The Flower Ornament Scripture

 

A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra

Thomas Cleary

BOOK SEVEN

 

7. Names of the Buddha

 

 

AT THAT TIME  the  World  Honored  One  had just attained  true  awaken­ ing in  a forest sanctuary in the country of Magadha.  Sitting on a lotus bank   lion  throne  in  the  hall  of  universal  light,   he  ful filled  ineffable enlightenment, forever cutting off mundane ideas of transmigration and extinction; arriving at truth without form, he dwelt in the abode of buddhahood, attained the equanimity of the enlightened,  reached the state of immutability, in the realm where there arc no barriers; unhin­ dered in action, he established the inconceivable,  perceiving  all  in  the past, present, and future .

He was together with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-fields, all of whom were qualified to attain buddhahood in th eir next lifeti me. They had all gathered here from different regions.  They skill fully observed the realms of sentient beings, the realm of the elemental cosmos, the real m of extinction, the consequences of all actions, the processes of mental behavior, the meanings of all statements, the mundane and the transmundanc, the compounded and the uncom­ pounded, the past, the present, and the future .

At that time the   enlightening   beings   formulated   these thoughts:  "If the World Honored One looks upon us with compassion,  may  he,  in accord with our inclinations, reveal to us the buddha-fields, the Buddhas' abodes, the adornments  of the buddha-fields, the nature of buddhahood, the purity  of buddha-lands,  the teachings expounded  by the Buddhas, the substances and natures of the buddha-lands,  the powers and quali­ ties of the Buddhas, the formation of the buddha-fields, the great enlightenment of the Buddhas.  Just as the Buddhas  of all worlds in the ten directions, in order to develop all enlightening beings,  to cause the family of the enlightened ones to continue uninterrupted,  to rescue  all sentient beings, to cause all living beings to be forever free from all afflictions, to comprehend all actions, to expound all  truths,  to clear away all defilements, and to forever cut through  all  webs of doubt, explain the enlightening beings' ten abodes, ten practices, ten dedications, ten trc1suries ,  ten stages ,  ten vows,  ten concentrations ,  ten powers ,  and

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ten peaks, and explain the sphere of buddhahood, the mystic forces of Buddhas, the actions of Buddhas,  the powers of Buddhas, the fearless­ ness of Buddhas, the meditations of Buddhas, the psychic abilities of Buddhas, the freedom of Buddhas, the nonobstruction of Buddhas, the sense faculties of Buddhas, the powers of analysis and articulation of Buddhas,  the knowledge and wisdom of Buddhas,   and the transcendence of Buddhas, so also may the Buddha,  the World Honored One, explain this for us ."

Then the Buddha,  knowing what the enlightening beings   were thinking,  manifested mystic powers to them,   according   to their particu­ lar types . When he had done that, there came, from a world called Golden,  whose Buddha  was called Immutable  Knowledge,  which was to the East, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-fields, an enlightening  being of that world,   named   Manjushri,   along   with   as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands.  When they arrived, they bowed, and then produced lotus bank lion seats to the cast and sat crossleggcd on them.

In the South, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands,  was a world called Sublime Color, with a Buddha called Unhindered Knowledge. There was an enlightening being there named Chief of the Awakened,  who,   together with as   many enlightening   beings   as   atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha, bowed, and the to the south produced lotus bank lion scats and sat crossleggcd on them.

In the West,  past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands,  was a world called Lotus Blossom Color, with a Buddha called Darkness­ Destroying Knowledge. There was an enlightening being there, named Chief in Riches of Truth,   who,   along with   as   many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands,  came to the Buddha, bowed, produced lotus bank lion scats to the west and sat crossleggcd on them .

In the North,  past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands,  was a world  called Golden Flower Color, with a Buddha called Knowledge of Dignified Conduct.  There was an enlightening being there,   named Chief of the Precious, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands,  came to the Buddha,  bowed,  produced lotus bank lion seats to the north and sat crosslegged on them.

In the northeast,  past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Blue Lotus Color,  with a Buddha called Knowledge of Characteristics . There was   an enlightening   being   there,   called   Chief of the Virtuous, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha,  bowed, produced lotus bank lion scats to the northeast and sat crosslcggcd on them.

In the southeast,  past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Gold Color, with a Buddha called Ultimate Knowledge. There was an enlightening being  there called  Chief in Vision, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-

 

2 72 The Flower Ornament Scripture

lands,  came to the Buddha,  bowed,  produced lotus bank lion seats to the southeast and sat crosslegged on them.

In the southwest,  past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Jewel Color, with a Buddha called Supreme Knowledge.   There   was   an   enlightening   being   there   called   Chief   in E ffort, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha­ lands,  came to the Buddha,  bowed, produced lotus   bank lion   seats to the southwest and sat crosslegged on them.

In the northwest, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands, was a world called Diamond Color, with a Buddha called Independent Knowledge. There was an enlightening being there called Chief in Doctrine, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha,  bowed, produced lotus bank  lion seats to the northwest and sat crosslegged on them.

In the nadir,  past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands,  was a world called Crystal Color, with a Buddha called Pure Knowledge. There was an enlightening   being   there   called   Chief in   Knowledge, who, with as many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands, came to the Buddha,  bowed,  produced lotus bank lion seats in the nadir and sat crosslegged on them.

In the zenith, past as many worlds as atoms in ten buddha-lands,  was a world called Equal Color, with a Buddha called Observing Knowledge. There was an enlightening being there called Chief in Goodness,  who, with  as   many enlightening beings as atoms in ten buddha-lands,  came to the Buddha,  bowed,  produced lotus bank lion seats in the zenith and sat crosslegged on them.

Then the great enlightening being Manjushri, empowered  by the Buddha, looked over all the congregations of enlightening beings,  and spoke these  words:  "These enlightening beings  are  most  rare.  0 Chil­ dren of Buddhas! The Buddhas' lands are inconceivable. The Buddhas' abodes, the adornments of their fields, the nature of buddhahood, the purity of buddha-lands,  the teachings of the Buddhas,  the   manifestation of the Buddhas, the formation of the buddha-lands, and  the  complete perfect enlightenment of the Buddhas are all inconceivable.  Why? Be­ cause all the Buddhas in the worlds in the ten directions know that the inclinations of sentient beings are not the  same,  and  so  they  teach  and train them according to their needs and  capacities.  The  extent  of this activity is equal to the realm of space of the cosmos.

"Children  of Buddhas,  in the four quarters of this world Endurance, the Buddha, with various bodies, names, forms , sizes , life spans, situations, faculties , birth places, languages, and observations causes all living  beings to individually   perceive and  know   differently.   In   these four quarters, the Buddha is sometimes called Fulfiller of All Aims, sometimes called The Full Moon, sometimes called The Lion Roarer, sometimes called Shakyamuni, sometimes called The Seventh Sage, sometimes called Vairocana, sometimes called Gautama, sometimes

 

 

called The Great Mendicant, sometimes  called The   Supreme,  some­ times called The Guide; there are ten thousand such names,  individually letting beings know and see in various ways.

"East of this region is a world called Good Protection:  there the Buddha may be called Adamantine,  or Free, or Possessor of Knowledge and Wisdom, or Invincible, or King of Sages, or Noncontention,  or Capable Leader, or Joyful Heart, or Incomparable, or Beyond Philosophy; there are ten thousand such names,   individually letting sentient beings know and see in various ways.

"South of this region is a world called Difficult to Endure:  there the Buddha may be called King ofthe Gods, or Precious Name, or Undefiled, or Truth   Teller,   or   Tamer,   or Joyful,   or Great Renown,  or Giver of Aid, or Infinite, or Supreme; there are ten thousand  such names, individually letting people know and see in various ways.

"West of this region is a world called Personal Wisdom:  there the Buddha may be called God of Waters,  or Gladdening Sight,   or   Su­ preme Monarch,  or Celestial Tamer,  or Real True Wisdom,  or Arrived at the Ultimate, or Joyous, or Objective Knowledge, or Done with All Tasks, or Abiding in Goodness;  there are ten thousand such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.

"North of this region is a world called Lion of Existence:  there the Buddha   may be called Great Sage,   or Ascetic,   or World Honored One, or Supreme Field, or Omniscient, or Good Mind, or Pure, or Master of Universal Sound,  or Supreme Giver, or Attained by Difficult Practice; there are   ten   thousand   such   names,   individually   letting   beings   know and see in various ways.

"Northeast of this region is a world called Subtle Observation:  there the Buddha may be called Demon Queller, or Completed, or Dispas­ sionate,  or Celestial Virtue, or Free from Greed, or Supreme  Wisdom, or Equanimity of Mind, or Unconquerable, or Sound of Wisdom,  or Rarely Appearing; there arc ten thousand such names , letting beings know and see in various ways.

"Southeast of this region is a world called Joy  and Happiness:  there the Buddha  may be called Ultimate Dignity,  or Mass of Light Flames, or Universal Knower, or Secret Mystery, or Liberation, or Inherently Secure, or Acting According to Truth, or King of Pure Eyes, or Great Courage,  or Energetic  Power; there are ten thousand such names, causing beings to individually know and see in various ways.

"Southwest  of this region is a world called Extremely  Solid and Firm: there the Buddha may be called Peaceful Abiding, or King of Knowledge, or Complete, or Immutable, or Subtle Eye, or Supreme Monarch, or Sound of Freedom, or Giver  of All,   or Sages of the Masses, or Supreme Mountain;  there are ten thousand such names, letting beings know and sec in various ways.

"Northwest of this region is a world called Wonderful Ground;  there the Buddha may be called Universal, or Flames of Light, or Jewel

 

274  Tlzc Flower Ornammt Scripture

 

Topknot, or Worthy of Remembrance, or Unexcelled  Meaning,  or Always Joyful,   or Inherently Pure,  or Sphere of Light,  or Long Arms, or Abiding in the Fundamental; there arc ten  thousand such  names, letting beings know and sec in various ways.

"Below this region is a world called Radiant Wisdom: the Buddha there may be called Collecting Roots of Goodness,  or Lionlike, or Razorlike Intellect, or Golden Flames,  or All-Knower,  or Ultimate Sound, or Benefactor, or Arrived at the Ultimate, or God of Truth, or Universal Conqueror; there are ten thousand such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.

"Above this region is a world called Holding the Ground:  there the Buddha may be called Possessor of Knowledge and Wisdom,  or Pure Face, or Conscious Wisdom, or Leader, or Adorned by Conduct, or Gladdener, or Wish Fulfilled, or Blazelike, or Ethical, or The One Path; there are ten thousand such names,  letting beings  know and see in vanous ways.

"In this world Endurance there are a hundred billion regions,  wherein the Buddha  has a million billion various names, letting   all   sentient beings know and see in various ways.

"East of this world Endurance is another world, called Secret Teaching: there the Buddha may be called Impartial, or Excellent, or Soother, or Enlightening Mind, or Speaker of Truth, or Attainer of Freedom,  or Supreme Body, or Great Courage, or Peerless Knowledge; there arc a million billion such diverse names,  letting beings know and see   in vanous ways.

"South of this world Endurance is another world, called Abundance: there the Buddha  may be called  Original Nature,   or Diligent Intellect, or Unexcelled Honored One, or Great Torch of Knowledge,  or Nonrcliant,  or Treasury of Light,  or Treasury of Wisdom,  or Treasury of Virtue, or God of Gods, or Great Independent  One; there arc   a million billion such names,  letting beings know   and   sec in   various ways.

"West of this world Endurance is a world called Undefiled: there the Buddha  may be called Wish Fulfilled, or Knower of the   Way,   or Resting in the Fundamental, or Able to Untie Bonds,  or Comprehend­ ing Truth, or Easily  Discerning, or Supreme Insight,  or   Pacifying Action, or Ascetic Practicer, or Replete with Power; there arc a million billion such various names, letting beings know and see in varous ways. "North of this world Endurance is a world called Inclusion:  there the Buddha may be called Forever Free from Suffering, or Universal Liberation, or Great Hidden Treasury, or Knowledge of Liberation, or Storehouse of the Past, or Jewel Light, or Detached from the World,  or State of Nonobstruction, or Treasury of Pure Faith, or Imperturbable Mind; there arc a million billion such names, letting sentient beings

know and sec in various ways.

"Southeast of this world Endurance is a  world called Beneficial: there

 

 

the Buddha may be called Manifesting Light, or Knowledge of Extinction, or Beautiful Sound, or Supreme Faculties, or Ornamental Canopy,  or Energetic Faculties, or Arrived at the Other Shore beyond Discrimination, or Supreme Stability, or Simple Speech, or Ocean of Wisdom ; there are a million  such diverse names, letting beings know and sec in various ways .

"Southwest of this world Endurance is a world called Rarefied: there the Buddha may be called Master among Sages, or Possessor  of All Treasures, or Liberated from the World, or Faculty of Universal Knowledge, or Excellent Speech, or Clear Sight,  or Freedom  of the Senses, or Great Immortal Teacher, or Guiding Work, or Adamantine Lion;   there arc a   million billion such   names,   letting beings know and sec m vanous ways.

"Northeast of this world Endurance is a world called Joy:  there the Buddha may be called Mass of Beautiful Flowers , or Sandalwood Canopy, or Lotus Treasury,  or Transcendent beyond All Things,  or Jewel of Truth, or Reborn,  or Pure Exquisite  Canopy,  or Immense Eye, or Possessor of Good Qualities, or Concentrated on the Truth,  or Network Treasury;  there arc  a million billion such  names,  letting beings know and see in various ways.

"Below this world Endurance is a world called Door Bolt:  there the Buddha may be called Producing Flames,  or Poison Qucllcr, or Bow of the King of Gods, or No Constant Location, or Aware of the Fundamental, or Stopping Increase, or Great Speed, or Always Gladly Giving, or Discerning  the Way, or Banner of Victory;  there are a million  billion such names,  letting beings know and sec in various ways.

"Above this world Endurance is a world called Shaking Sound: there the Buddha may be called Banner of Courage, or Infinite Treasure,   or Glad Magnanimity,  or Celestial Light,  or Appearance  of Good Omen, or Transcending Objects, or Master of All, or Nonregrcssing Wheel, or Beyond All Evil, or Omniscient; there arc a million billion such names, letting beings know and see in various ways.

"As in this world Endurance,  so in the eastern direction, in hundreds of thousands of billions, countlessly, innumerably, boundlessly, incomparably, incalculably, unrecountably, unthinkably, immeasurably, unspeakably  many  worlds,  throughout the entire space of the cosmos, the names  and epithets of the Buddhas  are variously different; the same is true of the South,  West,  and North,  the four intermediate directions, and the zenith and the nadir. Just as when the Buddha was an enlighten­ ing being, by means of various discussions, various speeches, various words, various actions, various consequences,  various situations,  vari­ ous techniques, various faculties , various beliefs, and various stations, attained maturity, so he causes sentient beings to perceive in this way, teaching them thus. "