《贤愚经》卷三〈贫女难陀品〉所载，过去久远二阿僧只九十一劫，阎浮提有大国王，名波塞奇。王有太子名勒那识只（即宝髻），出家学道而成佛。时比丘阿梨蜜罗日日燃灯供养彼佛，佛乃为比丘授记，告知当来成佛，名定光如来。此系燃灯佛昔时曾从宝髻佛受记之因缘。《增一阿含经》卷十三、《四分律》卷三十一等，亦述及燃灯佛之本缘，但所说略有差异。
《过去现在因果经》卷一记载，此佛初生之日，四方皆明，日月火珠复不为用。以有此奇特，故名为普光。《大智度论》卷九亦云，燃灯佛生时，一切身边如灯，故名燃灯，成佛后亦名燃灯。
《大智度论》九曰：“如然灯佛，生时一切身边如灯，故名然灯太子。作佛亦名然灯，旧名锭光佛。”
关于此佛出现之时劫，《增一阿含经》卷十三、《佛本行集经》卷三〈发心供养品〉等，单说过去久远劫；《修行本起经》卷上、《太子瑞应本起经》卷上等，则谓系在过去九十一劫。
燃灯佛为过去佛中之最著名者，在诸经论中，颇多以此如来为中心而说其前后出现诸佛之事例者。
《无量寿经》谓过去久远劫，锭光如来出世，教化众生。其后依次有五十三尊佛出世。至第五十四尊，号世自在如来时，于其教下有一比丘号曰法藏，修因行后成无上正等正觉者即为阿弥陀佛。《大悲经》卷三〈殖善根品〉谓此如来以后，有莲华上佛乃至过去七佛等，总有十四佛出世。《大毗婆沙论》卷一七八更说释尊于第三阿僧只劫曾遇七万七千佛，其中之首位，即为燃灯佛。

燃灯佛是过去世为释迦菩萨授记的佛陀。燃灯佛授记，对于释尊的历劫修行，是一关键性大事。因为确认然灯佛授记时，‘释迦菩萨得无生法忍’。《心地观经》曰：“昔为摩纳仙人（儒童）时，布发供养然灯佛，以是精进因缘故，八劫超于生死海。” 据《修行本起经》卷上所述，往昔，提和卫国（Di^pavati^）有圣王，名灯盛。临命终时，将国政嘱付太子灯（锭）光，太子知世间无常，更将国政授与其弟，即时出家。成佛后，游行世界，开化群生。是时有梵志儒童，值灯光佛游化，乃散花供佛，并解髻布发于泥道上，请佛蹈之，佛乃为儒童授来世成佛之记。此儒童即现在的释迦牟尼佛。《瑞应经》上曰：“锭光佛时，释迦菩萨名儒童，见王家女曰瞿夷者，持七枝青莲华，以五百金钱买五茎莲，合彼女所寄托二枝为七茎莲奉佛。又见地泥泞，解皮衣覆地，不足，乃解发布地，使佛蹈之而过，佛因授记曰：是后九十一劫，名贤劫，汝当作佛，号释迦文如来。”《金刚经》中释迦牟尼佛亦以授记之事，为须菩提开演甚深般若之义。《称扬诸佛功德经》里谓释迦牟尼佛过去曾于锭光佛（燃灯佛）处，得闻金刚坚强消伏坏散如来名号，以此佛名号功德得超十万亿那术劫生死之罪。
依《大唐西域记》卷二所述，北印度那揭罗曷国有释尊供养燃灯佛而受记之遗迹。今印度山崎（Sanchi）塔门之刻画中，有定光如来化作大城之图像，此与《四分律》所述相合。
当初，释迦牟尼还是善慧童子时，见一位王族女子拿着许多青莲花，他就花了五百钱买来五枝，奉献给燃灯佛。又传说在过去无量劫中，有一天，善慧童子在路上行走，正巧遇到燃灯佛也在路上走着。善慧童子发现地面有一滩污水，心想佛是赤足行走，这污水一定会弄脏了佛的双脚。就顿发大心，亲身扑在地上，还用自己的头发，铺在污水上面，等着燃灯佛从他头发上走过去。当时燃灯佛看到善意童子这种布发掩泥的情景，就授记说：“善男子，汝于来世，当得作佛，号释迦牟尼。”
三世佛
佛教有三世佛：指过去﹑现在﹑未来三世的一切佛。谓过去佛为迦叶佛等过去七佛，或特指燃灯佛，现在佛是释迦牟尼佛，未来佛为弥勒佛三者。

燃灯佛为过去佛中之最著名者，在诸经论中，颇多以此如来为中心而说其前后出现诸佛之事例者。

《无量寿经》谓过去久远劫，锭光如来出世，教化众生。其后依次有五十三尊佛出世。至第五十四尊，号世自在如来时，于其教下有一比丘号曰法藏，修因行后成无上正等正觉者即为阿弥陀佛。
佛陀

燃灯佛是世为释迦菩萨授记的佛陀。燃灯佛授记，对于释尊的历劫修行，是一关键性大事。因为确认燃灯佛授记时，‘释迦菩萨得无生法忍’。《心地观经》曰：“昔为摩纳仙人（儒童）时，布发供养然灯佛，以是精进因缘故，八劫超于生死海。” 。《金刚经》中释迦牟尼佛亦以授记之事，为须菩提开演甚深般若之义。《称扬诸佛功德经》里谓释迦牟尼佛过去曾于锭光佛（燃灯佛）处，得闻金刚坚强消伏坏散如来名号，以此佛名号功德得超十万亿那术劫生死之罪。
传说

当初，释迦牟尼还是善慧童子时，见一位王族女子拿着许多青莲花，他就花了五百钱买来五枝，奉献给燃灯佛。又传说在过去无量劫中，有一天，善慧童子在路上行走，正巧遇到燃灯佛也在路上走着。善慧童子发现地面有一滩污水，心想佛是赤足行走，这污水一定会弄脏了佛的双脚。就顿发大心，亲身扑在地上，还用自己的头发，铺在污水上面，等着燃灯佛从他头发上走过去。当时燃灯佛看到善慧童子这种布发掩泥的情景，就授记说：“善男子，汝于来世，当得作佛，号释迦牟尼。”
三世佛

佛教有三世佛：指过 去﹑现 在﹑未 来三世的一切佛。谓过去佛为迦叶佛等过去七佛，或特指燃灯佛，现 在佛是释迦牟尼佛，未 来佛为弥勒佛三者。

一、名号之由来
燃灯佛，梵文Dipamkar，意为「锭光」，德文Dipamkara，英文Dipankara,佛教中纵三世佛之过去佛,为释迦牟尼佛之前的佛，地位尊贵，如来佛主修今生，是现 在佛，燃灯佛则修过去为过去佛，弥勒主修未来，为未来佛，为佛教三大教主之一。因其出生时身边一切光明如灯，故称为燃灯佛，又名「定光佛」或「锭光佛」。
二、得能作光佛受记

据《贤愚经》卷三〈贫女难陀品〉所载，过去久远二阿僧祇九十一劫，阎浮提有大国王，名波塞奇。王有太子名勒那识只（即能作光佛），出家学道而成佛。时比丘阿梨蜜罗日日燃灯供养彼佛，佛乃为比丘授记，告知当来成佛，名“定光如来”。此系燃灯佛昔时曾从能作光佛受记之因缘。

三、为释迦如来授记
据《瑞应本起经》卷上所述，释迦牟尼过去世曾是虔诚敬佛的善慧童子，当时他曾重金买下一枝稀罕的五茎莲花，供养给燃灯佛。由于莲花是佛教中的圣花（《妙法莲花经》即以莲花来象征佛教教义的纯洁高雅），五茎莲花更是圣花中之珍品。因此，这个供养使燃灯如来深为高兴，佛在欢悦之余，给这位佛子（释迦的前身）授记，预言他将在九十一劫之后的此贤劫时成佛，授释迦牟尼佛。
四、对中国民间信仰的影响
随着佛教在中国社会的融入，“燃灯古佛”亦深受到白莲教的崇信。在白莲教编造的大量经书、宝卷中，到处可见燃灯的名号，诸如“古佛”、“燃灯”、“真空老祖”等等，比比皆是，不一而足。
清代有名的《破邪详辩》，上面编辑的是白莲教的教义，曾记载了这样两段话：
“天上龙华日月星，地下龙华水火风，人身龙华精气神，三才配合天地人。初会龙华是燃灯，二会龙华释迦尊，三会龙华弥勒祖，龙华三会愿相逢。”
“燃灯佛后有释迦佛接续传灯，释迦佛后有弥勒佛接续传灯，弥勒佛后有天真老祖接续传灯。天真向谁人接续？有三宗五派九杆一十八枝领袖头行、开言弟子，都会接续传灯。”（传灯，本指传佛法，在白莲教的经文中，则指接班，改朝换代，做个“开国之君”。）
我国民间将燃灯佛神化，高高供奉于神坛之上，这不是燃灯佛的本意。不过，言其擒妖伏怪，救众生于水火之中，倒恐怕也是古佛燃灯的入世襟怀。

"The" volume three "Xian foreign goods" NANDA contained, long past two asankhya ninety-one robbery, jambudvipa big king, a wave of sage. Wang Le Prince name that knowledge only (i.e., Baoji) to become monk buddha. When a bhikkhu pear honey every day to the Buddha randeng Buddha Luo, is granted to remember to inform the monks, when Buddha, Buddha dingguang name. This is a once Congbao Dipamkara Buddha by the karma. "Ekottara Agama" volume thirteen, "four law" volume thirty-one, and also the Dipamkara the margin, but the slight difference.
"Now in the past," a Book of records, the date of the birth of the Buddha, the Quartet are clear, the sun and the moon are not used for fire beads. In this strange, named for the puguang. "Perspective on the" volume nine by randeng Buddha of health, all around as a lamp, named after the Buddha randeng, also called dipamkara.
"Perspective on the" nine said: "if dipankara Buddha, when everything around like a lamp, named dipankara prince. As the Buddha is also the name of the lamp, the old name ingot light buddha."
The Buddha appeared when the robbery, "ekottara Agama" volume thirteen, "Fobenxingjijing" volume three "heart supplies", said during the time of the robbery; "practice", "the volume of this volume by the" Prince's finest, it was said that in the past ninety-one robbery.
In the past the Buddha dipankara was the most famous, in the theory, a lot of the Buddha as the center and said the case occurred before and after the Buddha's person.
"Wuliangshoujing" that during the time of robbery, ingot Buddha light born, educate the masses. Followed by fifty-three Buddha born. Fifty-fourth, to respect the comfortable world Buddha, to teach a bhikkhu, said fazang, too. After a supreme enlightenment is so is Amitabha. "Mercy" by volume three "goods" that this good root colonization of Buddha after a lotus on the Buddha and seven Buddhas of the past, there are always fourteen buddha. "Mahavibhasa" volume 178 to third more said Buddha asankhya robbery had encountered seventy-seven thousand Buddha, one of the first, namely dipamkara.
Is there for the past Dipamkara Buddha Sakyamuni Buddha vyakarana. Dipamkara Vyakarana, for the Buddha ever practice, is a key event. Because the confirmation dipankara Buddha "in mind," Buddha Bodhisattva have no body couldn'. "A view" said: "Xi for the immortal (Ru Tong), Bufa for dipankara Buddha, to the eight enhancement is the karma, super sea life and death." According to the "practice" of the past, volume, and Wei (Di^pavati^) a king, a lamp sheng. Lin Mingzhong, the government will pay the Prince (ingot) lamp light, the prince will be known to the world of impermanence, government grant and his brother, instant monk. The Buddha, in the world, Kaihua group of students. Is there Rutong Fanzhi, value of tour conspersa is light Buddha, Buddha, and BUN in the mud cloth solution on the road, please Buddha dance, the Buddha is Buddha Ji Rutong granted the afterlife. This Rutong now known as Shakya Muni buddha. "After" Reiying on said: "light Buddha Sakyamuni Buddha ingot, a Rutong, see Wang Yi Qu woman said, holding the seven branches of China Qinglian, with five hundred money to buy five lotus stem, and her sustenance two branches of seven stems in lotus buddha. See also muddy, solution leather cover, lack of solution is released, the Buddha and the dance, hard Vyakarana said: after ninety-one eons, a bhadrakalpa, you will become a Buddha, Buddha, Shakyaven." "Diamond Sutra" Shakya Muni Buddha also granted to remember things, for Subhuti deep meaning on prajna. "Praise the Buddha by the foundation" that Shakya Muni was in the past in the Buddha (Buddha Dipamkara Buddha light ingot), Wen Jingang V de strong bad scattered Buddha name, this name, more than one hundred thousand of the merit and the crime of robbery billion.
According to the "Buddhist records" 2 of the North India, the Buddha Luo He Jie state support Dipamkara by the ruins. This India Yamazaki (Sanchi) pylons carved paintings, there is a city of light Buddha image, and the "rule of four" the consistency.
At first, Shakya Muni or Shanhui boy, a royal woman holding a lot of green lotus, he spent five hundred money to buy five branches, dedicated to the Buddha dipamkara. Another legend in the past eons, one day, Shanhui boy walking along the road, just meet Dipamkara also walked on the road. Good Hui boy found the ground has a pool of sewage, the Buddha thought is walking barefoot, the sewage will dirty the Buddha's feet. On the Dayton big heart, to flutter on the ground, with her hair, shop in the sewage, waiting Dipamkara went from his hair. When the boy see goodwill Dipamkara cloth hair mask mud on the scene, Vyakarana said: "a good man, you in the afterlife, as well as the Buddha, Shakya Muni."
Trikalea Buddhas
Buddhism has a third Buddha: refers to the past, present and future of all buddhas. That past Buddha Kasyapa etc. seven Buddhas of the past, or especially Dipamkara, now Shakya Muni Buddha is Buddha, Buddha of the future for the Maitreya Buddha three.

In the past the Buddha dipankara was the most famous, in the theory, a lot of the Buddha as the center and said the case occurred before and after the Buddha's person.
"Wuliangshoujing" that during the time of robbery, ingot Buddha light born, educate the masses. Followed by fifty-three Buddha born. Fifty-fourth, to respect the comfortable world Buddha, to teach a bhikkhu, said fazang, too. After a supreme enlightenment is so is Amitabha.
Buddha
Is there for the Sakyamuni Buddha Dipamkara Buddha Bodhisattva vyakarana. Dipamkara Vyakarana, for the Buddha ever practice, is a key event. Because the confirmation of Dipamkara award in mind, "Buddha Bodhisattva have no body couldn'. "A view" said: "Xi for the immortal (Ru Tong), Bufa for dipankara Buddha, to the eight enhancement is the karma, super sea life and death.". "Diamond Sutra" Shakya Muni Buddha also granted to remember things, for Subhuti deep meaning on prajna. "Praise the Buddha by the foundation" that Shakya Muni was in the past in the Buddha (Buddha Dipamkara Buddha light ingot), Wen Jingang V de strong bad scattered Buddha name, this name, more than one hundred thousand of the merit and the crime of robbery billion.
Legend
At first, Shakya Muni or Shanhui boy, a royal woman holding a lot of green lotus, he spent five hundred money to buy five branches, dedicated to the Buddha dipamkara. Another legend in the past eons, one day, Shanhui boy walking along the road, just meet Dipamkara also walked on the road. Good Hui boy found the ground has a pool of sewage, the Buddha thought is walking barefoot, the sewage will dirty the Buddha's feet. On the Dayton big heart, to flutter on the ground, with her hair, shop in the sewage, waiting Dipamkara went from his hair. When Dipamkara see Shanhui boy this cloth hair mask mud scene, I remember saying: "good man, you in the afterlife, as well as the Buddha, Shakya Muni."
Trikalea Buddhas
Buddhism has a third Buddha: refers to the past, present and future of all buddhas. That past Buddha Kasyapa etc. seven Buddhas of the past, or especially Dipamkara, now Shakya Muni Buddha is Buddha, Buddha of the future for the Maitreya Buddha three.

The origin of the name
Dipamkara, Dipamkar in Sanskrit, meaning "light" ingot, German Dipamkara, Dipankara English, Buddhism Buddha Buddha III longitudinal past, as Shakya Muni Buddha before the Buddha, the Buddha noble status, in this life, is now the Buddha Dipamkara is past repair for the past Buddha, Maitreya major in the future, for the future Buddha as one of the three great Buddhist leader. Because of the birth of everything is bright as a lamp, so called Dipamkara, also known as "dingguang Buddha" or "Buddha" light ingot.
Two, have to be able to make light Buddha
According to the "classic" volume three "Xian foreign goods" NANDA contained, long past two asankhya ninety-one robbery, jambudvipa big king, a wave of sage. Wang Le Prince name that knowledge only (i.e. can light Buddha), become monk buddha. When a bhikkhu pear honey every day to the Buddha randeng Buddha Luo, is granted to remember to inform the monks, when the Buddha, "dingguang buddha". The Department of Dipamkara once made from light Buddha by the karma.
Three, as nigume Vyakarana
According to the "Reiying" volume of the world, Shakya Muni in the past was a Jingfo Shanhui boy, when he had offered to buy a rare five lotus stem, feeds dipamkara. The lotus is the Buddhist holy flowers ("Lotus Sutra" in lotus to symbolize the teachings of Buddhism, five pure elegant lotus stem) is the flower of holy treasures. Therefore, the support that deeply happy Buddha randeng Buddha, in joy than to the Buddha (Buddha's predecessor) Vyakarana, predicted that he will be in ninety-one. After this bhadrakalpa when Buddha, grant Shakya Muni buddha.
Four, the impact of Chinese folk beliefs
Along with the development of Buddhism in China into society, "randeng Buddha" by the Chongxin white lotus deep. In a large number of books, bailianjiao fabricated Baojuan, everywhere lamp name, such as "Buddha", "Lotus Lantern", "vacuum ancestors" and so on, meet the eye everywhere, this is not the only one.
The Qing Dynasty famous "Baneslayer detailed debate", the editor is above the white lotus teachings had been recorded that two words:
"The Longhua sun moon star, Longhua underground fire wind, people Longhua jingqishen, three with the world. Longhua is at the beginning of two will light the lamp, Longhua Buddha statue, three Longhua Longhua three Maitreya ancestors, would meet."
"After dipankara Buddha Sakyamuni Buddha after connecting chuandeng, Maitreya chuandeng Buddha Buddha Maitreya has succeeded, naive ancestors continue chuandeng. Innocent to whom to continue? There were three cases of five to send nine eighteen branch line, made the bar leader disciple, will continue chuandeng." (chuandeng, this refers to the Dharma, the white lotus passages, refers to a "succession, change dynasties, the founding monarch".)
Our country folk Dipamkara deified, enshrined in the high altar, this is not the intention of dipamkara. However, it never fell strange demon, save them in the fall and probably from the mire, a lamp into the world mind.