The Buddha’s Teaching On The Sutra Of Awakening To

The Equanimity, Pure Adornment of The Immeasurable

Lifespan Of The Great Vehicle

CONTENTS
A. Acknowledgements 1
B. Verses For The Opening Of the Sutra 2
C. Translations.
Ch.1 The Sagely Dharma Assembly 3
Ch.2 The Virtuous Practice In Accord With
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva 4
Ch.3 The Causal Condition For The Great Teaching 7
Ch.4 The Causal Ground Of Dharma Store 9
Ch.5 The Sincere, Pure And Vigorous Mind 12
Ch.6 Bringing Forth Of Great Vows 14
Ch.7 Will Definitely Accomplish Proper Enlightenment 23
Ch.8 Accumulating Merits And Virtues 25
Ch.9 Fully Accomplishing The Way 27
Ch.10 All Vowing To Become Buddha 28
Ch.11 The Pure And Adorned Buddha Realm 29
Ch.12 The Brilliant Light Pervasively Illuminating 30
Ch.13 The Immeasurable Lifespan And Assemblies 32
Ch.14 The Jewelled Trees That Grow Pervasively In
The Buddhaland 33
Ch.15 The Bodhi Way Place 34
Ch.16 The Halls, Mansions And Towers 36
Ch.17 The Merits And Virtues Of The Streams
And Ponds 37
Ch.18 The Form Features That Far-Surpass The World 39
Ch.19 The Fulfillment Of One’s Wishes. 41
Ch.20 The Virtuous Breeze And The Flower Rain 43
Ch.21 The Precious Jewelled Lotus And The Buddha’s
Lights 44
Ch.22 Certainly To Certify To The Ultimate Fruition 45
Ch.23 The Praise Of The Buddhas From Ten Directions 46
Ch.24 The Rebirth Of The Three Groups 47
Ch.25 The Proper Causal Ground To Get A Rebirth 49
Ch.26 Making Obeisance And Offerings And Listening
 To The Dharma 51
Ch.27 Praising The Virtues Of The Buddha 55
Ch.28 The Spiritual Light Of The Great Being 57
Ch.29 The Magnificent, Deep And Powerful Vows 58
Ch.30 The Practice And Cultivation Of The Bodhisattva 60
Ch.31 The True And Solid Merits And Virtues 62
Ch.32 The Limitless Lifespan And Bliss 64
Ch.33 Diligently Giving Advice And Encouragement 67
Ch.34 The Opening Of The Clear Mind 70
Ch.35 The Evil Deeds And Suffering In The World Of
Turbidity 72
Ch.36 The Repetition Of Encouragement And Advice 78
Ch.37 The Resemblance Of The Poor Who Obtains
The Precious Gem 80
Ch.38 The Appearance Of Lights When Making
Obeisance To The Buddha 83
Ch.39 The Description Of What The Compassionate
One Had Seen 86
Ch.40 The City Of Soubts Beside The Compassionate
One Had Seen 88
Ch.41 The Extinction Of All Delusions To See
The Buddha 90
Ch.42 The Rebirth Of Bodhisattvas 93
Ch.43 The Cultivators Who Are Not From The Small
Vehicle 95
Ch.44 The Prediction Of Bodhi 96
Ch.45 The Only Sutra That Is Left Behind 98
Ch.46 Diligently Cultivation And Firmly Upholding
The Dharma 99
Ch.47 Only The Wise And Blessed Beings Are Able
To Listen And Have Faith In This Dharma 100
Ch.48 The Benefits Of Listening To The Sutra 102
D. Transferance Of Merits 104

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
According to the Prediction of Sakyamuni Buddha,
The Buddha’s Teaching On The Sutra Of Awakening To
The Equanimity, Pure Adornment Of The Immeasurable
Lifespan Of The Great Vehicle will be the last Sutra to
disappear from the earth after the extinction of all other
Sutras. Whoever have the chance to encounter, read and
practice this Dharma Door will cross over the sea of
sufferings to The Land of Ultimate Bliss. I humbly hope
that this translation will benefit those beings who are
revolving on the six paths. And may they be able to awaken
to the pure and true mind by practicing this Dharma Door
diligently, and ultimately arrive at the other shore.
The state of The Buddha is inconceivable indeed. This
translation represents my understanding of the meaning of
this sutra. And I hope that those who have the chance to see
the sutra, read it, recite it, uphold it, put it into practice and
exhort others to do so will all arrive at The Pure Land,
certify to the Patience of the Dharma of No-Birth and return
to the Saha World to teach it to all sentient beings.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to
the Good Knowing Advisers, without their assistance and
support, this sutra could not have been produced smoothly.
And I am greatly indebted to my parents, brothers and
sisters, relatives and friends who in one way or another help
to smoothen the translation at its initial and final stages.
May all sentient beings arrive at The Pure Land of
Ultimate Bliss swiftly.
Amitabha Buddha!
The translator
 VERSES FOR THE OPENING OF THE SUTRA

The Profound and Unsurpassed Wonderful Dharma,

Is difficult to Encounter in hundreds and thousands of
kalpas.
Now I have the chance to see, listen to, receive and uphold
The Dharma,
May I deeply understand the true meaning of The Thus
Come One.

Chapter 1 The Sagely Dharma Assembly

Thus I have heard, at one time, The Buddha was at
Mount. Grdhrakuta at the City of Royal Palace together
with an assembly of bhikshus. twelve thousands in number,
and a whole assembly of great sages, everyone possessing
spiritual penetration.
 They were The Honoured One Kondana, Honoured
One Shariputra, Honoured One Maudgalyayana, Honoured
One Kasyapa, Honoured One Ananda and others, who
acted as the leaders of the Great Sages. Also present were
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva,
Maitreya Bodhisattva, and all the Bodhi-sattvas in the
Worthy Kalpa who came together to the assembly.

Chapter 2 The Virtuous Practice In Accord With

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva
And also present were Worthy Protection Bodhisattva
and the sixteen Great Beings. They were The Bodhisattva
of Good Thought, The Bodhisattva of Wisdom Eloquence,
The Bodhisattva of Contemplation of Non-Dwelling, The
Bodhisattva of Spiritual Penetration Flower, The
Bodhisattva of Bright Flowers, The Bodhisattva of Precious
Banners, The Bodhisattva of Superior Wisdom, The
Bodhisattva of Still Roots, The Bodhisattva of Wisom in
Faith, The Bodhisattva of Wisdom in Vows. The
Bodhisattva of Fragrant Elephants, The Bodhisattva of
Precious Flowers, The Bodhisattva of Dwelling in the
Middle, The Bodhisattva of Well Controlled Practice and
The Bodhisattva of Liberty, who were acting as the Great
Leaders of the assembly. All of them followed the practice
of the Great Universal Worthy and perfected the
immeasurable practices and vows. Dwelling in the the
midst of all kinds of virtuous Dharmas, they travelled to the
ten directions. They practiced the expedient skills in means
and entered the Buddha Dharma Store. They vowed to
attain the Buddhahood in uncountable realms and
ultimately arrived at the other shore.
Leaving the Tushita Heaven, they were born in the
palaces. Then they renounced the throne of the King and
left the home lift. They practiced the path through great
sufferings. They revealed such practices in order to follow
the ways of the World. With the power of concentrated
wisdom, they subdued Mara and the Demons. Thus they
were able to obtain the wonderful Dharma and attained the
Supreme Proper Enlightenment.
Gods and people take refuge with them and request
them to turn the Dharma Wheel. Their constant Dharma
sounds awaken the world so that all beings are able to leave
their worries and anger behing. They learn to subdue their
sensual desires and wash away their defilements. Their
bright and pure self-nature is then revealed. They are able
to subdue living beings by preaching the wonderful
principles. They store their merits and virtues and reveal the
fields of blessings.
By using all kinds of Dharma medicines, they are able
to save and cure the triple sufferings. They are at the
position of Anointing The Crown and are able to give the
prediction of Buddhahood to the other Bodhisattvas. They
act as the guiding masters to the Bodhisattvas. Their
practices and teaching are constantly in accord. With
unbouned practices, They teach and ripen the Bodhisattvas.
Because of innumerable good roots, immeasurable Buddhas
are constantly protective and mindful of them. They can
manifest and reveal themselves in all Buddhalands. Just like
the good magicians who can reveal themselves in all
Buddhalands. Just like the good magicians who can reveal
different types of manifestations, but in reality there are no
real forms. These Bodhisattvas are also like that. They
thoroughly penetrate the Dharma Nature, thus they are able
to understand the forms of living beings. They make
offerings to all The Buddhas, teach and lead all sentient
beings to follow the proper path. They are able to transform
and reveal their bodies just as fast as the lightnings. They
break up Mara’s net of Evil Views and free living beings
from all kinds of attachments. Far surpassing the groups of
Sound Hearers and the Pratyeka Buddhas, they are able to
enter the Dharma Doors of emptiness, no forms and no
vows. With good skills in means, they are able to reveal the
Three Vehicle. Then among the beings of medium and
small roots, they appear to enter Nirvana.
They are able to obtain the Samadhi of no birth, no
extinction and all kinds of dharanis. At any time, they can
awaken to and enter the Samadhi of Flower Adornment and
uphold completely the hundreds and thousands kinds of
samadhis. Dwelling in deep concentration, they are able to
see immeasurable Buddhas. And within a single thought,
they travel pervasively to all the Buddhalands. They obtain
the eloquence of The Buddhas and dwell in the practices of
Samanthabhadra conduct. They are good at differentiating
the speech of living beings. They open, transform and
reveal clearly the Ultimate Truth which far surpasses all the
worldly dharmas.
Their minds constantly dwell in the path of leaving the
Triple Realms and so are able to be at great ease as one
wishes when dwelling amongst the myriad things in the
worlds, Without being asked, they befriend the different
kinds of beings. They accept and uphold The Thus Come
One’s deep Dharma Store, protect The Buddha Nature.
Ensu off. They are greatly compassionate, showing great
pity on sentient beings. They speak with a kind eloquence
and help the beings to open their Dharma Eyes. Closing the
doors to the evil destinies, they open and reveal the
wholesome path. They treat the living beings just as they
would themselves, by saving and helping them to arrive at
the other shore.
Thus they are able to obtain the immeasurable merits
and virtues of The Sagely Buddhas. They also possess the
clear, sagely, inconceivable wisdom. All these Bodhisattva
who are uncountable in numbers all arrived and gathered at
the same time. And also present were the five hundred
Bhikshunis, seven thousand laymen with pure faith, and
five hundred laywomen with pure faith, the beings of
Heaven of Forms Realm. And all the pure beings from
Bhrama Heaven came to join the great assembly.

Chapter 3 The Causal Condition For The Great Teaching

At that time, The World Honoured One emitted a light
of bright illumination, just like the brilliance of pure liquid
gold. And also like the clear mirror, which can reflect the
images that are as clear as the objects. He revealed the
bright illumination, which changed in hundreds of
thousands of times.
The Honourable Ananda was then thinking to himself,
“Today The World Honoured One looks pure and blissful
in both His form body and the six roots. From His face He
emits such brilliant lights and His Jewelled Land is also
purely adorned.”
From the past till now, he had never seen such a
transformation, so he gazed in adoration at The World
Honoured One. And with a heart of deep gratitude, he got
up from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt down and
put his palms together. Then he asked The Buddha. “Today,
The World Honoured One has entered The Samadhi of
Great Stillness, dwelling in the very special Dharma,
dwelling in the practice as leaders of all Buddhas, dwelling
on the Unsurpassed Way. The Buddhas of the past, present
and future are mindful of each other. Is The World
Honoured One mindful of the Buddhas of the past, future or
is He mindful of the Buddhas who are presently dwelling in
other directions? Why is The World Honoured One shining
with such powerful and wonderful brightness? I hope that
The Honoured One will tell us”
Then the World Honoured One told Ananda, “Good
indeed! Good indeed! Out of the pity for living beings, you
wish to make them joyful and obtain great benefits. That is
why you are able to ask such subtle meanings. Your present
question is much better than making offerings to a whole
world of Arhats and Pratyeka Buddhas, better than giving
donations through many kaplas to those beings in the
heaven and on the earth, and to those living beings that fly,
crawl or move about in other ways. Your merits and virtues
are hundreds and thousands of millions of times greater
than the donations and offerings made. Why is it of such
greatness? The reason is that the future generations of
heavenly and earthly beings and all living beings with
senses will be able to obtain liberation from birth and death
because of your question. Ananda, The Thus Come One is
full of endless compassion. He as great pity for the Triple
Realms. Because of His compassionate heart, The Buddha
appears in the world to extensively and clearly teach the
paths to liberation, saving tehm from the sea of suffering
and giving them the true benefits. The Thus Come One is
difficult to meet or see, just like the Udumbara flower
which rarely blooms. Your present question is of great
benefit. Ananda, you should know that The Thus Come
One, The Proper Enlightened One is of unfathomable
wisdom. He has no obstacles and in a single thought, he can
dwell in innumerable billions of kalpas. His body and the
six roots are neither increase nor decrease. Why is it? The
Thus Come One’s concentration and wisdom are limitless
and free of obstructions. Because in all the Dharmas, He
can obtain the most supreme ease. Ananda, listen carefully
and be mindful of my words. I will explain to you in
details.”

Chapter 4 The Causal Ground of Dharma Store

The Buddha told Ananda, “In immeasurable,
inconceivable, innumerable kalpas ago, there was a Buddha
who appeared in the world. His name was The Thus Come
One Who Is The King of Great Ease in the World; One
Worthy of Offerings; The Equal and Proper Enlightened
One; Who is perfect in Wisdom and Practice; Who is
skilful in leaving the World through liberation; Who
understands the World; The Unsurpassed Teacher; Taming
Hero; The Teacher of Gods and People; The Buddha; The
World Honoured One. He was teaching in the world for
forty-two kalpas. At that time, The Buddha was teaching
the Sutras and Ways of Practice to the beings in the Heaven
and on Earth. There was a Great King, his name was The
King Who Benefits the World. Listening to The Buddha, he
was filled with joy. He thoroughly understood the deep
meanings and brought forth the true and unsurpassed mind
to practice the Way. His Dharma Name was Dharma Store.
He cultivated the Bodhisattva Path with true wisdom and
great courage. He far surpassed the people in the world. His
faith, understanding and memory were always in accord
with the Only One Ultimate Truth. He was also
unsurpassed in practices, vows and had obtained powerful
mindfulness and wisdom that enhanced his mind. He was
firm, solid and unmoving. He cultivated the way vigorously.
No one in the world was able to surpass his effort. He went
to the place where The Buddha dwelt. After making
obeisance, he knelt down, respectfully put his palms
together in front of The Buddha. He praised The Buddha
and brought forth the inconceivable vows. He praised The
Buddha thus:
‘The Thus Come One’s form is wonderfully and subtly
adorned, No one in the world is equal in comparison. He
emits immeasurable bright lights that illuminate ten
directions, Even the lights from the sun, the moon, fire and
pearls are pale in comparison.
The World Honoured One in uttering a single sound,
Is able to make all kinds of beings understand according to
their own faculties.
He is also able to appear in one subtle form,
And pervasively makes living beings see Him appear as
different forms.
May I obtain the pure sound of the Buddha,
To expound the Dharmas pervasively to innumerable
realms.
To widely teach the Dharma doors of precepts,
concentration and vigor,
To deeply penetrate and understand the subtle Dharma.
May my wisdom be as wide and great like the deep sea,
May my heart be pure and free of worldly worries,
And thus able to surpass the uncountable doors of evil paths.
Swiftly may I arrive at the ultimate shore of Bodhi,
May I forever be free from delusion, greed and hatred,
And obtain the powerful Samadhi that is forever absent of
wrong views and deeds.
Also like the innumerable Buddhas of the past,
May I become the great leader and teacher of all living
beings,
And be able to save all the beings in the world,
So that they will be free from birth, old age, sickness, death
and all anxieties.
May I always practice the six paramitas,
Namely giving, precepts, patience, diligence, concentration,
and wisdom.
I shall cross over those sentient beings who are still in the
sea of sufferings.

Those who are practicing the ways will be brought to

accomplish Buddhahood.
If one were to make offerings to the sages like the sand in
the Ganges,
It is still uncomparable to seeking the Proper Enlightenment
with determination and courage.
I vow that I will always dwell in Samadhi,
Forever emitting lights to illuminate all.
Thus I will be able to obtain a wide, great and pure
dwelling,
A land that is subtly adorned with no comparison,
All those living beings who are turning on the six paths,
Will quickly be born in my Land to enjoy peace and bliss.
I will ever be compassionate to save the sentient beings,
And may I be able to cross over all the limitless living
beings who are in the sea of sufferings.
I have decided to practice the way firmly and solidly,
Only The Buddha with sagely wisdom is able to know and
certify it.
Even if my body were to undergo all kinds of sufferings, I
will never retreat from my vows.”

Chapter 5 The Sincere, Pure And Vigorous Mind.

“After Dharma Store Bhikshu had finished saying the
verses. He said to the Buddha I now bring forth the mind of
Unsurpassed Proper Enlightenment and determined to
practice the Bodhisattva Path. I vow to become a Buddha to
teach living beings to become Buddhas. I pray that the
Buddha will extensively teach me the profound Sutras and
Dharmas. I will uphold and practice according to the
Dharma, so as to uproot all the bitter roots of birth and
death and swiftly achieve The Unsurpassed, Proper and
Equal Enlightenment.
 I vow that when I become a Buddha, the wisdom light
that I have attained and the land where I dwell, the Names
of the Teachers, would be heard by beings in the ten
directions. All the living beings in the Heaven and Earth
and the tiny crawling beings, when they are born in my
Land, will surely become Bodhisattvas.
I make such a vow that far surpasses others in the other
Buddhalands. Will I be able to accomplish it?’
The Buddha, Who is The King of Great Ease in the
World, for the sake of Dharma Store, expounded the Sutra,
Just like the great sea, if one were to measure it through
uncountable kalpas, one would still be able to reach the
bottom of the sea.
If a man were to seek the Way wholeheartedly,
practicing vigorously without cease, such a one would
certainly achieve the fruit of Enlightenment. Whatever
vows he has made would certainly be achieved. Think of it
yourself, what are the expedient ways of practices to
accomplish the vows of achieving an adorned Buddhaland?
As you should know of your own cultivation, so you should
be able to obtain the Pure Buddhaland by your own efforts,
Dharma Store said Such meanings are indeed magnificent
and deep. These states are beyong my understanding. I only
hope that The Thus Come One, The One with Proper and
Pervasive Knowledge would expansively expound the
immeasurable, beautifully adorned Buddhalands.
 If I were to hear of such Dharmas, I would be mindful
of them and cultivate diligently so as to achieve my vows.
The Buddha, Who is The King of Great Ease in the
World, knows that he is indeed a man of great wisdom, and
tht his vows are deep and wide. So He expounded to Him
the two hundreds and ten billion Buddhalands, showed and
explained to Him the appearance of the great and extensive
lands that are formed from merits and virtues, with pure
adornments that are fully accomplished, so as to help him to
fulfill his vows.
Since the Buddha spoke The Dharma, thousands of
billions of years have passed. When Dharma Store listened
to The Buddha, he was able to see all the Buddhalands
clearly, and he brought forth The Unsurpassed Wonderful
Vows. Ultimately, he was mindful of the good and evil of
Gods and Humans and the Lands that they dwell in which
were either coarse or gentle. He recollected his mind
together and eventually made the great vows after choosing
carefully what he desired. He diligently seeked for the
adornment of his Land by maintaining and upholding the
practices respectfully and carefully. He cultivated merits
and virtues for five full kalpas. He could clearly penetrate
and understand the merits and virtues and adornments of
those twenty-one kotis Buddhalands, just as though they
were one Buddhaland. The Buddhaland that would be
accomplished by Him far surpasses those Buddhalands.
After he had made up his mind on the accomplishement of
his Land, he again went to the dwelling of The Thus Come
One, Who is The King of Great Ease in the World. He
made obeisance and bowed respectfully at His feet.
Then he circumambulated The Buddha three times.
Respectfully he put his palms together, standing upright and
said,’World Honoured One, I have already decided on the
pure practices that will bring to accomplishment the
adornments of my Buddhaland!
The Buddha said, ‘Good indeed! Now is time to
speakfully of your vows, so that all the living beings would
rejoice. Also when the great assembly listens to the Dharma,
they would obtain great benefits. They would then be able
to practice and obtain the Buddhaland by fulfilling
immeasurable great vows.”
Chapter 6 Bringing Forth Of Great Vows
“Dharma Store Bodhisattva then said, I hope that The
World Honoured One would listen with great compassion.
If I were to certify to the Unsurpassed Bodhi and attain The
Proper Enlightenment, my Buddhaland would be full of
immeasurable, inconceivable merits, virtues and
adornments. There would be no hell beings, hungry ghosts,
birds and animals and the tiny minute creatures that fly,
crawl and move in different ways. All living beings and
those in the Realms of Fiery Mara, the three evil paths,
when they are born in my Buddhaland, accept and are
transformed by my Dharmas will certainly achieve
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. They will never again fall into
the evil paths. When I have accomplished such vows, only
then will I become a Buddha. If I am unable to accomplish
such vows, I will not attain The Unsurpassed Proper
Enlightenment.
1. Vowing that the land is free from evil paths.
2. Vowing that the living beings will never again fall
into the evil paths.
When I become a Buddha, all those living beings
throughout the worlds in the ten directions, when
they are born in my Buddhaland, each will obtain a
purplish pure golden body which is adorned with the
thirty-two marks of a great man. Their bodies will be
upright and pure in appearance. Everyone will be of
 the same kind. If there are any differences in their
bodies and features, that is some who are good
looking and some who are ugly, I will not attain The
Proper Enlightenment.
(3. Vowing that the living beings will each obtain a
golden body.
4. vowing that they will obtain the thirty-two great man
features.
5. Vowing that the living beings are of the same kind)
When I become a Buddha, all the living beings born
in my Land will be able to know their former lives in
uncountable kalpas, all the good and bad deeds they
did. And they can see clearly and listen thoroughly.
They are able to know the events in the past, present
or future of the ten directions. If I am unable to
accomplish such vows, I would not be certified to
The Proper Enlightenment.
(6. vowing that the beings will obtain the penetration
of former lives.
7. vowing that the beings will obtain the penetration
of Heavenly Eyes.
8. vowing that the beings will obtain the penetration
of Heavenly Ears.)
When I become a Buddha, all the living beings born
in my Land can obtain the penetration of knowing
others minds, If they are unable to know the minds
of living beings in the billions of Nayutas of
hundreds and thousands Buddhalands away, I will
not attain The Proper Enlightenment.
(9. vowing that the beings will obtain the penetration
of others minds.)
When I become a Buddha, all the living beings born
in my Land will be able to obtain the paramitas, self-
ease and spiritual penetration. In one single thought,
if they are unable to pervasively make offerings in
succession to all The Buddhas in the Buddhalands
which are more than billions Nayutas of hundreds
and thousand away, I will not attain The Proper
Enlightenment.
(10. vowing that the living beings will obtain the
spiritual penetration.
11. vowing that the living beings will be able to
pervasively making offerings to all The Buddhas.)
When I become a Buddha, all the living beings born
in my Land will forever leave the minds of
discrimination. Their six roots will be still and quiet.
If they are uncertain to attain The Proper
Enlightenment, and certify to the Great Nirvana, I
will not attain the Proper Enlightenment.
(12. vowing that the living beings will surely
accomplish Buddhahood.)
When I become a Buddha, immeasurable bright
lights will be emitted and pervasively illuminate the
ten directions. The lights will be brighter than the
other Buddhas lights, much brighter than lights from
the sun and moon by thousands of millions of times.
If a living being were to see my lights which shine
on his body, he will always be happy and peaceful.
He will practice wholesome deeds with a
compassionate heart and be born in my Land. If such
vows were not accomplished, I wil not attain The
Proper Enlightenment.
(13. vowing that He will obtain immeasurable bright
lights.
14. vowing that the living being will be serene and
blissful when they encounter the lights.
When I become a Buddha, my lifespan would be
limitless. There will be innumerable Sound Hearers
and Heavenly Beings in my Land. Their lifespans
will also be limitless. If all the living beings in The
Three Thousand, Great Thousand World System
were to attain the Condtioned Enlightenment, and if
they were to count and compare the number of
Sound Hearers and Heavenly Beings in my Land in
hundreds and thousands of kalpas, and are able to
know the number, I will not attain The Proper
Enlightenment
(15. vowing that the living being will obtain
immeasurable lifespan.
16. vowing that there will have uncountable Sound
Hearers,)
When I become a Buddha, If all The Buddhas in the
uncountable Buddhalands in the world system in ten
directions do not praise my Name, and talk about my
merits and virtues and the goodness of my
Buddhaland, I will not attain The Proper
Enlightenment.
(17. vowing that all The Buddhas will praise His
Name,)
When I become a Buddha, the living beings in the
ten directions, when they hear of my Name, sincerely
and happily have faith in my Name and in every
thought transfer all their good roots so as to be born
in my Land, If there are only ten such thoughts and if
they are unable to be born in my Land, I will not
attain The Proper Enlightenment. Excepting those
who have committed the five evil deeds and who
have slandered The Proper Dharma.
(18. vowing that living beings are certainly to obtain
a rebirth in his Land if they are able to be mindful of
Him in ten successive thoughts.
When I become a Buddha, the living beings in the
ten directions, when they have heard of my Name,
will bring forth the Bodhi Resolve. They will
cultivate all kinds of merits and virtues, uphold and
practice the six paramitas firmly, solidly and with no
retreat. Again they will transfer all their good roots
and vow to be born in my Land. They will be
mindful of me wholeheartedly throughtout the days
and night unceasingly. When their lifespans come to
an end, together with all the Bodhisattvas, I will
appear in front of them. In just a fraction of a second,
they will be born in im Land and become the non-
retreating Bodhisattvas. If I am unable to obtain such
vows, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.
(19. vowing that when the living beings will bring
forth the Bodhi Resolve when they have heard of His
Name.
(20. vowing that He will welcome the living beings
to His Land when they are to leave their present
lifespan.)
When I become a Buddha, living beings in the ten
directions, when they hear of my Name, will be
mindful of my Land and bring forth the firm, solid
and non-retreating Bodhi Mind. They will plant all
the virtuous good roots and transfer their merits
sincerely so as to be born in the Land of Ultimate
Bliss. And all of them will be able to achieve their
wishes. If formerly they had done evil deeds, once
they have heard of my Name, they will feel regretful
of their past evil deeds and change their ways to
follow the wholesome path. They will uphold the
sutras and precepts and vow to be born in my Land.
When their lifespans come to an end, they will not be
reborn in the three evil paths but will be born in my
Land. If such vows were not realized, I will not
attain The Proper Enlightenment.
(21. vowing that living beings will be reborn in His
Land when they realize of their mistakes and reform.)
When I become a Buddha, there will have no female
in my Land. If there is a wise woman, when she has
heard of my Name, she will obtain pure faith and
bring forth the Bodhi Heart. She will dislike the body
of a woman and wish to be born in my Land. At the
end of her life, she will be transformed into a man
and be born in my Land. All the living beings in the
worlds in ten directions, when they are born in my
Land will all be born from transformations from the
lotus flowers in the pools of seven gems. If such
vows were not accomplished, I will not attain The
Proper Enlightenment.
(22.vowing that the Land consists of no female.
(23. vowing that the women will dislike her present
form body and will be born as a man in His Land.
(24. vowing that living beings will be born from
transformation in the lotus flowers.)
When I become a Buddha, living beings in the ten
directions, when they hear my Name, will joyously
believe, make obeisance and take refuge with me.
With a pure mind they will cultivate the Bodhisattva
conducts. All the beings in the Heaven and on earth
will be respectful of them. If they were to hear of my
Name, after they have passed away, they will be
reborn into respectable, honourable families. All
their roots would be full with no deformities. They
will constantly cultivate the very special pure
conducts. If such vows could not be accomplished, I
will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.
(25. vowing that the heavenly and earthly beings will
be respectful to them.
26. vowing that the living beings will obtain
blessings when they have heard of His Name.
27. vowing that living beings will cultivate specially
wonderful pure conducts.)
When I become a Buddha, there will have no evil
names in my Land. All the living beings, when they
are born in my Land will all be of the same mind and
dwell in right concentration. They will forever be
free from all heated afflictions. Their hearts will be
filled with purity and coolness. The bliss that they
feel would be like the bhikshus who has no outflows.
If they were to arise in them the thought of greedy
attachment to their bodies, I will not attain The
Proper Enlightenment.
(28. vowing that the Land is free from all evils.
29. vowing that the living beings will dwell in The
Proper Concentration.
30 vowing that the bliss is the same as the extinction
of all outflows.
31. vowing that living beings will not be greedy for
self benefit.
When I become a Buddha, those who are born in
my Land are of innumerable good roots. All of them
will obtain the Vajra Indestructible Bodies which are
firm, solid and powerful. The top of their heads will
emit bright lights which sine brilliantly. And they
will achieve all wisdom and obtain wonderful
eloquence. They are good at discussing the secret
points in all Dharmas. When they are reciting the
sutras and practicing the Way, their voices sound
like the echo of the bell. If such vows were not
accomplished, I will not attain The Proper
Enlightenment.
(32. vowing that the living beings will obtain the
Vajra Indestructible Bodies.
33. vowing the living beings will obtain brilliant
light and wonderful eloquence.
34. vowing that living beings are good at
discussing the important Dharmas.)
When I become a Buddha, all the living beings
born in my Land will ultimately arrive at the position
of only one birth before Buddhahood. Provided they
vow to save living beings, they would be armed with
great vows to teach and transform all the sentient
beings, so that all will bring forth the faith to
cultivate the Bodhi conduct and practice the path of
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Even though such
beings are being born in the other worlds, they will
forever be free from the Evil Paths. May be some
would like to speak the Dharma, some would like to
listen to Dharma, or some may appear to have the
spiritual power. Everyone of them will practice
according to their wish, and none will be unable to
accomplish them. If I am unable to accromplish such
vows, I will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.
(35. vowing that living beings will be free to teach
and transform other beings.)
When I become a Buddha, those born in my Land
will obtain food, drinks, clothings and various kinds
of offerings. Just as they wish for, these things would
aapear before them. None would be unable, to fulfill
their vows. The Buddha in the ten derections would
accept their offerings just in the space of a thought.
If such vows were not accomplished, I will not attain
the Proper Enlightenment.
(37. vowing that the clothes and food will appear
as one has wished for them.
38. vowing that all The Buddhas will receive their
offerings in the space of such a thought.)
When I become a Buddha, all the myriad things in
my Land will be purely adorned, with beautiful
lights and of special forms and coulours, to such an
extent of wonder that none would be able to exhaust
talking about them. Those living beings, even if they
have obtained the heavenly eyes, are able to
differentiate their forms and colours, thecolourful
lights and their appearances, their names and
numbers, and to talk about them generally, then I
will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.
 (39. vowing the the adornments will be
inexhaustible.)
When I become a Buddha, there will be
uncountable colourful trees in my Land. Some are
hundreds and thousands of yojanas in height. The
height of the trees in the Way Place is four hundred
million miles. Amongst the Bodhisattvas, even those
whose good roots are not so deep, they could also
see them clearly. If they wish to see the pure,
adorned Buddhalands of the other Buddhas, they can
see thm among the Jewel Trees, just like seeing the
clear mirror where one would be able to see one’s
face clearly. If such vows were not accomplished, I
will not attain The Proper Enlightenment.
(40. vowing that the trees are of different and
uncountable colours.
41. vowing that all the Buddhalands will appear
among the trees.)
When I beome a Buddha, the Buddhaland where I
dwell will be vast and purely adorned. It will shine
brilliantly just like a mirror. The lights will
illuminate clearly immeasurable, innumearable,
inconceivable Buddhas’World Realm in the ten
directions. When the living beings see the lights,
there will arise in them the rare mind. If the vows
were not accomplished, I will not attain The Proper
Enlightenment.
 (42. vowing that the lights of the Land will
thoroughly illuminate the ten directions.)
When I become a Buddha, the palaces and towers,
the ponds and the steams, the flower trees and the
myriads things in my Land, stretching down to the
edge of the Land and up to the empty space will all
be composed from immeasurable precious fragrance.
The fragrance will pervasively perfume the worlds in
the ten directions., When the living beings smell the
fragrance, all of them will cultivate the practices of
the Buddha. If such vows were not achieved, I will
not certify to The Proper Enlightenment.
(43. vowing that the precious fragrance will
pervasively perfume the ten directions.)
When I become a Buddha, the Bodhisattva
assemblies in the Buddhalands in the ten directions,
when they hear of my Name, are all able to obtain
the Samadhi of Purity, the Samadhi of Liberation
and the Samadhi of Pervasive Equanimity. They will
completely uphold the deep mantras and dwell in
Samadhi, until they become the Buddhas. In their
deep concentration, they are always able to make
offerings to innumerable, uncountable Buddhas and
will never lose their concentration. If those vows
were not accomplished, I will not attain The Proper
Enlightenment.
(44. vowing that the living beings will obtain the
Pervasive Equanimity Samadhi.
 45. vowing that all living beings will be able to
make offerings to all the Buddhas in their Samadhi.)
When I become a Buddha, the Bodhisattva
assemblies in the worlds in other directions, when
they hear of my Name, will be able to certify to the
Dharma of No Birth and obtain the Dharanis. Their
hearts will be pure and happy and dwell in the mind
of equanimity. They cultivate the Bodhisattva
conduct and will obtain the virtuous roots fully. In
time if they were unable to obtain the first, second
and third stages of patience, and were unable in the
present time to certify to the position of Non-
retreating in all Buddhadharmas, I will not attain The
Proper Enlightenment.
(46. vowing that the living beings will obtain the
Dharanis.
47. vowing that the living beings will obtain the
patience when they hear of His Name.
48. vowing that the living beings will arrive at the
position of Non-retreating presently.)

Chapter 7 Will Definitely Accomplish Proper

Enlightenment.
The Buddha told Ananda, “At that time, after the
Dharma Store Bhikshu had finished saying the vows,
He put forth the following verses,
I bring forth the Vows that surpass the world,
And vow to attain the Unsurpassed Path.
 If the Vows were not fully fulfilled, I vow not to
attain the Proper Enlightement. I will become the
greatest donor, To relieve pervasively those who are
poor and needy, So that all those beings, Will be
freed of worries and anxieties in the long nights of
birth and death, And arise in them all good roots,
And finally they will achieve The Fruition of Bodhi.
If I were to attain The Proper Enlightenment.
Immeasurable Lifespan is to be my Name. When the
living beings hear of my Name, All will be born in
my Land. They will obtain a golden body just like
The Buddha, Whose features are wonderfully and
fully adorned. They will bring forth the Great
Compassionate Heart, To benefit all living beings,
They will dwell in deep and proper mindfulness and
leave all sensual desires behind. With pure wisdom
they will cultivate the Pure Conducts, May my lights
of wisdom, Pervasively illuminate the Land in the
ten directions, Eradicating the impurity and darkness
of the three Evil Paths. May my lights relieve those
in great troubles, difficulties and dangers, So that all
will renounce the sufferings of three Evil Paths And
put an end those darkness of afflictions. May all
beings open their Eyes of Wisdom, And obtain a
body that shines brightly, Closing forever the Evil
Paths, May they penetrate and arrive at the door of
wholesome paths. I will open the Dharma Stores for
all living beings, And extensively give the gems of
merits and virtues. I will obtain the unobstructed
wisdom like The Buddha, And cultivate the practices
of kind compassion just like Him. I will always be
the Teacher of Men and Gods, And become The
Hero of The Triple Realms. I will speak Dharma like
The Roar of a Lion, And widely cross over all
sentient beings. I will fully accomplish my former
Vows, That all beings will become Buddhas. If my
vows were to come to fruition, The Great Thousand
World System should express their deep feelings of
gratitude, All those Gods in the Empty Space,
Should rain down precious pearly flowers.
The Buddha told Ananda, “When The Dharma
Store Bhikshu had finished saying the verses,
immediately The Land pervasively shook in six ways,
The Heavens rained down the precious flowers on
Him to make offerings. There sprang up naturally
music in Empty Space, praising thus, He is certainly
to accomplish the Unsurpassed Proper
Enlightenment.”

Chapter 8 Accumulating Merits And Virtues

“Ananda, after Dharma Store Bhikshu brought
forth such magnificent vows in front of The Thus
Come One, Who is The King at Great Ease in the
World, and also the great assembly of Gods and
humans, he dwelt in the true and solid wisdom, and
cultivated the Way with great courage and diligence.
With one heart undivided he vowed to adorn the
Wonderful Land. The Buddhaland thus attained with
such great cultivation is wide, open with extensive
great space. It is especially wonderful and stand far
above the other Lands. It is naturally self-sustained
and exists forever. It is free from destruction and
changes. In uncountable kalpas he accumulated and
planted all virtuous practices. In his mind he did not
give rise to thoughts of greediness, anger, delusion
and sensual desires. He is never attached to froms,
sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch and dharmas.
But is always happy and mindful of the cultivation of
good roots of The Buddhas of the past. He cultivated
stillness and quietude and stayed far away from all
falseness. He practised according to the door of the
One Only True Reality and planted the roots of
virtue extensively. He was not attached to all kinds
of sufferings and was satisfied with little necessities.
He seeked only for the pure Dharmas so as to benefit
living beings. He was never tired of fulfilling his
Vows because he had accomplished the power of
great patience. He always treated the sentient beings
with compassion and patience. He would speak
kindly and livingly to them with calm composure.
He advised and encouraged them to cultivate the
Way diligently. He is respectful of the Triple Gems.
And with a straight mind that is free of falsity, he
served his teachers and elders. He adorned his
practices by completely adhering firmly to the
precepts. He contemplated the unreality of all
dharmas and dwelt constantly in the Samadhi of
Stillness. He was good at subduing his mouth and
never would he criticize other’s fault. He was good
at subduing his body and never would he act against
the precepts and rules of deportments. He was good
at subduing the Mind’s karma so that it is always
pure with no defilements. He was not attached to his
Land, cities and villages, families and relatives and
also the precious jewellery. But he would constantly
teach and transform living beings and enable them to
dwell in the six practices of paramitas of giving,
upholding the precepts, patience, diligence,
concentration and wisdom, so that they would dwell
in the Unsurpassed, True and Proper Path.
Because he was able to accomplish such good
roots, wherever he was born, uncountable jeweled
stores would appear and come forth naturally. Maybe
he would be born as the respectable elder or Upasika,
with honourable surname that was reverently
respected by others. Or at times he was born as The
King of Kastriya (Noble Royal Family) race, or The
Wheel Turning Sagely King, The God of the Heaven
of Six Desires or The King of Heaven in the Heaven
of Pure Conduct. Unceasingly, he would make
offerings before all the Buddhas with great respect
and gratitude. The virtues thus obtained by him was
ineffable indeed. His body and mouth would
continuously produce immeasurable subtle fragrance
just as fragrant as the sandalwood or the green lotus
flowers. The fragrance of upholding the precepts
pervasively perfumed the innumerable world
systems. Wherever he was born his form appearance
would be upright with proper adornment, that is
marked with the thirty-two signs of a great man and
is refined in eighty subtle fine features which were
all well rounded and fully accomplished. His hands
would always bring forth unending gems, all kinds
of well adorned things, things of daily necessities,
which were very valuable so as to benefit the
sentient beings and that they would be happy and
satisfied. Because of such causes and conditions, he
was able to make uncountable living beings to bring
forth The Mind of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.

Chapter 9 Fully Accomplishing The Way.

The Buddha told Ananda, Dharma Store Bhikshus
cultivated the Bodhisattva Path and accumulated
innumerable and limitless merits and virtues. He was
always at ease when dwelling amongst the dharmas
that are not known or understood by using words or a
mind of differentiation. He fully accomplished all his
Vows that were base on The One Suchness Reality.
He was able to bring to fruition The Land that was
vast, spacious and pure, with all adornments that
were fully and completely accomplished from the
strength of his great, powerful vows and virtues.”
After listening to the Buddha, Ananda asked,
“Dharma Store Bodhisattva who has accomplished
the Bodhi, was He The Buddha of the past? Is He
The Buddha of the future? Or is He the present
Buddha who is dwelling in the other world?”
The World Honoured One answered, “The Buddha
Thus Come One does not come from one place nor
does He really go anywhere. He is neither born or
extinct, nor does He dwell in the past, present or
future. But out of His Vows to cross over living
beings, He appears to dwell in the Western Land
which is hundreds of thousands kotis of Nayutas
Buddhalands away from the Saha World. In the
world that is known as The Land of Ultimate Bliss,
Dharma Store has already achieved Buddhahood for
ten kalpas. He is known as Amitabha. Presently He
is speaking the Dharma to innumerable,
immeasurable Bodhisattvas and Sound Hearers
assemblies who all surround Him and Listen with
great respect.”

Chapter 10 All Vowing To Become Buddha

 After The Buddha had finished talking about the
accomplishment of vows by The Bodhisattva, the
former life of Amitabha Budhha, The Prince
Ajatasattu together with the five hundred elders were
filled with great joy. Everyone of them held a golden
flower umbrella and together they made obeisance in
front of The Buddha. After making the offerings of
the flower umbrella to The Buddha, they sat by one
side to listen to the sutras. They made vows in their
minds, “When we become Buddhas, may we be just
like Amitabha Buddha.” The Buddha knew of their
thoughts immediately and He told the Bhikshus,
“These princes will later become Buddhas. They
have practised the Bodhisattva Path in their former
lives. Through uncountable kalpas, they have also
made offerings to four hundred billions of Buddhas.
They were my disciples during the time of Kasyapa
Buddha. Now they come to make offerings to me
and again we are able to meet.” When the Bhikshus
heard this, everyone was indeed happy for those
princes.

Chapter 11 The Pure And Adorned Buddha Realm

The Buddha told Ananda, “The realm of Ultimate

Bliss is fully and completely adorned with
innumerable merits and virtues. No such words like
sufferings, dangers, evil paths, Mara or anxiety exist.
There are also no change in weathers such as the four
seasons, the cold and hot days or the rainy and
cloudy days. There are also no big or small rivers or
seas, hills and valleys. Neither are there thorns, sands,
iron gates and Mount Sumeru. Nor are there any
earthy or rocky hills. The Land is naturally formed
from the seven jewels with a golden floor. It is wide,
spacious, even, upright and limitless. The Land is
full of pure adornments, which are specially and
wonderfully beautiful and far surpasses the worlds in
the ten directions.”
After listening to the description, Ananda asked
The World Honoured One, “If there is no Mount
Sumeru on that Land, then upon what will The Kings
of Four Heavens the Trayastrimsha Heaven dwell
on?”
The Buddha asked Ananda, “Upon what are The
Suyama Heaven and The Tushita Heaven, The
Forms and No Form Realms and the other heavens
dwell on?”
Ananda answered, “They are formed from the
inconceivable powerful karma of living beings.”
The Buddha told Ananda, “Do you know not of
the inconceivable karma? The fruition of the reward
of your body is inconceivable. The karmic
retribution of the living beings on that Land, with
their good and powerful merits and virtues, are able
to dwell in the Land that is derived from the Karmic
rewards of the great vows, great practices and great
spiritual penetrations of Amitabha Buddha. So they
are able to achieve such appearances.”
Ananda said, “The retribution of karma, the causes
and fruitions are inconceivable. Actually, I do not
doubt such dharmas. But because for the benefit of
living beings in the future, so that they will be free
from doubts, that is why I have asked such a
question.”

Chapter 12 The Brilliant Light Pervasively

Illuminating
The Buddha told Ananda, “The powerful spiritual
lights emitted by Amitabha Buddha is the foremost
and the most honoured. The Buddhas in the ten
directions are unable to bring on a comparison. His
lights pervasively illuminate The Buddhalands as
numerous as the Ganges sand in the Eastern direction,
and it also illuminates the Southern, Western and
Northern directions the four corners and the upper
and lower positions. The round lights transform from
the summit of His head shine forth to the lengths of
one, to, three and four Yojanas, or shine forth to the
lengths of hundreds and thousands of millions of
billions Yojanas. The lights emitted by the other
Buddhas may illuminate one or two Buddhalands or
hundreds of thousand Buddhalands. But the lights of
Amitabha Buddha pervasively illuminate
uncountable, immeasurable, innumerable
Buddhalands. The lights emitted by The Buddhas
and the lengths of the lights depend on their vows
merits and virtues which were different, they may be
either great or minor while they were practicing and
seeking the Path in their former lives.
Everyone of them will obtain whatever they have
vowed for when they achieved Buddhahood. These
lights come forth naturally with no prediction nor
planning. The pure, kind lights emitted by Amitabha
Buddha is much brighter than the lights from the sun
and moon by thousands and billions of millions of
times. His lights is the most honoured as He is The
King of Buddhas. That is why The Buddha of
Innumerable Lifespan is also known as The Buddha
of Immeasurable Lights. He is also known as The
Buddha of Unlimited Lights, The Buddha of
Unobstructed Lights and the Buddha of
Uncomparable Lights. And He is also known as The
Wisdom Lights, The Forever Illuminating Lights,
The Pure Lights, The Joyful Lights, The Lights of
Liberty, The Lights of Great Ease, The Lights that
Surpass The Sun and The Moon and The
Inconceivable Lights. These lights pervasively
illuminate all the world systems in the ten directions.
If there are living beings who have the chance to
meet His lights, his impurities will come to
extinction and the good roots will flourish. His body
and mind will be gentle and suppliant. If the living
beings who are experiencing acute sufferings in the
three evil paths were to see the lights, their sufferings
will come to an end and they will rest at ease. At the
end of their lifespans, they will all obtain liberation.
If there are living beings who have heard of His
lights, the spiritual powers, merits and virtues of the
lights, and are able to be mindful of the lights
wholeheartedly, throughout the days and nights
unceasingly, they will be born in that Land as they
have vowed.”

Chapter 13 The Immeasurable Lifespan and

Assemblies

The Buddha told Ananda, “The Buddha of

Immeasurable Lifespan has a long, lasting,
immeasurable, ineffable lifespan. There are also
uncountable Sound Hearer Assemblies there. These
Sound Hearers are endowed with clear, penetrating
spiritual powers. They are powerful and at great ease
in all circumstances. They are able to uphold all the
worlds in their palms. Among my disciples, the
Great Maudgalyayana also possesses the greatest
spirtitual penetration. He is able to know the
numbers of all the living beings in those seas of stars
in the Three Thousand, Great Thousand, World
Systems in the duration of just one day and night. If
all the living beings in the ten directions were to
become the Conditioned Awakened Ones and each
of them were to live millions of billions of years, and
also possess the great spiritual penetrations just like
the Great Maudgalyayana, to the end of their lifespan,
if they were to fully use up their powerful wisdom
and together try to count the number of Sound
Hearers in the assemblies of The Buddha, they will
only be able to count less than a fraction of the
thousands of millions of Sound Hearers. Just like the
great, deep, spacious and limitless sea, if a man were
to take a fine strand of hair and differentiate it into a
hundred portions, each will be as tiny as a dust mote.
And with such a dust mote size of hair portion, he
will dip a drop of water from the great sea, the water
on such a dust mote hair, if compared to the great sea,
which would be more? Ananda, the number that is
known by the great sages like the Great
Maudglayayana will just be like the water on the
dust mote of hair. The number that is unknown by
them will be as much as the great sea. The lifespan
of The Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas, the Sound
Hearers, the Heavenly Gods are uncountable,
uncomparable, that none would be able to finish
counting them.
Chapter 14 The Jewelled Trees That Grow
Pervasively In The Buddhaland

There are many jeweled trees on the Land of The

Thus Come One. Some trees are formed purely from
pure gold, others are silverrish white in colour. There
are also trees made from lapis lazuli, crystals, red
emeralds, beautiful jades and carnelian. These trees
consist of only one type of gem, with no mixtures of
other gems. And also there are trees which are
formed from a combination of two or three types of
gems, until there are those trees of seven gems.
These gems will combine differently to form a tree.
One type of gem will form the roots, stems, branches
and trunk while another type of gem will be
transformed into the flowers, leaves, fruits and seeks.
Or there are the jeweled trees which are the
combination of golden roots, silverfish white trunks,
lapis lazuli branches and crystal like small branches
with red emerald as leaves, beautiful jade as flowers
and carnelian as fruits. All the other trees also consist
of the seven gems. Each of the gems take turns to
form the roots trunks, branches, leaves, flowers and
fruits. These gems will combine to form different
patterns. Every tree has different patterns and
formation and are well placed in rows. Their stems
face each other directly, the branches and leaves also
face each other in the correct position. The flowers
and fruits are grown in abundance, with colourful
lights that shine brilliantly till no one could
completely see their beauty. Continuously the wind
blows and the trees will sing naturally in the five
sounds, with subtle tune and tone that combine
harmoniously and naturally. Jewelled trees like these
grow pervasively in that Land.

Chapter 15 The Bodhi Way Place

There is a Bodhi Tree in the Way Place. It is four

hundred millions miles in height, with a trunk that is
five thousand yojanas in circumference and the
leaves and branches that cover a circumference of
twenty millions miles. It is naturally formed from a
combination of all kinds of precious gems. The
flowers and fruits are mature and grow in abundance,
with lights that pervasively illuminate all directions.
There are also many kinds of mani gems which are
red, green, turquoise green and pure white in colour.
These kings of all precious gems will form the
ornaments. The joints of the jeweled pillars are
decorated with clouds of precious gems. The golden
pearls and small precious bells pervasively line up
between the branches and stems. The precious and
wonderful nets cover the top of the Bodhi Tree.
Hundreds and thousands of millions of lights will
illuminate and reflect each other to decorate the
Bodhi Tree. Uncountable bright lights shine forth to
the realms of infinity. All these adornments, will
appear as one wishes to see. When the gentle breeze
blows by, it passes by those branches and leaves and
produces innumerable subtle Dharma sounds and
tunes. The sounds of Dharma are pervasively heard
in all Buddhalands, in such a pure, fluent and clear
pattern, with subtle and gentle toes. The sound is the
foremost among the sounds in the worlds in the ten
directions. If there are living beings who are able to
see the Bodhi Tree, to hear the sounds, to smell of its
fragrance, to taste its fruits, to be touched by its
lights and shadows, and to be mindful of the merits
and virtues of the tree, they will then be able to
obtain the pure and clear six roots. They will have no
more worries and anxieties. But will dwell in the
non-retreating position until they become Buddhas.
And also because of seeing the tree, they will obtain
three kinds of patience. Firstly, the patience of
sounds and echoes, secondly, the patience of
gentleness and thirdly, the patience of non-
production of Dharmas.”
The Buddha told Ananda,”The Buddhaland such
as this, with flowers, fruits and trees that are able to
teach the Buddha Dharmas to all living beings are all
formed from the result of the spiritual power and
strength of The Buddha of Unlimited Lifespan, His
original, powerful Vows, His fulfillment of the Vows,
and His Vows that are firm and solid, ultimate with
perfect clarity.”

Chapter 16 The Halls, Mansions and Towers

Moreover, the lecture hall and fine living quarters

of The Buddha of Unlimited Lifespan, the towers
and railings all come to appearance naturally from
the transformations of the seven gems. They are
covered with the nettings of interlacing white pearls
and mani gems which brightly shine forth without
comparison. The palaces of those Bodhisattva
assemblies are also decorated in the same way. In the
assemblies, some Bodhistattvas are speaking
Dharmas on the ground, some are chanting the sutras,
some are listening and receiving the sutras on the
ground, some are walking mindfully on the ground,
while others are mindful of the Way of Practices and
sitting in meditation. Also there are Bodhisattvas
who are lecturing on the sutras, listening, receiving
and chanting the sutras in empty space. Some are
walking mindfully, thinking of the Way or sitting in
mediation in the empty space. Or there are those who
have attained the Sotapannas, or have achieved the
position of Sakadagamin, or have attained the
position of Anagamin and Arhat, the fourth fruition
of sagehood. Those who have not yet attained The
Avarvartyas are able to be certified to such a position.
Everyone of them is mindful of The Buddha Dharma,
talking about the Dharma and practicing the Dharma
None is ever unhappy.”

Chapter 17 The Merits And Virtues Of The Streams

And Ponds

“And also there are streams and ponds that flow

interchangeably on the left and right hand side of the
lecture hall. The length, width and depth of the
ponds are each of suitable sizes. Some are ten
yojanas, twenty yojanas or until there are those of
hundreds and thousand yojanas. They are all filled
with pure and fragrant water that is enhanced with
the eight virtues. There are innumerable sandalwood
trees and also the good luck trees beside the ponds
and streams. These trees forever produce the
fragrance and fruits that illuminate everywhere with
their brilliant lights. Their long branches and
abundant leaves cover intertwinglely above the
ponds. They produce all kinds of fragrances that
none in the world would be able to bring on a
comparison. And blown by the light breeze, the
fragrance scenting the flowing streams. The ponds
are also decorated with the seven gems. The bottom
of the ponds are covered with golden sand. There are
green lotus flowers, red lotus flowers, yellow lotus
flowers, white lotus flowers and lotus flowers with
mixed colours and abundant lights that pervasively
cover the surface of the water.
If there are living beings who are to bathe in this
water and wish that the water will reach their feet,
knees, waists, necks or totally cover their bodies, or
if they wish to bathe in cold water, warm water, in
fast streams or gentle flows, the water will each
accord with the wishes of the living beings. And it
brings relaxation and happiness to their bodies and
spirits. The water is so pure as if it is without form.
The precious sand can be seen clearly through the
water. The images of the sand shine forth from all
depths. The ripples flow on in small circles.
Overlapping one another in their flows.
The waves sing forth in uncountable subtle sounds.
May be one would be able to hear of the sounds of
The Buddha, The Dharma and The Sangha, the
sounds of paramitas, the sounds of silence,
immovable pure contemplation, the sounds of non-
production and non-extinction, the sounds of the Ten
Strengths of Bravery, the sounds of no self nature, no
doers and non-self, the sounds of great kindness,
great compassion, joy and renunciation and the
sounds of Annointing The Crown with fragrant dews
so as to attain the position of Dharma Prince.
 After one has listened to these sounds, one will
obtain a pure mind, with no more discriminating
thoughts, a mind that is proper, straight and in
equanimity which is able to bring the good roots to
maturity. Whatever a man hears of will be in
accordance with the Dharmas. Whatever he wishes
to hear, only he alone will hear of it. Those that he
does not wish to hear will not be heard by him. He
will never retreat from the Bodhi Mind of
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. As those who have
arrived from the worlds in the ten directions will be
born naturally from thansformations, in the lotuses in
the ponds of seven gems.
Everyone will obtain a body that is light and pure,
just like the empty space which is ultimately in
existence.
They will not hear of names such as The Three
Evil Path, defilements, anxieties, tortures and
sufferings. In fact, there would be no examples of
those names, far less will one have to undergo such
sufferings. But all will hear of the sounds of bliss
naturally.
That is why that Land is known as The Land of
Ultimate Bliss.”

Chapter 18 The Form Features That Far-Surpass the

World
 “In the Land of Ultimate Bliss, all the living
beings are born with wonderfully handsome features
that are adorned in subtle colours which far surpass
those in the world. Seldom will one be able to see
this. All of them are of the same kind with no
difference in their form appearance. But just to
accord with the cultures of the other worlds, there
appears to have names such like Heavenly beings
and Human beings.” The Buddha told Ananda, “Just
like a poor beggar in the world, if he were to stand
beside a King, His facial features and the form body
can never be the same as the King. But if a King in
the world were to compare to the Wheel Turning
Sage King, The King would then look simple, low
and ugly. He would be looking just like the beggar
who is standing beside the King. The Wheel Turning
Sage King is the most powerful and handsome man
in the world. But if he were to compare to the
Heavenly King of Trayastrimsha Heaven, again he
would be looking ugly and low. If the Sakya King
were to be compared to the Heavenly King of
Trayastrimsha Heaven, again he would be looking
ugly and low. If the Sakya King were to be
compared to the Heavenly King in the Sixth Heaven,
he would never be of the same kind as the latter by
hundreds and thousands of times.
The Sixth Heavenly King, if he were to be
compared to the Bodhisattvas and Sound Hearers in
the Land of Ultimate Bliss, whose bright and subtle
form features will be uncomparable by millions of
billions of times.
The Palaces where they dwell, their clothings,
food and drinks would just be like the Great At Ease
Heavenly King of the Heaven of Transformation
From Others. But their powers and virtues, positions,
spiritual penetrations and transformations would be
uncomparable by all the Heavenly Kings by
Hundreds of thousands of millions of billions times,
till there is no calculation which would enable one to
make a comparison.
So, Ananda, you should know this. In the Land of
Ultimate Bliss of The Buddha of Innumerable
Lifespan, the merits, virtues and adornments such as
these are inconceivable.”

Chapter 19 The Fulfillment Of One’s Wishes

“Moreover, in the Land Of Ultimate Bliss, all the

living beings, such as those who have been born, or
those who are now being born, or those who will be
born in the future, can obtain the wonderful form
body just as mentioned. Their forms and facial
features are proper and adorned. All of them are
endowed with uncountable blessings and virtues,
clear and penetrating wisdom, and everyone is
naturally born with spiritual penetration. All the
things that are needed by them will be in abundance
with no lacking. All the adorned things, such as the
palaces, the beautifully decorated clothings, the
fragrant flowers, the banners and umbrellas will
come forth just as one has wished for or needed for.
If a man wishes to take food, the seven precious
bowls and containers which contain hundred kinds of
food and drinks that are of different tastes will
naturally appear in front of him and are filled to the
brim. Even though there appear to have the food, but
in actuality no one is really eating. Just to see the
colours and smell the fragrance, one will be satisfied
and feel full in one’s mind. And the form body and
energy will increase and grow to the fullest, with no
residue of filthy wastes.
Their bodies and minds are supple and gentle and
none will attach to the taste of food. After eating, the
food, drinks and containers will disappear and to
appear again in time for lunch.
Also there are different types of precious, beautiful
clothings, headwears and belts. The ornaments with
innumerable bright lights and hundreds and
thousands kinds of wonderful colours will naturally
and fully appear and adorn one’s body.
The mansion where one dwells will be the same as
one’s form and features’ There are precious nets that
cover the mansions with different types of specially
wonderful and valuable precious bells which hang
down and decorate the buildings pervasively in
different positions. They shine forth in different
bright colourful lights with such beauty and
adornments that is indescribable and limitless.
There are also towers and the scenery, the railings,
the halls, the chambers and the balconies which are
either spacious or narrow, circular or square and of
different sizes.
Also, there are those buildings dwelling in empty
space or on even ground. All of them are pure and
peaceful, with wonderful subtle bliss. And they
appear before one as one has wished for. None will
not be completely and fully equipped.”

Chapter 20 The Virtuous Breeze And The Flower

Rain

“In the Buddhaland, when it is time for one to take

lunch, the breeze of virtue will naturally come forth
and blow upon those nettings, and all the precious
trees so that they will bring forth wondrous sounds.
They speak of sufferings, emptiness, impermanence,
no-self and all the paramitas. The wind will spread
by millions kinds of gentle fragrance of virtue. Those
who have smelled their fragrance will forever and
naturally be freed from all kinds of sufferings and
defiling habits. When the breeze blows and touches
one’s body, one will feel calm and relax, just like the
Bhikshu who has obtained the Samadhi of Ultimate
Extinction.
Again the breeze will blow by the woodland of
seven gems and blow down groups of flowers which
consist of different kinds of colourful lights that
pervasively fill up the Buddhaland. The flowers
would fall down and gather together according to
their colours, with no mixture or confusion. They are
soft, gentle, bright and pure, just like a heavenly
handkerchief. If one were to step upon the flowers,
one’s feet will sink to the depth of four fingers.
When one raised the foot from the flowers, they will
resume their shapes as before. After lunch time, all
the flowers will naturally disappear, The Great Land
is then pure with no dust. And again more new
flowers will be rained down according to the time
and hours. The flowers that appear then will
pervasively cover the Land, just the same as before.
Such occurance will be repeated for six times in one
period of day.”

Chapter 21 The Precious Jewelled Lotus And The

Buddha’s Lights
“Also there are all kinds of precious lotus flowers
that grow pervasively in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Everyone of the precious lotus consists of hundreds
and thousands of billions of petals. The flowers are
bright and shining with immeasurable types of
colours. The green colour will reflect green lights
while the white colour will reflect white lights. Each
of the black, yellow, red and purple colours will also
produce the lights just as the reflected colours.
Also there are uncountable precious gems and
hundreds of thousands of mani gems that reflect their
decorations upon one another. These precious
jewellery and gems are as brilliant as the sun and
moon. The lotuses are also of different sizes. Some
are half yojanas, others are one, two, three or four
until hundreds and thousands of yojanas. Everyone
of the lotus will produce thirty six hundreds
thousands of billions lights. And everyone of the
lights will produce thirty-six hundreds thousands of
billions of Buddhas, each with the form body in the
golden purplish hues and the face features which are
specially and handsomely adorned. Everyone of
those Buddhas will again emit hundreds and
thousands of brilliant lights. Pervasively they will
speak the subtle and wonderful Dharmas to the living
beings in the ten directions. And the Buddhas like
these will each teach and transform uncountable
living beings so as to dwell on the Proper Path of
Buddha.”
Chapter 22 Certainly To Certify To The Ultimate
Fruition

“Moreover Ananda, in that Buddhaland, there is

no darkness and no lights from the fire, sun, moon
and stars. Neither are there any characteristics of day
and night. There are also no-names such as years,
months and numbers of Kalpas. Also there are no
dwellings of families and relatives. Wherever we go,
not only do we not find signs and names, neither can
we see any differentiations of attachment or
renunciation, but only experience the unsurpassed,
pure bliss.
If there are any good men or good women who
have already been born there, or who are going to be
born there, all of them will dwell in proper
concentration, and are sure to be certified to the
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Why is it? Because those
who have entered the deviant concentration, and
those who are in the unsettled concentration, will be
unable to understand and cultivate properly the
suitable causal conditions.”

Chapter 23 The Praise Of The Buddhas From Ten

Directions
 “Moreover Ananda, in the Eastern direction, there
are worlds of numbers like the Ganges Sand. In
every of those worlds, there are Buddhas as many as
the Ganges Sand. Everyone of The Buddhas shows
His long and wide tongue and emits immeasurable
lights. They sincerely and honestly speak of and
praise The Buddha of Unlimited Lifespan, and His
inconceivable virtues and merits. In the Southern,
Western and Northern directions, in the worlds as
many as the Ganges Sand, those Buddhas also praise
in the same manner. In the four intermediate
positions, upper and lower positions with world
realms like Ganges Sand, those Buddhas also praise
Him in the same manner. Why do they praise Him?
Because they wish that all living beings in the other
worlds will be able to hear of His Name. And to
bring forth the pure Bodhi heart, so that they will be
able to accept and uphold His Name and always be
mindful of Him. They will take refuge and make
offerings to Him. Even if there are those who can
only bring forth one single thought of pure faith and
transfer all the good roots with a sincere mind, and
vow to be born in His Land, they are sure to be born
according to their vows and attain the position of no-
retreat until they arrive at the Unsurpassed Proper
and Equal Bodhi.”
Chapter 24 The Rebirth Of The Three Groups

The Buddha told Ananda, “Amongst all the

heavenly and human beings in the worlds in the ten
directions, there are three groups who have sincerely
vowed to be born in His Land. The upper group
consists of those beings who are able to leave home
and sensual desire to become monks. They have
brought forth the Bodhi heart. With concentrated
mindfulness, they are mindful only of Amitabha
Buddha. They have cultivated all kinds of merits and
virtues and vowed to be born in His Land. This type
of living beings, when it is time for them to leave the
present lifespans, Amitabha Buddha together with
the sagely assemblies will appear in front of them. In
just a fraction of a second, they will follow The
Buddha and be born in His Land naturally by
transformation in the lotus flowers of seven gems.
They are endowed with great, powerful wisdom and
natural spiritual penetration. That is why, Ananda, if
there are living beings who wish to see Amitabha
Buddha in this lifetime, they should bring forth The
Unsurpassed Bodhi Mind. Moreover they should
single-mindedly be mindful of the Land of Ultimate
Bliss. They must also accumulate all kinds of good
roots. And in every thought they should transfer the
merits so as to see the Buddha. When they are born
in His Land, they will enter the position of no-retreat,
until they arrive at The Unsurpassed Bodhi.
Those in the middle group consists of beings who
are unable to become Bhikshus, but they are able to
cultivate great merits and virtues. Also they must
bring forth The Unsurpassed Bodhi Mind and single-
mindedly concentrate their thoughts on Amitabha
Buddha. Whatever doors of practice they have
cultivated, all the merits and virtues thus
accumulated, such as receiving and upholding the
precepts, building the Buddha Stupa and Images,
making offerings of food and drinks to the Sangha,
hanging of banners and lighting of lamps, the
offering of flowers and burning of incense, are then
transferred to His Land. They also must vow to be
born there. When these beings are about to leave the
world, Amitabha Buddha will appear in His
transformation body, with brilliant adornments and
shining features, just like the true Buddha. He is
surrounded by the great assembly of saints and sages.
Together they will appear before the man, to guide
and lead him. He will follow the Transformation
Buddha and be born in His Land. Then he will dwell
in the position of no-retreat from The Unsurpassed
Bodhi. His merits, virtues and wisdom will be just a
step behind the upper group.
The lower group consists of those beings who are
unable to cultivate all kinds of merits and virtues.
They should bring forth The Unsurpassed Bodhi
Mind. And single-mindedly they are mindful of
Amitabha Buddha. They rejoice and have good faith
in Him, and never will they doubt Him. With a
sincere heart they vow to be born in His Land. When
such a man is about to leave the world, he will see
the Buddha in his dream and be able to be born in
His Land. The merits, virtues and wisdom will also
be just behind that of the middle group.
If there are those beings who dwell in the great
vehicle, and with a pure heart, they are mindful of
The Buddha of Unlimited Lifespan for just ten
recitations; they vow to be born in His Land so as to
listen to the very deep and profound Dharma; swiftly
they will obtain good faith and great understanding.
Even if they are able to obtain a single pure thought,
to bring forth one single mindfulness of the Buddha
in their hearts, when such a living being is about to
pass away, he will see Amitabha Buddha just as
though in a dream and is sure to get a rebirth in that
land. He will also attain the position of no-retreat
from The Unsurpassed Bodhi.”

Chapter 25 The Proper Causal Ground To Get A

Rebirth
 “Moreover, Ananda, if there are good men or good
women, when they hear this sutra, and are able to
accept, uphold, read and recite the sutra; to write
down and make offerings to it, and throughout days
and nights unceasingly,seek to be born in His Land;
they also bring forth the Bodhi mind and uphold all
the precepts seriously and never break the precepts;
they compassionately benefit and help all sentient
beings; all their good roots thus accumulated are
transferred to living beings so that they will be
peaceful and blissful; single-mindedly they are
mindful of Amitabha Buddha in the Western Land;
when they have to leave their present lives, they will
be born in the precious Buddhaland and are adorned
with all kinds of adornments, just like the Buddha.
Swiftly they will be able to listen to the Dharma and
will never retreat from the Bodhi mind.”
“Moreover, Ananda, if there are living beings who
wish to be born in that Land, even though they are
unable to greatly and diligently practice mindfulness
and concentration or to uphold all the sutras and
precepts, they must practice good deeds. For
example,firstly, they must abstain from killing.
Secondly, they must abstain from stealing. Thirdly,
they must abstain from sexual misconduct. Fourthly,
they must not indulge in false speech. Fifthly, they
must not speak frivolously. Sixthly, they should not
practice harsh speech. Seventhly, they should not
practice double-tongue speech. Eighthly, they should
not be greedy. Ninthly, they should not be angry.
Lastly, they should not be deluded.
They are also mindful of Amitabha Buddha in the
Land of Ultimate Bliss unceasingly throughout the
day and night. With all kinds of merits and virtues,
and all types of adornments, they take refuge
sincerely, make obeisance and offerings to the
Buddha. When such a man is about to leave the
world, he will not be afraid nor frightened, his mind
is not upside down, and he is sure to be born in the
Buddhaland. If there are those living beings who are
busy with all kinds of duties, so that they are unable
to leave the homelife, and also they do not have time
to properly uphold the precepts, but with a pure mind,
and during their free shours, they should act and
think wholesomely, and subdue sensual desire and
worries. They should bring forth a kind and pure
heart, and should not be angry or jealous. They
should not be greedy for food, or be stingy in
practicing the giving of wealth, knowledge or
Dharma. They should not be regretful of their good
deeds and become doubtful, but should always be
filial to their parents, and act sincerely, loyally and
faithfully in all situations. They must believe that the
Sutras of the Buddha are deep and profound; that
blessings are the rewards of all good deeds done
while receiving and upholding the Dharma as
mentioned. They should not be forgetful or
unmindful but should think and plan mindfully, and
wish to be free from the Triple Realms. They are
constantly mindful of the Buddha throughout the day
and night, and vow to be born in Amitabha Buddha’s
Pure Land. For ten days and nights, or for only one
day and one night, they practice unceasingly. At the
end of their lives they will be able to born in His
Land and practice the Bodhisattva Path.
Those who are born there will arrive at the
position of Avarvartyas. Everyone of them will
obtain the golden bodies adorned with thirty-two
marks. And all will become Buddhas. Whatever
Buddhaland they wish to attain the Buddhahood,
they are certainly to accomplish their vows. Because
they have deligently practised mindfulness
throughout the day and night, and seeking the path
unceasingly, they are sure to accomplish their vows,
and never to retreat.
Ananda, because of such benefits, The Buddhas in
uncountable, innumerabe, inconceivable,
uncomparable, limitless world systems, all praise the
merits and virtues of The Buddha of Innumerable
Lifespan.”

Chapter 26 Making Obeisance And Offerings And

Listening To The Dharmas
“Moreover, Ananda, The Bodhisattva assemblies in
the worlds in the ten directions, because they wish to
see and make obeisance to The Buddha of
Innumerable Lifespan in the World Of Ultimate
Bliss, carry incense, flowers, banners and jeweled
umbrellas and go to the place where The Buddha
dwells. Respectfully, they make offerings to Him,
listen to the sutras and accept them reverently. They
uphold His teaching by lecturing on it to all other
beings, so that they will be transformed and follow
the Path. They also praise the merits and virtues of
the well adorned Buddhaland.”
At that time, the World Honoured One spoke the
following ghattas:
“In the Eastern direction, there are Buddhalands as
numerous as the Ganges Sand,
With Bodhisattva assemblies as numerous as Ganges
Sand, Together they go to make obeisance to The
Buddha of Innumerable Lifespan, There are
Bodhisattvas in the Southern, Western, Northern and
intermediate directions, In the upper and lower
positions, All these Bodhisattvas, With profound
respect offer all kinds of precious and wonderful
things. They sing out in a gentle and harmonious
way, To praise The Thus Come One Who Is Most
Honoured. All of them have deeply entered the
wisdom of spiritual penetration, And roam in the
deep dharma door. When they heard of the Name of
the Virtuous Sage, The Buddha, They are able to
obtain great benefit and dwell in a peaceful state of
mind. They are forever diligent and never will they
be tired of making all kinds of offerings to the
Buddhas. They contemplate the very special
Wonderful Land, Which is indescribable by words or
thoughts, The Land that is pervasively adorned with
merits and virtues, That no other Buddhalands can
compare with. Therefore they bring forth the heart
for Unsurpassed Bodhi, And vow to swiftly attain
Bodhi. Immediately the Honoured One of
Innumerable Honours appears, with a smiling,
golden face. Emitting brilliant lights from His mouth,
That pervasively shine upon all the lands in the ten
directions. Which reflect back to encircle The
Buddha. After circling Him for three times, it enters
into His crown. When the Bodhisattvas see the light,
They are immediately certified to the position of no-
retreat. And the whole assembly of Bodhisattvas,
Are filled with joy and congratulate each other. The
voice of The Buddha is pure and thunder like, That
consists of eight fluent and wondrous subtle tones.
He knows of the vows of those Bodhisattvas, Who
have come from the ten directions. For they also seek
to purify and adorn the Land, And so they are able to
receive the prediction of Buddhahood.
They have awakened to all the Dharmas, That are
just like dreams, illusions and echoes. When they
have fully fulfilled those wonderful vows, They are
sure to bring to completion a Buddhaland just like
this. They understand that the earth is just like
shadows and Images,
And the great vows constantly flow forth from their
minds. They cultivate the Ultimate Bodhisattva Path,
Which is complete with all kinds of merits and
virtues. As they cultivate the Unsurpassed Bodhi
Path, So they are able to receive the prediction of
Buddhahood. Deeply they enter and penetrate the
nature of all Dharmas, That everything is empty
without a self. With a sincere mind they seek for the
purification of Buddhalands, And finally they are
able to achieve such a Land. They love to listen,
receive and practice the Dharmas, So they are able to
arrive at the pure dwelling, And certainly they will
receive the prediction of Proper and Equal
Enlightenment,
From the Honoured One of Innumerable Virtues.
The Buddhaland that is Unsurpassed and with no
limit, Is originated from the powerful Vows of The
Buddha. When a man hears of His Name, he will
wish to be born there. By one’s power, a man is able
to arrive at the position of no-retreat.
The Bodhisattvas bring forth the sincere vows.
Vowing that their Lands will also be like this. In
every thought they are mindful of all the living
beings, so as to pervasively bring them to the other
shore. So everyone of them is able to bring forth the
Bodhi Mind. When they have left behind their bodies
on the turning six paths, All of them are thus able to
arrive at the other shore, To make offerings and
attend to millions and billions of Buddhas. With a
respectful and joyous heart, they are able to fly to the
Buddhalands pervasively in their transformation
bodies. Finally, they will return to The Land of
Peaceful Rest.

Chapter 27 Praising The Virtues Of The Buddha

The Buddha told Ananda, “The Bodhisattvas in
that Land, relying on the spiritual powers of The
Buddha can travel to uncountable pure Buddhalands
in the ten directions to make offerings to all The
Buddhas within a short period of time. They offer
The Buddha flowers, fragrant incense, banners and
flags. They just have to give rise to such thoughts
and these offerings will appear in their hands. The
things that appear are special, wonderful and
precious, which can never be found in the world.
They make offerings to The Buddha and also the
assemblies of Bodhisattvas. They spread down
offerings of flowers to The Buddhas. These flowers
will combine to from one flower in empty space. All
those flowers will face downwards in a proper circle
in many layers. Then the flowers will be transformed
into a flower umbrella that emits hundreds and
thousands of colourful lights. And every colour will
produce fragrance of different scents, that
pervasively perfume the ten directions. The small
flower umbrella is about ten Yojanas. And in time, it
will grow out by many times until it pervasively
covers the worlds in the Three Thousands Great
Thousand World Systems. Then they will disappear
according to the turns of their appearance. If there
were no offerings of new flowers, the former flowers
will not fall down. But together they will play the
heavenly music in the empty space. In wonderfully
subtle sounds and voices, they will sing and praise
the virtues of The Buddhas. Then, the Bodhisattvas
will return to their original land within a short period
of time. All of them will then gather together at the
Hall of Seven Gems.
The Buddha of Immeasurable Lifespan will lecture
to them on the great Dharma, and speak to them
eloquently on the very subtle Dharmas, and none of
them will ever be unhappy. They will understand His
teaching thoroughly and be certified to the Path.
At that time, the fragrant breeze will blow by the
seven jeweled trees, and sing in sounds of five tunes.
All kinds of wonderful flowers will be blown down
by the breeze and fall in all directions, making
offerings naturally with no ending.
 All the heavenly gods will bring along hundreds
and thousands types of flowers and fragrances, and
play millions types of music and songs, to make
offerings to the Buddha and the assemblies of
Bodhisattvas and Sound Hearers. They walk to and
fro according to their turns, in a happy and serene
way. These are all caused by the powerful, original
vows of The Buddha of Immeasurable Lifespan. And
also because they have formerly made offerings to
The Thus Come One. That is why their good roots
will grow continuously, with no lacking nor decreace.
And it is also because they have perfected their
practices and have accumulated all kinds of good
roots, they fully accomplished the merits and virtues.”

Chapter 28 The Spiritual Light Of The Great Being

The Buddha told Ananda, “The Bodhisattva
assemblies in that Buddhaland possess the heavenly
eyes that can see clearly, the heavenly ears that can
listen thoroughly, all the happenings in the eight
directions, also the upper and lower positions either
in the past, future and present time. They will know
in advance all the good or bad thoughts of all the
heavenly beings, including those beings that can fly,
crawl and move in different ways. They also know
about the topic of their speech, the time of their
attainment of freedom, the time of their certifying to
the Way and the time of their arrival at the Pure
Land.
The Sound Hearers in that Buddhaland can emit
light for eight feet from their bodies, while the lights
emitted by the Bodhisattvas can illuminate hundreds
of Yojanas. There are two Bodhisattvas can
illuminate hundreds of Yojanas. There are two
Bodhisattvas who are the highest and the most
honoured. They emit powerful and spiritual lights
that can pervasively illuminate the Three Thousands
Great Thousand World Systems.”
Ananda asked The Buddha, “What are the Names
of the two Bodhisattvas?”
The Buddha answered, “One of them is known as
The Bodhisattva Who Contemplates The Sound of
the World, another one is called The Bodhisattva of
Great Strength. These two Bodhisattvas have
practised the Bodhisattva Path in this Saha World.
Later they were born in His Pure Land and they are
constantly attending on Amitabha Buddha on His left
and right side. When they wish to go to the
uncountable Buddhalands in the ten directions, they
will arrive there just at the arising of such a thought.
Presently they are dwelling in this world realm,
giving great benefits and happiness to living beings.
If the Good Men and Good Women in this world are
facing difficulties, dangers and terrors, but are able
to take refuge sincerely with The Bodhisattva Who
Contemplates The Sounds of the World, then they
will be saved by Him and attain liberation”

Chapter 29 The Magnificent, Deep And Powerful

Vows
“Moreover, Ananda, all the Bodhisattvas in the
present and future time in that Buddhaland, are
certainly to arrive at the position of the last birth
ultimately. Except for those who have made great
vows to cross over living beings, they will then enter
the realm of birth and death. They are then born to
become great Dharma Masters so as to pronounce
the Lion’s Roar. They equip themselves with the
great protection of precepts and adorn themselves
with great vows, merits and virtues. Even though
they are born in the evil world of the five turbidities,
in the same form just like the other living beings, but
they will never have to undergo the experience in the
Evil paths, until their arrival at the shore of
Buddhahood. Wherever they are born, they will
remember their former existences.
The Buddha of Innumerable Lifespan wishes to
cross over all the living beings in the worlds in ten
directions, so that they will be born in His Land and
attain Nirvana.
The Bodhisattvas are taught to become Buddhas.
After they have attained Buddhahood, they will in
turn teach the other living beings and accordingly
they will attain liberation. In this way, the teaching
of The Buddha will never come to an end until the
time of infinity in future, that no one can really make
out its duration by any means of calculation.
The Sound Hearers, The Bodhisattvas and other
living beings from the worlds in the ten directions
who have been born in His Land, who have arrived
at the Nirvana, who have attained Buddhahood, are
uncountable in numbers.
All the things that appear in that Buddhaland come
forth from the One True Dharma, with no increase
nor addition. Why is it like that? Just like the great
sea which is The King of water. When the water
from the streams flows into the sea, the quantity of
water in the great sea will neither be increased nor
decreased.
There are many Buddhalands in the ten directions,
but the Pure Land of Amitabha is great, spacious and
forever in existence. It is a Land that is full of light
and bliss. A Land that is most wonderful with no
other comparison. The reason is that when He was
practicing the ways of the Bodhisattva, He had
brought forth the great vows and accumulated all
kinds of great virtues. The Buddha of Innumerable
Lifespan is constantly giving away the virtuous
kindness to the beings in the ten directions
unceasingly. His kindness and compassion are very
deep, unfathomable and indescribable by words.”
Chapter 30 The Practice And Cultivation Of The
Bodhisattvas
“Moreover, Ananda, the concentration, wisdom,
spiritual penetration, the powerful virtues of the
Bodhisattvas in the Buddhaland are fully and
completely accomplished. They totally understand
the secret meanings of all the Buddha Dharma stores.
They are good at subduing their roots, so their bodies
and minds are pliant and calm. They are endowed
deeply with the proper wisdom so there is no residue
of any bad habits. They cultivate according to the
practice of The Buddha and practice the Seven Paths
of Sagely Enlightenment. Also, they cultivate the
five eyes, so their mind can illuminate clearly the
truth of all dharmas and they understand the worldly
dharma deeply. With the flesh eyes they can
differentiate worldly dharma deeply. With the flesh
eyes they can differentiate worldly dharmas. With
the Heavenly Eyes, they can penetrate all dharmas.
With the Pure Dharma Eyes, they can see things as
they are. With the Wisdom Eyes, they are able to see
the truth of all dharmas. With The Buddha Eyes they
are fully endowed with the enlightened wisdom, and
awakened to the nature of all dharmas.
They gather in fully all dharmas and speak of them
with wonderful eloquence. Always at great ease and
without obstructions, they are able to understand the
uncountable expedient skills in means In the world.
They always speak sincerely and truthfully, and are
able to enter the true meanings of all words. In this
way they are able to bring all sentient beings across
the sea of birth and death. They lecture on the proper
dharmas, the dharmas of no-form and no-deed, the
dharmas of non-attachment and non-attainment of
liberty and the dharmas of no differentiation.
They are far from the upside down views and do
not attach to the worldly things. They roam freely
and pervasively to all the Buddhalands with a mind
that is not attached to love or hatred, They also do
not give rise to thoughts on wishing or not wishing
for something. And neither do they give rise to
minds to differentiate others from oneself. Infact,
there is no obstruction and hatred in their minds.
Why do they behave thus? This is because those
Bodhisattvas regard all living beings with great
compassion and always try to benefit them. They do
not attach to all the dharmas, so they are able to
accomplish innumerable merits and virtues. With the
wisdom of non-obstruction, they understand that all
dharmas are thus unmoving. They are able to
penetrate the deep meanings of sufferings,
accumulations, extinctions, the noble paths which are
the Four Noble Truths. Also they understand the
expedient skills-in-means of sounds and voices. That
is why they will never engage themselves in worldly
speech, but only enjoy the discussion of Proper
Dharmas. They know that all dharmas are empty
with no production, so the sufferings that arise from
their bodies, the defilements, the wrong views and
wrong thoughts are completely extinguished. In the
Triple Realms, they diligently cultivate the Path with
an equanimity of mind. And ultimately they will
dwell in the One Vehicle until they arrive at the other
shore. The nettings of doubts are forever cut off and
they are certified to the position of non-attainment.
With the wisdom of expedient skills- in-means, they
are able to increase and bring to maturity their
practices in worldly affairs.
From the initial stage of no beginning until the
present time, they dwell in the spiritual penetration
and attain the way of the One Vehicle. Their
Enlightenment is achieved by their own effort, with
no outside help.”

Chapter 31 The True And Solid Merits And Virtues

“They have obtained the wisdom that is as
magnificent and deep as the great sea. Only Mount
Sumeru is comparable to their high and broad Bodhi
Mind. Their bodies emit lights of special power that
are brighter than the sun and moon. Their hearts are
as clear and pure as the snowy hills. And just like the
great everything is equal with no differentiation.
With the mind that is as clear and pure like water,
they are able to wash away all filthy dirt and earthy
dust. Their great and bright fire of wisdom will burn
away the wood of defilements. Just like the wind,
they are not attached to anything, and so they are
without obstruction. In a voice that is as loud as the
thunder, they pronounce the Dharma sounds, so as to
awaken those who have not yet awakened to the
Way. They rain down the sweet dews of Dharma, so
as to moisten all the living beings. Their minds are as
empty and broad as the empty space, for they are
always compassionate and equal to all the living
beings. They are just like the lotus flowers that do
not attach to filthy mud. And like the Niko trees they
grow extensively with big and protective shadows.
Like the golden jeweled rod, they are able to cut
throught the wrong views of evil attachment. They
also resemble the Iron Ring Mountain, for no other
Maras or externalist ways can ever disturb or move
their minds. With a proper and straight forward mind,
they are firm and good at manipulating the different
doors of Dharmas, and never will they feel tired of
seeking and discussing the Dharmas.
Just like the pure luminous lapis lazuli, they
uphold the precepts in a pure and bright way that
reflect luminously both internally and externally.
Whatever lectures or speeches that are given by them
will be happily and well accepted by all in the
assembly. In this way, they are able to successfully
beat the drums of Dharmas and build the dharma
banners
They are as bright as the sun of wisdom which is
able to clear away all darkness and ignorance. Their
outer appearance is gentle and soft because of their
clean and pure mind. In their quiet concentration
they are able to illuminate all Dharmas clearly, so
they are the great guiding teachers who are able to
subdue oneself and others, and guide all living
beings to renounce all loving attachment and be free
from the three filthy practices of greed, hatred and
delusion.
Just as though they are playing a game, they roam
freely with the power of their spiritual penetrations.
They plant and cultivate their good roots with the
power of great causes, great conditions and great
vows. In this way, they are able to fight and subdue
all the Mara soldiers. Respectfully, they make
offerings to all the Buddhas. Like the bright lamps of
the world, they are the fields of great and
unsurpassed blessings. They are worthy to receive all
offerings of men and gods because they resemble the
greatest and unsurpassed signs of auspiciousness.
These Bodhisattvas constantly emit bright lights in
abundance and dwell in permanent bliss. They are
not afraid of anything and adorn themselves with
strong and firm diligence. They are born with the
most handsome bodies and form features, which are
fully adorned with merits, virtues and great
eloquence, that no one in the world can ever compare
with. They are constantly praised by all The Buddhas,
ultimately they are able to fully practice the
Paramitas of The Bodhisattvas and dwell constantly
in all the Samadhis of no production and no
extinction. Pervasively, they travel to all the Way
places but they will stay far away from the state of
two Vehicles.
Ananda, I am just giving you a very brief and
concise description of the Land of Ultimate Bliss,
and the Bodhisattvas whose true actual merits and
virtues are just as I have mentioned. If I were to
speak of them extensively, I would still be unable to
describe them fully for hundreds of thousands of
millions of Kalpas.”

Chapter 32 The Limitless Lifespan And Bliss

The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva, “The
merits, virtues and wisdom of the heavenly beings,
Sound Hearers and Bodhisattvas in the Land of
Innumerable Lifespan cannot be spoken of. The
Land is truly pure and peaceful, serenely blissful and
wonderfully magnificent. Why do not we diligently
cultivate the goodness and be mindful of the natural
path, so as to join the assembly and take turns to
make offerings before The Buddha? Why do not we
contemplate the Dharma and cultivate the Path,
practice the Way happily and eternally and finally
obtain the opening of the True Wisdom? These
Bodhisattvas are firm and steady in their minds.
They will not retreat from the resolve of Bodhi and
will never be tired of the Practice. Their exterior
appearance may look as though they are slow and
calm, but internally they are diligently practicing
mindfulness of The Buddha. Just like the empty
space, they are always at ease with no obstruction
and dwell serenely in the Middle Way. Their
appearance and performance show exactly what is
inside their minds. They always look natural, upright
and well-adorned, while their behavior is righteous,
proper and straight-forward. With the bodies and
minds that are pure and clean, they are free from
love and greedy desire.
They are forever sincere and firm in their vows,
with no fluctuation. With a one-pointed mind, they
seek the Proper Path and will never have attachment
to evil performance. According to the teaching of the
Sutras, they follow the given rules and will never
dare to overstep them, but strictly following the
marking line, just like a house builder. All that they
seek is the Proper Path. Just like the empty space
where one cannot find the attachment, their mind is
empty of false thinking, so they are free from
anxieties. They also perform their daily duties
naturally with no attachment, so they are always
calm, serene and free from desire. As they have
made the great vows so they are able to sincerely
cultivate to achieve them.
With great compassion, they show great concern
towards all sentient beings. They are men of
propriety and righteousness. They understand the
connections of worldly dharmas and the Ultimate
Truth are of the same Dharma Nature, which is with
no obstruction. Thus they are able to bring across
oneself and other sentient beings and vow that all
will arrive at the shore of Liberation. They dwell in
the realm of One True Pure Mind, so they are
naturally at ease in all aspects. With a True Mind
that is filled with pure, serene, free and blissful
mindfulnesss, they are able to bring forth the
unsurpassed vows.
Once they have opened up wisdom and penetrate
the way of enlightenment, they will naturally
understand their original, self sustaining true nature.
They will then see the original true mind, which is
the base and root of all foundations. From this
original mind there flows out the uncountable bright
lights and colourful forms. The colourful bright
lights and forms will change as they reflect upon one
another. Just like the Uttarakuru World that is
specially abundant in food, clothing, seven jewels
and others, from the true original Mind, there flow
out naturally all kinds of things in the world. They
have attained the brightly illuminated self-mature of
Great Knowing.
Their appearance are subtle, adorned and pure,
with no other comparison. They have clearly seen
the state of equanimity. They do not have
discrimination and have certified to the clear,
original true mind which is eternally limitless.
That is why all of you should diligently and
vigorously practice the Way. By one’s effort, a man
should vigorously seek for self enlightenment. Then
he is sure to jump out of the turning wheel and be
born in the Amitabha Buddhaland that is of
innumerable purity. Naturally the five evil paths are
closed forever to him.
Ultimately the sagely path is easy for anyone to
walk but there are few who really care to practice
seriously. There is no restriction for everyone can go
there as he wishes. In fact, The Buddha naturally
helps and guides those who care to practice the Way
to be born there. If a man were able to make the
vows that are as great as the empty space, while
diligently cultivating and seeking merits and virtues,
then he will be able to attain limitless lifespan and
enjoy the bliss. So why be worried about the
transiency of the world and be attached to the world
affairs?”
Chapter 33 Diligently Giving Advice And
Encouragement
“The people in the world are all struggling for
unnecessary things. In this terrible acute suffering of
the Triple Realms, they work and slog so as to
benefit and support themselves. The minds of the
men and women, when they are old enough, the
honourable ones or those who are inferior, the poor
or rich, will be defiled with all kinds of thoughts and
worries, and they act according to their false thinking.
For example, the men with no land to work on will
be worried about how to buy the land. Those who do
not own a house will be anxious to get one. They are
constantly worried about their relatives, properties
and other things, whether they obtained them or not.
Finally when they manage to get one item, they feel
that they are still lack of other things. And they are
forever struggling to become the owner of things
because they wish to be like others. At last, when
they manage to accumulate all the things, again they
are worried about the imperamanence of things,
flood, fire, thieves and robbers will rob the things
from them until nothing is left behind. They cannot
let go of the stubborn and stingy feelings that are
firmly rooted in their false thinking mind. By the
time they have to leave the world, they can never
bring anything along upon their death. This is true
for the rich and the poor, and their hearts are all
filled with anxieties and acute sufferings.
Also in this world, father and son, brothers,
husbands and wives and the relatives, all these
people should be respectful and kind to one anoter.
They should never create the feeling such as hatred
and jealousy among them. The rich should help the
poor and should not attach greedily to their property.
Everyone should speak kindly and calmly to each
other and never should they fight or create
obstructions in their daily relationships.
At times, a man may fight or argue with anger
with one another, the negative feeling will get worse
in the next life until it develops into great animosity
and hatred. At that time, they will try to harm each
other in the worldly affairs. Even though such
happenings may not occur immediately, but we
should quickly find ways to cut off these negative
feelings.
A man is born alone in the world from the desire
for love and he will die alone. He comes to life, then
he passes away all by himself, and he alone will
experience the suffering and happiness. In fact, no
other people can really understand what he feels and
experiences inside his mind. The change of good and
bad karmas will follow him when he chases and
seeks for the things in life. He will have to walk the
ways according to the different karmic retributions.
It is very difficult and a rare chance for us to meet
and be together again. So, why are we not cultivating
good roots diligently while we are still strong and
healthy? What are we waiting for?
The living beings in the world are unable to see the
good and bad effects which are created by
themselves, so they are each racing to do all kinds of
good and bad deeds with deep attachment. They are
born in the darkness of delusion. And many a time,
they change their faith and believe in the teaching of
other religions. They are constantly born with upside
down false views and do not believe in the
transiency of all worldly phenomena. Like the blind
men, they do not have faith in the Buddha Dharma
but go against it. They do not care for their future but
seek for the present enjoyment and self-benefit,
wishing to fully enjoy life. They are deluded by
anger, greedy only for money and women and are
unable to be free from these poisonous feelings.They
are truly the pitiful ones. Our ancestors did not
cultivate blessings because they were not taught to
cultivate merits and virtues. Nobody told them about
that and so we cannot blame them. They do not
believe in the round of birth and death, in the good
and evil paths. They deny the existence of the six
paths. Just take a look at the surroundings, we can
see for ourselves. For examples, the father who is
crying for his dead child; or the son who cries for the
dead father; the brothers, husband and wife,
everyone of them is crying for the others because
one of them is dead and the other is alive. They are
thinking of each other because they are tied up by
worries and loving attachments. They are never free
from the attachments and always have false thinking
of their past happinesss and loving desires. That is
why they are unable to think deeply and plan
properly to cultivate the pure way seriously. Finally,
when they have to leave the present life, they cannot
do anything but to leave the world sadly. Most
people are deluded and seldom can we really find the
awakened ones. Deep in their hearts they conceal the
poisonous hatred, which darkens the evil paths with
these evil thoughts. They do all kinds of evil
practices that are against the laws of heaven and
earth. For the satisfaction of their desires, they dare
to act sinfully and violently. Finally, the bad karma
arises and they have to die young, and fall into the
evil paths, where there is no time for future release.
But if a man were able to think carefully and plan
properly, then he will stay away from all those evil
deeds, and to choose and practice the good deeds
vigorously. He knows that love, desire fame and
fortune can never be forever in his keeping; that they
are sure to leave him one day; that they are not
things to cling to. Everyone should practice the way
diligently and seek to be born in the Buddhaland of
Ultimate Bliss. Then he will be able to penetrate the
true wisdom, and adorn himself with special merits
and virtues. He should never follow his selfish
desires, and loses the great benefits of the sutras and
precepts, and forever stays behind the serious
cultivators.”

Chapter 34 The Opening Of The Clear Mind

Maitreya Bodhisattva answered, “Deep indeed is
the teaching of The Buddha! Good indeed is the
guiding of the Thus Come One ! I only hope that the
living beings will forever leave behind suffering and
anxieties. May they live with a heart full of gratitude
towards the World Honoured One. The Buddha is
the King of Dharma. His honourable position far
surpasses all the Sages. His lights illuminate the
worlds clearly with no hindrances till infinity. He is
the teacher of men and Gods. Now, we should be
very happy and grateful for we have met with The
Buddha and on top of that we are told of The Buddha
of Unlimited Lifespan. Our hearts are opened up
clearly to the Way.”
The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva, “If a man
is respectful to the Buddha, then he is sure to obtain
great benefit. Everyone should be mindful of The
Buddha, and never should they be doubtful of Him.
He should uproot love and sensual desire so as to
close up all the evil sources. Then he will be able to
roam in the Triple Realms with no more attachment.
He will also be able to reveal the proper path so as to
cross over those who are not yet crossed over.
You should know that the living beings in the ten
directions are constantly revolving on the wheels of
five paths, through innumerable numbers of kalpas.
They constantly experience the great anxieties and
sufferings through the process of birth, old age,
sickness and death. Their bodies are filthy and
impure. In fact, there is nothing worth clinging to.
A man should make an effort to bring forth a
determined decision, to wash away the filth and
defilements in his mind, to always speak and do the
things with a true and sincere heart, to speak and act
in accordance to his practice. Then, by one’s own
power, one is able to take oneself across the sea of
suffering, and to save and help others. Every man
should sincerely seek the vows and amass all good
roots and proper causes. The time thus taken by a
man to cultivate vigorously and diligently in this life
time is very short indeed. And later when he is born
in The Land of Innumerable Lifespan, he will
forever enjoy the great bliss and sever all roots of
birth and death. He will have no more defilements
and suffering. His lifespan is thousands and millions
of kalpas or as whatever he wishes for.
 So every man should make vows and diligently
practise the way. He should have pure faith in this
Sharma door, and should not give rise to the slightest
doubts or suspicions. For the uncertain mind will
cause him to fall down and be born in the city of
seven gems which is next to the actual Buddhaland,
and for five hundred years he will have to suffer for
his offense of a doubtful mind.”
Maitreya Bodhisattva said, “ I accept and
understand the teaching of the Buddha thoroughly. I
will single-mindedly practice the pure Dharma door,
and act in accordance with the teaching of the
Buddha. I will never be doubtful about this door of
practice.”

Chapter 35 The Evil Deeds And suffering In The

World Of Turbidity
The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva, “All of
you are able to bring forth the true and proper mind
to practice the Way in this life, and never to create
any evil deeds, you are great virtuous sages indeed,
Why? It is easy to reveal and transform the beings in
the other worlds in the ten directions because they
are filled with good deeds that are more than the evil
ones. Except for this world of five turbidities, which
is filled with acute suffering. Now that I have
attained Buddhahood in this world, teach and
transform those sentient beings, so that they will
renounce the five evil deeds, be free from the five
torturing pains and leave behind the fire of five
skandas. I teach them to subdue the minds and
uphold the five good deeds. In this way they will
obtain the blessings and virtues. What are the five
pairs of good and evil existences? The first one is
about the different types of living beings who always
act in the evil ways in this world. The strong ones
like to conquer the weak ones and they take turns to
kill and harm each other, as if they are killing the
thieves. They eat and swallow each other and do not
practice any good deeds. Finally they have to
undergo retribution. For examples, some of them
will be born as poor beggars; some are lonely, with
no relatives or friends; some are deaf and blind while
others are dumb and cannot speak properly. The
deluded ones are born dull and also there are those
who are crazy. These people do not have faith in the
practice of virtuous conducts in their former lives
and do not wish to cultivate any goodness.
On the other hand, there are those who are well
honoured and respected by people. These intelligent,
virtuous men are born in the wealthy family. They
are honourable elders who are endowed with wisdom,
courage, and the penetration of true wisdom because
they were kind and filial in their former lives.
Besides, they cultivated goodness and accumulated
abundant virtues. All these happenings can be seen
in the present world.
When the evil men pass away from this world,
they receive a change in form and path and enter the
paths of darkness. That is why there are hells,
animals, birds and tiny beings that can either fly,
crawl or move in different patterns. Just like the
prisoners who are experiencing acute sufferings and
punishments in the jail in the world, the spirits of the
living beings would also follow the paths according
to the sinful actions that they had practised when
they were alive. They will each receive the
retribution of when they were alive. They will each
receive the retribution of their karma. Some are born
with long lifespans, others are short, just in
accordance with their good and bad deeds. If the evil
effects are not fully undergone, they will be unable
to leave the evil paths but to rotate on the six paths
for many kalpas, never to attain liberation.
In the space between the heaven and earth, there
are those unfortunate beings who naturally receive
the indescribable, acute tortures. Even though some
may not experience the bad retributions immediately,
but the good and bad effects are certainly to catch up
with them in future.
The second situation is such that the living beings
on the earth do not act according to the Buddha
Dharma. They are extravagant, proud and obstinate
and behave in a casual and evil way in accord to
their false thinking. Those in the higher position go
not act righteously, and so the people below them
will also be selfish and greedy. They harm and
accuse the good and honest men. Their minds do not
reflect in accord to their speech. They are shrewd
with all kinds of cunning. Either high or low in status,
these people always deceive and bully each other.
They are always angry due to their delusions and try
in every way to benefit themselves. With the
unsatiable greed, they seek and fight to obtain self
benefit. If such desires are not fulfilled, then the
knots of hatred and anger get fully entangled in their
minds. They will kill and harm each other and never
will they feel regretful for their past deeds or afraid
of the future effects.
The rich men are greedy and stingy and do not
enjoy giving to others, but attach to personal profit,
till their hearts are so tired and the bodies suffer.
Nobody wishes to accompany them because of their
terrible behavior.
So the rewards of blessings and the retributions of
suffering will follow a man wherever he is born. For
example, some people are born in the happy
dwellings while others are going through great
tortures. Some are envious, full of hatred and love to
accuse the good men, and never consider to change
their behavior for good. Constantly they give rise to
a mind of a robber, who wishes to get benefits from
others in order to satisfy their personal desires and
needs. The unsatiable desires are deeply ingrained in
their senses that they seek for more benefits. And
finally they have to enter the three evil paths, to go
through uncountable, indescribable sufferings and
tortures unceasingly for many kalpas.
The third one is about the people in the world who
are born in accordance to their former causes and
conditions. Their lifespans are very short indeed.
These people with their evil thoughts, will never act
and think properly. Constantly they engage in the
wrong deeds, and the thoughts of sensual desires
completely fill up their hearts and reflect outwardly
in their appearance and behavior. They will make
use of all their money and property to practice the
unlawful things. Whatever that is good and lawful
will not be enjoyed by them. Some may have the
power to bring in the armies and declare wars. These
people conquer, kill and torture one another, while
others snatch and rob people by force. The wealth
thus obtained will be spent on their wives, or for
personal enjoyment and satisfaction, until they are
hated by all those who suffer because of their bad
deeds. These bad karma are clearly seen by people
and ghosts and noted in their spirits and senses. By
one’s evil deeds, a man will have to go through
uncountable suffering and anxieties in the three evil
paths, experiencing indescribable pain, for
innumerable kalpas to come.
The fourth one is about those worldly people who
are not interested in the good practices but enjoy
double-tongue speech, harsh speech, false speech
and irresponsible speech. They dislike and are
jealous of the good men and try to harm the wise
sages. They are not filial to their parents and look
down on their teachers. They are dishonest and
unfaithful to their friends. They are proud of their
power and status and come to the conclusion that
they are truly the men of the great way. They make
use of their power and position just to oppress others,
and challenge them in order to earn respect and awe.
No one can ever subdue them for they are not afraid
or regretful for their bad behaviours. With the
protection of blessings and virtuous conduct in their
former lives, they presently enjoy wealth and status,
and so they become very arrogant. But their
blessings and virtues will slowly decrease until there
is no more because of the bad conduct. Then they
have to leave the present lives with innumerable bad
karma surrounding and following them. They are
unable to escape from their bad karma because their
names and families names have already been
registered by the gods in the Heaven. They are
unable to save themselves but to continue their
journey into the great pan of fire where their bodies
and mind are tortured and destroyed, and their spirits
and forms are filled with great sorrow. At that
moment, what good is it to be regretful or remorseful?
The fifth one is that there are those lazy people
who idle their time away and do not cultivate
goodness in order to improve one’s conduct and
purify one’s bad karma. They do not listen to the
advice given by their parents but go against and hurt
them just as though they are the enemies. Indeed it is
better to have no sons like them. They do not think
of repaying the kindness and righteousness shown by
their elders. They never feel grateful towards their
parents but behave casually in both their actions and
speech. They roam freely with no special aim, and
dull their senses by drinking alcohol and enjoying
the company of beautiful women. Their behavior is
rude and coarse and they love to go against others.
They do not listen to people’s advice, neither will
they truly value the kindness of friendship. These
stubborn people who are lacking in righteousness or
propriety will never take care of their families or
relatives. They do not care about the needs of others.
Neither will they think of repaying the kindness of
their parents. They do not appreciate the help of their
teachers and neglect the duties of a friend. There is
not even a single goodness in their mind, bodies or
speech. They do not have faith in the Buddha
Dharma and neither do they believe in Karmic
causes leading to the rounds of rebirth. They create
disharmony among the Sangha Assembly and harm
the good men. They think that they are clever but in
actuality they are the dull, deluded ones for they do
not know where they are from when they are alive,
which path they will go to when they die. These
stubborn people who are lacking in humaneness seek
for long lifespan. They neglect the kind teaching and
good advices of The Buddha. In fact, it is really a
waste of time and effort teaching them. Their mind is
all closed up and they will be unable to open the
inherent wisdom. When their lifespans come to and
end, they will feel remorseful and very frightened
because they are not prepared and have not
cultivated any good causes. Of what good is it to be
remorseful at the very last minute?
Between the heaven and earth, the five paths are
shown clearly to the wise men. The retributions of
good and bad deeds are experienced by the does
accordingly. In reality nobody can really stand in for
us either in suffering or enjoyment.
The good men cultivate goodness and so their
bodies and minds are continually enjoying great bliss.
Their future is getting brighter and brighter. On the
other hand, the evil men are not afraid of bad karma.
Finally they have to enter the long journey of
suffering and their future which is full of darkness is
awaiting them. Who really know of all these? Except
for The Buddha, the Awakened One, whose teaching
and revelation of the Dharma are only believed by a
handful of people.
Those who are lacking in faith will have to
undergo the process of birth and death continually in
the evil paths. It is difficult to fully describe the
paths taken by these worldly people. That is why
there are evil paths which are naturally open for
them, with innumerable suffering and anxieties. The
sinful men turn on the wheels of six paths for
uncountable kalpas and there is no hope for them to
escape the Triple Realms; no hope for them to be
liberated but to undergo indescribable great pain.
The five evil deeds, the five great torturing pain
and the five punishments of skandas burnings are
just the same as the big fire that can burn the humans
bodies to ashes.
When a man is able to control himself and
concentrate single mindedly when facing these
sufferings and anxieties. The sinful men turn on the
wheels of six paths for uncountable kalpas and there
is no hope for them to escape the Triple Realms; no
hope for them to be liberated but to undergo
indescribable great pain.
The five evil deeds, the five great torturing pain
and the five punishments of skandas burnings are
just the same as the big fire that can burn the humans
bodies to ashes.
 When a man is able to control himself and
concentrate single mindedly when facing these
sufferings and difficulties, to behave uprightly and to
be properly mindful, to speak and act accordingly
and with responsibility, to do things with a true and
sincere mind, then, with these efforts, he will be able
to cultivate good roots and to give up all bad deeds.
Such a man will surely achieve freedom and obtain
the benefits of true blessings and virtues, to obtain a
long lifespan and finally arrive at the path of Nirvana.
These are then known as the five great good roots.”

Chapter 36 The Repetition Of Encouragement And

Advice

The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva, “As I have

told you all about the five evil deeds, the five
torturing pains and the five skandas fires such as
these that will arise in rotation by themselves. If a
man is not afraid of them, then he will certainly have
to go through the evil paths. Or maybe he will be
seriously sick in the present life, with no cure to save
him. Such revelation is clearly seen by the worldly
people. Also there are those who upon their death
have to enter the three evil paths, to experience
sadness, pain and acute tortures, and to be burnt alive
in the hell of fire. Some will be born in the family of
the enemy and take turns to kill and harm each other.
From a small misunderstanding, it grows to become
a great hatred, all because of the greed for money
and sensual desires. And also because one does not
give with compassion and kindness but attach deeply
to self indulgence. No one will act or speak honestly.
Out of the evil force of such deluded desires, they
fight for and amass great fortunes, fame and power
for self-benefit. Finally when they have obtained
those things, they become agitated and impatient.
These people are so busy that they are unable to
cultivate pure goodness. Finally with the little
strength of power and blessings that are left behind,
or with no more blessing or virtues, the six paths are
then widely opened and come forth naturally from
one’s karma. With a deluded and confused mind,
such a man will walk into the tortures that are
awaiting him.
Such happenings are true in the past and at the
present time. These living beings are really pitiful
indeed. Now that you all have obtained the teaching
of The Buddha, you should then read, and think
carefully about the Dharma. Everyone should uphold
this Dharma properly, to be familiar with it and
never should one feel tired of practicing this Dharma
door the whole life.
Besides that, we should also honour the sages and
respect the good men, to regard all living beings with
humaneness, compassion and kindness. And make
vows to seek the ways to help and cross over the
people in the world; to uproot all their sources of evil
deeds in the process of birth and death. They should
be taught to leave the three evil paths that are full of
worries tortures, sufferings and pain.
If a man wishes to do good, then, firstly, what
should he do? He should bring forth a proper mind,
and act righteously. He should guard his ears, eyes,
mouth and nose properly. In accordance with the
goodness, he should keep his body and mind pure
and clean. He should never follow his selfish desires
or act evilly. He must also speak kindly and calmly
and single-mindedly practice the Way. In moving or
looking around him, he should always keep calm and
serene. If a man were to do things in a rash manner,
he might be regretful later. And if he were not
careful but fall into the wrong path, all the
accumulated blessings and efforts might be lost
forever.”

Chapter 37 The Resemblance Of The Poor Who

Obtains The Precious Gem
“All of you have widely planted the virtuous
conduct, and I hope that you all should uphold the
precepts purely. Try to be patient and practice
vigorously for one day and one night. Try to practice
with a kind and well-concentrated mind, and a body
that is pure and adorned with and well-concentrated
mind, and a body that is pure and adorned with
precepts; the blessings and virtues thus obtained are
much more than doing good deeds for a hundred
years in the Land of Innumerable Lifespan. Why is it
of such great difference?
It is because the Buddhaland consists only of good
deeds and abundant virtues but not a single hair of
evil. So if a man is able to cultivate vigorously for
ten days and ten nights here, his blessings and virtues
are much more than doing good deeds for a thousand
years in the other Buddhalands. What is the reason
behind this? The beings in the other Buddhalands are
naturally born with great blessings and virtues and
there is no way for them to do any bad deeds. In this
Saha World. Where there are more evils than
goodness, the suffering thus experienced here is as
though a man is drinking bitter drinks, or taking
poisonous food. And none of them have ever a
chance of respite.
I am indeed sad to see the tortures in this world
and I sincerely hope to teach you the Dharma, with
advices and examples. I lecture on the Sutras and
Dharmas so that all of you can uphold them, think
about them, receive and accept them and finally
cultivate accordingly. Whether born in the
honourable class or of inferior status, either men or
women, relatives or friends, everyone should tell
each other of my teaching. Try to control one’
behaviours, in a gentle, polite way and with
righteousness. Then with a joyous mind, a mind that
is kind and filial, accept my advice. At times you
might make some mistakes, then you should be
regretful and humble and try to change for the better,
with determination, put in more effort the next time.
In this way, you will be able to do way the bad deeds
and develop the good behaviours fully. Upon hearing
a good advice, a man should practice and change
himself for the better immediately. Accept the
Dharma and uphold the precepts, just as though you
are a poor man who has met with a precious gem. By
one’s effort, one should always change for the better,
to clean up the defiled mind thoroughly and to
change the bad behaviours. Then, he will naturally
obtain whatever he has vowed for.
Wherever The Buddha dwells, either in the town
or in small villages, there is no one who will be
unable to transformed by Him. The world will be
calm and in harmony, with the sun and moon shining
brightly, and the wind and rain that will arrive in
time for the benefits of all living beings. There is no
situation that will bring in harm or chaos, but the
land will be rich and the people will live peacefully.
In fact, there is no necessity to train the army or to
invent weapons. Everyone will be respectful and
have high regards towards the virtuous and human
ones. Everyone will respect and be polite to each
other. There is no thieves or robbers in such a land.
Nobody will suffer because of others wrong
accusation. The strong ones will not bully the weak
ones but everyone will be contented with what they
have gained through their own efforts.
My compassion and kindness towards all of you is
more than that of the parents who are thinking of
their only son. In this world, I have attained
Buddhahood and taught the people to maintain good
conduct, to conquer and overcome the evil thoughts
and bad behaviours, in order to uproot the suffering
of birth and death and to obtain the five virtues.
Finally, everyone will arrive at the shore of Nirvana,
with no more attachment.
After my entrance into Nirvana, the teaching of the
Sutra and the practice of the proper path will
deteriorate, day by day. The people will return to
their bad behaviours and again they will do all kinds
of evil deeds. Then, they will have to undergo the
five burning skandas and the five torturing pains
which will be getting from bad to worst in the future.
All of you should take turns to teach the people, just
as if The Buddha is teaching the Sutras and Dharmas
to you, and never should you try to go against The
Buddha’s teachings,”
Maitreya Boddhisattva put his palms together and
said. “The people in this world are really suffering
just as The Buddha has described for us. In fact, no
one can deny that. The Buddha is indeed the kind
and compassionate Humane One, who vows to cross
over all the living beings. I have received the great
responsibility to propagate your teaching and I will
never dare to be unmindful of my duty.

Chapter 38 The Appearance Of Light When Making

Obeisance To The Buddha
The Buddha told Ananda, “If all of you wish to see
The Enlightened One Who is of immeasurable purity
and equanimity, and the assemblies of Bodhisattvas
and Arhats, the Buddhaland where they dwell, you
should then stand up, face the West where the sun
goes down and make obeisance respectfully. You
should be mindful of His Name “Na Mo Amitabha
Buddha.”
Ananda arose from his seat, put his palms together
and faced the West. He made obeisance respectfully
and said, “Now, I wish to see Amitabha Buddha, in
The Land of Ultimate Bliss. I will make offerings to
Him and serve Him, in order to plant all good roots.”
While he was making the obeisance, he suddenly all
good roots.” While he was making the obeisance, he
suddenly saw Amitabha Buddha appear with a big,
wide face and a properly saw Amitabha Buddha
appear with a big, wide face and a properly adorned
form features. He looks like the golden mountain
that is far above all other worlds. Also he heard the
voices of The Buddhas in the worlds in ten directions,
praising and talking about Buddhas in the worlds in
ten directions, praising and talking about His
different types of merits and virtues, unceasingly and
with no obstruction.
Ananda said, “The Pure Buddhaland is really
superior. I also vow to be born in that land.” The
Buddha answered, “Those who have been born there
have already encountered and served immeasurable
Buddhas and planted all virtuous roots, If you wish
to be born there, then you should single-mindedly
take refuge and contemplate The Buddha.”
When The Buddha was speaking, Amitabha
Buddha emitted uncountable lights from his palms
which pervasively illuminated all the Buddhalands in
the different world system. At that time, in the bright
illumination, there appeared the Buddhalands which
can be seen clearly as though they were in front of
one’s eyes. Because of the ultimately pure, bright
light of Amitabha Buddha, all the different realms
such as the Black Mountains, the Iron Ring
Mountains, the big and small mountains, rivers and
streams bushes and jungles and also the palaces of
the heavenly beings shone forth in great clarity. His
light is just like the arising of the sun which brightly
illuminates the worlds, the hells, deep valleys and the
dark realms, so that everything can be seen clearly,
and all are of the same colour. It is also like the flood
water that fully covers the world at the end of the
kalpas. All the things in the world are sunken and
disappeared. The bright illumination of The Buddha
also resembles the great limitless flood water, only
the water can be seen. All the light emitted by the
Sound Hearers and Bodhisattvas are darkened and
lost, only the light from The Buddha is seen clearly
and brilliantly.
In this gathering of the four assemblies, the eight
fold divisions of Gods and Dragons, the humans and
non-humans are all able to see the world of Ultimate
Bliss and the different types of adornments.
Amitabha Buddha, the very handsome, bright and
very well adorned Buddha, who is of great power
and virtues, sat on the high and grand seat. He is
surrounded respectfully by all the Sound Hearers and
Bodhisattvas. He is like the King of Sumeru
Mountain, which arises from the surface of the sea
and is brightly illuminated. The assembly is pure,
even and upright, with no filthy components or
beings of different shapes. But the Land consists
only of the precious jewels adornments, a pure
dwelling for the sages and saints.
Ananda and the assembly of the Bodhisattvas were
indeed very happy. Diligently they made obeisance
to The Buddha, respectfully they bowed and put their
heads on the ground. With a concentrated
mindfulness, they called on Na Mo Amitabha
Samyaksambodhi” The heavenly beings, also the
tiny living beings that can fly, crawl or move in
different ways, uponseeing the light, were all free
from sickness and sufferings. Their worries, anger
and deluded thoughts were never to arise again. But
with a compassionate mind they would practice the
good conduct happily. The different musical
instruments, the bells, piano, violins, flute and others,
produced the five tunes naturally, without any
musicians.
The Heavenly Kings in the other Buddhalands also
came with flowers and fragrant incense and spread
them in the empty space to make offerings to The
Buddha. At that time, the World of Ultimate Bliss
which is situated hundreds and thousands of Nayutas
of Buddhalands away in the Western direction
appeared clearly in front of One’s eyes, caused by
the spiritual power of The Buddha.
Just like the pure heavenly eyes which can see
things far away as if in front of the eyes, the sagely
assemblies in that land can also see clearly our land,
the Saha World, The Thus Come One Sakyamuni
Buddha and His Bhikshus assembly, who surrounded
Him and listened to the Dharma.

Chapter39 The Description Of What The

Compassionate One Had Seen
 At that time, The Buddha told Ananda and The
Compassionate Maitreya Bodhisattva, “Do you not
see the World of Ultimate Bliss, with the palaces,
towers and attics, streams, ponds and woodland
which are pure, completely and wonderfully adorned?
Do you not see the heavens in the desire realms up to
the Heavens of Ultimate forms are raining down
fragrant flowers pervasively all over The
Buddhaland?”
Ananda answered, “Indeed, I do see that!”
“Do you not hear the great voice of Amitabha
Buddha who is teaching and transforming the living
beings in all the worlds?”
Ananda answered, “Indeed, I do hear that.”
The Buddha said, “Do you not see the pure
assembly in that land who travel in their palaces in
empty space with no obstruction to make offering
pervasively to The Buddhas in the ten directions?
And do you not see them mindful of The Buddha and
call upon His Name unceasingly? There are also
birds that sing and talk in different tunes and dwell in
the realm of empty space? These birds are the
transformation bodies of Amitabha Buddha, Do you
see them or not?”
The Compassionate Maitreya answered, “Just as
The Buddha has mentioned, I can see every one of
those adornments.”
 The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva, “There are
also beings that are born from the wombs in that land,
do you see them or not?”
Maitreya Bodhisattva answered, “Indeed, World
Honoured One. I can see the beings who dwell in the
wombs in The World of Ultimate Bliss. They are just
like living beings in the palaces on the Trayastimsha
Heaven. And also I can see the living beings who are
born from transformation naturally and they sit in the
lotus position inside the lotus. What are the causes
and conditions that enable the people to be born from
the wombs or from transformation in that land?”

Chapter 40 The City Of Doubts Beside The

Buddhaland
The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva, “There are
those living beings who with a deluded and doubtful
mind, cultivate merits and virtues and vow to be born
in that land. Because they do not understand the
wisdom of The Buddha that is inconceivable,
Immeasurable, the broad wisdom of the great vehicle
that is uncomparable, unsurpassed and the foremost.
But he still believes in blessings and sins. So he
cultivates the good roots and vows to be born in that
land. Moreover, there are living beings who have
amassed good roots in search of the wisdom of The
Buddha the wisdom that is all pervasive,
uncomparable, powerful, virtuous, broad and great
and inconceivable, but he has no confident or faith in
his good roots. With such a hesitating mind, he is
unsure that he will be born in the Pure Buddhaland.
But he still continues to be mindful of The Buddha
unceasingly. With such a good vow to be mindful of
The Buddha unceasingly. With such a good vow as
the foundation, he is able to be born there. Because
of such causes and condition, even though these
people have a chance to be born there, they are
unable to go to the dwelling of The Buddha of
Immeasurable Lifespan. So they will stop at the
realm beside the Buddhaland. They are born in the
City of Seven Gems. This is because the Buddha did
not allow them to go forth to Him. The path of the
rebirth of the man is determined by the mind that is
influenced by the karmic actions. They also have
lotus flowers and jeweled ponds and are born
naturally. Their enjoyment of the food and bliss is
just like the Tushita Heaven. But they are unable to
leave the city. Their houses are rooted to the ground
and are unable and are unable to grow high and big
according to their wish. They are unable to see The
Buddha for five hundred years and do not have the
chance to listen to His Dharma,They also miss the
chance to see the Bodhisattvas and the Sound
Hearers sagely assemblies. They do not possess the
true wisdom and moreover they know very little
about the sutras. Their hearts are all closed up and
they do not understand the Dharma. Their mind is
with no bliss but filled with sadness. That is why
they are known as the beings who are born from the
wombs in that Land.
But there are living beings who have pure faith in
the wisdom of The Buddha, who understand the
unsurpassed wisdom and uproot all causes of doubts.
They also believe in their own good roots while
cultivating the different kinds of merits and virtues.
Sincerely they will transfer the merits and virtues to
The Land of Ultimate Bliss. These living beings will
then naturally be born from transformation in the
lotuses of seven gems, They will sit uprightly in the
lotus posture, and within a very short time, everyone
of them will receive a body that is bright, adorned
with wisdom merits and virtues, just like the other
Bodhisattvas who have fully completed and
accomplished such adornments.
Maitreya Bodhisattva, you should know this.
Those who are born from transformation possess the
great wisdom but those who are born from the
wombs have not cultivated wisdom in their past lives.
So for five hundred years they are unable to see the
Triple Gems, to understand the practices of Dharma
by the Bodhisattvas, to cultivate the merits and
virtues. They do not have the basic foundation and
causal ground to wait upon and serve The Buddha Of
Immeasurable Lifespan. So they have to receive the
retribution for their doubtful minds.”

Chapter 41 The Extinction Of All Delusions To See

The Buddha
“Just like The Sagely Wheel Turning King who
owns a prison that is made from seven gems. If the
prince were to commit wrong act, he would be kept
in this prison of precious gems, which consisted of
many floors of towers and beautiful palaces. In this
prison there are golden beds, precious nettings,
window railings beds and seats which are decorated
with beautiful, special gems. They are served with
drinks, food and clothings which are of the same
standard as The Wheel Turning King. But their two
legs will be tied with golden locks. Do you think the
small princes will love to remain under such a
treatment?”
Maitreya Bodhisattva answered, “No, World
Honoured One. When they are being lockd up in the
prison, their minds will not be at ease. So, by all
kinds of effort, they only wish to leave the prison.
They will seek the help from the nearby officers, but
of no avail. Only when The Wheel Turning King is
satisfied with their behaviours, then they will obtain
their freedom.”
The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva, “The
living beings just mentioned are also like these
princes. If they wish to seek the wisdom of The
Buddha, to obtain the broad and great wisdom, but
do not have faith in their own good roots, of having
heard The Buddha’s Name, and have faith in Him,
they are born in the lotus flowers in that land. But
even though they are born in the lotuses, they are
unable to come out but to dwell in the wombs of the
lotus. They might feel as though they are in the
garden and among the palaces. Why are they dwelt
such? The pure dwellings are clean and free from
evils and filth. But for five hundred years, they are
unable to see The Triple Gems, to make offerings
and serve The Buddhas and are prevented from
obtaining such special, unsurpassed good roots. In
fact they will feel sad for their present positions, for
being unable to realize his original fault, to feel
regretful and remorseful for his wrong views and
seeks to leave the present dwelling, when he has
finished undergoing the punishment for his fault in
his former life, then he will be able to leave the place
and be born in the pure dwelling of The Buddha of
Immeasurable Lifespan. He will have the chance to
listen to the Dharma. After a long time, he will be
able to have his wisdom opened and he will then be
endowed with true bliss. He can also pervasively
make offerings to innumerable and immeasurable
Buddhas and cultivate all kinds of merits and virtues.
Ajita, you should know this. The Bodhisattvas who
maintain a doubtful mind will lose all benefits and
experience the harmful effects. So, everyone should
thoroughly understand this and bring forth the true
faith in the unsurpassed wisdom of all the Buddhas.”
The Compassionate Maitreya Bodhisattva asked,
“Why are there some living beings in this world
realm who also practice good deeds but do not seek
to be reborn there?”
The Buddha told The Compassionate One, “These
people possess very little and superficial wisdom.
They discriminate that the Western Land is not as
good as the heavens, not as blissful as the heavenly
realms, so they do not wish to go there.”
The Compassionate One further said, “The living
beings like this, with their false thinking and
discriminating mind, are unable to seek rebirth in the
pure Buddhaland. They will be unable to avoids the
rebirths on the turning wheels of birth and death.”
The Buddha said, “The roots that they planted are
not free from attachment to form. That is why they
do not seek the true wisdom of The Buddha but
attach deeply to the worldly enjoyment, the rewards
and blessings of the human realms. Their cultivation
of blessings is to seek the fruits and rewards in
human and heavenly realms. Hence, they will obtain
abundant blessings according to the good causes that
have been planted. But they will be unable to leave
the bonds of Triple Realms. Even If their parents,
wives and sons, relatives of both sexes wish to save
and help them, but their strong karma of deviant
views will bind them so that they are unable to be
free. They will undergo rebirths on the turning
wheels of six paths continuously and never to obtain
liberation.
You see, these beings who are so deluded, who are
unable to plant good roots, will feel as though they
are very intelligent and love to argue on worldly
issues and knowledge. These bad behaviours will
again enhance the evil energy in their mind and so
how are they able to leave the acute sufferings of
birth and death?
There is another type of living beings who also
planted good roots and cultivated the fields of
blessings. But their minds are full of attachment and
discrimination. Their hearts are bound up in very
heavy and deep thought for sensual love and filthy
desire. Even though they try to seek for freedom
from the turning wheels of birth and death, they will
not get free. But if they are able to use the wisdom of
non-attachment and no form, and plant all kinds of
virtuous roots, with bodies and minds that are pure
and untainted, and without any discriminating
thoughts, while seeking to be born in the Pure Land,
then they are sure to be born In the Buddhaland.
Finally, they will attain true liberation.”
Chapter 42 The Rebirth Of Bodhisattvas
Maitreya Bodhisattva asked The Buddha,
“Presently, in this Saha World, and also in the other
Buddhalands, how many Bodhisattvas, who have
attained non-retreating, will be born in the Land of
Ultimate Bliss?”
The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva, “In this
world, there are seven hundred and twenty billions of
Bodhisattvas, who have already made offerings to
innumerable Buddhas and planted all kinds of
virtuous roots, will be born in that land, The other
Bodhisattvas of minor practices, who have also
cultivated merits and virtues and will be born there
are of uncountable numbers. Not only the
Bodhisattvas in my land are to be born there, also the
Bodhisattvas from the Buddhalands in other
directions will also attain rebirth in His Land. From
the Distant Illumination Buddhaland there are
eighteen Kotis of Nayuta of Bodhisattvas
Mahasattvas, who are born in that Land. In the
North-East direction, there is a Buddhaland known
as The Precious Store. Ninety billions of non-
retreating Bodhisttvas will be born in that Land.
From the Immeasurable Sounds Buddhaland, the
Brightly Illuminated Buddhaland, the Dragon
Heaven Buddhaland, the Extremely Powerful
Buddhaland, the Lion buddhaland, the Free From
Dust Buddhaland, the Virtuous Head Buddhaland,
the Human King Buddhaland, the Flowery Banner
Buddhaland, the non-retreating Bodhisattvas who are
to be born there, numbers more than tens of hundreds
of billions, or more than hundreds of thoudands of
billions, until the millions of billions. And then there
is the twelveth Buddha who is known as the
Unsurpassed Flower Buddha. In His Land, there are
Innumerable aasemblies of non-retreating
Bodhisattvas, who possessed powerful and
courageous wisdom and also made offerings to
uncountable Buddhas. These Bodhisattvas have
brought who possessed powerful and courageous
wisdom and also made offerings to uncountable
Buddhas. These Bodhisattvas have brought forth the
mind to attain the One Vehicle and practice the Way
to fulfillment with great diligence. Within seven days,
they are able to amass the solid and firm Dharmas
which are practised by the other great beings through
hundreds of thousands of billions of kalpas.
Bodhisattvas like these will also seek rebirth there.
The thirteenth Buddha is known as the No-Fear
Buddha. In His Land there are seven hundred and
ninety billions of Bodhisattva Mahasattva assemblies,
uncountable small Bodhisattvas and bhikshus, who
will also be born in the Pure Land.
If one were to speak of the Names of The Buddhas
in the worlds in ten directions and the Bodhisattvas
assemblies who are going to be born there, to the end
of Kapas, one would still be unable to finish talking
about them.”

Chapter 43 The Cultivators Who Are Not From The

Small Vehicle
The Buddha told the Compassionate One, “You
see, these Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas are able to
obtain great benefit. If there are any good men or
good women who who are able to hear of the Name
of Amitabha Buddha and give rise to the mind that is
full of loving-kindness and joy; take refuge with Him
and wish to see and make obeisance to Him, practice
the Way that is taught by Him, you should know that
such a living being has indeed obtained great benefit
and will obtain the merits and virtues just as
mentioned. Their minds do not have such feelings
like superior or inferior. They are able to fully
accomplish their good roots which are very special
and unique. You should know that such a man does
not belong to the small Vehicle. In fact he is known
as the foremost disciple in my teaching. That is why
you should tell the beings from the Heaven, the Earth,
asuras and other realms to bring forth the Bodhi
Mind, to cultivate the Way joyously and respectfully
and also to show appreciation to such a Dharma
Door which is very difficult for one to encounter; to
treat the Sutra just as though it is the Teacher or the
Guider; to wish that the immeasurable living beings
will swiftly arrive and dwell in the position of no-
retreat and to wish to see The Buddhaland that is
broad and greatly adorned from the Unsurpassed
Vows and Will Powers
If a man wishes to completely fulfill the merits and
virtues, he should practice the Way vigorously after
listening to this Dharma Door. Because he wishes to
seek the Dharma, there should never arise in him the
retreating and untrue mind. If one were to enter the
big fire, one should still not be doubtful. Why?
Because immeasurable billions of Bodhisattvas also
seek this wonderfull subtle Dharma Door. They
listen to it respectfully and never go against it. In fact,
there are many Bodhisattvas who wish to hear this
Sutra but are unable to obtain the chance. That is
why all of you should seek this Dharma Door.”

Chapter 44 The Prediction Of Bodhi

“In the future until the time when the Proper
Dharma is going extinct, there are those living
beings who have planted all good roots and have
already made offerings to immeasurable Buddhas,
they will be able to obtain this great and deep
Dharma Door relying on the strength of the deep
vows of The Thus Come One.
These living beings will seek, receive, accept and
uphold he teachings and all of them are able to
obtain the broad, great and all pervasive wisdom.
They deeply enter this Dharma Door and fully
comprehend its meaning. They are filled with great
joy and will teach the other beings widely about the
Dharma Door. Constantly they will cultivate the
Way with great diligence.
In the past, present and future time, if the good
men and women are able to seek this Dharma, they
will obtain great benefits. So all of you should have
pure faith and dwell in this Dharma Door without
any doubts. Plant all the good roots and practice the
Way unceasingly so as to be free from all doubts and
obstructions, so as not to be born in the prison which
consists of all kinds of precious gems.
Ajita, only the living beings who have amassed
great virtuous conducts are able to encounter this
wide and unique Dharma Door. In fact, there are one
billion Bodhisatvas who retreat from the Path of
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi because they are unable to
listen to this Dharma, and lecture on it to the other
beings just for a short while, and advise them to
listen and follow this teaching, with no anger and
anxieties, to be mindful of The Land throughout days
and nights, and also the merits and virtues of The
Buddha, he will never retreat from the Unsurpassed
Path. When he is to pass away from this world, and
even if the Three Thousand Great Thousand World
Systems are filled with great fire, he will be able to
travel across the fire and be reborn in that Land.
Such a man had already met with The Buddha in the
past and received the prediction of Buddhahood. He
is praised and being mindful of by all The Thus
Come Ones. That is why everyone should have good
faith to accept this Sutra, uphold and memorize the
Sutra, practice accordingly and be mindful of The
Buddha single-mindedly.”

Chapter 45 The Only Sutra That Is Left Behind

“Now that I have told all the living beings about
this Dharma Door so that they will seek to see The
Buddha of Immeasurable Lifespan and all the
adornments in that Land. Whatever one should do,
one should seek and have it done. But never should
one give rise to doubts after my extinction. In the
future, when the Sutras and other Dharma Doors
have completely come to extinction, I will leave
behind this Sutra especially to dwell in the world for
another one hundred years because of my
compassion and pity towards all living beings.
If there are living beings who encounter this Sutra,
they will be crossed over to that Land according to
their wishes and vows. It is difficult to encounter The
Thus Come One who comes to this world. It is also
difficult to obtain and listen to their Sutras and
Dharma Doors. It is also very difficult to meet with a
good knowing adviser, to listen to the Dharma and to
practise accordingly. But it is the most difficult to
hear this Sutra, accept and uphold it with pure faith
and joy. In fact, there is nothing more difficult than
this.
If there are living beings who upon hearing The
Buddha’s voice with a compassionate mind they
cultivate the Way diligently, and their hearts are
overwhelmed with joy, their hair will stand on ends,
or some may shed tears, such beings have already
practised The Buddha’s teachings in their former
lives, so they are not common people. But if a man
were to have doubts when he hears of the Name of
The Buddha, and who have no faith in the teachings
of The Buddha, such beings all come from the evil
paths. They have not yet cleared away their offenses
and so they are unable to be crossed over. They
cannot bring forth pure faith because of their
doubtful minds.”

Chapter 46 Diligently Cultivating And Firmly

Upholding The Dharma
The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva, “It is
indeed very difficult to encounter the Unsurpassed
Deep Dharma of The Thus Come One Who is
endowed with the ten No-Fear Powers and Whose
mind is free from obstructions and attachments. It is
also difficult to encounter The Dharma of the
Bodhisattvas and The Paramitas. It is also very
difficult for the Dharma Master who is teaching on it
to explain and reveal the true deep meaning of The
Dharma. At times, it is also difficult to meet with a
man who has firm, solid and deep faith in this
Dharma Door.

Chapter 45 The Only Sutra That Is Left Behind

“Now that I have told all the living beings about
this Dharma Door so that they will seek to see The
Buddha of Immeasurable Lifespan and all the
adornments in that Land. Whatever one should do,
one should seek and have it done. But never should
one give rise to doubts after my extinction. In the
future, when the Sutras and other Dharma Doors
have completely come to extinction, I will leave
behind this Sutra especially to dwell in the world for
another one hundred years because of my
compassion and pity towards all living beings.
If there are living beings who encounter this Sutra,
they will be crossed over to that Land according to
their wishes and vows. It is difficult to encounter The
Thus Come One who comes to this world. It is also
difficult to obtain and listen to their Sutras and
Dharma Doors. It is also very difficult to meet with a
good knowing adviser, to listen to the Dharma and to
practice accordingly. But it is the most difficult to
hear this Sutra, accept and uphold it with pure faith
and joy. In fact, there is nothing more difficult than
this.
 If there are living beings who upon hearing The
Buddha’s voice, with a compassionate mind they
cultivate the Way diligently, and their hearts are
overwhelmed with joy, their hair will stand on ends,
or some may shed tears, such beings have already
practised The Buddha’s teachings in their former
lives, so they are not common people. But if a man
were to have doubts when he hears of the Name of
the Buddha, and who have no faith in the teachings
of The Buddha, such beings all come from the evil
paths. They have not yet cleared away their offenses
and so they are unable to be crossed over. They
cannot bring forth pure faith because of their
doubtful minds.”

Chapter 42 Diligently Cultivating And Firmly

Upholding The Dharma
The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva, “It is
indeed very difficult to encounter the Unsurpassed
Deep Dharma of The Thus Come One Who is
endowed with the ten No-Fear Powers and Whose
mind is free from obstructions and attachments. It is
also difficult to encounter The Dharma of the
Bodhisattvas and The Paramitas. It is also very
difficult for the Dharma Master who is teaching on it
to explain and reveal the true deep meaning of The
Dharma. At times, it is also difficult to meet with a
man who has firm, solid and deep faith in this
Dharma Door.
I am now telling you about this broad, great and
wonderful subtle Dharma Door according to the One
Real Truth. All The Buddhas also praise this Dharma
Door. And I will leave it to all of you to take care
and look after it with all your power for the benefits
of sentient beings who are undergoing darkness of
births and deaths. You should never leave them and
let them fall into the five evil paths, to undergo the
great dangers and acute sufferings. But you should
all practise the Way diligently according to my
teaching
All of you should be filial to the Buddha and
constantly be mindful and have gratitude towards the
kindness of your Teachers, so as to enable this
Dharma Door to dwell forever in the world and
never to become extinct. And you should firmly
uphold it, never should you by your false conduct try
to destroy, lose, add in or take away any portion of
the content in this Sutra. You should all be mindful
of The Buddha and you are then sure to obtain the
swiftest way to Budhahood.
This is my door of Dharma practice and I speak of
it accordingly. We should also follow the Way
practised by The Buddhas. It is the Dharma Door to
be followed by all. Everyone should diligently
cultivate all kinds of blessings and good roots and
seek to be born in the Pure Land.”

Chapter 47 Only The Wise And Blessed Beings Are

Able To Listen And Have Faith In This Dharma
At that time, The World Honoured One said the
following verses;
“If a man did not cultivate blessings and wisdom in
his former lives, He would be unable to hear of this
Proper Dharma. Those who have already made
offerings to The Thus Come One, Are sure to be
happy and believe in this People who have bad
conducts, who are proud, lazy and maintain the evil
views, Are unable to believe in this wonderful subtle
Dharma of The Thus Come One. Just like a blind
man who dwell constantly in darkness, He is unable
to lead the way for the others. Except for those who
have already planted all kinds of good roots before
The Buddhas, Those who wish to seek the ways to
save the world, are then able to cultivate it. After
they have listened to it, they accept, uphold and write
it down. They read and memorize it, praise and make
offerings to it. Single-mindedly they seek for the
pure Dharma medicine with all their hearts. Such
living beings are sure to be reborn in The Land of
Ultimate Bliss. If the Three Thousand Great
Thousand World Systems are to be filled with the
big fire, With the support of the Virtuous Strength of
The Buddha, such beings are able to travel across the
fire. The deep and vast wisdom of The Thus Come
One is just like the great sea.
Only the Buddhas themselves are able to
comprehend the wisdom fully. The Sound Hearers
may take billions of Kalpas to try to figure out the
wisdom of The Buddha, And after they have
completely utilized their spiritual power, they will
still be unable to fathom it. Only The Buddha
himself is able to understand the merits and virtues
of The Thus Come One. And only the World
Honoured One is able to reveal this Dharma Door. It
is indeed difficult to be born as a human being, and it
is more difficult to encounter The Buddha. But the
most difficult part is to listen to this Dharma Door
with pure faith and wisdom. If there are those
sentient beings who are to attain the fruits of
Buddhahood, They will arrive at the other shore by
practising the Way that far surpasses the practices of
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. That is why those
beings who possess the vast knowledge and wisdom.
Should have faith in my teaching for I have spoken
of it truthfully. If a man is fortunate enough to have
the chance to listen to this subtly wonderful Dharma,
Then he could constantly be mindful of The Buddha
and give rise to great joy. He should accept it, uphold
the Dharma, then he is able to take other sentient
beings across the sea of birth and death. The Buddha
will confirm that such a man is indeed a true friend
to all living beings.”

Chapter 48 The Benefits Of Listening To The Sutra

At that time, after The World Honoured One had
spoken of this Sutra and Dharma Door, one million
and two thousand nayutas of billions of living beings
in the heaven and on the earth obtained the Pure
Dharma Eyes and arrived at the position of leaving
filth and dust forever. Twenty billions of living
beings obtained the fruition of Anagamin. Six
thoudands and eight hundreds of Bhikshus had
completely cut off all the outflows from their roots
and attained the liberation of the mind. Forty billions
of Bodhisatvas who adorned themselves with
magnificent vows, merits and virtues dwelt in the
Unsurpassed Bodhi of No-retreat. Twenty-five
billions of living beings attained to the patience of
no-retreat. Four millions of billions of nayutas of
hundreds of thousands of living beings who had not
yet brought forth the mind for the Unsurpassed
Bodhi, started to seek and bring forth their first
resolve for Bodhi. They will plant all kinds of good
roots and vow to be born in the Land of Ultimate
Bliss in order to see Amitabha Buddha. They are all
going to be reborn in the Land of The Thus Come
One. In different directions, everyone of them will
become The Buddha in accord to their turns. All of
them will have the same Name, that is The Thus
Come One of Wondrous Sound. Moreover, there are
eight millions kotis of nayutas of living beings in the
Buddhalands in the ten directions who are to be born
in the Pure Land to see Amitabha Buddha in their
present lives or in future. They will obtain the
prediction of Patience In Dharma and arrive at The
Unsurpassed Bodhi. These sentient beings have
causes and conditions in connection to the Past Vows
of Amitabha Buddha, so all of them are able to
obtain rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
At that time, The Three Thousand Great Thousand
World Systems shook in six ways and there appeared
also all kinds of unique spiritual changes. These also
shone forth the great bright light that pervasively
illuminated the ten directions.
From empty space, there were the heavenly beings
who played all kinds of wonderful music to praise
The Buddha. These voices of praise reached to the
Heavens in Form Realm and all the heavenly beings
were able to hear them clearly and they were filled
with great joy for they had never encountered such
an event like this. So, they rained down
immeasurable wonderful flowers continuously from
the heavens.
The Honoured One, Ananda, Maitreya Bodhisattva,
and all the Bodhisattvas and Sound Hearers, the
eight fold division of the Gods and dragons and all in
the assembly were filled with great joy when they
heard of the teaching of The Buddha. They believe,
accept if, uphold it and put it into practice.

TRANSFERANCE OF MERITS
May the merits and virtues of this translation,
Adorn The Pure Buddhaland
-To repay the Kindness of my country, Triple Gems,
parents and teachers and sentient beings,
-To relieve the suffering of beings in the three Evil
Paths,
-If anyone were to see and listen to this Dharma,
-May they all bring forth The Bodhi Mind,
-And after the passing away of the present reward
body,
-May all be born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Merits of Producing Buddhist Teachings and

Buddha Images
1. One’s light karmic misgivings will dissolve, while
heavy ones lighten.
2. One will be protected by devas, and be unharmed
by natural and man-made disasters.
3. One will always be free from the suffering of
hatred and vengeance.
4. One will be unharmed by yaksas, evil spirits and
wild beasts.
5. One’s mind will be at peace, free from harm and
nightmares.
6. One’s complexion will be radiant.
7. One will be full of auspicious energy.
8. One who practices the Dharma wholeheartedly
will have adequate living necessities.
9. One’s family will be harmonious and be blessed
with fortune and wisdom.
10. One Who practices what one preaches will he
respected and loved by all.
11. One Who is dull-minded will gain wisdom.
12. One Who is ill will gain health.
13. One who is poor will gain wealth.
14. One who is female will be born male infuture
lives if one wishes to.
15. One will be free of being reborn in the
negative realms.
16. One will be able to help others grow in
wisdom and gain great merit in doing so.
17. One will always be able to learn Dharma, till
one’s wisdom and spiritual penetrations are fully
grown and becomes a Buddha.

Through the merit of circulating this publication,’”

I aspire that may all being be always at ease and
happy, free from sufferings and illness; may none
of the evil dharmas practised succeed; may all the
whole some actions practised by quickly
accomplished, may all the gates to the evil courses
be closed; and may the right way to the human, the
divine and the Nirvana be opened and shown.”

---- Adopted from the chapter of the

Practices and Vows of Samantabhadra of the
AVATAMSAKA SUTRA