Boundless in reach, where motion and stillness share one source, containing all wonders yet surpassing them, transcending words and thought—such is the realm of reality itself! To dissect its profound mysteries, illuminate the mind and its world, exhaust principle and nature, encompass both cause and effect, vast and deep, encompassing all—such is the *Avatamsaka Sutra*, the *Flower Adornment Sutra of the Great and Vast Buddha*. Thus our World-Honored One, having perfected his ten bodies at the dawn of enlightenment, rode forth on his vows and deeds, merging with empty space as his very essence, fully endowed with myriad virtues, yet as subtle as a speck of dust. The clear waves of his wisdom sea quietly contain all phenomena; the full moon of his empty nature suddenly reflects in a hundred rivers. Without leaving the Bodhi tree, he arrays the seven locations across the realm of reality; without violating the future, he unfolds the nine assemblies at the moment of his first awakening. He exhausts the vast and profound fundamental teachings, reaching the inconceivable ocean assembly. His perfect voice, clear and far-reaching, instantly fills the ten directions; the host and attendant countless, resonating simultaneously throughout the ten directions. Though emptiness leaves no trace, the stars of the truth-sky shine brilliantly; though stillness is wordless, the waves of the teaching ocean ripple boundlessly.
Thus a thousand streams secretly flow, becoming the great source of all scriptures; ten thousand virtues converge together, embracing all sutras as their retinue. Its meaning: it merges with true essence within the realm of ten thousand transformations, manifests the marks of virtue at the gate of profound mystery. The function arises ceaselessly, yet remains ever such; wisdom universally illumines, yet abides in constant stillness. True and false interpenetrate; through the ordinary mind, the Buddha-mind is seen. Principle and phenomena are cultivated together; based on innate wisdom, one seeks Buddha-wisdom. Principle adapts to phenomena, so one and many conditions arise without limit; phenomena merge with principle, so a thousand differences interpenetrate without obstruction. Thus the ten bodies are distinct yet mutually active; the six stages are orderly yet interwoven. The vast enters the infinitesimal, a dust-mote contains the infinite. Brilliantly appearing together, like mustard seeds in a bottle; simultaneously complete, like drops in the ocean. One and many are unobstructed, like a thousand lamps in an empty room; hidden and manifest together, like a single moon in the autumn sky. Interwoven and reflecting, like the net of Indra with its hanging pearls; moment-fused and perfect, like a dream spanning a lifetime. The Dharma-doors layer upon layer, like clouds rising in the vast sky; myriad practices blossom forth, like flowers embroidered on brocade.
As for its height, unattainable, the bodhisattva of accumulated practice gasps like a fish at the Dragon Gate; as for its depth, unfathomable, the noble hearers lose sight and hearing at the great assembly. Seeing and hearing sow seeds; those in the eight difficulties transcend the ten stages. Understanding and practice embodied in oneself, one completes in a single life the fruit of countless eons. Like a lion's vigorous leap, the assembly suddenly attains amidst the grove; like an elephant king's majestic turn, six thousand achieve the path at his words. Dawn breaks at the eastern hall; full wisdom is no different from the initial resolve. The stage is sought in the south; perfect cause is not beyond a pore. Opening the sutra scroll of a dust-mote, moment by moment the fruit is achieved; exhausting the gate of sentient beings' vows, dust upon dust practices are fulfilled. Truly this is the eternal wondrous teaching, the great norm fitting all directions, the ultimate discourse on true nature, the essential path of the One Vehicle.
To delve into these profound teachings and then look back at other scriptures is like seeing the bright sun in the sky, eclipsing the light of all other stars; like Mount Sumeru standing in the sea, towering above all other peaks. Thus the bodhisattvas sought this secret in the Dragon Palace, and the great sages expounded it in the East. In the age of the True Dharma, its pure radiance was still hidden; fortunate indeed, in this age of semblance, we encounter this profound transformation. Especially as we meet the sacred sovereign and find ourselves on Vulture Peak, to exhaust our thoughts on this profound teaching, how could we not rejoice?
The title *Mahāvaipulya Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra* is the general name for the endless scriptures; "Chapter on the Wondrous Adornment of World Sovereigns, Part One" is the specific title for this category of meanings. "Great" means encompassing all without limit; "Vast" means upholding the right Dharma itself; "Extensive" means encompassing all in accord with essence; "Buddha" means awakening to this profound wonder; "Flower" symbolizes the myriad virtues and practices; "Adornment" means adorning the Dharma to perfect beings; "Sutra" is the inexhaustible spring of the Dharma, stringing together profound and subtle meanings, including the boundless ocean assembly, serving as the eternal norm for all time. The Buddha and all kings are both called "World Sovereigns"; the teachings, beings, and their environments are all called "Wondrous Adornment." Dividing the categories of meaning to establish the chapter name, placing it first among all chapters, it is called "Chapter on the Wondrous Adornment of World Sovereigns, Part One." This sutra has thirty-nine chapters; this chapter begins the whole, hence it is called *Mahāvaipulya Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra*, Chapter on the Wondrous Adornment of World Sovereigns, Part One.
I take refuge in the Buddhas of the ten directions, who transcend the three periods of time; The perfect, clear Teachers who fill realms like atoms and illuminate the world.
To the ocean of virtue and compassion in the Dharmadhātu, And Mahāvairocana, the great ocean of wisdom;
To the profound true nature of reality where they dwell, And the perfect sutras that flow forth from them;
To Samantabhadra, Mañjuśrī, and all great bodhisattvas, In each Buddha-assembly on every mote of dust,
I now wish to use a single hair's worth of wisdom To fathom the boundless space of the Dharmadhātu.
May I rely on the kindness of the Three Jewels, as one body, So each phrase perfectly accords with the Buddhas’ intent.
May the Dharma-eye thus remain ever without defect, And may I reach the realm of all beings as Samantabhadra does.
I dedicate this merit to all living beings, So they swiftly realize enlightenment and attain the bliss of nirvana.
To explain the meaning of the sutra, I have organized it into ten general sections:
1. The causes and conditions for teaching the sutra. 2. Which scriptural collection and teaching category it belongs to. 3. The scope and depth of its principles. 4. The capacities of beings it is meant for. 5. The degrees of depth in the essence of the teachings. 6. The overall theme and its range of application. 7. The chapters, sections, and assemblies included. 8. The history of its transmission and translation. 9. A general explanation of the sutra's title. 10. A detailed explanation of the text itself.