Visualization Sutra

 

          The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi, "When this visualization has been completed, next one should further visualize the physical features and the light of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life Span.  Ananda, it should be known that the Body of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life Span is as bright as the sands of a trillion Jambu rivers in the Yama Heavens.  That Buddha's body is as tall as the number of yojanas equaling that of the sands of six sextillions of Ganges Rivers.

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          "Between that Buddha's eyebrows there is a tuft of white hair that curls gently to the right and is the size of five Mount Sumerus.   The Buddha's eyes are pure like the waters of the four great oceans; the blue irises and the whites are clear and distinct; the pores of the Buddha's body emit rays of light that are the size of Mount Sumeru.

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          "The circle of light around that Buddha's head illuminates an area as large as a billion three-thousand-great-thousand worlds.  Within that all-encompassing light there are miraculously created Buddhas whose number is as countless as the sands of ten sextillions of Ganges Rivers.  Each of these miraculously created Buddhas is attended by a great assembly of countless miraculously created Bodhisattvas.

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          "The Buddha of Immeasurable Life Span has eight-four thousand physical characteristics; and in each of those features there are eighty-four thousand secondary marks of excellence.  Each of those marks sends forth eighty-four thousand rays of light; each ray of light shines universally upon the worlds of the Ten Directions; and those sentient beings who are mindful of the Buddha are embraced by that light, never to be abandoned.

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          "No words can adequately describe the lights, the physical characteristics, the secondary marks, and the miraculously created Buddhas.  But by concentrating your thoughts on these things, you can see them with your mind's eye.  To see these things is to see all the Buddhas of the Ten Directions.  Because you see these Buddhas, it is called the Buddha-Remembrance Samadhi.

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          "To perform this visualization is to visualize the body of all the Buddhas.  Because you perceive the bodies of the Buddhas, you also realize the mind of the Buddhas.  The mind of the Buddhas is the mind of Great Compassion, and with this unconditioned compassion, all sentient beings are embraced.
          One who performs this visualization, upon taking leave of this life, will be born in the presence of the Buddhas and will acquire the insight into the non-origination of all existence.  For this reason, those who realize the effectiveness of forming this perception should concentrate their thoughts and clearly perceive the Buddha of Immeasurable Life Span.

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          "In order to perceive the Buddha of Immeasurable Life Span, begin with one of the physical features.  Visualize only the tuft of white hair between the eyebrows until it becomes very clear and distinct.  Once you have visualized it, the eight-four thousand physical characteristics and marks will appear of their own accord.    
          Once you have seen the Buddha of Immeasurable Life Span, you see at once the infinite Buddhas of the Ten Directions.  Because you are able to see the countless Buddhas, you will receive from each the prediction of your future Buddhahood.  This is the comprehensive perception of all the physical features of the Buddha, and is called the Ninth Visualization.  Performing this visualization is called the right visualization.  If one performs other visualizations, that is called an incorrect visualization."

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