Suramgamasamadhi sutra
Encyclopedia
The Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sūtra (Sanskrit
; ) is an early Mahayana sutra of Indian origin which focuses on the transcendental nature, supernatural powers, and transformational feats bestowed upon the meditation practitioner by the state of meditation called the Śūraṅgama Samādhi
or the "Samādhi of the Heroic Progression". The scripture was translated from the Sanskrit
into Chinese by Kumārajīva
probably between 402 and 409 C.E. and was later translated into Tibetan by Sakyaprabha and Ratnaraksita at the beginning of the 9th century.
or great bodhisattva
while operating from within this samādhi state. Professor Etienne Lamotte writes of the nature of the Buddha presented herein: 'This is Sakyamuni in Heroic Progress, a pure ray of wisdom and power, who manifests himself simultaneously in our little universe of four continents, in the Great Cosmos ... and in all the great cosmic systems ...; there, he is some divinity .... He is the same as the Buddha Vairocana'.
Amongst the wonders which the Buddha can perform whilst in this state of Śūraṅgama Samādhi (attainable only by Buddhas and 10th-level Bodhisattvas) is the projection or conjuration of 84,000 other buddhas (identical replicas of himself and equally real).. Others of the 100 'miracles' which this samadhi empowers its possessor to perform include being able to change sex at will; placing immense Buddha Paradises (universes) into a single pore of the skin; always presiding over the superknowledges (abhijna); always emitting rays of light over all universes without exception; being able to speak and understand all languages of all universes; and possessing a knowledge which is profound and unfathomable. Part of that knowledge is that all dharma
s (things) have their basis in the dharma-dhatu - the Totality of all that is, the All. In this sense, there is non-duality that characterises everything, since everything is possessed of the 'one flavour' of the dharma-dhatu. The Buddha states: 'A bodhisattva knows that all dharmas rest eternally on the fundamental element (dharmadhatu
) without coming or going.'.
This particular samadhi is equally praised in the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, where it is explained by the Buddha that this samadhi is the essence of the nature of the Buddha and is indeed the 'mother of all Buddhas'. The Buddha also comments that the Śūraṅgama Samādhi additionally goes under several other names, specifically Prajnaparamita (perfect insight), Vajra Samadhi (Diamond Samadhi), Simhanada Samadhi (Lion's Roar samadhi), and the Buddhasvabhava (Buddha essence).
The Buddha remarks in the Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sūtra that any being who cultivates this samadhi will be able to know "through personal experience" [pratyatmajnanam - through knowing directly within oneself] all the attributes of a buddha. Amongst those attributes is sovereignty over all humans and gods. The Buddha states of great bodhisattvas and buddhas who possess this samadhi: "They possess sovereignty over all the gods and mankind, but do not fall into pride ...". A bodhisattva who is immersed in this samadhi also rises beyond birth and death. The Buddha comments: "He appears to die, but he is beyond birth, death and passing on.". Even the writing down, studying and teaching of this Śūraṅgama Samādhi by a master of Dharma will bestow immense blessings, twenty in number. These include inconceivable knowledge and wisdom, inconceivable vision of all the buddhas, and inconceivable virtues and sovereign powers.. One of these powers is demonstrated by the future Buddha, Maitreya
, who transforms himself into innumerable different types of leading spiritual personages in countless world-systems at the same time. Commenting on the great qualities of those such as Maitreya who preside over the Śūraṅgama Samādhi, a whole host of great Bodhisattvas declare in the presence of the Buddha: 'Bhagavat [Blessed One], just as gold, even if it has gone through the forge, never loses its self-nature [svabhava - essential nature], so these great Satpurusas [True Beings], wherever they may go, manifest everywhere their natures of inconceivable qualities.'.
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
; ) is an early Mahayana sutra of Indian origin which focuses on the transcendental nature, supernatural powers, and transformational feats bestowed upon the meditation practitioner by the state of meditation called the Śūraṅgama Samādhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
or the "Samādhi of the Heroic Progression". The scripture was translated from the Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
into Chinese by Kumārajīva
Kumarajiva
Kumārajīva; was a Kuchean Buddhist monk, scholar, and translator. He first studied teachings of the Sarvastivada schools, later studied under Buddhasvāmin, and finally became a Mahāyāna adherent, studying the Madhyamaka doctrine of Nagarjuna. Kumārajīva settled in Chang'an, which was the imperial...
probably between 402 and 409 C.E. and was later translated into Tibetan by Sakyaprabha and Ratnaraksita at the beginning of the 9th century.
General Features
The sutra describes the various powers and abilities which accrue to a buddhaBuddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
or great bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
while operating from within this samādhi state. Professor Etienne Lamotte writes of the nature of the Buddha presented herein: 'This is Sakyamuni in Heroic Progress, a pure ray of wisdom and power, who manifests himself simultaneously in our little universe of four continents, in the Great Cosmos ... and in all the great cosmic systems ...; there, he is some divinity .... He is the same as the Buddha Vairocana'.
Amongst the wonders which the Buddha can perform whilst in this state of Śūraṅgama Samādhi (attainable only by Buddhas and 10th-level Bodhisattvas) is the projection or conjuration of 84,000 other buddhas (identical replicas of himself and equally real).. Others of the 100 'miracles' which this samadhi empowers its possessor to perform include being able to change sex at will; placing immense Buddha Paradises (universes) into a single pore of the skin; always presiding over the superknowledges (abhijna); always emitting rays of light over all universes without exception; being able to speak and understand all languages of all universes; and possessing a knowledge which is profound and unfathomable. Part of that knowledge is that all dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
s (things) have their basis in the dharma-dhatu - the Totality of all that is, the All. In this sense, there is non-duality that characterises everything, since everything is possessed of the 'one flavour' of the dharma-dhatu. The Buddha states: 'A bodhisattva knows that all dharmas rest eternally on the fundamental element (dharmadhatu
Dharmadhatu
Dharmadhatu may be defined as the 'dimension', 'realm' or 'sphere' of Dharma and denotes the collective 'one-taste' dimension of Dharmata.-Nomenclature, orthography and etymology:...
) without coming or going.'.
This particular samadhi is equally praised in the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, where it is explained by the Buddha that this samadhi is the essence of the nature of the Buddha and is indeed the 'mother of all Buddhas'. The Buddha also comments that the Śūraṅgama Samādhi additionally goes under several other names, specifically Prajnaparamita (perfect insight), Vajra Samadhi (Diamond Samadhi), Simhanada Samadhi (Lion's Roar samadhi), and the Buddhasvabhava (Buddha essence).
The Buddha remarks in the Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sūtra that any being who cultivates this samadhi will be able to know "through personal experience" [pratyatmajnanam - through knowing directly within oneself] all the attributes of a buddha. Amongst those attributes is sovereignty over all humans and gods. The Buddha states of great bodhisattvas and buddhas who possess this samadhi: "They possess sovereignty over all the gods and mankind, but do not fall into pride ...". A bodhisattva who is immersed in this samadhi also rises beyond birth and death. The Buddha comments: "He appears to die, but he is beyond birth, death and passing on.". Even the writing down, studying and teaching of this Śūraṅgama Samādhi by a master of Dharma will bestow immense blessings, twenty in number. These include inconceivable knowledge and wisdom, inconceivable vision of all the buddhas, and inconceivable virtues and sovereign powers.. One of these powers is demonstrated by the future Buddha, Maitreya
Maitreya
Maitreya , Metteyya , or Jampa , is foretold as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he or she is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva.Maitreya is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on...
, who transforms himself into innumerable different types of leading spiritual personages in countless world-systems at the same time. Commenting on the great qualities of those such as Maitreya who preside over the Śūraṅgama Samādhi, a whole host of great Bodhisattvas declare in the presence of the Buddha: 'Bhagavat [Blessed One], just as gold, even if it has gone through the forge, never loses its self-nature [svabhava - essential nature], so these great Satpurusas [True Beings], wherever they may go, manifest everywhere their natures of inconceivable qualities.'.