Pure Wisdom-Light
Without leaving the city, Sudhana goes from Firm Liberation to the elder Sublime Moon, whose house is always filled with light. Sublime Moon names his liberation, Pure Wisdom-Light, and refers Sudhana onward once more — south, to a city named Arising, where an elder named Unsurpassed Army awaits.
An Elder Whose House Is Always Filled with Light
「時，善財童子禮堅固足，遶無數匝，辭退而行。向妙月所，禮足圍遶，合掌恭敬，於一面立，白言：「聖者！我已先發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心，而未知菩薩云何學菩薩行、修菩薩道？我聞聖者善能誘誨，願為我說。」妙月答言：「善男子！我得菩薩解脫，名淨智光明。善男子！我唯知此智光解脫，如諸菩薩摩訶薩證得無量解脫法門，而我云何能知、能說彼功德行？善男子！於此南方，有城名出生，彼有長者，名無勝軍。汝詣彼問云何菩薩學菩薩行、修菩薩道。」」
At that time, Sudhana bowed at Firm Liberation's own feet, circled him countless times, took his leave, and continued on his way. He went to Sublime Moon's own place; he bowed at his feet, circled him, and stood to one side with palms joined in reverence, saying: "Noble one, I have already raised the mind set on unsurpassed, perfect awakening, but I do not yet know how a bodhisattva learns the bodhisattva's own practice and cultivates the bodhisattva's own path. I have heard that you, noble one, are skilled in guiding and instructing — I ask that you teach me." Sublime Moon answered, saying: "Good man, I have attained the bodhisattva's own liberation named Pure Wisdom-Light. Good man, I know only this liberation of wisdom-light. As for how the great bodhisattvas realize boundless Dharma-gates of liberation — how could I possibly know it, or speak of it? Good man, to the south of here there is a city named Arising. There is an elder there named Unsurpassed Army. Go to him and ask how a bodhisattva learns the bodhisattva's own practice and cultivates the bodhisattva's own path."
Sublime Moon's own episode, the briefest so far among these several elders, is told entirely within a single exchange — arrival, question, answer, and referral, without any extended description of his liberation's own content beyond its name. Fazang reads this compression, following immediately after Firm Liberation's similarly brief episode, as marking a stretch of rapid transitions between the massive Māyā sequence and whatever fuller teaching lies ahead — the pilgrimage's own pacing, not a lesser status for these teachers.
Part 239 Complete — Teacher 47 Concludes
Sublime Moon's own brief account is now complete. Part 240 turns to Sudhana's journey south to the city of Arising, and his arrival before the elder Unsurpassed Army.
Continue to Part 240 →