觀虛空藏菩薩經

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was dwelling on Mount Khadira, abiding in the dwelling place of the sages of Perfect Enlightenment, together with one thousand two hundred and fifty bhikṣus and one thousand bodhisattvas of the Bhadrakalpa, foremost among whom was Maitreya. At that time, the elder Upāli rose from his seat, arranged his robes, paid homage to the Buddha, and addressed him, saying:

— World-Honored One! Previously, in the Sūtra of Merit, you said that the name of the great bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha can remove all evil and unwholesome karma, and can rectify the caṇḍāla king... down to the caṇḍāla śramaṇa and all the evil disciplines and observances. If one wishes to rectify such evil deeds, how should one contemplate the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha?

Supposing one is able to behold him, how then is one to dwell together with the assembly and perform the poṣadha rites of the Saṅgha? If an upāsaka breaks the five precepts, or violates the eight precepts of abstinence, or if a bhikṣu, bhikṣuṇī, śrāmaṇera, śrāmaṇerī, or śikṣamāṇā who has gone forth violates the four grave prohibitions, or a householder bodhisattva transgresses the six grave dharmas, or a renunciant bodhisattva violates the eight grave prohibitions — such offending persons, the World-Honored One previously declared in the Vinaya, must definitely be expelled and driven out, like a great stone that has already been shattered.

Now, in this Sūtra, the Buddha says that the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha of great compassion can rescue from all sufferings and pronounces a dhāraṇī to remove offenses. Supposing there be such a person, how can it be known? What shall serve as proof?

I pray that the Heaven-Honored One will distinguish and explain it!

The Buddha said to Upāli:

— You, and those who skillfully uphold the Vinaya in future ages, must instruct those sentient beings who have committed these offenses and console their minds! The World-Honored One's vow of great loving-kindness is immeasurable; he does not abandon anyone. In the profound Sūtra of Merit, the dharma for rectifying offenses is called the definitive Vinaya.

There are thirty-five Buddhas, world-saviors of great compassion, to whom you must reverently pay homage. When you pay homage reverently, you must wear the garment of shame and remorse, as if a boil had arisen upon your eye, giving rise to deep shame, like a person afflicted with sores who follows the instructions of a skilled physician — so too should you give rise to shame and remorse. Having given rise to shame and remorse, from one day up to seven days pay homage to the Buddhas of the ten directions, recite the names of the thirty-five Buddhas, and especially recite the name of the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha of great compassion.

The practitioner should bathe the body, burn every kind of renowned fragrant incense such as solid black aloeswood, and at the time when the morning star rises, kneel upright with palms joined, weeping with tears falling like rain, recite the name of Ākāśagarbha and say: "Great Virtuous One! Bodhisattva of great compassion! Out of pity and mindfulness for me, manifest your body for my sake." Then one should give rise to this thought: "Upon the crown of that bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha there is a wish-fulfilling jewel.

That wish-fulfilling jewel produces a purple-golden hue." If one sees the wish-fulfilling jewel, that is to see the celestial crown. Within this celestial crown, thirty-five images of Buddhas appear. Within the wish-fulfilling jewel, images of the Buddhas of the ten directions appear.

The body of the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha is twenty yojanas in size. If he manifests his great body together with the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara and others, then this bodhisattva sits in the cross-legged posture, his hand grasping the king of wish-fulfilling jewels. That wish-fulfilling jewel proclaims every dharma-sound in accord with the Vinaya.

If this bodhisattva, out of pity for sentient beings, transforms himself into the form of a bhikṣu and every other manner of form-image — whether within a dream or while seated in meditation — he uses the seal of the maṇi jewel to stamp upon the arm of that person. The design of the seal-mark bears the words "Offense Removed." Having obtained these words, one may then return among the assembly of the Saṅgha and recite the precepts as before.

If an upāsaka obtains these words, then his going forth is not obstructed. Supposing the person does not obtain these words, then immediately there is a voice in empty space that proclaims, saying: "The offense is destroyed! The offense is destroyed!" If there is no voice in space to make the Vinaya known, then in a dream one sees the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha, who says: "Vinaya-sat!

Vinaya-sat! Such-and-such a bhikṣu, such-and-such an upāsaka" — and further causes them to repent from one day up to forty-nine days. Through the power of paying homage to the thirty-five Buddhas and to the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha, the person's offense is lightened.

The one who knows the dharma further directs them to clean the latrines for a period of eight hundred days, and day after day tells them: "You have done impure deeds! You must now, with single-minded resolve, clean all the latrines, without letting anyone know. When the cleaning is finished, bathe and wash clean, pay homage to the thirty-five Buddhas, recite the name of Ākāśagarbha, face the twelve divisions of the scriptures, cast the five parts of the body down to the ground, and confess your evil offenses." Repenting in this way, let a further thirty-seven days pass.

Then the wise one should gather them near before an image of the Buddha and recite the names of the thirty-five Buddhas, recite the name of Mañjuśrī, recite the names of the bodhisattvas of the Bhadrakalpa... having these ones bear witness, then once more carry out the karman procedure of receiving the precepts as before. Through the power of ascetic discipline, this person's karmic offenses are eradicated forever, and the three kinds of bodhi-karma are no longer obstructed.

The Buddha said to Upāli:

— You must preserve this method of contemplating Ākāśagarbha, and for the sake of sentient beings of future ages who are without shame and who commit many evil deeds, distinguish and expound it widely.

When these words were spoken, the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha sat in the cross-legged posture, emitted golden-colored light, and within the jewel the thirty-five Buddhas appeared. He then addressed the Buddha, saying:

— World-Honored One! This precious wish-fulfilling jewel was born from the Śūraṅgama. Therefore, when sentient beings behold the jewel, they attain sovereign mastery in accordance with their wishes.

At that time, the World-Honored One instructed Upāli, saying:

— You must preserve this Sūtra; you may not expound it widely for the sake of many people! You alone shall be the one who preserves the Vinaya, and for the sake of sentient beings of future ages who lack forbearance you shall be as the pupil of the eye. Be cautious, and do not forget it!

Upāli, having heard the words spoken by the Buddha, rejoiced and reverently undertook to practice them.

SŪTRA ON THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE BODHISATTVA ĀKĀŚAGARBHA

— The End —