[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [藥師經疏](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2767) › 1.86 # 藥師經疏 1.86 藥師經疏 1.86 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [1.86](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2767.1.86) 經。然四十九燈至大如車輪　四然燈。四十九者。總舉大數故。隨願往生經云。燃四十九照諸幽冥。苦痛眾生蒙此光明。皆得相見。緣此福德拔彼眾生悉得休息。造像七軀。明置像安燈方法。謂造七軀像。像別自處一座。又造七輪燈。其輪形量大如車輪。一一像座。前各置一輪燈。一一輪上各置七盞燈。如此供養已。依然燈功德經得四種利益。一獲福無量。二二臨終明耀。三死得生天。四當成正覺。獲福無量者。若有四眾發清淨心為求福故。或於塔廟諸形像前而設供養。奉施燈明。乃至以少燈炷。或膏油塗然持以奉施其明唯照道之一階。舍利弗如此福德非是一切聲聞緣覺所能了知。唯佛如來乃能知也。舍利弗照道一階福德尚爾。何況全照一階道也。或二三四階道。或及塔身一級二級乃至多級。一面二面乃至四面。及佛形像。舍利弗彼所然燈。或時速滅。或風吹滅。或油盡滅。或炷盡滅。或俱盡滅。譬如諸龍以瞋恚故。出雲垂布。於中起電起已尋滅如是。少時於佛塔廟奉施燈明。所得果報福德之聚。唯佛能知。臨終明耀者。謂信男女等。於佛塔廟施燈明。已臨命終時。得三種明。彼善男子善女人等。臨命終時。先所作福悉皆現前憶念善法而不忘失。是為一明。因此便能念知自己。先於佛所殖諸善業。又於命終時得如是念。我於佛像塔廟等前。已曾供養作是念。已心生踊悅。是為二明。因此便能起念佛覺。又於命終時見餘眾生奉行布施。是他作已起。如是念我。亦曾於佛支提所奉施燈明。我令亦當復行布施得欣喜心已無有死苦。是為三明。因此便得念法之心死得生天者。謂信男女等。於佛塔廟施燈明已死便生於三十三天。生彼天已於五種事而得清淨。一者得身清淨。二者於諸天中得殊勝威德。三者常得清淨念慧。四者常得聞於稱意之聲。五者所得眷屬常稱彼意心得欣喜。得成正覺者。如偈說言。牟尼牛王清淨眼。以好燈明照彼塔。得於無漏無上道。其身光明照十方。見四真諦具十力。不共之法亦究竟。得遍見眼成善逝。此果皆由布施燈。 > Sūtra: “Light forty-nine lamps \[…\] as large as a cartwheel.” / Fourth, lighting lamps. “Forty-nine” is used because it presents the general round number. The Suiyuan wangsheng jing says: “Light forty-nine \[lamps\] to illuminate all the dark netherworlds. Suffering sentient beings, receiving this light, will all be able to see one another. Relying on this merit, those sentient beings will be rescued and will all attain relief.” “Fashion seven images” clarifies the method for arranging the images and placing the lamps: namely, fashioning seven images, with each image independently situated on one dais; also fashioning seven lamp-wheels, the size and shape of these wheels being as large as a cartwheel; in front of each image dais, placing one lamp-wheel; and on each wheel, placing seven lamp-cups. Having made offerings in this way, one obtains four kinds of benefit according to the Dīpadānānuśaṃsā Sūtra: first, obtaining immeasurable merit; second, clarity and brightness at the approach of death; third, upon dying, attaining rebirth in heaven; fourth, necessarily realizing correct awakening. As for “obtaining immeasurable merit”: if there are those among the four assemblies who generate a pure mind in order to seek merit, and make offerings before a stūpa, shrine, or various images, offering and giving lamps, even down to a small lamp-wick or smearing with oil to light it and bring it as an offering, and its light illuminates only a single step of a path—Śāriputra, such merit cannot be fully known by any of the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas; only the Buddha, the Tathāgata, can know it. Śāriputra, if the merit of illuminating a single step of a path is even thus, how much more so fully illuminating an entire flight of steps, or two, three, or four flights of steps, or up to one level, two levels, or even multiple levels of the body of a stūpa, on one side, two sides, or even four sides, as well as the Buddha’s image! Śāriputra, that lamp they lit may perhaps be quickly extinguished, or extinguished by the wind, or extinguished when the oil runs out, or extinguished when the wick is exhausted, or extinguished when both are exhausted. Just as, for instance, when nāgas, out of anger, send forth hanging clouds within which lightning flashes, and having flashed is immediately extinguished, so it is when one offers and gives lamps before a Buddha's stūpa or shrine even for a short time: only the Buddha can know the accumulation of merit and reward attained. As for “clarity and brightness at the approach of death”: this means that when faithful men and women, having given lamps at a Buddha's stūpa or shrine, approach the end of life, they obtain three kinds of clarity. When those good men and good women approach the end of life, the merit previously performed all appears before them, and they remember the wholesome teachings without forgetting them—this is the first clarity. Because of this, they are able to remember and know that they previously planted various wholesome karmas before the Buddha. Furthermore, at the end of life, they give rise to this thought: “I have previously made offerings before Buddha images, stūpas, shrines, and the like.” Having had this thought, their hearts leap with joy—this is the second clarity. Because of this, they are able to give rise to the awareness of recollecting the Buddha. Furthermore, at the end of life, seeing other sentient beings practicing giving, after the others have done it, they give rise to this thought: “I too have previously offered and given lamps at the caitya of the Buddha. I now should also practice giving again.” Having attained a joyful heart, they are free from the suffering of death—this is the third clarity. Because of this, they obtain a mind that recollects the Dharma. As for “upon dying, attaining rebirth in heaven”: this means that when faithful men and women, having given lamps at a Buddha's stūpa or shrine, die, they are immediately reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa heaven. Having been reborn in that heaven, they attain purity in five matters: first, they attain bodily purity; second, among the gods they attain superior majesty and virtue; third, they constantly attain pure mindfulness and wisdom; fourth, they constantly get to hear pleasing sounds; fifth, their retinue always accords with their wishes, so their hearts attain joy. As for “attaining correct awakening”: as a verse says: “The pure eye of the Sage, the bull among men, / Illuminates that stūpa with fine lamps; / One attains the undefiled, unsurpassed Path, / And one's bodily light illuminates the ten directions; / Seeing the four noble truths, equipped with the ten powers, / The unshared qualities are also perfected; / Attaining the all-seeing eye, one becomes a Sugata— / All these fruits arise from the giving of lamps.” > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 1.85](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2767.1.85) - [Next: 1.87](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2767.1.87) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2767.1) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2767~en-mt.1.86) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2767.1.86](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2767.1.86) · Pramāṇa