Visualization Sutra

 

          The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi, "When the visualization of the ground has been completed, the next visualization is of the jeweled trees. 

          In visualizing the jeweled trees, one should see them one by one and form an image of seven pathways that are lined with these trees.  Each tree is eight thousand yojanas high, and is adorned with blossoms and leaves made of the seven kinds of jewels.  Each blossom and leaf is the color of a different jewel. 

          From the lapis lazuli-colored blossoms is emitted a golden light; from the rock crystal-colored is emitted a crimson light; from the emerald-colored is emitted a sapphire light; and from the sapphire-colored is emitted a pearl-green ray of light.  In addition, coral, amber, and all the other myriad jewels serve as dazzling ornaments.

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          "Exquisite nets of pearls completely cover the trees, and each tree is veiled by seven layers of nets.  Between each of the nets there are five billion exquisite flower palaces that resemble the palace of Lord Brahman, and within each of them reside celestial children.  Each of these children wears ornaments made of five billion noble wish-fulfilling jewels.

          The light from these mani jewels shines brightly for a radius of a hundred yojanas in all directions, not unlike a constellation of a billion suns and moons, but no words can fully describe the brilliance of this light. 

          The intermingling of the light from these various jewels produces a color unexcelled among all colors.

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          "The rows of these jeweled-tree paths are evenly arranged, and their foliage is equally spaced.  From among the leaves appear exquisite blossoms, and upon these flowers, fruits made of the seven kinds of jewels spontaneously appear.

          Each blossom is twenty-five yojanas in diameter, and their petals shine with a thousand colors and have a hundred different patterns so that altogether, the leaves are like heavenly ornaments. 

          This array of exquisite blossoms is the color of the golden sand sf the Jambu River and resembles revolving wheels of fire gently turning among the leaves; and from these flowers, fruits well up as if from Sakra's vase.

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          "These fruits issue forth great floods of light that form banners, flags, and countless canopies adorned with jewels.  Within these jeweled canopies, all the deeds of the Buddhas of the three-thousand-great-thousand worlds are illuminated, and the Buddha-Lands of the Ten Directions also appear within.

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          "When you have seen the trees in this way, visual each detail in order: perceive the trunks, the branches, the leaves, the blossoms, and the fruits, and let your vision of all of them be clear and distinct.  This is the visualization of the trees and is called the Fourth Visualization.  To do this visualization is called the right visualization; to do another is called an incorrect visualization."

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