..續本文上一頁 Buddha, "World Honored One, what vows has Earth Store Bodhisattva made during so many successive eons that he now receives the World Honored One”s special praise

　　 We hope the World Honored One will tell us about that."

　　 說是語時，會中有一菩薩摩诃薩，名定自在王，白佛言：『世尊，地藏菩薩累劫以來，各發何願，今蒙世尊殷勤贊歎。唯願世尊，略而說之。』

　　Then the World Honored One said to Samadhi Self-Mastery King, "Listen attentively, listen attentively, and reflect well on the examples I am about to give you.

　　One time, limitless Asamkhyeyas of nayutas of inexpressible eons ago, a Buddha named All-Knowledge-Accomplished Thus Come One, One Worthy of Offerings, One of Proper and Pervasive Knowledge, One Perfect in Clarity and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Unsurpassed Knight Who Understands the World, Taming and Subduing Hero, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World Honored One appeared in the world.

　　"That Buddha”s lifespan was sixty thousand eons.

　　Before he became a monk, he was the king of a small country and was friendly with the king of a neighboring country. Both of them practiced the Ten Wholesome Acts and benefited beings.

　　Because the citizens of those two neighboring countries did many bad things, the two kings made a plan using far-reaching expedients.

　　"One king vowed to quickly become a Buddha and then cross over absolutely all the others.

　　"The other king vowed, ”I do not want to become a Buddha until I first take across all those who are suffering for their offenses, enable them to gain peace, and finally to reach Bodhi.”"

　　 爾時世尊告定自在王菩薩：『谛聽谛聽，善思念之，吾當爲汝分別解說。乃往過去無量阿僧只那由他不可說劫，爾時有佛，號一切智成就如來，應供、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士、調禦丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊，其佛壽命六萬劫。未出家時爲小國王，與一鄰國王爲友，同行十善，饒益衆生。其鄰國內所有人民，多造衆惡。二王計議，廣設方便。一王發願，早成佛道，當度是輩，令使無馀。一王發願，若不先度罪苦，令是安樂，得至菩提，我終未願成佛。』

　　The Buddha told the Bodhisattva Samadhi Self-Mastery King, "The king who vowed to become a Buddha quickly is All-Knowledge-Accomplished Thus Come One.

　　The king who vowed to keep crossing over beings who are suffering for their offenses rather than to become a Buddha is Earth Store Bodhisattva.

　　 佛告定自在王菩薩：『一王發願早成佛者，即一切智成就如來。一王發願永度罪苦衆生，未願成佛者，即地藏菩薩是。』

　　"Another time, limitless Asamkhyeya eons ago, a Buddha named Pure-Lotus-Eyes Thus Come One appeared in the world. His lifespan was forty eons.

　　In his Dharma-image age, an Arhat who had blessings from rescuing beings met a woman named Bright Eyes who offered a meal to him once while he was teaching and transforming beings.

　　 『複於過去無量阿僧只劫，有佛出世，名清淨蓮華目如來，其佛壽命四十劫。像法之中，有一羅漢，福度衆生。因次教化，遇一女人，字曰光目，設食供養。』

　　"”What is your wish

　　” asked the Arhat.

　　"Bright Eyes replied, ”On the day of my mother”s death I performed meritorious deeds for her rescue, but I do not know where my mother is now.”

　　"Sympathizing with her, the Arhat entered into samadhi to contemplate and saw that Bright Eyes” mother had fallen into a bad destiny where she was undergoing extreme suffering.

　　The Arhat asked, ”Bright Eyes, what karma did your mother commit while alive that makes her now have to undergo such terrible suffering in a bad destiny

　　”

　　『羅漢問之：「欲願何等？」』

　　 『光目答曰：「我以母亡之日，資福救拔，未知我母生處何趣？」』

　　 『羅漢愍之，爲入定觀，見光目女母墮在惡趣，受極大苦。羅漢問光目言：「汝母在生做何行業？今在惡趣受極大苦。」』

　　"Bright Eyes replied, ”My mother enjoyed eating fish, turtles, and the like. She especially liked to fry or broil the eggs of fish and turtles. Every time she ate those she took thousands of lives. Oh, Venerable One, please be compassionate and tell me how she can be saved."

　　"The Arhat took pity on Bright Eyes and used a skillful means. He urged Bright Eyes, saying, ”With sincere resolve, be mindful of Pure-Lotus-Eyes Thus Come One and also make carved and painted images of him. By doing so both the living and the dead will be rewarded.”

　　 『光目答言：「我母所習，唯好食啖魚鼈之屬。所食魚鼈，多食其子，或炒或煮，恣情食啖，計其命數，千萬複倍。尊者慈愍，如何哀救？」』

　　 『羅漢愍之，爲作方便，勸光目言：「汝可志誠念清淨蓮華目如來，兼塑畫行像，存亡或報。」』

　　"Bright E…

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