浴佛功德經
Sutra on the Merits of Bathing the Buddha
大唐沙門釋義淨譯
Translated by the Tang Dynasty Monk Yijing
如是我聞：
Thus I have heard:
一時，薄伽梵在王舍城鷲峯山頂，與大苾芻眾千二百五十人俱，復有無量無邊大菩薩眾、天龍八部，悉皆雲集。
Once, the Blessed One was dwelling on Vulture Peak Mountain near Rajagriha, together with a great community of twelve hundred and fifty monks. Also present were countless and boundless great bodhisattvas, as well as celestial beings, dragons, and other spiritual beings from all realms of existence—all gathering like clouds.
爾時清淨慧菩薩在眾中坐，為欲愍念諸有情故，作是思惟：「諸佛、如來以何因緣得清淨身，相好具足？」復作是念：「諸眾生類，得值如來，親近供養，所獲福報，無量無邊。未知如來般涅槃後，所有眾生作何供養、修何功德，令彼善根速能究竟無上菩提？」作是念已，即從座起，偏袒右肩，頂禮佛足，長跪合掌白佛言：「世尊！我欲請問，願垂聽許。」
At that time, the pure and wise Bodhisattva was sitting among the assembly. Moved by compassion for all living beings, he thought: "By what causes and conditions do the Buddhas and Tathagatas attain a pure body, complete with all excellent marks and features?" He further reflected: "All beings who encounter the Tathagata, draw near and make offerings to him, receive immeasurable and boundless blessings. But I wonder: After the Tathagata enters Parinirvana, what offerings should beings make and what merits should they cultivate, so that their roots of goodness may quickly lead to the ultimate supreme enlightenment?" Having thought this, he rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, bowed at the Buddha's feet, knelt with palms together, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I wish to ask a question. Please grant me your kind permission."
佛言：「善男子！隨汝所問，我當為說。」
The Buddha said, "Excellent person! Ask whatever you wish, and I will explain it for you."
爾時清淨慧菩薩白佛言：「諸佛、如來、應、正等覺以何因緣得清淨身，相好具足？又諸眾生，得值如來，親近供養，所獲福報，無量無邊。未審如來般涅槃後，所有眾生作何供養、修何功德，令彼善根速能究竟無上菩提？」
At that time, the Pure Wisdom Bodhisattva said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, by what causes and conditions do the Buddhas, Tathagatas, Arhats, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones attain a pure body fully endowed with auspicious marks? Furthermore, when sentient beings encounter the Tathagata and draw near to make offerings to Him, the blessings they receive are immeasurable and boundless. I would also like to ask: After the Tathagata's complete nirvana, what offerings should sentient beings make, and what merits should they cultivate, so that their roots of goodness may quickly lead them to the ultimate unsurpassed enlightenment?"
爾時世尊告清淨慧菩薩言：「善哉，善哉！汝能為彼未來眾生發如是問。汝今諦聽，善思念之，如說修行！吾當為汝分別解說。」
At that time, the World-Honored One said to the Bodhisattva Pure Wisdom: "Excellent, excellent! You have raised this question for the sake of sentient beings in future times. Listen attentively now, reflect carefully, and practice accordingly as I teach. I will explain this for you in detail."
清淨慧菩薩言：「唯然，世尊！願樂欲聞。」
"Pure Wisdom Bodhisattva said, 'Indeed, World-Honored One. We are eager to hear your teachings.'"
佛告清淨慧菩薩言：「善男子！應知布施、持戒、忍辱、精進、靜慮、智慧、慈悲喜捨、解脫、解脫知見、力、無所畏、一切佛法、一切種智善清淨故，如來清淨。若於如是諸佛、如來，以清淨心種種供養，香花瓔珞、幡蓋敷具，布在佛前，種種嚴飾，上妙香水澡浴尊儀，燒香普熏運心法界。復以飲食、鼓樂、弦歌、讚詠如來不共功德，發殊勝願，迴向無上一切智海，所生功德，無量無邊，乃至菩提常令相續。所以者何？如來福、智不可思議，無數無等。善男子！諸佛、世尊具有三身，謂法身、受用身、化身。我涅槃後，若欲供養此三身者，當供養舍利。然有二種：一者、身骨舍利；二者、法頌舍利。」即說頌曰：
The Buddha said to the Bodhisattva Pure Wisdom, "Good man, you should know that because giving, moral discipline, patience, effort, meditative concentration, wisdom, loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity, liberation, the knowledge of liberation, powers, fearlessnesses, all the Buddha’s teachings, and all-encompassing knowledge are perfectly pure, therefore the Tathāgata is pure. If, with a pure mind, you make various offerings to such Buddhas and Tathāgatas—offering incense, flowers, necklaces, banners, canopies, and spread cloth before them, adorning them in every way, bathing the revered images in exquisite scented water, burning incense whose fragrance pervades the entire realm of reality—and also offer food, drink, drums, music, stringed instruments, and songs that praise the Tathāgata’s unique qualities, while forming a supreme vow to dedicate the merit to the boundless ocean of all-encompassing wisdom, then the merit generated will be measureless and boundless, continuing constantly until enlightenment. Why is this? Because the Tathāgata’s blessings and wisdom are inconceivable, without number, and without equal.
"Good man, all Buddhas and World-Honored Ones possess three bodies: the Dharma Body, the Enjoyment Body, and the Emanation Body. After my nirvana, if you wish to make offerings to these three bodies, you should offer offerings to the relics. There are two kinds: one is the bodily relics of bone and flesh; the other is the relics of the Dharma in verse." And he spoke these verses:
(He then recites the following verse:)
「諸法從緣起， 如來說是因；
彼法因緣盡， 是大沙門說。
"All things arise from conditions, The Thus-Come One teaches this is their cause; Those same conditions cease their existence— This the Great Ascetic proclaims—this is the highest Law."
「若男子、女人、苾芻五眾應造佛像。若無力者，下至大如䵃麥，造窣覩波形如棗許，剎竿如針，蓋如麩片，舍利如芥子，或寫法頌，安置其中。如上珍奇，而為供養，隨己力能，至誠殷重，如我現身，等無有異。
If a man, woman, or any of the five groups of monastics wishes to create a Buddha image but lacks the means, they may make it as small as a grain of wheat. They may build a stupa the size of a jujube, with a spire as thin as a needle and an umbrella the size of a bran flake. They may place inside a relic as tiny as a mustard seed, or write down a verse of the Dharma. Then, with such wondrous offerings, to the best of their ability and with utmost sincerity and devotion, they should make offerings as if they were serving me in person—for there is no difference.
「善男子！若有眾生能作如是勝供養者，成就十五殊勝功德而自莊嚴：一者、常有慚愧；二者、發淨信心；三者、其心質直；四者、親近善友；五者、入無漏慧；六者、常見諸佛；七者、恒持正法；八者、能如說行；九者、隨意當生淨佛國土；十者、若生人中，大姓尊貴，人所敬奉，生歡喜心；十一者、生在人中，自然念佛；十二者、諸魔軍眾不能損惱；十三者、能於末世護持正法；十四者、十方諸佛之所加護；十五者、速得成就五分法身。」
"Good man! If sentient beings are able to make such supreme offerings, they will be adorned with fifteen special virtues:
First, they will always have a sense of shame and reverence. Second, they will develop pure faith. Third, their hearts will be straightforward and honest. Fourth, they will draw near to good spiritual friends. Fifth, they will enter into wisdom free from worldly attachment. Sixth, they will always see the Buddhas. Seventh, they will constantly uphold the true Dharma. Eighth, they will be able to practice as they teach. Ninth, they will be reborn in a pure Buddha-land according to their wish. Tenth, if reborn among humans, they will be born into a noble and respected family, honored by all, and bring joy to others. Eleventh, if reborn among humans, they will naturally remember the Buddha. Twelfth, they cannot be harmed or troubled by the armies of Mara. Thirteenth, they will be able to uphold the true Dharma in the final age. Fourteenth, they will be protected and blessed by all the Buddhas of the ten directions. Fifteenth, they will quickly attain the fivefold Dharma body."
爾時世尊即說頌曰：
Then the World-Honored One spoke these verses:
「我般涅槃後， 能供養舍利，
或造窣覩波， 及以如來像，
於彼像塔處， 塗拭曼荼羅，
以種種香華， 散布於其上，
以淨妙香水， 灌沐於像身，
上味諸飲食， 盡持以供養，
讚歎如來德， 無量難思議，
方便智神通， 速至於彼岸，
獲得金剛身， 具三十二相、
八十隨形好， 濟度諸群生。」
After my final Nirvana, those who venerate my relics, Or build a stupa, or a likeness of the Tathāgata, At those sites of images and pagodas, they shall Smear and adorn the ritual diagram (mandala), Scatter various fragrant flowers upon it, And bathe the image with pure, subtle, fragrant water. They shall offer all manner of fine food and drink, Praising the virtues of the Tathāgata— Immeasurable, inconceivable, beyond thought— With skillful means, wisdom, and psychic powers, They swiftly reach the other shore, Attain a vajra-body, complete with the thirty-two major marks And eighty minor characteristics, To rescue and guide all beings.
爾時清淨慧菩薩聞是頌已，白佛言：「未來眾生云何浴像？」
At that time, the Bodhisattva Pure Wisdom, having heard this verse, said to the Buddha: "How should sentient beings in the future bathe the Buddha's image?"
佛告清淨慧菩薩言：「汝等當於如來起正念心，勿著二邊，迷於空有；於諸善品，渴仰無厭；三解脫門，善修智慧；常求出離，勿住生死；於諸眾生，起大慈悲，願得速成三種身故。
The Buddha said to the Bodhisattva Pure Wisdom, “You should cultivate a proper mind focused on the Tathagata. Do not cling to dualistic views or become confused by concepts of emptiness and existence. For all virtuous practices, maintain an unquenchable thirst and deep reverence. Skillfully cultivate wisdom through the three gates of liberation. Always seek liberation, and do not remain attached to the cycle of birth and death. For the sake of all beings, generate great compassion and loving-kindness, wishing to quickly attain the three bodies (kayas).”
「善男子！我已為汝說四真諦、十二緣生、六波羅蜜，今更為汝及諸國王、王子、大臣、後宮妃后、天龍、人、鬼說浴像法，諸供養中最為第一，勝以恒河沙等七寶布施。若浴像時，應以牛頭栴檀、白檀、紫檀、沈水、熏陸、欝金香、龍腦香、零陵、藿香等，於淨石上磨作香泥，用為香水，置淨器中。於清淨處，以好土作壇，或方或圓，隨時大小，上置浴床，中安佛像，灌以香湯，淨潔洗沐，重澆清水。所用之水，皆須淨濾，勿使損虫。其浴像水，兩指瀝取，安自頂上，名吉祥水，瀉於淨地，莫令足踏。以細軟巾，拭像令淨，燒諸名香，周遍香馥，安置本處。
"Good man! I have already taught you the Four Noble Truths, the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, and the Six Perfections. Now I will teach you, along with all the kings, princes, ministers, palace consorts, heavenly beings, dragons, humans, and spirits, the method of bathing the Buddha image. This practice is the foremost of all offerings, surpassing even the gift of jewels as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River.
When bathing the Buddha image, you should take sandalwood from the Ox-head mountains, white sandalwood, purple sandalwood, aloeswood, frankincense, saffron, camphor, spikenard, and patchouli, and grind them with water on a clean stone to create a fragrant paste. Add this to clean water to make scented water, and place it in a pure vessel. In a clean place, build an altar with good earth—either square or round, adjusting the size as needed—and place a bathing platform on top. Set the Buddha image in the center and pour the scented water over it, thoroughly and reverently washing it clean. Then rinse with pure water again. All water used must be carefully filtered to avoid harming any insects.
Collect the water used for bathing the image with two fingers and pour it on your own head; this is called auspicious water. Pour the remaining water onto clean ground, being careful not to step in it. With a fine, soft cloth, dry the image until it is completely clean. Burn various fine incenses, filling the entire area with fragrance, then return the image to its original place.
「善男子！由作如是浴佛像故，能令汝等人、天大眾現受富樂，無病延年；於所願求，無不遂意；親友眷屬，悉皆安隱；長辭八難，永出苦源；不受女身，速成正覺。既安置已，更燒諸香，親對像前，虔誠合掌，而說讚曰：
"Good man! By bathing the Buddha's image in this way, you and all people and heavenly beings can enjoy wealth and happiness in this life, remain free from illness, and prolong your years. Whatever you sincerely wish for will be fulfilled; your relatives and loved ones will all be peaceful and secure. You will forever leave behind the eight hardships, escape the source of suffering, no longer be reborn as a woman, and swiftly attain perfect enlightenment.
After making these arrangements, burn various incenses, stand before the image with a sincere heart, press your palms together in reverence, and recite this verse of praise:"
「我今灌沐諸如來， 淨智功德莊嚴聚，
願彼五濁眾生類， 速證如來淨法身。
戒、定、慧、解、知見香， 遍十方剎常芬馥，
願此香烟亦如是， 無量無邊作佛事。
亦願三塗苦輪息， 悉令除熱得清涼，
皆發無上菩提心， 永出愛河登彼岸。」
Now I pour water over the Thus Come Ones, A treasury of pure wisdom and virtuous merit. May all beings in this defiled age of conflict Soon realize the pure Dharma-body of the Buddha.
The fragrance of morality, concentration, wisdom, liberation, and the insight of liberation Spreads perpetually throughout countless worlds. May this incense be the same— Boundless, accomplishing the work of the Buddhas.
May the suffering in the three realms of misery cease, May all burning distress be cooled and calmed. May every being awaken the supreme Bodhi mind, Forever leave the river of craving and reach the other shore.
佛說此經已，是時眾中有無量無邊菩薩得無垢三昧；無量諸天得不退智；諸聲聞眾願求佛果；八萬四千眾生皆發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心。
After the Buddha had spoken this sutra, in the assembly countless bodhisattvas attained the Stainless Samadhi; countless heavenly beings gained irreversible wisdom; the hearers (shravakas) all vowed to seek Buddhahood; and eighty-four thousand beings awakened the aspiration for supreme, perfect enlightenment (Anuttara Samyaksambodhi).
爾時清淨慧菩薩白佛言：「世尊！幸蒙大師哀愍我等，教浴像法。我今勸化國王、大臣、一切信心樂功德者，於日日中澡沐尊儀，獲大利益，常當頂受，歡喜奉行！」
浴佛功德經