Sunday, June 28, 2009

Lotus Sutra Chapter 25: Ancient Devotion, and Chapter 26: Deeds of Samantabhadra

This appears in the version I've been mainly using. The version the Nichiren folks use is Chapter 27; in-between is a section on dharanis and "spells."

It's about those who are able to convert others to the Lotus of the Wondrous Law, which, again, Hakuin reads as resolution of the Great Matter, not the literal text of the Lotus Sutra. It appears anti-climactic after the "Kwan Yin" sub-sutra mentioned below.


Chapter 27
Chapter 26 is sufficient, I think, to get the flavor of both chapters:

Thereupon the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Samantabhadra, in the east, surrounded and followed by Bodhisattvas Mahâsattvas surpassing all calculation, amid the stirring of fields, a rain of lotuses, the playing of hundred thousands of myriads of kotis of musical instruments, proceeded with the great pomp of a Bodhisattva, the great display of transformations proper to a Bodhisattva, the great magnificence of a Bodhisattva, the great power of a Bodhisattva, the great lustre of a glorious Bodhisattva, the great stately march of a Bodhisattva, the great miraculous display of a Bodhisattva, a great phantasmagorical sight of gods, Nâgas, goblins, Gandharvas, demons, Garudas, Kinnaras, great serpents, men, and beings not human, who, produced by his magic, surrounded and followed him; Samantabhadra, then, the Bodhisattva, amid such inconceivable miracles worked by magic, arrived at this Saha-world. He went up to the place of the Lord on the Gridhrakûta, the king of mountains, and on approaching he humbly saluted the Lord's feet, made seven circumambulations from left to right, and said to the Lord: I have come hither, O Lord, from the field of the Lord Ratnategobhyudgata, the Tathâgata, &c., as I am aware, Lord, that here in the Saha-world is taught the Dharmaparyâya of the Lotus of the True Law, to hear which from the mouth of the Lord Sâkyamuni I have come accompanied by these hundred thousands of Bodhisattvas Mahâsattvas. May the Lord deign to expound, in extension, this Dharmaparyâya of the Lotus of the True Law to these Bodhisattvas Mahâsattvas. So addressed, the Lord said to the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Samantabhadra: These Bodhisattvas, young man of good family, are, indeed, quick of understanding, but this is the Dharmaparyâya of the Lotus of the True Law, that is to say, an unmixed truth. The Bodhisattvas exclaimed: Indeed Lord; indeed, Sugata. Then in order to confirm, in the Dharmaparyâya of the Lotus of the True Law, the females among the monks, nuns, and lay devotees assembled at the gathering, the Lord again spoke to the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Samantabhadra: This Dharmaparyâya of the Lotus of the True Law, young man of good family, shall be entrusted to a female if she be possessed of four requisites, to wit: she shall stand under the superintendence of the Lords Buddhas; she shall have planted good roots; she shall keep steadily to the mass of disciplinary regulations; she shall, in order to save creatures, have the thoughts fixed on supreme and perfect enlightenment. These are the four requisites, young man of good family, a female must be possessed of, to whom this Dharmaparyâya of the Lotus of the True Law is to be entrusted.

Then the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Samantabhadra said to the Lord: At the end of time, at the end of the period, in the second half of the millennium, I will protect the monks who keep this Satrânta; I will take care of their safety, avert blows [or punishment], and destroy poison, so that no one laying snares for those preachers may surprise them, neither Mâra the Evil One, nor the sons of Mâra, the angels called Mârakâyikas, the daughters of Mâra, the followers of Mâra, and all other servitors to Mâra; that no gods, goblins, ghosts, imps, wizards, spectres laying snares for those preachers may surprise them. Incessantly and constantly, O Lord, will I protect such a preacher. And when a preacher who applies himself to this Dharmaparyâya shall take a walk, then, O Lord, will I mount a white elephant with six tusks, and with a train of Bodhisattvas betake myself to the place where that preacher is walking, in order to protect this Dharmaparyâya. And when that preacher, applying himself to this Dharmaparyâya, forgets, be it but a single word or syllable, then will I mount the white elephant with six tusks, show my face to that preacher, and repeat this entire Dharmaparyâya. And when the preacher has seen my proper body and heard from me this entire Dharmaparyâya, he, content, in high spirits, ravished, rejoiced, joyful, and delighted, will the more do his utmost to study this Dharmaparyâya, and immediately after beholding me he will acquire meditation and obtain spells, termed the talisman of preservation, the talisman of hundred thousand kotis, and the talisman of skill in all sounds.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Guys somebody posted this article to my blog recently, any thoughts on it?

[quote]Love spells are part of white magic which has got nothing to complete with harming anyone. So in case you have a doubt regardless of whether these spells are at all helpful in bringing the love of one's life closer to you then you may really try one because it is very effortless to do. You will discover really effortless love spells that will open the doors with the fantasy world for you. Allow us discuss a single this sort of candle magic love spell in this article.
In a white candle spell you'll want to fetch a fat white candle which will give you a big surface area to engrave the name of one's lover. Bring a powerful platform exactly where you may location the candle firmly though you cast the spell. From a white rose bush fetch some thorns. With these thorns inscribe the sentence “all my love arrive to me” over a candle surface.
Repeat this whole technique twice. Now light the candle and place it over the platform. Concentrate on the burning and try to visualize the face of one's beloved as extended as the candle burns. Collect the wax that the candle leaves behind and retain it safe with you to see the results. [/quote]

You can see my site/blog at [url=http://derick9cummings.hpage.com/witchcraft_books_6293_27769909.html]Witchraft Books[/url]

Anonymous said...

And see, they look quite alright with black tights now don¡¯t they? In a, they don¡¯t look that bad from a distance kind of way? I¡¯m SO confused right now. If I buy these, is that proof of my love for all things Hello Kitty? Or am I just buying the most well-disguised Crocs in the universe? Either way I think I lose. If you want a pair though, these are currently ¡ê14.99 at 50% off and you can buy them from Schuh.
28 May 2011 Leave a Comment
Coastal Scents 88 shimmer palette..bright blue




___________________
Blogs links:
coach factory outlet
coach outlet store
coach outlet store