受持七佛名號所生功德經

THUS HAVE I HEARD:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove near the city of Śrāvastī, together with an immeasurable and incalculable assembly of Śrāvakas, great Bodhisattvas, gods, humans, and asuras. The entire great assembly surrounded the World-Honored One.

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

"I now, arousing a heart of compassion toward all sentient beings, shall briefly speak of the merit obtained through upholding the names of the seven Buddhas, whereby those who uphold them shall attain supreme benefit and ease. You must listen attentively and reflect well upon this. I shall distinguish and expound it for you."

Venerable Śāriputra said:

"Yes, World-Honored One! I joyfully wish to hear it."

The Buddha said to Venerable Śāriputra:

"From here toward the east, there is a Buddha-land named Adorned with the Manifold Virtues of Freedom from Defilement. In that land there is a Buddha whose name is Tathāgata Auspicious Universally Pervading Radiance, the Worthy of Offerings, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the One Accomplished in Knowledge and Conduct, the Well-Gone One, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed One, the Tamer of Beings to Be Tamed, the Teacher of Gods and Humans, the Buddha, the World-Honored One.

Out of compassion for the world, He is now expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assembly there. He reveals the wondrous Dharma good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end; its words and meaning are excellent and subtle, utterly unalloyed and perfectly complete, and its pure conduct is undefiled.

If anyone is able to hear the name of that Buddha, they shall transcend a hundred thousand koṭis of great kalpas of the long night of revolving in birth and death, filled with violent suffering. In every place where they are born, they shall always know the affairs of their former lives.

If anyone is able to uphold the name of that Buddha, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, in every place where they are born throughout a hundred thousand koṭis of great kalpas, their minds shall depart from delusion and they shall enjoy the wondrous bliss of the realms of gods and humans.

If anyone is able to establish an image of that Buddha, and then reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, in every place where they are born throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, they shall always meet the Buddha and swiftly realize Supreme Perfect Enlightenment.

Furthermore, Śāriputra! From here toward the east, there is again a Buddha-land named Adorned with the Manifold Virtues of Wondrous Awakening. In that land there is a Buddha whose name is Tathāgata Auspicious Abiding in Wondrous Merit, the Worthy of Offerings, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the One Accomplished in Knowledge and Conduct, the Well-Gone One, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed One, the Tamer of Beings to Be Tamed, the Teacher of Gods and Humans, the Buddha, the World-Honored One.

Out of compassion for the world, He is now expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assembly there. He reveals the wondrous Dharma good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end; its words and meaning are excellent and subtle, utterly unalloyed and perfectly complete, and its pure conduct is undefiled.

If anyone is able to hear the name of that Buddha, they shall be liberated from all of the eight calamities. In every place where they are born, they shall always know the affairs of their former lives.

If anyone is able to uphold the name of that Buddha, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, in every place where they are born throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, their minds shall ever be penetratingly wise, they shall always abide in wholesome places, and they shall enjoy wondrous bliss.

If anyone is able to establish an image of that Buddha, and then reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, in every place where they are born throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, they shall always meet the Buddha, cultivate all the gateways of Reaching the Other Shore, become great teaching masters, and liberate immeasurable sentient beings.

Furthermore, Śāriputra! From here toward the east, there is again a Buddha-land named Lord of Sentient Beings. In that land there is a Buddha whose name is Tathāgata King of the Single Jeweled Canopy, the Worthy of Offerings, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the One Accomplished in Knowledge and Conduct, the Well-Gone One, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed One, the Tamer of Beings to Be Tamed, the Teacher of Gods and Humans, the Buddha, the World-Honored One. Out of compassion for the world, He is now expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assembly there. He reveals the wondrous Dharma good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end; its words and meaning are excellent and subtle, utterly unalloyed and perfectly complete, and its pure conduct is undefiled.

If anyone is able to hear the name of that Buddha, they shall depart far from all sorrow and suffering; their emoluments, station, and wealth and treasures shall not be destroyed—save only for the evil causes of fixed karma from former lives.

If anyone is able to uphold the name of that Buddha, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. In every place where they are born, they shall be endowed with great majestic virtue, unimpeded spiritual powers, bodies possessing radiant light, forms upright and dignified, and those who behold them shall delight in them.

If anyone is able to establish an image of that Buddha, and then reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, they shall never be born in a world without a Buddha. They shall cultivate the Bodhisattva conduct, adorn themselves with great vows, and at last shall realize supreme enlightenment to benefit all sentient beings.

Furthermore, Śāriputra! From here toward the east, there is again a Buddha-land named Sovereign Power. In that land there is a Buddha whose name is Tathāgata Trace of the Well-Gone One's Concentration, the Worthy of Offerings, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the One Accomplished in Knowledge and Conduct, the Well-Gone One, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed One, the Tamer of Beings to Be Tamed, the Teacher of Gods and Humans, the Buddha, the World-Honored One. Out of compassion for the world, He is now expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assembly there. He reveals the wondrous Dharma good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end; its words and meaning are excellent and subtle, utterly unalloyed and perfectly complete, and its pure conduct is undefiled.

If anyone is able to hear the name of that Buddha, their minds shall at once become tranquil and depart from all entanglements.

If anyone is able to uphold the name of that Buddha, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, in every place where they are born throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, whether they are walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, whether speaking or silent, their minds shall always abide in concentration.

If anyone is able to establish an image of that Buddha, and then reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, in every place where they are born throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, they shall always meet the Buddha, swiftly be able to attain the ultimate realization of the gateways of total retention, become Honored Ones Replete with the Two-Fold Perfection, and liberate immeasurable sentient beings.

Furthermore, Śāriputra! From here toward the east, there is again a Buddha-land named Most Supreme Jewel. In that land there is a Buddha whose name is Tathāgata Auspicious Radiance of the Jeweled Flower, the Worthy of Offerings, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the One Accomplished in Knowledge and Conduct, the Well-Gone One, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed One, the Tamer of Beings to Be Tamed, the Teacher of Gods and Humans, the Buddha, the World-Honored One. Out of compassion for the world, He is now expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assembly there. He reveals the wondrous Dharma good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end; its words and meaning are excellent and subtle, utterly unalloyed and perfectly complete, and its pure conduct is undefiled.

If anyone is able to hear the name of that Buddha, they shall at once be endowed with supreme mindfulness and the conduct of wisdom. When expounding the Dharma in the midst of the fourfold assembly of disciples, their minds shall be without fear, their words majestic, and the listeners shall all reverently receive them.

If anyone is able to uphold the name of that Buddha, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, in every place where they are born throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, they shall be endowed with supreme mindfulness and the conduct of wisdom, become possessors of keen intellect and valor, and attain supreme retention of what is heard.

If anyone is able to establish an image of that Buddha, and then reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, in every place where they are born throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, they shall always meet the Tathāgata, possess unimpeded eloquence, widely proclaim the wondrous Dharma, gradually cultivate merit together with wisdom, become Honored Ones of Gods and Humans, and liberate immeasurable sentient beings.

Furthermore, Śāriputra! From here toward the south, there is a Buddha-land named Isle of Tranquil Quiescence. In that land there is a Buddha whose name is Tathāgata Transcendent Boundless Trace, the Worthy of Offerings, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the One Accomplished in Knowledge and Conduct, the Well-Gone One, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed One, the Tamer of Beings to Be Tamed, the Teacher of Gods and Humans, the Buddha, the World-Honored One. Out of compassion for the world, He is now expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assembly there. He reveals the wondrous Dharma good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end; its words and meaning are excellent and subtle, utterly unalloyed and perfectly complete, and its pure conduct is undefiled.

If anyone is able to hear the name of that Buddha, their minds shall be serene and nothing shall be able to disturb them.

If anyone is able to uphold the name of that Buddha, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, they shall be able to swiftly realize the Supreme Moonlight Concentration. Having realized this concentration, they shall further be able to realize gateways of total retention as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River.

If anyone is able to establish an image of that Buddha, and then reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, regarding the Dharma gateways expounded by all the Buddhas, they shall be able to uphold them completely, profoundly penetrate their meaning and import, and illuminate them without obstruction like the light of the sun. In every place where they are born, they shall always meet the Buddha, and by reason of this cause they shall swiftly realize supreme enlightenment.

Furthermore, Śāriputra! From here toward the south, there is again a Buddha-land named Most Supreme Fragrance. In that land there is a Buddha whose name is Tathāgata King of Wondrous Fragrance, the Worthy of Offerings, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the One Accomplished in Knowledge and Conduct, the Well-Gone One, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed One, the Tamer of Beings to Be Tamed, the Teacher of Gods and Humans, the Buddha, the World-Honored One. Out of compassion for the world, He is now expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assembly there. He reveals the wondrous Dharma good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end; its words and meaning are excellent and subtle, utterly unalloyed and perfectly complete, and its pure conduct is undefiled.

If anyone is able to hear the name of that Buddha, their bodies and minds shall be harmonious and joyful, departing from all that is coarse and heavy, their evil karma extinguished, and their afflictions dissolved.

If anyone is able to uphold the name of that Buddha, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, in every place where they are born in future lives, they shall be endowed with the thirty-two marks of a great being and shall be gazed upon in admiration by all sentient beings alike.

If anyone is able to establish an image of that Buddha, and then reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, they shall not lose the merit they have obtained. Moreover, in every place where they are born in future lives, they shall be endowed with pure precepts, journey through the various Buddha-lands to hear the Dharma and uphold it, cultivate and fulfill all merit, and thereby swiftly realize Supreme Perfect Enlightenment."

The Buddha said to Venerable Śāriputra:

"If there be any sentient beings who hear the names of these seven Buddhas and uphold and make offerings to them, they shall surely obtain the merit as stated above.

Why is this so? Because the names and forms of these seven Buddhas are all accomplished through the great compassion of their original vows. Therefore, whatever sentient beings hear them and make offerings to them shall all obtain such benefit and ease."

When the World-Honored One had finished expounding this Sūtra, Venerable Śāriputra, the great Śrāvakas, the great Bodhisattvas, together with the gods, humans, asuras, and the entire great assembly, upon hearing what the Buddha had taught, all gave rise to a heart of great rejoicing, and with faith received and reverently upheld it.

The Sūtra of the Merit Obtained Through Upholding the Seven Names of the Buddhas