(28) The Buddha spoke: “ Rightly said, O Ratnakuta, thou hast inquired the way to the pure land for the sake of all the Bodhisattvas; listen carefully ! listen carefully ! Ponder well on what thou hearest, now will I preach for thy sake.”

(16) The Buddha said: “Indeed it is so, indeed it is so!

(7) Buddha said: “Rightly said! Rightly said! O Maitreya, it is indeed as thou sayest. I rejoice in it sharing thy joy.”

(56) The Buddha then spoke to Sariputra and said : “ Now hast thou seen this world of ours pure and adorned?”

(3) Buddha spoke to him and said: "Rightly said! Rightly said! O king of deities, I share thy joy; here in this scripture the inconceivable and supreme enlightenment of all the Buddhas of the past, the present, and the future is fully set forth.

(7) Then the Buddha spoke to SariputANSWER: “Hast thou seen that which was wrought by the mighty supernatural power of those Bodhisattvas and those excellent men?” [He replied] : “Yes, I have seen.” “

(16) Then Buddha Sakyamuni spoke to the assembly and said: “Have you seen the Tathagata Akshobhya and his magnificent land Abhirati and his Bodhisattvas pure in life, and disciples who are pure and stainless?”

(21) Those Bodhisattvas having heard these words praised him saying: “We have never heard the like before; Sakyamuni, the world-honoured one, concealing his infinite power of independence which is never restricted, and manifesting only those things desired by the poor delivers them [from suffering], and also these Bodhisattvas of this world who are never wearied and always ready to condescend to become poor, are born in this land of Buddha cherishing infinite great compassion.”

(4) He saith, as he invoketh his Lord, the Eternal one:—

(5) Maitreya Bodhisattva having heard these words spoke to Buddha and said.- “O Blessed One, I have never heard the like before. It is indeed as Buddha has spoken. I will remove with my utmost effort such false conceptions as these and hold fast on the works of supreme enlightenment, which were accumulated by Tathagata during these countless Asamkhyeya kalpas of the past. If there be in the future a son or daughter of a noble family who shall seek the Mahayana I will enable them to put even in their own hands this scripture, so that they can hold it, recite it, and fully explain it for the sake of others.

(21) Buddha spoke to Sariputra and said: “Hast thou seen the Abhirati world and the Buddha Akshobhya?” He replied: “O Blessed One, verily I have seen them; may all beings obtain the pure land even as the land of the Buddha Akshobhya, and obtain the supernatural power even as that of Vimalakirti. O Blessed One, we have received so great a privilege that we could see this man and make ourselves acquainted with him and honour him;

(1) THUS it was heard by me. At one time the Blessed One dwelt at Vaisali, in the grove of Amrapali, together with eight thousand great Bhikshus and thirty-two thousand Bodhisattvas. These Bodhisattvas were well known to the world; they were endowed with profound wisdom and fundamental duties, and supported by the power of all the Buddhas ; they were the maintainers of the true law which they preached, like the roaring of a lion, for the protection of the law-fortress ; their names were heard in all the ten quarters; though not requested they made themselves advisers of all people, giving them peace; transmitting and elevating the Three Treasures they rendered them immortal; conquering the Evil Ones and repressing all the heresies; they were all pure and undefiled, ever free from all the hindrances, and their minds were abiding in unimpeded emancipation; they were never interrupted in their recollection, meditation, self-control, and eloquence; they were endowed with [the virtues of] Charity, Discipline, Patience, Energy, Meditation, Wisdom, and Capacity for devising Skilful Means; they attained to recognition in the law which is uncreated and unobtainable; they were obedient to [the doctrine of all the Buddhas] in rolling the Wheel which never turns back; comprehending the nature of things, they were acquainted with the capacity of all beings; they could never be excelled by any, as they attained to the state of fearlessness ;

(11) The origin and the dissolution of beings, verily, have been heard by me in detail from Thee, O Lotus-eyed, as also Thy inexhaustible greatness.

(35) Then those Bodhisattvas, having heard this law preached [by Buddha], were filled with great joy, strewed beautiful flowers of many colours and many perfumes all over the three great Chiliocosms, and having honoured Buddha, his doctrine, and the Bodhisattvas, worshipped the Buddha by touching his feet with their bowed heads, praised him saying they had never heard the like before, and spoke thus; “Sakyamuni Buddha has here well exhibited his necessary means.”

(16) Knowing his profound thought Buddha prophesied for him and said: ‘ Thou wilt guard the fortress of the law in the latter days.

(6) Then he said: * Verily, Gautama, that is among divine boons. Mention [one] of human boons/

(15) Buddha again spoke to Indra, the king of deities, and said: “ Candracchatra the prince, having heard such doctrines as these from the Buddha Bhaishajyaraja, attained to acquiescence in meekness; then he having removed the jewelled raiment and ornaments from his body, offered them to Buddha and spoke to him saying: ‘ O Blessed One, after the complete passing of Tathagata I will pay homage to the law and protect the true law; I pray that thou through thy power, wouldst show me thy compassion and raise me that I may be able to repress the enmity of evil and realise the life of a Bodhisattva.’

(27) Then those Bodhisattvas who have come from Sarvagandha-sugandha spoke to Buddha with folded hands and said: “O Blessed One, when we saw this land we cherished the thought that it -was inferior to ours; but now we repent and renounce this thought. And why? The necessary means of all the Buddhas are so inconceivable that they manifest in order to save all beings different lands of their own according to the needs of all beings. O Blessed One, we pray that thou shouldst give some few words on the law that we may think of [thee] Tathagata when we return to our land. ’ ’

(58) The Buddha spoke to SariputANSWER: “ This world of ours is ever pure as this; yet to save beings of inferior capacities is this wicked and impure 'world shown. As when the gods take their food from one and the same treasure-bowl, yet the lustre of food is different according to their virtues, so, O Sariputra, if one is pure in mind, then he can see the qualities of this world adorned.”

(57) Sariputra said: “Well, O Blessed One, it is what I have never seen the like before, never even heard of such a wonder as this splendour now unfolded before us.”