"Commentary on the Mahayana Vijñapti Sutra"

Original text: At that time, the bhikkhus in the presence of the World-Honored One were mostly weary and drowsy, their countenance withered and dejected, unable to maintain self-composure. Then, the World-Honored One radiated light from his face like a blooming lotus. At that moment, all the bhikkhus awakened and became alert, each straightening their posture. They thought thus: "Now the Buddha World-Honored One’s countenance is radiant, his face shining brightly. What Dharma-eye is he about to open to greatly benefit beings?"

Explanation: At this time, the bhikkhu disciples in the World-Honored One’s lecture hall were mostly somewhat fatigued and drowsy, their countenance listless and withered, on the verge of losing composure and about to fall asleep. While the Buddha was expounding the Dharma above, some bhikkhus below had grown weary and were about to sleep. Their demeanor was not dignified—some were yawning, some were nodding off—and they could no longer maintain an upright posture.

Seeing this situation, the World-Honored One manifested a supernatural power to rouse these bhikkhus to alertness. "Radiated light from his face" means his countenance shone brilliantly like a lotus in bloom. At that moment, when the bhikkhus saw the Buddha manifesting supernatural power and emitting radiance, all their drowsiness vanished. Filled with vigor, each straightened their posture and thought: "The Buddha is now manifesting supernatural power, his countenance luminous and brightly shining. What great Dharma is he about to expound to greatly benefit sentient beings?"

Original text: At that time, the virtuous guardian, the superior youth Bhadrapāla, possessed a handsome and full countenance, gentle and lustrous, endowed with perfect features. Surrounded by sixty thousand merchant leaders before and after him, his retinue was vast and bustling, their sound like an earthquake. They approached the Buddha’s location. Seeing the Buddha World-Honored One, serene and tranquil, a treasury of all virtues, majestic and resplendent like a great golden tree, they felt profound reverence and faith. Folding their palms in contemplation, they thought thus: "All jointly praise the Buddha as omniscient, perceiving all things. Truly, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is genuine and without falsehood." They prostrated at the Buddha’s feet and gazed intently while remaining.

Explanation: At this time, there was a layperson named Bhadrapāla, the superior youth. "Youth" indicates he was still a celibate young man, and "superior" signifies that this person was particularly special, surpassing ordinary people either in merit and virtue or in wisdom. His external appearance was handsome and full, gentle and lustrous, endowed with perfect features. This hints at the great merit Bhadrapāla Bodhisattva had cultivated in past lives, resulting in such a majestic physical form. Sixty thousand merchant leaders surrounded him before and after, and his attendants were numerous. The sound produced by the crowd walking together was like an earthquake, illustrating the vast and profound merit of Bhadrapāla Bodhisattva.

At that moment, the crowd escorted Bhadrapāla to the place where the Buddha was expounding the Dharma. Bhadrapāla Bodhisattva saw the World-Honored One seated serenely on his throne, appearing tranquil and steady. Within his peaceful and harmonious demeanor lay the treasury of all great virtues and powers. In the Buddha’s five aggregates, in his speech, actions, and countenance, were concealed immeasurable virtues of the Buddha, everywhere revealing him as the repository of all virtues. The Buddha’s external marks of the thirty-two major characteristics were majestic and dignified, awe-inspiring yet compassionate, resplendent and bright like a great golden tree.

Seeing the Buddha’s such magnificent and majestic form, Bhadrapāla, the superior youth, gave rise to deep reverence for the World-Honored One. Folding his palms in contemplation, he thought thus: "All sentient beings jointly praise the virtues of the Buddha; the Buddha’s omniscience perceives all dharmas." In the context of the Hinayana, "all-knowing wisdom" signifies the Buddha’s wisdom enabling liberation from the cycle of birth and death in the three realms. In contrast, the Mahayana’s "all-knowing wisdom" represents the Buddha’s realization of all phenomena, both mundane and supramundane. The Buddha exhaustively knows all the functional seeds contained within his immaculate consciousness without exception; there is not a single dharma he does not understand. This is called "all-knowing wisdom."

Bhadrapāla Bodhisattva further thought: "The World-Honored One is truly the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, genuine and without falsehood." Bhadrapāla Bodhisattva praised the World-Honored One for possessing the merits of the Buddha’s ten epithets. The ten epithets of the Buddha are: Tathāgata, Arhat (Worthy of Offerings), Samyak-saṃbuddha (Perfectly Enlightened One), Vidyā-caraṇa-saṃpanna (Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct), Sugata (Well-Gone One), Lokavid (Knower of the World), Anuttara (Unsurpassed One), Puruṣa-damya-sārathi (Tamer of Persons), Śāstā deva-manuṣyāṇām (Teacher of Gods and Humans), Buddha, Bhagavān (World-Honored One). Then Bhadrapāla, the superior youth, prostrated at the Buddha’s feet and gazed attentively at the World-Honored One.