Day and night , one will see the tathagata. At the time one sees the tathagata directly and looks at the tathagata day and night, one sees the buddha field. When one sees the buddha field, one sees all treasures. When it is one's time to die, terror will not be born. One will not be born in mother's womb at all, one will not become sorrowful at all. One will not be bound by the noose of craving." he said this, and the Blessed one spoke thus to the bodhisattva , the great being Sarva shura: " Sarva shura, the arising of tathagata is rare." He said: "Blessed One it is rare, sugata, it is difficult to find". The Blessed One said; " Sarva shura, likewise this Sanghata sutra dharma paryaya is also difficult to find. Sarva shura anyone whose ear this Sanghata dharma paryaya falls upon will recollect past lives for eighty eons for 60,000 eons, they will attain wheel-turning kingship. For 8,000 eons, they will attain the position of indra. For 20,000 eons, they will be born equal in fortune to the devas of the pure abodes. For 38,000 eons, they will become the great Brahma. For 99,000 eons, they will not be fall down into wrong realms. For 100,000 eons, they will not be born among pretra. For 28,000 eons, they will not born among animals. For 13,000 eons, they will not born in the form of an asura. Their death will not be brought about by weapons. For 25,000 eons their wisdom will not be distorted. For 7,000 eons, they will exercise wisdom. For 9,000 eons, they will be handsome and lovely. They will be just like the form bodies accomplished by the tathagata. For 15,000 eons, they will not be born as a wife. For 16,000 eons, their body will not be stricken with illness. For 35,000 eons, they will possess the divine eye. For 19,000 eons, they will not be born in the birth place of nagags. For 60,000 eons, they will not overcome by anger. For 7,000 eons, they will not be born into an impoverished household. For 80,000 eons, they will be active on two continents even when they become impoverished, they will obtain this sort of happiness : for 12,000 eons, they will not be born in a birth place of a blind person. For 13,000 eons, they will not born in bad migrations. For 11,000 eons they will be sages propounding patience." also, at the time of death , when the final consciousness ceases, they will not have incorrect perceptions. They will not be overcome by anger. In the eastern direction, they will see as many buddhas, blessed ones, as there are grains of sand in twelve Ganges rivers. In the southern direction, they will see directly twenty million buddhas, in the western direction, they will see as many buddhas, Blessed ones as there are grains of sand in twenty five Ganges rivers. In the northern direction, they will see directly as many buddhas, Blessed ones, as there are grains of sand in the eighty Ganges rivers. In to upward direction, they will see directly 90,000 million buddhas, Blessed ones, as there are grains of sand in 100 million Ganges rivers, and they will all say to that child of the lineage: "child of lineage, you have heard the Sanghata dharma paryaya, and therefore in the future lives there will be this many good qualities benefits and happiness. Therefore, do no be afraid.' Saying that, they will reassure that person:" O child of the lineage, have you seen many hundreds of thousand of myriad millions of tathagatas as many grains of sand in Ganges rives?". "He says; Blessed One , i have seen them sugata, i have seen them" he speaks, O child of lineage , these tathagata have arrived to see you" He says," what sort of virtuous action did i do that this many tathagatas have arrived at the place where i am?." He speaks:" child of the lineage, listen. You obtained a human body , the Sanghata dharma paryaya fell upon your ear, and therefore, due to that, you created this great a mass of merit." He says, " Blessed One, if even my mass of merit becomes this much, what need is there to mention one who hears it comprehensively in its entirety!" He speaks:" Be quiet, be quiet. O child of the lineage, i will describe the merit of a four line verse, therefore listen. Child of the lineage, it is as follows: to make an analogy, even compared to the mass of merit of as many tathagatas, arhats, perfect and complete buddhas as there are grains of sand in thirteen Ganges rivers, it produces a much greater mass of merit than that. Compared to one who honors as many tathagatas, arhats, perfect and complet buddha as there are grains of sand in thirteen Ganges rivers, if even one who hears just a four line verse from this Sanghata dharma paryaya will produce a much greater mass of merit than that, what need is there to mention someone who hears it comprehensively in its entirely? Child of the lineage, listen to this regarding one who hears the Sanghata dharma paryaya comprehensively in its entirety. If there were as many wheel-turning kings as the number of sesame seeds planted in the whole galaxy of a billion world systems, and a rich person, with much wealth and great possessions, made offerings to those wheel-turning kings, compared to that , ones who makes offerings to one stream-enterer produces a much greater mass of merit. If all sentient being of the galaxy of a billion world systems were to become stream-enterers, compared to the mass of merit of one who make offering to all of them, the mass of merit produced by one who makes offerings to one once-returner would be much greater.If all those sentient beings of the galaxy of a billion world systems were once-returners,compared to the mass of merit of one who makes offerings to all of them, the mass of merit produced by one who makes offerings to one non- returner would be much greater. If all those sentient beings of the galaxy of a billion world systems were non returners, compared to the mass of merit of one who makes offerings, to all of them, the mass of merit produced by one who make offerings to one arhat would be much greater. If all those sentient beings of the galaxy of a billion world systems were Arhats, compared to the mass of merit of one who makes offerings to all of them, the mass of merit produced by one who makes offerings to one pratyaka-buddha would be much greater. If all those sentient being of the galaxy of a billion world systems were pratyeka-buddhas compared to the mass of merit of one who makes offerings to all of them, the mass of merit produced by one who makes offerings to one bodhisattva would be much greater. If all those sentient beings of the galaxy of a billion world systems were bodhisattvas, compared to the mass of merit of one who makes offerings to all of them, if the mass of merit produced by one who makes thier mind inspired with pure faith in one tathagata and makes their mind inspired with trust toward a galaxy of a billion world system completely full of tathagatas and one who hears this sanghata dharma paryaya would produce a much greater mass of merit than that, Sarva shura, what need is there to mention whoever writes out this Sanghata dharma paryaya or memorize it or reads it , or who comprehends it completely! Sarva shura, what need is there even to mention prostrating with a mind inspired with pure faith toward this Sanghata dharma paryaya!". "Sarva shura what do you think about this? One might wonder whether all childish ordinary individuals are able to hear this, but even if they hear it they will not generate faith. " Sarva shura , listen. Is there anyone among childish ordinary individuals got to the botton of the great ocean?" He said," Blessed One, there is not."


He said, " is there any sentient being who could deplete the ocean with the palm of one hand?" He said:" Blessed One, there is not, sugata, there is not." He said: " Sarva shura, just as there is no sentient being at all able to dry up the great ocean, Sarva shura, nor is any sentient being of lower aspiration able to listen to this dharma paryaya. Sarva shura, those who have not seen as many millions of tathagatas as there are grains of sand in eighty Ganges rivers are unable to write out this Sanghata dharma paryaya. Those who have not seen as many tathagata as there are grains of sand in ninety Gange rivers are unable to listen to this dharma paryaya. Those who have not seen hundreds of thousands of myriad millions of tathagatas, having heard this dharma paryaya, will reject it. Sarva shura those who have seen as many as 100 million tathagatas as there are grains of sand in the Ganges river, when they hear this dharma paryaya, will produce a mind inspired with pure fait. They will be delighted. They will undersand correctly, exactly as it is. That one will have faith in this Sanghata dharma paryaya and will not reject it. "Sarva shura, listen. Those who write out just a four line verse from this Sanghata sutra, after they pass 95,000 million world systems, thier Buddha field will become just like the sukhavati world system. Sarva shura, the lifespan of those sentient beings will have the capacity to be 84,000 eons. "Sarva shura, listen; as for those bodhisattvas, those great beings, who hear as little as a four line verse from this Sanghata dharma paryaya, Sarva shura, it is as follows: to make an analogy, a sentient being who has committed the five uninterrupted actions, ordered them done or rejoiced in thier doing will purify the bad karma of the five uninterrupted actions if they too hear just a four line verse from this Sanghata dharma paryaya. It is like that !. " listen, Sarva shura, and i will explain still another good quality. It is as follows: to makes an analogy, a sentient being destroyed stupas, causes a division with the sangha, cause a bodhisattva to waver from thier meditative absorption, creates an obstruction to the wisdom of a buddha and take human life. Afterwards, that sentient being regret it, and distressed. " by this body, i have been ruined, and ruined in the next life, too. I am worthless. ' thinking thus, there arises intense contemplation and he experiences painful feelings. He experiences unbearable feelings. Sarva shura, that sentient being is rejected by all sentient beings. He is despised. This sentient being is burnt and wortless. He has become wortless with regard to woldly and supramundane phenomena as well. For many eons, this man will be like a log burnt to cinder. This man will be just like pillars and beams in a nicely painted house that are beautiful once they are burnt. He is not lovely in this world, either. Wherever he goes, in all those places, sentient beings will criticize and beat him, too, and though afflic with hunger and thirst, he will not obtain even the slightest bit to eat or drink. " on account of that, he experiences a feeling of suffering and is reminded of the destruction of the stupas and of the five uninterrupted action out of hunger and thirst and abuse, and having been reminded, on account of that, he thinks, ' where am i to go? Who is my protector? And he becomes depressed by the suffering, thinking,' since no one at all is a protector to me here, let me go to a mountain or ravine and there put an end to my life.' He said:' Since i have done wicked acts, i'm like a cinder, forever burnt . Both in this world not lovely and in the next world, lovely not within the house too, not lovely also outside, lovely not. Due to flaws, i did wicked deeds; through them, to lower realms i go i will suffer too in other lives, in whatever bad state i dwell! As he sobbed and choked on tears even by devas his words were heard: 'Alas, to lower realms i go thus in the life beyond there is no hope. ' the devas said to him: ' foolish person thinking so! drop this suffering mind and go ! " father killed and mother killed since five heinous deeds i did, refuge, comrade: none for me; suffering feelings i will have to the mountain peak I'll go. My body there to cast away. "foolish being, do not go with this mind that would do harm much wickedness was done by you. Do not do this wicked act! Who does harm unto themselves to the suffering hells will go. They will grieve and cry aloud , and due to that, fall to the ground. Not by that effort do buddhas come to be, nor do bodhisattvas come about even a hearer's vehicle is not atteined. So by another effort, strive go to that mountain where a sage is having gone and seen the magnanimous sage, at his feet , he paid homage with his head. ' holy being, be a refuge for me! I'm so oppressed by fears, by woes essence of beings, sage please hear my words! Please sit and make an opportunity for thought explain virtuous Dharma for even just an instant . Since i'm oppressed by terror and pain, please sit just for a short while. Let me confess the many wicked deeds i've done. May the sage please speak to me'. " the sage said: 'weeping in sorrow and overcome with grief, you are afflieted by hunger and thirst, traveling in the three worlds, in despair. Therefore, eat the food i give in order to satisfy the body, the sage gave for gave food. 'after eating this delighful tarty food, a being will feel extreme joy. The Dharma that purifies all wickedness later i will explain to you.' then in one instant heat that delicious food of his. Having eaten, he washed his hands and circumambulated the sage. As he sat with his legs crossed, whatever he'd done that was wrong, he told.'father killed and mother killed and stupa destruction i have done. I blocked a bodhisattva in his pursuit of enlightement.' when he heard these words of his the sage then spoke these words: 'since you have done wicked acts, oh my, you are not virtuous. Make a confession of the wicked acts that you have done or ordered done.' "at that time, at that moment, he was pierced with agonizing pains and became distressed with terror. He said to the sage: who will be my protector? since i have done wicked acts, i will undergo suffering." then that man placed both knees on the ground and said to the sage: all the wicked deeds i've done and ordered done, i now confess. May they not bring wicked results. May i not experience suffering let me becom close to you. Sage, please become my refuge. Make me without regret and at peace, and thus pacify my bad karma. " then at that time , at that moment that sage said to the man, reassuring him: "being, i will be your refuge, i will be the friend who defends you, so listen to the Dharma in my presence without fear. Have you heard even a little of the dharma paryaya called Sanghata? "that one said; 'i have not heard it at all". The sage said; ' who will teach the Dharma to a burnt sentient being, exept for one who abides in compassion and, due to that teaches the Dharma to sentient beings?' "he said; ' child of the lineage, listen further. At a time immeasurably long ago, immeasurably many eons past, at that time there was a righteous Dharma king named king Vimala-chandra. Child of the lineage, a son was born into the house of king. Vimala-chandra thereupon the great king vimala-Chandra assembled the augural brahmins and said to them; 'Brahmins, what sort of sign do you see for the youth?" Then augural Brahmins said; 'Great king, it is not good this youth who was born is not good,' the king said; 'Brahmins what will become of him? ' then augurs said; ' king, if he attains the age of seven years, this youth will endanger the life of his mother and father.' at that, the king spoke as follows; ' even if there may be an obstacle to my life, fair enough, but i will not kill this son of mine. It is very rare to attain birth as a human in this world; therefore, i will not commit such horm to the body of any human'. After that, the youth grew rapidly. Specifically, when he reched the age of one month, he had grown the amount that other grow in two years. After that, the king Vimala-Chandra knew too that the youth had grown because of karma that the king himself had accumulated. Then the king gave his kingdom to that youth and spoke as follows: 'May you become a king well renowed and with a vast domini on. Rule righteously with Dharma, not by what is not Dharma. Then, having granted him. the kingdom, he bestowed on him the title 'king'. And king Vimala-chandra was, and havin reached there, they spoke to king Vimala-chandra as follows: 'Great king, why is it that you are not now acting as king of your own land?' The king said, 'for immeasuraby many eons, although i have ruled as one having kingdoms, wealth and power, i have never had enough'. And at that time, at that moment, before much time had passed, that child took the life of his father and mother and therein he accumulated the karma of the uninterrupted actions. ' O being, i also remember the time when suffering feelings arose for that king, and he felt regret and sobbed, choking on tears, i taught the Dharma, and when he too heard that Dharma, those uninterrupted actions were quickly purified without any remainder.' He said: 'Those great ascetics who hear the Sanghata dharma paryaya, the king of sutra will attain the unsurpassed source of Dharma, the purification of all wickedness, and the pacification of all that is delusional. The Dharma tha swiftly sets you free i shall explain, so listen: if just a single four line verse is explained in a continual streams, all wickedness will be purified and stream-entry will be attained from the bondage of the fear of hell. Then that man rose from his seat, placed his palms together as he prostrated to him with head bent down, he approved by saying 'excellent.' Excellent virtuous friends. Excellent, those who teach the great method, the Sanghata sutra, which destroys wickedness, and also for those who hear it, excellent.' then at that time, at that moment from in the middle of the space above, 12,000 devas sons placed their palms together and came before the sage. They protrated at his feet and said,' Blessed One, great ascetic, for how long back do you cognize?' likewise four million naga kings came and 18,000 yaksha kings came. After Placing thier palms together and bowing down to the sage, they said, ' great one, for how long back do you cognize?' the sage said, 'for hudred of thousands of myriad millions of countless eons. ' they said,' by which virtuous karma will this bad karma be completly pacified in an instant?' he said:' by hearing the Sanghata dharma paryaya. From amoung the sentient beings who have gathered here, all those who had faith upon hearing this dharma paryaya are predicted to unsurpassed, perfect and complet enlightenment. If those persons who have commited the five uninterrupted actions even just hear this dharma-called Sanghata, they will completly exhaust and completely purify thier karma of the five uninterrupted actions, instantly an entirely. For countless hundred of thousands of myriad millions of eons, the doors to the lower realms will be close.


; the thirty-two doors to the devas wolds will be opened. Of that is how the roots of virtue of one who also hears even so much as just a four-line verse from this Sanghata dharma paryaya will become, what need is there to speak of one who show7 it respect with fowers, incense, fragrance , garland, lotions, powders, robes, canopices, banners and ponnants, and who venerates it, makes drawings, makes offerings, joints together cymbals and musical instruments, and rejoice7 afterward one time, approving by saying," well said excellent, excellent." then the bodhisattva the great being Sarva-shura said to the Blessed One, " Blessed ones as for one who places their palms together and prostrate when the Sanghata dharma paryaya is expounded, does merely placing their palms together produce a mass of merit?" the Blessed One said:" child of the lineage, listen those who have committed the five uninterrupted actions, have ordered them done and have rejoiced in the doing of them, and who place their palms together and prostrate upon hearing as little as a mere four-line verse from this Sanghata dharma paryaya, if all thier karma of the five uninterrupted actions will be completely purified when they prostrated, Sarva shura, what need is there to mention those who hear this entire Sanghata dharma paryaya comprehensively? This one will produce a much greater mass of merit than the former. Child of the lineage, i will show you an analogy in order to make the meaning of this Sanghata sutra understood. Sarva shura it is as follows: to make an analogy, five great rivers issue forth from the palace of the naga king Anavatapta, where the sun never rises. If some person should count the drops of these five great rivers, Sarva shura , would they be able to reach the end by counting thier drops?" he said, ' Blessed one, that cannot be. ' the Blessed One said: ' Sarva shura, likewise too, it is impossible to reach the end of the roots of virtue of the Sanghata dharma paryaya by counting for one hundred eons or even for one thousand eons . Sarva shura , what do you think about this?. Doesn't the one who explain this Sanghata dharma paryaya for even an instant undertake hardships?' he said, ' Blessed One , that one undertakes hardships'. The Blessed One said: 'Sarva shura, the one who is able to explain this Sanghata dharma paryaya undertakes much greater hardships than that. It is as follows: to make a analogy by means of counting the drops in the five great rivers that arrive from lake anavatapa, it is not possible to reach the end.' he said, ' Blessed One what are those five great rivers?' the Blessed one said: 'they are as follows: Ganges, Sita, Vakshu, Yamuna and Chandra-bhaga. There are the five great rivers that arrive to the great ocean. Each of the five great rivers is accompanied by five hundred rivers. Sarva shura, these five rivers also descend from the sky with a thousand rivers each, and by them living are satisfied.' he said, 'which are the thousand that accompagny of them? ' the Blessed One said: 'Sundari is accompanied by a thousand , Shamkha is accompanied ay thousand, Vahanti is accompanied by a thousand, Chitra-Sena, is accompanied by a thousand, and Dharma Vritty is accompanied by thousand. Sarva shura these great rivers each possess a thousand accompanying rivers. 'they let fall a stream of rain onto the planet earth. Sarva shura, they release streams of raindrops from time to time, and this produces flowers and fruits and crops. When the streams of rain are released onto the planet earth, water will be produced, by the water that is produced, fields and gardens are all satiated and made happy. Sarva shura it is as follows: to make an analogy, the lord of living beings makes all the planet earth happy. Likewise Sarva shura , this Sanghata dharma paryaya is explained on earth for the benefit of many beings and for the happiness of many beings and for the happiness of many beings. The lifespan of humans is not like the lifespan of the devas of the thirty-three. If you should ask who are the devas of the thirty-three, Sarva shura, those who dwell where indra , the lord of the devas dwells are called the thirty-three. 'Sarva shura, there are also sentient beings, who engage in good verbal conduct, and it is impossible to make an analogy for their mass of merit,too. There are also sentient beings who engage in faulty verbal conduct, and it is impossible to make an analogy for their hell and animal rebirths. Those sentient beings who come to experience the suffering of hell beings, animals and pretas have no refuge whatsoever. Their hopes having been dashed there, they lament and fall into hells. They should be seen as under the power of non-virtuous, friends. And those sentient beings who engage in good verbal conduct and for whose mass of merit it is impossible to make an analogy , they should be seen as under the power of virtuous friends. When one sees a tathagata, all one's wickedness is purified, when the lord of beings causes joy on earth, it will be impossible to make an analogy for the happiness of the sentient beings on earth. 'Sarva shura, likewise this Sanghata dharma paryaya too performs the function of a buddha for the sentient beings of the planet earth. Anyone who has not heard the Sanghata dharma paryaya is unable to be completely enlightened in the unsurpassed perfect and complete enlightenment. They are unable to sit on the lion throne of the Dharma. They are unable to enter the sphere of nirvana. They are unable to illuminate with countless light rays. Sarva shura likewise those who have not heard this Sanghata dharma paryaya are also unable to sit in the heart of enlightenment. ' Sarva shura said: 'Blessed one , may i ask about a certain wonder? Sugata may i ask about a certain wonder?' the Blessed One said, 'Sarva shura ask whatever you wish and i will clear away your doubts.' He said, 'who was that sage who liberated those sentient beings from the karma of the five uninterrupted actions and then placed them one by one on the level of one who will never turn away?' He said: 'the speech of buddhas is profound; Sarva shura, listen to me: the Sanghata sutra is a teacher, manifesting in the form of a sage. The Sanghata manifests, out of kindness even bodies of buddhas. As many grains of sand as the Ganges holds, in jvst that many forms it teaches , it teaches in the form of a buddha. It teaches even the essence of Dharma. Who wishes to see a Buddha, Sanghata is equivalent to a Buddha. Wherever the Sanghata is always there the Buddha is. The Blessed One said: 'child of the lineage, listen. Sarva shura, at a time long past ninety nine countless eons ago the arose twelve million buddhas. When the tathagata Ratnottama arose i became courageous in giving , and honored twelve million buddhas wit the name of Chandra, i attended them with foot, drink, fragrance,garlands,lotions, whatever pleased them, good meals and everything required for thier comfort. And having attended them thus, i recall attaining there a prediction of unsurpassed, perfect and complet enlightement. 'Sarva shura, i recall that those arose eighteen million Buddhas named Ratnavabhasa. At that time too, having become courageous in giving, i honored eighteen million tathagatas with the name Garbha-Sena with fragrance, garlands,lotions, ornaments and decorative attire, as was appropriate to each, and having done so, i attained there too a prediction of unsurpassed, perfect and complete enlightenment.