The Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Dharma
得近其父，雖知諸物，心不希取。
who got close to his father, though he knew all the things, his mind did not wish to take them.
我等雖說，佛法寶藏，自無志願，
Though we speak of the treasure store of the Buddha's Dharma, we ourselves had no aspiration,
亦復如是。我等內滅，自謂為足，
and it is also like this. We were extinguished within, thought ourselves content,
唯了此事，更無餘事。我等若聞，
and only understood this one matter, with nothing further. If we heard of
淨佛國土，教化眾生，都無欣樂。
purifying Buddha lands and teaching beings, we took no delight.
所以者何？一切諸法，皆悉空寂，
Why? All dharmas are empty and still,
無生無滅，無大無小，無漏無為。
without birth or extinction, neither large nor small, without outflow, unconditioned.
如是思惟，不生喜樂。我等長夜，
Thinking like this, we gave rise to no joy. For a long night,
於佛智慧，無貪無著，無復志願；
we were without greed or attachment to the Buddha's wisdom, and had no further aspiration;
而自於法，謂是究竟。我等長夜，
and in the Dharma itself we thought we had reached the ultimate. For a long night,
修習空法，得脫三界，苦惱之患，
we practiced the Dharma of emptiness, and escaped the suffering and affliction of the three realms,
住最後身、有餘涅槃。佛所教化，
dwelling in our last body, in nirvana with remainder. What the Buddha taught,
得道不虛，則為已得，報佛之恩。
attaining the Way is not in vain, and so we regarded it as already repaying the Buddha's kindness.
我等雖為，諸佛子等，說菩薩法，
Though we, for the children of the Buddha,
以求佛道；而於是法，永無願樂。
preached the Bodhisattva Dharma in order to seek the Buddha's way, for this Dharma ourselves we had no wish or delight.
導師見捨，觀我心故，初不勸進，
The Guide let us be, observing our minds, and at first did not urge us forward,
說有實利。如富長者，知子志劣，
or say there was real benefit. Like the rich elder, who knew his son's aim was low,
以方便力，柔伏其心，然後乃付，
and by the power of expedient means gently tamed his mind, and only afterward entrusted
一切財物。
all his wealth.
佛亦如是，現希有事，知樂小者，
The Buddha is also like this, showing rare things; knowing those who delight in the small,
以方便力，調伏其心，乃教大智。
by the power of expedient means he tames their minds, and then teaches great wisdom.
我等今日，得未曾有，非先所望，
Today we have gained what we never had before, not what we had hoped for earlier,
而今自得，如彼窮子，得無量寶。
yet now we obtain it of ourselves, like that poor son who got limitless treasure.
世尊我今，得道得果，於無漏法，
World-Honored One, I now have attained the Way and its fruit, and in the Dharma free of outflows
得清淨眼。我等長夜，持佛淨戒，
have gained the pure eye. For a long night we have kept the Buddha's pure precepts,
始於今日，得其果報，法王法中，
and only today have we obtained their reward; in the Dharma King's Dharma,
久修梵行，今得無漏，無上大果。
having long practiced pure conduct, now we gain the unsurpassed great fruit free of outflows.
我等今者，真是聲聞，以佛道聲，
Now we are truly Shravakas, since through the Buddha's way we make
令一切聞。我等今者，真阿羅漢，
all hear his voice. Now we are truly arhats,
於諸世間，天人魔梵，普於其中，
who in all the worlds, among gods, humans, maras and Brahmas, everywhere among them,
應受供養。世尊大恩，以希有事，
are worthy of offerings. The World-Honored One's great kindness, with rare deeds,
憐愍教化，利益我等，無量億劫，
has pitied, taught and benefited us for countless billions of kalpas;
誰能報者。手足供給，頭頂禮敬，
who can repay it? Serving with hands and feet, bowing with head to the ground,
一切供養，皆不能報。若以頂戴，
all offerings cannot repay it. If one carries him on one's head
兩肩荷負，於恆沙劫，盡心恭敬；
and both shoulders, for kalpas as many as the sands of the Ganges, reverent with all one's heart;
又以美饍、無量寶衣，及諸臥具、
or with fine food, limitless precious garments, and all bedding,
種種湯藥，牛頭栴檀，及諸珍寶，
all kinds of medicines, ox-head sandalwood, and all kinds of jewels,
以起塔廟，寶衣布地。如斯等事，
to build stupas and temples, and spread precious garments on the ground; with such things
以用供養，於恆沙劫，亦不能報。
as offerings, even for kalpas as many as the sands of the Ganges, one could not repay it.
諸佛希有，無量無邊，不可思議，
The Buddhas are rare, limitless and boundless, inconceivable,
大神通力，無漏無為，諸法之王。
with great spiritual power, free of outflows and unconditioned, kings of all dharmas.
能為下劣，忍於斯事，取相凡夫，
They can bear this for the lowly and inferior, for ordinary people attached to appearances,
隨宜為說。諸佛於法，得最自在，
preaching as is fitting. The Buddhas have supreme freedom in the Dharma,
知諸眾生，種種欲樂，及其志力。
and know beings' various desires and delights, and their strength of will.
隨所堪任，以無量喻，而為說法。
According to what each can bear, they preach the Dharma with limitless parables.
隨諸眾生，宿世善根，又知成熟、
Following beings' good roots from past lives, and knowing which are ripe
未成熟者，種種籌量，分別知已，
and which are not, they weigh them in many ways, and having distinguished and known,
於一乘道、隨宜說三。」
within the one vehicle's way, preach three as is fitting."