佛說諸佛經

Thus indeed have I heard: At one time the Buddha was dwelling on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa, in the city of Rājagṛha. At that time, as the hour for the midday meal was drawing near, the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana donned his robe, took up his bowl, and intended to go into the city of Rājagṛha, when suddenly he thought: "Today, before all else, I should go to the Akaniṣṭha Heaven to inquire about a certain matter of causes and conditions, and afterward I shall return to take my meal."

Thereupon the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana entered the samādhi of meditative absorption, and in as short a time as it takes a strong man to bend and stretch out his arm he arrived at the Akaniṣṭha Heaven. When he arrived, the two sides exchanged many gentle and kindly words of greeting. Afterward the venerable one asked the assembly of devas: "At what periods does a Buddha, a World-Honored One, appear in the world and realize supreme bodhi?" At that time, a hundred lords of the devas there answered in one voice: "Only at the end of a hundred thousand kalpas does a Buddha appear in the world and realize supreme bodhi."

Having heard this, the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana accepted it in faith. Thereupon the venerable one again entered samādhi, and in as short a time as it takes a strong man to bend and stretch out his arm he returned to the city of Rājagṛha, and then went begging for alms in due order just as on an ordinary day. After he had taken his meal, cleaned his teeth, and put away his robe and bowl, the venerable one went to the place where the Buddha was, bowed his head and face to the Buddha's feet, and then came and sat to one side, reverently joining his palms and addressing the Buddha:

"World-Honored One! Before the hour of the meal today, I entered samādhi and went to the Akaniṣṭha Heaven, and I asked the assembly of devas there: 'At what periods does a Buddha, a World-Honored One, appear in the world and realize supreme bodhi?' The hundred lords of the devas of the Akaniṣṭha Heaven all answered aloud: 'Throughout a hundred thousand kalpas does a Buddha appear in the world and realize supreme bodhi.' World-Honored One! Though I have heard this, I do not understand how this matter stands. I humbly beg the World-Honored One to expound it, that I may understand it clearly."

At that time the Buddha said to the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana:

"Now listen carefully, and the Tathāgata shall expound it. Mahāmaudgalyāyana! The lords of the devas of the Akaniṣṭha Heaven see and know within very narrow limits, and so they claim that only at the completion of a hundred thousand kalpas does a Buddha appear in the world and realize supreme bodhi.

These words are not correct; they cannot be accepted in faith. Mahāmaudgalyāyana! I recall that in ages past, first of all I had the fortune to meet six billion Buddhas, Tathāgatas, who appeared in the world; yet the length of time those Buddhas abided in the world to benefit sentient beings was for some long and for some short, and each, according to conditions, entered nirvāṇa in turn.

Continuing on, there were eighty billion Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the name Wondrous Flower. Before each one of those Buddhas, I made great vows and upheld the holy life. After these Buddhas, there were again five hundred Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the name Right Brahmā.

Following them, there were again eight hundred Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the name Dīpaṃkara.

"Next there were again fifteen thousand Buddhas, all bearing the name Tasmamuta, who appeared in the world. Afterward there were again one thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, each with a different name and lineage. Before these Buddhas, I again made vows to cultivate and uphold the holy life. After these Buddhas, there were again six thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the name Suprabhāta. Afterward there were again ninety thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the name Wondrous Kāśyapa. After these Buddhas, there were again one thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the name Subtle Sun.

"Following them, there were again one thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the name Ranmoyaya. Following them, there were again eighty thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the name Airāvatī. Next there were again seventy thousand Buddhas who appeared in the world, all bearing the name Indra. Next there was again one Buddha named Virtue, who appeared in the world. Before this Buddha, I, together with the śrāvaka disciples, made a common vow to revere and make offerings. Many years afterward, there were again eighty billion nayutas of pratyekabuddhas who appeared in the world.

"Mahāmaudgalyāyana! Before me, those pratyekabuddhas made great vows. There was also a wheel-turning sage king named Universal Radiance, who likewise before me first had the fortune to meet forty Buddhas, all bearing the name Invincible.

Mahāmaudgalyāyana! After the Buddha Virtue passed into final nirvāṇa, I again met a Buddha also bearing the name Invincible. In the age of this Buddha, I was a wheel-turning sage king named Hundred Epithets, and together with the śrāvaka disciples of the Buddha Invincible I made a common vow to revere and make offerings.

After many years had passed, when the Buddha Invincible had passed into final nirvāṇa, I built a stūpa of the seven jewels to enshrine and venerate his relics. Cultivating in this way, passing through immeasurable time, only on this day have I realized supreme bodhi.

"Furthermore, Mahāmaudgalyāyana! Those devas of the Akaniṣṭha Heaven see and know within narrow limits. After the Buddha Invincible passed into final nirvāṇa, there appeared again in the world a Buddha named Upholder of the World.

Following him, there appeared again in the world a Buddha named Upholder of the Earth. Afterward there was again a Buddha named Able Sage who appeared in the world. Afterward there was again a Buddha named Wondrous Manifestation who appeared in the world.

Next there was again a Buddha named Lion who appeared in the world. Afterward there was again a Buddha named Supreme and Rare who appeared in the world. Afterward there was again a Buddha named Severing All Sorrow who appeared in the world.

Afterward there was again a Buddha named Accomplishing Victory over All who appeared in the world. Afterward there was again a Buddha named Attaining Victory who appeared in the world.

"Appearing in the world next in order were the Buddhas: Jewel Light, Worthy Intent, Upatiśra, Tiśra, Perfect Radiance, Moon Light, Heavenly Light, Atibu, Atiyāyu, Unceasing Penetration, Most Victorious, Tiśrutaru, and Supreme Flower.

"After them there were again: the Buddha Ariṣṭa, the Buddha Atibu, the Buddha Dīpaṃkara, the Buddha Subduer of Enmity, the Buddha Golden Wonder, the Buddha Golden Light, the Buddha Jewel Eye, the Buddha Lotus Eye, the Buddha Supreme Lotus, the Buddha Great Lotus, the Buddha Lotus, the Buddha Vipaśyin, the Buddha Śikhin, the Buddha Viśvabhū, the Buddha Krakucchanda, the Buddha Kanakamuni, the Buddha Kāśyapa, down to this very day, when I, Śākyamuni, have appeared in the world.

"Mahāmaudgalyāyana! In ages past I made a vow to scatter flowers of the seven jewels in offering to these Buddhas, and only then to attain perfect, complete enlightenment.

"Mahāmaudgalyāyana! Each one of those Buddhas, from the time of first arousing the aspiration until the attainment of perfect, complete enlightenment, had to pass through countless kalpas of cultivation. From the time I first aroused the aspiration until this day when I have attained Buddhahood, I have passed through immeasurable kalpas, beyond all reckoning. The devas of the Akaniṣṭha Heaven see and know within narrow limits. Do not give rise to doubt!"

When they had heard the World-Honored One speak this sūtra, the Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana was freed of his doubt and rejoiced exceedingly; he bowed his head to the Buddha and then withdrew.