Gaathaas in Praise of the Buddha
Amitaabha
Composed by Dharma Teacher T'an-luan
Translated into English
by Charles Patton
Nama.h to the Buddha Amitaabha!
[Verse 1]
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:1 Presently to the West, past this world
Beyond ten thousand kot.is of
ks.etras, there is a land of peaceful happiness. [1]
There
the Buddha, the World Honored One, is called Amitaabha.
I vow to be reborn,
take refuge, and prostrate myself there.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:2 He became a Buddha by passing through ten kalpas time,
And his lifespan
from now on is without any measure.
The
light of the dharma-kaaya spins out to pervade the dharma-dhaatu.
Because it
illuminates the darkness of the world, I prostrate myself.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:3 The brilliant light of his wisdom cannot be measured,
And so that Buddha
is also known as Infinite Light.
Measurable
marks conceal that blazing light
And that is why I prostrate myself to the
true wisdom.
I vow to be reborn
with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to the thought
of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha! [421a]
1:4
The light of liberation spins out unrestricted and uniform
And so that Buddha
is also known as Boundless Light.
Concealing
that light, sensation parts ways and there is nothing
And that is why I prostrate
myself to the equiminity of awakening.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:5 His light is vast and unobstructed like space
And so that Buddha is
also known as Unobstructed Light.
Everything
that has obstructions conceals the light's blessing
And that is why I prostrate
myself to the difficult to conceive.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:6 His light of purity shines without any opposition
And so that Buddha
is also known as Unopposed Light.
The
karmic bonds of those who meet this light are removed
And that is why I prostrate
myself to the ultimate refuge.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:7 The brilliant illumination of that Buddha's light is the very best
And
so that Buddha is also known as the King of Brilliant Light.
The
darkness of the three Hellish paths conceals the light's edification
And that
is why I prostrate myself to that great arhat.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:8 His bright and clear light of enlightenment is the transcendence of form
And
so that Buddha also known as Pure Light.
The
wicked defilments of one who experiences that illumination are removed
And
it is because they are liberated that I bow my head.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:9 His light of compassion is distantly inclusive in giving peace and happiness
And
so that Buddha is also known as Joyous Light.
In
the places where that light reachs the Dharma is enjoyed
And that is why I
prostrate myself to that great peaceful consolation.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:10 That Buddha's light can destroy the darkness of ignorance
And so he
is also known as Light of Wisdom.
Because
the three vehicle congregations of the all the Buddhas
All together praise
them, so too I prostrate myself.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:11 His brilliant light pervasively illuminates at all times
And so that
Buddha is also known as Uninterrupted Light. [421b]
Because
of the power of hearing of this light, the thought is uninterrupted.
Because
they are reborn there, I bow my head.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:12 That light is, except for the Buddha, not fathomable
And so that Buddha
is also known as Difficult to Conceive Light.
The
Buddhas of the ten directions praise rebirth
And because they commend its merits,
I prostrate myself.
I vow to be
reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to
the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:13 His spiritual light is free of marks and cannot be named
And so that
Buddha is also known as Inexpressible Light.
The
origin of his light is the achievement of Buddhahood's shining radiance.
Because
of the Buddhas' praise, I bow my head.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
1:14 The brilliance of his light surpasses the sun and moon
And so that
Buddha is also called Light that Transcends the Sun and Moon.
The
Buddha Shakyamuni's praise and honor is unending
And that is why I prostrate
myself to his unequalled equality.
I vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
[Chorus]
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
His commiseration is protection covering us
Causing the Dharma seed to
grow and develop
In this life and
the next.
I pray that that Buddha will always gather us up!
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western world of Bliss
and the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara!
I vow to be reborn with the sentient
beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to the thought of taking refuge
in and prostrating to that Western world of Bliss and the Bodhisattva Mahaasthaama!
I vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western world of Bliss
and the pure oceanic assembly of bodhisattvas!
I vow to be reborn with the
sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Universally teaching the
san.gha, father and mother, as well as being a good friend to the sentient beings
of the dharma-dhaatu, he ends the three obstacles. Equally being reborn in the
land of the Buddha Amitaabha, they take refuge and repent.
[Verse
2]
Nama.h to the thought
of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:1
The first assembly of the Buddha Amitaabha
Are shraavakas and bodhisattvas
whose number is measureless. [421c]
Their
spiritual penetration is skillful, wondrous, and cannot be calculated
And that
is why I prostrate myself to that vast assembly.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:2 Peaceful and happy are the measureless mahaasattvas,
Who all shall
in a single birth they fill the Buddha's dwelling place.
Governed
by their root vows, those great oaths,
They universally wish for the liberation
of sentient beings.
These ones are
a jeweled forest, a heap of merits.
Single-mindedly, I salute them and prostrate
myself.
I vow to be reborn with
the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to the thought
of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:3
The shraavakas of the land of peace and happiness
They glow a xun in radius
as if a river of stars. [1]
The
bodhisattvas' glow extended four thousand li [2]
As if the full Autumn moon
that reflects purple gold.
They
collect the treasury of the Buddha Dharma for sentient beings
And so I bow
my head to that ocean of great thought.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:4 Furthermore, Avalokiteshvara and Mahaasthaama
Were the very best in
the assemblies.
Their compassionate
light brightly lit a chiliocosm.
Attending to that Buddha on his left and right,
displaying a spiritual deportment,
Their
liberation from conditions was not for a moment interrupted
As when the ocean
and lake do not disapear.
Thus is
the great empathy of Mahaasthaama.
Single-mindedly, I prostrate myself and
bow my head.
I vow to be reborn
with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to the thought
of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:5
There are sentient beings born there who are peacefully happy
All endowed with
the thirty-two marks
Their wisdom
fullfilling and entering the profound Dharma
Reaching at last the site of enlightenment,
neccesarily without impediments.
According
to fruition of faculties blessed and dull, they perservere
These two perserverences
reach to the point of being inestimable.
In
their former lives they were always masters of the five powers [3]
And they
arrive at the Buddha and not again at heretical or wicked destinations.
He
removes beings from the five periods of decay in other directions
And reveals
to them equally as the great Shakyamuni.
Being
born in the land of peaceful happiness and achieving its great blessing,
This
is why to this thought I prostrate myself.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:6 The bodhisattva of Peaceful Happiness receive the Buddha's spirit
And
in a short time [4] go in the ten directions
To
innumerable Buddha worlds,
Paying homage and making offerings to the Tathaagatas
[422a]
Of flowers, incense, and
musicians from mindfulness are shown;
And jeweled canopies, banners, and flags
produced at will.
The jewels of
that most extraordinary world are unameable.
The scattered flowers among the
offerings are exceptionally precious.
Magically
made flower heaps glow brightly
And the incensed winds are unlimited.
The
flower heaps that are small are four hundred li tall
And reach a size that
entirely covers a single world.
Following
the above, they next magically leave,
The bodhisattvas being completely contented.
From
empty space, they celebrate heaven's happiness,
Musically praising virtue
with song, spreading word of the Buddha's wisdom.
Once
they had listened to and received the Sutra Dharma offerings
And had yet to
consume them, they then returned to the excellent space.
Their
spiritual power is sovereign and unfathomable.
Therefore, I bow my head to
these unsurpassed worthies.
I vow
to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:7 The bodhisattvas of that Peaceful and Happy Buddhaland
Are men able
to speak widely in accordance with wisdom.
They
get rid of the myriad things they possess,
Their purity being like the lotus
blossom that does not get dirtied.
They
go, come, advance, and stop like a boat among waves.
They blessed and peaceful
because they endevour to depart from 'yes' and 'no'.
That
being done, it is just as emptiness cuts away the two ideas [5].
Just so, their
wisdom blazes, lighting the long night [6].
Being
capable of the three insights and six perfections [7]
The myriad practices
of these bodhisattvas peirces the mind and eye.
Thus
their merit is without bounds or measure.
This is why I prostrate myself to
those minds.
I vow to be reborn
with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to the thought
of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:8
The voice-hearer and bodhisattva congregations of Peaceful Happiness
Are men
and gods whose wisdom is all penetrating.
Their
bodily appearance is an adornment without any great differences.
It is only
because they follow other directions that they are divided and named.
The
countenance of their faces are straight, proper, and incomparable.
Pure, fine,
and wondrous are their bodies, not of men or gods.
These
bodies of space inexistent are without the slightest substance.
This is why
I bow my head to the power of equality.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:9 Those who venture to be born in the Land of Peaceful Happiness
They
will all abide in a heap of right concentrations.
The
mistaken concentrations are not used in that land, there are none.
Because
the Buddhas are all praised, I bow my head.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:10 Those who hear the Buddha Amitaabha's epithet
They who have a faithful
mind who hear it will be elated and consoled, [422b]
Arriving
with one recollection at the highest mind
And transferring that to the vow
to be reborn, they then go there.
Simply
for the elimination of the five contrary slanders [8] of the true Dharma,
That
is why I bow my head and vow to be reborn there.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:11 The ranks of bodhisattvas and voice-hearers
In this world have no
comparison elsewhere.
Shakyamuni's
unobstructed skill in discourse
Established the provisions leading to the display
of a small portion.
Most valuable
are the mendicants, comparible to Gods,
Gods who themselves are comparable
to gold-wheel kings [9].
Thus it
is sequentially through the six heavens,
Each in turn having characteristics
and appearances like the first.
With
the heavenly forms they resemble them,
Hundreds of thousands of millions doubling
that of those not of their kind.
The
power of their vows can act on the Dharma canon.
I prostrate myself to the
power of those great minds.
I vow
to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:12 The gods and men who all have adopted that,
None of them have not
commended it and wished that they should mindfully perfect it.
One
jewel, two jewels, or immeasurable jewels
According to their mind are conjured
up and given as implements.
In the
palace halls, the drink and food are all like these.
That is why I bow my head
to the Buddha who is without praise.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:13 Those who are reborn all are endowed
With a body of pure form, incomparable.
Their
spiritual penetrations, merits, palace halls,
Clothing, and odornments are
decorated as in the six heavens.
Should
they have a container, a jeweled bowl, it spontaneously attains
A hundred flavored
feast, instantly being filled.
Seeing
form, smelling fragrances, the mind does eat it
And it immediately satified,
the sensations agreeable and pleasant.
And
while those flavors are pure, none are attached to them.
Once finnished, the
meal is magically removed in a moment and again appears.
At
ease peacefully, comfortably content, arriving at Nirvana;
This is why I to
this thought prostrate myself.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:14 The bodhisattva congregations of the Buddha lands in the ten directions
As
well as the bhiksus born in Peaceful Happiness
Are
measureless, countless, and inestimable.
Those who have been born, presently
being born, and shall be there are also so.
They
had already made offerings to a measureless number of Buddhas
And gathered
up hundreds of thousands of solid and firm Dharmas.
Thus
are the great worthies who are reborn there.
This is why I bow my head to Amitaabha.
[422c]
I vow to be reborn with the
sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to the thought of
taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:15 If
one hears Amitaabha's virtuous name
He is elated, praising and revering him,
the mind taking refuge.
Down to
the single thought, he attains a great benifit.
Therefore, in order to be endowed
with the jewel of virtue
Establishing
it fully in a great chiliocosm burning,
And should straightaway transcend it
upon hearing the Buddha's name.
Hearing
Amitaabha they will not again reverse themselves.
This is why to that thought
I prostrate myself.
I vow to be
reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to
the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:16 The spiritual power without exhaustion of Amitaabha
The measureless
Buddha in the ten directions do praise.
The
Buddha lands that number like sand grains to the East,
There the bodhisattvas
that are numberless all go to meet with him
And
again to make offerings to the Land of Peaceful Happiness.
The great congregations
of bodhisattvas and voice-hearers
Listen
to and receive the Sutra Dharma, promugating, tredding, and transforming it.
From
the remaining nine directions, they are also so.
The
Tathaagata Shakyamuni spoke gaathaa verses [saying as much].
Because of such
measureless virtue, I bow my head.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:17 The measureless congregation of bodhisattvas who come
In order to
sow the roots of virtue and pay their respects.
Some
memorialize with pleasant songs commending the Buddha;
Some make verses about
the Buddha's wisdom illuminating the world;
Some
make offerings with heavenly flowers and clothing;
And some look upon the Pure
Land and set forth vows.
Thus, the
noble congregations who appear before him
The eight brahma voices [?] that
bestow to them the prediction of Buddhahood,
And
all of the bodhisattvas improve their practice of vows.
This is why I bow my
head to that bhagavat.
I vow to
be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:18 When that noble lord, World Honored One, speaks the Dharma,
The great
congregations like clouds gather in the seven-treasured halls
And
listen to the Buddha's revelations, all being awakening in them.
Elated fully
and completely, they then attain the Path.
And
while there, there from the four facings arises a pure wind
That blows against
and moves the jeweled trees making a wondrous sound.
Harmonious,
elegant, clear, and transparent; stopping with rope and bamboo.
Crossing over
to the golden stones for which there is no other sort comparable.
The
heavenly flowers are are scattered and blow away on the fragrant winds,
Spontaneously
giving themselves as offering constantly without end.
The
gods, again, bring heavenly flowers, fragrances,
And a hundred thousand musicians,
employing these to pay their respects.
Thus,
the merits of the three jewels mounds
Is why I turn my notions to worship and
study at the temple. [423a]
I vow
to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:19 That wondrous land is vast and huge, transcending numbers and limits.
Spontaneously
does it form the seven treasures.
From
that Buddha's original vows do those adornments spring forth.
I bow my head
to that pure and great accumulation.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:20 That world is brightly lit wondrously to its very limits.
It is agreeably
pleasant, restful and peaceful, and without the four seasons.
Its
power to benefit both self and others is perfectly fullfilled,
A refuge of
skillful means, technique, and adornments.
The
treasured land is clear, tranquil, and flat like the palm of a hand.
It has
no mountains, rivers, hills, valleys, or other obsticles.
It
is therefore neccesary that the Buddha's spiritual power is seen there.
I bow
my head to the inconceivable Honored One.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:21 The tree of enlightenment stands four million li high
And has a circumference
of fifty.
Its branches and foliage
spread out for twenty thousand li
And spontaneously create myriad jewels.
Moonlight
Manis, an ocean of round jewels,
And the king of myriad jewels adorn it.
All
around it dangle jewels and pearls
Of hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands
of colors that alternate.
Their
light shines and illuminates brilliantly surpassing that of a tounsand suns,
And
endless jewel nets cover its top.
All
of these adornments being manifest as they should,
I prostrate myself to the
tree at the site of his enlightenment.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:22 The subtle winds blowing through the tree produces a Dharma voice
That
universally permeates the Buddha fields in the ten directions.
Hearing
this voice, one gets a profound Dharma tolerance,
Acheiving the Buddha's enlightenment
and not coming upon discomfort.
This
spiritual power being vast and great, unfathomable,
I prostrate myself before
that tree at his site of enlightenment.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:23 The tree's fragrance, the tree's form, the tree's voice;
The tree's
touch, the tree's flavor, and that tree's notion--
One
who meets with these six feelings attains the Dharma tolerance.
This is why
I bow before the tree of his site of enlightenment.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
[423b]
2:24 The experiences of the tree at his site of enlightenment matching
the six faculties
Upto the achievement of Buddhahood, the faculties clearly
penetrate.
The voice's sounds are
soft and conforming to the unborn tolerance.
According to the powers being
shallow or deep, everyone attains awakening.
These
impressive virtues of the tree originate
From the Tathaagata's five powers.
The
spiritual power of his original vows being fulfilled,
His bright comprehension
is solidly in the absolute vows.
His
compassion and skillful means are unestimable.
I take refuge in and bow to
the truely immeasurable.
I vow to
be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:25 From the worldly emperor to the six heavens
The voice enjoyably turns
wondrously, having eight verses
That
successively surpass the last millions of times.
The elegance of voice of that
jewel tree elegance is multiplied the same.
Again,
there is spontaneously produced wondrous musicians,
Whose Dharma voice is clear,
harmoneous, and pleasant in thought and spirit.
Their
sympathy, pliancy, and precision indeed goes beyond that of the ten directions,
And so I prostrate myself to that pure joy.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:26 A forest of seven-jeweled trees pervade the world,
Emmitting a blazing
light that is vivid and clear, mutually reflecting one another.
Their
flowers, fruit, branches, and foliage further reflect one another.
I prostrate
myself to such a collection of merits from his original vows.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:27 The days when the clear wind blows through the jewel trees
It produces
the five musical notes, such as the first and second, in harmony.
The
fine, wondrous, and precise song is made spontaneously.
And so I bow my head
to such pure influences.
I vow to
be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:28 That land is vast and huge, without border.
A myriad jewel nets entirely
cover it over.
The gold, silk, gems,
and pearls most exceptional and precious
And unnamable jewels are its decorations.
Surrounding
the four sides hang treasure bells,
And everywhere the wind blows, moving them
and producing a wondrous Dharma.
A
harmonious, elegant, and virtuous fragrance is constantly circulating.
In those
who smell it, defilements and difficulties do not arise.
As
this air contacts the body, one experiences a pleasant feeling,
Like a bhiksu
attaining nirvana in meditation.
The
wind blows and scatters flowers that fill the Buddha land
According to there
colors arranged successively and not mixed up.
The
flowers' substance is soft, pliant, beautiful, and sweet smelling,
Underfoot
when one walks on them up, down, or in the four directions.
Because
as one lifts one's foot and returns it so,
They function to stop the ground
from being revealed or compressed and there are no tracks.[423c]
And
...
Because of this inconceivable reward, I bow my head.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:29 A myriad of jewel lotuses fill the world,
Each one of the flowers
having hundreds of thousands of millions of petals.
Those
flowers glow with colors immeasurable,
Scarlet, purple, red tinting the five
colors,
They glow brilliantly, blazing
and shining.
This is why single-minded I bow and prostrate myself.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:30 In each one of the flowers is produced light,
Thirty-six rays having
thousands and millions others in them.
And
in each one of those rays is a Buddha's body.
Numerous and small as well,
just as with the lights that are produced.
The
marks and excellencies of the Buddha bodies are like a complete mountain.
Each
and every one, again, emits a hundred thousand light rays
And
universally speak the wondrous Dharma to the ten directions,
Each pacifying
sentient beings in the Buddha's way.
Thus
is their spiritual power without limit or bounds.
And so I take refuge in Amitaabha.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:31 The palace's halls are not made by workers,
The seven treasures being
carved beautifully are magically made.
Bright
moon gems and ornaments are intertwined in a light curtain.
Each has a bathing
pool whose appearance is praised.
In
the pools are eight virtuous waters filling them,
The form, taste, fragrance
is clean like sweet dew.
The golden
sands of the pools, the silver sands,
And sands made of the seven treasures
are all themselves like them.
On
the pools' shores are fragrant trees that spread over them
A sandalwood scent,
the fragrance being constant, pervasive, and pleasant.
Heavenly
flowers with a lustre that is reflective decorate them,
Floating atop the water
and shining brightly looking as though clouds.
The
undefiled basis of such effects is difficult to conceive.
And this is why I
prostrate myself to such a treasury of merits.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:32 When the bodhisattvas and voice-hearers who enter these treasure pools,
It
is shallow or deep according to their mind's wishes.
If
should need to splash themselves, it spontaneous flows into them,
And when
they want return again, the water quickly moves away.
It
harmonizes to cold or warm temperatures so that none do not praise it.
The
spirit reveals the essential and pleasantly cleanses the mind of defilements.
It
is clean, bright, clear, and pure when there is no reflection.
The treasure
sands show through it as though the water was not deep.
With
ease and lightness, it swirls around, pours, and splashes.
Being free or contained,
it functions to delight and pacify a person's spirit. [424a]
The
subtle waves are infinite, producing wondrous sounds.
They follow those who
should hear the Dharma's discussion.
Some
hear the wondrous chapter of the three jewels (triratna);
Some hear of peaceful
tranquility, emptiness, and selflessness;
Some
hear of the measureless paaramitaas;
The power of these uncommon Dharmas of
penetrating wisdom.
Some hear of
the inactive and unborn tolerance,
Upto the sweet dew of the Dharma being sprinkled
onto the head.
According to the
nature of their faculties and wishes, they are sprinkled with joy.
In according
with the mark of the three jewels' real meaning,
The
bodhisattvas and voice-hearers who walk the path
In this they all have entirely
heard such things.
The suffering
and difficult of the three [unhappy] roads is forever closed off,
There being
only a spontaneous and joyous voice.
This
is why that same land is named 'Peaceful Happiness'.
I bow my head in homage
and endless respect.
I vow to be
reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to
the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:33 The great teacher, Nagarjuna mahasattva
Nutured the appearances and
images whose first principle was to break the bonds.
The
passage is closed by error, while the door is opened by the right track.
Sot
it is with all the eyes of Jambuvipa.
For
the submission, offerings, homage, and awakening of the stage of joy
I am devoted
to being born in Amitaabha's land of Peace and Happiness.
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:34 It is just as when the dragon moves, the clouds must follow,
And Jambuvipa
lays out a blanket of grass,
Nama.h
to the compassionate Nagarjuna's veneration.
To his thought of taking refuge,
I bow my head.
I vow to be reborn
with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to the thought
of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:35
I from the beginningless past have gone around the three realms,
Cycling through
that empty and delusive wheel;
With
each thought each moment that I took actions (karma)
My feet were tied to the
six paths, and stagnating on the three [lower] roads.
It
is only by the compassionate light of the vows that protectively think of me
And
allow me to not lose the bodhicitta.
I
praise the Buddha's wisdom and virtuous voice
And vow to hear of the conditions
of existences in the ten directions,
Wishing
to be reborn in the land of Peaceful Happiness
Where one as he wills is not
obstructed.
Those having merits,
be they great or small,
Dedicate them so that all are together reborn there.
Nama.h
to the inconceivable light.
I single-mindedly take refuge in it and prostrate
myself.
I vow to be reborn with
the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to the thought
of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
2:36
The immeasurable wisdom of the three realms in the ten directions
Is the same
vehicle alike like the epithet "truely enlightened".
[424b]
The two knowledges are perfectly fullfilled, the paths being equal.
Because
they include conjurations according to the situation of whatever number,
I
take refuge in the pure land of Amitaabha.
And hence this refuge is taken in
the Buddha lands,
I with a single
thought praise each Buddha,
Vowing to universally unobstruct the people of
the ten directions.
Thus, to each
of the immeasurable Buddhas of the ten directions,
I bow my head and prostrate
myself.
I vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
[Chorus]
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western Buddha Amitaabha!
His commiseration is protection covering us
Causing the Dharma seed to
grow and develop
In this life and
the next.
I pray that that Buddha will always gather us up!
I
vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western world of Bliss
and the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara!
I vow to be reborn with the sentient
beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h to the thought of taking refuge
in and prostrating to that Western world of Bliss and the Bodhisattva Mahaasthaama!
I vow to be reborn with the sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Nama.h
to the thought of taking refuge in and prostrating to that Western world of Bliss
and the pure oceanic assembly of bodhisattvas!
I vow to be reborn with the
sentient beings in the land of peaceful happiness.
Universally teaching the
san.gha, father and mother, as well as being a good friend to the sentient beings
of the dharma-dhaatu, he ends the three obstacles. Equally being reborn in the
land of the Buddha Amitaabha, they take refuge and repent.
Endnotes
1. 'Kot.i'. This is numeral understood to be 100 lakkhas (100,000), equalling 10,000,000.
'Ks.etra'. 'Field' or 'land' as
in 'Buddha land'. This is a term for the sphere of spiritual influence that is
exerted a single Buddha. There is a theory that there are four levels of influence
that radiate outward from a nexus that is the Buddha's site of enlightenment.
The four are 1) The area of reality (dharmata), which beings are constantly abiding
in peace and light; 2) the area where self and others receive the Buddha's teachings
and gain a real reward from it; 3) the area where skillful means and other teachings
exist and general defilments have been eradicated; and 4) the area where purity
and defilment coexist (Eitel). Presumably, this system supposes a land in which
a Buddha at the height of his teaching career.
2. 'Xun'. A standard measure
of size defined as the distance typically spanning two arm-lengths, or about 8
feet.
3. 'Li'. A standard measure of distance. About 1/5 of a mile. Four thousand
li, then, is about eight hundred miles.
4. 'Five powers'. Presumably the five
spiritual powers, which are: 1) divyacaks.us, the 'heavenly eye', which is the
vision that can see anywhere in the realm of form; 2) divyashrotra, the ability
to ear anything anywhere; 3) paracitta-j~naana, the ability to know the thoughts
of others; 4) puurvanivaasaanusmr.ti-j~naana, the knowledge of former existences
of self and others; 5) r.ddhi-saaks.aatkriiyaa, the power to be anywhere at any
time.
5. 'Short time'. The Chinese literally reads 'the period of a short
meal'.
6. 'Two ideas'. A reference to the two philosophical positions that
are rejected in Buddhism: Eternalism and nihilism. These were refuted by the Buddha
using emptiness to establish the temporary nature of existence. Because things
are empty of any eternal essense, they are free to be created and destroyed. Because
emptiness is only a description of things themselves as they exist temporarily,
nihilism is refuted.
7. 'Long night'. The long night is a metaphor for the
time spent cycling through births in samsara. It is long because sentient beings
remain in samsara for eons. It is dark like the night because they do so under
the veil of ignorance.
8. 'Three insights'. These are the knowledge of the
past lives of sentient beings, the knowledge of future existences of sentient
beings, and the knowledge of the present conditions of sentient beings.
'Six
perfections'. These are the six paaramitaas: charity (daana), virtue (siila),
perserverence (ksaanti), energy (viirya), meditation (dhyaana), and wisdom (praj~na).
These six form a general outline of bodhisattva practice in most Mahayana texts.
9. 'Five contrary slanders'.
10. 'Gold-wheel king'. The metallic disc
was an emblem of soveriegnty in ancient India. Sometimes the heirarchy of the
nobility was represented with iron, copper, silver, and gold wheels, the gold
being the highest. A gold-wheel king, then, is a king who has no superiors, an
absolute soveriegn.