Amitabha Sutra
Namo Sea Vast Lotus Pool Assembly of Buddhas And Boddhisttvas
Namo Sea Vast Lotus Pool Assembly of Buddhas And Boddhisttvas
Namo Sea Vast Lotus Pool Assembly of Buddhas And Boddhisttvas
THE BUDDHA SPEAKS OF AMITABHA SUTRA
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 solitary, together with a gathering of great Bhiksus
twelve hundred fifty in all , all great arhats whom the assembly knew and recognized;
elders Shariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakasyapa, Mahakatyayana, Mahakaushtila,
Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola-Bharadvaja,
Kalodayin, Mahakaphina, Vakkula, Aniruddha, and others such as these, all great Arhats;
together with all the Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas: Dharma Prince Manjushri, Ajita Bodhisattva, Gandhastin Bodhisattva.
Nityodukta Bodhisattva, annd 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 Budha told the elder Shariputra, "passing from here through hundreds of thousands od millions of Buddhalands to the West, there is a world called Ultimate Bliss.
in this land a Buddha called Amitabha right now teaches the dharma
Shariputra, for what reason is the land called Ultimate Bliss?
All living beings of this country endure none of the sufferings, but enjoy every bliss. Therefore it is called Ultimate Bliss.
Moreover, Shariputra, this land of Ultimate Bliss is everywhere surrounded by seven tiers of railings, seven layers of nettings, and seven rows of trees,
all formed from the four treasures and for this reason is named Ultimate Bliss.
Moreover, Shariputra, this land of Ultimate Bliss has pools of the seven jewels.
filled with the eight waters of merit and virtue. The bottom of each pool is pure, spread over with golden sand.
on the fours sides are stairs of gold, silver, lapis lazuli and crystals; above are raised pavillions
adorned with gold, silver, lapis lazuli and crystals, mother-of-pearl, red pearls and carnelian.
In the pools are lotuses as large as carriage wheels: green colored of green light; yellow colored of yellow light;
red colored of red light; white colored of white light; subtly, wonderfully fragrant and pure.
Shariputra, the realization of the land is thus meritoriously adorned.
Moreover, Shariputra, in that Buddhaland there is always heavenly music,
and the ground is yellow gold. In the six periods of the day and night a heavenly rain of Mandarava flowers falls, and throughout the clear morning each being of this land,
with sacks full of myriads of wonderful flowers, makes offerings to the hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhas of the other directions. At mealtime they return to their own country, and having eaten they stroll around.
Moreover, Shariputra, in this country there are always rare and wonderful varicolored birds:
white cranes, peacocks, parrots and egrets, kalavinkas, and two headed birds.
In the six periods of day and night, the flocks of birds sing forth harmonious and elegant sounds.
Their clear and joyful sounds proclaim the five roots, the five powers, the seven bodhi shares, the eight sagely way shares, and dharmas such as these.
When living beings of this land hear these sounds, 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 karmic offenses. For what reason?
In this Buddhaland there are no three evil ways of rebirth, Sahriputra, in this Buddhaland, not even the names of the three evil ways exist,
Transformation made this multitudes of birds.
Shariputra, in that Buddhaland, when the oft wind blows, the rows of jeweled trees and jeweled nets
give forth subtle and wonderful sounds, like one hundred thousand kinds of music played at the same time.
All those who hear this sound naturally bring forth in their hearts mindfullness of the Buddha, mindfullness of the Dharma, and mindfulness of the Sangha.
Shariputra, the realization, of this land of ultimate bliss is thus meritoriously adorned.
Shariputra, what do you think?
Why is this Buddha called Amitabha? Shariputra, the brilliance of that Buddha's light is measureless
illuminating the lands of the ten directions everywhere without obstruction; for this reason he is called Amitabha.
continuation
main page
