Nhứt Thiết Như Lai Tâm Bí Mật Toàn Thân Xá Lợi Bảo Khiếp ấn Đà La Ni Kinh

Thus have I truly heard. At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the kingdom of Magadha, in the Immaculate Garden by the Jeweled Radiant Light Pond, together with great bodhisattvas, great shravakas, devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, humans, nonhumans, and others—an immeasurable assembly of hundreds of thousands surrounding him on every side.

At that time, among the assembly was a great brahmin named Immaculate Wondrous Light. He was learned and wise, beloved by everyone, and constantly practiced the ten wholesome deeds. He revered the Three Jewels, possessed a benevolent and deeply compassionate heart and subtle wisdom, and always wished that all sentient beings might fully attain benefit, goodness, great wealth, and abundance.

The brahmin Immaculate Wondrous Light then rose from his seat, approached the Buddha, circumambulated him seven times, and respectfully offered the Blessed One various kinds of incense and flowers, priceless exquisite garments, jeweled necklaces, and precious pearl garlands. Having bowed his head at the Buddha’s feet, he withdrew and sat to one side, saying: “I humbly beseech the Blessed One and the entire assembly to come to my home tomorrow morning and accept my offerings.”

The Blessed One silently consented. Knowing that the Buddha had accepted his invitation, the brahmin Immaculate Wondrous Light returned home. That very night, he extensively prepared a hundred kinds of fine food and drink, swept and cleansed the halls, and hung banners, pennants, and jeweled canopies. When everything was ready at dawn, he and his retinue took incense, flowers, and musical instruments to the Tathagata and said: “The time has come. We humbly beseech you to descend and honor us with your presence.”

The Blessed One gently instructed and comforted the brahmin Immaculate Wondrous Light. He then announced to the entire assembly: “All of you should go to that brahmin’s home and accept his offerings, so that this brahmin may obtain great benefit.”

The Blessed One then rose from his seat. As soon as he stood, various brilliant rays of light streamed from the Buddha’s body. Their wondrous colors intermingled and illuminated the ten directions, startling and awakening all beings. Only then did he set out. With a reverent heart, the brahmin carried wondrous incense and flowers and, together with his retinue, the devas, nagas, and eight classes of beings, Shakra, Brahma, and the Four Heavenly Kings, went ahead to prepare the road and respectfully guide the Tathagata.

Before the Blessed One had gone far, he came to a garden called Abundant Wealth. Within that garden stood an ancient stupa, ruined and dilapidated, its pieces fallen away. It was overgrown with thorns and concealed by grass and trees; its doors, bricks, and tiles were buried, so that it resembled a mound of earth. The Blessed One turned his steps and approached the stupa. The stupa emitted a great and dazzling radiance, and from within the earthen mound came a voice of praise: “Excellent, excellent! Shakyamuni has today performed a deed of supreme goodness! Moreover, O brahmin, today you have gained great benefit and goodness.”

The Blessed One then bowed before the ruined stupa and circumambulated it three times. He removed his outer robe and spread it over the stupa. Tears fell from his eyes, mingled with tears of blood. After weeping, he smiled. At that moment, the Buddhas of the ten directions saw this and likewise shed tears, sending forth rays of light that illuminated the stupa. Seeing this, the assembly was astonished and their countenances changed. Together they entreated the Buddha to resolve their doubts.

At that time, the bodhisattva Vajrapani and the others also shed tears. His majestic radiance blazed like red fire. Brandishing his vajra, he approached the Buddha and said to the Blessed One: “What causes these radiant signs to appear? Why does the Tathagata shed tears in this manner? The Buddhas of the ten directions have likewise manifested auspicious signs of radiant light before us. We humbly beseech the Tathagata to resolve the doubts of this assembly.”

The Buddha said: “Vajrapani, the great, complete bodily relics of the Tathagata are accumulated within this jeweled stupa. All the essential teachings of the immeasurable kotis of Tathagatas—their heart dharanis and secret seals—are now contained within it. Vajrapani, because these essential teachings are present therein, the stupa has become layer upon layer, without even a sesame seed’s breadth of empty space.

Within it are hundreds of thousands of kotis of bodies of Tathagatas, packed together like sesame seeds. Hundreds of thousands of kotis of complete bodily relics of the Tathagatas are gathered therein. Even the eighty-four thousand Dharma collections are contained in it, and the ushnishas of ninety-nine hundred thousand myriad kotis of Tathagatas are also therein.

Because of these wondrous things, this stupa possesses supreme miraculous efficacy, majestic virtue, and great spiritual power, and it can fulfill every auspicious joy and blessing in the world.”

When the assembly heard the Buddha speak, they were freed from defilement, severed their afflictions, and attained the pure Dharma eye. The members of the assembly then received various benefits. Some realized the fruit of stream-entry, once-returning, non-returning, or arhatship; others attained the path of a pratyekabuddha, the bodhisattva path, avaivartika—non-retrogression—or sarvajnana, omniscient wisdom. Each attained one such realization. Some realized the First Ground, the Second Ground, and so forth up to the Tenth Ground, while others perfected the six paramitas.

That brahmin was also freed from defilement and attained the five superknowledges.

Seeing this rare and extraordinary event, Vajrapani said to the Blessed One: “How wondrous, how extraordinary! Merely hearing of this matter enables one to attain such supreme merit. How much greater must be the merit of one who hears its profound principle and gives rise to wholehearted faith!”

The Buddha said: “Vajrapani, listen carefully! In future times, if a good man, faithful woman, or member of the fourfold assembly of my disciples resolves to copy a single scroll of this sutra, it will be equivalent to copying all the scriptures spoken by ninety-nine hundred thousand myriad kotis of Tathagatas. Such a person will have long planted roots of goodness before ninety-nine hundred thousand myriad kotis of Tathagatas and will be empowered, protected, and lovingly remembered by all those Tathagatas, who will cherish that person as their own eyes, just as a loving mother cherishes her young child.

If anyone reads and recites one scroll of this sutra, it will be equivalent to reading and reciting the scriptures of all the Buddhas of the past, present, and future. Therefore, ninety-nine hundred thousand myriad kotis of Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones, packed together without a gap like sesame seeds, will come here layer upon layer and manifest their bodies day and night to empower the practitioner.

Innumerable Tathagatas, as countless as all the sands of the Ganges, will assemble in this way: before one group departs, another multitude will arrive; after departing for an instant, they will return again, like fine grains of sand in a whirlpool, never resting for even a moment. If anyone offers incense, flowers, fragrant ointments, garlands, exquisite garments, and complete adornments to this sutra, it is as though, before those ninety-nine hundred thousand myriad kotis of Tathagatas throughout the ten directions, that person offered celestial incense and flowers, complete sets of adorned garments, and the seven treasures piled as high as Mount Sumeru.

The roots of goodness planted will likewise be equal.”

When the devas, nagas, eight classes of beings, humans, and nonhumans heard these words, each cherished a sense of wonder and said together: “How extraordinary is the majestic virtue of this ancient earthen mound! Because the Tathagata’s spiritual power empowers it, such miraculous transformations occur.”

Vajrapani again addressed the Buddha: “World-Honored One, for what reason does a stupa made of the seven treasures appear as an earthen mound?”

The Buddha said: “Vajrapani! This is not an earthen mound but a supremely wondrous great jeweled stupa. Because the karmic recompense of sentient beings is deficient, it is concealed and does not appear.

Although the stupa is hidden, the complete body of the Tathagata within it is indestructible. How could the Tathagata’s vajra-treasury body ever be destroyed? After my parinirvana, during the Final Dharma age and its oppressive times, sentient beings will practice what is contrary to the Dharma and deserve to fall into hell.

They will not believe in the Three Jewels or plant roots of goodness. Because of these causes and conditions, the Buddha-Dharma will become hidden. Nevertheless, this stupa will remain firm and indestructible, for the spiritual power of all Tathagatas empowers it.

Ignorant beings, obscured by delusive hindrances, will possess this precious treasure in vain without knowing how to use it. For this reason, I now shed tears, and those Tathagatas also shed tears.”

The Buddha further said: “Vajrapani! If any sentient being copies this sutra and places it within a stupa, that stupa thereby becomes the vajra-treasury stupa of all Tathagatas. It is also the stupa empowered by the secret heart dharanis of all Tathagatas; the stupa of ninety-nine hundred thousand myriad kotis of Tathagatas; the Buddha-ushnisha and Buddha-eye stupa of all Tathagatas; and it is protected by the great spiritual power of all Tathagatas.

If this sutra is installed within a Buddha image or stupa, that image becomes as though fashioned from the seven treasures. Its miraculous efficacy responds to the mind, and no wish remains unfulfilled. As for such a stupa, one may adorn and make offerings to its four sides according to one’s ability with parasols, canopies, curtains, Dharma wheels, bronze offering trays, bells, or chimes.

Whether it is made of clay, wood, stone, or brick, through the majestic power of the sutra it naturally becomes the seven treasures. All Tathagatas will empower that stupa with their awe-inspiring spiritual power and unceasingly sustain it through their words of truth.

“If a sentient being worships and makes offerings to this stupa with a single stick of incense or one flower, all grave offenses accumulated throughout eight billion kalpas of birth and death will be extinguished. While living, that person will escape calamities; after death, that person will be born in a Buddha-land. If a sentient being is destined to fall into the Avici hell, but bows once or circumambulates once to the right around this stupa, the gates of hell will be closed and the path to bodhi opened.

Every place containing such a stupa or image will be protected by the spiritual power of all Tathagatas. That place will not be harmed by gales, lightning, or thunderbolts; nor injured by venomous snakes, centipedes, scorpions, poisonous insects, or savage beasts; nor harmed by lions, mad elephants, tigers, leopards, jackals, bees, or spiders. Neither yakshas, rakshasas, bhutas, pishachas, demons, malignant spirits, madness, nor terror will afflict it.

It will not be infected by any illnesses of cold or heat, scabies, tumors, burns, festering sores, ringworm, or leprosy.

“If anyone merely sees this stupa, all calamities can be dispelled. In that place, neither people, horses, six kinds of livestock, boys, nor girls will suffer epidemic diseases. None will die suddenly or prematurely, nor be injured by blades, clubs, water, or fire.

They will not be assaulted by thieves or enemies and will not suffer anxiety, hunger, thirst, or deprivation. Enchantments and curses will be unable to find an opportunity to harm them. The Four Great Heavenly Kings and their retinues will guard them day and night.

The twenty-eight divisions of great yaksha generals, the sun, moon, five planets, banner stars, and comets will protect them day and night. All naga kings will augment their vital energy and send rain at the proper season. All devas, including those of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, will descend three times daily to make offerings.

All immortals will gather three times daily, singing praises, circumambulating, bowing, and gazing reverently. Shakra, Lord of the Devas, together with celestial maidens, will descend three times each day and night to make offerings. That place will be protected, remembered, and empowered by all Tathagatas.

All this will occur because this sutra is placed within the stupa.

“If anyone builds a stupa from earth, stone, wood, gold, silver, copper, or lead, writes this mantra, and places it inside, then as soon as it is installed, the stupa will become the seven treasures. Its upper and lower terraces and steps, its parasols, canopies, bells, chimes, and Dharma wheels will all become the seven treasures. That stupa will embody the forms of the Tathagatas of the four directions.

Because of this essential teaching, all Tathagatas will remain firmly present, guarding it day and night without departing. That seven-jeweled stupa is the wondrous treasure treasury of complete bodily relics. Through the majestic power of the mantra, it will soar upward as high as the palace of the Akanishtha Heaven.

Wherever the stupa stands alone, all devas will gaze upon it, guard it, and make offerings day and night.”

Vajrapani asked: “For what reason does this stupa possess such supreme merit?”

The Buddha replied: “Know that it is due to the spiritual power of this Jeweled Casket Seal Dharani.”

Vajrapani said: “May the Tathagata have compassion for us and proclaim that dharani.”

The Buddha said: “Listen carefully, reflect upon it, and do not forget! The luminous ceremonial bodies and emanations of all present and future Tathagatas, and the complete bodily relics of all past Buddhas, are all within the Jeweled Casket Seal Dharani. The Three Bodies of all Tathagatas are also contained therein.”

The Blessed One then proclaimed the dharani:

Na ma Tất đát lị dã Địa vĩ ca nẫm Tát bà đát tha nghiệt đa nẫm Úm Bộ vĩ bà phạ na phạ lị Phạ dã lê Phạ dã trai Tổ rô tổ rô Đà ra đà ra Tát phạ đát tha nghiệt đa Đà đổ đà lê bát na mẩm bà phạ đế Nhạ dã phạ lê Mẩu đát lê tát ma ra Đát tha nghiệt đa Đạt ma Chước ca ra Bát la mật lật đa Na phạ nhật la Mạo địa mãn noa Lăng ca ra Lăng Hật rị đế Tát phạ đát tha nghiệt đa Địa sắc sĩ đế Mạo đà giả, Mạo đà giả, Mạo địa Mạo địa,

Một đình giả Một đình giả Sam mạo đà nể Sam mạo đà giả Giả lả giả lả Giả lại đô Tát phạ Phạ ra nỏa nể Tát phạ Bá ba Vĩ nghiệt đế Hộ rô hộ rô Tát phạ Thú ca nhị nghiệt đế Tát phạ đát tha nghiệt đa Hật rị na dã Phạ nhựt ra nĩ Tam bà ra tam bà ra Tát phạ đát tha nghiệt đa Ngu hế giả Đà ra nĩ Mẩu niết lê Ra một đệ Tô một đệ Tát phạ đát tha nghiệt đa Địa sắc sĩ đa Đà đổ nghiệt bệ Ta phạ hạ Tam ma da Địa sắc sĩ đế Ta phạ hạ Tát phạ đát tha nghiệt đa Hật rị na dã Đà đổ Mẫu nại lê Ta phạ hạ Tô bát la Để sắc sĩ đa Tát đổ bế Đát tha nghiệt đa Địa sắc sĩ đế Hộ rô hộ rô Hồng hồng Ta phạ hạ Úm Tát phạ đát tha nghiệt đa Ổ sắc nỉ sa Đà đổ Mẩu nại ra ni Tát phạ đát tha nghiệt đơn Ta đà đổ vĩ bộ sử đa Địa sắc sĩ đế Hồng Hồng Ta phạ hạ.

When the Buddha had proclaimed this mantra, the Buddha-Tathagatas within the earthen mound uttered praises: “Excellent, excellent! World-Honored Shakyamuni, for the benefit of sentient beings without refuge, you have appeared in this defiled evil age to expound this profound and wondrous Dharma. May such an essential teaching long abide in the world, bringing vast benefit, peace, and happiness.”

The Buddha then said to Vajrapani: “Listen carefully to this essential teaching. Its spiritual power is inexhaustible, and its benefits are boundless. It is like a wish-fulfilling jewel hung atop a banner, constantly raining down every treasure and fulfilling every aspiration.

I shall now explain only one part in ten thousand; you should remember and uphold it for the benefit of all beings. If an evil person dies, falls into hell, and undergoes uninterrupted suffering without any prospect of release, and if that person’s descendants pronounce the deceased’s name and recite the mantra above exactly seven times, then the boiling copper and burning iron balls in hell will suddenly become a cool pond possessing the eight excellent qualities.

A lotus will immediately arise to support that person’s feet, and a jeweled canopy will cover the person’s head. The gates of hell will shatter, and the path to bodhi will open. That lotus will fly directly to the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Omniscience of all aspects will naturally manifest, the person will experience immeasurable joy, and will attain the rank of a bodhisattva in the final existence before Buddhahood.

“Again, if a sentient being bears the heavy recompense of grave offenses, so that a hundred illnesses gather in the body and the mind is tormented and oppressed, by reciting this mantra twenty-one times, a hundred illnesses and myriad afflictions will all be extinguished at once. That person’s lifespan will be prolonged, and merit and virtue will be inexhaustible.

“If, because of stinginess and greed in a former life, someone is born into a poor household, without clothing sufficient to cover the body or food sufficient to fill the mouth, emaciated and ugly, despised and reviled by others, that person, feeling ashamed, may enter the mountains to gather ownerless fragrant flowers or grind decayed wood to obtain fragrance—the agarwood core within the trunk. If that person goes to the stupa containing this sutra, bows and makes offerings, circumambulates it seven times, sheds tears, and repents, then through the power of the mantra and the majestic virtue of the stupa, the recompense of poverty will be extinguished.

The person will suddenly become wealthy and honored, and the seven treasures will rain down, leaving no deficiency. At that time, the person should make offerings to the Buddha and Dharma and give alms to the poor. If the person remains miserly and hoards the wealth, those riches will naturally disappear.

“Again, if someone wishes to plant roots of goodness and builds a stupa according to that person’s means, whether of mud or pottery, even as small as an amalaki fruit and four finger-widths high, writes the mantra, and installs it within the stupa, then after the installation, that person should offer incense and flowers, bow, and make offerings. Through the mantra’s power and the person’s sincere faith, a great cloud of fragrance will issue from the small stupa. Its perfume will spread like a cloud across the sky, and its radiance will pervade the entire dharmadhatu. Its fragrance will fill the air, and its light will shine brilliantly, extensively accomplishing the work of the Buddhas. The practitioner will attain the merit described above.

“In summary, no aspiration will remain unfulfilled. If, during the Final Dharma age, members of the fourfold assembly, good men, and faithful women exert themselves to build a stupa for the sake of unsurpassed enlightenment and install this mantra within it, the merit they gain cannot be fully expressed.

“If anyone seeking merit goes to that stupa, takes one fragrant flower or one stick of precious incense, bows, makes offerings, circumambulates it, and practices the path, then through this merit, high office and authority will come unasked; longevity and wealth will increase without being sought; enemies and robbers will flee without being fought; hostile thoughts and curses will return to their source without counterspells; epidemics and pernicious influences will avoid that person without being driven away; a worthy husband or virtuous wife will be obtained without being sought; and worthy sons and beautiful daughters will be born without being requested. Every aspiration will be fulfilled according to one’s wishes.

“If crows, sparrows, cuckoos, owls, pigeons, forest birds, wolves, jackals, mosquitoes, ants, or flies touch the form of the stupa or tread upon grass at its foundation, their delusive hindrances will immediately be destroyed, they will awaken from ignorance, enter a Buddha-land, and receive the wealth of the Dharma. How much more will this be true of people who see the stupa’s form, hear the ringing of its bells, hear its name, or have its shadow touch their bodies?

All their karmic hindrances will be extinguished, their wishes fulfilled, their present lives peaceful, and their future birth will be in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. If someone, according to that person’s ability, takes a lump of earth to repair a damaged part of the stupa, or reaches out to pick up a stone and supports a leaning portion of it, through this merit the person’s blessings will increase and lifespan be prolonged.

After death, that person will become a wheel-turning monarch.

“After my parinirvana, if members of the fourfold assembly wish to rescue beings in the realms of suffering, they should make offerings of incense and flowers before the stupa, wholeheartedly make vows, and recite this mantra. Every word and every sentence will emit great rays of light that shine into the three lower realms—hell beings, hungry ghosts, and animals. All suffering will be extinguished, beings will be freed from pain, the seed of Buddhahood will immediately arise, and they will be reborn according to their wishes in the pure lands of the ten directions.

“If someone climbs to the summit of a high mountain and wholeheartedly recites the mantra, then wherever that person’s gaze reaches, near or far—mountains and valleys, forests and plains, streams and lakes, rivers and seas—all beings therein with fur, feathers, scales, fins, horns, or antlers will dissolve their delusive hindrances, awaken from ignorance, reveal the three kinds of Buddha-nature inherently possessed, and ultimately dwell securely in the realm of great nirvana.

“If anyone encounters a mantra-holder on the road, whether wind that has touched the practitioner’s robe touches that person, that person’s feet tread upon the practitioner’s footprints, that person merely sees the practitioner’s face, or the two briefly exchange words, all who meet the practitioner in these ways will have their grave offenses extinguished and will completely attain the siddhis.”

The Buddha then told Vajrapani: “I now entrust this secret scripture and mantra to you. Revere, protect, uphold, and disseminate it throughout the world. Do not allow its transmission to sentient beings to be severed.”

Vajrapani said: “I am now fortunate to receive the Blessed One’s entrustment. Blessed One, wishing to repay the profound and weighty kindness of the Blessed One, we shall guard, uphold, and disseminate it day and night, proclaiming and spreading it throughout the world. If sentient beings copy, receive, uphold, and remember it without forgetting, we shall command Shakra, Brahma, the Four Heavenly Kings, the naga spirits, and the eight classes of beings to guard them day and night, never abandoning these mantra-holders even for a moment.”

The Buddha said: “Excellent, Vajrapani! For the sake of all sentient beings in future ages, and in order to bring them vast and great benefit, you shall protect this Dharma and prevent it from being severed.”

The Blessed One then proclaimed the Jeweled Casket Seal Dharani and extensively performed the work of the Buddhas. Afterward, he went to the brahmin’s home and accepted the various offerings. Having enabled the humans and devas of that time to gain great merit and benefit, he returned to his original dwelling place.

The entire assembly of bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, upasikas, devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, humans, nonhumans, and others rejoiced greatly, faithfully accepted the teaching, and practiced it accordingly.

The Sutra of the Secret Heart of All Tathagatas, the Complete Bodily Relics, and the Jeweled Casket Seal Dharani (End)

Translated into Vietnamese by Shramana Thich Vien Duc (September 1977)

Digitized by Nguyen Minh Hoang