The Amitabha Sutra.
Translated by
Dr. Ron Epstein of The Buddhist Text Translation Society.
Namo! Homage to the Lotus Pool Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas As Vast As the Sea.
Sutra of the Buddha's Teaching On Amitabha.
Thus I have heard, at one time the
Buddha dwelt at Shravasti, in the Jeta
Grove in the Garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and the Forlorn, together with
a gathering of Great Bhikshus, twelve-hundred fifty
in all, all Great Arhats well-known to the assembly:
Elders Shariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana,
Mahakasyapa, Mahakatyayana,
Mahakausthila, Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola-Bharadvaja, Kalodayin, Mahakaphina, Vakkula, Aniruddha, and others such as these, all Great Disciples,
together with all the Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas: Manjushri, Prince of Dharma; Ajita
Bodhisattva, Gandhastin Bodhisattva, Nityodukta Bodhisattva, and others such as these, all Great
Bodhisattvas, and together with Shakra, Chief among
Gods, and the numberless great multitudes from all the heavens.
At that time, the Buddha told the
Elder Shariputra, from here, passing through hundreds
of thousands of millions of Buddhalands to the West
there is a world called Utmost Happiness.
In this land a Buddha called Amitabha right now teaches the Dharma.
Shariputra, why is this land called Utmost Happiness?
All living beings of this country
never suffer, but enjoy every bliss. Therefore it is
called Utmost Happiness.
Moreover, Shariputra,
this land of Utmost Happiness is completely surrounded by seven tiers of
railings, seven layers of netting, and seven rows of trees, all formed from the
four treasures, and for this reason called Utmost Happiness.
Moreover, Shariputra,
in the land of Utmost Happiness are pools of the seven jewels, filled with the
waters of eight meritorious qualities; the bottom of each pool is pure, covered
with golden sands.
On the four sides climb stairs of
gold, silver, lapus lazuli, crystal, mother-of pearl,
rubies, and carnelian.
In the pools bloom lotuses as
large as carriage wheels with colors of green light, red light, yellow light,
and white light, subtle, rare, fragrant, and pure.
Shariputra, the Land of Utmost Happiness is crowned in splendor and virtues
such as these.
Moreover, Shariputra,
in this Buddhaland heavenly music always plays, and
the ground is made of gold.
In the six periods of the day and
night a heavenly rain of mandarava flowers falls, and
throughout the clear morning, each living being of this land offers sacks
filled with myriads of wonderful flowers to the hundreds of thousands of
millions of Buddhas of the other directions.
At mealtime they return to their
own countries and after eating they walk about.
Shariputra, the Land of Utmost Happiness is crowned in splendor and virtues
such as these.
Moreover, Shariputra,
in this country there are always rare and unusual birds of many kinds and
colors: white geese, cranes, peacocks, parrots, egrets, kalavinkas
and two-headed birds.
In the six periods of the day and
night the flocks of birds sing forth harmonious and elegant sounds.
Their clear and joyful calls
proclaim the Five Roots, the Five Powers, the Seven Limbs of Bodhi, the Eightfold Path of Sages, and dharmas such as these.
When living beings of this land
hear their calls they are altogether mindful of the Buddha, mindful of
the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha.
Shariputra! Do not say that these birds are born as retribution for their
sins. And why not?
Because in this
Buddhaland the three evil paths do not exist. Shariputra, even the names of the three
evil paths are unknown in this Buddha's land; how much the less could they
actually exist! Wishing to proclaim the Dharma's sound far and wide, Amitabha Buddha created these multitudes of birds by
transformation.
Shariputra, in that Buddhaland when the gentle winds
blow, the rows of jewelled trees and jewelled nets reverberate with fine and wondrous sounds, as
a symphony of one hundred thousand kinds of music played in harmony.
All who hear these sounds are
naturally mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha.
Shariputra, the Land of Utmost Happiness is crowned in splendor and virtues
such as these.
Shariputra, what do you think?
Why is this
Buddha called Amitabha?
Shariputra, the brilliance of that Buddha's light is measureless, illumining
the lands of the ten directions everywhere without obstruction.
For this reason he is called Amitabha.
Moreover, Shariputra,
the lifespan of that Buddha and that of his people extends for measureless,
limitless asamkhyeyas of kalpas.
For this reason he is called Amitayus. And, Shariputra, since Amitabha became
a Buddha, ten kalpas have passed.
Moreover, Shariputra,
that Buddha has measureless, limitless asamkheyas of
Sound-Hearer disciples, their number incalculable.
So too is the assembly of
Bodhisattvas.
Shariputra, that Buddhaland is crowned in splendor
and virtues such as these.
Moreover, Shariputra,
the living beings born in the Land of Utmost Happiness are all avaivartika.
Among them are many who in this
very life will dwell in Buddhahood.
Their number is extremely many;
it is incalculable.
And only in measureless,
limitless asamkyeyas of kalpas
could they be counted.
Shariputra, those living beings who hear of this should vow: I wish to be born
in that country.
And why?
Because those who are born there
assemble in one place with people whose goodness is unsurpassed. Shariputra, if one has few good roots, blessings, and
virtues, one cannot be born in that land.
Shariputra, if there is a good man or good woman who hears of Amitabha and holds his name whether for one day, two days,
three, four, five days, six days, as long as seven days with one mind
unconfused, when this person nears the end of life, before him will appear Amitabha
and all the Assembly of Holy Ones.
When the end comes, his mind will
not be utterly confused, and in Amitabha's Land of
Utmost Happiness he will quickly be reborn.
Shariputra, because I see this benefit, I speak these words; and, if living
beings hear this teaching they should make the vow: I wish to born in that
land.
Shariputra, just as I now praise the inconceivable benefits arising from the
merit and virtue of Amitabha, so too in the East does
Akshobya Buddha, Sumeru
Likeness Buddha, Great Sumeru Buddha, Sumeru Light Buddha, Wonderful Sound Buddha; all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in
his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the
threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest
words:
All you living beings should
believe in this sutra which all the Buddhas praise
for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the Southern World, Sun-Moon Lamp Buddha, Sumeru
Lamp Buddha, Celebrated Light Buddha, Great Radiant Shoulders Buddha, Sumeru Lamp Buddha, Measureless Vigor Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in
his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the
threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest
words:
All you living beings should
believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for its
inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the Western World, Measureless Life Buddha, Infinite Features
Buddha, Measureless Curtain Buddha, Great Light Buddha, Great Clarity Buddha, Jewelled Likeness Buddha, Pure Light Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in
his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the
threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest
words:
All you living beings should
believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for
its inconceivable merit and virtue, protecting and bearing it in mind.
Shariputra, in the Northern World, Radiant Shoulders Buddha, Most Glorious
Sound Buddha, Invincible Buddha, Sun-Birth Buddha, Luminous Net Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in
his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the
threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest
words:
All you living beings should
believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for
its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the World Below, Lion Buddha, Well-Known Buddha, Celebrated
Light Buddha, Dharma Buddha, Dharma-Curtain Buddha, Upholding Dharma Buddha,
all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges'
sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that
pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere
and honest words:
All you living beings should
believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for
its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the World Above, Pure Sound Buddha, Constellation King Buddha,
Superior Fragrance Buddha, Fragrant Light Buddha, Great Radiant Shoulders
Buddha, Varicolored Jewels-Adorned Body Buddha, Sala
Tree King Buddha, Jewelled Flower of Virtue Buddha,
Discerning All Meanings Buddha, Like Sumeru Mountain
Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as
Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching
sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims
these sincere and honest words:
All you living beings should
believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for
its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, what do you think?
Why is it called Sutra which all Buddhas protect and bear in mind?
Shariputra, if a good man or good woman hears this sutra and upholds it, and
hears the names of all these Buddhas, this good man
or good woman will also be one whom all Buddhas
protect and bear in mind, and will attain non-retreat from anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
Therefore, Shariputra,
all of you should believe and accept my words and the words all Buddhas speak.
Shariputra, if there are people who have already made the vow, who now make
the vow, or who will make the vow, I wish to be born in Amitabha's
country, these people, whether born in the past, now being born there, or to be
born there in the future, will all attain non-retreat from anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
Therefore, Shariputra,
all good men and good women who believe should make the vow,
I wish to be born in that country.
Shariputra, just as I now praise the inconceivable merit and virtue of all Buddhas, all those Buddhas also
praise my inconceivable merit and virtue, saying these words: Shakyamuni Buddha can accomplish extremely difficult and
rare deeds in the Saha Land during the evil time of
the Five Turbidities: during the time turbidity, the views turbidity, the
affliction turbidity, the living beings turbidity, and the lifespan turbidity.
He can attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi
and for the sake of living beings proclaim this Dharma, which the whole world
finds hard to believe.
Shariputra, you should know that I, in the evil time of the Five Turbidities,
perform these difficult deeds, attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi,
and for the entire world proclaim this Dharma which is difficult to believe,
extremely difficult!
After the Buddha spoke this
Sutra, Shariputra, all the Bhikshus,
and the entire world of gods, humans, asuras, and
others, hearing what the Buddha had said, joyously delighted in it, faithfully
accepted it, bowed and withdrew.
End of the Sutra of the Buddha's
Teaching on Amitabha.
No comments:
Post a Comment