English
English version: ‘The Dharma of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (supreme perfect enlightenment), I entrust to you. Such sutras as these, in the degenerate age after the Buddha's Parinirvana, you should, with your spiritual powers, widely proclaim and propagate throughout Jambudvipa (the world we live in), without allowing them to be cut off. Why is this? Because in the future world, there will be good men and good women, as well as Devas (gods), Nagas (dragons), Yakshas (spirits), Gandharvas (celestial musicians), Rakshasas (demons), and others, who will generate the mind of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi-citta (the mind of supreme perfect enlightenment), and delight in the Great Dharma; if they do not hear such sutras as these, they will lose great benefits. Such people as these, hearing these sutras, will surely have much faith and joy, generate a rare mind, and should receive them with the crown of their heads, and according to the benefits that various beings should receive, widely explain them for them.’ ‘Maitreya (the Bodhisattva of Loving-kindness), you should know that Bodhisattvas have two characteristics. What are the two? First, they delight in mixed phrases and ornate matters; second, they are not afraid of profound meanings and can truly enter into them. If they delight in mixed phrases and ornate matters, you should know that they are newly learning Bodhisattvas; if they have no fear of such undefiled and unattached profound sutras, can enter into them, and after hearing them, their minds are purified, they receive, uphold, read, recite, and cultivate as it is said, you should know that they are Bodhisattvas who have cultivated the path for a long time.’ ‘Maitreya (the Bodhisattva of Loving-kindness), there are also two dharmas that cause newly learning students to be unable to be decisive in profound dharmas. What are the two? First, when they hear profound sutras that they have not heard before, they are alarmed and frightened, give rise to doubt, are unable to follow along, slander and disbelieve, and say, ‘I have never heard of this before. Where does it come from?’ Second, if there are those who protect, uphold, and explain such profound sutras, they are unwilling to draw near to, make offerings to, or respect them, or sometimes speak of their faults. Having these two dharmas, you should know that they are newly learning Bodhisattvas, who are harming themselves and are unable to subdue their minds in profound dharmas.’ ‘Maitreya (the Bodhisattva of Loving-kindness), there are also two dharmas that cause Bodhisattvas, although they believe and understand profound dharmas, to still harm themselves and be unable to attain Anutpattika-dharma-kshanti (the patient acceptance of the non-arising of all dharmas). What are the two? First, they slight and disrespect newly learning Bodhisattvas and do not teach them; second, although they understand profound dharmas, they grasp at appearances and make distinctions. These are the two dharmas.’ Maitreya Bodhisattva (the Bodhisattva of Loving-kindness), having heard these words, said to the Buddha, ‘World Honored One!’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
尊！未曾有也。如佛所说，我当远离如斯之恶，奉持如来无数阿僧祇劫所集阿耨多罗三藐三菩提法。若未来世善男子、善女人求大乘者，当令手得如是等经，与其念力，使受持读诵、为他广说。世尊！若后末世，有能受持读诵、为他说者，当知皆是弥勒神力之所建立。” 佛言：“善哉，善哉！弥勒！如汝所说，佛助尔喜。” 于是一切菩萨合掌白佛：“我等亦于如来灭后，十方国土广宣流布阿耨多罗三藐三菩提法，复当开导诸说法者，令得是经。” 尔时四天王白佛言：“世尊！在在处处、城邑聚落、山林旷野，有是经卷，读诵解说者，我当率诸官属，为听法故，往诣其所，拥护其人，面百由旬，令无伺求得其便者。” 是时佛告阿难：“受持是经，广宣流布。” 阿难言：“唯然！我已受持要者。世尊！当何名斯经？” 佛言：“阿难！是经名为‘维摩诘所说’，亦名‘不可思议解脱法门’，如是受持。” 佛说是经已，长者维摩诘、文殊师利、舍利弗、阿难等，及诸天、人、阿修罗一切大众，闻佛所说，皆大欢喜。 维摩诘经卷下 现代汉语译本： 尊者！真是前所未有啊。正如佛所说，我应当远离这样的罪恶，奉行如来无数阿僧祇劫（asamkhya kalpa，无数大劫）所积累的阿耨多罗三藐三菩提法（anuttara-samyak-sambodhi-dharma，无上正等正觉之法）。如果未来世有善男子、善女人求大乘佛法，应当让他们容易得到这样的经典，并给予他们念力，使他们能够受持读诵，为他人广泛解说。世尊！如果后世末法时代，有人能够受持读诵，为他人解说此经，应当知道这都是弥勒（Maitreya，未来佛）神力所建立的。” 佛说：“好啊，好啊！弥勒！正如你所说，佛也为你感到高兴。” 于是，一切菩萨合掌对佛说：“我们也在如来灭度之后，在十方国土广泛宣扬阿耨多罗三藐三菩提法，并且开导那些说法之人，使他们能够得到这部经。” 这时，四天王对佛说：“世尊！无论在什么地方，城邑聚落、山林旷野，只要有这部经卷，有人读诵解说，我们都将率领诸位官属，为了听法，前往那个地方，拥护那个人，方圆百由旬（yojana，古印度长度单位）之内，不让任何人找到机会加害于他。” 这时，佛告诉阿难（Ananda，佛陀的十大弟子之一）：“受持这部经，广泛地宣扬流布。” 阿难说：“是的！我已经受持了要义。世尊！这部经应当叫什么名字呢？” 佛说：“阿难！这部经名为‘维摩诘所说’（Vimalakirti-nirdesa），也名为‘不可思议解脱法门’，就这样受持吧。” 佛说完这部经后，长者维摩诘（Vimalakirti）、文殊师利（Manjusri）、舍利弗（Sariputra）、阿难等，以及诸天、人、阿修罗一切大众，听了佛所说，都非常欢喜。 《维摩诘经》卷下
English
English version: Venerable One! This is unprecedented. As the Buddha has said, I shall stay away from such evils and uphold the Dharma of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (unsurpassed, complete and perfect enlightenment) accumulated by the Tathagata (Thus Come One) over countless asamkhya kalpas (incalculable eons). If, in the future, good men and good women seek the Mahayana (Great Vehicle), they should be enabled to easily obtain such sutras, and be given the power of mindfulness, so that they can receive, uphold, recite, and widely explain them to others. World Honored One! If, in the future, in the Dharma-ending age, there are those who can receive, uphold, recite, and explain this sutra to others, know that all of this is established by the divine power of Maitreya (the future Buddha).' The Buddha said, 'Excellent, excellent! Maitreya! As you have said, the Buddha rejoices with you.' Thereupon, all the Bodhisattvas, with their palms joined, said to the Buddha, 'We too, after the Tathagata's Parinirvana (complete extinction), will widely propagate the Dharma of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi in the ten directions, and will also guide those who preach the Dharma, so that they may obtain this sutra.' At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings said to the Buddha, 'World Honored One! Wherever, in cities, villages, mountains, forests, or wildernesses, there is this sutra, and there are those who recite and explain it, we shall lead our retinues to go to that place to listen to the Dharma, and protect that person, within a hundred yojanas (ancient Indian unit of distance) around, so that no one can find an opportunity to harm them.' At that time, the Buddha said to Ananda (one of the ten principal disciples of the Buddha), 'Receive and uphold this sutra, and widely propagate it.' Ananda said, 'Yes! I have already received and upheld the essential points. World Honored One! What should this sutra be called?' The Buddha said, 'Ananda! This sutra is called 'Vimalakirti-nirdesa' (The Discourse of Vimalakirti), and it is also called 'The Inconceivable Liberation Dharma Door'. Receive and uphold it in this way.' After the Buddha had spoken this sutra, the elder Vimalakirti (Spotless Fame), Manjusri (Gentle Glory), Sariputra (Son of Sharika), Ananda, and all the great assembly of gods, humans, and asuras (demigods), hearing what the Buddha had said, were all greatly delighted. The Vimalakirti Sutra, Volume Two --------------------------------------------------------------------------------