菩薩眾品第四
爾時尊者舍利弗作如是念：「世尊今者已說聲聞功德，復願說諸菩薩具足功德。何以故？一切功德從此出生。」
At that time, Venerable Śāriputra thought: "The World-Honored One has already explained the merits of the śrāvakas, may he now explain the complete merits of the bodhisattvas. Why? Because all merits arise from this."
爾時世尊知其所念，告舍利弗：「彼佛剎中有無量百千億諸菩薩眾皆來集會。所有出家菩薩，以佛神力隨所聽聞，皆能領悟受持讀誦。舍利弗！我於此界說法至少，比不動如來所說法藏，百分、千分、百千分、億百千分、算分、數分、迦羅分、鄔波尼殺曇分亦所不及。舍利弗！此皆不動如來、應、正等覺修菩薩行時發如是願：『願我成佛，彼剎土中所有菩薩，以我威力隨所聽聞，皆能領悟受持讀誦。』舍利弗！是諸菩薩由彼如來本願神力，於佛所聞悉能領受諷誦通利。
At that time, the World-Honored One, knowing his thoughts, told Śāriputra, "In that buddha-field there are countless hundreds of thousands of millions of bodhisattvas gathered together. All the renunciant bodhisattvas, through the Buddha's spiritual power, can understand, retain, and recite whatever they hear. Śāriputra! The teachings I give in this realm are very few - compared to the treasury of teachings given by Tathāgata Akṣobhya, they do not equal even one hundredth, one thousandth, one hundred thousandth, one hundred billion thousandth part, nor even a calculable part, countable part, kalā part, or upaniṣad part. Śāriputra! This is all because Tathāgata Akṣobhya, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One made this vow while practicing the bodhisattva path: 'When I become a Buddha, may all bodhisattvas in my buddha-field, through my power, be able to understand, retain, and recite whatever they hear.' Śāriputra! Through that Tathāgata's original vow power, these bodhisattvas can fully understand, memorize, and master whatever they hear from the Buddha."
「復次舍利弗！若彼菩薩自心欲樂往異佛土，舉心便至，形服言音善同方俗。於彼如來禮拜供養，聽聞正法善為問難，能事已周還歸佛所。舍利弗！此賢劫中有九百九十六佛當出於世，若有菩薩樂見此如來者，應願生彼不動佛剎。舍利弗！若善男子善女人從此佛剎及餘佛剎於命終後，若已生、若今生、若當生不動如來佛剎中者，必不信住諸聲聞地。何以故？彼行佛道常遇如來，天魔波旬不得其便，於二乘地永斷相續，必定當得無上菩提，常在如來諸大集會。舍利弗！汝應當知，若住不動如來清淨佛剎者，彼諸眾生終不退墮，不可引攝亦不退還，住無上菩提，有大勢力不可搖動，永無退轉。舍利弗！若有善男子善女人於此世界或他世界，若命終後生於彼土，即於生時得如是念：『我已入如來室、住無畏城。』舍利弗！彼諸菩薩所有言議，皆與般若波羅蜜相應，互相遵敬起導師想。
"Furthermore, Śāriputra! When those bodhisattvas wish in their hearts to visit other buddha lands, they arrive as soon as they think of it, their appearance, clothing, and speech naturally conforming to local customs. They make offerings and pay homage to those Tathāgatas, listen to the true Dharma and skillfully engage in questions and answers, and when their tasks are complete, they return to their Buddha. Śāriputra! In this Bhadra kalpa, nine hundred and ninety-six Buddhas will appear in the world. If any bodhisattva wishes to see these Tathāgatas, they should aspire to be born in Akṣobhya's buddha-field.
Śāriputra! When good men and good women from this buddha-field or other buddha-fields pass away and are reborn - whether already born, being born now, or to be born - in Tathāgata Akṣobhya's buddha-field, they will never believe in or dwell in the śrāvaka stages. Why? Because they practice the Buddha's path and always encounter the Tathāgata, Māra Pāpīyas cannot take advantage of them, they permanently cut off continuation in the two vehicles, they will definitely attain supreme bodhi, and they are always present in the Tathāgata's great assemblies.
Śāriputra! You should know that those who dwell in Tathāgata Akṣobhya's pure buddha-field will never fall back or regress, cannot be led astray and will not return, abiding in supreme bodhi with great power that cannot be shaken, never to retreat. Śāriputra! When good men and good women from this world or other worlds pass away and are born in that land, at the moment of birth they have this thought: 'I have entered the Tathāgata's chamber and dwell in the city of fearlessness.' Śāriputra! All discussions among those bodhisattvas accord with prajñāpāramitā, and they respect each other, regarding one another as teachers.
「復次舍利弗！彼佛剎中諸菩薩眾，在家者少出家者多，皆以佛神力隨所聽聞，即能領悟受持諷誦。舍利弗！若在家菩薩摩訶薩雖不繫念，於法會中隨在方所若坐若立，以佛神力皆能聽聞，領悟受持讀誦通利。彼出家菩薩亦復如是，諸在異方乃至諷誦無別。是諸菩薩捨身受身，於所聞經終不忘失，於諸佛土隨願受生。舍利弗！彼亦是不動如來本願功德之所莊嚴。舍利弗！若菩薩於一生中欲見無量百千億那由他諸佛者，應當願生不動如來之所。若菩薩於彼生已，即見無量諸佛種諸善根，復能為無數百千眾生演說法要，令諸眾生增長善根。舍利弗，此賢劫中諸佛世尊當出於世，若諸菩薩以衣服飲食臥具醫藥種種資具供養如來，便即出家。既出家已，於諸佛所淨修梵行。以此善根，方餘菩薩於不動如來之所，於一生中與波羅蜜相應，所有福聚百分不及一、千分不及一，算分、迦羅分、數分、喻分、鄔波尼殺曇分亦不能及。舍利弗！此亦不動如來清淨佛剎功德莊嚴。舍利弗！若有菩薩從此世界或餘世界於壽終後，若已生、現生、當生不動如來佛剎者，一切皆得不退轉位。何以故？彼佛剎中天魔波旬不為障礙，亦無魔業之所嬈亂。舍利弗！譬如毒蛇，神呪所伏不能為害，一切諸蟲見彼毒蛇亦無憂懼。然此毒蛇雖無毒害，由本業故受此蛇身，故名毒蛇。舍利弗！彼魔波旬亦復如是，由不動如來往修菩薩行時本願善根如是迴向：『願我當證無上菩提，調伏諸魔不為障惱，彼諸菩薩、聲聞、凡夫乃至三千大千世界亦不為障惱。』然由先業所感受此魔身，生彼天中而自悔責，無始故業獲此身名，雖得自在常生厭患。於彼如來說法之時，諸魔眷屬常預聽聞聞已心淨，於聲聞眾而生愛樂：『云何當得住於寂靜少欲知足？』彼諸魔眾常起出家之心而無障礙之想故。彼國中聲聞菩薩及凡夫眾，皆由彼佛往昔精勤弘誓威力得安樂住。舍利弗！此亦不動佛剎殊勝莊嚴。」
"Furthermore, Śāriputra! Among the assembly of bodhisattvas in that buddha-field, there are few householders and many renunciants, and through the Buddha's spiritual power, they can all understand, retain, and recite whatever they hear. Śāriputra! Even when householder bodhisattva-mahāsattvas are not concentrating, whether sitting or standing in the Dharma assembly, through the Buddha's spiritual power they can hear, understand, retain, and master everything. The renunciant bodhisattvas are likewise, even those in different places can recite without distinction. These bodhisattvas, through their successive lives, never forget the sutras they have heard and can be reborn in any buddha land according to their wishes. Śāriputra! This too is adorned by the merit of Tathāgata Akṣobhya's original vows.
Śāriputra! If a bodhisattva wishes to see countless hundreds of thousands of millions of nayutas of Buddhas in one lifetime, they should aspire to be born in Tathāgata Akṣobhya's realm. When a bodhisattva is born there, they immediately see countless Buddhas and plant roots of goodness, and can also teach the essential Dharma to innumerable hundreds of thousands of beings, causing them to increase their roots of goodness. Śāriputra, in this Bhadra kalpa when World-Honored Buddhas appear in the world, if bodhisattvas make offerings to the Tathāgata with clothing, food, bedding, medicine, and various necessities, they then renounce home life. After renouncing home life, they purely practice brahmacarya before all Buddhas. Compared to these roots of goodness, the merit accumulated in one lifetime by other bodhisattvas with the pāramitās before Tathāgata Akṣobhya does not equal even one hundredth, one thousandth, or even a calculable, kalā, countable, comparable, or upaniṣad part. Śāriputra! This too is an adornment of merit in Tathāgata Akṣobhya's pure buddha-field.
Śāriputra! When bodhisattvas from this world or other worlds pass away and are born - whether already born, being born now, or to be born - in Tathāgata Akṣobhya's buddha-field, they all attain the stage of non-retrogression. Why? Because in that buddha-field, Māra Pāpīyas creates no obstacles, and there is no disturbance from māra's works. Śāriputra! It is like a poisonous snake subdued by mantras that can no longer harm, and all creatures seeing that snake feel no fear. Yet though this snake has no poison, due to past karma it still has a snake's body, and so is called a poisonous snake. Śāriputra! So too with Māra Pāpīyas - because when Tathāgata Akṣobhya practiced the bodhisattva path, he dedicated his roots of goodness thus: 'When I attain supreme bodhi, may I tame all māras so they cause no disturbance, and may they not disturb any bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, or ordinary beings throughout the three thousand great thousand world-system.' Yet due to past karma they received māra bodies and were born in those heavens, feeling remorse, having these bodies named from beginningless karma, and though powerful they constantly feel disgust. When that Tathāgata teaches the Dharma, the māra retinue constantly attend and listen, their minds becoming pure, and they develop fondness for the śrāvaka assembly, thinking: 'How can we dwell in tranquility with few desires and contentment?' These māra assemblies constantly give rise to thoughts of renunciation without any notion of obstruction. The śrāvakas, bodhisattvas, and ordinary beings in that land all dwell in peace through the power of that Buddha's past diligent great vows. Śāriputra! This too is a supreme adornment of Akṣobhya's buddha-field.
時舍利弗白佛言：「世尊！若有善男子善女人，以七寶滿三千大千世界，持用布施願生彼國。由茲行願，此善男子善女人終不退墮聲聞、辟支佛地，從一佛剎至一佛剎，歷事供養諸佛如來，於諸佛所聽聞正法，雖未證得無上菩提，而能見彼無量百千乃至億那由他百千諸佛，於諸佛所種諸善根。世尊！若善男子善女人由此方便，以七寶滿三千大千世界持用布施，由茲善捨往生彼國。」
Then Śāriputra said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! If good men and good women fill the three thousand great thousand world-system with the seven treasures and offer them as a gift, aspiring to be born in that land, through this practice and vow, these good men and good women will never fall back to the stages of śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas. Going from one buddha-field to another, they will serve and make offerings to all Tathāgatas, hear the true Dharma before all Buddhas, and although they have not yet attained supreme bodhi, they can see countless hundreds of thousands up to billions of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of Buddhas and plant roots of goodness before all Buddhas. World-Honored One! Through this method, good men and good women fill the three thousand great thousand world-system with the seven treasures and offer them as gifts, through this generous giving they are reborn in that land."
佛告舍利弗：「如是如是，彼善生善往，如是諸菩薩摩訶薩滿彼剎中。舍利弗！譬如金礦精加鑄鍊，除去砂礫唯有真金，造諸飾好嚴身之具。舍利弗！彼佛剎中菩薩摩訶薩，住於真實亦復如是。然彼菩薩摩訶薩清淨集會，汝今應知。
The Buddha told Śāriputra, "Yes, yes, they are well born and well gone, and such bodhisattva-mahāsattvas fill that buddha-field. Śāriputra! Just as gold ore is carefully refined, removing sand and gravel until only pure gold remains, which is then made into fine ornaments to adorn the body. Śāriputra! The bodhisattva-mahāsattvas in that buddha-field who dwell in truth are just like this. You should know that those bodhisattva-mahāsattvas gather in purity."
「復次舍利弗！彼佛剎中所有菩薩，若已生、若現生、若當生，如是菩薩皆行一行。所謂住如來行。舍利弗！云何如來行？所謂超過聲聞、辟支佛地。言行一行者是彼假名。是故舍利弗！若菩薩摩訶薩樂行一行者，應當願生彼佛剎土。舍利弗！我所授記得不退轉菩薩摩訶薩，此輩應生不動佛所。舍利弗！是諸菩薩生彼佛剎者，我不捨離。譬如剎利灌頂大王，有敵國來欲侵財位。王既聞已作是思惟：『我之妃后愛子不堪禦敵，及諸財寶收入宮城，不為怨敵之所侵害，王之國祚安靜無虞，威震強敵不憂災難。』舍利弗！我不捨離諸菩薩者亦復如是，如彼王之寶物愛子妃后，修菩薩行者應如是知。彼佛剎中無有畏懼猶如宮城，彼敵王者即魔波旬，於菩薩行人勤為障礙，如彼灌頂大王不被怨敵之所侵擾。如來亦復如是，不為天魔之所擾惱。舍利弗！譬如有人畏於債主遠適邊國，不為債主及於他人之所陵奪。何以故？由路遠險絕，債主家人不能達彼。彼諸菩薩生妙喜國者，波旬路絕亦復如是。舍利弗！此三千大千世界天魔波旬，常為菩薩聲聞作諸障礙。妙喜剎中諸天魔眾不為魔業，彼諸菩薩若已生、現生、當生，常無恐怖。何以故？由彼如來本行菩薩道時，所有善根如是迴向：『我證無上正等覺時，彼天魔眾不為障惱及作魔事。』舍利弗！譬如丈夫善服毒藥能使消化，方為食事無有諸毒。彼剎天魔亦復如是，常加利益不為損害。舍利弗，彼佛剎土成就如是無量功德。」
"Furthermore, Śāriputra! All bodhisattvas in that buddha-field - whether already born, being born now, or to be born - practice one practice. That is, they dwell in the Tathāgata's practice. Śāriputra! What is the Tathāgata's practice? It means transcending the stages of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas. The term 'one practice' is just a conventional designation. Therefore, Śāriputra! If bodhisattva-mahāsattvas delight in practicing the one practice, they should aspire to be born in that buddha-field. Śāriputra! Those bodhisattva-mahāsattvas to whom I have given predictions of non-retrogression should be born in Akṣobhya's presence.
Śāriputra! I do not abandon these bodhisattvas who are born in that buddha-field. It is like a consecrated kṣatriya king who, when hearing that an enemy kingdom wants to invade and seize his wealth and position, thinks: 'My queens, beloved children, and treasures cannot resist the enemy, so I will gather them into the palace fortress where they cannot be harmed by enemies. The kingdom will be peaceful and secure, its might striking fear into powerful enemies, with no worry of calamities.' Śāriputra! My not abandoning the bodhisattvas is just like this - those practicing the bodhisattva path should understand this as being like the king's treasures, beloved children, and queens. That buddha-field is fearless like a palace fortress, with Māra Pāpīyas being the enemy king who diligently creates obstacles for those practicing the bodhisattva path. Just as the consecrated great king is not disturbed by enemies, so too the Tathāgata is not troubled by māras.
Śāriputra! It is like someone who fears creditors and flees to a distant land, where neither creditors nor others can rob them. Why? Because the road is long and dangerous, and the creditor's people cannot reach there. Similarly, for bodhisattvas born in the Land of Abhirati, Pāpīyan's road is cut off. Śāriputra! In this three thousand great thousand world-system, Māra Pāpīyas constantly creates obstacles for bodhisattvas and śrāvakas. But in the Land of Abhirati, the māra assemblies do not perform māra's works, and all bodhisattvas - whether already born, being born now, or to be born - are always without fear. Why? Because when that Tathāgata practiced the bodhisattva path, he dedicated his roots of goodness thus: 'When I attain supreme perfect enlightenment, may those māra assemblies not cause disturbance or perform māra's works.' Śāriputra! Just as a person who skillfully takes poison can digest it and then eat food without any poison, so too the māras of that land constantly benefit rather than harm. Śāriputra, that buddha-field is accomplished with such immeasurable merits.
爾時舍利弗作是思惟：「我今欲見彼佛世界不動如來、應、正等覺及聲聞眾。」
At that time, Śāriputra thought, "I now wish to see that buddha world, Tathāgata Akṣobhya, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, and his śrāvaka assembly."
爾時世尊知舍利弗心之所念，則以神力不起于座皆令得見。告舍利弗言：「汝今見不？」
At that time, the World-Honored One, knowing Śāriputra's thoughts, used his spiritual power to enable all to see without rising from his seat. He asked Śāriputra: "Do you see it now?"
答言：「已見。」
He answered, "I see it."
佛告舍利弗：「汝見彼諸天人微有勝劣殊異相不？」
The Buddha asked Śāriputra, "Do you see any slight differences or distinguishing characteristics between the devas and humans there?"
答言：「不見。何以故？我見妙喜國人衣服飲食及諸珍玩，皆是諸天樂具。彼不動如來處眾說法，猶若金山光明赫奕，諸聲聞眾無量無邊。譬如有人遊於大海，中流四望涯際莫知，觀彼聲聞亦復如是。是諸聲聞隨所聽法，身心不動如入禪定，匪如此界入定之人時或搖動。世尊！若善男子善女人，以七寶滿三千大千世界持用布施，由茲善捨，彼諸菩薩善得往生妙喜世界。何以故？彼亦如是得不退轉。世尊！譬如王使遠適他國，執持符印經途來往，關防主司莫能為礙。何以故？以王印力人無遮止。彼諸菩薩摩訶薩亦復如是，或從此界若他世界壽命終後，於彼佛剎若已生、若現生、若當生，皆不退轉於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，從一佛剎至一佛剎，常不遠離諸佛世尊，皆當速證無上菩提。」
He answered, "I do not see any. Why? Because I see that the people of the Land of Abhirati have clothing, food, drink, and precious playthings that are all like the enjoyments of the devas. That Tathāgata Akṣobhya sits among the assembly teaching the Dharma, radiant like a mountain of gold, with an immeasurable, boundless assembly of śrāvakas. Just as someone sailing in the great ocean looks in all four directions but cannot see its limits, so too when observing those śrāvakas. These śrāvakas, when listening to the Dharma, remain motionless in body and mind as if in meditation, unlike those in this realm who sometimes move even while in meditation.
World-Honored One! If good men and good women fill the three thousand great thousand world-system with the seven treasures and offer them as gifts, through this generous giving, those bodhisattvas are well reborn in the Land of Abhirati. Why? Because they too attain non-retrogression. World-Honored One! It is like a royal messenger traveling to another country, carrying official credentials and seals - no border guards can obstruct them. Why? Because through the power of the royal seal, no one can stop them. Similarly, when these bodhisattva-mahāsattvas, whether from this world or other worlds, pass away and are born in that buddha-field - whether already born, being born now, or to be born - they all become irreversible from anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi, going from one buddha-field to another, never separated from the World-Honored Buddhas, and all will swiftly attain supreme bodhi.
時舍利弗復白佛言：「世尊！彼界所生菩薩摩訶薩，與此世界預流果人無有差別。何以故？如預流果人不墮惡趣，彼界菩薩若已生、現生、當生，亦皆斷諸惡趣及聲聞辟支佛地，乃至未證無上菩提，從一佛剎至一佛剎，不離諸佛及聲聞眾。」
Then Śāriputra said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! The bodhisattva-mahāsattvas born in that realm are no different from stream-enterers in this world. Why? Just as stream-enterers do not fall into evil destinies, those bodhisattvas - whether already born, being born now, or to be born - also cut off evil destinies and the grounds of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, and until attaining supreme bodhi, they go from one buddha-field to another, never separated from the Buddhas and śrāvaka assemblies."
佛告舍利弗：「如是如是。是諸菩薩摩訶薩受生彼國，不墮聲聞辟支佛地，及至未證無上菩提，從一佛土至一佛土，常得現前供養諸佛，及當證得佛菩提果。舍利弗！譬如預流果人，決定當得聲聞菩提，終不墮惡趣。是諸菩薩亦復如是，或從此世及以他世，命終之後受生彼剎，彼皆決定當證阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，從一佛剎至一佛剎，於諸佛所常不遠離阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。」
The Buddha told Śāriputra, "Yes, yes. These bodhisattva-mahāsattvas born in that land do not fall to the grounds of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, and until attaining supreme bodhi, they go from one buddha land to another, always making offerings to Buddhas in person, and will attain the fruit of buddha bodhi. Śāriputra! Just as stream-enterers will definitely attain śrāvaka bodhi and never fall into evil destinies, so too these bodhisattvas, whether from this world or other worlds, after death and rebirth in that land, will definitely attain anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi, going from one buddha-field to another, never separated from anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi before all Buddhas."
時舍利弗復白佛言：「世尊！於此世界所有一來向及一來果，乃至住阿羅漢向及羅漢果，與彼佛剎所生菩薩摩訶薩等無有異。」
Then Śāriputra said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Those in this world who are approaching or have attained once-returning, up to those approaching or having attained arhatship, are no different from the bodhisattva-mahāsattvas born in that buddha-field."
佛告舍利弗：「汝勿作此言。何以故？於此佛剎菩薩摩訶薩佛授記者，與彼所生菩薩等無有異。復次舍利弗！於此世界坐道場菩薩，與彼所生菩薩等無有異。何以故？彼諸菩薩行如來行，不為天魔之所得便，於二乘地永斷相續，從一佛剎至一佛剎，常能供養一切如來，乃至證得無上正覺。」
The Buddha told Śāriputra, "Do not say this. Why? The bodhisattva-mahāsattvas in this buddha-field who have received predictions from the Buddha are no different from those born there. Furthermore, Śāriputra! The bodhisattvas in this world who sit at the site of enlightenment are no different from those born there. Why? Because those bodhisattvas practice the Tathāgata's practice, are not taken advantage of by māras, have permanently cut off continuation in the two vehicles, go from one buddha-field to another, always able to make offerings to all Tathāgatas, until attaining supreme perfect enlightenment."
爾時阿難作如是念：「我今應察長老須菩提辯才之力。」作是念已白須菩提言：「我等應觀不動如來及聲聞眾兼彼佛土。」
At that time, Ānanda thought, "I should now examine Elder Subhūti's power of eloquence." Having thought this, he said to Subhūti: "We should observe Tathāgata Akṣobhya and his śrāvaka assembly as well as his buddha land."
時須菩提告阿難言：「汝欲見彼如來者，今應且觀上方。」
Then Subhūti told Ānanda, "If you wish to see that Tathāgata, you should now look upward."
爾時阿難觀上方已，白須菩提言：「我極觀上方，皆空寂靜。」
Then Ānanda, having looked upward, said to Subhūti, "I look intently upward and see only emptiness and stillness."
須菩提言：「彼不動如來諸聲聞眾及彼佛土，亦復如是，如見上方。」
Subhūti said, "Tathāgata Akṣobhya, his śrāvaka assembly, and his buddha land are also just like this, like what you see above."
爾時舍利弗白佛言：「世尊！如佛所說，此世獲記菩薩與彼所生菩薩等無有異。世尊！我今不知以何為等？」
Then Śāriputra said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! As the Buddha has said, the bodhisattvas who have received predictions in this world are no different from those born there. World-Honored One! I do not understand how they are equal."
佛告舍利弗：「以法界等故得無有異。」
The Buddha told Śāriputra, "They are equal because the Dharmadhātu is equal."