前期提示：般若十種.- -完
時世人民。壽命無量。為於法故。捐捨國位。委政太子。擊鼓宣令。四方求法。誰能為我。說大乘者。吾當終身。供給走使。
在他為國王的時候，能捨棄生命來修六度萬行。「時世人民」：當時這個世間上的人民「壽命無量」：都很長壽的。「為於法故」：因為他為求無上道的緣故，「捐捨國位」：這一位國王就把國位也都布施了，把這皇帝的位子也都不要了。「委政太子」：把所有的權力都交給太子了。於是乎，他就「擊鼓宣令」：就打起大鼓，很遠的人都聽見，「四方求法」：這國王就宣佈了，說：「我現在想在四方求法，誰能為我說大乘者」：哪一個人能給我，講說這個大乘佛法的，哪一位有道德的人，「吾當終身供給走使」：我就這一輩子來侍奉他。供給，那麼他需要什麼，我都供給他；走使，他叫我做什麼，我就做什麼，所有的工作我都來做，走使就是給他做工人的樣子。
時有仙人。來白王言。我有大乘。名妙法華經。若不違我。當為宣說。王聞仙言。歡喜踴躍。即隨仙人。供給所須。采果汲水。拾薪設食。乃至以身。而為床座。身心無倦。于時奉事。經於千歲。為於法故。精勤給侍。令無所乏。
在這位國王宣佈他要求法，而甘心做給他說法這人的工人的時候，「時有仙人」：在這時候，就有一個仙人。什麼叫仙人呢？就是長生不老的，長活著不會死，這叫仙人。「來白王言」：來到這兒，就對這國王說了，說「我有大乘，名妙法華經」：說我有大乘的經典，經的名字，叫《大乘妙法蓮華經》，「若不違我」：假設你不違背我，我就給你講。什麼叫違背呢？也就是不聽教，不聽話。我教你精進，你就要懈怠；教你持戒，你就要犯戒；教你布施，你就要慳貪；教你忍辱，你就要發脾氣；教你禪定，你就要散亂；教你修般若，你就願意在愚癡上頭，所以這就叫違背了。你若不違背我，就是我說什麼法，你都不反對。「當為宣說」：我應該給你來宣說。
「王聞仙言」：國王聽見長壽仙這麼樣一說，就「歡喜踴躍」。你們各位想一想，他是一個做國王的，為求法呀！他這麼樣卑躬折節，把國王的地位也都捨棄了，願意為法來做工人。你們想一想啊！我們不是國王，我們求法有沒有這種的誠心呢？為了求法，歡喜踴躍啊？所以這國王一聽，有個仙人明白《大乘妙法蓮華經》，要給他講，他就歡喜了得跳起來了。「即隨仙人」：即刻就跟著這個仙人，「供給所須」：就供養他，給他所需要的東西。好像「采果」：到山上去給採果子，「汲水」：又拿著水桶去給汲水去。「拾薪」：到山上去斬柴，回來「設食」：設食就是給作飯吃。「乃至以身而為床座」：乃至用身體給這個仙人來坐，來給他當床躺著。「身心無倦」：他這樣子來供養這個仙人，身也不疲倦，心也不疲倦，一點疲倦的心也沒有。「于時奉事」：像這樣子奉事這一位仙人，「經於千歲」：經過有一千歲這麼長的時間。「為於法故」：因為虔誠求法的緣故，「精勤給侍」：精勤，一點都不懶惰，來供給這個仙人，「令無所乏」：令這個仙人所需要的東西，都不會缺乏，不會少的。
待續 |
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From last issue: The Ten Advantages of the Perfection of Prajna.- - End
Sutra:
"The people of that time had a limitless lifespan. For the sake of the Dharma, I renounced the royal position, leaving the government to the crown prince. I beat upon the Dharma drum, announcing my search for Dharma in the four directions, saying, 'Whoever can speak the Great Vehicle for me, for him I will act as a servant for the rest of my life!'
Commentary:
The people of that time had a limitless lifespan. When he was a king, the Buddha could give up his very life to cultivate the Six Perfections and the myriad conducts. For the sake of the Dharma, I renounced the royal position, leaving the government to the crown prince. I gave away my kingship to my first son. I beat upon the Dharma drum, announcing my search for Dharma in the four directions, saying, "Whoever can speak the Great Vehicle for me, for him I will act as a servant for the rest of my life! I will serve and run errands for him, doing whatever he wants me to do."
Sutra:
At that time a seer came forth and spoke to the king, saying, 'I have a Great Vehicle scripture by the name of The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra. If you do not disobey me, I will expound it for you. When I, the king, heard the seer's words, I jumped for joy. I then followed the seer, supplying all of his needs: picking fruit, drawing water, gathering firewood, and preparing food, even offering my own body as a couch for him, feeling no weariness in body or mind. I served him for a thousand years, for the sake of the Dharma, diligently waiting upon him so he lacked nothing.
Commentary:
At that time a seer came forth and spoke to the king, saying... A seer is an immortal, a hermit who can live forever. "I have a Great Vehicle scripture by the name of The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra. If you do not disobey me, I will expound it for you." "Disobey" means not doing what you're told to do, or doing what you are told not to do! You would be disobeying, for example, if you are told to be vigorous and instead you are lazy, or told to be moral, but you break the precepts, or told to give, but instead you are stingy, or told to be patient, but instead you get angry, or you are told to cultivate Dhyana samadhi, but instead you are scattered, or you are taught to cultivate Prajna, but instead you go on being stupid. Not disobeying means that you don't object to any Dharma I teach you.
When I, the king, heard the seer's words, I jumped for joy. Think about it; he was a king. To seek the Dharma he gave up his royal position and wanted to be a servant. We aren't even kings and we don't have such sincere minds. I then followed the seer, supplying all of his needs: picking fruit. He would go into the mountains and pick fruit for him. He served him by drawing water, gathering firewood in the hills, and preparing food. I went so far as to even offering my own body as a couch for him, feeling no weariness in body or mind. I served him for a thousand years, for the sake of the Dharma, diligently waiting upon him so he lacked nothing. He was never lazy, and he made sure that the seer had everything he needed.
To be continued |
