English
English version: ‘You should travel in that land with these ten dharmas. What are the ten? Regarding defamation or praise, the mind neither increases nor decreases; hearing good or bad, the mind makes no distinctions; towards all foolish or wise beings, [maintain] equal compassion; towards beings of superior, middling, or inferior types, the intention is always equal; regarding contempt or offerings, the mind has no duality; regarding the faults of others, do not see their errors; seeing all kinds of yana (vehicles, referring to different paths of practice), [recognize that] they are all ekayana (one vehicle, referring to the ultimate path to liberation); hearing of the three evil realms (hells, hungry ghosts, animals), do not be alarmed or afraid; towards all Bodhisattvas, generate the thought of Tathagata (one of the titles of the Buddha); when the Buddha appears in the five defilements (the defilements of the age, views, afflictions, beings, and life), generate the thought of rarity. Brahma (name of a deity)! You should travel in that world with these ten dharmas.’ Vimalakirti Brahma (name of a Bodhisattva) said to the Buddha: ‘World Honored One! I dare not roar like a lion (simhanada, metaphor for fearless speech of Dharma) before the Tathagata (one of the titles of the Buddha); the Buddha himself knows what I am capable of. Now I will travel in that world with these ten dharmas, practicing with a focused mind.’ At that time, the Bodhisattvas in the Buddha-land of Candrasuryapradipa Buddha (name of a Buddha) said to their Buddha: ‘World Honored One! We have obtained great benefit, not being born among such evil beings.’ Their Buddha told them: ‘Good men, do not speak like this! Why? If a Bodhisattva in this land practices pure conduct (brahmacarya, pure practice) for hundreds of thousands of millions of kalpas (eons), it is not as good as having a mind without anger or obstruction from dawn until mealtime in that land; that merit is more superior.’ At that time, twelve thousand Bodhisattvas set out together with Vimalakirti Brahma, and said: ‘We also wish to travel in that world with these ten dharmas, to see Sakyamuni Buddha (name of the Buddha).’ Thereupon, Vimalakirti Brahma and the twelve thousand Bodhisattvas suddenly disappeared from that Buddha-land, and in the time it takes for a strong man to bend and stretch his arm, they arrived at the Saha world where Sakyamuni Buddha was, and stood to one side. At that time, the Buddha said to Jalamati Bodhisattva: ‘Do you see that Vimalakirti Brahma?’ ‘Yes! I have seen him.’ ‘Jalamati, you should know! Vimalakirti Brahma is the foremost among all Bodhisattvas who ask correct questions, the foremost among all Bodhisattvas who are skilled in distinguishing dharmas, the foremost among all Bodhisattvas who are skilled in speaking according to the meaning of the sutras, the foremost among all Bodhisattvas with loving-kindness, the foremost among all Bodhisattvas with compassion, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
于诸喜心菩萨中为最第一，于诸舍心菩萨中为最第一，于诸软语菩萨中为最第一，于诸不瞋碍菩萨中为最第一，于诸先意问讯菩萨中为最第一，于诸决疑菩萨中为最第一。” 尔时思益梵天与万二千菩萨俱，头面礼佛足，右绕三匝，合掌向佛，以偈赞曰： “世尊大名称， 普闻于十方， 所在诸如来， 无不称叹者。 有诸余净国， 无三恶道名， 舍如是妙土， 慈悲故生此。 佛智无减少， 与诸如来等， 以大慈本愿， 处斯秽恶土。 若人于净国， 持戒满一劫， 此土须臾间， 行慈为最胜。 若人于此土， 起身口意罪， 应堕三恶道， 现世受得除。 生此土菩萨， 不应怀忧怖， 设有恶道罪， 头痛即得除。 此土诸菩萨， 若能守护法， 世世所生处， 不失于正念。 若人欲断缚， 灭烦恼业罪， 于此土护法， 增益一切智。 净土多亿劫， 受持法解说， 于此娑婆界， 从旦至食胜。 我见喜乐国， 及见安乐土， 此中无苦恼， 亦无苦恼名。 于彼作功德， 未足以为奇， 于此烦恼处， 能忍不可事， 亦教他此法， 其福为最胜。 我礼无上尊， 大悲救苦者， 现代汉语译本： ‘在所有欢喜的菩萨中，（他是）最第一；在所有布施的菩萨中，（他是）最第一；在所有言语柔和的菩萨中，（他是）最第一；在所有不瞋恚阻碍的菩萨中，（他是）最第一；在所有先主动问候的菩萨中，（他是）最第一；在所有决断疑惑的菩萨中，（他是）最第一。’ 这时，思益梵天（Susiddhi Brahma）与一万二千位菩萨一起，以头面顶礼佛足，向右绕佛三圈，合掌面向佛，用偈颂赞叹道： ‘世尊您有伟大的名声，普遍传扬于十方世界， 无论在哪里的如来，没有不称赞您的。 有些清净的佛国，没有三恶道的名称， （您）舍弃那样美好的国土，因为慈悲的缘故而降生于此。 佛的智慧没有丝毫减少，与诸位如来相等， 以大慈悲的根本誓愿，安住在这污秽罪恶的国土。 如果有人在清净的佛国，持守戒律满一个劫（kalpa）， 不如在此土极短的时间内，行慈悲（的行为）最为殊胜。 如果有人在此土，起身口意所造的罪业， 本应堕入三恶道，（但）在现世就能得到消除。 生于此土的菩萨，不应该心怀忧愁和怖畏， 即使有堕入恶道的罪业，（也能）因头痛而立即消除。 此土的诸位菩萨，如果能够守护佛法， 世世代代所出生的地方，都不会失去正念。 如果有人想要断除束缚，灭除烦恼业障罪业， 在此土护持佛法，就能增益一切智慧。 在清净的佛土经历多亿劫，受持佛法并为人解说， 不如在这娑婆世界（Saha world），从早晨到中午的时间（所作的功德）殊胜。 我看见喜乐国，以及看见安乐土， 那些地方没有痛苦烦恼，也没有痛苦烦恼的名称。 在那些地方作功德，还不足以感到惊奇， 在这充满烦恼的地方，能够忍受不可忍受的事情， 并且教导他人这种法门，他的福报才是最殊胜的。 我礼敬无上的世尊，以大悲心救度众生脱离苦难的人，
English
English version: ‘Among all joyful Bodhisattvas, (he is) the foremost; among all generous Bodhisattvas, (he is) the foremost; among all Bodhisattvas with gentle speech, (he is) the foremost; among all Bodhisattvas without anger or obstruction, (he is) the foremost; among all Bodhisattvas who take the initiative to greet others, (he is) the foremost; among all Bodhisattvas who resolve doubts, (he is) the foremost.’ At that time, Susiddhi Brahma (思益梵天) , together with twelve thousand Bodhisattvas, bowed with their heads and faces to the Buddha's feet, circumambulated the Buddha three times to the right, and, with palms joined, faced the Buddha and praised him in verse: ‘World Honored One, your great name is universally heard in the ten directions, Wherever there are Tathagatas, none do not praise you. There are pure lands that do not have the names of the three evil paths, (You) abandon such wonderful lands and are born here out of compassion. The Buddha's wisdom is not diminished, equal to all the Tathagatas, With the fundamental vow of great compassion, you dwell in this defiled and evil land. If someone in a pure land upholds the precepts for a full kalpa (劫), It is most superior to practice compassion for a short time in this land. If someone in this land commits sins of body, speech, and mind, They should fall into the three evil paths, (but) they can be eliminated in this life. Bodhisattvas born in this land should not harbor worry or fear, Even if there are sins that would lead to the evil paths, (they) can be immediately eliminated by a headache. If the Bodhisattvas of this land can protect the Dharma, In every place they are born in lifetimes, they will not lose right mindfulness. If someone wants to cut off bonds, extinguish afflictions, karma, and sins, Protecting the Dharma in this land will increase all wisdom. In pure lands, for many billions of kalpas, upholding the Dharma and explaining it to others, Is not as superior as (the merit gained) from morning to mealtime in this Saha world (娑婆世界). I have seen the Land of Joy and the Land of Bliss, Those places have no suffering or affliction, nor even the name of suffering or affliction. Making merit in those places is not enough to be surprised, In this place full of afflictions, being able to endure the unendurable, And teaching others this Dharma, their blessings are the most superior. I bow to the unsurpassed World Honored One, the one who saves beings from suffering with great compassion,’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 能为恶众生， 说法为甚难。 佛集无量众， 十方世界中， 名闻诸菩萨， 听法无厌足。 佛集十方界， 名闻诸菩萨， 听法无厌足， 如海吞众流。 为如是等人， 广说于佛道， 释梵四天王， 诸天龙神等， 皆集欲求法， 随所信乐说。 比丘比丘尼， 及清信士女， 是四众普集， 愿时为演说。 有乐佛乘者， 及缘觉声闻， 佛知其深心， 悉皆为断疑。 不断佛种者， 能出生三宝， 为是诸菩萨， 我今请法王。 名称普流布， 十方菩萨闻， 皆悉共来集， 为说无上道。 此无上大法， 二乘所不及， 我等信力故， 得入如是法， 不可思议慧， 非我等所及。 佛虽无疲倦， 而我有所请， 悔过于世尊， 愿说菩提道。” 四法品第二
Chinese
尔时思益梵天说此偈已，白佛言：“世尊！何谓菩萨其心坚固而无疲倦？何谓菩萨所言决定而不中悔？何谓菩萨增长善根？何谓菩萨无所恐畏威仪不动？何谓菩萨成就白法？何谓菩萨善知从一地至一地？何谓菩萨于众生中善知方便？何谓菩萨善化众生？何谓菩萨世世不失菩提之心？何谓菩萨能一其心而无杂行？何谓菩萨善求法宝？何谓菩萨 现代汉语译本 能为作恶的众生说法，是非常困难的。 佛陀聚集了无量的听众，从十方世界而来， 他们是名声远扬的诸位菩萨（Bodhisattva，指追求觉悟的修行者），听闻佛法永不满足。 佛陀聚集了十方世界的，名声远扬的诸位菩萨， 他们听闻佛法永不满足，就像大海吞纳众多的河流。 为了这些菩萨，广泛地宣说成佛之道， 释提桓因（Śakra devānām indra，佛教的护法神）、梵天（Brahmā，印度教的创世神）和四大天王（Four Heavenly Kings，佛教的护法神），以及诸天、龙神等等， 都聚集在一起想要听闻佛法，佛陀随顺他们各自的信仰和喜好而说法。 比丘（bhikṣu，出家男众）、比丘尼（bhikṣuṇī，出家女众），以及清信士（upāsaka，在家男居士）、清信女（upāsikā，在家女居士）， 这四众弟子普遍聚集，希望佛陀能适时地为他们演说佛法。 对于那些喜欢佛乘（Buddha-yāna，成佛的教法）的人，以及缘觉（Pratyekabuddha，独自悟道的修行者）和声闻（Śrāvaka，听闻佛法而证悟的修行者）， 佛陀了解他们内心的想法，都为他们断除疑惑。 不中断佛种（Buddha-bīja，成佛的种子）的人，能出生三宝（Tri-ratna，佛、法、僧）， 为了这些菩萨，我现在祈请法王（Dharma-rāja，指佛陀）。 佛陀的名称普遍流布，十方菩萨听闻， 都一起前来聚集，为了听闻无上道（Anuttara-mārga，最高的修行道路）。 这无上的大法，是二乘（Śrāvakayāna and Pratyekabuddhayāna，声闻乘和缘觉乘）所不能及的， 我们因为信心的力量，才能进入这样的佛法， 这不可思议的智慧，不是我们所能达到的。 佛陀虽然没有疲倦，但我还是有所请求， 向世尊忏悔过去的罪过，希望佛陀宣说菩提道（Bodhi-mārga，觉悟之道）。' 四法品第二 这时，思益梵天（Sumati-brahmā，一位梵天）说完这首偈颂后，对佛陀说：'世尊！什么叫做菩萨的心坚固而没有疲倦？什么叫做菩萨所说的话坚定不移而不后悔？什么叫做菩萨增长善根？什么叫做菩萨没有恐惧、威仪不动摇？什么叫做菩萨成就清净之法？什么叫做菩萨善于了解从一个地到另一个地？什么叫做菩萨在众生中善于运用方便法门？什么叫做菩萨善于教化众生？什么叫做菩萨世世代代不失去菩提之心？什么叫做菩萨能够一心不乱而没有杂乱的行为？什么叫做菩萨善于寻求法宝？什么叫做菩萨？'
English
English version It is very difficult to preach the Dharma to evil beings. The Buddha gathered a countless assembly, from the ten directions, Renowned Bodhisattvas (Bodhisattva, beings who seek enlightenment) who never tire of hearing the Dharma. The Buddha gathered renowned Bodhisattvas from the ten directions, Who never tire of hearing the Dharma, like the ocean swallowing all streams. For such beings, he extensively expounds the Buddha-path, Śakra devānām indra (Śakra devānām indra, a protector deity in Buddhism), Brahmā (Brahmā, the creator god in Hinduism), the Four Heavenly Kings (Four Heavenly Kings, protector deities in Buddhism), And gods, dragons, and spirits, all gather desiring the Dharma, and he preaches according to their beliefs and inclinations. Bhikkhus (bhikṣu, ordained monks), bhikkhunis (bhikṣuṇī, ordained nuns), and laymen (upāsaka, male lay devotees), and laywomen (upāsikā, female lay devotees), These four assemblies gather universally, hoping that the Buddha will expound the Dharma at the opportune time. For those who delight in the Buddha-yāna (Buddha-yāna, the path to Buddhahood), and Pratyekabuddhas (Pratyekabuddha, solitary Buddhas) and Śrāvakas (Śrāvaka, disciples who attain enlightenment by hearing the Dharma), The Buddha knows their deepest thoughts, and dispels all their doubts. Those who do not cut off the Buddha-bīja (Buddha-bīja, the seed of Buddhahood), can give rise to the Three Jewels (Tri-ratna, Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), For these Bodhisattvas, I now request the Dharma-rāja (Dharma-rāja, the Buddha). The Buddha's name is universally spread, and Bodhisattvas from the ten directions hear of it, And all gather together, to hear the unsurpassed path (Anuttara-mārga, the highest path). This unsurpassed great Dharma, is beyond the reach of the two vehicles (Śrāvakayāna and Pratyekabuddhayāna, the Hearer Vehicle and the Solitary Realizer Vehicle), We, through the power of faith, are able to enter such a Dharma, This inconceivable wisdom, is beyond our reach. Although the Buddha is without weariness, I still have a request, I repent my past transgressions before the World-Honored One, and hope that the Buddha will expound the Bodhi-mārga (Bodhi-mārga, the path to enlightenment).' Chapter Two: The Four Dharmas At that time, Sumati-brahmā (Sumati-brahmā, a Brahma) having spoken these verses, said to the Buddha: 'World-Honored One! What is meant by a Bodhisattva's mind being firm and without weariness? What is meant by a Bodhisattva's words being resolute and without regret? What is meant by a Bodhisattva increasing good roots? What is meant by a Bodhisattva being without fear and with unwavering demeanor? What is meant by a Bodhisattva accomplishing pure Dharmas? What is meant by a Bodhisattva being skilled in knowing how to go from one ground to another? What is meant by a Bodhisattva being skilled in expedient means among beings? What is meant by a Bodhisattva being skilled in transforming beings? What is meant by a Bodhisattva not losing the mind of Bodhi in lifetime after lifetime? What is meant by a Bodhisattva being able to be single-minded and without mixed practices? What is meant by a Bodhisattva being skilled in seeking Dharma treasures? What is meant by a Bodhisattva?' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------