DESCRIPTION
The Buddha is at the ‘site of enlightenment’ in the land of Magadha, having just attained supreme, unsurpassable enlightenment (anuttarā-saṃyak-saṃbodhi), sitting at the foot of the Bodhi Tree.
There were also bodhisattva-mahāsattvas as numerous as the atoms in ten buddha lands, led by Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (’Universal Good’).
There were also the ‘leaders’ (chiefs, heads) of the world:
- Vajra-Bearing Spirits
- Multiple Body Spirits
- Footstep Following Spirits
- Sanctuary (Dojo) Spirits
- City Spirits
- Earth Spirits
- Mountain Spirits
- Forest Spirits
- Herb Spirits
- Crop Spirits
- River Spirits
- Ocean Spirits
- Water Spirits
- Fire Spirts
- Wind Spirits
- Space Spirits
- Directional Spirits
- Night Spirits
- Day Spirits
- Asura Kings
- Kinnara Kings
- Garuda Kings
- Mahoraga Kings
- Yaksha Kings
- Naga Kings
- Kumbanda Kings
- Gandharava Kings
- Moon Deities
- Sun Deities
- 33 Heavens Kings
- Suyama Heaven Kings
- Tushita Heaven Kings
- Nirmāṇarati Heaven Kings
- Parinirmita-vaśavartin Heaven Kings
- Brahma Heaven Kings
- Ābhāsvara Heaven Kings
- Śubhakṛtsna Heavens Kings
- Bṛhatphala Heaven Kings
- Śuddhāvāsa Heaven Kings
Then, each of the ‘Leaders of the Worlds’ explain how they all found a door of liberation, beginning with the Śuddhāvāsa Heaven Kings, then the Bṛhatphala Heaven Kings, all the way back to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and the other bodhisattvas.
Then the ‘lion seat’ of the Buddha produces even more bodhisattvas from its adornments, which then recite more verses in praise of the Buddha.
The opening chapter concludes by introducing the concept of the ‘Flower Bank Array Ocean of Worlds’, which quakes after this chapter is read.