Today, we will be focusing on the contemplation on Buddha Amitayus, Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, Bodhisattva Mahâsthâma and the World of Highest Happiness.
11. Contemplation of Bodhisattva Mahâsthâma
“[…] This Bodhisattva is named the Unlimited Light; it is with this Light of Wisdom that He shines over all beings and causes them to be removed from the three paths of existence (Hells, Pretas, and the brute creation), and to obtain the highest Power. For the same reason this Bodhisattva is called the Bodhisattva of Great Strength (Mahâsthâma).
His Heavenly crown has five hundred jewel-flowers; each jewel-flower has five hundred jewel-towers; in each tower are seen manifested all the pure and excellent features of the far-stretching Buddha Countries in the ten quarters. The turban on His head is like a padma- (lotus) flower; on the top of the turban there is a jewel-pitcher, which is filled with various brilliant Rays fully manifesting the state of Buddha. All his other bodily signs are quite equal to those of Avalokitesvara. When this Bodhisattva walks about, all the regions of the ten quarters tremble and quake. Wherever the earth quakes, there appear five hundred millions of jewel-flowers; each jewel-flower with its splendid dazzling beauty looks like the World of Highest Happiness (Sukhâvatî).
When this Bodhisattva sits down, all the countries of seven jewels at once tremble and quake: all the incarnate Amitâyus’s, innumerable as the dust of the earth, and all the incarnate Bodhisattvas of Avalokitesvara and Mahâsthâma Who dwell in the middlemost Buddha Countries (situated) between the Buddha Country of the Lower Region (presided over) by a Buddha called the ‘Golden Light,’ and the Country of the Upper Region (presided over) by a Buddha called the ‘King of Light,’ all these assemble in the World of Highest Happiness (Sukhâvatî) ; like gathering clouds, sit on Their thrones of lotus-flowers, which fill the whole sky; and preach the Excellent Law in order to deliver all the beings that are plunged in suffering; such is the perception of the form and body of Bodhisattva Mahâsthâma, and it is the Eleventh Meditation. Those who practice this meditation are freed from the sins (which would otherwise involve them) in births and deaths for innumerable asankhya kalpas. Those who have practised this meditation do not live in an embryo state but obtain free access to the excellent and admirable Countries of Buddhas. Those who have experienced this are said to have perfectly meditated upon the two Bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara and Mahâsthâma.”
12. Contemplation on the World of Highest Happiness
“After thou have had this perception, thou should imagine thyself to be born in the World of Highest Happiness in the Western Quarter, and to be seated, cross-legged, on a lotus-flower there. Then imagine that the flower has shut thee in and has afterwards unfolded; when the flower has thus unfolded, five hundred colored Rays will shine over thy body; thine eyes will be opened so as to see the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas Who fill the whole sky; thou will hear the Sounds of waters and trees, the Notes of birds, and the Voices of many Buddhas preaching the Excellent Law, in accordance with the twelve divisions of the scriptures. When thou have ceased from that meditation, thou must remember the experience ever after. If thou have passed through this experience, thou are said to have seen the World of Highest Happiness in the realm of the Buddha Amitâyus; this is the perception obtained by a complete meditation on that Buddha Country, and is called the Twelfth Meditation. The innumerable incarnate bodies of Amitâyus, together with those of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and Bodhisattva Mahâsthâma, constantly come and appear before such devotees.”
13. Contemplation of Buddha Amitayus and the two Bodhisattvas.
“Buddha then spoke to Ânanda and Vaidehî: ‘Those who wish, by means of their serene thoughts, to be born in the Western Land, should first meditate on an image of the Buddha, who is sixteen cubits high, seated on (a lotus-flower in) the water of the lake. As it was stated before the (real) body and its measurement are unlimited, incomprehensible to the ordinary mind. But by the efficacy of the ancient prayer of that Tathâgata, those who think of and remember Him shall certainly be able to accomplish their aim. Even the mere perceiving of the image of that Buddha brings to one immeasurable blessings. How much more, then, will the meditating upon all the complete bodily signs of that Buddha! Buddha Amitâyus has supernatural power; since everything is at His disposal, He freely transforms himself in the regions of the ten quarters. At one time He shows Himself as possessing a magnificent body, which fills the whole sky; at another, He makes His body appear small, the height being only sixteen or eighteen cubits. The body He manifests is always pure gold in color; His halo (bright with) transformed Buddhas and His jewel lotus-flowers are, as mentioned above. The bodies of the two Bodhisattvas are the same always. All beings can recognise either of the two Bodhisattvas by simply glancing at the marks of Their heads. These two Bodhisattvas assist Amitâyus in his work of universal salvation; such is the meditation that forms a joint perception of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, and it is the Thirteenth Meditation.”
