Part 319 of the collection · Fascicle 28 of 80 · 十迴向品第二十五之六 · T279

Kindred of Samādhi

Continuing directly from Part 318, the dedication for giving away one's palace attendants now names ten vows entirely devoted to samādhi — immeasurable kindred of concentration, the adorned samādhi of every buddha, sovereign play in spiritual powers, a mind that grasps at no dual dharma at all. A closing list of fifteen further purposes follows, moving from unbreakable companionship to every buddha-dharma appearing at once, adorned by the light of the Dharma.

Translator: Ru-Yi Meditation Center Status: Part 319 — palace attendants dedication, ten vows and closing purposes Source: Taishō T279 (Śikṣānanda, Tang, 695–699 CE)

Companions Reimagined as Concentration

The word "kindred" (眷屬) — used earlier for the attendants themselves — now becomes the name for something entirely different: samādhi itself, meditative absorption, is wished for as a kind of companionship, "immeasurable kindred of samādhi." What began as a gift of human companions is dedicated toward a companionship that needs no other person at all, only a mind capable of sustained, unbroken concentration.

Chinese Source

菩薩爾時,以諸善根如是迴向,所謂:『願一切眾生常得無量三昧眷屬,菩薩勝定相續不斷;願一切眾生常樂見佛,悉入諸佛莊嚴三昧;願一切眾生成就菩薩不思議定,自在遊戲無量神通;願一切眾生入如實定,得不壞心;願一切眾生盡獲菩薩甚深三昧,於諸禪定而得自在;願一切眾生得解脫心,成就一切三昧眷屬;願一切眾生種種三昧皆得善巧,悉能攝取諸三昧相;願一切眾生得勝智三昧,普能學習諸三昧門;願一切眾生得無礙三昧,入深禪定終不退失;願一切眾生得無著三昧,心恒正受,不取二法。』是為菩薩摩訶薩布施一切內宮眷屬時善根迴向;為欲令一切眾生皆得不壞清淨眷屬故;為欲令一切眾生皆得菩薩眷屬故;為欲令一切眾生悉得滿足佛法故;為欲令一切眾生滿足一切智力故;為欲令一切眾生證於無上智慧故;為欲令一切眾生得於隨順眷屬故;為欲令一切眾生得同志行人共居故;為欲令一切眾生具足一切福智故;為欲令一切眾生成就清淨善根故;為欲令一切眾生得善和眷屬故;為欲令一切眾生成就如來清淨法身故;為欲令一切眾生成就次第如理辯才,善說諸佛無盡法藏故;為欲令一切眾生永捨一切世俗善根,同修出世清淨善根故;為欲令一切眾生淨業圓滿,成就一切清淨法故;為欲令一切眾生一切佛法皆悉現前,以法光明普嚴淨故。

Ru-Yi Translation

The bodhisattva then, with every wholesome root, dedicates it in this way, namely: "May all sentient beings forever obtain immeasurable kindred of samādhi, a bodhisattva's own supreme concentration continuing without interruption; may all sentient beings forever delight in beholding the buddha, entirely entering the adorned samādhi of every buddha; may all sentient beings accomplish a bodhisattva's own inconceivable concentration, sovereign and free, sporting in immeasurable spiritual powers; may all sentient beings enter the concentration of true reality, and obtain an unbreakable mind; may all sentient beings entirely obtain a bodhisattva's own profound samādhi, sovereign and free within every meditative absorption; may all sentient beings obtain a liberated mind, accomplishing every kindred of samādhi; may all sentient beings become skillful in every kind of samādhi, entirely able to embrace every mark of samādhi; may all sentient beings obtain the samādhi of supreme wisdom, universally able to study every gateway of samādhi; may all sentient beings obtain the unobstructed samādhi, entering profound meditative absorption without ever regressing or losing it; may all sentient beings obtain the samādhi free of attachment, their minds forever in right receptivity, grasping at no dual dharma at all." This is the bodhisattva mahāsattva's dedication of wholesome roots when giving away every one of his palace attendants; it is so that all sentient beings may obtain unbreakable, pure kindred; so that all sentient beings may obtain a bodhisattva's own kindred; so that all sentient beings may entirely satisfy the buddha-dharma; so that all sentient beings may satisfy the power of omniscience; so that all sentient beings may realize unsurpassed wisdom; so that all sentient beings may obtain kindred who accord with them; so that all sentient beings may obtain fellow practitioners of like mind to dwell together with; so that all sentient beings may be fully endowed with every merit and wisdom; so that all sentient beings may accomplish pure wholesome roots; so that all sentient beings may obtain kindred of good harmony; so that all sentient beings may accomplish the Tathāgata's own pure Dharma-body; so that all sentient beings may accomplish sequential and principled eloquence, skillfully expounding the inexhaustible Dharma-treasury of every buddha; so that all sentient beings may forever relinquish every worldly wholesome root, and together cultivate the pure, transcendent wholesome root; so that all sentient beings may perfect their pure karma, accomplishing every pure dharma; so that all sentient beings may have every buddha-dharma entirely appear before them, universally adorned and purified by the light of the Dharma.

Reading note — Ru-Yi Meditation Center

The fifteen closing purposes drift from personal attainment toward companionship of a very particular kind: not simply having others nearby, but obtaining "fellow practitioners of like mind to dwell together with" and "kindred of good harmony." Having given away a household of attendants, the dedication ends up asking for something structurally similar — company — but stripped of ownership, offered instead as mutual practice among equals.

Part 319 Complete

This closes the section on giving away one's palace attendants (布施內宮眷屬) within the sixth dedication. Chapter 25 continues in Part 320 as the bodhisattva mahāsattva, following the example of Prince Sudāna and King Wondrously Adorned, gives away his own beloved wife and children.