受持七佛名號所生功德經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Bhagavān was dwelling in the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the city of Śrāvastī, together with a vast, immeasurable, and innumerable assembly of Śrāvakas and great Bodhisattvas, along with the entire great multitude of devas, humans, asuras, and so forth, surrounding Him before and behind.

At that time the World-Honored One addressed the Venerable Śāriputra:

"I now, out of loving compassion for all sentient beings, will briefly expound the merit that arises from upholding the names of seven Buddhas, so that whoever upholds them will attain supreme benefit, peace, and joy. You should listen attentively and reflect deeply, and I shall expound and discern it for your sake."

The Venerable Śāriputra said:

"Reverently, O World-Honored One! I long to hear it."

The Buddha said to Śāriputra:

"In the eastern direction of this realm there is a Buddha-land named Free of Defilement, Adorned with the Multitude of Virtues. In that land there is a Buddha named Auspicious One of Universally Pervading Radiance, Tathāgata, Worthy One of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Great Man, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, pitying the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assemblies, revealing, instructing—good in the beginning, the middle, and the end—the words and meaning lucid, marvelous, purely perfect, the holy life pure and clean.

If there is anyone who hears the name of that Buddha, he is at once liberated from being forever swept along through hundreds of thousands of koṭis of great kalpas of birth and death amid intense suffering, and, according to wherever he is born, he will ever know his former lives. Whoever continually upholds the name of this Buddha will not lose the merit attained as before, but moreover, throughout hundreds of thousands of koṭis of great kalpas, according to wherever he is born, his mind will be far removed from delusion, and among devas and humans he will receive joy and happiness.

Whoever is able to make an image of that Buddha, and reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, will not lose the merit attained as before, but moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, according to wherever he is born, he will ever encounter a Buddha and swiftly realize Unsurpassed, Perfect, Equal Enlightenment.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra, in the eastern direction of this realm there is also a Buddha-land named Wondrous Awakening, Adorned with the Multitude of Virtues. In that land there is a Buddha named Auspicious One Abiding in Wondrous Merit, Tathāgata, Worthy One of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Great Man, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, pitying the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the ranks of devas and humans, revealing and instructing—good in the beginning, the middle, and the end—the words and meaning lucid and marvelous, wholly perfect, the holy life pure and clean.

If there is anyone who hears the name of that Buddha, he at once transcends all eight calamities and, according to wherever he is born, ever knows his former lives. Whoever often upholds the name of that Buddha will not lose the merit attained as before. Moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, according to wherever he is born, his mind will ever be intelligent and clear-sighted, and he will ever dwell in good destinies, receiving all manner of joy and happiness.

Whoever is able to make an image of that Buddha, and reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, will not lose the merit attained as before. Moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, according to wherever he is born, he will ever encounter a Buddha, cultivate all the pāramitās, and become a great Guide who delivers immeasurable sentient beings.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra! In the eastern direction of this realm there is also a Buddha-land named Lord of Sentient Beings. In that land there is a Buddha named King of the Single Jeweled Canopy, Tathāgata, Worthy One of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Great Man, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, pitying the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assemblies, revealing and instructing—good in the beginning, the middle, and the end—the words and meaning lucid and marvelous, purely perfect, the holy life pure and clean.

If there is anyone who hears the name of that Buddha, he is at once far removed from all suffering and affliction, and his blessings, fortune, station, wealth, and precious treasures will not be diminished or lost—except in the case of one who in a former life committed an evil deed of fixed retribution. Whoever often upholds the name of that Buddha will not lose the merits attained as before, but moreover, according to wherever he is born, he will be endowed with great majestic virtue, sovereign spiritual powers, a body radiating light, and a dignified, upright appearance that all delight to behold.

Whoever is able to make an image of that Buddha, and make offerings, reverence, honor, and praise Him, will not lose the merit attained as before. Moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, he will never be born in a world without a Buddha; he will cultivate the Bodhisattva conduct, be adorned with great vows, attain Unsurpassed Enlightenment, and bring benefit to all.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra! In the eastern direction of this realm there is also a Buddha-land named Power of Sovereignty. In that land there is a Buddha named Well-Gone One of Concentration's Traces, Tathāgata, Worthy One of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Great Man, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, pitying the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assemblies, revealing and instructing—good in the beginning, the middle, and the end—the words and meaning lucid, purely perfect, the holy life pure and clean.

If there is anyone who hears the name of that Buddha, his mind is at once stilled and silent, far removed from all clamor and confusion. If anyone often upholds the name of that Buddha, he will not lose the merit created as before, but moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, according to wherever he is born, his body will be (fully endowed with) the four dignified deportments, and whether speaking or silent, his mind will ever abide in concentration.

Whoever is able to make an image of that Buddha, and reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, will not lose the merits attained as before. Moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, according to wherever he is born, he will ever encounter a Buddha, swiftly bring to completion the gates of samādhi, become the Honored One Perfect in the Two Sufficiencies, and deliver immeasurable multitudes.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra! In this eastern direction there is also a Buddha-land named Most Excellent Jewel. In that land there is a Buddha named Auspicious One of Jeweled Flower Radiance, Tathāgata, Worthy One of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Great Man, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, pitying the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assemblies, revealing and instructing—good in the beginning, the middle, and the end—the words and meaning lucid and marvelous, purely perfect, the holy life pure and clean.

If anyone hears the name of that Buddha, he is at once endowed with the practice of wisdom and excellent mindfulness, and expounds the Dharma among the four assemblies without fear, his words majestic and dignified, so that all who hear receive them with reverence. Whoever often upholds the name of that Buddha will not lose the merit attained as before, but moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, according to wherever he is born, he will be endowed with the practice of wisdom and mindfulness, accomplish keen and sharp wisdom, and attain the excellent capacity of hearing and retaining.

Whoever is able to make an image of that Buddha, and reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, will not lose the merit attained as before, but moreover, throughout immeasurable koṭis of great kalpas, according to wherever he is born, he will ever encounter a Tathāgata, gain unobstructed eloquence, widely proclaim the wondrous Dharma, in due sequence cultivate the provisions of merit and wisdom, become the Honored One of Devas and Humans, and deliver immeasurable sentient beings.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra! In the southern direction of this realm there is a Buddha-land named Isle of Tranquil Quiescence. In that land there is a Buddha named Surpassing Boundless Traces, Tathāgata, Worthy One of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Great Man, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, pitying the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assemblies, revealing and instructing—good in the beginning, the middle, and the end—the words and meaning lucid and marvelous, purely perfect, the holy life pure and clean.

If there is anyone who hears the name of that Buddha, that person's mind suddenly becomes free of confusion. Whoever is able to uphold the name of that Buddha will not lose the merit attained as before, but moreover, can swiftly realize the Samādhi of the Excellence of Moonlight. Having realized this samādhi, at that very moment he can further realize the Dharma-gate of the Samādhi Equal to the Sands of the Ganges.

Whoever is able to make an image of that Buddha, and reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, will not lose the merit attained as before, but moreover, with respect to all the Dharma-gates taught by the Buddhas, he will be able to uphold them all and thoroughly penetrate their meaning, illuminating them clearly and without obstruction, like the light of the sun; and according to wherever he is born, he will ever encounter a Buddha, and thereby swiftly realize Unsurpassed Enlightenment.

"Furthermore, Śāriputra! In the southern direction of this realm there is also a Buddha-land named Supreme Fragrance. In that land there is a Buddha named King of Wondrous Fragrance, Tathāgata, Worthy One of Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed Great Man, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavān, presently dwelling there, pitying the world, expounding the wondrous Dharma for the great assemblies, revealing and instructing—good in the beginning, the middle, and the end—the words and meaning lucid and marvelous, purely perfect, the holy life pure and clean.

If anyone hears the name of that Buddha, his body and mind become harmonious and unobstructed, far removed from all sluggishness and stagnation, his evil karma is extinguished, and his afflictions are lightened. Whoever often upholds the name of that Buddha will not lose the merit attained as before, but moreover, in future lives, according to wherever he is born, he will be fully endowed with the thirty-two marks of a great man, upon whom all sentient beings gaze together.

Whoever is able to make an image of that Buddha, and reverently make offerings, honor, and praise Him, will not lose the merit attained as before, but moreover, in future lives, according to wherever he is born, he will ever go forth into the homeless life, be fully endowed with pure moral conduct, go to the Buddha-lands to hear the Dharma, uphold it, and practice it, and be fully endowed with all merits. Thereby he will swiftly realize Anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

The Buddha said to Śāriputra:

"If any sentient beings hear the names of these seven Buddhas and uphold them and make offerings to them, they will certainly attain the merit spoken of above. Why is this so?—Because the names and images of these seven Buddhas were all accomplished through the great compassion of their original vows; therefore, whichever sentient beings, having heard them, uphold them and make offerings to them, will all attain such benefit, peace, and joy."

At that time, when the Bhagavān had finished expounding this sūtra, Śāriputra and the others, together with the great Śrāvakas, the great Bodhisattvas, and the devas, humans, asuras, and so forth—the entire great assembly who heard the Buddha's exposition—were all greatly delighted; they faithfully accepted it and reverently put it into practice.

THE SŪTRA ON THE MERIT BORN OF UPHOLDING THE NAMES OF THE SEVEN BUDDHAS

The End