Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Fascicle Five

『我不輕汝，汝等行道，皆當作佛。』

'I do not despise you; you who practice the Way will all become Buddhas.'

諸人聞已，輕毀罵詈；不輕菩薩，

Hearing this, the people scorned, slandered and abused him; the Bodhisattva Never Disparaging

能忍受之。其罪畢已，臨命終時，

Was able to endure it. When his offenses were exhausted, at the end of his life,

得聞此經，六根清淨。神通力故，

He heard this sutra and his six faculties were purified. By the power of his supernatural abilities,

增益壽命，復為諸人，廣說是經。

He lengthened his life, and again widely taught this sutra to people.

諸著法眾，皆蒙菩薩，教化成就，

All those attached to the Dharma were taught and transformed by the Bodhisattva and brought to fulfillment,

令住佛道。不輕命終，值無數佛，

And made to abide in the Buddha Way. When Never Disparaging's life ended, he met countless Buddhas,

說是經故，得無量福，漸具功德，

Because he taught this sutra, he gained immeasurable blessings, gradually completed his merit,

疾成佛道。彼時不輕，則我身是。

And quickly attained the Buddha Way. That Never Disparaging of that time was none other than I.

時四部眾，著法之者，聞不輕言：

The four assemblies of that time, who were attached to the Dharma, heard Never Disparaging say:

『汝當作佛。』以是因緣，值無數佛。

'You will become Buddhas.' By this cause they met countless Buddhas.

此會菩薩，五百之眾，並及四部，

The five hundred Bodhisattvas of this assembly, together with the four groups,

清信士女，今於我前，聽法者是。

The pure believing men and women, who now listen to the Dharma before me, are they.

我於前世，勸是諸人，聽受斯經，

In my former lives I urged these people to listen to and receive this sutra,

第一之法。開示教人，令住涅槃，

The foremost Dharma. I opened and showed it and taught people, leading them to dwell in nirvana,

世世受持，如是經典。億億萬劫，

Life after life they received and upheld this kind of sutra. For hundreds of millions of myriad kalpas,

至不可議，時乃得聞，是法華經。

Up to an inconceivable time, only then can one hear this Lotus Sutra.

億億萬劫，至不可議，諸佛世尊、

For hundreds of millions of myriad kalpas, up to an inconceivable time, the Buddhas, World-Honored Ones,

時說是經。是故行者，於佛滅後，

Only then teach this sutra. Therefore practitioners, after the Buddha's extinction,

聞如是經，勿生疑惑。應當一心、

Hearing such a sutra, should not give rise to doubt. They should with single mind

廣說此經，世世值佛，疾成佛道。」

Widely teach this sutra, and life after life meet Buddhas and quickly attain the Buddha Way."

爾時，千世界微塵等菩薩摩訶薩，從地踴出者，皆於佛前一心合掌，瞻仰尊顏，而白佛言：「世尊！我等於佛滅後，世尊分身所在國土滅度之處，當廣說此經。所以者何？我等亦自欲得是真淨大法，受持、讀誦、解說、書寫，而供養之。」

At that time the Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas, as many as the dust motes of a thousand worlds, who had sprung up from the earth, all joined their palms single-mindedly before the Buddha, gazed up at his noble face, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! After the Buddha's extinction, in the lands where the World-Honored One's emanation bodies are and where they enter extinction, we shall widely teach this sutra. Why? We ourselves also wish to obtain this true, pure, great Dharma, and to receive, uphold, read, recite, explain and copy it, and make offerings to it."

爾時世尊，於文殊師利等無量百千萬億舊住娑婆世界菩薩摩訶薩，及諸比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷，天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等，一切眾前，現大神力，出廣長舌上至梵世，一切毛孔放於無量無數色光，皆悉遍照十方世界。眾寶樹下、師子座上諸佛，亦復如是，出廣長舌，放無量光。釋迦牟尼佛及寶樹下諸佛現神力時，滿百千歲，然後還攝舌相。一時謦欬、俱共彈指，是二音聲，遍至十方諸佛世界，地皆六種震動。其中眾生，天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等，以佛神力故，皆見此娑婆世界，無量無邊百千萬億眾寶樹下、師子座上諸佛；及見釋迦牟尼佛共多寶如來，在寶塔中、坐師子座；又見無量無邊百千萬億菩薩摩訶薩及諸四眾，恭敬圍繞釋迦牟尼佛。既見是已，皆大歡喜，得未曾有。即時諸天、於虛空中、高聲唱言：「過此無量無邊百千萬億阿僧祇世界，有國名娑婆，是中有佛名釋迦牟尼，今為諸菩薩摩訶薩說大乘經，名妙法蓮華，教菩薩法，佛所護念。汝等當深心隨喜，亦當禮拜供養釋迦牟尼佛。」彼諸眾生，聞虛空中聲已，合掌向娑婆世界作如是言：「南無釋迦牟尼佛！南無釋迦牟尼佛！」以種種華、香、瓔珞、幡蓋，及諸嚴身之具、珍寶妙物，皆共遙散娑婆世界。所散諸物，從十方來，譬如雲集，變成寶帳，遍覆此間諸佛之上。於時十方世界，通達無礙，如一佛土。

At that time the World-Honored One, before all the Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas headed by Manjushri, who had long dwelt in the Saha world, in immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads, and before the bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas and upasikas, devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, in the presence of all, displayed great supernatural power: he put out his broad and long tongue, reaching up to the Brahma world, and from all the pores of his body he sent out light of immeasurable and countless colors, which shone everywhere on the worlds of the ten directions. The Buddhas seated on lion thrones beneath jeweled trees also did the same, extending their broad and long tongues and emitting immeasurable light. While Shakyamuni Buddha and the Buddhas beneath the jeweled trees displayed their supernatural power, a full hundred thousand years passed before they withdrew their tongues. At once they cleared their throats and together snapped their fingers, and these two sounds reached the Buddha worlds of the ten directions, and the earth shook in six ways. The beings within them, devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, by the Buddha's supernatural power all saw in this Saha world the Buddhas seated on lion thrones beneath immeasurable, boundless, hundreds of thousands of myriad jeweled trees; and they saw Shakyamuni Buddha together with Prabhutaratna Tathagata seated on the lion throne in the jeweled stupa; and also saw immeasurable, boundless, hundreds of thousands of myriad Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas and the four groups respectfully surrounding Shakyamuni Buddha. Having seen this, they were all greatly delighted, having obtained what they had never had before. At once the devas in the sky cried out loudly: "Passing beyond this immeasurable, boundless, hundreds of thousands of myriad asamkhya worlds, there is a country named Saha, in which there is a Buddha named Shakyamuni, who is now teaching the Mahayana sutra called the Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma to the Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas, a teaching for Bodhisattvas, protected and kept in mind by the Buddhas. You should rejoice deeply and also bow to and make offerings to Shakyamuni Buddha." Those beings, hearing the voice in the sky, joined their palms toward the Saha world and said: "Namo (I take refuge in) Shakyamuni Buddha! Namo Shakyamuni Buddha!" They scattered from afar over the Saha world all kinds of flowers, incense, necklaces, banners, canopies, adornments for the body, and precious and wondrous things. The things they scattered came from the ten directions like gathering clouds, and turned into jeweled canopies, covering all the Buddhas here. At that time the worlds of the ten directions were open and unobstructed, like one Buddha land.

爾時，佛告上行等菩薩大眾：「諸佛神力如是，無量無邊、不可思議，若我以是神力，於無量無邊百千萬億阿僧祇劫，為囑累故，說此經功德，猶不能盡。以要言之，如來一切所有之法、如來一切自在神力、如來一切秘要之藏、如來一切甚深之事，皆於此經宣示顯說。是故汝等於如來滅後，應一心受持、讀誦、解說、書寫、如說修行。所在國土，若有受持、讀誦、解說、書寫、如說修行，若經卷所住之處，若於園中、若於林中、若於樹下、若於僧坊、若白衣舍、若在殿堂、若山谷曠野，是中皆應起塔供養。所以者何？當知是處、即是道場，諸佛於此得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，諸佛於此轉於法輪，諸佛於此而般涅槃。」

At that time the Buddha told the great assembly of Bodhisattvas led by Visishtacaritra: "The supernatural powers of the Buddhas are like this, immeasurable, boundless and inconceivable; if I used this supernatural power for immeasurable, boundless, hundreds of thousands of myriad asamkhya kalpas, in order to entrust it, to describe the merit of this sutra, I still could not finish. In brief, all the Dharma possessed by the Tathagata, all the free supernatural powers of the Tathagata, all the secret and essential treasury of the Tathagata, and all the profoundly deep affairs of the Tathagata are proclaimed and revealed in this sutra. Therefore, after the Tathagata's extinction, you should wholeheartedly receive, uphold, read, recite, explain and copy it, and practice as it teaches. In whatever land there are those who receive, uphold, read, recite, explain, copy and practice as it teaches, or where scrolls of the sutra reside, whether in a garden, in a forest, under a tree, in a monastery, in a layman's house, in a hall, or in a mountain valley or wilderness, in all these places you should build a stupa and make offerings. Why? Know that this place is the site of enlightenment, where the Buddhas attain unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, where the Buddhas turn the Dharma wheel, and where the Buddhas enter parinirvana."

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:

「諸佛救世者，住於大神通，

"The Buddhas, saviors of the world, abide in great supernatural power,

為悅眾生故，現無量神力，

To delight living beings they show immeasurable supernatural power,

舌相至梵天，身放無數光，

The tongue reaches to the Brahma heaven, the body gives off countless lights,

為求佛道者，現此希有事。

For those who seek the Buddha Way, they show this rare event.

諸佛謦欬聲，及彈指之聲，

The sound of the Buddhas clearing their throats, and the sound of their finger snaps,

周聞十方國，地皆六種動。

Is heard throughout the lands of the ten directions, and the earth shakes in six ways.

以佛滅度後，能持是經故，

Because after the Buddha's extinction, one can uphold this sutra,

諸佛皆歡喜，現無量神力。

The Buddhas are all delighted and show immeasurable supernatural power.

囑累是經故，讚美受持者，

Because they entrust this sutra, in praising those who uphold it,

於無量劫中，猶故不能盡。

Even in immeasurable kalpas they still cannot finish.

是人之功德，無邊無有窮，

The merit of this person is boundless and without end,

如十方虛空，不可得邊際。

Like the space of the ten directions, whose limit cannot be found.

能持是經者，則為已見我，

One who can uphold this sutra has thereby already seen me,

亦見多寶佛，及諸分身者，

And has also seen the Buddha Prabhutaratna and all the emanation Buddhas,

又見我今日，教化諸菩薩。

And sees me today teaching and transforming the Bodhisattvas.

能持是經者，令我及分身，

One who can uphold this sutra makes me and my emanation bodies,

滅度多寶佛，一切皆歡喜。

And the extinct Prabhutaratna Buddha, all delighted.

十方現在佛，並過去未來，

The Buddhas of the present in the ten directions, and those of past and future,

亦見亦供養，亦令得歡喜。

He also sees and makes offerings to, and also makes them glad.

諸佛坐道場，所得秘要法，

The secret and essential Dharma the Buddhas obtained seated at the site of enlightenment,

能持是經者，不久亦當得。

One who can uphold this sutra will before long also obtain.

能持是經者，於諸法之義，

One who can uphold this sutra, in regard to the meanings of the dharmas,

名字及言辭，樂說無窮盡，

Their names and words, will delight in teaching without end,

如風於空中，一切無障礙。

Like wind in the sky, everywhere without obstruction.

於如來滅後，知佛所說經，

After the Tathagata's extinction, he will know the sutras the Buddha taught,

因緣及次第，隨義如實說，

Their causes and conditions and order, and teach truthfully according to meaning,

如日月光明，能除諸幽冥。

Like the light of the sun and moon, able to remove all darkness.

斯人行世間，能滅眾生闇，

This person, walking in the world, can destroy the darkness of living beings,

教無量菩薩，畢竟住一乘。

Teaching immeasurable Bodhisattvas, to abide in the One Vehicle in the end.

是故有智者，聞此功德利，

Therefore the wise, hearing of the benefit of this merit,

於我滅度後，應受持斯經，

After my extinction, should receive and uphold this sutra,

是人於佛道，決定無有疑。」

And this person will have no doubt at all about the Buddha Way."

爾時，釋迦牟尼佛從法座起，現大神力，以右手摩無量菩薩摩訶薩頂，而作是言：「我於無量百千萬億阿僧祇劫，修習是難得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提法，今以付囑汝等。汝等應當一心流佈此法，廣令增益。」如是三摩諸菩薩摩訶薩頂，而作是言：「我於無量百千萬億阿僧祇劫，修習是難得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提法，今以付囑汝等。汝等當受持、讀誦、廣宣此法，令一切眾生普得聞知。所以者何？如來有大慈悲，無諸慳悋，亦無所畏，能與眾生，佛之智慧、如來智慧、自然智慧，如來是一切眾生之大施主。汝等亦應隨學如來之法，勿生慳悋。於未來世，若有善男子、善女人，信如來智慧者，當為演說此法華經，使得聞知，為令其人得佛慧故。若有眾生不信受者，當於如來餘深法中，示教利喜。汝等若能如是，則為已報諸佛之恩。」

At that time Shakyamuni Buddha rose from the Dharma seat, displayed great supernatural power, stroked the heads of immeasurable Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas with his right hand, and said: "For immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriad asamkhya kalpas I have practiced this hard-to-obtain Dharma of unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, and now I entrust it to you. You should wholeheartedly spread this Dharma, so that it widely increases." Thus he stroked the heads of the Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas three times and said: "For immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriad asamkhya kalpas I have practiced this hard-to-obtain Dharma of unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, and now I entrust it to you. You should receive, uphold, read, recite and widely proclaim this Dharma, so that all living beings may hear and know it everywhere. Why? The Tathagata has great compassion, is without stinginess, and is also without fear, and can give living beings the Buddha's wisdom, the Tathagata's wisdom, and natural wisdom; the Tathagata is the great benefactor of all living beings. You too should learn the Tathagata's Dharma accordingly and not give rise to stinginess. In the future, if there are good men or good women who believe in the Tathagata's wisdom, you should expound this Lotus Sutra for them so that they may hear and know it, so that these people may obtain the Buddha's wisdom. If there are living beings who do not believe or accept it, you should instruct, benefit and delight them with other profound teachings of the Tathagata. If you can do this, you will have repaid the kindness of the Buddhas."