Session One

This is what I heard. At one time, the Buddha was staying in the Jeta Grove, in the Garden of the Benefactor of the Orphans and the Solitary, in the kingdom of Shravasti. He was accompanied by a great community of monks, twelve hundred and fifty in all. All of them were great Arhats, well-known and respected by everyone. Among them were the elder Shariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakashyapa, Mahakatyayana, Mahakausthila, Revata, Shuddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola-Bharadvaja, Kalodayin, Mahakapphina, Vakula, and Anuruddha. These were the great disciples.

Also present were many great Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas, such as the Dharma Prince Manjushri, the Bodhisattva Ajita, the Bodhisattva Gandhahastin, and the Bodhisattva Nityodyukta. In addition, there were countless heavenly beings, including Shakra, the lord of the devas, and a great assembly of all kinds of beings.

Then the Buddha said to the elder Shariputra, "From here, heading west, passing through hundreds of thousands of billions of Buddha-lands, there is a world called 'Ultimate Bliss'. In that land, there is a Buddha named Amitabha, who is presently teaching the Dharma.

"Shariputra, why is that land called 'Ultimate Bliss'? Because the beings in that country experience no pain or suffering; they experience only happiness. Therefore, it is called 'Ultimate Bliss.'

"Furthermore, Shariputra, the Land of Ultimate Bliss is surrounded by seven layers of railings, seven layers of nets, and seven rows of trees. All these are made of four precious materials and surround the land entirely. And that is why it is called 'Ultimate Bliss.'

"Again, Shariputra, in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, there is a pond made of the seven jewels, filled with water possessing eight excellent qualities. The bottom of the pond is entirely covered with golden sand. The paths on the four sides are made of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. Above, there are pavilions and towers adorned with gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, mother-of-pearl, red pearls, and agate. In the ponds, there are lotus flowers as large as chariot wheels. Blue ones emit a blue light; yellow ones emit a yellow light; red ones emit a red light; white ones emit a white light. They are exquisite, fragrant, and pure.

"Shariputra, the Land of Ultimate Bliss possesses such splendid virtues and adornments.

"Again, Shariputra, in the land of that Buddha, heavenly music constantly plays. The ground is made of gold. And during the six periods of the day and night, it rains manyndarava flowers. The beings in that land, each morning, gather fine flowers in their robes and go to make offerings to hundreds of thousands of billions of Buddhas in other lands. At mealtime, they return to their own country, eat, and walk mindfully.

"Shariputra, the Land of Ultimate Bliss possesses such splendid virtues and adornments.

"Moreover, Shariputra, in that land there are always various kinds of wonderful and rare birds—white cranes, peacocks, parrots, the Shariputra bird, the Kalavinka bird, and the two-headed bird. These birds, throughout the six periods of the day and night, sing in harmonious and elegant sounds. Their songs proclaim the Five Faculties, the Five Powers, the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, and the Eightfold Noble Path, and other such teachings. The beings in that land, upon hearing these sounds, are all led to reflect on the Buddha, reflect on the Dharma, and reflect on the Sangha.

"Shariputra, do not think that these birds are born as a result of their past sins. Why? Because in the land of that Buddha, there are no three lower realms. Shariputra, in that Buddha's land, not even the *names* of the lower realms exist, let alone their reality. These birds are only created by the transformation of Amitabha Buddha, as a way to make the sound of the Dharma spread far and wide.

"Shariputra, when a gentle breeze blows through the rows of jeweled trees and jeweled nets in the land of that Buddha, it produces a subtle and wonderful sound, like hundreds of thousands of musical instruments playing all at once. All who hear this sound naturally awaken a mind that reflects on the Buddha, reflects on the Dharma, and reflects on the Sangha.

"Shariputra, the land of that Buddha possesses such splendid virtues and adornments.

"Shariputra, what do you think? Why is that Buddha called 'Amitabha'? Shariputra, the light of that Buddha is immeasurable, shining on all lands in the ten directions without obstruction. Therefore, he is called 'Amitabha' (Infinite Light). Also, Shariputra, the lifespan of that Buddha and his people is an immeasurable, countless number of eons. Therefore, he is called 'Amitabha' (Infinite Life). Shariputra, Amitabha Buddha has been a Buddha for ten eons now.

"Again, Shariputra, that Buddha has an immeasurable, countless number of Hearer disciples, all of whom are Arhats. Their number cannot be known through calculation. The same is true for the multitude of Bodhisattvas.

"Shariputra, the land of that Buddha possesses such splendid virtues and adornments.

"Again, Shariputra, those beings who are born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss all reach the stage of non-retrogression. Many among them are Bodhisattvas who are one lifetime away from Buddhahood. Their number is extremely large, and cannot be known through calculation; it can only be described as immeasurable, countless, and beyond imagination.

"Shariputra, those who hear this should make a vow to be reborn in that land. Why? Because they will be able to gather together in the same place with all these most excellent beings.

"Shariputra, it is not possible to be reborn in that land through the ordinary accumulation of minor good roots, merit, and virtues.

"Shariputra, if a good man or a good woman hears the name of Amitabha Buddha and holds fast to it—whether for one day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days, or seven days—with a single mind without distraction, then when that person's life draws to a close, Amitabha Buddha and all his holy retinue will appear before that person. When that person dies, their mind will not be confused, and they will immediately be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss of Amitabha Buddha.

"Shariputra, I have seen this benefit, and so I speak these words. If any being hears this teaching, they should make a vow to be reborn in that land.

"Shariputra, just as I now praise the inconceivable virtues and benefits of Amitabha Buddha, so also, in the eastern direction, there are Akshobhya Buddha, Sumeru Appearance Buddha, Great Sumeru Buddha, Sumeru Light Buddha, Wonderful Voice Buddha, and other Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River. Each of them, in their own land, puts forth a vast and long tongue extending to cover the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks these words of truth: 'You beings should trust this sutra—the one praised by all Buddhas for its inconceivable virtues and protected by all Buddhas.'

"Shariputra, in the southern world, there are Sun-Moon Lamp Buddha, Famous Light Buddha, Great Flaming Shoulder Buddha, Sumeru Lamp Buddha, Infinite Vigor Buddha, and other Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. Each of them, in their own land, puts forth a vast and long tongue covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks these words of truth: 'You beings should trust this sutra—the one praised by all Buddhas for its inconceivable virtues and protected by all Buddhas.'

"Shariputra, in the western world, there are Infinite Life Buddha, Infinite Marks Buddha, Infinite Banner Buddha, Great Light Buddha, Great Brightness Buddha, Jeweled Marks Buddha, Pure Light Buddha, and other Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. Each... [they make the same declaration]."

... [The text continues with identical descriptions for the northern, lower, and upper directions, each listing specific Buddhas and stating that they make the same declaration as the Buddhas in the East.]

"Shariputra, what do you think? Why is this sutra called 'the Sutra Protected by All Buddhas'?

"Shariputra, if a good man or a good woman hears this sutra and upholds it; and also hears the names of all these Buddhas, then all these good men and good women will be protected by all Buddhas. They will all attain the stage of non-retrogression on the path to supreme, perfect enlightenment.

"Therefore, Shariputra, you should all trust and accept my words, as well as the words of all these Buddhas.

"Shariputra, if there are people who have already made a vow, who are now making a vow, or who will make a vow, seeking to be reborn in the land of Amitabha Buddha—all these people will attain the stage of non-retrogression on the path to supreme, perfect enlightenment. They will already have been born, or now be born, or will be born, in that land.

"Therefore, Shariputra, all good men and good women who have faith should make a vow to be reborn in that land.

"Shariputra, just as I now praise the inconceivable virtues of all these Buddhas, so also do those Buddhas praise my inconceivable virtues, saying: 'Shakyamuni Buddha has accomplished a most difficult and rare task. He was able to attain supreme, perfect enlightenment in this Saha world, in the evil world of the Five Defilements—the defilement of the age, the defilement of views, the defilement of afflictions, the defilement of beings, and the defilement of lifespan—all for the sake of beings, and to teach them this Dharma that is so hard for all beings in the world to believe.'

"Shariputra, you should know that it is truly difficult for me, in this evil world of the Five Defilements, to accomplish this difficult task—to attain supreme, perfect enlightenment and to teach this Dharma, which is so hard to believe, for the sake of all beings.

After the Buddha had spoken this sutra, Shariputra, the monks, and all the beings in the worlds—gods, humans, asuras, and others—heard what the Buddha had said. They were filled with joy, trusted and accepted his words, paid their respects, and departed.

The mind itself is Buddha. The finest ghee and curds all come from milk, Just as all Buddhas arise from mind alone. As bracelets, hairpins, vases, and bowls are all made of gold, So too, across a hundred thousand million miles, east and west are not separate. In every moment of the day, ordinary beings and sages walk the same path. Bow with joined hands before the white hair-mark — the stars shine bright, the sun is clear. Sing praise to the purple-golden form — like thunder rolling, like lightning flashing. The clear, cool moon is reflected in every body of water; The cloud of merit crowns every mountain peak without exception. The fragrant elephant crosses the river — one single utterance of the Name transcends the two deaths. The kalaviṇka bird emerges from its shell — a thousand recitations of the glorious name surpass all other sounds. Though my humble mind ponders, it can hardly fathom this — Yet one thought turning back the light makes it easy to reach the Pure Land. Ultimately, this is not outside the mind; Clearly, it is right before you. If this is so, now all assembled here — While mindful of Amitābha, during the three daily sessions of Buddhist practice — As for the phrase: "without relying on cultivation or realization, personally receiving the prophecy of future Buddhahood" — How shall we proclaim it? (Strikes the gavel.)

(The Chan Master announces:)