Phật Thuyết Bát Cát Tường Thần Chú Kinh

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was on Mount Gridhrakuta in Rajagriha, together with one thousand two hundred fifty bhikshus in attendance. Bodhisattvas, devas, and humans were all of Maitreya's assembly.

The Buddha said to the Venerable Shariputra and the bhikshus: “All of you should listen with one mind!”

_In the east, one Ganges-sand distance from here, there is a Buddha named Tathagata King An Ổn Chúc Lũy Mãn Cụ Túc, True One, Free from Attachment, Perfectly Rightly Awakened, who is now present and teaching the Dharma. That world is called Gathering of Fulfilled Wishes.

_Two Ganges-sand distances from here, there is a Buddha named Tathagata King Cám Lưu Ly Cụ Túc, True One, Free from Attachment, Perfectly Rightly Awakened, who is now present and teaching the Dharma. That world is called Light of Compassion and Love.

_Three Ganges-sand distances from here, there is a Buddha named Tathagata King Khuyến Trợ Chúng Thiện Cụ Túc, True One, Free from Attachment, Perfectly Rightly Awakened, who is now present and teaching the Dharma. That world is called Joy and Happiness.

_Four Ganges-sand distances from here, there is a Buddha named Tathagata King Vô Ưu Đức Cụ Túc, True One, Free from Attachment, Perfectly Rightly Awakened, who is now present and teaching the Dharma. That world is called Entry into All Bliss.

_Five Ganges-sand distances from here, there is a Buddha named Tathagata King Dược Sư Cụ Túc, True One, Free from Attachment, Perfectly Rightly Awakened, who is now present and teaching the Dharma. That world is called Dharma of All Treasures Fulfilled.

_Six Ganges-sand distances from here, there is a Buddha named Tathagata King Liên Hoa Cụ Túc, True One, Free from Attachment, Perfectly Rightly Awakened, who is now present and teaching the Dharma. That world is called Fragrance-Filled Renown.

_Seven Ganges-sand distances from here, there is a Buddha named Tathagata King Toán Trạch Hợp Hội Cụ Túc, True One, Free from Attachment, Perfectly Rightly Awakened, who is now present and teaching the Dharma. That world is called Far-Heard Sound That Explains All.

_Eight Ganges-sand distances from here, there is a Buddha named Tathagata King Giải Tán Nhất Thiết Phộc Cụ Túc, True One, Free from Attachment, Perfectly Rightly Awakened, who is now present and teaching the Dharma. That world is called All Liberation.

The Buddha said to the Venerable Shariputra: “These Buddha-Tathagatas have no place of defilement or attachment; they have gone beyond the four paths and do not grasp Perfect Right Awakening. Those lands are pure, without the five turbidities, without desire, and without defiled intention. If good men or good women hear the names of these eight Buddhas and their lands, receive, uphold, practice, recite, and widely explain their meaning for others, then in the end they will not be foolish. Whatever words their mouths speak will have no omissions or errors. They will be complete in the excellent marks, with nothing lacking, and for countless years they will not suffer want.

Such people will never fall into the Taishan hells, among hungry ghosts, or among animals. Such people will never falsely grasp arhatship or the path of the pratyekabuddha in order to enter Parinirvana; they will all await the attainment of the unsurpassed path of equality, always encounter dharani, always practice the bodhisattva path, and obtain immeasurable merit.

The First Four Heavenly Kings will always protect them. They will not be seized, nor injured by thieves. They will not be disturbed by devas, dragons, ghosts, or spirits. Yaksha ghosts and spirits, ghosts and spirits of sorcery paths, whether human or nonhuman, will not be able to find an opportunity to kill them. Except for their former-life destiny, it cannot be requested.

If there is illness, cawing of crows, evil dreams, disturbances by maras, or fear that makes the hairs stand on end, one should always read the scripture and mantra of the Sutra of the Eight Auspicious Spiritual Mantras, and these will at once be removed.”

At that time the Buddha spoke these verses:

If one upholds this sutra,

The names of the eight Buddhas and their lands,

One will not fall into the three evil destinies

And will quickly attain the unsurpassed path.

Awakened by oneself, one brings forth the resolve for the path;

Seeing the Buddha, one is immediately opened and understood.

Within and without, one is always joyful,

With a mind of offering and reverence.

For kotis of asamkhyeya kalpas,

All evil deeds are extinguished.

Upholding these eight auspicious ones,

One quickly gains clear understanding of the teaching.

Those who serve and make offerings to this sutra

Are born within thousand-petaled lotuses.

Precious treasures rain down for them;

Their form and appearance are excellent and unsurpassed.

Those who hear this honored sutra,

Honor it, trust it, and delight in it,

Receive, uphold, recite, and read it,

Pure and without negligence.

Women who trust this sutra,

Respectful and without flattery,

Cast off the female body and become male,

Always intelligent and wise.

Those who receive and uphold the names of the eight Buddhas,

Coming and going, will not be harmed by bandits.

Weapons, water, fire, and poison,

No evils can violate them.

Those who love and uphold this sutra,

No maras can harm them.

Ghosts, spirits, and officials

Cannot cause disturbance or disorder.

Flying, they reach all realms;

Where they dwell is filled with joy.

Their minds are right, without evil;

Seeing Buddhas, they greatly rejoice.

Wherever they are born, they always meet Buddhas;

Their minds all delight in serving them.

Removing all evil beings,

They quickly attain the path of nirvana.

Energetic and not lazy,

They abandon conditions of attachment.

For others they carve the Straight Scholar,

And uphold the names of the eight Buddhas.

Bravely subduing the host of maras,

Their strength is like vajra.

They are complete with upright and proper marks;

None can compare with them.

Giving without greed,

They are born in hundreds of kotis of myriads of households.

Thieves and enemies

All naturally vanish.

Illness, affairs with county officials,

Cawing of crows, and evil dreams:

Upholding the names of those eight Buddhas,

Reciting the mantra over them, they are immediately removed.

Those who receive and uphold this sutra,

The assembly of Bodhisattva Maitreya,

And the First Four Heavenly Kings

Will always protect together.

Their wishes will all be attained;

They will be delighted and greatly joyful.

Those who with one mind trust and delight in it

Have merit and virtue just like this.

At that time the bodhisattvas Bhadrapala Bodhisattva, La Liên Na Kiệt Bodhisattva, Kiều Nhật Đâu Bodhisattva, Na La Đạt Bodhisattva, Tu Thâm Di Bodhisattva, Mahā Tu Hòa Tát Hòa Bodhisattva, Nhân Chi Đạt Bodhisattva, and Hòa Luân Điều Bodhisattva, these eight persons, had sought the path from countless kalpas until the present and had not yet taken up Buddhahood. They made this vow: “May the people throughout the world in the ten directions all attain the Buddha path. If there is any urgent matter, they should call upon the names of the eight of us, and they will immediately be liberated. When life is about to end, the eight of us will then fly there to welcome and receive them.”

The bodhisattvas, Maitreya's assembly, and the First Four Heavenly Kings all said to the Buddha: “We will protect those who uphold the Sutra of the Eight Auspicious Spiritual Mantras, and, together with our strength, cause all illnesses to be removed.”

When the Buddha had finished speaking this sutra, Shariputra, Maitreya Bodhisattva, the bhikshus, devas, dragons, ghosts and spirits, and the asura kings were all greatly joyful and delighted to hear it.

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SUTRA OF THE EIGHT AUSPICIOUS SPIRITUAL MANTRAS

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