(Fo Shuo E-Mi-Tuo Jing )
[This version of this sutra is recited daily at Hua Zang Si in San Francisco.]
Thus I have heard, at one time, the Buddha dwelt at Shravasti in the Jeta Grove in the garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and the Solitary, together with a gathering of great Bhiksus twelve hundred fifty in all, all great arhats whom the assembly knew and recognized: Elders Sariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakasyapa, Hahakatyayana, Mahakaushtila, Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindolabharadvaja, Kalodayin, Mahakaphina, Vaddujla, Aniruddha, and others such as these, all great disciples; together with all the Bodhisattvas, mahasattvas; Ajita Bodhisattva, Gandhastin Bodhisattva, Nityodyukta Bodhisattva, and others such as these, all great bodhisattvas; and together with Shakra, chief among gods, and the numberless great multitudes from all the heavens.
At that time the Buddha told elder Sariputra, “Pass from here through hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhalands to the west, there is a world called Ultimate Bliss. In this land a Buddha called Amitabha right now teaches the dharma.
Sariputra, for what reason is this land called Ultimate Bliss? All living beings of this country endure none of the sufferings, but enjoy every bliss. Therefore it is called Ultimate Bliss.
Moreover, Sariputra, this land of Ultimate Bliss is everywhere surrounded by seven tiers of railing, all formed from the four treasures and for this reason named Ultimate Bliss. Moreover, Sariputra, the land of Ultimate Bliss has pools of the seven jewels, filled with the eight waters of merit and virtue. The bottom of each pool is pure, spread over with golden sand. On the four sides are stairs of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal; above are raised pavilions adorned with gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, mother-of-pearl, red pearls, and carnelian. In the pools are lotuses as carriage wheels: blue colored of blue light, yellow colored of yellow light; red colored of red light; white colored of white light; subtly, wonderfully fragrant and pure.
Sariputra, the realization of the land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned. Moreover, Sariputra, in that Buddhaland there is always heavenly music, and the ground is yellow gold. In the six periods of the day and night a heavenly rain of mandarava flowers falls, and throughout the clear morning each living beings of this land, with sacks full of the myriads of wonderful flowers, makes offerings to the hundreds of thousands of millions of buddhas of the other directions. At mealtime they return to their own country, and having eaten they stroll around.
Sariputra, the realization of the land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned. Moreover, Sariputra, in this country there are always rare and wonderful varicolored birds: white cranes, peacocks, parrots and egrets, kalavinkas, and two-headed birds. In the six periods of the day and night, the flocks of birds sing forth harmonious and elegant sounds. Their clear and joyful sounds proclaim the five roots, the five powers, the seven Bodhi shares, the eight sagely way shares, and dharmas such as these. When living beings of this land her these sounds, they are altogether mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha.
Sariputra, do not say that these birds are born as retribution for their karmic offenses. For what reason? In this Buddhaland there are no three evil ways of rebirth, Sariputra, in this Buddhaland not even the names of the three evil ways exist, how much the less their actuality! Desiring that the dharma sound be widely proclaimed, Amitabha Buddha by transformation made this multitude of birds.
Sariputra, in that Buddhaland, when the soft wind blows, the rows of jeweled trees and jeweled nets give forth subtle and wonderful sounds, like one hundred thousand kinds of music played at the same time. All those who hear this sound naturally bring forth in their hearts mindfulness of the Buddha, mindfulness of the Dharma, mindfulness of the Sangha.
Sariputra, the realization of the land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned.
Sariputra, what do yo think? Why is that Buddha called Amitabha?
Sariputra, the brilliance of that buddha’s light is measureless, illumining the lands of the ten directions everywhere without obstruction; for this reason He is called Amitabha. Moreover, Sariputra, the life of that Buddha and that of His people extends for measureless limitless Asankhyeya kalpas; for this reason He is called Amitabha. And Sariputra, since Amitabha realized Buddhahood, ten kalpas have passed. Moreover, Sariputra, that Buddha has measureless, limitless sound-hearer disciples, all arhats, their number incalculable; thus also is the assembly of bodhisattvas.
Sariputra, the realization of the land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned. Moreover, Sariputra, those living beings born in the land of Ultimate Bliss are all avaivartika. Among them are many who in this very life will dwell in Buddhahood. their number is extremely many; it is incalculable and only in measureless, limitless Asankhyeya kalpas could it be spoken.
Sairputra, those living beings who hear should vow, “I wish to be born in that country.” And why? All those who thus attain are all superior and good people, all coming together in one place.
Sariputra, one cannot have few good roots, blessings, virtues, and causal connections to attain birth in that land.
Sariputra, if there is a good man or woman who hears spoken “Amitabha” and holds the name, whether for one day, two days, three, four, five days, six days, as long as seven days, with one heart unconfused, when this person approaches the end of life, before him will appear Amitabha and the assembly of holy ones. When the end comes, his heart is without inversion; in Amitabha’s land of Ultimate Bliss he will attain rebirth.
Sariputra, because I see this benefit, I speak these words: if living beings hear this spoken they should make the vow, “I wish to be born in that land.”
Sariputra, as I now praise the inconceivable benefit from the merit and virtue of Amitabha, thus in the east are also Akshobhya Buddha, Sumeru Appearance Buddha, Great Sumeru Buddha, Sumeru Light Buddha, Wonderful Sound Buddha; all buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words, “All you living beings should believe, praise and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this sutra and the mindful one of whom all buddhas are protective.”
Sariputra, in the southern world are Sun Moon Lamp Buddha, Well Known Light Buddha, Great Blazing Shoulders Buddha, Sumeru Lamp Buddha, Measureless Vigor Buddha; all buddhas such as these, numberless as ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words, “All you living beings should believe, praise and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this sutra and the mindful one of whom all buddhas are protective.”
Sariputra, in the western world are Measureless Life Buddha, Measureless Appearance Buddha, Measureless Curtain Buddha, Jeweled Appearance Buddha, Pure Light Buddha; all buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words, “All you living beings should believe, praise and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this sutra and the mindful one of whom all buddhas are protective.”
Sariputra, in the northern world are Blazing Shoulders Buddha, Most Victorious Sound Buddha, Hard to Injure Buddha, Sun Birth Buddha, Net Brightness Buddha; all buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words, “All you living beings should believe, praise and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this sutra and the mindful one of whom all buddhas are protective.”
Sariputra, in the world below are Lion Buddha, Well-known Buddha, Famous Light Buddha, Dharma Buddha, Dharma Curtain Buddha, Dharma Maintaining Buddha; all buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words, “All you living beings should believe, praise and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this sutra and the mindful one of whom all buddhas are protective.”
Sariputra, in the world above are Pure Sound Buddha, King of Stars Buddha, Superior Fragrance Buddha, Fragrance Light Buddha, Great Blazing Shoulders Buddha, Varicolored Jewels and Flower Adornment Body Buddha, Sala Tree King Buddha, Jeweled Flower Virtue Buddha, Vision of all Meaning Buddha, Such as Mount Sumeru Buddha; all buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words, “All you living beings should believe, praise and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this sutra and the mindful one of whom all buddhas are protective.”
Sariputra, what do you think? Why is it called sutra of the mindful one of whom all buddhas are protective?
Sariputra, if a good man or good woman hears this sutra and holds to it, and hears the names of all these buddhas, this good man or woman will be the mindful one of whom all buddhas are protective, and will irreversibly attain to Anuttara. Therefore, Sariputra, all of you should believe and accept my words, and those which all buddhas speak.
Sariputra, if there are people who have already made the vow, who now make the vow, or who are about to make the vow, “I desire to be born in Amitabha’s country,” these people whether born in the past, now being born, or to be born in the future, all will irreversibly attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.
Therefore, Sariputra, all good men and good women, if they are among those who have faith, should make this vow, “I will be born in that country.”
Sariputra, just as I am now one who praises the merit and virtue of all buddhas. All those buddhas equally praise my inconceivable merit and virtue saying these words: “Shakyamuni Buddha can complete extremely rare and difficult deeds, in the Saha Land, in the evil time of the five turbidities, in the midst of the kalpa turbidity, the view turbidity, the affliction turbidity, the living beings turbidity, and the life turbidity, he can attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi and for the sake of living beings, speak this dharma which in the whole world is hard to believe.
Sariputra, you should know that I, in the evil time of the five turbidities, practice these difficult deeds, attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, and for all the world speak this dharma, difficult to believe, extremely difficult!”
After the Buddha spoke this sutra, Sariputra and all the bhiksus, all the gods, humans and asuras, and others from the worlds, hearing what the Buddha had said, joyously welcomed, faithfully accepted, bowed, and withdrew.