The Flower Ornament Scripture
Page 24
Heard throughout the cosmos;
Containing all sounds,
The rain of truth fills everywhere.
With the ocean of all languages,
In all sounds according to type,
In all buddha-lands,
He expounds the pure teaching.
In all lands are seen
The miracles of the Buddha;
Hearing the Buddha preach the truth,
They head for enlightenment.
In each atom
Of all lands in the cosmos
Buddha, by the power of liberation,
Manifests physically therein.
The reality-body is like space;
Unobstructed, without differentiation.
Physical forms appear like reflections,
Manifesting myriad appearances.
Reflections have no location;
Like space, they’ve no substantial nature:
Those whose wisdom is great
Will comprehend their equality.
The buddha-body is ungraspable;
Unborn, uncreated,
It appears in accord with beings,
Equanimous as empty space.
All Buddhas in the ten directions
Enter into a single pore,
Each showing mystic powers
That the eye of wisdom can see.
The power of Vairocana Buddha’s vows
Pervades the entire cosmos,
In all lands
Always expounding the unexcelled teaching.
The miracles shown in a single hair,
Even if told of by all the Buddhas
For innumerable eons,
Could not be completely defined.
As in this world, at the site of enlightenment, by virtue of the Buddha’s spiritual power, there were in each of the ten directions as many enlightening beings as atoms in a billion oceans of worlds who came and gathered, so you should know that in each world of all oceans of worlds the same thing took place at all the enlightenment sites.
BOOK THREE
The Meditation of the Enlightening Being Universally Good
THE ENLIGHTENING BEING Universally Good, the great being, sat on a lion throne made of a bank of lotus flowers, and, imbued with the psychic power of the Enlightened One, entered into concentration. This concentration is called the immanent body of the illuminator of thusness, which is in all enlightened ones. It enters everywhere into the equal essence of all enlightened ones, and is capable of manifesting myriad images in the cosmos, vastly and immensely, without obstruction, equal to space. All the whirling oceans of universes flow along into it; it produces all states of concentration, and can contain all worlds in all directions. The oceans of lights of knowledge of all the enlightened ones come from here; it can reveal all the oceans of all conditions everywhere. It contains within it all the powers and liberations of the enlightened ones and the knowledge of the enlightening beings. It can cause the particles of all lands to be universally able to contain boundless universes. It develops the ocean of virtuous qualities of all Buddhas, and reveals the ocean of great vows of these enlightened ones. All the cycles of teaching of the Buddhas flow through it and are guarded and maintained by it, and kept without interruption or end.
As in this world the enlightening being Universally Good entered this concentration in the presence of the World Honored One, thus in the same way throughout the realm of space of the cosmos, in all directions and all times, in a subtle, unhindered, vastly expansive light, in all lands visible to the Buddha’s eye, within reach of the Buddha’s power, manifested by the Buddha’s body, and in each atom of all those lands, there were Buddhas as numerous as atoms in an ocean of worlds, and in front of each Buddha were Universally Good enlightening beings numerous as atoms in an ocean of worlds, each also entering into this concentration in the immanent body of the illuminator of thusness in enlightened ones.
At that time each of the Universally Good ones saw the Buddhas of the ten directions appearing before them; those Buddhas praised Universally Good in the same voice: “Good! You are able to enter this enlightening beings’ concentration in the immanent body of the illuminator of thusness in all Buddhas; this is fostered in you by all the Buddhas everywhere together, by means of the power of the original vow of the illuminating realized one Vairocana Buddha, and it is also because you cultivate the power of the practices and vows of all Buddhas: that is to say, because you can activate all the cycles of the enlightening teaching, revealing the ocean of knowledge and wisdom of all enlightened ones, universally illumine all the oceans of distinctions everywhere, without exception, cause sentient beings to clear away confusion and affliction and attain purity, universally accept all lands without attachment, deeply enter the sphere of all enlightened ones without impediment, and universally expound the virtues and qualities of all enlightened ones; because you are able to enter into the true character of all things and develop knowledge and wisdom, analyze all the media of the teachings, comprehend the faculties of all living beings, and because you are able to hold the ocean of written teachings of all the Buddhas.”
At that time all the Buddhas of the ten directions then bestowed on the great enlightening being Universally Good the knowledge that enters into the power inherent in omniscience, the knowledge that enters into the infinity of the cosmos, the knowledge that perfects the realization of the sphere of all enlightened ones, the knowledge of the becoming and decay of all oceans of worlds, the knowledge of the full extent of the worlds of all sentient beings, the knowledge that abides in the extremely profound liberation of all enlightened ones and the nondiscriminating knowledge of all meditation states, the knowledge that enters into the ocean of all faculties of enlightening beings, the knowledge of elocution to turn the wheel of the teaching in the ocean of languages of all sentient beings, the knowledge that enters in all ways into the bodies of all oceans of worlds in the cosmos, and the knowledge that comprehends the voices of all Buddhas.
As in this world in the presence of the Buddha the enlightening being Universally Good experienced the Buddhas bestowing such knowledge, so in all oceans of worlds, as well as in each atom of all those worlds, so did all the enlightening beings Universally Good there experience this. Why? Because they had realized that state of mental focus in this way.
Then the Buddhas of the ten directions each extended his right hand and patted Universally Good on the head. Their hands were each adorned with the marks of greatness, being finely webbed, emanating light, fragrance, and flames. They also produced the various wondrous tones of all Buddhas. And within it were manifested the phenomena of mystical powers, the ocean of vows of universal goodness of all enlightening beings of past, present, and future, the cycles of pure teachings of all enlightened ones, as well as the images of the Buddhas of past, present, and future.
As in this world Universally Good was patted on the head by all the Buddhas of the ten directions, so in all the oceans of worlds, and in each atom of those worlds, the enlightening beings Universally Good there were patted on the head by the Buddhas of the ten directions.
Then the enlightening being Universally Good arose from this concentration; when he did so, he rose from media of oceans of concentrations numerous as atoms in all oceans of worlds. For example, he rose from the medium of concentration of skillful knowledge realizing that the worlds of past, present, and future have no distinction in the succession of instants; he rose from the medium of concentration of knowledge of all the subtlest and most minute constituents of all universes in all times; he rose from the medium of concentration on the manifestation of all buddha-fields of past, present, and future; he rose from the medium of concentration revealing the dwelling places of all living beings; he rose from the medium of concentration of knowledge of various differences in locations of the universes of the ten directions; he rose from the medium of concentration of knowledge of boundlessly vast clouds of buddha-bodies existing in every atom; he rose from the medium
of concentration of explanations of the ocean of inner principles in all things.
When the enlightening being Universally Good rose from such media of concentration, all the enlightening beings each found oceanic clouds of concentrations, numerous as atoms in an ocean of worlds, found oceanic clouds of spells, oceanic clouds of techniques to teach everything, oceanic clouds of ways of felicitous expression, oceanic clouds of practices, oceanic clouds of lights from the knowledge of the treasury of virtues of all who realize thusness, oceanic clouds of nondiscriminating techniques of the powers, knowledges, and wisdom of all enlightened ones, oceanic clouds of Buddhas each manifesting myriad lands in each and every pore, oceanic clouds of enlightening beings one by one manifesting descent from the palace of the Tushita heaven to be born on earth and become an enlightened Buddha, turn the wheel of the teaching, and enter into ultimate extinction, all as numerous as atoms in an ocean of worlds.
As when in this world the enlightening being Universally Good rose from concentration all the hosts of enlightening beings received such blessings, so in all the oceans of worlds, as well as in each atom of each world, the same thing occurred.
At that time, by the spiritual power of all the Buddhas and the power of Universally Good’s concentration, all oceans of worlds in the ten directions trembled. Each world was arrayed with precious elements and gave forth wondrous sound, explaining all things. And on each Buddha, in the ocean of sites of enlightenment where the masses gathered, everywhere there rained ten kinds of clouds of regal jewels: clouds of beautiful gold star jewels, jewels like precious discs descending, shining light jewels, jewels of the treasury manifesting the images of enlightening beings, jewels extolling the names of Buddhas, jewels of brilliant light illuminating the sites of enlightenment in buddha-fields everywhere, jewels whose light reflects the various miracles everywhere, jewels praising the virtues of all enlightening beings, jewels with a light that shines like the sun, jewels whose delightful music is heard everywhere.
After the universal rain of these ten kinds of clouds of jewels, all the Buddhas emitted lights from their pores, and in the light rays spoke verses:
Universally Good is present in all lands
Sitting on a jeweled lotus throne, beheld by all;
He manifests all psychic powers
And is able to enter infinite meditations.
The Universally Good always fill the universe
With various bodies flowing everywhere,
With concentration, psychic power, skill and strength,
In a universal voice teaching extensively without hindrance.
In every land, in the presence of all the Buddhas,
Various states of concentration revealing psychic powers,
Each psychic power pervades everywhere
In all lands of the ten directions.
As with the Buddhas of all lands,
So it is in all the atoms of the lands as well;
The phenomena of concentration and mystic powers
Are the will power of the illuminator.
Universally Good physically is like space,
Abiding by reality, not a land,
According to the heart’s desires of all beings
Manifesting all kinds of embodiments, equal to all.
Universally Good, abiding at peace in great determination,
Thus attained these infinite spiritual powers,
In any lands of all buddha bodies
Manifesting his form going there.
All the myriad oceans are boundless:
He reproduces his body infinitely and dwells there;
All lands of his manifestation are purified,
And in an instant are seen many eons.
Universally Good lives peacefully in all lands:
The spiritual powers he displays are incomparable;
The trembling extending everywhere
Causes those who look to be able to see.
The knowledge, virtue, and powers of all Buddhas,
Their various great qualities, he has all fulfilled;
By the medium of techniques of all meditations
He shows his past enlightening acts.
Such independence, inconceivable,
Is manifest in the lands of the ten directions
To reveal the universal entrance of all meditations;
In the clouds of buddha light his praises are sung.
Then all the hosts of enlightening beings turned to Universally Good, joined their palms and gazed respectfully at Universally Good; imbued with the psychic power of the Enlightened, they sang in praise with the same voice,
Born from the teachings of the Enlightened,
Also originating from the will power of the Buddha,
The womb of space, the equality of real thusness:
You have purified this body of reality.
In the congregations of all buddha-fields
Universally Good is omnipresent there;
The light of the oceans of universal virtue and wisdom
Equally illumine everywhere, so all are visible.
The immensely vast oceans of virtues of Universally Good
Goes everywhere to approach the enlightened;
To the lands within all atoms
He can travel and clearly appear there.
O Child of Buddha, we always see you
Associating with all the enlightened ones,
Abiding in the real state of concentration
For eons numerous as atoms in all lands.
The child of Buddha, with an all-pervading body,
Can go to the lands in all directions,
Liberating all the oceans of living beings,
Entering into all the parts of the cosmos.
Entering into all particles of the cosmos,
The body is endless and undifferentiated;
Omnipresent as space,
It expounds the great teaching of the realization of thusness.
The light of all virtue,
Immense like clouds, power surpassing,
Traveling to all oceans of living beings
Expounding the incomparable way practiced by all Buddhas.
Cultivating and learning the supreme practice of universal goodness
In order to liberate sentient beings for oceans of eons,
Expounding all truths, like a great cloud,
The voice is tremendous, none do not hear.
How can the land be established?
How do the Buddhas appear?
And how about beings?
Please explain truthfully the truth as it is.
BOOK FOUR
The Formation of the Worlds
THEN THE GREAT enlightening being Universally Good, by means of the spiritual power of the Buddha, looked over the oceans of all worlds, the oceans of all sentient beings, the oceans of all Buddhas, the oceans of all elemental realms, the oceans of all sentient beings’ actions, the oceans of all sentient beings’ faculties and inclinations, the oceans of all teaching cycles of all Buddhas, the oceans of all time periods, the oceans of all powers of vows of the Buddhas, and the oceans of all the Buddhas’ miracles.
Having thus observed and examined all these, he declared to all the enlightening beings in the ocean of congregations at all scenes of enlightenment, “Children of Buddha, the Buddhas’ pure knowledge of the formation and disintegration of all oceans of worlds is inconceivable. Their knowledge of the oceans of actions of all sentient beings is inconceivable. Their knowledge of the oceans of structures of all elemental realms is inconceivable. Their knowledge which can tell of the oceans of all inclinations, understandings, and faculties is inconceivable. Their instantaneous knowledge of all the past, present, and future is inconceivable. Their knowledge revealing the boundless ocean of vows of all enlightened ones is inconceivable. Their knowledge demonstrating the oceans of miracles of all Buddhas is inconceivable. Their knowledge operating the cycles of teaching is inconceivable. Their knowledge of how to con
struct explanations is inconceivable. Their pure buddha-bodies are inconceivable. Their oceans of boundless forms illumining everywhere are inconceivable. Their marks and subsidiary refinements, all pure, are inconceivable. Their ocean of boundless auras, fully pure, is inconceivable. Their ocean of clouds of light of various colors is inconceivable. Their ocean of extraordinary jewel radiance is inconceivable. Their ocean of perfect languages is inconceivable. Their ocean of powers of magical displays to civilize and develop sentient beings is inconceivable. Their oceans of courageous taming of all sentient beings, letting none go to ruin, is inconceivable. Their abode in the state of buddhahood is inconceivable. Their entry into the realm of realization of thusness is inconceivable. Their protective and sustaining power is inconceivable. Their examination of all spheres of enlightened knowledge is inconceivable. Their spheres of power, which none can overcome, are inconceivable. Their quality of fearlessness, which none can surpass, is inconceivable. Their abiding in undifferentiated concentration is inconceivable. Their miraculous displays are inconceivable. Their pure independent knowledge is inconceivable. All the enlightening teachings, which none can destroy, are inconceivable.
“All these things I shall, with the power of the Buddha and of all enlightened ones, fully expound, to cause all sentient beings to enter the ocean of knowledge and wisdom of the Buddha, to cause all enlightening beings to abide securely in the ocean of virtues of the Buddha, to cause all oceans of worlds to be adorned by the freedom of the Buddhas, to cause the lineage of the enlightened ones to continue unbroken throughout all ages, to cause the real true nature of all things to be pointed out in all oceans of worlds, to cause all sentient beings to be taught in accordance with their understandings, to cause the expedient methods according to the ocean of all beings’ faculties to induce them to engender the qualities of buddhahood, to cause the mountains of all obstructions to be smashed, according to the inclinations of all beings, to cause all sentient beings to purify and master the essential ways of emancipation in accordance with their mentalities, and to cause all enlightening beings to abide in the ocean of vows of universal goodness and wisdom.”
Now the enlightening being Universally Good, because he wished to gladden the innumerable beings at the site of enlightenment, to increase their appreciation of all truths, to cause them to conceive an ocean of great true faith and resolve, to cause them to purify the all-sided cosmic matrix body, to cause them to establish the ocean of vows of the Universally Good, to cause them to purify the eye of equanimous knowledge, which enters equally into past, present, and future, to cause them to increase the ocean of great wisdom illumining the repository of all worlds, to cause them to develop memory power to hold all the teaching cycles, to cause the whole realm of buddhahood to be manifested in all enlightenment sites, to cause all the Buddha teachings to be brought forth, to increase the nature of vast, profound all-knowledge of the cosmos, he spoke these verses: