勅修百丈清規 5.56

5.56

The Muṇimandāra Sūtra says: 'The Sanskrit word is pasamo; in Liang it is called counting beads (shuzhu); it is a tool for fixing mindfulness and cultivating deeds.' The Soapberry Seed Sūtra says: 'Anciently there was a king named Virūḍhaka, who addressed the Buddha, saying, "My kingdom is remote and small, and I am constantly ill at ease; the Dharma treasury is deep and vast, and I cannot practice it all. I pray you show me the essentials of the Dharma." The Buddha said, "If you wish to extinguish afflictions, you should string one hundred and eight soapberry seeds, and constantly keep them on your person. With dedicated mind, chant 'Namo Buddhāya, Namo Dharmāya, Namo Saṅghāya', passing one bead with each recitation. Proceeding gradually in this way until passing thousands and ten-thousands, if you can fulfill two hundred thousand times with body and mind unconfused, upon relinquishing your life you will be reborn in the Yāma Heaven. If you fulfill one million times, you will eradicate the one hundred and eight fetters and attain the fruit of eternal bliss." The king said, "I shall respectfully practice this."'