Kim Cang Đỉnh Du Già Niệm Châu Kinh

At that time, the Blessed One Vairocana said to Vajrapani:

“Excellent, excellent! Today, for the sake of the bodhisattvas who cultivate mantra practice, you should expound the various rites and rules of practice. Moreover, out of compassion for all sentient beings in future ages, explain the supreme benefits of the merit of prayer beads[1]. By hearing this wondrous essential teaching, all may swiftly attain siddhi[2].”

Bodhisattva Vajrasattva addressed the Buddha:

“Yes, Blessed One! I shall now explain it!”

At that time, Bodhisattva Vajrasattva immediately spoke these verses:

Each bead represents the bodhisattva’s fruit;

The spaces between them signify the severing of delusions;

The cord threading all the beads signifies Avalokitesvara;

The mother bead represents Amitayus.

One must not pass over it, committing the transgression of violating the Dharma;

All merit is accumulated by counting the beads.

Beads made of conch shell yield one measure of merit;

Those made of soapberry wood yield twice as much;

Using iron beads yields three times the merit;

If made of red copper, they yield four times the merit;

Crystal, pearls, or various precious substances—

Reciting with such a rosary yields a hundredfold merit,

And Indra’s celestial beads yield a thousandfold merit.

Beads made of vajra yield a hundred million times the merit;

Reciting with lotus-seed beads adds a hundred billionfold merit;

If the beads are bodhi seeds, the merit is limitless.

For recitation in the Buddha Family[3], use bodhi beads;

For the Vajra Family[4], use vajra beads.

For the Jewel Family[5], recite with beads of precious substances;

For the Lotus Family, use lotus-seed beads.

For rosaries according to the rites of the Karma Family,

Use various kinds of beads threaded into a strand.

Rosaries are divided into four classes:

Superior, most excellent, intermediate, and lower.

One thousand and eighty beads constitute the superior class;

One hundred and eight constitute the most excellent;

Fifty-four beads constitute the intermediate class;

Twenty-seven beads constitute the lower class.

Hold the rosary with both hands directly before the heart;

Be tranquil, free from thoughts, with the mind intently focused.

When the yogic states of the practitioner and the principal deity[6] unite,

Accomplishment is attained in both principle and phenomena[7].

Place the rosary upon the crown of the head or elsewhere on the body,

Or wear it around the neck or upon the arm;

Every word uttered then becomes recitation,

And through reciting in this way, the three karmas are purified.

Placing the rosary in the topknot eradicates offenses leading to Avici[8];

Wearing it around the neck eradicates the four grave offenses;

Wearing it on the arm or holding it eradicates all offenses

And enables the practitioner swiftly to become pure.

If one cultivates mantras and dharanis

And recites the names of the Tathagatas and bodhisattvas,

One will obtain immeasurable wholesome merit,

And all supreme aspirations and wishes will be fulfilled.

The method for empowering a string of prayer beads is exactly as recorded in the Susiddhikara Sutra. It should be understood that this Yoga Sutra explains only the functions and meanings of the rosary and does not discuss its physical characteristics.

Notes:

[1] Prayer beads 念珠: Also called counting beads, recitation beads, or Buddha beads. They are counted while reciting the Buddha’s name in order to keep track of the number. The original Sanskrit term for prayer beads has four meanings: 1. A string of beads, a rosary, recitation beads, or the cord on which beads are threaded.

[2] Siddhi 悉地: Chinese meaning: accomplishment. By reciting and upholding mantras so that the three mysteries—body, speech, and mind—correspond, one accomplishes the wondrous fruits of both the mundane and supramundane realms.

[3] Buddha Family 佛部: Also called the Tathagata Family. The family belonging to the Buddha, one of the five families of the Vajradhatu or one of the three families of the Garbhadhatu in Esoteric Buddhism. It denotes the virtuous functions pertaining to Mahavairocana Tathagata within the mandalas of the two realms.

[4] Vajra Family 金剛部: The family composed of honored deities who hold vajra implements in their hands, representing the wisdom virtue of the Tathagata. It is one of the five families of the Vajradhatu or one of the three families of the Garbhadhatu in Esoteric Buddhism.

[5] Jewel Family 寶部: Also called the Mani Family. Among the Buddha’s myriad perfect virtues, his merit is boundless, like a treasury of mani jewels; therefore, it is called the Jewel Family. It is one of the five families of the Vajradhatu in Esoteric Buddhism.

[6] Principal deity 本尊: That which has inherently existed since beginningless time and upon which a practitioner of the Buddha’s path relies, or the most honored and supreme supramundane being.

[7] Principle and phenomena 理事: That is, underlying principle and phenomenal characteristics. Principle is the ultimate truth, while phenomena are the conventional truth.

[8] Avici 無間: Refers to the Avici hell.