Chapter 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Chapter 27: Praise of the Bodhisattva

When the Tathagata Sakyamuni speaks the Sutra of the Golden Light, countless bodhisattvas in the worlds in the ten directions also left their world systems to arrive at the Vulture’s Peak, to the place where the Blessed One is, and fall down to prostrate on the ground, they then bow down to the Buddha and one-mindedly, with different mouths but the same speech, praised:

The color of the Buddha’s form body

Glows with the color of Golden Light

Its light spreads throughout

Just like a real mountain of gold,

Which is pure and gentle,

Just like the lotus blossom

Iridescent with colors

And supreme decorations

The 32 good signs

Decorate His whole body

Together with 80 forms of beauty

Perfectly adorned, with bright luminescent light

None (people) are the same, and

As clear as the full moon.

His voice, among all sounds

Is very subtle

And has the authority of a thunder

Like the roaring of a lion,

With the 8 special qualities,

That correspond (adapt?) to all

Much more than the sound

Of the kalavinga sparrow etc.

You decorate your body form

With hundreds of merits

The perfect light that is stainless,

Your wisdom is clear and quiet

Just like the great ocean,

Your vast merits

Are like space.

The light shining to all world systems

In the ten directions.

You salvage countless sentient beings,

Depending on the causes and circumstances.

Love and attachment, even habits are exhausted,

The Dharma torch is ever burning

Never extinguished.

You pity all kinds of sentient beings

In the present and future

Giving them great joy and bliss,

You often speak about the supreme meaning of the path

And make them acquire

The true and pure Nirvana.

The Tathagata speaks of

The supreme Dharma

Which is like the dews of immortality

And offers the meaning (reason)

Of the miraculous dew of immortality

He leads beings to the castle

Of the dew of immortality of Nirvana,

And enables them to enjoy

The dew of immortality of Dharma bliss.

The Buddha often abides

In the sea of birth and death,

And free many sentient beings

From suffering

Buddha helps them stand firmly

On the blissful path,

Bringing about the joy

Of acquiring what one wishes for

Which is hard to measure (the joy)

The ocean of merits

(Is) Extremely wide and deep,

One cannot use examples to portray.

Buddha often generates the heart of great compassion

Towards sentient beings,

Often using various means to help them

Without stopping.

Buddha’s sea of wisdom

Has no (external) boundaries

Suppose human and devas

Together try to measure and estimate

(That sea) for thousands of eons

They are still unable to know,

And the little that they know

Is indeed little.

What we can summarily

Offer praise to Buddha’s virtues

Is just a droplet

Among that sea of merits,

We dedicate this mass of merit (from praising?)

To all sentient beings,

May we quickly attain

The miraculous fruit of enlightenment.

At that time, the Tathagata speaks to the bodhisattvas, how benign, you have skillfully offered such praise to the Tathagata’s virtues, benefitting sentient beings, and doing the work for the Tathagatas: eliminate countless wicked results, and generate countless good results.

Chapter 28: The Praise of Gentle Garland

At this time, the Gentle Garland bodhisattva stands up from his seat, lets bear the right shoulder, touches the right knee to the ground, and hold the palms together towards the Tathagata and praises:

The good body form of the Tathagata

With hundreds of perfect (completed) merits

And countless virtues

Adorn the Tathagata’s body

Pure as silver

And pleasing to behold

Buddha’s light shines forth

Just like a thousand suns

The light glows brightly

With all colors.

Buddha’s commanding good signs

Are just like a whole mass of precious gemstone (jade)

Just like the rising sun

Which shines brightly the whole space,

With its pink, white and special golden color.

And just like a golden mountain

Which spreads Its light

To everywhere

Hundreds of thousand world systems

And eliminate infinite sufferings

For sentient beings, bringing to them

The supreme joy and peace.

The whole and complete good signs of the Tathagata

Are very pure and solemn

Sentient beings like to behold

Without bore.

Buddha’s hair is soft and smooth

With a dark blue color

Like the pure black (honey?) bees

Which group on beautiful flowers.

(Buddha’s) Great bliss and great forgiving

Are very solemn

Great compassion and loving-kindness

Very complete,

Buddha’s supreme good signs

Decorate the body

These are formed by (and made up of)

The Bodhyanga.

Giving to sentient beings

Numerous merits

And let them abide in great peace and joy.

Buddha’s good signs

Are adorned with many wondrous virtues

As such, the light shines forth

To thousands of world systems

The light and good signs

Is ultimate and completely bright

As such, They are like the sun

Shining brightly, and hovering in space

And like mount Sumeru

Which has complete and whole merits

Its forms change in various places (biến thể cùng khắp)

In the worlds in the ten directions.

Buddha’s mouth is gold, and supremely beautiful

Very solemn and commanding.

Buddha’s teeth are white, uniform and close (one to another)

Just like snow and pearl

And the whole face of the Tathagata

Is unsurpassed, and peerless

Together with the white hair between Buddha’s eyes

Which curls to the right;

Shimmering white, fresh and gentle

Just like crystals

And like the moon

Which stays freely in space.

The Blessed One says to the Gentle Garland bodhisattva, your praise of the virtues of Buddha is inconceivable, and capable of benefitting sentient beings, making those who have not previously known conform and cultivate their virtues.

Chapter 29: The praise of the Bodhi Upholding goddess

At this time, the Bodhi Upholding goddess also speaks the following verses to praise the Tathagata.

I bow down to the one

Whose wisdom is extremely pure

I bow down to the one

Whose wisdom often wishes to attain the Righteous Dharma

I bow down to the one

Whose wisdom separates Itself from unrighteousness

I bow down to the one

Whose wisdom forever surpasses all distinction (differentiate)

The virtues that have no boundaries are rare

Just as rare and hard to see

As the Udambala flowers

As rare as the ocean

Which protects (and abides by) the lord of mountains,

Rare is the light that has no quantities

Rare are the vows of great compassion

Rare is the light that surpasses the ocean

You speak of this Sutra,

The gem among all Sutras

Which often thinks of ways to benefit

All sentient beings.

Demonstrate the Emptiness

Of the sense of fixed meditation

Enter into emptiness

The fort of Nirvana,

Abide in emptiness

All methods of Universal dharani (pháp đẳng trì)

Consummate the emptiness (vắng lặng)

Of the profound realm

Abide in the supreme Emptiness

And see even oneself as empty,

Also see that the Dharma,

Are all empty in nature,

Also see sentient beings as empty.

I often think of

The Tathagata,

I often like to look at

The Tathagata,

I am often keen on

The Tathagata

I often meet

The Sun of the Tathagata (comparison)

I often bow down

To the Tathagata

I crave to make a vow

My mind will never leave (abandon)

I am moved to tears,

And my thought is uninterrupted,

I vow to serve

With an untiring heart.

May the Blessed One

Generate the thought of great compassion

And enable me to frequently see

The appearance of the Tathagata,

I pray that the Tathagata

Together with the Pure retinues

Will often salvage

Countless human and devas

Your Body is transparent and bright

Just like space

And the transformed body is like

Illusions, moon (image) in the water

Pray the Tathagata please speak

The dews of immortality of Nirvana,

To generate the mass of merits

The pure realm of the Tathagata,

Compassion, righteous virtues

Are all inconceivable;

Hearers and Solitary Enlightened ones

Are unable to understand, (measure)

And the bodhisattvas

Also cannot conceive it thoroughly

Pray the Tathagata, please love

And sympathize with me (keep me in Your mind),

Please make me often see

The body of the Great Compassionate One.

I use my 3 habits (speech, mind, body)

To worship the Great Compassionate One

Untiringly

May I quickly be liberated

From birth and death

And return to Suchness.

When the Tathagata has heard these verses of praise, He uses the voice of Brahma to say to the Bodhi Upholding goddess, how benign, goddess; goddess can have such words of praise to benefit oneself and others like this; you have praised the wondrous form of the Tathagata’s Dharma body, the true body, not one that is false, and (is) one that is very pure. Thanks to the merits that come from these praises, you will quickly attain the Unsurpassed Enlightenment, and also make sentient beings cultivate their virtues just like goddess does. Whoever listens to this praise will enter into the sweet dews of immortality, and the door of Non-birth.

Chapter 30: The praise of the Sarasvati goddess

At this time, the Great Heavenly Eloquent goddess stands up from her seat, holds the palms together respectfully and uses the following words to praise the Tathagata:

I now down to You, the Sakyamuni Buddha, the Tathagata, Arhat, Perfect and Complete Buddha, the one whose body has a golden color, a neck like nacre, a face like the moon, eyes like the blue lotus, mouth and lips as red and beautiful as crystal. Your nose is high, long and straight, just like the tip of gold. Your teeth are white, uniform and close together, just like the white lotuses. The light from Your body shines forth like hundreds of thousand suns. The color of that light is like the gold in the Jambudvipa world.

You often speak with certainty and truth; open the three doors of liberation and the three paths of enlightenment. Your mind is often pure, and so is your liking. The place where you live and the place where you walk are also pure. Not wanting in authority and solemnity, your movement is also without a fault. You undergo arduous activities for 6 years, and turn the wheel of Dharma 3 times, you help sentient beings who are suffering from misery, and make them return to the shore of enlightenment and knowledge. Your body form is just like the Cau da great tree. 6 levels of cultivating virtues; and your 3 habits (speech, etc.) are perfect. Sufficient with the Buddha’s knowledge, consummate the benefits for oneself and others. Whatever you speak is directed towards sentient beings. You do not speak meaninglessly (without a purpose), you are the great lion of the Sakya lineage. Fortified, courageous, complete the 8 methods of salvations.

Today, with my limited ability, I praise a small portion of the Tathagata’s virtues. The deed that I did is just like a water mosquito (attempt) drinking the water of the great ocean. However, I now dedicate this merit to all sentient beings, and pray that we together will be free from cyclic existence, and accomplished the Unsurpassed Method.

The Tathagata says to Sarasvati, how benign, goddess; you have cultivated virtues for a long time, and you have great eloquence; now you have presented your praise to the Tathagata. Thanks to this act, you will quickly attain the supreme method, having complete and bright good forms, and benefit all.

Chapter 31: Confer the king of Sutra

At this time, the Tathagata speaks in general to the assembly, with its countless bodhisattvas, human and devas, you should know that the Tathagata has undergone arduous activities in countless great eons, and thanks to this, Buddha has acquired the profound Dharma- the Dharma that acts as an essential factor for the Bodhi wisdom, and now, I have spoken to you about this Dharma. Who amongst you can have the courage and will to respectfully maintain and keep that Method? When the Tathagata has entered into Nirvana, who can spread and expound this Sutra, making It abide long in this world?

At this time, in the assembly, there are 60 kotis bodhisattvas and 60 kotis devas, with different mouth yet the same speech who say as followed, Blessed One, each and every one of us will always rejoice, will always be keen on this profound Method; we will not spare our lives in maintaining It- The method which is the essential factor in attaining the Bodhi wisdom, one which the Tathagata has acquired only after He has undergone arduous activities for countless great eons. When the Tathagata has entered into Nirvana, we will expound and propagate that Method, and make It abide long in this world. The great bodhisattvas speak to the Tathagata in the following verses:

The Tathagata speaks the truth

And abide in the true Dharma:

Just this truth will protect this Sutra.

Great compassion as the armor,

Great loving-kindness as the footing:

The might of that compassion and loving-kindness.

Will protect and sustain this Sutra.

When the reasoning (tư lương) of merits is consummated

The reasoning of wisdom will be born

Just that whole and complete consummation

Will protect and sustain this Sutra.

Subduing all kinds of wicked Mara,

Eliminating all kinds of wicked, evil teachings,

Eliminating all wicked views,

These will protect and sustain this Sutra.

The Protectors of the world, and Indra

The Brahma king together with the 8 classes (of Yaksa?)

Such gods and devas

Will protect and sustain this Sutra.

Often abiding long

On earth and in void space

Respectfully listening to the words of the Buddha

To protect and sustain this Sutra.

Adapting (correspond) to the 4 Brahma abiding (Thích ứng bốn phạn trú)

Decorating the 4 Noble Truths,

Vanquishing the 4 kinds of Mara.

These will protect and sustain this Sutra.

Void air can become matters

Matters can become void air

Yet the Dharma that the Buddhas keep

Cannot shift and chage.

When the four Protectors (Heavenly Kings) of the world have listened to the request from the Tathagata to protect the Dharma, everyone rejoices and protects that Dharma, at the same time, they spoke these verses:

We and our relatives,

Will one-mindedly protect and sustain

This Dharma Sutra

And we will propagate It wide and far.

Whoever upholds this Sutra

As the cause (seed) for Bodhi

 We from all directions

Will protect and serve that person

.

Indra respectfully holds the palms together and says the following verses:

When the Tathagata has attained this Method,

He wishes to repay the kindness

So Buddha speaks this Sutra

To benefit bodhisattvas.

I often think of ways to repay Buddha’s kindness

Thus I will protect this Sutra

And those who uphold this Sutra.

The Tushita deva’s son respectfully holds the palms together and says the following verses:

The Tathagata speaks of this Sutra,

Whoever upholds It

Will abide on the altar of wisdom

And will be born to the Tushita heaven.

Blessed One, I rejoice in leaving behind

The bliss of the deva’s world

To praise this king of Sutra

In the Jambudvipa world.

The Brahma king of the Saha world system respectfully holds the palms together and says the following verses:

Countless Samadhi and meditation (doors)

And all liberation (doors)

All come forth from this Sutra,

As such, One must speak of this Sutra.

In the place where this Sutra is spoken

I will abandon my joy

To listen to this Sutra

And often protect that place.

The son of Mara king called Traders respectfully holds the palms together and says the following verses:

Anyone who upholds this Sutra-

The Sutra that accords with the righteous practice (and virtues)

Will not be bothered by Mara

And will themselves eliminate the karma (habits) of Mara

As such, I also protect this Sutra.

We will exert great efforts

To spread this Teaching, wherever we are.

The Mara king respectfully holds the palms together and says the following verses:

Anyone who upholds this Sutra,

Suppressing defilements,

Such people like these

I will protect.

Anyone who expounds this Sutra

Will not be harmed by the wicked Mara;

Under the might of the Tathagata

I will offer them protection.

The Gentle Auspicious deva’s son also speak the following verses in front of the Tathagata:

The wisdom of the Tathagata

Is spoken of in this Sutra,

As such, anyone who upholds this Sutra

Makes offerings to the Tathagata at the same time.

I will uphold this Sutra

And expound It to the devas

Whoever respects and listen

I will encourage them to reach Bodhi.

The bodhisattva Maitreya respectfully holds the palms together and says the following verses:

For those who stand firmly

In the nature of Bodhi (enlightenment)

I will become their uninvited friend;

I will even give up my life

To protect the king of Sutra.

Having listened to this Method

I will return to the Tushita heaven

And under the sustaining might of the Tathagata

Will speak to the devas (about this Sutra).

The great Ca Yip ba the Supreme respectfully holds the palms together and says the following verses:

The Tathagata has said

That I am weak in wisdom,

Thus, I will do as I can

And protect this Sutra.

I will accept those

Who can uphold this Sutra,

I will grant them unhindered speech

Together with unhindered eloquence,

And I will often rejoice,

Praising: how benign.

The Venerable Ananda holds the palms together towards the Tathagata and says the following verses:

I have directly heard from the Tathagata

Countless Sutras

Yet I have never listened

To the King of Sutra.

When I have listened to this Sutra

It is hearing from You. (là thân nghe trước Ngài)

Whoever loves wisdom

I will expound this Sutra for them.

At this time, the Tathagata sees that the bodhisattvas, devas and human, together with the whole assembly, (they all) generate the thought of expounding and protecting this king of Sutra, and encourage the bodhisattvas (to keep practicing), and benefit sentient beings. Thus the Tathagata praise: Excellent, you can sincerely expound this king of Sutra so, even when the Tathagata has entered into Nirvana, (you?) vowing to not let this Sutra disappear. This work is the essential and most important factor to attain Unsurpassed Enlightenment, and the merits acquired will last for countless eons.  The four types of Disciples of the Tathagata, and other sons or daughter of the lineage, should make offering, respect, copy, spread and explain the meaning of this king of Sutra, the merits that you acquire is as such. Thus, the assembly should diligently practice the encouragement of the Tathagata.

At this time, when the assembly has heard the Teaching of the Tathagata, everyone was greatly rejoiced, accept and practice accordingly.