Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Fascicle 3
敷演分別。以是方便，皆使發心，
expounding and distinguishing. By these expedient means he causes all to give rise to the aspiration,
漸漸增益，入於佛道。除嬾惰意，
gradually increasing and entering the Buddha's Way. Dispelling thoughts of laziness
及懈怠想，離諸憂惱，慈心說法。
and ideas of sloth, free from worries and afflictions, he preaches with a compassionate heart.
晝夜常說，無上道教，以諸因緣、
Day and night he constantly preaches the teaching of the unsurpassed Way, with causes and conditions
無量譬喻，開示眾生，鹹令歡喜。
and countless parables, revealing it to beings and making all of them glad.
衣服臥具，飲食醫藥，而於其中，
Clothing, bedding, food, drink and medicine: in all of these
無所悕望。但一心念，說法因緣，
he has no expectation. He only single-mindedly thinks of the cause and condition of preaching the Dharma,
願成佛道，令眾亦爾。是則大利，
wishing to attain the Buddha's Way and enable others to do the same. This is great benefit,
安樂供養。我滅度後，若有比丘，
offering in peace and joy. After my extinction, if there is a bhiksu
能演說斯，妙法華經。心無嫉恚，
who can expound this wonderful Lotus Sutra, his heart without envy or anger,
諸惱障礙，亦無憂愁，及罵詈者，
without afflictions or obstacles, and without sorrow, nor those who curse and revile him,
又無怖畏加刀杖等，亦無擯出，
nor fear of swords and staves, nor being driven out,
安住忍故。智者如是，善修其心，
because he abides in patience. The wise one, thus, cultivates his mind well,
能住安樂，如我上說。其人功德，
and can abide in peace and joy, as I have said above. The merit of such a person
千萬億劫，算數譬喻，說不能盡。
cannot be exhausted by counting or parables in thousands of myriads of kotis of kalpas.
「又，文殊師利！菩薩摩訶薩，於後末世法欲滅時，受持、讀誦斯經典者，無懷嫉妬諂誑之心，亦勿輕罵學佛道者，求其長短。若比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷，求聲聞者、求辟支佛者、求菩薩道者，無得惱之，令其疑悔，語其人言：『汝等去道甚遠，終不能得一切種智。所以者何？汝是放逸之人，於道懈怠故。』又亦不應戲論諸法，有所諍競。當於一切眾生起大悲想，於諸如來起慈父想，於諸菩薩起大師想，於十方諸大菩薩，常應深心恭敬禮拜。於一切眾生，平等說法，以順法故，不多不少，乃至深愛法者，亦不為多說。」
(The Buddha continued:) "Furthermore, Manjusri, a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva, in the last age when the Dharma is about to perish, who receives, upholds, reads and recites this sutra, should not harbor a mind of jealousy, flattery or deceit, nor should he slight or revile those who study the Buddha's Way, seeking their faults. If there are bhiksus, bhiksunis, upasakas or upasikas, those who seek the Sravaka path, those who seek the Pratyekabuddha path, or those who seek the Bodhisattva path, he should not trouble them or make them doubt or regret, nor say to them: 'You are very far from the Way and will never attain all-knowing wisdom. Why? Because you are self-indulgent and lazy in the Way.' Also he should not engage in idle debates about dharmas or contend about them. He should give rise to a thought of great compassion toward all beings, a thought of a loving father toward all Tathagatas, and a thought of a great teacher toward all Bodhisattvas, and should always reverently bow with a deep heart to all great Bodhisattvas of the ten directions. To all beings he preaches the Dharma impartially, in accord with the Dharma, neither too much nor too little, and even to those who deeply love the Dharma he does not preach more."
「文殊師利！是菩薩摩訶薩，於後末世法欲滅時，有成就是第三安樂行者，說是法時，無能惱亂，得好同學共讀誦是經，亦得大眾而來聽受，聽已能持，持已能誦，誦已能說，說已能書、若使人書，供養經卷，恭敬、尊重、讚歎。」
(The Buddha continued:) "Manjusri, a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva who, in the last age when the Dharma is about to perish, accomplishes this third practice of peace and joy, when preaching this Dharma, cannot be troubled or disturbed; he will gain good fellow students to read and recite this sutra with him, and will also gain a great assembly that comes to hear and receive it; having heard, they can uphold it, having upheld, they can recite it, having recited, they can preach it, and having preached, they can copy it or have others copy it, and make offerings to the scrolls, with reverence, respect and praise."
爾時世尊欲重宣此義，而說偈言：
Then the World-Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke in verse:
「若欲說是經，當捨嫉恚慢、
"If one wishes to teach this sutra, one should abandon jealousy, anger and pride,
諂誑邪偽心，常修質直行。
flattering, deceitful and false hearts, and always cultivate honest conduct.
不輕蔑於人，亦不戲論法，
Do not slight others, nor engage in idle debate about the Dharma,
不令他疑悔，雲汝不得佛。
nor make others doubt or regret by saying: you cannot attain Buddhahood.
是佛子說法，常柔和能忍，
This child of the Buddha, in preaching, is always gentle and patient,
慈悲於一切，不生懈怠心。
compassionate toward all, and does not give rise to a mind of sloth.
十方大菩薩，愍眾故行道，
The great Bodhisattvas of the ten directions, who practice the Way out of pity for beings,
應生恭敬心，是則我大師。
he should give rise to a reverent mind toward them, saying: these are my great teachers.
於諸佛世尊，生無上父想，
Toward all Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, give rise to a thought of the supreme father,
破於憍慢心，說法無障礙。
and break the mind of arrogance; then preaching the Dharma will be without obstruction.
第三法如是，智者應守護，
The third teaching is thus; the wise should guard it,
一心安樂行，無量眾所敬。
practicing peace and joy single-mindedly, and be revered by countless multitudes.
「又，文殊師利！菩薩摩訶薩，於後末世法欲滅時，有持是法華經者，於在家、出家人中生大慈心，於非菩薩人中生大悲心，應作是念：『如是之人，則為大失。如來方便隨宜說法，不聞不知不覺、不問不信不解，其人雖不問不信不解是經，我得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提時，隨在何地，以神通力、智慧力引之，令得住是法中。』文殊師利！是菩薩摩訶薩，於如來滅後、有成就此第四法者，說是法時，無有過失，常為比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷、國王、王子、大臣、人民、婆羅門、居士等，供養恭敬、尊重讚歎。虛空諸天，為聽法故亦常隨侍。若在聚落、城邑、空閑林中，有人來欲難問者，諸天晝夜常為法故而衛護之，能令聽者皆得歡喜。所以者何？此經是一切過去、未來、現在諸佛神力所護故。文殊師利！是法華經，於無量國中，乃至名字不可得聞，何況得見受持讀誦？」
(The Buddha continued:) "Furthermore, Manjusri, a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva who, in the last age when the Dharma is about to perish, upholds this Lotus Sutra, should give rise to a mind of great kindness toward householders and renunciants, and a mind of great compassion toward those who are not Bodhisattvas, and should have this thought: 'Such people suffer a great loss. The Tathagata preaches the Dharma by expedient means according to what is fitting, but they do not hear, know or perceive it, do not ask about it, trust it or understand it. Although these people do not ask, trust or understand this sutra, when I attain unsurpassed, right and equal enlightenment, wherever they may be, I shall lead them with spiritual powers and the power of wisdom, so that they come to abide in this Dharma.' Manjusri, a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva who, after the Tathagata's extinction, accomplishes this fourth practice, when he preaches this Dharma, is without fault, and is always offered to, revered, respected and praised by bhiksus, bhiksunis, upasakas, upasikas, kings, princes, ministers, people, brahmins, householders and others. The devas in space also constantly attend him for the sake of hearing the Dharma. If he is in a village, a city, or a quiet forest, and people come wishing to ask difficult questions, the devas day and night constantly guard him for the sake of the Dharma, and can make all who listen glad. Why? Because this sutra is protected by the spiritual power of all Buddhas of the past, future and present. Manjusri, this Lotus Sutra, in countless lands, cannot even have its name heard, to say nothing of being seen, received, upheld, read and recited."
「文殊師利！譬如強力轉輪聖王，欲以威勢降伏諸國，而諸小王不順其命，時轉輪王起種種兵而往討罰。王見兵眾戰有功者，即大歡喜，隨功賞賜，或與田宅、聚落、城邑；或與衣服、嚴身之具；或與種種珍寶：金、銀、琉璃、車𤦲、馬腦、珊瑚、虎珀，象馬車乘，奴婢人民。唯髻中明珠，不以與之。所以者何？獨王頂上有此一珠，若以與之，王諸眷屬必大驚怪。
(The Buddha continued:) "Manjusri, it is like a mighty wheel-turning sage king who wishes to subdue all countries by his awesome power, but the lesser kings do not obey his command, and so the wheel-turning king raises various troops and goes to punish them. When the king sees soldiers who have achieved merit in battle, he is greatly pleased and rewards them according to their merit, giving fields, houses, villages and cities; or clothing and ornaments for the body; or all kinds of treasures: gold, silver, lapis lazuli, tridacna, carnelian, coral and amber, elephants, horses, carriages, male and female servants and people. Only the bright jewel in his topknot he does not give them. Why? Only on the king's head is there this one jewel, and if he gave it to them, the king's retinue would surely be greatly shocked.
「文殊師利！如來亦復如是，以禪定智慧力得法國土，王於三界，而諸魔王不肯順伏。如來賢聖諸將與之共戰，其有功者，心亦歡喜，於四眾中為說諸經，令其心悅，賜以禪定、解脫、無漏根力、諸法之財，又復賜與涅槃之城，言得滅度，引導其心，令皆歡喜，而不為說是法華經。
(The Buddha continued:) "Manjusri, the Tathagata is also like this. By the power of meditation and wisdom he has obtained the lands of the Dharma and is king in the three realms, yet the demon kings are unwilling to submit. The Tathagata's worthy and holy generals fight with them, and those who have achieved merit, the Tathagata is also glad in his heart; to the four assemblies he preaches the various sutras, delighting their minds, and bestows on them the wealth of meditation, liberation, the faculties and powers without outflows, and all dharmas; and he further bestows on them the city of nirvana, saying that they have attained extinction, leading their minds and making them all glad, yet he does not preach to them this Lotus Sutra.
「文殊師利！如轉輪王，見諸兵眾有大功者，心甚歡喜，以此難信之珠，久在髻中不妄與人，而今與之。如來亦復如是，於三界中為大法王，以法教化一切眾生。見賢聖軍，與五陰魔、煩惱魔、死魔共戰，有大功勳，滅三毒，出三界，破魔網，爾時如來亦大歡喜。此法華經，能令眾生至一切智，一切世間多怨難信，先所未說而今說之。文殊師利！此法華經，是諸如來第一之說，於諸說中最為甚深，末後賜與，如彼強力之王久護明珠，今乃與之。文殊師利！此法華經，諸佛如來秘密之藏，於諸經中最在其上，長夜守護不妄宣說，始於今日乃與汝等而敷演之。」
(The Buddha continued:) "Manjusri, as the wheel-turning king, seeing that his soldiers have done great deeds, is very glad, and gives the jewel that is hard to believe in, which he has long kept in his topknot and not given lightly to people, but now gives it to them. The Tathagata is also like this: in the three realms he is the great Dharma king and teaches and transforms all beings with the Dharma. Seeing the army of the worthy and holy fight with the demon of the five skandhas, the demon of afflictions and the demon of death, achieving great merit, extinguishing the three poisons, leaving the three realms and breaking the net of Mara, the Tathagata is also greatly glad. This Lotus Sutra can lead beings to all-knowing wisdom, and is much resented and hard to believe in all the world; what has never been preached before, he now preaches. Manjusri, this Lotus Sutra is the foremost teaching of all Tathagatas, the most profound among all teachings, and is bestowed last, as the mighty king long guarded the bright jewel and now gives it. Manjusri, this Lotus Sutra is the secret treasury of all Buddhas and Tathagatas, ranking above all the sutras; for a long night it has been guarded and not preached lightly, and only today do I expound it to you."
爾時世尊欲重宣此義，而說偈言：
Then the World-Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke in verse:
「常行忍辱，哀愍一切，乃能演說，
"Always practice patience, have compassion for all, and only then can one expound
佛所讚經。後末世時，持此經者，
the sutra the Buddha praises. In the last age, those who uphold this sutra,
於家出家，及非菩薩，應生慈悲，
toward householders, renunciants, and those who are not Bodhisattvas, should give rise to kindness and compassion:
斯等不聞，不信是經，則為大失。
these people do not hear and do not believe this sutra, and so suffer a great loss.
我得佛道，以諸方便，為說此法，
When I attained the Buddha's Way, by various expedient means I preached this Dharma for them,
令住其中。譬如強力，轉輪之王，
enabling them to abide in it. It is like the mighty wheel-turning king,
兵戰有功，賞賜諸物，象馬車乘，
who rewards those with merit in battle with various things: elephants, horses, carriages,
嚴身之具，及諸田宅，聚落城邑，
ornaments for the body, and fields and houses, villages and cities,
或與衣服，種種珍寶，奴婢財物，
or clothing, various treasures, servants and goods,
歡喜賜與。如有勇健，能為難事，
giving them gladly. And if there is one who is brave and able to do the hard thing,
王解髻中，明珠賜之。如來亦爾，
the king unties the bright jewel from his topknot and gives it to him. The Tathagata is also so,
為諸法王，忍辱大力，智慧寶藏，
king of all dharmas, with the great power of patience, a treasury of wisdom,
以大慈悲，如法化世。見一切人、
transforming the world according to the Dharma with great compassion. Seeing all people
受諸苦惱，欲求解脫，與諸魔戰。
suffering various afflictions and wishing for liberation, he fights with the demons.
為是眾生，說種種法，以大方便，
For these beings he preaches various dharmas, with great expedient means
說此諸經。既知眾生，得其力已，
he preaches these sutras. Having known that beings have gained their strength,
末後乃為，說是法華。如王解髻，
only at the very end does he preach this Lotus Sutra. As the king unties the topknot
明珠與之。此經為尊，眾經中上，
and gives the bright jewel. This sutra is the most honored, the highest among all sutras;
我常守護，不妄開示，今正是時，
I have always guarded it and not shown it lightly, and now is just the time
為汝等說。我滅度後，求佛道者，
to preach it to you. After my extinction, those who seek the Buddha's Way
欲得安隱，演說斯經，應當親近，
and wish for peace in expounding this sutra should draw near to
如是四法。讀是經者，常無憂惱，
these four practices. Those who read this sutra are always free of worry and affliction,
又無病痛，顏色鮮白，不生貧窮、
and also free of illness and pain, their complexion fresh and fair, not born poor,
卑賤醜陋。眾生樂見，如慕賢聖，
lowly or ugly. Beings delight to see them, as if admiring worthies and sages,
天諸童子，以為給使。刀杖不加，
and heavenly youths serve them as attendants. Swords and staves do not harm them,