觀虛空藏菩薩經
Observing Ākāśagarbha Bodhisattva
T. 409
宋罽賓三藏曇摩蜜多譯
Translated by the Kashmiri Tripiṭaka Master Dharmamitra during the Song Dynasty
如是我聞：
Thus have I heard:
一時，佛住佉陀羅山，依正覺仙人所住之處，與千二百五十比丘俱。賢劫千菩薩彌勒為首。
At one time, the Buddha was dwelling on Mount Khadira, at the place where the sages of perfect enlightenment resided, together with one thousand two hundred and fifty bhikṣus. Among the thousand bodhisattvas of the Bhadra Kalpa, Maitreya was foremost.
爾時，長老優波離，即從坐起，整衣服，為佛作禮，白佛言：「世尊先於功德經中，說虛空藏菩薩摩訶薩名，能除一切惡不善業，治王旃陀羅乃至沙門旃陀羅，諸惡律儀，如此惡事若欲治，當云何觀虛空藏菩薩？設得見者，云何共住布薩僧事？若優婆塞破五戒、犯八戒齋，出家比丘、比丘尼、沙彌、沙彌尼、式叉摩尼犯四重禁，在家菩薩毀六重法，出家菩薩犯八重禁，如是[14]過人，世尊先於毘尼中說，決定驅儐，如大石破。今於此經說大悲虛空藏能救諸苦，及說呪以除罪咎。設有此人，云何知之？以何為證？惟願天尊！分別解說。」
At that time, the Elder Upāli rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, paid homage to the Buddha, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, you previously mentioned in the meritorious sutras the name of the Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Ākāśagarbha, who can eliminate all evil and unwholesome karma, from the Caṇḍāla kings to the Caṇḍāla monks, and all evil precepts. If one wishes to remedy such evil deeds, how should one contemplate Ākāśagarbha Bodhisattva ? If one were to see him, how should one participate in the Poṣadha ceremony with the Sangha? For laypeople who break the five precepts or violate the eight precepts, for monks and nuns who violate the four major prohibitions, for novice monks and nuns and female probationers who break their precepts, for lay bodhisattvas who violate the six major precepts, and for monastic bodhisattvas who violate the eight major prohibitions - for such transgressors, the World-Honored One previously stated in the Vinaya that they should definitely be expelled, like a broken great stone. Now in this sutra, it is said that the greatly compassionate Ākāśagarbha can save all from suffering, and mantras are spoken to eliminate sins and faults. If there were such a person, how would one know it? What would be the evidence? I only wish, Bhagavat, that you would explain this in detail."
佛告優波離：「汝及未來世一切善持毘尼者，應當教此犯罪眾生，安慰其意。世尊大慈弘誓無量，不捨一切，於深功德經說治罪法，名決定毘尼。有三十五佛，救世大悲，汝當敬禮。汝敬禮時，當著慚愧衣，如眼生瘡深生[18]愧恥，如癩病人，隨良醫教。汝亦如是，應生慚愧。既慚愧已，一日乃至七日，禮十方佛，稱三十五佛名，別稱大悲虛空藏菩薩名。澡浴身體，燒眾名香，堅黑沈水。明星出時，長跪合掌，悲泣雨淚，稱虛空藏，白言：『大德、大悲菩薩，愍念我故，為我現身。』
The Buddha said to Upāli, "You and all those who uphold the Vinaya well in future ages should teach these beings who have committed offenses and comfort their minds. The World-Honored One's great compassion and vast vows are immeasurable, not abandoning anyone. In the profound sutra of merits, he taught the method for curing offenses, called the Definitive Vinaya. There are thirty-five Buddhas of great compassion who save the world, whom you should respectfully worship. When you pay homage, you should wear the robe of shame and remorse, feeling deep shame as if your eyes were afflicted with sores, like a leper following a good doctor's instructions. You should also generate shame and remorse in this way. After feeling remorse, for one to seven days, worship the Buddhas of the ten directions, recite the names of the thirty-five Buddhas, and separately recite the name of the greatly compassionate Ākāśagarbha Bodhisattva. Bathe your body, burn various famous incenses and firm black aloeswood. When the morning star appears, kneel with palms joined, weeping sorrowfully, call upon Ākāśagarbha, saying: 'Great Virtuous One, Bodhisattva of Great Compassion, out of pity for me, please manifest your form before me.'"
「爾時，當起是想：是虛空藏菩薩頂上有如意珠，其如意珠作紫金色。若見如意珠，即見天冠。此天冠中，有三十五佛像現，如意珠中十方佛像現。虛空藏菩薩身長二十由旬，若現大身，與觀世音等。此菩薩結加趺坐，手捉如意珠王，其如意珠演眾法音與毘尼合。
"At that time, one should visualize: On the crown of Ākāśagarbha Bodhisattva's head there is a wish-fulfilling jewel, and this wish-fulfilling jewel is purple-gold in color. If one sees such a wish-fulfilling jewel, one will see the celestial crown. Within this celestial crown, images of thirty-five Buddhas appear, and in the wish-fulfilling jewel, images of Buddhas from the ten directions appear. Ākāśagarbha Bodhisattva's body is twenty yojanas tall, and when he manifests his great body, it is equal to Avalokiteśvara. This Bodhisattva sits in full lotus position, holding the king of wish-fulfilling jewels in his hand, and this wish-fulfilling jewel expounds various Dharma sounds in accordance with the Vinaya."
「若此菩薩！憐愍眾生故，作比丘像及一切色像，若於夢中若坐禪時，以摩尼珠印，印彼人臂，印文有除罪字，得此字已，還入僧中，如本說戒。若優婆塞得此字者，不障出家，設不得此字，便使空中有聲唱言：『罪滅罪滅。』若無空聲使知毘尼者，夢見虛空藏[25]菩薩，告言：『毘尼薩毘尼薩，某甲比丘、某甲優婆塞，更令懺悔。』一日乃至七七日禮三十五佛，虛空藏菩薩力故，汝罪輕微。知法者！復教令塗治圊廁，經八百日。日日告言：『汝作不淨事，汝今一心塗一切廁，莫令人知。塗已澡浴，禮三十五佛，稱虛空藏。向十二部經，五體投地，說汝過惡。』如是懺悔，復經三七日。爾時，智者應集親厚，於佛像前，稱三十五佛名，稱文殊師利、稱賢劫菩薩，為其作證，更白羯磨，如前受戒法。此人因苦行力故，罪業永除，不障三種菩提業。」
"If this Bodhisattva, out of compassion for sentient beings, takes the form of a monk or any other form, and either in a dream or during meditation, uses a mani jewel seal to imprint on that person's arm, and the imprint contains the character for 'removing sins,' once the person obtains this character, they can return to the Sangha and recite the precepts as before. If a layperson obtains this character, it does not prevent them from leaving home (becoming a monastic). If they do not obtain this character, a voice in the sky will proclaim: 'Sins eliminated, sins eliminated.' If there is no voice in the sky, one who knows the Vinaya will dream of Ākāśagarbha Bodhisattva saying: 'Vinaya master, Vinaya master, such-and-such monk or layperson should be made to repent again.' For one to seven times seven days, worship the thirty-five Buddhas. By the power of Ākāśagarbha Bodhisattva, your sins will become minor. Those who know the Dharma should further instruct them to clean latrines for eight hundred days. Each day, tell them: 'You have done impure acts. Now, with single-minded focus, clean all latrines without letting others know. After cleaning, bathe, pay homage to the thirty-five Buddhas, and invoke Ākāśagarbha. Face the twelve divisions of the canon, prostrate with the five limbs touching the ground, and confess your misdeeds.' After repenting in this way for another three times seven days, at that time, the wise should gather close friends, and before the Buddha image, recite the names of the thirty-five Buddhas, invoke Mañjuśrī and the Bodhisattvas of the Bhadra Kalpa as witnesses, and perform the karman ceremony again, as in the previous ordination procedure. Due to the power of these austere practices, this person's karmic obstacles will be permanently removed, and will not hinder the three types of bodhi practices."
佛告優波離：「汝持是觀虛空藏法，為未來世無慚愧眾生、多犯惡者廣分別說。」
The Buddha said to Upāli: "You should hold this method of contemplating Ākāśagarbha and explain it in detail to those beings in future ages who are without shame or remorse and who commit many evil deeds."
說是語時，時虛空藏菩薩，結加趺坐，放金色光，如意珠中[31]見三十五佛已，白佛言：「世尊！我此如意珠寶從首楞嚴出，是故眾生見珠者，得如意自在。」
When these words were spoken, Ākāśagarbha Bodhisattva sat in full lotus position and emitted a golden light. After seeing thirty-five Buddhas within the wish-fulfilling jewel, he said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! This wish-fulfilling jewel of mine comes from the Śūraṅgama. Therefore, when sentient beings see this jewel, they attain freedom according to their wishes."
爾時，世尊勅優波離：「汝持此經，不得為多眾廣說。但為一人持毘尼者，為未來世無眼[1]目眾生，作眼目故，慎莫忘失。」
At that time, the World-Honored One instructed Upāli: "You should hold this sutra, but do not expound it widely to many people. Only teach it to one person who upholds the Vinaya. For the sake of beings in future ages who are without eyes, to serve as their eyes, be careful not to forget it."
時，優波離聞佛所說，歡喜奉行。
At that time, Upāli heard what the Buddha had said, and joyfully put it into practice.