Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Fascicle 3

爾時佛前有七寶塔，高五百由旬，縱廣二百五十由旬，從地踴出，住在空中，種種寶物而莊校之。五千欄楯，龕室千萬，無數幢幡以為嚴飾，垂寶瓔珞寶鈴萬億而懸其上。四面皆出多摩羅跋栴檀之香，充遍世界。其諸幡蓋，以金、銀、琉璃、車𤦲、馬腦、真珠、玫瑰、七寶合成，高至四天王宮。三十三天雨天曼陀羅華，供養寶塔。餘諸天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等，千萬億眾，以一切華、香、瓔珞、幡蓋、伎樂，供養寶塔，恭敬、尊重、讚歎。爾時寶塔中出大音聲歎言：「善哉，善哉！釋迦牟尼世尊！能以平等大慧，教菩薩法，佛所護念，妙法華經，為大眾說。如是，如是！釋迦牟尼世尊！如所說者，皆是真實。」

At that time before the Buddha there appeared a stupa of the seven treasures, five hundred yojanas high and two hundred and fifty yojanas in length and breadth, which sprang up from the earth and stood in the sky, adorned with all kinds of precious things. It had five thousand railings, thousands of ten thousands of niches, countless banners and streamers as decoration, with jeweled garlands hanging down and ten thousand billions of jeweled bells suspended above. On all four sides came the fragrance of tamalapatra sandalwood, filling the whole world. Its banners and canopies were made of the seven treasures, gold, silver, lapis lazuli, seashell, agate, pearl and carnelian, and rose as high as the palaces of the Four Heavenly Kings. The Thirty-three Heavens rained down heavenly mandarava flowers as offerings to the jeweled stupa. The other devas, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, thousands of ten thousands of billions of beings, with all flowers, incense, garlands, banners, canopies and music, made offerings to the jeweled stupa, honoring, revering and praising it. At that time a great voice came from within the jeweled stupa, exclaiming: "Excellent, excellent! Shakyamuni, World-Honored One! With equal great wisdom you teach the Dharma for Bodhisattvas, protected and remembered by the Buddhas, the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sutra, and you expound it for the great assembly. So it is, so it is! Shakyamuni, World-Honored One! All that you have said is true."

爾時四眾，見大寶塔住在空中，又聞塔中所出音聲，皆得法喜，怪未曾有，從座而起，恭敬合掌，卻住一面。爾時有菩薩摩訶薩，名大樂說，知一切世間天、人、阿修羅等心之所疑，而白佛言：「世尊！以何因緣，有此寶塔從地踴出，又於其中發是音聲？」

At that time the four assemblies, seeing the great jeweled stupa standing in the sky and hearing the voice that came from within it, all attained joy in the Dharma, marveled at what they had never seen, rose from their seats, joined palms in reverence, and stood to one side. At that time there was a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva named Great Delight in Preaching (Mahapratibhana), who, knowing the doubts in the hearts of the devas, humans, asuras and others of all the world, said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! For what cause and condition has this jeweled stupa sprung up from the earth, and why has this voice come from within it?"

爾時佛告大樂說菩薩：「此寶塔中有如來全身，乃往過去東方無量千萬億阿僧祇世界，國名寶淨，彼中有佛，號曰多寶。其佛行菩薩道時，作大誓願：『若我成佛、滅度之後，於十方國土有說法華經處，我之塔廟，為聽是經故，踴現其前，為作證明，讚言善哉。』

At that time the Buddha said to Great Delight in Preaching Bodhisattva: "In this jeweled stupa is the whole body of a Tathagata. Long ago in the past, in the east, in a world immeasurable thousands of ten thousands of billions of asamkhyeyas away, in a land named Treasure Purity, there was a Buddha called Prabhutaratna. When that Buddha was practicing the Bodhisattva Way, he made a great vow: 'If after I become a Buddha and have passed into extinction, in the lands of the ten directions there is a place where the Lotus Sutra is expounded, my stupa shall spring up before it in order to hear this sutra, to bear witness, and to praise it, saying: Excellent.'

「彼佛成道已，臨滅度時，於天人大眾中告諸比丘：『我滅度後，欲供養我全身者，應起一大塔。』其佛以神通願力，十方世界，在在處處，若有說法華經者，彼之寶塔皆踴出其前，全身在於塔中，讚言：『善哉，善哉！』

(The Buddha continued:) "When that Buddha had attained the Way and was about to pass into extinction, he said to the bhikshus in the great assembly of devas and humans: 'After my extinction, those who wish to make offerings to my whole body should build one great stupa.' By that Buddha's divine power and the power of his vow, in the worlds of the ten directions, wherever anyone expounds the Lotus Sutra, his jeweled stupa springs up before that place, his whole body within the stupa, praising: 'Excellent, excellent!'

「大樂說！今多寶如來塔，聞說法華經故，從地踴出，讚言：『善哉，善哉！』」

(The Buddha continued:) "Great Delight in Preaching! Now the stupa of Prabhutaratna Tathagata, because it hears the Lotus Sutra being taught, has sprung up from the earth and praises: 'Excellent, excellent!'"

是時大樂說菩薩，以如來神力故，白佛言：「世尊！我等願欲見此佛身。」

At this time Great Delight in Preaching Bodhisattva, by the Tathagata's divine power, said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! We wish to see this Buddha's body."

佛告大樂說菩薩摩訶薩：「是多寶佛，有深重願：『若我寶塔，為聽法華經故，出於諸佛前時，其有欲以我身示四眾者，彼佛分身諸佛——在於十方世界說法，盡還集一處，然後我身乃出現耳。』

The Buddha said to Great Delight in Preaching Bodhisattva-Mahasattva: "This Buddha Prabhutaratna has a deep and weighty vow: 'When my jeweled stupa, in order to hear the Lotus Sutra, appears before other Buddhas, if there are those who wish to show my body to the four assemblies, then the Buddhas who are emanations of that Buddha, teaching the Dharma in the worlds of the ten directions, must all return and gather in one place, and only then will my body appear.'

「大樂說！我分身諸佛——在於十方世界說法者，今應當集。」

(The Buddha continued:) "Great Delight in Preaching! My emanation Buddhas, who are teaching the Dharma in the worlds of the ten directions, should now be gathered."

大樂說白佛言：「世尊！我等亦願欲見世尊分身諸佛，禮拜供養。」

Great Delight in Preaching said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! We also wish to see the World-Honored One's emanation Buddhas, bow to them and make offerings."

爾時佛放白毫一光，即見東方五百萬億那由他恆河沙等國土諸佛，彼諸國土，皆以頗梨為地，寶樹、寶衣以為莊嚴，無數千萬億菩薩充滿其中，遍張寶幔，寶網羅上。彼國諸佛，以大妙音而說諸法，及見無量千萬億菩薩，遍滿諸國，為眾說法。南西北方、四維上下，白毫相光所照之處，亦復如是。爾時十方諸佛，各告眾菩薩言：「善男子！我今應往娑婆世界，釋迦牟尼佛所，並供養多寶如來寶塔。」

At that time the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the white tuft between his brows, and at once saw in the east the Buddhas in lands as many as the Ganges sands of five million billion nayutas, whose lands all had ground of crystal, adorned with jeweled trees and jeweled garments, filled with countless thousands of ten thousands of billions of Bodhisattvas, with jeweled curtains spread everywhere and jeweled nets above. The Buddhas of those lands were teaching all dharmas with great wonderful voices, and he also saw immeasurable thousands of ten thousands of billions of Bodhisattvas filling those lands, teaching the Dharma to the assemblies. The same was true in the south, west and north, the four intermediate directions, above and below, wherever the light of the white tuft shone. At that time the Buddhas of the ten directions each said to the assembly of Bodhisattvas: "Good sons! We must now go to the Saha world, to where Shakyamuni Buddha is, and also make offerings to the jeweled stupa of Prabhutaratna Tathagata."

時娑婆世界即變清淨，琉璃為地，寶樹莊嚴，黃金為繩以界八道，無諸聚落、村營、城邑、大海、江河、山川、林藪。燒大寶香，曼陀羅華遍佈其地，以寶網幔，羅覆其上，懸諸寶鈴。唯留此會眾，移諸天人置於他土。

Then the Saha world at once became pure, its ground of lapis lazuli, adorned with jeweled trees, with golden cords marking the eight paths, and no villages, hamlets, cities, towns, great seas, rivers, mountains or forests. Great precious incense was burned, mandarava flowers were spread over the ground, jeweled nets and curtains were hung over it, with jeweled bells suspended. Only this assembly remained, and the devas and humans were moved to other lands.

是時，諸佛各將一大菩薩以為侍者，至娑婆世界，各到寶樹下。一一寶樹高五百由旬，枝、葉、華、菓次第莊嚴，諸寶樹下皆有師子之座，高五由旬，亦以大寶而校飾之。爾時諸佛，各於此座結加趺坐。如是展轉遍滿三千大千世界，而於釋迦牟尼佛一方所分之身猶故未盡。

At this time the Buddhas each brought one great Bodhisattva as an attendant to the Saha world, and each came beneath a jeweled tree. Each jeweled tree was five hundred yojanas high, its branches, leaves, flowers and fruit adorned in order, and under all the jeweled trees there were lion seats, five yojanas high, also adorned with great jewels. At that time the Buddhas each sat cross-legged on these seats. In this way they gradually filled the three-thousand great thousand world, yet the emanation bodies from Shakyamuni Buddha's single direction were still not all accommodated.

時釋迦牟尼佛欲容受所分身諸佛故，八方各更變二百萬億那由他國，皆令清淨，無有地獄、餓鬼、畜生及阿修羅，又移諸天、人置於他土。所化之國，亦以琉璃為地，寶樹莊嚴，樹高五百由旬，枝、葉、華、菓次第嚴飾，樹下皆有寶師子座，高五由旬，種種諸寶以為莊校。亦無大海、江河，及目真隣陀山、摩訶目真隣陀山、鐵圍山、大鐵圍山、須彌山等諸山王，通為一佛國土。寶地平正，寶交露幔遍覆其上；懸諸幡蓋，燒大寶香，諸天寶華遍佈其地。

Then Shakyamuni Buddha, wishing to make room for the emanation Buddhas, in each of the eight directions further transformed two million billion nayutas of lands, making them all pure, without hells, hungry ghosts, animals or asuras, and moved the devas and humans to other lands. The transformed lands also had ground of lapis lazuli, adorned with jeweled trees five hundred yojanas high, with branches, leaves, flowers and fruit adorned in order, and beneath the trees were jeweled lion seats five yojanas high, adorned with all kinds of jewels. There were no great seas or rivers, and no mountain kings such as Mucilinda, Mahamucilinda, the Iron Circle, the Great Iron Circle and Mount Sumeru, all forming one Buddha land. The jeweled ground was level and even, with jeweled nets and curtains spread over it; banners and canopies hung there, great precious incense was burned, and heavenly jeweled flowers were scattered over the ground.

釋迦牟尼佛為諸佛當來坐故，復於八方各更變二百萬億那由他國，皆令清淨，無有地獄、餓鬼、畜生及阿修羅，又移諸天、人置於他土。所化之國，亦以琉璃為地，寶樹莊嚴，樹高五百由旬，枝、葉、華、菓次第莊嚴，樹下皆有寶師子座，高五由旬，亦以大寶而校飾之。亦無大海、江河，及目真隣陀山、摩訶目真隣陀山、鐵圍山、大鐵圍山、須彌山等諸山王，通為一佛國土。寶地平正，寶交露幔、遍覆其上；懸諸幡蓋，燒大寶香，諸天寶華遍佈其地。

Shakyamuni Buddha, to provide for the Buddhas yet to come to sit, again in each of the eight directions transformed two million billion nayutas of lands, making them all pure, without hells, hungry ghosts, animals or asuras, and moved the devas and humans to other lands. The transformed lands also had ground of lapis lazuli, adorned with jeweled trees five hundred yojanas high, with branches, leaves, flowers and fruit adorned in order, and beneath the trees were jeweled lion seats five yojanas high, also adorned with great jewels. There were also no great seas or rivers, and no mountain kings such as Mucilinda, Mahamucilinda, the Iron Circle, the Great Iron Circle and Mount Sumeru, all forming one Buddha land. The jeweled ground was level and even, with jeweled nets and curtains spread over it; banners and canopies hung there, great precious incense was burned, and heavenly jeweled flowers were scattered over the ground.

爾時東方釋迦牟尼佛所分之身，百千萬億那由他恆河沙等國土中諸佛，各各說法，來集於此；如是次第十方諸佛皆悉來集，坐於八方。爾時一一方四百萬億那由他國土，諸佛如來遍滿其中。是時，諸佛各在寶樹下，坐師子座，皆遣侍者問訊釋迦牟尼佛，各齎寶華滿掬而告之言：「善男子！汝往詣耆闍崛山釋迦牟尼佛所，如我辭曰：『少病、少惱，氣力安樂，及菩薩、聲聞眾悉安隱不？』以此寶華散佛供養，而作是言：『彼某甲佛，與欲開此寶塔。』」諸佛遣使，亦復如是。

At that time the emanation Buddhas of Shakyamuni Buddha from the east, the Buddhas in lands numerous as the Ganges sands of hundreds of thousands of ten thousands of billions of nayutas, each teaching the Dharma, came and gathered here; in this order the Buddhas of the ten directions all came and gathered, and sat in the eight directions. At that time in each direction, four million billion nayutas of lands were filled with Buddhas and Tathagatas. Then the Buddhas, each seated on a lion seat beneath a jeweled tree, all sent attendants to inquire after Shakyamuni Buddha, each bringing handfuls of jeweled flowers, and said: "Good son! Go to Mount Gridhrakuta, to where Shakyamuni Buddha is, and say as I speak: 'Is he of few illnesses and few troubles, with ease of strength and comfort, and are the Bodhisattvas and shravakas all at peace?' Scatter these jeweled flowers over the Buddha as an offering, and say: 'The Buddha so-and-so, together with you, wishes to open this jeweled stupa.'" The Buddhas sent their envoys in the same way.

爾時釋迦牟尼佛，見所分身佛悉已來集，各各坐於師子之座，皆聞諸佛與欲同開寶塔，即從座起，住虛空中。一切四眾，起立合掌，一心觀佛。於是釋迦牟尼佛，以右指開七寶塔戶，出大音聲，如卻關鑰開大城門。即時一切眾會，皆見多寶如來於寶塔中坐師子座，全身不散，如入禪定。又聞其言：「善哉，善哉！釋迦牟尼佛！快說是法華經，我為聽是經故而來至此。」爾時四眾等，見過去無量千萬億劫滅度佛說如是言，歎未曾有，以天寶華聚，散多寶佛及釋迦牟尼佛上。

At that time Shakyamuni Buddha, seeing that the emanation Buddhas had all arrived and gathered, each seated on a lion seat, and hearing that all the Buddhas wished together to open the jeweled stupa, rose from his seat and stood in the empty sky. All the four assemblies rose, joined palms, and gazed at the Buddha with one mind. Then Shakyamuni Buddha opened the door of the stupa of the seven treasures with his right finger, with a great sound like drawing back the bolt and key of a great city gate. At once the whole assembly saw Prabhutaratna Tathagata seated on a lion seat in the jeweled stupa, his whole body undispersed, as if in meditative concentration. They also heard him say: "Excellent, excellent! Shakyamuni Buddha! Joyfully teach this Lotus Sutra; I have come here in order to hear this sutra." At that time the four assemblies and others, seeing the Buddha who had passed into extinction immeasurable thousands of ten thousands of billions of kalpas ago speak in this way, marveled at the unprecedented, and scattered heaps of heavenly jeweled flowers over Prabhutaratna Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha.

爾時多寶佛於寶塔中分半座與釋迦牟尼佛，而作是言：「釋迦牟尼佛！可就此座。」即時釋迦牟尼佛入其塔中，坐其半座，結加趺坐。爾時，大眾見二如來在七寶塔中師子座上結加趺坐，各作是念：「佛座高遠，唯願如來以神通力，令我等輩俱處虛空。」即時釋迦牟尼佛以神通力，接諸大眾皆在虛空，以大音聲普告四眾：「誰能於此娑婆國土廣說妙法華經，今正是時。如來不久當入涅槃，佛欲以此妙法華經付囑有在。」

At that time Prabhutaratna Buddha, in the jeweled stupa, offered half of his seat to Shakyamuni Buddha and said: "Shakyamuni Buddha! You may take this seat." At once Shakyamuni Buddha entered the stupa, sat on half of the seat, and sat cross-legged. At that time the great assembly, seeing the two Tathagatas seated cross-legged on the lion seat in the stupa of the seven treasures, each thought: "The Buddhas' seat is high and far; we only wish the Tathagatas by their divine power would let us all be in the empty sky." At once Shakyamuni Buddha by his divine power lifted the whole great assembly into the empty sky, and with a great voice announced to the four assemblies: "Who can widely expound the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sutra in this Saha land? Now is exactly the time. The Tathagata will soon enter nirvana, and the Buddha wishes to entrust this Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sutra to someone."

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:

「聖主世尊，雖久滅度，在寶塔中，

"The holy lord, the World-Honored One, though long extinct, in the jeweled stupa,

尚為法來。諸人云何不勤為法？

still comes for the Dharma. How can all of you not strive for the Dharma?

此佛滅度，無央數劫，處處聽法，

This Buddha has been extinct for countless kalpas, yet everywhere he listens to the Dharma,

以難遇故。彼佛本願，我滅度後，

because it is hard to encounter. That Buddha's original vow: after my extinction,

在在所往，常為聽法。又我分身，

wherever I go, I will always listen to the Dharma. Also my emanation bodies,

無量諸佛，如恆沙等，來欲聽法。

immeasurable Buddhas, as many as the Ganges sands, have come wishing to hear the Dharma,

及見滅度，多寶如來，各捨妙土，

and to see the extinct Prabhutaratna Tathagata, each leaving his wonderful land,

及弟子眾、天人龍神、諸供養事，

and his assembly of disciples, devas, humans, dragons, spirits and all offerings,

令法久住，故來至此。為坐諸佛，

so that the Dharma may long abide, they have come here. To provide seats for the Buddhas,

以神通力，移無量眾，令國清淨。

by divine power I moved immeasurable beings and made the lands pure.

諸佛各各，詣寶樹下，如清淨池，

The Buddhas each go beneath the jeweled trees, like a pure pond

蓮華莊嚴。其寶樹下，諸師子座，

adorned with lotus flowers. Beneath those jeweled trees, on the lion seats,

佛坐其上，光明嚴飾，如夜闇中，

the Buddhas sit, adorned with radiant light, like a great torch burning

燃大炬火。身出妙香，遍十方國，

in the dark of night. Wonderful fragrance comes from their bodies and fills the lands of the ten directions,

眾生蒙薰，喜不自勝。譬如大風，

beings are perfumed by it and cannot contain their joy, like a great wind

吹小樹枝。以是方便，令法久住。

blowing the branches of small trees. By this skillful means, they let the Dharma long abide.

告諸大眾：『我滅度後，誰能護持、

He tells the great assembly: 'After my extinction, who can protect, uphold,

讀說斯經？今於佛前，自說誓言。

read and expound this sutra? Now before the Buddha, declare your vow yourselves.'

其多寶佛，雖久滅度，以大誓願，

That Buddha Prabhutaratna, though long extinct, by his great vow

而師子吼。多寶如來，及與我身，

roars the lion's roar. Prabhutaratna Tathagata and I,

所集化佛，當知此意。諸佛子等，

and the emanation Buddhas gathered here, know this intention. All you sons of the Buddha,

誰能護法，當發大願，令得久住。

who can protect the Dharma should make a great vow so that it may long abide.

其有能護，此經法者，則為供養，

Those who can protect the Dharma of this sutra will thereby make offerings

我及多寶。此多寶佛，處於寶塔，

to me and to Prabhutaratna. This Buddha Prabhutaratna, dwelling in the jeweled stupa,

常遊十方。為是經故，亦復供養，

constantly travels the ten directions. For the sake of this sutra he will also make offerings

諸來化佛，莊嚴光飾、諸世界者。

to the emanation Buddhas who have come, and to the adorned and radiant worlds.

若說此經，則為見我、多寶如來，

If one expounds this sutra, one thereby sees me, Prabhutaratna Tathagata,

及諸化佛。諸善男子！各諦思惟，

and all the emanation Buddhas. Good sons! Each of you contemplate carefully:

此為難事，宜發大願。諸餘經典，

this is a hard thing, and one should make a great vow. As for the other sutras,

數如恆沙，雖說此等，未足為難。

as many as the Ganges sands, though one expounds them, it is not hard enough.

若接須彌，擲置他方，無數佛土，

If one seized Mount Sumeru and flung it into another region, past countless Buddha lands,

亦未為難。若以足指，動大千界，

that too would not be hard. If with the tip of the foot one shook the great thousand world

遠擲他國，亦未為難。若立有頂，

and flung it far into another land, that too would not be hard. If one stood on the summit of existence

為眾演說，無量餘經，亦未為難。

and taught immeasurable other sutras to the multitudes, that too would not be hard.

若佛滅後，於惡世中，能說此經，

But if after the Buddha's extinction, in an evil age, one can expound this sutra,

是則為難。假使有人，手把虛空，

that is hard. Suppose someone holds empty space in his hand

而以遊行，亦未為難。於我滅後，

and walks about with it, that too is not hard. But after my extinction,

若自書持，若使人書，是則為難。

to copy and uphold this sutra oneself, or have others copy it, that is hard.

若以大地，置足甲上，昇於梵天，

If one put the great earth on a fingernail and ascended to the Brahma heaven,

亦未為難。佛滅度後，於惡世中，

that too is not hard. But after the Buddha's extinction, in an evil age,

暫讀此經，是則為難。假使劫燒，

to read this sutra for even a moment, that is hard. Suppose at the burning of the kalpa,