Namo!

Homage to the Lotus Pool Assembly of Buddhas and

Bodhisattvas As Vast As the Sea (3x)

Sutra of the Buddha's Teaching On Amitabha

Thus I have heard, at one time the Buddha dwelt at Shravasti, in the Jeta Grove in the
Garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and the Forlorn, together with a gathering of Great
Bhikshus, twelve-hundred fifty in all, all Great Arhats well-known to the assembly:
Elders Shariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakasyapa, Mahakatyayana, Mahakausthila,
Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola-Bharadvaja,
Kalodayin, Mahakaphina, Vakkula, Aniruddha, and others such as these, all Great
Disciples, together with all the Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas: Manjushri, Prince of Dharma;
Ajita Bodhisattva, Gandhastin Bodhisattva, Nityodukta Bodhisattva, and others such as
these, all Great Bodhisattvas, and together with Shakra, Chief among Gods, and the
numberless great multitudes from all the heavens.

At that time, the Buddha told the Elder Shariputra, From here, passing through hundreds
of thousands of millions of Buddhalands to the West there is a world called Utmost
Happiness. In this land a Buddha called Amitabha right now teaches the Dharma.

Shariputra, why is this land called Utmost Happiness? All living beings of this country
never suffer, but enjoy every bliss. Therefore it is called Utmost Happiness.

Moreover, Shariputra, this land of Utmost Happiness is completely surrounded by seven

tiers of railings, seven layers of netting, and seven rows of trees, all formed from the four
treasures, and for this reason called Utmost Happiness.

Moreover, Shariputra, in the land of Utmost Happiness are pools of the seven jewels,
filled with the waters of eight meritorious qualities; the bottom of each pool is pure,
covered with golden sands. On the four sides climb stairs of gold, silver, lapus lazuli,
crystal, mother-of pearl, rubies, and carnelian.

In the pools bloom lotuses as large as carriage wheels with colors of green light, red light,
yellow light, and white light, subtle, rare, fragrant, and pure. Shariputra, the Land of
Utmost Happiness is crowned in splendor and virtues such as these.

Moreover, Shariputra, in this Buddhaland heavenly music always plays, and the ground is
made of gold. In the six periods of the day and night a heavenly rain of mandarava
flowers falls, and throughout the clear morning, each living being of this land offers sacks
filled with myriads of wonderful flowers to the hundreds of thousands of millions of
Buddhas of the other directions. At mealtime they return to their own countries and after
eating they walk about. Shariputra, the Land of Utmost Happiness is crowned in splendor
and virtues such as these.

Moreover, Shariputra, in this country there are always rare and unusual birds of many
kinds and colors: white geese, cranes, peacocks, parrots, egrets, kalavinkas and two-
headed birds. In the six periods of the day and night the flocks of birds sing forth
harmonious and elegant sounds. Their clear and joyful calls proclaim the Five Roots, the
Five Powers, the Seven Limbs of Bodhi, the Eightfold Path of Sages, and dharmas such
as these. When living beings of this land hear their calls they are altogether mindful of
the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha.

Shariputra! Do not say that these birds are born as retribution for their sins. And why not?
Because in this Buddhaland the three evil paths do not exist. Shariputra, even the names
of the three evil paths are unknown in this Buddha's land; how much the less could they
actually exist! Wishing to proclaim the Dharma's sound far and wide, Amitabha Buddha
created these multitudes of birds by transformation.

Shariputra, in that Buddhaland when the gentle winds blow, the rows of jewelled trees
and jewelled nets reverberate with fine and wondrous sounds, as a symphony of one
hundred thousand kinds of music played in harmony. All who hear these sounds are
naturally mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha.
Shariputra, the Land of Utmost Happiness is crowned in splendor and virtues such as
these.

Shariputra, what do you think? Why is this Buddha called Amitabha? Shariputra, the
brilliance of that Buddha's light is measureless, illumining the lands of the ten directions
everywhere without obstruction. For this reason he is called Amitabha.

Moreover, Shariputra, the lifespan of that Buddha and that of his people extends for
measureless, limitless asamkhyeyas of kalpas. For this reason he is called Amitayus. And,
Shariputra, since Amitabha became a Buddha, ten kalpas have passed.

Moreover, Shariputra, that Buddha has measureless, limitless asamkheyas of Sound-

Hearer disciples, their number incalculable. So too is the assembly of Bodhisattvas.
Shariputra, that Buddhaland is crowned in splendor and virtues such as these.

Moreover, Shariputra, the living beings born in the Land of Utmost Happiness are all
avaivartika. Among them are many who in this very life will dwell in Buddhahood. Their
number is extremely many; it is incalculable. And only in measureless, limitless
asamkyeyas of kalpas could they be counted.

Shariputra, those living beings who hear of this should vow: I wish to be born in that
country. And why? Because those who are born there assemble in one place with people
whose goodness is unsurpassed. Shariputra, if one has few good roots, blessings, and
virtues, one cannot be born in that land.

Shariputra, if there is a good man or good woman who hears of Amitabha and holds his
name whether for one day, two days, three, four, five days, six days, as long as seven
days with one mind unconfused, when this person nears the end of life, before him will
appear Amitabha and all the Assembly of Holy Ones. When the end comes, his mind will
not be utterly confused, and in Amitabha's Land of Utmost Happiness he will quickly be
reborn. Shariputra, because I see this benefit, I speak these words; and, if living beings
hear this teaching they should make the vow: I wish to born in that land.

Shariputra, just as I now praise the inconceivable benefits arising from the merit and
virtue of Amitabha, so too in the East does Akshobya Buddha, Sumeru Likeness Buddha,
Great Sumeru Buddha, Sumeru Light Buddha, Wonderful Sound Buddha; all Buddhas
such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast
and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm and
proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you living beings should believe in this
sutra which all the Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they
protect and bear in mind.

Shariputra, in the Southern World, Sun-Moon Lamp Buddha, Sumeru Lamp Buddha,
Celebrated Light Buddha, Great Radiant Shoulders Buddha, Sumeru Lamp Buddha,
Measureless Vigor Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each
in his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold,
great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you living
beings should believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit
and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.

Shariputra, in the Western World, Measureless Life Buddha, Infinite Features Buddha,
Measureless Curtain Buddha, Great Light Buddha, Great Clarity Buddha, Jewelled
Likeness Buddha, Pure Light Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges'
sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the
threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All
you living beings should believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for its
inconceivable merit and virtue, protecting and bearing it in mind.

Shariputra, in the Northern World, Radiant Shoulders Buddha, Most Glorious Sound
Buddha, Invincible Buddha, Sun-Birth Buddha, Luminous Net Buddha, all Buddhas such
as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast and far-
reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims
these sincere and honest words: All you living beings should believe in this sutra which
all Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in
mind.

Shariputra, in the World Below, Lion Buddha, Well-Known Buddha, Celebrated Light
Buddha, Dharma Buddha, Dharma-Curtain Buddha, Upholding Dharma Buddha, all
Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth
a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm
and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you living beings should believe in
this sutra which all Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they
protect and bear in mind.

Shariputra, in the World Above, Pure Sound Buddha, Constellation King Buddha,
Superior Fragrance Buddha, Fragrant Light Buddha, Great Radiant Shoulders Buddha,
Varicolored Jewels-Adorned Body Buddha, Sala Tree King Buddha, Jewelled Flower of
Virtue Buddha, Discerning All Meanings Buddha, Like Sumeru Mountain Buddha, all
Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth
a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm
and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you living beings should believe in
this sutra which all Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they
protect and bear in mind.

Shariputra, what do you think? Why is it called Sutra which all Buddhas protect and bear
in mind? Shariputra, if a good man or good woman hears this sutra and upholds it, and
hears the names of all these Buddhas, this good man or good woman will also be one
whom all Buddhas protect and bear in mind, and will attain non-retreat from
anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Therefore, Shariputra, all of you should believe and accept my
words and the words all Buddhas speak.

Shariputra, if there are people who have already made the vow, who now make the vow,
or who will make the vow, I wish to be born in Amitabha's country, these people,
whether born in the past, now being born there, or to be born there in the future, will all
attain non-retreat from anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Therefore, Shariputra, all good men and
good women who believe should make the vow, I wish to be born in that country.

Shariputra, just as I now praise the inconceivable merit and virtue of all Buddhas, all
those Buddhas also praise my inconceivable merit and virtue, saying these words:
Shakyamuni Buddha can accomplish extremely difficult and rare deeds in the Saha Land
during the evil time of the Five Turbidities: during the time turbidity, the views turbidity,
the affliction turbidity, the living beings turbidity, and the lifespan turbidity. He can attain
anuttarasamyaksambodhi and for the sake of living beings proclaim this Dharma, which
the whole world finds hard to believe.

Shariputra, you should know that I, in the evil time of the Five Turbidities, perform these
difficult deeds, attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi, and for the entire world proclaim this
Dharma which is difficult to believe, extremely difficult!

After the Buddha spoke this Sutra, Shariputra, all the Bhikshus, and the entire world of
gods, humans, asuras, and others, hearing what the Buddha had said, joyously delighted
in it, faithfully accepted it, bowed and withdrew.

End of the Sutra of the Buddha's Teaching on Amitabha

Dharani For Rooting Out Karmic Obstructions

and For Being Reborn In the Pure Land:

Namo Amitabhaya
Tathagataya
tadyatha
Amrito--dbhave
Amrita--siddhambhave
Amrtia--vikrante
Amrtia--vikranta--gamine
gagana kirta--kare
Svaha

In Praise Of Amitabha
Amitabha's body is the color of gold,
The splendor of his hallmarks has no peer;
The light of his brow shines around a hundred worlds,
Wide as the seas are his eyes pure and clear.
Shining in his brilliance by transformation
Are countless Bodhisattvas and infinite Buddhas.
His forty-eight vows will be our liberation,
In nine lotus stages we reach the farthest shore.

Homage to the Buddha of the Western Pure Land,

Kind and Compassionate Amitabha (3x)
Namo Amita Buddha (recite at length)