The Flower Ornament Scripture
Page 35
“Then that Buddha spoke these verses for the enlightening being Light of Great Power:
Excellent, O virtuous Light of Great Power,
That you all have come to me;
With sympathy for all living beings
You’ve conceived the supreme will for enlightenment.
For the sake of all suffering beings
You exercise great compassion to liberate them.
You’ll be a reliance for all who are lost;
This is called the skillful enlightening work.
If enlightening beings can, with firm strength,
Carry out supreme practices unflagging,
The highest supreme unhindered understanding
And subtle knowledge they will attain.
O light of virtue, banner of blessings,
Abode of virtue, sea of blessings,
All vows of universal good enlightening
Your great light can enter.
With these great vows you can enter
The inconceivable ocean of Buddhas.
The sea of Buddhas’ blessings has no bounds:
You can see all by sublime understanding.
In the lands of the ten directions
You see infinite, boundless Buddhas;
The ocean of past practices of those Buddhas
You can see, all as they were.
Any who dwell in this ocean of means
Can enter the stages of knowledge;
This is following the Buddhas to learn,
Surely leading to omniscience.
In all oceans of worlds you performed
Various practices for oceans of eons;
The ocean of practices of all enlightened ones
You having learned, you’ll become a Buddha.
As you see in the ten directions
All oceans of lands are extremely pure;
Your land will also be pure like that,
Attained by one with boundless vows.
The oceanic masses at this sanctuary,
Having heard your vows, all rejoice;
All enter the great vehicle of universal goodness,
Inspired and dedicated to enlightenment.
In each of the boundless lands,
All enter practice for oceans of eons,
By the power of vows able to fulfill
All the practices of the enlightening being Universally Good.
“O Children of Buddha, in that great forest Circle of Branches with Jewel Flowers there appeared yet another Buddha, called Universally Renowned Lotus Eye Banner. At this time the life of Light of Great Power came to an end, and he was reborn in the celestial city Jewel Palace of Tranquility, atop the polar mountain, where he became a celestial king called Banner of Undefiled Virtue. He went with the heavenly hosts to see that Buddha, showering clouds of jewel flowers as offerings. Then the Buddha expounded for them the scripture Extensive Skill in Means of Liberation with All-Sided Approaches Universally Illuminating, along with subsidiary scriptures as numerous as atoms in an ocean of worlds. The celestial king and his company, having heard these scriptures, attained a state of contemplation called all-sided treasury of joy, and by the power of this contemplation were able to enter the ocean of the real character of all things. Having attained this benefit, they left the sanctuary and went back to their place.”
End of the first assembly.
BOOK SEVEN
Names of the Buddha
AT THAT TIME the World Honored One had just attained true awakening in a forest sanctuary in the country of Magadha. Sitting on a lotus bank lion throne in the hall of universal light, he fulfilled ineffable enlightenment, forever cutting off mundane ideas of transmigration and extinction; arriving at truth without form, he dwelt in the abode of buddhahood, attained the equanimity of the enlightened, reached the state of immutability, in the realm where there are no barriers; unhindered in action, he established the inconceivable, perceiving all in the past, present, and future.
He was together with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-fields, all of whom were qualified to attain buddhahood in their next lifetime. They had all gathered here from different regions. They skillfully observed the realms of sentient beings, the realm of the elemental cosmos, the realm of extinction, the consequences of all actions, the processes of mental behavior, the meanings of all statements, the mundane and the transmundane, the compounded and the uncompounded, the past, the present, and the future.
At that time the enlightening beings formulated these thoughts: “If the World Honored One looks upon us with compassion, may he, in accord with our inclinations, reveal to us the buddha-fields, the Buddhas’ abodes, the adornments of the buddha-fields, the nature of buddhahood, the purity of buddha-lands, the teachings expounded by the Buddhas, the substances and natures of the buddha-lands, the powers and qualities of the Buddhas, the formation of the buddha-fields, the great enlightenment of the Buddhas. Just as the Buddhas of all worlds in the ten directions, in order to develop all enlightening beings, to cause the family of the enlightened ones to continue uninterrupted, to rescue all sentient beings, to cause all living beings to be forever free from all afflictions, to comprehend all actions, to expound all truths, to clear away all defilements, and to forever cut through all webs of doubt, explain the enlightening beings’ ten abodes, ten practices, ten dedications, ten treasuries, ten stages, ten vows, ten concentrations, ten powers, and ten peaks, and explain the sphere of buddhahood, the mystic forces of Buddhas, the actions of Buddhas, the powers of Buddhas, the fearlessness of Buddhas, the meditations of Buddhas, the psychic abilities of Buddhas, the freedom of Buddhas, the nonobstruction of Buddhas, the sense faculties of Buddhas, the powers of analysis and articulation of Buddhas, the knowledge and wisdom of Buddhas, and the transcendence of Buddhas, so also may the Buddha, the World Honored One, explain this for us.”
Then the Buddha, knowing what the enlightening beings were thinking, manifested mystic powers to them, according to their particular types. When he had done that, there came, from a world called Golden, whose Buddha was called Immutable Knowledge, which was to the East, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-fields an enlightening being of that world, named Manjushri, along with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands. When they arrived, they bowed, and then produced lotus bank lion seats to the east and sat crosslegged on them.
In the South, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Sublime Color, with a Buddha called Unhindered Knowledge. There was an enlightening being there named Chief of the Awakened, who, together with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha, bowed, and the to the south produced lotus bank lion seats and sat crosslegged on them.
In the West, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Lotus Blossom Color, with a Buddha called Darkness-Destroying Knowledge. There was an enlightening being there, named Chief in Riches of Truth, who, along with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha, bowed, produced lotus bank lion seats to the west and sat crosslegged on them.
In the North, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Golden Flower Color, with a Buddha called Knowledge of Dignified Conduct. There was an enlightening being there, named Chief of the Precious, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha, bowed, produced lotus bank lion seats to the north and sat crosslegged on them.
In the northeast, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Blue Lotus Color, with a Buddha called Knowledge of Characteristics. There was an enlightening being there, called Chief of the Virtuous, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha, bowed, produced lotus bank lion seats to the northeast and sat crosslegged on them.
In the southeast, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Gold Color, with a Buddha called Ultimate Knowledg
e. There was an enlightening being there called Chief in Vision, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha, bowed, produced lotus bank lion seats to the southeast and sat crosslegged on them.
In the southwest, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Jewel Color, with a Buddha called Supreme Knowledge. There was an enlightening being there called Chief in Effort, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha, bowed, produced lotus bank lion seats to the southwest and sat crosslegged on them.
In the northwest, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Diamond Color, with a Buddha called Independent Knowledge. There was an enlightening being there called Chief in Doctrine, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha, bowed, produced lotus bank lion seats to the northwest and sat crosslegged on them.
In the nadir, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Crystal Color, with a Buddha called Pure Knowledge. There was an enlightening being there called Chief in Knowledge, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha, bowed, produced lotus bank lion seats in the nadir and sat crosslegged on them.
In the zenith, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Equal Color, with a Buddha called Observing Knowledge. There was an enlightening being there called Chief in Goodness, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha, bowed, produced lotus bank lion seats in the zenith and sat crosslegged on them.
Then the great enlightening being Manjushri, empowered by the Buddha, looked over all the congregations of enlightening beings, and spoke these words: “These enlightening beings are most rare. O Children of Buddhas! The Buddhas’ lands are inconceivable. The Buddhas’ abodes, the adornments of their fields, the nature of buddhahood, the purity of buddha-lands, the teachings of the Buddhas, the manifestation of the Buddhas, the formation of the buddha-lands, and the complete perfect enlightenment of the Buddhas are all inconceivable. Why? Because all the Buddhas in the worlds in the ten directions know that the inclinations of sentient beings are not the same, and so they teach and train them according to their needs and capacities. The extent of this activity is equal to the realm of space of the cosmos.
“Children of Buddhas, in the four quarters of this world Endurance, the Buddha, with various bodies, names, forms, sizes, life spans, situations, faculties, birth places, languages, and observations causes all living beings to individually perceive and know differently. In these four quarters, the Buddha is sometimes called Fulfiller of All Aims, sometimes called The Full Moon, sometimes called The Lion Roarer, sometimes called Shakyamuni, sometimes called The Seventh Sage, sometimes called Vairocana, sometimes called Gautama, sometimes called The Great Mendicant, sometimes called The Supreme, sometimes called The Guide; there are ten thousand such names, individually letting beings know and see in various ways.
“East of this region is a world called Good Protection: there the Buddha may be called Adamantine, or Free, or Possessor of Knowledge and Wisdom, or Invincible, or King of Sages, or Noncontention, or Capable Leader, or Joyful Heart, or Incomparable, or Beyond Philosophy; there are ten thousand such names, individually letting sentient beings know and see in various ways.
“South of this region is a world called Difficult to Endure: there the Buddha may be called King of the Gods, or Precious Name, or Undefiled, or Truth Teller, or Tamer, or Joyful, or Great Renown, or Giver of Aid, or Infinite, or Supreme; there are ten thousand such names, individually letting people know and see in various ways.
“West of this region is a world called Personal Wisdom: there the Buddha may be called God of Waters, or Gladdening Sight, or Supreme Monarch, or Celestial Tamer, or Real True Wisdom, or Arrived at the Ultimate, or Joyous, or Objective Knowledge, or Done with All Tasks, or Abiding in Goodness; there are ten thousand such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.
“North of this region is a world called Lion of Existence: there the Buddha may be called Great Sage, or Ascetic, or World Honored One, or Supreme Field, or Omniscient, or Good Mind, or Pure, or Master of Universal Sound, or Supreme Giver, or Attained by Difficult Practice; there are ten thousand such names, individually letting beings know and see in various ways.
“Northeast of this region is a world called Subtle Observation: there the Buddha may be called Demon Queller, or Completed, or Dispassionate, or Celestial Virtue, or Free from Greed, or Supreme Wisdom, or Equanimity of Mind, or Unconquerable, or Sound of Wisdom, or Rarely Appearing; there are ten thousand such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.
“Southeast of this region is a world called Joy and Happiness: there the Buddha may be called Ultimate Dignity, or Mass of Light Flames, or Universal Knower, or Secret Mystery, or Liberation, or Inherently Secure, or Acting According to Truth, or King of Pure Eyes, or Great Courage, or Energetic Power; there are ten thousand such names, causing beings to individually know and see in various ways.
“Southwest of this region is a world called Extremely Solid and Firm: there the Buddha may be called Peaceful Abiding, or King of Knowledge, or Complete, or Immutable, or Subtle Eye, or Supreme Monarch, or Sound of Freedom, or Giver of All, or Sages of the Masses, or Supreme Mountain; there are ten thousand such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.
“Northwest of this region is a world called Wonderful Ground; there the Buddha may be called Universal, or Flames of Light, or Jewel Topknot, or Worthy of Remembrance, or Unexcelled Meaning, or Always Joyful, or Inherently Pure, or Sphere of Light, or Long Arms, or Abiding in the Fundamental; there are ten thousand such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.
“Below this region is a world called Radiant Wisdom: the Buddha there may be called Collecting Roots of Goodness, or Lionlike, or Razorlike Intellect, or Golden Flames, or All-Knower, or Ultimate Sound, or Benefactor, or Arrived at the Ultimate, or God of Truth, or Universal Conqueror; there are ten thousand such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.
“Above this region is a world called Holding the Ground: there the Buddha may be called Possessor of Knowledge and Wisdom, or Pure Face, or Conscious Wisdom, or Leader, or Adorned by Conduct, or Gladdener, or Wish Fulfilled, or Blazelike, or Ethical, or The One Path; there are ten thousand such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.
“In this world Endurance there are a hundred billion regions, wherein the Buddha has a million billion various names, letting all sentient beings know and see in various ways.
“East of this world Endurance is another world, called Secret Teaching: there the Buddha may be called Impartial, or Excellent, or Soother, or Enlightening Mind, or Speaker of Truth, or Attainer of Freedom, or Supreme Body, or Great Courage, or Peerless Knowledge; there are a million billion such diverse names, letting beings know and see in various ways.
“South of this world Endurance is another world, called Abundance: there the Buddha may be called Original Nature, or Diligent Intellect, or Unexcelled Honored One, or Great Torch of Knowledge, or Nonreliant, or Treasury of Light, or Treasury of Wisdom, or Treasury of Virtue, or God of Gods, or Great Independent One; there are a million billion such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.
“West of this world Endurance is a world called Undefiled: there the Buddha may be called Wish Fulfilled, or Knower of the Way, or Resting in the Fundamental, or Able to Untie Bonds, or Comprehending Truth, or Easily Discerning, or Supreme Insight, or Pacifying Action, or Ascetic Practicer, or Replete with Power; there are a million billion such various names, letting beings know and see in varous ways.
“North of this world Endurance is a world called Inclusion: there the Buddha may be called Forever Free from Suffering, or Universal Liberation, or Great Hidden Treasury, or Knowledge of Liberation, or Storehouse of the Past, or Jewel Light, or Detached from the World, or State of
Nonobstruction, or Treasury of Pure Faith, or Imperturbable Mind; there are a million billion such names, letting sentient beings know and see in various ways.
“Southeast of this world Endurance is a world called Beneficial: there the Buddha may be called Manifesting Light, or Knowledge of Extinction, or Beautiful Sound, or Supreme Faculties, or Ornamental Canopy, or Energetic Faculties, or Arrived at the Other Shore beyond Discrimination, or Supreme Stability, or Simple Speech, or Ocean of Wisdom; there are a million such diverse names, letting beings know and see in various ways.
“Southwest of this world Endurance is a world called Rarefied: there the Buddha may be called Master among Sages, or Possessor of All Treasures, or Liberated from the World, or Faculty of Universal Knowledge, or Excellent Speech, or Clear Sight, or Freedom of the Senses, or Great Immortal Teacher, or Guiding Work, or Adamantine Lion; there are a million billion such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.
“Northeast of this world Endurance is a world called Joy: there the Buddha may be called Mass of Beautiful Flowers, or Sandalwood Canopy, or Lotus Treasury, or Transcendent beyond All Things, or Jewel of Truth, or Reborn, or Pure Exquisite Canopy, or Immense Eye, or Possessor of Good Qualities, or Concentrated on the Truth, or Network Treasury; there are a million billion such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.