213. （二一三）法庄严经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling among the Śākyas, at a Śākya town called Miḷiya.

At that time, King Pasenadi of Kosala was going to a town named Nagara for some business, together with the chief minister. When King Pasenadi arrived at the park, he saw that under the trees there was silence, seclusion, no evil, no people, and it was suitable for meditation. Having seen this, he remembered the World-Honored One. King Pasenadi said, "Chief minister, this place under the trees is silent, secluded, without evil, without people, and suitable for meditation. I often come here to see the Buddha. Chief minister, where is the World-Honored One now? I wish to go and see him."

The chief minister replied, "Your Majesty! I have heard that the World-Honored One is traveling among the Śākyas, at a Śākya town called Miḷiya.

King Pasenadi of Kosala asked again, "Chief minister, how far is the Śākya town called Miḷiya from here?"

The chief minister replied, "Your Majesty! It is three krośas from here."

King Pasenadi of Kosala said, "Chief minister! Order the carriage to be prepared. I wish to go to the Buddha."

The chief minister received the order and immediately ordered the carriage to be prepared, saying, "Your Majesty! The carriage is ready. Please do as you wish." King Pasenadi of Kosala then ascended the carriage and left the city, going to the city of the Śākyas named Mi-lou-li.

At that time, many bhikṣus were walking in the open air outside the gate of Mi-lou-li. King Pasenadi of Kosala went to where the bhikṣus were and asked, "Venerable ones! Where is the World-Honored One walking during the day now?"

The many bhikṣus replied, "Great King! In the large building to the east, with windows open and doors closed, the World-Honored One is walking during the day there now. Great King! If you wish to see him, go there. Having arrived, stand outside, cough and knock on the door. If the World-Honored One hears, he will surely open the door for you."

King Pasenadi of Kosala then got down from his carriage. If a king of the kṣatriya class with a crown comes to a place where people live and rules the earth, he has five adornments: a sword, an umbrella, a flower garland, a jeweled-handled whisk, and decorated shoes. He takes them all off and gives them to the attendant. The attendant thinks, "The king will now enter alone. We should all stay here and wait."

Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, surrounded by his retinue, walked to the large building facing east. Having arrived, he stood outside, coughed and knocked on the door. The World-Honored One heard and immediately opened the door. King Pasenadi of Kosala then entered the building, went before the Buddha, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and thrice declared his name, saying, "I am King Pasenadi of Kosala. I am King Pasenadi of Kosala."

The World-Honored One replied, "So it is, great king! You are King Pasenadi of Kosala. You are King Pasenadi of Kosala." After King Pasenadi of Kosala declared his name thrice, he bowed his head at the Buddha's feet and sat to one side.

The World-Honored One asked, "Great king! What meaning do you see in me that you bow your head and pay homage, making offerings and serving me?"

King Pasenadi of Kosala replied, "World-Honored One! I have a sense of peace in the Dharma regarding the Buddha. Therefore, I think, 'The Dharma taught by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is good, and the community of the World-Honored One's disciples is well-directed.' World-Honored One! When I sit in the capital, I see mothers quarreling with their sons, sons quarreling with their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and relatives quarreling with each other. When they quarrel, the mothers speak ill of their sons, the sons speak ill of their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and relatives speak ill of each other, let alone others. I see the community of the World-Honored One's disciples, the bhikṣus, who practice the holy life under the World-Honored One. Some bhikṣus have many disputes and abandon the precepts, give up the path, and do not speak ill of the Buddha, the Dharma, or the community. They only reproach themselves, 'I am evil, I am without virtue. Why is that? Because I am unable to practice the holy life under the World-Honored One for the rest of my life.' This is what I mean by having a sense of peace in the Dharma regarding the Buddha. Therefore, I think, 'The Dharma taught by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is good, and the community of the World-Honored One's disciples is well-directed.'

Furthermore, World-Honored One! I see a śramaṇa or brāhmaṇa who practices the holy life for nine or ten months, but then abandons it and becomes defiled by desire, attached to desire, bound by desire, arrogantly accepting it, not seeing the danger, not seeing the way out, and still enjoying desire. World-Honored One! I see the community of the World-Honored One's disciples, the bhikṣus, who practice the holy life for the rest of their lives, up to billions of times. I do not see such pure holy life outside of this. This is what I mean by having a sense of peace in the Dharma regarding the Buddha. Therefore, I think, 'The Dharma taught by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is good, and the community of the World-Honored One's disciples is well-directed.'

Furthermore, World-Honored One! I see a śramaṇa or brāhmaṇa who is emaciated, haggard, with an extremely ugly complexion, and covered in white blisters, unpleasant to look at. I think, 'Why are these venerable ones emaciated, haggard, with an extremely ugly complexion, and covered in white blisters, unpleasant to look at? These venerable ones must not enjoy practicing the holy life, or they have physical ailments, or they do evil in private. That is why these venerable ones are emaciated, haggard, with an extremely ugly complexion, and covered in white blisters, unpleasant to look at.' I go to ask them, 'Venerable ones, why are you emaciated, haggard, with an extremely ugly complexion, and covered in white blisters, unpleasant to look at? Do you not enjoy practicing the holy life? Do you have physical ailments? Do you do evil in private? That is why you are emaciated, haggard, with an extremely ugly complexion, and covered in white blisters, unpleasant to look at.' They reply to me, 'Great King! It is the white disease. Great King! It is the white disease.'

World-Honored One! I see the community of the World-Honored One's disciples, the bhikṣus, who enjoy practicing the holy life, with upright conduct, pleasant complexions, clean bodies, without striving or seeking, guarding others' wives like deer, practicing the holy life for the rest of their lives. Having seen this, I think, 'Why do these venerable ones enjoy practicing the holy life, with upright conduct, pleasant complexions, clean bodies, without striving or seeking, guarding others' wives like deer, practicing the holy life for the rest of their lives? These venerable ones have attained freedom from desire, or attained the higher mind, and dwell in the happiness of the present life, which is easy to attain.' Therefore, these venerable ones enjoy practicing the holy life, with upright conduct, pleasant complexions, clean bodies, without striving or seeking, guarding others' wives like deer, practicing the holy life for the rest of their lives. If one practices desire and enjoys upright conduct, I should enjoy upright conduct. Because it is easy to attain the five sense pleasures. If these venerable ones attain freedom from desire, attain the higher mind, and dwell in the happiness of the present life, which is easy to attain, therefore these venerable ones enjoy practicing the holy life, with pleasant complexions, clean bodies, without striving or seeking, guarding others' wives like deer, practicing the holy life for the rest of their lives. This is what I mean by having a sense of peace in the Dharma regarding the Buddha. Therefore, I think, 'The Dharma taught by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is good, and the community of the World-Honored One's disciples is well-directed.'

Furthermore, World-Honored One! I see a śramaṇa or brāhmaṇa who is intelligent and wise, who proclaims his own intelligence and wisdom, who is learned and decisive, who is well-versed in the scriptures, who subdues strong opponents, who speaks with clarity and understanding, whose fame and virtue are widely known, who is renowned throughout the world, who goes to various places and destroys the views and doctrines of others, and who establishes his own doctrines, saying, 'We should go to the śramaṇa Gautama and ask him such and such questions. If he can answer, we will challenge him; if he cannot answer, we will also challenge him and leave.' Having heard that the World-Honored One is traveling to a certain village or town, they go to where the Buddha is, but they do not dare to ask the World-Honored One about anything, let alone challenge him. This is what I mean by having a sense of peace in the Dharma regarding the Buddha. Therefore, I think, 'The Dharma taught by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is good, and the community of the World-Honored One's disciples is well-directed.'

Furthermore, World-Honored One! I see a śramaṇa or brāhmaṇa who is intelligent and wise, who proclaims his own intelligence and wisdom, who is learned and decisive, who is well-versed in the scriptures, who subdues strong opponents, who speaks with clarity and understanding, whose fame and virtue are widely known, who is renowned throughout the world, who goes to various places and destroys the views and doctrines of others, and who establishes his own doctrines, saying, 'We should go to the śramaṇa Gautama and ask him such and such questions. If he can answer, we will challenge him; if he cannot answer, we will also challenge him and leave.' Having heard that the World-Honored One is traveling to a certain village or town, they go to where the Buddha is and ask the World-Honored One about something. The World-Honored One answers them, and having heard the answer, they are delighted. They bow their heads at the Buddha's feet, circumambulate him three times, and leave. This is what I mean by having a sense of peace in the Dharma regarding the Buddha. Therefore, I think, 'The Dharma taught by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is good, and the community of the World-Honored One's disciples is well-directed.'

Furthermore, World-Honored One! I see a śramaṇa or brāhmaṇa who is intelligent and wise, who proclaims his own intelligence and wisdom, who is learned and decisive, who is well-versed in the scriptures, who subdues strong opponents, who speaks with clarity and understanding, whose fame and virtue are widely known, who is renowned throughout the world, who goes to various places and destroys the views and doctrines of others, and who establishes his own doctrines, saying, 'We should go to the śramaṇa Gautama and ask him such and such questions. If he can answer, we will challenge him; if he cannot answer, we will also challenge him and leave.' Having heard that the World-Honored One is traveling to a certain village or town, they go to where the Buddha is and ask the World-Honored One about something. The World-Honored One answers them, and having heard the answer, they are delighted. They take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the community of monks. The World-Honored One accepts them as lay followers, who take refuge for life until the end of their lives. This is what I mean by having a sense of peace in the Dharma regarding the Buddha. Therefore, I think, 'The Dharma taught by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is good, and the community of the World-Honored One's disciples is well-directed.'

Furthermore, World-Honored One! I see a śramaṇa or brāhmaṇa who is intelligent and wise, who proclaims his own intelligence and wisdom, who is learned and decisive, who is well-versed in the scriptures, who subdues strong opponents, who speaks with clarity and understanding, whose fame and virtue are widely known, who is renowned throughout the world, who goes to various places and destroys the views and doctrines of others, and who establishes his own doctrines, saying, 'We should go to the śramaṇa Gautama and ask him such and such questions. If he can answer, we will challenge him; if he cannot answer, we will also challenge him and leave.' Having heard that the World-Honored One is traveling to a certain village or town, they go to where the Buddha is and ask the World-Honored One about something. The World-Honored One answers them, and having heard the answer, they are delighted. They then request the World-Honored One to allow them to go forth and practice, and to receive full ordination, to attain the state of a bhikṣu. The World-Honored One then accepts them and gives them full ordination, allowing them to attain the state of a bhikṣu.

If those venerable ones go forth to practice the path, receive full ordination, and attain the state of a bhikṣu, then they will dwell in solitude, far away, with a mind free from carelessness, practicing diligently. Having dwelt in solitude, far away, with a mind free from carelessness, practicing diligently, if those sons of noble families shave off their hair and beards, don the saffron robes, leave home out of true faith, become homeless, and practice the path, then they will complete the unsurpassed holy life, know and realize it for themselves in this very life, and dwell having attained it by their own supernormal power. With the end of birth, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, there is no more of this mundane state - this they know for themselves. If those venerable ones know the Dharma, and attain arahantship, then they will think: 'Venerable ones! We were formerly ignorant and lost. Why is that? We formerly were not śramaṇas but claimed to be śramaṇas, not holy ones but claimed to be holy ones, not arhats but claimed to be arhats. Now we are śramaṇas, holy ones, and arhats.' This is what I mean by having a sense of peace in the Dharma regarding the Buddha. Therefore, I think, 'The Dharma taught by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is good, and the community of the World-Honored One's disciples is well-directed.'

Furthermore, World-Honored One! When I am in the country, I order the execution of those who have committed no offense, and the execution of those who have committed an offense. However, when I am in the capital, I cannot say, 'You all stay here. No one asks you about matters. When people ask me about matters, you cannot resolve them. I can resolve them.' In the meantime, we discuss other matters, and before the previous discussion is finished, I often see the World-Honored One surrounded by a great assembly teaching the Dharma. Among them, someone snores loudly. Someone tells him, 'Sir, do not snore loudly. Do you not want to hear the World-Honored One's Dharma teaching like sweet dew?' Having heard this, he immediately falls silent. I think, 'The Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the Tamer of those to be tamed, is truly wonderful and extraordinary! Why is that? Because without weapons, he peacefully and happily teaches the Dharma according to the Dharma.' This is what I mean by having a sense of peace in the Dharma regarding the Buddha. Therefore, I think, 'The Dharma taught by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is good, and the community of the World-Honored One's disciples is well-directed.'

Furthermore, World-Honored One! I give money and wealth to the ministers Xianyu and Sujiu, and I always praise them. Their lives depend on me. However, I cannot make them humble, respectful, reverent, and devoted to me, as they are to the World-Honored One. This is what I mean by having a sense of peace in the Dharma regarding the Buddha. Therefore, I think, 'The Dharma taught by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is good, and the community of the World-Honored One's disciples is well-directed.'

Furthermore, World-Honored One! When I was a hermit, I stayed in a small hut to test the ministers Xianyu and Sujiu, to see in which direction they would sleep, towards me or towards the World-Honored One. Then, in the first watch of the night, the ministers Xianyu and Sujiu sat cross-legged in silence. In the middle watch of the night, they heard the World-Honored One in a certain place, and then they turned their heads towards him and their feet towards me. Seeing this, I thought, 'These ministers Xianyu and Sujiu are not in the present superior state, and therefore they do not humble themselves, respect, revere, and serve me as they do the World-Honored One.' This is what I mean by having a sense of peace in the Dharma regarding the Buddha. Therefore, I think, 'The Dharma taught by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One is good, and the community of the World-Honored One's disciples is well-directed.'

"Furthermore, World-Honored One! I am also a king, and the World-Honored One is also a Dharma King. I am also a kshatriya, and the World-Honored One is also a kshatriya. I am also from Kosala, and the World-Honored One is also from Kosala. I am also eighty years old, and the World-Honored One is also eighty years old. For these reasons, World-Honored One, I am able to humble myself, respect, revere, and serve the World-Honored One for the rest of my life. World-Honored One! I have many affairs now and wish to take leave and return."

The World-Honored One said, "Great King! Know the time yourself." Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, having heard what the Buddha taught, received and remembered it well. He then rose from his seat, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him three times, and departed.

At that time, Venerable Ānanda was standing behind the World-Honored One, holding a whisk to attend to the Buddha. Then the World-Honored One turned around and said, "Ānanda! If there are any monks staying in the Mīlāruvana, have them all gather in the Dharma hall."

Then Venerable Ānanda, having received the Buddha's instruction, had all the monks staying in the Mīlāruvana gather in the Dharma hall. He then returned to the Buddha and said, "World-Honored One! All the monks staying in the Mīlāruvana have already gathered in the Dharma hall. May the World-Honored One know the time himself."

Then the World-Honored One, together with Venerable Ānanda, went to the Dharma hall in front of the assembly of monks, spread out a seat, and sat down. He said, "Monks! After King Pasenadi of Kosala spoke this Dharma Adornment Sutra in front of me, he rose from his seat, bowed at my feet, circumambulated me three times, and left. Monks! You should uphold this Dharma Adornment Sutra, recite it well, and practice it well. Why is that? Monks! This Dharma Adornment Sutra is in accordance with the meaning and the Dharma, is the basis for the practice of purity, leads to wisdom, leads to enlightenment, and leads to nirvana. If a noble son of a good family, with utmost faith, leaves home and family to study the path, he should also uphold, recite, and practice this Dharma Adornment Sutra."

The Buddha spoke thus. Those monks, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and practiced accordingly.