..续本文上一页e melodies propagate the teachings on the Five Roots, the Five Forces, the Seven Bodhi branches and the Eightfold Right Path. Beings of that land, upon hearing such melodies, all turn their thoughts toward the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Sariputra, you should not say that these birds are born as a result of their sinful karma. Why is it so

　　 There are no three bad realms in the land of that Buddha. Sariputra, in the land of that Buddha there is not even the name of a bad realm, not to mention the reality of such. All these birds are miraculously produced by Amitabha Buddha in order to propagate the Dharma sounds. Sariputra, in the land of that Buddha breezes wave the rows of jeweled trees and the jeweled nets, thereby, producing sublime and wondrous sounds. This is analogous to hundreds and thousands of harmonious kinds of music playing simultaneously. Whoever hears such sounds naturally develops a mind that fixes upon the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Sariputra, the land of that Buddha is complete in such meritorious grandeur.

　　舍利弗．于汝意云何．彼佛何故号阿弥陀舍利弗．彼佛光明无量．照十方国．无所障碍．是故号为阿弥陀又舍利弗．彼佛寿命．及其人民．无量无边阿僧祇劫．故名阿弥陀舍利弗．阿弥陀佛成佛已来．于今十劫又舍利弗．彼佛有无量无边声闻弟子．皆阿罗汉．非是算数之所能知诸菩萨众．亦复如是舍利弗．彼佛国土．成就如是功德庄严又舍利弗．极乐国土．众生生者．皆是阿鞞跋致其中多有一生补处．其数甚多．非是算数所能知之．但可以无量无边阿僧祇说

　　Sariputra, what do you think, why is that Buddha called Amitabha

　　 Sariputra, the brightness of that Buddha”s light is immeasurable, it shines upon lands in the ten Directions without any hindrance, hence, He is called Amitabha—infinite light. Further, Sariputra, the life span of that Buddha or anyone of His subjects is countlessly and boundlessly innumerable kalpas, thus, He is named Amitabha—infinite life. Sariputra, ever since Amitabha Buddha awoke to Full Enlightenment it has been ten kalpas. Furthermore, Sariputra, that Buddha has innumerable boundless sravaka disciples, all of whom are Arhats, and their number is beyond the knowledge of arithmetic. The number of Bodhisattvas in that land is likewise innumerable. Sariputra, the land of that Buddha is complete in such meritorious grandeur. Further, Sariputra, sentient beings who are born in the Utmost Joy Land will not regress on the path toward Enlightenment. Many among them are candidates for Buddhahood and will be born as humans just once more in order to achieve Buddhahood. Their number is so great that it is beyond the knowledge of arithmetic and can only be described as countlessly and boundlessly innumerable.

　　舍利弗．众生闻者．应当发愿．愿生彼国所以者何．得与如是诸上善人．俱会一处．舍利弗．不可以少善根福德因缘．得生彼国舍利弗．若有善男子．善女人．闻说阿弥陀佛．执持名号．若一日．若二日．若三日．若四日．若五日．若六日．若七日．一心不乱其人临命终时．阿弥陀佛．与诸圣众．现在其前是人终时．心不颠倒．即得往生阿弥陀佛极乐国土舍利弗．我见是利．故说此言若有众生．闻是说者．应当发愿．生彼国土

　　Sariputra, sentient beings who hear the above should vow to be born in that land. Why is it so

　　 Because then one may enjoy the company of these aforementioned most benevolent people. Sariputra, it is impossible to be born in that land with only a few good dispositions, meritorious and moral causes and conditions. Sariputra, if there is a good man or woman who hears about Amitabha Buddha and keeps chanting His holy name for one day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days or seven days with one mind free from distractions, then such a person, upon the end of his life, will see Amitabha Buddha and His holy assembly appear before him. At the time of death this person”s mind will not be perturbed and will take rebirth in the Utmost Joy Land of Amitabha Buddha. Sariputra, I see such advantage, hence I say such words. Whosoever hears this should develop the vow to be born in that Land.

　　舍利弗．如我今者．赞叹阿弥陀佛不可思议功德之利东方亦有阿閦鞞佛．须弥相佛．大须弥佛．须弥光佛．妙音佛．如是等恒河沙数诸佛各于其国．出广长舌相．徧覆三千大千世界．说诚实言汝等众生．当信是称赞不可思议功德一切诸佛所护念经

　　Sariputra, just as now I am praising the advantage of the inconceivable merits of Amitabha Buddha, in the Eastern Universe there are Buddhas such …

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