八吉祥經

Thus indeed have I heard: At one time, the Buddha, together with one thousand two hundred and fifty great bhikṣus, eighty thousand bodhisattva-mahāsattvas, and assemblies of devas, nāgas, yakṣas, spirits, and so forth, was dwelling at the Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. At that time, the World-Honored One said to the Venerable Śāriputra:

"Śāriputra! To the east of this Buddha-world, beyond as many worlds as there are sands in the Ganges, there is a world named Great Victory. The Buddha there is named Well-Spoken Auspicious Tathāgata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, who is presently expounding the Dharma.

Again, to the east, beyond twice as many worlds as there are sands in the Ganges from that Buddha-world, there is a world named Recollected Myriad. The Buddha there is named Universal Radiant Light Tathāgata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, who is presently expounding the Dharma. Again, to the east, beyond three times as many worlds as there are sands in the Ganges from that Buddha-world, there is a world named Delightful Sport.

The Buddha there is named Battle-Victorious Auspicious Tathāgata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, who is presently expounding the Dharma. Again, to the east, beyond four times as many worlds as there are sands in the Ganges from that Buddha-world, there is a world named Well-Purified Assembly. The Buddha there is named Sovereign Banner King Tathāgata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, who is presently expounding the Dharma.

Again, to the east, beyond five times as many worlds as there are sands in the Ganges from that Buddha-world, there is a world named Dustless Assembly. The Buddha there is named Boundless Merit Radiant Light Auspicious Tathāgata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, who is presently expounding the Dharma. Again, to the east, beyond six times as many worlds as there are sands in the Ganges from that Buddha-world, there is a world named Unobstructed Sport.

The Buddha there is named Unhindered Karmic Abiding Auspicious Tathāgata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, who is presently expounding the Dharma. Again, to the east, beyond seven times as many worlds as there are sands in the Ganges from that Buddha-world, there is a world named Golden Assembly. The Buddha there is named Wondrous Flower Valor Tathāgata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, who is presently expounding the Dharma.

Again, to the east, beyond eight times as many worlds as there are sands in the Ganges from that Buddha-world, there is a world named Beautiful Sound. The Buddha there is named Jeweled Lotus Flower Peaceful-Abiding King Tathāgata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, who is presently expounding the Dharma.

Śāriputra! These eight Buddha-lands are all pure; there are no women, nor are there the five turbidities. If there be any good man or good woman who abides in the Mahāyāna, who hears the names of these eight Buddhas, upholds them without negligence, and further reveals them to others, then they shall not be born into the three evil destinies nor the eight unwholesome paths. If any woman hears the names of these eight Buddhas, and then remembers them, upholds them, and teaches them to others, she shall no longer receive a woman's body.

Śāriputra! If any good man or good woman who abides in the Mahāyāna hears the names of these eight Buddhas and then upholds them, and further speaks them to others, then in this life and lives to come they shall always possess spiritual powers, attain eloquence in discourse, attain deep dhyāna concentration, be endowed with dhāraṇī, have the six sense faculties purified, and constantly encounter the noble ones; they shall not be made fearful by devas, nāgas, yakṣas, humans, non-humans, thieves and bandits, water, fire, poison, and so forth. All anxieties and fears shall be utterly eradicated. Whether sleeping or awake they shall always be at peace, free of evil dreams, and shall constantly be protected by the devas."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke this verse:

If there be any good men

And any good women

Who hear the names of the eight Buddhas,

Uphold them, and speak them to others,

Then their bodies and minds shall be at peace,

Free of all anxieties and fears.

Single-mindedly mindful, without negligence,

They shall extinguish the sins of immeasurable kalpas,

Be born into the realms of devas and humans,

And depart far from the evil destinies.

The six sense faculties shall ever be pure,

Upright and possessed of majestic virtue;

The eightfold assembly and all the good spirits

Shall, by day and night, ever protect them.

Devas and humans shall all revere them,

Joyfully delighting to make offerings.

No longer shall there be any fears

Of yakṣas and non-humans,

Bandits and weapons of blade and staff,

Water, fire, and poison, and so forth.

Sleeping and waking, they shall be at peace,

Free of all evil dreams.

They shall attain keen faculties and wisdom,

And ever delight to hear the True Dharma;

Having heard it, they shall give rise to faith

And attain the subtle and wondrous Dharma.

Their breath shall not be foul or impure,

And they shall diligently speak to others;

The māras and the heterodox

Shall not dare come to harass them.

A woman who hears the Buddhas' names,

Upholds them, and speaks them to others,

Shall sever this woman's body

And in lives to come receive it no more.

Whoever recites, upholds, and teaches to others

The names of the eight Buddhas

Shall attain the great merits

As set forth above.

Therefore, the person of wisdom

Should remember and uphold them,

Single-minded and ever rejoicing,

Giving rise to no thoughts of indulgence.

When the Buddha had finished speaking this sūtra, the Elder Śāriputra and the great bhikṣus, together with the assembly of great bodhisattvas, devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas, humans, non-humans, and so forth, having heard what the Buddha had spoken, rejoiced and reverently put it into practice.