..续本文上一页ta and a host of attendants, come to welcome him, bringing a golden lotus-flower and manifesting five hundred transformed Buddhas. 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.”
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 [345b] 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. 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 lowest level of the highest grade. These three together are known as the contemplation of the highest grade of aspirants, and the fourteenth contemplation. To practice in this way is called the correct contemplation, and to practice otherwise is incorrect."
[24] 上品下生者。亦信因果不谤大乘。但发无上道心。以此功德。回向愿求生极乐国。彼行者命欲终时。阿弥陀佛及观世音并大势至。与诸眷属持金莲华。化作五百化佛来迎此人。五百化佛一时授手。赞言。法子。汝今清净发无上道心。我来迎汝。见此事时。即自见身坐金莲花。坐已华合。随世尊后即得往生七宝池中。一日一夜莲花乃开。七日之中乃得见佛。虽见佛身于众相好心不明了。于三七日后乃了了见。闻众音声皆演妙法。游历十方供养诸佛。于诸佛前闻甚深法。经三小劫得百法明门。住欢喜地。是名上品下生者。是名上辈生想。名第十四观。作是观者名为正观。若他观者名为邪观。
4) the highest level of the middle grade
[25] The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi, "Those who attain birth on the highest level of the middle grade are the sentient beings who keep the five precepts, observe the eight abstinences, practice in compliance with various precepts, and abstain from committing the five gravest offenses and other transgressions. They transfer the merit acquired to the Western Land of Utmost Bliss, aspiring to be born there.
When such a person is about to die, Amitayus appears before him, surrounded by a host of monks and radiating a golden light. He then expounds the truth of suffering, emptiness, impermanence and no-self, and praises renunciation of the world as the way to escape from suffering.
Seeing this, the aspirant greatly rejoices and finds himself seated upon a lotus-flower. He kneels down, joins his palms and worships the Buddha. Before he raises his head, he attains birth in the Land of Utmost Bliss, where his lotus-bud soon opens. When the flower opens, he hears various sounds and voices extolling the Four Noble Truths. He immediately attains Arhatship, acquires the three kinds of transcendent knowledge and the six supernatural powers, and realizes the eight samadhis of emancipation. Such a person is called one who attains birth on the highest level of the middle grade.
[25] 佛告阿难及韦提希。中品上生者。若有众生受持五戒。持八戒斋。修行诸戒。不造五逆。无众过恶。以此善根。回向愿求生于西方极乐世界。行者临命终时。阿弥陀佛与诸比丘眷属围绕。放金色光至其人所。演说苦空无常无我。赞叹出家得离众苦。行者见已心大欢喜。自见己身坐莲花台。长跪合掌为佛作礼。未举头顷即得往生极乐世界。莲花寻开。当华敷时。闻众音声赞叹四谛。应时即得阿罗汉道。三明六通具八解脱。是名中品上生者。
5) the middle level of the middle grade
[26] "Those who attain birth on the middle level of the middle grade are the sentient beings who observe for at least a day and night the eight abstinences, the precepts for a novice or the complete precepts of a monk or a nun, and do not violate any of the rules of conduct. They transfer the merit acquired to the Land of Utmost Bliss, aspiring to be born there.
When such an aspirant, perfumed by the virtue of observing the precepts, is about to die, he sees Amitayus coming towards him with his attendants, radiating a go…
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