Chapter 1:
Opening Dialogue
Thus I have
heard. Once, Buddha lived on the Vulture’s peak, in Rajagriha city. He abided
in the pure and profound Dharma realm. That Dharma realm is the realm of
Buddha, the abode of the Tathagatas.
Now, there
are 98000 great monks, all are Arhat, having skillfully subdued themselves,
just like the kings of elephants, all faults having been corrected, no longer
having any defilement; their mind has been liberated, their wisdom has been
liberated, all work has been accomplished, free from all encumbrance, they have
achieved their own benefits, free from all outflows; they have also achieved
freedom, living in the pure abode, in skillful means, their wisdom is solemn
and great; they have achieved the 8 liberations, reaching the other shore.
Their names are the A nha kieu tran nhu the Elder, the Elder A thuyet thi da,
the Elder Ba thap ba, the Elder Ma ha na ma, the Elder Ba de li ca, the Disciple
Great Gayip, the Disciple Uu lau ta loa ca nhiep, the Disciple Da da Gayip, the
Disciple Na de ca dip, the Disciple Sariputra, the Disciple Maha Muc kieu lien,
Ananda, the ones who are in the position of the learned. All these Great
Disciples awake from their Samadhi in the late afternoon; they proceed to the
Buddha, bow down to Him, walk around Buddha 3 times on the right side and then
recede to sit on one side.
There are
also hundreds of thousands of great Bodhisattvas, greatly renowned, like the
king of Nagas, widely appraised and are known to many; they like to practice
giving and living a pure life, practicing patience and exerting efforts for
countless eons, surpassing all meditations, always mindful, opening the door of
wisdom, skillful in means, free to travel any place, having magical powers,
achieving many great samadhis, endless eloquence, slicing off all defilement,
having no attachment, approaching the all-knowing wisdom, able to subdue all
ascetics, helping them generate the pure heart; set in motion the Dharma wheel,
helping all devas and human, their Buddha fields in the ten directions are
greatly ornamented, benefiting all sentient beings in the six realms, they have
achieved the great wisdom, achieving great patience, having the heart of
compassion, great strength of effort, serving the Buddha, not entering Nirvana,
making great vows, until infinite age in the future; they have sown great roots
of virtue in the presence of the Buddhas; in the three times they have achieved
the unborn patience, surpassing all second vehicle, they use great compassionate
means to teach the world, they are able
to demonstrate all teachings of the Buddha, they are able to understand and
consummate the profound meaning of emptiness, without any doubt or
uncertainties. They are the Bodhisattva Unbounded Dharma Wheel Turner, the
Bodhisattva Generating the Heart of turning the wheel of Dharma, the
Bodhisattva Always exerting efforts, the Bodhisattva Bat hu tuc, the
Bodhisattva Tu thi, the Bodhisattva Gentle Auspicious, the Bodhisattva
Observing the world, the Bodhisattva Free Samadhi King, The Bodhisattva Great
Eloquence and Solemnity King, the Bodhisattva Great Mystical King of Mountain,
the Bodhisattva Great and Deep Ocean King, the Bodhisattva Garlands of Jewel,
the Bodhisattva Earth Base, the Bodhisattva Void Base, the Bodhisattva Freedom
of Reservation and Protection, the Bodhisattva Diamond Protector, the
Bodhisattva Power of Joy, the Bodhisattva Power of Great Dharma, the
Bodhisattva Great and Solemn Light, the Bodhisattva Great and Solemn Golden
Light, the Bodhisattva Pure Conduct, the Bodhisattva Always Constant
Meditating, the Bodhisattva Absolute Pure Wisdom, the Bodhisattva Non-receding
Exertion of Effort, the Bodhisattva Void-like Mind, the Bodhisattva
Uninterrupted Actualization of Great Vows, the Bodhisattva Giver of Medicine,
the Bodhisattva Remedy of Sickness and Defilement, the Bodhisattva King-like,
the Bodhisattva Great Joy High King, the Bodhisattva Acquiring the Great
Prediction, the Bodhisattva Great Cloud of Pure Light, the Bodhisattva Great
Cloud Upholding the Dharma, the Bodhisattva Great Cloud Proclaiming the name of
Joy, the Bodhisattva Revelation of Boundless Great Cloud, the Bodhisattva Great
Cloud Lion Roaring, the Bodhisattva
Great Cloud Roaring of Bull King, the Bodhisattva Auspicious Great Cloud, the
Bodhisattva Great Jewel and Virtue Great Cloud, the Bodhisattva Embodiment of
the Sun Great Cloud, the Bodhisattva Embodiment of the Moon Great Cloud, the
Bodhisattva Clear Light Great Cloud, the Bodhisattva Great Cloud Iridescent of
Fire, the Bodhisattva Great Cloud Palace Illumination, the Bodhisattva Great
Cloud Thunder Sound, the Bodhisattva Great Cloud Rain of Wisdom Vigorously
shifting, the Bodhisattva Great Cloud Pure Rain King, the Bodhisattva Great
Cloud Flower Enjoying King, the Bodhisattva Great Cloud Gentle Scent of Lotus,
the Bodhisattva Great Cloud Sandalwood Scent Body of Uprighteousness, the
Bodhisattva Great Cloud Sweeping away Darkness, the Bodhisattva Great Cloud
Destroying Impurity. Such Great Bodhisattva, late in the afternoon, all awake
from their Samadhi, and travel to where the Tathagata is, bowing to The Blessed
One’s feet, walk around Buddha 3 times on the right side and then recede to sit
on one side.
There are
also 508000 Children, namely, the child Lion’s Light, the child Wisdom of Lion,
the child Accepting and Upholding the Dharma, the child Nhan da rat ho, the
child Great Light, the child Great Strength, the child Protected by Buddha, the
child Protected by Dharma, the child Protected by the Sangha, the child
Protected by Diamond Vajra, the child Protected by Void, the child Greatly
Sounding of Void, the child Body of Jewel, the child Miraculous Body of
Auspiciousness. Such are the leaders among them. They all remain fortified in
the state of Enlightenment, rejoicing in the Great Vehicle. Late in the
afternoon, they travel to where the Tathagata is, bowing to The Blessed One’s
feet, walk around Buddha 3 times on the right side and then recede to sit on
one side. There are also 42000 Deva’s sons, namely the Deva’s son Joyous view,
the Deva’s son Affirming Joy, the Deva’s son Light of the Sun, the Deva’s son
Moon Altar, the Deva’s son Bright Wisdom, the Deva’s son Void Oure Wisdom, the
Deva’s son Dispelling Defilement, the Deva’s son Auspiciousness. Such are the
leaders among them. They make great vows to protect the Great Vehicle, making
the Dharma blaze brightly. Late in the afternoon, they travel to where the
Tathagata is, bowing to The Blessed One’s feet, walk around Buddha 3 times on
the right side and then recede to sit on one side. There are also 28000 Naga
King, such as the Naga King Lotus, the Naga King A la yip, the Naga King Great
Strength, the Naga King Great Roar, the Naga King Tieu Ba, the Naga King
Maintaining the Water, the Naga King Golden Appearance, the Naga King Like
one’s wish. Such are the leaders among them. They rejoice and keep in mind the
Dharma of the great Vehicle, deeply abiding in strong belief, praise and uphold
the Dharma. Late in the afternoon, they travel to where the Tathagata is,
bowing to The Blessed One’s feet, walk around Buddha 3 times on the right side
and then recede to sit on one side. There are also 36000 Yaksa, Headed by Ti sa
mon Heavenly King, their names are the Yaksa Yim ba, the Yaksa Body of Lotus
Light, the Yaksa Appearance of Lotus, the Yaksa Tan mi, the Yaksa Appearing the
Great Container, the Yaksa Tremoring the Earth, the Yaksa Thon thuc. Such Yaksa
rejoice at the Dharma of the Buddha, sincerely maintaining the Dharma and not
waning in attention. Late in the afternoon, they travel to where the Tathagata
is, bowing to The Blessed One’s feet, walk around Buddha 3 times on the right
side and then recede to sit on one side. There are also 49000 Yet lo tra Kings,
headed by the Scent Elephant Power King, there are also Gandarva, Asura,
Kinara, Magurada, etc; there are also wood, river and sea gods; kings of great
nations, accompanied by their queens and servants, there are also sons and
daughters of the lineage. There are human and devas who gather, all vowing to
protect the supremely great vehicle, read and scrutinize the Dharma, recite
until memorized, question and accept, keep in mind and copy the Dharma. Late in
the afternoon, they travel to where the Tathagata is, bowing to The Blessed
One’s feet, walk around Buddha 3 times on the right side and then recede to sit
on one side.
Such
assemblies, including the Disciples, Bodhisattva, human, Devas, 8 groups of
celestial Naga kings, all are of one-pointed mind, holding their palms together
and regard the Tathagata, not looking elsewhere. They are all eager to listen
to the supreme and miraculous Dharma
Then, the
Tathagata, late in the afternoon, awake from His Samadhi and regard the
assembly, speaking these verses
The Golden
Light Sutra
The
miraculous and most supreme
The king of
Sutras
It is very
deep
Hard to
find
It is the
realm of Buddha
Today, the
Tathagata will speak
Of Such
Sutra
For the
whole assembly
In the
East, there is
Asokbhya
Buddha
In the
South there is
Treasure
Sign Buddha
The Buddha
of Infinite Longevity
Resides in
the West
The Buddha
in the North
Is the
Buddha Heavenly Ancient Sound
The four
Buddha
In such 4
directions
All use
their might
To sustain
this Sutra
The
Tathagata will speak of
The Dharma
power of repentance
That method
is auspicious
And
profound, supreme
The power
of this method
Is capable
of
Eliminating
all evil and guilt
Cleansing
away
All evil
deeds
Dispersing
all defilement
And
catastrophes
Often
bringing about
Unthinkable
peace and joy
The root of
that method
Is the
Oneness Field wisdom
And
decorated
By many
qualities
Anyone
whose body
Is not
whole and complete
Whose life
is
About to
terminate
All fearful
signs
Have
manifested
Gods and
Devas
All abandon
that person
Hated by
his companions
His
relatives separated
Attacks
from all sides
Belongings
and wealth
All dispersed
He is
influenced by evil stars
Or harmed
by magic and poisons
Too much
sorrow
Agitated by
defilement
Having
nightmares
From that
defilement arises
That person
should
Bathe
cleanly
And wear
clean and pure clothes
Towards
this sutra
The miraculous
sutra
Very
profound, which is
Praised by
the Tathagata
That person
should
Stay focus
Mind
without distraction
To analyze
and recite
Listen and
accept
Keep in
mind
Wholeheartedly
uphold
Then thanks
to the power
Of this
Sutra
He will be
free
From all
harm
All
sufferings
Will be
eliminated
The four
Great Kings
Protecting
the world
Together
with their companies
Countless
Yaksa
One-mindedly
protect
There are
also
The deva’s
daughter called Great Eloquence
The river
god Ni lien
The Mother
god Hari
The Earth
god Kien lao
Brahma
king, Sakra
Together
with Naga king
And Kinara
Kings of
eagles
Asura,
devas
All the
devas
And such
companies
All bring
along their companies
To protect
such person
Day and
night
Not leaving
The
Tathagata will speak
Of this Sutra
The very
profound sutra
The path
that the Tathagatas travel
And also
the secret method
Of the
Tathagatas
Thousands
of lives
Hard to
come across
Whoever
listen to this sutra
Or speak to
others about it
Or rejoice
in it
Or makes
offering to it
That person
will be
In
countless eons
Respected
by the heavenly beings
And Naga
gods
The mass of
merit
More
numerous than the grains of sand
In the
Ganges river
Analyze and
memorize
Such sutra
like this
It will
generate such merits
That person
will be
Protected
by Tathagatas
In the ten
directions
And
Bodhisattvas
Who
cultivate great virtues
That person
will
Depart from
suffering
To offer to
this Sutra
Do as
mentioned previously
Bathe in
clean water
Offer
Flower garlands and incense
Generate
the mind of compassion
For the
person you offer to
To listen
to this Sutra
One must
have a clean mind
Often
rejoicing in the meaning
Will
generate even more merit
Having a
respectful attitude
To listen
to this Sutra
Is worthy
of a human life
Leaving all
defilement and catastrophe
That person
has matured
All roots
of virtues
And are
praised by the Tathagatas
Thus he is
able
To listen
to this sutra
And the
method of repentance
No comments:
Post a Comment