八佛名號經

Thus have I heard.

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Jeta Grove, in the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the country of Śrāvastī, together with an assembly of twelve hundred and fifty great bhikṣus, and also with an assembly of ten thousand great Mahāsattva Bodhisattvas of the Mahāyāna gathered together.

At that time, the World-Honored One was expounding the Dharma, surrounded by an immeasurable, innumerable multitude of hundreds of thousands of myriads.

At that time, the Venerable Śāriputra, who was within the great assembly, rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt with his right knee upon the ground, and, joining his palms toward the Buddha, addressed the Buddha, saying: “World-Honored One! I harbor a doubt in my heart, and now I wish to ask. I respectfully entreat the Tathāgata, out of compassion for sentient beings, to explain it for my sake.”

At that time, the World-Honored One said to Śāriputra: “Good son, if you have a doubt in your heart, ask whatever you wish, and I shall analyze and explain it for you.”

Then Śāriputra, having received the Buddha’s permission and the promise to dispel the net of his doubt, was joyful and elated, and at once addressed the Buddha, saying: “World-Honored One, are there at present, in the ten directions, Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, who, by the power of their former vows, are now constantly expounding the Dharma for the sake of sentient beings? What are the names of those Tathāgatas? If there are good sons and good daughters who wish to hold and recite the names of those Buddhas, whether by reading, or by hearing, or by copying them down—will they, by virtue of this merit, attain non-retrogression from Anuttarā Samyak Saṃbodhi, without any deficiency or diminishment, even unto the supreme, right, and true Way, and swiftly accomplish Anuttarā Samyak Saṃbodhi?”

At that time, the World-Honored One said to the Venerable Śāriputra: “Excellent! Excellent! Good son, what you have asked is truly well and eloquently put, for it brings great benefit to immeasurable sentient beings in ages to come. Out of compassion and pity for all gods and humans, you have asked the Tathāgata about this profound meaning. Therefore, now listen well, retain it, and bear it well in mind. I shall now analyze and explain it for you.”

The Venerable Śāriputra said: “Yes, World-Honored One! I wish to hear it.”

At that time, the World-Honored One said to Śāriputra:

“Good son, from here, going eastward, passing through worlds as numerous as the sands of one Ganges River, there is a Buddha-land named Difficult to Subdue. In that land there is a Buddha, a World-Honored One, named Tathāgata Well-Spoken Praise of Merit and Virtue, the Truly Perfect One, the Equally and Perfectly Enlightened One, who at this very moment is expounding the wondrous, subtle Dharma for the great assembly.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, from here, going eastward, passing through worlds as numerous as the sands of two Ganges Rivers, there is a Buddha-land named Without Obstruction. In that land there is a Buddha, a World-Honored One, named Tathāgata Indra’s Banner Star King, the Truly Perfect One, the Equally and Perfectly Enlightened One, who at this very moment is also expounding the wondrous, subtle Dharma for the great assembly.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, from here, going eastward, passing through worlds as numerous as the sands of three Ganges Rivers, there is a Buddha-land named Joyful Delight. In that land there is a Buddha, a World-Honored One, named Tathāgata Universal Radiant Light Adorned with Merit and Virtue, the Truly Perfect One, the Equally and Perfectly Enlightened One, who at this very moment is also expounding the wondrous, subtle Dharma for the great assembly.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, from here, going eastward, passing through worlds as numerous as the sands of four Ganges Rivers, there is a Buddha-land named Universal Entry. In that land there is a Buddha, a World-Honored One, named Tathāgata Skilled in Battle, Difficult to Subdue and Transcendent, the Truly Perfect One, the Equally and Perfectly Enlightened One, who at this very moment is also expounding the wondrous, subtle Dharma for the great assembly.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, from here, going eastward, passing through worlds as numerous as the sands of five Ganges Rivers, there is a Buddha-land named Pure Gathering. In that land there is a Buddha, a World-Honored One, named Tathāgata Universal Merit and Virtue, Radiantly Adorned, the Truly Perfect One, the Equally and Perfectly Enlightened One, who at this very moment is also expounding the wondrous, subtle Dharma for the great assembly.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, from here, going eastward, passing through worlds as numerous as the sands of six Ganges Rivers, there is a Buddha-land named Lord Without Poison. In that land there is a Buddha, a World-Honored One, named Tathāgata Unobstructed Medicine-Tree Praise of Merit and Virtue, the Truly Perfect One, the Equally and Perfectly Enlightened One, who at this very moment is also expounding the wondrous, subtle Dharma for the great assembly.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, from here, going eastward, passing through worlds as numerous as the sands of seven Ganges Rivers, there is a Buddha-land named Filled with Pervading Fragrance. In that land there is a Buddha, a World-Honored One, named Tathāgata Treading upon the Jeweled Lotus, the Truly Perfect One, the Equally and Perfectly Enlightened One, who at this very moment is also expounding the wondrous, subtle Dharma for the great assembly.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, from here, going eastward, passing through worlds as numerous as the sands of eight Ganges Rivers, there is a Buddha-land named Radiant Wondrous Sound. In that land there is a Buddha, a World-Honored One, named Tathāgata Jeweled Lotus, Well-Abiding King of Śāla Trees, the Truly Perfect One, the Equally and Perfectly Enlightened One, who at this very moment is also expounding the wondrous, subtle Dharma for the great assembly.

“Śāriputra, the Buddha-lands of those Buddhas, Tathāgatas, Truly Perfect Ones, Equally and Perfectly Enlightened Ones, are pure and undefiled, without the five turbidities, and also without the five desires. The sentient beings therein have no minds of deceit or flattery, nor do they engage in sexual desire with women.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, if there are good sons and good daughters who hear the names of those Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, and, having heard them, cultivate practice themselves, receive and uphold, read and recite them, and moreover proclaim and clearly expound them for the sake of others—that those good sons and good daughters should fall into the three evil destinies is truly impossible, save only for those who commit the five heinous offenses, slander the True Dharma, or slander the noble ones.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, if there are good sons and good daughters who hear the names of those Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, and, having heard them, cultivate practice themselves, receive and uphold, read and recite them, and moreover proclaim and clearly expound them for the sake of others—that person, until attaining the fruit of Bodhi, will, wherever he is born, always be fully endowed with the five supernatural powers, will also obtain the dhāraṇīs, will be complete in the six faculties without deficiency, will always be joyful, and the hairs of his body will curl toward the right.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, if there are good sons and good daughters who hear the names of those Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, and, having heard them, cultivate practice themselves, receive and uphold, read and recite them, and moreover proclaim and clearly expound them for the sake of others—wherever these sentient beings may be, wicked officials and evil bandits cannot harm them, fire cannot burn them, water cannot wash them away, evil dragons and venomous serpents cannot injure them; whether standing or walking, that lions, tigers, wolves, jackals, leopards, yakṣas, rākṣasas, evil ghosts and evil spirits such as kumbhāṇḍas, together with humans and nonhumans, could cause them fear is truly impossible, save only for calamities owing to former lives.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, if there is a woman who loathes the female body, and who with concentrated and single-minded mindfulness receives and upholds, reads and recites the names of those Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, and moreover analyzes and clearly expounds them for the sake of others—that she should, after the end of her life, once more take on a female body is truly impossible.

“Furthermore, Śāriputra, if there are good sons and good daughters who, in the stillness of the night, recite and call upon the names of those Buddhas—then whatever tasks these sentient beings undertake in the present life will all be swiftly accomplished, increasing day by day, meeting with no obstruction.”

At that time, the World-Honored One, wishing to clarify the above meaning, spoke verses, saying:

“If there are sentient beings

Who receive and uphold the names of the Buddhas,

They forsake all the evil destinies

And are swiftly born into the realms of good.

Ever before the Buddhas

They hear the sound of the wondrous Dharma,

Realize the supreme fruit of the Way,

And make offerings according to their hearts.

Reciting and upholding the names of the Buddhas

For more than millions of thousands of myriads of kalpas,

All their afflictions are dispelled

And they accomplish the fruit of Bodhi.

If anyone, for a full seven days,

Can recite the names of the Buddhas,

He at once obtains pure eyes

And is able to behold the Buddhas.

If one hears the names of the Buddhas

And that person at once receives and upholds them,

Then wherever he is reborn

He is ever revered and cherished by others.

With excellent marks and an upright form,

Born into a house of blessedness and joy,

His mind is ever of great rejoicing and equanimity,

Intelligent and never heedless.

If there are women

Who hear these names of the Buddhas,

Recite them themselves and speak them for others,

They obtain blessings beyond all measure.

And when the end of their life comes,

They at once cast off the female body

And take on the body of a man,

Life after life ever with keen faculties.

Reciting and upholding the names of the Buddhas

Throughout many hundreds of millions of kalpas,

The breath of their mouth is ever fragrant,

Like the scent of sandalwood.

These Buddhas, World-Honored Ones,

Whose names are such as these—

Whoever can recite and uphold them,

Let him guard his mind and not be heedless.

Reciting and upholding the names of the Buddhas,

Father, mother, and brothers,

Together with all kinsfolk,

Will never suffer the pain of separation.

Reciting and upholding the names of the Buddhas,

All the Pāpīyas demons

Together with their dark retinue

Can never afflict or harm them.

Poison and venom cannot invade them;

Blades and cudgels and raging fire,

Bands of evil bandits and corrupt officials—

None of these can do them harm.

Reciting and upholding the names of the Buddhas

Throughout a thousand million kalpas,

They are born within jeweled lotus flowers,

Endowed with majestic marks and spiritual powers.

Ever dwelling within the open void,

Pervading everywhere beyond all measure,

They behold the other Buddha-lands,

And the beings therein are pure.

Having realized the supreme Way,

For the sake of all kinds of beings,

For the devas and for humankind,

They become a place of refuge and reliance.”

When the Buddha had finished speaking this sūtra, the elder Śāriputra, together with the devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas, humans and nonhumans, and so forth—all the great assembly, having heard what the Buddha expounded, rejoiced and reverently put it into practice.

The Sūtra of the Names of the Eight Buddhas