宣公上人講於一九八七年三月十三日 A Lecture by Venerable Master Hua on March 13, 1987
佛馱跋陀羅譯為覺賢，北天竺國人也。甘露王之後裔。十七出家，精通禪律，赫赫有名。於東晉義熙二年（公元四○七年）航海至長安，大弘禪業，四方樂靜者，聞風而至。一日，偶對弟子言：「昨見天竺五商船俱發，啟程來震旦。」
Dharma Master Buddhabhadra’s name can be translated as “Awakening Virtue,” and he was born in North India. He was a descendant of King Ganlu (Amitodana, Sweet Dew) and became a monk at the age of 17. He became very famous for being well-versed in meditation and the vinaya. In the second year of Yixi Reign of the Eastern Jin dynasty (407 CE), he traveled by sea to the capital Chang’an. There he propagated Chan meditation on such a vast scale that those who delighted in the practice of meditation flocked to him upon hearing about him or his teachings. One day, he casually mentioned to his disciples, “Yesterday, I saw five merchant ships departing from India and heading towards China.”
（三年後，果至廣州。）但招時人嫉之，種種因緣，法師率弟子飄然南下，渡江至廬山，. 欣然迎之。應大師之請，譯菩提多羅禪經。後於揚州謝司空寺譯華嚴經十卷，稱為晉譯本。譯經第一日，有雙童獻華，見者嘆為希有。年七十一，示寂於道場寺。譯經多種，流通於世。
(Three years later, those merchant ships did actually arrive in Guangzhou, China. This made some of his contemporaries jealous of him. After some unfortunate incidents, he left Chang’an, traveling lightly with his disciples towards the southern part of China. They crossed theYangtze River and reached Lu Mountain where Venerable Master Huiyuan warmly received him. Accepting the Dharma request from Ven. Master Huiyuan, Ven. Master Buddhabhadra started to translate the Dharmatara Dhyana Sutra. Later, he stayed at Xie Sikong Temple of Yangzhou to take on the translation project of the 60-scroll version of the Flower Adornment Sutra which is also called the Jin-edition of the Flower Adornment Sutra. On the first day of the translation project, a pair of children suddenly appeared to offer flowers to the master. Everybody was awed by this magnificent and wondrous occurrence. He entered Stillness at the age of 71 at Daochang temple, leaving behind a legacy of many translated Sutras which remain in circulation throughout the world.
贊曰 A verse of praise goes:
東晉時代 佛法大興
鳩摩陀羅 長安南京
譯出華嚴 照耀古今
專持戒律 嚴守重輕
During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Buddhism flourishes greatly,
Kumarajiva and Buddhabhadra, one in Chang’an, the other in Nanjing.
Flower Adornment Sutra is translated, illustrious through the times;
Precepts are upheld with much dedication, major and minor alike.
又說偈曰 Another verse goes:
甘露王子為沙門 童真入道不染塵
遵佛遺囑師木叉 助友宣揚正法行
廬山遠公大歡喜 終南羅什倒履迎
苦心勞骨擔大任 疾風運燭萬古興
King Ganlu’s descendant becomes a shramana,
Entering the monastery as a pure youth, celibate and untainted.
Upholds and accords with bequeathed Teachings, taking Pratimoksha as Teacher.
Assists renowned contemporaries to propagate the orthodox Dharma;
Kumarajiva of Mt. Zhongnan so happily welcomes him,
Venerable Elder Huiyuan joyously receives him at Mt. Lu.
He painstakingly toils to shoulder great tasks,
Like a firm candle in the wind, ever flourishing Dharma.
【淺釋】 Commentary：
佛馱跋陀羅法師是北天竺（印度）人，他的祖上是甘露王之後裔。甘露王是釋迦牟尼佛最小的叔叔。這位法師十七歲出家，非常聰明有智慧，道行也特別好，持戒精嚴，精通禪律，見第超越，有真知卓見。
Dharma Master Buddhabhadra, of North India, was a descendant of King Ganlu (Sweet Dew), the youngest uncle of Shakyamuni Buddha. Master Buddhabhadra became a monk at the age of 17. He was a very intelligent, wise and outstanding cultivator that strictly upheld the precepts; exceptionally versed in meditation and had superior insight and understanding in all things.
他覺得他的機緣是在中國，於是在東晉義熙二年，航海到中國來。他和鳩摩羅什是同時人。鳩摩羅什當時聽說這位法師來了，倒屣而迎；就是很著急連鞋都顧不得穿，把鞋穿反去迎接他。因為佛馱跋陀羅法師精於禪律，到中國後，四方衲子喜歡參禪的人，都慕名來皈依，因他在印度就很有名，在中國法緣非常之盛。
He felt his destiny laid in China. Therefore, he traveled to China by sea in the second year of Yixi Reign of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva and Dharma Master Buddhabhadra were contemporaries. Upon hearing the news that Master Buddhabhadra had arrived, Master Kumarajiva excitedly hurried out to welcome him even with his shoes worn incorrectly. Because Master Buddhabhadra specialized in meditation and precepts, cultivators interested in meditation came from all directions to take refuge with him. He was famous in India and became just as popular in China.
他認真用功辦道，所講的道理都是真實不虛，因此有種種的感應。有一天，他對門人說：「我昨天看見在印度，有五隻商船啟程來中國。」三年後，果然有五隻商船在廣州登陸。這一說不要緊，卻令他遭受同行人的妒嫉排斥，說他顯示神通，佛入滅之後不准人顯神通，他顯神通就不合乎佛的遺囑。於是佛馱跋陀羅法師帶著很多弟子由長安過江到廬山。當時慧遠大師在廬山弘揚淨土法門，聽佛馱跋陀羅法師來了，特別歡迎他，他請他翻譯經典。
He was diligent and earnest in his cultivation and his teachings true and genuine; as a result, there were frequent and auspicious responses. One day, he told his disciples, “Yesterday, I saw five merchant ships departing from India for China.” Three years later, those five ships docked in Guangzhou. That remark evoked much jealousy from other fellow monks and he was accused of violating the Buddha’s teachings regarding showing off spiritual powers after the Buddha’s Nirvana. Therefore, Master Buddhabhadra led many of his disciples and left Chang’an. They crossed the Yangtze River and arrived at Lu Mountain where Venerable Master Huiyuan was teaching the Pure Land Dharma When Master Huiyuan heard the news, he very warmly received Master Buddhabhadra at his monastery and requested him to embark on some translation projects.
這位法師翻譯禪經，以後在道場寺翻譯了六十卷華嚴經。華嚴經有唐譯及晉譯，有四十卷、六十卷及八十卷等，但其中意義大同小異。當時他曾協助法顯法師翻譯涅槃經，也協助慧遠大師在佛教裡做了很多工作。他在七十一歲，圓寂於道場寺。他翻譯經典多部皆流通於世，對佛教的功勳非常偉大。
Master Buddhabhadra translated the Dhyana Sutra, and the 60-roll edition Flower Adornment Sutra at Daochang Monastery. There are various translations and editions of the Flower Adornment Sutra, such as the Tang and Jin Dynasty translations, and the 40-, 60-, 80-roll editions, etc. However, they all have basically the same meaning. He also helped Dharma Master Faxian translate the Nirvana Sutra and assisted Master Huiyuan in many Dharma works. He entered Nirvana at the age of 71 at Daochang Temple. He translated numerous Buddhist Sutras that spread throughout the world and made enormous contributions to Buddhism.
贊曰 A verse in praise goes:
「東晉時代」「佛法大興」：這位法師出生於東晉時代，前後同時有鳩摩羅什、道安、道宣、慧遠等法師，佛教很興盛。因為他是真正荷擔如來的家業。
During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Buddhism flourishes greatly. This Dharma Master was born in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. During and around that era, there was Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva, Dharma Master Dao’an, Dharma Master Daoxuan, Dharma Master Huiyuan, and others. Buddhism was very prosperous at that time because those virtuous ones, including Dharma Master Buddhabhadra, truly shouldered the responsibilities of continuing the lineage of the Tathagata.
「鳩摩陀羅」「長安南京」：鳩摩羅什在長安翻譯經典，佛馱跋陀羅則在南京翻譯經典。Kumarajiva and Buddhabhadra, one in Chang’an, the other in Nanjing. Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva translated at Chang’an and Dharma Master Buddhabhadra translated at Nanjing.
「譯出華嚴」：他翻譯出華嚴經六十卷。
Flower Adornment Sutra is translated. He translated the 60-roll edition of the Flower Adornment sutra.
「照耀古今」：古今都得到他的光輝加被。
Illustrious through the times. People everywhere and of all times were blessed by his light.
「專持戒律」：他專門研究戒律。
Precepts are upheld with much dedication. He specialized in upholding the vinaya.
「嚴守重輕」：重戒、輕戒，他都絲毫不犯。
Major and minor alike: He never violated any precept, whether crucial or trivial.
又說偈曰 Another verse says：
「甘露王子為沙門」：這位法師是甘露王後裔的兒子。他做和尚了；做「勤修戒定慧，息滅貪瞋癡」的沙門。
King Ganlu’s descendant becomes a shramana. This master was the son of a descendant of King Ganlu. He became a monk who diligently cultivated the precepts, samadhi, and wisdom, and he also put greed, anger, and stupidity to rest.
「童真入道不染塵」：他十七歲就出家。「不染塵」就是沒有結過婚，沒有接近過異性，所以非常的清淨。
Entering the monastery as a pure youth, celibate and untainted. He became a monk at the age of 17. Untainted by dust means that he never married or got close to the opposite sex, so he remained pure and clean.
「遵佛遺囑師木叉」：他奉行遵從佛的遺囑，以波羅提木叉（戒律）做為自己的師父。Upholds and accords with bequeathed Teachings, taking Pratimoksha as Teacher. He followed the Buddha’s final instructions that all monastics should treat the precepts as their teacher.
「助友宣揚正法行」：他幫助同參道友—法顯法師、慧遠大師、鳩摩羅什法師弘揚正法。Assists renowned contemporaries to propagate the orthodox Dharma. He helped fellow cultivators, like Dharma Master Faxian, Dharma Master Huiyuan, and Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva, to propagate the proper Dharma.
「廬山遠公大歡喜」：廬山慧遠大師聽說他來了，非常高興，欣然迎之。
Venerable Elder Huiyuan joyously receives him at Mt. Lu. Dharma Master Huiyuan of Lu Mountain, upon hearing of his arrival, became very excited, and received him with much delight.
「終南羅什倒屣迎」：終南山鳩摩羅什法師聽說他來了，鞋子都顧不得穿，高興地去迎接他。
Kumarajiva of Mt. Zhongnan so happily welcomes him. Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva at Zhongnan Mountain also heard that he was coming. He didn’t even wear his shoes properly before rushing out to happily meet him.
「苦心勞骨擔大任」：他雖然翻譯很多經典，但是也經過不少困苦艱難，到處遭人妒嫉排斥，受了很多磨難。「苦心勞骨」：即各處奔走跋涉，為法忘軀，不辭勞苦。所謂「故天降大任於斯人也，必先苦其心志，勞其筋骨，餓其體膚，空乏其身，行拂亂其所為；所以動心忍性，增益其所不能。」所以他也是這樣擔當大任。
He painstakingly toils to shoulder great tasks. He translated many Buddhist Sutras. However, in the process, he also suffered many obstacles, much jealousy, rejection, and numerous hardships. For the sake of the Dharma, he neglected his own well-being, fearing no toil or suffering, traveling to various places. A quote goes, “When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a man, it always first frustrates his spirit and will, exhausts his muscles and bones, exposes him to starvation and poverty, and harasses him with troubles and setbacks, so as to stimulate his mind, toughen his resilience, and enhance his abilities.” Therefore, he was able to carry this great responsibility.
「疾風硬燭萬古興」：他做強風中的一根強硬的臘燭。所以佛教於萬古都會興盛。有這樣的法門龍象來弘揚佛法，佛教因此綿綿不斷，在要衰敗時又興起來，古來大德高僧的精神及志願的感召，天龍八部也不敢懶惰，而護持正教。
Like a firm candle in the wind, ever flourishing Dharma. He was a tough, inextinguishable candle in windy surroundings; therefore, Buddhism would remain prosperous throughout all times. His qualities are as those of “dragons and elephants” within the Dharma’s gate. Therefore, Buddhist teachings would be able to continue without interruption and be able to recover from decline. With the influence of the persistent spirit and ambitious will of all Venerable Masters from all ages, the Dharma-protecting gods and dragons dare not to become lazy or lax. ♦