【中英双语】《妙法莲华经》（四）（Keith美式发音读诵）

Chapter 4 - Belief and Understanding

At that time the wise and long-lived Subhuti, Mahakatyayana, Mahakashyapa, Mahamaudgalyayana, having heard from the Buddha, Dharma such as they had never heard before, the bestowal of the prediction of anuttarasamyaksambodhi upon Shariputra, felt it very rare. They rose from their seats, jumped for joy, straightened their robes, bared their right shoulders, placed their right knees on the ground, single-mindedly put their palms together, inclined themselves respectfully, gazed at the honored countenance and spoke to the Buddha, saying, “We, who dwell at the head of the Sangha and are advanced in years, told ourselves that we had already attained Nirvana and had no further responsibility, and we did not go forward to seek anuttarasamyaksambodhi.”

尔时慧命须菩提。摩诃迦旃延。摩诃迦叶。摩诃目犍连。从佛所闻未曾有法。世尊授舍利弗阿耨多罗三藐三菩提记。发希有心。欢喜踊跃。即从座起。整衣服。偏袒右肩。右膝着地。一心合掌。屈躬恭敬。瞻仰尊颜。而白佛言。我等居僧之首。年并朽迈。自谓已得涅槃。无所堪任。不复进求阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。

“The World Honored One has, from of old, been speaking the Dharma for a long time. Sitting here all this time, our bodies tired, we have merely been mindful of emptiness, signlessness, and wishlessness, taking no delight in the Bodhisattva Dharmas, in their spiritual penetrations of playfulness, in their purification of Buddhalands, or in their maturation of living beings.”

世尊往昔说法既久。我时在座。身体疲懈。但念空无相无作。于菩萨法。游戏神通。净佛国土。成就众生。心不喜乐。

“What is the reason? The World Honored One has led us to escape the Three Realms and attain certification to Nirvana. Besides, we are now advanced in years and when the Buddha taught the Bodhisattvas of anuttarasamyaksambodhi we did not give rise to even a single thought of longing for it.”

所以者何。世尊令我等出于三界。得涅槃证。又今我等年已朽迈。于佛教化菩萨阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。不生一念好乐之心。

“Now, in the presence of the Buddha, having heard him bestow upon the Hearers the anuttarasamyaksambodhi prediction, our hearts rejoice enthusiastically and we obtain what we never have had. We never thought that now we would suddenly be able to hear this rare Dharma. We rejoice profoundly, having gained great and good benefit.”

我等今于佛前。闻授声闻阿耨多罗三藐三菩提记。心甚欢喜。得未曾有。不谓于今忽然得闻希有之法。深自庆幸。获大善利。

“It is as if, without our seeking them, limitless precious gems had come into our possession.”

无量珍宝。不求自得。

“World Honored One, we would now like to speak a parable to clarify this principle.”

世尊。我等今者。乐说譬喻以明斯义。

“It is as if there were a person who, in his youth, left his father and ran away, dwelling long in another country, perhaps ten, twenty or even fifty years.”

譬若有人。年既幼稚。舍父逃逝。久住他国。或十二十。至五十岁。

“As he grew older, he became poor and needy and ran about in the four directions in search of clothing and food. Gradually he wandered until he accidentally approached his native land.”

年既长大。加复穷困。驰骋四方以求衣食。渐渐游行。遇向本国。

“His father, from the first, had set out seeking his son but in vain. He settled midway in a city. His household was one of great wealth, with limitless wealth and jewels, gold, silver, lapis lazuli, coral, amber, crystal, pearls, and other jewels. His granaries and treasuries were overflowing, and he had many servants, ministers and assistants, as well as countless elephants, horses, carriages, cattle, and sheep. The profits from his trade extended to the other countries, and there were also many traders and merchants.”

其父先来求子不得。中止一城。其家大富。财宝无量。金银琉璃。珊瑚琥珀。玻璃珠等。其诸仓库。悉皆盈溢。多有僮仆。臣佐吏民。象马车乘牛羊无数。出入息利乃遍他国。商估贾客。亦甚众多。

“Then the poor son, having wandered through various villages and passed through countries and cities, at last reached the city where his father had settled.”

时贫穷子。游诸聚落。经历国邑。遂到其父所止之城。

“The father had always been mindful of his son. Although they had been separated for over fifty years, he had never spoken of the matter to anyone, but merely pondered over it, his heart filled with regret, as he thought, ‘I am old and decrepit. I have much wealth: gold, silver, and precious gems, granaries and storehouses filled to overflowing. Such a pity that I have no son! One day I’m bound to die, and when I do, my wealth will be scattered and lost, for I have no one to bequeath them to.’ This is why he ever earnestly thought of his son. ‘If I could only get my son back, I’d make him heir to my wealth. I’d be contented and happy and have no further worries.’”

父每念子。与子离别五十余年。而未曾向人说如此事。但自思惟。心怀悔恨。自念老朽。多有财物。金银珍宝。仓库盈溢。无有子息。一旦终殁。财物散失。无所委付。是以殷勤每忆其子。复作是念。我若得子委付财物。坦然快乐。无复忧虑。

“World Honored One, the poor son then, hiring himself as a laborer here and there, unexpectedly arrived at his father’s house. Standing by the gate, he saw his father seated on a Lion-seat. His feet were resting on a jeweled footstool, and he was reverently surrounded by Brahmans, Kshatriyas, and laypeople. Necklaces of pearls, their value in the millions, adorned his body. Attendants and servants, holding white whisks, waited on him right and left. Above him was a jeweled canopy hung with flowers and pennants. Fragrant water was sprinkled on the ground, and expensive flowers were scattered about. Precious objects were placed in rows, which were passed out and taken in on leaving and entering. Such were the adornments, and the majesty and authority of his awesome virtue. When the poor son saw his father, possessed of such great power, he was immediately afraid and regretted having come there. Secretly he thought, ‘This is perhaps a king, or one equal to a king. This is no place for me to hire myself out. I’d better go to a poor village where there will be room for me to work and where I can easily obtain clothing and food. If I stay here any longer, I may be forced to work.’ And with this thought, he quickly ran off.”

世尊。尔时穷子佣赁展转。遇到父舍。住立门侧。遥见其父踞师子床。宝几承足。诸婆罗门。刹利居士。皆恭敬围绕。以真珠璎珞。价值千万庄严其身。吏民僮仆。手执白拂侍立左右。覆以宝帐。垂诸华幡。香水洒地。散众名华。罗列宝物。出内取与。有如是等种种严饰。威德特尊。穷子见父。有大力势。即怀恐怖。悔来至此。窃作是念。此或是王。或是王等。非我佣力得物之处。不如往至贫里肆力有地。衣食易得。若久住此。或见逼迫强使我作。作是念已。疾走而去。

“Then the wealthy elder, seated on the Lion-seat, seeing his son, recognized him and his heart rejoiced greatly, as he thought, ‘I now have someone to whom I can bequeath my wealth and treasuries. I have constantly been mindful of my son, but had no way of seeing him. Then, all of a sudden, he came on his own, and my wish has been fulfilled. Although I am old and decrepit I still longed for him with regret.’”

时富长者于师子座见子便识。心大欢喜。即作是念。我财物库藏。今有所付。我常思念此子。无由见之。而忽自来。甚适我愿。我虽年朽。犹故贪惜。

“He then sent attendants to follow him and bring him back. Thereupon, the servants quickly apprehended him. The poor son in alarm shouted in resentment, “I have committed no offense. Why have I been seized?” The servants, with even greater haste, grabbed him and dragged him back. The poor son thought to himself. ‘I am blameless and yet have been imprisoned. This surely means that I will die,’ and, even more frightened, he fainted and fell to the ground.”

即遣傍人急追将还。尔时使者疾走往捉。穷子惊愕。称怨大唤。我不相犯。何为见捉。使者执之逾急。强牵将还。于时穷子自念无罪而被囚执。此必定死。转更惶怖。闷绝躄地。

“The father saw his son from afar and said to the servant, “I do not need this person. Do not force him to come along. Sprinkle cold water on his face to bring him to, but do not speak further with him” Why was this? The father knew that his son’s resolve and will were inferior and lowly, and that his own nobility was a source of difficulty to his son. Therefore, although he was certain that this was his son, he expediently refrained from telling anyone, “This is my son.” The servant said to the son, “I now set you free. You may go wherever you wish.” The poor son was delighted, having gained what he had never had before. He rose from the ground and went to a poor village to seek clothing and food.”

父遥见之。而语使言。不须此人。勿强将来。以冷水洒面。令得醒悟。莫复与语。所以者何。父知其子。志意下劣。自知豪贵。为子所难。审知是子。而以方便。不语他人云是我子。使者语之。我今放汝。随意所趣。穷子欢喜。得未曾有。从地而起，往至贫里以求衣食。

“Then the elder, wishing to induce his son, set up an expedient and secretly sent two people, haggard and undignified in appearance, saying to them, “You may go there and gently speak to that poor one. Tell him there is a place for him to work here where he can earn twice as much. If he agrees, bring him back and put him to work. If he asks what he is to do, tell him, ‘You are being hired to sweep out dung. We two will work along with you.’”

尔时长者。将欲诱引其子。而设方便。密遣二人。形色憔悴无威德者。汝可诣彼徐语穷子。此有作处。倍与汝直。穷子若许。将来使作。若言欲何所作。便可语之雇汝除粪。我等二人。亦共汝作。

“Then the two servants sought out the poor son, and when they found him, they told him the above matter in detail.”

时二使人即求穷子。既已得之。具陈上事。

“At that time the poor son first took his salary and then joined them in sweeping away the dung. When the father saw his son, he felt pity and amazement.”

尔时穷子先取其价。寻与除粪。其父见子。愍而怪之。

“Later, on another day, through a window, he saw his son at a distance, thin, haggard, soiled with dung, dirt, and filth.”

又以他日于窗牖中。遥见子身羸瘦憔悴。粪土尘坌。污秽不净。

“He then removed his necklace of beads, his soft upper garments, and his adornments and put on a coarse, worn out, and filthy robe, smeared himself with dirt and holding a dung shovel, looking frightful he addressed his workers, saying, “All of you, work hard! Do not be lax.” By this device he draws near to his son, to whom he later says, “Hey, my boy! You should stay here and work. Don’t go elsewhere. I will increase your wages. Whatever you need, be it pots, utensils, rice, flour, salt or vinegar or other such things, don’t trouble yourself about it. I also have an old, worn-out servant you can have if you need him. So put your mind at rest. I am like your father, so have no more worries. Why? I am very old, and you are young and strong. Whenever you are working, you are never deceitful, remiss, angry, hateful, or grumbling. I have never seen you commit such evils as I have other workers. From now on you shall be just like my own son.”

即脱璎珞细软上服严饰之具。更着粗弊垢腻之衣。尘土坌身。右手执持除粪之器。状有所畏。语诸作人。汝等勤作。勿得懈息。以方便故。得近其子。后复告言。咄。男子。汝常此作。勿复余去。当加汝价。诸有所须盆器米面盐醋之属。莫自疑难。亦有老弊使人。须者相给。好自安意。我如汝父。勿复忧虑。所以者何。我年老大。而汝少壮。汝常作时。无有欺怠瞋恨怨言。都不见汝有此诸恶。如余作人。自今已后。如所生子。

“Just then the elder gave him a name, calling him his son. The poor son, although delighted at this happening, still referred to himself as a lowly worker from outside. For this reason, for twenty years he was constantly kept at work sweeping away dung.”

即时长者更与作字。名之为儿。尔时穷子虽欣此遇。犹故自谓客作贱人。由是之故。于二十年中常令除粪。

“After this, they trusted one another, and he came and went without difficulty. However, he still stayed in the same place as before.”

过是已后。心相体信。入出无难。然其所止。犹在本处。

“World Honored One: At that time, the elder grew sick and knew he would die before long. He said to the poor son, “I now possess much gold, silver, and jewels, and my granaries and storehouses are filled to overflowing. You should know in detail their quantities and the amounts to be received and given. Such are my thoughts, and you should understand what I mean. What is the reason? You and I are now no different. You should be even more careful that nothing be lost.”

世尊。尔时长者有疾。自知将死不久。语穷子言。我今多有金银珍宝。仓库盈溢。其中多少所应取与。汝悉知之。我心如是，当体此意。所以者何。今我与汝。便为不异。宜加用心无令漏失。

“At that time, the poor son, having received these instructions, took charge of all the goods, the gold, silver, and precious gems, as well as the granaries and storehouses, and yet he did not long for so much as a single meal. He continued to stay in the same place, still unable to let go of his lowly thoughts.”

尔时穷子即受教敕。领知众物。金银珍宝及诸库藏。而无希取一餐之意。然其所止故在本处。下劣之心亦未能舍。

“After a short while, the father knew that his son had grown more relaxed, that he had accomplished the great resolve and despised his former state of mind. Knowing that his own end was near, he ordered his son to gather together all the relatives, kings, great ministers, Kshatriyas, and lay people. When they had all assembled, he spoke to them saying, “All of you gentlemen should know that this is my son, begotten by me. In a certain city, he left me and ran away to suffer desolation, poverty, and hardship for over fifty years. His original name was such and such, and my name was such. Long ago, in my native city, I anxiously sought him. Suddenly, here, I have found him again! This is really my son. I am really his father. All of my wealth now belongs to my son, and all that has been paid out and taken in is known by him.”

复经少时父知子意渐以通泰。成就大志。自鄙先心。临欲终时。而命其子。并会亲族。国王大臣。刹利居士。皆悉己集。即自宣言。诸君当知。此是我子。我之所生。于某城中舍吾逃走。竛竮辛苦五十余年。其本字某。我名某甲。昔在本城怀忧推觅。忽于此间遇会得之。此实我子。我实其父。今我所有一切财物。皆是子有。先所出内。是子所知。

“World Honored One, when the poor son heard what his father had said, he rejoiced greatly, having obtained what he had never had, and he thought, ‘Originally, I had no thought to seek anything, and now this treasury has come to me of itself.’”

世尊。是时穷子闻父此言。即大欢喜。得未曾有。而作是念。我本无心有所希求。今此宝藏自然而至。

“World Honored One, the great and wealthy elder is the Thus Come One. We are all like the Buddha’s sons.”

世尊。大富长者。则是如来。我等皆似佛子。

“The Thus Come One always says that we are his sons.”

如来常说我等为子。

“World Honored One, because of the three kinds of suffering, we have suffered much torment in the midst of births and deaths. Deluded and ignorant, we clung to petty dharmas.”

世尊。我等以三苦故。于生死中受诸热恼。迷惑无知。乐着小法。

“Today, the World Honored One has caused us to think about getting rid of the dung of frivolous discussions of the Dharma. We increased our vigor to earn one day’s wage of Nirvana. Having attained this, our hearts rejoiced greatly, and we were content, saying to ourselves that, through our diligence and vigor, what we had gained in the Buddhadharma was plentiful.”

今日世尊。令我等思惟蠲除诸法戏论之粪。我等于中勤加精进。得至涅槃一日之价。既得此已。心大欢喜。自以为足。便自谓言。于佛法中勤精进故。所得弘多。

“However, the World Honored One, knowing all along that our minds were attached to lowly desires and took delight in petty dharmas, let us go our own way and did not specify to us saying, ‘You are all to have a share in the treasury of the Thus Come One’s knowledge and vision.’”

然世尊先知我等心着弊欲。乐于小法。便见纵舍。不为分别。汝等当有如来知见宝藏之分。

“The World Honored One, using the power of expedient devices, has spoken of the Thus Come One’s wisdom. Having gained from the Buddha the one day’s wage of Nirvana, we took it to be a great attainment; we had no ambition to seek the Great Vehicle. Besides, the wisdom of the Thus Come One had been set forth for the sake of the Bodhisattvas, and so we held no expectations regarding it. What is the reason? The Buddha knew that our minds took delight in petty dharmas. He used the power of expedients to teach us in the appropriate manner, and we did not know that we were truly the Buddha’s sons.”

世尊以方便力。说如来智慧。我等从佛得涅槃一日之价。以为大得。于此大乘无有志求。我等又因如来智慧。为诸菩萨开示演说。而自于此无有志愿。所以者何。佛知我等心乐小法。以方便力。随我等说。而我等不知真是佛子。

“Now we know that the World Honored One is by no means ungenerous with the Buddha’s wisdom. Why? From of old, we truly have been the Buddha’s sons, and yet we delighted only in petty dharmas. If we had thought to delight in the great, the Buddha would then have spoken for us the Great Vehicle Dharma. This Sutra speaks of only One Vehicle. In the past, in the presence of the Bodhisattvas, the Buddha had belittled the Hearers who delight in lesser dharmas, but he was actually employing the Great Vehicle in teaching and transforming them.”

今我等方知世尊。于佛智慧无所吝惜。所以者何。我等昔来真是佛子。而但乐小法。若我等有乐大之心。佛则为我说大乘法。于此经中唯说一乘。而昔于菩萨前。毁訾声闻乐小法者。然佛实以大乘教化。

“Therefore, we say that originally we had not hoped for or sought anything, and yet now these great jewels of the Dharma King have come to us of themselves. That which the Buddha’s sons should attain, we have already attained.”

是故我等说本无心有所希求。今法王大宝。自然而至。如佛子所应得者。皆已得之。

At that time, Mahakashyapa, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke verses, saying,

尔时摩诃迦叶欲重宣此义。而说偈言：

“We, on this day,
Hearing the sound of the Buddha’s teaching,
Jump for joy!
Gaining what we never had.
The Buddha says that Hearers,
Shall become Buddhas in the future.
A cluster of supreme gems,
We have gained, without our seeking.

   我等今日　闻佛音教　

欢喜踊跃　得未曾有

佛说声闻　当得作佛

　无上宝聚　不求自得　

It is like a youth,
Who, young and ignorant,
Ran away from his father
To another distant land,
Roaming from country to country
For fifty years and more.

   譬如童子　幼稚无识　

   舍父逃逝　远到他土　
周流诸国　五十余年

His father, worried about him,
Sought him in the four directions
Until, tired of the search,
He stopped in a certain city,
Where he built himself a house
And amused himself with the five desires.
His household was large and wealthy,
With much gold and silver,
Mother-of-pearl, carnelian,
Real pearls, and lapis lazuli,
Elephants, horses, cattle, and sheep,
Hand-drawn carts, palanquins, and chariots,
Husbandmen and servants,
And a multitude of subjects.
The profits from his trade
Extended to the other countries.
Traders and merchants
Were present everywhere.
Multitudes in the hundreds of millions
Surrounded him reverently.
And always, by kings,
He was cherished and remembered.
The ministers and noble clans
All honored him.
For those reasons,
Those who came and went were many.
Such was his nobility, wealth,
And his great authority.

其父忧念　四方推求　

求之既疲　顿止一城　
造立舍宅　五欲自娱　

其家巨富　多诸金银　
砗磲玛瑙　真珠琉璃　

象马牛羊　辇舆车乘　
田业僮仆　人民众多　

出入息利　乃遍他国　
商估贾人　无处不有　

千万亿众　围绕恭敬　
常为王者　之所爱念　

群臣豪族　皆共宗重　
以诸缘故　往来者众　

豪富如是　有大力势　

But then, as he grew old and decrepit,
He was filled with worry for his son.
Morning and evening, his only thought was,
“My time of death is drawing near.
My foolish son has left me now,
For over fifty years.
The things in my granaries and store-houses,
Whatever shall I do with them? 

而年朽迈　益忧念子　

夙夜惟念　死时将至　
痴子舍我　五十余年　

库藏诸物　当如之何　

Then the poor son,
Seeking clothing and food,
Went from city to city,
From country to country,
Sometimes getting something,
Sometimes getting nothing.
Starving, emaciated,
Covered with scabs,
He went on his way until eventually,
He arrived in the city where his father lived.

尔时穷子　求索衣食　

从邑至邑　从国至国　
或有所得　或无所得　

饥饿羸瘦　体生疮癣　
    渐次经历　到父住城　　

Hiring himself out along the way,
He finally reached his father’s house.
At that time, the elder,
Within his gateway,
Was covered by a large canopy,
And seated on a Lion-throne,
Surrounded by his retinue,
And various attendants.
Some of them were counting up
His gold, silver, and other valuables.
His income and expenses were
Recorded there on ledgers.
When the poor son saw his father,
Of such nobility and wealth,
He said, “This must be a king,
Or the equal of a king.”
In fright, he reproved himself,
“Why have I come here?”
And further to himself, he said,
“If I stay here long,
I may be oppressed
And forced to go to work.”
Having had this thought,
He hurriedly ran off
To a poor village, asking
To be hired to work.

佣赁展转　遂至父舍

   尔时长者　于其门内　

   施大宝帐　处师子座　
   眷属围绕　诸人侍卫　

   或有计算　金银宝物　
   出内财产　注记券疏　

   穷子见父　豪贵尊严　
   谓是国王　若国王等　

   惊怖自怪　何故至此　
   覆自念言　我若久住　

   或见逼迫　强驱使作　
   思惟是已　驰走而去　

借问贫里　欲往佣作

Just then, the elder,
Seated on the lion-throne,
Saw his son at a distance,
And silently recognized him.

   长者是时　在师子座　

遥见其子　默而识之

He then commanded his attendants
To seize him and bring him back.
The poor son cried out in alarm,
And fainted, falling to the ground.
“These people have caught me!
I shall certainly be killed!
Why, for food and clothing’s sake
Did I come to this place?”
The elder knew that his son
Was foolish and lowly.
“He wouldn’t believe me if I told him
He wouldn’t believe that I am his father.

   即敕使者　追捉将来　

   穷子惊唤　迷闷躄地　
   是人执我　必当见杀　

   何用衣食　使我至此　
长者知子　愚痴狭劣

不信我言　不信是父

Then he used an expedient,
And sent some other men,
One-eyed, squat, and ugly,
Lacking awesome virtue.
“Speak to him,” he said,
“And tell him, ‘You will work with us
Getting rid of dung and filth
At twice your normal wages.”
When the poor son heard this,
He happily followed them back
And swept out the dung and filth,
Cleaning all the dwellings.

即以方便　更遗余人　

眇目矬陋　无威德者　
汝可语之　云当相雇　

除诸粪秽　倍与汝价　
穷子闻之　欢喜随来　

为除粪秽　净诸房舍　

From his window, the elder
Would often watch his son,
Remembering that he was foolish and lowly
And enjoyed menial work.
Then the elder
Put on a worn and dirty robe,
And, holding a dung shovel,
Went to where his son was.
Expediently drawing near to him,
He said, “Work with diligence,
For I have increased your wages,
And shall give you oil for your feet,
And your fill of food and drink,
And thick, warm bedding.”
Thus he spoke sharply saying,
“You must work hard!”
And then in gentler tones, he added,
“You are like my own son.

长者于牖　常见其子　

念子愚劣　乐为鄙事　

于是长者　着弊垢衣　

执除粪器　往到子所　
方便附近　语令勤作　

既益汝价　并涂足油　
饮食充足　荐席厚暖　

如是苦言　汝当勤作　
又以软语　若如我子　

The elder, in his wisdom,
Eventually allowed him to come and go.
For a period of twenty years,
He was put in charge of household business.
He showed him his gold, silver,
Real pearls and crystal.
The income and expense of all these things,
He was caused to know.
And yet the son still lived outside the gate,
Dwelling in a grass hut
Thinking of his poverty:
“None of these things are mine.

长者有智　渐令入出　

经二十年　执作家事　
示其金银　真珠玻璃　

诸物出入　皆使令知　
犹处门外　止宿草庵　

自念贫事　我无此物　

The father knew his son’s mind
Gradually had expanded,
And wishing to give him wealth,
He gathered together his relatives,
The kings, and great ministers,
The Kshatriyas and lay people.
In the midst of this great assembly ,
He said, “This is my son.
He left me and went away
Fifty years ago.
And it has been twenty years
Since I saw him return.
Long ago in a certain city
I lost my son.
Searching for him everywhere,
I came to this place.
Everything that I own,
My houses and servants,
I bequeath it all to him
That he may use it as he pleases

父知子心　渐已广大　

欲与财物　即聚亲族　
国王大臣　刹利居士　

于此大众　说是我子　
舍我他行　经五十岁　

自见子来　已二十年　
昔于某城　而失是子　

周行求索　遂来至此　
凡我所有　舍宅人民　

悉以付之　恣其所用　

The son, recalling his former poverty
And his lowly intentions.
Who now, in his father’s presence
Had obtained these precious jewels,
And these dwelling places,
And all such wealth,
Greatly rejoiced,
Having gained what he’d never had.

子念昔贫　志意下劣　

今于父所　大获珍宝　
并及舍宅　一切财物　

甚大欢喜　得未曾有　

The Buddha in the same way
Knew our fondness for the petty.
And so he never said to us,
“You shall become Buddhas.”
Instead he said that we
Could attain cessation of all outflows,
Realize the lesser vehicle,
And become Hearer Disciples.

佛亦如是　知我乐小　

未曾说言　汝等作佛　
而说我等　得诸无漏　

成就小乘　声闻弟子　

The Buddha has instructed us
To speak of the unsurpassed Path,
And spoken of those who practice it
As being able to accomplish Buddhahood.
Receiving the Buddha’s teaching, we
For the sake of the Great Bodhisattvas,
Use causes and conditions,
Various analogies,
And numerous expressions
To speak of the unsurpassed Path.
All the Buddha’s disciples,
Having heard from us this Dharma,
Think upon it day and night,
And diligently practice it.
Thereupon, all the Buddhas,
Then bestow predictions upon them,
Saying, “You, in future age,
Shall become Buddhas.”
This is the secret store of Dharma,
Of all the Buddhas.
Only for the Bodhisattvas
Are such real matters set forth.
And not for our sakes
Have such true essentials been spoken.

佛敕我等　说最上道　

修习此者　当得成佛　
我承佛教　为大菩萨　

以诸因缘　种种譬喻　
若干言辞　说无上道　

诸佛子等　从我闻法　
日夜思惟　精勤修习　

是时诸佛　即授其记　
汝于来世　当得作佛　

一切诸佛　秘藏之法　
但为菩萨　演其实事　

而不为我　说斯真要

Just as the poor son.
Drew near his father, and
Although he knew of all his possessions,
In his heart he held no hope of getting them,
In just the same way,
Even though we have spoken
Of the Buddhadharma’s precious store,
We personally never aspired to it.

如彼穷子　得近其父　

虽知诸物　心不希取　
我等虽说　佛法宝藏　

自无志愿　亦复如是　

Having attained inner-extinction,
We thought this sufficient,
For having completed this,
There was nothing else to be done.
And even if we had heard
Of purifying Buddhalands,
And teaching and transforming living beings,
We’d have taken no delight therein.
And for what reason?
All dharmas are
Completely empty and still,
Neither produced nor destroyed,
Neither great nor small,
Without outflows and unconditioned.
Reflecting in this way,
We did not give rise to joy.

我等内灭　自谓为足　

唯了此事　更无余事　
我等若闻　净佛国土　

教化众生　都无欣乐　
所以者何　一切诸法　

皆悉空寂　无生无灭　
无大无小　无漏无为　

如是思惟　不生喜乐　

During the long night,
We had no craving or attachment
For the Buddha’s wisdom,
Nor did we aspire to it,
Yet, as to Dharma, we
Claimed we had the ultimate.
All through the long night,
We practiced and cultivated the Dharma of emptiness.
Having won release from the triple world
With its suffering, distress and calamities,
We dwell within our final bodies,
In nirvana with residue.
According to the Buddha’s teaching,
We attained the Way which is not false,
And we assumed that we had
Thereby repaid the Buddha’s kindness.

我等长夜　于佛智慧　

无贪无着　无复志愿　
而自于法　谓是究竟　

我等长夜　修习空法　
得脱三界　苦恼之患　

住最后身　有余涅槃　
佛所教化　得道不虚　

则为已得　报佛之恩　

Although we, for the sake
Of the Buddha’s disciples spoke
Of the Bodhisattvas Dharma,
With which they should seek Buddhahood,
Still in this Dharma,
We never took delight at all.
Our master saw this and let things be,
Because he saw into our hearts,
And so, at first, he did not encourage us
By telling of the real advantage.

 我等虽为　诸佛子等　

 说菩萨法　以求佛道　
 而于是法　永无愿乐　

 导师见舍　观我心故　

初不劝进　说有实利  

Just as the wealthy elder
Used the power of expedients
To bring his mind under control,
And afterwards gave to him
All of his valuables,
The Buddha in the same way
Manifests rare things,
But for those who delight in the small,
He uses the power of expedients
To brings their minds under control,
Only then teaching the greater wisdom

如富长者　知子志劣　

以方便力　柔伏其心　
然后乃付　一切财物　

佛亦如是　现希有事　
知乐小者　以方便力　

调伏其心　乃教大智　

On this day, we
Have gained what we never had!
That for which we lacked hope,
We now have attained.
Just as the poor son
Gained limitless treasure,
O World Honored One, now
We’ve obtained the Path and its fruits.
Within the non-outflow Dharma
We’ve gained the eye, pure and clear.
During the long night, we
Maintained the Buddha’s pure morality
But only on this day,
Have we gained this reward.
In the Dharma Kings’s Dharma,
Long have we cultivated Brahman conduct.
Now we’ve obtained that non-outflow,
The unsurpassed, great fruition.
Now we are all
Truly Hearers.
And taking the sound of the Buddha’s Way,
We cause all to hear it.
Now we are all
Truly Arhats,
And in all the world,
With its gods, people, maras and Brahmas,
Everywhere among them
We are worthy of receiving offerings.

我等今日　得未曾有　

非先所望　而今自得　
如彼穷子　得无量宝　

世尊我今　得道得果　
于无漏法　得清净眼　

我等长夜　持佛净戒　
始于今日　得其果报　

法王法中　久修梵行　
今得无漏　无上大果　

我等今者　真是声闻　
以佛道声　令一切闻　

我等今者　真阿罗汉　
于诸世间　天人魔梵　

普于其中　应受供养　

The World Honored One in his great kindness,
Uses this rare thing,
To pity, teach.
And benefit us,
Throughout limitless millions of eons.
Who could repay him?
Giving one’s hands and feet,
Bowing reverently in obeisance,
Whatever offering one makes,
Never repays him.

世尊大恩　以希有事　

怜愍教化　利益我等　
无量亿劫　谁能报者　

手足供给　头顶礼敬　
一切供养　皆不能报　

If one bore him on one’s head,
Or carried him upon one’s shoulders,
For aeons as numerous as the Ganges’ sands,
Exhausting one’s mind in reverence-
Or further, if one used delicacies,
And limitless valuable clothing,
And all types of bedding,
And various medicines,
Ox-head sandalwood,
And various precious gems,
Or stupas and temples
Covering the ground with valuable cloth,
And if with such things as these,
One made offerings
Throughout aeons as numerous as the Ganges’ sands,
One still never repays him.

若以顶戴　两肩荷负　
于恒沙劫　尽心恭敬　

又以美膳　无量宝衣　
及诸卧具　种种汤药　

牛头栴檀　及诸珍宝　
以起塔庙　宝衣布地　

如斯等事　以用供养　
于恒沙劫　亦不能报

The Buddhas are rare indeed.
Limitless and boundless,
Yes, inconceivable is the power,
Of their great spiritual penetrations.
Without outflows, unconditioned,
They are kings of all the Dharmas.
For the sake of lesser beings,
They bear up under this work.
To common folks who grasp at mark,
They teach what is appropriate.

诸佛希有　无量无边　

不可思议　大神通力　

无漏无为　诸法之王　

能为下劣　忍于斯事　
取相凡夫　随宜为说　

The Buddhas have, within the Dharmas,
Attained to the highest comfort.
They understand all living beings’
Various desires and delights,
As well as the strength of their resolve,
According to what they can bear,
Using limitless analogies,
They teach them the Dharma,
In accord with living beings’
Wholesome roots from former lives.
And knowing those who have matured,
And those who have not yet matured,
Through such calculations,
They discriminate and understand,
And in the pathway of One Vehicle,
They appropriately speak of three.

  诸佛于法　得最自在　

  知诸众生　种种欲乐　
  及其志力　随所堪任　

  以无量喻　而为说法　
  随诸众生　宿世善根　

  又知成熟　未成熟者　
种种筹量　分别知已

于一乘道　随宜说三