Chapter 11–Revelation of the Jewel Stūpa: The Unity of Tathāgatas

When Lord Sākyamuni, the Enlightened One, saw that all his divine creations had arrived, that each was seated upon their throne, and that the devoted followers of the Tathāgatas were present, he knew the moment had come. With the desire of the Tathāgatas in his heart, he rose into the sky, shining like a meteor.

Everyone in the assembly, moved by the spectacle, stood up, hands joined, looking up to the face of the Lord. Then, with a mere touch of his right forefinger, Sākyamuni unlocked the heart of the great Stūpa of jewels, a magnificent monument that gleamed like a meteor, and it opened, as easily as the gates of a great city when unbolted.

Within the Stūpa, the Lord Prabhūtaratna (Abundant Jewels), another Enlightened Being, was revealed. Sitting cross-legged on his throne, his body emaciated and faint, as though lost in profound meditation, he spoke: “Excellent, excellent, Lord Sākyamuni. You have beautifully explained the Lotus of the True Law. You have taught it well to all who are gathered here. I myself have come to hear the teachings of the Lotus of the True Law.”

As the assembly of seekers beheld Lord Prabhūtaratna (Abundant Jewels), who had passed into extinction eons ago, speaking and interacting, they were struck with awe and astonishment. This was a moment beyond their comprehension, and they responded by showering both Lord Prabhūtaratna and Lord Sākyamuni with divine and earthly flowers.

Then Lord Prabhūtaratna graciously offered half of his seat within the magnificent Stūpa of jewels to Lord Sākyamuni, inviting him to sit. Together, the two Enlightened Beings, or Tathāgatas, were seen as meteors in the sky, illuminating the great jewel Stūpa from within.

In the hearts of the assembled, a yearning arose: They felt distant from the two Tathāgatas and wished to rise to the sky to be closer. Sensing this longing, Lord Sākyamuni, by his mystical power, lifted them all, and they became like meteors in the sky.

Leave a comment