Overall Teaching

The bodhisattva’s true body is the Dharma-body, which is unarising, beyond sustenance, and manifests birth, death, and physical acts only as skilful means; through it, bodhisattvas heal beings’ afflictions and lead them toward awakening. Ultimately, this Dharma-body is inseparable from the Tathāgata’s own body, serving as refuge, nourishment, and the source of liberation.

Summary

1. Setting

• The scene is established at Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa in Rājagṛha, a traditional location for the Buddha’s sermons.

• The Buddha is surrounded by a great assembly, including bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, kings, devas, and other beings.

2. The Bodhisattvas from Other Buddha-fields

• Numerous bodhisattvas arrive from distant buddha-fields to hear the Dharma.

• Their presence illustrates the universal reach of the Buddha’s teaching and the vast interconnection of buddha-fields across space.

3. The Divine and Worldly Beings in the Assembly

• The sūtra notes the participation of devas, nāgas, yakṣas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas, and humans.

• This diverse assembly reflects the cosmic inclusiveness of the teaching and the Dharma’s ability to engage all classes of beings.

4. The Full Collection of the Superior Practices of Bodhisattvas

• The text describes the vast range of practices bodhisattvas undertake, encompassing generosity, morality, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom.

• These are portrayed as immeasurable in scope, demonstrating the bodhisattvas’ limitless compassion and skill in benefiting beings.

5. The Two Cultivations of Merit and Wisdom

• Bodhisattva practice is said to rest on the twin cultivation of merit (puṇya) and wisdom (prajñā).

• These two are interdependent: merit supports the path of compassion, while wisdom realises emptiness and non-duality.

6. The Request for Vajrapāṇi to Teach this Sūtra

• Vajrapāṇi is entreated to expound the teaching of the secrets of the body, speech, and mind.

• His role as protector and revealer of esoteric Dharma is highlighted, showing his authority as “Lord of Mysteries”.

7. The Benefits of this Dharma Teaching

• Hearing, reciting, and practising this Dharma ensures protection, merit, and progress toward awakening.

• The benefits extend across lifetimes, affirming karmic continuity and the profound power of this sūtra.

8. The Secret of the Bodhisattva’s Body

• The bodhisattva’s body is identified as the Dharma-body (dharmakāya), which transcends physical sustenance and is beyond arising and ceasing.

• Bodhisattvas manifest eating, birth, and death only as skilful means to teach beings, while their true body remains unconditioned.

• Using the simile of Jīvaka’s medicinal woman, the sūtra illustrates how the Dharma-body heals beings’ afflictions.

• Ultimately, the bodhisattva’s body is inseparable from the Tathāgata’s Dharma-body, which is the source of Dharma food, refuge, and liberation.