The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha
Sutra
Namo! Homage to the Lotus Pool Assembly of
Buddhas & Bodhisattvas As Vast As the Sea
Thus I have heard, at one time the Buddha dwelt at Shravasti,
in the Jeta Grove in the Garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and the Forlorn,
together with a gathering of Great Bhikshus, twelve-hundred fifty in all,
all Great Arhats well-known to the assembly:
Elders Shariputra,
Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakasyapa, Mahakatyayana, Mahakausthila, Revata,
Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola-Bharadvaja, Kalodayin,
Mahakaphina, Vakkula, Aniruddha, and others such as these, all Great Disciples,
together with all the Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas: Manjushri, Prince of Dharma;
Ajita Bodhisattva, Gandhastin Bodhisattva, Nityodukta Bodhisattva, and others
such as these, all Great Bodhisattvas, and together with Shakra,
Chief among Gods, and the numberless great multitudes from all the heavens.
At that time, the Buddha told the Elder Shariputra,
From here, passing through hundreds of thousands of millions of
Buddhalands to the West there is a world called Utmost Happiness.
In this land a Buddha called Amitabha
right now teaches the Dharma.
Shariputra, why is this land called
Utmost Happiness? All living beings of this country never suffer,
but enjoy every bliss. Therefore it is called Utmost Happiness.
Moreover, Shariputra, this land of
Utmost Happiness is completely surrounded by seven tiers of railings,
seven layers of netting, and seven rows of trees, all formed from
the four treasures, and for this reason called Utmost Happiness.
Moreover, Shariputra, in the land of
Utmost Happiness are pools of the seven jewels, filled with the waters of
eight meritorious qualities; the bottom of each pool is pure,
covered with golden sands. On the four sides climb stairs of
gold, silver, lapus lazuli, crystal, mother-of pearl, rubies, and carnelian.
In the pools bloom lotuses as large as carriage wheels with colors of green
light, red light, yellow light, and white light, subtle, rare, fragrant, and
pure. Shariputra, the Land of Utmost Happiness
is crowned in splendor and virtues such as these.
Moreover, Shariputra, in this Buddhaland
heavenly music always plays, and the ground is made of gold. In the six periods
of the day and night a heavenly rain of mandarava flowers falls, and throughout
the clear morning, each living being of this land offers sacks filled with
myriads of wonderful flowers to the hundreds of thousands of millions
of Buddhas of the other directions. At mealtime they return to their own
countries and after eating they walk about. Shariputra,
the Land of Utmost Happiness is crowned in splendor and virtues such as these.
Moreover, Shariputra, in this country there are
always rare and unusual birds of many kinds and colors: white geese, cranes,
peacocks, parrots, egrets, kalavinkas and two-headed birds. In the six periods
of the day and night the flocks of birds sing forth harmonious and elegant sounds.
Their clear and joyful calls proclaim the Five Roots, the Five Powers,
the Seven Limbs of Bodhi, the Eightfold Path of Sages, and dharmas such as these.
When living beings of this land hear their calls they are altogether
mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha.
Shariputra! Do not say that these birds are born
as retribution for their sins. And why not? Because in this Buddhaland
the three evil paths do not exist. Shariputra,
even the names of the three evil paths are unknown in this Buddha's
land; how much the less could they actually exist! Wishing to proclaim the
Dharma's sound far and wide, Amitabha Buddha
created these multitudes of birds by transformation.
Shariputra, in that Buddhaland when the
gentle winds blow, the rows of jewelled trees and jewelled nets reverberate
with fine and wondrous sounds, as a symphony of one hundred thousand kinds of
music played in harmony. All who hear these sounds are naturally
mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha.
Shariputra, the Land of Utmost Happiness
is crowned in splendor and virtues such as these.
Shariputra, what do you think?
Why is this Buddha called Amitabha?
Shariputra, the brilliance of that
Buddha's light is measureless, illumining the lands of the
ten directions everywhere without obstruction. For this reason he
is called Amitabha.
Moreover, Shariputra, the lifespan of that
Buddha and that of his people extends for measureless, limitless
asamkhyeyas of kalpas. For this reason he is called Amitayus.
And, Shariputra, since
Amitabha became a Buddha, ten kalpas have passed.
Moreover, Shariputra, that Buddha has
measureless, limitless asamkheyas of Sound-Hearer disciples,
their number incalculable. So too is the assembly of Bodhisattvas.
Shariputra, that Buddhaland is
crowned in splendor and virtues such as these.
Moreover, Shariputra, the living beings born in
the Land of Utmost Happiness are all avaivartika. Among them are many
who in this very life will dwell in Buddhahood. Their number is
extremely many;it is incalculable. And only in measureless, limitless
asamkyeyas of kalpas could they be counted.
Shariputra, those living beings who hear of
this should vow: I wish to be born in that country. And why? Because
those who are born there assemble in one place with people whose
goodness is unsurpassed. Shariputra, if one
has few good roots, blessings, and virtues, one cannot be born in that land.
Shariputra, if there is a good man or good woman
who hears of Amitabha and holds his name
whether for one day, two days, three, four, five days, six days,
as long as seven days with one mind unconfused, when this person nears the end
of life, before him will appear Amitabha
and all the Assembly of Holy Ones. When the end comes, his mind will not
be utterly confused, and in Amitabha's Land of
Utmost Happiness he will quickly be reborn.
Shariputra, because I see this benefit, I speak these words;
and, if living beings hear this teaching they should make the vow:
I wish to born in that land.
Shariputra, just as I now praise the inconceivable
benefits arising from the merit and virtue of Amitabha
, so too in the East does Akshobya Buddha, Sumeru
Likeness Buddha, Great Sumeru Buddha, Sumeru Light Buddha, Wonderful Sound
Buddha; all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands,
each in his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that
pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these
sincere and honest words: All you living beings should believe in this sutra
which all the Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue,
a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the Southern World,
Sun-Moon Lamp Buddha, Sumeru Lamp Buddha, Celebrated Light Buddha,
Great Radiant Shoulders Buddha, Sumeru Lamp Buddha, Measureless Vigor Buddha,
all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in
his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the
threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest
words: All you living beings should believe in this sutra which
all Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue,
a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the Western World,
Measureless Life Buddha, Infinite Features Buddha, Measureless Curtain Buddha,
Great Light Buddha, Great Clarity Buddha, Jewelled Likeness Buddha,
Pure Light Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as
Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast and
far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm
and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you living beings should
believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for its
inconceivable merit and virtue, protecting and bearing it in mind.
Shariputra, in the Northern World,
Radiant Shoulders Buddha, Most Glorious Sound Buddha, Invincible Buddha,
Sun-Birth Buddha, Luminous Net Buddha, all Buddhas such as these,
numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth
a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great,
thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you
living beings should believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise
for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the World Below, Lion Buddha,
Well-Known Buddha, Celebrated Light Buddha, Dharma Buddha,
Dharma-Curtain Buddha, Upholding Dharma Buddha, all Buddhas such as
these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country
gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great,
thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you
living beings should believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise
for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the World Above, Pure Sound Buddha,
Constellation King Buddha, Superior Fragrance Buddha, Fragrant Light Buddha,
Great Radiant Shoulders Buddha, Varicolored Jewels-Adorned Body Buddha,
Sala Tree King Buddha, Jewelled Flower of Virtue Buddha,
Discerning All Meanings Buddha, Like Sumeru Mountain Buddha, all Buddhas
such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own
country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold,
great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All
you living beings should believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise
for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, what do you think? Why is it called
Sutra which all Buddhas protect and bear in mind?
Shariputra, if a good man or good woman
hears this sutra and upholds it, and hears the names of all these Buddhas,
this good man or good woman will also be one whom all Buddhas
protect and bear in mind, and will attain non-retreat from
anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Therefore, Shariputra,
all of you should believe and accept my words and the words
all Buddhas speak.
Shariputra, if there are people who have
already made the vow, who now make the vow, or who will make the vow,
I wish to be born in Amitabha's country,
these people, whether born in the past, now being born there, or to be born
there in the future, will all attain non-retreat from anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
Therefore, Shariputra, all good men and good women
who believe should make the vow, I wish to be born in that country.
Shariputra, just as I now praise the
inconceivable merit and virtue of all Buddhas, all those Buddhas
also praise my inconceivable merit and virtue, saying these words:
Shakyamuni Buddha can accomplish extremely difficult and rare deeds
in the Saha Land during the evil time of the Five Turbidities: during the time
turbidity, the views turbidity, the affliction turbidity, the living beings
turbidity, and the lifespan turbidity. He can attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi and
for the sake of living beings proclaim this Dharma, which the whole world finds
hard to believe.
Shariputra, you should know that I,
in the evil time of the Five Turbidities, perform these difficult deeds,
attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi, and for the entire world proclaim this Dharma
which is difficult to believe, extremely difficult!
After the Buddha spoke this Sutra, Shariputra,
all the Bhikshus, and the entire world of gods, humans, asuras, and
others, hearing what the Buddha had said, joyously delighted in it,
faithfully accepted it, bowed and withdrew.
End of the Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra
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