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འཕགས་པ་ཤན་ཏ་རྒྱས་པ་ཆན་པའ་སྡ་ཉ་མའ་སྙང་པ་ཞས་བྱ་བའ་མད 5

The Quintessence of the Sun 5

Language
English

5.2

“Respected Blessed One, that buddha realm of Sahā is strange: in that place, sentient beings are extremely hostile, impetuous, harsh, and envious. They lack affection and gratitude, they speak with harsh words, and they adhere to wrong views. So it would not be good if I were hurt there by some of those beings. I would not benefit anyone by going there!”

“Noble son,” replied the Blessed One, “it is impossible. There is no chance for this to happen! Not even ten million māras could hurt or create obstacles to those who have properly cultivated and contemplated the sublime states free from concepts; it would be impossible! Noble son, you have already properly cultivated and contemplated the sublime states free from concepts for a long time, so do not be afraid! Noble son, I will confer upon you a dhāraṇī mantra of great love that emerges from the sublime states free from concepts. Through this mantra, all hostile beings will develop trust and become stupefied; it will cause them to achieve acceptance, recollection, and sincere faith.

tadyathā: vovriha vuvula ilavara ilasaha haṭyaṭyagaganākṣa śamaśama mitramitra cakravartitile sāgaratile durbhali hihile havahenarājane yavanamitre kṣānatimitre mitrarlame mitrakhaghe sarvasatojamitre sarvakramamitre manavartamitre dhitiśaramitre svāhā.

“Noble son, if one rubs both hands with oil from campaka grains while reciting this secret dhāraṇī mantra that pacifies and stupefies hostile beings, it will make all hostile beings trusting and astonished. All those beings with hostile minds, such as the trillions of angry snakes, yakṣas, kumbhāṇḍas, pūtanas, and māras, will become powerless.

5.3

Even if all those hostile beings were to fill the four continents, a single handful of water would immediately annihilate them all. Even if the four oceans were entirely filled with murky water, a single handful of water would immediately make that water completely clear. There are no doubts about this, so take it with you, and go to the buddha realm of Sahā!”

At that moment, the innumerable and limitless bodhisattvas exclaimed in unison, “Respected Blessed One, we also wish to behold the thus-gone Śākyamuni, to pay homage to him, to revere him, to behold his great assembly, and to listen to the practice of the Dharma of The Quintessence of the Sun, the section on the light rays that destroy the domain of the nāgas, the dhāraṇī mantra that cleanses the karmic actions of sentient beings! Respected Blessed One, if you grant your permission, we will also go to the buddha realm of Sahā!”

The blessed thus-gone Glorious Essence of Flowers replied to them, “Noble sons, all of you please proceed together while adopting the attire, marks, shape, implements, and behavior of universal monarchs ruling over the four continents.”

All those eight hundred million bodhisattvas then transformed themselves to have the attire, marks, shape, implements and behavior of universal monarchs ruling over the four continents. Then, the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha and all the other bodhisattvas bowed their heads to the feet of the thus-gone Glorious Essence of Flowers, circumambulated him three times, and rested in the sky. Each bodhisattva great being also manifested seven lotuses, each with a thousand petals made of precious gems,

5.4

as well as the four kinds of troops. They departed in this manner and instantaneously arrived in this buddha realm of Sahā. Some of them showered a rain of gold powder everywhere in the buddha realm of Sahā in order to worship the blessed thus-gone Śākyamuni and his bodhisattvas. To worship the blessed thus-gone Śākyamuni and his bodhisattvas, others showered a rain of silver powder, and still others showered rains of perfumed powders, pearls, gold threads, pearl necklaces, armlets, cotton, fine fabrics, parasols, banners, and flags. All of them circumambulated this buddha realm of Sahā three times and then sat to one side.

Chapter Three

The Dhāraṇī Mantras

When King Bimbisāra saw the unprecedented sight of innumerable and limitless numbers of mahābrahmās, Śakras, Nārāyaṇas, and universal monarchs ruling over the four continents, he was utterly amazed. He stood up and went close to them. Next, together with their retinues, the bodhisattva great beings—the four messengers of the buddhas—sat down and bowed with their palms joined together in the direction of the thus-gone Śākyamuni.

5.5

The bodhisattva great being Quintessence of the Sun’s Energy then tossed garlands of campaka flowers in the direction of the thus-gone Śākyamuni and uttered these verses:

“Sublime human, you hold the light that illuminates beings,
And you show the path to those who have corrupt views.
Endowed with the view of sameness, you benefit beings
And swiftly subjugate māras and nāgas.

“You liberate from their afflictions beings who are hard to tame,
And you cause the light of the Dharma to blaze for a long time in this world.
Supreme being, you beautify all the many realms
With these gateways of concentration.

“Victor, supreme being, many wise ones
Speak about this realm from far away.
This time for beings to receive the Dharma is hard to attain;³⁷
Seeing this, we have joined this assembly for the sake of the Dharma.

“It is difficult to achieve a human birth,
And even those who have obtained a human body for a very long time
Are seized by severe afflictions;
Great sage, please quickly sever the web of the afflictions!

“Like a great elephant, you liberate beings who have fallen
Into the ocean of suffering and the river of the afflictions.
The victors have sent us here as messengers
As they rejoice in your Dharma treasure.³⁸

“Respected Blessed One, in the eastern direction, beyond countless buddha realms as numerous as the grains of sand in countless Ganges Rivers, there is a world called Absence of Heat,³⁹ where the thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha Campaka Color resides, thrives, lives well, and teaches the Dharma. That thus-gone one has sent me here. He puts faith in the practice of the Dharma of The Quintessence of the Sun, the section on the light rays that destroy the domain of the nāgas, the dhāraṇī mantra expounded by you that cleanses the karmic actions of sentient beings, and he enquires whether you have any ills or problems and whether you are healthy and well.

5.6

Respected Blessed One, are you in good health and free from ills? Are the members of your retinue comfortable and free from ills? Are they eager to listen to the Dharma? Do they follow the Dharma persistently in the way they hear it? Do they abide by the Dharma? Are the domains of the māras and nāgas subjugated in your buddha realm? Is this your only buddha realm? Are you turning the Dharma wheel without obstruction in this place?

“For the sake of those who will turn the wheel in this buddha realm, the thus-gone Campaka Color puts faith in you and in this practice of the Dharma of The Quintessence of the Sun, the dhāraṇī mantra of the section on the light rays that destroy the domain of the nāgas. He confers this powerful and beneficial dhāraṇī mantra that accords with the truth. It exhausts all forms of attachment associated with the desire realm, the form realm, and the formless realm, as well as pride, special pride, and pride that thinks ‘I am.’ This acceptance that accords with the truth annihilates all māras and vanquishes the nāgas. It pleases the gods, it satisfies the yakṣas, it overcomes the asuras, it pleases the vaiśyas, and it delights the śūdras. It liberates women from their desires, it induces weariness in the scholars, it delights the spiritual practitioners, it completely pacifies all diseases, quarrels, fights, famines, untimely sicknesses,

5.7

hostile armies, wind, rains, rivers, cold, heat, snow, and heat waves, and it softens unsavory tastes and substances that are harsh, rough, and hard to touch. It causes the way of the Dharma to blaze, it reveals the teachings of the buddhas, and it ensures that the lineage of the Three Jewels remains uninterrupted. It provides relief to those who are afraid of saṃsāra, generates the knowledge of exhaustion, causes one to realize the knowledge of the unborn, overcomes all the dense darkness of ignorance, removes the burden of suffering, and dries up the river of craving.

tadyathā: vāyevayaparivāre vahevahaparivāre pṛthāviparivāre āve avaparivāre tejetejaparivāre mālemalaparivāre khagekhagaparivāre āloke ālokaparivāre sthama sthamaparivāre rājerājaparivāre silisilaparivāre gamegamaparivāre āvoca avocaparivāre malamalalamalamelama rālarālalama vidyājñāna­bhutaṃgame bhutaṅgama­parivāre cakṣugrahe cakṣugrahaparivāre śotragrahe śotragraha­parivāre ghrāṇagrahe ghrāṇagraha­parivāre jihvāgrahe jihva­grahāparivāre kāyagrahe kāyagraha­parivāre managrahe managraha­parivāre sparśagrahe sparśagraha­parivāre vedanagrahe vedana­graha­parivāre tṛṣṇāgraha tṛṣṇāgraha­parivāre upādāna­grahe upādānagraha­parivāre bhāvagrahe bhāva­grahāparivāre jātigrahe jātigraha­parivāre jaramaraṇgrahe jaramaraṇa­grahāparivāre duḥkha­santapāgrahe duḥkha­santapāgraha­parivāre ārāpārādvaje­grahe ārāpārādvaja­grahāparivāre ārāpārādhvajegrahe ārāpārādhvajaṃgrahāparivāre ārāpārādvijagrahe ārāpārādvijaṁgrahāparivāre avrtavivrtasya

5.8

avaramupamāsvasya vegavinivarta ārya­rasmisamvegana­śānati svāhā.

“Respected Blessed One, this is the acceptance that accords with the truth, which was conferred by the thus-gone Campaka Color.”

The Blessed One expressed his approval of this, as did the entire retinue that had arrived in the buddha realm of Sahā—all but those who were absorbed in concentration.

Then, the Blessed One said to the bodhisattva great being Quintessence of the Sun’s Energy, “Noble son, while sitting here on this seat, I shall teach extensively to sentient beings, with both meaning and letter and without adding or omitting anything, this acceptance that accords with the truth. Noble son, please reveal also the dhāraṇī mantra hollow lotus stalk of the sun’s eye,⁴⁰ which the thus-gone Campaka Color gave to protect you when you were coming here, the dhāraṇī mantra that accomplishes everything from the unique features of the body up to parinirvāṇa.”

At that moment, the bodhisattva great being Quintessence of the Sun’s Energy uttered these words:

syād yathedaṃ: siddhamate vilokamate alegetariśe rucesuruce buddhe vibuddhe mahābuddhe unmadte unmadtapratiṣedhane ragadhruvapratiṣedhane bindubindumate citacitavatiṣedhane arkecandra ardhe hataciti hatanirmi hatakāmavege hatapaunabhaviraje hatacakṣusamate hatavimatamudre hatayāghe hatayāghe hatasamudrajave hatavimanarāje hatahite hatacitaṭe hatadharmarāje hatavahurāje hatavarjamati hata upagamate hataroparasmi hatadharmasiddhi hatasarvonamad

5.9

jñājñājñā vijñājñājñā sarvamārgajñājñā eṣonadasaṁsaraduḥkhe svāhā.

“Respected Blessed One, this is the dhāraṇī mantra lotus of the sun’s eye, which the thus-gone Campaka Color gave to protect me when I departed.”

The blessed Śākyamuni then said to Venerable Yaśas, “Yaśas, remember this dhāraṇī mantra lotus of the sun’s eye! Yaśas, it is rare for thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddhas to appear in the world, but it is much more difficult to obtain this dhāraṇī mantra lotus of the sun’s eye. Noble son, the thus-gone ones or their hearers could describe the qualities and the benefits related to Mount Sumeru or the great ocean, but they could never fully express the qualities and benefits of this dhāraṇī mantra lotus of the sun’s eye, even if they were to endeavor for eons or more. This dhāraṇī mantra lotus of the sun’s eye is therefore profound! Noble son, you must remember this dhāraṇī mantra lotus of the sun’s eye! Comprehend it and teach it on a vast scale to the four assemblies! Thereby, sentient beings’ attachments related to the desire realm will be abandoned, […] all their defilements will be exhausted, and they will experience the happiness of emancipation.”

Then the bodhisattva great being Gandhahastin uttered these verses:

“In front of the king of the trees, you defeated Māra
And achieved supreme awakening on your own.
Alone, you have subjugated gods, humans, and yakṣas.
Victor, you are the light rays of the sun’s supreme liberated wisdom.

5.10

“You alone outshine the non-Buddhists in this world,
And you beautify the entire world, like the sun compared to a firefly.
Great sage, you liberate sentient beings within your assembly,
And you ensure that the lineage of the Three Jewels and the Dharma way endure for a long time.

“Bodhisattvas who have arrived to worship you alone
Strive for the Dharma in the pursuit of virtue and awakening.
Victor, you teach the Dharma that eliminates all suffering,
And you reveal the supreme conduct of awakened wisdom.

“You alone appease sentient beings through your pacifying nectar,
And you liberate hundreds of millions of beings to free them from new births.⁴¹
Your defilements are exhausted, you are free from views, you have abandoned afflictions,
And you have reached the city of peace, where there is no sorrow.

“In the entire world, you are the sole doctor,
And the victors have sent us as messengers to ask you questions.
You abide by an ocean of knowledge and impartial compassion;
Great sage, listen to this moon-like Dharma, and I will confer a dhāraṇī.

“Respected Blessed One, in the southern direction, beyond buddha realms as numerous as the grains of sand needed to fill a city about a league in size, in a place ripe with the five degenerations, there is a world called Banner of Degeneration, where the thus-gone King of the Lord of Mountains resides, thrives, lives well, and teaches the Dharma. That thus-gone one has sent me here. He puts faith in you and in this practice of the Dharma of The Quintessence of the Sun, the section on the light rays that destroy the domain of the nāgas, the dhāraṇī mantra you expound that cleanses the karmic actions of sentient beings.

5.11

He enquires whether you have any ills or problems and whether you are healthy and well. Respected Blessed One, are you healthy and free from ills? Are the members of your retinue comfortable and in good health? Are they eager to listen to the sacred Dharma? Do they follow the Dharma persistently in the way they hear it? Do they abide by the Dharma? Are the domains of the māras and nāgas subjugated in your buddha realm? Is this your only buddha realm? Are you turning the Dharma wheel without obstruction in this place? For the sake of those who will turn the wheel in this buddha realm, the thus-gone King of the Lord of Mountains puts faith in you and in this practice of the Dharma of The Quintessence of the Sun, the section on the light rays that destroy the domain of the nāgas, the dhāraṇī mantra that cleanses the karmic actions of sentient beings. Then, he confers this powerful and beneficial dhāraṇī mantra that accords with emptiness. It exhausts all forms of attachment associated with the desire realm, the form realm, and the formless realm. It exhausts pride, special pride, and pride that thinks ‘I am,’ […] and it removes the burden of suffering.

tadyathā: dhumate dhumate akṣidhumate prabhāsadhumate sarvākāśadhumate avaikhagha vaimetakhaga avaikṣakhaga amohakhaga ananyakhaga vyāvṛttikhaga saṁrucakhaga anaimakhaga locanakhaga śikhikhaga

5.12

vitimirakkhaga ukṣomakhaga urokhaga akṣikhaga yāvadmanokhaga rūbakhaga yāvadvijñānakhaga cakṣudhātukhaga yāvadmanovijñānadhātukhaga pṛthavīdhātukhaga yāvadvijñānadhātukhaga catusmṛtyupasthānakhaga yāvadāvonakakhaga duḥkhakhaga yāvadmārgakhaga vipavana vikṣapa ananasamudranana sarvakāranana sarvasaṅsthanana viśūpanana akincananana kṣa bhakṣa i le i i le i i le mi le svāhā.

“Blessed One, this is the dhāraṇī mantra that accords with emptiness conferred by the thus-gone King of the Lord of Mountains.”

The blessed Śākyamuni expressed his approval of this, as did the entire retinue that had arrived in the buddha realm of Sahā—all but those who were absorbed in concentration.

Then the Blessed One said to the bodhisattva great being Gandhahastin, “Noble son, while sitting here on this seat, I shall teach extensively, with both meaning and letter and without adding or omitting anything, this dhāraṇī mantra that accords with emptiness. Noble son, please reveal also the teaching of the inexhaustible core, which the thus-gone King of the Lord of Mountains gave to protect you before you came here. This teaching of the inexhaustible core subsumes the accomplishment of the intentions and feelings of all sentient beings; it causes one to achieve omniscient wisdom, it subjugates the four māras, it is the basis for accomplishment, and it establishes the Dharma way and the lineage of the Three Jewels.”

At that moment, the bodhisattva great being Gandhahastin uttered these words:

tadyathā: śraṇavyāya śikṣavyāya smṛtivyāya

5.13

prahīnavyāya ṛddhivyāya indriyavyāya balavyāya bodhyāṅgavyāya samadhivyāya dhāraṇīvyāya kṣāntivyāya dhyānavyāya arūpavyāya aninajavyāya mārgavyāya abhijñāvyāya pratisaṁvidvyāya bhūmivyāya vidyāvyāya mahāmaitrivyāya mahākaruṇavyāya pṛthivīvyāya satvavyāya dharmavyāya tamavyāya ālokavyāya pratibhāsavyāya pratiśrutkavyāya gaganavyāya māravyāya śūnyatāvyāya pratītyavyāya apraṇihitavyāya animidtavyāya rutavyāya ghoṣavyāya akincanvyāya abhisamaya anunu anona avaha cacāra cacacāravimu cacacakṣa cacacaravimuvyāya vimukṣaya vimu āpavyāya vimu asamudracaravimu cchedavimu ākāśavamu vyupaśmavimu anābhasavimu ahahavimu apāravimu upaśama salilavimu svāhā.

“Respected Blessed One, this is the dhāraṇī mantra inexhaustible core, which the thus-gone King of the Lord of Mountains conferred in order to protect me when I departed.”

The blessed Śākyamuni then said to Venerable Ājñātakauṇḍinya, “Kauṇḍinya, remember this dhāraṇī mantra inexhaustible core! Kauṇḍinya, it is rare for thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddhas to appear in the world, but it is much more difficult to obtain this teaching of the inexhaustible core. Noble son, the thus-gone ones or their hearers could enumerate all the moments of thoughts formed by all sentient beings for a hundred thousand eons, but no one could enumerate the eighteen unique qualities of the buddhas who have understood without obscuration this dhāraṇī mantra inexhaustible core. Therefore, Kauṇḍinya, you should teach the Dharma of this teaching of the inexhaustible core on a vast scale to the four assemblies, just as you have heard it!

5.14

By hearing that Dharma, they will reach the exhaustion of all their karmic actions, achieve unimpeded, undivided, and uninterrupted eloquence, and become thus-gone ones who are more exalted than the three realms.”

At that moment, the bodhisattva great being Glorious Essence of Light bowed down with his palms joined together in the direction of the thus-gone Śākyamuni and uttered these verses:

“Wise protector, having crossed over,
You liberate the six classes of beings
Who are carried away by suffering
And agitated by the diseases of their afflictions.

“You reveal the correct path
To those who are deluded with regard to the six senses
And caught by Māra’s noose;
Within the worlds, your presence is extremely rare.

“Wise humans will abandon the basis of the household,
Which is endowed with the six branches.
You are the friend of the entire world,
And you eliminate all Dharma famine.

“Great practitioner, you possess the six higher perceptions⁴²
And reveal the truths.
Great sage, you liberate beings circling in saṃsāra
From their tight fetters.

“We have come to this realm
Out of faith in your mantra.
The protectors of the world have sent us here
As messengers, so please listen.

“Respected Blessed One, in the western direction, beyond buddha realms as numerous as the grains of sand in forty-two Ganges Rivers, there is a world called Essence Banner, where the thus-gone one named Royal Mass of Glorious Wisdom resides, thrives, lives well, and teaches the Dharma. That thus-gone one has sent me here. He puts faith in the practice of the Dharma of The Quintessence of the Sun, the section on the light rays that destroy the domain of the nāgas, the dhāraṇī mantra expounded by you that cleanses the karmic actions of sentient beings.

5.15

He enquires whether you have any ills or problems and whether you are healthy and well. Respected Blessed One, are you healthy and free from ills? Are the members of your retinue comfortable and in good health? Are they eager to listen to the sacred Dharma? Do they follow the Dharma persistently in the way they hear it? Do they abide by the Dharma? Are the domains of the māras and nāgas subjugated in your buddha realm? Is this your only buddha realm? Are you turning the Dharma wheel without obstruction in this place? For the sake of those who will turn the wheel in this buddha realm, the thus-gone Royal Mass of Glorious Wisdom puts faith in you and in the practice of the Dharma of The Quintessence of the Sun, the section on the light rays that destroy the domain of the nāgas, the dhāraṇī mantra that cleanses the karmic actions of sentient beings. Then, he also confers this powerful and beneficial dhāraṇī mantra that accords with the absence of wishes. It exhausts all forms of attachment associated with the desire realm, the form realm, and the formless realm. It exhausts pride, special pride, and pride that thinks ‘I am,’ […] it overcomes all the dense darkness of ignorance, and it removes the burden of suffering.

tadyathā: śanaśara śamanaśava apakṣavaśa cakṣubhavaśava śotraśava ghrāṇaśava jihvaśava kāyaśava manāśava kṣatividyacakṣupṛthavīkṣabha śrotra avakṣabha jihvavāyukṣabha manojakṣabha ālokajñānakṣabha vījasaṅgramakṣabha

5.16

aṅkurakhaghakṣabha śamkarukṣabha kṣayarāsakṣabha śāntivyasrakṣabha natonatainatona avanyeratona nayāvanayinatoneṣa antaduḥkhasya svāhā.

“Blessed One, this is the dhāraṇī mantra that accords with the absence of wishes conferred by the thus-gone Royal Mass of Glorious Wisdom.”

The blessed Śākyamuni expressed his approval, as did all the sentient beings present within the buddha realm of Sahā—except for those who were absorbed in concentration.

Then the Blessed One said to the bodhisattva great being Glorious Essence of Light, “Noble son, while sitting here on this seat, I shall teach extensively to sentient beings, with excellent meaning and words and without adding or omitting anything, this dhāraṇī mantra that accords with emptiness. Noble son, please reveal also the teaching of the fundamental vidyā mantra that the thus-gone Royal Mass of Glorious Wisdom gave to protect you before you came here. That teaching completely pacifies and pulverizes the causes of saṃsāra—sentient beings’ lesser, moderate, and intense cravings as well as their afflictions associated with the form and the formless realms—accumulated for eons as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges. It cleanses their karmic actions, and it perfects all their virtues.”

“Respected Blessed One, I shall do so:

tadyathā: vegapariccheda garbhasakṣase garbharevidyāprabhagakṣekṣaya yogepratihareśamannasikathe samameghajhaṣe akṣaya natekṣabhavaje niddhajhaṣe samanajhaṣe adhyaśayajhaṣe viprabhajhaṣe śaikṣajhaṣe senyajavajhaṣe saliguhyajhaṣe saliguhabhaikṣivanakośe sādhanakonosivadhananathye vitapavidte

5.17

upakramapathe anacchedyaprakhe pratikramena sakaṅthyaśaisalocanavame krodhadhare kāmasaśe ākāśakhagenāgakunje vidyavane klanavane ucavane samamakere śariyavane meghajaveharikonova nayanamukhe sārakṣakole narāyaṇacare indravāsane o a ava ārāva ā vara avāra sāramegha duḥkhanastiraninirvāhe svāhā.

“Respected Blessed One, this is the teaching of the fundamental vidyā mantra that the thus-gone Royal Mass of Glorious Wisdom conferred to protect me when I departed.”

The blessed Śākyamuni then said to Venerable Śāriputra, “Śāriputra, remember this fundamental dhāraṇī mantra! Śāriputra, it is rare for thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddhas to appear in the world, but it is much more difficult to obtain this fundamental dhāraṇī mantra. Śāriputra, the thus-gone ones or their hearers could count or evaluate the number of smallest particles in the earth element present in the world with its four continents over a hundred eons. However, even if they were to try for a hundred thousand eons, they could never describe the scope of this fundamental dhāraṇī mantra. This fundamental dhāraṇī mantra is therefore very profound. Śāriputra, you must remember this fundamental dhāraṇī mantra. You must comprehend it and teach it on a vast scale to the four assemblies! When sentient beings hear it, the causes of saṃsāra that exist within them—their lesser, moderate, and intense cravings as well as their afflictions associated with the form and the formless realms—will be completely pacified, and they will turn their backs on them for eons as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges.

5.18

Women’s karmic obscurations associated with the five acts of immediate retribution and their other causes of saṃsāra will be exhausted without any remainder; all their defilements will be exhausted, and they will be endowed with the happiness of emancipation.”

At that moment, the bodhisattva great being Ākāśagarbha bowed down with his palms joined in the direction of the Blessed One and uttered these verses:

“You are the sole guide,
And you have gained certainty with respect to all phenomena.
Since devotion arises in them upon seeing this,
Even the glorious spiritual friends worship you.

“You are worshiped by delightful spiritual friends
Replete with the most supreme aspects.
They make offerings to the Thus-Gone One
By offering flowers and incense.

“Since you have gathered this great assembly
Instantly in this place,
All the gods are praising you,
And the glorious spiritual friends worship you.

“O protector of the world,
You only demonstrate this on one occasion.
The wise asuras and the glorious spiritual friends
Are continuously worshiping you.

“Glorious Essence of Flowers
Is adorned with all aspects of glory;
He has sent us here as messengers
To ask you these questions.

“Respected Blessed One, in the northern direction, beyond buddha realms as numerous as the grains of sand in eighty Ganges Rivers, in a place ripe with the five degenerations, there is a world called Manifestation of All Perfumes, where the thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha Glorious Essence of Flowers resides and teaches the Dharma. That thus-gone one has sent me here. He puts faith in the practice of the Dharma of The Quintessence of the Sun, the section on the light rays that destroy the domain of the nāgas, the dhāraṇī mantra expounded by you that cleanses the karmic actions of sentient beings. He enquires whether you have any ills or problems and whether you are healthy and well.

5.19

Respected Blessed One, are you healthy and free from ills? Are the members of your retinue comfortable and in good health? Are they eager to listen to the sacred Dharma? Do they follow the Dharma persistently in the way they hear it? Do they abide by the Dharma? Are the domains of the māras and nāgas subjugated in your buddha realm? Is your buddha realm unique? Are you turning the Dharma wheel without obstruction in this place? For the sake of those who will turn the wheel in this buddha realm, the thus-gone Royal Mass of Glorious Wisdom puts faith in you and in the practice of the Dharma of The Quintessence of the Sun, the section on the light rays that destroy the domain of the nāgas, the dhāraṇī mantra that cleanses the karmic actions of sentient beings. Moreover, he also confers this powerful and beneficial dhāraṇī mantra peaceful core of knowledge. It benefits all sentient beings, completely cures all diseases, and completely subdues all afflictions. It generates complete knowledge of all the aggregates and elements, causes one to discern all phenomena, reveals all the skillful means, and causes one to experience the entirety of the happiness of emancipation. It induces sincere faith in all sentient beings, causes one to attain happiness related to all phenomena, eradicates all māras and enemies in accordance with the Dharma, and subjugates all the domains of the māras. This great teaching of the peaceful core of knowledge annihilates all māras and vanquishes enemies. It pleases the gods, delights the yakṣas,

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overcomes the asuras, pleases the garuḍas, generates faith in the kinnaras, and puts the mahoragas to flight. It subdues all enemies, delights the members of the kṣatriya class, induces comprehension in the brāhmaṇas, overcomes the vaiśyas, and utterly pleases the śūdras. It frees women from their desires, easily releases pregnant women, induces recollection in the scholars, and delights the spiritual practitioners. It completely pacifies all sicknesses, quarrels, fights, famines, epidemics, diseases, hostile armies, untimely winds, rains, rivers, cold, heat, snow, and heat waves, and it softens substances that are harsh, rough, and hard to touch. It causes the way of the Dharma to blaze, it reveals the teachings of the buddhas, and it ensures that the lineage of the Three Jewels remains uninterrupted. It provides relief to those who are afraid of saṃsāra, generates the knowledge of exhaustion, causes one to realize directly the knowledge of the unborn, overcomes all the aggregates associated with darkness, and removes the burden of suffering. It is very powerful.

tadyathā: manākṣa anākṣa ghasākṣa jālakṣa mānākṣa kṣavakṣa mandhākṣa naḍakṣa naḍararahuvisanāta khaghanāṭa āṭanāṭakunāṭa parikusanāṭa nāṭanāṭa purikṣanāṭa utaranāṭa kavināṭa kunjanāṭa amakhanāṭa cavamabhanāṭa khagamabhanāṭa pukṣaranāṭa hisadudrānāṭa samalayanāṭa śirakumaṅkautaṭamatugurava

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tvehukṣa vanirajū dhvanamarajū vaghanapute santiravajava mahoragajala atrinā atrinā atrinānava atrinākṣa avahamārgatrinākṣa eṣonatauduḥkhabharasya svāhā.

“Respected Blessed One, the thus-gone Glorious Essence of Flowers confers here this powerful and beneficial great teaching of the peaceful core of knowledge.”

The blessed Śākyamuni expressed his approval, as did all the sentient beings who had assembled in the buddha realm of Sahā—except for those who were exerting themselves in concentration.

Then the Blessed One said to the bodhisattva great being Ākāśagarbha, “Noble son, while sitting here on this seat, I shall teach extensively to sentient beings, with both meaning and words and without adding or omitting anything, this dhāraṇī mantra peaceful core of knowledge. Noble son, please also reveal the mantra that the thus-gone Glorious Essence of Flowers gave when you departed, the dhāraṇī mantra that is the outcome of the sublime states free from concepts and through which all hostile beings develop faith, become pacified, and fall asleep.”

“Respected Blessed One, I shall do so:

tadyathā: vovṛhabubura talarava ilasaha haṭūhaṭū gaganākṣaśamamitra cakravrtitilesāgara tiledūnahile hilehavahe narajaṭe yavanamitre kṣitimitre paramitre śikhimitre marutramitre khagamitre sarva ujamitre sarvakāmamitre manaparumitre dhanaśvaramitre svāhā.”

Oh! As this teaching that pacifies hostile beings and puts them to sleep was being uttered by the bodhisattva great being Ākāśagarbha,

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all hostile snakes—except for those who had reached acceptance and those who had reached the level of nonregression on the path to unsurpassed and perfect awakening—left for their respective places and fell asleep. Besides the bodhisattvas who had reached acceptance and the level of nonregression, all hostile yakṣas, asuras, garuḍas, mahoragas, pretas, piśācas, pūtanas, and kaṭapūtanas in saṃsāra also left for their respective places and fell asleep. Upon hearing this teaching that pacifies and puts to sleep all the hostile humans who are impetuous, harsh, devoid of affection, and in conflict with one another, as well as those who constantly manifest aggressive behavior, commit the five acts of immediate retribution, reject the sacred Dharma, denigrate the noble ones, and are endowed with the roots of nonvirtue, everyone developed a sincere attitude of love, compassion, and affection and became free of malice and anxiety. Everyone focused on the Dharma, began to fear the afterlife, developed sincere respect for the Three Jewels, observed the Dharma, and manifested a peaceful mindset.

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“Respected Blessed One, this is the dhāraṇī mantra that pacifies hostile beings that the thus-gone Glorious Essence of Flowers conferred to protect me when I departed.”

The thus-gone Śākyamuni then said to Venerable Maudgalyāyana, “Maudgalyāyana, remember this dhāraṇī mantra that pacifies and puts to sleep hostile beings and that is the outcome of the sublime states free from concepts! Maudgalyāyana, it is rare for thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddhas to appear in the world, but it is much more difficult to obtain this dhāraṇī mantra that is the outcome of the sublime states free from concepts and pacifies and puts to sleep hostile beings. Maudgalyāyana, even if one were to teach this mantra that pacifies and puts to sleep hostile beings for a hundred thousand eons without doing anything else, the world with its gods, and even the bodhisattva great beings who dwell on the levels, could not apprehend its meaning—only the thus-gone ones themselves could apprehend it. It is therefore very profound, valuable, and beneficial. It perfects the path to unsurpassed and perfect awakening, it fulfills all wishes, and it causes one to attain the great compassion that ripens sentient beings. Therefore, Maudgalyāyana, remember this dhāraṇī mantra that pacifies and puts to sleep hostile beings, and teach it extensively to sentient beings at the proper times. By the mere fact of hearing it, those beings who listen to it will gain many qualities and benefits. The results of the karmic ripening of much aggression, which would otherwise have led to undesired consequences, will vanish and become nonexistent. They will clearly understand the many defects of saṃsāra,

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they will generate many roots of virtue, they will acquire much merit, and they will attend to, serve, and revere many virtuous friends. They will therefore not regress from unsurpassed and perfect awakening. Maudgalyāyana, this dhāraṇī mantra causes the light of the Dharma to blaze, and it ensures that the lineage of the Three Jewels remains uninterrupted.

Chapter Four

The Purification of Karmic Actions

The Blessed One then said to the four messengers and the other bodhisattva great beings, “Noble sons, abide in this buddha realm by your individual virtues!”

So, together with their retinues, those bodhisattva great beings sat cross-legged in their respective places. Then, those beings who had thoroughly cultivated the absorption of the dhāraṇī of acceptance entered into their respective states of absorption. From the bodies of some of those beings dwelling in equipoise radiated lights like the light emitted by oil lamps. From the bodies of some others radiated lights like the light emitted by trillions of suns and moons.

At that moment Venerable Ājñātakauṇḍinya thought, “Through the power of the Buddha, I should make a request to the thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha. I should request the Thus-Gone One to teach about those four dhāraṇī mantras in detail. I should ask so that the sentient beings who have arrived in this buddha realm of Sahā may hear this teaching and eliminate all their doubts, attain illumination with respect to all phenomena, become free of excitement, transcend all uncertainties and doubts,

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swiftly enter into faultlessness, avoid falling into error, and strive for the higher realms.”

So, without speaking, Venerable Ājñātakauṇḍinya bowed with his palms joined together in the direction of the Blessed One.

The Blessed One asked Venerable Ājñātakauṇḍinya, “Kauṇḍinya, do you wish to ask the Thus-Gone One a question?”

“Respected Blessed One, indeed! Indeed, respected Well-Gone One! Respected Blessed One, should I be granted the opportunity, I would like to ask a few questions to the respected Thus-Gone One.”

The Blessed One replied, “Kauṇḍinya, you may ask the thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha anything you wish. I will elucidate your questions and bring satisfaction to your mind in a way that will be directly understood by the world with its gods.”

Venerable Ājñātakauṇḍinya then said to the Blessed One, “Respected Blessed One, you have repeatedly stated that craving is a companion of individuals. Why did the Thus-Gone One designate craving as a companion of individuals? The Thus-Gone One has said that craving—the companion of beings—will cause one to continuously circle and take rebirth in saṃsāra for a long time.”

The Blessed One replied, “Kauṇḍinya, you act for the benefit and welfare of many beings. This opportune question is excellent! Therefore, Kauṇḍinya, listen carefully and pay attention. I will now explain this.”

Venerable Ājñātakauṇḍinya replied, “Respected Blessed One, I shall do so!”

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and he listened as the Blessed One had directed.

The Blessed One then said, “Kauṇḍinya, the term craving refers to three types of craving. What are the three? They are (1) the craving related to the desire realm, (2) the craving related to the form realm, and (3) the craving related to the formless realm.

“There are also three other types of craving: (1) the craving related to arising, (2) the craving related to disintegration, and (3) the craving related to phenomena.

“Kauṇḍinya, what are the forms of craving related to the desire realm? Desire refers to sexual intercourse. Careless beings strive to experience sensual pleasures, and humans with base natures delight in them. All forms of attachment will develop in sentient beings who are tormented by lustful longing. Those beings will therefore adopt the paths of the ten nonvirtuous actions and abide by it. Through such causes and conditions, the hell realms, the animal realms, the World of the Lord of Death, and the abodes of the destitute yakṣas will manifest. Due to attachment, sentient beings will experience a variety of harsh and unbearable sufferings within the five destinies of saṃsāra, and yet they will not be afraid of attachment. Since they have abandoned humility and modesty, and since they are disconnected from roots of virtue, they will only very rarely obtain a human body. Due to attachment, they will repeatedly engage in various physical, verbal, and mental unwholesome actions—up to the acts with immediate retribution. They will, repeatedly and for long periods of time, experience harsh and unbearable feelings in the lower realms. Since these are all caused by and based on attachment, they are referred to as the downfalls stemming from the latent propensities of attachment.

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