Ancient Buddhism in Japan, Vol. 2

The Golden Light Sutra (Konkwōmyōkyō, Nanjō No. 127)

The Preface consists of 108 (the sacred number) lines of four characters each, forming a hymn in honor of this sutra, which is called the "King of Sutras." This term, sometimes used in Japanese historical records, is not limited to this text; it is also used in the Lotus Sutra (the Yaku-ō-hon chapter), in the Sovereign Kings of Golden Light Sutra (Saishōōkyō, Chapter 1—which is the same sutra), and in the Sutra on the Contemplation of the Mind-Ground (Shinjikwangyō, Nanjō No. 955, Chapter 8).¹ The Buddha says that the Four Buddhas of the four directions (also mentioned above in Chapter 8, Section 7, page 268)—Akshobhya (East), Ratnaketu (South), Amitayus (West), and Varashvara ("Delicate and Wonderful Voice," or Mimyōshō) (North)—always protect this sutra, which is unsurpassed in its wondrous beauty and depth of meaning.²

He (the Buddha) explains the blessings of the Rites of Repentance original: Sange; the ritual confession and purification of past misdeeds and of listening to the reading of this sutra with a pure heart, a clean body, and clean clothes. All evil shall be "extinguished," and the Four Heavenly Kings original: Shi-Tennō; the guardians of the four cardinal directions with their entire retinues, as well as the countless Yakshas original: Yasha; nature spirits or guardian deities in Buddhist mythology, shall come to protect those who faithfully keep this sutra.

Both night and day, Sarasvatī The goddess of eloquence and music, known in Japan as Dai-Bentenjin, the god of the Nairañjana river, Hariti A protector goddess and mother of demons, the Earth Goddess Dṛḍha (Kenrō), Mahā-Brahma, the thirty-three gods (devas), the Great Divine Naga (serpent) kings, and the Kings of the Kinnaras, Garudas, and Asuras Various classes of mythical beings and demigods in the Buddhist cosmos with their followers shall all protect them.

If those who hear this sutra explain it to others, follow the virtuous deeds of others and rejoice in them (zuiki The practice of "rejoicing in merit," or taking pleasure in the good deeds of others to gain spiritual benefit), and make offerings to the Buddhas, they shall be revered by the gods and by all beings of the eight classes (hachibu The eight groups of non-human beings, including devas and nagas, who protect the Buddha's teachings) for countless kalpas An immense period of time in Buddhist cosmology; an eon. They shall obtain wonderful and immeasurable happiness and be protected by all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas Enlightened beings who remain in the world to help others achieve salvation of the ten directions. Furthermore, all the Buddhas shall praise the great virtue of those who grasp and hold in their hearts the Repentance preached by this text.

The contents of the second, third, and fourth sections have been discussed previously (Chapter 8, Section 7). The fifth section is a hymn on...

¹ Great Dictionary (Daijiten), page 253, column 3, under the entry kyō-ō original: "King of Sutras". The Benevolent Kings Sutra (Ninnōkyō) is also designated by this term.
² Preface, page 45, column a.