[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [經律異相](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2121) › 8.18 # 經律異相 8.18 經律異相 8.18 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [8.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2121.8.18) 眾祐昔為菩薩。名曰常悲。見世佛法僧。若世穢濁。背正向邪華偽趣利。猶蛾樂火。以四等六度為永康之宅。而世廢佛就彼危禍以自破碎也。菩薩常為愁荒悲慟。往昔有佛名景法無穢。滅度未久。經法都盡。常悲夢見其佛為其說法。菩薩聞之心垢消除入清淨定。即棄妻子入山閑寂。水果自供。椎心哀號。吾不值佛不見法僧。大道極趣哀聲適訖。天神下曰明士。乃爾莫復哀號。佛有大法名明度無極之明。三世諸佛皆由斯成。爾索之誦習其文懷識其義。奉而行之。爾必得佛。常悲仰視曰。當由誰聞斯尊法乎。以何方便之何國土厥師族名。天人報曰。爾正東行。無念色痛想行識。意絕眾願執心無違。吾教汝覩明度無極聖典。常悲曰諾。終始戢之。天人重曰。精進存之。忽然不現。菩薩受教東行索之。數日即止。深自思曰。吾宿薄祐。君臣憒憒。無知佛者。除冥尊師。去斯幾里。精誠之至。感上方佛來在其前諸天翼從。歎菩薩曰善哉善哉爾世希有。菩薩見佛且喜且悲。稽首而言。願佛哀我為吾說經。佛告之曰。三界皆空。夫有必無萬物若幻一生一滅猶若水波覩世皆然慎無忘也。自是東行二萬里。有國名健陀越。諸菩薩城也。一國之內皆是上士無凡庸人。欲為汝說菩薩之德。劫數已盡其德有餘。菩薩名曰法來。於彼諸聖猶星中月。懷諸經典反覆教人。諸菩薩等受誦書讀。是經原者必為爾師勸爾就之當為爾說。常悲定寤左右顧視。不復覩佛。心悲流淚。且云諸佛靈耀從何所來而今逝焉（出度無極集第七卷）。 > The Bhagavat in the past was a bodhisattva named Sadāprarudita. Seeing the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha in the world, \[and seeing\] how the world was filthy and defiled, turning its back on the correct and heading toward the deviant, being hypocritical and pursuing profit just as moths delight in flame; \[and seeing that although\] the four immeasurables and the six perfections are a dwelling of everlasting peace, yet the world abandons the Buddha and turns toward those perils and disasters to destroy itself, the bodhisattva was constantly grieved, distressed, and wept sorrowfully. In antiquity, there was a Buddha named Jingfa Wuhui. Not long after his passing into extinction, the sūtras and teachings had completely vanished. Sadāprarudita saw that Buddha in a dream preaching the Dharma to him. Hearing it, the bodhisattva's defilements of mind were eradicated and he entered pure concentration. Thereupon he abandoned his wife and children and entered the mountains to be secluded and quiet, sustaining himself with fruits and water. Beating his chest and wailing mournfully, \[he cried\]: 'I did not encounter the Buddha and do not see the Dharma and Saṅgha, the supreme ultimate of the Great Path!' Just as his lamenting voice finished, a heavenly deity descended and said: 'Luminous Knight, do not wail anymore in this way. The Buddha has a Great Dharma named the Illumination of the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajñāpāramitā), through which all Buddhas of the three periods have attained \[awakening\]. Seek it, recite and study its text, keep its meaning in your mind, and practice it with devotion; then you will certainly attain buddhahood.' Sadāprarudita looked up and said: 'From whom should I hear this noble Dharma? By what expedient means, to what land, and what is the name and lineage of that master?' The deva replied: 'Go directly east. Do not give thought to form, feeling, perception, volitional formations, or consciousness; cut off all desires in your mind and hold your resolve without wavering. I teach you to behold the sacred scripture of the Perfection of Wisdom.' Sadāprarudita said: 'Yes, I shall hold it to heart from beginning to end.' The deva repeated: 'Vigorously preserve it,' and suddenly disappeared. The bodhisattva, receiving the instruction, journeyed east seeking it, and after several days he stopped. Reflecting deeply to himself, he said: 'My past merits are meager; rulers and subjects are confused and heedless, with no one knowing the Buddha. How many leagues from here is the noble master who dispels darkness?' Due to the culmination of his sincerity, he moved a Buddha from the zenith to appear before him, flanked by devas. He praised the bodhisattva: 'Excellent, excellent! You are rare in the world!' The bodhisattva, seeing the Buddha, was both joyful and sorrowful. Bowing his head, he said: 'May the Buddha have pity on me and expound the sūtras for me.' The Buddha told him: 'The three realms are entirely empty. Whatever exists must become non-existent; the myriad things are like illusions. A single birth and a single death are like waves on water; behold that all the world is thus, and take care never to forget it. From here, journeying east for twenty thousand leagues, there is a country named Gandhavatī, a city of bodhisattvas. Within that country, all are superior knights and there are no ordinary people. Were I to recount the virtues of the bodhisattvas for you, the number of kalpas would be exhausted, yet their virtues would still remain. A bodhisattva \[there\] is named Dharmodgata; among those sages, he is like the moon among the stars. Holding all scriptures, he repeatedly teaches others. The bodhisattvas receive, recite, write, and read them. He who is the origin of this sūtra will certainly be your teacher; I urge you to approach him, and he will preach it to you.' Sadāprarudita awoke from his absorption and looked around him; he saw the Buddha no more. His heart was sorrowful and tears flowed, and he said: 'From where did the miraculous brilliance of the Buddhas come, and where has it now departed?' (Extracted from the Liudu ji jing, fascicle 7). > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 8.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2121.8.17) - [Next: 8.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2121.8.19) - [Up: 8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2121.8) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2121~en-mt.8.18) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2121.8.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2121.8.18) · Pramāṇa