Sūtra of the Merit and Virtue of the Past Vows of Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata
Commentary Part IV
Explained by the Venerable Master Hua
Sūtra:
"Mañjusri, if you see a man (or a woman) who is ill, you should single-mindedly and frequently clean and bathe him and rinse his mouth. Provide him with food, medicine, or water that is free of insects, over any of which the dhāraṇī has been recited 108 times. After the sick person has taken it, all his sicknesses and sufferings will be gone. If this person has a wish, he should recite this mantra with utmost sincerity. Then he will obtain whatever he wished for, and his life will be prolonged and free from illness. At the end of his life, he will be reborn in that Buddha's land. He will become irreversible and will ultimately attain Bodhi. Therefore, Mañjuśrī, if there are men and women who, with utmost sincerity, diligently worship and make offerings to Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, they should always recite this mantra and never forget it."
Commentary:
" Mañjuśrī, if you see a man (or a woman) who is ill, you should single-mindedly and frequently clean and bathe him or her and rinse his or her mouth. Then the person's body will be clean and his mind will have pure thoughts. Provide him or her with food, medicine, or water that is free of insects, over any of which the dhara1;li has been recited 108 times. Take the sick person's food, medicine, or water that has no insects in it, and recite the True Words for Anointing the Crown over it 108 times. Then give t to the sick person. After the sick person has taken it, all his sicknesses and sufferings will be gone.
If this person has a wish, he should recite this mantra 108 times with utmost sincerity. Then he will obtain whatever he wished for, and his life will be prolonged and free from illness. Even if he is supposed to die, he will not die. That's how wonderful it is!
And at the end of his life, he will be reborn in that Buddha's land. When it is really time for his life to end, he will be reborn in Medicine Master Buddha's Pure Land. He will become irreversible and will ultimately attain Bodhi. He will advance steadily, never retreating, until he accomplishes the Unsurpassed, Proper and Equal, Right Enlightenment.
Therefore, Mañjuśrī, if there are men and women who, with utmost sincerity, diligently worship and make offerings to Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, if they are single-minded and very attentive and respectful in doing this, they should always recite this mantra and never forget it. They should constantly recite the True Words for Anointing the Crown and never let them slip from their memory.
Sūtra:
"Moreover, Mañjuśrī, men or women of pure faith, who have heard all the names of Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, One of Proper and Equal Enlightenment, should recite and uphold them. In the early morning, after brushing their teeth and bathing, they should make offerings of fragrant flowers, incense, perfumed balms, and various kinds of music before an image of that Buddha. They should personally write out this Sūtra or ask others to do so, and they should single-mindedly and constantly recite it. If they listen to explanations of its meaning from a Dharma Master, they should make offerings to him of all necessities, so that he is without the slightest want. In this way, they will receive the mindful protection of the Buddhas. All of their wishes will be fulfilled, and they will ultimately attain Bodhi."
Commentary:
"Moreover, Mañjuśrī, men or women of pure faith, who have heard all the names of Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, One of Proper and Equal Enlightenment, should recite and uphold them. The ten titles of Medicine Master Buddha are: Tathāgata, One Worthy of Offerings, One of Proper and Universal Knowledge, One Whose Understanding and Practice Are Complete, Well Gone One Who Understands the World, Supreme Lord, Regulating Hero, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, and World Honored One. After hearing all these names, they should be able to recite them constantly.
In the early morning when they get up, after brushing their teeth by chewing on a willow twig [a custom in the Buddha's time], rinsing their mouth, and bathing so that they are clean and pure, they should make offerings of fragrant flowers, incense, perfumed balms, and various kinds of music before an image of that Buddha in order to worship Medicine Master Buddha or the Sūtra of the Merit and Virtue of the Past Vows of Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata. They should personally write out this Sūtra or ask others to do so, and they should single-mindedly and constantly recite it. They may also single-mindedly recite Medicine Master Buddha's name.
If they listen to explanations of its meaning from a Dharma Master, they should make offerings to him of all necessities, so that he is without the slightest want. If there is a Dharma Master who explains, writes out, receives and upholds, or recites the Sūtra, the laypeople should reverently provide him with the Four Kinds of Offerings-food (pure vegetarian meals), clothing, bedding, and medicines. They should make sure the Dharma Master does not lack these basic necessities.
In this way they will receive the mindful protection of the Buddhas. If one supports a Dharma Master who writes out, receives, upholds, or recites the Medicine Master Sūtra, the Buddhas of the ten directions will mindfully protect one. All of their wishes will be fulfilled, and they will ultimately attain Bodhi.
Disciples of the Buddha should treat the study of the Dharma as more important than anything - more important than their studies at school, more important than their jobs and careers. One of my disciples told of how she became a vegetarian and started coming to Sulfa lectures after the "Three Steps One Bow" monks came and lectured on the Sūtras. This is very rare. Simply by cherishing the Sulfa lectures, you are being a good disciple of the Buddha. We should be very sincere in listening to the lectures.
Sūtra:
At that time, the Pure Youth Mañjuśrī said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, I vow that in the Dharma Image Age, using various expedient means, I shall enable good men and women of pure faith to hear the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata. Even during their sleep, I will awaken them with this Buddha's name."
Commentary:
At that time, the Pure Youth Mañjuśrī, the Dharma Prince, said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, who is honored both in and beyond the world, I vow that in the Dharma Image Age of the future, using various expedient means, I shall teach the Dharma to living beings in accord with their dispositions. I will wisely select expedient methods to teach them.
"1 shall enable good men and women of pure faith to hear the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata. Even during their sleep, I will awaken them with this Buddha's name. If the conditions ripen when they are asleep, I will enable them to hear the name of that Buddha in their dreams, so that they will wake up and cultivate the Buddhadharma."
What is the Dharma Image Age? The Buddhadharma goes through three phases called the Proper Dharma Age, the Dharma Image Age, and the Dharma Ending Age. During the Proper Dharma Age, which starts when the Buddha is dwelling in the world and lasts for 500 or 1,000 years, many people like to meditate and develop samādhi. During this age, people emphasize the inner skill of sages. During the Dharma Image Age which follows, people become attached to appearances. They are skilled at constructing temples and monasteries, which can be considered the outward-looking skill of kings. Although they build many temples to support Buddhism, they are concerned only with appearances. There are many cultivators in the Proper Dharma Age, but few in the Dharma Image Age. The Dharma Image Age can be considered to last for 1,000 years, although some say it is 500 years.
We live in the Dharma Ending Age, which is very distant from the Buddha's time. In the Dharma Ending Age, people are skilled not in meditation or building temples, but in fighting. People fight with people, families fight with families, countries fight with countries, and planets fight with planets. People are constantly fighting and terrorizing each others. This is truly an age of terror. Perhaps because we did not do any good deeds, we have been born in the Dharma Ending Age, when Buddhism' is nearing its demise. We will consider the Dharma Ending Age to be 10,000 years long, although some people say it will last for only 1,000 years.
It has been more than three thousand years since the Buddha's time. The Proper Dharma Age and the Dharma Image Age each lasted for a thousand years, and now we are one thousand years into the Dharma Ending Age. Although we were not lucky enough to see the supreme conditions that existed in the Buddha's time, we should make vows to propagate the Proper Dharma in the present time and to turn the Dharma-Ending Age into the Proper Dharma Age. If we all make this vow, the Dharma will not become extinct. Buddhism has just come to the West, and we must staunchly support and propagate the Proper Dharma; we must take the Proper Dharma as our standard in all we do; the Proper Dharma is our goal and purpose. We should all make a great Bodhi resolve and protect the Treasury of the Proper Dharma Eye.
Sūtra:
"World Honored One, there may be those who accept and uphold this Sūtra, read and recite it, explain its meanings for others, write it out themselves, or tell others to write it out. They may revere it by making offerings of various flowers, paste incense, powdered incense, stick incense, flower garlands, necklaces, banners, canopies, and music. They may make bags of five-colored thread in which to keep the Sūtra. They may sweep clean a place and arrange a high altar on which to place this Sūtra. At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings with their retinues and other innumerable hundreds of thousands of gods will come to that place to worship and protect it.
"World Honored One, it should be known that if, in the places where this precious Sūtra circulates, people can accept and uphold it, then due to the merit and virtue of the past vows of that World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, because they have heard his name, none of those people will meet with untimely death. In addition, none of them will be robbed of his vital energy by evil ghosts and spirits. Those people whose vital energies have already been robbed will have their health restored, and they will be happy and at peace in body and mind."
Commentary:
Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva calls out again, "World Honored One, you who are honored both in the world and beyond it, in the Dharma Image Age as well as the Dharma Ending Age, there may be those who accept and uphold this Sūtra, read it from the book and recite it from memory, explain its meanings for others." Based upon your own wisdom and understanding of the Sūtra, you may expound it for others, illustrating its wonderful principles and its great importance through the use of analogies.
Write it out themselves or tell others to write it out. You may write out the Sūtra on paper with brush and ink, or you may tell others to write it out. They may revere it by bowing to it, or by setting the Sūtra on the altar and making offerings of various flowers, paste incense, powdered incense, stick incense, flower garlands, necklaces, banners, canopies, and music. One may play various kinds o music in praise to the Buddha as an offering to this Sūtra.
They may make bags of five-colored thread in which to keep the Sūtra. They may sweep clean a place in their house and arrange a high altar on which to place this Sūtra. To show their respect, they keep the Sūtra in a high place.
At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings with their retinues and other innumerable hundreds of thousands of gods will come to that place where offerings are made to the Sūtra, to worship and protect it.
World Honored One, it should be known that if, in the places where this precious Sūtra circulates, people can accept and uphold it, then due to the merit and virtue of the past vows of that World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, and because they have heard his name, none of those people will meet with untimely death. Accidental deaths will not occur in any place where this Sūtra is found.
In addition, none of them will be robbed of his vital energy by evil ghosts and spirits. Those people whose vital energies have already been robbed will be restored to health, and they will be happy and at peace in body and mind. If people's essence and energy have been depleted by evil ghosts and spirits, they will be restored to health. They will be free from afflictions, disasters, and misfortunes. If you think your home is haunted by ghosts, take home a copy of the Sūtra of the Merit and Virtue of the Past Vows of Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata and make offerings to it. This is the best way to chase away evil influences and bring peace to a household.
Sūtra
The Buddha told Mañjuśrī, "'So it is, so it is! It is exactly as you say. Mañjuśrī, if there are good men and women of pure faith who wish to make offerings to that World Honored One" Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, they should first make an image of that Buddha and arrange a pure and clean dais on which to place the image. Then they should strew all kinds of flowers, burn various incenses, and adorn the place with a variety of banners and streamers. For seven days and seven nights they should hold the eight precepts and eat pure food. Having bathed until clean and fragrant, they should put on clean clothes. Their minds should be undefiled, without thoughts of anger and malice. Toward all sentient beings, they should cherish thoughts of benevolence, peace, kindness, compassion, joy, giving, and equanimity.
"'Playing musical instruments and singing praises, they should circumambulate to the right of the Buddha's image. Moreover, they should recall the merit and virtue of that Tathāgata's past vows. They should read and recite this Sūtra, ponder its meaning, and lecture on and explain it. Then they will obtain whatever they seek: Those who seek long life will attain longevity; those who seek wealth will gain wealth; those who seek an official position will obtain it; and those who seek a son or a daughter will have one."
Commentary:
The Buddha told Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva, "So it is, so it is! You're right! It is exactly as you say. Mañjuśrī, if there are good men and women of pure faith who wish to make offerings to that World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, they should first make an image of that Buddha and arrange a pure and spotlessly clean dais on which to place the image so that offerings can be made to it. Then they should strew all kinds of flowers, bum various incenses, and adorn the place with a variety of banners and streamers."
When we make offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, we should not think that they are as greedy as we are, always hoping someone will invite them for tea or a vegetarian meal. We offer fine incense, fresh flowers, and so forth to show our sincerity, but that doesn't mean the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas enjoy these things. They aren't delighted if we bum incense for them, and they don't get upset if we don't. They don't need any of the worldly things that people offer to them. We make such offerings only because we have no other way of showing our sincerity.
When we make offerings, we should not be like those superstitious people who light big handfuls of joss sticks in front of the Buddha. When they bum so much incense, the Buddha, who had been peacefully shining his protective light on living beings, disappears in a cloud of smoke and can't even open his eyes! That causes him to stop shining his light and protecting people. Of course this is just my foolish conjecture about the Buddha's state, but my point is, there's no need to offer great big handfuls of incense to the Buddha. It would be like covering a hundred-foot-long table with food and expecting one person to eat it all.
We should light no more than three sticks of incense as an offering to the Buddha, with perhaps one more stick for the Dharma-protecting spirits, making four sticks in all. Usually, one stick of incense is enough. If you are sincere, the Bodhisattvas will protect you even if you don't offer incense. The Buddhas will be happy as long as you are mindful of the Triple Jewel and you recite the Sūtras. You don't need to light incense to make them happy.
Ordinary people dislike criticism and are fond of praise, but Buddhas are not so petty. Our common minds cannot fathom the wisdom of sages. Don't think Buddhas are as greedy as people. Don't be like the superstitious folk who worship in the temples, thinking, "The more money we give and the more incense we bum, the better." They are very sure that their attitude is correct, but they can't explain why. Now wouldn't you say that they are muddled? Buddhists should listen to truth and wisdom and not be superstitious.
For seven days and seven nights, they should hold the eight precepts and eat pure food that does not contain meat or pungent plants [onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, and chives]. Having bathed until clean and fragrant, they should put on clean clothes. They should wash the sweat and grime off their bodies and bathe in fragrant water so that they smell nice, and then put on clean, but not necessarily fancy, clothes. Their clothes can be very coarse, but as long as they are clean, they are being respectful toward the Buddhas.
Their minds should be undefiled, without thoughts of anger and malice. Purify your mind. Cast out the garbage and defilements. Don't harbor thoughts of anger and harm.
Toward all sentient beings, they should cherish thoughts of benevolence, peace, kindness, compassion, joy, giving, and equanimity. They should wish peace and well-being upon all beings. Playing musical instruments and singing praises, they should circumambulate to the right of the Buddha's image.
Moreover, they should recall and recite the Sūtra of the merit and virtue of that Tathāgata's past vows. They should read and recite this Sūtra, ponder its meaning, and lecture on and explain it. Then they will obtain whatever they seek. Those who seek long life will attain longevity; those who seek wealth will gain wealth; those who seek an official position will obtain it; and those who seek a son or a daughter will have one. How great are the merits of this Sūtra of the Merit and Virtue of the Past Vows of Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata! As long as you are sincere, your prayers will be answered.
Sūtra:
"Moreover, if a person who suddenly has nightmares, sees ill omens, notices strange birds flocking together, or perceives many uncanny events in his dwelling can worship and make offerings of many fine things to that World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, then the nightmares, ill omens, and inauspicious things will disappear and will no longer trouble him.
"When a person is endangered by water, fire, knives, or poison; or finds himself on a steep cliff or in a dangerous place; or faces fierce elephants, lions, tigers, wolves, bears, poisonous snakes, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, mosquitoes, gnats, or other frightful things, if he can single-mindedly recollect, worship, and make offerings to that Buddha, he will be liberated from all those frightful things. When other countries invade or when there are thieves or riots, if a person can recollect and worship that Tathāgata, then he will be free of all of these as well."
Commentary:
Moreover, if a person who suddenly has nightmares, who dreams that he himself or someone else dies, or is in a car accident, or jumps into the sea-all kinds of unlucky dreams, or sees ill omens... Maybe he sees a hideous rakṣaṣa ghost, or a monster with fangs and a huge mouth, or the Thunder God preparing to strike people with his thunderbolt. He may dream of earthquakes, avalanches, tidal waves, or other bad omens.
Or it may be that he notices a lot of strange birds flocking together over his house, unusual birds such as homed owls, eared owls, and crows. Or he perceives many uncanny events in his dwelling, such as ghosts in the daytime, or demons in the night, or a broomstick walking around by itself, or a soup ladle flying through the house.
If he or others in such a household can worship and make offerings of many fine things, the most precious and valuable things, to that World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, then the nightmares, ill omens, and inauspicious events will disappear and will no longer trouble him. All his bad dreams-perhaps dreams about snakes, tigers, wolves, leopards, or other beasts-and all the unlucky things will be gone before he knows it. Therefore, if you think your home is haunted, Medicine Master Sūtra worship and make offerings to Medicine Master Buddha, and your problems will disappear and you will obtain good luck.
When a person is endangered by being drowned in deep water, burned by fire, harmed by knives or poison; or finds himself on a steep cliff or in a dangerous place; or faces fierce elephants-such as an intoxicated elephant that is ready to kill anyone it sees; man-eating lions, tigers, wolves, bears, poisonous snakes, scorpions, poisonous centipedes, millipedes, which burrow into people's brains and suck them dry, mosquitoes, gnats, or other harmful creatures or frightful things; if he can single-mindedly recollect Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, worship, and make offerings to that Buddha, he will be liberated from all those frightful things. He will no longer have anything to fear.
When other countries invade or when there are thieves or riots within the country, if a person can recollect and worship that Tathāgata in thought after thought, then he will be free of all of these disasters as well. All misfortunes will turn into good luck.
Sūtra:
"Moreover, Mañjuśrī, there may be good men and women of pure faith who, all their lives, do not worship other gods, but single-mindedly take refuge with the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha. They accept and uphold precepts, such as the five precepts, the ten precepts, the four hundred precepts of a Bodhisattva, the two hundred and fifty precepts of a Bhikṣu, or the five hundred precepts of a Bhikṣunī. Perhaps they have violated some of the precepts they received and are afraid of falling into the evil destinies. If they concentrate on reciting that Buddha's name and worship and make offerings to him, they definitely will not be reborn in the three evil destinies.
"If there is a woman about to give birth who suffers great pain, if she sincerely recites his name and worships, praises, venerates, and makes offerings to that Tathāgata, all her sufferings will be dispelled. The newborn child will be sound and healthy, and will have upright features. Seeing him will make people happy. He will be keen and intelligent, peaceful and secure, and with few ailments, and no evil spirit will come to rob him of his vitality."
Commentary:
"Moreover," says Śākyamuni Buddha, " Mañjuśrī, let me tell you more. There may be good men and women of pure faith, virtuous men and women who, all their lives, do not worship other gods. They do not worship heavenly or earthly deities, ghosts, spirits, or gods of non-Buddhist religions, but single-mindedly and with utmost sincerity take refuge with the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha.
They receive and strictly uphold the Buddha's precepts, such as the five precepts, which prohibit killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and taking intoxicants, the ten precepts of a Śramanera (novice), the four hundred precepts of a Bodhisattva, the two hundred and fifty precepts of a Bhikṣu, or the five hundred precepts of a Bhikṣunī.
Perhaps they have violated, whether deliberately and not, some of the precepts they received and are afraid of falling into the evil destinies. If they concentrate on reciting that Buddha's name, sincerely and singlemindedly reciting, "Homage to Medicine Master Buddha Who Quells Disasters and Lengthens Life," and worship and make offerings to him wholeheartedly, they definitely will not be reborn in the three evil destinies.
If there is a woman about to give birth who suffers unbearably great pain, if she sincerely recites his name and worships, praises, venerates, and makes offerings to that Tathāgata, all her sufferings will be dispelled. The newborn child will be sound and healthy. The baby's physical faculties will be complete and perfect. He will not be missing an eye, ear, nose, or mouth.
He will have upright features. Seeing him will make people happy. Everyone will like to see this child. He will be keen and intelligent, peaceful and secure, and with few ailments, and no evil spirit will come to rob him of his vitality. He will be extremely bright and will seldom be ill. His essence will not be absorbed by goblins, demons, ghosts, or other evil spirits, because the awesome spiritual power of Medicine Master Buddha will keep such beings away from him.
Today I want to tell you which Bodhisattva the people of Los Angeles have affinities with. The climate of Los Angeles is similar to that of Jiuhua ("Nine Flowers") Mountain in China [the Bodhimaṇḍa of Earth Store Bodhisattva]. The causes and conditions of these two places are very similar. Therefore, all of you in Los Angeles have great affinities with Earth Store Bodhisattva. Earth Store Bodhisattva is the host of Gold Wheel Monastery and Guanyin Bodhisattva is its Dharma protector. At the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is the host and Earth Store Bodhisattva acts as Dharma protector. The City is Guanyin's bodhimaṇḍa, since its climate is similar to that of Mount Putuo [Guanyin Bodhisattva’s bodhimaṇḍa in China] Universal Worthy Bodhisattva's bodhimaṇḍa is in Seattle (which is similar to Mount Emei, Universal Worthy's bodhimaṇḍa in China), and Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva's bodhimaṇḍa is in Vancouver (which is comparable to Wutai Mountain in China). Mañjuśrī likes the cold, so I have chosen Vancouver to be the site of his bodhimaṇḍa. This Bodhisattva often appears there and emits light. In Seattle, Universal Worthy Bodhisattva is the host and Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva is the Dharma protector. In Vancouver, Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva is the host, and Universal Worthy Bodhisattva is the Dharma protector.
Instead of travelling all the way to China, you can worship Guanyin Bodhisattva at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Worshipping Earth Store Bodhisattva at Gold Wheel Monastery is just like going to Jiuhua Mountain to worship him. And at our temple in Vancouver, you can pay homage to Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva just as if you were at Wutai Mountain in China. I have invited the four great Bodhisattvas to come to these four temples, so you can pay homage to them without travelling the great distance to China.
Although you may not see them, I feel that the four great Bodhisattvas are now at these four bodhimaṇḍas. Whether you believe this or not is up to you.
[Note: The next section of the Sūtra
was lectured by a disciple.]
Sūtra:
At that time the World Honored One said to Ānanda, "The merit and virtue of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, which I have just extolled, is the extremely profound practice of all Buddhas. It is difficult to fathom and to comprehend. Do you believe it or not?"
Commentary:
Disciples of the Buddha must have true faith and sincere vows before they can obtain actual benefit. Thus, the Flower Adornment Sūtra says, "Faith is the source of the Way and the mother of merit and virtue. It nurtures all good roots." Without faith, you cannot foster good roots or merit and virtue.
At that time, the World Honored One said to Ānanda, "All the inconceivable merit and virtue of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, which I have just extolled, is the extremely profound practice of all Buddhas. This is the state of the most profound and wondrous practice of all Buddhas. It is difficult to fathom and to comprehend. Only Buddhas and those who have gone through the experience can understand it. Ordinary people cannot conceive of it. Do you believe it or not? Now, Ānanda, do you truly believe everything I have told you? Are you free of doubts?
Sūtra:
Ānanda said, "Greatly virtuous World Honored One, I have absolutely no doubts regarding the Sūtras spoken by the Tathāgata. Why? Because all Buddhas' karmas of body, speech, and mind are pure. World Honored One, the sun and moon could fall, Wonderfully High, the king of mountains, could be toppled or shaken, but the words of the Buddhas never change."
Commentary:
Ānanda said in reply, “Greatly virtuous World Honored One, I have absolutely no doubts regarding the Sūtras spoken by the Tathāgata. The Sūtras ('tallying texts') tally with the principles of all Buddhas above and with the potentials of all living beings below. I have not the slightest doubt regarding them. Why? Because all Buddhas’ karmas of body, speech and mind are completely pure, without even a speck of defilement or falseness.
“World Honored One, between heaven and earth, the sun and moon could fall, Wonderfully High, which is just Mount Sumeru, the king of mountains, could be toppled or shaken, and everything else could change, but the words of the Buddhas never change. The words of every Buddha are absolutely true and cannot be altered."
Sūtra:
“World Honored One, there are sentient beings deficient in faith who hear about the extremely profound practices of all Buddhas and think to themselves, 'How could one obtain such supreme merit and benefit merely by reciting the name of a single Buddha, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata?' Due to this lack of faith, they give rise to Medicine Master Sūtra slander. During the long night, they lose great benefit and joy and fall into the evil destinies, where they wander ceaselessly.
Commentary:
"World Honored One, there are sentient beings deficient in faith, who are particularly skeptical and lack the foundations of faith, who hear about the extremely profound practices of all Buddhas and think to themselves... When they hear about the conduct of all Buddhas, about the unfathomably deep wisdom and the blessings, virtue, and wonderful functioning of the spiritual penetrations of all Buddhas, they immediately become doubtful. They think, 'How could one obtain such immeasurable supreme merit and benefit merely by reciting the name of a single Buddha, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata?' Due to this lack of faith, they give rise to slander. Their doubts lead them to think, "The Buddha cheats people. Everything he says is a lie." Their reckless slander causes people to lose faith in the Triple Jewel.
During the long night, they lose great benefit and joy and fall into the evil destinies, where they wander ceaselessly. During the endless night which is an analogy for the endless rounds of birth and death, they forsake all benefits and happiness and suffer in the hells, the hungry ghost realm, and the animal realm.
Sūtra:
The Buddha told Ānanda, "If these sentient beings hear the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, and sincerely accept and uphold it without any doubts, they cannot possibly fall into the evil destinies.
"Ānanda, this is the extremely profound practice of all Buddhas which is difficult to believe and to understand! You should know that your ability to accept this comes from the awesome power of the Tathāgata. Ānanda, all Hearers, Solitarily Enlightened Ones, and the Bodhisattvas who have not yet ascended to the Grounds are incapable of believing and understanding this Dharma as it really is. Only the Bodhisattvas who are destined in one life to attain Buddhahood are capable of understanding.
"Ananda, it is difficult to obtain a human body. It is also difficult to have faith in and to revere the Triple Jewel. It is even more difficult to be able to hear the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata. Ānanda, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata possesses boundless Bodhisattva practices, limitless skillful expedients, and immeasurably vast, great vows. If I were to speak extensively of those for an eon or more, the eon would soon end, but that Buddha's practices, vows, and skillful expedients have no end!"
Commentary:
The Buddha further told Ānanda, "If these living beings, the ones mentioned above, are able to hear the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata, and sincerely and single-mindedly accept and uphold it without any doubts, they cannot possibly fall into the evil destinies. There would be absolutely no chance that such people would fall into the three evil destinies. Ānanda, this is the extremely profound practice of all Buddhas which is difficult to believe and to understand! The Buddhas' deeds are based on extremely profound wisdom, which ordinary people find hard to believe and understand.
You should know that your ability to believe and accept this comes not from your own power, but from the awesome power of the Tathāgata. It is through the aid of the Buddha's awesome spiritual power that you can have such absolute faith. Why do I say this?
Ānanda, all Hearers, Solitarily Enlightened Ones, and the Bodhisattvas who have not yet ascended to the Grounds are incapable of believing and understanding this Dharma as it really is. Not to mention ordinary people, even those who have attained to the first, second, third, or fourth fruitions of Arhatship, Pratyekabuddhas, and Bodhisattvas who have not yet entered the First Ground are unable to bring forth such genuine faith and understanding. Only the Bodhisattvas who are destined in one life to attain Buddhahood, are capable of understanding. Only those who have reached the position of Equal Enlightenment, Bodhisattvas who will attain Buddha- hood in one more life, can have such unswerving faith.
Ānanda, it is difficult to obtain a human body. If you want to be born as a human, it is very difficult. It is also difficult to have faith in and to revere the Triple Jewel. To have genuine faith and reverence for the Buddhas, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha is also very difficult. It is even more difficult to be able to hear the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata. It is even harder to hear the name of Medicine Master Buddha than to do the things mentioned above.
The Buddha calls out again, "Ānanda, you should know that Medicine Master Vaiḍūrya Light Tathāgata possesses boundless Bodhisattva practices. In past lives, he cultivated the immeasurably vast Bodhisattva path, employed limitless skillful expedients, and made immeasurably vast, great vows. If I were to speak extensively of those for a period of an eon or more, the eon, which is such a long period of time, would soon end, but that Buddha's practices, vows, and skillful expedients have no end! One could never finish speaking of them."
[Note: End of section lectured by a disciple.]
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