THE SUKHAVATI-VYUHA [AMITABHA SUTRA]

Originally translated from Sanskrit into Chinese by Kumarajva (384 C.E.). Re-translated from Chinese into English by Upasika Chihmann (Miss P. C. Lee).

I have been so told. Once, the Buddha was sojourning in the country of Sravasti, at the garden of Anathapindika, in the Jeta Grove, and with Him were twelve hundred and fifty great Bhikkhus all famous Arahans. Among them were Elder Sariputra, Maudgalyayana, Mahakasyapa, Mahakatyayana, Mahakaustila, Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola-Bharahaga, Kalodayi, Mahakpphina, Vakkla, Anirouda, such great disciples, also with many Maha-Bodhisattvas: Manjusri, The Prince of the Dharma; Bodhisattva Ajita, Bodhisattva Gandhahastin, and many others. Also infinite celestial beings including Indra Sakradevas were there. While the Buddha addressed Elder Sariputra thus: Passing over ten million Buddha-lands from here there is in the West a world named Sukhavati (the country of supreme happiness) where a Buddha known as Amitabha now preaches the Dharma (Law). O Sariputra, why is that world named “The Happiest One”? Because all beings dwelling there suffer no miseries whatsoever, but enjoy the fullest happiness. Therefore it is called Sukhavati.

The Sukhavati is surrounded with seven lines of ornamental railings, seven curtains of netted tapestries, and seven rows of precious trees arranged in order, all adorned with four kinds of gems. Therefore it is named Sukhavati.

Again, Sariputra, in the Sukhavati there is a lake of seven gems, flowing with the water of eight meritorious qualities; its bottom covered with pure golden sand; its four-sided banks and walks are composed of the precious gold, silver, lapis-lazuli, and crystal. Above tower the palaces of gold, silver, lapis-lazuli, crystal, beryl, red pearls and carnelian. In the lake there are lotus flowers as large as the cart-wheels in circumference, blue-coloured with blue radiance, yellow- coloured with yellow radiance, red-coloured with red radiance, white-coloured with white radiance; fair, pure, and fragrant. Thus, O Sariputra, is Sukhavati, brought to so glorious a state of excellence, through the merits of the Buddha Amitabha.

Again, O Sariputra, in that Buddha-land, celestial music often sounds. The heavenly mandarava-flowers six times in day and night whirl down upon the golden ground like a shower of rain. At dawn, the dwellers in this land receive and load their robes with these falling wondrous flowers, present them in reverent worship to a million Buddhas of other Buddha-fields, returning to their own land by the time for refreshment. O Sariputra, thus is Sukhavati, brought to so glorious a state of excellence, through the merits of the Buddha Amitabha.

Again, O Sariputra, in that land there are many kinds of wondrous birds in variegated colours: the crane, the peacock, the parrot, the swan, the jiva-jiva, and the kalavinka, and many others. Singing harmoniously day and night to proclaim the five roots of virtue, (Pantcha-Indryani), the five powers (Pantcha-Balani), the sevenfold path of Bodhi (Bodhyanga), and the eightfold path of holiness (Marga), and other such noble laws. These draw the thoughts of the dwellers to meditate on the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Think not, O Sariputra, that these birds are born through their evil karma. In this Buddha-country there are no three evil realms (i.e. animals, hungry ghosts, and the prisoners in Hell). How could such things exist where even the names of them are unknown? For the purpose of propagating the various sounds of Dharma that Buddha Amitabha brought these creatures into being, by apparitional birth.

O Sariputra, when in that Buddha-land the zephyrs fan the jewel-trees and the precious curtains into gentle motion, so emitting a fine and entrancing music, as from a thousand orchestras playing in harmony. And in the minds of all who hear these, there arises remembrance of the Buddha, of the Dharma, and of the Sangha. Thus O Sariputra, is Sukhavati brought to so glorious a state of excellence through the merits of the Buddha Amitabha.

What do you think O Sariputra, that the Buddha Amitabha is so named? (In Sanskrit “Amita” means infinite, and “abha” means splendour Ed.) It is so called because the splendour of the Buddha is infinite, illuminating without hindrance throughout the Buddha-lands in all the ten quarters. Also the life of this Buddha and of his people are eternal, and comparable only to Assamkhyeyas (infinite in number) of Kalpas. Therefore is the Buddha so named. Ten Kalpas only have passed away since he attained Buddhahood. With that Buddha, O Sariputra, there is a countless number of Sravaka-disciples. All of them have attained arhatship, and their number is beyond computation. So also is it with the Bodhisattvas. Thus O Sariputra, is Sukhavati brought to so glorious a state of excellence, through the merits of the Buddha Amitabha.

Again, O Sariputra, the persons born in Sukhavati are Avarvartyas (they never revert from the Bodhi). Among them are many Ekajati-Pratibuddhas (Buddha-elects) who attain thereto in one more life. Their number is comparable only to Assamkhyeyas of Kalpas.

Sariputra, all who hear this should make fervent aspiration to be re-born in that land, so that they may be in the company of such most virtuous beings. But Sariputra, one cannot be born there with insufficient root of merit or virtue, nor a lack of good nidana (previous good deeds and felicities). Sariputra, and virtuous man or virtuous woman, hearing the name of Amitabha and calling on his name for one day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days, and seven days, keeping their mind undisturbed, such, when they come to die will see before their eyes the vision of Buddha Amitabha and his retinue. If he or she keeps intently in mind the aspiration for rebirth in Sukhavati (Eliminating all desires for mundane things), such a one will inevitably be reborn in the happy land of the Buddha Amitabha. O Sariputra, in view of these advantages have I made given the counsel that all who hear this message should aspire to be born in that Buddha-land.

Sariputra, as I now praise the inestimable merits of the Buddha Amitabha, so in the East there are also other Buddhas such as the Buddha Akshobhya, the Buddha Merudhvaja, the Buddha Mahameru, the Buddha Meruprabhasa, and the Buddha Manjudhvaja and many others. The number of such Buddhas is incalculable even as the sand of the Ganga River. Each in his own country speaks forth the Truth with omnipotent tongue, in the hearing of three million chiliocosmos, saying: “May all sentient beings have faith in this sutra which extols the inconceivable blessings of Sukhavati, and which is guarded and favoured by all the Buddhas.

Sariputra so in the South, there are also the Buddha Chandra-suryapradipa, the Buddha Yasahprabha, the Buddha Maharchiskandha, the Buddha Merupradipa, the Buddha Anantavirya, and many other Buddhas equal in number to the sand of Ganga River. Each in his own country speaks forth the Truth with omnipresent tongue, in the hearing of three million chiliocosmos, saying: “May all sentient beings have faith in this sutra which glorifies the inconceivable blessings of Sukhavati, and which is favoured and guarded by all the Buddhas.

Sariputra, thus also in the West, there are Buddha Amitabha, the Buddha Amitaskandha, the Buddha Amitadhvaja, the Buddha Mahaprabha, the Buddha Maharatnaketu, the Buddha Suddharasmiprabha, and many other Buddhas, equal in number to the sand of the River Ganga, each in his own country speaks forth the Truth with omnipresent tongue, in the hearing of three million chiliocosmos, saying: “May all sentient beings have faith in this sutra which glorifies the inconceivable blessings of Sukhavati, and which is favoured and guarded by all the Buddhas.

Sariputra, thus also in the North there are the Buddha Archiskandha, the Buddha Vaisvanaranirghosha, the Buddha Dushpradharsha, the Buddha Adityasambhava, the Buddha Jaleniprabha, and many other Buddha, equal in number to the sand of the Ganga River, each in his own country speaks forth the Truth with omnipresent tongue, in the hearing of three million chiliocosmos, saying: “May all sentient beings have faith in this sutra which praises the inconceivable merits of Sukhavati, which is favoured and guarded by all the Buddhas.

Sariputra, thus also in the Nadir, there are Buddha Simha, Buddha Yasas, Buddha Yasahprabhava, Buddha Dharma, Buddha Dharmadhvaja, Buddha Dharmadhara, and many other Buddhas, equal in number to the sand of Ganga River, each in his own country speaks forth the Truth with omnipresent tongue, in the hearing of three million chiliocosmos, saying: “May all sentient beings have faith in this sutra which eulogizes the incomprehensible merit of Sukhavati, which is favoured and guarded by all the Buddhas.

Sariputra, there are in the Zenith, the Buddha Brahmaghosha, Buddha Nakshatraraja, Buddha Gandhottama, Buddha Gandhaprabhasa, Maharchiskandha, Buddha Ratnakusumasampushpitagtra, Buddha Salendraraja, Buddha Ratnotpalasri, Buddha Saruarthadarsa, Buddha Sumerukalpa and many other Buddhas, equal in number to the sand of Ganga River, each in his own country speaks forth the Truth with omnipresent tongue, in the hearing of three million chiliocosmos, saying: “May all sentient beings have faith in this sutra which glorifies the incomprehensible merits of Sukhavati, which is favoured and guarded by all the Buddhas.

Now, Sariputra, what think you is the reason why this sutra is entitled “The Sutra favoured and guarded by all the Buddhas”? Sariputra, every virtuous man or virtuous woman who recites this Sutra, and who hears the names of the Buddhas therein, such are protected and favoured by all the Buddhas, and will never lose the knowledge of the Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi (the supreme wisdom).

Therefore, Sariputra, all should accept and have faith in my counsel, and that of all other Buddhas, for one who has vowed, or is now vowing, or shall vow, that they will be born in the paradise of Amitabha such shall never lose the Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi.

This is true of all beings those who have been in existence, those now being born, and those who shall be born. So, Sariputra, all virtuous men and virtuous women should have the desire to be born in the paradise of Amitabha, if they will trust this sutra.

Sariputra, as I now glorify the inconceivable merits of all those Buddhas, so also, they praise mine by saying: “Sakyamuni Buddha has performed a difficult task, a unique undertaking. In spite of the five kinds of defilement of this evil world: the defilement of the present age (kalpa), the defilement of erroneous views, the defilement of passions, the defilement of various beings, the defilement of destiny (Karma), he is yet able to attain the Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi in this Saha World (the World of sufferings), and for all beings preaches this Law (Pure Land Doctrine) which the people of all worlds are inclined to doubt, and which it is difficult to convince them to accept.

Sariputra, you should understand it is very difficult for me to perform such a difficult task of preaching this Law in this incredulous age, and amidst the five kinds of corruption of the Saha-worid, where I attained the Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi.

And having listened to the preaching of this sutra the Elder Sariputra, all the Bhikkhus, the realms of mankind, of Devas, and Asuras, accepted Buddha’s speech with joy, and prepared to practise the teaching. And having made their obeisances to the World Honoured One, then departed.

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1.An Outline of the Pure Land Doctrine. Introduction

2.Sypnosis of the Aparimitayus Sutra(Larger Sutra on Amitayus) Including the 48 Vows of Amitabha Buddha

3.A part of the Amitayur Dhyana Sutra(Contemplation Sutra)

4.The Sukhavati-Vyuha(Amitabha Sutra)

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