诸天赞
(行者用)
陈健民瑜伽士
敬礼 本师释迦牟尼佛
敬礼 护持佛法诸天尊
本师文佛亲口宣 自兜率天生阎浮 出家降魔转法轮 诸天赞助无厌倦
希有世尊难逢遇 最初劝请降诞者 无上大恩是天尊 伎乐八万四千音
声声劝请佛降生 勿忘我等可悯众 捧钵四天请降生 佛闻此音乃受请
无上大恩是诸天 佛生一十二年前 净居天尊先佛来 示婆罗门宣预言
谓有佛祖当降生 胜族选择卅二德 智幢天尊所请问 如白象形下阎浮
胜光天尊所建议 下时诸天皆会集 四天及释提桓因 夜摩天兜率陀天
乐变化天他化天 娑婆界主梵天王 梵众天与梵辅天 妙光天与少光天
光严天与净居天 以及阿迦尼吒天 摩醯首罗及余天 舍弃诸禅三昧乐
从诞乃至于涅槃 常持净心以侍佛 末世福薄圣贤少 具愿菩萨应化者
愿如请佛之故事 速请多请我启请 末世纵有圣贤生 染污缘多难清净
愿如侍佛之故事 密密将护我启请
佛既入胎净居天 于佛父王现半身 说偈为报希有事 夜摩天等现妙宫
以为圣后之所居 佛既诞已诸天女 各捧妙油浴圣母 供佛天衣与宝具
梵王帝释乃变化 极端正摩那婆身 演吉祥微妙赞词 摩醯首罗与净居
设大供养来庆贺 佛由生处入宫中 天女或持孔雀伞 或洒香水道路中
或执宝花或璎珞 各类各五十万女 色界诸天持宝幡 欲界诸天持宝盖
如云布满于虚空 佛配妃后处深宫 诸天说偈劝出家 兜率天名应出家
飞至殿上诵妙偈 赞叹出家胜功德 并感宫中诸乐器 不奏自鸣劝出家
佛游四门以观察 净居天尊于东门 化作老人以感佛 于南化作多病人
于西化作已死人 于北化作大比丘 为佛正说出家法 佛乃告父求出家
父王简练勇猛士 昼夜戒备于内外 重门一响惊十里 无天之助何能越
药叉大将二十八 毗沙门宫共候命 净慧天尊施神力 令诸勇士悉昏睡
庄严游戏天尊者 令诸象马皆寂眠 严慧天尊施神力 于虚空界布宝路
法行天尊施神力 令彼宫女变坏相 开发天尊施神力 令佛中夜忽独醒
释提桓因示道路 弗沙星与月合时 佛于中夜果醒起 安详而出合掌立
正念十方一切佛 四天各领天众来 释提桓因立虚空 诸天同时大声请
此正是时速出家 车匿既牵干陟到 升虚而行六震动 宫内外众皆不知
夜里经行六由旬 既至仙人苦行林 别车匿与干陟后 孤身远离华贵地
空林唯天最可亲 当时谁人解事佛 替人事佛谢诸天 知佛嫌衣骄奢耶
净居天尊供袈裟 佛乃自称真出家 末世善根难培养 贪着五欲难出离
或以浅根希深行 冒充菩萨不出离 或虽出家入于庙 统众大早不修行
如是离家复离庙 双重出离胜妙器 愿诸天尊嘿护佑 如护文佛真出家
佛六年苦修禅定 日食一米一麻耳 常为天众所护持 波旬伺过不可得
善生女欲供梵志 净居天遮梵志身 善生唯见文佛在 供吉祥相之乳糜
赴菩提场金刚座 十六天尊守此场 其名曰转进天尊 无胜天尊施与天
爱敬天尊勇力天 善住天尊持地天 作光天尊无垢天 法自在天法幢天
行吉祥天无碍天 大庄严天净戒天 莲花光明十六天 皆曾得不退转位
常时竭诚护道场 帝释复化作刈人 供吉祥草为佛垫 大梵天王广陈供
珍宝无量遍虚空 佛既入座发宏誓 六欲诸天东南住 防护障难恭而谨
四维上下皆有天 围绕恭敬以防护 波旬统率魔男女 威迫媚诱逞所能
净居天尊申警诫 无数诸天散天花 赞叹佛不为魔动 既成正觉现瑞相
诸天欢喜献众宝 天女各唱赞美词 净居赞后遍光赞 梵天赞后他化赞
化乐赞后兜率赞 帝释赞后四天赞 并申无量广大供 末世修行障难多
行者多欲魔得便 邪说王难攻其外 苦病疑心攻其内 五阴炽盛不易除
证量渊微不易达 修者如毛成如角 诸天见之宁不悯 如护文佛圆满果
愿诸天尊勤将护 令诸行者离魔障 生圆次第疾证成 六通十力皆具足
显著金刚道果德
佛证果后嘿然住 波旬竟敢劝涅槃 螺髻梵王娑婆主 为我苦众劝请佛
三劝三请转法轮 当日懵懂之人类 谁解如天王劝请 于今人间有佛法
饮水思源谢天恩 佛既许可转法轮 菩提树守者四天 受法光明与乐法
法行四天复请问 当于何处初转轮 欲色二界诸天众 各将宝幢与宝盖
为佛严净鹿野苑 八万四千宝狮座 佛合为一坐传法 佛度比丘五尊已
为度迦叶十八变 帝释听经显光明 佛受供已欲澡洗 帝释指地而成池
佛欲浣衣帝释知 为取四方大好石 佛欲晒衣帝释知 复取六方石备用
其后各处转法轮 或上于天或下海 乃至涅槃于双林 诸天无时无方所
不为文佛之侍卫 末世魔军势力强 处处道场多障碍 国王宰官多邪见
博学之士偶得信 亦少如法而修行 间有成德之志士 欲建无上大法幢
财力人力每不足 愿天回忆文佛事 曾费几多维护力 如今缕缕一线法
如是法脉极珍贵 当超护持文佛力 倍加努力咸拥护 令其大愿成德士
寿长福多权威大 得续文佛大事业 重兴广大佛法幢 密密将护我启请
密密将护我启请
癸巳秋陈健民撰于西竺茅蓬
护法诸天启请偈 林钰堂
文佛八相成道曾蒙诸天勤护持,
正法亿载弘扬仍赖众圣竭忠贞。(三回)
A Praising to All the Gods
for Buddhist practitioners
Yogi C. M. Chen
Namo Guru Gautama Buddha
Namo all Gods who protect the Buddha.
Our Guru Gautama told us that
He descended here from the Tushita,
Became Bhikshu and subdued demons,
'Till turned the wheel of Tathagata.
All great events are helped by Gods,
Who within his altar, work so hard.
Rare is to meet Buddha Perfect.
Invited by Gods who him admire,
To these benefactors of mankind
We should all give deep thanks without tire.
Heavenly music with many sounds,
Each says "WELCOME, WELCOME AND WELCOME!"
"Please do not forget all of mankind",
The pleas of four Gods are very kind!
God of Purity came to this world
Before the Buddha's birth some twelve years,
Appeared as a Brahmin and foretold
"Buddha will be born", heard by all ears.
Buddha Gautama does hear the sound,
His permission is to be found,
The great benefactors are Gods,
We should give them thanks so profound!
A race selected with thirty-two merits
Which was asked by the God named Wise Pennant,
Descended down as a white elephant,
Suggested by the God named Achieved Light.
When Buddha descends, all Gods assemble,
Four Gods and Indra all leave their temple.
Yama, Tusita and Virmananti
With Paranirmitavasavartin.
Saha world master, the Brahmakaya,
From Parsadya and Purohita,
Parittabha and Apramanabha,
From Abhavara and Parittasubha (names of Heavens).
With Akinistha and Mahisvara
All leave their deep samadhi happiness.
From Buddha's birth day to his Nirvana,
They follow him and help all his goodness.
In this dark Kali age,
There are no more good sages.
May all Gods do the same,
Ask them to come to this stage.
Even though there are some who came,
They could not live very long.
They had many defilements,
May Gods keep their commendments.
When Buddha came to his mother's womb,
God of Purity told his father:
There will be a great event and so good,
Buddha's pure Dharma will flourish soon.
Yama makes a mystic palace,
Acts as the Buddha's holy grace.
When Buddha is born all Gods and Goddesses
Come help his mother to take a bath.
Gods offer Buddha heavenly clothes
And crystal, jewels, diamonds and gems.
Gods Brahma and Indra both transform into handsome Mahavaka form.
They sing auspicious songs.
They praise Buddha with best poems.
Mahisvara and the Gods of Purity,
Make a pretty offering to celebrate.
When Buddha comes from his birthplace to the palace
Some Goddesses lift up beautiful umbrellas.
Some Goddesses sprinkle best perfume on the way,
Some Goddesses offer many gems and corals.
Gods of Rupadhatu lift some pennants,
Gods of Karmadhatu lift some nice tents,
They are like white clouds in the sky
With so many different presents.
When Buddha marries and lives in rich chamber,
All Gods, Goddesses ask him to remember,
A Tushita God named Renouncement
Flies to palace to make announcement.
He praises Buddha's merits of past lives,
And inspires the vessels to give advice.
All music vessels make voice themselves,
All say to renounce is very wise!
Buddha comes to the four gates to search,
God of Purity appears at each.
On the East he's an old man,
On the South he's a sick man,
On the West he's a dead man,
On the North he's a holy man.
Buddha asks father allow him renounce,
But his father rejects what he announces.
The King then trains some bold guards,
To keep him in days and nights.
Many tiers of gates, who can run out?
He does need God's help, there is no doubt!
There are twenty eight of Yasha's marshals
Who wait for Vaisaravana to tell.
God named Wonderful Skill gives his power,
Paves the precious road in the great space.
God named Dharma Actor gives his power,
To make his wife have an ugly face.
God named Develop gives his force,
To make great Buddha rise alone.
God Indra shows the very road
Where the Buddha should go along.
When the moon and Tisya meet,
Lord Gautama awakes and sits,
Folds both of his palms and thinks,
All Buddhism is very sweet!
The four Gods lead all angels,
Indra stands in the middle,
All hail with a loud voice,
"It's a great time, not little."
Chandaka drives the horse,
Buddha leaves the palace.
Flies in the sky and earth quakes,
Nobody knows this case.
In night they run six yojanas (30 miles)
And arrive at Datu's Forest.
Apart from Chandaka and horse
Buddha the Prince alone does rest.
In that time, none is he close to,
In that time no one knows him too.
He lives alone, he sits alone,
Only those great Gods often come.
At that time who knows how to serve,
In place of men, Gods spend their love.
God knows that Buddha does hate silk,
A cotton yellow robe he offers.
In this Kali Age, men rarely renounce,
They crave desires with pay and allowance!
Or they treat themselves as Bodhisattva,
They say they do good, have best influence!
Even if they become Bhikshu or monk,
They lead all the students without practice.
There is nobody really leaves his home,
Or leaves crowd center to truly release.
May all the Gods and all Angels,
Protect those who have no desire,
As you protect our Dear Buddha,
Who is so pure and without tire.
Six years Buddha practices Dhuta,
Takes only little rice and herbs a day,
Is often protected by all Gods,
Mara can't trouble him in this way.
Sujata wants to make offering to Brahmin,
God of Purity purposely hides him.
Sujata sees only Buddha,
She offers the milk with a tin.
Buddha goes to Bodhi Gaya,
There sixteen Gods do protect him,
Their names are mentioned:
God of Win, God of Advance,
God of Loving, God of Goodness, God of Lighting.
God of Freedom, God of Pennant, God of Conduct,
God of Sila, God of Lotus, God of Ornament,
God of No-Obstacle, and God of Great-Adornment.
God of Boldness, God of Giving,
And God of Holding-the-Great-Earth.
They all have realization,
Protect Buddha with devotion.
Indra transforms himself into cowherd,
He offers Buddha some auspicious grass
Which is very soft to make a good seat,
Hence Buddha's downward energy can pass.
The Brahma God offers a lot,
Jewels pervade throughout whole sky,
Buddha sits in meditation,
Vows to attain Samadhi high.
The Gods of six heavens of desire
Protect him, hence Mara can't be found,
In the four directions up and down,
There are many Gods who stand around.
Mara still comes with many demons,
Troubles Buddha with love and weapons.
God of Purity gives him advice,
Many bold Goddesses also come.
They offer to Buddha many flowers,
Praise him, no fear of Mara's followers.
When Buddha gets the Full Enlightenment,
All Gods enjoy it and offer jewels.
All Goddesses sing many hymns,
Many Gods praise him in their turn,
After the God of Purity,
God of Pervading Light praises him.
After God of Great Brahmin,
Paranirmita praises him,
After Nirmanarati praises,
Gods of Tushita praise him.
After Indra's deep praising,
The Four Gods also praise him.
They offer many gems too,
With many different things.
In the Kali Age there're many demons,
Most students do have a lot of desires.
False views, and cruel kings both trouble so long,
Doubt and disease and worldly love without tire.
One's inner sorrows are too much,
Realization is hard to get,
Many practices but no one reaches,
No one even sees God yet.
May all the Gods protect them,
As protect Buddha, the same,
Let them all leave their demons,
Let them achieve before long.
Let them get realization,
Let them get special power,
Let them have deep devotion,
Worthy of Buddha's followers!
After Buddha's attainment,
He then keeps in deep silence.
Mara does dare him to die,
If so, there's no influence.
But the master of this world,
Then requests Buddha three times
Turn the Dharma Wheel, he's told,
Praises Buddha with many hymns.
At that time who is the man,
Able to ask as those Gods can,
Now we still have the Dharma,
God's merit is not in vain.
Buddha accepts Gods request,
Four Gods ask him where to preach,
Four Gods are in the forest,
Whose names are told by the teacher.
The Light, The Dharma, and The Pleasure,
The Actor, all are Gods in nature,
They protect him in Bodhi Gaya,
Now they prepare Sarnath to preach.
Gods of all heavens of form and desire,
Hold heavenly umbrellas, men admire,
Arrange altar there where Park of Deer is,
Sarnath is very holy and dear.
Eighty-four thousand gems made seats,
Buddha makes them into one great chair.
Each treats it as his own,
Buddha's teachings fill the air.
Buddha teaches five Bhikshus at first;
Teaches Kasya who is so earnest,
He shows eighteen transformations,
Indra hears this education.
When Buddha wants to dry his robe again,
Indra arranges a big stone in hexagon,
Hitherto everything Buddha wants,
From Indra and other Gods he gains.
After Buddha accepts their offerings,
Buddha wants to bathe, Indra gives new spring,
When Buddha wants to wash his robe again,
Indra arranges a square stone to retain.
When our Buddha goes to heaven and to sea,
Until Parinirvana all Gods see,
No time, no space, without Gods to protect him,
Gods serve the Buddha so much more than me.
In the Kali Age, Mara is strong,
Dharma's obstacles trouble us so long!
Those cruel officials do have false views,
Scholars too have no right ideas but wrong.
Few persons practicing the Dharma,
Rare is the one who knows of Karma,
The accomplished one has no power,
There's none can compare with Gautama!
There're some who may have Bodhicitta,
And desire to follow Tathagata,
He has not enough helpers and money,
May you, the Gods, help with all data!
Please do remember what you have done,
With much strength you helped Buddha so long!
Now Right Dharma remains so little,
Kindly let it flourish and prolong.
Use your strength more than you used for Buddha,
Protect the one who has the real Dharma;
Let him have much longevity,
Let him achieve the Karma!
Let him have revelation!
Let him have realization !
Let him keep the old tradition!
Let him be able to do salvation!