Adoration to the Omniscient!
Thus it was heard by me: At one time the Blessed (Bhagavat, i.e. Buddha) dwelt at Aravasti, in the Aeta-grove, in the garden of Anathapiṇḍada, together with a large company of Bhikshus (mendicant friars), viz. with twelve hundred and fifty Bhikshus, all of them acquainted with the five kinds of knowledge, elders, great disciples, and Arhats, such as Śāriputra, the elder, Mahāmaudgalyāyana, Mahākāśyapa, Mahākapphiṇa, Mahākātyāyana, Mahākauṣṭhila, Revata, Śuddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ānanda, Rāhula, Gavāṃpati, Bhāradvāja, Kālodayin, Vakkula, and Aniruddha. He dwelt together with these and many other great disciples, and together with many noble-minded Bodhisattvas, such as Mañjuśrī, the prince, the Bodhisattva Ajita, the Bodhisattva Gandhahastin, the Bodhisattva Nityodyukta, the Bodhisattva Anikṣiptadhura. He dwelt together with them and many other noble-minded Bodhisattvas, and with Śakra, the Indra or King
Thus it was heard by me: At one time the Blessed (Bhagavat, i.e. Buddha) dwelt at Aravasti, in the Aeta-grove, in the garden of Anathapiṇḍada, together with a large company of Bhikshus (mendicant friars), viz. with twelve hundred and fifty Bhikshus, all of them acquainted with the five kinds of knowledge, elders, great disciples, and Arhats, such as Śāriputra, the elder, Mahāmaudgalyāyana, Mahākāśyapa, Mahākapphiṇa, Mahākātyāyana, Mahākauṣṭhila, Revata, Śuddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ānanda, Rāhula, Gavāṃpati, Bhāradvāja, Kālodayin, Vakkula, and Aniruddha. He dwelt together with these and many other great disciples, and together with many noble-minded Bodhisattvas, such as Mañjuśrī, the prince, the Bodhisattva Ajita, the Bodhisattva Gandhahastin, the Bodhisattva Nityodyukta, the Bodhisattva Anikṣiptadhura. He dwelt together with them and many other noble-minded Bodhisattvas, and with Śakra, the Indra or King
Then Bhagavat addressed the honoured Śāriputra and said, ‘O Śāriputra, after you have passed from here over a hundred thousand koṭis of Buddha countries there is in the western part a Buddha country, a world called Sukhāvatī (the happy country). And there a Tathāgata, called Amitāyus, an Arhat, fully enlightened, dwells now, and remains, and supports himself, and teaches the Law.
‘Now what do you think, Śāriputra, for what reason is that world called Sukhāvatī (the happy)? In that world Sukhāvatī, O Śāriputra, there is neither bodily nor mental pain for living beings. The sources of happiness are innumerable there. For that reason is that world called Sukhāvatī (the happy).
‘And again, O Śāriputra, that world Sukhāvatī is adorned with seven terraces, with seven rows of palm-trees, and with strings of bells. It is enclosed on every side, beautiful, brilliant with the four gems, viz. gold, silver, beryl, and crystal. With
‘Now what do you think, Śāriputra, for what reason is that world called Sukhāvatī (the happy)? In that world Sukhāvatī, O Śāriputra, there is neither bodily nor mental pain for living beings. The sources of happiness are innumerable there. For that reason is that world called Sukhāvatī (the happy).
‘And again, O Śāriputra, that world Sukhāvatī is adorned with seven terraces, with seven rows of palm-trees, and with strings of bells. It is enclosed on every side, beautiful, brilliant with the four gems, viz. gold, silver, beryl, and crystal. With
such arrays of excellences peculiar to a Buddha
country is that Buddha country adorned.
‘And again, O Śāriputra, in that world Sukhavati there are lotus lakes, adorned with the seven gems, viz. gold, silver, beryl, crystal, red pearls, diamonds, and corals as the seventh. They are full of water which possesses the eight good qualities, their waters rise as high as the fords and bathing-places, so that even crows may drink there; they are
strewn with golden sand. And in these lotus-lakes there are all around on the four sides four stairs, beautiful and brilliant with the four gems, viz. gold, silver, beryl, crystal. And on every side of these lotus-lakes gem-trees are growing, beautiful and brilliant with the seven gems, viz. gold, silver, beryl, crystal, red pearls, diamonds, and corals as the seventh. And in those lotus-lakes lotus-flowers are growing, blue, blue-coloured, of blue splendour, blue to behold; yellow, yellow-coloured, of yellow splendour, yellow to behold; red, red-coloured, of red splendour, red to behold; white, white-coloured, of white splendour, white to behold; beautiful, beautifully-coloured, of beautiful splendour, beautiful to behold, and in circumference as large as the wheel of a chariot.
country is that Buddha country adorned.
‘And again, O Śāriputra, in that world Sukhavati there are lotus lakes, adorned with the seven gems, viz. gold, silver, beryl, crystal, red pearls, diamonds, and corals as the seventh. They are full of water which possesses the eight good qualities, their waters rise as high as the fords and bathing-places, so that even crows may drink there; they are
strewn with golden sand. And in these lotus-lakes there are all around on the four sides four stairs, beautiful and brilliant with the four gems, viz. gold, silver, beryl, crystal. And on every side of these lotus-lakes gem-trees are growing, beautiful and brilliant with the seven gems, viz. gold, silver, beryl, crystal, red pearls, diamonds, and corals as the seventh. And in those lotus-lakes lotus-flowers are growing, blue, blue-coloured, of blue splendour, blue to behold; yellow, yellow-coloured, of yellow splendour, yellow to behold; red, red-coloured, of red splendour, red to behold; white, white-coloured, of white splendour, white to behold; beautiful, beautifully-coloured, of beautiful splendour, beautiful to behold, and in circumference as large as the wheel of a chariot.
‘And again, O .Sariputra, in that Buddha country there are heavenly musical instruments always played on, and the earth is lovely and of golden colour. And in that Buddha country a flower-rain of heavenly Mandarava blossoms pours down three times every day, and three times every night. And the beings who are born there worship before their morning meal a hundred thousand ko/ls of Buddhas by going to other worlds; and having showered a hundred thousand ko/ls of flowers upon each Tathagata, they return to their own world in time for the afternoon rest. With such arrays of excellences peculiar to a Buddha country is that Buddha country adorned.
‘And again, O Śāriputra, there are in that Buddha country swans, curlews, and peacocks. Three times every night, and three times every day, they come together and perform a concert, each uttering his own note. And from them thus uttering proceeds a sound proclaiming the five virtues, the five powers, and the seven steps leading towards the highest knowledge. When the men there hear that sound, remembrance of Buddha, remembrance of the Law, remembrance of the Church, rises in their mind.
‘And again, O Śāriputra, there are in that Buddha country swans, curlews, and peacocks. Three times every night, and three times every day, they come together and perform a concert, each uttering his own note. And from them thus uttering proceeds a sound proclaiming the five virtues, the five powers, and the seven steps leading towards the highest knowledge. When the men there hear that sound, remembrance of Buddha, remembrance of the Law, remembrance of the Church, rises in their mind.
‘Now, do you think, O Śāriputra, that there are beings who have entered into the nature of animals (birds, &c.)? This is not to be thought of. The
No, these tribes of birds have been made on purpose by the Tathagata Amitayus, and they utter the sound of the Law. With such arrays of excellences, &c.
‘And again, O Śāriputra, when those rows of palm-trees and strings of bells in that Buddha country are moved by the wind, a sweet and enrapturing sound proceeds from them. Yes, O Śāriputra, as from a heavenly musical instrument consisting of a hundred thousand koṭis of sounds, when played by Āryas, a sweet and enrapturing sound proceeds, a sweet and enrapturing sound proceeds from those rows of palm-trees and strings of bells moved by the wind. And when the men hear that sound, reflection on Buddha arises in them, reflection on the Law, reflection on the Church. With such arrays of excellences, &c.
No, these tribes of birds have been made on purpose by the Tathagata Amitayus, and they utter the sound of the Law. With such arrays of excellences, &c.
‘And again, O Śāriputra, when those rows of palm-trees and strings of bells in that Buddha country are moved by the wind, a sweet and enrapturing sound proceeds from them. Yes, O Śāriputra, as from a heavenly musical instrument consisting of a hundred thousand koṭis of sounds, when played by Āryas, a sweet and enrapturing sound proceeds, a sweet and enrapturing sound proceeds from those rows of palm-trees and strings of bells moved by the wind. And when the men hear that sound, reflection on Buddha arises in them, reflection on the Law, reflection on the Church. With such arrays of excellences, &c.
‘Now what do you think, O Śāriputra, for what reason is that Tathagata called Amitayus? The length of life (āyus), O Śāriputra, of that Tathagata and of those men there is immeasurable (amita). Therefore is that Tathagata called Amitayus. And ten kalpas have passed, O Śāriputra, since that Tathagata awoke to perfect knowledge.
‘And what do you think, O Śāriputra, for what reason is that Tathagata called Amitabha? The splendour (abhā), O Śāriputra, of that Tathagata is unimpeded over all Buddha countries. Therefore is that Tathagata called Amitabha.
‘And there is, O Śāriputra, an innumerable assembly of disciples with that Tathagata, purified and venerable persons, whose number it is not easy to count. With such arrays of excellences, &c.
‘And again, O Śāriputra, of those beings also who are born in the Buddha country of the Tathagata Amitayus as purified Bodhisattvas, never to return again and bound by one birth only, of those Bodhisattvas also, O Śāriputra, the number is not easy to count, except they are reckoned as infinite in number.
‘And what do you think, O Śāriputra, for what reason is that Tathagata called Amitabha? The splendour (abhā), O Śāriputra, of that Tathagata is unimpeded over all Buddha countries. Therefore is that Tathagata called Amitabha.
‘And there is, O Śāriputra, an innumerable assembly of disciples with that Tathagata, purified and venerable persons, whose number it is not easy to count. With such arrays of excellences, &c.
‘And again, O Śāriputra, of those beings also who are born in the Buddha country of the Tathagata Amitayus as purified Bodhisattvas, never to return again and bound by one birth only, of those Bodhisattvas also, O Śāriputra, the number is not easy to count, except they are reckoned as infinite in number.
‘Then again all beings, O Śāriputra, ought to make fervent prayer for that Buddha country. And why? Because they come together there with such excellent men. Beings are not born in that Buddha country of the Tathagata Amitayus as a reward and result of good works performed in this present life.
No, whatever son or daughter of a family shall hear the name of the blessed Amitayus, the Tathagata, and having heard it, shall keep it in mind, and with thoughts undisturbed shall keep it in mind for one, two, three, four, five, six or seven nights,—when that son or daughter of a family comes to die, then that Amitayus, the Tathagata, surrounded by an assembly of disciples and followed by a host of Bodhisattvas, will stand before them at their hour of death, and they will depart this life with tranquil minds. After their death they will be born in the world Sukhāvatī, in the Buddha country of the same Amitayus, the Tathagata. Therefore, then, O Śāriputra, having perceived this cause and effect, I with reverence say thus, Every son and every daughter of a family ought with their whole mind to make fervent prayer for that Buddha country.
No, whatever son or daughter of a family shall hear the name of the blessed Amitayus, the Tathagata, and having heard it, shall keep it in mind, and with thoughts undisturbed shall keep it in mind for one, two, three, four, five, six or seven nights,—when that son or daughter of a family comes to die, then that Amitayus, the Tathagata, surrounded by an assembly of disciples and followed by a host of Bodhisattvas, will stand before them at their hour of death, and they will depart this life with tranquil minds. After their death they will be born in the world Sukhāvatī, in the Buddha country of the same Amitayus, the Tathagata. Therefore, then, O Śāriputra, having perceived this cause and effect, I with reverence say thus, Every son and every daughter of a family ought with their whole mind to make fervent prayer for that Buddha country.
‘And now, O Śāriputra, as I here at present glorify that world, thus in the East, O Śāriputra, other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Akṣobhya, the Tathagata Merudhvaja, the Tathagata Mahāmeru, the Tathagata Meruprabhāsa, and the Tathagata Mañjudhvaja, equal in number to the sand of the river Gaṅgā, comprehend their own Buddha countries in their speech, and then reveal them.
Accept this repetition of the Law, called the “Favour of all Buddhas,” which magnifies their inconceivable excellences.
‘Thus also in the South do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Candrasūryapradīpa, the Tathagata Yaśaḥprabha, the Tathagata Mahārāṣṭaskandha, the Tathagata Merupradīpa, the Tathagata Anantavīrya, equal in number to the sand of the river Gaṅgā, comprehend their own Buddha countries in their speech, and then reveal them. Accept, &c.
Accept this repetition of the Law, called the “Favour of all Buddhas,” which magnifies their inconceivable excellences.
‘Thus also in the South do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Candrasūryapradīpa, the Tathagata Yaśaḥprabha, the Tathagata Mahārāṣṭaskandha, the Tathagata Merupradīpa, the Tathagata Anantavīrya, equal in number to the sand of the river Gaṅgā, comprehend their own Buddha countries in their speech, and then reveal them. Accept, &c.
‘Thus also in the West do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Amitayus, the Tathagata Amitaskandha, the Tathagata Amitadhvaja, the Tathagata Mahaprabha, the Tathagata Maharatnaketu, the Tathagata Suddharasmiprabha, equal in number to the sand of the river Ganga, comprehend, &c.
‘Thus also in the North do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Mahaskandha, the Tathagata Vaisvanaranirghosha, the Tathagata Dundubhisvaranirghosha, the Tathagata Dushpradharsha, the Tathagata Prabhakara, equal in number to the sand, &c.
‘Thus also in the Nadir do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Simha, the Tathagata Yasas, the Tathagata Yasahprabhava, the Tathagata Dharma, the Tathagata Dharmadhara, the Tathagata Dharmadhvaja, equal in number to the sand, &c.
‘Thus also in the Zenith do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Brahmaghosha, the Tathagata Nakshatraraja, the Tathagata Indraketudhvaraja, the Tathagata Gandhottama, the Tathagata Gandhaprabhasa, the Tathagata Mahaskandha, the Tathagata Ratnakusumasampushpitagatra, the Tathagata Salendraraja, the Tathagata Ratnotpalas, the Tathagata Sarvarthadarsa, the Tathagata Sumerukalpa, equal in number to the sand, &c.
‘Thus also in the North do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Mahaskandha, the Tathagata Vaisvanaranirghosha, the Tathagata Dundubhisvaranirghosha, the Tathagata Dushpradharsha, the Tathagata Prabhakara, equal in number to the sand, &c.
‘Thus also in the Nadir do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Simha, the Tathagata Yasas, the Tathagata Yasahprabhava, the Tathagata Dharma, the Tathagata Dharmadhara, the Tathagata Dharmadhvaja, equal in number to the sand, &c.
‘Thus also in the Zenith do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Brahmaghosha, the Tathagata Nakshatraraja, the Tathagata Indraketudhvaraja, the Tathagata Gandhottama, the Tathagata Gandhaprabhasa, the Tathagata Mahaskandha, the Tathagata Ratnakusumasampushpitagatra, the Tathagata Salendraraja, the Tathagata Ratnotpalas, the Tathagata Sarvarthadarsa, the Tathagata Sumerukalpa, equal in number to the sand, &c.
‘Now what do you think, O Sariputra, for what reason is that repetition (treatise) of the Law called the Favour of all Buddhas? Every son or daughter of a family who shall hear the name of that repetition of the Law and retain in their memory the names of those blessed Buddhas, will be favoured by the Buddhas, and will never return again, being once in possession of the transcendent true knowledge. Therefore, then, O Sariputra, believe, accept, and do not doubt of me and those blessed Buddhas!
‘Whatever sons or daughters of a family shall make mental prayer for the Buddha country of that blessed Amitayus, the Tathagata, or are making it now or have made it formerly, all these will never return again, being once in possession of the transcendent true knowledge. They will be born in that Buddha country, have been born, or are being born now. Therefore, then, O Sariputra, mental prayer is to be made for that Buddha country by faithful sons and daughters of a family.
‘Whatever sons or daughters of a family shall make mental prayer for the Buddha country of that blessed Amitayus, the Tathagata, or are making it now or have made it formerly, all these will never return again, being once in possession of the transcendent true knowledge. They will be born in that Buddha country, have been born, or are being born now. Therefore, then, O Sariputra, mental prayer is to be made for that Buddha country by faithful sons and daughters of a family.
‘And as I at present magnify here the inconceivable excellences of those blessed Buddhas, thus, O Śāriputra, do those blessed Buddhas magnify my own inconceivable excellences.
‘A very difficult work has been done by Śākyamuni, the sovereign of the Śākyas. Having obtained the transcendent true knowledge in this world Saha, he taught the Law which all the world is reluctant to accept, during this corruption of the present kalpa, during this corruption of mankind, during this corruption of belief, during this corruption of life, during this corruption of passions.
‘This is even for me, O Śāriputra, an extremely difficult work that, having obtained the transcendent true knowledge in this world Saha, I taught the Law which all the world is reluctant to accept, during this corruption of mankind, of belief, of passion, of life, and of this present kalpa.’
Thus spoke Bhagavat joyful in his mind. And the honourable Śāriputra, and the Bhikshus and Bodhisattvas, and the whole world with the gods, men, evil spirits and genii, applauded the speech of Bhagavat.
This is the Mahāyāna-sūtra called Sukhāvatī-vyūha.
‘A very difficult work has been done by Śākyamuni, the sovereign of the Śākyas. Having obtained the transcendent true knowledge in this world Saha, he taught the Law which all the world is reluctant to accept, during this corruption of the present kalpa, during this corruption of mankind, during this corruption of belief, during this corruption of life, during this corruption of passions.
‘This is even for me, O Śāriputra, an extremely difficult work that, having obtained the transcendent true knowledge in this world Saha, I taught the Law which all the world is reluctant to accept, during this corruption of mankind, of belief, of passion, of life, and of this present kalpa.’
Thus spoke Bhagavat joyful in his mind. And the honourable Śāriputra, and the Bhikshus and Bodhisattvas, and the whole world with the gods, men, evil spirits and genii, applauded the speech of Bhagavat.
This is the Mahāyāna-sūtra called Sukhāvatī-vyūha.