..續本文上一頁ta and a host of attendants, come to welcome him, bringing a golden lotus-flower and manifesting five hundred transformed Buddhas. Those transformed Buddhas extend their hands all at once and praise the aspirant, saying, ”Son of the Dharma, since you have awakened pure aspiration for the highest Enlightenment, we have come to welcome you.”

　　When he has viewed all this, the aspirant finds himself seated upon a golden lotus-flower, which then closes. Following the World-Honored One, he immediately attains birth on a seven-jewelled pond. After a day and night, the lotus-flower [345b] opens and, within seven days, the aspirant beholds the Buddha. Although he sees the Buddha”s body, he is still unable to discern his physical characteristics and marks clearly. But after three weeks he sees them distinctly, and also hears all the sounds and voices proclaiming the wonderful Dharma. Then he can travel in all the ten quarters to make offerings to the Buddhas and hear their profound teachings. After three smaller kalpas he acquires clear understanding of the one hundred dharmas and dwells in the Stage of Joy. Such a person is called one who attains birth on the lowest level of the highest grade. These three together are known as the contemplation of the highest grade of aspirants, and the fourteenth contemplation. To practice in this way is called the correct contemplation, and to practice otherwise is incorrect."

　　[24] 上品下生者。亦信因果不謗大乘。但發無上道心。以此功德。回向願求生極樂國。彼行者命欲終時。阿彌陀佛及觀世音並大勢至。與諸眷屬持金蓮華。化作五百化佛來迎此人。五百化佛一時授手。贊言。法子。汝今清淨發無上道心。我來迎汝。見此事時。即自見身坐金蓮花。坐已華合。隨世尊後即得往生七寶池中。一日一夜蓮花乃開。七日之中乃得見佛。雖見佛身于衆相好心不明了。于叁七日後乃了了見。聞衆音聲皆演妙法。遊曆十方供養諸佛。于諸佛前聞甚深法。經叁小劫得百法明門。住歡喜地。是名上品下生者。是名上輩生想。名第十四觀。作是觀者名爲正觀。若他觀者名爲邪觀。

　　4) the highest level of the middle grade

　　[25] The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi, "Those who attain birth on the highest level of the middle grade are the sentient beings who keep the five precepts, observe the eight abstinences, practice in compliance with various precepts, and abstain from committing the five gravest offenses and other transgressions. They transfer the merit acquired to the Western Land of Utmost Bliss, aspiring to be born there.

　　When such a person is about to die, Amitayus appears before him, surrounded by a host of monks and radiating a golden light. He then expounds the truth of suffering, emptiness, impermanence and no-self, and praises renunciation of the world as the way to escape from suffering.

　　Seeing this, the aspirant greatly rejoices and finds himself seated upon a lotus-flower. He kneels down, joins his palms and worships the Buddha. Before he raises his head, he attains birth in the Land of Utmost Bliss, where his lotus-bud soon opens. When the flower opens, he hears various sounds and voices extolling the Four Noble Truths. He immediately attains Arhatship, acquires the three kinds of transcendent knowledge and the six supernatural powers, and realizes the eight samadhis of emancipation. Such a person is called one who attains birth on the highest level of the middle grade.

　　[25] 佛告阿難及韋提希。中品上生者。若有衆生受持五戒。持八戒齋。修行諸戒。不造五逆。無衆過惡。以此善根。回向願求生于西方極樂世界。行者臨命終時。阿彌陀佛與諸比丘眷屬圍繞。放金色光至其人所。演說苦空無常無我。贊歎出家得離衆苦。行者見已心大歡喜。自見己身坐蓮花臺。長跪合掌爲佛作禮。未舉頭頃即得往生極樂世界。蓮花尋開。當華敷時。聞衆音聲贊歎四谛。應時即得阿羅漢道。叁明六通具八解脫。是名中品上生者。

　　5) the middle level of the middle grade

　　[26] "Those who attain birth on the middle level of the middle grade are the sentient beings who observe for at least a day and night the eight abstinences, the precepts for a novice or the complete precepts of a monk or a nun, and do not violate any of the rules of conduct. They transfer the merit acquired to the Land of Utmost Bliss, aspiring to be born there.

　　When such an aspirant, perfumed by the virtue of observing the precepts, is about to die, he sees Amitayus coming towards him with his attendants, radiating a go…

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