The Extent of the Merit
功德的廣大
16.1When the teaching of the Tathāgata’s lifespan was taught it benefited innumerable, countless beings. The Bhagavān said at that time to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya, “Ajita, when the Dharma teaching that teaches the Tathāgata’s lifespan was given, a hundred thousand quintillion bodhisattvas, as numerous as the grains of sand in sixty-eight Ganges Rivers, developed receptivity to the birthlessness of phenomena.
16.1當時如來壽命的法教被講述時，利益了無數、不可計數的眾生。薄伽梵於此時對菩薩摩訶薩彌勒菩薩說：「無勝，當講述如來壽命的法教時，有百千兆菩薩，其數量如同六十八條恆河中的沙粒那麼多，他們證得了法無生忍。
16.2“A thousand times more bodhisattva mahāsattvas than that attained the power of retention.
16.2「比那更多千倍的菩薩摩訶薩獲得了持力。
“Other bodhisattva mahāsattvas, as numerous as the atoms in a world realm of a thousand worlds, heard this Dharma teaching and attained unimpeded eloquence.
「其他菩薩摩訶薩，數量如同一千個世界的世界中的原子那麼多，聽聞了這部法教，獲得了無礙辯。」
“Other bodhisattva mahāsattvas, as numerous as the atoms in a world realm of a million worlds, heard this Dharma teaching and attained a hundred thousandfold power of retention.
「其他菩薩摩訶薩，數量如百萬世界的微塵那麼多，聽聞了這個法教，獲得了百千倍的持力。」
16.3“Other bodhisattva mahāsattvas, as numerous as the atoms in a world realm of a billion worlds, [F.123.a] heard this Dharma teaching and turned the irreversible wheel.
16.3「其餘菩薩摩訶薩，數如千億世界中微塵，聞此法教，轉不退輪。」
“Other bodhisattva mahāsattvas, as numerous as the atoms in the intermediate thousandfold world realm, heard this Dharma teaching and turned the Dharma wheel called stainless light.
「其他菩薩摩訶薩，數量如同中千世界中的微塵那樣眾多，聽聞了這個法教，轉動名為無垢光的法輪。」
“Other bodhisattva mahāsattvas, as numerous as the atoms in the lesser thousandfold world realm, heard this Dharma teaching and developed the aspiration to the highest, complete enlightenment after eight lifetimes.
「其他菩薩摩訶薩，數量如同小千世界的微塵那樣眾多，聽聞此法教後，經過八世生命而發願趣向無上正等正覺。」
16.4“Other bodhisattva mahāsattvas, as numerous as the atoms in four four-continent world realms, heard this Dharma teaching and developed the aspiration to the highest, complete enlightenment after four lifetimes.
16.4"其他菩薩摩訶薩，數量如同四大洲世界的微塵那麼多，聽聞了這個法教，在四世之後發願趣向無上正等正覺。
“Other bodhisattva mahāsattvas, as numerous as the atoms in three four-continent world realms, heard this Dharma teaching and developed the aspiration to the highest, complete enlightenment after three lifetimes.
「其他菩薩摩訶薩，數量如同三大洲世界的微塵那麼多，聽聞這個法教，經過三生之後，發願趣向無上正等正覺。」
16.5“Other bodhisattva mahāsattvas, as numerous as the atoms in two four-continent world realms, heard this Dharma teaching and developed the aspiration to the highest, complete enlightenment after two lifetimes.
16.5「其他菩薩摩訶薩，數量如同兩個四大洲世界中的微塵那樣眾多，聽聞了此法教，在經過兩世之後發願證得無上正等正覺。」
“Other bodhisattva mahāsattvas, as numerous as the atoms in one four-continent world realm, heard this Dharma teaching and developed the aspiration to the highest, complete enlightenment in one lifetime.
「其他菩薩摩訶薩，數量如同一個四大洲世界的微塵那般眾多，聽聞了這個法教，在一生中發願趣向無上正等正覺。」
16.6“Bodhisattva mahāsattvas as numerous as the atoms in eight world realms of a thousand million worlds heard this Dharma teaching and developed the aspiration to the highest, complete enlightenment.”
16.6「有菩薩摩訶薩，數如千百億世界的八個世界的微塵那麼多，聽聞了這個法教，發願趣向無上正等正覺。」
16.7As soon as the Bhagavān had taught this foundation, this understanding of the Dharma, to those bodhisattvas, in that moment, from the sky above [F.123.b] there descended a great rainfall of coral tree flowers and great coral tree flowers. They were sprinkled and scattered over a hundred thousand quintillion buddhas seated on lion thrones at the foot of precious trees in a hundred thousand quintillion world realms.
16.7薄伽梵剛一向那些菩薩傳授了這個基礎、這個對法的理解後，在那一刻，從上方的天空降下了一場珊瑚樹花和大珊瑚樹花的大雨。這些花灑散地降落在一百千億位佛身上，他們坐在獅子座上，位於一百千億個世界中寶樹下。
16.8They were sprinkled and scattered over the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Śākyamuni and the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Prabhūtaratna, who had passed into nirvāṇa, who were both seated on lion thrones. They were sprinkled and scattered over the complete gathering of bodhisattvas. They were sprinkled and scattered over the fourfold assembly. Divine sandalwood and agarwood powders fell from the sky. There resounded from the sky above the beautiful, melodious, and gentle sounds of drums, without their being beaten. Hundreds of thousands of pairs of divine calico cloths fell from above. Short necklaces, long necklaces, flower garlands, precious jewels, and huge precious jewels were hung in every direction. Hundreds of thousands of censers made from precious materials and containing priceless incense moved around by themselves. Above each tathāgata, bodhisattva mahāsattvas in the sky held a tier of precious parasols that reached up to the realm of Brahmā. In this way, above all those hundred thousand quintillion buddhas, bodhisattva mahāsattvas in the sky held tiers of precious parasols, reaching as high as the realm of Brahmā. Each of them praised those tathāgatas with praises of the buddhas rendered into verse.
16.8花朵灑落在薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正遍知佛釋迦牟尼和薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正遍知佛多寶如來身上，他們已經進入涅槃，都坐在獅子座上。花朵灑落在菩薩們的聚集之上。花朵灑落在四眾弟子身上。神聖的檀香和沉香粉從天空飄落下來。天空中傳來了美妙、悅耳和溫和的鼓聲，沒有人敲擊。成千上萬對神聖的棉布從上方飄落。短項鍊、長項鍊、花環、寶石和巨大的寶石被懸掛在四面八方。成千上萬個由七寶製成的香爐，裡面裝著無價的香料，自動移動著。在每一位如來上方，天空中的菩薩摩訶薩們持著一層層的寶傘，高度直達梵天之界。就這樣，在所有那百千億位佛的上方，天空中的菩薩摩訶薩們持著層層的寶傘，高度直達梵天之界。他們每一位都用讚頌之詞，以偈頌的形式讚頌那些如來。
16.9At that time the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya spoke these verses: [F.124.a]
16.9那時，菩薩摩訶薩彌勒菩薩說出了這些偈頌：
16.25The Bhagavān said to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya, “Ajita, those beings who have just once developed aspiration, developed motivation, or gained faith when this Dharma teaching that teaches the extent of the lifespan of the Tathāgata was taught, how much merit have such noble men or noble women created? Listen well and remember, for I shall explain how much merit they have created.
16.25薄伽梵對菩薩摩訶薩彌勒菩薩說：「無勝，那些眾生在教導如來壽命廣大程度的這部法教被宣說時，哪怕只是一次生起了發願、生起了動機，或者獲得了信心，這樣的善男子或善女人創造了多少功德？你要仔細聽，並且記住，因為我將為你解說他們創造了多少功德。」
16.26“Ajita, it is like this: If a noble man or noble woman, wishing for the highest, complete enlightenment, were to practice, for eight hundred thousand quintillion eons, the five perfections, which are the perfection of generosity, the perfection of correct conduct, the perfection of patience, [F.125.a] the perfection of diligence, and the perfection of meditation, without the perfection of wisdom, and, Ajita, if there were a noble man or noble woman who had one time developed aspiration, developed motivation, or gained faith when this Dharma teaching that teaches the extent of the lifespan of the Tathāgata was taught, then that former accumulation of the roots of merit—the merit accumulated by completing the five perfections during eight hundred thousand quintillion eons—would not equal a hundredth part, not a thousandth, not a hundred thousandth, not a ten millionth, not a thousand millionth, not ten thousand millionth, not a million millionth, and not even a hundred thousand quintillionth part. The merit could not be calculated; even a fraction of it could not be calculated—there is no suitable analogy for it, and there is no suitable simile for it.
16.26無勝，譬如有一位善男子或善女人，為了追求無上正等正覺，在八百千萬億劫中修習五波羅蜜，即布施波羅蜜、持戒波羅蜜、忍辱波羅蜜、精進波羅蜜和禪定波羅蜜，但不具備般若波羅蜜。無勝，如果有一位善男子或善女人，在教導如來壽命的這部法教被宣說時，僅僅一次生起了發願、生起了動機，或者得到了信心，那麼，前面所說的在八百千萬億劫中完成五波羅蜜所積累的善根和功德，都不及這位善男子或善女人所得功德的百分之一，不及千分之一，不及十萬分之一，不及千萬分之一，不及億分之一，不及十億分之一，不及百億分之一，也不及千萬億分之一。這種功德無法計算，甚至其中一部分也無法計算，沒有恰當的類比，也沒有恰當的比喻能夠說明它。
16.27“Ajita, it is impossible for the progress toward the highest, complete enlightenment made by a noble man or noble woman who possesses such an accumulation of merit to be reversible.”
16.27「無勝，具足如此福德聚的善男子或善女人趨向無上正等正覺的進展是不可逆轉的。」
16.28Thereupon the Bhagavān spoke these verses:
16.28於是薄伽梵說出了這些偈頌：
16.48“Moreover, Ajita, if someone who hears, enters, follows, and comprehends this Dharma teaching that teaches the lifespan of the Tathāgata will generate a supremely incalculable accumulation of merit that leads to the wisdom of buddhahood, it goes without saying that someone who hears this kind of Dharma teaching, proclaims it, maintains it, writes it, has it written, and honors the text or has others honor it with flowers, incense, perfume, garlands, ointments, powders, clothing, parasols, banners, flags, sesame oil lamps, ghee lamps, and perfumed oil lamps will generate a far greater accumulation of merit that leads to the wisdom of buddhahood.
16.48「此外，無勝，若有人聽聞、進入、隨順、理解這部教導如來壽命的法教，將會產生不可思議的極大福德聚，導向佛智。更不用說，那些聽聞這樣的法教、宣說它、受持它、書寫它、令他人書寫它，以及用花、香、香水、花環、膏油、香粉、衣服、傘蓋、旌幡、幡旗、芝麻油燈、酥油燈和香油燈來供養這部經文或令他人供養的人，將會產生遠更巨大的福德聚，導向佛智。」
16.49“Ajita, when a noble man or noble woman hears this Dharma teaching that teaches the lifespan of the Tathāgata and aspires to it with a superior motivation, know that their superior motivation has these characteristics: They see me at Vulture Peak, encircled and honored by an assembly of bodhisattvas, teaching the Dharma at the center of the saṅgha of śrāvakas. They see my buddha realm, this Sahā world realm, to have a ground made of beryl that is level, divided like a checkerboard with golden cords, and to be adorned by trees made of precious materials. They see bodhisattvas residing in perfectly enjoyable kūṭāgāras. [F.126.b]
16.49「無勝，當一位男性修行者或女性修行者聽聞此教導如來壽命的法教，並以殊勝的發願來抱持它時，你應知道他們的殊勝發願具有這些特徵：他們看見我在鷲峰，被菩薩們的僧伽圍繞並恭敬，在聲聞眾的中央教導法。他們看見我的佛國，即此娑婆世界，其地面由琉璃製成，平坦而以黃金繩索劃分成棋盤狀，並由七寶樹木裝飾。他們看見菩薩們安住在完全安樂的樓閣中。」
16.50“Ajita, know these to be the characteristics of the superior motivation of the noble men or noble women who have aspiration with a superior motivation.
16.50「無勝，應知這些是具有殊勝發願的善男子或善女人的殊勝發願的特徵。」
16.51“Moreover, Ajita, I say that those noble ones who have a superior motivation are those who hear this Dharma teaching after the Tathāgata has passed into nirvāṇa and do not reject it, but rejoice in it, let alone those who maintain it and read it.
16.51「此外，無勝，我說具有上等發心的那些貴族，是指在如來進入涅槃後聽聞這個法教的人，他們不拒絕它，反而為之歡喜，更何況那些受持並誦讀它的人。」
16.52“Ajita, the noble man or noble woman who makes a text of this Dharma teaching and carries it on their shoulder is carrying the Tathāgata on their shoulder.
16.52「無勝，那位高貴的男子或女子如果將這部法教的經文記錄下來並背在肩上，就是在背著如來。」
16.53“Ajita, that noble man or noble woman does not need to build a stūpa for me, does not need to build a temple, nor do they need to give utensils to the saṅgha of bhikṣus, or medicine when they are ill.
16.53「無勝，那位善男子或善女人不需要為我建造塔，不需要建造寺院，也不需要供養比丘僧伽器具或在他們生病時施與醫藥。」
16.54“Why is that? Ajita, that noble man or noble woman will have made an offering to my body, having created a stūpa made of the seven precious materials that is as high as the realm of Brahmā, encircled by a circumambulatory walkway, with parasols upon it, with flags and ringing bells. They will have honored it in many ways with divine and human flowers, perfume, incense, garlands, ointments, powders, cloth, parasols, banners, flags, and flags of victory. For many countless hundreds of thousands of quintillions of eons, they will have honored it with beautiful, melodious, clear sounds of many kinds of kettledrums, and large kettledrums; the sound of musical instruments and percussion; different kinds of song, dance, and amusements; and countless different kinds of music.
16.54「為什麼呢？無勝，那位善男子或善女人已經為我的身體做了供養，造了用七寶製成的塔，高度直達梵天界，周圍有迴廊環繞，上面有傘蓋，還有旗幡和鈴鐸。他們用許多方式來恭敬供養它，包括天人和人間的花朵、香料、香、花環、膏油、香粉、布料、傘蓋、旗幡、旗幟和勝利旗。在無數百千萬億劫的長時間裡，他們用優美、悅耳、清亮的各種腰鼓聲音，以及大腰鼓聲音來供養它；樂器和打擊樂器的聲音；各種不同的歌唱、舞蹈和娛樂；以及無數不同種類的音樂。」
16.55“Ajita, the one who after my passing into nirvāṇa possesses this Dharma teaching and reads it, writes it out, and teaches it, [F.127.a] will for my sake have created a high, vast temple made of red sandalwood, with thirty-two mansions that have eight floors, as a residence for a thousand bhikṣus, with gardens beautified by flowers, with groves that have walkways, with beds and seats, filled with food and drink—hard food and soft food—and medicine for when there is illness, and adorned with things that bring happiness. They will have offered many of these, countless numbers of these—a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand, ten million, a thousand million, a trillion, a hundred thousand quintillion—in my presence, to the saṅgha of śrāvakas, and it should be known that I will have enjoyed them.
16.55「無勝，我涅槃後，凡是持有這部法教、讀誦、抄寫、宣說的人，實際上就為我建造了一座高大寬廣的檀香木寺院，有三十二座八層的樓閣，可以容納一千位比丘居住，配有綴滿花卉的花園、有走廊的樹林、床位和座椅，備有豐富的飲食——粗食和細食——以及生病時的醫藥，還有各種令人歡樂的裝飾品。他們將在我面前，向聲聞眾的僧伽供養許許多多、無數無盡的這些東西——百個、千個、十萬個、千萬個、兆個、百萬兆個——應當知道我都已經接受了這些供養。」
16.56“Ajita, I say that if someone possesses this Dharma teaching after the Tathāgata has passed into nirvāṇa, and reads it, teaches it, writes it, or has someone write it, then because of this Dharma teaching there is no need for them to build a stūpa for my relics after I have passed into nirvāṇa, and no need to make an offering to the saṅgha, let alone, Ajita, someone who while possessing this Dharma teaching accomplishes generosity, correct conduct, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. That noble man or noble woman will generate an infinite, countless, innumerable aggregation of merit, Ajita, in the same way that the directions of east, south, west, north, above and below, and the intermediate directions in the element of space have no end.
16.56「無勝，我說如果有人在如來入涅槃後擁有這部法教，並讀誦它、教導它、書寫它，或讓他人書寫它，那麼因為這部法教，他們就不需要在我入涅槃後為我的舍利建造塔，也不需要向僧伽作供養。更何況，無勝，擁有這部法教的人，同時修習布施、正行、忍辱、精進、禪定和智慧。那位貴族男子或貴族女子將產生無限、無數、無量的功德集聚，無勝，就像東、南、西、北、上、下和四維方向在虛空中沒有盡頭一樣。」
16.57“That noble man or noble woman who possesses this Dharma teaching, and reads it, teaches it, writes it, or has someone write it, accumulates an infinite, countless, innumerable aggregation of merit for the wisdom of buddhahood. They will be dedicated to honoring the caitya of the Tathāgata. [F.127.b] They will recite the praises of the Tathāgata’s śrāvakas. They will describe the hundred thousand quintillion qualities of the bodhisattva mahāsattvas and teach them to others again and again.
16.57「那位具足此法教的男性或女性貴族，讀誦它、教導它、書寫它，或令他人書寫它，為了佛智而積累無量、無數、不可計數的功德聚合。他們將致力於恭敬如來的支提。他們將誦讚如來的聲聞眾。他們將描述菩薩摩訶薩的百千萬億那由他功德，並反覆教導他人。」
16.58“They will accomplish patience, possess correct conduct, and will delight in the company of those with virtuous qualities; they will be patient, self-controlled, without envy, free of anger, without malicious intentions, mindful, strong, diligent, and constantly dedicated to seeking the Buddha’s Dharma; they will be meditators, will be devoted to solitary meditation, will frequently be in solitary meditation, and be skilled in questions and discrimination, and able to answer a hundred thousand quintillion questions.
16.58「他們將成就忍辱，具足正確的行為，樂於親近有德行的人；他們將有耐心，自我控制，沒有嫉妒，遠離瞋恚，沒有惡意，正念分明，力量強大，精進不懈，並且時時刻刻致力於尋求佛的法教；他們將是禪修者，致力於獨處禪定，頻繁地進行獨處禪定，善於提問和分別，並能夠回答百千萬億個問題。」
16.59“Ajita, I have described the qualities of the bodhisattva mahāsattvas who will maintain this Dharma teaching after I have passed into nirvāṇa, and that is what they will be like.
16.59「無勝，我已經向你說明了那些在我進入涅槃之後，受持此法教的菩薩摩訶薩的功德，他們就是這樣的。」
16.60“Ajita, this is what a noble man or noble woman should know: That noble man or noble woman will be seated at the Bodhimaṇḍa. They will go to the foot of the Bodhi tree in order to attain the enlightenment of buddhahood.
16.60「無勝，這是一位貴族男子或貴族女子應當知道的：那位貴族男子或貴族女子將坐在菩提座上。他們將前往菩提樹下，以證得佛道的菩提。
16.61“Ajita, wherever that noble man or noble woman stands, sits, or walks, there should be built a caitya for the Tathāgata. The world and its devas should say, ‘This is a caitya of the Tathāgata.’ ”
16.61「無勝，那位貴族男子或貴族女子無論站立、坐著或行走的地方，就應該為如來建造一座支提。世界和天眾應該說『這是如來的支提』。」
16.62Thereupon the Bhagavān spoke these verses:
16.62於是薄伽梵說出這些偈頌：
16.88This concludes “The Extent of the Merit,” the sixteenth chapter of the Dharma teaching of “The White Lotus of the Good Dharma.”
16.88（結尾）