The Translation
[F.29.b] [F.46.b]
禮敬一切佛陀與菩薩。
1.1Homage to all buddhas and bodhisattvas.
1.1敬禮一切佛陀和菩薩。
1.2Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was seated upon a lion throne in a seashore grove surrounded on all sides by the forest that was the Buddha’s domain. [F.30.a] [F.47.a] There, he taught the Dharma to a retinue of gods that had gathered around and paid their respects to him.
1.2我是這樣聽聞的：當時，世尊坐在海濱樹林的獅子座上，四周被佛陀的領域內的森林所圍繞。在那裡，他對聚集在他身邊並向他禮敬的諸神眾說法。
1.3The Blessed One addressed the gods of the Śuddhāvāsa realm such as Maheśvara, Suvrata, and the rest, saying, “Gods, listen well, pay attention, and I will teach. The Thus-Gone One, in order in future times to gather a fourfold retinue, look after them, care for them in all manner of ways, and cause them to advance, to bring those who possess all the teachings and their meanings to perfection, and to bring all who are properly established in the Great Vehicle to specific attainment in all its aspects, teaches and explains the dhāraṇī discourse called The Buddha’s Essence. You should retain it and, both now and in future times after I have passed into parinirvāṇa, teach and explain it to all members of the fourfold retinue who are properly established in the Great Vehicle. Never forsake it, and always teach it and promote it. As long as there are beings who are destitute and affected by the obscurations, you should preserve the teaching of the Thus-Gone One for them, teach it, and promote it.”
1.3世尊對淨居天的諸天眾，包括大自在天、善戒等，說道：「諸天，你們要仔細聽好，把注意力集中起來，我將為你們宣說。如來為了在未來的時代能夠聚集四眾弟子，照顧他們，以各種方式對他們關懷備至，並使他們進步，要將具足所有法義的人帶領到圓滿，並使所有正確確立在大乘中的人都達到各方面的究竟成就，特意宣說和解釋這部名叫《佛陀本質》的陀羅尼教法。你們應當受持它，在我般涅槃後的當今和未來時代，都要為所有正確確立在大乘中的四眾弟子宣說和解釋它。永遠不要放棄它，要常常宣說它和弘揚它。只要還有被貧困和障礙所困擾的眾生存在，你們就應當為他們保護如來的教法，為他們宣說它，並弘揚它。」
1.4The gods replied, “Blessed One, we will do just that. We will sincerely and perfectly carry out the Thus-Gone One’s command.”
1.4諸天回答說：「世尊，我們必定如此。我們將真誠而圓滿地執行如來的命令。」
1.5The Blessed One addressed them, saying, “Gods, this is the Dharma discourse called The Buddha’s Essence:
1.5世尊對他們說："諸天，這是名叫《佛陀本質》的法教："
tadyathā amale nirmale sarvākārārthapariprāpte asamantasarvakunākāre tryadhvāsaṅgānāvṛte samantadaśadiśaparipūrṇajñāne sarvāsaṅgadarśanaprāpte sarvadharmam aviśataparipūrṇe sarvākārasaṅgasamanvite samantāpra [F.30.b] [F.47.b] tihatateje tryadhvadaśasu dikṣupariprāptārthe śānta-prāśanta-upaśānta-samaśānta-vimokṣānuprāpte supratibuddhadharmadhātu atyantasunisrite sarvākāraniḥsaraṇa anavaśeṣaparaṅgate vipramukta asaṁyoga viprayoga-sthite dharmate gaganasama-prakṛtipariśuddha-nirmale asamanta-tryadhvānugata-suprāpte pūrvānta-aparanta madhyatryadhvasamantānuprapte anavaśeṣa parijñāprahana-bhavana-sakṣātkriyaparamaparaṅgate yathāvati tathākāri sarvākārasaṁpanne sarvākāramahā maitrimahākaruṇā sarvākārasamasagrahānuprāpte
（咒語不翻）
1.6“Gods, this is the dhāraṇī discourse called The Buddha’s Essence. If noble sons or daughters from the fourfold community who are properly established in the Great Vehicle wear it on their bodies, recite it well, and uphold it, they will never give rise to inferior mental states. The Thus-Gone One will likewise remain with them, seated above the crowns of their heads. Some will certainly see the Buddha, some will hear him teach, some will become Dharma teachers, and some will gain the dhāraṇī power of not forgetting. Students who are on the path will never have that path interrupted, and they will have a continual stream of Dharma teachers. They will understand everything, never forget it, and be only one birth away from awakening. With those qualities, they will gain the power of retaining the entire ocean of knowledge. They will receive all the attainments, beginning with acceptance of the fact that phenomena do not arise up to becoming fully liberated, perfect buddhas who are free from obscurations. You gods will understand the meaning of my teachings in this lifetime. You should teach it and promote it among the sons and daughters of the lineage. [F.31.a] [F.48.a] Do not cast it aside, do not forsake it, and do not forget it!”
1.6「諸天，這是名為《佛陀本質》的陀羅尼教說。若四眾弟子中妥善建立在大乘中的善男子或善女人將其佩戴在身體上，諷誦良好並受持它，他們將永遠不會生起下劣的心理狀態。如來同樣會與他們同在，坐在他們的頭頂上。有些人必定會見到佛陀，有些人會聽聞他教導，有些人會成為法師，有些人會獲得不忘失的陀羅尼力量。在道路上的學生們將永遠不會中斷那條道路，他們會有源源不斷的法師。他們將理解一切，永遠不會忘記，並且只相隔一生就能證得菩提。具有這些特質，他們將獲得保持整個知識海洋的力量。他們將接受所有的成就，從無生法忍開始直到成為完全解脫、圓滿的佛陀，免於一切障礙。諸天你們在今生將理解我教導的意義。你們應當在族姓的善男子和善女人中教導和推廣它。不要拋棄它，不要放棄它，不要忘記它！」
1.7The gods responded, “Blessed One, we shall do just as you have said. We will teach and explain the Blessed One’s dhāraṇī discourse called The Buddha’s Essence to the fourfold assembly, without hesitation, in its entirety. We will teach it and promote it among noble sons and daughters. It will be just as the Thus-Gone One has said. We will fully comprehend the Thus-Gone One’s holy Dharma, and for the noble sons and daughters will be of great meaning and something of great benefit.”
1.7眾天神回答說：「世尊，我們會如同您所說的一樣去做。我們將毫不猶豫地、完整地向四眾弟子宣講和解釋世尊所說的名為《佛陀本質》的陀羅尼論述。我們將在高貴的兒女中宣講和推廣它。一切都將如如來所說的那樣。我們將充分理解如來聖潔的法，這對高貴的兒女將具有偉大的意義和巨大的利益。」
1.8The Blessed One replied, “That is why you gods must do as I have said. This is the teaching that I give to you.”
1.8世尊說道：「正因為如此，你們諸天必須按照我所說的去做。這就是我給你們的教法。」
1.9After the Blessed One had spoken, the gods of the Śuddhāvāsa realm such as Maheśvara and Suvrata, along with the entire assembly, praised the Blessed One’s words.
1.9世尊說法完畢後，淨居天的大自在天、善戒等眾多天神和整個集會都讚歎了世尊的言教。
1.10This concludes “The Dhāraṇī of the Buddha’s Essence.”
1.10（結尾）