The Sūtra of the Sublime Golden Light (2)
Chapter 8: The Dhāraṇī Called
Golden
Toh 556
Degé Kangyur, vol. 89 (rgyud ’bum, pa), folios 151.b–273.a
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First published 2024
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Table of Contents
Summary
The Sūtra of the Sublime Golden Light has held great importance in Buddhism for its instructions on the purification of karma. In particular, much of the sūtra is specifically addressed to monarchs and thus has been significant for rulers—not only in India but also in China, Japan, Mongolia, and elsewhere—who wished to ensure the well-being of their nations through such purification. Reciting and internalizing this sūtra is understood to be efficacious for personal purification and also for the welfare of a state and the world.
In this sūtra, the bodhisattva Ruciraketu has a dream in which a prayer of confession emanates from a shining golden drum. He relates the prayer to the Buddha, and a number of deities then vow to protect it and its adherents. The ruler’s devotion to the sūtra is emphasized as important if the nation is to benefit. Toward the end of the sūtra are two well-known narratives of the Buddha’s previous lives: the account of the physician Jalavāhana, who saves and blesses numerous fish, and that of Prince Mahāsattva, who gives his body to a hungry tigress and her cubs.
This is the second-longest version of The Sūtra of the Sublime Golden Light preserved in the Kangyur. It comprises twenty-nine chapters and was translated into Tibetan primarily from Sanskrit.
Acknowledgements
This text was translated by Peter Alan Roberts, who translated the text from Tibetan into English and wrote the introduction. Ling Lung Chen and Wang Chipan were consultants for the Chinese versions of the sūtra. Emily Bower was the project manager and editor. Tracy Davis was the initial copyeditor. Thanks to Michael Radich for sharing his research on the sūtra.
The translation was completed under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha. Rory Lindsay edited the translation and the introduction, and Xiaolong Diao, Ting Lee Ling, and H. S. Sum Cheuk Shing checked the translation against the Chinese sources. Ven. Konchog Norbu copyedited the text, and Sameer Dhingra was in charge of the digital publication process.
The translation of this text has been made possible through the generous sponsorship of E E, May-E, Minda, and Chung-Da Ho.
Text Body
The Lord King of Sūtras, The Sublime Golden Light
Chapter 8: The Dhāraṇī Called Golden
Then the Bhagavat said to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sukhavihāra within that assembly, “Noble one, any noble man or noble woman who wishes to make an offering to all the buddhas of the past, the future, and the present should carry and possess this dhāraṇī that is called golden. Why is that? It is because this dhāraṇī is the mother of the past, future, and present buddha bhagavats. One who possesses this dhāraṇī will greatly increase their accumulation of merit. Those who planted roots of merit with countless bhagavats of the past will possess and hold this dhāraṇī. Those who have pure, faultless conduct without deterioration [F.202.b] will be able to enter this extremely profound Dharma teaching.”
Then the Bhagavat said, “This is the rite for practicing the dhāraṇī-mantra: Recite these names of past buddha bhagavats and bodhisattvas and with a one-pointed mind, pay homage to them, and then recite the mantra:
“I pay homage to all the buddhas in the ten directions,
“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattvas.
“I pay homage to all the śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and āryas.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Dundubhisvara in the north.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Varaprabha below.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Ratnagarbha.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Samantaprabha.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Samantāvabhāsa.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Supreme Incense Heap.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Excellent Lotus.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Equally Seeing.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Ratnaśikhin.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Highest Jewels.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Ratnaprabha.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Courageous Established Intention.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Completely Pure Moonlight Sign Renowned King.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Radiant Flower Display.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Renowned King Virtuous Stainless Light. [F.203.a]
“I pay homage to the Buddha Avalokiteśvarābhaya.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Abhayakīrti.
“I pay homage to the Buddha Supreme King.
“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara.
“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣitigarbha.
“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Ākāśagarbha.
“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Mañjuśrī.
“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Vajrapāṇi.
“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Samantabhadra.
“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Akṣayamati.
“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Mahāsthāmaprāpta.
“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya.
“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sumati.
namo ratnatrayāya | tadyathā | kuṭi kuṭini imirito koṣaṇi imiriṇi irī svāha |
Then the Bhagavat said to the bodhisattva Sukhavihāra, “This dhāraṇī is the mother of the buddhas in the three times. Therefore, any noble man or noble woman who carries and possesses this dhāraṇī will increase their accumulation of merit immeasurably, incalculably. They will have revered, made offerings to, served, and praised countless buddhas. Those buddhas will give them the prophecy of their attainment of the highest, most complete enlightenment.
“Sukhavihāra, those who carry this dhāraṇī-mantra will attain the fulfillment of their wishes, such as clothes, alms, [F.203.b] jewels, becoming learned and wise, becoming healthy, and having a long life, and their merit will increase greatly. Whatever they wish for will all be accomplished.
“Sukhavihāra, if this mantra is carried and possessed until the attainment of the highest, most complete enlightenment, one will always be in the company of the bodhisattva Golden City Mountain, the bodhisattva Maitreya, the bodhisattva Sāgara, the bodhisattva Samantāvalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva Mañjuśrī, the bodhisattva Mahāpiṅgala, and so on. Those bodhisattvas will protect them.
“Sukhavihāra, know that this is the rite for accomplishing this dhāraṇī. For the first repetition, one should perform a propitiation by repeating it ten thousand and eight times. Then one should make a maṇḍala inside a solitary building and, on the sixteenth day of the month, wash, put on new clothes, and make offerings with parasols, flowers, various kinds of food, and so on, placing them inside the maṇḍala. At the beginning, as previously described, one should recite the names of the buddhas and bodhisattvas, and then pay homage with veneration and confess bad actions. One should then kneel with the right knee on the ground, repeat that mantra a thousand and eight times, and then sit up straight and think about what one wishes for. Then, before the sun rises, eat one pure meal within the maṇḍala. When someone comes out from that maṇḍala after fifteen days have passed, they will have inconceivable power, merit, and majesty, and all their wishes will be fulfilled.
“If their wishes are not fulfilled, they should reenter that maṇḍala [F.204.a] and then their wishes will be fulfilled. From then on, they should always remember this.”
This concludes “The Dhāraṇī Called Golden,” the eighth chapter of “The Lord King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light.”
Bibliography
Primary Sources in Tibetan and Chinese
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Translations
Emmerick, R. E. The Sūtra of Golden Light. Oxford: The Pali Text Society, 2004.
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). Sutra of Golden Light, 21-Chapter.
Nobel, Johannes. Suvarṇaprabhāsottamasūtra, Das Goldglanz-Sutra, ein Sanskrittext des Mahayana Buddhismus. I-Tsing’s chinesische Version und ihre Übersetzung. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1958.