Having personally witnessed the retributions of his own karma, he will never again do any evil, even if his very life is endangered.
Therefore, good men and women of pure faith should accept and uphold the name of Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata and, according to their capability, worship and make offerings to him.”
At that time, Ananda asked the Bodhisattva Who Rescues and Liberates,
“Good man, how should we worship and make offerings to the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata? And how should we make the banners and lamps that prolong life?”
The Bodhisattva Who Rescues and Liberates said, “Greatly Virtuous One, if there is a sick person who wishes to be freed from sickness and suffering, for his sake one should accept and uphold the eight precepts for seven days and seven nights, and make offerings to the Bhikshu Sangha of as many items of food, drink and other necessities as are in his power to give.
During the six periods of the day and night one should worship, practice the Way, and make offerings to the World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata.
Read and recite this Sutra forty-nine times, light forty-nine lamps, and make seven images of that Tathagata. In front of each image place seven lamps, each as large as a cartwheel.
These lamps must be kept burning continuously for forty-nine days.
Hang up five-colored banners that are forty-nine spans long.
Liberate a variety of living creatures, as many as forty-nine species.
Then the sick one will be able to surmount the danger and will not suffer an untimely death or be held by evil ghosts.
Furthermore, Ananda, in the case of kshatriya princes who are due to be anointed on the crowns of their heads, at a time when calamity arises, such as pestilence among the population, invasion by foreign countries, rebellion within their territories, unusual changes in the stars, a solar or lunar eclipse, unseasonal winds and rains, or prolonged drought, those kshatriya princes should bring forth an attitude of kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings and grant amnesty to all prisoners.
They should follow the above-mentioned methods to make offerings to that World Honored One, Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata.
The text outlines the benefits of honoring Medicine Master Tathagata, especially for those suffering from illness. It suggests specific practices like observing precepts, making offerings, reciting the sutra, lighting lamps, creating images, and liberating animals to alleviate suffering and prevent untimely death. Even kshatriya princes can use these practices to avert calamities in their kingdoms.
