English
English version The Buddha said to Bodhisattva Drdhamati (Holder of Steadfastness): ‘Go to Vimalakirti (Pure Fame) and inquire about his illness.’ Drdhamati said to the Buddha: ‘World Honored One, I am not capable of going to inquire about his illness. Why? I remember that in the past, I was staying in a quiet room when Mara Papiyas (Evil One), accompanied by twelve thousand celestial maidens, appearing like Indra (King of Gods), with drums, stringed instruments, and songs, came to my place. They and their retinue bowed at my feet, respectfully joined their palms, and stood on one side. I thought they were Indra and said to them: “Welcome, Kausika (Another name for Indra)! Although you have blessings, you should not indulge yourself. You should contemplate the impermanence of the five desires, seek the root of goodness, and cultivate steadfast Dharma with your body, life, and wealth.”’ ‘Mara then said to me: “Righteous one! Accept these twelve thousand celestial maidens; they can be used for sweeping and cleaning.” I said: “Kausika! Do not use these unlawful things to tempt me, a Shramana (Buddhist monk), a disciple of Shakya (Sage of the Shakya clan); this is not appropriate for me.” Before I finished speaking, Vimalakirti came and said to me: “He is not Indra; he is Mara come to disturb you!”’ ‘Vimalakirti then said to Mara: “Give me these maidens; I can accept them.” Mara was terrified, thinking: “Is Vimalakirti going to trouble me?” He wanted to disappear, but he could not; he exhausted his supernatural powers, but he could not leave. Then he heard a voice in the sky saying: “Papiyas! Give him the maidens, and then you can leave.” Mara, out of fear, reluctantly gave them to Vimalakirti. ‘At that time, Vimalakirti said to the maidens: “Mara has given you to me; now you should all arouse the mind of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (unsurpassed perfect enlightenment).” Then, according to their respective capacities, he taught them the Dharma, causing them to arouse the aspiration for enlightenment. He further said: “You have already aroused the aspiration for enlightenment; you have the joy of the Dharma to entertain yourselves; you should no longer delight in the pleasures of the five desires.” The maidens then asked: “What is the joy of the Dharma?” Vimalakirti replied: “It is the joy of constantly believing in the Buddha, the joy of listening to the Dharma, the joy of making offerings to the Sangha (Buddhist community), the joy of being apart from the five desires; the joy of contemplating the five skandhas (form, feeling, perception, mental formations, consciousness) as enemies, the joy of contemplating the four great elements (earth, water, fire, wind) as poisonous snakes, the joy of contemplating the six internal sense bases (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind) as empty gatherings; the joy of following and protecting the aspiration for enlightenment, the joy of benefiting sentient beings, the joy of respecting and serving teachers; the joy of extensively practicing generosity, the joy of upholding the precepts, the joy of patience and gentleness.”’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
，乐勤集善根，乐禅定不乱，乐离垢明慧；乐广菩提心，乐降伏众魔，乐断诸烦恼，乐净佛国土，乐成就相好故，修诸功德；乐严道场；乐闻深法不畏；乐三脱门，不乐非时；乐近同学，乐于非同学中，心无恚碍；乐将护恶知识，乐亲近善知识；乐心喜清净，乐修无量道品之法。是为菩萨法乐。’ “于是波旬告诸女言：‘我欲与汝俱还天宫。’诸女言：‘以我等与此居士，有法乐，我等甚乐，不复乐五欲乐也。’魔言：‘居士可舍此女？一切所有施于彼者，是为菩萨。’维摩诘言：‘我已舍矣！汝便将去，令一切众生得法愿具足。’于是诸女问维摩诘：‘我等云何，止于魔宫？’维摩诘言：‘诸姊！有法门名无尽灯，汝等当学。无尽灯者，譬如一灯，燃百千灯，冥者皆明，明终不尽。如是，诸姊！夫一菩萨开导百千众生，令发阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心，于其道意亦不灭尽，随所说法，而自增益一切善法，是名无尽灯也。汝等虽住魔宫，以是无尽灯，令无数天子天女，发阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心者，为报佛恩，亦大饶益一切众生。’尔时天女头面礼维摩诘足，随魔还宫，忽然不现。世尊！维摩诘有如是自在神力，智慧辩才，故我不任诣彼问疾。” 佛告长者子善德：“汝行诣维摩诘问疾。” 善德白佛 现代汉语译本：‘喜爱勤奋地积累善根，喜爱禅定而不散乱，喜爱远离尘垢而有明亮的智慧；喜爱广大的菩提心（觉悟之心），喜爱降伏各种魔障，喜爱断除各种烦恼，喜爱清净佛的国土，喜爱成就美好的相貌，所以修习各种功德；喜爱庄严的道场；喜爱听闻深奥的佛法而不畏惧；喜爱三解脱门（空门、无相门、无作门），不喜爱非时；喜爱亲近志同道合的人，即使在不同道的人中，心中也没有怨恨和障碍；喜爱爱护不好的朋友，喜爱亲近好的朋友；喜爱内心喜悦清净，喜爱修习无量道品之法。这就是菩萨的法乐。’ ‘于是波旬（欲界第六天之主，常扰乱修行者）告诉众女说：‘我想和你们一起返回天宫。’众女说：‘因为我们和这位居士（在家修行的男子）在一起，有法乐，我们非常快乐，不再喜欢五欲之乐了。’魔王说：‘居士可以舍弃这些女子吗？将一切所有的都施舍给他人，这就是菩萨。’维摩诘（一位在家菩萨，以智慧和辩才著称）说：‘我已经舍弃了！你们便将她们带走，让一切众生得到佛法的愿望都圆满具足。’于是众女问维摩诘：‘我们该如何，才能留在魔宫中呢？’维摩诘说：‘各位姊妹！有一种法门名叫无尽灯，你们应当学习。无尽灯的意思是，譬如一盏灯，点燃百千盏灯，黑暗的地方都光明了，光明永远不会穷尽。这样，各位姊妹！一位菩萨开导百千众生，令他们发起阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心（无上正等正觉之心），对于菩提道的意念也不会灭尽，随着所说的佛法，而自己也增益一切善法，这叫做无尽灯。你们即使住在魔宫中，用这无尽灯，令无数天子天女，发起阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心，就是报答佛的恩德，也大大饶益了一切众生。’当时天女们头面顶礼维摩诘的脚，跟随魔王返回天宫，忽然消失不见。世尊！维摩诘有如此自在的神力，智慧辩才，所以我不能胜任去他那里问候疾病。’ 佛告诉长者子善德（一位有德行的年轻人）：‘你去维摩诘那里问候疾病。’ 善德禀告佛陀：
English
English version: ‘[He] delights in diligently accumulating roots of goodness, delights in samadhi (meditative absorption) without disturbance, delights in being free from defilements and having bright wisdom; delights in a vast Bodhi-mind (mind of enlightenment), delights in subduing all demons, delights in cutting off all afflictions, delights in purifying the Buddha-land, delights in accomplishing excellent marks and characteristics, therefore cultivating all merits; delights in adorning the Bodhimanda (place of enlightenment); delights in hearing profound Dharma (teachings) without fear; delights in the three doors of liberation (emptiness, signlessness, and wishlessness), does not delight in untimely things; delights in being near fellow practitioners, delights in having no resentment or obstruction in the mind even among those who are not fellow practitioners; delights in protecting and caring for evil friends, delights in being close to good friends; delights in a joyful and pure mind, delights in cultivating the Dharma of immeasurable qualities of the path. This is the Dharma-joy of a Bodhisattva.’ ‘Then Papiyas (Mara, the ruler of the sixth heaven in the desire realm, who often disturbs practitioners) said to the women: ‘I want to return to the heavenly palace with you all.’ The women said: ‘Because we are with this Vimalakirti (a lay Bodhisattva known for his wisdom and eloquence), we have Dharma-joy, we are very happy, and we no longer delight in the pleasures of the five desires.’ Mara said: ‘Can the Upasaka (a male lay practitioner) give up these women? To give away everything one owns to others is the practice of a Bodhisattva.’ Vimalakirti said: ‘I have already given them away! You can take them away, so that all beings can have their Dharma wishes fulfilled.’ Then the women asked Vimalakirti: ‘How can we stay in Mara's palace?’ Vimalakirti said: ‘Sisters! There is a Dharma gate called the Inexhaustible Lamp, you should learn it. The Inexhaustible Lamp means, for example, one lamp lights hundreds of thousands of lamps, and all dark places become bright, and the light never ends. Likewise, sisters! One Bodhisattva guides hundreds of thousands of beings, causing them to generate the Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi-citta (mind of unsurpassed, complete, and perfect enlightenment), and the intention for the Bodhi path will not be extinguished, and with the Dharma that is spoken, one also increases all good Dharmas, this is called the Inexhaustible Lamp. Even though you live in Mara's palace, using this Inexhaustible Lamp, causing countless devas (male deities) and devis (female deities) to generate the Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi-citta, is repaying the Buddha's kindness and greatly benefiting all beings.’ At that time, the devis bowed their heads and paid homage to Vimalakirti's feet, followed Mara back to the palace, and suddenly disappeared. World Honored One! Vimalakirti has such free and powerful spiritual abilities, wisdom, and eloquence, so I am not capable of visiting him to inquire about his illness.’ The Buddha said to the son of the elder, Shāntideva (a virtuous young man): ‘Go to Vimalakirti and inquire about his illness.’ Shāntideva said to the Buddha: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
言：“世尊！我不堪任诣彼问疾。所以者何？忆念我昔自于父舍设大施会，供养一切沙门、婆罗门，及诸外道、贫穷、下贱、孤独、乞人。期满七日，时维摩诘来入会中，谓我言：‘长者子！夫大施会不当如汝所设，当为法施之会，何用是财施会为？’我言：‘居士！何谓法施之会？’答曰：‘法施会者，无前无后，一时供养一切众生，是名法施之会。’曰：‘何谓也？’‘谓以菩提，起于慈心；以救众生，起大悲心；以持正法，起于喜心；以摄智慧，行于舍心；以摄悭贪，起檀波罗蜜；以化犯戒，起尸罗波罗蜜；以无我法，起羼提波罗蜜；以离身心相，起毗梨耶波罗蜜；以菩提相，起禅波罗蜜；以一切智，起般若波罗蜜。教化众生，而起于空；不舍有为法，而起无相；示现受生，而起无作；护持正法，起方便力；以度众生，起四摄法；以敬事一切，起除慢法；于身命财，起三坚法；于六念中，起思念法；于六和敬，起质直心；正行善法，起于净命；心净欢喜，起近贤圣；不憎恶人，起调伏心；以出家法，起于深心；以如说行，起于多闻；以无诤法，起空闲处；趣向佛慧，起于宴坐；解众生缚，起修行地；以具相好，及净佛土，起福德业；知一切众生心念，如应说法，起于智业；知一切法，不取不舍，入一相门，起于 言：‘世尊！我不堪胜任去他那里问候病情。这是什么原因呢？我回忆起过去自己在父亲的家中举办大型布施法会，供养所有的沙门（出家修道者）、婆罗门（祭司），以及各种外道、贫穷的人、孤儿、无依无靠的人、乞丐。期限满了七天，当时维摩诘（Vimalakirti，一位在家菩萨）来到法会中，对我说：‘长者子（指富家子弟）！大型布施法会不应当像你这样举办，应当举办为法布施的法会，要这些财物布施的法会做什么呢？’我问：‘居士（在家信佛的男子）！什么叫做做法布施的法会？’他回答说：‘法布施的法会，没有先后之分，一时之间供养一切众生，这叫做做法布施的法会。’我问：‘这是什么意思呢？’他回答说：‘意思是说，以追求菩提（觉悟）之心，生起慈悲心；为了救度众生，生起大悲心；为了护持正法，生起喜悦心；为了摄取智慧，实行舍弃心；为了摄取悭吝贪婪，生起檀波罗蜜（Dāna-pāramitā，布施到彼岸）；为了教化触犯戒律的人，生起尸罗波罗蜜（Śīla-pāramitā，持戒到彼岸）；以无我之法，生起羼提波罗蜜（Kṣānti-pāramitā，忍辱到彼岸）；以远离身心之相，生起毗梨耶波罗蜜（Vīrya-pāramitā，精进到彼岸）；以菩提之相，生起禅波罗蜜（Dhyāna-pāramitā，禅定到彼岸）；以一切智慧，生起般若波罗蜜（Prajñā-pāramitā，智慧到彼岸）。教化众生，而生起空性之见；不舍弃有为法，而生起无相之见；示现受生，而生起无作之见；护持正法，生起方便之力；为了度化众生，生起四摄法（布施、爱语、利行、同事）；为了尊敬侍奉一切众生，生起去除傲慢之法；对于身命财产，生起三种坚固之法；在六念（念佛、念法、念僧、念戒、念施、念天）中，生起思念之法；在六和敬（身和同住、口和无诤、意和同悦、戒和同修、见和同解、利和同均）中，生起正直之心；正确地奉行善法，生起清净的生命；内心清净欢喜，生起亲近贤圣之心；不憎恨作恶之人，生起调伏之心；以出家之法，生起深刻之心；以如所说而行，生起广博的见闻；以无诤之法，生起空闲之处；趣向佛的智慧，生起宴坐；解脱众生的束缚，生起修行之地；以具足相好，以及清净的佛土，生起福德之业；知道一切众生的心念，如其所应地说法，生起智慧之业；知道一切法，不取不舍，进入一相之门，生起’