The Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra (The Sutra on the Buddha of Eternal Life)
Excerpts from The Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra (The Sutra on the Buddha of Eternal Life) translated from Sanskrit by F. Max Mueller [Section Headings in italics mine. – Domyo] Bhikku Dharmakara Begins to Preach, and Describes His Buddha Land 'Then, O Ánanda, that Bhikkhu Dharmakara thus spoke at that time to the Bhagavat [Buddha]: "May the Bhagavat thus listen to me, to what my own prayers are, and how, after I shall have obtained the highest perfect knowledge, my own Buddha country will then be endowed with all inconceivable excellences and good qualities. 1. "O Bhagavat, if in that Buddha country of mine there should be either hell, animals, the realm of departed spirits, or the body of fighting spirits, then may I not obtain the highest perfect knowledge. 2. "O Bhagavat, if in that Buddha country of mine the beings who are born there should die and fall into hell, the animal realm, the realm of departed spirits, or into the body of fighting spirits, then may I not obtain the highest perfect knowledge. 3. "O Bhagavat, if in that Buddha country of mine the beings who are born there should not all be of one color, that is, a golden color, then may I not obtain the highest perfect knowledge. 4. "O Bhagavat, if in that Buddha country of mine there should be perceived any difference between gods and men, except when people count and tell, saying: 'These are gods and men, but only in ordinary and imperfect parlance,' then may I not obtain the highest perfect knowledge. 5. "O Bhagavat, if in that Buddha country of mine the beings who are born there should not be possessed of the highest perfections of miraculous power and self-control, so that they could at least in the shortest moment of one thought step over a hundred thousand nayutas of kotis of Buddha countries, then may I not obtain the highest perfect knowledge.
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