四事品第三
Chapter 3: The Four Matters
「菩薩有四事法，疾逮得是三昧：一者、所信無有能壞者。二者、精進無有能退者。三者、智慧無有能及者。四者、常與善師從事。是為四。復有四事，疾得是三昧：一者、不得有世間思想，如彈指頃三月。二者、不得睡眠三月，如彈指頃。三者、經行不得休息三月，除其飯食左右。四者、為人說經，不得望人供養。是為四。復有四者，疾得是三昧：一者、合會人至佛所。二者、合會人使聽經。三者、不嫉。四者、教人學佛道。是為四。復有四事，疾得是三昧：一者、作佛形像，用成是三昧故。二者、持好素寫是三昧。三者、教自貢高人內佛道中。四者、常護佛法。是為四。」
A bodhisattva who practices four things will swiftly attain this samadhi:
First: To have faith that nothing can destroy. Second: To have diligence that nothing can turn back. Third: To have wisdom that nothing can surpass. Fourth: To always associate with good teachers.
These are the four.
Again, there are four things that swiftly lead to this samadhi:
First: To have no worldly thoughts for three months, even for the duration of a finger-snap. Second: To not sleep for three months, even for the duration of a finger-snap. Third: To practice walking meditation without rest for three months, except when eating or attending to necessities. Fourth: To teach the sutras to others without expecting offerings in return.
These are the four.
Again, there are four things that swiftly lead to this samadhi:
First: To gather people and bring them to the Buddha. Second: To gather people and have them listen to the sutras. Third: To be free from jealousy. Fourth: To teach others to walk the Buddha's path.
These are the four.
Again, there are four things that swiftly lead to this samadhi:
First: To make images of the Buddha, for the sake of accomplishing this samadhi. Second: To copy this samadhi sutra on fine silk. Third: To guide those who are arrogant and self-important into the Buddha's path. Fourth: To always protect the Buddha's teachings.
These are the four.
佛爾時說偈言：
The Buddha then spoke these verses:
「常信樂於佛法， 精進行解深慧，
廣分布為人說， 慎無得貪供養。
意善解便離欲， 常念佛有威德，
悉見知無數變。 過去佛及當來，
并現在人中尊， 諸相好若干種，
黃金色無穢漏。 堅固教無極慧，
聽是法無亂心， 常捨離懈怠行，
無恚害向他人。 敬於師當如佛，
慎無得疑斯經， 一切佛所歌歎，
常造立佛形像。 常教人學是法，
行如是得三昧。」
"Always have faith and joy in the Buddha's teachings, Be diligent in practice, understand profound wisdom, And widely share it with others when you explain. Be careful not to crave offerings for yourself.
With a well-understanding mind, let go of desires, Always remember the Buddha's majestic power, And fully perceive the countless transformations. Buddhas of the past and those yet to come,
Along with the present Honored One among humans, Display various magnificent marks, Like flawless, radiant gold. The firm teachings and boundless wisdom—
Listen to this Dharma with an undisturbed mind, Always abandon lazy habits, And harbor no anger or harm toward others. Respect your teacher as you would the Buddha,
Be careful not to doubt this sutra, Which all Buddhas praise and extol. Always create images of the Buddha, And constantly guide others to learn this Dharma. Practice like this, and you will attain samadhi."
佛告颰陀和：「欲學是三昧者，當敬於師，承事供養，視當如佛。視善師不如佛者，得三昧難。菩薩敬善師從學得是三昧已，持佛威神於中立，東向視見若干百、千、萬億佛，十方等悉見之。譬如人夜起觀星宿甚眾多，菩薩欲得見今現在佛悉在前立者，當敬善師，不得視師長短；當具足布施、持戒、忍辱、精進、一心，不得懈怠。」
The Buddha said to Bhadrapāla: "Those who wish to learn this samādhi should respect their teacher, serve and make offerings to them, and regard them as the Buddha. If one does not regard a good teacher as equal to the Buddha, it will be difficult to attain this samādhi. When a bodhisattva, having respectfully learned from a good teacher, attains this samādhi, they will stand within it, empowered by the Buddha's majestic spirit. Looking eastward, they will see hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, and billions of Buddhas, and perceive them equally in all ten directions. It is like a person rising at night to observe the stars—so numerous are they. If a bodhisattva wishes to see all the Buddhas presently abiding in the world standing before them, they should respect their good teacher, without judging the teacher's faults or merits. They should fully cultivate generosity, moral discipline, patience, diligence, and single-minded concentration, without negligence."