The White Lotus英文朗诵 | 辐轮王
Shakya Muna
辐轮王率众供养如来距今两千五百前年，有一天，释迦牟尼佛在印度王舍城灵鹫山说法，有众多比丘、诸多大乘菩萨、梵王天神和天龙夜叉等无量众生围绕听法。
此时，有位名叫寂慧的大菩萨，恭敬问佛：“世尊，许多如来教化的刹土都美妙庄严、无有恶劣众生，而您教化的娑婆世界却五浊炽盛、众生刚强难化。为何您不像其他如来一样，摄受清净刹土？”
佛陀答道：“善男子，菩萨因大悲愿力摄受浊世众生。久远之前，南赡部洲有位转轮王名叫辐轮。当时有一海尘婆罗门，生有一子名叫海藏，海藏出家并获证佛果，号宝藏如来。”
有一次，宝藏如来与众眷属同入城中，住在瞻洲园。辐轮王得知后，便与众眷属携财宝前往亲近。他祈请宝藏如来等应供三个月，并为他们广建宫殿，如来慈悲应允。于是，辐轮王日日以珍宝、美食、妙衣、鲜花等供养如来及其眷属。其后，辐轮王的一千太子也轮流供养承侍如来，并各自在佛前皈依、忏悔、发愿，如此经过了二百五十年。
此时，海尘婆罗门正云游四方，劝请众生皈依佛门、发菩提心。两百五十年后，他来到瞻洲园，祈请供养如来七年并得到允许。七年中，他于僧众前日日供养美食、珍宝等，并亲执拂尘于佛前听命；夜晚，在佛前端坐，头顶、双肩、双手、双足放满灯盏，通宵不寐。
Chakravartin Aranemi Made Offerings to the Tathagata along with Attendants
At one time, about two thousand five hundred years ago, the Lord Buddha was in residence at Gridhrakuta (Vulture Peak) in Rajagrha, India, teaching the Dharma, and was surrounded and venerated by many bhiksus, bodhisattvas, brahmas, devas, nagas, yakshas, and many others.
At that time, a Bodhisattva called Shantimati addressed him:
"Lord, many Buddha-fields are made beautiful and perfect by the meritorious power of the Buddhas that inhabit them, where there are no morally corrupted beings. However, despite your having attained full realization, in this Saha world, where you give teachings of the Dharma, the five corruptions prevail (the corruption of the age, the corruption of life, the corruption of sentient beings, the corruption of afflictions, and the corruption of views). It is inhabited by untamed living beings who are hard to train in the understanding of Dharma. Why don’t you master over the pure Buddha-fields just like the other Tathagatas?”
At this request, the Buddha gave his answer to the Bodhisattva:
“Son of good family! The greatness of Bodhisattvas is such that during the period of the five corruptions, they take vows of the Great Compassion to liberate those living beings who aspire to inferior ways by teaching the Dharma to them.
Many thousands of millions of years ago, a Chakravartin monarch called Aranemi appeared in this world. One of his ministers, Brahmin Samudraparag, had a son, named Samudragarbha, who became ordained and attained full enlightenment, known as Tathagata Ratnagarbha (Treasure-Store).
Once, Tathagata Ratnagarbha and his entourage arrived in town and stayed at the Garden of Jambudvipa.
Upon learning his arrival, Chakravartin Aranemi, together with millions of attendants, came to the Garden to lavish the guests with valuable luxuries. He also requested to build the guests a great palace and accommodate them for three months. Thereupon the Tathagata gave his approval to Chakravartin Aranemi.
Thus, Chakravartin Aranemi continuously gave Tathagata Ratnagarbha and his attendants offerings of precious goods, treasures, food, clothes, and fresh flowers every day. Thereafter, Aranemi’s one thousand princes took turns to make offerings and attend to the Tathagata, taking refuge, confessing, and making aspirations. Two hundred and fifty years passed by in this way.
Meanwhile, Brahmin Samudraparag was travelling around to inspire sentient beings to take refuge in Buddhism and generate Bodhicitta. After 250 years, he came to the Garden of Jambudvipa and requested to make offerings to the Tathagata Ratnagarbha. He was granted permission to make the offerings for seven years. Throughout the next seven years, he honored the Tathagata and his retinue everyday with offerings of food and jewels. Meanwhile, he humbled himself to be a mere fly-whisk attendant the in front of the Buddha to be at his service. During the nights, he would stay awake and sit straight in front of the Buddha with top of his head, shoulders, hands and feet fully covered by many lamps.”
图片来自网络
更多内容