Kim Cang Thọ Mạng Đà La Ni Kinh

At that time Vairocana Tathagata entered the Fourth Dhyana at the summit of the Realm of Form (Rupadhatu) and attained Equal and Perfect Awakening. He then descended to Mount Sumeru, to the jeweled Vajra pavilion. All the Tathagatas throughout the entire Dharma Realm, to the limits of empty space, came and assembled there, surrounding him before and behind.

With different mouths but one voice, they said: “We pray that the Blessed One will turn the wheel of the profound, secret, sublime Dharma. These are: the Wheel of the Vajra Realm, the Command Wheel of Subduing the Three Worlds, the Dharma Wheel of Universal Taming and Subjugation, and the Wheel of Accomplishing All Meanings. These four wheels all issue from the mind of Vairocana.

Each wheel has thirty-seven holy beings; each has its own mantra, each its own samadhi, each its own mudra, the rules for maintaining dignified conduct, the vow-power of great compassion, and so forth. In defiled Buddha lands and in pure and wondrous worlds, whether hidden or manifest, they turn the wheel of benefit and bliss, liberating sentient beings, each in ways that are not the same.”

After Vairocana Buddha had accepted the request of the Tathagatas, he wished to turn the Dharma wheel. Then he entered samadhi and contemplated Mahesvara, the Great Sovereign Deva (Mahesvara), seeing that he was obstinate and difficult to teach and transform, firmly attached to wrong views. He thought: Unless I use the serene body of great compassion, I shall not be able to tame and subjugate him.

At that time the Blessed One entered the Samadhi of Compassionate Wrath. From his breast there appeared the Five-Peaked Vajra Great Bodhi Mind, which poured forth the body of the Bodhisattva Vajra Who Subdues the Three Worlds, with four faces and eight arms, majestic virtue blazing, extraordinary and difficult to behold. He bowed everywhere to Vairocana Tathagata and to all Buddhas, saying: “I pray that the Blessed One will instruct me: what should I do?”

The Buddha said: “O Bodhisattva Who Subdues the Three Worlds (Trailokya Vijaya Bodhisattva)! Now you should subdue that assembly of great devas who are difficult to tame, causing them all to take refuge in the Buddhas, the Dharma, and the Sangha, and to arouse the bodhi mind.”

The Bodhisattva Who Subdues the Three Worlds then went to subdue all the devas. Only the Great Sovereign Deva, relying on his especially great majestic virtue, resisted him. The Bodhisattva Who Subdues the Three Worlds sternly punished him with every kind of suffering until he died. (His left foot trampled the Great Deva, and his right foot trampled the Queen of Heaven.)

At that time Vairocana Tathagata entered the Samadhi of Great Compassion and Sympathy. He then spoke the Vajra Life Dharani, and again entered the Vajra Life Samaya. By forming the secret mudra, he empowered Mahesvara, the Deva King, to come back to life, increased his lifespan, caused him to take refuge in the Buddhas, arouse the bodhi mind, receive abhiseka and a prophecy, and realize the position of the Eighth Bhumi, the Immovable Ground.

Vajra Life Mantra:

湡 向忝仰守 送扣

Aùn, phộc nhật-la dụ sái, sa-phộc ha

OMÏ VAJRAYUSÏAI (? VAJRA AYUSÏAI) SVÀHÀ

The Buddha said: “Vajra Bodhisattva! If there are good men or good women who receive and uphold this, recite and chant it, separately one thousand times in each of the three periods of the day, then all evil karmic causes and conditions, short life, premature death, and so forth from past and present lives will, because they uphold this mantra, be overcome. Their minds of faith will become pure, their karmic obstructions will be extinguished, and their lifespans will immediately increase.

If a person cultivates samadhi, then in this very life, without changing the body born from father and mother, that person will obtain the five superknowledges and freely fly through empty space.

Next one should recite the mantra for protecting the body and donning armor:

湡 鈰 向忝僝

Aùn châm, phộc nhật-la dục

OMÏ DDHAMÏ (?趐: TÏÙMÏ) VAJRAYUHÏ (?VAJRA AYUHÏ)

Next one should contemplate the syllable Dục (兆 :YAHÏ), radiating brilliant light everywhere, becoming the Great Vajra Life Bodhisattva (Mahavajrayuh bodhisattva).

Next, use the Four-Syllable Vidya to lead and invite the Bodhisattva to descend and enter the mandala to receive the offerings. The Four-Syllable Secret Mantra is:

切 狫 圳 趌

Nhạ hồng noan hộc

JAHÏ HÙMÏ VAMÏ HOHÏ

At that time the great assembly, hearing what the Buddha had spoken, all faithfully received it and put it into practice.

THE VAJRA LIFE DHARANI SUTRA (End)

Enpo, fourth year, fifth month. Copied from the edition of Mai Vĩ Tạng_ Vinaya Master TỊNH NGHIÊM

Tenmei, first year, year of Tân Sửu. Copied from the edition of Uji Tuệ Tâm Viện_ TỪ NHẪN

This year one copy was obtained. It was copied, compared and collated, and then printed. Since this sutra was excerpted from an earlier sutra, it cannot be considered complete. I only hope that those with clear eyes will separately distinguish the correct and incorrect versions.

Hồ Châu, Trường Cốc Temple, dwelling on the islet_ ŚĀKYA KHỐI ĐẠO

Once, holding the brush, I completed the collation. Year of Quý Hợi, fourth month, sixth day_ TỪ THUẬN