Compendium of the Five Lamps

Having transmitted the Dharma the fundamental teachings and spiritual authority of the Buddha, he leaped into the empty sky and manifested the eighteen transformations a series of supernatural feats including emitting water and fire from the body, symbolizing spiritual mastery. He then returned to his original seat, sat in the lotus position original: 跏趺 (jiafu) — the traditional cross-legged meditation posture, and passed away. Dhitika used the ritual implements from the inner chamber to cremate his master’s body. He collected the relics original: 舍利 (sarira) — crystalline remains found in the ashes of cremated Buddhist masters and constructed a stupa to house them for offerings. This occurred in the thirty-first year of King Ping of Zhou, a Geng-Zi year approximately 740 BCE.

The Fifth Patriarch, the Venerable Dhitika

The Venerable Dhitika was a native of the Kingdom of Magadha. In Sanskrit, his name is Dhitika, which translates as "Universal Realization of the True Measure." At the time of his birth, his father dreamed of a golden sun emerging from the house, illuminating heaven and earth. Before the sun stood a great mountain adorned with various precious jewels. From the mountain’s peak, a spring gushed forth, its waters flowing abundantly in four directions.

Later, he met the Venerable Upagupta, who interpreted the dream for him, saying: "The mountain of jewels is my own body. The gushing spring represents the inexhaustible Dharma. The sun emerging from the house is the sign of your current entry into the Path. The illumination of heaven and earth represents your wisdom, which shall surpass all others." Upon hearing his master’s explanation, the Venerable One leaped for joy and sang this hymn original: 偈 (gatha) — a verse or poem used in Buddhist scripture:

Towering is the Mountain of Seven Jewels,
From which the Spring of Wisdom constantly flows.
It turns into the taste of the True Dharma,
Able to deliver all those with whom it shares a bond.

The Venerable Upagupta also spoke a hymn, saying:

My Dharma I now transmit to you,
You shall manifest great wisdom.
The golden sun emerges from the house,
Illuminating heaven and earth.

After Dhitika heard his master’s wondrous hymn, he bowed and took the teachings to heart. Later, he traveled to Central India. In that kingdom, there were eight thousand "great immortals" referring to non-Buddhist practitioners or ascetics, led by a man named Micchaka. Hearing of the Venerable One's arrival, Micchaka led his followers to pay their respects. He said to the Venerable One: "In a past life, I was born with you in the Brahma Heaven. I met the immortal Asita, who taught me the methods of the immortals, while you met a disciple of the Ten-Powered One a title for the Buddha, referring to his ten spiritual powers and practiced meditation original: 禪那 (dhyana). From that point, our karmic rewards took different paths for six

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kalpas original: 劫 (jie) — an immense period of time in Buddhist cosmology, often described as the time it takes for a universe to form and dissolve."

The Venerable One replied: "We have been separated for many kalpas; this is indeed the truth. Now you may abandon the false and return to the right path, entering the vehicle of the Buddha." Micchaka said: "Long ago, the immortal Asita gave me a prophecy, saying: 'After six kalpas, you shall meet a fellow student and attain the fruit of No-Outflows original: 無漏 (asrava) — a state of enlightenment where one is no longer 'leaking' wisdom through worldly attachments.' Our meeting today—is it not due to our ancient karmic bond? I pray that the Master will be compassionate and grant me liberation."

He was then ordained as a monk, and the various saints were summoned to administer the precepts to him. The rest of the immortal followers initially felt a sense of pride and arrogance, but the Venerable One manifested great supernatural powers. Thereupon, they all resolved to attain enlightenment original: 發菩提心 (bodhicitta) and entered the monastic life at the same time.

The Venerable One then spoke to Micchaka: "Long ago, the Tathagata a title for the Buddha meaning 'The One Who Has Thus Come' took the Treasury of the Eye of the True Dharma and secretly entrusted it to Mahakashyapa. It has been handed down successively until it reached me. I now entrust it to you; you must protect and cherish it." He then spoke a hymn:

When one thoroughly understands the heart of the original Dharma,
There is neither "Dharma" nor "non-Dharma."
Realizing this is the same as not having realized it;
For there is no mind, and there is also no Dharma.

Having spoken this hymn, he leaped into the air and performed the eighteen transformations. Then, through the Fire-Light Samadhi original: 火光三昧 (agni-dhatu samadhi) — a deep meditative state in which the practitioner's body is consumed by spiritual fire, he cremated his own body. Micchaka and the eight thousand monks together collected the relics and built a stupa for offerings on Mount Banda. This was the seventh year of King Zhuang of Zhou, a Ji-Chou year approximately 690 BCE.

The Sixth Patriarch, the Venerable Micchaka

The Venerable Micchaka was a native of Central India. After receiving the transmission of the Dharma, he traveled to Northern India to teach. There, he saw golden auspicious clouds appearing above the city walls. He sighed and said, "This is the aura of a person of the Way. There must be a Great Being here who will become my successor."

He entered the city and, while in the marketplace original: 闤闠 (huanhui) — a formal term for a busy market area, he saw a man holding a wine vessel in his hand. From a distance, the man asked, "From where does the Master come, and where do you wish to go?"

The Patriarch replied, "I come from my own mind, and I wish to go to no place."

The man asked, "Do you recognize the object in my hand?"

The Patriarch replied, "This is a defiled vessel original: 觸噐 (chuqi) — literally an 'object of contact,' referring to something that has been touched or used for worldly purposes, making it ritually or spiritually impure."