ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 31.17

31.17

particularly suited to him, and when he heard it the householder’s son felt joy toward the Blessed One. Then the householder’s son, knowing the Blessed One had completed his discourse, rejoiced, praised all that the Blessed One had said, touched his head to the Blessed One’s feet, and took leave of him.

One day he was of a mind to give gifts, but he saw there were no possessions at all in his house. The idea came to him to set out on the great ocean. “If I can complete just one crossing to Ratnadvīpa, it will be easy for me to give gifts and make merit,” he thought, so he loaded up his wares and set out on the great ocean in the company of some five hundred merchants.

After he completed his crossing to Ratnadvīpa and was returning to Jambudvīpa, an overpowering gale arose and thrust their great seafaring vessel into a crevasse. As the tides of the great ocean returned, all of the merchants became terrified and cried out, “We’re as good as dead! Our lives are over. Who can console us? Who can save our precious lives?”

“Have no fear, have no fear,” said the captain. “Take refuge in the Blessed Buddha. He will grant us refuge from meeting with misfortune, suffering, and harm.” No sooner had the merchants heard this than they all took refuge in the Buddha, saying, “Lord, Blessed One, if there is nothing past, present, or future that you do not see, know, or directly perceive, then heed us now, Lord, grant us refuge from meeting with misfortune, suffering, and harm! Please save our precious lives!”

At this the Blessed One