Chapter 29 Concludes

It is like space, which is neither long-lasting nor near-at-hand, yet abides for long and manifests every object; the bodhisattva-mahāsattva is likewise: neither long-lasting nor near-at-hand, he abides for long and reveals every bodhisattva conduct. It is like space, which is neither pure nor defiled, yet not apart from purity and defilement; the bodhisattva-mahāsattva is likewise: neither obstructed nor unobstructed, yet not apart from obstruction and its absence. It is like space, before which every world appears, yet it does not appear before every world; the bodhisattva-mahāsattva is likewise: before him every dharma appears, yet he does not appear before every dharma. It is like space, which universally enters everything, yet is without limit; the bodhisattva-mahāsattva is likewise: universally entering all dharmas, yet the bodhisattva's mind is without limit.

Why is this so? Because everything the bodhisattva does is like space — namely, all his cultivation, all his adornment and purification, all his accomplishments are entirely equal, of a single essence, a single flavor, a single kind, in measure like space, pure and pervading every place. Thus realizing and knowing all dharmas without any discrimination among them, he adorns and purifies every buddha-land, perfects every body that relies on nothing, fully comprehends every direction without confusion, is endowed with every power, indestructible, fulfills every boundless merit, has already reached every profound place of dharma, comprehends every path of the pāramitās, is universally seated on every vajra seat, universally emits every sound that follows each kind of being, and turns the Dharma-wheel for every world, never once missing the right time. This is called the bodhisattva-mahāsattva's tenth acceptance, the acceptance like space.

The bodhisattva-mahāsattva, having accomplished this acceptance, attains a body of no coming, because there is no going; attains a body of no arising, because there is no ceasing; attains a body of no movement, because there is no destruction; attains a body that is not real, because it is free of falsehood; attains a body of a single mark, because it is without mark; attains a measureless body, because the buddha's power is measureless; attains an equal body, because it is the same as the mark of suchness; attains a body without distinction, because it observes the three times equally; attains a body that reaches every place, because the pure eye illuminates equally, without obstruction; and attains a body at the limit free of desire, because it knows all dharmas have no coming together or scattering apart.

Attains a body with the boundless limit of space, because its treasury of merit is inexhaustible like space; attains a body of uninterrupted, inexhaustible eloquence equal to the nature of dharma, because it knows that the mark of all dharmas is only a single mark, taking no-nature as its nature, like space; attains a body of measureless, unobstructed voice, because it is obstructed by nothing, like space; attains a body complete with every skillful and pure bodhisattva practice, because in every place it is unobstructed, like space; attains a body of the ocean of all buddha-dharmas continuing in sequence, because it cannot be severed, like space; attains a body that manifests measureless buddha-lands within every buddha-land, because it is free of every attachment, boundless like space; attains a body that displays every sovereign dharma without rest, like the great ocean of space, without limit; attains a body of every indestructible, firm power, because, like space, it sustains every world; attains a body whose faculties are bright and sharp, firm as vajra and indestructible, because, like space, it cannot be burned by the fires of any kalpa; and attains a body with the power to uphold every world, because its power of wisdom is like space. Sons of the Buddha! These are the bodhisattva-mahāsattva's ten kinds of acceptance.