English
English version: 'If someone uses stolen property to build a Buddha image, can such sins be eradicated?' The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva (the future Buddha): 'Maitreya! If those beings once used these things, and later reflect on themselves, deeply feeling ashamed and remorseful, repaying double the amount stolen, and vowing never to commit the same mistake again. I will now give you an analogy. For example, there is a poor person who previously owed a lot of debt, but suddenly encounters a buried treasure, obtaining immeasurable wealth, and after repaying the debt, still has wealth remaining. You should know that this person is also like this, repaying double the amount of those things, and also building a Buddha image, can avoid all kinds of suffering and obtain eternal happiness.' At this time, Maitreya Bodhisattva-Mahasattva (Great Bodhisattva) again said to the Buddha: 'World Honored One! Just as the Buddha said, in the Buddha-dharma, one who commits the Parajika (defeat) offense is not considered alive. If someone commits such a sin and then resolves to remember the merits of all Buddhas and builds a Buddha image, can they be reborn in the Buddha-dharma? And in this life, the second, third, and fourth lives, can they obtain the opportunity to realize the Dharma?' The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva: 'Maitreya! For example, if a person is bound by five ropes, if they are freed, it is like a bird flying out of a net, reaching a place without obstacles. This person is also like this, if they develop faith, remember the merits of the Buddha, and build a Buddha image, all karmic obstacles can be eliminated, and they can quickly escape from the cycle of birth and death without hindrance. Maitreya, you should know that there are three types of Yana (vehicle, metaphor for the path of practice), namely Sravakayana (the Vehicle of Hearers), Pratyekabuddhayana (the Vehicle of Solitary Buddhas), and Buddhayana (the Buddha Vehicle). Whichever Yana this person aspires to and delights in, they can attain liberation in that Yana. If it is only for the sake of attaining Buddhahood, without seeking other rewards, even if there are heavy obstacles, they can be quickly eliminated, and even if they are in the cycle of birth and death, there will be no suffering, until they attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (Unsurpassed Perfect Enlightenment), obtain a pure Buddha-land, possess all kinds of excellent marks and qualities, and the lifespan obtained will be eternally without end.' At this time, some in the assembly who had not developed the Mahayana (Great Vehicle) mind all had doubts: 'Did the Tathagata (Thus Come One, an epithet of the Buddha) build Buddha images in the past? Or did he not build them? If he built them, why is his lifespan limited, with illness and suffering? The land he dwells in has many impurities and cannot be pure?' At that time, King Pasenadi (King of Kosala in ancient India), relying on the Buddha's majestic power, immediately rose from his seat, knelt down with his palms together, and said to the Buddha: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
：“世尊！我见如来诸根相好，及以种族皆悉第一，其心决定，无有所疑。然佛、世尊曾于一时，被佉陀罗木刺伤其足；又于一时遇提婆达多推山迸石，伤足出血；昔复一时唱言有病，命遣耆婆调下利药；又一时中曾患背病，令摩诃迦叶诵七菩提分，所苦得除；复于一时曾有所患，使阿难陀往婆罗门家，乞求牛乳；往复一时于娑罗村中，三月安居唯食马麦；复曾一时乞食不得，空钵而还。如世尊言：‘若有人作佛像者，所有业障皆得除灭，离众苦恼，无诸疾病。’世尊往昔为曾作像？为不曾作？若于昔时作佛像者，何因而有如是等事？” 佛告波斯匿王言：“谛听，谛听！善思念之！当为大王分别解说。大王！我于往世为求菩提，以众宝、栴檀、彩画等事而作佛像，过此会中人、天之数。以斯福故，虽在生死未尽诸惑，然所受身坚如金刚，不可损坏。大王！我念过去于无量劫生死之中造佛形像，尔时尚有贪、瞋等无量烦恼而共相应。然未曾于一念之间以罪业故，有四大不调及恶鬼神诸少病苦，所须之物莫不充备，况我于今已得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提，而有如是不如意事。大王！若我昔时曾作佛像，今有残业受斯报者，我复云何作无畏说，言造佛像决定能尽诸恶业耶？大王！我于过去给施无量饮食、财宝，云何今时 现代汉语译本： ‘世尊！我见如来诸根（指眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意六根）相好（指佛的三十二相、八十种好），以及种族（指出生），都非常殊胜，我的心已经确定无疑。然而，佛您也曾有被佉陀罗木（一种树木）刺伤脚的时候；也有被提婆达多（佛陀的堂兄弟，后背叛佛陀）推山迸石伤到脚，流血的时候；过去也曾说自己生病，命耆婆（一位名医）调配泻药；也曾患背痛，让摩诃迦叶（佛陀的十大弟子之一）诵七菩提分（三十七道品中的七个部分），才得以解除痛苦；还曾生病，让阿难陀（佛陀的十大弟子之一，以记忆力强著称）去婆罗门（古印度祭司阶层）家乞求牛奶；也曾在娑罗村中，三个月安居（指僧侣在雨季停止游历，集中修行）期间只吃马麦（粗劣的饲料）；也曾乞食不得，空钵而回。如果像世尊您所说：‘如果有人制作佛像，所有的业障都能消除，远离各种痛苦烦恼，没有疾病。’那么，世尊您过去是否做过佛像？如果没有做过？如果过去做过佛像，为什么还会发生这些事情呢？’ 佛告诉波斯匿王（古印度拘萨罗国国王）说：‘仔细听，仔细听！好好思考！我将为大王详细解释。大王！我在过去为了求得菩提（觉悟），用各种珍宝、栴檀（一种香木）、彩画等来制作佛像，数量超过了这次法会中的人、天之数。因为这个福报，即使还在生死轮回中，没有完全消除各种迷惑，但所受的身体坚固如金刚，不可损坏。大王！我记得过去在无量劫的生死轮回中塑造佛像，那时还有贪、瞋（嗔）、等无量烦恼与我相应。但从未在一念之间因为罪业的缘故，有四大（地、水、火、风）不调和以及恶鬼神带来的小病小痛，所需要的物品没有不充足的，更何况我现在已经证得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提（无上正等正觉），怎么会有这些不如意的事情呢？大王！如果我过去做过佛像，现在还有残余的业报，那我又怎么能无所畏惧地说，建造佛像一定能消除所有恶业呢？大王！我过去布施了无量的饮食、财宝，为什么现在有时还会乞食不得呢？’
English
English version: ‘World Honored One! I see that the Tathagata's (another name for Buddha) faculties (the six senses: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind) and auspicious marks (the 32 major and 80 minor marks of a Buddha), as well as lineage (birth), are all supreme, and my mind is certain and without doubt. However, the Buddha, World Honored One, was once wounded in the foot by a thorn from a Khadira tree (a type of tree); also, there was a time when Devadatta (Buddha's cousin who later betrayed him) pushed a mountain and flying rocks injured your foot, causing it to bleed; in the past, you also once said you were ill and ordered Jivaka (a famous physician) to prepare a purgative medicine; also, you once suffered from back pain and had Mahakasyapa (one of Buddha's ten great disciples) recite the Seven Factors of Enlightenment (seven parts of the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment), which relieved the suffering; also, you once had an ailment and sent Ananda (one of Buddha's ten great disciples, known for his memory) to a Brahmin (ancient Indian priestly class) family to beg for milk; also, there was a time in the Salar village when you spent three months in retreat (referring to monks stopping traveling during the rainy season and concentrating on practice), eating only horse barley (coarse feed); and there was also a time when you begged for food and returned with an empty bowl. If, as the World Honored One says, 'If someone makes a Buddha image, all karmic obstacles will be eliminated, and they will be free from all suffering and afflictions, without diseases,' then, World Honored One, have you made Buddha images in the past? Or have you not made them? If you have made Buddha images in the past, why do these things still happen?’ The Buddha told King Prasenajit (King of Kosala in ancient India), 'Listen carefully, listen carefully! Think about it carefully! I will explain it to the King in detail. Great King! In the past, in order to seek Bodhi (enlightenment), I made Buddha images with various treasures, sandalwood (a type of fragrant wood), colored paintings, and so on, exceeding the number of people and gods in this assembly. Because of this merit, even though I am still in the cycle of birth and death and have not completely eliminated all delusions, the body I receive is as strong as diamond and cannot be damaged. Great King! I remember that in the past, in countless kalpas (eons) of birth and death, I sculpted Buddha images, and at that time, I still had greed, anger, and countless other afflictions associated with me. But never for a single moment, because of sinful karma, did I have imbalances in the four elements (earth, water, fire, wind) or minor illnesses and pains caused by evil ghosts and spirits, and there was nothing lacking in the things I needed, let alone now that I have attained Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi (unexcelled perfect enlightenment), how could I have these unsatisfactory things? Great King! If I had made Buddha images in the past and now have residual karma to receive this retribution, then how could I fearlessly say that building Buddha images can definitely eliminate all evil karma? Great King! In the past, I gave limitless food, drink, and treasures in charity, why is it that now I sometimes still cannot get food when begging?’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
乞求不得，而食马麦？傥今此事而有实者，云何我于无量经中种种赞叹檀波罗蜜，说其福业终不虚也？大王！我是真实语者，不诳语者。我若欺诳，况余人乎！大王！我已久断一切恶业，能舍难舍，能行难行，所舍身命过百千亿，已造无量诸佛形像，已悔无量诸罪恶业，岂得有斯毁伤、病苦、食啖马麦、饥渴等事？若曾得胜果，今还退失，何假劝修此众福善？大王！诸佛、如来常身法身，为度众生故现斯事，非为实也！伤足、患背、乞乳、服药，乃至涅槃，以其舍利分布起塔，皆是如来方便善巧，令诸众生见如是相。大王！我于世间现于如是众患事者，欲示众生业报不失，令生怖畏，断一切罪，修诸善行，然后了知常身、法身寿命无限，国土清净。大王！诸佛、如来无有虚妄，纯一大悲，智慧善巧，故能如是种种示现。”是时波斯匿王闻此说已，欢喜踊跃，与无量百千众生，皆发阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心。 尔时弥勒菩萨摩诃萨复白佛言：“世尊！有诸女人志意狭小，多怀嫉恚，轻薄谄曲，有恨不舍，知恩不报，设求菩提莫能坚守，常欲诳惑一切众生，亦复为他之所诳惑。世尊！若此女人造佛形像，如是诸业得除灭不？当来得作勇健丈夫，求佛果不？得作知恩报恩人不？得具智慧大慈悲不？于生死法能厌离不？除 现代汉语译本：难道是因为我没有布施乞求，所以只能吃喂马的麦子吗？如果现在发生在我身上的事情是真的，那么为什么我在无量经中种种赞叹檀波罗蜜（Dān bō luó mì，布施）的功德，说它的福报不会落空呢？大王！我是说真话的人，不说谎话的人。如果我欺骗，更何况其他人呢！大王！我早已断除一切恶业，能舍弃难以舍弃的，能实行难以实行的，所舍弃的身命超过百千亿，已经造了无量诸佛的形像，已经忏悔了无量诸罪恶业，怎么会有这样的毁伤、病苦、吃喂马的麦子、饥渴等事呢？如果曾经得到殊胜的果报，现在又退失了，又何必劝人修习这些众多的福善呢？大王！诸佛、如来是常身法身（cháng shēn fǎ shēn，永恒不变的法身），为了度化众生才示现这些事情，不是真实的！受伤、背痛、乞乳、服药，乃至涅槃（niè pán，寂灭），以及将舍利（shè lì，遗骨）分布各地建塔，都是如来的方便善巧，让众生看到这些表相。大王！我在世间示现这些众多的患难之事，是想告诉众生业报不会落空，使他们产生畏惧，断除一切罪恶，修习各种善行，然后才能了知常身、法身寿命无限，国土清净。大王！诸佛、如来没有虚妄，只有广大的慈悲，智慧善巧，所以才能这样种种示现。”当时波斯匿王（Bō sī nì wáng，Prasenajit）听到这些话后，欢喜踊跃，与无量百千众生，都发起了阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心（Ā nòu duō luó sān miǎo sān pú tí xīn，无上正等正觉之心）。 这时弥勒菩萨摩诃萨（Mí lè pú sà mó hē sà，Maitreya Bodhisattva Mahasattva）又对佛说：“世尊！有些女人心胸狭窄，多怀嫉妒怨恨，轻浮虚伪，心怀怨恨不肯放下，知恩不报，即使求菩提（pú tí，觉悟）也不能坚守，常常想要欺骗迷惑一切众生，也常常被他人欺骗迷惑。世尊！如果这些女人塑造佛的形像，这些罪业能够消除吗？将来能够转生成为勇健的男子，求得佛果吗？能够成为知恩报恩的人吗？能够具备智慧和大慈悲心吗？对于生死轮回能够厌离吗？