The Dialogue between Buddha and Horse-Trainer

Translator/Author: Tao Qing Hsu

The article is excerpted from the Buddhist Scripture – Miscellaneous Agama Sutra,

There is a paragraph which refers to  the story and meaning of the Man-Tamer.

I translate it from Chinese into English as follows: 

This is what I heard:

At one time, the Buddha lived in the Kalanda Bamboo Garden in the city of Rajagaha.

At that time, a horse-training master named Zhishi came to the Buddha's place. He bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood back and sat down, faced and said to the Buddha, "World Honored One! I see that the world is very mean and low, like a flock of sheep. World Honored One, I am the only one who can train horses." If an evil horse is running wild, I will use the convenient way to make it easy for it to show signs of disease. I will tame it in the convenient way according to its signs of disease."

The Buddha asked the village-leader of horse-trainer: "How many methods of convenience do you use to tame the horses?"

The horse master said to the Buddha: "There are three ways to tame an evil horse. What are the three? One is gentle, the second is vulgar, and the third is gentle and vulgar."

The Buddha told the village-leader: "You have used the three methods of convenience to tame the horse, but if you still cannot tame it, what should you do?

The horse-training master said to the Buddha: "Anyone who cannot be tamed should be killed. Why? Don't let it  humiliate me." The horse-training master said to the Buddha: "The World Honored One is the supreme Man-Tamer. How many methods of convenience can you use to tame the man ?"

The Buddha told the village-leader: "I also use three methods of convenience to tame the man. What are the three? One is always gentle, the second is always vulgar, and the third is gentle and vulgar."

The Buddha told the village-leader : "What so-called always gentleness is as the following said: 'This is the good deeds of the body and this is the reward of the good deeds of the body; this is the good deeds of the mouth and mind and this is the reward of the good deeds of the mouth and mind. Such is called the heaven, is called the human, is called the transformation-birth of good-going, and is called the nirvana. This is the gentleness.”

"What so-called vulgarness is as the following said: "This is the evil deeds of the body and this is the retribution of the evil deeds of the body; this is the evil deeds of the mouth and mind and this is the retribution of the evil deeds of the mouth and mind. Such is called the hell, is called the animal, is called the hungry ghost, is called the evil-going, and is called falling into the evil-going. It is called the Tathagata’s vulgar teachings.”

 

"What so-called gentleness and vulgarness means that the Tathagata sometimes talks about the good deeds of the body, sometimes the reward of the good deeds of the body, sometimes the good deeds of the mouth and mind, sometimes the reward of good deeds of the mouth and mind; sometimes the bad deeds of the body, sometimes the retribution of bad deeds of the body, and sometimes the bad deeds of the mouth and mind, and sometimes the retribution of bad deeds of the mouth and mind. Such is called the heaven, such is called the human, such is called the good-going and such is called the nirvana. Such is called the hell,  such is called the animal and  the hungry ghost, such is called the evil-going, such is called falling into the evil-going. Such is called  the Tathagata’s teaching of gentleness and vulgarness”

The horse-training master said to the Buddha: "World Honored One! If you use the three methods of convenience to tame sentient beings, and some of them are not tamed, what should you do?"

The Buddha told the village-leader: "I should also kill them. Why? Don't let them humiliate me."

The horse-training master said to the Buddha: "If you kill a living being, it will be considered impure in the law of World Honored One. In the law of World Honored One, there is no killing of living beings. Now, it talked about the killing. What is the meaning of killing?"

The Buddha told the village-leader: "So! So! In the Law of Tathagata, killing is impure. And in the Law of Tathagata, there is no killing. However, in the Law of Tathagata, those who are not tamed by the three teachings will no longer be spoken, taught, or admonished. Village-leader! What does it mean?  In the Law of Tathagata, if Tathagata no longer speaks to, teaches, or admonishes these people, isn't that death?"

The horse-training master said to the Buddha: "Indeed, World Honored One! Tathagata no longer speaks to them, and never teaches or admonishes them. This is really death. World Honored One, for this reason, I will abstain from all evil and unwholesome deeds from now on."

The Buddha told the village-leader : "Good, as what you said!"

At that time, after hearing what the Buddha said, the master of the horse-training - Zhishi - was delighted, followed and complied with the joy, and left with all due respects by bowing his head at the Buddha's feet.

The First of the Preface to the Scripture of Lotus Magnificence of Marvelous Law

Scripture of Lotus Magnificence of Marvelous Law

 

Volume 1 of Scripture of Lotus Magnificence of Marvelous Law

 

The translator: Master Kumarajiva, Buddhist monk, A.D. 344-413, born in Kutsi ﹝Kuci(na), Kucha or Kuche (B.C. 272-A.D. 14th century)﹞, which currently is located in Xinjiang of China in 21 century A.D. At that time, the era of state power was the post-Qin period, 384-417 A.D. Master Kumarajiva accepted the emperor's order to translate this Buddhist scripture from Sanskrit into Chinese. 

The modern translator: Tao Qing Hsu, Buddhist-at-home, not Buddhist nun, born and living in Taiwan. She has translated this Buddhist scripture from Chinese into English since the year of 2024 AD.

Notes and explanations are by Tao Qing Hsu

Notes and explanations on related words, placed after the article.

The First of the Preface to the Scripture of Lotus Magnificence of Marvelous Law

This was what I heard. For a period of time, the Buddha lived in Rajagha and in the mountains of Gṛdhrakūṭa, with a group of twelve thousand great harmony-revered who were all Arhats, all their Leaks had been terminated, there were no more afflictions, they had achieved their own benefits and terminated all knots, and their mind had been obtained at ease. The names of these great harmony-revered ( upādhyāya)were: Ajñāta Kauṇḍinya, Mahākāśyapa, Uruvilvā-kāśyapa, Gayā-kāśyapa, Nadī-kāśyapa, Śāriputra, Maudgalyayana, Mahakātyāyana, Aniruddha, Kapphina, Gavājpati, Revata, Pilinda-vatsa, Vakkula, Mahākausthila, Nanda, Sundharananda, Purna Maitrayani-putra, Subhūti, Ānanda, Rāhula, like this all the knowledgeable people known by the public, great Arhats, etc.

There are also 2,000 people who are learned or unlearned. Bhikkhuni Mahāprajāpatī was with 6,000 family members and friends together. Rāhula 's mother, Bhikkhuni Yaśodharā, was also with the family members and friends. There were eighty thousand Pusamahasattvas, all of them didn’t retreat from Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, and all had obtained Dharani. They delighted in speaking and had the ability to debate, turning the not-retreated law-wheel. They supported countless hundreds of thousands of Buddhas, planted the merit-virtue roots for all sentient beings in the places of all Buddhas, and were often praised and admired by all Buddhas. They cultivated their body with compassion, and were good at attaining the Buddha-wisdom. They had clearly understood and attained great wisdom and reached the other shore. The name was Universally Heard by the Boundless World and Capable to Save Countless Hundreds of Thousands of Sentient beings. Their names are: Pusa Manjushri , Pusa World-Sound-Perceiving, Pusa Great-Strength-Obtaining, Pusa Constantly-Diligent, Pusa Not-Rest, Pusa Precious-Palm, Pusa Medicine-King, Pusa Bravely-giving, Pusa Treasure-Moon, Pusa Moonlight, Pusa Full-Moon, Pusa Great-Strength, Pusa Infinite-Power, Pusa Beyond-The-Three-Realms, Pusa Bhadabhara, Pusa Maitreya, Pusa Precious-Accumulation, Pusa Guiding-Teacher, like this and so on, there are altogether 80,000 Pusamahasattvas together.

At this time, Śakro-devānām-indraḥ was with his family of 20,000 sons of heaven. There were also son-of-heaven Famous-Moon, son-of-heaven Universally-Aroma, son-of-heaven Treasure-Light, the four great heavenly kings and their family of ten thousand sons of heaven together. The son-of-heaven At-Ease, the son-of-heaven Greatly-at-Ease and their family of 30,000 sons of heaven were together. The Lord of the Saha world (Sahāloka), the King Brahma, the King Sikhin-Great-Brahma, and the King Light-Great-Brahma, etc., were with their families of twelve thousand heavenly sons together. There were eight great Dragon Kings, the Dragon-King Nanda, the Dragon King Upananda, the Dragon King Sāgara-nāgarāja, the Dragon King Vāsuki, the Dragon King takṣaka, the Dragon King Anavatapta, the Dragon King Manasvati, and the Dragon King Utpalaka, etc., and each of them with several hundred or thousand family members together. There were four Kings of kiṃnara, the Kimnara King Law, the Kimnara King Marvelous-Law, the Kimnara King Great-Law, and the Kimnara King Law-holding, each of them with several hundred or thousand family members together. There were four Gandharva kings, the Gandharva-King Music, the Gandharva King Music-Sound, the Gandharva King Beauty, and the Gandharva King Beautiful-Music, each of them with several hundred or thousand family members together. There were four Asura kings, the Asura-King Balinasura, the Asura King Kharakaṇṭha, the Asura King Vimalacitra, and the Asura King Rahu, each of them with several hundred or thousand family members together. There were four Garuda kings, the Garuda King Great-Mighty-Virtue, the Garuda King Great-Body, the Garuda King Great-Perfect, and the Garuda King As-It-Wish, each of them with several hundred or thousand family members together. The King Ajātasattu, the son of Vaidehī, was with his several hundred or thousand family members together. Each of them bowed their body to the Buddha's feet, moved back and sat on one side after finishing it.

At that time, the World Venerable One was surrounded by four groups who made offerings, revered, respected, and praised. The World Venerable One spoke the great-boarding scriptures for all Pusas, which was called Infinite Meaning, Teaching Pusa's Law, and Protected and Brought to Mind by Buddha. After the Buddha had finished speaking this scripture, he sat cross-legged and entered the samadhi of the Immeasurable Meaning Place, without moving his mind and body. At that time, the heavens rained mandala flowers, maha mandala flowers, manjusha flowers, and maha manjusha flowers, and scattered them on the body of the Buddha and the bodies of the great congregations. In all universal Buddha's worlds, there were six kinds of quakes.

At that time, in the meeting, bhikṣus, bhikkhunis, Upāsakas, Upāsikās, celestial dragons, Yakşa, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garuḍas, kiṃnaras, Mahoragas, Human-but-non-Humans, as well as small kings and turning-wheel holy kings (Cakravartins). All the great masses had attained something they had never had before, clasped their palms together joyfully, and perceived the Buddha wholeheartedly.

At that time, the Buddha released the light of the white-fine-hair appearance between his eyebrows, illuminating the eighteen thousand worlds in the east, spreading all over everywhere, down to the hell of Avici, and up to the heaven of Akanistha. In this world, they completely saw all living beings in the six destinies of other lands, as well as the present Buddhas in other lands. And they heard the scriptures spoken by the Buddhas. And they saw the other all bhikṣus, bhikkhunis, upasakas, upasikas, and all others who had attained the Tao. And they saw all Pusamahasattvas who were in their various causes and conditions, various beliefs and understandings, various appearances and in practicing the Pusa way. And they saw all Buddhas who had been in the parinirvana. And they saw all Buddhas erected the Seven Treasures Pagodas with the Buddha's sariras after all Buddhas had been in the parinirvana.

At that time, the Pusa Maitreya did this thought: "Now, the World-Venerable One demonstrates the spirit-transform phenomenon. What is the cause and condition for this auspiciousness? Today, the Buddha, the World-Venerable One, has entered into samadhi. This is an unbelievable and quite rare thing. Who can I ask for advice? Who can answer?" And the Pusa Maitreya thought again: "This is Manjusri, the son of the law-king. He had got close to and made offerings to past-countless Buddhas. He must have seen this rare phenomenon. I should ask him now."

At that time, the bhikṣus, bhikkhunis, upasakas, upasikas, and all celestial dragons, ghosts and gods, etc., all did this thought: "This is the phenomenon of the Buddha's light and open-spirit power. Who should I ask now?"

At that time, the Pusa Maitreya wished to resolve doubts for himself, perceived the hearts of assembly of all sentient beings, the four groups of bhikṣus, bhikkhunis, upasakas, upasikas, and all celestial dragons, ghosts and gods, etc., and asked Manjusri: What is the cause and condition for such auspiciously open-spirit phenomenon, magnifying the light, shining in the eighteen thousand lands in the east, and the majesty of the other Buddha's countries and realms can been seen by us completely?"

Then the Pusa Maitreya wanted to reiterate this meaning, and asked in verse:

Manjushri, why for the Guide-Master, the white-fine hair between the eyebrows, the large light universally shines.

To rain mandala, manjusaka, wind the candana fragrance, delight the hearts of all.

Due to this cause and condition, all lands are dignified-clean, and in this world, there are six kinds of quakes.

At that time the four congregations, all of them with joy and gladness, happy and satisfied in their body and mind, obtain what they never had before.

The light between the eyebrows, shine in the east, the eighteen thousand lands, all of them like gold,

From the Avici hell, up to having-top. In all worlds, the sentient beings of the six realms,

The tendency of birth and death, good and bad karma-condition, good and ugly retribution, all can be seen here.

And see all Buddhas, holy Lords and lions, who perform to speak scripture-classics, which is the subtlety-first.

Its voice clear and clean, appear the gentle and soft sound, teach all Pusas, innumerable billions of millions,

The Sanskrit sounds profound and wonderful, making people love and delight to hear. They separate from each other in the worlds, to speak and talk the righteous law,

In all kinds of causes and conditions, with immeasurable metaphors, to illuminate the Buddha-law, to enlighten all sentient beings.

If people suffer from suffering, hate aging, sickness and death, the Buddha speaks of Nirvana for them, to end all sufferings.

If people have blessed repaying, they have made offerings to the Buddha, and their ambitions are to seek the victory-law, the Buddha speaks about the awakened-by-twelve-causes-and-conditions for them.

If there are disciples of the Buddha, who cultivate various practices and seek supreme wisdom, the Buddha speaks about the clean Dao(Way) for them.

Manjusri, I live here, I have seen and heard like this, and thousands of billions of things,

So many like this, I will briefly describe them now. I see other lands, the Ganges-sand Pusas,

All kinds of causes and conditions, to seek the Buddha-Dao (Buddha-Way). Maybe there is doing giving, gold, silver and coral,

Pearl Mani, Tridacna Agate, Diamond and like these all Treasures, Slaver and Vehicle-On-Boarding,

The cart is decorated with treasures, and which joyfully to give. Turning to the Dao (Way) of Buddha, wishing to obtain this On-Boarding,

The number one in the Three Realms, praised and admired by all Buddhas. Or there are Pusas, four-horse carts decorated with treasures,

Baluster and baldachin, and curtain-decorated carriage so as to give. And I also see the Pusas again, body-meat and limbs,  

And their wives so as to give, in order to seek the supreme Dao (Way). And I also see the Pusas again, heads and bodies,

Rejoice in giving, and seek the Buddha-wisdom. Manjushri, I see all kings,

Go to and visit the Buddha's place, ask the supreme Dao (Way), then give up the pleasant lands, palaces, minsters and concubines,

Shave off the beard and hair, and wear the law-clothes. Or I see the Pusas, who become Bhikkhus,

Be alone at ease and quietly, willing joyfully to recite the scripture-classics. And I also see the Pusas, who are bold, powerful and diligent,

Entering the deep mountains, thinking about Buddha-Dao (Buddha-Way) . And I also see they disengage desire, and always are at leisure,

Deeply practice meditation, and get the five spirit-openness powers. I also see Pusas, who peacefully meditate in sitting and put his palms together,

With tens of thousands of verses, praise all Law-Kings. I also see Pusas, who with deep wisdom and solid will,

Can consult all Buddhas, and can accept and uphold after hearing. I also see the Buddha's disciples, who are full of steady and wisdom,

Using immeasurable similes, to talk about the Buddha-law for the masses, joyfully speaking of the Buddha-law, so as to teach all Pusas,

Destroy the demon-soldier masses, and beat the law-drum. And I see the Pusas, who silently live in peace,

Being respected by celestial dragons, and did not feel happy for this. And I also see the Pusas, who release light in the forest,

To relieve the suffering in hell, and to make those enter the Buddha-Dao (Buddha-Way). And I also see the Buddha-disciples, who never sleep,

Offen-Walking (Zen-Walking,Caṅkramati) in the forest, and diligently seeking the Buddha-Dao (Buddha-Way). And I also see them full of precepts, no shortage of majestic and dignified manner,

Clean as precious pearls, in order to seek the Buddha-Dao (Buddha-Way). And I also see the Buddha-disciples, who dwell in the power of endure humiliation,

Arrogance-increasing people, to fiercely curse and beat them, all this can be endured, so as to seek the Buddha-Dao (Buddha-Way). 

And I also see Pusas, who stay away from all laughing and playing, and from foolish-addicted family members, and stay close to the wise,

With the single-mindedness to eliminate confusion, capture the thoughts and dwell in the mountains and forests, go through hundreds of millions of years, in order to seek the Fo-Dao (Buddha-Way).

Or I see Pusas, who prepare meals and drinks, hundred kinds of soups and medicines, to offer Buddhas and monks.

Famous silks and expensive clothes, worth tens of millions, or priceless clothes, given to Buddhas and monks.

Thousands of billions of kinds of Candana treasured houses, all wonderful bedding and appliances, offering Buddhas and monks. 

Clean gardens, lush flowers and fruits, flowing springs and bathing pools, offering Buddhas and monks.

Offering like this and so on, planting fruits is subtle, joyful and no boredom, to seek the supreme-Dao (supreme-Way).

There may be Pusas, who preach the Law of Nirvana, various teachings and lessons, (teaching) countless sentient beings.

Or I see Pusas, who perceive all Law-Nature, there is no two-phenomenon, just like the empty space.

I also see the Buddha-disciples, who have no attachments in their minds, and with this wonderful wisdom, seek the supreme-Dao (supreme-Way).

Manjushri, there are also Pusas, after the Buddha had the Eliminated-Ferried, to make offerings to sarira (relics).

I also see the Buddha-disciples, who build all pagodas and temples, and countless Ganges-River-Sand, to solemnly decorate the borders of the countries,

The treasured pagoda is tall and wonderful, five thousand yojanas, vertical, wide, square, and equal, two thousand yojanas.

Each pagoda and temple, decorated with thousands of banners, pearls intertwined to form curtains as dew, and precious bells sing in harmony.

All heavens, dragons, gods, human beings and non-human beings, with fragrances, flowers, performances and music, commonly use these to make offerings.

Manjushri, all the Buddha-disciples and so on, in order to make offerings sarira (relics of body after burned; it means the relics of Buddhas here.), solemnly decorate the pagodas and temples,

The borders of the countries are natural, special and wonderful, like the tree-king in heaven, whose blossoms are blooming,

The Buddha shines a light, I and the assembly, see this country-border, which shows the various extraordinary and splendid,

All Buddhas’ spiritual power, and wisdom are extremely rare, and they emit a clean light, which illuminates countless lands.

We all see this, and feel that we have never seen it before. Buddha-disciple Manjushri, I wish you solve all doubts of the public,

The four congregations joyfully look up, look at You Benevolent and me with reverence, why the World Venerable One, shine this light.

The Buddha-disciple answers at the time, solves doubts to make the public joy, how to benefit all beings, so as to manifest this light.

The Buddha seat in the Dao place, what obtained the wondrous Law, in order to say this, so as to confer the Records for them, (Record-Conferring)

Demonstrate all the Buddha-lands, all the treasures solemnly clean, and see all the Buddhas. This is not the Little-Cause,

Manjusri you should know. The four congregations, celestial dragons and gods, look at and perceive You Benevolent with reverence, what kind you would speak to them.

At that time Manjushri said to Pusamahasattva Maitreya, and all Great-People, good men, etc.: "As I am thinking, the Buddha, World Venerable One, wants to preach the Great-Law, to rain the Great-Law-Rain, to blow the Great-Law-Conch, to drum the Great-Law-Drum, and to demonstrate the Great-Law-Meaning. All good men, I have seen this kind of auspiciousness in all past Buddhas, where after the light had been shined, the Great-Law was spoken immediately. Therefore, we should know that the light shined by the present Buddha is also the same, intending to let all living beings hear and know all the world-difficulty-believed Law, this is why this auspiciousness is manifested."

"All good men, as if in the past immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable asamkhya kalpas, there was a Buddha titled Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright Tathagata, Should-Make-Offerings, Truthfully-all-over-the-knowing, Brightness-and-Action-Feets, Good-Death, Understanding-the-World, Supreme-Scholar, Great-Man-of-Taming, Teacher-of-Heavens-and-Humans, Buddha, and World-Venerable-One, who performed and preached the True-Law, the goodness at the beginning, the goodness in the middle, and the goodness at later, which meanings were profound and which words were ingenious, purely one without complication, and full of the appearance of the clearly clean action. For those who seek the Sound-Hearing, the Buddha﹝Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright﹞ spoke the proving Four-Truth-Law, ferrying (saving) the sufferings of living, aging, sickness and dying, and finally reaching the Nirvana. For those who seek Pratyeka-Buddha, the Buddha ﹝Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright﹞spoke the proving Twelve-Causality-Law. For all Pusas, the Buddha ﹝Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright﹞spoke the proving Six-Paramitas, so as to make them achieve anuttara-samyak-sambodhi ﹝true equality and true awakening﹞and achieve all kinds of species wisdom.”

"Once more there is a Buddha also named Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright, and once more there is a Buddha also named Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright. Like this there are 20,000 Buddhas with the same name, named Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright, and there is the same surname, which is Bharadvaja. Maitreya you should know, the beginning Buddhas and the later Buddhas, who had the same name, named Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright, and they possessed the ten titles completely. What Law was able to be spoken, there was the beginning, middle and later Goodness. The last Buddha, when he had not yet leaved his family, had eight princes, the first one named Mind-Having, the second one named Goodness-Mind, the third one named Infinite-Mind, and the fourth one named Treasure-Mind, the fifth one named Mind-Increasing, the sixth one named Doubts-Eliminating-Mind, the seventh one named Toward-Mind, and the eight one named Law-Mind. These were the eight princes, who had majesty-virtue and were at ease, and each led the four worlds. These princes, who had heard their father leaving the family to be a monk and achieving anuttara-samyak-sambodhi ﹝true equality and true awakening﹞, all gave up the throne, and also left home as followed, arisen the Great-Boarding Mind, and practiced the Brahmacarya (clean action) all the time. They were all Law-masters, and had planted various good roots in the places of thousands and ten thousands of Buddhas."

"At that time, the Buddha Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright was speaking the Great-Boarding-Scripture, which was called Infinite-Meaning, Pusa-Law-Teaching and Protected-and-Brought-to-Mind-by-all-Buddhas. After he had spoken this Scripture, instantly in the congregations, he sat in cross legged position (lotus position), entered into the samadhi of Infinite Meaning Place, and his body and mind remained motionless. At that time, the heavens rained mandala flowers, Mahamandala flowers, Manjusaka flowers, and Mahamanjusaka flowers, and scattered them on the body of the Buddha and all the people. The universal Buddha's worlds were shaken in six ways. At that time, in the congregations, the Bhikkhus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas, Upasikas, celestial dragons, Yakshas, ​​Gandharvas, Asuras, Garuḍas, kinnaras, Mahoragas, humans-but-non-humans, as well as all little kings, wheel-turning sage kings, etc. All these publics, who had never had before, joyfully put their palms together and wholeheartedly perceived the Buddha.”

"At that time, the Tathagata let out the light of the white hair between his eyebrows, illuminating the eight thousand Buddha lands in the east, all over the places. What you see now are all the Buddha lands. Maitreya, you should know that there were two billion Pusas in the congregation at that time, who were willing to listen to the Law with happiness. All these Pusas, seeing this light which universally illuminated the Buddha lands, obtained the never having before, and wanted to know for what the cause and condition of this light. At that time, there was a Pusa named Wonderful-Light, who had eight hundred disciples. At that time, the Buddha Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright was out from the Samadhi, due to the Pusa Wonderful-Light, spoke the Great-Boarding-Scripture, titled Lotus Magnificence of Marvelous Law, Pusa-Law-Teaching and Protected-and-Brought-to-Mind-by-all-Buddhas. Through sixty little kalpas, the Buddha didn’t rise from his seat. Those who listened at that time in the congregation also sat in one place. Through sixty little kalpas, their body and mind won’t move. The time it took to listen to the Buddha's teachings was just like the time it took to eat a meal. At that time, there was not a single person in the congregation who generated the laxity and fatigue in body or mind."

"The Buddha Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright had already spoken this scripture for sixty little kalpas, instantly being in the Brahmas, demons, sramana, brahmins, devas, humans, and asuras and all the people, to announce these words, that the Tathagata will be at the midnight today into the Completely-Nirvana. At that time, there was a Pusa named Virtue-Gathering and the Buddha Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright gave him the Record-Conferring. The Buddha told all the Bhikkhus: "This Pusa Virtue-Gathering will be the next Buddha, and his title is Purify-Body, Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha." The Buddha had already conferred this record, he was then into the Completely-Nirvana in the middle of the night. After the Buddha was in the Eliminated-Saving, the Pusa Wonderful-Light held the Scripture-of-Lotus-Magnificence-of-Marvelous Law for eighty little kalpas and preached to people. The eight sons of the Buddha Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright were all relying on the Pusa Wonderful-Light as a Master and learning from and following him. What the teaching and enlightening the Pusa Wonderful-Light had done is to make them be firm in the Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. These princes had made offerings to countless hundreds of thousands of billions of Buddhas, and they had all achieved Buddhahood. The last one to become a Buddha was called Lamp-Burning. In his eight hundred disciples, there was a person who was called Fame-Seeking. He was greedy for and obsessed with the profit-offered. Although he had read and recited many scriptures over and over again, he had not accessed interests or benefited from them and had forgotten them often, so he was called Fame-Seeking. This person had also planted many good roots and could encounter countless hundreds and thousands of trillions of Buddhas, so as to make offerings to, revere, respect, and praise them.”

"Maitreya, you should know, at that time, is Pusa Wonderful-Light different from others? My body is it. The Pusa Fame-Seeking, your body is it. Now we see this auspiciousness, it is no different from the original, that is why I think, today the Tathagata should speak the great-boarding scripture, called Lotus Magnificence of Marvelous Law, Pusa-Law-Teaching and Protected-and-Brought-to-Mind-by-All Buddhas."

At that time, Manjushri was among the congregation and wanted to reiterate this meaning, so he said verses:

I recalled that in the past worlds of my life, in immeasurable and countless kalpas, there was a Buddha revered by the humans, named Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright.

The World-Venerable-One performed to preach the Law, to save countless sentient beings, and countless billions of Pusas, who were made entering the Buddha-wisdom.

When the Buddha had not yet left the home, his eight princes born by him, saw the great sage leaving the home, and they also followed him to practice the Brahmacarya (clean action; purify behavior).

At that time, the Buddha spoke the Great-Boarding, and this scripture was named Infinite-Meaning, and the Buddha was in the congregation, to widely differentiate the content for them.

After the Buddha had already spoken this scripture, he instantly sat on the Law-Seat, cross-legged into samadhi, which was called the Immeasurable-Meaning-Place.

The heavens rained mandala flowers, the heavenly drum sounded naturally, and all the celestial dragons, ghosts and gods, made offerings to the Venerable-One in the human beings.

All the Buddha lands, which immediately shook greatly. The Buddha shined light between his brows, revealing rare matters,

This light illuminated toward the east, the ten thousand and eight thousand Buddhalands, to illustrate for all sentient beings, the place of karmic retribution for life and death.

Someone seeing all Buddha lands, solemnly decorated with all treasures, the glazed glass color, all these were illuminated by the Buddha’s light.

And someone also saw all the heavenly beings, the congregation of the dragons, gods and the yakshas, and the Gandharvas and kinnaras, each making offerings to their Buddha.

And someone also saw Tathagata, who naturally achieved the Buddha-Dao, with a body color like a mountain of gold, and the upright and dignified appearance was very subtle.

Just like in pure glass, a true golden image appears inside. The World Venerable One being in the congregation, expounded and performed the profound law-meaning for them.

In each of the Buddha lands, there were countless voice-hearers, and because they were illuminated by the light of the Buddha, those all can be seen by the others in this congregation.

Or there were all Bhikkhus, being in the mountains and forests, diligently upholding the pure precepts, as if protecting bright pearls.

And someone also saw Pusas, practicing giving and enduring the humiliation, etc. whose numbers as the Ganges River Sands, these were all illuminated by the Buddha’s light.

And someone also saw all Pusas, deep into all Zen-Steady, and their bodies and minds in silence and no-moving, in order to seek the supreme-Dao.

And someone also saw all Pusas, who knew the Law was the phenomenon of silence and annihilation, each of them was in their respective lands, preaching the Law and seeking the Buddha-Dao.

At that time, the four congregations, who saw the Buddha Sun-Moon-Lamp-Bright, manifesting the powers of the great spiritual openness, and their hearts were all joyful.

Each one asked each other, what was the cause and condition of these things. The Venerable One respected by heavens and humans, just had arisen from samadhi.

Praised Pusa Wonderful-Light, that you were the eyes of the world, whom the all returned to trust, and being able to respectfully hold the Law-Hoard.

Following what the Law spoken by me, only you were able to prove and realize it. The World-Venerable One already praised it, so as to make the Wonderful-Light rejoice.

To speak this Law-Magnificence-Scripture, being full of sixty little kalpas, I did not rise from this seat. What the supreme wonderful Law being spoken,

It was the Law-Master Wonderful-Light, the whole was able to be accepted and held by him. The Buddha had spoken this Law-Magnificence. After already making all congregations rejoice,

Then immediately on the same day, told the congregation of gods and humans, that the true phenomenon meaning of all Laws, which had been explained to all of you.

I was in the middle of the night today, and shall enter Nirvana. You should dedicate yourself to progress with the single-minded, and should stay away from indulgent pleasure,

All the Buddhas were extremely difficult to encounter, who could be only met once in a billion kalpas. The World Venerable One’s all disciples, etc., upon hearing that the Buddha entered Nirvana,

Each of them was filled with sorrow and worry, the Buddha’s disappearance was why so quickly. The Holy Lord was the King of Law, who comforted the countless living beings,

If I pass into extinction, you should not worry or be afraid. This is the Pusa Virtue-Gathering, regarding the no-leaking true-phenomenon,

His heart had obtained the openness-attained, next time he then became a Buddha, whose title was Purify-Body, and also saved countless living beings.

The Buddha would be eliminated-in-saving this night, as if the firewood was burned out and the fire was extinguished, distributing all sarira, and setting up immeasurable pagodas.

Bhikṣus and Bhikṣunis, whose numbers were like the Ganges River Sand, who would be more redoubled to dedicate themselves to progress, in order to seek the supreme Dao.

It was the Law-Master Wonderful-Light, who respected to uphold the Buddha-Law-Hoard, during eighty little kalpas, widely preached the Law-Magnificence-Scripture.

These are the eight princes, whose minds were opened and transformed by the Wonderful-Light, having been firm the heart in supreme-Dao, and certainly seeing countless Buddhas.

Completely having made offerings to the Buddhas, following and obeying to practice the Great Dao with an easy heart, one after another they would become Buddha (attain Buddhahood), and they would be conferred the record in turn.

Finally, the heaven in the heavens, titled the Buddha Lamp-Burning, who was the Guiding-Master of all immortals, and liberated countless beings.

It was the Law-Master Wonderful-Light, who had a disciple, whose heart was always lazy and slack, but was greedy for fame and fortune,

Pursuing fame and profit was dissatisfied, and he mostly made friends and associated with families of family clans, abandoning what he had learned and recited, and thus leading to terminate, forget and block the learning.

For this cause and condition, he was called Fame-Seeking. He also practiced numerous good karmas, and thus was able to see countless Buddhas.

He had made offerings to all Buddhas, following and obeying to practice the Great Dao with an easy heart, full of the six paramitas, and that was why he could see the Lion-King Sakyamuni now.

After the Lion-King Sakyamuni, he should be a Buddha, titled Maitreya, and widely saved all sentient beings, whose number was immeasurable.

After that Buddha was eliminated-in-saving, the lazy and slack one is you, and the Law-Master Wonderful-Light, now I was.

I saw the Buddha Lamp-Bright, whose originally light auspiciousness was like this, so I knew the present Buddha, who intended to speak the Law-Magnificence-Scripture.

The present phenomenon is like the original auspiciousness, which is the expedient method of all Buddhas. The present Buddha emits light, to help to expound the meaning of true phenomenon.

All of you should know now, when you put your palms together and wait with single-mindedness, the Buddha would rain down the Law-Rain, which could fully satisfy those who seek the Dao.

Those who seek the Three Boarding, if you have any doubts or regrets, the Buddha will eliminate and break them for you, so to make them be ended and no remaining.