《妙法莲华经》（五百弟子受纪品第八）（Keith美式发音读诵）

五百弟子

受记品第八

At that time Purnamaitreyaniputra, having heard about wisdom and the expedients from the Buddha who speaks of Dharma in accord with what is appropriate, having heard all the great disciples receive predictions of anuttarasamyaksambodhi; and in addition having heard of the matters of causes and conditions of formerlives, and furthermore, having heard of the Buddha's great comfort and the power of his spiritual penetrations, obtained what he had never had, his mind was purified and he rejoiced.

尔时富楼那弥多罗尼子。从佛闻是智慧方便随宜说法。又闻授诸大弟子阿耨多罗三藐三菩提记。复闻宿世因缘之事。复闻诸佛有大自在神通之力。得未曾有。心净踊跃。

Thereupon, he rose from his seat, bowed with his head at the Buddha's feet, and withdrew to one side, gazing unblinkingly at the honored one’s countenance.

即从座起。到于佛前。头面礼足。却住一面。瞻仰尊颜。目不暂舍。

He then thought, “the World Honored One is most unique. His deeds are rare. He accords with all the various dispositions of beings in the world, employing expedient devices with knowledge and vision. He speaks the Dharma for them, releasing them from various types of greed and attachment. We could never fully express in words the merit and virtue of the Buddha. Only the Buddha, the World Honored One can know our deepest thoughts and past vows.”

而作是念。世尊甚奇特。所为希有。随顺世间若干种性。以方便知见而为说法。拔出众生处处贪着。我等于佛功德。言不能宣。惟佛世尊能知我等深心本愿。

At that time, the Buddha told the Bhikshus, “Do you see this Purnamaitreyaniputra? I constantly praise him as being foremost of those who speak the Dharma, and I extol his various meritorious qualities, his vigorous and diligent support in helping to proclaim my Dharma. In the midst of the fourfold assembly, he can demonstrate the teaching to the delight and advantage of all. He perfectly interprets the Proper Dharma of the Buddha, greatly benefiting his fellow practitioners of Brahman conduct. Except for the Thus Come One, no one can fully appreciate his eloquence in discussion.”

尔时佛告诸比丘。汝等见是富楼那弥多罗尼子不。我常称其于说法人中。最为第一。亦常叹其种种功德。精勤护持。助宣我法。能于四众示教利喜。具足解释佛之正法。而大饶益同梵行者。自舍如来无能尽其言论之辩。

“You should not say that Purnamaitreyaniputra is only able to protect, support, and help propagate my Dharma alone. He has also, in the presence of ninety million Buddhas of the past, protected, supported, and helped to propagate those Buddhas' Proper Dharma, being foremost among the speakers of Dharma.

汝等勿谓富楼那。但能护持助宣我法。亦于过去九十亿诸佛所。护持助宣佛之正法。于彼说法人中亦最第一。

Further, he has thoroughly understood the Dharma of emptiness taught by those Buddhas, and gained the four unobstructed wisdoms. He is always able to speak the Dharma, purely and precisely, without doubts. He has perfected the power of the Bodhisattva’s spiritual penetrations. Throughout his entire life, he has cultivated Brahman conduct. The Buddhas’ contemporaries all spoke of him as actually a Hearer, but this was just an expedient device he used in order to benefit limitless hundreds of thousands of living beings. He further transformed limitless asamkhyeyas of people, causing them to stand in anuttarasamyaksambodhi. In order to purify the Buddhalands, he constantly performs the Buddha's work in teaching and transforming living beings.”

又于诸佛所说空法。明了通达。得四无碍智。常能审谛清净说法。无有疑惑。具足菩萨神通之力。随其寿命。常修梵行。彼佛世人。咸皆谓之实是声闻。而富楼那以斯方便。饶益无量百千众生。又化无量阿僧祇人。令立阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。为净佛土故。常作佛事，教化众生。

“O Bhikshus, Purnamaitreyaniputra has been the foremost speaker of the Dharma for the past seven Buddhas, and he is also foremost speaker of Dharma under me. He will also be the foremost speaker of Dharma under all the Buddhas to come in the Worthy Kalpa, for whom he will protect, uphold and help in propagating the Buddhadharma. He shall also protect, uphold and help the Dharma of limitless, boundless numbers of future Buddhas, teaching, transforming and benefiting limitless living beings, causing them to stand in anuttarasamyaksambodhi.

诸比丘。富楼那。亦于七佛说法人中而得第一。今于我所说法人中亦为第一。于贤劫中当来诸佛说法人中亦复第一。而皆护持助宣佛法。亦于未来护持助宣无量无边诸佛之法。教化饶益无量众生。令立阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。

In order to purify the Buddhalands, he will be ever vigorous and diligent in teaching and transforming living beings.”

为净佛土故。常勤精进教化众生。

He will gradually perfect the Bodhisattva Path, and after limitless asamkhyeyaeons he will in this land attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi. His name will be Dharma Brightness Thus Come One, One Worthy of Offering, One of Proper and Universal Knowledge, One of Perfect Clarity and Conduct, Well-Gone One Who Understands the World, Supreme Lord, A Hero Who Subdues and Tames, A Teacher of Gods and Humans, The Buddha, The World Honored One.

渐渐具足菩萨之道。过无量阿僧祇劫。当于此土得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。号曰法明如来。应供。遍知。明行足。善逝世间解。无上士调御丈夫。天人师。佛。世尊。

This Buddha shall take great trichiliocosms as many as the sands in the Ganges River as his Buddhaland, with the seven jewels for earth. The land will be as level as the palm of one's hand. It shall have no mountains or hills, gorges, gullies or ditches. It will be filled with pavilions and palaces of the seven jewels. The palaces of the gods will be located in space nearby so the humans and gods may consort and see one another.

其佛以恒河沙等三千大千世界为一佛土。七宝为地。地平如掌。无有山陵溪涧沟壑。七宝台观。充满其中。诸天宫殿。近处虚空。人天交接。两得相见。

There will be no evil paths and no women. All the living beings will be born by transformation and have no sexual desire.

无诸恶道。亦无女人。一切众生皆以化生。无有淫欲。得大神通。

They will obtain great spiritual penetrations. Their bodies will emit light, and they will be able to fly at will. Their resolve will be solid. They will be vigorous and wise. They will be golden colored, and adorned with the thirty-two marks. The living beings in that land will always take two kinds of food: The first, the food of Dharma joy and the second, the food of Dhyana happiness.

身出光明。飞行自在。志念坚固。精进智慧。普皆金色。三十二相而自庄严。其国众生常以二食。一者法喜食。二者禅悦食。

The host of Bodhisattva will number in the limitless asamkhyeyas, of thousands of myriads of millions of nayutas. They will attain great spiritual penetrations and the Four types of Unobstructed Wisdom, they will be skilled at teaching and transforming all kinds of living beings. The host of Hearers will be uncountable and unreckonable in number. All will perfect the Six Penetrations, the Three Clarities and the Eight Liberations.

有无量阿僧祇千万亿那由他诸菩萨众。得大神通。四无碍智。善能教化众生之类。其声闻众。算数校计所不能知。皆得具足六通三明。及八解脱。

The realization of this Buddhaland will be thus adorned with limitless meritorious virtues.

其佛国土。有如是等无量功德庄严成就。

The eon will be named “Jeweled Brightness.” The country will be named “Well Purified.”

劫名宝明。国名善净。

The life span of that Buddha will be limitless asamkhyeyaeons and his Dharma will abide for a very long time.

其佛寿命。无量阿僧祇劫。法住甚久。

After that Buddha's extinction, stupas of the seven jewels will be built everywhere in that land.

佛灭度后。起七宝塔。遍满其国。

At that time, the World Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke verses saying,

尔时世尊欲重宣此义。而说偈言。

“All of you Bhikshus listen well,
The path walked by the Buddha's sons,
Because they thoroughly studied the expedient devices,
Was inconceivable.

诸比丘谛听　佛子所行道

善学方便故　不可得思议

Knowing that the multitudes delight in lesser dharmas,
And also that they fear great wisdom,
Therefore the Bodhisattvas
Become Hearers and Conditioned Enlightened Ones.

知众乐小法　而畏于大智

是故诸菩萨　作声闻缘觉

Employing countless expedient devices,
They transform all the varieties of living beings.
They speak of themselves as being Hearers,
Very far from the Path of the Buddha.

以无数方便　化诸众生类

自说是声闻　去佛道甚远

They cross over limitless multitudes,
Bringing them all to accomplishment.
Even those of little zeal and who are remiss
Are gradually caused to become Buddhas.

度脱无量众　皆悉得成就

虽小欲懈怠　渐当令作佛

Inwardly they practice as Bodhisattvas,
While outwardly they manifest as Hearers
Of few desires, who despise birth and death,
While in reality they are purifying their Buddhalands.

内秘菩萨行　外现是声闻

少欲厌生死　实自净佛土

Displaying to the multitudes the three poisons,
Appearing to have deviant views
In this way my disciples,
Expediently save living beings.

示众有三毒　又现邪见相

我弟子如是　方便度众生

Were I to speak fully,
Of their various deeds of transformation
Living beings, hearing it,
Would harbor doubts within their minds.

若我具足说　种种现化事

众生闻是者　心则怀疑惑 

Now, this Purnamaitreyaniputra,
In the past under thousands of millions of Buddhas,
Has cultivated diligently his practice of the Path.
Proclaiming and protecting the Dharma of all Buddhas.

今此富楼那　于昔千亿佛

勤修所行道　宣护诸佛法

Seeking supreme wisdom,
In the presence of the Buddhas,
He appeared as the head of the disciples.
With much learning and with wisdom
He spoke without fear,
Leading the assembly to rejoice,
And never did he grow weary,
Participating in the Buddha's work.

为求无上慧　而于诸佛所

现居弟子上　多闻有智慧
所说无所畏　能令众欢喜

未曾有疲倦　而以助佛事

Having already crossed over into great spiritual penetrations,
And having perfected the four unobstructed wisdoms,
He knew the faculties of beings, sharp or dull,
And always spoke pure Dharma.

已度大神通　具四无碍智

知诸根利钝　常说清净法

Proclaiming principles such as this,
He taught thousands of millions of multitudes,
To dwell in the Dharma of the Great Vehicle,
While he purified his own Buddhaland.
In the future, too, he will make offerings,
To limitless, countless Buddhas.

演畅如是义　教诸千亿众

令住大乘法　而自净佛土
未来亦供养　无量无数佛

Helping to proclaim the Proper Dharma,
And also purifying his own Buddhaland.
Always using expedient devices,
He will speak the Dharma without fear,
Saving incalculable multitudes,
So that they accomplish All-Wisdom.

护助宣正法　亦自净佛土
常以诸方便　说法无所畏

度不可计众　成就一切智 

Having made offerings to Thus Come Ones 

And protected and upheld the precious storehouse of Dharma,
He will then become a Buddha
By the name Dharma Brightness.

供养诸如来　护持法宝藏

 其后得成佛　号名曰法明 

His country will be named "Well Purified" made of the seven jewels.
The eon will be named "Jeweled Brightness"

其国名善净　七宝所合成

劫名为宝明　

The host of Bodhisattvas, very great,
Will entirely fill that land,
Numbering in the limitless millions,
All with great spiritual penetrations,
And the perfect power of awesome virtue
The Hearers also will be countless.

菩萨众甚多  其数无量亿　

皆度大神通   威德力具足　

充满其国土   声闻亦无数　

Having the Three Clarities and the Eight Liberations
And the Four Unobstructed Wisdoms,
They will constitute the Sangha there.
The living beings in that land,
Will all have severed sexual desire,
Born purely from transformation,
Their bodies adorned with perfect marks.
Taking Dharma-joy and Dharma-happiness as food,
They will have no thoughts of other kinds of food.
There will be no women there,
Nor any of the evil paths.

三明八解脱　得四无碍智

       以是等为僧   其国诸众生   　

    淫欲皆已断　纯一变化生　

    具相庄严身   法喜禅悦食　

    更无余食想   无有诸女人　

亦无诸恶道

The Bhikshu Purna
Having perfected his virtue
Will gain such a pure land,
With a host of very many worthy sages.
Such are the limitless things, of which
I have now but spoken in a general way.”

富楼那比丘　功德悉成满

当得斯净土　贤圣众甚多
如是无量事　我今但略说

At that time, the twelve hundred Arhats whose minds had attained self-mastery had this thought, “We all rejoice, having attained what we never had before. If the World Honored One would see to conferring upon us a prediction as he has the other great disciples, would this not be a cause for rejoicing?”

尔时千二百阿罗汉心自在者。作是念。我等欢喜。得未曾有。若世尊各见授记。如余大弟子者。不亦快乎。

The Buddha, knowing the thoughts in their minds, told Mahakashyapa: “I now confer upon these twelve hundred Arhats in succession a prediction of anuttarasamyaksambodhi.”

佛知此等心之所念。告摩诃迦叶。是千二百阿罗汉。我今当现前次第与授阿耨多罗三藐三菩提记。

“In this assembly, my great disciple, the Bhikshu Kaundinya, will make offerings to sixty-two thousands of millions of Buddhas. Having done so, he will then become a Buddha by the name of Universal Brightness Thus Come One, One Worthy of Offerings, One of Proper and Universal Knowledge, One of Perfect Clarity and Conduct, Well-Gone One Who Understands the World, Unsurpassed Lord, A Taming and Regulating Hero, Teacher of People and Gods, a Buddha, the World Honored One.”

于此众中。我大弟子憍陈如比丘。当供养六万二千亿佛。然后得成为佛。号曰普明如来。应供。正遍知。明行足。善逝世间解。无上士调御丈夫。天人师。佛。世尊。

“The five hundred Arhats, Uruvilvakashyapa, Gayakashyapa, Nadikashyapa, Kalodayin, Udayin, Aniruddha, Revata, Kapphina, Vakkula, Cunda, Svagata, and others all will attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi, all of them with the same name Universal Brightness.”

其五百阿罗汉。优楼频螺迦叶。伽耶迦叶。那提迦叶。迦留陀夷。优陀夷。阿[少＋免] 楼驮。离婆多。劫宾那。薄拘罗。周陀。莎伽陀等。皆当得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。尽同一号，名曰普明。

At that time the World Honored One, wishing to restate his meaning, spoke verses, saying:

尔时世尊欲重宣此义。而说偈言。

“The Bhikshu Kaundinya,
Will see limitless Buddhas,
And after asamkhyeya eons,
Will realize Equal Proper Enlightenment.

憍陈如比丘　当见无量佛

过阿僧祇劫　乃成等正觉

Ever putting forth great light,
Perfecting all spiritual powers,
His name will be heard in the ten directions,
And he shall be revered by all.

常放大光明　具足诸神通

名闻遍十方　一切之所敬

He will always speak the Unsurpassed Path,
And will therefore be called Universal Brightness.
His land will be pure,
With courageous and heroic Bodhisattvas.

常说无上道　故号为普明

其国土清净　菩萨皆勇猛

All will mount wonderful towers,
And roam through the ten direction lands,
With supreme offerings
They will present to all the Buddhas.

咸升妙楼阁　游诸十方国

以无上供具　奉献于诸佛

Having made these offerings,
With minds full of rejoicing,
They will instantly return to their own lands,
Such are the spiritual powers they will have.

作是供养已　心怀大欢喜

须臾还本国　有如是神力 

The life span of that Buddha will be sixty thousand eons,
His Proper Dharma will dwell twice that long.
The Dharma Image Age will be twice the length of that.
When the Dharma is extinguished, the gods and people will mourn.

佛寿六万劫　正法住倍寿

像法复倍是　法灭天人忧

These five hundred Bhikshus
Shall in turn become Buddhas
All by the name of Universal Brightness.
Each shall bestow predictions on his successors
Saying, “After my extinction
Such and such shall become a Buddha.”

其五百比丘　次第当作佛

同号曰普明　转次而授记

   我灭度之后　某甲当作佛　

The world in which he will teach
Will be like mine today.
The adornments of his land
And his spiritual powers,
The host of Bodhisattvas and Hearers,
The Proper Dharma and Dharma Image Ages,
The numbers of eons in his life span,
Will be as just stated.

其所化世间　亦如我今日

国土之严净　及诸神通力

菩萨声闻众　正法及像法

寿命劫多少　皆如上所说 

Kashyapa, you should know
About these five hundred who have attained self-mastery.
As for the remaining Hearers,
They shall be likewise.
To those not present in this assembly,
You should expound these matters.”

    迦叶汝已知　五百自在者　

余诸声闻众　亦当复如是
其不在此会　汝当为宣说

At that time, the five hundred Arhats, having received predictions from the Buddha, jumped for joy.

尔时五百阿罗汉。于佛前得授记已。欢喜踊跃。

They rose from their seats and went before the Buddha, bowing with their heads at his feet. Repenting of their errors, they reproached themselves, saying, “World Honored One, we had always thought that we had already gained ultimate extinction. Now we know that we were like unknowing ones. Why is this? We should have obtained the Thus Come One's wisdom, but were content instead with lesser knowledge.”

即从座起。到于佛前。头面礼足。悔过自责。世尊。我等常作是念。自谓已得究竟灭度。今乃知之如无智者。所以者何。我等应得如来智慧。而便自以小智为足。

“World Honored One, it is like a person who goes to a close friend's house, gets drunk on wine, and lies down. His friend who is about to go away on official business, sews a priceless pearl inside his clothing as a gift, and then leaves.”

世尊。譬如有人至亲友家。醉酒而卧。是时亲友。官事当行。以无价宝珠系其衣里。与之而去。

“That person, in a drunken stupor, is not aware of anything.”

其人醉卧都不觉知。

“On arising, he sets out on his travels and reaches another country, where, for the sake of clothing and food, he expends much effort, endures great hardships, and is content with whatever little he may get.”

起已。游行。到于他国。为衣食故勤力求索。甚大艰难。若少有所得。便以为足。

Later, his close friend happens to meet him again and says, “Hey man! How can you, for the sake of food and clothing, have come to this?”

于后亲友会遇见之。而作是言。咄哉丈夫。何为衣食乃至如是。

Long ago, wishing you to gain peace, happiness, and enjoyment of the five desires, on such and such a day, month, and year, I sewed a priceless pearl into your clothing. From of old until now, it has been present, but you did not know of it. Thus you have toiled and suffered to gain your livelihood. How stupid of you!

我昔欲令汝得安乐五欲自恣。于某年月日。以无价宝珠系汝衣里。今故现在。而汝不知。勤苦忧恼以求自活。甚为痴也。

You may now take this jewel, exchange it for what you need, and you will always have whatever you wish and be free from want.

汝今可以此宝。贸易所须。常可如意。无所乏短。

The Buddha is also like this. When he was a Bodhisattva, he taught and transformed us, causing us to bring forth the thought of All-Wisdom.

佛亦如是。为菩萨时。教化我等令发一切智心。

But, we later completely forgot, and were unknowing and unaware.

而寻废忘。不知不觉。

Having attained the way of Arhatship, we said of ourselves that we had gained extinction. In the difficulty of maintaining our livelihood, we were content with what little we had gained.

既得阿罗汉道，自谓灭度，资生艰难，得少为足。

Still, our vows for All Wisdom remain; they have not been lost. Now, the World Honored One has caused us to wake up, saying, “Bhikshus! What you have obtained is not ultimate extinction!”

一切智愿。犹在不失。今者世尊觉悟我等。作如是言。诸比丘。汝等所得。非究竟灭。 

‘For a long time, I have been leading you to plant good roots with the Buddha. As an expedient device, I manifested the marks of Nirvana. You said of yourself however, that you had actually attained extinction.’

我久令汝等种佛善根，以方便故，示涅槃相，而汝谓为实得灭度。

“World Honored One, now at last we know that we are actually Bodhisattvas; having obtained a prediction for anuttarasamyaksambodhi. For this reason we rejoice greatly, having gained what we never had before.”

世尊。我今乃知实是菩萨。得受阿耨多罗三藐三菩提记。以是因缘。甚大欢喜。得未曾有。

At that time, Ajnatakaundinya and the others, wishing to restate this meaning spoke verses saying,

尔时阿若憍陈如等欲重宣此义。而说偈言。

“Hearing the supreme sound
Of the prediction of peace and tranquility,
We rejoice, gaining what we never had,
And bow before the Buddha of limitless wisdom.

我等闻无上　安隐授记声

欢喜未曾有　礼无量智佛

Now, in the presence of the World Honored One,
We repent of our faults and mistakes.
Of the limitless jewels of the Buddha,
We had gained but a small portion of Nirvana,
And, like unknowing, senseless people,
Contented ourselves with that.

今于世尊前　自悔诸过咎

于无量佛宝　得少涅槃分

如无智愚人　便自以为足

It is like a poor person,
Who goes to a close friend's home,
A very wealthy household,
Stocked with delicacies.
Taking a priceless pearl
The friend sews it in the poor man's clothing
And silently departs,
While the poor man sleeps unaware.

譬如贫穷人　往至亲友家

其家甚大富　具设诸肴膳

以无价宝珠　系着内衣里

默与而舍去　时卧不觉知

When the man arises,
He travels to another land,
Where, seeking food and clothes to stay alive,
He suffers many difficulties, and
Satisfied with what little he may get,
Wishes for nothing better.
He is unaware that within his clothing
There is a priceless pearl.

是人既已起　游行诣他国

求衣食自济　资生甚艰难

得少便为足　更不愿好者

不觉内衣里　有无价宝珠 

The friend who gave him the pearl
Later sees the poor man again,
And having bitterly rebuked him,
Shows him the pearl he sewed in his clothing.
Seeing the pearl, the poor man's heart
Gave rise to great rejoicing.
Rich with much wealth
He enjoys the five desirable objects.

与珠之亲友　后见此贫人

苦切责之已　示以所系珠

贫人见此珠　其心大欢喜

富有诸财物　五欲而自恣 

We, too, are like this
In the long night, the World Honored One
Has constantly pitied, seen, taught and transformed us.
Causing us to plant the supreme vows.

我等亦如是　世尊于长夜

常愍见教化　令种无上愿

But, because we lacked wisdom
We were unaware and did not know,
And, gaining a small portion of Nirvana
We were satisfied and sought nothing more.

我等无智故　不觉亦不知

得少涅槃分　自足不求余

Now the Buddha has awakened us,
Saying this is not really extinction.
Gaining the Buddha's supreme wisdom,
That is true extinction.

今佛觉悟我　言非实灭度

得佛无上慧　尔乃为真灭

Now, having heard from the Buddha
Of the matters of predictions and adornments,
And these predictions having been bestowed in succession,
We rejoice in body and in mind.

我今从佛闻　授记庄严事

乃转次受决　身心遍欢喜