偽造. 佛說壽生經
The Scripture on Longevity and Life spoken by the Buddha - APOCRYPHAL
This scripture is one of a genre of books regarding the 'incarnation money', a concept that exists in some forms of buddhism and Daoism. Briefly, there is a concept that in the spiritual world, everyone has a literal karmic bank account, or 'coffer'. Per Daoist scriptures like 靈寶天尊說祿庫受生經"Scripture spoken by the Lingbao Heaveny Worthy on rank-coffers and incarnation" and 太上老君說五斗金章受生經 The Scripture Spoken by Taishang Laojun on the Golden Seals of the Five Dippers and Incarnation. Per the former scriptures, this karmic bank account is credited or debited according to one's good or bad deeds. At the same time, one must also draw into this bank account in order to reincarnate into a human body- the 'incarnation debt'. as such no ordinary person is free from a certain amount of debt. If one's debt is not paid- or worse still, increased through bad deeds- then all manner of disasters will strike a person. The converse is true if a person manages to repay his debt, and the scriptures provide instructions on how to do so.
The present scripture, when compared to the above mentioned Daoist scriptures, does not give a detailed account of how the debt works, or indeed, how it can be cleared. It merely states that such a debt exists, there are negative consequences to not repaying it, and recitation of this scripture- and, it seems the Diamond Sutra, clears the debt. However we are not given detailed instructions on how much debt a recitation clears, or indeed, how much incarnation debt a person has in the first place.
However, tables that are circulated with the scripture do provide these details, as for example this copy of the Scripture, published by the Xuanang Cultural Printing Company 玄奘印刷文化有限公司. Briefly, the amount of incarnation debt one owes depends on the year of birth in the sexagenary cycle. The exact amount of debt for each year is stated in guan (a chinese unit of 1000 coins), and the number of recitations of the Scripture of longevity and life this corresponds to. The table also states the number of the 'coffer' from which the debt was withdrawn, as well as the official who is in charge of said coffer. These details are used to fill in a petition that is subsequently burnt, to send it to the relevant officials. This seems to be accompanied with burning a special kind of ritual paper that physically represents the money, although the book does not describe what the paper looks like, here are some images of 'incarnation money' that is used in a daoist ritual to repay the incarnation debt-- a ritual that I incidentally have participated in. Soemetimes paper ingots are used instead.
The table and petition are transmitted separately- but in close proximity- to this apocryphon. This copy of the Zen Daily Recitations contains the Scripture in one part of the book, and the table of debts (with the text of the petition) in another. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_pMqJbJsDt4C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=%E7%A6%85%E9%97%A8%E6%97%A5%E8%AF%B5&pg=PP247#v=onepage&q&f=false
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It is one thing to say that this scripture is a buddhist apocryphon; but it is perhaps more valuable to see this scripture as an example of the syncretism between buddhism and daoism in times past; buddhists appropriating daoist theurgy (such as the sexagenery cycle and perhaps the concept of incarnation debt itself).
One of the Daoist Scriptures on incarnation debts, the 上老君說五斗金章受生經 The Scripture Spoken by Taishang Laojun on the Golden Seals of the Five Dippers and Incarnation has been translated by Schafer and Paynter under the title of The Perfected Scripture of the Life Receiving Golden Seals of the Five Dippers as Spoken by Taishang Laojun. it is available here. https://www.amazon.com/Perfected-Scripture-Receiving-Dippers-Taishang/dp/B0CW9L1R2W/ref=pd_vtp_h_pd_vtp_h_d_sccl_2/141-9748089-1902138 I hope to translate the other scripture in due course.
There is additionally an anthropological article on the practise of repaying the coffers, by Rostislav Berezkin entitled Paying for Salvation: the Ritual of ‘Repaying the Loan for Life’ and Telling Scriptures in Changshu, China. https://www.academia.edu/41612226/Paying_for_Salvation_the_Ritual_of_Repaying_the_Loan_for_Life_and_Telling_Scriptures_in_Changshu_China
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In the interests of time and space, I will only post the text of the Scripture of Longevity and life here. The table of incarnation debts, as well as the petition, will be translated in a separate post.
My translation is based on these source texts:
https://cbetaonline.dila.edu.tw/zh/X0024 The Sutra in the Manji Tripitaka sequel I used this as my base text. It has some errors in words and punctuation which I have corrected against the Zen Daily Recitations, below. For a PDF of the original see https://books.google.com/books?id=aLtFAQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=%E4%BD%9B%E8%AA%AA%E5%A3%BD%E7%94%9F%E7%B6%93&pg=PP1586#v=onepage&q=%E4%BD%9B%E8%AA%AA%E5%A3%BD%E7%94%9F%E7%B6%93&f=false
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qObnAAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&pg=PP329#v=onepage&q&f=false A copy of the scripture in a 1930s edn of the Zen daily recitations. The table of incarnation debts in this scripture is here https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qObnAAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&pg=PP301#v=onepage&q&f=false
https://archive.org/details/20251124_20251124_1749/mode/2up The copy of the sutra from the Xuanzang Cultural Printing Company alluded to above; it has the tables of debts owed.
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偽造. 佛說壽生經
The Scripture on Longevity and Life spoken by the Buddha - APOCRYPHAL
貞觀十三年有唐三藏法師往西天求教，因檢大藏經，見壽生經一卷，
In the 13th year of Zhenguan, Tripitaka Master of the Tang went to India to seek the teachings. He checked the Great Canon of scriptures, and saw the Scripture of longevity and life in one volume.
有十二相屬，南贍部洲生下為人，先於冥司下各借壽生錢，有注命官祇揖人道，見今庫藏空閑，催南贍部洲眾生。交納壽生錢。
There are 12 signs [of the Zodiac] ; To be reborn in Jambudvipa, a person must first borrow longevity and life money from the officials of the netherworld. There is an official in charge of fate, of all those (read 揖 as 輯)in the human path. If he sees the coffers [of a person] are empty, he will pursue the sentient beings in jambudvipa to pay the money of longevity and life.
阿難又問：「世尊！南贍部洲眾生多有大願，不能納得。」
Ananda again asked “World honoured one, many sentient beings in Jambudvipa have great vows, but cannot collect [the incarnation money]"
佛言道「教看金剛經、壽生經能折本命錢，為祇證經力甚大。
The Buddha then said “Teach them to look at the Diamond Sutra, and the Sutra of Longevity and life to reduce the Money of Original Fate; the god will attest to the massive power of the sutras.
若眾生不納壽生錢，睡中驚恐、眠夢顛倒，三魂杳杳、七魄幽幽，微生空中共[1]亡人語話相逐，攝人魂魄、滅人精神，為欠壽生錢。
If sentient beings do not collect the money of longevity and incarnation, they will suffer from terrors in their sleep, inverted dreams; their three Hun will be dark, dark, their seven po obscured, obscure. The dead people who live in the minute voids will hold a discussion and will snatch the person’s hun and po; extinguish their Jing and Shen, to repay the lonegity and life money.
若有善男子善女人破旁納得壽生錢，免得身邊一十八般橫災：
If a good man or woman breaks the sides (?) 破旁and takes in the incarnation money, they will be able to escape 18 types of sudden disasters.
第一遠路波陌內被惡人窺算之災、
第二遠路風雹雨打之災、
第三過江度河落水之災、
第四墻倒屋塌之災、
First, against the disaster of plots of evil people when on a distant journey or a foreign shore.
Second, against the disaster of being struck with wind, hail and rain on a distant journey
Third, against the disaster of crossing a river or stream, and falling into it
Fourth, against the disaster of walls toppling and houses collapsing
第五火光之災、
第六血光之災、
第七勞病之災、
第八疥癩之災、
第九咽喉閉塞之災、
5th, against the disaster of fire
6th against the disaster of bloodshed
7th against the disaster of laborious illnesses
8th against the disaster of scabies and leprosy
9th against the disaster of one’s throat being blocked shut
第十落馬傷人之災、
第十一車碾之災、
第十二破傷風死之災、
第十三產難之災、
第十四橫死之災、
10th against the disaster of injuries through falling from horse
11th against the disaster of being crushed by a chariot
12th against the disaster of death by tetanus
13th against the disaster of a difficult birth
14th against the disaster of sudden death
第十五卒中風病之災、
第十六天行時氣之災、
第十七投井自繫之災、
第十八官事口舌之災。
15th against the disaster of dying from a stroke
16th against the disaster of changes in the weather
17th against the disaster of throwing oneself in a well and suicide by hanging
18h against the disaster of lawsuits and slanders
若有善男子善女人納得壽生錢，免了身邊一十八般橫災。若有人不納不折壽生錢，後世為人多注貧賤、壽命不長、醜陋不堪、多饒殘疾。但看注壽生經，又名受生經真經不虚，除了身邊災，免了身邊禍。
If a good man or woman manages to collect the Life and Longevity Money, they may be spared the 18 sudden disasters near them. If a person does not collect, or deduct the Life and Longevity Money, in their next human incarnation they will be mostly poor, short lived, ugly, incomplete in form, with many disabilities and illnesses. But if they were simply to look at the Scripture of Longevity and Life, and also proclaim the Scripture of Life and Longevity as true and not false, they shall remove the disasters by their sides, be spared the accidents by their side
又說十地菩薩，
長壽王菩薩摩訶薩、
延壽王菩薩摩訶薩、
增福壽菩薩摩訶薩、
消災障菩薩摩訶薩、
救苦難觀世音菩薩摩訶薩、
長安樂菩薩摩訶薩、
長歡喜菩薩摩訶薩、
解冤結菩薩摩訶薩、
福壽王菩薩摩訶薩、
延壽長菩薩摩訶薩。
Again I will speak of the bodhisattvas of the 10 Bhumis:
Long Life King Bodhisattva Mahasatva
Life Extending King Bodhisattva Mahasatva
extending fortune and longevity Bodhisattva Mahasatva
dissolving disasters and obstacles Bodhisattva Mahasatva
The saviour from Hardship and difficulty, Guanyin Bodhisattva Mahasatva
Ever peaceful and joyful Bodhisattva Mahasatva
Ever rejoicing Bodhisattva Mahasatva
Removing the knots of wrong Bodhisattva Mahasatva
Fortune and longevity king Bodhisattva Mahasatva
Longevity Lengthening Bodhisattva Mahasatva
本宅龍神土地罪消滅，
滿宅家眷罪消滅，
惡口浪舌罪消滅，
殺生害命罪消滅。
前生冤業罪消滅。
今生冤業罪消滅。
前生父母罪消滅，
今生父母罪消滅。
May the sins of earth dragon gods of this house be dissolved
May the sins of this household and relations be dissolved
May the sins of evil mouths and wanton tongues be dissolved
May the sins of killing life and harming fate be dissolved
May the wrongs and sins of past lives be dissolved
May the wrongs and sins of present lives be dissolved
May the sins of one’s previous incarnation’s parents be dissolved
May the sins of one’s present incarnation’s parents dissolved
又說災星，金星、木星、水星、火星、土星、太陽星、太陰星、羅睺星、計都星、紫炁星、月孛星。懺悔[A1]已後，願災星不照，福曜長臨，四時無病、八節無災。
I then again speak of the disastrous stars: MetalStar, WoodStar, WaterStar, FireStar,EarthStar, GreatYangStar, GreatYinStar, RahuStar, KetuStar, PurpleVapourStar, MoonComet Star. Having repented, may these disastrous stars shine not; may the fortunate luminaries ever approach; may there be no illness in the four seasons, no disaster in the eight seasons
note: these are the seven visible planets, nodes and two imaginary points used in Chinese astrology.-- ed.
若有善男子善女人早納壽生錢，分明解說漏貫薄小。納在庫中。庫官收付至。
If a good man or woman wishes to quickly collect the money of life and longevity, they should clearly determine how much or little of the money they have allowed to leak away. Having collected [the money] in the coffer, they [should ensure the Coffer's official receives it.
百年命終之後七七[A2]已前，早燒取壽生經。救度三世父母、七代先亡，九族冤魂皆得生天。
Before the seven sevens at the end of their hundred-year span of life, they should quickly seek the Scripture of Longevity and life. [Doing so will] save their parents of their three incarnations and seven generations of ancestors; at the same time the wronged souls of their nine relations will all ascend to heaven.
note: this suggests that burning the incarnation money when alive, or within the 49 period after a person was dead, would allow them to clear their incarnation debt-- ed.
儒流學士僧尼道俗或貴或賤，若有善男子善女人今生早燒壽生錢，三世富貴；
Be they Ruist scholars, monks, nuns, Daoists, or secular people; Be they rich or be they poor. If a good man or woman quickly burns the money of longevity and life, they will be fortunate for three incarnations.
今生不燒，三世貧賤，後世難得人身，縱得為人，瘸手瘸足、無目跛腰、癡聾瘖瘂、衣不盖形食不充口、被人輕賤。
if they don’t burn it in this life, they will be poor for three generations, and find it hard to regain a human body. If they are reborn as humans, they will have lame hands and feet, no eyes or lame, Deaf or dumb, no clothes to cover their form, no food to fill their mouths, and be constantly slighted.
若早燒壽生錢，注衣注食、注命注祿。」本命星官、本命判官、修羅王事、天龍八部，聞佛所說，皆大歡喜，信受奉行佛說壽生經。即說呪曰：
If the money of life and longevity is soon burnt, there will be increase to clothes, increase to food, increase to fate and increase to rank. The Stellar lords of the Original fate, the Punishment Officials of one’s original fate, king of the asuras, the devas, nagas and eight divisions all heard what the Buddha said, and greatly rejoiced. They respectfully received and practised the scripture of longevity and life as said by the buddha. Thus the mantra goes:
「天羅呪，地羅呪，日月黃羅呪，
一切冤家離我身，摩訶般若波羅蜜，
一解冤經，二延壽真言，三滅五逆之罪。
誦此經，免地獄之罪，便得生天不虚矣。」
“Mantra of heaven’s net, Mantra of earth’s net, Mantra of the sun, moon, yellow net,
All wronged ones leave my body, MAHAPRAJNAPRAMITA
First, the surta to remove wrongs, Second the mantra to extend life, third to extinguish the Anantarika-karma,
Chant this sutra, be spared the sins that lead to rebirth in hell, and will be reborn in the heaven; this is true and not false”
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