Has expounded all holy paths,
Destroying barriers for all beings:
Sphere of Perfect Light understands this.
I observe the enlightenment practices
Accumulated by the Buddha in the past,
All to make the world at peace:
Beautiful Topknot works in this sphere.
The realms of all sentient beings
Whirl in the sea of birth and death.
Buddha emits a pain-killing light:
The Unhindered spirit can see this.
His treasury of pure virtues
Is a field of blessings for the world,
Appropriately enlightening with knowledge:
The spirit Power understands this.
Sentient beings are veiled by ignorance,
Wandering on dangerous paths;
The Buddha emanates light for them:
Spotless Light realizes this.
Knowledge and wisdom have no bounds,
Appearing in every land,
With light illumining the world:
Sublime Sound sees Buddha here.
Buddha, to liberate beings,
Cultivates practices everywhere;
This grandiose will
Universal Manifestation can observe.
Furthermore, the wind spirit Unimpended Light found the door of liberation entering into all the Buddha teachings and all worlds. The wind spirit Everywhere Manifesting Courageous Action found the door of liberation providing extensive offerings to all the Buddhas appearing in innumerable lands. The wind spirit Wind Striking Cloud Banner found the door of liberation eliminating the sickness of all sentient beings with a fragrant wind. The wind spirit Arrays of Pure Light found the door of liberation producing roots of goodness in all sentient beings and causing them to pulverize the mountains of multiple barriers. The wind spirit Power to Dry Up Water found the door of liberation able to defeat boundless armies of malicious demons. The wind spirit Great Voice Howling Everywhere found the door of liberation annihilating the fears of all sentient beings. The wind spirit Tree Branch Hanging Topknot found the door of liberation of the ocean of powers of elucidation, entering into the real character of all things. The wind spirit Going Everywhere Unimpeded found the door of liberation of the treasury of techniques to harmonize and civilize all sentient beings. The wind spirit Various Mansions found the door of liberation entering into still, serene meditative poise and destroying the extremely deep darkness of folly and ignorance. The wind spirit Great Light Shining Everywhere found the door of liberation of unhindered power to go along with all sentient beings.
At that time the wind spirit Unimpeded Light, imbued with the power of the Buddha, looked over all the wind spirits and said in verse,
The teachings of all Buddhas are most profound,
With unhindered means by which all may enter,
Appearing always in all worlds,
Signless, formless, without image.
Observe how the Buddha in the past
Gave offerings to endless Buddhas in a single instant—
Such bold enlightenment practice
Everywhere Manifesting can comprehend.
Buddha saves the world inconceivably;
None of his methods are used in vain—
All cause action to be free from distress:
This is the liberation of Cloud Banner.
Beings have no blessings, they suffer many pains,
With heavy veils and dense barriers always deluding them.
Buddha makes them all attain liberation:
This is known to Pure Light.
The Buddha’s vast mystic power
Conquers all armies of demons;
All his methods of subduing
Healthy Power is able to observe.
Buddha emanates subtle sound from his pores
Which extends everywhere throughout the world
Causing all misery and fear to end:
This is understood by Howling Everywhere.
Buddha, in all oceans of lands,
Always preaches, over unthinkable eons.
This wonderful elucidation power of buddhahood
Tree Branch Topknot can comprehend.
Buddha’s knowledge enters all avenues of means,
Completely free of hindrance therein—
His realm is boundless and without any equal:
This is the liberation of Going Everywhere.
The Buddha’s state is without bounds—
By expedient means he shows it everywhere,
Yet his body is tranquil and has no form:
This is the liberation door of Various Mansions.
The Buddha cultivated practices for oceans of eons
And has completely fulfilled all powers
And can respond to beings in accord with worldly norms:
This is the view of Shining Everywhere.
Furthermore, the fire spirit Repository of Flames of Universal Light found the door of liberation removing the darkness of all worlds. The fire spirit Banner of Universal Assembly of Light found the door of liberation able to end all sentient beings’ delusions, wanderings, and pains of irritating afflictions. The fire spirit Great Light Shining Everywhere found the door of liberation of the treasury of great compassion with the immutable power of enriching. The fire spirit Topknot of Inexhaustible Light found the door of liberation of light beams illuminating the boundless reaches of space. The fire spirit Eyes of Various Flames found the door of liberation of silent, serene lights in various magnificent arrays. The fire spirit Palace of Wonders found the door of liberation observing the Buddha’s spiritual powers appearing without bound. The fire spirit Palaces in All Directions Like Polar Mountains found the door of liberation able to extinguish the blazing torments of all beings in all worlds. The fire spirit Sovereign of Awesome Light found the door of liberation able to freely enlighten all beings. The fire spirit Light Shining in All Directions found the door of liberation destroying forever all ignorant, attached opinions. The fire spirit Thunder and Lightning found the door of liberation of the great roar of power to fulfill all undertakings.
At that time, the fire spirit Repository of Flames of Universal Light, imbued with power from the Buddha, looked over all the fire spirits and said in verse,
Observe the Buddhas’ power of energy—
For vast, inconceivable millions of eons
They have appeared in the world to help sentient beings,
Causing all barriers of darkness to be destroyed.
Sentient beings, in their folly, create various views;
Their passions are like torrents, like fires blazing;
The Guide’s techniques remove them all:
Banner of Universal Assembly of Light understands this.
Blessings and virtues like space, unending—
No bounds to them can ever be found;
This is the Buddha’s immutable power of compassion:
Light Shining, realizing this, conceives great joy.
I observe the Buddha’s practices
Over the eons, without bound,
Thus manifesting spiritual powers:
Palace of Wonders understands this.
Practice perfected over billions of eons, inconceivable,
To which no one can find any bound or limit,
Buddha expounds the real character of things, causing joy:
This is perceived by Inexhaustible Light.
All the vast masses in the ten directions
Behold the Buddha present before them,
The tranquil light clearly lighting the world:
This Subtle Flames can comprehend.
The Sage appears in all worlds,
Sitting in all their palaces,
Raining the boundless great teaching:
This is the perspective of All Directions.
The Buddhas’ wisdom is most profound;
Free in all ways, they appear in the world,
Able to clar
ify all genuine truths:
Awesome Light, realizing this, rejoices at heart.
The folly of views is a dark veil;
Beings, deluded, eternally wander;
For them Buddha opens the gate of sublime teaching:
Illumining All Quarters can understand this.
The gate of Buddhas’ vows is vast, inconceivable—
Their powers and transcendent ways are developed and purified;
All appear in the world according to their ancient vows:
This is what Thunder and Lightning understands.
Furthermore, the water spirit Ubiquitous Cloud Banner realized the door of liberation of compassion equally benefiting all beings. The water spirit Cloudlike Sound of the Ocean Tide found the door of liberation adorned with boundless truths. The water spirit Beautiful Round Topknot found the door of liberation observing those who could be taught and dealing with them with appropriate techniques. The water spirit Whirlpool of Skills found the door of liberation everywhere expounding the most profound realm of the Buddhas. The water spirit Store of Undefiled Fragrance found the door of liberation everywhere manifesting pure, bright light. The water spirit Virtue Bridge Light Sound found the signless, essenceless door of liberation of the pure realm of truth. The water spirit Freedom of Contentment found the door of liberation of the inexhaustible ocean of great compassion. The water spirit Good Sound of Pure Joy found the door of liberation being a mine of great joy among the hosts of enlightening beings at sites of enlightenment. The water spirit Everywhere Manifesting Awesome Light found the door of liberation appearing everywhere by means of the unimpeded, immensely vast power of virtue. The water spirit Roaring Sound Filling the Sea found the door of liberation observing all sentient beings and producing infinite techniques for harmonizing and pacifying them.
At that time the water spirit Ubiquitous Cloud Banner, imbued with power from the Buddha, looked over all the water spirits and said,
Gates of pure compassion, as many as atoms in all lands,
Together produce a single sublime feature of the Buddha.
Other features also are each like this:
Therefore beholders of Buddha never become jaded.
When the Buddha cultivated practice in the past,
He went to visit all of the Buddhas,
Cultivating himself in various ways, never lax:
These methods Cloud Sound enters.
The Buddha, in all ten directions,
Is still, unmoving, not coming or going,
Yet teaches beings appropriately, causing them all to see:
This is what Round Topknot knows.
The realm of the Buddha is boundless, immeasurable—
All sentient beings cannot comprehend it.
The preaching of his wondrous voice fills all directions:
This is Technique Whirlpool’s sphere.
The light of the Buddha has no end;
It fills the cosmos, inconceivably,
Teaching, edifying, liberating beings:
This Pure Fragrance watches and sees.
The Buddha is pure as space,
Signless, formless, present everywhere,
Yet causing all beings to see:
This Light of Blessings well observes.
Of old Buddha practiced great compassion,
His mind is broad as all of life.
Therefore he is like a cloud appearing in the world:
This liberation Contentment knows.
All lands in the ten directions
See the Buddha sitting on his seat
Becoming clearly enlightened with great realization:
This is where Joyful Sound enters in.
Buddha’s sphere of action is free from hindrance—
He goes to all lands in the ten directions,
Everywhere showing great mystic powers:
Manifesting Awesome Light has realized this.
He cultivates boundless expedient practices,
Equal to the worlds of sentient beings, filling them all,
The subtle action of his mystic power never ceasing:
Roaring Sound Filling the Sea can enter this.
Furthermore, the ocean spirit Producing Jewel Light found the door of liberation impartially bestowing an ocean of blessings on all beings. The ocean spirit Unbreakable Diamond Banner found the door of liberation preserving the good roots of all sentient beings by skillful means. The ocean spirit Undefiled found the door of liberation able to evaporate the ocean of all sentient beings’ afflictions. The ocean spirit Always Dwelling in the Waves found the door of liberation causing all sentient beings to depart from evil ways. The ocean spirit Auspicious Jewel Moon found the door of liberation everywhere destroying the darkness of great ignorance. The ocean spirit Beautiful Flower Dragon Topknot found the door of liberation extinguishing the sufferings of all states of being and bestowing peace and happiness. The ocean spirit Everywhere Holding the Flavor of Light found the door of liberation purifying all sentient beings of their opinionated, ignorant nature. The ocean spirit Jewel Flame Flower Light found the door of liberation producing the will of enlightenment which is the source of all nobility. The ocean spirit Beautiful Diamond Topknot found the door of liberation of the ocean of virtues of the unshakable mind. The ocean spirit Thunder of the Ocean Tide found the door of liberation entering everywhere into absorption in the cosmos of reality.
At that time, the ocean spirit Producing Jewel Light, imbued with power from the Buddha, looked over all the ocean spirits and spoke these verses,
Over an ocean of inconceivably vast eons
He made offerings to all the Buddhas,
Distributing the merit to all living beings—
That is why his dignity is beyond compare.
Appearing in all worlds,
Knowing the capacities and desires of all beings,
Buddha expounds for them the ocean of truths:
This is joyfully realized by Indestructible Banner.
All sentient beings are shrouded by afflictions,
Roaming in all conditions, subject to all miseries—
For them he reveals the state of buddhahood:
Palace in All Waters enters this door.
Buddha, in unthinkable oceans of eons,
Cultivated all practices endlessly,
Forever cutting the net of beings’ confusion:
Jewel Moon can clearly enter this.
Buddha sees beings always afraid,
Whirling in the ocean of birth and death;
He shows them the Buddha’s unexcelled Way:
Dragon Topknot, comprehending, gives rise to joy.
The realm of the Buddhas cannot be conceived—
It is equal to the cosmos and space—
It can clear away beings’ net of delusion:
This Flower Holding is able to expound.
The Buddha-eye is pure and inconceivable:
Comprehensively viewing all things,
He points out to all the excellent paths:
This Flower Light understands.
The army of demons, huge, uncountable,
He destroys in the space of an instant,
His mind undisturbed, unfathomable:
This is Diamond Topknot’s technique.
Speaking a wondrous sound in the ten directions,
That sound pervades the entire universe—
Such is the Buddha’s meditation state:
This is the realm of Ocean Tide Thunder.
Futhermore, the river spirit Everywhere Producing Swift Currents found the door of liberation everywhere raining the boundless rain of truth. The river spirit Universally Purifying Springs and Streams found the door of liberation appearing before all sentient beings and causing them to be forever free from afflictions. The river spirit Dustfree Pure Eye found the door of liberation by compassion and appropriate techniques washing away the dust of delusions from all sentient beings. The river spirit Roaring Everywhere found the door of liberatio
n constantly producing sounds beneficial to all sentient beings. The river spirit Rescuing Sentient Beings Everywhere found the door of liberation always being nonmalevolent and kind toward all sentient beings. The river spirit Heatless Pure Light found the door of liberation showing all pure and cool roots of goodness. The river spirit Universally Causing Joy found the door of liberation cultivating complete generosity, causing all sentient beings to forever give up stinginess and attachment. The river spirit Supreme Banner of Extensive Virtue found the door of liberation being a field of blessings giving joy to all. The river spirit Light Shining on All Worlds found the door of liberation able to cause all defiled beings to be pure, and all those poisoned with anger to become joyful. The river spirit Light of Oceanic Virtues found the door of liberation able to cause all sentient beings to enter the ocean of liberation and always experience complete bliss.
At that time the river spirit Everywhere Producing Swift Currents, imbued with power from the Buddha, looked over all the river spirits and spoke in verse,
Of old the Buddha, for the sake of all beings,
Cultivated boundless practices of the ocean of truths;
Like refreshing rain clearing blazing heat,
He extinguishes the heat of beings’ afflictions.
Buddha, in uncountable past eons,
Purified the world with the light of his vows,
Causing the mature to realize enlightenment:
This is the realization of Universal Purifier.
With compassion and methods numerous as beings
He appears before all, always guiding,
Clearing away the dirt of afflictions:
Pure Eyes, seeing this, rejoices profoundly.
Buddhas speak of wondrous sound, causing all to hear—
Sentient beings, delighted, have hearts full of joy,
Causing them to wash away innumerable pains:
This is the liberation of Everywhere Roaring.
The Buddha cultivated enlightenment practice
To aid sentient beings for innumerable ages—
Therefore his light fills the world:
The spirit Guardian, remembering, is happy.
Buddha cultivated practices for the sake of beings,
By various means making them mature,
Purifying the ocean of blessings, removing all pains:
Heatless, seeing this, rejoices at heart.
The gate of generosity is inexhaustible,
Benefiting all sentient beings,
Causing witnesses to have no attachment:
The Flower Ornament Scripture Page 16