Zhenlin's Dharma Talks: the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas、Sutra Commentary、宝箧印陀罗尼经、

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Apr 24, 2009

The Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas 4

The Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas 3

The Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas

A General Explanation By Venerable Master Zhenlin

English Translation of the Sutra Text by Rulu (http://www.sutrasmantras.info/sutra03.html)

English Translation of the Commentary by Zhenlin Disciples

Master Zhenlin’s Commentary on the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas --III

So he pronounced it.

namas tryadhvikānāṁ sarva tathāgatānāṁ oṁ bhuvi-bhavana-vare vacana-vacati suru suru dhara dhara sarva tathāgata dhātu dhare padmaṁ bhavati jaya vare mudre smara tathāgata dharma-cakra pravartana vajre bodhimaṇḍa-alaṅkāra-alaṅkṛte sarva tathāgata-adhiṣṭhite bodhaya bodhaya bodhi bodhi budhya budhya saṁbodhani saṁbodhaya cala cala calantu sarva-āvaraṇāni sarva pāpa vigate huru huru sarva śoka vigate sarva tathāgata hṛdaya vajriṇi saṁbhāra saṁbhāra sarva tathāgata guhya dhāraṇī mudre bhūte subhūte sarva tathāgata-adhiṣṭhita dhātu garbhe svāhā samaya-adhiṣṭhite svāhā sarva tathāgata hṛdaya dhātu mudre svāhā supratiṣṭhita stūpe tathāgata-adhiṣṭhite huru huru hūṁ hūṁ svāhā oṁ sarva tathāgatoṣṇīṣa dhātu mudrāṇi sarva tathāgata sadhātu vibhūṣita-adhiṣṭhite hūṁ hūṁ svāhā

Text:

Then the Buddha pronounced the dharani:

Commentary:

He recited the mantra.

I shall now recite the mantra for you. Please calm down and listen to me attentively. Do not get distracted. It is very superb when the mantra is being spoken.

Text:

Let’s see what’s next.

Text:

After the Buddha finished reciting this spiritual mantra, all the Buddha-Tathāgatas from the pile of earth voiced their praises: "Very good! Very good! Shakya the World-Honored One, you have appeared in this turbid, evil world to expound the profound Dharma for the benefit of sentient beings that have nothing and nobody to depend upon. Therefore, the essence of the Dharma will remain a long time in the world, bringing wide, abundant benefits and joyful peace."

Commentary:

Shakyamuni Buddha spoke the mantra by the pile of earth. After he finished reciting it, the pile said, “"Very good! Very good! Shakya the World-Honored One, you have appeared in this turbid, evil world…” The turbid, evil world is none other than our human world of Jambudvipa.

“…for the benefit of sentient beings that have nothing and nobody to depend upon.” We are now like a child away from home and could find nobody or no where to rely on. By pronouncing such a profound Dharma for us, the Buddha is supporting and protecting us.

“Therefore, the essence of the Dharma will remain a long time in the world, bringing wide, abundant benefits and joyful peace." The benefits and merits of the Dharma are too numerous to be counted. Word fails to describe them. It brings joyful peace to us. We shall obtain peace and tranquility in both mind and body. Everything we do is smoothly done. Cultivate with a peaceful mind, and we shall gain happiness.

Text:

Then the Buddha said to Vajrapani, "Hearken! Hearken! The essence of this Dharma has inexhaustible spiritual power and boundless benefits! It is like a wish-fulfilling jewel on the top of a cylindrical banner, constantly raining down treasures and fulfilling all wishes.

Commentary:

The Buddha was talking to Vajrapani Bodhisattva as he addressed the Dharma Assembly. He said, "Hearken! Hearken!”

“Hearken” means to listen carefully and attentively.

“The essence of this Dharma has inexhaustible spiritual power and boundless benefits!” The mantra is ineffably superb! Its spiritual power is immeasurable and its benefits boundless. He made a comparison.

“It is like a wish-fulfilling jewel on the top of a cylindrical banner, constantly raining down treasures and fulfilling all wishes.”

Many of you have seen the Buddha. When the Buddha was alive in the world, cylindrical banners were hung by him. You still find it when visiting a temple. The banners are hung from high places on both sides of the Buddha statues. There are now made from copper or iron ornaments attached to their ends so that they stay droopy. When Shakyamuni Buddha was alive in the world, jewels instead of copper or iron ornaments were used. The jewels were wish-fulfilling. You get whatever you pray for before them. If you pray to the jewels, “I want treasures”, the treasures shall come to you like rains. It is really efficacious. Some people still like donating to have the banners hung before the Buddha statues made to gain the merits.

So powerful is the mantra, so inexhaustible is its spiritual powers, and so boundless its merits and virtues that we can never finish speaking about them.

Let’s read the next lines.

Text:

I will now speak briefly about one ten thousandth thereof.

Commentary:

It is so immeasurable that I can never finish speaking it. I’d just pick one from the 10,000 to tell you.

Text：

You should memorize and uphold it for benefiting all sentient beings.

Commentary:

Please try to keep it in mind, and review it regularly. By memorizing it, reciting it, and upholding it, you shall not only benefit yourself but others.

Text:

"If an evil man falls to hell after death, he will have to suffer uninterruptedly without a date of release. However, if his descendants address his name and then recite this spiritual mantra, upon completion of only seven repetitions, the molten copper and burning iron in the hell will suddenly turn into pond waters of the eight virtues. [This deceased] will have a lotus flower supporting his feet and a jeweled canopy over his head. The door of hell will break and the Bodhi Way will open. His lotus flower will fly him to the Land of Ultimate Bliss. There, his knowledge of all knowledge will unfold spontaneously. Delighting in expounding the Dharma endlessly, He will be in the holy position to attain Buddhahood in his next life.

Commentary:

I had already talked to you about this passage a few days ago. It tells us that we can use the mantra in the Sutra to ferry over the deceased ancestors to the World of Ultimate Bliss. It has to be your relatives to be effective. The Sutra makes it clear, ‘if his son or grandson…’. That is to say, we can do it for our ancestors. We only need to read out his or her name. For example, “Mr. X, I now shall read the Treasure Chest Seal Dharani. I recite it for you and hope that you shall enter the Western Pure Land of Bliss upon the merits and virtues of the Mantra.

You can either recite the whole Sutra, or just the mantra. Reciting the mantra shall work. When you finish reading it for seven times, he or her will soon be freed from the torture of the hell, and arrive at a pond of lotus. It is very comfortable there. A lotus will grow under his or her feet. And, upon the lotus, he or her shall fly away to the World of Ultimate Bliss.
“All the wisdom shall appear naturally”. This means he shall be as powerful as a Bodhisattva. Actually he is. He is no different from Bodhisattva of Complete Enlightenment. A Bodhisattva of the 10th stage, not the first or the second. Shakyamuni Buddha makes it clear to us in the Sutra, “He is happy to speak and stay at a position of supplement of a Buddha.” Staying at the position of supplement of a Buddha is what a Bodhisattva of the 10th stage enjoys. Therefore, if we use this mantra of the Sutra to ferry over our ancestors, he will be very happy. He can enter the World of Ultimate Bliss and become a Bodhisattva there! Certainly it is good for you, too. He shall always bless you. Once in the World, he can reach you instantly as long as he wants. It is very fast for him to come to you.” If a human gets the luck to visit the Land of Ultimate Bliss even for a short while, a much longer time would have passed in the human world. Even his sons would have died by the time he returns from the short trip.

It seems few have the courage to explain the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas. I don’t care how others may dislike it, I’ll just speak it and tell you exactly what Shakyamuni Buddha has spoken. Let us do what the Buddha has instructed us to, and refrain from doing what He has not. I will talk on it no matter how some may scold me. I don’t care. It is not my business if this makes some people unhappy. Scold me if you like. I never get annoyed, anyway. Some of you keep asking me the same questions these days that even the listeners around get impatient. I don’t. You get impatient because your skills of cultivation are not as good as mine. A true cultivator of the Buddha Dharma never gets angry or afflicted. You should have found that this is what I am like through the Dharma Assembly these days. I am always patient no matter how many times the same question may have been asked before me. This shows that I do have the skills of cultivation.

You have yet to reach this level of cultivation, and would get impatient being asked for just three times. In fact, as long as you keep cultivating the Buddha Dharma, you will be able to make it as well. Nothing can disturb you or make you afflicted. You never get angry, or feel treated unfairly. You shall gain release from all these negative feelings.

Recite the mantra for seven times, and the deceased ancestors shall immediately gain release and enter the Land of Ultimate Bliss. Shakyamuni Buddha spoke it in clear-cut terms and it must be the right way to do. Mind you, though, you’d better stay vegetarian on the day you do the ferrying over rites. Is it ok to ask others to perform it for you? Surely OK. Nevertheless, it is not that easy to get the right people to do it for you nowadays. Usually it takes a team of seven to perform the Buddhist rite. If one of them takes two bites of meat on the day furtively, the ferrying over will fail. Why don’t you just do it yourselves? If you are illiterate, you may just ask someone who can read to teach you how to pronounce the words in the mantra. Staying vegetarian for just one day isn’t that difficult for you, right?

Text:

"Furthermore, for a person who, in retribution for his grave sins, is suffering from 100 diseases with a heavy heart…”

Commentary:

It is stated clearly in the sutra that we contract diseases in retribution. When, doctors may simply tell you that you catch a cold, without knowing what is behind the cold. The problem won’t be solved if you don’t address the root causes. For sure, when people are sick, they feel very uncomfortable “with a heavy heart”.

Text:

“…he should recite this spiritual mantra 21 times. Then 100 diseases and 10,000 distresses will be eliminated after sometime.”

Commentary:

A patient needs just to recite the mantra 21 times, and gradually, bit by bit, he’ll recover. It takes time to apply the Buddha Dharma to curing diseases. As long as he recites it, the cause and conditions shall change bit by bit. The mantra can cure diseases!

Many Buddhist scriptures can cure diseases, such as the Mantra of Great Compassion, the Former Deeds of the Bodhisattva Medicine King, etc. I am always “boasting” to you that curing diseases is but a piece of cake in the application of Buddha Dharma. This is truly the case! When people come to me asking for help in curing a disease, I always say that I never cure disease. I only teach people how to cure diseases themselves. You can be your own doctor!

Many people here in Xinchang (translator note: the city where Master Zhenlin lives) have made it. They get recovered by applying the Buddha Dharma, without having to take any medication or injection. Don’t trust the TV Advertisement that says they help you recover without having to take medicines or undergoing any pain. Only the Buddha Dharma can make that happen!

You have to be patient and perseverant, though! Many give up having recited the sutra or mantra for just two days. You don’t get recovered by taking medicines for two days, do you? Applying the Buddha Dharma to cure diseases is like taking medication and it takes time. Do you get recovered if the doctor asks you to take the medicine three times a day and two pills a time while you do only one pill a time and once a day?

If you apply the Sutra of Longevity to curing diseases, you should recite it everyday during the first three months. If you fail to do it someday during the first three months, all the efforts in previous days will be in vain and you need to start a new round of three months. This is a foundation-laying period. Keep doing it everyday, and it is for sure that you’d evoke the responses. The sickened part shall feel it. You may come to consult me if you feel something unsual. I will tell you what to do. Keep doing it for three months, a patient will get recovered largely, be him suffering from leukemia or diabetes. The blood sugar of a diabetes patient will drop if he or she keep recites the Sutra of Longevity everyday for three months. A patient paralyzed and bed-ridden from a stroke will come to feel numbness in less than one month after he starts to recite the mantra, if he can open his mouth. Feeling numb shows he is evoking the responses, as such a patient hardly can feel anything.

I tell this to you because already there are people having recovered by reciting the sutra. You have to do exactly as I have told you. Do not cut corners. Do not be a lazybones. Reciting it is just like taking medication, except you don’t feel any pain. Of course, the mantra can do more than curing diseases.

Let’s see what’s next.

Text：

His life span will be extended, and his fortune and merit will become infinite.

Commentary:

It extends one’s lifespan. “…and his fortune and merit will become infinite.” People who are poor will get rich, and whose life is miserable will turn happy. They may get promoted to be government officials even though originally they are not destined to enjoy it. A child who has been underperforming academically may show progress and enter a university. It just all gets changed!

(To be continued)

Apr 23, 2009

The Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas -- A General Explanation By Master Zhenlin 2

The Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas

A General Explanation By Venerable Master Zhenlin

English Translation of the Sutra Text by Rulu
(http://www.sutrasmantras.info/sutra03.html)

English Translation of the Commentary by Zhenlin Disciples

Master Zhenlin’s Commentary on the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas --II

Text:
At that time the World-Honored One, having traveled not too far on the road, came to a garden called Abundant Wealth. In that garden were the ruins of an ancient pagoda, dilapidated and collapsed. With the courtyard covered by thistles and the doors sealed by creeping weeds, the buried rubbles resembled a mound of dirt. At that time the Buddha went straight to the pagoda. Forthwith, the pagoda issued vast, bright light, illuminating and glowing. A voice from the heap of earth praised, "Very good! Very good! Śhākyamuni, Your action today is excellent! And you, Brahmin, will receive great benefits today!"

Commentary:

What does this passage tell about?

Shakyamuni Buddha stood up and walked to a garden, where he saw a mound. The courtyard was covered by weeds and thistles. There was an ancient pagoda. Speaking of pagoda, I’d like to say a few words about the famous Leifeng Pagoda. It had collapsed, and was renovated a few years ago. It remained efficacious even after it was collapsed. It was efficacious, because there was a copy of the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas buried under it. Nevertheless, the copy was taken away during the renovation and is being kept in a museum now.

Anyway, when the Buddha walked to the pagoda, all of his followers saw it emitting very bright Buddha lights.

“Forthwith, the pagoda issued vast, bright light, illuminating and glowing.” It was very very bright. Perhaps few of you have witnessed firsthand the Buddha lights. Buddha lights are different from the sunlight. Sunlight can be very offensive and hurt our eyes. The Buddha lights, though bright, never hurt the eyes. See, the mound not only emitted Buddha lights, but also was talking. “Very good! Very good! Shakyamuni! What you are doing today is very very good! It is a huge good deed, and that the Brahmin will receive very great benefits today.”

Text:

Then the World-Honored One paid respects to the ruined pagoda by circumambulating it to the right three times. He took off His upper garment, placed it over the pagoda, and wept tears with blood. After weeping, He then smiled. Meanwhile, all Buddhas in the ten directions, looking on together, also shed tears, each emitting light to illuminate this pagoda. At that time the huge assembly was so astonished as to lose their color and wanted to resolve their bewilderment.

Commentary:

What does this passage tell us?

Shakyamuni Buddha walked to the mound, which was emitting Buddha lights and talking. He then took off his upper garment and covered the mound with it. “The ruined pagoda” means it had collapsed.

He circumambulated it three times, a token of great respect. Shakyamuni Buddha showed great respect to the Buddha! He even took off his upper garment and covered the mound with it. As He did so, he was shedding tears so much so that he wept blood.

“After weeping, He then smiled.” He then smiled after the weeping. At that time, the assembly found the Buddhas in the ten directions were weeping tears, too. They manifested Buddha lights to illuminate the mound. The Buddha lights went a long way. Why was it so? The arhats and Bodhisattvas who followed Shaykyamuni Buddha felt bewildered to see Him weeping tears and blood, and that the Buddhas in the ten directions were also shedding tears. They were astonished and scared to the extent of losing their color, or as we may put it, their face turned pale or green.

“and wanted to resolve their bewilderment”: they did not ask Shakyamuni Buddha but each other why. “Do you know why?” They were whispering and discussing it. What happened?

Text:

Meanwhile, Vajrapani and other Bodhisattvas also shed tears. Twirling the vajra in glowing flames, he came to the place where the Buddha was. He asked, "World-Honored One, for what causes and conditions are these lights manifesting; why did the Tathagata shed these tears from His eyes; and why do Buddhas in the ten directions manifest the sign of vast, auspicious light? I pray that the Tathagata will resolve, in this huge assembly, my bewilderment."

Commentary:

By then, the Vajrapani and other Bodhisattvas also shed tears. The Vajrapanies are also Bodhisattvas. They do not manifest themselves as a Bodhisattva but as a Vajrapani, while in fact they have certified to Bodhisattvahood but choose to be born as the Vajrapanies. They could not hold back the tears when they saw the Buddha weeping tears. AVajrapani can pour forth fire. His body has glowing fires.

“Twirling the vajra in glowing flames, he came to the place where the Buddha was.”
He poured forth fire from the mouth, twirled the vajra, and walked around cautiously. Vajrapanies are protectors of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, as we cultivators of the Buddha Dharma. He had thought a demon was coming. He walked around but saw nothing. Then “he came to the place where the Buddha was”: he stopped before the Buddha.

He asked, “World-Honored One, for what causes and conditions are these lights manifesting; why did the Tathagata shed these tears from His eyes; and why do Buddhas in the ten directions manifest the sign of vast, auspicious light? I pray that the Tathagata will resolve, in this huge assembly, my bewilderment.”
Having walked around and searching cautiously, he found nothing unusual. He went to the Buddha, and asked Him why He was weeping tears, why the mound was issuing bright lights, and actually Buddha lights, and why the Buddhas in the ten directions were also shedding tears and illuminating the mound with their Buddha lights.
He prayed that Shakyamuni Buddha explained to him and the assembly why.

Text:

Then the Bhagavan replied to Vajrapani, "This great treasure pagoda of accumulated whole-body relics of Tathagatas contains immeasurable kotis of the heart dharanis, the secret seal of the essence of the Dharma of all Tathagatas. Vajrapani, because of the essence of the Dharma contained in it, the pagoda has become tiered seamlessly like sesame seeds. You should know that the bodies of 100,000 koti Tathagatas are also like sesame seeds. Contained in the pagoda is the accumulation of the whole-body relics of 100,000 koti Tathagatas and even the store of 84,000 Dharmas. Also contained in it are 99 billion koti Tathagata-crowns. Because of these wondrous things, the site of this pagoda has great spiritual efficacy and superb, awesome virtue. It can fill the entire world with auspicious events."

Commentary:

“Then the Bhagavan, the World-Honored One, replied to Vajrapani”: Bhagavan is Shakyamuni Buddha. It is one of His names. In the state of the Vajras, He is known not as the Buddha, or the World Honored One, but mostly as the Bhagavan. The name is also used in a passage in the Sutra of Longevity. Let’s see how Shakyamuni Buddha replied Vajrapani.

“This great treasure pagoda of accumulated whole-body relics of Tathagatas contains immeasurable kotis of the heart dharanis, the secret seal of the essence of the Dharma of all Tathagatas. Vajrapani, because of the essence of the Dharma contained in it, the pagoda has become tiered seamlessly like sesame seeds. You should know that the bodies of 100,000 koti Tathagatas are also like sesame seeds. Contained in the pagoda is the accumulation of the whole-body relics of 100,000 koti Tathagatas and even the store of 84,000 Dharmas. Also contained in it are 99 billion koti Tathagata-crowns. Because of these wondrous things, the site of this pagoda has great spiritual efficacy and superb, awesome virtue. It can fill the entire world with auspicious events.”

Shakyamuni Buddha explained to us in the passage why the mound was emitting lights. It was because there was a copy of the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas buried under it. What did the Sutra bring to the pagoda?

“immeasurable kotis of the heart dharanis, the secret seal of the essence of the Dharma of all Tathagatas”: It contains the secret seal of the essence of the Dhara of all Tathagatas. The Mantra consists of many many secret mantras, and therefore has with it a huge amount of energy.

He went on to say, “Vajrapani, because of the essence of the Dharma contained in it”: Simply because there was a copy of the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas buried under it, the mound, or the pagoda, “has become tiered seamlessly like sesame seeds.” That is to say, the whole-body relics were placed together and made seamless like sesame seeds.

“You should know that the bodies of 100,000 koti Tathagatas are also like sesame seeds.”
As I said to you just now, it was also filled with the real bodies of the Tathagatas. Though it manifested as a mound, you’d be able to see them if your Dharma eyes were open, and they were always there.

“Contained in the pagoda is the accumulation of the whole-body relics of 100,000 koti Tathagatas”: The body relics of the Buddhas in the past, e present, and future, also stayed there.

“and even the store of 84,000 Dharmas”: there was also the accumulation of the 84,000 Dharma doors and all the Dharmas.

“Also contained in it are 99 billion kotiTathāgata-crowns.” There were also numerous red-colored Buddha crowns. In fact, the crown shall grow after one becomes a Buddha. It is a mound of flesh, which is incredible beyond description in its spiritual powers. If you pay attention, you’d find it in a Buddha statute. It can issue lights, too!

Now you should know why there is such a crown in a Buddha Statute. In this passage, we learn that there were many Buddha crowns accumulated in the pagoda as well. Why was the mound emitting lights?

“Because of these wondrous things, the site of this pagoda has great spiritual efficacy and....” Certainly it is very efficacious to make a wish before the mound, with so many Buddhas, Buddha crowns, and body relics of the Buddhas. The sick can get recovered if they eat a bit of the earth from the mound.

Pay attention to the follow line: “…and superb, awesome virtue. It can fill the entire world with auspicious events."

As I said, it has to be “auspicious events”. You won’t have your wish granted if it is for winning the top prize of a 5-million lottery. It won’t work as it is gambling, and inauspicious.

Any wish that morally acceptable will be granted if you pray for it. Don’t try pray for winning 50,000 yuan in a gambling, though. It shall never work. Otherwise, some may even pray for help in killing a foe. The Buddha was really thoughtful. Well, He just knew too well how we humans might think. Therefore, he particularly pointed out that it had to be “auspicious events”.

Text:
When the huge assembly heard the Buddha's words, they erased their emotional defilements, ended their afflictions, and obtained the pure Dharma-eye. Since the capacities of the multitudes were so varied, the benefits they gained were different. Each of them acquired one of the following accomplishments: some achieved the holy fruit, becoming Srotapannas, Sakrdagamins, Anagamins, Arahats, or Pratyekabuddhas; some attained the avaivartika, the no-regress sarvajna on the Bodhisattva Way; some attained the First Ground, Second Ground, or even the Tenth Ground; and some fulfilled the six paramitas. The Brahmin erased his emotional defilements and accomplished the five transcendental powers.

Commentary:

Let’s see what this passage tells about.

Among the assembly there were many arhats and people of good roots. They were smart. They erased their emotional defilements having heard the Buddha saying so. They got more enlightened. Many of them also obtained the Dharma eyes, and found the mound no longer a mound, but skyrocketing and turned into the seven treasures. They found there were so many Buddhas and Tathagataes sitting by the pagoda.

“Since the capacities of the multitudes were so varied”: the assembly members realized that the wish they made at that time would for sure be granted. It would be very efficacious. I had stressed this to you on the first day of the Dharma Assembly. Hopefully you have come to realize it now! Soon they made the wish, and for sure, it was granted.

See, some achieved the holy fruit.

“Srotapannas, Sakrdagamins, Anagamins”: saints like Confucius, Laotze, who cultivated the Way in the secular world.

“Arahats”: Some wanted to become the arhats. They made the wish, “May I become an arhat.” And, their wish was granted. Others wanted to become a Pratyekabuddha, and still others wanted to become a Bodhisattva. Their wishes were all granted. Some certified to “the First Ground, Second Ground, or even the Tenth Ground”: it refers to the different levels of Bodhisattvas.

“the avaivartika”: a Bodhisattva.

“the no-regress sarvajna”: also a Bodhisattva.

The Bodhisattvas are of different ground levels. Those who wanted to become a Bodhisattva made the wish, “May I become a Bodhisattva”, and as it turned out, they did. Their wish was fulfilled. I had reminded you how efficacious it could be and that you should not forget it. Anyway, doing it only after being reminded will not be efficacious. The assembly members were really witty. Hearing the Buddha’s words, they soon made the wish and had it granted.

“some fulfilled the six paramitas”: It is a means of cultivation of the Buddha Dharma, and is cultivation of the Bodhisattva path. What about the Brahmin? He was still a human, but soon “accomplished the five transcendental powers”. The five transcendental powers refer to having the heavenly eyes, wind-accompanying ears, the ability to know other’s thoughts, the ability to know the past lives, and the ability to fly around at one’s will. He can travel to a place very far away as long as he gives rise to the thought.

Text:

At that time, Vajrapani, having witnessed these unusual, very rare occurrences, asked, “World-Honored One, how wonderful and how extraordinary! Since people deserve such excellent virtuous attainments by merely hearing about this matter, how much merit will they gain if they hear the profound truth and invoke their faith with an earnest mind?”

Commentary:

Vajrapani Bodhisattva was so amazed by what had happened: they simply made a wish, and it was granted so soon. They became Arhats and Bodhisattvas! So he asked World Honored One what about people who took time to understand the truth in the Sutra or to uphold it. Wouldn’t they gain more merits and virtues?

“…how much merit will they gain if they hear the profound truth and invoke their faith with an earnest mind?” How many more merits and virtues will people gain if they are committed to learning the Sutra, or upholding it with an earnest mind?

Text:

The Buddha replied, "Hearken! Vajrapani, in future times, if, among male believers, female believers, and the four groups of my disciples, there are those who are inspired to copy this sutra, they in effect copy all the sutras pronounced by 99 billion koti Tathagatas. It will surpass the roots of goodness they have already been planting for a long time in the presence of 99 billion koti Tathagatas. All the Tathagatas will support, protect, and remember them like cherishing their own eyes or like loving mothers caring for their young children. If a person recites this one-fascicle sutra, he in effect recites all the sutras pronounced by Buddhas of the past, present, and future.

Commentary:

If we copy the Sutra, or have it printed, we in effect copy, just in the present life, all the Buddhist scriptures pronounced by the Buddhas in the past, the present, and the future. This is just how virtuous it is to do so! Or, as is written in the Sutra, “there are those who are inspired to copy this sutra, they in effect copy all the sutras pronounced by 99 billion koti Tathagatas.”

“It will surpass the roots of goodness they have already been planting for a long time in the presence of 99 billion koti Tathagatas.” It is like you have learned the Dharma in the presence of 99 billion koti Tathagatas, and gained the merits and virtues equaling to that.

“have already been planting for a long time”: That is to say, it is equal to having cultivated the Buddha Dharma in the presence of so many Buddhas.

“All the Tathagatas will support, protect, and remember them like cherishing their own eyes or like loving mothers caring for their young children.” All the Tathagatas shall protect and love you as much as you to your eyes, as if you were their youngest child. Mom tends to love the youngest kid the best. Shakyamuni Buddha made a comparison here saying that He would love you as much as He loves His eyes and a mother caring for her youngest child. By recited the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas, you have recited all the sutras pronounced by the Buddhas of the present, and future.

Text:

For this reason, 99 billion koti Tathagatas, who are Arhats, Samyak-Sambuddhas, will come, jam-packed sideways without any gap between them, like sesame seeds in a pile. Day and night they will appear and support that person.

Commentary:

As you recite the Sutra, all the Tathagatas of the past, present and future will visit you, and appear before you. They sit on the Buddha statue or pagoda inside which a copy of the sutra is placed, support you, and bestow power onto you as long as you read, recite, write, or uphold the sutra.

Text:

Thus, all the Buddha-Tathagatas, innumerable as the sands of the Ganges, will come. The first group of them has not yet left, and the next has arrived. They all instantly move away and return again, like fine sands whirling in quick water. Unable to stop, they come again as soon as they turn away.

Commentary:

I have told you about it earlier. What I tell you can always be found in the Buddhist scriptures. If your Dharma eyes were open, you’d find them sitting by the pagoda. The first group of the Buddhas has yet to leave while the next has arrived. It is like find sands whirling in quick water, which is non-stop. Correct Dharma teachings are based on Buddhist scriptures!

Text:

If a person makes offerings of incense, flowers, solid perfumes, garlands, garments, and wonderful decorative objects to this sutra, he in effect makes an entire offering before 99 billion koti Tathagatas in the ten directions, of divine incense, flowers, garments, and decorative objects made of the seven treasures, all piled high like Mount Sumeru. Planting one's roots of goodness can be accomplished in the same way.”

Commentary:

If we make offerings to the Buddha statue consecrated with the sutra at home, with “incense, flowers, solid perfumes, garlands, garments”, or anything that is vegetarian like apples, we are in effect making offerings before 99 billion koti Tathagatas. “99 billion kotiTathagatas” is an astronomical figure. It is in fact way more than what can be calculated by “billion”. It is incalculable. “Aksobhya”, for example, can also be used as an expression of calculation, meaning incalculable. In the past, people also made offerings with money and garments. The Buddha tells us in the passage that this is how we can plant our good roots. This is just how great the merits and virtues can be!

Text:

At that time, having heard these words, the eight classes of Dharma protectors, such as gods and dragons, as well as humans, nonhumans, and others, all harboring wonderment, said to one another, “How marvelous is the awesome virtue of this old pile of earth! Its miraculous manifestation must have been caused by the spiritual powers of the TathAgata.”

Vajrapani next asked the Buddha, “World-Honored One, for what causes and conditions has this pagoda made of the seven treasures now become a pile of dirt?"

Commentary:

The assembly members, including the eight classes of Dharma protectors such as gods and dragons, as well as humans and non-humans, were filled with wonderment. They were talking to each other, “How marvelous! Bestowed by the spiritual powers of the Tathagata, even the pile of earth can have such miraculous manifestation!”

Vajrapani asked the Buddha why. “World Honored One, what is it that makes the seven-gem pagoda a pile of dirt, or a mound? Why didn’t we fail to recognize it that it was a dilapidated pagoda?”

Text:

The Buddha replied to Vajrapani, “This is not a pile of dirt, but a wonderful, great treasure pagoda! It is hidden because of the bad karmic fruits of sentient beings.

Commentary:

Leifeng Pagoda is an example. It got hidden by collapsing. People were too bad and mean to it. They scrapped the earth off its wall. Finally, the Pagoda chose to hide itself from us. As is written in the passage, it was “because of the bad karmic fruits of sentient beings.” The pagoda collapsed and became a pile of dirt because the people were too bad. They neglected it, and did not pay homage to it even though doing so could bring such great merits and virtues to them. The pagoda chose to hide itself from the people, since they did not respect it.

Text:

Although the pagoda is hidden, the bodies of the Tathagatas are indestructible. How could the vajra-store bodies of the Tathagatas be destroyed?

Commentary:

Though the pagoda has collapsed, the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas is still buried under it. As long as the sutra is there, the whole bodies of the Tathagatas remain. You do evoke the response paying homage to it. The pagoda is but an exterior mark. The true treasure is the vajra-store bodies of the Tathagatas, which can also be interpreted as an energy body, the Buddha nature, which is invisible, intangible, and yet can do everything. It is indestructible, and always stays there.

Text:

After I have abandoned my body, the ending of the Dharma will be unrelenting in future times. Sentient beings that act not according to the Dharma are bound to fall to hell because they neither believe in the Three Jewels nor plant any roots of goodness. Because of these causes and conditions, the Buddha Dharma should be hidden.

Commentary:

In the Dharma-ending age, the sentient beings create lots of bad karma, refusing to believe in the Buddha Dharma or planting good roots, and shall fall into the hell after they die. Because of it, the Buddha Dharma shall be hidden. We won’t be able to get access to it. As I said to you the other day, people won’t see any Buddha images sometimes in the future, let along Buddhist scriptures. What can they see by then?

Text:
However, this pagoda will still be solid and will not be demolished

Commentary:

The pagoda shall remain solid in the Dharma-ending Age!

Text:
…because it is supported by the spiritual powers of all the Tathagatas.

Commentary:

Why won’t it disappear? It is so because all the Tathagatas are supporting it with their spiritual powers. Therefore, it shall always stay!

Text:

However, ignorant beings, obscured and obstructed by their delusions, not knowing how to unearth and use the treasure, simply leave it buried. For this reason, I now shed tears, and other Tathagatas all shed tears as well."

Commentary:

He was explaining why He wept tears with blood and why so many Tathagatas cried. He had known that the beings in the Dharma-ending Age would regard the pagoda as a pile of dirt, and would not bow to it or show respect to it. They would take it as useless. It was so because the beings were obscured and obstructed by their karmic obstacles. Shakyamuni Buddha, for this reason, shed tears out of compassion for the beings.

Text:

Furthermore, the Buddha said to Vajrapani, "If a person copies this sutra and enshrines the copy in a pagoda, this pagoda will then become the vajra-store stupa of all the Tathagatas as well as the stupa supported by the heart secret of the dharani of all the Tathagatas. It will become the stupa of 99 billion koti Tathagatas as well as the Buddha-crown and Buddha-eye stupa of all Tathagatas, and it will be protected by their spiritual powers.

Commentary:

The Buddha said to the Vajrapani Bodhisattva, if any beings, either humans or non-humans, could write the Sutra, as there was no printing machine at that time, and enshrine the copy of the Sutra in a pagoda…

“enshrines the copy in a pagoda”: as long as one places the sutra copy inside a pagoda, it will become “the vajra-store stupa of all the Tathagatas”, which means there are numerous Buddhas and Tagathagas supporting it.

“stupa”: It is an Indian word, meaning something that is pagoda-shaped or pagoda-like. The Buddha did not use the word “pagoda” so that we don’t get attached to the mark. If the word “pagoda” were used, people would not dare to enshrine the copy in anything else other than a pagoda. In fact, we may place it inside anything that we make offerings to or bow to.

“…as well as the stupa supported by the heart secret of the dharani of all the Tathagatas.” All the Tathagatas would support it with their spiritual powers.

“It will become the stupa of 99 billion koti Tathagatas”: That is to say, hundreds of millions of Tathagatas shall gather there, making it very efficacious and responsive!

“as well as the Buddha-crown and Buddha-eye stupa of all Tathagatas”: The Buddha crowns and eyes shall also stay there and bestow it with the powers as mighty as those of the Buddha crowns and eyes.

“and it will be protected by their spiritual powers.” It shall be protected by all the Tathagatas, those of the past, present, and future, who keep empowering and blessing it.

Text:

If you enshrine this sutra inside a Buddha's statue in a stupa, the statue will in effect be made of the seven treasures. This statue will be so efficacious and responsive that all wishes will be fulfilled without exception.

"According to your ability, construct for a stupa these things: canopies, nets, columns, dew-catching wheels, fine eaves, bells, foundations, or steps. Whether you use earth, wood, stones, or bricks, all will turn into the seven treasures because of the awesome power of the sutra.

Commentary:

Pay attention to the follow text lines.

“If you enshrine this sutra inside a Buddha's statue in a stupa…”: The Buddha made it clear to us that this is what we can do. We would not dare to do it if He had not said so.
He told us that we only need to enshrine the sutra in a Buddha statute to consecrate it. “Stupa”: I’ve told you what it means.

“a Buddha's statue…” Pay attention to this! The Buddha would make it clear to us if it works. Otherwise, he would not have said so. As I kept stressing to you in the morning that nowhere could we find in any Buddhist scripture that the Mantra of Great Compassion or the Rebirth in the Pureland Mantra could be worn in our bodies. You probably have committed slander against the Buddha Dharma by doing so. I heard some people complain why wearing this or that mantra was not efficacious. Certainly it wouldn’t be efficacious. The Buddha has never said that the Mantra of Great Compassion or the Rebirth in the Pureland Mantra can be worn in our bodies. In this case, He made it clear to us that the Sutra could be placed inside a Buddha statue to consecrate it.

“the statue will in effect be made of the seven treasures. This statue will be so efficacious and responsive that all wishes will be fulfilled without exception.” It is written is clear-cut terms here that as long as you enshrine the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas in a Buddha statute, the statue will be very efficacious and responsive. All your wishes will be granted. Or, to put it in another way, you get what you pray.

"According to your ability, construct for a stupa these things: canopies, nets, columns, dew-catching wheels, fine eaves, bells, foundations, or steps. Whether you use earth, wood, stones, or bricks, all will turn into the seven treasures because of the awesome power of thesutra.”

No matter what the pagoda is made from, be it brick, wood, or whatever, it shall become a pagoda in a real sense, with even the stairways.

“fine eaves, bells”: the windbells that hang on each eave of a pagoda. It shall become a complete pagoda, and not only so, a pagoda made of seven treasures. The seven treasures refer to gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, agate, red pearl and carnelian. You should know them well if you do sutra recitation regularly. Though we don’t see it with our naked eyes, it is just all changed as long as we enshrine it with the sutra. See, all that I have told you can be found in the sutra.

“According to your ability…”: You can do it as much as your ability or circumstances allow. Some of you may be able to build a tall pagoda, while others can only make a small one with earth. Never mind, it will work. Whether you use earth, wood, stone, or brink, the pagoda will naturally turn into seven treasures if you enshrine a copy of the Heart Secret of All Tathagatassutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal in it, because of, as the Buddha said, “the awesome power of thesutra”

Text:

Moreover, all the Tathagatas will increase the power of this sutra. Keeping a sincere promise, they support it incessantly.

“a sincere promise”: meaning there is no falsity to it. They do, in reality, bestow power onto it. All the Tathagatas include all the Buddhas in the past, present, and future.

Text:

"If a sentient being makes obeisance and gives offerings of only a little incense and one flower to this pagoda, his grave sins which would entail 80 koti kalpas of life and death will all be expunged at once.

Commentary:

If you enshrine a copy of the sutra in a Buddha statue, and bow to it, all the offenses committed in the past 80 koti kalpas of life and death will be extinguished immediately! Our offenses committed over the past 1,000 kalpas will be expunged if we recite the Sutra of Longevity, while it is “80 koti kalpas” in this case. Shakyamuni Buddha has spoken it in clear-cut terms, and it must be the very truth, without falsity!

Text:

He will be free from catastrophes during his life and, after death, be reborn in the Buddha family.

Commentary:

“He will be free from catastrophes during his life and…”: It can protect you from disasters. There won’t be any more catastrophes in your life.

“…and, after death, be reborn in the Buddha family.” This is just how superb it is to have a Buddha statue with a copy of the sutra placed inside it at home. As long as you pay homage to the statue, you’d be reborn in a Buddhaland after you die. There are numerous Buddhalands. It is good for you no matter what school you cultivate, be it Pure Land School or whatever.

Text:

Even for a person who should fall to Avici Hell, if he makes one obeisance to the pagoda or circumambulate it once to the right, the door to hell will be blocked and the bodhi road will be opened.

Commentary:

What will happen if a person has committed very serious offenses and is supposed to fall to the Avici Hell after he dies, and yet if he bows to the pagoda or circumambulate it to the right just once, well in fact, let me put it simply, if he shows respect and pays homage to it,? Let’s read the next line. It is really ineffably superb!

“the door to hell will be blocked”: the doors to the hell will be blocked. He will not fall to the Hell with just one bow.

“and the bodhi road will be opened”: the road to the Buddhalands is open. This is consistent with what I have been telling you these days. None of my words is false. They are all based in the Sutra. The Buddha has made it clear to us that the door to hell will be blocked and the bodhi road will be opened as long as the person pays respects to it, bowing or circumambulating it to the right just once.

Text:

“Furthermore, the place of the pagoda or of its image will be protected by the spiritual powers of all the Tathagatas. The place will not be damaged by hurricanes, lightening, or thunderbolt. It will be neither disturbed by venomous snakes, vipers, or poisonous insects and animals, nor harmed by lions, rampaging elephants, tigers, wolves, jackals, or scorpions. It will be free from the terror of yaksas, raksasas, putanas, pisacas, spirits, monsters, and epilepsy. It will not be troubled by diseases, such as chills, fevers, skin ulcers, carbuncles, scabies, or psora.

Commentary:

Enshrine the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas in a Buddha statue and place it in your home, it shall be free from the damage of earthquake, thunderbolt, lightening, flood, fire, and hurricanes. Nor will venomous snakes or beasts such as lions or rampaging elephants hurt you. He used the phrase “rampaging elephants”, meaning even the elephants are running amok, they won’t trample you.

“yaksas, raksasas, putanas, pisacas, spirits, monsters, and epilepsy.…”: These are ghosts and goblins. They won’t be able to inflict any harm on you. Therefore, you will not suffer from any serious diseases.

“It will not be troubled by diseases, such as chills, fevers, skin ulcers, carbuncles, scabies, or psora.” These are serious diseases. You can avert them. In fact, gradually, you will be protected safe further and further away from all the inauspicious things, made possible only because of the Mantra! This is just how efficacious the mantra is! Recite it 21 times, and one gets recovered gradually from illness. It is just that powerful!

Text:

One can avert all disasters by seeing the pagoda briefly. Also, at the place of the pagoda, people including young boys and girls, horses, and six kinds of livestock will not be plagued by epidemics.

Commentary:

Even the livestock around the Buddha statue will not fall sick. So will the children. Sure, we may still contract minor diseases. After all, we are humans. There won’t be serious diseases like cancer.

Text:

They will not die unnatural, accidental deaths,

Commentary:

They will not die in accidents such as a traffic accident or die young. Such mishaps won’t befall them.

Text:

…or be harmed by knives, sticks, water, or fire. They will be neither plundered by bandits or enemies.

Commentary:

You may still get hit in traffic accidents bowing to Buddha Statues not having been consecrated with the sutra. The statues are not endowed with such a power. However, you can avert the mishaps if they bow to a consecrated statue.

“They will be neither plundered by bandits or enemies.” Place such a Buddha statute at home, and you will not be plundered by bandits. Nor will your enemies be able to seek revenge on you.

Text:

…nor worried about famine or poverty.

Commentary:

You can pray for wealth before the statue, and shall be free from famine and poverty. Some of you are worried that others may be cursing you. Don’t worry. As long as you have the statute at home, no one can harm you with any cursing. It will be like what the saying describes as “curses come home to roost.”

Text:

They will not be subjected to the power of sorcery or curses.

Commentary:

No cursing can harm you.

Text:

The four great god-kings and their retinue will protect them day and night.

Commentary:

You will be protected by the four great god kings, and the heavenly generals and soldiers under their command, day and night.

Text:

In addition, the 28 classes of yaksa generals,

Commentary:

The twenty-eight constellations are protecting you, too.

Text:

the sun, the moon, the five planets

Commentary:

The stars. You know well the sun, the moon, and the five planets. Scientists have done some research about them. The five planets in this case refer to the Venus, the Jupiter, the Mercury, the Mars, and the Saturn.

Text:

and cloudlike comets…

Commentary:

The comets, which are further from us than the five planets.

Text:

…will protect them day and night.

Commentary:

They protect you day and night.

Text:

All dragon-kings will increase their vital energy and bring rainfall at the right time.

Commentary:

Dragon kings, too, protect you. They will bring rainfall at the right time to you, for example, when there is a drought or water shortage in your hometown.

Text:

All the heavenly beings including those in Trayastrimsa Heaven

Commentary:

The beings from all the heavens, including from the Trayastrimsa Heaven.

Text:

…will descend during the three periods of the day to make offerings.

Commentary:

The three periods of the day refer to in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. The heavenly beings do visit you in the three periods. In fact, when you get the luck, you will see rays of lights descending from high to your home. It is a sign that the gods and immortals are visiting you. Since you cannot see their Dharma bodies, you see lights. The lights fall upon your home at lightening speed. Sometimes the lights never disappear as there are so many of them. Ordinary people can also see the lights when they get the luck.

Locals in Xinchang city often see rays of strong lights when it is raining with thunder. They refer to it as the “white rainbow spirit”, the white color in a rainbow. It is not true. Sometimes you may feel it noisy at night at home. If you take a look, you may find there are so many heavenly beings there paying homage to the Buddha statue. They making offerings to the consecrated Buddha statue because it is so superb.

Text:

All fairies will gather during the three periods to sing songs of praise, circumambulate…

Commentary:

The fairies usually live in a cave. They have to dwell in a cave because their skills of cultivation are not good enough. There are many of them in Mount. Jiuhua and Mount. E’mei. If their skills are good enough, they’d living in their own palace in the heavens. They pay homage to the statue in the three periods, too, by singing songs of praise, circumambulating…

Text:

…give thanks, and pay respects

Commentary:

They pay respects and homage to the stupa, as it is so tall, so superb, and powerful, with so many Buddhas.

Text:

The god-king Shakra and goddesses will descend during the three periods of the day and of the night to make offerings.

Commentary:

King Shakra is commonly known as the Heavenly Emperor of Jade among the Chinese. He, too, shall descend to make offerings together with the goddesses in the three periods.

Text:

The place will be remembered and supported by all the Tathagatas.

Commentary:

All the Tathagatas in the past, present, and future bestow power onto this place. Why is it so?

Text:

Such will be the pagoda because it contains thissutra!

Commentary:

It is so because the Heart Secret of All Tathagatassutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal is enshrined in the pagoda or Buddha statue.

Text:

"If people build a pagoda using earth, stone, wood, gold, silver, bronze, and lead, and if they copy this spiritual mantra and enshrine the copy in the pagoda, as soon as it is enshrined, the pagoda will in effect be made of the seven treasures. The upper and lower steps, dew-catching wheels, canopies, bells, and columns will all be made of the seven treasures.

Commentary:

If people build a pagoda, either with earth, stone, wood, gold, silver, bronze, or lead, copy this mantra, and place it inside the pagoda, it shall immediately turn into one made of the seven treasures. He told us in clear-cut terms that it is regardless of with what materials you build the pagoda. The pagoda shall keep rising and skyrocketing to an incredible height, as is stated in the next passage.

Text:

Also, the four sides of the pagoda will have the images of the Tathagatas. Because of the essence of the Dharma, all the Tathagatas firmly protect and support the pagoda, staying in it day and night without departing.

Commentary:

Because of the Heart Secret of All Tathagatassutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal is enshrined in it, all the Tathagatas of the past, present, and future will come, jam-packed sideways without any gap between them. They stay there 24 hours a day without departing.

Text:

Because of the awesome power of the mantra, the pagoda made of the seven treasures, which contains the wonderful treasure of the whole-body relics, will soar high up into the midst of the palaces in AkaniSṭha Heaven.

Commentary:

The pagoda or the statue shall soar high up to the 18th layer of the Brahman Heaven, because of the awesome power of the mantra. You don’t see it with naked eyes. But if your Dharma eyes or deva eyes are open, you’d see it. It is just how superb it is!

Text:

Wherever a pagoda stands like a mountain, all gods will view it with reverence, stand guard, and make offerings day and night."

Commentary:

All the heavenly beings look at it with utmost reverence. They pay homage and respects to it.

Text:

Vajrapani asked, "Due to what causes and conditions has this Dharma such superb virtue?"

Commentary:

The Vajrapani Bodhisattva asked how come it is so superb, and has such great virtues and spiritual powers.

Text:

The Buddha replied, "You should know that it is because of the spiritual power of this Treasure Chest Seal Dharani"

Commentary:

The Buddha explained that it was all because of the mantra. The mantra has ineffably great spiritual power!

Text:

Vajrapani requested, "I pray that the Tathagata, out of compassion for me and all others present, will pronounce this Dharani ."

Commentary:

Vajrapani pleaded with the Buddha. Buddha, could you plesase show compassion on us and pronounce the mantra to us? In the sutra text, the word “dharani” is used. Dharani means mantra. Vajrapani requested that the Buddha speak the mantra to us.

To be continued

Apr 22, 2009

The Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas -- A General Explanation By Venerable Master Zhenlin

I have been practicing the Buddha Dharma for years and get to know more and more Buddhist practitioners. While on the one hand I am happy to find that most Buddhist believers make offerings to Buddha images and scriptures at home, yet on the other hand it is a pity that they do not know how to set up a Buddhist prayer room, or worst still, leave Buddhist scriptures in improper places. As a matter of fact, we need to make offerings to Buddhist images and scriptures respectfully. By doing so we not only show respect to the forerunners of Dharma practice who have attained the Way, but also cultivate good roots, and are accumulating merits. Buddhist scriptures contain the essence of the Buddha Dharma. We should show respect to Buddhist scriptures as much as we do to the Buddha, and watch our behavior following the guidance written in them. By no means should we leave the Buddhist scriptures about.Some believers are very careful about the date and time when a Buddha image is being brought to their home. They also go into details about the exact location and position as to where the image is enshrined. They certainly do not have any knowledge about how esoteric and all-embracing the Buddha Dharma is. We often say that the Buddha Dharma is boundless. Under the bliss and bless of the Buddhas, anytime is auspicious, and everywhere is of good Fengshui (Geomancy). Buddhist scriptures, in particular, are endowed with spiritual powers. Curing diseases, staying away from disasters, making our home peaceful, and fortune good can be easily accomplished by Buddha Dharma.Yes, there are rules to follow when setting up a Buddhist prayer room and regarding where to place a Buddhist scripture, but this is not about being superstitious or ignorant.First and foremost, we need to show respect. Sure, the room should be made solemn, and the scriptures be placed where it is clean and in an orderly manner.We don’t have to make the room splendid. After all, our living environment and conditions are different from each other. It doesn’t matter how we establish the prayer room, how big the Buddhist images are, or how spacious the room is. All living beings are equal. As long as we show respect, it is fine to set up the room according to our personal preference, living conditions, and the space available.Nor do we have to pick a special date or set a particular location to establish the room. The fundamental principle is that it is comfortable, and makes our mind peaceful. It should be clean, quiet, and the air fresh, with abundant sunlight. It is all auspicious as long as we show respect and sincerity. If our home is not big enough, it is fine to enshrine it where the family and guests can see. If someone in the family does not like it, we should put it in a quiet and clean corner and take it out only when we pray. We don’t want to cause any incontinence to others. If it makes them unhappy, and they turn out to slander the Buddha, they cultivate bad roots and should receive retribution in the future. That is against our intention of setting up the room. If our home is spacious enough, certainly it would be great if we can set aside a room specially for it. We may place the Buddha image at a high location or in an independent cabinet. Usually, a candle holder and incense burner is a must. We may also use smoke-free candles and stick incenses to be safe and clean.What is needed in a Buddhist prayer room includes a Buddha or Bodhisattva image, praying-related items, a flower pot, censer, candle holder, everlasting light, a glass to hold water, fruit plate, etc. We don’t necessarily have to have them all, but can choose them according to the space available. It is fine as long as they are symmetrical, and make the prayer room solemn. If there is enough space, we can also set an alter table in the room. We may also choose to have a pair of couplets on the wall of Buddhist concepts that help us to purify the heart and enlighten the mind.Some believers place several Buddha or Bodhisattva images in their prayer room. In fact, it doesn’t matter how many images there are in the room, but whether the Buddha or Bodhisattva images enshrined are consistent with how they practice the Buddha Dharma is important. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are like our teachers. They keep reminding us that we need to be diligent, reflect inwardly, and not get lost. Usually at a Buddhist prayer room, we would make offerings to Buddha Shakyamuni, Amitaba Buddha, Medicine Master Buddha, the Three Saints of the West Pure Land (Amitaba Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva and Great Strength Bodhisattva), Guanyin Bodhisattva, or Earth Store Bodhisattva. They can either be in the form of a statue or hanging scroll. It is advised that we make offerings to the Buddha or Bodhisattvas in the room that are consistent with our practice of the Buddha Dharma. Certainly it does not matter if we place more than one Buddha or Bodhisattva image.Many ask whether consecration of a Buddha image is a must. This is a ceremony that originated from over 2,000 years ago when Buddha Shakyamuni consecrated His statue. He endowed the wood statue with spiritual power and Buddha nature with His Buddha energy.It is not easy to find a Master who knows how to consecrate a Buddha image nowadays. He has to be well-advanced in his practice of Buddha Dharma, and know how to apply the energy of a Buddhist scripture and mantra, to endow the image with spiritual powers and Buddha nature. He should also be able to preach the Buddha Dharma upon the consecration ceremony, which helps the Buddhist believers to practice in the right way and from getting lost. Otherwise, the image would be no more than a piece of wood even after the consecration. If we do not know who can consecrate it for us, it is ok not to do so. As long as we show sincerity and devotion, and keep sutra recitation and practicing Buddha Dharma in the room, the figures and images will gain spiritual powers gradually.How to make offerings depends on how we practice the Dharma, and how much time we have. We may do it everyday, both in the morning and in the evening, when we recite the sutra. Or, we may choose to make the offerings with burning incense sticks on the first and 15th day of every month according to the Lunar Calendar, as well as on Buddhism festivals. The offerings can be fruits, vegetarian food, flowers, or tea water, but never ever any meat. We may choose not to light the oil lamp or candle if the room is not spacious enough or out of consideration for safety.Moreover, a Buddhist prayer room should be kept clean and solemn. It is suggested that the cleaning equipment for the room, the alter table, the censer, and the candle holder is not used to clean other stuff. There is no need to cover the Buddha or Bodhisattva figures if someone passes away in the family. If we have to be out of home for sometime so that no one is left to take care of the prayer room, we’d better make sure everything is fine in the room, with special attention paid to avoid fire or electrical accidents.If we want to update the room and use new facilities, there are several points to note as well. If the previous items or facilities are still usable, it is better to keep them. If they are too worn-out, it is better that we burn them, and transfer the merits and virtues accrued to all the sentient beings or to whoever as we wish. If we have to move to a new apartment, we’d better pray before the Buddha and Bodhisattva so that we have a safe journey. The room should be well-lighted or illuminated, with good air ventilation. When not at home, we should put off the candle. Remember a Buddhist prayer room is where we pay homage to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, recite the sutra, and practice the Buddha Dharma. It is not supposed to be a place for fun or improper behavior. Otherwise, we may show disrespect.Setting up a Buddhist prayer room, in Buddha Dharma, is a form of giving practice, namely giving of Dharma and Buddha Image. It helps to make the Buddha Dharma known by more beings, and also bestow blessings and protection onto us. In the Dharma Semblance Age, after the extinction of the Buddha, it is very important to make our best efforts to establish Buddhist prayer rooms, make the Buddha Dharma known by more people, which shall bring true benefits to all the sentient beings.

Master Zhenlin’s Commentary on the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas

In fact, the Sutra of Treasure Chest Seal Dharani is meant to bring benefits to all the living beings by Shakyamuni. It can endow a Buddha picture, statue, or pagoda, with spiritual powers and Buddha-nature, or what is referred to as consecration. Shakyamuni Buddha explains in clear-cut terms the merits, virtues, and wonderful functions in the Sutra. Enshrine the sutra in a Buddha statue or pagoda, or a Dharma-practice facility, and it shall immediately be become of seven gems, and grow by the power of this Dharani, to Akanistha Heaven (Ordinary people cannot see it with naked eyes. However, people endowed with deva eyes and Dharma eyes can find it). All heavenly kings and gods come down to do offering to it three times day and night. As long as we show single-minded sincerity, make offerings to it, it is very efficacious and we get responses all the time for the wished we make.

If there are beings from the Path of Animals coming to the shadow of the Buddha statue or pagoda with a copy of the Sutra enshrined in it, or step on the grass there , they shall be relieved from the Three Evil Paths after they die and be reborn in a Buddha land.

If a person suffers from diseases, and if he recites this mantra in the Sutra for twenty one times, his diseases shall gradually recover.

Recite the mantra for seven times for a dead ancestor, his soul shall immediately be relieved from the Hell and enter the Pureland of Ultimate Bliss. The awesome powers, merits, and virtues of the mantra are beyond description.

The title is the Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas.

“the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas”: It contains all the bodies and body relics of all the Buddhas in the past, the present, and the future. There are numerous Buddhas in the Buddhalands of the ten directions. You shall know them well if you have read the Buddha Speaks Amitabha-Buddha Sutra. In this title, it refers to the Buddhas in the present who dwell in the Buddhalands in the ten directions.

Amitabha-Buddha from the Western Pureland of Ultimate Bliss has great affinity with the beings in the Saha World. In fact, there are two Buddhas in the West: One is named Amitayus. The other is named Savior of all Worlds from Suffering and Anguish. Akshobhya, for example, is in the East, in the Land of Happiness.

There are numerous Buddhas, including those that have entered extinction, such as the Prabhutaratna Buddha (literally, mutli-jeweled Buddha). He has gone into extinction. In fact, a Buddha never goes extinct. It means the Buddha is back to be an energy body.

“of All Tathagatas”: It includes all the Buddhas in the past, the present, and the future.

“secret”: We don’t see it with our eyes. We have no idea what it is. It is beyond our reach. In fact, the bodies of all the Buddhas and the relics after their extinction shall gather in the sutra and its mantra, and to the pagoda or statute that has a copy of the sutra inside it.

This is so because they do shift work. One group of Buddhas follows another to stay on the stupa. Those whose Dharma eyes or deva eyes are open shall find the Buddhas sitting on the stupa or statue 24 hours a day.

In fact, such a Buddha stupa has many windows, and on each of the window sits a Buddha. Have you ever seen such a stupa? Dharma masters who are well cultivated should know how a seven-gem stupa looks. Otherwise, the craftsmen would not have known how to make it. In fact, a seven-gem stupa is crowded with Buddhas, more than one Buddha on one window. That is just the best they can make.

If your Dharma eyes or deva eyes are open, you’d find that right at our Dharma Assembly, there are beings standing in straight line on the wall, and in the air. Though we don’t see them, they do exist. The Buddhas and their relics shall also show up in the Buddha statue we have at home if we place a copy of the Sutra of Treasure Chest Seal Dharani or just the mantra contained in the sutra. Their bestowal of power is non-stop. To draw an analogy, it is like putting into a bottle of water a handful of sand, and then stirring it with a chopstick. The sand shall keep swirling in the water non-stop. The Buddhas will remain on the stupa non-stop. One group arrives before the previous group of Buddhas leaves. That is why it is very efficacious to pray before such a stupa.

“Chest Seal”: a box, a treasure container.

“Dharani”: a mantra. The bodies and body relics of all the Buddhas are enshrined in the mantra, likened to a gem-container.

I’d provide a brief explanation to you on the word “sutra”.

“Sutra”: a path, a book, or a method. There is no need to make a sutra too complicated. Some people write a sutra into a heavy book for the readers. No, that is not what we want. We don’t need to understand it. We need the path to Buddhahood. Walk along the path that suits us the best. If we are practicing the Bodhisattva Path, we can also take others along the way so that they join us in the practice.

The bodies, and body relics of so many Thus Come Ones are placed inside the gem container. In fact, the best part of the Sutra is the mantra. All the rest of the Sutra texts are written to explain the mantra and how it should be used.

I had told you at the beginning of our Dharma Assembly that the Great Compassion Mantra is not meant to be worn in our bodies. The Buddha would have told us to do so if it works in that way. Nor is it meant to be used to consecrate a Buddha statue. I don’t mean it is not good to do so. I never say the Great Compassion Mantra is not good. All the Dharma Doors are good and equal, except we need to know how to apply them correctly and right to the point.

The Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani, the Heart Secret of All Tathagatas, as is told by the Buddha, can be used to consecrate a Buddha stupa or statue.

How can it not be efficacious, with the Dharma bodies, truth bodies, reward bodies, and body relics of so many Buddhas inside? The mantra is like a gem container. Certainly it is very efficacious!

Translation by The Tripitaka Master Great Vast Knowledge Amoghavajra, on imperial command, Daxingshan Temple

Tripitaka Master: a Dharma Master of Tripitaka specializes in studying the Buddha Dharma and Buddhist scriptures. He is a left-home Buddhist who can translate, explain, read, and expound a Sutra from a literal perspective. A Dharma Master of Tripitaka could not be very good in cultivation. You’d understand why if you read the Dharma Lotus Sutra. People who uphold the Dharma Lotus Sutra are not allowed to associate with those learned in the Tripitaka, or three storehouses who focus on literature instead of practice. Nevertheless, a Tripitaka Master did practice the cultivation. Otherwise, he would not be able to do the translation. And, he must have been a Bodhisattva coming to the world to be a translator working on Buddhist scriptures.

”Great Vast Knowledge Amoghavajra” is his Dharma name.
“on imperial command”: It is upon the command of the emperor that the Sutra was translated.

Text:

Thus I have heard:

At one time the Buddha was at the Jewel Brilliance Pond in the Immaculate Garden of the kingdom of Magadha. Surrounding Him were countless hundreds of thousands of Mahasattvas, great voice-hearers, gods, dragons, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, human, nonhumans, and others.

Commentary：

“Thus I have heard”: It was not spoken by me, Ananda, but by the Buddha. I heard Shakyamuni Buddha saying it firsthand.

“at one time”:It was either at that time or at this time.

“the kingdom of Magadha”, “the Immaculate Garden”, “the Immaculate Garden” and “the Jewel Brilliance Pond”: the name of a place.

“Surrounding Him were countless hundreds of thousands of Mahasattvas, great voice-hearers, gods, dragons, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, human, nonhumans, and others.” I have explained to you Mahasattvas, the heavens, the Six Paths, and the eight classes of Dharma protectors, such as gods and dragons.when I was explaining the Sutra of Longevity.

“great voice-hearers”: the great Bhikshus. Voice-hearers are of the Path of Arhats.

“Yaksas”: the god of strength;

“Garudas”: the bird that eats dragon. Dragons are afraid of them.

“Kinnaras, Mahoragas”: the eight classes of Dharma protectors, such as gods and dragons.

“Surrounding Him were countless hundreds of thousands of…”: There were numerous beings present at the Dharma Assembly. They surrounded the assembly like you do now.

Text：

At that time, in the assembly was a great Brahmin named Immaculate Light, who was well educated and intelligent. People delighted in seeing him. Having taken refuge in the Three Jewels, he persistently performed the ten good deeds. Benevolent, wealthy, and wise, he had the intention to have other people acquire benefits, great fortune, and prosperity.

Commentary:

Among the audience there was a great Brahmin. A great Brahmin is someone in possession of a good fortune, a super rich guy. In India, people of a good fortune, of big reputation and power, belong to the Brahmin clan, who believe that they come to the world from the Heaven of Sound and Light, and therefore of noble blood and superior to others.

The rich man was named “Immaculate Light”.

“…who was well educated and intelligent.” He was well learned, talented, and of great wisdom.

“People delighted in seeing him.” Why were people delightful to meet him? If everyone felt like making friends with him, he must be a nice guy. Why was he a nice guy? It was so because he “persistently performed the ten good deeds.” Ten good deeds include, for example, practicing giving, not getting angry even when scolded, always showing respect to the Buddha Dharma, and donating to the temples. He performed the deeds all the time.
“the ten good deeds”: In fact, a Buddhist scripture is titled the Sutra of Ten Good Deeds. I am not going to go into details about it now, though.

“Having taken refuge in the Three Jewels”: It means he had already take refuge in the Triple Jewels and was a Buddhist disciple. Let me explain to you the phrase “to take refuge”. Many of you have no idea why we take refuge.

The Chinese character is really remarkable. To“take refuge” in Chinese, consists of two words, “皈” and “依”.

The first one, “皈”, is composed of “enlightenment” and “return”. We are expected to attain enlightenment and return home after taking refuge. Many people, however, mistake taking refuge in the Triple Jewels as a professional title, or that the Buddhas only bless those who have taken refuge. How would that be possible? If you think in this way, it is better that you do not take refuge. You need to get to understand the Buddha Dharma, and that we are originally an energy body, and we need to return home after we are enlightened. After refuge-taking, we are expected to uphold the precepts.

The second word “依” consists of the word “person” and the word “clothes” in Chinese. It is where we rely. In this case, we rely on the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The Buddhas include all the Buddhas in the past, the present, and the future, as well as all the Buddha images, and the High virtues who are true cultivators. The High Virtues are no different from the Buddhas. Well, it shall take a long time if I am going to dwell on the concept of “to take refuge in the triple Jewels”.

The semblance of Dharmas is part of the Buddha Dharmas. Pay attention to the items held by the four god kings, and you shall find they are all different from each other. Each tells a different story, like the Buddhist scriptures.

We should learn to put it down. Do not live like an overwound string.

A Buddhist saying goes that the pipa is without string (note: pipa is a stringed musical instrument). It serves to remind us that we should unwind. Some of you are always like an overwound string, worrying about this and that: “Will my son be ok now that he is outdoors?” “Will my daughter quarrel with her husband?” Why bother to worry about that? Put it down! Remove the string!

The best sward does not have a sheath. The saying serves to remind us that we should take off the mark. Why send him apples as gift if you do not like him? Why tell others you are good friends? Simply because he is rich and powerful? Don’t you feel tired to wear the mask? Take off the mask. Display the sword. Show your true self.

The Buddha statues and images represent the semblance of Dharmas. The ancients made better Buddha statues than the craftsmen nowadays who would sometimes change the look of a Buddha. They are not supposed to do so. Any Buddha statue, whether in a sitting or standing posture, is our teacher. We are expected to learn something enlightening from the statues. For example, the next time you are before the statue of a god king, you may pray to him that “God king, I now repent of my past sins. Please guide me in achieving enlightment.” Perhaps the god king would remind you just to observe his statue, and you shall realize that you need to put it down.

We also talk of planting the Dharmas, which refers to the Dharmas that we practice. It is said that 84,000 Dharmas doors. In fact, Dharma doors are just uncountable. I used to practice the Kungfu of two-finger zen, using two figures to do push-up. It is also a Dharma. It shall take the practitioner back to Buddha Dharma when he reaches the highest state.

The two-finger zen is about cultivation of the mind, though one seems to be practicing the strength of the fingers. Well, I have yet to reach the best state, otherwise I would be able to pierce two wholes in a towel hung somewhere far away by simply pointing my figures at it. Anyway, the best Kungfu master is always a Buddha Dharma master, as we often see in Kungfu movies. This is referred to as thousands of Dharmas coming from the same origin. Whichever door we enter, we shall all get back to it as long as we cultivate with a singular focus.

“Sangha”: Sangha are not just about the monks. In fact, Sangha is an assembly of monks. Each of them is responsible for a piece of mission, and is a genuine cultivator. Having one’s head shaved won’t make one up to be a Sangha member. People nowadays seem to take whoever has had the head shaved as a Sangha member.

Anyway, we are not supposed to look down upon the monks. They may not be acting according to the Buddha Dharma, and some even go as far as indulging themselves in dining, drinking, gambling, and whoring. I heard about such monks and people around wanted to file a suit against them and wanted the media to expose their nasty behavior. The newspaper did not do so, though. After all, it would have very bad impact.

My point is that we do not get angry about them, nor criticize them. We would commit an offense of mouth if we scold them. After all, what they are doing has nothing to do with us. They shall receive the retribution for all that they have done. We may just take what they are doing as expressions of the Dharma, and remind ourselves that we are cultivators, and therefore not supposed to comment on others. As a cultivator, one is not supposed to get angry, nor pay attention to the weaknesses of others. Well, the definition of Sangha can be very extensive. I am not going into further details about it. Hopefully, my explanations help you understand the concept of “to take refuge in the Triple Jewels”.

After taking refuge in the Triple Jewels, we should uphold the five precepts. Among them, killing is a no-no. We’d better stay vegetarian. We are still killing the lives if not a vegetarian.

Some people would dispute, groundlessly, that vegetables, too, are lives. Surely they are, but the prohibition against killing is against the killing of sentient beings. While grass and vegetables are lives, they are not sentient. Sentient beings include, for example, dogs. Dogs have emotions like we humans. They’d get hateful getting killed, and seek revenge. That can be harmful to us. The grass won’t find where we are even if we pull it off the garden. The grass won’t make us suffer from rheumatism after we get old. It is insentient, and therefore does not have the power to do so.

The Buddha is trying to protect us by telling us against killing. Many of you, however, mistake is as a prohibition imposed upon you. By the time you get old, you’d suffer from all kinds of illnesses such as rheumatism, paralysis, as a result of the karmic obstacles created by the killing you’ve committed. When you are young, the Buddha lights upon you are brighter, and they could not reach you. By the time you get old, the Buddha lights get fainter, while the karmic obstacles on you grow heavier. They come to you one after another, with varying degree of hatred and revenge. The heavier obstacles can make you paralyzed and bed-ridden, or simply take your life away by making you a cancer patient. The lighter obstacles can still make you painful here or itchy there. This is just how it is! Since you have now taken refuge in the Triple Jewels, you’d better stay vegetarian. If you don’t feel up to it now, you may choose not to take refuge until next year when you are ready to be a vegetarian. Take time to practice not to eat meat food, and take refuge when you are ready. Eat as you want now, since trying to curb your desire to eat meat food isn’t that easy. But, refrain from doing it after you’ve taken refuge.

Some of you asked me, “Shall I open the door if people visit me when I am reciting the sutra or sitting in meditation?” Why not? Can you remain attentive to the sutra recitation when people keep knocking at the door? Go and open it. You’d get only more attentive. Stay in accord with the conditions. Do not go against what is natural.

Some masters tell their disciples to control the thoughts in the mind when sitting in meditation or reciting the sutra. This is wrong. Do not control them. That is why their disciples make no progress having practiced it for decades.

It is ok that you cannot help worrying about your daughters and sons, and granddaughters and grandsons. Go ahead and be worried. Will you still feel so after you have thought it all through? No. You will be able to put it all down by then.

The same holds true for your desire for meat food. Take it if you still feel like it. As you keep cultivating the Buddha Dharma, gradually you’d find yourself dislike it. You’d have loose bowels if you do by then. You’d feel the dish of braised pig feet smelly. Will you still feel like eating it by then? Certainly not. You’d vomit it even when forced to swallow it. Do not get attached to the mark, though.

Don’t feel bad if you’ve already taken refuge and are still in the habit of eating meat. You can make the vow before the Buddha statue by saying, “please allow me to keep eating meat food for a while. My skills in the cultivation of the Buddha Dharma are not good enough. I will quit it naturally by the time my cultivation is up to it.” It is not your fault. After all, no one reminded you of it when you took refuge. My master did not explain the concept of taking refuge to me either. I came to understand it gradually as I kept cultivation.

The Chinese characters are really an art. The word Buddha, or “佛”, consists of the word “non” and “person”, meaning not a person. I guess you’ve never heard an explanation like this. The ancient Chinese are really smart in making the word. Even a word can be used to express the Dharma. We Chinese people are really superb! The Chinese language can be very thought-provoking if we look into it.

“Having taken refuge in the Three Jewels”: He had taken refuge in Triple Jewels and been a Buddhist disciple.

“Benevolent”: He was kind-hearted, nice, and easy-going.

“wealthy, and wise”: He was considerate, careful, smart, and of great wisdom.

“he had the intention to have other people acquire benefits, great fortune, and prosperity” : He was not only rich, performing good deeds himself, but also wanted others to be rich, and kind like him, and be living a prosperous, peaceful, and blissful life like he did.

Text:

At that time the Brahmin Immaculate Light rose from his seat, came to the place where the Buddha was, circumambulated Him seven times, and offered the World-Honored One incense and flowers. He also covered the Buddha with priceless wonderful garments, necklaces, and garlands of gems. After bowing down at the Buddha's feet, he stepped back to one side and made a request, saying, "I pray that the World-Honored One and the huge assembly will come to my house tomorrow morning to accept my offerings."

Commentary:

At that time, this Brahmin, stood from his seat. It is like one of you standing up, coming to me, and walking around me seven times. This is a token of extreme respect. He also offered the Buddha with beautiful flowers and put on him long gowns and jewels. Spraying flowers is a means of making offerings. There were also other items:

“priceless wonderful garments”: We don’t have such clothes nowadays. The clothes is made of pearls and jewels. He was rich, anyway. He made offerings to the Buddha with the clothes.

“necklaces”: it is a kind of jewelry, with many precious pearls on it.

“garlands of gems”: very beautiful beads. He offered them to the Buddha as well.

“He also covered the Buddha with…”: he put these offerings before the Buddha.

“After bowing down at the Buddha's feet…”: he made obeisance to the Buddha at His feet.
“…he stepped back to one side”: He stood up from the bow, and walked to one side of the Buddha. He would like to invite the Buddha for a meal at his home. It is like you inviting me for a meal, “Master, may you please come to my home and have a meal?”

“…and made a request, saying, "I pray that the World-Honored One and the huge assembly will come to my house tomorrow morning to accept my offerings." He said to World Honored One, could you please come to my house tomorrow morning and accept my offerings? As we know, when Shakyamuni Buddha was in India, people could visit him both in the morning and in the evening. It was like the emperor’s morning meeting with the officials.

“At that time the Buddha gave him permission in silence.” This was the rule. If the Buddha responded silently to your request, it means he consented. The Buddha never spoke unless he had to. He was silent. He talked when needed. As the saying goes, “the mouth of gold hardly opens.” The Buddha seldom talked, and when he did, he talked the Dharma.

Text:

Knowing that the Buddha had accepted his invitation, the Brahmin hurried home. In the evening, he ordered extensive preparation of food and beverage of 100 flavors for the banquet. Water was sprinkled and the halls were swept clean, and canopies with streamers set up.

In the next morning, holding incense, flowers, and musical instruments, together with his retinue, the Brahmin came to the place where the Buddha was. He said, "The time has come, and I pray that You will grace my house."

Commentary:

“Knowing that the Buddha had accepted his invitation, the Brahmin hurried home. In the evening, he ordered extensive preparation of food and beverage of 100 flavors for the banquet.” The Brahmin knew that it was the time and that the Buddha had accepted his invitation. He hurried back home, and set off to prepare the food, fruits, and the dishes.

“and canopies with streamers set up” : Canopies were used. Streamers showing welcome to the Buddha’s visit were ready.

“Water was sprinkled and the halls were swept clean”: He had his house cleaned up.

“he ordered extensive preparation of food and beverage of 100 flavors for the banquet”: As he was rich, he ordered many delicious food.

“In the next morning…together with his retinue”: In the morning of the second day, he took with him his wife, children, and relatives to the Buddha.

“holding incense, flowers, and musical instruments”: He brought with him flowers. There were also musical instruments. It was like a band, as what is commonly seen at a wedding ceremony.

“the Brahmin came to the place where the Buddha was. He said, "The time has come, and I pray that You will grace my house.” This is what he said to the Buddha. It was the time. Could You please grace my house so that we all get blessed? The word “grace” is used because the family shall get big blessings with the visit of the Buddha.

Text:

At that time the Buddha greeted the Brahmin Immaculate Light with kind words and made an announcement to the huge assembly: "All of you should go to this Brahmin's home to accept his offerings, for the purpose of letting him receive great benefits."

Then the World-Honored One rose from His seat. Just as the Buddha stood up, His body emitted all kinds of bright light with intermingled wonderful colors, illuminating and touching the space in the ten directions. Being thus alerted, all set off on the road. At that time, respectfully escorting the Buddha, the Brahmin held wonderful incense and flowers with a reverent heart. He led the way, along with his retinue, the Brahma-kings, the god-king Śakra, the four god-kings, and the eight classes of Dharma protectors, such as gods and dragons.

“At that time the Buddha greeted the Brahmin Immaculate Light with kind words and made an announcement to the huge assembly: "All of you should go to this Brahmin's home to accept his offerings, for the purpose of letting him receive great benefits.”

World Honored One said to the Brahmin, softly and gently, and asked him to stand aside and wait for a while. He then spoke to the rest of the assembly, the arhats and Bodhisattvas, to go to the Brahmin’s home and accept his offerings. Why should they accept his offerings? Well, they did so so that he’d receive the benefits. Remember what I told you the other day? If a Dharma Master, who is a genuine cultivator, visits your home and accepts your offerings, you’d gain great benefits. It is not the Master that will gain the benefits. This is what happened to the Brahmin. The Buddha, the Mahasattvas, and great Arhats visited the Brahmin’s home and accepted his offerings so that he received the benefits!

It is quite interesting that many people would burn the sutra copy after recitation and transfer the merits to the Bodhisattvas. In fact, the merits accrued from the recitation belong to them, instead to the Bodhisattvas.

Some masters, though poor in cultivation, like receiving offerings from their disciples. In fact, the disciples do not get as many merits as they deserve if the masters are no good, or of heavy karmic obstacles. Nevertheless, the disciples still accumulate merits by making the offerings, though to the wrong masters, except the merits gained are not that big. Do not regret for what you’ve done having heard me saying so. My point is that making offerings to the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and genuine masters can bring benefits to you.

“Then the World-Honored One rose from His seat.” The Buddha stood up having said so.
“His body emitted all kinds of bright light”: As the Buddha had stood up, and was about to leave, great Buddha lights were emitted.

“with intermingled wonderful colors, illuminating and touching the space in the ten directions”: The Buddha lights were of various colors. They were beautiful lights, and illumined the Buddhalands in the ten directions.

“Being thus alerted”: All the heavenly immortals, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Vajras were alerted that Shakyamuni Buddha was about to leave.

“…all set off on the road. At that time, respectfully escorting the Buddha, the Brahmin held wonderful incense and flowers with a reverent heart. He led the way, along with his retinue, the Brahma-kings, the god-king Shakra, the four god-kings, and the eight classes of Dharma protectors, such as gods and dragons.”

Heavenly King Sakra, the Brahma Kings, the four god-kings and eight classes of Dharma protectors, who, as you are aware, can fly in the sky and drill their way under the ground, all gathered there. The Brahmin, too, was holding incense and flowers respectfully. Music was played, and flowers sprayed along the way as offerings made to the Buddha and paved the way for Him.

(To be continued)

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