འཕགས་པ་འཇམ་དཔལ་གྱ་རྩ་བའ་རྒྱད 111

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and reflect upon it thoroughly. I will speak for the benefit of all beings.”⁶⁶⁴

The divine youth Mañjuśrī, in turn, said to the Blessed One, “Good! It is good, O Blessed One, that you will give this eloquent exposition that illuminates our incisive meditation and causes the qualities of mantra practice to fully manifest.⁶⁶⁵ So do teach this method, Blessed One, if you think that the time is right. Do so out of compassion for us.”

Lord Śākyamuni looked then at the entire assembly and smiled. At that moment rays of blue, yellow, and translucent crystalline light⁶⁶⁶ issued from the mouth of Lord Śākyamuni. As soon as these rays issued forth, they illuminated the entire assembly and dimmed the worldly realm of the great trichiliocosm, including the abodes of all the māras. This included the light of the entire multitude of stars, celestial bodies, mountain ranges, and the moon and the sun, those two luminaries of great power and might, which were also dimmed by the light of Śākyamuni’s rays. They lost their radiance and did not illuminate the worlds. They did not shine and appeared dark. The rays dimmed also the jewel light of all gems, mantras, and medicines and then disappeared back into Lord Śākyamuni’s mouth.

Bodhisattva Vajrapāṇi, the great being, was present at that time in the midst of this great gathering. Seated, he rose from his seat in his beautiful form pleasing to beings,⁶⁶⁷ prostrated at the Blessed One’s feet, and said this to him:

“It is not without a cause or a reason that the blessed⁶⁶⁸ buddhas smile. What is the cause, Blessed One, what is the reason for your smile?”

Being thus asked, the Blessed One said to Bodhisattva Vajrapāṇi, “It is so, Vajrapāṇi, it is so. It is exactly as you say. The smile of the tathāgatas does not happen without a cause or a reason.⁶⁶⁹ There is a cause,