Wisdom of the East | Page 9

as the sands of
Ganges, shall be beside him who reciteth the Holy Name, even as the
shadow cleaves to the substance.
107. Within the Light of Buddha of Infinite Light are unnumbered
Buddhas, and of these, each and every one shall shield him who hath
within him the true Faith.
108. Whoso reciteth the Holy Name shall be surrounded himself by
those Buddhas who cannot be numbered, who in the Ten Regions with
joy protect and guide him.
Upon the Sutra of Suraigama-Samadhi, I, Shinran Shonin, have uttered
these eight lauds praising the virtue of Seishi the Bodhisattva of

Wisdom.
109. Seishi, he who is the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, having
comprehended the fullness of the Holiest Name, rising from his seat,
prostrated himself beneath the feet of our Lord, worshipping Him, he
and his fellowship, and thus he spake:
110. "O my Lord, in the ancient time, before the Kalpas innumerable as
the sands of Ganges, there was manifest in this world a Buddha, and
His Name was called--The Buddha of Infinite Light.
111. "In His footsteps twelve Buddhas followed, and twelve long
Kalpas have rolled away. And of these Buddhas the last was He that is
called that Buddha in whose glory the Sun and Moon are even as
darkness.
112. "Unto me hath that Buddha revealed the Path of the meditation of
the Supreme--that meditation wherein He instructeth us that all the
Buddhas of all the Ten Regions compassionate as even as a father
pitieth his child.
113. Whoso seeketh refuge in Buddha, as a child in the bosom of his
mother shall verily perceive Him now or in the time that shall be. And
it shall be soon.
114. "As a man encompassed by the cloud of incense casteth sweet
odours about him, so he that trusteth in the Holy Promise is spiritually
endued with the Divine Essence.
115. "When I was initiate in right doing, I attained unto the high way of
that assurance that freed me from birth and death, through the teaching
of the Noble Doctrine of the Holy Name.
"Therefore in this world, rejoicing, I guide the faithful believer into the
way of Purity."
116. Now with all praise let us give thanks unto the merciful goodness
of the Bodhisattva of Wisdom.
OF THANKSGIVING FOR NAGARJUNA, THE GREAT TEACHER
OF INDIA
117. Nagarjuna, the great teacher, setting forth in many excellent
writings the praise of the Kingdom of Purity, hath instructed us to
recite the Holy Name.
118. For the Lord Buddha declared in prophecy that in India, in the
Southern Parts, should arise a great Teacher, trampling upon the false
teachings of affirmation and denial.

119. Nagarjuna, the Great Teacher, he who mightily set forth the noble
doctrine of the greater Vehicle, and himself attained unto that height
whereon a man rejoiceth eternally in the Faith, hath very sweetly
persuaded men that they should receive the teaching of the Holy Name.
120. Nagarjuna, that great priest, setting forth the two ways--the way
that is straight and plain, and the way of high austerity, leadeth very
gently to the Ark of the Divine Promise such as are driven through the
weariness of births and deaths.
121. He who receiveth this teaching of Nagarjuna the Great Teacher,
should recite always the Holy Name, believing the Divine Promise of
the Buddha of Infinite Light.
122. Whoso would quickly attain unto that resting-place where illusion
ceaseth, should recite the Holy Name holding his mind in steadfast
piety.
123. One Ark only, that Ark of the Divine Promise of our merciful
Father, doth voyage and bear us unto the shore of the eternal
peace--even us who so long have drifted hither and thither in the ocean
of birth and death.
124. This great priest hath in one utterance set forth that the Lord is
Ruler indeed of the sacred teaching, and that herein are the holy
Bodhisattvas His ministers. Therefore should we bring homage unto
our Lord.
125. The mighty company of the Bodhisattvas utter these words,
"When we became wise in holiness, yea, we who have striven through
Kalpas unnumbered,
126. "Yet could we not root out our earthly desires which are the very
seed of birth and death. But through that only way of the meditation of
the Highest did we attain unto the final deliverance that hath destroyed
all our sin."
OF THANKSGIVING FOR VASUBANDH, THE GREAT TEACHER
OF INDIA
127. Among those doctrines taught of our Lord Vasubandh, the great
priest hath persuaded us who are full of sinful desires to accept the
Divine Promise of our infinite Father.
128. Only to Him who is above all things is known the glory of the
Land of Peace. Wide as the sky and boundless is it spread forth.
129. Whoso believeth in the power of