Phật Thuyết Bát Cát Tường Thần Chú Kinh

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was on Vulture Peak near the city of Rajagriha, together with 1,250 bhikshus and 1,000 bodhisattvas practicing together, such as Bodhisattva Maitreya.

At that time the Buddha said to the Venerable Shariputra and the bhikshus:

"All of you, listen single-mindedly."

The Buddha said to the Venerable Shariputra:

"From here to the east, beyond Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of one Ganges River, there is a world called Fulfilled Assembly of Wishes. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathagata Peaceful Entrustment Fully Complete King, Worthy of Offerings, Rightly and Equally Awakened, and he is presently teaching the Dharma there.

From here to the east, beyond Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of two Ganges Rivers, there is a world called Compassionate Radiance. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathagata Lapis Lazuli Fully Complete King, Worthy of Offerings, Rightly and Equally Awakened, and he is presently teaching the Dharma there.

From here to the east, beyond Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of three Ganges Rivers, there is a world called Joy and Delight. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathagata Encouraging and Aiding All Goodness Fully Complete King, Worthy of Offerings, Rightly and Equally Awakened, and he is presently teaching the Dharma there.

From here to the east, beyond Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of four Ganges Rivers, there is a world called Entry into All Bliss. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathagata Sorrowless Virtue Fully Complete King, Worthy of Offerings, Rightly and Equally Awakened, and he is presently teaching the Dharma there.

From here to the east, beyond Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of five Ganges Rivers, there is a world called Dharma of Fulfilled All Precious Treasures. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathagata Medicine Master Fully Complete King, Worthy of Offerings, Rightly and Equally Awakened, and he is presently teaching the Dharma there.

From here to the east, beyond Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of six Ganges Rivers, there is a world called Fulfilled Fragrant Renown. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathagata Lotus Fully Complete King, Worthy of Offerings, Rightly and Equally Awakened, and he is presently teaching the Dharma there.

From here to the east, beyond Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of seven Ganges Rivers, there is a world called Far-Reaching Sound of All Explanations. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathagata Deliberate Selection and Harmonious Assembly Fully Complete King, Worthy of Offerings, Rightly and Equally Awakened, and he is presently teaching the Dharma there.

From here to the east, beyond Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of eight Ganges Rivers, there is a world called All Liberation. In that land there is a Buddha named Tathagata Loosening and Dispersing All Bonds Fully Complete King, Worthy of Offerings, Rightly and Equally Awakened, and he is presently teaching the Dharma there."

The Buddha said to the Venerable Shariputra:

"The lands of these Buddhas, Tathagatas, Worthy of Offerings, Rightly and Equally Awakened, are all pure. They have none of the five turbidities, no sensual desire, and no defiled mind.

If there are good men or good women who hear these eight names of the Buddhas together with the names of their lands, then receive, uphold, read, recite, and widely explain their meaning to others, they will never suffer stupidity; their speech will be without error; they will be complete in excellent marks; their faculties will not be deficient; and what they seek throughout immeasurable years will never be lacking.

When their lives come to an end, they will not fall into the Hell of Mount Tai, the realm of hungry ghosts, or among animals. Such people will never aspire to the path of the shravaka or pratyekabuddha in order to enter parinirvana. They will attain the unsurpassed, equal Way, always realize dharanis, constantly practice the bodhisattva path, and obtain immeasurable merit and virtue.

The Heavenly King Dhritarashtra will always protect such people. They will not be arrested by officials, will not be harmed by thieves, and will not be disturbed by devas, nagas, ghosts, or spirits. Evil yakshas and demons, poisonous spells, or human or nonhuman beings will all be unable to kill them or take advantage of them, except for karma from their former lives.

If anyone is afflicted by illness, encounters disasters of water or fire, hears the cries of crows, sees evil dreams, or is disturbed by demons and ghosts; when such frightening things occur that make the hair stand on end, they should constantly read and recite the Scripture of the Mantra of the Eight Auspicious Ones, and they will immediately avoid them."

At that time the Buddha spoke these verses:

Whoever makes offerings to this Scripture

Serving and upholding the names of the eight Buddhas,
Going out and coming in, one will not be harmed by bandits.
Armies, water, fire, and poison,
Evil apparitions cannot do harm.

At that time there were eight bodhisattvas in the assembly. Their names were:

-Bodhisattva Bhadrapala, -Bodhisattva Ranalingjie, -Bodhisattva Qiaoridou, -Bodhisattva Nalada, -Bodhisattva Sushenmi, -Bodhisattva Maha Suhesatuo, -Bodhisattva Renqida, -and Bodhisattva Helundiao.

From the time these eight bodhisattvas sought the Way until now, immeasurable numbers of kalpas have passed. Yet even up to the present, they still have not consented to become Buddhas. They vow that all sentient beings throughout the ten directions shall accomplish the Buddha Way.

"If there is anyone afflicted by grave illness who invokes our eight names, then they will immediately be liberated. When that person is about to die, the eight of us will fly there to welcome and receive them."

At that time Maitreya, the bodhisattvas, and the Heavenly King Dhritarashtra all said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! We will support and protect those who receive and uphold the Scripture of the Mantra of the Eight Auspicious Ones. We will join our strength together so that all their illnesses will be cured."

When the Buddha had finished teaching this Scripture, Shariputra together with the bhikshus, Bodhisattva Maitreya, devas, nagas, ghosts, spirits, and asura kings all rejoiced greatly and accepted it in faith.

The Buddha Speaks the Scripture of the Mantra of the Eight Auspicious Ones