英语经文English versionThe Buddha told the elder's son, Sudatta, "You should go to visit Vimalakirti and inquire about his illness."Sudatta replied to the Buddha, "Lord, I am not capable of going to inquire about his illness."The reason for this was that Sudatta remembered a past event when he had hosted a grand almsgiving ceremony at his father's house, providing for all the monks, Brahmins, various non-Buddhist ascetics, and the poor, lowly, lonely, and beggars.This event lasted for seven days.During this time, Vimalakirti arrived at the gathering and said to him, "Sudatta, a grand almsgiving ceremony should not be conducted as you have done. It should be a ceremony of Dharma (spiritual) offerings. What is the use of this material offering?"Sudatta asked, "What do you mean by a Dharma offering ceremony?"Vimalakirti replied, "A Dharma offering ceremony is one where there is no distinction between the past and the future, and all beings are provided for simultaneously. This is called a Dharma offering ceremony."Vimalakirti further explained,"It means to cultivate compassion with the awakening of Bodhi,to develop great compassion for the salvation of all beings,to uphold the Dharma with joy,to practice wisdom with equanimity,to overcome stinginess with the practice of generosity,to transform those who break precepts with the practice of morality,to develop patience with the understanding of non-self,to practice diligent effort by transcending the dualism of body and mind,to practice meditation with the appearance of Bodhi,to develop wisdom with the understanding of all knowledge,to teach beings with the concept of emptiness,to practice non-attachment while not abandoning active endeavors,to demonstrate the concept of non-creation through the act of being reborn,to protect the Dharma with skillful means,to liberate beings with the four methods of attraction,to cultivate humility by respecting all,to practice the threefold firmness in terms of body, life, and wealth,to cultivate mindfulness in the six recollections,to develop straightforwardness in the six harmonies,to maintain a pure livelihood through wholesome actions,to be joyful and associate with the wise,to be compassionate towards the wicked,to develop deep commitment through the monastic discipline,to cultivate extensive learning through practicing as taught,to practice non-contention in solitary places,to aspire towards Buddha's wisdom through meditation,to liberate beings from their bonds through spiritual practice.By having auspicious attributes and pure Buddha lands, one engages in merit-making activities.Knowing the thoughts of all beings, one teaches accordingly, thus engaging in the wisdom activity.Understanding all dharmas without attachment or rejection, entering the door of non-duality, one engages in the activity of insight.By eliminating all afflictions, obstacles, and unwholesome actions, one engages in all wholesome actions.Having attained all wisdom and virtues, one engages in all activities that support the path of Buddha.Thus, a Bodhisattva who resides in such a Dharma offering ceremony becomes a great benefactor and a field of merit for all beings in the world.When Vimalakirti was explaining this Dharma, two hundred Brahmins in the audience awakened the aspiration for Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi (Supreme Perfect Enlightenment).Sudatta felt his mind become pure and praised it as unprecedented.He bowed and touched Vimalakirti's feet in respect, then took off a necklace worth a hundred thousand and offered it to him.Vimalakirti accepted the necklace, divided it into two parts, and gave one part to the poorest beggar in the gathering and the other part to the Invincible Tathagata.Everyone at the gathering saw the brilliant land of the Invincible Tathagata and the necklace transformed into a four-pillared treasure platform, adorned on all sides without obstructing each other.Vimalakirti, having displayed this miraculous power, said, "If a benefactor gives to the poorest beggar with an equal mind, it is like making an offering to a Tathagata, free from discrimination, equal to great compassion, and seeking no reward. This is called a complete Dharma offering."A beggar in the city, seeing this miraculous power and hearing the explanation, also awakened the aspiration for Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi.Therefore, Sudatta said he was not qualified to go and inquire about Vimalakirti's illness.In this way, each Bodhisattva told the Buddha their own story, recounting Vimalakirti's words, and they all said they were not qualified to go and inquire about his illness.
