The Flower Ornament Scripture

by Thomas Cleary

  The vows made in the presence of each Buddha

  Supreme Light hears and greatly rejoices.

  Furthermore, the brahma king Shikhin found the door of liberation abiding in all sites of enlightenment everywhere and preaching the truth while being pure and free of attachments in all actions. Brahma king Light of Wisdom found the door of liberation inducing all sentient beings to enter meditative absorption and stay there. Brahma king Radiance of Beneficent Wisdom found the door of liberation entering everywhere into all inconceivable truths. Brahma king Sound of Ubiquitous Clouds found the door of liberation entering into the ocean of all utterances of the Buddhas. Brahma king Independent Observer of the Sounds and Speech of the Worlds found the door of liberation of ability to remember all the techniques used by enlightening beings in teaching all sentient creatures. Brahma king Eyes of Still Light found the door of liberation showing the individual differences in characteristics of results of actions of all beings. Brahma king All-Pervading Light found the door of liberation of appearing before all sentient beings to guide them according to their various types. Brahma king Sound of Magical Displays found the door of liberation dwelling in the realm of tranquil and serene action of the pure aspect of all things. Brahma king Eyes of Shining Light found the door of liberation of always diligently appearing with no attachments, no boundaries, and no dependence in the midst of all existence. Brahma king Pleasing Ocean Sound found the door of liberation of constant contemplation and investigation of the inexhaustible truth.

  At that time the great brahma king Shikhin, imbued with the spiritual power of the Buddha, surveyed all the celestial hosts of the heavens of brahma bodies, brahma assistants, brahma masses, and great brahmas, and said in verse,

  The Buddha-body is pure and always tranquil;

  The radiance of its light extends throughout the worlds;

  Signless, patternless, without images,

  Like clouds in the sky, thus is it seen.

  This realm of concentration of the Buddha-body

  Cannot be assessed by any sentient being;

  It shows them inconceivable expedient doors:

  This is the enlightenment of Wisdom Light.

  The ocean of teachings, numerous as atoms in a buddha-land,

  Are expounded in a single word—all without remainder.

  They can be expounded this way for oceans of eons without ever being exhausted:

  This is the liberation of Light of Beneficent Wisdom.

  The complete sound of the Buddhas is equal to the worlds;

  Sentient beings each obtain understanding according to their kind,

  Yet there is no difference in the sound:

  Such is the understanding of the brahma king Universal Sound.

  The methods for entering enlightenment

  Of the Buddhas of all times

  Are all apparent in the Buddha-body:

  This is the liberation of Sound of Freedom.

  The activities of all sentient beings are different;

  According to the causes, the effects are various.

  In this way do the Buddhas appear in the world:

  Silent Light can understand this.

  Master of countless media of teaching,

  Civilizing sentient beings everywhere in all quarters,

  Yet not making distinctions therein:

  Such is the realm of Universal Light.

  The Buddha-body is like space, inexhaustible—

  Formless, unhindered, it pervades the ten directions.

  All of its accommodational manifestations are like conjurations:

  Sound of Magical Displays understands this way.

  The appearances of the Buddha-body are boundless,

  And so are the knowledge, wisdom, and voice—

  Being in the world, manifesting form, yet without attachment:

  Shining Light has entered this door.

  The King of Truth reposes in the Palace of Sublime Reality—

  The light of the reality-body illumines everything.

  The nature of reality is incomparable and has no marks:

  This is the liberation of king Ocean Sound.

  Furthermore, the celestial king Sovereign Freedom had found the door of liberation of the treasury of freedom manifestly developing and maturing innumerable sentient beings. Celestial king Sublime Eye Lord found the door of liberation examining the pleasures of all sentient beings and causing them to enter the pleasure of the realm of sages. Celestial king Beautiful Jewel Banner Crown found the door of liberation causing all sentient beings to initiate practices according to their various inclinations and understandings. Celestial king Courageous Intelligence found the door of liberation holding together all the doctrines preached for the benefit of sentient beings. Celestial king Wonderful Sound Phrases found the door of liberation remembering the compassion of the Buddha and increasing progress in his own practice. Celestial king Subtle Light Banner found the door of liberation of manifesting the door of great compassion and smashing down the banner of all pride and conceit. Celestial king Realm of Peace found the door of liberation conquering the malicious attitudes of all people. Celestial king Array of Splendid Discs Banner found the door of liberation of all the infinite Buddhas of the ten directions coming whenever they are remembered. Celestial king Flower Light Wisdom found the door of liberation of everywhere manifesting perfect enlightenment according to the minds and thoughts of sentient beings. Celestial king Sublime Light of Indra found the door of liberation of independence of great awesome power to enter all worlds.

  At that time the celestial king Sovereign Freedom, imbued with the majestic power of the Buddha, surveyed all the celestial hosts of the heavens of freedom and said in verse,

  The Buddha body is all-pervasive, equal to the cosmos.

  It manifests in response to all sentient beings;

  With various teachings he is always guiding:

  Master of Teaching, he is able to enlighten.

  Of the various pleasures of the world,

  The pleasure of holy tranquility is supreme;

  Abiding in the vast essence of reality:

  Sublime Eye sees this.

  The Buddha appears throughout the ten directions

  Universally responding to all hearts, teaching the truth—

  All doubting thoughts are cut off:

  This is the door of liberation of Beautiful Banner Crown.

  The Buddhas speak the wondrous sound throughout the world;

  The teachings spoken over countless ages

  Can all be expounded in a single word:

  This is the liberation of Courageous Intelligence.

  All the great kindness in the world

  Cannot equal a hairtip of the Buddha’s.

  The Buddha’s kindness is inexhaustible as space:

  This is the realization of Wonderful Sound.

  Completely demolishing in all quarters

  The mountains of pride of all beings,

  This is the function of the great compassion of the Buddha:

  This is the path traveled by Subtle Light Banner.

  The light of wisdom, pure, fills the world;

  Any who see it are relieved of ignorance

  And caused to leave the evil ways:

  Realm of Peace realizes this truth.

  The light of a hair pore is able to expound

  Buddha names as numerous as sentient beings.

  According to their pleasure, they all can hear it:

  This is Splendid Disc Banner’s liberation.

  The Buddha’s freedom cannot be measured—

  It fills the cosmos and all space.

  All the congregations see it clearly:

  This liberation door Flower Intellect enters.

  Over oceans of eons, infinite, boundless,

  Manifesting everywhere and preaching the truth,

  Never has a Buddha been seen to have any going or coming:

  This is the enlightenment of Wonderful Light.

/>   Furthermore, the celestial king Skillful Transformation found the door of liberation of the power of magical displays demonstrating all actions. Celestial king Light of Silent Sound found the door of liberation of relinquishing all clinging to objects. Celestial king Light of the Power of Transformation and Emanation found the door of liberation annihilating the ignorant muddled minds of all beings and causing their wisdom to become fully complete. Celestial king Master of Adornments found the door of liberation manifesting unlimited pleasing sounds. Celestial king Light of Mindfulness found the door of liberation knowing the infinite virtuous characteristics of all Buddhas. Celestial king Supreme Cloud Sound found the door of liberation knowing the process of becoming and decay of all past ages. Celestial king Supreme Light found the door of liberation of knowledge to enlighten all beings. Celestial king Exquisite Topknot found the door of liberation shedding light swiftly filling space in all directions. Celestial king Joyful Wisdom found the door of liberation of the power of energy whose deeds cannot be ruined by anyone. Celestial king Flower Light Topknot found the door of liberation knowing the rewards of actions of all sentient beings. Celestial king Seeing in All Directions found the door of liberation showing inconceivable differences in form and kind of sentient beings.

  At that time the celestial king Skillful Transformation, imbued with the majestic power of the Buddha, surveyed the whole host of celestial beings of the heavens of enjoyment of emanations and said in verse,

  The essence of the doings of the world is inconceivable—

  The Buddha teaches all about it for the confused,

  Skillfully explaining the true principle of causality

  And the different doings of all sentient beings.

  Looking at the Buddha in various ways, there’s nothing there;

  Seeking him in all directions, he can’t be found.

  The manifestations of the reality-body have no true actuality:

  This truth is seen by Silent Sound.

  The Buddha cultivated many practices over oceans of eons

  In order to extinguish the ignorance and confusion of the world.

  Therefore his purity is the most radiant light:

  This is the realization of the mind of Light Power.

  Of the sublime sounds and voices in the world,

  None can compare to the Buddha’s sound.

  The Buddha pervades the ten directions with a single sound:

  Entering this liberation is the Master of Adornment.

  All the power of wealth in the world

  Is not equal to a single characteristic of the Buddha—

  The virtues of the Buddha are like space:

  This is perceived by Mindful Light.

  The infinite ages of past, present, and future,

  The various aspects of their becoming and decay,

  The Buddha can show in a single pore:

  Supreme Cloud Sound can comprehend this.

  The extent of all space may be known,

  But the extent of a pore of Buddha cannot be apprehended.

  Such nonobstruction is inconceivable:

  Exquisite Topknot has been able to realize this.

  The Buddha, in countless past ages

  Fully cultivated the far-reaching transcendent means,

  Working diligently with nonflagging vigor:

  Joyful Intelligence knows this teaching.

  The causes and conditions of the nature of actions are inconceivable—

  The Buddha explains them all for the world.

  The nature of things is fundamentally pure, with no defilements:

  This is the entry way of Flower Light.

  You should gaze on a pore of the Buddha—

  All sentient beings are therein,

  And they neither come nor go:

  This is the understanding of Universal Sight.

  Furthermore, the celestial king Contented found the door of liberation of all Buddhas bringing forth a complete, fully rounded teaching in the world. Celestial king Ocean of Joy and Bliss Topknot found the door of liberation of the body of pure light extending throughout the realm of space. Celestial king Banner of Supreme Virtues found the door of liberation of the ocean of pure vows to extinguish the sufferings of the world. Celestial king Still and Silent Light found the door of liberation of physical manifestation everywhere to expound the truth. Celestial king Pleasing Eyes found the door of liberation purifying the realms of all sentient beings. Celestial king Jewel Peak Moon found the door of liberation of the inexhaustible store of eternal manifestation teaching all worlds. Celestial king Courage and Strength found the door of liberation showing the realm of true awakening of all Buddhas. Celestial king Subtle Diamond Light found the door of liberation fortifying and solidifying all sentient beings’ will for enlightenment, making it unbreakable. Celestial king Constellation Banner found the door of liberation of techniques for associating with all Buddhas that appear, meditative investigation, and harmonization of sentient beings. Celestial king Pleasing Adornments found the door of liberation of instantaneously knowing the minds of sentient beings and appearing according to their potentials.

  At that time celestial king Contented, imbued with the awesome power of the Buddha, surveyed all the hosts of the heavens of contentment and spoke in verse,

  The Buddha is vast, extending throughout the cosmos,

  Equal toward all sentient beings—

  Universally responding to all hearts, he opens the door of wonder,

  Causing them to enter the inconceivable pure truth.

  The Buddha-body manifests everywhere in the ten directions;

  Free from attachment and obstruction, it cannot be grasped.

  In various forms it is seen by all worlds:

  This is the entry of Topknot of Joy.

  The Buddha cultivated various practices in the past,

  His pure great vows deep as the sea;

  All enlightening ways he causes to be fulfilled:

  Supreme Virtue knows these techniques.

  The Buddha’s body is inconceivable;

  Like reflections it shows separate forms, equal to the cosmos,

  Everywhere clarifying all things:

  This is the liberation door of Silent Light.

  Sentient beings are bound and covered by habitual delusion—

  Conceited, careless, their minds run wild.

  The Buddha expounds for them the way to calm:

  Pleasing Eyes, aware of this, rejoices at heart.

  The true guide of all worlds,

  He appears to rescue, to provide refuge,

  Showing all beings the abode of peace and happiness:

  Jewel Peak Moon enters deeply into this.

  The state of the Buddhas is inconceivable—

  It extends throughout all universes,

  Entering all things, reaching the other shore:

  Courageous Intellect, seeing this, rejoices.

  If any sentient beings can accept the teaching,

  And, hearing the virtues of Buddha, strive for enlightenment,

  He causes them to dwell in the ocean of bounty, forever pure:

  Subtle Light is able to observe this.

  Gathering around all the Buddhas,

  Numerous as the atoms of the lands of the ten directions,

  Reverently making offerings and hearing the teaching:

  This is the vision of Constellation Banner.

  The ocean of sentient beings’ minds is inconceivable;

  It has no rest, no motion, no place of abode—

  The Buddha can see it all in an instant:

  This Beautiful Array well comprehends.

  Furthermore, the celestial king Timely Portion had found the door of liberation of inspiring virtue in all sentient beings and causing them to be forever free from anxiety and torment. Celestial king Sublime Light found the door of liberation entering into all realms. Celestial king Banner of Inexhaustible Wisdom and Virtue found the door of liberation of the wheel of great compass
ion destroying all afflictions. Celestial king Skilled in Miraculous Displays found the door of liberation comprehending the mentalities of all sentient beings of the past, present, and future. Celestial king Great Light of Memory Power found the door of liberation of the light of the gates of concentration formulae holding in memory all teachings without forgetting. Celestial king Inconceivable Wisdom found the door of liberation of inconceivable methods of skillfully entering into the nature of all actions. Celestial king Circular Navel found the door of liberation of methods of activating the cycles of the teaching and developing sentient beings to maturity. Celestial king Light Flame found the door of liberation of the vast eye observing all sentient beings and going to civilize them. Celestial king Illumination found the gate of liberation, getting beyond all barriers of habit and not going along with bedeviling doings. Celestial king Greatly Famed for Universal Observation found the door of liberation of skillfully guiding all celestial beings and inducing them to undertake actions with a pure heart.

  At that time the celestial king Timely Portion, imbued with the power of the Buddha, surveyed all the hosts of the Suyama heavens of good timely portion and spoke in verse, saying,

  The Buddha, for innumerable long eons,

  Has dried up the sea of troubles of the world:

  Opening wide the road of purity out of defilement,

  He causes to shine eternally the lamp of beings’ wisdom.

  The Buddha’s body is exceedingly vast—

  No borders can be found in the ten directions.

  His expedient means are unlimited:

  Subtle Light’s knowledge has access to this.

  The pains of birth, aging, sickness, death, and grief

  Oppress beings without relief.

  The Great Teacher takes pity and vows to remove them all:

  Inexhaustible Wisdom Light can comprehend this.

  Unhindered is the Buddha’s knowledge that all is illusory;

  He clearly comprehends all things in all times,

  Delving into the mental patterns of all sentient beings:

  This is the realm of Skillful Teaching.

  The bounds of his total recall are not to be found;

  The ocean of his eloquence is also unlimited.

  He is able to turn the wheel of the pure subtle truth:

  This is the liberation of Great Light.

  The nature of actions is vast and inexhaustible—