佛說懈怠耕者經
The Sutra on the Lazy Farmer Spoken by the Buddha
宋沙門惠簡譯
Translated by Monk Huijian of the Song Dynasty
聞如是：
I have heard it thus:
一時佛在羅閱祇竹園中，與大比丘眾千二百五十人及眾菩薩俱。
At that time, the Buddha was in the Bamboo Grove of Rajagriha, accompanied by a great assembly of twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus and many bodhisattvas.
時佛從羅閱祇欲詣舍衛，諸菩薩導前，釋梵被服——又見身體如四天王——諸比丘僧悉從佛後，諸天、龍、神在上供養。
At that time, the Buddha was traveling from Rājagṛha to Śrāvastī. The Bodhisattvas led the way, and Indra and Brahma, adorned in their attire—their forms appearing like those of the Four Heavenly Kings—accompanied him. The entire community of monks followed behind the Buddha, while gods, dragons, and spirits hovered above, making offerings.
去城不遠，時有一人在田耕種，遙見如來弟子侍從，端正殊妙，威神巍巍，容貌殊好如星中月，奇相眾好，金光從容，三十二相皆出眾好。遙見世尊心便歡喜，欲往詣佛稽首作禮，諮受法義。「佛世難值，時時一現。」退自念言，「耕地未竟、下種未畢，須後閑時乃當見佛。」
Not far from the city, there was a man working in the fields. From a distance, he saw the disciples of the Tathagata, dignified and magnificent, majestic and awe-inspiring, their appearance as splendid as the moon among the stars. They were adorned with extraordinary features, radiating a serene golden light, with all thirty-two marks of greatness shining forth. From afar, he beheld the World-Honored One and felt great joy in his heart, desiring to approach the Buddha, bow in reverence, and seek the teachings. "The Buddha is rarely encountered in this world, appearing only from time to time," he thought. But then he reconsidered, "My plowing is not yet finished, and my sowing is incomplete. I should wait until I have free time before going to see the Buddha."
時佛知心發此懈怠，世尊便笑，放五色光，光從口出照十方境界，安隱五道，皆乘光來集會佛所——地獄休息，餓鬼飽滿，畜生思善，人民求度，諸天龍神神聽道法。
At that moment, the Buddha, knowing their hearts had grown lax, smiled. A five-colored light shone forth from his mouth, illuminating all realms in the ten directions. It brought peace to the five paths of existence, and all beings were drawn along that light to gather where the Buddha was—hell-beings found rest, hungry ghosts were filled, animals turned toward goodness, humans sought liberation, and all the heavenly beings, dragons, and spirits listened intently to the Dharma.
賢者阿難解了七應——義、法、時、節、身與他人——即詣佛所，長跪叉手，白佛言：「何因笑？既笑，會當有意。」
The wise Ananda, having understood the seven considerations—meaning, Dharma, timing, occasion, oneself, and others—approached the Buddha. Kneeling with hands joined, he addressed the Buddha: “Why did you smile? Since you smiled, there must be a reason.”
佛告阿難：「汝見犁者不？」
The Buddha asked Ananda, "Do you see that man plowing the field?"
對曰：「已見。」
"I have seen it."
佛言：「是人從維衛佛已來九十一劫於是耕種，每一見佛常自懈怠選軟，復後怱怱耕種生死罪法，不識法犁種無極田。已過六佛不得蒙度，於今見我，適發好心即便變悔，欲故懈怠，樂種罪根。」
The Buddha said: "This person has been tilling the field of existence for ninety-one kalpas since the time of Vipashyin Buddha. Each time he encountered a Buddha, he would grow lax and choose the easy path, then hurriedly return to sowing the seeds of suffering through his actions. He did not know how to use the plow of Dharma to cultivate the boundless field of liberation. Having missed the opportunity with six Buddhas, he now meets me. Just as he begins to awaken a sincere intention, he immediately wavers, wishing to fall back into old habits of laziness and delighting in planting the roots of suffering."
時人遙聞，棄耕及田，來詣佛所稽首佛足，悔過自責：「愚癡無知，罪過甚重，願見愍傷，原其罪過。蒙冥觝突，懈怠來久，唯見原恕，濟脫生死。」
People from afar heard this, and they left their plows and fields to come before the Buddha. They bowed at the Buddha’s feet, repented of their wrongs, and blamed themselves, saying: “We were foolish and ignorant, and our offenses were grave. We beg for your compassion and forgiveness, that our transgressions may be pardoned. For so long we have been lost in darkness, careless and lazy. Please forgive us and help us escape the cycle of birth and death.”
佛言：「善哉！卿能覺者，於法有益，終不為損。」佛為說經，示懈怠之垢、精進之利，踴躍歡喜，立不退轉。諸天、龍、神無央數千，皆發無上正真道意。
The Buddha said, "Excellent! You who have awakened, this will benefit you in the Dharma and will never bring harm." The Buddha then taught the sutra, revealing the stain of laziness and the benefits of diligent effort. Filled with joy and inspiration, they stood firm and unwavering. Countless thousands of gods, dragons, and spirits all resolved to attain the supreme, true, and perfect enlightenment.
「以故，學道常當精進，莫為懈怠，宛轉生死，動有劫數。」
Therefore, in practicing the Way, one must always be diligent and determined, never lazy or negligent. Otherwise, one will drift through the cycles of life and death, trapped for countless kalpas.
佛說如是，賢者阿難，諸天、龍、神、阿須倫王，聞經歡喜，作禮而退。
Thus spoke the Buddha. The Venerable Ananda, along with the gods, dragons, spirits, and kings of the asuras, heard these teachings with joy, paid their respects, and withdrew.
佛說懈怠耕者經
The Sutra on the Lazy Farmer Spoken by the Buddha