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In
that Buddha-land, the earth is composed of seven jewels. The
land itself is so vast, spreading boundlessly to the farthest extent,
that it is impossible to know its limit. All the rays of light
from those jewels intermingle and create manifold reflections, producing
a dazzling illumination.
All
the myriads of manifestations in Pure Land, from the ground to
the sky, such as palaces, pavilions, ponds, streams and trees, are
composed of both countless treasures, which surpass in supreme excellence
anything in the worlds of humans and devas, and of a hundred thousand
kinds of aromatic wood, whose fragrance pervades all the worlds of the
ten quarters.
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The
four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter do not exist.
It is always moderate and pleasant, never cold or hot.
The
palaces in which they dwell, their clothing, food and drink,
the wonderful flowers, and the various kinds of incense and
adornments are like those naturally provided in the Sixth Heaven
of the world of desire. The halls, monasteries, palaces and
pavilions are spontaneous apparitions, all adorned with
the seven jewels and hung with curtains of various other jewels,
such as pearls and moon-bright mani gems.
Devas
and humans in the land of Amitabha are each provided with robes,
food and drink, flowers, perfume, ornaments, silken canopies
and banners, and are surrounded by exquisite sounds as soon
as such a desire arises in their minds.
Those
pure, superb and exquisite adornments are unsurpassed in
all the worlds of the ten quarters.
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| In
that Buddha-land there are innumerable jewelled nets, all adorned
with skeins of gold thread, pearls, and a hundred thousand
kinds of rare and marvelous treasures. All around the nets
hang jewelled bells of the utmost beauty, which shine brilliantly.
The ground is made of gold. |
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Inside
and out, to right and left, are bathing pools made of
gold, silver, cystal, beryl, coral, agate, purple-gold sand,
white jade-sand etc. Others are composed of two to seven jewels.
They
have all kinds of sizes, from small to ocean size. The bathing
pools are brimful of the water of eight excellent qualities,
clear, fragrant and tasting like nectar.
The
water temperature and the depth is according to their wishes.
If they wish the water to pour over their bodies, than it spontaneously
does so. The water comforts the body and refreshes the mind,
washing away their mental defilements. Clear and pure, the water
is so transparent that it seems formless. The jewel-sand shines
so brightly that even the depth of the water cannot prevent
its brilliance from being seen.
Above
these stand pavilions adorned with gold, silver, beryl,
crystal, sapphire, rosy pearls, and carnelian.
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Heavenly
lotuses of blue, pink, yellow and white bloom profusely in various
tints and tones, completely covering the surface of the water.
On
the banks of the pools are sandalwood trees, whose flowers and
leaves hang down and diffuse perfumes everywhere.
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| When
Amitabha expounds the Dharma
to shravakas and bodhisattvas, they all assemble in the seven-jewelled
lecture-hall. There he fully expounds the teachings of the Way
and proclaims the wonderful Dharma. The
whole audience rejoices, comprehends, and attains Enlightenment.
All the devas bring with them a hundred thousand flowers and pieces
of aromatic wood and thousands of musical instruments to use as
offerings to the Buddha and the assembly of bodhisattvas and shravakas;
they scatter flowers, diffuse perfumes everywhere and play
various kinds of music. At such times their joy and happiness
are beyond description. |
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Every
day, in the serenity of the early morning, the people of that
land fill the hem of their robes with exquisite flowers and
go to make offerings to a hundred thousand kotis of Buddhas
dwelling in the worlds of other quarters.
Then
they return for their morning meal. After the meal they enjoy
a stroll.
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At
mealtimes, plates made of the seven jewels - namely, gold, silver,
beryl, agate, ruby, coral, and amber, and also moon-bright pearl
- spontaneously appear, filled with food and drink of a hundred
tastes, according to one's wishes. Although the food is offered,
no one actually eats it. Once it has been seen and smelt,
one naturally feels that it has been eaten, and so is satisfied;
thus one feels relaxed in mind and body, free from attachment
to the sense of taste.
When
the meal is over, everything disappears, but reappears at the
next mealtime.
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