佛告阿難 過去無量不可思議無央數劫 有佛出世 名世間自在王如來 時有國王 聞佛說法 心懷悅豫 尋發無上正真道意 棄國捐王 行作沙門 號曰法藏 高才勇哲 與世超異 詣世間自在王如來所 稽首佛足 右繞三匝 長跪合掌 以頌讚曰 光顏巍巍 威神無極 如是焰明 無與倫比 日月摩尼 珠光焰耀 皆悉隱蔽 猶如聚墨 如來顏容 超世無倫 正覺大音 響流十方 戒聞精進 三昧智慧 威德無侶 殊勝希有
Fó gào ā nán guò qù wú liàng bù kě sī yì wú yāng shù jié yǒu fó chū shì míng shì jiān zì zài wáng rú lái shí yǒu guó wáng wén fó shuō fǎ xīn huái yuè yù xún fā wú shàng zhèng zhēn dào yì qì guó juān wáng xíng zuò shā mén hào yuē fǎ zàng gāo cái yǒng zhé yǔ shì chāo yì yì shì jiān zì zài wáng rú lái suǒ qī shǒu fó zú yòu rào sān zā cháng guì hé zhǎng yǐ sòng zàn yuē guāng yán wéi wéi wēi shén wú jí rú shì yàn míng wú yǔ lún bǐ rì yuè mó ní zhū guāng yàn yào jiē xī yǐn bì yóu rú jù mò rú lái yán róng chāo shì wú lún zhèng jué dà yīn xiǎng liú shí fāng jiè wén jīng jìn sān mèi zhì huì wēi dé wú lǚ shū shèng xī yǒu
Key Message
Dharmākara's decision to renounce even his royal throne shows how profound and fierce a vow to liberate all sentient beings truly is.
▸This chapter marks the beginning of the central narrative of the Sutra on the Buddha of Immeasurable Life: the story of how Bhikkhu Dharmākara (法藏比丘) became Amitābha Buddha.
This chapter marks the beginning of the central narrative of the Sutra on the Buddha of Immeasurable Life: the story of how Bhikkhu Dharmākara (法藏比丘) became Amitābha Buddha. The Buddha tells Ānanda that inconceivable kalpas ago, a Buddha appeared in the world called the Tathāgata Lokeśvararāja (世間自在王如來). A certain king heard this Buddha's teaching, his mind filled with joy, and he made the determination to attain the supreme enlightenment. He renounced his kingdom and throne, went forth as a monk, and was called Dharmākara. Gifted with extraordinary wisdom and resolve, far superior to any in the world, he went before Lokeśvararāja, circumambulated him three times to the right, knelt with palms joined, and praised the Tathāgata's virtues in verse: 'Your luminous countenance is majestic and boundless; no sun, moon, or maṇi jewel can match your blazing radiance; your great voice of perfect awakening resounds through the ten directions.' This meeting becomes the starting point for Dharmākara's formulation of the Forty-Eight Great Vows and his eons-long practice that culminates in becoming Amitābha Buddha.