前期提示：…佛一看，耶輸陀羅比丘尼打妄想了……。
佛告耶輸陀羅，汝於來世，百千萬億諸佛法中，修菩薩行，為大法師，漸具佛道，於善國中，當得作佛，號具足千萬光相如來、應供、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士、調御丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊，佛壽無量阿僧祇劫。
「佛告耶輸陀羅」：佛就告訴耶輸陀羅。「汝於來世」：說我沒有提妳的名字給妳授記，妳不要著急，等一等我來告訴妳。「汝於來世」：妳在將來的世界中。「百千萬億諸佛法中」：在百千萬億那麼多的諸佛法裡邊。「修菩薩行」：妳修這六度萬行，自利利他，自覺覺他。「為大法師」：妳在那時候也作一個大法師。「漸具佛道」：一點一點地就成就佛道了。「於善國中」：於一個最好的國土裡邊。「當得作佛」：妳應該成佛了；妳的佛名字呢？「號具足千萬光相如來」：妳很圓滿，具足有千萬那麼多的光相如來，叫這個名字。「應供、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士、調御丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊，佛壽無量阿僧祇劫」：那個佛的壽命是無量阿僧祇劫。阿僧祇劫也是梵語，就是一個無量數；就是無量數、無量數那麼多的時間。
爾時摩訶波闍波提比丘尼，及耶輸陀羅比丘尼，並其眷屬，皆大歡喜，得未曾有，即於佛前而說偈言，世尊導師，安隱天人，我等聞記，心安具足。
「爾時摩訶波闍波提比丘尼」：這個大愛道比丘尼。「及耶輸陀羅比丘尼」：和華色比丘尼。「並其眷屬」：和她所有帶來的眷屬。「皆大歡喜」：都非常歡喜。「得未曾有」：都得到從來沒有得到的這種歡喜。「即於佛前而說偈言」：即時在釋迦牟尼佛前邊。「而說偈言」：就說出這一首偈頌了。說「世尊導師」：世尊——世、出世之尊，你是人天的大導師。「安隱天人」：你令天人也得到安樂；人間的人也得到安樂。「我等聞記」：我們這麼多比丘尼聽見你給我們授這個記別號。「心安具足」：心裏都非常的舒服，非常的自在；心安而自在，具足圓滿這種的快樂了。
在佛教裏，所有一切都是因果；就是佛的兒子羅侯羅尊者也逃不出因果的報應。你想，他把老鼠洞堵上了六天，然後他就在母親肚裏頭住了六年，受這種果報，所以得一個名字就叫覆障。我們現在放生，你們想一想這個眾生在那寵子裹邊，有翅膀也不能飛，得不到自由。現在我們把牠放開，照這一般人看這是一個很愚癡的行為；不單一般人來看，就是我們本堂裏邊這個果修比丘尼，我們這兒在衛塞（浴佛節）那時候就想放生，她說這個是一個愚癡的行為。她說不是她自己認為是愚癡的行為，她說恐怕其他的人也是這樣想，但是她也有這種的念頭。
這一次我放生放得這麼多，果然就有人反對了，說我們把鴿子放開來被鷹給吃了，這我們是沒有慈悲心。那麼請問若是不放，這是不是有慈悲心呢？你根本就不去放，這有沒有慈悲心呢？所以世間的事情多一事就不如少一事。所謂「好事不如無事」；好事是好事，但是若沒有事更好。放生本來是一件慈悲的事情，公然就有魔王說你不慈悲了，你放開給鷹吃了：這是不慈悲。
這裏可以這樣講，可以說是我們放生，他就殺生。怎麼他殺生呢？你怎麼知道這個鷹不是他放生出來的呢？他看你放鴿子，他就放個鷹來吃你的鴿子，然後他就說：「你這放鴿子被鷹吃了就是不慈悲。」就是不慈悲也比不放好啊！
我又有一個見解，我說因為這個人他看見這個鴿子被鷹吃了，他自己吃不著，所以饞得就來搗亂來了，說：「你要拿來送給我這麼多鴿子，我夠吃半年都可以了。你為什麼要把牠放開給鷹吃呢？」所以這眼睛就紅了，於是乎就跑到電臺上去對大家來說一說這個道理。其實不說還沒有那麼多人相信，他這一說，更多人同情我們放生的這個問題。這就是他反面來幫助我們宣傳，所以不要對他不滿意。你們以後有辯才無礙的可以和他在電臺上來辯論，你可以說：「那個鷹就是你放的嘛。」所以善是善，惡是惡；善惡到時候自然都有果報的。這世界的人，本來你若不說，沒有人知道；你一說，他就要研究這個問題了；一研究，知道他那是不對的。
諸比丘尼說是偈已，白佛言：世尊，我等亦能於他方國土廣宣此經。爾時世尊視八十萬億那由他諸菩薩摩訶薩。
「諸比丘尼說是偈已」：說完了前邊這一首偈頌之後。「白佛言」：就說了。「世尊，我等亦能於他方國土」：說我們這麼多的比丘尼，也可以在其他的國土。「廣宣此經」：廣多地來宣揚這部《妙法蓮華經》。「爾時世尊視八十萬億那由他諸菩薩摩訶薩」：當爾之時，釋迦牟尼佛、世尊，就看一看八十萬億這麼多那由他諸菩薩摩訶薩，這麼多的大菩薩。
是諸菩薩，皆是阿惟越致，轉不退法輪，得諸陀羅尼。
「是諸菩薩」：這八十萬億這麼多的菩薩。「皆是阿惟越致」：阿惟越致也就是阿鞞跋致，翻譯過來的意思就是不退轉。「轉不退法輪」：這一些個大菩薩都是位不退，念不退，修行也不退了；他們都轉這不退轉的法輪。
「得諸陀羅尼」：八十萬億這麼多的大菩薩都得到這總持的法門，都可以總一切法，持無量義。
待續
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From last issue: The Buddha knew at once that Bhikshuni Yashodara had something on her mind.
Sutra:
The Buddha told Yashodhara, "In a future age, within the Dharma of hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of Buddhas, you shall cultivate the Bodhisattva conduct as a Great Dharma Master, gradually perfecting the Buddha Path. In the world 'Wholesome' you shall become a Buddha by the name of the Thus Come One Complete with Tens of Thousands of Radiant Marks, One Worthy of Offerings, of Right and Universal Knowledge, Perfect in Clarity and Conduct, Well-Gone One who Understands the World, Supreme Lord, Regulating Hero, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World Honored One. As a Buddha your life span will be limitless
asamkhyeyas of eons."
Commentary:
The Buddha told Yashodhara, "Although I have not yet mentioned your name or given you a prediction, don't worry. I will tell you now.
In a future age, within the Dharma of hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of Buddhas, you shall cultivate the Bodhisattva conduct. You shall cultivate the six perfections and the myriad practices, benefiting yourself and others, enlightening yourself and others. You shall act
as a Great Dharma Master, gradually, bit by bit,
perfecting the Buddha Path. In the world 'Wholesome,' in a very fine land,
you shall become a Buddha by the name of the Thus Come One Complete with Tens of Thousands of Radiant Marks. You will be very perfect, endowed with tens of thousands of radiant characteristics.
"One Worthy of Offerings, of Right and Universal Knowledge, Perfect in Clarity and Conduct, Well-Gone One who Understands the World, Supreme Lord, Regulating Hero, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World Honored One. As a Buddha your life span will be limitless
asamkhyeyas of eons." The Sanskrit word
asamkhyeya means "countless," so this Buddha's life span will be countless eons.
Sutra:
At that time, the shuni Mahaprajapati and the Bhikshuni Yashodhara, together with their retinues, all rejoiced greatly having gained what they never had. They spoke these verses in the presence of the Buddha:
The World Honored One, Our Leader,
Brings tranquility to gods and humans:
Hearing this prediction,
Our hearts know perfect peace.
Commentary:
At that time, the Bhikshuni
Mahaprajapati, whose name means "Great Love for the Way,"
and Bhikshuni Yashodhara, "Flower Color,"
together with their retinues which they had brought along,
all rejoiced greatly, having gained what they never had. They attained a kind of delight never experienced before.
They spoke these verses in the presence of the Buddha Shakyamuni:
The World Honored One, who is honored both in and beyond the world,
Our Leader, great leader of humans and gods,
brings tranquility to gods and humans. You cause gods and people to be peaceful and happy.
Hearing this prediction of Buddhahood which you have bestowed upon all these Bhikshunis,
our hearts know perfect peace. We are extremely comfortable and happy, perfectly at peace.
In Buddhism, everything is understood in terms of cause and effect. Even the Buddha's son, Rahula, couldn't escape the laws of cause and effect. He plugged up a mouse hole for six days and as retribution had to stay in his mother's womb for six years, and so he was called "covering obstacle." Now, we are liberating life. Think about it; here are these birds. They have wings, but they cannot fly. They are not free. We are going to let them go. Most people think that this is pretty stupid. Not only that, even someone in our own temple, Bhikshuni Guo Xiu, said that she thought it was stupid when we wanted to set them free on the Buddha's Birthday. She said it wasn't that she thought it was stupid, but that other people might think so. But she herself also had such a thought.
This time we set many creatures free, and some people did complain, saying that when we let the pigeons go, the vultures eat them. They said that liberating life isn't compassionate. But if we just keep them in their cages, is that being compassionate? In this world, it is better to do less than to do more. As it is said, "Good deeds are no better than no deed." Good things are good, certainly, but it is even better when nothing is the matter. Liberating life is basically a compassionate thing, but some demon kings pop up and publically say, "You are not compassionate. You let the vultures eat those birds."
There is another way to explain this. You could say that we are liberating life, but they are taking life. How do we know
they didn't send the vultures out? We set the pigeons free, and they release the vultures to come and prey on the pigeons, and then they accuse us of not being compassionate! Even if it is not compassionate, letting them go is still better than not letting them go.
I have another explanation: Maybe they wanted to eat the pigeons themselves and they were jealous that the vultures got to eat them. They thought, "If you had given me all those pigeons, they would have lasted me half a year. Why did you have to let them out for the vultures to eat?" In their passion, they went on the radio to air their views.
Actually, before they mentioned liberating creatures, few people believed it. When they went on the radio criticizing it, more people sympathized with us. In effect, they helped to advertise for us, giving us publicity, so we shouldn't be upset. Those of you with unobstructed eloquence can go on radio to debate them, saying, "You liberated the vultures!" Good is good and evil is evil; they both have their attendant retributions. If you don't talk about this, no one is aware of it. Once you mention it, people want to know the whole story. Once they get to the bottom of it, they know such criticisms are unjustified.
Sutra:
When they had finished speaking this verse, the Bhikshunis said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, we too shall extensively proclaim this Sutra in other lands." At that time, the World Honored One looked upon the eighty billion
nayutas of Bodhisatrvas
Mahasattvas.
Commentary:
When they had finished speaking this verse, the Bhikshunis said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, we too shall extensively proclaim this Sutra in other lands.
We Bhikshunis can also expound upon this Sutra in other lands, propagating and explaining the
Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra." At that time, the World Honored One, Shakyamuni Buddha,
looked upon the eighty billion nayutas of Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas, the great Bodhisattvas.
Sutra:
All of these Bodhisattvas were Avaivartikas who turned the irreversible Dharma Wheel and who had attained all of the dharanis.
Commentary:
All of these Bodhisattva were Avaivartikas. "Avaivartika" is Sanskrit and means "not retreating." They did not retreat in thought, conduct, or position. They were
those who turned the irreversible Dharma Wheel and who had attained all the
dharanis, the Dharma doors of uniting all dharmas
and holding limitless meanings.
To be continued |
