..續本文上一頁lve great kalpas the lotus-bud opens. When the flower opens, Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta teach him with voices of great compassion the method of extinguishing evil karma through the realization of Suchness of all dharmas. Hearing this, he rejoices and immediately awakens aspiration for Enlightenment. Such a person is called one who attains birth on the lowest level of the lowest grade. These three together are known as the contemplation of the lowest grade of aspirants and the sixteenth contemplation."
[30] 佛告阿難及韋提希。下品下生者。或有衆生作不善業五逆十惡。具諸不善。如此愚人以惡業故。應墮惡道經曆多劫受苦無窮。如此愚人臨命終時。遇善知識種種安慰爲說妙法教令念佛。彼人苦逼不遑念佛。善友告言。汝若不能念彼佛者。應稱歸命無量壽佛。如是至心令聲不絕。具足十念稱南無阿彌陀佛。稱佛名故。于念念中。除八十億劫生死之罪。命終之時見金蓮花猶如日輪住其人前。如一念頃即得往生極樂世界。于蓮花中滿十二大劫。蓮花方開當花敷時。觀世音大勢至以大悲音聲。即爲其人廣說實相除滅罪法。聞已歡喜。應時即發菩提之心。是名下品下生者。是名下輩生想。名第十六觀。
Benefits gained by the audience
[31] As the Buddha delivered these words, Vaidehi and her five hundred female attendants listened to his teaching. Having envisioned the boundless features of the Land of Utmost Bliss, the Buddha (Amitayus) and the two bodhisattvas, Vaidehi rejoiced in her heart. Wonder-struck at this revelation, [346b] she attained great awakening with clarity of mind and reached the insight into the non-arising of all dharmas. Her five hundred female attendants awakened aspiration for the highest, perfect Enlightenment and desired to be born in that land. The World-Honored One gave all of them assurances that they would be born there and that they would then attain the Samadhi of Being in the Presence of All the Buddhas. Innumerable devas also awakened aspiration for the highest Enlightenment.
[31] 爾時世尊說是語時。韋提希與五百侍女。聞佛所說。應時即見極樂世界廣長之相。得見佛身及二菩薩。心生歡喜歎未曾有。豁然大悟得無生忍。五百侍女發阿耨多羅叁藐叁菩提心。願生彼國。世尊悉記皆當往生。生彼國已。獲得諸佛現前叁昧。無量諸天發無上道心。
Names of this sutra
[32] Then Ananda rose from his seat, stepped forward, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One, what should we call this sutra and how should we receive and retain the essentials of its teaching
"
The Buddha answered, "Ananda, this sutra is called the Visualization of the Land of Utmost Bliss, of the Buddha Amitayus, and of the Bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta. It is also called the Purification and Elimination of Karmic Hindrances for Attaining Birth in the Presence of All the Buddhas. Hold fast to this sutra and do not forget it. Those who practice this samadhi will be able to see, during their lifetime, the Buddha Amitayus and the two Mahasattvas. If good men or women simply hear the Name of this Buddha or the names of those two bodhisattvas, the evil karma which they have committed during innumerable kalpas of Samsara will be extinguished. And so, how much more merit will they acquire if they concentrate on them! You should know that all who are mindful of that Buddha are like white lotus-flowers among humankind; the Bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta become their good friends. They will sit in the place of Enlightenment and be born into the family of the Buddhas."
The Buddha further said to Ananda, "Bear these words well in mind. To bear these words in mind means to hold fast to the Name of the Buddha Amitayus."
When the Buddha had spoken thus, the Venerable Mahamaudgalyayana, Venerable Ananda, Vaidehi and all the others greatly rejoiced to hear the Buddha”s discourse.
[32] 爾時阿難。即從座起前白佛言。世尊。當何名此經。此法之要當雲何受持。佛告阿難。此經名觀極樂國土無量壽佛觀世音菩薩大勢至菩薩。亦名淨除業障生諸佛前。汝等受持無令忘失。行此叁昧者。現身得見無量壽佛及二大士。若善男子及善女人。但聞佛名二菩薩名。除無量劫生死之罪。何況憶念。若念佛者。當知此人即是人中芬陀利花。觀世音菩薩大勢至菩薩。爲其勝友。當坐道場生諸佛家。佛告阿難。汝好持是語。持是語者即是持無量壽佛名。佛說此語時。尊者目連。尊者阿難。及韋提希等。聞佛所說。皆大歡喜。
Epilogue
[33] Then the World-Honored One returned to the Vulture Peak through the air. There Ananda fully explained to the assembly what had happened. Innumerable humans, devas, nagas, yaksas and all the other beings greatly rejoiced to hear the Buddha”s teaching. Having worshipped the World-Honored One, they departed.
[33] 爾時世尊。足步虛空還耆阇崛山。爾時阿難。廣爲大衆說如上事。無量人天龍神夜叉。聞佛所說皆大歡喜禮佛而退。
The end of
The Sutra on Visualization of
the Buddha of Infinite Life
delivered by Shakyamuni Buddha
《The Sutra On Contemplation Of Amitayus(觀無量壽經)》全文閱讀結束。