The Mahavaipulya-mahasamnipata-sutra, Volume 3: Containing Original Scrolls 41 through 60 of the 60-Scroll The Great Collection of Expansive Discourses (The Mahavaipulya mahasamnipata sutra) Kindle Edition

With great purpose and humility, we present the first complete English translation of the Mahāvaipulya Mahāsaṃnipāta Sūtra (Taishō Tripiṭaka No. 397). A cornerstone of the Mahāyāna Buddhist canon in East Asia for centuries, this monumental text has remained largely inaccessible to the English-speaking world. This translation aims to open a door to its vast universe, inviting readers on a journey through the Buddha’s expansive teachings.The title itself, meaning "Great Expansive Great Assembly," hints at its grand scale. This sūtra is not a single narrative but a majestic anthology of diverse yet interconnected texts gathered under one title. Its themes are equally vast, weaving together the profound doctrine of emptiness (śūnyatā), the compassionate path of the bodhisattva, and a detailed prophecy on the future of Buddhist teachings.The sūtra's history is as complex as its contents. While traditionally attributed to Śākyamuni Buddha speaking to a cosmic assembly, it is historically a compilation of texts composed over several centuries. With the Sanskrit original lost, Chinese translations became the primary source. The sixty-fascicle version translated here was compiled in China. Its core was established in the 5th century by the monk Dharmakṣema. Later, in the 6th century, Narendrayaśas added crucial sections, including the celebrated Sūryagarbha (“Sun Matrix”) and Candragarbha (“Moon Matrix”) portions. These contain detailed prophecies about the Dharma's flourishing and decline over successive 500-year periods, and their inclusion created the definitive edition preserved in the Chinese Buddhist canon.In translating this work from its standard version in the Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō, we faced unique challenges. Our approach was to balance scholarly precision with a clarity that resonates with modern readers. We have endeavored to convey not just the literal meaning but also the spiritual gravity and literary grandeur of the original Chinese.This ancient text remains profoundly relevant today. Its most enduring message lies in its unflinching look at a "final age" (mofa in Chinese, mappō in Japanese), when the Buddha’s teachings are in decline amid conflict and confusion. The sūtra presents this not as a prophecy of doom but as a powerful call to action—a guide for safeguarding the Dharma in challenging times by urging both monastics and laypeople to become "Guardians of the Faith." This message transcends its historical context, speaking directly to our own turbulent era and the universal aspiration to preserve wisdom, compassion, and truth.This multi-year translation was made possible by the support of numerous institutions and individuals, to whom we extend our deepest gratitude. We now offer this work to the world, hoping the profound wisdom within the Sūtra of the Great Assembly will illuminate the minds and hearts of all who read it, inspiring them to walk the bodhisattva path for the benefit of all sentient beings. Read more