(Also known as the True Buddha Sutra, this is the spontaneous revelation from the primordial awareness of Living Buddha Lian-sheng1, the transformation body of White Mahapadmakumara2 from the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds in Western Paradise.)
By Grandmaster Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Janny Chow, K.C. Ng, and Kender Tomko, Archarya (May 17, 1991). Revised by R. To (September 16, 2019).
Supplication for the blessing of Living Buddha Lian-sheng:
Om, Ah, Hum.
With reverence I make my purified body, speech, and mind
an offering to Mahavairocana.
The Holy Buddhalocana is the Dharmakaya3,
Padmakumara is the Sambhogakaya4 and
Living Buddha Lian-sheng is the Nirmanakaya5.
These three bodies, same in essence as the expression of Buddha's great compassion.
Homage to the great True Buddha lineage,
With transcendent powers that span the universe.
Radiating light throughout the Past, Present, and Future.
Simply and without thought, His attainments appear.
Disciples of Buddha should constantly seek for His pure light which enhances blessings and wisdom.
In the past, His Realization was prophesied by Shakyamuni Buddha,
and by Amitabha Buddha, was entrusted with the mission of salvation.
Maitreya Bodhisattva bestowed Him the Red Crown,
and Guru Padmasambhava taught Him the Tantra.
Praying you continue your vows to liberate us.
As You embrace and enfold us with care and protection,
empower us to quickly attain realization.
Namo Mahavairocana Buddha.
Namo Buddhalocana.
Namo Padmakumara.
Namo Living Buddha Lian-sheng.
Namo the True Buddha Assembly, all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Mahasattvas everywhere throughout the Past, Present, and Future.
The Sacred Edict (three times):
The Western True Buddha Assembly, the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds, the Eighteen Mahapadmakumaras, the Holy Revered One Robed in White, the Holy-Red-Crown-Vajra-Master, the Lord of Secrets in the Realm of Vajra-mantra, the Great Enlightened Founder of Ling Xian6 True Buddha School: the Eminent Tantrika7 Sheng-yen Lu.
Incense Praise:
The incense is now lit, suffusing the Dharma Realm, and from afar the scent is inhaled by the True Buddha Assembly. Auspicious are the gathering clouds, as we now request, with sincere and earnest hearts, that all Buddhas manifest.
Homage to the cloud canopy of fragrance, Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas.
Homage to the cloud canopy of fragrance, Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas.
Homage to the cloud canopy of fragrance, Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas.
Homage to the True Buddha Assembly, all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas.
Homage to the True Buddha Assembly, all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas.
Homage to the True Buddha Assembly, all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas.
Invocation of the Two Buddhas and Eight Bodhisattvas:
Namo Vairocana Buddha of the All-Conquering Palace in the Dharma Realm.
Namo Amitabha Buddha of the Western Paradise.
Namo Mahasattva Avalokitesvara.
Namo Mahasattva Maitreya.
Namo Mahasattva Akasagarbha.
Namo Mahasattva Samantabhadra.
Namo Mahasattva Vajrapani.
Namo Mahasattva Manjusri.
Namo Mahasattva Viskambin.
Namo Mahasattva Ksitigarbha.
Namo all Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas.
Sutra Opening Verse:
The supreme profound dharma,
Rarely encountered in hundreds and thousands of kalpas8,
Receiving this transmission and blessing,
I vow to penetrate the true meaning of the Tathagata9.
The Sutra of Authentic Dharma that Removes all Hindrances and Bestows Good Fortune10:
Thus, have I heard. At one time, White Mahapadmakumara was present at the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds, sitting upon the great white lotus dharma-throne; surrounding Him were seventeen other great lotus blossoms. The Green Lotus radiated green light, the Yellow Lotus yellow light, the Red Lotus red light, the Purple Lotus purple light. Each lotus blossom was mysteriously wonderful, pure, and full of fragrance.
White Padmakumara, silently calling forth His spiritual power, transformed the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds into an extraordinarily splendid place filled with golden light. All the flower-buds simultaneously burst into fragrant blossoms. Jade grasses sent forth a wonderful scent. White cranes, peacocks, parrots, saris, kalavinkas, and jivajivas all took on a golden hue, and sang graceful heavenly melodies in harmony.
The sky filled with golden light. A pure and wonderful heavenly sound resounded from the sky. Fragrances suffused all realms. Golden sky-abodes, adorned throughout with golden lotuses, radiated splendor. From the sky there showered heavenly flowers.
At that moment, the ground shook violently in the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds and throughout countless heavens tremors could be felt. Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Sravakas11 all felt it as well and came to the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds, as did the rulers of all the Thirty-Three Heavens. The assembly included beings from the Twenty-Eight Heavens, Lords Indra and Brahma, the Eight Classes of Supernatural Beings, and the Fourfold Sangha, all of whom came to hear the revelation of quintessential teaching.
At that moment, the Golden Padmakumara emitted the Great Wisdom Light. The White Padmakumara emitted the Dharma Realm Light. The Green Padmakumara emitted the Ten Thousand Treasure Light. The Black Padmakumara emitted the Subjugation Light. The Red Padmakumara emitted the Vow Light. The Purple Padmakumara emitted the Dignified Light. The Blue Padmakumara emitted the Virtuous Fruition Light. The Yellow Padmakumara emitted the Fortune Fulfilling Light. The Orange Padmakumara emitted the Child Innocence Light.
Upon seeing all this, the heavenly beings were greatly awed. Then Indra arose from His great seat and joining His palms to White Padmakumara said, "This is most rare, O Holy and Revered One. By what cause does the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds emit such light and splendor?"
White Mahapadmakumara said, "I will expound upon this for everyone present." Indra said, "The Holy Revered One has utmost might and power. Please explain to everyone present, that all Men and Devas may know where to turn."
At that moment, White Mahapadmakumara addressed Indra and the assembly as follows: "Very well, very well. I will now explain to you and all the beings of the last period of this Buddha-kalpa, and all those in the future who have an affinity with the Dharma, that they may know the True Buddha Tantra and the principle that removes obstacles and bestows good fortune."
White Mahapadmakumara then said, "All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have, in order to liberate living beings, manifested the worlds known as 'All-Conquering', 'Wonderful Treasure', 'Round Pearl', 'Sorrowless', 'Pure Rest', 'Dharma Thought', 'Full Moon', 'Profound Joy', 'Profound Completeness', 'Lotus', 'Immutable', and 'Omnipresence'. Now, there shall be the 'True Buddha World'.
Thus, the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Sravakas, Pratyekabuddhas12, and all the heavenly beings witnessed the Holy Revered One bringing forth the True Buddha World, understanding it to be a manifestation of great compassion of the auspicious Sugatas13 of the Past, Present, and Future, and realizing that the Holy Revered One came for the sake of all beings. All present were moved by joy as never before. Then, bowing their heads, they made praise with these verses:
Holy Revered One of great compassion,
The Secret One who is most supreme,
attained enlightenment in the past,
and transcended all worldly passions.
He now establishes the True Buddha World,
showering compassion on all living beings.
Transforming himself into a Pure Land founding Buddha,
He descends into the Saha World.
With Lian-sheng as His name,
He announces and proclaims the Dharma to all.
We all now have heard and
shall vow to protect and uphold His Dharma.
At that moment, the holy revered White Mahapadmakumara instructed, "In cultivation, the key to realizing the Buddha Jewel Sambodhi is a quiescent mind; that of realizing the Dharma Jewel is purity of body, speech, and mind; that of realizing the Sangha Jewel is refuge in a True Buddha Guru."
The Holy Revered One further instructed the assembly, saying "If good men or women, on the eighteenth day of the fifth month of each lunar year, make ablution, abstain from flesh, and wear new and clean clothes, or on the eighteenth day of each lunar month, or on their own birthdays, call upon the Two Buddhas and Eight Bodhisattvas before the shrine, and reverently recite this Sutra of Authentic Dharma that Removes all Hindrances and Bestows Good Fortune, then their supplications will be answered. Moreover, if incense, flowers, lamp, tea and fruits are offered, along with sincere prayer, then all wishes will be granted."
The Holy Revered One told the assembly, "People of this saha world, be they high officials, nobility, renunciates, householders, yogis, or commonfolk, who upon learning of this sutra, uphold, recite, and propagate it, shall prosper above all others, have greater lifespan, obtain either a son or daughter as sought, and be blessed with measureless fortune. This is indeed a great fortune-bestowing sutra for obtaining blessings."
"One may have deceased ancestors, enemies, close ones or creditors who are unable to obtain liberation and remain lost in the nether world. However, by upholding, reciting and propagating this sutra, the deceased will ascend to heaven, enemies will be turned away, and those living will be blessed. If there be man or woman seized by negative forces or afflicted by spirits, or confused and haunted by nightmares, then by upholding, reciting, and propagating this sutra, all negative influences shall be banished, thereby restoring peace and ease."
"If one suffers the physical retribution of illness and calamity, whether due to nonvirtuous body karma from previous lives, or to the afflictions of spirits, then by upholding, reciting and propagating this sutra, ill omens will immediately disappear and the causes of illness will be quickly removed. If one suffers from misfortune, legal entanglements or imprisonment, then by upholding, reciting and propagating this sutra, all such obstacles will dissolve immediately, and calamity will be vanquished and turned into auspiciousness."
"Should nations enter into war, then whoever upholds this sutra and enthrones an image of Padmakumara, setting up offerings before it, immediately receives martial prowess and no battle can be lost. Those who recite or propagate this sutra will completely receive every good fortune, just as they desire. All hindrances will be removed, and the sufferings of birth and death extinguished."
Then, in the Western True Buddha Assembly at the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds, White Mahapadmakumara proclaimed this mantra:
"Om, guru, lian-sheng siddhi, hum."
When the Holy Revered One completed this discourse, Indra and the whole assembly, including devas, nagas, the rest of the eight classes of supernatural beings, and the fourfold sangha all paid reverence. They brought forth faith and upheld the teaching.
Thus ends The Sutra of Authentic Dharma that Removes all Hindrances and Bestows Good Fortune.
1 Lian-shen - literally means Lotus-born
2 Mahapadmakumara - great (Maha-) lotus child (-padmakumara)
3 Dharmakaya - Dharma (or reality) body
4 Sambhogakaya - Reward (or bliss) body
5 Nirmanakaya - Transformation (or physical) body
6 "Ling Xian" - literally means "spirit immortal"
7 Tantrika - Tantric adept
8 Kalpa - period of time between the creation and recreation of a world universe
9 Tathagata - title of a Buddha
10 The True Buddha Sutra - spoken by Living Buddha Lian-sheng
11 Sravaka - 'hearer' of the Buddha.
12 Pratyekabuddha - one who attained Buddhahood independently
13 Sugata - Well-departed one, gone as he should go; a Buddha