The Dharma-Door of Praising Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s Merits: Chapter IV
Chapter IV
At the time, the Venerable Śāriputra thought, “The World-Honored One has just now discussed the merits of the Śrāvakas. May the Tathāgata also expound the complete merits of the Bodhisattvas. Why? Because of all other merits come from them.”
Then, knowing Śāriputra’s thought, the Buddha told him, “In that Buddha-land, innumerable hundreds of thousands of [millions of] billions of Bodhisattvas attend the assembly, and, by the divine power of the Buddha, all the Bodhisattvas who have left the household life can understand, accept, uphold, read and recite what they have hear.
“Śāriputra, the Dharma which I have expounded in this world is a very small part – less than one hundredth, one thousandth, one hundred thousandth, one hundred billionth, one of any number of parts, one minute part, or even one infinitesimal part – of the Dharma-treasure expounded by Tathāgata Akṣobhya.
“Śāriputra, this is all because Tathāgata Akṣobhya, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, made this vow when cultivating the Bodhisattva practices: ‘When I attain Buddhahood, may all the Bodhisattvas in my land, by my awesome power, be able to understand, accept, uphold, read, and recite whatever they hear [from the Buddha].’ Śāriputra, by the divine power of the original vow made by that Tathāgata, those Bodhisattvas are able to understand, accept, uphold, read, and recite with facility all they have heard from that Buddha.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, if those Bodhisattvas want to go to another Buddha-land, wearing the native costume, speaking the local language with no accent, and acting in harmony with the customs of that land. They pay homage and make offerings to the Tathāgata of that land, listen to the true Dharma, ask pertinent questions. When they have done all they can, they return to Akṣobhya Buddha.
“Śāriputra, nine hundred ninety-six Buddhas will appear in this world during the Worthy Kalpa. A Bodhisattva who wishes to see these Tathāgatas should make a vow to be born in Akṣobhya Buddha’s land.
Śāriputra, if good men or good women [who follow the Bodhisattva-path] after their death in this Buddha-land or another Buddha-land, have been born, are being born, or will be born in the Buddha-land of Tathāgata Akṣobhya, they will not believe or abide in the state of Śrāvakas. Why? Because those who follow the Buddha-path will always meet the Tathāgata, and give the celestial demon Pāpīyān no opportunity to hinder them. They will give up the two vehicles forever, and attain supreme enlightenment without fail. They will always participate in that Tathāgata’s great assemblies.
“Śāriputra, you should know that hose sentient beings who dwell in the pure Buddha-land of Tathāgata Akṣobhya will never be subject to degeneration, seduction, or regression, they will abide in the pursuit of supreme enlightenment, have great power, be immovable, and never regress.
“Śāriputra, if good men or good women are born in that land after their death in this world or other worlds, they will, at the time of their birth, have this thought: ‘I have entered the Tathāgata’s room and have taken up my abode in the city of fearlessness.’
“Śāriputra, those Bodhisattvas will comply with the pāramitā of wisdom in whatever they say, and they will respect one another and regard one another as teachers.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, of the Bodhisattvas in that Buddha-land, few are householders; many are monks. By the Buddha’s divine power, they can understand, accept, uphold, read, and recite whatever they heard [from the Buddha]. Śāriputra, the lay Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas who are unable to participate in the assembly can by the Buddha’s miraculous power hear, understand, accept, uphold, read, and recite with facility the Dharma expounded, wherever sitting or standing. The Bodhisattvas who have left the household life and are not in the assembly can do the same. Also, these Bodhisattvas, in the course of decease and rebirth, never forget the sutras they heard, and can be bore in any Buddha-land they wish. Śāriputra, this is also achieved through the merits of Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s originals vows.
“Śāriputra, if a Bodhisattva wishes to see numerous hundreds of thousands of [millions of] billions of myriads of Buddhas in one lifetime, he should vow to be born in the land of Tathāgata Akṣobhya. After his birth there, he will see innumerable Buddhas and plan all kinds of good roots; he can also expound the essence of the Dharma to numerous hundreds of thousands of sentient beings to increase their good roots.
“Śāriputra, if Bodhisattvas, after their death in this world or other worlds, have been born, are being born, or will be born in the Buddha-land of Tathāgata Akṣobhya, they will all attain the stage of nonregression. Why? Because in that Buddha-land one is not obstructed by the celestial demon Pāpīyān or disturbed by demonic influences.
“Śāriputra, a venomous snake subjugated by a magic spell cannot hurt anyone, insects or worms will not be worried or afraid upon seeing it. Yet, harmless as it is, it is still called a venomous snake because it has receive the form of a snake as a result of it’s previous karmas. Śāriputra, the same is true with celestial demon Pāpīyān. When Tathāgata Akṣobhya was following the Bodhisattva practices in the past, he vowed to dedicate his good roots thus: ‘When I realize supreme enlightenment, I will subjugate all demons so that they will not cause hindrances or troubles. They will not hinder or trouble the Bodhisattvas, Śrāvakas, ordinary people, or others in the whole billion-world universe.’ [Subjugated as they are,] the demons remain in demons’ forms because of their previous karmas. They regret this in the heaven where they are born, and blame themselves for being incarnated as beings called ‘demons’ owning to their previous karmas performed from beginningless time. In spite of the power they enjoy, they loathe their sate. When that Tathāgata expounds the Dharma, the demons and their retinues are often among the listeners. After hearing the Dharma, they become pure in mind and year to be Śrāvakas, thinking, ‘How can we, too, abide in the tranquility, have few desires, and be content?’ Because those demons have a constant desire to leave the household life and have no intention of hindering others, the Śrāvakas, Bodhisattvas, and ordinary people in that land can all abide in the peace and happiness. This is also due to the awesome power that Buddha’s previous vigor and great vows. Śāriputra, this is also a superb adornment of Akṣobhya Buddha’s land. …
“Śāriputra, those Bodhisattvas who have received my prophecy and attained nonregression will be born in Akṣobhya Buddha’s land. However, Śāriputra this does not mean that I forsake the Bodhisattvas born in that Buddha-land. If an anointed kṣatriya king learns that he army of a hostile nation is coming to steal his wealth and throne, he will think, ‘My queen, concubines, and beloved children are not strong enough to resist the enemy. I will keep them, together with my treasures, in the palace, out of harm’s way.’ Then he will overcome this enemy, so that his country is blessed with peace and freed from danger, and there is no longer any fear of disaster. Śāriputra, just as the king does not abandon his treasures, beloved children, queen, and concubines, so I do not forsake the Bodhisattvas, and those who follow the Bodhisattva practices should know this. Like the palace, that Buddha-land is free from fear; like the leader of the enemies, the celestial demon Pāpīyān [in my land] tries in every way to hinder those who follow the Bodhisattva practices; and like the great king who is not disturbed by the invading enemies, the Tathāgata is not harassed by the celestial demons.
“Śāriputra, suppose a man, afraid of his creditor, runs far away to the frontier. He will be spared persecution at the hands of the creditor and others concerned. Why? Because the creditor and his family cannot reach him, due to the great distance and danger involved. In the same way, the Bodhisattvas born in the Land of Wonderful Joy are beyond the reach of Pāpīyān, who is kept away by the insurmountable difficulty of the journey.
“Śāriputra, in this billion-world universe, the celestial demon Pāpīyān hinders Bodhisattvas and Śrāvakas in every way. In the Land of Wonderful Joy, the celestial demons do not do devilish deeds. The Bodhisattvas born there in the past, present, and future are free from fear forever. Why? Because when that Tathāgata was following the Bodhisattva-path, he dedicated all his good roots thus: ‘When I realize supreme enlightenment, the celestial demons will not hinder anyone or do any devilish deeds. ‘Śāriputra, just as poison loses its toxicity and becomes food for a strong man who can take it skillfully and digest it, so the celestial demons of that land, instead of doing harm, are always beneficial.
“Śāriputra, innumerable such merits are achieved in that Buddha-land.”
At the time, Śāriputra thought, “Now I wish to see Tathāgata Akṣobhya, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, and the Śrāvakas of that Buddha-land.” Thereupon, perceiving what was in Śāriputra’s mind, the World-Honored One, by his divine power and without rising from his seat, caused Śāriputra to see all of them.
The Buddha asked Śāriputra, “Have you seen them now?”
Śāriputra answered, “Yes, I have.”
The Buddha asked Śāriputra, “Do you see any difference, such as superiority of inferiority, among those gods and humans?”
Śāriputra answered, “No, I do not. Why? Because I see that the clothing, food and drink, and valuable objects enjoyed by the humans of the Land of Wonderful Joy are gods’ implements of pleasure. Tathāgata Akṣobhya, expounding the Dharma to the assembly, is like a gold mountain, shining brilliantly. There are innumerable, limitless Śrāvakas. Just as the horizons in the four directions are boundless in the eyes of one sailing upon the great ocean, so the Śrāvakas there are limitless in number to the beholder. When those Śrāvakas are listening to the Dharma, they keep their bodies and minds as still as if they had entered dhyāna, unlike the people in this world, who say and stir, sometimes even in meditation.” …
At the time, a thought occurred to Ānanda: “Now I should test the power of Venerable Subhūti’s eloquence.” With this in mind, he said to Subhūti, “We should have a look at Tathāgata Akṣobhya, his disciples, and his Buddha-land.”
Subhūti told Ānanda, “If you want to see that Tathāgata, you should look upwards.”
“After Ānanda had looked upwards, he said to Subhūti, “I have looked upwards as far as I could, but I saw nothing except emptiness and stillness.”
“Subhūti said, “Tathāgata Akṣobhya, his disciples, and his Buddha-land are similar to what you saw when you looked upwards.”
Then Śāriputra said the Buddha, “World-Honored One, as the Buddha he said, the Bodhisattvas in this world whose attainment of Buddhahood has been prophesied are not different from the Bodhisattvas born in that land. World-Honored One, now I do not know why they are equal.”
The Buddha told Śāriputra, “Because of the equality of the dharmadhātu, there is no difference between them.”
Source
https://wisdomofcompassion.wixsite.com/home/aksobhyasutrachapter4
