UMIの仏教blog | The Lotus Sutra: The Life Span of the Tathagata – A story about the Tathagata’s infinite lifespan

Let’s take a look at one of the most famous sutras in the Lotus Sutra, the “The Life Span of the Tathagata” chapter.

Opening Chant of Sutra
The Lotus Sutra: The Life Span of the Tathagata – A story about the Tathagata’s infinite lifespan
The Lotus Sutra Verse
Chant wiht English Subtitles
bibliography

Opening Chant of Sutra

The Lotus Sutra: The Life Span of the Tathagata – A story about the Tathagata’s infinite lifespan

自我得仏来　所経諸劫数　無量百千万　億載阿僧祇JIGATOKUBUTSURAI SHOUKYOUSHOKOSSHU MURYOUHYAKUSENMAN OKUSAIASOUGI
常説法教化　無数億衆生　令入於仏道　爾来無量劫JOUSEPPOUKYOUKE MUSHUOKUSHUJOU RYOUNYUOBUTSUDOU NIRAIMURYOUKOU
為度衆生故　方便現涅槃　而実不滅度　常住此説法IDOSHUJOUKO HOUBENGENNEHAN NIJITUFUMETSUDO JOUJUSHISEPPOU

You probably think that I(Shakyamuni Buddha) left the Shakya castle, became a monk, and attained enlightenment in Gaya.

However, in fact, a very long, infinite amount of time has passed since I attained enlightenment.

Ever since I attained enlightenment, I have continued to preach the true Dharma and have led countless people seeking enlightenment to the highest state.

I have skillfully used expedient means to lead all living beings to enlightenment, and even the appearance of having entered nirvana was a expedient means.

In other words, in reality, I have not perished.

I am always close to you, continuing to preach the true Dharma.

我常住於此　以諸神通力　令顛倒衆生　雖近而不見GAJOUJUOSHI ISHOJINZURIKI RYOUTENDOUSHUJOU SUIGONNIFUKEN
衆見我滅度　広供養舎利　咸皆懐恋慕　而生渇仰心SHUKENGAMETSUDO KOUKUYOUSHARI GENKAIERENBO NISHOUKATSUGOSHIN
衆生既信伏　質直意柔軟　一心欲見仏　不自惜身命SHUJOUKISHINBUKU SHICHIJIKIINYUNAN ISSHINYOKKENBUTSU FUJISHAKUSHINMYOU

I am always close to you, but I use my various supernatural powers to make it appear as if I am not there to those who are trapped in mistaken beliefs.

People will believe that I have died, and will diligently offer memorial services for my remains. They will yearn for me and desire to meet me at all costs.

In this way, all living beings will be filled with faith, and will become honest, gentle, and kind-hearted, wishing only to meet the Buddha and willing to sacrifice their own lives to see him.

時我及衆僧　倶出霊鷲山　我時語衆生　常在此不滅JIGAGYUSHUZOU KUSHUTURYOUJUSEN GAJIGOSHUJOU JOUZAISHIFUMETSU
以方便力故　現有滅不滅　余国有衆生　恭敬信楽者IHOUBENRIKKO GENNUMETSUFUMETSU YOKOKUUSHUJOU KUGYOUSHINGYOUSHA
我復於彼中　為説無上法　汝等不聞此　但謂我滅度GABUOHICHU ISETUMUJOUHOU NYOTOUFUMONSHI TANNIGAMETSUDO

At that time, I will appear on a mountain called Vulture Peak with many disciples.

It is there that I will explain for the first time that I am always here and that I will never die. Using clever means, I will make it appear that I die and resurrect repeatedly, thereby persuading you that I am in your world of the living.

Even if it is in a faraway country, wherever there are people who believe in me, I will appear there and preach the supreme Dharma.

You are unaware of this fact and simply believe that I have died.

我見諸衆生　沒在於苦海　故不為現身　令其生渇仰GAKENSHOSHUJOU MOTSUZAIOKUKAI KOFUIGENSHIN RYOUGOSOHUKATSUGOU
因其心恋慕　乃出為説法　神通力如是INGOSHINRENBO NAISHUTSUISEPPOU JINZURIKINYOZE

Even though I know that during this time all living beings are immersed in a world of suffering, I will not immediately appear.

When people have sufficiently cultivated a yearning to meet me, at all costs, will I then appear and explain the correct teachings to them.

This is the type of supernatural power I wield.

於阿僧祇劫　常在霊鷲山　及余諸住処OASOUGIKOU JOUZAIRYOUJUSEN GYUYOSHOJUSHO
衆生見劫尽　大火所焼時　我此土安隠SHUJOUKENKOUJIN DAIKASHOSHOUJI GASHIDOANNON
天人常充満　園林諸堂閣　種種宝荘厳　宝樹多花果TENNINJOUJUMAN ONRINSHODOUKAKU SHUJUHOUSHOUGON HOUJUTAKEKA
衆生所遊楽　諸天撃天鼓　常作衆伎楽　雨曼陀羅花　散仏及大衆SHUJOUSHOYURAKU SHOTENNKYAKUTENKU JOUZASHUGIGAKU UMANNDARAKE SANBUTSUGYUDAISHU

Ever since I attained enlightenment, I have been on Mount Vulture Peak, or with another believer, for an infinite amount of time.

Even when all living beings see the end of this world and think that the entire universe is burning up, the Buddha realm where I reside is always peaceful.

In my world, many heavenly beings dance, there are beautiful green forests, and many magnificent buildings adorned with various jewels.

There are mountains made of jewels, adorned with trees that bloom with flowers and bear fruit. All living beings live there in joy and happiness.

In the sky, gods play musical instruments, and a rain of beautiful mandara flowers falls, enveloping me, my disciples, and other sages seeking enlightenment.

我浄土不毀　而衆見焼尽　憂怖諸苦悩　如是悉充満GAJOUDOFUKI NISHUKENSHOUJIN UFUSHOKUNOU NYOZESHITSUJUMAN
是諸罪衆生　以悪業因縁　過阿僧祇劫　不聞三宝名　諸有修功徳ZESHOZAISHUJOU IAKUGOUINNEN KAASOGIKOU FUMONSANBOUMYOU SHOUSHUKUDOKU

My Pure Land of Buddhahood has always existed in a place like this, but others feel that the world is burning and that it is plagued by all kinds of suffering and terror.

Tormented by the bad deeds they have committed, they feel that the world is terrifying and miserable, and even after ages that seem like eternity, they will never be able to encounter the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. This is the result of their evil deeds.

柔和質直者　則皆見我身　在此而説法NYUWASHICHIJIKISHA SOKKAIKENGASHIN ZAISHINISEPPOU
或時為此衆　説仏寿無量WAKUJIISHISHU SETSUBUTSUJUMURYOU
久乃見仏者　為説仏難値　我智力如是　恵光照無量KUNAIKENBUSSHA ISETSUBUTSUNANJI GACHIRIKINYOZE EKOUSHOUMURYOU

However, it is through their pure deeds that good deeds, kindness, peace of mind, and honesty are able to encounter me, who now preaches the true teachings.

It is for such people that I tell them that the Buddha’s lifespan is infinite.

And to those who have finally met me after a long time, I tell them that the Buddha is difficult to encounter.

Such is the power of my wisdom, and the light of this wisdom shines endlessly and is infinite.

寿命無数劫　久修業所得JUMYOUMUSHUKOU KUSHUGOUSHOTOKU
汝等有智者　勿於此生疑　当断令永尽　仏語実不虚NYOTOUUCHISHA MOTTOSHISHOUGI TOUDANRYOUYOUJIN BUTSUGOJIPPUKO

My lifespan is similarly infinite, earned through the good deeds and training I have achieved in past lives.

O wise ones, do not doubt about such things. Throw away all doubt. I speak only the truth. There is no deceit in my words.

如医善方便　為治狂子故　実在而言死　無能説虚妄NYOIZENHOUBEN IJIOUSHIKO JITUZAINIGONSHI MUNOUSEKKOMOU

For example, it is exactly the same as when a good doctor, in order to cure a group of mentally deranged and confused children, tells them that they are dead when in fact they are still alive, thereby bringing them to their senses, and no person of sound judgment would claim that this is a lie.

我亦為世父　救諸苦患者GAYAKUISEBU KUSHOKUGENSHA
為凡夫顛倒　実在而言滅IBONBUTENDOU JITSUZAINIGONMETSU
以常見我故　而生憍恣心　放逸著五欲　墮於悪道中IJOUKENGAKO NISHOUKYOUSHISHIN HOUITSUJAKUGOYOKU DAOAKUDOUCHU

I exist as the father of the entire world and as the physician who relieves all living beings from all kinds of suffering.

I sense when foolish people become confused and lose their sense of judgment due to erroneous views, so I make them appear dead when they are still alive.

When I am constantly present to you, unwise people become obsessed with lust, give in to various desires, and fall into evil paths.

我常知衆生　行道不行道　随所応可度　為説種種法GAJOUCHISHUJOU GYOUDOUFUGYOUDOU ZUIOSHOKADO ISETSUSHUJUHOU
毎自作是念　以何令衆生　得入無上動　速成就仏身MAIJISAZENEN IGARYOUSHUJOU TOKUNYUMUJOUDOU SOKUJOUJUBUSSHIN

I am well aware that all living beings display this kind of attitude, so I devise methods appropriate to each one and preach the true Dharma in various forms.

I always pray, “I hope that, no matter what, all living beings can reach the highest state of enlightenment and attain Buddhahood as quickly as possible.”