Voyage in Serenity
by Grand Master Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Lianhua Zhi-wei, edited by Jason Yu
Translated by Lianhua Zhi-wei, edited by Jason Yu
This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 185th book, 神行悠悠.
Entering Gao King's Avalokitesvara Sutra
In my travels during samadhi (deep meditation), I once entered into a very wondrous realm. I actually leaped into a sutra and encountered the Samadhi-Light Tathagata. The words of the sutra got gradually bigger and bigger, and then countless number of Buddhas emerged from the sutra passages. The Samadhi-Light Tathagata was in the lead with countless Buddhas behind him. Each of them was seated on a lotus throne radiating immeasurable light. This was truly a magnificent sight.
This sutra is "Gao King's Sutra" (or "Gaohuan King's Avalokitesvara Sutra" which is commonly translated in TBS as High King Avalokitesvara Sutra because the Chinese character "Gao" has the literal meaning of "high"). This is one of the sutras that I hold in high honor.
Everyone knows that the Samadhi-Light Tathagata's Sanskrit name is Dipamkara Buddha. He is also called the Lamp-Light Buddha and the Lighting-Lamp Buddha.
The Mahaprajnaparamita Sastra says: "When the Lighting-lamp Buddha was born, all of his surroundings were in the state of radiance as if illuminated by great lamps, and hence the prince was given the name lighting-lamp. When he achieved Buddhahood, he was also named Lighting-lamp. The old name was Lamp-Light Buddha."
The Samadhi-Light Buddha is also the Buddha who gave the seal predicting the Buddhahood of Shakyamuni Buddha.
[Shakyamuni Buddha said:] "In the time of the Samadhi-Light Buddha, I was a bodhisattva named Manavaka. I made offerings of lotus flower to the Buddha by spreading the flower pedals in the air. The Samadhi-Light Buddha recognized my intention and praised me, 'You have spent countless kalpas cultivating purity. Now, I give you the seal. Ninety-one kalpas after my time, in the kalpa known as Good-Fortune, you will achieve Buddhahood with the title Shakyamuni.'"
When I entered Gao King's Sutra, the Samadhi-Light Tathagata was at the front, followed by countless Buddhas appearing from all the Buddha Pure Lands of the Ten Directions, each seated on lotus thrones and radiating light.
I said, "Gao King's Sutra lists the names of the multitude of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, inspiring joy in the reciter's heart."
The Samadhi-Light Buddha inquired, "Do you know this sutra's key essence?"
I replied, "What is the key essence?"
The Samadhi-Light Buddha answered, "Experiential validation."
"Experiential validation? I don't understand," I said.
The Samadhi-Light Buddha earnestly told me, "This Sutra is the sutra of experiential validation. Worldly people only see the superficial aspect and do not recognize its essence. Today, I am revealing the essence to you, so you can record it down for the future generations."
The Samadhi-Light Buddha revealed:
Clear Light Secret Buddha validated the path of the Clear Light of Vajrayana practice
Dharma Treasury Buddha validated the path that the heart is the dharma, and the dharma is the heart.
Lion's Roar Divine Travel King Buddha validated the path of delivering sentient beings through divine travel.
Sumeru-Lamp King Buddha validated the path of illuminating radiance to all Ten Directions.
Dharma Protecting Buddha validated the protection and upholding of the Buddha-dharma.
Vajra Treasury Lion-at-Play Buddha - it is a game and it is also validation.
Glorious Jewel Buddha validated the path of glorious cultivation of Buddha-jewel.
Divine Power Buddha validated the path of the six great transcendental powers.
The Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Buddha (the Medicine Buddha) validated the path of the great physician healing the world.
Universal Light Mount Merit King Buddha validated the path of the light of merit that encompasses all worlds.
Virtuous Abiding Merit Jewel King Buddha validated the path of the merit of abiding in the world.
The Samadhi-Light Buddha said, "And I, the Samadhi-Light Buddha, embody the validation of radiating light from meditation.
So-on and so-forth.
After hearing this discourse, it dawned on me:
"Since the multitude of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas' titles often describes the means by which they achieved realization, the list of their names contains the meaning of experiential validation."
Everyone should attempt to contemplate this point. Doesn't Gao King's Sutra contain the concealed meaning of experiential validation?
"Clear Light"
"Dharma Heart Treasury"
"Divine Travel"
"Light-King"
"Dharma Protector"
"At-Play"
"Glorious Cultivation"
"Divine Power"
"Healing Illness"
"Merits"
The Samadhi-Light Tathagata's analysis of the all the paths of experiential validation contained in Gao King's Sutra left me quite surprised. Originally, I thought that Gao King's Sutra is a only compilation of the titles of the multitude of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. All these titles turn out to be paths of validating the ultimate truth.
There are even some people who actually believe that Gao King's Sutra is a forged sutra.
How will they ever understand that its secret essence of experiential validation?! This concealed meaning is truly marvellous.
In my travels during samadhi (deep meditation), I once entered into a very wondrous realm. I actually leaped into a sutra and encountered the Samadhi-Light Tathagata. The words of the sutra got gradually bigger and bigger, and then countless number of Buddhas emerged from the sutra passages. The Samadhi-Light Tathagata was in the lead with countless Buddhas behind him. Each of them was seated on a lotus throne radiating immeasurable light. This was truly a magnificent sight.
This sutra is "Gao King's Sutra" (or "Gaohuan King's Avalokitesvara Sutra" which is commonly translated in TBS as High King Avalokitesvara Sutra because the Chinese character "Gao" has the literal meaning of "high"). This is one of the sutras that I hold in high honor.
Everyone knows that the Samadhi-Light Tathagata's Sanskrit name is Dipamkara Buddha. He is also called the Lamp-Light Buddha and the Lighting-Lamp Buddha.
The Mahaprajnaparamita Sastra says: "When the Lighting-lamp Buddha was born, all of his surroundings were in the state of radiance as if illuminated by great lamps, and hence the prince was given the name lighting-lamp. When he achieved Buddhahood, he was also named Lighting-lamp. The old name was Lamp-Light Buddha."
The Samadhi-Light Buddha is also the Buddha who gave the seal predicting the Buddhahood of Shakyamuni Buddha.
[Shakyamuni Buddha said:] "In the time of the Samadhi-Light Buddha, I was a bodhisattva named Manavaka. I made offerings of lotus flower to the Buddha by spreading the flower pedals in the air. The Samadhi-Light Buddha recognized my intention and praised me, 'You have spent countless kalpas cultivating purity. Now, I give you the seal. Ninety-one kalpas after my time, in the kalpa known as Good-Fortune, you will achieve Buddhahood with the title Shakyamuni.'"
When I entered Gao King's Sutra, the Samadhi-Light Tathagata was at the front, followed by countless Buddhas appearing from all the Buddha Pure Lands of the Ten Directions, each seated on lotus thrones and radiating light.
I said, "Gao King's Sutra lists the names of the multitude of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, inspiring joy in the reciter's heart."
The Samadhi-Light Buddha inquired, "Do you know this sutra's key essence?"
I replied, "What is the key essence?"
The Samadhi-Light Buddha answered, "Experiential validation."
"Experiential validation? I don't understand," I said.
The Samadhi-Light Buddha earnestly told me, "This Sutra is the sutra of experiential validation. Worldly people only see the superficial aspect and do not recognize its essence. Today, I am revealing the essence to you, so you can record it down for the future generations."
The Samadhi-Light Buddha revealed:
Clear Light Secret Buddha validated the path of the Clear Light of Vajrayana practice
Dharma Treasury Buddha validated the path that the heart is the dharma, and the dharma is the heart.
Lion's Roar Divine Travel King Buddha validated the path of delivering sentient beings through divine travel.
Sumeru-Lamp King Buddha validated the path of illuminating radiance to all Ten Directions.
Dharma Protecting Buddha validated the protection and upholding of the Buddha-dharma.
Vajra Treasury Lion-at-Play Buddha - it is a game and it is also validation.
Glorious Jewel Buddha validated the path of glorious cultivation of Buddha-jewel.
Divine Power Buddha validated the path of the six great transcendental powers.
The Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Buddha (the Medicine Buddha) validated the path of the great physician healing the world.
Universal Light Mount Merit King Buddha validated the path of the light of merit that encompasses all worlds.
Virtuous Abiding Merit Jewel King Buddha validated the path of the merit of abiding in the world.
The Samadhi-Light Buddha said, "And I, the Samadhi-Light Buddha, embody the validation of radiating light from meditation.
So-on and so-forth.
After hearing this discourse, it dawned on me:
"Since the multitude of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas' titles often describes the means by which they achieved realization, the list of their names contains the meaning of experiential validation."
Everyone should attempt to contemplate this point. Doesn't Gao King's Sutra contain the concealed meaning of experiential validation?
"Clear Light"
"Dharma Heart Treasury"
"Divine Travel"
"Light-King"
"Dharma Protector"
"At-Play"
"Glorious Cultivation"
"Divine Power"
"Healing Illness"
"Merits"
The Samadhi-Light Tathagata's analysis of the all the paths of experiential validation contained in Gao King's Sutra left me quite surprised. Originally, I thought that Gao King's Sutra is a only compilation of the titles of the multitude of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. All these titles turn out to be paths of validating the ultimate truth.
There are even some people who actually believe that Gao King's Sutra is a forged sutra.
How will they ever understand that its secret essence of experiential validation?! This concealed meaning is truly marvellous.
Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lotuschef
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