..续本文上一页are resplendent. But I wish to be born in the Land of Utmost Bliss of Amitayus. I beseech you, World-Honored One, to teach [341c] me how to contemplate that land and attain samadhi."

　　[5] 唯愿世尊。为我广说无忧恼处。我当往生。不乐阎浮提浊恶世也。此浊恶处。地狱饿鬼畜生盈满。多不善聚。愿我未来不闻恶声。不见恶人。今向世尊五体投地。求哀忏悔。唯愿佛日教我观于清净业处。尔时世尊放眉间光。其光金色。遍照十方无量世界。还住佛顶。化为金台如须弥山。十方诸佛净妙国土。皆于中现。或有国土七宝合成。复有国土纯是莲花。复有国土如自在天宫。复有国土如颇梨镜。十方国土皆于中现。有如是等无量诸佛国土严显可观。令韦提希见。时韦提希白佛言。世尊。是诸佛土。虽复清净皆有光明。我今乐生极乐世界阿弥陀佛所。唯愿世尊。教我思惟教我正受。

　　Emitting of light from Shakyamuni”s smile

　　[6] The World-Honored One smiled, and from his mouth came five-colored rays of light, each shining on King Bimbisara”s head. Although the old king was confined, with his unhindered mind”s eye he saw the World-Honored One in the distance. He knelt down in homage to the Buddha and effortlessly made spiritual progress until he reached the Stage of a Non-returner.

　　[6] 尔时世尊即便微笑。有五色光从佛口出。一一光照频婆娑罗王顶。尔时大王虽在幽闭。心眼无障遥见世尊。头面作礼。自然增进成阿那含

　　Three acts of virtue for attaining birth in the Pure Land

　　[7] Then the World-Honored One said to Vaidehi, "Do you know that Amitayus is not far away

　　 Fix your thoughts upon and contemplate that Buddha-land, then you will accomplish the pure acts. I shall describe it to you in detail with various illustrations, so that all ordinary people in the future who wish to practice the pure karma may also be born in that Western Land of Utmost Bliss. Whoever wishes to be born there should practice three acts of merit: first, caring for one”s parents, attending to one”s teachers and elders, compassionately refraining from killing, and doing the ten good deeds; second, taking the three refuges, keeping the various precepts and refraining from breaking the rules of conduct; and third, awakening aspiration for Enlightenment, believing deeply in the law of causality, chanting the Mahayana sutras and encouraging people to follow their teachings. These three are called the pure karma."

　　The Buddha further said to Vaidehi, "Do you know that these three acts are the pure karma practiced by all the Buddhas of the past, present and future as the right cause of Enlightenment

　　"

　　[7] 尔时世尊告韦提希。汝今知不。阿弥陀佛去此不远。汝当系念谛观彼国净业成者。我今为汝广说众譬。亦令未来世一切凡夫欲修净业者得生西方极乐国土。欲生彼国者。当修三福。一者孝养父母。奉事师长。慈心不杀。修十善业。二者受持三归。具足众戒。不犯威仪。三者发菩提心。深信因果。读诵大乘。劝进行者。如此三事名为净业。佛告韦提希。汝今知不。此三种业乃是过去未来现在。三世诸佛净业正因。

　　Vaidehi asks how to visualize the Pure Land

　　[8] The Buddha said to Ananda and Vaidehi, "Listen carefully, listen carefully and ponder deeply. I, the Tathagata, shall discourse on pure karma for the sake of all sentient beings of the future who are afflicted by the enemy, evil passions. It is very good, Vaidehi, that you have willingly asked me about this. Ananda, you must receive and keep the Buddha”s words and widely proclaim them to the multitude of beings. I, the Tathagata, shall now teach you, Vaidehi, and all sentient beings of the future how to visualize the Western Land of Utmost Bliss. By the power of the Buddha all will be able to see the Pure Land as clearly as if they were looking at their own reflections in a bright mirror. Seeing the utmost beauty and bliss of that land, they will rejoice and immediately attain the insight into the non-arising of all dharmas."

　　The Buddha said to Vaidehi, "You are an unenlightened, and so your spiritual powers are weak and obscured. Since you have not yet attained the pine eye, you cannot see that which is distant. But the Buddhas, Tathagatas, have special ways to enable you to see afar."

　　Vaidehi said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One, through the Buddha”s power, even I have now been able to see that land. But after the Buddha”s passing, sentient beings will become defiled and evil, and be oppressed by the five kinds of suffering. How then will those beings be able to see the Land of Utmost Bliss of Amitayus

　　"

　　[8] 佛告阿难及韦提希。谛听谛听善思念之。如来今者。为未…

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