Upholding the Roots of Virtue

Homage to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas!

Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was at the Kalandaka­nivāpa in the Veṇuvana, near Rājagṛha‍—an abode for those who practice concentration, an abode for those who do not abide, an abode for those who dwell in emptiness, an abode for those who dwell in signlessness, and an abode for those who dwell in wishlessness. The Blessed One was there together with a great saṅgha of one hundred thousand monks, all of whom talked only little, remained in solitude, and diligently practiced meditative seclusion.

Present within the gathering was a youth by the name of Padmaśrīgarbha. He now rose from his seat, draped his shawl over one shoulder, and knelt on his right knee. Joining his palms, he bowed toward the Blessed One. As he faced the Blessed One, the following thoughts arose in his mind: “I wish to request the gateways of the Dharma from the Thus-Gone One. I wish to receive the vajra words. I wish to request the words for practice that are without interruption. I wish to request the words that overcome all other statements, the words of progressive discernment,12 the words wherein all teachings of the Dharma are contained. If the noble sons and daughters practice such a gateway seal, they will attain the stainless eye that sees all phenomena and they will gain expertise regarding the mind. Ah, Blessed One, in the past I have borne my armor through the accumulation of intentions and practical deeds. Thus, you will be aware of my roots of virtue from the past, arisen through the accumulation of intentions and applications.”

Present in the gathering was a certain Dṛḍhamati­kumāra­bhūta, who now rose from his seat, draped his shawl over one shoulder, and knelt on his right knee. Joining his palms, he bowed toward the Blessed One and said, “Blessed One, with this gateway of the Dharma I have discovered something very precious. Blessed One, I shall henceforth practice this gateway of the Dharma in order to accomplish the Dharma. How so? From today on, Blessed One, I shall don a suitable armor to pursue and accomplish these Dharma teachings. In the future, in times to come, I shall never let my diligence wane until I have listened to the Dharma treasure of the Thus-Gone One’s domain.”

At that time there was in the east‍—beyond countless and limitless universes‍—a world known as Sound of Renown. Within that universe resided a thus-gone one, a worthy one, a perfect buddha known as Majestic Mountain. Abiding and remaining present there, he taught the Dharma. The blessed one, the thus-gone one, the worthy one, the perfect buddha Majestic Mountain had just prophesied that following himself the bodhisattva Luminous Sphere of Great Splendor, who was present in the gathering there, would awaken to unsurpassable and perfect buddhahood.

At that time there was in the east, beyond sixty-eight thousand innumerable universes, a universe known as Susthitamati, and within that universe resided a thus-gone one, a worthy one, a perfect buddha known as Sky Family. Abiding and remaining present there, he taught the Dharma. This blessed one had prophesied that a bodhisattva great being by the name of Candra would awaken to unsurpassable and perfect buddhahood. Also this bodhisattva great being, Candra, had noticed the light and heard the sound of the clear voice. [F.57.b] Now he approached the perfect buddha Sky Family and asked, “Blessed One, whose is this clear voice that we hear, and to whom does this radiance belong?”

Aware of the great gathering of bodhisattvas, the blessed Śākyamuni now, while remaining on his seat, entered the absorption known as valiant progress. Emerging from that absorption, he entered the one known as the vajra essence. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as remaining within the abode without descriptions. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the single array. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the lion parasol. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as limitless accomplishment. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the yawning lion. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the king of light rays. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the essence of the earth. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as no observation. When he had emerged from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the manifestation of the lion. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the king of the sphere of the moon. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the single array. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as numerous light rays. Emerging from that absorption, [F.114.a] he next entered the one known as the ocean. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as practicing all seals and ascertaining the sphere of reality. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the display of infinite aspirations and focal points. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the limitless accomplishment that is primary with respect to all phenomena. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as accomplishing the single focal point. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as remaining within the abode of all phenomena. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the practice of the limitless light rays of noble lotus buddha. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the stainless seal of mastery with regard to all phenomena. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the royal seal of all phenomena. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as buddha emanations revealing the infinite leader. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the armor of all sentient beings going beyond suffering. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as all phenomena as the sphere of the thus-gone ones’ engagement. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as buddha emanations revealing the infinite leader. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as bringing all objects into buddhahood. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as ascertainment of all phenomena unhindered with regard to past, future, or present. [F.114.b] Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the buddha-leader’s mastery of all phenomena. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as truly compiling all dharmas. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the stable one. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as greatly increasing. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the immutable. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as unperturbed. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as viewing and regarding all phenomena. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as universal illumination. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as seeing as the same. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as viewing and regarding. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as not viewing. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as unhinderedness and non-appropriation with respect to all phenomena. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as possessing the faculties. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as ascertaining the inexhaustible as inexhaustible. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the inexhaustible focal point. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the single focal point. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the great array. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the infinite array. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the undaunted. [F.115.a] Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as invoking the roots of virtue of all sentient beings. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as actualizing the roots of virtue of all sentient beings. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as pursuing all dharmas. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as illuminating. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the pure experience of all phenomena. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as showing all phenomena. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the pure light of all bodhisattvas. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as purifying the unobscured eyes of all the hearers. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as producing pure roots of virtue in the entire retinue without obscuration. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as stopping the sufferings of the animal realm and the world of the Lord of Death. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as producing roots of virtue by means of great love throughout all buddha realms. Emerging from that absorption, he next entered the one known as the immovable. Then, while the Blessed One was dwelling in the immovable absorption, the gods of the pure realms praised him in these verses:

The Blessed One then said to the venerable Śāradvatī­putra, “Śāradvatī­putra, there are three things that bodhisattvas should do, in terms of which to consider correctly everything there is to do and not to do. What are these three things? Śāradvatī­putra, they are as follows.

“Because of the very things not to be done, the first thing to do is to pursue the sublime Dharma fully. Śāradvatī­putra, bodhisattvas should furthermore pursue the teachings of the buddhas without measuring them, so that even when they hear the profound teachings of the buddhas, they will be unafraid, enthusiastically try to penetrate to their depths, and not abandon them.

“Śāradvatī­putra, bodhisattvas endowed with such an exalted intention should persevere in the correct view of sameness. Correct view means freedom from partiality. Alternatively, Śāradvatī­putra, correct view is so called because it sees correctly. Śāradvatī­putra, correct view is also so called because of sameness. [F.156.b] This is because, Śāradvatī­putra, the eyes are nirvāṇa and there is no nirvāṇa other than the eyes. The eyes and nirvāṇa are thus nondual, meaning indivisible into two. They are alike. How are they alike? They are alike in that the eyes and nirvāṇa are identical. The eyes are devoid of eyes. Nirvāṇa is devoid of nirvāṇa. The eyes are devoid of nirvāṇa. Nirvāṇa is devoid of eyes. The eyes and nirvāṇa are thus identical since neither ever existed. The same logic should also be applied to the ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Thus, the mind and nirvāṇa are alike. How are they alike? They are alike because mind and nirvāṇa are identical. Mind is devoid of mind. Nirvāṇa is devoid of nirvāṇa. Mind is devoid of nirvāṇa. Nirvāṇa is devoid of mind. Mind and nirvāṇa are nondual, meaning indivisible into two. They are devoid of thought since they are nothing that can be examined. Being empty by way of emptiness‍—this, Śāradvatī­putra, is what is called the ‘correct view.’ Since that view makes them the same, it is called the ‘correct view.’ Since all these have come to be the same, it is called the ‘correct view.’

Then, a beggar called Vijayarakṣa came into the assembly and sat down. Having risen from his seat, he draped his robe over one shoulder, bowed to the Blessed One with palms joined, and said, “Blessed One, I do not want to fall off such a cliff, nor argue with the Thus-Gone One, but I do want to awaken to unexcelled and perfect awakening. So I am wondering, Blessed One, how can I, a poor and destitute person, fully awaken to buddhahood when I live off the wealth of others, gaining the luxury of a home through negative conduct and hardship? Perfectly accomplishing awakening is for great, sāla tree-like warriors, brahmins, and householders.”

“Śāradvatī­putra, there are four qualities that bodhisattva great beings can possess to make them expert in resolving the nature of things as they are. They also give them an eloquence that is unobstructed, acute, limitless, and profound with respect to all dharmas. At that point the thus-gone ones comprehend their expertise in resolving things exactly as they are, as well as their acute and felicitous eloquence, and thus authorize them to guard the city of the Dharma for posterity.

Then, seven years after a child called Vijayarakṣa was born, he joined that very same assembly and took his seat. The boy Vijayarakṣa now rose from his seat, bowed with palms joined to the Blessed One, and requested in verse:

“Ānanda, there are four qualities that bodhisattvas may have that will equip them with mindfulness, realization, intelligence, propriety, experience, and comportment. What are those four qualities? Ānanda, bodhisattvas apply effort to pursue such qualities. Once they have found them, they also become accomplished in those qualities. Adhering to them themselves, they also lead many other beings to uphold the same qualities. Leading them to uphold them, they also delight them with Dharma discourses and thus encourage them.”

Then, the bodhisattva Dṛḍhamati, who was seated in the assembly, rose from his seat, proffered his shawl, and said to the Blessed One, “I offer this garment to the Thus-Gone One as a Dharma covering to be offered to the awakened thus-gone ones of past, present, and future for the sake of eloquent explanations of this Dharma discourse, [F.210.b]/[F.211.b]83 and so that bodhisattva great beings who have perfectly embarked on bodhisattva conduct will become replete with buddha qualities.”

“Dṛḍhamati, if you have four qualities, they will enable you to accomplish that absorption and teach it to others. What are those four qualities? Apply diligence to attain that absorption and do not discard your efforts. When seated, enthusiastically preaching day and night, manifest the thus-gone ones seated at the supreme seat of awakening, or turning the wheel of Dharma, and likewise have no stinginess with Dharma. While giving the gift of Dharma, transform yourself and the audience members for the Dharma into the bodies of thus-one ones; for while one’s own body will be destroyed, those bodies do not abide anywhere at all, and teach the Dharma while not abiding anywhere. One should sit on the cushion observing that, with that kind of experience, and effecting that kind of transformation, and while seated in this manner, one should give the gift of Dharma.

“Furthermore, Dṛḍhamati, in order to swiftly actualize the superknowledges, one should eagerly undertake the worship, restoration, and cleansing of stūpas. For, Dṛḍhamati, any noble son or daughter who cleans a stūpa of the thus-gone ones will acquire four pristine, excellent aspirations. What are those four aspirations? They are the pristine, excellent aspiration for one’s form; the pristine, excellent aspiration for perfect leisure; the pristine, excellent aspiration for the stability of one’s vows; and the pristine, excellent aspiration for beholding thus-gone ones.

Ānanda then rose from his seat, draped his shawl over one shoulder, knelt on his right knee and asked the Blessed One, “Blessed One, what is the name of this Dharma discourse? How will it be upheld?”

The Blessed One said to the venerable Ānanda, “Ānanda, you should uphold this Dharma discourse as Upholding the Roots of Virtue. You should also uphold it as Foundation of the Collection of Merit, or Aid to the Bodhisattvas, or The Inquiry Posed by the Bodhisattvas, or The Chapter that Resolves All Doubts.”