法苑珠林 16.5

16.5

惟大覺世雄隨機利物。巧施現權之教。以救將來之急。時經末代命同風燭。逐要利生無過見佛。以釋尊遺囑。於我法中所修行者。並付慈氏令悟聖果。大聖殷勤理固無妄。一念相值終隔四流。結妙願於華林。感慈顏於兜率。能扣冥機雲龍相會。故上生經云。是諸人等皆於法中種諸善根。釋迦牟尼佛遣來付我。觀此一言實固可祈。自晉代之末始傳斯經。暨乎宋明肇興茲會。起千尺之尊儀。摸萬仞之道樹。設供上林鱗集大眾。於是四部欣躍虔誠弘化。每歲良辰三會無缺。自齊代馭曆法緣增廣。文宣德教彌綸斯業。從此已來大會罕集行者希簡。設有修學安心無法。今錄諸經依之修行。冀通八正則芬列於紫宮。化流十善則暉煥於兜率。功被下生澤均初會也。

Reflecting upon the Greatly Awakened Hero of the World, who benefited beings according to their capacities, he skillfully set forth teachings displaying provisional means to rescue the emergencies of future times. Living in the Latter Age, life is like a candle in the wind; when pursuing what is most essential to benefit beings, nothing surpasses seeing the Buddha. By the bequeathed charge of the Śākya Honoured One, those who cultivate practice within my Dharma are all entrusted to the Benevolent One to awaken to the holy fruit. The Great Sage's earnest intent is in principle truly not in vain; with a single thought of encountering him, one forever cuts off the four torrents. Binding wonderful vows in the Flower Grove and evoking the benevolent countenance in Tuṣita, if one can strike upon the hidden mechanism, dragon and cloud shall meet. Therefore, the Shangsheng jing says: 'All these persons have planted wholesome roots in the Dharma; Śākyamuni Buddha has sent and entrusted them to me.' Observing this single phrase, it can indeed be relied upon. It was only toward the end of the Jin dynasty that this sūtra first circulated, and by the time of Emperor Ming of Song, these assemblies were first inaugurated: raising a thousand-foot revered statue, depicting a ten-thousand-fathom Bodhi tree, setting out offerings in the Shanglin Garden, and gathering the multitudes like fish scales. Thereupon the fourfold assembly leaped for joy, reverently propagating the transformation; on every auspicious day of the year, the three assemblies were never missed. From the time the Qi dynasty assumed governance, the conditions for the Dharma expanded; the virtuous teachings of Emperor Wenxuan comprehensively wove this endeavor. From that time onward, however, great assemblies have rarely gathered, and practitioners have become scarce; even when there are those who study, they lack the method to settle their minds. Now I record various sūtras to practice in reliance upon them, hoping that mastery of the eightfold correct path will spread like fragrance in the purple palace, and that the spread of the ten wholesome actions will shine brightly in Tuṣita, so that the merit will extend to his descent, and the grace will be shared equally in the first assembly.