妙法蓮華經 1.27

1.27

śrāmaṇas, brahmans, devas, humans, and asuras, saying:

On this day during the middle watch of the night, the Tathāgata will

enter nirvana without residue.

“Then the Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa gave this prediction to a bodhi-

sattva called Śrīgarbha. Addressing the monks, he said:

This Bodhisattva Śrīgarbha will become the next buddha after me. He

will be called Vimalāṅganetra, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlight-

ened.

“The Buddha, after having made this prediction, entered nirvana without residue during the middle of the night. After the Buddha passed into extinction, Bodhisattva Varaprabha, having preserved the Lotus Sutra, taught it to humans for the full period of eighty intermediate kalpas.

“This Bodhisattva Varaprabha was made the teacher for the Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa’s eight princes. Varaprabha led and inspired them and caused them to be firm in highest, complete enlightenment.

“After paying homage to innumerable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas, all these princes attained the path of the buddhas. The last of these to become enlightened was named Dīpaṃkara.

“Among the eight hundred disciples of Bodhisattva Varaprabha there was a man named Yaśaskāma who was attached to profit. Even though he had repeatedly recited the sutras he never became versed in them and forgot the greater part. That is why he was called Yaśaskāma, ‘Fame Seeker.’ But because he had also planted various roots of good merit, he was able to meet innumerable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas whom he rendered homage to, honored, revered, and praised.

“O Maitreya! You should know that Bodhisattva Varaprabha at that time was none other than myself, and Bodhisattva Yaśaskāma was none other than you. The marvel we see here is exactly the same as the previous one. Therefore I am certain that today the Tathāgata will teach the Mahayana sutra called the Lotus Sutra, the instruction for bodhisattvas and treasured lore of the buddhas.”

Thereupon Mañjuśrī, wanting to explain the meaning of this further, spoke to the great assembly in verse:

I remember that in the past,

Innumerable incalculable kalpas ago,

There was a buddha, the Best of Humans,

Called Candrasūryapradīpa.

This Bhagavat taught the Dharma,

Leading and inspiring innumerable sentient beings

And incalculable numbers of bodhisattvas,

To attain the wisdom of the buddhas.

Before renouncing household life

The Buddha fathered eight princes.

Having seen the Great Sage

Renounce household life,

They also followed him

And practiced the pure path of discipline and integrity.

At that time the Buddha taught

And extensively illuminated the Mahayana sutra

Called Immeasurable Meanings

To the great assembly.

After having taught this sutra,

The Buddha sat down cross-legged

On the seat of Dharma and entered the samādhi

Called the “abode of immeasurable meanings.”

The heavenly māndārava flowers

Fell down like rain;

The heavenly drums resounded spontaneously.

All the devas, nāgas, and yakṣas

Paid homage to the Best of Humans.

All of the buddha worlds suddenly quaked greatly.

And the Buddha emitted a ray of light

From the tuft between his eyebrows

And manifested various marvels.

This ray of light illuminated

The eighteen thousand buddha worlds in the east

And revealed the conditions

Resulting from the karma of each sentient being.

Through this light of the Buddha

All the buddha worlds appeared

As if they were decorated with various jewels

Such as lapis lazuli or crystal.

All the devas, humans, nāgas,

Yakṣas, gandharvas, and kiṃnaras

Were each seen paying homage to the buddhas. All the Tathāgatas, who had spontaneously attained The path of the buddhas, Looked majestic and very beautiful With bodies like golden mountains. Each Bhagavat appeared like a golden image In the midst of lapis lazuli, Expounding the meaning Of the profound Dharma to the great assembly. There were innumerable śrāvakas In each of the buddha worlds, And they saw all the great assemblies Because of the light of the Buddha. There were also monks Living in mountain forests, Who, through persistence, possessed purity of conduct, Which they protected like a precious jewel. There were bodhisattvas, As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, Practicing by giving (dāna), perseverance (kṣānti), and so

on (i.e., the six perfections), Who also became visible through the light of the Buddha. There were bodhisattvas, who, Having entered deep samādhi, Were tranquil and undisturbed in body and mind, And who were seen seeking for the highest path. There were also bodhisattvas, Who, knowing the tranquil character of the Dharma, Were seen teaching the Dharma And seeking the path of the buddhas In each of the buddha worlds. At that time the fourfold assembly, Having seen the Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa Manifest these great transcendent powers, Became delighted, and asked each other

What the reason for this could be.

The Noble One, revered by devas and humans,

Then emerged from samādhi and

Praised Bodhisattva Varaprabha, saying:

You are the Eye of the World.

You are believed in by all and

Possess the treasure house of the Dharma.

You are the only one who can understand

The Dharma that I have taught!

The Bhagavat praised Varaprabha, delighting him,

And taught this Lotus Sutra

For the full period of sixty intermediate kalpas

Without rising from his seat.

This expounder of the Dharma, Varaprabha,

Firmly and completely

Preserved this most excellent Dharma

That was taught by the Buddha.

After having taught this Lotus Sutra

And having then gladdened the assembly

On that very day,

The Buddha told the assembly of devas and humans:

I have already taught you the meaning

Of the essential character of all dharmas.

Today I will enter nirvana

In the middle of the night.

Exert yourselves attentively

And rid yourselves of negligence!

The buddhas are extremely hard to meet

And can be encountered only once

In koṭis of kalpas!

All the sons of the Bhagavat,

On hearing that the Buddha was to enter nirvana,

Became sad, thinking:

Why will the Buddha enter nirvana so soon?

The Noble Lord, the King of the Dharma, Consoled the innumerable beings saying:

Do not fear after I enter nirvana!

This Bodhisattva Śrīgarbha has fully realized

The true character of freedom from corruption

And after me he will become

A buddha named Vimalāṅganetra.

And then he will bring

Innumerable sentient beings to the path.

And that night the Buddha entered nirvana, Like a fire that goes out when the wood is exhausted. His relics were distributed And innumerable stupas were built. There were monks and nuns, As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, Who increased their efforts And sought for the highest path. This expounder of the Dharma, Varaprabha, Possessed of the treasure house of the Buddha, Extensively proclaimed the Lotus Sutra For eighty intermediate kalpas. All of the eight princes Led and inspired by Varaprabha, Became firmly established In the highest path, And met innumerable buddhas. After having paid homage to the buddhas And following them in their practice of the great path,