Selections from the Sutra of Golden Light: Chapters 1 & 5, Part 1 of 2

Buddha or Gautama Buddha, also known as Shakyamuni Buddha, was a great extraordinary spiritual Master from ancient India. Born as Prince Siddhārtha Gautama in the 5th century BC, He would have naturally inherited the vast wealth of a kingdom. However, the Prince left the palace life in search of spiritual knowledge. After years of contemplative seeking, the Buddha attained great enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. He then shared the merits of His practice by providing a method for other sentient beings to be freed from the cycle of death and rebirth.

“The Sutra of Golden Light or Suvarṇaprabhāsa Sūtra is also known as The Sovereign King of Sutras, the Sublime Golden Light. It is a Buddhist text of Mahayana Buddhism. This King of all Sutras contains practice of confession and rejoicing, profound teachings on Pratityasamutada (dependent origination or dependent arising), reliable protection assurance, guidance on good and wise governance, and the ever-inspiring stories of Buddha, who liberated countless beings from suffering by His sheer compassion and courage, even though He had yet to eliminate delusions completely. We will now share with you selections from the Sutra of Golden Light.

“Thus I have heard at one time: The Tathagata, entering Buddhas’ domain Of experience, the profound sphere of reality, At Vulture Peak expounded To the supreme Bodhisattvas, Who were pure and stainless, This King of Glorious Sutras, the Sublime Golden Light, Which is extremely profound upon hearing And profound upon examination. The Buddhas in the four directions Confer their blessings: blessings From Akshobhya in the east, Ratnaketu in the south, Amitabha in the west and Dundubhisvara in the north. In order to extinguish all unwholesome deeds I will proclaim this auspicious sublime discourse That exhausts all negative karma, Grants all peace and happiness, Completely eliminates suffering, Which is adorned with all that is glorious And is the foundation of omniscience.”

“I will clearly expound this sutra on the profound, The domain of Buddhas’ experience, The secret of all Buddhas, Difficult to find in tens of millions of eons. Those who hear this sutra, Those who cause others to hear it, Those who rejoice upon hearing And make offerings to it, For tens of millions of eons Shall be venerated by Gods and nagas, Humans and kinnaras, Asuras and yakshas. For beings without merit, The store of their merit Will grow into a limitless, Incalculable, inconceivable mass. Fiercely they will be protected By Buddhas in the ten directions; Likewise, also by Bodhisattvas Engaged in the profound. Clad in clean garments, Wearing well-perfumed clothes, Possessing a mind firm with love, Without distraction, one should honor this sutra. Render the mind spotless, Put forth effort to make it expansive And intensely clear, Then listen to this sublime sutra. Those who listen to this sutra Will be acclaimed among humans, Attain an excellent human existence And live a life of comfort. Those into whose ears This sublime discourse is echoed, Will have merit roots refined And numerous Buddhas will extol them.”