Translated by the Tripiṭaka Master Zhu Fahu of the Western Jin Dynasty by Imperial Command
“Thus, Tranquil Mind! The Brave District King, following the boundless Dharma, attained the wealth of the Dharma, paid homage to the Buddha’s feet, circumambulated the Buddha seven times, and entered a grand tower with the wives, court ladies, and the officials. They soared into the sky, and in a moment, returned to the great Pure Land. Then, on the full moon of the fifteenth day, the Holy King, decorated with various flowers, roamed and paraded to the Garden of Contemplation, where the royal entourage appreciated the splendid place. At that time, the Holy King engaged in various musical entertainments in the Garden of Contemplation. His two principal consorts, named Motionless and Undamaged, emerged from the palace to cleanse and bathe, freshly returning, perfumed their garments, and sat on the wonderful victorious seats upon the lotus platforms. Two naturally born children appeared on the consorts’ laps, assumed the lotus posture, with exceptional and dignified composure, unseen in the mundane world, adorned with the majestic features of twenty-eight great men, naturally manifesting. Instantly, countless celestial beings in the sky exclaimed in admiration, “These two children are divine embodiments of the Dharma, named Dharma Intent and Dharma Thought.” These children appeared naturally, and at that time, the child called Dharma Thought sat on the lap of the consort Motionless, and Dharma Intent materialized on the lap of the consort Undamaged, both in lotus posture, speaking in unison the following verses:
‘If someone can guard their own body and mind, initiating the mind of enlightenment,
such a practitioner will gain good fortune and auspiciousness.
They have seen the Dharma-protecting lion manifest in the world,
always joyfully and attentively making offerings to the Buddha.
Because of their vast supernatural powers and good deeds, they quickly receive salvation,
capable of eradicating the cycle of birth and death, swiftly extinguishing ignorance.
If one initiates the mind of enlightenment and never forgets it,
then by this means to save sentient beings, they can break the sufferings of birth and death.
In the numerous Buddha lands above, there is a Buddha named ‘Seasonal.’
We come from that Buddha land seeking the Dharma,
also desiring to witness the virtues and the exceptional nature of this land and country.’
At this moment, the two children rose from their seats,
stepped down from their mothers’ laps, and stood on the ground.
Together they walked forward, came before the revered heavenly beings,
respectfully paid homage to the Buddha’s feet, then stepped back and stood with palms joined:
‘We proclaim the Buddha’s virtues to all directions, especially here today to listen to the scriptures.
The Dharma is exceedingly rare, and hearing and accepting it are even rarer.
To be able to hear such teachings, we beseech the most venerable Buddha,
earnestly pursuing the Buddhist path, achieving the supreme and true fruits of actions.
The path of the Buddhas is extremely difficult to be encountered,
and those who love the teachings are even scarcer.
Today, in this tranquil moment, we draw near the virtuous Dharma,
comply with its majesty, and respectfully believe in the Buddha’s teachings.
We admire diligence, conduct ourselves without indulgence,
and thus become bhikṣus, practicing in such tranquil places.
With a compassionate heart, simple and unadorned,
we constantly maintain a sense of shame, deeply knowing how rare it is to be well-informed.
Our compassionate heart is fully perfected, pitying all beings,
able to penetrate the profound Dharma, thus acquires the conviction that dharmas do not arise
We contemplate the power and potential of the Buddhas,
unafraid in our hearts, saving all beings, enlightening all sufferings.
Even in solitude, the good deeds we perform are inconceivable,
for not clinging to our own bodies, thus are our lifespan and nature.
We are tireless regarding precepts, pondering the Dharma,
thus able to comprehend, achieving such merits.
If one can practice in this way, this is the most rare,
capable of attaining the fruits of the Dharma King, we praise this as the highest.
These essentials of the Buddha’s teachings, the retributions are universally complete,
we should aspire to proceed, dwelling in the Buddha’s holy places.
These wise practitioners, upholding the Bodhisattva path,
practicing the pure Dharma, thereby proclaiming the teachings.
Always maintaining tranquility, achieving the five supernatural powers,
because their minds are pure, and their practices peaceful and calm.’
The king’s two princes, along with the consorts and court ladies.
These two wise practitioners, practiced the Bodhisattva Dharma.
They obtained supernatural wisdom, traveled through the sky,
and came before the World-Honored One, the Buddha whose merit and wisdom are as vast as the sea.
They respectfully paid homage to the Buddha’s feet,
took refuge in the most exalted among men, all harmoniously, together paying homage.
Dharma Intent stepped forward to beseech the Buddha,
and on behalf of all sentient beings,
‘May the great Holy One, please proclaim the Dharma to us.‘
The supreme Buddha, knowing their thoughts,
thus explained to them the profound and true meanings of the Dharma:
‘All phenomena arise from causes and conditions,
originally without a master or teacher or from creation.
The internal self-nature is of emptiness, externally there are no causes and conditions,
all phenomena are but illusory and empty.
Able to observe from beginning to end, seeing purity without action,
considering them like space, never to be grasped.’
The Buddha, through countless skillful means, proclaimed to them,
individually expounding the profound and true meanings of the Dharma.
Seventy-six quadrillion people, along with twenty million sesvigintillion beings,
all at once achieved the non-arising Dharma endurance.”
“At that time, the Chakravartin King Brave District, the chief consort, the princes, their families, and all the people, surrounded the Buddha to pay homage, offering to the World-Honored One and the holy assembly day and night for seven days, and afterward returned to the palace. Then, the Brave District Chakravartin King sat alone in a pure, lofty tower and thought, ‘My sons have all initiated the supreme bodhicitta. Now I want to see which prince will first achieve the supreme true path and become the most enlightened one?’ Thus, he commanded craftsmen to create an exquisite seven-jeweled lotus flower, round and perfect, and also made a seven-jeweled vase, appearing very subtle, seven ren, forty-nine feet high. He asked each prince to write down their name, made into seven-jeweled tallies, and placed them in the vase, which was then set upon the lotus. Everyone together for seven days and nights offered offerings of heavenly flowers, incense, crushed incense, mixed incense, canopies, banners, and various music, to this treasure vase and the names within; additionally, ten thousand celestial beings came to assist in the offerings. After seven days, the Chakravartin King took out the seven-jeweled vase, placed it before the chief consort, the court ladies, and all the princes on a purple-gold stand, had someone lift the vase, and each prince drew their tally. A prince named Pure Intention drew the first tally. When he drew the tally, the three thousand great thousand worlds shook six times, the chief consort, the court ladies, and all the music sounded without being played. Tranquil Mind! Do you think, at that time, was Prince Pure Intention someone else? Do not hold a different view. Why? Because he is the Tathāgata Krakucchanda. Next, the prince named Renowned Away from Fame is the Buddha Kanakamuni. Following him, the prince named Silent Root is the Tathāgata Kāśyapa.
“Following him, the prince named Profit of Suffering is myself. Following him, the prince named Rain Shelter is the future Buddha Maitreya. Following him, the prince named Moon Pearl Attire will become a Buddha named Lion. Following him, there is a prince who will become a Buddha named Wonderful Bloomsom. Following him, the prince named Sage will become a Buddha named Offering. Following him, the prince named Light Head will become a Buddha named Wonderful Flower. Following him, the prince named Lotus Clan will become a Buddha named Offering Support. Following him, the prince named Away from Filth Light will become a Buddha named Good Eye. Following him, the prince named Guardian Clan will become a Buddha named Quick Arm. Following him, the prince named Wonderful Intent will become a Buddha named Flame Light. Following him, the prince named Pure Again Pure will become a Buddha named Flame Taste. Following him, the prince named Rich Accompany will become a Buddha named No Retreat. Following him, the prince named Away from Filth Pure will become a Buddha named Holding Virtue. Following him, the prince named Strong will become a Buddha named Precious Deed. Following him, the prince named Precious Title will become a Buddha named No Deceiving the World. Tranquil Mind, simply put, there are still more. There is a prince named Sweet Armor Adornment, who is the nine hundred and ninety-ninth, just one short of a thousand, who will become a Buddha named Boundless Virtue Precious Title in this virtuous kalpa.”
The Buddha said, “Tranquil Mind! There is a prince named ‘Boundless Intent’ who drew the last tally. This prince will achieve Buddhahood last. At that time, the other princes teased him, mocking him repeatedly, saying: ‘When we become Buddhas, we will subdue the demonic hosts, turn the Dharma wheel, and liberate countless beings, leading them to Nirvana. If all beings are liberated, what will there be left for you to do? Who will you save then?’ The prince Boundless Intent, seeing that he had drawn the last tally and would be the last to become a Buddha, immediately felt sorrow and distress: ‘Why am I so unlucky to have drawn the last tally?’ He prostrated himself as if mount were collapsing, and said, ‘The path of the Buddhas is immeasurable, and the realms of beings are limitless. My aspiration is very special, inconceivable.’ Thus, he immediately made a great vow: ‘Let the sum of the disciples taught by my thousand brothers who become Buddhas, the beings they liberate, and their lifespans, be equal to the lifespan when I achieve Buddhahood. Let the total of all your holy assemblies be equal to the assembly when I become a Buddha. The sutras I preach and the beings I liberate will also be equal to the sum of all you thousand, grand in merit, completely equivalent, immeasurable. If my words are true and not false, let the three thousand great thousand worlds manifest auspicious signs for me, shake six times, let heavenly flowers rain down, and let the harp instruments play without being struck.’ When Prince Boundless Intent made this vow, immediately the three thousand great thousand worlds shook six times, heavenly flowers rained down, and the harp instruments sounded without being played. The thousands of celestial beings in the sky exclaimed in admiration: ‘You will achieve as you have wished, eventually becoming a Buddha named Rayo Tathāgata, the True One, the SamyaksamBuddha.’”
The Buddha said, “Tranquil Mind, why is he called Rayo? Because at that time, he was sorrowful and distressed, prostrated himself on the ground, and hence drew the last tally and made his vow. Therefore, the World-Honored One named him Rayo (which means ‘weeping’). In that era, after the prince made his vow, he spoke this verse:
‘The path of the Buddhas is as boundless as the sky,
thoughts and enlightenment are like illusions, and beings are inexhaustible.
The vow I have made is auspicious, the precepts accomplished are pure;
O venerable ones, listen to the vow I have established:
The lifespan of my brothers is thus,
the kings and the masses attending the assembly are thus many,
Calculating the sum of these Buddhas’ lifespans equals mine; I
shall be known as Rayo when I become a Buddha.
The Bhikshu assembly is also thus; the number of Bhikshus when I become a Buddha
will be the sum of the Bhikshus of all my elder brothers.
This prince of the kingdom was sorrowful, hence he spoke these words;
the celestials standing in the void, exclaimed in admiration:
Now, this pure person, whose vow will surely be fulfilled,
because of the beings’ connections, his vow will certainly be realized.”
The Buddha told Tranquil Mind Bodhisattva, “Do you want to know who that Prince Boundless Intent was at that time?”
Tranquil Mind replied, “I do not.”
The Buddha said, “He will be the last to become a Buddha in the virtuous kalpa, known as Rayo. In the virtuous kalpa, the number of other Buddhas is one thousand minus one. The beings, Bodhisattvas, and Śrāvakas that they liberate are not comparable to Rayo. He will be the last to become a Buddha, his lifespan a half-kalpa. The beings, Bodhisattvas, and Śrāvakas he liberates will equal in number the total liberated by the nine hundred and ninety-nine Buddhas of the virtuous kalpa, without any difference.”
The Buddha told Tranquil Mind, “Observe the skillful means of the Bodhisattvas, how they perfect their precepts, possess unique qualities, and fulfill their vows completely, never resting, alone in their dedication, moving through the three realms. Why? The Tathāgata Rayo alone enlightens beings, benefiting as many as the thousand Buddhas, with immeasurable and limitless merits. Tranquil Mind! At that time, the thousand princes of the king thought, ‘What are the aspirations of Dharma Intent and Dharma Thought?’ Prince Dharma Intent said, ‘I have made a vow that when you become Buddhas, I will become a Vajra Guardian, always close to the Buddha, responsible for external majesty, understanding all the secret essentials of the Buddhas, often entrusted with reliance, universally known for all the secret acts of the Buddhas, joyfully accepting them without doubt.’ Prince Dharma Thought said, ‘O virtuous ones, listen, I have made a vow in my heart that when you become Buddhas, I will encourage you to turn the wheel of Dharma, and whenever I see you, I will urge you to do so.’ Tranquil Mind! Do you want to know who the Brave District Chakravartin King was at that time?”
Tranquil Mind replied, “I do not.”
The Buddha said, “He was the Tathāgata Dīpaṁkara of the past. At that time, his sons are the thousand Buddhas now arising in the virtuous kalpa, from the Buddha Kassapa to the Buddha Rayo, a total of a thousand Buddhas. The Prince Dharma Intent of that time is now the Vajra Guardian known as Secret Trace. The Prince Dharma Thought of that time is now the Brahma Śikhi. The chief consort and the court ladies of the holy king at that time are those present at this Dharma assembly. The princes of that king who encouraged others to leave household life to become bhikṣus, and the beings they taught, will gradually receive predictions and achieve supreme enlightenment in the Bhadra-kalpa. Tranquil Mind! Observe the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, the good roots will not be confused, and they will receive the corresponding retributions, the power of their vows will not lose efficacy, these virtuous ones possess the ten powers, all able to realize their aspirations. Therefore, Tranquil Mind! If a Bodhisattva wishes to swiftly achieve the supreme and true path, to become a SamyaksamBuddha, they should learn the practices of these virtuous ones, diligently cultivate and wholeheartedly devote themselves to the Buddha-path. What is the Buddha-path? It is to not harbor harmful intentions towards beings, to initiate compassion, to extensively liberate without limit, to cultivate the four gratitudes, to continually practice ascetic conducts, to follow the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment, to possess supernatural powers, to act skillfully, to accomplish wholesome roots—this is the Buddha-path.”
The Buddha further told Tranquil Mind, “The Buddha-path is pure, with innate understanding; the Buddha-path is graceful and steadfast in aspiration; the Buddha-path is simple, devoid of flattery; the Buddha-path is vast and universal, without obstacles; the Buddha-path is equal, without partiality; the Buddha-path is fearless, not committing any evil; the Buddha-path is wealthy, giving generously without limit; the Buddha-path is fruitful, upholding precepts without limit; the Buddha-path does not retreat, enduring insults without limit; the Buddha-path is detached from clinging, diligently progressing without limit; the Buddha-path is unconfused, in meditative concentration without limit; the Buddha-path is adept at discernment, wise without limit. The Buddha-path adheres to one’s own wisdom, practicing great compassion; the Buddha-path is straightforward, reaching great sorrow; the Buddha-path accepts joy, acting with great happiness; the Buddha-path adheres to wonderful governance, reaching great protection. The Buddha-path can eliminate the troubles of all suffering, removing thoughts of greed and anger.
“The Buddha-path calms the mind, harboring no danger; the Buddha-path can transform and liberate difficult beings, abandoning attachments to form, sound, scent, taste, touch, and phenomena; the Buddha-path can subdue demonic forces, removing their arrogance and resentment; the Buddha-path can eliminate attachments to the five aggregates and sense bases, untainted by them; the Buddha-path can abandon demonic affairs, achieving freedom in the turmoil; the Buddha-path adheres to a higher mind, distancing from the thoughts of Śrāvakas and PratyekaBuddhas; the Buddha-path practices past and future actions, reaching equanimous enlightenment; the Buddha-path steers the great treasures, conforming to all wisdom; the Buddha-path constantly distinguishes unobstructed wisdom; the Buddha-path promotes good deeds, gathering good friends; the Buddha-path eliminates pitfalls, freeing beings from bonds; the Buddha-path abandons worldly turmoil, transcending places of anger and dispute; the path adheres to stability, abandoning all evil; the Buddha-path adheres to auspiciousness, progressing towards the karmic fruits of Nirvāṇa. These are the thirty-two aspects of a Bodhisattva’s practice of the Buddha-path. By abiding in these, a Bodhisattva can swiftly achieve the supreme and true path, attaining complete and perfect enlightenment.”
Dharma Torch 