世尊。是諸菩薩。甚為難有。敬順佛故。發大誓願。於後惡世。獲持讀說是法華經。
說「世尊！是諸菩薩，甚為希有」：說現在在佛面前來發大誓願的這麼多的菩薩。「甚為希有」：這是很稀奇，很少有的。
「敬順佛故」：他們是最恭敬佛了，所以就順承佛的心意。
「發大誓願」：他們發大誓願，在這個五濁惡世他們要忍人所不能忍，行人所不能行的這種的苦行。「於後惡世」：在將來末法的時候。「護持讀說」：他們保護這個受持經典、讀誦經典、解說經典的這個人。什麼經典？就是《妙法蓮華經》。所以我們現在講這個《妙法蓮華經》，這不知道有多少萬的菩薩、聲聞、緣覺，在這兒護持這個道場。為什麼呢？因為這一些個菩薩過去都發過這個願，所以有法華會，他們就都一定要擁護這個法會。就好像這個多寶如來，他發願有佛講《法華經》的地方，他就要去現在其前來給做證明。
世尊。菩薩摩訶薩。於後惡世。雲何能說是經。佛告文殊師利。若菩薩摩訶薩。於後惡世欲說是經。當安住四法。一者安住菩薩行處及親近處。能為眾生演說是經。
文殊師利菩薩稱了一聲「世尊」。「菩薩摩訶薩」：說所有想要弘揚《妙法蓮華經》這個大菩薩。「於後惡世」：在將來末法，罪惡充滿的這個世界上。我們現在這個世界，人人好勇鬥狠，就是好作戰——人與人爭，家與家爭，國與國爭，世界與世界爭；此世界想要征服他世界，他世界又想征服此世界。所以人類就想要跑到月球裡頭去；月球裡頭人又想要跑到這個娑婆世界來，這就叫於後惡世。在這個罪惡充滿的末法時代，「雲何能說是經」：怎麼樣子才能講說這《妙法蓮華經》呢？這文殊師利菩薩請問佛。
「佛告文殊師利」：釋迦牟尼佛就告訴文殊師利菩薩。「若菩薩摩訶薩」：說假設有菩薩發心來弘揚這《妙法蓮華經》這樣的大菩薩。「於後惡世」：在將來這個罪惡的世界。「欲說是經」：他發心想要講說這《妙法蓮華經》。
「當安住四法」：應該安住到這四種的法上。這四種的法，第一就是「安住菩薩行處」：就是要居住在菩薩所修行的地方。菩薩所修行的是什麼地方呢？就是六波羅蜜或者十種波羅蜜。修行這十種波羅蜜——布施、持戒、忍辱、精進、禪定、智慧、方便、願、力、智這十度，要居住在這十種波羅蜜上。這是菩薩所行處「及親近處」：及菩薩所親近的地方。
「能為眾生演說是經」：能以居住到菩薩所行的這個境界上，能親近菩薩所應該親近的這種的境界上，能以這樣子才能為眾生講解這個《妙法蓮華經》了。
待續
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Sutra:
"World Honored One, all these Bodhisattvas are extremely rare. Reverently complying with the Buddha, they have made great vows to protect, maintain, read, and speak this Dharma Flower Sutra in the future evil age."
Commentary:
"World Honored One, all these Bodhisattvas are extremely rare." He said, "All these many Bodhisattvas who are now before the Buddha making great vows are very unusual and rare. Reverently complying with the Buddha, they have made great vows. They are extremely respectful of the Buddha, and so they have accorded with the Buddha's intent and brought forth mighty resolutions. In the evil world of the five turbidities, they want to practice the ascetic practices of bearing what others cannot bear and doing what others cannot do. Their great vows are to protect, maintain, read, and speak this Dharma Flower Sutra in the future evil age. In the future, when it is the Dharma-ending Age, they will guard those who receive and maintain this Sutra, those who read and recite it, and those who explain the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra.
Therefore, now as we explain the Dharma Flower Sutra, there are who-knows-how-many myriads of Bodhisattvas, Hearers, and Those Enlightened by Conditions here protecting and supporting this Bodhimanda. Why? All these Bodhisattvas made the vow that wherever there is a Dharma Flower Assembly, they definitely will protect it. It's similar to Many Jewels Tathagata's vow that wherever there is a Buddha speaking the Dharma Power Sutra, he will appear before that Buddha to give certification.
Sutra:
"World Honored One, how should Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas speak this Sutra in the future evil age?"
The Buddha told Manjushri, "If a Bodhisattva Mahasattva wishes to speak this Sutra in the future evil age, he should dwell securely in four Dharmas. First, by dwelling in the Bodhisattva's range of practice and the Bodhisattva's range of association, he will be able to expound this Sutra for living beings."
Commentary:
Manjushri Bodhisattva addressed the Buddha, saying, "World Honored One, how should Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas speak this Sutra in the future evil age?” How can all those great Bodhisattvas propagate the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra in the future dharma-ending Age, when offenses and evils fill the world?" In our present world, everyone likes to fight and wage war. People fight with people, families fight with families, countries fight with countries, and worlds fight with worlds. This world wants to conquer that world, and that world wishes to vanquish this one. As a result, human beings want to migrate to the moon, and moon-beings wish to invade our Saha World. That's what is meant by the future evil age. "During the Dharma-ending Age, which is so full of evil, how can Bodhisattvas explain the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra?" Manjushri Bodhisattva asks the Buddha.
The Buddha Shakyamuni told Manjushri Bodhisattva, "If there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, a great Bodhisattva who has brought forth the resolve and wishes to speak this, the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra in the future evil age, in the future world of corruption, he should dwell securely in four kinds of Dharmas. The first of the four Dharmas is that, by dwelling in the Bodhisattva's range of practice and the Bodhisattva's range of association, he will be able to expound this Sutra for living beings. He should reside where Bodhisattvas cultivate, that is, in the Six Paramitas or the Ten Paramitas. They cultivate the Ten Paramitas of giving, holding precepts, patience, vigor, dhyana-samadhi, wisdom, expedients, vows, powers, and knowledge. They should reside in these Ten Paramitas, which are the Bodhisattvas' range of practice.
The Bodhisattvas' range of association means the places to which Bodhisattvas draw near. If one dwells in the state of the practice of Bodhisattvas and draws near to the state that Bodhisattvas should draw near to, then one will be able to lecture on the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra for living beings.
To be continued |
