Dunhuang Document

"For those who follow conditioned laws original: "有為法" (Samskrita); things that are constructed, temporary, and subject to cause and effect., one can speak of profit and merit. But one who truly 'leaves the household' To become a monk or nun. follows the unconditioned law original: "无為法" (Asamskrita); the eternal, unchanging reality of Nirvana.. Within the unconditioned law, there is neither profit nor merit.

Their retribution for past sins has ended. One who truly renounces the world belongs neither to 'this side' nor 'that side,' nor to the space between. They are free from the sixty-two views A traditional classification of various wrong or philosophical views about the self and the world. and dwell in Nirvana The state of final liberation from suffering and rebirth.. Those who are wise may follow the path of the Saints. They have subdued the various demons and crossed over the five paths of rebirth The realms of gods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell-beings.. They have purified the five eyes The physical, divine, wisdom, dharma, and Buddha eyes., established the five powers Faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom., and stand firm on the five roots. They do not emerge from that state, yet they remain free from all difficulties and evils. They crush the minor paths, transcend mere labels, and emerge from the mire of the world without attachment. They have no sense of 'me' or 'mine,' they receive nothing, and they are never disturbed. Within, they cherish joy; they protect the minds of others and follow the path of meditative concentration, leaving all faults behind. If one can be like this, that is true renunciation."

Then Vimalakirti said to the young sons of the elders: "In this Right Dharma The true teachings of the Buddha., you should all renounce the world together. Why? Because the time of a Buddha's appearance in the world is difficult to encounter."

The elders' sons replied: "Layman, we have heard the Buddha say that one cannot renounce the world without the permission of one's parents."

Vimalakirti said: "Indeed. However, if you develop the thought of Unsurpassed, Complete Enlightenment original: "阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心" (Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi-citta); the resolve to become a Buddha to save all beings., that is itself renunciation. That is itself the fulfillment of the precepts." At that moment, thirty-two of the elders' sons all developed the thought of Unsurpassed, Complete Enlightenment. For this reason, I am not fit to go and inquire after his health."

"World-Honored One, I am not fit to go and inquire after his health. Why? I remember a time in the past when the World-Honored One’s body had a slight ailment and required some cow's milk. I took my alms bowl and went to stand before the door of a great Brahman A member of the high priestly caste in India. household. At that time, Vimalakirti came to me and said: 'O Ananda! Why are you standing here with an alms bowl so early in the morning?'

I replied: 'Layman, the World-Honored One has a slight physical ailment and requires cow's milk. That is why I have come here.'

Vimalakirti said: 'Stop, stop, Ananda! Do not speak such words. The body of the Tathagata original: "如来"; a title for the Buddha meaning "Thus-Come One." is a Diamond Body original: "金剛之體"; indestructible and perfect, not subject to decay.. In him, all evils have been cut off and all goods are gathered together. What illness could he have? What distress could he suffer? Go in silence, Ananda, and do not slander the Tathagata. Do not let others hear these coarse words. Do not let the heavenly beings of great majesty or the Bodhisattvas from the Pure Lands Transcendental realms created by Buddhas. of other directions hear such speech.

Ananda, even a Wheel-Turning King original: "轉輪聖王" (Chakravartin); a legendary universal monarch who rules justly., through a small amount of merit, remains free from disease. How much more so the Tathagata, who possesses infinite merit and is supreme over all? Go, Ananda, and do not cause us to suffer this shame. If the practitioners of outside paths heard this, they would think: "What kind of teacher is this? He cannot even cure his own illness, yet he claims to save others from theirs." Go away quickly and secretly so no one hears you. You should know, Ananda, that the bodies of the Tathagatas are the Dharma-body original: "法身" (Dharmakaya); the ultimate, formless reality of a Buddha., not a body of desires or physical needs. The Buddha is the World-Honored One who has transcended the Triple World The realms of desire, form, and formlessness.. The Buddha's body is without flaws, as all flaws have been exhausted. The Buddha's body is unconditioned and does not fall into the categories of ordinary existence. In such a body, what illness could there be?'

At that time, World-Honored One, I felt truly ashamed. I wondered if I had been standing near the Buddha but had misheard his instructions. Then, I heard a voice from the sky saying: 'Ananda! It is as the layman says. However, because the Buddha has appeared in this Five-Fold World of Impurity original: "五濁惡世"; a world characterized by decay in lifespan, views, passions, living beings, and the era itself., he manifests this law to liberate sentient beings. Go on, Ananda, take the milk and feel no shame.'

World-Honored One, such is Vimalakirti’s wisdom and eloquence. Therefore, I am not fit to go and inquire after his health."

In this way, all five hundred of the Great Disciples spoke to the Buddha, each recounting their own past experiences and repeating what Vimalakirti had said to them. All of them said: "We are not fit to go and inquire after his health."

Chapter 4: The Bodhisattvas

Thereupon, the Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva The Bodhisattva destined to be the next Buddha of our world.: "Go and visit Vimalakirti to inquire after his health." Maitreya said to the Buddha:

"World-Honored One, I am not fit to go and inquire after his health. Why? I remember once in the past, when I was in the Tushita Heaven The 'Heaven of Contentment,' where Bodhisattvas reside before their final birth as Buddhas., preaching to the Heavenly King and his retinue about the practices of the Stage of Non-Retrogression original: "不退轉地"; the level of spiritual progress from which one can no longer fall back into lower states.. At that time, Vimalakirti came and said to me:

'Maitreya, the World-Honored One has given you a prediction original: "授記" (Vyakarana); a formal prophecy that a person will eventually achieve Buddhahood. that you will attain Unsurpassed, Complete Enlightenment in one more lifetime. Tell me, through which lifetime did you receive this prediction? Was it the past, the future, or the present? If it was the past, the past is already gone. If it was the future, the future has not yet arrived. If it was the present, the present does not stay. As the Buddha has said: "O Monk, in this very moment, you are born, you age, and you pass away."

If you received the prediction through "non-birth" original: "无生"; the realization that phenomena do not truly come into existence., then non-birth is the Correct State The realization of ultimate reality.. Within that Correct State, there is no receiving of predictions and no attainment of Unsurpassed, Complete Enlightenment. How then, Maitreya, can you receive a prediction for one lifetime? Is the prediction received from the perspective of Suchness original: "如" (Tathata); reality exactly as it is, without distortion. being born, or from Suchness passing away? If it is from Suchness being born, Suchness has no birth. If it is from Suchness passing away, Suchness has no passing away. All sentient beings are "Suchness" already. All phenomena are also "Suchness." All the assembly of Sages are also "Suchness"...'"