Between Day 32 and Day 1: Welcoming Many-Treasures Buddha

Having last month considered purification of the sense faculty of sight, we consider the arrival of the stupa of Many-Treasures Buddha.

After purifying the sense faculty of sight, the practitioner must further internalize and recite the Great Vehicle sutras and, at the six specified times of day and night, kneel formally and undertake self-amendment. Additionally, the practitioner must speak these words:

“Why is it that I can now see only Śākyamuni Buddha and buddhas emanated from him, but not the stupa of Many-Treasures Buddha, the reliquary of his entire body? The stupa of Many-Treasures Buddha is always present – it does not cease to exist; I cannot see the stupa because my eyes are yet faulty and impaired.”

After saying these words, the practitioner must do further self-amendment. After seven days have passed, the stupa of Many-Treasures Buddha will emerge from the ground. Śākyamuni Buddha will then open the door of the stupa with his right hand, and Many-Treasures Buddha – fully engaged in the specialized focus of mind regarding his universal manifestation in any figure or form – will be perceived. Rays of brilliant light as numerous as all the grains of sand in the Ganges River flow out from every pore of his body, and a hundred-thousand myriad koṭis of manifested buddha forms are present in every ray of light. The practitioner will become joyful when this condition appears; then she or he must walk around the stupa while offering praise in verse. After seven circuits have been completed, Many-Treasures Tathāgatha will praise the Dharma successor with a great voice, saying:

“Truly you now capably practice in accordance with the Great Vehicle, faithfully following Universal Sage and doing self-amendment for the sense faculty of sight! As the result of this act, I come to you as your proof!”

Having spoken thus, he will then say in commendation:

“Well done, Śākyamuni Buddha! Well done! You skillfully expound the Great Dharma, pouring down the Great Dharma’s rain to bring all manner of muddled living beings to clarity!”

See The Practice of the Lotus Teaching