Sutra of Immeasurable Life Spoken by the Buddha, Fascicle Two
曹魏天竺三藏康僧鎧譯
Translated by the Tripitaka Master Samghavarman of India in the Cao Wei dynasty.
佛告阿難：「其有眾生生彼國者，皆悉住於正定之聚。所以者何？彼佛國中無諸邪聚及不定之聚，十方恆沙諸佛如來皆共讚歎無量壽佛威神功德不可思議。諸有眾生聞其名號信心歡喜，乃至一念，至心迴向願生彼國，即得往生住不退轉，唯除五逆、誹謗正法。」
The Buddha said to Ananda: “Those beings who are born in that land all abide among the truly settled. Why? In that Buddha-land there are no groups of the wrongly settled or the unsettled, and the Buddhas, Tathagatas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges in the ten directions, all together praise the inconceivable majestic power and merit of Amitayus Buddha. Any beings who hear his name, give rise to faith and joy, even for a single thought, and with a sincere heart dedicate their merit and wish to be born in that land, will attain rebirth there and dwell in non-retrogression, except for those who commit the five heinous crimes and those who slander the true Dharma.”
佛告阿難：「十方世界諸天人民，其有至心願生彼國，凡有三輩。其上輩者，捨家棄欲而作沙門，發菩提心，一向專念無量壽佛，修諸功德願生彼國。此等眾生臨壽終時，無量壽佛與諸大眾現其人前，即隨彼佛往生其國，便於七寶華中自然化生，住不退轉，智慧勇猛，神通自在。是故，阿難！其有眾生欲於今世見無量壽佛，應發無上菩提之心，修行功德，願生彼國。」
The Buddha said to Ananda: “Among the gods and people of the worlds of the ten directions, those who sincerely wish to be born in that land are of three grades in all. Those of the highest grade leave home and abandon desire to become shramanas, set out on the bodhi mind, single-mindedly dwell on Amitayus Buddha, cultivate all kinds of merit, and wish to be born in that land. When these beings come to the end of their lives, Amitayus Buddha and his great assembly appear before them, and they at once follow that Buddha to be reborn in his land, where they are naturally born by transformation in a flower of the seven treasures, dwell in non-retrogression, and are courageous in wisdom, free in their supernormal powers. Therefore, Ananda! If any being wishes in this life to see Amitayus Buddha, he should set out on the mind of unsurpassed bodhi, cultivate merit, and wish to be born in that land.”
佛語阿難：「其中輩者，十方世界諸天人民，其有至心願生彼國，雖不能行作沙門大修功德，當發無上菩提之心，一向專念無量壽佛。多少修善、奉持齋戒、起立塔像、飯食沙門、懸繒然燈、散華燒香，以此迴向願生彼國。其人臨終，無量壽佛化現其身——光明相好，具如真佛——與諸大眾現其人前，即隨化佛往生其國，住不退轉，功德智慧次如上輩者也。」
The Buddha said to Ananda: “Those of the middle grade, among the gods and people of the worlds of the ten directions, who sincerely wish to be born in that land, though they cannot leave home to become shramanas and greatly cultivate merit, should set out on the mind of unsurpassed bodhi and single-mindedly dwell on Amitayus Buddha. They should cultivate some goodness, uphold the fasting precepts, erect stupas and images, make offerings of food and drink to shramanas, hang silk banners and light lamps, scatter flowers and burn incense, and dedicate these to the wish to be born in that land. When such a person comes to the end of life, Amitayus Buddha manifests a transformed body of himself, with light and marks entirely like the true Buddha, and appears before that person with his great assembly; the person follows the transformed Buddha to be reborn in his land, dwells in non-retrogression, and in merit and wisdom is second to the highest grade.”
佛語阿難：「其下輩者，十方世界諸天人民，其有至心欲生彼國，假使不能作諸功德，當發無上菩提之心，一向專意乃至十念，念無量壽佛，願生其國。若聞深法歡喜信樂，不生疑惑，乃至一念念於彼佛，以至誠心願生其國。此人臨終夢見彼佛，亦得往生，功德智慧次如中輩者也。」
The Buddha said to Ananda: “Those of the lowest grade, among the gods and people of the worlds of the ten directions, who sincerely wish to be born in that land, even if they cannot do any acts of merit, should set out on the mind of unsurpassed bodhi, and single-mindedly, up to ten recollections, recall Amitayus Buddha and wish to be born in his land. If they hear the profound Dharma and are glad and believing, without giving rise to doubt, and even for a single thought recall that Buddha with a most sincere mind and wish to be born in his land, then when this person nears the end of life he will see that Buddha in a dream and will also be able to be reborn there, with merit and wisdom second to the middle grade.”
佛告阿難：「無量壽佛威神無極，十方世界無量無邊不可思議諸佛如來莫不稱歎。於彼東方恆沙佛國，無量無數諸菩薩眾，皆悉往詣無量壽佛所恭敬供養，及諸菩薩、聲聞大眾聽受經法，宣佈道化；南、西、北方、四維，上、下亦復如是。」
The Buddha said to Ananda: “The majestic power of Amitayus Buddha is without limit, and the Buddhas, Tathagatas of the worlds of the ten directions, countless, boundless, and inconceivable, all praise him. In the Buddha-lands to the east as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, countless Bodhisattvas all go to Amitayus Buddha to respectfully make offerings and to hear the sutras and Dharma together with the great assembly of Bodhisattvas and Shravakas, and to proclaim the teaching of the Buddha’s way; and it is the same in the south, west, and north, the four intermediate directions, and above and below.”
爾時，世尊而說頌曰：
At that time the World-Honored One spoke in verse:
「東方諸佛國，其數如恆沙，
“The Buddha-lands of the east number as the sands of the Ganges,
彼土諸菩薩，往覲無量覺；
the Bodhisattvas of those lands go to pay homage to the Immeasurable Awakened One;
南、西、北四維，上、下亦復然。
the south, west, north, the four intermediate directions, and above and below are the same.
彼土菩薩眾，往覲無量覺，
The assemblies of Bodhisattvas from those lands go to pay homage to the Immeasurable Awakened One,
一切諸菩薩，各齎天妙華，
and all the Bodhisattvas each bring wondrous heavenly flowers,
寶香無價衣，供養無量覺；
jeweled incense and priceless garments, to make offerings to the Immeasurable Awakened One;
鹹然奏天樂，暢發和雅音，
all play heavenly music, pouring forth harmonious and elegant sounds,
歌歎最勝尊，供養無量覺。
singing the praises of the Most Supreme Honored One and making offerings to the Immeasurable Awakened One.
究達神通慧，遊入深法門，
They have thoroughly mastered the wisdom of supernormal powers and roam into the deep Dharma gates,
具足功德藏，妙智無等倫。
they are replete with a treasury of merit, and their wondrous wisdom has no equal.
慧日照世間，消除生死云，
The sun of wisdom shines on the world and clears away the clouds of birth and death,
恭敬遶三匝，稽首無上尊。
respectfully circling three times, they bow their heads to the Unsurpassed Honored One.
見彼嚴淨土，微妙難思議，
Seeing that majestic and pure land, subtle and hard to conceive,
因發無量心，願我國亦然。
they thereby give rise to an immeasurable mind, wishing that their own lands may be like this.
應時無量尊，動容發欣笑，
At that moment the Immeasurable Honored One, his face moved, gave forth a joyful smile,
口出無數光，遍照十方國。
and from his mouth came countless rays of light, shining throughout the lands of the ten directions.
迴光圍遶身，三匝從頂入，
The light turned back to circle his body, and after circling three times entered at the crown of his head,
一切天、人眾，踴躍皆歡喜。
and all the gods and humans in the assembly leapt up and were all glad.
大士觀世音，整服稽首問，
The great being Avalokiteshvara, arranging his robe and bowing his head, asked,
白佛：『何緣笑？唯然願說意。』
saying to the Buddha: ‘Why do you smile? I beg you to explain the meaning.’
梵聲猶雷震，八音暢妙響：
The Brahma voice was like rolling thunder, and the eight tones poured forth a wondrous sound:
『當授菩薩記，今說仁諦聽。
‘I am about to give a prediction to the Bodhisattvas; now I will speak, listen carefully, good sir.
十方來正士，吾悉知彼願，
The upright beings who have come from the ten directions, I know all their vows,
志求嚴淨土，受決當作佛；
they have resolved to seek pure and adorned lands, and receive the prediction that they will surely become Buddhas;
覺了一切法，猶如夢幻響，
they awaken to all dharmas as being like dreams, illusions, and echoes,
滿足諸妙願，必成如是剎。
fulfilling all their wondrous vows, and will surely accomplish such Buddha-lands.
知法如電影，究竟菩薩道，
They know that dharmas are like lightning and shadows, and perfect the Bodhisattva path,
具諸功德本，受決當作佛；
perfecting the roots of all merit, and receive the prediction that they will surely become Buddhas;
通達諸法門，一切空無我，
they penetrate all the Dharma gates, all being empty and without self,
專求淨佛土，必成如是剎。』
and single-mindedly seek pure Buddha-lands, and will surely accomplish such Buddha-lands.’
諸佛告菩薩：『令覲安養佛，
The Buddhas tell the Bodhisattvas: ‘Let them go to pay homage to the Buddha of Peaceful Nourishment,
聞法樂受行，疾得清淨處。
and, delighting to receive and practice the Dharma they hear, they will quickly reach the pure place.
至彼嚴淨土，便速得神通，
Arriving at that adorned and pure land, they will quickly gain supernormal powers,
必於無量尊，受記成等覺。』
and surely in the presence of the Immeasurable Honored One they will receive the prediction and accomplish perfect awakening.’
其佛本願力，聞名欲往生，
By the power of that Buddha’s original vow, those who hear his name and wish to be reborn
皆悉到彼國，自致不退轉。
all arrive in that land, and of themselves reach non-retrogression.
菩薩興志願，願己國無異，
Bodhisattvas arouse their aspirations, wishing that their own lands should have no differences,
普念度一切，名顯達十方。
universally remembering to liberate all, their names spreading through the ten directions.
奉事億如來，飛化遍諸剎，
They serve hundreds of millions of Tathagatas, flying and transforming through all the Buddha-lands,
恭敬歡喜去，還到安養國。
respectfully and joyfully they depart, and return to the land of Peaceful Nourishment.
若人無善本，不得聞此經；
If a person has no roots of goodness, he cannot hear this sutra;
清淨有戒者，乃獲聞正法。
those who are pure and keep the precepts are able to hear the true Dharma.
曾更見世尊，則能信此事，
Those who have once seen the World-Honored One are able to believe these things,
謙敬聞奉行，踴躍大歡喜。
humbly and respectfully hearing and practicing, leaping up with great joy.
憍慢弊懈怠，難以信此法；
The arrogant, wicked, and lazy find it hard to believe this Dharma;
宿世見諸佛，樂聽如是教。
those who in past lives saw the Buddhas delight to hear such teaching.
聲聞或菩薩，莫能究聖心，
Shravakas and Bodhisattvas alike cannot fathom the sage’s mind completely,
譬如從生盲，欲行開導人。
like a person blind from birth who wants to lead others.
如來智慧海，深廣無崖底，
The Tathagata’s ocean of wisdom is deep and broad, without shore or bottom,
二乘非所測，唯佛獨明瞭。
the two vehicles cannot measure it, only the Buddha alone understands.
假使一切人，具足皆得道，
Even if all people
淨慧如本空，億劫思佛智，
were to possess the full attainment of the Way, with pure wisdom as if originally empty, and contemplated the Buddha’s wisdom for hundreds of millions of kalpas,
窮力極講說，盡壽猶不知。
exhausting their strength to explain it, they would not know it even at the end of their lives.