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The Amitabha Buddha Sutra

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(The SUKHAVATI-VYUDHA VERSION – (The Short Version)

THUS I have heard, at one time the Buddha dwelt at Sravasti in the Jeta grove in the garden of the Benefactor Of Orphans and the Solitary, together with a gathering of great Bhikshus, 1250 in all, all great Arhats whom the assembly knew and recognised: Elders Sariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana,
Mahakasyapa, Mahakatyayana, Mahakautsthila, Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanada, Ananada, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola-bharadvaja. Kalodayin,Mahakaphina, Vakkula,. Aniruddha and others such as these, all great disciples; together with all the Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas: Dharma Prince
Manjushri, Ajita Bodhisattva, Gandhastin, Bodhisattva, Nityodyutka Bodhisattva and others such as these, all great Bodhisattvas ; together with Sakra, chief among gods, and the numberless great multitudes from the heavens.

At the time Buddha told the Elder Sariputra, “Passing from hear though hundreds of thousands of millions o Buddhalands to the West, there is a world called Ultimate Bliss. In this land a Buddha called Amitabha right now teaches the Dharma. Sariputra, for the what reason is this land called Ultimate Bliss ? All living beings of this country endure none of the sufferings, but enjoy every
bliss. Therefore, it is called ‘Ultimate Bliss’.

Moreover, Sariputra this land of Ultimate Bliss is everywhere surrounded by seven tiers of railings, seven layers of netting and seven rows of trees, all formed from the four treasures and for this reason named ‘Ultimate Bliss’.

Moreover, Sariputra, the Land Of Ultimate Bliss has pools of seven jewels, filled with the eight waters of merit and virtue. The bottom of each pool is pure, spread over with golden sand. On the four sides are stairs of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal, mother-of-pearl, red pearls, and carnelian.

In the pools are lotuses as large as carriage wheels; green coloured of green light, yellow coloured of yellow light, red coloured of red light; white coloured of white light, subtly, wonderfully, fragrant and pure.

Sariputra the realisation of the Land Of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned.

Moreover, Sariputra, in that Buddhaland there is always heavenly music, and the ground is yellow gold. In the six periods of the day and night a heavenly rain of mandarva flowers falls, and throughout the clear morning each living being of this Land, with sacks full of the myriads of wonderful flowers, makes offerings to the hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhas of the other directions. At mealtime they return to their own country and having eaten they stroll around.

Sariputra, the realisation of the Land of Ultimate Bliss is meritoriously adorned.

Moreover Sariputra, in this country there are always rare and wonderful vari-coloured birds; white cranes; peacocks; parrots and egrets kalvinkas and two-headed birds In the six periods of the day and night the flocks of birds sing forth harmonious and elegant sounds. Their clear and joyful sounds
proclaim the five roots, the five powers, the seven Boddhishares, and dharmas such as these. When living beings of this land hear these sounds. they are altogether mindful of the Dharma and mindful of the Sangha.

Sariputra, do not say that these birds are born as retribution for their karmic offences. For what reason ? In this Buddhaland there are no three evil ways of rebirth Sariputra. in this Buddhaland not even of the three evil ways exist, how much the less their actuality ! Desiring that the Dharma sound be widely
proclaimed, Amitabha Buddha by transformation made this multitude of birds.

Sariputra, in that Buddhaland, when the soft wind blows, the rows of jewelled trees and jewelled nets give forth subtle and wonderful sounds, like one hundred thousand kinds of music played at the same time. All those who hear this sound naturally bring in their hearts mindfulness of the Buddha,
mindfulness of the Dharma and mindfulness of the Sangha.

Sariputra, the realisation of the Land of Ultimate Bliss is meritoriously adorned.

Sariputra, what do you think? Why is the Buddha called Amitabha ? Sariputra, the brilliance of that Buddha’s light is measureless, illumining the lands of the ten directions everywhere without obstructions, for this reason he is called Amitabha.

Moreover Sariputra, the life of that Buddha and that of his people extends of measureless limitless asankhyeya kalpas; for this reason he is called Amityatus.And Sariputra, since Amitabha realised Buddhahhod, ten kalpas have passed.

Moreover Sariputra, that Buddha has measureless, limitless “sound-hearer” disciples, all Arhats, their number incalculable; thus also is the assembly of Bodhisattvas.

Sariputra, the realisation of the Land of Ultimate Bliss is meritoriously adorned.

Moreover Sariputra, those living beings born in the Land Of Ultimate Bliss are all avivartika. Among them are many who in this very life will dwell in Buddhhood. Their number is extremely many; it is incalculable and only in measureless, limitless asankheya kalpas could it be spoken.

Sariputra, those living beings who hear should vow, ‘I wish to be born in that country’. And why ? Those who thus attain are all attain are all superior and good people, all coming together in one place. Sariputra, one cannot have few good roots, blessings, virtues and casual connections to attain birth in that Land.

Sariputra, if there is a good man or good woman who hears spoken ‘Amitabha Buddha’ and holds the name whether for one day, two days, three, four, five days, six days as long as seven days with one heart unconfused, when this person approaches the end of life, before him will appear Amitabha
Buddha and all the assembly of Holy Ones. When the end comes, his heart is without inversion; in Amitabha Buddha’s Land Of Ultimate Bliss he will attain rebirth. Sariputra. because I see this benefit. I speak these words; If living beings hear this spoken they should make the vow ‘I will be reborn in that
land.

Sariputra, as I now praise the inconceivable benefit from the merit and virtue of Amitabha Buddha, thus in the East are also Aksobhya Buddha, Sumeru Appearance Buddha, Great Sumeru Buddha, Summeru Light Buddha, Wonderful Sound Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges’ sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue. everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words, ‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sutra Of The Mindful One Of Whom All The Buddhas Are Protective.

Sariputra, in the Southern world are Sun Moon Lamp Buddha, Well-Known Light Buddha, Great Blazing Shoulders Buddha, Measureless Vigour Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges’ sands. In his own country each bring forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and
actual worlds, ‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sutra Of The Mindful One Of Whom All The Buddhas Are Protective.”

Sariputra, in the Western world are Measureless Life Buddha, Measureless Appearance Buddha, Great Brightness Buddha, Jewelled Appearance Buddha, Pure Light Buddha, all Buddha’s such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each bring forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks
the sincere and actual worlds , ‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sutra Of The Mindful One Of Whom All The Buddhas Are Protective.

Sariputra, in the Northern world are Blazing Shoulders Buddha, Most Victorious Sound Buddha, Hard to Injure Buddha, Sun Birth Buddha, Net Brightness Buddha, all Buddhas such as these. numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each bring forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue,
everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual worlds , ‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sutra Of The Mindful One Of Whom All The Buddhas Are Protective. “

Sariputra, in the world below are Lion Buddha, Well-Known Buddha, Famous Light Buddha, Dharma Buddha, Dharma Curtain Buddha, Dharma Maintaining Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Gange sands.In his own country each bring forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual worlds , ‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sutra Of The Mindful One Of Whom All The Buddhas Are Protective. “

Sariputra, in the world above are Pure Sound Buddha, King of Past Lives Buddha, Great Blazing Shoulders Buddha, Vari-coloured Jewels and Flower Adornment Body Buddha, Sala Tree King Buddha, Jewelled Flower Virtue Buddha. Vision Of All Meaning Buddha, such as Mt. Sumeru Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each bring forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual worlds, ‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sutra Of The Mindful One Of Whom All
The Buddhas Are Protective.”

Sariputra, what do you think ? Why is it called Sutra Of The Mindful One Of Whom All Buddhas Are Protective. Sariputra, if a good man or good woman hears this Sutra and holds to it an hears the names of all these Buddhas, this good man or woman will be the Mindful One of whom all Buddhas are protective, and will irreversibly attain to annuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Therefore, Sariputra, all of you should believe and accept my words, and those which all Buddhas speak.

Sariputra, just as I am now one who praises the merit and virtue of all Buddhas, all those Buddhas equally praise, my inconceivable merit and virtue saying these words ‘Sakyamuni Buddha can be complete extremely rare and difficult deeds. In the Saha Land, in the evil time of the five turbidities, in the midst of the kalpa turbidity, the view turbidity, the affliction tupidity and the life turbidity, he can attain annutara-samyak-sambodhi and for the sake of living beings, speak this Dharma which in the whole world is hard to believe.’

Sariputra, You should know, that I, in the evil time of the five turbidities, practice these difficult deeds, attain annutara-samyak-sambodhi and for all the world speak this dharma, difficult to believe, extremely difficult!’

After the Buddha spoke this Sutra, Sariputra and all the Bhikshus, all the gods, men and asuras and others from all the worlds hearing what the Buddha had said, joyously welcomed, faithfully accepted, bowed and withdrew.

End of The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra

We also have other sutras available on request like the Sutra of Golden Light, The Heart Sutra, The Sangata Sutra etc. Please contact Christine or Ecie for more info.

 

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