The Great Cloud (2)
Toh 235
Degé Kangyur, vol. 64 (mdo sde, wa), folios 250.b–263.a
Translated by the Mahamegha Translation Team
under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha
First published 2023
Current version v 1.0.4 (2023)
Generated by 84000 Reading Room v2.17.7
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Table of Contents
Summary
This brief discourse is identified more precisely in its colophon as a supplementary chapter from The Great Cloud on “the array of winds that bring down rainfall.” It describes a visit from the Buddha Śākyamuni to the realm of the nāgas. The assembly of nāgas pays homage to the Buddha with a grand panoply of magically emanated offerings, and their king asks him to explain how the nāgas can eliminate their own suffering and aid sentient beings by causing timely rain to fall. The Buddha, in response, extols the benefits of loving-kindness and then teaches them a dhāraṇī that when accompanied by the recitation of a host of buddha names will dispel the nāgas’ suffering and cause crops to grow. At the nāga king’s request, the Buddha then teaches another long dhāraṇī that will cause rain to fall during times of drought. The discourse concludes with instructions for constructing an altar and holding a ritual rainmaking service.
Acknowledgements
This translation was produced by Joshua Capitanio for the Mahamegha translation team. It was further revised by the 84000 editorial team after comparing it with the available Sanskrit sources.
The translation was completed under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.
Bibliography
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