..續本文上一頁the Judicial King Yama, and then the King would question this person, evaluate what had been done, and hand down judgment according to his sins and merits. At that time if relatives and acquaintances of that patient could, on his behalf, take refuge in World Honored One, Tathágata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, beseech monks to recite this sutra, light seven-layer lamps, and hang five-color banner of consciousness for extension of longevity, then it could happen that his consciousness might return and he would be able to see the whole process clearly like in a dream.

　　Or it could take seven days, twenty-one days, thirty-five days, or forty-nine days for the returning to happen. When the consciousness would return it would be similar to waking up from a dream but the person would remember what consequences each good or bad karma would lead to. Since they had witnessed in person the consequences of karma, even when facing dangers to their life they would not commit bad karma.

　　 Therefore, all good men and good women with pure faith should maintain repetition of the epithets of Tathágata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light, and respectfully make offerings as much as they could."

　　Then Ánanda asked Bodhisattva Salvation, "Good man, how should one respectfully make offerings to that World Honored One, Tathágata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light

　　 And how do we construct the banner and lamp for the extension of longevity

　　" Bodhisattva Salvation said, "Great Virtuous One, if there were a patient who would like to relieve suffering of illness, then on that person”s behalf one should receive and maintain the eight-branch rules of fasting and austerity for the duration of seven days and seven nights.

　　One should make offerings of foods, drinks and other sustenance, as much as one could, to Bhikshus. Three times in daytime and three times in the nighttime one should make prostration and offerings to that World Honored One, Tathágata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light. One should recite this sutra forty-nine times. One should light forty-nine lamps as follows: have seven statues of that Tathágata made; in front of each statue place seven lamps, with each lamp as large as a wheel, and sustain the brightness for forty-nine days. One should have a five-color silk banner made that is forty-nine vitasti (the length between extended thumb and middle finger) long. One should release various kinds of sentient beings to freedom, and the total number should be up to forty-nine. Thus the patient could overcome the danger, and not become hostage to those malicious ghosts of various accidental deaths."

　　"Furthermore, great virtuous Ánanda, if calamities arose to Ksatriya Initiated Kings, such as epidemics, invasion by foreign countries, rebellion from within, abnormal phenomena of astrology, eclipse and waning of sun or moon, out of season winds and rains, rains overdue, then those Ksatriya Initiated Kings should develop compassionate mind toward all sentient beings. They should release prisoners from jails, and make offerings according to the ways of making offerings as stated above to that World Honored One, Tathágata Medicine Guru with Lapis Lazuli Light.

　　Due to this root of goodness and the power of the original vows of that Tathágata, right then their country would be rendered peaceful and secure, rains and winds would arrive in season, grains and crops would mature, and all sentient beings would be free from illnesses and joyful. In their countries there would be no violent malicious deities such as yakshas that tend to torment sentient beings. All bad signs would disappear right away.

　　As to the Ksatriya Initiated Kings, their longevity, physical strength, freedom from diseases, and ease would all increase and imp…

《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…