The Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Dharma

簫笛琴箜篌、琵琶鐃銅鈸，

Panpipes, flutes, zithers, harps, lutes, cymbals, and gongs,

如是眾妙音，盡持以供養。

And offer all such wondrous sounds as an offering,

或以歡喜心，歌唄頌佛德，

Or with a joyful heart sing hymns praising the Buddha's virtue,

乃至一小音，皆已成佛道。

Even with a single small sound, they have all attained the Buddha Way.

若人散亂心，乃至以一華，

If someone with a scattered mind offers even a single flower

供養於畫像，漸見無數佛。

To a painted image, they will gradually see countless Buddhas.

或有人禮拜，或復但合掌，

Or some people bow, or only put their palms together,

乃至舉一手，或復小低頭，

Even raising a single hand, or slightly bowing the head,

以此供養像，漸見無量佛。

By this offering to images, they will gradually see countless Buddhas.

自成無上道，廣度無數眾，

They themselves attain the unsurpassed Way, widely deliver countless beings,

入無餘涅槃，如薪盡火滅。

And enter nirvana without remainder, like a fire going out when the fuel is exhausted.

若人散亂心，入於塔廟中，

If someone with a scattered mind enters a stupa or shrine

一稱南無佛，皆已成佛道。

And once says "Namo Buddha," they have all attained the Buddha Way.

於諸過去佛，在世或滅度，

Among the Buddhas of the past, whether in the world or in extinction,

若有聞是法，皆已成佛道。

If there are those who hear this Dharma, they have all attained the Buddha Way.

未來諸世尊，其數無有量，

The World-Honored Ones of the future, their number is without measure,

是諸如來等，亦方便說法。

These Tathagatas also teach the Dharma by skillful means.

一切諸如來，以無量方便，

All the Tathagatas, with countless skillful means,

度脫諸眾生，入佛無漏智，

Deliver all beings and bring them into the Buddha's wisdom free of outflows,

若有聞法者，無一不成佛。

And among those who hear the Dharma, there is not one who does not become a Buddha.

諸佛本誓願，我所行佛道，

The original vow of the Buddhas is: "The Buddha Way I walk

普欲令眾生，亦同得此道。

I wish universally to let all beings attain as well."

未來世諸佛，雖說百千億，

Though the Buddhas of future ages teach hundreds of thousands of billions,

無數諸法門，其實為一乘。

Countless Dharma gates, in truth they are for the One Vehicle.

諸佛兩足尊，知法常無性，

The Buddhas, Honored Ones among the two-legged, know that dharmas are always without self-nature,

佛種從緣起，是故說一乘。

And that the Buddha seed arises from conditions; therefore they teach the One Vehicle.

是法住法位，世間相常住，

This Dharma abides in its Dharma position, and the characteristics of the world are ever abiding;

於道場知已，導師方便說。

Having known this at the place of the Way, the Guide teaches it by skillful means.

天人所供養，現在十方佛，

Honored by gods and humans, the Buddhas now in the ten directions,

其數如恆沙，出現於世間，

Numerous as the sands of the Ganges, appear in the world,

安隱眾生故，亦說如是法。

And to give beings peace, they too teach this Dharma.

知第一寂滅，以方便力故，

Knowing the highest quiescence, by the power of skillful means,

雖示種種道，其實為佛乘。

Though they show many paths, in truth they are for the Buddha Vehicle.

知眾生諸行，深心之所念，

Knowing the conduct of beings, what they think deep in their hearts,

過去所習業，欲性精進力，

The karma practiced in the past, the nature of their desires, their power of diligence,

及諸根利鈍，以種種因緣、

And the sharpness or dullness of their faculties, with various causes and conditions,

譬喻亦言辭，隨應方便說。

Parables and words, they teach by skillful means in accord with them.

今我亦如是，安隱眾生故，

Now I too do likewise, to give beings peace,

以種種法門，宣示於佛道。

Using various Dharma gates to proclaim the Buddha Way.

我以智慧力，知眾生性慾，

By the power of wisdom, I know the natures and desires of beings,

方便說諸法，皆令得歡喜。

And teach all dharmas by skillful means, causing all to rejoice.

舍利弗當知！我以佛眼觀，

Shariputra, you should know! Looking with the Buddha-eye,

見六道眾生，貧窮無福慧，

I see beings of the six paths, poor and without merit or wisdom,

入生死嶮道，相續苦不斷，

Entering the dangerous road of birth and death, suffering continuing without end,

深著於五欲，如犛牛愛尾，

Deeply attached to the five desires, like a yak that loves its own tail,

以貪愛自蔽，盲瞑無所見。

Blinding themselves with greed and love, blind and seeing nothing.

不求大勢佛，及與斷苦法，

They do not seek the Buddha of great power, nor the Dharma that ends suffering,

深入諸邪見，以苦欲捨苦，

But go deep into wrong views, trying to abandon suffering by means of suffering;

為是眾生故，而起大悲心。

For the sake of these beings, I gave rise to a heart of great compassion.

我始坐道場，觀樹亦經行，

When I first sat at the place of the Way, gazing at the tree and walking about,

於三七日中，思惟如是事，

For three weeks I reflected on this matter:

我所得智慧，微妙最第一。

"The wisdom I have attained is subtle, wondrous, and foremost.

眾生諸根鈍，著樂痴所盲，

Beings are dull in their faculties, attached to pleasure and blinded by delusion;

如斯之等類，云何而可度？

Such beings as these, how can they be delivered?"

爾時諸梵王，及諸天帝釋、

At that time the Brahma kings, and the heavenly lord Shakra,

護世四天王，及大自在天，

The Four Heavenly Kings who guard the world, and the Great Free Heaven,

並餘諸天眾，眷屬百千萬，

And the rest of the heavenly hosts, with their retinues of hundreds of thousands of myriads,

恭敬合掌禮，請我轉法輪。

Respectfully bowed with palms together and asked me to turn the Dharma wheel.

我即自思惟：『若但讚佛乘，

I then thought to myself: "If I only praise the Buddha Vehicle,

眾生沒在苦，不能信是法；

Beings submerged in suffering will not be able to believe this Dharma;