受持七佛名號所生功德經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Bhagavān was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden of the Jeta Grove, in the city of Śrāvastī, together with a great assembly of immeasurable, countless Śrāvakas and great Bodhisattvas, along with all the great multitude of devas, humans, asuras, and so forth, surrounding Him before and behind.

At that time the World-Honored One addressed the Venerable Śāriputra:

"I now, out of compassionate remembrance for all sentient beings, will briefly expound the merit that arises from receiving and upholding the names of the seven Buddhas, so that whoever receives and upholds them shall attain supreme and blissful benefit. You should listen attentively and reflect upon this most carefully; I shall expound and analyze it for you."

The Venerable Śāriputra said:

"Reverently, O World-Honored One! I aspire to hear it."

The Buddha said to Śāriputra:

"To the East of this realm there is a Buddha-land named Adorned with the Multitude of Virtues Free from Defilement. In that land there is a Buddha whose title is Auspicious Universal Pervading Radiance, Tathāgata, Worthy of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Hero, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, taking pity upon the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great multitude, revealing, instructing, and teaching what is good in the beginning, the middle, and the end, with words and meaning that are clear, wondrous, pure, unified, and complete, the holy life utterly pure.

If there be anyone who hears the name of that Buddha, he shall straightaway be liberated from a hundred thousand koṭis of great kalpas of birth and death, of perpetually drifting and tumbling in fierce suffering, and wherever he is born he shall always know his former lives. Whoever continually receives and upholds the name of this Buddha shall not lose the merit attained as before, but moreover, throughout a hundred thousand koṭis of great kalpas, wherever he is born, his mind shall be far removed from ignorance, and among devas and humans he shall receive joy and delight.

Whoever is able to create an image of that Buddha, reverently making offerings, honoring and praising Him, shall not lose the merit attained as before, but moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, wherever he is born, he shall always encounter Buddhas, and swiftly realize Unsurpassed Perfect Enlightenment.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra, to the East of this realm there is also a Buddha-land named Adorned with the Multitude of Virtues of Wondrous Awakening. In that land there is a Buddha whose title is Auspicious Abiding in Wondrous Merit, Tathāgata, Worthy of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Hero, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, taking pity upon the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the ranks of devas and humans, revealing, instructing, and teaching what is good in the beginning, the middle, and the end, with words and meaning that are clear and wondrous, wholly complete, the holy life utterly pure.

If there be anyone who hears the name of that Buddha, he shall straightaway transcend all the eight calamities, and wherever he is born he shall always know his former lives. Whoever often upholds the name of that Buddha shall not lose the merit attained as before. Moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, wherever he is born, his mind shall always be intelligent and lucid; he shall always abide in good destinies and receive every joy and delight.

Whoever is able to create an image of that Buddha, reverently making offerings, honoring and praising Him, shall not lose the merit attained as before. Moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, wherever he is born, he shall always encounter Buddhas, cultivate all the pāramitās, become a great Guiding Teacher, and deliver immeasurable sentient beings.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra! To the East of this realm there is also a Buddha-land named Lord of Sentient Beings. In that land there is a Buddha whose title is King of the Single Jeweled Canopy, Tathāgata, Worthy of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Hero, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, taking pity upon the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great multitude, revealing, instructing, and teaching what is good in the beginning, the middle, and the end, with words and meaning that are clear, wondrous, unified, and complete, the holy life utterly pure.

If there be anyone who hears the name of that Buddha, he shall straightaway be far removed from all suffering and affliction; his blessings, fortune, station, wealth, and precious treasures shall not diminish or be lost—except in the case where that person, in a former life, committed fixed and determined evil karma. Whoever often receives and upholds the name of that Buddha shall not lose the merits attained as before; moreover, wherever he is born, he shall be fully endowed with great majestic virtue, sovereign spiritual powers, a body radiating light, and a countenance upright and dignified, which all people delight to behold.

Whoever is able to create an image of that Buddha, making offerings and reverence, honoring and praising Him, shall not lose the merit attained as before. Moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, he shall never be born in a world without a Buddha; he shall cultivate the Bodhisattva conduct, be adorned with the great vow, accomplish Unsurpassed Enlightenment, and bring benefit to all.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra! To the East of this realm there is also a Buddha-land named Power of Sovereignty. In that land there is a Buddha whose title is Trace of the Well-Gone One's Concentration, Tathāgata, Worthy of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Hero, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, taking pity upon the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great multitude, revealing, instructing, and teaching what is good in the beginning, the middle, and the end, with words and meaning that are clear, unified, and complete, the holy life utterly pure.

If there be anyone who hears the name of that Buddha, his mind shall straightaway become tranquil and still, far removed from all clamor and confusion. If anyone often receives and upholds the name of that Buddha, he shall not lose the merit cultivated as before; moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, wherever he is born, his body shall be (fully endowed with) the four dignified deportments, and whether speaking or silent, his mind shall always abide in concentration.

Whoever is able to create an image of that Buddha, reverently making offerings, honoring and praising Him, shall not lose the merits attained as before. Moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, wherever he is born, he shall always encounter Buddhas, swiftly bring to ultimate completion the gateways of samādhi, become one Honored among those Worthy of Twofold Reverence, and deliver immeasurable beings.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra! To this East there is also a Buddha-land named Most Excellent Jewel. In that land there is a Buddha whose title is Auspicious Light of the Jeweled Flower, Tathāgata, Worthy of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Hero, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, taking pity upon the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great multitude, revealing, instructing, and teaching what is good in the beginning, the middle, and the end, with words and meaning that are clear, wondrous, unified, and complete, the holy life utterly pure.

If anyone hears the name of that Buddha, he shall straightaway be fully endowed with the wisdom-conduct of supreme mindfulness; among the four assemblies he shall expound the Dharma without fear, his words majestic and dignified, and those who hear shall all receive them with reverence. Whoever often receives and upholds the name of that Buddha shall not lose the merit attained as before; moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, wherever he is born, he shall be fully endowed with the conduct of wisdom and mindfulness, accomplish keen and sharp wisdom, and attain the supreme faculty of hearing and retention.

Whoever is able to create an image of that Buddha, reverently making offerings, honoring and praising Him, shall not lose the merit attained as before; moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, wherever he is born, he shall always encounter Tathāgatas, attain unobstructed eloquence, broadly proclaim the wondrous Dharma, progressively cultivate the provisions of merit and wisdom, become one Honored among Devas and Humans, and deliver immeasurable sentient beings.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra! To the South of this realm there is a Buddha-land named Isle of Quiescence. In that land there is a Buddha whose title is Trace Transcending the Boundless, Tathāgata, Worthy of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Hero, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, taking pity upon the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great multitude, revealing, instructing, and teaching what is good in the beginning, the middle, and the end, with words and meaning that are clear, wondrous, unified, and complete, the holy life utterly pure.

If there be anyone who hears the name of that Buddha, that person's mind shall suddenly be without disturbance. Whoever is able to receive and uphold the name of that Buddha shall not lose the merit attained as before; moreover, he shall be able to swiftly realize the Samādhi of the Supreme Moonlight. Having realized this samādhi, in that very moment he shall further be able to realize the Dharma-gateway of the Samādhi Equal to the Sands of the Gaṅgā.

Whoever is able to create an image of that Buddha, reverently making offerings, honoring and praising Him, shall not lose the merit attained as before; moreover, regarding the Dharma-gateways expounded by all the Buddhas, he shall be able to receive and uphold them entirely and penetrate their meaning, illuminating and discerning them clearly without obstruction, like the light of the sun; and wherever he is born he shall always encounter Buddhas, whereby he shall swiftly realize Unsurpassed Enlightenment.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra! To the South of this realm there is also a Buddha-land named Supreme Fragrance. In that land there is a Buddha whose title is King of Wondrous Fragrance, Tathāgata, Worthy of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Hero, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, taking pity upon the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great multitude, revealing, instructing, and teaching what is good in the beginning, the middle, and the end, with words and meaning that are clear, wondrous, unified, and complete, the holy life utterly pure.

If anyone hears the name of that Buddha, his body and mind shall be harmonious and unobstructed, far removed from all sluggishness and torpor; his evil karma shall all be extinguished, and his afflictions lightened. Whoever often receives and upholds the name of that Buddha shall not lose the merit attained as before; moreover, in lives to come, wherever he is born, he shall be fully endowed with the thirty-two marks of a great being, and all sentient beings shall together gaze upon him with reverence.

Whoever is able to create an image of that Buddha, reverently making offerings, honoring and praising Him, shall not lose the merit attained as before; moreover, in lives to come, wherever he is born, he shall always go forth into the homeless life, be fully endowed with pure precepts and conduct, go to the various Buddha-lands to hear the Dharma, receive and uphold it, cultivate and practice it, and be complete in all merit.

Thereby he shall swiftly realize Anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi."

The Buddha said to Śāriputra:

"If any sentient beings hear the names of these seven Buddhas and receive, uphold, and make offerings to them, they shall surely attain the merit as stated above. Why is this so? Because the names and images of these seven Buddhas were all accomplished through the original vow of great compassion; therefore, they cause whatever sentient beings hear them and then receive, uphold, and make offerings to them to attain such blissful benefit."

At that time, when the Bhagavān had finished expounding this sūtra, Śāriputra and the others, together with the great Śrāvakas and the great Bodhisattvas, along with the devas, humans, asuras, and so forth—all the great multitude—having heard the Buddha's exposition, were exceedingly joyful, and with faith received it and reverently put it into practice.

THE SŪTRA ON THE MERIT ARISING FROM RECEIVING AND UPHOLDING THE NAMES OF THE SEVEN BUDDHAS

The End