The Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Dharma

諸天龍鬼神，供養人中尊。

and the devas, nagas and spirits made offerings to the one honored among humans.

一切諸佛土，即時大震動，

All the Buddha-lands shook greatly at once,

佛放眉間光，現諸希有事。

and the Buddha emitted light from between his brows, displaying rare events.

此光照東方，萬八千佛土，

This light shone to the east on eighteen thousand Buddha-lands,

示一切眾生，生死業報處。

showing all beings the places of birth and death and karmic retribution.

有見諸佛土，以眾寶莊嚴，

Some saw the Buddha-lands adorned with many jewels,

琉璃頗梨色，斯由佛光照。

with the colors of lapis lazuli and crystal, which came from the Buddha's light shining.

及見諸天人、龍神夜叉眾、

They also saw the devas and humans, the nagas, spirits and yakshas,

乾闥緊那羅，各供養其佛。

gandharvas and kinnaras, each making offerings to their Buddha.

又見諸如來，自然成佛道，

They also saw the Tathagatas who naturally attained the Buddha path,

身色如金山，端嚴甚微妙。

their bodies the color of golden mountains, dignified and exceedingly wondrous.

如淨琉璃中，內現真金像，

Like a true golden image appearing within pure lapis lazuli,

世尊在大眾，敷演深法義。

the World-Honored One in the great assembly expounds the profound meaning of the Dharma.

一一諸佛土，聲聞眾無數，

In each of the Buddha-lands there were countless assemblies of sravakas,

因佛光所照，悉見彼大眾。

and because the Buddha's light shone on them, all those great assemblies were seen.

或有諸比丘，在於山林中，

Some bhiksus dwelling in the mountains and forests,

精進持淨戒，猶如護明珠。

diligently keeping the pure precepts, as if guarding a bright pearl.

又見諸菩薩，行施忍辱等，

They also saw bodhisattvas practicing giving, patience and so on,

其數如恆沙，斯由佛光照。

their number like the sands of the Ganges, which came from the Buddha's light shining.

又見諸菩薩，深入諸禪定，

They also saw bodhisattvas deeply entering all meditations,

身心寂不動，以求無上道。

their bodies and minds still and unmoving, seeking the unsurpassed Way.

又見諸菩薩，知法寂滅相，

They also saw bodhisattvas knowing the quiescent nature of the Dharma,

各於其國土，說法求佛道。

each in their own lands preaching the Dharma and seeking the Buddha's path.

爾時四部眾，見日月燈佛，

At that time the four groups of the assembly, seeing the Sun-Moon-Lamp Buddha

現大神通力，其心皆歡喜，

display great spiritual power, were all glad at heart,

各各自相問：『是事何因緣？』

and each asked one another: 'What is the cause and condition of this?'

天人所奉尊，適從三昧起，

The one honored by devas and humans, just risen from samadhi,

讚妙光菩薩：『汝為世間眼，

praised the Bodhisattva Wondrous Light: 'You are the eye of the world,

一切所歸信，能奉持法藏，

the one to whom all turn in faith, able to uphold the Dharma treasury;

如我所說法，唯汝能證知。』

of the Dharma I have preached, only you can realize and know it.'

世尊既讚歎，令妙光歡喜，

When the World-Honored One had praised him and made Wondrous Light glad,

說是法華經，滿六十小劫，

he preached this Lotus Sutra, for a full sixty minor kalpas,

不起於此座。所說上妙法，

without rising from this seat. The supreme wondrous Dharma he preached,

是妙光法師，悉皆能受持。

this Dharma master Wondrous Light was able to receive and uphold it all.

佛說是法華，令眾歡喜已，

When the Buddha had spoken this Lotus and made the assembly glad,

尋即於是日，告於天人眾：

on that very day he told the assembly of devas and humans:

『諸法實相義，已為汝等說，

'The meaning of the true aspect of all dharmas has already been told to you,

我今於中夜，當入於涅槃。

and tonight at midnight I shall enter nirvana.

汝一心精進，當離於放逸，

Be single-minded and diligent, and keep away from heedlessness;

諸佛甚難值，億劫時一遇。』

Buddhas are extremely hard to meet, met once in billions of kalpas.'

世尊諸子等，聞佛入涅槃，

The sons of the World-Honored One, hearing that the Buddha would enter nirvana,

各各懷悲惱，佛滅一何速。

each filled with grief and distress, saying: how swift is the Buddha's passing!

聖主法之王，安慰無量眾：

The sage lord, king of the Dharma, comforted the immeasurable assembly:

『我若滅度時，汝等勿憂怖，

'When I pass away, do not be sorrowful or afraid;

是德藏菩薩，於無漏實相，

this Bodhisattva Virtue Treasury, in the outflow-free true aspect,

心已得通達。其次當作佛，

has already attained penetration in his mind. He will be the next Buddha,

號曰為淨身，亦度無量眾。』

named Pure Body, and will also liberate an immeasurable multitude.'

佛此夜滅度，如薪盡火滅，

That night the Buddha passed away, like firewood consumed and the fire extinguished,

分佈諸舍利，而起無量塔。

and his relics were distributed and immeasurable stupas were erected.

比丘比丘尼，其數如恆沙，

The bhiksus and bhiksunis, numerous as the sands of the Ganges,

倍復加精進，以求無上道。

redoubled their diligence in order to seek the unsurpassed Way.

是妙光法師，奉持佛法藏，

This Dharma master Wondrous Light, upholding the Buddha's Dharma treasury,

八十小劫中，廣宣法華經。

for eighty minor kalpas widely proclaimed the Lotus Sutra.

是諸八王子，妙光所開化，

These eight princes, taught and transformed by Wondrous Light,

堅固無上道，當見無數佛。

were firm in the unsurpassed Way and met countless Buddhas.

供養諸佛已，隨順行大道，

Having made offerings to the Buddhas, they followed and practiced the great Way,

相繼得成佛，轉次而授記。

one after another attained Buddhahood, and in turn gave predictions.

最後天中天，號曰燃燈佛，

The last, the god of gods, was named Dipamkara Buddha,

諸仙之導師，度脫無量眾。

the guide of all the sages, who liberated an immeasurable multitude.

是妙光法師，時有一弟子，

This Dharma master Wondrous Light had a disciple at that time,