The Dharani Sutra of The Buddha on Longevity, The Extinction of Offences and The Protection of Young Children: 14 of 33

After listening to her, the Great King was very worried. He was really sorry for the lady. He thought to himself, “All the people rely on me to stay here. They are like my sons and daughters, if I do not save and help her to solve the problems, then I will not be suitable to be called The King.”

So he immediately gathered in the officers to discuss the problem. Among them were the six great officers whose name were as follows: The first one was known as Seeing Forms, the second known as Listening To Sound, the third was known as Fragrant Feet, the fourth was known as Great Eloquence, the fifth was known as In Accord To Condition and the sixth was known as Easily Defiled. Together they with respect told the Great King,

“When a baby is born, the family should prepare a spiritual altar for the seven stars and twenty-eight constellations to seek blessings and the prolongation of life. Then he will not suffer from dying young. We only hope that the Great King will widely announce this method to all people.”

At that time, there was a wise and intelligent great officer who had cultivated lots of good roots before innumerable Buddhas. His name was Concentrated Wisdom. He came forth and told the Great King respectfully, “May the Great King discern the matter. The method which was suggested by the six great officers will not be able to relieve the suffering of dying young. Only The Buddha can extinguish the suffering of dying young.”

“Presently, The Buddha is by the surname Gautama. He is known as The Prince Siddhartha. The Prince attains Enlightenment without a teacher. He clearly penetrates and is certified to the truth of the universe. Now he is at Mount Grdhrakuta, teaching the Sutra of Longevity and the Extinction of Offences. I only hope that The Great King will go to listen to his teaching.”

“If a man is able to listen to half a verse of this Sutra, all the offences which were committed by him in hundreds of thousands of lives will be extinguished. All the young children who have heard of the Sutra will gain merits and virtues and they will naturally obtain a long lifespan even if they cannot really understand its meaning.”

The King Prasenajit said, “Once I heard the six teachers who told me about the monk by the Surname Gautama. They said that he practiced They Way within a very shot period of time. His knowledge is not profound enough but very shallow as he is still young and naïve. According to the Sutra of the six teachers, ‘The youth who can create evil and auspicious transformations is by the Surname Gautama. People who have paid respect to him will mostly lose the Proper Path.’.”

Upon hearing that, the Great Officer Concentrated Wisdom respectfully presented the following verses to the Great King, “Sakyamuni is The Teacher of Gods and People, For innumerable Kaplas. He has cultivated asceticism. Now he has attained Buddhahood and turned The Dharma Wheel, He based His teaching on the teaching of The Past Buddhas.”

“He never goes against the wishes of all sentient beings. With great strength of kindness and compassion He rescues the lost beings. The chances for one to encounter a Buddha is like a tortoise which has come upon a floating log. And also like the blossom of Udumbara Flower which is the most wonderful. I only hope that The Great King will go to listen to The Dharma. May The King not listen to the words of the six deviant teachers.”