A Di Đà Cổ Âm Thinh Vương Đà La Ni Kinh

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was dwelling by the Gagā pond in the city of Campā, together with a great assembly of one thousand two hundred and fifty bhikshus. At that time the World-Honored One said to the bhikshus:

Now I shall expound for you: In the Western world of Peace and Bliss there is now a Buddha named Amitabha. If the fourfold assembly is able to receive and uphold that Buddha's name, then by this merit, when the time of death comes, Amitabha Buddha will come with the great assembly to that person, causing that person to see them. Having seen them, that person will give rise to joy and increase in merit. Through these causes and conditions, wherever that person is born, Śāriputra, they will forever be freed from the defiled womb and will obtain natural transformation-birth within a subtle, beautiful, precious lotus, endowed with great spiritual powers and radiant light.

At that time, all the Buddhas in the ten directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, praised the world of Peace and Bliss, saying that its Buddha-Dharma is inconceivable.

Its various skillful means, spiritual powers, manifestations, and transformations are inconceivable. If there is anyone who should believe and understand in this way, one should know that this person is inconceivable, and the recompense they receive is also inconceivable. They will dwell together with Amitabha Buddha and the assembly of shravakas. That land is called Pure and Peaceful. Its city is ten thousand yojanas wide, and throughout the land all belong to the kshatriya lineage.

Amitabha Buddha, Tathagata, Arhat, Samyak-sambuddha: his father is the Wheel-Turning Sage King Moon Above. His mother is Excellent and Wondrous Countenance. His son is named Moonlight. His attendant disciple is named Stainless Renown. His disciple foremost in wisdom is named Worthy Light. His disciple foremost in spiritual powers is named Great Transformation. At that time the king of maras is named Unsurpassed, and there is a Devadatta named Tranquil and Still. Amitabha Buddha has sixty thousand great bhikshus gathered around him.

If there is a person who receives and upholds that Buddha's name, keeping the mind firm, remembering it and not forgetting it; for ten days and ten nights casting off distraction, diligently and single-mindedly cultivating the Buddha-recitation samadhi, knowing that the Tathagata constantly dwells in the world of Peace and Bliss, and therefore always recollecting him without interruption;

and then receiving, upholding, reading, and reciting the Sutra of the Great Dharani of the Drum-Sound King, for ten days and ten nights, in the six periods, single-mindedly recollecting him, casting the five limbs to the ground in respectful prostration, with right mindfulness firm and distraction cast aside: if they can make the mind's recollection continue without interruption, then within ten days they will certainly see Amitabha Buddha and see the dwelling places of the Tathagatas in the worlds of the ten directions.

Only those of dull faculties and heavy karmic obstructions will be unable to see within a short time. If they dedicate all roots of goodness and vow to be reborn in the world of Peace and Bliss, then when they are about to die, Amitabha Buddha and the great assemblies will appear before this person to comfort and praise them. At that time that person will immediately give rise to joy; through these causes and conditions they will attain rebirth according to their vow.

The Buddha told the bhikshus:

Why is it called the Great Dharani of the Drum-Sound King? I shall now proclaim it. Listen well:

The bhikshus replied: We wish to listen. At that time the World-Honored One then spoke the mantra, saying:

Da di tha ba ly a ba ly sa ma ba la ni, di xa nat do da ni nat mau de nat mau xi. Do la ba la xa da ni tu khu ba de ni di xa a di da do ba ly. A di da xa da ba nat ha le a di da xa ba la sa da ni niet phu de a ca xa nat, phu da a ca xa nat de xa a ca xa nat do de a, ca xa cuu xa ly a ca xa dat xa ni a ca xa de, tha ni luu ba nat de xa lo ba than ne the, gia doa loi Dat ma ba la sa a ni gia thoa loi a loi xa sa de xa ba la sa da ni gia doa loi mat da ba na ba la sa da ni ba la Bi-le-Da ba la sa da ni Dat ma than tha ni cuu xa ly cuu xa la,

nat de xa cuu xa la ba la de tha ni Phat-da cuu xa ly ti Phat-da ba la ba tu Dat ma ca la ni nat chuyen de nat phu de ti ma ly ti la do la do tu la sa ki la Sa da la ba ly la Sa da la a dia tha ni cuu xa ly ba la de cuu xa ly ti cuu xa ly tha de tu da da chi de tu ba la xa da chi de tu ba la de si de tu ly tu muc xi dat duong dat dat de ly ba gia ba ly a xa ba ly Phat-da ca xa nat cuu ni Phat-da ca xa cuu ni Sa Ba ha.

This is the Great Dharani of Amitabha, the Drum-Sound King. If there are bhikshus, bhikshunis, good men, or faithful women, they should always sincerely receive and uphold it,

read and recite it, and practice according to the teaching. In practicing this Dharma, one should stay in a quiet and secluded place, bathe the body, wear new and clean garments, eat vegetarian food, abstain from wine, meat, and the five pungent plants, always cultivate pure conduct, and use fine flowers and incense to make offerings to Amitabha Tathagata and to the bodhimanda.

The assembly of great bodhisattvas should always, with sincere minds, single-mindedly recollect him, make the vow to seek rebirth in the world of Peace and Bliss, and be diligent and single-minded without laziness; then they will certainly attain rebirth in that world. There Amitabha Buddha and the great assembly sit upon precious lotus flowers. In that land there are forests of trees with fine flowers and fruits, interspersed with many kinds of jewels. There is also a king of trees; when the wind carries its rich fragrance, it gives forth harmonious sounds, proclaiming the inconceivable unsurpassed Dharma.

There is also a fragrance named Light, and all the various kinds of anointing incense are precious fragrances. Amitabha Buddha sits in full lotus posture upon a great jeweled flower, with two bodhisattvas, Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta, standing in attendance on either side, and with countless bodhisattvas surrounding him.

If any person deeply believes and has no doubt, that person will certainly attain rebirth in the land of Amitabha Buddha. The ground of that land is entirely of pure gold, and lotus flowers of the seven treasures naturally spring forth. If there are bhikshus, bhikshunis, good men, or faithful women who receive, uphold, read, and recite the name of Amitabha Buddha, then there will be no fears of weapons, water, fire, poison, nor fear of yaksha ghosts and the like; except for those with heavy karmic obstructions from past lives, for whom at most seven lives must pass.

When the Buddha spoke this Sutra of Amitabha, the Drum-Sound King Dharani, immeasurable beings made the vow to seek birth in the World of Ultimate Bliss.

At that time the World-Honored One praised them, saying: Good indeed! Good indeed! Just as you have made your vows, you will certainly attain rebirth. When the Buddha had spoken this sutra, devas, dragons, and the eight classes of beings were all joyful and delighted, made obeisance, and reverently practiced it.

Sutra of Amitabha, the Drum-Sound King Dharani

The End