Wisdom of the East | Page 7

Lesser Sutra of the
Buddha of Infinite Life.
64. He that reciteth the Holy name by his own effort and in the mind of
meditation or of dispersing, being led by the virtue of the divine
promise of final salvation, turneth naturally in at the Gate of Truth.
65. He that holds not the True Faith, even though he desire to be born
into the Pure Paradise of Joy, must go unto his own place, and it shall
be in the border of the Outermost Places, for this is the fruit of doubting
the mystery of the Supreme Wisdom.
66. That a man should be a Buddha, made manifest in this world, is a
rare thing and difficult. So difficult is it also to hear the excellent
doctrine of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. In all the myriads of
Kalpas such a way comes seldom.
67. Difficult is it for men to find a wise Teacher; so is it also for them
to be instructed and to hear the Holy Law. More difficult still is it to
receive the True Faith.
68. More difficult is it for men to receive the Divine Promise made

unto men than to receive all other teachings.
The Lord Buddha teacheth that this is of all hard things most difficult
and yet again more difficult.
69. The true Doctrine teacheth men that they may become Buddhas in
reciting the Holy Name, and so therefore is it that all other faiths and
moralities are but transitory doorways unto the Truth. Man
comprehendeth not that Pure Land of Peace unless he holdeth fast the
true Doctrine, casting aside that which is transitory.
70. Seek refuge in the Sole Vehicle of merciful promise. For the
transitory teachings have let and hindered men in the Way of
Enlightenment so that they must needs pass through the long weariness
of births and deaths.
CONCERNING THE SUTRA OF THE MEDITATION
71. That Lord that was made flesh in India, the Lord of great pity,
showing unto Vaidehi, Queen of Magadha, the golden mirror created
by his marvellous power, commanded her to choose the Land of Pure
Joy among all the worlds therein appearing.
72. Binbisara, he who commanded that an ascetic should be slain
before his pre-ordained time was come, by his own son was imprisoned
in a seven-walled prison as the due recompense of his violence.
73. Ajata-Satru, prince and heir of Magadha, denouncing his mother as
a traitor, with drawn sword ran furiously upon her.
74. Then said Jivaka the minister and another with him: "This act is
worthy only of an outcast. For the fame of our race unworthy art thou
to dwell in the Palace." And earnestly did they counsel him to change
his evil purpose.
75. Laying his hand on his sword-hilt, Jivaka, the minister, drew
backwards a few steps, steadfastly regarding the prince, that he might
avert this great sin. And so it was that the prince laid down his sword,
and secluded his mother in a palace.
76. Certain is it that Ananda with Vaidehi, Devadatta and yet others,
bearing their part in this great sorrow of the royal palace of Magadha,
must needs so suffer that they might know the infinite pity of the
Blessed One, that Lord who in this world made manifest the true
teaching.
77. And all these wise ones having so received instruction revealed
unto us, who are of all evil-doers worst, the true way, the refuge of His

divine promise that absolveth all the sins of men.
78. For when the full time was come that by the will of our Lord and of
Vaidehi the teaching of the Pure Land should be made known here on
Earth, Ajata-Satru, her son, sinned this sin, Varshakara his minister
bearing testimony against it.
79. It is needful that the heart of a man be opened unto the Faith
universal which He who is Blessed hath shown us, forsaking the belief
that his own works shall save him, for in every man the power to
perform righteous deeds is differing.
CONCERNING THE LESSER SUTRA
80. The Eternal Father is called the Buddha of Infinite Light, because
very mightily He holdeth in safety all beings dwelling in the Ten
Regions of the world who, by His merciful enlightenment, recite His
Holy Name.
81. The myriad Buddhas, unnumbered as the sands of Ganges, counsel
all having life to trust in the Supernal Virtue of the Holy Name,
declaring that weighed against this even righteous deeds are the lesser
good.
82. The innumerable Buddhas, countless as the sands of Ganges, are a
testimony and a shield to all that have life in this sorrowful and sinful
world, declaring unto them that teaching most high and difficult of
acceptance, which is the true faith.
83. Whoso attaineth