Read, reflect, pray
Lotus Sutra, chapter two: opening excerpt
妙法蓮華経方便品第二（冒頭〜十如是）
The opening through the Ten Suchnesses: Shakyamuni rises from samadhi and addresses Shariputra. This is not the full second chapter.
English meaning and source text
English meaning
About this English rendering
This site’s English rendering of the Japanese meaning guide, aligned with this edition. It is separate from the source words for recitation and is not an official liturgy. Sacred sounds are explained where possible, not given speculative literal translations. Historical beliefs, royal authority, illness and protection claims belong to the text; they are not present-day judgments, medical advice or guarantees of results.
Then the World-Honored One quietly arose from samadhi and addressed Shariputra.
‘The wisdom of the Buddhas is exceedingly deep and immeasurable. Its gateway is difficult to understand and enter.
It cannot be known by all the disciples who awaken through hearing, or by solitary awakened ones. Why?
The Buddha has personally served countless hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhas,
fully practiced their immeasurable teachings of the way, and striven courageously, his name becoming widely known.
He has accomplished an exceedingly profound and unprecedented Dharma, and teaches in ways appropriate to his listeners.
The intent of such teaching is difficult to understand. Shariputra, since becoming a Buddha, through many circumstances and many similes,
I have expounded the teaching widely in words, guiding beings through countless skillful means
and freeing them from their attachments. This is because the Tathagata has already perfected skillful means
and insight. Shariputra, the Tathagata’s knowledge and vision
are vast, deep, and far-reaching, endowed with immeasurable hearts, unobstructed wisdom, powers, and fearlessness.
He enters deeply and without limit into meditation, liberation, and samadhi, accomplishing every
unprecedented Dharma. Shariputra, the Tathagata distinguishes matters in many ways,
skillfully teaches the various dharmas, and speaks gently, bringing joy to people’s hearts.
Shariputra, in brief, the Buddha has accomplished every immeasurable, boundless, and unprecedented Dharma.
Enough, Shariputra; there is no need to say more. Why?
What the Buddha has accomplished is the foremost, rare, and difficult-to-understand Dharma. Only a Buddha together with a Buddha
can fully fathom the true reality of all phenomena: namely, their
such appearance, such nature, such entity, such power,
such activity, such cause, such conditions, such result,
such recompense, and such ultimate equality from beginning to end—from appearance through recompense.’
Source text and reading aid
Roman letters are provided for every line of this source text.
How to use the Roman letters
Roman letters follow the kana displayed in this site’s Japanese reader; some readings are editorial additions documented on the Japanese page. These are a reading aid, not restored Sanskrit or a recording of a temple’s chanting. Historical spellings (such as wo, wi, we and ha used as a particle) are kept. Double vowels and repeated vowels mark the written kana; rhythm and pronunciation can differ by tradition.
You can simply read the meaning or sit quietly. No recitation is required. For a temple or shrine’s own recitation, follow that tradition’s published guidance.
妙法蓮華経方便品第二
爾時世尊。 従三昧安詳而起。 告舎利弗。
nijiseson. juusanmaianjouniki. gousharihotsu.
諸仏智慧甚深無量。 其智慧門。 難解難入。
shobutsu chiejinjinmuryou. gochiemon. nangenannyuu.
一切声聞。 辟支仏。 所不能知。 所以者何。
issaishou mon. hyakushibutsu. shofunouchi. shoishaka.
仏曾親近。 百千万億無数諸仏。 尽行諸仏。
butsuzoushingon. hyaku senmannokumushushobutsu. jingyoushobutsu.
無量道法。 勇猛精進。 名称普聞。
muryoudouhou. yuumyou shoujin. myoushoufumon.
成就甚深。 未曾有法。 随宜所説。
joujujinjin. mizouuhou. zuigisho setsu.
意趣難解。 舎利弗。 吾従成仏已来種種因縁種種譬諭。
ishunange. sharihotsu. goujuujoubutsuchiraishujuin nenshujuhiyu.
広演言教。 無数方便。 引導衆生。
kouengonkyou. mushuhouben. indoushujou.
令離諸著。 所以者何。 如来方便。
ryourishojaku. shoishaka. nyoraihouben.
知見波羅蜜皆已具足。 舎利弗。 如来知見。
chikenharamitsu kaiigusoku. sharihotsu. nyoraichiken.
広大深遠。 無量無礙。 力。 無所畏。
koudaijinnon. muryou muge. riki. mushoi.
禅定。 解脱。 三昧。 深入無際。 成就一切。
zenjou. gedatsu. sanmai. jinnyuumusai. jou juissai.
未曾有法。 舎利弗。 如来能種種分別。
mizouuhou. sharihotsu. nyorainoushujufunbetsu.
巧説諸法。 言辞柔軟。 悦可衆心。
gyousesshohou. gonjinyuunan. ekkashushin.
舎利弗。 取要言之。 無量無辺。 未曾有法仏悉成就。
sharihotsu. shuyou gonshi. muryoumuhen. mizouuhoubutsushitsujouju.
止。 舎利弗。 不須復説。 所以者何。
shi. shari hotsu. fushubusetsu. shoishaka.
仏所成就第一希有難解之法。 唯仏与仏。
busshojoujudaiichikeu nangeshihou. yuibutsuyobutsu.
乃能究尽。 諸法実相。 所謂諸法。
nainoukujin. shohoujissou. sho ishohou.
如是相。 如是性。 如是体。 如是力。
nyozesou. nyozeshou. nyozetai. nyozeriki.
如是作。 如是因。 如是縁。 如是果。
nyoze sa. nyozein. nyozeen. nyozeka.
如是報。 如是本末究竟等。
nyozehou. nyozehonmatsu kukyoutou.
Connected kami and buddhas
These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.
Sources and edition (2)
- 国立国会図書館／吉田書店 — 妙法蓮華経要品：宝塔品勧持品附・平仮名附（深川観察、1909年）
- CBETA 電子佛典（大正新脩大藏經 第9冊 No.262） — 妙法蓮華經 巻1・方便品第二（鳩摩羅什訳）
English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.