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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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