..續本文上一頁raculously created Buddha and miraculously created Bodhisattvas who come to welcome these people. And in a single moment of thought, they are each reborn inside a lotus flower in a seven-jeweled lake.

　　"After six aeons pass, the lotus flowers unfold. When the flowers open, Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta reassure them using the Brahma voice and expound the profound Mahayana Sutras. Upon hearing this Dharma, each person at once awakens the mind that aspires for the highest enlightenment. These are called the sentient beings of the middle level of the lowest grade of rebirth.

　　The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi, "The sentient beings in the lowest level of the lowest grade of rebirth are those who commit such evil acts as the five grave offenses and the ten transgressions, and are burdened with various kinds of evil. These foolish beings, because of their evil karma, shall fall into the evil realms of existence, and experience endless suffering for many aeons .

　　"When the life of such a foolish person is about to end, this person meets a virtuous and learned teacher who provides various kinds of comfort, expounds the exquisite Dharma, and urges mindfulness of the Buddha. If that person is too tormented by pain to be mindful of the Buddha, the virtuous friend says, “If you are unable to be mindful of the Buddha, you should recite the name of and take refuge in the Buddha of Immeasurable Life.” And so, with a sincere mind and an uninterrupted voice, this person says, “Namo Buddha Amitayus” even as few as ten times, and because this person says the Buddhas name, with every repetition, the evil karma binding this person to birth-and-death for eight million aeons is eliminated.

　　"When the lives of such people come to an end, a sun-like golden lotus flower appears in front of them. And in the interval of a single thought-moment, each person will immediately attain rebirth inside a lotus flower in the Realm of Ultimate Bliss.

　　"After twelve great aeons the lotus flower opens. When the flower unfolds, Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta, using the Brahma voice, proclaim for each person the way to eliminate evil karma through the realization of the true nature of all existence. Upon hearing this, each person is filled with joy and, at that moment, awakens the mind that aspires for enlightenment. These are called the sentient beings of the lowest level of the lowest grade of rebirth. This perception of the sentient beings in the lowest grade of rebirth is called the sixteenth visualization."

　　XVIII. EPILOGUE

　　When the World-Honored One had spoken these words, Vaidehi and her five hundred female attendants, having heard the Buddha”s discourse, saw at once the breadth and extent of the Realm of Ultimate Bliss; and being able to see the body of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life Span and the two Bodhisattvas, joy welled up in their hearts. Marveling at this unprecedented occurrence, Vaidehi, her clouds of doubt now cleared, attained the great enlightenment and acquired the insight into the non-origination of all existence. Her five hundred female attendants, having awakened the mind that aspires to the highest perfect enlightenment, vowed to be reborn into that land. The World-Honored One assured all of them that they would be reborn there, and that after rebirth they would acquire the Samadhi of Being in the Presence of All the Buddhas Countless heavenly beings also awakened the mind that aspires for the Highest Perfect Enlightenment.

　　At that time, Ananda rose from his seat, stepped forward, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One, what shall this Sutra be called

　　 And how should the essence of this Dharma be received and kept

　　"

　　The Buddha said to Ananda, "The name of this Sutra is the “Visualization of the Realm of Ultimate Bliss, the Buddha of Immeasurable Life Span, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta.” It is also called, “Removal of Karmic Hindrances for Attaining Rebirth in the Presence of All the Buddhas.” You should receive this Sutra and never forget it.

　　Those who practice this samadhi will be able to see, during their lifetime, the Buddha of Immeasurable Life Span and these two Bodhisattvas. If good sons and good daughters merely hear the name of this Buddha and these two Bodhisattvas, the evil karma binding them to birth-and-death for immeasurable aeons is eliminated. How much more so if these people are mindful of the Buddha

　　 Know that whoever is mindful of the Buddha is a lotus flower among humans, has Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta as excellent friends, will be seated in the place of enlightenment and will be born into the family of the Buddhas."

　　The Buddha said to Ananda, "You should carefully hold these words in mind. To hold these words in mind is to hold in mind the name of the Buddha of Immeasurable life Span."

　　When the Buddha had spoken these words, the Venerable Maudgalyayana and the Venerable Ananda, as well as Vaidehi and the others, heard the Buddha”s discourse and were all filled with great joy.

　　At that time, the World-Honored One walked through the open sky and returned to Vulture Peak. There, Ananda fully explained the above events for the benefit of the great assembly. The countless human beings, heavenly beings, naga deities, yaksas and all other beings who heard the Buddha”s discourse were all filled with great joy, paid homage to the World-Honored Ones, and departed.

　　Namo Amitabha Buddha!

《觀無量壽佛經 The Sutra of Visualization of the Buddha of Infinite Life》全文閱讀結束。