Overall Teaching

Ananyagāmin can pass countless lands in a single thought, and pay homage to countless buddhas. He also goes to countless sentient beings, appearing to them according to their needs, in a single instant.

Summary

1. Sudhana, not having enough of seeing Avalokiteśvara obeyed his words and turned to Ananyagāmin^[1] and asked him how to engage in bodhisattva practice. He replied:

a. He attained a liberation “speeding forth in all directions.”^[2]

b. It is hard for ordinary beings who are not under the tutelage of a buddha, and who have limited roots, to understand the accomplishment of a bodhisattva. However, since Sudhana asks, he attained this liberation under the buddha Born of Universal

Light in his land to the east called Full of Light. He left there untold aeons ago.^[3]

c. With each thought he takes as many steps as the atoms in all buddha-lands, and in each step he passes as many buddha-lands as atoms in all buddha-lands. He goes to each of those buddhas and offers to them all, and observes all beings, penetrates their minds and faculties, and appears to them in accordance with their needs, striving to guide them to perfection.^[4]

d. He knows only this liberation, but cannot tell of the virtues of bodhisattvas who go everywhere. Thus, he should go south to Dvaravati, where the celestial Mahādeva lives, who he should ask about bodhisattva practice.

2. Paying homage to Ananyagāmin, Sudhana left.

[1] He represents the eighth dedication, “characteristic of true Thusness.” (1602) His name means “He who Proceeds Directly” since “knowledge and compassion are not two separate entities … was also on the mountain of little white flowers (Potalaka) the same as Avalokiteśvara.”

[2] “From fundamental knowledge are produced differentiated magical knowledge-bodies, which echo throughout the ten directions without traveling in essence; this is the liberation enabling one to speed forth in all directions, attained in the company of a buddha transcending all.”

[3] “One’s own treasury of knowledge of subtle inner designs is always producing without producing anything—this is the eastern world pregnant with subtle marvels.”

[4] “Because the essence of knowledge is inherently omnipresent and all-inclusive, it extends without actually speeding, transcending sensual or intellectual assessments; therefore, Ananyagāmin passed so many buddha-fields in a single instant of thought. By the unfabricated seal of knowledge he mastered the magical function of acts, so that they succeeded effortlessly becoming subtle offerings.” (1603)