The Flower Ornament Scripture

by Thomas Cleary

  Those enlightening beings also entered the oceans of mystic projections of Buddha made by Vairocana by way of such enlightening beings’ concentrations as exposition of truth setting up the standard of all buddhas, illumination unattached to the borders of past, present, and future, continuous knowledge of all ages, entry into the ten powers by subtle means, accomplishment of unbreakable practice of the essence of enlightenment through all ages, clouds swiftly appearing everywhere, creation of magical appearances of attainment of enlightenment, characterized by all pleasures of feeling, adornment of space with all kinds of magnificent arrays, moment to moment producing clouds of crested images like beings of the world, light of the moon of realization of Thusness pure as space, spacelike base of all who realize Thusness, radiance of all spiritual faculties, lamp revealing the meanings of all things, illumination of the sphere of the ten powers, characterized by the brilliance of the buddhas of all times, the unique source of all buddhas, accomplishing undertakings in every passing moment, source of inexhaustible blessing, illumination of guidance of endless vision of Buddha, supreme adamantine basis of all truths, production of universal manifestations of the emanations of all buddhas, consummating the course of the sun of all buddhas, instantly illuminating past, present, and future, sound of the voice emitting universal light illumining the natural quiescence of all things, march to the boundary of vision of all buddhas, aware of all things like a collection of lotuses, observation of phenomena as baseless like the sky, whirlpool of concentration of the ocean of all spaces in one space, entering directly into the ground of all phenomena, oceanic source of all things, tranquil body shining light on all beings, accomplishment of the will for all higher knowledge in a single moment of thought, eternal manifestation of the attainment of enlightenment equally everywhere, entering into all universes by comprehending them as one single array, illumination of the body of recollection of all buddhas, intuition of vast higher knowledge of all worlds, merging one’s being with the infinite cosmic principle in a single mental instant, illumination of the homologous order of all things in homologous universes, mystical manifestation of the fiery energy of the spheres of all Buddha teachings, basis of the determination and action taking all realms of beings into the net of Indra, continuity of the ground of all worlds, traveling everywhere by mystic projections of lotuslike splendor, intuitive knowledge of the cycles of the bodies of all beings, magical materialization in the presence of all beings, superknowledge of the means of analyzing mundane speech in the ocean of utterances of all beings, superknowledge of the distinctions of the seeds of all worlds, unalloyed incorruptible matrix of great compassion, entry of all buddhas into the goal of realization of Thusness, and lionlike emergence to behold the abode of liberation of all buddhas.

  By entry into as many of the concentrations of enlightening beings as atoms in untold buddha-lands, beginning with these, those enlightening beings entered into the ocean of the blessed Vairocana’s mystical projections of buddhahood, and they accordingly remembered equivalent transformations carried out in the past. Furthermore, by the mental-moment-to-mental-moment entry, pervading the whole cosmos, of those enlightening beings, who were in the presence of Buddha in the Jeta grove, sitting on lion thrones in lotuses of various jewels as vast as worlds as numerous as atoms in ten buddha-lands, born of the occult transformation of great knowledge and insight, having attained the stage of penetrating knowledge and insight, contemplating with universal knowledge, born of the source of wisdom, on the brink of omniscience, having unclouded eyes of knowledge, having arrived at the state of leaders of beings, having approached equality with all buddhas, always carrying out the principle of nondiscrimination, with specific knowledge of all objects, relating to all things as naturally calm, in the ultimate asylum of the quiescence and nirvana of all worlds yet upholding the variety of all worlds, going to all lands without attachment, in the midst of all things without reliance on anything, effortlessly establishing the measures of all teachings, knowing how to develop and guide all people, showing all beings the state of peace and serenity, risen to the realm of the abode of knowledge and liberation, embodying knowledge gone to the limit of dispassion, having emerged from the ocean of all existences, observing the limit of reality of all worlds, in the sphere of light of knowledge of the ocean of truths, with great compassionate minds perfectly unified by oceanic concentration, thoroughly aware of the principle of the illusoriness of phenomena, having comprehended that all worlds are like dreams, knowing the vision of all buddhas are like reflections, aware that all utterances are like echoes, knowing that the effects of all things are like magic productions, determined to reach the sphere of fulfillment, following skillful methods of purification of the sphere of universal knowledge, with ultimately peaceful and calm minds, with knowledge of all families of mystic spells, with fearless, even force of the the power of concentration, with the eye reaching the limit of the cosmos, in the stage of ungraspability of all things, contemplating the infinite ocean of wisdom, gone to the farther shore of transcendence by knowledge, having attained the sustaining power of transcendent wisdom, gone beyond all worlds by consummation of transcendent spiritual powers, masters of transcendent concentration, with correct knowledge of all buddhas’ skillfullness in respect to meanings, with knowledge of the means of skillful elucidation of truth, with extraordinary knowledge of expression, being clouds of teaching with inexhaustible power of eloquence, roaring the fearless, mighty lion’s roar, enjoying the unequaled bliss of nonreliance, having unclouded eyes seeing into all things, moons of knowledge of the state of intellect of all beings, beams of light of designations of principles of all truths from the sphere of wisdom, mountains of virtue with diamonds of knowledge, beyond all comparison, sprouting the knowledge of all spiritual faculties, heroic conquerors of all demons, full of the energy of the sphere of endless knowledge, physically beyond all worldlings, with unhindered insight into all things, aware of the bounds of finiteness and infinity, standing on the limit of reality, tallying with the universal limit, having the eye of knowledge observing signlessness, skilled in the causes of accomplishment of all practices of enlightening beings, coursing in nondualistic knowledge, observing all worldly trends, appearing in all buddha-lands without dwelling, free from obscurity in regard to all things, having reached the sphere of knowledge without darkness, engaged in the illumination of truth everywhere, excellent fields of blessings for all beings, moons of fulfillment of the wishes of all who see or hear of them, mountains of virtue rising above all worlds, bravely subduing all challengers, making their voices heard in all buddha-lands, tirelessly watching all the buddhas, able to control reflections of the bodies of all buddhas, adopting appropriate forms to guide all beings, pervading all lands with one body, having purified their spheres of accomplishment, having the capacity for the vehicle of great knowledge unobstructed as space, reflecting the bodies of all things in their sphere of knowledge, suns of knowledge appearing in all worlds, having the power to adapt to all worlds at will, having specific knowledge of the various dispositions and faculties of all beings, having arrived at all truths with unobstructed perspective, apprised of the inherent nature of all things being birthlessness, mature in the knowledge of the mutual interpenetration of the subtle and gross, resolved on the goal of the profound state of buddhahood, knowing the verbal designations of profound meaning, eloquently telling the meanings of endless words and expressions, expounding entry into the ocean of all scriptures by one word, supporting the vast body of knowledge of mystic formulae, having the power to hold them forever, knowing specifically their abodes over untold ages in a single moment of thought, having occult knowledge of all worlds, knowing past, present, and future in a single moment of thought, reflecting the infinite ocean of buddha-teachings in mystic formulae holding all principles, tirelessly turning the wheel of teaching leading all beings to knowledge, illumined with the knowledge of the sphere of buddhas, always in the concentration of good vision, having the superknowledge
that discerns the differences among all things while being ultimately unattached, master of knowledge of the sphere of liberation, the highest of all states, causing all objects to appear in pure arrays, entering into the universes of the ten directions wherever they are, entering into the different universes in all directions, conscious of enlightenment in atomic particles subtle and gross, showing all colors beautiful in nature, concentrating the totality in one space, treasuries of knowledge and virtue mature in the knowledge of infinite qualities of one form, praised by all buddhas, having qualities that can never be fully told—those enlightening beings who had gathered at the Jeta grove and were sitting there immersed in the ocean of qualities of Buddha, illumined by rays of light from the buddhas, as they were in a state of great ecstasy, having attained the light of the inconceivable state of enlightening beings, from their ecstasy emanated great arrays of mystical projections pervading all universes, issuing from all of their bodies, their towers, their paraphernalia and their thrones, from everywhere in the Jeta grove: in each successive mental moment they emanated vast clouds of webs of light beams, pleasing to all worlds, suffusing the ten directions; they filled the ten directions with clouds of bells of all jewels ringing with sounds bespeaking the virtues and qualities of the buddhas of past, present, and future; they filled the ten directions with clouds of voices of all beings, issuing from all objects, making sweet sounds telling of the fruits of all beings’ actions; they filled the ten directions with clouds of forms showing the vows of all enlightening beings and the various practices of enlightening beings, emanating voices telling of the undertakings of all enlightening beings; they emanated clouds of beatified embodiments of enlightening beings filling the ten directions telling of the succession of buddhas in all lands; they emanated clouds of sites of enlightenment like those of all buddhas of past, present, and future, filling the ten directions, showing magnificent displays of the transcendent enlightenment and emancipation of all buddhas; from all objects they emanated clouds of bodies of ruling water spirits, showering rain of all fragrances throughout the ten directions; they emanated clouds of bodies like the rulers of all worlds, pervading the ten directions, telling of the conduct of the enlightening being Universally Good; from all objects they sent forth clouds of reflections of all perfectly pure buddha-lands, made of all jewels, filling the ten directions, showing the turnings of the wheels of teachings of all buddhas. They emanated as many such clouds of magical displays of great magnificent arrays as atoms in untold buddha-lands, by the mystic power of those enlightening beings, and by virtue of their state of attainment of illumination of the inconceivable ocean of truths.

  Then the enlightening being Manjushri, empowered by Buddha, observing all those mystical apparitions appearing throughout the ten directions, uttered these verses:

  Observe the infinite, vast power of Buddha arisen in the Jeta grove,

  Having emanated clouds of bodies as sense objects that pervade all directions.

  The vast, pure arrays of offspring of Buddha, various, of infinite forms,

  Are all seen reflected from the thrones, which contain the objects of sense.

  Clouds of jewel radiance, in various arrays, pervade the land, pouring forth

  From the pores of the offspring of Buddha, emitting the sounds of Buddha.

  Forms like Brahma and Indra, with pure bodies and tranquil deportment,

  Emerging from the trees and flowers, go forth telling of meditation.

  Enlightening beings like Universally Good, adorned with embellishing marks,

  Inconceivable, countless, are produced from the Buddha’s pores.

  Those clouds of adornments of the Oceans of Virtue bespeak the qualities

  Of the enlightening beings of all times, gathered in the Jeta grove.

  All the varied oceans of deeds of groups of beings in all directions

  Are heard, radiating from within the trees in the Jeta grove.

  Transfigurations of all buddhas of past, present, and future in every land

  Appear from the ground, in every single object, numerous as atoms.

  At each and every point various oceanic clouds of buddhas

  Continuously reveal the abodes of the Victors and the masses of buddhas there.

  As many as beings, pervading everywhere, as they develop beings by expedient means,

  From their auras emerge oceanic clouds of fragrant flames and masses of flowers.

  Precious mansions, measureless as the sky, adorned with all realities,

  Fill the lands in all directions, and all sites of enlightenment.

  All the lands of the offspring of Buddha in past, present, and future, great healers,

  Purified by means of the practice of universal good,

  Their various arrays, purified over oceans of eons, infinite as beings,

  Are all seen by reflection in the sky of the Jeta grove.

  At that point, each of those enlightening beings, illuminated by the light of the concentration of Buddha, entered as many gates of great compassion as atoms in untold buddha-lands, and attained even greater capability to treat all beings beneficially. Thus concentrated, from each of their pores came forth as many rays of light as atoms in untold buddha-lands; from each ray of light came forth as many multitudes of phantom enlightening beings, bodies like those of all world rulers, bodies appearing to all beings, bodies adapted to the development of all beings. Having pervaded the cosmos with their emanations, they enlightened, developed, and guided sentient beings, by means of showing descent from heaven; by means of showing birth in all worlds; by means of showing the sphere of practice of enlightening beings; by means of dreams bearing messages to the mind; by means of release through the vows of all enlightening beings; by means of perfect knowledge of the world; by means of showing the practice of transcendent giving; by means of the positive and negative spheres of the virtues of all buddhas, what they cultivate and what they efface; by means of showing transcendental forbearance, even if dismembered; by means of transcendent energy of the great spiritual metamorphosis of enlightening beings; by means of shining light of the sphere of the path of buddha-knowledge by the meditations, liberations, concentrations, and attainments of all enlightening beings; by means of showing the relinquishment of countless bodies in quest of the meaning of each phase of the teachings in order to find out all buddha-teachings; by means of approaching all buddhas and asking about all the teachings; by means of communicating the light of the ocean of methods and principles of approaching and guiding beings according to the right timing and according to their mentalities, fulfilling omniscience; by means of showing the light of power of the stores of knowledge and virtue of all enlightening beings, which are invulnerable to demons and disputers; by means of showing the stage of knowledge which includes knowledge of all practical arts and mystic knowledge; by means of showing the stage of knowledge which includes knowledge and mystic knowledge of the differences among all beings; by means of showing the stage of knowledge which includes knowledge and mystic knowledge of the differences in the mentalities of all beings; by means of showing the stage of knowledge which includes knowledge and mystic knowledge of the faculties, procedures, and practices of all beings and the destruction of their various afflictions and habits; by showing the stage of knowledge which includes knowledge and mystic knowledge of the various results of deeds of all beings—with as many such means of developing and guiding beings as atoms in untold buddha-lands, those enlightening beings were seen to have come to the abodes of all sentient beings in all states of existence; with nondiscriminatory great compassion, with nondiscriminatory commitment, with nondiscriminatory knowledge, with nondiscriminatory effort to save all beings, for the purpose of fully developing beings according to their mentalities, beings who could be guided by seeing them, by hearing them, by their halos, by the sound of their names, by their auras, by radiating nets of light beams, the enlightening beings in the Jeta grove were seen by various arrays of projections pervading all realm
s of beings in all oceans of worlds, yet without leaving the presence of the Buddha: some appeared pervading the ten directions, their bodies on their thrones in their towers surrounded by their associates, yet without becoming absent from the presence of Buddha; some appeared emanating clouds of apparitions to develop beings, yet without becoming absent from the assembly around the Buddha; some appeared in the form of mendicants, some in the form of priests, some in bodies adorned head to foot with particular emblematic signs, some in the forms of scholars, scientists, doctors, some in the form of merchants, some in the form of ascetics, some in the form of entertainers, some in the form of pietists, some in the form of bearers of all kinds of arts and crafts—they were seen to have come, in their various forms, to all villages, cities, towns, communities, districts, and nations. With mastery of proper timing, proceeding according to the time, by modification of adapted forms and appearances, modifications of tone, language, deportment, situation, carrying out the practices of enlightening beings, which are like the cosmic network of all worlds, illumine the spheres of all practical arts, are lamps shedding light on the knowledge of all beings, are arrays of mystical displays of all realities, radiate the light of all truths, purify the establishment of vehicles of liberation of all places, and light up the spheres of all truths, they were seen to have come to all villages, towns, cities, districts, and nations for the purpose of leading sentient beings to perfection.