妙法蓮華經 1.15

1.15

kings of the asuras, called Baḍin, Kharaskandha, Vemacitra, and Rahu, each

with several hundreds of thousands of attendants. Mahātejas, Mahākāya,

Mahāpūrṇa, and Maharddhiprāpta, the four kings of the garuḍas, were there

together with several hundreds of thousands of attendants. Finally, King

Ajātaśatru, Vaidehī’s son, was also there with several hundreds of thousands

of his attendants. Each of them, after having bowed at the Buddha’s feet,

withdrew and sat to one side.

At that time the Bhagavat was respectfully surrounded by the fourfold

assembly (i.e., monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen), paid homage, honored,

and praised. He then taught the bodhisattvas the Mahayana sutra called

Immeasurable Meanings (Mahānirdeśa), the instruction for the bodhisattvas

and the treasured lore of the buddhas. After having taught this sutra, the

Buddha sat cross-legged, entered the samādhi called the “abode of immeas-

urable meanings” (ananta-nirdeśa-pratiṣṭhāna) and remained unmoving in

both body and mind. Māndārava and great māndārava flowers, mañjūṣaka

and great mañjūṣaka flowers then fell like rain from the sky, scattering upon

the Buddha and all of his attendants; and the whole buddha world quaked in

six ways. At that time, that whole assembly of such humans and nonhumans

as monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, the devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas,

asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas, kings, and noble emperors, having

experienced something unprecedented, were filled with joy, and with their palms pressed together they gazed attentively at the Buddha.

Then the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows. It illuminated all the eighteen thousand worlds in the east, down as far as the lowest hell, Avīci, and up as high as the Akaniṣṭha Heaven. All the sentient beings in those worlds living in the six transmigratory states became visible from this world. The buddhas in those worlds were also seen, and the Dharma they were teaching could be heard. The monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen and those who had practiced and achieved the path were also to be seen, while the bodhisattva mahāsattvas, of various background causes and conditions, endowed in various degrees with the willingness to understand and having various appearances, were also seen practicing the bodhisattva path. All of the buddhas who had achieved parinirvāṇa were seen, as well as their relic stupas made of the seven precious treasures.

At that moment it occurred to Bodhisattva Maitreya: “The Bhagavat has now manifested the sign of great transcendent power. What could be the reason for this marvel? The Buddha, the Bhagavat, has now entered samādhi. Whom should I ask about this wonderful marvel? Who would be able to answer my question?”

Then he thought further: “This Mañjuśrī, Prince of the Dharma, has closely attended and paid homage to innumerable buddhas of the past. He must certainly have seen such a marvelous sign before. I should ask him now.”