..續本文上一頁e melodies propagate the teachings on the Five Roots, the Five Forces, the Seven Bodhi branches and the Eightfold Right Path. Beings of that land, upon hearing such melodies, all turn their thoughts toward the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Sariputra, you should not say that these birds are born as a result of their sinful karma. Why is it so

　　 There are no three bad realms in the land of that Buddha. Sariputra, in the land of that Buddha there is not even the name of a bad realm, not to mention the reality of such. All these birds are miraculously produced by Amitabha Buddha in order to propagate the Dharma sounds. Sariputra, in the land of that Buddha breezes wave the rows of jeweled trees and the jeweled nets, thereby, producing sublime and wondrous sounds. This is analogous to hundreds and thousands of harmonious kinds of music playing simultaneously. Whoever hears such sounds naturally develops a mind that fixes upon the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Sariputra, the land of that Buddha is complete in such meritorious grandeur.

　　舍利弗．于汝意雲何．彼佛何故號阿彌陀舍利弗．彼佛光明無量．照十方國．無所障礙．是故號爲阿彌陀又舍利弗．彼佛壽命．及其人民．無量無邊阿僧祇劫．故名阿彌陀舍利弗．阿彌陀佛成佛已來．于今十劫又舍利弗．彼佛有無量無邊聲聞弟子．皆阿羅漢．非是算數之所能知諸菩薩衆．亦複如是舍利弗．彼佛國土．成就如是功德莊嚴又舍利弗．極樂國土．衆生生者．皆是阿鞞跋致其中多有一生補處．其數甚多．非是算數所能知之．但可以無量無邊阿僧祇說

　　Sariputra, what do you think, why is that Buddha called Amitabha

　　 Sariputra, the brightness of that Buddha”s light is immeasurable, it shines upon lands in the ten Directions without any hindrance, hence, He is called Amitabha—infinite light. Further, Sariputra, the life span of that Buddha or anyone of His subjects is countlessly and boundlessly innumerable kalpas, thus, He is named Amitabha—infinite life. Sariputra, ever since Amitabha Buddha awoke to Full Enlightenment it has been ten kalpas. Furthermore, Sariputra, that Buddha has innumerable boundless sravaka disciples, all of whom are Arhats, and their number is beyond the knowledge of arithmetic. The number of Bodhisattvas in that land is likewise innumerable. Sariputra, the land of that Buddha is complete in such meritorious grandeur. Further, Sariputra, sentient beings who are born in the Utmost Joy Land will not regress on the path toward Enlightenment. Many among them are candidates for Buddhahood and will be born as humans just once more in order to achieve Buddhahood. Their number is so great that it is beyond the knowledge of arithmetic and can only be described as countlessly and boundlessly innumerable.

　　舍利弗．衆生聞者．應當發願．願生彼國所以者何．得與如是諸上善人．俱會一處．舍利弗．不可以少善根福德因緣．得生彼國舍利弗．若有善男子．善女人．聞說阿彌陀佛．執持名號．若一日．若二日．若叁日．若四日．若五日．若六日．若七日．一心不亂其人臨命終時．阿彌陀佛．與諸聖衆．現在其前是人終時．心不顛倒．即得往生阿彌陀佛極樂國土舍利弗．我見是利．故說此言若有衆生．聞是說者．應當發願．生彼國土

　　Sariputra, sentient beings who hear the above should vow to be born in that land. Why is it so

　　 Because then one may enjoy the company of these aforementioned most benevolent people. Sariputra, it is impossible to be born in that land with only a few good dispositions, meritorious and moral causes and conditions. Sariputra, if there is a good man or woman who hears about Amitabha Buddha and keeps chanting His holy name for one day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days or seven days with one mind free from distractions, then such a person, upon the end of his life, will see Amitabha Buddha and His holy assembly appear before him. At the time of death this person”s mind will not be perturbed and will take rebirth in the Utmost Joy Land of Amitabha Buddha. Sariputra, I see such advantage, hence I say such words. Whosoever hears this should develop the vow to be born in that Land.

　　舍利弗．如我今者．贊歎阿彌陀佛不可思議功德之利東方亦有阿閦鞞佛．須彌相佛．大須彌佛．須彌光佛．妙音佛．如是等恒河沙數諸佛各于其國．出廣長舌相．徧覆叁千大千世界．說誠實言汝等衆生．當信是稱贊不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經

　　Sariputra, just as now I am praising the advantage of the inconceivable merits of Amitabha Buddha, in the Eastern Universe there are Buddhas such …

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