XV

The Great Bodhisattvas, numerous as the sands of Ganges, who had come from other Buddha-realms, now offer their services to Śakyamuni Buddha in his realm. But to them he replies that he already has vast numbers of Great Bodhisattvas of his own.

“Enough! My good sons! There is no need for you to protect and keep this Sutra. Wherefore? Because in my Saha-world there are in fact Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas as the sands of sixty thousand Ganges; each one of these Bodhisattvas has a retinue as the sands of sixty thousand Ganges; these persons are able, after my extinction, to protect and keep, read and recite, and preach abroad this Sutra.”

“When the Buddha has thus spoken, the earth of the Three-Thousand-Great-Thousandfold Land of the Saha-world trembles and quakes and from its midst there issue together innumerable thousands, myriads, kotis of Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas. All these Bodhisattvas with their golden-hued bodies, thirty-two Signs, and boundless radiance, have before been dwelling below this Saha-world, in the space supporting this world. These Bodhisattvas, hearing the voice of Śakyamuni Buddha preaching, spring forth from below. Each one of them is the commander of a great host, each leading a retinue as the sands of the sixty thousand Ganges; moreover, others lead their retinues as the sands of fifty thousand, forty thousand, thirty thousand, twenty thousand, ten thousand Ganges, down to the sands of one Ganges, 193the sands of half a Ganges, a quarter of it, down to a fraction of it, the decimal point of thousands, myriads, kotis of nayutas; moreover, a thousand myriad kotis of nayutas of followers, a myriad kotis of followers, a thousand myriad, a hundred, or even ten; moreover, those who lead five, four, three, two disciples, or even one disciple; moreover, one who is alone, happy in the practice of isolation. Such Bodhisattvas as these are immeasurable, illimitable, beyond the powers of comprehension by calculation or comparison.

“When these Bodhisattvas have emerged from the earth, each goes up to the wonderful Stupa of the Precious Seven in the sky, where are the Tathagata Abundant-Treasures and Śakyamuni Buddha. On their arrival they make obeisance with faces to the ground towards both the World-honoured Ones and, going to the Buddhas seated on the lion-thrones under the jewel-trees, they also salute them, three times making procession round them on their right, with folded hands revering them, and extolling them with all kinds of Bodhisattva hymns. Then they stand on one side, with delight gazing upon both the World-honoured Ones.

“From the time that these Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas first issue from the earth and extol the Buddhas with all kinds of Bodhisattva hymns, in the interval there pass fifty minor kalpas. During this time Śakyamuni Buddha sits in silence; silent also are the four groups; but the fifty kalpas, through the divine power of the Buddha, seem to the great multitude as but half a day.”

194The four leaders of this vast host then ask the Buddha:

“Is the World-honoured One at ease, With few ailments and troubles? In instructing the living beings, Is he free from weariness? And are all the living Readily accepting his teaching? Do they not cause the World-honoured To become weary and tired?”

“Yes! Yes! My good sons!” replies the Buddha, “The Tathagata is at ease, with few ailments and few troubles. These beings are easy to convert and transform and I am free from weariness.... All these beings from first seeing me and hearing my preaching, have received it in faith, and entered the Tathagata-wisdom, save those who had practised and learnt the Hinayana; but even such as these I have now caused to hear this Sutra and enter the Buddha-Wisdom.”

The Bodhisattvas reply:

“Good! Good! Great Hero, World-honoured One! All these living creatures Are easily transformed by thee, Are able to inquire into The profound wisdom of Buddhas And, hearing, to believe and discern. We therefore felicitate thee.”

195Maitreya and the disciples are amazed at this vast concourse, and at Śakyamuni claiming them as his Bodhisattvas.

“These countless thousands, myriads, This great host of Bodhisattvas, We have never seen their like. Be pleased to tell, honoured of men, Whence came they and why They are thus assembled Mighty of frame, transcendent in power, Of wisdom inscrutable, Strong of will and memory, Firm in endurance, Whom all rejoice to see— Whence came they?”

A long account follows descriptive of their countless numbers:

“If any one tried to keep tally Through kalpas as Ganges’ sands He still could not tell their number. All these great, majestic, Zealous Bodhisattva hosts— Who has preached the Law to them, Instructed and perfected them? . . . . . From every quarter of the riven earth They all spring forth from its midst. World-honoured One! From of old We have never witnessed such beings. . . . . . 196We know not a single one Among this countless host, Who suddenly spring from the earth. Be pleased to tell us the cause! . . . . . What is the course of their history? World-honoured One of measureless Virtue Wilt thou resolve our doubts?”

In like manner the disciples of the concourse of other Buddhas present, each asks his own Buddha the same question: This vast concourse of the glorified—whence came they?

“Good, good! Ajita!” replies Śakyamuni to Maitreya, “Well have you asked the Buddha concerning so great a matter. Do you all, with one mind, don the armour of zeal and exhibit a firm will, for the Tathagata now intends to reveal and proclaim the wisdom of Buddhas, the sovereign and supernatural power of Buddhas, the lion-eagerness of Buddhas, and the awe-inspiring forceful power of Buddhas.”

From an A.D. 1681 facsimile of an A.D. 1331 edition of the illustrated Kuan-yin chapter of this Sutra

Then first in prose, afterwards in verse Maitreya is told:

“Ajita! Know thou! These Great Bodhisattvas, Who, from past numberless kalpas, Have observed the Buddha wisdom, All of these are my converts, Whose minds I have set on the Great Way. These Bodhisattvas are my sons Who dwell in this Buddha-world. 197Ever practising the Dhuta deeds, Joyfully devoted to quiet places, Shunning the clamour of crowds, With no pleasure in many words. All these sons of mine, Learning and keeping the Law of my Way, Are always zealous day and night, For the sake of seeking Buddhahood; They dwell below the Saha-world, In the region of space beneath it. Firm in their powers of will and memory, Ever diligent in seeking wisdom, They preach every kind of mystic law, Their minds devoid of any fear. I, near the city of Gaya, Sitting beneath the Bodhi-tree, Accomplished Perfect Enlightenment; And rolling the supreme Law-wheel, I then taught and converted them And caused them to seek the One Way. Now they all abide in the never-relapsing state, And every one will become a Buddha. What I now speak is the truth; Believe it with single mind! I from a long distant past Have taught and trained all this host.”

Maitreya and the disciples again express their perplexity, wondering how the Master can have instructed such a countless host in so short a time. They remind him that but forty years have passed since his own enlightenment under the bodhi-tree. 198How can he have accomplished such mighty Buddha-deeds in so brief a period? If the host were counted through all time, their numbers could not be told. These Bodhisattvas are not beings of earth, but have lived through the far past under countless numbers of Buddhas.

“World-honoured One! Such a claim the world will find it hard to credit.

“It is much as if there were a man, of fine complexion and black hair, twenty-five years old, who pointed to centenarians and said: ‘These are my sons’; and as if these centenarians also pointed to the youth and said: ‘This is our father who begot and reared us’. This matter is hard of belief. So also is it with the Buddha, whose attainment of the Way is truly not long since. Yet this great host of Bodhisattvas, for numberless, thousands, myriads, kotis of kalpas, for the sake of Buddahood, have devoted themselves with zeal; they have entered deep into, come out of and dwelt in infinite hundreds, thousands, myriads, kotis of samadhis; have attained the great transcendent faculties and for long lived noble lives; have been well able, step by step, to learn all kinds of good laws; they are skilful in question and answer, are treasures amongst men and of extreme rareness in all the world. Yet to-day the World-honoured One has just said that, when he attained to Buddhahood, he then caused them to set their minds on enlightenment, instructed and led, and caused them to proceed toward Perfect Enlightenment. It is not long since the World-honoured One became a Buddha, yet he 199has been able to do this great meritorious deed! Though we ourselves still believe that what the Buddha has opportunely preached, and the words the Buddha has uttered, have never been false, and also the Buddha’s knowledge is all perceived by us, yet if newly-converted bodhisattvas hear this statement after the Buddha’s extinction, they may not believe it, with resultant misdeeds, to the destruction of the Law. So, World-honoured One, be pleased to explain it, removing our doubts so that thy good sons in future generations, on hearing this matter, shall also not beget doubt.”

“We ourselves believe the Buddha And have no doubts upon this matter; But beg the Buddha, for future hearers, To explain, that they may understand. For if any in regard to this Sutra Should beget unbelief and doubt, He would fall into evil karma. Be pleased to make explanation How these numberless Bodhisattvas In so short a space of time, Have been instructed and developed, And abide in this ever-advancing stage.”