The Flower Ornament Scripture

by Thomas Cleary

Diamond Eye can realize this,

  Seeing Buddha’s boundless supreme virtues.

  He appears in disguise in all kinds of forms,

  All throughout the universe:

  Fragrant Hair Emitting Light always sees Buddha,

  Thus teaching all sentient beings.

  His sublime voice extends everywhere,

  Explaining for beings for infinite eons:

  Pleasing Sound earth spirit comprehends this,

  And, hearing it from the Buddha, is reverently joyful.

  Buddha’s pores emit clouds of fragrant flames

  Filling the world according to the mentalities of beings;

  All who see this develop maturity:

  This is what Flower Swirl observes.

  Stable and unbreakable as diamond,

  More unshakable than the polar mountain,

  The Buddha’s body is in the world this way:

  All-Sustainer, able to see, gives rise to joy.

  Furthermore, the city spirit Jewel Peak Radiance found the door of liberation benefiting sentient beings by appropriate means. The city spirit Beautifully Adorned Palace found the door of liberation knowing the faculties of sentient beings and teaching and maturing them. The city spirit Jewel of Pure Joy found the door of liberation always joyfully causing all sentient beings to receive various blessings. The city spirit Sorrowless Purity found the door of liberation of the mine of great compassion saving those in fear. The city spirit Flower Lamp Flame Eyes found the door of liberation of universally clear great wisdom and knowledge. The city spirit Flame Banner Clearly Showing found the door of liberation appearing everywhere with appropriate means. The city spirit Light of Virtue found the door of liberation observing all sentient beings and causing them to cultivate the vast ocean of virtue. The city spirit Body of Pure Light found the door of liberation awakening all sentient beings from the darkness of ignorance. The city spirit Eyes of Light of a Mountain of Jewels found the door of liberation able to pulverize the mountains of obstructions hindering sentient beings, by means of a great light.

  At that time the city spirit Jewel Peak Radiance, imbued with power from the Buddha, surveyed all the hosts of city spirits and said in verse,

  The Guide is so inconceivable,

  With light illumining the ten directions:

  All sentient beings see Buddha before them,

  Teaching and developing countless numbers.

  The faculties of sentient beings are each different;

  The Buddha knows them all.

  The spirit Beautifully Adorned Palaces

  Enters this gate of teaching with joy.

  The Buddha cultivated practices for boundless eons,

  Maintaining the teachings of the Buddhas of past ages,

  His mind always happily accepting them:

  Jewel of Joy realizes this way.

  Buddha in the past was already able to remove

  The fears of all sentient beings

  And always exercise kindness and compassion toward them:

  This the spirit Sorrowless comprehends with joy.

  Buddha’s knowledge is vast and boundless;

  Like space, it cannot be measured.

  Flower Eyes, realizing this, is pleased:

  He can study the Buddha’s ineffable wisdom.

  The Buddha’s physical forms are equal to sentient beings—

  He causes them to see him according to their inclinations;

  Flame Banner Clearly Showing understands this in his heart

  And practices this technique, producing joy.

  Buddha cultivated an ocean of myriad blessings—

  Pure, vast, without any bounds:

  Light of Virtue Banner, taking this approach,

  Contemplates, comprehends, and is happy in mind.

  Sentient beings ignorantly wander through various states of existence;

  Like people born blind, after all they cannot see.

  Buddha appears in the world to help them:

  Pure Light enters this door.

  The Buddha’s powers are boundless,

  Like clouds covering all the world;

  He appears even in dreams to teach:

  This is what Fragrant Banner perceives.

  Sentient beings are foolish and ignorant, as though blind and deaf,

  They are shrouded by all kinds of obstructing veils;

  Buddha’s light penetrates them, making them open up:

  Such is the entry way of Mountain of Jewels.

  Furthermore, the sanctuary spirit Banner of Pure Adornments found the door of liberation of the power of commitment to produce vast adornments to offer to the Buddha. The sanctuary spirit Polar Mountain Jewel Light found the door of liberation appearing before all sentient beings perfecting the practice of great enlightenment. The sanctuary spirit Sign of the Thunder found the door of liberation causing all sentient beings to see the Buddha in dreams teaching them according to their mentalities and inclinations. The sanctuary spirit Wonderful Eyes Raining Flowers found the door of liberation able to rain all precious adornments that are hard to part with. The sanctuary spirit Form of Pure Flowers found the door of liberation able to manifest beautifully adorned sanctuaries, teach many beings, and cause them to develop to maturity. The sanctuary spirit Garland Light Topknot found the door of liberation teaching the truth according to beings’ faculties, causing them to develop right awareness. The sanctuary spirit Raining Jewel Arrays found the door of liberation able to eloquently rain everywhere boundless joyous truths. The sanctuary spirit Courageous Fragrant Eye found the door of liberation extensively praising the virtues of the Buddhas. The sanctuary spirit Diamond Colored Cloud found the door of liberation causing arrays of trees of boundless colors and forms to appear. The sanctuary spirit Lotus Light found the door of liberation being still and unmoving under the tree of enlightenment yet being present everywhere. The sanctuary spirit Radiance of Ineffable Light found the door of liberation demonstrating the various powers of a Buddha.

  At that time the sanctuary spirit Banner of Pure Adornments, imbued with power from the Buddha, looked over all the sanctuary spirits and said,

  I recall the Buddha in former times,

  The practices he performed for countless eons,

  Making offerings to all the Buddhas who appeared—

  So he has virtues vast as all space.

  The Buddha practiced unlimited generosity

  In infinite lands, numerous as all atoms;

  Thinking of the well-faring Buddha,

  Polar Mountain Light’s heart is glad.

  The physical forms of Buddha have no end;

  His transformations pervade all lands,

  Always appearing, even in dreams:

  Thunder Banner, seeing this, gives rise to joy.

  He practiced relinquishment for countless ages,

  Able to give up eyes, hard to part with, enough to fill a sea—

  This practice of relinquishment was for the sake of all beings:

  This Wonderful Eyes happily understands.

  Boundless forms, like blazing clouds of jewels,

  Appear in sanctuaries throughout the world:

  The spirit Form of Pure Flames rejoices

  Upon seeing the mystical power of Buddha.

  The ocean of sentient beings’ activities is shoreless;

  The Buddha fills it with the rain of truth,

  Removing doubt and confusion according to potential:

  Flower Garland, realizing this, is pleased.

  The different meanings of innumerable teachings

  Are delved into by his oceanic eloquence:

  The spirit Raining Precious Adornments

  Is always thus in mind.

  In unspeakably many lands

  He praised the Buddhas in all languages,

  And therefore has great fame and virtue:

  Courageous Eye can keep this in mind.

  Infinite trees of various forms

  Appear beneath the king,
tree of enlightenment:

  Diamond Colored Cloud realizes this,

  And always watches the tree with delight.

  Bounds to the ten directions cannot be found—

  Likewise the knowledge of Buddha on the site of enlightenment:

  Lotus Light’s pure mind of faith

  Enters this liberation and profoundly rejoices.

  Everything at the site of enlightenment produces exquisite sound

  Extolling the pure, inconceivable powers of the Buddha

  As well as the perfected causal practices:

  This can be heard by Ineffable Light.

  Furthermore, the footstep-following spirit Precious Symbol found the door of liberation raining jewels all over, producing bountiful joy. The footstep-following spirit Lotus Light found the door of liberation showing the Buddha seated on a lotus throne of lights of all colors, causing delight to those who see. The footstep-following spirit Supreme Flower Topknot found the door of liberation setting up the sanctuaries and assemblies of all Buddhas in every moment of thought. The footstep-following spirit Embodying All Beautiful Visions found the door of liberation pacifying and harmonizing countless sentient beings at every step. The footstep-following spirit Exquisite Gem Star Banner found the door of liberation in every moment of thought magically producing various lotus-like webs of light, everywhere raining showers of jewels producing marvelous sounds. The footstep-following spirit Joyfully Uttering Sublime Sounds found the door of liberation producing boundless oceans of joy. The footstep-following spirit Sandalwood Tree Light found the door of liberation awakening the assemblies at all sites of enlightenment with a fragrant breeze. The footstep-following spirit Lotus Light found the door of liberation emanating light from every pore intoning the subtle sounds of truth. The footstep-following spirit Subtle Light found the door of liberation producing from the body webs of various lights illumining everywhere. The footstep-following spirit Collection of Fine Flowers found the door of liberation enlightening all beings and causing them to develop oceans of virtues.

  At that time the footstep-following spirit Precious Symbol, imbued with the Buddha’s power, surveyed all the assembled footstep-following spirits and said in verse,

  Buddha practiced for innumerable eons,

  Making offerings to all the Buddhas,

  His mind always joyful, never wearied,

  His joy as deep and vast as the sea.

  His spiritual powers, active every moment, are immeasurable—

  He produces lotuses of various fragrances,

  With Buddhas sitting on them, traveling all over:

  Lotus Light sees it all.

  The teaching of the Buddhas is thus:

  The vast assemblies fill all directions;

  They show mystic powers which can’t be assessed:

  This Supreme Flower clearly perceives.

  In all places in the ten directions,

  With every step he takes

  He can develop all beings:

  This Beautiful Visions understands.

  He manifests bodies numerous as beings;

  Each of these bodies fills the universe,

  All shedding pure light and showering jewels:

  This liberation Star Banner enters into.

  The realm of the Buddha has no bounds;

  He showers the rain of truth, filling all—

  Seeing the Buddha, the masses rejoice:

  This is what’s seen by Sublime Sound.

  The Buddha’s voice is equal in extent to space—

  All sounds and voices are contained therein;

  It tames sentient beings, extending to all:

  Thus can Sandalwood hear.

  All his pores emit magical sounds

  Extolling the names of Buddhas of all times;

  All who hear these sounds are delighted:

  Thus does Lotus Light see.

  The disguised appearances of the Buddha are inconceivable—

  His physical forms are like the ocean,

  Causing all to see according to mentality:

  This is what Suble Light apprehends.

  Displaying great mystic powers everywhere,

  He enlightens all beings:

  Fine Flowers, seeing this truth,

  Becomes joyful at heart.

  Furthermore, the multiple-body spirit Realm of Pure Joy found the door of liberation remembering the ocean of Buddha’s ancient vows. The multiple-body spirit Light Illumining All Directions found the door of liberation of light shining everywhere on boundless worlds. The multiple-body spirit Oceanic Sound Conquering found the door of liberation of a great sound awakening all beings and causing them to be happy and harmoniously tranquil. The multiple-body spirit Pure Flower Adorned Topknot found the door of liberation of a body like space, omnipresent. The multiple-body spirit Infinite Dignified Postures found the door of liberation showing all sentient beings the realm of the Buddhas. The multiple-body spirit Array of Supreme Light found the door of liberation causing all famished sentient beings to be physically healthy and strong. The multiple-body spirit Fragrant Clouds of Pure Light found the door of liberation clearing away all sentient beings’ defiling afflictions. The multiple-body spirit Guardian Sustainer found the door of liberation overturning all sentient beings’ ignorant, foolish, maniacal actions. The multiple-body spirit Ubiquitous Shepherd found the door of liberation manifesting adornments in the palaces of all world leaders. The multiple-body spirit Immutable Light found the door of liberation embracing all sentient beings and causing them to produce pure roots of goodness.

  At that time the multiple-body spirit Realm of Pure Joy, empowered by the Buddha, looked over all the multiple-body spirits and said,

  I remember, countless eons ago,

  A Buddha, Sublime Light, appeared in the world;

  This World Honored One, in the presence of that Buddha,

  Vowed to attain enlightenment, and served all Buddhas.

  Buddha’s body emits great light,

  Which fills the entire cosmos;

  When beings encounter it, their minds are subdued:

  This is seen by Illumining All Directions.

  Buddha’s voice makes all countries tremble;

  Every sphere of sound

  Awakes all beings without exception:

  Conqueror, hearing, rejoices at heart.

  The Buddha body is pure, ever calm,

  Manifesting all forms, yet without any signs,

  Abiding this way everywhere in the world:

  This is the approach of Pure Flowers.

  The Guide is so inconceivable,

  Causing all to see according to their minds—

  Sometimes sitting, or walking, or standing:

  Infinite Dignified Postures understands this.

  A Buddha is hard to meet even in a million eons—

  He appears in the world to give help freely,

  Causing beings to be free from the pains of destitution:

  Here is where Supreme Light Array enters.

  Each of the Buddha’s teeth

  Emits blazing clouds of light, as from a fragrant lamp

  Destroying the illusions of all sentient beings:

  Undefiled Clouds sees in this way.

  Beings’ attachments and delusions are multiple barriers—

  They follow demons in their ways, always involved in routines;

  Buddha shows them the way to liberation:

  Guardian Sustainer can understand this.

  I see the independent power of Buddha,

  His light filling the universe;

  In royal palaces he edifies beings:

  This is the realm of the Ubiquitous One.

  Beings are deluded, full of miseries—

  Buddha is in their midst, always saving,

  Causing delusions to vanish and joy to abound:

  This is what’s seen by Immutable Light.

  Furthermore, the thunderbolt-bearing spirit Demigod of Wonderful Form found the door of liber
ation seeing the Buddha manifest a body of infinite physical forms. The thunderbolt-bearing spirit Banner of Swiftness of the Sun found the door of liberation of each hair of the buddha-body radiating clouds of various light beams, like the sun. The thunderbolt-bearing spirit Light of the Flowers of the Polar Mountain found the door of liberation of great mystic powers manifesting innumerable bodies. The thunderbolt-bearing spirit Pure Sound of Clouds found the door of liberation of infinite sounds corresponding to all species. The thunderbolt-bearing spirit Great-Armed God found the door of liberation appearing as the leader in all worlds and awakening sentient beings. The thunderbolt-bearing spirit Delightful Light found the door of liberation revealing all the different aspects of the Buddha’s teachings. The thunderbolt-bearing spirit Sound of Thunder in Great Trees found the door of liberation bringing together all the tree spirits with delightful ornaments. The thunderbolt-bearing spirit Lion King Light found the door of liberation fulfilling and clearly understanding the Buddha’s vast array of blessings. The thunderbolt-bearing spirit Auspicious Eye of Intense Flames found the door of liberation observing the minds of sentient beings on dangerous paths and manifesting a magnificently adorned body for them. The thunderbolt-bearing spirit Lotus Jewel Topknot found the door of liberation showering everywhere the jewel topknots adorning all enlightening beings.

  At that time the thunderbolt-bearing spirit Demigod of Wonderful Form, empowered by the Buddha, said in verse,

  Observe the King of Truth—

  The teaching of the King of Truth is thus.

  His physical forms have no bounds,

  Manifesting throughout the world.

  Each of the Buddha’s hairs

  Is an inconceivable act of light,

  Like the clear orb of the sun

  Illuminating all lands.

  The spiritual powers of the Buddha

  Pervade the entire cosmos—

  In the presence of all sentient beings,

  He manifests infinite bodies.

  The sound of the Buddha’s teaching

  Is heard in all quarters;

  According to the type of being,

  He satisfies all their minds.

  The masses see the honored sage

  In the palace in the world

  For the sake of all the living

  Expounding the great teaching.

  In the whirlpool of the ocean of truth,

  With all kinds of different doctrines,

  Various appropriate techniques,