前期提示：…是因為我現在講經，佛放光來照你，令你快－點把這們增上慢去了；令你快一點把這個愚癡去了……。
爾時眾中五百阿羅漢得授記者白佛言，世尊，我等亦自誓願，於異國土，廣說此經。複有學無學八千人得授記者，從座而起，合掌向佛，作是誓言。世尊，我等亦當於他國土廣說此經。所以者何，是娑婆國中，人多弊惡，懷增上慢。功德淺薄，瞋濁諂曲，心不實故。
「爾時」，當爾之時，有五百阿羅漢都得到過釋迦牟尼佛授記別號的，一起向佛說話了。「白佛言」，說「世尊，我等亦自誓願」。以尊，我們這五百阿羅漢，「亦自誓願」，就發這個的誓願。「於異國土」，不是在這個印度國，也不是在中國，也不是在同一個國家，我們到美國，到其他另一個國家去。異國就是不同一個種族的，譬如黃種的人到白種人的地方，或者白種人利黃種人的地方，或者黑人到白人的地方，白人到黑人的地方，總而言之是不同種族的。「異」就是兩樣，不是一個國家。幹什麼呢？「廣說此經」，就是到那兒一天到晚都講說這個妙法蓮華經，天天講妙法蓮華經。你聽也講，不聽也講，總而言之就是講妙法蓮華經。你懂也講，不懂也講，言語不同也一樣講。就是要有人翻譯一遍也一樣講，就是這個境界。你懂嗎？
「復有學無學八千人得受記者」：復有，又有有學的人，有無學的人。什麼叫有學呢？就是初果、二果、三果這叫有學的人；四果阿羅漢就是無學的人。現在連有學到無學有八千人那麼多，都得受過釋迦牟尼佛的記別號。「從座而起」：大家彼此也沒有打招呼說「起來」，就一起都站起來。「合掌向佛」：比那個訓練出來的還齊，都一齊合起掌來向佛。「作是誓言」：作這種的誓願。說「世尊，我等亦當於他國土」：我們這八千的學無學人，也應該到不同的國土去，就是其他的國家。「廣說此經」：也天天都講演這個妙法蓮華經，不停止地來講演，像流水那個樣子川流不息。「所以者何」：是什麼原因我們發這個願呢？「是娑婆國中」：這個堪忍的世界，這個堪忍的國家。「人多弊惡」：這個人——「弊」就是壞；「惡」就是罪惡——又壞又惡，壞就不是好的。說這些個人都不是好東西，不是好人，都是壞人，都是有罪惡的。
「懷增上慢」：這個懷，就是肚子裡邊懷抱著增上慢，很貢高的。「功德淺薄」：他的功德又淺又薄。淺，像那個水很淺的那個樣子；薄，像那個紙很薄的那個樣子。什麼最有本領呢？「瞋濁諂曲」：瞋，脾氣最大；濁，不乾淨，污濁最多；諂，就是諂媚。什麼叫諂媚呢？見到有錢人，說：「你這是個大人物，你是一個……。」總而言之，什麼好聽就說什麼。曲，就是說話彎曲不直。我看見很多的人都是這樣。「心不實」：心裡不實在，所以，我們要到那個地方去發願流通講說這個法華經，來教化這些個弊惡的眾生。
爾時佛姨母摩訶波闍波堤比丘尼，與學無學比丘尼六千人俱，從座而起，一心合掌，瞻仰尊顏，目不暫捨。
在前邊有這二萬菩薩，又有這五百羅漢和八千有學無學的比丘，都發願要弘揚這個妙法蓮華經。在這個時候「佛姨母」：佛的姨母，也就是佛的養母。「摩訶波闍波提比丘尼」：摩訶波闍波提比丘尼，在過去講過，有人記得是怎麼樣翻譯法呢？翻譯叫大愛道。波闍是愛；波提就是個道。大愛道，她最歡喜修行，是佛的姨母。比丘尼，這個比丘尼是先出家作比丘尼，是比丘尼的首領。「與學無學比丘尼六千人俱」：和證初果、二果、三果有學的比丘尼，和證四果阿羅漢的無學位的比丘尼。「六千人俱」：有六千人這麼多。「從座而起」：大家都從座位站起來。「一心合掌，瞻仰尊顏」：都專一其心，合起掌來，瞻仰世尊這個尊顏。「目不暫捨」：這個眼睛也入定了，不會動彈了。
待續
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From last issue: I am now lecturing the Sutra and the Buddha is putting forth light to shine upon you so that you can quickly get rid of your arrogance and stupidity...
Sutra:
Then the five hundred Arhats in the assembly who had received predictions spoke to the Buddha, saying, "World Honored One, we too, vow to speak this Sutra extensively in other lands."
Again, those still studying and those beyond study, eight thousand in number, who had received predictions, rose from their seats, placed their palms together, and facing the Buddha made this vow, "World Honored One, we too, will speak this Sutra extensively in other lands. Why? The people in the Saha World are for the most part evil, arrogant, of scanty merit and virtue, hateful, turbid, flattering, and deceitful, their hearts untrue."
Commentary:
Then the five hundred Arhats in the assembly who had received predictions from Shakyamuni Buddha spoke to the Buddha, saying, "World Honored One, we, too, vow to speak this Sutra extensively in other lands." It won't be here in India, or in China. We are going to other lands. Perhaps Asian people will go to a Western country. Perhaps Westerners will go to Asia. Perhaps Africans will go to Caucasian countries, and so on. They will lecture on the
Dharma Flower Sutra every day whether or not people come to listen. Even if it is lectured in another language and regardless of whether anyone understands it, it will still be lectured. Even if they have to use a translator, that's how it will be. Do you understand?
Again, those still studying and those beyond study, eight thousand in number, who had received predictions, rose from their seats. "Those still studying" are those at the level of first, second, and third stage Arhat-ship. "Those beyond study" are those who have reached fourth stage Arhatship. Altogether, there were eight thousand who had received predictions from Shakyamuni Buddha. They didn't give each other a signal or anything; they all just stood up together with more precision than a drill team. They
placed their palms together, and facing the Buddha made this vow, "World Honored One, we, too, will speak this Sutra extensively in other lands. We will lecture on the
Dharma Flower Sutra every day. We won't ever stop lecturing it. It will continue like flowing water.
Why? Why are we making this vow? The people in the Saha World, the world that is able to be endured,
are for the most part evil and not good. They are full of offenses,
arrogant, of scanty merit and virtue. Their main talents will be acting
hateful, nasty-tempered, turbid, impure, and
flattering. When they see people with money they will butter them up like crazy, saying, "Oh, you are such an important person..."
Deceitful means they are crooked and not forthright. I have met many people like this.
Their hearts will be untrue. So, we are going to make vows to lecture the
Dharma Flower Sutra and propagate it to teach and transform these evil living beings."
Sutra:
The Buddha's foster mother, the Bhikshuni Mahaprajapati, together with six thousand Bhikshunis, both those still studying and those beyond study, rose from their seats, singlemindedly joined their palms, and gazed at the Honored Ones' countenance without removing their eyes for an instant.
Commentary:
Above, the twenty-thousand Bodhisattvas, the five hundred Arhats, the eight thousand Bhikshus, both studying and those beyond study, all made vows to propagate the Dharma Flower Sutra. Just then,
the Buddha's foster mother, his stepmother,
the Bhikshuni Mahaprajapati rose from her seat. Her name is Sanskrit and means "Great Love for the Path." She liked to cultivate more than anything else. She was the first woman to leave home and was the leader of the Bhikshunis. She,
together with six thousand Bhikshunis, both those still studying and those beyond study, turned their minds to one,
rose from their seats, singlemindedly joined their palms, and gazed at the Honored One's countenance without removing their eyes for an instant.
To be continued |
