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New Revelations from the Buddha King
- Book 120: New Revelations from the Buddha King
- Chapter 10:
Padmakumara and the Deva Indra
- Written by Sheng-yen Lu
- Translated by Janny Chow
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Causes and Conditions behind a Major Happening
That Padmakumara (Amitabha) has descended to samsara to teach the Dharma and help sentient beings to attain Liberation is, of course, a major event. Although the many Padmakumaras accompanying him to samsara have been referred to as the eighteen great Padmakumaras, countless other medium Padmakumaras, as well as an even greater number of countless small Padmakumaras also have been born into the human world.
These other Padmakumaras are, in fact, emanations from members of the retinue of Amitabha Buddha, such as:
Vajradharma [Diamond Dharma] Bodhisattva
Vajrariksna [Diamond Benefit] Bodhisattva
Vajrahetu [Diamond Cause] Bodhisattva
Vajrabhasa [Diamond Speech] Bodhisattva
There are also emanations from the famous assembly of twenty-five Bodhisattvas under the leadership of Amitabha: Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, Medicine King Bodhisattva, Supreme Medicine Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Dharma Self-Mastery Bodhisattva, Lion`s Roar Bodhisattva, Dharani Bodhisattva, Akasagarbha Bodhisattva, Virtue Store Bodhisattva, Treasure Store Bodhisattva, Gold Store Bodhisattva, Vajragarbha Bodhisattva, Light King Bodhisattva, Mountain Ocean Wisdom Bodhisattva, Flower Adornment King Bodhisattva, Multitudinous Treasure King Bodhisattva, Moonlight King Bodhisattva, Sun Radiance King Bodhisattva, Samaya King Bodhisattva, Stability Self-Mastery King Bodhisattva, Great Self-Mastery King Bodhisattva, White Elephant King Bodhisattva, Yamantaka King Bodhisattva, Boundless Body Bodhisattva.
Amitabha and many of these Bodhisattvas have all transformed into thousands and thousands of brilliant lights and been born into samsara to render help to the beings in this era.
Each of these Padmakumaras has a special `body mark` which is recognizable and serves as a proof of his previous identity.
In the future, when I withdraw from public life and enter into seclusion, I shall carry out the task of identifying and authenticating the following:
1) Buddhas
2) Bodhisattvas
3) Vajras
4) Dharma Protectors
5) Various Devas
When I, Padmakumara (Amitabha), take up this task of identification, I will be able to authenticate at once whether or not someone is an incarnate Living Buddha (Rinpoche).
If all of these incarnate Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can be assembled together to turn the Wheel of the Buddhadharma, the force generated would be so tremendous that the reality of a thriving Buddhadharma and a strong Pure Land on earth could be expected to happen soon.
Currently, the condition found in samsara is still one that is ruled by the various gods, with each doing things in his own way. Although the Buddhadharma appears to be flourishing, in reality, it is going down every day, as the High Beings or Helper Guides behind many leaders are only from the ranks of the devas.
Since this birth into the world is a `major event,` I have finally understood what my mission is. I must call and wake up the hearts and spirits of these incarnate Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, to urgently ask them to take up the task of helping other sentient beings before it is too late.
The Indra Deva
The Indra Heaven is the Trayastrimsas Heaven, which consists of thirty-three heavens, with eight in each of the four directions and the Indra Palace in the center.
When a person`s interest in sexual relations with his or her spouse is slight and, while living in abstinence, he or she practices the Five Precepts and Ten Wholesome Deeds, he or she will be born after death to a realm above the human world that does not have to depend on the sun or moon for its light source. The place of dwelling for these beings is the Trayastrimsas Heaven.
The Indra Deva, also known as Sovereign Sakra, or Sakradevanam, is the Lord of Trayastrimsas, and resides at the City of Happy Sights [Sudarsana] on the summit of Meru. After her death, Lady Maya, the mother of Shakyamuni Buddha, ascended into this Heaven. Later, in order to help his mother reach Enlightenment, Shakyamuni Buddha rose to the Trayastrimsas Heaven to speak for her the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Original Vow Sutra.
On my way down to samsara, I stopped over at the Indra Heaven and visited the following places there:
1) Virtuous Dharma Hall - site of Buddha`s discourse
2) Vehicles Park - stores vehicles for deva-foot travelling
3) Hybrid Grove Park - scenic site in Indra Heaven
4) Happy Grove Park - site of supreme happiness and bliss
5) Rough and Evil Park - stores weapons and armaments
6) Four Treasure Stupas - relics of Shakyamuni are kept there
7) Net of Luminous Pearls - has the greatest brilliance
There is a close connection between Indra Deva and myself (Living Buddha Lian-sheng) because the Indra Deva`s princess and prince have followed me to come down to the human world. They have been born respectively as Lu Fo-ch`ing and Lu Fo-ch`i.
Strangely, soon afterwards, many countless deva beings from the Indra Heaven have been born into the human world. These deva beings all form the Indra Heaven Mudra; that is, in a wonderful and extraordinary way, each of these newborn infants holds the Indra Heaven Mudra right after birth. The number of babies incarnated from the Indra Heaven who have been authenticated by me has been too numerous to count.
The relationship between Shakyamuni Buddha and the Lord of Indra Heaven is also most deep, as evidenced by another sutra that has been passed down, The Buddha Speaks on Questions Asked by the Indra Deva Sutra.
Furthermore, the True Buddha Sutra of the True Buddha School is also a sutra wherein the Indra Deva posed some questions to Padmakumara. The affinities between them are quite apparent.
In fact, in the Garbhadhatu Mandala, the Indra Heaven is one of the assemblies found inside the Shakyamuni Court; thus its origin may be traced to Shakyamuni Buddha. As I have been taught by Mr. Three-Peaks-Nine-States (the Three-Peaks being the same as the Three Bodies of Shakyamuni Buddha), the existence of an affinity between the Indra Deva and me is beyond dispute.
The Great Mission of Identifying and Authenticating
Only recently have I understood the true task and mission for my birth into samsara in this lifetime. The thirty-five Buddhas have given me the job of: identifying and authenticating Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Vajras, Dharma Protectors, and Devas, and teaching and instructing these people of superior root qualities to do cultivation, so they may go forth and help other sentient beings to achieve Enlightenment.
By appointing these people who are incarnations and emanations from higher realms as Rinpoches (Living Buddhas) and Vajra Masters, and bringing the strongest kind of united power together, the great mission of salvation may thus be implemented.
I know that, in this world of samsara, there are many people whose former existences are rooted in very good foundations, who have originated from certain Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
It is a pity that, after being trapped in the six realms of transmigration, drifting along in the oceans of desire, they have become entwined in karmic obscurations and have forgotten their own roots. They are unable to return to the original shore because their pure and original nature has long become polluted. The `body marks` on these people have become quite blurred. Although indistinct, the signs are still there. I have to find these people with the Buddha signs and point the signs out to them. I must then teach them to do cultivation.
Yet, I also am aware that this is a formidable mission. The part of identifying the Buddha marks is relatively easy, as it only requires the employment of the supernatural power of the Wisdom of Discriminatory Awareness. The arduous part is, how to keep them steadfast on the long path of cultivation and, to persist not only in self-cultivation, but also to help other sentient beings. If this group of Rinpoches or Vajra Masters can endure and persist on their paths, it would be most excellent!
However, if they are unable to overcome their habitual tendencies or, when their karmic obscurations reappear, there will be a tug-of-war: I will be exerting the utmost strength in pulling them upwards to sublimation while they will be desperately sinking. Then these Rinpoches (Living Buddhas) or Vajra Masters may also fall into the Vajra Hells.
Therefore:
The identifying and authenticating part is easy,
The teaching part is more of a challenge,
The deliverance of the sentient beings is even more difficult.
I have finally understood the task and mission of this lifetime, but the job is so formidable that my heart is completely engulfed by the flame of worries.
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