Lankavatara Sutra
Dr. Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki, who has translated the Sutra from original Sanskrit into other languages, says, "As is the case with other Buddhist texts it is quite impossible with our present knowledge of Indian history to decide the age of the Sutra. The one thing that is certain is that it was compiled before 443 AD when the first Chinese translation is reported to have been attempted. Even with the text that was in existence before 443 AD we do not know how it developed, for it was not surely written from the beginning as one complete piece of work as we write a book in these modern days. Some parts of it must be older than others, since there is no doubt that it has many layers of added passages."
Lankavatara Sutra and Ramayana share several descriptions. Even ten-headed Ravana and Kumbhakarna, Ashok Vatica, Ocean and so many other points tally. In the Sutra, Ravana is described as the king of Lanka who is desirous of learning the Truth from Buddha, and invites him across the ocean into Sri Lanka.
...Thus have I heard. The Blessed One once stayed on the peak of Lanka in Mount Malaya on the great ocean...
...At that time, the Blessed One who had been preaching in the palace of the King of Sea-serpents came out at the end of seven days and was greeted by an innumerable host of Nāgakanyās including Śakra and Brahma, and looking at Lanka on Mount Malaya smiled...
...Blessed One said, By the Tathagatas of the past, who were Arhats and Buddhas, the fuly Enlightened Ones, this Truth was made the subject of their discourse, at Lanka on the mountain-peak of Malaya... (Referring to Rama?)
...the Truth realisable by noble wisdom in one's inmost self, which is beyond the reasoning knowledge of the philosophers as well as the state of consciousness of the Sravakas and Pratyekabuddhas. I, too, would now for the sake of Ravana, Overlord of the Yakshas, discourse on this Truth...
...After seven nights, the Blessed One leaving the ocean, the abode of the Makaras, the palace of the sea-God, now stands on the shore...
...Just as the Buddha rises, Ravana, accompanied by the numerous Apsaras and Yakshas, Suka, Sarana, and learned men, miraculously goes over to the place where the Lord is standing...and invites Him into the city of Lanka...
..."Mahamati, accept my mansion, the company of the Apsaras, necklaces of various sorts, and the delightful Asoka garden"...
..."I give myself up to serve the Buddhas and their sons; there is nothing with me that I do not give up, for their sake; Great Muni, have compassion on me!"...
...Hearing him speak thus, the Lord of the Triple World said, "King of Yakshas, this mountain of precious stones was visited by the Great Buddhas in the past. And, taking pity on you, they had discoursed on the Truth revealed in their inmost consciousness...
Throughout the rest of the chapters in the Sutra, examples of Ocean, Bridge, Raft, Boat etc. are richly used.
