..續本文上一頁ng the discourse on the wonderful Dharma sent forth by the light and the jewelled trees, he then reaches the insight into the non-arising of all dharmas. In a single moment, he visits and worships all the Buddhas of the ten quarters and receives from each of them the prediction of his future Buddhahood. Returning to the Pure Land, he is endowed with innumerable hundreds of thousands of dharanis. Such a person is called one who attains birth on the highest level of the highest grade.
[22] 佛告阿難。及韋提希。凡生西方有九品人。上品上生者。若有衆生願生彼國者。發叁種心即便往生。何等爲叁。一者至誠心。二者深心。叁者回向發願心。具叁心者必生彼國。複有叁種衆生。當得往生。何等爲叁。一者慈心不殺具諸戒行。二者讀誦大乘方等經典。叁者修行六念回向發願生彼佛國。具此功德。一日乃至七日。即得往生。生彼國時。此人精進勇猛故。阿彌陀如來與觀世音及大勢至無數化佛百千比丘聲聞大衆無量諸天。七寶宮殿。觀世音菩薩執金剛臺。與大勢至菩薩至行者前。阿彌陀佛放大光明照行者身。與諸菩薩授手迎接。觀世音大勢至與無數菩薩。贊歎行者勸進其心。行者見已歡喜踴躍。自見其身乘金剛臺。隨從佛後。如彈指頃往生彼國。生彼國已。見佛色身衆相具足。見諸菩薩色相具足。光明寶林演說妙法。聞已即悟無生法忍。經須臾間曆事諸佛。遍十方界。于諸佛前次第受記。還至本國。得無量百千陀羅尼門。是名上品上生者。
2) the middle level of the highest grade
[23] "Those who attain birth on the middle level of the highest grade, do not necessarily uphold and chant the sutras of greater scope, but comprehend the teachings of the Buddha so well that when they hear the supreme truths, they are not dismayed. They have deep faith in the law of karmic causes and effects and do not speak slightingly of the Mahayana. They transfer the merit acquired to the Land of Utmost Bliss, aspiring to be born there.
When such an aspirant is about to die, Amitayus appears before him, surrounded by Avalokiteshvara, Mahasthamaprapta and innumerable sages and attendants, carrying a purple-gold lotus-seat. The Buddha praises him, saying, ”Son of the Dharma, because you have practiced the Mahayana and appreciate the supreme truths, I have come to welcome you.” So saying, he and a thousand transformed Buddhas extend their hands all at once towards the aspirant, who, seeing himself sitting on the purple-gold seat, joins his palms and praises the Buddhas. In an instant, he is born in a seven-jewelled pond of that land.
The purple-gold seat has become like a great jewelled flower, which opens after one night. The body of the aspirant has become the color of purple-gold, and beneath his feet are seven-jewelled lotus-flowers. The Buddha and bodhisattvas together release a flood of light which illuminates the aspirant”s body. His eyes open, and because of the store of merit from his previous life, he hears voices everywhere expounding only the most profound and supreme truths. Descending from his golden seat, he bows with joined palms and praises the Buddha, the World-Honored One. After seven days, he immediately reaches the Stage of Non-retrogression for realizing the highest, perfect Enlightenment. He is also able to fly in the ten quarters, as he wishes, to revere all the Buddhas and learn various samadhis from them. After the lapse of a smaller kalpa, he attains the insight into the non-arising of all dharmas and receives from each Buddha the prediction of his future Buddhahood. Such a person is called one who attains birth on the middle level of the highest grade.
[23] 上品中生者。不必受持讀誦方等經典。善解義趣。于第一義心不驚動。深信因果不謗大乘。以此功德。回向願求生極樂國。行此行者命欲終時。阿彌陀佛與觀世音及大勢至。無量大衆眷屬圍繞。持紫金臺至行者前贊言。法子。汝行大乘解第一義。是故我今來迎接汝。與千化佛一時授手。行者自見坐紫金臺。合掌叉手贊歎諸佛。如一念頃。即生彼國七寶池中。此紫金臺如大寶花。經宿即開。行者身作紫磨金色。足下亦有七寶蓮華。佛及菩薩俱放光明。照行者身目即開明。因前宿習普聞衆聲。純說甚深第一義谛。即下金臺禮佛合掌贊歎世尊。經于七日。應時即于阿耨多羅叁藐叁菩提。得不退轉。應時即能飛至十方。曆事諸佛。于諸佛所修諸叁昧。經一小劫得無生法忍現前受記。是名上品中生者。
3) the lowest level of the highest grade
[24] "Those who attain birth on the lowest level of the highest grade likewise accept the law of karmic causes and effects, do not speak slightingly of the Mahayana and awaken aspiration for the highest Enlig, htenment. They transfer the merit acquired to the Land of Utmost Bliss, aspiring to be born there.
When such an aspirant is about to die, Amitayus, together with Avalokiteshvara, Mahasthamaprap…
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