The Amitabha Sutra

姚秦龜茲三藏鳩摩羅什譯

Translated by the Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva of Kucha during the Later Qin dynasty.

如是我聞：

Thus have I heard:

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、摩訶目乾連、摩訶迦葉、摩訶迦栴延、摩訶拘絺羅、離婆多、周梨槃陀迦、難陀、阿難陀、羅睺羅、憍梵波提、賓頭盧頗羅墮、迦留陀夷、摩訶劫賓那、薄俱羅、阿㝹樓馱，如是等諸大弟子，並諸菩薩摩訶薩——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。

Once the Buddha was staying in the Jeta Grove, the Garden of Anathapindada, in Shravasti, together with a great assembly of 1,250 senior monks, all of them great arhats, well known to all: the Elder Shariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakashyapa, Mahakatyayana, Mahakausthila, Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola Bharadvaja, Kalodayin, Mahakapphina, Vakkula, and Aniruddha, and other great disciples such as these; and also the Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas (that is, great Bodhisattvas): Manjushri, Prince of the Dharma, the Bodhisattva Ajita, the Bodhisattva Gandhahastin, and the Bodhisattva Nityodyukta, together with these and other great Bodhisattvas, as well as Shakra Devanam Indra (that is, Indra, ruler of the gods) and countless multitudes of devas, all gathered in one place.

爾時，佛告長老舍利弗：

At that time the Buddha said to the Elder Shariputra:

「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，皆是四寶周匝圍繞，是故彼國名曰極樂。

"To the west of here, past a hundred thousand million Buddha lands, there is a world called Utmost Bliss. In that land there is a Buddha named Amitabha, who is teaching the Dharma even now. Shariputra, why is that land called Utmost Bliss? Because the beings of that land have no kinds of suffering and enjoy only every kind of happiness, it is called Utmost Bliss. Moreover, Shariputra, the land of Utmost Bliss is surrounded by seven tiers of railings, seven tiers of nets, and seven rows of jeweled trees, all encircled layer upon layer by four kinds of precious substances; that is why that land is called Utmost Bliss.

「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、琉璃、頗梨合成；上有樓閣，亦以金、銀、琉璃、頗梨、車𤦲、赤珠、馬瑙而嚴飾之。池中蓮花，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。

"Moreover, Shariputra, in the land of Utmost Bliss there are ponds made of the seven jewels, filled with water of the eight virtues (pure, cool, sweet, light, soft, moist, peaceful, able to quench hunger and thirst and to nourish good roots), and the floor of each pond is spread with pure golden sand. On the four sides, the stairways and walkways are made of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal; above them stand pavilions, adorned most solemnly with gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, seashell, red pearl, and carnelian. The lotus flowers in the ponds are as large as carriage wheels: the blue ones shine with blue light, the yellow with yellow light, the red with red light, and the white with white light, subtle, wondrous, fragrant, and pure. Shariputra, the land of Utmost Bliss has perfected adornments of such merit and virtue.

「又舍利弗！彼佛國土，常作天樂，黃金為地，晝夜六時，天雨曼陀羅華。其國眾生，常以清旦，各以衣裓盛眾妙華，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。

"Moreover, Shariputra, in that Buddha land heavenly music is always playing, the ground is made of yellow gold, and day and night, throughout the six periods, mandarava flowers rain down from the sky. The beings of that land, each morning, gather wondrous flowers of all kinds in the folds of their robes and go to make offerings to a hundred thousand million Buddhas in other regions; at mealtime they return to their own land, eat, and then walk about in meditation. Shariputra, the land of Utmost Bliss has perfected adornments of such merit and virtue.

「復次舍利弗！彼國常有種種奇妙雜色之鳥——白鵠、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？彼佛國土無三惡趣。舍利弗！其佛國土尚無三惡道之名，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，皆自然生念佛、念法、念僧之心。舍利弗！其佛國土成就如是功德莊嚴。

"Moreover, Shariputra, in that land there are always many kinds of wondrous birds of mixed colors: white cranes, peacocks, parrots, shariputra birds, kalavinka birds, and jivajivaka birds. Throughout the six periods of day and night these birds utter harmonious and elegant sounds, and those sounds proclaim teachings such as the five roots, the five powers, the seven factors of awakening, and the eightfold noble path. When the beings of that land hear these sounds, they all bring to mind the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Shariputra, do not suppose that these birds are really born as the result of evil karma. Why? Because in that Buddha land there are none of the three evil realms of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals. Shariputra, in that Buddha land even the names of the three evil realms do not exist, much less the realms themselves. All these birds are transformations made by Amitabha Buddha, wishing the sound of the Dharma to spread far and wide. Shariputra, when a gentle breeze stirs the rows of jeweled trees and the jeweled nets in that Buddha land, they give out subtle and wondrous sounds, like a hundred thousand kinds of instruments played together; all who hear these sounds spontaneously give rise to mindfulness of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Shariputra, that Buddha land has perfected adornments of such merit and virtue.

「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，亦復如是。舍利弗！彼佛國土成就如是功德莊嚴。

"Shariputra, what do you think? Why is that Buddha called Amitabha? Shariputra, the light of that Buddha is immeasurable and shines throughout the lands of the ten directions without obstruction; therefore he is called Amitabha (this refers to "Immeasurable Light"). Moreover, Shariputra, the lifespan of that Buddha and of the people of his land is immeasurable and boundless, lasting asamkhyeya kalpas (incalculably long units of time); therefore he is called Amitayus (this refers to "Immeasurable Life"). Shariputra, it has now been ten kalpas since Amitabha attained Buddhahood. Moreover, Shariputra, that Buddha has immeasurable and boundless shravaka disciples, all of them arhats, too many to be counted by any reckoning; the Bodhisattvas are likewise. Shariputra, that Buddha land has perfected adornments of such merit and virtue.

「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劫說。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。

"Moreover, Shariputra, all beings born in the land of Utmost Bliss are avaivartika (meaning "non-retrogressing", those whose practice will never slide back). Among them are many who are "one life away from Buddhahood" (Bodhisattvas who need only one more birth before becoming Buddhas); their number is very great, beyond the reach of any counting, and can only be described as immeasurable, boundless asamkhyeya kalpas. Shariputra, beings who hear this should make a vow to be born in that land. Why? Because then they will be gathered together in one place with such supremely good people.

「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。

"Shariputra, one cannot be born in that land through few good roots, merits, and causes and conditions. Shariputra, if a good man or good woman hears of Amitabha Buddha and holds fast to his name, for one day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days, or seven days, with a single mind undisturbed, then when that person nears the end of life, Amitabha Buddha and the assembly of sages will appear before them. When that person's life ends, their mind will not be confused, and they will at once be born in Amitabha Buddha's land of Utmost Bliss. Shariputra, because I see such benefit, I speak these words. If beings hear these words, they should make a vow to be born in that land.

「舍利弗！如我今者，讚歎阿彌陀佛不可思議功德；東方亦有阿閦鞞佛、須彌相佛、大須彌佛、須彌光佛、妙音佛，如是等恆河沙數諸佛，各於其國出廣長舌相，遍覆三千大千世界，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。』

"Shariputra, just as I now praise the inconceivable merit and virtue of Amitabha Buddha, so in the east there are also Akshobhya Buddha, Sumeru-Appearance Buddha, Great Sumeru Buddha, Sumeru-Light Buddha, and Wondrous-Sound Buddha, innumerable Buddhas like the sands of the Ganges, each in his own land extending his broad and long tongue, covering the three-thousand great thousand worlds, and speaking words of truth: 'All you beings, you should believe this sutra, "Praising the Inconceivable Merit and Virtue, Protected and Kept in Mind by All Buddhas."'

「舍利弗！南方世界有日月燈佛、名聞光佛、大焰肩佛、須彌燈佛、無量精進佛，如是等恆河沙數諸佛，各於其國出廣長舌相，遍覆三千大千世界，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。』

"Shariputra, in the southern world there are Sun-Moon-Lamp Buddha, Famous-Light Buddha, Great-Blazing-Shoulders Buddha, Sumeru-Lamp Buddha, and Immeasurable-Diligence Buddha, innumerable Buddhas like the sands of the Ganges, each in his own land extending his broad and long tongue, covering the three-thousand great thousand worlds, and speaking words of truth: 'All you beings, you should believe this sutra, "Praising the Inconceivable Merit and Virtue, Protected and Kept in Mind by All Buddhas."'

「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，如是等恆河沙數諸佛，各於其國出廣長舌相，遍覆三千大千世界，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。』

"Shariputra, in the western world there are Amitayus Buddha, Immeasurable-Appearance Buddha, Immeasurable-Banner Buddha, Great-Light Buddha, Great-Radiance Buddha, Jewel-Appearance Buddha, and Pure-Light Buddha, innumerable Buddhas like the sands of the Ganges, each in his own land extending his broad and long tongue, covering the three-thousand great thousand worlds, and speaking words of truth: 'All you beings, you should believe this sutra, "Praising the Inconceivable Merit and Virtue, Protected and Kept in Mind by All Buddhas."'

「舍利弗！北方世界有焰肩佛、最勝音佛、難沮佛、日生佛、網明佛，如是等恆河沙數諸佛，各於其國出廣長舌相，遍覆三千大千世界，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。』

"Shariputra, in the northern world there are Blazing-Shoulders Buddha, Supreme-Sound Buddha, Hard-to-Overcome Buddha, Sun-Born Buddha, and Net-Light Buddha, innumerable Buddhas like the sands of the Ganges, each in his own land extending his broad and long tongue, covering the three-thousand great thousand worlds, and speaking words of truth: 'All you beings, you should believe this sutra, "Praising the Inconceivable Merit and Virtue, Protected and Kept in Mind by All Buddhas."'

「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，如是等恆河沙數諸佛，各於其國出廣長舌相，遍覆三千大千世界，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。』

"Shariputra, in the world below there are Lion Buddha, Famous Buddha, Famous-Light Buddha, Dharma Buddha, Dharma-Banner Buddha, and Dharma-Holding Buddha, innumerable Buddhas like the sands of the Ganges, each in his own land extending his broad and long tongue, covering the three-thousand great thousand worlds, and speaking words of truth: 'All you beings, you should believe this sutra, "Praising the Inconceivable Merit and Virtue, Protected and Kept in Mind by All Buddhas."'

「舍利弗！上方世界有梵音佛、宿王佛、香上佛、香光佛、大焰肩佛、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，如是等恆河沙數諸佛，各於其國出廣長舌相，遍覆三千大千世界，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。』

"Shariputra, in the world above there are Brahma-Sound Buddha, Constellation-King Buddha, Supreme-Fragrance Buddha, Fragrant-Light Buddha, Great-Blazing-Shoulders Buddha, Many-Colored-Jewel-Flower-Adorned-Body Buddha, Sala-Tree-King Buddha, Jewel-Flower-Virtue Buddha, Seeing-All-Meanings Buddha, and Like-Mount-Sumeru Buddha, innumerable Buddhas like the sands of the Ganges, each in his own land extending his broad and long tongue, covering the three-thousand great thousand worlds, and speaking words of truth: 'All you beings, you should believe this sutra, "Praising the Inconceivable Merit and Virtue, Protected and Kept in Mind by All Buddhas."'

「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，皆為一切諸佛共所護念，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。

"Shariputra, what do you think? Why is it called the "Sutra Protected and Kept in Mind by All Buddhas"? Shariputra, if a good man or good woman hears this sutra and upholds it, and hears the names of the Buddhas, then all these good men and good women are protected and kept in mind together by all the Buddhas, and will never regress from anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (meaning "unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening", the full enlightenment realized by a Buddha). Therefore, Shariputra, all of you should believe and accept my words and what the Buddhas say.

「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。

"Shariputra, if there are people who have already made the vow, are now making the vow, or will make the vow to be born in the land of Amitabha Buddha, all these people will never regress from unsurpassed, perfect awakening, and in that land they have already been born, are now being born, or will be born. Therefore, Shariputra, all you good men and good women, if you have faith, should make a vow to be born in that land.

「舍利弗！如我今者，稱讚諸佛不可思議功德；彼諸佛等，亦稱說我不可思議功德，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！」

"Shariputra, just as I now praise the inconceivable merit and virtue of the Buddhas, those Buddhas likewise praise my inconceivable merit and virtue, saying: 'Shakyamuni Buddha is able to do what is extremely difficult and extremely rare: in the Saha world, in the evil age of the five turbidities, namely the turbidity of the kalpa, the turbidity of views, the turbidity of afflictions, the turbidity of beings, and the turbidity of life, he has attained unsurpassed, perfect awakening, and for the sake of beings he teaches a Dharma that all the world finds hard to believe.' Shariputra, you should know that I, in the evil age of the five turbidities, have done this difficult thing, attained unsurpassed, perfect awakening, and taught for all the world this Dharma that is hard to believe; it is truly most difficult!"

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。

When the Buddha had finished speaking this sutra, Shariputra, all the monks, and the devas, humans, asuras, and others of all the worlds, having heard what the Buddha said, rejoiced, believed and accepted it, bowed, and departed.

無量壽佛說往生淨土呪：

The Dharani for Rebirth in the Pure Land, spoken by Amitayus Buddha:

南無阿彌多婆夜哆他伽哆夜哆地夜他阿彌唎(上聲)都婆毘阿彌唎哆悉耽婆毘阿彌唎哆毘迦蘭哆伽彌膩伽伽那抧多迦隸莎婆訶

This is the transliterated dharani text of the Dharani for Rebirth in the Pure Land (commonly called the "Rebirth Mantra"). According to Xuanzang's "five kinds that are not translated," specifically the one on account of secrecy, mantras have always been recited by sound and not translated, so following custom it is not translated here. The note "(rising tone)" in the text is a pronunciation hint marked in the original book and is not part of the mantra itself.

誦此呪者，阿彌陀佛常住其頂，命終之後任運往生。

For one who recites this mantra, Amitabha Buddha always dwells above his head, and after life ends he is naturally reborn in the Pure Land.

龍樹菩薩願生安養，夢感此呪。

The Bodhisattva Nagarjuna vowed to be reborn in Anyang (another name for the Pure Land of Utmost Bliss), and received this mantra in a dream.

耶舍三藏誦此呪，天平寺銹法師從耶舍三藏口受此呪。其人云：「經本外國不來。受持呪法，日夜六時各誦三七遍；晨夜澡漱，嚼楊枝，然香火，於形象前跪，合掌誦三七遍。日日恆爾，即滅四重、五逆、十惡，謗方等罪悉得除滅。現在不為一切諸邪鬼神之所惱亂，命終之後任運往生阿彌陀國。何況晝夜受持誦讀功德不可思議！」

The Tripitaka Master Yashas recited this mantra, and the Dharma Master Xiu of Tianping Monastery received it by oral transmission from Tripitaka Master Yashas. That man said: "The scriptural text of this mantra was never brought from abroad. The method of upholding it is this: recite it twenty-one times (three times seven) in each of the six periods of day and night; morning and evening, rinse your mouth and clean your teeth, chew a willow twig, light incense, kneel upright with palms together before the Buddha image, and recite it twenty-one times. If you do this every day, you can eliminate the four grave offenses, the five heinous crimes, and the ten evil deeds, and even the offense of slandering the Mahayana Vaipulya scriptures will all be removed. In this life you will not be disturbed by any malign spirits or ghosts, and after life ends you will naturally be reborn in the land of Amitabha Buddha. How much more, then, if you uphold and recite it day and night; the merit is inconceivable!" (Note: the character for "Xiu" in "Dharma Master Xiu" in the source text may be corrupt; it is copied here unchanged.)