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Shorter Sukhvatvyha Stra

Translated from Taish Tripiaka volume 12, number 366

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the Jeta Grove,in Anthapiadas park, along with a great sagha of twelve hundred andfifty bhikus. All were great arhats well known to the assembly. Amongthem were Elder riputra, Mahmaudgalyyana, Mahkyapa, Mahktyyana,Mahkauhila, Revata, uddhipanthakena, Nanda, nanda, Rhula, Gavpati,Piolabhradvja, Klodayin, Mahkapphia, Vakkula, Aniruddha, and manyother such great rvakas. With them were bodhisattva-mahsattvas such asDharma Prince Majur, Ajita Bodhisattva, Gandhahastin Bodhisattva, Nityo-dyukta Bodhisattva, and many other such bodhisattva-mahsattvas. There was

also akra Devnmindra, along with innumerable multitudes from all the heav-ens.

At that time, the Buddha addressed Elder riputra, saying, From here, goingto the west past ten trillion buddha-lands, there is a world realm called Sukhvat.In this land there is a buddha called Amitbha who is presently expounding theDharma. riputra, for what reason is this land called Sukhvat? In this land, allsentient beings do not have a multitude of afflictions, but rather experience everytype of bliss, and for this reason it is called Sukhvat. Moreover, riputra, thisland is completely encircled and surrounded by seven tiers of railings, seven lay-ers of netting, and seven rows of trees. These are all made of four kinds of precious

jewels, and therefore this land is called Sukhvat.Moreover, riputra, Sukhvat has pools of the Seven Precious Jewels, filled

with waters of the Eight Meritorious Qualities, and the bottoms of these pools arepure because they are gold sand. On the four sides there are steps made of com-bined gold, silver, beryl, and crystal. Above, there is a tower gloriously adornedwith gold, silver, beryl, crystal, mother of pearl, ruby, and coral. Within the poolsthere are lotus flowers as large as chariot wheels. They shine with green, yellow,red, and white rays of light, and have a subtle fragrance. riputra, Sukhvat isaccomplished thusly, adorned with these merits.

Moreover, riputra, this buddha-land continuously produces heavenly mu-

sic, and the ground is yellow gold. In the six periods of the day and night, theheavensraindownmndravaflowers.Inthislandthroughouttheearlymorning,due to the precepts, all sentient beings have an abundant multitude of exquisiteflowers. With these flowers, they make offerings to the ten trillion buddhas of theother directions. At mealtime, each returns to his original land to eat and walkabout. riputra, Sukhvat is accomplished thusly, adorned with these merits.

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Moreover, riputra, this land always has all kinds of marvelous, many-colored birds: swans, peacocks, parrots, egrets, kalavikas, and two-headed birds.There are many multitudes of birds, and they produce harmonious music in the

six periods of the day and night. Their music elucidates the Five Roots, the FivePowers, the Seven Factors of Bodhi, the factors of the Noble Eightfold Path, andthusly the Dharma. In this land, all sentient beings who hear such sounds are alto-gether mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sagha.riputra, you should not speak of such birds as being produced as retributionfor evil actions. Why? This buddha-land does not have the Three Evil Destinies.riputra, in this buddha-land, there are not even the names of the Three Evil Des-tinies, let alone their actual existence. These many multitudes of birds were cre-atedbyAmitbhaBuddhabytransformation,inorderforthesoundoftheDharmatobeproclaimedeverywhere.riputra,inthisbuddha-land,agentlebreezeisex-

pelled, causing the rows of jeweled trees and jeweled nets to produce subtle music,as though 100,000 notes were in harmony. The minds of all those who hear suchsounds are naturally mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindfulof the Sagha. riputra, this buddha-land is accomplished thusly, adorned withthese merits.

riputra, what do you think? For what reason is this buddha calledAmitbha? riputra, the radiance of this buddha is immeasurable, illuminatingthe lands of the ten directions without obstruction, and for this reason he is calledAmitbha. Moreover, riputra, thelifespan of this buddha extends for immeasur-able, limitless eons, and for this reason he is also called Amityus. riputra, sinceAmitbha Buddha attained buddhahood, ten eons have passed. Moreover, ripu-tra, this buddha has innumerable, limitless rvaka disciples, all arhats with un-fathomable true abilities and knowledge. The many bodhisattvas are also such asthis. riputra, this buddha-land is accomplished thusly, adorned with these mer-its.

Moreover, riputra, in the land of Sukhvat, all sentient beings are avini-vartanya. Those who have only one more birth are also extremely many, innu-merable and inconceivable in number. Only in innumerable, limitless, incalcula-ble eons could their number be spoken. riputra, all sentient beings hearing thisshould vow to be born in this land. For what reason? When they gather thusly,many high and virtuous people are able to join together in one place. riputra,those with few good roots and the causes of merit, may not attain birth in thisland.riputra,ifthereisavirtuousmanorvirtuouswomanwhohearsandspeaksAmitbha Buddha, holding and maintaining his name for one, two, three, four,five, six, or seven days single-mindedly without confusion, then at the end of hisor her life, Amitbha Buddha will appear with the multitude of holy beings. At

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the end of this persons life, with a mind unconfused, he or she will quickly attainrebirth in Amitbha Buddhas land of Sukhvat. riputra, because I see this ben-efit, I speak these words: if there are sentient beings who hear this teaching, they

should vow to be born in this land.riputra,thusdoInowpraiseandextolltheinconceivablemeritofAmitbha

Buddha. In the East there are also Akobhya Buddha, Appearance of Sumeru Bud-dha, Great Sumeru Buddha, Radiance of Sumeru Buddha, Wondrous Sound Bud-dha, and thusly as many buddhas as there are sand grains in the Ganges River.Each in his ownland sends out a broad and long tongue completely covering threethousand great thousand-worlds, speaking these true words: All you sentient be-ings should believe this stra, which all buddhas praise for its inconceivable meritand virtue, and are truly protective and mindful of.

riputra, in the southern world realm there are Lamp of the Sun and Moon

Buddha, Renowned Radiance Buddha, Great Flaming Shoulders Buddha, Lampof Sumeru Buddha, Immeasurable Vigor Buddha, and thusly as many buddhasas there are sand grains in the Ganges River. Each in his own land sends outa broad and long tongue completely covering three thousand great thousand-worlds, speaking these true words: All you sentient beings should believe this s-tra, which all buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue, and are trulyprotective and mindful of.

riputra, in the western world realm there are Amityus Buddha, Innumer-able Qualities Buddha, Immeasurable Banner Buddha, Great Radiance Buddha,Great Brilliance Buddha, Jeweled Characteristics Buddha, Clear Light Buddha, andthusly as many buddhas as there are sand grains in the Ganges River. Each in hisown land sends out a broad and long tongue completely covering three thousandgreat thousand-worlds, speaking these true words: All you sentient beings shouldbelieve this stra, which all buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue,and are truly protective and mindful of.

riputra, in the northern world realm there are Flaming Shoulders Buddha,Most Victorious Sound Buddha, Indestructible Buddha, Born of the Sun Buddha,Net of Brilliance Buddha, and thusly as many buddhas as there are sand grainsin the Ganges River. Each in his own land sends out a broad and long tonguecompletely covering three thousand great thousand-worlds, speaking these truewords: All you sentient beings should believe this stra, which all buddhas praisefor its inconceivable merit and virtue, and are truly protective and mindful of.

riputra, in the nadir world realm there are Lion Buddha, Renown Buddha,Renowned Radiance Buddha, Dharma Buddha, Dharma Banner Buddha, DharmaMaintainer Buddha, and thusly as many buddhas as there are sand grains in theGanges River. Each in his own land sends out a broad and long tongue completely

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covering three thousand great thousand-worlds, speaking these true words: Allyou sentient beings should believe this stra, which all buddhas praise for its in-conceivable merit and virtue, and are truly protective and mindful of.

riputra, in the zenith world realm there are Brahm Sound Buddha, Con-stellation King Buddha, Fragrance Above Buddha, Fragrant Radiance Buddha,Great Flaming Shoulders Buddha, Assorted Jewel Flower Adorned Body Buddha,Sla Tree King Buddha, Jewel Flowers of Virtue Buddha, Seeing Every MeaningBuddha, Sumeru Likeness Buddha, and thusly as many buddhas as there are sandgrains in the Ganges River. Each in his own land sends out a broad and long tonguecompletely covering three thousand great thousand-worlds, speaking these truewords: All you sentient beings should believe this stra, which all buddhas praisefor its inconceivable merit and virtue, and are truly protective and mindful of.

riputra, with regard to the meaning, why is it called a stra that all bud-

dhas are truly protective and mindful of? riputra, if there are virtuous men andvirtuous women who hear, accept, and maintain this stra, and hear the names ofall these buddhas, these virtuous men and virtuous women will truly be protectedand watched over by every buddha. In all cases they attain non-regression fromAnuttar Samyaksabodhi. For this reason, riputra, all of you should acceptand believe my words, which are truly spoken by all buddhas.

riputra, if there are people who have already made the vow, who aremaking the vow presently, or who will make the vow to be born in the landof Amitbha Buddha, then these people all attain non-regression from AnuttarSamyaksabodhi. Whether in a past life, present life, or future life, they will be inthis land. riputra, it is for this reason that all virtuous men and virtuous womenwho believe this should vow to be born in this land.

riputra, as I now praise the inconceivable merits of all buddhas thusly, theyalsospeakofmyinconceivablemerit,saying,kyamuniBuddhaisabletoaccom-plish what is extremely difficult and exceedingly rare! Within this Sah Land, inthe world of the five impuritiesthe impurity of the kalpa, the impurity of views,the impurity of afflictions, the impurity of sentient beings, and the impurity oflifehe attains Anuttar Samyaksabodhi and speaks this Dharma that is so dif-ficult to believe! riputra, understand that in the world of the five impurities,I perform this difficult task, attaining Anuttar Samyaksabodhi, and in everyworld speaking this Dharma that is difficult to believe, so very difficult!

After the Buddha had spoken this stra, riputra along with all the bhikus, aswell as the devas, humans, and asuras from every world, heard what the Buddhahad said. Blissfully believing and accepting, they paid their respects and departed.

Pure Land Rebirth Mantra:

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namo amitbhya tathgatya tadyathamtabhave amtasabhaveamtavikrnte amtavikrntagmini

gagana krtchare svh

For one who recites this mantra, Amitbha Buddha will constantly abide atthe crown of the head, and after dying, he or she will be assigned this rebirth.Ngrjuna Bodhisattva, wishing to give rise to peace, perceived this mantra in adream.TrepiakaYaasrecitesthismantra,andDharmaMasterXiufromTianpingMonastery heardthis mantra straight from the mouth of Trepiaka Yaas. He says,The stra originally was of a foreign land and had not arrived. Accept and main-tain this mantra dharma in the six periods of the day and night, thirty-seven timesat each. In the morning and at night, one should bathe, rinse his or her mouth, and

chew a willow twig. Make proper offerings of incense before an image, kneelingwith palms joined, and recite this mantra thirty-seven times. Persist in this wayevery day, and it will annihilate the four grave acts, the five terrible crimes, andthe ten evils. Every sort of offense can be eliminated. Being without the many evilghosts and spirits of anger and confusion, at the end of ones life, rebirth will beassigned in the land of Amitbha. Moreover, for those who continuously accept,maintain, recite, and study, the merits are truly inconceivable!

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