The Flower Ornament Scripture

 

I have had the Avatamsaka Sutra in my collection for many years. Checking in at well over 1000 pages I have never read it all, just parts. Yet in fact the first chapter (which itself is over 100 pages) I have read more than once. This first chapter consists of the proclamations of myriad Enlightenment Beings, each speaking of the way they came to Enlightenment

For the blurb on the back I wrote my own take on this first chapter, that it could be seen to represent all the various acts of compassion and kindness enacted each day in this world - often going unrecognised.

As well as such a view, for me it speaks of the Mahayana teaching of Upaya, or "skilful means", that the "one way" of enlightenment/salvation is nevertheless of infinite expression, moulded to each unique human being. This point is made throughout the Scripture.

Here is D T Suzuki speaking:-

“As to the Avatamsaka-Sutra, it is really the consummation of Buddhist thought, Buddhist sentiment, and Buddhist experience. To my mind, no religious literature in the world can ever approach the grandeur of conception, the depth of feeling, and the gigantic scale of composition, as attained by the sutra. Here not only deeply speculative minds find satisfaction, but humble spirits and heavily oppressed hearts, too, will have their burdens lightened. Abstract truths are so concretely, so symbolically represented here that one will finally come to a realization of the truth that even in a particle of dust the whole universe is seen reflected—not this visible universe only, but a vast system of universes, conceivable by the highest minds only.”

I am now reading deeper into this Scripture and it repays whatever effort is required to concentrate and reflect upon its words. The translator, Thomas Cleary (who I thank) says himself in his Introduction:-

THE FLOWER ORNAMENT SCRIPTURE, called Avatamsaka in Sanskrit and Huayan in Chinese, is one of the major texts of Buddhism. Also referred to as the major Scripture of Inconceivable Liberation, it is perhaps the richest and most grandiose of all Buddhist scriptures, held in high esteem by all schools of Buddhism that are concerned with universal liberation. Its incredible wealth of sensual imagery staggers the imagination and exercises an almost mesmeric effect on the mind as it conveys a wide range of teachings through its complex structure, its colorful symbolism, and its mnemonic concentration formulae.

Mr Cleary also states that it is not known when or by whom this scripture was composed. It is not claimed to be written by "God", nor was it found on golden plates () But does it matter? For me all reality is "revelation" - we can ourselves give pre-eminence to certain events or books, but Grace, Mercy, Compassion have no precise boundaries.

As Meister Eckhart once said:- "They do Him wrong who know God in just one particular way - they end with a way, not with God."

Well, I will get back to reading the scripture, immerse myself in the doings of such as "Sound of Light of Universal Knowledge", "Universal Light of the Lamp of Wisdom" and "Array of Quality Jewels of Fragrant Flowers." Visit and learn of such lands as "Ocean of Worlds named Pleasant Jewel Light", "Ocean of Worlds called Treasuries of Light Spheres of Lapis Lazuli Lotuses" and "Land called Array of Jewels" (where abides the Buddha called "Fearless Lamp of All Truths")

No condemnation is found.

May true Dharma continue.
No blame. Be kind. Love everything