Descriptions of the Purified Sahā World

The Jewelled Stūpa with Śākyamuni and Prabhūtaratna Tathāgata
Jewelled Stūpa of Prabhūtaratna

爾時佛前有七寶塔,高五百由旬,縱廣二百五十由旬,從地踊出,住在空中,種種寶物而莊校之。五千欄楯,龕室千萬,無數幢幡以為嚴飾,垂寶瓔珞寶鈴萬億而懸其上。

At that time, before the Buddha, there was a Seven-Jewelled Stūpa five-hundred yojanas tall and two-hundred and fifty yojanas in length and width, which rose out from under the earth and dwelt suspended in air, adorned with many, many number of jewels. Five-thousand vedikā-balustrades, ten-thousand toraṇa-arches, and countless dhvaja-flagstaffs and patākā-flags gloriously adorned it. Hung over it were many koṭis of jewelled mālya-garlands and jewelled kiṅkiṇī-tinkling-bells.

四面皆出多摩羅跋栴檀之香,充遍世界。其諸幡蓋,以金、銀、琉璃、車璩、馬腦、真珠、玫瑰、七寶合成,高至四天王宮。

The four sides all emitted gandha-fragrances of tamālapatra-bay-leaf and candana-sandalwood, permeating everywhere throughout the land. There were patākā-flags and chattra-parasols with suvarṇa, rūpya, vaiḍūrya, aśmagarbha, musāragalva, lohitamuktā, and karketana, together with all of the seven jewels, which composed it, and which rose high to the vimāna-palaces of the Four Heavenly Kings. 

The Pure Land of Amitābha Buddha has similar features to Śākyamuni Tathāgata’s

時娑婆世界即變清淨,琉璃為地,寶樹莊嚴,黃金為繩以界八道,無諸聚落、村營、城邑、大海、江河、山川、林藪。燒大寶香,曼陀羅華遍布其地,以寶網幔,羅覆其上,懸諸寶鈴。唯留此會眾,移諸天人置於他土。

Then, the Sahā Lokadhātu was made instantly purified, its ground was made of vaiḍūrya, jewelled trees adorned it, kanaka-gold serve as sutra-cords for the eight pradaksina-paths in each region, and nonexistent were the various towns, villages, cities, the Great Ocean, The Sita-Rivers, mountain-streams, and forests. Burning there was mahāratna dhūpa-incense, maṇḍarāva flowers permeated the land, using jewelled jāla-nets and vitāna-tapestries, they were spread over it, and hung were various jewelled kiṅkiṇījāla-tinkling-bell-nets. Only this saṃgha remained, while the various heavenly and human beings were moved to other lands. 

時釋迦牟尼佛欲容受所分身諸佛故,八方各更變二百萬億那由他國,皆令清淨,無有地獄、餓鬼、畜生及阿修羅,又移諸天、人置於他土。所化之國,亦以琉璃為地,寶樹莊嚴,樹高五百由旬,枝、葉、華、菓次第嚴飾,樹下皆有寶師子座,高五由旬,種種諸寶以為莊校。亦無大海、江河,及目真隣陀山、摩訶目真隣陀山、鐵圍山、大鐵圍山、須彌山等諸山王,通為一佛國土。寶地平正,寶交露幔遍覆其上;懸諸幡蓋,燒大寶香,諸天寶華遍布其地。

Then, Śākyamuni Buddha, wanting to provide a dwelling for His various partial-embodiment Buddhas, in each of the eight directions, indeed, transformed two-hundred ayutas of nayutas of other lands; all were purified. They had no hells, preta-realms, animal-realms, and also no asura-realms, and furthermore the heavenly and human beings were moved to another land. Those lands that were transformed also had grounds made of vaiḍūrya, adorned with jewelled trees; the trees were five hundred yojanas tall, with branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits marvellously adorned in order. Under all of the trees were jewelled siṃhāsanas five yojanas tall, and were adorned by all sorts of various jewels. Also, nonexistent were the great oceans, great rivers, as well as the Mucilinda mountains, Mahāmucilinda mountains, Cakravāḍa mountains, Mahācakravāḍa mountains, Mount Sumerus, and other various kings of mountains, and everywhere was made into one Buddhakṣetra. The jewelled land was level and even, and jewelled interlacing vitana-tapestries were spread out over it; suspended were various patākā-flags and chattra-parasols. Burning there was mahāratna dhupa-incense, and various divyapuṣpa-flowers permeated the land.

阿逸多!若善男子、善女人,聞我說壽命長遠,深心信解,則為見佛常在耆闍崛山,共大菩薩、諸聲聞眾圍繞說法。又見此娑婆世界,其地琉璃,坦然平正,閻浮檀金以界八道,寶樹行列,諸臺樓觀皆悉寶成,其菩薩眾咸處其中。若有能如是觀者,當知是為深信解相。

Ajita! Were Kuśalaputras to listen to Me expound on the Buddha’s Long Life with a profound mind of faith, then indeed they will see the Buddha constantly dwelling here on Mt. Gṛdhrakūṭa (Vulture Peak), accompanied with a saṃgha of mahābodhisattvas, and with all the encircling śrāvakas, expounding the Dharma. Furthermore, they will see this Sahā world, with its ground of vaiḍūrya, level and even, jambūnadasuvarṇa demarcating the eight directions, jewelled rows of tāla trees, and various kūṭāgāra-pavilions and vimāna-palaces replete with jewels, and with assemblies of bodhisattvas dwelling within. If there is one who can contemplate like this, one will constantly know the mark of profound faith and understanding.