Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Volume Two

如彼草木，所稟各異。佛以此喻，

as those plants and trees each receive differently. The Buddha, with this parable,

方便開示，種種言辭，演說一法，

reveals by expedient means, with many words, expounding one Dharma,

於佛智慧，如海一渧。我雨法雨，

which compared to the Buddha's wisdom is like one drop of the sea. I rain the Dharma rain,

充滿世間，一味之法，隨力修行。

filling the world, the Dharma of one taste, to be practiced according to one's strength.

如彼叢林，藥草諸樹，隨其大小，

Like those groves, medicinal herbs and trees, according to their size,

漸增茂好。諸佛之法，常以一味，

gradually growing more luxuriant and fine. The Dharma of the Buddhas is always of one taste,

令諸世間，普得具足，漸次修行，

making all the world fully attain, gradually practicing,

皆得道果。聲聞緣覺，處於山林，

all attaining the fruit of the Way. Shravakas and Pratyekabuddhas, dwelling in mountains and forests,

住最後身，聞法得果，是名藥草，

in their last body, hear the Dharma and gain the fruit; these are called medicinal herbs,

各得增長。若諸菩薩，智慧堅固，

each increasing and growing. As for Bodhisattvas, with firm wisdom,

了達三界，求最上乘，是名小樹，

thoroughly penetrating the three realms and seeking the supreme vehicle, these are called small trees,

而得增長。復有住禪，得神通力，

and they increase and grow. Again, those who abide in meditation, gain the power of spiritual faculties,

聞諸法空，心大歡喜，放無數光，

hear that all dharmas are empty, are greatly delighted, and emit countless rays of light,

度諸眾生，是名大樹，而得增長。

to save all beings, are called great trees, and they increase and grow.

如是迦葉！佛所說法，譬如大云，

So it is, Kashyapa! The Dharma the Buddha preaches is like a great cloud,

以一味雨，潤於人華，各得成實。

with rain of one taste moistening human flowers, each coming to fruit.

迦葉當知！以諸因緣、種種譬喻，

Kashyapa, know this! With all causes and conditions and many parables,

開示佛道，是我方便，諸佛亦然。

I reveal the Buddha's way; this is my expedient means, and the Buddhas are also so.

今為汝等，說最實事：『諸聲聞眾，

Now for you I speak the most real matter: 'The assembly of Shravakas

皆非滅度。汝等所行，是菩薩道，

have not all entered extinction. What you practice is the Bodhisattva way,

漸漸修學，悉當成佛。』」

and by gradually practicing and learning, all of you will become Buddhas.'"

爾時世尊說是偈已，告諸大眾，唱如是言：「我此弟子摩訶迦葉，於未來世，當得奉覲三百萬億諸佛世尊，供養恭敬，尊重讚歎，廣宣諸佛無量大法。於最後身，得成為佛，名曰光明如來、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。國名光德，劫名大莊嚴。佛壽十二小劫，正法住世二十小劫，像法亦住二十小劫。國界嚴飾，無諸穢惡、瓦礫荊棘、便利不淨。其土平正，無有高下、坑坎堆阜。琉璃為地，寶樹行列，黃金為繩，以界道側，散諸寶華，周遍清淨。其國菩薩無量千億，諸聲聞眾亦復無數，無有魔事，雖有魔及魔民，皆護佛法。」

At that time the World-Honored One, having spoken this verse, told the great assembly, proclaiming thus: "This disciple of mine, Mahakashyapa, in a future age will be able to meet and serve three million billion Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, make offerings, revere, honor and praise them, and widely proclaim the limitless great Dharma of the Buddhas. In his last body, he will become a Buddha named Light Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, 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 named Light Virtue, and the kalpa named Great Adornment. The Buddha's lifespan will be twelve small kalpas, the True Dharma will remain in the world for twenty small kalpas, and the Semblance Dharma will also remain for twenty small kalpas. His land will be adorned, without any filth or evil, rubble, thorns, or impure waste. The land will be level and even, without high or low, pits or mounds. The ground will be lapis lazuli, with rows of jeweled trees, with ropes of yellow gold marking the sides of the roads, scattered with precious flowers, everywhere clean and pure. In that country there will be countless thousands of billions of Bodhisattvas, and also countless Shravakas, with no matters of Mara; though there will be Mara and Mara's people, they will all protect the Buddha's Dharma."

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:

「告諸比丘：『我以佛眼，見是迦葉，

"I tell the monks: 'With the Buddha eye I see this Kashyapa,

於未來世，過無數劫，當得作佛。

in a future age, after countless kalpas, will become a Buddha.

而於來世，供養奉覲，三百萬億，

And in future ages he will make offerings to and meet

諸佛世尊。為佛智慧，淨修梵行。

three million billion Buddhas, World-Honored Ones. For the Buddha's wisdom, he will purely practice noble conduct.

供養最上，二足尊已，修習一切，

Having made offerings to the supreme two-legged honored ones, he will practice all

無上之慧。於最後身，得成為佛。

unsurpassed wisdom. In his last body, he will become a Buddha.

其土清淨，琉璃為地，多諸寶樹，

His land will be pure, with lapis lazuli as ground and many jeweled trees,

行列道側，金繩界道，見者歡喜。

lined along the roads, with gold ropes marking the roads, delighting all who see it.

常出好香，散眾名華，種種奇妙，

Fine fragrances will always arise, famous flowers will be scattered, and all sorts of marvels

以為莊嚴。其地平正，無有丘坑。

will serve as adornment. The ground will be level and even, without hills or pits.

諸菩薩眾，不可稱計，其心調柔，

The assembly of Bodhisattvas will be beyond counting, their minds gentle and tamed,

逮大神通，奉持諸佛，大乘經典。

attaining great spiritual powers, and upholding the Buddhas' Mahayana scriptures.

諸聲聞眾，無漏後身，法王之子，

The assembly of Shravakas, in their last body free of outflows, sons of the Dharma King,

亦不可計，乃以天眼，不能數知。

will also be countless, so that even with the heavenly eye they cannot be numbered.

其佛當壽，十二小劫；正法住世，

That Buddha's lifespan will be twelve small kalpas; the True Dharma will remain in the world

二十小劫；像法亦住，二十小劫。

for twenty small kalpas; the Semblance Dharma will also remain for twenty small kalpas.

光明世尊，其事如是。』」

Such will be the story of the World-Honored One Light.'"

爾時大目犍連、須菩提、摩訶迦栴延等，皆悉悚慄，一心合掌，瞻仰尊顏，目不暫捨，即共同聲而說偈言：

At that time Mahamaudgalyayana, Subhuti, Mahakatyayana and the others all trembled, with one mind joined their palms, gazed up at the World-Honored One's face without turning their eyes away for a moment, and together spoke in verse:

「大雄猛世尊，諸釋之法王，

"Great hero, World-Honored One, Dharma King of the Shakyas,

哀愍我等故，而賜佛音聲。

pitying us, grant us the Buddha's voice.

若知我深心，見為授記者，

If you know our deep hearts and see fit to give us predictions,

如以甘露灑，除熱得清涼。

it would be like being sprinkled with nectar, removing heat and bringing coolness.

如從饑國來，忽遇大王饍，

As if one coming from a land of famine suddenly meets a great king's feast,

心猶懷疑懼，未敢即便食；

his heart still full of doubt and fear, he does not dare eat at once;

若復得王教，然後乃敢食。

but if he receives the king's instruction, then he dares to eat.

我等亦如是，每惟小乘過，

We are also like this, always thinking of the faults of the Small Vehicle,

不知當云何，得佛無上慧。

not knowing how we might attain the Buddha's unsurpassed wisdom.

雖聞佛音聲，言我等作佛，

Though we have heard the Buddha's voice saying that we will become Buddhas,

心尚懷憂懼，如未敢便食；

our hearts still hold worry and fear, like one who does not dare to eat;

若蒙佛授記，爾乃快安樂。

if we receive the Buddha's prediction, then we will be glad and at ease.

大雄猛世尊，常欲安世間，

Great hero, World-Honored One, you always wish to give peace to the world;

願賜我等記，如飢須教食。」

we ask you to grant us predictions, as the hungry need to be told to eat."

爾時世尊知諸大弟子心之所念，告諸比丘：「是須菩提，於當來世，奉覲三百萬億那由他佛，供養恭敬，尊重讚歎，常修梵行，具菩薩道。於最後身、得成為佛，號曰名相如來、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。劫名有寶。國名寶生。其土平正，頗梨為地，寶樹莊嚴，無諸丘坑、沙礫、荊棘、便利之穢，寶華覆地，周遍清淨。其土人民，皆處寶臺、珍妙樓閣。聲聞弟子，無量無邊，算數譬喻所不能知。諸菩薩眾，無數千萬億那由他。佛壽十二小劫，正法住世二十小劫，像法亦住二十小劫。其佛常處虛空為眾說法，度脫無量菩薩及聲聞眾。」爾時世尊欲重宣此義，而說偈言：

At that time the World-Honored One knew what was in the minds of the great disciples and told the monks: "This Subhuti, in a future age, will meet and serve three million billion nayutas (hundreds of millions) of Buddhas, make offerings, revere, honor and praise them, constantly practice noble conduct and fulfill the Bodhisattva way. In his last body he will become a Buddha, named Name and Sign Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, 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. The kalpa will be named Having Treasure. The country will be named Born of Treasure. The land will be level and even, with crystal as ground, adorned with jeweled trees, without hills, pits, gravel, thorns or the filth of waste, with precious flowers covering the ground, everywhere clean and pure. The people of that land will all dwell in jeweled terraces and rare and wonderful towers. His Shravaka disciples will be limitless and boundless, beyond what calculation or parable can know. The assembly of Bodhisattvas will number countless tens of millions of billions of nayutas. The Buddha's lifespan will be twelve small kalpas, the True Dharma will remain in the world for twenty small kalpas, and the Semblance Dharma will also remain for twenty small kalpas. That Buddha will always stay in empty space and preach the Dharma to the assembly, delivering countless Bodhisattvas and Shravakas." At that time the World-Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke in verse:

「諸比丘眾，今告汝等，皆當一心，

"Assembly of monks, I now tell you: all of you must, with one mind,

聽我所說：我大弟子，須菩提者，

listen to what I say: my great disciple Subhuti

當得作佛，號曰名相。當供無數，

will become a Buddha, named Name and Sign. He will make offerings to countless