While the Buddha is residing in the Akaniṣṭha realm, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Ākāśagarbha asks him how a bodhisattva should view the mind at the point of dying. The Buddha replies that when death comes a bodhisattva should develop the wisdom at the hour of death. He explains that a bodhisattva should cultivate a clear understanding of the nonexistence of entities, great compassion, nonapprehension, nonattachment, and a clear understanding that, since wisdom is the realization of one’s own mind, the Buddha should not be sought elsewhere. After these points have been repeated in verse form, the assembly praises the Buddha’s words, concluding the sūtra.
The Translation
Homage to all buddhas and bodhisattvas!
Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was residing in the palace of the king of the gods in the Akaniṣṭha realm,9 and was teaching the Dharma to the entire assembly there.
The bodhisattva mahāsattva Ākāśagarbha paid homage to the Blessed One and asked, “Blessed One, how is the mind to be viewed for a bodhisattva at the point of dying?”
The Blessed One replied, “Ākāśagarbha, a bodhisattva, when the time comes to die, should cultivate wisdom at the hour of death. Wisdom at the hour of death is as follows:
“All phenomena are naturally pure. So, one should cultivate the clear understanding that there are no entities.
“All phenomena are subsumed within the mind of enlightenment. So, one should cultivate the clear understanding of great compassion.10
“All phenomena are naturally luminous. So, one should cultivate the clear understanding of nonapprehension.
“All entities are impermanent. So, one should cultivate the clear understanding of nonattachment to anything whatsoever.
“When one realizes mind, this is wisdom. So, one should cultivate the clear understanding of not seeking the Buddha elsewhere.”
The Blessed One then spoke the following verses:
“Since all phenomena are naturally pure,
One should cultivate the clear understanding that there are no entities.
“Since all phenomena11 are connected with the enlightened mind,
One should cultivate the clear understanding of great compassion.12
“Since all phenomena are naturally luminous,
One should cultivate the clear understanding of nonapprehension.
“Since all entities are impermanent,
One should cultivate the clear understanding of nonattachment.
“Since the mind is the cause for the arising of wisdom,
Do not look for the Buddha elsewhere.”
After the Blessed One had spoken, [F.153.b] the whole assembly, including the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha and others, were overjoyed and full of praise for the Buddha’s words.
This concludes The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra “Wisdom at the Hour of Death.”