前期提示: 爾時世尊欲重宣此義，而說偈言。
「椎鐘告四方」：這個椎，也可以說是一個椎，也可以說是個槌，就是敲鐘的那個東西。我的椎呢？給我弄到那兒去了？這一定要椎不離鐘，鐘不離椎，才可以的。你現在把椎子離開鐘了，鐘也不響了，椎子也沒有用了；那個椎子跑到什麼地方去了？椎鐘，就是用椎子來打這個鐘。前面說是鼓，鐘鼓齊鳴，鐘鼓都用了。椎鐘告四方，用那個椎鐘來宣告於四方。「誰有大法者」：誰能懂得大乘佛法的，「若為我解說」：假設他能為我來解說大乘佛法，「身當為奴僕」：我雖然是個國王之身，但是我現在可以給他做奴僕，我願意給他做奴僕。為什麼呢？我因為求法的緣故，所以你叫我怎麼樣都可以。雖然我是國王，你叫我做奴僕，我都願意的；因為，為求無上法的緣故。
「時有阿私仙」：這阿私仙，前面我已經告訴你們了，就是長壽仙。一個解法叫「長壽仙」，就是長壽；一個就是翻譯「無比」，他壽命無比，沒有比他再長的了。他的佛法也無比，誰也沒有比他講得再好的了。所以阿私仙就是壽無比，法無比；壽也無量，法也無量。
他這一講，說為求大乘法來給人做奴僕，他都願意。所以這時候，阿私仙大約有他心通、天耳通、天眼通、宿命通，他一看：「啊！這國王現在要求大乘佛法，我去試一試他，看他是真的？是假的？我去給他說一說佛法去。」於是乎，他就來了。「來白於大王」：對大王就說了，「我有微妙法」：說我有最高無上的甚深微妙法，沒有再比這個法更高尚的了，又沒有比這個法再深的了。又微乎其微––微乎其微，就是細微中更細微，妙乎其妙，這種法是妙中之妙啊！妙中之妙，微中之微。
「世間所稀有」：這種法呀！世間上沒有多少的，很少很少的，很稀有的。「若能修行者」：假使你能依法修行，不違背我的教化的，「吾當為汝說」：我現在應該給你說一說。
時王聞仙言。心生大喜悅。即便隨仙人。
供給於所須。采薪及果寙。隨時恭敬與。
情存妙法故。身心無懈倦。普為諸眾生。
勤求於大法。
「時王聞仙言」：這個時候，王聽見這阿私仙所說的，說誰要是不違背他，他就給誰說法。「心生大喜悅」：他心裏生出非常歡喜的心，「即便隨仙人」：即刻就隨著仙人去了。「供給於所須」：供給仙人所需要的東西，好像「采薪」：上山去給斬柴，「及果寙」：和這個果寙––在樹上生的，這叫果；在蔓子上生的––蔓子就是爬很長很長的––這叫蔓子，在這上面結的，好像 cucuber，這就是瓜了。squash,watermelon，都是這一類的東西，這叫果寙。「隨時恭敬與」：隨時，他什麼時候需要，他就來供給他。好像吃飯，吃完飯，要吃點水果，他就頂到頭上去供養仙人，這國王就這麼恭恭敬敬地供養。
「情存妙法故」：為什麼呢？他因為想要求這無上的妙法，無上佛道的緣故。所以要這麼樣地身心恭敬，「身心無懈倦」：身心也都不懶惰。「普為諸眾生」：他不是為自己求法，他是要求他明白法了，好教化眾生，是普為諸眾生，「勤求於大法」：所以他精進來求這無上的大法。
待續 |
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Sutra text from last issue: At the time the World Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke verses.
Ringing the bell, I announced in the four directions. Ringing is the translation for a Chinese character (which has two possible pronunciations) that, in the noun form, means the baton used to stike a bell or drum. By the way, where's the baton that goes with this bell? The baton should always remain with the bell. Without the baton, the bell cannot be rung. Earlier there was mention of the bell and drum being struck simultaneously. Now the bell is used to announce to those in the four directions: Whoever has the Great Dharma, referring to anyone who understands the Great Vehicle Buddhadharma, if that person will explain it to me, I will be his servant. Although I am a king, I am willing to be a servant. Why? Because I am seeking the Dharma. For that reason, I will do whatever you ask. Even though I am a king, if you want me to serve you, I will do that, because I am seeking the unsurpassed Dharma.
Sutra:
Then the seer Asita
Came and spoke to me,
The king, saying,
'I have the subtle, wonderful Dharma,
Rare in all the world.
If you can cultivate it,
I will speak it for your sake!’
Commentary:
Then the seer Asita / Came and spoke to me, / The king, saying, / 'I have the subtle, wonderful Dharma.' "Asita" means "incomparable," which describes the length of his lifespan. His Dharma was also incomparable. No one could speak the Dharma better than he could. The seer Asita, probably with the penetration of the heavenly eye, or ear, of other's thoughts, or past lives or whatever, knew that the king was ready to become a servant in order to hear the Dharma, so he decided to test him out to see if he really meant it.
The highest, supreme, subtle and wonderful Dharma: there is no dharma higher or more profound. It is the subtle within the subtle, the wonderful within the wonderful. "Rare in all the world. / If you can cultivate it, if you can cultivate according to it, and not disobey me, I will speak it for your sake. I will tell you about it.
Hearing the seer' words, my heart filled with great joy.
I then followed the seer, supplying all his needs,
gathering firewood, fruit, and melons,
respectfully presenting them at the proper time,
because I cherished the wonderful Dharma,
I was neither lax nor tired in body or mind.
I diligently sought the Great Dharma
for the sake of all living beings.
Hearing the seer's words. When the king heard Asita say that he would give the Dharma to whoever would not oppose him. My heart filled with great joy. An overwhelming sense of happiness arose within him. I then followed the seer, immediately going with him and supplying all his needs. He offered the seer whatever he needed, gathering firewood, fruit, and melons. He found firewood in the mountains, fruit on the trees, and different kinds of melons like cucumbers, squash, watermelon, respectfully presenting them at the proper time. Whenever he needed something, it was given: good food, and then a little fruit. He would carry it atop his head to serve the seer. That's how reverent the king was in presenting his gifts.
Because I cherished the wonderful Dharma. That was why he did it; he was seeking the Unsurpassed Wonderful Dharma-affinities with the Unsurpassed Way of the Buddhas. For that reason he was physically and mentally reverent. I was neither lax nor tired in body or mind. Nor was he ever lazy. I diligently sought the Great Dharma. Thus, he vigorously sought the unsurpassed magnificent Dharma.
To be continued |
