The Lotus Sūtra 1.35

1.35

爾時舍利弗知四眾心疑，自亦未了，而白佛言：「世尊！何因何緣慇懃稱歎諸佛第一方便、甚深微妙、難解之法？我自昔來，未曾從佛聞如是說；今者四眾咸皆有疑。唯願世尊敷演斯事。世尊何故慇懃稱歎甚深微妙難解之法？」

other monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen who had set out to become śrā-

vakas and pratyekabuddhas: “Why has the Bhagavat just now so earnestly

praised skillful means? For what reason has he declared that the Dharma that

the buddhas have attained is very profound and difficult to understand? Why

has he said that their intention in adapting their teaching to what is appro-

priate is so difficult to comprehend that all the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas

are not able to understand it?

“As long as the Buddha taught the meaning of the single liberation we

thought we had attained that Dharma and achieved nirvana. But now we do

not understand what he means.”

At that time Śāriputra, aware of the confusion of the fourfold assem-

blies and himself also feeling confused, addressed the Buddha saying: “O

Bhagavat! For what reason and on what grounds have you so earnestly praised

the unique skillful means of the buddhas and the profound and subtle Dharma that is difficult to understand? Never before have I heard such a thing from the Buddha. Now Bhagavat, I entreat you to explain this because the fourfold assemblies are confused. O Bhagavat! Why have you so earnestly praised the Dharma that is profound, subtle, and difficult to understand?”

Thereupon Śāriputra, wanting to further explain what he meant, spoke these verses:

O Great Seer, Sun of Wisdom!

Now, after a long time,

You have taught this Dharma, saying,

I have attained the inconceivable Dharma,

That is to say, power, fearlessness,

Samādhi, meditation, and liberation.

No one has ever questioned the Dharma

That I attained on the terrace of enlightenment.

No one has ever questioned my intentions,

So difficult to conceive.

Without being asked

You explained it by yourself

And praised the path you have practiced, saying,

The wisdom the buddhas have attained

Is extremely subtle!

The arhats free from corruption

And those seeking nirvana

Have all fallen into confusion.

Why has the Buddha said this?

Those seeking to become pratyekabuddhas,

Monks, nuns, devas, nāgas,

Yakṣas, gandharvas, and the others

Glanced at each other in confusion

And looking toward the Best of Humans asked:

O Buddha! We entreat you to explain why this is so!

The Buddha has said that I am the foremost

Among the śrāvakas, yet now I am confused

About my own knowledge and unable to understand.

Is it the ultimate Dharma?

Is it a path to be practiced?