The basic materials for learning Buddhism

The Sutra of Merits and Virtues of the

Past Original Vows of Medicine

Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata

EditorCHIANG KUO-CHANG

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The Sutra of Merits and Virtues of the Past Original Vows of

Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata

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Thus I have heard, On a certain time, Bhagavan was

travelling through various lands/ countriesto teach living

sentient / sensitive / conscious / humanbeings. He arrived at

/ reachedVaishali, City of Extensive Adornments, and stayed

/ livedbeneath a tree from which music resounded.

Bhagavan: ( ) Vaishali: extensive: adornment:

resound:

- 9 -

There were eight thousand great bodies of Bhikshu in

all with him, and there were thirty-six thousand bodies of

Bodhisattva Mahasattva; also kings, ministers, bodies of Brahman,

lay disciples; heavenly beings, dragons, and the rest of the

eightfold division; both human beings and non-human beings.

The immeasurable great multitude respectfully surrounded him,

and he spoke Dharma for them.

Bhikshu: Bodhisattva Mahasattva: minister:

Brahman: lay disciple: eightfold division:

immeasurable: multitude:

- 10 -

At that time/ Then, Dharma Prince Manjushree,

receiving the awesome inspiration of Buddha, rose/ stood up

from his seat, bared one of his shoulders, knelt down his right

knee, and inclining/ slanting / slight leaninghis head and

placing/ puttinghis two palms together, said to Bhagavan.

Dharma Prince Manjushree: awesome:

inspiration: bared: incline:

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He addressed/ said / told,"The World Honored One

We have a wish that you can speak about the same kinds of such

Dharma as the bodies of Buddha' names, and their great original

vows they had made in the past, and their supreme merits and

virtues, so that those who have heard them will be rid of their

karmic hindrances. This request is also for the sake of bringing

benefit and joy to sentient/ humanbeings in the Dharma-Image

Age."

address: ( ) World Honored One: Dharma:( ) karmic

hindrance: merits and virtues: sentient beings: for the sake of:

... Dharma-Image Age:

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Then The World Honored One praised the Pure Youth

Manjushree by saying, "Good indeed Good indeed,

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ManjushreeYou, just with great compassion in mind, now

request and beg me to speak about the bodies of Buddhas names

and their merits and virtues of their past original vows, for the

sake of rescuing/ savingsentient beings who are bound up by

karmic obstacles, and for the purpose of bringing them benefit,

peace, and joy to living/ humanbeings who live in the

Dharma-Image Ages. You just listen attentively and carefully to

my words and reflect on them extremely well, for now I will

answer your question."

rescue: bind: attentively: karmic obstacle:

reflect:

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Manjushree said, "Please do speak. We are glad to listen

your speech."

////

/ / / /

Buddha told Manjushree, "Passing from the place where

we live toward the east, beyond Buddha lands numerous as the

grains of sand in ten Ganges rivers, there is a world which name

is called 'Pure Vaidurya.' At there, there is a body of Buddha

whose name is called Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata.

He is also called Arhat, Perfect and Equal Enlightenment, Perfect

in Knowledge and Behavior, Well Gone One, Knower of the

world, Supreme trainer, Regulating Hero, Teacher of Gods and

Humans, Buddha, Bhagavan.

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Buddha land: Ganges river: Pure Vaidurya: Medicine Master

Vaidurya Light Tathagata: Arhat: Perfect and Equal

Enlightenment: Perfect in Knowledge and Behavior: Well Gone

One: Knower of the world: Supreme trainer: Regulating Hero:

Teacher of Gods and Humans:

1

2

3

4/

5

6

7

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8

9

10

//

ManjushriWhen the World Honored One, Medicine

Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, was practicing/ cultivatingthe

Bodhisattva path in the original past, he had made twelve great

vows that enable all sentient/ living / consciousbeings to obtain

what they seek/ want / desire.

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The First Great Vow: 'I vow that in my future times

on a certain of my life, when I have attained

anuttarasamyaksambodhi, my body will may shine with dazzling

light that will illumine measureless, countless, boundless worlds.

My body will be adorned with thirty-two heroic features and the

eighty subsidiary/ subordinatecharacteristics/ features, and

I will enable all living/ sentientbeings to become as bright as I

am.'

dazzle: illumine: measureless: countless:

boundless: adorn: heroic feature: subsidiary:

characteristic:

- 18 -

The Second Great Vow: I vow that in my future

times on a certain of my life, when I have attained Bodhi, whether

inside or outside my body, there will may be as bright and clear as

vaidurya, flawlessly pure, vastly radiant, majestic with merits and

virtues. My body is abiding at ease, adorned with blazing nets,

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which surpasses the brightness of the sun and the moon. Those

living beings dwelling/ livingin the darkness/ hellwill be

illuminated, and I will inspire, instruct them to understand what

the meaning of my teachings, and they will succeed in all their

endeavors and careers/ jobs / works.

flawlessly: radiant: majestic: abide:

endeavor: career:

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The Third Great Vow: I vow that in my future times

on a certain of my life, when I have attained Bodhi, by means of

limitless, unbounded wisdom and skill-in-means, I will enable all

sentient/ livingbeings to obtain/ get / havean inexhaustible

/endless / infinitesupply/ provisionof material necessities

so that they have not any the slightest lacks/ wants.

skill-in-means: inexhaustible:

The Fourth Great Vow: I vow that in my future

times on a certain of my life when I have attained Bodhi, I shall

lead/ letthose sentient/ livingbeings, who practice deviant

/ wickedpaths be resided/ livedin the Way of Bodhi, and let

those who travel on the Small Vehicles of the Sound- Hearer or

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Pratyekabuddha be abided/ stayedin the Great Vehicle.

deviant: reside: GreatsmallVehicle: Sound- Hearer:

Pratyekabuddha: abide:

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The Fifth Great Vow: I vow that in my future times

on a certain of my life, when I have attained Bodhi, I shall enable

limitless and boundless numbers of sentient/ livingbeings, who

are cultivating and practicing Brahma conduct within my Dharma

to perfectly uphold/ insist / resolute /persist inthe three clusters

of precepts/ rules / commandments /donts / ordainswithout

exception. If there had any violation, upon hearing my name, they

will regain their purity and not fall into the evil destinies.

cultivate: Brahma conduct: uphold: clusters of precept:

exception: violation:

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12

3

The Sixth Great Vow: I vow that in my future times

on a certain of my life, when I have attained Bodhi, if there are

sentient/ livingbeings whose bodies are inferior and whose

faculties are imperfect, who are ugly, dull, blind, deaf, mute,

deformed/ crippled / disabled, paralyzed, hunch-backed, or

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afflicted with skin disease, insanity, or various other sicknesses

and sufferings, upon hearing my name all of them may become

endowed with upright features, keen intelligence, and perfect

faculties in all his/ herorgans, and they shall be free from

sickness and suffering.

inferior: faculty: deformed: paralyzed: hunch-backed:

afflicted with skin disease: insanity: endow:

upright feature: keen intelligence:

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The Seventh Great Vow: I vow that in my future

times on a certain of my life, when I have attained Bodhi, I shall

cause sentient/ living / sensitive / consciousbeings, who are

oppressed/ pressedby many illnesses/ sickness, and who have

not any aid/ help, without a place/ hometo turn/ live /

dwell, without a doctor to see, without any medicine to be cured

of their illness, without relatives to depend/ relyon, and without

a family to raise him/ her, who are suffering poverty to strike

them and filled with misery, upon having my name pass by their

ears, to be peaceful and happy in body and mind. They will have a

family and relatives to depend on, and acquire/ get / obtain

/catch / reap / capturean abundance/ crop / harvestof property

/ possessionsand wealth/ riches / money / fortune, and

finally/ ultimately / at last / in the endeven realize, prove and

get the unsurpassed Bodhi.

oppress: abundance:

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The Eighth Great Vow: I vow that in my future

times on a certain of my life, when I have attained Bodhi, if there

are women who give rise to a deep loathing/ hatred / dislikefor

their female/ womensbody, and they wish to renounce/ give

up onit because they are oppressed/ pressedand disturbed

/ annoyed / botheredthem by the myriad/ lots of / numerous

sufferings of being female. Upon hearing my name, they will be

able to turn from the womens body into mens body, who are

replete/ filledwith male/ mensfeatures, and ultimately/

finally / at lastthey realize, prove and get the unsurpassed

Bodhi.

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give rise to: loathing: renounce: myriad:

replete: male feature: ultimately:

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The Ninth Great Vow: I vow that in my future times

on a certain of my life, when I have attained Bodhi, I shall liberate

/ set freesentient/ livingbeings from the nets of demons and

the bonds of external sects. If they have fallen into the dense/

thickforests/ woodsof evil views/ opinions, I shall lead

/ guidethem to have proper views and to gradually/ little by

littlecultivate the practices of Bodhisattvas so they will quickly

realize, prove and get the unsurpassed, proper and equal Bodhi.'

liberate: demon: bond: sect: dense:

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The Tenth Great Vow: I vow that in my future times

on a certain of my life, when I have attained Bodhi, I shall cause/

guidethose sentient/ living / consciousbeings 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 torn

by grief and distress and suffering in body and mind, if they have

heard my name, obtain liberation/ freedomfrom all worry and

suffering by means of my blessings, virtues, and awesome

spiritual power.

interrogate: whip: fetter: imprison: sentence:

execution: subject: disaster:() hardships: abuse:

humiliation: blessing: spiritual power:

- 30 -

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The Eleventh Great Vow: I vow that in my future

times on a certain of my life, when I have attained Bodhi, I shall

may cause/ guideall sentient/ living / consciousbeings who

are so plagued by hunger and thirst that they create/ makeall

kinds of bad karma in their quest/ search / pursuitfor food, if

they have heard my name, they single-mindedly accept and

maintain it, to be filled with delicious foods and drinks and

afterward by means of the flavor of Dharma, to settle in ultimate

/ finalpeace and happiness.

plague: quest: single-mindedly: maintain: flavor:

settle:

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The Twelfth Great Vow: I vow that in my future

times on a certain of my life, when I have attained Bodhi, if there

are sentient/ living / conscious / humanbeings, who are poor

and without clothes to put on so that during day and night they are

troubled by mosquitoes and flies, and by cold and heat, if they

have heard my name, they single-mindedly accept and maintain it,

they shall obtain all kinds of fine and wonderful garments/

clothesthat 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

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hearts' delights will be fulfilled.

garment: garland: fragrant: balm:() talent:()

fulfill:

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"ManjushriThese are his twelve sublime and

wonderful vows that the World Honored One, Medicine Master

Vaidurya Light Tathagata, Arhat, Perfect and Equal

Enlightenment made, while he is cultivating his Bodhisattva

Way."

sublime:

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"Moreover, ManjushriIf I were to speak that for an

eon or more about the great vows made by the World Honored

One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, when he had

practiced the Bodhisattva Way and about his merits, virtues, and

adornments of his Buddha land, I could not finish speaking about

it."

eon: Bodhisattva Way: adornment: Buddha land:

"Then the land of the Buddha has always been

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completely pure; there are not any 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/ gems. The merits, virtues, and adornments of

this land are identical to those of the Western Land of Ultimate

Bliss."

evil destiny: pavilion: studio: latticework:

Western Land of Ultimate Bliss:

There are two bodies of Bodhisattva Mahasattva

residing/ living / stayingin that Buddha-land, the first is called

Universally Radiant Sunlight, and the second is called

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Universally Radiant Moonlight. They are the leaders among the

immeasurable, uncountable hosts/ leaders / guidersof bodies of

Bodhisattva in that Buddha-land, and they will be the successors

to that Buddha-hood. The two bodies of Bodhisattva Mahasattva

are able to maintain the precious treasury of the Proper Dharma of

the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light

Tathagata.

Universally Radiant Sunlight: Universally Radiant Moonlight:

host: successor:

- 38 -

Therefore, ManjushreeAll of those good men and

women, who have faith/ beliefin this, should vow to be born in

that Buddha's land."

At that time, the World Honored One again spoke to the

Pure Youth Manjushree by saying, "ManjushreeThere are still

many living/ humanbeings, who don't distinguish/ tellgood

from evil, who indulge/ drownin greed and stinginess, and they

do not know anything of giving or its rewards. They are stupid,

ignorant, and lack the foundation of faith. They accumulate/ pile

upmuch wealth/ riches / properties / possessionsand many

treasures/ jewelryand they ardently/ eagerlyguard them.

When they see a beggar coming, they feel displeased /

unhappy.If they have to practice an act of little charity, they feel

as if they were cutting a piece of flesh from their body, and they

suffer deep and painful regret."

- 39 -

distinguish: indulge:() greed: stinginess: ardently:

"Moreover, there are other innumerable avaricious/

greedyand miserly living/ human / conscious / sentientbeings,

who hoard up/ assemble / gather togethermoney and necessities

beyond their using even for themselves, much less for their

parents, wives, servants, and for beggars who come to begAt

the end/ last timeof their lives, such human beings will be

reborn among the hungry ghosts or animals.

avaricious: miserly: hoard: how much less:

- 40 -

Because in the past they lived in the human world,

they had ever heard the name of that Buddha, Medicine Master

Vaidurya Light Tathagata. They recall that Tathagata's name for

the briefest/ shortestmoment while now they are in the evil

destinies, they will immediately/ at oncedisappeared from there

and again be reborn in the human realm. Moreover, they will

remember their past lives and will dread/ fear / be afraid ofthe

sufferings of the evil destinies. They will not delight in worldly

pleasures/ enjoyment /delight, but will enjoy in giving and

praise others who give. They will not begrudge/ envygiving

whatever they have. Gradually, to those who come to beg, they

will be able to give away their own head, eyes, hands, feet, blood,

muscle and even their entire body, much less of the rest of their

- 41 -

money and property"

brieft: evil destiny: human realm: begrudge:

"Moreover, ManjushreeIf there are living/ human /

conscious / sentient / sensitivebeings, though they have studied

and held precepts under the Tathagata, nevertheless they violate

the shila. Others, although they do not violate the shila,

nevertheless they transgress the rules and regulations. Others,

although they do not violate the shila or rules and regulations,

- 42 -

nevertheless they destroy their own proper views. Others,

although they do not destroy their own proper views, nevertheless

they neglect learning, so they are unable to understand the

profound meaning of the Sutras that Buddha has spoken.

nevertheless: violate: ( ) shila: transgress: ( )

regulation: proper view:

Others, although they have learned, nevertheless they

give rise to overweening pride. Shadowed / Coveredby

overweening pride, they justify themselves and disparage /

despise / disdain / look down uponothers, slander/ libel /

calumniatethe Proper Dharma, and join the retinue/ company,

companion / associate / colleague / comradeof demons. Such

foolish people act on their misguided/ misleadviews and further,

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cause immeasurable millions of living/ humanbeings to fall into

pits of great danger.

give rise to: overweening: shadow: justify:

disparage:() slander: retinue: demon:

misguide:

These human beings will drift/ floatendlessly in the

realms of hells, animals, and ghosts. But if they have ever heard

the name of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, they will

be able to renounce/ give up / abandon / desert / forsaketheir

evil practices and cultivate wholesome Dharmas, and thereby they

can avoid falling into the evil destinies.

drift:() endlessly: realm: renounce: evil destiny:

- 44 -

If those people who have fallen into the evil destinies

because they could not renounce/ give uptheir evil practices

and cultivate wholesome Dharmas. By the awesome power of the

past original vows of that Tathagata, he can make/ letthem hear

his name appearing in the front of them just for only a moment,

then after they pass out of that existence, they will be reborn again

as human beings.

- 45 -

They will hold proper views and will be ever vigorous.

Their minds will be well-regulated and joyful, enabling them to

renounce/ give uptheir families and leave the householder's life

and live those of no-family life. They will take up and maintain

study of the Tathagata's Dharma without any violation.

vigorous: well-regulated: violation:

They will have proper views and erudition /

well-reading; 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 the bodies of Bodhisattva

and will soon bring them to perfection."

erudition: progressively:

- 46 -

"Moreover, ManjushreeIf there are sentient/ living

beings, who harbor stinginess, greed, and jealousy, and praise

themselves and disparage/ despise / look down uponothers,

they will fall into the three evil destinies for countless thousands

of years, where they will undergo / experience intense

suffering.

disparage:() jealousy: three evil destinies:

After having underwent the intense suffering, from

there their lives come to an end, they will be reborn in the world

- 47 -

of human realm but born 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.

afflict:

If such beings, in their former/ pastlives as humans,

ever had heard the name of the World Honored One, Medicine

Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, and by this good cause are

again able to remember it now and sincerely take refuge with that

- 48 -

Buddha, then, by means of the Buddha's spiritual power, they will

be liberated from all sufferings. They will be endowed with keen

faculties in their organs, and they will be wise and erudite/

well-read. They will always seek the supreme Dharmas and

always encounter/ meetgood friends. They will eternally/

foreversever/ cut offthe 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/ worriment."

take refuge: endow: erudite: encounter: eternally:

sever: shell of ignorance: smash: affliction:

vexation:

- 49 -

"Moreover, Manjushree, if there are living/ sentient

beings, who may delight in perversity / conflicting /

contradictory /stubbornness / doggednessand engage in legal

disputes each other, much more bringing trouble to others as well

as themselves. In their actions, speech, and thoughts, they create/

makeever-increasing amounts of evil karma. Never willing to

benefit and forgive others, they scheme/ trap/ trickto harm one

another instead.

perversity: legal: dispute: ever-increasing: scheme:

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 yaksha and rakshasa ghosts. They write

down the names of their enemies and make images of them, and

then they hex and curse those names and images with evil

- 50 -

mantras. They summon/ callparalysis ghosts, cast hexes, or

command corpse-raising ghosts to kill or injure their enemies.

sacrifice: yaksha: rakshasa: hex: mantras:

curse: summon: paralysis: corpse-raising:

- 51 -

However, those living beings if the victims have heard

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 enjoy and feel content with what they

have. Instead of encroaching/ intruding / infringingupon and

insulting or be bullied each other, they will seek to benefit one

another."

victim: evildoer: cherish: malice:

enmity: encroach: bully:

- 52 -

"Moreover, ManjushreeIf there are those fourfold

assembly of bodies of Bhikshu, Bhikshuni, Upasaka, Upasika, as

well as other good men and good women of pure faith, who can

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 and wish to be born in the Western Land of

Ultimate Bliss, where the Buddha of Limitless Life dwells, to

hear the Proper Dharma, but their resolution / resolve /

determinationmay not be firm/ strong / durable / solid /

- 53 -

stable.

Bhikshu: Bhikshuni: Upasaka:

Upasika: Western Land of Ultimate Bliss: Buddha

of Limitless Life:()

- 54 -

However, if they have heard the name of the World

Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, then as

the end of their lives draws near, in front of their faces there will

appear eight great bodies of Bodhisattva, whose names are called:

Manjushree Bodhisattva, The Bodhisattva Who Observes the

Sounds of the World/ Avalokiteshvara/ Guan-yinBodhisattva,

Great Strength Bodhisattva, Inexhaustible Intention Bodhisattva,

Jeweled Udumbara Flower Bodhisattva, Medicine King

Bodhisattva, Medicine Superior Bodhisattva, and Maitreya

Bodhisattva.

Those eight great bodies of Bodhisattva will appear in

the space/ skyto show /guide / directthem the way, and they

will naturally/ of coursebe born by transformation in that land,

amid precious/ nobleflowers of a myriad/ numerouscolors.

myriad: transformation:

- 55 -

Or they will be born in the heavens due to this cause.

Though they are reborn in the heavens, their original good roots

will not be exhausted/ endedand so they will not fall into the

evil destinies again.

exhaust:

When their life in the heavens ends, they will be

reborn among human realm again. They may become

- 56 -

wheel-turning kings, reigning/ ruling / controllingover 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 reborn as bodies of kshatriya,

Brahman, laymen, or sons of honorable/ noblefamilies. They

will be wealthy, with storehouses filled to overflowing, and with

handsome appearance. They will be surrounded by a great retinue

/ companionof relatives. They will be intelligent and wise,

courageous and valiant / brave , like great and awesome

knights.

reign: kshatriya: Brahman: laymen: retinue:

valiant:

- 57 -

If a woman has heard 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

/ woman."

- 58 -

"Moreover, ManjushreeWhen Medicine Master

Vaidurya Light Tathagata has attained Bodhi, by the power of his

past original vows he contemplated/ observedall the sentient

/ livingbeings, who were undergoing/ experiencingvarious

kinds of sickness/ illnessand sufferings. Some of them were

suffered from diseases such as emaciation atrophy, severe thirst,

or yellow fever; or others were harmed by paralysis ghosts or by

poisonous hexes; some died naturally when they are young, while

others experienced untimely deaths. He wished to dispel/ get rid

ofall their sicknesses and sufferings, and to fulfill their wishes."

contemplate: emaciation: atrophy:

paralysis: hex: untimely death:

- 59 -

At that time, the World Honored One entered a samadhi

which is called, Extinguishing the suffering and distress of all

beings. After he has entered this samadhi, a great light came

forth from his flesh-cowl. From amid that light he proclaimed this

magnificent dharani :

flesh-cowl: proclaim: magnificent: dharani:

- 60 -

Na mo bo qie fa di, Bi sha she Ju lu, bi liu li,Bo la po,

He la she ye, Da tuo jie duo ye, E la he di, San miao san pu tuo ye.

Da zhi tuo: nanBi sha shi, Bi sha shi, Bi sha she,San mo jie

di,Suo he.

Then/ At the timeafter he had spoken that mantra

from amid the light, the earth trembled and emitted/ gave out

great light. All of the beings' sicknesses and sufferings were cast

off/ abandoned, and they felt peaceful and happy.

- 61 -

emit: cast off:

"Manjushree, if you have seen a man or a woman, who

is ill and feels pain, you will advise those sick people that they

should be single-mindedly and frequently to clean and bathe

themselves and rinse their mouths. You should provide/ supply

him/ herwith food, or medicine, or with water in which is free

of insects, and any of which the dharani has been recited over 108

times. After the sick person has taken it, all of his sicknesses and

sufferings will be gone/ disappeared.

single-mindedly: rinse: dharani:

- 62 -

If 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/ lengthened / extended / enlarged

and free from/ get rid ofillness. At the end of his life, he will be

reborn in that Buddha's land. He will get irreversible and will

ultimately/ finallyeven attain/ getBodhi.

utmost sincerity: prolong: irreversible:

- 63 -

Therefore, ManjushreeIf 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, ManjushreeIf there are men or women of

pure faith, who have heard of all the names of Medicine Master

Vaidurya Light Tathagata, One of Proper Supply and Equal

Enlightenment and so forth, should recite and uphold them. In the

early morning, after brushing their teeth and bathing up to be

clean, they should make offerings of fragrant flowers, lighting

incense, perfumed balms, and various kinds of music before an

image of that Buddha.

incense: perfumed balm:

- 64 -

They should personally write out this Sutra or ask

others to do so, and they should single-mindedly and constantly

recite it and listen its meaning.

If they have a listen to this explanations of its meaning

- 65 -

from a Dharma Master, they should make offerings to him of all

his necessities, so that he has not any the slightest lack or wanting.

In this way, those men or women will receive the mindful

protection of many bodies of Buddha. All of their wishes will be

fulfilled, and they will ultimately attain Bodhi."

At that time, the Pure Youth Manjushree said to Buddha,

The World Honored One I would vow that in the

Dharma-Image Age of times, using various expedient /

convenientmeans, 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 the night when

they are sleeping or asleep, I will awaken/ wake upthem with

this Buddha's name.

- 66 -

expedient: awaken:

"The World Honored OneIf there may be those who

accept and uphold this Sutra, read and recite it, or moreover

explain its meanings for others, if they copy it by themselves, or

tell others to copy it. 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 a clean place and arrange a high altar on which

to place this Sutra.

- 67 -

paste incense: powdered incense: stick incense: flower garlands:

necklaces: banners: canopy:

At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings with their

retinues and other innumerable hundreds of thousands of

heavenly beings will come to that place to worship and protect it.

- 68 -

The World Honored OneIf this Sutra should be

known and spread, in that place where this precious Sutra

circulates, people can accept and uphold it, then due to the merits

and virtues of the past original vows of that World Honored One,

Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, because they have

heard his name, you should know that it is this place that 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.

If those people whose vital energies have already been robbed by

evil ghosts and spirits will have their health restored, and they

will be happy and at peace in body and mind."

vital energy: restore:

- 69 -

Buddha told Manjushree, "So it is, so it isIt is exactly

as you have said, ManjushreeIf there are good men and women

of pure faith and so on, who wish to make offerings to that World

Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, they

should first make/ buildan image of that Buddha and arrange a

pure and clean dais/ platformon which to place the image. Then

they should strew/ sprinkle/ spreadall kinds of flowers, burn

various incenses, and adorn the place with a variety of banners

and streamers.

dais: strew:() banners and streamers:

For seven days and seven nights they should hold the

eight precepts and eat pure food. Having bathed their bodies until

clean and fragrant, they should put on/ have on / be dressed in /

- 70 -

be clothed themselves inclean 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 circle the

right of the Buddha's image.

undefiled: malice: benevolence: equanimity:

Moreover, they should recall the merits and virtues of

that Tathagata's past original vows. They should read and recite

this Sutra, ponder/ think / consider / recall / contemplate /

rememberits meaning, and lecture on and explain it.

ponder:

- 71 -

Then, they will obtain whatever they seek/ await

that 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.

longevity:

- 72 -

"Moreover, if a person who suddenly has nightmares,

sees ill omens, or see strange birds flocking together, or perceives

many uncanny/ mysteriousevents in his dwelling/ house,

if this person 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.

nightmare: omen: uncanny: inauspicious:

- 73 -

Or there are persons who are endangered by water, fire,

knives, poison; or find themselves 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 and so on those

terrifying conditions, if they can single-mindedly recollect,

worship, and make offerings to that Buddha, they will be liberated

from all those frightful things.

endanger: steep cliff: scorpion: centipede: millipede:

gnat:

If they have encountered the other countries to invade

or there are thieves or robbers, riots, they should recollect and

worship that Tathagata, then they can be set free from all of these

- 74 -

disasters/ calamities / catastrophesas well.

invade: riot: recollect:

Moreover, ManjushreeIf there are good men and

good women of pure faith and so on, even during all their lives

they do not worship other heavenly gods, but single-mindedly

take refuge with Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. They accept and

uphold precepts, such as the five precepts, the ten precepts, the

four hundred precepts of a body of Bodhisattva, the two hundred

and fifty precepts of a body of Bhikshu, or the five hundred

precepts of a body of Bhikshuni.

- 75 -

Perhaps they maybe have violated some of the precepts

which they received, and they are afraid of falling into the evil

destinies. If they can concentrate themselves on reciting that

Buddha's name and worship and make offerings to Buddha, they

definitely will not be reborn in the three evil destinies."

- 76 -

"Or there are women, who are about to give birth to

/havea baby, and they are suffering a lot of terrifying pain. If

they just sincerely recite Buddha's name and worship, praise,

venerate, and make offerings to that Tathagata. Then all of their

sufferings will be dispelled. The newborn children will be sound

and healthy, and will have upright features. Those people who see

the baby will feel happy and enjoyable. The baby will be keen/

clever /ingenious / shrewdand intelligent, peaceful and secure,

and with few ailments/ illnesses, and no evil spirits/

non-human beingswill come to and rob of its vitality.

venerate: dispel: keen: intelligent: ailment:

vitality:

- 77 -

At that time, the World Honored One said to Ananda:

"If I praise/ extolall of the merits and virtues of the World

Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, which

is the extremely profound practice among all bodies of Buddha. It

is difficult/ hardto fathom/ understandand to comprehend.

Do you believe/ trust / have a faith init or not"

extol: fathom: comprehend:

- 78 -

Ananda said, "The Great virtuous World Honored

OneI dont have any doubt regarding the Sutras spoken by the

Tathagata. What the reason is itIt is because all bodies of

Buddha' karmas of body, speech and mind are absolutely pure.

The World Honored OneThe sun and the moon could

cause to fall, the Wonderfully High king among mountains, could

be toppled /overturned / capsized / collapsedor shaken, but the

words which are said by the bodies of Buddha are never to be

changed."

topple:

- 79 -

"The World Honored OneThere are many sentient/

living / sensitive / humanbeings deficient in/ lack / without /

short of the root of faith/ belief,who have heard about the

extremely profound practices of all bodies of Buddha, and think

to themselves as this, 'How could one obtain all such supreme

merits and benefits but merely by reciting the name of a single

body of Buddha, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata'

Due to this lack of faith/ belief, on the contrary, they give rise

to slander. During the long night, they will lose great benefit and

joy, and they will fall into the evil destinies, where they may

wander/ roam / loaf about/ rove / strayceaselessly."

deficient: ceaselessly:

- 80 -

Buddha told Ananda, It is these sentient beings that if

they have heard the name of the World Honored One, Medicine

Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, sincerely accept and uphold it

without having any doubts in their minds. It is impossible for

them to fall into the evil destinies.

AnandaThis is the extremely profound practice of

all bodies of Buddha. It is difficult/ hardto believe and to

understand. Now you should know that your ability to accept this

due to the awesome power of the Tathagata. AnandaAll bodies

of Sound-Hearer, Solitarily Enlightened Ones, and all the bodies

of Bodhisattva who have not yet ascended/ climbed / rose

/boarded / stepped on / treadedto the Grounds and so on are all

incapable of believing and understanding this Dharma as it does

- 81 -

really be. Only but the bodies of Bodhisattva who are destined in

one period of life to attain Buddha-hood are capable of believing

and understanding.

Solitarily Enlightened Ones: ascend: Buddha-hood:

Ananda, it is difficult to obtain a human body. It is also

difficult/ hardto have faith in and to revere the Triple Jewel. It

is even more difficult/ hardto be able to have heard the name of

the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light

Tathagata.

Triple Jewel:

- 82 -

AnandaThat Medicine Master Vaidurya Light

Tathagata possesses boundless Bodhisattva practices, limitless

skillful expedients, and immeasurably vast and great vows. If I

were to speak extensively of those for an eon or more of the time,

the eon would soon end, but that Buddha's practices, vows, and

skillful expedients have never an end"

- 83 -

At that time/ Then, within the assembly, there is a

body of Bodhisattva Mahasattva, whose name is called a body of

One Who Rescues and Liberates arose/stood upfrom his seat,

bared his right shoulder, knelt down his right knee on the ground,

leaned forward with his palms joined together, and said to the

Buddha.

"The Great Virtuous World Honored OneDuring the

Dharma-Image Age of times, there will be many living/ human

beings afflicted with various diseases, such as : emaciated from

chronic illnesses, unable to eat or drink, their throats parched and

their lips dry. Such living beings see darkness gathering all around

him as the signs of death appear. While lying in bed, he is

surrounded by his weeping parents, relatives, friends, and those

who they know one another.

- 84 -

afflict: emaciate:() chronic: parch:

But he himself is lying at his original place and does

see the messengers of Yama leading his spirits to stand at the front

of that king of justice. Yet every sentient/ humanbeings has his

own spirits that stay with him throughout his life. They record and

write down all of his deeds, whether they are sins or blessings, all

- 85 -

of them uphold and present to Yama, the king of justice. At that

time, King Yama interrogates this person in order to tally his

karma and mete out judgment according to his good and evil

deeds following the sins and blessings.

King Yama: interrogate: tally: mete:

- 86 -

At that time, if the sick person's relatives and friends,

on his behalf, can take refuge for him to the World Honored One,

Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, and request members

of the Sangha to recite this Sutra, to light seven layers of lamps,

and to hang up the five-colored banners for prolonging life, then it

is possible for his spirit to return.

- 87 -

As if in a dream, the person himself will see

everything very clearly. His spirits will return when the time

maybe pass over or seven, or twenty-one, or thirty-five, or

forty-nine days later. He will feel as if he is awakened from a

dream and will remember the retributions that he underwent for

his good and bad karma. Owing to having personally witnessed

the retributions of his own karma, he will never again do any evil

deeds, even if his very life is endangered.

witness:

- 88 -

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 Tathagata.

At that time/ Then, Ananda asked the Bodhisattva

Who Rescues and Liberates, "A good man as you, how should we

worship and make offerings to the World Honored One, Medicine

Master Vaidurya Light TathagataAnd how should we make the

banners and lamps that prolong our lives"

- 89 -

The Bodhisattva Who Rescues and Liberates said, "The

Great Virtuous OneIf there is a sick person,who wishes to be

freed from sickness and suffering, for his sake he should accept

and uphold the eight precepts for seven days and seven nights,

and make offerings to those bodies of Bhikshu Sangha of as many

items of food, drink and other necessities as he can in his power

to give.

During the six periods of the days and nights, he should

worship, practice the Way, and make offerings to the World

Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata. He

should read and recite this Sutra forty-nine times, light forty-nine

- 90 -

lamps, and make seven images of that body of Tathagata. In front

of each image, he should place seven lamps, and each of them

should be as large as a cartwheel. Even these lamps must be kept

burning continuously for forty-nine days.

Again he should build and hang up five-colored banners

that are forty-nine spans in length. He should liberate a variety of

living creatures, which number is as many as to forty-nine species.

Then the sick one will be able to surmount/ overcome / winthe

danger and will not suffer an untimely death or be held by those

evil ghosts.

span: liberate: surmount: species:

- 91 -

/

Furthermore, AnandaIn case of kshatriya princes

who are due to be anointed on the crowns to their heads, at the

time when calamity arises, such as pestilence among the

population, invasion from the foreign countries, rebellion within

their territory, unusual changes in the stars, a solar or lunar eclipse,

- 92 -

unseasonal winds and rains, or prolonged drought occurs.

anoint: calamity: pestilence:

population: invasion: rebellion: territory: solar or lunar

eclipse: drought:

At the time, those kshatriya princes should bring forth

an attitude of kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings

and grant/ allowamnesty 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 original

vows, by this way it can cause the realm of this country to be safe

and peaceful and keep its steadiness.

attitude: grant: amnesty: prisoner:

- 93 -

The winds and rains will be timely, five kinds of crop

will ripen, and all sentient beings will be blissful and free of

disease. Within the country there will be no violence, nor any

yakshas or other spirits to harm sentient beings, and all evil

omens will vanish/ disappear. The kshatriya princes who are

due to be anointed on the crowns of their heads will enjoy longer

lives and good health, and all of them will be at ease and free

from illness and increase their benefits."

- 94 -

"AnandaIf the queens, the concubine of an emperor,

the crown prince, the prince, the ministers or court counselors/

advisers, the ladies of the palace, the provincial officials or the

common people and so on, suffer from diseases or other

difficulties, they should also build and 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 all of their difficulties."

counselor: strew:

- 95 -

Then Ananda asked the Bodhisattva Who Rescues and

Liberates, "A good man as you areHow can a life that has come

to an end be prolonged" The Bodhisattva Who Rescues and

Liberates answered, "The Great Virtuous OneHave you not

ever heard the Tathagata say that there are nine kinds of untimely

deathThat is the reason the people are exhorted/ advised/

urged/ admonishedto make life-prolonging banners and lamps

and to cultivate all kinds of blessings. Through/ By means of

such cultivation of blessings, they will be freed from suffering

and adversity for the rest of their lives."

exhort: adversity:

- 96 -

Ananda asked, "What are the nine kinds of untimely

death" The Bodhisattva Who Rescues and Liberates said, "If

there may be living beings who, although not seriously ill, have

neither medicine to cure nor a doctor to treat them, or else they

meet a doctor who gives them the wrong medicine; they ought not

to have to die originally, but they meet with an untimely death.

Others of them again believe in worldly cults, whose

deviant teachers frighten them with false prophecies .So they

- 97 -

create many terrible terrors in their minds and they can not control

themselves 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/ helpand protection. Although they wish to prolong their

lives, their efforts are to no avail/ useless.

cult: deviant: prophecy: oracle:

calamity: in store: propitiate: wang liang:

They are idiot and puzzle. They are deluded by holding

to wrong beliefs and perverse views. Thus they meet with an

untimely death and fall into the hells, never to come out again.

This is the first kind of untimely death.

delude: perverse: untimely death:

- 98 -

The second kind of untimely death is to be executed at

the hands of the king 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 kinds of wild beasts.

execute: indulge: lust: dissipate: waylay: essence and

energy: devour:

/

- 99 -

The seventh is to fall from a steep cliff; the eighth is to

be harmed by poison, voodoo, evil mantras, or the corpse-raising

ghosts; the ninth is to die from famine that cannot get any food to

eat and water to drink. These are the nine kinds of untimely

deaths generally spoken of by the Tathagata. There are also

innumerable other kinds of untimely deaths. It is difficult to be

speak all of these at here completely."

steep cliff: Voodoo: evil mantras: the corpse-raising ghost:

- 100 -

"Moreover, AnandaThat King Yama chiefly holds/

gripsand keeps track of the karmic records of all the inhabitants

in the world. If there are any human 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 which is

between lord and subject, or who violate the precept of

truthfulness, then Yama, the king of justice, examines and

punishes them according to the severity of their offenses whether

they are heavy or light. Therefore, now I encourage and advise

- 101 -

living beings to light lamps and make banners, to liberate

creatures and cultivate blessings so that they can overcome

suffering and peril and forestall all disasters."

keeps track of:..... inhabitant: filial: commit:

rebellious: revile: Truthfulness: severity:

offense: peril: forestall: disaster:

- 102 -

At that time/ Then, twelve great Yaksha generals

were present in the assembly. They were so called the General

Kumbhira, General Vajra, General Mihira, General Andira,

General Anila, General Sandira, General Indra, General Pajra,

General Makura, General Kinnara, General Catura, and General

Vikarala.

These twelve great Yaksha generals, each of them with

a retinue of seven thousand Yakshas, simultaneously/ at the same

timeraised their voices and addressed the Buddha, "The World

Honored OneToday, by relying/ dependingon the Buddha's

awesome power, all of us are able to hear the name of the World

Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light TathagataAs a

result, we are no longer afraid of the evil destinies.

- 103 -

simultaneously:()

All of us will get together with the same mind, even

take refuge with the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha to the

end of our lives. We vow to support and shoulder/ bear / carry

all living beings and to benefit them, so that they may live in

peace and happiness. In whatever cities, villages, countries, or

secluded forests if this Sutra circulates, or wherever people accept

and uphold the name of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light

Tathagata and venerate and make offerings to him, all of us will

get together with our retinues, to guard and protect them, deliver

them from all distress and fulfill all their wishes.

secluded: deliver:

- 104 -

Or there are persons who wish to dispel illnesses and

difficulties, he should also 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/ Then, the World Honored One praised

the great Yaksha generals, by saying, "Good indeedgood

indeedMighty Yaksha generalsAll of you who want to repay

the kindness and virtues of the World Honored One, Medicine

Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, should always benefit all living

beings and bring peace and happiness to them in this way."

- 105 -

Then Ananda said to the Buddha, "The World Honored

OneWhat should we give the name of this teaching way/

methodHow should we uphold it" Buddha told Ananda,

"This teaching is called, 'The Merits and Virtues of the Past

Original 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/

rooting outAll Karmic Obstacles.' You should uphold it in this

way."

eradicate: Karmic Obstacle:

- 106 -

When Bhagavan had finished speaking this sutra, all the

bodies of Bodhisattva Mahasattva, and great Sound Hearer, kings,

ministers, Brahman, laypeople, heavenly beings, dragons, Yaksha,

Gandharva, Asuras, Garuda, Kinnara, Mahoraga, human beings

and non-human beings, and all the heavenly assembly, upon

hearing what Buddha had said, were greatly delighted/ joyful.

They replied to receive it with faith/ beliefand respectfully to

practice/ carry outit.

- 107 -

1963

1984

2004

- 108 -

Dharma Realm

Buddhist Association Five Lay Precepts Certificate

0 2012

2015/12/13

2016/01/30

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mayawaz@gmail.com

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