Sutra of the Merit and Virtue of The Past Vows of Medicine Master ...
Sutra of the Merit and Virtue of The Past Vows of Medicine Master ...
Sutra of the Merit and Virtue of The Past Vows of Medicine Master ...
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mete out judgment according to his good <strong>and</strong> evil deeds.At that time, if <strong>the</strong> sick person's relatives <strong>and</strong> friends, on his behalf, can takerefuge with <strong>the</strong> World Honored One, <strong>Medicine</strong> <strong>Master</strong> Vaidurya LightTathágata, <strong>and</strong> request members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sangha to recite this <strong>Sutra</strong>, to lightseven layers <strong>of</strong> lamps, <strong>and</strong> to hang up <strong>the</strong> five-colored banners for prolonginglife, <strong>the</strong>n it is possible for his spirit to return.As if in a dream, <strong>the</strong> person will see everything very clearly himself.If his spirit returns after seven, twenty-one, thirty-five, or forty-nine days, hewill feel as if awakened from a dream <strong>and</strong> will remember <strong>the</strong> retributions tha<strong>the</strong> underwent for his good <strong>and</strong> bad karma.Having personally witnessed <strong>the</strong> retributions <strong>of</strong> his own karma, he will neveragain do any evil, even if his very life is endangered.<strong>The</strong>refore, good men <strong>and</strong> women <strong>of</strong> pure faith should accept <strong>and</strong> uphold <strong>the</strong>name <strong>of</strong> <strong>Medicine</strong> <strong>Master</strong> Vaidurya Light Tathágata <strong>and</strong>, according to <strong>the</strong>ircapability, worship <strong>and</strong> make <strong>of</strong>ferings to him."At that time, Án<strong>and</strong>a asked <strong>the</strong> Bodhisattva Who Rescues <strong>and</strong> Liberates,"Good man, how should we worship <strong>and</strong> make <strong>of</strong>ferings to <strong>the</strong> World HonoredOne, <strong>Medicine</strong> <strong>Master</strong> Vaidurya Light Tathágata? And how should we make<strong>the</strong> banners <strong>and</strong> lamps that prolong life?"<strong>The</strong> Bodhisattva Who Rescues <strong>and</strong> Liberates said, "Greatly Virtuous One, if<strong>the</strong>re is a sick person who wishes to be freed from sickness <strong>and</strong> suffering, forhis sake one should accept <strong>and</strong> uphold <strong>the</strong> eight precepts for seven days <strong>and</strong>seven nights, <strong>and</strong> make <strong>of</strong>ferings to <strong>the</strong> Bhikkhu Sangha <strong>of</strong> as many items <strong>of</strong>food, drink <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r necessities as are in his power to give.During <strong>the</strong> six periods <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> day <strong>and</strong> night one should worship, practice <strong>the</strong>Way, <strong>and</strong> make <strong>of</strong>ferings to <strong>the</strong> World Honored One, <strong>Medicine</strong> <strong>Master</strong>Vaidurya Light Tathágata.Read <strong>and</strong> recite this <strong>Sutra</strong> forty-nine times, light forty-nine lamps, <strong>and</strong> makeseven images <strong>of</strong> that Tathágata. In front <strong>of</strong> each image place seven lamps, eachas large as a cartwheel.<strong>The</strong>se lamps must be kept burning continuously for forty-nine days.Hang up five-colored banners that are forty-nine spans long.Liberate a variety <strong>of</strong> living creatures, as many as forty-nine species.
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