Overall Teaching 

This chapter describes the effects and merits of the teaching of the Buddha’s lifespan.  

Notes 

Ajita is an epithet for Maitreya, meaning, unconquered. 

Summary 

• 1. The Buddha declares how many beings attained great insight into the Dharma and that they will attain awakening. Afterwards flowers rain down and the beings honour the buddhas who are present. (44a-b) 

  2. Maitreya describes the scene in verse. (44b-c) 

  3. The Buddha then declares that the merit of one who hears about and accepts the great length of the Buddha’s lifespan will have an incalculably higher amount of merit than one who practices the first five pāramitās for a great length of time, and they will not revert. (44c) 

  4. The Buddha reiterates in verse, which emphasises the unwavering practice and mind of those who hear and accept the lifespan of the Buddha. (44c-45b) 

  5. The Buddha emphasises that even more merit is attained by those who preserve, copy, and pay homage to this sūtra. (45b) They will also see the Buddha always dwelling on Mount Gṛdhakūṭa, with the assembly, and they will see the sahā world adorned as a pureland. (45b) 

  6. It is emphasised that preserving and paying homage to this sūtra is the true building of a stūpa, monastery, or offering to the sangha.  

  7. Practices using the sūtra are sufficient to replace all practices related to stūpas, monasteries, revering the sangha, and so forth. Especially those who preserve and propagate the sūtra in addition to practicing the pāramitās. (45b-c) 

  8. Those who preserve and propagate it, etc., are in fact already seated under the Bodhi tree. (45c) Wherever they are standing or sitting, a stūpa should be built. (46a) 

  9. The Buddha reiterates in verse. (46a-b) He states that “Wherever the heirs of the Buddha may reside, There the Buddha himself will take pleasure in its use, And will always be dwelling, Walking, and sitting within. (46b) 

Analysis 

According to Tao-sheng, the reason why the practice of the first five pāramitās is not equal to hearing about the lifespan of the Buddha, is because the latter is equivalent to the Prajñāpāramitā. In fact, the lifespan, according to Tao-sheng, truly refers to the Buddha’s “wisdom-life,” that is to say, to see the true meaning of the lifespan of the Buddha, is to practice the Prajñāpāramitā. 

Seeing the Buddha always on Mount Gṛdhakūṭa, and this world as a pureland, emphasises the quality of the Mahāyāna conception of the Buddha as being a greater being than the historical Buddha. When we see the hidden Buddha in our midst, in our own minds, we see the Buddha on Mount Gṛdhakūṭa, and we see the assembly and the world as a pureland. As regards building a stūpa: stūpas which are housing physical relics are not necessary, only structures to protect the sūtra and its preservation and propagation are necessary, and as monuments to honour those deeds.