On Entering The Inconceivable State
Of Liberation Through
THE PRACTICES AND VOWS
OF THE BODHISATTVA SAMANTABHADRA
The Avatamsaka Sutra
Chapter 40
NAMO HWA-YEN HUEN SANG FO PU SA
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(THREE TIMES)
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When the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Samantabhadra having discoursed upon and praised the exalted merits and virtues of the Tathagata, He addressed the Celestial Youth Treasure of Merit Kumara Sudhana and a great company of Bodhisattvas as follows:
O Noble-minded Man, the (infinite) merits and virtues of the Tathagata are so great and wonderful. If such were preached by all the Buddhas of the ten directions who consecutively enumerated them during unspeakable and incalculable aeons in the Buddha-domains equal to the smallest dust-motes (in the atmosphere) in number, they could not thereby be exhausted. If (there be any who) aspire to attain this high state of merit, (let them understand that) its realization depends upon the attainment of the Ten Great Vows: the vows of widest and highest aspiration and the actual practice of them.
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And what are the Ten Great Vows?
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(For those of you who are interested, the complete sutra text of The Practice and Vows of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra in Chinese is provided here.)
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The Youth Sudhana Meets his First Teacher (Avatamsaka Sutra, Ch 39)
The Ten Great Vows extolled by Bodhisattva Samantabhadra in Chapter 40 is the last and longest chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra. The Avatamsaka Sutra has been described as the epitome of Buddhist thought, Buddhist sentiment and Buddhist experience, and is quoted by all schools of Mahayana Buddhism, in particular, Pure Land and Zen. It is important to learn about the journeys described in the next-to-last Chapter 39, where the main protagonist in that chapter is the youth Sudhana.
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Seeking Enlightenment, Sudhana visited and studied with fifty-three spiritual advisors and attained the equal of the Buddhas in one lifetime. When he was born, myriad treasures suddenly appeared in his father's home. Thus the name "Sudhana" or "Good Wealth".
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See the excerpts of Chapter 39, the Youth Sudhana Meets his First Teacher, and learn about the invaluable advice Sudhana had received from his first teacher.
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Namo Pu Hsien Wang Pu Sa
~ Homage to Bodhisattva Samantabhadra ~
(Recite this praise many, many times)
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The Praises to Bodhisattva Samantabhadra
​[Chanted on His Birthday, 2nd lunar month 21st Day]
The Bodhisattva of Great Conduct is called Samantabhadra, with His multitude of vows so vast and boundless.
Dignified He rides a six-tusked elephant, with wisdom He is born from a seven gems lotus.
All His Samadhi serenities are invariably sovereignty free, his originally wonderful virtues are all perfect and complete.
Dignified and impressive He comes to assist in the salvation of the Saha-worlds, his spiritual responses and powers shake the great thousand realms.
Homage to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva who dwells in the silver-world of E-mei Shan, homage to Bodhisattva Samantabhadra of the Great Conduct.
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Homage
For the Translation Efforts
Grateful thanks with utmost respect
are due to Upasika Chihmann (Miss P.C. Lee of China) whose translation has presented the Chinese sutra in English text, allowing Buddhist practitioners and all beings in this world can read, aspire to, and practice on this very important teaching of the Dharma.
May all beings vow to reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Restoring World Peace--Water Knows
All Phenomena Arise from the Mind
Our Environment Changes According to Our Mind
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The Buddha teachings state, "All phenomena arise from our minds; our environment can be transformed by the mind. Believe it or not, each of us possess the power of mind to change our living environment and we human beings collectively can restore our world to harmony!
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Watch the video above, "Restoring World Peace--Water Knows". In this video, modern scientists have demonstrated very clearly how our state of mind affects the environment -- the causality of our mind and the environment.
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By conducting countless experiments on the water crystals, scientists discovered that water can read, water can smell, water can listen and watch, and feel. Water can receive and reflect the messages of human thoughts through the shapes and contents of the water crystals. Water knows!
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See for yourself how water knows the human expression of love regardless of languages, understands the natural disasters happened on earth and the tragedies humans suffered. Water manifests the power of our mind. If we change the state of our mind, the environment will change accordingly.
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Resources:
Read the video transcripts.
Watch the video Does Water Have Memory?
Watch the video Our Mind . . . Water Knows
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