|
>> Amitabha
Buddha 48 Vows
Synopsis of the
Aparimitayus Sutra
The Bhikkhu Dharmakara devoted his thoughts
to the teachings of the then Buddha, (Buddha Lokesvararadjna) for
a period of five Kalpas, again he went to pay homage to the Buddha
Lokesvararadjna and made forty-eight vows for the realization of
his prospective country and said:
May the World Honored One thus listen to
me as to what my vows are, in regard to how, after I shall have
attained the Buddha-hood, my own Buddha-country shall thus be realized,
as follows:
Vow 1 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that Buddha-country of mine there
should be either hell, or the animal state of existence, or the
realm of hungry ghost, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 2 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that country of mine the beings
who are born there should fall away (die) into the three evil realms,
then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 3 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that country of mine the beings
who are born there should not all be of the colour of genuine gold,
then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 4 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that Buddha-country of mine the
beings who are born there should not all be of one appearance without
the difference of noble looking or ugly lineaments, then may I not
attain the enlightenment.
Vow 5 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that Buddha-country of mine the
beings who are born there should not be possessed of the supernormal
knowledge of recollecting the previous lives of themselves (Purvanivasana
i.e. knowledge of all reincarnations), and knowing the events of
evolution of hundred thousand nayuta years of kalpas, then may I
not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 6 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if in that country of mine the beings
who are born there should not be possessed of the Divine-eye (Divyatchakchus)
which can see a hundred thousand nayuta of Buddha-countries, then
may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 7 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine
should not be possessed of the Divine-ear (Divyassrotra) which to
be able to hear the preachings of a hundred thousand kotis of nayuta
of Buddhas, and to a faithful observance, then may I not attain
the enlightenment.
Vow 8 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine
should not all possessed the Intuitive-mind (Paratchittadjna) knowing
the thoughts of all beings of a hundred thousand kotis of nayuta
of Buddha-countries, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 9 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine
should not all possessed of the Heavenly-step (Riddisakchatkriya)
which can in the shortest moment of one thought travelling over
a hundred thousand kotis of nayuta of Buddha-countries, then may
I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 10 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine
should have arise in their minds the idea of selfishness and covetous
thoughts, even with regard to their own bodies, then may I not attain
the enlightenment.
Vow 11 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine
should not all be firmly abiding in a concentrated state of meditation
and equanimity (Samadhi) till they have reached Nirvana, then may
I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 12 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if my light should be limited in measurement
so that it could not illuminate a hundred thousand nayuta of kotis
of Buddha-countries, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 13 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if the measure of my life should be
limited, even by counting a hundred thousand nayuta of kotis of
Kalpas, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 14 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if any being should be able to count
innumerable pupils belonging to me in that country of mine, even
if all the beings of those three million worlds and the whole triple
chiliocosm, who after having become Pratyeka-Buddhas, count and
continue to do so for a period of a hundred thousand nayuta of kotis
of Kalpas, could know the balance, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 15 :
Provided I become a Buddha, the life of the beings in that country
of mine should be eternal, excepting by their own free will whenever
they choose to pass away from life, otherwise may I not attain the
enlightenment.
Vow 16 :
Provided I become a Buddha, there should be no evil or sinful existence
in that country of mine, even its very name is unknown. Otherwise
may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 17 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if the innumerable Buddhas of the worlds
of ten quarters do not glorify my name, then may I not attain the
enlightenment.
Vow 18 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of the ten quarters who
after having heard my name, and thus awakened their highest faith
and aspiration of re-birth in that country of mine, even they have
recollected such a thought for ten times only, they are destinated
to be born there, with the exception of those who have committed
the five deadly sins (Anantarya), and who have blasphemed the orthodox
Law (Dharma), otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 19 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of ten quarters who have
directed their thoughts towards the Bodhi and cultivated their stock
of various merits with a fervent craving for re-birth in that country
of mine, if at the moment of death, should I not appear with an
assembly of retinue before them, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 20 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of ten quarters, after
having heard my name always longing for that country of mine and
cultivating various essential merits for the purpose of realizing
their earnest wish to be born in my country, should their fulfillment
be failed, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 21 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of that country of mine
should not all be endowed with the glorious body perfected with
the thirty-two attributes (Laksanani) of a great being, then may
I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 22 :
Provided I become a Buddha, the Bodhisattvas who come to be born
in that country of mine are to be bound to that one birth only,
then to become Buddha-elect (Ekajatipratibuddhas), with the exception
of those who by their own free will remain in the stage of Bodhisattva-hood
for the sake of delivering various beings, wearing the armour of
vows to travel to all worlds, performing their Boddhisattva-duties
and accumulating their stock of merit, who wish to serve the Buddhas
of ten quarters, and convert the various beings in number like grains
of sand of the River Ganges to the highest perfect knowledge, whose
activities have surpassed the stage of ordinary beings, and who
practise the universal virtue of Samantabhadra, otherwise may I
not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 23 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if those Bodhisattvas in that country
of mine, through the Grace of the Buddha should not be able to serve
all the Buddhas throughout the countless nayuta of Buddha-worlds
within a moment as short as a length of time of refreshment, then
may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 24 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if those Bodhisattva in that country
of mine who wish their stock of merit to produce any appliance to
be used before the Buddhas, should such things not appear for them
to their satisfaction, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 25 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if those Bodhisattvas in that country
of mine should not be able to preach the law of wisdom in completion,
then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 26 :
Provided I become a Buddha, those Bodhisattva of that country of
mine should not all be in possession of a golden body as strong
as the diamond of Narayana, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 27 :
Provided I become a Buddha, the heavenly beings and the various
properties produced in that country of mine should all be of supreme
beauty and in boundless quantity, and in the infinity of various
forms. If any being therein who even possessed the divine-eye is
able to perceive the appellations and quantity of such beauties,
then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 28 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if any Bodhisattva of that country of
mine who possesses even the least stock of merit, should not perceive
the boundless shining beauty of the Bodhi-trees of my sanctuary,
their height being at least four millions of miles, then may I not
attain enlightenment.
Vow 29 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if any Bodhisattva of that country of
mine should not all possess the wisdom of eloquent oration after
having read, recited, and observed the Dharma of the sutras, then
may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 30 :
Provided I become a Buddha, if any Bodhisattvas of that country
of mine, have their wisdom of oration limited, then may I not attain
the enlightenment.
Vow 31 :
When I have obtained the Buddhahood, if that country of mine should
not be limpid and brilliant as to reflect the miniatures of the
innumerable, inconceivable and boundless Buddha-worlds of ten quarters
as one's face is seen in a bright mirror, then may I not attain
the enlightenment.
Vow 32 :
If after I have obtained the Buddhahood, in that country of mine,
there should be magnificent palaces towering up from the ground
to the void, also the lakes, winding streams, blossoming trees,
and all other properties which are compounded of various jewels
and thousands of kinds of perfumes, minutely embellished in the
most wondrous state surpassing all heavenly and human worlds. The
scent of the perfumes should thoroughly pervade the worlds of ten
quarters, whereof the Bodhisattvas, having smelt them thereby directed
their minds to Bodhi; otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 33 :
When I obtain the Buddhahood, any being of the boundless and inconceivable
Buddha-worlds of the ten quarters whose body if be touched by the
rays of my splendour should not make his body and mind gentle and
peaceful, in such a state that he is far more sublime than the gods
and men, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 34 :
When I obtain the Buddhahood, if the beings of boundless and inconceivable
Buddha-worlds should not attain the "Endurance of Nirvanic
Life" (Ajatah sarvadharmah) of Bodhisattva, and the deep knowledge
of "Adharanamudro" (or Dharani?) after having heard my
name, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 35 :
When I obtain the Buddhahood, women of boundless and inconceivable
Buddha-worlds of the ten quarters after having heard my name thereby
awakened in faith and joyful aspiration, and turning their minds
towards Bodhi, therefore dislike their own female lives, when they
be born again, in their next life should not be incarnated into
a masculine body, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 36 :
When I obtain the Buddhahood, the Bodhisattvas of boundless and
inconceivable Buddha-worlds of the ten quarters after having heard
my name, after their death (in their next life) will still continue
their Bodhisattva-duty till they have obtained the Buddhahood, otherwise
may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 37 :
When I obtain the Buddhahood, the heavenly beings of boundless and
inconceivable Buddha-worlds of the ten quarters, having heard my
name, should not worship me with prostrate reverence, and joyfully
and faithfully perform their Bodhisattva-duty, and be honoured by
gods and men, then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 38 :
When I obtain the Buddhahood, the heavenly beings of that country
of mine, should they desire a garment will be able to perceive themselves,
as quick as thought, covered by apparitionally produced costumes,
excellent to their satisfaction, worthy to be praised by the Buddha,
without the work of sewing, washing, dying, etc. Otherwise may I
not attain enlightenment.
Vow 39 :
When I attain the Buddhahood, if the heavenly beings of that country
of mine should not be enjoying happiness as great as that that of
the holy bhikkhus,(Asravakchava the finality of the stream of passions)
then may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 40 :
When I attain the Buddhahood, if the Bodhisattvas of that country
of mine wish to see the boundless, holy, pure Buddha-worlds of the
ten quarters, they will at once behold them from the jewel-trees
as though one's face were being reflected in a highly burnished,
brilliant mirror, otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment.
Vow 41 :
When I attain the Buddhahood, if the Bodhisattvas of other worlds
after having heard my name, should suffer from any diminution in
the functional powers and not be endowed with all sense-organs in
completion before reaching the Buddhahood, then may I not attain
the enlightenment.
Vow 42 :
When I obtain the Buddhahood, if the Bodhisattvas hearing my name
from other Buddha-countries, should not all attain the pure Samadhi
of emancipation (Suvibhaktavati) from which they could serve innumerable
and inconceivable number of Buddhas, Tathagatas, by a moment of
thought; and if that Samadhi of theirs should come to an end meanwhile,
then may I not attain enlightenment.
Vow 43 :
If after I have obtained the Buddhahood, that any Bodhisattva of
other countries having heard my name, will be incarnated as a member
of a noble family (if he so desires) when he dies, otherwise may
I not attain enlightenment.
Vow 44 :
When I obtain the Buddhahood, the Bodhisattvas of other countries
having heard my name will all obtain a combination of full virtues
and joyfully perform their Bodhisattva-duty, otherwise may I not
attain enlightenment.
Vow 45 :
When I have obtain the Buddhahood, the Bodhisattvas of other countries
having heard my name, all will attain the "Samantanugata"(the
thoroughly and equal Samadhi in a fixed state of meditation) through
that Samadhi they will see innumerable and inconceivable Buddhas
constantly till they have obtained the Buddhahood, otherwise may
I for-bear from obtaining enlightenment.
Vow 46 :
When I obtain the Buddhahood, the Bodhisattvas of that country of
mine should be able to hear the preachings of the Dharma whenever
they desire (the voices of teaching will present themselves naturally
to their ears), otherwise may I refrain from attaining enlightenment.
Vow 47 :
When I have obtain the Buddhahood, if the Bodhisattvas of other
countries after having heard my name should not immediately reach
the state of Avaivartika (i.e. not turning back from Bodhi), then
I would refrain from attaining enlightenment.
Vow 48 :
When I have obtained the Buddhahood, if the Bodhisattvas of other
countries having heard my name should not reach the first, second
and third degrees of Dharma-endurance immediately or should turn
back from the Law of Buddhas, then I would refrain from attaining
enlightenment.
And again, O Ananda (This was addressed to
him by Buddha Sakayumuni) when that Bhikkhu Dharmakara had spoken
such prayers, he also apoke the following verses (from the first
to the eleventh verses are here omitted) "12th, O Bhagavat,
(this was addressed to the Tathagata Lokesvararadja) if these vows
of mine can be realized in the future, may this great chiliocosm
of thousands of worlds tremble, and may a shower of wondrous jewel-flowers
descend from the gods in the cosmic void".
Then again, O Ananda, when that Bhikku Dharmakara
had concluded his reciting of such exalted prayers, at once the
sphere wholly trembled in six manners, and wondrous flowers gracefully
rained down from the sky, also there was a heavenly music sounding
with praise: "Thou art sure to obtain the unsurpassed, highest,
and perfect knowledge of Thy fulfilment."
Then, the blessed Ananda asked the Buddha:
Has that Bhikkhu Dharmakara now become a Buddha or not yet? The
Buddha (Sakyamuni) replied to Ananda: The Bodhisattva Dharmakara
has now already become a Buddha; and in the western part from here
over a hundred thousand kotis of Buddha-worlds, there his Buddha-country
is situated, and it is named "The World of Peace and Happiness."
(This translation is adopted from Miss P.
C. Lee. The Two Buddhist Books in Mahayana).
|
