Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Volume Two

後秦龜茲國三藏法師鳩摩羅什奉詔譯

Translated by imperial order by the Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva of Kucha (today the region of Kuqa in Xinjiang) of the Later Qin.

爾時世尊告摩訶迦葉及諸大弟子：「善哉，善哉！迦葉善說如來真實功德。誠如所言，如來復有無量無邊阿僧祇功德，汝等若於無量億劫說不能盡。迦葉！當知如來是諸法之王，若有所說皆不虛也。於一切法，以智方便而演說之，其所說法，皆悉到於一切智地。如來觀知一切諸法之所歸趣，亦知一切眾生深心所行，通達無礙；又於諸法究盡明瞭，示諸眾生一切智慧。

At that time the World-Honored One told Mahakashyapa and the great disciples: "Excellent, excellent! Kashyapa speaks well of the true merits of the Tathagata. It is just as you say, and the Tathagata still has limitless and boundless asamkhyeya (countless) merits, which you could not exhaust even if you spoke of them for countless billions of kalpas. Kashyapa! You should know that the Tathagata is king of all dharmas, and whatever he says is never false. In all dharmas, he expounds them by wisdom and expedient means, and the Dharma he preaches all reaches the ground of omniscience. The Tathagata observes and knows where all dharmas lead, and also knows what all beings practice deep in their hearts, penetrating without obstruction; and regarding all dharmas he is thoroughly clear, and reveals all wisdom to beings.

「迦葉！譬如三千大千世界，山川谿谷土地所生卉木叢林及諸藥草，種類若干，名色各異。密雲彌布，遍覆三千大千世界，一時等澍，其澤普洽。卉木叢林及諸藥草，小根小莖、小枝小葉，中根中莖、中枝中葉，大根大莖、大枝大葉，諸樹大小，隨上中下各有所受。一雲所雨，稱其種性而得生長華菓敷實。雖一地所生，一雨所潤，而諸草木，各有差別。

(The Buddha continued:) "Kashyapa! Suppose that in the three thousand great thousand worlds, the flowers, trees, groves and medicinal herbs that grow in the mountains, rivers, streams, valleys and lands are of many kinds, with different names and colors. Dense clouds spread everywhere, covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and at once rain falls equally, its moisture reaching everywhere. The flowers, trees, groves and medicinal herbs, with small roots, small stems, small branches and small leaves, medium roots, medium stems, medium branches and medium leaves, large roots, large stems, large branches and large leaves, trees large and small, each receive according to upper, middle and lower. Rain from one cloud, each according to its kind and nature, grows and flowers and bears fruit. Though they grow in the same ground and are moistened by the same rain, the plants and trees each have their differences.

「迦葉！當知如來亦復如是，出現於世，如大雲起，以大音聲普遍世界天、人、阿修羅，如彼大雲遍覆三千大千國土。於大眾中、而唱是言：『我是如來、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，未度者令度，未解者令解，未安者令安，未涅槃者令得涅槃，今世後世，如實知之。我是一切知者、一切見者、知道者、開道者、說道者，汝等天、人、阿修羅眾，皆應到此，為聽法故。』爾時無數千萬億種眾生，來至佛所而聽法。如來於時，觀是眾生諸根利鈍、精進懈怠，隨其所堪而為說法，種種無量，皆令歡喜，快得善利。是諸眾生聞是法已，現世安隱，後生善處，以道受樂，亦得聞法。既聞法已，離諸障礙，於諸法中，任力所能，漸得入道。如彼大云，雨於一切卉木叢林及諸藥草，如其種性，具足蒙潤，各得生長。

(The Buddha continued:) "Kashyapa! You should know that the Tathagata is also like this, appearing in the world like a great cloud rising, and with a great voice reaches gods, humans and asuras throughout the world, as that great cloud covers the lands of the three thousand great thousand worlds. In the great assembly he proclaims these words: 'I am the Tathagata, the Worthy of Offerings, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the One Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, the Well-Gone, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed One, the Tamer of Men, the Teacher of Gods and Humans, the Buddha, the World-Honored One. Those not yet delivered I deliver, those not yet freed I free, those not yet at peace I put at peace, those not yet in nirvana I bring to nirvana, and I know this truly for this world and the next. I am the All-Knowing One, the All-Seeing One, the One who knows the Way, the One who opens the Way, the One who speaks the Way; all of you, gods, humans and asuras, should come here in order to hear the Dharma.' Then countless tens of millions of billions of kinds of beings came to the Buddha's place to hear the Dharma. The Tathagata then observed the sharpness or dullness of these beings' faculties, their diligence or laziness, and preached to them according to what they could bear, in countless ways, making them all happy and quickly gain good benefit. These beings, having heard this Dharma, are at peace in the present world, are reborn in good places, enjoy happiness through the Way, and also get to hear the Dharma. Having heard the Dharma, they are free of all obstructions, and in all dharmas, according to what their strength can do, gradually enter the Way. Like that great cloud, which rains on all the flowers, trees, groves and medicinal herbs, each is fully moistened according to its kind and nature, and each grows.

「如來說法，一相一味——所謂：解脫相、離相、滅相，究竟至於一切種智。其有眾生聞如來法，若持讀誦，如說修行，所得功德，不自覺知。所以者何？唯有如來知此眾生種相體性，念何事、思何事、修何事，云何念、云何思、云何修，以何法念、以何法思、以何法修，以何法得何法。眾生住於種種之地，唯有如來如實見之，明瞭無礙。如彼卉木叢林諸藥草等，而不自知上中下性。如來知是一相一味之法——所謂：解脫相、離相、滅相——究竟涅槃常寂滅相，終歸於空。佛知是已，觀眾生心欲而將護之，是故不即為說一切種智。

(The Buddha continued:) "The Tathagata's preaching of the Dharma has one aspect and one taste, namely: the aspect of liberation, the aspect of detachment, the aspect of extinction, ultimately reaching all-knowing wisdom. If there are beings who hear the Tathagata's Dharma, and uphold, read, recite and practice as taught, the merit they gain they themselves are not aware of. Why? Only the Tathagata knows these beings' kinds, aspects, substance and nature, what they think of, what they reflect on, what they practice, how they think, how they reflect, how they practice, by what Dharma they think, by what Dharma they reflect, by what Dharma they practice, and by what Dharma they attain what Dharma. Beings dwell on all kinds of grounds, and only the Tathagata sees them as they truly are, clearly and without obstruction. Like those flowers, trees, groves and medicinal herbs, which do not know their own upper, middle and lower nature. The Tathagata knows this Dharma of one aspect and one taste, namely: the aspect of liberation, detachment and extinction, ultimate nirvana, the aspect of eternal stillness and extinction, finally returning to emptiness. Having known this, the Buddha, observing the minds and desires of beings and protecting them, therefore does not at once preach omniscience to them.

「汝等，迦葉！甚為希有，能知如來隨宜說法，能信能受。所以者何？諸佛世尊隨宜說法，難解難知。」

(The Buddha continued:) "You, Kashyapa! You are very rare, able to know the Tathagata's preaching of the Dharma as is fitting, able to believe and accept it. Why? The Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, preach the Dharma as is fitting, and it is hard to understand and hard to know."

爾時世尊欲重宣此義，而說偈言：

At that time the World-Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke in verse:

「破有法王，出現世間，隨眾生欲，

"The Dharma King who breaks existence appears in the world, and according to beings' desires,

種種說法。如來尊重，智慧深遠，

preaches the Dharma in many ways. The Tathagata is revered, his wisdom deep and far-reaching,

久默斯要，不務速說。有智若聞，

and he long kept this essential silent, not hastening to speak it. If the wise hear it,

則能信解；無智疑悔，則為永失。

they can believe and understand; the unwise doubt and regret, and so are lost forever.

是故迦葉！隨力為說，以種種緣，

So, Kashyapa! I preach according to their strength, through various conditions,

令得正見。迦葉當知！譬如大云，

so that they gain right view. Kashyapa, know this! It is like a great cloud

起於世間，遍覆一切；慧雲含潤，

rising in the world, covering all things everywhere; the cloud of wisdom holds moisture,

電光晃曜，雷聲遠震，令眾悅豫。

lightning flashes brightly, thunder sounds far, making all joyful.

日光掩蔽，地上清涼，靉靆垂布、

The sunlight is veiled, the earth is cool, the dense clouds hang down

如可承攬。其雨普等，四方俱下，

as if they could be grasped. The rain falls equally, descending from all four directions,

流澍無量，率土充洽。山川險谷、

pouring without measure, filling the whole land. The plants and trees, medicinal herbs, and trees large and small

幽邃所生，卉木藥草，大小諸樹，

that grow in mountains, rivers, steep valleys

百穀苗稼，甘蔗蒲萄，雨之所潤，

and deep recesses, the hundred grains, seedlings and crops, sugar cane and grapes, moistened by the rain,

無不豐足，乾地普洽，藥木竝茂。

all are abundant; the dry land is soaked everywhere, and medicinal plants and trees flourish together.

其雲所出，一味之水，草木叢林，

The water from that cloud is of one taste, and the plants, trees and groves

隨分受潤。一切諸樹，上中下等，

receive moisture according to their share. All the trees, upper, middle and lower,

稱其大小，各得生長，根莖枝葉，

each grows according to its size, with roots, stems, branches and leaves,

華菓光色，一雨所及，皆得鮮澤。

flowers and fruits in bright color; whatever one rain reaches becomes fresh and glossy.

如其體相，性分大小，所潤是一，

According to their bodies and appearances, and the size of their natures, what moistens them is one,

而各滋茂。佛亦如是，出現於世，

yet each thrives in its own way. The Buddha is also like this, appearing in the world

譬如大云，普覆一切。既出於世，

like a great cloud, covering everything everywhere. Having appeared in the world,

為諸眾生，分別演說，諸法之實。

for all beings he expounds in detail the reality of all dharmas.

大聖世尊，於諸天人、一切眾中，

The Great Sage, World-Honored One, among gods and humans and all assemblies,

而宣是言：『我為如來，兩足之尊，

proclaims these words: 'I am the Tathagata, the most honored of two-legged beings,

出於世間，猶如大云，充潤一切。

appearing in the world like a great cloud, moistening and filling all.

枯槁眾生，皆令離苦，得安隱樂——

Withered beings I free entirely from suffering, to gain peaceful happiness,

世間之樂，及涅槃樂。諸天人眾，

both worldly happiness and the happiness of nirvana. All you gods and humans,

一心善聽，皆應到此，覲無上尊。』

listen well with one mind, and all come here to see the Unsurpassed Honored One.'

我為世尊，無能及者，安隱眾生，

I am the World-Honored One, whom none can equal, and to give peace to beings

故現於世。為大眾說，甘露淨法，

I appear in the world. For the great assembly I preach the nectar-like pure Dharma,

其法一味，解脫涅槃。以一妙音、

which is of one taste, liberation and nirvana. With one wondrous voice

演暢斯義，常為大乘，而作因緣。

I expound this meaning, always making it the cause and condition for the Mahayana.

我觀一切，普皆平等，無有彼此，

I look at all things as entirely equal, with no heart of

愛憎之心。我無貪著，亦無限礙，

this and that, love or hate. I have no greed or attachment, nor limit or obstruction,

恆為一切，平等說法。如為一人，

and always preach the Dharma equally to all. As for one person,

眾多亦然，常演說法，曾無他事。

so for many; I always expound the Dharma, with no other business.

去來坐立，終不疲厭，充足世間，

Whether going, coming, sitting or standing, I never tire or weary, filling the world

如雨普潤。貴賤上下，持戒毀戒，

like rain moistening everywhere. Noble or lowly, high or low, keeping precepts or breaking them,

威儀具足，及不具足，正見邪見，

complete in deportment or incomplete, of right view or wrong view,

利根鈍根，等雨法雨，而無懈倦。

sharp faculties or dull, I rain the Dharma rain equally and never grow weary.

一切眾生，聞我法者，隨力所受，

All beings who hear my Dharma receive it according to their strength,

住於諸地。或處人天，轉輪聖王，

and dwell on their various grounds. Some are among humans and gods, wheel-turning sage kings,

釋梵諸王，是小藥草。知無漏法，

Indra, Brahma and various kings; these are the small medicinal herbs. Those who know the Dharma free of outflows,

能得涅槃，起六神通，及得三明，

can attain nirvana, give rise to the six spiritual powers and gain the three knowledges,

獨處山林，常行禪定，得緣覺證，

dwell alone in mountains and forests, always practice meditation, and gain the realization of a Pratyekabuddha,

是中藥草。求世尊處，我當作佛，

are the middle medicinal herbs. Those who seek the place of the World-Honored One, thinking 'I shall become a Buddha,'

行精進定，是上藥草。又諸佛子，

and practice diligence and concentration are the superior medicinal herbs. Again, the children of the Buddha

專心佛道，常行慈悲，自知作佛，

who devote their minds to the Buddha's way, always practice compassion, and know that they will become Buddhas,

決定無疑，是名小樹。安住神通，

decided and without doubt, are called small trees. Those who dwell securely in spiritual powers,

轉不退輪，度無量億、百千眾生，

turn the wheel of non-retrogression, and save countless billions, hundreds of thousands of beings,

如是菩薩，名為大樹。佛平等說，

such Bodhisattvas are called great trees. The Buddha preaches equally,

如一味雨；隨眾生性，所受不同，

like rain of one taste; according to beings' natures, what they receive differs,