STANZAS ON THE RESOLUTION TO BE BORN IN SUKHAVATI

ATTRIBUTED TO THE BODHISATTVA   VASUBANDHU

 

translated by Roger J. Corless

Asst. Prof. of Religion

Duke University

 

O Thou Honored of Worlds! with one mind
             I take refuge in that great Tathagata
of whose glory all regions are filled;
      in that joyful Land may I be Born!
I rely on the Sutras, and Marks
      truly virtuous, singing a hymn
on the Vow which is firm and complete,
      in accord with the teaching of Buddha.
Thus I gaze on the Marks of that Realm
      which surpasses the triple-world's Way;
it is totally like to the sky,
      which is wide, without limits or bounds:
as the Right Tao, the greatly compassionate
      it is sprung from transcendent good roots.
It has brilliance most clear and intense,
      like a glass, or the sun's and moon's discs.
It is naturally set with rare jewels,
      and is furnished with ornaments fine.
Its immaculate glory flames out,
      and suffuses all worlds with its light.
There are jewels of excellent grass,
      which is soft, and bends this way and that;
if one strokes them, great joy is then born,
      which transcends Kacilindikam's touch.
Jeweled blossoms of ten million kinds
      overspread all the ponds and the streams;
as mild breezes stir flowers and leaves,
      so they twinkle and sparkle with light.
From the mansion with towers and spires,
   in whatever direction one looks,
there are trees of all colors and hues
      set with railings of jewels round about;
there are strings of rare jewels without end
      which extend through the sky like a net,
and a medley of bells ringing out
     is proclaiming the tones of true Dharma.
Gorgeous vestments and flowers rain down,
      spreading infinite scents through the air.
Buddha's Wisdom is bright as the sun,
      and dispels the world's darkened confusion,
for the Brahma Sound wakens afar,
        it is wonderfully heard in all spheres.
Amitabha, the Samyaksambuddha,
        as a Dharma King, stands firm in good.
The Tathagata's host of pure flowers
        metamorphose from flowers of true Bodhi:
then they joyfully savor his Dharma,
        taking dhyana-samadhi as food.
Freed from troubles in body and mind,
        they have joy without end, without pause.
In the Realm of the Great Way's Good Root
        all are equal, it lacks despised names,
because women, and any deformed,
        and the Two-Vehicle seed,are not born.
If those beings wish any delight,
        it is always and fully obtained.
I do therefore intend to be Born
        in the Land of the Buddha Amita.
There, the King of Great Treasure Unbounded
        is enthroned upon wonderful flowers,
and his Marks and his Signs shine one hsun,
        for his form is superior to all.
The Tathagata's wonderful sound
        in Brahma echoes is heard in all spheres.
Like the earth, water, fire and the wind
        and the sky, he is ever impartial.
Those divine ones, unshakable beings,
        come to Birth out of wisdom’s pure sea,
like the King of the Mountains Sumeru,
        they are powerful, and never excelled.
There, the divinised men, the devout,
        circle round and gaze up as they worship.
See the power of the Buddha's First Vow!
    Those who meet him shall not pass in vain,
for the great sea of virtuous treasures
        is empowered to be quickly fulfilled.
In the Land of Blest Peace, all is pure,
    and the Wheel Without Spot always turns,
Bodhisattvas, as Buddhas Transformed,
        shine like suns, yet stand firm like Sumeru.
Without spot is their beauteous light:
        in one instant, and all at one time
it illumines all Buddha-assemblies
        and conveys health to all living beings.
They rain down divine robes, flowers and music,
        subtle incense, and so forth, in worship,
thus to praise all the merits of Buddhas,
        with their minds quite impartial to all.
Is there any realm, which is without
        the great treasures of Buddha and Dharma?
I resolve to be born in each one,
        as a Buddha to preach Buddha-Dharma.
I have written this Essay and Hymn
        with the wish to see Buddha Amita
and, together with all living beings,
        be reborn in his Kingdom of Peace.

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