Commentary on the Mahayana Xianshi Sutra

Original Text: The Buddha saw Bhadrapāla and emitted light from his entire body, illuminating Bhadrapāla. At that moment, Bhadrapāla gained fearlessness, circumambulated the Buddha three times, prostrated at the Buddha’s feet, and addressed the Buddha, saying: "O World-Honored One, I beseech you with compassion to instruct me. I have now for the first time attained pure faith in the presence of the Buddha. My heart yearns for the wondrous Dharma and I wish to ask a question. Yet, I have long dwelled in the cycle of birth and death, drowning in the suffering of afflictions, with chaotic and scattered thoughts. Regarding practices such as precepts, I have not cultivated them and lack the unseen provisions for the path. Although my heart earnestly longs [for liberation], I do not know now how, amidst this net of foolishness, confusion, and doubt, I can transcend it and cross over the ocean of birth and death. The World-Honored One is omniscient, seeing all things universally. The appearance of a Buddha is extremely rare and difficult to encounter, like a wish-fulfilling jewel that bestows joy upon sentient beings. The Buddha is the great wish-fulfilling treasure. All sentient beings attain great peace and joy solely by relying upon the Buddha. He is the great parent, the root of goodness for sentient beings. It is through the Buddha, our parent, that sentient beings see the correct path. I earnestly beseech your compassion to illuminate and dispel my doubts and darkness."

The Buddha said to Bhadrapāla, "You have doubts. Ask freely according to your wish. I shall explain and clarify them for you in detail." Then Bhadrapāla, having received the Buddha’s permission, focused his mind on his inquiry and stood to one side.

Explanation: Bhadrapāla said to the World-Honored One: "I hope the World-Honored One can have compassion for me and instruct me. I have just now attained pure faith in your presence, O World-Honored One. My heart earnestly longs to hear the supreme wondrous Dharma, and I have questions I wish to ask you. For immeasurable kalpas, I have long dwelled in the cycle of birth and death, drowning in the suffering of the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion. My mind is filled with chaotic, scattered thoughts and delusions, and I have neglected the practice of precepts. I have not accumulated the provisions and resources needed for the path. Although my heart deeply desires liberation from birth and death, I do not know now how, while caught in this net of foolishness and doubt, I can transcend it and cross over the bitter ocean of birth and death."

Bodhisattva Bhadrapāla confessed his negligence in cultivating the mind towards practice, his laziness in not cultivating precepts, concentration, wisdom, and so forth. Yet, he had received the unseen blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. He understood some aspects of his own karmic actions and the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion, but not completely. His mind was still in a state of ignorance, lacking true wisdom, and he still harbored many doubts. He wanted to resolve all his doubts, dispel his ignorance, and free himself from confusion. He asked the Buddha how he could transcend the abyss of afflictions and the cycle of birth and death, escaping the bitter ocean of samsara. In fact, his question represented the doubt of all sentient beings who are new to the Buddha Dharma: How can one cross over birth and death, transcend the bitter sea of the cycle of birth and death, and attain liberation? Only by resolving this question can one truly benefit from studying the Buddha Dharma.

Bodhisattva Bhadrapāla continued: "The World-Honored One is omniscient, able to see all dharmas universally and to understand the faculties and root causes of afflictions of every sentient being. For immeasurable kalpas, what kinds of karmic actions sentient beings have performed, what kinds of results they will obtain in the future—the World-Honored One knows all of this. The appearance of a Buddha in this world is truly rare and extremely difficult to encounter. The Buddha is like a wish-fulfilling jewel, bestowing all happiness upon sentient beings. The Buddha is the great wish-fulfilling treasure. All sentient beings can attain great peace and joy by relying upon the Buddha. The Buddha is the most beloved parent of sentient beings, capable of bringing sentient beings the most fundamental benefit. He is the root of goodness for sentient beings. Sentient beings, relying upon the Buddha as their parent, are able to see the correct path, embark upon the correct path, and ultimately attain liberation. I earnestly beseech you, O World-Honored One, with compassion, to illuminate and clarify the doubts and darkness in our minds."