密呪圓因往生集 1.116

1.116

「珠表菩提之勝果，於中間絕為斷漏，
繩線貫串表觀音，母珠以表無量壽，
慎莫驀過越法罪，皆由念珠積功德。
硨磲念珠一倍福；木槵念珠兩倍福；
以鐵為珠三倍福；熟銅作珠四倍福；
水精真珠及諸寶，此等念珠百倍福；
千倍功德帝釋子；金剛子珠俱胝福；
蓮子念珠千俱胝；菩提子珠無數福。
佛部念誦菩提子，金剛部法金剛子，
寶部念誦以諸寶，蓮華部珠用蓮子，
羯磨部中為念珠，眾珠間雜應貫串。
念珠分別有四種，上品最勝及中下，
一千八十以為上，一百八珠為最勝，
五十四珠以為中，二十七珠為下類。
二手持珠當心上，靜慮離念心專注，
本尊瑜伽心一境，皆得成就理事法。
設安頂髻及掛身，或安頸上及安臂，
所說言論成念誦，以此念誦淨三業，
由安頂髻淨無間，由帶頸上淨四重，
手持臂上除眾罪，能令行者速清淨。
若修真言陀羅尼，念諸如來菩薩名，
當獲無量勝功德，所求勝願皆成就。」

“The beads symbolize the supreme fruit of bodhi;
The knot between them signifies cutting off defilements;
The cord running through symbolizes Avalokiteśvara;
The guru bead symbolizes Amitāyus.
Be careful not to cross over it and commit the sin of violating the Dharma;
All merit is accumulated by means of the rosary.
A tridacna rosary brings single-fold merit;
A soapberry rosary brings two-fold merit;
A rosary made of iron brings three-fold merit;
A rosary made of wrought copper brings four-fold merit;
Crystal, pearl, and various jewels—
Such rosaries bring a hundred-fold merit;
Indra-seeds bring a thousand-fold merit;
Rudrākṣa beads bring a koṭi of merit;
A lotus-seed rosary brings a thousand koṭis;
A bodhi-seed rosary brings immeasurable merit.
For recitation in the Buddha Family, use bodhi seeds;
For Vajra Family practices, use rudrākṣa beads;
For recitation in the Jewel Family, use various jewels;
For the Lotus Family, the rosary uses lotus seeds;
For rosaries in the Karma Family,
Various beads should be mixed and strung together.
Rosaries are distinguished into four classes:
Superior, supreme, middling, and inferior.
One thousand and eighty is superior;
One hundred and eight beads is supreme;
Fifty-four beads is middling;
Twenty-seven beads belongs to the inferior class.
Hold the beads with both hands before the heart;
In quiet contemplation free of extraneous thoughts, focus the mind with one-pointedness;
In one-pointed yidam yoga,
One accomplishes both the phenomena and principle of the Dharma.
If placed on the topknot or hung on the body,
Or placed around the neck or upon the arm,
Whatever words one speaks become recitation;
Through this recitation, the three karmas are purified.
By placing it on the topknot, uninterrupted [hell-karma] is purified;
By wearing it around the neck, the four parajikas are purified;
Holding it in hand or on the arm eliminates manifold sins,
And can cause the practitioner to become swiftly purified.
If one cultivates mantras and dhāraṇīs,
Or recites the names of the Tathāgatas and bodhisattvas,
One will obtain immeasurable supreme merit,
And all excellent vows sought will be accomplished.”