Avatamsaka contemplation

It is a sad fact that the Hua-Yen school no longer exists as a living movement; yet there is no Buddhist who does not acknowledge the Avatamsaka Sutra as amongst the most important scriptures of the canon. As a textual microcosm of the entire universe, it is complex enough (even with a performance that tries to give the audience of its luminosity – see Hua-Yen Sutra 2.0) – and the translation by Thomas Cleary is probably, so far, the only English resource we’ll ever get, at least for the next century. I’m not kidding; I cannot imagine Cleary taking on such a herculean task again, and I don’t imagine that anyone else would dare to undertake a revised translation – although someone in the future may well be ambitious enough to “surpass” Cleary.

“I should earnestly cultivate practice in all worlds for the sake of sentient beings, attain an infinite free body pervading the cosmos, attain an infinite great mind pervading the cosmos, become endowed with infinite pure speech equal to the realms of the cosmos, appear in sites of enlightenment of infinite congregations throughout the extent of the cosmos, cultivate enlightening practices as infinite as the cosmos, realize equanimity of enlightening beings as infinite as the cosmos, learn principles of enlightening beings as infinite as the cosmos, live by practices of enlightening beings as infinite as the cosmos, and enter into dedications of enlightening beings as infinite as the cosmos.” Book Twenty-Five: Ten Dedications: pg 673

It is interesting how he translates “bodhisattva” as “enlightening being”, considering he does not actually translate “the Buddha” into “Enlightened One” – those who read the Sutra would be well-versed with the bodhisattva path and bodhisattva vows, so why this rather interesting “enlightening being” trans.? But I can understand he uses “enlightening” rather than “Enlightened”. Nevertheless, I would have imagined “bodhi” would be translated as wisdom. Oh well.

One more passage for practitioners’ contemplation.

“Put me on that vehicle which cuts through all obstructions,
Steady and firm as the finest steel, adorned with garlands of knowledge.

It is spacious, clean, impartial toward people, a refuge for all beings, bringing happiness:
Put me on that vehicle of enlightenment, which sheds light throughout the cosmos.

Its advance cuts through the mass of suffering, clears the sphere of dust of afflictions of action,
And subdues all demons and challengers – put me on that vehicle of truth.

Its scope is universal knowledge, it arrays the sky of the reality realm;
Bring me to that vehicle of truth, which fulfills the aspiration of all beings.

Put me on that spiritual vehicle, pure and infinite as space,
Unstained by ignorance and obscurity of views, serving all sentient beings.” – Book 39: Entry into the Realm of Reality: pg 1177