World Sacred Scriptures

The wisdom of The Sutra of Immeasurable Life

114 quote(s) | Page 3 / 5

I n the future, the Buddhist scriptures and teachings will perish. But, out of pity and compassion, I will especially preserve this sutra and maintain it in the world for a hundred years more. Those beings who encounter it will attain deliverance in accord with their aspirations.

quote 8081 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

T here are two Bodhisattvas who are the most dignified; their majestic light shines everywhere in the universe of a thousand million worlds. Ananda asked, “What are the names of those two Bodhisattvas?” The Buddha replied, “One is called Avalokitesvara and the other, Mahasthamaprapta. They had both performed Bodhisattva practices in this world, and, at the end of their lives, were born by transformation in that Buddhaland.”

quote 8075 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

H aving been able to meet you, O Buddha, and also to hear the Name of Amitayus, we have all attained joy and illumination.

quote 8074 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

I t is also difficult to hear the excellent teachings for Bodhisattvas, the Paramitas. Difcult too is it to meet a good teacher, to hear the Dharma and perform the practices. But most difcult of all difculties is to hear this sutra, have faith in it with joy and hold fast to it.

quote 8071 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

I f, when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings in the lands of the ten quarters who, having heard my Name⁷⁵, concentrate their thoughts on my land⁷⁶, plant roots of virtue, and sincerely transfer their merits towards my land with a desire to be born there, should not eventually fulfill their aspiration, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.

quote 8067 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

73 ??????????????????????????
74 ????????????????????????????
75 The “Name” here refers to “Amitabha”. When Dharmastore Bhikkhu attained Buddhahood, he was called “Amitabha Buddha”.
76 The “land” here refers to “the Land of Ultimate Bliss”, the pure land in which Amitabha Buddha dwells.

I f, when I⁷² attain Buddhahood, sentient beings in the lands of the ten quarters, who awaken aspiration for Enlightenment, do various meritorious deeds and sincerely desire to be born in my land, should not, at their death, see me appear before them surrounded by a multitude of sages, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.

quote 8066 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

70 ???????????????????????
71 ??????????????????????????
72 “I” here and in the succeeding passage refers to Dharmastore Bhikkhu, one of Amitabha Buddha’s past lives.

I f sentient beings, having heard of the majestic virtue of his light, glorify it continually, day and night, with sincerity of heart, they will be able to attain birth in his land, as they wish.

quote 8064 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

H owever hard you may practice in this life, it can only be for a short while. In the life to come you will be born in the land of Amitayus and enjoy endless bliss there. Being forever in accord with the Way, you will no longer be subject to birth-and-death and be free of the afflictions caused by greed, anger and stupidity.

quote 8060 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

I have expounded this teaching for the sake of sentient beings and enabled you to see Amitayus and all in his land. Strive to do what you should.

quote 8058 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

A nyone who sincerely desires birth in the Land of Peace and Bliss is able to attain purity of wisdom and supremacy in virtue.

quote 8057 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

A nanda, when humans and devas of that land see the Bodhi-tree, they will attain three insights: first, insight into reality through hearing the sacred sounds; second, insight into reality by being in accord with it; and third, the insight into the non-arising of all dharmas.

quote 8052 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

T he majestic light of the Buddha Amitayus⁷⁰ is the most exalted. No other Buddha’s light can match his.

quote 8050 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

70 Buddha Amitayus: Also known as Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha of Infinite Life and Light. (????:???????????)

I n that Buddha-land, the earth is composed of seven jewels — namely, gold, silver, beryl, coral, amber, agate and ruby — which have spontaneously appeared. The land itself is so vast, spreading boundlessly to the farthest extent, that it is impossible to know its limit. All the rays of light from those jewels intermingle and create manifold reflections, producing a dazzling illumination. Those pure, superb and exquisite adornments are unsurpassed in all the worlds of the ten quarters.

quote 8048 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

I f sentient beings in the lands of the ten quarters who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, desire to be born in my land and call my Name, even ten times, should not be born there, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment. Excluded, however, are those who commit the five gravest offences and abuse the right Dharma.

quote 8039 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

68 ???????????????????

L ike your unhindered wisdom, O Buddha , mine shall reach everywhere, illuminating all; may my supreme wisdom be like yours, Most Excellent Honored One.

quote 8038 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

67 ???????????????????????

M y discipline in giving, mindcontrol, moral virtues, forbearance and effort, and also in meditation and wisdom, shall be supreme and unsurpassed. I vow that, when I have become a Buddha, I shall carry out this promise everywhere; and to all fear-ridden beings shall I give great peace.

quote 8037 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

W hen I have become a Buddha, my land shall be most exquisite, and its people wonderful and unexcelled; the seat of Enlightenment shall be supreme. My land, being like Nirvana itself, shall be beyond comparison. I take pity on living beings and resolve to save them all.

quote 8036 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

I ⁶⁶ resolve to become a Buddha, Equal in attainment to you, O holy king of the Dharma, to save living beings from birth-and-death, and to lead them all to emancipation.

quote 8035 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

65 ???????????????????????
66 “I” here and in the succeeding four passages refers to Dharmastore Bhikkhu, one of Amitabha Buddha’s past lives.

B y elucidating and teaching the ultimate truth to sentient beings, he delivers them from the state of extreme pains, from the conditions in which suffering is so great as to prevent people from finding time for Buddhist practices, and also from the conditions in which suffering is not so great as to prevent them from doing so.

quote 8027 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

W hile dwelling deep in meditation, he visualizes all the innumerable Buddhas and in an instant visits every one of them.

quote 8025 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

W ith penetrating insight into the essential nature of dharmas, he discerns different aspects of living beings and closely watches over all the worlds. In making offerings to the Buddhas, he manifests transformed bodies like flashes of lightning.

quote 8023 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

H e is above all worldly affairs and his mind, always serene, dwells on the path of emancipation; this gives him complete control over all dharmas.

quote 8021 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

Y ou should realize that the Tathagata’s perfectly enlightened wisdom is unfathomable, capable of leading innumerable beings to emancipation, and that his penetrating insight cannot be obstructed.

quote 8019 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

H aving well learned the extensive wisdom of fearlessness and having realized the illusory nature of dharmas, he destroys Mara’s nets and unties all the bonds of passion.

quote 8016 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

H aving become a Buddha in this world, I now dwell in the midst of the five evils, the five sufferings, and the five burnings. This is extremely painful for me. I will teach multitudes of beings, making them abandon the five evils, avoid the five sufferings, and escape from the five burnings. I will train their minds and lead them to practice the five good deeds, so that they may acquire merit and virtue and attain emancipation, long life, and Nirvana.

quote 8011 | The Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Translated by Hisao Inagaki.

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