佛說八部佛名經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Grove of Āmrapālī near the city of Vaiśālī, together with one thousand two hundred and fifty great bhikṣus and immeasurable Bodhisattvas.

At that time there was a son of an elder named Sujāta, who came forth from within the city to the place of the World-Honored One in the Grove of Āmrapālī. When he arrived, the elder's son bowed his head and paid homage with his face touching the ground, circumambulated to the right three times, then stood to one side, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha, saying:

"World-Honored One! There is a matter I wish to ask. I respectfully beseech the Great Sage to grant permission, and then I will dare to set it forth."

The Buddha said to Sujāta:

"You may ask as you wish. The Tathāgata will distinguish and expound it thoroughly."

When he knew that the Buddha had granted his consent, Sujāta said:

"O Deva among Devas! Are there any Buddhas who, by reason of cultivating their original vows, have themselves attained Perfect Enlightenment and are now expounding the Sūtras and teaching the Way in the world?

I respectfully beseech the Great Sage to proclaim this. For if anyone hears the names of these Buddhas, and then upholds them and bears them upon the crown of his head, faithfully receives the teaching, bows his head in taking refuge, and proclaims their merit, then he will never encounter calamity and will not fall into the three evil destinies.
If anyone hears the names of these Buddhas, he will not be exploited by humans and non-humans seizing the opportunity.

If anyone, while in the presence of officials, recites the names of these Buddhas, he will not suffer false accusation, his possessions will not be plundered, his nature will be firm and strong, his heart will not be timid, and he will be at peace and victorious.

Furthermore, if anyone is engaged in battle, he will not be harmed by blades nor struck by flying arrows. The hosts of yakṣa demons and the devas, nāgas, ghosts, and spirits will none of them dare to disturb him. Lions, tigers, wolves, wild beasts, and venomous creatures will none of them be able to harm him."

The Buddha said to Sujāta:

"Listen attentively and reflect well upon it. I will tell you the method of protection, of eradicating disaster, of departing from fear, and of attaining peace and joy. Listen well and receive it."

The Buddha taught:

"From here toward the east, there is a world named Wenji (Heard-Accumulation). In that land there is a Buddha named Fengzhicheng Tathāgata (Upholding-Resolute-Sincerity), Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Enlightened, and he is now expounding the Dharma there.

Furthermore, from here toward the east, there is a world named Monengdang (None-Can-Withstand).

In that land there is a Buddha named Gujindusijiyi Tathāgata (Resolute-Advancing-Liberation-of-the-Auspicious-Meaning), Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Enlightened, and he is now expounding the Dharma there.

Furthermore, from here toward the east, there is a world named Ji'an (Auspicious-Peace). In that land there is a Buddha named Guanminggongxun Tathāgata (Contemplating-Bright-Meritorious-Achievement), Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Enlightened, and he is now expounding the Dharma there.

Furthermore, from here toward the east, there is a world named Wuhuihen (Without-Anger-and-Resentment). In that land there is a Buddha named Ciyingjishou Tathāgata (Compassionate-Hero-Tranquil-Foremost), Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Enlightened, and he is now expounding the Dharma there.

Furthermore, from here toward the east, there is a world named Quzhang (Removing-Hindrance). In that land there is a Buddha named Zhenxingshangshou Tathāgata (True-Nature-Supreme-Foremost), Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Enlightened, and he is now expounding the Dharma there.
Furthermore, from here toward the east, there is a world named Chishengshou (Blazing-Foremost). In that land there is a Buddha named Nianzhongshengchengshangshou Tathāgata (Mindful-of-Beings-Extolled-Foremost), Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Enlightened, and he is now expounding the Dharma there.

Furthermore, from here toward the east, there is a world named Miaohereshou (Wondrous-Radiant-Ardent-Foremost).

In that land there is a Buddha named Yongshougaochaoxumi Tathāgata (Valiant-Foremost-Towering-Above-Sumeru), Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Enlightened, and he is now expounding the Dharma there.

Furthermore, from here toward the east, there is a world named Aile (Delight-and-Joy). In that land there is a Buddha named Shengshichengshangshou Tathāgata (Victorious-Worthy-Extolled-Foremost), Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Enlightened, and he is now expounding the Dharma there.

Suppose anyone is able to hear the names of these Buddhas of the eastern direction, and then upholds, reads, and recites them, serves them with reverence and reflection, and always keeps in mind the names of these Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, then he will be protected and remembered by the Buddhas, will possess the virtue of precepts and wisdom, and will abide in the equanimity of the Way.

Furthermore, those lands are all pure and majestically adorned, of supreme merit, lofty and resplendent, without dust or defilement, without women, and without the impure calamities. Moreover, there are none of the five turbidities nor the suffering and calamities of the three evil destinies. In those places there is no sand, gravel, stones, thorns, brambles, ravines, ditches, or pits."

The Buddha said to Sujāta:

"If anyone is able to uphold and widely proclaim the names of these Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones: rising at the beginning of the night, let him walk in meditative pacing and extol and recite the names of those Buddhas. In the middle and at the end of the night, let him single-mindedly abide in peace, casting off what is useless, and keep in mind the practice of cultivation. Then the virtuous conduct of such a practitioner will increase day by day and will forever never regress."

The Buddha said to Sujāta:

"You should joyfully receive in faith this Sūtra of the Names of the Buddhas of the Eight Directions. The Buddha uses this Dharma to teach and transform good sons. Keep it in mind and do not forget it. Diligently cultivate it step by step, and then you will behold eight thousand Buddhas." When he heard the teaching and command of the Great Sage, Sujāta then took precious flowers worth eight thousand taels of gold and scattered them upon the World-Honored One as an offering, then paid homage with his forehead touching the Buddha's feet, circumambulated to the right three times, withdrew to his former place, and sat down.

At that time the Lord of Devas, Śakra, was present at the Dharma assembly. He came before the Buddha and said:

"Yes indeed, O Great Sage! I have given rise to a heart of faithful acceptance of these eight names of the Buddhas, and I will uphold, read, and recite them and always engrave them upon my heart.

O Deva among Devas! I myself will also diligently honor and practice these eight venerable names of the Buddhas, reflecting upon and exclusively reciting them to the point of forgetting food, drink, and sleep, cherishing and revering them as though I had obtained an unsurpassed jewel."

The Buddha said to the Lord of Devas:

"For this reason, when the devas and the asuras battle with one another, if anyone is afraid, let him recite the names of these Buddhas, and then he will be afraid no more.

Why is this so? Because, suppose anyone extols and recites the names of those Tathāgatas, this is to bestow the deed of fearlessness. Whoever proclaims the names of the Tathāgatas in this Sūtra will not encounter calamities or afflictions.

If one is able to propagate the names of the Tathāgatas in this Sūtra, this is to proclaim peace and prosperity for the world. Whoever is able to propagate the names of the Buddhas in this Sūtra, this is to proclaim peace and security and the eradication of dreadful calamity. Whoever is able to propagate the names of the Buddhas in this Sūtra, this is to proclaim quiet sitting in serene stillness.

If anyone propagates the names of the Buddhas in this Sūtra, then he will depart far from all fear and dread.

If one is able to propagate the names of the Buddhas in this Sūtra, then in his dreams he will be at peace and will not fear officials. Calamities of water, fire, thieves and robbers, and vengeful enemies and creditors will naturally retreat and dissolve. Ghosts, spirits, rākṣasas, mountain sprites, monsters, and pīta vampire-demons will none of them dare to disturb him.
If he is upon mountains, springs, hills, valleys, or in desolate places, brigands and robbers will naturally not appear, and lions, tigers, wolves, serpent-sprites, and venomous snakes will all withdraw and hide themselves.

Why is this so? Because the Buddhas are the most honored and unsurpassed ones, whose virtue rises higher than Sumeru, whose wisdom is deeper than the rivers and seas, whose discernment ranges throughout all of empty space, who walk alone in the Three Realms, and whom none can equal. Among all sentient beings in the ten directions, there is none who has not received the grace of the Buddhas' transforming deliverance."

When the Buddha had finished speaking these words, the elder's son Sujāta, together with the Lord of Devas Śakra, the bhikṣus, and all the devas, nāgas, ghosts and spirits, asuras, and people of the world, hearing what the Buddha had taught, all rejoiced, paid homage, and then took their leave.

The Buddha Speaks the Sūtra of the Names of the Buddhas of the Eight Directions