DESCRIPTION
The Second Assembly begins at the ‘site of enlightenment’ (bodhimaṇḍa), in Magadha, on a ‘lotus bank lion throne’ in the Hall of Universal Light, with all the bodhisattvas that had gathered during the First Assembly.
The bodhisattvas have thoughts hoping to hear teachings on:
- Buddha kṣetras
- Buddha abodes
- Buddha kṣetra adornments
- The nature of Buddha Dharma
- The purity of Buddha kṣetras
- Explanations of the Dharma by the Buddha
- The nature of the substance of Buddha kṣetras
- The awesome virtue of the Buddha
- The formation of Buddha kṣetras
- The Buddha’s great bodhi
They’re thoughts also include the sets of ten:
- Ten Abodes
- Ten Practices
- Ten Transferences (of merit)
- Ten (Inexhaustible) Treasuries
- Ten (Bhumi) Grounds
- Ten Vows
- Ten Samadhi
- Ten Powers
- Ten ‘Peaks’ (Kṣānti?)
The answer to these thoughts constitutes the remainder of the sutra.
Using spiritual super-knowledge, the Buddha summons more bodhisattvas from the Ten Directions, and the mandala created in the First Assembly expands to include:
Mañjuśrī, from the East, from a world called “Golden” - along with nine other bodhisattvas from the other directions. As Samantabhadra was the primary bodhisattva in the First Assembly, Mañjuśrī is for the Second.
Mañjuśrī gives ten names of the Buddha in this world Sahā (Endurance) followed by the ten names of buddhas in ten worlds throughout the Ten Directions.
- “Letting beings know and see in various ways.”
- Teaching upāya-ly about how the Buddha teaches upāya-ly
Mañjuśrī then gives ten more names of Buddhas in ten worlds throughout the Ten Directions, which are the ‘reference worlds’ for the following chapter on the Four Noble Truths
- Secret Teaching (E)
- Abundance (S)
- Stainless (W)
- Bountiful Bliss (N)
- Inclusion (NE)
- Beneficial (SE)
- Rare (SW)
- Joy (NE)
- Gate Key (Nadir)
- Shaking Sound (Zenith)