英語訳
【Right Upper Section】
Reconciling explanation: Bodhisattva Never Disparaging's increase in lifespan was due to great supernatural powers and the power of Dharma's majestic virtue. Why raise doubts as if he were an ordinary human? Those who cultivate the four supernatural feet have lifespans extending to one kalpa or more than one kalpa. How much more so in these years? However, the idea that he could reach the destruction kalpa is not so. That Buddha's semblance Dharma was like the number of dust particles in the four continents. Since the semblance Dharma was already long, it probably wouldn't reach the destruction kalpa.
The Water Commentary states: Regarding "increased lifespan and Dharma exposition," the sutra says "further increased lifespan by two hundred [myriads of billions of nayutas], etc." Question: What was the lifespan of people at that time? Now the lifespan is two hundred myriads of billions of nayutas - why is this so excessive? Answer: First, this is the blessing of Dharma power. Second, perhaps this is the power of meditative concentration not breaking the lifespan. For example, when one person should experience seven more days but suddenly enters concentration upon bodily death, emerges from concentration after thirty years, then experiences seven more days and dies.
The Decisive Selection Record One states: Question: At the time of initial increase there were only eighty thousand. Why is it now so many? Answer: Zizhou says: The land used by four good roots people, the Buddha bodies they see, being born in one set of four continents - therefore lifespans are not the same. As stated in the Ocean Dragon King Sutra, there was a wheel-turning king who ruled over sixteen sets of four continents. Due to this bodhisattva, the royal transformations felt in the previous two stages, the superiority and inferiority of lands were not the same, and lifespans also differed.
Question: The sutra states: "Hearing what he expounded, all believed, submitted, and followed." So were those who believed, submitted, and followed the same as the four assemblies who disparaged and reviled him? There are problems with both possibilities. If they were the same people, while the bodhisattva gained supernatural powers and increased his lifespan, the four assemblies did not. How could they consistently encounter the great being, first slandering
【Right Lower Section】
and later believing? If they received separate births and then believed and submitted, due to slanderous karma, they immediately received hell retribution for a thousand kalpas. When could they believe in the great being? Based on this, previous masters [say they were] separate people.
If based on this it were so, looking at the sutra text: "At that time the arrogant four assemblies... seeing him attain great supernatural powers... hearing what he expounded, all believed, submitted, and followed." The Correct Dharma Blossom is also the same. Moreover, the Profound Praise, citing this text, states "evil people followed his transformation."
Reconciling explanation: The disparagement and belief-submission were the same people before and after. The sutra text is clear. The Profound Praise is also the same.
However, at the beginning of the bodhisattva's increased lifespan, through his supernatural powers and eloquence, they probably changed their slanderous hearts and generated belief and submission. For those who didn't necessarily engage in long-term following, there should be no contradiction.
The sutra states: At that time the arrogant four assemblies - bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, and upāsikās - who disparaged this person and gave him the name "Never Disparaging," seeing him attain great supernatural powers, joyful eloquence, and great peaceful tranquil power, and hearing what he expounded, all believed, submitted, and followed.
Question: The sutra text states "attained this constant pure eye faculty" etc. At what stage was this attained? The Profound Praise states: The first ground. Regarding this, as in the sixth volume commentary.
Question: Regarding those who reviled and slandered the great being Never Disparaging, due to these causes and conditions they didn't encounter the Three Jewels and
【Left Upper Section】
received great suffering in Avīci Hell. So which fruit did they receive first? There are problems with both possibilities. If they first received hell suffering, the sutra clearly states: "For two hundred billion [kalpas], constantly not encountering Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha, for a thousand kalpas in Avīci Hell, receiving great anguish." Clearly knowing, they first received the fruit of not encountering the Three Jewels. The Correct Dharma Blossom text is also the same. If based on this it were so, not encountering the Three Jewels etc. - these are flowing-forth residual fruits. Why receive them first? Therefore in this sutra's Parable Chapter and Prajñā sutras etc., they first receive three evil destinies' suffering, then receive superior residual fruits.
Reconciling explanation: Previous masters explained this matter saying: Though this person initially slandered, because he later believed, submitted, and followed, in the immediately following life he doesn't encounter the Three Jewels, and in the life after that, he receives hell suffering. That one necessarily receives hell retribution in the immediately following life refers to not believing and submitting and not repenting. Following the sutra text to resolve doubts and difficulties, should one rely on this?
A private record states: Question: Regarding these four assemblies' two hundred billion kalpas not encountering the Three Jewels - all hell karma must be received in the immediately following life and doesn't include other lives. Why does this person first have the retribution of not encountering the Three Jewels, then fall into hell? Answer: Though this person initially slandered, because he later believed, submitted, and followed, in the immediately following life he doesn't encounter the Three Jewels, and in the life after that receives hell suffering. That one necessarily receives hell retribution in the immediately following life refers to not believing and submitting and not repenting. Question: If due to belief and submission he first receives light retribution, also due to belief and submission, wouldn't he not receive heavy retribution? Answer: Because belief and submission are shallow, he still receives heavy retribution. Though receiving heavy retribution,
【Left Lower Section】
he receives it for a thousand kalpas, not countless kalpas. Later encountering Never Disparaging, he gains what is taught and transformed. Due to initially gaining hearing, the bodhisattva gives prediction. The text is extensive.
Question: Regarding the sutra's identification of past and present, specifically the five hundred people including Lion Moon - are these the bhikṣu assembly or how should this be understood? There are problems with both possibilities. If they were the bhikṣu assembly, it clearly states "Lion Moon and other five hundred bhikṣuṇīs." We know this refers to the nun assembly. Moreover, in other sutras, Mindful-of-Buddha and other upāsakas [are mentioned] - following this pattern, the character "nī" should belong to the preceding text. If following this interpretation, when mentioning the lay assembly, it produces "five hundred upāsakas." Following this pattern for the monastic assembly, one should mention bhikṣus. Since mentioning the superior should include the inferior, why list the nun assembly?
Reconciling explanation: Chinese masters treat the character "nī" either as the end of the upper phrase or the beginning of the lower phrase. Among these, Master Xifu maintains the latter meaning, establishing the sutra's intent saying: Mentioning bhikṣus includes the nun assembly - mentioning the superior includes the inferior. Mentioning upāsakas includes upāsikās - mentioning male includes female. These four assemblies are complete. This meaning accords with the Correct Dharma Blossom. However, regarding Mindful-of-Buddha and other upāsakas in other sutras, the translator simply abbreviated the character "nī" from the Sanskrit pronunciation. "Nī" is the feminine ending. Even for males, if following maternal lineage etc., the "nī" sound is added, or sometimes it can be omitted without error. In the name Maitreyā, the presence or absence of the "nī" character is inconsistent in sutra explanations. Therefore, this sutra temporarily places the "nī" character, yet its essence is the same as upāsaka. Or those were a thousand people of the same type, while these are five hundred people. If they were different types, it wouldn't be sufficient