..續本文上一頁言:「如改一字,願拜他爲師。」經過十八天,無人能改,最後勝利,名揚五天竺,無人不知,無人不曉這位大名鼎鼎的玄奘法師。
From one day to the next, Master Hsuan Tsang endured the hardships of travel, eating and sleeping outdoors. He was constantly exposed to the elements on his journey to the West. His resolve was unshakable: until he reached his goal--India--he would never rest. As the motto goes: "Perseverance brings success." He underwent a myriad bitter hardships; and his pilgrimage took over three years, bringing him finally to India”s Buddhist University, Nalanda Monastery, where he became a disciple of India”s authority in Consciousness Only, Shastra Master Shilabhadra (Moral and Worthy). He specialized in the study of the two treatises, the Shastra on the Seventeen Stages and the Yogacharyabhumi Shastra, and other Sutras. After he finished his studies, on his way back to China, he passed through the city of Kanyakudja. At the invitation of King Shiladitya, he organized a great debate, the participants of which numbered over six thousand people. Among them were the kings of eighteen countries, monks of both Great and Small Vehicles, Brahmans, and externalists, all coming together in an unprecedented gathering. As the host of the debate, the Great Master praised and propagated the Great Vehicle, posting his treatise out by the main entrance. He challenged all comers, claiming that if anyone could improve his treatise by even a single word, he would bow to that person and become his disciple. Eighteen days passed, and no one could change even one word of the text. He won the great debate, and his name spread throughout India”s five kingdoms. There was not a person who did not hear of his accomplishment. Such was the peerless reputation of the Great Master Hsuan Tsang.
貞觀十九年(公元六四五年)正月二十四日,玄奘法師回到長安,當時僧俗出迎者有數十萬人。唐太宗派相國梁國公、房玄齡等爲代表,歡迎玄奘法師。後于弘福寺,從事翻譯經典工作。
In the nineteenth year of the Zhenguan reign period (a.d. 645) of the Tang Dynasty, on the twenty-fourth day of the first lunar month, he returned to Changan, and was welcomed by several hundreds of thousands of Sangha members and citizens. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty sent high-ranking cabinet ministers Liang Guogong, Fang Xuanling, and others as representatives to welcome Dharma Master Hsuan Tsang. Later, he was taken to Hongfu (Vast Blessings) Monastery, where he began translating the Sutras.
玄奘法師在天竺留學十二年(在路上往返耽誤五年),成爲中國留學生的祖師。他取回的經典有五百二十箧,計有六百多部。他將全部經典貢獻給國家,特蒙皇帝召見,嘉獎一番。
Dharma Master Hsuan Tsang”s pilgrimage to study in India took over twelve years, five of which were spent in the journey back and forth. He became the "patriarch" of all overseas students from China. The Sutra texts he brought back numbered five hundred and twenty cases and comprised over six hundred works. He offered all the Sutras as a gift to the nation. The Emperor summoned him for an special audience and conferred praise and favor upon him.
玄奘法師見到唐太宗便向皇帝賀喜:「恭喜陛下。」
Master Hsuan Tsang said to Emperor Taizong, "Congratulations, your Majesty!"
唐太宗覺得莫明其妙,就問:「喜從何來?」
The comment struck the Emperor as quite unusual "What am I being congratulated for
" he asked.
玄奘法師說:「陛下得一位太子。」
"A son has been born to Your Highness."
唐太宗有丈二金剛摸不著頭腦的感覺,便說:「沒有啊!」
The Emperor”s face bore an expression of utter bewilderment. "No, that”s not so!" he said.
玄奘法師心想:「明明指示老修行來投胎,怎會沒有呢?」于是在定中觀察。哎呀!老修行搞不清楚,投錯胎了,跑到尉遲恭家裏去了。玄奘法師將這段因緣,向唐太宗報告。
Dharma Master Hsuan Tsang thought, "I told that old cultivator clearly to come be reborn here; how could he have gone wrong
" He promptly entered samadhi and perceived that the old cultivator had entered the wrong house and been reborn to the wrong family. He had accidentally been born to the family of Wei Chigong, the War Minister. Dharma Master Hsuan Tsang then reported this turn of events in full to the Emperor.
唐太宗說:「原來如此,那你就去度他吧!」
"Oh, in tha…
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