English
'Immeasurable blessings and vast roots of goodness.' At that time, Devendra (the king of gods) further said to the king: 'Great King, do not harbor worry or fear about this! The Tathagata (the title of a Buddha) previously in the heavens and in this human world, has praised the merit of your making Buddha images, and all the heavenly beings rejoice in it as well. In future ages, people of faith will, because of you, make Buddha images and obtain supreme blessings. Great King, you should now rejoice and congratulate yourself!' 'The Sutra on the Merit of Making Images According to the Great Vehicle,' Volume 1 Taisho Tripitaka Volume 16, No. 0694 'The Sutra on the Merit of Making Images According to the Great Vehicle' 'The Sutra on the Merit of Making Images According to the Great Vehicle,' Volume 2 Translated under imperial decree by Tripitaka Master Devaprajna (a translator) from Khotan (an ancient kingdom in present-day Xinjiang) of the Great Tang Dynasty At that time, the Bhagavan (the World-Honored One, title of a Buddha) was sitting on a lion throne in the Samghasi (a place name) Bodhimanda (place of enlightenment). At that time, the four assemblies (Buddhist disciples: monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen) each thought in their minds: 'We wish to hear the Tathagata expound on the merit of making images. If there are sentient beings who make Buddha images, even if they are not completely similar, how much merit will they obtain?' At that time, Maitreya Bodhisattva-Mahasattva (the future Buddha) knew their thoughts, and immediately rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt on his right knee, joined his palms, and said to the Buddha: 'World-Honored One! Now King Udayana (name of a king) is making Buddha images. Whether the Buddha is in the world or has already entered Nirvana (the state of enlightenment), if there are people of faith who can follow him in making images, what merit will they obtain? May the World-Honored One explain the details of this situation!' The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva: 'Maitreya! Listen carefully, listen carefully! Think about it well! I will explain it to you. If there are virtuous men and virtuous women with pure faith, who focus their minds on the Buddha's merits, constantly contemplate the Tathagata's majestic virtue and freedom, possessing the Ten Powers of a Buddha, the Four Fearlessnesses, the Eighteen Unique Qualities of a Buddha, great loving-kindness and great compassion, Omniscience, the Thirty-two Marks of a Great Man, the Eighty Minor Marks, each pore of which has immeasurable light of different colors, adorned and accomplished with hundreds of thousands of millions of kinds of supreme blessings, immeasurable wisdom, clear understanding of immeasurable Samadhi (meditative absorption), immeasurable Tolerance of the Dharma, immeasurable Dharani (mantras), and immeasurable Supernatural Powers. All such merits are immeasurable, free from all faults, and without equal.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
者。此人如是谛念思惟，深生信乐，依诸相好而作佛像，功德广大，无量无边，不可称数。 “弥勒！若有人以众杂彩而为缋饰，或复镕铸金、银、铜、铁、铅、锡等物，或有雕刻栴檀香等，或复杂以真珠、螺贝、锦绣织成，丹土、白灰、若泥、若木如是等物，随其力分而作佛像，乃至极小如一指大，能令见者知是尊容。其人福报，我今当说。 “弥勒！如是之人于生死中虽复流转，终不生在贫穷之家，亦不生于边小国土、下劣种姓、孤独之家，又亦不生迷戾车等，商估、贩赁、屠脍等家，乃至不生卑贱伎巧、不净种族、外道苦行、邪见等家；除因愿力，并不生彼。是人常生转轮圣王，有大势力种姓之家，或生净行婆罗门，富贵自在、无过失家。所生之处，常遇诸佛，承事供养。或得为王，能持正法，以法教化，不行非道。或作转轮圣王，七宝成就，千子具足，腾空而行，化四天下，尽其寿命，自在丰乐。或作帝释、夜摩天王、兜率天王、化乐天王、他化自在天王，人、天快乐靡不皆受，如是福报相续不绝。所生之处，常作丈夫，不受女身，亦复不受黄门、二形卑贱之身。所受之身，无诸丑恶，目不盲眇，耳不聋聩，鼻不曲戾，口不喎斜，唇不下垂，亦不皱涩，齿不疏缺，不黑不黄，舌不短急，项无瘤瘿 现代汉语译本： ‘弥勒（Maitreya，未来佛）！如果有人这样真诚地忆念、思维，深深地产生信赖和喜悦，依据佛的各种相好来制作佛像，那么他的功德广大，无量无边，不可计数。’ ‘弥勒！如果有人用各种颜色的颜料来绘画装饰，或者熔化铸造金、银、铜、铁、铅、锡等金属，或者雕刻栴檀香等香木，或者用真珠、螺贝、锦绣织物，以及丹土、白灰，或者泥土、木头等材料，根据自己的能力来制作佛像，乃至极小如一指大小，能够让见到的人知道这是佛的尊容。这个人所获得的福报，我现在就来讲述。’ ‘弥勒！这样的人在生死轮回中，虽然还会流转，但终究不会出生在贫穷的家庭，也不会出生在边远小国、低劣种姓、孤独的家庭，也不会出生在迷戾车（Mleccha，边境民族）等，从事商业、贩卖租赁、屠宰等行业的人家，乃至不会出生在卑贱的伎巧行业、不洁净的种族、外道苦行、邪见等人家；除非是由于往昔的愿力，否则不会出生在这些地方。这样的人常常出生在转轮圣王（Chakravarti，统治世界的理想君主）的家庭，拥有巨大势力和高贵种姓，或者出生在清净修行的婆罗门（Brahmin，印度教祭司）家庭，富贵自在，没有过失。所出生的地方，常常遇到诸佛，承事供养。或者能够成为国王，能够秉持正法，用佛法教化，不走邪路。或者成为转轮圣王，七宝成就，拥有一千个儿子，能够腾空飞行，教化四天下，尽其寿命，自在丰乐。或者成为帝释（Indra，忉利天之主）、夜摩天王（Yama，夜摩天之主）、兜率天王（Tushita，兜率天之主）、化乐天王（Nirmanarati，化乐天之主）、他化自在天王（Paranirmitavasavartin，他化自在天之主），人、天的快乐没有不享受的，这样的福报相续不断。所出生的地方，常常是男子之身，不会受女身，也不会受黄门（eunuch，太监）、二形（hermaphrodite，双性人）等卑贱之身。所受的身体，没有各种丑陋，眼睛不瞎，耳朵不聋，鼻子不歪，嘴巴不斜，嘴唇不下垂，也不皱涩，牙齿不稀疏缺损，不黑不黄，舌头不短促，脖子没有瘤子。’
English
English version: 'Maitreya (the future Buddha)! If someone sincerely contemplates and reflects in this way, deeply generating faith and joy, and creates Buddha images based on the various auspicious marks and characteristics of the Buddha, their merits will be vast, boundless, immeasurable, and uncountable.' 'Maitreya! If someone uses various colored pigments to paint and decorate, or melts and casts metals such as gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin, or carves sandalwood and other fragrant woods, or uses pearls, shells, brocade fabrics, as well as red clay, white ash, or materials such as mud and wood, making Buddha images according to their ability, even if they are as small as a finger, enabling those who see them to recognize the venerable appearance of the Buddha. I will now describe the blessings that this person will receive.' 'Maitreya! Such a person, although still transmigrating in the cycle of birth and death, will ultimately not be born into a poor family, nor will they be born in a remote small country, a low-class family, or a solitary household, nor will they be born among the Mlecchas (barbarians), or in families engaged in commerce, trading, renting, or butchering, nor will they be born into lowly skilled trades, unclean races, ascetic practices of external paths, or families with heretical views; unless due to past vows, they will not be born in those places. Such a person will often be born into the family of a Chakravarti (ideal universal ruler), possessing great power and noble lineage, or born into a pure-practicing Brahmin (Hindu priest) family, wealthy, free, and without faults. In the places where they are born, they will often encounter Buddhas, serving and making offerings. Or they may become a king, able to uphold the Dharma, teaching and transforming with the Dharma, not following wrong paths. Or they may become a Chakravarti, possessing the seven treasures, having a thousand sons, able to fly through the air, transforming the four continents, enjoying freedom and abundance throughout their life. Or they may become Indra (lord of the Trayastrimsa Heaven), Yama (lord of the Yama Heaven), Tushita (lord of the Tushita Heaven), Nirmanarati (lord of the Nirmanarati Heaven), Paranirmitavasavartin (lord of the Paranirmitavasavartin Heaven), enjoying all the pleasures of humans and gods, such blessings continuing without interruption. In the places where they are born, they will often be in a male body, not receiving a female body, nor receiving the lowly bodies of eunuchs or hermaphrodites. The body they receive will be without any ugliness, eyes not blind, ears not deaf, nose not crooked, mouth not twisted, lips not drooping, nor wrinkled, teeth not sparse or missing, not black or yellow, tongue not short or stiff, neck without tumors.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
，形不伛偻，色不斑驳，臂不短促，足不𤼣跛，不甚瘦，不甚肥，亦不太长，亦不太短，如是一切不可喜相悉皆无有。其身端正，面貌圆满，发绀青色，软泽光净，唇如丹果，目若青莲，舌相广长，齿白齐密，发言巧妙，能令闻者无不喜悦。臂肘佣长，掌平坦厚，腰髀充实，胸臆广大，手足柔软，如兜罗绵，诸相具足无所缺减，如那罗延天有大筋力。 “弥勒！譬如有人堕圊厕中，从彼得出，刮除粪秽，净水洗沐，以香涂身，着新洁衣。如是此人，比在厕中犹未得出，净秽香臭相去几何？此事悬隔，无有等倍。弥勒！若有人于生死中，能发信心造佛形像，比未造时相去悬隔，亦复如是。当知此人在在所生净除业障，种种伎术无师自解。虽生人趣，得天六根；若生天中，超越众天。所生之处无诸疾苦，无疥癞，无痈疽，不为鬼魅之所染着。无有癫狂、干痟等病，癀疟、症瘕、恶疮、隐疾、吐痢无度、饮食不消、举体酸疼、半身痿躄如是等病，四百四种，皆悉无有。亦复不为毒药、兵仗、虎、狼、师子、水、火、怨贼如是横缘之所伤害，常得无畏，不犯诸罪。 “弥勒！若有众生宿造恶业，当受种种诸苦恼事，所谓枷锁、杻械，打骂烧炙，剥皮拔发，反系高悬，乃至或被分解支节；若发信心，造佛形像，如是 现代汉语译本： ‘他的形体不会弯腰驼背，肤色不会斑驳，手臂不会短小，脚不会跛瘸，不会太瘦，也不会太胖，既不太长，也不太短，像这样一切令人不悦的相貌全都不会有。他的身形端正，面容圆满，头发呈绀青色，柔软润泽光亮，嘴唇像红色的丹果，眼睛像青色的莲花，舌相宽广而长，牙齿洁白整齐紧密，说话巧妙，能让听者无不欢喜。手臂肘部修长，手掌平坦厚实，腰和臀部丰满，胸怀宽广，手脚柔软，像兜罗绵一样，各种相好都具备，没有丝毫欠缺，就像那罗延天（Narayana，印度教主神之一，毗湿奴的化身）一样具有强大的力量。 ‘弥勒（Maitreya，未来佛）！譬如有人掉进粪坑里，从那里出来后，刮掉身上的粪便污秽，用干净的水洗浴，再用香涂抹身体，穿上崭新洁净的衣服。像这样的人，与还在粪坑里没有出来相比，干净与污秽、香与臭相差多少呢？这件事的悬隔，无法用等倍来衡量。弥勒！如果有人在生死轮回中，能够发起信心塑造佛像，与未塑造佛像时相比，相差也同样悬隔。应当知道此人在生生世世都能清除业障，各种技能技巧无需老师就能自然通晓。即使生在人道，也能得到天人的六根；如果生在天界，就能超越其他天人。所出生的地方没有各种疾病痛苦，没有疥疮、癞病、痈疽，不会被鬼魅所染着。没有癫狂、干痟等疾病，也没有疟疾、症瘕、恶疮、隐疾、吐泻无度、饮食不消化、全身酸痛、半身不遂等疾病，像这样的四百零四种疾病，全都不会有。也不会被毒药、兵器、老虎、狼、狮子、水、火、怨贼等横祸所伤害，常常能够得到无畏，不触犯各种罪过。 ‘弥勒！如果有众生过去造作恶业，应当承受各种痛苦烦恼的事情，比如枷锁、刑具，被打骂烧灼，剥皮拔发，反绑高悬，甚至是被分解肢体；如果发起信心，塑造佛像，像这样
English
English version: 'His form is not hunched over, his complexion is not mottled, his arms are not short, his feet are not lame, he is neither too thin nor too fat, neither too tall nor too short. All such undesirable characteristics are completely absent. His body is upright, his face is perfectly round, his hair is the color of dark blue, soft, lustrous, and clean. His lips are like red vermillion fruit, his eyes are like blue lotuses, his tongue is broad and long, his teeth are white, even, and closely set. His speech is skillful, capable of bringing joy to all who hear it. His arms and elbows are long and graceful, his palms are flat and thick, his waist and hips are full, his chest is broad, his hands and feet are soft like cotton. He possesses all the marks of greatness, lacking nothing, like Narayana (one of the principal deities of Hinduism, an avatar of Vishnu) who has great strength. 'Maitreya (the future Buddha)! Suppose a person falls into a latrine, and after getting out, scrapes off the filth, washes himself with clean water, anoints his body with fragrance, and puts on new, clean clothes. How much difference is there between this person and when he was still in the latrine, before he got out—the difference between cleanliness and filth, fragrance and stench? The separation is immeasurable, beyond comparison. Maitreya! If someone in the cycle of birth and death can generate faith and create an image of the Buddha, the difference between before and after creating the image is equally vast. Know that this person, in every life, will purify karmic obstacles, and will understand all kinds of skills and arts without a teacher. Even if born in the human realm, he will attain the six faculties of the devas (gods); if born in the heavens, he will surpass all the devas. In the places where he is born, there will be no illnesses or suffering, no scabies, no leprosy, no carbuncles, and he will not be defiled by ghosts or demons. There will be no madness, consumption, or other such diseases, no malaria, abdominal masses, malignant sores, hidden ailments, uncontrolled vomiting and diarrhea, indigestion, body aches, or paralysis. All such diseases, four hundred and four in number, will be absent. Furthermore, he will not be harmed by poison, weapons, tigers, wolves, lions, water, fire, or vengeful thieves. He will always be fearless and will not commit any sins. 'Maitreya! If there are sentient beings who have created evil karma in the past and should suffer various painful and distressing things, such as yokes, shackles, beatings, scoldings, burning, peeling skin, pulling hair, being hung upside down, or even having their limbs dismembered; if they generate faith and create an image of the Buddha, like this --------------------------------------------------------------------------------