The Dharma-Door of Praising Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s Merits: Chapter VI
Chapter VI
At the time, the Venerable Śāriputra asked the Buddha, “World-Honored One, what causes and good roots enable Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas to be born in that Buddha-land?”
The Buddha told Śāriputra, “Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas who wish to be born in the world of Wonderful Joy should follow the Bodhisattvas practices cultivated by Tathāgata Akṣobhya in the past, and make a great vow to be born in that land. These practices and this vow will enable them to be born in that Buddha-land.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, if Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas, when practicing the pāramitā of giving, dedicate the ensuing good roots to the attainment of supreme enlightenment and wish to meet Tathāgata Akṣobhya, then they will consequently be born in that Buddha-land. The same is true if they do likewise when practicing the pāramitā of discipline, and so on up to the pāramitā of wisdom.
“Moreover, Śāriputra, the light of Tathāgata Akṣobhya shines over the whole billion-world Buddha-land. One should vow to realize supreme enlightenment in a future life as a result of seeing this light, so that, after attainment great enlightenment in that way, he will in turn emanate a light from his own body to illuminate the whole world. Śāriputra, A Bodhisattva who so vows will be born in that land.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, Tathāgata Akṣobhya, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, has a limitless number of Śrāvakas. One should vow to see them and, afterwards, to perform deeds leading to the attainment of the Buddha’s enlightenment. This will enable one to have the same limitless number of Śrāvakas after he realizes enlightenment. Śāriputra, A bodhisattva-Mahāsattva who so vows can be born in that Buddha-land.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, in that Buddha-land, there are innumerable Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas. One should wish to see these Bodhisattvas, to learn from them the practice of meditation, to be with them at all times, to study with them, the same vehicle, and to attain the ultimate goal together with them. One should wish to meet those who pursue perfect, great kindness and compassion, who seek enlightenment and Śramaṇahood, who forgo the intention to follow the two vehicles, who abide in the real emptiness, and who are constantly mindful of the name of the All-Knowing Buddha, the Tathāgata, and the names of the Dharma and the Saṅgha.
“Śāriputra, even those good men and good women who have heard the names of such Bodhisattvas will be born in that Buddha-land, let alone those who plant good roots in harmony with the pāramitā of wisdom and dedicate them to Tathāgata Akṣobhya, the Worth One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. Śāriputra, these are causes and conditions which enable one to be born in that Buddha-land without fail.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas who wish to be born in that Buddha-land should often visualize the Buddhas, the Tathāgatas, expounding the subtle, wonderful Dharma in the innumerable eastern worlds, together with their disciples. They should vow: ‘I will realize enlightenment, expound the subtle, wonderful Dharma, and have [a limitless number of] disciples, just as those Buddhas do.’
“Śāriputra, these Bodhisattvas should cultivate the good roots of the three kinds of recollection; they should with to practice recollection together with all sentient beings equally, and dedicate these goods roots to the attainment of supreme enlightenment.
“Śāriputra, the Bodhisattvas’ good roots thus dedicated are limitless. Suppose all sentient beings, each holding a container with the same capacity as that of [all] space, said [to one of the Bodhisattvas], ‘Great man, please give me some of your good roots.’ Śāriputra, these good roots, supposing they were material and given to the sentient beings, would fill all their containers and the containers would be taken away without exhausting the good roots. [Why?] Because these good roots are dedicated to the attainment of supreme enlightenment, and so are infinite and unchangeable.
“Śāriputra, because of these good roots, which are achieved through these three kinds of recollection and are dedicated to all-knowing wisdom, one will be followed [and protected] by the Three Jewels wherever he goes. Śāriputra, you should know that if a Bodhisattva has achieved these good roots, he will not all to any miserable plane of existence, he will be able to subjugate Pāpīyān and other demons, and he will be born as he wishes in any Buddha-land in the east, south, west, north, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest, the zenith, or the nadir. Therefore, A Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva should accumulate the good roots of such recollection, and, having accumulated them, dedicate them to Tathāgata Akṣobhya. In this way he can be born in that Buddha-land.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, the merits and vast adornments of the Buddha-land of Tathāgata Akṣobhya cannot be found in any other of the countless Buddha-lands. A Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva, therefore, should resolve thus: ‘By virtue of these good roots, I wish to see that land, acquire its adornments, and see the Bodhisattvas there.’ By doing this, Śāriputra, the Bodhisattva will be born in that Buddha-land.
“Śāriputra, Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas who wish to be born in that Buddha-land should generate an intense aspiration for it. Śāriputra, if good men or good women have generated such intense aspiration, I will predict their birth in that Buddha-land.
“Śāriputra, a city is not magnificent without such embellishments as towers, gardens, groves, ponds, and places for elephants and horses to roam, through its ruler may have power to maintain peace and order. Similarly, Śāriputra, since my Buddha-land does not have the same merits [as Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s] it is not as magnificently adorned. …
“Śāriputra, Tathāgata Akṣobhya leads the Bodhisattvas and followers of other vehicles in other lands as well as in the World of Wonderful Joy. Śāriputra, if good men and good women, after hearing the Dharma-door of Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s merits, are well able to accept, uphold, read, recite, and comprehend it, and wish to be born in that land, then Tathāgata Akṣobhya will always protect and remember them until the time of their death, and will keep demons and demon’s retinues from causing them to regress from their determination.
“Śāriputra, you should know that right up to their attainment of supreme enlightenment, these good men and good women will be free from the fear of regression; free from harm by water, fire, knives, cudgels, ferocious beats, and poisonous insects; and free from the terror of [[[evil]]] humans or nonhumans. Why? Because they are always protected and remember by Tathāgata Akṣobhya, and will be born in this Buddha-land.
“Śāriputra, just as the sun, through far away, gives light to the sentient beings of this world, so Tathāgata Akṣobhya, though far away, illuminates the Bodhisattvas of other worlds.
“Śāriputra, just as a monk who has the deva-eye can see different things in the distance, so Tathāgata Akṣobhya, while remaining in his own lad, can see the forms of all kinds of Bodhisattvas in other worlds.
“Śāriputra, furthermore just as a monk who has acquired the perfect command of the power of [[[knowing]] others’] thoughts can read the minds of sentient beings even if he is remote from them, so Tathāgata Akṣobhya can perceive the minds of the Bodhisattvas in other worlds.
“Śāriputra, just as a monk who has attained the deva-ear can hear any sound at a distance, so Tathāgata Akṣobhya can hear the sentient beings living in other worlds say, ‘I wish to be born in that land.’ Śāriputra, Tathāgata Akṣobhya knows the names of all such good men and good women; he knows, protects and remember all those who accept, uphold, read, recite, and comprehend this Dharma-door of merits.”
“Śāriputra then said the to Buddha, “It is most extraordinary, World-Honored One, that the Buddha, the World-Honored One, protects and remembers those Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas.”
After Śāriputra said this, the Buddha told him, “So it is, so it is. As you say, Tathāgata Akṣobhya protects and remembers those Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas. Why? Because, by protection and remembering Bodhisattvas, he protects and remembers all sentient beings.
“Śāriputra, an anointed kṣatriya king who has many barns full of grain and beans will strictly command the keeper to guard them well. Why? Because he will then be able to relive [the hunger of] sentient beings when famine occurs. Similarly, Śāriputra, the Tathāgata renders good protection to those Bodhisattvas so that, after his parinirvāna, they will realize supreme enlightenment and serve as an abundant harvest during the famine of the true Dharma.
“Śāriputra, in this world, there are Bodhisattvas who, after hearing the Dharma-door of Tathāgata-Akṣobhya’s merits, can accept, uphold, read, recite and comprehend it, and wish to be born in that Buddha-land. You should know that these people have attained nonregression. …
“Śāriputra, good men and good women with pure faith should expound this merit-praising Dharma-door to others at all times. Those who do so will be cleansed of all defilements in their present lifetimes, or [at most] in two lifetimes.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, this Dharma-door of praising Tathāgata Akṣobhya’s merits cannot be accepted by foolish, shallow people. It can be accepted and upheld only by those with profound, vast wisdom. Śāriputra, those good men and good women [with such wisdom] will see Buddhas and will certainly obtain this merit-praising Dharma-door in their present lifetimes.
“Śāriputra, suppose there are priceless pearls taken from the sea. Who do you think will be the first to obtain these priceless treasures?”
Śāriputra said to the Buddha, “World-Honored One, kings, princes, and ministers will be the first to obtain them.”
The Buddha told Śāriputra, “In the same way, Bodhisattvas will be the first to acquired the Dharma-door of that Buddha’s merits, and those Bodhisattvas will attain the state of nonregression. They will surely be able to accept, uphold, read, recite, and comprehend this Dharma after hearing it; they will diligently study the nature of suchness for the purpose of attaining supreme enlightenment.”
Śāriputra said to the Buddha, “World-Honored One, if Bodhisattvas wish to abide in the state of nonregression, they should accept, uphold, read, recite, and comprehend this merit-praising Dharma-door after hearing it. Why? Because Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas who abide in this Dharma-door will not regress from [their realization of] the Dharma nature.”
The Buddha told Śāriputra, “If a man in order to hear this Dharma, gave away enough gold to fill the entire world, he might still be unable to hear it. Why? Because this meritorious Dharma cannot be upheld by sentient beings with meager blessings.
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, if followers of the Śrāvaka-vehicle accept, uphold, read, and recite this meritorious Dharma-door after hearing it, and practice it diligently in order to conform to supreme enlightenment and suchness, they will attain realization in their next lifetimes; they will attain candidacy for Buddhahood in two lifetimes; they will attain supreme enlightenment in no more than three lifetimes. …
“Furthermore, Śāriputra, if, in pursuit of this Dharma-door, good men and good women listen to, accept, uphold, read, recite, and circulate it in a village or town, and for this purpose live in the houses of laypeople though they themselves are monks or nuns, I will say they are faultless and will allow them to stay in such places. Why? Because these good men and good women are trying to keep this Dharma from falling into oblivion after their death. Śāriputra, even if the village or town is far away, these Bodhisattvas still should go and stay there to accept, uphold, read, and recite this Dharma-door, and reveal and expound it to others.
“Śāriputra, good men and good women should make this vow: ‘I should not think of regressing from the pursuit of supreme enlightenment, for I have heard the name o the Dharma-door of Tathāgata Akṣobhya.”. …
Śāriputra said to the Buddha, “World-Honored One, this Dharma-door can bring vast merits.”
The Buddha told Śāriputra, “So it is, so it is, as you have said. Śāriputra, if a country is assailed by hailstorms, untimely thunder, or other terrible things, good men and good women should concentrate their minds on Tathāgata Akṣobhya and invoke his name; this will put an end to all disasters. [Why?] Because in the past, that Tathāgata helped hundreds of thousands of dragons out of their sufferings. Because his compassionate original vows are genuine and sincere, and because he wishes to fulfill the dedication of his good roots without fail, all those who invoke his name will have their sorrow and distress relieved spontaneously, except those sentient beings who previous [[[evil]]] karmas have ripened.”
Śāriputra said to the Buddha, “World-Honored One, Bodhisattvas who wish to realize supreme enlightenment in this life should act as Tathāgata Akṣobhya acted when he was fulfilling his vows.”
The Buddha told Śāriputra, “So it is, so it is. …”
At the time, the gods of the Realm of Desire and the gods of the Brahma Heaven all joined their palms towards [[[Akṣobhya]]] Buddha, prostrated themselves to pay homage to Tathāgata Akṣobhya, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who is most extraordinary; and we take refuge in Tathāgata Sākyamuni, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One of this world, who is so skillful in expounding this merit praising Dharma-door.
Then the gods of the Realm of Desire strewed flowers of the coral tree and celestial incense over the Buddha. In the air, the incense and flowers fused and formed a canopy. Furthermore, the gods scattered the celestial flowers and incense toward Akṣobhya Buddha as offerings from afar. …
When the Buddha had expounded this Dharma-door, five hundred monks acquired mental liberation concerning the undefiled Dharma; five thousand Bodhisattvas, six thousand nuns, eight thousand laymen, then thousand laywoman, and numerous gods of the realm of Desire all wished to be born in that Buddha-land. Thereupon, the Tathāgata predicted that they would all be born in that Buddha-land. …
When the Buddha finished expounding this sutra, Śāriputra, the gods, humans, asuras, gandharvas, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas were all jubilant over the Buddha’s Teaching. They accepted it with faith and began to practice it with veneration.
Source
https://wisdomofcompassion.wixsite.com/home/aksobhyasutrachapter6
