佛說大乘無量壽莊嚴經

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was dwelling on Vulture Peak (Gṛdhra-kuṭa) near the city of Rājagṛha, together with a great assembly of bhikshus (Mahatā-Bhikṣu-saṃgha), thirty-two thousand in all. All had attained arhatship and possessed great supernormal powers.

Their names were: Venerable Ājñāta-kauṇḍinya, Venerable Aśvajitā, Venerable Bāṣpeṇa, Venerable Mahā-nāma, Venerable Bhadra-jitā, Venerable Yaśo-deva, Venerable Vimala, Venerable Subāhu, Venerable Pūrṇa-maitrāyaṇī-putra, Venerable Gavāṃpati, Venerable Urubilvā-kāśyapa, Venerable Nadī-kāśyapa, Venerable Śāriputra, Venerable Mahā-maudgalyāyana, Venerable Mahā-katyāyana, Venerable Mahā-kauṣṭhilya, Venerable Mahā-kaphila, Venerable Mahā-cunda, Venerable Maitreyāṇi, Venerable Aniruddha, Venerable Nandika, Venerable Kampilena, Venerable Subhūti, Venerable Revati, Venerable Khadiravanikena, Venerable Mahā-rāje, Venerable Pārāyaṇikena, Venerable Vakulena, Venerable Ānanda, Venerable Rahūla, and Venerable Svāgatena.

Such was the assembly of thirty-two thousand.

At that time Venerable Ānanda rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt with his right knee upon the ground, joined his palms, bowed his head in homage, and addressed the Buddha: “World-Honored One! The Tathagata, the Worthy One (Arhate), the Perfectly Enlightened One (Samyaksaṃbuddha), has pure faculties and a perfectly resplendent countenance (Mukha-varṇa), and his precious realm is magnificently adorned.... To possess such merit is exceedingly rare! What is the vast and wondrous practice that accords with the practices of all Buddhas of the past and future? I pray that you will proclaim it for me.”

The Buddha told Ānanda: “Excellent! Excellent! For the benefit of all sentient beings, cherishing a compassionate heart, you have ably questioned the Tathagata concerning this subtle and wondrous meaning. Now listen attentively and bear it well in mind! The Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings and Perfectly Awakened in Knowledge, will now explain it for you.”

The Buddha told Ānanda: “In the past, immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable asaṅkhya kalpas ago, a Buddha, a World-Honored One (Buddha-lokanātha), appeared in the world. He was named Dīpaṃkara Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One (Tathāgata-arhate-samyaksaṃbuddha).

“Before the Buddha Dīpaṃkara, another Buddha, a World-Honored One, appeared in the world, named Pratāpavān Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Prabhā-kara Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Candana-gandha Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Sumeru-kalpa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Candra-mukha Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Amala-mukha Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Asaṅga Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Nāgādhipati Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Sūrya-mukha Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Girirājaghoṣa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Merukūṭa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Suvarṇa-garbha Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Jyotiṣ-prabha Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Acala-bhūmi Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Vaiḍūrya-nirbhāsa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Candra-rāja Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Sūrya-ghoṣa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Mukta-kusuma-pratimaṇḍita-prabha Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Śrī-kuṭa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Sāgara-dhara-buddhi-vikrīḍitābhijña Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Vara-prabha Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Mahā-gandha-rāja-nirbhāsa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Vyapa-gata-khilamala-prati-ghoṣa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Śūra-kūṭa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Ratnābhibhāsa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Mahā-guṇa-dhara-buddhi-prāptābhijña Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Candra-sūrya-jihmī-karaṇa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Uttapta-vaiḍūrya-nirbhāsa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Citta-dhārā-buddhi-saṃkusumitābhyudgata Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Puṣpāvatīvanarāja-saṃkusumitābhijña Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Eka-candra-prabha Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Avidyāndha-kāra-vidhvaṃśana-kara Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Mukta-cchtra-pravātasadṛśa Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Triyāna-dharmeśvara-rāja Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Siṃha-sāgara-kūṭeśvara-rāja Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Brahma-svara-nādeśvara-rāja Tathagata.

“Before that Buddha, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Lokeśvara Tathagata (Tathāgata), the Worthy One (Arhate), the Perfectly Enlightened One (Samyaksaṃbuddha), Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct (Vidyācaraṇasaṃpanna), Well-Gone One (Sugata), Knower of the World (Lokavid), Unsurpassed One (Anuttara), Tamer of Persons (Puruṣadamyasārathi), Teacher of Gods and Humans (Śāstā devānāṃ ca manuṣyāṇāṃ), the Buddha, the World-Honored One (Buddho lokanātha). Within his Dharma there was a bhikshu named Dharmākara, foremost in faith and understanding, foremost in clear recollection, foremost in cultivation, foremost in diligence, foremost in wisdom, and foremost in the Mahayana.

“At that time the bhikshu left his dwelling and went before the Buddha. He bowed his head and face at the Buddha’s feet, then stood to one side. Thereupon, with a gāthā, he praised the Buddha’s dignified and magnificent countenance and made vast vows.

“He recited:

“The Tathagata’s form is wondrous and majestic;

Nothing throughout the worlds can equal it.

His measureless light illumines the ten directions;

Sun, moon, and fiery jewels pale beside it.

May I attain the Buddha’s pure voice (Buddha-ghoṣa),

Whose Dharma sound (Dharma-ghoṣa) pervades boundless realms,

Proclaiming the gateways of morality, samadhi, and diligence,

And penetrating the subtle, wondrous, and profound Dharma.

May my wisdom be vast and deep as the ocean,

My inner mind pure, all defilements ended;

May I transcend the boundless gates of evil destinies

And swiftly reach bodhi, the ultimate shore.

Like the immeasurable Buddhas of the past,

May my majestic radiance illumine the realms of beings;

May I become the great guide of all living beings,

Delivering them from aging and death and bringing them peace.

May I constantly practice giving (Dāna), morality (Śīla), and patience (Kṣānti),

Diligence (Vīrya), meditation (Dhyāna), and wisdom (Prajña)—the six pāramitās (Ṣaḍ-pāramitā).

Those beings not yet delivered, may I cause to be delivered;

Those already delivered, may I cause to become Buddhas.

I shall present all things as offerings

To hundreds (Śata), thousands (Sahasra), koṭis, and nayutas

Of Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, countless as the sands of the Ganges,

So that I may accomplish the fruit of quiescent extinction.

Throughout the Buddha realms (Buddha-kṣetra) of the ten directions,

May light forever shine upon all;

Supremely adorned beyond compare,

May I accomplish the welfare of all beings.

Throughout all the boundless worlds,

Beings in every destiny revolve in saṃsāra;

May they swiftly come to my land and receive bliss,

And before long all attain the unsurpassed Way.

May my diligence remain ever resolute;

With a loving mind (Maitra-citta), may I rescue sentient beings,

Delivering all beings suffering in Avīci;

May the vast vow I have made never cease.”

The World-Honored One then told Ānanda: “After the bhikshu Dharmākara had spoken these verses, he addressed Lokeśvara Tathagata: ‘I now arouse the mind of anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi and joyfully seek unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment (Abhisaṃbodhukāmaḥ). I pray that the World-Honored One will explain the meritorious adornments of the Buddha realms. If I am able to hear them, I shall continually cultivate the practices that adorn a land.’

“At that time Lokeśvara Tathagata told the bhikshu Dharmākara: ‘Consider for yourself what skillful means of cultivation can accomplish the adornment of a Buddha realm.’

“The bhikshu replied: ‘My wisdom is shallow and inferior, and I cannot fully comprehend the practices that adorn a land. I pray that the Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings and Perfectly Awakened in Knowledge, will explain to me the adornments of the realms of all Buddhas.’

“Then Lokeśvara Tathagata proclaimed the eighty-four hundred thousand koṭis of nayutas of vast and perfect characteristics of the meritorious adornments of Buddha realms. It took an entire kalpa to explain them fully.

“After hearing this, Ānanda addressed the Buddha: ‘World-Honored One! How long was the lifespan of that Buddha Lokeśvara, that he spoke for an entire kalpa?’

“The Buddha told Ānanda: ‘That Buddha’s lifespan was fully forty kalpas.

“Ānanda! The bhikshu Dharmākara heard the Buddha explain the eighty-four hundred thousand koṭis of nayutas of matters concerning the meritorious adornments of Buddha realms and understood them all as clearly and thoroughly as a single Buddha realm. Thereupon, in the assembly, he bowed his head and face at the Buddha’s feet, took his leave, and withdrew. Going to a pure and secluded place, he sat alone, contemplated, and cultivated the meritorious adornments of a Buddha realm, making great vows over the course of five kalpas.

“Then the bhikshu Dharmākara again went to the dwelling place of Lokeśvara Tathagata, bowed with all five limbs to the ground, and paid homage at the World-Honored One’s feet. After paying homage, he joined his palms and addressed the Buddha: ‘World-Honored One! I have now accomplished the eighty-four hundred thousand koṭis of nayutas of practices and vows concerning the meritorious adornments of Buddha realms.’

“Lokeśvara Tathagata told the bhikshu: ‘Excellent! Excellent! Your practices, vows, and contemplations are complete. Now is indeed the proper time to explain them to the assembly.’

“When the bodhisattvas heard that Dharma, they gained great benefit and became able to cultivate adornments within Buddha realms.

“At that time, upon hearing the Buddha’s sacred command, the bhikshu Dharmākara bared his right shoulder, knelt with his right knee upon the ground, joined his palms toward the Buddha, and proclaimed: ‘World-Honored One! I now make these vows:

_ ‘World-Honored One, when I attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi, may the Buddha realm in which I dwell be replete with immeasurable, inconceivable meritorious adornments. May all sentient beings in the realm of Yama—the hell beings, hungry ghosts, and animals of the three evil destinies—be born in my land, receive my Dharma transformation, and before long all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi. May they all obtain bodies the color of pure gold.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings throughout the worlds of the ten directions be caused to be born in my land. As in the Buddha realms, may the assemblies of humans and gods be free from discrimination, their faculties quiescent, and may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings throughout the worlds of the ten directions who are born in my land obtain great supernormal powers. In a single thought-moment, may they successively travel throughout hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of Buddha realms, make offerings to all Buddhas, deeply plant roots of virtue, and all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who are born in my land obtain knowledge of former lives and skillfully observe events from hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of kalpas in the past; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who are born in my land obtain the pure divine eye (Divya-cakṣu), by which they can see the coarse and subtle forms throughout hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of worlds; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who are born in my land obtain the superknowledge of others’ minds (Paracitta-jñāna), skillfully comprehending the minds (citta) and mental factors (Cetasika) of hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of beings; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who are born in my land abide in the stage of right faith, be free from inverted perceptions, and cultivate steadfastly; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who are born in my land uninterruptedly cultivate right practices and immeasurable roots of virtue throughout the realm of perfect quiescence; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who are born in my land, though abiding in the stages of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, travel to hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of precious realms and universally perform the work of Buddhas; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who are born in my land obtain boundless radiance capable of illuminating hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of Buddha lands; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who are born in my land not suffer untimely death, but live for hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of kalpas; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may every sentient being born in my land possess a virtuous name. Hearing of immeasurable and innumerable Buddha lands wherein there are no names, appellations, characteristics, or forms, may they neither doubt nor disparage them, and may their bodies and minds remain unmoved; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who seek birth in my land, recollect my name, and arouse a sincere, steadfast, and irreversible mind, when their lives end, behold innumerable bhikshus appear before them, surround them, and come to welcome them. In but a moment, may they be born in my land and all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings throughout the immeasurable, boundless, and innumerable worlds of the ten directions who hear my name, arouse bodhicitta, plant roots of virtue, and aspire according to their wishes to be born in Buddha lands all obtain birth there without exception; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who are born in my land possess the thirty-two marks of a great person and attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi in that very lifetime.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, concerning all sentient beings born in my land: if any make a great vow, wish to become Buddhas, and become bodhisattvas, may I use my majestic power to enable them to teach and transform all sentient beings, causing them all to arouse faith and cultivate the practice of bodhi, the practice of Samantabhadra, the practice of quiescent extinction, the practice of pure Brahma conduct, the supreme practice, and all wholesome practices; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who are born in my land attend upon and make offerings everywhere to immeasurable hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of Buddhas, plant roots of virtue (Kuśala-mūla), and have all their aspirations fulfilled according to their wishes; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all bodhisattvas in my land accomplish all wisdom, skillfully discourse upon the secret and essential meanings of all dharmas, and before long swiftly attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all bodhisattvas in my precious realm arouse courageous resolve and great supernormal powers, travel to Buddha lands throughout immeasurable, boundless, and innumerable worlds, and with pearls and jewels (Maṇi-mukta), necklaces (Mālya), jeweled parasols (Ratna-cchatra), standards (Dhvaja), banners (Patāka), robes (Cīvara), bedding, food and drink, medicines, incense (Gandha), flowers (Puṣpa), music, and other things, attend upon and make offerings to the Buddhas, dedicating the merit toward bodhi, and swiftly accomplish anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all bodhisattvas in my precious realm arouse the mind of the great Way and wish to attend upon and offer pearls and jewels, necklaces, jeweled parasols, standards and banners, clothing, bedding, food and drink, medicines, incense, flowers, music, and other things to immeasurable, boundless Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, in worlds of other directions, yet be unable to travel there. At that very moment, through the power of my former vows, may those Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, in other directions each extend an arm into my land and accept those offerings, enabling the donors swiftly to attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all bodhisattvas in my precious realm, according to their wishes and without leaving this realm, desire to offer pearls and jewels, necklaces, jeweled parasols, standards and banners, clothing, bedding, food and drink, medicines, incense, flowers, music, and other things to immeasurable Buddhas in other directions. Should they then think, “If the Buddhas must extend their arms here to receive our offerings, we would trouble the Buddhas and gain no benefit,” then, when they form that thought, may I use my supernormal power to cause the offerings themselves to arrive before the Buddhas in other directions and be offered to each one. Thereupon may those bodhisattvas before long attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all bodhisattvas in my precious realm have bodies sixty yojanas in height, obtain the strength of Nārāyaṇa, possess dignified and magnificent bodily marks, shine with radiant light, be replete with roots of virtue (Kuśala-mūla), and accomplish anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all bodhisattvas in my precious realm, for the sake of sentient beings, penetrate the Dharma treasury, establish boundless omniscience, entirely sever all fetters from former enmities, and all realize anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all bodhisattvas in my precious realm use hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of every kind of precious jewel to fashion incense burners extending from the boundary of the earth below to the realm of empty space above, and constantly perfume them with priceless sandalwood incense (Candana), making universal offerings to the Buddhas of the ten directions, so that they may swiftly attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may the Buddha realm in which I dwell possess vast, pure, and magnificent light, transparent like a mirror and capable of reflecting all immeasurable and boundless Buddha realms. May sentient beings who behold it give rise to a rare and wondrous mind and before long swiftly attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all bodhisattvas in my precious realm, throughout the six periods of day and night, constantly experience bliss surpassing that of the gods, enter the gateway of the dhāraṇī of equality, and emit light from their bodies that universally illumines boundless worlds; may they before long attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all women throughout the immeasurable, boundless, and innumerable worlds of the ten directions who become weary of and renounce the female body, hear my name, arouse a pure mind, take refuge, and bow their heads in homage, when their lives end, immediately be born in my land and attain male bodies; may they all attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas throughout the immeasurable, boundless, and innumerable Buddha realms of the ten directions who hear my name and steadfastly uphold the pure precepts without regression swiftly sit at the bodhimaṇḍa and accomplish anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all bodhisattvas throughout the immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable, and peerless Buddha realms of the ten directions who hear my name bow with all five limbs to the ground, pay homage, and entrust their lives to me. May they also be honored, revered, attended upon, and served by all sentient beings in the human and heavenly realms, increase their merit, and accomplish anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

_ ‘World-Honored One, after I attain bodhi and perfect enlightenment, may all sentient beings who arouse a mind of pure faith and, for śramaṇas and brahmins whose robes have become soiled, wash the cloth, cut it, sew it, and fashion it into robes for members of the Sangha—whether doing so themselves or causing others to do so—and afterward dedicate the merit, obtain the finest robes in each of eighty-one lifetimes, always having an abundance of garments upon their bodies. In their final bodies, may they be born in my land and accomplish anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.’

THE BUDDHA’S DISCOURSE ON THE MAHAYANA SUTRA OF THE ADORNMENT OF IMMEASURABLE LIFE, VOLUME ONE (End)