Chapter One: The Causes and Conditions of the Youth Bhadrapāla's Request for the Dharma

Section Four: The Meritorious Deeds Cultivated by the Youth Bhadrapāla in Past Lives

Original Text: At that time, Ānanda paid homage to the Buddha’s feet and addressed the Buddha, saying: “What roots of goodness did the Youth Bhadrapāla plant? What meritorious deeds did he cultivate? In the past, there was a Buddha named Joyful Light Tathāgata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened, Perfect in Wisdom and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One. At that time, within the Dharma of that Buddha, Bhadrapāla renounced the household life and became a bhikkhu named Dharma-Topknot.”

Explanation: At that time, Ānanda paid homage to the Buddha’s feet and said to the Buddha: “What roots of goodness did the Youth Bhadrapāla plant, and what meritorious deeds did he cultivate, such that his assets are so vast, enabling him to receive such great joyful retribution, with palaces and dwellings so exquisite and magnificent, and even possessing a wondrous jeweled chariot that accompanies him wherever he goes?”

The Buddha told Ānanda: “The Youth Bhadrapāla, due to having cultivated meritorious deeds in the Dharma in the past, is now able to attain such great joyful retribution. (If a person cultivates blessings within worldly dharmas, they may also attain joyful retribution, but it may not be as great.) In the past, there was a Buddha named Joyful Light Tathāgata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened, Perfect in Wisdom and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One (these are the ten epithets of every Buddha). When Bhadrapāla encountered this Buddha, he renounced the household life and became a bhikkhu named Dharma-Topknot.”

Original Text: “He was deficient in moral conduct, yet excelled in expounding the profound teachings of the Tripiṭaka—the Sūtras, Abhidharma, and Vinaya. He was thoroughly versed in them all. He constantly expounded and propagated them for sentient beings, never ceasing in his Dharma offerings. His voice was beautiful, deep, and resonant, upright and clear. He analyzed and elucidated [the Dharma] with clarity and eloquence. Listeners were filled with joy. Those who heard the Dharma he taught contemplated and practiced it, and the number of those liberated from the evil destinies was immeasurable.”

Explanation: Though deficient in his observance of the precepts, he was able to expound the Sūtras, Vinaya, and Śāstras—the three baskets of the Tripiṭaka. He was thoroughly clear and proficient in the profound Dharma of the Tripiṭaka. He constantly propagated and expounded it for sentient beings, never ceasing in his Dharma offerings to them. His voice in teaching the Dharma was beautiful, deep, and resonant; his speech was upright and clear. He was able to analyze the profound meaning of the Dharma with clarity and penetrate it deeply. His eloquence was unimpeded. His voice when teaching the Dharma was very steady and profound, enabling him to explain the Dharma exhaustively. Those who listened to him speak the Dharma were all joyful in their hearts. The number of beings who escaped the three evil destinies was extremely large, immeasurable. Moreover, after hearing the Dharma he taught, they were all able to contemplate and practice it.

After we hear the Dharma, we too must contemplate it. After contemplation, we must strive to practice it diligently. Though the Bodhisattva Bhadrapāla was deficient in the outward forms of the Śrāvaka precepts when he renounced, he excelled at teaching the Dharma for sentient beings. He was thoroughly versed in the Sūtras, Vinaya, and Śāstras, so his level of attainment must have been very high. He upheld the precepts of the mind and did not emphasize the outward appearance of the Hīnayāna precepts.

Original Text: “Ānanda, due to the merit of the Dharma offerings made by the Bhikkhu Dharma-Topknot, for ninety kalpas he received the retribution of rebirth among the devas. Moreover, seeing emaciated and frail bhikkhus who upheld pure precepts, he constantly offered them food, drink, sandals, and other necessities. He gave with earnest sincerity and pure-mindedness. Therefore, he now obtains this great retribution of wealth and joy, this sublime palace, and this wondrous jeweled chariot.”

Explanation: Ānanda, because of the merit of teaching the Dharma for sentient beings—this Dharma offering—the Bhikkhu Dharma-Topknot received the joyful retribution of rebirth in the heavenly realms for ninety kalpas. (Receiving joyful retribution among the devas causes blessings to be exhausted very quickly. Receiving retribution among humans causes blessings to be consumed less, allowing blessings to accumulate further for use on the path to Buddhahood. If blessings are used excessively in worldly matters, less is available for the path, resulting in lesser achievements in cultivation.) The Bhikkhu Dharma-Topknot also had great kindness. Seeing pure and precept-holding bhikkhus who were emaciated and frail, he persistently offered them food, drink, clothing, sandals, and so forth. Moreover, he gave them pure Dharma offerings and material offerings with earnest and sincere hearts. His giving was without seeking anything in return; he simply wished for them to live in peace and happiness. With this mindset, he gave with a very pure heart. Therefore, in this life, he obtained such great retribution of wealth and joy, possessing a sublime palace and a wondrous flying jeweled chariot.

Original Text: “Moreover, he encountered Kāśyapa Tathāgata, who instructed, taught, and guided him, saying: ‘In the future, in the presence of Śākyamuni Buddha, you will receive a prediction [of Buddhahood].’ Therefore, now that you meet me, I expound the Dharma for you to ripen [the conditions for that]. Ānanda addressed the Buddha, saying: ‘World-Honored One, the Youth Bhadrapāla the Excellent possesses such wealth, with gold and jewels amassed in abundance. He is prosperous and independent, yet humble, gentle, and lowly in heart, without the slightest arrogance or pride. This is truly extraordinary.’”

Explanation: Bhadrapāla also encountered the second Buddha, Kāśyapa Tathāgata. Kāśyapa Tathāgata instructed him and gave him a prediction, saying: “In the future, you will receive a prediction from Śākyamuni Buddha.” (This prediction does not necessarily mean he had attained a certain Bodhisattva ground before the Buddha gave the prediction.) “Therefore, now that you meet me, I expound the Dharma for you so that the causes and conditions for you to receive the prediction in the future may ripen sooner. If I did not expound the Dharma for you, the causes and conditions for receiving the prediction would not easily ripen. When you meet Śākyamuni Buddha, he might not be able to give you the prediction.” Ānanda said to the Buddha: “World-Honored One, the Youth Bhadrapāla the Excellent possesses such amassed wealth, with gold and jewels piled high. He is wealthy and independent, yet his heart is humble, gentle, and willing to be lowly, without the slightest arrogance or pride. This is also extremely extraordinary.”

Even though the Bhikkhu Dharma-Topknot cultivated so much merit and great wisdom, his own mind remained gentle, humble, and lowly, without arrogance or pride. It is very, very difficult for people to achieve this. Nowadays, some sentient beings, as soon as they become slightly outstanding compared to others, immediately give rise to arrogance. They become hard to teach; instead, they try to teach others. Those with thinner blessings generally have heavier arrogance. Those with great blessings usually have no arrogance, because blessings cause afflictions to be light.

Original Text: “The Buddha said to Ānanda: ‘The greatly wise do not become arrogant due to wealth, treasures, or sensual pleasures. Bhadrapāla has long cultivated good conduct. Nourished by wholesome dharmas, he constantly partakes of the fruits of blessings.’”

Explanation: The Buddha said to Ānanda: “Those with great wisdom do not give rise to arrogance because of gold, silver, jewels, or the pleasures of the five desires. The wise would never become arrogant over their wealth—it is not worthy of arrogance. Because Bhadrapāla has long cultivated wholesome actions, the blessings of wholesome dharmas nourish him, enabling him to constantly enjoy the fruits of blessings.”

Original Text: “After Bhadrapāla was praised by the Buddha and Ānanda together, he reverently joined his palms, paid homage to the Buddha’s feet, and addressed the Buddha, saying: ‘The World-Honored One has compassion and protects all sentient beings. I wish to ask a few questions. May you condescend to listen and grant permission?’ The Buddha told Bhadrapāla: ‘I grant you permission first. You have doubts; now ask freely. I shall explain and analyze them for you.’”

Explanation: After Bhadrapāla received the joint praise of the Buddha and Ānanda, he reverently joined his palms, paid homage to the Buddha’s feet, and said to the Buddha: “The World-Honored One has compassion and protects all sentient beings. I have a few questions I wish to ask the World-Honored One. May you condescend to listen and grant permission?” This is Bhadrapāla’s formal question, allowing the Buddha to formally begin teaching the Dharma. All that preceded this was the preface and exposition. The Buddha told the Bodhisattva Bhadrapāla: “I permit you to ask. If you have doubts, ask them quickly. I shall explain them for you.”