The Sutra of the Vast, Pure Dhāraṇī of the Diamond Altar Spoken by the Buddha

For whatever reason, after they had formed this thought, they were able to see the Tathagata Tathagata: An honorific title for the Buddha, meaning "One who has thus come" or "One who has thus gone." original: "如來" sitting in the center of a precious platform. His majestic light was blazing, and he remained unmoving in Samadhi Samadhi: A state of deep meditative concentration. original: "三昧". These various heavenly beings then went to the Buddha’s location to gaze upon his venerable countenance.

They stood in silence. Likewise, the sons of the gods from the Pure Abodes in the Form Realm The "Color" or Form Realm is the second of the three Buddhist realms, inhabited by gods who have moved beyond physical desires but still possess subtle forms., such as General Color and Heatless, stood gazing [at him]. Thereupon, the World-Honored One A common title for the Buddha; original: "世尊", through the power of his Samadhi manifesting spiritual penetrations and great spiritual power, gathered together this

Great Trichiliocosm A vast universe consisting of a billion worlds.. All the various types of sentient beings within it—the various ones who had first resolved to attain Unsurpassed, Complete, and Perfect Enlightenment Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi: The ultimate spiritual goal of Mahayana Buddhism; the perfect awakening of a Buddha. original: "阿耨多羅三藐三菩提", as well as those who were already matured and had long cultivated their minds;

those from the first and second stages up to the eighth stage—the Avaivartika Avaivartika: A level of spiritual progress from which one can no longer regress into lower states of existence. original: "阿鞞跋致"—and even those who were one life away from Buddhahood Eka-jati-pratibaddha: A high-level Bodhisattva destined to become a Buddha in their very next rebirth. original: "一生補處". These various Bodhisattvas Bodhisattva: An enlightened being who vows to remain in the cycle of rebirth until all other beings are saved. original: "菩薩" were like monkeys leaping and boundingly flying down beautifully to the side of the seven-jeweled platform. At a distance of seven feet from the ground, they sat in the lotus position Padmāsana: The traditional cross-legged meditation posture. original: "結跏趺坐" in mid-air. At that time, the Dharma Prince Mañjuśrī The Bodhisattva associated with transcendent wisdom; original: "曼殊室利" immediately entered the "Joy of All Sentient Beings’ Hearts" Samadhi. Having entered this

Samadhi, he was able to cause the entire great assembly and all sentient beings to become harmonious and gentle in body and mind, leaping for joy. At that time, the Bodhisattva Maitreya The future Buddha; original: "梅怛履那" (Mettaina/Maitreya), who is one life away from Buddhahood, entered the [Unclear: All Phenomena] Samadhi. Having entered this Samadhi,

he was able to cause the senses of the entire great assembly and all sentient beings to become pure. At that time, the Mahasattva Mahasattva: A "great being," a term for a high-level Bodhisattva. original: "摩訶薩" Bodhisattva "Established Heart Banner," together with sixty-two thousand Bodhisattvas, used his spiritual power to transport

his body through the air. They also went together to that wondrous place, flying down to the side of the seven-jeweled platform. By the Buddha's spiritual power, they sat in the lotus position in mid-air. At that time, Avalokiteśvara

Mahasattva The Bodhisattva of Compassion; original: "觀世音", together with ninety-two thousand Bodhisattvas, used his spiritual power to transport his body through the air. They also went together to that wondrous place, flying down to the exceptionally transcendent precious platform.

Arriving at the place of the Tathagata, they stayed in mid-air, sitting in the middle in the lotus position. At that time, Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva immediately entered the "Severing All Sentient Beings' Afflictions" Samadhi. Having entered this Samadhi, he was able to cause...