持人菩薩經妙慧超王佛品第二
Chapter 2: The Bodhisattva Who Upholds Humankind and the Buddha of Sublime Wisdom and Supreme Sovereignty
佛告持人：「乃往過去久遠世時，無央數劫不可稱限，越是無量。爾時，有佛號妙慧超王如來、至真、等正覺、明行成為、善逝、世間解、無上士、道法御、天人師，為佛、世尊。其佛世時，諸聲聞眾不可計數，其諸菩薩無央數會，皆是其佛本學道時至願所致。佛國清淨功勳巍巍，其佛國土無三惡趣、八難之處，眾生安隱福同快樂，皆離貪欲除去五蓋，如是比像無世俗義，唯以道品而相娛樂，以四禪定而行正受。」
The Buddha told Chiren: "In the distant past, countless eons beyond measure, an immeasurable time ago, there was a Buddha named Miaohui Chaowang Tathagata, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the One of Perfect Wisdom and Conduct, the Well-Gone One, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed One, the Tamer of Beings, the Teacher of Gods and Humans, the Buddha, the World-Honored One. During that Buddha's time, the assembly of disciples was beyond counting, and the gatherings of Bodhisattvas were without limit—all due to the great vows that Buddha made while cultivating the path. His Buddha-land was pure and majestic, without the three evil realms or the eight difficulties. Beings there dwelt in peace and happiness, free from greed and the five hindrances. There was no worldly strife; they delighted solely in the factors of enlightenment and practiced the four meditative absorptions with proper concentration."
佛言：「持人！其妙慧超王如來，壽八十億姟百千劫，其國土人壽三十億姟。當爾世時，無有國王典制萬民，唯以妙慧超王如來、至真為法王，咸共稱曰無上道王。其妙慧超王如來、至真諸菩薩眾，能為一切普決疑網，多所歡悅頒宣菩薩無極法藏。
The Buddha said, "Listen, all of you! The Tathagata named 'Supreme King of Sublime Wisdom' had a lifespan of eight billion trillion kalpas. In his land, the people lived for three billion trillion years. In that era, there were no worldly kings ruling over the people. Only the Tathagata Supreme King of Sublime Wisdom, the truly perfected one, was revered as the King of the Dharma. All beings honored him as the Unsurpassed King of the Path. The Tathagata Supreme King of Sublime Wisdom, the truly perfected one, and his assembly of bodhisattvas were able to resolve all doubts for everyone, bringing great joy as they widely proclaimed the inexhaustible treasury of the bodhisattva teachings."
「時，諸菩薩聞佛所說如是比像清淨法力，五百菩薩一心精進夙夜慇懃，不想念坐不想求食，盡其形壽不念服飾，唯念至真無極道王，思是像法清淨法力。以是一心德本所致，於彼壽終生於東方，去是佛土八千億國，適生未久亦逮此法，識念不忘悉見宿命，叡哲聰明諸根通達，無所不覩探古知今。
At that time, the bodhisattvas, upon hearing the Buddha speak of such pure Dharma power, five hundred bodhisattvas focused their minds, diligently advancing day and night. They did not think of sitting in comfort, nor did they crave food. For their entire lives, they paid no mind to fine clothing, but only contemplated the supreme, ultimate King of the Way, reflecting on this pure Dharma power. Through the merit of this single-minded dedication, at the end of their lives, they were reborn in the east, eight hundred billion lands away from this Buddha realm. Shortly after their rebirth, they too attained this Dharma, their memory and insight remained intact, and they fully recalled their past lives. They were wise and intelligent, with faculties fully awakened, seeing all things clearly, exploring the ancient and knowing the present.
「又其佛土，佛號無量華王，講說經法。是五百人生彼佛土，尋時其身年如十六，即報父母出家捐業，行作沙門淨修梵行，在其佛所奉行精進六十億歲。」
"In that Buddha Land, the Buddha is named Immeasurable Flower King, who teaches the sutras and Dharma. Those five hundred people, upon being born in that Buddha Land, immediately attain bodies like sixteen-year-olds. They then repay their parents, renounce household life, become monks, purify their practice of the holy life, and diligently cultivate under that Buddha for sixty billion years."
佛語持人：「於彼世時五百菩薩，如是比像，值見諸佛二十億。普在其所夙夜精進，妙慧超王如來、至真，使五百人於萬劫中，值二萬佛而授其決，當逮無上正真之道，以億萬劫供養奉事二萬佛訖，是五百人皆同一劫次第成佛。
The Buddha said to Sustainer, "At that time, there were five hundred bodhisattvas like these. They encountered twenty billion Buddhas, diligently practicing day and night under them. The Tathagata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, named Sublime Wisdom Surpassing Kings, enabled these five hundred to meet twenty thousand Buddhas over ten thousand kalpas, receiving predictions that they would attain the supreme, perfect enlightenment. After making offerings and serving these twenty thousand Buddhas for a hundred million kalpas, all five hundred of them attained Buddhahood in the same kalpa, one after another."
「是故，持人！菩薩大士速欲逮成無上正真為最正覺，當精進學如是比像清淨慧力經典之要，夙夜勤修，勿得懈廢為放逸行。所以者何？諸佛本學皆由精進，無逸為本致最正覺、普具道品。佛皆識念往昔古世精進如是，見是十二億諸佛世尊所生之處，當得意力探古知今無所不通，各各識知一切宿命，如近不遠悉覩見之，皆由精進學是法故，無放逸行夙夜勤修未曾懈廢。」
Therefore, O Sustainer of Humanity! If a bodhisattva, a great being, wishes to swiftly attain the unsurpassed, perfect, and complete enlightenment, they should diligently study and practice the essential teachings of this Sutra of Pure Wisdom and Power, which is of such profound nature. They must cultivate it day and night with vigor, without slackening or indulging in negligence. Why is this? All Buddhas of the past attained their supreme enlightenment and perfected the path's qualities precisely through diligence and unwavering effort, with non-negligence as their foundation. The Buddha recollects his own past lives of such diligent practice, having seen the places where these twelve billion World-Honored Buddhas were born. By this means, one gains the power of understanding, comprehending the ancient and the present without obstruction, each recalling all past lives as if seeing what is near, not distant. All this is achieved through diligent study of this Dharma, through practice free from negligence, cultivated day and night without ever slackening.
爾時，世尊以無極慈興大悲哀觀于四方，即如其像三昧正受，化現諸佛周遍三千大千世界，各為眾生頒宣經道決諸狐疑，聞各開解莫不歡悅，復重為演菩薩之法。
At that time, the World-Honored One, with boundless compassion and profound sorrow, gazed upon the four directions. As if entering a state of deep meditation, he manifested countless Buddhas throughout the three-thousandfold world system. Each Buddha proclaimed the teachings, resolving all doubts for living beings. Hearing this, everyone understood and rejoiced. Then, he further expounded the path of the Bodhisattva.
爾時，世尊尋現神足顯其威德，使竹園中諸會菩薩，皆見十方諸如來，在其世界敷演經法。時諸菩薩各從坐起，叉手自歸為佛作禮，各自歎曰：「至未曾有！諸佛世尊威德聖慧不可思議，道法超殊巍巍無量，猶如虛空不可攀逮。」
At that moment, the World-Honored One manifested his spiritual power and revealed his majestic virtue, causing all the bodhisattvas gathered in the Bamboo Grove to see the Buddhas of the ten directions, each in their own world, expounding the Dharma.
Then, all the bodhisattvas rose from their seats, joined their palms in reverence, and bowed to the Buddha. Each exclaimed in praise: "How extraordinary! The majestic virtue and sacred wisdom of the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, are beyond thought. Their Dharma is supreme and immeasurably vast, like the boundless sky—unreachable and unfathomable."
時，佛即告諸菩薩曰：「是不為難！如來、至真不可限喻。所以者何？族姓子！解諸法界無所不達，所解法界，如來、至真其一毛德神足變化不可稱限，光明普照江河沙等十方世界。其光明中各演音聲頒宣經道，其一毛孔億百千姟神足變化不足為難。所以者何？如來、至真神足功勳不可限量，巍巍如是。
At that moment, the Buddha then addressed the bodhisattvas, saying: "This is not difficult! The Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is beyond all measure and description. Why is this? Noble sons! He comprehends the Dharma Realm in its entirety, leaving nothing unpenetrated. The Dharma Realm that he comprehends—the Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One—can manifest through a single pore spiritual transformations and miraculous powers beyond all reckoning, illuminating with his radiance worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges in all ten directions. Within each beam of that light, voices proclaim and expound the sutras and teachings. The manifestation of hundreds of thousands of millions of spiritual transformations from a single pore is not a difficult feat. Why is this? The spiritual power and majestic deeds of the Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One, are immeasurable and boundless. Such is his supreme majesty."
「又，族姓子！如來、至真見眾生心以為說法，少有信樂如是像法，精進勤修志樂慕求，是無量法亦復希有。所以者何？如來今興在五濁世。何謂五濁？一者、人多弊惡不識義理；二者、六十二疑邪見強盛不受道教；三者、人多愛欲塵勞興隆不知去就；四者、人壽命短，往古世時八萬四千歲以為甚損，今壽百歲或長或短；五者、小劫轉盡三災當起無不被害。若有在此五濁惡世能信樂是如斯像法深妙道義，有一人好能受如此佛正真慧，是為甚難至未曾有，何況信樂如來所行受持乎？
「族姓子！佛從古無央數劫被大德鎧，長夜遵習如是像法精進忍辱仁慈博愛。若見眾生在於厄難勤苦之患無救護者，心生恐懼墮於惡趣，願生彼土導利眾生，救濟眾厄令入正道。如來、至真德不可量，如空無侶勇健獨步度脫十方。是佛往昔過去世時本願清淨，今有信樂是無量法深妙之義愛喜受持，皆往古昔曾見被訓故今信喜，現人少有信樂。於斯如來所顯如來十力、四無所畏、十八不共，諸佛之法空無之慧，希有好喜入斯法者。若有入斯，皆是如來威德所致，神足變化勇猛功勳。佛以慧力善權方便，長夜開化勤修不解，皆由往宿矜矜一心不捨此法，常行大慈修無蓋哀，大喜大護救濟眾生。
「又，族姓子！諸菩薩學，少有愍念於五濁世成最正覺，為諸眾生在五濁世，開導大難亦復希有，如吾於今所立教訓。所以者何？往古宿命通大精進積功累德，每生自剋布施頭目，肌肉支體妻子國邑，群從車乘無所愛悋，不計身命無所貪慕，三界無怙惟道可恃，以無極力行權方便開化眾生，能成無上正真之道。
「佛悉憶念往宿世時，一日之中所施無量，并惠身命無所愛惜，皆由愍念眾生之故。開化盲冥令見道明，亦識往宿無數世時，見飢饉者無有飲食，供養之具可用施者，割己股肉煮之炙之，持用授之不以作患，心不懷恨惟行大哀，愍傷眾生奉無極慈。以是之故，當作斯觀，遵修如是通大精進開化眾生，如斯精進積累功德，逮致無上正真之道。
「是故，諸仁！諸族姓子！勤學如是微妙精進，以習如是無極道法，亦當如我往昔所行菩薩之業開化眾生。如是無異頒宣經道，亦如我今有所救脫，是賢劫中所興千佛皆當咨嗟吾本所行，各當說言：『能仁如來本行精進，不可限量不可班喻，道慧巍巍所度無極，於五濁世五逆亂中開化眾生，如是無窮不可計盡。』
「是故，族姓子！假使有人如是比像奉精進行，愛樂勤修而無放逸，疾成正覺。又吾於是逮無上正真道為最正覺，臨滅度時所度無量。若有能遵如是精進，應如至教而不懈廢，取如芥子佛之舍利建立塔寺，皆當得佛滅度之業。所以者何？佛興愍哀。為諸將來眾菩薩施，本為菩薩行佛道時曾所訓誨，由是緣故顯示大道。
「又復慈愍墮八難者，故興大哀普布舍利。若取舍利大如芥子建立塔寺，面見如來手自供養，滅度自後覩其舍利，心懷悅豫所立地處，以是地施於舍利而興塔寺，隨心所願興于大哀。本宿命時行菩薩法，等心眾生誓願所致舍利遍流。
「佛所積功累德，光光不可限量，巍巍如是，愍念眾生興于大哀，最後末世立無極慈加於一切。若有菩薩受是像法，好喜慕樂勤修精進而不放逸，用至願故最後末世受如是像，弘雅經典能持講誦，為他人說令普流布建立菩薩。若有持誦為他人說，以是像典勸諸菩薩，令學諷誦轉復宣布。所以者何？若是景摸久在天下，則佛正道永長現矣！如來常存以是觀之。
「族姓子！佛本往世如是方便，攝護眾生建是經典，以用將養未來俗世，在五濁世宣布斯典。若族姓子所在郡國縣邑、州域大邦，如是像典所流布現，受持諷誦廣為人說；如是學士、族姓子等，見佛現在、臨滅度時、如來遊彼，佛則現在而不滅度。所以者何？族姓子！佛不曾說乎？佛者法身。若見法者則覩如來，莫以色身觀於如來。若信正典聞見受持則覩如來，聞法奉行住如法教乃曰見佛，聞宣正典順法入道乃曰見佛。佛以未曾以法生法，以能行法敷演正典，不懷妄想猗求諸法則覩如來。一切諸法悉無所著，爾乃名曰覩如來耳！
「若族姓子！不見諸法則覩如來。所以者何？如來、至真不存有法非法之辭，不當觀見如來。所以者何？如來曾說假引譬喻，猶如縛栰，尚當除法，況非法乎？以除是法非法之行乃見如來。所以者何？如來、至真皆除諸法，不宣諸法而有處所也。無所興起亦無名號，況復講說諸處所乎？所以者何？皆除一切諸法。若能順斯如來觀者，則見如來也。佛本以斷一切諸法乃覩正覺。所以然者，一切諸法皆虛不真，覩一切法本無本淨，觀真諦者乃見如來。
「又，族姓子！不得諸法則無諸法，謂無放逸。彼無有法亦無非法，以無有法亦無非法乃以了斯義，以了斯義乃見本淨，以平等觀乃見如來，見法如是則見如來，觀如來然見平等覺。若有異觀如來至真則為邪觀，已邪觀者，則為虛觀，不真諦觀也。
「又，族姓子！其真諦者消除一切音聲言辭，不真不虛亦無真虛，蠲去一切諸所有業，悉不復得一切所受乃見如來。所以者何？如來、至真不覩諸法有所生者，若令生者以除一切所見諸法，乃曰自然。以解自然，如是觀佛，乃謂吾等觀佛如是，所見若斯，佛之所說也。
「如是觀佛，皆入一切諸法本無，已了一切諸法本無，便了諸一切本無興顯道法，分別諸行一切本淨，一切諸法歸于本無，一切諸法皆如來法也。自然入道，一切諸法皆以普入如來境界，一切諸法界不可議成最正覺。
「故族姓子！佛說言，一切諸法皆如來界，無有境界為如來界。所以者何？一切諸法所有境界，計彼諸法無有境界，則如來界也。一切諸法以為境界，無斯諸界乃曰有界。所有界者亦如來界，一切眾生行無境界，而悉曉了真諦淨界，雖知是法永不解達。如來、至真解達如是無所不通，是故名曰無有境界也。
「如來界無所有界，則如來界也。所以者何？佛說諸界真諦本末，無有諸界乃如來界，一切諸界如來界也。無界非界分別曉了靡所不達，是謂證明，無所有界則如來界也。
「唯族姓子！解一切法是無境界則如來界也，乃入道義。觀如是法，爾乃逮致如來境界。樂無所樂是如來界，而無所著亦無憎愛。所以者何？以知無界乃曰佛界，故言無有界則如來界。用一切法不可得故無有處所，於一切法無所著故，是則名曰如來境界。遊居入慧，一切諸法悉無所入，故無六門亦無所入。所以者何？族姓子！皆無有門亦無所入則無有見。所以者何？如來、至真不得諸法有所入處也。而有所見也、有所說者也，亦無善惡麁細微妙言辭本末，是則名曰入一切法。入無有相，無應不應一切諸法，不精進不懈怠，無合不散，是乃名曰一切法門，曰無名門、無言辭門、無所入門、無所著門、無訓誨門、無生門、永寂然門，不以是門可用知法。
「若見法者，不以法門、永寂然門，不以是門可用知法。若見法者，不以法門能證諸法，亦無所出入。所以者何？一切諸法皆無有門，門不可得，一切諸法為虛偽門，一切諸法悉本清淨，一切諸法門不可量，一切諸法無斷不斷無有邊際，故曰，族姓子！一切諸法悉不可得皆虛無實，一切諸法門不可量不可得限。其本際門不可盡極、無能斷壞，得本際者若壞本際，真實之義也。若族姓子及族姓女，至斯法門悉解達了，因得普入一切法門，皆能頒宣眾生心。」
時佛復告持人菩薩：「若有菩薩大士，欲以方便解一切法，分別諸法義之所趣，欲得意力具足成就，隨時之宜入於諸法，所生之處心斷絕。若以寂定心念，成無上正真之道，志習入斯比像法門。若能逮得是法門光，勤學斯法速疾歸附。」
持人菩薩經卷第一