ThefirstfullmoonintheTibetanlunarcalendariscelebratedastheDayofMiracles,orChotrul Duchen,whichcommemoratesthefinaldayofmiraculousdisplaybytheBuddhawhichlasted15 days.TheBuddhaperformedthemiraclesinresponsetoachallengefromsixrivalteachers.These 15daysaremeritmultiplyingdaysinwhichanyvirtuecreatedismagnifiedmillionsoftimes.The DayofMiraclesisalsothemostspecialdayofMonlamChenmo,theGreatPrayerFestival,where thousandsofpeople,layandordainedalike,pray,andmakeofferingsoffood,tea,lightsor moneytotheSangha.ForthisreasonitissometimesalsoknownasButterLampFestival,or ChungaChoepa.

THEMIRACULOUSDEEDSOFBUDDHASHAKYAMUNIATSHRAVASTI
Atonetime,BuddhawasstayingwithhundredsoffullyordainedmonksintheBambooGrove outsideofRajagriha.Therulerofthatcountry,KingBimbisara,wasoneofBuddhasgreatest patrons.InloyaltyandrespectforBuddhaandhismonks,theKingledmanyofhissubjectstothe practiceoftheteaching.Sixhereticalteacherswerealsostayingthereatthattime,andtheir deceptiveteachingswerethecauseofmanyunskillfulactions.KingBimbisarasyoungerbrother followedtheseteachersandmadegreatofferingstothem,thinkingthattheytaughtthepathto liberation.Asaresulthebecamedefiledbyerror,sothateventhoughBuddhawasshowingthe gloriesofenlightenment,hedidnotseeit.KingBimbisarapersuadedhisbrothertogiveuphis erroneousideasbuthisbrotherreplied,Ihavemyownteacher.WhyshouldIlistentoBuddha? Nevertheless,feelingthatheshouldrespectKingBimbisarasfeelings,thebrotherdecidedto giveafeast,offeringfoodandgiftstoallwhocame.Thesixteacherscameandsatinthehighest seats.WhenBuddhaandhisdisciplesarrived,theywalkedtowardthefewremainingseats,but beforetheycouldreachthem,thesixteachersfoundthemselvesgettingupfromthehighest seatsandtakingthelower.Theytriedthreetimestotakethehigherseats,buteachtimefound themselvesinthelower.Finally,feelingashamed,theyremainedthere. Beforethefoodwasserved,waterwasbroughttotheguestssothattheycouldwashtheir hands.AsBuddhawasinthehighestseat,hishostofferedthewatertohimfirst,buthesaid, Offeritfirsttoyourteachers.Thewaterwasthenofferedtothem,butwhenthevesselwas tipped,nothingflowedintotheirhands.Thehosttriedagainandagain,butstillthewaterwould notflow.HethenoffereditagaintoBuddha.ThewaterflowedfreelytoBuddha,andafterthat toeveryone. Beforetheyate,thehostaskedBuddhatoblessthefood.Hedeferredagaintothesixteachers, saying,Requesttheblessingfromyourownteachers.Butwhenthesixteacherstriedtopray, theywereunabletoutterawordandgesturedthatBuddhashouldsaytheblessing.Buddhadid sowithaclear,beautifulvoice,andthefoodwasofferedfirsttohim,buthesaidoncemore, Offeritfirsttoyourteachers.Thefoodwasthenofferedtothem,buteverythingtheytriedto takeflewintotheair.AfterfoodwastakenbyBuddha,everythingcamedownintotheirhands. Afterthemeal,thehostmadethecustomaryrequesttoBuddhaforteaching.Buddhaagain deferredtothesix,saying,Haveyourteachersspeakoftheirdoctrines.Againthesixteachers,

unabletospeakaword,couldonlymotionforBuddhatospeak.Hespokeinabeautifulvoice andeachlistenerheardwhatfittedhisownneeds.Everyonesunderstandingincreasedgreatly. EvenKingBimbisarasknowledgegrewfromhightohigher.Manyattainedthefirsttothethird stagesofliberation;othersexpandedtheirbodhimind,andsomeattainedthesupremebodhi mind.Agreatnumberofpeopleattainedthestageofnonreturning,andothers,attainingwhat theyprayedfor,developedgreatfaithintheThreeJewels.Fromthenon,thepeopleofRajagriha followedthe Buddha. Thesixteacherswentaway,angryathavinglosttheirfollowers.TheyaskedMarasdemonsto helpcurtailtheBuddhasactivities.Thedemonsmanifestedasthesixteachersandwenttothe marketplacetoperformvariousmiraculousdeedsshootingwater,flamesandlightsofmany colorsfromtheirbodies.Peoplemarveledatthesedeedsandbecametheirfollowers.Tothem thedemonsproclaimed,ThroughthewickednessofGautamawehavefallenintomisfortune. Allthekings,Brahmins,andgreatpatronswhousedtoworshipusandbringusofferingsnowno longerrespectus.NowthesepeoplearerunningafterGautama,givinghimeverythingtheyused togiveus.WechallengeGautamaforeveryoneofhismiracleswewilldotwo;ifhedoes sixteen,wewilldothirtytwo.Peopleshallseeforthemselveswhoismorepowerful. ThesixteacherswenttoKingBimbisaraandaskedhimtodelivertheirchallengetoBuddha.The Kinglaughedattheirarrogance.Youarefoolish.Yourmiraculousdeedscannotbeginto comparetothoseofBuddhas.Yourchallengeislikethelightofafireflycomparedwithsunlight, likethewaterinanoxshoofprintcomparedwiththeocean.Itislikethefoxchallengingthe lion.Thesixpunditspersistedandsaid,Youwillsee.Whathappenedbeforeisnoindicationof whatwillhappennow.Whenwecompete,itwillbeclearwhoisthegreater. KingBimbisaravisitedBuddhaandtoldhimofthechallenge,Thosesixteacherswantto comparetheirmiraculousdeedswiththoseoftheTathagata.Willyoupleaseshowthemyour powerstoreversetheirwrongviewsandleadthemtodovirtuouswork?Whenyoudothis,may Ibethere?Buddhareplied,Thetimewillbeknown.Prepareasuitableplace.KingBimbisara hadhisministerscleanandprepareabroadfield.Theretheyerectedalionthroneandvictory bannersoftheconquerorBuddha.PeopleeagerlyawaitedthesightofBuddhaandthesix teachersperformingtheirmiracles.However,toeveryonessurprise,BuddhaleftRajagrihaand wenttotheneighboringcityofVaisali. ThepeopleofVaisali,theLicchavi,welcomedtheTathagata.Whenthesixteachersheardthat BuddhahadgonetoVaisali,theyproclaimed,Gautamaisafraidofus.Hehasrunaway!And theyfollowedafterhim.KingBimbisarawithfivehundredcarriages,elephants,horses, provisions,andthousandsofattendantsandministerswenttoVaisali.Thesixteacherstooktheir challengetotheKingoftheLicchavi,andhecametoBuddha,saying,Pleaseshowyour miraculouspowersandsubduethesemen.AgainBuddhaanswered,Allingoodtime,andtold themtoprepareaplace.

Butagainhewenttoanothercountry,Kausambi,followedbyagreatmultitudeandthesix pundits.KingUdrayanaandthepeopleofKausambiwelcomedBuddha.ThroughKingUdrayana, thesixteachersagainissuedtheirchallengetoBuddha,whoagainreplied,Thetimeisknown. Prepareaplace.KingUdrayanamadegreatpreparations,butBuddhawentontoWar,theland ofKingShunTsin.FromWarhewenttoTigitsashiri,whichwasruledbyKingBrahmadatta.From therehewenttoKapila,thecountryofhisownpeople,theSakyas,andfinallyhewentto Sravasti,thelandofKingPrasenajit.HewasfollowedtherebytheKingsofthecountrieshehad passedthrough,alongwiththousandsoftheirattendants,andbythesixteacherswiththeir ninetythousandfollowers. ThesixteacherswenttoKingPrasenajit,saying,Wehavepreparedourmiraculousdeeds.Much timehaspassedsincewechallengedGautama,andheisstillrunningaway.KingPrasenajit replied,laughing.Youknownothing,yetyouwanttochallengethegreatkingofDharma.Such peopleasyourselvescannotbecomparedwithhim.Buttoquietthem,KingPrasenajitvisited Buddhaandsaid,Thosesixteacherswanttochallengeyou.Pleaseshowyourmiraculous powersandsubduethem.AgainBuddhareplied,Thetimeisknown.Prepareasuitableplace. King Prasenajithadhisministerscleanandprepareawidefield,burningincenseandplacingtherea lionthroneandthebannersoftheConqueror. Onthefirstdayofspring,Buddhawenttothefieldthathadbeenpreparedforhimandsatupon thelionthronebeforethemultitude.AfterKingPrasenajitsgreatofferings,theTathagatatooka toothpickandplaceditintheground.Itgrewatonceintoamarveloustree.Onitsbranches, whichextendedforkilometers,grewbeautifulleaves,flowers,fruit,andjewelsofeverykind.The multicoloredlightemanatingfromthejewelswasasbrilliantasthelightofthesunandmoon combined.Whenthebranchesofthetreerustledinthewind,thesoundsoftheteachingwere heard.ThenBuddhahimselfspoketothemultitude.Manyofthepeoplelisteningprogressed greatlysomeattainedarhatshipandmillionsripenedtheseedsforrebirthinthehighstatesof humansorgods. Ontheseconddayofspring,KingUdrayanamadegreatofferingstoBuddha.TheTathagatathen turnedhisheadrightandleft,andoneithersideofthelionthroneajewelmountainemerged. Oneachmountainflowedamagicalspringwhosewaterhadeightdifferenttastes.One mountainwascoveredwithlushgrasstofeedandsatisfyanimals,whiletheotherwascovered withspecialfoodtosatisfyhumans.Buddhathenspoketheteachingaccordingtoeachpersons ability,andmanywerefreed.Someofthosepresentgeneratedthesupremebodhimind,and manyestablishedtheinclinationforrebirthashumansorgods. OnthethirddayKingShunTsinofWarmadeofferingstotheTathagata.Aftereating,Buddha rinsedhismouthwithwater.Onthegroundwherethewaterfell,agreatlakeformedwhich extendedforthreehundredkilometers.Thewaterhadeighttastes,andthebottomofthelake wascoveredwithsevenkindsofjewels.Greatquantitiesoflotusflowersofeverycolorgrewon itssurface,andtheirfragrancefilledtheair;bytheraysoflightextendingfromtheminall directions,thepeoplecouldseeeverywhere.Whenthepeoplesawthis,theywereveryhappy,

andwhenBuddhataught,someattainedarhatship,someincreasedtheirbodhimind,andmany othersattainedtheseedsofrebirthintheworldsofhumansorgods. OnthefourthdayKingIndravarmapreparedtheofferingsforBuddha.Buddhacreatedapool fromwhicheightstreamsflowedoutwardincircularpaths,andtowhichtheyreturned.Inthe soundofthestreamspeopleheardtheteachingsofthefivepowers,thefivestrengths,theseven aspectsofbodhimind,theeightfoldpath,thethreeprinciplesofthepathtoliberation,thesix kindsofomniscienceandthefourimmeasurables.Fromthisteachingmanyattained understandingoftheeffectsofBuddhahoodandmanyattainedrebirthinthehighstatesof humansorgods.Hundredsofthousandsincreasedtheirvirtuouswork. OnthefifthdayKingBrahmadattaofVaranasipreparedvariousofferingsforBuddha.Fromthe Tathagatashoneagoldenlightthatfilledtheentireworld.Thislightreachedalllivingbeingsand purifiedthedefilementsofthethreepoisons:desire,hatredandignorance.Allbeingsbecame peacefulinbodyandmind,andthoseassembledrejoicedgreatly.WhenBuddhaspoke,many increasedtheirbodhimind,manyplantedseedsofrebirthashumansorgods,andacountless numberincreasedtheirvirtuouswork. OnthesixthdaytheLicchavipeoplemadeofferingstoBuddha.Buddhathenenabledallwho weretheretoseeintoeachothersmindsandeachonesawtheothersgoodandbadthoughts. AllexperiencedgreatfaithandpraisedtheknowledgeofBuddha.TheTathagatathentaughtthe holyDharmaandmanyattainedgreatunderstandingsomeattainedbodhimind,some arhatshipandanimmeasurablenumberattainedrebirthashumansandgods. Ontheseventhday,Buddhasownclan,theSakyas,madeofferingstohim.Heblessedallthe listenerssothattheybecamegreatchakravartins(universalkingsthatsupporttheDharma),each possessingsevenmagicjewels.Eachruledhisownsmallcountryandhadmanyrespectful ministers.AllwereveryhappywiththisandwhenBuddhaspoketheyhadgreatfaith.Having increasedtheirbodhimind,manyattainedarhatshipandotherssowedseedsofrebirthas humansorgods. OntheeighthdayIndrainvitedBuddhaandpreparedagreatlionthrone.WhentheTathagata wasseated,IndrahimselfmadeofferingsonBuddhasleftwhileBrahmamadeofferingsonhis right.Theyboweddownbeforehim,whilethepeoplesatquietly.Buddhaplacedhisrighthand onthelionthroneintheearthtouchingmudra,andtherewasagreatsoundoftrumpeting elephants.Fivefiercedemonscameroaringforthandthethronesofthesixteacherswere destroyed.Afterthedemons,Vajrapanicame,withflamesshootingfromthepointofhisvajra. Thesixteacherswereterrifiedandjumpedintothewateranddisappeared.Theirteachers havingdesertedthem,theninetythousandattendantstookrefugeinBuddhaandaskedto becomefullyordainedmonks.Buddhawelcomedthemandthemattedlocksandbeardsthat hadmarkedthemasdisciplesofthesixteachersmiraculouslydisappeared.Buddhataughtallof themaccordingtotheirabilitiestounderstand.Freeingthemselvesfromthefettersofdesire, hatredandignorance,eachattainedarhatship.ThentheTathagataradiatedeightyfour thousandraysoflightfromtheporesofhisbody,sothatthelightfilledtheentiresky.Onthe

pointofeachraywasabeautifullotus,andontopofeachlotusappearedaBuddhaalongwith hisattendants.EachBuddhawasteachingtheTathagatasdoctrine.Allfeltjoyatthissight,and theirfaithwasgreatlyincreased.ThenBuddhaspoketheholyDharmaandmanyincreasedtheir bodhimind,someattainingarhatship,andacountlessnumberproducedtheinclinationtotake rebirthashumansorgods. OntheninthdayBrahmarajamadeofferingstoBuddha.TheTathagataextendedhisbodyuntilit reachedthehighestheavenofBrahma.Fromthisbodyraysoflightshoneinalldirections,and fromthisgreatheighthegavetheteaching. OnthetenthdaythefourgreatkingswhoprotecttheDharmainvitedBuddhatospeak.Againhe extendedhisbodyuntilitreachedtheheightofsamsara.Raysoflightstreamedfromhim, showingtheteachings. OntheeleventhdaythegreatpatronAnathapindikamadeofferingstoBuddha,whowasseated uponthelionthroneinmeditation.Thoughtheassemblycouldnotseehisform,hisbody radiatedgoldenlight,whileinagreatvoiceheexpoundedtheteaching. OnthetwelfthdaythehouseholderTsetainvitedBuddhatospeak.TheTathagataenteredinto themeditationofgreatlove,andgoldenlightradiatedfromhisbody,extendingthroughoutthe worlds.Theraysoflightclearedthethreepoisonsfromthemindsofeveryoneandtheir compassionincreased.Theylovedeachotherasafatherandmotherlovetheirchildren,asa brotherloveshissister. OnthethirteenthdayKingShunTsinmadeofferingstoBuddha.TheTathagatasatonthelion throneandtworaysoflight,risingfifteenmeters,radiatedfromhisnavel.Onthepointofeach rayoflightwasalotus,andoneachlotus,abuddha.Fromthenavelofeachbuddhaextended tworaysoflightanduponeachofwhichwasalotuswithabuddha,andsoon,fillingtheworlds. AlltheBuddhaswereexpoundingtheteachings. OnthefourteenthdayKingUdrayanamadeofferingstoBuddha.Hestrewedflowersinfrontof Buddha,andtheychangedintotwelvehundredandfiftycarriagesmadeofpreciousjewels. BuddhataughttheDharmatobeingsthroughouttheworldsasadoctorhealedthesick. Onthefifteenthandfinaldayofthespringcelebration,KingBimbisarabroughtgiftstoBuddha. BuddhathentoldKingBimbisaratobringvesselsforfoodandthevesselsweremiraculously filledwithfoodsofahundreddifferenttastes.Whentheassemblyatethem,theirbodiesand mindswerecompletelysatisfied.Buddhaaskedthem,Whyistheresuchimmeasurablemisery intheworld?Byhisblessing,eventheeighteenkindsofdemonsrealizedthattheirmiserywas causedbydeedstheyhaddonethemselves.TheyfeltgreatfaithinBuddha.Asonallthe previousdays,thoseassembledattainedgreatadvancement.Someincreasedtheirbodhimind, someattainedarhatship,someattainedthestageofnonreturning,manyattainedtheseedsof rebirthashumansorgodsandcountlessothersincreasedtheirvirtue.