《楞严经》中英文双语

楞严经 | 作者：网络 [投稿]

中文版楞严经：卷五（点击英文版）

　　阿难白佛言。世尊。如来虽说第二义门。今观世间解结之人。若不知其所结之元。我信是人。终不能解。世尊。我及会中。有学声闻。亦复如是。从无始际。与诸无明。俱灭俱生。虽得如是多闻善根。名为出家。犹隔日疟。惟愿大慈。哀愍沦溺。今日身心。云何是结。从何名解。亦令未来苦难众生。得免轮回。不落三有。作是语已。普及大众。五体投地。雨泪翘诚。伫佛如来无上开示。

　　尔时。世尊怜愍阿难。及诸会中诸有学者。亦为未来一切众生。为出世因。作将来眼。以阎浮檀紫光金手。摩阿难顶。即时。十方普佛世界。六种振动。微尘如来住世界者。各有宝光。从其顶出。其光同时于彼世界。来祇陀林。灌如来顶。是诸大众。得未曾有。于是阿难。及诸大众。俱闻十方微尘如来。异口同音。告阿难言。善哉。阿难。汝欲识知俱生无明。使汝轮转生死结根。惟汝六根。更无他物。汝复欲知无上菩提。令汝速登安乐解脱。寂静妙常。亦汝六根。更非他物。

　　阿难虽闻如是法音。心犹未明。稽首白佛。云何令我生死轮回。安乐妙常。同是六根。更非他物。

　　佛告阿难。根尘同源。缚脱无二。识性虚妄。犹如空花。阿难。由尘发知。因根有相。相见无性。同于交芦。是故。汝今知见立知。即无明本。知见无见。斯即涅槃。无漏真净。云何是中更容他物。

　　尔时。世尊欲重宣此义。而说偈言。

　　真性有为空缘生故如幻

　　无为无起灭不实如空花

　　言妄显诸真妄真同二妄

　　犹非真非真云何见所见

　　中间无实性是故若交芦

　　结解同所因圣凡无二路

　　汝观交中性空有二俱非

　　迷晦即无明发明便解脱

　　解结因次第六解一亦亡

　　根选择圆通入流成正觉

　　陀那微细识习气成暴流

　　真非真恐迷我常不开演

　　自心取自心非幻成幻法

　　不取无非幻非幻尚不生

　　幻法云何立是名妙莲花

　　金刚王宝觉如幻三摩提

　　弹指超无学此阿毗达磨

　　十方薄伽梵一路涅槃门

　　于是。阿难及诸大众。闻佛如来无上慈诲。祇夜伽陀。杂糅精莹。妙理清彻。心目开明。叹未曾有。阿难合掌。顶礼白佛。我今闻佛无遮大悲。性净妙常真实法句。心犹未达六解一亡。舒结伦次。惟垂大慈。再愍斯会。及与将来。施以法音。洗涤沉垢。

　　即时。如来于狮子座。整涅槃僧。敛僧伽黎。览七宝机。引手于机。取劫波罗天所奉花巾。于大众前。绾成一结。示阿难言。此名何等。

　　阿难大众俱白佛言。此名为结。

　　于是如来绾迭花巾。又成一结。重问阿难。此名何等。

　　阿难大众又白佛言。此亦名结。

　　如是伦次绾迭花巾。总成六结。一一结成。皆取手中所成之结。持问阿难。此名何等。阿难大众。亦复如是。次第酬佛。此名为结。

　　佛告阿难。我初绾巾。汝名为结。此迭花巾。先实一条。第二第三。云何汝曹复名为结。

　　阿难白佛言。世尊。此宝迭花缉绩成巾。虽本一体。如我思惟。如来一绾。得一结名。若百绾成。终名百结。何况此巾只有六结。终不至七。亦不停五。云何如来只许初时。第二第三。不名为结。

　　佛告阿难。此宝花巾。汝知此巾元止一条。我六绾时。名有六结。汝审观察。巾体是同。因结有异。于意云何。初绾结成。名为第一。如是乃至第六结生。吾今欲将第六结名。成第一否。

　　否也。世尊。六结若存。斯第六名。终非第一。纵我历生尽其明辩。如何令是六结乱名。

　　佛言。六结不同。循顾本因。一巾所造。令其杂乱。终不得成。则汝六根。亦复如是。毕竟同中。生毕竟异。佛告阿难。汝必嫌此六结不成。愿乐一成。复云何得。

　　阿难言。此结若存。是非锋起。于中自生此结非彼。彼结非此。如来今日若总解除。结若不生。则无彼此。尚不名一。六云何成。

　　佛言。六解一亡。亦复如是。由汝无始心性狂乱。知见妄发。发妄不息。劳见发尘。如劳目睛。则有狂花。于湛精明。无因乱起。一切世间。山河大地。生死涅槃。皆即狂劳。颠倒花相。

　　阿难言。此劳同结。云何解除。

　　如来以手。将所结巾偏掣其左。问阿难言。如是解否。

　　否也。世尊。旋复以手偏牵右边。又问阿难。如是解否。

　　否也。世尊。

　　佛告阿难。吾今以手左右各牵。竟不能解。汝设方便。云何成解。

　　阿难白佛言。世尊。当于结心。解即分散。

　　佛告阿难。如是如是。若欲除结。当于结心。阿难。我说佛法。从因缘生。非取世间和合粗相。如来发明世出世法。知其本因。随所缘出。如是乃至恒沙界外一滴之雨。亦知头数。现前种种。松直棘曲。鹄白鸟玄。皆了元由。是故。阿难。随汝心中选择六根。根结若除。尘相自灭。诸妄销亡。不真何待。阿难。吾今问汝。此劫波罗巾六结现前。同时解萦。得同除否。

　　否也。世尊。是结本以次第绾生。今日当须次第而解。六结同体。结不同时。则结解时。云何同除。

　　佛言。六根解除。亦复如是。此根初解。先得人空。空性圆明。成法解脱。解脱法已。俱空不生。是名菩萨从三摩地。得无生忍。

　　阿难及诸大众。蒙佛开示。慧觉圆通。得无疑惑。一时合掌。顶礼双足。而白佛言。我等今日。身心皎然。快得无碍。虽复悟知一六亡义。然犹未达圆通本根。世尊。我辈飘零。积劫孤露。何心何虑。预佛天伦。如失乳儿。忽遇慈母。若复因此际会道成。所得密言。还同本悟。则与未闻无有差别。惟垂大悲。惠我秘严。成就如来最后开示。作是语已。五体投地。退藏密机。冀佛冥授。

　　尔时。世尊普告众中诸大菩萨。及诸漏尽大阿罗汉。汝等菩萨。及阿罗汉。生我法中。得成无学。吾今问汝。最初发心悟十八界。谁为圆通。从何方便。入三摩地。

　　骄陈那五比丘。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我在鹿苑。及于鸡园。观见如来最初成道。于佛音声。悟明四谛。佛问比丘。我初称解。如来印我。名阿若多。妙音密圆。我于音声。得阿罗汉。佛问圆通。如我所证。音声为上。

　　优波尼沙陀。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我亦观佛最初成道。观不净相。生大厌离。悟诸色性。以从不净。白骨微尘。归于虚空。空色二无。成无学道。如来印我。名尼沙陀。尘色既尽。妙色密圆。我从色相。得阿罗汉。佛问圆通。如我所证。色因为上。

　　香严童子。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我闻如来教我谛观。诸有为相。我时辞佛。宴晦清斋。见诸比丘烧沉水香。香气寂然。来入鼻中。我观此气。非木非空。非烟非火。去无所著。来无所从。由是意销。发明无漏。如来印我。得香严号。尘气倏灭。妙香密圆。我从香严。得阿罗汉。佛问圆通。如我所证。香严为上。

　　药王药上二法王子。并在会中。五百梵天。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我无始劫。为世良医。口中尝此娑婆世界。草木金石。名数凡有十万八千。如是悉知苦醋咸淡。甘辛等味。并诸和合俱生变异。是冷是热。有毒无毒。悉能遍知。承事如来。了知味性。非空非有。非即身心。非离身心。分别味因。从是开悟。蒙佛如来。印我昆季。药王药上二菩萨名。今于会中。为法王子。因味觉明。位登菩萨。佛问圆通。如我所证。味因为上。

　　跋陀婆罗。并其同伴。十六开士。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我等先于威音王佛。闻法出家。于浴僧时。随例入室。忽悟水因。既不洗尘。亦不洗体。中间安然。得无所有。宿习无忘。乃至今时。从佛出家。今得无学。彼佛名我。跋陀婆罗。妙触宣明。成佛子住。佛问圆通。如我所证。触因为上。

　　摩诃迦叶。及紫金光比丘尼等。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我于往劫。于此界中。有佛出世。名日月灯。我得亲近。闻法修学。佛灭度后。供养舍利。燃灯续明。以紫光金涂佛形像。自尔已来。世世生生。身常圆满。紫金光聚。此紫金光比丘尼者。即我眷属。同时发心。我观世间。六尘变坏。惟以空寂。修于灭尽。身心乃能度百千劫。犹如弹指。我以空法。成阿罗汉。世尊说我。头陀为最。妙法开明。销灭诸漏。佛问圆通。如我所证。法因为上。

　　阿那律陀。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我初出家。常乐睡眠。如来诃我为畜生类。我闻佛诃。啼泣自责。七日不眠。失其双目。世尊示我乐见照明。金刚三昧。我不因眼。观见十方。精真洞然。如观掌果。如来印我。成阿罗汉。佛问圆通。如我所证。旋见循元。斯为第一。

　　周利槃特迦。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我阙诵持。无多闻性。最初值佛。闻法出家。忆持如来一句伽陀。于一百日。得前遗后。得后遗前。佛愍我愚。教我安居调出入息。我时观息。微细穷尽。生住异灭。诸行刹那。其心豁然。得大无碍。乃至漏尽。成阿罗汉。住佛座下。印成无学。佛问圆通。如我所证。返息循空。斯为第一。

　　骄梵钵提。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我有口业。于过去劫。轻弄沙门。世世生生。有牛齝病。如来示我一味清净。心地法门。我得灭心。入三摩地。观味之知。非体非物。应念得超世间诸漏。内脱身心。外遗世界。远离三有。如鸟出笼。离垢销尘。法眼清净。成阿罗汉。如来亲印。登无学道。佛问圆通。如我所证。还味旋知。斯为第一。

　　毕陵伽婆蹉。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我初发心从佛入道。数闻如来说诸世间。不可乐事。乞食城中。心思法门。不觉路中毒刺伤足。举身疼痛。我念有知。知此深痛。虽觉觉痛。觉清净心。无痛痛觉。我又思惟。如是一身。宁有双觉。摄念未久。身心忽空。三七日中。诸漏虚尽。成阿罗汉。得亲印记。发明无学。佛问圆通。如我所证。纯觉遗身。斯为第一。

　　须菩提。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我旷劫来。心得无碍。自忆受生如恒河沙。初在母胎。即知空寂。如是乃至十方成空。亦令众生证得空性。蒙如来发性觉真空。空性圆明。得阿罗汉。顿入如来宝明空海。同佛知见。印成无学。解脱性空。我为无上。佛问圆通。如我所证。诸相入非。非所非尽。旋法归无。斯为第一。

　　舍利弗。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我旷劫来。心见清净。如是受生如恒河沙。世出世间种种变化。一见则通。获无障碍。我于路中。逢迦叶波兄弟相逐。宣说因缘。悟心无际。从佛出家。见觉明圆。得大无畏。成阿罗汉。为佛长子。从佛口生。从法化生。佛问圆通。如我所证。心见发光。光极知见。斯为第一。

　　普贤菩萨。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我已曾与恒沙如来。为法王子。十方如来。教其弟子。菩萨根者。修普贤行。从我立名。世尊。我用心闻。分别众生所有知见。若于他方恒沙界外。有一众生。心中发明普贤行者。我于尔时。乘六牙象。分身百千。皆至其处。纵彼障深。未合见我。我与其人暗中摩顶。拥护安慰。令其成就。佛问圆通。我说本因。心闻发明。分别自在。斯为第一。

　　孙陀罗难陀。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我初出家。从佛入道。虽具戒律。于三摩提。心常散动。未获无漏。世尊教我。及俱絺罗。观鼻端白。我初谛观。经三七日。见鼻中气出入如烟。身心内明。圆洞世界。遍成虚净。犹如琉璃。烟相渐销。鼻息成白。心开漏尽。诸出入息化为光明。照十方界。得阿罗汉。世尊记我。当得菩提。佛问圆通。我以销息。息久发明。明圆灭漏。斯为第一。

　　富楼那弥多罗尼子。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我旷劫来。辩才无碍。宣说苦空。深达实相。如是乃至恒沙如来。秘密法门。我于众中。微妙开示。得无所畏。世尊知我有大辩才。以音声轮。教我发扬。我于佛前。助佛转轮。因狮子吼。成阿罗汉。世尊印我。说法无上。佛问圆通。我以法音。降伏魔怨。销灭诸漏。斯为第一。

　　优波离。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我亲随佛。逾城出家。亲观如来六年勤苦。亲见如来降伏诸魔。制诸外道。解脱世间贪欲诸漏。承佛教戒。如是乃至三千威仪。八万微细。性业遮业。悉皆清净。身心寂灭。成阿罗汉。我是如来众中纲纪。亲印我心。持戒修身。众推无上。佛问圆通。我以执身。身得自在。次第执心。心得通达。然后身心。一切通利。斯为第一。

　　大目犍连。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我初于路乞食。逢遇优楼频螺。伽耶。那提。三迦叶波。宣说如来因缘深义。我顿发心。得大通达。如来惠我袈裟着身。须发自落。我游十方。得无挂碍。神通发明。推为无上。成阿罗汉。宁惟世尊。十方如来叹我神力。圆明清净。自在无畏。佛问圆通。我以旋湛。心光发宣。如澄浊流。久成清莹。斯为第一。

　　乌刍瑟摩。于如来前。合掌顶礼佛之双足。而白佛言。我常先忆。久远劫前。性多贪欲。有佛出世。名曰空王。说多淫人。成猛火聚。教我遍观百骸四肢。诸冷暖气。神光内凝。化多淫心成智慧火。从是诸佛皆呼召我。名为火头。我以火光三昧力故。成阿罗汉。心发大愿。诸佛成道。我为力士。亲伏魔怨。佛问圆通。我以谛观。身心暖触。无碍流通。诸漏既销。生大宝焰。登无上觉。斯为第一。

　　持地菩萨。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我念往昔。普光如来。出现于世。我为比丘。常于一切要路津口。田地险隘。有不如法。妨损车马。我皆平填。或作桥梁。或负沙土。如是勤苦。经无量佛出现于世。或有众生。于阛阓处。要人擎物。我先为擎。至其所诣。放物即行。不取其直。毗舍浮佛。现在世时。世多饥荒。我为负人。无问远近。惟取一钱。或有车牛被于陷溺。我有神力。为其推轮。拔其苦恼。时国大王筵佛设斋。我于尔时。平地待佛。毗舍如来。摩顶谓我。当平心地。则世界地。一切皆平。我即心开。见身微尘。与造世界所有微尘。等无差别。微尘自性。不相触摩。乃至刀兵。亦无所触。我于法性。悟无生忍。成阿罗汉。回心今入菩萨位中。闻诸如来。宣妙莲花佛知见地。我先证明。而为上首。佛问圆通。我以谛观。身界二尘。等无差别。本如来藏。虚妄发尘。尘销智圆。成无上道。斯为第一。

　　月光童子。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我忆往昔。恒河沙劫。有佛出世。名为水天。教诸菩萨修习水精。入三摩地。观于身中。水性无夺。初从涕唾。如是穷尽。津液精血。大小便利。身中漩洑。水性一同。见水身中。与世界外浮幢王刹。诸香水海。等无差别。我于是时。初成此观。但见其水。未得无身。当为比丘。室中安禅。我有弟子。窥窗观室。惟见清水遍在屋中。了无所见。童稚无知。取一瓦砾投于水内。激水作声。顾盼而去。我出定后。顿觉心痛。如舍利弗遭违害鬼。我自思惟。今我已得阿罗汉道。久离病缘。云何今日忽生心痛。将无退失。尔时。童子捷来我前。说如上事。我则告言。汝更见水。可即开门。入此水中。除去瓦砾。童子奉教。后入定时。还复见水。瓦砾宛然。开门除出。我后出定。身质如初。逢无量佛。如是至于山海自在通王如来。方得亡身。与十方界。诸香水海。性合真空。无二无别。今于如来得童真名。预菩萨会。佛问圆通。我以水性。一味流通。得无生忍。圆满菩提。斯为第一。

　　琉璃光法王子。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我忆往昔。经恒沙劫。有佛出世。名无量声。开示菩萨本觉妙明。观此世界。及众生身。皆是妄缘。风力所转。我于尔时。观界安立。观世动时。观身动止。观心动念。诸动无二。等无差别。我时了觉此群动性。来无所从。去无所至。十方微尘颠倒众生。同一虚妄。如是乃至三千大千。一世界内。所有众生。如一器中。贮百蚊蚋。啾啾乱鸣。于分寸中。鼓发狂闹。逢佛未几。得无生忍。尔时心开。乃见东方不动佛国。为法王子。事十方佛。身心发光。洞彻无碍。佛问圆通。我以观察风力无依。悟菩提心。入三摩地。合十方佛传一妙心。斯为第一。

　　虚空藏菩萨。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我与如来。定光佛所。得无边身。尔时。手执四大宝珠。照明十方微尘佛刹。化成虚空。又于自心现大圆镜。内放十种微妙宝光。流灌十方。尽虚空际。诸幢王刹。来入镜内。涉入我身。身同虚空。不相妨碍。身能善入微尘国土。广行佛事。得大随顺。此大神力。由我谛观。四大无依。妄想生灭。虚空无二。佛国本同。于同发明。得无生忍。佛问圆通。我以观察虚空无边。入三摩地。妙力圆明。斯为第一。

　　弥勒菩萨。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我忆往昔。经微尘劫。有佛出世。名日月灯明。我从彼佛。而得出家。心重世名。好游族姓。尔时。世尊教我修习惟心识定。入三摩地。历劫已来。以此三昧。事恒沙佛。求世名心。歇灭无有。至燃灯佛出现于世。我乃得成。无上妙圆识心三昧。乃至尽空如来国土。净秽有无。皆是我心变化所现。世尊。我了如是惟心识故。识性流出无量如来。今得授记。次补佛处。佛问圆通。我以谛观十方惟识。识心圆明。入圆成实。远离依他。及遍计执。得无生忍。斯为第一。

　　大势至法王子。与其同伦。五十二菩萨。即从座起。顶礼佛足。而白佛言。我忆往昔。恒河沙劫。有佛出世。名无量光。十二如来。相继一劫。其最后佛。名超日月光。彼佛教我念佛三昧。譬如有人。一专为忆。一人专忘。如是二人。若逢不逢。或见非见。二人相忆。二忆念深。如是乃至从生至生。同于形影。不相乖异。十方如来。怜念众生。如母忆子。若子逃逝。虽忆何为。子若忆母。如母忆时。母子历生。不相违远。若众生心。忆佛念佛。现前当来。必定见佛。去佛不远。不假方便。自得心开。如染香人。身有香气。此则名曰。香光庄严。我本因地。以念佛心。入无生忍。今于此界。摄念佛人。归于净土。佛问圆通。我无选择。都摄六根。净念相继。得三摩地。斯为第一。

英文版楞严经：Chapter 5

　　Ananda said to the Buddha, ”Bhagavan, although Tathagata has explained this second absolute, as I now regard someone who wants to untie a knot, if he cannot find its center, he will never get the knot undone. Bhagavan, I and all other Hearers in the great assembly who are not beyond study are the same way. From time without beginning we have been accompanied in birth and death by ignorance. We have obtained these good roots of erudition and are said to have left the home life, yet in fact we act like someone with recurrent malaria. I only hope, Greatly Compassionate One, that you will take pity on us who are sinking and drowning. What are the knots in our body and mind and how do we untie them? Your explanation will also enable future beings who are in suffering and difficulty to avoid the cycle of rebirth and keep them from falling into the three realms of existence.“

　　After saying that, he and everyone in the entire great assembly made full prostrations. He wept profusely, and with sincere anticipation awaited the unsurpassed instruction of the Buddha, the Tathagata.

　　Then the Bhagavan took pity on Ananda and those in the assembly with something left to study, as well as on beings of the future who have the potential to transcend the world and to develop insight. He rubbed the crown of Ananda’s head with his hand that shone with Jambunada purple-golden light.

　　Instantaneously all the Buddhalands of the ten directions quaked in six ways. Tathagatas as numerous as atoms of universe, each dwelling in his respective world, emitted a precious light from the crowns of his head. At one and the same time their light went from their own countries to the Jeta Grove and anointed the crown of the Tathagata's head. All in the assembly received unprecedented benefits. Then Ananda and everyone in the great assembly heard the Tathagatas as numerous as atoms of universe throughout the ten directions speak to Ananda with different mouths but with a single voice:

　　”Good indeed, Ananda! You wish to recognize your innate ignorance that causes you to turn on the wheel. The origin of the knot of birth and death is simply your six sense-organs and nothing else. You also want to understand unsurpassed Bodhi, so that you can quickly realize bliss, liberation, tranquility, and wonderful permanence. It, too, is your six sense-organs and nothing else.“

　　Although Ananda heard those sounds of Dharma, he did not yet understand them. Bowing his head, he said to the Buddha, ”How can what causes me to revolve in the cycle of birth and death and what enables me to gain bliss and wonderful eternity be the six sense-organs in both cases and nothing else?‘

　　The Buddha said to Ananda, “The sense-organs and the objects are the same source. The bonds and their release are not different things. The nature of the consciousness is empty and false, like flowers in space. Ananda, awareness arises because of defiling objects. Phenomena exist because of the sense organs. The phenomena and the perception are both devoid of their own natures. They support each other like intertwining reeds. Therefore, creating knowledge within enlightened perception is fundamental ignorance. To be devoid of perception within enlightened perception is the non-outflow true purity of Nirvana. Why try to put something else in these?”

　　Then the Bhagavan, wishing to restate that meaning, spoke verses, saying:

　　“In the true nature, conditioned things are empty.

　　Conditions that arise are like illusions.

　　Things unconditioned neither arise nor cease.

　　Unreal they are, like flowers in space.

　　To speak of the false is to reveal the true.

　　But both the false and the true are false themselves.

　　Since there is neither truth nor untruth,

　　How could there be perceiver and perceived?

　　Between the two no real nature exists;

　　Thus they are likened to entwining reeds.

　　The knots and their release have a common cause.

　　The sages and ordinary people’s path are not two.

　　Regard the nature of the intertwined:

　　They are neither empty nor existent.

　　Dark confusion is simply ignorance;

　　Bringing it to light is liberation.

　　The knots must be untied successively,

　　When the six are released,

　　Even the one ceases to be.

　　Select an organ preferred for perfect penetration;

　　Enter the flow and realize proper enlightenment.

　　Extremely subtle, the Adana consciousness,

　　Makes patterns of habit that flow on in torrents.

　　Fearing you will confuse the truth with what is not,

　　I rarely tell you of all this.

　　With your own mind, you grasp at your own mind;

　　What is not illusory turns into illusion.

　　Do not grasp and nothing will not be illusion.

　　Since even non-illusion does not arise,

　　How can illusory dharmas be established?

　　This is called the Wonderful Lotus Flower,

　　The Regal Vajra Gem of Enlightenment.

　　In this Samapatti that is likened to illusion,

　　Transcend to the level beyond learning.

　　This Abhidharma, incomparable,

　　Is the single pathway through Nirvana's gate,

　　Taken by Bhagavans in all the ten directions.”

　　When Ananda and the great assembly heard the unsurpassed, compassionate instruction of the Buddha, the Tathagata, this harmonious and brilliant Geya verse with its clear and penetrating wonderful principles, their hearts and eyes were opened, and they exclaimed that this Dharma was unprecedented.

　　Ananda put his palms together, bowed, and said to the Buddha, “Having heard the Buddha's unrestrained, greatly kind, true and actual expression of Dharma that is pure in nature and wonderfully eternal, I still have not understood the sequence for releasing the knots so that when the six are untied, the one is gone also. I only hope you will be compassionate, and once again empathize with this assembly and those of the future, by offering us explanation of the Dharma to wash and rinse away our deep-rooted defilements.

　　Then, upon the lion's throne, the Tathagata straightened his Nirvana robes, arranged his samghati sash, took hold of the table inlaid with the seven gems, reached out onto the table and picked up an exquisitely beautiful cloth given him by a god from the Suyama Heaven. Then, as the assembly watched, he tied it into a knot and showed it to Ananda, asking, ”What is this called?“ Ananda and the great assembly answered together, ”It is called a knot.“ Then the Tathagata tied another knot in the beautiful cloth and asked Ananda again, ”What is this called?“ Ananda and the great assembly once again answered together, ”It, too, is called a knot.“ He continued in this pattern until he had tied six knots in the beautiful cloth. As he made each knot, he held it up to Ananda and asked, ”What is this called?“ And each time Ananda and the great assembly answered the Buddha in the same way: ”It is called a knot.“

　　The Buddha said to Ananda, ”When I first tied the cloth, you called it a knot. Since the beautiful cloth is basically a single strip how could you give the same answer for the second and third time?“ Ananda said to the Buddha, ”Bhagavan, this beautiful cloth is just one piece, but the way I understand it, when the Tathagata makes one tie, it is called a knot. If he were to make a hundred ties, they would be called a hundred knots. And so now that exactly six knots-not five or seven-have been tied in the cloth, why does the Tathagata only allow me to speak of one knot and not of two or three?“

　　The Buddha told Ananda, ”You know that this precious cloth is basically one strip, but when I made six ties in it, you said it had six knots. Carefully consider the substance of the cloth: it remains unchanged except for the knots in it. “What do you think? You identified the first knot I tied as number one. Now I am ready to tie the sixth knot. Will you also call it number one?” “No, Bhagavan. If there are six knots, the sixth knot can never be called the first one. Even if I exhausted all my intelligence and eloquence in life after life, I could reverse the sequence of these six knots.

　　The Buddha said, ”So it is. The six knots are not identical. Consider their origin: they are created from the one cloth and were tied in a certain order. It would be impossible to scramble that sequence. Your six sense organs are also like that. From what was identical, decisive differences arise.“ The Buddha said to Ananda, ”Assuming you did not want these six knots and would like there to be just one cloth, how could you achieve that end?“

　　Ananda said, ”As long as these knots remain, dispute about what they are and what they are not will arise. Their very existence will lead to such distinctions as this knot not being that knot and that knot not being this one. But if the Tathagata were to untie them all right now, so that none remained, then there would be no ‘this’ or ‘that.’ There would not even be anything called ‘one,’ how much the less ‘six.’“

　　The Buddha said, ”That is also what happens when the six sense organs are freed: even the one is gone. Because from beginningless time your mind and nature have been insane and disturbed, you have created false knowledge and views. As that falseness continues to arise without respite, perception becomes weary and defilements arise. Just like the whirling flowers that appeared when the eyes grew tired of staring, these too are disturbances that arise without a cause within the tranquil, essential brightness. Everything in the world-the mountains, the rivers, the earth itself, as well as birth, death, and Nirvana-is these flowers that appear because of our being turned upside-down by insanity and weariness.“

　　Ananda said, ”This weariness is the same as these knots.

　　How do we untie them?“

　　The Tathagata took hold of the knotted cloth, pulled on its left end, and asked Ananda, ”Is this the way to untie them?“ ”No, Bhagavan.“ Then the Buddha pulled on the right end and again asked Ananda, ”Is this the way to untie them?“ ”No, Bhagavan.“ The Buddha said to Ananda, ”Now I have pulled the cloth left and right and still have not been able to undo the knots. What method do you propose for untying them?“ Ananda said to the Buddha, ”Bhagavan, you must untie the knots from their center. Then they will come undone.“ The Buddha said to Ananda, ”So it is, so it is. If you want to undo them, you have to untie them from the center. Ananda, the Buddha Dharma I explain arises from causes and conditions. But that does not imply grasping at the mixing and uniting of coarse, worldly appearances. The Tathagata understands all worldly and world-transcending dharmas and knows their fundamental causes and what conditions bring them into being. This is so to the extent that I know how many drops of rain fall in as many worlds away from here as there are dust motes in the Ganges. The same is true of all the things you can see: Why the pine is straight, why the brambles are twisted, why the goose is white, why the crow is black—I understand all these reasons. Therefore, Ananda, you can select whichever one of the six sense-organs you wish. If the knots of the sense-organs are removed, then the defiling phenomena disappear of themselves and all falseness ceases to be. If what remains is not the truth, then where do you expect to find the truth? Ananda, I now ask you, can the six knots beautiful cloth be untied simultaneously and released all at once?“

　　”No, Bhagavan. As the knots were originally made in sequence, now they must be untied in sequence. The substance of the six knots is the same, but they were not made simultaneously, and so now when they are undone, how could they be untied simultaneously?“

　　The Buddha said, ”Releasing the six sense-organs is the same way. When the sense-organ begins to be released, one realize the emptiness of people first. When the nature of that emptiness is fully understood, then one is released from dharmas. Once one is freed from dharmas, neither kind of emptiness will arise. That is called the Patience with Non-Production that Bodhisattvas attain by means of Samadhi.“

　　Upon receiving the Buddha's instruction, Ananda and the great assembly gained wisdom and awareness that was perfectly penetrating and free of doubt and delusion. All at the same time, they placed their palms together, and bowed at the Buddha's feet. Ananda then said to the Buddha, ”Today our bodies and minds are illumined, and we are happily free from obstruction. We have understood the meaning of the ending of the six and the one. Still, we have not yet progressed to fundamental, perfect penetration. Bhagavan, we who have drifted and floundered our way through eon after eon, homeless and alone, had no idea, we never imagined that we could meet the Buddha in such a close relationship. We are like lost infants who have suddenly found their compassionate mother. If because of this encounter we realize the Way, 【it will not have been in vain】。 If we treat these secret instructions with our former mode of understanding, it will be the same as if we hadn't even heard them. We only wish the Greatly Compassionate One will bestow upon us the profound secret as the Tathagata's final instruction.“ After saying this Ananda prostrated himself, withdrew, and silently anticipated the Buddha's hidden transmission.

　　（The expedients to Samadhi:）

　　Then the Bhagavan told all those in the assembly who were great Bodhisattvas and great Arhats with their outflows extinguished, ”All of you Bodhisattvas and Arhats who are born from within my Dharma and have attained the stage beyond study, I now ask you: When you first brought forth your resolve and became enlightened to the eighteen realms, which one of these brought perfect penetration? Through which expedient did you enter Samadhi?

　　Kaundinya, with the others of the first five Bhikshus, arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, “When I was in the Deer Park and the Pheasant Garden, I observed the Tathagata immediately after his accomplishment of the Way. Upon hearing the Buddha's voice, I understood the Four Truths. The Buddha is questioning us Bhikshus. As I was the first to understand, the Tathagata certified me and named me Ajnata. His wonderful sound was both secret and all-pervasive. It was through sound that I became an Arhat. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As I have been certified to it, sound is the foremost means.”

　　Upanishad arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, “I also saw the Buddha when he first accomplished the Way. I learned to contemplate the attributes of impurity until I grew to loathe it and came to understand that the nature of all forms is unclean. Bare bones and fine dust all return to emptiness, and so both emptiness and forms are done away with. With this realization, I accomplished the path beyond study. The Tathagata certified me and named me Upanishad. Objects of form came to an end, and wonderful form was both secret and all-pervasive. Thus, it was through the attributes of forms that I became an Arhat. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As I have been certified to it, forms are the foremost means.”

　　The pure youth, Exalted by Fragrance, arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, “I heard the Tathagata teach me to contemplate attentively all conditioned phenomena. I then left the Buddha and dwelt quietly in a pure abode. I observed that when the Bhikshus lit ‘sinking’ incense, its fragrant scent quietly entered my nostrils. I contemplated this fragrance: it did not come from the wood; it did not come from emptiness; it did not come from the smoke, and it did not come from the fire. There was no place it came from and no place it went to. Because of that, my discriminating mind was dispelled, and I attained the absence of outflows. The Tathagata certified me and called me Exalted by Fragrance. Defiling scents suddenly vanished, and the wonderful fragrance was both secret and all-pervasive. It was through the adornment of fragrance that I became an Arhat. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As I have been certified to it, being exalted by fragrances are the foremost means.”

　　The two Dharma-Princes, Bhaisajya-Raja(Medicine King) and Bhaisajya-Samudgata

　　（Superior Medicine）， and five hundred Brahma gods in the assembly arose from their seats, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, From beginningless eons until now, we have been good doctors for the world. Our mouths have tasted many herbs, wood, metals, and stones of the Saha world, a hundred and eight thousand flavors. We know in detail the bitter, sour, salty, bland, sweet, and pungent flavors, and the like, in all their combinations and inherent changes. We have a thorough knowledge of whether they are cooling or warming, poisonous or non-poisonous. While serving the Tathagata we came to know that the nature of flavors is neither empty nor existent, nor of the body or of the mind, nor apart from body or the mind. We became enlightened by discriminating among flavors. The Tathagata sealed and certified us brothers and named us Bodhisattvas Medicine King and Superior Medicine. Now in the assembly we are Dharma Princes who have ascended to the Bodhisattva level due to having become enlightened by means of flavors. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As we have been certified to it, the cause of flavors is the foremost means.“

　　Bhadrapala and sixteen awakened lords who were his companions, arose from their seats, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha: ”We first heard the Dharma and left the home life under Majestic-Sound-King Buddha. Once, when it was time for the Sangha to bathe, I followed the custom and entered the bathhouse. Suddenly I awakened to the fact that water does not wash away the dust, nor does it cleanse the body. And in that moment I became peaceful and attained the state of there being nothing at all. To this day, I have never forgotten that experience. Having left home with the Buddha, I have advanced beyond study. The Buddha named me Bhadrapala. Wonderful touch was revealed, and I reached the level of being a disciple of the Buddha. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As I have been certified to it, touch is the foremost means.“

　　Mahakashyapa, Bhikshuni Purple-golden Light and others arose from their seats, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha: ”In a past eon in this region, I drew near to the Buddha named Sun, Moon, and Lamp, who was then in the world. I heard the Dharma from him and cultivated and studied with him. After that Buddha entered tranquility, I made offerings to his sharira and lit lamps to continue his light. Bhikshuni Purple-Golden-Light gilded the Buddha's image. From that time on, in life after life, my body has always been perfect and has shone with a purple-golden light. The Bhikshuni Purple-Golden Light, and others make up my retinue, and we all brought forth the resolve for Bodhi at the same time. I contemplated that the world's six sense-objects change and decay; they are but empty stillness. Based on this, I cultivated tranquility. Now my body and mind can pass through hundreds of thousands of eons as though they were a finger-snap. Based on the emptiness of dharmas, I accomplished Arhatship. Bhagavan says that I am foremost in dhuta ascetic practices. Wonderful Dharma brought me awakening and understanding, and I put an end to all outflows. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As I have been certified to it, dharmas are the foremost means.“

　　Aniruddha arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”When I first left home, I was fond of sleeping all the time. The Tathagata scolded me and said I was no better than an animal. When I heard the Buddha's scolding, I wept and upbraided myself. For seven days I did not sleep, and I lost the sight in both my eyes. Bhagavan taught me the Vajra Samadhi of the Delightful Seeing, which Illumines and is Bright. Without using my eyes, I could contemplate the ten directions with true and penetrating clarity, just as if I were looking at a piece of fruit in the palm of my hand. The Tathagata certified me as having attained Arhatship. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As I have been certified to it, returning the seeing back to its source is the foremost means.“

　　Kshudrapanthaka arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha: ”I am deficient in the ability to memorize and do not have much innate intelligence. When I first met the Buddha, I heard the Dharma and left the home life. But, when I tried to remember one line of a verse by the Tathagata, I spent a hundred days remembering the first part and forgetting the last, or remembering the last and forgetting the first. The Buddha pitied my dullness and taught me to relax and to regulate my breath. I contemplated my breath thoroughly to the subtle point in which arising, dwelling, decay, and ceasing happen in every moment. My mind suddenly attained vast non-obstruction, until my outflows were ended and I accomplished Arhatship. Beneath the Buddha's seat I was sealed and certified as being beyond study. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As I have been certified to it, turning the breath back to emptiness is the foremost means.“

　　Gavampati arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”I created an offense that resulted in mouth karma in a past eon. I slighted a Shramana, and in life after life I've had this cow-cud sickness. The Tathagata taught me the mind-ground Dharma-door of the purity of a single flavor. My thoughts ended, I entered Samadhi, and learned by contemplating flavors-how they have no substance and are not things. As a result my mind transcended all worldly outflows. Internally my body and mind were liberated and externally I abandoned the world. I left the three realms of existence far behind, just like a bird released from its cage. I separated from filth and wiped out defilements, and so my Dharma eye became pure, and I accomplished Arhatship. The Tathagata personally certified me as having ascended to the stage beyond study. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As I have been certified to it, returning flavor and turning awareness around is the foremost means.“

　　Pilindavatsa arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha: ”When I first resolved to follow the Buddha and enter the Way, I often heard the Tathagata explain how there is nothing in this world that brings happiness. Once, when I was on alms rounds in the city, I was reflecting on this Dharma-door and did not notice a poisonous thorn on the road until it had pricked my foot. My mind was aware of the strong physical pain, but although my awareness experienced the pain, I was also aware that in my pure heart there was neither pain nor awareness of it. I also thought, ‘Is it possible for one body to have two awarenesses?’ Having reflected on this for a short while, my body and mind became suddenly empty. After twenty-one days, my outflows disappeared and I accomplished Arhatship. The Buddha personally certified me and confirmed that I had realized the level beyond study. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As I have been certified to it, purifying the awareness and forgetting the body is the foremost means.“

　　Subhuti arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”From distant eons until now, my mind has been unobstructed. I remember as many of my past lives as there are sand grains in the Ganges. From the beginning, in my mother's womb, I knew emptiness and tranquility, to the extent that the ten directions became empty and I caused beings to be certified to the nature of emptiness. Having received the Tathagata's revelation that the enlightened nature is true emptiness and that the nature of emptiness is perfect and bright, I attained Arhatship. I suddenly entered into the Tathagata's sea of magnificent, bright emptiness. My knowledge and views became identical with the Buddhas. I was certified as being beyond study. In the liberation of the nature of emptiness, I am unsurpassed. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As I have been certified to it, all phenomena enter into nothingness until nothingness and what becomes nothingness both disappear. Turning dharmas back to the void is the foremost means.“

　　Shariputra arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”From distant eons until the present, my mind and views have been pure. In this way I have undergone as many births as there are sand grains in the Ganges. At one glance I am able to understand all the various transformations and changes of both what is worldly and what is world-transcending without any obstruction. Once I met the Kashyapa brothers on the road, and walked along with them. They spoke about causes and conditions, and I awakened to the boundlessness of my mind. I followed the Buddha and left the home life. My seeing-awareness became bright and perfect, I obtained great fearlessness and became an Arhat. As one of the Buddha's elder disciples, I am born from the Buddha's mouth, transformationally born from the Dharma. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. As I have been certified to it, for the mind and the seeing to emit light and for the light to radiate throughout both knowing and seeing is the foremost means.“

　　Samantabhadra(Universal Worthy) Bodhisattva arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”I have been a Dharma Prince with as many Tathagatas as there are sand grains in the Ganges. The Tathagatas of the ten directions tell their disciples who have the roots of a Bodhisattva to cultivate the Universal Worthy conduct, which is named after me. Bhagavan, I use my mind to listen and distinguish the knowledge and views of beings. In other regions as many realms away as there are sand grains in the Ganges, for each being who resolves to practice the conduct of Universal Worthy, I immediately mount my six-tusked elephant and create hundreds of thousands of reduplicated bodies which go to those places. Although their obstacles may be so heavy that they cannot see me, I secretly rub their crowns, protect and comfort them, and help them succeed. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. The basic cause I speak of is listening with the mind, distinguishing at ease, and emitting light. This is the foremost means.“

　　Sundarananda arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”When I first left home and followed the Buddha to enter the Way, I received the complete precepts, but my mind was always too scattered for Samadhi, and I could not attain the state of having no outflows. Bhagavan taught Kaushthila and me to contemplate the white spot at the tip of our noses. From the first, I contemplated intently. After three weeks, I saw that when I inhaled and exhaled, the breath in my nostrils looked like smoke. Internally my body and mind became bright, and externally I perfectly understood that the world was like crystal, empty and pure. The smoky appearance gradually disappeared, and the breath in my nostrils became white. My mind opened and my outflows were ended. Every inhalation and exhalation of breath was transformed into light which illumined the ten directions, and I attained Arhatship. Bhagavan predicted that in the future I would obtain Bodhi. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. I did it by means of the disappearance of the breath, until eventually the breath emitted light and the light completely extinguished my outflows. That is the foremost means.“

　　Purnamaitreyaniputra arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”For vast eons I have possessed unobstructed eloquence. When I discuss suffering and emptiness I penetrate deeply into ultimate reality. In the same way, I feel no fear as I give subtle, wonderful instruction to the assembly concerning the secret Dharma doors of as many Tathagatas as there are sand grains in the Ganges. Bhagavan knew that I had great eloquence, and, using his sound to turn the Dharma wheel, taught me to propagate the Dharma. I joined the Buddha to help him turn the Dharma wheel. I accomplished Arhatship due to his lion's roar. The World Honored One certified me as being foremost in speaking Dharma. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. I used the sounds of Dharma to subdue demons and adversaries and to melt away my outflows. That is the foremost means.“

　　Upali arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”I followed the Buddha in person when he fled the city and left the home life. I observed the Tathagata endure six years of diligent asceticism. I watched the Tathagata subdue all the demons, and adherents of external paths and become liberated from all outflows based on worldly desire and greed. I based myself on the Buddha's teaching of precepts, encompassing the three thousand majestic deportments and the eighty thousand subtle aspects until both my karma of the nature and karma of restraint became pure. My body and mind became tranquil, and I accomplished Arhatship. In the Tathagata's assembly, I record the rules governing discipline. The Buddha himself certified my mind's upholding of the precepts and my genuine cultivation of them. I am considered a leader of the assembly. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. I disciplined the body until it attained ease and comfort. Then I disciplined the mind until it attained penetrating clarity. After that, both body and mind experienced keen and thorough absorption. That is the foremost means.“

　　Mahamaudgalyayana arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”Once when I was out on the road doing alms rounds, I met the three Kashyapa brothers-Uruvilva, Gaya, and Nadi-who proclaimed for me the Tathagata's profound principle of causes and conditions. I immediately brought forth the resolve and obtained a great understanding. The Tathagata accepted me, I was spontaneously clad in the kashaya and my hair and beard fell out by themselves. I roamed the ten directions, having no impeding obstructions. My spiritual penetrations, which are esteemed as unsurpassed, and I accomplished Arhatship. Not only the Bhagavan, but the Tathagatas of the ten directions praise my spiritual powers as being perfectly clear and pure, masterful, and fearless. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. By means of unrelenting attention to the profound, the light of my mind was revealed, just as water becomes clear when the mud settles. Eventually my mind became pure and lustrous. That is the foremost means.“

　　Ucchushma came before the Buddha, put his palms together, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to him, ”I can still remember how many eons ago I was filled with excessive greed and desire. The Buddha named King of Emptiness was in the world, and he said that people with too much lustful desire turn into a raging mass of fire. He taught me to contemplate the coolness and warmth found throughout my entire body, then the spiritual light coalesced inside me and transformed my thoughts of excessive lust into the fire of wisdom. After that, all the Buddhas referred to me by the name Fire-Head. Due to the strength of this Fire-light Samadhi, I accomplished Arhatship. I made a great vow that when any Buddha accomplishes the Way, I will be a powerful knight and personally subdue the demons' enmity. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. I used attentive contemplation of the effects of heat in my body and mind until it became unobstructed and penetrating and all my outflows were consumed. I produced a blazing brilliance and ascended to enlightenment. That is the foremost means.“

　　The Bodhisattva Maintaining the Earth arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”I remember when Universal Light Tathagata appeared in the world in the past. I was a Bhikshu who continually worked on making level the major roads, ferry-landings, and the dangerous spots in the ground, where the disrepair might hinder or harm horse carriages. I did everything from buildding bridges to hauling sand. Throughout the appearance of limitless Buddhas in the world I was diligent in this hard labor. If there were people waiting by the walls and gates of the cities who needed someone to carry their goods, I would carry them all the way to their destination, set the things down, and leave without taking any recompense. When the Buddha Vipashyin appeared in the world, there was widespread famine. I would carry people on my back, and no matter how far the distance, I would accept only one small coin. If there was an ox-cart stuck in the mud, I would use my spiritual strength to push the wheels out and resolve the hardship. Once a king asked the Buddha to attend a vegetarian feast. At that time, I served the Buddha by leveling the road for him as he went. Vipashyin Tathagata rubbed my crown and said, ‘You should level your mind-ground, then everything else in the world would be level.’ Immediately my mind opened up and I saw how the particles of earth composing my own body were no different from all the particles of earth that made up the world. These particles of dust do not conflict with our nature, to the point that not even the blade of a sword could harm it. Within the Dharma-nature I awakened to the patience with the non-production of dharmas and accomplished Arhatship. My mind has returned and I have now entered the ranks of the Bodhisattvas. Hearing that Tathagata proclaim the Wonderful Lotus Flower, the level of the Buddha's knowledge and vision, I have already been certified as having understood and am a leader in the assembly. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. Upon attentive contemplation of the body and the environment, I saw that these two defiling dusts are exactly the same. Fundamentally everything is the Treasury of the Tathagata, but then falseness arises and creates the defiling dust. When the defiling dust is eliminated, wisdom is perfected, and one accomplishes the unsurpassed Way. That is the foremost means.“

　　The Pure Youth Moonlight arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”I remember that long ago, beyond eons as many as there are sand grains in the Ganges, there was a Buddha in the world named Water-God, who taught all the Bodhisattvas to cultivate the contemplation of water and enter Samadhi. I reflected upon how throughout the body the essence of water is not in discord. I started with mucus, phlegm, saliva, marrow, and blood, and went through to urine and excrement. As it circulated through my body, the nature of water remained the same. I saw that the water in my body was not at all different from that in the world outside, even that in royal lands of floating banners with all their seas of fragrant waters.“

　　”At that time, when I first succeeded in the contemplation of water, I could see only water. I still had not gotten beyond my physical body.“

　　”I was a Bhikshu then, and once when I was in dhyana repose in my room, a disciple of mine peeked in the window and saw only clear water filling the entire room. He saw nothing else. The lad was young, and not knowing any better, he picked up a tile and tossed it into the water. It hit the water with a ‘plunk.’ He gazed around and then left. When I came out of concentration, I was suddenly aware of a pain in my heart, and I felt like Shariputra must have felt when he met that cruel ghost. I thought, ‘I am already an Arhat and have long since abandoned conditions that bring on illness. Why do I suddenly have this pain in my heart? Am I about to lose the position of non-retreat?’ Just then, the young lad came promptly to me and related what had happened. I quickly said to him, ‘When you see the water again, open the door, wade into the water, and remove the tile.’ The boy was obedient, so when I re-entered Samadhi, he again saw the water and the tile as well, opened the door, and took it out. When I came out of concentration, my body was as it had been before. I encountered limitless Buddhas and cultivated in that way until the coming of the Tathagata, King of Masterful Penetrations of Mountains and Seas. Then I finally had no body. My nature and the seas of fragrant waters throughout the ten directions were identical with True Emptiness, without any duality or difference. Now I am with the Tathagata and am known as a Pure Youth, and I have joined the assembly of Bodhisattvas.“

　　”The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. By means of the nature of water, I penetrated through to the flow of a single flavor, obtained patience with the non-production of dharmas, and reached the perfection of Bodhi. That is the foremost means.“

　　The Dharma Prince Vaidurya Light arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, ”I can still remember back through eons as many as sand grains in the Ganges to the time of a Buddha named Limitless Sound, who instructed the Bodhisattvas that fundamental enlightenment is wonderful and bright. He taught them to contemplate this world and all the beings' physical bodies as being false conditions propelled by the power of wind. At that time, I contemplated the position of the world, and I regarded the passage of time in the world. I reflected on the motion and stillness of my body. I considered the arising of thoughts in my mind. There was no difference among all these kinds of motion; they were all the same. I then understood that the nature of movement does not come from anywhere, nor does it go anywhere. Every single material particle throughout the ten directions and every deluded being is of the same empty falseness. Eventually the beings in each of the worlds of the three-thousand-great-thousand world system were like so many mosquitoes confined in a vessel, droning monotonously. Caught in those few square inches, their hum built to a maddening crescendo. Not long after I encountered the Buddha, I attained patience with non-existence of beings and dharmas. My mind then opened, and I could see the country of the Buddha Unmoving in the east. I became a Dharma Prince and served the Buddhas of the ten directions. My body and mind emit a light that makes them completely clear and translucent.“

　　‘The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. I contemplated the power of wind as lacking anything to rely on, awakened to the Bodhi-Heart and entered Samadhi, meshing with the single, wonderful heart transmitted by all the Buddhas of the ten directions. That is the foremost means.”

　　Akasagarbha(Treasury of Emptiness) Bodhisattva arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, and said to the Buddha, “The Tathagata and I attained boundless bodies when with the Buddha Samadhi-Light. At that time I held in my hands four huge precious pearls, which shone on Buddhalands as many as atoms of universe in the ten directions, transforming them into emptiness. In my mind there appeared a great, perfect mirror and from it issued forth ten kinds of subtle, wonderful precious light that poured out into the ten directions to the farthest bounds of emptiness. All the royal lands adorned with banners were reflected in this mirror and passed through my body. This interaction was totally unhindered, because my body was like emptiness. Because my mind had become completely compliant, I could enter with ease as many countries as there are atoms of universe and could do the Buddha's work on a wide scale. I achieved this great spiritual power from contemplating in detail how the four elements lack any reliance; how the arising and ceasing of false thoughts is no different from emptiness; how all the Buddhalands are basically the same. Once I realized this identity, I obtained patience with the non-existence of beings and dharmas. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. I used the contemplation of the boundlessness of emptiness to enter Samadhi and attain wonderful power and perfect clarity. That is the foremost means.”

　　Maitreya Bodhisattva arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, “I remember when, as many eons ago as there are atoms of universe, a Buddha named Light of Sun, Moon and Lamp appeared in the world. Under that Buddha I left the home life; yet I was deeply committed to worldly fame and liked to associate with people of good families. Then the Bhagavan taught me to cultivate Consciousness-only Concentration, and I entered that Samadhi. For many eons I have made use of that Samadhi as I served as many Buddhas as there are sand grains in the Ganges. My seeking for worldly name and fame ceased completely and never recurred. When Burning Lamp Buddha appeared in the world, I finally accomplished the unsurpassed, wonderfully perfect Samadhi of Consciousness. I went on until, to the ends of empty space, all the lands of the Tathagata, whether pure or defiled, existent or non-existent, were transformations appearing from my own mind. Bhagavan, because I understand Consciousness Only, limitless Tathagatas flow forth from this nature of consciousness. Now I have received the prediction that I will be the next to take the Buddha's place. ”

　　“The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. I intensely contemplated the ten directions as originating only from consciousness. When the consciousness is perfect and bright, one perfects wisdom that perceives ultimate reality. One leaves behind reliance on others and attachment to incessant calculating and attains the patience with the non-existence of beings and dharmas. That is the foremost means.”

　　（Maha-stamaprapta Bodhisattva's preachment of remembering Buddha:）

　　The Dharma Prince Maha-stamaprapta(Great Strength)， together with fifty-two fellow Bodhisattvas, arose from their seats, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha: “I remember when, as many eons ago as there are sand grains in the Ganges River, a Buddha called Limitless Light appeared in the world. During that same eon, there were twelve successive Tathagatas, the last of whom was called Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon Buddha. Those Buddhas taught me the Buddha-recitation Samadhi: Suppose there are two people, one of whom always remembers the other, while the other has entirely forgotten about the first one. Even if these two people were to meet or see each other, it would be the same as not meeting or seeing each other. On the other hand, if two people develop intense memories for one another, then in life after life, they will be together like an object and its shadow, and they will never be separated. The Tathagatas of the ten directions are tenderly mindful of living beings just like a mother remembering her son. But if the son runs away, of what use is the mother's concern? However, if the son remembers his mother in the same way that the mother remembers her son, then in life after life mother and son will never be far apart. If living beings remember the Buddha and are mindful of the Buddha, they will certainly see the Buddha now and in the future. Being close to the Buddha, even without the aid of expedients, their hearts will open of themselves. That is like a person who, once perfumed by incense, carries the fragrance on his body. That is called the adornment of fragrance and light. On the causal ground, I used mindfulness of the Buddha to be patient with the non-arising of both beings and dharmas. Now in this world I gather in all those who are mindful of the Buddha, and I bring them back to the Pure Land. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. I would select none other than gathering in the six sense faculties through continuous pure mindfulness of the Buddha to obtain Samadhi. That is the foremost means.”

　　“If living beings remember the Buddha and are mindful of the Buddha, they will certainly see the Buddha now and in the future. Being close to the Buddha, even without the aid of expedients, they will awaken by themselves. That is like a person who, once perfumed by incense, carries the fragrance on his body. That is called the adornment of fragrance and light. On the causal ground, I used mindfulness of the Buddha to be patient with the non-arising of both beings and dharmas. Now in this world I gather in all those who are mindful of the Buddha, and I bring them back to the Pure Land. The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. I would select none other than gathering in the six sense faculties through continuous pure mindfulness of the Buddha to obtain Samadhi. That is the foremost means.”