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

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the kingdom of Magadha, in the Immaculate Garden by the Lake of Precious Radiance, together with a great assembly of bodhisattvas, great sravakas, devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, humans and nonhumans—immeasurable hundreds of thousands gathered together and surrounding him on every side.

At that time, in the assembly there was a great brahmin named Immaculate Wondrous Radiance. He was learned and wise, revered and beloved by all. He constantly practiced the ten wholesome deeds, had profound faith in and took refuge in the Three Jewels, possessed a deeply benevolent heart and subtle wisdom, and always wished to enable all sentient beings to enjoy complete well-being, wealth, and abundance.

The brahmin Immaculate Wondrous Radiance then rose from his seat, approached the Buddha, circumambulated him seven times, and respectfully offered the World-Honored One incense, flowers, priceless wondrous garments, jeweled necklaces, and pearls. He bowed at the Buddha’s feet, withdrew to one side, and said:

“May the World-Honored One and the great assembly come to my home tomorrow morning and accept my offerings.”

The World-Honored One silently consented. Knowing that the Buddha had accepted his invitation, the brahmin returned home. That very night he prepared a hundred kinds of food and drink, swept and cleansed the halls, and hung banners, streamers, and precious canopies. Early the next morning, he and his retinue, carrying incense and flowers and accompanied by musicians, went to the Tathagata and said, “The time has come. May you deign to arrive.”

The World-Honored One gently reassured the brahmin Immaculate Wondrous Radiance and proclaimed to the entire assembly:

“You should all go to that brahmin’s home and accept his offerings so that he may obtain great benefit.” The World-Honored One then rose from his seat. As soon as he had arisen, streams of light issued from the Buddha’s body, their wondrous colors intermingling and illuminating the ten directions, causing everything to tremble. Only afterward did he proceed.

The brahmin reverently carried exquisite 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 World-Honored One had gone far, he came to a garden called Abundant Wealth. In that garden stood an ancient stupa, ruined and dilapidated, overgrown with thorns and concealed by grasses and trees. Its entrance was blocked by buried bricks and tiles, and it looked like a mound of earth. The World-Honored One then walked toward the stupa. Suddenly the stupa emitted a great radiance that shone brilliantly, and from within the earthen mound a voice of praise was heard:

“Excellent! Excellent! Shakyamuni has today created a most excellent occasion. Moreover, brahmin, today you have gained exceedingly great benefit.”

The World-Honored One bowed to the ruined stupa, circumambulated it three times, removed his upper robe and spread it over the stupa. Tears fell from his eyes, and then he smiled. At that moment, the Buddhas of the ten directions saw this and likewise shed tears, emitting light that illuminated the stupa. Seeing this, the assembly was astonished and changed countenance, and together they implored the Buddha to resolve their doubts.

Bodhisattva Vajrapani also shed tears. Blazing with majestic radiance like fire and brandishing his vajra, he approached the Buddha and said:

“World-Honored One, through what causes and conditions does this luminous sign appear? Why does the Tathagata shed tears in this manner? The Buddhas of the ten directions also emit light, manifesting auspicious signs before us. May the Tathagata resolve the assembly’s doubts.”

The Buddha said, “Vajrapani, within this precious stupa are accumulated the great relics of the Tathagata’s entire body. The essential Dharma of the secret seals and the countless kotis of Heart-Dharanis of all Tathagatas is also contained within it.

“Vajrapani, because this essential Dharma is contained therein, this stupa has become densely filled, layer upon layer like a heap of sesame seeds, with hundreds of thousands of kotis of Tathagata bodies. Know that, like a heap of sesame seeds, hundreds of thousands of kotis of complete bodily relics of Tathagatas are assembled within it. Even the eighty-four thousand scriptures of the true Dharma are stored therein. Ninety-nine hundred-thousand myriad kotis of the ushnishas of Tathagatas are also contained within it. Because of these wondrous qualities, this stupa possesses sublime miraculous powers, marvelous spiritual efficacy, and majestic virtue, and it can bestow every blessing upon the entire world.”

When the assembly heard the Buddha speak thus, they all became free from defilement, severed their afflictions, and attained the pure Dharma eye. At the same time, the various members of the assembly obtained different benefits. Some attained the fruit of stream-entry, once-returning, non-returning, or arhatship; some attained the fruit of a pratyekabuddha; some entered the bodhisattva bhumis; some attained avaivartika, non-retrogression; some realized the first bhumi, the second bhumi, and so forth through the tenth bhumi; and some perfected the six paramitas. That brahmin also became free from defilement and attained the five superknowledges.

Seeing this extraordinary and rare event, Vajrapani said to the World-Honored One, “How truly marvelous and wondrous! Merely hearing of this matter produces such sublime merit. How much more merit will be gained by those who hear its profound meaning and sincerely give rise to faith!” The Buddha said, “Vajrapani, listen attentively!

“In future ages, if any good man or faithful woman among my fourfold assembly of disciples resolves to copy one volume 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 surpass the roots of virtue planted by ninety-nine hundred-thousand myriad kotis of Tathagatas and will also receive the empowering protection and mindfulness of all 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 volume of this sutra, it will be equivalent to reading and reciting the scriptures of the Buddhas of the past, present, and future. Therefore, ninety-nine hundred-thousand myriad kotis of all perfectly enlightened Tathagatas, densely gathered without any gap like layers of sesame seeds, will come and manifest day and night to empower that person. Thus, innumerable Buddhas and Tathagatas, as countless as the sands of the Ganges, will assemble: before the first group has departed, successive multitudes will arrive; they will depart for a moment and then return, like fine grains of sand revolving ceaselessly in a surging current.

“If anyone offers this sutra incense, flowers, fragrant ointments, garlands, or exquisitely adorned garments, it is as though that person were offering the ninety-nine hundred-thousand myriad kotis of Tathagatas in the ten directions celestial incense and flowers, garments, and adornments of the seven treasures piled as high as Mount Sumeru. The roots of merit from these two acts are equal and no different.

“When the devas, nagas, and eight classes of beings, humans and nonhumans, heard this, they all regarded it as extraordinarily rare and exclaimed together, ‘How wondrous is the majestic virtue of this ruined earthen mound! Through the empowering spiritual power of the Tathagata alone, it manifests such miraculous transformations.’

“Vajrapani again asked the Buddha, ‘World-Honored One, through what causes and conditions does a stupa of the seven treasures appear as a mound of earth?’

“The Buddha said, ‘Vajrapani, this is not an earthen mound but an exceedingly wondrous great precious stupa. Because the karmic fruits of sentient beings are deficient, it is concealed and does not appear. Since the stupa contains the concealed, complete, and indestructible body of the Tathagata, how could the vajra-treasury body of the Tathagata ever be destroyed?

After my nirvana, in the latter age of the Dharma, when oppressive times arise, sentient beings will commit unlawful deeds and fall into the hells. They will not believe in the Three Jewels and will not plant roots of virtue. Because of these causes and conditions, the Buddhadharma will become hidden.

Nevertheless, this stupa will remain firm and indestructible, empowered by the spiritual power of all Tathagatas. Ignorant sentient beings, obscured by delusion, possess precious treasure but do not know how to use it. For this reason I shed tears, and those Tathagatas likewise shed tears.’

“The Buddha further said, ‘Vajrapani, if a sentient being copies this sutra and places it within a stupa, that stupa will thereby become the precious stupa of the vajra-treasury bodies of all Tathagatas [stupa]. It will also be the precious stupa empowered by the secret Heart-Dharanis of all Tathagatas; the precious stupa of ninety-nine hundred-thousand myriad kotis of Tathagatas; and the precious stupa of the Buddha-ushnishas and Buddha eyes of all Tathagatas. It will thus be protected by the spiritual power of all Tathagatas.

“‘If this sutra is enshrined within a Buddha image or a many-storied stupa, that image will become as though fashioned from the seven treasures, possessing spiritual efficacy, and no vow will fail to be fulfilled. According to one’s means, that precious stupa may be furnished with parasols and canopies, curtains, wheels and poles, metal plates, bells hung beneath the eaves, and steps made of earth, wood, stone, or fired brick. Through the majestic power of this sutra, they will naturally become the seven treasures. All Tathagatas will use this sutra to augment the power of that stupa, continuously empowering it with the mantra.

“‘If any sentient being worships and makes offerings to this stupa with just one stick of incense or one flower, all grave offenses accumulated through eighty kotis of kalpas of birth and death will be extinguished. While alive, that being will be freed from calamities, and after death will be born in a Buddha land. If a sentient being is destined to fall into Avici Hell but bows once before this stupa or circumambulates it once to the right, the gates of hell will be shut and the path of bodhi opened.

The precious stupa, its images, and their surroundings are protected by the spiritual power of all Tathagatas. That place will not be harmed by storms, thunder, or lightning; nor injured by venomous snakes, centipedes, scorpions, poisonous insects, or venomous beasts; nor harmed by savage lions, mad elephants, tigers, leopards, jackals, bees, or spiders. Neither yakshas, rakshasas, evil spirits, wangliang demons, madness, nor terror will afflict it.

Nor will anyone there contract diseases of heat or cold, sores, cancers, boils, tumors, or leprosy. If a person merely glimpses this stupa, all calamities can be eliminated.

“‘In that place, humans, horses, the six kinds of livestock, boys, and girls will not suffer illness or epidemics. None will die unjustly or prematurely; none will be harmed by blades, clubs, water, or fire; none will be attacked by thieves or enemies; and none will suffer hunger, thirst, poverty, deprivation, sorrow, or anxiety. Spells, enchantments, and curses will find no opportunity to inflict harm.

The Four Great Heavenly Kings and their retinues will guard it day and night. The twenty-eight divisions of great yaksha generals, the sun, moon, five planets, auspicious clouds, and comets will protect it day and night. All naga kings will increase its vital energy and send rain in due season.

All devas, together with the devas of the Trayastrimsha Heaven, will descend three times each day to make offerings.

“‘All immortals will gather three times each day, chanting praises, circumambulating, bowing, and gazing reverently. Shakra, Lord of the Devas, together with the celestial maidens, will descend three times by day and night to make offerings. That place will be protected, remembered, and empowered by all Tathagatas. Such will occur because this sutra is placed within the stupa.

“‘If anyone constructs a stupa from earth, stone, wood, gold, silver, copper, or lead, copies this mantra, and enshrines it within the stupa, as soon as it is enshrined, the stupa will become the seven treasures. Its upper and lower steps, terraces, parasols, canopies, bells, wheels, and poles will all become the seven treasures. That stupa will manifest the forms of Tathagatas in the four directions.

“‘Because of this essential Dharma, all Tathagatas will firmly abide there and protect it day and night without departing. That seven-jeweled stupa is the Wondrous Treasure Repository of complete bodily relics. Through the majestic power of the mantra, it will soar upward as high as the palace of the Akanishtha Heaven. The translucent stupa will stand majestically alone, while all devas gaze upon it, guard it, and make offerings day and night.’ Vajrapani asked, ‘Through what causes and conditions does this stupa possess such sublime merit?’

“The Buddha said, ‘Know that it is through the spiritual power of this Casket Seal Dharani.’ Vajrapani said, ‘May the Tathagata have compassion upon us and proclaim this dharani.’

“The Buddha said, ‘Listen attentively, bear it in mind, and never forget it!

“‘The radiant ceremonial bodies and emanations of all present and future Tathagatas, the complete bodily relics of all past Buddhas—all are sustained by this Casket Seal Dharani. The three bodies of the Tathagatas are also contained within it.’ The World-Honored One then proclaimed the mantra:

NAMAH STRYI DHVI KANAM, SARVA

TATHAGATANAM, OM BHUVIBHA VADHAVARI

VACHARI VACHATAI, SURU SURU DHARA DHARA, SARVA

TATHAGATA DHATUDHARI

PADMABHAVATI JAYAVARI, MUDRI SMARA TATHAGATA

DHARMA CHAKRA, PRAVARTTANA VAJRI

BODHI PANA, RUMKARA RUMKRITI,

SARVA TATHAGATA DHISTITE, BODHAYA

BODHAYA BODHI BODHI, BUDDHYA BUDDHYA, SAMBODHANI

SAMBODDHAYA, CHALA CHALA CHALAMTU,

SARVA VARANANI, SARVA PAPAVIGATE, HURU HURU

SARVA SUKHAVIGATI, SARVA TATHAGATA HARIDAYA VAJRANI,

SAMBHARA SAMBHARA,

SARVA TATHAGATA SUHAYA,

DHARANI MUDRI, BUDDHI SUBUDDHI, SARVA TATHAGATA DHISTITA,

DHATU GARBHE SVAHA,

SAMAYA DHISTITE SVAHA,

SARVA TATHAGATA HARIDAYA, DHATU MUDRI SVAHA,

SUPRA TISHITA STUBHE

TATHAGATA DHISTITE, HURU HURU HUM HUM SVAHA,

OM SARVA TATHAGATA USNISA,

DHATU MUDRANI, SARVA TATHAGATAM SADHA

TUVIBHUSITA, DHISTITE HUM HUM SVAHA.

Na-mát Sờ-Tơ-rị-da Đi-vi-ka-năm Sát-qua Tà-thá-ga-ta-năm

Ôm---Bu-vi Ba-qua Đa-qua-rị Qua-ca-rị Qua-ca-tại Su-ru Su-ru Đa-ra Đa-ra

Sát-qua Tà-thá-ga-ta Đà-tu Đa-rị Pá-đơ-mam Ba-qua-tị Giá-da Qua-rị Múc-đơ-rị Sờ-ma-ra Tà-thá-ga-ta Đạt-ma Chắc-ka-ra Pa-ra-qua-rật-ta-na Qua-giớ-rị Bô-đi Qua-na Lum-ka-ra Lum-ka-rật-tê

Sát-qua Tà-thá-ga-ta A-đi-xờ-thi-tê Bô-đà-da Bô-đà-da Bô-đi Bô-đi

Bụt-đà-da Bụt-đà-da Sam-bô-đa-nị Sam-bô-đa-dạ Ca-la Ca-la Ca-lạm-tu

Sát-qua A-qua-ra-na-nị Sát-qua Phà-pha Vi-ga-tê Hu-ru Hu-ru

Sát-qua Sô-ka Vi-ga-tê

Sát-qua Tà-thá-ga-ta Hớ-rị-đa-da Qua-giớ-ra-nị Sam-ba-ra Sam-ba-ra

Sát-qua Tà-thá-ga-ta Gu-ha-da Đa-ra-nị Múc-đơ-rị Bu-tê Su-bu-tê

Sát-qua Tà-thá-ga-ta A-đi-xờ-thi-ta Đà-tu Ga-rật-bà Xoa-ha. Sa-ma-da A-đi-xờ-thi-tê Xoa-hà.

Sát-qua Tà-thá-ga-ta Hờ-rị-đa-da Đà-tu Múc-đơ-rị Xoa-hà.

Sú-pha-ra-tị-xờ-thi-ta Sờ-tu-bê Tà-thá-ga-ta A-đi-xờ-thi-tê Hu-ru

Hu-ru Hùm Hùm Xoa-hà.

Ôm---Sát-qua Tà-thá-ga-ta U-sờ-ni-sa Đà-tu Múc-đơ-ra-nị Sát-qua

Tà-thá-ga-tam Sa-đa-tu Vi-bô-si-ta A-đi-xờ-thi-tê Hùm Hùm Xoa-hà. (1)

“When the Buddha had finished proclaiming the mantra, the Buddhas and Tathagatas within the earthen mound uttered praise: ‘Excellent! Excellent! World-Honored Shakyamuni, for the benefit of sentient beings without refuge, you have appeared in this defiled and evil age to expound such profound Dharma. May this essential Dharma long abide in the world, bringing vast benefit, peace, and happiness.’

“The Buddha then said to Vajrapani:

“‘Listen attentively to this essential Dharma. Its spiritual power is inexhaustible and its benefits boundless. It is like a wish-fulfilling jewel suspended from a banner, constantly raining down every treasure and satisfying every aspiration. I have now spoken only a ten-thousandth part in brief. You should remember and preserve it for the benefit of all.

“‘If an evil person dies, falls into hell, and undergoes uninterrupted suffering with no day of release, and if that person’s children or grandchildren invoke the deceased by name and recite the foregoing mantra seven times, the boiling copper and molten iron in hell will suddenly transform into a cool pond endowed with the eight excellent qualities. Lotus flowers will support the person’s feet, and a jeweled canopy will shelter the head. The gates of hell will be shattered and the path of bodhi opened. Seated upon that lotus, the person will fly directly to the Land of Ultimate Bliss. Omniscience will naturally manifest; the person will delight in expounding the Dharma without end and attain the rank of a bodhisattva in the final life before buddhahood.

“‘There may also be sentient beings whose karmic retribution is deep and heavy, so that hundreds of illnesses gather in their bodies and their minds are tormented and oppressed. If they recite this mantra twenty-one times, their hundreds of illnesses and myriad afflictions will all be extinguished at once; their lives will be prolonged and their merit inexhaustible. Or there may be persons who, through the karma of greed and miserliness, are born into poor families, without enough clothing to cover their bodies or enough food to fill their mouths. They are emaciated and ugly, and everyone scorns them.

“‘Ashamed and distressed, such a person may enter the mountains, gather ownerless wildflowers or grind decayed wood into incense, bring them to the stupa containing this sutra, bow and make offerings, circumambulate it seven times, and shed tears in repentance. Through the mantra’s power and the majestic virtue of the sacred stupa, the retribution of poverty will be eliminated, and the blessings of wealth and nobility will suddenly arrive. The seven treasures will pour down like rain, and there will be no further deprivation. At that time, however, the person should make offerings to the Buddha and Dharma and give alms to the poor. If that person remains greedy and hoards these riches, the treasures will suddenly disappear.

“‘If anyone wishes to plant roots of virtue and, according to that person’s capacity, builds a stupa of clay or other material—as large as a mango and four finger-widths high—copies this mantra, enshrines it within that stupa, and offers incense and flowers while bowing in worship, then through the power of the mantra and sincere faith, clouds of fragrant incense will issue from the little stupa. The fragrance will spread like celestial clouds, and light will pervade the entire dharma-dhatu. The pervasive fragrance and brilliant radiance will extensively perform Buddha-work, and the person will obtain all the merits described above. In brief, no vow will remain unfulfilled.

“‘In the latter age of the Dharma, if good men and good women of the fourfold assembly exert themselves for the unsurpassed path, build a stupa, and enshrine this mantra within it, the merit they create cannot be fully expressed. If anyone seeking merit approaches that stupa, offers a single fragrant flower or one stick of precious incense, bows in worship, circumambulates it, and practices the path, then through that merit, official rank, authority, honor, and glory will come unbidden; longevity and wealth will increase without being sought; enemies and thieves will disperse without being fought; and hostile thoughts and curses will return to their source without counterspells.

“‘Epidemics and harmful influences will withdraw of themselves without being avoided. A virtuous husband or devoted wife will be obtained without seeking, and worthy sons and beautiful daughters will be born without supplication. Every aspiration will be fulfilled according to one’s wishes.

“‘If birds such as crows, sparrows, owls, cuckoos, pigeons, and horned owls; or wolves, jackals, mosquitoes, ants, and flies touch the stupa or its shadow, or tread upon the grass at its foundation, their delusive obstructions will immediately be shattered and their ignorance awakened. They will enter the Buddha’s family and receive the wealth of Dharma. How much more will this be true of people who see the form of the stupa, hear the sound of its bells, hear the name of the sacred stupa, or see its reflection! All their karmic obstacles will be eliminated, their wishes fulfilled, their present lives peaceful, and afterward they will be born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

“‘If a person, according to that person’s ability, uses a clod of earth to repair the damaged wall of a stupa, or with one hand picks up a stone to support a leaning stupa, through this merit the person’s blessings will increase and life will be prolonged. At death, that person will be reborn as a wheel-turning monarch.

“‘After my nirvana, if disciples of the fourfold assembly wish to aid beings in these realms of suffering, they should offer incense and flowers before the stupa, make sincere vows, and uphold and recite the mantra. Every word and phrase will emit great light that shines upon the three evil destinies. Their sufferings will immediately cease, sentient beings will be freed from pain, the sprouts of buddhahood will arise at once, and they will be reborn according to their wishes in the pure lands of the ten directions.

If anyone ascends a high mountain and sincerely recites the mantra while gazing over the worlds near and far—the mountains, hills, valleys, forests, plains, rivers, and seas—all creatures therein with fur, scales, horns, or shells will have their delusive obstructions dissolved, awaken from ignorance, and manifest the three roots of buddha-nature, ultimately abiding in great nirvana.

“‘If anyone travels along the same road as one who upholds the mantra, is touched by wind that has brushed that practitioner’s robe, steps in the practitioner’s footprints, sees the practitioner’s face, or exchanges even a brief greeting, all such persons will have their grave offenses extinguished and perfect supreme wisdom.’

“The Buddha then said to Vajrapani:

“‘I now entrust this secret scripture and mantra to you. Revere, preserve, and disseminate it throughout the world, ensuring that its transmission to sentient beings is never interrupted.’

“Vajrapani said:

“‘I am now blessed to receive the World-Honored One’s entrustment. Wishing to repay the World-Honored One’s profound and weighty kindness, we vow to protect and disseminate it day and night and proclaim it throughout the whole world.

“‘If any sentient being copies, receives, upholds, remembers, and never forgets it, we will command Shakra, Brahma, the Four Heavenly Kings, nagas, spirits, and the eight classes of beings to guard that person day and night, never departing even for a moment.’

“The Buddha said, ‘Excellent, Vajrapani! For the vast benefit of all sentient beings in future ages, protect and uphold this Dharma so that it will never be severed.’

“The World-Honored One then proclaimed the Casket Seal Dharani and extensively performed Buddha-work. Afterward he went to the brahmin’s home and accepted the various offerings, enabling devas and humans to gain great merit, and then returned.

“At that time, the great assembly of bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, upasikas, devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, humans, nonhumans, and so forth rejoiced greatly, faithfully accepted the teaching, and respectfully practiced it.