“Maudgalyāyana, when I was training in the practices of a bodhisattva in the past, I created numerous different roots of virtue in order to understand the levels. I did this by wondering, ‘How can I fully awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and then teach sentient beings through knowledge of the levels. How may I instill knowledge of the levels in sentient beings? I must become an expert on the distinction between virtuous and unvirtuous qualities and on the special features of wisdom.’
EN
“Long ago in the limitless cycle of existence, Maudgalyāyana, long before even the distant past there was a king known as Instiller of Understanding who, upon ascending the throne, ruled his realm with great care. The king had eighty thousand queens, all of them beauties of fine physique, delightful to behold, of fine complexion, and supreme in all regards. They all rose early and fell asleep late. Their physical forms were like those of goddesses and their qualities resembled those of a being who is free from desire.
EN
“Seated in the center of his gathering of eighty thousand ladies, King Instiller of Understanding would enter absorption. Thus, through his mental equipoise, he came to comprehend numerous concentrations, afflictions, and qualities, just as they are. As for the host of ladies, they all had different forms of understanding, affliction, and qualities. Seated in their midst, the king before long comprehended all the ladies’ different constitutions. Thus, to those who had meager knowledge of the body and powerful afflictions the king would teach a dharma that produced knowledge in order to tame their afflictions. For those whose afflictions were weak and understanding strong he would teach a dharma that would enable them to abandon whichever minor afflictions they had. To the women involved in desire he would explain about the unclean and impermanent aspects of things. To those involved in anger he would teach love and impermanence. To those involved in stupidity he would teach dependent origination and impermanence. To those involved in conceptuality he would teach the inhalation and exhalation of the breath as well as impermanence. To those involved in marks he would teach absence of marks and impermanence. To those involved in craving he would teach dependent emptiness and impermanence. To those women who craved for existence he would teach absence of wishes and impermanence.
EN
“In this way the ladies all became able to cut through their particular afflictions by means of their specific remedies. The women who had been involved in desire thus accomplished concentration, and by practicing the path of Brahmā they were born in the world of Brahmā. Those who had been involved in anger practiced the immeasureables and were thus taught the path of Brahmā. Abiding within the immeasurables they cultivated the path of Brahmā and were born into the world of Brahmā. The women who had been involved in marks practiced the absence of marks and were thus taught the path of Brahmā. Accomplishing the absence of marks they cultivated the path of Brahmā and were reborn in the higher realms. Those women who had been particularly attached to the desires of existence accomplished the absence of wishes, and were thus taught the path of Brahmā. Accomplishing the absence of wishes, they cultivated the path of Brahmā and were reborn in the realm of Brahmā. In this way King Instiller of Understanding correctly pointed out the different acts related to understanding, affliction, and qualities to the eighty thousand ladies. Thus, he led them all to become free from affliction, so that they were reborn in the realm of Brahmā.
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, in case you may think that at that time King Instiller of Understanding was anyone else, do not think so. In those days I was King Instiller of Understanding. I was an expert concerning the distinctions between lesser and medium understanding, lesser and medium afflictions, and lesser and medium qualities. Therefore, Maudgalyāyana, bodhisattvas must understand what is lesser and medium with respect to all phenomena.
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, when I was training in the practices of a bodhisattva in the past, I created boundless roots of virtue in order to understand the origin as related to knowledge of the levels. I did this by wondering how I could fully awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and then teach sentient beings about the knowledge of the origin as related to knowledge of the levels.
EN
“Long ago in the limitless cycle of existence, Maudgalyāyana, long before even the distant past there was a king known as Condemner of the Afflictions. The king had nine hundred thousand queens, all of them beauties of fine physique, delightful to behold, of fine complexion, and supreme in all regards. Whenever the king gazed at any of the ladies they would comprehend the effects of the afflictions and karma as related to their own particular situations. Thus, being aware of the effect of affliction and karma, they would always despise the afflictions and make sure that they did not develop any. In this way, the king caused the nine hundred thousand women to understand their own karma and afflictions. With knowledge of their karma and afflictions they attained freedom from the craving for objects of desire. Once their bodies came to an end, they were born in the realm of Brahmā.
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, in case you may think that at that time King Condemner of the Afflictions was anyone else, do not think so. And why not? In those days I was King Condemner of the Afflictions. I caused those nine hundred thousand women to comprehend karma and affliction. With knowledge of karma and affliction they were then reborn in the realm of Brahmā. Therefore, Maudgalyāyana, bodhisattvas must relinquish the afflictions.
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, when I was training in the practices of a bodhisattva in the past, I created boundless roots of virtue in order to understand cessation as related to knowledge of the levels. I did this by wondering how I could fully awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and then teach sentient beings about the knowledge of cessation as related to knowledge of the levels.
EN
“Long ago in the limitless cycle of existence, Maudgalyāyana, long before even the distant past there was a king known as Seer of Cessation. Whenever this king witnessed the arising of some phenomenon he would also understand its cessation. Thus he thought, ‘Whatever is subject to origination is also subject to cessation. Wealth is subject to cessation, and so is destitution. Acquisition is subject to destruction, and so is loss. The same goes for fame and obscurity, praise and blame, pleasure and pain—all are subject to cessation. However, if none of these phenomena are created, none of them will arise. Why, then, should we produce all these things that are subject to cessation. What does not arise will not cease, and what does not cease is beyond suffering and lamentation. Supreme, therefore, is that which was not made!’
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, in case you may think that at that time King Seer of Cessation was anyone else, do not think so. In those days I was King Seer of Cessation. I was that king, and also now I remain fully aware that arising phenomena are subject to cessation. Thus I think, ‘Alas, this present world is subject to cessation, and involvement in these phenomena is affliction.’ I am the one who in the midst of many beings taught the Dharma by showing all phenomena to be subject to destruction. In this way I have guided innumerably many tens of thousands of beings to become free from karmic formation. I have taught gods and humans correctly, and my pure conduct is immense. Therefore, Maudgalyāyana, bodhisattvas must become expert regarding cessation. The bodhisattva who is an expert on cessation becomes irreversible and will quickly awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood.
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, when I was training in the practices of a bodhisattva in the past, I created vast roots of virtue in order to understand the path that leads to cessation as related to knowledge of the levels. I did this by wondering how I could fully awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and then teach sentient beings about the knowledge of the path that leads to cessation as related to knowledge of the levels.
EN
“Long ago in the limitless cycle of existence, Maudgalyāyana, long before even the distant past there was a king known as Expert on Experience and Shortcomings. This king did not know how deliverance is achieved by understanding the experiences and shortcomings related to all phenomena. Thus he wondered, ‘Who may possess the knowledge of deliverance in relation to all these phenomena?’ That night while the king was sleeping a buddha appeared before him, endowed with the thirty-two marks of a great being, and said, ‘Your Majesty, you wish to benefit many beings and bring them happiness, and so, out of love for the world, you have correctly engendered the mind of awakening. That is excellent, excellent indeed. Thus, Your Majesty, understand this: Absence of karmic formation is deliverance. When nothing is formed nothing occurs. Where nothing occurs there is deliverance.’ The king rose from his bed, draped his shawl over one shoulder, placed his right knee on the ground, and then spoke this verse to the buddha-form before him:
EN
“ ‘Supreme among humans, protector of the world, I behold your beauty and brilliance. Where beings remain ignorant Lies the path of awakening.’
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, in case you may think that at that time King Expert on Experience and Shortcomings was anyone else, do not think so. In those days I was King Expert on Experience and Shortcomings. At that time I taught the way of absence of karmic formation and deliverance. Therefore, Maudgalyāyana, bodhisattvas must become expert regarding the absence of karmic formation. The bodhisattva who is an expert regarding the absence of karmic formation will quickly reach the irreversible stage with regard to all phenomena.”
“Maudgalyāyana, when I was training in the practices of a bodhisattva in the past, I created numerous different roots of virtue in order to understand the levels. I did this by wondering, ‘How can I fully awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and then teach sentient beings through knowledge of the levels. How may I instill knowledge of the levels in sentient beings? I must become an expert on the distinction between virtuous and unvirtuous qualities and on the special features of wisdom.’
EN
“Long ago in the limitless cycle of existence, Maudgalyāyana, long before even the distant past there was a king known as Instiller of Understanding who, upon ascending the throne, ruled his realm with great care. The king had eighty thousand queens, all of them beauties of fine physique, delightful to behold, of fine complexion, and supreme in all regards. They all rose early and fell asleep late. Their physical forms were like those of goddesses and their qualities resembled those of a being who is free from desire.
EN
“Seated in the center of his gathering of eighty thousand ladies, King Instiller of Understanding would enter absorption. Thus, through his mental equipoise, he came to comprehend numerous concentrations, afflictions, and qualities, just as they are. As for the host of ladies, they all had different forms of understanding, affliction, and qualities. Seated in their midst, the king before long comprehended all the ladies’ different constitutions. Thus, to those who had meager knowledge of the body and powerful afflictions the king would teach a dharma that produced knowledge in order to tame their afflictions. For those whose afflictions were weak and understanding strong he would teach a dharma that would enable them to abandon whichever minor afflictions they had. To the women involved in desire he would explain about the unclean and impermanent aspects of things. To those involved in anger he would teach love and impermanence. To those involved in stupidity he would teach dependent origination and impermanence. To those involved in conceptuality he would teach the inhalation and exhalation of the breath as well as impermanence. To those involved in marks he would teach absence of marks and impermanence. To those involved in craving he would teach dependent emptiness and impermanence. To those women who craved for existence he would teach absence of wishes and impermanence.
EN
“In this way the ladies all became able to cut through their particular afflictions by means of their specific remedies. The women who had been involved in desire thus accomplished concentration, and by practicing the path of Brahmā they were born in the world of Brahmā. Those who had been involved in anger practiced the immeasureables and were thus taught the path of Brahmā. Abiding within the immeasurables they cultivated the path of Brahmā and were born into the world of Brahmā. The women who had been involved in marks practiced the absence of marks and were thus taught the path of Brahmā. Accomplishing the absence of marks they cultivated the path of Brahmā and were reborn in the higher realms. Those women who had been particularly attached to the desires of existence accomplished the absence of wishes, and were thus taught the path of Brahmā. Accomplishing the absence of wishes, they cultivated the path of Brahmā and were reborn in the realm of Brahmā. In this way King Instiller of Understanding correctly pointed out the different acts related to understanding, affliction, and qualities to the eighty thousand ladies. Thus, he led them all to become free from affliction, so that they were reborn in the realm of Brahmā.
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, in case you may think that at that time King Instiller of Understanding was anyone else, do not think so. In those days I was King Instiller of Understanding. I was an expert concerning the distinctions between lesser and medium understanding, lesser and medium afflictions, and lesser and medium qualities. Therefore, Maudgalyāyana, bodhisattvas must understand what is lesser and medium with respect to all phenomena.
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, when I was training in the practices of a bodhisattva in the past, I created boundless roots of virtue in order to understand the origin as related to knowledge of the levels. I did this by wondering how I could fully awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and then teach sentient beings about the knowledge of the origin as related to knowledge of the levels.
EN
“Long ago in the limitless cycle of existence, Maudgalyāyana, long before even the distant past there was a king known as Condemner of the Afflictions. The king had nine hundred thousand queens, all of them beauties of fine physique, delightful to behold, of fine complexion, and supreme in all regards. Whenever the king gazed at any of the ladies they would comprehend the effects of the afflictions and karma as related to their own particular situations. Thus, being aware of the effect of affliction and karma, they would always despise the afflictions and make sure that they did not develop any. In this way, the king caused the nine hundred thousand women to understand their own karma and afflictions. With knowledge of their karma and afflictions they attained freedom from the craving for objects of desire. Once their bodies came to an end, they were born in the realm of Brahmā.
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, in case you may think that at that time King Condemner of the Afflictions was anyone else, do not think so. And why not? In those days I was King Condemner of the Afflictions. I caused those nine hundred thousand women to comprehend karma and affliction. With knowledge of karma and affliction they were then reborn in the realm of Brahmā. Therefore, Maudgalyāyana, bodhisattvas must relinquish the afflictions.
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, when I was training in the practices of a bodhisattva in the past, I created boundless roots of virtue in order to understand cessation as related to knowledge of the levels. I did this by wondering how I could fully awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and then teach sentient beings about the knowledge of cessation as related to knowledge of the levels.
EN
“Long ago in the limitless cycle of existence, Maudgalyāyana, long before even the distant past there was a king known as Seer of Cessation. Whenever this king witnessed the arising of some phenomenon he would also understand its cessation. Thus he thought, ‘Whatever is subject to origination is also subject to cessation. Wealth is subject to cessation, and so is destitution. Acquisition is subject to destruction, and so is loss. The same goes for fame and obscurity, praise and blame, pleasure and pain—all are subject to cessation. However, if none of these phenomena are created, none of them will arise. Why, then, should we produce all these things that are subject to cessation. What does not arise will not cease, and what does not cease is beyond suffering and lamentation. Supreme, therefore, is that which was not made!’
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, in case you may think that at that time King Seer of Cessation was anyone else, do not think so. In those days I was King Seer of Cessation. I was that king, and also now I remain fully aware that arising phenomena are subject to cessation. Thus I think, ‘Alas, this present world is subject to cessation, and involvement in these phenomena is affliction.’ I am the one who in the midst of many beings taught the Dharma by showing all phenomena to be subject to destruction. In this way I have guided innumerably many tens of thousands of beings to become free from karmic formation. I have taught gods and humans correctly, and my pure conduct is immense. Therefore, Maudgalyāyana, bodhisattvas must become expert regarding cessation. The bodhisattva who is an expert on cessation becomes irreversible and will quickly awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood.
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, when I was training in the practices of a bodhisattva in the past, I created vast roots of virtue in order to understand the path that leads to cessation as related to knowledge of the levels. I did this by wondering how I could fully awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and then teach sentient beings about the knowledge of the path that leads to cessation as related to knowledge of the levels.
EN
“Long ago in the limitless cycle of existence, Maudgalyāyana, long before even the distant past there was a king known as Expert on Experience and Shortcomings. This king did not know how deliverance is achieved by understanding the experiences and shortcomings related to all phenomena. Thus he wondered, ‘Who may possess the knowledge of deliverance in relation to all these phenomena?’ That night while the king was sleeping a buddha appeared before him, endowed with the thirty-two marks of a great being, and said, ‘Your Majesty, you wish to benefit many beings and bring them happiness, and so, out of love for the world, you have correctly engendered the mind of awakening. That is excellent, excellent indeed. Thus, Your Majesty, understand this: Absence of karmic formation is deliverance. When nothing is formed nothing occurs. Where nothing occurs there is deliverance.’ The king rose from his bed, draped his shawl over one shoulder, placed his right knee on the ground, and then spoke this verse to the buddha-form before him:
EN
“ ‘Supreme among humans, protector of the world, I behold your beauty and brilliance. Where beings remain ignorant Lies the path of awakening.’
EN
“Maudgalyāyana, in case you may think that at that time King Expert on Experience and Shortcomings was anyone else, do not think so. In those days I was King Expert on Experience and Shortcomings. At that time I taught the way of absence of karmic formation and deliverance. Therefore, Maudgalyāyana, bodhisattvas must become expert regarding the absence of karmic formation. The bodhisattva who is an expert regarding the absence of karmic formation will quickly reach the irreversible stage with regard to all phenomena.”
Sutraya