普賢為上首

認識《大日經》12 Understanding the Mahāvairocana Sūtra – Part 12 不空師父/文 Written by Master BuKong

在與會的大菩薩眾中，以「普賢菩薩」為上首。 Among the assembly of great Bodhisattvas, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva takes the foremost seat.

在所有執金剛眾中，則以「祕密主」為上首。 Among all the Vajra-holding beings, the Vajra Master (Guhya Adhipati) holds the foremost position.

這兩位上首，代表毘盧遮那的差別智身，久已通達如來的種種境界，並與與會的所有菩薩、執金剛眾一同，以無量法門接引無量大眾，同入大日如來的法界曼荼羅。 These two leaders represent the differentiated wisdom bodies of Vairocana Buddha. Having long since realized the myriad realms of the Tathāgata, they, together with all assembled Bodhisattvas and Vajra-holding beings, employ countless Dharma gates to guide innumerable sentient beings into the Dharma Realm Mandala of Mahāvairocana.

為此，大日如來以加持神通力，成就饒益初入此法門的修行者，奮迅示現「身語意平等無盡莊嚴藏」。 Therefore, Mahāvairocana manifests, through the swift and powerful blessing of his supernatural power, the “Inexhaustible Treasury of Equal Adornment of Body, Speech, and Mind,” benefiting those who have newly entered this Dharma gate.

所謂「身平等無盡莊嚴藏」即是： 平等普遍地顯化出無盡莊嚴的身－祕密手印。 The so-called “Inexhaustible Treasury of Equal Adornment of Body” refers to the universally equal manifestation of the infinite adorned body—namely, the secret mudrās.

所謂「語平等無盡莊嚴藏」即是： 平等普遍地顯化出無盡莊嚴的語－清淨真言。 The “Inexhaustible Treasury of Equal Adornment of Speech” refers to the universally equal expression of infinite adorned speech—namely, the pure mantras.

所謂「意平等無盡莊嚴藏」即是： 平等普遍地顯化出無盡莊嚴的意－本尊三昧。 The “Inexhaustible Treasury of Equal Adornment of Mind” refers to the universally equal emanation of infinite adorned mind—namely, the samādhi of the deities (yidams).

此時，十方一切世界皆現如來化身；每一化身各有十佛剎微塵數等的菩薩金剛大眾，並現執金剛、普賢、蓮華手菩薩等尊像形貌，充塞法界，毫無空隙。 At this moment, all worlds in the ten directions reveal the manifestations of the Tathāgata; each manifestation is accompanied by Bodhisattva-Vajra assemblies as numerous as dust particles in ten Buddha-lands, and forms such as Vajra-holders, Samantabhadra, and Lotus-hand Bodhisattvas appear, filling the entire Dharma realm without a single gap.

這一切由「身語意平等無盡莊嚴藏」所化現出的無量差別相，難以度量，故稱「無盡莊嚴」。 All of these innumerable diverse manifestations arise from the “Inexhaustible Treasury of Equal Adornment of Body, Speech, and Mind,” which is immeasurable and thus called “Inexhaustible Adornment.”

然而，這些「無盡莊嚴」並非如凡夫所想，是從大日如來的身、語、意分別生起的；它們沒有明確的起點或終點，卻能遍於一切處所、遍及一切時間，為了有情眾生而廣說深妙的真言法門，導引眾生趣入佛道。 However, this “Inexhaustible Adornment” does not arise, as ordinary beings might imagine, separately from Mahāvairocana’s body, speech, and mind. It has neither a defined beginning nor end, yet pervades all places and times, expounding profound mantra teachings for the benefit of sentient beings, leading them toward the Buddha path.

「執金剛」代表對應「金剛智慧門」，代表粉碎種種障礙的「降伏」方便。 “The Vajra Holder corresponds to the Gate of Vajra Wisdom, symbolizing the skillful means of subjugation that shatters all forms of obstacles.”

「普賢菩薩」代表對應「如如法身門」，代表寂除種種災難的「息災」方便。 “Samantabhadra Bodhisattva corresponds to the Gate of the Tathātā Dharmakāya (the Suchness of the Dharma Body), symbolizing the skillful means of pacification, which calms and dispels all forms of calamities.”

「觀音菩薩」代表對應「蓮華三昧門」，代表其增長種種福慧的「增益」方便。 Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva corresponds to the Lotus Samādhi Gate,symbolizing the skillful means of increase, which nurtures and enhances various forms of merit and wisdom.

此外亦有諸天龍八部、五通仙人等尊，於曼荼羅外緣所顯現。 In addition, celestial beings, nāgas, the eight classes of Dharma protectors, and immortals with the five spiritual powers appear along the periphery of the Mandala.

由於無法一一詳述，因此特別提出以上三位本尊，以涵攝無量無邊的妙用。 As it is not possible to describe them all in detail, these three principal deities are especially mentioned here to represent the infinite and inconceivable functions of the Mandala.

Translated into English by ChatGPT.