佛說阿彌陀經
The Buddha Speaks the Amitabha Sutra
姚秦三藏法師鳩摩羅什譯
Translated by Tripiṭaka Master Kumārajīva of the Later Qin
如是我聞、一時佛在舍衛國、祇樹給孤獨園、與大比(音避)邱僧、千二百五十人俱、皆是大阿羅漢、眾所知識、長(音掌)老、舍利弗、摩訶目犍連、摩訶迦葉、(音攝)摩訶迦旃延、摩訶拘絺(音癡)羅、離婆多、周利槃陀伽、難陀、阿難陀、羅睺(音侯)羅、憍(音驕)梵波提、賓頭盧頗羅墮、迦留陀夷、摩訶劫賓那、薄拘羅、阿㝹(奴侯切)樓䭾、(音駝)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、(以上法會眾證分第一)
Thus have I heard. At one time, the Buddha was staying in the kingdom of Shravasti, in the Jeta Grove, in the garden of Anathapindika, together with a great assembly of twelve hundred fifty bhikshus, all great Arhats, well-known and respected by the multitude. Among them were the Elders: Shariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakashyapa, Mahakatyayana, Mahakausthila, Revata, Shuddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Pindola Bharadvaja, Kalodayin, Mahakapphina, Vakkula, and Aniruddha. These were among the great disciples. Also present were many Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas, such as Manjushri, the Dharma Prince, Ajita Bodhisattva, Gandhahastin Bodhisattva, and Constant Vigor Bodhisattva, along with other great Bodhisattvas, as well as Shakra, lord of the devas, and countless beings from the heavens. All were gathered together in this great assembly.
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、(音洛)其土有佛、號阿彌陀、今現在說法、(以上佛土依正分第二)
At that time, the Buddha said to the elder Shariputra, "To the west of here, passing through a hundred thousand billion Buddha lands, there is a world called Ultimate Bliss. In that land there is a Buddha, named Amitabha, who is presently teaching the Dharma."
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(音從)欄楯、七重羅網、七重行(音杭)樹、皆是四寶周帀(作答切)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、金銀瑠璃玻瓈合成、上有樓閣、亦以金銀瑠璃玻瓈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、(以上寶樹池蓮分第三)
Shariputra, why is that land called "Ultimate Bliss"? Because the beings in that land are free from all kinds of suffering and experience only every form of happiness—this is why it is called "Ultimate Bliss."
Furthermore, Shariputra, in the land of Ultimate Bliss, there are seven tiers of railings, seven layers of netting, and seven rows of trees, all made of four precious materials and surrounding the land on every side. For this reason, that land is called "Ultimate Bliss."
Again, Shariputra, in the land of Ultimate Bliss, there are ponds made of seven treasures, filled with water of eight excellent qualities. The pond floors are covered entirely with golden sand. On the four sides are stairways and paths built of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. Above, there are pavilions and towers, adorned with gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, conch shell, red pearls, and carnelian. In the ponds grow lotus flowers as large as chariot wheels—blue ones radiating blue light, yellow ones radiating yellow light, red ones radiating red light, and white ones radiating white light. They are exquisite, fragrant, and pure.
Shariputra, the land of Ultimate Bliss is perfected with such blessings and adornments.
又舍利弗、彼佛國土、常作天樂、黃金為地、晝夜六時、雨(音豫)天曼陀羅華、其土眾生、常以清旦、各以衣裓(音吉)盛(音陳)眾妙華、供養他方十萬億佛、即以食時、還到本國、飯(音泛)食(音寺)經行、舍利弗、極樂國土、成就如是功德莊嚴、(以上天人供養分第四)
Also, Shariputra, in that Buddha-land, heavenly music constantly plays, the ground is made of gold, and at the six periods of day and night, celestial mandarava flowers rain down in abundance. The beings of that land, each morning at dawn, gather these exquisite flowers in their robes and go to make offerings to the countless Buddhas of the ten directions—as many as a hundred thousand million. By the time they return for their midday meal, they are back in their own land. After eating, they stroll about, taking in the scene. Shariputra, the Land of Ultimate Bliss is adorned with such merits and virtues.
—Section on the Offerings of Celestial and Human Beings
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、(以上禽樹演法分第五)
Shariputra, in that land there are always various kinds of wonderful birds of diverse colors: white cranes, peacocks, parrots, egrets, kalavinka birds, and two-headed birds. These flocks of birds sing melodious and harmonious sounds day and night, six times each period. Their songs proclaim and expound the Five Roots, the Five Powers, the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, and the Eightfold Noble Path, along with teachings of this kind. When living beings in that land hear these sounds, they all become mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha.
Shariputra, do not think that these birds are actually born as retribution for past misdeeds. Why? Because in that Buddha land there are no three realms of suffering. Shariputra, that Buddha land does not even have the names of the evil realms, let alone their reality. These various birds are all transformations created by Amitabha Buddha, done so to spread the sound of the Dharma far and wide.
Shariputra, in that Buddha land, a gentle breeze stirs the rows of jeweled trees and the jeweled nets, producing subtle and wonderful sounds, as if hundreds and thousands of kinds of music were being played simultaneously. Those who hear these sounds naturally give rise to minds intent on recollecting the Buddha, recollecting the Dharma, and recollecting the Sangha.
Shariputra, that Buddha land is perfected with such merit and adornments.
(End of Section Five: The Birds and Trees Proclaim the Dharma)
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、(音良)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(音其)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、(以上佛德無量分第六)
Shariputra, what do you think? Why is that Buddha called Amitabha? Shariputra, that Buddha's light is immeasurable, illuminating the lands of the ten directions without any obstruction—this is why he is called Amitabha. Furthermore, Shariputra, the lifespan of that Buddha and his beings extends immeasurably and boundlessly, through countless eons beyond calculation—this is why he is called Amitabha. Shariputra, since Amitabha Buddha achieved Buddhahood, ten eons have now passed. Moreover, Shariputra, that Buddha has immeasurable and countless disciples who are hearers of the Dharma, all of whom are arhats—their number cannot be known by calculation. Likewise, the assembly of bodhisattvas is just the same. Shariputra, that Buddha's land is adorned with such merits and virtues as these.
又舍利弗、極樂國土、眾生生者、皆是阿鞞(駢迷切)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、(以上往生發願分第七)
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、(以上修持正行分第八)
舍利弗、如我今者、讚歎阿彌陀佛不可思議功德之利、東方亦有阿閦(音促)鞞佛、須彌相(去聲)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、徧覆三千大千世界、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、如是等恆河沙數諸佛、各於其國、出廣長舌相、徧覆三千大千世界、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、如是等恆河沙數諸佛、各於其國、出廣長舌相、徧覆三千大千世界、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(音左)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、徧覆三千大千世界、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、如是等恆河沙數諸佛、各於其國、出廣長舌相、徧覆三千大千世界、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、如是等恆河沙數諸佛、各於其國、出廣長舌相、徧覆三千大千世界、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、(以上同讚勸信分第九)
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、(以上聞法信願分第十)
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、(以上互讚感發分第十一)
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、(以上流通普度分第十二)
佛說阿彌陀經終