Overall Teaching

The teachings of all buddhas are identical, but manifest in various forms as beings require.

Summary

1. The Buddha emits rays of light from his topknot and between his eyebrows and illuminates the world of the Buddha Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña (Recollection of the Full Blossoming of the Stainless King of Stars, the Rose-Coloured Lotus Petal). (55a)

2. In that world, the Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara (Wonderful Voice), who attained countless samādhis. He tells the Buddha of his land that he will go to see Śākyamuni Buddha and his assembly of bodhisattvas. That Buddha then tells the Bodhisattva that he mustn’t despise the inferior quality of the Sāha world and its inhabitants.

3. Through the power of his samādhi, Gadgadasvara causes eighty-four thousand jeweled lotus flowers to appear on Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

   1. After being asked about this, the Buddha tells Mañjuśrī that Gadgadasvara wishes to come to pay homage to him and to hear the Lotus Sūtra. (55b)

   2. Mañjuśrī asks to know about the samādhi that Gadgadasvara used so they can use it and see him.

   3. The Buddha says that Prabhūtaratna Buddha will manifest the signs for him.

4. Prabhūtaratna Buddha invites Mañjuśrī to see Gadgadasvara.

5. Gadgadasvara passes through many worlds, and his beautiful form is described. He arrives at Vulture’s Peak Mountain on the seven-jeweled platform and presents a necklace to Śākyamuni Buddha, inquiring after him on behalf of Buddha Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña.

6. He also inquires after Prabhūtaratna and asks for Śākyamuni to show him Prabhūtaratna’s body. Prabhūtaratna greets Gadgadasvara. (55c)

7. Bodhisattva Padmaśrī asks the Buddha what merits Gadgadasvara planted to attain his powers. The Buddha replies with a tale of the past:

   1. In the past Gadgadasvara paid homage with music and jeweled vessels to the Buddha Meghadunddubhisvararāja (King of Invoking with Clouds of Drums). He appeared in various forms, and as various deities and humans. (56a)

   2. Through these manifestations he has saved countless beings, and his power never decreases. He appears in whatever form is useful for saving beings.

8. Padmaśrī asks about the samādhi of Gadgadasvara. The Buddha explains that it is the manifestation of all forms (this is identical in wording to the “observation of all forms,” they are the same).

9. When this chapter was being taught eighty-four beings attained the samādhi of the manifestation of all forms.

10. After having returned from the Sāha world, Gadgadasvara reports the benefits of his visit to the Buddha Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña and forty-two thousand devas attained acceptance of the nonorigination of all dharmas and Padmaśrī attained the samādhi of the White Lotus of the True Dharma (i.e. Lotus Sūtra Samādhi). (56b)

Analysis

Tao-sheng explains that the samādhi of the manifestation of all forms is identical with the wisdom of the Lotus Sūtra, and when people glorify and spread the Lotus Sūtra, they are manifesting that samādhi which allows them to take on various forms. The main point here is that the teaching of the Dharma can take on a boundless of variety of appearances. (Kim, 525) Tao-sheng also points out that the gradual appearance of Gadgadasvara, from Mañjuśrī’s inquiry, to his appearance in the presence of the Buddha, which is preceded by flowers appearing, are to gradually arouse an interest in the minds of the hearers. The main reasons he appeared are twofold: firstly, to show that he will cross all of those lands for the sake of the Lotus Sūtra, and secondly, to show that all Buddhas fundamentally teach an identical path. (Kim, 526)