The Supernatural Powers and Spiritual Strength of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

Question: How should the following sutra passage be understood?

Original text: 转变者，谓佛菩薩依定自在。若于其地起水胜解，即令成水如实非余；火、风胜解亦复如是。若与其水起地胜解，即令成地如实非余；火、风胜解亦复如是。若于其火起地胜解，即令成地如实非余；水、风胜解亦复如是。若于其风起地胜解，即令成地如实非余；水、火胜解亦复如是。

Answer: The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, relying on the power of freedom attained through profound meditative concentration (dhyāna), can transform earth, water, fire, and wind, thereby changing the world. For example, when the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas see the great earth and wish to transform its earth-nature into water-nature, they no longer perceive the element of earth, but instead perceive the element of water upon the earth; thus the great earth, mountains, and rivers are transformed into rivers, seas, and streams, with nothing but the rivers, seas, and streams remaining—no other material sense-objects exist. When the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas see a great fire, they forcefully perceive water upon the great fire; thus the seed of the fire element transforms into the seed of the water element, and the great fire becomes a great flood, with nothing but the great water remaining—no other material sense-objects exist. When the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas see a great wind arising and wish to extinguish it, they forcefully contemplate the great wind as great water; thus the seed of the wind element transforms into the seed of the water element, and the great wind transforms into great water, with nothing but the great water remaining—no other material sense-objects exist.

If the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas see a great flood and wish to extinguish it, they forcefully contemplate the great water as the great earth; thus the seed of the water element transforms into the seed of the earth element, and the great water changes into the great earth, with nothing but the great earth perceived—no other material sense-objects are seen. If the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas see a great fire and do not wish the great fire to exist, they forcefully contemplate the great fire as the great earth; thus the seed of the fire element transforms into the seed of the earth element, and the great fire becomes the great earth, with nothing but the great earth perceived—no other material sense-objects are seen. If the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas see a great wind blowing and do not wish the great wind to exist, they forcefully contemplate the great wind as the great earth; thus the seed of the wind element transforms into the seed of the earth element, and the great wind transforms into the great earth, with nothing but the great earth perceived—no other material sense-objects are seen.

In short, because the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas possess profound meditative concentration, their minds are at ease and free; they can transform the seeds of the four great elements at will, alter all material form (rūpa), and change all worlds according to their wishes. With immeasurable superknowledges and the power of the Path, they transform and guide all sentient beings, leading them to enter the Buddha's Way.

When the mind is brought to a single point, nothing cannot be accomplished. Non-Buddhist practitioners can bring the mind to a single point; arhats and pratyekabuddhas can also bring the mind to a single point; the great Bodhisattvas can bring the mind to a single point; and the Buddhas can bring the mind to a single point even more so. All of them can make the mind free and at ease, all can correspondingly act according to their wishes, and all can accomplish their corresponding endeavors. However, because the depth of their meditative concentration differs, their wisdom differs, and their mental capacity differs, the degree of freedom of their minds differs, and the endeavors they accomplish also differ.