Translation by a PureLander

The Buddha’s Teaching on the Sutra of Awakening to the Equanimity, Pure Adornment of the Immeasurable Lifespan of the Great Vehicle

Acknowledgements

According to the prediction of Sakyamuni Buddha, ‘The Buddha’s Teaching On The Sutra Of Awakening To The Equanimity, Pure Adornment Of The Immeasurable Lifespan Of The Great Vehicle’ will be the last Sutra to disappear from the Earth after the extinction of all other Sutras. Whoever has the chance to encounter, read and practice this Dharma Door will cross over the sea of sufferings to the Land of Ultimate Bliss. I humbly hope that this translation will benefit those beings who are revolving on the six paths. And may they be able to awaken to the pure and true mind by practising this Dharma Door diligently, and ultimately arrive at the other shore.

The State of the Buddha is inconceivable indeed. This translation represents my understanding of the meaning of this sutra. And I hope that those who have the chance to see the sutra, read it, recite it, uphold it, put it into practice and effort others to do will arrive at the Pure Land, certify to the Patience of The Dharma of No-birth and return to the Saha world to teach it to all sentient beings.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Good knowing Advisers, without their assistance and support; this sutra could not have been produced smoothly. And lam greatly indebted to my parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends who in one way or another help to smoothen the translation at its initial and final stages.

May all sentient beings arrive at the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss swiftly.

Amitabha Buddha!

The translator

VERSES FOR THE OPENING OF THE SUTRA

The Profound and Unsurpassed Wonderful Dharma,

Is difficult to Encounter in hundreds and thousands of kalpas.

Now I have the chance to see, listen to, receive and uphold The Dharma,

May I deeply understand the true meaning of The Thus Come One.

Chapter 1 The Sagely Dharma Assembly

Thus I have heard at one time, The Buddha was at Mount Grdhrakuta at the City of Royal Palace together with an assembly of bhikshus, twelve thousands in number, and a whole assembly of great sages, everyone possessing spiritual penetration.

They were the Honoured One Kondana, Honoured One Shariputra, Honoured One Maudgalyayana , Honoured One Kasyapa, Honoured One Amanda and others, who acted as the leaders of the Great Sages. Also present were Samantabhadra Bodhisattva Manjushri Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva, and all the Bodhisattvas in the Worthy Kalpa who came together to the assembly.

Chapter 2 The Virtuous Practice in Accord with Samantabhadra Bodhisattva

And also present were Worthy Protection Bodhisattva and the sixteen Great Beings. They were The Bodhisattva of Good Thought, The Bodhisattva of Wisdom Eloquence, The Bodhisattva of Contemplation of Non-Dwelling, The Bodhisattva of Spiritual Penetration Flower, The Bodhisattva of Bright Flowers, The Bodhisattva of Still Roots, The Bodhisattva of Wisdom in Faith, The Bodhisattva of Wisdom in Vows, The Bodhisattva of Fragrant Elephants, The Bodhisattva of Precious Flowers, The Bodhisattva of Dwelling in the Middle, The Bodhisattva of Well Controlled Practice and The Bodhisattva of Liberty, who were acting as the Great Leaders of assembly. All of them followed the practice of the Great Universal Worthy and perfected the immeasurable practices and vows. Dwelling in the midst of all kinds of virtuous Dharmas, they travelled to the ten directions. They practised the expedient skills in means and entered the Buddha Dharma Store. They vowed to attain the Buddhahood in uncontrollable realms and ultimately arrived at the other shore.

Leaving the Tushita Heaven, they were born in the palaces. Then they renounced the throne of the King and left the home life. They practised the path through great sufferings. They revealed such practices in order to follow the ways of the World. With the power of concentrated wisdom, they subdued Mara and the Demons. Thus they were able to obtain the wonderful Dharma and attained the Supreme Proper Enlightenment.

Gods and people take refuge with them and request them to turn the Dharma Wheel. Their constant Dharma sounds awaken the world so that all beings are able to leave their worries and anger behind. They learn to subdue their sensual desires and wash away their defilements. Their bright and pure self-nature is then revealed. They are able to subdue living beings by preaching the wonderful principles. They store their merits and virtues and reveal the fields of blessings.

By using all kinds of Dharma medicines, they are able to save and cure the triple sufferings. They are at the position of Anointing The Crown and are able to give the prediction of Buddhahood to the other Bodhisattvas. Their practices and teaching are constantly protective and mindful of them. They can manifest and reveal themselves in all Buddhalands. Just like the good magicians who can reveal different types of manifestations, but in reality there are no real forms. These Bodhisattvas are also like that. They thoroughly penetrate the Dharma Nature, thus they are able to understand the forms of living beings. They make offerings to all The Buddhas, teach and lead all sentient beings to follow the proper path. They are able to transform and reveal their bodies just as fast as the lightnings. They break up Mara’s net of Evil Views and free living beings from all kinds of attachments. Far surpassing the groups of Sound Hearers and the Pratyeka Buddhas, they are able to enter the Dharma Doors of emptiness, no forms and no vows. With good skills in means, they are able to reveal the Three Vehicles. Then among the beings of medium and small roots, they appear to enter Nirvana.

They are able to obtain the samadhi of no birth, no extinction and all kinds of dharanis. At any time, they can awaken to and enter the samadhi of Flower Adornment and uphold completely the hundreds and thousands kinds of samadhis. Dwelling in deep concentration, they are able to see immeasurable Buddhas. And within a single thought, they travel pervasively to all the Buddhalands. They obtain the eloquence of The Buddhas and dwell in the practices of Samanthabhadra conduct. They are good at differentiating the speech of living beings. They open, transform and reveal clearly the Ultimate Truth which surpasses all the worldly dharmas.

Their minds constantly dwell in the path of leaving the Triple Realms and so are able to be great ease as one wishes when dwelling amongst the myriad things in the worlds. Without being asked, they befriend the different kinds of beings. They accept and uphold The Thus Come One’s deep Dharma Store, protect The Buddha Nature, ensuring that it will not be cut off. They are greatly compassionate, showing great pity on sentient beings. They speak with a kind eloquence and help the beings to open their Dharma Eyes. Closing the doors to the evil destinies, they open and reveal the wholesome path. They treat the living beings just as they would themselves, by saving and helping them to arrive at the other shore.

Thus they are able to obtain the immeasurable merits and virtues of the Sagely Buddhas. They also possess the clear, sagely, inconceivable wisdom. All these Bodhisattva Mahasattva who are uncountable in numbers all arrived and gathered at the same time. And also present were the five hundred Bhikshunis, seven thousand laymen with pure faith, and five hundred laywomen with pure faith, the beings of Heaven of Forms Realm, and all the pure beings from Brahma Heaven came to join the great assembly.

Chapter 3 The Causal Condition For The Great Teaching

At that time, The World Honoured One emitted a light of bright illumination, just like the brilliance of pure liquid gold. And also like the clear mirror, which can reflect the images that are clear as the objects. He revealed the bright illumination, which changed in hundreds of thousands of times.

The Honourable Ananda was then thinking to himself, “Today The World Honoured One looks pure and blissful in both His form body and the six roots. From his face He emits such brilliant lights and His Jewelled Land is also purely adorned.”

From the past till now, he had never seen such a transformation, so he gazed in adoration at The World Honoured One And with a heart of deep gratitude, he got up from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt down and put his palm together. Then he asked The Buddha, ” Today, The World Honoured One has entered The Samadhi of Great Stillness, dwelling in the very special Dharma, dwelling in the practice as leaders of Buddhas, dwelling on Unsurpassed Way. The Buddha of the past, present, and future are mindful of each other. Is The World Honoured One mindful of the Buddha of the past, future, or is He mindful of the Buddhas who are presently dwelling in other directions? Why is The World Honoured shining with such powerful and wonderful brightness? I hope that The World Honoured One will tell us.”

Then The World Honoured One told Ananda, “Good indeed! Good indeed! Out of the pity for living beings, you wished to make them joyful and obtain great benefits. That is why you are able to ask such subtle meanings. Your present question is much better than making offerings to a whole world of Arhats and Pratyeka Buddhas, better than giving donations through many kalpas to those beings in the heaven and on the earth, and to those beings that fly, crawl or move in other ways. Your merits and virtues are hundreds and thousands of millions of ties greater than the donations and offerings made. Why is it of such greatness? The reason is that the future generations of heavenly and earthly beings and all living beings with senses will be able to obtain liberation from birth and death because of your question. Ananda, The Thus Come One is full of endless compassion. He has great pity for the Triple Realms. Because of His compassionate heart, The Buddha appears in the world to extensively and clearly teach the paths to liberation, saving them from the sea of suffering and giving them the true benefits. The Thus Come One is difficult to meet or see, just like the Udumbara flower which rarely blooms. Your present question is of great benefit. Ananda, you should know that The Thus Come One, The Proper Enlighten One is of unfathomable wisdom. He has no obstacles and in a single thought, he can dwell in innumerable billions of kalpas. His body and the six roots are neither increase nor decrease. Why is it? The Thus Come One’s concentration and wisdom are limitless and free of obstructions. Because in all the Dharmas, He can obtain the most supreme ease. Ananda, listen carefully and be mindful of my words. I will explain to you in details.

Chapter 4 The Causal Ground of Dharma Store

The Buddha told Ananda, “In immeasurable, inconceivable innumerable kalpas ago, there was a Buddha who appeared in the world. His name was The Thus Come One Who Is The King of Great Ease in the World; One Worthy of Offerings; The Equal and Proper Enlightened One; Who is perfect in Wisdom and Practice; Who is skillful in leaving the World through liberation; Who understands the World; The Unsurpassed Teacher; Taming Hero; The Teacher of Gods and People; The Buddha; The World Honoured One. He was teaching in the world for forty-two kalpas. At that time, The Buddha was teaching the Sutras and Ways of Practice to the beings in the Heaven and on Earth. There was a Great King, his name was The King Who Benefits the World. Listening to The Buddha, he was filled with joy. He thoroughly understood the deep meanings and bring forth the true and unsurpassed mind to practice the Way. His Dharma Name was Dharma Store. He cultivated the Bodhisattva Path with true wisdom and great courage. He far surpassed the people in the world. His faith, understanding and memory were always in accord with the Only One Ultimate Truth. He was also unsurpassed in practices, vows and had obtained powerful mindfulness and wisdom that enhanced his mind. He was firm, solid and unmoving. He cultivated the way vigorously. No one in the world was able to surpass his efforts. He went to the place where the Buddha dwelt. After making obeisance, he knelt down, respectfully put his palms together in front of The Buddha. He praised The Buddha and brought forth the inconceivable vows. He praised The Buddha thus:

‘The Thus Come One’s form is wonderfully and subtly adorned,

No one in the world is equal in comparison.

He emits immeasurable bright lights that illuminate ten directions,

Even the lights from the sun, the moon, fire and pearls are pale in comparison.

The World Honoured One in uttering a single sound,

Is able to make all kinds of beings understand according to their faculties.

He is also able to appear in one subtle form,

And pervasively makes living beings see Him appear as different forms.

May I obtain the pure sound of the Buddha,

To expound the Dharmas pervasively to innumerable realms.

To widely teach the Dharma doors of precepts, concentration and vigor,

To deeply penetrate and understand the subtle Dharma.

May my wisdom be as wide and great like the depp sea,

May my heart be pure and free of worldly worries,

And thus able to surpass the uncountable doors of evil paths.

Swiftly may I arrive at the ultimate shore of Bodhi,

May I forever be free of delusion, greed and hatred,

And obtain the powerful samadhi that is forever absent of wrong views and deeds.

Also like the innumerable Buddhas of the past,

May I become the great leader and teacher of all living beings,

And be able to save all the beings in the world,

So that they will be free from birth, old age, sickness, death, and all anxieties.

May I always practise the six paramitas,

Namely giving, precepts, patience, diligence, concentration, and wisdom.

I shall cross over those sentient beings who are still in the sea of sufferings.

Those who are practising the way will be brought to accomplish Buddhahood.

If one were to make offerings to the sages like the sand in the Ganges,

It is still uncomparable to seeking the Proper Enlightenment with determination and courage.

I vow that I will always dwell in samadhi,

Forever emitting lights to illuminate all.

Thus I will be able to obtain a wide, great and pure dwelling,

A land that is subtly adored with no comparison,

All those living beings who are turning on the six paths,

Will quickly be born in my Land to enjoy peace and bliss.

I will ever be compassionate to save the sentient beings,

And may I be able to cross over all the limitless living beings who are in the sea of sufferings.

I have decided to practise the way firmly and solidly,

Only The Buddha with sagely wisdom is able to know and certify it.

Even if my body were to undergo all kinds of sufferings,

I will never retreat from my vows.’

Chapter 5 The Sincere, Pure And Vigorous Mind

“After Dharma Store Bhikshu had finished saying the verses, he said to the Buddha, ‘I now bring forth the mind of Unsurpassed Proper Enlightenment and determined to practice the Bodhisattva Path. I vow to become a Buddha to teach living beings to become Buddhas. I pray that the Buddha will extensively teach me the profound Sutras and Dharmas. I will uphold and practise according to the Dharma, so as to uproot all the bitter roots fo birth and death and swiftly achieve The Unsurpassed, Proper and Equal Enlightenment.

I vow that when I become a Buddha, the wisdom light that I have attained and the land where I dwell, the Names of the Teachers, would be heard by beings in the ten directions. All the living beings in the Heaven and Earth and the tiny crawling beings, when they are born in my Land, will surely become Bodhisattvas.

I make such a vow that far surpassed others in the other Buddhalands. Will I be able to accomplish it?’

The Buddha, Who is The King of Great Ease in the World, for the sake of Dharma Store, expounded the Sutra, ‘Just like the great sea, if one were to measure it through uncountable kalpas, one would still be able to reach the bottom of the sea.

If a man were to seek the Way wholeheartedly, practising vigorously without cease, such a one would certainly achieve the fruit of Enlightenment. Whatever vows he has made would certainly be achieved. Think of it yourself, what are the expedient ways of practices to accomplish the vows of achieving an adorned Buddhaland? As you should know of your cultivation, so you should be able to obtain the Pure Buddhaland by your own efforts.’ Dharma Store said ‘Such meanings are indeed magnificent and deep. These states are beyond my understanding. I only hope that The Thus Come One, The One with Proper and Pervasive Knowledge would expansively expound the immeasurable, beautifully adorned Buddhalands.

If I were to hear of such Dharmas, I would be mindful of them and cultivate diligently so as to achieve my vows.

The Buddha, Who is The King of Great Ease in the World, knows that he is indeed a man of great wisdom, and that his vows are deep and wide. So He expounded to Him the two hundreds and ten billions Buddhalands, showed and explained to Him the appearance of the great and extensive lands that are formed from merits adn virtues, with pure adornments that are fully accomplished, so as to help him fulfill his vows.

Since the Buddha spoke The Dharma, thousands of billions of years have passed. When Dharma Store listened to The Buddha, he was able to see all the Buddhalands clearly, and he brought forth The Unsurpassed Wonderful Vows. Ultimately, he was mindful of the good and evils of Gods and Humans and the Lands that they dwell in which were either coarse or gentle. He recollected his mind together and eventually made the great vows after choosing carefully what he desired. He diligently seeked for the adornment of his Land by maintaining and upholding the practices respectfully and carefully. He cultivated merits and virtues for five full kalpas. He could clearly penetrate and understand the merits and virtues and adornments of those twenty-one kotis Buddhalands, just as though they were one Buddhaland. The Buddhaland that would be accomplished by Him far surpasses those Buddhalands. After he had made up his mind on the accomplishment of his Land, he again went to the dwelling of The Thus Come One, Who is The King of Great Ease in the World. He made obeisance and bowed respectfully at His feet.

Then he circumambulated The Buddha three times. Respectfully he put his palms together, standing upright and said, ‘World Honoured One, I have already decided on the pure practices that will bring to accomplishment the adornments of my Buddhaland.’

The Buddha said, ‘Good indeed! Now is the time to speak fully of your vows, so that all the living beings would rejoice. Also, when the great assembly listens to the Dharma, they would obtain great benefits. They would then be able to practise and obtain the Buddhaland by fulfilling immeasurable great vows.’”

Chapter 6 Bringing Forth Of Great Vows

“Dharma Store Bodhisattva then said, ‘I hope that The World Honoured One would listen with great compassion. If I were to certify to the Unsurpassed Bodhi and attain The Proper Enlightenment, my Buddhaland would be full of immeasurable, inconceivable merits, virtues and adornments. There would be no hell beings, hungry ghosts, birds and animals and the tiny minute creatures that fly, crawl and move in different ways. All living beings and those born in the Realms of Fiery Mara, the three evil paths, when they are born in my Buddhaland, accept and are transformed by my Dharmas will certainly achieve Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. They will never again fall into the evil paths. When I have accomplished such vows, only then will I become a Buddha. If I am unable to accomplish such vows, I will not attain The Unsurpassed Proper Enlightenment.

(1. vowing that the land is free from evil paths;

2. vowing that the living beings will never again fall into evil paths.)

When I become a Buddha, all those living beings throughout the worlds in ten directions, when they are born in my Buddhaland, each will obtain a purplish pure golden body which is adorned with the thirty-two marks of a great man. Their bodies will be upright and pure in appearance. Everyone will be of the same kind. If there are differences in their bodies and features, that is some who are good looking and some who are ugly, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(3. vowing that the living beings will each obtain a golden body.

4. vowing that they will obtain thirty-two great man features.

5. vowing that the living beings are of the same kind.)

When I become a Buddha, all living beings born in my Land will be able to know their former lives in unaccountable kalpas, all the good and bad deeds they did. And they can see clearly and listen thoroughly. They are able to know the events in the past, present or future of the ten directions. If I am unable to accomplish such vows. I would not be certified to The Proper Enlightenment.

(6. vowing that the beings will obtain the penetration of former lives.

7. vowing that the beings will obtain the penetration of Heavenly Eyes.

8. vowing that the beings will obtain the penetration of Heavenly Ears.)

When I become a Buddha, all the living beings born in my Land can obtain the penetration of knowing others’ minds. If they are unable to know the minds of living beings in the billions of Nayutas of hundreds and thousands Buddhalands away, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(9. vowing that the beings will obtain the penetration of others’ minds.)

When I become a Buddha, all the living beings born in my Land will be able to obtain paramitas, self-ease and spiritual penetration. IN one single thought, if they are unable to pervasively make offerings in the succession to all The Buddhas in the Buddhalands which are more than billions Nayutas of hundreds and thousands away, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(10. vowing that the living beings will obtain the spiritual penetration.

11. vowing that the living beings will be able to pervasively making offerings to all The Buddhas.)

When I become a Buddha, all the living beings born in my Land will forever leave the minds of discrimination. Their six roots will be still and quiet. If they are uncertain to attain The Proper Enlightenment, and certify to the Great Nirvana, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(12. vowing that the living beings will surely accomplish Buddhahood.)

When I become a Buddha, immeasurable bright lights will be emitted and pervasively illuminate the ten directions. The lights will be brighter than the other Buddhas’ lights, much brighter than lights from the sun and moon by thousands of millions of times. If a living being were to see my lights which shine on his body, he will always be happy and peaceful. He will practise wholesome deeds with a compassionate heart and be born in my Land.

(13. vowing that He will obtain immeasurable bright lights.

14. vowing that the living being will be serene and blissful when they encounter the lights.)

When I become a Buddha, my lifespan would be limitless. There will be innumerable Sound Hearers and Heavenly Beings in my Land. Their lifespans will also be limitless. If all the living beings in The Three Thousand, Great Thousand World System were to attain the Conditioned Enlightenment, and if they were to count and compare the number of Sound Hearers and Heavenly Beings in my Land in hundreds and thousands of kalpas, and are able to know the number, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(15. vowing that the living being will obtain immeasurable lifespan.

16. vowing that there will have uncountable Sound Hearers.)

When I become a Buddha, if all The Buddhas in the uncountable Buddhalands in the world system in ten directions do not praise my Name, and talk about my merits and virtues and the goodness of my Buddhaland, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(17. vowing that all The Buddhas will praise His Name.)

When I become a Buddha, the living beings in the ten directions, when they hear of my Name, sincerely and happily have faith in my Name and in every thought transfer all their good roots so as to be born in my Land. If there are only ten such thoughts and if they are unable to be born in my Land, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment. Excepting those who have committed the five evil deeds and who have slandered The Proper Dharma.

(18. vowing that living beings are certainly to obtain a rebirth in his Land if they are able to be mindful of Him in ten successive thoughts.)

When I become a Buddha, the living beings in the ten directions, when they have heard of my Name, will bring forth the Bodhi Resolve. They will cultivate all kinds of merits and virtues, uphold and practise the six paramitas firmly, solidly and with no retreat. Again they will transfer all their good roots and vow to be born in my Land. They will be mindful of me wholeheartedly throughout the days and nights unceasingly. When their lifespans come to an end, together with all Bodhisattvas. I will appear in front of them. In just a fraction of a second, they will be born in my Land and become the non-retreating Bodhisattvas. If I am unable to obtain such vows, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(19. vowing that when the living beings will bring forth the Bodhi Resolve when they have heard of His Name.

20. vowing that He will welcome the living beings to His Land when they are to leave their present lifespan.)

When I become a Buddha, living beings in the ten directions, when they hear of my Name, will be mindful of my Land and bring forth the firm, solid and non-retreating Bodhi Mind. They will plant all the virtuous good roots and transfer their merits sincerely so as to be born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. And all of them will be able to achieve their wishes. If formerly they had done evil deeds, once they have heard of my Name, they will feel regretful of their past evil deeds and change their ways to follow the wholesome path. They will uphold the sutras and precepts and vow to be born in my Land. When their lifespans come to an end, they will not be reborn in the three evil paths but will be born in my Land. If such vows were not realized, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(21. vowing that living beings will be reborn in His Land when they realize of their mistakes and reform.)

When I become a Buddha, there will have no female in my Land. If there is a wise woman, when she has heard of my Name, she will obtain pure faith and bring forth the Bodhi Heart. She will dislike the body of a woman and wish to be born in my Land. At the end of her life, she will be transformed into a man and be reborn in my Land. All the living beings in the worlds in ten directions, when they are born in my Land will all be born from transformations from the lotus flowers in the pools of seven gems. If such vows were not accomplished, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(22. vowing that the Land consists of no female.

23. vowing that the woman will dislike her present form body and will be born as a man in His Land.

24. vowing that living beings will be born from transformation in the lotus flower.)

When I become a Buddha, living beings in the ten directions, when they hear my Name, will joyously believe, make obeisance and take refuge with me. With a pure mind they will cultivate the Bodhisattva conducts. All the beings in the Heaven and on earth will be respectful of them. If they were to hear of my Name. after they have passed away, they will be reborn into respectable, honourable families. All their roots would be full with no deformities. They will constantly cultivate the very special pure conducts. If such vows could not be accomplished, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(25. vowing that the heavenly and earthly beings will be respectful to them.

26. vowing that the living beings will obtain blessings when they have heard of His Name.

27. vowing that living beings will cultivate specially wonderful pure conducts.)

When I become a Buddha, there will be no evil names in my Land. All the living beings, when they are born in my Land will be of the same mind and dwell in right concentration. They will forever be free from all heated afflictions. Their hearts will be filled with purity and coolness. The bliss that they were to arise in them the thought of greedy attachment to their bodies, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(28. vowing that the Land is free from all evils.

29. vowing that the living beings will dwell in The Proper Concentration.

30. vowing that the bliss is the same as the extinction of all outflows.

31. vowing that living beings will not be greedy fro self benefit.)

When I become a Buddha, those who are born in my Land are of innumerable good roots. All of them will obtain the Vajra Indestructible Bodies which are firm, solid and powerful. The top of their heads will emit bright lights which shine brilliantly. And they will achieve all wisdom and obtain wonderful eloquence. They are good at discussing the secret points in all Dharmas.When they are reciting the sutras and practising the Way, their voices sound like echo of the bell. If such vows were not accomplished, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(32. vowing that the living beings will obtain the Vajra Indestructible Bodies.

33. vowing the living beings will obtain brilliant light and wonderful eloquence.

34. vowing that living beings are good at discussing the important Dharmas.)

When I become a Buddha, all the living beings born in my Land will ultimately arrive at the position of only one birth before Buddhahood. Provided they vow to save living beings, they would be armed with great vows to teach and transform all the sentient beings, so that all will bring forth the faith to cultivate the Bodhi conduct and practise the path of Smantabhadra Bodhisattva. Even though such beings are being born in other worlds, they will forever be free from the Evil Paths. May be some would like to speak the Dharma, some would like to listen to Dharma or some may appear to have the spiritual power. Everyone of them will practise according to their wish, and none will be unable to accomplish them. If I am unable to accomplish such vows, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(36. vowing that living beings will be free to teach and transform other beings.)

When I become a Buddha, those born in my Land will obtain food, drinks, clothing and various kinds of offerings. Just as they wish for, these things would appear before them. None would be unable to fulfill their vows. The Buddha in the ten directions would accept their offerings just in the space of a thought. If such vows were not accomplished, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(37. vowing that the clothes and food will appear as one has wished for them.

38. vowing that all The Buddhas will received their offerings in the space of such a thought.)

When I become a Buddha, all the myriad things in my Land will be purely adorned, with beautiful lights and of special forms and colours, to such an extent of wonder that none would be able to exhaust talking about them. Those living beings, even if they have obtained the heavenly eyes, are able to differentiate their forms and colours, the colourful lights and their appearances, their names and numbers, and to talk about them generally, then I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(39. vowing that the adornments will be inexhaustible.)

When I become a Buddha, they will be uncountable colourful trees in my Land. Some are hundreds and thousands of yojanas in height. The height of the trees in the Way Place is four hundred million miles. Amongst the Bodhisattvas, even those whose good roots are not so deep, they could also see them clearly. If they wish to see the pure, adorned Buddhalands of the other Buddhas, they can see them among the Jewel Trees, just like seeing the clear mirror where one would be able to see one’s face clearly. If such vows were not accomplished, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(40. vowing that the trees are of different and uncountable colours.

41. vowing that all the Buddhalands will appear among the trees.)

When I become a Buddha, the Buddhaland where I dwell will be vast and purely adorned. It will shine brilliantly just like a mirror. The lights will illuminate clearly immeasurable, innumerable, inconceivable Buddhas’ World Realms in the ten directions. When the living beings see the lights, there will arise in them the rare mind. If the vows were not accomplished, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(42. vowing that the lights of the Land will thoroughly illuminate the ten directions.)

When I become a Buddha, the palaces and towers, the ponds and the streams, the flower trees and the myriads things in my Land, stretching down to the edge of the Land and up to the empty space will be composed from immeasurable precious fragrance. The fragrance will pervasively perfume the worlds in the ten directions. When living beings smell the fragrance, all of them will cultivate the practices of the Buddha. If such vows were not achieved. I will not certify to The Proper Enlightenment.

(43. vowing that the precious fragrance will pervasively perfume the ten directions.)

When I become a Buddha, the Bodhisattva assemblies in the Buddhalands in the ten directions, when they hear of my Name, are all able to obtain the Samadhi of Purity, the Samadhi of Liberation and the Samadhi of Pervasive Equanimity. They will completely uphold the deep mantras and dwell in samadhi, until they become the Buddhas. In their deep concentration, they are always able to make offerings to innumerable, uncountable Buddhas and will never lose their concentration. If these vows were not accomplished. I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(44. vowing that the living beings will obtain the Pervasive Equanimity Samadhi.

45. vowing that all living beings will be able to make offerings to all the Buddhas in their Samadhi.)

When I become a Buddha, the Bodhisattva assemblies in the worlds in other directions, when they hear of my Name, will be able to certify to the Dharma of No Birth and obtain the Dharanis. Their hearts will be pure and happy and dwell in the ind of equanimity. They cultivate the Bodhisattva conduct and will obtain the virtuous roots fully. In time if they were unable to obtain the first, second and third stages of patience, and were unable in the present time to certify to the position of Non-retreating in all Buddhadharmas, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.

(46. vowing that the living beings will obtain Dharanis.

47. vowing that the living beings will obtain the patience when they hear of His Name.

48. vowing that the living beings will arrive at the position of Non-retreating presently.)

Chapter 7 Will Definitely Accomplish Proper Enlightenment

The Buddha told Ananda, “At that time, after the Dharma Store Bhikshu had finished saying the vows, He put forth the following verses,

I bring forth the Vows that surpass the world,

And vow to attain the Unsurpassed Path.

If the Vows were not fully fulfilled,

I vow not to attain the Proper Enlightenment.

I will become the greatest donor,

To relieve pervasively those who are poor and needy,

So that all those beings,

Will be freed of worries and anxieties in the long nights of birth and death,

And arise in them all good roots,

And finally they will achieve The Fruition of Bodhi.

If I were to attain The Proper Enlightenment,

Immeasurable Lifespan is to be my Name.

When the living beings hear of my Name,

All will be born in my Land.

They will obtain a golden body just like The Buddha,

Whose features are wonderfully and fully adorned.

They will bring forth the Great Compassionate Heart,

To benefit all living beings,

They will dwell in deep and proper mindfulness and leave all sensual desires behind.

With pure wisdom they will cultivate the Pure Conducts.

May my lights of wisdom,

Pervasively illuminate the Lands in the ten directions,

Eradicating the impurity and darkness of the three Evil Paths.

May my lights relieve those in great troubles, difficulties and dangers,

So that all will renounce the sufferings of three Evil Paths

And put an end those darkness of afflictions.

May all beings open their Eyes of Wisdom,

And obtain a body that shines brightly,

Closing forever the Evil Paths,

May they penetrate and arrive at the door of wholesome paths.

I will open the Dharma Stores for all living beings,

And extensively give the gems of merits and virtues.

I will obtain the unobstructed wisdom like The Buddha,

And cultivate the practices of kind compassion just like Him.

I will always be the Teacher of Men and Gods,

And become The Hero of The Triple Realms.

I will speak Dharma like The Roar of a Lion,

And widely cross over all sentient beings.

I will fully accomplish my former Vows,

That all beings will become Buddhas.

If my vows were to come to fruition,

The Great Thousand World System should express their deep feeling of gratitude,

All those Gods in the Empty Space,

Should rain down precious pearly flowers.’”

The Buddha told Ananda, “When The Dharma Store Bhikshu had finished saying the verses, immediately The Land pervasively shook in six ways, The Heavens rained down the precious flowers on Him to make offerings. There sprang up naturally music in Empty Space, praising thus, ‘He is certainly to accomplish the Unsurpassed Proper Enlightenment.’”

Chapter 8 Accumulating Merits And Virtues

“Ananda, after Dharma Store Bhikshu brought forth such magnificent vows in front of The Thus Come One, Who is The King At Great Ease in the World, and also the great assembly of Gods and humans, he dwelt in the true and solid wisdom, and cultivated the Way with great courage and diligence. With one heart undivided he vowed to adorn the Wonderful Land. The Buddhaland thus attained with such great cultivation is wide, open with extensive great space. It is especially wonderful and stands far above the other Lands. It is naturally self-sustained and exists forever. It is free from destruction and changes. In uncountable kalpas he accumulated and planted all virtuous practices. In his mind he did not give rise to thoughts of greediness, anger, delusion and sensual desires. He is never attached to forms, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch and dharmas. Bust is always happy and mindful of the cultivation of good roots of The Buddhas of the past. He cultivated stillness and quietude and stayed far away from all falseness. He practised according to the door of the One Only True Reality and planted the roots of virtue extensively. He was not attached to all kinds of sufferings and was satisfied with little necessities. He seeked only for the pure Dharmas so as to benefit living beings. He was never tired of fulfilling his Vows because he has accomplished the power of great patience. He always treated the sentient beings with compassion and patience. He would speak kindly and lovingly to the, with calm composure. He advised and encouraged them to cultivate the Way diligently. He is respectful of The Triple Gems. And with a straight mind that is free of falsity, he served his teachers and elders. He adorned his practises by completely adhering firmly to precepts. He contemplated the unreality of all dharmas and dwelt constantly in the Samadhi of Stillness. He was good at subduing his mouth and never would he criticise other’s fault. He was good at subduing his body and never act against the precepts and rules of deportments. He was good at subduing the Mind’s karma so that it is always pure with no defilements. He was not attached to his Land, cities and villages, families and relatives and also the precious jewellery. But he would constantly teach and transform living beings and enable them to dwell in the six practices of paramitas of giving, upholding the precepts, patience, diligence, concentration and wisdom, so that they would dwell in the Unsurpassed, True and Proper Path.

Because he was able to accomplish such good roots, wherever he was born, uncountable jewelled stores would appear and come forth naturally. Maybe he would be born as the respectable elder or Upasika with honourable surname that was reverently respected by others. Or at times he was born as The King of Kastriya (Noble Royal Family) race, or The Wheel Turning Sagely King, The God of Heaven of Six Desires or The King of Heaven in the Heaven of Pure Conduct. Unceasingly, he would make offerings before all The Buddhas with great respect and gratitude. The virtues thus obtained by him was ineffable indeed. His body and mouth would continuously produce immeasurable subtle fragrance just as fragrant as the sandalwood or the green lotus flowers. The fragrance of upholding the precepts pervasively perfumed the innumerable world systems. Wherever he was born his appearance would be upright with proper adornment, that is marked with the thirty-two signs of a great man and is refined in eighty subtle fine features which were all well rounded and fully accomplished. His hands would always bring forth unending gems, all kinds of adorned things, things of daily necessities, which were very valuable so as to benefit the sentient beings and that they would be happy and satisfied. Because of such causes and conditions, he was able to make uncountable living beings to bring forth The Mind of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.”

Chapter 9 Fully Accomplishing The Way

The Buddha told Ananda, “Dharma Store Bhikshus cultivated the Bodhisattva Path and accumulated innumerable and limitless merits and virtues. He was always at ease when dwelling amongst the dharmas that are not known or understood by using words or mind of differentiation. He fully accomplished all his Vows that are based on The One Suchness Reality. He was able to bring to fruition The Land that was vast, spacious and pure, with all adornments that were fully and completely accomplished from the strength of his great, powerful vows and virtues.”

After listening to the Buddha, Ananda asked, “Dharma Store Bodhisattva who has accomplished the Bodhi, was He The Buddha of the past? Is he The Buddha of the future? Or is He the present Buddha who is dwelling in the other world?

The World Honoured One answered, “The Buddha Thus Come One does not come from one place nor does He really go anywhere. He is neither born or extinct, nor does He dwell in the past, present or future. But out of his Vows to cross over living beings. He appears to dwell in the Western Land which is hundreds of thousands kotis of Nayutas Buddhalands away from the Saha World. In the world that is known as The Land of Ultimate Bliss, Dharma Store already achieved Buddhahood for ten kalpas. He is known as Amitabha. Presently He is speaking the Dharma to innumerable, immeasurable Bodhisattvas and Sound Hearers assemblies who all surround Him and listen with great respect.”

Chapter 10 All Vowing To Become Buddha

After The Buddha has finished talking about the accomplishment of vows by The Bodhisattva, the former life of Amitabha Buddha, The Prince Ajatasattu together with the five hundred elders were filled with great joy. Everyone of them held a golden flower umbrella and together they made obeisance in front of The Buddha. After making the offerings of the flower umbrella to The Buddha, they sat by one side to listen to the sutras. They made vows in their minds, “When we become Buddhas, may we be just like Amitabha Buddha.” The Buddha knew of their thoughts immediately and He told the Bhikshus. “These princes will later become Buddhas. They have practised the Bodhisattva Path in their former lives. Though uncountable kalpas, they have also made offerings to four hundred billions of Buddhas. They were my disciples during the time of Kasyapa Buddha. Now they come to make offerings to me and again we are able to meet.” When the Bhikshus heard this, everyone was indeed happy for those princes.

Chapter 11 The Pure And Adorned Buddha Realm

The Buddha told Ananda, “The Realm of Ultimate Bliss is fully and completely adorned with innumerable merits and virtues. No such words like sufferings, dangers, evil paths, Mara or anxiety exist. There are also no change in weathers such as four seasons, the cold and hot days or the rainy and cloudy days. There are also no big or small rivers or seas, hills and valleys. Neither are there thorns, sands, iron gates and Mount Sumera. Nor are there any earthy or rocky hills. The Land is naturally formed from the seven jewels with a olden floor. It is wide, spacious, even, upright and limitless. The Land is full of pure adornments, which are specially and wonderfully beautiful and far surpasses the worlds in the ten directions.”

After listening to th description, Ananda asked The World Honoured One, “If there is no Mount Sumera on that Land, then upon what will The Kings of Four Heavens and Trayastrimsha Heaven dwell on?”

The Buddha asked Ananda, “Upon what are The Suyama Heaven and The Tushita Heaven, The Forms and No Form Realms and the other heavens dwell on?”

Ananda answered. “They are formed from the inconceivable powerful karma of living beings.”

The Buddha told Ananda, “Do you know not of the inconceivable karma? The fruition of the reward of your body is inconceivable. The karmic retribution of the living beings on that Land, with their good and powerful merits and virtues, are able to dwell in the Land that is derived from the Karmic rewards of the great vows, great practices and great spiritual penetrations of Amitabha Buddha. So they are able to achieve such appearances.”

Ananda said, “The retribution of karma, the causes and fruitions are inconceivable. Actually, I do not doubt such dharmas. But because for the benefits of living beings in the future, so that they will be free from doubts, that is why I have asked such a question.”

Chapter 12 The Brilliant Light Pervasively Illuminating

The Buddha told Ananda, “The powerful spiritual lights emitted by Amitabha Buddha is the foremost and the most honoured. The Buddhas in the ten directions are unable to bring on a comparison. His lights pervasively illuminate The Buddhalands as numerous as the Ganges sand in the Eastern direction, and it also illuminates the Southern, Western and Northern directions, the four corners and the upper and lower positions. The round lights transform from the summit of His head shine forth to the lengths of hundreds and thousands of millions of billions Yojanas. The lights emitted by the other Buddhas may illuminate one or more Buddhalands or hundreds of thousand Buddhalands. But the lights of Amitabha Buddha pervasively illuminate uncountable, immeasurable, innumerable Buddhalands. The lights emitted by The Buddhas and the lengths of the lights depend on their vows, merits and virtues which were different, they may be either great or minor while they were practising and seeking the Path in their former lives.

Everyone of them will obtain whatever they have vowed fro when they achieved Buddhahood. These lights come forth naturally with no prediction nor planning. The pure, kind lights emitted by Amitabha Buddha is much brighter than the light lights from the sun and moon by thousands and billions of millions of times. His lights is most honoured as He us The King of Buddhas. That is why The Buddha of Innumerable Lifespan is also known as The Buddha of Immeasurable Lights. He is also known as The Buddha of Unlimited Lights, The Buddha of Unobstructed Lights and the Buddha of Uncomparable Lights. And He is also known as The Wisdom Lights, The Forever Illuminating Lights, The Pure Lights, The Joyful Lights, The Lights of Liberty, The Lights of Great Ease, The Lights that Surpass The Sun and The Moon and The Inconceivable Lights. These lights pervasively illuminate all the world systems in the ten directions. If there are living beings who have the chance to meet His lights, his impurities will come to extinction and the good roots will flourish. His body and mind will be gentle and suppliant. If the living beings who are experiencing acute sufferings in the three evil paths were to see the lights, their sufferings will come to an end and they will rest at ease. At the end of their life spans, they will all obtain liberation. If there are living beings who have heard of His lights, the spiritual powers, merits and virtues of the lights, and are able to be mindful of the lights wholeheartedly, throughout they days and nights unceasingly, they will be born in that Land as they have vowed.”

Chapter 13 The Immeasurable Lifespan and Assemblies

The Buddha told Ananda, “The Buddha of Immeasurable Lifespan has a long, lasting, immeasurable, ieffable lifespan. There are also uncountable School Hearer Assemblies there.These Sound Hearers are endowed with clear, penetrating spiritual powers. They are powerful and at great ease in all circumstances. They are able to uphold all the worlds in their palms. Among my disciples, the Great Maudgalyayana also possesses the greatest spiritual penetration. He is able to know the numbers of all the living beings in those seas of stars in the Three Thousand, Great Thousand, World Systems in the duration of just one day and night. If all the living beings in the ten directions were to become the Conditioned Awakened Ones and each of them were to live millions of billions of years, and also possess the great spiritual penetrations just like the Great Maudgalyayana, to the end of their lifespan, if they were to fully use up their powerful wisdom and together try to count the number of Sound Hearers in the assemblies of The Buddha, they will only be able to count less than a fraction of the thousands of millions of Sound Hearers. Just liek the great, deep, spacious and limitless sea, if a man were to stake a strand of hair and differentiate it into a hundred portions, each will be a tiny as a dust mote. And with such a dust mote size of hair portion, he will dip a drop of water from the great sea, the water on such a dust mote hair, if compared to the great sea, which would be more? Ananda, the number that is known by the great sages like the Great Maudaglyayana that is unknown by them will be much as the great sea. The lifespan of The Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas, the Sound Hearers, the Heavenly Gods are uncountable, uncomparable, that none would be able to finish counting them.

Chapter 14 The Jewelled Trees That Grow Pervasively In The Buddhaland

There are many jewelled trees n the Land of The Thus Come One. Some trees are formed purely from pure gold, others are silverish white in colour. There are also trees made from lapis lazuli, crystals, red emeralds, beautiful jades and carnelian. These trees consist of only one type of gem, with no mixtures of other gems. And also there are trees which are formed from a combination of two or three gems, until there are those trees of seven gems. These gems will combine differently to form a tree. One type of gem will form the roots, stems, branches and trunks while another type of gem will be transformed into flowers, leaves, fruits and seeds. Or there are the jewelled trees which are the combination of golden roots, silverish white trunks, lapis lazuli branches and crystal like small branches with red emerald as leaves, beautiful jade as flowers and carnelian as fruits. All the other trees also consist of the seven gems. Each of the gems take turns to form the roots, trunks, branches, leaves, flowers and fruits. These gems will combine to form different patterns. Every tree has different patterns and formation and are well placed in rows. Their stems face each other directly, the branches and leaves also face each other in the correct position. The flowers and fruits are grown in abundance, with colourful lights that shine brilliantly till no one could completely see their beauty. Continuously the wind blows and the tree will sing naturally in the five sounds, with subtle tune and tone that combine harmoniously and naturally. Jewelled trees like to grow pervasively in that Land.

Chapter 15 The Bodhi Way Place

There is a Bodhi Tree in the Way Place. It is four hundred millions miles in height, with a trunk that is five thousand yojanas in circumferences and the leaves and branches that cover a circumference of twenty millions miles. It is naturally formed from a combination of all kinds of precious gems. The flowers and fruits are mature and grow in abundance, with lights that pervasively illuminate all directions. There are also many kinds of mani gems which are red, green, turquoise green and pure white in colour. These kings of all precious gems will form the ornaments. The joints of the jewelled pillars are decorated with clouds of precious gems. The golden pearls and small precious bells pervasively line up between the branches and stems. The precious and wonderful nets cover the top of the Bodhi Tree. Hundreds and thousands of millions of lights will illuminate and reflect upon each other to decorate the Bodhi Tree. Uncountable bright lights shine forth to the realms of infinity. All these adornments will appear as one wishes to see. When the gentle breeze blows by, it passes by those branches and leaves and produces innumerable subtle Dharma sounds and tunes. The sounds of Dharma are pervasively heard in all Buddhalands, in such a pure, fluent and clear pattern, with sounds in the worlds in the ten directions. If there are living beings who are able to see the Bodhi Tree, to hear the sounds, to smell of its fragrance, to taste its fruits, to be touched by its lights and shadows, and to be mindful of the merits and virtues of the tree, they will then be able to obtain the pure and clear six roots. They will have no more worries and anxieties, but will dwell in the non-retreating position until they become Buddhas. And also because of seeing the tree, they will obtain three kinds of patience. Firstly, the patience of sounds and echoes, secondly, the patience of gentleness and thirdly, the patience of non-production of Dharmas.”

The Buddha told Ananda, “The Buddhaland such as this, with flowers, fruits and trees that are able to teach the Buddha Dharmas to all living beings are all formed from the result of the spiritual power and strength of The Buddha of Unlimited Lifespan, His original, powerful Vows, His fulfillment of the Vows, and His Vows that are firm and solid, ultimate with perfect clarity.”

Chapter 16 The Halls, Mansions and Towers

“Moreover, the lecture hall and fine living quarters of The Buddha of Unlimited Lifespan, the towers and railings all come to appearance naturally from the transformations of the seven gems. They are covered with the nettings of interlacing white pearls and mani gems which brightly shine forth without comparison in the same way. In the assemblies, some Bodhisattvas are speaking Dharmas on the ground, some are chanting the sutras, some are listening and receiving the sutras on the ground, some are walking mindfully on the ground, while others are mindful of the Way of Practices and sitting in meditation. Also there are Bodhisattvas who are lecturing on the sutras, listening, receiving and chanting the sutras in empty space. Some are walking mindfully, thinking of the Way or sitting in meditation in the empty space. Or there are those who attained the Sotapannas, or have achieved the position of Sakadagamin, or have attained the position of Anagamin and Arhat, the fourth fruition of sagehood. Those who have not yet attained The Avarvartyas are able to be certified to such a position. Everyone of them is mindful of The Buddha Dharma, talking about the Dharma and practising the Dharma. None is ever unhappy.”

Chapter 17 The Merits And Virtues Of The Streams And Ponds

“And also there are streams and ponds that flow interchangeably on the left and right hand side of the lecture hall. The length, width and depth of the ponds are each of suitable sizes. Some are ten yojanas, twenty yojanas or until thee are those of hundreds and thousands yojanas. They are all filled with pure and fragant water that is enhanced with the eight virtues. There are innumerable sandalwood trees forever produce the fragrance and fruits that illuminate everywhere with their brilliant lights. Their long branches and abundant leaves cover intertwinglely above the ponds. They produce all kinds of fragrances that none in the world would be able to bring on a comparison. And blown by the light breeze, the fragrance scenting the flowing streams. The ponds are also decorated with the seven gems. The bottom of the ponds are also decorated with golden sand. There are green lotus flowers, red lotus flowers, yellow lotus flowers, white lotus flowers and lotus flowers with mixed colours and abundant lights that pervasively cover the surface of the water.

If there are living beings who are to bathe in this water and wish that the water will reach their feet, knees, waists, necks or totally cover their bodies, or if they wish to bathe in cold water, warm water, in fast streams or gentle flows, the water will each accord with the wishes of the living beings. And it brings relaxation and happiness to their bodies and spirits. The water is so pure as if it is without form. The precious sand can be seen clearly through the water. The images of the sand shine, forth from all depths. The ripples flow on in small circles, overlapping one another in their flows.