The Ten Directions Gather

At that time, in the east, beyond world-oceans as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, there was a world called Vajra-Cloud Pure and Radiant Lamp Adornment, whose buddha was named King of Pure and Radiant Sublime Virtue. In that great assembly there was a bodhisattva named Pure and Radiant Light of Vows, who, together with bodhisattvas as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, came toward this land. They raised up every kind of cloud, adorning all of space — clouds of heavenly flowers, clouds of scattered heavenly powdered incense, clouds of hanging heavenly garlands, rain-clouds of heavenly jewels, clouds of heavenly adornment, clouds of heavenly jeweled canopies, clouds of heavenly jeweled robes, clouds of heavenly banners and canopies — filling all of space, adorned with every delightful jewel, and came before the Buddha to pay homage and make offering. Then, in the east, they transformed the space into a pavilion adorned with everything, a lion-throne of jeweled lotus-treasury; with a net of wish-fulfilling jewels covering their bodies, together with their retinues, they sat cross-legged.

In the south, beyond world-systems as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, there was a world called Vajra Treasury, whose buddha was named King of Universally Illumining Sublime Virtue. In that great assembly there was a bodhisattva named Indestructible King of the Power of Diligence, who, together with bodhisattvas as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, came toward this land. They all carried with them every kind of marvelous fragrance, which, sustained by their spiritual power, perfumed the entire ocean of every buddha-world; they held every kind of maṇi jewel-net, garland, necklace, jeweled robe, jeweled image, and every ornament of sublime virtue's own light, adorned with every kind of marvelous lion-jewel; sustained by their spiritual power, these filled every buddha-world, and they came before the Buddha to pay homage and make offering. Then, in the south, they transformed the space into a pure white pavilion of marvelous jewels, a lion-throne of jeweled lotus-treasury universally illumining the ten directions, and sat cross-legged; with a net of jeweled flowers they covered their bodies.

In the west, beyond world-systems as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, there was a world called Jeweled Lamp Sumeru Banner, whose buddha was named Lamp of the Dharma-Realm's Wisdom. In that great assembly there was a bodhisattva named Unsurpassed King of Universal Sublime Virtue, who, together with bodhisattvas as numerous as motes of dust in world-oceans, came toward this land. They raised up Sumeru-clouds of every color and fragrance, as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, filling the entire Dharma-realm; Sumeru-clouds of every color, fragrance, and water, as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, filling the entire Dharma-realm; Sumeru-clouds of maṇi jewel-kings in every color, as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, filling the entire Dharma-realm; Sumeru-clouds of jeweled banners adorned with light in every color, as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, filling the entire Dharma-realm; Sumeru-clouds of vajra-treasury maṇi jewel-kings in every color, as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, filling the entire Dharma-realm; Sumeru-clouds of Jambū-river gold jeweled banners, as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, filling the entire Dharma-realm; Sumeru-clouds of maṇi jewel-kings universally illumining the entire Dharma-realm, as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, universally covering the space above every tathāgata; Sumeru-clouds of maṇi jewel-kings universally illumining every mark and excellent feature, as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, filling the domain of every sentient being; Sumeru-clouds of the practices every tathāgata once undertook as a bodhisattva, as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, filling the Dharma-realm; and every tathāgata manifesting adorned bodhimaṇḍas as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, and came before the Buddha to pay homage and make offering. Then, in the west, they transformed the space into a pavilion, King of Fragrances, covered over with a net of true pearls, a lion-throne of jeweled lotus-treasury like Indra's own banner, and sat cross-legged; a net of golden jewels covered their bodies, and a wish-fulfilling jewel-king formed the bright pearl in their topknot.

In the north, beyond world-systems as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, there was a world called Jeweled Robe Light Banner, whose buddha was named Sublime Virtue of the Dharma-Realm's Space. In that great assembly there was a bodhisattva named Unobstructed King of the Treasury of Sublime Virtue, who, together with bodhisattvas as numerous as motes of dust in world-oceans, came toward this land. With clouds of every kind of jeweled silk, jeweled robe, robe perfumed with fragrance, sun-marked maṇi-jeweled robe, golden robe, net-jeweled robe, Jambū-gold-adorned robe, pure white jeweled robe, and ocean-adorned jewel-king robe, they adorned all of space; sustained by their spiritual power, these entirely filled all of space, and they came before the Buddha to pay homage and make offering. Then, in the north, they transformed the space into a pavilion of the great ocean's maṇi jewel-king, a lion-throne of lapis-lazuli jeweled lotus-treasury, and sat cross-legged; a net of marvelous jewel-kings covered their bodies, and a pure jewel-king formed the bright pearl in their topknot.

In the northeast, beyond world-systems as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, there was a world called Releasing the Net of Stainless, Joyful Light, whose buddha was named Unobstructed Eye. In that great assembly there was a bodhisattva named King of the Moon of Vows, Skillfully Transforming the Dharma-Realm, who, together with bodhisattvas as numerous as motes of dust in world-oceans, came toward this land. They raised up clouds of jeweled pavilions, fragrant pavilions, incense-smoke pavilions, flower pavilions, sandalwood pavilions, vajra pavilions, maṇi pavilions, golden pavilions, jeweled-robe pavilions, and red-lotus pavilions, entirely covering every buddha-land, and came before the Buddha to pay homage and make offering. Then, in the northeast, they transformed the space into a jeweled mountain pavilion, the very gate of the entire Dharma-realm, a lion-throne of jeweled lotus-treasury, King of Fragrance beyond naming, and sat cross-legged; a net of maṇi flowers covered their bodies, and a maṇi jewel-king, treasury of sublime adornment, formed their heavenly crown.

In the southeast, beyond world-systems as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, there was a world called Fragrant Cloud Adornment Banner, whose buddha was named Sovereign King of the Nāgas. In that great assembly there was a bodhisattva named King of the Flame of Wisdom in the Meaning of the Dharma, who, together with bodhisattvas as numerous as motes of dust in worlds, came toward this land. They raised up immeasurable clouds of full golden light, universally covering all of space; immeasurable clouds of full light in every jeweled color, clouds of full light of the Buddha's own white curl of hair, clouds of full light in every mingled jeweled color, clouds of full light of the jeweled lotus-treasury, clouds of full light of trees hung with every jewel and flower, clouds of full light of the Tathāgata's own crown-mark none can see the top of, clouds of full light in Jambū-river gold, clouds of full sunlight, and clouds of full moonlight, universally covering all of space, and came before the Buddha to pay homage and make offering. Then, in the southeast, they transformed the space into a pavilion of pure and radiant maṇi jewel-kings, a lion-throne of vajra jeweled lotus-treasury, and sat cross-legged; a net of jeweled, flaming light covered their bodies.

In the southwest, beyond world-systems as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, there was a world called Treasury of Light, whose buddha was named King of Wisdom, the Dharma-Moon Universally Illumining. In that great assembly there was a bodhisattva named King of the Wisdom-Banner Destroying and Scattering Every Māra, who, together with bodhisattvas as numerous as motes of dust in worlds, came toward this land. From every single pore they raised up clouds of jeweled, flowering flame equal to the whole realm of space, illumining every world everywhere; releasing clouds of fragrant flame, clouds of every jeweled flame, clouds of vajra flame, clouds of incense-smoke flame, clouds of flame like the lightning of a great, sovereign nāga, clouds of pure and radiant maṇi-jeweled flame, clouds of golden jeweled flame, and clouds of the flaming net of the maṇi jewel-king, treasury of sublime virtue; from every single pore they each released clouds of the Tathāgata's own ocean of light, equal to the whole realm of space, universally illumining the three times, and came before the Buddha to pay homage and make offering. Then, in the southwest, they transformed the space into a maṇi pavilion whose net of light, through every gate in every direction, universally illumines the Dharma-realm, a lion-throne of jeweled lotus-treasury, fragrant lamp of flame, and sat cross-legged; a net of the sublime light of the maṇi jewel-treasury king covered their bodies, and they wore a crown of the maṇi jewel-king, Voice of Liberation Turning Every Sentient Being.

In the northwest, beyond world-systems as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, there was a world called Pure Vow Maṇi Jewel-Treasury, whose buddha was named King of the Sumeru of Universally Bright, Pure Sublime Virtue. In that great assembly there was a bodhisattva named King of the Banner of Pure and Radiant Wisdom and Vow, who, together with bodhisattvas as numerous as motes of dust in worlds, came toward this land. In every single thought-moment, from every mark and every pore came forth clouds of the bodies of every buddha of the three times, filling the entire realm of space; further came forth clouds of the bodies of every bodhisattva, clouds of the bodies of every tathāgata's retinue, clouds of every tathāgata's transformation-bodies, clouds of every tathāgata's own past-life bodies, clouds of the bodies of every śrāvaka and pratyekabuddha, clouds of every tathāgata's own bodhi-tree at the bodhimaṇḍa, clouds of every tathāgata's own sovereign mastery, clouds of the bodies of every world's own king, and clouds of every adorned and pure buddha-land — in every single thought-moment, from every mark and every pore, clouds such as these came forth, filling all of space, and they came before the Buddha to pay homage and make offering. Then, in the northwest, they transformed the space into a pavilion of pure and marvelous maṇi jewels in every direction, a lion-throne of maṇi jeweled lotus-treasury purifying every sentient being, and sat cross-legged; a net of solid, radiant pearl-jewels covered their bodies, and upon their heads they wore a maṇi jeweled crown covering all.

Below, beyond world-systems as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, there was a world called Every Tathāgata's Light, Perfect and Pure, whose buddha was named King of the Unobstructed Banner of Wisdom of Space. In that great assembly there was a bodhisattva named King of the Power of Wisdom Destroying and Scattering Every Hindrance, who, together with bodhisattvas as numerous as motes of dust in worlds, came toward this land. From every pore came forth clouds of the ocean-voice of every sentient being's own speech, clouds of the ocean-voice of the bodhisattvas' practice through the three times, clouds of the voice of every bodhisattva's vow, clouds of the voice of every bodhisattva's pure pāramitās brought to fulfillment, clouds of the marvelous voice of every bodhisattva's practice, clouds of the voice of every bodhisattva's sovereign accumulation filling every world, clouds of the voice of every bodhisattva's sovereign mastery in going to the bodhimaṇḍa, subduing every māra, and attaining perfect awakening, clouds of the voice of every buddha's sūtras turning the true Dharma-wheel, clouds of the voice of skillful means transforming and delivering sentient beings according to what each requires, and clouds of the voice by which every sentient being, at the right time, through skillful means attains the root of goodness of sublime wisdom, and came before the Buddha to pay homage and make offering. Then, below, they transformed the space into an adorned pavilion, treasury of every buddha's jeweled light, a lion-throne of jeweled lotus-treasury, and sat cross-legged; a maṇi jewel-king universally illumining the bodhimaṇḍa formed the bright pearl in their topknot.

Above, beyond world-systems as numerous as motes of dust in buddha-lands beyond telling, there was a world called Proclaiming Inexhaustible Awakening, whose buddha was named Perfect and Universal Light of Wisdom's Voice. In that great assembly there was a bodhisattva named King of the Penetrating Wisdom Discerning the Dharma-Realm, who, together with bodhisattvas as numerous as motes of dust in world-oceans, came toward this Sahā world, to where Śākyamuni Buddha was. From every mark, every pore, every limb and joint, every part of the body, every ornament, and every garment came forth clouds manifesting Vairocana and every other buddha of the past; every buddha of the future already given their prediction and not yet given their prediction; and every buddha of the present, in every world of the ten directions, together with their retinues. There likewise appeared the giving-pāramitā practiced in ages past, together with those who received such gifts; the moral-conduct pāramitā cultivated in ages past, precepts kept in purity; the patience-pāramitā of ages past, limbs and joints cut away while the mind remained unmoved and undisturbed; the diligence-pāramitā cultivated in ages past; the ocean of every tathāgata's meditation-pāramitā cultivated in ages past; every tathāgata's turning of the pure Dharma-wheel, cultivated in ages past; every past renunciation, unattached even to one's own life; the joy and delight in seeking the bodhisattva path in ages past; the pure, greatly adorned vow of the bodhisattva that arose in ages past; the power-pāramitā of every bodhisattva in ages past; and the perfected wisdom of every bodhisattva in ages past, all fully and completely manifest. Clouds of sovereign mastery such as these, filling the Dharma-realm, all appeared, and they came before the Buddha to pay homage and make offering. Then, above, they transformed the space into a pavilion, treasury adorned with vajra, a lion-throne of blue vajra jeweled lotus-treasury, and sat cross-legged; a net of every jewel covered their bodies, and a maṇi jewel-king bearing the names of the buddhas of the three times formed the bright pearl in their topknot.

These bodhisattvas, together with their retinues, were all fully endowed with the practice and vow of Samantabhadra; they had accomplished the pure eye of wisdom of every buddha of the three times; they turned the pure and sublime Dharma-wheel of every buddha; they gathered in the ocean of scriptures, the sublime and excellent voice of every buddha; and they were fully endowed with every bodhisattva's own sovereign mastery reaching the far shore. In every single thought-moment they went before every tathāgata, manifesting sovereign power — a single body filling every world, able to manifest a pure body within the assembly of every tathāgata; within a single mote of dust they were able to manifest every world, transforming and ripening sentient beings according to what each required, never once missing the right moment. From a single pore they released the thunder-voice of every buddha's sublime Dharma, knowing that the realm of sentient beings is entirely like an illusion, that every buddha is like a flash of lightning, that every realm of existence is entirely like a dream, that every karmic result is like a reflection in a mirror, that every act of birth is like a mirage in the heat, and that every world is entirely like a magical transformation. They were fully endowed with the Tathāgata's own ten powers and fearless Dharma; within the great assembly they were able to roar the lion's roar, penetrating deeply into the inexhaustible ocean of every eloquence; they knew with certainty the ocean of language and Dharma of every sentient being; within the pure Dharma-realm they practiced unobstructed practice, knowing that every dharma is entirely without contention; they were fully endowed with the bodhisattvas' every spiritual power and sublime wisdom, diligently cultivating vigor, subduing every māra; they abided in the sublime and excellent wisdom of the three times, unstained by anything; through pure and sublime practice they attained the Buddha's own adorned ground of omniscience; they knew that every existent thing has, in truth, no existence at all; they penetrated deeply into the ocean of wisdom of the entire Dharma-realm, and, through indestructible wisdom, entered every world; in every world they manifested their own sovereign mastery everywhere; they manifested taking birth in every world; they knew every world's every kind of shape and color, manifesting a vast buddha-land within the finest, most subtle domain, and manifesting the finest, most subtle domain within a vast buddha-land. In a single thought-moment they abided in every buddha's own abiding, attained the wisdom-body sustained by every buddha, attained pure wisdom, and fully understood the ocean of every land in the ten directions; in a single thought-moment they were able to give rise to immeasurable sovereign mastery, filling entirely the ocean of every world in the ten directions. All these bodhisattvas had accomplished immeasurable merits such as these, and it was entirely through the Tathāgata's own majestic spiritual power that Jeta's Grove was filled in this way.