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THE
SMALLER SUKHAVATIVYUHA SUTRA
or
The
Sutra on the Buddha Amitayus
Kinh A Di ะเ
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". |
