The Dharma-Door of Praising Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s Merits: Chapter II
Chapter II
At the time, Śāriputra said to the Buddha, “World –Honored One, the Buddha has explained the merits acquired by Tathāgata Akṣobhya when he was cultivating the Bodhisattva practices. I hope that the World-Honored One will reveal and elaborate upon the merits and magnificence of the present land of Tathāgata Akṣobhya. Why? So that sentient beings who follow the Bodhisattva-path may delight in the merits of that land after hearing them and desire to see worship, and make offerings to the Buddha there; and so that sentient beings in the Śrāvaka stage who have realized Arhatship may also wish to worship, make offerings to, and serve that Tathāgata after hearing of the merits and magnificence of his land.”
The Buddha told Śāriputra, “Well said! It is excellent that you can make a request of such significance. Now listen attentively and think well about this.; I will explain it to you in detail.”
Śāriputra said, “Yes, World-Honored One, I am willing and glad to listen.”
The Buddha told Śāriputra, “When Tathāgata Akṣobhya, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, realized all-knowing wisdom, he emitted a great light over the entire billion-world universe. At the same time, the earth quaked in the six ways. Knowing that Tathāgata Akṣobhya had realized supreme enlightenment, the sentient beings of that world did not think of food, hunger, thirst, fatigue, a resting place, or sleep for seven days and nights; they felt only peace, happiness, joy, love, and kindness. At that time, all sentient beings in that land including the gods in the Realm of Desire, were rid of sexual desire. Why were those sentient beings able to enjoy such blessings in that lifetime? It was because of the power of that Tathāgata’s original vows. Śāriputra, when Tathāgata Akṣobhya, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, realized all-knowing wisdom, all the sentient beings in that land joined their palms with utmost sincerity toward him. Due to this earnest admiration for the Tathāgata, they were able to enjoy such innumerable blessings in that lifetime.
Furthermore, Śāriputra, that Buddha-land is peerless in merit and magnificence among the innumerable Buddha-lands. Śāriputra, that Tathāgata has achieved a superbly adorned Buddha-land because he made those great vows when following the Bodhisattva path, just as I have now achieved what I originally vowed to achieve.
“Śāriputra, when Tathāgata Akṣobhya, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, realized supreme enlightenment, at that instant, at that very moment, all the sentient beings of that billion-world universe, with or without the deva-eye, could see Tathāgata Akṣobhya. Śāriputra, it was also the fulfillment of that Tathāgata’s original vows that cause the sentient beings to attain this blessing.
“Moreover, Śāriputra, when Tathāgata Akṣobhya realized supreme enlightenment while sitting on the Bodhi-site, Pāpīyān, the king of demons, did not try to hinder him. Also, innumerable hundreds of thousands of gods made offerings to the Tathāgata with fragrant flowers and celestial music; and each one brought fine, powdered sandalwood to sprinkle over the Buddha. Those powdered incense and garlands of flowers formed a canopy in the air. Śāriputra, all this was made possible by the power of Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s original vows.”
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, when that Buddha attained enlightenment, a great light illuminated the whole billion-world universe, outshining the lights of the sun, moon, and heavens. The appearance of this auspicious sign was also due to the fulfillment of Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s past vows.”
At the time, Śāriputra said to the Buddha, “World-Honored One, when Bodhisattva Akṣobhya was following the Bodhisattva path in the past, he wore the great armor of vigor and was therefore able to make those great vows. Because he had cultivated the practices and vows of a Bodhisattva, he could cause innumerable hundreds of thousands of sentient beings to plant good roots leading to supreme enlightenment. He further dedicated those good roots to the attainment of the supreme enlightenment and of a pure Buddha-land, which were both fulfilled through the power of such a vow of dedication.”
The Buddha told Śāriputra, “Moreover, in that Buddha-land, there is a Bodhi-tree made of the seven treasures, one league in height. The truck of the tree is half a mile in circumference, the shade of its branches and leaves, one league in circumference. Under the tree is a platform, four leagues in circumference, with steps leading down to the ground. That Buddha was seated on the platform when he realized enlightenment. Around the Bodhi-tree are rows of palm trees and jasmine trees, which, in the gentle breeze, gave forth a harmonious and elegant sound surpassing all worldly music.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, that Buddha-land does not have the three miserable planes of existence. What are the three? They are: the plane of hell-dweller, the plane o animals and the realm of Yama. All sentient beings in that Buddha-land have accomplished the ten good deeds. The ground is as flat as a palm and the color of gold, with no gullies, brambles, or gravel; it is as soft as cotton, sinking as soon as one’s foot steps on it and returning to its original state as soon as the foot is lifted.
“Śāriputra, that Buddha-land is free of three kinds of sickness. What are the three? They are: the diseases caused by wind, coldness, and phlegm. Śāriputra, in that Buddha-land all sentient beings are free from lying, an ugly appearance, a bad odor, and filth. They have little desire, hatred, and ignorance. They are no jails or prisoners.
“Śāriputra, in that Buddha-land, no one learns or follows heterodox doctrines. The trees there are always laden with flowers an fruits, and there is also a special kind of tree named kalpataru, which produces fine garments of five colors. The garments remain bright, beautiful, fresh, lean, and extraordinarily fragrant all the time. Just as celestial flowers give forth various kinds of fragrance, so do the garments. The fragrance issuing from the bodies of those who wear these garments is exactly the same as that issuing from the garments. The sentient beings in that land, like people in this world who are rich and happy, have plenty of wonderful garments to wear as they please.
“Śāriputra, the sentient beings in that land, like those in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, obtain the food and drink they need whenever they wish; and they do not discharge excrement, filth, or anything impure.
“Śāriputra, the palaces and towers of that land are all decorated with the seven treasures and surrounded by many ponds filled with the water of eight meritorious qualities, to be enjoyed at will. There are also many gardens and pavilions, all pure and clean. The sentient beings there all live with joy in the Dharma.
“Śāriputra, in that land, there is no jealousy among human beings. Every woman in better than the best in the this world, and has achieved celestial merits of which earthly merits are less than one hundredth, one thousandth, one hundred thousandth, one of a hundred thousand million myriad parts, one of any number of parts, numerical or figurative, down to one infinitesimal part.
“Śāriputra, the people of that land possess lavishly decorated couches made of the seven treasures, in accordance with their karmic results. When they sleep or rest, they use pillows made of cotton floss. All these splendid things are achieved by virtue of Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s past vows.
“Śāriputra, the food and drink of the people in that land are the same as those of the gods in color, fragrance, and taste. Just as the people of Uttarakuru have only one king, so the people of the Land of Wonderful Joy have only Tathāgata Akṣobhya as their Dharma-Lord; and just as the gods of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three attend on Śakra , so the people of the Land of Wonderful Joy all attend on Tathāgata Akṣobhya.
“Śāriputra, you should know the merits and magnificence of Akṣobhya Buddha’s land. Śāriputra, none of the sentient beings of that land are mentally unrestrained. Why? It is also because of the power of Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s original vows.”
At the time, hearing the Buddha praise the merits of the Buddha-land of Tathāgata Akṣobhya, a monk became greedily attached to it and said the Buddha, “World-Honored One, now I wish to be born in Akṣobhya Buddha’s land.”
The Buddha told the monk, “With your foolishness and delusion, how can you be born there? Why? Because one with any passion or attachment cannot be born in that Buddha-land. Only those who have planted good roots and cultivated pure conduct can be born there.”
Then he addressed Śāriputra again, “Furthermore, Śāriputra, in that land, if the sentient beings wish it, a clean pond will appear at their thought, filled with the water of eight meritorious qualities, fit for drinking, rinsing the mouth, washing, and bathing. If anyone dislikes it, it will immediately disappear.
“Śāriputra, in that Buddha-land, there is a fragrant breeze, gentle, agreeable, and pleasant to everyone’s mind. The fragrant breeze carries fragrance to all gods and humans who like it, but not to those who do not like it. Śāriputra, all these merits and splendors are brought about by the power the Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s original vows. …
“Furthermore, in that land, mother and child are safe and unsullied, from conception to birth. How can this be? All this is due to the power of Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s original vows. Śāriputra, in that Buddha-land, there is such peace and bliss.
“Śāriputra, in the land of Tathāgata Akṣobhya, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, there is neither trade nor trader, neither farms nor farming; there is happiness at all times.
“Śāriputra, in that Buddha-land, singing and playing do not involve sexual desire. The sentient beings there derive their joy exclusively from the Dharma.
“Śāriputra, in that Buddha-land, there are rows of jasmine trees and palm trees, which, when stirred by a gentle breeze, will give forth a harmonious and elegant sound that surpass even the celestial music played by gods.
“Śāriputra, any Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva who intends to acquire a Buddha-land should accumulate such merits, adornments, and purity for his Buddha-land as Tathāgata Akṣobhya did for his when he was following the Bodhisattva practices.
“Śāriputra, there is no darkness in that Buddha-land. It has suns and moons, but they do not give out light. Why? Because Tathāgata Akṣobhya has an ever shining light which illuminates the entire Buddha-land.
“Śāriputra, if a wish-fulfilling pearl is put in the center of a high, large tower with its windows and doors closed tightly, the sentient beings therein will see a brilliant light day and night. In the same matter, the sentient beings of that Buddha-land always see the radiance of the Tathāgata,. Śāriputra, the large tower stands for the World of Wonderful Joy; the wish-fulfilling pearl stands for Tathāgata Akṣobhya; the light of the wish-fulfilling pearl, the light of that Buddha; and the sentient beings within the tower, the sentient beings in the World of Wonderful Joy.
“Śāriputra, wherever Tathāgata Akṣobhya walks or stands, a thousand petaled lotus appears spontaneously to support his feet. The flower is golden in color; there is nothing like it in this world. Śāriputra, this is also achieve by the superb power of the vows of Tathāgata Akṣobhya, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. “
Thereupon, Śāriputra asked the Buddha, “World-Honored One, when Tathāgata Akṣobhya enters a room, will a golden lotus support his feet or not?”
The Buddha told Śāriputra, “Why do you both to ask such a trivial question? When that Buddha, the World-Honored One, enters a village or a house, a thousand-petaled lotus appears with him. If any good man or good woman things, ‘When the Tathāgata condescends to enter this room, may the lotus beneath his feet close its petals,’ the flower will do immediately. All this is due to the Tathāgata’s awesome power.
“Śāriputra, the lotus which holds the feet [of the Tathāgata] will then be given to the people, and they will build a stūpa for it and make offerings to it.
“Śāriputra, that Buddha, the World-Honored One, travels through the whole billion-world universe to expound the Dharma; and where he goes, a flower appears with him. Moreover, in whatever land that Tathāgata manifests himself, in that land golden lotuses also appear. By the awesome power of that Buddha, his entire billion-world universe is adorned with thousand-petaled golden lotuses. “
Source
https://wisdomofcompassion.wixsite.com/home/aksobhyasutrachapter2
