1- Pure Land Praise
In the Lotus Pool Assembly as vast as the sea.
May Amita, the Thus Come One
Avalokiteshvara and Mahashamaprapta siting on the lotus daises.
Lead beings to ascend the golden ladder,
And based on great vows, expansively teach them
So that all will vow to leave defilement.
Namo Sea Vast Lotus Pool Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. (RECITE 3X)
2-Mantra for Purifying the Karma of the Body
Om xiu duo li xiu duo li xiu mo li xiu mo li sa po he.
3-Mantra for Purifying the Karma of the Mouth
Om xiu li xiu li mo he xiu li xiu xiu li sa po he.
4-Mantra for Purifying the Karma of the Mind
Om wa ri la da he he hu.
5-Mantra for Calming the Earth
Na mo san man duo mu tuo nanom dulu du lu zhai wei sa po he.
6-Mantra for Making Universal Offerings
Om ye ye nang san po wa fa ri la hu.
7-Verse for Opening a Sutra
The unsurpassed, profound, and wonderful dharma,
Is difficult to encounter in hundreds of millions of eons.
I now see and hear it, receive and uphold it,
And I vow to fathom the Tathagata’s true meaning.
Namo Sea Vast Lotus Pool Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. (RECITE 3X)
8-The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra
Thus have I heard, at one time, the Buddha dwelt at Shravasti in the Jeta Grove in the garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and the Solitary, together with a gathering of great bhikshus, twelve hundred fifty in all, all great arhats whom the assembly knew and recognized: Elders Sariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakasyapa, Mahakatyayana, Mahakaushtila, Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindolabharadvaja, Kalodayin, Mahakaphina, Vakkula, Aniruddha, and others such as these, all great disciples; together with all the Bodhisattvas, mahasattvas: Dharma Prince Manjushri, Ajita Bodhisattva, Gandhastin Bodhisattva, Nityodyukta 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 Sariputra, “Pass from here through hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhalands to the west, there is a world called Ultimate Bliss. In this land a Buddha called Amitabha right now teaches the dharma. Shariputra, for what reason is this land called Ultimate Bliss? All living beings of this country endure none of the sufferings, but enjoy every bliss. Therefore it is called Ultimate Bliss. Moreover, Sariputra, this land of Ultimate Bliss is everywhere surrounded by seven tiers of railing, seven layers of netting, and seven rows of trees, all formed from the four treasures and for this reason named Ultimate Bliss. Moreover Sariputra, the land of Ultimate Bliss has pools of the seven jewels, filled with the eight waters of merit and virtue. The bottom of each pool is pure, spread over with golden sand. On the four sides are stairs of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal; above are raised pavilions adorned with gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, mother-of-pearl, red pearls, and carnelian. In the pools are lotuses as carriage wheels: blue color of blue light; yellow color of yellow light; red colored of red light; white color of white light; subtly, wonderfully fragrant and pure.
Sariputra, the realization of the land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned. Moreover, Sariputra, in that Buddhaland there is always heavenly music, and the ground is solid 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 the land, with sacks full of the myriads of wonderful flowers, makes offerings to the hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhas of the other directions. At mealtime they return to their own country, and having eaten, they stroll around. Sariputra, the realization of the land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned. Moreover, Sariputra, in this country they’re always rare and wonderful varicolored birds: white cranes, peacocks, parrots and egrets, kalavinkas, and two headed birds. In the sixth periods of the day and night, the flocks of birds sing forth harmonious and elegant sound. Their clear and joyful sounds proclaim the five roots, the five powers, the seven bodhi shares, the eighth sagely way shares, and dharmas such as these. When living beings of this land hear these sounds, they are altogether mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha. Sariputra, do not say that these birds are born as retribution for their karmic offenses.
For what reason? In this Buddhaland there are no three evil ways of rebirth. Sariputra, in this Buddhaland not even the names of the three evil ways exist, how much the less their actuality! Desiring that the Dharma should be widely proclaimed, Amitabha Buddha by transformation made this multitude of birds. Sariputra, in that Buddhaland, when the soft wind blows, the rows of jeweled trees and Jewelled nets give forth subtle and wonderful sounds, like 100,000 kinds of music played at the same time. All of those who hear this sound naturally bring forth in their hearts mindfulness of the Buddha, mindfulness of the Dharma, and mindfulness of the Sangha.
Sariputra, the realization of the land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned. Sariputra, what do you think? Why is it that Buddha called Amitabha?
Sariputra, the brilliance of that Buddha’s light is measureless, illumining the lands of the ten directions everywhere without obstructions; for this reason He is called Amitabha. Moreover, Sariputra, the life of that Buddha and that of his people extends for measureless limitless Asankhyeya kalpas: for this reason he is called Amitabha. And Sariputra, since Amitabha realized Buddhahood, ten kaplas have passed.
Morever, Sariputra, that Buddhaland has measureless, limitless sound-hearer disciples, all arahats, their number incalculable; thus also is the assembly of Bodhisattvas. Sariputra, the realization of the land Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned. Moreover, Sariputra, those living beings born in the land of Ultimate Bliss are all avaivartika (no longer revolving).
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 Asankhyeya kalpas could it be spoken.
Sariputra, those living beings who hear should vow, “I wish to be born in that country.” And why? All those who thus attain are all superior and good people, all coming together in one place.
Sariputra, one cannot have a few good roots, blessings, virtues, and casual connections to attain birth in that light. Sariputra, if there is a good man or woman who hears spoken “Amitabha “ and holds the name, whether for one day, two days, three, four, five days, six days, as long as seven days, with one heart unconfused, when this person approaches the end of life, before him will appear Amitabha and the assembly of holy ones. When the end comes, his heart is without inversion; in Amitabha’s land of Ultimate Bliss he will attain rebirth. Sariputra, because I see this benefit I will speak these words: if living beings hear this spoken they should make the vow “I wish to be born in that land.” Sariputra, as I now praise the inconceivable benefit from the merit and virtue of Amitabha, thus in the east are also Aksobhya Buddha, Sumeru Appearance Buddha, Great Sumeru Buddha, Sumeru Light Buddha, Wonderful Sound Buddha; all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the 3,000 great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words, “all you living beings should believe, praise and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this sutra of the mindful one of whom all Buddhas are protective.”
Sariputra, in the world above our Pure Sound Buddha, King of Stars Buddha, Superior Fragrance Buddha, Fragrance Light Buddha, Great Blazing Shoulders Buddha, Varicolored Jewels and Flower Adornment Body Buddha, Sala Tree King Buddha, Jewelled Flower Virtue Buddha, Vision of All Meaning Buddha, such as Mount Sumeru Buddha: all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the 3000 great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words, “All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this sutra of the mindful one of whom all Buddhas are protected.”
Sariputra, what do you think? Why is it called sutra of the mindful one of whom all Buddhas are protective?
Sariputra, if a good man or good woman hears this sutra and holds to it, and hears the names of all these Buddhas, this good man or woman will be the mindful one of whom all Buddhas are protective, and will irreversibly obtained to Annutara-samyak-sambodhi. Therefore, Sariputra, all of you should believe and accept my words, and those that all Buddhist speak.
Sariputra, if there are people who already made the vow, who now make this vow, or who are about to make the vow, “I desire to be born in Amitabha’s country”, these people whether born in the past, now being born, or to be born in the future, all will irreversibly attain Annutara-samyak-sambodhi.
Therefore, Sariputra, all good men and good women, if they are among those who have faith, should make the vow, “I will be born in that country.”
Sariputra, just as I am now one who praises the merit and virtue of all Buddhas, all those Buddhas equally praise my inconceivable merit and virtue saying these words: “Shakyamuni Buddha can complete extremely rare and difficult deeds in the Saha Land, in the evil time of the five turbidites, in the midst of the Kalpa stupidity, the view tubidity, the affliction turbidity, the living beings turbidity, and the life turbidity, he can attain Annutara-samyak-sambodhi and for the sake of living beings, speak this Dharma which in the whole world is hard to believe.
Sariputra, you should know that I, in the evil time of the five turbidites, practice these difficult deeds, attain Annutara-samyak-sambodhi, and for all the world speak this Dharma, difficult to believe. extremely difficult!”
After the Buddha spoke this sutra, Sariputra and all the bhikshus, all the gods, humans and asuras, and others from the worlds, hearing what the Buddha had said joyously welcomed, faithfully accepted, bowed, and withdrew.
End of the Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra
9-Dharani for Pulling Out Karmic Obstructions by the Roots and Obtaining Birth in the Pure Land (Recite 3X)
Na mo e mi duo po ye
Duo ta qie duo ye
Duo di ye ta
E mi li du po pi
E mi li dou
Xi dan po pi
E mi li duo
Pi jia lan di
E mi li dou
Pi jia lan duo
Qie mi ni
Qie qie na
Zhi duo jia li
Suo po he
10-Praise to Amita Buddha
Amita Buddha, the Lord with the greatest wishes,
His mercy, compassion, delight, and abandonment immeasurable,
Between His eyebrows always emits white-curled radiance.
He delivers sentient beings so they may enter His Paradise.
Where the pond of eight-virtue water grow lotuses of nine gardens,
And where marvelous seven-jeweled trees form rows,
If the Tathagata’s sacred epithets are propagated,
He will receive us and lead us to His Western Paradise.
Amitabha’s body is the color of gold,
The splendor of His hallmarks has no peer.
The light of His brow shines round a hundred worlds,
Wide as the seas are His eyes pure and clear.
Shinning 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.
Na mo Amita Buddha (Recite while circumambulating)
Na mo Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva (Recite 3X)
Na mo Great Strength Bodhisattva (Recite 3X)
Na mo Great Pure Sea of Bodhisattva (Recite 3X).
11-Great Compassion Bodhisattva Prayer to Amita Buddha
Of Buddhas in all places and at all times, Amita Buddha is the foremost.
He delivers sentient beings of all nine grades.
We now are taking complete refuge in Him and repent our physical, oral, and mental sins.
If there is any blessing or good action, we sincerely apply it as Parinamana.
May we, as fellow Amidists, enjoy miraculous manifestations from time to time.
At the end of our lives, the scene of Western Paradise will manifest clearly in front of our eyes.
What we see and hear will contribute to our good progress towards rebirth into Paradise.
We shall see the Buddha and end further births and deaths, just like Buddhas who deliver all beings.
May boundless klesas be severed, may countless approaches be practiced.
We vow that we wish to deliver all sentient beings and wish all may achieve Buddhahood.
Even if the Void be finite, our wish, however, is infinite.
All beings, both with and without senses, will be perfected in wisdom.
All Buddhas in all places and all times and all Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas,
Maha prajna paramita.
12-The Three Refuges
To the Buddha I return and rely, vowing that all living beings understand the great way profoundly and bring forth the Bodhi mind.
To the Dharma I return and rely, vowing that all living beings deeply enter the sutra and have wisdom like the sea.
To the Sangha I return and rely, vowing that all living beings come together as a great assembly, one and all in harmony.
13-Dedication of Merit
We dedicate the merit of these actions to ______________(name)____________________________.
We vow he/she will be born in the Western Pure Land,
With the nine grades of lotus flowers as parents.
When the flowers open, he/she will see the Buddha and become enlightened to the unproduced,
And irreversible Bodhisattvas will be his/her companions.