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  1. Sutra on the Dharma's Final Extinction Spoken by the Buddha (佛說法滅盡經)
  1. Sutra on the Dharma's Final Extinction Spoken by the Buddha (佛說法滅盡經)
  2. Sutra on the Dharma's Final Extinction Spoken by the Buddha (佛說法滅盡經)

Sutra on the Dharma's Final Extinction Spoken by the Buddha (佛說法滅盡經)

About 佛說法滅盡經

889 · about 3 min

The Sutra on the Total Extinction of the Dharma Spoken by the Buddha is an important Buddhist scripture, traditionally translated by Dharmarakṣa and included in the Mahāyāna Nirvāṇa section of the Taishō Tripiṭaka. This sutra originated during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period and is a significant text within the thought of the Dharma-ending age. The scripture primarily describes the gradual decline and eventual total extinction of the Buddha-dharma after the Buddha’s parinirvāṇa, prophesying the various signs of disorder and calamities of the Dharma-ending age, and emphasizes the importance of upholding the true Dharma. Within Buddhism, this sutra serves as a warning, reminding practitioners to strive diligently without laxity even in the Dharma-ending age. It is often cited to elucidate the principles of the rise and decline of the Dharma’s fortune, holding significant value for the study of Buddhist historical perspectives and eschatology.

Human translations available

  • Heng Sure恒實 (1976)Heng Sure恒實, Heng Yin恒隱 Slandered by Demons: A Translation of The Buddha Speaks the Ultimate Extinction of the Dharma Su…Link
  • (2012)Rulu 如露 Buddha Pronounces the Sūtra of the Total Annihilation of the Dharma In: Teachings of the Buddha. Bloomington: Au…Link

佛說法滅盡經
僧祐錄中失譯經人名今附宋錄
聞如是:
一時佛在拘夷那竭國——如來三月當般涅槃——與諸比丘及諸菩薩。
無央數眾來詣佛所,稽首于地。世尊寂靜默無所說,光明不現。賢者阿難作禮白佛言:「世尊前後說法威光獨顯,今大眾會光更不現,何故如此?其必有故,願聞其意。」
佛默不應,如是至三。
佛告阿難:「吾涅槃後法欲滅時,五逆濁世魔道興盛。魔作沙門壞亂吾道,著俗衣裳,樂好袈裟、五色之服;飲酒噉肉,殺生貪味;無有慈心,更相憎嫉。
「時有菩薩、辟支、羅漢,精進修德,一切敬待,人所宗向;教化平等,憐貧念老,鞠育窮厄;恒以經像令人奉事,作諸功德;志性恩善,不侵害人;損身濟物,不自惜己,忍辱仁和。設有是人,眾魔比丘咸共嫉之,誹謗揚惡,擯黜驅遣不令得住。自共於後不修道德,寺廟空荒,無復修理轉就毀壞;但貪財物,積聚不散,不作福德;販賣奴婢,耕田種植,焚燒山林,傷害眾生,無有慈心;奴為比丘,婢為比丘尼,無有道德,婬妷濁亂,男女不別,令道薄淡皆由斯輩。或避縣官依倚吾道,求作沙門,不修戒律;月半月盡雖名誦戒,厭倦懈怠不欲聽聞,抄略前後不肯盡說;經不誦習,設有讀者不識字句,為強言是,不諮明者;貢高求名,虛顯雅步以為榮冀,望人供養。眾魔比丘命終之後,精神當墮無擇地獄,五逆罪中餓鬼、畜生靡不經歷,恒河沙劫罪竟乃出,生在邊國無三寶處。
「法欲滅時,女人精進,恒作功德;男子懈慢,不用法語,眼見沙門如視糞土,無有信心。法將殄沒,登爾之時諸天泣淚。水旱不調、五穀不熟,疫氣流行死亡者眾。人民勤苦,縣官計剋,不順道理,皆思樂亂。惡人轉多如海中沙,善者甚少若一若二。劫欲盡故,日月轉短,人命轉促,四十頭白,男子婬妷,精盡夭命,或壽六十。男子壽短,女人壽長七、八、九十或至百歲。
「大水忽起卒至無期,世人不信故為有常。眾生、雜類不問豪賤,沒溺浮漂,魚鱉食噉。
「時有菩薩、辟支、羅漢,眾魔驅逐不預眾會。三乘入山福德之地,恬怕自守以為欣快,壽命延長。諸天衛護,月光出世,得相遭值,共興吾道五十二歲。《首楞嚴經》、《般舟三昧》先化滅去,十二部經尋後復滅盡,不復現。不見文字,沙門袈裟自然變白。
「吾法滅時,譬如油燈臨欲滅時,光明更盛,於是便滅——吾法滅時亦如燈滅。自此之後,難可數說。如是之後數千萬歲,彌勒當下世間作佛。天下泰平,毒氣消除,雨潤和適,五穀滋茂,樹木長大,人長八丈,皆壽八萬四千歲,眾生得度不可稱計。」
賢者阿難作禮白佛:「當何名斯經?云何奉持?」
佛言:「阿難!此經名為『法滅盡』。宣告一切,宜令分別,功德無量不可稱計。」
四部弟子聞經,悲慘惆悵,皆發無上聖真道意,悉為佛作禮而去。
佛說法滅盡經

CBETA Code: T0396

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