Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 21.djvu/388

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
340
SADDHARMA-PUNDARÎKA.
xviii.

sounds the preacher is able to hear from his place on earth, without being overpowered by them.

14. From where he is stationed here on the earth he also hears the different and multifarious sounds through which the inhabitants of the realm of brutes are conversing with each other.

15. He apprehends all the sounds, without any exception, whereby the numerous angels living in the Brahma-world, the Akanish/^as and Abhasvaras call one another.

16. He likewise always hears the sound which the monks on earth are raising when engaged in reading, and when preaching the law to congrega- tions, after having taken orders under the command of the Sugatas.

17. And when the Bodhisattvas here on earth have a reading together and raise their voices in the general synods, he hears them severally.

18. The Bodhisattva who preaches this Sfttra shall, at one time, also hear the perfect law 2 that the Lord Buddha, the tamer of men 3 , announces to the assemblies.

19. The numerous sounds produced by all beings in the triple world, in this field, within and without, (downward) to the AvLfci and upward to the extremity of existence, are heard by him.

20. (In short), he perceives the voices of all beings, his ear being open. Being in the possession of his six senses 4 , he will discern the different sources (of sound), and that while his organ of hearing is the natural one;

Two classes of angels of the Brahma-heaven.

I. e. judgment.

I. e. in his quality of Dharmar%a.

I. e. not being out of his wits.