The Authentic Expression of the Benefits of Establishing Images of the Noble Tathāgata
A Religious Discourse
In Sanskrit: Ārya Tathāgata Pratibimba¬ Pratiṣṭha Anuśaṃsa Sambadanti Nāma Dharmaparyāya
In Tibetan: Phagpa Dezhin Shegpä Zugnyen Zhagpä Phänyön Yangdagpar Jöpa Zhe Ja Wäi Chökyi Namdrang
Thus have I heard at one time. The Bhagavān was dwelling in the Park of Giving Food to the Needy within Jetavana Grove, in the city of Śrāvastī.
At the time there were a great many monks1 who came to that teaching site, and at the occasion when they arrived there they had this conversation:
“When brahmins or householders who have faith, grasp the teachings, support the teachings, seek out ways to acquire virtue, and generate enthusiasm for constructing images of the Tathāgata appear to you, if they, having come into our presence, request, ‘Venerable ones, please make known what is the measure of benefit for someone who is a sponsor of the construction of images of the Tathāgata,’ since we don’t know the measure of benefit for constructing an image of the Tathāgata, how are we, at that time, to answer them in a way that is concordant with the Dharma? We will ask the Teacher, the Bhagavān, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the perfectly completed Buddha who understands everything, perceives everything and cuts through all doubts, for just these answers. Moreover, when the Bhagavān has taught this to us, once we have grasped it as it is then we can spread far and wide and give answers to all faithful brahmins and householders.”
Then the great many monks proceeded to where the Bhagavān was, and having gone there they prostrated with their heads at the Bhagavān’s feet and gathered together. Having gathered together, those great many monks spoke these words to the Bhagavān.
“Venerable One, we great many monks have come to your teaching site, and have gathered together we had this conversation: When there are before you brahmins or householders who have faith, grasp the teachings, support the teachings, seek out ways to acquire virtue, and generate enthusiasm for constructing images of the Tathāgata, if, when they have come into our presence ask, ‘Venerable ones, please make known what is the measure of benefit for someone who is a sponsor of the construction of images of the Tathāgata,’ since we don’t understand the measure of benefit for constructing an image of the Tathāgata, how are we, at the time, to answer them in a way that is concordant with the Dharma? We are asking you, Teacher, Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, perfectly completed Buddha who understands everything, perceives everything, and cuts through all doubts, for just those answers. Moreover, Bhagavān, when you have taught this to us and we are able to grasp the meaning for what it is, we believe will spread far and wide and give these answers to all faithful brahmins and householders. Venerable Bhagavān, we have come and request just these answers. Venerable Bhagavān, please explain the measure of the benefits for a person who is a sponsor of the construction of an image of the Tathāgata.”
The Bhagavān replied, “Monks, you have asked this for the sake of the benefit many beings, for the sake of the happiness and affection of many beings, and for the benefit and happiness of devas and humans. It is excellent, excellent that you have thought to ask the Tathāgata, Arhat, perfectly completed Buddha for just these answers!
“Therefore, monks, listen very well and remember what I teach. Monks, there are five benefits for a person who sponsors the fabrication of images of the Tathāgata. What are those five? They will be renowned for living in an inconceivably large house and for being excellently proportioned. They will have a lot of will power and a long life, be endowed with fame, and have a lot of happiness. This, monks, is the first benefit for a person who sponsors the fabrication of images of the Tathāgata.
“Furthermore, they will be wealthy, have abundant wealth, great prosperity, have many possessions and goods, sovereignty and many personal objects. They will have many collections of riches, grain, precious stones, gold, treasuries and storerooms. They will have many horses, elephants, cattle, sheep, male and female servants, workers and laborers. They will have many companions, loved ones, relatives, and extended kin. This, monks, is the second benefit for a person who sponsors the fabrication of images of the Tathāgata.
“Furthermore, monks, they will have an excellent body and be pleasing to look at, they will have beauty, a face that is excellent like gold, a head that is round like a parasol, long hands, a broad forehead, an uninterrupted unibrow, all primary and secondary limbs, and they will be adorned with every ornament. This, monks, is the third benefit for a person who sponsors the fabrication of images of the Tathāgata.
“Furthermore, monks, they will have the seven precious items of an excellent wheel-turning king2 and will be surrounded by a thousand sons. Whatever children, wives, servants and workers their sons have will listen to them with respect and be obedient toward them. This, monks, is the fourth benefit for a person who sponsors the fabrication of images of the Tathāgata.
“Furthermore, monks, when they are separated from their body they will be born among the worldly gods of the happy transmigrations. Having been born there they will become the extraordinary king of the gods, the basis for all gods, and for all sons and daughters of the gods. They will be empowered with the divine life of the ten abodes3, divine complexion, divine strength, divine happiness, and divine power. They will bring about joy with their divine form, sound, smell, taste and touch. This, monks, is the fifth benefit for a person who sponsors the fabrication of images of the Tathāgata.”
The Bhagavān spoke thus, and all of the monks rejoiced and greatly praised what had been spoken by the Bhagāvan. The religious discourse called The Authentic Explanation of the Benefits of Establishing Images of the Noble Tathāgata is complete. It was translated by the Indian abbot Dharmakara and the translator Venerable Yeshe Nyingpo. It was proofread and edited by Venerable Pältsheg.
English Translator’s Colophon: This text was translated by Ven. Gyalten Lekden, at the request of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, in Sera Je Monastery during the concluding days of the 2019 rains retreat. I request forgiveness for any errors. May any merit from this translation be dedicated to the continued display of good health and long life on the part of all holy gurus who show the authentic path.
Notes
1. The text specifies gelong, (Wylie: dge slong) which is a monk holding full ordination vows, as opposed to a novice monk (Tib.: getshul; Wylie dge tshul). I have translated it simply as “monk” here and throughout for simple euphony.
2. The seven precious items of a wheel-turning king are: precious wheel, precious jewel, precious queen, precious minister, precious elephant, precious and excellent horse, and precious general.
3. In the sūtra called Mindfulness of the True Dharma (Tib.: damchö dränpa nyerzhag; Wylie: dam chos dran pa nyer bzha; Sanskrit: saddharmasmṛtyupastāna) the Buddha says, “They all [referring to a certain group of devas] also have ten abodes, because they endowed with births atop the abodes of: Joyful Smell, Pleasant Sound, Attachment to Those, Lotus in the Palm, White Body, Mutual Joy, Authentic Practice of Desire, Retinue, Enjoyment, and Cross-Legged Posture.” The Buddha later goes on to explain why each of those places has the name it does.