Date: 09/13/2025 09/14/2025
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
The Bodhisattva Śuddhavīrya’s Patient Transformation of the Prince
Thus have I heard:
In a distant age, when the human lifespan was eighty-four thousand years, all beings lived in peace and contentment. At that time, there appeared in the world a Buddha named Mahāprabhāsa—“Great Radiance.” During his time, kings, ministers, and the populace alike revered the Dharma, and all abided joyfully in the path of righteousness.
Now, the king of that realm had a son named Puṇyakosala (“Merit and Wealth”). At sixteen years of age, the prince was of striking appearance—noble in form and elegant in bearing. Yet, due to his beauty and privilege, he became proud and arrogant, never once showing reverence or bowing before the Buddha.
Moved by compassion, the Buddha Mahāprabhāsa called upon the Bodhisattva Śuddhavīrya (“Pure Diligence”) to go forth and transform the prince’s heart.
The Prince’s Abuse and the Bodhisattva’s Patience
One day, as the prince approached the palace gates, he beheld the Bodhisattva standing calmly before the entrance. Enraged, he shouted:
“You vile wretch! Why do you stand in my way? Move aside at once!”
But Śuddhavīrya Bodhisattva, with a gentle smile, remained unmoving.
Infuriated, the prince hurled stones at his face and struck his arms with a blade. Blood flowed freely, yet the Bodhisattva remained serene and smiling.
The prince sneered:
“Now surely you’ll leave!”
But Śuddhavīrya, smiling still, stood firm and compassionate.
Unable to provoke anger, the prince grew confused and disheartened. Muttering curses, he entered the palace, glancing back at the motionless figure:
“What kind of demon is that? Neither speaking nor raging—it’s uncanny!”
A Thousand Years of Abuse
The next day, again finding Śuddhavīrya standing peacefully, the prince beat him more savagely.
Thus it continued for one thousand years—daily scorn, strikes, and injury—yet the Bodhisattva bore all in silence, harboring no hatred.
After ten thousand years, he was permitted to stand before the second gate of the palace. Still, the abuse continued each day without ceasing.
Another ten thousand years passed, and still Śuddhavīrya made no advance.
Thirty thousand, then forty thousand years passed, and at last he reached the fourth gate.
Between fifty and sixty thousand years, he reached the sixth gate, where the prince now slapped his face each time he passed. The Bodhisattva, unshaken, remained smiling.
The Final Transformation
Another eighty thousand years passed, and Śuddhavīrya stood at the sixth gate. The prince, frustrated, said:
“Each day I punch your face—yet you smile! Let’s see if you still smile today!”
Seven days remained before the age of eighty-four thousand years was complete. At last, the Bodhisattva stood at the seventh gate, calm and radiant as ever.
As the prince descended the steps to strike him again, he paused, looked deeply, and sighed:
“Are you even human? I see you every day and grow weary of you. Yet you never tire of enduring such pain. Why?”
In that moment, the prince’s mind changed. His wrath dissolved, replaced by awe and reverence.
Śuddhavīrya perceived this shift and knew the time for teaching had come. With gentle voice, he spoke the Dharma.
Hearing the ambrosial words of truth, the prince knelt in tears:
“O Bodhisattva, please accept my repentance!”
Śuddhavīrya smiled and said:
“Prince, to recognize one’s wrong and resolve to change—this is the highest virtue. Come, let us go before the Buddha Mahāprabhāsa and hear the Dharma together.”
The prince bowed and followed him. Before the Buddha, he prostrated and confessed all his past misdeeds.
From that day forth, Prince Puṇyakosala renounced his royal title, shaved his head, and entered the holy life. Diligently he listened, practiced, and at last attained realization of the Dharma.
Their Future Identity
Know this:
Śuddhavīrya Bodhisattva in that life is none other than Śākyamuni Buddha, and
Prince Puṇyakosala is none other than Maitreya Bodhisattva, the future Buddha.
