佛說八部佛名經

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the grove of Āmrapālī the Naïve Maiden, together with a great assembly of Bhikṣus who had come to attend. The Bhikṣus numbered one thousand two hundred and fifty, and the Bodhisattvas were beyond reckoning in number.

At that time there was an Elder's Son named Sudatta (Excellent Deeds) who came forth from within the city and arrived at the grove of the Maiden, coming to the place where the World-Honored One was dwelling. He bowed his head at the feet of the Buddha, circumambulated to the right three times, withdrew to stand to one side, and then, joining his palms, addressed the Buddha, saying: "I have something I wish to ask. I humbly beseech the Great Sage to look and listen, that I may then dare to set it forth."

The Buddha said to Sudatta: "Ask whatever you wish. The Tathāgata will discern and explain it fully."

Sudatta, having been looked upon and heard, then addressed the Buddha, saying: "Is it only the Deva among Devas (referring to the Buddha), or are there also other Buddhas who, cultivating their Original Vows, have come of themselves to Right Enlightenment, and who now in this present world expound the Sūtras of the Path? I pray that the Great Sage will proclaim the names of these Buddhas, so that having heard them I may preserve and uphold them, bear them upon the crown of my head, ask of and receive what has been spoken, bow my head and take refuge with my life, proclaim their meritorious achievements, and so be free of all calamities and not enter the three evil paths (Hell, Hungry Ghosts, Animals).

"Whoever hears the names of the Buddhas, neither humans nor non-humans shall find an opportune moment to harm them.

"Or if before the magistrate of the district one speaks the names of the Buddhas, one shall not be judged unjustly nor have one's possessions seized and lost; rather one's nature shall be firm and strong, without timidity or weakness, and one shall be secure and victorious. Furthermore, should one enter into battle, one shall not be wounded by blade nor struck by the arrow that is shot. The Yakṣas, the various Ghosts, the various Devas, Nāgas, and Spirits shall not dare to disturb one. Lions, tigers, wolves, wild beasts, and noxious vermin shall be unable to do harm."

The Buddha said to Sudatta: "Listen truly! Think and recollect well! For your sake I shall give protection and remove calamities, causing you to be without fear and to attain peace and joy."

Then Sudatta received the instruction and listened attentively.

The Buddha said: "In the Eastern direction, beyond this realm, there is a Buddha named Upholding Sincerity, Tathāgata, Worthy of Reverence, Perfectly Enlightened of Equal and Right Awakening, who at this very day is now expounding the Sūtras of the Dharma. His World is named Hearing of Merits.

"Again in the Eastern direction, there is a Buddha named Resolute in Crossing-Over, Auspicious in Meaning, Tathāgata, Worthy of Reverence, Perfectly Enlightened of Equal and Right Awakening, who at this very day is now expounding the Sūtras of the Dharma. His World is named None Can Withstand.

"Again in the Eastern direction, beyond this Buddha-realm, there is a Buddha named Contemplating Light, Meritorious Achievement, Tathāgata, Worthy of Reverence, Perfectly Enlightened of Equal and Right Awakening, who at this very day is now expounding the Sūtras of the Dharma. His World is named Auspicious Peace.

"Again in the Eastern direction, beyond this Buddha-realm, there is a Buddha named Loving-Kindness, Heroic, Tranquil Guardian, Tathāgata, Worthy of Reverence, Perfectly Enlightened of Equal and Right Awakening, who at this very day is now expounding the Sūtras of the Dharma. His World is named Without Anger or Hatred.

"Again in the Eastern direction, beyond this Buddha-realm, there is a Buddha named True Nature, Foremost Leader, Tathāgata, Worthy of Reverence, Perfectly Enlightened of Equal and Right Awakening, who at this very day is now expounding the Sūtras of the Dharma. His World is named Casting Off the Staff.

"Again in the Eastern direction, beyond this Buddha-realm, there is a Buddha named Mindful of Sentient Beings, Praised as the Foremost Leader, Tathāgata, Worthy of Reverence, Perfectly Enlightened of Equal and Right Awakening, who at this very day is now expounding the Sūtras of the Dharma. His World is named Blazing Guardian.

"Again in the Eastern direction, there is a Buddha named Valiant Guardian, Lofty and Surpassing Sumeru, Tathāgata, Worthy of Reverence, Perfectly Enlightened of Equal and Right Awakening, who at this very day is now expounding the Sūtras of the Dharma. His World is named Resplendent and Radiant Guardian.

"Again in the Eastern direction, beyond this Buddha-realm, there is a Buddha named Victorious Sage, Praised as the Foremost Leader, Tathāgata, Worthy of Reverence, Perfectly Enlightened of Equal and Right Awakening, who at this very day is now expounding the Sūtras of the Dharma. His World is named Joyous Delight.

"Suppose there be a person who, from afar, hears the names of these Tathāgatas of the Eastern direction, and receives the names of these Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, truly honoring and serving them, mindfully keeping them well within the heart, upholding, reciting, and reading them aloud. Then it shall be as if the Precepts and Virtues of these Buddhas, and the Wisdom of the Path, are originally equal; and moreover their pure Virtue, marvelously distinct, adorns their various lands, which stand firm without companion, without dust or defilement, without the calamity and defilement of women.

Likewise there are no Five Turbidities, no afflictions of suffering and hardship, no fetters of the three evil paths. There are no sands, no gravel, no stones, no perilous roads, no ditches, drains, pits, or hollows."

The Buddha said: "O Sudatta! If there be a person who can uphold and serve the names of those Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, proclaiming them far and near—rising at the first watch of the night and engaging in walking meditation, praising in verse, reciting and speaking aloud the names of these Buddhas; and at the middle and the last watches of the night abiding with single-minded focus, casting off these useless things and turning the mind to the place of further cultivation—such a Practitioner, his Virtuous Conduct advancing day by day, shall in the end suffer no loss or diminishment."

The Buddha said to Sudatta: "You should take delight in this Sūtra of the names of these eight Buddhas. With this Dharma the Buddha instructs the Sons of the Clan and Lineage to embrace and keep it within the heart, never to cast it off or forget it. Seeking the time for diligent cultivation, one shall then come to behold the eight thousand Buddhas."

Then Sudatta, having heard this Holy Teaching that was set forth, took up jeweled flowers worth eight thousand taels of gold, offered them up in reverence to the World-Honored One, bowed in homage at the feet of the Buddha, circumambulated to the right three times, then withdrew and sat down.

At that time Śakra, Lord of the Devas, was within that Assembly. He stepped forward and addressed the Buddha, saying: "Yes indeed! O Great Sage! I have received the names of these eight Buddhas, have recited and read them aloud, and embrace them within my heart. O Deva among Devas! I myself shall diligently and with vigor practice and uphold the Honored Names of these Buddhas of the Eight Divisions, pondering and concentratedly recollecting them, never parting from them in eating or in thought, treasuring and reverencing them as a supreme jewel."

The Buddha said to the Lord of the Devas: "For this reason, when the Devas and the Asuras do battle together, then if there be terror and one is captured, one should recollect these names and there shall be no more fear. Why is this? Suppose there be a person who praises and extols the names of these Tathāgatas and the Scriptures of the Eight Divisions—this brings about the bestowal of the deed that is free of any place of fear.

"One who proclaims the names of the Scriptures of these Tathāgatas shall not encounter the calamities of vexation, of feverish distress, or any disasters.

"If one can manifest and transmit the essential points of the Scriptures of the names of these Tathāgatas, this bestows an age of peace, abundance, and plenty.

"One who can transmit the names of the Scriptures of these Buddhas thereby bestows peace and security and removes great calamities.

"One who can transmit the names of the Scriptures of these Buddhas thereby bestows the ability to sit in stillness and silence.

"If one transmits the names of the Scriptures of these Buddhas, one thereby departs from all the innumerable kinds of fear.

"If one can transmit this Sūtra of the names of these Buddhas, then one's dreams shall be peaceful and joyful, and one shall not fear the magistrate of the district. Water, fire, thieves, robbers, and enemies who hold grudges shall of themselves keep away. Ghosts and Spirits, Rākṣasas, Bewitching Sprites, Wraiths, the Bìlì, and Nightmare-Ghosts shall none of them dare to oppose one.

"If one enters mountains, hills, ravines, caverns, deserted roads, or forking paths, bandits and robbers who would plunder shall of themselves not appear. Lions, tigers, wolves, bears, boars, dogs, serpents, and cobras shall all of themselves retreat and flee. Why is this? Because the Honored Virtue of the Buddhas surpasses Mount Sumeru, their Knowledge surpasses the rivers and seas, their Wisdom surpasses empty space; they walk alone (in solitary stride) through the three realms with none able to keep pace, and throughout all the ten directions there is utterly nothing that cannot be passed through by relying upon them."

When the Buddha had spoken thus, then the Elder Sudatta, together with Śakra, Lord of the Devas, the assembly of Bhikṣu monks, all the Assembly, the Devas, Nāgas and Spirits, the Asuras, and the people of the World, having heard the Sūtra, all rejoiced, paid homage, and withdrew.

THE SŪTRA SPOKEN BY THE BUDDHA ON THE NAMES OF THE BUDDHAS OF THE EIGHT DIVISIONS

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