Chapter 16, 17, 18, 19

Chapter 16: The Auspicious Heavenly goddess

At this time, the Auspicious Heavenly goddess from her seat stands up, walks towards the Tathagata and bows down to him, respectfully holds the palms together and say, Blessed One, if I see anyone among the 4 groups of followers of the Tathagata, who accept, keep in mind, analyze and recite to memory, or speak to others about this Sutra of the Golden Light, I will one-mindedly give offering to those priests. I will give food, clothes, beds, medicines, together with all equipment that is necessary for life, I will provide him with everything, not missing in anything. So that those priests will live peacefully and, day and night analyze the words and meanings of this king of Sutra. As a consequence, this king of Sutra will be well spread in great Jambudvipa world, to let those who have sown roots of virtues in countless Tathagatas listen, and the Sutra will not quickly disappear, to let those people in countless eons enjoy supreme happiness in the world of human and devas; in their present life, they will also have great wealth, no longer suffering from thirst and hunger. It is also to make these sentient beings enjoy great bliss and peace, able to meet the Tathagatas, and in their future lives, they will quickly attain the Unsurpassed Enlightenment; they will perpetually eliminate all sufferings (caused by being born) in the three evil realms

Blessed One, I remember in the past, there was a Tathagata called Lapis Golden Mountain Treasure Flowers of Auspicious shining Light, Ocean of Merits, with the 12 names. I have sown roots of virtues in that Tathagata. Thanks to the compassionate sustaining might of that Tathagata, whatever the direction I look at, or think about, or go to, I will bring about great bliss and joys to countless sentient beings; besides clothes, food, or daily life equipment, they also have gold, silver, lapis, agate, nacre, coral, amber, pearls. As such, anyone who sincerely recites this Sutra of the Golden Light should burn valuable incense every day, and also arrange various beautiful flowers, to offer to the Tathagata Lapis Golden Mountain Treasure Flowers of Auspicious shining Light, Ocean of Merits on my behalf, moreover, each day three times, that person should chant my name, and place perfumes and exquisite food to offer to me. Anyone who listens and accept this king of Sutra will also acquire great merits as said above

The Great Auspicious Heavenly goddess then speaks the following verses:

Thanks to (the act of) upholding the Sutra      

As I said above

That person and his relatives

Will be free from all harms and unfortunate changes

All their daily-life equipment will be sufficient

Without missing

Their authority and lifespan

Will be inconceivable

The virtues of upholding the Sutra

Will make the soil fertile

Making rains and winds arrive in time.

The devas will be joyous

And gods will lend their help

Trees will bear succulent fruit

And rice will be good and abundant

One will have great wealth

Whatever one thinks of, one will attain

The Blessed One says to the great Auspicious Heavenly goddess, how benign, you can think of repaying the kindness of the Tathagata in the past and expound on the methods of giving offering; this will bring great benefits and joy to countless sentient beings; circulating this Sutra brings about endless merits.

Chapter 17: Increasing Wealth and Properties

At this time, the Great Auspicious heavenly goddess says, Blessed One, the Much Listening Heavenly king in the north has a castle called Possessing Wealth. Not far from the castle there is a garden called Gentle Flowers Light of Merits. In this garden there is a supreme palace, made of the 7 precious substances. I often stay in that palace. Anyone who wishes to increase the amount of the 5 cereals they have, day by day, increasing their stores of food should have a mind of great faith and belief; they should arrange and prepare a clean room, using cu ma to apply on the floor, draw a picture of me with various strings of pearls decorated all over the body. One should bathe oneself cleanly, apply perfumes on the body, and wear clean clothes. After entering their room, that person should start reciting the name of my Tathagata and the name of this Sutra on my behalf, thrice a day, and then bow down. Recite Namo Lapis Golden Mountain Treasure Flowers of Auspicious shining Light, Ocean of Merits (Namo King of Sutras of the Golden Light). Also take perfumes and exquisite food to sincerely make offering. Also give offerings to my picture, using perfume and food. Moreover, scatter the food in various directions and offer to the gods. And then speak in truth to request for my presence, the great Auspicious Heavenly goddess, in order to make one’s vows. And that if what Goddess says is true, do not make my request futile. At this time, I, the great Auspicious Heavenly goddess, know this and think about that person, increasing their stores of food and properties. To request for my presence, chant the following mantra. But before one chants this mantra, one must first sincerely recite the names of the Tathagatas and bodhisattvas

I bow down to the Tathagatas in the ten directions in the 3 times

I bow down to the Treasure Inheritance Tathagata

I bow down to the Stainless Light of Treasure Garlands Tathagata

I bow down to the Golden Garland Light Tathagata

I bow down to the Hundred Golden Light Body Tathagata

I bow down to the Golden Treasure Heritage Tathagata (Kim cái bảo tích như lai)

I bow down to the Golden Flower Garland Tathagata

I bow down to the Great Rising Torch Tathagata

I bow down to the Great Treasure Garlands Tathagata

I bow down to the Unmoving Tathagata to the East

I bow down to the Treasure Garlands Tathagata to the South

I bow down to the Infinite Longevity Tathagata to the West

I bow down to the Heavenly Ancient Sound King Tathagata to the North

I bow down to the Gentle Garland bodhisattva

I bow down to the Golden Light bodhisattva

I bow down to the Golden Body bodhisattva

I bow down to the Often Present (Thường đề)  bodhisattva

I bow down to the Supreme Dharma bodhisattva

I bow down to the Benign Peace bodhisattva

Having bowed down to the Tathagatas and bodhisattvas, one should then recite the following mantra to request for my presence, the great Auspicious Heavenly goddess. Thanks to the might of this mantra, all wishes will be fulfilled. The great Auspicious Heavenly goddess then speaks of that mantra: Namo Srimahadevi tadyatha paripurnacare Samantadarsani mahaviharagate samanta pitamamati mahakarya prat’visthapini sarvant asamantan supratipure ayanadharmata mahabhagena mahamaitri upasamhete mahaklesa susamgrh’te anupulana svaha

Blessed One, the moment I hear anyone chants this mantra to summon me, I immediately travel to their place to grant them their wishes. Blessed One, this mantra contains the words of the great method of abhisheka, the words of the accomplishment of great meditations, the supremely truthful words, words that are not false, it is the equality work (việc làm bình đẳng), the primary roots of virtues towards sentient beings. To uphold and recite this mantra, one should take up the 8 precepts for 7 days and 7 nights, in the morning, one should clean one’s mouth; in the afternoon, gives offerings of perfume to the Tathagatas and reveal one’s misdeeds. Dedicate the merits and make vows for the sake of sentient beings. That is one way to make one’s wish quickly become true. Arrange a clean room, or in an empty field, or in a lan ya place (lan nhã), use cu ma to make a ritual site, and burn canda incense to offer. Make a special seat, decorated with canopies and flags. Use various famous flowers to arrange in the ritual site. Afterwards, one proceeds to reciting the above-mentioned mantra, wishing for me to arrive. At this time, I immediately think of that person, observe that person and arrive at the ritual site, sit on that special chair and receive the offerings from that person. From then onwards, I will let that person see me in dreams. Whatever that person wishes for, he should speak of it in truth. Whether that person is in a village, near a swamp, or in the place of the Sanghas, I will make all his wishes come true, gold, silver, properties, domestic animals, rice grains, food, clothes, all making them available to that person and let him enjoy great bliss. However, after that person has been granted the wish, he should reserve a supreme part to offer to the Three Jewels, and then dedicate that merits to me. Arrange a large assembly, with food and perfumes. Having made the offering, one then sell those offerings to buy more (offerings). For the whole life of that person, I will often abide right beside, and help that person acquire all that he needs, not missing anything, whatever he wishes for will become true. However, that person should often provide for the poor, without reserve, without thinking only of oneself. That person should often recite this Sutra, and ceaselessly gives offering. Also dedicate this merit to everyone and to the Unsurpassed Enlightenment, vowing to cross the sea of birth-death and quickly becomes liberated.

At this time, the Tathagata praises: how benign, Great Auspicious Heavenly goddess. You can speak of this Sutra. That is inconceivable, bringing about benefits to yourself and others.

Chapter 18: Earth God

At this time, the Earth god stands up in the assembly, holds the palms together and says, Blessed One, in the present or future time, anywhere, from villages, towns, Emperor’s palace, castles, lan ya, mountains to deserted forests, any place where this king of Sutra of the Golden Light is present, Blessed One, I will arrive at that place to pay homage and make offering, protect and spread the Teaching. Wherever there exists a high altar for the priest speaking of this Sutra, I will use my might, while hiding myself, right at the high altar to offer my head for the priest to step on. I will listen to the Dharma, my body will be flooded with supreme joy, for I have received the taste of the Dharma, which increases my power and authority, to endless bliss. When I myself have benefitted so, I will make this great planet become fertile, even as deep as 168000, as deep as the Vajra wheel. Among the 4 seas, the soil of all islands will be made more fertile than usual. In the great Jambudvipa world, all kinds of rivers and ponds that nourish various kinds of trees, medicinal herbs, forest bushes and other fruit and flowers, roots, trunks, branches and leaves, together with rice fields, they will all be good-looking, having sufficient colors, taste and scent; they can be all put to good use. If one uses such rare food products (that are harvested from these plants), all one’s senses will be stable and strong, becoming more invigorated, one’s pain and sufferings will be gone. One will have a strong mind and will, capable of doing much. As for the whole planet, whatever it is needed in, hundreds of thousands of kinds of work will be complete. Blessed One, because of this (occasion) the whole Jambudvipa world will be peaceful and prosperous, the people there will be populous, without having any harms; everyone lives in bliss and peace.

Since both their minds and bodies enjoy such great bliss and joy, they respect this king of Sutra even more; wherever they are, they want to uphold, make offerings to, respect, and praise (the Sutra). They also go together to the altar of the priest and request for this supreme king of Sutra for the benefits of sentient beings. Why is it so, Blessed One, it is because my retinues and I will benefit greatly from listening to this Sutra, my strength and energy flow will be well and regulated, my authority and might will also greatly improve, we will have healthy and beautiful appearance (and complexion), having great forms; everything will become extraordinarily good. Blessed One, after I, the Earth god, have acquired the taste of the Dharma, I will make this continent, together with its 7000 times hundreds of million acres of soil become fertile, even the above-mentioned people will live in bliss. As such, Blessed One, those sentient, out of the wish to repay my kindness, will think: we should definitely listen and accept this king of Sutra, respectfully make offering and praise this Sutra. Thus, no matter where they live, they will all arrive at the Dharma assembly, bow down to the priest and listen to this Sutra. Having listened to the Sutra, everyone returns home in great bliss. They say: today we have listened to the supremely profound Dharma, and by the roots of virtue of this act, we will acquire an inconceivable mass of merits. Thanks to the might of this Sutra, we will see countless Tathagatas to make offerings to, and to serve; we will forever leave the darkness of suffering in the three evil realms. Moreover, in the future, in hundreds of thousand lives, we will often enjoy superior bliss in human and devas worlds. After they return home, they also speak to their relatives, neighbors about this king of Sutra. They speak of this Sutra through an example, a chapter, a past life story, a name of a Tathagata, a name of a bodhisattva, a four-lined verse, a meaningful sentence, or even the name of the Sutra. If that is so, Blessed One, the place where they live will be much more fertile than other areas. Whatever that is grown on that land will yield great harvest; all plants will grow well, verdant and tall; they will bring about great bliss and properties to the sentient beings; they will also like to make offering, and they will develop an unswerving mind and belief towards the Three Jewels

 When the Earth god has finished his words, the Tathagata says, Earth god, anyone who listens to the king of Sutra of the Golden Light, even as little as a sentence from It, will be reborn in the Heaven of the thirty-three, or other heavenly realms. Whoever, for the purpose of making offering to this King of Sutra, arranges or decorates their house, even hanging a canopy, a flag, they will be reborn in the 6 heavens of the Desire realms thanks to that root of virtue. They will live in a palace made of the 7 precious substances, enjoying great bliss, and what everyone will naturally enjoy is the bliss with 7000 heavenly goddesses, day and night often enjoying the special and inconceivable merits.

The Blessed One having said so, the Earth god says, Blessed One, just because of what the Tathagata has mentioned above, I will protect anyone among the 4 kinds of Disciples of the Tathagata who sit on the Dharma altar to speak of this Sutra. I will day and night protect that person, hiding myself and using the crown of my head to support the feet of the priest when he steps up and down from the Dharma Altar. Blessed One, this Sutra is expounded on Earth for the benefits of those who have cultivated roots of virtues in countless Tathagatas. When these people listen to this Sutra, in the future, for countless eons, they will enjoy supreme bliss among the human and devas world; they will be able to meet the Tathagata, quickly attaining Usurpassed Enlightenment, and above all, they will no longer suffer from rebirths among the 3 evil realms

At this time, the Earth god says, Blessed One, I have a mantra that can bring about great benefits to human and devas, giving joy to all. Any son or daughter of the lineage, or the 4 kinds of Disciples of the Tathagata, who wishes to see my true body form, should sincerely recite that mantra; whatever they wish for, they will be satisfied. Such wishes may include having food and clothes to live, having wealth and properties, having jewels and gold, or hidden treasure beneath the earth surface, or supernatural abilities, or, magical medicine to have great longevity or cure all forms of sickness, defeating enemies, or subdue all forms of reasoning and debates. That person should arrange a pure place to make a ritual site, wash himself clean, wear new clothes and sit on a grass mattress. Towards the statue of the Tathagata that contains Buddha’s relic, or in front of a temple or tower that has Buddha relic, that person should burn incense, scatter flowers and make offering of food. On the day of the bright moon in August, or the day of the Bố sái star, recite the mantra to summon me, the Earth god: Tadyatha ciri ciri curu curu kuru kuru kutu kutu totu totu bhaha bhaha savari savari svaha.

Blessed One, when anyone among the 4 kinds of Disciples of the Tathagata recites this mantra 108 times to summon me, I will immediately arrive at their place. Moreover, Blessed One, if anyone wishes to see me appear in my body form to speak to, that person should arrange as before and recite this mantra: Tadyatha acani griliga ksanati sira sidhari ha ha hi hi kuru bhare svaha.

Blessed One, that person should recite this mantra 108 times, and also recite the previous mantra; if that is so, I will definitely arrive and grant them their wishes, it is completely not ineffective. However, to recite this mantra, one must first recite the mantra of self- protection: Tadyatha nisiri masakani nati kuti budhi budhire biti biti kukuti baciri svaha

Blessed One, to recite this mantra, one uses a five-color string and makes 21 knots, recites 21 times (makes a knot in it for every time one recite this mantra, do this 21 times) and tie this string behind the left elbow; this will protect that person, and he will no longer have any fear. One should whole-heartedly recite this mantra to fulfill one’s wish. I do not speak falsely. Buddha, Dharma and Sangha are my witnesses, pray testify what I say.

At this time, the Blessed One says to Earth god, how benign, Earth god, you can offer this mantra to protect this Sutra and the priest who expounds this Sutra. This will give you Earth god countless merits.

Chapter 19: The great Yaksa General

At this time, the great Yaksa General called Righteous Understanding and Wisdom, together with the gods of the 28 kinds of Yaksa, in the assembly, stands up from his seat, lets bare the right shoulder, the right knee touching the ground, and holds the palms together and point to the Tathagata, says, Blessed One, either in the present, or future, in towns, villages, mountains or hills, in deserted forests, in the king’s palace, in the dwelling place of monks, in any place where this king of Sutra of the Golden Light is expounded, Blessed One, I, the General Righteous Understanding and Wisdom together with the 28 kinds of Yaksas will arrive at that place, hiding ourselves and protect the priest from all harms, often enjoying great bliss; we will protect those who listen to the Dharma, no matter whether they are males or females, young boy or girl, if they, towards this king of Sutra, accept and keep in mind even a four-lined verse, a meaningful sentence, or just the name of this king of Sutra, a name of the Tathagata or a name of a bodhisattva in this king of Sutra, if they initiate the thought of wanting to chant and respectfully give offering to the above, then I will protect them, receive them and make them free from all harms, abandoning sufferings to enjoy great bliss.

Blessed One, why am I called Righteous Understanding and Wisdom (understanding correctly)? In this, may he Blessed One himself testify for me. I know the Dharma, and understand the Dharma. Whatever is contained in the Dharma, and what the Dharma is, Blessed One, I understand these correctly. I have the inconceivable light of wisdom, the inconceivable torch of wisdom, the inconceivable work of wisdom, the inconceivable mass of wisdom, as such, towards the inconceivable realm of wisdom, I know and understand correctly. Blessed One, since I know correctly the Dharma, understand correctly, become awakened correctly, and having the might of correct observation (perception) of the Dharma, as such, I am called the great general Righteous Understanding and Wisdom. Thanks to this factor, I make the person who speak the Dharma become eloquent in all manners of words, I also make that person fulfill all precepts (Upasampadà); I will also make the energy flow enters through their pores and fulfill all great physical strength, so that the person will have great authority, inconceivable light of wisdom- able to (make that person) acquire the correct memory, so that he will not be defeated, able to increase their strength, so there will be no harms and deterioration to that person , able to give him peaceful and relaxed senses, so he will often enjoy great bliss; thanks to these factors, that person will be able to expound this king of Sutra in the great Jambudvipa world, bringing great benefits to those who have sown roots of virtues and cultivate merits and virtues in countless Tathagatas, and not letting it disappear quickly. Those who listen to this Sutra will have the inconceivable light of wisdom, and immeasurable mass of merits; in their future lives, for countless of eons they will enjoy supreme bliss in the worlds of human and devas, they are able to see the Tathagatas, and will quickly attain Unsurpassed Enlightenment, and they will especially, not go through the suffering of the 3 evil realms of Ya ma

At this time, the great general Righteous Understanding and Wisdom says, Blessed One, I have a mantra that I will today present in front of the Tathagata, to benefits all sentient beings: Namo Buddhaya, Namo Dharmaya, Namo Samghaya, namo Brahmaya, namo Indraya, namah caturnam mahasjanam, tadyatha hiri hiri mili mili Gauri Mahagauri Gandhari Mahagandhari Dravidi Mahadravidi danda khukunte ha ha ha ha ha, hi hi hi hi hi, ho ho ho ho ho, hala dhana kudame, ca ca ca ca, ci ci ci ci, cu cu cu cu, candesvara sikhara sikhara uttisthi bhagavan saceinjaya svaha

Blessed One, anyone who upholds this mantra will be provided with all necessities to make their lives easy, I will give them food, clothes, flowers, either wishing to have a baby boy or a baby girl, wishing for gold, silver or treasures, or strings of pearls, I will provide them with everything, and not let their prayers go unanswered. This mantra has great power. If anyone upholds this mantra, reciting it, I will quickly arrive at their place, and all that they wish for will be accordingly provided, without any hindrance. One needs to know the methods of preparation before upholding this mantra, one should first draw a picture of me on a flat surface, 4 (old) meters tall, my hand holding an extended sword. In front of this picture, one should make 4 ritual sites representing 4 directions, place 4 pots in which are contained honey or sugar solution. Then apply perfumes and burn various incense materials, and offer garlands of flowers. In front of the ritual site, place an earthen pot, inside, place hot embers to burn to ma gioi tu (tô ma giới tử). Recite the above mantra for 108 times, each time burning (the above materials) once. Even until I, the great general Righteous Understanding and Wisdom appears in my own body form; I will ask the person reciting the mantra: just say what you need. I immediately satisfy that person’s need, depending on what he requests. If that person needs gold, hidden treasure under the ground, the ability of flying in mid-air, or heavenly eyes, telepathy, all such needs that are required to help sentient beings, I will all grant, even eliminating the defilement of sentient beings, helping them become liberated, I am capable of doing all.

At this time, the Tathagata says to the great general Righteous Understanding and Wisdom, how benign, great general. You can benefit sentient beings so, and speak of the mantra to protect the Dharma, the merits that you acquire will be infinite.