極樂願文

Boundless merit of Giving is most rare

Each thought of it can lead one far from every calamity

Beholding all Sentient Beings as orphaned children

Before the Blessed One of Infinite Life I bow in homage

Next I bow in homage to the Buddha Śākyamuni

Praising and extolling his excellent deeds

Seeking birth in Sukhāvatī, this Text of Vows

Out of Compassion I therefore strive

Good and evil of every kind, by Ignorance veiled

The lifespan of Gods and Humans is not firm or lasting

Bound by the cords of love upon the path of Saṃsāra

Sinking and floundering within the three seas of poison

Sickness, old age, and all such things — how dreadful indeed

Resolutely determined to escape the sea of birth and death

Not coveting the various Desires that bring one to ruin

With no refuge to lean upon, I seek deliverance

With all the sincerity of my heart I offer up this vow

Deliver us, your children: O Amitābha Buddha

Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, and all the Bodhisattvas

Together with your retinue encircling round about

Because we, your children, through countless kalpas

Have made our Vows and Aspirations, never once forgetting

Swift as a bird spreading wide its wings

In Compassion and pity, descend to this Place of the Way.

Reverently I aspire: that I and all sentient beings may be complete in Merit and Wisdom, the two provisions. When life comes to its end, may we draw near and behold the Buddha Amitābha, the two Bodhisattvas Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta, together with their retinue encircling round about, before and behind. At that time, toward the Buddha and his retinue may there arise a reverent and wholehearted devotion; may we not suffer the agony of death, nor be parted from the mind of sincere reverence; and beholding that Realm, may our recollection be unbroken.

May the Eight Great Sons of the Buddha, employing their various Spiritual Transformations, come to point out the path, to guide and lead us back to Sukhāvatī. By this may we return to the Sublime and Excellent realm of the Buddha, born within a precious lotus flower, giving rise to the wholesome root of the Mahāyāna Lineage-Nature.

At the very moment of birth there, may all the Dharmas — Total Retention (Dhāraṇī), Meditative Concentration (Dhyāna), the Mind of the Way that is without conditioned attachment, Inexhaustible Eloquence, and all the sublime and excellent merits — be present and complete. Relying upon the Teacher Amitābha Buddha together with all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions, all rejoicing, may we receive the various Mahāyāna Dharmas, and within but a single instant come to a thorough understanding of the meaning of all the Dharmas. And further, relying upon unobstructed Spiritual Transformation, may we reach throughout all the Buddha-lands and widely practice the various Bodhisattva Conducts. May this aspiration be fulfilled.

Once born within the Buddha-land, may there arise a heart of valiant Compassion, and employing unobstructed Spiritual Transformation, may we go to the various defiled and impure Realms for the sake of sentient beings, teaching and transforming them according to their Causes and Conditions. May all of them praise and dwell securely within the pure Way of all the Buddhas, performing rare and wondrous deeds soon brought to completion, benefiting boundless sentient beings, and causing all swiftly to attain the Fruit of Buddhahood.

I aspire that when I come to the end of my life

Amitābha and his retinue

Will appear clearly before my eyes

Causing me to be steadfast in faith

So that in the body of the Intermediate State (Antarābhava)

The Sons of the Buddha will lead the way

To birth within the Pure Land

To return again and rescue Sentient Beings

Should I not yet attain birth into that supreme and excellent Realm above, then I aspire and beg that, life after life and kalpa after kalpa, I may ever encounter the Buddha-Dharma. Within the various Scriptures may I fully realize Hearing, Reflecting, and Cultivating (Śruta, Cintā, Bhāvanā). May I attain a pure body. Having attained this body, may I never be parted from the seven Virtues of adornment, and at all times and in all places may I ever recall and remember my former lives. May I attain the Knowledge of Past Abodes (Pūrvanivāsa-jñāna).

Life after life and kalpa after kalpa, beholding the Three Existences, may there arise a mind of weariness and renunciation. Toward the merit of Liberation, may there arise a mind of glad delight, taking joy in the Buddha's Way. May I attain the going-forth into homelessness (renunciation). When I have gone forth, may my mind not be defiled or attached amid the various evil places; may I keep the Precepts and Prohibitions in full, and attain the Great Bodhi. May I be like the Great Bhikṣu of the Buddha Akṣobhya.

And further, life after life and kalpa after kalpa, toward the Dharmas pure and impure, may their meaning and principle all be clear, that I may swiftly attain the Fruit of the Way. Concerning the words and meaning of all the Dharmas, may I keep them and never lose the various forms of Total Retention (Dhāraṇī). May this be complete in every part. Remembering all the Dharmas without forgetting, amid all sufferings and at all times, may I attain pure and unobstructed Eloquence.

And further, life after life and kalpa after kalpa, the various gateways of Concentration such as the Śūraṅgama... Patient Endurance (Kṣānti), and on up to the Five Eyes and the six realms of spiritual penetration (the six superknowledges). May I attain them all.

And further, life after life and kalpa after kalpa, may I have within myself the strength clearly to distinguish the various kinds of Good and Evil. May I attain a vast and great Wisdom.

Toward the Dharmas of Defilement and Purity, may their profound meaning and principle all be thoroughly understood without confusion. May I attain the Wisdom of Keen Clarity.

If there be anything not yet clear, not yet understood, giving rise to a mind of doubt — the very moment such a mind arises, may it be utterly destroyed without remainder. May the Wisdom of Swift Understanding be made complete.

Seeing those who lack the strength to analyze the meaning and principle of the Wondrous Dharma — may I attain the most Profound Wisdom.

In sum, presenting all the faults concerning Wisdom and the meaning and principle of literary passages that are hard to understand, may I set them all forth and dissect them clearly, and from the skillful means of Right Knowledge cultivate the Bodhisattva Conduct and swiftly reach the other shore. May I be like the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī.

Thus, for the sake of vast and great benefit, may I swiftly attain the various profound Wisdoms, upholding them according to conditions, subduing the various Wrong Views so that the Wise rejoice; and hearing the Buddha expound the Dharma, may I clearly explain and set it forth. May I possess the Wisdom that Reaches the Other Shore (Pāramitā).

And further, life after life and kalpa after kalpa, should there arise — for the sake of valuing one's own benefit — a mind of backsliding regarding the great Conducts of the Bodhisattva, may all such be cut off. With a valiant mind, benefiting others so that all reach the other shore, according to skillful means, upon the Way of Bodhi may I carry out the Bodhisattva Conduct to the very end. May I be like the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Sovereign Observer).

And further, life after life and kalpa after kalpa, cultivating that which benefits both self and others, may I drive out the evil Māras and heterodox paths, and at all times, according to skillful means and strength, cultivate the Bodhisattva Conduct to its utter completion. May I be like the Lord of Secrets, the Bodhisattva Vajrapāṇi.

And further, life after life and kalpa after kalpa, ever vigorous and diligent, may I fully carry out all the subtle and wondrous Conducts of the Bodhisattva who has just given rise to the Mind, without a single moment's rest. From that Conduct of Great Vigor, may I swiftly attain Bodhi. May I be like the Peerless Śākya-King Buddha.

And further, life after life and kalpa after kalpa, removing all interruption during cultivation — when body and mind are sick, then by reciting the name of the Buddha may the errors of Body, Speech, and Mind be removed. May I be like the Medicine Master, Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathāgata (Bhaiṣajyaguru Vaiḍūryaprabha).

And further, life after life and kalpa after kalpa, if I wish for long life, by reciting the name of the Buddha may untimely death be removed and destroyed. May I be like the Tathāgata of Infinite Life (Amitāyus).

If a Hindrance to Lifespan (an obstacle to one's life) should arise, then may I behold the Savior of Infinite Life who, employing the four kinds of action, manifests a body according to that action (born of egg, of womb, of moisture, of transformation) to subdue and tame, and may I behold his body. May the hindrances to lifespan all be utterly destroyed and cleansed away.

When the manifested body comes to liberate and transform, then knowing that life is long, may I commit no further evil karma. With wholehearted sincerity, relying on this Power, may I be born into the various realms. May I never be parted from the Buddha of Infinite Life, and may I draw near to the various Good Spiritual Friends (Kalyāṇamitra).

Again I aspire that, life after life and kalpa after kalpa, I may be complete in the various roots of merit that are World-Transcending, and complete in the root-nature of the Mahāyāna. May the Good Spiritual Friend, the Teacher, rejoice and uphold and protect me. When upheld and protected, before the Good Spiritual Friend, the Teacher, may there arise a faith firm and steadfast that does not regress. May I attain this joy.

Again, the Good Spiritual Friend, the Teacher, instructs and admonishes; may I remember all his instructions in full, and according to them cultivate. May I attain ultimate fulfillment even within a single instant, and may I never be commanded about by evil companions.

And further, life after life and kalpa after kalpa, deeply believing in cause and effect, and with a mind of renunciation, may I clearly see and know the Mind of Bodhi. Without hatred or jealousy. May it ever be without interruption.

Wherever I may be born, may I cultivate the wholesome roots through Body, Speech, and Mind, all for the benefit of others. May I accomplish the Pure Bodhi.

The Fruit of Buddhahood alone is supreme

And though at present I have not yet attained it

I vow to keep my body pure that I may devote myself to cultivation

Life after life and kalpa after kalpa, may I go forth into homelessness

Eloquence, Meditative Concentration, and the various Spiritual Penetrations

Upholding the boundless merits

May I swiftly attain a great and limitless Wisdom

And quickly realize the ultimate Bodhi

When the sign of a short lifespan appears before my eyes

May Amitābha Buddha, manifesting his body according to my karma

Destroy and remove all karma of unjust and untimely death

And swiftly perfect the Nature of Deathlessness (the Undying Nature)

Again I aspire, life after life, to the Buddha of Infinite Life

To draw near to and hold fast to the Mahāyāna Teacher

The wondrous Meanings the Buddha has set forth

May I diligently cultivate, never slothful or remiss

Forsaking sentient beings for the sake of one's own benefit

And the discriminating intentions — may such minds never arise

For the Conduct of benefiting others, may I never weary or tire

And may I employ both Skillful Means and Wisdom together

Now I uphold the recitation and call upon the Name

Dissolving away sins and hindrances and attaining the Fruit of the Way

I pray that here this may become a Pure Land

And following the Mahāyāna, may I cultivate the various Dharma-Gates

The Sons of the Buddha who deliver and liberate have led the way

That I may carry out the Bodhisattva Conduct for the sake of benefit

May all that I seek and long for be made complete

And the moment a thought arises, may it be accomplished

Amitābha, Śākyamuni, and Maitreya

Mañjuśrī, the Lord of Secrets, and Avalokiteśvara

Together with the retinue of all the Buddhas

May these Vows be swiftly brought to fullness and completion.

THE TEXT OF VOWS FOR SUKHĀVATĪ (The End)