大方廣佛華嚴經

6. CHAPTER SIX: VAIROCANA

(Complete Chinese Section, Scroll 11)

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva again addressed the assembly: “Disciples of the Buddha! In the past, after passing through as many kalpas as there are dust motes in worlds, and then passing through many times that span, there was a sea of worlds named Universal Gateway of Pure Radiance.

Within that sea of worlds was a world named Victorious Sound. It rested upon a sea of mani nets and was surrounded by worlds as numerous as the dust motes in Mount Sumerus of Taming and Subduing. It was round and level. That realm possessed immeasurable adornments. Three hundred tiers of jeweled trees encircled its surrounding mountains. Jeweled clouds spread overhead. It was pure and free from defilement, radiant with brilliant light. Its cities and palaces resembled Mount Sumeru. Clothing, food, and drink appeared at the mere thought of them. That kalpa was named Adorned with Every Variety.

Disciples of the Buddha! In that realm of Victorious Sound was a fragrant-water sea named Pure Radiance. From that sea arose a great lotus-shaped Mount Sumeru named Banner Universally Adorned with Floral Flames, encircled by balustrades made of ten precious substances. Upon that mountain was a great forest named Wheel of Mani Flowering Branches. There were immeasurable beautiful towers, immeasurable jeweled residences and courtyards, immeasurable banners of wondrous fragrance, and immeasurable banners of jeweled mountains, all adorned to perfection. Immeasurable precious white lotuses bloomed everywhere, and immeasurable fragrant nets of mani lotuses spread throughout. Harmonious music brought delight, and fragrant clouds shone brilliantly; all were immeasurable and beyond enumeration.

Altogether, a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of cities surrounded it, inhabited by their peoples.

To the east of the forest stood the great city Blazing Radiance, the royal capital of the human king. It was surrounded by a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of cities, and measured seven thousand yojanas across. It was built of pure and wondrous jewels, with outer walls of the seven treasures and magnificent defensive towers.

Seven tiers of jeweled moats were filled with fragrant water, where lotuses of four colors—blue, yellow, red, and white—bloomed in beauty. Seven rows of jeweled tala trees encircled it. Its towers and palaces were all made of jewels and covered by jeweled nets.

Radiant, fragrant flowers were scattered everywhere. It had a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of great gates, all made of jewels. Before every gate stood forty-nine sila banners arranged in orderly rows.

A hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of gardens also surrounded it. Within them grew many kinds of trees of blended fragrances and trees fragrant with mani jewels, whose scents pervaded everywhere. Beautiful birds sang in harmony, delighting all who heard them.

Among the inhabitants of this great city, none lacked innate spiritual powers and the freedom to fly. Their conduct resembled that of devas, and whatever they needed appeared according to their wishes.

Adjacent to this great city on the south stood a celestial city named Adorned with Flowers of Longevity.

Proceeding clockwise from that celestial city stood a great naga city named Ultimate.

Next was a yaksha city named Vajra’s Supremely Wondrous Banner.

Next was a gandharva city named Wondrous Palace.

Next was an asura city named Jeweled Wheel.

Next was a garuda city named Adorned with Wondrous Jewels.

Next was a kinnara city named Joyful Play.

Next was a mahoraga city named Vajra Banner.

Next was a city of the Brahma Heaven King named Adorned with Every Wonder.

There were a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of cities such as these. Each city contained a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of towers adorned beyond measure.

Disciples of the Buddha! In this great forest, Wheel of Mani Flowering Branches, was a bodhimanda named Jeweled Flower of Universal Illumination, adorned everywhere with precious jewels. Mani jewel-flowers blossomed together. Fragrant lamps shone in every beautiful jeweled color. Luminous clouds spread overhead, and nets of light blazed brilliantly. Its adornments continually produced wondrous jewels. Every musical instrument constantly played harmonious and elegant sounds. Mani jewel-kings manifested the bodies of bodhisattvas. Beautiful flowers spread throughout the ten directions.

Before that bodhimanda was a great sea named Fragrant Mani Vajra. In it was a great lotus named Wheel of Blazing Stamens. That flower was a hundred kotis of yojanas wide. Its stalk, petals, stamens, and calyx were all made of wondrous jewels. It was surrounded by ten ineffable hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of lotuses. It constantly emitted light and continually produced wondrous sounds that reached throughout the ten directions.

Disciples of the Buddha! During the earliest kalpa of the world Victorious Sound, as many Tathagatas appeared in the world as there are dust motes in ten Mount Sumerus. The first was the Buddha All-Merit Mountain, Sumeru Victorious Cloud.

Disciples of the Buddha! One hundred years before that Buddha appeared in the world, everything in the forest Wheel of Mani Flowering Branches became pure and adorned. Clouds of jeweled flames appeared, producing sounds that praised the Buddha’s virtues and proclaimed the voices of countless Buddhas. They emitted light like nets spreading across the ten directions. Palaces and towers illuminated one another. Radiant jeweled flowers flew together and formed clouds. Wondrous sounds also arose, describing the vast roots of goodness cultivated by beings in former times, reciting the names of the Buddhas of the three periods, recounting the ultimate path and the practices and vows cultivated by bodhisattvas, and proclaiming the words spoken by Tathagatas as they turned the Dharma wheel.

Such signs of adornment appeared as portents of the Tathagata’s advent in the world.

All the kings in the world Victorious Sound saw and heard these signs of adornment. Their roots of goodness consequently matured, and, wishing to see the Buddha, they all came to the bodhimanda.

Then, within the great lotus at the bodhimanda, the Buddha All-Merit Mountain, Sumeru Victorious Cloud suddenly appeared, complete with precious marks and excellent characteristics and boundless, wondrous, pure forms.

Every palace reflected the Buddha’s image, and every being was able to see the Buddha.

From the Buddha’s body appeared boundless transformation Buddhas of many colors, radiantly illuminating the entire dharmadhatu.

Within the world Victorious Sound were sixty-eight thousand kotis of Mount Sumerus. Upon the summit of each mountain the Buddha manifested a seated body, just as he appeared seated upon the jeweled throne in the forest Wheel of Mani Flowering Branches.

The Buddha emitted light from the white curl between his brows. This light was named Sound That Arouses All Roots of Goodness. It was accompanied by as many rays as there are dust motes in ten Buddha lands and illuminated all lands throughout the ten directions.

Whenever beings fit to be tamed were touched by this light, they immediately awakened by themselves, ended their afflictions, tore apart the net of delusion, toppled the mountain of obstructions, cleansed their defilements and turbidity, brought forth great faith and understanding, developed supreme roots of goodness, forever escaped every fearful calamity, eliminated all physical and mental suffering, raised the aspiration to see the Buddha, and advanced toward all-knowledge.

At that time, all the kings, together with their immeasurable hundreds of thousands of retinues, were awakened by the Buddha’s light. They came to the Buddha, bowed their heads and faces at his feet, and paid homage.

Disciples of the Buddha! In the great city Blazing Radiance, King Joyful Vision and Good Wisdom ruled a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of cities. Lady Auspicious Merit was foremost among an ineffable seventeen thousand royal consorts and court ladies. Crown Prince Great Majestic Radiance was foremost among five hundred princes. The Crown Prince had ten thousand consorts, of whom Lady Wondrous Vision was foremost.

Upon seeing the Buddha’s light, through the power of roots of goodness cultivated in the past, Crown Prince Great Majestic Radiance immediately realized ten Dharma gateways:

First, the samadhi gateway called Wheel of the Buddhas’ Merit. Second, the dharani gateway called Universal Gateway of the Buddhas’ Dharma. Third, the prajnaparamita gateway called Treasury of Vast Skillful Means. Fourth, the great-loving-kindness gateway called Great Adornment for Taming Beings. Fifth, the gateway of great equanimity called Sound of Universal Clouds. Sixth, the gateway of great joy called Supreme Mind Producing Boundless Merit. Seventh, the gateway of great relinquishment called Awakening to All Dharmas as They Truly Are. Eighth, the great spiritual-power gateway called Vast Treasury of Equal Skillful Means. Ninth, the gateway of great vows called Power That Increases Faith and Understanding. Tenth, the eloquence gateway called Light Universally Entering All-Knowledge.

Then Crown Prince Great Majestic Radiance, empowered by the Buddha’s awesome might, surveyed the entire assembly and spoke these verses:

Disciples of the Buddha! When Crown Prince Great Majestic Radiance spoke these verses, through the Buddha’s spiritual power his voice resounded throughout the world Victorious Sound.

When King Joyful Vision and Good Wisdom heard the verses, he rejoiced greatly. Surveying his retinue, the king spoke these verses:

Then King Joyful Vision and Good Wisdom, together with his queen, princes, great ministers, and retinues—seventy-seven hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of people—departed from the city Blazing Radiance. Through the king’s meritorious power, they traveled through the air. Their offerings filled all of space. Upon reaching the bodhimanda, the entire assembly bowed to the Buddha and sat to one side.

Deva King Banner of Good Transformation from the city Wondrous Flowers assembled there with a retinue of ten kotis of nayutas.

Naga King Pure Radiance from the city Ultimate assembled there with twenty-five kotis of attendants.

Yaksha King Fierce and Strong from the city Vajra’s Victorious Banner assembled there with seventy-seven kotis of attendants.

Gandharva King Joyful Vision from the city Stainless assembled there with ninety-seven kotis of attendants.

Asura King Contemplation of Pure Form from the city Wondrous Wheel assembled there with fifty-eight kotis of attendants.

Garuda King Practice of the Ten Powers from the city Wondrous Adornment assembled there with ninety-nine thousand attendants.

Kinnara King Vajra Virtue from the city Joyful Play assembled there with eighteen kotis of attendants.

Mahoraga King Banner of Jeweled Renown from the city Vajra Banner assembled there with ineffable kotis of hundreds of thousands of nayutas of attendants.

Brahma King Supreme from the city Pure Wondrous Adornment assembled there with eighteen kotis of attendants.

From the hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of great cities such as these, all the kings and their retinues came to the bodhimanda, bowed at the feet of the Tathagata All-Merit Mountain, Sumeru Victorious Cloud, and sat to one side.

Then, wishing to tame all beings, Tathagata Victorious Cloud, within the oceanic assembly at the bodhimanda, expounded the sutra Universally Gathering the Sovereign Dharmas of the Buddhas of the Three Periods, together with as many other sutras as there are dust motes in a world. In accordance with the minds of beings, he enabled them all to obtain benefit.

After Great Majestic Radiance Bodhisattva heard this Dharma, he immediately realized the ocean of Dharma-radiance accumulated by Buddha Victorious Cloud in former lives, namely:

The wisdom-light of the samadhi of equality of all aggregates of dharmas; the wisdom-light by which all dharmas enter and abide in the initial aspiration for bodhi; the wisdom-light of the pure eye of the treasury of universal radiance throughout the dharmadhatu of the ten directions; the wisdom-light that contemplates the ocean of great vows of all Buddha-Dharmas; the wisdom-light entering the ocean of boundless merit and pure practices; the wisdom-light advancing toward the swift treasury of the great power of non-retrogression; the wisdom-light of immeasurable transformational power within the wheel of liberation of the dharmadhatu; the wisdom-light decisively entering the ocean of immeasurable and perfected merit;

the wisdom-light comprehending the ocean of spiritual powers manifested before all beings by the boundless Buddhas throughout the dharmadhatu; and the wisdom-light comprehending the Dharma powers and fearlessnesses of the Buddhas.

Having attained immeasurable wisdom-lights such as these, Great Majestic Radiance Bodhisattva, empowered by the Buddha’s awesome might, spoke these verses:

Disciples of the Buddha! At that time, because Great Majestic Radiance Bodhisattva had seen and made offerings to the Buddha All-Merit Mountain, Sumeru Victorious Cloud, his mind awakened. He then revealed to the world the ocean of practices cultivated by the Tathagata in former times; the skillful means practiced by bodhisattvas in former times; the pure wisdom that universally enters the entire dharmadhatu; the sovereign power of attaining Buddhahood in every bodhimanda; the Buddha’s powers, fearlessnesses, and undifferentiated wisdom; the universal manifestation of Tathagata bodies; the Buddha’s inconceivable spiritual transformations; the adornment and purification of immeasurable Buddha lands; and the practices and vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

By revealing these things to the world, he caused as many beings as there are dust motes in Mount Sumeru to bring forth the aspiration for bodhi, and as many beings as there are dust motes in Buddha lands to accomplish the Tathagata’s pure lands.

Then the Tathagata All-Merit Mountain, Sumeru Victorious Cloud spoke these verses for Great Majestic Radiance Bodhisattva:

Disciples of the Buddha! The kalpa Great Adornment contained as many minor kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges. The human lifespan was two minor kalpas.

Disciples of the Buddha! The Buddha All-Merit Mountain, Sumeru Victorious Cloud lived for five billion years. After that Buddha entered extinction, the Buddha King Adorned with Good Eyes of the Paramitas appeared in the world and likewise attained perfect awakening at the bodhimanda in the forest Wheel of Mani Flowering Branches.

At that time, the youth Great Majestic Radiance saw the Buddha King Adorned with Good Eyes manifest spiritual powers upon attaining Buddhahood. He immediately realized a mindfulness-of-the-Buddha samadhi named Gateway to the Treasury of the Boundless Ocean; attained a dharani named Abyss of Dharma of Great Wisdom-Power; attained a great loving-kindness named Universally Following Beings to Tame and Liberate Them; attained a great compassion named Cloud Covering All Realms; attained a great joy named Treasury of the Awesome Power of the Ocean of All Buddhas’ Merit; attained a great relinquishment named Pure Equality of the Space of Dharma-Nature; attained a prajnaparamita named Pure Body of the Dharmadhatu, Intrinsically Free from Defilement;

immediately attained a spiritual power named Unobstructed Light Universally Manifesting in Accordance; attained an eloquence named Skillfully Entering the Stainless Abyss; and attained a wisdom-light named Pure Treasury of All Buddha-Dharmas.

In this way he penetrated ten thousand Dharma gateways.

Empowered by the Buddha’s awesome might, the youth Great Majestic Radiance spoke these verses for his retinue:

The Buddha’s body universally emits great radiance;
His boundless forms and marks are supremely pure.
Like clouds, they fill all lands,
Everywhere praising the Buddha’s virtues.

Wherever the Buddha’s light shines, all rejoice;
The suffering of beings is entirely destroyed.
It causes all to become reverent and bring forth loving-kindness—
Such is the Tathagata’s sovereign functioning.

He pours forth inconceivable clouds of transformations
And emits nets of light in immeasurable colors,
Filling the worlds of the ten directions—
These are transformations of the Buddha’s spiritual powers.

Every pore of the Buddha manifests clouds of light,
Illuminating all space and resounding with a mighty voice.
Every dark place is illuminated,
And all the sufferings of the hells are ended.

The Tathagata’s wondrous voice fills the ten directions,
Fully expressing every kind of language;
It accords with the wholesome karma of all beings—
Such are the Buddha’s spiritual transformations.

Within boundless, immeasurable oceans of assemblies,
The Buddha appears in every Dharma assembly,
Universally turning the inexhaustible, wondrous Dharma wheel
And taming all beings.

The Buddha’s spiritual powers are inherently boundless,
Appearing throughout all lands;
Such Buddha-wisdom is forever unobstructed,
And for the liberation of beings he attains perfect awakening.

The great assembly should bring forth joy,
Delighting, cherishing, and deeply revering him.
Together we shall go before the Buddha;
Whoever beholds the Tathagata ends all suffering.

Bring forth the resolve and dedicate it to bodhi;
Have compassion for every being.
Abide in Samantabhadra’s vast vows,
And you shall attain the sovereignty of the Dharma King.

Through the Buddha’s spiritual power, the verses of the youth Great Majestic Radiance were unobstructed, and every world heard them. Immeasurable beings brought forth the aspiration for bodhi.

The youth Great Majestic Radiance, together with his royal father, royal mother, retinue, and immeasurable hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of beings, spread jeweled parasols like clouds and went together to the bodhimanda of the Buddha King Adorned with Good Eyes of the Paramitas.

For this great assembly, the Buddha expounded the sutra Pure Adornment of Dharma-Nature, together with as many sutras as there are dust motes in an ocean of worlds.

After hearing the sutra, this assembly attained pure wisdom; entered all pure skillful means; attained the Ground of Stainless Light; attained the paramita gateway called Manifesting Adornments Delighted in by All Worlds; attained the gateway of expanding practice called Pure Vision of Boundless Light Universally Entering All Lands; attained the gateway of practice directed toward attainment called Cloud of Stainless Merit and Banner of Light; attained the gateway of realization entered in accordance called Vast Radiance of the Ocean of All Dharmas; attained the practice of deepening aspiration called Adornment of Great Wisdom; attained the consecration-wisdom called Supremely Wondrous Vision Cultivated Without Effort;

attained the great revealing radiance called Light and Shadow of the Marks of the Ocean of the Tathagata’s Merit Universally Shining; and attained the wisdom of vow-power called Treasury of Faith and Understanding of Immeasurable Vow-Power.

The Buddha King Adorned with Good Eyes spoke these verses for Great Majestic Radiance Bodhisattva:

You have beheld the clouds of the Buddha’s merit
And entered the stage of inexhaustible wisdom.
You shall perfect all oceans of skillful means and paramitas
And attain a stage of great renown.

You have attained the gateway of skillful means and total retention,
Together with the gateway of inexhaustible eloquence.
Cultivating all practices and vows,
You shall attain unsurpassed great wisdom.

The ultimate dharmadhatu is inconceivable;
Your vast and profound mind has been purified.
You universally behold all Buddhas of the ten directions
And adorn the oceans of lands free from defilement.

You have entered the Buddha’s practices of bodhi
And the ocean of skillful means in his past deeds.
All that the Buddha cultivated and relinquished,
All such wondrous practices you have awakened to.

Throughout the vast and endless ocean of kalpas,
You cultivate pure practices within every land.
Your steadfast vows are beyond measure;
You shall attain the power of the Buddha’s spiritual abilities.

Making offerings to all Buddhas without omission,
You shall completely purify and adorn all lands.
Cultivating wondrous practices throughout all kalpas,
You shall become a Buddha of great merit.

Disciples of the Buddha! After the Buddha King Adorned with Good Eyes of the Paramitas entered nirvana, King Joyful Vision and Good Wisdom also passed away. The youth Great Majestic Radiance then ascended the throne as a wheel-turning king.

At that time, at the bodhimanda in the forest Wheel of Mani Flowering Branches, the next Buddha appeared in the world, named Ocean of Supreme Merit.

King Great Majestic Radiance, together with his retinue and people, went to the Buddha and offered him a great and magnificently adorned tower.

The Buddha expounded the sutra Practice of the Universal-Eyed Radiance of Bodhisattvas, together with as many other sutras as there are dust motes in a world.

After hearing the sutra, King Great Majestic Radiance attained a samadhi named Universal Radiance of Great Merit. Through this samadhi, he was able to comprehend the oceans of merit and non-merit of all bodhisattvas and all beings throughout the past, present, and future.

Then the Buddha spoke these verses for King Great Majestic Radiance:

Excellent, meritorious Great Majestic Radiance!
You have now come before the Buddha.
Out of compassion for the entire ocean of beings,
You bring forth the supreme great vow for bodhi.

Because of the suffering of all beings,
You raise great compassion to liberate them.
You shall become a refuge for the deluded multitudes—
This is called the bodhisattva’s skillful means.

With this vast vow you have attained,
You enter the Buddha’s inconceivable ocean.
The Buddhas’ oceans of merit are inherently boundless,
Yet through wondrous understanding you behold them all.

Throughout all oceans of lands,
For oceans of kalpas as numerous as dust motes, you cultivate practices.
You have studied the oceans of practices of all Tathagatas
And shall attain Buddhahood.

Just as you have seen throughout the ten directions
All oceans of lands supremely purified and adorned,
So too shall your own land be purified and adorned,
And all your boundless great vows fulfilled.

Within each realm are boundless lands;
Entering them all, they cultivate for oceans of kalpas.
Through the fulfillment of the power of these vows,
They perfect all practices of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

Disciples of the Buddha! Afterward, at the bodhimanda Wheel of Mani Flowering Branches, another Buddha appeared in the world, named Banner of Lotus Eyes Whose Renown Is Universally Heard. During that period, King Great Majestic Radiance passed away and was born in the celestial city Palace of Quiescent Jewels upon Mount Sumeru. There he became a Great Deva King named Stainless Banner of Merit. Together with the celestial multitudes, he went before the Buddha and scattered jeweled flowers as offerings.

Then the Buddha Banner of Lotus Eyes Whose Renown Is Universally Heard expounded for the Deva King the sutra Vast Skillful Means, Universal Gateway of Pervasive Illumination, together with as many other sutras as there are dust motes in an ocean of worlds.

After hearing the sutra, the Deva King and celestial multitudes attained a samadhi named Treasury of Joy of the Universal Gateway. Through the power of that samadhi, they entered the ocean of the true characteristics of all dharmas. Afterward, the Deva King and celestial multitudes bowed to the Buddha, departed from the bodhimanda, and returned to their original palace.