DESCRIPTION
The Flower Treasury Adornment Ocean of Worlds (Kusuma-tala-garbha-vyūhālamkāra-loka-dhātu-samudra, or Padma-garbha-loka-dhātu 華藏莊嚴世界海) is the cosmology presented in the Mahāvaipulya Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra (’The Flower Garland Sutra’), primarily in Chapter Five.
PART ONE: The Formation of Oceans of Worlds
From Chapter Four of the Āvataṃsaka Sūtra:
- The causes and conditions necessary for the arising and ‘completion’ of worlds
- Basis for abiding of worlds
- Forms/shapes of worlds
- Essential nature of worlds (what they are made of)
- Adornments of worlds
- Purity of worlds
- Arising of buddhas within worlds
- Kalpic ages of worlds
- Differences between worlds and their kalpic ages
- The gateway of the absence of difference between worlds
PART TWO: The Flower Treasury Adornment Ocean of Worlds
From Chapter Five of the Āvataṃsaka Sūtra:
- Ten ‘Wind Discs’ (vāyu-maṇḍalaka or vāyucakra)
- Surrounding ring of iron mountains (Mahācakravāla)
- Great earth ground within the ring of iron mountains, like vajra, etc.
- Fragrant oceans on the great earth ground within the ring of iron mountains
- Rivers that feed the fragrant oceans on the ground within the ring of iron mountains
- Areas adorned with flowers and jewels between the rivers feeding the oceans on the ground within the ring of iron mountains, on the wind discs
PART THREE: Worlds within the Ocean of Worlds
1️⃣ The fragrant ocean in the very center of the ring of iron mountains is called: Boundless Light of Wonderous Flowers.
It produces a huge lotus flower called Maniraja Jewel Adornment of all Scents.
There is a world-system resting on the lotus called Blazing Light Illuming the Ten Directions
1. Within that world- system, at the nadir, is a world called Supreme Light Shinning Everywhere
2. Above this is a world called…
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10. Above this is a world called Vajra Banner
- Above this is a world called
- Above this is a world called
- Above this is our world called Sahā (’Endurance’)
- Above this is a world called
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- Above this, at the Zenith is a world called
2️⃣ East of the sea of fragrant water in the center, Boundless Light of Wonderous Flowers, there is another Fragrant Ocean called Treasury of Undefiled Radiance.
It produces a huge lotus flower called Beautiful Adornments of Manirajas with all Scents.
There is a world-system resting on the lotus called Vortex of Lands Shinning Everywhere.
1. At the bottom of that world-system is a world-system called Palace Decorated Banner.
2. Above this….
Up to
20.
3️⃣ South of Repository of Undefiled Flames there is another sea of fragrant water called Sphere of Inexhaustible Light.
We’re not sure if it produces a lotus or not,
There is a world-system Array of Banners of Buddhas, composed of sounds….
1. At the bottom is a world called Lovely Flower.
2. Above this…
Up to
20.
4️⃣ Circling / Turning to the Right of Sphere of Inexhaustible Light there is a sea of fragrant water called Vajra Flame Jewel Light.
We’re not sure if it produces a lotus or not,
There is a world-system Repository of Arrays of Buddhas Halos, composed of voices….
1. At the bottom is a world called Jewel Flame Lotus.
2. Above this…
Up to
20.
5️⃣ Circling to the right of Vajra Flame Light there is a sea of fragrant water called Sapphire Array.
There is a world-system, Light Illuminating the Ten Directions. It rests on a fragrant cloud of lotuses.
1. At the bottom is a world called Wheel of Ten Directions Treasuries of Endless Colors.
2. Above this…
Up to
20.
6️⃣ Circling to the right of Sapphire Array there is a fragrant ocean called Adorned Depths of the Vajra Wheel.
There is a world-system known as Indra’s Net Inset with Wonderous Jewels. Its essence is the sound created by the wisdom of Samantabhadra.
1. At the bottom is a world called Lotus Flower Net.
2. Above this…
Up to
18.
7️⃣ Circling to the right of Adorned Depths of the Vajra Wheel there is a fragrant ocean called Indra’s Net of Lotuses.
There is a world-system known as Manifesting Reflections Throughout the Ten Directions.
- At the bottom is a world called Jewel Light of the Ocean of Beings
- Above this…
Up to
8️⃣ Circling to the right of Indra’s Net of Lotuses there is a fragrant ocean called Fragrant Treasury of Collected Jewels.
There is world-system called Adorned With Every Kind of Awesome virtue.
- At the bottom is a world called All Different Kinds of Creations
- Above this…
Up to
9️⃣ Circling to the right of Fragrant Treasury of Collected Jewels there is a fragrant ocean called Jewel Adornments.
There is a world-system called Completely Undefiled.
- At the bottom is a world called Pure, Marvelous, and Level
- Above this…
Up to
20.
🔟 Circling to the right of Jewel Adornments there is a fragrant ocean called Mass of Jewel Vajras.
There is a world-system called Dharmadhatu Conduct
- At the bottom is a world called Dazzling Radiance of the Light of Purity
- Above this…
Up to
20.
1️⃣1️⃣ Circling to the right Mass of Jewel Vajras there is a fragrant ocean called Jeweled Parapet of the Celestial Ramparts.
There is a world-system called Light of the Lamp’s Flame.
- At the bottom is a world called Sphere of the Jeweled Moon’s Flaming Light
- Above this…
Up to
19.
1️⃣2️⃣ To the east of the fragrant ocean Treasury of Undefiled Radiance (#2) there is a fragrant ocean called Transformationally Created Sublime Bodies.
There is a world-system called Region of Well-Distributed Distinctions.