The Flower Ornament Scripture
Page 21
Incomparable, unhindered, pervading everywhere:
The nature of all the infinity of things
Is in that body completely.
Some see the Buddha’s sublime body of form,
Its boundless physical characteristics blazing with light;
According to the different understandings of various beings,
It transforms into various appearances, everywhere.
Some see the body of unobstructed knowledge,
Equal in all times, like space;
According to the changes in beings’ inclinations,
It causes them to see all kinds of differences.
Some can understand the Buddha’s voice
Pervading all lands in the ten directions;
According to sentient beings’ abilities to understand,
It produces verbal sounds for them, without any hindrance.
Some see the Buddha’s various lights,
Variously shining throughout the world;
And some see too, in the Buddha’s light,
Buddhas displaying their mystic powers.
Some see Buddha’s oceans of clouds of light
Issuing from his pores, of radiant hues,
Showing the paths he practiced of yore,
Causing beings to deeply believe and enter Buddha’s knowledge.
Some see the Buddha’s adorning marks and blessings
And see where the blessings come from—
The oceans of transcendent means he practiced of old
Are clearly seen in the Buddha’s marks.
Buddha’s qualities cannot be measured;
They fill the cosmos, without any bounds.
These and the ranges of psychic powers
These beings can expound through Buddha’s power.
Then the ocean of worlds of arrays of flower banks, by the power of the Buddha, all shook in six ways, in eighteen manners: that is, they trembled, trembled all over, trembled all over in all directions; they welled up, welled up all over, welled up all over in all directions; they surged, surged all over, surged all over in all directions; they quaked, quaked all over, quaked all over in all directions; they roared, roared all over, roared all over in all directions; they crashed, crashed all over, crashed all over in all directions.
These various world leaders each caused clouds of inconceivable offerings to appear, raining on the ocean of beings at the site of enlightenment: clouds of ornaments of all fragrant flowers; clouds of decorations of all precious stones; clouds of flower nets of all jewel flames; clouds of spheres of light of jewels of boundless varieties; clouds of treasuries of pearls of all colors; clouds of all precious sandalwood scents; clouds of umbrellas made of all kinds of precious substances; clouds of diamonds with pure resonance; clouds of necklaces of jewels shining like the sun; clouds of banks of lights of all gemstones; clouds of all sorts of decorations. These clouds of adornments were infinite, inconceivably numerous. These world leaders each produced such clouds of offerings, showering upon the ocean of beings at the Buddha’s site of enlightenment, all reaching everywhere.
As in this world the world leaders joyfully produced such offerings, so did all the world leaders in all worlds of the ocean of worlds of arrays of flower banks make such offerings. In each of their worlds there was a Buddha sitting on the site of enlightenment. The individual world leaders’ various resolutions of faith, foci of concentration, methods of meditation, practice of methods assisting enlightenment, accomplishments, joys, approaches, understandings of the teachings, access to the realm of Buddha’s spiritual powers, access to the realms of Buddha’s abilities, entryways into the Buddha’s liberation, were the same as in the flower bank ocean of worlds in all the oceans of worlds in the entire space of the whole cosmos.
BOOK TWO
Appearance of the Buddha
AT THAT TIME the enlightening beings and the leaders of all the worlds formed these thoughts: “What are the stages of the Buddha? What are the vistas of the Buddha? What are the empowerments of the Buddha? What are the acts of the Buddha? What are the powers of the Buddha? What are the fearlessnesses of the Buddha? What are the meditations of the Buddha? What are the invincibilities of the Buddha? What are the sense organs of the Buddha? What are the minds of the Buddha? What are the lights of the Buddha’s body? What are the halos of the Buddha? What are the voices of the Buddha? What are the knowledges of the Buddha? O please, World Honored One, pity us and explain to us. Also, all the Buddhas of all oceans of worlds in the ten directions explain to the enlightening beings the oceans of worlds, the oceans of sentient beings, the oceans of Buddhas’ liberations, the oceans of Buddhas’ mystical displays, the oceans of Buddhas’ teachings, the oceans of Buddhas’ names, the oceans of Buddhas’ life spans, as well as the oceans of vows of all enlightening beings, the oceans of approaches of all enlightening beings, the oceans of aids to the Way of all enlightening beings, the oceans of all vehicles of enlightening beings, the oceans of activities of all enlightening beings, the oceans of emancipations of all enlightening beings, the oceans of psychic powers of all enlightening beings, the oceans of ways of transcendence of all enlightening beings, the oceans of stages of all enlightening beings, and the oceans of knowledge of all enlightening beings—please, O Buddha, Enlightened One, World Honored One, explain these for us too.”
Then the enlightening beings, by mystical power, produced sound issuing spontaneously from the clouds of offerings, speaking verses:
Countless eons of practice complete,
You’ve become truly awake under the enlightenment tree:
You appear universally to liberate beings,
Like clouds filling all to the end of time.
When beings have doubts, you put an end to them,
Causing all to develop great faith and resolution;
Everywhere removing unlimited suffering,
You make all experience the peace of the Buddhas.
An infinite number of enlightening beings
Have all come here to behold you:
Please explain the truth, eliminate doubt,
According to our capacities to receive.
How can we know the stages of the Buddhas?
How can we observe the Buddha’s sphere?
The empowerment of the Buddha has no bounds:
Please show us this truth and purify us.
What is the Buddha’s realm of action
That can be entered by wisdom?
Buddha’s power is pure and unlimited:
Please show it to us enlightening beings.
What are your vast meditation states?
How do you purify fearlessness?
Your mystic powers cannot be measured:
Please explain in accord with beings’ dispositions.
The Buddhas, kings of truth, are like the world leaders—
Free wherever they go, none can constrain them:
This and other great teachings
Please expound for the benefit of all.
How are the Buddha’s eyes innumerable,
As also are the other organs of sense?
And how are the minds also countless?
Please show us a way to know about this.
As are the oceans of worlds and oceans of beings,
All oceans of arrangements in the cosmos,
So are the oceans of Buddhas—unbounded:
Please tell all to the children of Buddha.
The ocean of transcendent ways, forever beyond conception,
The ocean of techniques for universal liberation,
The ocean of all the aspects of the teaching,
Please expound at this enlightenment site.
At that point the Buddha, knowing what the enlightening beings were thinking, emitted a multitude of light rays from his teeth. Those light rays were as numerous as atoms in a buddha-field: they included, for example, light rays of flowers of jewels illumining everywhere; light rays producing various sounds adorning the univers
e; light rays draping subtle clouds; light rays showing the Buddhas of the ten directions sitting on their sites of enlightenment making mystical displays; light rays of umbrellas of clouds of flames of all jewels; light rays filling the universe without impediment; light rays adorning all buddha-fields; light rays setting up banners of pure diamonds; light rays adorning the scenes of enlightenment where hosts of enlightening beings were assembled; light rays with subtle vibrations intoning the names and epithets of all the Buddhas. There were as many such light rays as there are atoms in a buddha-field, and each individual ray had as many light beams accompanying it. Those lights all contained all exquisite jewellike hues, and they each illumined oceans of worlds as numerous as atoms in a billion buddha-lands. The congregations of enlightening beings in all the other oceans of worlds could see this Lotus Bank Array ocean of worlds within those lights. By the spiritual power of the Buddha, those lights, in the presence of all those enlightening beings, intoned these verses:
Cultivating oceans of practices over countless eons,
Making offerings to oceans of Buddhas everywhere,
Teaching and liberating the oceans of all beings,
Now fulfilling sublime enlightenment—The Universal Illuminator.
From his pores come magic clouds
With light shining through all quarters,
Awakening those able to receive the teaching,
Causing them to approach enlightenment, pure, unhindered.
Buddha traversed all paths of existence,
Teaching and developing the living beings;
The mystic powers at his command are infinite:
Instantly he causes all to be freed.
The enlightenment tree of precious gems
Is embellished with the finest adornments;
Buddha truly awakes under it,
Emanating light, majestically shining.
The roar of his great voice fills all quarters,
Preaching for all the way to great peace.
According to the mental dispositions of beings,
He wakes them by various means.
He practiced transcendent ways and fulfilled them,
As many as atoms in a thousand lands.
All the powers he has already attained;
You all should go and pay him respect.
Buddha-children of all quarters, as many as atoms of lands,
All come together, with joy;
Having showered clouds of offerings,
Now they stand before Buddha with single-minded gaze.
One tone of the Buddha contains an infinity,
Able to expound the deep ocean of scriptures,
Raining the sublime teaching in accord with all minds;
That most honored human you all should go see.
The vows of Buddhas of all times
Are told under the enlightenment tree;
All appear in an instant:
Hurry to the Buddha’s spot.
Vairocana’s great ocean of knowledge
Shines from his face for all to see.
Now, awaiting the gathering of the masses, he’s about to speak:
Go see him and hear what he says.
At that time, all the masses in the oceans of worlds in the ten directions, awakened by the Buddha’s light, all went to Vairocana Buddha’s place and made offerings. For example, to the east of this Flower Bank Array ocean of worlds there is an ocean of worlds called Array of Lotuses of Pure Light: among its world systems is a land called Diamond Mine of Jewel Necklaces; the Buddha there was called Infinite King Awakening Space with the Water of Truth; among that Buddha’s vast congregation was a great enlightening being named Lotus Banner Contemplating the Supreme Teaching who came to the Buddha with a group of enlightening beings as numerous as atoms in an ocean of worlds; each produced ten kinds of clouds of forms of enlightening beings, filling space and not dissolving. They also manifested ten kinds of clouds of jewel mountains, ten kinds of clouds of spheres of sunlight, ten kinds of clouds of jewel flower ornaments, ten kinds of clouds of music containing all tones, ten kinds of clouds of powder incense trees, ten kinds of clouds of myriad forms of perfume and incense, and ten kinds of clouds of trees of all kinds of fragrances. Clouds of offerings such as these, as many as atoms in an ocean of worlds, filled all of space, not dispersing. Having caused these clouds to appear, the enlightening beings bowed to the Buddha and offered them to him. They then magically produced in the eastern quarter lion seats of banks of lights of various flowers and sat crosslegged on those seats.
South of this Flower Bank ocean of worlds is an ocean of worlds called Mine of Ornaments of Radiance of Moons Made of All Jewels. Among its world systems is a land called Array of Boundless Light Spheres. The Buddha there was named Polar Mountain King with the Virtues of the Light of Universal Knowledge. Among that Buddha’s immense congregation was an enlightening being named Wisdom Universally Illumining the Ocean of Truths, who came to the Buddha along with a group of enlightening beings as numerous as atoms in an ocean of worlds; each produced ten kinds of clouds of jewels from mines of lights of all adornments, filling space without dispersing. They also manifested ten kinds of clouds of all-illumining regal jewels, raining all kinds of ornaments, ten kinds of clouds of blazing jewels intoning the names and epithets of the Buddhas, ten kinds of clouds of jewels expounding all the Buddhas’ teachings, ten kinds of clouds of jewel trees adorning the scene of enlightenment, ten kinds of jewel clouds of precious light projecting myriad phantom buddhas, ten kinds of jewel clouds displaying the forms of the adornments of all sites of enlightenment, ten kinds of jewel clouds of lamps of intense flames expounding the realm of the Buddhas, ten kinds of jewel clouds of forms of the palaces of infinite lands, and ten kinds of jewel clouds showing images of the Buddhas of past, present, and future. Jewel clouds such as these, as many as atoms in an ocean of worlds, all pervaded space without dispersing. Having caused these clouds to appear, the enlightening beings bowed to the Buddha and offered them to him; then each produced in the southern quarter lotus bank lion seats of sapphires and rose gold, then sat crosslegged on the seats.
To the west of this Flower Bank ocean of worlds there is an ocean of worlds named Pleasant Jewel Light. Among the world systems therein is a land called Producing the Best Life-Supports. The Buddha there was named Array of Quality Jewels of Fragrant Flowers. Among the vast congregation of that Buddha was a great enlightening being called Universal Arrays of Moonlight’s Fragrant Flames, who, together with as many enlightening beings as atoms in an ocean of worlds, came to the Buddha, each producing ten kinds of clouds of mansions of all kinds of precious fragrant flowers, filling all space without dispersing. They also produced ten kinds of clouds of mansions of precious stones of boundless colors and forms, ten kinds of clouds of mansions of fragrant flames from precious lamps, ten kinds of clouds of mansions of all pearls, ten kinds of clouds of mansions of all precious flowers, ten kinds of clouds of mansions decorated with jewel ornaments, ten kinds of clouds of mansions manifesting the treasuries of lights of all adornments in the ten directions, ten kinds of clouds of mansions of all kinds of embellishments from throughout the ten directions, ten kinds of clouds of mansions studded with all kinds of precious stones, and ten kinds of clouds of mansions with gates of flowers and networks of chimes. These mansion clouds, as numerous as atoms in an ocean of worlds, all filled space without dispersing. Having caused these clouds to appear, the enlightening beings bowed to the Buddha and presented them as offerings; then they produced in the western quarter lion seats of great treasuries of gold leaves, and then sat crosslegged on these seats.
To the north of this Flower Bank ocean of worlds there is an ocean of worlds called Treasuries of Light Spheres of Lapis Lazuli Lotuses. Among the world systems therein is a land called Array of Blue Lotuses. The Buddha’s name was King of Sound of the Banner of Universal Knowledge. Among that Buddha’s vast congregation was a great enlightening being named Lion Stretch Light, who, with a g
roup of enlightening beings as numerous as atoms in an ocean of worlds, came to the Buddha, each manifesting ten kinds of clouds of beautiful trees of all kinds of fragrant jewels, which filled space without dispersing. They also produced ten kinds of clouds of trees displaying arrays of all trees of infinite colors and forms, ten kinds of clouds of trees adorned with all flowers, ten kinds of clouds of trees adorned with spheres of light of the radiance of all jewels, ten kinds of clouds of trees adorned with physical forms of enlightening beings, perfumed with all kinds of sandalwood, ten kinds of clouds of trees inconceivably adorned with scenes of past sites of enlightenment, ten kinds of clouds of trees of sunlike light from treasuries of clothes made of all kinds of jewels, and ten kinds of clouds of trees emanating all kinds of pleasing sounds. Clouds such as these, numerous as atoms in an ocean of worlds, extended throughout space without dispersing. Having caused these clouds to appear, the enlightening beings bowed to the Buddha and presented them as offerings; then they each magically produced in the northern quarter lion seats of banks of lotuses with jewel lamps, and sat crosslegged on those seats.
Northeast of this Flower Bank ocean of worlds there is an ocean of worlds called Rose Gold and Lapis Lazuli Banner. Among the world systems there is a land called Array of Jewels. The Buddha there was called Fearless Lamp of All Truths. Among that Buddha’s vast congregation was a great enlightening being called Inexhaustible Mine of Virtues of the Lamp of Supreme Light, who came, with as many enlightening beings as there are atoms in an ocean of worlds, to the Buddha, each producing ten kinds of clouds of lion thrones of stores of jewel lotuses of boundless forms, which filled space without dispersing. They also produced ten kinds of clouds of lion thrones of stores of lights of diamonds, ten kinds of clouds of lion thrones adorned with all kinds of decorations, ten kinds of clouds of lion thrones of banks of flames of lamps ringed with jewels, ten kinds of clouds of lion thrones showering jewel ornaments all over, ten kinds of clouds of lion thrones of treasuries of precious ornaments of all fragrant flowers, ten kinds of clouds of lion thrones of mines of regal jewels showing the adornments of the seats of all Buddhas, ten kinds of clouds of lion thrones of treasuries of jewel branches and stems of trees of all kinds of precious stones, ten kinds of clouds of lion thrones of all arrays of ornaments, steps, and doors, and ten kinds of clouds of lion thrones of banks of lights adorned with gems and perfumes. Such clouds as these, as many as atoms in an ocean of worlds, all filled space without dispersing. Having caused these clouds to appear, the enlightening beings bowed to the Buddha and presented them to him as offerings. Then, in the northeast direction each magically produced a lion seat of jewel lotuses with banners of lights of precious stones and sat crosslegged thereon.