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siumerghe · 3 years

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Chang’an map, from China's Golden Age. Everyday Life in the Tang Dynasty:

1. Forbidden Park - Cherry orchard, pear grove, vineyard, football field, polo grounds. 2. West Park - Ice pits for refrigerating foods during the spring and summer. 3. Daming Palace - Archery hall, bath hall, storehouse for musical instruments, drum tower, bell tower, football field, cockfighting arena, Pear Garden Troupe, Entertainment Ward. 4. East Park - A football field. 5. Barracks for the Divine Strategy Army. 6. A shrine for Laozi’s father. 7. [Yeting Palace - the imperial harem.] The Flank Court, where women were incarcerated for the crimes that their menfolk committed. There was also a school for palace ladies here. 8. West Palace - Archery hall, polo grounds, football field, drum tower, bell tower. 9. East Palace, the heir apparent’s residence. [During Emperor Xuanzong’s reign both crown princes didn’t lived here. They lived in no. 13, together with their brothers.] 10. A branch of the Entertainment Ward that had the finest singers. A carriage park where mandarins attending court in the Daming Palace left their vehicles for the day. [...] 12. A branch of the Entertainment Ward that had the finest dancers. In 730 Emperor Xuanzong had four palace halls dismantled and reassembled as halls and gates for the Taoist abbey in the southwest comer. Formerly, the grounds of the temple were gardens for an agricultural bureau. 13. A residence for princes. [Ten Princes Residence, later renamed to Sixteen Princes Residence.] 14. A Zoroastrian church.[...]

16. Seat of the eunuch agency. [...] 18. The national Taoist abbey dedicated to the worship of [Laozi] in this ward had statues of Xuanzong and later emperors. 19. A Persian (Nestorian) church. 21. Princess Anle’s mansion. 22. This street was the site of a carnival held in 713. 23. Imperial factories. 24. Service for Supreme Justice. 25. Gold Bird Guard East. [Actually, this is a mistranslation. Should be Guard with Golden Maces 金吾卫. It’s one of the 16 Guards of Chang’an. Historically its name comes from 金吾 - a ceremonial mace, an attribute of an official called zhi jin wu 執金吾 ("carrying a mace"), who was responsible for order in the streets.] [...] The home of an imperial flautist was located here. [...] 26. Princess Tongchang’s mansion. It had a well with a railing made of gold and silver. 27. A court for imperial musicians. 28. A Zoroastrian church. 29. The first site of the Persian (Nestorian) church (no. 19). The home of An Jinzang, who cut his belly open with a knife to defend Emperor Ruizong against charges of treason, was in this ward. 30. Princess Taiping’s mansion. 31. A Zoroastrian church. 32. Gold Bird Guard West. [A mistranslation. See my comment in p.25 above.] 33. A Persian (Nestorian) church. 34. Imperial stables and hay fields for horses. 35. Halls for civil and military examinations. 36. The imperial ancestral shrine. 37. [...] There was a polo field in the western part of this ward. 38. At this former wedding hall for imperial princesses, An Lushan had eighty Princesses, their husbands, and consorts of princes slaughtered in 756. 39. A workshop for a maker of musical instruments. By candlelight the Tang’s most renowned painter [Wu Daozi], while drunk, in a single night executed a mural for 4 gate in the Buddhist monastery east of this ward's northern gate. 40. Three provincial transmission offices. [...] 41. The street where Emperor Xuanzong convened public entertainments, to celebrate his birthdays. 42. Xingqing Palace - Xuanzong's aloeswood pavilion and an archery hall. A Buddhist monastery located in this area was converted into a palace in the early eighth century.

43. West Market. Lanes: Axes, Ready-Made Clothing, Bridles and Saddles, Weights and Measures, and Pongee. A Persian bazaar. Wineshops and taverns. Vendors of beverages, gruel, and cooked cereals. A safety deposit firm. The government offices for controlling commerce were located in the center block. There was a pond for releasing the living in the northwest corner. The exact locations of the solitary willow under which most executions took place and the pool for storing wood are unknown. 44. A court for imperial musicians, The mansion of an eminent minister here had a “pavilion of automatic rain,” that is, air conditioning. [...] The local school for citizens of the capital was located in the southeast corner. 45. In 720 the walls of this ward collapsed during a heavy rain. Here, Princess Taiping had a mansion, an emperor discovered that courtesans were living in a Taoist convent, and a dwarf illusionist changed herself into a bamboo stalk and a skull. 46. Capital schools: the Sons of State, Grand Learning, and Four Gates, as well as colleges for law, mathematics, and calligraphy. This ward had three provincial transmission offices. 47. North Hamlet (the Gay Quarters). The Alley of the Jingling Hames was located in the southwest. Seventeen provincial transmission offices. The mansion of a princess in the northwest corner of this ward had a polo field. [...] 48. East Market. Ironmongers’ Lane, a tavern, a pastry shop, and a seller of foreign musical instruments. The government offices for controlling commerce were located in the center block. [...] There was a monastery in the market, and a pond for releasing the living in the northeast comer. 49. A Turkish prince had a mansion in this ward [...]. 50. The office of Chang’an’s mayor. [...] 51. The monastery occupying the entire southern half of this ward had a pond for releasing the living and the largest number of entertainment plazas in the capital. [...] 52. The offices of Wannian County, the eastern half of the city. [...] 54. A bureau for managing the households of princes. [...] In 656 the throne converted the dwelling into the south-western monastery. 55. A chief minister's mansion here had a pavilion with walls that were covered with a plaster made from an aromatic plant that came from Central Asia. The Tang's Small Goose Pagoda in the northwest comer survives today. 56. A shop that sold fancy pastry. One of the monasteries here had a statue of Buddha carved out of jade from Central Asia. 57. One of the Taoist abbeys in this ward was originally a lavish mansion that Emperor Xuanzong bestowed on An Lushan. In the mid-eighth century the household of a general here numbered 3,000.[...] 59. Zoroastrian church. Felt Alley. [...] There was a large polo field in the vacant land to the west that was attached to the mansion of a princess in the early eighth century. 60. There was a firm here that hired out square-faced exorcists and rented hearses and other equipment for funerals. 61. The offices for Chang’an County, the western half of the city. 62. Graduates of the Advanced Scholars examination held “cherry feasts” at the Pavilion of Buddha's Tooth in the southwestern monastery to commemorate their triumph. A mint for casting copper cash. 63. Xuanzong abolished the shrine for an imperial princess here and bestowed the property on a close aide for use as a polo field. [...] 65. City archives, Directorate for Astronomy, and a garden that Xuanzong bestowed on An Lushan. [...] 66. An Entertainment Ward and the Board for Fife and Drum Music, Two fortune tellers lived here. [...] 67. [...] In this ward crowds of people flocked to the home of a superb physiognomist, or face reader, to have their fortunes told. The Buddhist monastery here had an entertainment plaza.

71. [...] This ward had a pond for releasing the living. 72. A medicinal garden for the heir apparent was located in the northwest corner. A pastry shop stood beside the north gate. The ruins of an ancient shrine marked the highest point in the city. Citizens visited the spot to purify them- selves on the third day of the third moon and ninth day of the ninth moon. 73. The southern half of this ward was entirely occupied by graves. It had no dwellings. 74. An Lushan's garden. 75. Graduates of the Advanced Scholars examination held “peony parties” at a pavilion in a garden here to celebrate their success. [...] 76. A field for training soldiers in the use of the crossbow occupied this entire ward. In the seventh century it had been a market for selling slaves, horses, cattle, and donkeys. 77. A haunted house. The monastery here had a room for making monk’s robes.[...] 78. The monastery on the right had more than ten courtyards and 1,897 bays. Its pagoda, the Large Goose, where graduates of the Advanced Scholars examination inscribed their names in the Tang, survives today. It also had a bathhouse and an entertainment plaza. The monastery on the lower left had 4 pond for releasing the living. [...] 79. Graduates of the Advanced Scholars examination held “peony parties” to mark their achievements at two government pavilions in this ward. 80. The inn here was attached to a rapid relay post station. 81. A garden in this ward provided food for the heir apparent’s household. 82. Among other things, the government garden here supplied pear blossom honey. 83. Apricot grove where graduates of the Advanced Scholars examination celebrated their success with feasts. 84. At the monastery on the right a 330-foot-tall pagoda was erected to counter the adverse yin forces of a lake west of the city. Its cloisters had one of Buddha's teeth, three inches long, that a pilgrim brought from India.

#tang dynasty #chinese history

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vajranam · 3 years

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Medicine Buddha Sutra

Sutra on the Merits of the Fundamental Vows of the Mater of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata

Sutra of the Sacred Formula of the Binding Vows of the Deva Generals to Enrich All Sentient Beings

Sutra of Tearing Away All Karmic Veils

Om. Homage to the Omniscient One. Homage to the Lord Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance King Tathagata.

Thus have I heard ….

Once, when the Lord was traveling through the various states to teach and transform the inhabitants, he arrived at Vaisali. There he dwelt at the base of a tree from which music resounded. Together with him was a great assembly of monks, totaling 8,000. Thirty-six thousand Bodhisattva-mahasattvas were there, and the king of the state, his great ministers, brahmins, learned laymen, devas, nagas, yaksas, and beings human and non-human were in attendance. This immeasurable large assembly respectfully gathered around the Buddha, and he then expounded the teaching to them.

The Dharma Prince Manjushri, receiving through inspiration the Buddha’s sublime spiritual force, arose from his seat, bared his shoulder on one side, and knelt with his right knee on the ground. Bowing down towards the Lord and clasping his hands together, Manjushri address him and said, “Oh Lord, I sincerely wish that you expound upon the forms and varieties of all the Buddhas’ names and on the rare merits of their fundamental great vows [made when they first set out on the Bodhisattva Path). All who hear this will be caused to be purified of their karmic fetters, so that they may confer benefits and joy to all sentient beings in the age of the replica teachings [when only form rather than content remains of the spiritual teachings].”

The Lord then praised Manjushri, and he said, “Excellent, excellent, Manjushri. You have implored me with your great compassion to expound on all the Buddhas’ names and the merits of their fundamental vows, in order to tear off the karmic fetters which bind sentient beings and to benefit, enrich, and bring peace and joy to all sentient beings in the period of replica teachings. You should listen now with utmost care and consider well what I shall tell you.”

Manjushri said, “I sincerely wish that you will speak. We all will listen with great joy to your explanations.”

The Buddha told Manjushri, “If you go eastward beyond as many Buddha fields as there are ten times the number of grains of sand in the Ganges River, you will find a realm known as ‘Pure Lapis Lazuli.’ The Buddha there is known as:

Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata,

Arhat,

Perfectly Enlightened One,

Perfect in Mind and Deed,

Well-Gone,

He Who Knows the World,

Unsurpassed Being,

Tamer of Passions,

Teacher of Devas and Men,

Buddha,

and Lord.

Manjushri, when that Buddha, Lord Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata first set out on the Bodhisattva Path, he made twelve vows to enable all sentient beings to obtain that which they seek.

First Great Vow

‘I vow that when I attain the unexcelled complete enlightenment in a future age, a radiant light will blaze forth from my body. It will brilliantly illumine limitless, countless, boundless realms. This body will be excellently adorned with the thirty-two marks of the great man and the eighty secondary marks. I will cause all sentient being to wholly resemble me.’

Second Great Vow

‘I vow that when I attain enlightenment in a future ago, my body will be like lapis lazuli within and without, bright with penetrating and flawless purity.

The radiance will be of great merit and imposing, indeed. My body will be an excellent and tranquil dwelling, adorned with [an aureole like] a glowing net surpassing the sin and moon in its radiance.

I will show the dawn to those beings who are completely concealed in darkness, so that they may act in accordance with the desired path.’

Third Great Vow

‘I vow that when I attain enlightenment in a future age, with infinite and boundless insight and means, I shall cause all sentient beings to obtain all that they need. They shall never lack [the necessities of life).’

Fourth Great Vow

I vow that when I attain enlightenment in a future age, of there are sentient beings who tread upon heretical paths; I will cause them all to peacefully abide within the path of enlightenment. If there are those who are adherents of the sravaka or pratyekabuddha vehicles, they will all become securely established in the Great Vehicle (Mahayana).’

Fifth Great Vow

‘I vow that when I attain enlightenment in a future age, if there are limitless and boundless sentient beings who cultivate and practice the pure conduct of my teaching, I will cause them all to be able to follow perfectly the rules of conduct and be complete in the three cumulative precepts. Those who slander and offend will, after hearing my name, be able once again to attain purity, and they will not sink into a woeful existence.’

Sixth Great Vow

‘I vow that when I attain enlightenment in a future age, of there are sentient beings whose bodies are inferior, whose sense organs are impaired, who are ugly, stupid, deaf, blind, mute, bent and lame, hunchbacked, leprous, convulsive, insane, or who have all sorts of diseases and suffering - such beings when they hear my name shall obtain proper appearances and practical intelligence. All their senses will become perfect and they shall have neither sickness nor suffering.’

Seventh Great Vow

‘I vow that when I attain enlightenment in a future age, of there are any sentient beings who are ill and oppressed, who have nowhere to go and nothing to return to, who have neither doctor nor medicine, neither relatives nor immediate family, who are destitute and whose sufferings are acute - as soon as my name passed through their ears, they will be cured of all their diseases and they will be peaceful and joyous in body and mind. They will have plentiful families and property, and they will personally experience the supreme enlightenment.’

Eighth Great Vow

‘I vow that when I attain enlightenment in a future age, if there are any women who suffer from any of the hundred woes that befall women, who are wearied at the end of their lives and wish to abandon the female form - when these women hear my name, they all will obtain transformation in rebirth from female into male physical forms. They all will personally experience the supreme enlightenment.’

Ninth Great Vow

‘I vow that when I attain enlightenment in a future age, I will cause all sentient beings to escape from Mara’s net. They will be freed from the fetters of all deviant paths. If there are those who have sunk into various negative views as dense as a jungle, I will embrace them and establish them in correct views. I will gradually cause them to cultivate and study all the Bodhisattva practices and they will soon personally experience the supreme enlightenment.’

Tenth Great Vow

‘I vow that when I attain enlightenment in a future age, if - according to that which is recorded in the king’s laws - there are any sentient beings who are bound and whipped, tied up and thrown into prison, or who will be subjected to capital punishment; and to whom boundlessly catastrophic difficulties occur that are humiliating; grievous, and distressing, their bodies and minds suffering these bitter nesses - if such persons hear my name, due to the beneficial spiritual force of my auspicious virtues, they will be freed from all sorrows and sufferings.’

Eleventh Great Vow

‘I vow that when I attain enlightenment in a future age, of there are any sentient beings who are tormented by hunger and thirst and who create bad karma in their [desperate] search for sustenance - if they hear my name and firmly retain it in their minds and hold to it, then I will provide them first with incomparably marvelous food and drink to fully satisfy their bodies.

Afterwards, through providing them with the taste of the Teaching, they will ultimately become peaceful and joyous and well established in it.’

Twelfth Great Vow

‘I vow that when I attain enlightenment in a future age, if there are any sentient beings who are poor and, having no clothing, are annoyed and irritated through the day and night by flies and mosquitoes, heat and cold - if they hear my name and firmly retain it in their minds and hold to it, in accordance with their wishes, they will obtain all sorts of superior and marvelous clothing. They will also obtain every precious adornment, garlands, powder incense, music, and [the enjoyment of] various performing arts. I shall cause them to have in abundance whatever their hearts desire.’

“Manjushri, these are the twelve subtle, sublime, and superior vows expressed by that Lord Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata when he set out onto the Bodhisattva Path. As to the merits and glorious adornments of his Buddha-land, if I tried to speak of them for an eon, or even longer than an eon, I would not be able to describe them in full. The Lord Master of Healing Buddha-land has been singularly pure up to the present, and there is no temptation there, no woeful paths of existence, and no cries of suffering. The ground is made of lapis lazuli, and roads are marked with gold. The walls and gates, palaces and pavilions, balconies and windows, draperies and curtains are all made of the seven precious substances. It is similar to the Joyous Realm of the West; its merits and adornments are no different.”

Medicine Master-mb11.jpg

“In this land, there are two Bodhisattva-mahasattvas. One is named All-Pervading Solar Radiance and the other is named All-Pervading Lunar Radiance. They are the leaders of the limitless, numberless host of Bodhisattvas there. They are fully able to uphold the treasury of the genuine teachings of the Lord Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata.”

“For these reasons, Manjushri, all the good sons and daughters [of the Buddhist family] having faithful hearts should aspire to be reborn in that Buddha’s realm.”

The Lord then told the youth Manjushri, “Manjushri, there are beings who do not distinguish between good and bad, who only cherish greed and stinginess. They know nothing of spreading charity and of the fruits and rewards of giving. Stupid and dense, they have no insight and lack the roots of faith. Amassing wealth and jewels, they industriously guard and protect [their hoard]. When they see a beggar coming, the become displeased, and if they fail to protect themselves and are forced to give in charity, they generate such deep and painful resentment that it seems as if they are cutting off a piece of their own bodies.”

“Furthermore, there are sentient beings who are boundlessly stingy and avaricious. They amass riches, and since they do not even spend it on themselves, how could they possibly be able to give to their parents, spouses, children, or to their maidservants, laborers, or to beggars? At the end of their present lives, these sentient beings will be reborn as starving ghosts or animals. Because in a former incarnation as a human being, such a being briefly heard the name, “Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata,” in this woe some path of existence he will suddenly remember that Tathagata’s name. When he recalls the Tathagata’s name, he will disappear from that place and once again be born among humans. Obtaining knowledge of his past lives and dreading [return to] the woe some paths, he will no longer take joy in worldly pleasures. He will come to like practicing benevolent charity, he will praise those who delight in giving, and he will not be greedily attached to his possessions. One after the other, using his head, eyes, hands, feet, blood, flesh and torso, he will be able to distribute charity to all who come seeking it. How much more will he be able to distribute his other property?”

“Next, Manjushri, there may be sentient beings who have broken the precepts of moral purity (sila) even though they have accepted the various points of the teachings of the Tathagata. There may be those who, even if they have not broken the precepts, have broken the regulations of the Order. There may be those who, even though they have followed the precepts and rules in a manner which is not improper, have defamed right views. Also, there may be those who, even though they have not defamed right views, have abandoned the practice of studying. Thus, they fail to comprehend the profound principles of the sutras taught by the Buddha. There may be those who, though learned, have become conceited, and because their minds are clouded by conceit, the think they are right and all others are wrong. They come to detest and hate the genuine Teachings, becoming companions and associates of Mara. In this way, these stupid persons themselves practice heretical views. They repeatedly send vast millions of sentient beings plunging into the pitfalls of danger. These persons will sink to the Naraka hell realms, or to the paths of animal or ghostly rebirth, endlessly remaining in samsara.”

“If they should hear the name of this Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata, it will cause them to abandon the negative practices and cultivate and practice the wholesome Teachings. They will not sink to the pits of woeful existence. But if there are some who are unable to reject negative practices, who are unable to cultivate and practice the wholesome Teachings, then they will [continue to] sink to the woe some paths. Due to the awesome force of the fundamental vows made by this Tathagata, such beings will be caused to arise from their present state to hear the Buddha’s name for a fleeting moment. Then following the end of that life, they will be reborn as humans. They will obtain correct views, and - making effort - they will control the desires of the mind.

Furthermore, they will be enabled to reject the path of the householder by taking refuge in the teachings of the homeless Tathagata. They will accept and hold to the points of the teachings and will have nothing to do with that which is offensive and breaks the precepts. Holding to correct views, they will become learned and understand the deep meanings of the sutras. Divorced from pride, they will cultivate and practice the various aspects of the Bodhisattva Path, and they will soon attain to that Path’s fulfillment.”

“Next, Manjushri, there may be sentient beings who are grudging and greedy, envious and jealous, who praise themselves while slandering others. These beings will sink to the three woes some paths. For limitless thousands of years they will suffer all sorts of miseries. When they have suffered these miseries, at the end of their lives they will be reborn into the world of men, as oxen or horses, camels or donkeys. Constantly whipped, annoyed and irritated by hunger and thirst, they will always be burdened with heavy loads on their backs as they follow the roads and thoroughfares.”

“If they obtain human rebirth, it will be as a menial in someone’s home, as a male or female servant who constantly receives orders to do manual labor for others. Such a one will never be free.”

“In the former life as a human, if such a one ever heard the name of the Lord Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata, due to this good cause, he will be led to recollect it, and he will take refuge in the Buddha with utmost sincerity. By means of the Buddha’s spiritual power, he will be liberated from all his sufferings. He will gain perceptive and sharp senses; he will become insightful and learned. He will ever seek for the sublime teachings, constantly meeting wholesome (spiritual) friends. He will sever his ties to Mara for eternity, piercing through the veils of ignorance. The river of afflictions will dry up, and he will be liberated from the sorrows and sufferings of birth, old age, sickness, and death.”

“Next, Manjushri, if there are any sentient beings who take delight in schisms, who quarrel and cause irritations between themselves and others; and if by means of deeds, words and thoughts they create, increase, and prolong all sorts of negative karma; if they constantly further matters which are not beneficial; if they plot revengeful injury; if they summon the spirits of the mountains, forests, and tomb mounds; if they kill living creatures in order to obtain their blood and flesh as sacrificial offerings to the yaksa and raksasa demons and others; if they write down the names of the cursed, make images of them, by means of evil sorcery curse and harm them, and practice evil magic to raise ghouls, thus putting an end to the life of the enemy and destroying his body - if any of these sentient beings hear the name of this Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata, they will become unable to do injury by all those evil ways. In all turnings of their minds, there will arise thoughts of loving kindness. They will think of benefits for others, of peace and joy, and they will have no thoughts of torment or hate. Each will be delighted with whatever he receives, and he will be satisfied. These beings will not encroach upon or maltreat others, but will seek to benefit each other.”

“Next Manjushri, there may be some among the four classes of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, among the good sons and daughters of pure faith, who are able to accept and maintain the eightfold vows, observing all the aspects of them for a year of three months. By means of these wholesome roots, they expect to be granted rebirth in the Realm of Utmost Joy of Amitayus Buddha in the western regions. However, though they have heard the genuine Teachings, they are not yet established in them. If they hear the name of the Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata, then when they reach the end of their lives, eight great Bodhisattvas will ascend through space using their spiritual powers, and they will come to point out the route [to the Western Paradise). In that [Western] realm, they will be spontaneously reborn in multi-colored jeweled flowers.”

“If there are those who - even though they have been born in this celestial realm and ‘have established wholesome roots in their previous lives - still have not exhausted (their karma), because they have been born in this celestial realm they will never again be born into any of the woe some paths. When their stay in the celestial realm reaches its end, such a one will be reborn into the human world as a wheel turning king who will unite all within the four continents. Due to the sovereignty of his beneficial virtues, he will securely establish limitless hundreds of thousands of sentient beings in the way of the ten wholesome precepts.”

“Or, such a one will be born into a great family of czarinas, brahmins, or learned laymen, with abundant wealth, jewels, and granaries and storehouses filled to overflowing. His appearance will be extremely majestic, and he will have a complete array of retainers. He will be intelligent and wise, brave and strong, imposing and fierce like a great master of martial arts.”

“Or, even if such a one if born as a woman, if she hears the name of the Lord Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata, and with utmost sincerity she accepts it and holds to it, then in subsequent lives this person will never again be born as a woman.”

“Then, Manjushri, when this Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata attained enlightenment, due to the force of his fundamental vows he was able to observe all sentient beings. Some suffered from various diseases and were emaciated, feverish, jaundiced, and so on; others were in the thrall of noxious poisons of repugnant demons; further, others were (naturally) short-lived or were on the brink of untimely death. He soughs to cause all these diseases and suffering to be ended, and to fulfill all desires.”

“At that point, the Lord entered into the Samadhi named ‘Dispeller of the Afflictions of All Beings.’ Having entered this Samadhi, a great brilliant light shone from the urna between his eyebrows, and from its midst a great dharani resounded:

namo bhagavate baisajyaguru vaidurya prabharaja tathagataya arhate samyaksambuddhaya tadyatha; om baisajya baisajya radza samudgate svaha

“Then after this dharani was uttered, from the midst of this light, there was a great rumbling and shaking of the earth and a great radiance shone forth. Illness and miseries were removed from all beings, and the all become peaceful and joyous.”

“Oh Manjushri, if there is a good son or daughter who is ill, for the sake of that person you should wholeheartedly constantly clean and bathe him. You should provide for him food, medicine, and water from which all insects have been strained, having recited the dharani over it 108 times. Upon swallowing these substances, all the sufferings of disease will be dispelled. If this person seeks something, with utmost sincerity he should think of the dharani and recite it. In this way, he will obtain all that he seeks, be free of illnesses, and have a long life. At the end of his life, this person will be reborn into the realm of the Buddha (of Healing). He will achieve the non-regressing state and reach enlightenment.”

“This is why, Manjushri, good sons and daughters should, with utmost sincerity, diligently revere and worship that Master of Healing, the Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata, and they should ever hold this dharani, never allowing it to be lost.”

#spirituality #wisdom #mindfulness #meditation #religion #buddhism #self care #visualization #zen #tibet

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samma-sambodhi · 4 years

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— THE DAIMOKU OF THE LOTUS SUTRA — (pt.7) . [The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin] . Question: How great are the blessings contained within the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo? . Answer: The great ocean contains all the numerous rivers that flow into it, the great earth contains all sentient and insentient beings, the wish-granting jewel is capable of showering down innumerable treasures, and the heavenly king Brahma rules over all the threefold world. The five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo are comparable to these. ALL BEINGS OF THE NINE WORLDS, AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE WORLD OF BUDDHAHOOD, ARE CONTAINED WITHIN THEM. And since all beings of the Ten Worlds are contained within them, so are their environments. . Let us first examine the fact that the five characters, MYOHO-RENGE-KYO, CONTAIN WITHIN THEM ALL TEACHINGS. THE SINGLE CHARACTER KYO, or “sutra,” IS THE KING OF ALL SUTRAS, AND ALL THE OTHER SUTRAS ARE ENCOMPASSED BY IT. The Buddha appeared in the world and over a period of fifty years preached eighty thousand sacred teachings. At that time the life span of human beings is said to have been one hundred years. The Buddha passed away in the middle of the night on the fifteenth day of the second month of the year with the cyclical sign mizunoe-saru (13). Thereafter, during some ninety days of summer, or the period from the eighth day of the fourth month until the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the same year, one thousand arhats gathered at the compilation hall and set down all the sutras. . #Buddha #Buddhism #Buddhist #Dhamma #wisdom #Knowledge #awakening #Spiritual #Consciousness #namaste #enlightenment #nichiren #nammyohorengekyo #kyo #goodvibrations #guanyin #chenrezi #photography #loveandlight #meditator #meditation #lotussutra #lifeforce #artwork #mindfulness #avalokiteshvara #blessings #sunday https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Wnsr6Jjxa/?igshid=5azh28y2rxye

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tomasorban · 5 years

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The Wheel of fortune - Arcanum 10

In this lecture we are going to study the Arcanum 10 of the Tarot. It is necessary to analyze the cosmogonic wheel of Ezekiel. In this wheel, we find the battle of antitheses. Hermanubis rises on the right and Typhon descends through the left of the fatal wheel. This is the wheel of the centuries, the wheel of reincarnations and of karma. Upon the wheel appears the mystery of the sphinx grasps the flaming sword between its lion’s paws. This is the wheel of antithesis. The serpent of brass that healed the Israelites in the wilderness and the terrible, tempting serpent of Eden are mutually combating each other.

The entire secret of the Tree of Knowledge is enclosed within this wheel; the four rivers of paradise flow from this unique fountain, one of them runs through the thick sunny jungle watering the philosophical earth of gold and light and the other tenebrously and turbulently runs into the Kingdom of the Abyss. Light and darkness, White Magic and Black Magic, are mutually combating each other. Eros and Anteros, Cain and Abel, live within us in an intense battle, until by discovering the mystery of the sphinx, we grasp the flaming sword, and thus, this is how we become liberated from the wheel of the centuries.

Lunar Conscience

The lunar conscience is the outcome of our unfaithful memory; this type of Consciousness sleeps profoundly. The humanoid has conscience of that which he remembers; no humanoid has conscience of that which he does not remember. The sinning Adam is memory, he is the same reincarnating ego, he is the lunar conscience. Clairvoyants affirm that the atoms of the secret enemy constitute this conscience and that it is a tenebrous remnant of our lunar past (a threshold’s larva).

Our Gnostic disciples must comprehend the significance of this type of conscience: the lunar conscience is something that must be conscious; and it needs someone who is conscious of it. The lunar conscience is submitted to every type of limitation, qualification, restriction, reaction; it is the outcome of matter, the outcome of our race’s inheritance, family, habits, customs, prejudices, desires, fears, appetencies, etc. The sinning Adam with his lunar conscience reincarnates with the goal of gaining more experiences within the school of life. However, life’s experiences complicate and strengthen the sinning Adam. The once innocent humanity from Eden is now this terrible and perverse humanity of the atomic and hydrogen bomb.

The innocent child (with the experiences of life) is converted into a sly, distrustful, malicious, avaricious, fearful elder; such is the lunar conscience. The devil is a devil and can never acquire perfection. The great Master H.P. Blavatsky stated: “Strengthen your soul against the stalking of your ‘I;’ make her worthy to bear the name of ‘Diamond Soul.’”

Solar Conscience

There exist changes in the lunar conscience and there exist changes of Consciousness. Every improvement in the lunar conscience originates changes within it. These types of changes in the lunar conscience are superficial and useless. What we need is a change of Consciousness. When we dissolve the lunar Consciousness then the solar Consciousness is born within us.

It is necessary for the sinning Adam to die within us so that Adam-Christ can be born within us. We grasp the flaming sword when we liberate the solar electronic energy that is enclosed within the seminal atoms.

Perseus descends into the flaming forge of Vulcan in order to decapitate the sinning Adam (Medusa) with his flaming sword. John the Baptist is decapitated and Christ is crucified in order to save the world. The slaughter of the innocent children (the initiates) is a repetitive action throughout the initiation. This is how the solar Consciousness is born within us; this type of Consciousness contains in itself the knower, the knowledge and the known thing, three in one and one in three. The solar Consciousness is omnipresent and omni-penetrating. The solar Consciousness liberates the human being from the fatal wheel of the centuries.

Sexual Cycles

Uranus is the octave of Venus. It governs the masculine and feminine facets of sex. It has a sexual cycle of eighty-four years. Uranus’s cycle is divided into two periods of 42 years, positive-masculine and negative-feminine. Uranus’ two poles are always facing toward the sun. For 42 years the positive pole is directed towards the sun and another 42 years the negative pole. Now we can understand where that alternated stimuli for both sexes comes from; the marvelous biorhythm of 84 years. The wheel of the centuries rotates in periods of forty-two years each. The masculine sex predominates for one half and the feminine sex for the other half. The sexual cycle of Uranus corresponds with the average length of a human life; this signifies that the antithesis of the sexual cycle in which we were born, vibrates within us during our adulthood. Then we feel sexually stimulated. We comprehend why mature men and women are indeed mature enough to work in the Great Work, because sexual sentiments are more vigorous at forty years of age.

Light and Consciousness

Light and Consciousness are two phenomena of the same thing. The more levels of Christic Consciousnesswe develop the more levels of light we attain. The planets are gradually absorbing the Christic Consciousness of the Sun. Thus when the planets of our solar system have integrally absorbed the divine Solar Consciousness, then life, light, and heat will no longer occupy only the astronomical place of the sun, but the entire solar system will then shine like the sun. This is the case of the gigantic sun Antares, which is a million times more rarified than our sun. The light of the solar system of Antares is not only localized in its sun, because each one of its planets has become a sun. The planetary humanities enjoy the solar Consciousness; the outcome of this joy is the splendors of the solar system of Antares.

The Ten Sephiroth

Ten Sephiroth are spoken of, but in reality, there are twelve. The Ain Soph is the eleventh, and the twelfth Sephirah is its tenebrous antithesis within the Abyss.

These are twelve spheres, or universal regions, which mutually penetrate and co-penetrate without confusion. These twelve spheres gravitate within the central atom of the sign of the infinite. A solar humanity unfolds within these twelve spheres. We have said that the sign of the Infinite is in the center of the earth, in the heart of the earth. The Ten Sephiroth of universal vibration emanate from the Ain Soph (the Microcosmic star) that guides our interior. The Ain Soph is the Being of our Being.

The Ten Sephiroth emanate from the Ain Soph as follows:

First, Kether, the Ancient of Days

Second, Chokmah, the region of wisdom

Third, Binah, intelligence

Fourth, Chesed, the world of the Innermost

Fifth, Geburah, the world of soul-Consciousness, the region of rigor and justice

Sixth, Tiphereth, the causal world, the region of willpower, equilibrium and beauty

Seventh, Netzach, the region of victory, the world of the mental man (anyone who liberates himself from the four bodies of sin is a Buddha).

Eighth, Hod, the splendor, the region of the Astral body

Ninth, Yesod, foundation, sex, the ethereal plane

Tenth, Malkuth, the kingdom in general, the physical world; Malkuth is a supreme filter; from this region we depart to the Ain Soph or to the abyss, such is the law.

The Sephiroth are atomic; these ten Sephiroth can be reduced to three tables:

First: The Quantum Table of the radiant energy that comes from the Sun

Second: The Atomic Weight Table of the Elements of Nature

Third: The Molecular Weight Table of the Compounds

This is Jacob’s ladder, which goes from earth to heaven. All of the worlds of cosmic Consciousness are reduced to these three tables.

All of the ten known Sephiroth come from Sephirah, the Divine Mother; She dwells in the Heart Temple.

Direct Clue for Direct Knowledge

It is necessary that our Gnostic disciples learn how to leave their physical body in order to travel with their internal vehicles with complete cognizance in order to penetrate within the distinct Sephirothic regions.

It is necessary to directly know the twelve spheres of universal vibration, where all of the being of the universe develops and lives. The disciple must concentrate on the chakra of the heart, which is where the Divine Cosmic Mother abides. The disciple must beseech Sephirah, the Mother of the Sephiroth; the disciple muse beg her to take him out of his physical body in order to take him to the distinct departments of the kingdom in order to directly study the Sephiroth of Kabbalah. The disciple must pray and meditate abundantly on the Divine Mother while mentally vocalizing the following Kabbalistic mantras:

Lifaros – Lifaros – Licanto – Ligoria

Vocalize these mantras by syllabifying them. If you carefully observe the intelligent phonetic structure of these mantras, you will see the three vowels I.A.O. of the great mysteries.

I.A.O. is hidden and combined in these sacred mantras of Kabbalah. The disciple must become sleepy while mentally vocalizing these four Kabbalistic mantras. It is necessary to practice a retrospective exercise when awakening from our normal sleep; this in order to remember what we have seen and heard during the dream.

#tarot #esoteric #consciousness #metaphysics #kabbalah

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thecloudlight-blog · 7 years

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Vesak Day: Celebrating the life of Buddha

Every spring, hundreds of clergymen acquire at the historical Borobudur Temple in Java, Indonesia, on the maximum important day in the Buddhist calendar: Buddha Day.

Also known as Waisak Day or Vesak Day, the vacation marks the birth of Gautama Buddha — the daddy of Buddhism, who’s liable for the faith’s center teachings. Robe-clad priests circle the ninth-century temple — the world’s biggest Buddhist temple and a UNESCO heritage website — to meditate, chant sutras and launch an ocean of sparkling lanterns into the night time sky. It’s simply considered one of many celebrations taking place across Asia this month as worshippers ring inside the holiday on the area’s maximum lovely temples, from lantern fairs at Seoul’s Jogyesa Temple to rituals at Yangon’s golden Shwedagon Pagoda.

Born in Nepal in 567 BC, Gautama Buddha

Or Prince Siddhartha Gautama at delivery — turned into the son of a tribal leader. As a person, he founded a sect of wandering ascetics and the network eventually advanced into a religion after his loss of life at eighty years old. Today, over 488 million people — or roughly nine% of the world’s population — exercise Buddhism, nearly ninety-nine% of which are located inside the Asia-Pacific location.

Each 12 months, on the full moon of the month of Vesakha (usually falling in May or June in the western calendar), thousands and thousands of Buddhists around the arena take part in Vesak Day celebrations. Not simplest does the date of Vesak Day trade yr after 12 months, however, it may also be special amongst cultures, relying upon which calendar they subscribe to. In China and Hong Kong, as an instance, which observe the Chinese lunar calendar, worshippers look at Buddha Day on the eighth day of the fourth month (commonly in early May). So whilst Buddhists in Hong Kong marked Buddha Day on May three this year, Thailand celebrates on May 10. The excursion is going with the aid of dozens of names — but many nations unofficially talk to it as Buddha’s Birthday or Buddha Day.

Thousands turn up at temple for rituals ahead of Vesak Day

More than 20,000 human beings became up at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery to perform rituals in reverence of Buddha – the founder of Buddhism – the day prior to this on the eve of Vesak Day.

This year, the monastery placed on Bright Hill Road is marking Vesak Day for a month with the topic of “Season of Gratitude”.

Vesak Day marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha, and is widely known through Buddhists worldwide.

The festivities on the monastery consist of a Vesak Fair and iconic rituals together with the “three steps, one bow” ceremony and the Bathing of Prince Siddhartha ceremony. The “3 steps, one bow” ceremony is a long procession accomplished in repentance and reverence of Buddha. It began at around 5 pm the day past and ended early this morning.

Adherents acting it take 3 barefoot steps and then prostrate, repeating the manner around the perimeter of the temple for two-half hours every time. Groups of adherents take turns acting the procession thru the night.

A Traveler’s Guide To Celebrating Christmas In Dublin

1. Christmas Travel Guide:

Ahh, Dublin! The metropolis of one thousand welcomes! The capital of Ireland is famed for the hospitality of its people their vivacious and happy pass fortunate personalities. If you have got the chance to visit Dublin these holidays, then we deliver to you the perfect Christmas Travel Guide that will help you in having the time of your life! So % your baggage and get a price tag to Dublin. Here are the places that you actually need to visit if you’re in Dublin these holidays.

2. The Dromoland Castle

This castle has been in life since the 15th Century even though it changed into reconstructed often over the years till 1835 while it reached its completion. This set of this fortress is said to be domestic to Gaelic nobles for the reason that 5th Century. However, the fort has now been transformed into a high-priced five-star resort that is simply the place to spend your Christmas. The place is famous for being host to many famous personalities inclusive of the ex-President of America G. W. Bush.

Three. Bally David, County Kerry

Thinking about Ireland, all that comes to thoughts are the at ease small towns tucked into the nation-state. So if you’re trying to spend Christmas in an area like that, Bally David is the vicinity for you. This small city is placed on the brink of the Atlantic Ocean and it involves existence at some stage at Christmas time. The Wren boys come to the metropolis and a grand birthday celebration is held to keep in mind the historic Druid pageant. The Wren boys roam the streets in all their dressed up glory with all their track and great dancing. Go right here and feature fun with a Christmas filled with dressing up, marches, track and loads of laughter.

4. The Merrion Hotel

This resort is the epitome of grace and sophistication all through Christmas time with big open fireplaces full of crackling flames and massive Georgian fashion drawing rooms. This location is the best blend of historic magnificence and modern-day day generation and centers. So spend your Christmas in magnificence at the Merrion inn.

5. The Abbey Theatre

This historic theater has been running for the reason that 1904 and is the primary nation-subsidized theater of Ireland. The constructing turned into reconstructed after a heart in 1958 but this is the perfect vicinity to visit when you have an interest in appearing arts. This theater is associated with many iconic historical literary figures such Sean O Casey and many others. So have amusing this Christmas at this location if you want to experience a Dublin Christmas.

Lastly, in case you do not need to go to someplace fancy, worry now not. Just snatch a larger and step out onto the street and you will nevertheless have the time of your existence. So that is all the records you want from the Christmas Travel Guide for this Christmas. Just make certain, that something you do, you do it fully and with spirit. Make extremely good reminiscences on your existence starting now!

If you’re living in or traveling to Dublin for those vacations, the right here is the right Christmas Travel Guide for you! Read this and feature the time of your lifestyles in Dublin.

The Symbolism and Meaning of the Fat Buddha

Fat Buddha pictures aren’t representations of Siddhartha Gautama the first-rate well known “Buddha” at all. His corpulent frame is generally shown gluttony and the cult of extra as opposed to that of enlightenment and relatively austere route of the ‘spiritual’ Buddha. Tradition has it that a fat Buddha symbolizes blessings for a prosperous and rich future it is also thought that his photo is also associated with fertility (together with his fat stomach symbolic of a that of a pregnant female.)

One Fat Buddha statue located in lots of Chinese and Vietnamese companies is that referred to as Jambhuvala who’s the parent king of prosperity, Mi Fo. His fats and the jolly picture may be seated on a sack of cash and gold and he holds in his left hand a gold ingot this is very much like that of a boat or hat.

This statue is likewise related to a jewel

Spitting mongoose and may also be shown with a fan or an on foot stick, and conserving a ‘male’ in his left hand. There is likewise a Tibetan Fat Buddha counterpart that’s known as Namtoseh.

As already mentioned the “Fat Buddha” isn’t THE Buddha. When statues and pix of the Buddha began to be made numerous hundred years after his death no one knew what could have been his photo. However they did know that as a Prince the Buddha came from a noble Indian family and he was defined in the literature as tall, slender, and of “manly build”. A fat frame then as now in a few cultures become firmly associated with prosperity and appropriate good fortune and so the advent of a few ‘facts’ pics and statues of him would be an herbal route to take.

However, the photograph of a fat overfed “Buddha” is at odds with that of his his teachings, and that of an “enlightened one”. Buddhism reached China in around 100AD and became significant with the aid of 600AD from in which and while the legend of the Fat Buddha commenced seeing.

Three Theories in the back of the Fat Buddha

The first idea is that the fat frame represents a well-fed character of leisure. Enlightenment had caused cloth fulfillment and wealth and a function at least near the Aristocracy. There become also a perception that fits men were inherently beneficial in nature and demeanor, take Jolly Ol’ St. Nick as an instance. People frequently rubbed a fast guy’s belly in the desire of bringing luck and an abundance of meals.

The second principle is that of a Chinese Buddhist monk within the 6th century. He had a fat belly that shook like jelly. This jolly fellow dedicated himself to supporting others and became regarded because the incarnation of the Boddhisatva Metteya, the future Buddha who had reached nirvana, however, stayed around to assist the human beings.

Originally posted 2016-08-27 05:12:11.

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samma-sambodhi · 5 years

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- THE SEEING NATURE: SEEING DOES NOT RETURN - . [Q2. He refutes the place of conditioned subjective dharmas (pt.2 of?)] . Sutra: — "Likewise, if it is truly your mind, it does not go anywhere. However, in the absence of sound it has no discriminating nature of its own. Can you tell the reason why?— . Commentary: When the sound ceases, the mind which distinguishes it is not there. But if it were indeed the true mind that distinguishes it, that would mean that the true mind would depart when the sound ceases. Yet the true mind is the host, not the guest; it does not leave. Therefore it can’t be the true mind which makes the distinctions. . Sutra: —“This, then, applies not only to the distinguishing of sound; in distinguishing my appearance, there is no distinction-making nature apart from the mark of form.— . Commentary: When there is sound there is the making of distinctions, and when there is no sound, no distinctions are made. This doctrine does not apply only to sounds. When you look at my thirty-two hallmarks and eighty subtle characteristics, you make distinctions among them; when you are separated from them, you do not, and the discriminating nature is not present.” . Some people argue, “I listen to the sounds of the Dharma being spoken and when I go home I can still hear it in my mind. I look at things, and when I close my eyes I still have an impression of them. It is as if I were still looking at them.” . Would you say that is true or false? Are you really hearing? It is just an impression in your eighth consciousness, a memory, which is meant by the “shadows of discriminations of objects of mind;” it is not real. It is an illusory awareness. It is not an actual distinction being made, because apart from objects which are distinguished, there is no distinction-making nature. . #Buddha #Buddhism #Buddhist #Dharma #meditation #meditator #wisdom #Knowledge #awakening #Spiritual #Consciousness #namaste #Enlightenment #truth #friday #truth #om #art #blogger #mind #mindfulness #loveandlight #positvevibes #goodvibrations #surangama #shurangama #wellness #calm #illusion #magic https://www.instagram.com/p/BwuYTfmnfvF/?igshid=15sxmxro42bda

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ngakpakonchokdorjetsondonmystic · 4 years

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Bhaisajayaguru-Vaidurya-Prabhasa Tathagata

(The Sutra of the Master of Healing)

(Bhaisajayaguru-Vaidurya-Prabhasa Tathagata)

Thus I have heard: While wandering through many lands to convert the beings, Bhagavan arrived at Vaisali. He dwelt under a resounding tree, and with him was a big crowd of beings, including eight thousand monks, thirty-six thousand Great Bodhisattvas, as well as kings, ministers, brahmins, lay-disciples, the eight groups of dragons, and other celestial beings, such as kimnaras and the rest. This infinite mass surrounded him with devotion. He preached to them.

Then Manjushri, son of the Dharma-king and chief disciple of the Buddha, rose from his seat. He bared one of his shoulders, bent his right knee to the ground in the direction of Bhagavan, bowed, joined the palms of his hands, and reverently said: "World-honoured! We only wish you would tell us such and such names of the Buddha, their original vows, and their boundless virtues so that the hearers may know how to keep away from all karmic hindrances by their wisdom, to the blessing and joy of all beings who live in the formal period of Buddhism."

Then the World-honoured praised the disciple Manjushri and said: "Good! Excellent! Manjushri! Out of great pity you asked me to mention the names of the Buddhas and the virtues achieved from their original vows, so as to pull out from all beings the hindrances of the karma which bind them, to the blessing and joy of those who live in the formal period of Buddhism. Now listen well and bear in mind to what I shall tell you." Manjushri said: "Very well, we are happy that such is your wish. We are glad to listen." Then the Buddha said to Manjushri: "Eastward from here, beyond Buddha-land about ten times as numerous as the sands of the Ganga, there is a world called ��®The Pure Crystal Realm¡¯, the Paradise of Yao Shih. Its Buddha has a few titles, such as The Master of Healing, Azure Radiance Tathagata, The Arhat of Perfect Knowledge, The Prefect Mind and Deed, The Well Departed Sugata, The Knower of the World, The Peerless Nobleman, The Man Who Brings The Passions of Men Under Control, The Teacher of Devas And Men, The Buddha, and Bhagavan. At the time when that World-honoured Buddha of Medicine became a Bodhisattva, he made Twelve Great Vows to grant all beings with whatever they pray."

The first vow. ¡®I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained unexcelled complete Enlightenment, my body should be shining like a brilliant light, throwing beams on infinite, and boundless, worlds, adorned with a retinue of thirty-two forms of the Great Men and with eighty physical characteristics of the Buddha, I shall make all beings wholly equal to me.¡¯

The second vow. ¡®I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained Perfect Enlightenment, my body should be like a crystal in spotless purity both within and without, with splendorous radiant light, in the majesty of its virtue, sitting serenely, adorned with the aureole, brighter than the sun and the moon, I shall reveal my great power to all the beings in obscurity, in order that they may act freely according to their bent.¡¯

The third vow. ¡®I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained Perfect Enlightenment, I should grant by means of boundless wisdom, to all beings the inexhaustible things that they may need and that they may be free from any want.¡¯

The fourth vow. ¡®I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained Perfect enlightenment, I should bring those who have gone the heterodox ways to dwell tranquilly in the way of Bodhi; and those who travel on the Vehicle of the Sramana and the Pratyekabuddha on the Vehicle of the Sramana and the Pratyekabuddha to stand firmly in the Great Vehicle of Bodhisattva.¡¯

The fifth vow. ¡®I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained Perfect Enlightenment, I should enable the innumerable beings to observe all the moral laws to mend their ways to pure living, and to obey the three cumulative commandments. Should there be any relapse, or violation, they shall again become pure once they hear of my name, then they shall not fall into evil existences.¡¯

The sixth vow. 'I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained Perfect Enlightenment, those beings who are physically inferior, with imperfect senses, such as, the ugly, stupid, blind, deaf, mute, crippled, paralysed, hump-backed, leprous, lunatic, or sick in many respects, shall all of them, when they hear my name, regain their normal appearances and become intelligent. All their senses shall be perfectly restored, and they shall not suffer from diseases.'

The seventh vow. 'I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained Perfect Enlightenment, those who are tormented by diseases, who have nobody to whom they can seek for help, without a refuge, without a doctor, without medicine, without relatives, without a home; these poor and miserable beings shall all of them be free from diseases and troubles, and shall enjoy perfect health of body and mind, once my name reaches their ears. They shall have families, friends and properties a-plenty, and shall all be brought to the supreme Enlightenment of Buddha.'

The eighth vow. 'I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained Perfect Enlightenment, women who are tormented by the hundred of sufferings of the female sex, who are much wearied of life and long to make bodily sacrifice, shall all of them, when they hear my name, be transformed into men instead of women, in the next re-birth, they shall get the form of manhood and shall in the end attain the supreme Enlightenment of Buddha.'

The ninth vow. 'I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained Perfect Enlightenment, I should let all being to escape the evil nets of Mara, to be free from other non-Buddhist cults. If they should have fallen into the dense forest of false doctrines, I should assist and lead them to the noble truths, and gradually induce them to lead the life of a Bodhisattva and soon they shall attain supreme Enlightenment of Buddha.'

The tenth vow. 'I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained Perfect Enlightenment, I should bring it to pass that all those who are recorded and condemned by the royal law to be bound and whipped, to be enchained in prisons, to be sentenced to capital punishment, too meet numerous other disasters and insult, to be afflicted with sorrow and anguish, to be troubled both in body and in mind, shall, when they hear of my name, escape evil kalpas through the awe-inspiring majesty of my blessedness and virtue.'

The eleventh vow. 'I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained Perfect Enlightenment, I should bring it to pass that all beings who are tormented by hunger and thirst and who, in order to obtain drink and food, if they can carefully remember my name and cherish it, then I should let them taste the flavour of the Dharma, and eventually lead a tranquil and happy life.'

The twelfth vow. 'I vow that, after my reincarnation and having attained Perfect Enlightenment, all beings who are poor and naked, tormented day and night by mosquitoes and wasps, by cold and heat, when they hear my name and carefully remember and cherish it, shall receive the wonderful garments of all kinds, as well as valuable ornaments, chaplets of fragrant flower; and various kinds of instrumental music shall resound. Whatever they dream of, they shall have in abundance.'

"Manjushri, these are the twelve wonderful sublime vows made by the World's Most Venerable Buddha, of Medicine when he was a Bodhisattva."

"Now Manjushri! when the Buddha Medicine as a Bodhisattva, made his vows the stern virtues of them have reached the Buddhaland; if I should speak kalpa after kalpa about these virtues I could not mention all of them. Verily, this Buddhaland is eternally pure, it has no women, nor has it any evil influences, and no screams of pain are heard there. The ground is of lapis lazuli, golden cords set bounds to the ways of this land, the walls, towers, castles, halls, verandas, and bird nets are made of seven precious things. In all aspects it is equal to the Western Paradise. There is no difference between the two. There are two Great Bodhisattvas in this country: the name of one is Radiance of the Sun; that of the other, Radiance of the Moon. They are the chiefs of a host of Bodhisattvas. They represent the Buddha. They guard the treasury of the right doctrine of the Buddha of Medicine. Therefore, Manjushri, all good men and women who have confidence in faith should wish to be born in the world of Buddha."

Then the Buddha spoke further on to the disciple Manjushri and said: "Manjushri, there are those who do not distinguish good from evil. They indulge incessantly in greed and avarice. They do not know what alms-giving is, and what the effect of such a deed will be. They are idiots. They have no faith. They accumulate riches, and guard them carefully. When they see a beggar, they are not glad in heart. When they have to bestow a charity, it is like cutting a piece of flesh from the body. A deep and painful regret ensues. There are other innumerable greedy and stingy beings who gather money but do not use it even for themselves, so how could you expect them to give it to their parents, wives, children, servants, or beggar? These beings, after their death, shall be reborn as hungry ghost or as animals. Now, it may happen that, as men in a former incarnation, they had by chance heard the name of the Buddha of Medicine. Now, it may happen that, as men in a former incarnation, they had by chance heard the name of the Buddha of Medicine. Now in the evil incarnation the name of that Tathagata accidentally recurs to their mind. Then when they remember him, they suddenly disappear and again be transformed into men. There they remember their former life, they are afraid of the sufferings of the bad incarnation. They do not rejoice at worldly pleasures. They gladly practice charity, and they praise the giver. They are no longer greedy and do not regret the alms given by themselves. Yes, in time they are able to bestow upon the one who asks them even for their head, eye, hand, foot, blood, flesh, and other parts of their body, to say nothing of their money and property!"

"Furthermore, Manjushri, there are beings who, though having learned everything point and point from the Tathagata, trespass against the Commandments. There are others who, though not trespassing against the Commandments, trespass against the minor rules. Others who, though neither trespassing against the Commandments nor against the minor rules, have not got the right views. Still Others who, though having the proper ideas, neglect to learn, and thus they are unable to understand the deep meaning of the Sutras taught by the Buddha. Others are studious but proud. Because their hearts are be-clouded with pride, so they think highly of themselves and think little of others. They criticise the correct doctrine of the Buddha and become the companions of Mara. These fools are not only themselves erring, but they also dig pitfalls for millions of others. They then do evil and are incessantly reborn into hells, as animals or as hungry ghosts."

"It may occur that they then heard the name of the Buddha of Medicine, they may turn from their wickedness, they may follow the right teaching, and they do not fall into evil destinies any more. But if there should be any among them who are unable to turn from wickedness, who do not follow the right teaching, and who fall into evil destinies as a consequence, then, they still have the chance to become men in the next re-birth in case that, through the magic power of the vows of this Tathagata, they are able to hear his name chanted just for a moment. If they take heart to follow the right doctrine and curb their lust, they will be enabled to leave their homes and to become monks. They cling implicitly to the teaching of the Tathagata, swerve no more from it, and from the right principles and learn more, then they will understand the profound meanings. Far from being haughty, they do not criticise the right teaching, do not become companions of Mara. Gradually they will enter the way of Bodhisattvas and will soon attain perfect enlightenment."

"Furthermore, Manjushri, there are beings who are avaricious and envious. They praise themselves and depreciate others. For this reason, they fall into the three evil destinies. During innumerable millenniums they suffer misery, after their death they will be reborn among men but as oxen, horses, camels or donkeys. They will be tormented constantly by whip, by hunger, and by thirst; they must carry heavy loads on their backs and walk long ways. Even if they were reborn as human beings, they will be reborn in a poor hut, and when they grow up they will become man-servants and maid-servants. They will be ordered around by other people and will never be their own bosses. When such beings, in a former incarnation, heard the name of the Buddha of Medicine, they will now be save by Him. If they remember him and whole-heartedly have recourse to the Buddha, all their sufferings will be removed through His majestic power. Their senses will be sharpened. They will become wise and they would like to listen and become learned. They will strive solely for the sublime teaching; they will hold social intercourse with friends who will lead them to the good deeds. They will cut all nets of Mara. They will pierce the veil of ignorance. They will let the stream of suffering flow off and be released from pains of birth, old age, sickness, death, and all the worries and miseries."

"Still, Manjushri, there are beings who like to do that which is repugnant to others, who like to quarrel and cause displeasure both to themselves and to others. By deeds, words and thoughts, they create all sorts of bad karma. They constantly do harm to each other, they hatch plans to injure one another. They pray to the spirits of the mountains, trees and tombs. They kill living things, take their bleeding flesh, and offer it to the Yaksas and Rakshasas. They write down the name of their enemy, make a picture of him, and, by the use of sorcery, they curse over it. They use black magic and poison. They conjure up a ghost from corpse. This puts an end to the life of the enemy and destroys his body."

"When, by chance, these beings hear of the name of the Buddhas of Medicine, then all these evil things will lose power to harm them. They learn to have compassion on each other. They wish to be of service, they wish to make each other happy. They renounce malice and the impulse to create suffering. Everyone rejoices. Being contented with the property he owns, he does not covet that of others. They are helpful to each other."

"Furthermore, Manjushri, there are four groups in our community: the monk, the nuns, the male devotees, and the female devotees. There are other pious men and women, who believe and observe the first eight of the Ten Commandments. They observe all points from three months to a year. Because of this good seed they have planted, they expect to be reborn in the Western Paradise where the Buddha Amitayus dwells. But, though they hear the correct doctrine of the Buddha, they can not discern and put enough trust in it. When they hear the name of the Buddha of Medicine at the time of their death, then there will be eight Bodhisattvas who, with magic powers, will traverse the intervening space to come to show them their ways, and amidst the colourful flowers of that world, they will be born there by transformation."

"Sometimes they are also born in the Heaven. Though they are born in Heaven, the original good roots are still there, they will not fall into evil destinies again. When their life in Heaven is ended, they will again become men. Or they may become supreme rulers, governing the four inhabited continents of the Universe, and rule in independent majesty."

"Innumerable beings are established in the excellent Karma resulting from the practice of the Ten Commandments. Some are born as Kshatriyas or as Brahmins, some as lay-disciples, some born in a large family. They abound in riches, with their treasuries and granaries overflowing. Their appearance are awe-inspiring. They have enough relatives and kinsmen, they are clever and they gain in wisdom. They are as strong and brave as the most powerful. If it is a woman who heard the name of the Buddha of Medicine, and if she whole-heartedly cherishes it, she shall never again become a woman in the next re-birth."

"Then, Manjushri, when the Master of Healing, Azure Radiance Tathagata, had attained perfect Enlightenment, to become the Buddha of Medicine, he saw by virtue of his vows, that the beings were suffering from all sorts of diseases, such as tuberculosis, bilious fever, or that they were affected by a spell or by poison, or that some were by their nature short-lived, or that some have died a violent death. He wish to fulfil all their desires by putting an end to all these diseases and miseries. Therefore the World's Most Venerable entered into a Samadhi called the Removal of Suffering for All Beings. While He was in this contemplation a great radiance of light of light was sent forth from his Ushnisa, and he pronounced the great Dharani as follows:

"NAMO BHAGAVATE BHAISAJAYA-GURU-VAIDURYA-PRABHA-RAJAYA TATHAGATAYA ARHATE SAMYAKSAMBUDDHAYA TADYATHA OM BHAISAJYE BHAISAJYE BHAISAJYA SAMUDGATE SVAHA"

When He, in his radiance, had spoken this mystical formula, the earth was shaken and emitted a great light. All beings were delivered from their diseases and miseries, they are now happy because their bodies and minds are at rest.

"Manjushri, if you see a pious man or woman who suffers from a disease, you shall do the following whole-heartedly for those sick people: let them keep clean by taking frequently baths and rinse their mouths, give them food, medicine and clean water, and recite the Dharani for a hundred and eight times, then all diseases will disappear entirely. When one of them has a particular wish, he shall concentrate and recite the magic formula. Then he will fulfil all he wishes, he will be without disease, and will live longer. After his death, he will born in paradise without having to return to this world, and will in the end attain perfect Enlightenment. Therefore, Manjushri, if there is a pious man or woman who very seriously prays to the Buddha of Medicine and, he or she must always keep in mind this magic formula and never forget it."

"Still more, Manjushri, there may be a pious man or woman who hears the name of the Buddha of Medicine and repeats it and fosters it, he chews the Dantakastha (a stick for cleaning the teeth) in the morning, takes bath and rinses his mouth, until he is quite clean. He then prays with incense and flowers, he burns the incense and rubs the body with perfume, sings the Sutra and proffers offerings before the image of the Buddha. He copies the Sutra or has it copied, learns it by heart, has it explained to him. He makes offerings to his Buddhist teacher and gives alms generously and not let him be in want of anything. Then all the Buddhas will protect him and keep him in mind. His prayers will be granted, he will eventually attain perfect Enlightenment."

Then the disciple Manjushri saluted the Buddha and said: "World honoured, I swear that I will pray Buddha-truth, I shall cause, by many means, all male and female devotees to hear the names of the Master of Healing, Azure Radiance Tathagata, I shall shout the names of the Buddha into their ears even in their sleep. World honoured, when someone learns this Sutra by heart and reads, proclaims and expounds it to other people, copies it himself, or has it copied, makes offerings reverently and seriously with various fragrant flowers, perfumed unguents, sandal-powder and burning incense, with garlands, strings of pearls, flags and music; he also makes bags of five-coloured silk and puts Sutra into them, sweeps clean a place, displays the bags the bags on a high table that they may lie there in readiness, then the four great Kings of Heaven with their retinue and the other innumerable hundreds and thousands of celestial hosts will come to make offerings and to protect the Sutra. World-honoured, where the treasures of this Sutra flow out and can be received through the blessing of the Vow of this World honoured Buddha of Medicine, and his name can be heard, then they will know that no violent death will ever occur at that place, and nobody¡¯s spirit will ever be seized by evil demons and evil spirits. And if it has already been wrested from him, he can still restore it as he was before, he will have peace both in Body and mind."

Then the Buddha said to Manjushri: "So it is, so it is! It is exactly as you say, Manjushri, if a devout man or woman who wishes to make an offering to this world honoured Buddha of Medicine, he or she must first make an image of this Buddha, prepare a clean place to erect it, strew various flowers, burn all sorts of incense, adorn the place with curtains and flags, for seven days and seven nights, keep the eight prohibitory commands, eat clean food, take baths so that one may have a clean odour, put on clean clothes, free the mind from dirty, angry and malicious thoughts, wish to be of service to others, and try to bring happiness to everybody. One should be full of compassion, glad to give alms, and sympathetic to every one. Thus cleansed, he should go around the Buddha image to the right, and sing the hymns with drum music. Moreover, he must remember the blessing of the Vows of Tathagata, read aloud this Sutra, meditate upon its meaning, recite and explain it. What he wishes for will all be fulfilled. If he wishes for wealth, he will become rich. If he wishes to become an official, he will become an official. if he wishes to have a son or a daughter, he will get a son or a daughter. When he has a bad dream, sees evil omens, sees strange birds flocking together, or has his room filled with strange apparitions, if this man, will all the sacred implements worships and make offerings, then the World honoured Buddha of Medicine will bring it to pass that the bad dreams and the bad omens which prophecy ill luck will vanish completely and will do him no harm. He will be protected from the dangers of water, fire, sword, poison, elephants, lions, tigers, wolves, bears, snakes, scorpions, millipedes, mosquitoes, gnats and other frightful and unpleasant things if he whole-heartedly remembers the Buddha, worships Him , then all troubles will vanish."

Furthermore, Manjushri, in case there is a pious man or woman who does not care for other gods during his or her whole life and whose only thought is to become a Buddhist disciple, and who observes either five or ten of the Commandments, or the four hundred commandments of the Bodhisattva, the two hundred and fifty of the monk, or the five hundred of the nun, and who fears he may relapse into sin and fall into evil destinies; if he or she can only recite the name of the Buddha, worships Him and makes offerings to Him, he and she will certainly not suffer from the three paths of transmigration - the hells, hungry ghost and animals."

"A woman may suffer from great pain while giving birth. If she can whole-heartedly worship the Buddha of Medicine and to invoke the name Tathagata, worship Him and make offerings to Him, all pain will vanish, the newly born baby will have a sound and healthy body; whoever sees him will rejoice at his being so clever, so strong and healthy; and no demon comes to rob him of his vitality."

Then the Buddha spoke to Ananda: "If I praise the virtues of the Buddha of Medicine and let you know that the actions of the Buddha have an occult meaning that it is difficult to understand. Can you believe me?"

Ananda said: "Virtuous World honoured One, I have no doubt in my belief about the Sutras of Tathagata. My reason for this belief is that the karma of Tathagatas, formed through deeds, words and thoughts, is perfectly pure. World-honoured, the disc of this sun and moon may be torn down, the inconceivable high Sumeru mountain may be shaken, but the words of the Buddhas will never change. World-honoured, the beings whose faith is as yet insufficient may question the occult meaning of the Buddha¡¯s acts. They think: How is it possible that, by only remembering the name of the Master of Healing, Azure Radiance Tathagata, we can reap so many blessings? Then they do not believe, nay, they challenge. Such people forfeit their blessing and joy over one long night, they fall into evil existences and drift eternally in the stream of miserable life."

Then Buddha told Ananda: "When all these beings hear the name of the World-honoured Master of Healing, Azure Radiance Tathagata and cherish it whole-heartedly, and have no more doubts, then it is impossible for them to fall into evil destinies again. Those who have fallen into evil destinies, they have done no good deeds. Ananda, this is the occult meaning of the acts of the Tathagatas; it is hard to believe! You can conceive of it now, and so you know that all that I have told you has its root in the power of the Tathagatas. Ananda, all Shramanas and Pratyekabuddhas, and the Bodhisattvas who have not yet reached the ten stages, are unable to believe the full truth and to expound it, only the Bodhisattva who has only one life that binds him can do it. Ananda, it is difficult to get a human body. It is also difficult to have faith in the Triple Gems, to believe and to revere them. But it is still more difficult to hear the name of the Master of Healing, Azure Radiance Tathagata. Ananda, the Bodhisattva deeds of the Buddha of Medicine, his skilful means to convert the beings, and his far reaching vows are innumerable. If I should expound them in great detail, I could speak kalpa after kalpa and even longer, the kalpas would soon be exhausted, but the deeds, the vows, and the skilful means of the Buddha would not be exhausted."

There was, at that time, a great Bodhisattva in the community. His name was Seeker of Salvation. He stood up from his seat, bared his right shoulder, touched the earth with his right knee, bowed with the palms of his hands joined together, and said to the Buddha: "Virtuous World honoured, in the decline of the formal period there shall be beings who are exhausted by many misfortunes, they are thin in consequence of long illness. Such a being can neither eat nor drink, his lips and throat are dry. Everything he sees is dark. The signs of death are presently manifest. His parents, family, relatives and friends stand around him weeping. His body lies on the bed, he sees the messengers of Yama leading his spirit to the judge. Verily, all beings have a spirit which originates with them. Everything they have done, be it good or bad, was in the record. Everything was kept with judge Yama. Just at that time, this judge questions the man. He sums up his deeds. He assigns him his place according to the proportion of his good and bad deeds. If at that time the relatives and friends of this sick man could make him believe in the Buddha of Medicine and ask the monks to recite this Sutra, light a seven-layer lantern, hang up either consciousness may returns after seven, twenty-one, thirty-five, or forty-nine days. At that time when he returns consciousness, he feels like awakened from a dream, he remembers the award he has received for his good or bad deeds. For he has himself been a witness of the reward of his deeds."

"He remembers this throughout his life¡¯s hardships, he no longer commits any evil deed. Therefore men and women who are firm in their faith cherish the name of the Master of Healing, Azure Radiance Tathagata, worship Him and make offerings to Him with what they can."

At that time, Ananda asked the Bodhisattva Seeker of Salvation: "Pious man, how shall we worship the Buddha of Medicine and make offerings to Him? What are the significances of the banners and the lanterns?"

The Bodhisattva Seeker of Salvation said: "Virtuous One, for the sick people whom one wishes to free from their sufferings, it is necessary to keep the eight prohibitory commands during seven days and nights, and to make offerings of food and drink and other things, according to one¡¯s capability, to the congregation of monks; to perform worship according to the ritual, for six times day and night and have offerings made to the Buddha of Medicine; to recite this Sutra forty-nine times, to light up forty-nine lamps, to have seven image of the Tathagata made, to have seven lamps put infront of each image, the flame of each lamp may illuminate a cartwheel. For forty-nine days these lamps must be kept burning unceasingly. Hang up five-coloured banners, forty-nine spans long, and set free various kinds of animals to the number of forty-nine. In this way, the sick people are made to overcome the danger of being violently killed by evil spirits."

"Furthermore, Ananda, in case of a Kshatriya or an Abhisecana or King at a time when calamity arises, such as pestilence among the population, invasion by foreign countries, revolution in his own country, ominous displacement in a constellation, eclipse or the sun or the moon, wind and rain out season or drought through no rain, this Kshatriya or Abhisecana King must then have pity on all beings, set all captives free, perform the above mentioned ceremonies of offering, and make offerings to the Virtuous Buddha of Medicine. As a consequence of these good deeds and the power of original vow of Tathagata, he will bring about the result that his country will be delivered, that wind and rain will come in good time, and will let the crops ripe, that the people will be happy without sickness, that no cruel Yaksha in his country will torment the people, and that all evil omens will at once disappear. And the Kshatriya¡¯s or Abhisecana King¡¯s life, material appearance, vitality, and sickless independence will all be benefited. Ananda, if the Queen, the wives of the princes, the crown-prince, the princes, the ministers, the court councillors, the ladies of the palace, the provincial officials or the common people suffering from diseases, or if another calamity occurs, he shall also hang up five-coloured banners for warding off all the evil spirits, light lamps and keep them burning, set animals free, strew many coloured flowers, burn precious incense, then the diseases will be cured and all afflictions will vanish."

Then Ananda asked the Bodhisattva Seeker of Salvation: "Pious man, how can a life that has come to an end be prolonged?"

The Bodhisattva Seeker of Salvation said: "Virtuous One, did you hear that the Tathagatas say that there are nine kinds of violent deaths? Therefore, I exhort you to hang up the life prolonging banner, to light up the lamps, and to perform the pious deeds. By performing the pious deeds, one¡¯s life come to a natural end without suffering from any painful experience."

Ananda asked: "what are the nine kinds of violent deaths?"

The Bodhisattva Seeker of Salvation said: "The nine violent deaths are;

(1) There are beings who become sick. Though the sickness is not serious but there is neither medicine nor a doctor for the treatment. In case they take the wrong medicine, they may meet violent death which can very well be avoided. Some trust in Maras and Heretics, or masters of magical and bewitching powers. From a frivolous prediction of good or bad luck, fear and uneasiness arises. Those people whose own heart cannot clearly discern, question fortune-tellers whether misfortunes awaits them. Some kill living beings for a sacrifice in order to propitiate the spirits. Some call out to the evil spirits and ask for protection, they wish to prolong their lives, but all to no avail. They are ignorant of the right way. They believe in heterodox views, not recognising the doctrine of moral karma. This leads in the end to a violent death. They enter into hell and can never get out of it. This is the first violent death.

(2) Some are violently executed by order of the law.

(3) Some hunt for pleasure, lead and unrestrained life with women and wine, and dissipated without halt and limit. Then the fiends come and violently snatch their spiritual vigour.

(4) Some come to a violent end by being burnt by fire.

(5) Some come to a violent end by being drowned.

(6) Some come to a violent end by being devoured by wild beasts.

(7) Some come to a violent end by falling from a steep cliff.

(8) Some come to a violent end by being destroyed by poison, by image spell Vetala, by spoken-spell Dharani, or by demonical influence to resurrect a corpse and cause it kill another person.

(9) Some suffer hunger and thirst, do not get anything to eat or drink and thus die an untimely death.

"These are what Tathagata briefly named as the nine kinds of violent deaths. Besides, there are innumerable other kinds which cannot all be told here."

"In addition, Ananda, the judge Yama keeps a complete list, with the deeds of each inhabitant on earth recorded, if any of the beings are not filial and commit the five mortal sins, revile the Triple Gems, infringe the laws of the country, and violate the natural moral laws, then the judge Yama examines, whether their sins were grave or light, and punishes them accordingly."

"Therefore I now ask all beings to light up the lamps and hang up the banners, to set free the animals, and to do good deeds, so that misery and grief can be overcome and the life¡¯ hardships can be avoided." At that time, there were twelve Yaksha spiritual generals in the assembly, viz:

General Kumbhira, General Vajra, General Mihira, General Andira, General Majira, General Shandira, General Indra, General Pajra, General Makura, General Sindura, General Catura, General Vikarala.

These twelve Yaksha Generals, each having seven thousand Yakshas in his retinue, raised their voices, simultaneously and saluted the Buddha by saying: "World¡¯s Most Venerable, we have experienced today the wondrous power of the Buddha by permitting us to hear the name of the Master of Healing, Azure Radiance Tathagata, we have no further fear of the evil destinies. All of us are of one mind, that is as long as this form lasts, we shall have recourse to Buddhist Trinity. We swear to bear the responsibility to let all beings be benefited by the path of truth and to let them be abound with happiness. Wherever it may be - in villages, cities, capitals, or even in unfrequented forests, when any one preaches this Sutra and cherishes the names of the Master of Healing, Azure Radiance Tathagata, worships Him and makes Him offerings, we and our retinues shall guard and protect him, deliver him completely from all distress, fulfil all his wishes. When he falls ill and calls for help, he should also read this Sutra, take a five-coloured skein and tie it into knots, forming the letters of our names, and untie the knots when his wishes are fulfilled."

At that time, the World¡¯s Most Venerable praised the Yaksha Generals and said: "Excellent, excellent, Great Yaksha Generals! If you want to return the favour of the Master of Healing, Azure Radiance Tathagata, you must always be of service to all beings and make them happy."

Then Ananda saluted the Buddha and said: "World¡¯s Most Venerable! What is this revelation called? By what name shall we cherish it?"

Then Buddha said to Ananda: "This revelation is called: ¡®The Blessing of the Original Vow of the Master of Healing, Azure Radiance Tathagata¡¯. It is also called: ¡®The scared formula¡¯ which tells how the twelve Yaksha spiritual generals vowed to be useful to all beings. A third name is called ¡®The Removal of All Karmic Hindrances¡¯. So you shall bear in mind."

When Bhagavan was preaching these words, all the Great Bodhisattvas and the Great Sramanas, the kings and the great ministers, the Brahmins, the Upasakas the gods, the dragons, the Yaksas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, human and non-human beings, all others in the assembly heard the words of the Buddha. All of them greatly rejoiced, accepted the belief and promised to keep it faithfully.

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