佛說作佛形像經

The Buddha arrived in the country of Yim-Wai, where there was a grove belonging to Kausika. At that time the king, named Udayana, was fourteen years old. When he heard of the Buddha's arrival, the king ordered his ministers and attendants to prepare his carriage, and he went forth to welcome the Buddha.

Seeing the Buddha from afar, the king's heart leapt with joy. He immediately alighted from his carriage and proceeded on foot, taking leave of his ministers, his attendants, and those who bore his parasol. The king then greeted the Buddha, touching his forehead to the Buddha's feet, and circumambulated him three times.

Then, kneeling with palms joined reverently together, he addressed the Buddha, saying: "In the heavens above and in the regions beneath the heavens, there is none who can be compared to the Buddha. The face, the eyes, and the body of the Buddha now shine forth in splendor, and not for a single moment do I weary of gazing upon the Buddha. The Buddha is the teacher of all those in the heavens above and in the regions beneath the heavens.

The compassionate heart of the Buddha cares for countless living beings."

The Buddha, remaining silent, did not respond.

The king addressed the Buddha further, saying: "When people perform virtuous deeds they gain good fortune, but whither does this lead them? I dread that I shall no longer be able to look upon the Buddha after the Buddha has passed away. I wish to produce an image of the Buddha, to venerate it and to bequeath it to later generations. What manner of good fortune shall I thereby obtain? I beg the Buddha to take compassion upon me and to explain this matter, for I earnestly desire to understand."

The Buddha said: "Young king, your question is excellent indeed. Listen to what I shall say, and, having heard it, take it to heart." The king said: "Yes, I am ready to receive this teaching."

The Buddha said to the king: "I shall teach you of the good fortune to be gained by one who produces an image of the Buddha." The king said: "I am grateful."

The Buddha said: "A person of this world who produces an image of the Buddha will, in a later life, have clear eyes and a handsome appearance; his body, his hands, and his feet will always be excellent. Should he be born in heaven, he too will be exceptional among the gods in his purity, with exquisite eyes and countenance. Such is the fortune obtained by one who produces an image of the Buddha."

"The place in which one who produces an image of the Buddha is born is devoid of defilement; the bodies of those born there are flawless. After death he will attain birth in the seventh Brahma heaven. Moreover, surpassing all the other gods, his handsome appearance and his beauty will be without peer, and he will be honored by all the gods. Such is the fortune obtained by one who produces an image of the Buddha."

"One who produces an image of the Buddha will be born into a noble family, with resources far surpassing those of the people of this world. He will not be born as the child of a poor or destitute family in a later life. Such is the fortune obtained by one who produces an image of the Buddha."

"The body of one who produces an image of the Buddha will, in a later life, always be of the color of the purest gold, handsome without peer."

"One who produces an image of the Buddha will most certainly be born into a wealthy family, with money and precious jewels beyond reckoning. He will always be loved by his parents, his siblings, and his relatives. Such is the fortune obtained by one who produces an image of the Buddha."

"If one who produces an image of the Buddha is born in Jambudvipa in his later lives, he will often be born into the families of emperors or princes, or born as the child of a family of great virtue. Such is the fortune obtained by one who produces an image of the Buddha."

"One who produces an image of the Buddha will, in a later life, become an emperor. He will be the most honored and the most celebrated among all the monarchs, the one in whom all other monarchs take refuge and to whom they pay homage. Such is the fortune obtained by one who produces an image of the Buddha."

"One who produces an image of the Buddha will, in a later life, become a wheel-turning king, able to ascend to the heavens and to return at will. He will accomplish whatever he sets out to do. Such is the fortune obtained by one who produces an image of the Buddha."

"One who produces an image of the Buddha will, in a later life, be born in the seventh Brahma heaven. His life will span one kalpa, and his wisdom will be without equal. One who produces an image of the Buddha will never again be born in any of the evil paths(*) after death. He will always guard his chastity, and his thoughts will always dwell upon his desire to follow the path of the Buddha. Such is the fortune obtained by one who produces an image of the Buddha."

(* The evil paths: such as becoming an animal, a hungry ghost, or a hell-being.)

"One who produces an image of the Buddha will, in a later life, always honor the Buddha and revere the scriptures. He will continually make offerings to the relics of the Buddha — variegated silk, fine flowers, exquisite incense, lamps, and all the precious jewels and rare objects of the world. Thereafter, for innumerable kalpas, he will gain the path to Nirvana. Those who aspire to present precious jewels to the Buddha are not common men; they have all practiced the path of the Buddha in former lives. Such is the fortune obtained by one who produces an image of the Buddha."

"One who produces an image of the Buddha will, in a later life, attain such wealth that there shall never come a time when it will be exhausted, nor shall such wealth be calculable. It is, perhaps, possible to measure the water in all the rivers and oceans of the four quarters by measuring it out by the gallon. But the wealth attained by one who produces an image of the Buddha exceeds the amount of water in the rivers and oceans of the four quarters tenfold. In his future life he will be honored and protected by all. One who produces an image of the Buddha may be likened to one who, during a downpour, has a fine shelter — he has nothing to fear."

"One who produces an image of the Buddha will, after death, never again be born in one of the evil paths, be it the hells, the animal realm, or the realm of hungry ghosts. One who sees an image of the Buddha and, with a pious heart, joins his palms together and takes refuge in the Buddha's stupa or his relics, will not, at death, re-enter the realms of the hells, of animals, or of hungry ghosts for one hundred kalpas. Rather, at death he will be born in heaven, and, when his long life in heaven is complete, he will once again descend into the world as the child of a wealthy family, with immeasurable precious jewels and rare objects. Thereafter he will certainly attain the path of the Buddha's Nirvana."

The Buddha told the king: "To produce an image of the Buddha is a worthy deed, and the good fortune obtained thereby is, without exaggeration, such as I have explained." The king was filled with joy and bowed before the Buddha, touching his forehead to the Buddha's feet. The king and all his ministers then bowed to the Buddha and took their leave. At the end of their long lives they were all reborn in the world of Amitabha Buddha.