藥草喻品第五
The Parable of the Medicinal Herb
爾時世尊告摩訶迦葉及諸大弟子：「善哉，善哉！迦葉善說如來真實功德。誠如所言，如來復有無量無邊阿僧祇功德，汝等若於無量億劫說不能盡。迦葉！當知如來是諸法之王，若有所說皆不虛也。於一切法，以智方便而演說之，其所說法，皆悉到於一切智地。如來觀知一切諸法之所歸趣，亦知一切眾生深心所行，通達無礙；又於諸法究盡明了，示諸眾生一切智慧。
At that time, the World-Honored One addressed Mahākāśyapa and the great disciples, saying: "Excellent, excellent! Kāśyapa has spoken well of the Tathāgata's true merits. Indeed, as you have said, the Tathāgata possesses immeasurable, boundless, and incalculable merits. Even if you were to speak of them for countless kalpas, you could not exhaust them. Kāśyapa! You should know that the Tathāgata is the king of all dharmas. Whatever he speaks is never false. He expounds upon all dharmas with wisdom and upāya, and all the dharmas he speaks reach the ground of omniscience. The Tathāgata observes and knows the destination of all dharmas, and also knows the deep mental activities of all sentient beings, comprehending them without obstruction. Moreover, he has a thorough and clear understanding of all dharmas, and reveals all wisdom to sentient beings."
The Parable of the Medicinal Herb
「迦葉！譬如三千大千世界，山川谿谷土地所生卉木叢林及諸藥草，種類若干，名色各異。密雲彌布，遍覆三千大千世界，一時等澍，其澤普洽。卉木叢林及諸藥草，小根小莖、小枝小葉，中根中莖、中枝中葉，大根大莖、大枝大葉，諸樹大小，隨上中下各有所受。一雲所雨，稱其種性而得生長華菓敷實。雖一地所生，一雨所潤，而諸草木，各有差別。
Kāśyapa! It is like the three thousand great thousand world systems, where the mountains, rivers, valleys, and lands produce various plants, trees, forests, and medicinal herbs of different kinds, names, and colors. Dense clouds spread out, covering the entire three thousand great thousand world systems, showering rain at the same time, moistening everything universally. The plants, trees, forests, and medicinal herbs - whether with small roots, stems, branches, and leaves; medium roots, stems, branches, and leaves; or large roots, stems, branches, and leaves; trees both big and small - all receive the rain according to their size and capacity. From the rain of a single cloud, each grows according to its nature, blossoming and bearing fruit. Although they grow from the same earth and are moistened by the same rain, all the grasses and trees have their own distinctions.
「迦葉！當知如來亦復如是，出現於世，如大雲起，以大音聲、普遍世界天、人、阿修羅，如彼大雲遍覆三千大千國土。於大眾中、而唱是言：『我是如來、應供、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士、調御丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊，未度者令度，未解者令解，未安者令安，未涅槃者令得涅槃，今世後世，如實知之。我是一切知者、一切見者、知道者、開道者、說道者，汝等天、人、阿修羅眾，皆應到此，為聽法故。』爾時無數千萬億種眾生，來至佛所而聽法。如來于時，觀是眾生諸根利鈍、精進懈怠，隨其所堪而為說法，種種無量，皆令歡喜，快得善利。是諸眾生聞是法已，現世安隱，後生善處，以道受樂，亦得聞法。既聞法已，離諸障礙，於諸法中，任力所能，漸得入道。如彼大雲，雨於一切卉木叢林及諸藥草，如其種性，具足蒙潤，各得生長。
“Kāśyapa! Know that the Tathāgata is also like this. He appears in the world like a great cloud arising, with a great voice pervading the worlds of gods, humans, and asuras, just as that great cloud covers the three thousand great thousand world systems. In the midst of the great assembly, he proclaims, ‘I am the Tathāgata, Arhat, one of right and universal knowledge, of perfect clarity and conduct, well gone one, knower of worlds, most supreme, hero tamer, teacher of devas and humans, Buddha, World-Honored One. Those not yet liberated, I cause to be liberated. Those who do not yet understand, I cause to understand. Those not yet at peace, I cause to be at peace. Those who have not yet attained nirvana, I cause to attain nirvana. I know truly both this world and the world to come. I am the all-knowing one, the all-seeing one, the knower of the way, the opener of the way, the proclaimer of the way. You gods, humans, and asuras should all come here to listen to the Dharma.’
At that time, countless thousands of millions of kinds of beings come to the Buddha's place to hear the Dharma. The Tathāgata then observes the faculties of these beings - whether they are sharp or dull, diligent or indolent - and preaches the Dharma to them according to their capacities. In countless ways, he causes them all to rejoice and swiftly gain good benefit. These beings, having heard this Dharma, are peaceful and happy in their present lives, will be reborn in good places in future lives, will experience joy through the Way, and will also be able to hear the Dharma. Having heard the Dharma, they leave all hindrances and, according to their strength, gradually enter the Way. Like that great cloud raining upon all the plants, trees, forests, and medicinal herbs, each receives moisture fully according to its nature and grows.”
「如來說法，一相一味——所謂：解脫相、離相、滅相，究竟至於一切種智。其有眾生聞如來法，若持讀誦，如說修行，所得功德，不自覺知。所以者何？唯有如來知此眾生種相體性，念何事、思何事、修何事，云何念、云何思、云何修，以何法念、以何法思、以何法修，以何法得何法。眾生住於種種之地，唯有如來如實見之，明了無礙。如彼卉木叢林諸藥草等，而不自知上中下性。如來知是一相一味之法——所謂：解脫相、離相、滅相——究竟涅槃常寂滅相，終歸於空。佛知是已，觀眾生心欲而將護之，是故不即為說一切種智。
“The Tathāgata's teaching of the Dharma has one characteristic and one flavor—namely: the characteristic of liberation, the characteristic of detachment, and the characteristic of cessation—ultimately reaching all-encompassing wisdom. When sentient beings hear the Tathāgata's Dharma, if they uphold, read, and recite it, practicing as it is taught, they do not realize the merits they have gained. Why is this? Only the Tathāgata knows the nature and characteristics of these beings—what they think about, what they contemplate, what they practice, how they think, how they contemplate, how they practice, by what dharma they think, by what dharma they contemplate, by what dharma they practice, and by what dharma they attain what dharma. Sentient beings dwell in various states, and only the Tathāgata sees them as they truly are, understanding without obstruction. Like the plants, trees, forests, and medicinal herbs, they do not know their own superior, middling, or inferior nature. The Tathāgata knows this dharma of one characteristic and one flavor—namely: the characteristic of liberation, the characteristic of detachment, and the characteristic of cessation—as the characteristic of ultimate nirvana, constant extinction, finally returning to emptiness. The Buddha, knowing this, observes the desires in sentient beings' minds and protects them accordingly. Therefore, he does not immediately teach them all-encompassing wisdom.
「汝等，迦葉！甚為希有，能知如來隨宜說法，能信能受。所以者何？諸佛世尊隨宜說法，難解難知。」
"You, Kāśyapa, are most rare in being able to know that the Tathāgata teaches the Dharma according to what is appropriate, and in being able to believe and accept it. Why is this? The World-Honored Buddhas teach the Dharma according to what is appropriate, and it is difficult to understand and know."
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:
破有法王， 出現世間， 隨眾生欲， 種種說法。
The Dharma King who destroys existence Appears in the world, According to beings' desires, Teaching the Dharma in various ways.
如來尊重， 智慧深遠， 久默斯要， 不務速說。
The Tathāgata, most honored, With wisdom deep and far-reaching, Has long kept these essentials silent, Not hurrying to speak.
有智若聞， 則能信解； 無智疑悔， 則為永失。
If those with wisdom hear, They can believe and understand; Those without wisdom doubt and regret, Thus losing it forever.
是故迦葉！ 隨力為說， 以種種緣， 令得正見。
Therefore, Kāśyapa! According to their capacity, I teach, Using various conditions, To help them attain right view.
迦葉當知！ 譬如大雲， 起於世間， 遍覆一切；
Kāśyapa, you should know! Like a great cloud, Arising in the world, Covering everything;
慧雲含潤， 電光晃曜， 雷聲遠震， 令眾悅豫。
The cloud of wisdom contains moisture, Lightning flashes brilliantly, Thunder resounds far and wide, Bringing joy to all beings.
日光掩蔽， 地上清涼， 靉靆垂布、 如可承攬。
The sun's light is obscured, The earth becomes cool, The clouds hang low and spread, As if they could be grasped.
其雨普等， 四方俱下， 流澍無量， 率土充洽。
Its rain falls equally, In all four directions, Pouring down without measure, Saturating the entire land.
山川險谷、 幽邃所生， 卉木藥草， 大小諸樹， 百穀苗稼， 甘蔗蒲萄，
In mountains, streams, and steep valleys, In secluded places, Herbs, trees, and medicinal plants, Trees both large and small, Grains and seedlings, Sugarcane and grapevines,
雨之所潤， 無不豐足， 乾地普洽， 藥木竝茂。
Are all moistened by the rain, None are not fully nourished, Dry ground is thoroughly soaked, And herbs and trees flourish together.
其雲所出， 一味之水， 草木叢林， 隨分受潤。
The water from clouds, Is of one taste, Yet each plant and tree, Absorbs it according to its capacity.
一切諸樹， 上中下等， 稱其大小， 各得生長，
All the trees, Whether superior, middling, or inferior, According to their size, Each grows in its own way,
根莖枝葉， 華菓光色， 一雨所及， 皆得鮮澤。
Roots, trunk, branches, and leaves, Flowers and fruits with their colors, All touched by the single rain, Become fresh and lustrous.
如其體相， 性分大小， 所潤是一， 而各滋茂。
Just as their forms and natures, Differ in size, Though moistened by the same rain, Each flourishes in its own way.
佛亦如是， 出現於世， 譬如大雲， 普覆一切。
The Buddha is also like this, Appearing in the world, Like a great cloud, Covering all things.
既出于世， 為諸眾生， 分別演說， 諸法之實。
Having appeared in the world, For the sake of all beings, He discerns and expounds, The truth of all dharmas.
大聖世尊， 於諸天人、 一切眾中， 而宣是言：
The Great Sage, the World-Honored One, Among the devas and humans, And all the assembly, Proclaims these words:
『我為如來， 兩足之尊， 出于世間， 猶如大雲， 充潤一切。
"I am the Tathāgata, The most honored among two-legged beings, Appearing in the world, Like a great cloud, Refreshing all beings.
枯槁眾生， 皆令離苦， 得安隱樂—— 世間之樂， 及涅槃樂。
I cause withered beings, To all leave suffering, And attain peace and joy— Worldly joy, And the joy of nirvāṇa.
諸天人眾， 一心善聽， 皆應到此， 覲無上尊。』
All devas and humans, Listen with one mind, You should all come here, To see the unsurpassed one."
我為世尊， 無能及者， 安隱眾生， 故現於世。
I am the World-Honored One, None can equal me, To bring peace to all beings, I appear in the world.
為大眾說， 甘露淨法， 其法一味， 解脫涅槃。
For the great assembly, I speak The pure Dharma of sweet dew, This Dharma of one taste, Of liberation and nirvāṇa.
以一妙音、 演暢斯義， 常為大乘， 而作因緣。
With one wondrous voice, I expound this meaning, Always for the Mahayana, I create the causes and conditions.
我觀一切， 普皆平等， 無有彼此， 愛憎之心。
I regard all equally, Without discrimination, Having neither this nor that, No feelings of love or hate.
我無貪著， 亦無限礙， 恒為一切， 平等說法。
I have no attachments, Nor any limitations, Always for all beings, I teach the Dharma equally.
如為一人， 眾多亦然， 常演說法， 曾無他事。
Whether for one person, Or for many, I constantly expound the Dharma, Never doing anything else.
去來坐立， 終不疲厭， 充足世間， 如雨普潤。
Coming and going, sitting and standing, I never grow weary, Filling the world, Like the rain that moistens all.
貴賤上下， 持戒毀戒， 威儀具足， 及不具足，
Noble or humble, high or low, Those who keep precepts or break them, Those with perfect deportment, And those without,
正見邪見， 利根鈍根， 等雨法雨， 而無懈倦。
Those with right views or wrong views, Those with sharp faculties or dull, I rain the Dharma rain equally upon all, Never tiring.
一切眾生， 聞我法者， 隨力所受， 住於諸地。
All living beings Who hear my Dharma, According to their capacities, Dwell in various stages.
或處人天， 轉輪聖王， 釋梵諸王， 是小藥草。
Some dwell among humans and gods, Wheel-turning sage kings, Śakra, Brahma, and other kings, These are small medicinal herbs.
知無漏法， 能得涅槃， 起六神通， 及得三明，
Those who know the unconditioned Dharma, Can attain nirvana, Cultivate the six supernatural powers, And gain the three insights,
獨處山林， 常行禪定， 得緣覺證， 是中藥草。
Dwelling alone in mountain forests, Always practicing meditation, Realizing the enlightenment of pratyekabuddhas, These are medium medicinal herbs.
求世尊處， 我當作佛， 行精進定， 是上藥草。
Those who seek the place of the World-Honored One, Saying "I shall become a Buddha," Practicing diligence and meditation, These are superior medicinal herbs.
又諸佛子， 專心佛道， 常行慈悲， 自知作佛， 決定無疑， 是名小樹。
Again, the Buddha's children, Who focus their minds on the Way of the Buddha, Always practicing compassion, Knowing they will become Buddhas, Certain without doubt, These are called small trees.
安住神通， 轉不退輪， 度無量億、 百千眾生， 如是菩薩， 名為大樹。
Those who abide in supernatural powers, Turn the irreversible wheel, Save countless millions And hundreds of thousands of beings, Such bodhisattvas Are called great trees.
佛平等說， 如一味雨； 隨眾生性， 所受不同， 如彼草木， 所稟各異。
The Buddha preaches equally, Like the rain of one flavor; According to the natures of living beings, They receive it differently, Just as those grasses and trees Each receives it distinctly.
佛以此喻， 方便開示， 種種言辭， 演說一法， 於佛智慧， 如海一渧。
The Buddha uses this parable, Upāya-ly revealing, With various words, Expounding one Dharma, In the Buddha's wisdom, It is like a drop in the ocean.
我雨法雨， 充滿世間， 一味之法， 隨力修行。
I rain the Dharma rain, Filling the world, The one-flavored Dharma, Is practiced according to one's capacity.
如彼叢林， 藥草諸樹， 隨其大小， 漸增茂好。
Like those groves, Medicinal herbs and trees, According to their size, Gradually grow lush and beautiful.
諸佛之法， 常以一味， 令諸世間， 普得具足， 漸次修行， 皆得道果。
The Buddhas' Dharma, Always of one flavor, Causes all in the world, To attain fulfillment, Gradually practicing, All attain the fruit of the Way.
聲聞緣覺， 處於山林， 住最後身， 聞法得果， 是名藥草， 各得增長。
Śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, Dwelling in mountain forests, Abiding in their final body, Hearing the Dharma and attaining the fruit, Are called medicinal herbs, Each growing and developing.
若諸菩薩， 智慧堅固， 了達三界， 求最上乘， 是名小樹， 而得增長。
If there are bodhisattvas, Whose wisdom is firm, Who comprehend the three realms, And seek the supreme vehicle, These are called small trees, And they grow and develop.
復有住禪， 得神通力， 聞諸法空， 心大歡喜，
Again, there are those who dwell in meditation, Attaining supernatural powers, Hearing that all dharmas are empty, Their hearts greatly rejoice,
放無數光， 度諸眾生， 是名大樹， 而得增長。
Emitting countless lights, Saving all sentient beings, These are called great trees, And they grow and develop.
如是迦葉！ 佛所說法， 譬如大雲， 以一味雨， 潤於人華， 各得成實。
Thus, Kāśyapa! The Dharma spoken by the Buddha, Is like a great cloud, With rain of one flavor, Moistening human flowers, Each bearing fruit.
迦葉當知！ 以諸因緣、 種種譬喻， 開示佛道， 是我方便， 諸佛亦然。
Kāśyapa, you should know! Using various causes and conditions, And all kinds of parables, I reveal the Way of the Buddha, This is my upāya, All Buddhas are also thus.
今為汝等， 說最實事： 『諸聲聞眾， 皆非滅度。
Now for you all, I speak the most real matter: "All the śrāvaka multitudes Have not attained final nirvana.
汝等所行， 是菩薩道， 漸漸修學， 悉當成佛。』」
The path you practice Is the bodhisattva way, Gradually studying and learning, You shall all become Buddhas."