Introducing the Avatamsaka Sutra -Universal Worthy

Universal Worthy Bodhisattva Mahasattva, seated on a lotus, receives the Buddha’s spiritual might and enters the samadhi of All Buddhas’ Vairochana Thus Come Ones’ Treasury Body. All the Universal Worthy Bodhisattvas throughout the Dharma Realm enter this samadhi before a World Honored One. The Buddhas bestow aid and wisdom, and rub the crown of the Bodhisattvas’ head. Wondrous clouds manifest. The Thus Come Ones emit light from all hairpores.
The light emits wondrous sounds lauding Universal Worthy Bodhisattva. All Bodhisattvas, relying on the Buddha’s awesome power, speak verses of praise, and request Universal Worthy Bodhisattva to expound the Dharma.

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In the Avatamsaka Sutra, before a Bodhisattva speaks, he first avails himself of the Buddha’s spiritual might. That way, what he says will all be certified by the Buddha. The Tripitaka Master Hua explains:
‘The disciples, gods, immortals, and transformation beings must first receive the Buddha’s certification before they speak Sutras; without certification, what they speak is not truly a Sutra.’
Universal Worthy Bodhisattva is one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas. He is known as Pu Hsien Pu’sa in Chinese and Samantabhadra in Sanskrit. He is foremost in practice and represents perfection. Among all the illustrious disciples of the Buddha, Universal Worthy Bodhisattva reigns supreme. He is exquisitely adorned with the finest hallmarks. He rides on a majestic white elephant with six tusks. He is exceedingly kind and compassionate.

In the Shurangama Sutra, Universal Worthy Bodhisattva says,
“If there is any living being who discovers the conduct of Universal Worthy, I immediately mount my six-tusked elephant and create hundreds of thousands of ‘reduplicated bodies which go to those places. Although their obstacles may be so heavy that they do not see me, I secretly rub their crowns, protect and comfort them, and help them be successful.”

In the final chapter of the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, Universal Worthy Bodhisattva appears and says,
‘If there is a person reading or reciting this Sutra, I will at that time mount my royal white elephant with six tusks, and together with a host of Great Bodhisattvas go to that place, manifest my body, make offerings, protect him, and comfort his mind, and also make offerings to the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra.’

Samadhi means concentration, one-pointedness of mind. By upholding the Buddhist moral precepts, one can develop samadhi and wisdom. The Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua says,
‘If you are not moved by any external experience, that is samadhi… To have samadhi is to do things without getting emotional, but to use instead your Way-mind. By cultivating samadhi you can open your wisdom.’