Phật Thuyết Bát Dương Thần Chú Kinh

Thus have I heard: At one time the Buddha was dwelling on Vulture Peak Mountain (Gṛdhra-kūṭa) in the city of Rājagṛha (Rāja-gṛha), together with a community of one thousand two hundred fifty bhikshus, and bodhisattvas, devas, and humans who had come to attend, all like the assembly of Maitreya (Maitreya).

The Buddha said to Śāriputra (Śāri-putra): “To the east of here, beyond more than one Ganges’ sands, there is a Buddha-land. The Buddha is named Blissful Tathagata, Unattached One, Perfectly and Equally Enlightened One. Today, at present, he is teaching the Dharma. That land is called Invincible.

Śāriputra! To the east of here, beyond more than two Ganges’ sands, there is a Buddha-land. The Buddha is named Moon-Banner King Tathagata, Unattached One, Perfectly and Equally Enlightened One. Today, at present, he is teaching the Dharma. That land is called Joyful Delight.

Śāriputra! To the east of here, beyond more than three Ganges’ sands, there is a Buddha-land. The Buddha is named Equal and Universal Radiance Tathagata, Unattached One, Perfectly and Equally Enlightened One. Today, at present, he is teaching the Dharma. That land is called Joy and Love.

Śāriputra! To the east of here, beyond more than four Ganges’ sands, there is a Buddha-land. The Buddha is named Discerning, Surpassing, Pure Tathagata, Unattached One, Perfectly and Equally Enlightened One. Today, at present, he is teaching the Dharma. That land is called Inner Bliss.

Śāriputra! To the east of here, beyond more than five Ganges’ sands, there is a Buddha-land. The Buddha is named Equal Merit Radiant Head Tathagata, Unattached One, Perfectly and Equally Enlightened One. Today, at present, he is teaching the Dharma. That land is called Free from Doubt.

Śāriputra! To the east of here, beyond more than six Ganges’ sands, there is a Buddha-land. The Buddha is named Root Herb Tree Head Tathagata, Unattached One, Perfectly and Equally Enlightened One. Today, at present, he is teaching the Dharma. That land is called Free from Poisonous Resentment.

Śāriputra! To the east of here, beyond more than seven Ganges’ sands, there is a Buddha-land. The Buddha is named Surpassing Jewel Lotus Tathagata, Unattached One, Perfectly and Equally Enlightened One. Today, at present, he is teaching the Dharma. That land is called Lotus Fragrance.

Śāriputra! To the east of here, beyond more than eight Ganges’ sands, there is a Buddha-land. The Buddha is named Jewel Joy Lotus, Blissfully Abiding Tree King Tathagata, Unattached One, Perfectly and Equally Enlightened One. Today, at present, he is teaching the Dharma. That land is called Sweet Sound Praised in Speech.

Furthermore, Śāriputra! The pure lands of the Buddhas, the Tathagatas, in that direction have no five turbidities, no sensual desire, no women, no defilement of mind, no spells of cursing, and no marks of discrimination.

Furthermore, Śāriputra! As for the Buddhas, the Tathagatas: if good men and good women hear the names of these eight Buddhas, uphold them, recite and read them aloud, and practice them reverently, in the end they will not fall into the three evil paths, except for the five grave offenses (? the five heinous offenses).

_Furthermore, Śāriputra! Those good men and good women: if they uphold the names of the eight Buddhas together with the names of their lands, uphold them, recite and read them aloud, and practice them reverently, then by this merit, if they give rise to the bodhi mind, wherever they are born they will constantly encounter dharanis, constantly encounter excellent marks, constantly encounter marks of voice, and constantly encounter blessings turning to the right.

Those good men and good women who reverently practice the teaching commands of these eight Buddhas in accordance with this right practice, if they are born as women, will be transformed into men.

_Furthermore, Śāriputra! As for the Buddhas, the Tathagatas: those good men and good women, at early dawn, should bathe, wash, and rinse their mouths clean, put on proper clothing, and three times by day and night reverently read this sutra. They will gain immeasurable merit. The First Four Heavenly Kings will constantly protect them.

Those good men and good women, if they are before district officials, should read this sutra. If they are amid water or fire, they should read this sutra. If they are on the ocean and encounter terrifying waves and winds, they should read this sutra. If they are amid opposing armies, they should read this sutra. If they are struck by gu-poison, they should read this sutra. If they become entangled with dragon spirits, they should read this sutra. If there is grave illness, epidemic disease, or piercing pain, then uphold this Eight Yang Dharani Sutra and intone it over the affliction, and at once it will be removed and cured.”

At that time, the Buddha spoke these essential verses:

“In this land there is no Tathagata (This land has no Tathagata)

Uphold the names of those lands

Remove every kind of evil

Swiftly attain the Right Path

_Born, one will constantly meet Buddhas

Seeing and knowing, one is greatly joyful

The Most Honored One illumines this world

With an equal mind, one makes offerings reverently

_Hundreds of kalpas have been numberless

Clinging to permanence, one should leave it far behind

Swiftly arrive at the path of Nirvana

Reverently uphold the names of those Buddhas

The Tathagatas now present

Reverently practice the names clearly taught

_Be a person simple, upright, and gentle

In every birth, one sees

Handsome and upright, complete with excellent marks

Born into an exceedingly wealthy family

_Courageous and fond of giving

As a person, one is not greedy

Women who hear this Essential Teaching

Are delighted and greatly joyful

They abandon and leave behind the body of a woman

And are born as men

_All soldiers dare not harm them

The gu-path also does not operate

District officials and thieves

Cannot harm this person

_The five Maras cannot disturb them

Generals and officials with their retinues

Those who reverently practice this sutra

Will find no opportunity to cause harm”

At that time, the First Four Heavenly Kings and the assembly of Maitreya Bodhisattva said to the Buddha: “Together we will protect those who uphold this Eight Yang Dharani Sutra. All who study it, we will jointly protect, causing those who are ill to be cured of illness.”

The Buddha said: “Just so!”

The First Four Heavenly Kings, the assembly of Maitreya Bodhisattva, the bhikshu community, together with devas, dragons, ghosts and spirits, the people, and asuras, having heard the sutra, rejoiced, bowed to the Buddha, and withdrew.

_The names of the eight bodhisattvas are:

1_Bhadrapāla Bodhisattva

2_Ranalingjie Bodhisattva

3_Jiaoridou Bodhisattva

4_Naladat Bodhisattva

5_Sushen Bodhisattva

6_Yindidad Bodhisattva

7_Mahasuhe Sattva Bodhisattva

8_Heluntiao Bodhisattva

These eight persons have passed through numberless kalpas, and now have not yet chosen to take Buddhahood. When these eight persons together studied the Path, they all vowed that the people in the eight directions, above and below, would all together be enabled to become Buddhas. If people have urgent matters, they should call out the names of us eight persons. They will then naturally be released and freed. If, when their lifespan is about to end, we eight persons will immediately fly there to welcome and receive them. May the merit of upholding this one word be dedicated so that all people may be like the joy and delight of the eight bodhisattvas.

THE BUDDHA SPOKE THE EIGHT YANG SPIRIT DHARANI SUTRA End