Overall Teaching

Supratiṣṭhita[1] can pass through anything and go anywhere having obtained Unobstructed Door and Ultimate Non-obstruction.

Summary

1. Sudhana came to Śrī Laṅka and reflected on the oceans of entries into teachings given by Sagaramegha, and saw Supratiṣṭhita walking the sky[2] with celestial beings and being offered by various divinities with thundering water[3]. He was also surrounded by bird maidens[4] and ten divine kings.[5] Sudhana, seeing him, became happy and requested him teach him how to attain the qualities of buddhas. (1186-7)

2. Supratiṣṭhita praised Sudhana and explained that he attained the liberation called Unobstructed Door[6] and the knowledge called Ultimate Non-obstruction, whereby he knows all beings’ minds and can cut off their doubts and delusions. He is also able, through non-abiding and non-doing, to sit, walk, stand, etc. in the sky, go through walls, walk on water, and even touch the sun and moon and Brahma world pass countless worlds.7 He thus teaches other beings how to attain this liberation. (1187-8)

3. Despite this attainment, how could he teach the flawless practice of bodhisattvas who act out of great compassion? Thus he instructed Sudhana to go to find the grammarian Megha in the Dravidian City Vajrapura. (1188-9)

[1] Meaning Well Established. Teaches the Third Abode: Practice.

[2] Li: Since he dwelt neither in the world nor beyond the world, he travels in the sky. (1571).

[3] Li: Offered by the rain spirits since the voice of the Dharma has universal influence and destroys illusion.

[4] Li: Symbolising knowledge and compassion and humility and self-discipline (two wings).

[5] Li: Symbolising using the ten pāramitās to benefit beings.

[6] Li: He attained this door through great knowledge, being unhindered by barriers of defilement and purity. (1571) 7 Li: This implies non-obstructed liberation, not seeing false states of existence, which melt away on contact.