English
English version: ‘Is ‘Dharma-essence’ (法如, Dharma-essence) like ‘Koli Buddha’ (拘利佛, Koli Buddha) as well?’ He replied: ‘O son of the gods! Can there be any relinquishing in the realm of space, in the realm of Dharma?’ He replied: ‘O son of the gods! Can anything be obtained from Koli Buddha by one who is Suchness (如如, Tathata)?’ He replied: ‘Not for long. O son of the gods! Thus it is, O son of the gods! It is said in order, that there is no relinquishing of the Dharma of ordinary people; there is no obtaining of the Dharma of the Buddhas. This is the assurance given by the Tathagata.’ Again he asked: ‘How is assurance obtained from the realm of space, the realm of Dharma, from Suchness, from Koli Buddha?’ He replied: ‘O son of the gods! It is not so.’ Again he asked: ‘How is it, O son of the gods! That if assurance cannot be obtained from the realm of space, the realm of Dharma, from Suchness, from Koli Buddha, then from where do the other Buddhas obtain assurance?’ He replied: ‘Suchness (怛萨如, Tathata), like the acceptance of assurance (受决如, acceptance of assurance), the realm of space, the realm of Dharma, Suchness Koli Buddha (怛萨拘利佛, Tathata Koli Buddha). Thus it is, O son of the gods! Dharma with Dharma is like this, Dharma with Dharma is also like this assurance, this is the acceptance of assurance. Having obtained assurance, one does not depart from Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (阿耨多罗三藐三菩提, Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, unsurpassed perfect enlightenment), one does not depart from Aviruddha Buddha (阿惟三佛, Aviruddha Buddha, non-conflicting Buddha).’ Then the son of the gods, Moon Star, stepped forward and said to the Buddha: ‘O World-Honored One! Has this son of the gods, Moon, attained such profound wisdom that what he says is like this?’ The Buddha said: ‘O son of the gods! Speaking in this way, the Bodhisattva attains forbearance (忍, Kshanti), whether seeking or sending forth; whether in all the realms of Dharma, whether speaking or having something to say, one cannot see anything in the realm of Dharma, one cannot say anything, nor can one transmit anything. Why is that? Because in the realm of Dharma there is nothing to say and nothing not to say: such is the realm of Dharma, such is the realm of humans. Such is the realm of humans, this is the place of the Buddha's power, such is the place of the Buddha's power, all Dharmas are like this! Thus it is, O son of the gods! Thus the Bodhisattva abides in accordance with the Dharma, abiding thus one no longer believes in other things, nor does one follow other things, how then could such a one cause the Buddha to say anything?’ At that time, the worthy Mahāmaudgalyāyana (大目揵连, Mahāmaudgalyāyana) was in the Violet Azure Palace in the palace of Śakra Devānām Indra (释提桓因, Śakra Devānām Indra), expounding the Dharma to the assembly of the sons of the gods. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
。尔时大目揵连从座起便彷佯，心念言：“如来、无所著、等正觉在此，阎浮提为已空。阎浮提有无央数人饥虚，欲作功德，不见佛、不闻法，于所作为转减。”于是大目揵连作是念已，持天眼遍视阎浮提，便见佛、如来、无所著、等正觉在萍沙宫中食，与大比丘众千二百五十人俱。是时大目揵连复自见在佛左而坐，自见身形被服坐在佛边无有增减，复自思惟：“得无世尊还阎浮提？”复更视巴质树下，见佛世尊与无央数诸天众围绕而为说法，见舍利弗坐佛之右，自见目连与诸比丘坐佛之左，复与大比丘俱。 于是贤者大目揵连见甚大可怪：“诸佛世尊所作为不可思议，诸佛世尊为威神为大，为能为大，分于阎浮提说法如故，而不断绝于第二忉利天上为诸天说法。” 尔时大目揵连复大疑怪，复更谛视。见佛在舍卫祇洹给孤独园，与无央数众围绕而为说法。复自见在于会中如其像貌，舍利弗、摩诃迦旃延、分耨、须菩提、离越贤者、子劫频奴，一切诸大弟子众皆悉见，如在舍卫、如在罗阅祇、如在忉利天。 于是大目揵连复重思惟阎浮提，复见迦维罗卫大国尼拘类，见佛从尼拘类园出，入迦维罗卫大国而行分卫。复见比丘形像如目连，于是复见佛在维耶离大国与大比丘众俱，至离垢月童子家饮食。 现代汉语译本： 当时，大目揵连（Mahāmaudgalyāyana，佛陀十大弟子之一，以神通著称）从座位上起身，徘徊不定，心中想道：‘如来（Tathāgata，佛的称号之一）、无所著（Arhat，阿罗汉的称号，指断绝一切烦恼者）、等正觉（Sammasambuddha，正等觉者的称号，指彻底觉悟者）在此，难道阎浮提（Jambudvipa，我们所居住的这个世界）已经空了吗？阎浮提有无数的人饥饿困乏，想要行善积德，却见不到佛，听不到佛法，他们的善行反而会减少。’于是，大目揵连这样想着，便用天眼遍观阎浮提，就看见佛、如来、无所著、等正觉在萍沙宫中进食，与一千二百五十位大比丘（bhikkhu，出家修行的男子）在一起。当时，大目揵连又看到自己坐在佛的左边，看到自己的身形和衣着坐在佛的身边没有任何改变，又自己思忖：‘难道世尊（Bhagavan，佛的尊称）又回到阎浮提了吗？’又再次观看巴质树下，看见佛世尊被无数的天众围绕着，正在为他们说法，看见舍利弗（Śāriputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称）坐在佛的右边，看见自己目连与各位比丘坐在佛的左边，也与大比丘们在一起。 于是，贤者大目揵连看到这非常令人惊异的景象：‘诸佛世尊所做的事情真是不可思议，诸佛世尊的威神之力真是伟大，所能做到的事情真是伟大，在阎浮提说法如常，而又不断绝在第二忉利天（Trāyastriṃśa，欲界六天之一）上为诸天说法。’ 当时，大目揵连又感到非常疑惑和奇怪，又更加仔细地观看。看见佛在舍卫（Śrāvastī）祇洹给孤独园（Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍika-ārāma），被无数的大众围绕着，正在为他们说法。又看到自己也在法会之中，和自己的相貌一样，舍利弗、摩诃迦旃延（Mahākātyāyana，佛陀十大弟子之一，以论议著称）、分耨（Puṇṇa，即富楼那，佛陀十大弟子之一，以说法著称）、须菩提（Subhūti，佛陀十大弟子之一，以解空著称）、离越贤者（Revata，佛陀弟子）、子劫频奴（Kapilavastu，佛陀弟子），一切诸大弟子众都看见了，如同在舍卫、如同在罗阅祇（Rājagṛha，王舍城）、如同在忉利天。 于是，大目揵连又重新思惟阎浮提的事情，又看见迦维罗卫（Kapilavastu）大国尼拘类园（Nigrodha Park），看见佛从尼拘类园出来，进入迦维罗卫大国去乞食。又看见比丘的形貌如同目连，于是又看见佛在维耶离（Vaiśālī）大国与大比丘众在一起，到离垢月童子（Vimalacandra）家饮食。
English
English version: At that time, Mahāmaudgalyāyana (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his supernatural powers) rose from his seat and wandered about, thinking in his heart: 'The Tathāgata (one of the titles of the Buddha), the Arhat (one of the titles of the Arhat, referring to one who has cut off all afflictions), the Sammasambuddha (the title of the Perfectly Enlightened One, referring to one who is completely enlightened) is here, has Jambudvipa (the world we live in) become empty? Jambudvipa has countless people who are hungry and impoverished, wanting to do good deeds, but they cannot see the Buddha, nor hear the Dharma, and their good deeds will instead decrease.' Then, Mahāmaudgalyāyana, thinking this, used his heavenly eye to look all over Jambudvipa, and saw the Buddha, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Sammasambuddha eating in the Pingsha Palace, together with twelve hundred and fifty great bhikkhus (monks). At that time, Mahāmaudgalyāyana also saw himself sitting on the left of the Buddha, saw his figure and clothing sitting beside the Buddha without any change, and again pondered to himself: 'Has the Bhagavan (the Blessed One, an honorific title for the Buddha) returned to Jambudvipa?' Again he looked under the Bāzhis tree and saw the Buddha, the World Honored One, surrounded by countless heavenly beings, preaching the Dharma to them, saw Śāriputra (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom) sitting on the right of the Buddha, and saw himself, Maudgalyāyana, with the bhikkhus sitting on the left of the Buddha, also with the great bhikkhus. Then, the worthy Mahāmaudgalyāyana saw this very astonishing sight: 'The actions of the Buddhas, the World Honored Ones, are truly inconceivable, the majestic power of the Buddhas, the World Honored Ones, is truly great, what they are capable of doing is truly great, preaching the Dharma in Jambudvipa as usual, and yet not ceasing to preach the Dharma to the devas (gods) in the second Trāyastriṃśa Heaven (one of the six heavens of the desire realm).' At that time, Mahāmaudgalyāyana again felt very doubtful and strange, and looked even more carefully. He saw the Buddha in the Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍika-ārāma in Śrāvastī, surrounded by countless people, preaching the Dharma to them. He also saw himself in the assembly, with the same appearance as himself, Śāriputra, Mahākātyāyana (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his eloquence), Puṇṇa (also known as Pūrṇa, one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his preaching), Subhūti (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his understanding of emptiness), the worthy Revata (a disciple of the Buddha), Kapilavastu (a disciple of the Buddha), all the great disciples were seen, as if in Śrāvastī, as if in Rājagṛha (the royal city), as if in Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. Then, Mahāmaudgalyāyana again pondered the affairs of Jambudvipa, and again saw the Nigrodha Park in the great country of Kapilavastu, saw the Buddha coming out of the Nigrodha Park, entering the great country of Kapilavastu to beg for food. He also saw a bhikkhu with the appearance of Maudgalyāyana, and then he saw the Buddha in the great country of Vaiśālī with the great bhikkhus, going to the house of the boy Vimalacandra (Spotless Moon) to eat. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
目连复自见色像貌与大比丘众俱，于是大目揵连见佛在波罗柰大国从分卫还，自见色像貌亦在其中。复思惟遍视阎浮提，所在处皆见有佛，若树下、若岩石间，及阎浮提地上佛悉遍满，皆见佛、比丘僧俱围绕。若干百千所在、聚落皆悉遍见。 于是目连重复甚大疑怪？更思惟已，持天眼视郁单曰，见佛与比丘僧俱受食，亦自见身在其中、亦见余弟子。复视弗于逮，亦见佛在大身众人中而为说法；于拘耶尼地亦复如是，见佛世尊坐禅，无央数千众皆见，为佛作礼。诸弟子众亦各各随其色像貌而坐三昧三摩越，亦自见身在其中。 于是目连倍复疑怪？复坐思惟地上诸神，于是复见佛与诸弟子众，亦复自见在其中及众弟子，如是虚空中诸神亦见佛在其中，为虚空中诸无央数百千诸天而为说法，亦自见身与众弟子在其中。如是第一四王天、上炎天、兜术天、尼摩罗提天、波罗尼蜜和耶拔致天，乃至梵天遍视，复见佛在梵天与无央数百千梵天围绕而为说法，亦自见身色像貌，及一切众会者皆悉如大目揵连，神足变化在所作为皆悉尔，自见在中为一切而说法皆如目连。复变诸会者皆如舍利弗比丘，智慧光明于大众中为师子吼。如是比各各自以慧力为说大弟子法。 于是大目揵连惊怖衣毛为竖甚可怪，踊跃欢喜则 现代汉语译本：目连（Maudgalyayana，佛陀十大弟子之一，以神通著称）又一次看见自己的色身形貌与众多大比丘在一起。当时，大目犍连看见佛陀在波罗奈（Varanasi，古印度城市）大国托钵乞食归来，也看见自己的色身形貌也在其中。他又思索并遍视阎浮提（Jambudvipa，佛教宇宙观中的人类居住地），在所有地方都看见了佛陀，或在树下，或在岩石间，阎浮提的地上都遍满了佛陀，都看见佛陀与比丘僧众围绕在一起。在成百上千的所在之处、聚落，都全部看见了。 于是，目连更加疑惑奇怪。再次思索后，他用天眼观察郁单越（Uttarakuru，北俱卢洲），看见佛陀与比丘僧众一起接受供养，也看见自己也在其中，也看见其他的弟子。他又观察弗于逮（Purvavideha，东胜身洲），也看见佛陀在大群人中说法；在拘耶尼地（Aparagodaniya，西牛贺洲）也是如此，看见佛陀世尊坐禅，无数千众都看见了，向佛陀顶礼。诸位弟子也各自按照自己的色身形貌，坐在三昧（Samadhi，禅定）三摩越（Samapatti，等至）中，也看见自己也在其中。 于是，目连更加疑惑奇怪。他又坐下来思索地上的诸神，于是又看见佛陀与诸位弟子，也看见自己与众弟子在其中。像这样，虚空中的诸神也看见佛陀在其中，为虚空中无数百千的诸天说法，也看见自己与众弟子在其中。像这样，从第一四王天（Cāturmahārājika-deva，四大天王天）开始，到上炎天（Yāmadeva，夜摩天）、兜术天（Tusita-deva，兜率天）、尼摩罗提天（Nirmānarati-deva，化乐天）、波罗尼蜜和耶拔致天（Paranirmita-vasavartin-deva，他化自在天），乃至梵天（Brahma-deva，色界天）都遍视了一遍，又看见佛陀在梵天，被无数百千的梵天围绕着说法，也看见自己的色身形貌，以及一切集会的人都像大目犍连一样，神足变化，所作所为都一样，看见自己在其中为一切说法，都像目连一样。又变化诸位集会的人都像舍利弗（Sariputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称）比丘一样，以智慧光明在大众中作狮子吼。像这样，各位都各自以慧力说法，如同大弟子一样。 于是，大目犍连惊恐，汗毛竖立，觉得非常奇怪，踊跃欢喜。