Flower Garland Discourse: The Ten Great Aspirations of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva

Body, speech, and mind, purified, in oneness, 

I bow deeply to touch limitless buddhas 

of the past, present, and future 

throughout all worlds in the Ten directions.

The power of Samantabhadra’s vow 

enables me to be present everywhere. 

Where there is a buddha, I am there. 

As buddhas are countless, so too am I.

In a particle of dust are countless buddhas, 

all of them present with their own assembly. 

The strength of my faith penetrates deeply 

into every atom of all Dharma realms.

I aspire to use the great ocean of sound, 

giving rise to words of wonderful effect 

that praise the Buddha’s oceans of virtues, 

in the past, present, and future. 

I bring these beautiful offerings: 

garlands of the most beautiful flowers, 

incense, music, perfumes, and parasols, 

all to adorn the tathāgatas and their lands. 

I bring food, robes, and fragrant flowers, 

torches, sandalwood, sitting mats, 

the finest adornments here in abundance — 

an offering to the tathāgatas.

Inspired by Samantabhadra’s vow, 

I bring my heart, wide with deep understanding, 

with loving faith in the buddhas of the three times, 

as an offering to the tathāgatas everywhere. 

From beginningless time I have acted unskillfully 

with craving, hatred, and ignorance 

in actions of body, speech, and mind. 

Determined now to begin anew, I repent. 

I rejoice in every virtuous action 

of anyone, in any direction, 

of learners and of those who need learn no more, 

of buddhas and bodhisattvas. 

All beings who are lamps for the world 

and those who have just attained enlightenment, 

I beg that you will think lovingly of us, 

turning the wheel of the Dharma to help the world. 

With sincerity, I make a humble request 

of the buddhas and those who are about to enter nirvāṇa: 

remain forever in the world, 

for the benefit and the welfare of all. 

I wish to offer praise, respect, and merit

to invite the buddhas to stay and guide all beings to the other shore. 

The wholesome roots of repentance, and

rejoicing in others’ goodness, 

I offer to the path of awakening.

I vow to follow all buddhas in order to continue my studies, 

and to train myself in the perfect action of Samantabhadra, 

as an offering to the tathāgatas of the past,

and to all the buddhas of the present in the ten directions. 

All the wishes of the future teachers of gods and men 

have already been fulfilled. 

I vow to learn from the buddhas of the three times

and realize quickly the great enlightenment. 

I vow to use the languages of all living beings 

to teach them the Dharma. 

Encouraging them to practice the prajnaparamita purely, 

so that their bodhicitta never diminishes. 

May all beings be released from their unwholesome karma 

and the mara realms in the world. 

May I through countless lands and ages 

be of continuous benefit to all beings,

and accompany them for thousands of eons to come.

This merit is transferred to the Three Jewels, 

to their nature and form in the Dharma realms. 

The Two Truths are perfectly woven together 

into the samādhi seal. 

The ocean of merit is measureless. 

I vow to transfer it and not hold anything for myself. 

If any human, out of discrimination and prejudice, 

tries to do harm to the path of liberation,

may their obstacles be fully removed. 

In each moment, wisdom envelops the Dharma realms, 

welcoming all to the place of non-regression. 

Space and living beings are without limit, 

the same with afflictions and results of past actions. 

These four are fully and truly immeasurable. 

So, too, is my offering of merit.