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無量千萬億。大眾諸菩薩。
昔所未曾見。願兩足尊說。
是從何所來。以何因緣集。
巨身大神通。智慧叵思議。
其志念堅固。有大忍辱力。
眾生所樂見。為從何所來。
「無量千萬億」：啊！這麼多的大菩薩，沒有數量；究竟是多少呢？千億、萬億、千萬億？喔！這個數目我不知道了！「大眾諸菩薩」：這麼多的菩薩，太多了！「昔所未曾見」：雖然這麼多，我在以前到了很多地方，一個也沒有遇著過。「願兩足尊說」：我們現在願意福足、慧足，這兩足尊的如來，說給我們聽，「是從何所來」：這一些個無量無數無邊百千萬億這麼多的菩薩，從甚麼地方來的呢？我走過很多地方，到很多地方去旅行、去vacation(度假)，甚至於我整個法界都遊遍了，也沒有遇著過。「以何因緣集」：現在他們到這兒來，是以甚麼因、甚麼緣，集會到這個地方呢？「巨身大神通」：哦！他們身體也大，有這麼高的巨身。他身這麼高、這麼大，神通也一定不小囉？一定有大神通，大約比我們這個目犍連尊者還會大得很多很多的。「智慧叵思議」：他們的智慧，我們也想像不到，我們也沒有法子知道他們這麼多的智慧。神通也大、智慧也大，所以我們想像不到了，不可以心思、不可以言議。「其志念堅固」：這些個大菩薩，他們的志願、他們所念的，一定是非常堅固！他們的戒、定、慧，這三無漏學，一定是堅固而又堅固的。「有大忍辱力」：他們有大布施力、有大戒力、有大忍辱力、有大精進力、有大禪定力、有大般若力。「眾生所樂見」：眾生誰都歡喜看他們，誰都歡喜聽他們說法。「為從何所來」：但是我們不知道他們究竟從甚麼地方來的呢？請世尊給我們說一說。我們統統都想要聽這種因緣，我們都歡喜聽，不會睡覺的！
我本來說今天晚間，要問你們：辯倒外道的，是哪一位尊者；但是在沒講經之前，我就忘了問了。一開始講的時候，本來我想起來；我說，莫如今天晚間再講一晚間經，等講完了再問。今天晚間若有人答覆，明天晚間，我就可以不講了！「摩訶迦旃延」？你們大家說他說的對不對？對！那這回大家都記著一點，免得我忘了，大家都不知道了。你要記得：「舍智、目通、說法那，須空、旃義、迦頭陀，那律天眼、婆離戒，慶喜多聞、密行羅。」你記著這個，就差不多了，這十大弟子各有所長。
有一個消息告訴大家，在這個禮拜六，請大家都到這兒來喫中飯，來的人越多越好。因為我們這兒請檀香山來的一個法師到這兒喫中飯，我們人多一點，在面子上，是比較好看的；看你們這些美國人，這麼歡喜學佛法，被這個不會講法的法師，都給說得有這麼多人來聽，令他就感覺上很好的。可是他是外邊來的法師，不是我們本堂的；他和我有甚麼關係呢？本來也可以說是有關係，也可以說是沒有關係。有關係，甚麼關係？是同學的，我們以前在一起學習佛法，這是可以說是有關係。怎麼說又可以沒有關係呢？等到了美國這兒，就是不相往來了，誰和誰也不通信、也很少見面的，好像就沒有甚麼關係了似的。所以你們各位在那一天，若歡喜供養三寶的話，因為他是新來的法師，你們居士誰願意供養，也不必太多了，也不必太少了。多少錢呢？歡喜供養的，或者多也不超過一塊錢，少也不超過One dollar；在這個中道，來和他結結緣，這是願意的。若不願意的、沒有錢的，也不必勉強；有錢的，也不要省。這是你們皈依三寶的人，應該和出家人結緣，應該在出家人面前種福。我不知道他是哪一個羅漢來的、也不知道哪一個菩薩來的、也不知道他是哪一尊佛來的？再說一句話，我也不知道他是哪一個鬼來的？因為不知道，所以你必須要結結緣！那麼你不要錯過機會、不要lost this
opportunity。不要像果唐似的，外邊來一個法師，他供養三十塊錢，就把這個法師給供養得天天都來聽經；聽了五、六天之後，又看有人供養我，沒有供養他，以後再也不來聽經了。所以，你們各位要注意這一點！為甚麼要說是「多不超過一塊錢，少不超過一塊錢」呢？因為你們要是錢太多，可以供養本常住。本常住這一些個法師對我講，天天說沒有人供養、天天說沒有錢用；我本來不想說這個倒架子的話，但是逼得我沒有辦法，不說，大家也不知道，所以也就要說一說。再告訴你們，你們就供養本堂的法師，也是供養廟上就可以了，不要單獨的供養某一個。供養廟上，大家有飯吃，這就是得到大家的供養；不要等到沒有飯喫的時候，把你們美國的和尚都餓死了，那可真是你們在家人罪過不小了！
待續
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These limitless
thousands of myriads of kotis of Bodhisattvas
are
forming a great host,
Such
as we have never seen before.
We
pray the Doubly-Complete Honored One
Will
tell us where they came from
And
why they are gathered here.
They
have huge bodies, great spiritual penetrations,
And
inconceivable wisdom.
They
are solid in resolve and will,
And
possess the great power of patience.
Living
beings delight in seeing them.
But
where did they come from?
These limitless thousands of myriads of kotis, so
many Bodhisattvas! Such a vast host of Great Bodhisattvas! Beyond
count! Ultimately how many are there? Thousands of tens of thousands of
millions of kotis—I can’t figure out that number! These Bodhisattvas
are forming a great host. So many Bodhisattvas, such as we have never
seen before. Although there are so many, I never met a single one of
them in the past. I’ve been to many places, but I have never
encountered any of these Great Bodhisattvas.
We pray the Doubly-Complete Honored One will
explain. We hope the Thus Come One, who is replete with both blessings
and wisdom will tell us where they came from. From what place are these
limitless, boundless, thousands of myriads of kotis of Bodhisattvas
coming? I’ve traveled to many places. I’ve gone on many vacations, but
I’ve never happened upon any of these Bodhisattvas. I’ve been all over
the Dharma Realm, and I never encountered one.
Why are they gathered here? What are the causes
and conditions that bring them to assemble in this place? They have
huge bodies and great spiritual penetrations. They are physically
big—extremely tall. With such large bodies, their spiritual
penetrations are also certainly not going to be small. They must have
great spiritual penetrations, no doubt much greater by far than those
possessed by Mahamaudgalyayana. And their wisdom is inconceivable
wisdom. We can’t fathom their wisdom. We have no way to comprehend the
magnitude of their wisdom. Both their spiritual penetrations and their
wisdom are vast. We can neither conceive of them with our minds nor
express them in words.
They are solid in resolve and will. These Great
Bodhisattvas’ determination is definitely firm and strong. Their three
kinds of learning to be without outflows—precepts, samadhi, and
wisdom—are certainly exceptionally solid. They possess the great power
of patience. They possess the great power of giving, the great power of
precepts, the great power of patience, the great power of vigor, the
great power of samadhi, and the great power of prajna. Living beings
delight in seeing them. Everyone likes to see these Great Bodhisattvas.
Everyone delights in hearing them speak the Dharma. But where did they
come from? Will the World Honored One please tell us? We all want to
hear about these causes and conditions.
Originally I was going to ask you to identify one
of the Arhat disciples, whose accomplishment I mentioned yesterday. I
had told you that if you couldn’t answer, then I wouldn’t lecture. But
I forgot to ask prior to the lecture, and only remembered as I began to
lecture. Once I thought of it, I said to myself, “I’d better just go
ahead and lecture tonight and then ask at the end of the lecture. And
if no one can answer the question, then I won’t lecture tomorrow night.
Because if I asked at the beginning of the lecture, right after I had
ascended the Dharma seat, and then didn’t lecture, that would
disappoint everyone. But to ask now, at the end of the lecture, will
prepare you in advance for the fact that I’m not going to lecture
tomorrow night if no one knows the answer.
Question: And so, who is foremost in debate?
Answer: Mahakaushthila.
All you need to do is remember this verse, and
you’ll be relatively well-informed about the Ten Foremost Disciples’
abilities:
Shari is wisdom; Maudgal, penetrations.
Speaking the Dharma is Purna.
Subhuti is empty; Kaushthila debates.
Kashyapa practices dhuta.
Ruddha has the heavenly eye,
Pali upholds the precepts,
Rejoicing (Ananda) has much erudition.
Practice in secret is Rahu.
To be continued
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