanation you will give.

At that time Manjushri said to the bodhisattva and mahasattva Maitreya and the other great men: "Good men, I suppose that the Buddha, the World Honored One, wishes now to expound the great Dharma, to rain down the rain of the great Dharma, to blow the conch of the great Dharma, to beat the drum of the great Dharma, to elucidate the meaning of the great Dharma. Good men, in the past I have seen this auspicious portent among the Buddhas. They emitted a beam of light like this, and after that they expounded the great Dharma. Therefore we should know that now, when the present Buddha manifests this light, we will do likewise. He wishes to cause all living beings to hear and understand the Dharma, which is difficult for all the world to believe. Therefore he has manifested this auspicious portent.

"Good men, once, at a time that was an immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable number of asamkhya kalpas in the past, there was a Buddha named Sun Moon Bright, Tathagata, worthy of offerings, of right and universal knowledge, perfect clarity and conduct, well gone, understanding the world, unexcelled worthy, trainer of people, teacher of heavenly and human beings, Buddha, World-Honored One, who expounded the correct Dharma. His exposition was good at the beginning, good in the middle, good at the end. The meaning was profound and far-reaching, the words were skillful and wondrous. It was pure and without alloy, complete, clean and spotless, and bore the marks of Brahma practice."

"For the sake of those seeking to become voice-hearers he responded by expounding the Dharma of the four noble truths, so that they could transcend birth, old age, sickness and death and attain nirvana. For the sake of those seeking to become pratyekabuddhas he responded by expounding the Dharma of the twelve-linked chain of causation. For the sake of the bodhisattvas he responded by expounding the six paramitas, causing them to gain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi and to acquire the wisdom that embraces all species."

"Then there was another Buddha who was also named Sun Moon Bright, and then another Buddha also named Sun Moon Bright. There were twenty thousand Buddhas like this, all with the same appellation, all named Sun Moon Bright. And all had the same surname, the surname Bharadvaja. Maitreya, you should understand that from the first Buddha to the last, all had the same appellation, all were named Sun Moon Bright. They were worthy of all the ten epithets and the Dharma they expounded was good at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end."

"The last Buddha, when he had not yet left family life, had eight princely sons. The first was named Having Intention, the second Good Intention, the third Immeasurable intention, the fourth jeweled intention, the fifth Increased Intention, the sixth Cleansed of Doubt Intention, the seventh Echoing Intention, and the eighth Dharma Intention. Dignity and virtue came easily to them, and each presided over a four-continent realm."

"When these princes heard that their father had left family life and had gained anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, they all cast aside their princely positions and followed him by leaving family life. Conceiving a desire for the Great Vehicle, the constantly carried out Brahma practices, and all became teachers of the Dharma. They had already planted good roots in the company of a thousand, ten thousand Buddhas."

"At that time the Buddha Sun Moon Bright preached the Great Vehicle sutra entitled Immeasurable Meanings, a Dharma to instruct the Bodhisattvas, one that is guarded and kept in mind by the Buddhas. When he had finished preaching the sutra, he sat cross-legged in the midst of the great assembly and entered into the samadhi of the place of immeasurable meanings, his body and mind never moving. At this time heaven rained down mandarava flowers, great mandarava flowers, manjushaka flowers, and great manjushaka flowers, scattering them over the Buddha and the great assembly, and everywhere the Buddha world quaked and trembled in six different ways."

"At that time the monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen , heavenly beings, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, and mahoragas, the human and nonhuman beings in the assembly, as well as the petty kings and wheel-turning sage kings - all those in this great assembly gained what they had never had before and, filled with joy, pressed their palms together and gazed at the Buddha with a single mind.

"At that time the Tathagata emitted a ray of light from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows, one of his characteristic features, lighting up eighteen thousand Buddha lands in the eastern direction. There was no place that the light did not penetrate, just as you have seen it light up these Buddha lands now."

"Maitreya, you should understand this. At that time in the assembly there were twenty million bodhisattvas who were happy and eager to hear the Dharma. When these bodhisattvas saw this beam of light that illuminated the Buddha lands everywhere, they gained what they had never had before. They wished to know the causes and conditions that had occasioned this light."

"At that time there was a bodhisattva named Wonderfully Bright who had eight hundred disciples. At this time the Buddha Sun Moon Bright arose from his samadhi and, because of the bodhisattva Wonderfully Bright, preached the Great Vehicle sutra called the Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma, a Dharma to instruct the bodhisattvas, one that is guarded and kept in mind by the Buddhas. For sixty small kalpas the Buddha remained in his seat without rising, and the listeners in the assembly at that time also remained seated there for sixty small kalpas, their bodies and minds never moving. And yet it seemed to them that they had been listening to the Buddha peach for no more than the space of a meal. At this time in the assembly there was not a single person who in body or mind had the least feeling of weariness."

"When the Buddha Sun Moon Bright had finished preaching this sutra over a period of sixty small kalpas, he spoke these words to the Brahmas, devils, shramanas and Brahmans, as well as to the heavenly and human beings and asuras in the assembly, saying, 'tonight at midnight the Tathagata will enter the nirvana of no remainder."

"At this time there was a bodhisattva named Virtue Storehouse. The Buddha Sun Moon Bright bestowed a prophecy on him, announcing to the monks, "This bodhisattva Virtue Storehouse will be the next to become a Buddha. He will be called Pure Body, tathagata, arhat, samyak-sambuddha."

"After the Buddha had finished bestowing this prophecy, at midnight he entered the nirvana of no remainder."

"After the Buddha had passed away, Bodhisattva Wonderfully Bright upheld the Sutra of the Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma, for a period of fully eighty small kalpas expounding it for others. The eight sons of the Buddha Sun Moon Bright all acknowledged Wonderfully Bright as their teacher. Wonderfully Bright taught and converted them and roused in them a firm determination to gain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Those princely sons gave offerings to immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of Buddhas, and after that all were able to achieve the Buddha way. The last to become a Buddha was named Burning Torch."

"Among the eight hundred disciples of Wonderfully Bright was one named Seeker of Fame. He was greedy for gain and support, and though he read and recited numerous sutras, he could not understand them, but for the most part forgot them. Hence he was called Seeker of Fame. Because this man had in addition planted various good roots, however, he was able to encounter immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of Buddhas, to make offerings to them, revere, honor and praise them."

"Maitreya, you should understand this. Bodhisattva Wonderfully Bright who lived then-could he be known to you? He was no other than I myself. And Bodhisattva Seeker of Fame was you."

"Now when I see this auspicious portent, it is no different from what I saw before. Therefore I suppose that now the Tathagata is about to preach the Great Vehicle sutra called the Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma, a Dharma to instruct the bodhisattvas, one that is guarded and kept in mind by the Buddhas."

At that time Manjushri, wishing in the presence of the great assembly to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying:

I recall that in a past age
immeasurable, innumerable kalpas ago
there was a Buddha, most honored of men,
named Sun Moon Bright.
This World-Honored One expounded the Dharma,
saving immeasurable living beings
and numberless millions of bodhisattvas,
causing them to enter the Buddha wisdom.
The eight princely sons whom this Buddha sired
before taking leave of family life,
when they saw that the great sage had left his family
did likewise, carrying out brahma practices.
At that time the Buddha preached the Great Vehicle,
a sutra named Immeasurable Meanings,
and in the midst of a great assembly
for the sake of the people established broad distinctions.
When the Buddha had finished preaching this sutra
he sat in the seat of the Dharma,
sitting cross-legged in the samadhi
called the place of immeasurable meanings.
The heavens rained mandarava flowers,
heavenly drums sounded of themselves,
and the heavenly beings, dragons and spirits
made offerings to the most honored of men.
All the Buddha lands
immediately quaked and trembled greatly.
The Buddha emitted a light from between his eyebrows,
manifesting signs that are rarely seen.
This light illumined the eastern direction,
eighteen thousand Buddha lands,
showing how all the living beings there
were recompensed in birth and death for their past deed.
That one could see how these Buddha lands,
adorned with numerous jewels,
shone with hues of lapis lazuli and crystal
was due to the illumination of the Buddha's light.
One could also see the heavenly and human beings,
dragons, spirits, many yakshas,
gandharvas and kimnaras,
each making offerings to his respective Buddha.
One could also see Tathagatas
naturally attaining the Buddha way,
their bodies the color of golden mountains,
upright, imposing, very subtle and wonderful.
It was as though in the midst of pure lapis lazuli
there should appear statues of real gold.
In the midst of the great assembly the World-Honored Ones
expounded the principles of the profound Dharma.
In one after another of the Buddha lands
the voice-hearers in countless multitudes
through the illumination of the Buddha's light
all became visible with their great assemblies.
There were also monks
residing in the midst of forests,
exerting themselves and keeping the pure precepts
as though they were guarding a bright jewel.
One could also see bodhisattvas
carrying out almsgiving, forbearances, and so forth,
their number like Ganges sands,
due to the illumination of the Buddha's light.
One could also see bodhisattvas
entering deep into meditation practices,
their bodies and minds still and unmoving,
in that manner seeking the unsurpassed way.
One could also see bodhisattvas
who knew that phenomena are marked by tranquility and extinction,
each in his respective land
preaching the Dharma and seeking the Buddha way.
At that time the four kinds of believers
seeing the Buddha Sun Moon Bright
manifest his great transcendental powers,
all rejoiced in their hearts,
and each one asked his neighbor
what had caused these events.
The one honored by heavenly and human beings
just then arose from his samadhi
and praised Bodhisattva Wonderfully Bright, saying,
"You are the eyes of the world,
one whom all can take faith in and believe,
able to honor and uphold the storehouse of the Dharma.
The law that I preach-
you alone know how to testify to it."
The World-Honored One, having bestowed this praise,
causing Wonderfully Bright to rejoice,
preached the Lotus Sutra
for fully sixty small kalpas.
He never rose from this seat,
and the supreme and wonderful Dharma that he preached
was accepted and upheld in its entirety
by the Dharma teacher Wonderfully Bright.
After the Buddha had preached the Lotus,
causing all the assembly to rejoice,
on that very same day
he announced to the assembly of heavenly and human beings,
"I have already expounded for you
the meaning of the true entity of all phenomena.
Now when midnight comes
I will enter nirvana.
You must strive with all your hearts
and remove yourselves from indulgence and laxity,
it is very difficult to encounter a Buddha-
you meet one once in a million kalpas."
When the children of the World-Honored One
heard that the Buddha was to enter nirvana,
each one was filled with sorrow and distress,
wondering why the Buddha should so quickly seek extinction.
The sage lord, king of the Dharma,
comforted and reassured the countless multitude,
saying, "When I enter extinction
you must not be concerned or fearful!
This bodhisattva Virtue Storehouse
has already fully understood in his mind
the true entity that is without outflows.
He will be next to become a Buddha,
bearing the name Pure Body,
and he too will save immeasurable multitudes."
That night the Buddha entered extinction,
as a fire dies out when the firewood is exhausted.
They divided and apportioned his relics
and built immeasurable numbers of towers,
and the monks and nuns
whose number was like Ganges sands
redoubled their exertions,
thereby seeking the unsurpassed way.
This Dharma teacher Wonderfully Bright
honored and upheld the Buddha's storehouse of the Dharma
throughout eighty small kalpas,
broadly propagating the Lotus Sutra.
These eight princely sons
whom Wonderfully Bright converted
held firmly to the unsurpassed way
and were thus able to encounter innumerable Buddhas.
And after they had made offerings to these Buddhas
they followed them in practicing the great way
and one after the other succeeded in becoming a Buddha,
each in turn bestowing a prophecy on his successor.
The last to become a heavenly being among heavenly beings
was named the Buddha Burning Torch.
As leader and teacher of seers
he saved immeasurable multitudes.
This Dharma teacher Wonderfully Bright
at that time had a disciple
whose mind was forever occupied with laziness and sloth,
who was greedy for fame and profit.
He sought fame and profit insatiably,
often amusing himself among clansmen and those of other surnames.
He threw away what he had studied and memorized,
neglected and forgot it, failed to understand it.
Because of this
he was named Seeker of Fame.
But he had also carried out many good actions
and thus was able to meet with innumerable Buddhas.
He made offerings to the Buddhas
and followed them in practicing the great way,
carrying out all the six paramitas,
and now he has met the lion of the Shakyas.
Hereafter he will become a Buddha
whose name will be Maitreya,
who will save living beings extensively
in numbers beyond calculation.
After that Buddha passed into extinction,
that lazy and slothful one-he was you,
and the Dharma teacher Wonderfully Bright-
that was the person who is now I myself.
I saw how the Buddha Torch Bright (Sun Moon Bright)
earlier manifested an auspicious portent like this.
And so I know that now this present Buddha
is about to preach the Lotus Sutra.
The signs now are like those of the earlier auspicious portent,
this is an expedient means used by the Buddhas.
Now when the Buddha emits this beam of brightness
he is helping to reveal the meaning of the true entity of
phenomena.
Human beings now will come to know it.
Let us press our palms together and wait with a single mind.
The Buddha will rain down the rain of the Dharma
to fully satisfy all seekers of the way.
You who seek the three vehicles,
if you have doubts and regrets,
the Buddha will resolve them for you,
bringing them to an end so that nothing remains.

The Lotus Sutra
Translated by Burton Watson