分珠經：偽造
The scripture on the Divisions of the beads (APOCRYPHAL)
This is the second of a series of buddhist apocrypha from that are collected in this 1931 edition of Chanmen Risong: 禪門日誦 Zen Daily Recitations. For an introduction to what this book is, you should read this post about another apocryphon in the same collection, the Scripture of Wondrous Sand
This present scripture- the Fen Zhu Jing -- 分珠經 -- Scripture of the division of beads is a curious one. It is composed in two parts that have little to do with one another.
All genuine Buddhist sutras begin with a scene describing where the Buddha delivered the sutra, as well as who was present. This text also possesses such a scene, but it was quite obviously, and crudely, tacked on to the "sutra proper", which describes how you can evade hell, through (in effect) deceiving the underworld guards. This transition is particularly obvious, as the introduction is written in prose, whilst this section is written in seven-character verse, with the title of the scripture even mentioned at the very end of it!
Like an other apocrypha in this collection (eg: the Scripture of Wonderous Sand above), the scripture on the division of beads expresses a concern about crossing the River Nai. This is the river which separates the world of the living from hell. Sinners are pushed straight into the river to be tormented, whilst the good may ascend a golden or silver bridge over the river. However this bridge is guarded What the scripture shows, is that If you tell the guards of you are from the Naga-puspa assembly (龍華會 Longhua hui = dragon flower assembly) – i.e. the assembly around Nagapuspa tree, under which Maitreya will become a buddha, you will get to crosss the bridge, and go straight to the western paradise of Amithaba without any questions asked.
The second section of the scripture begins just as abruptly. The assembly asked the Sixth Patriarch (i.e. Huineng) why the japamala has 108 beads. The replies by giving a list of buddhist lists, the total number of articles adds up to 108. He finishes by describing respectful treatment of a japamala. One of the things that seems to be noted is that you should not put the japamala over the "Storehouse of the seven treasures"-- perhaps meaning buddhist scriptures. The author has heard of a similar prohibition that is still extant today.
The scripture concludes with a reiteration of the benefits of the scripture.
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The edition from which I have taken the scripture is accessible here at google books
分珠經：偽造
The scripture on the Divisions of the beads (APOCRYPHAL)
爾時阿彌陀佛。觀世音菩薩。清淨大海眾菩薩。圓覺菩薩。諸上善人。同會一處。
At that time, Amithaba Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and the pure great-sea assembly of massed bodhisattvas, bodhisattvas of complete awakening, and all the most good people, were gathered in one place. The Buddha [speaks] the Scripture on the divisions of the pearls.
弟子發心聽經文。免得閻羅地獄門。
橋下罪人聲叫苦。皆是前生不聽經。
傳得經中七個字。上得金橋撒手行。
直至西方無人問。我是龍華會裏人。
The disciple expresses a wish to listen to this scripture,
And be spared Yama and the Gates of Hell.
The sinners beneath the bridge cry bitterly:
All of them in their previous life did not hear [the] scripture.
If you can get the seven words in this scripture,
You can ascend the golden bridge, and walk carefree
Straight to the Western Paradise without any question:
“I am from the Naga-puspa assembly”
神會山和尚。問六祖大師菩薩。因何念珠一百單八顆。六祖答言。
The assembly of gods [and] mountain monks asked ask the sixth patriarch great bodhisattva, “why does a japamala have 108 beads?” The Sixth Patriarch replied:
頭一顆釋迦摩尼佛。 八顆八金剛。四顆四菩薩。六顆六波羅蜜。四顆四大天王。
“The first bead is for Shakyamuni Buddha
8 beads for the eight vajras
4 beads for the 4 bodhisattvas
6 beads for the 6 paramitas
4 beads for the 4 heavenly kings
三十三顆按上界三十三天。一十八顆按一十八重地獄。
33 beads corresponding to the 33 heavens above
18 beads corresponding to the 18 heavy hells below
八顆八難。八顆八解脫。十顆十大弟子。一顆龍神土地。
8 beads for the 8 hardships
8 beads for the 8 liberations
10 beads for the 10 great disciples
1 bead for the dragon-gods of the soil
兩顆生身父母。五顆五如來。共數一百單八顆。
2 beads for the parents who gave birth to us
5 beads for the 5 tathagatas
A total of 108 beads.
不可不淨手。左右輪在手中。置在腹中。安在七寶藏中。
“You must not, with impure hands, turn [the japamala] right and left in hand, or place it on your belly, or atop the storehouse of the 7 treasures.
龍神輪念。臨命終時。必有生天受持大法。誦得分珠經者。勝如看經一世。佛言。念口解脫出免輪迴。諸善男子善女人。聞佛所說。皆大歡喜。信受奉行。作禮而退。
The dragon gods continually recite [this]. At the end of your life, you will be reborn in the heavens and receive the great dharma. Those who can recite the Scripture on the division of the pearls, do better than reading a lifetime of scriptures. The Buddha said “recite this liberation method, and you can escape samsara”. All the good men and women, on hearing the buddha say this, rejoiced, respectfully received and practiced it, saluted the buddha and retreated.
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