至誠佛品第十五
Chapter 15: Utmost Sincerity to Buddha
佛言：「乃往昔時復有佛，名薩遮那摩怛薩阿竭、阿羅訶、三耶三佛。時有比丘名和輪，其佛般泥洹後，是比丘持是三昧。我爾時作國王剎利種，於夢中聞是三昧，覺已便行求持是三昧比丘，即從作沙門欲得。於是比丘所一反聞是三昧，承事師三萬六千歲，魔事數數起不得一反聞。」
The Buddha said: "In the distant past, there was another Buddha named Sache Na Mo Dhar Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha. At that time, there was a monk named Helun. After that Buddha entered Nirvana, this monk upheld this samadhi. I was then a king of the Kshatriya caste. In a dream, I heard of this samadhi. Upon waking, I sought out the monk who held it and became a monk myself, wanting to learn it. From that monk, I heard this samadhi only once. I served my teacher for thirty-six thousand years, but because of frequent demonic disturbances, I was unable to hear it a second time.”
佛告比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷：「我故語若曹，若曹當疾取是三昧，無得忘失。善承事其師，持是三昧至一劫，若百劫、若千劫，莫得有懈惓，趣當得是三昧。守善師不離，若飲食、資用、衣被、床臥、千萬珍寶以用上師，供養於師無所愛惜；設無有者當行乞食給師，趣當得是三昧莫厭。」
The Buddha addressed the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, saying: “I have spoken to you expressly — you should quickly take hold of this samadhi and not let it slip from your memory or be lost. Honor and attend to your teacher well. Devote yourself to this samadhi for a kalpa, or for a hundred kalpas, or for a thousand kalpas, without ever growing weary or discouraged, until you attain this samadhi. Stay close to your virtuous teacher without parting. Present your teacher with food, resources, clothing, bedding, and countless precious treasures as offerings, holding nothing back in reserve. If you have nothing to offer, you should go out begging for alms to provide for your teacher. Be determined to attain this samadhi; do not grow tired of the effort.”
佛言：「置是所供養者，此不足言耳，常當自割其肌供養於善師，常不愛惜身，何況其餘？當承事善師如奴事大夫，求是三昧者當如是。得是三昧已當堅持，常當念師恩。」
The Buddha said, "What I just mentioned about making offerings is not worth discussing. Rather, you should always be willing to cut your own flesh to make offerings to a good teacher, never cherishing your own body—let alone anything else. You should serve a good teacher as a servant serves a master. Those who seek this Samadhi should do the same. Once you attain this Samadhi, you must uphold it firmly and always remember the teacher's kindness."
佛言：「是三昧難得值，正使求是三昧至百億劫，但欲得聞其名聲不能得聞，何況得學者、轉復行教人？正使如恒邊沙佛剎，滿其中珍寶持用布施，其福寧多不？不如書是三昧持經卷者，其福極不可計。」
佛爾時頌偈言：
At that time, the Buddha spoke these verses:
「我自識念往世時， 其數具足六萬歲，
常隨法師不捨離， 初不得聞是三昧。
有佛號曰其至誠， 時知比丘名和輪，
彼佛世尊泥曰後， 比丘常持是三昧。
我時為王君子種， 夢中逮聞是三昧，
和輪比丘有斯經， 王當從受此定意。
從夢覺已即往求， 輒見比丘持三昧，
即除鬚髮作沙門， 學八千歲一時聞。
其數具足八萬歲， 供養奉事此比丘，
時魔因緣數興起， 初未曾得一反聞。
是故，比丘、比丘尼、 及清信士、清信女，
持是經法囑汝等， 聞是三昧疾受行。
常敬習持是法師， 具足一劫無得懈，
勿難千億用道故， 當得聞是法三昧。
衣服、床臥若千億， 比丘家家行乞食，
以用供養於法師， 精進如是得三昧。
燈火、飲食所當得， 金、銀、珍寶供養具，
尚當自割其肌肉， 以用供養況飲食？
明者得法疾持行， 受學經卷有反復，
是三昧者難得值， 億那術劫常當求。
所周旋處聞是法， 當普宣視諸學者，
假使億千那術劫， 求是三昧難得聞。
設令世界如恒沙， 滿中珍寶用布施，
若有受是一偈說， 敬誦功德過於彼。」
"I recall my past lives clearly — For sixty thousand years in full, I followed a Dharma teacher constantly, Yet never once heard this profound meditation.
There was a Buddha named Utmost Sincerity, Whose monk disciple was called Helun. After that Buddha entered Nirvana, Helun always upheld this Samadhi.
At that time, I was born into a royal family, And in a dream I heard of this Samadhi. 'Helun the monk possesses this scripture; The king should receive this meditation from him.'
Waking from the dream, I went straight to seek him, And found the monk upholding this Samadhi. I shaved my head and became a monk, Studying for eight thousand years until I heard it once.
For a full eighty thousand years, I served and supported this teacher, Though demonic obstacles arose many times, I never once got to hear it again.
Therefore, monks and nuns, Laymen and laywomen alike, I entrust this teaching to you: Upon hearing this Samadhi, quickly receive and practice it.
Always respect and uphold this Dharma teacher, For an entire eon without slacking. Don't shy away from thousands of eons for the truth, For you will then hear this Dharma Samadhi.
Offer thousands of eons of clothing and bedding, Beg for alms from house to house as a monk, Use all these to support the Dharma teacher — With such diligence, you'll attain this Samadhi.
Lamps, food, and whatever you need, Gold, silver, and precious offerings — You should even cut your own flesh To offer, let alone ordinary food!
The wise who gain the Dharma quickly uphold it, Studying the scriptures again and again. This Samadhi is rarely encountered — Seek it across billions of eons.
Wherever you go and hear this teaching, Proclaim it widely to all who study. Even if for billions of eons, Seeking this Samadhi is hard to hear.
If you fill a world vast as the Ganges' sands With precious jewels to give as alms, Yet someone receives just one verse of this teaching, Their merit from reciting it with reverence surpasses that offering."