2.
The Talk on Sumedha's Aspiration
There was a city named Amara, beautiful to behold and delightful.
The sound of elephants, the sound of horses, drums, conches, and chariots;
"Eat and drink," proclaimed with food and drink.
Endowed with the seven jewels, crowded with various people;
Prosperous like a city of the gods, an abode for those of meritorious deeds.
With an accumulation of many tens of millions, with abundant wealth and grain.
In the marks of a great man and in history, having reached perfection in his own teaching.
"Rebirth is suffering indeed, and the breaking of the body.
The ageless, the Deathless, the secure, I will seek peace.
Having discarded it, I would go, without attachment, not desirous of it.
I will seek that path, for release from existence.
So when existence is present, non-existence too should be desired.
So when the threefold fire exists, Nibbāna should be desired.
Even so when birth exists, non-birth too should be desired.
Does not seek that lake, that is not the fault of the lake.
He does not seek that lake, that is not the fault of the lake of the Deathless.
Does not flee, that man, that is not the fault of the road.
He does not seek that path, that is not the fault of the safe road.
Does not have that disease treated, that is not the fault of the physician.
Does not seek that teacher, that is not the fault of the Great Leader.
Having released it, would go, happy, independent, self-controlled.
Having discarded it, I would go, without attachment, not desirous of it.
Having discarded it, they go, without attachment, not desirous of it.
I will go, like one who, having defecated, leaves the hut.
The owners, having abandoned it, go, without concern, not desirous of it.
Having abandoned it, I will go, like owners leave a worn-out boat.
Having seen the fear of goods being seized, having discarded them, he goes.
Having abandoned this I shall go, from fear of the cutting off of wholesome states."
Having given to those with protectors and the destitute, I approached the Himalayas.
A hermitage was well made by me, a leaf-hut was well built.
Endowed with eight qualities, I brought forth the power of direct knowledge.
I put on a bark garment, possessed of twelve virtues.
I approached a tree-root, possessed of ten virtues.
Endowed with many virtues, I took up fallen fruit.
Within seven days, I attained the power of direct knowledge.
The Conqueror named Dīpaṅkara, the leader of the world, arose.
I did not see the four signs, being absorbed in the delight of meditative absorption.
They clean the path for his coming, with satisfied minds.
Shaking off my bark garments, I then go into the sky.
Having descended from the sky, he asked the people at that very moment.
For whom is the path being cleared, the straight road?"
The Conqueror named Dīpaṅkara, the leader of the world, arose;
For him the path is being cleared, the straight road."
Saying "Buddha, Buddha," I declared my pleasure.
"Here I shall plant seeds, let not the moment pass by indeed.
I too will clear the straight road."
Thinking 'Buddha, Buddha,' I cleansed the path then.
With four hundred thousand, possessing the six higher knowledges, such ones;
With those who have eliminated the mental corruptions, with the unstained, the Conqueror proceeded along the straight path.
Rejoicing, men and deities uttered applause.
Both of them, with joined palms, follow the Tathāgata.
Both of them, playing music, follow the Tathāgata.
The gods gone into the sky scatter them in every direction.
The gods gone into the sky scatter them in every direction.
Men standing on the ground throw them up in every direction.
Having spread them out on the mud, I lay down face downward.
Let him not step on the mud, it will be for my welfare."
"If I wished, today I could burn up my defilements.
Having attained omniscience, I shall be a Buddha in the world with its gods.
Having attained omniscience, I shall help the world with its gods to cross over.
Having attained omniscience, I help many people cross over.
Having climbed aboard the boat of the Dhamma, I shall help the world with its gods to cross over."
Going forth, achievement of qualities, aspiration and desire;
Through the combination of eight factors, the resolution succeeds.
Standing at my head, spoke these words.
After incalculable cosmic cycles, he will become a Buddha in the world.
Having striven in striving, having performed austerities.
Having taken up the milk-rice there, he will approach the Nerañjarā.
By the prepared excellent path, he will approach the foot of the Bodhi tree.
At the root of the holy fig tree, the one of great fame will awaken.
His father will be named Suddhodana, this one will be Gotama.
Kolita and Upatissa will be the chief disciples;
Ānanda by name will be the attendant, he will attend upon this Conqueror.
Without mental corruptions, without lust, with peaceful minds, concentrated;
The enlightenment tree of that Blessed One is called the holy fig tree.
Uttarā and Nanda's mother will be the chief female attendants."
Rejoicing, men and deities said: "This one is indeed a Buddha-seed."
With joined palms they pay homage, the ten-thousand world-system together with the gods.
In the future time, we shall be face to face with him."
Having taken a lower ford, they cross over the great river.
In the future time, we shall be face to face with him."
Having praised my action, lifted up his right foot.
Gods, humans and titans, having paid respect, departed.
Having risen from the lying place, I then folded my legs crosswise.
And overflowing with rapture, I then folded my legs crosswise.
"I have become a master in meditative absorption, having reached perfection in the direct knowledges.
Matchless in supernormal powers, I obtained such happiness.
Uttered a great roar: 'Certainly you will become a Buddha.'
Those signs appear today.
Those signs appear today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
Those signs appear today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
Those signs appear today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
They are all in bloom today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
They are all bearing fruit today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
Those jewels shine today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
Both today resound, certainly you will become a Buddha.
They too rain down today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
Both today resound, certainly you will become a Buddha.
Those fires are quenched today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
They too appear today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
That too springs up from the earth today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
Visākhā is joined with the moon, certainly you will become a Buddha.'
Today those dwelling places are abandoned, certainly you will become a Buddha.
They are all content today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
Those signs appear today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
They have all departed today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
By that sign we know, certainly you will become a Buddha.
By that sign we know, certainly you will become a Buddha.
That fragrance blows forth today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
They are all seen today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
They are all seen today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
They became like space today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
Those signs appear today, certainly you will become a Buddha.
We understand this, certainly you will become a Buddha."
Satisfied, joyful, greatly delighted, thus I thought then.
There is no falsehood in the Buddhas, certainly I will become a Buddha.
So too the word of the foremost Buddhas is everlasting and eternal;
There is no falsehood in the Buddhas, certainly I will become a Buddha.
So too the word of the foremost Buddhas is everlasting and eternal;
There is no falsehood in the Buddhas, certainly I will become a Buddha.
So too the word of the foremost Buddhas is everlasting and eternal;
There is no falsehood in the Buddhas, certainly I will become a Buddha.
So too the word of the foremost Buddhas is everlasting and eternal;
There is no falsehood in the Buddhas, certainly I will become a Buddha.
So too the word of the foremost Buddhas is everlasting and eternal;
There is no falsehood in the Buddhas, certainly I will become a Buddha.
Above, below, the ten directions, as far as the element of phenomena extends."
The great path practised by the great sages of old.
Go to the perfection of giving, if you wish to attain enlightenment.
Discharges water entirely, does not hold back therein.
Give a gift entirely, like a water-pot turned upside down.
I will search for others too, those qualities that ripen enlightenment."
Practised and cultivated by the great sages of old.
Go to the perfection of morality, if you wish to attain enlightenment.
Goes to death there, does not destroy its tail.
Always guard morality, as a yak its tail.
I will search for others too, those qualities that ripen enlightenment."
Practised and cultivated by the great sages of old.
Go to the perfection of renunciation, if you wish to attain enlightenment.
Does not generate lust therein, but seeks only freedom.
Be inclined towards renunciation, for release from existence.
I will search for others too, those qualities that ripen enlightenment."
Practised and cultivated by the great sages of old.
Go to the perfection of wisdom, if you wish to attain enlightenment.
Not avoiding families, thus he obtains sustenance.
Having gone to the perfection of wisdom, you will attain the highest enlightenment.
I will search for others too, those qualities that ripen enlightenment."
Practised and cultivated by the great sages of old.
Go to the perfection of energy, if you wish to attain enlightenment.
Is ever of unwavering energy, with mind always uplifted.
Having gone to the perfection of energy, you will attain the highest enlightenment.
I will search for others too, those qualities that ripen enlightenment."
Practised and cultivated by the great sages of old.
There with undoubting mind, you will attain the highest enlightenment.
Endures all that is cast upon it, it does not make aversion thereby.
Having gone to the perfection of patience, you will attain the highest enlightenment.
I will search for others too, those qualities that ripen enlightenment."
Practised and cultivated by the great sages of old.
There being of uncontradictory speech, you will attain the highest enlightenment.
In season or in the seasonal rains, does not deviate from its path.
Having gone to the perfection of truthfulness, you will attain the highest enlightenment.
I will search for others too, those qualities that ripen enlightenment."
Practised and cultivated by the great sages of old.
There you, having become unshakeable, will attain the highest enlightenment.
Does not tremble in strong winds, remains in its own place.
Having gone to the perfection of determination, you will attain the highest enlightenment.
I will search for others too, those qualities that ripen enlightenment."
Practised and cultivated by the great sages of old.
Be matchless in friendliness, if you wish to attain enlightenment.
Pervades equally with coolness, and washes away dust and stain.
Having gone to the perfection of friendliness, you will attain the highest enlightenment.
I will search for others too, those qualities that ripen enlightenment."
Practised and cultivated by the great sages of old.
Having become like a balance, firm, you will attain the highest enlightenment.
Is indifferent to both of these, free from irritation and friendliness.
Having gone to the perfection of equanimity, you will attain the highest enlightenment.
Beyond these there is nothing else, firmly establish yourself therein."
By the power of the Dhamma, the earth, the ten-thousand world-system, quaked.
Just as a wheel in an oil-press, thus the ground trembles.
Trembling, she there, fainted, lay on the ground.
Were crushed and churned there, mutually struck against each other.
The great multitude having assembled, approached Dīpaṅkara.
The whole world is troubled, dispel that, O One with Vision."
"Be confident, do not fear, in this earthquake.
He meditates on the Teaching, the ancient one practised by the Victors.
Therefore this earth trembled, the ten-thousand world-system with its gods."
All, having approached me, paid homage again.
Having paid homage to Dīpaṅkara, I then rose from my seat.
Sprinkle with flowers, upon him rising from his seat.
"Great is what you have aspired to, may you obtain that as you wished.
May there be no obstacles for you, quickly experience the highest enlightenment.
Just so you, O great hero, bloom with the Buddha's knowledge.
Just so you, O great hero, fulfil the ten perfections.
Just so you, O great hero, awaken to the enlightenment of the Conquerors.
Just so you, O great hero, set in motion the wheel of the Teaching.
Just so you, with fulfilled aspirations, shine brightly over the ten-thousandfold world system.
Just so, having released from the world, shine brightly with splendour, you.
So may the worlds with their gods come into your presence."
Fulfilling those qualities, he then entered the forest wilds.
The Treatise on Sumedha's Aspiration is concluded.