The Flower Ornament Scripture

A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra

Thomas Cleary

 

BOOK FIVE

The Flower Bank World

 

THEN THE ENLIGHTENING BEING Universally Good again addressed the great assembly, saying, "Children of Buddha, this Flower Bank Array ocean of worlds was adorned and purified by Vairocana Buddha as in the remote past he cultivated enlightening practices for as many eons as atoms in an ocean of worlds, in each eon associating with as many Buddhas as there are atoms in an ocean of worlds, in the presence of each Buddha purely practicing great vows as numerous as atoms in an ocean of worlds.

 

"This Flower Bank Array Ocean of worlds is supported by as many atmospheres as there are atoms in the polar mountain. The bottommost atmosphere is called Impartial Abode; it holds arrays of blazing flames of all jewels above it. The next atmosphere is called Producing Various Precious Adornments; it holds diamond banners radiant with pure light above it. The next higher atmosphere is called Precious Power; it holds chimes of all jewels above it. The next higher atmosphere is called Impartial Flavor; it holds diamond orbs of the appearance of sunlight above it. The next higher atmosphere is called Various Universal Adornments; it holds flowers of light discs above it. The next higher atmosphere is called Universal Purity; it holds flaming lion thrones of all flowers above it. The next higher atmosphere is called Sound Pervading the Ten Directions; it holds banners of all regal pearls above it. The next higher atmosphere is called Light of All Jewels; it holds all diamond tree flowers above it. The next higher atmosphere is called High Velocity Universal Support; it holds mountainous clouds of all fragrant gems above it. The next higher atmosphere is called Various Mansions in Motion; it holds clouds of pedestals of all precious colors and fragrances above it. The uppermost of those atmospheres as numerous as atoms in a mountain is called Repository of Supreme Light; it holds an ocean of fragrant water, adorned by radiant diamonds. In this ocean of fragrant water is an enormous lotus blossom, called Banner of Fragrance, with pistils of all kinds of lights; this Flower Bank Array Ocean of worlds rests therein. This ocean of worlds is square and level, pure and stable, surrounded by diamond circular mountains. Its lands, seas, and trees each have distinct boundaries."

 

Then Universally Good, to recapitulate, looked over the ten directions with the power of the Buddha and said in verse,

 

In the past the Buddha, in all states of being,

Cultivated pure deeds with Buddhas as many as atoms;

Thus he attained the Flower Bank Array Ocean of worlds

With all kinds of jewel lights.

 

His vast clouds of mercy cover all;

He has given up his body innumerable times.

Because of the power of his past cons of practice,

This world now has no defilements.

 

It emanates great light, which abides throughout space;

Held by atmospheric power, it doesn't tremble or quake.

It is adorned everywhere by jewels of Buddha's treasury;

The power of Buddha's vows has made it pure.

 

Strewn about are flowers of beautiful mines of jewels,

Resting in the sky through the power of ancient vows.

Over an ocean of various adornments, stable and strong,

Clouds of light spread, filling the ten directions.

 

In all the jewels are clouds of enlightening beings

Traveling to all quarters, blazing with light;

Rimmed with glowing flames, beautiful flower ornaments

Circulate throughout the universe, reaching everywhere.

 

From all the jewels emanates pure light

Which totally illumines the ocean of all beings;

Pervading all lands in the ten directions,

It frees them from pain and turns them to enlightenment.

 

The Buddhas in the jewels are equal in number to all beings;

From their hair pores they emanate phantom forms:

Celestial beings, world rulers, and so on,

Including forms of all beings as well as Buddhas.

 

Their magical light beams are as many as all things;

In the light they intone the names of all Buddhas.

By various means they teach and civilize,

Accommodating all the various minds everywhere .

 

In each atom of the Flower Bank world

Is seen the universe of the elemental cosmos;

Jewel lights display Buddhas like masses of clouds:

This is the Buddha's freedom in his field.

 

The vast cloud of his vows extends throughout the cosmos,

Edifying all beings throughout all time.

Having completed the practice of the state of knowledge of   

universal good,

All the adornments there are emerge from here.

 

Then Universally Good again addressed the great congregation: "Children of Buddha, the surrounding mountains of this Flower Bank Array Ocean of worlds rest on lotus blossoms of sun-pearls. Their mass is made of sandalwood crystals, their peaks of majestic diamonds. Their curves are made of precious stones of exquisite fragrance. They are composed of fiery diamonds. Rivers of all perfumes flow between them. Their forests are made of all kinds of jewels. They are covered with beautiful flowers and fragrant herbs and studded with bright pearls. Nets of precious stones are draped all around. There are as many such beautiful adornments as there are atoms in an ocean of worlds."

 

Then, to recapitulate, Universally Good, the enlightening being, receiving spiritual power from the Buddha, looked over the ten directions and said in verse,

 

The great ocean of worlds has no bounds;

Its circumference of jewels is pure and multicolored.

All the adornments it has are of rare beauty;

This comes from the spiritual power of the Buddha.

 

Rings of jewels, rings of exquisite incense,

As well as rings of pearls and lamp flames -

Various beautiful treasures adorn it,

Whereon rest a pure ring of mountains.

 

Their mines are of solid jewels,

They're decorated with rose gold,

Their light blazes throughout the ten directions;

Inside and out they shine, all pure and clear.

 

Made of masses of diamonds,

Also raining beautiful jewels,

Their jewel atmospheres are unique and different,

Radiating pure light beautifying everywhere.

 

The fragrant rivers divide into streams of infinite hues,

Scattering flower-jewels and sandalwood,

With lotuses thickly blooming, like clothing spread,

And rare plants abundantly growing, all of them aromatic.

 

Countless jewel trees adorn everywhere,

The colors of their blooming flowers radiantly bright;

Various kinds of fine raiment arc placed thereon,

With clouds of light shining everywhere, all round and full.

 

Countless, boundless great enlightening beings

Holding canopies, burning incense, fill the universe,

Each producing all wonderful voices

Everywhere expounding the Buddhas' true teaching.

 

The trees of precious elements have branches of jewels,

Each jewel branch emitting light;

Vairocana' s pure body

Enters therein, causing all to see.

 

In all the adornments are manifest buddha-bodies

Of boundless forms and countless numbers,

All going to all quarters, reaching everywhere,

The beings they teach also being limitless.

 

All the adornments emit sublime sounds

Expounding the circle of the Buddha's original vows -

Buddha's independent power causes them to pervade

All the pure oceans of lands there are.

 

Then Universally Good also said, "The land within the surrounding mountains of this ocean of worlds is all made of diamond. Its stable, strong adornments cannot be broken. It is clean and level. It is fringed by precious stones and contains repositories of jewels. It is arrayed at intervals with all kinds of gems in the various forms of all sentient beings. It is strewn with jewel dust and spread with lotus blossoms, with jewels from fragrant mines placed among them. The various adornments fill everywhere, like clouds. It is decorated with all the embellishments of all the buddha-lands of past, present, and future. It is webbed with beautiful precious stones, which reflect the states of all the Buddhas like the net of Indra, emperor of the heavens, hanging there. The ground of this ocean of worlds has adornments such as these, as many as atoms in an ocean of worlds."