大通方廣懺悔滅罪莊嚴成佛經 1.3

1.3

At that time, the Bhagavat, surrounded before and behind by such immeasurable and boundless great assemblies, set out toward the śāla [grove]. On the fifteenth day of the second month, when he was on the verge of entering nirvāṇa, through the Buddha's spiritual power, with great compassion universally covering [all], desiring to gather in sentient beings, he uttered a great sound. Its sound filled everywhere, extending to the ten directions. According to the languages of their kinds, he universally addressed sentient beings: "Today the Tathāgata, Samyaksambuddha, has pity on sentient beings, covers and protects sentient beings, gathers in sentient beings, and views sentient beings equally, as if viewing an only child. For those without refuge, he provides a refuge; for those who have not seen the buddhadhātu, he causes them to see the buddhadhātu; for those who have not parted from afflictions, he causes them to part from afflictions; for those without tranquility, he provides tranquility; for those not liberated, he provides liberation; for those not at peace and ease, he causes them to attain peace and ease; for those who have not parted from doubt and confusion, he causes them to part from doubt and confusion; for those who have not practiced kṣamā, he causes them to practice kṣamā; and for those who have not attained nirvāṇa, he causes them to attain nirvāṇa." At that time, beside the road, there was a pure, level, and auspicious blessed ground, exactly ten thousand yojanas in length and breadth. The Buddha, seeing that this ground was level and pure, immediately halted and stayed, addressing the monks: "Now in this place, we can preach the Dharma." At that time, the monk Ānanda said to the Buddha: "Bhagavat, in the past the Tathāgata, the Bhagavat, was always by nature fond of mountains and forests, pure flowing waters, and groves of flowers and fruits. Now in this place, there is neither flowing water nor forest trees, nor are there villages, lands, or people. Today the Tathāgata resides here and preaches the Dharma, yet those who have come from afar are numerous, hungry, weary, and exhausted, and their lives cannot be sustained. Where there is food, there is life; where there is life, there is a body; where there is a body, there is the Path. Without food there is no life; without life there is no body; without a body there is no Path. Now in this place, there are no such agreeable things. How can the Bhagavat preach the Dharma in its midst?" At that time, the greatly wise Śāriputra, through the power of the Buddha's wisdom, said to Ānanda: "One should first attend to the Dharma and have no other thoughts! The Tathāgata, the Bhagavat, does not only have the ten powers and the four fearlessnesses; the Tathāgata, the Bhagavat, has such immeasurable powers and all fearlessnesses, immeasurable wisdom, and immeasurable spiritual might. For those without refuge, he provides a refuge; for those who have not seen the buddhadhātu, he causes them to see the buddhadhātu; for those who have not parted from afflictions, he causes them to part from afflictions; for those without tranquility, he provides tranquility; for those not liberated, he provides liberation; for those not at peace and ease, he causes them to attain peace and ease; and for those who have not attained nirvāṇa, he causes them to attain nirvāṇa. Since the Tathāgata, the Bhagavat, has such immeasurable spiritual power as this, why worry that the Tathāgata will lack what arises naturally? I recall in the past, when the Mahāsattva Vimalakīrti was preaching the Dharma for the assembly, bodhisattvas from other lands, śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, mighty devas, and the great assembly of nāga-spirits were gathered in his square room, yet there was never any food. At that time I thought: 'How will this great assembly obtain food?' The Mahāsattva Vimalakīrti immediately said to me: 'Śrāvakas of little wisdom, you should be mindful of the true Dharma! Why do you first contemplate the clothing and food of wrong livelihood, as well as beds and seats?' When the Mahāsattva Vimalakīrti spoke these words, devas and humans attained the Path, while I harbored shame and remorse. What you now think is just the same."