..續本文上一頁e court councillors, the ladies of the palace, the provincial officials or the common people suffering from diseases, or if another calamity occurs, he shall also hang up five-coloured banners for warding off all the evil spirits, light lamps and keep them burning, set animals free, strew many coloured flowers, burn precious incense, then the diseases will be cured and all afflictions will vanish."

　　Then Ananda asked the Bodhisattva Seeker of Salvation: "Pious man, how can a life that has come to an end be prolonged

　　"

　　The Bodhisattva Seeker of Salvation said: "Virtuous One, did you hear that the Tathagatas say that there are nine kinds of violent deaths

　　 Therefore, I exhort you to hang up the life prolonging banner, to light up the lamps, and to perform the pious deeds. By performing the pious deeds, one”s life come to a natural end without suffering from any painful experience."

　　Ananda asked: "what are the nine kinds of violent deaths

　　"

　　The Bodhisattva Seeker of Salvation said: "The nine violent deaths are;

　　(1) There are beings who become sick. Though the sickness is not serious but there is neither medicine nor a doctor for the treatment. In case they take the wrong medicine, they may meet violent death which can very well be avoided. Some trust in Maras and Heretics, or masters of magical and bewitching powers. From a frivolous prediction of good or bad luck, fear and uneasiness arises. Those people whose own heart cannot clearly discern, question fortune-tellers whether misfortunes awaits them. Some kill living beings for a sacrifice in order to propitiate the spirits. Some call out to the evil spirits and ask for protection, they wish to prolong their lives, but all to no avail. They are ignorant of the right way. They believe in heterodox views, not recognising the doctrine of moral karma. This leads in the end to a violent death. They enter into hell and can never get out of it. This is the first violent death.

　　(2) Some are violently executed by order of the law.

　　(3) Some hunt for pleasure, lead and unrestrained life with women and wine, and dissipated without halt and limit. Then the fiends come and violently snatch their spiritual vigour.

　　(4) Some come to a violent end by being burnt by fire.

　　(5) Some come to a violent end by being drowned.

　　(6) Some come to a violent end by being devoured by wild beasts.

　　(7) Some come to a violent end by falling from a steep cliff.

　　(8) Some come to a violent end by being destroyed by poison, by image spell Vetala, by spoken-spell Dharani, or by demonical influence to resurrect a corpse and cause it kill another person.

　　(9) Some suffer hunger and thirst, do not get anything to eat or drink and thus die an untimely death.

　　"These are what Tathagata briefly named as the nine kinds of violent deaths. Besides, there are innumerable other kinds which cannot all be told here."

　　"In addition, Ananda, the judge Yama keeps a complete list, with the deeds of each inhabitant on earth recorded, if any of the beings are not filial and commit the five mortal sins, revile the Triple Gems, infringe the laws of the country, and violate the natural moral laws, then the judge Yama examines, whether their sins were grave or light, and punishes them accordingly."

　　"Therefore I now ask all beings to light up the lamps and hang up the banners, to set free the animals, and to do good deeds, so that misery and grief can be overcome and the life” hardships can be avoided." At that time, there were twelve Yaksha spiritual generals in the assembly, viz:

　　General Kumbhira,

　　General Vajra,

　　General Mihira,

　　General Andira,

　　General Majira,

　　General Shandira,

　　General Indra,

　　General Pajra,

　　General Makura,

　　General Sindura,

　　General Catura,

　　General Vikarala.

　　These twelve Yaksha Genera…

《藥師經 The Sutra of the Master of Healing translated by Prof· Chow Su-Chia》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…