The Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Dharma

「舍利弗！汝於未來世，過無量無邊不可思議劫，供養若干千萬億佛，奉持正法，具足菩薩所行之道，當得作佛，號曰華光如來、應供、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士、調御丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊。國名離垢，其土平正，清淨嚴飾，安隱豐樂，天人熾盛。琉璃為地，有八交道，黃金為繩以界其側。其傍各有七寶行樹，常有華菓。華光如來亦以三乘教化眾生。

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! In a future age, after countless, boundless, inconceivable kalpas, having made offerings to many thousands of tens of millions of billions of Buddhas, upholding the true Dharma and fulfilling the Way practiced by Bodhisattvas, you will become a Buddha named Flower Light Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One. His country will be called Free from Defilement; its land will be level and upright, pure and adorned, peaceful, abundant, and joyful, with gods and humans flourishing. Its ground will be of lapis lazuli, with eight crossing roads bordered by cords of yellow gold. Along each side will be rows of trees of the seven jewels, always bearing flowers and fruit. Flower Light Tathagata will also teach beings with the Three Vehicles.

「舍利弗！彼佛出時，雖非惡世，以本願故，說三乘法。其劫名大寶莊嚴。何故名曰大寶莊嚴？其國中以菩薩為大寶故。彼諸菩薩，無量無邊，不可思議，算數譬喻所不能及，非佛智力無能知者。若欲行時，寶華承足。此諸菩薩，非初發意，皆久殖德本，於無量百千萬億佛所淨修梵行，恆為諸佛之所稱歎。常修佛慧，具大神通，善知一切諸法之門，質直無偽，志念堅固。如是菩薩，充滿其國。

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! When that Buddha appears, though it will not be an evil age, because of his original vow he will teach the Dharma of the Three Vehicles. That kalpa will be called Adorned with Great Treasure. Why is it called Adorned with Great Treasure? Because in that country the Bodhisattvas are the great treasure. Those Bodhisattvas will be countless and boundless, inconceivable, beyond what calculation or parable can reach, and none but one with the power of the Buddha's wisdom can know them. When they wish to walk, jeweled flowers will support their feet. These Bodhisattvas will not be those who have only just aroused the aspiration, but all have long planted roots of virtue, have purely practiced noble conduct in the presence of countless hundreds of thousands of billions of Buddhas, and are constantly praised by the Buddhas. They constantly cultivate the Buddha's wisdom, possess great spiritual powers, are skilled in knowing the gates of all dharmas, are honest and without falsehood, and firm in will and thought. Such Bodhisattvas will fill that country.

「舍利弗！華光佛壽十二小劫，除為王子未作佛時。其國人民，壽八小劫。華光如來過十二小劫，授堅滿菩薩阿耨多羅三藐三菩提記。告諸比丘：『是堅滿菩薩次當作佛，號曰華足安行多陀阿伽度、阿羅訶、三藐三佛陀，其佛國土亦復如是。』

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! The lifespan of the Flower Light Buddha will be twelve small kalpas, not counting the time when he was a prince before becoming a Buddha. The people of that country will live eight small kalpas. After twelve small kalpas, Flower Light Tathagata will give the prediction of unsurpassed perfect enlightenment to the Bodhisattva Firm Fullness. He will tell the bhikshus: 'This Bodhisattva Firm Fullness will be the next to become a Buddha, named Flower Foot Peaceful Walking Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, and his Buddha land will be just like this.'

「舍利弗！是華光佛滅度之後，正法住世三十二小劫，像法住世亦三十二小劫。」

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! After this Flower Light Buddha enters extinction, the true Dharma will remain in the world for thirty-two small kalpas, and the semblance Dharma will also remain in the world for thirty-two small kalpas."

爾時世尊欲重宣此義，而說偈言：

Then the World-Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke in verse:

「舍利弗來世，成佛普智尊，

"Shariputra in a future age will become a Buddha, the Honored One of universal wisdom,

號名曰華光，當度無量眾。

Named Flower Light, and will deliver countless beings.

供養無數佛，具足菩薩行，

He will make offerings to countless Buddhas, fulfill the Bodhisattva practices,

十力等功德，證於無上道。

With the ten powers and other merits, and realize the unsurpassed Way.

過無量劫已，劫名大寶嚴，

After countless kalpas, the kalpa will be named Adorned with Great Treasure,

世界名離垢，清淨無瑕穢。

The world will be named Free from Defilement, pure, without flaw or filth.

以琉璃為地，金繩界其道，

Its ground will be lapis lazuli, with golden cords bordering its roads,

七寶雜色樹，常有華菓實。

And trees of the seven jewels in mixed colors will always bear flowers and fruit.

彼國諸菩薩，志念常堅固，

The Bodhisattvas of that country will always be firm in will and thought,

神通波羅蜜，皆已悉具足。

And have entirely and fully attained the spiritual powers and perfections.

於無數佛所，善學菩薩道，

In the presence of countless Buddhas, they will have learned the Bodhisattva Way well,

如是等大士，華光佛所化。

Such great beings will be those transformed by the Flower Light Buddha.

佛為王子時，棄國捨世榮，

When the Buddha is a prince, he will abandon his country and give up worldly glory,

於最末後身，出家成佛道。

And in his very last body, leave home and attain the Buddha Way.

華光佛住世，壽十二小劫，

The Flower Light Buddha will live in the world for a lifespan of twelve small kalpas,

其國人民眾，壽命八小劫。

And the people of his country will live for eight small kalpas.

佛滅度之後，正法住於世，

After the Buddha enters extinction, the true Dharma will remain in the world

三十二小劫，廣度諸眾生。

For thirty-two small kalpas, widely delivering beings.

正法滅盡已，像法三十二，

After the true Dharma has ended, the semblance Dharma will last thirty-two,

舍利廣流佈，天人普供養。

The relics will be widely spread, and gods and humans will universally make offerings.

華光佛所為，其事皆如是，

What the Flower Light Buddha does will all be like this,

其兩足聖尊，最勝無倫匹。

That Honored One among the two-legged will be supreme and without equal.

彼即是汝身，宜應自欣慶。」

That is none other than yourself; you should rejoice and celebrate."

爾時四部眾，比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷，天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽等大眾，見舍利弗於佛前受阿耨多羅三藐三菩提記，心大歡喜，踴躍無量，各各脫身所著上衣、以供養佛。釋提桓因、梵天王等，與無數天子，亦以天妙衣、天曼陀羅華、摩訶曼陀羅華等，供養於佛——所散天衣，住虛空中，而自迴轉；諸天伎樂百千萬種，於虛空中一時俱作，雨眾天華——而作是言：「佛昔於波羅㮈初轉法輪，今乃復轉無上最大法輪。」

Then the fourfold assembly of bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, and upasikas, and the great assembly of gods, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, and others, seeing Shariputra receive from the Buddha the prediction of unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, were greatly joyful and leaped with boundless delight, and each took off an upper garment he was wearing to make an offering to the Buddha. Shakra Devanam Indra, Brahma Heaven King, and others, with countless heavenly sons, also made offerings to the Buddha with heavenly wondrous garments, heavenly mandarava flowers, and great mandarava flowers. The heavenly garments they scattered stayed in empty space and turned around by themselves; heavenly music of hundreds of thousands of kinds sounded together in empty space, and a rain of many heavenly flowers fell, and they said: "In the past the Buddha first turned the Dharma wheel at Varanasi; now he turns again the unsurpassed and greatest Dharma wheel."

爾時諸天子欲重宣此義，而說偈言：

Then the heavenly sons, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke in verse:

「昔於波羅㮈，轉四諦法輪，

"In the past at Varanasi you turned the Dharma wheel of the Four Truths,

分別說諸法，五眾之生滅。

Distinguishing and teaching all dharmas, the arising and ceasing of the five aggregates.

今復轉最妙，無上大法輪，

Now you turn again the most wondrous, unsurpassed great Dharma wheel,

是法甚深奧，少有能信者。

This Dharma is most profound and deep, and few are able to believe it.

我等從昔來，數聞世尊說，

Since the past we have often heard the World-Honored One teach,

未曾聞如是，深妙之上法。

But have never heard such a profound and wondrous, supreme Dharma.

世尊說是法，我等皆隨喜。

The World-Honored One teaches this Dharma, and we all rejoice in it.

大智舍利弗，今得受尊記，

The greatly wise Shariputra has now received the Honored One's prediction,

我等亦如是，必當得作佛。

And we too, in the same way, shall surely become Buddhas.

於一切世間，最尊無有上，

In all the world, the most honored and without superior,

佛道叵思議，方便隨宜說。

The Buddha Way is beyond conceiving, taught by skillful means as is fitting.

我所有福業，今世若過世，

All the merit and karma I have, in this life or in past lives,

及見佛功德，盡迴向佛道。」

And the Buddha's virtues I have seen, I dedicate entirely to the Buddha Way."

爾時舍利弗白佛言：「世尊！我今無復疑悔，親於佛前得受阿耨多羅三藐三菩提記。是諸千二百心自在者，昔住學地，佛常教化言：『我法能離生老病死，究竟涅槃。』是學無學人，亦各自以離我見及有無見等謂得涅槃；而今於世尊前聞所未聞，皆墮疑惑。善哉，世尊！願為四眾說其因緣，令離疑悔。」

Then Shariputra said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I no longer have doubt or regret, having personally received from the Buddha the prediction of unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. These twelve hundred who are free in mind formerly dwelt in the stage of learning, and the Buddha constantly taught them: 'My Dharma can free you from birth, old age, sickness, and death, and lead to ultimate nirvana.' These learners and non-learners also each thought they had attained nirvana by being free of the view of self and views of existence and non-existence; but now before the World-Honored One they have heard what they had never heard, and have all fallen into doubt and confusion. Excellent, World-Honored One! I pray you explain the causes and conditions for the fourfold assembly, so that they may be free of doubt and regret."

爾時佛告舍利弗：「我先不言：『諸佛世尊以種種因緣、譬喻言辭方便說法，皆為阿耨多羅三藐三菩提耶？』是諸所說，皆為化菩薩故。然，舍利弗！今當復以譬喻更明此義，諸有智者以譬喻得解。

Then the Buddha said to Shariputra: "Did I not say earlier: 'The Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, teach the Dharma by skillful means with various causes, conditions, parables, and words, all for the sake of unsurpassed perfect enlightenment'? All of this teaching is for the sake of transforming Bodhisattvas. Yet, Shariputra, now I shall again use a parable to make this meaning clearer, so that those with wisdom may understand through parable.

「舍利弗！若國邑聚落有大長者，其年衰邁，財富無量，多有田宅及諸僮僕。其家廣大，唯有一門，多諸人眾，一百、二百乃至五百人，止住其中。堂閣朽故，牆壁隤落，柱根腐敗，梁棟傾危，周匝俱時歘然火起，焚燒舍宅。長者諸子，若十、二十，或至三十，在此宅中。長者見是大火從四面起，即大驚怖，而作是念：『我雖能於此所燒之門安隱得出，而諸子等，於火宅內樂著嬉戲，不覺不知、不驚不怖，火來逼身，苦痛切己，心不厭患，無求出意。』

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! Suppose in a country, town, or village there is a great elder, advanced in years, with immeasurable wealth, with many fields, houses, and servants. His house is large, with only one gate, and many people, a hundred, two hundred, even five hundred, live in it. The halls and pavilions are decayed and old, the walls have collapsed, the bases of the pillars are rotten, and the beams and ridgepoles are leaning and dangerous. All around, suddenly a fire breaks out at the same time and burns the house. The elder's sons, ten, twenty, or even thirty, are inside this house. The elder, seeing this great fire arising on all sides, is greatly alarmed and has this thought: 'Although I can safely get out through the burning gate, my sons, in the burning house, delight in play and are attached to it, not aware or knowing, not alarmed or afraid. The fire is closing in on their bodies and the pain is cutting into them, but their hearts do not tire of it and have no wish to go out.'

「舍利弗！是長者作是思惟：『我身手有力，當以衣裓、若以機案，從捨出之。』復更思惟：『是舍唯有一門，而復狹小。諸子幼稚，未有所識，戀著戲處，或當墮落，為火所燒。我當為說怖畏之事，此舍已燒，宜時疾出，無令為火之所燒害。』作是念已，如所思惟，具告諸子，汝等速出。父雖憐愍、善言誘喻，而諸子等樂著嬉戲，不肯信受，不驚不畏，了無出心；亦復不知何者是火？何者為舍？云何為失？但東西走戲，視父而已。

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! The elder thinks: 'My body and hands are strong; I should carry them out of the house in robes or on a table.' Then he thinks again: 'This house has only one gate, and it is narrow. My sons are young and have no understanding, are attached to their place of play, and may fall and be burned by the fire. I should tell them of the frightening situation: this house is already burning, and they should get out at once and not be burned and harmed by the fire.' Having had this thought, he tells his sons just what he thought: 'All of you, get out quickly.' Though the father pities them and speaks kindly to persuade them, the sons delight in play and are unwilling to believe or accept it; they are not alarmed or afraid and have no thought of leaving; nor do they know what the fire is, what the house is, or what is lost; they only run east and west at play, merely looking at their father.

「爾時長者即作是念：『此舍已為大火所燒，我及諸子若不時出，必為所焚。我今當設方便，令諸子等得免斯害。』父知諸子先心各有所好種種珍玩奇異之物，情必樂著，而告之言：『汝等所可玩好，希有難得，汝若不取，後必憂悔。如此種種羊車、鹿車、牛車，今在門外，可以遊戲。汝等於此火宅、宜速出來，隨汝所欲，皆當與汝。』爾時諸子聞父所說珍玩之物，適其願故，心各勇銳，互相推排，競共馳走，爭出火宅。是時長者見諸子等安隱得出，皆於四衢道中露地而坐，無復障礙，其心泰然，歡喜踴躍。時諸子等各白父言：『父先所許玩好之具，羊車、鹿車、牛車，願時賜與。』

(The Buddha continued:) "Then the elder has this thought: 'This house is already burning with a great fire; if my sons and I do not get out in time, we shall surely be burned. Now I shall devise a skillful means to let my sons escape this harm.' The father, knowing that his sons each have beforehand a liking for various rare and wonderful playthings, and that they will surely delight in them, tells them: 'The playthings you like are rare and hard to get; if you do not take them, you will surely regret it later. Such goat carts, deer carts, and ox carts are now outside the gate, for you to play with. You should come out of this burning house quickly, and whatever you want I shall give you all.' Then the sons, hearing of the rare playthings their father mentions, suiting their wishes, each become eager and bold, push each other aside, race and run, competing to get out of the burning house. Then the elder, seeing his sons safely out, all sitting on open ground at the crossroads with no more obstruction, is at ease in mind and leaps with joy. Then the sons each say to their father: 'Father, the playthings you promised earlier, the goat cart, deer cart, and ox cart, please give us now.'

「舍利弗！爾時長者各賜諸子等一大車，其車高廣，眾寶莊校，周匝欄楯，四面懸鈴；又於其上張設幰蓋，亦以珍奇雜寶而嚴飾之，寶繩絞絡，垂諸華纓，重敷綩綖，安置丹枕。駕以白牛，膚色充潔，形體姝好，有大筋力，行步平正，其疾如風；又多僕從而侍衛之。所以者何？是大長者財富無量，種種諸藏悉皆充溢，而作是念：『我財物無極，不應以下劣小車與諸子等。今此幼童，皆是吾子，愛無偏黨。我有如是七寶大車，其數無量，應當等心各各與之，不宜差別。所以者何？以我此物，周給一國猶尚不匱，何況諸子！』是時諸子各乘大車，得未曾有，非本所望。

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! At that time the elder gives each of his sons a single great cart, tall and wide, adorned with many jewels, with railings all around and bells hung on four sides; above it is spread a canopy, also adorned with rare and mixed jewels, bound with jeweled cords, hung with flower tassels, with layers of embroidered cushions and red pillows. It is yoked to a white ox, of pure, clean skin, with a beautiful form, great strength, a level and upright gait, and speed like the wind; and many attendants guard it. Why? This great elder's wealth is immeasurable, all kinds of storehouses are full and overflowing, and he thinks: 'My wealth is without limit; I should not give my sons inferior small carts. These children are all my sons, and I love them without partiality. I have such seven-jeweled great carts, countless in number, and I should give them to each with an equal heart, without distinction. Why? With these things of mine, I could supply a whole country and still not run short, how much more my sons!' Then each of the sons rides a great cart, gaining what they never had, beyond their original hope.

「舍利弗！於汝意云何，是長者等與諸子珍寶大車，寧有虛妄不？」

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! What do you think? Was this elder, in giving his sons the great carts of treasure, guilty of any falsehood or not?"

舍利弗言：「不也，世尊！是長者但令諸子得免火難，全其軀命，非為虛妄。何以故？若全身命，便為已得玩好之具，況復方便於彼火宅而拔濟之。世尊！若是長者，乃至不與最小一車，猶不虛妄。何以故？是長者先作是意：『我以方便令子得出。』以是因緣，無虛妄也。何況長者自知財富無量，欲饒益諸子，等與大車。」

Shariputra said: "No, World-Honored One! The elder only let his sons escape the disaster of the fire and preserve their lives; this is not falsehood. Why? If they preserved their lives, they have already obtained a plaything, how much more since he rescued them from the burning house by skillful means. World-Honored One! Even if the elder did not give even the smallest cart, it would still not be falsehood. Why? The elder first had this intention: 'I shall use skillful means to let my sons get out.' For this reason, there is no falsehood. How much more so when the elder, knowing his wealth is immeasurable, wishes to benefit his sons and gives them all equal great carts."

佛告舍利弗：「善哉，善哉！如汝所言。舍利弗！如來亦復如是，則為一切世間之父。於諸怖畏、衰惱、憂患、無明闇蔽，永盡無餘，而悉成就無量知見、力、無所畏，有大神力及智慧力，具足方便、智慧波羅蜜，大慈大悲，常無懈惓，恆求善事，利益一切，而生三界朽故火宅，為度眾生生老病死、憂悲、苦惱、愚痴、闇蔽、三毒之火，教化令得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。見諸眾生為生老病死、憂悲苦惱之所燒煮，亦以五欲財利故，受種種苦；又以貪著追求故，現受眾苦，後受地獄、畜生、餓鬼之苦；若生天上，及在人間，貧窮困苦、愛別離苦、怨憎會苦，如是等種種諸苦。眾生沒在其中，歡喜遊戲，不覺不知、不驚不怖，亦不生厭，不求解脫。於此三界火宅東西馳走，雖遭大苦，不以為患。

The Buddha said to Shariputra: "Excellent, excellent! It is as you say. Shariputra! The Tathagata is also like this, and is the father of all the world. Having forever and entirely ended all fears, decline, vexation, worry, and the darkness of ignorance, and having fully accomplished immeasurable knowledge and vision, powers, and fearlessness, with great spiritual power and the power of wisdom, fully endowed with skillful means and the perfection of wisdom, with great kindness and great compassion, never weary, always seeking good deeds and benefiting all, he is born into the decayed old burning house of the three realms in order to deliver beings from the fires of birth, old age, sickness, death, worry, sorrow, suffering, vexation, folly, darkness, and the three poisons, and to teach and transform them to attain unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. He sees beings being scorched and boiled by birth, old age, sickness, death, worry, sorrow, suffering, and vexation, and also, for the sake of the five desires, wealth, and profit, enduring many sufferings; and because of greedy attachment and pursuit, they now endure many sufferings and later endure the sufferings of hell, animals, and hungry ghosts; if born in heaven or among humans, there are poverty and hardship, the suffering of separation from the loved, the suffering of meeting the hated, and so many sufferings of this kind. Beings are submerged in them, delighting and playing, unaware and unknowing, not alarmed or afraid, not growing weary of it, not seeking liberation. In this burning house of the three realms they run east and west, and though they meet great suffering, they do not consider it a trouble.

「舍利弗！佛見此已，便作是念：『我為眾生之父，應拔其苦難，與無量無邊佛智慧樂，令其遊戲。』

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! Having seen this, the Buddha has this thought: 'I am the father of beings and should pull them out of their suffering and give them the countless, boundless joy of the Buddha's wisdom, so they may play in it.'

「舍利弗！如來復作是念：『若我但以神力及智慧力，捨於方便，為諸眾生讚如來知見、力無所畏者，眾生不能以是得度。所以者何？是諸眾生，未免生老病死、憂悲苦惱，而為三界火宅所燒；何由能解佛之智慧？』

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! The Tathagata has this further thought: 'If I used only spiritual power and the power of wisdom, abandoned skillful means, and praised the Tathagata's knowledge, vision, powers, and fearlessness for beings, beings could not be delivered by this. Why? These beings have not escaped birth, old age, sickness, death, worry, sorrow, suffering, and vexation, and are being burned by the burning house of the three realms; how could they understand the Buddha's wisdom?'

「舍利弗！如彼長者，雖復身手有力而不用之，但以慇懃方便勉濟諸子火宅之難，然後各與珍寶大車。如來亦復如是，雖有力、無所畏而不用之，但以智慧方便，於三界火宅拔濟眾生，為說三乘——聲聞、辟支佛、佛乘，而作是言：『汝等莫得樂住三界火宅，勿貪麁弊色聲香味觸也。若貪著生愛，則為所燒。汝速出三界，當得三乘——聲聞、辟支佛、佛乘。我今為汝保任此事，終不虛也。汝等但當勤修精進。』如來以是方便誘進眾生，復作是言：『汝等當知此三乘法，皆是聖所稱歎，自在無繫，無所依求。乘是三乘，以無漏根、力、覺、道、禪定、解脫、三昧等而自娛樂，便得無量安隱快樂。』

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! Like that elder, who though strong in body and hands did not use that strength, but with earnest skillful means urged his sons out of the disaster of the burning house and afterward gave each a great jeweled cart, the Tathagata too, though he has power and fearlessness, does not use them, but by wisdom and skillful means pulls beings out of the burning house of the three realms, teaching the Three Vehicles of Hearers, Pratyekabuddhas, and the Buddha Vehicle, and says: 'Do not delight in dwelling in the burning house of the three realms, and do not crave coarse and wretched forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. If you crave and become attached, you will be burned by them. Leave the three realms quickly, and you will attain the Three Vehicles of Hearers, Pratyekabuddhas, and the Buddha Vehicle. I now guarantee this for you, and it will never be false. You need only be diligent and make effort.' The Tathagata uses this skillful means to lead beings on, and also says: 'You should know that these Three Vehicle teachings are all praised by the holy ones, free and unbound, with nothing to rely on or seek. Riding these Three Vehicles and delighting yourselves with the roots, powers, factors of awakening, path, meditation, liberation, samadhi, and so on that are free of outflows, you will attain immeasurable peace and joy.'

「舍利弗！若有眾生內有智性，從佛世尊聞法信受，慇懃精進，欲速出三界，自求涅槃，是名聲聞乘，如彼諸子為求羊車出於火宅；若有眾生從佛世尊聞法信受，慇懃精進，求自然慧，樂獨善寂，深知諸法因緣，是名辟支佛乘，如彼諸子為求鹿車出於火宅；若有眾生從佛世尊聞法信受，勤修精進，求一切智、佛智、自然智、無師智，如來知見、力、無所畏，愍念、安樂無量眾生，利益天人，度脫一切，是名大乘，菩薩求此乘故，名為摩訶薩，如彼諸子為求牛車、出於火宅。

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! If there are beings who have an inner nature of wisdom, who hear the Dharma from the Buddha, the World-Honored One, and believe and accept it, are earnest and diligent, wish quickly to leave the three realms, and seek nirvana for themselves, this is called the Hearer Vehicle, like those sons who went out of the burning house seeking a goat cart. If there are beings who hear the Dharma from the Buddha, the World-Honored One, and believe and accept it, are earnest and diligent, seek self-arisen wisdom, delight in solitary goodness and quiet, and deeply know the causes and conditions of all dharmas, this is called the Pratyekabuddha Vehicle, like those sons who went out of the burning house seeking a deer cart. If there are beings who hear the Dharma from the Buddha, the World-Honored One, and believe and accept it, are diligent in practice, seek all-knowing wisdom, Buddha wisdom, self-arisen wisdom, wisdom without a teacher, the Tathagata's knowledge and vision, powers, and fearlessness, and who pity and give peace and joy to countless beings, benefit gods and humans, and deliver all, this is called the Great Vehicle; because Bodhisattvas seek this vehicle, they are called Mahasattvas, like those sons who went out of the burning house seeking an ox cart.

「舍利弗！如彼長者，見諸子等安隱得出火宅，到無畏處，自惟財富無量，等以大車而賜諸子。如來亦復如是，為一切眾生之父，若見無量億千眾生，以佛教門出三界苦，怖畏險道，得涅槃樂。

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! Like that elder, who seeing his sons safely out of the burning house and arrived at a place of no fear, and thinking of his immeasurable wealth, gave great carts equally to his sons, the Tathagata too is the father of all beings, and when he sees countless billions of thousands of beings leave the suffering of the three realms through the Buddha's teaching gate, escape the fearful dangerous road, and attain the joy of nirvana,

「如來爾時便作是念：『我有無量無邊智慧、力、無畏等諸佛法藏，是諸眾生皆是我子，等與大乘，不令有人獨得滅度，皆以如來滅度而滅度之。』是諸眾生脫三界者，悉與諸佛禪定、解脫等娛樂之具，皆是一相、一種，聖所稱歎，能生淨妙第一之樂。

(The Buddha continued:) "The Tathagata then has this thought: 'I have countless, boundless stores of the Buddha's wisdom, powers, fearlessness, and other dharmas, and these beings are all my sons, to whom I shall give equally the Great Vehicle, and not let anyone attain extinction alone, but let all attain extinction through the Tathagata's extinction.' To these beings who have escaped the three realms, I give the Buddhas' meditation, liberation, and other playthings of delight, which are all of one mark and one kind, praised by the holy ones, able to produce pure, wondrous, foremost joy.

「舍利弗！如彼長者，初以三車誘引諸子，然後但與大車，寶物莊嚴，安隱第一；然彼長者無虛妄之咎。如來亦復如是，無有虛妄，初說三乘引導眾生，然後但以大乘而度脫之。何以故？如來有無量智慧、力、無所畏諸法之藏，能與一切眾生大乘之法，但不盡能受。

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! Like that elder who first lured his sons with three carts and afterward gave only great carts adorned with jeweled things and supremely safe, yet the elder had no fault of falsehood, the Tathagata too is without falsehood, first teaching the Three Vehicles to lead beings, and afterward delivering them only by the Great Vehicle. Why? The Tathagata has immeasurable stores of wisdom, power, fearlessness, and other dharmas, and can give all beings the Dharma of the Great Vehicle, but not all can fully receive it.

「舍利弗！以是因緣，當知諸佛方便力故，於一佛乘分別說三。」

(The Buddha continued:) "Shariputra! For this reason you should know that, by the power of the Buddhas' skillful means, within the One Buddha Vehicle they distinguish and teach three."