佛說諸佛經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling on Vulture Peak Mountain near the city of Rājagṛha. At that time, when the hour for the alms round was drawing near, the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana put on his robe and, taking up his bowl, was about to enter the city of Rājagṛha. Suddenly there arose in him this thought:

"Today let me first go to the Akaniṣṭha Heaven to inquire about a certain matter, and only afterward return to gather alms."

Thereupon the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana entered the samādhi of meditative composure. Then, in a flash—just as a strong man might bend or stretch out his arm—he arrived at the Akaniṣṭha Heaven. When he had reached that place, he and the devas beheld one another. Then, with every manner of gentle speech, he and they exchanged greetings with one another. Thereupon the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana questioned the devas, saying:

"When will it be that a Buddha, a World-Honored One, will appear in the world to realize unsurpassed Bodhi?"

At that time the one hundred deva-lords of the Akaniṣṭha Heaven answered with one voice, saying:

"Only when a full hundred thousand kalpas have passed will a single Buddha appear in the world to realize unsurpassed Bodhi."

Hearing this said, the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana received it in faith. Thereafter, the Venerable One entered samādhi, and then, in a flash—just as a strong man might bend or stretch out his arm—he returned from the Akaniṣṭha Heaven back to the city of Rājagṛha. As was his daily custom, he gathered alms in due order. When he had finished eating, the Venerable One rinsed his mouth, then folded his robe and put away his bowl. Thereafter, he went to the place where the Buddha was and bowed his head in homage, his forehead touching the very feet of the World-Honored One. When he had paid his respects, he sat to one side, joined his palms, gazed up in reverence, and addressed the Buddha, saying:

"World-Honored One! Today, when the hour for the alms round was drawing near, I entered samādhi so as to go to the Akaniṣṭha Heaven, and I questioned the devas there, saying:

'When will it be that a Buddha, a World-Honored One, will appear in the world to realize unsurpassed Bodhi?'

The one hundred deva-lords there told me with one voice, saying:

'Only when a full hundred thousand kalpas have passed will a single Buddha appear in the world to realize unsurpassed Bodhi.'

World-Honored One! Though I believe what they have said, how does this matter truly stand? I respectfully entreat the World-Honored One to expound it clearly for me."

At that time the World-Honored One said to the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana:

"You should now listen attentively. I shall expound it for you.

Mahāmaudgalyāyana! Because the understanding of those devas of the Akaniṣṭha Heaven is narrow and limited, they told you, saying:

'Only when a full hundred thousand kalpas have passed will a single Buddha appear in the world to realize unsurpassed Bodhi.'

This is not an accurate statement, and therefore it cannot yet be deeply believed.

Mahāmaudgalyāyana! Recall that in ages past, in the very beginning, I encountered sixty koṭis of Buddhas, Tathāgatas, who appeared in the world. Those Buddhas abode in the world to bring benefit to sentient beings, the duration being long or short, each according to conditions. Thereafter, in succession, one after another, they entered nirvāṇa, in like manner as well.

Again there were eighty koṭis of Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the same name, Wondrous Flower. Before each of those Buddhas I likewise made great vows and cultivated the holy life.

After those Buddhas, again there were five hundred Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the same name, Right Brahmā.

After those Buddhas, again there were eight hundred Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the same name, Dīpaṃkara.

After those Buddhas, again there were fifteen thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the same name, Sāmamuni.

After those Buddhas, again there were one thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, bearing names of the same clan, each one not the same as another. Before such Buddhas I likewise made vows and cultivated the holy life.

After those Buddhas, again there were six thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the same name, Supratāpa.

After those Buddhas, again there were ninety thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the same name, Wondrous Kāśyapa.

After those Buddhas, again there were one thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the same name, Sun.

After those Buddhas, again there were one thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the same name, Jambudīpa.

After those Buddhas, again there were eighty thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the same name, Airāvatī.

After those Buddhas, again there were seventy thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the same name, Indra.

After those Buddhas, again there was a single Buddha who appeared in the world, named Virtue. At the place of this Buddha, together with the Śrāvaka disciples in his assembly, I made vows in common and reverently made offerings for very many years.

After that Buddha, again there were eighty koṭis of nayutas of Pratyekabuddhas who appeared in the world.

Mahāmaudgalyāyana! Those Pratyekabuddhas made great vows before me. Moreover, there was a Wheel-Turning Sage King named Universal Radiance who also made vows before me.

Before that, I had encountered forty Buddhas all bearing the same name, Invincible. Mahāmaudgalyāyana! After that Buddha passed into extinction, I encountered a Buddha likewise named Invincible.

During the time of that Buddha's teaching and transforming, I was a Wheel-Turning Sage King, named Hundred Epithets. Then, together with the Śrāvaka disciples in the assembly of the Buddha Invincible, I made vows in common and reverently made offerings for very many years. After that Buddha entered nirvāṇa, I took the seven jewels and built a stūpa to make offerings to his relics.

Thus did I cultivate practice, and the time that passed was truly long and immeasurable.

Mahāmaudgalyāyana! It was only after all that time that I realized Bodhi.

Furthermore, Mahāmaudgalyāyana! The understanding of those devas of the Akaniṣṭha Heaven is narrow and limited. After the Buddha Invincible passed into extinction, again there was a Buddha who appeared in the world named Upholder of the World.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Upholder of the Earth. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Greatly Capable Sage. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Wondrous Manifestation.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Lion. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Most Supreme and Rare. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Severer of All Sorrows.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Accomplisher of the Meaning of All Things. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Attainer of Victory. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Jewel Light.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Esteemed in Intent.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Upatiṣya. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Tiṣya. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Perfect Radiance.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Moon Light. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Heavenly Light. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Atibu.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Atyaya. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Undying Penetration. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Most Victorious.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Tiṣyadhara. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Supreme Flower. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Ariṣṭa.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Atibu. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Dīpaṃkara. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Subduer of Enmity.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Golden Splendor. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Golden Light. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Jewel Eye.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Lotus Eye. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Most Supreme Lotus.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Great Lotus. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Lotus. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Vipaśyin.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Śikhin. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Viśvabhū. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Krakucchanda.

After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Kanakamuni. After that there was again a Buddha who appeared in the world named Kāśyapa. Now I, Śākyamuni, have appeared in the world to become a Buddha.

Mahāmaudgalyāyana! I made vows before such Buddhas as these, and then I scattered flowers of the seven jewels as offerings. Only thereafter did I attain Perfect and Complete Enlightenment.

Mahāmaudgalyāyana! The time of each of those Buddhas, from the first arising of the aspiration up to the attainment of Perfect and Complete Enlightenment, all passed through countless kalpas. From the time I first gave rise to the aspiration up until I became a Buddha this present day, the number of kalpas that have passed is very great and cannot be reckoned in full.

The understanding of those devas of the Akaniṣṭha Heaven is narrow and limited. You should not give rise to doubt."

When the World-Honored One had finished expounding this Sutra, the doubt in the heart of the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana was thereupon dispelled. Exulting with joy, he paid homage to the Buddha and then took his leave.

The Sutra Spoken by the Buddha on the Buddhas