大方廣圓覺修多羅了義經 1.109

1.109

爾時，世尊告圓覺菩薩言：「善哉！善哉！善男子！汝等乃能問於如來如是方便，以大饒益施諸眾生。汝今諦聽！當為汝說。」時，圓覺菩薩奉教歡喜，及諸大眾默然而聽。

the realization] of pure enlightenment so as to enable beings in the final age to gain great benefit. World-honored One, we here now have gained an enlightened understanding, but how should unenlightened beings in the final age after the Buddha has passed away dwell in retreat and cultivate the pure realm of perfect enlightenment? What [approaches] are foremost in [the practice of] the three kinds of pure contemplation within this [practice of] perfect enlightenment? Would the Great Compassionate One please confer abundant benefit on the great assembly and beings in the final age [by answering these questions]?” Having spoken these words, he prostrated himself fully. He made his request in this way three times in succession.

At that time the World-honored One addressed Perfect Enlightenment Bodhisattva, saying, “Excellent! How excellent, son of good family, that you are thus able to ask the Tathāgata about such expedient methods to confer abundant benefit on beings. Now listen carefully to what I shall expound to you.” Then Perfect Enlightenment Bodhisattva, delighted to receive the teaching, listened silently along with the great assembly.

“Son of good family, when the Buddha dwells in the world, after the Buddha has passed away, or during the final age of the Dharma, there may be beings who are endowed with the potentiality for [realizing] the Great Vehicle, who have faith in the mind of great perfect enlightenment, the profound arcanum of the Buddha, and who wish to cultivate its practice. If they dwell in a monastery, have taken residence in the community, and are bound

by their responsibilities, they should meditate as much as circumstances permit in accordance with what I have already set forth. If, however, they are free of such involvements, they should set up a sanctuary and set aside a period of time for abiding in peace and dwelling in purity: one hundred and twenty days for a long period; one hundred days for a medium-length period; and eighty days for a short period.

“When the Buddha is present in the world, one may truly behold his form. After the Buddha has passed on, however, one must set up images of him; when his form is made present in the mind and pictured by the eye, true recollection is produced, and it will thereby be the same as if the Tathāgata were always alive. One should adorn [the altar] with banners and flowers and, for three weeks, prostrate oneself before the buddhas of the ten directions and call upon their names, beseech their mercy, and confess and repent one’s transgressions before them. One may thereby receive an auspicious sign, and one’s mind will be disburdened and put at ease. Even after the three weeks have passed, one should continue to maintain singleminded concentration.

“When the beginning of summer arrives and [it is the time for] the threemonth retreat, you should stay with pure bodhisattvas, you should be removed from śrāvakas in your thoughts, and you should not rely on the community at large. When the day to begin the retreat comes, you should profess as follows before the Buddha:

“‘I, So-and-so, a bhikṣu, bhikṣuṇī, upāsaka, or upāsikā, will enter the bodhisattva vehicle to cultivate the practice of utter quiescence. I will enter into purity together [with the other participants] to abide in true reality. I will take great perfect enlightenment as my monastery so that my body and mind may dwell peacefully in the wisdom of universal equality. Nirvana is by its very nature not bound by anything. Therefore I now sincerely request that I be allowed not to follow [the strictures for] śrāvakas so that I may dwell in peace for three months together with the buddhas of the ten directions and the great bodhisattvas. In order to cultivate the great causes and conditions for the supreme marvelous enlightenment of the bodhisattvas, I will not be involved in the community at large.’

“Son of good family, this is called the retreat of the manifestation of the bodhisattva. When the days of the three periods [set for the retreat] have

Chapter XI

been completed, [the participants] may go where they will without hindrance. Son of good family, those beings who cultivate this practice in the final age and participate in the three periods to pursue the way of the bodhisattva