妙法蓮華經 1.34

1.34

Are not able to understand it.

Even if this whole world

Were filled with those such as Śāriputra,

And they tried together to comprehend it,

They still would not be able to understand completely

The wisdom of the buddhas. Again, even if the worlds of the ten directions Were filled with such disciples As Śāriputra, And they tried together to comprehend it, They still would not be able to completely understand. And even if the worlds of the ten directions Were filled with pratyekabuddhas, As numerous as bamboo trees in a grove, Who had keen wisdom And were bearing their last bodies, Free from corruption, Even if they tried together singlemindedly, For innumerable kalpas, To comprehend the wisdom of the buddhas, Still they would not understand it in the least. Even if the worlds of the ten directions Were packed as thick as stalks of rice, Flax, bamboo, and reeds With bodhisattvas, recent aspirants to enlightenment, Who had paid homage to innumerable buddhas— Though they fully understood the meaning And could expound the Dharma, Even with this subtle wisdom, If they tried together singlemindedly to comprehend, For as many kalpas as the sands of the Ganges River, They still would not be able to know The wisdom of the buddhas. Even if bodhisattvas, As numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, Who had reached the stage of nonretrogression, Tried together singlemindedly to comprehend it, Still they would not be able to know.

The Buddha, still speaking to Śāriputra, said:

I have already attained the profound and subtle Dharma

That is incorruptible

And beyond all comprehension.

Only I and the buddhas of the ten directions know this.

O Śāriputra! You should know that the words

Of the buddhas are never inconsistent.

You should trust fully in the Dharma

That the Buddha expounds;

The Dharma of the Bhagavat

Has been in existence for a long time.

I will now definitely expound the truth.

I address myself to the śrāvakas

And those seeking the pratyekabuddha vehicle.

It was I who caused them to become free

From the bondage of suffering, and to attain nirvana.

I have revealed the teaching of the three vehicles

With the power of the skillful means of the buddhas

So as to free the sentient beings

From their various human attachments.

At that time it occurred to the great assembly of twelve hundred śrā-

vakas, arhats free from corruption, beginning with Ājñātakauṇḍinya, and the