In the Sutra of Golden Light, Buddha Shakyamuni lists the benefits of contact with this sublime sutra. He says:

Those who hear this sutra,

Those who cause others to hear it,

Those who rejoice upon hearing it

And make offerings to it,

For tens of millions of eons

Shall be venerated by gods and nagas,

Humans and kinnaras,

Asuras and yakshas.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche urges us to recite the Sutra of Golden Light for these reasons:

“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.”

You can also read this request from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, titled, Recite The Golden Light Sutra For World Peace (PDF)

In the Sutra of Golden Light, the Tathagata says:

This King of Glorious Sutras

Fully destroys external enemies,

Turns back legions of foreign armies,

Removes the fear of the terrified and poor

And causes supreme virtue. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has also stated: “This text is very precious; it brings peace and happiness and is very powerful to stop violence. It gives incredible protection to the country from violence etc. By hearing this text, one’s karma gets purified. This text increases success and, especially for leaders like kings or presidents, brings success in guiding in virtue, the path to happiness. If anyone has problems-if one is dying or dead; if the devas have turned against one and nothing is working; if, merely by expressing oneself, one’s friends, loved ones, husband, wife, family members and even servants get angry with one; if one’s wealth declines or if one has harm from black magic or spirits, with bad dreams or fearful things happening-then one should wash, put on clean clothes and with a peaceful mind listen to the transmission of this text. Then all will be pacified. Anyone who hears it creates much merit and is highly admired by the buddhas. In whichever country this is taught, the whole country benefits. The king of that country doesn’t get attacked and disease is eliminated, everyone is happy and the country becomes harmonious; there are no quarrels. The king gives religious freedom and is always protected by the devas. It is especially good to be read in places where there is a lot of fighting. As well, there is prosperity and rains come at the right time. Anyone who keeps, memorizes or contributes to this text exceeds the eight worldly beings and all their wishes get fulfilled. Buddha told the four guardians to make offerings and serve this text, and always protect the people who memorize or even just read it. The four guardians acknowledged they would protect those who read it and would help and fulfill all their wishes. Memorizing or making offerings to this text is like making inconceivable offerings to Buddha. Enlightenment will never be reversed within anyone in whose ear these holy words are spoken; the life will always be directed toward enlightenment and one will never fall back. There is no question if you memorize the text. The deva, Hamachiwa Pala, told Buddha that she will protect the bhikshu who recites this text and he will receive all that is needed: property, a stable mind and so forth. Whoever even tries to read or understand this text will experience the comfort and happiness of devas and humans for 100 billion eons; fame and perfect crops; and will become a buddha. The earth goddess definitely will help even if only one chapter or one bodhisattva’s name is mentioned; she will protect those sentient beings who even read and try to understand one verse (four words), and will fulfill their wishes. Those sentient beings who hear only one verse will never go to the lower realms. The Buddha told the earth goddess that even if a person hears only one verse, they will be born in the deva realm. Further, the Buddha told the earth goddess the non-virtuous karma of the person who hears even one verse will be eliminated and they will achieve enlightenment.”

On July 10 and on July 19, 2007, Rinpoche also listed the following benefits:

“The protectors, the guardians, will definitely provide protection. Whenever they are needed, they will arrive. Acts of terrorism will be averted. Acts of violence will stop. China will return to Buddhism and will relax its hold on Tibet. Natural catastrophes will be avoided. Crops will be successful. The environment will be clean. People will be safe. If there is war, it will end and there will be peace.



If you recite the Sutra of Golden Light, you will have good health, energy, and power. All materials needs will be satisfied. One will be listened to and respected by others. Whenever a question arises, the Guru will answer. One will purify eons of negative karma, meet perfect teachers, develop realizations, and definitely benefit others.

The Sutra of Golden Light is the car that will take you to enlightenment.”