The Dharani Sutra of The Buddha on Longevity, The Extinction of Offences and The Protection of Young Children: 25 of 33

“Moreover, Manjushri! After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there are High Officers and those officers appointed by the Royal Palace, who enjoy the salary but do not carry out the duties wholeheartedly. These unfaithful officers are not shameful nor do they feel remorseful in their misdeeds. They are pretentious and deceitful. They praise falsely and are not loyal to the country. They are greed and corrupted, and go against the law. On top of that they bully the people and kill the innocent beings.”

“With the power, strength and position, they claim others’ wealth and jewels as their own without any consideration. They also harm the people in their country. In addition, they look down on Sutras and obstruct the propagation of the Great Vehicle Buddha Dharma. People like these will obtain a short lifespan presently. After they have passed away, they will fall into the Avici Hell and never will they obtain a release.”

“But if they are able to sincerely repent and reform, in addition to accept and uphold this Sutra, write it down, read and recite it, then they will obtain longevity and are able to retain their position as High officers and enjoy the wealth. Moreover, Manjushri, after my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there are Good Men or Good Women who dwell in the homelife to practice The Buddha’s teaching, but later they change their faith and believe in the confused and evil views of the deviant path for they no longer have faith in the Proper Dharma of The Great Vehicle.”

“People like these are very stingy. They prefer to store up the innumerable amount of hundreds of thousands of gold and silver pieces but refuse to give them away. Their greed is never satisfied for they will continue to seek and acquire more wealth and benefit. These rich people do not enjoy giving in order to relieve the poor. Besides, they cannot write down, accept, uphold, read and recite the Twelve Divisions of Sutras. They will never be able to escape the suffering which is brought about by the Ghost of Impermanence.”

“The household of such a person will not be peaceful. Inauspicious events will take place in the most unlikely manner without any reason at all. For examples, there may have the sudden appearance of sparrows under the stove; the snake will glide into the halls and bedrooms; the dogs may suddenly climb up the house while the rats will produce hundreds of kinds of sounds. Many wild animals and birds will try to push their way into his house.”

“Hundreds of kinds of ghastly ghosts of the forests will appear in his house. Because of seeing the ghosts and strange sights, the man will be afflicted and is extremely frightened. Such a man may die young because he is tortured by these afflictions and frightening appearances. But if he is able to accept, uphold and write down this Sutra, and widely circulate it for people to read and recite, then he will over-power the above strange happenings. He will then obtain a long lifespan.”