..續本文上一頁f the ground of the Land of Utmost Bliss. If you attain a state of samadhi, you will see this ground so clearly and distinctly that it will be impossible to describe it in detail. This is the visualizing of the ground and is known as the third contemplation."

　　The Buddha said to Ananda, "Keep these words of the Buddha in mind, and expound this method of visualizing the ground for the benefit of the multitude of future beings who will seek emancipation from suffering. If one has attained a vision of the ground of that land, the evil karma which one has committed during eighty kotis of kalpas of Samsara will be extinguished, and so one will certainly be born in the Pure Land in the next life. Do not doubt this. To practice in this way is called the correct contemplation, and to practice otherwise [342b] is incorrect."

　　[11] 此想成時。一一觀之極令了了。閉目開目不令散失。唯除食時。恒憶此事。作此觀者名爲正觀。若他觀者名爲邪觀。佛告阿難及韋提希。水想成已。名爲粗見極樂國地。若得叁昧。見彼國地了了分明。不可具說。是爲地想。名第叁觀

　　4) contemplation of the trees

　　[12] The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi, "When you have accomplished visualization of the ground, next contemplate the jewelled trees. This is how to do so. Visualize each one and then form an image of seven rows of trees, each being eight thousand yojanas high and adorned with seven-jewelled blossoms and leaves. Each blossom and leaf has the colors of various jewels. From the beryl-colored blossoms and leaves issues forth a golden light. From the crystal-colored issues forth a crimson light. From the agate-colored issues forth a sapphire light. From the sapphire-colored issues forth a green pearl light. Coral, amber and all the other jewels serve as illuminating ornaments. Splendid nets of pearls cover the trees. Between these seven rows of nets covering each tree there are five hundred kotis of palaces adorned with exquisite flowers, like the palace of King Brahma, where celestial children naturally dwell. Each of these children wears ornaments made of five hundred kotis of Shakra-abhilagna-mani-gems, which light up a hundred yojanas in all directions, like a hundred kotis of suns and moons shining together, and so it is impossible to describe them in detail. Manifold jewels intermingle, producing the most beautiful colors.

　　Rows of these jewelled trees are evenly arranged, and their leaves are equally spaced. From among the leaves appear wonderful blossoms which spontaneously bear fruits of seven jewels. Each leaf is twenty-five yojanas in both length and breadth. Like the celestial ornaments, the leaves are of a thousand colors and a hundred patterns. These trees have marvelous blossoms which are the color of gold from the Jambu River and spin like fire-wheels among the leaves. From these blossoms appear various fruits, as from Shakra”s vase, and from the fruits issue forth great floods of light, which transform themselves into banners and innumerable jewelled canopies. Inside the jewelled canopies can be seen reflections of all the activities of the Buddha throughout the universe of a thousand million worlds. The Buddha-lands in the ten quarters are also reflected in them.

　　After you have seen these trees, visualize each detail in order: the trunks, branches, leaves, blossoms and fruits, and let your vision of all of them be clear and distinct. This is the visualizing of the trees, and is called the fourth contemplation. To practice in this way is called the correct contemplation, and to practice otherwise is incorrect."

　　[12] 佛告阿難。汝持佛語。爲未來世一切大衆欲脫苦者。說是觀地法。若觀是地者。除八十億劫生死之罪。舍身他世必生淨國。心得無疑。作是觀者名爲正觀。若他觀者名爲邪觀。佛告阿難及韋提希。地想成已。次觀寶樹。觀寶樹者。一一觀之作七重行樹想。一一樹高八千由旬。其諸寶樹七寶花葉無不具足。一一華葉作異寶色。琉璃色中出金色光。頗梨色中出紅色光。馬腦色中出車渠光。車渠色中出綠真珠光。珊瑚琥珀一切衆寶以爲映飾。妙真珠網彌覆樹上。一一樹上有七重網。一一網間有五百億妙華宮殿。如梵王宮。諸天童子自然在中。一一童子有五百億釋迦毗楞伽摩尼寶以爲璎珞。其摩尼光照百由旬。猶如和合百億日月。不可具名。衆寶間錯色中上者。此諸寶樹行行相當。葉葉相次。于衆葉間生諸妙花。花上自然有七寶果。一一樹葉。縱廣正等二十五由旬。其葉千色有百種畫。如天纓珞。…

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