大周新譯大方廣佛華嚴經序
Preface to the Newly Translated Great and Vast Buddha Flower Ornament Sutra of the Great Zhou Dynasty
天冊金輪聖神皇帝製
Imperial Edict by the Celestial Sovereign, Golden Wheel, Divine Sage Emperor
蓋聞：「造化權輿之首，天道未分；龜龍繫象之初，人文始著。雖萬八千歲，同臨有截之區；七十二君，詎識無邊之義。」由是人迷四忍，輪迴於六趣之中；家纏五蓋，沒溺於三塗之下。及夫鷲巖西峙，象駕東驅，慧日法王超四大而高視，中天調御越十地以居尊，包括鐵圍，延促沙劫。其為體也，則不生不滅；其為相也，則無去無來。念處、正勤，三十七品為其行；慈、悲、喜、捨，四無量法運其心。方便之力難思，圓對之機多緒，混大空而為量，豈算數之能窮？入纖芥之微區，匪名言之可述，無得而稱者，其唯大覺歟！
It is said: "At the very beginning of creation, before the ways of heaven were distinguished; at the dawn when the turtle and dragon bore signs, human culture first emerged. Though tens of thousands of years passed, all arrived within this bounded realm; how could the seventy-two sovereigns comprehend the boundless truth?"
Thus, people became confused by the four forbearances, cycling through the six realms of rebirth; households entangled by the five hindrances, sinking into the three wretched paths.
Then came the time when Vulture Peak stood firm in the west, and the elephant-carriage of the Dharma journeyed eastward. The Dharma King, sun of wisdom, transcended the four elements and gazed from on high; the Tathagata, guide of the Middle Heaven, surpassed the ten stages and abided in supreme honor, encompassing the iron mountains, spanning kalpas as countless as sands.
In essence, it neither arises nor ceases; in appearance, it neither comes nor goes. The four foundations of mindfulness, the four right efforts—the thirty-seven aids to enlightenment form its practice. Loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity—the four immeasurables guide its heart.
The power of skillful means is beyond thought; the opportunities for perfect response are manifold. Vast as empty space, its measure cannot be calculated; minute as a speck of dust, its subtlety cannot be described in words. That which is beyond all description—is this not the Great Awakening?
朕曩劫植因，叨承佛記。金仙降旨，大雲之偈先彰；玉扆披祥，寶雨之文後及。加以積善餘慶，俯集微躬，遂得地平天成，河清海晏。殊禎絕瑞，既日至而月書；貝牒靈文，亦時臻而歲洽。逾海越漠，獻賝之禮備焉；架險航深，重譯之辭罄矣。
In past eons, I planted the seeds of cause, and by fortune received the Buddha's prediction. The golden immortal descended with his decree, the verses of the Great Cloud first made manifest; the jade screen revealed auspicious signs, the text of the Precious Rain followed thereafter. Moreover, the accumulated merit and remaining blessings gathered upon my humble person, thus enabling the earth to be level and the heavens perfected, the rivers clear and the seas calm. Extraordinary omens and rare auspices were recorded daily and monthly; scriptures of divine wisdom arrived in season and flourished through the years. Crossing seas and traversing deserts, the tribute of offerings was complete; braving dangers and sailing the deep, the words of distant translations were fully presented.
《大方廣佛華嚴經》者，斯乃諸佛之密藏，如來之性海。視之者，莫識其指歸；挹之者，罕測其涯際。有學、無學，志絕窺覦；二乘、三乘，寧希聽受。最勝種智，莊嚴之迹既隆；普賢、文殊，願行之因斯滿。一句之內，包法界之無邊；一毫之中，置剎土而非隘。摩竭陀國，肇興妙會之緣；普光法堂，爰敷寂滅之理。緬惟奧義，譯在晉朝；時逾六代，年將四百。然圓一部之典，纔獲三萬餘言，唯啟半珠，未窺全寶。朕聞其梵本，先在于闐國中，遣使奉迎，近方至此。既覩百千之妙頌，乃披十萬之正文。粵以證聖元年，歲次乙未，月旅沽洗，朔惟戊申，以其十四日辛酉，於大遍空寺，親受筆削，敬譯斯經。遂得甘露流津，預夢庚申之夕；膏雨灑潤，後覃壬戌之辰。式開實相之門，還符一味之澤。以聖曆二年，歲次己亥，十月壬午朔，八日己丑，繕寫畢功；添性海之波瀾，廓法界之疆域。大乘頓教，普被於無窮；方廣真筌，遐該於有識。豈謂後五百歲，忽奉金口之言；娑婆境中，俄啟珠函之祕。所冀：闡揚沙界，宣暢塵區；並兩曜而長懸，彌十方而永布。一窺寶偈，慶溢心靈；三復幽宗，喜盈身意。雖則無說無示，理符不二之門；然因言顯言，方闡大千之義。輒申鄙作，爰題序云。
大方廣佛華嚴經卷第一
The Flower Garland Sutra, Volume 1
于闐國三藏實叉難陀奉 制譯
Translation by the Tripitaka Master Śikṣānanda of Khotan, Commissioned by Imperial Decree