Discover the Sutra of Golden Light, one of the most revered scriptures of Mahāyāna Buddhism. In this introduction, Venerable Thubten Lamsel of Sravasti Abbey shares her connection to this powerful sutra and why Lama Zopa Rinpoche encouraged its recitation, particularly in times of conflict, disaster, and great need.
For centuries, the Sutra of Golden Light has been recited as a practice for cultivating merit, purification, protection, peace, and the welfare of all beings. Its teachings also explore fundamental Buddhist themes including karma, dependent arising, confession and rejoicing, rebirth, and the path toward enlightenment.
This video is part of a series in which Venerable Thubten Lamsel reads the entire Sutra of Golden Light, chapter by chapter. Follow the series to experience the complete sutra from beginning to end. May this recitation contribute to peace and the well-being of all beings. 🙏
Sutra of Golden Light – Introduction and Benefits
By: Venerable Thubten Damcho – Sravasti Abbey, USA
So I chose to read the Sutra of the Golden Light because in 2014 I received the transmission of this sutra from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and he urges us to recite this particularly in times of conflict, natural disasters, to help protect the place. So this sutra is often recommended to read in times of need and so to help the world. So I thought it’d be beneficial to read the sutra in that way. And just to quote Lama Zopa Rinpoche here about the benefits of reading the sutra, he says:
“The holy Golden Light Sutra is the king of the sutras. It is extremely powerful and fulfills all one’s wishes, as well as bringing peace and happiness for all sentient beings, up to enlightenment. It is also extremely powerful for world peace, for your own protection, and for the protection of the country and the world. Also, it has great healing power for people in the country.
Anyone can read this text, Buddhists and even non-Buddhists who desire world peace.
This also protects individuals and the country from what are labeled natural disasters of the wind element, fire element, earth element, and water element, such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, fires, tornadoes, etc. They are not natural because they come from causes and conditions that make dangers happen. They come from past inner negative thoughts and actions of people, and from external conditions.
The benefits of reading this sutra are immeasurable… reciting just a few lines of the Sutra of Golden Light creates more merit than making immeasurable offerings to the Buddha. Reciting this sutra directs one’s life towards enlightenment. There is so much merit… One’s life becomes so easy, whatever one wishes for one receives… there is unbelievable purification… one liberates numberless sentient beings from the oceans of samsaric suffering and brings them to enlightenment.”
