The Inconceivable Dharmas of Buddhas

Now, if the Bodhisattvas are said to possess these immense spiritual qualities, as described in the Ten Stages, what about their admired exemplars, the Buddha-Tathāgatas? It is said that the aim of the entire Hwa Yen Sūtra is to reveal the realm of Buddhahood, and the elaborate description of the Bodhisattva's merits is given to reflect the more august and inconceivable state of the Tathā. In the Hwa Yen Sūtra there is one whole chapter entitled, "The Chapter of the Inconceivable Dharmas of Buddhas." ³³

At that time in the great assembly, many Bodhisattvas had these thoughts in mind: "In what way are the Buddha's Lands inconceivable? In what way are the original vows and revelations of Buddhas inconceivable? In what way are the body, voice and Mind of Buddha, His freedom, liberation and Non-Obstructions inconceivable?"

In reply, Bodhisattva Blue Lotus Treaure [guided by Buddha's blessing] addressed the Bodhisattva Lotus Treasure:

"All the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, have ten Dharmas pervading the infinite and illimitable universes: They all have infinite bodies with pure forms, pervading all walks of life [in saṁsāra], without being contaminated. They all have infinite non-obstructive eyes, perceiving all things in the universe as being transparently clear; infinite non-obstructive ears, able to hear and understand all voices; infinite non-obstructive noses, reaching the other shore of freedom; infinite broad and long tongues, issuing pleasing voices resounding throughout the entire Dharmadhātu; infinite bodies, appearing before all beings in accordance with their visions; infinite consciousness ever abiding in the all-equal and non-obstructive Body-of-Truth [Dharmakāya]. . . .

"All the Buddhas have infinite pure Lands, with inconceivable glories and beauty, revealing the Buddha's domain in conformity with sentient beings' wishes, without attachment. All the Buddhas have infinite Bodhisattva's Pāramitās and perfect insight; they sport in all fields with complete freedom. . . .

"Oh son of Buddha, all the World-Honored Buddhas have the merit of never-missing-the-appropriate-time in ten different ways: They never miss the appropriate time to attain the supreme Enlightenment. They never miss the appropriate time to ripen sentient beings, or miss the opportune time to make predictions upon Bodhisattvas. Never do they miss the right time to reveal Buddha's Bodies in accordance with beings' understandings. Nor would the Tathāgatas ever miss the appropriate time to perform great charities, to enter villages and towns, to sustain devoted followers, to tame and subdue the wicked or to demonstrate the inconceivable miracles. . . .

"Oh son of Buddha, all the World-Honored Buddhas have ten inscrutable peerless capacities: Sitting cross-legged, they can manifest themselves everywhere in the universe; with one sentence with one meaning, they can illucidate the infinite Buddha's doctrines; emanating one beam of light, they illuminate the entire cosmos; within one body, they reveal all bodies; at one place, they disclose all world systems; in one insight, they perceive all dharmas without obstruction. In one moment, they can reveal the unfathomable holiness, travel all the worlds in the ten directions and perceive the minds of all sentient beings and all Buddhas in the three times. At all times, they remain identical in essence with all Tathāgatas in the past, present, and future.

"Oh son of Buddha . . . all the Buddhas know that all dharmas are not two from the beginning, yet they can bring forth the Wisdom of Observation ... all Buddhas know that all dharmas have no selfhood and no existence, yet they can produce the Wisdom of taming sentient beings; all the Buddhas know that all dharmas have no marks in the first place, yet they can generate the Wisdom of knowing all forms. . . . Oh son of Buddha, all the Tathāgatas are endowed with the indiscriminative great compassion; never will they renounce all sentient beings. They have all obtained the profoundest Dhyānas; they ever observe and care for all creatures. With good roots of altruism, they will teach and ripen beings without rest. . . .

"Oh son of Buddha, all die World-Honored Buddhas have ten supreme Dharmas: Firm, steadfast and indestructible are their great vows. They practice whatever they say and whatever they say, they never change or withdraw. . . . All the Buddhas, for the sake of ripening one being, travel through countless universes. In this manner, they serve all sentient beings without cessation. With great compassion and universal consideration, they treat every man alike, whether he is devoted or blasphemous. . . . All the Buddhas can use their eyes to engage in the dharma-activities of smelling; ³⁴ they can use their noses to taste, their tongues to touch, their bodies to think, their minds to abide in all experiences, of all fields, in all infinite universes. . . .

"All the Tathāgatas abide in the Realm-of-Dharma, but not in the past, the present or the future, because in the essence of Suchness, there is no sign of past, present or future. Even so, they can expound the infinite teachings of all Buddhas in the past, present and future, enabling the hearer to perceive the sphere of the Enlightened Ones. . . . Thus, in silence and alone, the Buddhas carry out the inconceivable Dharma-activities. . . .