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THE
SMALLER SUKHAVATIVYUHA SUTRA
or
The
Sutra on the Buddha Amitayus
Kinh A Di
Ðà
Translated
from the Chinese Version of Kumarajiva by
Nishu Utsuki The
Educational Department of the West Hongwanji Kyoto,
Japan: 1924 Public
Domain. This
electronic version may be copied and distributed free and without
permission provided that it is not altered in any way. *** 1.
Thus have I heard: Once the Buddha was dwelling in the Anathapindada
Garden of Jetavana in the country of Shravasti together with a large
company of Bhikshus of twelve hundred and fifty members. They were all
great Arhats, well known among people, (to wit): Shariputra the elder,
Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakashyapa, Mahakatyayana, Mahakaushthila, Revata,
Shuddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola-Bharadvaja,
Kalodayin, Mahakapphina, Vakkula, Aniruddha, etc., all great Shravakas
[lit. disciples]; and with many Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas, (such as),
Manjushri, Prince of the Lord of Truth, Bodhisattva Ajita, Bodhisattva
Gandhahastin, Bodhisattva Nityodyukta, etc., all great Bodhisattvas; and
also with a large company of innumerable devas, (such as)
Shakrodevanam-Indra, etc. 2.
Then the Buddha addressed Shariputra, the elder, and said, 'Beyond a
hundred thousand kotis of Buddha-lands westwards from here, there is a
world named Sukhavati. In that world there is a Buddha, Amita(-ayus) by
name, now dwelling and preaching the law. Shariputra, why is that country
named Sukhavati? The living beings in that country have no pains, but
receive pleasures only. Therefore, it is called Sukhavati. 3.
'Again, Shariputra, in the land Sukhavati (there are) seven rows of
balustrades, seven rows of fine nets, and seven rows of arrayed trees;
they are all of four gems and surround and enclose (the land). For this
reason the land is called Sukhavati. 4,
'Again, Shariputra, in the land Sukhavati there are lakes of the seven
gems, in which is filled water with the eight meritorious qualities. The
lake-bases are strewn with golden sand, and the stairs of the four sides
are made of gold, silver, beryl, and crystal. On land there are stories
and galleries adorned with gold, silver, beryl, crystal, white coral, red
pearl and diamond [lit. agate]. The lotus-flowers in the lakes, large as
chariot wheels, are blue-colored with blue splendor, yellow-colored with
yellow splendor, red-colored with red splendor, white-colored with white
splendor, and (they are all) the most exquisite and purely fragrant.
Shariputra, the land Sukhavati is arrayed with such good qualities and
adornments. 5.
'Again, Shariputra, in that Buddha-land there are heavenly musical
instruments always played on; gold is spread on the ground; and six times
every day and night it showers Mandarava blossoms. Usually in the serene
morning lit. dawn] all of those who live in that land fill their plates
with those wonderful blossoms, and (go to) make offering to a hundred
thousand kotis of Buddhas of other regions; and at the time of the meal
they come back to their own country, and take their meal and have a walk.
Shariputra, the Sukhavati land is arrayed with such good qualities and
adornments. 6.
'And again, Shariputra, in that country there are always various wonderful
birds of different colors, -- swan, peacock, parrot, Chari, Kalavinka and
the bird of double-heads [lit. double-lives]. Six times every day and
night all those birds sing in melodious tune, and that tune proclaims the
Five Virtues [lit. organs], the Five powers, the Seven Bodhi-paths, the
Eight Noble Truths, and other laws of the kind. The living beings in that
land, having heard that singing, all invoke the Buddha, invoke the Dharma,
and invoke the Sangha. Shariputra, you should not think that these birds
are in fact born as punishment for sin. What is the reason? (Because), in
that Buddha-land there exist not the Three Evil Realms. Shariputra, in
that Buddha-land there are not (to be heard) even the names of the Three
Evil Realms. How could there be the realms themselves! All those birds are
what Buddha Amitayus miraculously created with the desire to let them
spread the voice of the Law. Shariputra, (when) in that Buddha-land a
gentle breeze happens to blow, the precious trees in rows and the begemmed
nets emit a delicate enrapturing tune, and it is just as if a hundred
thousand musical instruments played at the same time. Everybody who hears
that music naturally conceives the thought to invoke the Buddha, to invoke
the Dharma, and to invoke the Sangha. Shariputra, that Buddha-land is
arrayed with such good qualities and adornments. 7.
'Shariputra, what do you think in your mind, for what reason that Buddha
is called Amita(-abha)? Shariputra, the light of that Buddha is boundless
and shining without impediments all over the countries of the ten
quarters. Therefore he is called Amita(-abha). Again, Shariputra, the life
of that Buddha and of his people is endless and boundless in
Asamkhya-kalpas, so he is named Amita(-ayus). Shariputra, since Buddha
Amitayus attained Buddhahood, (it has passed) now ten Kalpas. Again,
Shariputra, that Buddha has numerous Shravakas or disciples, who are all
Arhats and whose number cannot be known by (ordinary) calculation. (The
number of) Bodhisattvas (cannot be known) also. Shariputra, that
Buddha-land is arrayed with such good qualities and adornments. 8.
'Again, Shariputra, the beings born in the land Sukhavati are all
Avinivartaniya. Among them is a multitude of beings bound to one birth
only; and their number, being extremely large, cannot be expressed by
(ordinary) calculation. Only can it be mentioned in boundless
Asamkhya-kalpas. Shariputra, the sentient beings who hear (this account)
ought to put up their prayer that they may be born into that country; for
they will be able to be in the same place together with those noble
personages. Shariputra, by means of small good works [lit. roots] or
virtues no one can be born in that country. 9.
'Shariputra, if there be a good man or a good woman, who, on hearing of
Buddha Amitayus, keeps his name (in mind) with thoughts undisturbed for
one day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days, or seven
days, that person, when about to die, (will see) Amitayus Buddha
accompanied by his holy host appear before him; and immediately after his
death, he with his mind undisturbed can be born into the Sukhavati land of
Buddha Amitayus. Shariputra, as I witness this benefit, I say these words;
Every being who listens to this preaching ought to offer up prayer with
the desire to be born into that country. 10.
'Shariputra, as I now glorify the inconceivable excellences of Amitayus
Buddha, there are also in the Eastern quarters Buddha Akshobhya, Buddha
Merudhvaja, Buddha Mahameru, Buddha Meruprabhasa, Buddha Manjughosha, and
Buddhas as many as the sands of the River Ganga, each of whom, in his own
country stretching out his long broad tongue that covers three thousand
greater worlds completely, proclaims these truthful words; All you
sentient beings believe in this Sutra, which is approved and protected by
all the Buddhas, and in which are glorified the inconceivable excellences
(of Buddha Amitayus). 11.
'Shariputra, in the Southern worlds there are Buddha Candrasuryapradipa,
Buddha Yacahprabha, Buddha Maharciskandha, Buddha Merupradipa, Buddha
Anantavirya, and Buddhas as many as the sands of the River Ganga, each of
whom, in his own country stretching out his long broad tongue that covers
three thousand greater worlds completely, proclaims these truthful words:
All you sentient beings believe in this Sutra, which is approved and
protected by all the Buddhas, and in which are glorified the inconceivable
excellences (of Buddha Amitayus). 12.
'Shariputra, in the Western worlds there are Buddha Amitayus, Buddha
Amitalakshana, Buddha Amitadhvaja, Buddha Mahaprabha, Buddha Mahanirbhasa,
Buddha Ratnala kshana, Buddha Shuddharashmiprabha, and Buddhas as many as
the sands of the River Ganga, each of whom, in his own country stretching
out his long broad tongue that covers three thousand greater worlds
completely, proclaims these truthful words: All you sentient beings
believe in this Sutra, which is approved and protected by all the Buddhas,
and in which are glorified the inconceivable excellences (of Buddha
Amitayus). 13.
'Shariputra, in the Northern worlds there are Buddha Arciskandha, Buddha
Vaishvanaranirghosha, Buddha Dushpradharsha, Buddha Adityasambhava, Buddha
Jaliniprabha, and Buddhas as many as the sands of the River Ganga, each of
whom, in his own country stretching out his long broad tongue that covers
three thousand greater worlds completely, proclaims these truthful words:
All you sentient beings believe in this Sutra, which is approved and
protected by all the Buddhas, and in which are glorified the inconceivable
excellences (of Buddha Amitayus). 14.
'Shariputra, in the Nadir worlds there are Buddha Simha, Buddha Yacas,
Buddha Yashaprabhava, Buddha Dharma, Buddha Dharmadhvaja, Buddha
Dharmadhara, and Buddhas as many as the sands of the River Ganga, each of
whom, in his own country stretching out his long broad tongue that covers
three thousand greater worlds completely, proclaims these truthful words:
All you sentient beings believe in this Sutra, which is approved and
protected by all the Buddhas, and in which are glorified the inconceivable
excellences (of Buddha Amitayus). 15.
'Shariputra, in the Zenith words there are Buddha Brahmaghosha, Buddha
Nakshatraraja, Buddha Gandhottama, Buddha Gandhaprabhasa, Buddha
Maharciskandha, Buddha Ratnakusumasampushpitagatra, Buddha Salendraraja,
Buddha Ratnotpalashri, Buddha Sarvarthadarsha, Buddha Sumerukalpa, and
Buddhas as many as the sands of the River Ganges (1), each of whom, in his
own country stretching out his long broad tongue that covers three
thousand greater worlds completely, proclaims these truthful words: All
you sentient beings believe in this Sutra, which is approved and protected
by all the Buddhas, and in which are glorified the inconceivable
excellences (of Buddha Amitayus). 16.
'Shariputra, what do you think in your mind, why it is called the Sutra
approved and protected by all the Buddhas? Shariputra, if there be a good
man or a good woman who listens to those Buddhas' invocation of the name
(of Buddha Amitayus) and the name of this Sutra, that good man or woman
will be protected by all the Buddhas and never fail to attain
Anuttara-samyaksambodhi. For this reason, Shariputra, all of you should
believe in my words and in what all the Buddhas proclaim. Shariputra, if
there are men who have already made, are now making, or shall make, prayer
with the desire to be born in the land of Buddha Amitayus, they never fail
to attain Anuttara-samyaksambodhi, and have been born, are now being born,
or shall be born in that country. Therefore, Shariputra, a good man or
good woman who has the faith ought to offer up prayers to be born in that
land. 17.
'Shariputra, as I am now praising the inconceivable excellences of those
Buddhas, so all those Buddhas are magnifying the inconceivable excellences
of myself, saying these words: Shakyamuni, the Buddha, has successfully
achieved a rare thing of extreme difficulty; he has attained
Anuttara-samyaksambodhi in the Saha world in the evil period of five
corruptions -- Corruption of Kalpa, Corruption of Belief, Corruption of
Passions, Corruption of Living Beings, and Corruption of Life; and for the
sake of all the sentient beings he is preaching the Law which is not easy
to accept. Shariputra, you must see that in the midst of this evil world
of five corruptions I have achieved this difficult thing of attaining
Anuttara-samyaksambodhi, and for the benefit of all the beings I am
preaching the Law which is difficult to be accepted. This is how it is
esteemed as (a thing of) extreme difficulty.' The
Buddha having preached this Sutra, Shariputra and Bhikshus, and Devas,
men, Asuras, etc., of all the worlds, who have listened to the Buddha's
preaching, believed and accepted with joy, made worship, and went away. Buddhabhashita-Amitayuh-Sutra Note: (1)
original reads "Ganga". |
