Verses on the Worship of the Flower Garland (Avatamsaka) Sutra

By Suei Dynasty Chan Master Suei
Translated by Bhikshuni Heng Shun

I bow to the oceanic, true nature of the FLOWER GARLAND SUTRA. All kinds of radiant light pervasively shine from the Honored One. The ten thousand practices of Universal Worthy adorn) And in the Treasury of the Dharma-realm, all is truly "thus". Nagarjuna personally went to the Dragon Palace and memorized it. Shikshananda of Khotan expounded it.

The One Vehicle's sudden and wondrous dharma-door method of "See the nature and become a Buddha" is a truly esoteric doctrine. My hands now hold it, my eyes regard it, and I recite it with my mouth and in my mind.

One should know that there have been great causes and conditions from the past,

So that seeing and hearing this Sutra, one should accordingly be delighted, and become resolved on Bodhi.

Ultimately, one should perfect Sarvajna (All-wisdom).

Namo to the teaching host Vairochana, the kind Honored One of the Treasury of Flowers World-system, whose jeweled verses' golden words display a jade scroll of his magnanimity.

Myriads of worlds blend together and a multitude of kshetra-lands perfectly fuse. Ten million, ninety-five thousand and forty eight words are the One Vehicle's perfect teaching of the GREAT, EXPANSIVE BUDDHA FLOWER GARLAND SUTRA.

IF ONE WISHES TO FULLY UNDERSTAND,

ALL OF THE BUDDHAS IN THE THREE PERIODS OF TIME,   

ONE SHOULD CONTEMPLATE THE NATURE OF THE DHARMAREALM:

EVERYTHING IS ONLY MADE FROM OUR MINDS.

I vow to always make offerings to and revere the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the nine assemblies in the seven places.

I vow to always realize and teach the five themes and the four divisions of the FLOWER GARLAND SUTRA.

I vow to unceasingly make offerings to and worship the Bodhisattvas of the ninety kshetra-lands.

And I vow to always awaken to and propagate the GREAT, EXPANSIVE BUDDHA FLOWER GARLAND SUTRA.

Moreover I Disciple (Name), humbly vow that in every life, in every world, everywhere and everyplace, my eyes will always see this Sutra, my ears will always hear this Sutra, my mouth will always recite this Sutra, my hands will always write out this Sutra, and my mind will always be enlightened by this Sutra.

I vow in every life, in every world) everywhere and everyplace) to always draw near to and be instructed by all the Worthy Sages of the Treasury of Flowers World-system. I will receive and uphold their kind and compassionate instructions, vowing to understand everything that is taught in this Sutra.

I vow to be the same as the Bodhisattvas Manjusri, Maitreya, Universal Worthy, Regarder of the World's Sounds (Gwan Yin), Wealth of Goodness, and the Buddha, Vairochana.

By means of the meritorious virtue acquired from reciting this Sutra and making these vows, I will, together with the four kind ones, those in the three states of existence) and all living beings in the Dharma-realm, eradicate immeasurable faults and defilements from beginningless time, which exhaust the Dharma-realm and the reaches of space.

I vow together with the four kind ones, those in the three states of existence and all living beings in the Dharma-realm, to be freed from immeasurable karma of hatred from beginningless time, which exhausts the Dharma-realm and the reaches of space.

And I vow together with the four kind ones those in the three states of existence, and all living beings in the Dharma-realm, to accumulate immeasurable blessings and wisdom from beginningless time, which exhaust the Dharma-realm and the reaches of space. Together we will all roam through the oceanic Treasury of Flowers World-system.

Together we will all enter the great place of the Way and of Bodhi.

NAMO TO THE GREAT, EXPANSIVE BUDDHA FLOWER GARLAND SUTRA, AND THE OCEANIC FLOWER GARLAND ASSEMBLY OF BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS!