Sutra of the Merit and Virtue of the Past Vows of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata
Thus I have heard. At one time the Bhagavan was travelling through various lands to teach living beings. He arrived at Vaishali ["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 Manjushri, 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 Manjushri:
"Good indeed! Good indeed, Manjushri. 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."
Manjushri said, "Please do speak. We are glad to listen."
The Buddha told Manjushri, "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. Manjushri, 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, I 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 torn 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.'
"Manjushri, 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, Manjushri, 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 Bliss."
"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, Manjushri, 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 Manjushri saying,
"Manjushri, 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 their 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, Manjushri, there are beings who, although they study under the Tathagata, nonetheless violate the shila.
Others, although they do not violate the shila, nonetheless transgress the rules and regulations.
Others, although they do not violate the shila 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, cause immeasurable millions 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 practicesand cultivate wholesome Dharmas, 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 Tathagata's 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, Manjushri, if there are sentient beings who harbor stinginess, greed, and jealousy, who praise themselves and disparage others, they will fall into 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, Manjushri, 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 thoughts, 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 yaksha and rakshasa 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, Manjushri, 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:
Manjushri Bodhisattva,
The Bodhisattva Who Observes the Sounds of the World,
Great Strength Bodhisattva,
Inexhaustible Intention Bodhisattva,
Jeweled 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 evil destinies 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 kshatriyas, 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, Manjushri, 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 sickness 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:
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 nan
Bi sha shi
Bi sha shi
Bi sha she
San mo jie di
Suo he.
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.
"Manjushri, 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 dharanihas been recited 108 times. After the sick person has taken it, all his sicknesses and sufferings will be gone.
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 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, Manjushri, 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, Manjushri, 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 Manjushri 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 Manjushri, "So it is, so it is! It is exactly as you say, Manjushri, 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 nightmares, 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 arethieves or riots, if a person can recollect and worship that Tathagata, then he will be free of all of these as well.
Moreover, Manjushri, 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, all 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, all 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 skillfulexpedients 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 from 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 lamps, 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 continuouslyfor 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 kshatriya 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 kshatriya 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 thatTathagata'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 yakshas or other spirits that harm sentient beings, and all evil omens will vanish.
The kshatriya 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 the 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 ofthe 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 yaksha generals were present in the assembly.
They were:
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 with a retinue of seven thousand yakshas, 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 yaksha generals, saying,
"Good indeed, good indeed, mighty yaksha 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, ministers, Brahmans, laypeople, gods,dragons, yakshas, 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 the Sutra of the
Merit and Virtue of the Past Vows of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata.
Mantra for Patching the Flaws in Recitation
Na Mo He La Da Na.
Duo La Ye Ye.
Qie La Qie La.
Ju Zhu Ju Zhu.
Mo La Mo La.
Hu La. Hong.
He He.
Su Da Na.
Hong.
Po Mo Nu.
Suo Po He.
"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 Manjushri:
"Good indeed! Good indeed, Manjushri. 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."
Manjushri said, "Please do speak. We are glad to listen."
The Buddha told Manjushri, "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. Manjushri, 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, I 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 torn 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.'
"Manjushri, 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, Manjushri, 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 Bliss."
"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, Manjushri, 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 Manjushri saying,
"Manjushri, 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 their 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, Manjushri, there are beings who, although they study under the Tathagata, nonetheless violate the shila.
Others, although they do not violate the shila, nonetheless transgress the rules and regulations.
Others, although they do not violate the shila 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, cause immeasurable millions 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 practicesand cultivate wholesome Dharmas, 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 Tathagata's 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, Manjushri, if there are sentient beings who harbor stinginess, greed, and jealousy, who praise themselves and disparage others, they will fall into 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, Manjushri, 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 thoughts, 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 yaksha and rakshasa 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, Manjushri, 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:
Manjushri Bodhisattva,
The Bodhisattva Who Observes the Sounds of the World,
Great Strength Bodhisattva,
Inexhaustible Intention Bodhisattva,
Jeweled 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 evil destinies 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 kshatriyas, 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, Manjushri, 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 sickness 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:
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 nan
Bi sha shi
Bi sha shi
Bi sha she
San mo jie di
Suo he.
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.
"Manjushri, 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 dharanihas been recited 108 times. After the sick person has taken it, all his sicknesses and sufferings will be gone.
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 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, Manjushri, 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, Manjushri, 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 Manjushri 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 Manjushri, "So it is, so it is! It is exactly as you say, Manjushri, 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 nightmares, 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 arethieves or riots, if a person can recollect and worship that Tathagata, then he will be free of all of these as well.
Moreover, Manjushri, 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, all 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, all 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 skillfulexpedients 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 from 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 lamps, 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 continuouslyfor 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 kshatriya 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 kshatriya 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 thatTathagata'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 yakshas or other spirits that harm sentient beings, and all evil omens will vanish.
The kshatriya 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 the 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 ofthe 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 yaksha generals were present in the assembly.
They were:
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 with a retinue of seven thousand yakshas, 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 yaksha generals, saying,
"Good indeed, good indeed, mighty yaksha 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, ministers, Brahmans, laypeople, gods,dragons, yakshas, 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 the Sutra of the
Merit and Virtue of the Past Vows of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata.
Mantra for Patching the Flaws in Recitation
Na Mo He La Da Na.
Duo La Ye Ye.
Qie La Qie La.
Ju Zhu Ju Zhu.
Mo La Mo La.
Hu La. Hong.
He He.
Su Da Na.
Hong.
Po Mo Nu.
Suo Po He.
藥師琉璃光如來本願經
香讚:
爐香乍爇 法界蒙熏 諸佛海會悉遙聞
隨處結祥雲 誠意方殷 諸佛現全身
南無雲蓋菩薩摩訶薩 (三稱)
淨口業真言:
唵。修唎修唎。摩訶修唎。修修唎。薩婆訶。
淨身業真言:
唵。修哆唎。修哆唎。修摩唎。修摩唎。薩婆訶。
安土地真言:
南無三滿哆。毋馱喃。唵。度嚕度嚕。地尾薩婆訶。
普供養真言:
唵 哦哦曩 三婆縛 伐日囉吽
南無本師釋迦牟尼佛 (三稱)
開經偈:
無上甚深微妙法 百千萬劫難遭遇
我今見聞得受持 願解如來真實義
南無藥師會上佛菩薩 (三稱)
藥師琉璃光如來本願功德經 唐三藏法師玄奘奉 詔譯
如是我聞‧一時薄伽梵,遊化諸國‧至廣嚴城‧住樂音樹下‧與大苾芻眾八千人俱。菩薩摩訶薩三萬六千,及國王大臣,婆羅門居士,天龍八部,人非人等,無量大眾‧恭敬圍繞‧而為說法。
爾時曼殊室利法王子,承佛威神‧從座而起‧偏袒一肩‧右膝著地‧向薄伽梵。曲躬合掌,白言‧世尊‧惟願演說如是相類諸佛名號,及本大願殊勝功德‧令諸聞者,業障消除‧為欲利樂像法轉時,諸有情故。
爾時世尊讚曼殊室利童子言‧善哉善哉。曼殊室利‧汝以大悲,勸請我說諸佛名號,本願功德‧為拔業障所纏有情‧利益安樂像法轉時,諸有情故。汝今諦聽‧極善思惟‧當為汝說。曼殊室利言‧唯然,願說‧我等樂聞。
佛告曼殊室利‧東方去此過十殑伽沙等佛土‧有世界名淨琉璃‧佛號藥師琉璃光,如來,應正等覺,明行圓滿,善逝,世間解,無上士,調御丈夫,天人師,佛,薄伽梵。曼殊室利‧彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來,本行菩薩道時‧發十二大願‧令諸有情,所求皆得。
第一大願‧願我來世,得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提時‧自身光明熾然‧照曜無量無數無邊世界。以三十二大丈夫相,八十隨形,莊嚴其身。令一切有情,如我無異。
第二大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧身如琉璃‧內外明徹。淨無瑕穢‧光明廣大。功德巍巍‧身善安住。焰網莊嚴,過於日月‧幽冥眾生,悉蒙開曉。隨意所趣‧作諸事業。
第三大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧以無量無邊智慧方便‧令諸有情,皆得無盡所受用物‧莫令眾生有所乏少。
第四大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,行邪道者‧悉令安住菩提道中。若行聲聞獨覺乘者‧皆以大乘而安立之。
第五大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若有無量無邊有情‧於我法中,修行梵行‧一切皆令得不缺戒‧具三聚戒。設有毀犯‧聞我名已‧還得清淨‧不墮惡趣。
第六大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,其身下劣‧諸根不具‧醜陋頑愚‧盲聾瘖啞‧攣躄背僂‧白癩顛狂‧種種病苦。聞我名已‧一切皆得端正黠慧‧諸根完具‧無諸疾苦。
第七大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,眾病逼切‧無救無歸‧無醫無藥‧無親無家‧貧窮多苦。我之名號‧一經其耳‧眾病悉除‧身心安樂‧家屬資具‧悉皆豐足‧乃至證得無上菩提。
第八大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若有女人,為女百惡之所逼惱‧極生厭離‧願捨女身‧聞我名已‧一切皆得轉女成男‧具丈夫相‧乃至證得無上菩提。
第九大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧令諸有情,出魔罥網‧解脫一切外道纏縛。若墮種種惡見稠林‧皆當引攝置於正見‧漸令脩習諸菩薩行‧速證無上正等菩提。
第十大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,王法所錄‧縛錄鞭撻‧繫閉牢獄‧或當刑戮‧及餘無量災難凌辱‧悲愁煎逼‧身心受苦。若聞我名‧以我福德威神力故‧皆得解脫一切憂苦。
第十一大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,饑渴所惱‧為求食故‧ 造諸惡業。得聞我名‧專念受持‧我當先以上妙飲食,飽足其身‧後以法味,畢竟安樂而建立之。
第十二大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,貧無衣服‧蚊虻寒熱‧ 晝夜逼惱。若聞我名‧專念受持。如其所好‧即得種種上妙衣服‧亦得一切寶莊嚴具‧華鬘塗香‧鼓樂眾伎‧隨心所翫‧皆令滿足。
曼殊室利‧是為彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來,應正等覺行菩薩道時,所發十二微妙上願。復次,曼殊室利‧彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來,行菩薩道時,所發大願‧及彼佛土功德莊嚴‧我若一劫,若一劫餘,說不能盡。然彼佛土,一向清淨‧無有女人‧亦無惡趣,及苦音聲。琉璃為地‧金繩界道‧城闕宮閣‧軒窗羅網‧皆七寶成‧亦如西方極樂世界。功德莊嚴‧等無差別。於其國中‧有二菩薩摩訶薩‧一名日光遍照‧二名月光遍照‧是彼無量無數菩薩眾之上首‧次補佛處‧悉能持彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來,正法寶藏。是故曼殊室利‧諸有信心善男子善女人等‧應當願生彼佛世界。
爾時世尊復告曼殊室利童子言‧曼殊室利‧有諸眾生‧不識善惡‧惟懷貪吝‧不知布施,及施果報。愚癡無智‧闕於信根‧多聚財寶‧ 勸加守護。見乞者來‧其心不喜‧設不獲已而行施時‧如割身肉‧深生痛惜。復有無量慳貪有情‧積集資財‧於其自身,尚不受用‧何況能與父母妻子,奴婢作使,及來乞者。彼諸有情‧從此命終‧生餓鬼界,或傍生趣。由昔人間,曾得暫聞藥師琉璃光如來名故。今在惡趣,暫得憶念彼如來名‧即於念時,從彼處沒‧還生人中‧得宿命念‧畏惡趣苦‧不樂欲樂‧好行惠施‧讚歎施者。一切所有‧ 悉無貪惜‧漸次尚能以頭目,手足,血肉,身分,施來求者‧況餘財物。
復次,曼殊室利‧若諸有情‧雖於如來受諸學處‧而破尸羅。有雖不破尸羅‧而破軌則。有於尸羅,軌則,雖得不壞‧然毀正見。有雖不毀正見‧而棄多聞‧於佛所說契經深義,不能解了。有雖多聞‧而增上慢‧由增上慢覆蔽心故‧自是非他‧嫌謗正法‧為魔伴黨。如是愚人‧自行邪見‧復令無量俱胝有情,墮大險坑。,此諸有情‧應於地獄,傍生,鬼趣,流轉無窮。若得聞此藥師琉璃光如來名號‧便捨惡行‧修諸善法‧不墮惡趣。設有不能捨諸惡行,修行善法‧墮惡趣者。以彼如來本願威力‧令其現前暫聞名號‧從彼命終‧還生人趣‧得正見精進‧善調意樂。便能捨家‧趣於非家‧如來法中‧受持學處‧無有毀犯‧正見多聞‧解甚深義‧離增上慢‧不謗正法‧不為魔伴‧漸次修行諸菩薩行‧速得圓滿。
復次,曼殊室利‧若諸有情‧慳貪嫉妒‧自讚毀他‧當墮三惡趣中‧無量千歲,受諸劇苦。受劇苦已‧從彼命終‧來生人間‧作牛馬駝驢‧恒被鞭撻,饑渴逼惱‧又常負重,隨路而行。或得為人‧生居下賤‧作人奴婢‧受他驅役‧恒不自在。若昔人中,曾聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧由此善因‧今復憶念‧至心歸依‧以佛神力‧眾苦解脫‧諸根聰利‧智慧多聞‧恒求勝法‧常遇善友‧永斷魔罥‧破無明殼‧竭煩惱河‧解脫一切生老病死,憂愁苦惱。
復次,曼殊室利‧若諸有情‧好喜乖離‧更相鬥訟‧惱亂自他‧以身語意,造作增長種種惡業‧展轉常為不饒益事‧互相謀害。告召山林樹塚等神‧殺諸眾生‧取其血肉‧祭祀藥叉‧羅剎婆等。書怨人名‧作其形像‧以惡咒術,而咒詛之。魘魅蠱道‧咒起屍鬼‧令斷彼命,及壞其身。是諸有情‧若得聞此藥師琉璃光如來名號‧彼諸惡事,悉不能害。一切展轉皆起慈心‧利益安樂‧無損惱意,及嫌恨心‧各各歡悅‧於自所受,生于喜足‧不相侵凌‧互為饒益。
復次,曼殊室利‧若有四眾,苾芻,苾芻尼,鄔波索迦,鄔波斯迦‧及餘淨信善男子善女人等‧有能受持八分齋戒‧或經一年‧或復三月‧受持學處‧以此善根‧願生西方極樂世界無量壽佛所,聽聞正法‧而未定者。若聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧臨命終時‧有八大菩薩‧其名曰文殊師利菩薩,觀世音菩薩,得大勢菩薩,無盡意菩薩,寶檀華菩薩,藥王菩薩,藥上菩薩,彌勒菩薩,是八大菩薩‧乘空而來‧示其道路‧即於彼界種種雜色眾寶華中,自然化生。或有因此生於天上。雖生天上‧而本善根亦未窮盡‧不復更生諸餘惡趣。天上壽盡‧還生人間‧或為輪王‧統攝四洲‧威德自在‧安立無量百千有情於十善道。或生剎帝利,婆羅門,居士,大家‧多饒財寶‧倉庫盈溢‧形相端正‧眷屬具足‧聰明智慧‧勇健威猛,如大力士。若是女人,得聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧至心受持‧於後不復更受女身。
復次,曼殊室利‧彼藥師琉璃光如來得菩提時‧由本願力‧觀諸有情,遇眾病苦‧瘦攣,乾消,黃熱等病‧或被魘魅蠱毒所中‧或復短命‧或時橫死‧欲令是等病苦消除‧所求願滿。時彼世尊入三摩地‧名曰除滅一切眾生苦惱。既入定已‧於肉髻中,出大光明‧光中演說大陀羅尼曰。
南謨薄伽伐帝。鞞殺社。窶嚕薜琉璃。缽喇婆。喝囉闍也。怛他揭多耶。阿囉喝帝。三藐三勃陀耶。怛姪他。唵。鞞殺逝。鞞殺逝。鞞殺社。三沒揭帝娑訶。
爾時光中說此咒已‧大地震動‧放大光明‧一切眾生,病苦皆除‧受安隱樂。曼殊室利‧若見男子女人,有病苦者‧應當一心為彼病人,常清淨澡漱‧或食或藥,或無蟲水‧咒一百八遍‧與彼服食‧所有病苦‧悉皆消滅。若有所求‧至心念誦‧皆得如是,無病延年。命終之後‧生彼世界‧得不退轉,乃至菩提。是故曼殊室利‧若有男子女人‧於彼藥師琉璃光如來,至心慇重,恭敬供養者‧常持此咒‧勿令廢忘。
復次,曼殊室利‧若有淨信男子女人‧得聞藥師琉璃光如來,應,正等覺,所有名號‧聞已誦持。晨嚼齒木‧澡漱清淨‧以諸香華,燒香塗香‧作眾伎樂‧供養形像。於此經典‧若自書‧若教人‧書‧一心受持‧聽聞其義。於彼法師‧應修供養‧一切所有資身之具‧悉皆施與‧勿令乏少。如是便蒙諸佛護念‧所求願滿‧乃至菩提。
爾時曼殊室利童子白佛言‧世尊‧我當誓於像法轉時‧以種種方便‧令諸淨信善男子善女人等,得聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧乃至睡中,亦以佛名覺悟其耳。世尊‧若於此經受持讀誦‧或復為他演說開示‧若自書‧若教人書‧恭敬尊重以種種華香,塗香,末香,燒香‧花鬘瓔珞‧幡蓋伎樂‧而為供養。以五色綵,作囊盛之‧掃灑淨處‧敷設高座,而用安處。爾時四大天王,與其眷屬,及餘無量百千天眾‧皆詣其所‧供養守護。世尊‧若此經寶流行之處‧有能受持‧以彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來本願功德,及聞名號‧當知是處無復橫死‧亦復不為諸惡鬼神奪其精氣。設已奪者‧還得如故‧身心安樂。
佛告曼殊室利‧如是如是‧如汝所說。曼殊室利‧若有淨信善男子善女人等‧欲供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來者‧應先造立彼佛形像‧敷清淨座,而安處之。散種種華‧燒種種香‧以種種幢幡,莊嚴其處。七日七夜,受八分齋戒‧食清淨食‧澡浴香潔‧著清淨衣‧應生無垢濁心,無怒害心‧於一切有情,起利益安樂,慈悲喜捨,平等之心。鼓樂歌讚‧右繞佛像。復應念彼如來本願功德‧讀誦此經‧思惟其義‧演說開示。隨所樂求‧一切皆遂‧求長壽得長壽‧求富饒得富饒‧求官位得官位‧求男女得男女‧若復有人,忽得惡夢‧見諸惡相‧或怪鳥來集‧或於住處,百怪出現。此人若以眾妙資具,恭敬供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來者‧惡夢惡相,諸不吉祥,皆悉隱沒‧不能為患。或有水火‧刀毒懸險‧惡象獅子‧虎狼熊羆‧毒蛇惡蠍‧蜈蚣蚰蜒‧蚊虻等怖‧若能至心憶念彼佛‧恭敬供養‧一切怖畏皆得解脫。若他國侵擾‧盜賊反亂‧憶念恭敬彼如來者‧亦皆解脫。
復次,曼殊室利‧若有淨信善男子善女人等‧乃至盡形不事餘天‧唯當一心歸佛法僧‧受持禁戒‧若五戒,十戒,菩薩四百戒,苾芻二百五十戒,苾芻尼五百戒。於所受中,或有毀犯‧怖墮惡趣。若能專念彼佛名號,恭敬供養者‧必定不受三惡趣生。或有女人,臨當產時‧受於極苦‧若能至心稱名禮讚,恭敬供養彼如來者‧眾苦皆除。所生之子‧身分具足‧形色端正‧見者歡喜。利根聰明‧安隱少病‧無有非人奪其精氣。
爾時世尊告阿難言‧如我稱揚彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來所有功德‧此是諸佛甚深行處‧難可解了,汝為信不。阿難白言‧大德世尊‧我於如來所說契經‧不生疑惑。所以者何。一切如來‧身語意業,無不清淨。世尊‧此日月輪,可令墮落‧妙高山王,可使傾動‧諸佛所言‧無有異也。世尊‧有諸眾生‧信根不具‧聞說諸佛甚深行處‧作是思惟‧云何但念藥師琉璃光如來一佛名號‧便獲爾所功德勝利。由此不信‧返生誹謗‧彼於長夜,失大利樂‧墮諸惡趣‧流轉無窮。佛告阿難‧是諸有情‧若聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧至心受持‧不生疑惑‧墮惡趣者‧無有是處。阿難‧此是諸佛甚深所行‧難可信解‧汝今能受‧當知皆是如來威力。阿難‧一切聲聞獨覺,及未登地諸菩薩等‧皆悉不能如實信解‧唯除一生所繫菩薩。阿難‧人身難得‧於三寶中,信敬尊重‧亦難可得。聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧復難於是。阿難‧彼藥師琉璃光如來,無量菩薩行,無量善巧方便,無量廣大願‧我若一劫,若一劫餘,而廣說者‧劫可速盡‧彼佛行願善巧方便,無有盡也。
爾時眾中有一菩薩摩訶薩‧名曰救脫‧即從座起‧偏袒右肩‧右膝著地‧曲躬合掌,而白佛言。大德世尊‧像法轉時‧有諸眾生,為種種患之所困厄‧長病羸瘦‧不能飲食‧喉唇乾燥‧見諸方暗‧死相現前‧父母親屬‧朋友知識‧涕泣圍繞。然彼自身臥在本處‧見琰魔使,引其神識至於琰魔法王之前。然諸有情,有俱生神‧隨其所作‧若罪若福‧皆具書之‧盡持授與琰魔法王。爾時彼王推問其人計算所作‧隨其罪福,而處斷之。時彼病人親屬,知識‧若能為彼歸依世尊藥師琉璃光如來‧請諸眾僧轉讀此經‧然七層之燈‧懸五色續命神幡。或有是處,彼識得還‧如在夢中‧明了自見。或經七日,或二十一日,或三十五日,或四十九日‧彼識還時‧如從夢覺‧皆自憶知善不善業,所得果報。由自證見業果報故‧乃至命難,亦不造作諸惡之業。是故淨信善男子善女人等‧皆應受持藥師琉璃光如來名號‧隨力所能‧恭敬供養。
爾時阿難問救脫菩薩曰‧善男子應云何恭敬供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來‧續命幡燈,復云何造。救脫菩薩言‧大德‧若有病人,欲脫病苦‧當為其人,七日七夜受持八分齋戒。應以飲食,及餘資具‧隨力所辦,供養苾芻僧‧晝夜六時,禮拜供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來‧讀誦此經四十九遍。然四十九燈‧造彼如來形像七軀‧一一像前,各置七燈‧一一燈量,大如車輪‧乃至四十九日光明不絕。造五色綵幡‧長四十九磔手‧應放雜類眾生,至四十九。可得過度危厄之難‧不為諸橫惡鬼所持。
復次,阿難‧若剎帝利灌頂王等,災難起時‧所謂人眾疾疫難‧他國侵逼難‧自界叛逆難‧星宿變怪難‧日月薄蝕難‧非時風雨難‧過時不雨難‧彼剎帝利灌頂王等‧爾時應於一切有情,起慈悲心‧赦諸繫閉‧依前所說供養之法,供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來。由此善根,及彼如來本願力故‧令其國界,即得安隱‧風雨順時‧穀稼成熟‧一切有情‧無病歡樂。於其國中‧無有暴惡藥叉等神,惱有情者‧一切惡相,皆即隱沒。而剎帝利灌頂王等。壽命色力‧無病自在‧皆得增益。阿難‧若帝后妃主‧儲君王子‧大臣輔相‧中宮綵女‧百官黎庶‧為病所苦‧及餘厄難‧亦應造立五色神幡‧然燈續明‧放諸生命‧散雜色華‧燒眾名香‧病得除愈‧眾難解脫。爾時阿難問救脫菩薩言‧善男子‧云何已盡之命,而可增益。救脫菩薩言‧大德‧汝豈不聞如來說,有九橫死耶‧是故勸造續命幡燈‧修諸福德‧以修福故‧盡其壽命,不經苦患。阿難問言‧九橫云何。救脫菩薩言‧若諸有情‧得病雖輕‧然無醫藥,及看病者‧設復遇醫授以非藥‧實不應死,而便橫死。又信世間邪魔外道妖孽之師‧妄說禍福‧便生恐動‧心不自正‧卜問覓禍‧殺種種眾生,解奏神明‧呼諸魍魎‧請乞福佑‧欲冀延年‧終不能得。愚癡迷惑‧信邪倒見‧遂令橫死‧入於地獄‧無有出期‧是名初橫。二者,橫被王法之所誅戮。三者,畋獵嬉戲‧耽婬嗜酒‧放逸無度‧橫為非人奪其精氣。四者,橫為火焚。五者,橫為水溺。六者,橫為種種惡獸所噉。七者,橫墮山崖。八者,橫為毒藥,魘禱,咒咀,起屍鬼等之所中害。九者,饑渴所困,不得飲食‧而便橫死。是為如來略說橫死,有此九種。其餘復有無量諸橫‧難可具說。
復次,阿難‧彼琰魔王,主領世間名籍之記‧若諸有情,不孝五逆‧破辱三寶‧壞君臣法‧毀於性戒‧琰魔法王,隨罪輕重‧考而罰之。是故我今勸諸有情‧然燈造幡‧放生修福‧令度苦厄‧不遭眾難。爾時眾中有十二藥叉大將‧俱在會座‧所謂
宮毗羅大將 伐折羅大將 迷企羅大將安底羅大將
頞禰羅大將 珊底羅大將 因達羅大將波夷羅大將
摩虎羅大將 真達羅大將 招杜羅大將毘羯羅大將
此十二藥叉大將‧一一各有七千藥叉,以為眷屬。同時舉聲白佛言‧世尊‧我等今者蒙佛威力‧得聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧不復更有惡趣之怖。我等相率,皆同一心‧乃至盡形,歸佛法僧‧誓當荷負一切有情‧為作義利‧饒益安樂。隨於何等村城國邑,空閑林中‧若有流布此經‧或復受持藥師琉璃光如來名號‧恭敬供養者‧我等眷屬,衛護是人‧皆使解脫一切苦難。諸有願求‧悉今滿足。或有疾厄,求度脫者‧亦應讀誦此經‧以五色縷,結我名字‧得如願已‧然後解結。
爾時世尊讚諸藥叉大將言‧善哉善哉‧大藥叉將‧汝等念報世尊藥師琉璃光如來恩德者‧常應如是利益安樂一切有情。
爾時阿難白佛言‧世尊‧當何名此法門‧我等云何奉持。佛告阿難‧此法門名說藥師琉璃光如來本願功德。亦名說十二神將饒益有情結願神咒‧亦名拔除一切業障。應如是持。時薄伽梵說是語已‧諸菩薩摩訶薩‧及大聲聞,國王,大臣,婆羅門,居士,天,龍,藥叉,健達縛,阿素洛,揭路荼,緊捺洛,莫呼洛伽,人非人等,一切大眾‧聞佛所說‧皆大歡喜‧信受奉行。
藥師灌頂真言:
南謨薄伽伐帝。鞞殺社窶魯。薛琉璃。砵喇婆。喝囉闍也。怛他揭多耶。阿囉喝帝。三藐三勃陀耶。怛姪他。唵。鞞殺逝。鞞殺逝。鞞殺社。三沒揭諦。莎婆訶。解結解結解冤結。解了多生冤和業。洗心滌慮發虔誠。今對佛前求解結。藥師佛。藥師佛消災延壽藥師佛。隨心滿願藥師佛。
消解病咒:
唵室哩哆。室哩哆軍 吒唎。莎婆訶。
讚:
十二藥叉大將。助佛宣揚。五色彩縷結其名。隨願悉圓成。冤業永清。福壽永康寧
藥師教主。延壽能仁。日光照月光臨。菩薩降福隆。藥叉神明。擁護保安寧。
藥師會上。熾盛光王。十二大願妙難量苦海作舟航。廣大吉祥。諸佛盡稱揚。
藥師會上。琉璃光王。八大菩薩降吉祥。七佛護壇場。日月威光。滅罪免災殃。
藥師大願。功德無邊。大千沙界盡包含。寶地佈金蓮。我佛弘宣。福壽廣增延。
南無藥師海會佛菩薩摩訶薩 (三稱)
接引東方琉璃世界往生八大菩薩聖號:
南無文殊室利菩薩
南無觀世音菩薩
南無大勢至菩薩
南無無盡意菩薩
南無寶檀華菩薩
南無藥王菩薩
南無藥上菩薩
南無彌勒菩薩
東方世界。藥師如來。功德智慧。無量莊嚴。放淨光明。過於日月。一切剎土。淨如琉璃。與西方界。等無有異。十二大願。利樂有情。凡有所求。皆遂具心。受持稱名。如我無異。具大丈夫相。及八十形好。一切惡趣。無量災難。以我威儀。皆得解脫。弟子眾等。願得無上菩提。生生世世。行菩薩道。亦如藥師琉璃光如來。所發十二大願。利樂一切有情。即此娑婆世界。身心剎土。皆如琉璃。面見我佛。及阿彌陀。所願法界有情。東西相泯。二見永忘。與中道義。共證真常。十方三世一切佛。一切菩薩摩訶薩。摩訶般若波羅蜜。
爐香乍爇 法界蒙熏 諸佛海會悉遙聞
隨處結祥雲 誠意方殷 諸佛現全身
南無雲蓋菩薩摩訶薩 (三稱)
淨口業真言:
唵。修唎修唎。摩訶修唎。修修唎。薩婆訶。
淨身業真言:
唵。修哆唎。修哆唎。修摩唎。修摩唎。薩婆訶。
安土地真言:
南無三滿哆。毋馱喃。唵。度嚕度嚕。地尾薩婆訶。
普供養真言:
唵 哦哦曩 三婆縛 伐日囉吽
南無本師釋迦牟尼佛 (三稱)
開經偈:
無上甚深微妙法 百千萬劫難遭遇
我今見聞得受持 願解如來真實義
南無藥師會上佛菩薩 (三稱)
藥師琉璃光如來本願功德經 唐三藏法師玄奘奉 詔譯
如是我聞‧一時薄伽梵,遊化諸國‧至廣嚴城‧住樂音樹下‧與大苾芻眾八千人俱。菩薩摩訶薩三萬六千,及國王大臣,婆羅門居士,天龍八部,人非人等,無量大眾‧恭敬圍繞‧而為說法。
爾時曼殊室利法王子,承佛威神‧從座而起‧偏袒一肩‧右膝著地‧向薄伽梵。曲躬合掌,白言‧世尊‧惟願演說如是相類諸佛名號,及本大願殊勝功德‧令諸聞者,業障消除‧為欲利樂像法轉時,諸有情故。
爾時世尊讚曼殊室利童子言‧善哉善哉。曼殊室利‧汝以大悲,勸請我說諸佛名號,本願功德‧為拔業障所纏有情‧利益安樂像法轉時,諸有情故。汝今諦聽‧極善思惟‧當為汝說。曼殊室利言‧唯然,願說‧我等樂聞。
佛告曼殊室利‧東方去此過十殑伽沙等佛土‧有世界名淨琉璃‧佛號藥師琉璃光,如來,應正等覺,明行圓滿,善逝,世間解,無上士,調御丈夫,天人師,佛,薄伽梵。曼殊室利‧彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來,本行菩薩道時‧發十二大願‧令諸有情,所求皆得。
第一大願‧願我來世,得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提時‧自身光明熾然‧照曜無量無數無邊世界。以三十二大丈夫相,八十隨形,莊嚴其身。令一切有情,如我無異。
第二大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧身如琉璃‧內外明徹。淨無瑕穢‧光明廣大。功德巍巍‧身善安住。焰網莊嚴,過於日月‧幽冥眾生,悉蒙開曉。隨意所趣‧作諸事業。
第三大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧以無量無邊智慧方便‧令諸有情,皆得無盡所受用物‧莫令眾生有所乏少。
第四大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,行邪道者‧悉令安住菩提道中。若行聲聞獨覺乘者‧皆以大乘而安立之。
第五大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若有無量無邊有情‧於我法中,修行梵行‧一切皆令得不缺戒‧具三聚戒。設有毀犯‧聞我名已‧還得清淨‧不墮惡趣。
第六大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,其身下劣‧諸根不具‧醜陋頑愚‧盲聾瘖啞‧攣躄背僂‧白癩顛狂‧種種病苦。聞我名已‧一切皆得端正黠慧‧諸根完具‧無諸疾苦。
第七大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,眾病逼切‧無救無歸‧無醫無藥‧無親無家‧貧窮多苦。我之名號‧一經其耳‧眾病悉除‧身心安樂‧家屬資具‧悉皆豐足‧乃至證得無上菩提。
第八大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若有女人,為女百惡之所逼惱‧極生厭離‧願捨女身‧聞我名已‧一切皆得轉女成男‧具丈夫相‧乃至證得無上菩提。
第九大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧令諸有情,出魔罥網‧解脫一切外道纏縛。若墮種種惡見稠林‧皆當引攝置於正見‧漸令脩習諸菩薩行‧速證無上正等菩提。
第十大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,王法所錄‧縛錄鞭撻‧繫閉牢獄‧或當刑戮‧及餘無量災難凌辱‧悲愁煎逼‧身心受苦。若聞我名‧以我福德威神力故‧皆得解脫一切憂苦。
第十一大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,饑渴所惱‧為求食故‧ 造諸惡業。得聞我名‧專念受持‧我當先以上妙飲食,飽足其身‧後以法味,畢竟安樂而建立之。
第十二大願‧願我來世得菩提時‧若諸有情,貧無衣服‧蚊虻寒熱‧ 晝夜逼惱。若聞我名‧專念受持。如其所好‧即得種種上妙衣服‧亦得一切寶莊嚴具‧華鬘塗香‧鼓樂眾伎‧隨心所翫‧皆令滿足。
曼殊室利‧是為彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來,應正等覺行菩薩道時,所發十二微妙上願。復次,曼殊室利‧彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來,行菩薩道時,所發大願‧及彼佛土功德莊嚴‧我若一劫,若一劫餘,說不能盡。然彼佛土,一向清淨‧無有女人‧亦無惡趣,及苦音聲。琉璃為地‧金繩界道‧城闕宮閣‧軒窗羅網‧皆七寶成‧亦如西方極樂世界。功德莊嚴‧等無差別。於其國中‧有二菩薩摩訶薩‧一名日光遍照‧二名月光遍照‧是彼無量無數菩薩眾之上首‧次補佛處‧悉能持彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來,正法寶藏。是故曼殊室利‧諸有信心善男子善女人等‧應當願生彼佛世界。
爾時世尊復告曼殊室利童子言‧曼殊室利‧有諸眾生‧不識善惡‧惟懷貪吝‧不知布施,及施果報。愚癡無智‧闕於信根‧多聚財寶‧ 勸加守護。見乞者來‧其心不喜‧設不獲已而行施時‧如割身肉‧深生痛惜。復有無量慳貪有情‧積集資財‧於其自身,尚不受用‧何況能與父母妻子,奴婢作使,及來乞者。彼諸有情‧從此命終‧生餓鬼界,或傍生趣。由昔人間,曾得暫聞藥師琉璃光如來名故。今在惡趣,暫得憶念彼如來名‧即於念時,從彼處沒‧還生人中‧得宿命念‧畏惡趣苦‧不樂欲樂‧好行惠施‧讚歎施者。一切所有‧ 悉無貪惜‧漸次尚能以頭目,手足,血肉,身分,施來求者‧況餘財物。
復次,曼殊室利‧若諸有情‧雖於如來受諸學處‧而破尸羅。有雖不破尸羅‧而破軌則。有於尸羅,軌則,雖得不壞‧然毀正見。有雖不毀正見‧而棄多聞‧於佛所說契經深義,不能解了。有雖多聞‧而增上慢‧由增上慢覆蔽心故‧自是非他‧嫌謗正法‧為魔伴黨。如是愚人‧自行邪見‧復令無量俱胝有情,墮大險坑。,此諸有情‧應於地獄,傍生,鬼趣,流轉無窮。若得聞此藥師琉璃光如來名號‧便捨惡行‧修諸善法‧不墮惡趣。設有不能捨諸惡行,修行善法‧墮惡趣者。以彼如來本願威力‧令其現前暫聞名號‧從彼命終‧還生人趣‧得正見精進‧善調意樂。便能捨家‧趣於非家‧如來法中‧受持學處‧無有毀犯‧正見多聞‧解甚深義‧離增上慢‧不謗正法‧不為魔伴‧漸次修行諸菩薩行‧速得圓滿。
復次,曼殊室利‧若諸有情‧慳貪嫉妒‧自讚毀他‧當墮三惡趣中‧無量千歲,受諸劇苦。受劇苦已‧從彼命終‧來生人間‧作牛馬駝驢‧恒被鞭撻,饑渴逼惱‧又常負重,隨路而行。或得為人‧生居下賤‧作人奴婢‧受他驅役‧恒不自在。若昔人中,曾聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧由此善因‧今復憶念‧至心歸依‧以佛神力‧眾苦解脫‧諸根聰利‧智慧多聞‧恒求勝法‧常遇善友‧永斷魔罥‧破無明殼‧竭煩惱河‧解脫一切生老病死,憂愁苦惱。
復次,曼殊室利‧若諸有情‧好喜乖離‧更相鬥訟‧惱亂自他‧以身語意,造作增長種種惡業‧展轉常為不饒益事‧互相謀害。告召山林樹塚等神‧殺諸眾生‧取其血肉‧祭祀藥叉‧羅剎婆等。書怨人名‧作其形像‧以惡咒術,而咒詛之。魘魅蠱道‧咒起屍鬼‧令斷彼命,及壞其身。是諸有情‧若得聞此藥師琉璃光如來名號‧彼諸惡事,悉不能害。一切展轉皆起慈心‧利益安樂‧無損惱意,及嫌恨心‧各各歡悅‧於自所受,生于喜足‧不相侵凌‧互為饒益。
復次,曼殊室利‧若有四眾,苾芻,苾芻尼,鄔波索迦,鄔波斯迦‧及餘淨信善男子善女人等‧有能受持八分齋戒‧或經一年‧或復三月‧受持學處‧以此善根‧願生西方極樂世界無量壽佛所,聽聞正法‧而未定者。若聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧臨命終時‧有八大菩薩‧其名曰文殊師利菩薩,觀世音菩薩,得大勢菩薩,無盡意菩薩,寶檀華菩薩,藥王菩薩,藥上菩薩,彌勒菩薩,是八大菩薩‧乘空而來‧示其道路‧即於彼界種種雜色眾寶華中,自然化生。或有因此生於天上。雖生天上‧而本善根亦未窮盡‧不復更生諸餘惡趣。天上壽盡‧還生人間‧或為輪王‧統攝四洲‧威德自在‧安立無量百千有情於十善道。或生剎帝利,婆羅門,居士,大家‧多饒財寶‧倉庫盈溢‧形相端正‧眷屬具足‧聰明智慧‧勇健威猛,如大力士。若是女人,得聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧至心受持‧於後不復更受女身。
復次,曼殊室利‧彼藥師琉璃光如來得菩提時‧由本願力‧觀諸有情,遇眾病苦‧瘦攣,乾消,黃熱等病‧或被魘魅蠱毒所中‧或復短命‧或時橫死‧欲令是等病苦消除‧所求願滿。時彼世尊入三摩地‧名曰除滅一切眾生苦惱。既入定已‧於肉髻中,出大光明‧光中演說大陀羅尼曰。
南謨薄伽伐帝。鞞殺社。窶嚕薜琉璃。缽喇婆。喝囉闍也。怛他揭多耶。阿囉喝帝。三藐三勃陀耶。怛姪他。唵。鞞殺逝。鞞殺逝。鞞殺社。三沒揭帝娑訶。
爾時光中說此咒已‧大地震動‧放大光明‧一切眾生,病苦皆除‧受安隱樂。曼殊室利‧若見男子女人,有病苦者‧應當一心為彼病人,常清淨澡漱‧或食或藥,或無蟲水‧咒一百八遍‧與彼服食‧所有病苦‧悉皆消滅。若有所求‧至心念誦‧皆得如是,無病延年。命終之後‧生彼世界‧得不退轉,乃至菩提。是故曼殊室利‧若有男子女人‧於彼藥師琉璃光如來,至心慇重,恭敬供養者‧常持此咒‧勿令廢忘。
復次,曼殊室利‧若有淨信男子女人‧得聞藥師琉璃光如來,應,正等覺,所有名號‧聞已誦持。晨嚼齒木‧澡漱清淨‧以諸香華,燒香塗香‧作眾伎樂‧供養形像。於此經典‧若自書‧若教人‧書‧一心受持‧聽聞其義。於彼法師‧應修供養‧一切所有資身之具‧悉皆施與‧勿令乏少。如是便蒙諸佛護念‧所求願滿‧乃至菩提。
爾時曼殊室利童子白佛言‧世尊‧我當誓於像法轉時‧以種種方便‧令諸淨信善男子善女人等,得聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧乃至睡中,亦以佛名覺悟其耳。世尊‧若於此經受持讀誦‧或復為他演說開示‧若自書‧若教人書‧恭敬尊重以種種華香,塗香,末香,燒香‧花鬘瓔珞‧幡蓋伎樂‧而為供養。以五色綵,作囊盛之‧掃灑淨處‧敷設高座,而用安處。爾時四大天王,與其眷屬,及餘無量百千天眾‧皆詣其所‧供養守護。世尊‧若此經寶流行之處‧有能受持‧以彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來本願功德,及聞名號‧當知是處無復橫死‧亦復不為諸惡鬼神奪其精氣。設已奪者‧還得如故‧身心安樂。
佛告曼殊室利‧如是如是‧如汝所說。曼殊室利‧若有淨信善男子善女人等‧欲供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來者‧應先造立彼佛形像‧敷清淨座,而安處之。散種種華‧燒種種香‧以種種幢幡,莊嚴其處。七日七夜,受八分齋戒‧食清淨食‧澡浴香潔‧著清淨衣‧應生無垢濁心,無怒害心‧於一切有情,起利益安樂,慈悲喜捨,平等之心。鼓樂歌讚‧右繞佛像。復應念彼如來本願功德‧讀誦此經‧思惟其義‧演說開示。隨所樂求‧一切皆遂‧求長壽得長壽‧求富饒得富饒‧求官位得官位‧求男女得男女‧若復有人,忽得惡夢‧見諸惡相‧或怪鳥來集‧或於住處,百怪出現。此人若以眾妙資具,恭敬供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來者‧惡夢惡相,諸不吉祥,皆悉隱沒‧不能為患。或有水火‧刀毒懸險‧惡象獅子‧虎狼熊羆‧毒蛇惡蠍‧蜈蚣蚰蜒‧蚊虻等怖‧若能至心憶念彼佛‧恭敬供養‧一切怖畏皆得解脫。若他國侵擾‧盜賊反亂‧憶念恭敬彼如來者‧亦皆解脫。
復次,曼殊室利‧若有淨信善男子善女人等‧乃至盡形不事餘天‧唯當一心歸佛法僧‧受持禁戒‧若五戒,十戒,菩薩四百戒,苾芻二百五十戒,苾芻尼五百戒。於所受中,或有毀犯‧怖墮惡趣。若能專念彼佛名號,恭敬供養者‧必定不受三惡趣生。或有女人,臨當產時‧受於極苦‧若能至心稱名禮讚,恭敬供養彼如來者‧眾苦皆除。所生之子‧身分具足‧形色端正‧見者歡喜。利根聰明‧安隱少病‧無有非人奪其精氣。
爾時世尊告阿難言‧如我稱揚彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來所有功德‧此是諸佛甚深行處‧難可解了,汝為信不。阿難白言‧大德世尊‧我於如來所說契經‧不生疑惑。所以者何。一切如來‧身語意業,無不清淨。世尊‧此日月輪,可令墮落‧妙高山王,可使傾動‧諸佛所言‧無有異也。世尊‧有諸眾生‧信根不具‧聞說諸佛甚深行處‧作是思惟‧云何但念藥師琉璃光如來一佛名號‧便獲爾所功德勝利。由此不信‧返生誹謗‧彼於長夜,失大利樂‧墮諸惡趣‧流轉無窮。佛告阿難‧是諸有情‧若聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧至心受持‧不生疑惑‧墮惡趣者‧無有是處。阿難‧此是諸佛甚深所行‧難可信解‧汝今能受‧當知皆是如來威力。阿難‧一切聲聞獨覺,及未登地諸菩薩等‧皆悉不能如實信解‧唯除一生所繫菩薩。阿難‧人身難得‧於三寶中,信敬尊重‧亦難可得。聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧復難於是。阿難‧彼藥師琉璃光如來,無量菩薩行,無量善巧方便,無量廣大願‧我若一劫,若一劫餘,而廣說者‧劫可速盡‧彼佛行願善巧方便,無有盡也。
爾時眾中有一菩薩摩訶薩‧名曰救脫‧即從座起‧偏袒右肩‧右膝著地‧曲躬合掌,而白佛言。大德世尊‧像法轉時‧有諸眾生,為種種患之所困厄‧長病羸瘦‧不能飲食‧喉唇乾燥‧見諸方暗‧死相現前‧父母親屬‧朋友知識‧涕泣圍繞。然彼自身臥在本處‧見琰魔使,引其神識至於琰魔法王之前。然諸有情,有俱生神‧隨其所作‧若罪若福‧皆具書之‧盡持授與琰魔法王。爾時彼王推問其人計算所作‧隨其罪福,而處斷之。時彼病人親屬,知識‧若能為彼歸依世尊藥師琉璃光如來‧請諸眾僧轉讀此經‧然七層之燈‧懸五色續命神幡。或有是處,彼識得還‧如在夢中‧明了自見。或經七日,或二十一日,或三十五日,或四十九日‧彼識還時‧如從夢覺‧皆自憶知善不善業,所得果報。由自證見業果報故‧乃至命難,亦不造作諸惡之業。是故淨信善男子善女人等‧皆應受持藥師琉璃光如來名號‧隨力所能‧恭敬供養。
爾時阿難問救脫菩薩曰‧善男子應云何恭敬供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來‧續命幡燈,復云何造。救脫菩薩言‧大德‧若有病人,欲脫病苦‧當為其人,七日七夜受持八分齋戒。應以飲食,及餘資具‧隨力所辦,供養苾芻僧‧晝夜六時,禮拜供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來‧讀誦此經四十九遍。然四十九燈‧造彼如來形像七軀‧一一像前,各置七燈‧一一燈量,大如車輪‧乃至四十九日光明不絕。造五色綵幡‧長四十九磔手‧應放雜類眾生,至四十九。可得過度危厄之難‧不為諸橫惡鬼所持。
復次,阿難‧若剎帝利灌頂王等,災難起時‧所謂人眾疾疫難‧他國侵逼難‧自界叛逆難‧星宿變怪難‧日月薄蝕難‧非時風雨難‧過時不雨難‧彼剎帝利灌頂王等‧爾時應於一切有情,起慈悲心‧赦諸繫閉‧依前所說供養之法,供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來。由此善根,及彼如來本願力故‧令其國界,即得安隱‧風雨順時‧穀稼成熟‧一切有情‧無病歡樂。於其國中‧無有暴惡藥叉等神,惱有情者‧一切惡相,皆即隱沒。而剎帝利灌頂王等。壽命色力‧無病自在‧皆得增益。阿難‧若帝后妃主‧儲君王子‧大臣輔相‧中宮綵女‧百官黎庶‧為病所苦‧及餘厄難‧亦應造立五色神幡‧然燈續明‧放諸生命‧散雜色華‧燒眾名香‧病得除愈‧眾難解脫。爾時阿難問救脫菩薩言‧善男子‧云何已盡之命,而可增益。救脫菩薩言‧大德‧汝豈不聞如來說,有九橫死耶‧是故勸造續命幡燈‧修諸福德‧以修福故‧盡其壽命,不經苦患。阿難問言‧九橫云何。救脫菩薩言‧若諸有情‧得病雖輕‧然無醫藥,及看病者‧設復遇醫授以非藥‧實不應死,而便橫死。又信世間邪魔外道妖孽之師‧妄說禍福‧便生恐動‧心不自正‧卜問覓禍‧殺種種眾生,解奏神明‧呼諸魍魎‧請乞福佑‧欲冀延年‧終不能得。愚癡迷惑‧信邪倒見‧遂令橫死‧入於地獄‧無有出期‧是名初橫。二者,橫被王法之所誅戮。三者,畋獵嬉戲‧耽婬嗜酒‧放逸無度‧橫為非人奪其精氣。四者,橫為火焚。五者,橫為水溺。六者,橫為種種惡獸所噉。七者,橫墮山崖。八者,橫為毒藥,魘禱,咒咀,起屍鬼等之所中害。九者,饑渴所困,不得飲食‧而便橫死。是為如來略說橫死,有此九種。其餘復有無量諸橫‧難可具說。
復次,阿難‧彼琰魔王,主領世間名籍之記‧若諸有情,不孝五逆‧破辱三寶‧壞君臣法‧毀於性戒‧琰魔法王,隨罪輕重‧考而罰之。是故我今勸諸有情‧然燈造幡‧放生修福‧令度苦厄‧不遭眾難。爾時眾中有十二藥叉大將‧俱在會座‧所謂
宮毗羅大將 伐折羅大將 迷企羅大將安底羅大將
頞禰羅大將 珊底羅大將 因達羅大將波夷羅大將
摩虎羅大將 真達羅大將 招杜羅大將毘羯羅大將
此十二藥叉大將‧一一各有七千藥叉,以為眷屬。同時舉聲白佛言‧世尊‧我等今者蒙佛威力‧得聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號‧不復更有惡趣之怖。我等相率,皆同一心‧乃至盡形,歸佛法僧‧誓當荷負一切有情‧為作義利‧饒益安樂。隨於何等村城國邑,空閑林中‧若有流布此經‧或復受持藥師琉璃光如來名號‧恭敬供養者‧我等眷屬,衛護是人‧皆使解脫一切苦難。諸有願求‧悉今滿足。或有疾厄,求度脫者‧亦應讀誦此經‧以五色縷,結我名字‧得如願已‧然後解結。
爾時世尊讚諸藥叉大將言‧善哉善哉‧大藥叉將‧汝等念報世尊藥師琉璃光如來恩德者‧常應如是利益安樂一切有情。
爾時阿難白佛言‧世尊‧當何名此法門‧我等云何奉持。佛告阿難‧此法門名說藥師琉璃光如來本願功德。亦名說十二神將饒益有情結願神咒‧亦名拔除一切業障。應如是持。時薄伽梵說是語已‧諸菩薩摩訶薩‧及大聲聞,國王,大臣,婆羅門,居士,天,龍,藥叉,健達縛,阿素洛,揭路荼,緊捺洛,莫呼洛伽,人非人等,一切大眾‧聞佛所說‧皆大歡喜‧信受奉行。
藥師灌頂真言:
南謨薄伽伐帝。鞞殺社窶魯。薛琉璃。砵喇婆。喝囉闍也。怛他揭多耶。阿囉喝帝。三藐三勃陀耶。怛姪他。唵。鞞殺逝。鞞殺逝。鞞殺社。三沒揭諦。莎婆訶。解結解結解冤結。解了多生冤和業。洗心滌慮發虔誠。今對佛前求解結。藥師佛。藥師佛消災延壽藥師佛。隨心滿願藥師佛。
消解病咒:
唵室哩哆。室哩哆軍 吒唎。莎婆訶。
讚:
十二藥叉大將。助佛宣揚。五色彩縷結其名。隨願悉圓成。冤業永清。福壽永康寧
藥師教主。延壽能仁。日光照月光臨。菩薩降福隆。藥叉神明。擁護保安寧。
藥師會上。熾盛光王。十二大願妙難量苦海作舟航。廣大吉祥。諸佛盡稱揚。
藥師會上。琉璃光王。八大菩薩降吉祥。七佛護壇場。日月威光。滅罪免災殃。
藥師大願。功德無邊。大千沙界盡包含。寶地佈金蓮。我佛弘宣。福壽廣增延。
南無藥師海會佛菩薩摩訶薩 (三稱)
接引東方琉璃世界往生八大菩薩聖號:
南無文殊室利菩薩
南無觀世音菩薩
南無大勢至菩薩
南無無盡意菩薩
南無寶檀華菩薩
南無藥王菩薩
南無藥上菩薩
南無彌勒菩薩
東方世界。藥師如來。功德智慧。無量莊嚴。放淨光明。過於日月。一切剎土。淨如琉璃。與西方界。等無有異。十二大願。利樂有情。凡有所求。皆遂具心。受持稱名。如我無異。具大丈夫相。及八十形好。一切惡趣。無量災難。以我威儀。皆得解脫。弟子眾等。願得無上菩提。生生世世。行菩薩道。亦如藥師琉璃光如來。所發十二大願。利樂一切有情。即此娑婆世界。身心剎土。皆如琉璃。面見我佛。及阿彌陀。所願法界有情。東西相泯。二見永忘。與中道義。共證真常。十方三世一切佛。一切菩薩摩訶薩。摩訶般若波羅蜜。