Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (232)

The Cause of Wealth, Happiness, and Freedom

Original text: 如是富乐。种种严饰。皆是无边称王。积集广大。善根福力。之所获得。又彼宝庄严城。周匝复有。八万四千清净园林。一一园中。有八大池。其池各广。半踰缮那。一一池岸。有四阶陛。四宝所成。巧妙严饰。八功德水。充满其中。众色莲华。开敷弥布。于其池岸。复有诸花。阿提目葛多花。詹博迦花。嚩始计花。苏曼那花。阿输迦花。婆师迦花。如是种种。诸妙香花。无边称王。与诸臣民。止住园中。共为游乐。

Explanation: All such wealth, happiness, and various adornments were obtained by King of Boundlessness (Anantarāja) through the accumulation of vast roots of goodness and the power of merit in his past lives. None of this came from nothing, nor could it be enjoyed without cause. Around that jeweled adorned city there were also eighty-four thousand pure gardens and parks; in each and every garden there were eight great ponds; each pond was half a yojana in width; on the banks of each pond there were stairways made of four kinds of jewels, skillfully adorned; the water endowed with eight virtues filled them; lotus flowers of many colors bloomed and spread across the pond banks; and on those pond banks there were even more flowers, such as atimuktaka flowers, campaka flowers, vāśikī flowers, sumana flowers, aśoka flowers, puṣpa flowers, and so forth—such various and numerous wonderful fragrant flowers. King of Boundlessness and his ministers and subjects dwelt in the gardens, enjoying amusement and pleasure together.

Original text: 大王。彼王宫城，高广严好。宝多罗树行植于上。宝网周遍，宝铃和鸣，出妙音响。如五乐声。时彼人民，赖王德化。富乐自在，安隐而住。

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, the royal palace city of King of Boundlessness was tall, spacious, and majestically adorned, with rows of jeweled tāla trees planted upon it; jeweled nets spread all around, and jeweled bells chimed in harmony, producing wonderful sounds, like the sounds of five musical instruments playing together. At that time the people, relying on the King's virtuous transformation, lived lives of wealth, happiness, freedom, peace, and security.