Welcome, Wondrous Lotus, Cloud of Renown
Maitreya's hymn continues: welcome, wondrous lotus, whose cloud of renown increases, child of every buddha's own teaching, come here that I might show you the unobstructed path; welcome, one who has accomplished the wisdom-net, comprehending the inconceivable, broadly cultivating the bodhisattva's own practice; welcome, one who seeks only the buddha's own bodhi, cultivating the practice free of every defilement, upholding every great vow without weariness even to this day.
Come Here That I Might Show You the Unobstructed Path
「善來妙蓮華， 增長名稱雲，
諸佛子教來， 我示無礙趣。
成就智慧網， 了達不思議，
廣修菩薩行， 教化諸群生。
專求佛菩提， 修習離垢行，
聞持諸大願， 至此無疲倦。
去來現在佛， 所成諸行業，
善財欲修學， 故來至我所。
志求真法師， 演說正道法，
善教菩薩者， 故來至我所。
佛子修智慧， 具足於菩提，
親近善知識， 故來至我所。」
"Welcome, wondrous lotus, whose cloud of renown increases,
Child of every buddha's own teaching, come here that I might show you the unobstructed path.
You have accomplished the wisdom-net, comprehending the inconceivable,
Broadly cultivating the bodhisattva's own practice, teaching and transforming every multitude of beings.
Seeking only the buddha's own bodhi, cultivating a practice free of every defilement,
Hearing and upholding every great vow, arriving here without weariness.
The deeds accomplished by the buddhas of the past, future, and present —
Sudhana wishes to study and cultivate them, and so has come to where I am.
Aspiring to seek a true master of the Dharma, who proclaims the teaching of the true path,
One who well teaches the bodhisattvas — and so he has come to where I am.
A child of the Buddha cultivating wisdom, endowed for the sake of bodhi,
Drawing near to a good friend — and so he has come to where I am."
The final three stanzas here shift from the "welcome" (善來) refrain to a new refrain, "and so he has come to where I am" (故來至我所), restated three times with only its cause varying — the deeds of the three-times buddhas, a true master of the Dharma, a good friend. Fazang reads this shift as Maitreya turning from praising Sudhana's own qualities in the abstract to narrating, in Sudhana's own voice as it were, exactly why this pilgrimage has led him here — a hymn that praises its listener by retelling his own motivation back to him.
Part 325 In Progress
Maitreya's hymn of welcome continues at length. Part 326 turns next to further stanzas naming Sudhana's own great compassion and his resolve to benefit all beings.
Continue to Part 326 →