..續本文上一頁rove. Great virtuous Ánanda, if queens, imperial concubines, crown princes, princes, high officials, ministers, palace retainers, government officials, or ordinary people were tormented by sickness or other disasters, they should also have five-color banners of consciousness made and set it up, light lamps and continue their brightness, release various lives, scatter flowers of variegated colors, and burn all sorts of fine incenses. Thus their illnesses and all their hardships would be relieved."

　　Then Ánanda asked Bodhisattva Salvation, "Good man, how can a life that was ending be extended

　　" Bodhisattva Salvation said, "Great Virtuous One, haven”t you heard Tathágata said that there were nine kinds of accidental deaths

　　 Therefore, I recommended people to have a banner and lamps made for the extension of longevity and to accumulate various meritorious virtues.

　　 Through accumulation of merits one would live the entire life without experiencing suffering and calamities." Ánanda asked, "What are the nine kinds of accidental deaths

　　" Bodhisattva Salvation said, "If sentient beings got sick even though only mildly, and yet went without treatment, medication or a nurse; furthermore suppose that they were given wrong medication by the doctor they encountered, then, even though they should not have died, yet they unexpectedly died right away.

　　In addition, they believed evil teachers of worldly wicked and heterodox doctrines. Upon hearing those teachers” arbitrary sayings of fortune and misfortune they became frightened and affected. Their minds did not adhere to righteousness; instead they looked for misfortune by asking for pinations. They killed various kinds of sentient beings, and cut them up as offerings to deities. They called upon various spirits of mountains, rivers, trees or rocks to beg for blessings of fortune. They desired and expected to extend their longevity, but eventually they could not get it. Being ignorant and confused, they believed in erroneous and perverse views. Consequently they died unexpectedly and entered the hell realm without a date for escape. This is called the first kind of accidental death.

　　The second kind of accidental deaths are those who were abruptly slaughtered by royal decree. The third kind of accidental deaths are those who engaged in hunting and playing, addicted to promiscuity and drinking, displayed uninhibited indulgence, and were abruptly robbed of their essential air by non-humans. The fourth kind of accidental deaths are those who were abruptly burned by fire. The fifth kind of accidental deaths are those who were abruptly drowned by water. The sixth kind of accidental deaths are those who were abruptly bitten by various kinds of fierce animals.

　　The seventh kind of accidental deaths are those who accidentally fell off cliffs. The eighth kind of accidental deaths are those who abruptly fell victim to poisons, malicious prayers, curses, ghosts called forth from corpses, etc. The ninth kind of accidental deaths are those who were suffering from hunger and thirst but could not obtain foods and drinks, and consequently died prematurely. Such were the Tathágata”s brief account of these nine kinds of accidental deaths. Besides them there are, in addition, immeasurable various kinds of accidental deaths that are difficult to enumerate fully."

　　"Furthermore, great virtuous Ánanda, understand that King Yama is in charge of records of the names of all the people in the world. If sentient beings had been un-filial, committed the five heinous sins, damaged or disgraced the Triple Gem, violated rules among sovereigns and officials, or transgressed faith and sílas, then Judicial King Yama would ascertain the heaviness or lightness of their sins and punish them accordingly…

《藥師經 Sutra on the Merits and Original Vows of Tathágata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…