The Flower Ornament Scripture
Page 88
“Once great enlightening beings have dedicated their roots of goodness in this way for the sake of all living beings, they also dedicate these roots of goodness because they want to fulfill and expound the power of all pure practical methods; because they want to achieve the spiritual power of pure practice and comprehend unspeakably many oceans of truths; because they want to be imbued with infinite lights of pure knowledge, equal to the cosmos, in each ocean of truths; because they want to analyze and explain the different expressions and meanings of all teachings; because they want to accomplish the boundless vast concentration of the lights of all teachings; because they want to follow the powers of elucidation of the Buddhas of past, present, and future; because they want to develop the free body of all Buddhas of past, present, and future; because they respect the admirable unhindered state of all Buddhas; in order to fulfill the heart of great compassion and rescue all sentient beings without ever retreating; because they want to achieve the mind of unobstructed knowledge of infinite differentiations, untainted purity of senses, and enter all congregations in all sites of enlightenment; because they want to always turn the wheel of the impartial, nonregressive teaching in all buddha-lands, whether inverted or upright, coarse or subtle, broad or narrow, small or large, tainted or pure; because they want to attain fearlessness in every moment, without end, all kinds of analytic and expository skills, and the light of the sublime teaching, to reveal and explain the truth; in order to happily seek all goodness, to learn and practice with determination, all faculties growing better, to attain the great spiritual knowledge of all truths; because they want to draw near to and provide offerings at all congregations’ enlightenment sites, and expound the teachings to all sentient beings to make them joyful.
“Great enlightening beings also dedicate these roots of goodness in this way: they dedicate them by abiding in abodes infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in physical action infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in verbal action infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in mental action infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of matter infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of sensation, perception, patterning, and consciousness infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of aggregates infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of elements infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of sense media infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in internal equality infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in external equality infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of impulses infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of wills infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of means of liberation infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in equality of inclinations infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of faculties infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in equality of beginnings, middles, and ends infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of acts and consequences infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of defilement and purity infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of living beings infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of buddha-fields infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of phenomena infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of mundane lights infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of Buddhas and enlightening beings infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of practices and vows infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of emancipations of enlightening beings infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of teaching and training of enlightening beings infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of nonduality of realms of reality infinite as the cosmos, by abiding in the equality of sites of enlightenment and congregations of Buddhas, infinite as the cosmos.
“When great enlightening beings practice dedication in this way, they abide in equal pure embodiments infinite as the cosmos, they abide in equal pure speech infinite as the cosmos, they abide in equal pure minds infinite as the cosmos, they abide in equal pure commitments of enlightening beings infinite as the cosmos, they abide in equal pure sites of enlightenment of congregations infinite as the cosmos, they abide in pure knowledge infinite as the cosmos equally explaining things for all enlightening beings, they abide in bodies infinite as the cosmos equally able to enter into all worlds in the cosmos, they abide in equal pure fearlessness of the light of all truths able to cut away the nets of doubts of all sentient beings with one voice, gladdening them in accord with their faculties and inclinations, abiding in the ways of emancipation, the great virtues and spiritual powers and fearlessness of knowledge of all sciences of liberation. This is great enlightening beings’ tenth dedication, dedication as infinite as the cosmos.
“When great enlightening beings dedicate all roots of goodness, such as giving of teaching, in this way, they fulfill the infinite, boundless commitment of Universal Good, are able to purify all buddha-fields throughout the cosmos, equal to space, and cause all sentient beings to also attain such fully developed boundless knowledge, understand all truths, in every moment see all Buddhas appearing in the world, and in every moment see all Buddhas’ infinite boundless powers—vast powers, powers of nonattachment, powers of unimpeded freedom, powers to purify all sentient beings, powers to structure all worlds, powers to manifest all languages, powers to appear appropriately in accord with the time, powers dwelling in irreversible spiritual knowledge, powers to explain all realms of reality exhaustively, powers producing the boundless eye of the enlightening being Universally Good, powers of hearing the true teachings of infinite Buddhas with unobstructed ear consciousness, powers to pervade the infinite cosmos with one body while sitting still without crowding the sentient beings, powers of penetration of all the infinite phenomena of past, present, and future by means of complete knowledge. They also realize infinite purities—purity of all sentient beings; purity of all buddha-fields; purity of all things; purity of comprehensive knowledge of all realms; purity of boundless knowledge pervading the realm of space; purity of knowledge of all different vocal sounds, using various kinds of verbal expression adapted to all sentient beings; purity of radiance of infinite spheres of light illuminating all the boundless worlds; purity of knowledge producing the practices of all enlightening beings of past, present, and future; purity of knowledge instantly entering the sites of enlightenment of congregations of all Buddhas of past, present, and future; purity of entering into all worlds, boundless though they be, and causing all sentient beings to do what they should do—in all these they attain fulfillment, completion, accomplishment, equanimity, actualization, direct knowledge, and true realization, having seen into all of them, attained purity in all respects, and reached the other shore.”
At that point, by the spiritual power of the Buddha, in each of the ten directions as many worlds as atoms in a million buddha-lands quaked in six ways—trembling, trembling all over, trembling equally all over; rising, rising all over, rising equally all over; surging, surging all over, surging equally all over; shaking, shaking all over, shaking equally all over; roaring, roaring all over, roaring equally all over; crashing, crashing all over, crashing equally all over. Because of the Buddha’s spiritual power, and by natural law, it rained celestial flowers, celestial garlands, celestial incense powders, celestial mixed perfumes, celestial raiment, celestial gems, celestial ornaments, celestial crystals, celestial aloe wood, celestial sandalwood incense, celestial parasols of surpassing beauty, all kinds of celestial banners, multicolored celestial pennants, countless celestial bodies, innumerable billions of unspeakable numbers of celestial sounds of the wonderful teaching, inconceivably many celestial voices praising Buddha, countless celestial sounds of joyful eulogy. Innumerable celestials bowed in respect, countless celestial children constantly remembranced the Buddhas and the immeasurable rare virtues of the Enlightened Ones, countless celestial children made music and sang hymns of praise to offer the Enlightened, countless billions of celestials emanated great lights illuminating all buddha-fields in the entire cosmos throughout space, revealing countless realms of Buddhas and disguised bodies of
the Enlightened, surpassing all celestial beings.
As such a teaching was expounded in the palace of the Tushita heaven of happiness and satisfaction in this world, so it was in the celestial palaces of the Tushita heavens in all worlds throughout the ten directions.
Then, again by the spiritual power of Buddha, there assembled as many enlightening beings as atoms in a million buddha-fields from beyond as many worlds as atoms in a million buddha-fields in each of the ten directions, filling all quarters, all saying “Good, good! Child of Buddha, you have ably explained these great dedications. We all have the same name—Diamond Banner—and all have come here from the presence of Diamond Banner Buddhas in worlds in Diamond Light. In those worlds we expound this teaching by the spiritual power of Buddha, and the congregations, the followings, the expressions and doctrines are all like this, no more and no less: we have all come from those lands, empowered by the Buddhas, to stand as witnesses for you. And we have come to this assembly to be your witnesses, so also do the hosts of enlightening beings come to all the jewel-adorned halls of the palaces of the Tushita heavens in all worlds in the ten directions to be witnesses in the same way.”
Then the enlightening being Diamond Banner, spiritually empowered by Buddha, looked over all the congregations in the ten directions, reaching throughout the cosmos; knowing expression and meaning well, he expanded his great mind, with great compassion covering all beings, fixing his mind on the lineage of the Buddhas of past, present, and future and dwelling steadily thereon, he entered into the ways to the qualities of all Buddhas, and attained the body of freedom of the Buddhas. He observed the inclinations of the minds of sentient beings as well as all the roots of goodness they had planted, knowing them all distinctly, and in accord with the body of reality he manifested for them bodies of pure sublime forms. Then at this time he uttered verses saying,
Enlightening beings accomplish knowledge of truth,
Understanding boundless ways of right teaching:
Becoming teachers with the light of truth,
They know the unobstructed genuine verity.
Enlightening beings are great guides to truth;
They reveal the most profound teaching, hard to attain:
Leading the measureless masses of the ten directions,
They cause them to abide securely in truth.
Enlightening beings have drunk the ocean of Buddha teachings;
Their clouds of truth shower the worlds of the ten directions.
The sun of truth appears in the world,
Revealing the sublime teaching for the benefit of the living.
They are always rarely-met donors of teaching,
Understand convenient means to enter truth.
The light of truth, pure, illumines their minds,
And they teach in the world without fear.
They have cultivated a mind in command of the teachings,
Able to understand all aspects thereof;
Developing the deep deep ocean of wondrous teaching,
They beat the drum of truth for all sentient beings.
They proclaim the most profound, rare teaching,
With which are nurtured all virtues;
Endowed with the mind of pure joy in truth,
They show the world the treasury of Buddhahood.
Anointed and crowned by the Buddhas, kings of truth,
Having developed the body of knowledge of the nature of things,
They are able to understand the true character of all things,
And abide by all good ways.
Enlightening beings practice the foremost giving
Praised by all the enlightened ones—
All their acts are approved by Buddhas,
Thereby they perfect the most honorable humans.
Enlightening beings have attained the subtle truth body
Personally born by transformation of the Buddha teachings.
To benefit the living they are lamps of truth,
Expounding countless supreme principles.
According to the giving of the wonderful teaching they practice,
They also examine their roots of goodness;
The good deeds they do for sentient beings
They dedicate all with knowledge.
The virtuous ways to attain buddhahood
They pass on to living beings,
Wishing that all may be pure
And reach the Buddhas’ magnificent other shore.
The buddha-lands of the ten directions are infinite,
And all have infinite great adornments:
Such adornments, inconceivable,
Are all used to adorn one land.
The pure knowledge of the enlightened
They vow to enable all beings to have,
Like Universally Good, the true offspring of Buddha,
Adorning themselves with all virtues.
Accomplishing vast spiritual power,
They travel throughout all worlds,
Causing all beings without exception
To practice the enlightening path.
The countless sentient beings of the ten directions
Awakened by the Buddhas
They cause to be like Universally Good,
Fully carrying out the highest practice.
The various different virtues
Achieved by the Buddhas and enlightening beings
They vow to have everyone fulfill,
Boundless though they be.
Enlightening beings are endowed with the power of freedom
And go to study wherever they should learn;
Manifesting all great psychic powers,
They go to the infinite lands of the ten directions.
Enlightening beings are able in one instant
To see countless Buddhas, many as beings,
And also in a single hairtip
Concentrate all things, seeing all clearly.
The sentient beings of the worlds, without measure,
Enlightening beings can distinguish and know.
The Buddhas are as infinite as living beings;
They generously present offerings to them all.
All kinds of wonderfully scented flowers,
Jewels, clothes, pennants, and parasols,
They distribute throughout the cosmos,
Determined to offer them to all Buddhas.
In a single pore they clearly see
All the inconceivably many Buddhas—
And so it is in every pore:
They bow to all the lamps of the worlds.
With their whole bodies they successively bow
In respect for those boundless Victors;
They also praise them with their words
Forever and ever more.
Their offerings to one Buddha
Are as numberless as sentient beings;
Thus do they make offerings to one Buddha
And to all Buddhas in the same way.
They provide for and laud the Buddhas
Throughout all ages of the world;
The ages of the world may come to an end,
But enlightening beings’ offerings never cease.
In the various ages of all worlds
They cultivate practices there,
Honoring and attending one Buddha
Tirelessly throughout all ages.
As they provide for one Buddha for immeasurable eons,
So do they also for all Buddhas;
Yet they do not think of the number of eons,
Or ever tire of making offerings.
The cosmos is boundlessly vast:
Enlightening beings observe it with clear comprehension,
Spreading great lotus blossoms throughout
As presents to Buddhas infinite as beings.
Jewel flowers of perfect color and scent,
Pure ornaments, most delicate,
Beyond compare in any world,
They bring to offer the most noble of humans.
Infinite lands, many as sentient beings,
They fill with precious canopies,
Which they offer to one Buddha
And do the same for all Buddhas.
Perfumes, incomparable, most excellent,
Never before found in any world,
They offer to the Guide of humans and divines
Throughout eons as many as beings.
Powder and burning incense, exquisite flowers,
Jewels, raiment, and ornaments,
They present to the Supreme Victors
Joyfully serving them tirelessly.
World-Illumining Lamps, as many as beings,
Attain great enlightenment every moment,