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T1530 The Interpretation of the Buddha Land

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THE VAIROCANĀBHISAṂBODHI SUTRA

Front Matters

BDK English Tripiṭaka Series THE INTERPRETATION OF THE BUDDHA LAND (Taishō Volume 26, Number 1530) Translated from the Chinese by

John P. Keenan BDK America, Inc. 2002

Copyright © 2002 by Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai and BDK America, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transcribed in any form or by any means —electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise— without the prior written permission of the publisher. First Printing, 2002

ISBN: 978-0-9625618-2-5

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2001098895 Published by

BDK America, Inc.

1675 School Street

Moraga, California 94556

Printed in the United States of America

A Message on the Publication of the

English Tripiṭaka

The Buddhist canon is said to contain eighty-four thousand different teachings. I believe that this is because the Buddha's basic approach was to prescribe a different treatment for every spiritual ailment, much as a doctor prescribes a different medicine for every medical ailment. Thus his teachings were always appropriate for the particular suffering individual and for the time at which the teaching was given, and over the ages not one of his prescriptions has failed to relieve the suffering to which it was addressed.

Ever since the Buddha's Great Demise over twenty-five hundred years ago, his message of wisdom and compassion has spread throughout the world. Yet no one has ever attempted to translate the entire Buddhist canon into English throughout the history of Japan. It is my greatest wish to see this done and to make the translations available to the many English-speaking people who have never had the opportunity to learn about the Buddha's teachings. Of course, it would be impossible to translate all of the Buddha's eightyfour thousand teachings in a few years. I have, therefore, had one hundred thirtynine of the scriptural texts in the prodigious Taishō edition of the Chinese Buddhist canon selected for inclusion in the First Series of this translation project. It is in the nature of this undertaking that the results are bound to be criticized. Nonetheless, I am convinced that unless someone takes it upon himself or herself to initiate this project, it will never be done. At the same time, I hope that an improved, revised edition will appear in the future.

It is most gratifying that, thanks to the efforts of more than a hundred Buddhist scholars from the East and the West, this monumental project has finally gotten off the ground. May the rays of the Wisdom of the CompassionateOne reach each and every person in the world.

NUMATAYehan

Founder of the English

August 7, 1991 Tripiṭaka Project

Editorial Foreword

In January 1982, Dr. NUMATAYehan, the founder of Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai (Society for the Promotion of Buddhism), decided to begin the monumental task of translating the complete Taishō edition of the Chinese Tripiṭaka (Buddhist canon) into the English language. Under his leadership, a special preparatory committee was organized in April 1982. By July of the same year, the Translation Committee of the English Tripiṭaka was officially convened. The initial Committee consisted of the following members: (late) HANAYAMA Shōyū (Chairperson), (late) BANDŌShōjun, ISHIGAMIZennō, (late) KAMATA Shigeo, (late) KANAOKAShūyū, MAYEDASengaku, NARAYasuaki, (late) SAYEKI Shinkō, (late) SHIOIRIRyōtatsu, TAMARUNoriyoshi, (late) TAMURAKwansei, URYŪZURyūshin, and YUYAMAAkira. Assistant members of the Committee were as follows: KANAZAWAAtsushi, WATA NABEShōgo, Rolf Giebel of New Zealand, and Rudy Smet of Belgium.

After holding planning meetings on a monthly basis, the Committee selected one hundred thirty-nine texts for the First Series of translations, an estimated one hundred printed volumes in all. The texts selected are not necessarily limited to those originally written in India but also include works written or composed in China and Japan. While the publication of the First Series proceeds, the texts for the Second Series will be selected from among the remaining works; this process will continue until all the texts, in Japanese as well as in Chinese, have been published.

Frankly speaking, it will take perhaps one hundred years or more to accomplish the English translation of the complete Chinese and Japanese texts, for they consist of thousands of works. Nevertheless, as Dr. NUMATAwished, it is the sincere hope of the Committee that this project will continue unto completion, even after all its present members have passed away.

Dr. NUMATApassed away on May 5, 1994, at the age of ninety-seven, entrusting his son, Mr. NUMATAToshihide, with the continuation and completion of the Translation Project. The Committee also lost its able and devoted Chairperson, vii

Publisher’s Foreword

Editorial Foreword

Professor HANAYAMAShōyū, on June 16, 1995, at the age of sixty-three. After these severe blows, the Committee elected me, then Vice President of Musashino Women's College, to be the Chair in October 1995. The Committee has renewed its determination to carry out the noble intention of Dr. NUMATA, under the leadership of Mr. NUMATAToshihide. The present members of the Committee are MAYEDASengaku (Chairperson), ISHIGAMIZennō, ICHISHIMAShōshin, NARAYasuaki, TAMARUNoriyoshi, Kenneth K. Tanaka, URYŪZURyūshin, YUYAMAAkira, WATANABEShōgo, and assistant member YONEZAWAYoshiyasu.

The Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research was established in November 1984, in Berkeley, California, U.S.A., to assist in the publication of the BDK English Tripiṭaka First Series. The Publication Committee was organized at the Numata Center in December 1991. Since then the publication of all the volumes has been and will continue to be conducted under the supervision of this Committee in close cooperation with the Editorial Committee in Tokyo. MAYEDASengaku

Chairperson

Editorial Committee of

the BDK English Tripiṭaka

viii

Publisher's Foreword

On behalf of the Publication Committee, I am happy to present this contribution to the BDK English Tripiṭaka Series. The initial translation and editing of the Buddhist scripture found here were performed under the direction of the Editorial Committee in Tokyo, Japan, chaired by Professor Sengaku Mayeda, Professor Emeritus of Musashino University. The Publication Committee members then put this volume through a rigorous succession of editorial and bookmaking efforts. Both the Editorial Committee in Tokyo and the Publication Committee in Berkeley are dedicated to the production of clear, readable English texts of the Buddhist canon. The members of both committees and associated staff work to honor the deep faith, spirit, and concern of the late Reverend Dr. Yehan Numata, who founded the BDK English Tripiṭaka Series in order to disseminate Buddhist teachings throughout the world.

The long-term goal of our project is the translation and publication of the one hundred-volume Taishō edition of the Chinese Buddhist canon, plus a few influential extracanonical Japanese Buddhist texts. The list of texts selected for the First Series of this translation project is given at the end of each volume. As Chair of the Publication Committee, I am deeply honored to serve in the post formerly held by the late Dr. Philip B. Yampolsky, who was so good to me during his lifetime; the esteemed Dr. Kenneth K. Inada, who has had such a great impact on Buddhist studies in the United States; and the beloved late Dr. Francis H. Cook, a dear friend and colleague.

In conclusion, let me thank the members of the Publication Committee for the efforts they have undertaken in preparing this volume for publication: Senior Editor Marianne Dresser, Dr. Hudaya Kandahjaya, Dr. Carl Bielefeldt, Robert Sharf, Reverend Kiyoshi Yamashita, and Reverend Brian Nagata, President of the Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research.

John R. McRae

Chairperson

Publication Committee

A Message on the Publication of the English Tripiṭaka NUMATA Yehan v

Editorial Foreword MAYEDA Sengaku vii Publisher's Foreword John R. McRae ix Translator's Introduction John P. Keenan xiii The Interpretation of the Buddha Land Introduction 3

Part One

Chapter I. The Arising of the Teaching 5 Chapter II. The Good Qualities of the Pure Land 9 Chapter III. The Buddha's Good Qualities Chapter IV. The Good Qualities of the Bhagavat's Retinue 29 43

Chapter V. The Distinction between Wisdom and Cessation in Regard to the Great Word-hearers Chapter VI. The Good Qualities of the Bodhisattvas 51 57

Part Two: The Content of the Teaching Chapter VII. An Analysis of the Five Wisdom Factors 65 Chapter VIII. The Pure Dharma Realm 85 Chapter IX. Mirror Wisdom 107 Chapter X. Equality Wisdom 129 Chapter XI. Discernment Wisdom 139 Chapter XII. Duty-fulfillment Wisdom 153 Part Three: The Practice Based on the Dharma Chapter XIII. The Experience of Wisdom Chapter XIV. The Concluding Verses Chapter XV. A Discussion on the Three Bodies of the Buddha 167 177

195

Translator’s Introduction

Contents Notes 207 Glossary 215 Bibliography 221 Index 223 A List of the Volumes of the BDK English Tripiṭaka (First Series) 237 xii

Translator's Introduction

The Interpretation of the Buddha Land(Buddhabhūmyupadeśa;Taishō vol. 26, no. 1530, pp. 291-328) is a commentary on the Scripture on the Buddha Land (Buddhabhūmi-sūtra;Taishō vol. 16, no. 680, pp. 720-24). This scripture consists of an introductory description of the setting in which it was preached by the Buddha; the main body of the text, which treats the five factors that constitute a buddha land, i.e., the Pure Dharma Realm and the four wisdoms: mirror wisdom, equality wisdom, discernment wisdom, and duty-fulfillment wisdom; and a concluding section of two illustrative similes and four summary verses. The place of the Scripture on the Buddha Land within Mahayana history remains a subject of controversy. One of the concluding similes and all the summary verses are directly parallel to verses 56-59 and 82-85 of the "Bodhi Chapter" of the Ornament of the Scriptures of the Great Vehicle (Mahāyāna sūtrā laṃkāra, Taishō no. 1604) and, according to the commentaries of Asvabhāva and Sthiramati,

1 were taken from the Scripture on the Buddha Land.This would mean that this text was anterior to the Mahāyāna sūtrā laṃkāraand was among the earliest Yogācāra texts.

2 However, the Scripture on the Buddha Landis never

mentioned by any Yogā cārin earlier than Asvabhāva. Its style is furthermore quite systematic and reflects more of a śāstragenre. These reasons lead others3 to think that it is a late (fourth century) composition. It should, however, be noted that the Scripture on the Buddha Land does not reflect a defined Yogācāra lineage. There is no mention of the basic themes of the ālaya (container) consciousness, the development of consciousness (vijñāna-pariṇāma), or the three patterns of consciousness (trisvabhāva). The text may well have been quite early and yet not have been considered an authority by early Yogācāra thinkers, and thus it would not have been quoted by them. It would then represent a tangential lineage, perhaps closer to the Maitreyan corpus, with its emphasis on wisdom and original purity, than to the classical Yogācāra of Asaṅga and Vasu bandhu, with their emphasis on the samsaric nature of empirical consciousness. xiii

Translator's Introduction

In any event it was later considered to be a Yogācāra text and taken as a prime source on the nature of wisdom. Śīlabhadra (529-645) composed a commentary on it entitled the Exposition of the Buddha Land (Buddha bhūmivyākhyāna; Peking ed. no. 5498), preserved in its Tibetan translation. This commentary constituted the basic layer of the present Chinese text, which is attributed to Bandhuprabha and others and which, having added new material from the Dharmapāla-Faxiang tradition of Yogā cāra, is twice as large as Śīlabhadra's Tibetan text. Almost all the additional material has been drawn apparently from the Cheng weishi lun(translated by Francis H. Cook and published under the title "Demonstration of Consciousness Only" in Three Texts on Consciousness Only,Numata Center, 1999). The Cheng weishi lunis the principal doctrinal authority of Faxiang, the East Asian version of Yogācāra founded by Xuanzang and his disciple Kuiqi. This would imply either that the Interpretation of the Buddha Landwas composed in India by Bandhu prabha and others by drawing additional material from a no longer extant Sanskrit version of the Cheng weishi lun,or, if one judges the Cheng weishi lunto have issued in China from Xuanzang himself, that the additional passages of the Interpretationalso issued from his hand.

The present text contains both the rather straightforward commentary of Śīlabhadra as well as additional material from the Dharmapāla-Faxiang tradition, with its strong emphasis on the enduring structure of other-dependent (paratantra) consciousness even within the realm of the perfected (pari niṣpanna) wisdom. 4

The overall theme of these texts is that the Pure Land is not a physical location, but a symbol of the mind of wisdom—constituted by the five factors of the Pure Dharma Realm and the four wisdoms. These four wisdoms, grounded on the Pure Dharma Realm, present the varied structure of wisdom as conceived by Yogācāra thinkers. Mirror wisdom and equality wisdom are nondiscriminative, while discernment wisdom and duty-fulfillment wisdom distinguish the nature of bodhisattva tasks and carry them out in the world. Thus the over arching context for these texts is the tension created between the critical awareness and "deliteralization" tendency of Yogācāra, and the Pure Land cultus, with its veneration of many Pure Land buddhas and its hopes of being born in the Pure Land. xiv

Translator's Introduction

Note on Terms

Throughout the text, the term Scripture, capitalized, refers to the Scripture on the Buddha Land,the subject of this commentarial text; the term Commentary, capitalized, refers to this text itself, the Interpretation of the Buddha Land.The lowercase terms "scripture(s)" and "treatise(s)" refer generally to other Buddhist texts. The term Dharma, capitalized, refers to the overall Buddhist teaching or "law,

" while the lowercase term "doctrine(s)" is used to denote specific teachings or doctrines within the Buddha-Dharma as a whole.

Technical terms throughout have been rendered in English; in many cases, the corresponding Sanskrit term has been provided in parentheses on first appearance of a term in the text. xv

THE INTERPRETATION OF

THE BUDDHA LAND

Composed by Bandhuprabha and Others Translated by Tripiṭaka Master Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty

Introduction

I bow down in reverence before the supreme, prospering field, Before the [Buddha in the] three bodies, the [Dharma of] the two truths, and the Sangha of the One Vehicle.

Now, according to my ability, I will present this treatise, So that the Dharma may continually abide and deliver the multitude of beings.

Having examined the teachings of all the masters, I have already been purified,

But, being concerned lest those of meager intelligence fail to understand,

In order to lead them to engender the eminence of purification, I will summarize and interpret the Land of the Sage. The Commentary explains: This Scripture on the Buddha Landis the embodiment of universal wisdom and of universal wisdom in its entirety, 5 which

are liberated from the [two] obstacles of passion and to knowledge. [Such wisdom] is able to open on awakening both for oneself and for all sentient beings in regard to all things and all their characteristics, just as one might awaken from a dream or just as a lotus flower might open up its blossoms. This [embodiment of wisdom] is what is meant by the buddha land. This means that the support, practice, and content [of the buddha land] are precisely the enjoyment of phenomena as of one unified taste, as the Pure Dharma Realm, mirror wisdom, equality wisdom, discernment wisdom, and duty-fulfillment wisdom.

The term buddha land refers to this support, practice, and content of buddhahood. The term Scripture means that this meaning runs through and upholds it, for the Buddha's sacred teachings run through and uphold both the meaning they explain and the beings they convert. Understand that the buddha land expounded in this Scripture is of extreme benefit to sentient beings. The title Scripture on the Buddha Landis chosen in virtue of its contents, just as the Scripture on Dependent Co-arising(Pratītyasamutpāda-sūtra) and the 291b

Part One

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The Interpretation of the Buddha Land

Scripture on the Accumulation of Gems(Ratnakūṭa-sūtra) [reflect the content treated in those texts].

The overall meaning summarized in this Scripture is that the buddha land, which is established on the perfections of the Bhagavat's Pure Land, the perfections of its good qualities, and the perfections of its assembly, is a phenomenal wisdom all of one unified taste that is enjoyed both separately and in unison in the five factors that constitute that buddha land. [That buddha land] is supported on the Dharma realm, endowed with all good qualities, and differentiated into the three bodies (trikāya).

Thus we will explain in due order the location of the tathāgata abode, the good qualities [of that abode], the nature of its assembly, and the differentiations in the meaning of that land. The location of his abode refers to the buddha land, that is, his broad, extensive palace, adorned with eighteen kinds of perfection. Its good qualities refer to the Buddha Bhagavat's twenty-one kinds of eminent qualities. Its assembly refers to that incalculable assembly of great disciples and great beings (mahāsattvas) who perfect all kinds of wondrous qualities. The different meanings of that land refer to the five factors of this wisdom land, which both individually and in unison enjoy phenomena as of one unified taste. All this will be explained in detail later. There are three parts to this Scripture. The first explains the cause for the arising of this teaching. The second deals with the explanations of the teaching. The third treats the devout practice that was carried out as a result of this teaching. [The first part] explains in general terms the occasion on which this Scripture was first heard and in specific terms describes the lord of the teaching and the actual location in which it arose. Since those to be converted by the teaching are themselves the cause in virtue of which this teaching arose, the part [that describes them] is entitled "The Arising of the Teaching. "

The second part is entitled "The Content of the Teaching, " since it explains

the differences in the doctrines enunciated in this true and sacred teaching. The third part is entitled "The Practice Based on the Dharma, " since it

explains how the assembly that had heard the Buddha's teaching at that time was elated and put it into practice.

Part One

Chapter I

The Arising of the

Teaching

The Scripture says: "Thus have I heard: At one time the Bhagavat. . . . "

The Commentary explains: The phrase "Thus have I heard" in general refers to the enunciation of what has already been heard. The transmitter of the Buddha's doctrine says, "This is precisely what I have heard. "

In general there are four kinds of meaningful discourse. The first is analogical. The second is exhortatory. The third is responsive. The fourth is authenticating. Analogical discourse is exemplified by the sentence, "Monks

are like treasures.

" Exhortatory discourse is exemplified by the sentence, "This is the manner in which you should recite and understand the scriptures and treatises.

" Responsive discourse is exemplified by the sentence, "What

I am preaching is precisely what I have heard. " Authenticating discourse is exemplified by the sentence, "For you, I must think this, do this, and say this.

" Such discourse is thus authenticated [as the words of the Buddha]. [There are three opinions on how many kinds of meaningful discourse are involved in the presentation of this scripture.] The first opinion holds that only authenticating discourse is possible here. When assembled, all the bodhisattvas ask, "Please speak just as you have heard. " The bodhisattva who

transmitted this doctrine then spoke, assuring them and saying, "I must indeed

speak just as I have heard, for it is in this manner that faith may be examined and confirmed.

" This means that in all instances his discourse was in conformity with and in no way different from that doctrine he had previously heard [from the Buddha].

The second opinion holds that responsive discourse is also involved. When questions arise, [the transmitter of the doctrine] must have responded 5

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The Interpretation of the Buddha Land

with exactly what he had heard. Therefore he said,

"Thus have I heard.

The third opinion holds that all four kinds of discourse are involved. [The Scripture discourse] is analogical in that the phrase "Thus have I heard" implies identity to what is now being enunciated [by the transmitter]; it is exhortatory in that, when it was spoken, the assembly must have been enjoined to listen to the content of what was heard by the transmitter. 6

The word "I" refers to the conventionally erroneous view of the aggregates. The word "hear" refers to the auditory perception of the consciousness that evolves from the ear organ. It is by disregarding these distinctions that people generally say,

"I hear.

[There are two opinions on the nature of the cause of this buddha discourse.] The first opinion holds that it was in virtue of the enabling cause of the Tathāgata's compassionate vow that images of words and meanings were produced in the consciousness of the hearer. Although these words and images did depend directly on the power of [the hearer's] own good roots, yet, since he received strong conditioning [from the Tathāgata vow], it is called buddha discourse. Thus when the Scripture says,

"I hear,

" it means that the mind [of

the hearer] was itself transformed through the power of his ear organ. The second opinion holds that by the power of the enabling cause of good roots and the power of the primal vow, images of words and meanings were produced in the consciousness of the Tathāgata. These images arose from the good roots whereby the Buddha benefits others, and are thus called buddha discourse. Although the mind of the hearer did not apprehend them, yet, because similar images became present, he said,

"I have heard.

Understand that the phrase "Thus have I heard" implies the avoidance of any increase or decrease [in the content of what was heard]. It means that [the transmitter] declared [this Scripture] in accord with the doctrine heard from the Buddha and not according to any explanation concocted by another. Such a hearer had the profound ability to avoid the errors of either adding to or subtracting from that which he had heard. He was not like the fool who lacks such ability and is thus incapable of avoiding these errors. The transmitter of the Buddha's doctrine, when he gathered up that doctrine, based himself on the Tathāgata's doctrine and began by saying these words in order to lead sentient beings to revere, respect, believe, and accept [that doctrine]. He said 6

Chapter I

that his words and meanings are established with neither increase nor decrease, just as he had heard them from the Buddha. And we, having correctly heard, must truthfully reflect on and assiduously cultivate them. The phrase "at one time" refers to the time of hearing and refers to a continuous series of moments without interruption. The period of speaking and hearing is generally said to be one time. If this were not so, then syllables, words, and phrases would be different when they are spoken and when they are heard. How then could words be the same [for both speaker and hearer]? Alternately, he who enunciated [this doctrine] has attained mystic formulae (dhāraṇīs) and, in one word, in one instant, he was able to convey all doctrines. Or, when he who heard had attained the pure ear, in one instant, when he heard but one word, everything became unobstructed to him. Because of such experiences, [that hearing] is said to have occurred at one time. Or again perhaps because the time is not differentiated from the period when that assembly perceived it, the text says "at one time. " This means that

the phrase,

"at one time,

" refers to the coming together of the common characteristics of speaking and hearing. Time is something that is conventionally established among conditioned things. Or it is a state of mind in which images, are all conventionally established in dependence upon material forms. [Thus it is included among those karmic formations unassociated with the mind]. [It is objected,] why then do we not explain [time] by dividing it [into the sequential moments] as [done] below [in the text itself]? If we speak only of one time, then the divisions of day and night could not be established or identified in speaking! [Our] opinion is that [the time when this Scripture was spoken] is not determined. Thus we cannot ascertain whether it was spoken just in one moment or in a continuity of moments. Therefore in general terms its images are said [to have occurred] at one time. The term Bhagavat comes from six interrelated meanings. The first is mastery, the second brilliance, the third majesty, the fourth renown, the fifth blessedness, and the sixth nobility. As a verse says:

Mastery, brilliance, and majesty,

Renown, blessedness, and nobility.

These six meanings are all attributed

To the term Bhagavat.

Chapter 2: The Good Qualities of the Pure Land

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The Interpretation of the Buddha Land

Since all tathāgatas are endowed with these qualities and do not lack any of them, they are called Bhagavats. This is to be interpreted as meaning that since all tathāgatas are never bound by any passion, they are masterful. Since they are consumed by the fire of flaming wisdom, they are brilliant. Since they are adorned with the thirty-two major marks, they are majestic. Since they are recognized as being replete with all eminent qualities, they are renowned. Since they are approached, revered, and praised everywhere in the world, they are blessed. Since their merits are always active and bring benefit and peaceful joy to sentient beings through skillful means (upāya) without ceasing, they are noble.

Furthermore, since they are able to destroy the four inimical forces, 7

they are called Bhagavats. These four inimical forces are the passions, the aggregates, death, and the demon.

Thus Buddha is designated by these ten qualities [of the six meanings of the term Bhagavat and the four abilities to destroy inimical forces]. The reason why the transmitter of the Tathāgata's teaching placed this name, Bhagavat, at the beginning of all the scriptures is that it is honored over all the world. Even heterodox teachers all refer to their founders as Bhagavat. This one name encompasses a multitude of good qualities, and, being unlike other names, it is always placed at the beginning of scriptures. Later we will discuss all these good qualities of the Buddha.

Chapter II

The Good Qualities

of the Pure Land

The Scripture says: "

. . .[the Bhagavat] dwelled in a great palace, which was ornamented with the seven luminous gems and which emitted a great light that completely illuminated immeasurable world-realms. Its immeasurable configuration was well apportioned in its distribution of dwellings. Its unlimited horizon was unfathomable. Its domain surpassed anything in the triple world. It arose from good roots beyond those that transcend this world. It was characterized by perfectly purified and masterful conscious construction. It was the support of tathāgatas. It was the cloud gathering of the assembly of all great bodhisattvas. It constantly had as servants an immeasurable number of gods, dragons, humans, and all manner of supernatural beings. It was sustained by enjoyment and delight in the taste of the great Dharma. It brings about meaning and benefit for all sentient beings. It destroys the oppressive, defiled proclivities of passion. It expels all inimical forces. It is arrayed by the Tathāgata to surpass all [other] arrayments. Its paths are great memory, great understanding, and great practice. Its vehicles are great quiescence and wondrous insight. Its entrance gates are the deliverances of emptiness, imagelessness, and wishlessness. It rests on a kingly collection of great, jeweled lotus flowers, ornamented with innumerable collections of good qualities. "8

The Commentary explains: This passage explains the perfections of the Tathāgata's abode, for it describes the Pure Land of the buddhas. Since the Pure Land is characterized by eighteen kinds of perfection, it is termed completely perfected. These eighteen fullnesses are: color, configuration, extent, domain, cause, result, lords, confreres, servants, sustenance, action, beneficence, fearlessness, abode, paths, vehicles, entrance gates, and foundation. These eighteen phrases manifest the eighteen perfections. This means that that august palace of such perfections is called the Buddha's Pure Land. This Scripture reports the manner in which the Buddha abides in that great palace. 9

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The Interpretation of the Buddha Land

But, [it may be asked,] is this the enjoyment land or the transformation land of the Buddha? [There are three opinions on this question.] The first opinion holds that that land was a magically transformed land and that the Buddha who preached this Scripture was the transformation body (nirmāṇa kāya), because a great number of word-hearers (śrāvakas) dwelled in that land, were present before the Tathāgata, and listened to him preach this Scripture. They were elated, received it in faith, and put it into practice. Because of this manifestation of the Buddha's mind, his pure, world-transcendent conscious construction became phenomenally perceptible in the enunciation of this eminent Dharma. He magically created this land in the presence of all kinds of sentient beings and caused them to become elated and to embark upon practice. Instantaneously he magically created a pure buddha land by the supernatural power of his wondrous transformation body, and they were led quickly to attain insight. If this were not so, the numerous word-hearers would not have gained insight.

The second opinion holds that that land was the enjoyment land and the Buddha who preached this Scripture was the enjoyment body (saṃbhoga kāya), because this land was unlimited in measure, and its paths, vehicles, and entrance gates were all actually merits. Moreover, it is taught [in the last chapter of the Summary of the Great Vehicle(Mahāyānasaṃgraha)] that that land was enjoyed everywhere as purified, pleasurable, irreproachable, and masterful. Furthermore, the Scripture on the Explication of Underlying Meaning (Saṃdhinirmocana-sūtra) says: "They attained birth above the triple world.

" Moreover, the Buddha who preached this Scripture was endowed with the twenty-one kinds of true qualities, as will be explained later. When he preached other scriptures, such buddha qualities were not enumerated. If he magically created this Pure Land by means of his wondrous [transformation] body in order to benefit the multitudes and lead them to gain insight, this would have been clearly stated, as it is in other scriptures. But it is not so stated here. Thus this land is an enjoyment land of the enjoyment body. The multitude of word-hearers and so forth were magical creations of the Buddha, or, perhaps, they were the bodhisattvas who appeared in these bodies, because they are the assembly to whom this doctrine is addressed in that adorned buddha land.

Chapter II

But [it is objected to this second opinion,] if this be true, then this land would have been both seen and heard only by bodhisattvas above the earth. Why then was this Scripture codified and preached to the bodhisattva who transmitted this doctrine in this land of the transformation buddha? [It is answered that indeed it was codified and preached] in order to show that universal wisdom and its abode do transcend all worldly states, for thus it shows [that the Buddha] desires to cause those who are to be converted to engender gladness. This was done in order to lead them to elicit the vow to be born into that Pure Land of Buddha, to see Buddha, to hear that doctrine, and to cultivate its causal force. It was done in order to engender eminent joy for sentient beings of broad, victorious understanding and for all bodhisattvas. It was done because he desires to strengthen such a victorious understanding of superior aspirations. These are the reasons this Scripture was codified and preached. Moreover, that doctrine was preeminent for those who heard its proclamation. In such a case, the transformation body, which in its phenomenal defilement is not preeminent, could not have proclaimed such words. Thus this buddha is the enjoyment body dwelling in an enjoyment land, and he preached this Scripture for all bodhisattvas from the first stage up to the last and caused them to codify and preach it. But, [the objection continues,] if this be the case, then why did he not state that this doctrine was specifically addressed to them? Even if he did not identify its location, who could claim that he did not know it? He clearly could have identified it! Since all beings are so perplexed, he should have stated it explicitly.

The correct opinion is that when Śākyamuni preached this Scripture, a great multitude on this earth saw his transformation body dwelling on this lower earth to preach this teaching, while a great multitude above this earth saw his enjoyment body preaching this Scripture in the Buddha's Pure Land. Although what they heard was identical, what they saw was different. Although all were elated, received it in faith, and put it into practice, yet some understood in a shallow manner and others understood deeply. The transmitter of this doctrine witnessed to the Buddha's good qualities in the presence [of the word-hearers] in order to lead sentient beings to hear about his eminent, wonderful vow, to cultivate its causal force, and to be born into 11

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The Interpretation of the Buddha Land

the Pure Land. Thus the assembly of those who saw the Victor said that the Bhagavat dwells in utmost victory and they discoursed on the Tathāgata's merits.

The First Perfection:

Color

The phrase ["the Bhagavat dwelled in a great palace, which was] ornamented with the seven luminous gems" [according to the original Sanskrit grammatical form] means either that that palace employed seven jeweled adornments, which were luminous, or that, because that great palace was adorned with the seven gems, it was luminous. These seven gems are gold, silver, aquamarine, sapphire, emerald, red pearl (they are generally called red pearls because they come from worms and insects, or, perhaps, because their center is red), and quartz. These are what is referred to as the seven gems. In truth the Pure Land is beautifully arranged and adorned with limitless, wonderful gems, beyond the awareness of people on this earth.

The phrase "it emitted a great light that completely illuminated immeasurable world-realms" means that that great palace emitted a great light and illuminated all the numberless realms, or, perhaps, because that great palace in its essence encompassed these limitless realms, it emitted a great light and illuminated everything.

These first two phrases treat the perfection of color in Buddha's Pure Land. The Second Perfection:

Configuration

What is its configuration? The phrase "its immeasurable configuration was well apportioned in its distribution of dwellings" means that the wondrous configuration of that great palace was well apportioned in limitless dwellings, or that the limitless configuration of that palace was well apportioned in those dwellings, for the word limitless [in the original Sanskrit] can [grammatically] modify either the word "configuration" or the word "dwellings. " The phrase

"that configuration was well apportioned" means that that apportionment was laid out by placing priority on understanding.

But, [it can be asked,] how can it be that the pure mind of the Buddha became phenomenally characterized? [We answer that] this was not done by 12

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some worldly craftsman working from the outside. The meaning of the sentence that its configuration was well apportioned by placing priority on understanding is that the Buddha Bhagavat, previously when he was a bodhisattva, developed the wisdom of skillful means and by his earnest practice vowed to adorn this buddha land. From the power of that vow of his previous practices, when he had attained the result [of awakening], the Buddha's pure conscious construction became manifested in this manner, even though he dwelled in the wisdom of no fabrication. It was this that caused the conscious construction of the bodhisattvas to be similarly transformed. Thus there is no contradiction. All the other passages [that refer to the phenomenal aspects of the pure mind] should be understood according to this principle.

The Third Perfection:

Extent

The phrase "its unlimited horizon was unfathomable" [in the original Sanskrit grammar] means either that because the extent which that palace encompasses is unlimited, it is unfathomable; or that because the extent of that palace is itself unlimited, and what it encompasses is unfathomable. Just as the directions of the compass are unlimited, so its extent is unfathomable. [There are three opinions on the nature of the Pure Land of the enjoyment body.] The first opinion holds that the land of the Tathāgata's enjoyment body, when proclaimed and manifested to those to be converted, cannot be determined as to its extent. Even though it may appear to be very extensive, yet it does have limits. But in order to perfect the wisdom of those bodhisattvas who are present in this land, it is said to be unlimited and its extent is unfathomable. The second opinion holds that the land of the Buddha's enjoyment body is the universal Dharma realm (dharmadhātu), cultivated for three incalculable eons and influenced by unlimited good roots. World-transcendent bodhisattvas and even all the tathāgatas are unable to fathom its unlimited extent. Therefore they consider it to be unlimited from time without beginning. The third correct opinion holds that there are two kinds of lands of the enjoyment body. The first is that of the enjoyment body for oneself, which refers to the unlimited Dharma realm, is cultivated by all tathāgatas for three incalculable eons and influenced by unlimited good roots. It is this [enjoyment body] in which they themselves enjoy the great Dharma. From the first 13

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The Interpretation of the Buddha Land

moment when they attain awakening until their last limit is exhausted, they continue without change. Even the bodhisattvas with all their merits cannot see this land. But they can hear about it. It is this Pure Land that is considered to be without limits.

Even though all the buddhas see it, yet even they are unable to fathom the limits of its extent. The second is the enjoyment body for others, whereby all tathāgatas lead the multitudes of world-transcendent bodhisattvas to enjoy the great Dharma. This body for others advances and cultivates victorious conduct and is manifested as appropriate. Whether superior or inferior, large or small, it is subject to change and undetermined, just like the transformation body. It is thus that the Pure Land is considered to have limits. The worldtranscendent bodhisattvas and all tathāgatas completely fathom its extent, but in the world it is said to be unfathomable. Thus the phrase "its full extent is unfathomable" should be understood by means of this distinction. The Fourth Perfection:

Domain

We have now explained the perfection of extent, but how is it dissimilar to other places in the triple world? The phrase "its domain surpasses anything in the triple world" means that the location of that great palace transcends anything that might be found in the triple world. It is dissimilar to this world, where covetousness and craving for the objects of the two obstacles [of passion and to knowledge] hold sway and ever increase. These [cravings] and those [obstacles] mature and become the dominant results [of life in this world]. But one cannot grasp that Pure Land by the covetousness of this world, because it is liberated from the two obstacles and does not produce such dominant results [like those in this world]. It is like unto cessation, which transcends the realm of all the results of maturation in the triple world. [It might be objected that] if this is so, then the Pure Land is not included in the triple world. Then it must be uncontaminated. And if it is included in the category of uncontaminated but conditioned things, then it must be identical with the truth of the path and goodness itself. How then can that Pure Land employ material form, voice, smell, and so forth as its own characteristics? It has been taught elsewhere that of the eighteen realms [which support perception and are thus necessary for such material forms, voices, smells, 14

Chapter II

and so on], fifteen are contaminated, while eight may be morally neutral. [Thus if the Pure Land is uncontaminated, it cannot be characterized by such contaminated, or at best, neutral, material forms, and so on.]11 [There are three opinions on this question.] The first opinion holds that the eighteen realms [necessary for perception], whether contaminated or uncontaminated, are all entirely good. When it is said that of the eighteen realms, fifteen are contaminated or eight morally neutral, this refers to the gross characteristics of the objects [perceived in] the lower vehicles. The second opinion holds that the Pure Land is a magical creation of the concentrated mind. Although it appears to be characterized by the five senses and their respective objects, it is not included within them at all. It is not attainable by the five senses in their worldly operations. Just as blue is the content of the concentration of totality [and is not a material object elicited from worldly perception but is elicited from the concentrated mind, so the Pure Land is not apprehended by means of worldly perception]. Its material forms arise from mastery and are comprised in the Dharma realm. Therefore, although the Pure Land does employ material form and so forth as its own characteristics, yet it is uncontaminated and good. There is no contradiction here! But, [it may be further objected,] if this be so, then the five sense consciousnesses of the bodhisattvas would not have that blissful land as the object [of their perception. And we know that they do perceive that land. Thus there is still a contradiction].

[We answer that] although they do rely on their own powers [of perception], and their own consciousnesses do mature, yet because of the [differences] in the grossness and subtlety of the images [in their minds, those minds] do not resemble the [concentrated mind of the Buddha, which engenders the Pure Land, and so do not parallel the case of the buddha mind supporting the forms of the Pure Land]. [In that case, it is further objected,] it would be possible for the five sense consciousnesses of a buddha, not being directed to the five sense objects, to have no content at all. [How could this be possible?] [We answer that] the phenomenal activities of a buddha in taking [sense objects] as their objects do resemble [worldly perception], but he is said to have these five sense consciousnesses only by conventional designation, while in reality he does not have them at all, since he constantly dwells in 15

The Interpretation of the Buddha Land

concentration. Other texts teach that by their nature the five sense consciousnesses are the essence of distraction, because they lack concentration. [Thus if a buddha is in concentration, he does not really have the nonconcentrated sense consciousnesses!]

[It is further objected that] if this be so, then [the consciousness of a buddha] would not arise from the sense organs at all!

[We answer that] the five sense organs [of a buddha] and their objects are conventionally designated as the five sense organs because they are described as being the same as those objects of sensation, but his objects of material form, and so on, are transformations of his concentrated mind. In truth, they are material forms produced from the mastery of the Dharma realm. [But it is further objected that] if this be so, then the four wisdoms would not be simultaneous, because, [since a buddha would have only the container and thinking consciousnesses,] the four wisdoms would then not be simultaneous, because many consciousnesses of the same kind [that is, wisdom,] do not arise simultaneously [in the same personal continuity]. [We grant that they are not simultaneous, for] there is no error in admitting that. [Thus a buddha, without having the five consciousnesses of sensation, can at one time possess one wisdom and at another time another wisdom.]12 The third correct opinion holds that the land of the Tathāgata is most profound and wondrous. It is neither existent nor nonexistent, neither contaminated nor uncontaminated, neither good, evil, nor neutral. It is not included within the teachings on the aggregates and the realms, but is enunciated differently as appropriate. When other texts teach that among the eighteen realms [of perception], fifteen are contaminated or eight neutral, this refers to the gross discrimination of sense objects by those in the two vehicles (i.e., of individually enlightened ones and word-hearers) or by common worldlings and does not touch upon the profound sphere of all buddhas and great bodhisattvas, for it is elsewhere taught that the tathāgatas are not really included within the aggregates, supports, and realms [of perception], but manifest only what is good. [The question then arises of whether,] if that be the case, the Pure Land is identical with or different from the triple world. [Again there are three opinions.] The first opinion holds that it is different, for some texts teach that it is located above the pure heaven of the gods, while others teach that it is to be found somewhere off in the west.

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The second opinion holds that it is identical because the Pure Land extends in its limits to the universal Dharma realm.

The third correct opinion holds that the land of enjoyment [for oneself] does extend to the universal Dharma realm and has no place in which it is not present. But it cannot be described either as apart from the triple world or as identical with the triple world. When it is that which is appropriately manifested to bodhisattvas, then the question of whether it is a purification of the world of material form, is located in the heavens, or is off in the west cannot be determined.

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The Fifth Perfection:

Cause

[It is objected that,] since the Pure Land has such a perfection of domain, then it transcends the realm of the results of maturation in this triple world, and, like cessation, cannot have any cause. For, if it had a cause, then it would necessarily be included within this triple world. But, since it is taught that the Pure Land transcends this triple world, it must also transcend all the causes of this triple world. Its characteristic must then be said [to be the absence of cause]! How then are we to understand the phrase that "it arises from good roots beyond those that transcend the world"? [We answer that] this means that that great palace has as its cause the good roots of both transcendent, nondiscriminative, and subsequently attained wisdoms. It is thus that it arises, for it does not lack a cause, but that cause is not the great god Īśvara, nor anything [similar] within the world of material form. [It is objected that, in that case,] how can the Pure Land transcend this triple world and yet employ the transcendent, nondiscriminative, and subsequently attained wisdoms? Are not all pure states in this world, [such as subsequently attained wisdom,] caused by the process of maturation? We do not teach that the Pure Land is caused by the process of maturation as are those other [worldly states]. It arises from a cause other than that, a cause similar to the highest worldly state of wisdom-patience that understands suffering. It employs both the basic, nondiscriminative wisdom and the subsequently attained, uncontaminated seeds of good states, and, by cultivating them for three incalculable eons, causes them to increase. This is the cause for the magical creation that is the Pure Land. 17

The Interpretation of the Buddha Land

Nondiscriminative wisdom is termed world-transcendent. But its cause is the subsequently attained wisdom that goes beyond that and is termed the preeminent employment of those transcendent, uncontaminated good roots. In other words, the holy path of the word-hearers and the individually enlightened ones (pratyekabuddhas) is termed world-transcendent, while the good roots of tathāgatas surpass even these and are termed preeminent. Therefore the Pure Land of the Buddha takes as its cause these uncontaminated good roots in the consciousness of the Tathāgata, and thus arises. [There are two opinions on the nature of the causality of the Pure Land.] The first opinion holds that the Pure Land arises only from enabling causality, because it is external [to the minds of sentient beings]. 14

The second opinion holds that the Pure Land arises by direct causality, because [those uncontaminated good roots in the mind of the Tathāgata] are able immediately to produce it. If this were not so, then it would have no direct cause at all, because the images of external things [in the consciousness of sentient beings] cannot be its direct cause. All such external things have as their cause the permeation of internal states.

[It is objected against this second opinion that] if external things [have the internal permeation of seeds (bījas) in the container consciousness (ālaya vijñāna) as their cause, then, since [external things] have a common existence, how can individual sentient beings have their own individual seeds? Since the direct cause would be common to all of them, then it would have to produce one common result [and there would be no individual seeds and no differences between sentient beings]. 15

[We answer that] it is indeed difficult for small minds to penetrate such a great teaching! [The above statement assumes that real atoms actually exist and that they account for the similarity of objects in consciousness.] But how could it be that external things are actually compounds unified from these many causes which are the atoms? [In our explanation] there is no contradiction between the individual evolutions of the maturing consciousnesses of [individual] sentient beings and the similarity of their support, [that is, the similarity of their container consciousnesses]. It is just like the light from many lamps, or things seen in a dream, for such images are similar because the same kinds of causes produce the same kinds of results. That which is not differentiated 18

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in its support [in the similarity of the container consciousnessesof individual sentient beings] actually becomes individualized and differentiated only by conventional designation. The Buddha's Pure Land is like this, for the magical creations of the individual conscious constructions [of buddhas] encompass the universal Dharma realm. These [Pure Lands] are said to be common [to many buddhas], because of the similarity of their grounding [within that Dharma realm]. Such is the perfection of cause in the Pure Land. The Sixth Perfection:

Result

What are the characteristics of its result? The phrase "it was characterized by perfectly pure and masterful conscious construction" means that that great palace was characterized by the Buddha's uncontaminated mind of utmost mastery. This is so because only conscious construction exists, and, apart from such conscious construction, there are no separately existing gems, or anything else [in the Pure Land]. This means that the pure mind of the Buddha in its transformations appears as these multitudinous gems, and so forth. As has already been explained, these objects are similar to those of a person who has entered the concentration of totality, focused on blue, and so on. These objects, which are manifested by conscious construction, are the pure conscious constructions associated with the Tathāgata's mirror wisdom, because they are directly caused by the uncontaminated seeds of the Pure Land, which he has previously cultivated for his own benefit. At all times and in all places, these objects do not wait upon any activity of thinking but manifest themselves spontaneously. This enjoyment land, adorned with its gems, has as its support the enjoyment body for oneself. But, as directly caused by the pure, uncontaminated seeds that benefit others, as manifesting Pure Lands, whether large or small, whether superior or inferior, as appropriate for the bodhisattvas, this Pure Land is also supported on the enjoyment body for others. This means that, as appropriate for bodhisattvas in the first stage, [a buddha] manifests small and inferior [Pure Lands], and, as they develop through the other stages,these [Pure Lands] become large and superior, for this is how they function from the beginning [of the stages] until the final [attainment of awakening]. Such is the perfection of result in the Pure Land. 19

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The Seventh Perfection:

Lords

What of its lords? Every palace must depend on a lord. The phrase "it is the support for tathāgatas" means that in that palace, all Buddha Bhagavats are lords, since only they are so preeminent. Only those associated with Bhaga vats support and maintain it, for no others are capable of so doing. Although the enjoyment body for oneself and its land encompass the Dharma realm, yet there is no contradiction here with the successive magical creations of its individual lords. And, although the enjoyment body for others and its lands are the magical creations of all buddhas, there is no contradiction here with its being supported by lords either as a unified body [and land of many buddhas] or as an individual body [and land of one particular buddha]. The Eighth Perfection:

Confreres

There must be confreres, for every lord gathers confreres around himself. The phrase "it is the cloud gathering of the assembly of all great bodhisattvas" means that that great palace constantly had a cloud assembly of innumerable great bodhisattvas. All those who stand before [the Buddha] are his assembly and they constitute a community of innumerable great bodhisattvas. Because they have become his confreres, there is no evil capable of injuring them. All the word-hearers are not like this at all!

This means that all the bodhisattvas from the first stage, although unable to assemble in the pure enjoyment land for oneself of any buddha, yet are able to gather in a pure enjoyment land of the enjoyment body for others. Since in their own minds buddhas are compassionate, they reveal lands, either gross or subtle, to these bodhisattvas as appropriate. The bodhisattvas, because of their own good roots and the power of their own vows, elicit images in their own minds similar to the Pure Lands produced by the buddhas. Although their minds are each separately transformed, yet in their configuration they all resemble that one place. This is what is meant by their gathering together in that one [Pure] Land.

[There are three opinions as to whether] that Pure Land of those bodhisattvas above the world is contaminated or uncontaminated. The first opinion 20

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holds that it is uncontaminated, because in their own minds these bodhisattvas are equipped with the seeds and the vow power of an uncontaminated Pure Land, all of which are attained subsequent [to nondiscriminative wisdom]. By means of a magical creation within their own minds, they give rise to a Pure Land and therein enjoy the great Dharma. The entire assembly of these bodhisattvas, from the first stage on up [to the last], realizes the truth of suchness, attains the true uncontaminated support and the true outflow from that reality, dwells in that Pure Land, and always sees all the buddhas. Therefore that magically transformed land consists exclusively in the reality of the uncontaminated path.

The second opinion holds that it is contaminated, because in their own minds these bodhisattvas, at the stage of intensified effort, are equipped with the seeds and the vow power of a contaminated Pure Land. By the magical creation of their own minds, they give rise to this Pure Land and therein enjoy the great Dharma. This is so because, even though these bodhisattvas realize suchness and attain a true uncontaminated state, still, in the first seven stages, passion does yet arise. Even until the tenth stage, there are still present the seeds of passion which have to be eliminated by the practice of meditation. The obstacle to knowledge is still present, because the container consciousness is able to support it and receive its permeations. Consequently this land consists of a morally neutral, contaminated nature. Now, that which consists of the conditioned truth of the uncontaminated path is most definitely good. But if in the ten stages the essence of the container consciousness was good and uncontaminated, then [the pure consciousness] of the buddha land would not be capable of receiving any permeation at all, because it would not be capable of supporting contaminated seeds, [but the Pure Lands of the enjoyment body for others does just that]. The essence of the container consciousness is morally neutral and contaminated. How then could the Pure Land, which is a conversion of this consciousness, consist in a goodness that is uncontaminated? Furthermore, each sentient being has but one actual body, and, as long as he has it, it is contaminated. How then could a Pure Land of such a [contaminated] body be uncontaminated?

The third and correct opinion holds that the magical creations of the minds of the bodhisattvas are of two varieties. In the case of a Pure Land 294c

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which is a conversion of the container consciousness, then, although its characteristics are pure and wondrous, yet it does consist in the contaminated truth of suffering, because it is an image of a contaminated consciousness, and because it is supported by a contaminated body. Likewise, those [Pure Lands] which are manifested by intensified effort are also contaminated. But in the case where those images of the Pure Lands are magical creations of the uncontaminated subsequently attained mind, [which is realized after the attainment of nondiscriminative wisdom,] then they consist in the truth of the uncontaminated path, because they consist in an uncontaminated image and arise from uncontaminated seeds. This is the perfection of confreres in the Pure Land. The Ninth Perfection:

Servants

Since there must be servants, the Scripture next teaches that "it had as servants an immeasurable number of gods, dragons, humans, and all manner of supernatural beings. " This means that that great palace has as its servants only such gods and so on, for it does not have any other kinds of beings. The phrase "all manner [of supernatural beings]" includes yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas. The mahoragas are great pythons. But, [it is objected,] how can the Pure Land transcend this triple world, and yet have gods and so on as its servants? All such beings belong within this triple world!

[We answer that] the Pure Land simply takes on the appearance of these [gods and so forth] in order to be adorned, and thus there is no contradiction here. Or perhaps these various magical creations appeared in order to bring sentient beings to maturity, just as in converting King Kapphina innumerable universal monarchs (cakravartins) appeared all about.

16 Or perhaps these

innumerable magical creations were bodhisattvas in the bodies of the gods and the dragons and so forth, dwelling in the Pure Land in order to pay homage to the Buddha. Or perhaps the Buddha's own transformation bodies took on the forms of these gods, dragons, and so forth. But inasmuch as they are the servants of the Tathāgata, there is no error here. Such is the perfection of servants in the Pure Land.

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The Tenth Perfection:

Sustenance

What is the sustenance of those who dwell there? The phrase "it was sustained by enjoyment and delight in the taste of the great Dharma" means that, nourished by joy in the Dharma of the Great Vehicle, they were able to dwell there. This is the meaning of their sustenance.

But, [it is objected,] it has already been explained that "the Pure Land surpasses anything in the triple world.

" How then can there be any eating

there? Furthermore, uncontaminated states of consciousness cannot be said to be eaten! Eating can nourish sentient beings in this triple world, but since these Pure Land beings have severed their existence [in the triple world] they should not be said to eat at all!

[We answer that] it is because [that taste of Dharma] is the cause which gives them nourishment that the word sustenance is used here. Now, even you will admit that when one is born into the world of form (rūpadhātu) and there enters a uncontaminated concentration, he is said to be nourished therein. He is not said to be nourished because in the past he has eaten, because the past does not exist. So it is with the above passage, for they are said to be nourished [in the Pure Land] inasmuch that [that taste of Dharma] is the cause which sustains them.

Although contaminated states are indeed obstacles to uncontaminated ones, yet, since they do sustain contaminated attachments [in the earlier stages of the path, those contaminated states] are said to nourish. In like fashion, uncontaminated states, although they sever contaminated states, yet do sustain those uncontaminated states. Thus they also can be said to nourish. In this Pure Land all buddhas and bodhisattvas subsequently attain the uncontaminated state and it can be said of them that they are able to enjoy the taste of the great Dharma and thus to elicit great enjoyment and delight. Furthermore, the wisdom of true reality enjoys the taste of suchness, and thus elicits great enjoyment and delight. It is able to sustain the body and prevent it from coming to harm. It can nourish good states and is thus said to nourish. Such is the perfection of sustenance in the Pure Land. 23

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The Eleventh Perfection:

Action

What kind of action does [the Pure Land manifest]? The phrase "it brings about meaning and benefit for all sentient beings" means that its [action] itself can bring about all meaning and benefit for all sentient beings, or that it can lead those sentient beings themselves to bring about all meaning and benefit. Because it manifests benefit, it is called meaning. Because it makes that benefit present, it is called profit. In the world it is called meaning, but transcendent to the world it is called profit. Because it avoids evil, it is called meaning. Because it supports good, it is called profit. Because it is blessed merit, it is called meaning. Because it is wisdom, it is called profit. Although they are in the concentration of the abatement of all differentiation, yet, due to the power of the vow previously cultivated with intense effort, [buddhas] are able spontaneously to bring about all meaning and benefit for sentient beings. Such is the perfection of action in the Pure Land. The Twelfth Perfection:

Beneficence

What is its beneficence? The phrase "it destroys the oppressive, defiled proclivities of passion" means that there one is far removed from the defiled proclivities of all passion and its oppression. All the passions are called defiled proclivities and they are the causes of oppression. Since these defiled proclivities of passion are not present there, the oppression they bring about is also absent there.

Furthermore, these passions refer to the one hundred and twenty-eight basic passions. The proclivities are lack of shame, and so forth. Defilements mean flattery, deceit, pride, and so forth. Oppression refers to the karmic actions that result from these. If the obstacle to knowledge and its inclination be termed a passion, then its arising is also termed a defiled proclivity. [But since] basic doubt is called a proclivity and its inclination a defilement, the obstacle to knowledge and its inclination are [better] said to be an oppression. What is the beneficience of the Pure Land? It is precisely the elimination of these oppressive, defiled proclivities that is termed its beneficence. Just as a ruler of some worldly region, who might not actually cherish [his people], 24

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might be described as conferring beneficence on them because he does them no harm, just so the realization and attainment of liberation from those oppressive, defiled proclivities of passion is a conferral of beneficence, because it is an eminent, blessed wisdom. And so the Pure Land, being liberated from inner oppression, is perfected in beneficence.

The Thirteenth Perfection:

Fearlessness

There must also be no cause for fear there and thus the Scripture next explains its perfection of fearlessness. The phrase "it expels all inimical forces" means that there [in the Pure Land] one is far removed from the [four] inimical forces of passion, the [impermanence of] the aggregates, death, and the demon, or that one can cause others to be far removed from these four inimical forces. These four are the causes of dread, since they can engender all kinds of dread. Since they are absent there, there is no dread. The inimical force of passion refers to the one hundred and twenty-eight passions and their accompanying inclinations.

The inimical force of the aggregates refers to the five aggregate heaps (skandhas) [that make up the illusory identity]. The inimical force of death refers to the fact that all internal contaminated states are impermanent. The inimical force of the demon refers to that ruler of the Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven in the world of desire (kāmadhātu). Since these four can diminish and injure all good things, they are termed inimical forces. From these four inimical forces all dread arises. Because a tathāgata is eternally apart from these four inimical forces, he is fearless. Bodhisattvas from the first stage are also freed from them, and thus lack any of the five fears [of poverty, bad reputation, death, falling into evil, or going before crowds]. Such is the perfection of fearlessness in the Pure Land. The Fourteenth Perfection:

Abode

That abode must also be eminent. Thus the Scripture next explains the perfection of its abode. The phrase "it is arrayed by the Tathāgata to surpass all [other] arrayments" means that the Tathāgata's abode surpasses all the arrayed abodes of the bodhisattvas or of anyone else. For it is only this abode that 25

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has been arranged and adorned by the Tathāgata himself. Therefore it surpasses all other arrayed abodes and is called the perfection of abode. Such is the perfection of abode in the Pure Land.

The Fifteenth Perfection:

Paths

What are the paths along which one travels there? The phrase "its paths are great memory, great understanding, and great practice" means that there great memory, great understanding, and great practice are the paths to follow. Because they are that along which one travels, they are termed paths. This pathway has different names. Great memory is the wisdom perfected from hearing, for it articulates the unfailing meaning of what has already been heard. Great understanding is the wisdom perfected from reflection, for it rationally discerns and attains certitude. Great practice is the wisdom perfected from the practice [of meditation], for, in virtue of the force of such practice, it arrives at truth. Such memory, understanding, and practice are great because they arise by taking as their content the teaching of the Great Vehicle and are its results.

Since it is by following these wondrous wisdoms that the Pure Land is traversed, they are called its paths. This means that they are called its paths because it is through these three wisdoms, as the cause for becoming a bodhisattva, that one realizes entrance into the Pure Land. As the great memory of all tathāgatas, they are identical with nondiscriminative wisdom, since, in virtue of such memory, one peacefully abides in the truth of suchness. Great understanding is identical with subsequently attained wisdom, since it distinguishes all the conventional characteristics of the truth of all things. It is these two which bring about the enabling action of the Pure Land and therefore they are also called its activity. Since, due to these two wisdoms, one attains birth in the Pure Land, they are called its paths. In other words, the practice of great memory is the practice of selfbenefit, since it is uttered within, while the practice of great understanding is the practice of benefiting others, since it discerns externals. This is the sequence whereby a tathāgata, by means of his wondrous understanding, gives rise to the two kinds of Pure Lands. Thus they are called its paths. Such is the perfection of paths there.

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The Sixteenth Perfection:

Vehicles

There must also be vehicles whereby one can ride along those paths. Thus the Scripture next explains that "its vehicles are great quiescence and wondrous insight.

" Quiescence means concentration, while insight means wisdom. The meaning of "great" is as explained above [in the last section]. Because these two are conveyances, they are called vehicles. Mounting upon this quiescence and insight, one follows along the appointed course and progresses along the path. Along that path, quiescence and insight are identified as vehicles. Such is the perfection of vehicles in the Pure Land.

The Seventeenth Perfection:

Entrance Gates

There must also be entrance gates through which one enters by riding on those vehicles. Thus the Scripture explains that its "entrance gates are the deliverances of emptiness, imagelessness, and wishlessness. " This means

that these three deliverances are the entrance gates to that great palace. Deliverance refers to transcendent cessation. Great emptiness and the other two are termed deliverance gates. The Pure Land is entered through these gates. Emptiness means the absence of self, for selfhood is a state produced by clinging to what is entirely imagined. Taking this [no-self] as the content of concentration is what is meant by the deliverance gate of emptiness. Image refers to the ten images of material form, sound, smell, taste, contact, male, female, birth, old age, and death. Since cessation lacks any image, it is called imageless. A concentration with such a content is what is meant by the deliverance gate of the imageless.

Wish means to seek after. But insight into suffering in this triple world lacks anything it might seek after. Thus it is called wishless. A concentration with such an object is referred to as the deliverance gate of the wishless. Because one enters the Pure Land through these three deliverance gates of emptiness, imagelessness, and wishlessness, they are called its entrance gates. The meaning of the word great is as explained above.

These paths, vehicles, gates, and so forth, which are associated with and located in the Pure Land, serve the purpose of leading sentient beings to 27

Nguồn: BDK America — English Tripiṭaka (bdkamerica.org).