Part 35 of the collection · Fascicle 12 of 80 · 如來名號品第七(終) · T279

Names at the Scale of the Whole Sahā World

Mañjuśrī repeats the entire pattern from Part 34, but zoomed outward by an order of magnitude: not this one set of four continents, but the whole Sahā world of a hundred million such continents, itself bears a hundred thousand million different names for the Buddha — and the same is true of ten more worlds surrounding it, and, the chapter closes by insisting, of every world throughout the Dharma-realm without limit.

Translator: Ru-Yi Meditation Center Status: Part 35 — completes fascicle 12's opening chapter Source: Taishō T279 (Śikṣānanda, Tang, 695–699 CE)

The Whole Sahā World's Own Names

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!此娑婆世界有百億四天下,如來於中,有百億萬種種名號,令諸眾生各別知見。

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! This Sahā world has a hundred million sets of four continents, and the Tathāgata, throughout them, has a hundred thousand million kinds of distinct names, causing every living being to know and see him each in their own distinct way.

Ten Worlds Surrounding Sahā, at the Larger Scale

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!此娑婆世界東,次有世界,名為:密訓。如來於彼,或名:平等,或名:殊勝,或名:安慰,或名:開曉意,或名:聞慧,或名:真實語,或名:得自在,或名:最勝身,或名:大勇猛,或名:無等智……。如是等百億萬種種名號,令諸眾生各別知見。

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! To the east of this Sahā world, there is next a world, named Secret Instruction. The Tathāgata, within it, is variously named: Equality, or named the Supreme, or named Consolation, or named Awakening the Mind, or named the Wisdom of Hearing, or named True Speech, or named Attaining Sovereign Mastery, or named the Supreme Body, or named Great Valor, or named Wisdom Without Equal... Such as these, a hundred thousand million kinds of distinct names, causing every living being to know and see him each in their own distinct way.

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!此娑婆世界南,次有世界,名曰:豐溢。如來於彼,或名:本性,或名:勤意,或名:無上尊,或名:大智炬,或名:無所依,或名:光明藏,或名:智慧藏,或名:福德藏,或名:天中天,或名:大自在……。如是等百億萬種種名號,令諸眾生各別知見。

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! To the south of this Sahā world, there is next a world, named Abundant Overflow. The Tathāgata, within it, is variously named: Original Nature, or named Diligent Intent, or named the Unsurpassed, Honored One, or named the Great Torch of Wisdom, or named Without Any Reliance, or named the Treasury of Light, or named the Treasury of Wisdom, or named the Treasury of Blessing and Virtue, or named the Deva Among Devas, or named Great Sovereign Mastery... Such as these, a hundred thousand million kinds of distinct names, causing every living being to know and see him each in their own distinct way.

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!此娑婆世界西,次有世界,名為:離垢。如來於彼,或名:意成,或名:知道,或名:安住本,或名:能解縛,或名:通達義,或名:樂分別,或名:最勝見,或名:調伏行,或名:眾苦行,或名:具足力……。如是等百億萬種種名號,令諸眾生各別知見。

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! To the west of this Sahā world, there is next a world, named Free of Defilement. The Tathāgata, within it, is variously named: Accomplishment of the Mind, or named Knowing the Path, or named Abiding Securely in the Root, or named Able to Loosen Bondage, or named Penetrating the Meaning, or named Delighting in Discernment, or named the Supreme Vision, or named the Conduct of Taming, or named Every Ascetic Practice, or named Fully Endowed with Power... Such as these, a hundred thousand million kinds of distinct names, causing every living being to know and see him each in their own distinct way.

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!此娑婆世界北,次有世界,名曰:豐樂。如來於彼,或名:薝蔔華色,或名:日藏,或名:善住,或名:現神通,或名:性超邁,或名:慧日,或名:無礙,或名:如月現,或名:迅疾風,或名:清淨身……。如是等百億萬種種名號,令諸眾生各別知見。

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! To the north of this Sahā world, there is next a world, named Abundant Bliss. The Tathāgata, within it, is variously named: the Color of the Campaka Flower, or named the Sun's Treasury, or named Excellently Abiding, or named Manifesting Spiritual Transmutation, or named Nature Transcending, or named the Sun of Wisdom, or named Unobstructed, or named Appearing Like the Moon, or named the Swift Wind, or named the Pure Body... Such as these, a hundred thousand million kinds of distinct names, causing every living being to know and see him each in their own distinct way.

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!此娑婆世界東北方,次有世界,名為:攝取。如來於彼,或名:永離苦,或名:普解脫,或名:大伏藏,或名:解脫智,或名:過去藏,或名:寶光明,或名:離世間,或名:無礙地,或名:淨信藏,或名:心不動……。如是等百億萬種種名號,令諸眾生各別知見。

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! To the northeast of this Sahā world, there is next a world, named Gathering In. The Tathāgata, within it, is variously named: Forever Free of Suffering, or named Universal Liberation, or named the Great Hidden Treasury, or named the Wisdom of Liberation, or named the Treasury of the Past, or named the Jeweled Light, or named Free of the World, or named the Unobstructed Ground, or named the Treasury of Pure Faith, or named the Unmoving Mind... Such as these, a hundred thousand million kinds of distinct names, causing every living being to know and see him each in their own distinct way.

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!此娑婆世界東南方,次有世界,名為:饒益。如來於彼,或名:現光明,或名:盡智,或名:美音,或名:勝根,或名:莊嚴蓋,或名:精進根,或名:到分別彼岸,或名:勝定,或名:簡言辭,或名:智慧海……。如是等百億萬種種名號,令諸眾生各別知見。

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! To the southeast of this Sahā world, there is next a world, named Abundant Benefit. The Tathāgata, within it, is variously named: Manifesting Light, or named Exhaustive Wisdom, or named the Beautiful Voice, or named the Supreme Faculty, or named the Adorned Canopy, or named the Faculty of Diligence, or named Reaching the Far Shore of Discernment, or named Supreme Concentration, or named Concise Speech, or named the Ocean of Wisdom... Such as these, a hundred thousand million kinds of distinct names, causing every living being to know and see him each in their own distinct way.

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!此娑婆世界西南方,次有世界,名為:鮮少。如來於彼,或名:牟尼主,或名:具眾寶,或名:世解脫,或名:遍知根,或名:勝言辭,或名:明了見,或名:根自在,或名:大仙師,或名:開導業,或名:金剛師子……。如是等百億萬種種名號,令諸眾生各別知見。

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! To the southwest of this Sahā world, there is next a world, named Scant and Few. The Tathāgata, within it, is variously named: the Lord Sage, or named Fully Endowed with Every Jewel, or named the World's Liberation, or named the Faculty of Universal Knowing, or named Supreme Speech, or named Clear and Manifest Vision, or named Sovereign Mastery of the Faculties, or named the Great Sage-Teacher, or named the Deed of Opening and Guiding, or named the Vajra Lion... Such as these, a hundred thousand million kinds of distinct names, causing every living being to know and see him each in their own distinct way.

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!此娑婆世界西北方,次有世界,名為:歡喜。如來於彼,或名:妙華聚,或名:栴檀蓋,或名:蓮華藏,或名:超越諸法,或名:法寶,或名:復出生,或名:淨妙蓋,或名:廣大眼,或名:有善法,或名:專念法,或名:網藏……。如是等百億萬種種名號,令諸眾生各別知見。

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! To the northwest of this Sahā world, there is next a world, named Joy. The Tathāgata, within it, is variously named: the Gathering of Wondrous Flowers, or named the Sandalwood Canopy, or named the Treasury of the Lotus Flower, or named Transcending Every Dharma, or named the Jewel of the Dharma, or named Born Again, or named the Pure, Wondrous Canopy, or named the Vast Eye, or named Possessing the Excellent Dharma, or named Single-Minded Recollection of the Dharma, or named the Treasury of the Net... Such as these, a hundred thousand million kinds of distinct names, causing every living being to know and see him each in their own distinct way.

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!此娑婆世界次下方,有世界,名為:關𨷲。如來於彼,或名:發起焰,或名:調伏毒,或名:帝釋弓,或名:無常所,或名:覺悟本,或名:斷增長,或名:大速疾,或名:常樂施,或名:分別道,或名:摧伏幢……。如是等百億萬種種名號,令諸眾生各別知見。

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! Below this Sahā world, there is next a world, named the Gate-Bolt. The Tathāgata, within it, is variously named: Rousing the Flame, or named Taming the Poison, or named Śakra's Bow, or named the Place of Impermanence, or named the Root of Awakening, or named Severing Increase, or named Great Swiftness, or named Forever Delighting in Giving, or named the Path of Discernment, or named the Banner That Subdues... Such as these, a hundred thousand million kinds of distinct names, causing every living being to know and see him each in their own distinct way.

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!此娑婆世界次上方,有世界,名曰:振音。如來於彼,或名:勇猛幢,或名:無量寶,或名:樂大施,或名:天光,或名:吉興,或名:超境界,或名:一切主,或名:不退輪,或名:離眾惡,或名:一切智……。如是等百億萬種種名號,令諸眾生各別知見。」

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! Above this Sahā world, there is next a world, named Resounding Voice. The Tathāgata, within it, is variously named: the Banner of Valor, or named Immeasurable Jewels, or named Delighting in Great Giving, or named Heavenly Light, or named Auspicious Arising, or named Transcending Every Domain, or named the Lord of Everything, or named the Non-Regressing Wheel, or named Free of Every Evil, or named Omniscience... Such as these, a hundred thousand million kinds of distinct names, causing every living being to know and see him each in their own distinct way."

Without End, Throughout the Dharma-Realm

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!如娑婆世界,如是東方百千億無數無量,無邊無等,不可數、不可稱、不可思、不可量、不可說,盡法界、虛空界、諸世界中,如來名號,種種不同;南、西、北方,四維、上、下,亦復如是。如世尊昔為菩薩時,以種種談論、種種語言、種種音聲,種種業,種種報,種種處,種種方便、種種根,種種信解、種種地位而得成熟,亦令眾生如是知見而為說法。」

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! Just as with this Sahā world, so too, to the east, throughout hundreds of thousands of millions, countless, immeasurable, boundless, unequaled, uncountable, inexpressible, inconceivable, immeasurable, ineffable worlds, throughout the whole extent of the Dharma-realm and the realm of empty space, the Tathāgata's own names are every kind of different; and it is likewise so to the south, west, and north, in the four intermediate directions, and above and below. Just as the World-Honored One, in ages past, when he was a bodhisattva, through every kind of discourse, every kind of language, every kind of voice, every kind of karma, every kind of recompense, every kind of place, every kind of skillful means, every kind of faculty, every kind of faith and understanding, and every kind of ground and station, attained ripening — so too he causes living beings to know and see in just this way, and teaches the Dharma for their sake."

Reading note — Ru-Yi Meditation Center

The chapter's closing line quietly relocates the whole teaching from cosmology back onto the bodhisattva path: this proliferation of names is said to mirror how the Buddha himself, "in ages past, when he was a bodhisattva," ripened through every kind of language, karma, place, faculty, and station — the same variety just catalogued across worlds turns out to describe a single life's own trajectory as well. Chengguan reads this as the chapter's real point: infinite names are not merely a fact about how other beings perceive the Buddha from outside, but a record of the near-infinite diversity of conditions any bodhisattva's own path must pass through before arriving at buddhahood. This closes the sūtra's seventh chapter; the eighth, opened later in this same fascicle, applies the identical structure to the Four Noble Truths themselves.

Part 35 Complete

This closes Part 35 and the sūtra's seventh chapter, "The Names of the Tathāgata" (如來名號品第七): the same teaching from Part 34 repeated at the larger scale of the whole Sahā world and the ten worlds surrounding it, closing with the claim that this pattern extends, unbroken, throughout the entire Dharma-realm. Part 36 continues fascicle twelve with the sūtra's eighth chapter, "The Four Noble Truths" (四聖諦品第八), in which the very same structure is applied to the teaching of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.