《大佛顶首楞严经》卷第六：四种决定清净明诲章：序
[The] Great Buddha’s Crown’s Śūraṅgama Sūtra’s Sixth Scroll: Section [On] Four Kinds [Of] Clear [And] Definitive Instructions [On] Purity’s Preface
[公元 705 年] 唐中天竺沙门般剌密帝译
[In 705 C.E. By] Táng [Dynasty’s] Central [North] India’s Śramaṇa Pāramiti Translated [To Chinese]
公元 2021 年释迦牟尼佛圣诞（农历四月初四）优婆塞沈时安译
[In] 2021 C.E. [On] Śākyamuni Buddha’s Sacred Birthday (4th Day Of 4th Lunar Month) [By] Upāsakā Shěn Shí’ān Translated [To English]
[For ease of detailed studying and editing, square brackets show necessary connective words used in translation, to be removed for final published version later. Suggestions are welcome for more precise choice of words. Námó Āmítuófó.]
阿难整衣服，于大众中合掌顶礼。心迹圆明，悲欣交集。欲益未来诸众生故，稽首白佛：「大悲世尊，我今已悟成佛法门，是中修行得无疑惑。
Ānanda [1] tidied [his] robes [2], [and] within [the] great assembly [3], joined [his] palms [and] prostrated [4]. [His] mind’s traces [were] completely clear, [with] sorrow [and] joy mixed together [5]. Desiring [to] benefit all future sentient beings thus, [he] prostrated [and] spoke [to the] Buddha, ‘Great compassionate World-Honoured [One] [6], I [have] now already awakened [to the] Dharma Door [7] [for] accomplishing Buddhahood [8], [and on] this cultivation [of] practice within, attained [that] without doubts [and] confusion [9].
常闻如来说如是言：『自未得度先度人者，菩萨发心。自觉已圆能觉他者，如来应世。』我虽未度，愿度末劫一切众生。
[I] often hear [the] Thus Come [One] [10] thus speak, [that] “Those [with] themselves yet [to] attain deliverance [11], [who] first deliver others, [are with] Bodhisattvas’ aspiration [12]. Those self-awakened already, [who are] able [to] perfectly awaken others, [are] Thus Come [Ones, who] manifest [in the] world.” I, although yet [to be] delivered, aspire [to] deliver all [of the Dharma-]Ending Age’s [13] sentient beings [14].
世尊，此诸众生，去佛渐远。邪师说法，如恒河沙。欲摄其心入三摩地，云何令其安立道场，远诸魔事，于菩提心得无退屈？」
World-Honoured [One], all these sentient beings, [will] leave [the] Buddha [to] gradually [become] distant. Evil teachers [who] speak the [false] Dharma, [will be] like [the] Ganges River’s sands [15]. Desiring [to] gather their minds [to] enter Samādhi [16], how should they [be] enabled [to] peacefully establish places [to realise the] path, [to be] far [from] all demonic matters, [and] for [the] Bodhi Mind [17] attain non-retrogression [18] [19]?’
尔时，世尊于大众中，称赞阿难：「善哉！善哉！如汝所问，安立道场，救护众生，末劫沉溺，汝今谛听，当为汝说。」
At that time, [the] World-Honoured [One], within [the] great assembly, praised Ānanda, ‘Excellent! Excellent! With regard to that you [have] asked, [on] peacefully establishing places [to realise the] path, [to] save [and] protect sentient beings [during the Dharma-]Ending Age [from] sinking [and] drowning [20], you [should] now attentively listen, [as I] will for you speak [about it].’
阿难大众，唯然奉教。
Ānanda [and the] great assembly promised [that they will] only reverently receive [the] teachings [21].
字汇，小结，注解
Glossary, Summaries And Notes:
[1] Ānanda (阿难): The Buddha’s personal attendant monk, here representing the audience, including us.
[2] Tidied his robes (整衣): by straightening them after rising from being seated.
[3] Great assembly (大众): of monks and nuns, laymen and laywomen.
[4] Joined his palms and prostrated (合掌顶礼): to express great reverence.
[5] With sorrow and joy mixed together (悲欣交集): With joy for his mind becoming clear now, but sorrow for sentient beings in the future, who might not have similar opportunities to clarify their minds through the Buddha’s teachings.
[6] World-Honoured One (世尊): Śākyamuni Buddha (释迦牟尼佛)
[7] Dharma Door (法门): Method of spiritual practice
[8] Accomplishing Buddhahood (成佛): Attain complete liberation (解脱) and awakening (觉悟); full enlightenment of Buddhahood (佛果).
[9] Summary (1): For the spiritual well-being of sentient beings in our time and beyond, Ānanda (阿难), with his mind clarified, reverently prepared to ask the Buddha about how we can be benefitted like him.
[10] Thus Come One (如来): The Buddha, who ‘as if came’ to be, from awakening of always present Buddha-nature (佛性); potential for Buddhahood.
[11] Deliverance (度): Liberation (解脱) from rebirth (轮回)
[12] Bodhisattvas’ aspiration (菩萨发心): Bodhi Mind (菩提心: Bodhicitta); the vow to guide one and all to Buddhahood (佛果).
[13] Dharma-Ending Age (末劫；末法时期): This current period of 10,000 years we are in, when the quality of the Right Dharma (正法) being taught, learnt, practised and realised is in general decline.
[14] Summary (2): Beginner Bodhisattvas (菩萨) aspire to deliver others while delivering themselves. On this path of practice, becoming advanced Bodhisattvas, they will be able to deliver themselves, while continuing to deliver others. Becoming Buddhas, who are perfected Bodhisattvas, and are completely liberated, they will be able to manifest in many places to perfectly deliver others.
[15] Ganges River’s sands (恒河沙): These fine sand grains are used to represent the innumerable.
[16] Samādhi (三摩地): Meditative concentration (禅定) for progress towards attainment of wisdom (智慧).
[17] Bodhi Mind (菩提心): Aspiration for guiding one and all to Budhahood (佛果).
[18] Non-retrogression (无退屈): Stage of not retreating from progress to Buddhahood (佛果).
[19] Summary (3): Sentient beings in this Dharma-Ending Age (末法时期) will be increasingly distant from the Buddha’s teachings, while evil teachers (邪师) who teach the Buddha’s teachings wrongly will proliferate greatly. Thus these will make it more difficult to encounter the Right Dharma (正法), to avoid demonic matters (魔事), and give rise to non-retrogressible (不退转) Bodhi Mind (菩提心).
[20] Sinking and drowning (沉溺): in the suffering ocean of birth and death (生死苦海): the vast cycle of rebirth with suffering due to repetitive birth, ageing, sickness and death.
[21] Summary (4): The Buddha will be teaching how to practise the Right Dharma to enter Samādhi (三摩地) for realising Buddhahood (佛果). With the following teachings, we will be able to protect ourselves from wrong teachings, and liberate from rebirth in this Dharma-Ending Age. Just as all in the assembly said they would attentively receive these teachings, so should we now.
Namo Amituofo : Translation, glossary, summaries and notes by Shen Shi’an
下个戒条
Next Precept:
第一重戒
[1] The First Heavy Precept
https://purelanders.com/2021/05/21/first-heavy-precept
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