諸經要集 4.114

4.114

又灌頂經云。救脫菩薩白佛言。若族姓男女。其有尫羸著床痛惱無救護者。我今當勸請諸眾僧。七日七夜。齋戒一心。受持八禁。六時行道。四十九遍。讀是經典。勸然七層之燈。懸五色續命神幡。阿難問言。續命幡燈。法則云何。神幡五色四十九尺燈亦復爾。七層之燈。一層七燈。燈如車輪。若遭厄難。閉在牢獄枷鎖著身。亦應造立幡燈。放諸雜類眾生。至四十九。可得過度危厄之難。不為諸橫惡鬼所持。又超日明三昧經云。日天王與無數天人。來詣佛所。稽首言。以何等行。得為日天照四天下復以何緣。而為月天照除夜冥。佛言。有四事。一常喜布施。二修身慎行。三奉戒不犯。四然燈於佛寺。若於父母沙門道人。皆值光明。又身口意。行不殺等十善。佛言。又有四事得為月王。一布施貧匱。二奉持五戒。三恭事三尊。四冥設燈光。於君父師等。

Furthermore, the Guanding jing (Consecration Sūtra) says: The Bodhisattva Jiutuo said to the Buddha, "If there are men or women of good family who are emaciated, bedridden, tormented with pain, and without refuge or protection, I will now urge that they invite the assembly of monks for seven days and seven nights to observe the fast with single-mindedness, uphold the eight prohibitions, circumambulate six times a day, read this scripture forty-nine times, and light a seven-tiered lamp and hang five-coloured spirit-banners for extending life." Ānanda asked, "What is the method for the life-extending banners and lamps?" [The Buddha replied,] "The spirit-banners are five-coloured and forty-nine feet long, and the lamps are also like this. For a seven-tiered lamp, each tier has seven lamps, and each lamp is like a cartwheel. If one encounters distress and calamity, or is locked in prison with shackles and fetters binding the body, one should also make banners and lamps, and release various kinds of living beings up to forty-nine, and one will be able to cross over perilous calamities without being seized by various untimely evil ghosts." Furthermore, the Chaoriming sanmei jing (Sūtra on the Samādhi of the Light Surpassing the Sun) says: The sun deva king, together with countless devas, came to the Buddha's place, bowed his head, and said, "By what kind of practice does one become a sun deva illuminating the four continents under heaven? And by what condition does one become a moon deva dispelling the darkness of the night?" The Buddha said, "There are four things: first, constantly rejoicing in giving; second, cultivating the body and being cautious in conduct; third, upholding the precepts without violating them; fourth, lighting lamps in a Buddhist monastery, or before parents, śramaṇas, or practitioners of the path, so that all meet with light; and further, in body, speech, and mind, practicing the ten wholesome deeds such as non-killing." The Buddha said, "Furthermore, there are four things by which one becomes a moon king: first, giving to the poor and destitute; second, upholding the five precepts; third, respectfully serving the Three Honoured Ones; fourth, setting up lamp light in the darkness before rulers, fathers, teachers, and others."