འཕགས་པ་འཇམ་དཔལ་གྱ་རྩ་བའ་རྒྱད 343

343

a god or asura, or any other human or nonhuman being born in whatever form. In this way, one can successively accomplish all activities in all respects.

“Following this pattern, there are innumerable mudrās. Accordingly, Mañjuśrī, you can accomplish every activity whatsoever. All activities arise because of all these mudrās. These great mudrās are used by tathāgatas impossible to count, great heroes and protectors, and also by the great heroes who have reached all the higher levels that transcend the world—ever and ever beyond it—where myriads [of them abide].²²³⁴ They are the thirty-six … eighty … nine … five … who are sixty billion in number.²²³⁵

“All the rites involve mudrās,
Including all the worldly rites.
If performed using these and other mudrās,
These rites can accomplish the aim of any practice.

“The mudrās are formed with both hands
At the time of practice within the maṇḍala,
Whether one is doing the preliminary practice,
The homa [rite], or during recitation.

“A vow holder may recite while sitting,
Standing, or however they wish.
One should perform all the activities
Always relying on the full repertoire of the mudrās
And employing the ritual procedure
Of the great protection for oneself and others.”

Chapter 37

At that time the blessed Śākyamuni again directed his gaze at the realm of the Pure Abode and spoke to Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, as follows:

“There is, Mañjuśrī, in your root manual, another most secret mudrā. Its ritual procedure [represents] the entire mudrā system.