[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Buddhist Sanskrit literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit) › [Mahāyāna sūtras](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra) › [Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika) › [妙法蓮華經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva) › 1.35 # The Lotus Sūtra 1.35 妙法蓮華經 1.35 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [1.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.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? > — Tsugunari Kubo & Akira Yuyama 2007, The Lotus Sutra - [Previous: 1.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.1.34) - [Next: 1.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.1.36) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.1) ## Translations (2) - [The Lotus Sutra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva~en-bdk.1.35) — Tsugunari Kubo & Akira Yuyama 2007, English - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva~en-mt.1.35) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (2) - [法華經義記](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1715.3.19) — Classical Chinese - [添品妙法蓮華經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-jnanagupta.1.39) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.1.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.1.35) · Pramāṇa