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Healing Buddha Sutra

Thus I have heard. At one time the Bhagavan was travelling 

through various lands to teach living beings. He arrived at 

Vaisali ["City of Extensive Adornments"] and stayed beneath 

a tree from which music resounded. With him were eight 

thousand great Bhikshus and thirty six thousand 

Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas; also kings, ministers, 

Brahmans, lay disciples; gods, dragons, and the rest 

of the eightfold division; beings both human and 

non-human. The immeasurable great multitude respectfully

 surrounded him, and he spoke Dharma for them. At 

that time, the Dharma Prince Manjusri, receiving the 

awesome inspiration of the Buddha, rose from his seat, 

bared one of his shoulders, knelt on his right knee, 

and, inclining his head and placing his palms together,

 said to the Bhagavan, "World Honored One! We wish 

you would speak about such Dharmas as the Buddhas' 

names, the great vows they made in the past, and their 

supreme merit and virtue, so that those who hear

 them will be rid of their karmic hindrances. This

 request is also for the sake of bringing benefit and 

joy to the sentient beings in the Dharma-Image Age." 

The Buddha then praised the Pure Youth Manjusri: 

"Good indeed! Good indeed, Manjusri. With great 

compassion you now request that I speak about the

 Buddhas' names and the merit and virtue of their 

past vows, for the sake of rescuing sentient beings

 who are bound up by karmic obstacles, and for 

the purpose of bringing benefit, peace, and joy to 

beings who live in the Dharma-Image Age. Listen 

attentively to my words and reflect on them extremely

 well, for I will now answer you." Manjusri said, 

"Please do speak. We are glad to listen." The Buddha 

told Manjusri, "Passing from here to the east, beyond 

Buddhalands numerous as the sand grains in ten 

Ganges rivers, is a world called `Pure Vaidurya.' 

The Buddha there is named Medicine Master Vaidurya 

Light Tathagata, of Proper and Equal Enlightenment,

 Perfect in Understanding and Practice, Well Gone One, 

One who Understands the World, Supreme Lord,

 Regulating Hero, Teacher of Gods and Humans, 

Buddha, Bhagavan. Manjusri, when that World Honored 

One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, was 

practicing the Bodhisattva path in the past, he made

 twelve great vows that enable all sentient beings to

 obtain what they seek. "The first great vow: `I vow

 that in a future life, when I attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi,

 my body will shine with dazzling light that will illumine 

measureless, countless, boundless worlds. My body

 will be adorned with the thirty-two heroic features 

and the eighty subsidiary characteristics, and I will

enable all beings to become as I am.' "The second 

great vow: `I vow that in a future life when I attain 

Bohdi, my body will be as bright and clear as

 Vaidurya, flawlessly pure, vastly radiant, majestic

 with merit and virtue, abiding at ease, adorned 

with blazing nets brighter than the sun and the moon.

Beings dwelling in darkness will be illuminated 

and will succeed in all their endeavors.' "The third 

great vow: `I vow that in a future life when I 

attain Bodhi, I will, by means of limitless, unbounded 

wisdom and skill-in-means, enable all sentient 

beings to obtain an inexhaustible supply of material 

necessities so they are without the slightest want.'

 "The fourth great vow: `I vow that in a future life

when I attain Bodhi, I shall lead those sentient beings 

who practice deviant paths to reside in the Way of

 Bodhi, and those who travel on the vehicles of the 

Hearer or Pratyekabuddha to abide in the Great Vehicle.'

"The fifth great vow: `I vow that in a future life when 

I attain Bodhi, I shall enable limitless and boundless 

numbers of sentient beings who cultivate Brahma

 conduct within my Dharma to perfectly uphold the 

three clusters of precepts without exception. Should

there be any violation, upon hearing my name, they

 will regain their purity and not fall in the evil destinies.' 

"The sixth great vow: `I vow that in a future life when 

I attain Bodhi, if there are sentient beings whose 

bodies are inferior and whose faculties are imperfect,

who are ugly, dull, blind, deaf, mute, deformed, 

paralyzed, hunchbacked, or afflicted with skin disease, 

insanity, or various other sicknesses and sufferings, 

upon hearing my name they shall all become endowed

 with upright features, keen intelligence, and perfect 

faculties, and they shall be free of sickness and suffering.' 

"The seventh great vow: `I vow that in a future life 

when I attain Bodhi, I shall cause sentient beings who 

are oppressed by many illnesses and who are without

 aid, without a place to turn, without a doctor, without

 medicine, without relatives, and without a family, 

who are poverty-stricken and filled with suffering to 

be cured of their sicknesses upon having my name pass 

by their ear, so they are peaceful and happy in body 

and mind. They will have a family and relatives, 

and acquire an abundance of property and wealth, 

and even realize unsurpassed Bodhi.' "The eight great 

vow: `I vow that in a future life when I attain Bodhi, if

 there are women who give rise a deep loathing for

 their female body and wish to renounce it because

 they are oppressed and disturbed by the myriad 

suffering of being female, upon hearing my name, they 

will be turn from women into men who are replete with

 male features and ultimately realize unsurpassed Bodhi.'

 "The ninth great vow: `I vow that in a future life when

 I attain Bodhi, I shall liberate sentient beings from 

the nets of demons and the bonds of external sects.

 If they have fallen into the dense forests of evil views,

 I shall lead them to have proper views and to gradually 

cultivate the practices of Bodhisattvas so they will

 quickly realize unsurpassed, proper and equal Bodhi.' 

"The tenth great vow: `I vow that in a future life 

when I attain Bodhi, I shall cause sentient beings who 

fall into the hands of the law and are bound, 

interrogated, whipped, fettered, imprisoned,

 sentenced to execution, or subjected to endless 

disasters, hardships, abuse, and humiliation so 

that they are torn by grief and distress and suffering

 in body and mind, to obtain, upon hearing my name,

 liberation from all worry and suffering by means

 of my blessings, virtue, and awesome spiritual power.' 

"The eleventh great vow: `I vow that in a future life 

when I attain Bodhi, I shall cause all sentient beings 

who are so plagued by hunger and thirst that they

 create all kinds of bad karma in their quest for food, 

upon hearing my name and single-mindedly accepting 

and maintaining it, to be filled with delicious food 

and drink and afterward, by means of the flavor of 

Dharma, to settle in ultimate peace and happiness.' 

"The twelfth great vow: `I vow that in a future life when

 I attain Bodhi, if there are sentient beings who are poor

 and without clothes so that day and night they 

are troubled by mosquitoes and flies, and by cold 

and heat, upon hearing my name and single-mindedly 

accepting and maintaining it, they shall obtain all 

kinds of fine and wonderful garments that accord

 with their tastes, as well as a variety of precious 

adornments, flower garlands, fragrant balms, and 

the enjoyments of music and various kinds of talents, 

so that their hearts' delights will be fulfilled.' "Manjusri, 

these are the twelve sublime and wonderful vows 

that the World Honored One, Medicine Master 

Vaidurya Light Tathagata, One of Proper and Equal

 Enlightenment, made while cultivating the Bodhisattva 

Way. "Moreover, Manjusri, if I were to speak for 

an eon or more about the great vows made by the 

World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya

 Light Tathagata, when he practiced the Bodhisattva

 Way and about the merit, virtue, and adornments of 

his Buddhaland, I could not finish. "That Buddhaland

 has always been completely pure; there are no 

women, no evil destinies, and no sounds of suffering.

 The ground is made of Vaidurya, with golden cords 

lining the roads. The city walls, towers, palace pavilions, 

studios, windows, and latticework are all made of the 

seven treasures. The merit, virtue, and adornments of this 

land are identical to those of the Western Land of the 

Ultimate Bliss. "Residing in that land are two 

Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas; the first is called Universally

 Radiant Sunlight, and the second, Universally 

Radiant Moonlight. They are the leaders among the

 immeasurable, uncountable hosts of Bodhisattvas

 in that land and will be the successors to that Buddha.

 They are able to maintain the precious treasure of the

 Proper Dharma of the World Honored One, Medicine

 Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata. Therefore, Manjusri, 

all good men and women who have faith should

 vow to be born in that Buddha's land." At that time,

 the World Honored One again spoke to the 

Pure Youth Manjusri saying, "Manjusri, there are

 living beings who don't distinguish good from evil, 

who indulge in greed and stinginess, and who knows 

nothing of giving or its rewards. They are stupid, ignorant, 

and lack the foundation of faith. They accumulate much

 wealth and many treasures and ardently guard them.

 When they see a beggar coming, they feel displeased. 

When they have to practice an act of charity that does 

not benefit themselves, they feel as though they were 

cutting a piece of flesh from their body, and they suffer 

deep and painful regret. "They are other innumerable 

avaricious and miserly living beings who hoard money 

and necessities that they don't use even for themselves, 

how much less for their parents, wives, or servants, 

or for beggars! At the end of their lives, such beings

 will be reborn among the hungry ghosts or animals. 

If they heard the name of that Buddha, Medicine Master

 Vaidurya Light Tathagata, in their former human 

existence, and they recall that Tathagata's name for the 

briefest moment while they are in the evil destinies, they

 will immediately be reborn in the human realm. Moreover,

 they will remember their past lives and will dread the 

suffering of evil destinies. They will not delight in worldly 

pleasures, but will rejoice in giving and praise others

 who give. They will not begrudge giving whatever they

 have. Gradually, to those who come to beg, they will be

 able to give away their own head, eyes, hands, feet, and 

even their entire body, to say nothing of their money 

and property! "Moreover, Manjusri, there are beings 

who, although they study under the Tathagata, nonetheless 

violate the sila. Others, although they do not violate the

 sila, nonetheless transgress the rules and regulations. 

Others, although they do not violate the sila or rules 

and regulations, nonetheless destroy their own proper 

views. Others, although they do not destroy their own

 proper views, nonetheless neglect learning, so they 

are unable to understand the profound meaning of the

 Sutras that the Buddha speaks. Others, although they 

are learned, nonetheless give rise to overweening pride. 

Shadowed by overweening pride, they justify themselves

and disparage others, slander the Proper Dharma, and join

 the retinue of demons. Such fools act on their misguided 

views and further, cause immeasurable millions of beings

 to fall into pits of great danger. These beings will drift 

endlessly in the realms of the hells, the animals, and the 

ghosts. But if they hear the name of Medicine Master 

Vaidurya Light Tathagata, they will be able to renounce 

their evil practices and cultivate wholesome Dharmas, 

and thereby avoid falling into evil destinies. If those who 

have fallen into the evil destinies because they could 

not renounce their evil practices and cultivate wholesome 

Dharmas, by the awesome power of the past vows of 

that Tathagata, get to hear his name for only a moment,

 then after they pass out of that existence, they will be 

reborn again as human beings. They will hold proper 

views and will be ever vigorous. Their minds will be 

well regulated and joyful, enabling them to renounce their 

families and leave the householder's life. They will take up 

a maintain study of the Tathagata's Dharma without any

 violation. They will have proper views and erudition; 

they will understand profound meanings and yet be free

 from overweening pride. They will not slander the Proper

 Dharma and will never join the ranks of demons. They will 

progressively cultivate the practices of Bodhisattvas and 

will soon bring them to perfection. Moreover, Manjusri, 

if there are sentient beings who harbor stinginess, 

greed, and jealousy, who praise themselves and disparage 

others, they will fall into the three evil destinies for 

countless thousands of years where they will 

undergo intense suffering. After undergoing intense

 suffering, at the end of their lives they will be born 

into the world as oxen, horses, camels, and donkeys 

that are constantly beaten, afflicted by thirst and hunger,

 and made to carry heavy burdens along the roads.

Or they may be reborn among lowly people, as slaves 

or servants who are always ordered around by others 

and who never for a moment feel at ease. If such

 beings in their former lives as humans, heard the name

 of the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya

 Light Tathagata, and by this good cause are able to 

remember it and sincerely take refuge with that Buddha,

 then, by means of the Buddha's spiritual power, they

 will be liberated from all sufferings. They will be endowed

 with keen faculties and they will be wise and erudite. 

They will always seek the supreme Dharmas and encounter 

good friends. They will eternally sever the nets of 

demons and smash the shell of ignorance. They will 

dry up the river of afflictions and be liberated from birth,

 old age, sickness, death, anxiety, grief, suffering,

 and vexation. Moreover, Manjusri, there may be beings 

who delight in perversity and engage in legal disputes,

 bringing trouble to others as well as themselves. In 

their actions, speech, and thoughts, they create 

ever-increasing amounts of evil karma. Never willing 

to benefit and forgive others, they scheme to harm 

one another instead. They pray to the spirits of the 

mountain forests, trees, and graves. They kill living

 beings in order to make sacrifices of blood and flesh

 to the yaksa and raksasa ghosts. They write down the 

names of their enemies and make images of them, and 

then they hex those names and images with evil mantras.

 They summon paralysis ghosts, cast hexes, or command 

corpse-raising ghosts to kill or injure their enemies. 

However, if the victims hear the names of medicine

 Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, then all those evil things 

will lose their power to do harm. The evildoers will become 

kind to one another. They will attain benefit, peace, and

 happiness and no longer cherish thoughts of malice,

 affliction, or enmity. Everyone will rejoice and feel 

content with what they have. Instead of encroaching upon

 each other, they will seek to benefit one another. Moreover,

 Manjusri, there may be those among the fourfold 

assembly of Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas, and

 Upasikas, as well as other good men and women of 

pure faith, who accept and uphold the eight precepts

either for one year or for three months, practicing and 

studying them. With these good roots, they may vow to 

be born in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss where the 

Buddha of Limitless Life dwells, to hear the Proper Dharma, 

but their resolve may not be firm. However, if they hear 

the name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master 

Vaidurya Light Tathagata, then as the end of their lives

 draws near, before them will appear eight great 

Bodhisattvas, whose names are: Manjusri Bodhisattva, 

The Bodhisattva Who Observes the Sounds of

 the World, Great Strength Bodhisattva, Inexhaustible

 Intention Bodhisattva, Jeweled Udumbara Flower 

Bodhisattva, Medicine King Bodhisattva, Medicine 

Superior Bodhisattva, and Maitreya Bodhisattva. 

Those eight great Bodhisattvas will appear in space 

to show them the way, and they will naturally be 

born by transformation in that land, amid precious

 flowers of myriad colors. Or they may be born in 

the heavens due to this cause. Although reborn in 

the heavens, their original good roots will not be 

exhausted and so they will not fall into the evil destinies

 again. When their life in the heavens ends, they will 

be born among people again. They may be 

wheel-turning kings, reigning over the four continents

 with awesome virtue and ease, bringing uncountable 

hundreds of thousands of living beings to abide in

 the practice of the ten good deeds. Or they may be

 born as Ksatriyas, Brahmans, laymen, or sons of 

honorable families. They will be wealthy, with storehouses

 filled to overflowing. Handsome in appearance, they 

will be surrounded by a great retinue of relatives. They 

will be intelligent and wise, courageous and valiant, 

like great and awesome knights. If a woman hears the 

name of the World Honored One, Medicine Master 

Vaidurya Light Tathagata, and sincerely cherishes it,

 in the future she will never again be born as a female. 

Moreover, Manjusri, when Medicine Master Vaidurya

 Light Tathagata attained Bodhi, by the power of his

 past vows he contemplated all the sentient beings 

who were undergoing various kinds of sicknesses 

and sufferings. Some suffered from diseases such as

 emaciation, atrophy, severe thirst, or yellow fever;

 others were harmed by paralysis ghosts or by

 poisonous hexes; some died naturally when young, 

while others experienced untimely deaths. He wishes 

to dispel all their sicknesses and suffers, and to fulfill 

their wishes. At that time, the World Honored One 

entered a samadhi called extinguishing the suffering 

and distress of all beings." After he entered this 

samadhi, a great light came forth from his flesh-cowl. 

From amid that light he proclaimed this magnificent 

dharani: Om Namo Bhagawate Bekandze guru bendurya

prabha randzaya Tathagataya Arhate Samyaksambuddhaya

Tayatha Om Bekandze Bekandze maha Bekandze

randze samungateye soha

 

After he spoken that mantra from amid the light, 

the earth trembled and emitted great light. All beings' 

sicknesses and sufferings were cast off, and they

 felt peaceful and happy. Manjusri, if you see a man 

(or a woman) who is ill, you should single-mindedly and 

frequently clean and bathe him and rinse him mouth. 

Provide him with food, medicine, or water that is free 

of insects, over many of which the dharani 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, Manjusri, if there are

 men and women, who with utmost sincerity, diligently 

worship and make offerings to Medicine master 

Vaidurya Light Tathagata, they should always recite

 this mantra and never forget it. Moreover, Manjusri, 

men or women of pure faith, who have heard all 

the names of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light 

Tathagata, 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 sutra 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. At that time, the Pure Youth

Manjusri 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 Vaidurya Light Tathagata. 

Even during their sleep, I will awaken them with 

this Buddha's name. World Honored One, there

 may be those who accept and uphold this Sutra, 

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 this Sutra. They may sweep clean a 

place and arrange a high altar on which to place 

this Sutra. 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, its should be known 

that if, in the place where this precious Sutra 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 Vaidurya Light Tathagata, 

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 energies 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. The Buddha told Manjusri, "So it is, so it is! 

It is exactly as you say. Manjusri, if there are good men 

and women of pure faith who wish to make offerings to 

that World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya 

Light Tathagata, 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 Tathagata's past

 vows. They should read and recite this Sutra, 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. Moreover, if a person 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 Vaidurya 

Light Tathagata, 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 Tathagata, then he will be free of all these as well. 

Moreover, Manjusri, 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 Sangha. 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 Bhikshu, or the 

five hundred precepts of a Bhikshuni. 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 Tathagata, 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 will come to rob him 

of his vitality. At that time the World Honored One said 

to Ananda, "The merit and virtue of the World Honored 

One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata, 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?" Ananda said, 

"Great virtuous World Honored One, I have absolutely

 no doubts regarding the Sutras spoken by the 

Tathagata. 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. 

"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 Vaidurya Light

 Tathagata?' Due to this lack of faith, they give 

rise to slander. During the long night, they lose 

great benefit and joy and fall into the evil destinies,

 where they wander ceaselessly." The Buddha 

told Ananda, "If these sentient beings hear the name

 of the World Honored One, Medicine Master 

Vaidurya Light Tathagata, and sincerely accept and 

uphold it without any doubt, they cannot possibly 

fall into the evil destinies. Ananda, 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 Tathagata. Ananda, 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 Vaidurya Light Tathagata. Ananda, 

Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata possesses

 boundless Bodhisattvas 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!" At that time within the assembly, a Bodhisattva 

Mahasattva named One Who Rescues and Liberates 

arose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt

 with his right knee on the ground, leaned forward 

with his palms joined together, and said to the Buddha,

 "Greatly virtuous World Honored One! During the 

Dharma Image Age, there will be living beings afflicted 

with various diseases, emaciated from chronic illnesses,

 unable to eat or drink, their throats parched and their

 lips dry. Such a being sees darkness gathering all 

around him as the signs of death appear. While lying 

in bed, surrounded by his weeping parents, 

relatives, and friends, he sees the messengers of 

Yama leading his spirit before that king of justice.

 Every sentient being has spirits that stay with him 

throughout his life. They record his every deed, 

both good and evil, to present to Yama, the king 

of justice. At that time, King Yama interrogates 

this person in order to tally his karma and mete

 out judgement according to his good and evil deeds.

 "At that time, if the sick person's relatives and

 friends, on his behalf, can take refuge with the 

World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya 

Light Tathagata, and request members of the Sangha

 to recite this Sutra, to light seven layers of lamps,

 and to hang up the five colored banners for 

prolonging life, then it is possible for his spirit 

to return. As if in a dream, the person will see 

everything very clearly himself. If his spirit returns

 after seven, twenty-one, thirty-five, or forty-nine 

days, he will feel as if awakened from a dream and

 will remember the retributions that he underwent

 for his good and bad karma. Having personally 

witnessed the retributions of his own karma, he 

will never again do any evil, even if his very life is

 endangered. Therefore, good men and women 

of pure faith should accept and uphold the name 

of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata and, 

according to their capability, worship and make 

offerings to him." At that time Ananda asked 

the Bodhisattva Who Rescues and Liberates, 

"Good man, how should we worship and make 

offerings to the World Honored One, Medicine 

Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata? And how 

should we make the banners and lamps that 

prolong life?" The Bodhisattva Who Rescues 

and Liberates said, "Greatly Virtuous One, if there

 is a sick person who wishes to be freed from 

sickness and suffering, for his sake one should 

accept and uphold the eight precepts for seven 

days and seven nights, and make offerings to the 

Bhikshu Sangha of as many items of food, drink, 

and other necessities as are in his power to give. 

During the six periods of the day and night one 

should worship, practice the Way, and make 

offerings to the World Honored One, Medicine 

Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata. Read and recite 

this Sutra forty-nine times, light forty-nine lamps,

 and make seven images of that Tathagata. In front 

of each image place seven lamps, each as large as 

a cartwheel. These lamps must be kept burning

 continuously for forty-nine days. Hang up five 

colored banners that are forty-nine spans long. 

Liberate a variety of living creatures, as many as 

forty-nine species. Then the sick one will be able to

 surmount the danger and will not suffer an 

untimely death or be held by evil ghosts. Furthermore, 

Ananda, in the case of ksatriya princes who are due

 to be anointed on the crowns of their heads, at a 

time when calamity arises, such as pestilence among 

the population, invasion by foreign countries

 rebellion within their territories, unusual changes 

in the stars, a solar or lunlar eclipse, unseasonal 

winds and rains, or prolonged drought, those ksatriya

 princes should bring forth an attitude of kindness

 and compassion toward sentient beings and 

grant amnesty to all prisoners. They should follow

 the above mentioned methods to make offerings

 to that World Honored One, Medicine Master

 Vaidurya Light Tathagata. Due to these good 

roots and the power of that Tathagata's past vows, 

the country will be safe and peaceful, the winds and 

rains will be timely, the crops will ripen, and all

 sentient beings will be blissful and free of disease. 

Within this country there will be no violence, nor

 any yaksas or other spirits that harm sentient beings, 

and all evil omens will vanish. The Ksatriya princes 

who are due to be anointed on the crowns of their 

heads will enjoy longer lives and good health, and they 

will be at ease and free from illness. Ananda, if the 

queens, the princes, the ministers or court councilors, 

the ladies of the palace, the provincial officials or the 

common people suffer from diseases or other difficulties,

 they should also hang up five-colored spiritual banners, 

light lamps, and keep them burning, liberate living 

creatures, strew flowers of various colors, and burn 

precious incense. Then those people will be cured of 

their diseases and relieved of their difficulties." Then 

Ananda asked the Bodhisattva Who Rescues and

 Liberates, "Good man, how can a life that has 

come to an end be prolonged?" The Bodhisattva 

Who Rescues and Liberates answered, "Great 

Virtuous One, did you not hear the Tathagata 

say that there are nine kinds of untimely death? That

 is why people are exhorted to make life- prolonging

 banners and lamps to cultivate all kinds of blessings. 

Through such cultivation of blessings, they will 

be freed from suffering and adversity for the rest 

of their lives. " Ananda asked, "What are the nine 

kinds of untimely death?" The Bodhisattva Who 

Rescues and Liberates said, "There may be living

 beings who, although not seriously ill, have neither 

medicine nor a doctor to treat them, or else they 

meet a doctor who gives them the wrong medicine; 

consequently they meet with an untimely death. 

Some of them believe in worldly cults, whose deviant 

teachers frighten them with false prophecies. Unable 

to set their minds at ease, they consult oracles to 

find out what calamities are in store for them. In order 

to propitiate the spirits, they kill various creatures. 

They pray to wang liang ghosts for aid and 

protection. Although they wish to prolong their lives, 

their efforts are to no avail. The deludedly hold to 

wrong beliefs and perverse views. Thus they meet 

with an untimely death and fall into the hells, never 

to come out. This is the first kind of untimely death. 

The second kind of untimely death is to be executed

 at the hands of the law. The third kind is to hunt for

 sport, to indulge in drinking and lust, or to become 

excessively dissipated, and then be waylaid by 

nonhuman beings that rob one's essence and energy.

 The fourth is to be burned to death; the fifth is 

to drown; the sixth is to be devoured by wild beasts;

 the seventh is to fall from a steep cliff; the eight 

is to be harmed by poison, voodoo, evil mantras, 

or corpse-raising ghosts; the ninth is to die from 

hunger and thirst. These are the nine kinds of 

untimely deaths generally spoken of by the Tathagata.

 There are also innumerable other kinds which 

cannot all be spoken of here. Moreover, Ananda,

 King Yama keeps track of the karmic records of all 

the inhabitants of the world. If there are beings who 

are not filial to their parents, who commit the Five 

Rebellious Acts, who revile the Triple Jewel, who 

destroy the laws of the country, or who violate the 

precept of truthfulness, then Yama, the king of justice,

 examines and punishes them according to the severity

 of their offenses. Therefore, I encourage people to

 light lamps and make banners, to liberate beings 

and cultivate blessings so that they can overcome 

suffering and peril and forestall all disasters." At 

that time, twelve great yaksa generals were present

 in the assembly. They were: General Kumbhira, 

General Vajra, General Mihira, General Andira, 

General Anila, General Sandira, General Indra, 

General Pajra, General Makura, General Kinnara, 

General Catura, and General Vikarala. These twelve 

great yaksa generals, each with a retinue of seven 

thousand yaksas, simultaneously raised their voices 

and addressed the Buddha, "World Honored 

One! Today, by relying on the Buddha's awesome 

power, we are able to hear the name of the World 

Honored One Medicine Master Vaidurya Light 

Tathagata! As a result, we are no longer afraid of

 the evil destinies. All of us are of one mind to 

take refuge with the Buddha, the Dharma, and the 

Sangha to the end of our lives. We vow to support 

all living beings and to benefit them, so that they

 may live in peace and happiness. In whatever

 cities, village, countries, or secluded forests this 

Sutra circulates, or wherever people accept and 

uphold the name of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light 

Tathagata and venerate and make offerings to him, 

we, together with our retinues, will guard and protect

 them, deliver them from all distress, and fulfill all their

 wishes. If a person wishes to dispel illnesses and 

difficulties, he should read or recite this Sutra and 

tie a five colored thread into knots, forming the letters 

of our names. He should untie the knots when his 

wishes have been fulfilled." At that time, the World 

Honored One praised the great yaksa generals, saying 

"Good indeed, good indeed, mighty yaksa generals!

 All of you who want to repay the kindness of the 

World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya 

Light Tathagata, should always benefit beings and 

bring peace and happiness to them in this way. " Then 

Ananda said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, 

what should we call this teaching? How should we 

uphold it?" The Buddha told Ananda, "This teaching

 is called, `The Merit and Virtues of the Past Vows 

of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata.' It is also

 called `Twelve Spiritual Generals' Vows to Use Spiritual 

Mantras to Benefit Living Beings." It is also called, 

"Eradicating All Karmic Obstacles.' You should uphold 

it in this way." When the Bhagavan had finished 

speaking, all the Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas, great 

Hearers, kings, ministers, Brahmans, laypeople, gods,

 dragons, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, kinnaras, garudas,

 mahoragas, humans, and non-human beings, and all the 

great assembly, on hearing what the Buddha had said, 

were greatly delighted. They received it with faith 

and respectfully practiced it.

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