佛說八大靈塔名號經

At that time the World-Honored One addressed the Bhikṣus (Tỳ Khưu): "Now I shall extol the names of the eight great Spirit Stūpas. Listen attentively! I shall expound them for you.

Which are the eight? They are these:

1_ The Lumbinī Garden (Long Di Nễ) within the city of Kapila (Ca Tỳ La, or Kapilavatsu) is the place where the Buddha was born.

2_ Beneath the Bodhi Tree (Bodhi-druma, Bodhi-taru, Bodhi-vṛkṣa), beside the Nairañjanā River (Nê Liên) in the land of Magadha (Ma Già Đà), is the place where the Buddha attained the Fruit of the Path.

3_ The city of Vārāṇasī (Ba La Nại) in the land of Kāśi (Ca Thi) is the place where (the Buddha) turned the great Wheel of the Dharma (Đại Pháp Luân: Mahā-dharma-cakra).

4_ The Jeṭavaṇa Garden (Kỳ Đà) in the land of Śrāvastya (Xá Vệ) is the place where (the Buddha) manifested the Great Spiritual Penetrations.

5_ The city of Kanyākubja (Khúc Nữ) is the place where (the Buddha) descended from the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven (Đạo Lợi).

6_ The city of Rājagṛha (Vương Xá) is the place where the Buddha, for the sake of the Śrāvakas (Thanh Văn), made distinctions and brought them to deliverance.

7_ The Spirit Stūpa within the city of Vaiśali (Quảng Nghiêm) is the place where (the Buddha) reflected upon the length of his life-span (thọ lượng).

8_ Between the two great trees within the Śāla forest (Sa La) at the city of Kuśinagara (Câu Thi Na) is the place where (the Buddha) entered Nirvāṇa (Niết Bàn).

Such are the eight great Spirit Stūpas. Once more declaring it in verse:

_ The Royal Capital of King Śuddhodana (Tịnh Phạn), the city of Kapila (Ca Tỳ),

The Lumbinī Garden (Long Di Nễ) where the Buddha was born.

_ Magadha (Ma Già Đà), beside the Nairañjanā River (Nê Liên),

Beneath the Bodhi Tree (Bodhi-vṛkṣa), the place of Perfect Enlightenment.

_ The land of Kāśi (Ca Thi), the city of Vārāṇasī (Ba La Nại),

Turning the Great Wheel of Dharma, the twelve Practices.

_ The great city of Śrāvastya (Xá Vệ), within the Jeṭavaṇa (Kỳ Viên),

Pervading the three realms, manifesting Spiritual Penetrations.

_ The land of Saṃkāśya (Tang Thi Ca), the city of Kanyākubja (Khúc Nữ),

Descending from the palace of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven (Đao Lợi).

_ The great city of Rājagṛha (Vương Xá), where the Saṃgha (Tăng) made distinctions,

Where the Tathāgata skillfully delivered them, practicing Loving-kindness and Compassion.

_ The great city of Vaiśali (Quảng Nghiêm), within the Spirit Stūpa,

The place where the Tathāgata reflected upon the length of his life-span (thọ lượng).

_ The city of Kuśinagara (Câu Thi Na), the land of Great Strength,

The twin Śāla trees, the entering into Nirvāṇa.

Such are the eight great Spirit Stūpas. If there be a Brāhmaṇa, or a good son or a good daughter, who gives rise to a great mind of faith, who repairs and builds Stūpas and Shrines, and who serves and makes offerings, then this person shall obtain great benefit, shall obtain great fruit and recompense, shall be fully endowed with vast and great praise, with renown resounding everywhere, vast and profound… and even the Bhikṣus too must study this.

Furthermore, O Bhikṣus! If a good son or a good daughter possessing pure faith is able, with respect to these eight great Spirit Stūpas, to turn toward this place and, in this present life, to make offerings with utmost sincerity, then when that person dies, they shall swiftly be born into the heavenly realms."

At that time the World-Honored One again addressed the Bhikṣus: "Listen attentively! Now I shall speak of the wanderings and resting at the Capital Cities, and the abiding in the world."

Then he spoke in verse, saying:

"Twenty-nine years dwelling in the royal palace,

Six years practicing austerities upon the Snow Mountain,

Five years bringing deliverance at the city of Rājagṛha (Vương Xá),

Four years dwelling in the Tỳ Sa forest,

Two years of the rains-retreat in the Nhạ Lý cave,

Twenty-three years at Śrāvastya (Xá Vệ),

The city of Vaiśali (Quảng Nghiêm) and the Mṛgadāva (Lộc Dã) Garden,

Ma Câu Lê and the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven (Đao Lợi Thiên),

Thi Du Na and Kauśāmbi (Kiêu Thiểm Di),

The Jeweled Stūpa, the mountain summit, together with Đại Dã (the vast fields),

The villages of Vĩ Nộ and Phệ Lan Đế,

The Royal Capital of King Śuddhodana (Tịnh Phạn), the city of Kapila (Ca Tỳ).

At each of these holy places, a single year:

Śākyamuni Tathāgata (Thích Ca Như Lai) then journeyed and abided.

Thus for eighty years he abided,

And thereafter the Muṇi (Mâu Ni) entered Nirvāṇa (Niết Bàn).

THE SŪTRA SPOKEN BY THE BUDDHA ON THE NAMES OF THE EIGHT GREAT SPIRIT STŪPAS The End