PART ONE: The Text
There are two Chinese translations of this text that are the earliest known records of its existence. The first was done by Dharmarakṣa in 287 AD as 佛說普門品經 (’The Sutra on the Universal Gateway Spoken by the Buddha’) and the second by Bodhiruci as part of the official Chinese Mahāratnakūṭa project conducted during the early 6th Century AD where it is called 文殊師利普門會 (’The Universal Gateway of Mañjuśrī Section’). This sutra is also included in the Tibetan Mahāratnakūṭa collection in the Kangyur (Toh 45 to Toh 93), where it is Toh 54 with a title corresponding to the Sanskrit Samantamukhaparivarta (’The Exposition on the Universal Gateway’).
The term ‘Universal Gateway’ (Samantamukha) is defined as ‘the opening into all things,’ or universality - the universe (totality) in any thing - and it is more commonly associated with the 25th chapter of the Lotus Sutra, which is called the ‘Universal Gateway of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva’.
PART TWO: Thus Have I Heard…
A bodhisattva named Undefiled Store (Amalagarbha) descends from the sky with ninety-two thousand other Bodhisattvas. The Buddha tells everyone "These Bodhisattvas were urged by Saṃkusumita (’Universal Flowered’) Tathāgata, in the world called Every Pure Deed, to come to this Sahā World in order to hear and accept from me the Universal Dharma Door to the Inconceivable.”
After the World-Honored One had finished saying this, innumerable Bodhisattvas came from this and other worlds and gathered on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa. After prostrating themselves with their heads at the Buddha's feet, they withdrew and stood to one side.
Then Bodhisattva Undefiled Store approached the Tathāgata, bearing in his hand a thousand-petalled lotus flower made of the seven treasures. He bowed down with his head at the Buddha's feet and said, "World-Honored One! Universal Flower Tathagata in the world called Every Pure Deed offers you this precious flower and asks me to convey to you his infinite good wishes. He inquires whether you are enjoying good health, freedom from afflictions, and ease and peace in life." After saying this, the Bodhisattva ascended in midair and sat there in the position of meditation.
Then Mañjuśrī says to the Buddha, "I remember that very long ago I heard Universal Lamp Buddha preach the inconceivable Universal Dharma Door. Right then, I acquired eight hundred forty billion myriads of samādhis, and was able to know seventy-seven trillion myriads of samādhis. Excellent World-Honored One! May you, out of sympathy for the Bodhisattvas, explain this dharma door to them."