The Sutra on What Is Declared Supreme
I prostrate before all Enlightened Ones and Bodhisattvas!
Thus have I heard.
The Blessed One, together with the community of disciples, had vowed to observe the summer retreat and was staying in Rajagriha, in the Bamboo Grove, the sanctuary of the kalandakas. There, the Blessed One addressed the monks, saying:
Monks, these three are acknowledged as supreme. Which three? The Buddha is acknowledged as supreme, the Teaching is acknowledged as supreme, and the Community is acknowledged as supreme.
Why is the Buddha acknowledged as the supreme one? Among all living beings—whether legless, two-legged, four-legged, or multi-legged; whether possessing form or formless; whether possessing perception, lacking perception, or neither possessing nor lacking perception—the Tathagata, the Arhat, the Truly Perfect Buddha, is declared supreme.
Whoever turns toward the Buddha with sincere joy turns with joy toward the Supreme. Know that for those who turn with joy toward the Supreme, the ripening of the fruit will be supremely excellent—whether they become gods among gods or humans among humans. This is called "acknowledging the Buddha as the Supreme."
Why is the Teaching acknowledged as supreme? Among all teachings—whether conditioned or unconditioned—the teaching on liberation from passions is designated as the supreme one. Whoever aspires to the Teaching with sincere joy aspires with joy to the supreme. Know that for those who aspire with joy to the supreme, the ripening of the fruit will be supremely excellent—whether they become gods among gods or humans among humans. This is what is meant by "the Teaching is acknowledged as supreme."
Why is the Sangha acknowledged as supreme? Among all gatherings, associations, multitudes of people, or circles, the Sangha of the disciples of the Tathagata—the Arhat, the Truly Perfect Buddha—is declared supreme. Whoever turns toward the Sangha with sincere joy turns with joy toward the supreme. It should be known that the ripening of the fruit for those who turn with joy toward the supreme will be supremely excellent—whether they are reborn as gods among gods or as humans among humans. This is what is meant by: "The Sangha is acknowledged as supreme."
After the Blessed One had spoken these words, those monks were filled with joy and praised what the Blessed One had said.
Thus concludes the Sutra on Acknowledgment of the Supreme.
Translated by Lama Dondrub Dorje Tulku.