释迦牟尼应化事蹟
(1) 兜率说法 观缘下生
圣善慧菩萨（注1）功行圆满，住兜率天内院，为诸天说法，观众生缘、生时、地点、国家、父母五缘成熟，下生人间成就佛道。
Teaching in the Tusita Heaven, Anticipating the Descent to Earth.
Upon the completion of his cultivation, Vessantara Bodhisattva (1) resides in the inner court of Tusita Heaven, teaching celestial beings and awaiting the five conditions of sentient beings, time, place, country, and parents to come into existence. When they arise, he could be reborn on Earth to complete the path to Buddhahood.
注一
释迦牟尼佛成佛之前，累劫的修行中，圣善慧菩萨是在某一世因地修行时的称号。
(1)Through eons of cultivation and reincarnation cycles, before Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment, he was once reincarnated as a bodhisattva. The name of this particular Bodhisattva meant, “A holy being who understand how to utilize true wisdom.”
(2) 白象托梦 摩耶感胎
仁慈的淨饭王，正忧皇后不孕，一日摩耶夫人梦白象献瑞，金山银山杂色莲花，佈满大地，因而感胎。
The White Elephant Dream, Maya Felt the Conception of the Buddha.
The White Elephant Dream, Maya Felt the Conception of the Buddha.
(3) 蓝毘尼园 太子降生
西元前五四三年四月八日，摩耶夫人回母家待产，于蓝毘尼园休憩时，生下太子，四大梵天使者为其接生，大地于光天妙乐，百花齐放，太子足踏莲花，步行七步，手指天地，唱言：「天上天下，唯我独尊」。
Lumbini Park, the Birth of the Buddha.
On April 8, 543 B.C, Queen Maya took leave from the king to await labor at her mother’s house. While resting at Lumbini Park she gave birth to the prince. Helping her to deliver the child were the four celestial emissaries from the Great Brahmalokas Heaven. Rays of light and beautiful music adorned the earth and hundreds of flowers blossomed all at once. Immediately upon his birth, the prince stood up and took seven steps. As his feet touched the earth, lotuses sprang up. Raising his hand he said: “Worlds above, worlds below, I am the Noble One.”.
(4) 仙人占相 预言成佛
阿私陀仙人为太子占相，讚言：「我不拜梵天，而礼拜此儿」。预言太子具足诸相，必成「佛陀」，拯救众生，成为世上最尊贵的圣者。
Astrology Reading, Prophecy of Buddhahood.
Asita, the celestial astrologer, foretold the fate of the prince as he praised him, “I will not worship the Bramalokas Heaven but I will worship this child.” He prophesized that the prince, who had displayed sufficient signs, would become a Buddha, the one who will save all beings and become the noblest holy person.
(5) 太子命名 首布福田
诞生五日，淨饭王请婆罗门权威学者，为太子命名，太子就座不动，众均拜服，又以诞生具一切瑞相祥兆，故命名为「悉达多」，即成就一切的意思。
Naming Ceremony, the First Offering to the Field of Blessings.
On the fifth day after the prince’s birth, King Suddhodana invited authoritative Brahmin scholars to name the prince. The prince sat up unperturbed and everyone bowed to him. Due to all the auspicious signs at birth, he was named “Siddhartha,” which means “he who has achieved his goals.”
(6) 允文允武 艺冠全印
太子诞生七日，摩耶夫人生天，由姨母摩诃波闍波提抚养长大，智聪慧敏，能文能武，全印度青年，体力、智力无一能与太子博学艺能相比。
Master of Civil and Military Affairs, Champion of All India.
Seven days after the prince was born, Queen Maya passed away and ascended to the celestial realm. The prince’s aunt, Mahaprajapata, nursed him. The prince grew to be intelligent and skillful in both civil and military affairs. None of the youths in India could match his physical or intellectual achievements.
(7) 太子完婚 耶输相伴
太子时常沉思，默想四姓（注2）不平等，淨饭王怕仙人预言成实，十七岁即为娶妻，耶输陀罗美貌贤淑，欲断太子出家念头，娇妻朝夕相伴，暂时忘却出家之念。
Wedding of the Prince; Princess Yasodhara with the Prince.
The prince often thought about the injustice of the caste system (2). King Suddhodana worried that Asita’s prophecy might come true and so he arranged a wedding for the prince even though the Prince was only seventeen years old. The king hoped that the beautiful and gentle Princess Yasodhara would help the prince forget about his yearning to leave home and become a wandering mendicant.
(8) 游观四门 悲睹四苦
王宫的欢乐不能使太子畅心，求得父旨，游观四城门，悲见生、老、病、死，深觉无常催迫，又见修行者的清淨安逸，出家意念更坚。
At the Four Gates, the Prince Witnessed the Four Miseries.
The pleasure of the palace could not bewitch the prince. He asked permission from his father to tour the four famous gates and he sadly discovered the four miseries of living, old age, sickness, and death. He deeply felt the approaching of impermanence and admired the serenity of the recluse. The prince’s determination to leave home was reinforced.
