South to the City of Arising
Sudhana bows farewell to Sublime Moon and journeys south to a city named Arising, arriving before the elder Unsurpassed Army to ask his now-familiar question.
An Elder Named Unsurpassed Army
「是時，善財禮妙月足，遶無數匝，戀仰辭去。漸向彼城，至長者所，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。」」
At that time, Sudhana bowed at Sublime Moon's own feet, circled him countless times in longing reverence, and took his leave. Making his way gradually toward that city, he arrived at the elder's 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."
A city named Arising (出生) now hosts an elder whose own name, Unsurpassed Army, carries a martial resonance unusual among this stretch of teachers — a reminder that names in this collection are chosen for the liberation they will announce rather than for consistency of register with the teacher's own social role.
Part 240 Complete — Teacher 48 Begins
Sudhana has arrived and asked his question. Part 241 begins Unsurpassed Army's own answer: his liberation, Boundless Marks.
Continue to Part 241 →