Chapter 8: The Dhāraṇī Called Golden

8.1Then 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.”

8.2Then 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:

8.3“I pay homage to all the buddhas in the ten directions,

8.4“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattvas.

8.5“I pay homage to all the śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and āryas.

8.6“I pay homage to the Buddha Śākyamuni.

8.7“I pay homage to the Buddha Akṣobhya in the east.

8.8“I pay homage to the Buddha Ratnaketu in the south.

8.9“I pay homage to the Buddha Amitābha in the west.

8.10“I pay homage to the Buddha Dundubhisvara in the north.

8.11“I pay homage to the Buddha Viśālaśrī above.

8.12“I pay homage to the Buddha Varaprabha below.

8.13“I pay homage to the Buddha Ratnagarbha .

8.14“I pay homage to the Buddha Samantaprabha.

8.15“I pay homage to the Buddha Samantāvabhāsa.

8.16“I pay homage to the Buddha Supreme Incense Heap.

8.17“I pay homage to the Buddha Excellent Lotus.

8.18“I pay homage to the Buddha Equally Seeing.

8.19“I pay homage to the Buddha Ratnaśikhin.

8.20“I pay homage to the Buddha Highest Jewels.

8.21“I pay homage to the Buddha Ratnaprabha.

8.22“I pay homage to the Buddha Courageous Established Intention.

8.23“I pay homage to the Buddha Completely Pure Moonlight Sign Renowned King.

8.24“I pay homage to the Buddha Radiant Flower Display.

8.25“I pay homage to the Buddha Aṃśurāja.

8.26“I pay homage to the Buddha Renowned King Virtuous Stainless Light. [F.203.a]

8.27“I pay homage to the Buddha Avalokiteśvarābhaya.

8.28“I pay homage to the Buddha Abhayakīrti.

8.29“I pay homage to the Buddha Supreme King.

8.30“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara.

8.31“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Kṣitigarbha.

8.32“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Ākāśagarbha.

8.33“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Mañjuśrī.

8.34“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Vajrapāṇi.

8.35“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Samantabhadra.

8.36“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Akṣayamati.

8.37“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Mahāsthāmaprāpta.

8.38“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya.

8.39“I pay homage to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sumati.

8.40“Having paid homage to them, recite this dhāraṇī:

8.41namo ratnatrayāya | tadyathā | kuṭi kuṭini imirito koṣaṇi imiriṇi irī svāha |

8.42Then 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.

8.43“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.

8.44“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.

8.45“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.

8.46“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.”

8.47This concludes “The Dhāraṇī Called Golden,” the eighth chapter of “The Lord King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light.”