於時下方多寶世尊。所從菩薩。名曰智積。白多寶佛。當還本土。釋迦牟尼佛告智積曰。善男子。且待須臾。此有菩薩名文殊師利。可與相見。論說妙法。可還本土。
「於時」：就是在這個時候。「下方多寶世尊」：這個多寶佛，多寶如來。「所從菩薩」：就是跟著他來的這個侍者。這菩薩「名曰智積」，這一位菩薩他的名字叫智積。這位智積菩薩，在中國蘇州靈巖山常常顯聖，就是來度眾生，令人看見他。如果造廟，在蘇州靈巖山那兒地裡頭挖、挖、挖，就挖出一尊智積菩薩的相，這也是很奇怪的。「白多寶佛」：他對多寶佛就說啦。「當還本土」：他說我現在可不可以回去？
他這一想回去，那麼釋迦牟尼佛就挽留他了，說智積菩薩，「善男子」：告智積菩薩說，你這個好孩子。「且待須臾」：說你等一等。「此有菩薩」：這個法會有一位菩薩。「名文殊師利」：他的名字叫文殊師利菩薩，也叫妙吉菩薩。「可與相見」：你和他應該見一見，好做一個菩薩的朋友。「論說妙法」：你們談論談論。這個文殊師利菩薩他很有智慧的，你可以和他談論談論妙法蓮華經的道理。「可還本土」：然後你再回去也不遲，你多交一個朋友，大概是你也歡喜吧！
爾時文殊師利。坐千葉蓮華。大如車輪。俱來菩薩。亦坐寶蓮華。從於大海娑竭羅龍宮，自然湧出。住虛空中。詣靈鷲山。從蓮華下。至於佛所。頭面敬禮二世尊足。修敬已畢。往智積所。共相慰問。卻坐一面。智積菩薩問文殊師利。仁往龍宮所化眾生，其數幾何。文殊師利言。其數無量。不可稱計。非口可宣。非心所測。且待須臾。自當證知。
爾時文殊師利菩薩坐在千葉寶蓮華上。「大如車輪」：那個蓮華有車輪那麼大。「俱來菩薩」：從他一起來的菩薩。「亦坐寶蓮華」：也坐到千葉寶蓮華上。「從於大海娑竭羅龍宮」：娑竭羅，有人知道是什麼意思嗎？娑竭羅也是梵語，翻譯過來就叫鹹海。龍宮就是在這個鹹海裡面。「自然湧出」：自自然然就湧出來了。「住虛空中」：住在虛空裡頭。「詣靈鷲山，從蓮華下」：到靈山釋迦牟尼佛說法的地方。「頭面敬禮」：就五體投地。「敬禮二世尊足」：拜這二位如來。「修敬已畢」：修就是來做恭敬這種禮貌，完了之後。「往詣智積所」：就到智積菩薩所坐的那個地方去啦。「共相慰問」：就這樣你好啊？How are you?智積菩薩說 very good，這就叫慰問。
「卻坐一面」：就是大家都坐下了。「智積菩薩問文殊師利菩薩」：智積菩薩就給文殊師利菩薩說話啦。仁，就是仁者；仁者也就是菩薩的別名。「仁往龍宮」：說仁者你到龍宮裡去。「所化眾生」：所化的眾生。「其數幾何」：有多少啊？你到龍宮化了多少條龍啊？有多少個大龍？有多少個小龍啊？很好玩的嗎？比度鴿子還有意思吧！「文殊師利言」：文殊師利說了。「其數無量」：說我度的龍，數不過來那麼多。不單龍，就一切海裡的眾生無量。「不可稱計」：沒有法子可以算出來。「非口可宣」：不是口能說得出來的。「非心所測」：也不是用心可以測量得出來的。「且待須臾」：你等一等。「自當證知」：數一數看就知道有多少。證知，就是證明了。不用我說有多少。
待續 |
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Sutra:
At that time, a Bodhisattva-Attendant of Many Jewels, World Honored One, from the lower regions by the name of Wisdom-Accumulation, spoke to the Buddha Many Jewels, saying, “Let’s return to our own land.”
Shakyamuni Buddha told Wisdom-Accumulation, “Good man, wait a moment longer. There is a Bodhisattva named Manjushri. You should meet him and discuss the wonderful Dharma. Then you may return to your country.”
Commentary:
At that time, a Bodhisattva-Attendant of Many Jewels, World Honored One, from the lower regions by the name of Wisdom-Accumulation, the Bodhisattva was a servant of Many Jewels Buddha, who had come along with him. The Bodhisattva Wisdom-Accumulation would often manifest himself in the Province of Suzhou, at Lingyan Mountain in China. He would go there to save living beings and appear so people could see him. When they were building the Monastery at Lingyan they dug up a statue of Wisdom-Accumulation Bodhisattva, too. It was very strange. He spoke to the Buddha Many Jewels, saying, “Let’s go back to our own land!” He said, “Can I go back now?”
Shakyamuni Buddha told Wisdom-Accumulation, “Good man, wait a moment longer. There is a Bodhisattva in this Dharma Assembly named Manjushri, “Wonderfully Lucky” Bodhisattva. You should meet him and discuss the wonderful Dharma. You can be the Bodhisattva’s friend! Manjushri Bodhisattva is very wise. You can discuss the doctrines of The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra with him and then you may return to your country. You won’t be late, and you will have made a new friend! Won’t that be nice?”
Sutra:
Then Manjushri, sitting on a thousand-petalled lotus as large as a carriage wheel, along with the Bodhisattvas who accompanied him, also sitting on jeweled lotuses, spontaneously rose up out of the great sea from the Sagara Dragon Palace. They rose high into the air and went to Magic Vulture Mountain. Descending from his lotus, he went before the Buddhas and bowed in worship at the feet of the two World Honored Ones. Having paid his respects, he went up to Wisdom-Accumulation and when they had inquired after each other’s welfare, they moved to one side and sat down.Wisdom-Accumulation Bodhisattva asked Manjushri, “Humane One, how many living beings have you taught there in the Dragon Palace?”
Manjushri Bodhisattva replied, “An unlimited, unreckonable number, one that cannot be expressed in words or fathomed by the mind. Wait just a moment and you will have proof for yourself.”
Commentary:
Then Manjushri, sitting on a thousand-petalled lotus as large as a carriage wheel, along with the Bodhisattvas who accompanied him, also sitting on thousand-petalled jeweled lotuses, spontaneously rose up out of the great sea from the Sagara Dragon Palace. Does anyone know what “Sagara” means? It’s a Sanskrit word which means “salty sea.” That’s where the Dragon Palace is. They just rose up out of the sea. They rose high into the air and went to Magic Vulture Mountain, to where Shakyamuni Buddha was speaking the Dharma. Descending from his lotus, he went before the Buddhas and bowed in worship, with his five limbs on the ground, at the feet of the two World Honored Ones. Having paid his respects, he went up to Wisdom-Accumulation and when they had inquired after each other’s welfare, they moved to one side and sat down.
Manjushri Bodhisattva said, “How are you?”
“Very good!” said Wisdom-Accumulation.
Wisdom-Accumulation Bodhisattva asked Manjushri, “Humane One, how many living beings have you taught there in the Dragon Palace?” “Humane One” is another name for a Bodhi-sattva. He said, “You have been staying in the Dragon Palace? How many dragons have you saved? How many big ones? How many little ones? Are you enjoying yourself? Is it more meaningful than crossing over pigeons?”
Manjushri Bodhisattva replied, “An unlimited, unreckonable number, you could never count how many dragons and other marine creatures have been saved. Their number is one that cannot be expressed in words or fathomed by the mind. Wait just a moment and you will have proof for yourself. You’ll see for yourself! Count for yourself! You’ll have proof. I won’t have to tell you.”
To be continued
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