前期經文提示: 提婆達多卻後過無量劫，方得成佛。號曰天王如來…住世二十中劫，廣 為眾生說於妙法，恆河沙眾生得阿羅漢果。
初果阿羅漢叫入流，什麼叫入流呢？他入聖人法性流了，斷凡夫六塵流，但是要受七番生死－－七生天上，七生人間。初果阿羅漢還要受七番生死，才能了道；那二果阿羅漢，叫一來果；他一生天上，一來人間，所以叫一來果；三果阿羅漢叫不來果，他不來人間受生死；四果叫無生。初果叫須陀洹；二果斯陀含；三果阿那含；四果阿羅漢。四果的聖人，他得到無生法忍，他不見有少法生，也不見有少法滅。在這個時候，他忍可於心，所以叫無生法忍。這是阿羅漢大概的意思。
為什麼叫阿羅漢呢？阿羅漢是梵語，翻譯過來也有三種的意思。第一，叫應供；應該受人天的供養。第二，叫殺賊；殺他的煩惱賊、無明賊。第三是無生；證得無生法忍。這是阿羅漢的意思。這恆河沙數的眾生都得阿羅漢果。
「無量眾生發緣覺心」。緣覺，就是辟支佛果。他修十二因緣而悟道。
「恆河沙眾生，發無上道心」，有恆河沙數這麼多的眾生，又發無上菩提道心。「得無生忍，至不退轉」，也都得無生法忍，到不退轉這個果位。
不退轉有三種：位不退，行不退，念不退。位不退，不退於二乘；行不退，他修行也是向前精進不退；念不退，他的菩提心總也不退，修菩薩行總也不退。他發願生生世世都要行菩薩道，發菩提心，所以這叫不退轉。
時天王佛般涅槃後，正法住世二十中劫。全身舍利起七寶塔，高六十由旬，廣四十由旬。諸天人民，悉以雜華，末香燒香塗香，衣服瓔珞，幢旛寶蓋，伎樂歌頌，禮拜供養七寶妙塔。無量眾生得阿羅漢果。無量眾生悟辟支佛。不可思議眾生發菩提心，至不退轉。
恆河沙眾生，都發無上菩提道心的時候，都得到不退轉之後，這位天王佛所應該教化的眾生，已經教化完了；所應該度的眾生，已經都度了，他這個工作完了之後，就要入涅槃了。教化眾生就是佛的工作，他把他所應該教化的眾生教化完了，他「般涅槃」－－就入涅槃了。
佛在世的時候，這叫「正法住世」；佛滅度之後，這叫像法；到最後的時候，是末法。佛住世「二十中劫」；正法住世，也是二十個中劫。「全身舍利」，佛的全身的舍利子，「起七寶塔」，用七寶造成了寶塔，「高六十由旬」這高度是六十由旬。這是表示六度。「縱廣四由旬」，這表示四念處。「諸天人民，悉以雜華。末香燒香塗香」，那麼諸天人民，用這個雜花－－最好的花、末香、或者燒香、或者塗香，「衣服瓔珞，幢旛寶蓋，伎樂歌頌禮拜供養七寶妙塔」。
待續 |
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Sutra text from last issue: Devadatta will become a Buddha by the name of King of Gods... He shall dwell in the world for twenty middle-sized eons, broadly speaking the wonderful Dharma for living beings. Living beings in number like the Ganges’ sands shall attain the fruit of Arhatship.
Commentary:
The Arhat of the First Fruition, the Shrotaapanna, is called one who has “entered the stream.” He has entered the stream of the Dharma nature of the Sage and he opposes the stream of the six senses of common people. He still has to undergo seven more rebirths in the heavens and seven rebirths among people before he comes to the end of the Path.
The Arhat of the Second Fruition, the Sakridagamin, is called a “once-returner.” He has one more birth to undergo in the heavens and one among people.
The Arhat of the Third Fruition, the Anagamin, is called a “never-returner.” He does not have to undergo birth again in the human realm.
The Arhat of the Fourth Fruition is called “unborn.” A Sage of the Fourth Fruition has attained Patience with the Nonproduction of Dharmas. This means that he does not see the slightest dharma produced or the slightest dharma extinguished. Such a vision is not easy to bear, but he has the patience to bear it. Therefore it’s called Patience with the Nonproduction of Dharmas.
This is the general meaning of “Arhat.” Arhat is a Sanskrit word with three meanings.
1. “One worthy of offerings.” Arhats are worthy of offer ings from humans and gods.
2. “Slayer of thieves.” They have killed the thieves of igno rance and affliction.
3. “Unproduced.” They have attained Patience with the Non- production of Dharmas. That’s what’s meant by “the fruit of Arhatship” attained by living beings in number like the Ganges’ sands.
Limitless living beings will bring forth the resolve to enlighten to conditions. Those Enlightened to Conditions are the Pratyekabuddhas. They cultivate the Twelve Links and awaken to the Path. Living beings in number like Ganges’ sands will bring forth the supreme mind for the Bodhi Path, attaining Patience with the Nonproduction of Dharmas, and arrive at irreversibility. “Irreversibility is of three kinds:
1. Irreversible in Position. They do not retreat to the Two Vehicles.
2. Irreversible in Conduct. In their cultivation, they go forward with vigor.
3. Irreversible in Thought. They never retreat from their resolve for Bodhi or in their Bodhisattva conduct. They make vows in every life to cultivate the Bodhisattva Path, and to bring forth the Bodhi resolve.
Sutra:
After the Parinirvana of the Buddha King of Gods, the Proper Dharma will dwell in the world for twenty middle-sized eons. A stupa sixty yojanas high and forty yojanas wide, made of the seven jewels will be built to hold the sharira of his complete body. All the gods and humans shall make offerings to and worship the wonderful stupa of seven jewels, using various flowers, powdered incense, burning incense, paste incense, clothing, beads, banners, jeweled canopies, instrumental and vocal music. Limitless living beings shall attain the fruit of Arhatship. Limitless living beings will awaken to Pratyekabuddhahood. An inconceivable number of living beings will bring forth the resolve for Bodhi and reach irreversibility.
Commentary:
After the limitless numbers of living beings bring forth the Bodhi mind and arrive at irreversibility, the work of King of Gods Buddha will be finished. He will have taught, transformed, and saved those living beings he was supposed to have taught. When his work is done, he will enter Nirvana. Teaching and transforming living beings is the Buddha’s work. When he has taught those he was supposed to teach, he enters Nirvana. After the Parinirvana of the Buddha King of Gods, the Proper Dharma will dwell in the world for twenty middle-sized eons. While the Buddha is dwelling in the world, the Proper Dharma Age abides in the world. After the Buddha passes into stillness, that is the Dharma Image Age. Then, after a long time, we come to the Dharma Ending Age. This Buddha will dwell in the world for twenty middle-sized eons, and so the Proper Dharma will also dwell for twenty middle-sized eons. A stupa sixty yojanas high and forty yojanas wide. “Sixty yojanas” represents the Six Perfections. “Forty yojanas” represents the Four Applications of Mindfulness. This magnificent stupa made of the seven jewels will be built to hold the sharira of his complete body. The Buddha’s relics will be housed there. All the gods and humans shall make offerings to and worship the wonderful stupa of seven jewels, using various flowers, powdered incense, burning incense, paste incense, clothing, beads, banners, jeweled canopies, instrumental and vocal music. They use articles of the finest quality to make offerings.
to be continued |
