Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Vow the Ancient Buddha Made in a Past Life (古佛宿願 涌塔作證)
Date: January.22.2018
“When anyone teaches the Lotus Sutra, He will rejoice in affirming it. Every Buddha has His own specific vows. Many Treasures Buddha’s power of vows is in the strength of the great vow He made while practicing the Bodhisattva-path. ‘After I have attained Buddhahood and entered Parinirvana, the stupa of treasures with my entire body will emerge.’”
At the place where the Lotus Sutra was taught, suddenly, a stupa of treasures emerged. It indicated [the presence of] an ancient Buddha from countless kalpas ago. His land was countless asankyas of [worlds] away, in a land to the east. That place was far away from the Saha World. This demonstrates that all Buddhas share the same intent and the same path. Every Buddha cares for all sentient beings in the universe. They are of the same mind. They share the same principles. So, all Buddhas share the same path; their principles are the same. Their principles are the same and the workings of Their minds are also the same. So, in any place the Lotus Sutra is taught, with His stupa of treasures, Many Treasures Buddha [will come to] rejoice and bear witness to it. In the Saha World, when Sakyamuni Buddha taught the Lotus Sutra, a Buddha called Many Treasures came to rejoice and provide assistance by affirming the [truth of this teaching]. This enables us to strengthen our faith. This Buddha from another land came to testify.
So, “Every Buddha has His own specific vows.” Many Treasures Buddha too had powerful vows. Every Buddha, in addition to shared vows, the vows all Buddhas hold in common, has His own specific vow. Sakyamuni Buddha’s own particular vow was to remain forever in the Saha World to deliver its sentient beings. We should understand that the compassionate vow of Sakyamuni Buddha is just like that of Earth Treasury Buddha. [He vowed] to go where suffering is greatest to deliver sentient beings. This was His specific vow. What about Amitabha? He vowed to go to the Western Land to teach the Dharma in the place of ultimate bliss. He also vowed to deliver sentient beings. Thus, these Buddhas each have their own different vows. Many Treasures Buddha’s specific vow was that in any world, in any place, wherever the Lotus Sutra is being taught, He will manifest a stupa of treasures there to testify [to the teachings].
Last time we also spoke of how Many Treasures Buddha [made this] vow. After attaining Buddhahood, He would deliver sentient beings and teach the Dharma. However, He lacked the karmic conditions; no one requested teachings from Him. He lacked the conditions to teach the Lotus Sutra. So, He never expounded the Lotus Sutra. When He was soon to enter Parinirvana, He made this vow. Though He did not have the causes and conditions to teach the Lotus Sutra to completion, He made a vow that at any place where the Lotus Sutra was being taught, His stupa of treasures would manifest there so that He could testify to [this teaching]. This was Many Treasures Buddha’s wish. He [made] this vow at the time He walked the Bodhisattva-path. This was His vow. So, [as it says], “After I have attained Buddhahood and crossed into Parinirvana, the stupa of treasures with my entire body will emerge.” It will be His entire body! Before He entered Parinirvana, He instructed His disciples to build a magnificent stupa of treasures and His entire body would [be placed] in the stupa to be stored there. In any era, in any world, at any Dharma-assembly where a Buddha was teaching the Lotus Sutra, His stupa of treasures will certainly appear there. This is to affirm the true principles.
True principles are everlasting. The true principles of the universe remain unchanged throughout the ages. Only by understanding the principles in the Chapter on Seeing the Stupa of Treasures will we attain thorough understanding. Then we will not cling to [the stupa’s] appearance. We should [focus on] understanding the principles; we must understand the principles and not cling to the appearance.
This is like our Tzu Chi volunteers around the world. In the US for instance, over the last few years, disasters have occurred with increasing frequency. Sometimes an earthquake causes a disaster. Sometimes strong winds or hurricanes can also cause huge disasters. Tornadoes are yet another cause. In the space of a day, dozens of tornadoes touched down in several states, resulting in severe damage. Even more frequent are disasters caused by fire. There are fires all year long. The US has already experienced several forest fires [this year]. Every time there is a fire, it spreads widely and burns for many days. Some have burned for nearly an entire month; these fire burned continuously.
The US is a very vast country, and there are many forests. The forests protect the land, and the trees [oxygenate] the atmosphere. Yet we can see, even in a land as big as the US, with its great mountains and forests, how it is burned by one fire after the next. Once a fire starts, it can burn for an whole month. At night, the sky shines red with firelight. During the day, the sky is filled with dense smoke. It is heartbreaking to watch, especially when the fires get closer and closer to residential areas. Tzu Chi volunteers in that area keep a close eye on this, and of course, people in our Dharma-family care for each other and keep in touch about their safety. Furthermore, everyone works together. Learning that a fire has damaged a community, a place where people live, they make preparations to help with disaster relief and aid distributions. Some news was sent back to us from the Yarnell Forest in the Phoenix area. In this place, a major fire had already reached residential areas. It has been burning for many days. Of those fighting the fire on the ground, the freighters, over a dozen were injured and some even lost their lives. They tried dropping water on it from the air. Extinguishing this fire proved to be very difficult. Only after many days did the fire finally burn itself out. It burned until there was nothing left to burn, then it naturally died out. Tzu Chi volunteers prepared to assess the disaster. Volunteers from the Phoenix chapter ventured into the disaster area. What they saw was heartbreaking! So many families were affected by the fire. Some could stay with their family and friends. Others had nowhere to turn for help. They now live in tents and have fallen into hardship because of the fire. [Volunteers] compiled a list of names in preparation for a distribution. From Tzu Chi USA Headquarters in California, a group drove there. There drive took six hours. They came from so far away to join that group of Tzu Chi volunteers in Phoenix. It took two days to distribute aid. The Red Cross and the Salvation Army also provided resources and assisted out Tzu Chi volunteers. When they entered the disaster area, the send before their eyes truly [proved] that life is impermanent.
One of the disaster survivors sighed deeply as he shared his story with them. He said he had been saving up his entire life and [working] diligently to earn money. After several decades, he finally saved up the money he needed to buy land and build a house in Phoenix. In the last year, the house was finally completed and furnished. Finally, he was ready to settle in and [relax]. Shortly after his house was completed, he traveled abroad. While he was [traveling], a fire struck his area. When he returned home, he saw that this decades-long labor of love, the home he built, had been reduced to ashes. All that was left was a pile of ashes. He was distraught.
When Tzu Chi volunteers heard his story they thought, “This is an example of impermanence. Master often asks, ‘Will impermanence strike before tomorrow arrives?’” They listened to this man share his story. He had worked so hard for several decades; now, in a cloud of smoke, [his home] was completely burned up and destroyed. He went abroad, and when he returned home, there was nothing left at all. Truly, this is impermanence! So, [the volunteers] encouraged one another to recognize their blessings by witnessing suffering. On witnessing impermanence, they wanted to make use of the time they have. In life, there is nothing to be attached to. Our spiritual practice depends on us, and the blessings we accumulate are ours. So, they encouraged each other even more to help each other advance diligently. They began distributing aid. They borrowed space from a church, and the priest came to assist them as well. The Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the priest all came to help with Tzu Chi’s aid distribution. They distributed things that people needed most. The survivors were grateful, and those helping them felt moved. They all praised one another and were happy. Isn’t this mutual gratitude and shared happiness what we would all Dharma-joy? Isn’t this a fundamental principle of the world?
Ever material object in the world is impermanent. Even a forest that is thousands of years old or even hundreds of millions of years old, and huge trees that are thousands of years old can be destroyed by impermanence. Human life lasts only for a few decades. This man worked hard for several decades all with the hope of being able to have a stable, ideal home. What man proposes, heaven disposes. This is the workings of collective karma. He had just built a house in this community when a fire burned it to the ground. Aren’t the world’s mountains, rivers, and lands all subject to the principle of impermanence? What is most important is love, everlasting great love, the love intrinsic to everyone. The Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Tzu Chi, the church, aren’t these all organizations filled with love?
Indeed! Any organization or religion that is full of love shares a common principle. Everyone should help each other; this is a natural principle. All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas come to the world to teach this great principle and transform us. The awakened beings on the Bodhisattva-path have realized that everything in the world is filled with impermanence, suffering and is empty. This group of awakened sentient beings serve others in this world. This is the great principle [they teach us]. So, all Buddhas expound the Dharma in the world solely to help us experience and understand that. “Life is impermanent, and the land is fragile. Truly, everything is impermanent! Life is short, and it is rare to hear the Dharma. Although our lives are short, we have heard the Dharma, these fundamental principles. “Refrain all evil, do all that is good. [Practice] unconditional loving-kindness. These suffering people are not related to us, however, if we view everyone in the world with universal compassion, don’t we also feel their suffering as our own?
Yes! So, we cannot bear for sentient beings to suffer. Everyone must know these principles. Where are these principles contained? [They are found] in the world. Ordinary people do not understand [this]. The Buddha came to the world to awaken in us our intrinsic nature of True Suchness. Everyone intrinsically has Buddha-nature. He helped us to realize this, to understand this, and to awaken the love in our hearts. These are the principles. As the Buddha taught the principles in this world, an ancient Buddha from another land came to testify to these principles. This is something we must treasure. So, we must be mindful!
Let us look at the previous sutra passage. “That Buddha had already attained Buddhahood and was about to enter Parinirvana. Before an assembly of heavenly beings and humans, He told all of the bhiksus. After I cross into Parinirvana, those who wish to make offerings to my entire body, must build a great stupa.”
We discussed this yesterday. When Many Treasures Buddha attained Buddhahood, He was lacking the causes and conditions, as no one came to request teachings from Him. So, when it came to teaching the Lotus Sutra, He never had the opportunity to do so. However, He vowed that in any place the Lotus Sutra was being taught, He and His stupa of treasures would go to that Dharma-assembly to listen to the teaching and bear witness to them. This was Many Treasures Buddha’s vow. So, when He was about to enter Parinirvana, He called on His disciples to help fulfill His vows. They were to build a stupa and place His entire body in this stupa of treasures. Then, wherever the Lotus Sutra was being taught, His stupa of treasures would appear there.
The next passage says, “By that Buddha’s spiritual powers and the strength of His vows, in the worlds of the ten directions, wherever there are people who teach the Lotus Sutra, that Buddha’s stupa of treasures will always emerge before them.”
In any place, in any world, anywhere the Lotus Sutra is taught, His stupa of treasures will emerge there. This was Many Treasures Buddha’s wish.
Let us be mindful in comprehending this passage. “With His entire body in the stupa, He will say in praise, ‘Excellent! Excellent! Great Joyful Eloquence, now that Many Treasures Tathagata in His stupa hears that I am teaching the Lotus Sutra, He has emerged from the ground and said in praise, “Excellent! Excellent!””
In the previous passage, Many Treasures Buddha had made His vow. He instructed His disciples to place His remains inside a stupa. They were to place His entire body in the stupa. After His entire body was in the stupa, a very long, extended time passed. Now, at Sakyamuni’s Dharma-assembly, He emerged. Moreover, from His stupa He said in praise, “Excellent! Excellent!” This was the scene at that time.
With His entire body in the stupa, He will say in praise, “Excellent! Excellent!”: His entire body will manifest and give praise, saying “Excellent!”, in accordance with His past vow.
Again, Sakyamuni Buddha called to Great Joyful Eloquence. “Great Joyful Eloquence, now that Many Treasures Tathagata in His stupa hearts that I am teaching the Lotus Sutra, He has emerged from the ground.”
Great joyful Eloquence, now that Many Treasures Tathagata in His stupa hears that I am teaching the Lotus Sutra, He has emerged from the ground and said in praise. “Excellent! Excellent!”: Great joyful Eloquence, I will let the assembly know the reason this stupa came.
In the past, Many Treasures Buddha had this vow. When the stupa of treasures manifests, He will call out from inside the stupa. This is exactly what happened here. “Great joyful Eloquence! Now that I, Sakyamuni Buddha, am teaching the Lotus Sutra, at this moment Many Treasures Buddha’s stupa, upon His hearing this sutra, has emerged. So, “He says in praise, ‘Excellent! Excellent!’” This was Many Treasures Buddha’s aspiration. With His entire body inside stupa wherever His stupa appeared, wherever His stupa appeared, He would call out from within He did this in accordance with His past vow. This has been His wish since long ago in the past. Even before He became a Buddha, while He was practicing as a Bodhisattva, He had this vow. After attaining Buddhahood, He never had the opportunity to teach the Lotus Sutra. So, He vowed that in any place, in any world, wherever it may be, if the Lotus Sutra was being taught there, He would cause the stupa of treasures to appear so He could listen and bear witness to [the sutra]. This is what the Buddha told Great joyful Eloquence. Now, Many Treasures Buddha’s stupa had emerged so He could listen to the Lotus Sutra and give praise. He explained this to Great joyful Eloquence. The Buddha explained the meaning of the stupa of treasures’ emergence so that everyone could know, not just Great joyful Eloquence. This was for everyone there listening, so that all of them could understand.
Sakyamuni Buddha answered by describing the history of Many Treasures Tathagata. He further explained that the stupa’s present emergence into the vast sky and the praise of Many Treasures Tathagata all happened for this reason. So, He called again to Great joyful Eloquence and told him this.
Sakyamuni Buddha was describing this in response to Great joyful Eloquence’s previous question. Sakyamuni answered him with this description of Many Treasures Tathagata’s history. Great joyful Eloquence asked about the stupa’s emergence, but the Buddha began explaining what happened to Many Treasures Buddha in the past. Next, to make it even clearer, “He further explained the stupa’s present emergence into the sky. This helped clarify even further that the stupa of treasures floated into the sky. It did not just appear on the earth; it emerged into the vast sky. Into the sky means that it left the ground. It was no longer on the ground. The stupa of treasures kept floating upwards. Emerging into the vast sky means it was floating. It floated in the air, off the ground in mid-air. “The praise of Many Treasures Tathagata…” Why did He come to give praise? There were many reasons that the stupa of treasures was floating in the sky. Furthermore, the Buddha also wanted to help rouse everyone’s spirits and get them to pay closer attention. So, He called out again to Great Joyful Eloquence so that they would listen carefully. Thus, we must rouse our own spirits and listen well.
The next passage says, “At that time, Great Joyful Eloquence Bodhisattva, relying on the Tathagata’s spiritual powers, spoke to the Buddha, ‘World-Honored One, we wish to see this Buddha’s body.’”
Great Joyful Eloquence Bodhisattva had already heard Many Treasures Buddha’s voice from inside the stupa. Although he heard it, now he wanted to go a step further, so he made this request. He hoped the Tathagata, with His spiritual power, could reveal Many Treasures Buddha’s physical form. Because Many Treasures Buddha’s voice came from inside stupa, this would only be possible with spiritual power. In particular, this stupa came from such a distant time, from such a faraway land, and now it had emerged in Saha World. This was due to that Buddha’s spiritual powers. With that Buddha’s spiritual powers, since His voice could be heard from within, [Great Joyful Eloquence] hoped that everyone could see Many Treasures Buddha. But they needed [Sakyamuni’s] spiritual powers for Many Treasures Buddha inside the stupa to manifest Himself for everyone to see. [Great Joyful Eloquence asked] out of curiosity. He was not only curious, but also very diligent and earnest. He was very sincere in his aspiration to see Many Treasures Buddha’s entire Body. Great Joyful Eloquence did this on behalf of future beings, not just for those currently at this assembly. He asked questions and made his request for the sake of future generations. As for those of us here today, we should also understand what [appearance]. Many Treasures Buddha’s body takes. What is it like inside the stupa? We too hope to understand this. So, Great Joyful Eloquence Bodhisattva was not the only one looking forward to this and hoping to see Many Treasures Buddha. Everyone else there also had the same hope. Indeed, for those living now in the future, we also really hope to understand this.
Though Great Joyful Eloquence heard His words, he had not yet seen Him in person, so he requested to see the Buddha’s body, to help people of all kinds of capabilities resolve their doubts and give rise to faith.
So, though Great Joyful Eloquence “heard His words…” Great Joyful Eloquence was at that assembly, and he heard Many Treasures Buddha’s voice saying in praise, “Excellent! Excellent!” affirming that Sakyamuni Buddha’s teachings were true and not false. Great Joyful Eloquence and those assembled had heard Him, but they “had not yet seen Him in person.” They still had not seen Many Treasures Buddha in person. “So, he requested to see that Buddha’s body to help people of all kinds of capabilities resolve their doubts and give rise to faith.” In addition to helping them see Him, he wanted to help resolve their doubts and deepen their faith. This was Great Joyful Eloquence’s [intention]. He too came to assist at the assembly in the same capacity as Medicine King Bodhisattva. He knew all of this, but the others listening to the teachings did not. In particular, those of future generations would find this even harder to understand. This was for the sake of everyone’s capabilities, as everyone’s capabilities were different. Some were delighted and admiring. Though they heard the voice and believed, they were curious and hoped to see [Him]. Still others had doubts in their minds. Was this real or was it illusory? Everyone’s capabilities were different. So, in order to resolve this and leave everyone without a doubt, the principles had to be made clearer. [He also hoped] sentient beings in the future would better understand these principles. For all these reasons, Great Joyful Eloquence, on behalf of future sentient beings and those at this assembly, made this request of the Buddha, that He would exercise His spiritual powers, because he wanted them to see Many Treasures Buddha’s entire body.
At that time, Great Joyful Eloquence Bodhisattva, relying on the Tathagata’s spiritual powers: He relied on the Tathagata’s spiritual powers. He wished to avail himself of the Buddha’s loving-kindness, as his own powers were insufficient to enable everyone to see.
So, it says, “At that time Great Joyful Eloquence Bodhisattva, relying on the Tathagata’s spiritual powers…” He needed to use the Tathagata’s spiritual powers in order for this to be possible. Therefore, “He wished to avail Himself of the Buddha’s loving-kindness as his own powers were insufficient to enable everyone to see.” He wanted to see Many Treasures Buddha’s entire body. This was easier said than done! It required the power of the Buddha’s compassion for everyone to see Many Treasures’ entire body. Of course this was necessary. Why did Many Treasures Buddha come? He came for Sakyamuni Buddha’s teachings. To see Many Treasures Buddha, this ancient Buddha from the distant past, would not be an easy feat. This required the power of the Buddha’s compassion. Only with the power of Sakyamuni Buddha’s vows, His spiritual power, do we have the causes and conditions to see. For this reason, “[He] spoke to the Buddha, ‘World-Honored One, we wish to see this Buddha’s body.’”
[He] spoke to the Buddha, “World-Honored One, we wish to see this Buddha’s body”: They all wished to see the body of the ancient Many Treasures Buddha. Relying on the Tathagata’s spiritual powers, he spoke to the Buddha. Relying on the blessing of the Tathagata’s spiritual powers, he made this request.
“All of us, not just me, everyone sitting here, hope to see Many Treasures Buddha. They all wished to see the ancient Buddha.” He is very ancient, from an incalculable amount of time in the past. Many Treasures Buddha had now emerged at this place of spiritual practice. [The stupa] remained off the ground, floating in the air. It was a very wondrous sight!
The previous passage states, “Such wonders were unprecedented.” It was so “wondrous” that it gave everyone doubts. This “unprecedented” event made them happy. How did they come to see such a scene? This was in a previous passage, one we already talked about. So, this Buddha from the very distant past was Many Treasures Buddha. Now [this stupa] was actually floating in front of everyone. Everyone was very happy and rejoiced. Moreover, they were reverent. So, they needed to rely on the Tathagata’s spiritual powers. They had to depend upon the Tathagata, on Sakyamuni Buddha’s spiritual powers. This is why he made this request of the Buddha. “He spoke to the Buddha. Spoke to the Buddha” means that he reverently made clear the wish in his heart. This was not just his wish; this was also everyone else’s wish. Thus it says he “spoke to the Buddha”. He expressed his innermost wish to the Buddha. “Relying on the blessing of the Tathagata’s spiritual powers” means we have to rely on the Tathagata’s spiritual powers to bless us so that we have this kind of opportunity, this kind of blessing, to see the ancient Buddha’s entire body. So, he respectfully made this request to Him. These were “the causes and conditions of this request.” This is why Great Joyful Eloquence asked [Sakyamuni] to see the ancient Buddha.
The causes and conditions of this request were extremely significant. The following events of emitting radiance, gathering the Buddhas and transforming the lands were all initiated by this request.
So, this was “extremely significant”; these causes and conditions were significant. For the ancient Buddha’s stupa of treasures to appear at the Lotus Dharma-assembly in this way, how could this not be a significant event? This was truly significant! There is a great principle behind this. Earlier we explained the great principle behind the stupa of treasures. So, we know that this great principle is “actualizing the Six Paramitas in all actions.” This is the great principle.
The passage that follows describes the emitting of radiance and gathering of the Buddhas. What comes after that is the appearance of the stupa of treasures and Many Treasures Buddha coming together with Sakyamuni Buddha [after] He emitted light. This is truly remarkable. A very exciting thing was about to take place. So, the passages to come will give us a preview. The next passage begins to describe the emitting of radiance and gathering of the Buddhas. Here, all of the Buddha’s manifestations will gather together. The Buddha of the Saha World, in order to accommodate all these manifestations, had to “transform the lands.” In the Chapter on Seeing the Stupa of Treasures, this will begin to be revealed. After Great Joyful Eloquence Bodhisattva makes this request, many principles will continually become apparent Many kinds of appearances will also manifest. Everyone will witness the Dharma and understand its principles.
So, “All were initiated by this request.” Because of this question, the Buddha gave many teachings and manifested many appearances. Earlier, didn’t we explain why Many Treasures Buddha never taught the Lotus Sutra? He lacked the conditions; no one requested it. This is why He never taught it. This is why He had this wish before He entered Parinirvana. Asking for the Dharma and requesting teachings is very important. One needs wisdom and must ask the right question. If one asks incorrectly, then one’s questions are about mundane matters. It takes wisdom to ask questions that elicit truths and principles. This is how the Buddha knew they had the capabilities to understand. Only then would He teach the wondrous Dharma. So, the initial request is very important.
“[This] requires the Buddha’s spiritual powers. To open the stupa, He needed to gather together His manifestations. When His manifestations were gathered, He openly entrusted [the sutra]. He called together those below Him to entrust it. When the disciples below Him emerged, He accordingly opened the near to reveal the far."
These were significant causes and conditions. This required the Buddha’s spiritual powers. This is demonstrated later in the sutra. All these phenomena contain wondrous Dharma. So, the initial request is very important. Later on, magnificent teachings and appearances will manifest before them. “He accordingly opened the near to reveal the far.” These were the significant causes and conditions. This was the time to open the near. Because the stupa of treasures appeared, now everyone there was listening to the Lotus Sutra, filled with Dharma-joy. Taking the Dharma to heart is like quenching our thirst with water. This moisture [we attain] in our life can nourish our wisdom-life. As our wisdom-life develops, it must be very mature; then we will have the capacities to accept the Great Vehicle Dharma. This is what we need. So, we must initiate a request for the Dharma. This was the Buddha’s intention. He expounded the Chapter on Seeing the Stupa of Treasure because He wanted everyone’s capabilities to completely awaken. We need to take the principles to heart. With faith we can comprehend everything. So, we need not think this is strange or doubt it. Doubts give rise to confusion. After this appearance manifests, many appearances will manifest, and they will contain many principles. For this reason, though we have the Chapter on Seeing the Stupa of Treasures, [we may wonder,] what can a stupa possibly teach us? There is an abundance of teachings. Are we able to listen to them? Can we accept them? This depends on us spiritual practitioners, on whether we are always being mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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