medicinemasterlapiz-lazulilighttathagata'soriginalvowsofmeritsutra

7/30/2019 MedicineMasterLapiz-LazuliLightTathagata'sOriginalVowsofMeritSutra

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Medicine Master Lapiz-Lazuli Light Tathagata's Original Vows of Merit Sutra

I have finished translating this sutra, but it still needs refining. You get the message though.


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Medicine Master Lapiz-Lazuli Light Tathagata's Original Vows of Merit Sutra

The Buddha addressed Manjushri1,Towards the east from here are more than the sands of ten Ganges

rivers, an equal number of Buddha lands. There exists a world named Pure Lapis Lazuli. The Buddha's

names are bhais.ajyaguruvaid.Uryaprabha2, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened, Perfect in Mind and Deed,Well-Gone(Sugata), Knower of the Secular World, Unsurpassed Being, Tamer of Passions, Teacher of

Gods and Men, Buddha, Bhagvan. Manjushri, that is the world honored one bhais.ajyaguruvaid.Urya-

prabha. While originally practicing the Bodhisattva path, [he] gave rise to twelve great vows, to allowall sentient being's to obtain all that they seek.

First great vow: [I] vow in my future life, when [I] obtain anuttarAsamyaksam,bodhi3, my own

radiance, like a burning lamp will illuminate the infinite, countless, limitless worlds, by the thirty-twosigns of a great being4, and the eighty minor marks of a tathgata on that body5, [I] will make all

sentient beings like me, non-different.

Second great vow. [I] vow in my future life, when [I] obtain enlightenment, [my] body will be like

lapis lazuli, inside and out having clear insight, pure not expediently impure, radiantly brilliant, of

distinguished virtue, an exhalted body well situated, adorned by the flaming net that is greater than thesun and moon. The darkness of sentient beings will entirely be illuminated. As [they] wish, their

destiny will be created by all [their] activities.

Third great vow. [I] vow in my future life, when [I] obtain enlightenment, to use infinitely limitless

wisdom and skillful means, to allow all sentient beings the ability to endlessly enjoy things. Not to

allow sentient beings anything that is lacking.

Fourth great vow. [I] vow in my future life, when [I] have attained enlightenment, If all sentient

beings are practitioners of the mistaken path. [I will] fully allow [them] to be steadfast amidst the

enlightened path. If [they] practice as sravakas6 or pratyekabuddhas7, for all [I] will use Mahayana8 and

pacify their debates.

Fifth great vow. [I] vow in my future life, when [I] have attained enlightenment, if all the infinite

limitless beings, because of me are amidst the Dharma, keep the precepts and pure practices, all will beable to keep non deficient precepts. Let's say that all the three classes of precept9were to be violated.Upon hearing my name, [they] can return to purity and not degenerate to an evil rebirth.

Sixth great vow. [I] vow in my future life, when [I] have attained enlightenment. If all sentient beings

bodies are inferior, all faculties impaired, ugly, stupid, blind and deaf, mute,crippled, hunchbacked,leprous, insane, with every sort of sickness and suffering. Upon hearing my name, all will obtain

correct worldly wisdom, all will have fully perfect faculties, and no more sickness and suffering.

Seventh great vow. [I] vow in my future life, when [I] have attained enlightenment. If all sentientbeings with numerous sicknesses, where stifled, with no rescue, no return, no doctor, no medicine, no

parents, no family, poor and suffering a lot. If my name even one time passes through their ears, the

1 Manjushri is the bodhisattva of wisdom.2 Bhais.ajyaguruvaid.Uryaprabha is the Sanskrit for the Medicine Buddha

3 anuttarAsamyaksam,bodhi is a Sanskrit term meaning perfect enlightenment.

4 The thirty-two distinctive bodily characteristics of a Buddha

5 The eighty subsidiary signs of a great being

6 Sravaka is a term that means voice-hearer. They are the original disciples of the Buddha. In Mahayana they are seen aslacking in the Bodhisattva insight and solely seeking enlightenment for themselves.

7 Pratyekabuddha is an individually enlightened person. Thus again seen as lacking in the compassion of the Bodhisattva.8 Mahayana meaning the great vehicle, which emphasizes the Bodhisattva path.

9 The three cumulative precepts: 1 the formal 5, 8, or 10 and the rest 2. whatever works for goodness 3. whatever works

for the welfare or salvation of living, sentient beings.


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multitude of sicknesses will be entirely removed. Body and mind will be at peace, with all family and

possessions, and allowed to be fully prosperous, up to, realizing the highest enlightenment.

Eight great vow. [I] vow in my future life, when [I] have attained enlightenment. If there are women,

who become very disgusted with the hundred bad situations of women, and vow to abandon theirfemale body. Upon hearing my name, they all can move on from women and become men10. Endowed

with a great sage's characteristics, up to, realizing the highest enlightenment.

Ninth great vow. [I] vow in my future life, when [I] have attained enlightenment, to allow all sentientbeings to go beyond being ensnared in the net of negative actions and be liberated from all non-

Buddhist paths of bondage. If they were to fall into the dense forest of every sort of wrong view. All

should be led to be established in correct views. Gradually allowed cultivation, all Bodhisattvaspractice to quickly realize the highest correct enlightenment.

Tenth great vow. [I] vow in my future life, when [I] have attained enlightenment. If all sentient beings

under the kings law were lashed, tied in bonds and shut in prison and maybe executed. Countlessdisasters, shame, to be parched with grief and hindered, undergoing suffering of body and mind. If they

hear my name, by my meritorious virtues and majestic power [they will] therefore all obtain liberation

from all suffering and despair.

Eleventh great vow. [I] vow in my future life, when [I] have attained enlightenment. If all sentientbeings are tormented by hunger and thirst, and what they seek is food, therefore creating all bad karma

are able to hear my name, receive and retain it with single minded meditation, I will be in front [of

them] with more than enough exquisite drink and food., to sufficiently satisfy their bodies. After bymeans of the Dharma's taste, they will have absolute peace of mind and be established in it.

Twelfth great vow. [I] vow in my future life, when [I] have attained enlightenment. If all sentient

beings are in poverty without support or clothes,being harassed by mosquitoes and other insects, thecold and heat of day and night, if [they] hear my name, receive and retain it with single minded

meditation the situation they would like, at once will be obtainable. Various most excellent support and

clothes, also they will obtain all treasures, a farm and ornaments, a garland, be rubbed with incense,

and have drums to freely indulged in with many skills in any situation to play,and all allowed to beperfected.

Manjushri, That is the purpose the world honored bhais.ajyaguruvaid.Uryaprabha, Arhat the Perfectly

Enlightened, when practicing the bodhisattva path emitted the twelve fine great vows.

Note about this sutra:It is of my opinion that this sutra was written with two purposes in mind. First to show the proper

motivation to be held while on the Bodhisattva path. bhais.ajyaguruvaid.Uryaprabha shows great

bodhicitta11 fueled by compassion for all sentient beings. Second for the average lay practitioner it is afaith building sutra showing the intent of those who are striving to attain perfect enlightenment for the

benefit of all sentient beings. Although it can turn into a devotional type of sutra for those wishing

some sort of divine intervention on their part. However I do not believe that is the original intent or

meaning.

10 This passage sounds very sexist and is, but for the time it was written it was meant to be compassionate and notbelittling to women. In tantric Buddhism women are held in higher regard than men. Many female buddhas exist. Nuns

existed in almost all sects of Buddhism, but in the present day some of these groups have lost the tradition of ordainingnuns. The original Buddha within his life admitted female practitioners into the sangha and ordained many including his

own mother as nuns (Bhikkunni).

11 Bodhicitta translates as enlightened mind, but in the sense of striving for the enlightened mind.


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