八吉祥經

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the country of Śrāvastī, in the Jeta Grove, the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, together with one thousand two hundred and fifty bhikṣus, eighty thousand great bodhisattvas, and the assembly of devas, nāgas, ghosts, and spirits gathered together.

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

From this Buddha-world, going eastward, past as many worlds as the sands of one Ganges River, there is a world named Heavenly Victory. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathāgata Skillful in Proclaiming Auspiciousness, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who is at present expounding the Dharma.

From this Buddha-world, going eastward, past as many worlds as the sands of two Ganges Rivers, there is a world named Mindful Intent. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathāgata Universal Radiant Light, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who is at present expounding the Dharma.

From this Buddha-world, going eastward, past as many worlds as the sands of three Ganges Rivers, there is a world named Delightful Play. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathāgata Auspicious Victory in Combat, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who is at present expounding the Dharma.

From this Buddha-world, going eastward, past as many worlds as the sands of four Ganges Rivers, there is a world named Assembly of Pure Goodness. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathāgata Sovereign Banner King, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who is at present expounding the Dharma.

From this Buddha-world, going eastward, past as many worlds as the sands of five Ganges Rivers, there is a world named Assembly Without Dust. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathāgata Auspicious Radiant Light of Boundless Merit, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who is at present expounding the Dharma.

From this Buddha-world, going eastward, past as many worlds as the sands of six Ganges Rivers, there is a world named Unobstructed Play. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathāgata Auspicious Abiding in Unobstructed Action, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who is at present expounding the Dharma.

From this Buddha-world, going eastward, past as many worlds as the sands of seven Ganges Rivers, there is a world named Golden Assembly. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathāgata Wondrous Flower of Valor, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who is at present expounding the Dharma.

From this Buddha-world, going eastward, past as many worlds as the sands of eight Ganges Rivers, there is a world named Beautiful Sound. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathāgata Jeweled Lotus Abiding King, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who is at present expounding the Dharma.

Śāriputra! The lands of these eight Buddhas are all pure, having neither women nor the five turbidities.

Śāriputra! If there be a good man or good woman who abides in the Mahāyāna Dharma, who hears the names of these eight Buddhas, upholds them without forgetting, and speaks of them for others to hear, that such a one should be born into the three evil destinies or into the places where the eight difficulties exist—there is no such possibility. If there be a woman who hears the names of these eight Buddhas, then remembers, upholds, and speaks of them for others to hear, that she should yet again be born as a woman—there is no such possibility.

Śāriputra! If there be a good man or good woman who abides in the Mahāyāna Dharma, who hears the names of these eight Buddhas and upholds them without forgetting, and who, for the sake of others, speaks of them, then in this life and in lives to come such a one shall constantly possess spiritual powers, attain the eloquence of joyful expression, cultivate deeply the various meditative absorptions, be fully endowed with the gateways of dhāraṇī, have the six faculties forever pure, constantly meet with the sages, and no longer fear devas, nāgas, yakṣas, humans and non-humans, robbers and bandits, the perils of water, fire, or poison.

All anxieties and fears shall be utterly extinguished; in sleeping and waking such a one shall be ever at peace, shall not see evil dreams, and shall constantly be guarded by the devas.

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke these verses:

When the Buddha had finished expounding this sūtra, the Elder Śāriputra, together with the great bhikṣus, the great bodhisattva-mahāsattvas, the devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans—all rejoiced and reverently put it into practice.