Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Fascicle 3

「又復如來滅後，若聞是經而不毀呰，起隨喜心，當知已為深信解相，何況讀誦、受持之者，斯人則為頂戴如來。

(The Buddha continued:) "Again, after the Tathagata's extinction, if one hears this sutra and does not slander it but gives rise to a mind of rejoicing, you should know that this is already a sign of deep faith and understanding, how much more for those who read, recite, receive and uphold it; such persons carry the Tathagata on their heads.

「阿逸多！是善男子、善女人，不須為我復起塔寺，及作僧坊、以四事供養眾僧。所以者何？是善男子、善女人，受持讀誦是經典者，為已起塔、造立僧坊、供養眾僧。則為以佛舍利起七寶塔，高廣漸小至於梵天，懸諸幡蓋及眾寶鈴，華、香、瓔珞，末香、塗香、燒香，眾鼓、伎樂，簫、笛、箜篌，種種舞戲，以妙音聲歌唄讚頌，則為於無量千萬億劫作是供養已。

(The Buddha continued:) "Ajita! These good men and good women need not build stupas or temples for me again, nor build monasteries or make offerings of the four necessities to the assembly of monks. Why? Those good men and good women who receive, uphold, read and recite this sutra have already built stupas, built monasteries, and made offerings to the assembly of monks. It is the same as building a seven-jeweled stupa with the Buddha's relics, high and wide, narrowing gradually up to Brahma Heaven, hung with banners and canopies and many jeweled bells, with flowers, incense, necklaces, powdered incense, paste incense and burning incense, drums of all kinds, music, flutes, pipes and harps, all kinds of dances and plays, singing hymns and praises with wondrous voices; it is the same as having made such offerings for countless thousands of myriads of billions of kalpas.

「阿逸多！若我滅後，聞是經典，有能受持，若自書、若教人書，則為起立僧坊，以赤栴檀作諸殿堂三十有二，高八多羅樹，高廣嚴好，百千比丘於其中止，園林、浴池、經行、禪窟，衣服、飲食、床褥、湯藥，一切樂具充滿其中。如是僧坊、堂閣，若干百千萬億，其數無量，以此現前供養於我及比丘僧。是故我說：『如來滅後，若有受持、讀誦、為他人說，若自書、若教人書，供養經卷，不須復起塔寺，及造僧坊、供養眾僧。』況復有人能持是經，兼行佈施、持戒、忍辱、精進、一心、智慧，其德最勝，無量無邊。譬如虛空，東西南北、四維上下無量無邊；是人功德，亦復如是無量無邊，疾至一切種智。若人讀誦受持是經，為他人說，若自書、若教人書，復能起塔，及造僧坊、供養讚歎聲聞眾僧，亦以百千萬億讚歎之法讚歎菩薩功德，又為他人，種種因緣隨義解說此法華經，復能清淨持戒，與柔和者而共同止，忍辱無瞋，志念堅固，常貴坐禪得諸深定，精進勇猛攝諸善法，利根智慧善答問難。

(The Buddha continued:) "Ajita! If after my extinction one hears this sutra and can receive and uphold it, or copies it himself or teaches others to copy it, it is the same as building monasteries, making thirty-two halls of red sandalwood, eight tala trees high, lofty, wide and splendid, in which hundreds of thousands of monks dwell, with gardens, bathing pools, walking paths, meditation caves, clothing, food and drink, bedding, medicine, and all instruments of comfort filling them. Such monasteries, halls and pavilions, in hundreds of thousands of myriads of billions, countless in number, are presented as offerings to me and to the assembly of monks. So I say: 'After the Tathagata's extinction, if there are those who receive, uphold, read, recite, teach it to others, copy it themselves or teach others to copy it, and make offerings to the sutra scrolls, they need not again build stupas or temples, nor construct monasteries or make offerings to the assembly of monks.' How much more one who can uphold this sutra and also practice giving, keeping precepts, patience, diligence, single-mindedness and wisdom; his virtue is the most supreme, countless and boundless. It is like empty space, east, west, south, north, the four intermediate directions, above and below, countless and boundless; this person's merit is likewise countless and boundless, and swiftly reaches the wisdom of all kinds. If a person reads, recites, receives and upholds this sutra, teaches it to others, copies it himself or teaches others to copy it, and can also build stupas and monasteries, make offerings to and praise the assembly of shravakas, and with hundreds of thousands of myriads of billions of methods of praise praise the merit of Bodhisattvas, and again for others, through all kinds of causes and conditions, explains this Lotus Sutra according to its meaning, and can also keep pure precepts, live together with the gentle, be patient and without anger, with a firm resolve, always value sitting in meditation and attain all deep concentrations, be diligent and courageous and gather all good dharmas, with sharp faculties and wisdom skilled in answering difficult questions.

「阿逸多！若我滅後，諸善男子、善女人，受持讀誦是經典者，復有如是諸善功德，當知是人已趣道場，近阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，坐道樹下。

(The Buddha continued:) "Ajita! If after my extinction good men and good women who receive, uphold, read and recite this sutra further have such good merits, you should know that this person has already approached the place of the Way, is near unsurpassed, perfect awakening, and sits under the Bodhi tree.

「阿逸多！是善男子、善女人，若坐、若立、若行處，此中便應起塔，一切天人皆應供養如佛之塔。」

(The Buddha continued:) "Ajita! Wherever these good men and good women sit, stand or walk, a stupa should be built there, and all devas and humans should make offerings to it as to a Buddha's stupa."

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:

「若我滅度後，能奉持此經，

"If after my extinction, one is able to uphold this sutra,

斯人福無量，如上之所說，

This person's blessing is immeasurable, as described above,

是則為具足，一切諸供養。

And is the complete fulfillment of all offerings.

以舍利起塔，七寶而莊嚴，

Building a stupa with relics, adorned with the seven jewels,

表剎甚高廣，漸小至梵天，

With a spire very high and wide, narrowing gradually up to Brahma Heaven,

寶鈴千萬億，風動出妙音。

With jeweled bells in thousands of myriads of billions, giving wondrous sounds when stirred by wind.

又於無量劫，而供養此塔，

And for countless kalpas, making offerings to this stupa,

華香諸瓔珞，天衣眾伎樂，

With flowers, incense, necklaces, heavenly robes and many kinds of music,

燃香油酥燈，周匝常照明。

Burning incense, oil and butter lamps, constantly lighting all around.

惡世法末時，能持是經者，

In an evil age, at the end of the Dharma, one who can uphold this sutra,

則為已如上，具足諸供養。

Has already, as above, fully completed all offerings.

若能持此經，則如佛現在，

If one can uphold this sutra, it is as though the Buddha were present,

以牛頭栴檀，起僧坊供養。

Building monasteries of ox-head sandalwood as offerings.

堂有三十二，高八多羅樹，

With thirty-two halls, eight tala trees high,

上饌妙衣服，床臥皆具足，

With the finest food and wondrous clothing, and bedding all provided,

百千眾住處，園林諸浴池，

With hundreds of thousands of dwellings, gardens, groves and bathing pools,

經行及禪窟，種種皆嚴好。

Walking paths and meditation caves, all kinds beautifully adorned.

若有信解心，受持讀誦書，

If there is a mind of faith and understanding, who receives, upholds, reads, recites and copies,

若復教人書，及供養經卷，

Or teaches others to copy, and makes offerings to the sutra scrolls,

散華香末香，以須曼瞻蔔、

Scattering flowers, incense and powdered incense, with sumana and champaka,

阿提目多伽，薰油常燃之。

And atimuktaka, and scented oil constantly burning.

如是供養者，得無量功德，

One who makes such offerings gains countless merits,

如虛空無邊，其福亦如是。

As empty space is boundless, so is his blessing.

況復持此經，兼佈施持戒，

How much more one who upholds this sutra, and also practices giving and keeping precepts,

忍辱樂禪定，不瞋不惡口，

Patience, delights in meditation, is not angry and does not speak harshly,

恭敬於塔廟，謙下諸比丘，

Respects stupas and temples, is humble toward monks,

遠離自高心，常思惟智慧，

Keeps far from self-exaltation, and always contemplates wisdom,

有問難不瞋，隨順為解說，

Is not angry at questions and difficulties, and explains accordingly,

若能行是行，功德不可量。

If one can practice this practice, his merit cannot be measured.

若見此法師，成就如是德，

If you see such a Dharma teacher, who has accomplished such virtue,

應以天華散，天衣覆其身，

You should scatter heavenly flowers on him and cover his body with heavenly robes,

頭面接足禮，生心如佛想。

Bow with head and face to his feet, and give rise to the thought that he is like the Buddha.

又應作是念：『不久詣道樹，

And you should also think: 'Before long he will go to the Bodhi tree,

得無漏無為，廣利諸人天。』

Attain the flawless and unconditioned, and widely benefit devas and humans.'

其所住止處，經行若坐臥，

In the places where he dwells, whether walking, sitting or lying down,

乃至說一偈，是中應起塔，

Even where he speaks a single verse, a stupa should be built there,

莊嚴令妙好，種種以供養。

Adorned to be wondrous and fine, with offerings of every kind.

佛子住此地，則是佛受用，

When a son of the Buddha dwells in this place, it is then used by the Buddha,

常在於其中，經行及坐臥。」

Who is always there, walking, sitting and lying down."