..續本文上一頁. They transfer the merit acquired to the Land of Utmost Bliss, aspiring to be born there.
"When such an aspirant is about to die, Amitayus appears before him, surrounded by Avalokiteshvara, Mahasthamaprapta and innumerable sages and attendants, carrying a purple-gold lotus-seat. The Buddha praises him, saying, ”Son of the Dharma, because you have practiced the Mahayana and appreciate the supreme truths, I have come to welcome you.” So saying, he and a thousand transformed Buddhas extend their hands all at once towards the aspirant, who, seeing himself sitting on the purple-gold seat, joins his palms and praises the Buddhas. In an instant, he is born in a seven-jewelled pond of that land.
此紫金臺，如大寶華，經宿則開，行者作紫磨金色，足下亦有七寶蓮華，佛及菩薩，俱時放光，照行者身，目即開明，因前宿習，普聞衆聲，純說甚深第一義谛。
"The purple-gold seat has become like a great jewelled flower, which opens after one night. The body of the aspirant has become the color of purple-gold, and beneath his feet are seven-jewelled lotus-flowers. The Buddha and bodhisattvas together release a flood of light which illuminates the aspirant”s body. His eyes open, and because of the store of merit from his previous life, he hears voices everywhere expounding only the most profound and supreme truths.
即下金臺，禮佛合掌，贊歎世尊，經於七日，應時即得阿耨多羅叁藐叁菩提，得不退轉；應時即能飛行偏至十方，曆事諸佛。於諸佛所，修諸叁昧，經一小劫，得無生忍，現前授記，是名上品中生者。
Descending from his golden seat, he bows with joined palms and praises the Buddha, the World-Honored One. After seven days, he immediately reaches the Stage of Non-retrogression for realizing the highest, perfect Enlightenment. He is also able to fly in the ten quarters, as he wishes, to revere all the Buddhas and learn various samadhis from them. After the lapse of a smaller kalpa, he attains the insight into the non-arising of all dharmas and receives from each Buddha the prediction of his future Buddhahood. Such a person is called one who attains birth on the middle level of the highest grade.
3) the lowest level of the highest grade
上品下生者，亦信因果，不謗大乘。但發無上道心，以此功德，回向願求生極樂國。行者命欲終時，阿彌陀佛，及觀世音、大勢至，與諸菩薩，持金蓮華，化作五百佛，來迎此人。
"Those who attain birth on the lowest level of the highest grade likewise accept the law of karmic causes and effects, do not speak slightingly of the Mahayana and awaken aspiration for the highest Enlightenment. They transfer the merit acquired to the Land of Utmost Bliss, aspiring to be born there.
"When such an aspirant is about to die, Amitayus, together with Avalokiteshvara, Mahasthamaprapta and a host of attendants, come to welcome him, bringing a golden lotus-flower and manifesting five hundred transformed Buddhas.
五百化佛，一時授手，贊言：法子！汝今清淨，發無上道心，我來迎汝。
Those transformed Buddhas extend their hands all at once and praise the aspirant, saying, ”Son of the Dharma, since you have awakened pure aspiration for the highest Enlightenment, we have come to welcome you.”
見此事時，即見自身坐金蓮華，坐已華合，隨世尊後，即得往生七寶池中。一日一夜，蓮華乃開，七日之中，乃得見佛，雖見佛身，於衆相好，心不明了，於叁七日後，乃了了見。聞衆音聲，皆演妙法，遊曆十方，無養諸佛，於諸佛前，聞甚深法。
"When he has viewed all this, the aspirant finds himself seated upon a golden lotus-flower, which then closes. Following the World-Honored One, he immediately attains birth on a seven-jewelled pond. After a day and night, the lotus-flower opens and, within seven days, the aspirant beholds the Buddha. Although he sees the Buddha”s body, he is still unable to discern his physical characteristics and marks clearly. But after three weeks he sees them distinctly, and also hears all the sounds and voices proclaiming the wonderful Dharma. Then he can travel in all the ten quarters to make offerings to the Buddhas and hear their profound teachings.
經叁小劫，得百法明門，住歡喜地，是名上品下生者。是名上輩生想，名第十四觀。
After three smaller kalpas he acquires clear understanding of the one hundred dharmas and dwells in the Stage of Joy. Such a person is called one who attains birth on the…
《Contemplation Sutra 佛說觀無量壽佛經(節錄)》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…