Bridging East and West: Ancient Chinese Poetry Translation

Note: This is a liberal English translation of an ancient poem found in the Classical Chinese Infinite Life Sutra (which dates back to the Cao Wei Dynasty of the three kingdoms era). I made some compromises in favor of meter and rhyme scheme, so it is not wholly accurate. But here it goes: Assured Success in Achieving Bodhi (Chapter 7): I will rise far beyond the yonder And cruise upon the unsurpassed If my vows won’t come to pass Then from Bodhi I will wander I seek to be the greatest patron And give alms to the forsaken To let all beneath the skies Have peace in their long nights Arising from virtuous roots Accomplishing the Bodhi-fruit If I achieve wisdom most high I shall be known as Infinite Life Beings who heed my name And arrive in my Buddha-domain Will have Sagely golden brilliance And all the features of excellence With the Greatest Compassion I uproot the many passions Of every order of beings Endowing virtue most purifying I shall shine my Wisdom Light Across the ten quarters bright Quelling the three dark taints And pardoning those attainted I offer salvation to those in perdition I subdue all turbid emotions I help open the Wisdom-eye And grant bodies of shining light I wall off every woeful path And pave the way to wealful mirth I mine the Dharma-treasure And distribute merits with pleasure I seek to be wise like the Buddha To be kind like the Tathagata To be the teacher of all devas, To shoulder the universe like Atlas To preach the Dharma like Simha To save those mired in karma To perfect each and every vow And give Buddha-hood to all If my vision is proved true The whole universe will be moved Heavenly deities shall fete And scatter flowers like confetti ! All rights released into Public Domain