Sutta 3: Merits of Worshipping the Buddha

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0674a23] Thus have I heard:

At one time, the [佛 [fu] (Buddha)] resided in the [舍衛國 [she wei guo] (Śrāvastī)] country, in the [祇樹給孤獨園 [qi shu gei gu du yuan] (Jetavana-Anāthapiṇḍada-vihāra)].

[0674a23] wén rú shì:

yī shí, fú zài shě wèi guó qí shù gěi gū dú yuán.

[0674a23] wen ru shi:

yi shi, fu zai she wei guo qi shu gei gu du yuan.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0674a24] At that time, the [世尊 [shi zun] (World-Honored One)] addressed the [諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu] (bhikṣus)], saying, "There are five merits in serving and worshipping the [佛 [fu] (Buddha)]. What are these five? First, one becomes upright and well-formed (端正 [duan zheng]). Second, one obtains a good voice (好聲 [hao sheng]). Third, one possesses abundant wealth and treasures (多財饒寶 [duo cai rao bao]). Fourth, one is born into a noble family (長者家 [zhang zhe jia]). Fifth, when the body breaks up and life ends, one is reborn in a good destination in heaven (善處天上 [shan chu tian shang]). Why is this so? The [如來 [ru lai] (Tathāgata)] is unequaled. The [如來 [ru lai] (Tathāgata)] has faith (信 [xin]), precepts (戒 [jie]), learning (聞 [wen]), wisdom (慧 [hui]), and excellent form (善色 [shan se]) perfectly achieved. Therefore, these five merits are attained.

[0674a24] ěr shí, shì zūn gào zhū bǐ qiū: “chéng shì lǐ fú yǒu wǔ shì gōng dé. yún hé wèi wǔ? yī zhě duān zhèng, èr zhě hǎo shēng, sān zhě duō cái ráo bǎo, sì zhě shēng zhǎng zhě jiā, wǔ zhě shēn huài mìng zhōng, shēng shàn chù tiān shàng. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, rú lái wú yǔ děng yě. rú lái yǒu xìn,, yǒu jiè,, yǒu wén,, yǒu huì,, yǒu shàn sè chéng jiù, shì gù chéng jiù wǔ gōng dé.

[0674a24] er shi, shi zun gao zhu bi qiu: "cheng shi li fu you wu shi gong de. yun he wei wu? yi zhe duan zheng, er zhe hao sheng, san zhe duo cai rao bao, si zhe sheng zhang zhe jia, wu zhe shen huai ming zhong, sheng shan chu tian shang. suo yi ran zhe, ru lai wu yu deng ye. ru lai you xin,, you jie,, you wen,, you hui,, you shan se cheng jiu, shi gu cheng jiu wu gong de.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0674a29] "Furthermore, for what reason does one obtain uprightness and well-formedness (端正 [duan zheng]) by worshipping the [佛 [fu] (Buddha)]? By seeing the image of the [佛 [fu] (Buddha)] and giving rise to a joyful mind. Due to this cause and condition, one obtains uprightness and well-formedness. Furthermore, for what reason does one obtain a good voice (好音聲 [hao yin sheng])? By seeing the image of the [如來 [ru lai] (Tathāgata)] and three times proclaiming, 'Namo [如來 [ru lai] (Tathāgata)], [至真 [zhi zhen] (Arhat)], [等正覺 [deng zheng jue] (Samyak-sambuddha)].' Due to this cause and condition, one obtains a good voice. Furthermore, for what reason does one possess abundant wealth and treasures (多財饒寶 [duo cai rao bao])? By seeing the [如來 [ru lai] (Tathāgata)] and making great offerings, scattering flowers, lighting lamps, and other donated objects. Due to this cause and condition, one obtains great wealth and treasures. Furthermore, for what reason is one born into a noble family (長者家 [zhang zhe jia])? If, upon seeing the image of the [如來 [ru lai] (Tathāgata)], one's mind is free from defilement, one kneels on the right knee, clasps hands, and sincerely worships the [佛 [fu] (Buddha)]. Due to this cause and condition, one is born into a noble family. Furthermore, for what reason, when the body breaks up and life ends, is one reborn in a good destination in heaven (善處天上 [shan chu tian shang])? It is the constant dharma of the [諸佛世尊 [zhu fu shi zun] (Buddha World-Honored Ones)] that all sentient beings who worship the [如來 [ru lai] (Tathāgata)] due to these five causes and conditions are reborn in a good destination in heaven. These, [比丘 [bi qiu] (bhikṣus)], are the five causes and conditions for the merits of worshipping the [佛 [fu] (Buddha)]. Therefore, [比丘 [bi qiu] (bhikṣus)], if any good men (善男子 [shan nan zi]) or good women (善女人 [shan nu ren]) wish to worship the [佛 [fu] (Buddha)], they should seek the means to achieve these five merits. Thus, [比丘 [bi qiu] (bhikṣus)], you should train yourselves in this way."

[0674a29] “fù yǐ hé yīn yuán lǐ fú ér dé duān zhèng? yǐ jiàn fú xíng xiàng yǐ, fā huān xǐ xīn, yǐ cǐ yīn yuán ér dé duān zhèng. fù yǐ hé yīn yuán dé hǎo yīn shēng? yǐ jiàn rú lái xíng xiàng yǐ, sān zì chēng hào: nán wú rú lái,, zhì zhēn,, děng zhèng jué, yǐ cǐ yīn yuán dé hǎo yīn shēng. fù yǐ hé yīn yuán duō cái ráo bǎo? yuán bǐ jiàn rú lái ér zuò dà shī, sàn huá,, rán dēng, jí yú suǒ shī zhī wù, yǐ cǐ yīn yuán huò dà cái bǎo. fù yǐ hé yīn yuán shēng zhǎng zhě jiā? ruò jiàn rú lái xíng yǐ, xīn wú rǎn zhe, yòu xī zhe de, zhǎng guì chā shǒu, zhì xīn lǐ fú, yǐ cǐ yīn yuán shēng zhǎng zhě jiā. fù yǐ hé yīn yuán, shēn huài mìng zhōng, shēng shàn chù tiān shàng? zhū fú shì zūn cháng fǎ, zhū yǒu zhòng shēng, yǐ wǔ shì yīn yuán lǐ rú lái zhě, biàn shēng shàn chù tiān shàng. shì wèi, bǐ qiū! yǒu cǐ wǔ yīn yuán lǐ fú gōng dé. shì gù, zhū bǐ qiū! ruò yǒu shàn nán zi,, shàn nǚ rén yù lǐ fú zhě, dāng qiú fāng biàn, chéng cǐ wǔ gōng dé. rú shì, zhū bǐ qiū! dāng zuò shì xué.”

[0674a29] "fu yi he yin yuan li fu er de duan zheng? yi jian fu xing xiang yi, fa huan xi xin, yi ci yin yuan er de duan zheng. fu yi he yin yuan de hao yin sheng? yi jian ru lai xing xiang yi, san zi cheng hao: nan wu ru lai,, zhi zhen,, deng zheng jue, yi ci yin yuan de hao yin sheng. fu yi he yin yuan duo cai rao bao? yuan bi jian ru lai er zuo da shi, san hua,, ran deng, ji yu suo shi zhi wu, yi ci yin yuan huo da cai bao. fu yi he yin yuan sheng zhang zhe jia? ruo jian ru lai xing yi, xin wu ran zhe, you xi zhe de, zhang gui cha shou, zhi xin li fu, yi ci yin yuan sheng zhang zhe jia. fu yi he yin yuan, shen huai ming zhong, sheng shan chu tian shang? zhu fu shi zun chang fa, zhu you zhong sheng, yi wu shi yin yuan li ru lai zhe, bian sheng shan chu tian shang. shi wei, bi qiu! you ci wu yin yuan li fu gong de. shi gu, zhu bi qiu! ruo you shan nan zi,, shan nu ren yu li fu zhe, dang qiu fang bian, cheng ci wu gong de. ru shi, zhu bi qiu! dang zuo shi xue."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0674b14] At that time, the [比丘 [bi qiu] (bhikṣus)], having heard what the [佛 [fu] (Buddha)] said, rejoiced and respectfully put it into practice.

[0674b14] ěr shí, zhū bǐ qiū wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0674b14] er shi, zhu bi qiu wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.