Sunday, February 14, 2010

[药师琉璃光七佛本愿功德经] 翻译 Translation of the "Sutra of the Seven Master of Medicine Buddhas"

前言:- [药师琉璃光七佛本愿功德经] 翻译
我将把[药师琉璃光七佛本愿功德经]翻译成白话中文和英文,希望能够将这部对现今
佛教尤其重要的经典发扬光大.当代佛教徒对这部经典应该给予等同[无量寿经]的重
视.两个法门应该兼修.现世中跟药师佛大愿感应,获得富贵,健康,人缘,平安,快乐和
智慧,并且能同时兼得往生极乐世界的福德资粮.命终后能得到往生极乐世界的双重保
障:如果对于往生极乐世界的定力不够,在临终时候可能会心志颠倒,往生不了.根据
经典记载,如果修持药师法门,在这种状况发生的紧要关头,能够获得八位大菩萨前来示路,引
去极乐世界(不是硬把你拉去药师佛的世界!).

Introduction: Translation of the "Sutra of the Seven Master of Medicine Buddhas"
I shall be translating the above sutra from ancient Chinese into two versions: contemporary Chinese and English. There are 5 ancient Chinese versions of this sutra that had been translated from Sanskrit. Among them, the most popular is the version translated by Xuanzang during Tang Dynasty. The four versions beside the one which I shall be translating, including the Xuan Zang version, describe only one Master of Medicine Buddha, which is the "Master of Medicine Radiating Lapis Lazuli Light Buddha". The version that I shall be translating is that of another Tang monk called Yijing. The Yijing version is the longest and most comprehensive of the 5, having descriptions of seven Buddhas including the aforementioned one.

I have not found any English translation of the Yijing version. In view of this, I shall be translating and promoting online this version. In my view, this is a particularly important sutra for today. Most Buddhists are familiar with the Amitabha Buddha. Unfortunately, most also are familiar with Amitabha Buddha only. Most focus on their future reincarnation in the Western Paradise but fall short of another equally important area of Buddhist practice, which is enjoying and spreading practical benefits in their present lifetime.

Are Amitabha and Master of Medicine practices mutually exclusive? No. In fact, the Master of Medicine Buddhas practice provides a safety net for those who hope to be reborn in the Western Paradise of Amitabha. By following the Master of Medicine Buddhas practice, practitioners may enjoy immediate gratification in their present lifetime and accumulate merits that help them succeed in being reborn in the Western Paradise when they pass on. Both practices are, thus, mutually supportive.

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