①The Infinite Meanings Sutra – Chapter 1: Meritorious Deeds

This time, let’s read the first chapter, “Virtue,” from the Muryogikyo, the first part of the Lotus Sutra.

*This time, we are not reading the entire Lotus Sutra, so the meaning is only summarized.

Opening Chant of Sutra

The Infinite Meanings Sutra – Chapter 1: Meritorious Deeds (Main Text)

如是我聞。一時佛。住王舍城耆闍崛山中。與大比丘衆。萬二千人倶。菩薩摩訶薩。八萬人。天龍夜叉。乾闥婆。阿修羅。迦樓羅。緊那羅。摩睺羅伽。諸比丘比丘尼。及優婆塞。優婆夷倶。大轉輪王。小轉輪王。金輪銀輪。諸輪之王。國王王子。國臣國民。國士國女。國大長者。各與眷屬。百千萬數。而自圍遶。來詣佛所。頭面禮足。遶百千匝。燒香散華。種種供養已。退一面坐。其菩薩。名曰文殊師利法王子。大威徳藏法王子。無憂藏法王子。大辯藏法王子。彌勒菩薩。導首菩薩。藥王菩薩。藥上菩薩花幢菩薩。花光幢菩薩。陀羅尼自在王菩薩。觀世音菩薩。大勢至菩薩。常精進菩薩。寳印手菩薩。寶積菩薩。寶杖菩薩。越三界菩薩。毘摩跋羅菩薩。香象菩薩。大香象菩薩。師子吼王菩薩。師子遊戲世菩薩。師子奮迅菩薩。師子精進菩薩。勇鋭力菩薩。師子威猛伏菩薩。莊嚴菩薩。大莊嚴菩薩。如是等菩薩摩訶薩。八萬人倶。是諸菩薩。莫不皆是。法身大士。戒定慧解脱。解脱知見。之所成就。其心禪寂。常在三昧。恬安惔怕。無爲無欲。顛倒亂想。不復得八。靜寂清澄志玄虚漠。守之不動。億百千劫。無量法門。悉現在前。得大智慧。通達諸法。曉了分別。性相眞實。有無長短。明現顯白。又能善知。諸根性欲。以陀羅尼。無礙辯才。請佛轉法輪。隨順能轉。微渧先墮。以淹欲塵。開涅槃門。扇解脱風。除世惱熱。致法清涼。次降甚深。十二因縁。用灑無明。老病死等。猛盛熾然。苦聚日光。爾乃洪注。無上大乘。潤漬衆生。諸有善根。布善種子。遍功徳田。普令一切。發菩提萌。智慧日月。方便時節。扶踈増長。大乘事業。令衆疾成。阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。常住快樂微妙眞實。無量大悲。救苦衆生。是諸衆生。眞善知識。是諸衆生。大良福田。是諸衆生。不請之師。是諸衆生。安隱樂處。救處護處。大依止處。處處爲衆。作大良導師。大導師。能爲生盲。而作眼目。聾劓唖者。作耳鼻舌。諸根毀缺。能令具足。顛狂荒亂。作大正念。船師大船師。運載群生。渡生死河。置涅槃岸。醫王大醫王。分別病相。曉了藥性。隨病授藥令衆樂服。調御大調御。無諸放逸行。猶如象馬師。能調無不調。師子勇猛威伏衆獸。難可沮壞。遊戲菩薩。諸波羅蜜。於如來地。堅固不動。安住願力。廣淨佛國。不久得成。阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。是諸菩薩摩訶薩。皆有如斯。不思議徳。其比丘。名曰大智舍利弗。神通目揵連。慧命須菩提。摩訶迦旃延。彌多羅尼子。富樓那。阿若憍陳如等。天眼阿那律。持律憂波離。侍者阿難。佛子羅云。憂波難陀。離婆多。劫賓那。薄拘羅。阿周陀。莎伽陀。頭陀大迦葉。憂樓頻螺迦葉。伽耶迦葉。那提迦葉。如是等比丘。萬二千人。皆阿羅漢。盡諸結漏。無復縛著。眞正解脱。爾時大莊嚴菩薩摩訶薩。遍觀衆坐。各定意已。與衆中。八萬菩薩摩訶薩倶。從坐而起。來詣佛所。頭面禮足。遶百千匝。燒散天華天香。天衣天瓔珞。天無價寶。從于空中旋轉來下。四面雲集。而獻於佛。天厨天鉢器。天百味。充滿盈溢。見色聞香自然飽足。天幢天幡。天幰蓋。天妙樂具。處處安置。作天伎樂。娯樂於佛。即前䠒跪。合掌一心。倶共同聲。説偈讃言nyozegamon。ichijibutsu。juuoushajougisakussenchuuyodaibikushumannisenninku。bosatsumakasatsu。hachimannin。tenryuuyasha。kendatsuba。ashura。karura。kinnara。magoraga。shobikubikuni。gyuuubasoku。ubaiku。daitenrinnou。shoutenrinnou。konringonrin。shorinshiou。kokuououji。kokujinkokumin。kokujikokunyo。kokudaichouja。kakuyokenzoku。hyakusenmanshu。nijii nyou。raigeibutsusho。zumenraisoku。nyouhyakusen sou。shoukousange。shujukuyoui。taiichimenza。gobosatsu。myouwatsumonjushirihououji。daiitokuzouhououji。muu zouhououji。daibenzouhououji。mirokubosatsu。doushubosatsu。yakouubosatsu。yakujoubosatsu。kedoubosatsu。kekoudoubosatsu。daranijizaioubosatsu。kanzeonbosatsu。daiseishibosatsu。joushoujinbosatsu。houinshubosatsu。houshakubosatsu。houjoubosatsu。ossangaibosatsu。bimabatsurabosatsu。kouzoubosatsu。daikouzoubosatsu。shishikuoubosatsu。shishiyukesebosatsu。shishifun jinbosatsu。shishishoujinbosatsu。yueirikibosatsu。shishiimyoubukubosatsu。shougonn bosatsu。daishougonn bosatsu。nyozetoubosatsumakasatsu。hachimanninku。zeshobosatsu。makufukaize。hosshindaiji。kaijouegedatsu。gedatsuchiken。shishojouju goshinzenjakujouzaisanmai。tennandanpaku。muimuyoku。tendouransou。fubukutokuhachi。joujakushouchou。shigenkomaku。shushifudou。okuhyakusengou。muryouhoumon。shitsugenzaizen。tokudaichietsuudatsushohou。gyouryoufunbetsu。shousoushinjitsu。umuchoutan。myougenkenbyaku。uzennouchi。shokonshouyoku。idarani。mugebenzai。shobutsutenbourin。zuijunnouten。mitaise nnda。ionyokujin。kainehanmon。sengedatsufuu。josenounetsu。chihoushouryou。shikoujinjin。juuniinnen。yuushamumyou。roubyoushitou。myoujoushinen。kujunik kou。ninaikouchuu。mujoudaijou。ninshakushujou。shou zengon。fuzen shushi。henkudokuden。furyouissai。hotsubodaimou。chienichigatsu。houbenjisetsu。fushozoujou。daijoujigou。ryoushushitsujou。anokutarasanmyakusanbodai。joujuukeraku。mimyoushinjitsu。muryoudaihi。gukushujou。zeshoshujou。shinzenchishiki。zeshoshujou。dairoufukuden。zeshoshujou。fushoushishi。zeshoshujou。annonrakusho。kushogosho。daieshisho。shoshoishujou。sadairoudoushi。daidoushi。nouishujoumou。nisagenmoku。ryoukyuuasha。sanibizetsu。shokonkiketsu。nouryougusoku。tennoukouran。sadaishounen。senshidaisenshi。unz aigunjou。doshoujiga。chinehangan。ioudaiiou。funbetsubyousou。gyouryouyakushou。zuibyoujuyakuryoushuyakubuku。jougodaijougo。mushohouitsugyou。yunyoozoumeshi。noujoumufujou。shishiyumyou。ibukushujunan kasoe。yukebosatsu。shoharamitsu。onyoraiji。kengofudou。anjuuganriki。koujou bukkoku。fukutokujou。anokutarasanmyakusanbodai。zeshobosatsumakasatsu。kaiunyoshi。fushigitoku。gobiku。myouwatsudaichisharihotsu。jintsuumokkenren。emyoushubodai。makakasennen。mitaranishifuruna。anyakyoujinn yotou。tengenanaritsu。jiritsuubari。jishaanan。busshirau n。uhananda。rihata。kouhinnahakura。ashuda。shakada。zudaidaikashou。urubinrakashou。gayakashou。nadaikashou。nyozetoubiku。mannisennin。kaiarakan。jinshoketsuro。mububakujakushinshougedatsu。nijidaishougonn bosatsumakasatsu。henkanshuzakakujouii。yoshuchuu。hachimanbosatsumakasatsuku。juuzaniki。raigeibbussho。zumenraisoku。nyouhyakusen sou。shousantengeten kou。tennetenyouraku。tenmugehoushu。juujoukuu juu sentenraige。shimenunj uu。nigonobutsu。tenchuutenbakki。tenhyakumi。juumanyouitsu。kenshikimonkoujinenhousoku。tendoutenba。tenkongai。tenmyougakugu。shoshoanchi。satengigaku。gorakuobutsu。sokuzenkoki。gasshouisshin。kugudoushou。setsugesangon

大哉大悟大聖主　無垢無染無所著daisaidaigodaishouju mukumuzenmushojaku
天人象馬調御師　道風徳香熏一切tenninzoumejougoshi doufutokukonkunissai
智恬情怕慮凝靜　意滅識亡心亦寂chitenjouhakuryogyoujou imetsushikimoushinyakujaku
永斷夢妄思想念　無復諸大陰界入youdanmumoushisounen mubushodaionnyuukai
其身非有亦非無　非因非縁非自他goshinhiuyakuhimu hiinhienhijita
非方非圓非短長　非出非沒非生滅hihouhienhitanchou hishutshihimotsuhishoumetsu
非造非起非爲作　非坐非臥非行住hizouhikihiisa hizahigahigyoujuu
非動非轉非閑靜　非進非退非安危hidouhidenhigenjou hishinhitaihanki
非是非非非得失　非彼非此非去來hizehihihitokushitsu hihihishihikorai
非青非黄非赤白　非紅非紫種種色hishouhiouhishakubyaku higuhishishujujiki
戒定慧解知見生　三明六通道品發kaijouegechikenshou sanmairokutsuudouhonhotsu
慈悲十力無畏起　衆生善業因縁出jihijuurikimuikishujou zengouinnenshutsu
示爲丈六紫金暉　方整照曜甚明徹jiijourokushikongi houshoushouyoujinmyoutetsu
毫相月旋項日光　旋髮紺青頂肉髻gousougassenkounikkou senhotsukonjouchounikke
淨眼明照上下眴　眉𥇒紺舒方口頬jougenmyoukyoujougejun mishoukonjohoukukyou
脣舌赤好若丹菓　白齒四十猶珂雪
shinzetsushakkounyakutange byakushishijuuyuukasetsu
額廣鼻脩面門開　胸表卍字師子臆
gakkoubishumenmonkai kuhyoumanjishishioku
手足柔軟具千輻　腋掌合縵内外握shusokunyuunangusenpuku yakushougoumannnaigeaku
臂脩肘長指直纖　皮膚細軟毛右旋hishuchuujoushijikisen hifusainanmouusen
踝膝不現陰馬藏　細筋鎖骨鹿膊腸kashitsurogenonmezou saikonsakotsurokuhakuchou
表裏映徹淨無垢　淨水莫染不受塵hyouriyoutetsujoumuku jokusuimakuzenfujujin
如是等相三十二　八十種好似可見nyozetousousanjuuni hachijisshukoujikaken
而實無相非相色　一切有相眼對絶nijitsumusouhisoujiki issaiusougentaizetsu
無相之相有相身　衆生身相相亦然musoushisouusoushin shujoushinsousouyakunen
能令衆生歡喜禮　虔心表敬誠慇懃nouryoushujoukangirai toushinhyoukyoujouongon
因是自高我慢除　成就如是妙色躯inzejikougamannjojouju nyozemyoushikiku
我等八萬之等衆　倶共稽首咸歸命kongatouhachimanshishu kukaikeishugenkimyou
善滅思想心意識　象馬調御無著聖zenmetsushisoushinishiki zoumejougomujakushou
稽首歸依法色身　戒定慧解知見聚keishukiehoushikishin kaijouegechikenju
稽首歸依妙幢相　稽首歸依難思議keishukiemyoushusou keishukienanshigi
梵音雷震嚮八種　微妙清淨甚深遠bonnonraishinkouhasshu mimyoushoujoujinjinnon
四諦六度十二縁　隨順衆生心業轉shitairokudoujuunien zuijunshujoushingouten
有聞莫不心意開　無量生死衆結斷nyakuumonmakufukai muryoushoujishuketsudan
有聞或得須陀洹　斯陀阿那阿羅漢umonwakutokushudaon shidaanaarakan
無漏無爲縁覺處　無生無滅菩薩地muromuiengakusho mushoumumetsubosatsuji
或得無量陀羅尼　無礙樂説大辯才wakutokumuryoudarani mugegyousetsudaibenzai
演説甚深微妙偈　遊戲澡浴法清池enzetsujinjinmimyouge yukesouyokuhoushouko
或躍飛騰現神足　出沒水火身自由wakuyakuhitougenjinsoku shutsumotsusuikashinjiyuu
如是法輪相如是　清淨無邊難思議nyoraihourinsounyoze shoujoumuhennanshigi
我等咸復共稽首　歸依法輪轉以時gatougenbugukeishu kimyouhourinteniji
稽首歸依梵音聲　稽首歸依縁諦度keishukiebonnonnjou keishukieentaido
世尊往昔無量劫　懃苦修習衆徳行sesonoujakumuryoukou gonkushujuushutokugyou
爲我人天龍神王　普及一切諸衆生iganindenryuujinnou fugyuuissaishoshujou
能捨一切諸難捨　財寶妻子及國城noushaissaishonansha zaihousaishigyuukokujou
於法内外無所悋　頭目髓腦悉施人ohounaigemushoke zumokuzuinoushitsusenin
奉持諸佛清淨戒　乃至失命不毀傷bujishobutsushoujoukin naishishitsumyoufukishou
若人刀杖來加害　惡口罵辱終不瞋nyakunintoujouraikagai akkumenikushuufushin
歴劫挫身不倦惰　晝夜攝心常在禪ryatsukouzashinfukenda chuuyasetsushinjouzaizen
遍學一切衆道法　智慧深入衆生根hengakuissaishudouhou chiejinnyuushujoukon
是故今得自在力　於法自在爲法王zekokontokujizairiki ohoujizaiihouou
我等咸共倶稽首　歸依能懃諸難懃gabugengukukeishu kienougonshonangon

The Infinite Meanings Sutra – Chapter 1: Meritorious Deeds (Summary)

One day, the Buddha (Shakyamuni) was residing in Mount Vulture Peak, a mountain northeast of the capital of the ancient Indian country of Magadha.
There, the Buddha was surrounded by 12,000 arhats called shravakas, 80,000 holy beings such as Manjusri and Maitreya, as well as gods, dragons, demons, kings, princes, and the ordinary people who served them – a total of 11 million people.

These bodhisattvas, who had repeatedly bowed to the Buddha, burned incense, and scattered flower petals as offerings, possessed the Buddha’s truth, that is, a heart seeking enlightenment, and possessed wisdom as profound as that of the Buddha.

Such are the noble people of these bodhisattvas.

(1) A Bodhisattva’s mind is always stable, never disturbed no matter what happens around them. He understands things correctly with a correct mind.
(2) A Bodhisattva knows the eternal, unchanging principles of all things.
(3) A Bodhisattva has the wisdom to deal with all the complexities of this world.
(4) A Bodhisattva understands our human emotions and desires and guides us to the Buddha’s teachings.
(5) A Bodhisattva’s wisdom is so great that he sows seeds of goodness in the world, cultivates the soil of merit, and teaches all of us the correct principles. His mission is to cool the heat of worldly suffering.

A Bodhisattva who possesses such virtuous deeds is like a great captain of a ship that steers us across the great river of life and leads us to a place of purity.
He is like a wonderful doctor, creating eyes for the blind, ears for the deaf, noses for those with no sense of smell, and tongues for those without taste, and granting truth to those who are mentally ill.

He is also like a trainer, taming immoderate behavior based on improper thinking.

Among the many such bodhisattvas gathered here were Shariputra, the god of wisdom, Maudgalyayana, the god of supernatural powers, and 12,000 arhats.

All of them had attained enlightenment and had abandoned attachments caused by worldly desires.

At that moment, Mahasthamaprabhadra, who was present among them, made sure that everyone was calm, and then stood up with the other 80,000 bodhisattvas and began to circle the Buddha several times in worship. The scent of flowers and incense filled the air, and heavenly music could be heard.

He then composed verses praising the Buddha for his wonderfulness.

You are a great Buddha, free from any impurity or attachment in your heart.
You guide us on the right path.
You teach us that our minds will become one with the universe and become the Pure Land.
You teach us that the mind and the land are intimately connected.
You are a Buddha with the wisdom to know the truth of all things.
You have a compassionate heart that desires to free all beings from suffering.

Your appearance reveals your greatness.
You are tall and radiant.
Your crown is raised.
Between your eyebrows, white hair swirls to the right, shining brightly.
You also have a very supple body, and your voice is beautiful when you preach…

The Bodhisattvas praised the Buddha, chanting verses that described 32 of his characteristics, as well as 80 more detailed descriptions.
And they all said, “We wholeheartedly believe in and follow the Buddha’s teachings.”

Dedication Verse from Lotus Sutra

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