法苑珠林 68.81

68.81

又佛說須摩提女經云。爾時羅閱城有長者。號曰郁迦。有女名須摩提。厥年八歲。歷世奉敬過去無數百千諸佛。積累功德不可稱計。行到佛所頭面禮足。却住一面。叉手白佛。欲有所問。願為解說。佛語須摩提。恣所欲問。今當為說令汝歡喜。須摩提問佛言。菩薩云何所生處人見之常歡喜。云何得大富有常多財寶。云何不為他人所別離。云何不在母人腹中。常得化生千葉蓮花中立法王前。云何得神足。從不可計億剎土去到彼間得禮諸佛。云何得無讎怨無侵嫉者。云何所說聞者信從踊躍受行。云何得無殃罪所作善行無能壞者。云何魔不能得其便。云何臨壽終時。佛在前立為說經法。即令不墮苦痛之處。所問如是。是時佛語須摩提。如汝所問如來義者。善哉大快。乃如是乎。汝若欲聞。吾當解說。時女即言。甚善世尊。願樂欲聞。佛言菩薩有四事法。人見皆歡喜。何等為四。一瞋恚不起。視怨家如善知識。二常有慈心向於一切。三常行求索無上要法。四作佛形像。

Furthermore, the Sūtra Spoken by the Buddha on the Maiden Sumatī states: At that time, in the city of Rājagṛha, there was an elder named Ugra. He had a daughter named Sumatī, who was eight years of age. Through successive lifetimes, she had venerated and paid respect to countless hundreds of thousands of past buddhas, accumulating immeasurable merit. She went to where the Buddha was, bowed her head at his feet in homage, and stepped back to stand on one side. Joining her palms, she addressed the Buddha: "I have some questions I wish to ask; may you explain them for me." The Buddha said to Sumatī: "Ask whatever you wish. Now I will explain it for you, to cause you joy." Sumatī asked the Buddha: "How can a bodhisattva be born in places where people always rejoice to see them? How can they attain great wealth and constantly have abundant treasures? How can they not be separated by others? How can they not reside within a mother's womb, but always obtain apparitional birth within a thousand-petaled lotus, standing before the Dharma King? How can they attain supernatural travel (ṛddhipāda), so that from countless billions of lands they can go to those places and pay homage to all buddhas? How can they be without enemies and without those who violate or envy them? How can it be that what they say is believed, followed, and joyfully put into practice by those who hear it? How can they be without fault or transgression, with none able to destroy their wholesome deeds? How can Māra be unable to find an opening? How can it be that when approaching the end of life, the Buddha stands before them preaching the scriptures and Dharma, causing them not to fall into places of suffering and pain? These are what I ask." At that time, the Buddha said to Sumatī: "Regarding what you have asked about the Tathāgata's meaning: excellent, most delightful! Is it indeed so? If you wish to hear, I will explain it." Then the maiden said: "Very good, World-Honoured One. I wish and delight to hear it." The Buddha said: "A bodhisattva has four practices by which all people rejoice to see them. What are the four? First, anger does not arise, and one regards enemies as spiritual friends (kalyāṇamitra). Second, one constantly harbors a mind of benevolence toward all. Third, one constantly seeks the supreme and essential Dharma. Fourth, one makes images of the Buddha."