Date: 10/04/2025 10/05/2025
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Otto Huang
Dharma Talk
The Two Sons Who Admonished Their Parents to Have Faith in the Buddha
Thus have I heard:
In times long past, there was a king named Wondrous Adornment (Miao-zhuangyan). His queen was named Pure Virtue (Jing-de). To them were born two sons: the elder was named Pure Treasury (Jing-zang), and the younger was named Pure Vision (Jing-yan). From childhood, both practiced the Bodhisattva Path, and already possessed divine powers.
At that time, the Buddha named Cloud-Thunder-Sound-Star-King-Flower-Wisdom spoke to the two princes, saying:
“If only King Wondrous Adornment might also cultivate the Dharma of the Buddha.”
But Pure Treasury said:
“Master, I fear it is not possible. My father has never believed in the Buddha.”
Pure Vision likewise said:
“Indeed, to have him take faith in the Buddha would be most difficult.”
The Buddha said to them with compassion:
“You must find a way to bring him before me at least once.”
Then the two princes returned to the palace, considering how they might cause their father to go before the Buddha. They resolved first to speak with their mother, the queen.
“Mother,” Pure Treasury said, “we wish you and Father to visit once the Buddha Cloud-Thunder-Sound-Star-King-Flower-Wisdom. Would you agree?”
The queen answered hesitantly:
“Your father believes only in the Brahmanical teachings. I fear it will not be easy…”
Pure Vision said:
“But to make offerings to the Buddha is what we ought to do.”
The queen replied:
“Very well then. You sons who practice asceticism in the Dharma surely have divine powers. If before your father you display some of these, then I shall urge him, and perhaps it will succeed.”
Thus mother and sons went before the king. At that time King Wondrous Adornment was intent upon affairs of state, his brow furrowed with thought.
The queen said:
“Great King, I have come with our sons to see you.”
The king turned and looked about, saying:
“Only you are here? Where are the sons?”
Just then from outside the window came their voices:
“Father, Mother, we are here.”
The king and queen looked up and beheld their two sons standing in mid-air. Astonished, the king cried:
“How is this possible?”
The princes said:
“Father, Mother, behold our eighteen transformations!”
At once, Pure Treasury and Pure Vision transformed into two radiant Buddhas, their golden light shining, and with hands raised in welcome. Then the Buddhas vanished, and two great Bodhi trees filled with blossoms appeared in the sky. Again the trees disappeared, and heavenly flowers rained down. Then two mighty steeds galloped freely in the air, swift as the wind, unrestrained in movement.
Beholding these eighteen transformations, King Wondrous Adornment was filled with marvel and praise.
When the princes descended, the king rejoiced and said again and again:
“Who is your master? By what power is this done? May I see him? I long to visit him at once!”
Then King Wondrous Adornment, together with the queen, the concubines, the princes, the ministers, and forty-two thousand in their retinue, all set forth in great procession to where the Buddha dwelt.
Thereupon the Buddha Cloud-Thunder-Sound-Star-King-Flower-Wisdom expounded the Dharma to the king, the queen, and the multitude. Hearing the teaching, King Wondrous Adornment gave rise to great joy. Immediately he entrusted the throne to his younger brother, and together with the queen, his sons, and his consorts, he took refuge in the Buddha, renounced the household life, and cultivated the Path.
Know then: King Wondrous Adornment is now the Bodhisattva Splendid Virtue (Hua-de). The queen Pure Virtue is now the Bodhisattva Radiant Ornamented Form. The princes Pure Treasury and Pure Vision are none other than the Bodhisattvas Medicine King and Medicine Superior.
