Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Fascicle 3
多有所饒益，如虛空無邊。
Bringing much benefit, boundless like empty space.
雨天曼陀羅、摩訶曼陀羅，
Heavenly mandarava and great mandarava flowers rain down,
釋梵如恆沙，無數佛土來。
Indras and Brahmas as many as the Ganges' sands come from countless Buddha lands.
雨栴檀瀋水，繽紛而亂墜，
Sandalwood and aloeswood rain down, falling in profusion,
如鳥飛空下，供散於諸佛。
Like birds flying down from the sky, scattered as offerings to the Buddhas.
天鼓虛空中，自然出妙聲，
Heavenly drums in empty space spontaneously give forth wondrous sounds,
天衣千萬種，旋轉而來下。
Heavenly robes in thousands of myriads of kinds come down whirling.
眾寶妙香爐，燒無價之香，
Jeweled and wondrous incense burners burn priceless incense,
自然悉周遍、供養諸世尊。
Which spontaneously spreads everywhere to make offerings to the World-Honored Ones.
其大菩薩眾，執七寶幡蓋，
The multitude of great Bodhisattvas hold seven-jeweled banners and canopies,
高妙萬億種，次第至梵天。
Lofty and exquisite in myriads of billions of kinds, rising in order to Brahma Heaven.
一一諸佛前，寶幢懸勝幡，
Before each Buddha, jeweled banners hang with victory pennants,
亦以千萬偈、歌詠諸如來。
And with thousands of myriads of verses they sing the praises of the Tathagatas.
如是種種事，昔所未曾有，
All these various things are such as never occurred in the past,
聞佛壽無量，一切皆歡喜。
Hearing that the Buddha's life-span is immeasurable, all are delighted.
佛名聞十方，廣饒益眾生，
The Buddha's name is heard in the ten directions, widely benefiting beings,
一切具善根，以助無上心。」
All of whom have good roots, to aid the unsurpassed mind."
爾時佛告彌勒菩薩摩訶薩：「阿逸多！其有眾生，聞佛壽命長遠如是，乃至能生一念信解，所得功德，無有限量。若有善男子、善女人，為阿耨多羅三藐三菩提故，於八十萬億那由他劫，行五波羅蜜——檀波羅蜜、屍羅波羅蜜、羼提波羅蜜、毘梨耶波羅蜜、禪波羅蜜——除般若波羅蜜，以是功德比前功德，百分、千分、百千萬億分、不及其一，乃至算數譬喻所不能知。若善男子、善女人，有如是功德，於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提退者，無有是處。」
Then the Buddha said to Maitreya Bodhisattva Mahasattva: "Ajita! If there are beings who, on hearing that the Buddha's life-span is as long and distant as this, can give rise even to a single thought of faith and understanding, the merit they gain has no limit. If there are good men or good women who, for the sake of unsurpassed, perfect awakening, for eighty myriads of billions of nayutas of kalpas practice the five paramitas, namely dana paramita (giving), shila paramita (keeping precepts), kshanti paramita (patience), virya paramita (diligence), and dhyana paramita, apart from prajna paramita (wisdom), and compare this merit with the former merit, it is a hundredth, a thousandth, a hundred-thousand-myriad-billionth part, not equal to even one of it, so that it cannot be known by calculation or simile. If good men or good women have such merit and yet retreat from unsurpassed, perfect awakening, this is impossible."
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:
「若人求佛慧，於八十萬億，
"If a person seeks the Buddha's wisdom, for eighty myriads of billions
那由他劫數，行五波羅蜜。
Of nayutas of kalpas, practicing the five paramitas.
於是諸劫中，佈施供養佛，
Throughout these kalpas, giving and making offerings to the Buddha,
及緣覺弟子，並諸菩薩眾。
And to the pratyekabuddhas, disciples and the multitude of Bodhisattvas.
珍異之飲食、上服與臥具，
Rare and precious food and drink, fine clothing and bedding,
栴檀立精舍，以園林莊嚴。
Building monasteries of sandalwood, adorned with gardens and groves.
如是等佈施，種種皆微妙，
Giving of this kind, all kinds of it wondrous,
盡此諸劫數，以迴向佛道。
Through all these kalpas, he dedicates it to the Buddha path.
若復持禁戒，清淨無缺漏，
If he again keeps the prohibitive precepts, pure and without flaw,
求於無上道，諸佛之所歎。
Seeking the unsurpassed Way, praised by all Buddhas.
若復行忍辱，住於調柔地，
If he again practices patience, abiding in a place of gentleness,
設眾惡來加，其心不傾動。
Even if many evils are inflicted on him, his heart does not waver.
諸有得法者，懷於增上慢，
Those who have attained the Dharma and hold overweening pride,
為此所輕惱，如是亦能忍。
Who despise and trouble him, he can bear even this.
若復懃精進，志念常堅固，
If he again is diligent, with his aim and thought always firm,
於無量億劫，一心不懈息。
For countless billions of kalpas, single-minded and not slacking.
又於無數劫，住於空閑處，
And for countless kalpas, dwelling in quiet, secluded places,
若坐若經行，除睡常攝心。
Sitting or walking, except for sleep, always gathering the mind.
以是因緣故，能生諸禪定，
By these causes and conditions, he can give rise to all meditative concentrations,
八十億萬劫、安住心不亂。
For eighty myriads of billions of kalpas, abiding with a mind undisturbed.
持此一心福，願求無上道，
Holding the merit of this single mind, vowing to seek the unsurpassed Way,
我得一切智，盡諸禪定際。
Saying, 'May I attain all-knowing wisdom and reach the limit of all meditations.'
是人於百千，萬億劫數中，
This person, throughout hundreds of thousands,
行此諸功德，如上之所說。
Of myriads of billions of kalpas, practices all these merits, as described above.
有善男女等，聞我說壽命，
If there are good men and women who hear me tell of my life-span,
乃至一念信，其福過於彼。
And have even a single thought of faith, their blessing surpasses that.
若人悉無有，一切諸疑悔，
If a person is entirely free of all doubts and regrets,
深心須臾信，其福為如此。
And has deep faith even for a moment, his blessing is like this.
其有諸菩薩，無量劫行道，
Those Bodhisattvas who have practiced the Way for countless kalpas,
聞我說壽命，是則能信受。
On hearing me tell of my life-span, are able to believe and accept it.
如是諸人等，頂受此經典，
Such persons, receiving this scripture on their heads,
願我於未來，長壽度眾生。
Vow: 'May I in the future, with long life, save beings,
如今日世尊、諸釋中之王，
Just as today's World-Honored One, king among the Shakyas,
道場師子吼，說法無所畏。
Roars the lion's roar at the place of the Way, teaching the Dharma without fear.
我等未來世，一切所尊敬，
May we in future ages, respected by all,
坐於道場時，說壽亦如是。
When seated at the place of the Way, tell of the life-span in this way too.'
若有深心者，清淨而質直，
If there are those with a deep mind, pure and honest,
多聞能總持，隨義解佛語，
Learned and able to retain, who understand the Buddha's words according to their meaning,
如是諸人等，於此無有疑。
Such persons have no doubt about this.
「又，阿逸多！若有聞佛壽命長遠，解其言趣，是人所得功德無有限量，能起如來無上之慧。何況廣聞是經、若教人聞，若自持、若教人持，若自書、若教人書，若以華、香、瓔珞、幢幡、繒蓋、香油、酥燈，供養經卷，是人功德無量無邊，能生一切種智。
(The Buddha continued:) "Again, Ajita! If there are those who hear that the Buddha's life-span is long and distant and understand the sense of its words, the merit this person gains has no limit, and he can give rise to the Tathagata's unsurpassed wisdom. How much more one who widely hears this sutra, or teaches others to hear it, or upholds it himself or teaches others to uphold it, or copies it himself or teaches others to copy it, or makes offerings to the sutra scrolls with flowers, incense, necklaces, banners, silk canopies, fragrant oil and butter lamps; this person's merit is countless and boundless, and he can give rise to the wisdom of all kinds.
「阿逸多！若善男子、善女人，聞我說壽命長遠，深心信解，則為見佛常在耆闍崛山，共大菩薩、諸聲聞眾圍繞說法。又見此娑婆世界，其地琉璃，坦然平正，閻浮檀金以界八道，寶樹行列，諸臺樓觀皆悉寶成，其菩薩眾鹹處其中。若有能如是觀者，當知是為深信解相。
(The Buddha continued:) "Ajita! If good men or good women, hearing me speak of the long and distant life-span, have deep faith and understanding, they will see the Buddha always on Gridhrakuta Mountain, surrounded by great Bodhisattvas and the assembly of shravakas, teaching the Dharma. They will also see this Saha world, whose ground is lapis lazuli, flat and level, with Jambunada gold marking out the eight roads, with jeweled trees in rows, and with terraces, towers and pavilions all made of jewels, and the assembly of Bodhisattvas all dwelling within. If there are those who can contemplate in this way, you should know that this is the sign of deep faith and understanding.