大方廣師子吼經
Great Lion's Roar Sutra
大唐天竺三藏地婆訶羅譯
Translated by the Tripitaka Master Divākara of Tang Dynasty India.
如是我聞：
Thus I have heard:
一時，薄伽梵在日月宮中勝藏殿上，與大比丘眾九十百千俱胝，及無量菩薩摩訶薩俱。
At one time, the Blessed One was staying in the Palace of Sun and Moon, in the Hall of Supreme Treasures, together with a great assembly of ninety thousand million bhikshus and countless great bodhisattvas.
爾時佛告勝積菩薩：「北方去此六十恒河沙佛土俱胝那由他百千微塵等剎，有世界名曰歡樂，佛號法起如來、應、正等覺，現在說法，以立持安普利一切。今欲說大方廣，名師子吼，難遇難聞，汝可詣彼聽受法要。」
At that time, the Buddha said to the Bodhisattva Shengji,
"To the north from here, across a land as vast as sixty times the number of sand grains in the Ganges River—a realm beyond countless millions of Buddha-fields—there exists a world called Bliss. The Buddha residing there is known as the Tathagata Dharmodaya, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. He is presently teaching, bringing peace and benefit to all beings with his steadfast compassion.
"Now he wishes to expound the Great Scripture, known as the Lion's Roar, which is exceptionally rare to encounter. You should go there to receive and practice his essential teachings."
爾時勝積菩薩受佛教已，即往歡樂世界。見法起佛，頂禮雙足，右繞七匝却住一面。
Then the Bodhisattva Shengji, having received the Buddha's instruction, proceeded to the World of Joy. There he saw the Buddha Faqi, prostrated himself at his feet, circumambulated him seven times to the right, and then stood to one side.
時法起佛見勝積菩薩，知而故問，作如是言：「善男子！汝從何來？」
At that time, the Buddha Dharma-Utsāha saw the Bodhisattva Śrīgarbha and knowingly asked him, saying: "Good man! Where have you come from?"
時勝積菩薩居心而住，默無言說。天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等普大會眾咸作是念：「勝積菩薩！三界尊問，如何默然不答居心而住？」
The noble being Accumulation of Merit sat silently, his mind calm and still. The great assembly—gods, dragons, spirit-musicians, titans, celestial eagles, celestial singers, serpents, and other beings both human and non-human—all thought together: "Noble being Accumulation of Merit, the Honored One of the Three Realms has asked you a question. Why do you remain silent and still, without offering a reply?"
爾時，佛以脩廣明朗青蓮華目，師子頻申，普視十方，知大眾疑，便現微笑放大金光。其光間錯無量百千種種異色，普照十方，一切國土地大震動。
At that time, the Buddha, with his vast and clear blue lotus-like eyes, surveyed the ten directions like a lion stretching majestically. Knowing the crowd’s doubts, he smiled gently and emitted a great golden light. The light shimmered in countless varied hues, illuminating all lands in the ten directions, causing the entire earth to tremble powerfully.
是時，十方諸菩薩眾見此神變，種種形色、種種儀服，來詣佛所，頂禮佛足，各以己福莊嚴華藏坐蓮華座。
At that time, the assemblies of Bodhisattvas from the ten directions witnessed this divine transformation. In various forms and diverse attire, they arrived at the Buddha’s presence, prostrated themselves at his feet, and each one, adorned by their own merit, took their seat upon a lotus throne within the Flower Treasury world.
爾時，電鬘菩薩從座而起，偏袒右肩右膝著地，合掌向佛，歡喜奇特得未曾有，白佛言：「世尊！我昔曾見無量神變，未有光明地震如今所覩。善哉世尊！願說因緣，何故微笑？惟垂悲愍決此眾疑。」爾時電鬘菩薩以偈請曰：
At that time, the bodhisattva Electric Garland rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt on his right knee, and pressed his palms together facing the Buddha. Overjoyed and amazed, he said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I have seen countless miraculous transformations in the past, but never such radiance and earth-shaking wonders as I witness now. Excellent, World-Honored One! Please explain the cause: why do you smile? I beseech you, in your compassion, to resolve these doubts for us." Then the bodhisattva Electric Garland spoke this verse as a request:
「大悲大導師， 微笑非無因，
願佛利眾生， 垂哀決定說。」
"Great compassionate guide, Your smile does not arise without cause. May the Buddha, wishing to benefit all beings, Out of compassion, resolve to teach us."
爾時，法起如來端嚴赫奕，閻浮檀金暉煥照朗，散注無量百千俱胝那由他微妙光明，如大金柱。電鬘菩薩白佛言：「世尊！我見無量神通光明，未若今日，昔所不覩。」
At that time, the Thus-Come One Dharma-Rising appeared majestic and radiant, glowing with the brilliance of Jambu River gold, pouring forth countless hundreds of thousands of millions of subtle and wonderful beams of light, like great pillars of gold. The Bodhisattva Garland of Lightning said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I have seen countless miraculous displays of light, but none like today's—this is something I have never witnessed before."
佛告電鬘：「如是如是。此大光明神通如來希現，非大因緣不示此相。諦聽諦聽，善思念之，當為汝說微笑因緣。汝勿驚怖勿餘悕望，堅固汝心勿生疑惑。所以者何？諸佛境界不可思議、願力神通不可思議。汝深思此慎無疑惑。電鬘！汝見勝積菩薩釋迦牟尼佛使來者不？」
The Buddha told Dīpāvalī-mālā (the one with a garland of lightning): "That is correct, that is correct. The radiant spiritual power and wisdom of the Tathāgata rarely appear; it does not manifest such signs without a major cause. Listen carefully, listen carefully, and reflect on this well. I will now explain to you the reason for the smile. Do not be alarmed, do not wish for anything else. Steady your mind, and do not give rise to doubt. Why is this? The state of the Buddhas is inconceivable, and their vows and spiritual powers are inconceivable. Carefully contemplate this, and have no doubts. Dīpāvalī-mālā, do you see the noble being Accumulated Excellence, whom Śākyamuni Buddha has sent here?"
電鬘言：「見。」
Dian Man said, "I see."
「善男子！此勝積菩薩，我問：『汝從何來？』居心默然而不答我。我見此事故現微笑。」
"Good man! When I asked Superior Accumulation Bodhisattva, 'Where have you come from?', he remained silent and did not answer me. It is because of this that I smiled."
「如來問而不答，今此會眾咸生疑怪。」
"The Tathagata has been asked questions but has not responded, leaving everyone in this assembly filled with doubt and confusion."
「善男子！勝積菩薩作如是解：『一切諸法無來無去，云何世尊而問我言汝從何來？彼知諸法無有言說、處不可得，云何而得言所從來？』善男子！此已略說諸法實相。善男子！勝積菩薩！於一切法中，無字無說，字性離故；諸法無出，出性離故；諸法無趣，趣正斷故；諸法無現，無所依故。超心意識，離諸因緣，無名無言、無作無示，過眼等路，無所積聚，無生離想，無有處所，離諸處所，法惟一字，所謂無字，本無言說何所言說？善男子！當知無說是為真說。」
"Good man! Bodhisattva Shengji understood it this way: 'All phenomena neither come nor go. So why, World-Honored One, do you ask me where I come from?' He knows that phenomena are beyond words and cannot be located—how then can one speak of a place of origin? Good man, this is a brief explanation of the true nature of all phenomena. Good man, Bodhisattva Shengji! In all phenomena, there are no words and no explanations, for the nature of words is inherently empty. All phenomena have no arising, for the nature of arising is empty. All phenomena have no direction, for direction has been cut off. All phenomena have no manifestation, as they have nothing to rely upon. They transcend mind, consciousness, and all causes and conditions. They are nameless, wordless, uncreated, and unshown. They go beyond the realm of the eyes and so forth, have no accumulation, are unborn, free from perception, and without location—transcending all places. The Dharma consists of only one word: the wordless. Originally, there are no words to speak—so what can be said? Good man, know that the absence of speech is the true teaching."
爾時，淨身菩薩承佛神力白佛言：「世尊！若無所說是真說者，瘂默不言皆應說法？」
At that time, the Bodhisattva Pure Body, empowered by the Buddha's spiritual force, said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! If it is said that speaking nothing is true teaching, then should those who are mute and silent all be considered teachers of the Dharma?"
佛言：「如是，善男子！如汝所言，非惟瘂默說法，不瘂默者亦皆說法而不知法。」
The Buddha said, "Exactly so, good man. Just as you say, it's not only those who remain silent who teach the Dharma—those who speak also teach it, yet still may not truly understand it."
淨身菩薩白佛言：「世尊！惟願顯說，云何一切眾生說法而不知法？」
Pure Body Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Please explain: how is it that all beings teach the Dharma yet do not understand the Dharma?"
佛告淨身菩薩：「善男子！如生盲人處日光中而不見日，傍人為說，以他聲故乃知有日。如是諸法悉入法界，法界無字離諸字性，非諸眾生所能宣辯，以因緣故而有言說。如幽谷響，谷空無聲，以因緣故有響聲起。如是，善男子！因緣和合字聲顯現，而眾生界空無有字。善男子！眾生所有音聲語言，當知皆入四無礙智：以言說者，斯入法無礙智；非言說者，斯入義無礙智；以言分剖，斯入辭無礙智；與事相應決了無滯，斯入善說無礙智。眾生所有言說，當知皆悉入此四法句中。真實義句本來不動，如彼生盲隨他言執非真實見。是故善男子！欲求法者於自身求；欲求菩提以五蘊求。」
The Buddha told Pure Body Bodhisattva, "Good man! It is like a person blind from birth standing in sunlight yet unable to see the sun. Others describe it to him, and through their voices he comes to know there is a sun. In the same way, all phenomena fully enter into the Dharma-realm. The Dharma-realm has no words and transcends the nature of words; it cannot be explained or debated by any being. Yet due to causes and conditions, there is speech and expression. This is like an echo in a deep valley: the valley is empty and soundless, yet due to causes and conditions, a sound arises. So too, good man! Through the union of causes and conditions, words and sounds appear. Yet the realm of beings is empty and has no words.
Good man! Know that all sounds and languages of beings enter into the four types of unobstructed wisdom: - What is spoken enters into the unobstructed wisdom of phenomena. - What is not spoken enters into the unobstructed wisdom of meaning. - What analyzes with words enters into the unobstructed wisdom of expression. - What accords with reality without obstruction enters into the unobstructed wisdom of skillful eloquence.
Know that all speech of beings fully enters into these four categories. The true meaning and ultimate truth remain originally unmoving. It is like that blind person who, relying on others' words, holds on to them without true vision. Therefore, good man! If you seek the Dharma, seek it within yourself. If you seek awakening, seek it through the five aggregates."
說此實義句時，三千大千世界普六震動、大光遍照。佛出廣長舌相，遍覆三千大千世界，從其舌相放無量俱胝那由他百千光明，從大地獄上至有頂，一切世界光明遍照。還攝舌相普告大會：「汝等當知，如來廣長舌相由實語得，如來所說應當敬受起真實信，勿懷猶豫而生疑惑。」
At that moment, when the Buddha spoke these true and meaningful words, the entire universe of a thousand million worlds trembled in six distinct ways, and a brilliant light illuminated everything everywhere. The Buddha then extended his vast and far-reaching tongue, covering all the worlds of a thousand million realms. From this extraordinary tongue, countless billions of rays of light were emitted, shining from the deepest hell realms all the way up to the highest heavens, filling every world with radiance.
Then the Buddha withdrew his tongue and addressed the entire assembly: "You should understand that this vast and far-reaching tongue of the Tathagata is the result of speaking only what is true. Therefore, you should respectfully accept and cherish the teachings of the Tathagata, develop genuine faith, and do not waver or harbor doubts."
爾時，十地菩薩等眾并天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等一切大會，俱從座起，合掌同聲而白佛言：「惟願世尊說如實義；惟願善逝說如實義。我等今者，惟悕如來所證之法不悕餘法，我等大眾咸無疑惑。」
At that time, the assembly of Tenth-Stage Bodhisattvas, along with gods, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans, non-humans, and everyone else in the gathering, all rose from their seats. Pressing their palms together, they said to the Buddha with one voice: "We beseech the World-Honored One to teach the truth as it is; we beseech the Well-Gone One to teach the truth as it is. Right now, we seek only the Dharma that the Tathagata has realized—nothing else. May our great assembly be free from all doubt."
爾時世尊再三觀覽一切大會，作如是言：「我為悲愍一切世間，利益安樂多眾生故，以法財利安諸天人，是以今說大師子吼。善男子！汝等當知，娑婆世界釋迦牟尼如來、應、正等覺，現在說法，以立持安度眾生者，彼即是我法起如來。我於娑婆世界作種種形饒益眾生，隨其所宜如應度脫。」
At that time, the World-Honored One surveyed the entire great assembly three times and spoke these words: "Out of compassion for all beings in the world, and for the benefit and happiness of many, I offer the wealth of the Dharma to bring peace to gods and humans. That is why I now proclaim this great lion's roar. Good people, you should know that Shakyamuni, the Thus-Come One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, who is now teaching the Dharma in the Saha world, establishing peace and liberating beings—that is me, Dharma-Arising Thus-Come One. In the Saha world, I take on various forms to benefit beings, guiding each to liberation as is appropriate for them."
是時大會聞說此語，咸生奇特，歡喜踊躍得未曾有，同聲唱言：「善哉善哉！世尊欲令一切眾生吼師子吼，故為大會說師子吼真實之法。若得聞者，當知是人善根不少，況復受持、讀誦、廣宣、流布，種種花鬘、種種衣物，幢幡、幰蓋，燒、塗、末香恭敬供養？斯人則為一切諸佛之所眷護。」
At that time, the great assembly heard these words and was filled with wonder. They rejoiced and leaped with joy, experiencing something they had never felt before. Together they exclaimed: "Excellent! Excellent! The World-Honored One, wishing all beings to roar the lion's roar, has for this great assembly spoken the true Dharma of the lion's roar. Those who hear this should know that such a person is not lacking in good roots. How much more so those who accept, uphold, recite, widely proclaim, and spread it, and who with various flower garlands, various garments, banners, canopies, and perfumes—burning, anointing, and powdered—respectfully make offerings? Such a person is lovingly protected by all buddhas."
爾時佛讚諸菩薩言：「善哉善哉！善男子！如汝所言，是善男子、善女人等功德不少。此佛真實師子吼法，若聞淨心乃至一稱善哉者，我皆攝護，亦為彌勒之所顧召。斯人兩肩擔我菩提，於五濁中信受此經，生生之處我當成熟，亦為彌勒之所攝護。此人當能乾竭生死海，降伏眾魔銷諸煩惱，擊大法鼓，永離女身，摧諸怨障息眾結聚。若有善男子、善女人經十阿僧祇三千大千世界微塵等劫，以一切樂具供養供給一切如來；若聞此經真實神通懷疑不信，斯人則於佛所有過，不名真實供養諸佛。若有善男子，聞說如來此真實德淨信稱歎，比前功德過百千倍，斯人則為真實供養。善男子！汝等若於我所心淨信者，當好書寫受持此經，此經所在之處諸佛遊止。」
At that time, the Buddha praised the bodhisattvas, saying: "Excellent, excellent! Good people, as you have said, these virtuous men and women have truly great merit. This teaching, the true Lion’s Roar of the Buddha, if anyone hears it with a pure heart and even says a single word of praise, I will guide and protect them. They will also be called upon by Maitreya. Such a person carries my enlightenment on both shoulders and, in this impure age, faithfully accepts this sutra. In life after life, I will help them ripen, and they will be guided and protected by Maitreya as well. Such a person will be able to dry up the ocean of birth and death, conquer all demons, and dissolve all afflictions. They will beat the great Dharma drum, forever leave behind the female body, defeat all hostile obstacles, and put an end to all forms of bondage.
If a virtuous man or woman, over a period as long as ten asamkhyeyas of eons—as many as the dust particles in three thousand great thousand worlds—were to use every kind of pleasing offering to serve all the Tathagatas, yet hear this sutra’s true miraculous powers and, doubting, refuse to believe—such a person would be at fault toward the Buddha and cannot be called a true offerer. But if a virtuous man, hearing the Tathagata’s true virtues as described here, develops pure faith, praises them, and proclaims them—his merit surpasses the previous one by a hundred thousand times. Such a person is a true offerer.
Good people! If you maintain pure faith in me, you should diligently copy, uphold, and recite this sutra. Wherever this sutra resides, the Buddhas remain present."
爾時，勝積菩薩、電鬘菩薩、常光菩薩、淨眼菩薩、彌勒菩薩、作無畏菩薩、觀自在菩薩、大勢至菩薩、文殊師利菩薩、辯積菩薩、辯勇菩薩、除一切障菩薩、作光菩薩、普賢菩薩，如是上首八十四俱胝那由他百千菩薩摩訶薩，俱白佛言：「世尊！我等於後末時，當廣流布如是經典，令諸眾生悟大涅槃。世尊！若不久植善根，如是之經不入其耳；若有受持此經廣流布者，歎其功德，於百千俱胝那由他劫不可窮盡。」
爾時世尊告諸菩薩言：「善哉善哉！汝等應當如是尊重佛教，受持正法。」
佛說此經已，勝積菩薩并諸天、人、阿修羅、乾闥婆等，普大會眾，歡喜奉行。
大方廣師子吼經
Great Lion's Roar Sutra