The Flower Ornament Scripture
Page 54
“Perfecting these adornments, the physical, verbal, and mental actions of enlightening beings, moment after moment, are never wasted; all they dedicate to entering into omniscience. If any sentient beings see these enlightening beings, know that this also will not be in vain, for they will surely attain unexcelled complete perfect enlightenment. Any who hear their names, or make offerings to them, or live with them, or remember them, or leave home to follow them, or listen to them preach, or rejoice in their virtues, or respect them from afar, or even praise their names, will all attain unexcelled complete perfect enlightenment.
“For example, it is as though there were a medicine, called ‘good to see,’ which removed all toxins from those who saw it; so it is with enlightening beings who have accomplished this teaching—if sentient beings see them, all the poisons of afflictions will be destroyed, and wholesome states will increase.
“Enlightening beings, abiding by this teaching and earnestly applying it, destroy the darkness of ignorance by means of the light of wisdom; they conquer the armies of demons by the power of compassion; they check heretics by means of great knowledge and the power of virtue; they wipe out all afflictions staining the mind by means of adamantine concentration; they gather roots of goodness by the power of diligence; they avoid the difficulties of evil ways by means of the power of virtues of purifying buddha-lands; they purify their spheres of knowledge by the power of nonattachment; by the power of skill in means and knowledge they produce the transcendent practices of the stages of enlightening, as well as the various concentrations, six superknowledges, and four fearlessnesses, making them all pure; by the power of all virtues they fully develop the pure lands of all Buddhas, their boundless distinguishing marks and refinements, and complete physical, verbal, and mental adornments; by the power of observation with independent knowledge they know the powers, fearlessnesses, and unique qualities of all enlightened ones are equal; by the power of vast knowledge they comprehend the realm of omniscience; by the power of their past vows they manifest buddha-lands according to the needs of those to be taught, turn the wheel of the great teaching, and liberate innumerable living beings.
“Great enlightening beings diligently practice these things, gradually accomplishing all the deeds of enlightening beings, till they attain equality with the Buddhas, become great teachers in boundless worlds, maintaining the true teaching, protected by all the Buddhas, guarding and upholding the vast treasury of truth. Attaining unhindered intellect, they enter deeply into the facts of the teaching, and in boundless worlds among the great masses they manifest different physical forms, according to type, replete with supremely excellent features; with unhindered powers of elucidation they skillfully explain the profound teaching. The spheres of their speech, well rounded, skillfully reach everyone, therefore are able to cause those who hear to enter the gate of inexhaustible knowledge. Knowing the afflictions current in the minds of beings, they teach them accordingly; because the sounds of the speech they utter are completely pure, they can, preaching with ‘one sound,’ cause all to become joyful. They are physically well formed, and have great strength, so among the masses none can surpass them. Because they know sentient beings’ minds well, they are able to appear in any way. Because they explain the truth skillfully, their voice is unhindered. Because they have freedom of mind, they explain the great teaching adaptively, and no one can obstruct them. Because they have attained fearlessness, their hearts are free from cowardice. Because they are masters of teaching, none can excel them. Because they are masters of knowledge, none can surpass them. Because they are masters of transcendent wisdom, the teachings they expound are not contradictory. Because they are masters of powers of elucidation, they teach continuously with eloquence. Because they are masters of mental command, they definitively disclose the real character of all things. Because they are masters of elocution, whenever they speak they can bring forth all sorts of examples and metaphors. Because they are masters of great compassion, they diligently teach sentient beings without flagging. Because they are masters of great kindness, they emanate a great web of lights pleasing all hearts. Thus do enlightening beings, on the high and wide lion throne, expound the Great Teaching; aside from the Enlightened Ones and the great enlightening beings of surpassing will and knowledge, no other beings can excel them, none can see their crowns, none can outshine them, and no one can stump them with difficult questions.
“Child of Buddha, once enlightening beings have attained such independent power, even if there were a vast sanctuary the size of unspeakably many worlds filled with beings, each of whom had the majesty of a lord of a billion worlds, as soon as any of the enlightening beings showed themselves, they would outshine the whole crowd of such beings. With great kindness and compassion they would give them security where they were afraid and weak, and with profound wisdom they would examine their inclinations and teach them with fearless eloquence, causing joy to all. Why? Because great enlightening beings have developed the sphere of immeasurable knowledge and wisdom; because they have developed immeasurable skillful discernment; because they have developed vast power of right mindfulness; because they have developed infinitely flexible intellect; because they have developed the total mental command to ascertain the true character of all things; because they have developed a boundless determination for enlightenment; because they have developed unerring powers of elucidation; because they have developed profound faith and resolve boosted by the Buddhas; because they have developed the power of knowledge to enter the assemblies of all Buddhas; because they have developed the pure mind that knows the Buddhas of all times are of the same essential nature; because they have developed the knowledge of enlightened ones of all times, and the great will and knowledge of all enlightening beings, and are able to be teachers of the truth, to open up the treasury of the true teaching of the Buddhas, and to protect and keep it.”
Then, to restate what he meant, the enlightening being Truth Wisdom, by the spiritual power of the Buddha uttered these verses:
Mind dwelling on enlightenment, gathering myriad virtues,
Never self-indulgent, planting unshakable wisdom,
Always mindful of the aspiration for enlightenment—
At this all Buddhas rejoice.
Mindfulness and will firm, self-motivated,
Relying on nothing in the world, and never shrinking in fright,
Entering the profound truth by the practice of noncontention—
At this the Buddhas all rejoice.
Once the Buddhas rejoice, enlightening beings are firm in effort—
They cultivate virtue and wisdom, and all that assists the Path.
Entering into the pure practices of all the stages,
They fulfill the aspiration spoken of by the Enlightened.
Practicing this, they attain the wondrous truth,
And having attained to truth, they pass it on to others—
According to mentalities, faculties, and natures,
They teach in accord with whatever is fitting.
Enlightening beings expound the Teaching for others
Without giving up their own transcendent practices:
Once they have accomplished the transcendent ways,
They remain forever in the sea of existence, rescuing living beings.
They practice diligently day and night, never flagging,
Causing the seeds of the three treasures not to perish.
All the pure practices they carry out
They dedicate to the stage of enlightenment.
The virtuous acts performed by enlightening beings
Are all to develop and complete the living,
To have them destroy obscurity and annihilate affliction,
Subdue the demon armies and fulfill true awakening.
Thus practicing, they attain Buddha-knowledge,
Entering deeply into the treasury of truth of the Enlightened.
As great teachers they expound the subtle truth,
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p; Like sweet elixir refreshing all.
Their compassion and pity extends to all—
They know the mind of every sentient being
And expound to them in accord with their predilections
Infinite, boundless enlightening teachings.
Their deportment is calm as a majestic elephant,
Their fearless courage is like that of a lion:
Imperturbable as a mountain, their knowledge is like an ocean,
And like a great rain, removing all heat.
When Truth Wisdom had spoken these verses, the Buddha was delighted, and everyone reverentially put them into practice.
BOOK NINETEEN
Ascent to the Palace of the Suyama Heaven
THEN, BY THE SPIRITUAL POWER of the Enlightened One, in all worlds of the ten directions, in the Jambu continent of each of the four quarters, and on the peak of their polar mountains, the Enlightened One was seen in the midst of an assembly, wherein the enlightening beings, due to the spiritual power of the Buddha, expounded the Teaching, each one having the sense of facing the Buddha at all times.
At that time the World Honored One, without leaving the foot of the enlightenment trees and the peaks of the polar mountains, headed for the jewel-adorned hall of the palace of the Suyama heaven. The king of the Suyama heaven, seeing from afar the Buddha coming, produced by magical powers a jewel lotus bank lion throne in his palace, with a million tiers of decorations, wrapped in a million golden nets, covered with a million drapes of flowers, a million drapes of garlands, a million drapes of perfumes, and a million drapes of jewels, surrounded by a million canopies each of flowers, garlands, perfumes, and jewels; a million lights illumined it. A million celestial kings of the Suyama heaven bowed in respect, a million Brahma kings danced for joy, a million enlightening beings sang praises. A million heavenly symphonies each played a million tones of truth, continuing endlessly; a million clouds of various flowers, a million clouds of various garlands, a million clouds of various ornaments, and a million clouds of various robes, covered all around; a million clouds of various wish-fulfilling jewels shone with light. The throne was born from a million kinds of roots of goodness, protected by a million Buddhas, augmented by a million kinds of virtues, dignified and purified by a million kinds of faith and a million kinds of vows, produced by a million kinds of action, established by a million kinds of truths, conjured up by a million kinds of spiritual powers, always producing a million kinds of sounds revealing all truths.
Then that celestial king, having set out this throne, turned to the Buddha, the World Honored One, bowed and joined his palms with reverence and respect and said, “Welcome, O World Honored One; welcome, Felicitous One; welcome, Enlightened One; welcome, O Worthy; welcome, O Truly Awakened One. Please be so gracious as to sojourn in this palace.” Then the Buddha, accepting the invitation, ascended to the precious hall. This also took place in the same way everywhere in the ten directions.
Then the celestial king, reflecting on the roots of goodness he had planted with past Buddhas, spoke these verses with the aid of the Buddha’s spiritual powers:
The Buddha Renown, famed throughout the ten directions,
Supreme among the Auspicious,
Has been in this hall of jewels;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
The Buddha Jewel King, lamp of the world,
Supreme among the Auspicious,
Has been in this pure hall;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
The Buddha Joyful Eye, with unhindered vision,
Supreme among the Auspicious,
Has been in this adorned hall;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
The Buddha Burning Lamp, lighting the world,
Supreme among the Auspicious,
Has been in this magnificent hall;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
The Buddha Benefactor, aid of the world,
Supreme among the Auspicious,
Has been in this undefiled hall;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
The Buddha Well Aware, who had no teacher,
Supreme among the Auspicious,
Has been in this hall of precious fragrance;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
The Buddha Surpassing the Gods, a lamp in the world,
Supreme among the Auspicious,
Has been in this hall of sublime fragrance;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
The Buddha No Departure, hero of philosophy,
Supreme among the Auspicious,
Has been in this hall of the universal eye;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
The Buddha Unsurpassed, replete with all virtues,
Supreme among the Auspicious,
Has been in this well-adorned hall;
Therefore this place is most auspcious.
The Buddha Ascetic, benefiting the world,
Supreme among the Auspicious,
Has been in this hall of universal embellishment;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
Just as the king of the Suyama heaven in this world, graced with the occult power of the Buddha, recalled the virtues of Buddhas of ancient times and extolled them, so did all the kings of the Suyama heavens in the ten directions laud the virtues of Buddhas.
Then the World Honored One entered the jewel-adorned hall and sat crosslegged on the jewel lotus flower bank lion throne; the hall suddenly expanded vastly. The same thing happened in all worlds of the ten directions as happened in the abodes of the gods.
BOOK TWENTY
Eulogies in the Palace of the Suyama Heaven
THEN, DUE TO THE SPIRITUAL FORCE of the Buddha, a great enlightening being from each of the ten directions, each accompanied by as many enlightening beings as atoms in a buddha-land, came from beyond as many lands as atoms in a hundred thousand buddha-lands, and gathered in an assembly. The names of those great enlightening beings were: Forest of Virtues; Forest of Wisdom; Forest of Victory; Forest of Fearlessness; Forest of Conscience; Forest of Energy; Forest of Power; Forest of Practice; Forest of Awareness; Forest of Knowledge. The lands which these enlightening beings came from were called: Intimate Wisdom; Symbolic Wisdom; Jewel Wisdom; Supreme Wisdom; Lamp Wisdom; Adamantine Wisdom; Peaceful Wisdom; Sun Wisdom; Clear Wisdom; Pure Wisdom. These enlightening beings had each purely cultivated religious practice in the company of a Buddha; the names of those Buddhas were: Eternal Eye; Invincible Eye; Nondwelling Eye; Imperturbable Eye; Divine Eye; Eye of Liberation; Eye Comprehending Truth; Eye Understanding Forms; Supreme Eye; Violet Eye.
Having come to the Buddha, these enlightening beings bowed at the Buddha’s feet, then each made jewel bank lion seats in their respective directions and sat thereupon. As in this world enlightening beings gathered this way in the Suyama heaven, so did this also take place in all worlds; the names of the enlightening beings, their worlds, and the Buddhas they associated with, were all the same.
Then the World Honored One emanated from the top of his feet ten trillion beams of light of wonderful hues, illumining the ten directions; the Buddhas and congregations in the palaces of the Suyama heavens in all worlds were made clearly visible. Then the Enlightening being Forest of Virtues, imbued with power from the Buddha, looked over the ten directions and said in verse,
Buddha emanates great light
Illumining the ten directions;
All see the Honored One of heaven and earth
Freely, without obstruction.
Buddha sits in the Suyama palace
Yet pervades all worlds in the cosmos;
This phenomenon is most extraordinary,
Wondered at by the world.
The king of the Suyama heaven
Has praised ten Buddhas in verse;
What is seen in this assembly
Is all the same everywhere.
Those groups
of enlightening beings
All have the same names as ours:
In every place in the ten directions
They expound the unsurpassed teaching.
The worlds from which they come
Are also the same in name as ours:
Each of them have, with their Buddhas,
Perfected religious practice.
The names of each of those Buddhas
Are also the same as of ours;
Their countries are rich and happy,
Their spiritual powers are autonomous.
Everywhere in the ten directions
They think the Buddha’s there;
Some see him in the human world,
Some see him in heaven.
The Buddha abides everywhere
In all the various lands:
We now see the Buddha
In this celestial court.
He made a vow of enlightenment
That extended to every world in the cosmos;
This is why Buddha’s power
Pervades all inconceivably.
Leaving behind worldly desires
He fulfilled boundless virtue;
Therefore he gained spiritual power
And is seen by all beings.
He traverses all worlds in the cosmos
Like space, with no obstruction;
One body, infinite bodies:
His form cannot be grasped.
Buddha’s virtues are boundless;
How could they be measured?
Neither abiding nor leaving,
He permeates the cosmos.
Then the enlightening being Forest of Wisdom, empowered by the Buddha, looked over the ten directions and said in verse,
The great leader of the world,
Supreme honored one, free from defilement,