..续本文上一页. 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.
此紫金台，如大宝华，经宿则开，行者作紫磨金色，足下亦有七宝莲华，佛及菩萨，俱时放光，照行者身，目即开明，因前宿习，普闻众声，纯说甚深第一义谛。
"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.
即下金台，礼佛合掌，赞叹世尊，经於七日，应时即得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提，得不退转；应时即能飞行偏至十方，历事诸佛。於诸佛所，修诸三昧，经一小劫，得无生忍，现前授记，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，不谤大乘。但发无上道心，以此功德，回向愿求生极乐国。行者命欲终时，阿弥陀佛，及观世音、大势至，与诸菩萨，持金莲华，化作五百佛，来迎此人。
"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，一时授手，赞言：法子！汝今清净，发无上道心，我来迎汝。
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.”
见此事时，即见自身坐金莲华，坐已华合，随世尊后，即得往生七宝池中。一日一夜，莲华乃开，七日之中，乃得见佛，虽见佛身，於众相好，心不明了，於三七日后，乃了了见。闻众音声，皆演妙法，游历十方，无养诸佛，於诸佛前，闻甚深法。
"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.
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。
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 佛说观无量寿佛经(节录)》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…