Kiên Lao Địa Thiên Nghi Quỹ

At that time, Kien Lao Earth Deva and Great Merit Deva both rose from their seats and said to the Buddha:

“Revered World-Honored One, if there are bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, upasikas, boys, girls, and so forth, who constantly gather in the five faculties, bind their mindfulness, and with utmost sincerity bow in worship, respectfully make offerings, and recite my true word, then I, Earth Deva, and Merit Deva will constantly cause the earth to issue forth fragrance to refresh and moisten that person, causing their body to gain increase in lifespan, and causing the essence and energy of the earth to be full and complete.

The body of the practitioner will gain health and beauty, gain mindfulness, gain joy, gain vigor, gain great wisdom, gain eloquence, gain the three knowledges and six superknowledges. Humans and devas will love and respect them, and they will gain great merit and virtue without end, just like the merit and virtue of a wheel-turning sage king. Wherever the practitioner dwells, that place will be like the park-garden of the Trayastrimsa Heaven.

In this life, in future lives, and through thousands and tens of thousands of lives without end, they will gain vast and immense merit. Day by day they will have thousands and tens of thousands of retinues who provide for and nourish them, together with immeasurable, countless kinds of sentient beings who labor to assist the livelihood and necessities of life. Their granaries and storehouses will be full; the seven treasures and precious jewels will be unlimited; precious elephants, precious horses, and precious carriages, and precious women, will come according to their mind.

Thus, without being called, they will arrive of themselves, with no limit through birth and death.

If a bhikshu practices the Dharma in this way, I will provide fully for them with all kinds of gold, silver, precious jewels, and the necessities of life, rice and grain. Thus, binding mindfulness from the first watch of the night to midnight and to the last watch of the night, whether walking, standing, lying down, or sitting, if they keep my Dharma in mind and their mind has no other external condition, then the desired result will certainly be accomplished.

If a practitioner wishes to repair a monastery, pure dwelling, or temple residence, or to build houses or gardens, or needs robes and food, bedding, sitting mats, beds and cushions, or medicines for illness and the various necessities of life, I will constantly provide them. The practitioner will no longer be lacking. In their own person they will be at peace and secure, without sorrow or anxiety; their mind will constantly be joyful.

They will accomplish such fine Dharma-vessels and fields of merit for giving. In the future life they will gain a great reward; their faith will be deep, they will abide joyfully in the true Dharma, they will not be born in the evil destinies, and they will not create evil dharmas. In this way I will protect that person, so that they attain the cultivation of a mind of loving-kindness and compassion, and such supreme and wondrous roots of goodness will increase and not diminish.”

The Buddha said: “Good indeed, good indeed! With such a vigorous mind in the teaching of the Mahayana, you will swiftly increase the power of merit.”

At that time, the Earth Spirit Kien Lao and Merit Deva together said to the Buddha: “For the sake of benefiting and bringing peace and happiness to beings, we shall speak the heart true word.”

Then the Buddha said to Earth Spirit Merit Deva: “Good indeed, good indeed! Since you wish to benefit all beings, speak the mantra. Speak as you wish.”

They then spoke the mantra:

Nang mo tam man da mau da nam, Um Bat la ba, Ra dat ne, Thiet li tam man da, a da a da, a dau a dau, ty ly de ty, ty ly de ty due, toa ha.

If there is someone who recites and upholds this mantra until completing one hundred thousand repetitions, this is the foremost initial practice, the mantra-recitation offering to Earth Deva. Their wealth and rank will be boundless, the seven treasures unlimited, and they will swiftly accomplish all siddhis.

Again, the fundamental body mudra is taught:

Join the palms. Take the two index fingers and the two little fingers and cross and rub them within the palms. The two middle fingers and the ring fingers stand upright beside one another. The two thumbs stand pressing against the two index fingers. Move the thumbs back and forth. This accomplishes all works.

Again, the various homa practices for accomplishment are taught (fire-burning offerings):

Use flowers of glutinous rice paddy for the fire-burning offering: the five grains will be accomplished and there will be a good harvest.

Use jati flowers for the fire-burning offering: silkworm raising will be accomplished to a thousand catties.

Use fine rice for the fire-burning offering: one gains inexhaustible merit and virtue; the seed of the field of merit will flourish from life to life. Wherever the deity abides, people will constantly come and gather; making a fire-burning offering in that place brings wealth.

Use barley and wheat for the fire-burning offering: one gains wealth and nobility.

Use cang-lu grass for the fire-burning offering: one gains countless livestock and wealth.

Before an ancient tomb where a great yaksha dwells, use jati flowers for the fire-burning offering to gain great wealth; use unopened flowers for the fire-burning offering to become beloved by people.

If one is afflicted by seasonal qi and suffers from four difficult symptoms, empower with the mantra as above and they will be removed and healed.

Use earth from beneath the mortar of a wealthy elder’s house for the fire-burning offering, and one will become wealthy.

Use earth from above the entrance of the tomb of a wealthy elder for the fire-burning offering, and one will become wealthy.

Method for painting the image of Kien Lao Earth Spirit:

Paint a male deva general with a beautiful complexion, the left hand holding a bowl filled with flowers, the right palm facing outward. The heavenly maiden has a white and beautiful complexion; the right hand embraces the heart, and the left hand also embraces the thigh.

Kien Lao Earth Deva Ritual Manual (End)

Sramana Thich Vien Duc translated into Vietnamese in 1976, rough translation, not yet revised

Sutra transcription: Nguyen Minh Hoang