An Excerpt from Entryway to the Dharma

(Chos la ‘jug pa’i sgo)
Written in 1167 C.E. By Lopon Rinpoche Sonam Tsemo
 

Translated in Jeffrey Schoening’s Classical Literay Tibetan Class, 2009, with Jeff Bennett, Tom Linder, and Bill Sternhagen

(Continued from the previous issue of Sakya Chronicles, which presented a summary of the three incalculable eons leading up to the Buddha’s enlightenment)

Descent from the God Realm
Those traditions are pronounced in the text of the Bodhisattvapitaka.

“Then, when worshipping and serving the Buddha Kāśyapa, that tenth level bodhisattva impeded by one birth having died and transmigrated from this Jambudvīpa, became the holy devaputra Svetaketu (White Peak, Tog dkar po) in Tusita,” thus I heard.

“That one, hindered by one birth, having died and transmigrated, will be enlightened,” was known by all the gods. They made great offerings of worship and service to him and listened to his teaching. When he was dwelling like that, there arose from the small cymbals a verse of exhortation for the bodhisattva; like this he was exhorted:

Then they pointed out, “The bodhisattva will enter into the womb of his mother in twelve years.” At that time, the devaputras were in the dress of Brahmins and caused the humans in Jambudvīpa to study the Vedas; “Signs like this are the signs of a Buddha,” and so forth they instructed. Also, [they] proclaimed the news, “In twelve years from now the Buddha will appear in the world.”

Because the pratyekabuddhas heard that news, unfathomable pratyekabuddhas passed beyond sorrow in the county ‘Khor mo ‘jig, and thus it was known as “Falling Sages” (Rsipatana, at Deer Park).

Then, when twelve years had passed, the bodhisattva beheld the five considerations and decided to go to Jambudvīpa. The five are like this: consideration regarding time – the time to tame beings; consideration regarding land – Jambudvīpa; consideration regarding country – central; consideration regarding lineage – among the lineages, the lineage of reverend kings; and fifth, consideration regarding the mother – one who possesses the thirty-two qualities such as lineage.

At the time of [the five considerations] coming together like that, he decided to depart for Jambudvīpa. At that time, there were sixteen countries in Jambudvīpa. Among those, there were seven royal palaces:

The Bodhisattva said, “The lineages of all those are faulty. A faultless lineage is exalted in sixty-four [ways] such as being known by all and having an excellent continuity.” Likewise, praising also the qualities of the mother and so forth, he intended Kapilavāstu, which is like that. Having considered in that way, he arrived at the house of high victory banner. Having taught “The Dharma for purifying Death and Transmigration” which pleases the gods, he said, “I go to Jambudvīpa for the benefit of sentient beings.”

The gods asked, “From whom shall we hear the Dharma.” He gave the crown to the Bodhisattva Maitreya and empowered him.

Then he said to the gods: Friends, in what form shall I go? Then, the devaputra of the Brahma abode who was called Mighty Brilliance (Ugratejā; gzi brjid dam pa), one who transmigrated from the sages, a definite non-returner, said: In the Vedas it is said, “[As] a yellowish white elephant with six tusks, covered with a lattice of gold.”

Thus, the eight stūpas.

Then the Bodhisattva miraculously left that body and set out to enter the womb. At that time, in the house of King Śuddhodana, eight omens occurred.

The gods, after the Bodhisattva entered the womb, set out to be [his] servants until [his] Buddha[hood].

Then, in the final spring month, in the constellation Viśākhā, at the time of the waxing full moon, when the purification rites of the fifteenth day had been performed, he entered [the womb].

[It is] because all bodhisattvas enter the womb during the waxing [moon]. At that time, [Queen] Devi saw in her dream and spoke to the king.

The king asked the Brahmins. The Brahmins prophesied he would be a Cakravartin or a Buddha.

The king performed great accumulations of virtue.

Then, the gods miraculously caused [the Bodhisattva] to dwell in those promised residences of the bodhisattva.

How did the Bodhisattva dwell in the womb? He dwelt in a miraculously built cottage.

He dwelt with all inside and outside mutually radiant. His body did not have [the various stages of an embryo] such
as oval; it was like a miracle birth.

For food he ate essences. He was continuously guarded by secret yaksas and so forth.

Also, even at that time, the Bodhisattva teaches the Dharma. He [taught the gods of the heaven] Trāyastrimśa at midnight. In the afternoon [he taught] others such as Brahmā. In the evenings, he taught the Dharma to bodhisattvas. The city-dwellers of Kapilavāstu were happy. This is the Descent from the God realm!

Birth

Then, ten months having passed, when the time for delivery arrived, there were the thirty-two omens such as flowers facing downward.

Then, the mother thought to go to the Lumbi Garden; the grove was decorated. As soon as she went there, many gods assembled; because the king saw that, he thought [the child] will be a Buddha. Then, when the mother with her hand took hold of the branch of a Plaksa tree, [the child] emerged from her right side without [causing] a wound. There, the kings of the gods such as Brahmā held him with Benares linen and the naga kings bathed him.

Then, without depending on anyone, he took seven steps to the east and said, “I shall be the antecedent of all wholesome dharmas.”

Going to the south, he said, “I shall be the recipient of offerings of gods and humans.”

Going to the west, he said, “This is my final birth; there will be no more birth, old age, sickness, and death.”

Going to the north, he said, “Among sentient beings, I shall be supreme.”

Facing down, he said, “I shall extinguish the fire of the hell beings and defeat Mara.”

Facing up, he said, “All beings shall look up [to me].”

In all those [directions], seven lotuses arose. At that time, the king too paid homage. At that the earth quaked and the world was illuminated with light. Because there occurred such [events] as five hundred servants such as Chandaka (‘dun pa) [being born] and five hundred treasures opening, the name of the Bodhisattva was given as One Who Accomplishes the Goal
(Siddhārtha).

Because there was the light of the Bodhisattva, the names of the sons of the four kings born at that time were derived from the light: the name of the son of the king of Rajagrhā, Mahāpadma, was Bimbisāra (Gzugs can snying po = Handsome Essence); the name of the son of the king of Artara, Brahmādatta, was Prasenajit (Gsal rgyal = Clear Victory); the name of the son of the king of Koushāmbī, Ananta, was Pradyota (Rab snang = Illumination) ; and the name of the son of the king of Ujjayanī, Sharata, was Udaya (?) (‘Char po = One Who is Visible).

At the time of the light of the Bodhisattva causing illumination, in a mountain shelter the sage Asita who was with his nephew Nārada saw it.

Then the nephew spoke: Did all the suns rise?

[The sage] replied:

The nephew said: Well, let’s see that one.

[The sage] replied: Because such a one will be difficult to see, being surrounded by the great gods, when [he = the Buddha] goes to the house and is named, we will see [him].

Then, when seven days had passed, Brahma and Kauśika (Indra/Sakra) and so forth took on the form of brahmins and sitting at the head of the row, pronounced the auspicious (verses).

Then, the mother died, this being the tradition of all bodhisattvas; when the bodhisattva dwelled in Tusita, after examining the life span of the mother, he entered into the womb.

Then, when [the baby Buddha] went into the city together with his retinue, because of being invited to their respective places, their magically went.

Then he was entrusted to Mahāprajāpati (his aunt).

At that time, he was called Śākyamuni (Shākya thub pa), because he was taming all the unruly Shākya.

Then, because [the Buddha] was taken to the temple, since the yakṣa Shākya Developed (bskyed pa) saluted him, he was called “God of gods.”

Then, because the signs were shown to the brahmins, the brahmins made a dual prophecy.

Then Nārada spoke (to Asita): Preceptor, (the Buddha) went (home to the palace).

(Asita) replied: Alright, I’ll go. Then, because he prepared to go miraculously, (yet) being unable to go (that way), he went on foot. Then, when he sent a message, “Enter inside,” (the king) said.

The king said: Why have you come?

(Asita) said:

The king said: [He] is sleeping.

(Asita) said: Just so, I will look.

Then, when (Asita) looked, (the Buddha) was sleeping without closing his eyes.

(Asita) said:

Were the signs shown to the gods and brahmins? (They) were shown. As stated, the prophecy was dual.

The brahmin (Asita) investigated and truly thought:

Again, after carefully examining and clearly seeing the signs of a buddha, he (Asita) was certain that (the child) would be enlightened. If you wonder how long, in the thirty-fifth year. Having examined his own life span, because he knew he would die [before that], he wept.

Then (Asita) said (to the king):

To that the king replied: If when you see this one you are happy, is there no inauspiciousness?

(Asita) replied and prophesied:

Then, (the king) having paid respectful honor to the brahmin, the brahmin departed from the house.

(Asita) commended (the child) to his nephew, “When this one is enlightened, you take ordination.” Then, also, Maheśvara took on the appearance of a brahmin and prophesied regarding the bodhisattva.

Then, because he was decorated in the constellation Citrā, he was adorned with natural ornaments, and not beautified.

This is the Second Deed