DESCRIPTION

Recall that in Chapter Two of the sutra the Buddha emitted light rays from his ‘teeth’ or ‘smile’ and all the masses in the oceans of the worlds in the Ten Directions were awakened by the light and all went to ‘Vairocana Buddha’s place’.

This chapter begins with the Buddha emitting light rays from the ‘wheel marks’ on his feet. These beams reveal that the scene of the Second Assembly, with Mañjuśrī and the other bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions at the site of enlightenment, is taking place simultaneously in oceans of worlds.

Then all the Mañjuśrīs (plural) recite ten poems on the ignorance of sentient beings and what it means to “see” the Thus Come One.

The beams of light pass beyond worlds throughout the Ten Directions between each poem.