大乘悲分陀利經

Chapter 6: KING LY TRANH RECEIVES A PREDICTION

Good man, at that time the Tathagata Bao Tang, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Fully Awakened One, reflected: “He has guided and transformed hundreds of millions of sentient beings, enabling them, through the fruit of unsurpassed bodhi, to abide on the stage of non-retrogression. I should now reveal the Buddha lands and bestow predictions upon them.”

Thereupon, the Blessed One entered a samadhi called Not Forgetting the Bodhi Mind and immediately smiled. At once, wondrous light shone throughout immeasurable and boundless Buddha lands, enabling King Ly Tranh and hundreds of millions of other sentient beings to see clearly the magnificence of those Buddha lands.

At that time, in the innumerable Buddha lands throughout the ten directions, the great bodhisattvas saw that light and, through the Buddha’s spiritual might, came to this world to attend upon, make offerings to, and draw near the Blessed One and the Sangha of bhiksus. They each employed the various spiritual powers of bodhisattvas to make offerings to the Blessed One, reverently bowed at his feet, and then withdrew to sit to one side, so that they might hear the Buddha bestow predictions in accordance with the original vows of the bodhisattvas.

Good man, at that time the great royal preceptor, the brahmin Hai Te, said to King Ly Tranh:

“Great King, you should first choose the magnificent Buddha land you desire!”

Good man, King Ly Tranh followed the counsel of the royal preceptor Hai Te. Facing the Tathagata Bao Tang, he joined his palms and addressed the Buddha:

“Blessed One, I seek the fruit of bodhi. For three months, I have offered the Blessed One and the Sangha of bhiksus all the necessities of life. I now dedicate these roots of virtue to unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening. I do not wish to dwell in this evil world of the five turbidities. For the past seven years, I have contemplated the magnificence of a Buddha land! Blessed One, may the Buddha land in which I attain the fruit of unsurpassed bodhi have no hell beings, hungry ghosts, or animals. I vow that when those in that land die, they will never fall into the three evil destinies; the bodily appearance of them all will be the color of pure gold, with no difference between humans and devas.

“I vow that all sentient beings in that land will themselves know their former lives throughout hundreds of millions of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of past kalpas. I vow that all sentient beings in that land will possess the divine eye and see hundreds of millions of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of other worlds, in which Buddhas presently abiding in the world are teaching the Dharma. All sentient beings in that land will also possess the divine ear, enabling them to hear the teachings proclaimed by hundreds of millions of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of Buddhas presently abiding in the world.

I also vow that all sentient beings in that land will fully possess the knowledge of others’ minds, enabling them to know the thoughts and actions of sentient beings throughout many hundreds of millions of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of Buddha lands. May all sentient beings in that world fully possess the spiritual power of unhindered travel, so that in the space of a single thought they can reach hundreds of millions of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of Buddha lands.

I further vow that all sentient beings in that world will be free from self and possessions of self, with nothing created or performed, not even a self.

“I vow that all sentient beings in that land will attain non-retrogression from the fruit of unsurpassed bodhi. I vow that all sentient beings in that land will be born by transformation. May there be no women in that land, and may the lifespans of sentient beings be immeasurable, except for those who choose otherwise according to their vows. May the sentient beings in that land not even know the expression ‘unwholesome.’

“In that Buddha land there will be no impurity whatsoever, and fragrance will pervade everywhere, surpassing even celestial fragrances. I vow that all sentient beings in that land will fully possess the thirty-two marks of a Great Man.

“I vow that all sentient beings in that land will attain the state of being only one birth away from Buddhahood, except for those who choose otherwise according to their vows. May all sentient beings in that land, within the brief span of a meal and relying upon the Buddha’s majestic power, travel to immeasurable Buddha lands, draw near and make offerings to innumerable Buddhas presently abiding in the world, and accomplish whatever deeds they desire by employing the various miraculous transformations of bodhisattvas to make offerings to those Buddhas; then, within that same mealtime, may they return to their own land.

All sentient beings in this land will be able to expound the teachings of the Buddhas. May all those sentient beings possess strength equal to Narayana’s. May immeasurable sentient beings be able to know thoroughly the magnificent forms and features of that Buddha land.

That magnificence will not be something discernible even by the divine eye. I vow that the sentient beings in that land will swiftly attain innumerable forms of unobstructed eloquence. I vow that every bodhi tree will be one thousand yojanas tall.

I vow that the Buddha land will always be filled with pure light shining everywhere, within which the magnificence of innumerable Buddha lands will appear. I vow that sentient beings born in that land will always fully maintain pure conduct until they attain the fruit of awakening. May all sentient beings in that land always be revered by devas and humans; until they realize bodhi, their faculties will always not be fully purified.

May the sentient beings born in that land also attain the wondrous bliss of the noble ones, surpassing even that of the devas. I vow that roots of virtue will be gathered in that land. I vow that all sentient beings in that land will naturally be clothed in kasayas from the moment they are born.

I vow that sentient beings in that land will, immediately upon birth, be able to discern clearly the various samadhi teachings. Through these samadhis, they will travel to innumerable Buddha lands to draw near, make offerings to, and pay homage to the Blessed Ones; until they attain perfect awakening, they will always behold those samadhi teachings. May the bodhisattvas born in that land, in accordance with their individual vows, each behold magnificent Buddha lands appearing within the jeweled trees.

“I vow that sentient beings in that land will, immediately upon birth, attain the samadhi called Universal Arrival. Through this samadhi, they will see innumerable Buddha lands throughout the ten directions and the Buddhas presently abiding therein; until they attain the fruit of bodhi, they will remain inseparable from that samadhi. May sentient beings born in that land also possess garments, palaces, jeweled necklaces, and innumerable other adornments, whose forms and colors resemble those of the Heaven of Freely Enjoying Manifestations by Others.

May there be no earth, stones, or black mountains in that land, nor any Iron Encircling Mountains, Great Iron Encircling Mountains, Mount Sumeru, or great oceans. I vow that in that land there will be no sounds of the afflictive hindrances; no sounds from the realms of hell beings, hungry ghosts, or animals; no sounds concerning adversities, suffering, unhappiness, or neither suffering nor happiness. I now aspire to attain such a Buddha land.

“Blessed One, while practicing as a bodhisattva, I will always undertake such difficult practices and use those deeds to adorn the Buddha land. Blessed One, this is my conduct in the way of a Great Man; only thereafter will I attain unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening.”

May my bodhi tree, when I attain perfect enlightenment, be ten thousand yojanas high. Seated beneath that tree, may I arouse the resolve and, in the space of a single thought, realize the fruit of unsurpassed enlightenment. May my light be immeasurable, illuminating billions of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of Buddha lands.

May my lifespan extend for innumerable billions of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of kalpas, beyond anyone’s ability to calculate except one endowed with omniscience. May my Sangha of bodhisattvas be innumerable, and may the shravakas and pratyekabuddhas be too numerous to count except by one endowed with omniscience. When I attain Buddhahood, may the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, throughout immeasurable and innumerable other Buddha lands extol and praise me.

When I attain bodhi, may any beings in innumerable asamkhyas of other Buddha lands who hear my name, cultivate roots of goodness, and dedicate them toward my land all, after the end of their lives, be born in my land, except those who have committed an offense entailing immediate retribution, reviled the noble ones, or destroyed the true Dharma. When I attain enlightenment, may beings in innumerable other Buddha lands who arouse the resolve for bodhi, aspire to be born in my land, and have dedicated their roots of goodness accordingly behold me, surrounded by an innumerable assembly of noble ones, appearing before them as they approach death.

Upon seeing us, may they experience supreme joy and be freed from all hindrances; and after the end of their lives, may they be born in my land. The bodhisattvas in that realm shall, according to their aspirations, hear whatever Dharma teachings they have not yet heard. When I attain bodhi, may all bodhisattvas in innumerable Buddha lands who hear my name attain non-retrogression from unsurpassed, complete and perfect enlightenment and realize the first, second, and third Dharma patience.

In accordance with their aspirations, may they immediately attain samadhis, patience, and dharanis.

After I enter nirvana, may bodhisattvas in innumerable Buddha lands, throughout innumerable kalpas, upon hearing my name, experience supreme joy, reverently bow to me, and extol and praise me as unprecedented, saying: ‘How many great deeds of a Buddha that Buddha performed while still a bodhisattva before attaining unsurpassed, complete and perfect enlightenment!’ Having experienced such joy, may those bodhisattvas attain the first, second, and third Dharma patience and, in accordance with their aspirations, immediately attain samadhis, patience, and dharanis. Until they realize bodhi, may they never become separated from these qualities.

When I attain bodhi, may any women in innumerable Buddha lands who hear my name experience great joy and arouse the resolve to seek unsurpassed perfect enlightenment; and until they attain enlightenment, may they never again assume a female body. After I enter nirvana, may any women in innumerable Buddha lands who hear my name experience supreme joy and immediately dedicate their merit toward unsurpassed, complete and perfect enlightenment; and until they attain enlightenment, may they never again assume a female body.

O Blessed One, I aspire to attain such a Buddha land, inhabited by beings whose minds are so pure! In such a Buddha land, I shall attain unsurpassed, complete and perfect enlightenment.

Good man, at that time the Tathagata Ratnagarbha, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened, said to King Aranemin:

‘Excellent! Excellent! Great King, your aspiration is exceedingly profound!

You wish to receive such a pure Buddha land, inhabited by beings whose minds and intentions are pure. Great King, look toward the west, beyond billions of hundreds of thousands of Buddha lands. There is a world called Indra Free from Dust.

The Buddha there is named Tathagata Indra Illumination Sovereign King, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened. He presently abides in the world, teaching the Dharma of the One Vehicle exclusively for bodhisattvas. In that Buddha’s land there are no shravakas or pratyekabuddhas; even those terms do not exist there.

He does not teach the Dharma of the shravakas, but teaches only the Dharma of the Mahayana. All beings in that land are born by transformation, and thus even the term “woman” does not exist there. That Buddha land possesses all the merits and virtues for which you have aspired.

You shall receive an immeasurably adorned Buddha land and gather, subdue, and guide immeasurable beings whose minds and intentions are so pure. Therefore, Great King, your name shall be Immeasurable Purity. After one minor kalpa, that Tathagata Indra Illumination Sovereign King, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened, will enter nirvana.

That Buddha’s true Dharma will remain in the world for ten minor kalpas. Sixty minor kalpas after the true Dharma has disappeared, that world will be called Dirghaprabha, and the Buddha there will be named Tathagata King of Inconceivable Mental Virtue, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened. The adornments of the Buddha land in the world Indra Free from Dust of Tathagata Indra Illumination Sovereign King and the adornments of the Buddha land in the world Dirghaprabha of Tathagata King of Inconceivable Mental Virtue will be entirely identical.

That Tathagata King of Inconceivable Mental Virtue will live for sixty minor kalpas. After that Buddha enters nirvana, the true Dharma will remain in the world for sixteen minor kalpas. One thousand minor kalpas after the true Dharma has disappeared, the world will be called Joyless, and the Buddha there will be named Tathagata Jewel Radiant Light, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened. (Here it is stated in summary:) His lifespan and the adornments of his world will also be as described above.

The true Dharma will remain in the world... After the true Dharma has disappeared, that world will be called Sala, and the Buddha there will be named Tathagata Sovereign Radiance of the Jewel Banner, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened. He will appear in the world with an adorned Buddha land...

That Buddha will abide in the world and teach the Dharma for thirty-five minor kalpas. After the Buddha enters nirvana, the true Dharma will remain in the world for seven minor kalpas. After the true Dharma has disappeared—to state it briefly as above—I have seen immeasurable and innumerable Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, attain Buddhahood and enter nirvana in that world, yet that world has never come into being or perished.

Great Being Immeasurable Purity, in a future age, after one Ganges-sands asamkhya of kalpas has passed, at the beginning of the second Ganges-sands asamkhya of kalpas, that world will be called Sukhavati. Immeasurable Purity, in that world you will attain unsurpassed, complete and perfect enlightenment under the name Amitabha Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Awakened.’

The king said to the Buddha:

‘O Blessed One, before I attain unsurpassed bodhi, in what lands are the great bodhisattvas who will dwell in that Buddha land presently abiding?’

The Buddha replied:

“O Great Being Immeasurable Purity, those great bodhisattvas have come here from immeasurable, innumerable asamkhya worlds throughout the ten directions to attend upon and reverently draw near to me, and they are now seated listening to the Dharma! In the past, all the Buddhas bestowed upon them predictions of unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. The present Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, have likewise bestowed upon these good men predictions of unsurpassed bodhi.

In those Buddha lands, they will attain unsurpassed perfect enlightenment before others. O Great Being Immeasurable Purity, each of these great bodhisattvas has planted roots of goodness and cultivated wisdom in countless kotis of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of Buddha lands. O Great Being Immeasurable Purity, those good men will attain Buddhahood before others in those Buddha lands.”

The king said:

“World-Honored One, the brahmin Samudrarenu has exhorted me and my retinue to aspire to unsurpassed bodhi. When will he attain bodhi?”

The Buddha replied:

“That great brahmin is endowed with a mind of great compassion. Great King, in a future life you yourself will hear his lion’s roar.”

The king said:

“As the World-Honored One has bestowed a prediction upon me, if my aspiration is fulfilled exactly as foretold, then, when I prostrate myself with all five limbs upon the ground and bow at the feet of the World-Honored One, may worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges tremble, and may the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, presently dwelling in those worlds likewise bestow predictions upon me.”

Good man, when King Immeasurable Purity bowed at the feet of the Tathagata Ratnagarbha, the moment his head and face touched the ground, Buddha lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges immediately trembled and shook. Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges then bestowed predictions upon the king, saying together:

“In the Buddha land called Sandhirana, during the kalpa called Dharani, where the human lifespan is eighty thousand years, a Buddha named Tathagata Ratnagarbha, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, has appeared in the world to liberate beings. There is a wheel-turning king named Immeasurable Purity who rules the four continents. In the presence of the Tathagata Ratnagarbha, he has cultivated and accumulated roots of merit.

In a future life, after asamkhya kalpas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges have passed and the second period of asamkhya kalpas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges has begun, in a world called Bliss, King Immeasurable Purity will attain Buddhahood and be named Amitabha Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. His Buddha-light will shine throughout worlds in the ten directions as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.” The Buddhas praised him:

“Radiant Sage, now arise;

The Buddhas of the ten directions have bestowed predictions upon you.

Lands and mountains numerous as the sands of the Ganges all tremble;

You shall become the Honored One of gods and humans.”

Good man, King Immeasurable Purity was then filled with joy and delight. He arose, withdrew, and sat to one side to hear the Buddha teach the Dharma.

CHAPTER 7: PREDICTIONS BESTOWED UPON THREE PRINCES

Good man, at that time the brahmin Samudrarenu spoke to Animesha, the first prince of King Immeasurable Purity:

(The account is abbreviated as above.) Prince Animesha said:

“I have contemplated the evil realms, where sentient beings endure many grievous and anguishing sufferings. I have also contemplated the heavenly realms, where, because the minds of sentient beings are defiled and impure, many must fall into the evil destinies. I have seen all sentient beings, separated from good spiritual friends and following unlawful paths, dwelling in darkness, their roots of goodness exhausted and obscured by wrong views, suffering upon false paths.”

The prince further said to the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, I shall use a great voice to exhort sentient beings to dedicate their roots of goodness to unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. While I practice the bodhisattva conduct, if any sentient beings are oppressed by suffering and affliction, beset by fears, impoverished in the teachings, dwelling in darkness without refuge, without a lamp, without anyone to rescue them, without anywhere to turn or any destination to seek, and if they cause themselves to recollect me and invoke my name, I shall hear their voices with the divine ear and find them with the divine eye. If I cannot free those sentient beings from their suffering and affliction, I shall never attain unsurpassed bodhi.

“World-Honored One, for the sake of sentient beings, I vow to practice the bodhisattva conduct for a long time. My intention is that this aspiration be fulfilled as completely as the Great King’s present aspiration. After asamkhya kalpas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges have passed, at the beginning of the second period of kalpas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, in the world of Bliss, my royal father will attain unsurpassed perfect enlightenment with the name Amitabha Tathagata.

His Buddha land will be pure, and sentient beings whose minds are pure will accordingly perform Buddha-work there. When the Tathagata Amitabha, after performing Buddha-work for immeasurable kalpas, has completed it and entered nirvana without remainder, then for as long as his true Dharma remains in the world, throughout that period I shall practice the bodhisattva conduct and perform countless Buddha-works. At the beginning of the night when the true Dharma of the Tathagata Amitabha disappears, I shall, at the end of that very night, attain unsurpassed perfect enlightenment.

I beseech the World-Honored One to bestow upon me a prediction of that supreme perfect enlightenment. Likewise, with my voice I shall address the World-Honored Buddhas presently dwelling in worlds throughout the ten directions as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, beseeching them to bestow upon me predictions of supreme bodhi.”

Good man, the Tathagata Ratnagarbha then bestowed a prediction upon Prince Animesha and said: “Because you contemplated the evil realms, contemplated the heavenly realms, and contemplated the sufferings of sentient beings, compassion arose within you, seeking to free them from all suffering and entirely eliminate every kind of fetter, thereby enabling them to attain.

“Good man, for this reason your name shall be Avalokitesvara. O Great Being Avalokitesvara, you shall liberate many kotis of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of sentient beings from suffering. During the time when you practice the bodhisattva conduct, you shall perform countless Buddha-works.

More than twice as many asamkhya kalpas as the sands of the Ganges after the Tathagata Amitabha enters nirvana, at the beginning of the night when the true Dharma of the Tathagata Amitabha has disappeared, the world of Bliss shall be named Treasury of All Jewels. That adorned land shall endure for immeasurable, innumerable kalpas and shall surpass even the land of Bliss. Good man, at the end of that very night, beneath a bodhi tree adorned with immeasurable jewels, you shall sit upon the vajra seat and attain unsurpassed perfect enlightenment.

You shall be named Tathagata King of Virtue, Treasury of Universal Supreme Radiance, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. Your lifespan shall be ninety-six kotis of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of kalpas. After you enter nirvana, your true Dharma shall remain in the world for sixty-two kotis of kalpas.”

The Great Being Avalokitesvara said:

“World-Honored One, if my aspiration is fulfilled completely in this way, then, when I bow at the feet of the World-Honored One, may all the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, presently dwelling in worlds throughout the ten directions as numerous as the sands of the Ganges bestow predictions upon me; may the great earth in worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges tremble; may all mountains, rivers, cliffs, trees, and forests produce five kinds of music; and may the minds of all sentient beings entirely abandon sensual desire.”

The great being Avalokitesvara had no sooner prostrated himself with all five limbs touching the ground and bowed at the feet of Treasure-Treasury Tathagata than, just as foretold, the great earth throughout Buddha realms as numerous as the sands of the Ganges trembled, and all the Buddha-Tathagatas bestowed predictions upon the bodhisattva... (in brief, as stated above). All mountains and rivers, cliffs and rocks, trees and forests produced five kinds of music, and the minds of all sentient beings became free from sensual desire. The Buddha spoke this verse:

He raised the compassionate voice, rich in merit;

The Buddhas of the ten directions together bestowed predictions.

The great earth throughout the worlds trembled;

You shall become a Buddha and deliver myriad beings.

Good man, at that time the Brahmin royal preceptor Samudrareṇu said to the second prince, Nimaka:

“Prince, you should rejoice in this great act of giving. Moreover, you have performed wholesome deeds; for the sake of all sentient beings, you should arouse the aspiration to seek unsurpassed, perfect and complete enlightenment and dedicate these merits toward omniscience.”

Good man, Prince Nimaka then immediately addressed the Buddha:

“I dedicate toward unsurpassed, perfect and complete enlightenment all the merit arising from my offerings to the Blessed One and the innumerable Sangha of bhikshus, together with my rejoicing in those meritorious deeds and all the wholesome karma I previously created through body, speech, and mind. Yet I shall never consent to attain enlightenment in a defiled Buddha realm. The great being Avalokitesvara will sit beneath a bodhi tree adorned with immeasurable jewels in the world called Collection of All Jewels and attain supreme enlightenment, bearing the name Tathagata King of Accumulated Merit, Universally Reaching Honored Radiance.

I shall be the first to entreat that Buddha to teach the Dharma, and for as long as that Tathagata remains in the world proclaiming the true Dharma, throughout that time I vow to devote myself to practicing the bodhisattva conduct. After that Tathagata enters nirvana, and after his true Dharma has remained in the world for a long time and then also comes to an end, I in turn shall attain unsurpassed, perfect and complete enlightenment.

My Buddha realm shall be adorned in the same way, and I shall perform Buddha deeds in precisely the same manner. After I enter nirvana, my true Dharma shall also remain in the world for nearly the same length of time. I wish every adornment of my land to be just like that of Tathagata King of Accumulated Merit, Universally Reaching Honored Radiance.”

Treasure-Treasury Buddha said:

“Good man, you have chosen a great domain, and you shall obtain a domain according to your wish. Good man, in that Buddha realm you shall attain supreme enlightenment, bearing the name Tathagata King of Accumulated Merit, Maṇi of Excellent Peace and Security. Good man, because you have undertaken a great domain, your name shall be Mahāsthāmaprāpta.”

Prince Nimaka said to the Buddha:

“Blessed One, if my aspiration is indeed to be perfectly fulfilled in this way, then when I prostrate myself with all five limbs touching the ground and bow at the feet of the Blessed One, the Buddha-Blessed Ones throughout the ten directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, shall also bestow predictions upon me, and sumanā flowers shall rain down from the heavens.”

Good man, indeed, when the great being Mahāsthāmaprāpta prostrated himself with all five limbs touching the ground and bowed at the feet of Treasure-Treasury Tathagata, Buddha-Blessed Ones as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, throughout worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges in all the ten directions, bestowed predictions upon Bodhisattva Mahāsthāmaprāpta. The great earth trembled, and sumanā flowers rained down from the heavens. The Buddha spoke this verse:

You raised steadfast power and amassed abundant merit;

The Buddhas of the ten directions all bestowed predictions.

The great earth trembled as celestial flowers rained down;

You shall indeed be the lord of gods and humans.

Good man, at that time the Brahmin Samudrareṇu spoke to the third prince, whose name was Deva Assembly: ... (in brief, as stated above).

Prince Deva Assembly joined his palms and addressed Treasure-Treasury Tathagata:

—I dedicate all the merit arising from offerings made to the Blessed One and the Bhikshu Sangha, together with all the wholesome deeds of my own body, speech, and mind and my rejoicing in this meritorious karma, toward the attainment of unsurpassed bodhi. Yet I shall never attain unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment in a defiled Buddha-land, nor do I wish to attain such bodhi swiftly. While practicing the bodhisattva conduct, what I shall attain is the vision of the Buddha-Blessed Ones in immeasurable, boundless worlds throughout the ten directions.

My first work of guiding beings toward bodhi shall be to encourage them to arouse the aspiration for bodhi and cause them to abide in that aspiration... and then to guide them in cultivating the paramitas and cause them to abide therein. During the time when I practice the bodhisattva conduct, with the divine eye I shall see in each direction Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, and the Buddha-Blessed Ones in Buddha-lands as numerous as motes of dust teaching the Dharma; this shall be my work of guiding beings toward bodhi.

I shall practice the bodhisattva conduct in this way and perform the work of a Buddha, thereby purifying the bodies and minds of sentient beings. Whoever is born in my Buddha-land shall be like a divine child of the Brahma heaven. My Buddha-land shall also be adorned and pure like the Brahma heaven.

A single Buddha-land of mine shall be as vast as Ganges-sands of great trichiliocosms. Surrounding that Buddha-land shall be walls composed of immeasurable hundreds of thousands of kinds of precious substances. Its ornamental furnishings shall rise as high as the Akanishtha heaven.

The ground of that Buddha-land shall be made entirely of lapis lazuli, soft, smooth, and free from impurities such as dust, earth, gravel, and stones. There shall not even be the designation “woman” there. The beings of that land shall be born by transformation.

Although they may eat by chewing and swallowing, they shall all subsist upon the food of Dharma, the food of joy, and the food of samadhi. In that Buddha-land there shall likewise be no designation for shravakas or pratyekabuddhas; it shall be filled everywhere solely with bodhisattvas, who shall not be disturbed by any afflictions and shall all cultivate and observe the pure conduct. May all the bodhisattvas in that land, upon taking birth, already be clothed in the Dharma robes of shramanas.

As soon as they are born, whenever they think of food and drink, immeasurable varieties of food shall immediately appear, filling the precious alms bowls in their right hands. When this occurs, they shall think: “We should not eat this food. We must take it to other worlds as offerings to the Buddhas presently abiding there and to their shravakas, and as alms for the poor.

The suffering hungry ghosts are constantly scorched by hunger and thirst; we should also go to them and bring them food for their relief. We ourselves should abide solely upon the food of joy.” As soon as those bodhisattvas give rise to this thought, they shall attain the Samadhi of Inconceivable Deportment. Through that samadhi they shall remain unattached and gain sovereign mastery over their bodily powers, enabling them to go throughout the ten directions and make offerings to the Buddha-Blessed Ones presently abiding in immeasurable and innumerable other Buddha-lands and to their shravakas.

They shall also give alms to sentient beings and hungry ghosts and then teach them the Dharma. Having completed these deeds, they shall return to their native land within the brief span of a single meal. They shall likewise take clothing, jewels, and other necessities as offerings to the Buddhas and as gifts even to the hungry ghosts, just as before, and only afterward shall they use them themselves.

May that Buddha-land be free from the eight difficulties and from every sound concerning what is unwholesome. Nor shall there be any sound concerning suffering, or any sound concerning receiving precepts, violating precepts, or repentance. May my Buddha-land be adorned and arrayed with immeasurable hundreds of thousands of kinds of jewels, such as precious mani gems, constantly displaying colors and forms never before seen or heard of in the worlds of the ten directions.

They shall be so rare and marvelous that even if one merely recounted their names for hundreds of millions of years, one could not exhaust them. If a bodhisattva wishes to see a golden Buddha-land, that bodhisattva shall immediately see gold. If another wishes to see a silver Buddha-land, that bodhisattva shall immediately see silver, yet the golden land shall not be altered... (the principal points are stated here in brief).

If any wish to see Buddha-lands made of other precious substances—such as crystal, lapis lazuli, agate, red pearls, or mother-of-pearl—they shall see them all. Or if bodhisattvas wish to see Buddha-lands made of agarwood, Mật-đa-ma-la-bạt, seashore sandalwood, or ox-head sandalwood, they shall immediately see them; whatever they wish for shall be fulfilled according to their intent. Though the things that individuals wish to behold differ, may all their aspirations be completely satisfied.

May my Buddha-land have neither sun nor moon. When bodhisattvas are born there, their bodies shall already possess radiance, and they shall emit light according to their wishes, capable of illuminating hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of Buddha-lands. May that Buddha-land have no designation of day or night, time being marked only by flowers opening and closing.

May my Buddha-land likewise be free from heat, cold, illness, aging, and death. Only when bodhisattvas are about to accomplish bodhi shall they proceed to the Tushita heaven of another world, and after the end of that life they shall become fully awakened ones. May there likewise be no one in that Buddha-land who passes away; only transformation Buddhas in space shall enter nirvana.

In that land, all necessities shall be supplied according to the wishes of the bodhisattvas. Throughout all the space surrounding my Buddha-land, may hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of strains of music constantly resound. That music shall emit no sounds of sensual desire, but only the sounds of the paramitas, the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, the bodhisattva Dharma treasury... so that the bodhisattvas may hear such music according to their wishes and delight.

O Blessed One, while I practice the bodhisattva conduct, among immeasurable, boundless, and innumerable Buddha-lands I shall behold hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of Buddha-lands adorned with innumerable jeweled necklaces, possessing such forms, such auspicious signs, such regions, such activities, and such aspirations. May all these qualities appear in my Buddha-land, with the sole exceptions of shravakas, pratyekabuddhas, and Buddha-lands afflicted by the five defilements.

Furthermore, may that land have no designations for hell beings, animals, or hungry ghosts. There shall likewise be no Mount Sumeru, Cakravada Mountains, Great Cakravada Mountains, or mountains of earth and stone; nor shall there be great oceans or any ordinary trees, but only precious trees surpassing even the precious trees of the heavens, growing densely everywhere. May my Buddha-land contain no other flowers, but only celestial mandarava flowers.

May there be no foul odors, but only subtle, wondrous fragrances pervading the entire land. All those born in that land shall be bodhisattvas bound to only one more birth, and thus no sentient being shall ever be reborn in another land, except to take birth in the Tushita heaven and attain unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment.

World-Honored One, while I practice the bodhisattva conduct, only after I have accomplished such conduct of a Great Being—thereby enabling me to abide in such an adorned Buddha-land among sentient beings of such purity of mind, where, life after life, there are presently great multitudes of bodhisattvas succeeding one another, and where there is not a single bodhisattva whom I have not guided and transformed, nor anyone whom I have not caused to abide in the paramitas with respect to the path of bodhi; and where those bodhisattvas who are born there have also previously been exhorted and guided by me toward the path of bodhi and established in the six paramitas;

and where all the sufferings of anyone born into that Buddha-land are completely extinguished—only then shall I attain such fulfillment.

World-Honored One, when, as a bodhisattva, I have accomplished such vows and conduct of a Great Being, only thereafter shall I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi in that Buddha-land. May the trunk of my bodhi tree have a circumference equal to ten thousand worlds of four continents, and may its branches and leaves overshadow ten trichiliocosms. May it be called the Wondrously Manifesting Jewel-Producing Tree.

May the light and fragrance of that bodhi tree pervade this entire Buddha-land. May my vajra seat beneath the bodhi tree be adorned with various precious treasures, extending equally in length and breadth across five worlds of four continents and rising forty-eight thousand yojanas high. May it be called the Universally Radiating Inexhaustible Light, Excellent Understanding, Wisdom, and Fragrance Seat.

Seated cross-legged beneath that bodhi tree, may I, within only a brief interval, accomplish unsurpassed complete and perfect enlightenment, and may I remain unchanged until my entry into nirvana, never departing from that seat. Without rising from the vajra seat beneath the bodhi tree, may I dispatch transformation Buddhas and bodhisattvas to innumerable Buddha-lands. Each transformation Buddha, within the brief time required for a single meal, shall constantly expound the Dharma to sentient beings and, within that same brief interval, exhort and guide innumerable sentient beings toward anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, causing them to abide in that enlightenment and attain non-retrogression.

The transformation bodhisattvas who travel about teaching shall likewise act in this way. When I attain bodhi, may my body appear throughout innumerable other worlds in the ten directions. If sentient beings behold the majestic adornments and marks of my body, may all those sentient beings in those worlds remain steadfast in anuttara-samyak-sambodhi until they attain unsurpassed bodhi and enter nirvana; and may they always encounter the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones.

May there be no one in that Buddha-land whose faculties are incomplete. May the bodhisattvas there always delight in beholding me; wherever they dwell, whether walking in meditation, sitting, or standing, may they all see me. As soon as those bodhisattvas bring the Buddha to mind, may they see me seated beneath the bodhi tree.

Having seen me, whatever remains unclear to them in the teaching shall naturally become revealed and understood; without my speaking even a single sentence of Dharma, may they be enabled to comprehend its meaning. May my lifespan be immeasurable, beyond the calculation of anyone except one endowed with omniscience. The lifespans of the bodhisattvas in that land shall also be immeasurable.

In this Buddha-land, when I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, I wish such splendid and majestic signs to become manifest. May all the bodhisattvas in my Buddha-land wear kasayas from the time of their birth until they enter nirvana. May none adorn their hair or wear secular clothing, so that their appearance does not differ from that of sramanas.

The Buddha said:

“Excellent! Excellent! Good man, you are indeed one who has penetrative understanding and discerning wisdom. Your vows are truly excellent, your aspiration vast, your majestic virtue exceptionally noble, and your wisdom exceedingly subtle and wondrous. Good man, for the sake of all sentient beings, you are able to arouse such a great, supreme, and wondrous vow and thereby choose an adorned Buddha-land. Good man, therefore your name shall be Manjusri.

“Great Being Manjusri, in the future, after two Ganges-sands asamkhya kalpas have passed, at the beginning of the third Ganges-sands asamkhya kalpas, there shall be in the southern direction a world named Pure and Free of Dusty Traces. This Saha world shall also belong to that world. That Buddha-land shall be adorned and purified precisely in accordance with your vows.

“Great Being Manjusri, in that Buddha-land you shall attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi and be called Universally Manifest Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One. The great assembly of bodhisattvas shall likewise all be pure. Everything shall be fully accomplished in accordance with your vows.

“While practicing the bodhisattva conduct, you planted roots of goodness throughout hundreds of millions of Buddha-lands. Great Being Manjusri, for the sake of sentient beings, you have administered excellent medicine that removes every affliction from the mind, completely extinguishes the fetters of afflicted consciousness, and increases roots of goodness.”

At that time, Great Being Manjusri addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, if my vows are to be perfectly fulfilled in this way, may all the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, who presently abide and teach the Dharma throughout immeasurable asamkhyas of worlds in the ten directions, bestow upon me a prediction of enlightenment. May immeasurable asamkhyas of Buddha-lands all quake. May all sentient beings be endowed with every wondrous bliss, just as bodhisattvas manifest wondrous functions in samadhi in the second dhyana heaven.

Furthermore, may heavenly mandarava flowers rain down throughout immeasurable asamkhyas of Buddha-lands, and may those mandarava flowers emit the sounds of Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, paramitas, powers, and fearlessnesses. If this is indeed to be so, then when I prostrate with my five limbs at the feet of the World-Honored One, may all the corresponding auspicious signs appear.”

When Great Being Manjusri reverently bowed at the feet of the World-Honored One, the great earth throughout immeasurable asamkhyas of Buddha-lands quaked; heavenly mandarava flowers rained down; and all sentient beings attained every manner of peace and happiness. Thus his vows were fulfilled in their entirety. The great bodhisattvas in those immeasurable Buddha-lands, who were in the presence of the Buddhas listening to the Dharma, all asked those Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones:

“What causes and conditions have brought forth these signs?” Those Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, all replied: “The immeasurable Buddhas who presently abide and teach the Dharma throughout immeasurable asamkhyas of Buddha-lands in the ten directions have all bestowed upon Great Being Manjusri the prediction of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.” The Buddha Ratnagarbha spoke this verse:

Profound and wondrous wisdom, unsurpassed resolve;

The Buddhas of the ten directions bestow their predictions.

The earth quakes, flowers rain down, and beings rejoice;

You shall become a Buddha manifest in the world.

Chapter 8: PREDICTIONS FOR THE FOUR PRINCES

Good man, at that time the brahmin Samudrarenu spoke to the fourth prince, named Cizhong... (the abbreviated passage is as stated above). This prince’s aspiration was no different from that of Great Being Manjusri.

The World-Honored One praised him:

“Excellent! Excellent! Good man, while practicing the bodhisattva conduct, you shall shatter the myriad fetters of affliction, amassed like vajra mountains, within immeasurable asamkhyas of sentient beings, and thereby perform the work of a Buddha. Afterward, you shall attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Therefore, your name shall be Wisdom That Shatters Vajra, Radiantly Illuminates, Reveals, and Benefits.”

O Great Being Vajra-Destroying Wisdom of Radiant Illumination, in a future age, after one Ganges-sands asamkhya of kalpas has passed, at the beginning of the second Ganges-sands asamkhya of kalpas, in the eastern direction, beyond ten times as many Buddha-fields as there are sands in the Ganges, amid worlds as numerous as the motes of dust in those limitless and boundless Buddha-fields, there will be a land called Animisha. Good man, there you shall attain unsurpassed complete and perfect enlightenment, and shall be named Universal Worthy, endowed with the ten epithets: Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, and so forth, up to Buddha, the World-Honored One. That Buddha-field shall possess immeasurable adornments in accordance with your vows.

Good man, as soon as the Tathagata Treasure Store bestowed upon the great bodhisattva Vajra-Destroying Wisdom of Radiant Illumination the prediction of unsurpassed complete and perfect enlightenment, immeasurable hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of devas in the sky all exclaimed in praise, “Excellent! Excellent!” and rained down fragrant powder of ox-head sandalwood and aloeswood.

The bodhisattva Vajra-Destroying Wisdom of Radiant Illumination addressed the Tathagata Treasure Store:

“World-Honored One, if my vow is to be perfectly fulfilled, then when I prostrate with my five limbs to the ground and reverently bow at the Buddha’s feet, may a wondrous celestial fragrance spread and richly perfume worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. When beings in those realms—hell beings, animals, hungry ghosts, devas, and humans—smell this fragrance, may all the sufferings and afflictions of their bodies and minds be brought to an end.”

Good man, the bodhisattva Vajra-Destroying Wisdom of Radiant Illumination then prostrated with his five limbs to the ground and bowed at the feet of the Tathagata Treasure Store. At once, a supremely wondrous celestial fragrance spread throughout worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. All the sufferings and afflictions of the bodies and minds of beings in those worlds were completely extinguished. The Buddha said:

Arising, he destroys the vajra;

His Buddha-field abounds in fragrance and beauty.

Its beings enjoy great peace and happiness;

He shall be a Knower of the World.

Good man, at that time the brahmin Oceanic Salvation spoke to the fifth prince, named Fearless... (the rest is as stated above). Prince Fearless addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, I do not wish to accept this defiled Buddha-field. The place where I shall attain bodhi shall have no realms of hell beings, animals, or hungry ghosts. The ground of that world shall be made entirely of azure lapis lazuli, like the Adorned Lotus World described above.”

Prince Fearless placed a lotus flower before the Tathagata Treasure Store and said:

“World-Honored One, if my vow is to be perfectly fulfilled in this way, then through the awesome spiritual power of the Buddha, may I attain the samadhi called Manifest Adornment. Thus, while I am here before the World-Honored One, may great lotus flowers as large as chariot wheels rain down upon Buddha-fields as numerous as the motes of dust in Ganges-sands of worlds throughout the ten directions, so that we may all behold them.”

As soon as the prince had spoken these words, through the awesome spiritual power of the Buddha he immediately attained the samadhi called Manifest Adornment, and throughout Ganges-sands of worlds in the ten directions, upon Buddha-fields as numerous as motes of dust, lotus flowers as large as chariot wheels rained down. Seeing this, Prince Fearless rejoiced greatly. The Buddha said:

“Good man, your vow is truly excellent, and therefore you shall receive a wondrous Buddha-field. Through your sincere prayer, you swiftly attained the samadhi called Manifest Adornment, and lotus flowers rained down from the heavens.”

The prince addressed the Buddha:

“If I shall attain unsurpassed complete and perfect enlightenment in accordance with my vow, may those lotus flowers now suspended in the sky immediately remain fixed where they are.”

The Buddha said:

“Good man, because the swift manifestation you have produced has clearly imprinted lotus flowers upon the sky, you shall bear the name Seal of Empty Space.”

O Great Being Seal of Empty Space, in a future age, after the first Ganges-sands asamkhya of kalpas has passed and at the beginning of the second Ganges-sands asamkhya of kalpas, in the southeastern direction, beyond hundreds of thousands of kotis of Ganges-sands of Buddha-fields, there will be a world called Lotus. In that land you shall attain unsurpassed bodhi and shall be named Buddha Supreme Lotus, endowed with the ten epithets: Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, and so forth, up to Buddha, the World-Honored One.

Your immeasurable Sangha shall consist entirely of bodhisattvas, and its lifespan, numbers, and all its majestic virtues shall accord with your vows. The bodhisattva Seal of Empty Space immediately prostrated with his five limbs to the ground and bowed to the Tathagata Treasure Store. The Buddha said:

You shall bring benefit to the world,

Extinguishing every bond of enmity;

Upholding virtues as numerous as motes of dust,

You shall attain enlightenment surpassing what came before.

Good man, at that time the brahmin Oceanic Salvation spoke to the sixth prince, named Empty Space... (the rest is as stated above). Prince Empty Space addressed the Buddha:

“I shall not dwell in this defiled Buddha-field... (the rest is as stated in brief). My vow is like that of the bodhisattva Seal of Empty Space. World-Honored One, if my great vow is to be perfectly fulfilled in this way, then may the skies throughout Ganges-sands of worlds in the ten directions contain canopies made of the seven treasures.

May nets of white jewels cover these jeweled canopies, and may jeweled bells hang from them as adornments. From within the jeweled bells and jeweled nets, may there continually issue the sounds of the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, the paramitas, the powers, the superknowledges, and fearlessness. When all beings in those worlds hear these sounds, may they resolve to seek unsurpassed complete and perfect enlightenment.

If they have already generated the aspiration for bodhi, may they become irreversible from that enlightenment.”

As soon as Prince Empty Space spoke these words, the skies throughout Ganges-sands of worlds in the ten directions... (the rest is as stated in brief) all emitted the sounds described above. Through the awesome spiritual power of the Buddha, everyone was able to see this for themselves.

Prince Empty Space again addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, if my vow is to be fulfilled in this way, then here before the World-Honored One may I attain the samadhi called Manifest Illumination of Wisdom, through which wholesome qualities are increased. After I have attained this samadhi, I shall then request the World-Honored One to bestow upon me the prediction of bodhi.”

Through the awesome spiritual power of the Buddha, Prince Empty Space immediately attained the samadhi called Manifest Illumination of Wisdom. The Buddha said:

“Excellent! Good man, your vow is truly supremely wondrous! Through the merit of your deeds, the skies throughout Ganges-sands of Buddha-fields in the ten directions are covered with jeweled canopies, from which harmonious and gentle sounds issue forth, awakening hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of beings. Good man, for this reason you shall bear the name Manifest Illumination of Empty Space.”

O Great Being Manifest Illumination of Empty Space, in a future age, after one Ganges-sands asamkhya of kalpas has passed, at the beginning of the second Ganges-sands asamkhya of kalpas, in the eastern direction, beyond two Ganges-sands of Buddha-fields, there will be a Buddha-world called Sun and Moon. In that land you shall attain unsurpassed complete and perfect enlightenment and shall be named Buddha Dharma-Sovereign King of Abundance, endowed with the ten epithets: Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, and so forth, up to Buddha, the World-Honored One.

When the bodhisattva Manifest Illumination of Empty Space prostrated with his five limbs and bowed at the feet of the Tathagata Treasure Store, the Buddha spoke this verse:

Cultivating goodness, pure in intent, he disciplines the mind;

Toward all beings, he ever arouses great compassion.

Resolute to ferry the deluded multitudes across the sea of suffering,

He shall attain the fruit of unsurpassed bodhi.

Good man, at that time the brahmin Samudrareṇu spoke to the seventh prince, named Citrākāra... (the abbreviated account is as above)... Prince Citrākāra addressed the Buddha:

“Venerable One, I vow not to attain the fruition of the path in a defiled Buddha-land. In the world where I shall accomplish the fruition of bodhi, even the names hell beings, animals, and hungry ghosts shall not exist, nor shall there be any women. The beings there shall not be born from wombs. There shall be no Mount Sumeru, Cakravāḍa Mountain, Mahācakravāḍa Mountain, or any mountains of earth and stone; no springs, gravel, thorns, uneven terrain, trees, or oceans; nor shall there be sun, moon, stars, day, or night. The beings in that land shall produce no foul and impure excretions. Their forms shall always be pure, and in the depths of their minds they shall depend on nothing.

“May the ground of my Buddha-land not be made of earth and stone, but entirely of agate, adorned with immeasurable hundreds of thousands of kinds of precious substances. May there be only māndārava flowers and great māndārava flowers in that Buddha-land, with no other kinds of grass. May it also be adorned with innumerable kinds of jeweled trees, upon which innumerable jeweled canopies shall appear as ornaments. That world shall be replete with all kinds of jeweled dwellings, innumerable kinds of precious garments, precious bracelets, precious necklaces, precious implements, musical instruments, precious articles, and various flowers interwoven among the jeweled trees. When the flowers close their petals and the music ceases to sound, it shall be known that night has come.

“When the flowers close their petals, bodhisattvas shall be born there. Immediately upon birth, each bodhisattva shall sit in meditation, collect the mind, and attain the Samādhi of Manifest Adornment. Through this samādhi, they shall behold all the Buddhas presently abiding in Buddha-lands throughout innumerable worlds, as numerous as particles of dust, in the ten directions.

May the bodhisattvas, immediately upon birth, attain the purified divine ear and thereby hear the Buddhas presently abiding in innumerable Buddha-lands throughout other worlds in the ten directions, as numerous as immeasurable particles of dust, expounding the true Dharma. The true Dharma expounded by those Buddhas shall enable the beings of that land to know their own former lives and recollect the deeds they performed throughout kalpas as numerous as the particles of dust in Buddha-lands.

“They shall also attain the purified divine eye and universally behold innumerable adorned Buddha-lands in the ten directions, as numerous as particles of dust. May the bodhisattvas, immediately upon birth, also fully attain the knowledge of others’ minds, so that in a single instant they shall know every thought and action of all beings in Buddha-lands as numerous as particles of dust. Until they attain bodhi and enter nirvana, they shall never lose that samādhi.

“As dawn approaches, subtle and fragrant winds shall blow gently from the four directions, bringing joy to body and mind, causing the flowers to open, and enabling the bodhisattvas abiding in samādhi upon the flower terraces to emerge from concentration. May those bodhisattvas also attain such spiritual powers that, in the instant of a single thought, they shall approach and make offerings to all the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, presently abiding in Buddha-lands throughout the ten directions as numerous as particles of dust.

They shall then return to their former places, sit cross-legged upon terraces of māndārava and great māndārava flowers, contemplate the Dharma-gates, and gaze upon the Tathagata. In whichever direction they may sit facing, in every such direction they shall behold me.

“If the bodhisattvas there form conceptions or give rise to doubts concerning the Dharma of the path, by contemplating my bodily marks they shall immediately receive an explanation. Those bodhisattvas shall hear whatever teachings they desire, and as soon as they contemplate me, they shall completely understand them all.

“May the bodhisattvas in that world have no notion of ‘self’ or ‘what belongs to self,’ no notion of ‘one who acts,’ and not even attachment to body or life. All the bodhisattvas shall attain the stage of non-retrogression. There shall not even be the term unwholesome, nor any term for receiving precepts or repenting after committing an offense.

“All beings in that land shall possess the thirty-two marks of a Great Man and strength equal to that of Nārāyaṇa. From the time of their birth until they attain bodhi and enter nirvana, all shall possess complete faculties. When the beings of that land are first born, their hair shall fall away by itself and their bodies shall be clothed in kāṣāya robes. They shall skillfully comprehend all samādhis... and until they attain the fruition of awakening, they shall never regress midway.

“May the beings in my world be free from the sufferings of old age and sickness. When a bodhisattva is about to reach the end of life, that bodhisattva shall sit cross-legged and enter nirvana. Fire shall issue from the body and consume it. Fragrant winds shall blow forth and scatter the relics into innumerable other worlds where there are no Buddha-lands, and those relics shall become wish-fulfilling jewels, like the radiant maṇi jewel of a Wheel-Turning King. If beings in those places behold the light of that maṇi jewel, see the jewel itself, or come into contact with it... may all of them be freed from suffering in the hells, among hungry ghosts, and among animals. From then until they attain the fruition of bodhi and enter nirvana, they shall never again undergo suffering.

“When their lives come to an end, the Buddhas presently abiding there shall expound the Dharma to those beings concerning birth in such a realm of mine. After they are born there, having heard the wondrous Dharma of the Buddhas, they shall arouse the aspiration for bodhi. Immediately after arousing that aspiration, they shall attain non-retrogression from unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment.

“In my Buddha-land, there shall be no one who does not enter samādhi. When their lives come to an end, they shall be entirely free from all suffering, including the anguish of separation from those to whom they are attached. When their lifespans there are exhausted, may they not be born amid adversities or in places without a Buddha-land... Until they attain the fruition of bodhi, they shall always encounter Buddhas, always hear the Dharma, and always make offerings to the Sangha.

“May all beings in that land be free from defilement, anger, aversion and attachment, stinginess, jealousy, ignorance, and attachment to self. There shall be no śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas, but only a great multitude of bodhisattvas filling the entire land. Their minds shall be gentle, free from hostility and defilement, tranquil, and established in meditative concentration.

“May my adorned and pure Buddha-land appear throughout other worlds as numerous as the particles of dust in the Buddha-lands of the ten directions, and may its fragrance spread everywhere in the same way. The beings of that land shall always enjoy perfect bliss and never hear even the sound of suffering.

“At that time, I shall practice the bodhisattva conduct. First, I shall establish such an adorned Buddha-land and cause all the beings filling that land always to possess pure minds. Only afterward shall I attain the fruition of supreme bodhi.

“When I attain the path, may my adorned bodily form, with its immeasurable radiance, appear throughout other Buddha-lands as numerous as the particles of dust in thousands of Buddha-lands in the ten directions. If any beings there behold me, may they be freed from sensual desire, anger, delusion, stinginess, jealousy, attachment to self, fetters, and all such afflictions. May they arouse the aspiration for bodhi and, in accordance with their aspirations, attain samādhis, dhāraṇīs, and patience concerning the Dharma—all through beholding me.”

If there are sentient beings born in the freezing hells who behold me, they shall immediately obtain warmth and bliss like that of a bhikshu who has entered the Third Dhyana. Their bodies and minds shall thereby be filled with joy, and they shall all resolve to seek unsurpassed, complete and perfect enlightenment. When their lives end, they shall be born in my world and attain the stage of non-retrogression toward that enlightenment.

If there are sentient beings born among the hungry ghosts who behold me... (in brief, as stated above)... they shall attain the stage of non-retrogression toward unsurpassed bodhi. The same shall also be said of animals... Thus, the radiance of my aureole shall surpass that of the devas many times over.

May my lifespan also be immeasurable and boundless, beyond anyone's ability to calculate except one possessing all-knowing wisdom. When I attain enlightenment, may all the Buddha-Blessed Ones throughout the innumerable asamkhyeyas of worlds in the ten directions praise and extol me. I vow that when sentient beings in those places hear my name and wholeheartedly dedicate the roots of goodness they have cultivated toward my world, they shall certainly be born in my land when their lives end, except for those who have committed the uninterrupted offenses, destroyed the True Dharma, or slandered sages and saints.

When I attain enlightenment, if sentient beings in the immeasurable asamkhyeyas of other Buddha-lands hear my name and seek birth in my land, then, as their lives approach their end, I shall appear before them, surrounded by an immeasurable great assembly, and we shall all enter the Samadhi of Unobstructed Manifestation. I shall skillfully expound the Dharma, bringing joy to the minds of those sentient beings and causing all their sufferings to cease.

They shall thereby certainly awaken to the Samadhi of Certainty and attain the sublime bliss of patience in the Dharma; after their lives end, they shall be born in my land. Furthermore, there are other worlds that lack the seven noble treasures, whose beings do not delight in seeking the teachings of the Three Vehicles, do not delight in seeking the blessed rewards of devas and humans, and do not delight in seeking the three grades of goodness and merit, but instead cling covetously to what is contrary to the True Dharma: stinginess, greed, jealousy, and delight in associating with sentient beings who follow erroneous teachings.

For the sake of those sentient beings, I vow to enter the Samadhi of Non-Falling. Through the wondrous power of this samadhi, when those sentient beings approach the end of their lives, I shall appear before them surrounded by an immeasurable great assembly. I shall expound the Dharma to them, reveal my Buddha-land, and exhort and guide them toward bodhi, causing those sentient beings to experience supreme joy in me and arouse the aspiration for bodhi.

I shall cause all their anguish to be eradicated and enable them to attain the Samadhi of the Sun-Lamp, casting off all darkness; after their lives end, they shall be born in my land.

Tathagata Ratnagarbha said:

“Excellent! Excellent! Good man, your vows are exceedingly vast and supremely excellent.”

The prince again addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, if my aspirations are to be perfectly fulfilled in this manner, then may a rain of wondrous powder of Ocean-Shore Sandalwood fall everywhere throughout the Buddha-lands in the ten directions, as numerous as motes of dust. If the sentient beings therein smell this fragrance, may they all arouse the aspiration for bodhi. Moreover, may I today attain the Samadhi of Fulfillment According to One’s Vows and personally behold that auspicious sign.”

Good man, as soon as the prince had completed his vow, he attained the Samadhi of Fulfillment According to One’s Vows. He personally beheld Buddha-lands throughout the ten directions, in other worlds as numerous as motes of dust, where wondrous powder of Ocean-Shore Sandalwood rained down. He also saw innumerable sentient beings throughout the ten directions respectfully joining their palms and arousing the aspiration for bodhi.

The Buddha said to the prince:

“Good man, your vow has been fulfilled. Fragrant powder has immediately rained down, and innumerable sentient beings have aroused the aspiration to seek enlightenment. Good man, therefore your name shall be Lion Fragrance.

In the future, after one Ganges-sands number of asamkhyeya kalpas have passed, upon entering the second Ganges-sands number of asamkhyeya kalpas, in the upper direction, beyond forty-two Ganges-sands of Buddha-lands from this Buddha-land, and then beyond Buddha-lands as numerous as motes of dust, there shall be a world named Fragrant Radiance Free from Dust. In that land, you shall attain unsurpassed, complete and perfect enlightenment and shall be named Buddha Radiant Dust-Free Supreme Body Fragrant Moon Sovereign King, endowed with the ten epithets: Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Universally Enlightened, and so forth, up to Buddha, World-Honored One.”

Good man, Bodhisattva Lion Fragrance then prostrated himself with his five limbs touching the ground and bowed his head at the feet of the Tathagata.

Tathagata Ratnagarbha spoke this verse:

Devas, humans, and asuras shall all revere him;

He shall become the World-Honored One who saves myriad beings.

The bonds of suffering in the three realms shall all be ended;

He shall certainly attain unsurpassed enlightenment.

Chapter 9: THE EIGHTH PRINCE RECEIVES HIS PREDICTION

Good man, Brahmin Samudrareṇu then spoke to the eighth prince, named Amoghaketu... (in brief, as stated above)...

The prince addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, I vow to dwell in defiled Buddha-lands as a bodhisattva cultivating the path to enlightenment and practicing the vows and conduct of a bodhisattva. First, I shall cause ten thousand defiled Buddha-lands all to become pure, no different from the Buddha-land Fragrant Radiance Free from Dust. I shall also teach and transform immeasurable bodhisattvas whose minds are pure, who earnestly seek the Mahayana Dharma, and who cultivate pure roots of goodness in those lands. Only afterward shall I attain unsurpassed, complete and perfect enlightenment.

“World-Honored One, I shall cultivate and practice toward enlightenment in this manner, unlike the conduct of other bodhisattvas.

“World-Honored One, throughout these seven years, I have sat in meditation in one place, contemplating the pure merits of the Buddhas and the innumerable merits that adorn those Buddha-lands. I brought forth innumerable samadhis of adornment and entered samadhi to cultivate together with eighteen thousand bodhisattvas.

“World-Honored One, such is the conduct leading to bodhi that I practiced while I was a bodhisattva. Through the Samadhi of Thần-bà-xà-già-chỉ-do-la, I constantly behold the Buddha-Blessed Ones presently abiding in the immeasurable and boundless other worlds of the ten directions, expounding the Dharma for the benefit of sentient beings. Transcending the three times, I behold those Buddhas throughout all lands.

Through samadhis involving innumerable states of mind, I behold the Buddha-Blessed Ones surrounded by great assemblies of bodhisattvas and shravakas. Through the wondrous power of the Samadhi of Non-Reliance, I manifest bodies as numerous as the motes of dust in a Buddha-land. Each body presents various supreme precious flowers, supreme fragrant ointments, ornaments, and music—all those precious, beautiful, sublime, and wondrous things—as offerings to the Buddhas.

In each Buddha-land, this continues for kalpas as numerous as the drops of water in the great ocean. Through all the Samadhis of Cultivating the Body, within the instant of a single thought, I know the activities and transformative work of Buddhas as numerous as the motes of dust in all Buddha-lands.

“World-Honored One, through the Samadhi of Merit, I travel to the Buddha-lands and praise each Buddha individually with supremely sublime words.”

World-Honored One, through the samadhi of the Unfollowing Mind, I become one with its sphere, and thus see immeasurable Buddhas in all Buddha lands. World-Honored One, through the Samadhi of Noncontention, within the space of a single thought I see the adorned Buddha lands of the past, future, and present throughout all Buddha lands.

World-Honored One, through the Shurangama Samadhi, I enter the hells and manifest bodies belonging to those realms in order to expound the Dharma to the beings there. I exhort and transform them through the path to bodhi, causing them to arouse the aspiration for awakening. When their lives end, they are reborn as human beings and encounter Buddhas presently abiding in the world and proclaiming the true Dharma, enabling those beings to follow the Buddha, comprehend the Dharma, and attain the stage of nonretrogression.

In the same way, I successively teach and transform animals, hungry ghosts, yakshas, rakshasas, asuras, dragons, kimnaras, mahoragas, devas, and humans. I likewise manifest bodies to teach and transform such beings as pishachas and putanas, kataputanas, as well as chandalas, merchants, and prostitutes.

World-Honored One, in this way, wherever beings dwell, I manifest in forms like theirs. In accordance with the causes and conditions of those beings’ karmic conduct, I undergo suffering and happiness as they do, or follow their occupations. Skillfully employing various expedient means, I expound the Dharma to gather and subdue them, and only afterward teach and transform them in accordance with the true Dharma. I exhort and transform them through the fruit of unsurpassed perfect awakening, causing them to abide at the stage of nonretrogression from unsurpassed complete and perfect enlightenment.

World-Honored One, during that time, I shall practice the bodhisattva conduct, purify more than ten thousand Buddha lands, and teach and transform the beings within them so that their minds become pure and every poison of karmic activity and affliction is utterly extinguished, leaving not a single being submerged beneath the four kinds of mara. Thus, I shall establish ten thousand pure Buddha lands like the adorned Buddha land in the world called Stainless Fragrant Delight, belonging to the Tathagata Radiant Stainless Supreme Body Fragrant Moon Sovereign King. I shall purify my own Buddha land and retinue in accordance with the vow of the Great Bodhisattva Lion Fragrance.

World-Honored One, if my vow is to be fulfilled, may the sufferings of all beings throughout the ten thousand Buddha lands be dispelled, and may their minds become gentle and harmonious, so that every person there naturally sees the Buddhas throughout the four continents. May the beings there naturally find in their hands precious objects of every kind, flowers and incense, powdered incense, anointing incense, garments, dwellings, banners, pennants, and jeweled parasols, and may they offer them all to the Buddhas, thereby arousing the aspiration to seek unsurpassed bodhi. Through the wondrous power of the Samadhi of Manifest Adornment, may I myself behold the place where this vow will be fulfilled as soon as I utter it.

The Buddha praised him, saying:

“Excellent! Excellent! Good man, you will purify your own Buddha land and the ten thousand Buddha lands surrounding it in every direction; teach and transform immeasurable asamkhyeyas of beings, causing both their bodies and minds to become pure; and offer immeasurable asamkhyeyas of such articles to immeasurable asamkhyeyas of Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones! Good man, therefore your name shall be Samantabhadra, Universally Worthy.

“Great Being Samantabhadra, in a future age, after as many asamkhyeya kalpas as there are grains of sand in the Ganges, at the end of the second period of as many asamkhyeya kalpas as there are grains of sand in the Ganges, in the northern direction, sixty Ganges-sands of Buddha lands away from this Buddha land, there will be a world called Pure Virtue of Wisdom-Water. Great Being Samantabhadra, in that land you shall attain unsurpassed complete and perfect enlightenment and be known as the Buddha Lion’s Vigorous Advance, Vajra Wisdom, fully endowed with the ten epithets: Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Completely and Perfectly Enlightened, and so forth, through Buddha, World-Honored One.”

Good man, the Great Bodhisattva Samantabhadra then prostrated himself with his five limbs touching the ground and bowed at the feet of the Tathagata. The Tathagata Treasure Storehouse spoke this verse:

Arising in goodness, delighting in wisdom, his mind subdued,

He vows steadfast goodness toward all beings;

He ferries beings across the current of suffering and bondage—

A wondrous torch of wisdom, Honored One of Devas and Humans.

END OF FASCICLE THREE