Exercises

Question 1

人壽八萬歲

Answer 1

People lived to the age of eighty thousand.

Question 2

迦葉佛坐尼拘律樹下。

Answer 2

kāśyapabuddha sat beneath the nyagrodha tree.

Question 3

尸棄佛有二弟子。

Answer 3

Śikhinbuddha had two disciples.

Question 4

我父名淨飯。

Answer 4

My father’s name was Suddhodana.

Question 5

佛告比丘…。

Answer 5

The Buddha said to the bhikkhus…

Question 6

此是常法。

Answer 6

This is the constant law.

Question 7

如是我聞。

Answer 7

Thus have I heard.

Question 8

諸比丘對… …

Answer 8

The bhikkhus rcesponded…

Question 9

智慧增益。

Answer 9

Her insight increases.

Question 10

佛在舍衛國祇樹花林窟與大比丘眾千二百五十人俱。

Answer 10

When the Buddha was in the Flower Copse Cave in the Jeta Grove in Śrāvastī, he was together with an assembly of one thousand two-hundred fifty great bhikkhus (or a great assembly of 1,250 bhikkhus)

Question 11

唯無上尊為最奇特、神通遠達、威力弘大

Answer 11

The exalted one is most remarkable. His divide powers are far reaching, his authority expansive.

Question 12

諸佛入於涅槃、斷諸結使、消滅戱論。

Answer 12

When the buddhas enter nirvana, they sever all of the aflictions and dispense with frivolous discourse.

Question 13

佛有如是戒、有如是法、有如是慧

Answer 13

The morality of a buddha is like this, the Dharma of a buddha is like this, and the insight of a buddha is like this.

Question 14

世尊在閑靜處。天耳清淨。聞諸比丘作如是議。

Answer 14

The World-Honored_One was in a quiet place. His celestial ear was clear. [And so] he heard the bhikkhus talking in this way.

Question 15

佛告諸比丘「諦聽。諦聽。善思念之」。

Answer 15

The Buddha said to the bhikkhus: “Listen carefully. Listen carefully. Think well on this.”

Question 16

迦葉佛坐尼拘律樹下成最正覺。

Answer 16

Kāśyapabuddha sat beneath the nyagrodha tree and achieved the most correct awakening.

Question 17

一時，佛在舍衛國祇樹花林窟

Answer 17

Once, the Buddha was in the Flower-Copse Cave in the Jeta Grove in the kingdom of Srāvastī.

Question 18

佛時頌曰..

Answer 18

The Buddha at that time said in verse…

Question 19

爾時，世尊在閑靜處。

Answer 19

At that time, the World-Honored-One was in a quiet place.

Question 20

時，諸比丘受教而聽。

Answer 20

At that time, the bhikkhus listened, receiving the teachings. (or “received instruction and listened”)

Question 21

過去無數諸佛入於涅槃、斷諸結使、消滅戱論。

Answer 21

In the past, countless buddhas entered nirvana, cut off all afflictions and dispensed with frivolous discourse.

Question 22

過去三十一劫，有佛名尸棄，如來至真。

Answer 22

Thirty-one kalpas ago, in the past, there was a buddha whose name was Sikhin, Tathāgata and arahant.

Question 23

聞諸比丘作如是議。即從座起。

Answer 23

Having heard the bhikkhus discuss in this manner, he arose from his seat.

Question 24

時，諸相師即白王言… …

Answer 24

At that time, the sooth-sayers addressed the king, saying…

Question 25

諸比丘於乞食後集花林堂。

Answer 25

After begging for food, the bhikkhus assembled in the Flower Copse Hall.

Question 26

太子於後即剃除鬚髮。

Answer 26

The prince after this shaved off his hair and beard.

Question 27

毘婆尸菩薩在母胎時，專念不亂。

Answer 27

When the bodhisattva Viaśyin was in his mother’s womb, he concentrated his thoughts, without distraction.

Question 28

世尊告諸比丘:「吾今欲以宿命智說過去佛事。汝欲聞不?」

Answer 28

The World-Honored-One announced to the bhikkhus, “I now wish to use my knowledge of past lives to speak of things related to buddhas of the past. Do you wish to hear them?”

Question 29

闇冥之處，無不蒙明。

Answer 29

All of the dark places were made light. (Lit. Of the dark places, none did not receive light.)

Question 30

過去無數諸佛入於涅槃、斷諸結使、消滅戱論

Answer 30

Innumerable Buddhas of the past entered into nirvana, cut off the various afflictions and eliminated frivolous discourse.

Question 31

毘婆尸菩薩從兜率天降神母胎，專念不亂。母身安隱，無眾惱患。

Answer 31

The bodhisattva Vipaśyin descended in spirit from Tuṣita into his mother’s womb where he was concentrated in thought, without distraction. His mother was serene, without any anxiety.

Question 32

有四天子執戈矛侍護其人。人與非人不得侵嬈。此是常法。

Answer 32

Four celestial beings, holding halberds and spears, attended on him and protected him so that neither human nor non-human could molest him. This is the constant law.

Question 33

人間憒閙，此非我宜。

Answer 33

The hubbub of human society does not suit me. (lit…is not for me appropriate)

Question 34

「天母，今生聖子。勿懷憂慼。此是常法」。

Answer 34

“Your majesty, today you will give birth to a holy son. Do not worry. This is the standard law.”

Question 35

「勿使眾生墜落餘趣」

Answer 35

“Do not allow a multitude of beings to fall into other paths.”

Question 36

其去未久…

Answer 36

Not long after he had gone…

Question 37

時，諸比丘具以事答。

Answer 37

At that time, the bhikkhus answered in full, explaining what had happened. (lit completely with the thing answered)

Question 38

吾今欲以宿命智說過去佛事。汝欲聞不?

Answer 38

“I now wish to use my knoweldge of past lives to speak of things related to buddhas of the past. Do you wish to hear them?”

Question 39

善哉!善哉!汝等以平等信，出家修道。

Answer 39

Excellent! Excellent! With equal faith leave your families and practice the path.

Question 40

即以佛眼觀視世界。

Answer 40

He then observed the world with the eyes of a buddha.

Question 41

手執白蓋、寶扇，以障寒暑

Answer 41

In their hands they held white parasols and jeweled fans with which they shielded him from the cold and the sun.

Question 42

增諸伎樂以悅其心。

Answer 42

He increased the number of entertainers in order to please him.

Question 43

二泉湧出一溫一冷。以供澡浴。此是常法。

Answer 43

Two springs welled forth, one hot and one cold. These were supplied in order to bathe him. This is the constant law.

Question 44

簡擇婇女以娛樂之

Answer 44

He selected beautiful women to entertain him.

Question 45

道逢老人。是以不樂。

Answer 45

On the road he encountered an old man. it is for this reason he is not happy.

Question 46

是以默然，不欲說法。

Answer 46

For this reason I am silent and do not wish to preach the Dharma.

Question 47

諸比丘聞佛所說。

Answer 47

The bhikkhus heard what the Buddha said.

Question 48

汝等所論

Answer 48

That which you discussed

Question 49

王所治城

Answer 49

the city governed by the king

Question 50

日月所不及處

Answer 50

The place where [the light of] the sun and moon do not reach.

Question 51

此是諸佛因緣、名號、種族、所出生處。

Answer 51

These are the circumstances, the names, the families, and the places of birth of all the Buddhas.

Question 52

時，諸相師即白王言:「王所生子有三十二相。」

Answer 52

At that time, the sooth-sayers addressed the king, saying: “The child born to your highness possesses thirty-two marks.”

Question 53

汝等集此，何所語議?

Answer 53

What have you gathered here to discuss?

Question 54

時，梵天王知毘婆尸如來所念。

Answer 54

At that time, the deva king Brahma knew what the Tathāgata Vipaśyin was thinking.

Question 55

佛告比丘:「毘婆尸菩薩從兜率天降神母胎，專念不亂。母心清淨，無 眾欲想，不為婬火之所燒然。此是諸佛常法」。

Answer 55

The Buddha told the bhikkhus: “The bodhisattva Vipaśyin descended in spirit form from Tuṣita Heaven into his mother’s womb where he remainde concentrated and without distraction. His mother was pure of heart, without desire, not burned by the fires of lust. This is the constant law.”

Question 56

比丘，唯無上尊為最奇特、神通遠達、威力弘大，乃知過去無數諸佛入 於涅槃、斷諸結使、消滅戱論。又知彼佛劫數多少、名號、姓字、所生種族。

Answer 56

Bhikkhus, the most honored one is most remarkable. His divine powers are far reaching, his authority vast, to the extent that he knows how countless Buddhas of the past entered nirvana, severed the afflictions and eliminated frivolous discourse. He also knows how many kalpas ago these Buddhas lived, their names and surnames, and the class and clan into which they were born.