Ten Kinds of Buddha-Deeds

"Son of the Buddha! A bodhisattva-mahāsattva has ten kinds of buddha-deeds. What are these ten? Namely: guiding beings according to the right moment — this is a buddha-deed, because it causes right practice. Causing them to see in a dream — this is a buddha-deed, because it awakens roots of goodness planted in the past. Expounding for another a scripture they have never before heard — this is a buddha-deed, because it gives rise to wisdom and cuts off doubt. Teaching the dharma of renunciation to one bound by the fetter of regret — this is a buddha-deed, because it causes them to leave behind a doubting mind. If a sentient being gives rise to a mind of stinginess, or even a mind of corrupt wisdom, a mind fixed on the two lesser vehicles, a mind of harm, a mind of doubt, a scattered mind, or a mind of arrogance, manifesting for them the tathāgata's own body adorned with every excellent mark — this is a buddha-deed, because it causes roots of goodness planted in the past to grow.

At a time when the true dharma is difficult to encounter, widely expounding the dharma so that, having heard it, they attain the wisdom of dhāraṇī and the wisdom of spiritual superknowledge, universally able to benefit measureless sentient beings — this is a buddha-deed, because its resolute understanding is pure. If any affair of māra arises, being able through skillful means to manifest a sound equal to the realm of empty space, expounding a dharma that harms no one as its antidote, causing them to awaken, so that every māra, upon hearing it, has its awesome light extinguished — this is a buddha-deed, because its aspiration is supremely excellent and its awesome virtue is great. The mind never interrupted, constantly guarding itself, never allowing entry into the fixed stage of the two lesser vehicles; if a sentient being's own faculties are not yet mature, never in the end teaching them the domain of liberation — this is a buddha-deed, because it is what the original vow has brought about. Being entirely free of every fetter and outflow of birth-and-death, cultivating bodhisattva practice in unbroken continuity, gathering in sentient beings with a mind of great compassion, causing them to give rise to practice and reach ultimate liberation — this is a buddha-deed, because it never interrupts the cultivation of bodhisattva practice. A bodhisattva-mahāsattva fully understands that both their own self and every sentient being are, from the very root, still and extinguished, without alarm and without fear, and yet diligently cultivates merit and wisdom without ever growing weary; though knowing that no dharma is fashioned by any maker, still does not abandon the own-mark of any dharma; though forever free of craving toward every object, still constantly delights in beholding and honoring every buddha's own form-body; though knowing that awakening into the dharma comes not from another's teaching, still seeks all-knowing wisdom through every kind of skillful means; though knowing every land is exactly like empty space, still constantly delights in adorning every buddha-land; though constantly observing that there is no person and no self, still teaches and transforms sentient beings without ever growing weary; though the dharma-realm is, from the very root, unmoving, still manifests every kind of transformation through the power of spiritual superknowledge and wisdom; though already accomplished in the wisdom of all-knowing wisdom, still cultivates bodhisattva practice without ever resting; though knowing that no dharma can be spoken in words, still turns the pure wheel of dharma, causing the minds of the multitude to rejoice; though able to manifest the spiritual power of every buddha, still does not weary of or abandon the bodhisattva's own body; and though manifesting entry into great parinirvāṇa, still manifests taking rebirth in every place — being able to carry out this dharma of expedient means and true realization practiced together in this way, this too is a buddha-deed. These are the ten. If bodhisattvas abide within these, they attain the unsurpassed, teacherless, vast deed, without needing to be taught by another.