The Flower Ornament Scripture

by Thomas Cleary

  From the circle of hair between Saradhvaja’s eyebrows Sudhana saw as many moons as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge, outshining all the celestial chiefs, turning all worldlings away from lust to enjoyment of the vision of Buddha, pervading the cosmos engaged in the guidance of infinite beings.

  From Saradhvaja’s forehead Sudhana saw as many great Brahmas as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge, their deportment extremely tranquil, murmuring prayers, asking all buddhas for instruction, praising all buddhas, gladdening all enlightening beings, pervading all universes in the ten directions, involved in the infinite tasks of sentient beings.

  From Saradhvaja’s head Sudhana saw emerge as many enlightening beings as atoms in countless buddha-fields, manifesting bodies of various appearances, forms, adornments, and embellishments, emanating infinite spheres of light, taking up the past enlightening practices of all buddhas and projecting from every pore multitudes of forms practicing charity without attachment to giver, receiver, or gift, showing oceans of past efforts involved in the various ways of transcendence, commending the act of giving to the world, getting rid of the filth of envy, directing beings to give up all grasping, causing the world to appear adorned with all kinds of jewels, establishing sentient beings in the practice of transcendent giving and in command over material things, praising all virtues, and teaching the cause of the characteristics of buddhas.

  He also saw as many enlightening beings as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge praising transcendent morality, manifesting from every pore oceans of past efforts of all buddhas involved in transcendent morality, turning all beings away from the spheres of all mundane states and turning them toward the sphere of the enlightened, disdaining the world of desire, dispersing the veil of error from the world, stopping untrue thoughts and enjoining the way of life of enlightening beings, commending the ethic of great compassion and leading beings into the conduct of the practice of the path of buddhas to attain the conduct of the enlightened, showing sentient beings that the state of existence is like a dream and guiding them into power over afflictions caused by grasping sense objects so that they may fully enter into the way of acting as in a dream.

  He also saw as many enlightening beings as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge, lighting up the world with golden light, guiding beings to a state of mind without hatred or malice, free from all corruption and defect, emanating from every pore multitudes of past efforts of buddhas involved in transcendent tolerance in order to cut off all brutal tendencies, leading sentient beings into the power of tolerance, showing sentient beings mastery over phenomena.

  He also saw as many enlightening beings as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge, engaged in miraculous displays showing the endless power of energy of enlightening beings, commending tireless quest for the ocean of learning by the power of nonregression in progress toward omniscience, guiding beings to honor and attend all buddhas, leading beings to arouse great energy to get rid of the mass of all suffering, emanating from all their bodies multitudes of past efforts involved in enlightening beings’ perfection of transcendent energy, shattering sentient beings’ mountains of sloth, leading sentient beings into transcendent energy, guiding sentient beings to mastery over action.

  He also saw as many enlightening beings as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge guiding sentient beings into the path of mindfulness, dissolving the darkness of all obstructions, causing sentient beings to desist from all intoxication and leading them into sobriety, taking down the flags of pretentiousness, arrogance, and pride, telling of the ocean of branches of meditation of buddhas, describing transcendent meditation to people, emanating from every pore multitudes of past efforts involved in perfection of transcendent meditation, guiding sentient beings to mastery of mind, pervading the cosmos moment to moment.

  He also saw as many enlightening beings as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge and pervade the cosmos in every moment of thought emanating from every pore multitudes of past efforts involved in the search of buddhahood, uttering multitudes of perfections of transcendent wisdom by oceans of words, emanating the lightning of right insight, expressing the inherent nature of phenomena, shattering the mountainous masses of sentient beings’ notion of self, extracting all arrows of views, dispersing the darkness of desire, heedlessness, and doubt, commending control of inclination.

  He also saw as many enlightening beings as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge and pervade the cosmos in a mental impulse, showing the sphere of methods of all buddhas’ skill in liberative means, emanating from every pore multitudes of past efforts involved in skill in means, spreading the practice of skill in means in the world, illuminating the way of universal emancipation, describing the sphere of all buddhas, describing and showing the practice of enlightening beings which unites the mundane and the transcendental, guiding sentient beings to enlightening beings’ perfection of skill in means, demonstrating in the world all enlightening beings’ mastery of regeneration.

  He also saw as many enlightening beings as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge and pervade the cosmos in each moment of thought by various projections of will, emanating from every pore multitudes of oceans of names of all buddhas, radiating from every pore multitudes of past efforts involved in purification of transcendent vows of all enlightening beings, commending transcendent commitment, guiding sentient beings into the masteries of all enlightening beings, powering through the world the eternally rolling chariot wheel of great vows which follows all truths and gets rid of all afflictions and shatters the mountains of nescience.

  He also saw as many enlightening beings as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge and ceaselessly fill the cosmos in each moment of thought, manifesting the power of enlightening beings’ consummation of power, emanating from every pore multitudes of past efforts producing the consummation of transcendental power, showing power which cannot be overcome by any demons or challengers, nurturing such power that all the adamantine mountains surrounding the earth would shatter upon contact with their bodies, showing power such that their bodies do not even blaze up in the ocean of fire that burns the universe at the end of each eon, showing the power to hold all worlds in their hands while hovering in space, guiding beings to control of magical powers.

  He also saw as many enlightening beings as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge and fill the cosmos in every thought illuminating the sphere of knowledge of sentient beings, emanating from every pore multitudes of past efforts involved in purification of consummate knowledge, manifesting in the world the stage of knowledge characterized by mystic knowledge of all buddhas’ virtues and knowledges, showing the stage of knowledge characterized by mystic knowledge of all buddhas’ perceptions, illuminating the stage of knowledge characterized by mystic knowledge of the undertaking of all vows, revealing the stage of knowledge characterized by mystic knowledge of the undertaking of the vow to save all sentient beings, revealing the stage of knowledge characterized by mystic knowledge penetrating the lack of self or independent existence in all beings, illumining the stage of knowledge characterized by mystic knowledge observing the ocean of minds of all sentient beings, analyzing the stage of knowledge characterized by mystic knowledge discerning the faculties of all sentient beings, describing the stage of knowledge characterized by mystic knowledge observing the inclinations and interests of all sentient beings, disclosing the stage of knowledge characterized by mystic knowledge comprehending the ocean of actions of all beings, showing the stage of knowledge characterized by mystic knowledge penetrating the ocean of commitments of all sentient beings, guiding sentient beings into the perfection of knowledge.

  From Saradhvaja’s topknot of flesh Sudhana saw emerge as many embodiments of buddhas as atoms in countless buddha-fields, adorned with the finest characteristics and embellishments, appearing like mountains of gold, with immeasurable auras of blazing light illumining everything in the ten directions and voices pervading the cosmos, suffusing all universes, showing endless mirac
ulous transformations of Buddha, showering rain from clouds of teaching on all without discrimination—showering rain from a cloud of teaching called knowledge confronting the distinction of all planes of the cosmos on enlightening beings on the verge of enlightenment, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called the ground of universality on coronated enlightening beings, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called entry into the ground of universality on enlightening beings ordained as princes of the great teaching, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called universal arrangement on enlightening beings of youthful nature, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called steadfast head of great compassion on nonregressing enlightening beings, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called diamond of knowledge distinguishing the intrinsic essence of all phenomena on enlightening beings of purified intent, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called arrangement taking in all beings on enlightening beings accomplished in preparatory practices, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called cloud of communication with the assemblies of all buddhas of past, present, and future on regenerated enlightening beings, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called voice of the ground of intrinsic essence of all phenomena on enlightening beings engaged in concerted practice, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called source of clouds containing the ways and means of great compassion on enlightening beings engaged in primary practices, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called store of kindness on enlightening beings newly determined to see enlightenment, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called inexhaustible treasury of kindness of the buddhas’ commitment to liberation on enlightening beings of great zeal, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called inexhaustible treasury of the universal ground on beings in the world of form, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called sound produced by the measureless ocean of principles on Brahma body deities, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called inexhaustible treasury of power producing spiritual methods on controlling deities, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called sound cleaning variously represented provisions for omniscience on demon-body deities, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called varied cargo of jewels of knowledge on the deities who enjoy emanations, showering rain from a cloud called varied representation of the vows of enlightening beings on deities in the heavens of happiness, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called treasury of recollection of all buddhas on deities in the heavens of timely portion, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called source of the rapture of the vision of Buddha on the abodes of the chief deities, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called multitude of transformations of Buddha pervading the space of the cosmos on the abodes of the chief demigods, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called sound of eulogies of the qualities of all enlightened ones on the abodes of the chief celestial musicians, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called indestructible sphere of ways to knowledge on the abodes of the chief titans, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called multitude of means of development of all enlightened ones on the abodes of the chief birds, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called source of the magical utterances of enlightening beings traveling swiftly through the states of existence on the abodes of the chief dragons, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called speed of increase of the ocean of joy on the abodes of the chief serpents, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called sphere of the highest knowledge of all beings on the realms of humans, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called ornament bearing the words of the holy path bespeaking the extinction of all the pains of mundane existence on the hells, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called round body of clouds of remembrance of buddhas bespeaking the practice of impeccable action on the realms of animals, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called declaration of the transcendence of all buddhas producing a mind of nonattachment in all sentient beings on the ghost realms, showering rain from a cloud of teaching called comforting sound effecting the cessation of all pains on beings in distress.

  He also saw as many orbs of webs of light beams as atoms in countless buddha-fields emerge from every pore, countless whirling arrays of phantom forms of power, manifestations of countless various works, pervading the entire cosmos. From some orbs of webs of light beams he saw scenes of the practice of pure giving, relinquishing everything; from some orbs of webs of light beams he saw scenes of the procedures of all past, present and future enlightening beings’ investiture with ethical precepts; from some orbs of webs of light beams he saw scenes of all enlightening beings of past, present, and future practicing forbearance, enduring dismemberment, beatings, having their hearts and eyes gouged out, and he saw magically produced images of the practices of forbearance of all enlightening beings by the oppressed enlightening beings of past, present, and future with bodies sundered in the search of omniscience, enduring, forgiving, and overlooking all physical and mental harassment, out of great compassion; from some orbs of webs of light beams he saw scenes of different forms of the immensity of the practice of vigor of all enlightening beings, scenes of the great prowess of enlightening beings shaking the world, agitating the seas, startling sentient beings, scaring all heretics; from some orbs of webs of light beams he saw embodiments of all deeds of enlightening beings, the forms taken on, the perfections of physical bodies to be born in good families, the acceptance of instructions of spiritual benefactors, the states of practice of the teachings of spiritual benefactors, the abandonments of home, country, and city for suitable abodes to accomplish the branches of meditation of the enlightened, the seers, the meditation adepts, the kings, the recluses, the manners of disciplined conduct; from some orbs of webs of light beams he saw embodiments involved in seeking all truths in the station of practice of transcendent wisdom; from the orbs of webs of light beams from each and every pore Sudhana saw the bodies by which each statement of the Teaching was sought from the midst of all beings by relinquishing all that exists, sought from all spiritual benefactors through attendance and service, sought from buddhas with all the strength generated by faith and respect, and all the statements of the Teaching related to transcendent wisdom similarly sought by bodies manifested in the forms of all sentient beings; from some orbs of webs of light beams he saw all enlightening beings entering the ocean of states of being with means of development, endeavoring to save all sentient beings; from orbs of webs of light beams from every pore he saw enlightening beings saving sentient beings, engaged in the practice of skill in means taken on by their original bodies, approaching each and every being in a form resembling those beings; from some orbs of webs of light beams he saw the conduct of the Buddha’s undertaking of vows in all past ages, the conduct of the undertaking of the vow to perfect all beings, the conduct of the undertaking of the vow to purify all lands, the spheres of accomplishment of all vows effected by each buddha by the specific cures for each of the ills of the mundane whirl. Sudhana saw all this from orbs of lights from each pore; from some orbs of webs of light beams he saw oceans of past efforts involved in the practice of transcendent power; from some orbs of webs of light beams he saw oceans of past efforts involved in the contemplations of the practice of omniscience and the awakening of sentient beings asleep in the slumber of ignorance.

  Then, observing the monk Saradhvaja thus concentrated in meditation, mindful of that sphere of concentration and liberation, contemplating the inconceivable power of concentration of enlightening beings, entering into that inconceivable ocean of ways of benefiting sentient beings, remembering that inconceivable medium of the performance of supernal manifestations confronting all the senses, strongly focusing his attention on it, entering that door of knowledge of purity of arrangement of the cosmos, aspiring to that enlightened power, expanding in knowledge, recognizing that controlling power of enlightening beings, stabilizing the power of vows of enlightening beings, extending the power of practice of enlightening beings, Sudhana stood before Saradhavja for a day and a night, for two days and nights, seven days a
nd nights, a fortnight, a month, six months, and then six more days and nights.

  After six months and six days and nights, the monk Saradhvaja rose from concentration. Sudhana said, “It is marvelous, noble one, how profound this concentration is, how vast, how measureless its scope, how inconceivable its arrays of projections, how incomparable its light, how innumerable its manifestations, how unsurpassable its range, how pure its sphere, how it illumines everywhere equally, how it works for the benefit of infinite beings, in that it is directed to the extinction of the measureless mass of suffering of all sentient beings, to extinguish the sufferings of the destitute, to end hellish states, to rescue beings from brutish states, to close the door on all conditions inopportune for enlightenment, to lead the way to heavenly states, to produce human and celestial pleasure and happiness, to foster experience of the pleasure of meditation, to increase happiness in the conditioned world, to show the way out of the mundane. It is set forth to illumine the cause of production of the aspiration of enlightenment, to develop the cause of production of provisions of virtue and knowledge, to increase the intensity of vast great compassion, to generate the power of great vows, for the attainment of the light of the path of enlightening beings, for the arrangement of the great vehicle of the transcendent ways, for the accomplishment of the supreme attainment of the Great Vehicle, for the vision of the knowledge of universally good action, for the attainment of the light of the knowledge of the stages of enlightening beings, for accomplishment of the purification of the array of means of emancipation in the practice of the vows of all enlightening beings, for the empowerment of accession to the sphere of omniscience. Noble one, what is the name of this concentration?”