佛說佛名經

Once, the bhikshu Upamana rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt with his right knee upon the ground, joined his palms reverently, and addressed the Buddha: “World-Honored One! How many Buddhas were there in past ages?”

The Buddha said: “Bhikshu Upamana, O bhikshu! Suppose there were worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, extending downward to the ocean floor and upward to the mountain summits, with all the motes of dust contained therein. O bhikshu! Suppose someone deliberately counted those motes of dust, then passed through worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, counting one mote for each world. After passing through as many worlds as there were motes of dust, could that person calculate their number? Bhikshu, what do you think? Whether the motes had been gathered and counted or had not yet been gathered, could their total number be clearly known?”

The bhikshu replied: “The number of those motes of dust could never be completely counted or gathered, World-Honored One!”

The Buddha told the bhikshus: “The number of those motes of dust could still be calculated and known, but the Buddhas of past ages who bore the same names could never be fully counted. For example, it would be difficult to calculate the number of Buddhas named Shakyamuni who have entered nirvana. O bhikshu!

I know the Buddhas of past ages as though seeing them directly before me: the mothers of those Buddhas were all named Mahamaya; their fathers were all named King Shuddhodana; and their royal cities were all named Kapilavastu. The foremost shravaka disciples of those Buddhas were all named Shariputra and Maudgalyayana, and their attendant disciples were all named Ananda. How much more numerous, then, were those whose mothers, fathers, cities, disciples, and attendants bore different names!

“O bhikshu! Among all those worlds, some people might labor to count their motes of dust, while others might not count them. Whether or not anyone counted them, the motes extended from the ocean floor below to the mountain summits above.

Bhikshu! Suppose a second person took one mote of dust to represent the entire number of motes in all those worlds. That person would make one step for every innumerable kotis, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, and nayutas (1) of Buddha lands.

O bhikshu! That person would then pass through worlds in this way, taking each mote of dust as one step. Thus, over hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, kotis, nayutas, and asamkhya kalpas (2), that person would pass through every mote until all the motes had been exhausted.

Bhikshu! Then include the motes filling all those worlds together with the worlds throughout the ten directions. Bhikshu!

Consider once more all the motes in those worlds, from the ocean floor below to the mountain summits above. Bhikshu, what do you think? Could the precise number of those motes be known?”

“The number of those motes of dust could never be known, World-Honored One!” the bhikshu replied.

The Buddha told the bhikshu: “The number of those motes could still be calculated, but the number of Buddhas having mothers of the same name, fathers of the same name, cities of the same name, disciples of the same name, attendants of the same name, and the name Shakyamuni Buddha could never be calculated! Just as this is so of those named Shakyamuni, so too is it of Buddhas named Bất Thắng Tràng; Buddhas named Lô Xá Na; Buddhas named Vô Cấu Thắng Nhãn; Buddhas named Vô Cấu Quang Minh Nhãn; Buddhas named Quang Minh Thanh Tịnh Vương; Buddhas named Thiện Vô Cấu Thanh Tịnh; Buddhas named Thành Tựu Vô Biên Công Đức Thắng Vương; Buddhas named Bửu Quang Minh; Buddhas named Tịch Tu; Buddhas named Thinh Đức; Buddhas named Ba Đầu Ma Thắng; Buddhas named Nhật Nguyệt; Buddhas named Phổ Hiền Cái;

and so forth.

Bhikshus! You should take refuge in and revere the asamkhya Buddhas who bear the same names.”…

With one mind, we bow our heads in homage to the Greatly Compassionate Ones, who come as soon as their names are heard to rescue beings from suffering. Now we, your disciples, single-mindedly return and take refuge in the Buddhas:

Homage to Buddha Phổ Quang Minh Phấn Tấn Vương

Homage to Buddha Phổ Chiếu

Homage to Buddha Dược Vương

Homage to Buddha Di Lưu Đăng Vương

Homage to Buddha Bửu Trang Nghiêm

Homage to Buddha Trí Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Bửu Cái

Homage to Buddha Phóng Diệm

Homage to Buddha Vật Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Xứng Trí

Homage to Buddha Tam Muội Thắng

Homage to Buddha Bửu Quán

Homage to Buddha Bửu Kê Đô

Homage to Buddha Thi La Thí

Homage to Buddha Sa La Vương

Homage to Buddha Bửu Ý Sơn Kê Đâu Vương

Homage to Buddha Đại Trang Nghiêm

Homage to Buddha Sơn Tự Tại Vương

Homage to Buddha Chiên Đà

Homage to Buddha Kiến Nghĩa

Homage to Buddha Tự Tại Tràng

Homage to Buddha Đại Di Lưu

Homage to Buddha Vô Quang Thắng

Homage to Buddha Đại Trang Nghiêm Vương

Homage to Buddha Đại Trí Tràng

Homage to Buddha Nhựt Tạng

Homage to Buddha Vô Úy Thượng Thắng Sơn Vương

Homage to Buddha Phạm Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Dư Y Chỉ Hiệt Thinh Vương

Homage to Buddha Trí Kê Đâu

Homage to Buddha Trí Cự Trí Trì

Homage to Buddha Quá Nhứt Thiết Thế Gian

Homage to Buddha Pháp Chiếu

Homage to Buddha Vô Cấu Quang

Homage to Buddha Phổ Quang

Homage to Buddha Nhứt Thiết Thắng

Homage to Buddha Tịch Tĩnh Diệu Thinh

Homage to Buddha Phổ Minh

Homage to Buddha Thắng Sơn Vương Sư Tử Phấn Tấn Cảnh Giới Thinh

Homage to Buddha Địa Trú Trì

Homage to Buddha Công Đức Vương Quang

Homage to Buddha Trụ Trì Trí Đình Liêu

Homage to Buddha Lạc Thuyết Thắng Vương

Homage to Buddha Kim Sắc Ba Đầu Ma Thành Vương

Homage to Buddha Nan Thắng

Homage to Buddha Bửu Tác

Homage to Buddha Vô Lượng Thinh

Homage to Buddha Thân Quang

Homage to Buddha Long Thiên

Homage to Buddha Thiên Lực

Homage to Buddha Sư Tử

Homage to Buddha Ly Tránh Quang

Homage to Buddha Thế Thiên

Homage to Buddha Thắng Tích

Homage to Buddha Nhơn Vương

Homage to Buddha Hoa Vương

Homage to Buddha Hoa Thắng

Homage to Buddha Phát Tinh Tấn

Homage to Buddha Nhơn Đà La Kê Đâu

Homage to Buddha Thanh Tịnh Vô Cấu Quang Bồ Đề Bửu Hoa Bất Đoạn Tuyệt Quang Minh Vương

Homage to Buddha Đạm Bạc Vương

Homage to Buddha Ý Phước Đức Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Quán Thinh Vương

Homage to Buddha Vô Cấu Oai Đức

Homage to Buddha Công Đức Bửu Tập Hống

Homage to Buddha Thành Tựu Đức

Homage to Buddha Thành Tựu Thắng

Homage to Buddha Tư Hà

Homage to Buddha Oai Đức

Homage to Buddha Cao Tu Di Sơn

Homage to Buddha A Luân Ca Thế Giới Hiền Diệu Thắng

If any good man or good woman receives, upholds, reads, recites, and bows in homage to the honored names of the Buddhas, that person will certainly attain the irreversible bodhicitta (3):

Homage to Buddha Nan Đà Thế Giới Chiên Đàn Thắng

If any good man or good woman receives, upholds, reads, recites, and bows in homage to the honored names of the Buddhas, that person will ultimately attain a purified mind:

Homage to Buddha Bạt Đề Thế Giới Tịch Nhiễm

Homage to Buddha Ý Trí Kê Đâu Thế Giới Phá Ma Lực

Homage to Buddha Mãn Nguyệt Thế Giới Vô Ưu

Homage to Buddha Kêu Đâu Ý Thắng Thế Giới Bửu Trượng

Homage to Buddha Ngữ Hống Thinh Thắng Thế Giới Hoa Thắng

Homage to Buddha Sai Ma Thế Giới Tam Muội Phấn Tấn

Homage to Buddha Quảng Thế Giới Thọ Đề Thắng

Homage to Buddha Nguyệt Thắng Thế Giới Kim Cang Công Đức Thân

Homage to Buddha Quá Khứ Vô Lượng Vô Biên Hải Thắng

If any good man invokes and recites the name of that Buddha, he will ultimately attain irreversible bodhicitta:

Homage to Buddha Di Lưu Thắng Vương

When this Buddha first attained buddhahood, at the first assembly he liberated eighty kotis, hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands of nayutas of shravakas. At the second assembly he liberated seventy kotis, hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands of nayutas of pratyekabuddhas. At the third assembly he liberated sixty kotis, hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands of nayutas of bodhisattvas. At the fourth assembly he liberated as many as twenty-five kotis, hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands of nayutas of great bodhisattvas. Such bodhisattvas were measureless and boundless, numbering hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands, kotis, and nayutas.

Homage to Buddha Sư Tử Diệu Thinh Vương

At this Buddha’s first assembly there were ninety-nine kotis of shravakas. At the second assembly there were ninety kotis. At the third assembly there were ninety-three kotis. At the fourth assembly there were ninety-nine kotis. Likewise, the assemblies of great bodhisattvas were measureless and boundless.

Homage to Buddha Hoa Thắng

At this Buddha’s first assembly, eighty kotis of shravakas were liberated; the Bodhisattva Sangha was likewise.

Homage to Buddha Diệu Hạnh

At this Buddha’s first assembly, eighty kotis of shravakas were liberated; the Bodhisattva Sangha was likewise.

Homage to Buddha Vô Lượng Đại Trang Nghiêm

At this Buddha’s first assembly, eighty kotis of shravakas were liberated. At the second assembly, seventy kotis were liberated, and so it was through the tenth assembly. The Bodhisattva Sangha was likewise measureless and boundless.

Homage to Buddha Phóng Diệm

At this Buddha’s first assembly there were ninety kotis of shravakas. It was likewise so from the second assembly through the tenth. The Sangha of great bodhisattvas was also measureless and boundless.

Homage to Buddha Nhứt Thiết Quang Minh

At this Buddha’s first assembly there were nayutas of kotis of shravakas. The Bodhisattva Sangha was likewise.

Homage to Buddha Vô Lượng Quang Minh

At this Buddha’s first assembly, ninety-six kotis of shravakas were liberated. At the second there were ninety-four kotis. At the third there were ninety-three kotis. The Bodhisattva Sangha was likewise.

Homage to Buddha Thinh Đức

At this Buddha’s first assembly, eighty kotis of shravakas were liberated. At the second there were seventy kotis. At the third there were sixty kotis. The Bodhisattva Sangha was likewise. One must take refuge in and revere Buddhas and bodhisattvas such as these. Furthermore, bhikshus, you should bow in homage to:

The Buddhas and bodhisattvas in the southern world Vô Cấu Thanh Tịnh. Manjushri is presently in the Buddha land of Tathagata Phổ Kiến.

Furthermore, bhikshus, you should bow in homage to four bodhisattva mahasattvas:

The first is named Quang Minh Tràng and presently dwells in the eastern Buddha land of Tathagata Vô Úy.

The second is named Trí Thắng and presently dwells in the southern Buddha land of Tathagata Trí Tụ.

The third is named Tịch Căn and presently dwells in the western Buddha land of Tathagata Trí Sơn.

The fourth is named Nguyện Ý Thành Tựu and presently dwells in the northern Buddha land of Tathagata Na La Diên.

Furthermore, there are three accounts arising from questions asked by three bhikshus:

The bhikshu Mahanama asked the Buddha: “How many Buddhas of past ages entered nirvana?”

The World-Honored One replied: “Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges entered nirvana in past ages.”

The second bhikshu, Upamana, knelt, joined his palms, and asked the Buddha: “World-Honored One! How many Buddhas will there be in future ages?”

The World-Honored One replied: “In future ages there will be Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, sharing the same names and epithets and possessing great loving-kindness and great compassion…”

Finally, Venerable Shariputra addressed the Buddha: “World-Honored One! How many Buddhas are there at present?”

The Buddha replied: “At present there are also Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, sharing the same names and epithets; it is difficult to calculate or recount them all.”

These three questions and answers follow the same form as the account recorded at the beginning of this volume of the sutra (Sutra No. 17). The original text is therefore not translated again here. Together we bow in homage:

Homage to Buddha Bất Khả Khiêm Thân

Homage to Buddha Xứng Danh

Homage to Buddha Oai Đức

Homage to Buddha Xưng Hống

Homage to Buddha Xưng Thượng

Homage to Buddha Thinh Thanh Tịnh

Homage to Buddha Trí Thắng

Homage to Buddha Trí Giải

Homage to Buddha Huyền Huệ

Homage to Buddha Huyền Vi

Homage to Buddha Huyền Vi Trí

Homage to Buddha Trí Thông Minh

Homage to Buddha Trí Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Trí Cúng Dường

Homage to Buddha Trí Diệu

Homage to Buddha Trí Diệm

Homage to Buddha Trí Dũng Mãnh

Homage to Buddha Tịnh Thượng

Homage to Buddha Phạm Thiên

Homage to Buddha Thiện Phạm Thiên

Homage to Buddha Tịnh Bà Số

Homage to Buddha Diệu Phạm Thinh

Homage to Buddha Phạm Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Phạm Thiên Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Nhơn Na Đà

Homage to Buddha Phạm Hống

Homage to Buddha Phạm Đức

Homage to Buddha Oai Đức Lực

Homage to Buddha Oai Đức Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Thiện Oai Đức

Homage to Buddha Oai Đức Tuyệt Luân Vô Năng Điều Phục

Homage to Buddha Oai Đức Khởi

Homage to Buddha Thiện Quyết Định Oai Đức

Homage to Buddha Oai Đức Thiên

Homage to Buddha Oai Đức Thắng

Homage to Buddha Kinh Bố

Homage to Buddha Kinh Bố Ý

Homage to Buddha Kinh Bố Huệ

Homage to Buddha Kinh Bố Chúng Sanh

Homage to Buddha Kinh Bố Diện

Homage to Buddha Kinh Bố Khởi

Homage to Buddha Oai Đức Quyết Định Tất Cảnh

Homage to Buddha Oai Đức Thiên

Homage to Buddha Kinh Bố Thật

Homage to Buddha Kiến Kinh Bố

Homage to Buddha Thiện Nhãn

Homage to Buddha Nguyệt Thắng

Homage to Buddha Thâm Thinh

Homage to Buddha Vô Biên Thinh

Homage to Buddha Tịnh Thinh

Homage to Buddha Thanh Tịnh Thinh

Homage to Buddha Vô Lượng Thinh

Homage to Buddha Phóng Thinh

Homage to Buddha Hàng Phục Ma Lực Thinh

Homage to Buddha Trú Trì Thinh

Homage to Buddha Thiện Mục

Homage to Buddha Thanh Tịnh Diện

Homage to Buddha Thiện Chiếu

Homage to Buddha Vô Biên Nhãn

Homage to Buddha Phổ Nhãn

Homage to Buddha Xứng Nhãn

Homage to Buddha Nhãn Trang Nghiêm

Homage to Buddha Bất Khả Khiêm Nhãn

Homage to Buddha Điều Nhu

Homage to Buddha Điều Phục Thân Tâm

Homage to Buddha Thân Tâm Nhu Nhuyến

Homage to Buddha Điều Nhãn

Homage to Buddha Thiện Điều Tâm

Homage to Buddha Thiện Tịch Căn

Homage to Buddha Thiện Tịch Ý

Homage to Buddha Thiện Tịch Diệu

Homage to Buddha Thiện Tịch Hạnh

Homage to Buddha Thiện Tịch Khứ

Homage to Buddha Thiện Tịch Bỉ Ngạn

Homage to Buddha Thiện Tịch Dũng Mãnh

Homage to Buddha Thiện Tịch Trú Thắng

Homage to Buddha Thiện Tịch Tĩnh Tâm

Homage to Buddha Chúng Thượng Thủ Tự Tại Vương

Homage to Buddha Hữu Chúng

Homage to Buddha Chúng Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Thắng Chúng

Homage to Buddha Thanh Tịnh Trí

Homage to Buddha Đại Chúng Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Chúng Dõng Mãnh

Homage to Buddha Phóng Diệu Hương

Homage to Buddha Pháp Lực

Homage to Buddha Pháp Kê Đâu

Homage to Buddha Pháp Hạnh

Homage to Buddha Pháp Bảo

Homage to Buddha Pháp Lực

Homage to Buddha Pháp Vương

Homage to Buddha Thiện Pháp

Homage to Buddha Pháp Dũng Mãnh

Homage to Buddha Pháp Lạc Quyết Định

Homage to the eighty kotis of Buddhas in the first kalpa who all bore the name Thật Pháp Quyết Định

Homage to the eighty kotis of Buddhas in the second kalpa who likewise all bore the name Quyết Định

Homage to Buddha Thắng Thành Tựu, who transcended the Buddhas named Quyết Định

With reverence and one mind, we continue to bow in homage:

Homage to Buddha An Ẩn

Homage to Buddha Câu Lân

Homage to Buddha Thiện Hoan Hỷ

Homage to Buddha Thiện Nhãn

Homage to Buddha Đầu Đà La Tra

Homage to Buddha Tỳ Lưu Bát Xoa

Homage to Buddha Thiện Nhãn

Homage to Buddha Diệu Nhãn

Homage to Buddha Thiện Kiến

Homage to Buddha Thiện Giải

Homage to Buddha Shakyamuni

Homage to Buddha Diệu Khứ

Homage to Buddha Đại Thắng

Homage to Buddha Chiên Đàn

Homage to Buddha Thiện Độ

Homage to Buddha Diệt Ác

Homage to Buddha Đại Công Đức

Homage to Buddha Ma Lê Chi

Homage to Buddha Quang Minh

Homage to Buddha Mãn Nguyệt

Homage to Buddha Tịnh Danh

Homage to Buddha Tịnh Đức

Homage to Buddha Tịnh Trú

Homage to Buddha Hỷ Thắng

Homage to Buddha Nguyệt Tràng

Homage to Buddha Bảo Khởi

Homage to Buddha Vô Úy

Homage to Buddha Nhiên Đăng

Homage to Buddha Pháp Diệu

Homage to Buddha Cao Kế

Homage to Buddha Xưng Diệu

Homage to Buddha Đại Thắng Diệu Shakyamuni

Homage to Buddha Kiết Sa

Homage to Buddha Phất Sa

Homage to Buddha Vipashyin

Homage to Buddha Shikhin

Homage to Buddha Vishvabhu

Homage to Buddha Krakucchanda

Homage to Buddha Kanakamuni

Homage to Buddha Kashyapa

The Buddha further told Shariputra: “At present, in the eastern world named Khả Lạc, there is a Buddha named Akshobhya. You should sincerely bow in homage to:

Homage to Buddha Nhựt Tạng

Homage to Buddha Long Vương Tự Tại Vương

Homage to Buddha Nhựt Tác

Homage to Buddha Long Hoan Hỷ

Homage to Buddha Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Xứng Quang Minh

Homage to Buddha Sơn Thành

Homage to Buddha Phổ Diệu

Homage to Buddha Phổ Bửu

Homage to Buddha Xứng Tự Tại Vương

Homage to Buddha Hành Pháp Hạnh Xưng

Homage to Buddha Sơ Trí Huệ

Homage to Buddha Trí Sơn

Homage to Buddha Nhựt Quang Minh

Homage to Buddha Sanh Thắng

Homage to Buddha Di Lưu Tạng

Homage to Buddha Trí Hải

Homage to Buddha Đại Tinh Tấn

Homage to Buddha Cao Sơn Thắng

Homage to Buddha Công Đức Tạng

Homage to Buddha Trí Pháp Giới

Homage to Buddha Vô Úy Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Đại Tinh Tấn Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Trí Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Vô Ngại Vương

Homage to Buddha Địa Lực Tinh Tấn

Homage to Buddha Trì Hành

Homage to Buddha Lực Vương

Homage to Buddha Thiện Kiến

Homage to Buddha Pháp Quang Minh Vương

Homage to Buddha Hàng Phục Ma

Homage to Buddha Bất Đoạn Diệm

Homage to Buddha Công Đức Sơn

Homage to Buddha Trí Tế

Homage to Buddha Vô Chướng Lực Vương

Homage to Buddha Thiện Tư Duy

Homage to Buddha Sư Tử Hoan Hỷ

Homage to Buddha Giới Quang Minh

Homage to Buddha Khoái Thắng Vương

Homage to Buddha Vô Tận Trí Tạng

Homage to Buddha Bửu Diện Thắng

Homage to Buddha Trí Ba Bà

Homage to Buddha Quyết Định Xưng

Homage to Buddha Vô Biên Quang Vương

Homage to Buddha Pháp Hoa Võ

Homage to Buddha Tác Quang Minh

Homage to Buddha Cao Sơn Vương

Homage to Buddha Thành Tựu Pháp Luân Vương

Homage to Buddha Vô Cấu Nhãn

Homage to Buddha Đại Danh Thinh Đức

Homage to Buddha Vô Ngại Trí Lực Vương

Homage to Buddha Vô Ngại An Ẩn

Homage to Buddha Tịch Môn

Homage to Buddha Phước Đức Lực Tinh Tấn

Homage to Buddha Trí Y Vương

Homage to Buddha Pháp Tự Tại Vương

Homage to Buddha Vô Phòng An Ẩn

Homage to Buddha Trí Huệ Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Đại Lực Di Lưu Tạng

Homage to Buddha Quán Công Đức Tinh Tấn

Homage to Buddha Đắc Vô Chướng Bất Mê

Homage to Buddha Hương Quang Minh

Homage to Buddha Công Đức Tụ Tập Vương

Homage to Buddha Pháp Tề Để

Homage to Buddha Thinh Tự Tại Vương

Homage to Buddha Hộ Thinh

Homage to Buddha Chủng Chủng Lực Tinh Tấn Vương

Homage to Buddha Bửu Quang Minh Thắng Vương

Homage to Buddha Quá Nhứt Thiết Tu Di Sơn Vương

Homage to Buddha Bửu Di Lưu

Homage to Buddha Bất Động Pháp

Homage to Buddha Kiên Cố Cái Vương

Homage to Buddha Phổ Công Đức

Homage to Buddha Pháp Sa La Di Lưu

Homage to Buddha Tu Tập Trí Thinh

Homage to Buddha Trí Diệm Hoa Nguyệt Vương

Homage to Buddha Long Vương Tự Tại Vương

Homage to Buddha Ưu Đàm Mạc Hoa Vương

Homage to Buddha Chơn Kim Sắc Vương

Homage to Buddha Tăng Trưởng Pháp Tràng Vương

Homage to Buddha Chiên Đàn Ba La Quang

Homage to Buddha Trú Trì Công Đức Xưng

Homage to Buddha Kiên Cố Ý Tinh Tấn

Homage to Buddha Nhiên Trần Đăng

Homage to Buddha Tinh Tấn Bộ

Homage to Buddha Vô Biên Kiên Cố Tràng

Homage to Buddha Tối Pháp Xưng

Homage to Buddha Pháp Vương

Homage to Buddha Hàng Phục Đại Chúng

Homage to Buddha Hữu Quang Diệm Hoa Cao Sơn

Homage to Buddha Trí Thắng Chiếu

Homage to Buddha Tài Oai Đức Nhiên Đăng

Homage to Buddha Vô Tránh Vô Úy

Homage to Buddha Trí Hóa Thinh

Homage to Buddha Nhị Luân Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Diệu Thân Cái

Homage to Buddha Thắng Trang Nghiêm Vương

Homage to Buddha Sư Tử Tòa Thiện Tọa

Homage to Buddha Phóng Nguyệt Quang Hoa Vương

Furthermore, Shariputra, you should take refuge with one mind and bow in homage to the Buddhas presently dwelling in the south:

Homage to Buddha Pháp Tự Tại Hống

Homage to Buddha Sư Tử Phấn Tấn Vương

Homage to Buddha Sơ Phát Tâm Hương Tự Tại Sa La

Homage to Buddha Na La Diên Tự Tại Tràng Di Lưu Thắng

Homage to Buddha Bửu Sơn Tinh Tấn Tự Tại Tập Công Đức

Homage to Buddha Thọ Đề Tạng

Homage to Buddha Tinh Tú Phương Tiện Xưng

Homage to Buddha Công Đức Lực Sa La Vương

Homage to Buddha Diệu Thinh Hống Phấn Tấn

Homage to Buddha Đắc Nhiết Thiết Chúng Sanh Ý

Homage to Buddha Đại Ý

Homage to Buddha Diệu Thinh Trần

Homage to Buddha Bửu Đà Sơn

Homage to Buddha Pháp Vân Hống Thinh

Homage to Buddha Hương Ba Đầu Ma Tinh Tấn Vương Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Vô Cấu Quang Minh

Homage to Buddha Quang Ba Bà Tra

Homage to Buddha Công Đức Tích

Homage to Buddha Nhơn Duyên Quang Minh

Homage to Buddha Vô Biên Công Đức Vương

Homage to Buddha Tăng Trưởng Nhãn

Homage to Buddha Sư Tử Thinh Phấn Tấn

Homage to Buddha Thiên Lực Sư Tử Phấn Tấn

Homage to Buddha Quán Pháp

Homage to Buddha Pháp Hoa Thông

Homage to Buddha Kính Pháp Thanh Tịnh

Homage to Buddha Kiên Tinh Tấn Hành Phấn Tấn

Homage to Buddha Tự Tinh Tấn

Homage to Buddha Di Lưu Quang

Homage to Buddha Công Đức A Ni La

Homage to Buddha Tịnh Căn

Homage to Buddha Hoán Trí

Homage to Buddha Trí Huệ Tác

Homage to Buddha Bất Phá Quảng Huệ

Homage to Buddha Lực Huệ

Homage to Buddha Ưu Đầu Bát

Homage to Buddha Pháp Kiên Cố Hoan Hỷ

Homage to Buddha Kiên Cố Ý Tự Tại Vương

Homage to Buddha Bình Đẳng Tu Di Sơn Diện

Homage to Buddha Phát Xả Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Thanh Tịnh Tạng

Homage to Buddha Nhứt Thiết Chúng Sanh Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Thắng Nghiệp Thanh Tịnh Kiến

Homage to Buddha Trí Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Thiện Khoái Phấn Tấn

Homage to Buddha Vô Chướng Vô Trước Tinh Tấn

Homage to Buddha Thế Gian Tự Tại

Homage to Buddha Quảng Pháp Hành

Homage to Buddha Công Đức Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Bất Khiếp Nhược Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Thành Như Ý Thông

Homage to Buddha Như Quán Pháp

Homage to Buddha Chiên Đàn Tu

Homage to Buddha Kính Trọng Giới Vương

Homage to Buddha Bửu Danh

Homage to Buddha Long Vương Tự Tại Thinh

Homage to Buddha Đại Trí Trang Nghiêm

Homage to Buddha Vô Cô Độc Công Đức

Homage to Buddha A La Ma

Homage to Buddha Bất Diệt Trang Nghiêm

Homage to Buddha Tịnh Công Đức Trang Nghiêm

Homage to Buddha Tự Tại Tướng Hảo Trang Nghiêm Xưng

Homage to Buddha Hành Tự Tại Vương

Homage to Buddha Pháp Hoa Di Lưu

Homage to Buddha Pháp Tánh Trang Nghiêm

Homage to Buddha Nguyện Mãn Túc

Homage to Buddha Đại Xả Trang Nghiêm

Homage to Buddha Thiên Pháp Vô Úy

Homage to Buddha Hửu Tự Tại Thành Tựu

Homage to Buddha Lạc Pháp Phấn Tấn

Homage to Buddha Tịch Vương

Homage to Buddha Giải Thoát Vương

Homage to Buddha Kiên Di Lưu

Homage to Buddha Như Ý Lực Điển Vương

Next, homage to the twelve divisions of the honored sutras and the Dharma wheel of the Great Canon; homage to all the great bodhisattvas throughout the ten directions:

With utmost sincerity, we make this vow:

I vow that when my life draws near its end,

And in the final instant I forsake this body,

When all my faculties decay and fail,

And all my kindred must be left behind,

Elephants, horses, vehicles, and attendants,

Treasures, storehouses, palaces, and citadels,

None of my power and splendor will follow me;

May every obstruction then be wholly ended.

At that time, who alone shall be my companion?

All that I possessed in this life will be gone;

Only the vows and practices of Samantabhadra

Will never leave me, thought after thought.

At every time and in every place,

They will always guide me before my eyes.

In every instant when consciousness changes,

May I at once be reborn in the Land of Bliss.

Once I have gained rebirth in that land,

May I directly accomplish these vows and practices,

Perfecting them all without remainder,

And bringing benefit and joy to every realm of beings.

The assembly of that Buddha is entirely pure;

May I be born within a wondrous lotus flower,

Behold before me the Tathagata of Infinite Light,

And directly receive the prediction of my awakening.

After receiving the Tathagata’s prediction,

May I manifest hundreds of kotis of transformation bodies,

With vast wisdom pervading the ten directions,

Universally benefiting every realm of beings.

Having made these vows, we bow in homage with utmost sincerity…

Homage to Bodhisattva Sằn Đề

Homage to Bodhisattva Vĩ Lam

Homage to Bodhisattva Thượng Bửu Nguyệt

Homage to Bodhisattva Oai Nghi

Homage to Bodhisattva Bất Hư Đức

Homage to Bodhisattva Bửu Minh

Homage to Bodhisattva Lạc Thuyết Đảnh

Homage to Bodhisattva Huệ Đảnh

Homage to Bodhisattva Nhứt Thiết Dũng Kiện

Homage to Bodhisattva Phá Ám

Homage to Bodhisattva Công Đức Bửu

Homage to Bodhisattva Hoa Oai Đức

Homage to Bodhisattva Ly Ác Đạo

Homage to Bodhisattva Vân Ấm

Homage to Bodhisattva Xuất Quá

Homage to Bodhisattva Đảnh Tướng

Homage to Bodhisattva Sơn Tướng Bác Vương

Homage to Bodhisattva Diệu Sanh

Homage to Bodhisattva Đế Võng

Homage to Bodhisattva Bửu Thí

Homage to Bodhisattva Phá Ma

Homage to Bodhisattva Định Tự Tại Vương

Homage to Bodhisattva Pháp Tự Tại Vương

Homage to Bodhisattva Pháp Tướng

Homage to Bodhisattva Thường Tham

Homage to Bodhisattva Chấp Bửu Cự

Homage to Bodhisattva Minh Võng

Homage to Bodhisattva Vô Duyên Quán

Homage to Bodhisattva Hoại Ma

Homage to the noble Sangha member and Dharma prince Đại Mục

Homage to the noble Sangha member and Dharma prince Từ Vương

Homage to the noble Sangha member and Dharma prince Phạm Âm

Homage to the noble Sangha member and Dharma prince Diệu Sắc

Homage to the noble Sangha member and Dharma prince Chiên Đàn Lâm

Homage to the noble Sangha member and Dharma prince Sư Tử Hống Âm

Homage to the noble Sangha member and Dharma prince Diệu Thinh

Homage to the noble Sangha member and Dharma prince Diệu Sắc Hình Mạo

Homage to the noble Sangha member and Dharma prince Chủng Chủng Trang Nghiêm

Homage to the noble Sangha member and Dharma prince Thích Tràng

Homage to the noble Sangha member and Dharma prince Đảnh Sanh

Bowing to the Three Jewels throughout the ten directions and to the very limits of empty space, we pray that the Buddhas, the honored Dharma, and the noble Sangha come here to rescue us from the suffering into which we have fallen because of the three poisons: greed, anger, and delusion. May we, your disciples, all attain peace and joy in the realm of great nirvana (5). We pray that the water of great compassion may wash away our karmic offenses and purify us, so that we may swiftly realize the unsurpassed, right, and true fruition.

Among the four kinds of sentient beings (6) in the six paths, may any beings burdened by offenses be purified through the spiritual power of the Three Jewels. May they all accomplish the path and fruition of unsurpassed bodhi, attain perfect awakening, and be completely liberated.

From beginningless time until this day, we, your disciples, have had our true nature obscured by the veil of ignorance and have been bound by the net of defiled attachment. Thus our minds have fallen into the ways of delusion, revolving through the three realms (7), wandering throughout the six paths, and sinking in the ocean of suffering, not knowing when we might escape. We cannot know the karma of our former lives or understand the causes and conditions of the past.

We may ourselves have destroyed pure livelihood and caused others to destroy pure livelihood; ourselves have violated brahmacarya (8) and caused others to violate brahmacarya; ourselves have broken the pure precepts and caused others to break the pure precepts. Such offenses are measureless and boundless. Today, filled with shame, we sincerely repent and pray that they may be eradicated.

We, your disciples, once again bow with our heads to the ground and pray to repent of the offenses committed since beginningless time through body, speech, and mind in the ten unwholesome actions: with the body, killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct; with speech, lying, frivolous and embellished speech, divisive speech, and harsh speech; and in the mind, greed, anger, and delusion. We ourselves committed the ten evils, instructed others to commit the ten evils, and praised others for committing the ten evils. Thus, within a single instant and a single thought, forty evils arose. Such offenses are measureless and boundless. Today we repent and bow to the Buddhas of the ten directions, praying that these offenses may be eradicated:

Homage to Buddha Kim Hải of the East

Homage to Buddha Siêu Xuất Tu Di of the South

Homage to Buddha Vô Lượng Tràng of the West

Homage to Buddha Hành Trí of the North

Homage to Buddha Cứu Cảnh Trí of the Southeast

Homage to Buddha Vô Thượng Trí of the Southwest

Homage to Buddha Tự Tại Trí of the Northwest

Homage to Buddha Minh Trí of the Northeast

Homage to Buddha Phạm Thiên Trí below

Homage to Buddha Phục Oán Trí above

We, your disciples, pray to repent of the offenses committed from beginningless time until this very day:

Relying upon the six faculties, the six consciousnesses (9) arose and grasped the six sense objects: the eyes became attached to forms, the ears delighted in sounds, the nose clung to fragrances, the tongue tasted flavors, the body delighted in smoothness and softness, and the mind pursued mental objects (10). These six faculties produced countless offenses and continually opened the gates to the eighty-four thousand defilements. Such offenses are measureless and boundless. Today we repent and pray that they may be utterly eliminated.

We, your disciples, again bow with utmost sincerity and openly repent of the offenses committed since beginningless time through body, speech, and mind, which have caused so much injustice: knowing only our own bodies and failing to recognize the bodies of others; knowing only our own suffering and failing to recognize the suffering of others; seeking peace and happiness only for ourselves and failing to know that others also seek peace and happiness; seeking liberation only for ourselves and never helping anyone else attain liberation; caring only for our own families and relatives and failing to recognize that others too have families and relatives.

We cannot endure even a slight pain or itch in our own bodies, yet when causing pain to the bodies of others, we fear only that their pain may be too little and not deeply felt. We fear even a little suffering in the present life but fail to fear suffering throughout measureless kalpas in future lives. Because those who commit evil fall into hell after death and undergo every kind of torment, yet we remain unaware of the sufferings in the paths of hungry ghosts and animals and in the realm of the asuras (11).

We refuse to recognize that even the human and heavenly realms contain measureless suffering. Because our minds are not impartial, we divide self from others and entertain thoughts of enemy and friend, causing enmity to fill the six paths. Such offenses are measureless and boundless.

Today we openly disclose them and pray in repentance. May the offenses of ourselves and others be extinguished, may merit arise, and may our roots of goodness increase.

Notes:

1. Nayuta: Navuta (S), a Sanskrit term for a large number in India. It may equal ten thousand kotis or ten million.

2. Asamkhya kalpa: Explained in Volume Six, note 1, page 479 (Volume I).

3. Bodhicitta: Bodhicitta (S); Coeur d’Eveil (F). Bodhi means the path and awakening. A person who seeks to attain the Buddha’s true path and perfect awakening possesses bodhicitta. By meaning, it is also called the mind of the path, the principle of the path, or the mind of awakening. When bodhicitta declines, this is called regression, because the practitioner does not diligently cultivate wholesome dharmas. When one diligently cultivates wholesome dharmas, merit and wisdom increase day by day and buddhahood draws ever nearer; this is called “irreversible bodhicitta.” When one practices with steadfast resolve, patiently endures adverse circumstances, and remains determined to attain the goal, this is called firm bodhicitta.

4. Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges: Buddhas as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges, the longest great river in India. Whenever the Buddha taught of a number too vast to count, he used the sands of the Ganges as an analogy. Because the Buddhas are too numerous to calculate, they are said to be as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.

5. The realm of great nirvana: Maha-nirvana (S). A state of complete liberation, awakening, and illumination. The Buddhas commonly realize the realm of great nirvana.

6. The four kinds of sentient beings: Explained in Volume One, note 38, page 106 (Volume I).

7. The three realms: Trois mondes (F). Sentient beings who have not attained complete transcendence still remain within the three realms: the desire realm, the form realm, and the formless realm.

8. Brahmacarya: Explained in Volume Nine, note 15, page 648 (Volume I).

9. The six consciousnesses: Six connaissances (F). The six modes of consciousness are eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, and mind-consciousness.

10. Mental objects: The objects of dharmas, abbreviated simply as dharmas. Mental objects correspond to the mind faculty and constitute one of the six kinds of sense objects. Mental objects comprise all external dharmas which, upon coming into contact with the mind faculty, immediately give rise to mind-consciousness. Mental objects are also called the dharma ayatana, dharma dhatu, or the sphere of dharmas.

11. The realm of the asuras: There are three kinds of asuras, naturally dwelling in three corresponding realms. Heavenly asuras dwell in the open space within the city called “Treasure City.” Ghostly asuras dwell along seashores and in mountain caves. Animal asuras dwell beneath the ocean floor, where a kind of wind holds back the water so that it does not flow into their dwelling place.