The Stanzas of Nagajuna

May You Be Well And Happy

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Summary

This article tells the story of a dialogue (from a series of dialogues) between the Buddhist sage Nagasena and the Indo-Greek King Menander (Pali:Milinda). The King converted to a Buddhist after his dialogues with Venerable Nagasena.

Content

The Stanzas of Nagajuna on the Amida Buddha and His Pure Land

Translated from the Pure Land, Vol. 1, No. 1, June, 1979,
from the French, by Franny Sime, August, 1980.
  1. Amitabha radiates wisdom.
    His body is like the Mountain of
    Pure Gold.
    In joining my hands now, with
    bowed head,
    I pay respect to him through body,
    speech and mind.
  2. His wondrous golden light flows
    throughout the worlds.
    Following on, things reveal his
    beauty.
    This is why I pay respect to him
    with bowed head.
  3. If someone at the end of his life
    is reborn in his state,
    Then he is endowed with innumer-
    able qualities,
    This is why I take refuge in him.
  4. He who begins to think about this
    Buddha, has his virtues and
    infinite power,
    Entering immediately into the sure
    State (of becoming a Buddha)
    This is why I think always of him.
  5. The man, in this state, at the
    end of his life,
    Even though he must endure
    torments,
    Will not be unhappy or go (fall)
    to hell.
    This is why I take refuge and pay
    respect to him.
  6. If someone is born in this realm,
    He does not fall again into the
    three evil destinies,
    Not even to the realm of the
    Asuras.
    I take refuge in him and pay
    respect to him now.
  7. The gods and men have qualities
    in common
    And resemble the summit of the
    mountain of gold.
    All superior beings are reunited
    there.
    This is why I pay respect and turn
    towards him.
  8. Those who are born in that realm
    Are endowed with divine powers of
    the eye and the ear:
    They penetrate the ten directions
    without obstruction,
    I bow my head before the most
    noble of saints.
  9. In that realm, all the living beings
    have divine power of transformation,
    And those who study in their hearts
    Are endowed with remembering the past
    lives.
    This is why I pay respect to him with
    bowed head.
  10. For those who are born in this realm
    there is no longer “me” or “mine”,
    They are not born to such thoughts.
    It is why I pay respect and bow my
    head to him.
  11. Once having left the prison of the
    three worlds,
    One has an appearance like the petals
    of a white lotus.
    The number of disciples is infinite.
    This is why I pay respect and bow my
    head to him.
  12. The living beings of this realm have
    the nature of this Buddha;
    They are gentle and harmonious.
    Spontaneously, they accomplish the
    ten good actions (perfections).
    I bow my head before the King of
    Saints.
  13. Following on from their good actions,
    A pure light arises in them,
    Incommensurable and infinite;
    They are the foremost amongst men
    (humans)
    This is why I take refuge in him.
  14. If someone takes the vow to become a
    Buddha, and thinks of Amida,
    At the moment of this vow (wishing),
    He will reveal his body to him.
    This is why I take refuge in him.
  15. By the power of the original vow of
    this Buddha,
    The Bodhisattvas of the ten directions
    Come and make offerings to him and
    listen to the Dhamma.
    This is why I bow my head before him.
  16. The Bodhisattvas of this realm
    Are endowed with all the signs and
    marks.
    They are adorned (endowed) similarly
    on their bodies.
    Now, I take refuge in him and pay
    respect.
  1. The great Bodhisattvas of this
    realm.
    Three times each day make offer-
    ings to the Buddhas of the Ten .
    directions.
    This is why I pay respect and bow
    my head to him.
  2. If someone cultivates the roots
    and of wholesomeness, but has doubt,
    His lotus does not open for him.
    Upon becoming pure, his lotus
    opens for him,
    And then he sees the Buddha.
  3. The Buddhas who dwell in the ten
    directions,
    In the middle of their
    diverse
    causes and conditions,
    Are not able to vie with the
    virtues of this Buddha.
    I take refuge in him now.
  4. This realm (land) is very ornate
    and brilliant.
    It eclipses the celestial palaces
    of this world here.
    Its qualities are very profound
    and deep.
    This is why I pay respect at the
    feet of the Buddha.
  5. Wheels of a thousand rays from
    the feet of the Buddha
    Have the beauty of delicate lotus’:
    Those who see them are always
    filled with joy.
  6. The light from the white hair
    between his eyebrows
    resembles the pure moon, and adds
    to the beauty of his face.
    In my turning towards him, I pay
    respect to the feet of the Buddha.
  7. In the beginning when he made the
    vow to become a Buddha,
    He made some things rare and
    marvellous.
    Thus it is written in the Sutra.
    In my turning towards him, I pay
    respect and bow my head to him.
  8. The teaching given by this Buddha
    destroys all the roots of evil.
    By his sweet words, one receives
    a number of benefits.
    This is why I pay respect with
    bowed head.
  9. With his sweet words he comes to the
    aid (help) of the sufferer who asks
    for happiness (apply themselves to
    happiness).
    He has rescued those in the past and
    he rescues those still today.
    This is why I pay respect and bow my
    head to him.
  10. He is extremely venerated by gods
    men.
    The gods turn toward him and pay
    homage with the crowns of seven joys
    and the pearls of Mani.
    This is why I take refuge in him.
  11. All the gathering of saintly and
    virtuous beings,
    As well as devas and men,
    Gather round to take refuge in him.
    This is why I also, I pay homage to
    him.
  12. By means of this vehicle of the
    Eightfold Path,
    One can cross the ocean difficult to
    traverse,
    To save himself and to save others.
    I pay respect to the highest of men.
  13. The Buddhas during innumerable
    world cycles,
    Praise and speak of the virtues of
    this Buddha,
    Without ever exhausting
    themselves.
    I take refuge in this pure man.
  14. Now, myself also, the same as
    them,
    Praise his innumerable virtues.
    In my turning towards him, I pay
    respect to the feet of the Buddha.
    On the virtue of this cause and
    condition of merit,
    I wish that the Buddha thinks
    always of me.
  15. That in my present or past life,
    The merits that I have gained,
    Be they big or small,
    I wish to go to the realms of the
    Buddha,
    And to have always a pure heart.
  16. By the virtue of this cause and
    condition of this merit,
    This superior and marvellous
    quality that I have received,
    I wish all living beings
    Similarly obtain it.