ENGLISH TRANSLATION - The Amitabha Sūtra

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - © CLK

Thus I have heard: At one time, [the Sakyamuni] Buddha was in Jetavana-anāthapindasyārāma, Śrāvastī，with great bhiksus, 1250 people in total. They were all great arhats whom the multitude knew: Elders Śāriputra, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakasyapa, Mahakatyayana, Mahakausthila, Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola-bharadvaja, Kalodayin, Mahakaphina, Vakkula, Aniruddha and others such as these, all great disciples, together with all Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas: Dharma Prince Manjusri, Ajita Bodhisattva, Gandhastin Bodhisattva, Nityodyukta Bodhisattva and others such as these, all great Bodhisattvas; and together Śakrodevānām Indrah and so forth, numberless heavenly great multitudes altogether.

At that time, Buddha told Elder Śāriputra, “From here following the west direction, through hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddha lands, [there] is [a] world named “Ultimate Bliss”.[On] this land, [there] is [a] Buddha named Amitabha [who is] now teaching Dharma today.”

‘Śāriputra，why is that land named as “Ultimate Bliss”? The living beings in this country do not have any sufferings. However, [they] enjoy all bliss. Therefore [it is] called “Ultimate Bliss”.’

‘And Śāriputra, [in] the Land of Ultimate Bliss, [there are] seven layered railings, seven layered nets, seven rows of trees. [There] are all four treasures surrounded everywhere. Hence, his land is named as “Ultimate Bliss”.’

‘And Śāriputra。The Land of Ultimate Bliss has lakes of seven jewels [which] are filled with waters of eight attributes. The grounds on the bottom of the lakes are purely covered with golden sand. The stepped walkways along four sides are put together by gold, silver, lapis lazuli, [and] crystal. Above [these] are attics [which] are solemnly decorated with gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, tridacna, ruby, [and] agate. The lotuses in the lake are big like chariot wheels – green [ones with] green lights, yellow [ones with] yellow lights, red [ones with] red lights, white [ones with] white lights. [They are] sublime, wonderful, fragrant and pure.’

‘Śāriputra, the Land of Ultimate Bliss is completed with such merits and solemnity. ’

‘And Śāriputra, on that Buddha land [is], celestial music is always playing. The ground is [made of] gold. [During] the six periods of the day and night, heavenly rain of mandarava flowers falls. Throughout the clear dawn, each sentient being of this land always [uses] cloth baskets containing various wonderful flowers to make offerings to hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhas of other directions. At the mealtime, [they] return to their original country, eat and [do] the walking meditation.’

‘Śāriputra, the Land of Ultimate Bliss is completed with such merits and solemnity. ’

‘And Śāriputra, His land always has all kinds of strange and wonderful varicoloured birds – white cranes, peacocks, parrots, śārī (egrets) , kalaviṅkas (sparrow/cuckoo ) and jivajivaka birds. [During the] six periods of the day and night, such multitudes of birds make harmonious and elegant sounds. These sounds expound and make clear the five faculties, five powers, seven factors of enlightenment, noble eightfold path and Dharma such as this. When the sentient beings of this land have heard these sounds, [they] are all mindful of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha。’

‘Śāriputra, you should not say [that] such birds are born because of the unwholesome karma. Why is it so? That Buddha land does not have three evil paths.’

‘Śāriputra, This Buddha’s land does not even have the name of [a] evil path, not to mention the reality of such. Such multitudes of birds are all transformed by the Amitabha Buddha in order to propagate the Dharma sounds.’

‘Śāriputra, that Buddha land，breeze blows and moves [the] rows of all jeweled trees and jeweled net, producing sublime and wonderful sounds. [It is] like hundred and thousand kinds of music playing simultaneously. The ones who [have] heard such sounds [will] all arise naturally the thought to be mindful of Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.’

‘Śāriputra, this Buddha’s land is completed with such merits and solemnity. ’

‘Śāriputra, what do you think? Why is that Buddha named [as] Amitabha?’

‘Śāriputra, That Buddha’s light is immeasurable, illuminating lands of ten directions without obstructions. Thus [He] is named as Amitabha.’

‘Moreover, Śāriputra, that Buddha’s and His people’s lifespan are immeasurable [and] boundless asankhyeya kalpas. Thus it is named [as] Amitabha. ’

‘Śāriputra, since Amitabha Buddha attained Buddhahood, [it has been] ten kalpas.’

‘Moreover, Śāriputra, that Buddha has numberless and boundless voice hearer-disciples (śrāvaka) who are all arhats. [Their number] is incalculable. All multitudes of bodhisattvas are also the same.’

‘Śāriputra, that Buddha’s land is completed with such merits and solemnity. ’

‘And Śāriputra。On the Land of Ultimate Bliss，the sentient beings who are born, are all avaivartikas. Among [these], many require one life to make up . This number is many [which] is not able to known by calculation. However it can be spoken for immeasurable [and] boundless asankhyeya kalpas.’

‘Śāriputra, the sentient beings who has heard, should vow to be born [on] His Land. Why is it so? Able to meet the entire superior wholesome people altogether at one place.’

‘Śāriputra, [one] must not lack of virtuous roots, merits, morality, causes and conditions to be born in that country.’

‘Śāriputra, If [there] are virtuous man [or] virtuous woman [who] hears [or] speaks about [the] Amitabha Buddha, preserves in holding the name whether for one day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days, or seven days, [with] one mind undisturbed, when this person’s life is about to end, Amitabha Buddha and the multitude of sacred beings will appear in front of him/her. When such person is near to [his/her] end, if [his/her] mind is not inverted, [he/she] will attain rebirth in the Amitabha Land of Ultimate Bliss.’

‘Śāriputra, I see [that it] is beneficial, thus [I] have spoken this. If [there] are sentient beings who heard this should vow, to be born on His Land.’

‘Śāriputra, like I have praised the benefits of Amitabha Buddha’s inconceivable merits and virtues highly today, in the eastern direction, [there] are also Akṣobhya Buddha, Merudhvaja Buddha, Mahameru Buddha, Meruprabhasa Buddha, Manjughosa Buddha and other Buddhas [who] are as numberless as the Ganges River’s sands. Each at his country, displays vast and long tongue form, spreading and covering the Three-Thousand Large Thousandfold World，saying [this] honest speech, “All you, sentient beings, should believe in [and] praise the inconceivable meritorious and virtuous sutra [which] is protected and mindful by all Buddhas.’

‘Śāriputra, in the southern worlds, [there] are Candrasuryapradipa Buddha, Yashprabha Buddha, Maharciskamdha Buddha, Merupradipa Buddha, Arantavirya Buddha and other Buddhas [who] are as numberless as the Ganges River’s sands. Each at his country, displays vast and long tongue form, spreading and covering the Three-Thousand Large Thousandfold World，saying [this] honest speech, “All you, sentient beings, should believe in [and] praise the inconceivable meritorious and virtuous sutra [which] is protected and mindful by all Buddhas.’


‘Śāriputra, in the western worlds, [there] are Amitayus Buddha, Amitaskmdha Buddha, Amitadhvaja Buddha, Mahaprabha Buddha, Maharasmiprabha Buddha, Maharatnaketu Buddha, Suddharasmi Buddha and other Buddhas [who] are as numberless as the Ganges River’s sands. Each at his country, displays vast and long tongue form, spreading and covering the Three-Thousand Large Thousandfold World，saying [this] honest speech, “All you, sentient beings, should believe in [and] praise the inconceivable meritorious and virtuous sutra [which] is protected and mindful by all Buddhas.’

‘Śāriputra, in the northern worlds, [there] are Maharcislamdha Buddha, Dumdubhisvaranirghosa Buddha, Duspradharsa Buddha, Adityasambhava Buddha, Jaleniprabha Buddha and other Buddhas [who] are as numberless as the Ganges River’s sands. Each at his country, displays vast and long tongue form, spreading and covering the Three-Thousand Large Thousandfold World，saying [this] honest speech, “All you, sentient beings, should believe in [and] praise the inconceivable meritorious and virtuous sutra [which] is protected and mindful by all Buddhas.’

‘Śāriputra, in the worlds below, [there] are Simha Buddha, Yasas Buddha, Yasahprabha Buddha, Dharma Buddha, Dharmadhvaja Buddha, Dharmadhara Buddha and other Buddhas [who] are as numberless as the Ganges River’s sands. Each at his country, displays vast and long tongue form, spreading and covering the Three-Thousand Large Thousandfold World，saying [this] honest speech, “All you, sentient beings, should believe in [and] praise the inconceivable meritorious and virtuous sutra [which] is protected and mindful by all Buddhas.’

‘Śāriputra, in the worlds above, [there] are Brahmaghosa Buddha, Naksatraraja Buddha, Gamdhottama Buddha, Gamdhaprabhasa Buddha, Maharciskamdha Buddha, Ratnakusumasampuspitagatra Buddha, Salendraraja Buddha, Ratnorpalasri Buddha, Sarvarthadarsa Buddha, Sumerukalpa Buddha and other Buddhas [who] are as numberless as the Ganges River’s sands. Each at his country, displays vast and long tongue form, spreading and covering the Three-Thousand Large Thousandfold World，saying [this] honest speech, “All you, sentient beings, should believe in [and] praise the inconceivable meritorious and virtuous sutra [which] is protected and mindful by all Buddhas.’

“Śāriputra, what do you think? Why does it called the sutra [which] is protected and mindful by all Buddhas?”

‘Śāriputra, if [there] are virtuous men and virtuous women [who] hear this sutra and practice, and [who] hear all Buddhas’ names, such virtuous men and virtuous women are all protected [by] the mindfulness of all Buddhas and will all attain the Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi irreversibly. Thus, Śāriputra，all of you should believe in my words and [words] spoken by all Buddhas.’

‘Śāriputra, if [there] are people [who] have vowed, vow now, or will vow, [those] who aspire to be born in Amitabha Buddha’s land, such people will all attain the Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi irreversibly on that land，whether [they are] born [in the past], now being born, or to be born. Hence, Śāriputra，all virtuous men and virtuous women, if they have faith, should make vow to be born on His land. Śāriputra，just as I now praise all Buddhas’ inconceivable merits and virtues, all such Buddhas likewise praise my inconceivable merits and virtues, saying such words, “For the sake of [such] difficult and rare deeds, Sakyamuni Buddha obtain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi in Saha land，evil world of five turbidities (defilement of the trends of the present age, defilement of mistaken views, defilement of afflictions, defilement of being a sentient being, and defilement of having a lifetime). For the sake of all sentient beings, [He] speaks such Dharma [which is] difficult to believe.” ’

‘Śāriputra, [you] should know [that] I, in [the] evil world of five turbidities, practise such difficult matters, obtain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi，[and] for the sake of all the worlds, speak such Dharma [which is] difficult to believe. [This] is indeed extremely difficult.’

After Buddha has spoken this Sutra, Śāriputra and all bhiksus, all Devas, Asuras and so forth in the world, [upon] hearing what the Buddha said, rejoiced, believed and accepted [it]. [They] bowed in homage and withdrew.