The Secrets of the Realized Ones
Chapter 10: Celebrating the Virtues of Vajrapāṇi,
Lord of the Guhyakas
Toh 47
Degé Kangyur, vol. 39 (dkon brtsegs, ka), folios 100.a.–203.a
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Table of Contents
Summary
In this sūtra, the narrative largely revolves around the figures of Vajrapāṇi, the yakṣa lord and constant companion of the Buddha, and the Buddha himself. In the first half of the sūtra, Vajrapāṇi gives a series of teachings on the mysteries or secrets of the body, speech, and mind of bodhisattvas and the realized ones. In the second half of the sūtra, Vajrapāṇi describes several events in the Buddha’s life: his practice of severe asceticism, his approach to the seat of awakening, his defeat of Māra, his awakening, and his turning of the wheel of Dharma. Following this, the Buddha gives a prediction of Vajrapāṇi’s future awakening as a buddha and travels to Vajrapāṇi’s abode for a meal. Interspersed throughout the sūtra are sermons, dialogues, and marvelous tales exploring a large number of topics and featuring an extensive cast of characters, including several narratives about past lives of Vajrapāṇi, Brahmā Sahāṃpati, and the Buddha himself. The sūtra concludes with the performance of two long dhāraṇīs, one by Vajrapāṇi and one by the Buddha, for the protection and preservation of the Dharma.
Acknowledgements
Translated by David Fiordalis and the Dharmachakra Translation Committee under the supervision of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. A first draft was made from the Tibetan by Timothy Hinkle with the assistance of Tulku Tenzin Rigsang and others. David Fiordalis thoroughly revised the translation with close reference to the extant Sanskrit manuscript, as well as the Tibetan translation. Fiordalis also wrote the summary, introduction, annotations, and most of the glossary entries. Fiordalis would like to acknowledge Paul Harrison, who furnished him with his own digital images of the Sanskrit manuscript, and Péter-Dániel Szántó, who generously made his transcription of the manuscript available for readers.
The translation was completed under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha. Rory Lindsay and Nathaniel Rich edited the translation and the introduction, and Ven. Konchog Norbu copyedited the text. Martina Cotter was in charge of the digital publication process.
The translation of this text has been made possible through the generous sponsorship of Jane and Leo Tong Chen, and their family.
Text Body
The Teaching of the Mysteries and Secrets of the Realized Ones
Chapter 10: Celebrating the Virtues of Vajrapāṇi, Lord of the Guhyakas
Venerable Śāriputra then spoke to the Blessed One: “Throughout the ten directions, Blessed One, bodhisattvas of this Fortunate Eon are leading the holy life in the presence of blessed buddhas. Is there a Lord of the Guhyakas standing behind all these bodhisattvas?”
The Blessed One responded, “Enough, Śāriputra, such activity is inconceivable. The world including its gods would fall into confusion about the conduct of the bodhisattvas. Nevertheless, Śāriputra, those who have faith will be embraced by [F.146.a] companions in what is good and will not worry about this subject at all.”
“Blessed One, please explain this. I would trust the Realized One.”156
“Śāriputra, do you see my constant companion, Vajrapāṇi, Lord of the Guhyakas?” asked the Blessed One.
“I can see him, Blessed One, through the majestic power of the Buddha. I have never seen him before.”157
“In precisely the same way, Śāriputra, this Vajrapāṇi, Lord of the Guhyakas, stands behind each and every bodhisattva of this Fortunate Eon. Through his former vow and the power of his supernormal faculties, he appears in the likeness of Vajrapāṇi everywhere. As many beings as there are throughout this cosmos of a billion worlds, Śāriputra, behind each and every one of those beings Vajrapāṇi, Lord of the Guhyakas, could appear in the likeness of Vajrapāṇi, and his appearance would not thereby exhaust his knowledge and empowerment. Śāriputra, do you see Vajrapāṇi standing behind the bodhisattva Maitreya?”
“Blessed One, I see him now. He wasn’t visible to me at first.”
“He is always truly standing behind him; you simply do not see him. By contrast, the bodhisattvas, śakras, brahmās, and lokapālas who come from other worlds see Vajrapāṇi always standing behind the bodhisattva Maitreya, with a vajra in his hand. At this moment and time, Śāriputra, the bodhisattva Maitreya, and all the other bodhisattvas of this Fortunate Eon, magically create hundreds of thousands of millions and billions of magically created forms, and behind each and every one of them, too, stands Vajrapāṇi, Lord of the Guhyakas. All of this is the empowering authority of that Lord of the Guhyakas alone. [F.146.b] What is more, Śāriputra, Vajrapāṇi, Lord of the Guhyakas, also stands behind the magically created forms that are magically created by the Realized One, and this, too, is due to his very own empowering authority. In this manner, Śāriputra, Vajrapāṇi, Lord of the Guhyakas, is endowed with inconceivable power, empowering authority, supernormal faculties, and knowledge.”158
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’phags pa de bzhin gshegs pa’i gsang ba bsam gyis mi khyab pa bstan pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo (Āryatathāgatācintyaguhyanirdeśanāmamahāyānasūtra). Toh 47, Degé Kangyur vol. 39 (dkon brtsegs, ka), folios 100.a–203.a.
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