佛說觀彌勒菩薩上生兜率天經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling at the Jeta Grove of Anāthapiṇḍika's Garden in the city of Śrāvastī. It was then the first watch of the night, and from the entire body of the World-Honored One there radiated a golden-colored aura. That radiant aura encircled the whole of the Jeta Grove seven times, and it also shone upon the home of the Elder Sudatta with the color of pure gold. Furthermore, there was a golden-colored aura that, like a mass of clouds, spread throughout the whole city of Śrāvastī. Everywhere there rained down golden-colored lotus flowers. Within that light there were innumerable hundreds of thousands of great conjured Buddhas, and they all proclaimed:

"Now herein there are 1,000 Bodhisattvas. The first to attain Buddhahood shall be named Krakucchanda. The last to attain Buddhahood shall be named Ruci."

When these words had been spoken,

– The Venerable Ājñāta-Kauṇḍinya at once emerged from his meditative absorption, together with his retinue, altogether 250 in number.

– The Venerable Mahā-Kāśyapa, together with his retinue, altogether 250 in number.

– The Venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana, together with his retinue, altogether 250 in number.

– The Venerable Śāriputra, together with his retinue, altogether 250 in number.

– The Bhikṣuṇī Mahā-Prajāpatī, together with her retinue, altogether 1,000 bhikṣuṇīs.

– The Elder Sudatta, together with his retinue, altogether 3,000 upāsakas.

– Mother Viśākhā, together with her retinue, altogether 2,000 upāsikās.

There were also the Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas, such as:

– 16 Right-Minded Ones, including Bhadrapāla, together with their retinues.

– 500 Bodhisattvas, including the Dharma Prince Mañjuśrī, together with their retinues.

When the hosts of devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, and all the great assembly beheld the radiant light of the Buddha, they all came and gathered together.

At that time the World-Honored One manifested the mark of a broad and long tongue, and emitted 1,000 rays of light. Each ray of light had 1,000 colors. Within each color there were innumerable conjured Buddhas. Those conjured Buddhas, with different mouths but one same voice, all expounded the pure, profound, and inconceivable dhāraṇī teachings of total retention belonging to the great Bodhisattvas, such as:

– The Ānandamukha Dhāraṇī,

– The Emptiness-Wisdom Dhāraṇī,

– The Unobstructed-Nature Dhāraṇī,

– and the Great Liberation Signless Dhāraṇī.

At that time the World-Honored One, with a single sound, expounded 10 billion gateways of dhāraṇī. When these dhāraṇīs had been proclaimed, there was then in the assembly a Bodhisattva named Maitreya. As soon as he heard the Buddha speak, he immediately attained 1,000,000 koṭi gateways of dhāraṇī, and then he rose from his seat, arranged his robes, and stood with palms joined before the Buddha.

At that time the Venerable Upāli also rose from his seat, bowed his head in reverent obeisance, and addressed the Buddha, saying:

"World-Honored One! Formerly the World-Honored One, in the Vinaya Piṭaka and in the various Sūtra Piṭakas, said that the Invincible One would next become a Buddha; yet the Invincible One is still of the body of an ordinary person and has not yet cut off all the outflows. Where will this person be reborn when his life comes to an end? Although he has at present gone forth into homelessness, he does not cultivate meditative concentration, nor has he cut off the afflictions. Nevertheless, he has received from the Buddha the prediction that this one will surely attain Buddhahood. In which buddha-land, then, will he be reborn when his life comes to an end?"

The Buddha said to the Venerable Upāli:

"Listen, listen, and reflect well upon this! Now the Tathāgata, the Worthy of Offerings, the Perfectly and Universally Enlightened One, will, in the midst of the great assembly, speak concerning the prediction of Unsurpassed, Perfect, Complete Enlightenment for the Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva Maitreya.

From now until 12 years hence, his life will come to an end, and he will assuredly be reborn ascending to the Tuṣita Heaven. At that time in the Tuṣita Heaven there will be 5,000,000 koṭi divine sons, and each and every one of them cultivates the profound Perfection of Giving (Dāna-pāramitā). In order to make offerings to the Bodhisattva who is bound to only one more birth, they will, by the merit-power of the heavens, build palaces. Each of them will remove from his head his jeweled crown of candana and maṇi gems, kneel upon both knees, join his palms, and make this vow:

'Now I take these priceless jewels and this celestial crown to make offerings to the Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva Maitreya. Before long, in the future, this one will attain Unsurpassed, Perfect, Complete Enlightenment. If I am to receive the prediction of bodhi in that Buddha's adorned world, then may my jeweled crown be transformed into articles of offering.'

In this same way the other divine sons each knelt upon both knees and made their vast vows likewise. When the divine sons had finished making their vows, those jeweled crowns were transformed into 5,000,000 koṭi jeweled palaces.

– Each jeweled palace had seven layers of walls.

– Each layer of wall was formed of the seven treasures.

– Each kind of treasure emitted 500 koṭi rays of light.

– Within each ray of light there were 500 koṭi lotus flowers.

– Each lotus flower was transformed into 500 koṭi rows of seven-jeweled trees.

– Each leaf of the trees had 500 koṭi jeweled colors.

– Each jeweled color had 500 koṭi rays of jambūnada golden light.

– Within each ray of jambūnada golden light there appeared 500 koṭi celestial jeweled maidens.

– Each jeweled maiden stood beneath a tree, holding in her hands 100 koṭi jewels and countless strands of necklaces, and she sounded forth subtle and wondrous music.

– At that time, within the music, there was proclaimed the practice of the Dharma-wheel of the Stage of Non-Retrogression.

Furthermore, the jeweled trees bore fruits, and these had a color like crystal. All the various colors gathered into the crystalline color.

Those rays of light revolved gracefully toward the right and resounded with sounds. Those sounds proclaimed the Dharma of great loving-kindness and great compassion.

Each layer of wall there was 62 yojanas high and 14 yojanas thick. Upon those walls there were 500 koṭi dragon kings who flew circling about, and who poured forth 500 koṭi rows of seven-jeweled trees to adorn that place.

At that very moment, spontaneously a wind blew and stirred those rows of trees, causing them to sway and touch one another, proclaiming: suffering, emptiness, impermanence, non-self, and the various Pāramitā teachings.

At that time in this heavenly palace there will be a great minister named Lāḍudabhī. He will at once rise from his seat, pay reverent obeisance to the Buddhas of the ten directions, and make this vast vow:

'If my merit can build a Hall of Wholesome Dharma for the Bodhisattva Maitreya, then may there spontaneously spring forth jewels upon my forehead.'

After he made this vow, from the forehead of this great minister there spontaneously sprang forth 500 koṭi jewels of the colors of beryl and crystal. All the various colors were complete therein, and they were like maṇi gems of a purplish-blue and green hue, clear and translucent within and without. The light of these maṇi gems revolved circling about in empty space and was transformed into a subtle and wondrous jeweled palace, 49 stories high.

Upon each balustrade of this palace were joined together 10,000 koṭi maṇi jewels from the realm of Brahmā. In the midst of the balustrades there spontaneously came into being by transformation nine koṭi divine sons and 500 koṭi divine maidens. In the hands of each divine son there came forth by transformation innumerable myriads of koṭi of seven-jeweled lotus flowers. Upon each lotus flower were innumerable koṭi rays of light. Within that light were complete all kinds of musical instruments. Such celestial music, without any need to be played, sounded forth of itself.

When the music rang out, then the divine maidens spontaneously took up those musical instruments and vied with one another in singing and dancing. Their songs of praise proclaimed the Ten Wholesome Deeds and the Four Vast Vows. When the devas heard those sounds, they all gave rise to the aspiration for the Unsurpassed Way.

Furthermore, there were gardens with channels of beryl water of eight colors. Each channel was formed of 500 koṭi jewels joined together. Within each channel was water of eight flavors, complete with eight colors.

That water spouted up and around upon the pillars. When it flowed out the four gates on the outside, it was transformed into four flowers. Within the water there appeared flowers, which flowed along like a stream of jeweled blossoms drifting.

Upon each flower were 24 divine maidens of beautiful countenance, their bodily forms adorned like those of the Bodhisattvas. In their hands there spontaneously transformed 500 koṭi jeweled vases. Within each jeweled vase was the celestial water of sweet dew (amṛta), and it spontaneously filled to overflowing therein. Upon their left shoulders they bore innumerable strands of necklaces; and upon their right shoulders they placed innumerable musical instruments. Like clouds suspended in the midst of the sky, they sprang forth out of the water and praised the Six Perfections (Pāramitās) of the Bodhisattva. Whoever is reborn ascending to the Tuṣita Heaven will spontaneously be awaited and welcomed by those divine maidens.

Furthermore, there was a great lion-throne made of the seven treasures, four yojanas in height, adorned with jambūnada gold and with innumerable masses of treasures.

At the four corners of the throne there bloomed four lotus flowers. Each lotus flower was formed of hundreds of kinds of treasures. Each treasure emitted 100 koṭi rays of light. That subtle and wondrous light was transformed into 500 koṭi masses of various jeweled flowers to adorn the jeweled canopy.

At that time there were hundreds of thousands of Brahmā Kings of the ten directions, each holding a wondrous treasure from the realm of Brahmā to form jeweled bells, which they hung upon the jeweled canopy. And the lesser Brahmā Kings held celestial jewels to form a spread net, which covered all over the canopy.

At that time there were hundreds of thousands of innumerable divine sons and divine maidens, each bringing jeweled lotus flowers to scatter upon the lion-throne. Those lotus flowers all spontaneously manifested 500 koṭi jeweled maidens. In their hands they held white whisks and stood in attendance within the canopy.

At the four corners of the palace there were four jeweled pillars. Each jeweled pillar had hundreds of thousands of storied pavilions, wound about and bound together with maṇi jewels from the realm of Brahmā. At that time within those storied pavilions there were hundreds of thousands of divine maidens of incomparable beauty, who held musical instruments in their hands and sounded forth tones, proclaiming: suffering, emptiness, impermanence, non-self, and the various Pāramitā teachings.

In this celestial palace there were innumerable hundreds of myriads of koṭi of jeweled colors. Each divine maiden likewise had all such jeweled colors. At that time there were innumerable devas of the ten directions who, when their lives came to an end, all vowed to be reborn ascending to the Tuṣita Heaven.

At that time in the Tuṣita Heaven there will be five great ministers.

The first great minister is named Jeweled Banner. From his body there flows forth the seven treasures, which scatter down within the walls of the palace. Each jewel is transformed into innumerable musical instruments hanging suspended in midair, and these, without any need to be played, of themselves give forth innumerable sounds to gladden and satisfy the minds of sentient beings.

The second great minister is named Flower Virtue. From his body there flow forth various flowers, which fall covering all over the walls of the palace. Afterward they are transformed into flower canopies. Each flower canopy has hundreds of thousands of banners and pennants going before to lead the way.

The third great minister is named Fragrant Sound. From the pores of his body there issues forth the subtle and wondrous fragrance of seashore candana. That fragrance, like a mass of clouds, forms a hundred jeweled colors and flies circling about the palace seven times.

The fourth great minister is named Joyful Bliss. From his body there flows forth wish-fulfilling jewels (cintāmaṇi). Each jewel spontaneously rests upon the banners and pennants and clearly proclaims innumerable teachings: Taking refuge in the Buddha, Taking refuge in the Dharma, Taking refuge in the Saṅgha, the expounding of the Five Precepts together with the various Pāramitā teachings, and innumerable wholesome teachings, in order to benefit, encourage, and support the bodhi-mind of the practitioner.

The fifth great minister is named Right Sound. From the pores of his body there flow forth drops of water. Upon each drop of water are 500 koṭi flowers. Upon each flower are 25 jade maidens. From the pores of the body of each jade maiden there issue forth all manner of sounds, and these are finer even than the music in the queen's palace of the celestial Māra."

The Buddha said to the Venerable Upāli:

"This Tuṣita Heaven is a place of supreme, subtle, and wondrous merit and virtue, the fruit and recompense manifested through the cause of cultivating the Ten Wholesome Deeds. Even were I to abide in the world for a full minor kalpa to speak extensively of the fruit and recompense manifested for the Bodhisattva bound to only one more birth and for those who cultivate the Ten Wholesome Deeds, I still could not speak of it in full. Now, for your sake, I have thus explained it but briefly."

The Buddha said to the Venerable Upāli:

"If there be any bhikṣu, or any one of the whole great assembly, who does not weary of birth-and-death, who wishes to be reborn ascending to that heaven, whose mind loves and reveres unsurpassed bodhi, and who wishes to become a disciple of the Lord Maitreya, then let such a one give rise to this visualization.

One who gives rise to this visualization must uphold the Five Precepts, cultivate the Eight-Precept Fast, or receive the Full Precepts. With body and mind diligent, not seeking to cut off the fetters and bonds, cultivating the Ten Wholesome Teachings, and at all times contemplating the foremost subtle and wondrous joys and delights of the Tuṣita Heaven.

One who gives rise to this visualization is said to hold right contemplation. If anyone contemplates otherwise, this is said to be wrong contemplation."

At that time the Venerable Upāli at once rose from his seat, arranged his robes, bowed his head in reverent obeisance, and addressed the Buddha, saying:

"World-Honored One! The Tuṣita Heaven has such extremely subtle and wondrous joys and delights as these. When will that Great Being pass into final repose in Jambudvīpa and be reborn ascending to that heaven?"

The Buddha said to the Venerable Upāli:

"Formerly Maitreya was born into the house of the great brahmin lineage of Pārāyaṇika, in the village of Kalpaka in the country of Vārāṇasī.

12 years hence, on the fifteenth day of the second lunar month, he will return to the place of his birth, and then he will sit in the cross-legged posture as though entering the concentration of extinction. His body will be of a golden-purple color, radiating brilliant light, ruddy and glowing like a hundred thousand suns, and shining up as far as the Tuṣita Heaven. His relic-body (śarīra) will be like a cast golden image, unmoving and unstirring. Within the radiant aura about his body there will appear, clear and bright, the words of the Śūraṅgama Samādhi and the Prajñā-pāramitā. At that time the hosts of devas and humans will at once seek out the place and build a subtle and wondrous jeweled stūpa to make offerings to the relics.

At that time in the Tuṣita Heaven, the Bodhisattva will suddenly come into being by transformation, seated in the cross-legged posture upon a lotus flower of a lion-throne within the seven-jeweled terrace in the maṇi palace. His body will be golden like jambūnada gold, 16 yojanas in height. The 32 marks of excellence and the 80 minor characteristics will all be complete.

The topknot upon the uṣṇīṣa of his crown will be of a blue-green beryl color. His celestial crown will be adorned with all-conquering maṇi gems and with hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭi of ruby gems. That celestial crown will have hundreds of myriads of koṭi of colors. Within each color there will be innumerable hundreds of thousands of conjured Buddhas and conjured Bodhisattvas to act as attendants.

There will also be the great Bodhisattvas from other directions. They will manifest the 18 kinds of supernatural transformations and abide in the celestial crown freely as they please. Between the two eyebrows of the Lord Maitreya there will be the mark of the radiance of the white tuft of hair (ūrṇā), emitting rays of light of a hundred jeweled colors. Each of the 32 marks of excellence of the Lord Maitreya will have 500 koṭi jeweled colors. Each minor characteristic will likewise have 500 koṭi jeweled colors. Each excellent mark will emit 84,000 clouds of brilliant radiance.

The Bodhisattva, together with the divine sons, will all be seated upon lotus-flower thrones. Through the six periods of day and night he will constantly expound the practice of the Dharma-wheel of the Stage of Non-Retrogression. After a span of time, he will teach and transform to fruition 500 koṭi divine sons and cause them no longer to retrogress from Unsurpassed, Perfect, Complete Enlightenment.

And in this way, Maitreya will dwell in the Tuṣita Heaven, day and night constantly speaking this Dharma in order to deliver the divine sons. Reckoned by the years of Jambudvīpa, this will be 5,600,000,000 years. Only then will he descend to be born in Jambudvīpa, as I have spoken in the Sūtra on the Descent and Birth of Maitreya."

The Buddha said to the Venerable Upāli:

"This is the causes and conditions of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, his passing into repose in Jambudvīpa and his rebirth in the Tuṣita Heaven.

After the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, among my host of disciples, if there be anyone who is diligent, who cultivates all manner of merit and virtue with deportment free of deficiency, who sweeps and cleanses the monasteries and stūpas, or who uses various fragrances and rare flowers to make offerings, who cultivates the various samādhis, who deeply enters right reception (samāpatti), and who reads and recites the scriptures—such people must be wholehearted. Though they have not yet cut off the fetters and bonds, they will attain the Six Supernormal Powers. They should single-mindedly call to mind the image of the Lord Maitreya and recite his name.

Such people, if within the space of a single thought-moment they receive the Eight-Precept Fast, cultivate the various pure deeds, and together make vast and profound vows, then after their lives come to an end, they will be like a strong man bending and stretching his arm—in but an instant they will be reborn ascending to the Tuṣita Heaven and seated in the cross-legged posture upon a lotus flower. At that time there will be hundreds of thousands of divine sons who sound forth celestial music and hold celestial māndārava flowers and great māndārava flowers to scatter upon them, and who praise them, saying:

'Excellent, excellent, good man! When you were in Jambudvīpa you extensively cultivated merit and meritorious deeds, and so you have been reborn here. This place is the Tuṣita Heaven. The lord of the heaven here at present is the Lord Maitreya; you should take refuge in him.'

When they have heard this, let them at once pay reverent obeisance. When the obeisance is finished, let them clearly contemplate the mark of the radiance of the white tuft of hair between the two eyebrows of the Lord Maitreya. At once they will transcend the karmic offenses of birth-and-death of 9 billion kalpas. At that very moment, the Bodhisattva will, in accordance with their causes and conditions from former lives, expound the wondrous Dharma, causing the minds of those people to be firm and no longer to retrogress from the Unsurpassed Way.

Such sentient beings as these, whoever purifies their various deeds and cultivates the Six Practices of the Dharma, will assuredly be reborn ascending to the Tuṣita Heaven and meet the Lord Maitreya. They will also follow the Lord Maitreya down to Jambudvīpa to hear the Dharma at the first assembly. In a future age, they will meet all the Buddhas of the Worthy Kalpa. In the Kalpa of the Constellations, they will likewise meet the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, and before those Buddhas they will receive the prediction of bodhi."

The Buddha said to the Venerable Upāli:

"After the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, if there be any bhikṣu, bhikṣuṇī, upāsaka, upāsikā, deva, nāga, yakṣa, gandharva, asura, garuḍa, kiṃnara, or mahoraga who hears the name of the Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva Maitreya, and who, having heard it, rejoices and reverently pays homage—when their lives come to an end, in about the time it takes to snap the fingers, they will at once be reborn just as before, without any difference.

Even merely whoever hears the name of the Lord Maitreya, when their lives come to an end, will not fall into places of darkness or into border regions of wrong views with their evil laws and customs. They will always hold right views, their retinues will be accomplished, and they will not slander the Three Jewels."

The Buddha said to the Venerable Upāli:

"If there be any good man or good woman who has violated the precepts and prohibitions and committed many evil deeds, who, upon hearing the greatly compassionate name of the Bodhisattva, then bows the head in reverent obeisance, touching the ground, and repents with sincere mind, then those evil deeds will swiftly be made pure.

In a future age, if there be any sentient being who hears the greatly compassionate name of the Bodhisattva, and then makes images, makes offerings of fragrance and flowers, garments, silken canopies, banners and pennants, pays reverent homage, and single-mindedly calls him to mind, then when this person's life comes to an end, they will have the Bodhisattva Maitreya emit radiance from the mark of the radiance of the white tuft of hair of the Great Being between his two eyebrows.

And the divine sons will scatter māndārava flowers to welcome them. That person, in a fleeting instant, will attain rebirth and will meet the Lord Maitreya. Thereupon they bow the head in reverent obeisance.

Before they have even had time to raise their heads, they will have heard the Dharma and at once attain non-retrogression from the Unsurpassed Way. In a future age, they will meet Buddhas, Tathāgatas, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River."

The Buddha said to the Venerable Upāli:

"Listen well! In a future age, the Bodhisattva Maitreya will be a vast place of refuge for sentient beings. If there be anyone who takes refuge in the Bodhisattva Maitreya, then know that this person will attain non-retrogression from the Unsurpassed Way. When the Bodhisattva Maitreya becomes a Tathāgata, a Worthy of Offerings, a Perfectly and Completely Enlightened One, then for those people who practice in this way, when they behold the radiant aura of the Buddha, they will at once receive the prediction."

The Buddha said to the Venerable Upāli:

"After the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, among the fourfold assembly of disciples together with the devas, nāgas, ghosts, and spirits, if there be anyone who wishes to be reborn ascending to the Tuṣita Heaven, then let them give rise to this visualization, single-mindedly contemplating the Tuṣita Heaven and upholding the precepts taught by the Buddha. From one day up to seven days, let them call to mind and practice the Ten Wholesome Deeds, and then take that merit and virtue, dedicate it, and vow to be born before the Lord Maitreya.

They must give rise to this visualization! One who gives rise to this visualization, as though seeing a single celestial being or a single lotus flower, if within the space of a single thought-moment they recite the name of the Lord Maitreya, then that person will eliminate the karmic offenses of birth-and-death of 1,200 kalpas. Even merely hearing the name of the Lord Maitreya, and then joining the palms in reverence, this person will eliminate the karmic offenses of birth-and-death of 50 kalpas.

If there be anyone who reverently pays homage to the Lord Maitreya, then they will eliminate the karmic offenses of birth-and-death of 10 billion kalpas. Even should they not be reborn ascending to that heaven, yet in a future age, beneath the Nāga-flower Bodhi tree, that person will also meet him and give rise to the unsurpassed aspiration."

When the Buddha had finished speaking these words, there were innumerable members of the great assembly who at once rose from their seats; they paid reverent obeisance, their foreheads touching the feet of the Buddha and of the Lord Maitreya, and then they circumambulated the Buddha and the Bodhisattva Maitreya hundreds of thousands of times. Thereafter, those who had not yet attained the Way all made this vow:

"We, together with the devas, humans, and the eightfold assembly, now before the Buddha truthfully make this vow: 'In a future age, may we meet the Lord Maitreya, and when we cast off this body, may we all be reborn ascending to the Tuṣita Heaven.'"

The World-Honored One bestowed upon them this prediction:

"You, together with those sentient beings who cultivate merit and uphold the precepts in ages to come, will all be reborn before the Bodhisattva Maitreya and will be embraced and received by the Bodhisattva Maitreya."

The Buddha said to the Venerable Upāli:

One who gives rise to this visualization is said to hold right contemplation. If anyone contemplates otherwise, this is said to be wrong contemplation."

At that time the Venerable Ānanda at once rose from his seat, knelt upon both knees, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha, saying:

"Excellent, World-Honored One! The World-Honored One has well expounded the merit and virtue of the Lord Maitreya, and has further bestowed upon those sentient beings who cultivate merit in future ages the prediction that they will obtain such recompense. I now rejoice in accord.

World-Honored One! How is this essential Dharma to be upheld, and what is the name of this Sūtra?"

The Buddha said to the Venerable Ānanda:

"Uphold the teaching of the Buddha and be careful not to let it be forgotten. For the sake of sentient beings of future ages, open up the path of rebirth in the heavens, reveal the mark of bodhi, and do not let the seed-nature of Buddhahood be cut off.

This Sūtra is named 'The Parinirvāṇa of the Bodhisattva Maitreya,' and is also called 'The Visualization of the Bodhisattva Maitreya's Rebirth in the Tuṣita Heaven.' You should exhort people who practice to give rise to the bodhi-mind, and to uphold it in this way."

When the Buddha had finished speaking these words, the 100,000 Bodhisattvas who had come from other directions to attend the Dharma assembly attained the Śūraṅgama Samādhi. 80,000 koṭi devas gave rise to the bodhi-mind, and they all vowed to follow in the train of the Lord Maitreya when he descends to be born.

When the fourfold assembly of disciples together with the devas, nāgas, and the eightfold host had heard what the Buddha had spoken, they were all exceedingly joyful; they paid reverent obeisance to the Buddha and then took their leave.

The Buddha Speaks the Sūtra on the Visualization of the Bodhisattva Maitreya's Ascent and Rebirth in the Tuṣita Heaven