Chapter 21 : The Bodhisattva Fine Sound

At that time the World-honoured One emitted a glow from the tuft of white hair between his brows, universally illuminating Buddha world-spheres in the eastern quarter as numerous as the sand of hundred and eight myriads of millions of nayutas of Ganges rivers. Beyond these there was a world-sphere named Adorned with Pure Radiance (Vairocanarasmipratimandita). There was a Buddha in that realm, named King Wisdom of the Pure Flower Constellation, preaching dharma to incalculable bodhisattvas and great multitudes. The glow of the Buddha's white tuft shone throughout their domain.

Within the realm there was a Bodhisattva named Fine Sound (Gadgadasvara), who has long since planted the roots of virtue, paid homage to and approached incalculable hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of Buddhas, achieving profound wisdom and attaining the Samadhi of the Fine Standard (dhvajagrakeyuraSamadhilabdhah), the Samadhi of the Dharma Blossom (saddharmapundarika), the Samadhi of Pure Excellence (vimaladatta), the Samadhi of the Sport of the King of Constellations (naksatrarajavikridita), the Samadhi of No Objects (anilambha), the Samadhi of the Seal of Wisdom (jnanamudra), the Samadhi that enables one to understand the speech of all living beings (sarvarutakausalya), the Samadhi that collects all merits (sarvapunyasamuccaya), the Pure Samadhi (prasadavati), the Samadhi of Supernatural Sport (rddhivikridita), the Samadhi of Wisdom Torch (jnanolka), the Samadhi of the King of Adornments (vyuharaja), the Samadhi of Pure Glow (vimalaprabhasa), the Samadhi of the Pure Treasury (vimalagarbha), the Unique Samadhi (apkrtsna), and the Samadhi of Sun Revolution - attaining, in sum, great Samadhis of this sort equal in number to the sand of a hundred thousand myriads of millions of Ganges rivers.

No sooner had the ray from the Buddha shone upon him than he said to the Buddha King Wisdom of the Pure Flower Constellation, “O, World-honoured One! I am going to the Saha world-sphere to worship, to approach, and to pay homage to Sakyamuni Buddha and to see the Manjusri Dharma-prince Bodhisattva and others.” The Buddha then gave his permission and asked him to send his regards to Sakyamuni Buddha and Buddha Abundant Treasures.

Thereupon the Bodhisattva Fine Sound without rising from his seat nor moving his body, entered into Samadhi. By the power of his Samadhi, on Mount Grdhrakuta, not far from the Dharma-seat there appeared in transformation eighty-four thousand precious lotus flowers with stalks of jambunada gold, leaves of white silver, stamens of diamond, and sepals of kimsuka gems.

At that time Manjusri, seeing these udumbara-flowers, said to the Buddha, “O, World-honoured One! For what reason does this auspicious sign first appear?” The Buddha then said to Manjusri, “It is the Bodhisattva Fine Sound wishes to come here with his company of eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas, to pay homage, to approach and to worship me. He also wishes to pay homage and listen to the Sutra of the Dharma Blossom.” Manjusri said to the Buddha, “O, World-honoured One! What wholesome roots has this bodhisattva planted, what merits has he cultivated, what Samadhi has he performed that he can have this great transcendental power? We wish the World-honoured One, by resort to your transcendental power, to let us see that bodhisattva when he shall have arrived.” The Buddha said to Manjusri, “The Tathagata Abundant Treasures will display to you his sign.”

Then the Buddha Abundant Treasures said, “O, good man, come! Manjusri wishes to see your body.” Then the Bodhisattva Fine Sound disappeared from that realm. He entered the seven-jewelled terrace with his adorned and firm body. He rose straight up into the space to a distance of seven tala-trees from earth and came hither together with eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas. The realms through which they passed, trembled in six different ways, and all alike rained down lotus blossoms of the seven jewels. A hundred thousand instruments of divine music, unbeaten, sounded of their own accord. This Bodhisattva's eyes were like broad, great leaves of the green lotus. His body was the colour of pure gold, adorned with incalculable hundreds of thousands of merits. His majesty was imposing and glorious. His glow was lustrous. He was perfect with all marks. A multitude of bodhisattvas, surrounding him in humble reverence, came to Mount Grdhrakuta.

When they arrived, he descended from his seven-jewelled terrace and taking priceless necklace, he brought it before the World-honoured One at whose feet he made obeisance and to whom he presented the necklace.

He then said to the Buddha, “O, World-honoured One! The Buddha King Wisdom of the Pure Flower Constellation sends his regards: ‘Have you few ailments and few worries? Are you getting on at ease and in comfort?’ He also sends his other regards. He also asks concerning the Tathagata Abundant Treasures whether he is serene and free of annoyances, whether he dwells long in forbearance or not.”

At that time the Bodhisattva Flower Virtue said to the Buddha, “O, World-honoured One! What wholesome roots did this Bodhisattva Fine Sound plant, what merits did he cultivate, that he has this transcendental power?”

The Buddha said to Flower Virtue, “This Bodhisattva Fine Sound has paid homage and approached incalculable Buddhas. He has long cultivated the roots of virtue. He has also met hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of Buddhas, numerous as the sand of the Ganges. O, Flower Virtue! All you see is the Bodhisattva Fine Sound whose body is here. Yet this Bodhisattva displays a variety of bodies, here and there preaching this scriptural canon to the living beings. Sometimes he appears as Brahma King, Sakra, Isvara, Mahesvara, Great Divine General, Divine King Vaisravana, Holy Wheel-rolling King, Minor Kings, elder, householder, minister, Brahman, bhikshu, bhikshuni, upasaka, upasika, wife of an elder, wife of a householder, wife of a minister, wife of a Brahman, youth or maiden, gods, dragons, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, human-like beings and the like, to preach this sutra. Whoever is in hell, or in the rank of hungry ghost or beast, or indeed in any other difficult place, he can rescue them all. Even in the harems of a king's palace, changing into a female body, he preaches this sutra.

“O, Flower Virtue! This Bodhisattva Fine Sound is one who can save and protect the living beings in the worlds of ten directions. This Bodhisattva Find Sound, thus transforming himself and appearing in these various ways, in the world-spheres of ten directions, preaches this sutra to the living beings, thus causing the living beings to gain knowledge. To those whom he must save in the form of a sravaka, he appears in the form of a sravaka and preaches the dharma. To those whom he must save in the form of a pratyekabuddha, he appears in the form of a pratyekabuddha and preaches the dharma. To those whom he must save in the form of a Buddha, he then appears in the form of a Buddha and preaches the dharma. Thus in a variety of ways, depending on the one to be saved, he appears in the appropriate form. O, Flower Virtue! Such is the power of Bodhisattva-mahasattva Fine Sound's transcendence and wisdom.”
Thereupon the Bodhisattva Flower Virtue said to the Buddha, “O, World-honoured One! This Bodhisattva Fine Sound has deeply planted wholesome roots. O, World-honoured One! In which Samadhi does this Bodhisattva dwell, that in this way, whenever he may be, he can make transformation and save the living beings?”

The Buddha said to the Bodhisattva Flower Virtue, “The Samadhi is called Revelation of All Forms (sarvarupasamdarsano nama Samadhih). The bodhisattva dwelling within this Samadhi, can in this way benefit incalculable living beings.”

When the Bodhisattva Fine Sound's transcendental power was preached, those who came with the Bodhisattva Fine Sound, eighty-four thousand persons, all attained the Samadhi of the Revelation of All Forms, and in this Saha World incalculable bodhisattvas also attained this Samadhi and dharani.

Then the Bodhisattva-mahasattva Fine Sound, having paid homage to Sakyamuni Buddha and to the stupa of the Buddha Abundant Treasures, returned to his original land. The realms he passed through trembled in six different ways, jewelled lotus blossoms were rained down, and a hundred thousand myriads of millions of varieties of music sounded.

After arriving in his original country, accompanied and surrounded by eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas, he went before the Buddha King Wisdom of the Pure Flower Constellation and said to him, “O, World-honoured One! I went to the Saha World, where I benefited the living beings. I saw Sakyamuni Buddha and the stupa of the Buddha Abundant Treasures. I worshipped and paid homage to them. I also saw Manjusri Dharma-prince Bodhisattva, and the Bodhisattva Medicine King, the Bodhisattva Attainder of Earnestness and Zeal (Viryabalavegaprapta), the Bodhisattva Bold Donor (Pradanasura), and the like, and enabled these eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas to attain the Samadhi of the Revelation of All Forms.”

When the going and coming of the Bodhisattva Fine Sound was preached, the Bodhisattva Flower Virtue attained the Samadhi of the Dharma Blossom.