15. The Elucidation of the Buddha's Smile

Overall Teaching

The Buddha explains that Candraprabha praised him and will be praised by the world. Candraprabha inquires about the Samādhi of buddhas and will do so until the end of Śākyamuni Buddha's Dharma era. The Buddha predicts Candraprabha will maintain pure conduct, see many buddhas, make offerings, and become a Buddha. Joyful, Candraprabha praises the Buddha's teachings and wishes for the Buddha to anoint his head.

Summary

• In response to Maitreya Bodhisattva's question about why the Buddha smiled. The Buddha explains:

  • Candraprabha praised the Buddha and likewise will be praised by the world.

  • Candraprabha always inquires about this Samādhi of buddhas (including in past lives). He will also continue to do this and even enquire about it at the age of the end of the Dharma of Śākyamuni Buddha's era. This will be known by Maitreya, who will be around until he becomes Maitreya Buddha.

  • The Buddha predicts that in this life, and until the end of the Dharma era, Candraprabha will maintain pure conduct, come to be able to see a thousand billion buddhas and make offerings to them.

    • Similarly, countless devas and divine beings will make offerings to Candraprabha, who will attain awakening.

• After making this prediction, Candraprabha jumps for joy. Staying in the sky, he praises the Buddha again:

  • The Buddha's teachings are supreme and cannot be refuted. It allows us to attain liberation and is not obstructed by frivolous arguments. It cuts off all views, contemplations and thoughts.

  • The Dharma does not depend on the three realms and ends continued rebirth in saṃsāra. 

  • The Buddha manifests the Dharma as a wondrous treasury, and that treasure heap is now obtained by Candraprabha and is sure to attain the Buddha's awakening.

  • He then wishes for the Buddha to anoint his head.

Commentary

Thrangu Rinpoche clarifies that what allows Candraprabha to maintain his purity for so long is his realisation of this Samādhi. He notes that in the future, in the Dharma Declining age, which is our age, Candraprabha took birth as the Dharma teacher Gampopa (1079–1153), the disciple of Milarepa, who was a pure monk and upholder of perfect discipline. He explains that he realised the completeness of the Samādhi in a state called Mahāmudra (Great Seal), which he then taught to many followers. By teaching Mahāmudra, Gampopa prolonged the duration of the Dharma age, benefitting innumerable beings. Thus the prophecy of the Buddha was fulfilled.

For a book by Thrangu Rinpoche on Mahāmudra, see: Essentials of Mahāmudra.

Discussion

1. Why is Candraprabha's continuous inquiry into the Samādhi of buddhas significant in the context of Buddhist practice and understanding?

2. What are the critical aspects of Candraprabha's conduct that we can use to understand the path? How should we approach offerings and purity of conduct?