(The full name:)
Sutra of the Merit and Virtue of the Past
Vows of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata
(Tripitaka No. 450)
Translated during Torng Dynasty by
Tripitaka Master Yiun-Tzorng
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Thus I have heard. At one time the
Bhagavan
was travelling through various lands to teach living beings. He arrived at
Vaisali ["City of
Extensive
Adornments"] and stayed beneath a tree from which
music resounded. With him were eight thousand great Bhikshus and thirty-six
thousand Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas; also kings, ministers, Brahmans, lay
disciples; gods, dragons, and the rest of the eightfold division; beings both
human and non-human. The immeasurable great multitude respectfully surrounded
him, and he spoke Dharma for them.
At that time, the Dharma Prince Manjusri,
receiving the awesome inspiration of the Buddha, rose from his seat, bared one
of his shoulders, knelt on his right knee, and inclining his head and placing
his palms together, said to the Bhagavan, "World Honored One! We wish you
would speak about such Dharmas as the Buddhas' names, the great vows they made
in the past, and their supreme merit and virtue, so that those who hear them will
be rid of their karmic hindrances. This request is also for the sake of
bringing benefit and joy to sentient beings in the Dharma-Image Age."
The Buddha then praised the Pure Youth
Manjusri: "Good indeed! Good indeed, Manjusri. With great compassion you
now request that I speak about the Buddhas' names and the merit and virtue of
their past vows, for the sake of rescuing sentient beings who are bound up by
karmic obstacles, and for the purpose of bringing benefit, peace, and joy to
beings who live in the Dharma-Image Age. Listen attentively to my words and
reflect on them extremely well, for I will now answer you."
Manjusri said, "Please do speak. We
are glad to listen."
The Buddha told Manjusri, "Passing
from here to the east, beyond Buddhalands numerous as the sand grains in ten
Ganges rivers, is a world called 'Pure Vaidurya'. The Buddha there is named
Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, Of Proper and Equal Enlightenment,
Perfect in Understanding and Practice, Well Gone One, One who Understands the
World, Supreme Lord, Regulating Hero, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha,
Bhagavan. Manjusri, when that World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light
Tathagata, was practicing the Bodhisattva path in the past, he made twelve
great vows that enable all sentient beings to obtain what they seek.
"The first great vow: 'I vow that in a
future life, when I attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi, my body will shine with
dazzling light that will illumine measureless, countless, boundless worlds. My
body will be adorned with the thirty-two heroic features and the eighty
subsidiary characteristics, and I will enable all beings to become as I am.'
"The second great vow: 'I vow that in
a future life when I attain Bodhi, my body will be as bright and clear as
vaidurya, flawlessly pure, vastly radiant, majestic with merit and virtue,
abiding at ease, adorned with blazing nets brighter than the sun and the moon.
Beings dwelling in darkness will be illuminated and will succeed in all their
endeavors.'
"The third great vow: 'I vow that in a
future life when I attain Bodhi, will by means of limitless, unbounded wisdom
and skill-in-means, enable all sentient beings to obtain an inexhaustible
supply of material necessities so they are without the slightest want.'
"The fourth great vow: 'I vow that in
a future life when I attain Bodhi, I shall lead those sentient beings who
practice deviant paths to reside in the Way of Bodhi and those who travel on
the vehicles of the Hearer or Pratyekabuddha to abide in the Great Vehicle.'
"The fifth great vow: 'I vow that in a
future life when I attain Bodhi I shall enable limitless and boundless numbers
of sentient beings who cultivate Brahma conduct within my Dharma to perfectly
uphold the three clusters of precepts without exception. Should there be any
violation, upon hearing my name, they will regain their purity and not fall
into the evil destinies.'
"The sixth great vow: 'I vow that in a
future life when I attain Bodhi, if there are sentient beings whose bodies are
inferior and whose faculties are imperfect, who are ugly, dull, blind, deaf,
mute, deformed, paralyzed, hunch-backed, or afflicted with skin disease,
insanity or various other sicknesses and sufferings, upon hearing my name they
shall all become endowed with upright features, keen intelligence, and perfect
faculties, and they shall be free of sickness and suffering.'
"The seventh great vow: 'I vow that in
a future life when I attain Bodhi, I shall cause sentient beings who are
oppressed by many illnesses and who are without aid, without a place to turn,
without a doctor, without medicine, without relatives, and without a family,
who are poverty-stricken and filled with suffering to be cured of their
sicknesses upon having my name pass by their ear, so they are peaceful and happy
in body and mind. They will have a family and relatives, and acquire an
abundance of property and wealth, and even realize unsurpassed Bodhi.'
"The eighth great vow: 'I vow that in
a future life when I attain Bodhi, if there are women who give rise to a deep
loathing for their female body and wish to renounce it because they are
oppressed and disturbed by the myriad sufferings of being female, upon hearing
my name, they will be able to turn from women into men who are replete with
male features and ultimately realize unsurpassed Bodhi.'
"The ninth great vow: 'I vow that in a
future life when I attain Bodhi, I Shall liberate sentient beings from the nets
of demons and the bonds of external sects. If they have fallen into the dense
forests of evil views, I shall lead them to have proper views and to gradually
cultivate the Practices of Bodhisattvas so they will quickly realize
unsurpassed, proper and equal Bodhi.'
"The tenth great vow: 'I vow that in a
future life when I attain Bodhi, I shall cause sentient beings who fall into
the hands of the law and are bound, interrogated, whipped, fettered,
imprisoned, sentenced to execution, or subjected to endless disasters,
hardships, abuse, and humiliation so that they are tom by grief and distress
and suffering in body and mind, to obtain, upon hearing my name, liberation
from all worry and suffering by means of my blessings, virtue, and awesome
spiritual power.'
"The eleventh great vow: 'I vow that
in a future life when I attain Bodhi, I shall cause all sentient beings who are
so plagued by hunger and thirst that they create all kinds of bad karma in
their quest for food, upon hearing my name and single-mindedly accepting and
maintaining it, to be filled with delicious food and drink and afterward, by
means of the flavor of Dharma, to settle in ultimate peace and happiness.'
"The twelfth great vow: 'I vow that in
a future life when I attain Bodhi, if there are sentient beings who are poor
and without clothes so that day and night they are troubled by mosquitoes and
flies, and by cold and heat, upon hearing my name and single-mindedly accepting
and maintaining it, they shall obtain all kinds of fine and wonderful garments
that accord with their tastes, as well as a variety of precious adornments,
flower garlands, fragrant balms, and the enjoyments of music and various kinds
of talents, so that all their hearts, delights will be fulfilled.'
"Manjusri, these are the twelve
sublime and wonderful vows that the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya
Light Tathagata, One of Proper and Equal Enlightenment, made while cultivating
the Bodhisattva Way.
"Moreover, Manjusri, if I were to
speak for an eon or more about the great vows made by the World Honored One,
Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, when he practiced the Bodhisattva Way and
about the merit, virtue, and adornments of his Buddhaland, I could not finish.
"That Buddhaland has always been
completely pure; there are no women, no evil destinies, and no sounds of
suffering. The ground is made of vaidurya, with golden cords lining the roads.
The city walls, towers, palace pavilions, studios, windows, and latticework are
all made of the seven treasures. The merit, virtue, and adornments of this land
are identical to those of the Western Land of Ultimate miss.
"Residing in that land are two
Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas; the first is called Universally Radiant Sunlight, and
the second, Universally Radiant Moonlight. They are the leaders among the
immeasurable, uncountable hosts of Bodhisattvas in that land and will be the
successors to that Buddha. They are able to maintain the precious treasury of
the proper Dharma of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light
Tathagata. Therefore, Manjusri, all good men and women who have faith should
vow to be born in that Buddha's land."
At that time, the World Honored One again
spoke to the Pure Youth Manjusri saying, "Manjusri, there are living
beings who don't distinguish good from evil, who indulge in greed and
stinginess, and who know nothing of giving or its rewards. They are stupid,
ignorant, and lack the foundation of faith. They accumulate much wealth and
many treasures and ardently guard them. When they see a beggar coming, they
feel displeased. When they have to practice an act of charity that does not
benefit themselves, they feel as though they were cutting a piece of flesh from
their body, and they suffer deep and painful regret.
"There are other innumerable
avaricious and miserly living beings who hoard money and necessities that they
don't use even for themselves, how much less for their parents, wives, or
servants, or for beggars! At the end of heir lives, such beings will be reborn
among the hungry ghosts or animals. If they heard the name of that Buddha,
Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, in their former human existence, and
they recall that Tathagata's name for the briefest moment while they are in the
evil destinies, they will immediately be reborn in the human realm. Moreover,
they will remember their past lives and will dread the sufferings of the evil
destinies. They will not delight in worldly pleasures, but will rejoice in
giving and praise others who give. They will not begrudge giving whatever they
have. Gradually, to those who come to beg, they will be able to give away their
own head, eyes, hands, feet, and even their entire body, to say nothing of
their money and property!
"Moreover, Manjusri, there are beings
who, although they study under the Tathagata, nonetheless violate the sila.
Others, although they do not violate the sila, nonetheless transgress the rules
and regulations. Others, although they do not violate the sila or rules and
regulations, nonetheless destroy their own proper views. Others, although they
do not destroy their own proper views, nonetheless neglect learning, so they
are unable to understand the profound meaning of the sutras that the Buddha
speaks. Others, although they are learned, nonetheless give rise to overweening
pride, Shadowed by overweening pride, they justify themselves and disparage
others, slander the proper Dharma, and join the retinue of demons.
"Such fools act on their misguided
views and further, a cause immeasurable minions of beings to fall into pits of
great danger. These beings will drift endlessly in the realms of the hells, the
animals, and the ghosts. But if they hear the name of Medicine Master Vaidurya
Light Tathagata, they will be able to renounce their evil practices and
cultivate wholesome Dharma, and thereby avoid falling into the evil destinies.
If those who have fallen into the evil destinies because they could not
renounce their evil practices and cultivate wholesome Dharmas, by the awesome
power of the past vows of that Tathagata, get to hear his name for only a
moment, then after they pass out of that existence, they will be reborn again
as human beings. They will hold proper views and will be ever vigorous. Their
minds will be well regulated and joyful, enabling them to renounce their
families and leave the householder's life-They will take up and maintain study
of the Tathagatas, Dharma without any violation. They will have proper views
and erudition; they will understand profound meanings and yet be free from
overweening pride. They will not slander the proper Dharma and will never join
the ranks of demons. They will progressively cultivate the practices of
Bodhisattvas and will soon bring them to perfection.
"Moreover, Manjusri, if there are
sentient beings who harbor stinginess, greed, and jealousy who praise them-
selves and disparage others, they will fallinto the three evil destinies for
countless thousands of years where they will undergo intense suffering. After
undergoing intense suffering, at the end of their lives they will be born in
the world as oxen, horses, camels, and donkeys that are constantly beaten,
afflicted by thirst and hunger, and made to carry heavy burdens along the
roads. Or they may be reborn among lowly people, as slaves or servants who are
always ordered around by others and who never for a moment feel at ease.
"If such beings, in their former lives
as humans, heard the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya
Light Tathagata, and by this good cause are able to remember it and sincerely
take refuge with that Buddha, then, by means of the Buddha's spiritual power,
they will be liberated from all sufferings. They will be endowed with keen
faculties, and they will be wise and erudite. They will always seek the supreme
Dharmas and encounter good friends. They will eternally sever the nets of
demons and smash the shell of ignorance. They will dry up the river of
afflictions and be liberated from birth, old age, sickness, death, anxiety,
grief, suffering, and vexation.
"Moreover, Manjusri, there may be
beings who delight in perversity and engage in legal disputes, bringing trouble
to others as well as themselves. In their actions, speech, and thought, they
create ever-increasing amounts of evil karma. Never willing to benefit and
forgive others, they scheme to harm one another instead. They pray to the
spirits of the mountain forests, trees, and graves. They kill living beings in
order to make sacrifices of blood and flesh to the yaksa and raksasa ghosts.
They write down the names of their enemies and make images of them, and then
they hex those names and images with evil mantras. They summon paralysis
ghosts, cast hexes, or command corpse-raising ghosts to kill or injure their
enemies.
"However, if the victims hear the name
of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, then all those evil things will
lose their power to do harm. The evildoers will become kind to one another.
They will attain benefit, peace, and happiness and no longer cherish thoughts
of malice, affliction, or enmity. Everyone will rejoice and feel content with
what they have. Instead of encroaching upon each other, they will seek to
benefit one another.
"Moreover, Manjusri, there may be
those among the fourfold assembly of Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas and
Upasikas, as well as other good men and women of pure faith, who accept and
uphold the eight precepts either for one year or for three months, practicing
and studying them. with these good roots, they may vow to be born in the
Western Land of Ultimate Bliss where the Buddha of limitless Life dwells, to
hear the Proper Dharma, but their resolve may not be firm. However, if they hear
the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata,
then as the end of their lives draws near, before them will appear eight great
Bodhisattvas, whose names are: Manjusri Bodhisattva, The Bodhisattva Who
Observes the Sounds of the World, Great Strength Bodhisattva, Inexhaustible
Intention Bodhisattva, Jewelled Udumbara Flower Bodhisattva, Medicine King
Bodhisattva, Medicine Superior Bodhisattva, and Maitreya Bodhisattva. Those
eight great Bodhisattvas will appear in space to show them the way, and they
will naturally be born by transformation in that land, amid precious flowers of
a myriad colors.
"Or they may be born in the heavens
due to this cause. Although reborn in the heavens, their original good roots
will not be exhausted and so they will not fall into the evildestinies again.
when their life in the heavens ends, they will be born among people again. They
may be wheel-turning kings, reigning over the four continents with awesome
virtue and ease, bringing uncountable hundreds of thousands of living beings to
abide in the practice of the ten good deeds. Or they may be born as Ksatriyas,
Brahmans, laymen, or sons of honorable families. They will be wealthy, with
storehouses filled to overflowing. Handsome in appearance, they will be
surrounded by a great retinue of relatives. They will be intelligent and wise,
courageous and valiant, like great and awesome knights. If a woman hears the
name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, and
sincerely cherishes it, in the future she will never again be born as a female.
"Moreover, Manjusri, when Medicine
Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata attained Bodhi, by the power of his past vows
he contemplated all the sentient beings who were undergoing various kinds of sicknesses
and sufferings. Some suffered from diseases such as emaciation, atrophy, severe
thirst, or yellow fever; others were harmed by paralysis ghosts or by poisonous
hexes; some died naturally when young, while others experienced untimely
deaths. He wished to dispel all their sicknesses and sufferings, and to fulfill
their wishes."
At that time, the World Honored One entered
a samadhi called "extinguishing the suffering and distress of all
beings." After he entered this samadhi, a great light came forth from his
flesh-cowl. From amid that light he proclaimed this magnificent dharani
Namo Bhagavate bhaisajya guru vaidurya
prabha rajaya
Tathagataya
Arhate
samyaksambuddhaya
tadyatha
Om bhaisajye bhaisajye bhaisajya samudgate
Svaha
After he had spoken that mantra from amid
the light, the earth trembled and emitted great light. All beings, sicknesses
and sufferings were cast off, and they felt peaceful and happy.
"Manjusri, if you see a man (or a
woman) who is ill you should single-mindedly and frequently clean and bathe him
and rinse his mouth-Provide him with food, medicine, or water that is free of
insects, over any of which the dharani has been recited 108 times. After the
sick person has taken it, all his sicknesses and sufferings will be gone. I f this
person has a wish, he should recite this mantra with utmost sincerity. Then he
will obtain whatever he wished for, and his life will be prolonged and free
from illness-At the end of his life, he will be reborn in that Buddha's land.
He will become irreversible and will ultimately attain Bodhi. Therefore,
Manjusri, if there are men and women who, with utmost sincerity, diligently
worship and make offerings to Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, they
should always recite this mantra and never forget it.
"Moreover, Manjusri, men or women of
pure faith, who have heard all the names of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light
Tathagata, One of proper and Equal Enlightenment should recite and uphold them.
In the early morning, after brushing their teeth and bathing, they should make
offerings of fragrant flowers, incense, perfumed balms, and various kinds of
music before an image of that Buddha. They should personally write out this
Sutra or ask others to do so, and they should single- mindedly and constantly recite
it. If they listen to explanations of its meaning from a Dharma Master, they
should make offerings to him of all necessities, so that he is without the
slightest want. In this way, they will receive the mindful protection of the
Buddhas. All of their wishes will be fulfilled, and they will ultimately attain
Bodhi."
At that time, the Pure youth Manjusri said
to the Buddha, 'World Honored One, I vow that in the Dharma- Image Age, using
various expedient means, I shall enable good men and women of pure faith to
hear the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light
Tathagata. Even during their sleep, I will awaken them with this Buddha's name.
"World Honored One, there may be those
who accept and uphold this Sutra, read and recite it, explain its meanings for
others, write it out themselves, or tell others to write it out. They may
revere it by making offerings of various flowers, paste incense, powdered
incense, stick incense, flower garlands, necklaces, banners, canopies, and
music. They may make bags of five-colored thread in which to keep the Sutra.
They may sweep clean a place and arrange a high altar on which to place this
Sutra. At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings with their retinues and other
innumerable hundreds of thousands of gods will come to that place to worship
and protect it.
"World Honored One, it should be known
that if, in the places where this precious Sutra circulates, people can accept
and uphold it, then due to the merit and virtue of the past vows of that World
Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, because they have heard
his name, none of those people will meet with untimely death. In addition, none
of them will be robbed of his vital energy by evil ghosts and spirits. Those
people whose vital energies have already been robbed will have their health
restored, and they will be happy and at peace in body and mind."
The Buddha told Manjusri, "So it is,
so it is! It is exactly as you say. Manjusri, if there are good men and women
of pure faith who wish to make offerings to that world Honored One, Medicine
Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, they should first make an image of that Buddha
and arrange a pure and clean dais on which to place the image. Then they should
strew all kinds of flowers, burn various incenses, and adorn the place with a
variety of banners and streamers. For seven days and seven nights they should
hold the eight precepts and eat pure food. Having bathed until clean and
fragrant, they should put on clean clothes. Their minds should be undefiled,
without thoughts of anger and malice. Toward all sentient beings, they should
cherish thoughts of benevolence, peace, kindness, compassion, joy, giving, and
equanimity.
"Playing musical instruments and
singing praises, they should circumambulate to the right of the Buddha's image.
Moreover, they should recall the merit and virtue of that Tathagata's past
vows. They should read and recite this Sutra, ponder its meaning, and lecture
on and explain it. Then they will obtain whatever they seek: Those who seek
long life will attain longevity; those who seek wealth will gain wealth; those
who seek an official position will obtain it; and those who seek a son or a
daughter will have one.
"Moreover, if a person who suddenly
has nightmare, sees ill omens, notices strange birds flocking together, or
perceives many uncanny events in his dwelling can worship and make offerings of
many fine things to that World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light
Tathagata, then the nightmares, ill omens, and inauspicious things will
disappear and will no longer trouble him.
"When a person is endangered by water,
fire, knives, or poison; or finds himself on a steep cliff or in a dangerous
place; or faces fierce elephants, lions, tigers, wolves, bears, poisonous
snakes, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, mosquitoes, gnats, or other
frightful things, if he can single-mindedly recollect, worship, and make
offerings to that Buddha, he will be liberated from all those frightful things.
When other countries invade or when there are thieves or riots, if a person can
recollect and worship that Tathagata, then he will be free of all of these as
well.
"Moreover, Manjusri, there may be good
men and women of pure faith who, all their lives, do not worship other gods,
but single-mindedly take refuge with the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
They accept and uphold precepts, such as the five precepts, the ten precepts,
the four hundred precepts of a Bodhisattva, the two hundred and fifty precepts
of a Bhikshu, or the five hundred precepts of a Bhikshuni. Perhaps they have
violated some of the precepts they received and are afraid of falling into the
evil destinies. If they concentrate on reciting that Buddha's name and worship
and make offerings to him, they definitely will not be reborn in the three evil
destinies.
"If there is a woman about to give
birth who suffers great pain, if she sincerely recites his name and worships,
praises, venerates, and makes offerings to that Tathagata, her sufferings will
be dispelled. The newborn child will be sound and healthy, and will have
upright features. Seeing him will make people happy. He will be keen and
intelligent, peaceful and secure, and with few ailments, and no evil spirit
will come to rob him of his vitality.
At that time the World Honored One said to
Ananda, "The merit and virtue of the World Honored One, Medicine Master
Vaidurya Light Tathagata, which I have just extolled, is the extremely profound
practice of all Buddhas. It is difficult to fathom and to comprehend. Do you
believe it or not?
Ananda said, "Greatly virtuous World
Honored One, I have absolutely no doubts regarding the Sutras spoken by the
Tathagata. why? Because all Buddhas' karmas of body, speech, and mind are
pure-World Honored One, the sun and moon could fall, wonderfully High, the king
of mountains, could be toppled or shaken, but the words of the Buddhas never
change.
"World Honored One, there are sentient
beings deficient in faith who hear about the extremely profound practices of
all Buddhas and think to themselves,' How could one obtain such supreme merit
and benefit merely by reciting the name of a single Buddha, Medicine Master
Vaidurya Light Tathagata? 'Due to this lack of faith, they give rise to
slander. During the long night they lose great benefit and joy and fall into
the evil destinies, where they wander ceaselessly."
The Buddha told Ananda, "If these
sentient beings hear the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master
Vaidurya Light Tathagata, and sincerely accept and uphold it without any
doubts, they cannot possibly fall into the evil destinies.
"Ananda, this is the extremely
profound practice of all Buddhas which is difficult to believe and to
understand! you should know that your ability to accept this comes from the
awesome power of the Tathagata Ananda, alI Hearers, Solitarily Enlightened
Ones, and the Bodhisattvas who have not yet ascended to the Grounds are
incapable of believing and understanding this Dharma as it really is. Only the
Bodhisattvas who are destined in one life to attain Buddhahood are capable of
understanding.
"Ananda, it is difficult to obtain a
human body. It is also difficult to have faith in and to revere the Triple
Jewel. It is even more difficult to be able to hear the name of the World
Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata. Ananda, Medicine Master
Vaidurya Light Tathagata possesses boundless Bodhisattva practices, limitless
skillful expedients, and immeasurably vast, great vows. If I were to speak
extensively of those for an eon or more, the eon would soon end, but that
Buddha's practices, vows, and skillful expedients have no end!"
At that time within the assembly, a
Bodhisattva Mahasattva named One who Rescues and liberates arose from his seat,
bared his right shoulder, knelt with his right knee on the ground, leaned
forward with his palms joined together, and said to the Buddha, "Greatly
virtuous World Honored One! During the Dharma Image Age, there will be living
beings afflicted with various diseases, emaciated front chronic illnesses,
unable to eat or drink, their throats parched and their lips dry. Such a being
sees darkness gathering all around him as the signs of death appear. While
lying in bed, surrounded by his weeping parents, relatives, and friends, he
sees the messengers of Yama leading his spirit before that king of justice.
Every sentient being has spirits that stay with him throughout his life. They
record his every deed, both good and evil, to present to Yama, the king of
justice. At that time, King Yama interrogates this person in order to tally his
karma and mete out judgement according to his good and evil deeds.
"At that time, if the sick person's
relatives and friends, on his behalf, can take refuge with the World Honored
One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, and request members of the
Sangha to recite this Sutra, to light seven layers of lamp, and to hang up the
five colored banners for prolonging life, then it is possible for his spirit to
return. As if in a dream, the person will see everything very clearly himself.
"If his spirit returns after seven,
twenty-one, thirty five, or forty-nine days, he will feel as if awakened from a
dream and will remember the retributions that he underwent for his good and bad
karma. Having personally witnessed the retributions of his own karma, he will
never again do any evil, even if his very life is endangered. Therefore, good
men and women of pure faith should accept and uphold the name of Medicine
Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata and, according to their capability, worship and
make offerings to him."
At that time, Ananda asked the Bodhisattva
who Rescues and liberates, Good man, how should we worship and make offerings
to the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata? And how
should we make the banners and lamps that prolong life?"
The Bodhisattva who Rescues and Liberates
said, "Greatly Virtuous One, if there is a sick person who wishes to be
freed from sickness and suffering, for his sake one should accept and uphold
the eight precepts for seven days and seven nights, and make offerings to the
Bhikshu Sangha of as many items of food, drink, and other necessities as are in
his power to give.
"During the six periods of the day and
night one should worship, practice the Way, and make offerings to the World
Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata. Read and recite this
Sutra forty-nine times, light forty-nine lamps, and make seven images of that
Tathagata. In front of each image place seven lamps, each as large as a
cartwheel. These lamps must be kept burning continuously for forty-nine days.
Hang up five- colored banners that are forty-nine spans long. Liberate a
variety of living creatures, as many as forty-nine species. Then the sick one
will be able to surmount the danger and will not suffer an untimely death or be
held by evil ghosts.
"Furthermore, Ananda, in the case of
ksatriya princes who are due to be anointed on the crowns of their heads, at a
time when calamity arises, such as pestilence among the population, invasion by
foreign countries, rebellion within their territories, unusual changes in the
stars, a solar or lunar eclipse, unseasonal winds and rains, or prolonged
drought, those ksatriya princes should bring forth an attitude of kindness and
compassion toward all sentient beings and grant amnesty to all prisoners. They
should follow the above-mentioned methods to make offerings to that World
Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata. Due to these good roots
and the power of that Tathagata's past vows, the country will be safe and peaceful,
the winds and rains will be timely, the crops will ripen, and all sentient
beings will be blissful and free of disease. Within this country there will be
no violence, nor any yaksas or other spirits that harms sentient beings, and
all evil omens will vanish.
"The ksatriya princes who are due to
be anointed on the crowns of their heads will enjoy longer lives and good
health, and they will be at ease and free from illness. Ananda, if the queens,
the princes, the ministers or court counselors, the ladies of the palace, the
provincial officials or the common people suffer from diseases or other
difficulties, they should also hang up five-colored spiritual banners, light
lamps and keep them burning, liberate living creatures, strew flowers of
various colors, and burn precious incense. Then those people will be cured of
their diseases and relieved of their difficulties.
Then Ananda asked the Bodhisattva who
Rescues and Liberates, "Good man, how can a life that has come to an end
be prolonged?"
The Bodhisattva who Rescues and Liberates
answered, "Greatly Virtuous One, did you not hear the Tathagata say that
there are nine kinds of untimely death? That is why people are exhorted to make
life-prolonging banners and lamps and to cultivate all kinds of blessings.
Through such cultivation of blessings, they will be freed from suffering and
adversity for the rest of their lives.
Ananda asked, "What are the nine kinds
of untimely death?"
The Bodhisattva who Rescues and liberates
said, "There may be living beings who, although not seriously ill have
neither medicine nor a doctor to treat them, or else they meet a doctor who
gives them the wrong medicine; consequently, they meet with an untimely death.
Some of them believe in worldly cults, whose deviant teachers frighten them
with false prophecies. Unable to set their minds at ease, they consult oracles
to find out what calamities are in store for them. In order to propitiate the
spirits, they kill various creatures. They pray to wang liang ghosts for aid
and protection. Although they wish to prolong their lives, their efforts are to
no avail. They deludedly hold to wrong beliefs and perverse views. Thus they
meet with an untimely death and fall into the hells, never to come out. This is
the first kind of untimely death.
"The second kind of untimely death is
to be executed at the hands of the law. The third kind is to hunt for sport, to
indulge in drinking and lust, or to become excessively dissipated, and then to
be waylaid by non-human beings that rob one's essence and energy. The fourth is
to be burned to death; the fifth is to drown; the sixth is to be devoured by
wild beasts; the seventh is to fall from a steep cliff; the eighth is to be
harmed by poison, voodoo, evil mantras, or corpse-raising ghosts; the ninth is
to die from hunger and thirst. These are the nine kinds of untimely deaths
generally spoken of by the Tathagata. There are also innumerable other kinds
which cannot all be spoken of here.
"Moreover, Ananda, King Yama keeps
track of the karmic records of all the inhabitants of the world. If there are
beings who are not filial to their parents, who commit the Five Rebellious
Acts, who revile the Triple Jewel, who destroy the laws of the country, or who
violate the precept of truthfulness, then Yama, the king of justice, examines
and punishes them according to the severity of their offenses. Therefore, I
encourage people to light lamps and make banners, to liberate beings and
cultivate blessings so that they can overcome suffering and peril and forestall
all disasters.
At that time, twelve great yaksa generals
were present in the assembly. They were: General Kimbhiro, General Vajra,
General Mekhilo, General Antilo, General Anilo, General Santhilo, General
Indalo, General Payilo, General Mahalo, General Cidalo, General Caundhulo, and
General Vikalo.
These twelve great Yaksa generals, each
with a retinue of seven thousand yaksas, simultaneously raised their voices and
addressed the Buddha, "World Honored One! Today, by relying on the
Buddha's awesome power, we are able to hear the name of the World Honored One,
Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata. As a result, we are no longer afraid
of the evil destinies. All of us are of one mind to take refuge with the
Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha to the end of our lives. We vow to support
all living beings and to benefit them, so that they may live in peace and
happiness. In whatever cities, villages, countries, or secluded forests this
Sutra circulates, or wherever people accept and uphold the name of Medicine Master
Vaidurya Light Tathagata and venerate and make offerings to him, we, together
with our retinues, will guard and protect them, deliver them from all distress,
and fulfill all their wishes. If a person wishes to dispel illnesses and
difficulties, he should read or recite this Sutra and tie a five-colored thread
into knots, forming the letters of our names. He should untie the knots when
his wishes have been fulfilled.
At that time, the World Honored One praised
the great yaksa generals, saying, "Good indeed, good indeed, mighty yaksa
generals! All of you who want to repay the kindness of the World Honored One,
Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, should always benefit beings and
bring peace and happiness to them in this way.
Then Ananda said to the Buddha, "World
Honored One, what should we call this teaching? How should we uphold it?"
The Buddha told Ananda, "This teaching
is called, 'The Merit and Virtue of the Past Vows of Medicine Master Vaidurya
Light Tathagata.' It is also called 'Twelve Spiritual Generals' Vows to Use
Spiritual Mantras to Benefit Living Beings.' It is also called 'Eradicating All
Karmic Obstacles.' You should uphold it in this way.
When the Bhagavan had finished speaking,
all the Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas, great Hearers, kings, minister, Brahmans,
laypeople, gods, dragons, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras,
mahoragas, humans, and non-human beings, and all the great assembly, on hearing
what the Buddha had said, were greatly delighted. They received it with faith and
respectfully practiced it.
(End of translation)
(Translated into English by B.T.T.S.)
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