The Lotus Sūtra 7.9

7.9

爾時釋迦牟尼佛告文殊師利：「此久滅度多寶如來，當為汝等而現其相。」

scendent powers? What kind of samādhi has he practiced? I entreat you to

tell us the name of this samādhi. We wish to practice it with diligence. By practicing this samādhi we wish to see the shape, appearance, size, and manner of this bodhisattva. I entreat you, O Bhagavat, to use your transcendent powers and let us see the appearance of that bodhisattva.”

Then, the Buddha Śākyamuni spoke to Mañjuśrī, saying: “The Tathāgata Prabhūtaratna, who long ago entered parinirvāṇa, will manifest the signs for you.”

At that time the Buddha Prabhūtaratna addressed that bodhisattva, saying: “Come, O son of a virtuous family! Mañjuśrī, the Prince of the Dharma, wishes to see you.”

Thereupon Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara disappeared from his world and arrived together with eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas. In the worlds through which he passed, the land quaked in six ways, seven-jeweled lotus flowers rained everywhere, and hundreds of thousands of heavenly musical instruments sounded spontaneously without being played. The eyes of this bodhisattva were as large as blue lotus leaves. Even if hundreds of thousands of myriads of moons were gathered together they would not exceed the beauty of his countenance. His body was pure gold in color, adorned with immeasurable hundreds of thousands of merits, radiant with virtuous dignity, and brilliantly illuminated like the adamantine body of the god Nārāyaṇa. Having entered the seven-jeweled platform and ascended into the air, he flew above the earth at a height of seven tāla trees. Surrounded by respectful bodhisattvas, he arrived at Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa in this sahā world and descended from the seven-jeweled terrace. He came before the Buddha Śākyamuni with a necklace worth hundreds of thousands in his hand and bowed until his forehead reached the Buddha’s feet. He presented the necklace to the Buddha, saying: “O Bhagavat! The Buddha Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña inquires of the Bhagavat:

Are you without illness or pain? Is your daily life pleasant? Are you at

ease in practice? Is the world around you harmonious? Are your worldly

affairs bearable? Is it easy to save sentient beings? Are they not filled

with greed, anger, foolishness, avarice, and pride? Are they mindful of

their parents? Do they respect śrāmaṇas? Do they not have false views

or erring thoughts? Do they control the desires of their five senses? O

Bhagavat! Do the sentient beings conquer māras? Has the Tathāgata

Prabhūtaratna sitting in the seven-jeweled stupa long after his parinirvāṇa

come here to hear the Dharma?

Furthermore, he inquired of the Tathāgata Prabhūtaratna, saying: “Are

you at ease and without pain? O Bhagavat! Will your life be long and endured

with patience? I now wish to see the body of the Buddha Prabhūtaratna. I

entreat you, O Bhagavat, to manifest and show it to me.”

At that time the Buddha Śākyamuni said to the Buddha Prabhūtaratna:

“This Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara wants to see you.”

Then, the Buddha Prabhūtaratna addressed Gadgadasvara, saying: “Splen-

did! Splendid! You have paid homage to the Buddha Śākyamuni and heard