Part 29 of the collection · Fascicle 10 of 80 · 華藏世界品第五之三(續) · T279

The Final Three Outer Rings, and a Closing Summary

Samantabhadra completes the outer rings surrounding all ten world-seeds from fascicle nine, then draws the whole structure together: every one of these ten rings, he says, forms worlds connected to one another in succession into a single net, established throughout the entire Flower-Treasury Adorned World-Ocean.

Translator: Ru-Yi Meditation Center Status: Part 29 — continues fascicle 10 Source: Taishō T279 (Śikṣānanda, Tang, 695–699 CE)

The Outer Ring of the Eighth World-Seed

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!彼寶莊嚴香水海外,次有香水海,名:持須彌光明藏;世界種,名:出生廣大雲。次有香水海,名:種種莊嚴大威力境界;世界種,名:無礙淨莊嚴。次有香水海,名:密布寶蓮華;世界種,名:最勝燈莊嚴。次有香水海,名:依止一切寶莊嚴;世界種,名:日光明網藏。次有香水海,名:眾多嚴淨;世界種,名:寶華依處。次有香水海,名:極聰慧行:世界種,名:最勝形莊嚴。次有香水海,名:持妙摩尼峯;世界種,名:普淨虛空藏。次有香水海,名:大光遍照;世界種,名:帝青炬光明。次有香水海,名:可愛摩尼珠充滿遍照;世界種,名:普吼聲……。如是等不可說佛剎微塵數香水海,其最近輪圍山香水海,名:出帝青寶;世界種,名:周遍無差別,以一切菩薩震吼聲為體。此中最下方,有世界,名:妙勝藏;佛號:最勝功德慧。此上過十佛剎微塵數世界,與金剛幢世界齊等,有世界,名:莊嚴相;佛號:超勝大光明。此上與娑婆世界齊等,有世界,名:瑠璃輪普莊嚴;佛號:須彌燈。於此世界種最上方,有世界,名:華幢海;佛號:無盡變化妙慧雲。」

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! Outside that Jeweled Adornment fragrant water ocean, there is next a fragrant water ocean named the Treasury of Sumeru's Light, Upheld; its world-seed is named Bringing Forth Vast Clouds. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Domain of Great, Majestic Power, Every Kind of Adornment; its world-seed is named the Unobstructed, Pure Adornment. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Densely Spread Jeweled Lotus Flower; its world-seed is named the Adornment of the Supreme Lamp. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named Abiding, Resting Upon Every Jewel's Adornment; its world-seed is named the Treasury of the Sun's Light-Net. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named Many, Adorned and Pure; its world-seed is named the Place Resting Upon Jeweled Flowers. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Conduct of Utmost Cleverness; its world-seed is named the Supreme Form's Adornment. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named Upholding the Wondrous Maṇi Peak; its world-seed is named the Universally Pure Treasury of Empty Space. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named Great Light, Universally Illumining; its world-seed is named the Torch-Light of Indranīla Jewel. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Beloved Maṇi Pearl, Filling Everywhere and Universally Illumining; its world-seed is named the Universal, Roaring Voice... Such as these, there are fragrant water oceans as numerous as the fine motes of dust in ineffable buddha-lands, and the one nearest the encircling mountain is a fragrant water ocean named Sending Forth Indranīla Jewel; its world-seed is named Universal, Without Any Distinction, taking the voice of every bodhisattva's own roar as its essence. At its very lowest is a world named the Wondrous, Supreme Treasury. Its buddha is named the Supreme Wisdom of Merit. Above this, past worlds as numerous as the fine motes of dust in ten buddha-lands, level with the Vajra Banner world, there is a world named the Adorning Mark. Its buddha is named the Supreme, Surpassing Great Light. Above this, level with the Sahā world, there is a world named the Universal Adornment of the Lapis Lazuli Wheel. Its buddha is named the Lamp of Sumeru. At this world-seed's very topmost point, there is a world named the Ocean of the Flower-Banner. Its buddha is named the Inexhaustible, Transforming Cloud of Wondrous Wisdom."

The Outer Ring of the Ninth World-Seed

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!彼金剛寶聚香水海外,次有香水海,名:崇飾寶埤堄;世界種,名:秀出寶幢。次有香水海,名:寶幢莊嚴;世界種,名:現一切光明。次有香水海,名:妙寶雲;世界種,名:一切寶莊嚴光明遍照。次有香水海,名:寶樹華莊嚴;世界種,名:妙華間飾。次有香水海,名:妙寶衣莊嚴;世界種,名:光明海。次有香水海,名:寶樹峯;世界種,名:寶焰雲。次有香水海,名:示現光明;世界種,名:入金剛無所礙。次有香水海,名:蓮華普莊嚴;世界種,名:無邊岸海淵。次有香水海,名:妙寶莊嚴;世界種,名:普示現國土藏……。如是等不可說佛剎微塵數香水海,其最近輪圍山香水海,名:不可壞海;世界種,名:妙輪間錯蓮華場,以一切佛力所出音為體。此中最下方,有世界,名:最妙香;佛號;變化無量塵數光。此上過十佛剎微塵數世界,與金剛幢世界齊等,有世界,名:不思議差別莊嚴門;佛號:無量智。此上與娑婆世界齊等,有世界,名:十方光明妙華藏;佛號:師子眼光焰雲。於此最上方,有世界,名:海音聲;佛號:水天光焰門。」

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! Outside that Vajra's Gathering of Jewels fragrant water ocean, there is next a fragrant water ocean named the Jeweled Battlement, Loftily Adorned; its world-seed is named the Excellently Rising Jeweled Banner. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Adornment of a Jeweled Banner; its world-seed is named Manifesting Every Light. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Wondrous, Jeweled Cloud; its world-seed is named the Light of Every Jewel's Adornment, Universally Illumining. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Adornment of Jeweled Trees' Flowers; its world-seed is named the Ornament of Wondrous Flowers. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Adornment of Wondrous, Jeweled Garments; its world-seed is named the Ocean of Light. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Peak of Jeweled Trees; its world-seed is named the Cloud of Jeweled Flame. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named Revealing Light; its world-seed is named Entering Vajra Without Any Obstruction. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Universal Adornment of Lotus Flowers; its world-seed is named the Boundless Shore's Ocean-Depth. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Wondrous, Jeweled Adornment; its world-seed is named the Treasury Universally Revealing Every Land... Such as these, there are fragrant water oceans as numerous as the fine motes of dust in ineffable buddha-lands, and the one nearest the encircling mountain is a fragrant water ocean named the Indestructible Ocean; its world-seed is named the Wondrous Wheel's Lotus-Flower Arena, Interspersed, taking the voice sent forth by the power of every buddha as its essence. At its very lowest is a world named Supreme, Wondrous Fragrance. Its buddha is named Transforming Light as Numerous as Immeasurable Motes of Dust. Above this, past worlds as numerous as the fine motes of dust in ten buddha-lands, level with the Vajra Banner world, there is a world named the Inconceivable, Distinct Gateway of Adornment. Its buddha is named Immeasurable Wisdom. Above this, level with the Sahā world, there is a world named the Ten Directions' Treasury of Light and Wondrous Flowers. Its buddha is named the Lion's Eye, Cloud of Light and Flame. At its very topmost point, there is a world named the Voice of the Ocean. Its buddha is named the Gateway of the Water-Deva's Light and Flame."

The Outer Ring of the Tenth World-Seed

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!彼天城寶堞香水海外,次有香水海,名:焰輪赫奕光;世界種,名:不可說種種莊嚴。次有香水海,名:寶塵路;世界種,名:普入無量旋。次有香水海,名:具一切莊嚴;世界種,名:寶光遍照。次有香水海,名:布眾寶網;世界種,名:安布深密。次有香水海,名:妙寶莊嚴幢;世界種,名:世界海明了音。次有香水海,名:日宮清淨影;世界種,名:遍入因陀羅網。次有香水海,名:一切鼓樂美妙音;世界種,名,圓滿平正。次有香水海,名:種種妙莊嚴;世界種,名:淨密光焰雲。次有香水海,名:周遍寶焰燈;世界種,名:隨佛本願種種形……。如是等不可說佛剎微塵數香水海,其最近輪圍山香水海,名:積集瓔珞衣;世界種,名:化現妙衣,以三世一切佛音聲為體。此中最下方,有香水海,名:因陀羅華藏,世界名:發生歡喜,佛剎微塵數世界圍遶,純一清淨,佛號:堅悟智。此上過十佛剎微塵數世界,與金剛幢世界齊等,有世界,名:寶網莊嚴,十佛剎微塵數世界圍遶,純一清淨,佛號:無量歡喜光。此上過三佛剎微塵數世界,與娑婆世界齊等,有世界,名:寶蓮華師子座,十三佛剎微塵數世界圍遶,佛號:最清淨不空聞。此上過七佛剎微塵數世界,至此世界種最上方,有世界,名:寶色龍光明,二十佛剎微塵數世界圍遶,純一清淨,佛號:遍法界普照明。」

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! Outside that Heavenly City's Jeweled Battlements fragrant water ocean, there is next a fragrant water ocean named the Wheel of Flame's Brilliant Radiance; its world-seed is named Ineffable Adornment of Every Kind. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Path of Jeweled Dust; its world-seed is named Universally Entering the Immeasurable Whirl. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named Fully Endowed with Every Adornment; its world-seed is named Jeweled Light, Universally Illumining. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Net of Every Jewel, Spread Out; its world-seed is named Densely and Profoundly Arrayed. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Banner of Wondrous, Jeweled Adornment; its world-seed is named the World-Ocean's Own Clear Voice. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Sun-Palace's Pure Reflection; its world-seed is named Universally Entering Indra's Net. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Beautiful, Wondrous Voice of Every Drum and Music; its world-seed is named Full, Complete, and Level. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named Every Kind of Wondrous Adornment; its world-seed is named the Dense, Pure Cloud of Flame. Next there is a fragrant water ocean named the Universal Lamp of Jeweled Flame; its world-seed is named Every Kind of Form According to the Buddha's Own Original Vow... Such as these, there are fragrant water oceans as numerous as the fine motes of dust in ineffable buddha-lands, and the one nearest the encircling mountain is a fragrant water ocean named the Gathering of Necklaces and Garments; its world-seed is named the Conjured, Wondrous Garment, taking the voice of every buddha of the three periods of time as its essence. At its very lowest, there is a fragrant water ocean named the Treasury of Indra's Flower, and a world named Giving Rise to Joy. Worlds as numerous as the fine motes of dust in a buddha-land encircle it all around, purely one and entirely pure. Its buddha is named the Firm Wisdom of Awakening. Above this, past worlds as numerous as the fine motes of dust in ten buddha-lands, level with the Vajra Banner world, there is a world named the Adornment of a Jeweled Net. Worlds as numerous as the fine motes of dust in ten buddha-lands encircle it all around, purely one and entirely pure. Its buddha is named the Immeasurable Light of Joy. Above this, past worlds as numerous as the fine motes of dust in three buddha-lands, level with the Sahā world, there is a world named the Jeweled Lotus Flower's Lion-Throne. Worlds as numerous as the fine motes of dust in thirteen buddha-lands encircle it all around. Its buddha is named the Utterly Pure, Never Heard in Vain. Above this, past worlds as numerous as the fine motes of dust in seven buddha-lands, reaching this world-seed's very topmost point, there is a world named the Jeweled-Colored Dragon's Light. Worlds as numerous as the fine motes of dust in twenty buddha-lands encircle it all around, purely one and entirely pure. Its buddha is named Universally Illumining the Whole Dharma-Realm."

A Closing Statement on the Ten Outer Rings

Chinese Source

「諸佛子!如是十不可說佛剎微塵數香水海中,有十不可說佛剎微塵數世界種,皆依現一切菩薩形摩尼王幢莊嚴蓮華住,各各莊嚴際無有間斷,各各放寶色光明,各各光明雲而覆其上,各各莊嚴具,各各劫差別,各各佛出現,各各演法海,各各眾生遍充滿,各各十方普趣入,各各一切佛神力所加持。此一一世界種中,一切世界依種種莊嚴住,遞相接連,成世界網;於華藏莊嚴世界海,種種差別,周遍建立。」

Ru-Yi Translation

"Buddha's children! Within these fragrant water oceans, as numerous as ten times the fine motes of dust in ineffable buddha-lands, there are world-seeds, as numerous as ten times the fine motes of dust in ineffable buddha-lands, all abiding resting upon a lotus flower adorned by the sovereign maṇi banner manifesting the form of every bodhisattva; each and every one has a boundary of adornment without any interruption, each and every one emits light of jeweled color, each and every one has a cloud of light covering over it, each and every one has its own adorning implements, each and every one has its own distinct kalpas, each and every one has its own appearance of buddhas, each and every one proclaims its own ocean of the Dharma, each and every one is filled entirely with its own living beings, each and every one is universally entered from the ten directions, and each and every one is sustained by the spiritual power of every buddha. Within each and every one of these world-seeds, every world abides resting upon every kind of adornment, connected to one another in succession, forming a net of worlds; and throughout the Flower-Treasury Adorned World-Ocean, established universally, distinct in every kind."

Reading note — Ru-Yi Meditation Center

This short closing paragraph is the payoff for everything catalogued since Part 27: ten outer rings, each themselves containing world-seeds beyond counting, are not simply ten separate lists sitting side by side. They are, the text insists, "connected to one another in succession, forming a net of worlds" — the same image of Indra's net invoked when this whole structure was first introduced back in Part 21, now confirmed as literally structural rather than merely decorative. Every world-seed catalogued across fascicles eight through ten turns out to be one node in a single net, none of them freestanding.

Part 29 Complete

This closes Part 29, continuing fascicle ten and the sūtra's fifth chapter, "The Flower-Treasury World-System" (華藏世界品第五): the eighth, ninth, and tenth outer rings of world-seeds, completing all ten begun in Part 27, followed by Samantabhadra's closing statement drawing them together into a single net of worlds. Part 30 completes fascicle ten with a single, sustained hymn of over two hundred lines surveying this entire cosmology — its shapes, its karma, its heavens and hells, its light and sound — the longest verse of the sūtra so far.