..续本文上一页ng the discourse on the wonderful Dharma sent forth by the light and the jewelled trees, he then reaches the insight into the non-arising of all dharmas. In a single moment, he visits and worships all the Buddhas of the ten quarters and receives from each of them the prediction of his future Buddhahood. Returning to the Pure Land, he is endowed with innumerable hundreds of thousands of dharanis. Such a person is called one who attains birth on the highest level of the highest grade.

　　[22] 佛告阿难。及韦提希。凡生西方有九品人。上品上生者。若有众生愿生彼国者。发三种心即便往生。何等为三。一者至诚心。二者深心。三者回向发愿心。具三心者必生彼国。复有三种众生。当得往生。何等为三。一者慈心不杀具诸戒行。二者读诵大乘方等经典。三者修行六念回向发愿生彼佛国。具此功德。一日乃至七日。即得往生。生彼国时。此人精进勇猛故。阿弥陀如来与观世音及大势至无数化佛百千比丘声闻大众无量诸天。七宝宫殿。观世音菩萨执金刚台。与大势至菩萨至行者前。阿弥陀佛放大光明照行者身。与诸菩萨授手迎接。观世音大势至与无数菩萨。赞叹行者劝进其心。行者见已欢喜踊跃。自见其身乘金刚台。随从佛后。如弹指顷往生彼国。生彼国已。见佛色身众相具足。见诸菩萨色相具足。光明宝林演说妙法。闻已即悟无生法忍。经须臾间历事诸佛。遍十方界。于诸佛前次第受记。还至本国。得无量百千陀罗尼门。是名上品上生者。

　　2) the middle level of the highest grade

　　[23] "Those who attain birth on the middle level of the highest grade, do not necessarily uphold and chant the sutras of greater scope, but comprehend the teachings of the Buddha so well that when they hear the supreme truths, they are not dismayed. They have deep faith in the law of karmic causes and effects and do not speak slightingly of the Mahayana. 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.

　　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. 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.

　　[23] 上品中生者。不必受持读诵方等经典。善解义趣。于第一义心不惊动。深信因果不谤大乘。以此功德。回向愿求生极乐国。行此行者命欲终时。阿弥陀佛与观世音及大势至。无量大众眷属围绕。持紫金台至行者前赞言。法子。汝行大乘解第一义。是故我今来迎接汝。与千化佛一时授手。行者自见坐紫金台。合掌叉手赞叹诸佛。如一念顷。即生彼国七宝池中。此紫金台如大宝花。经宿即开。行者身作紫磨金色。足下亦有七宝莲华。佛及菩萨俱放光明。照行者身目即开明。因前宿习普闻众声。纯说甚深第一义谛。即下金台礼佛合掌赞叹世尊。经于七日。应时即于阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。得不退转。应时即能飞至十方。历事诸佛。于诸佛所修诸三昧。经一小劫得无生法忍现前受记。是名上品中生者。

　　3) the lowest level of the highest grade

　　[24] "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 Enlig, htenment. 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, Mahasthamaprap…

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