佛說十吉祥經

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was dwelling on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa in Rājagṛha, together with a great assembly of Bhikṣus numbering one thousand two hundred and fifty, and five thousand Bodhisattvas who had come to attend.

At that time, an incalculable number of hundreds of thousands of people surrounded the World-Honored One, before and behind, to listen to the speaking of the Sūtra. Then, in the great assembly, there was a Great Being named Vimalaketu (Free from Defilement and Covering) who, relying upon the awesome spiritual power of the Buddha, rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt with his right knee to the ground, joined his palms together, and addressed the Buddha, saying: "Now, which Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, Tathāgatas, Worthy of Reverence, Perfectly and Completely Enlightened Ones, are presently existing?

If there are good sons or good daughters seeking the Buddha Path who hear the names of those ones, and receive, uphold, read, and recite them, will they swiftly attain non-retrogression upon the Supreme, Right, and True Path?"

The Buddha said to the Great Being Vimalaketu: "Excellent! Excellent! Son of a noble family, you have been able to pose such a question for the benefit of many people.

1_ Son of a noble family! In the Eastern direction, separated from this realm by Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of one Ganges River, there is a World named Adorned with Squareness (Pristine Array), and in that realm there is a Buddha named Mahāprabhāsa (Great Radiant Splendor) Tathāgata, Worthy of Reverence, Perfectly and Completely Enlightened One. At the present time he is now speaking the Dharma.

2_ Furthermore, Son of a noble family! In the Eastern direction, separated from here by Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of two Ganges Rivers, there is a World named Sovereign Victory Among All Victors, and in that realm there is a Buddha named Lamp of Wisdom Illumination Tathāgata.

3_ There is a World named Vajra (Diamond), and in that realm there is a Buddha named Mahāvīra (Great Hero) Tathāgata.

4_ There is a World named Pure and Venerable Abiding, and in that realm there is a Buddha named Stainless and Dustless Tathāgata.

5_ There is a World named Golden Radiant Light, and in that realm there is a Buddha named King of the Ten Canopies, Supreme Elephant Banner Tathāgata.

6_ There is a World named Great Awesome Spiritual Power, and in that realm there is a Buddha named Sovereign King of Awesome Spiritual Power Tathāgata.

7_ There is a World named Fragrant Permeation, and in that realm there is a Buddha named King of Supreme Reflection, Utmost Longevity Tathāgata.

8_ There is a World named Jeweled Adornment, and in that realm there is a Buddha named Inner Jewel Tathāgata.

9_ There is a World named Lamp of the Sea's Illumination, and in that realm there is a Buddha named Great Ocean Tathāgata.

10_ There is a World named Lamp of the Ten Powers' Illumination, and in that realm there is a Buddha named Manifestation of the Ten Powers Tathāgata.

Vimalaketu, you should know this. Suppose there were good sons or good daughters seeking the Buddha Path who took the seven precious treasures filling Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges and used them to make offerings to the Tathāgatas, the Perfectly Enlightened Ones. If there are good sons or good daughters who hear the names of these Buddhas, and receive, uphold, chant, and recite them, holding them within their hearts, and who within the great assembly expound them extensively for others, then this merit and virtue surpasses the former merit and virtue."

Wishing to explain the meaning once again, he spoke a verse, saying: "_As the sands of the Ganges

Are the Buddha-worlds; Were one to fill them full with the seven precious treasures And take them up to give as alms, If there be one who can hear The names of the Buddhas, And believe, delight in them, and not forget, His merit surpasses the former.

_If one hears the names of the Buddhas And chants and recites them without forgetting, That person should not doubt, Saying that I will not become a Buddha. The Six Penetrations are without exhaustion, Reaching across countless eons; That body shall be golden in hue, Adorned with the marks of excellence. If one upholds the names of the Buddhas, He surpasses ten koṭis of eons And swiftly attains Perfect Enlightenment."

When the Buddha had finished speaking the Sūtra, the Great Being Vimalaketu, the host of Bodhisattvas, the devas, nāgas, ghosts and spirits, together with the people of the world, all rejoiced, bowed their heads in reverence, and received and accepted the teaching of the Buddha.

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SŪTRA OF THE TEN WHOLESOME [BUDDHA-NAMES] The End