The principle of all things reflecting or "containing" one another is also symbolized by the so-called "Net of Indra," which is an imaginary net of jewels that reflect each other with the reflections of each jewel containing reflections of all the jewels, ad infinitum. (p. 1530)
Excerpted from "Technical Terminology and Symbolism" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
by Thomas ClearyEvery phase of psychological or social development, every shift in interest, attention, or mood, every physiological change, even every passing thought are all examples of "birth-and-death." Emancipation from birth and death, a prime objective of enlightening endeavor, refers to not being submerged in or dominated by such changes; a traditional metaphor for this is that of the mirror, which is not itself affected by the flux of images it reflects. (p. 1522)
Excerpted from "Technical Terminology and Symbolism" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas ClearyThere were endless streams of jewel blossoms raining from clouds of various jewel flowers in a magnificent array surpassing the pleasure garden of Indra, chief of gods. There were well-spaced towers with various incomparably fragrant incenses always burning, more magnificent than Indra's hall of justice, covered above with nets of various jewels surpassing those of the heavens, hung with garlands of pearl flowers spread all over with nets of shining gold arrayed with jewel bells. Trees of various musical instruments, jewel palm trees with nets of bells, played sweet music as they were stirred by the breeze, and the singing of goddesses was also heard. The park was splendidly adorned by rain from clouds of radiant celestial cloths, of infinite colors like the ocean, lovely to see. [...] It was adorned with arrays of all kinds of jewels, everywhere graced with arrays of beautifully formed parasols, always radiating pleasing light [...] shining with world-illuminating light. It was as vast as a space that holds innumerable worlds. (p. 1266)
Excerpted from "Entry into the Realm of Reality" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas ClearyUnderstanding the Net of Gems as continuity of the ground of all situations, an unalloyed, incorruptible matrix of compassion; knowing that the visions of all leaders are like reflections and aware that all utterances are like echoes; and being themselves clouds of teaching with inexhaustible power of eloquence, in each successive mental moment, leaders emanate vast clouds of webs of light. (pp. 1164-1166)
Based on "Entry into the Realm of Reality" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas Cleary[T]hey had attained the knowledge that all realms of beings are like illusions; they had realized that all leaders are like reflections; they knew that all existence, states of being, and births are like dreams; they had pure knowledge that all developments of actions are like images in a mirror. (p. 1145)
Based on "Entry into the Realm of Reality" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas Cleary
Leaders edify followers without tiring, in harmony with the situation.
All acts are like reflected images. (p. 1041)
by Thomas ClearyIt is as though there is a great scriptureExcerpted from "Manifestation of Buddha" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
Equal in extent to a universe
Existing inside one atom,
And in all atoms as well. (p. 1005)
by Thomas ClearyOut of desire to enlighten all conscious beingsExcerpted from "Manifestation of Buddha" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
Similes are told where there is no comparison. (p. 983)
by Thomas ClearyAll situations are manifestations
Of the network of conceptions;
By the means of the net of illusion
One can understand all of them simultaneously. (p. 969)
Based on "The Practice of Universal Good" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
In a single atom
They see all worlds;
As in one atom,
So in all atoms;
In every single atom
Are all things of all places and times;
Mind is in the world,
World is in the mind --
About this they do not wrongly create
Discriminations of duality and nonduality. (pp. 959-964)
Excerpted from "The Practice of Universal Good" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
From "Auguries of Innocence" by William Blake.
Flowery forests of jewel trees circle the lake, and when the sun comes out, they reflect everything in and outside the lake, joining the reflections and radiance into a network of light. Myriad things are like this—far and near, high and low, broad and narrow, coarse and fine, even down to the tiniest grain of sand and mote of dust, all being beautiful jewels, clearly mirroring lights, all reflected in the orb of the sun, and all reflecting and rereflecting each other; these reflections, neither increasing nor decreasing, neither merged nor separated, are clearly visible as though they were the original substance itself. (p. 841)
Excerpted from "Ten Concentrations" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
With unattached, unbound, liberated mind, cultivate and learn Universal Good's knowledge of all things: knowing infinite things in one thing; knowing one thing in all things.
Based on "Ten Dedications" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
Hum softly, Trochilidae, and
fan the scent of Buddleia,
as young Sudhana sipped
sweet nectars of the Buddha.
Wing swiftly, Lepidoptera, to
remind of metamorphosis,
the fractal stage of chrysalis,
the cosmic net of Indra.
Inspired by "Entry into the Realm of Reality," the story of Sudhana's path to enlightenment, in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
Born of causes and conditions, all events are echoes, while leadership therein is reflection.
Based on "Ten Dedications" in The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
