..續本文上一頁are resplendent. But I wish to be born in the Land of Utmost Bliss of Amitayus. I beseech you, World-Honored One, to teach [341c] me how to contemplate that land and attain samadhi."

　　[5] 唯願世尊。爲我廣說無憂惱處。我當往生。不樂閻浮提濁惡世也。此濁惡處。地獄餓鬼畜生盈滿。多不善聚。願我未來不聞惡聲。不見惡人。今向世尊五體投地。求哀忏悔。唯願佛日教我觀于清淨業處。爾時世尊放眉間光。其光金色。遍照十方無量世界。還住佛頂。化爲金臺如須彌山。十方諸佛淨妙國土。皆于中現。或有國土七寶合成。複有國土純是蓮花。複有國土如自在天宮。複有國土如頗梨鏡。十方國土皆于中現。有如是等無量諸佛國土嚴顯可觀。令韋提希見。時韋提希白佛言。世尊。是諸佛土。雖複清淨皆有光明。我今樂生極樂世界阿彌陀佛所。唯願世尊。教我思惟教我正受。

　　Emitting of light from Shakyamuni”s smile

　　[6] The World-Honored One smiled, and from his mouth came five-colored rays of light, each shining on King Bimbisara”s head. Although the old king was confined, with his unhindered mind”s eye he saw the World-Honored One in the distance. He knelt down in homage to the Buddha and effortlessly made spiritual progress until he reached the Stage of a Non-returner.

　　[6] 爾時世尊即便微笑。有五色光從佛口出。一一光照頻婆娑羅王頂。爾時大王雖在幽閉。心眼無障遙見世尊。頭面作禮。自然增進成阿那含

　　Three acts of virtue for attaining birth in the Pure Land

　　[7] Then the World-Honored One said to Vaidehi, "Do you know that Amitayus is not far away

　　 Fix your thoughts upon and contemplate that Buddha-land, then you will accomplish the pure acts. I shall describe it to you in detail with various illustrations, so that all ordinary people in the future who wish to practice the pure karma may also be born in that Western Land of Utmost Bliss. Whoever wishes to be born there should practice three acts of merit: first, caring for one”s parents, attending to one”s teachers and elders, compassionately refraining from killing, and doing the ten good deeds; second, taking the three refuges, keeping the various precepts and refraining from breaking the rules of conduct; and third, awakening aspiration for Enlightenment, believing deeply in the law of causality, chanting the Mahayana sutras and encouraging people to follow their teachings. These three are called the pure karma."

　　The Buddha further said to Vaidehi, "Do you know that these three acts are the pure karma practiced by all the Buddhas of the past, present and future as the right cause of Enlightenment

　　"

　　[7] 爾時世尊告韋提希。汝今知不。阿彌陀佛去此不遠。汝當系念谛觀彼國淨業成者。我今爲汝廣說衆譬。亦令未來世一切凡夫欲修淨業者得生西方極樂國土。欲生彼國者。當修叁福。一者孝養父母。奉事師長。慈心不殺。修十善業。二者受持叁歸。具足衆戒。不犯威儀。叁者發菩提心。深信因果。讀誦大乘。勸進行者。如此叁事名爲淨業。佛告韋提希。汝今知不。此叁種業乃是過去未來現在。叁世諸佛淨業正因。

　　Vaidehi asks how to visualize the Pure Land

　　[8] The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi, "Listen carefully, listen carefully and ponder deeply. I, the Tathagata, shall discourse on pure karma for the sake of all sentient beings of the future who are afflicted by the enemy, evil passions. It is very good, Vaidehi, that you have willingly asked me about this. Ananda, you must receive and keep the Buddha”s words and widely proclaim them to the multitude of beings. I, the Tathagata, shall now teach you, Vaidehi, and all sentient beings of the future how to visualize the Western Land of Utmost Bliss. By the power of the Buddha all will be able to see the Pure Land as clearly as if they were looking at their own reflections in a bright mirror. Seeing the utmost beauty and bliss of that land, they will rejoice and immediately attain the insight into the non-arising of all dharmas."

　　The Buddha said to Vaidehi, "You are an unenlightened, and so your spiritual powers are weak and obscured. Since you have not yet attained the pine eye, you cannot see that which is distant. But the Buddhas, Tathagatas, have special ways to enable you to see afar."

　　Vaidehi said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One, through the Buddha”s power, even I have now been able to see that land. But after the Buddha”s passing, sentient beings will become defiled and evil, and be oppressed by the five kinds of suffering. How then will those beings be able to see the Land of Utmost Bliss of Amitayus

　　"

　　[8] 佛告阿難及韋提希。谛聽谛聽善思念之。如來今者。爲未…

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