佛說阿彌陀經
姚秦三藏法師
鳩摩羅什譯
如是我聞。一時佛在舍衛國．祇樹給孤獨園。與大比丘僧．千二百五十人俱。皆是大阿羅漢．眾所知識。長老舍利弗．摩訶目犍連．摩訶迦葉．摩訶迦旃延．摩訶俱絺羅．離婆多．周利槃陀伽．難陀．阿難陀．羅【目侯】羅．憍梵波提．賓頭盧頗羅墮．迦留陀夷．摩訶劫賓那．薄拘羅．阿【少／免】樓馱．如是等諸大弟子。并諸菩薩摩訶薩．文殊師利法王子．阿逸多菩薩．乾陀訶提菩薩．常精進菩薩．與如是等諸大菩薩。及釋提桓因等．無量諸天大眾俱。爾時佛告長老舍利弗．從是西方．過十萬億佛土．有世界名曰極樂。其土有佛．號阿彌陀．今現在說法。舍利弗．彼土何故名為極樂。其國眾生．無有眾苦．但受諸樂．故名極樂。又舍利弗．極樂國土．七重欄楯．七重羅網．七重行樹．皆是四寶周【一／巾】圍繞．是故彼國名為極樂。又舍利弗．極樂國土．有七寶池。八功德水．充滿其中。池底純以金沙布地。四邊階道．金、銀、【王留】璃、玻【王黎】、合成。上有樓閣．亦以金、銀、【王留】璃、玻【王黎】、硨磲、赤珠、瑪瑙、而嚴飾之。池中蓮華．大如車輪．青色青光．黃色黃光．赤色赤光．白色白光．微妙香潔。舍利弗．極樂國土．成就如是功德莊嚴。又舍利弗．彼佛國土．常作天樂．黃金為地。晝夜六時．雨天曼陀羅華。其土眾生．常以清旦．各以衣 [袖-由+戒] ．盛眾妙華．供養他方十萬億佛。即以食時．還到本國．飯食經行。舍利弗．極樂國土．成就如是功德莊嚴。復次舍利弗．彼國常有種種奇妙雜色之鳥．白鶴、孔雀、鸚鵡、舍利、迦陵頻伽、共命之鳥。是諸眾鳥．晝夜六時．出和雅音。其音演暢五根、五力、七菩提分、八聖道分．如是等法。其土眾生．聞是音已．皆悉念佛念法念僧。舍利弗．汝勿謂此鳥．實是罪報所生。所以者何．彼佛國土．無三惡道。舍利弗．其佛國土．尚無惡道之名．何況有實。是諸眾鳥．皆是阿彌陀佛．欲令法音宣流．變化所作。舍利弗．彼佛國土．微風吹動諸寶行樹．及寶羅網．出微妙音。譬如百千種樂．同時俱作。聞是音者．自然皆生念佛念法念僧之心。舍利弗．其佛國土．成就如是功德莊嚴。舍利弗．於汝意云何．彼佛何故號阿彌陀。舍利弗．彼佛光明無量．照十方國．無所障礙．是故號為阿彌陀。又舍利弗．彼佛壽命．及其人民．無量無邊阿僧祇劫．故名阿彌陀。舍利弗．阿彌陀佛成佛已來．於今十劫。又舍利弗．彼佛有無量無邊聲聞弟子．皆阿羅漢．非是算數之所能知。諸菩薩眾．亦復如是。舍利弗．彼佛國土．成就如是功德莊嚴。又舍利弗．極樂國土．眾生生者．皆是阿鞞跋致。其中多有一生補處．其數甚多．非是算數所能知之．但可以無量無邊阿僧祇說。舍利弗．眾生聞者．應當發願．願生彼國。所以者何．得與如是諸上善人．俱會一處．舍利弗．不可以少善根福德因緣．得生彼國。舍利弗．若有善男子．善女人．聞說阿彌陀佛．執持名號．若一日．若二日．若三日．若四日．若五日．若六日．若七日．一心不亂。其人臨命終時．阿彌陀佛．與諸聖眾．現在其前。是人終時．心不顛倒．即得往生阿彌陀佛極樂國土。舍利弗．我見是利．故說此言。若有眾生．聞是說者．應當發願．生彼國土。舍利弗．如我今者．讚歎阿彌陀佛不可思議功德之利。東方亦有阿 【門／人人人】 鞞佛．須彌相佛．大須彌佛．須彌光佛．妙音佛．如是等恒河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．【ㄔ扁】覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。汝等眾生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。舍利弗．南方世界．有日月燈佛．名聞光佛．大燄肩佛．須彌燈佛．無量精進佛．如是等恒河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．【ㄔ扁】覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。汝等眾生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。舍利弗．西方世界．有無量壽佛．無量相佛．無量幢佛．大光佛．大明佛．寶相佛．淨光佛．如是等恒河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．【ㄔ扁】覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。汝等眾生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。舍利弗．北方世界．有燄肩佛．最勝音佛．難沮佛．日生佛．網明佛．如是等恒河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．【ㄔ扁】覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。汝等眾生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。舍利弗．下方世界．有師子佛．名聞佛．名光佛．達摩佛．法幢佛．持法佛．如是等恒河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．【ㄔ扁】覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。汝等眾生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。舍利弗．上方世界．有梵音佛．宿王佛．香上佛．香光佛．大燄肩佛．雜色寶華嚴身佛．娑羅樹王佛．寶華德佛．見一切義佛．如須彌山佛．如是等恒河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．【ㄔ扁】覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。汝等眾生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。舍利弗．於汝意云何．何故名為一切諸佛所護念經。舍利弗．若有善男子．善女人．聞是經受持者．及聞諸佛名者．是諸善男子．善女人．皆為一切諸佛之所護念．皆得不退轉於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。是故舍利弗．汝等皆當信受我語．及諸佛所說。舍利弗．若有人．已發願．今發願．當發願．欲生阿彌陀佛國者。是諸人等．皆得不退轉於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。於彼國土．若已生．若今生．若當生。是故舍利弗．諸善男子．善女人．若有信者．應當發願．生彼國土。舍利弗．如我今者．稱讚諸佛不可思議功德。彼諸佛等．亦稱讚我不可思議功德．而作是言．釋迦牟尼佛．能為甚難希有之事。能於娑婆國土．五濁惡世．劫濁．見濁．煩惱濁．眾生濁．命濁中．得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。為諸眾生．說是一切世間難信之法。舍利弗．當知我於五濁惡世．行此難事．得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。為一切世間說此難信之法．是為甚難。佛說此經已．舍利弗．及諸比丘．一切世間天人阿修羅等．聞佛所說．歡喜信受．作禮而去。
註﹕
【】內之字為左右兩字合成一字。如【目侯】為左「目」、右「侯」合成一字。【／】內之字為上下兩字合成一字。如【少／免】為上「少」、下「免」合成一字。【門／人人人】字為「門」字內三個「人」字。餘同。
Buddha Expounding Amitabha Sutra
from the Chinese translation by Kumarajiva
translated into English by Yutang Lin
Thus have I heard. Once Buddha was in the garden of the alms giving elder Anathapindaka that contains Jeta's grove, located in the country of Sravasti. With Him there were one thousand two hundred fifty great monks; all well known great Arhats. They were the great disciples such as the elder Sariputra, the great Maudgalyayana, the great Kasyapa, the great Katyayana, the great Kausthila, Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola-bharadvaja, Kalodayin, the great Kapphina, Vakkula and Aniruddha. There were also the great Bodhisattvas such as the Dharma prince Manjusri, the Bodhisattva Ajita, the Bodhisattva Gandhahastin and the Bodhisattva Constant-diligence. Also present were Sakra, the King of sky gods, and countless other beings of the various heavens.
Then Buddha told the Elder Sariputra:
To the West ten thousand billion Buddha-lands from here, there is a world named Utmost Joy. There is a Buddha, called Amitabha, in that land. He is preaching right now. Sariputra, why is that land named Utmost Joy? The sentient beings of that land are free from all kinds of suffering, yet enjoy variegated pleasures, thus it is named Utmost Joy. Furthermore, Sariputra, the Utmost Joy Land is enclosed by seven rows of railings, seven layers of nets and seven rows of trees, all made of four kinds of jewels, hence, that land is named Utmost Joy.
Furthermore, Sariputra, in the Utmost Joy Land there are ponds made of seven kinds of jewels and fully filled with water with eight kinds of merits, and their bottoms are covered with gold sand. The stairways on the four sides are made of gold, silver, beryl and crystal, and lead to towers adorned with gold, silver, beryl, crystal, diamonds, red pearls, and coral. The lotus flowers in these ponds are as large as the wheel of a chariot. They are blue and emitting blue light; yellow, emitting yellow light; red, emitting red light; or white, emitting white light. They are sublime, wonderful, fragrant and pure. Sariputra, the Utmost Joy Land is complete in such meritorious grandeur. Again, Sariputra, the land of that Buddha is constantly filled with heavenly music and the ground is made of gold. Three times daily and three times nightly there falls from the sky a rain of heavenly Mandarava flowers. Regularly, in the early morning, the sentient beings of that land carry all sorts of wondrous flowers in their skirts to make offerings to the ten thousand billion Buddhas of other places. By breakfast time they have returned to their own land to have a meal followed by a meditative walk. Sariputra, the Utmost Joy Land is complete in such meritorious grandeur. Furthermore, Sariputra, in that land there are all sorts of wonderful birds of variegated colors: white cranes, peacocks, parrots, saris, Kalavinkas and shared-fate birds. All these birds sing harmonious and sublime melodies three times daily and three times nightly. These 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.
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.
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.
Sariputra, just as now I am praising the advantage of the inconceivable merits of Amitabha Buddha, in the Eastern Universe there are Buddhas such as Immovability Buddha, Meru Form Buddha, Great Meru Buddha, Meru Light Buddha, Wondrous Voice Buddha, equal in number to the sands of the river Ganges. Each Buddha in his own land displays his superior power of speech and spreads the following honest words throughout his domain of one billion world systems: “You sentient beings should have faith in this sutra that praises the inconceivable merits and is favored by all Buddhas.”
Sariputra, in the Southern Universe there are Buddhas such as Sun Moon Lamp Buddha, Famous Light Buddha, Great Flaming Shoulders Buddha, Meru Lamp Buddha, Immeasurable Diligence Buddha, equal in number to the sands of the river Ganges. Each Buddha in his own land displays his superior power of speech and spreads the following honest words throughout his domain of one billion world systems: “You sentient beings should have faith in this sutra that praises the inconceivable merits and is favored by all Buddhas.”
Sariputra, in the Western Universe there are Buddhas such as Immeasurable Life Span Buddha, Immeasurable Form Buddha, Immeasurable Pennant Buddha, Great Light Buddha, Great Brightness Buddha, Precious Form Buddha, Pure Light Buddha, equal in number to the sands of the river Ganges. Each Buddha in his own land displays his superior power of speech and spreads the following honest words throughout his domain of one billion world systems: “You sentient beings should have faith in this sutra that praises the inconceivable merits and is favored by all Buddhas.”
Sariputra, in the Northern Universe there are Buddhas such as Flaming Shoulders Buddha, Most Superior Voice Buddha, Impeccable Buddha, Rising Sun Buddha, Net of Brightness Buddha, equal in number to the sands of the river Ganges. Each Buddha in his own land displays his superior power of speech and spreads the following honest words throughout his domain of one billion world systems: “You sentient beings should have faith in this sutra that praises the inconceivable merits and is favored by all Buddhas.”
Sariputra, in the Nadiral Universe there are Buddhas such as Lion Buddha, Famous Buddha, Fame Light Buddha, Dharma Buddha, Dharma Pennant Buddha, Dharma Holding Buddha, equal in number to the sands of the river Ganges. Each Buddha in his own land displays his superior power of speech and spreads the following honest words throughout his domain of one billion world systems: “You sentient beings should have faith in this sutra that praises the inconceivable merits and is favored by all Buddhas.”
Sariputra, in the Zenithal Universe there are Buddhas such as Pure Voice Buddha, King of Constellations Buddha, Supreme Incense Buddha, Fragrance Light Buddha, Great Flaming Shoulders Buddha, Adorned with Variegated Jewel Ornaments Buddha, King Teak Tree Buddha, Jewel Flower Merits Buddha, Seeing All Truths Buddha, Like Meru Mountain Buddha, equal in number to the sands of the river Ganges. Each Buddha in his own land displays his superior power of speech and spreads the following honest words throughout his domain of one billion world systems: “You sentient beings should have faith in this sutra that praises the inconceivable merits and is favored by all Buddhas.”
Sariputra, what do you think? Why is this sutra named the Favor of All Buddhas Sutra? Sariputra, if there are good men or women who hear, accept and uphold this sutra and hear the names of these Buddhas, all these good men or women will be favored by all Buddhas and will never regress on the path toward the Unsurpassable Right and Full Enlightenment. Therefore, Sariputra, all of you should believe and accept these words of mine and those of the Buddhas.
Sariputra, those people who have vowed, vow now, or will vow to be born in the land of Amitabha Buddha will never regress on the path toward the Unsurpassable Right and Full Enlightenment. They have been born, are born or will be born in that land. Hence, Sariputra, all good men or women, if they have faith, should vow to be born in that land.
Sariputra, just as I am now praising the inconceivable merits of those Buddhas, likewise they are praising my inconceivable merits by uttering the following: “Sakyamuni Buddha is capable of rare and most difficult accomplishments. He is able to achieve the Unsurpassable Right and Full Enlightenment in the land of Toleration during the corrupt age of Five Obscurities—those of the era, the views, the sorrows, the sentient beings and the lives, and to preach to the sentient beings such teachings that are difficult to believe by all worldlings.” Sariputra, you should realize that it is extremely difficult for me to accomplish the heavy task of achieving the Unsurpassable Right and Full Enlightenment in the corrupt age of Five Obscurities and to preach to all worldlings such unbelievable teachings.
Thus Buddha concluded the preaching of this sutra. Sariputra, the monks and the worldlings—heavenly beings, humans, asuras, etc., all rejoiced in hearing the teaching of Buddha, and they accepted the teaching with great faith. They all prostrated to Buddha and then departed.
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