..续本文上一页ng Thus Come One appeared in the world. If men or women hear this Buddha”s name, those people will encounter as many Buddhas as there are grains of sand in the Ganges, who will speak Dharma extensively for them, making certain that they realize Bodhi.

　　 『又於过去有佛出世，号大通山王如来。若有男子女人闻是佛名者，是人得遇恒河沙佛广为说法，必成菩提。』

　　"Furthermore, in the past there were Buddhas named Pure Moon Buddha, Mountain King Buddha, Wise Victory Buddha, Pure Name King Buddha, Accomplished Wisdom Buddha, Unsurpassed Buddha, Wonderful Sound Buddha, Full Moon Buddha,

　　Moon-Face Buddha, and indescribably many other Buddhas.

　　 『又於过去有净月佛、山王佛、智胜佛、净名王佛、智成就佛、无上佛、妙声佛、满月佛、月面佛有如是等不可说佛。

　　"World Honored One, beings of the present and future, both gods and humans, both male and female, can amass such limitless merit and virtue by reciting only one Buddha”s name. How much more merit will they amass by reciting many names.

　　世尊，现在未来一切众生，若天若人，若男若女，但念得一佛名号，功德无量，何况多名。』

　　Those beings will personally obtain benefits in their lives and deaths significant enough to keep them from ever falling into the Evil Paths.

　　"When people are on the verge of dying, a group of their relatives, or even just one of them, should recite Buddhas” names aloud for the people who are sick. By doing so, the karmic retributions of those people who are about to die will be dissolved, even offenses deserving Fivefold Relentless Retribution.

　　 『是众生等，生时死时，自的大利，终不堕恶道。若有临命终人，家中眷属，乃至一人，为是病人高声念一佛名，是命终人，除五无间罪，馀业报等悉得消灭。

　　Offenses warranting Fivefold Relentless Retribution are so extremely heavy that those who commit them should not escape retribution for millions of eons. If, however, at the time of such offenders” deaths, someone recites the names of Buddhas on their behalf, then their offenses can gradually be dissolved.

　　How much more will that be the case for beings who recited those names themselves. The merit they attain will be limitless and will eradicate measureless offenses."

　　是五无间罪，虽至极重，动经亿劫，了不得出，承斯临命终时，他人为其称念佛名，於是罪中，亦渐消灭。何况众生自称自念，获福无量，灭无量罪。』

　　CHAPTER X

　　The Conditions and Comparative Merits and Virtues of Giving

　　 校量布施功德缘品第十

　　At that time. Earth Store Bodhisattva, Mahasattva, based on the Buddha”s awesome spiritual strength, arose from his seat, knelt on one knee, placed his palms together and said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, I have observed beings within the paths of karma and compared their acts of giving. Some do a little and some do a lot. Some receive blessings for one life, some for ten lives, and some receive great blessings and benefits for hundreds or thousands of lives. Why is that

　　 Please, World Honored One, explain that for us."

　　尔时地藏菩萨摩诃萨承佛威神，从座而起，胡跪合掌白佛言：『世尊，我观业道众生，校量布施，有轻有重，有一生受福，有十生受福，有百生千生受大福利者。是事云何，唯愿世尊为我说之。』

　　At that time the Buddha told Earth Store Bodhisattva, "Here in this assembly in the palace of the Trayastrimsha Heaven, I will now discuss the comparative merit and virtue derived from acts of giving done by the beings in Jambudvipa. Listen attentively to what I say."

　　Earth Store said to the Buddha, "I have wondered about this matter and will be pleased to listen."

　　 尔时佛告地藏菩萨：『吾今於忉利天宫一切会众，说阎浮提布施较量功德轻重，汝当谛听，吾为汝说。』

　　 地藏白佛言：『我疑是事，愿乐欲闻。』

　　The Buddha told Earth Store Bodhisattva, "In Jambudvipa, leaders of nations, prime ministers, high officials, great Elders, great Ksatriyas, great Brahmans, and others may encounter those who are poor,

　　hunchbacked, crippled, dumb, mute, deaf, retarded, blind or handicapped in other ways.

　　 佛告地藏菩萨：『南阎浮提，有国王、宰辅大臣、大长者、大刹利、大婆罗门等，若遇最下贫穷，乃至癃残　哑，聋痴无目，如是种种不完具者。

　　Those leaders and good people may wish to give to those people and may be able to do so with great compassion, a humble heart, and a smile. They may arrange to give generously, either personally with their own hands, or by arranging for others to do…

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