The Divine Mantra by Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo
Here is a link to the text of The Divine Mantra compiled by Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo.
You can also listen to Ajahn Ṭhānissaro chant the verses by clicking here.
Read MoreJinapañjara Gāthā: The Victor’s Cage
Listen to the verses chanted by clicking here.
Jayāsanāgatā Buddhā Jetvā Māraṃ savāhanaṃ
Catu-saccāsabhaṃ rasaṃ Ye piviṅsu narāsabhā
The Buddhas, noble men who drank the nectar of the four noble truths, having come to the victory seat, having defeated Māra together with his mount;
Taṇhaṅkarādayo Buddhā Aṭṭha-vīsati nāyakā
Sabbe patiṭṭhitā mayhaṃ Matthake te munissarā
These Buddhas – twenty-eight leaders, sovereign sages beginning with Taṇhaṅkara – are all established on the crown of my head.
Sīse patiṭṭhito mayhaṃ Buddho dhammo dvilocane
Saṅgho patiṭṭhito mayhaṃ Ure sabba-guṇākaro
The Buddha is established in my head, the Dhamma in my two eyes, the Saṅgha – the mine of all virtues – is established in my chest.
Hadaye me Anuruddho Sārīputto ca dakkhiṇe
Koṇḍañño piṭṭhi-bhāgasmiṃ Moggallāno ca vāmake
Anuruddha is in my heart, and Sārīputta on my right. Koṇḍañña is behind me, and Moggallāna on my left.
Dakkhiṇe savane mayhaṃ Āsuṃ Ānanda-Rāhulā
Kassapo ca Mahānāmo Ubhāsuṃ vāma-sotake
Ānanda and Rāhula are in my right ear, Kassapa and Mahānāma are both in my left ear.
Kesato piṭṭhi-bhāgasmiṃ Suriyova pabhaṅkaro
Nisinno siri-sampanno Sobhito muni-puṅgavo
Sobhita, the noble sage, sits in consummate glory, shining like the sun all over the hair at the back of my head.
Kumāra-kassapo thero Mahesī citta-vādako
So mayhaṃ vadane niccaṃ Patiṭṭhāsi guṇākaro
Elder Kumārakassapa – great sage, brilliant speaker, a mine of virtue – is constantly in my mouth.
Puṇṇo Aṅgulimālo ca Upālī Nanda-Sīvalī
Therā pañca ime jātā Nalāṭe tilakā mama
These five elders – Puṇṇa, Aṅgulimāla, Upālī, Nanda, and Sīvalī – have arisen as auspicious marks at the middle of my forehead.
Sesāsīti mahātherā Vijitā jina-sāvakā
Etesīti mahātherā Jitavanto jinorasā
Jalantā sīla-tejena Aṅgamaṅgesu saṇṭhitā
The rest of the 80 great elders – victorious, disciples of the Victor, sons of the Victor, shining with the majesty of moral virtue – are established in the various parts of my body.
Ratanaṃ purato āsi Dakkhiṇe Metta-suttakaṃ
Dhajaggaṃ pacchato āsi Vāme Aṅgulimālakaṃ
The Ratana Sutta is in front, the Metta Sutta to the right. The Dhajagga Sutta is behind, the Aṅgulimāla Paritta to the left.
Khandha-Mora-parittañca Āṭānāṭiya-suttakaṃ
Ākāse chadanaṃ āsi Sesā pākāra-saṇṭhitā
The Khandha and Mora Parittas and the Āṭānāṭiya Sutta are a roof in space. The remaining suttas are established as a rampart.
Jinānāvara-saṃyuttā Sattap-pākāra-laṅkatā
Vāta-pittādi-sañjātā Bāhirajjhattupaddavā
Asesā vinayaṃ yantu Ananta-jina-tejasā
Bound by the Victor’s authority and strength, seven ramparts arrayed against them, may all misfortunes within and without – caused by such things as wind or bile – be destroyed without trace through the unending Victor’s majesty.
Vasato me sakiccena Sadā Sambuddha-pañjare
Jina-pañjara-majjhamhi Viharantaṃ mahītale
Sadā pālentu maṃ sabbe Te mahā-purisāsabhā
As I dwell, in all my affairs, always in the cage of the Self-awakened One, living on earth in the middle of the cage of the Victors, I am always guarded by all of those great noble men.
Iccevamanto sugutto surakkho
Jinānubhāvena jitupaddavo
Dhammānubhavena jitārisaṅgho
Saṅghānubhāvena jitantarāyo
Saddhammānubhāva-pālito carāmi jina-pañjareti.
Thus am I utterly well-sheltered, well-protected. Through the power of the Victor, misfortunes are vanquished. Through the power of the Dhamma, the enemy horde is vanquished. Through the power of the Saṅgha, dangers are vanquished. Guarded by the power of the True Dhamma, I go about in the Victor’s Cage.
Read MoreBuddhāpadāna: The Tradition of the Previous Excellent Deeds of the Buddha
1. Now, with a pure mind, attend to the Tradition of the previous excellent deeds of the Buddhas, the innumerable kings of righteousness, replete with thirty Perfections.
2. To the supreme enlightenment of the best of the Buddhas, to leaders of the world together with their Orders, I bowed down paying homage with joined hands.
3. In the Buddha-realm, as many as are there the numerous jewels, both in the heaven above and on the earth below, I brought all to my mind.
4. There on a silvery ground, I built a palace, many storied, jeweled, raised high to the sky,
5. Having ornamented pillars, well executed, well divided and arranged, costly, a mass of gold, decorated with arched gateways and canopies.
6. The first story was of lapis lazuli, shining like a bright piece of cloud; there were (the presentations of) lotuses and lilies strewn over in the excellent golden story.
7. Some (of the stories) was of corals, some having coral-lustre, some shining red, while others resembling the Indagopaka-colour, illumined the quarters.
8. They had doors, portals and windows well divided and arranged, four networks of vedikas and a delightful perfumed enclosure.
9. And they were provided with the excellent peaked roofs blue, yellow, red, white and bright black and decorated with seven varieties of jewels.
10. They had (devices of) lotuses of graceful looks, and were beautified by (the figures of) beasts and birds of prey, filled with (the presentations of) planets and stars, and adorned with (those of) the moon and sun.
11. They were covered over with a golden netting joined with the golden tinkling bells, and the lovely golden garlands (on them) sounded musically by the force of the wind.
12. Festoons of banners, raised on them, were made lovely by various colours crimson, red, yellow and gold-coloured.
13. Diverse, numerous, many hundreds were the slabs, made of silver, of jewels, of rubies, and also of emeralds.
14. The palace was resplendent with various beds, and covered with soft Benares fabrics, rugs, silk made of the Dukula-fibre, China cloth, fine cloth, fibrous garments, whitish garments, and all this manifold covering I spread out there in my mind.
15. Adorned with jeweled peaked roofs in different stories (the palace) stood firm, bearing torches shining like gems.
16. The wooden posts and pillars and the beautiful golden gates, made of gold brought from the Jambu river, of excellent (adra) wood, and also of silver, shone forth.
17. Divided and arranged into many breaks and resplendent with doors and cross-bars (the palace had) on both sides many full vases filled with red, white and blue lotuses.
18. All the Buddhas of the past, the leaders of the world, together with their Orders and disciples, I created in their natural beauty and appearance.
19. Entering by that entrance, all the Buddhas together with their disciples — the circle of the elect — sat down on golden seats.
20. The pre-eminent Buddhas that are now in the world, those of the past and present, I brought them all into the mansion.
21. Many hundreds of Paccekabuddhas, self-enlightened and invincible, those of the past and present, I brought them all into the mansion.
22. Many wishing trees, divine and earthly, there were; I procured all garments and covered (them each) with three robes.
23. Filling the beautiful jeweled bowls, I offered (them) ready-made food, hard and soft, eatable and savoury, as well as drink and meal.
24. Procuring divine garments, I provided them with robes of fine cloth; I entertained the whole circle of the elect with best food and (the four) sweet drinks of sugar, oil, honey and molasses.
25. Entering the jeweled chamber, they, like lions lying down in caves, lay down in a lion’s posture on costly beds.
26. Mindful they rose and sat down cross-legged; they gave themselves up to delight in meditation on the way of all the Buddhas.
27. Some preached the doctrines, some sported by their supernormal power, some who had gained mastery over and developed the higher psychic perception, applied themselves to it, while others numbering many hundred thousands worked transformations of themselves by their supernormal power.
28. The Buddhas, too, questioned (other) Buddhas on points relating to omniscience, and comprehended by their knowledge matters, deep and subtle,
29. The disciples questioned the Buddhas, the Buddhas questioned the disciples; they questioned each other, to each other did they explain.
30. The Buddhas, the Paccekabuddhas, the disciples and attendants, enjoying thus their delightful pursuits, rejoiced at the palace.
31. ‘May they hold over head (each) an umbrella, embroidered with gold and silver nets and gems, and fringed with nets of pearls!
32. May there be awnings, resplendent with golden stars, variegated, and having flower-wreaths spread over (them); may they all hold them over head!
33. Be (the palace) laid out with wreaths of flowers, fragrant with rows of perfumes, strewn over with festoons of garments, and bedecked with strings of jewels!
34. Be it strewn over with flowers, much variegated, incensed with sweet perfumes, marked with five-finger marks of perfumes, and covered over with a golden covering.
35. On four sides, be the tanks covered over with lotuses red and white and blue; be that these having lotus-pollens coming out, appear in golden hue!
36. All trees be blossomed around the palace, and let them drooping themselves sprinkle perfumed flowers over the mansion.
37. Let the crested (peacocks) dance there, divine swans utter melodious sounds. Let the Karavika birds, too, sing out and the flocks of birds be on all sides.
38. Let all drums be sounded, all lutes be played. Let all varieties of music go on around the palace.
39. As far as the Buddha-realm, and above the horizons of the world, magnificent, lustrous, faultless and jeweled,
40. Let the golden divans be; let candlesticks be lighted, and the ten thousand (worlds) in succession be of one lustre.
41. Let also courtesans, dancers and celestial nymphs dance, and various theatres be staged around the palace.
42. On tree-tops, mountain-tops, or on the summit of the Simeru mountain, let me raise all manners of banners, variegated and five-coloured.
43. Let men, nagas, gandhabbas and gods, all approach them paying homage with joined hands, and surround the palace.’
44. Whatever good deed done, ought to be done, or intended to be done by me, I did it well by body, speech and mind in (the abode of) the Thirty.
45. ‘The beings who are conscious or unconscious, let all share in the result of the meritorious deed done by me.
46. To (them) whom the result of the meritorious deed done by me has been offered, it is (thus) made well known. And to those who do not know of it, the gods should go and report.
47. In the whole world, the beings that live but for the sake of food, let them obtain all manners of agreeable food by my heart’s wish.’
48. Mentally I offered the gift, mentally I brought the palace. I did homage to all the supreme Buddhas, Paccekas and disciples of the conquerors.
49. By that meritorious deed, will and resolve, I. abandoning the human body, went up to the Thirty-three.
50. I have come to know (only) of the two existences, divine and human; no other destiny have I experienced this is the fulfilment of my mental wish.
51. I have been superior to the gods, I have become the lord of men. Endowed with beauty and appearance, I am incomparable in the world in respect of wisdom.
52. Food of various kinds and best, jewels not inadequate, and garments of all fashions come to me quickly from above (lit. the sky).
53. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, divine eatables come to me.
54. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, all varieties of jewels come to me.
55. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, all kinds of perfumes come to me.
56. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, all kinds of vehicles come to me.
57. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, all kinds of garlands come to me.
58. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, (all manners of) decorations come to me.
59. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, maidens of all descriptions come to me.
60. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, come (to me) honey and sugar.
61. On earth as well as mountain, in the air, water and wood, wherever I stretch forth my hand, all varieties of solid food come to me.
62. To the poor and needy, to the professional and street-beggars, whatever excellent gift I made, (it was) for the attainment of the Enlightenment par excellence.
63. While making mountains and rocks roar, dense forest thunder, this world and heaven joyous, I have become a Buddha in the world.
64. In this world, tenfold is the direction of which there is no end, and in that direction are the innumerable Buddha-realms.
65. My halo is described as shooting forth rays in pairs; let the blaze of rays between them be of great effulgence.
66. In such world-system, let all persons see me, let all be joyful, and let all follow me.
67. Let the drum of immortality be beaten with reverberating sweet-sound; in the midst of it let all persons Hear my sweet voice.
68. While the cloud of righteousness showers, let all be free from the defilements; let the lowest of beings be (at least) the Stream-winners.
69. Giving away the gift worthy to be given, I fulfilled the precepts entirely, reached perfection in the matter of renunciation, and obtained the Enlightenment par excellence.
70. Questioning the wise, I put forth the best energy, reached perfection in the matter of forbearance, and obtained the Enlightenment par excellence.
71. Intent on truth, I fulfilled the perfection of truth; reaching perfection in friendliness, I obtained the Enlightenment par excellence.
72. In gain and loss, in happiness and sorrow, in respect and disrespect, being unperturbed under all vicissitudes, I obtained the Enlightenment par excellence.
73. Viewing idleness from fear, and energy from peace, be energetic — this is the command of the Buddha.
74. Viewing dissension from fear, and amity from peace, be united and kindly in speech — this is the command of the Buddhas.
75. Viewing indolence from fear, and diligence from peace, cultivate the eightfold path — this is the command of the Buddhas.
76. Assembled (here) are many Buddhas and Arahants from all quarters; to the supreme Buddhas and Arahants pay homage and bow down.
77. Thus are the Buddhas incomprehensible, and incomprehensible are the qualities of the Buddhas and incomprehensible is the reward of those who have faith in the incomprehensible.
Thus the Blessed One, while developing his own Buddha-life, related the religious discourse, called the Tradition of the previous excellent deeds of the Buddhas.
Read MoreAnāgatavaṃsa: Chronicle of the Future [Buddha]
![Anāgatavaṃsa: Chronicle of the Future [Buddha]](http://measurelessmind.ca/bodhi/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/et_temp/pink-lotus-56910_186x186.jpg "Anāgatavaṃsa: Chronicle of the Future [Buddha]")
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambudhassa
1. Sāriputta of great wisdom, the leader Upatissa, the firm general of the Doctrine, approached the leader of the world
2. and asked about his own doubts with reference to the future Conqueror: “What will the wise Buddha immediately after you be like?
3. I wish to hear this in detail. Please tell me, O Seeing One.” Hearing the Thera’s words, the Blessed One said this:
4. “It is not possible for anyone to describe completely at length Ajita’s great accumulation of merit which is not small, which is of great fame. I will tell [you about] it in part. Listen to me, O Sāriputta.
5. In this auspicious world cycle, in the future, in a crore of years, there will be an Awakened One named Metteyya, the best of two-footed beings,
6. of great merit, great wisdom, great knowledge, great fame, great power, great steadfastness; he will be born, one who sees.
7. That Conqueror will be born, having a great [state of] rebirth, [great] mindfulness, full of wisdom, of great learning, he will be a preacher, a knower of all things, one who sees well, who touches, plunges into, and grasps.
8. At that time, there will be a royal city named Ketumatī, twelve leagues long and seven leagues wide,
9. full of men and women, adorned with palaces, frequented by pure beings, unconquerable, protected by dhamma.
10. There will be a king named Saṅkha, of limitless army and vehicles, possessing the seven jewels, a Wheel-Turning Monarch of great power,
11. having psychic powers, fame, enjoying all sensual pleasures; and he will preach the doctrine of quiescence that destroys all its opponents.
12. [There will be] a well-made palace there, like a divine palace, produced by the action of his merit, resplendent with many jewels,
13. surrounded by balustrades, well designed, delightful, resplendent, very tall, the best, hard to look at, captivating the eye,
14. the jewelled palace that came into existence for King Mahā-Panāda. Having raised up that palace King Saṅkha will live in it.
15. And then, in that city, there will be various streets here and there, delightful lotus ponds, well built, with beautiful banks,
16. with clear water, settled, sweet and cool, fragrant, full to the brim, drinkable by crows, [with banks] strewn with sand,
17. covered with red and blue lotuses, accessible to all people at all seasons. There will be seven rows of palm trees and walls of seven colours
18. made of jewels, encircling the city all around. The royal city of Kusāvatī at that time will be Ketumatī.
19. At the four gates of the city there will be shining wishing trees, [one] blue, [one] yellow, [one] red, and [one] white.
20. Divine clothes and divine ornaments will come into existence and all sorts of wealth and possessions will hang there.
21. Then, in the middle of the city, there will be four halls, facing the four directions, and there will be a wishing tree produced by the action of his merit.
22. Cotton cloth and silk and flaxen Kodumbara cloth produced by the action of his merit will hang on those wishing trees.
23. Tambourines, tambours, and small drums produced by the action of his merit will hang on those wishing trees.
24. Encircling bracelets and necklaces made of jewels produced by the action of his merit will hang on those wishing trees.
25. Tiaras, jewels for the brow, bracelets, and jewelled girdles produced by the action of his merit will hang on those wishing trees.
26. And many other ornaments and decorations of different sorts produced by the action of his merit will hang on those wishing trees.
27. Through the action of beings’ merits, men will enjoy self-generated rice that has no “dust”, no chaff, that is pure, sweet-smelling, with grains ready husked, ripened without cultivation.
28. A sixteenth of [today’s] ambaṇa [measure] will be 2,270 cartloads.
29. And at that time what is called two tumbas of rice grains will grow from one grain produced by the action of beings’ merits.
30. Then the men who live in Ketumatī in the kingdom of Saṅkha will wear armour and bracelets.
31. Whatever they want will be fulfilled. They will have happy faces. They will wear large earrings. Their bodies will be covered with yellow sandalwood paste. They will wear the best Kāsi cloth.
32. They will be of great wealth, rich; they will be awakened by drums and lutes. They will constantly be exceedingly happy in body and mind.
33. Jambūdīpa will be ten thousand leagues [long], without thorns and thickets, level, with green grass.
34. There will be [only] three diseases: desire, hunger, and old age. And the women will marry at the age of five hundred.
35. They will always be in unity, congenial, without disputes. The vines, trees, woods, and bushes will be covered with fruit and flowers.
36. There will be a kind of grass four-inches high that will be soft, like cotton. There will be even rains and gentle winds, neither too hot nor too cold.
37. There will always be good weather. The rivers and ponds will not lack [in water]. Here and there in various parts of the earth, the pure sand will not be rough. It will be scattered around like pearls the size of peas and beans.
38. It will be delightful like an adorned garden. Here and there, there will be villages and towns very close together and crowded,
39. like a great forest of reeds and bamboo, at a cockflight’s [distance apart], they will be full of people, I think, like the Avīci hell.
40. Trading cities will be densely filled with men and women, prosperous, rich and tranquil, free from danger, and without trouble.
41. [People] will wander about at festival-time, always joyful, always playing, extremely happy, delighted and pleased, rejoicing.
42. There will be much food and drink, much to eat, much meat, drink, and water. Jambūdīpa will be delightful, like Ālakamandā [the city] of the Devas or the broad capital of the Kurus.
43. The one named Ajita [will be born] as Metteyya, the best of two-footed beings, with the thirty-two excellent marks and the minor characteristics,
44. of golden complexion, without stain, very splendid, resplendent, of the highest fame, glorious, of perfect form, of good appearance,
45. of great power, incomparable. He will be born in a Brahman family, with great wealth, with great possessions, and of the best of great families. He will be born in a Brahman family, not criticized with talk concerning his birth.
46. [Four] palaces made of jewels will have come into being for Ajita: Sirivaḍḍha, Vaḍḍhamāna, Siddhattha, and Candaka.
47. Ajita’s female attendants will be women perfect in all their limbs, adorned with [all kinds of] ornaments, small, medium, and large.
48. There will be not less than one hundred thousand women fully adorned. Candamukhī will be his wife. Brahmavaddhana will be his son.
49. He will delight in great happiness, endowed with pleasure, joyful. Having enjoyed all fame like Vāsava [= Sakka] in the Nandana grove,
50. he will live in a house for eight thousand years. At some time, going for pleasure to a park to amuse himself,
51. seeing the danger in sensual pleasures and being wise in accordance with the nature of Bodhisattas, having seen the four signs which destroy sensual pleasures and joy:
52. having seen an old man and a sick man and a dead man with life departed and a happy wanderer; [and] having sympathy for all beings,
53. becoming averse to sensual pleasures, not looking for great happiness, seeking the unsurpassed state of peace, he will go forth.
54. Having undertaken the practice of exertion for seven days, the best of men, that Conqueror will go forth, leaping up [into the air] from his palace.
55.–56. Ajita will become a wanderer, honoured by a great group of people, friends, ministers and companions, blood relatives, the fourfold army, assemblies of the four castes, and 84,000 princesses.
57. When Metteyya has gone forth, at that time, 84,000 Brahmans who are skilled in the Vedas will go forth.
58. At that time, both of the brothers Isidatta and Purāṇa [and] 84,000 [other people] will go forth.
59. The twins, Jātimitta and Vijaya, of infinite wisdom, will approach that Perfect Buddha from the 84,000.
60. The householder named Suddhika and the lay woman Sudhanā will approach the Perfect Buddha from that 84,000.
61. The lay disciple named Saṅkha and the lay woman named Saṅkhā will approach that Perfect Buddha from the 84,000.
62. The householder named Sudhana and the renowned Sudatta will approach that Perfect Buddha from the 84,000.
63. The woman named Yasavatī and the renowned Visākhā will be honoured by 84,000 men and women.
64. They will go forth in renunciation in Metteyya’s dispensation. Other citizens and many people from the country, and no few nobles, Brahmans, merchants, and workers,
65. being inclined to renunciation, a great crowd of all sorts of birth, will then go forth, following the going forth of Metteyya.
66. On the day that Wise One goes forth in renunciation, on that very day of going forth, he will approach the dais of the tree of awakening.
67. In the place of the unconquered bull [among men], on that supreme seat of awakening, seated in a cross-legged position, the one of great fame will be awakened.
68. Going to the excellent garden Nāgavana in full flower, thus the Conqueror will set in motion the incomparable Wheel of the Doctrine:
69. misery, the arising of misery, the overcoming of misery, and the noble eightfold path leading to the cessation of misery.
70. Then, there will be a gathering of men for one hundred leagues all around at the setting in motion of the Wheel of the Doctrine by the protector of the world.
71. Then, many more Devas will approach the Conqueror there. At that time he will loose the bonds of 1,000 crores of them.
72.–73. Then, that king Saṅkha, having given his jewel palace to the Saṅgha with the Conqueror at its head, having given another great gift to the poor, to the needy, and to beggars, hurrying along together with his queen, will approach the Perfect Buddha.
74. Through the power of the great king, of limitless army and vehicles, he will approach the Conqueror with 90,000 crores [of people].
75. Then the Perfect Buddha will beat the excellent and best drum of the Doctrine, the sound of the kettle drum of the death-free, making known the Four Truths.
76. The company of people accompanying the king, all 90, 000 crores without exception, will become “Come, Bhikkhu” monks.
77. Then Devas and men approaching the Leader of the World will ask the Conqueror a question concerning the excellent [state of] Arahatship.
78. That Conqueror will answer them. By the attainment of the excellent [state of] Arahatship by 80,000 crores there will be the third penetration.
79. The first assembly will be of 100,000 crores of those whose āsavas are destroyed, who are spotless, with peaceful minds, venerable ones.
80. At the Invitation [to declare purity] proclaimed by the Blessed One when he had spent the rainy season, that Conqueror will utter the Invitation with 90,000 crores.
81. And when the Sage has gone in seclusion to the golden and silver Gandhamādana slope in the Himavanta mountain range,
82. he will enjoy the sport of meditation with 80,000 crores, with peaceful minds, venerable ones, whose āsavas are destroyed, spotless,
83. 100,000 crores, possessing the six higher knowledges, having great psychic power, will constantly surround that lord of the World, Metteyya.
84. Skilled in discriminating knowledges, knowing the words and the explanation [of the Doctrine], very learned, expert in the Doctrine, knowledgeable, adorning the Saṅgha,
85. well tamed, gentle, firm, they will surround that Conqueror. That Nāga [the Buddha] will be honoured by those monks, Nāgas, venerable ones. He who will have crossed over, together with those who have crossed over, arrived at peace with those who are at peace.
86. Together with the orders of disciples, that Great Sage, the Compassionate One, the Sympathetic One, Metteyya, the best of two-footed beings, having uttered the Invitation,
87. raising up many individuals and Devas, bringing them to Nibbāna, the Conqueror will wander around the towns and villages and royal capitals.
88. Having beaten the drum of the Doctrine, sounding the conch shell of the Doctrine, proclaiming the spiritual sacrifice, raising up the banner of the Doctrine,
89. roaring the lion’s roar, setting in motion the excellent wheel [of the Doctrine], causing men and women to drink the drink of truth with its excellent taste,
90. for the sake of all beings, causing a great crowd, both rich and poor, of those who are capable of being awakened to be awakened, the Conqueror will wander.
91. One the Seeing One will cause to take refuge [in the Triple Gem], one to take the five moral precepts, and one to undertake the ten skilful [actions].
92. To one he will give the state of being a recluse and the four excellent Fruition States. To one he will give discriminating knowledges into the incomparable Doctrine.
93. To one the Seeing One will give the eight excellent attainments. To one he will give the three knowledges and the six higher knowledges.
94. By this means that Conqueror will admonish [a large] group of people. Then the Teaching of the Conqueror Metteyya will be widespread.
95. Seeing people capable of being awakened, that Sage having gone 100,000 leagues in a moment will cause them to be awakened.
96. At that time, Metteyya’s mother will be named Brahmavatī, his father will be named Subrahmā and will be the priest of King Saṅkha.
97. His foremost lay followers will be Asoka and Brahmadeva. The [lay] attendant Sīha will attend on that Conqueror.
98. Padumā and Sumanā will be his foremost female lay followers. Sumana and Saṅkha will be his foremost [lay] attendants.
99. Yasavatī and Saṅkhā will be his foremost female [lay] attendants. The Nāga tree will be the awakening [place] for that Blessed One.
100. Its trunk will be two thousand cubits. It will have two thousand branches with curved tips [always] moving. It will shine like the outspread tail of a peacock.
101. The tips [of the branches] will be continually in flower and fragrant with a heavenly smell. The pollen will fill a nāḷi measure; the blossoms will be the size of wheels.
102. [The tree] will send its perfume for ten leagues [in all directions], both with and against the wind. It will scatter its flowers all around the throne of awakening.
103. People from the country, coming together there, smelling the excellent perfume, will pour forth words [of admiration], delighted by that perfume.
104. There will be a happy fruition of meritorious deeds for that venerable one, the Best of Buddhas, by whose radiance an unimaginable [perfume of] flowers will spread out.
105. That Conqueror will be eighty-eight cubits in height. That Teacher’s chest will be twenty-five cubits in diameter.
106–107. The Seer will have wide eyes, thick eyelashes, clear eyes. Not blinking day or night, with his physical eye he will see things, small or large, in all directions for twelve leagues without obstruction. His radiance will stream forth as far as twenty-five [leagues].
108. That Conqueror will shine like a streak of lightning or a candlestick. He will shine like the sun, resembling jewelled columns of honour.
109. His [thirty-two major] marks and [eighty] secondary marks will be seen as rays all the time. Many hundreds of thousands of different sorts of rays will fall [from him].
110. At every footstep [he takes] a flowering lotus will grow up. The petals will be thirty cubits [across], even; the minor petals will be twenty-five [cubits].
111. The stamens will be twenty cubits long and the pericaps will be sixteen cubits long. Inside the red lotuses [the flowers] will be filled with very red pollen.
112. The Kāmāvacarika Devas will make columns of honour, and Nāga kings and Supaṇṇa [Devas] will decorate them.
113. There will be eight columns of honour made of gold, eight made of silver, eight columns of honour made of jewels, and eight made of coral.
114. There will be many flags, many hundreds of them, hanging there disporting themselves, ornamented with many jewels, adorned with garlands and flags.
115. There will be awnings adorned with strings of jewels and pearls, resembling the moon. There will be many jewelled head ornaments with nets of small bells surrounding them.
116. Various flowers will be scattered, fragrant, sweet-smelling, perfumed, and different sorts of powder, both human and divine,
117. and a variety of cloths of diverse colours, beautiful, of the five colours. They will sport all around, having faith in the Buddha.
118. There will be gateways there with jewelled columns of honour, a thousand [cubits] high, delightful, beautiful, unobstructed, and well-formed.
119. They will be seen to be shining, wide, with their radiance all around. The Buddha, at the head of the Order of Monks, in their midst,
120. [will shine] like Brahmā among the members of his assembly or lnda in his palace. When the Buddha walks, they will walk; when he stands, they will stand;
121. when the Teacher sits or lies down together with his assembly, they will always practise the [same] four postures.
122. There will be these honours and others, both human and divine. There will be many sorts of marvels all the time,
123. to honour Metteyya by the power of his endless merit. Having seen that marvel, many people of various births,
124. with their wives and children, will go to the Teacher as a refuge because of their lives. Those who practice the holy life having heard the word of the Sage, will go beyond journeying-on, which is subject to death and difficult to cross.
125. At that time many householders will purify the eye of the Doctrine by means of the ten meritorious acts and the three types of right action.
126. Many having purified [themselves] respectfully by the attainment of traditional learning, becoming followers of the Doctrine, will be destined for heaven.
127. It would not be possible to describe in every detail their fame, [saying] “It is so much.” They will be continually extremely happy. When that span of time has passed away,
128. there will be heavenly bliss indeed for those men, with great fame, with happiness, and with life, beauty, and strength.
129. Having experienced the happiness of sensual pleasures for as long as they wish, afterwards, at the end of their lives, truly happy they will gain Nibbāna.
130. At that time a lifetime there will be 80,000 years. Remaining so long, [the Buddha] will bring many people to the other shore.
131. Having caused beings whose minds are ripe to be completely awakened, having instructed the rest, who have not perceived the [four] truths, about the right path and the wrong path,
132. having carefully established the torch of the Doctrine, the boat of the Doctrine, the mirror of the Doctrine, the medicine [of the Doctrine] for beings in the future, among the people,
133. together with the venerable order of lay followers who will have done what should be done, having blazed out like a mass of fire, that Conqueror will attain Nibbāna.
134. When the Perfect Buddha has attained Nibbāna, his Teaching will remain for 180,000 years. After that, there will be a terrible disappearance in the world.
135. Thus, the constituent elements are impermanent, not firm, temporary; existences are transitory, liable to destruction and old age, and empty.
136. The constituent elements are like an empty fist, they are empty, they are the talk of fools. There is no power for anyone there, not even for one with psychic powers.
137. Thus, knowing this as it really is, one should be disillusioned with all compounded things. A Thoroughbred Among Men is hard to find. He is not born everywhere. Wherever that Hero is born, that family prospers in happiness.
138. Therefore, in order to see the Buddha Metteyya here, act rightly, energetically, firmly, with agitated mind.
139. Those who do good things here and dwell vigilant, monks and nuns, male and female lay followers,
140. who have performed great auspicious honour to the Buddha[s], they together with the Devas will see the auspicious assembly at that time.
141. Practise the holy life. Give suitable gifts. Keep the observance day. Practise loving kindness carefully.
142. Be those who delight always in being vigilant in meritorious actions. Having done good here, you will make an end of misery.”
Norman, K.R. (tr.). “The Anāgatavaṃsa Revisited,” Journal of the Pali Text Society, Vol. 28, 2006.
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