2. The Coral Tree （二）昼度树经（初一日诵）

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Śrāvastī, staying at the Jeta Grove Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma.

At that time, the World-Honored One addressed the bhikṣus, saying: "When the leaves of the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens wither and turn yellow, the Thirty-three Heavens are delighted and joyful, thinking that the leaves will soon fall. When the leaves of the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens have fallen, the Thirty-three Heavens are delighted and joyful, thinking that the leaves will soon grow back. When the leaves of the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens have grown back, the Thirty-three Heavens are delighted and joyful, thinking that the tree will soon grow a net-like canopy. When the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens has grown a net-like canopy, the Thirty-three Heavens are delighted and joyful, thinking that the tree will soon grow like a bird's beak. When the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens has grown like a bird's beak, the Thirty-three Heavens are delighted and joyful, thinking that the tree will soon open like a bowl. When the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens has opened like a bowl, the Thirty-three Heavens are delighted and joyful, thinking that the tree will soon fully bloom. When the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens has fully bloomed, its light shines, its colors reflect, and its fragrance permeates for a hundred yojanas. At that time, the Thirty-three Heavens spend four months of the summer there, fully enjoying the five heavenly pleasures and their merits. This is called the assembly and enjoyment under the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens.

In the same way, the noble disciple also thinks of leaving home. At that time, the noble disciple is called 'yellow leaves', just like the withered and yellow leaves of the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens. Furthermore, the noble disciple shaves off his beard and hair, puts on the monastic robes, leaves home out of true faith, becomes a homeless one, and studies the path. At that time, the noble disciple is called 'fallen leaves', just like the fallen leaves of the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens. Furthermore, the noble disciple, having separated from desire and evil and unwholesome dharmas, with initial and sustained thought, attains the joy and bliss born of separation, and dwells having attained the first concentration. At that time, the noble disciple is called 'regrown leaves', just like the regrown leaves of the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens. Furthermore, the noble disciple, with the cessation of initial and sustained thought, with inner tranquility and one-pointedness of mind, without initial and sustained thought, with the arising of concentration, attains the joy and bliss of the second concentration, and dwells having attained it. At that time, the noble disciple is called 'grown net', just like the grown net of the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens. Furthermore, the noble disciple, having separated from the desire for joy, dwells without seeking, with right mindfulness and right knowledge, and experiences bodily bliss, which is said to be the noble relinquishment, the bliss of mindfulness, and the purity of emptiness, and attains the third concentration, and dwells having attained it. At that time, the noble disciple is called 'grown like a bird's beak', just like the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens growing like a bird's beak. Furthermore, the noble disciple, with the cessation of bliss and suffering, with the disappearance of joy and displeasure, without suffering and without bliss, with equanimity, with mindfulness and purity, attains the fourth concentration, and dwells having attained it. At that time, the noble disciple is called 'grown like a bowl', just like the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens growing like a bowl.

Furthermore, the noble disciple, with all taints exhausted, attains liberation of mind and liberation through wisdom, and in this very life, he knows and realizes for himself, attains, and abides in the accomplishment of the goal. With birth exhausted, the holy life fulfilled, the task accomplished, no more to be, he knows and realizes for himself. At that time, the noble disciple is called 'fully bloomed', just like the fully bloomed Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens. For the bhikṣu who has exhausted the taints, the Thirty-three Heavens gather in the Sudharma Hall and praise him, saying: 'The noble disciple so-and-so, in such-and-such village, shaved off his beard and hair, put on the monastic robes, left home out of true faith, became a homeless one, and studied the path. With all taints exhausted, he attains liberation of mind and liberation through wisdom, and in this very life, he knows and realizes for himself, attains, and abides in the accomplishment of the goal. With birth exhausted, the holy life fulfilled, the task accomplished, no more to be, he knows and realizes for himself.' This is called the assembly of those who have exhausted the taints, just like the assembly under the Caitra tree of the Thirty-three Heavens.

The Buddha spoke thus. Those bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and practiced accordingly.