如來壽量品第十六
爾時，佛告諸菩薩及一切大眾：「諸善男子！汝等當信解如來誠諦之語。」復告大眾：「汝等當信解如來誠諦之語。」又復告諸大眾：「汝等當信解如來誠諦之語。」
At that time, the Buddha said to all the bodhisattvas and the great assembly: "Kulaputras! You should believe and understand the Tathagata's words are sincerely true." He again told the great assembly, "You should believe and understand the Tathagata's words are sincerely true." Once more he told the great assembly, "You should believe and understand the Tathagata's words are sincerely true."
是時菩薩大眾，彌勒為首，合掌白佛言：「世尊！唯願說之，我等當信受佛語。」如是三白已，復言：「唯願說之，我等當信受佛語。」
At that time, the great assembly of bodhisattvas, with Maitreya at their head, joined their palms and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One, please speak. We will believe and accept the Buddha's words." After making this request three times, they again said, "Please speak. We will believe and accept the Buddha's words."
爾時世尊知諸菩薩三請不止，而告之言：「汝等諦聽，如來祕密神通之力。一切世間天、人及阿修羅，皆謂：『今釋迦牟尼佛，出釋氏宮，去伽耶城不遠，坐於道場，得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。』然，善男子！我實成佛已來無量無邊百千萬億那由他劫。譬如五百千萬億那由他阿僧祇三千大千世界，假使有人末為微塵，過於東方五百千萬億那由他阿僧祇國乃下一塵，如是東行，盡是微塵。諸善男子！於意云何？是諸世界，可得思惟校計知其數不？」
At that time the World-Honored One, knowing that the bodhisattvas had made their request three times without ceasing, told them, "Listen carefully to the Tathagata's secret and supernatural power. All devas , humans, and asuras in the world believe, 'Now Śākyamuni Buddha, having left the palace of the Śākyans, sat at the site of enlightenment not far from the city of Gaya, and attained anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.' However, kulaputra! Since I actually attained Buddhahood, countless, limitless hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of kalpas have passed. Suppose a person were to take five hundred thousand myriads of kotis of nayutas of asaṃkhyeyas of three-thousand-great-thousandfold worlds and grind them to particles. Then, going eastward, every time he passes five hundred thousand myriads of kotis of nayutas of asaṃkhyeyas of lands he drops one single particle. Then he continues eastward in this way until he has finished dropping all the particles. Kulaputras! What do you think? Is it possible to imagine or calculate all those worlds, so as to know their number?"
彌勒菩薩等俱白佛言：「世尊！是諸世界，無量無邊，非算數所知，亦非心力所及；一切聲聞、辟支佛，以無漏智，不能思惟知其限數；我等住阿惟越致地，於是事中亦所不達。世尊！如是諸世界，無量無邊。」
Maitreya Bodhisattva and others said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! These worlds are immeasurable and boundless, beyond calculation or mental comprehension. Even all the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, with their undefiled wisdom, cannot conceive or know their number. We, who abide on the stage of non-retrogression, also cannot fathom this matter. World-Honored One! These worlds are truly immeasurable and boundless."
爾時佛告大菩薩眾：「諸善男子！今當分明宣語汝等。是諸世界，若著微塵及不著者盡以為塵，一塵一劫，我成佛已來，復過於此百千萬億那由他阿僧祇劫。自從是來，我常在此娑婆世界說法教化，亦於餘處百千萬億那由他阿僧祇國導利眾生。
At that time, the Buddha told the assembly of great bodhisattvas, "Kulaputras! I will now clearly explain this to you. If all these worlds, whether they had a particle placed in them or not, were to be ground into dust, and each particle of that represented one kalpa, the time since I actually attained Buddhahood would exceed this by hundreds of thousands of millions of nayutas of asaṃkhyeyas of kalpas. Since then, I have constantly been in this Saha world teaching and transforming beings, and also in hundreds of thousands of millions of nayutas of asaṃkhyeyas of other lands guiding and benefiting sentient beings.
「諸善男子！於是中間，我說燃燈佛等，又復言其入於涅槃，如是皆以方便分別。
Kulaputras! During this time, I spoke of Dīpaṃkara Buddha and others, and also said that they entered nirvana. All of this was done as upāya.
「諸善男子！若有眾生來至我所，我以佛眼，觀其信等諸根利鈍，隨所應度，處處自說，名字不同、年紀大小，亦復現言當入涅槃，又以種種方便說微妙法，能令眾生發歡喜心。
Kulaputras! If there are sentient beings who come to me, I use my Buddha eye to observe the sharpness or dullness of their faculties of faith and so on. According to what is appropriate for their salvation, I speak of myself in various places, using different names and ages. I also manifest as about to enter nirvana, and use various upāya to speak the subtle Dharma, enabling sentient beings to generate joyful hearts.
「諸善男子！如來見諸眾生樂於小法、德薄垢重者，為是人說：『我少出家，得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。』然我實成佛已來久遠若斯，但以方便，教化眾生，令入佛道，作如是說。
Kulaputras! When the Tathagata sees sentient beings who delight in lesser dharmas and have meager virtues and heavy defilements, for these people I say, 'I left home at a young age and attained anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.' However, in reality, it has been an extremely long time since I attained Buddhahood. I only use these upāya to teach and transform sentient beings, to help them enter the Buddha's path. This is why I speak in this way."
「諸善男子！如來所演經典，皆為度脫眾生，或說己身、或說他身，或示己身、或示他身，或示己事、或示他事，諸所言說，皆實不虛。所以者何？如來如實知見三界之相，無有生死、若退若出，亦無在世及滅度者，非實非虛，非如非異，不如三界見於三界，如斯之事，如來明見，無有錯謬。以諸眾生有種種性、種種欲、種種行、種種憶想分別故，欲令生諸善根，以若干因緣、譬喻、言辭種種說法，所作佛事，未曾暫廢。如是，我成佛已來，甚大久遠，壽命無量阿僧祇劫，常住不滅。
"Kulaputras! The sutras expounded by the Tathagata are all for the purpose of liberating sentient beings. Sometimes he speaks of himself, sometimes of others; sometimes he manifests his own body, sometimes the bodies of others; sometimes he reveals his own affairs, sometimes the affairs of others. All his words are true and not false. Why is this? The Tathagata truly knows and sees the characteristics of the three realms. There is no birth or death, no retreating or advancing, no one in the world or passing into extinction. It is neither real nor unreal, neither like nor unlike. He does not view the three realms as sentient beings do. Regarding such matters, the Tathagata sees clearly without error.
Because sentient beings have various natures, various desires, various behaviors, and various ways of thinking and discriminating, the Buddha wishes to cause them to produce roots of goodness. Therefore, using many kinds of causes and conditions, parables, and phrases, he teaches the Dharma in many ways. The Buddha's work he performs has never ceased for even a moment. Thus, it has been an extremely long time since I attained Buddhahood, and my life span is an immeasurable number of asaṃkhyeyas of kalpas, eternally existing and never perishing.
「諸善男子！我本行菩薩道所成壽命，今猶未盡，復倍上數。然今非實滅度，而便唱言：『當取滅度。』如來以是方便，教化眾生。所以者何？若佛久住於世，薄德之人，不種善根，貧窮下賤，貪著五欲，入於憶想妄見網中。若見如來常在不滅，便起憍恣而懷厭怠，不能生難遭之想、恭敬之心。是故如來以方便說：『比丘當知！諸佛出世，難可值遇。』所以者何？諸薄德人，過無量百千萬億劫，或有見佛，或不見者，以此事故，我作是言：『諸比丘！如來難可得見。』斯眾生等聞如是語，必當生於難遭之想，心懷戀慕，渴仰於佛，便種善根。是故如來雖不實滅，而言滅度。
Kulaputras! The life span I achieved through my original practice of the bodhisattva path has not yet come to an end but is twice the above number. Yet I now announce that I will enter parinirvāṇa. The Tathagata uses this upāya to teach and transform sentient beings. Why? If the Buddha were to remain in the world for a long time, those of little virtue would not plant roots of goodness. Poor and lowly, they would become attached to the five desires and enter into the net of deluded thoughts and views. If they saw that the Tathagata was constantly present and not extinguished, they would grow arrogant and lax, unable to conceive of the difficulty of encountering the Buddha or arouse a heart of reverence. Therefore, the Tathagata teaches this upāya, saying, 'Bhikṣus, you should know that it is difficult to meet a Buddha appearing in the world.' Why? In the course of immeasurable hundreds of thousands of millions of kalpas, some people of little virtue may see a Buddha or may not. For this reason, I say, 'Bhikṣus, the Tathagata is difficult to see.' When sentient beings hear such words, they are sure to realize the difficulty of encountering the Buddha. They will harbor a longing and thirst for the Buddha and will then plant roots of goodness. Therefore, although the Tathagata does not actually enter extinction, he nevertheless says that he will enter extinction."
「又，善男子！諸佛如來，法皆如是，為度眾生，皆實不虛。譬如良醫，智慧聰達，明練方藥，善治眾病。其人多諸子息——若十、二十乃至百數，以有事緣，遠至餘國。諸子於後，飲他毒藥，藥發悶亂，宛轉于地。是時其父還來歸家，諸子飲毒，或失本心、或不失者，遙見其父，皆大歡喜，拜跪問訊：『善安隱歸。我等愚癡，誤服毒藥，願見救療，更賜壽命。』父見子等苦惱如是，依諸經方，求好藥草，色香美味皆悉具足，擣篩和合與子令服，而作是言：『此大良藥，色香美味皆悉具足，汝等可服，速除苦惱，無復眾患。』其諸子中不失心者，見此良藥、色香俱好，即便服之，病盡除愈。餘失心者，見其父來，雖亦歡喜問訊，求索治病，然與其藥而不肯服。所以者何？毒氣深入，失本心故，於此好色香藥而謂不美。父作是念：『此子可愍，為毒所中，心皆顛倒。雖見我喜，求索救療；如是好藥而不肯服。我今當設方便，令服此藥。』即作是言：『汝等當知！我今衰老，死時已至，是好良藥，今留在此，汝可取服，勿憂不差。』作是教已，復至他國，遣使還告：『汝父已死。』是時諸子聞父背喪，心大憂惱而作是念：『若父在者，慈愍我等，能見救護，今者捨我遠喪他國。』自惟孤露，無復恃怙，常懷悲感，心遂醒悟，乃知此藥色味香美，即取服之，毒病皆愈。其父聞子悉已得差，尋便來歸，咸使見之。
"Furthermore, kulaputras! The dharma of all Buddhas and Tathagatas is like this - it is all for the sake of liberating sentient beings, and is all true and not false. It is like a good physician who is wise and perceptive, skilled in prescribing medicine and able to cure all illnesses. This person has many children - perhaps ten, twenty, or up to a hundred. Due to some matter, he travels to a distant country. After he has gone, his children drink some other person's poisonous concoction. The poison takes effect, throwing them into a state of confusion and pain, and they writhe on the ground.
At this time their father returns home. Some of the children who have taken the poison have lost their senses, while others have not. Seeing their father from afar, they are all greatly happy. They bow down, kneel, and greet him, saying, 'How good it is that you have returned safely! We were foolish and mistakenly drank poison. We pray that you will rescue and heal us, and further give us back our lives.'
The father sees his children suffering like this. Following various medical treatises, he searches for good medicinal herbs that are perfect in color, fragrance, and flavor. He grinds, sifts, and mixes them together and gives them to his children to take, saying, 'This is excellent medicine, perfect in color, fragrance, and flavor. You should take it. It will quickly remove your suffering and you will never have any illness again.'
Those among the children who have not lost their senses see this excellent medicine with its fine color and fragrance, immediately take it, and their illness is completely cured. The others, who have lost their senses, although they are happy to see their father return and they seek a cure for their illness, when given the medicine, they refuse to take it. Why? The poison has penetrated deeply and they have lost their senses. Thus they consider this medicine of fine color and fragrance to be unpleasant.
The father thinks to himself, 'These children are to be pitied. The poison has warped their minds. Although they are happy to see me and seek a cure, they refuse to take this excellent medicine. I will now use an upāya to induce them to take this medicine.' Immediately he says, 'You should know that I am now old and weak and my time of death has arrived. I will leave this good medicine here. You may take it if you wish. Do not worry that it will not cure you.' Having given these instructions, he again goes off to another country and sends a messenger back to announce, 'Your father is dead.'
At this time, when the children hear that their father has died, their hearts are overcome with great grief and they think, 'If our father were alive he would have pity on us and could see to our rescue and protection. But now he has abandoned us and died in a distant land.' Thinking of themselves as orphans with no one to rely on, their constant grief and distress finally awakens them to the fact that this medicine has fine color, flavor, and fragrance. They take it immediately, and their poisonous illness is completely cured. The father, hearing that his children have all recovered, immediately returns home and lets them all see him."
「諸善男子！於意云何？頗有人能說此良醫虛妄罪不？」
"Kulaputras, what do you think? Could anyone say that this good physician has committed the fault of deception?"
「不也，世尊！」
"No, World-Honored One!"
佛言：「我亦如是，成佛已來、無量無邊百千萬億那由他阿僧祇劫，為眾生故，以方便力、言當滅度，亦無有能如法說我虛妄過者。」
The Buddha said, "I am also like this. Since attaining Buddhahood, countless, boundless hundreds of thousands of millions of nayutas of asaṃkhyeyas of kalpas have passed. For the sake of sentient beings, through the power of upāya, I say that I will enter extinction. Yet no one can rightly say that I have committed the fault of deception."
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:
自我得佛來， 所經諸劫數， 無量百千萬， 億載阿僧祇，
Since I attained Buddhahood, The number of kalpas that have passed Is countless hundreds of thousands of millions, Billions of asaṃkhyeyas kalpas.
常說法教化， 無數億眾生， 令入於佛道。 爾來無量劫，
I have constantly preached the Dharma and taught Countless billions of living beings, Guiding them to enter the Buddha's Way. Since then, innumerable kalpas have passed.
為度眾生故， 方便現涅槃， 而實不滅度， 常住此說法。
In order to liberate living beings, As an upāya I appear to enter nirvana, But in reality I do not pass into extinction, And am always here preaching the Dharma.
我常住於此， 以諸神通力， 令顛倒眾生， 雖近而不見。
I always abide here, Using various supernatural powers To cause confused living beings, Although near, to be unable to see me.
眾見我滅度， 廣供養舍利， 咸皆懷戀慕， 而生渴仰心。
The multitude sees me as having passed into extinction. They widely make offerings to my relics, All harboring thoughts of yearning, And their hearts filled with adoration.
眾生既信伏， 質直意柔軟， 一心欲見佛， 不自惜身命。
When living beings have become faithful and subdued, Honest and upright, with gentle intentions, Wholeheartedly wishing to see the Buddha, Not begrudging their own lives,
時我及眾僧， 俱出靈鷲山， 我時語眾生： 『常在此不滅， 以方便力故， 現有滅不滅。』
At that time, I and the assembly of monks Together left Vulture Peak. I then said to living beings: "I am always here, not extinct. By the power of upāya, I manifest extinction and non-extinction."
餘國有眾生， 恭敬信樂者， 我復於彼中， 為說無上法。
In other lands there are living beings Who are respectful and have faith. Among them I again Preach the supreme Dharma.
汝等不聞此， 但謂我滅度。
You do not hear of this, And only think I have passed into extinction.
我見諸眾生， 沒在於苦惱， 故不為現身， 令其生渴仰， 因其心戀慕， 乃出為說法。
I see all living beings Sunk in the sea of suffering. Therefore I do not manifest myself, Causing them to yearn for me. When their hearts are filled with longing, Then I appear and preach the Dharma.
神通力如是， 於阿僧祇劫， 常在靈鷲山， 及餘諸住處。
With such supernatural powers, Throughout asaṃkhyeyas kalpas, I am always on the Vulture’s Peak And in other dwelling places.
眾生見劫盡， 大火所燒時， 我此土安隱， 天人常充滿。
When living beings see the kalpa ending, And everything consumed by a great fire, My land is peaceful and secure, Always filled with heavenly and human beings.
園林諸堂閣， 種種寶莊嚴， 寶樹多花菓， 眾生所遊樂。
The gardens and palaces, Are adorned with various precious things. Jeweled trees abound with flowers and fruits, Where living beings enjoy themselves.
諸天擊天鼓， 常作眾伎樂， 雨曼陀羅花， 散佛及大眾。
The heavenly beings beat celestial drums, Always making various kinds of music. Mandārava flowers rain down, Scattered over the Buddha and the great assembly.
我淨土不毀， 而眾見燒盡， 憂怖諸苦惱， 如是悉充滿。
My pure land is not destroyed, Yet the multitude see it as ravaged by fire. Anxiety, fear, and sufferings Such as these fill it everywhere.
是諸罪眾生， 以惡業因緣， 過阿僧祇劫， 不聞三寶名。
These sinful living beings, Because of their evil karma, Throughout asaṃkhyeyas kalpas, Do not even hear the name of the Three Treasures.
諸有修功德， 柔和質直者， 則皆見我身， 在此而說法。
Those who cultivate merit, Who are gentle and honest, Will all see my body Here, preaching the Dharma.
或時為此眾， 說佛壽無量， 久乃見佛者， 為說佛難值。
Sometimes for this assembly, I speak of the Buddha's immeasurable lifespan. To those who see the Buddha after a long time, I say the Buddha is difficult to encounter.
我智力如是， 慧光照無量， 壽命無數劫， 久修業所得。
My wisdom and power are such, My light of wisdom illuminates immeasurably. My lifespan is countless kalpas, Obtained through long cultivation.
汝等有智者， 勿於此生疑， 當斷令永盡， 佛語實不虛。
You who are wise, Do not doubt this. Cut off doubts forever, The Buddha's words are not false.
如醫善方便， 為治狂子故， 實在而言死， 無能說虛妄。
Like a physician’s skillful upāya, Who, to cure his deranged children, Though actually alive, says he is dead. He cannot be accused of lying.
我亦為世父， 救諸苦患者， 為凡夫顛倒， 實在而言滅。
I too am the father of the world, Saving all who suffer. Because ordinary beings are deluded, Though actually present, I say I am extinct.
以常見我故， 而生憍恣心， 放逸著五欲， 墮於惡道中。
If they always saw me, They would become arrogant and lax, Attached to the five desires, And fall into evil paths.
我常知眾生， 行道不行道， 隨所應可度， 為說種種法。
I always know which beings Practice the Way and which do not. According to what they need for salvation, I preach various teachings for them.
每自作是意， 以何令眾生， 得入無上慧， 速成就佛身。」
I always think to myself: How can I cause living beings To enter the unsurpassed wisdom And quickly achieve the Buddha's body?