佛說四無所畏經

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the Garden of Jeṭa, the Park of Anāthapiṇḍada (Jeṭavaṇe'nāthapiṇḍadasyārāma) in the country of Śrāvasti (Śrāvastya).

At that time the World-Honored One said to the Bhikṣus (Bhikṣu: monks): "Listen carefully! The Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One (Tathāgatāya-arthate-samyaksaṃbuddhāya) has accomplished the Four Fearlessnesses (the absence of fear: which also carries the meaning of being enlightened to the Dharma by oneself, not relying upon other conditions). In the midst of the Great Assembly he turns the Great Wheel of the Dharma (Mahā-dharma-cakra: the Great Dharma Wheel) like the Lion's Roar (Siṃha-nāda), sovereign and without fear."

At that time the Bhikṣus, having heard these words, prostrated their five limbs to the ground, bowed their heads to the feet of the Buddha, and then, joining their palms together, said: "What are the Four Fearlessnesses of the Tathāgata?"

The Buddha said: "O Bhikṣu! In ancient times, while I was in the midst of the Great Assembly, I spoke these words: 'The Tathāgata has accomplished the Perfect Enlightenment (Samyaksaṃbuddha).' When I spoke thus, the Śramaṇas (Śramaṇa), the Brāhmaṇas (Brāhmaṇa), Māra (Māra), Brahmā (Brahma), and gods and humans (Deva-manuṣya) all uttered these words: 'What this one has said is not in accordance with the Teaching of the Dharma; never before has such a thing been seen or heard.' At that time the World-Honored One, in the midst of that assembly, was without alarm, without dread; his mind was at peace and joyful, abiding in the absence of fear (Fearlessness).

_ Furthermore, I declared: 'My body is pure; all the Outflows (Āsrava: a particular name for the afflictions) have been wholly extinguished.' When I spoke thus, the Śramaṇas (Śramaṇa), the Brāhmaṇas (Brāhmaṇa), Māra (Māra), Brahmā (Brahma), and gods and humans (Deva-manuṣya) all uttered these words: 'What this one has said is not in accordance with the Teaching of the Dharma; never before has such a thing been seen or heard.' At that time the World-Honored One, in the midst of that assembly, was without alarm, without dread; his mind was at peace and joyful, abiding in the absence of fear (Fearlessness).

_ Next, I again declared: 'All Obscurations (Āvaraṇa), being defilements, can obstruct the Fruit of the Path. If these Obscurations are extinguished, then the Noble Path will manifest of itself.' When I spoke thus, the Śramaṇas (Śramaṇa), the Brāhmaṇas (Brāhmaṇa), Māra (Māra), Brahmā (Brahma), and gods and humans (Deva-manuṣya) all uttered these words: 'What this one has said is not in accordance with the Teaching of the Dharma; never before has such a thing been seen or heard.' At that time the World-Honored One, in the midst of that assembly, was without alarm, without dread; his mind was at peace and joyful, abiding in the absence of fear (Fearlessness).

_ Next, I again declared: 'Cultivating the collection of Precepts (Śīla) and Concentration (Samādhi) can lead one out of birth and death and bring an end to all the retributions of suffering.' When I spoke thus, the Śramaṇas (Śramaṇa), the Brāhmaṇas (Brāhmaṇa), Māra (Māra), Brahmā (Brahma), and gods and humans (Deva-manuṣya) all uttered these words: 'What this one has said is not in accordance with the Teaching of the Dharma; never before has such a thing been seen or heard.' At that time the World-Honored One, in the midst of that assembly, was without alarm, without dread; his mind was at peace and joyful, abiding in the absence of fear (Fearlessness).

The Buddha said: "O Bhikṣu! These are called the Four Fearlessnesses (the absence of fear) by which the Tathāgata turns the Great Wheel of the Dharma (the Great Dharma Wheel).

Furthermore, O Bhikṣu! Also amid the Eight Great Assemblies, he fully accomplishes the Four Fearlessnesses (the absence of fear). What are the eight?

_ In ancient times, in a certain place (region) there were countless hundreds of assemblies of Śramaṇas (Śramaṇa), some staying there, some standing, some walking, some sitting... and they said to one another: 'In times past the Buddha spoke of such characteristics of the Dharma, profound and difficult to understand, never before seen or heard—is it true, is it false, is it empty, is it real?' At that time the Tathāgata, having heard that group speak, was without alarm in his mind, without dread; the hairs of his body did not stand on end; sovereign and without fear, he was like a mountain unmoved.

_ Furthermore, there were countless hundreds of assemblies of Brāhmaṇas, countless hundreds of assemblies of Kṣatriyas (Kṣatriya), countless hundreds of assemblies of Householders (Gṛha-pati), countless hundreds of assemblies of the Four Heavenly Kings (Caturmahārājakāyikās), countless hundreds of assemblies of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven (Trāyastriṃśa), countless hundreds of assemblies of Māra Kings (Māra-rāja), and countless hundreds of assemblies of Brahmā gods (Brahma-deva).

These Eight Assemblies, some staying there, some standing, some walking, some sitting... said to one another: 'In times past the Buddha spoke of such characteristics of the Dharma, profound and difficult to understand, never before seen or heard—is it true, is it false, is it empty, is it real?' At that time the Tathāgata, having heard that group speak, was without alarm in his mind, without dread; the hairs of his body did not stand on end; sovereign and without fear, he was like a mountain unmoved.

The Buddha said: "O Bhikṣu! This is called attaining the absence of fear (Fearlessness) in the midst of the Great Assembly of the Eight Classes.

Then he spoke a verse, saying:

"The Tathāgata sovereignly turns the Wheel of the Dharma (Dharma-cakra: the Wheel of the Dharma)

In times past he accomplished the Four Fearlessnesses

Gods (Deva), Humans (Manuṣya), Māra (Māra), Brahmā (Brahma), and the Śramaṇas (Śramaṇa)

Hearing the Master's words and phrases, they harbored doubt

His body and mind unmoving, he attained fearlessness (the absence of fear)

Benefiting and bringing joy to all Sentient Beings

Causing the unsurpassed Mind of Awakening (Agra-bodhi-citta)

Reverently cultivating practice to reach the other shore (the shore of liberation)."

At that time the Great Bhikṣus (Mahā-bhikṣu), having heard what the Buddha had spoken, all faithfully received it and reverently put it into practice.

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SŪTRA OF THE FOUR FEARLESSNESSES The End