Overall Teaching

Prabhūtā satisfies the needs of all beings by the vessel of her liberation without exhausting it.

Summary

1. Sudhana, reflecting on the instructions on bodhisattva practice, had his mind open like a lotus with various virtues flowing forth from their instructions like the clouds produced in the sky by sporting dragons. 

2. He arrived in Samudrapratiṣṭhāna[1] where he met the law woman Prabhūtā[2] at her house, which was large and arrays with countless jewels which were all the product of her fulfilment of various practices.

3.     Sudhana respected her and requested teachings in bodhisattva practices.

4. Prabhūtā said she satisfies the wishes of countless beings from her liberation which is an inexhaustible treasury of the manifestations of good. She thus satisfies hunger, thirst, and desire for scents according precisely to their wishes and tastes: thus also with physical comfort on couches.[3] 

a.     Moreover, all beings in all directions all attain the fruit of the śrāvaka or pratyekabuddha do so after having eaten her food.

b.     All once-returners and bodhisattvas who will realise buddhahood in one more life all attain full awakening after eating her food.

c.     Her ten thousand female companions are one in ways of practice, and equal in attainments, actions, powers, knowledge, and elucidation.

5. After saying this, thousands of beings came in through the four doors[4] of her house, and were satisfied by her powers with whatever they wished without her vessel being exhausted.

6. Prabhūtā said that despite knowing this liberation, she cannot teach the goodness of bodhisattvas which dispels all beings destitution. Thus Sudhana should go to Mahāsambhāva where Vidvān lives.

7.     Sudhana, looking at Prabhūtā and being grateful, left.

[1] Meaning Ocean Foundation, since “her tolerance was like the ocean admitting a hundred rivers.”

[2] Representing the third practice: nonopposition. Her name means “Perfected because she perfected all practices through patience and tolerance.”

[3] Li: This is due to the distribution of the cosmic network of knowledge of the real universe, wherein the small contains infinity, and the great heart of the willpower of knowledge of the real universe. “Because a single morsel of food is as extensive as the universe—food unlisted to inside or outside, center or extremes—Prabhūtā said she had attained a way of liberation that was an infinite treasury of blessings and could feed an unlimited number of beings with a small vessel of food and drink.” (1585)

[4] Li: This represents that bodhisattvas receive beings “By the four infinite minds—infinite love, infinite compassion, infinite joy, and infinite equanimity.” (1586)