Having thought thus he entered a contemplation and exercising his supernatural power, he transferred the land Abhirati into this world. The Bodhisattvas, Sravakas, deities and men in that world who possessed the supernatural power, cried out together and said: “O lord, we are being carried away! ’ ’ Buddha Akshobhya said: “ It is not I that is doing this; it is due to the supernatural power of Vimalakirti. ’ ’ The other beings who did not possess the supernatural power did not recognise it and knew nothing about their being carried away; there was neither increase nor decrease in the land of Abhirati though it was transferred into this world; there was also no squeezing or compression in this world; it remained as before.

O nobly-born, thou art actually endowed with the power of miraculous action, which is not, however, the fruit of any samadhi, but a power come to...