The Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Dharma

破法不信故，墜於三惡道。

Because they reject the Dharma and do not believe it, they will fall into the three evil paths.

我寧不說法，疾入於涅槃。

I would rather not teach the Dharma, and quickly enter nirvana.

尋念過去佛，所行方便力，

But I recall the skillful means practiced by the Buddhas of the past;

我今所得道，亦應說三乘。』

The Way I have now attained, I too should teach as Three Vehicles."

作是思惟時，十方佛皆現，

As I was thinking this, the Buddhas of the ten directions all appeared,

梵音慰喻我：『善哉釋迦文！

And with Brahma voices comforted me: "Excellent, Shakyamuni!

第一之導師，得是無上法，

First among guides, you have obtained this unsurpassed Dharma,

隨諸一切佛，而用方便力。

And, following all the Buddhas, you employ skillful means.

我等亦皆得，最妙第一法，

We too have all attained the most wondrous, foremost Dharma,

為諸眾生類、分別說三乘。

And for the many kinds of beings we teach the Three Vehicles separately.

少智樂小法，不自信作佛，

Those of little wisdom delight in lesser teachings and do not believe they can become Buddhas;

是故以方便，分別說諸果。

Therefore by skillful means we distinguish and teach the various fruits.

雖復說三乘，但為教菩薩。』

Though we teach the Three Vehicles, it is only to instruct Bodhisattvas."

舍利弗當知！我聞聖師子，

Shariputra, you should know! When I heard the holy lion's

深淨微妙音，喜稱南無佛。

Deep, pure, and wondrous voice, I joyfully proclaimed "Namo Buddha."

復作如是念：『我出濁惡世，

I also thought: "I have come out into a defiled and evil world;

如諸佛所說，我亦隨順行。』

As the Buddhas have said, I too shall act in accord."

思惟是事已，即趣波羅柰。

Having considered this, I went to Varanasi.

諸法寂滅相，不可以言宣，

The characteristic of the quiescence of all dharmas cannot be expressed in words,

以方便力故，為五比丘說。

So by the power of skillful means, I taught it to the five bhikshus.

是名轉法輪，便有涅槃音，

This is called turning the Dharma wheel, and so there was the sound of nirvana,

及以阿羅漢，法僧差別名。

And the distinct names of Arhat, Dharma, and Sangha.

從久遠劫來，讚示涅槃法，

From the distant past I have praised and shown the teaching of nirvana,

生死苦永盡，我常如是說。

That the suffering of birth and death is forever ended; I have always spoken thus.

舍利弗當知！我見佛子等，

Shariputra, you should know! I see Buddha-children

志求佛道者，無量千萬億，

Who aspire to the Buddha Way, countless tens of millions of billions,

鹹以恭敬心，皆來至佛所，

All with reverent hearts, coming to the Buddha's place,

曾從諸佛聞，方便所說法。

Who have heard from the Buddhas the Dharma taught by skillful means.

我即作是念：『如來所以出，

I then had this thought: "The reason the Tathagata appears

為說佛慧故，今正是其時。』

Is to teach the Buddha's wisdom, and now is exactly the time."

舍利弗當知！鈍根小智人、

Shariputra, you should know! People of dull faculties and little wisdom,

著相憍慢者，不能信是法。

Attached to appearances and arrogant, cannot believe this Dharma.

今我喜無畏，於諸菩薩中，

Now I rejoice and am without fear, and among the Bodhisattvas,

正直捨方便，但說無上道。

Honestly casting aside skillful means, I only teach the unsurpassed Way.

菩薩聞是法，疑網皆已除，

When Bodhisattvas hear this Dharma, the net of doubt is entirely removed,

千二百羅漢，悉亦當作佛。

And the twelve hundred Arhats will also all become Buddhas.

如三世諸佛，說法之儀式，

As is the manner of teaching of the Buddhas of the three times,

我今亦如是，說無分別法。

So now I too teach the Dharma without discrimination.

諸佛興出世，懸遠值遇難，

The Buddhas' appearing in the world is far off and hard to meet,

正使出於世，說是法復難。

And even when they appear, teaching this Dharma is again hard.

無量無數劫，聞是法亦難，

For countless, innumerable kalpas, to hear this Dharma is hard,

能聽是法者，斯人亦復難。

And those who can listen to this Dharma, such a person is also hard to find.

譬如優曇花，一切皆愛樂，

It is like the udumbara flower, loved and delighted in by all,

天人所希有，時時乃一齣。

Rare to gods and humans, appearing only once in a long while.

聞法歡喜讚，乃至發一言，

One who hears the Dharma with joy and praises it, even uttering a single word,

則為已供養，一切三世佛，

Has thereby made offerings to all the Buddhas of the three times.

是人甚希有，過於優曇花。

Such a person is exceedingly rare, rarer than the udumbara flower.

汝等勿有疑，我為諸法王，

Have no doubt: I am the King of Dharmas,

普告諸大眾，但以一乘道，

Announcing to the whole great assembly that only by the Way of the One Vehicle

教化諸菩薩，無聲聞弟子。

Do I teach the Bodhisattvas; I have no Hearer disciples.

汝等舍利弗，聲聞及菩薩，

All you, Shariputra, Hearers and Bodhisattvas,

當知是妙法，諸佛之秘要。

Should know that this wondrous Dharma is the secret essence of the Buddhas.

以五濁惡世，但樂著諸欲，

In the evil world of the five defilements, they only delight in and cling to desires;

如是等眾生，終不求佛道。

Beings like these will never seek the Buddha Way.

當來世惡人，聞佛說一乘，

Evil people of the coming age, hearing the Buddha teach the One Vehicle,

迷惑不信受，破法墮惡道。

Will be deluded and not believe or accept it, rejecting the Dharma and falling into evil paths.

有慚愧清淨，志求佛道者，

Those who have shame and purity, and aspire to the Buddha Way,

當為如是等，廣讚一乘道。

For such people you should widely praise the Way of the One Vehicle.

舍利弗當知！諸佛法如是，

Shariputra, you should know! The Dharma of the Buddhas is thus:

以萬億方便，隨宜而說法，

With tens of billions of skillful means, they teach the Dharma as is fitting,