佛說藥師如來本願經

PREFACE TO THE SUTRA OF THE MEDICINE MASTER

THE FUNDAMENTAL VOWS AND MERITS OF THE TATHAGATA

The Sutra of the Fundamental Vows and Merits of the Medicine Master Tathagata is the principal Dharma teaching for attaining merit and dispelling calamities. Through the power of his compassion, Manjusri requested the Blessed One to teach this honored name. The Twelve Vows are clearly set forth; their causes and practices are vast and profound.

Adorned with the seven treasures, they plainly reveal the pure virtues of fruition. Those who remember and uphold this name are delivered from every suffering. Those who make offerings obtain the fulfillment of all their vows.

Even a sick person destined to die may live through prayer. When kings encounter calamity and adversity, mindful recitation immediately transforms misfortune into blessings. Those with faith can dispel the spells of a hundred specters and avert the schemes of the nine kinds of untimely death.

Long ago, during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu of the Liu Song dynasty, the sramana Huijian of Luye Monastery translated this sutra and circulated it throughout the world. However, because the Sanskrit and Song Chinese expressions were intermixed and not yet fluent, many who read and recited it became doubtful. Having studied Sanskrit texts from an early age and regularly examined the scriptures, I encountered this sutra and discovered the errors.

In the seventeenth year of the Kaihuang era, I first obtained one manuscript, but, fearing that it contained errors, did not dare translate it immediately. In the eleventh year of the Daye era, I obtained a second manuscript. Only after comparing the two and becoming certain did I join Tripitaka Master Dharmagupta and the sramanas Faxing, Mingze Zhang, Shunhai, and others of the Great Sui in re-translating this sutra at Linyuan Hall, southeast of the capital by the Luo River.

By careful examination, we identified the errors in the earlier volume and corrected the faults in the later manuscript. Thus, every word uttered was checked three times before being committed to writing, so that the transmission of its profound intent would not contain any serious error.

The revision was completed on the eighth day of the twelfth month of that year, in a single fascicle.

May the extremely profound principles of this sutra be understood by everyone. May the Buddha’s name be heard everywhere. May the twelve yakshas, mindful of the Buddha’s kindness, together protect the realm, and may their seven thousand attendants, relying upon the power of this sutra, benefit all the people. May the sovereign enjoy blessings and prosperity for generation after generation, and may all beings dwell in peace and happiness.

Thus is this preface recorded for future generations.

THE BUDDHA’S DISCOURSE ON

THE FUNDAMENTAL VOWS OF THE MEDICINE MASTER TATHAGATA

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Bhagavat was traveling through the human realm, teaching and transforming beings. He arrived at Vaisali and rested beneath the Musical Tree, together with a great assembly of eight thousand bhikshus and thirty-six thousand bodhisattvas, as well as kings, great ministers, brahmins, householders, devas, nagas, asuras, gandharvas, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, and others. Reverently surrounded by this great assembly, the Blessed One taught the Dharma.

At that time Manjusri, Prince of the Dharma, empowered by the Buddha’s spiritual might, rose from his seat, bared one shoulder, knelt with his right knee upon the ground, joined his palms, bowed toward the Bhagavat, and said:

“World-Honored One, I beseech you to explain the names of the Buddhas and the vast, supreme vows they made in the past, so that beings who hear this Dharma may have their karmic hindrances eliminated, and so that beings in the future age, when the true Dharma has perished, may also be protected.”

The Bhagavat then praised the youth Manjusri:

“Excellent! Excellent, Manjusri! Out of great loving-kindness and compassion, and moved by immeasurable pity, you have asked me to teach for the benefit of beings bound by countless karmic hindrances and also to bring benefit, peace, and happiness to devas and humans. Manjusri, listen attentively and remember well what I shall say.”

Delighted to hear the Buddha’s teaching, the youth Manjusri replied:

“Yes, World-Honored One. I shall be delighted to listen.”

The Buddha said to Manjusri:

“To the east of this Buddha-land, beyond Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of ten Ganges Rivers, there is a world called Pure Lapis Lazuli. In that land is a Buddha named Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One.

“Manjusri, when that World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata was formerly cultivating the bodhisattva path, he made twelve great vows:

“The first great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, my body shall radiate brilliant light, illuminating immeasurable, innumerable, boundless worlds. It shall be adorned with the thirty-two marks of a great being and the eighty minor characteristics. My body shall be thus, and I shall enable the bodies of all beings to become no different from mine.

“The second great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, my body shall be like lapis lazuli, pure within and without, without the slightest stain. Its light shall shine everywhere, its majestic virtue shall be resplendent, and it shall abide amid a magnificent net of rays, surpassing the sun and moon in beauty. If beings born in that world, or born among humans, dwell in darkness and do not know which way to go, they shall rely upon my light and freely reach any place they wish in order to accomplish whatever work they intend.

“The third great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, through immeasurable and boundless wisdom and skillful means, I shall enable the beings of immeasurable realms to enjoy an inexhaustible abundance, so that not a single person shall suffer deprivation.

“The fourth great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, if any beings follow wrong paths, I shall establish them all upon the path to bodhi. Those who practice the path of the sravakas or pratyekabuddhas I shall likewise instruct and guide by means of the Mahayana.

“The fifth great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, if beings within my teaching cultivate pure conduct, those immeasurable and boundless beings shall obtain flawless precepts and fully possess the three collections of pure precepts. None who violate the precepts shall proceed toward the lower realms.

“The sixth great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, if any beings are physically inferior, have incomplete faculties, are ugly, dull-witted, deaf, blind, crippled in hand or foot, disabled, deformed, hunchbacked, afflicted by skin disease, or insane, or suffer from any other bodily illness, then, upon hearing my name, they shall all obtain complete faculties and perfect bodies.

“The seventh great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, if beings are afflicted by grave illnesses, have no one to help them, no one upon whom to rely, no dwelling, are separated from everyone, and lack wealth, medicine, relatives, and friends, being poor and pitiable, then, if they hear my name, all their illness, affliction, and suffering shall be eliminated, and ultimately they shall attain unsurpassed bodhi.

“The eighth great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, if a woman who has become another’s wife is bound and tormented by the hundred sufferings of womanhood, grows weary of a woman’s body, and wishes to relinquish it, then, upon hearing my name, her female body shall be transformed into the body of a man, and ultimately she shall attain unsurpassed bodhi.

“The ninth great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, I shall cause all beings to escape Mara’s net. If they have fallen into the dense forests of wrong views, I shall establish them securely in right view and gradually instruct them to cultivate the Dharma method of bodhisattva conduct.

“The tenth great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, if beings are bound by the innumerable laws of kings, beaten, imprisoned, threatened with death, or afflicted by numerous calamities and sorrows that oppress their bodies and minds with pain, then, through the power of my merit, those beings shall be delivered from all suffering and affliction.

“The eleventh great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, if beings are scorched in body and mind by the fires of hunger and thirst and create evil karma in their search for food, I shall appear before them and first satisfy them with excellent foods and drinks of delightful color, fragrance, and flavor. Afterward, through the flavor of Dharma, I shall establish them in complete peace and happiness.

“The twelfth great vow: I vow that in a future life, when I attain unsurpassed bodhi, if beings are poor and have no clothing and are tormented day and night by heat, cold, mosquitoes, and insects, I shall provide them with everything they require. I shall also bestow beautiful garments of whatever colors they desire, together with every kind of precious ornament, flower garland, fragrance, drum, music, song, and dance. Whatever those beings require, I shall cause them to possess in full.

“These are the twelve great vows made by the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, while practicing the bodhisattva path.

“Furthermore, Manjusri, the great vows of Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata and the meritorious adornments of his world could not be fully described even in an entire kalpa. That Buddha-land is completely pure. It has no women, is free from every base defilement of desire, and contains none of the lower realms or sounds of suffering. Its ground is made of lapis lazuli. Its cities, palaces, and encircling walls, its double gates, great doors, windows, and canopies, its towers, ramparts, pillars, and even the successive nets surrounding them are all fashioned entirely from the seven treasures, just as in the Land of Utmost Bliss. The Pure Lapis Lazuli Realm is equally beautiful and magnificent.

“In that land are two bodhisattvas named Sunlight and Moonlight. These two are the foremost leaders among the immeasurable, innumerable assembly of bodhisattvas. They preserve the treasury of the true Dharma of Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata. Therefore, Manjusri, good men and good women of firm faith should vow to be born in that Buddha’s land.”

The Blessed One then again said to the youth Manjusri:

“Manjusri, there are beings who do not distinguish good from evil. They are exceedingly greedy and never content, know neither generosity nor the karmic results of generosity, and are foolish, ignorant, and utterly lacking in faith. They accumulate great wealth, guard it miserly, and are unwilling to share it with anyone. Because they have no generous heart, when they see a beggar approach, they become unhappy, as though flesh were being cut from their bodies and given away.

“There are also immeasurable miserly beings who dare not spend even upon themselves, nor are they willing to provide for their parents, wives, or children, much less their servants, hired workers, or other beggars. When these beings die in the human realm, they will be born among hungry ghosts or animals. Yet because they once heard the name of Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata while in the human realm—or because, while presently in the hungry ghost or animal realm, they briefly hear the Tathagata’s name—as soon as they remember it, they shall die in that state and be reborn among humans.

They shall acquire knowledge of former lives, fear the lower realms, cease delighting in sensual pleasures, delight in generosity, and praise those who practice giving. They shall be able to relinquish all their possessions. Gradually, they shall even give their own heads, eyes, hands, feet, blood, and flesh to those who ask, much less other wealth and necessities.

“Furthermore, Manjusri, there are beings who, though they serve, receive, uphold, and study the Tathagata’s teaching, nevertheless violate the precepts, destroy pure conduct, and ruin right view. Others may receive and study the teaching and preserve the prohibitory precepts, yet do not seek extensive learning and fail to understand the profound meaning of the sutras taught by the Buddha. Still others may be widely learned but habitually harbor overweening pride, regarding themselves as right and others as wrong, slandering the true Dharma, and becoming allies of Mara.

Those foolish people and immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of other beings who follow wrong paths will fall into hell. They will wander in the hell realms with no time of release. Yet because they have heard the name of the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, even in hell, through that Buddha’s majestic power, the Tathagata’s name shall briefly become present to them.

At that very moment they shall relinquish that life and be reborn among humans. They shall acquire right view and diligence, and their minds shall become pure and wholesome. They will be able to leave home, enter the homeless life, and study the path within the Tathagata’s teaching, gradually cultivating the bodhisattva practices.

“Furthermore, Manjusri, some beings, driven by jealousy and envy, praise only themselves and never others. Because they are arrogant and praise themselves while disparaging others, they fall into the three lower realms and endure pain and suffering for immeasurable thousands of years. After dying there, they are born as animals—oxen, horses, camels, or donkeys—constantly beaten with whips and sticks and tormented by hunger and thirst, their bodies burdened with heavy loads as they travel long roads.

If born as humans, they are generally born into lowly circumstances, become the servants of others, and are ordered about. If, while in the human realm, such people hear the name of Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, then through this root of goodness they shall escape all suffering. Their faculties shall become keen, their wisdom clear, and they shall be learned and well-informed.

They shall continually seek wholesome foundations, associate with good friends, cut through Mara’s net, shatter the shell of ignorance, drain the river of afflictions, and escape all suffering and distress associated with birth, aging, illness, death, grief, and lamentation.

“Furthermore, Manjusri, there are beings who delight in perversity, divisiveness, quarrels, and litigation. Such people cause evil thoughts to arise in beings. Constantly creating evil karma through body, speech, and mind, they seek to injure one another and continually employ harmful means against each other.

They may summon spirits of forests, trees, mountains, burial mounds, and other places; slaughter animals; and offer their blood and flesh as sacrifices to yakshas, rakshasas, and other devouring spirits. They may write down the names of their enemies and make effigies of them, perform harmful spells, cast curses and maledictions, or use incantations to raise corpse-spirits, wishing to end those people’s lives and destroy their bodies.

Yet because the intended victims hear the name of the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, none of those evil acts can harm them. Instead, all involved shall come to support one another, give rise to loving-kindness and compassion, beneficial intentions, and minds free from resentment and anger. Each shall become joyful, and all shall help one another.

“Furthermore, Manjusri, members of the fourfold assembly—bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, and upasikas—as well as other faithful good men and good women may receive and uphold the eightfold fasting precepts for one year or for three months. Through this root of goodness, and according to their aspirations and wishes, they may desire birth in the presence of Amitabha Tathagata in the Land of Utmost Bliss in the west. Because they have heard the name of the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, when their lives end, eight bodhisattvas shall travel through space to show them the direct path, whereupon they shall spontaneously be born by transformation within multicolored lotus flowers in that world.

Furthermore, if they wish to be born in a heavenly realm, they shall immediately attain rebirth there. Because their former roots of goodness remain inexhaustible, they shall never again be reborn in any lower realm. When their heavenly lives end, they shall be reborn among humans as wheel-turning kings, sovereign over the four continents, and shall establish immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of beings upon the path of the ten wholesome actions.

Or they shall be born into great families of kshatriyas, brahmins, or wealthy householders, with gold, silver, silk, and brocade overflowing from their treasuries. They shall be perfect in appearance, majestic virtue, and retinues, and shall be courageous and powerful like great champions. If any woman hears the name of this Tathagata and sincerely receives and upholds it, thereafter she shall forever be free from a female body.”

The youth Manjusri then said to the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, in the future I shall employ innumerable skillful means to spread the name of Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata widely among faithful good men and good women so that they may hear it. Even in their sleep I shall awaken them by sounding the Buddha’s name in their ears. If anyone receives and upholds this sutra, reads and recites it, explains and teaches it, analyzes and instructs others in it, personally copies it or has others copy it;

or places a copy of the sutra in a pouch woven from five-colored fabric, sprinkles water upon and sweeps a clean place in which to enshrine it, and makes offerings of fragrant flowers, incense, scented ointments, streamers, precious banners, and precious canopies, then the Four Great Heavenly Kings, together with their retinues and hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of other devas, shall all come to that place to make offerings.

Wherever this sutra circulates, or wherever someone receives, upholds, reads, and recites it, beings shall hear the name and the supreme former vows of Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata. Know that such a place shall be free from untimely death and that evil spirits shall not seize and carry away anyone’s vital spirit. Even if it has been taken, it shall be restored as before.”

The Buddha said:

“So it is! So it is, Manjusri! It is just as you have said.

Manjusri, if good men or good women of pure faith wish to make offerings to that Tathagata, they should fashion an image of the Tathagata and receive and uphold the eightfold fasting precepts for seven days and seven nights. They should eat pure food, remain in a clean place, offer various flowers, burn various kinds of incense, and adorn that place with silken fabrics, banners, and canopies. They should bathe, put on new, clean, beautiful garments, and give rise to minds unstained by defilement, anger, jealousy, or envy.

Toward all beings they should instead arouse beneficial intentions and minds of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity, and impartiality. They should play drums and music, sing praises, and circumambulate the Buddha’s image clockwise. They should recollect the Tathagata’s former great vows and explain this sutra.

Then whatever they contemplate, pray for, or desire shall be completely fulfilled. Those who seek longevity shall obtain longevity; those who seek blessings shall obtain blessings; those who seek freedom shall obtain freedom; and those who seek sons or daughters shall obtain sons or daughters.

“If a person suddenly has ominous dreams, sees inauspicious signs, finds strange birds alighting nearby, or witnesses a hundred uncanny manifestations around the dwelling, then, if that person can reverently offer various treasures to Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, all ominous dreams, inauspicious signs, and unfortunate events shall disappear.

“If people face the terrors of flood, fire, swords, poison, suspension from heights, savage elephants, lions, tigers, wolves, bears, venomous snakes, scorpions, centipedes, slugs, and the like, then, if they recollect and make offerings to the Medicine Master Tathagata, they shall escape them all. If they face the terror of invasion and harassment by another country, robbery, banditry, or rebellion, they should likewise recollect, honor, and revere the Tathagata.

“Furthermore, Manjusri, suppose faithful good men and good women receive the three refuges throughout their lives and do not serve other deities. They may uphold the five precepts, the ten precepts, or the 104 bodhisattva precepts; or, after leaving home, uphold the 250 bhikshu precepts or the 500 bhikshuni precepts. If they violate any of the precepts they have received and fear falling into the lower realms, then, if they can make offerings to the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, they shall certainly not suffer retribution in the three lower realms.

If a woman endures extreme pain and distress while giving birth, then, if she can invoke the name of and make offerings to the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, she shall quickly be freed from that suffering. The child born shall have a complete body and handsome appearance, and all who see the child shall rejoice. The child shall be intelligent, keen, peaceful, healthy, and free from nonhuman beings that might seize its vital spirit.”

The Blessed One then said to the Venerable Ananda:

“Ananda, do you believe and accept the merits of the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata that I have praised? Do you harbor many doubts concerning this extremely profound realm of the Buddha Tathagatas?”

The Venerable Ananda said to the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, I never harbor doubts concerning the Dharma taught by the Tathagata. Why? Because every deed of body, speech, and mind performed by the Tathagatas is pure.

“World-Honored One, the sun and moon, though possessing such great spiritual powers and mighty strength, might fall from the sky; Mount Sumeru, king of mountains, might be shaken; but the words spoken by the Buddhas can never be false or otherwise than they are.

“World-Honored One, some beings whose faculty of faith is incomplete may hear of the realms of the Buddha Tathagatas and think, ‘How could merely recollecting that Tathagata’s name bring such great merit?’ Because they do not believe, they consequently give rise to slander. Throughout their lives such people shall obtain no benefit and will fall into realms of suffering.”

The Buddha said:

“Ananda, if the Tathagata’s name enters the ears of such people, it is impossible that they should fall into a lower realm.

“Ananda, the realm of the Buddhas is indeed difficult to believe and accept. You should know that your present ability to believe and accept it comes through the Tathagata’s majestic power. Not all sravakas or pratyekabuddhas can believe and accept it; only great bodhisattvas who are one life away from buddhahood can do so.

“Ananda, a human body is difficult to obtain, and reverent faith in the Three Jewels is also difficult to acquire. To hear the name of that Tathagata is even more difficult.

“Ananda, the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata cultivated immeasurable bodhisattva practices, employed immeasurable skillful means, and made immeasurable vast vows. Were I to speak for one kalpa or more than one kalpa about that Tathagata’s bodhisattva practices and vows until the kalpa itself came to an end, I still could not exhaustively describe the deeds and supreme former vows of the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata.”

At that time a great bodhisattva in the assembly named Deliverance rose from his seat, bared one shoulder, knelt with his right knee upon the ground, joined his palms, bowed his head toward the Bhagavat, and said:

“World-Honored One, in the future there will be beings afflicted by many grave illnesses and torments. Their bodies will grow thin and feeble, they will be unable to eat or drink, their mouths and throats will be parched, and the signs of death will appear before them. Their eyes will no longer see, while parents, relatives, friends, and acquaintances surround them, weeping. Although the sick person’s body still lies there, Yama will already have dispatched a messenger to lead that person’s consciousness before Yama, the Dharma King. Behind each person is a spirit born together with that person, which records everything the person has done, whether sinful or meritorious, and presents it all to Yama, the Dharma King.

“Yama, the Dharma King, then questions the person thoroughly, calculates everything the person has done, and passes judgment according to its wholesome or evil character. If someone can take refuge in the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata on behalf of this sick person and make offerings in accordance with the Dharma, the sick person will immediately recover. That person’s consciousness shall return as before.

Then, as though awakening from a dream, the person shall remember everything. After seven, twenty-one, thirty-five, or forty-nine days, when the consciousness has completely returned, the person shall remember in full the karmic retributions of good and evil. Having personally witnessed them, the person will not dare create evil karma again, even under threat of death.

“Therefore, faithful good men and good women should make offerings to the Medicine Master Tathagata.”

The Venerable Ananda then asked Bodhisattva Deliverance:

“Good man, how should one reverently make offerings to the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata?”

Bodhisattva Deliverance said:

“Venerable Ananda, if a sick person wishes to recover from a grave illness, the relatives should receive the eightfold fasting precepts on that person’s behalf for seven days and seven nights. According to their ability, they should offer food, drink, and other necessities to the bhikshu Sangha. During the six periods of day and night, they should bow to and make offerings to the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata.

They should read and recite this sutra forty-nine times and light forty-nine lamps. They should make seven images of that Tathagata and place seven lamps before each image. Each lamp should be as large as a wheel and should remain burning continuously for forty-nine days and nights without going out.

The canopy, or sacred banner, should be made of five-colored fabric and be forty-nine cubits long.

“Furthermore, Venerable Ananda, if consecrated kshatriya kings encounter calamities—namely, epidemics among the people, invasion by another country, rebellion within their own realm, strange portents caused by celestial bodies, solar or lunar eclipses, untimely wind and rain, or drought extending beyond its season—then those consecrated kshatriya kings should give rise to loving-kindness and compassion for all beings, pardon imprisoned offenders, and make offerings to the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata according to the ritual already described.

Through this root of goodness and the power of the supreme fundamental vows of the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, the kings’ realms shall immediately become peaceful. Rain and wind shall come at the proper times, grain shall yield abundant harvests, and the lands shall become prosperous. All beings within those realms shall be free from illness, dwell in peace and happiness, and remain joyful.

No yakshas, rakshasas, pisacas, other violent spirits, or evil ghosts shall torment the beings of those lands. All ominous signs shall entirely disappear. Those consecrated kshatriya kings shall enjoy long lives, strength, freedom from illness, sovereignty, and increasing benefit.”

The Venerable Ananda then asked Bodhisattva Deliverance:

“Good man, how can a life that has reached its end be prolonged?”

Bodhisattva Deliverance replied:

“Venerable Ananda, have you not heard the Tathagata speak of the nine kinds of untimely death? Therefore, he taught the use of medicines and mantras as skillful means. Some beings contract illnesses that are not grave, but have no physician, medicine, or caregiver. Or they may have a physician who mistakenly gives them the wrong medicine, causing their death. This is the first untimely death.

“The second is execution under royal law.

“The third occurs when people recklessly indulge in amusement and hunting and become immoderately addicted to alcohol and sensual pleasure, allowing nonhuman beings to harm their vital spirits.

“The fourth is death by burning.

“The fifth is death by drowning.

“The sixth occurs when people enter places inhabited by savage beasts and are devoured by lions, tigers, or wolves.

“The seventh is death from the misery of hunger and thirst when food cannot be obtained.

“The eighth is death through poison, curses, maledictions, corpse-spirits, and the like.

“The ninth is death from falling from a high mountain.

“These are called the nine kinds of untimely death briefly taught by the Tathagata. Beyond them are immeasurably many other kinds of untimely death.”

At that time, seated within the great assembly were twelve great yaksha generals: General Kumbhira, General Vajra, General Mihira, General Andira, General Anila, General Sandila, General Indra, General Pajra, General Mahora, General Cindala, General Caundhula, and General Vikala. Each of these twelve great yaksha generals had seven thousand yaksha attendants. Together they raised their voices and said to the Blessed One:

“Today, through the Buddha’s majestic power, we have heard the name of the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, and therefore we no longer fear the lower realms. From this day until the end of our lives, we shall with one mind take refuge in the Buddha, take refuge in the Dharma, and take refuge in the Sangha. We shall bear responsibility for all beings and perform deeds that bring them benefit, peace, and happiness.

Wherever this sutra is propagated—whether in a village, city, settlement, or aranya—and wherever anyone receives and upholds the name of the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, draws near, and makes offerings, our retinues shall protect that person, deliver that person from all suffering and calamity, and cause every wish to be fulfilled.”

The Blessed One then praised the great yaksha generals:

“Excellent! Excellent, great yaksha generals! If you remain mindful of the kindness of the World-Honored Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, you should remain mindful of benefiting all beings.”

The Venerable Ananda then said to the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, what is the name of this sutra, and how should we receive and uphold it?”

The Buddha said:

“Ananda, this Dharma method is called ‘The Supreme Great Vows Made in the Past by Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata.’ You should receive and uphold it accordingly. It is also called ‘The Vows of the Twelve Great Yaksha Generals.’ It is also called ‘Purifying All Karmic Hindrances.’ You should receive and uphold it accordingly.”

When the Bhagavat had finished speaking, the great bodhisattvas, great sravakas, kings, great ministers, brahmins, householders, and the entire great assembly of asuras, gandharvas, and others heard the Buddha’s teaching, rejoiced greatly, and joyfully received and practiced it.

THE BUDDHA’S DISCOURSE ON THE FUNDAMENTAL VOWS OF THE MEDICINE MASTER TATHAGATA

End