②The Infinite Meanings Sutra – Chapter 2: Innumerable meanings come from a single law

Today, let’s read the second chapter, “Innumerable meanings come from a single law,” from the Muryogikyo, the first part of the Lotus Sutra.

*Easy summary of this chapter is available below.

Opening Chant of Sutra

The Infinite Meanings Sutra – Chapter 2: Innumerable meanings come from a single law (Main Text)

爾時大莊嚴菩薩摩訶薩與八萬菩薩摩訶薩。説是偈讃佛已倶白佛言。世尊。我等八萬菩薩之衆。今者欲於如來法中有所諮問。不審世尊。垂愍聽不。佛告大莊嚴菩薩及八萬菩薩言。善哉善哉善男子。善知是時。恣汝所問。如來不久當般涅槃。涅槃之後普令一切無復餘疑。欲何所問便可説也。於是大莊嚴菩薩與八萬菩薩。即共同聲白佛言。世尊。菩薩摩訶薩欲得疾成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。應當修行何等法門。何等法門。能令菩薩摩訶薩疾成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。佛告大莊嚴菩薩及八萬菩薩言。善男子。有一法門。能令菩薩疾得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。若有菩薩學是法門者。則能疾得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。世尊。是法門者。號字何等其義云何。菩薩云何修行。佛言。善男子。是一法門。名爲無量義。菩薩欲得修學無量義者。應當觀察一切諸法。自本來今性相空寂。無大無小無生無滅。非住非動不進不退。猶如虚空無有二法。而諸衆生虚妄横計。是此是彼是得是失。起不善念造衆惡業。輪迴六趣備諸苦毒。無量億劫不能自出。菩薩摩訶薩如是諦觀。生憐愍心發大慈悲將欲救拔。又復深入一切諸法。法相如是生如是法。法相如是住如是法。法相如是異如是法。法相如是滅如是法。法相如是能生惡法。法相如是能生善法。住異滅者亦復如是。菩薩如是觀察四相始末。悉遍知已。次復諦觀一切諸法。念念不住新新生滅。復觀即時生住異滅。如是觀已。而入衆生諸根性欲。性欲無量故。説法無量。説法無量義亦無量。無量義者。從一法生。其一法者。即無相也。如是無相。無相不相。不相無相。名爲實相。菩薩摩訶薩安住如是眞實相已。所發慈悲明諦不虚。於衆生所眞能拔苦。苦既拔已。復爲説法。令諸衆生受於快樂。善男子。菩薩若能如是修一法門無量義者。必得疾成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。善男子。如是甚深無上大乘無量義經。文理眞正尊無過上。三世諸佛所共守護。無有衆魔群道得入。不爲一切邪見生死之所壞敗。是故善男子。菩薩摩訶薩若欲疾成無上菩提。應當修學如是甚深無上大乘無量義經。 爾時大莊嚴菩薩復白佛言。世尊。世尊説法不可思議。衆生根性亦不可思議。法門解脱亦不可思議。我等於佛所説諸法。無復疑惑。而諸衆生生迷惑心故重諮問。世尊。自從如來得道已來四十餘年。常爲衆生演説諸法四相之義。苦義空義無常無我。無大無小無生無滅。一切無相。法性法相本來空寂不來不去不出不沒。若有聞者。或得煖法頂法世第一法須陀洹果斯陀含果阿那含果阿羅漢果辟支佛道。發菩提心登第一地第二第三至第十地。往日所説諸法之義。與今所説有何等異。而言甚深無上大乘無量義經。菩薩修行必得疾成無上菩提。是事云何。唯願世尊。慈愍一切。廣爲衆生而分別之。普令現在及未來世有聞法者無餘疑網。於是佛告大莊嚴菩薩。善哉善哉大善男子。能問如來如是甚深無上大乘微妙之義。當知汝能多所利益。安樂人天拔苦衆生。眞大慈悲信實不虚。以是因縁必得疾成無上菩提。亦令一切今世來世諸有衆生得成無上菩提。善男子。自我道場菩提樹下端坐六年。得成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。以佛眼觀一切諸法不可宣説。所以者何。以諸衆生性欲不同。性欲不同種種説法。種種説法以方便力。四十餘年未曾顯實。是故衆生得道差別。不得疾成無上菩提。善男子。法譬如水能洗垢穢若井若池若江若河溪渠大海。皆悉能洗諸有垢穢。其法水者亦復如是。能洗衆生諸煩惱垢。善男子。水性是一。江河井池溪渠大海。各各別異。其法性者亦復如是。洗除塵勞等無差別。三法四果二道不一。善男子。水雖倶洗。而井非池。池非江河。溪渠非海。而如來世雄於法自在。所説諸法亦復如是。初中後説。皆能洗除衆生煩惱。而初非中。而中非後。初中後説。文辭雖一而義各異。善男子。我起樹王詣波羅奈鹿野園中。爲阿若拘隣等五人轉四諦法輪時。亦説諸法本來空寂代謝不住念念生滅。中間於此及以處處爲諸比丘并衆菩薩。辯演宣説十二因縁六波羅蜜。亦説諸法本來空寂代謝不住念念生滅。今復於此演説大乘無量義經。亦説諸法本來空寂代謝不住念念生滅。善男子。是故初説中説今説。文辭是一而義差異。義異故。衆生解異。解異故。得法得果得道亦異。善男子。初説四諦。爲求聲聞人。而八億諸天來下聽法。發菩提心。中於處處演説甚深十二因縁。爲求辟支佛人。而無量衆生發菩提心。或住聲聞。次説方等十二部經摩訶般若華嚴海雲。演説菩薩歴劫修行。而百千比丘萬億人天無量得須陀洹得斯陀含得阿那含得阿羅漢。住辟支佛因縁法中。善男子。以是義故。故知説同而義別異。義異故。衆生解異。解異故。得法得果得道亦異。是故善男子。自我得道初起説法至于今日。演説大乘無量義經。未曾不説苦空無常無我。非眞非假非大非小本來不然。今亦不滅一切無相。法相法性不來不去。而衆生四相所遷。善男子。以是義故。諸佛無有二言。能以一音普應衆聲。能以一身。示百千萬億那由他無量無數恒河沙身。一一身中。又示若干百千萬億那由他阿僧祇恒河沙種種類形。一一形中。又示若干百千萬億那由他阿僧祇恒河沙形。善男子。是則諸佛不可思議甚深境界。非二乘所知。亦非十住菩薩所及。唯佛與佛乃能究了。善男子。是故我説微妙甚深無上大乘無量義經。文理眞正尊無過上。三世諸佛所共守護。無有衆魔外道得入。不爲一切邪見生死之所壞敗。菩薩摩訶薩若欲疾成無上菩提。應當修學如是甚深無上大乘無量義經。佛説是已。於是三千大千世界六種震動。自然空中雨種種花。天憂鉢羅華鉢曇摩華拘物頭華分陀利華。又雨無數種種天香天衣天瓔珞天無價寶。於上空中旋轉來下。供養於佛及諸菩薩聲聞大衆。天厨天鉢器。天百味充滿盈溢。天幢天幡天幰蓋天妙樂具處處安置。作天伎樂歌歎於佛。又復六種震動。東方恒河沙等諸佛世界。亦雨天華天香天衣天瓔珞天無價寶。天厨天鉢器天百味。天幢天幡天幰蓋天妙樂具作天伎樂。歌歎彼佛及彼菩薩聲聞大衆。南西北方四維上下亦復如是。於是衆中三萬二千菩薩摩訶薩得無量義三昧。三萬四千菩薩摩訶薩得無數無量陀羅尼門。能轉一切三世諸佛不退轉法輪。其諸比丘比丘尼優婆塞優婆夷。天龍夜叉乾闥婆阿修羅迦樓羅緊那羅摩睺羅伽。大轉輪王小轉輪王銀輪鐵輪諸轉輪王。國王王子國臣國民。國士國女國大長者。及諸眷屬百千衆倶。聞佛如來説是經時。或得煖法頂法世間第一法須陀洹果。斯陀含果阿那含果阿羅漢果辟支佛果。又得菩薩無生法忍。又得一陀羅尼又得二陀羅尼。又得三陀羅尼。又得四陀羅尼五六七八九十陀羅尼。又得百千萬億陀羅尼。又得無量無數恒河沙阿僧祇陀羅尼。皆能隨順轉不退轉法輪。無量衆生發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心。nijidaishougombosatsumakasatsu。yohachimambosatsumakasatsu。setsegesanbutchi。kubyakubutsugon。seson。gatouhachimambosatsushishu。konjayokuoniyoraihochuuushoshimon。fushinsesonsuiminchouf。butsugoudaishougombosatsu。gyuuhachimambosatsugon。zenzaizenzainanshi,zenchizeji。shinnyoshoshon。nyoraifuku。touhatsunehan。nehanshigofuryouissai。mubuyogiyokugashomon。benkasesshi。ozedaishougombosatsu。yohachimambosatsu。sokugudoushou。byakubutsugonseson。bosatsumakasatsu。yokutokushitsujou。anokutarasanmyakusanbodai。outoushugyou。gatouhoumon。gatouhoumon。nouryoubosatsumakasatsu。shitsujouanokutarasanmyakusanbodai。butsugoudaishougombosatsu。gyuuhachimambosatsugon。zennanshi。uichihoumon。nouryoubosatsu。shittokujouanokutarasanmyakusanbodai。nyakuubosatsu。gakuzehoumonsha。sokunoutokuanokutarasanmyakusanbodai。sesonzehoumonsha。goujigatou。gogiuunga。bosatsuungashugyou。butsugonzennanshi。zeiichihoumon。myouimuryougi。bosatsuyokutokushugaku。muryougisha。outoukanzatsu。issaishohou。jihonraikon。shousoukuujaku。mudaimushou。mushoumumetsu。hijuuhidou。fushinfutai。yunyokokuu。muunihou。nishoshuujou。komououke。zeshizehi。zetokuzeshitsu。kifuzennen。zoushuakugourinnerokushu。jushokudoku。muryouokkou。funoujishutsu。bosatsumakasatsu。nyozetaikan。shourenminshin。hotsudaijihi。shouyokukubatsu。ubujinnyuu。issaishohou。hossounyoze。shounyozehou。hossounyose。juunyozehou。hossounyoze。inyozehou。hossounyoze。metsunyozehou。hossounyoze。noushouakuhou。hossounyoze。noushouzenbou。juuimessha。yakubunyoze。bosatsunyoze。kansatsushisoushimatsu。shitsuhenchii。shibutaikan。issaishohou。nennnenfujyuu。shinshinshoumetsu。bukansokuji。shoujuuimetsu。nyozekanni。ninyuushujou。shokonnshouyoku。shouyokumuryouko。seppoumuryou。seppoumuryouko。giyakumuryou。muryougisha。juuippoushou。goippousha。sokumusouya。nyozemusou。musoufusou。fusoumusou。myouijissou。bosatsumakasatsu。anjuunyoze。shinjissoui。shohotsujihi。myoutaifuko。oshujousho。shinnoubakku。kukibacchi。buiseppou。ryoushoshuujou。juokeraku。zennanshi。bosatsunyakunounyoze。shuissaihoumon。muryougisha。hittokushitsujou。anokutarasanmyakusanbodai。zennanshi。nyozejinjin。mujoudaijou。muryougikyou。monrishinshou。sonmukajou。sanzeshobutsu。shogushugo。muushuma。gundoutokunyuu。fuiissai。jakenshouji。shishoehai。zekozennanshi。bosatsumakasatsu。nyakuyokushitsujou。mujoubodai。outoushugaku。nyozejinjin。mujoudaijou。muryougikyou。

nijidaishougombosatsu。bubyakubutsugonseson。sesonseppou。fukashigi。shujoukonjou。yakufukashigi。houmongedatsu。yakufukashigi。gatouobutsu。shosetsushohou。mubuginan。nishoshuujou。shoumeiwakushin。kojyuushiseson。jijuunyorai。tokudouirai。shijuuyonen。jouishujou。enzetsushohou。shisoushigi。kugikuugi。mujyoumuga。mudaimushou。mushoumumetsu。issoumusou。hosshouhossou。honraikuujaku。furaifuko。fushutsufumotsu。nyakuumonja。wakutokunanpouchoubou。sedaiippou。shudaonga。shidagonga。anagonga。arakanga。hyakushibutsudou。hotsubodaishin。toudaichiji。dainiji。daisanji。shidaijuuji。ounichishosetsu。shohoushigi。yokonshosetsu。ugatoui。nigonjinjin。mujoudaijou。muryougikyou。bosatsushugyou。hittokushitsujou。mujoubodai。zejiunga。yuiganseson。jiaiissai。kouishujou。nifunbesshi。furyougenzai。gyuumiraise。umonbousha。muyogimou。ozebutugou。daishougombosatsu。zenzaizenzai。dainanshi。noumonnyorai。nyozejinjin。mujoudaijou。mimyoushigi。touchinyonou。tashoriyaku。anrakuninden。bakkushujou。shindaijihi。shinjitsufuko。izeinnen。hittokushitsujou。mujoubodai。yakuryouissai。konzeraise。shoushujou。tokudjoumujoubodai。zennanshi。gasendoujou。bodaijuge。tanzarokunen。tokudjouanokutarasanmyakusanbodai。ibutsugenkan。issaishohou。fukasenzetsu。shoishaga。chishoshujou。shouyokufudou。shouyokufudou。shujuseppou。shujuseppou。ihoubenriki。shijuuyonen。mikenshinjuu。zekoshujou。tokudoushabetsu。futokushitsujou。mujoubodai。zennanshi。houhinyosui。nousenkue。nyakushounyakuchi。nyakukounyakuga。keikodaikai。kaishitsunousen。shoukue。gohousuisha。yakubunyoze。nousenshujou。shobonnouku。zennanshi。suishouzeichi。kougashouchi。keikodaikai。kakkakubetchi。gohosshousha。yakubunyoze。senjojinnrou。toumushabetsu。sanboushika。nifudoufuitchi。zennanshi。suisuikusen。nishouhichi。chihikouga。keikohikai。nyonyoraiseou。ohoujizai。shosetsushohou。yakubunyoze。shochuugosetsu。kainousenjo。shujoubonnou。nishohichuu。nichuuhigo。shokufugosetsu。monjisuiichi。nigikakui。zennanshi。gakijuuou。keiharanai。rokuyaonchuu。ianyakurinntougonin。tenshitaihourinji。yakusetsushohou。honraikuujaku。daishafujyuu。nennnenshoumetsu。chuugenoshi。gyuishosho。ishibiku。byoushubosatsu。benensenzetsu。juuniinnen。rokuharamitsu。yakusetsushohou。honraikuujaku。daishafujyuu。nennnenshoumetsu。konbuoshi。enzetsudaijou。muryougikyou。yakusetsushohou。honraikuujaku。daishafujyuu。nennnenshoumetsu。zennanshi。zekoshosetsu。chuusetsugosetsu。monjizeichi。nigibetchi。giiko。shujougei。geiko。tokuhoutokka。tokudouyakui。zennanshi。shosetsushitai。igushoumonnin。nihachiokushoten。raigechoubou。hotsubodaishin。chuuoshosho。enzetsujinjin。juuniinnen。iguhyakushibutsunin。nimuryoushujou。hotsubodaishin。wakujuushoumon。shisetsuhoudou。juunibukyou。makahannya。kegonkaikuu。senzetsubosatsu。ryakkoushugyou。nihyakusenbiku。mannokuninden。muryoushujou。tokushuudaon。tokushidagon。tokuanagon。tokuarakanga。juuhyakushibutsu。innenhouchuu。zennanshi。izegiko。kochisetsudou。nigibetchi。giiko。shujougei。geiko。tokuhoutokka。tokudouyakui。zekozennanshi。jigatokudou。shokisetsupou。shiukonnichi。enzetsudaijou。muryougikyou。mizoufusetsu。kukuumujyoumuga。hishinhike。hidaihishou。honraifushou。konnyakufumetsu。issoumusou。hossouhosshou。furaifuko。nishoshuujou。shisoushosen。zennanshi。izegiko。issaishobutsu。muunigon。nouiiitton。fuoushushou。nouiiisshin。jihyakusenmannoku。nayuta。muryoumushu。gougashashin。ichiichishinnjuu。ujinyakkan。hyakusenmannoku。nayuta。asougi。gougasha。shujuruigyou。ichiichigyoujuu。ujinyakkan。hyakusenmannoku。nayutaasougi。gougashagyou。zennanshi。zesokushobutsu。fukashigi。jinjinkyougai。hinijoushochi。yakuhijuujyuubosasshogyu。yuibutsuyobutsu。nainoukuryou。zennanshi。zekogasetsu。mimyoujinjin。mujoudaijou。muryougikyou。monrishinshou。sonmukajou。sanzeshobutsu。shogushugo。muushuma。gedoutokunyuu。fuiissai。jakenshouji。shishoehai。bosatsumakasatsu。nyakuyokushitsujou。mujoubodai。outoushugaku。nyozejinjin。mujoudaijou。muryougikyou。bussetsuzei。ozesanzendaizenzekai。rokushushindou。jinennkuujuu。ushujutenge。tenuhatsurake。hadomake。kumotsuzukefundarike。uumushu。shujutenkoutennetenyouraku。tenmugehou。ojoukuujuu。sentenraige。kuyouobutsu。gisshobosatsu。shoumondaishu。tenchuutenbakki。tenhyakumijiki。juumanyouitsu。tendoutenban。tenkongai。tenmyougakugu。shoshoanshiｈ。satenigaku。katanobutsu。uburokushushindou。toubougougashatou。shobutsusekai。yakutenge。tenkounenne。tenyouraku。tenmugehou。tenchuutenbakki。tenhyakumi。tendoutenban。tenkongai。tenmyougakugu。satenigaku。katanhibutsu。gyuuhibosatsu。shoumondaishu。nanihoppou。shiyuijouge。yakubunyoze。ozeshujyuu。sanmannisen。bosatsumakasatsu。tokumuryougisanmai。sanmanshisen。bosatsumakasatsu。tokumushumuryou。daranimon。noutenissai。sanzeshobutsu。futaihourin。goshobikubikuni。ubasokuubai。tenryuuyasha。kendatsuba。ashura。karura。kinnara。magoraga。daitenrinnou。shoutenrinnou。gonrintetchirin。shorinshiou。kokuououji。kokujinkokumin。kokujikokunyo。kokudaichouja。gisshokenzoku。hyakusenshuku。monbutsunyorai。setsuzekyouji。wakutokunanpouchoubou。sekendaiippou。shudaonga。shidagonka。anagonka。arakanga。hyakushibutsuka。utokubosatsu。mushoubounin。utokuichidarani。utokunidarani。utokusandarani。utokushidarani。gorokushichihachikujyuudarani。utokuhyakusenmannokudarani。utokumuryoumushu。gougashaasougi。darani。kainouzuijun。tenfutaitenbourin。muryoushujou。hotsuanokutarasanmyakusanbodaishin。

The Infinite Meanings Sutra – Chapter 2: Innumerable meanings come from a single law (Summary)

After reciting the verses praising the Buddha, Bodhisattva Mahasangalore next asked a question.

“What kind of practice can we undergo to attain enlightenment?”

The Buddha then replied,

“Study the teachings of the infinite meaning.”

The Buddha explained the “teachings of the infinite meaning” as follows:

Everything in this world does not exist in categories such as past, present, and future,
big and small, birth and destruction,
or staying still and moving, moving forward and going backward.

All of these things inherently exist in the concept of “nothingness.”

We tend to think of things in terms of specific categories.

However, it is these boundaries that give rise to worries and conflicts.

When something occurs, it may disappear immediately,
or it may exist for a while.
However, it will eventually change form and eventually disappear.

For example, we are born from our mothers, live, grow old, decline, and one day die.
When we put birth, aging, sickness, and death into words, it seems like we can draw a line between these four states,
but these four states do not exist separately.
It is impossible to draw a line between them.

Various horizontal relationships have existed since time immemorial,
and as each thing influences the others,
something is born, perishes, or changes.
Because of this,
the states we see and hear cannot be placed into specific categories.

And yet people try so hard to draw lines,
saying this is this and that, this is a gain and this is a loss.
Because they arbitrarily divide our true nature, which cannot be separated,
they hold mistaken views and engage in bad deeds.
And so we are born and die, die and be born again,
and are unable to escape the cycle of reincarnation, suffering and disaster.

It is impossible to draw lines between all the things in this world, the existence of all things in the universe.
This is called “infinite.” It is something so large that it cannot be measured.

And the very nature of this “infinite” is “infinite meaning.”
“Infinite meaning” refers to the principle behind the existence of “infinite.”
If you study this well, you will be able to attain enlightenment swiftly.

Mahasamatra Bodhisattva continued with a question.

“Buddha, you have been preaching to us for over 40 years since you attained enlightenment.Is there any difference between the teachings you have preached up until now and the teaching of infinite meaning that you are preaching now?”

The Buddha replied that there is no difference.

Six years after sitting under the Bodhi tree,
I finally attained the supreme wisdom of a Buddha.
When I look at the world with this wisdom,
I realize that all things are infinite, that is, have limitless existence.

The way in which all things exist together is so amazing that it is impossible to describe it in words.
Furthermore, the hearts of people are intricately intertwined with this.

In the 40 years since I attained enlightenment, I have preached in accordance with the differences in people’s hearts.
I have taught that things always exist as “emptiness,”
that there is only one vast sky,
and that it is important to let go of attachment.

People’s personalities, sufferings, and ways of understanding are infinitely different,
so even when I explain the same thing, there will be differences in understanding.

As a result, you may feel that the teachings I have preached so far are diverse.

However, the teachings I have preached so far are teachings of “infinite meaning.”

Let me compare my teachings to a single drop of water.
Water exists in wells, rivers, valleys, and oceans,
but a well is not a river, and a valley is not an ocean.
But water from anywhere can cleanse us of impurities.

The shape of a drop of water changes from moment to moment. It becomes rain and evaporates.
There are no boundaries to it, but it exists.
A single drop flows into a river, becomes a cloud, and, changing shape, becomes the vast universe,
and reveals countless incarnations.
A single drop is countless.

The true teaching that washes away people’s suffering is just like this single drop.

The form of existence is not constant,
and it cannot be distinguished by type or demarcated by boundaries,
but it remains the one true teaching.

When the millions of people present heard the Buddha’s words,
they sincerely desired to receive this one true teaching.

Dedication Verse from Lotus Sutra

Bibliography

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