The Flower Ornament Scripture

 

A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra

Thomas Cleary

BOOK ELEVEN

 

11. Purifying  Practice

 

 

THEN THE ENLIGHTENING BEING Chief in Knowledge  asked the enlightening being Manjushri, "How can enlightening beings attain fault­ less physical, verbal, and mental action? How can they attain harmless physical, verbal, and mental action? How can they attain  blameless physical, verbal, and mental action? How can they attain invulnerable physical, verbal,  and  mental  action?  How  can  they  attain  nonregres­ sive physical, verbal, and mental action? How can they attain unshakable physical, verbal, and mental action? How can they attain excellent physical, verbal, and mental action? How can they attain pure physical, verbal, and mental action? How can they attain unpolluted physical, verbal, and mental action? How can they attain physical, verbal, and mental  action   that  is   guided  by  wisdom?  How  can  they  attain  birth in appropriate places, among  good people,  physically complete,  with full mindfulness,   understanding,  completeness   in conduct,   fearlessness, and awareness? How can they attain excellent discernment, foremost discernment, supreme discernment, immeasurable  discernment, incal­ culable discernment, inconceivable discernment, incomparable  discern­ ment, unfathomable discernment, inexpressible  discernment?  How  can they attain causal power, will  power,  skill  power,  the  power  of proper conditions and objects of attention, faculty power, powers of observation, the power to  stop  the  mind,  powers  of analytic insight, and power of contemplative thought? How can they attain  skill  in analyzing the psychophysical elements and organs , skill in analyzing interdependent origination,   skill in   analyzing the realms of desire,   form, and formlessness, and skill in  understanding  the past,  present,  and future?  How  can  they  cultivate  well  the  branches  of enlightenment­ mindfulness, discernment, effort, joy, well-being, concentration, relinquishment? How can they attain emptiness, signlcssncss, wishlcssncss? How can they fulfill the  means of  transcendence-generosity, self­ control,  tolerance, effort, meditation, and  wisdom?  How  can  they fulfill kindness, compassion, joy, and  equanimity?  How can they attain the power of knowledge of what is so and what is not, the power of knowledge of consequences of past, future, and present acts, the power

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of knowledge of superiority and inferiority of faculties, the power of knowledge of various realms, the power of knowledge of various understandings, the power of knowledge of where all paths lead,  the power of knowledge of defilement or purity of meditations,  liberations, and trances, the power of knowledge of  past lives, the power of knowledge of unhindered clairvoyance, and the power of knowledge  of having cut off all taints? How can they always gain the  protection, respect, and support of celestial kings, dragon kings, yaksha kings, gandharva kings, titan kings, garuda kings, kinnara kings, mahoraga kings, human kings, and brahma kings? How can they be a reliance and savior, a refuge and resort, a lamp and a  light,  an  illuminator and  a guide, a supreme and universal leader for  all  sentient  beings?  How can they be foremost and greatest, excellent  and   supreme,   sublime   and most wonderful, highest and unexcelled, incomparable  and peerless among all sentient beings?"

Manjushri said to Chief in Knowledge, "Excellent, 0 Child of Buddha! You  have asked this out of a desire to benefit many,  to bring peace to many, out of pity for the  world,  to  profit  and  gladden  celestial  and human beings . Child of Buddha, if enlightening beings use their minds properly,  they can attain all supreme qualities,  can have a mind unhin­ dered in regard to  all  enlightening teachings,  can  remain  on  the  Path of the Buddhas of past, present, and  future,  never leaving  it even  while living in the  midst  of sentient beings,  can  comprehend  the  characteris­ tics of all things, cut off all evil and fulfill all good. They  will  be physically most excellent, like Universally Good;  all of their practical vows they will be able to fulfill, and will be free in all ways, and will be guides for all sentient beings . How can they usc their minds so as to attain all supreme sublime qualities?

 

 

Enlightening beings at home Should wish that all beings

Realize the nature of "home" is empty And escape its pressures .

 

While   serving   their   parents, They should wish that all beings Serve the Buddha,

Protecting and nourishing everyone.

 

While with their spouses and children, They should wish that all beings

Be   impartial   toward   everyone And forever give up attachment.

 

314  The Flower Omament Scripture

 

When attaining desires,

They should wish that all beings Pull out the arrow of lust

And realize ultimate peace.

 

On festive occasions

They should  wish that all beings E njoy   themselves    with   truth And realize amusement's not real.

 

If in palace rooms,

They should wish that all beings Enter   the   sanctified   state, Forever rid of defiled craving.

 

When putting   on   adornments, They should wish that all beings Give up phony decoration

And  reach  the  abode  of truth.

 

When climbing up in balconies, They should wish that all beings Ascend the tower of truth

And see through everything.

 

When  they  give  something, They should wish that all beings Be able to relinquish all

With hearts free of clinging.

 

When in gatherings or crowds, They should wish that all beings Let go  of compounded  things And attain to total knowledge.

 

If in  danger and difficulty ,

They should wish that all beings Be free ,

Unhindered wherever they go.

 

When they give up home  life, They should wish that all beings

Have no hindrance in leaving home, And that their minds be  liberated.

 

 

Entering a monastery

They should wish that all beings Expound various principles

Of noncontention.

 

Going to tutors and  teachers, They should wish that all beings Skillfully   serve their teachers And practice virtuous ways.

 

Seeking initiation,

They should wish that all beings Reach the nonregressing state, Their minds without impediment

 

Shedding lay clothing,

They should wish that all beings Cultivate roots of goodness

And abandon the yoke of transgressions.

 

When   shaving   off their hair, They should wish that all beings Forever divorce all afflictions

And pass on to ultimate tranquility.

 

Putting on religious garb,

They should wish that all beings Be undefiled in mind

And fulfill the Way of the Great Sage.

 

When they formally leave home, They should wish that all beings Leave home with the Buddha And rescue one and all.

 

Taking refuge in the  Buddha, They should wish that all beings Continue the lineage of Buddhas,

Conceiving the unexcelled aspiration .

 

Taking refuge in the Teaching, They should wish that all beings Enter deeply into the scriptures

And their wisdom be deep as the sea.

 

 

Taking refuge in the Community, They should wish that all beings Order the masses,

All becoming free from obstruction.

 

When receiving the learners' precepts, They should   wish   that all beings Learn self-control well

And not do any  wrong.

 

Receiving a mentor's instruction, They should wish that all beings Bear   themselves   with   dignity And that their actions be truthful .

 

Receiving  a   teacher's   guidance, They should   wish that all beings Enter the knowledge of birthlcssness

And reach the state of independence.

 

Receiving the full set of precepts, They should wish that all beings Fulfill all means of liberation

And master the supreme teaching.

 

When entering a hall ,

They should wish that all beings Ascend to the unexcelled sanctuary And rest there secure, unshakable.

 

When setting out a scat,

They should wish that all beings Cause good principles to bloom And sec their true character.

 

Sitting up straight,

They should wish that all beings Sit on the scat of enlightenment, Their minds without attachment.

 

Sitting cross-legged,

They should wish th at all beings

Have firm and strong roots of goodness And attain the state of immovability.

 

Pur�fyin,�  Practice

 

Cultivating concentration,

They should wish that all beings Conquer their minds by concentration Ultimately, with no remainder.

 

When practicing contemplation, They should wish that all beings Sec truth as it is

And be forever free of opposition and contention.

 

When uncrossing the legs,

They should wish that all beings Observe that all acts and all things Return to dispersal and extinction.

 

When lowering the feet and resting, They should wish that all beings Attain liberation of mind,

Resting at peace, unstirrcd.

 

When raising the legs,

They should wish that all beings Leave the sea of birth and death And fulfill all good qualities.

 

When putting on lower garments, They should wish that all beings Wcar the foundations of goodness

And have a sense of shame and conscience.

 

When putting on a belt,

They should wish that all beings Bundle roots of goodness

And not let them be lost.

 

When putting on an outer garment, They should wish that all beings Attain supreme bases of goodness

And reach the Other Shore of the teaching.

 

Putting on monastic robes,

They should wish that all beings Enter the foremost rank

And attain imperturbability.

 

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Taking a toothstick in hand, They should wish that all beings Attain   the   wonderful   teaching And be ultimately pure.

 

When chewing on the toothstick, They should  wish that all beings Be harmonious and pure in mind, Biting through all afflictions .

 

When going to the toilet,

They should wish that all beings Reject greed, hatred , and folly, And clean away sinful things.

 

When going to wash thereafter, They should wish that all beings Speedily go

To the transmundane.

 

When washing off the body's filth, They should  wish   that all   beings Be pure and harmonious

And ultimately without defilement.

 

When washing the hands with water, They  should  wish that all beings Have pure clean hands

To receive and hold Buddha's teaching.

 

When washing the face with water, They should wish that all beings Attain the pure teaching

And be forever free from defilement.

 

Picking up a staff,

They should wish that all beings Establish great works of charity And point out the road of truth.

 

Taking up a bowl,

They should wish that all beings Perfect the vessel of truth

And receive human and divine support.

 

PurifyinR Practice

 

Setting out on a road,

They should wish that all beings Go where the Buddha goes,

Into the realm of nonrcliance.

 

When on the road,

They should wish that all beings Tread the pure realm of reality, Their minds without obstruction.

 

Seeing a road uphill,

They should wish that all beings Forever leave the world,

Their minds free from weakness.

 

Seeing a road downhill,

They should wish that all beings Be humble in mind

And develop enlightened bases of virtue.

 

Seeing a winding road,

They should wish that all beings Abandon false paths

And forever purge wrong views.

 

Seeing a straight road,

They should wish that all beings Be straight and true in mind, Without flattery or deceit.

 

Seeing a dusty road,

They should wish that all beings Get rid of dust and dirt

And attain the state of purity.

 

Seeing a dust-free road,

They should wish   that   all   beings Always practice   great   compassion, Their hearts refreshing and nourishing.

 

Seeing a dangerous road,

They should wish that all beings Abide in the realm of truth

And avoid the troubles of wrongdoing.

 

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Seeing a group of people,

They should wish that all beings Expound the most profound teaching, That all be harmoniously united.

 

If they sec a big tree,

They should wish th at all beings Divorce   egotistic   contentiousness And be free of anger and resentment.

 

If they sec a grove,

The should wish that all beings Be worthy of the respect

Of cclcstials and humans .

 

If they sec  high mountains,

They should wish that all beings' Roots  of goodness   stand   out, Their peak beyond anyone's reach.

 

If they sec thorny trees,

They should wish that all beings May quickly cut away

The thorns of the three poisons.

 

Seeing trees with luxuriant foliage, They should wish that all beings Make a canopy of light

With stability and liberation.

 

If they  sec flowers blooming, They should wish that all beings' Mystic spiritual powers

Be like blossoming flowers .

 

If they sec blossoms  on trees, They should wish that all beings' Features be like flowers,

With all marks of distinction.

 

If they sec fruits ,

They should wish that all beings Attain the supreme teaching

And realize the way of enlightenment.

 

Pur�fyin.R  Practice

 

If they sec a big river,

They should wish that all beings Gain entry into the stream of truth

And enter the ocean of Buddha-knowledge.

 

If they sec a reservoir,

They should wish that all beings Quickly awaken to

The truth of the oneness of the Buddhas.

 

If they see a pond,

They should wish that all beings Be fully accomplished in speech And be skillful in preaching.

 

If they sec a well,

They should wish that all beings Have  full powers of elucidation To explain all things.

 

If they sec a spring,

They should wish that all beings' Skill in means increases

And their good roots be inexhaustible.

 

If they see a bridge,

They should wish that all beings Carry all across to freedom

Like a bridge.

 

If they see flowing water,

They should wish that all beings Develop wholesome will

And wash away the stains of delusion.

 

Seeing a garden cultivated

They should   wish that all beings In   the garden of sense desires Clear away the weeds of craving.

 

Seeing a forest of "sorrowlcss" trees They should wish that all beings Forever divorce greed and lust

And not produce anxiety and fear.

 

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322  The Flower Omament Scripture

If they sec  a park,

They should wish that all beings Diligently cultivate the practices Leading to Buddhas' enlightenment.

 

Seeing people wearing ornaments They should wish that all beings Be adorned with a Buddha's

Thirty-two marks of distinction.

 

Seeing the unadorned

They should wish that all beings Give up decorations

And practice austerity.

 

Seeing people attached to pleasure They should wish that all beings Delight  themselves  with   truth, Not abandoning love for it.

 

Seeing the unattached

They should wish that all beings Have no  care in their minds

For fabricated things.

 

Seeing happy people

They should wish that all beings Always be peaceful and happy, Gladly supporting the Buddhas .

 

Seeing people suffer

They should wish that all beings Attain fundamental   knowledge And eliminate all misery.

 

Seeing people with no maladies They should wish that all beings Enter true wisdom

And  never  have  sickness  or  a fflictions .

 

Seeing people sick

They should wish that all beings Know the body is empty and null And  divorce  opposition  and  conflict.

 

Purifyin,f?  Practice

 

Seeing handsome people

They should wish that all beings Always have pure faith

In the enlightened and enlightening ones.

 

Seeing ugly people

They should wish that all beings Not become attached

To anything not good.

 

Seeing grateful people

They should wish that all beings Be able to know the blessings

Of the Buddhas and enlightening beings.

 

Seeing ungrateful people

They should wish that all beings Not increase the punishment

Of those who arc bad.

 

If they  sec mendicants,

They should  wish that all beings Be harmonious and tranquil, Ultimately conquering themselves.

 

Seeing brahmins

They should wish that all beings Always maintain pure conduct, Getting rid of all evil.

 

Seeing ascetics

They should wish that all beings By austere practices

Reach the ultimate state.

 

Seeing self-disciplined people They should wish that all beings

Strongly maintain their will in practice And not give up the Buddhas' path.

 

Seeing   people   wearing   armor They should wish that all beings Always wear the armor of virtue, Heading for the teacherless state.

 

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324  The Flower Ornament Scripture

 

Seeing the unarmed

They should wish that all beings Be forever rid of all

Doings that are not good.

 

Seeing people debate

They should wish that all beings Be able to refute

All erroneous doctrines.

 

Seeing people of proper livelihood They should wish that all beings Succeed in   pure livelihood Without improper behavior.

 

If they sec a king,

They should wish that all beings Become kings of truth,

Always expounding the right teaching.

 

If they see a prince,

They should wish that all beings Be reborn  from the truth

And be children of Buddha.

 

If they see an elder,

They should wish that all beings Be able to cl early cut off

And not practice evil ways.

 

If they   see   a great minister, They should wish that all beings

Always maintain right mindfulness And practice all virtues.

 

If they sec a castle,

They should wish that all beings Gain   strong   and   firm bodies And indefatigable minds.

 

If they sec a capital,

They should wish that all beings Collect all virtuous qualities

And always be joyful and blissful.

 

Pur�fyin}? Practice

 

Seeing   someone  in a   forest, They should wish that all beings Be worthy  of praise and honor Of cclestials and humans

 

Entering a village to beg,

They should wish that all beings Enter the profound realm of truth, Their minds without impediment.

 

Coming  to someonc's  door, They should wish that all beings Enter into all

Doors of Buddha's teaching.

 

Having entered a house,

They   should  wish that  all   beings Might enter the vehicle of buddhahood Which is equal in all times.

 

Seeing someone who doesn't give They should wish that all beings Never ever give up

Supremely virtuous ways.

 

Seeing those who give

They should wish that all beings Forever abandon

The three evil paths and their miseries.

 

If they see an empty bowl,

They should wish that all beings Be pure of heart

And   empty of afflictions.

 

If they sec a full bowl,

They should wish that all beings Completely fulfill

All virtuous ways.

 

If they receive respect,

They should wish that all beings Respectfully practice

All the Buddha's teachings.

 

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326  The Flower Omament Scripture

 

If they get no respect,

They should wish that all beings Not act in any ways

That arc not good.

 

Seeing people with conscience They should wish that all beings Act with discretion

And cover  their  organs.

 

Seeing the shameless

They should wish that all beings Give up shamelessness

And abide in the way of kindness.

 

If they get fine food,

They should wish that all beings Should ful fill their  aspirations

And be free from envy and longing.

 

If they get poor food,

They should wish that all beings Should not fail to obtain

The taste of all meditations.

 

Getting soft food

They should wish that all beings Be imbued with compassion, Their minds becoming gentle.

 

Getting coarse,   dry food

They should wish that all beings Have no attachments

And  cut  off mundane  craving.

 

When they cat,

They should wish that all beings Feed on   the joy   of meditation And be sated by delight in truth.

 

When tasting flavor,

They should wish that all beings

Attain the supreme  savor of buddhahood And be filled with the elixir of immortality.

 

Pu r�fying  Practice

 

When the meal is finished,

They should wish that all beings Accomplish all their tasks

And fulfill the Buddha's teachings.

 

When they explain the teaching, They should wish that all beings Attain inexhaustible eloquence

And widely expound the essentials of the teaching.

 

When they leave a place,

They should wish that all beings Deeply enter enlightened knowledge, Forever leaving the triple world.

 

When they enter a bath,

They should wish that  all beings Enter omniscient knowledge,

Knowing past,  present, and future are equal .

 

While washing their bodies, They should wish that all beings Be undefiled in body and mind, Radiantly pure inside and out.

 

In the blistering heat of the day They should wish that all beings Cast off myriad  afflictions , Putting an end to them all .

 

When the heat subsides and begins to cool, They should wish that all beings

Experience the highest truth And be ultimately cool.

 

When reciting scripture,

They should wish that all beings Accord with the Buddha's teachings, Remembering without forgetting.

 

If they get to sec a Buddha, They should wish that all beings Be all like Universally Good, Handsome and well adorned.

 

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328  The Flower Ornament Scripture

 

When seeing a Buddha's tomb, They should wish that all beings Be honored as the shrine

And receive the offerings of celestials and humans.

 

Reverently gazing at the shrine, They should wish that all beings Be looked up to by all

Celestials and humans .

 

Bowing their heads to the shrine, They should wish that all beings Be exalted beyond the view

Of gods and men.

 

Circumabulating the shrine, They should wish that all beings Act without offense

And develop omniscience.

 

Circling the shrine thrice,

They should wish that all beings Diligently see the Buddha's path Without indolence of mind.

 

Praising the Buddha's  virtues, They should wish that all beings Fulfill all virtues

Extolled endlessly.

 

Praising the Buddha's distinguishing marks, They should wish that all beings

Develop the buddha-body And realize formless truth.

 

When washing their feet,

They should wish that all  beings Fulfill the bases of spiritual powers, Unhindered wherever they go.

 

When going to sleep  at night, They should wish that all beings Attain physical case

And undisturbed minds.

 

Purifying Practice

 

Awakening from sleep,

They should wish that all beings Awaken      omniscience, Perceiving in all directions.

 

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"Child of Buddha, if enlightening beings use their minds in this way, they will attain all supremely wonderful qualities, which  cannot be dislodged by any gods, demons, monks, brahmins,  gandharvas,  titans, etc. , or by any Buddhist followers  or self-enlightened ones. "