阿閦佛剎善快品第二
Chapter 2: The Blissful Land of Akshobhya Buddha
賢者舍利弗白佛言：「天中天！是阿閦如來、無所著、等正覺昔行德號時以成號阿閦如來。甚善。天中天！願佛當復廣說其佛剎之善快。所以者何？若有求菩薩道者，聞知彼佛剎之善快及阿閦如來所現行教授；若復有求弟子道未得度者，聞彼佛剎之善快及阿閦如來所現教授恭敬清淨之行。」
The Venerable Shariputra addressed the Buddha, saying: "O God among Gods! So it was through his past practice of virtuous conduct that Akshobhya Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, achieved the name Akshobhya Tathagata. This is truly excellent, O God among Gods! May the Buddha now further elaborate on the splendid and joyful qualities of that Buddha-land. For what reason? So that those who seek the Bodhisattva path, upon hearing of the splendid and joyful qualities of that Buddha-land and the teachings manifested and practiced by Akshobhya Tathagata; and likewise, those who seek the disciple's path but have not yet attained liberation, upon hearing of the splendid and joyful qualities of that Buddha-land and the respectful, pure conduct taught and manifested by Akshobhya Tathagata—may they be inspired."
佛言：「善哉，善哉。舍利弗！所問甚善，汝問佛義快乃如是念阿閦佛剎之善快。
The Buddha said: "Excellent, excellent! Shariputra, your question is truly profound. You inquire about the Buddha's teachings with such clarity, contemplating the supreme bliss of Akshobhya Buddha's pure land."
「阿閦如來成無上正真道最正覺、得薩芸若慧時，其三千大千世界皆為大明，地六反震動。
When Akṣobhya Tathāgata attained supreme, perfect awakening, the unsurpassed true path, and gained the wisdom of omniscience, the entire three-thousand great-thousand world-system blazed with great light, and the earth quaked in six ways.
「阿閦如來成最正覺時，其三千大千世界中諸人民，七日不食飲、亦不妄食飲、亦不妄諛諂、身亦無疲極之想。如是也，俱想念安隱好，喜相愛敬，歡喜意以得時念。爾時，諸人民、諸欲天皆棄穢濁思想。所以者何？用阿閦如來昔時願所致得是德號，其三千大千世界一切人民叉手向阿閦如來。其佛剎如是，無央數佛剎不及是阿閦佛剎之善快。
When Akshobhya Tathagata attained perfect enlightenment, all the people in his three-thousandfold great world system went for seven days without eating or drinking. They did not crave food or drink, nor did they engage in flattery or deceit. Their bodies felt no weariness or exhaustion. Instead, their minds were filled with peace, stability, and goodwill. They cherished one another with joy and affection, their hearts brimming with delight and timely mindfulness.
At that time, both the people and the celestial beings of desire abandoned impure and defiled thoughts. Why was this so? It was due to the power of Akshobhya Tathagata's past vows, which brought about this virtuous state. All the people in that three-thousandfold great world system joined their palms in reverence toward Akshobhya Tathagata.
Such is the splendor of his buddha-land. Countless other buddha-lands cannot compare to the goodness and bliss of Akshobhya Buddha's realm.
「舍利弗！是為阿閦如來昔行菩薩道之所願而有持。諸菩薩摩訶薩所願有持者，佛佛剎便善快。」
Shariputra, this is the vow upheld by Akshobhya Tathagata when he practiced the Bodhisattva path. When the great Bodhisattvas uphold such vows, the Buddha-lands of each Buddha become truly blissful.
佛語舍利弗：「我昔行菩薩道時，如所願今自然得之。阿閦如來成無上正真道最正覺時，其三千大千世界諸人民得天眼者、未得天眼者皆見其光明。舍利弗！是為阿閦如來昔行菩薩道時所願而有持。」
The Buddha said to Shariputra: "When I practiced the bodhisattva path in the past, what I aspired to then has now naturally come to pass. When Thus Come One Akṣobhya attained unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment, all beings in the three-thousand great-thousand worlds—whether they had gained the divine eye or not—saw his radiance. Shariputra! This is the fulfillment of the vow made by Thus Come One Akṣobhya when he practiced the bodhisattva path in the past."
佛復語舍利弗：「阿閦如來成無上正真道最正覺往詣佛樹時，諸憋魔不能發念，何況當復能往嬈薩芸若慧？舍利弗！是為阿閦如來昔行菩薩道時所願而有持。
The Buddha then said to Shariputra, “When Akshobhya Tathagata achieved supreme, perfect enlightenment and approached the Bodhi tree, the malicious demons could not even form a thought of disturbance—how much less could they go and trouble his wisdom of omniscience? Shariputra, this is a vow that Akshobhya Tathagata upheld when he was formerly practicing the bodhisattva path.”
「復次，舍利弗！阿閦如來成無上正真道最正覺、得薩芸若慧時，無央數那術億百千諸天人於虛空住，以天華、天栴檀、雜香、天搗香、伎樂供養，散阿閦佛上。供養已，其天華、天香、天搗香、天栴檀香、天雜香悉於虛空中合住，化成圓華蓋。舍利弗！是為阿閦如來昔行菩薩道時所願而有持。
"Furthermore, Shariputra, when Akshobhya Tathagata attained supreme perfect enlightenment and realized omniscient wisdom, countless billions of gods and humans in the heavens stood in the sky, offering celestial flowers, celestial sandalwood, various incenses, ground incense, and music as offerings to Akshobhya Buddha. After they had made these offerings, all the celestial flowers, celestial incense, celestial ground incense, celestial sandalwood incense, and celestial mixed incense gathered together in the sky and formed a circular canopy of flowers. Shariputra, this is the realization of the vow Akshobhya Tathagata made when he was practicing the Bodhisattva path."
「阿閦如來光明皆照明三千大千世界常明，阿閦如來光明悉蔽日、月之光明，及一切諸天光明皆令滅，使人民不復見日、月之明。舍利弗！是為阿閦如來昔行菩薩道時所願而有持。」
"The light of Thus-Come One Akṣobhya constantly illuminates the entire billion-world universe. This light outshines the brightness of the sun and moon, and dims the radiance of all celestial beings, so that the people no longer see the light of the sun or the moon. Shariputra, this is the power of a vow that Thus-Come One Akṣobhya made when he was formerly practicing the bodhisattva path."
賢者舍利弗白佛言：「天中天！阿閦如來、無所著、等正覺昔行菩薩道時，以被是大僧那僧涅乃作是願？」
The venerable Shariputra said to the Buddha, "Blessed One of the Heavens! When the Thus-Come One, the Unattached One, the Perfectly Enlightened One Akṣobhya was practicing the bodhisattva path, was it with this great vow and commitment that he made his aspiration?"
佛言：「昔行菩薩道時，若干百千人、不可復計無央數人積累德本，於無上正真道持是積累德本，願作佛道及淨其佛剎，如所願欲嚴其佛剎即亦具足其願。
The Buddha said: "In the past, when I was practicing the bodhisattva path, I accumulated roots of virtue alongside countless beings—hundreds, thousands, and immeasurable numbers of them. Holding these virtuous foundations, I aspired toward supreme, perfect enlightenment. I vowed to realize Buddhahood and purify my Buddha-land. Whatever features I wished for my purified Buddha-land were fully realized according to my vow."
「復次，舍利弗！阿閦佛樹以七寶作之，高四十里，周匝二十里，其枝葉旁行四十里，其枝下垂，其欄楯繞樹，周匝五百六十里，阿閦如來於其樹下得薩芸若慧。」
"Shariputra, further: Akshobhya Buddha's Bodhi tree is made of seven precious materials. It stands forty li tall, with a circumference of twenty li, and its branches and leaves spread sideways for forty li. The branches hang down, and there are railings encircling the tree for a circumference of five hundred and sixty li. Beneath this tree, Tathāgata Akshobhya realized the wisdom of All-Knowledge."
佛語舍利弗：「如世間巧人鼓百種音樂，其聲不如阿閦佛剎中梯陛樹木之音聲——風適起吹梯陛，樹木相叩作悲聲。」
The Buddha said to Shariputra: "Suppose a skilled musician in this world plays a hundred kinds of music—those sounds cannot compare with the sound of the terraced trees in the realm of Akṣobhya Buddha. When the wind rises and blows upon those terraces, the trees strike against one another and produce a mournful sound."
佛語舍利弗：「聽說阿閦如來、無所著、等正覺剎中之淨快，諦聽，善思念之，今當為汝說之。」
The Buddha said to Shariputra: "You have heard of the purity and joy of the realm of Akshobhya Tathagata, the Unattached, the Fully Enlightened One. Listen carefully and keep it well in mind—I will now explain it to you."
賢者舍利弗言：「唯然，世尊！願樂欲聞。」
The wise Shariputra said, "Indeed, World-Honored One. I joyfully wish to hear."
佛言：「阿閦如來剎中無有三惡道。何等為三？一者、泥犁，二者、禽獸，三者、薜荔。一切人皆行善事。
The Buddha said: "In the realm of Tathagata Akshobhya, there are no three evil paths. What are the three? First, the hells; second, the animal realm; third, the realm of hungry ghosts. All people there do good deeds."
「其地平正，生樹木無有高下，無有山陵嵠谷、亦無有礫石崩山。其地，行足蹈其上即減，這舉足便還復如故。譬如綩綖枕頭，枕其上即為減，這舉頭便還復如故；其地如是。
The ground there is level and even, and the trees that grow are neither tall nor short. There are no mountains, hills, valleys, or ravines, and no gravel or crumbling cliffs. When one walks upon that ground, the footstep sinks in, and as soon as the foot is lifted, it springs back just as before. It is like a soft cushion or pillow: when you press your head upon it, it sinks, and as soon as you lift your head, it returns just as before. That ground is like this.
「其佛剎無有三病。何等為三？一者、風，二者、寒，三者、氣。
That Buddha-land has none of the three illnesses. What are the three? First, wind; second, cold; third, qi.
「其佛剎人一切皆無有惡色者、亦無有醜者，其婬、怒、癡薄，其佛剎人民皆悉無有牢獄拘閉之事，一切皆無有眾邪異道。
In that Buddha's land, all the people are entirely free of any bad appearance, and none are ugly. Their greed, anger, and delusion are slight. The people in that Buddha's land are all completely free of prisons and confinement. All of them are without any deviant paths or heterodox teachings.
「其剎中樹木常有花實，人民皆從樹取五色衣被，眾共用著之，其衣被甚姝好，無敗色者。」
In that realm, the trees always bear flowers and fruit. People take clothing of five colors from the trees, and everyone shares them and wears them. These garments are very beautiful, and their colors never fade.
佛語舍利弗：「人民所著衣香譬如天華之香，其飯食香美如天樹香，無有絕時。
The Buddha said to Shariputra: "The fragrance of the clothing worn by the people is like the fragrance of celestial flowers, and the fragrance and flavor of their food is like the fragrance of celestial trees, never ceasing."
「諸人民著無央數種種衣被，其佛剎人民隨所念食即自然在前。譬如，舍利弗！忉利天人隨所念食即自然在前。如是，其剎人民隨所念欲得何食即自然在前，人民無有貪於飲食者。
"People there wear countless kinds of clothing, and the people in that Buddha-land have whatever food they wish for appear naturally before them. For example, Shariputra, the devas of the Trayastrimsa Heaven have whatever food they think of appear naturally before them. In the same way, the people in that land have whatever food they desire appear naturally before them, and the people have no greed for food and drink."
「復次，舍利弗！其佛剎人民所臥起處以七寶為交露精舍，滿無有空缺處。
"Furthermore, Shariputra, the places where the people of that Buddha-land lie down and rise are pavilions of the seven treasures covered with lattice-work, complete without any gaps.
「其浴池中有八味水，人民眾共用之，其水轉相灌注，諸人民終不失善法行。
In the bathing pools there is water of eight qualities, shared in common by the people; the water flows and pours into one another, and the people never lose their practice of wholesome Dharmas.
「譬如，舍利弗！玉女寶過踰凡女人不及，其德如天女。如是，舍利弗！其佛剎女人德欲比玉女寶者，玉女寶不及其佛剎女人百倍、千倍、萬倍、億倍、巨億萬倍不與等。
"Suppose, Shariputra, a precious jewel maiden surpasses ordinary women and is not their equal; her qualities are like those of a heavenly maiden. In the same way, Shariputra, if the women of that Buddha-land were compared in qualities to a precious jewel maiden, the precious jewel maiden does not equal the women of that Buddha-land — by a hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times, a hundred million times, a trillion times over, there is no comparison."
「人民以七寶為床，上布好綩綖，悉福德致自然為生。
People there have beds made of the seven treasures, spread with fine cushions. All of this comes from their merit and arises naturally, without being produced by effort.
「舍利弗！是阿閦如來、無所著、等正覺昔行菩薩道時所願而有持，阿閦佛以福德所致成佛剎如是比。」
"Shariputra, when Akshobhya Tathagata, the Unattached, the Fully Enlightened One, formerly practiced the Bodhisattva path, it was through his Vow that he came to hold this; and it is through the merit Akshobhya Buddha accumulated that his Buddha-land came to be like this."
佛復語舍利弗言：「其剎中人民飯食勝於天人飯食，其食色、香、味亦勝天人所食。
The Buddha again said to Shariputra: "The food of the people in that land is superior to the food of celestial beings, and its color, fragrance, and taste also surpass what celestial beings eat.
「其剎中無有王，但有法王——佛、天中天。」
In that realm there is no king, but only the Dharma King—the Buddha, the Celestial Being among celestial beings.
佛言：「舍利弗！譬如欝單越天下人民無有王治；如是，舍利弗！阿閦如來、無所著、等正覺佛剎無有王，但有阿閦如來、天中天——法王。
The Buddha said: "Shariputra, just as the people of the land of Uttarakuru have no king to rule over them, so too, Shariputra, in the Buddha-land of Akshobhya Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Fully Awakened One, there is no king—only Akshobhya Tathagata, the God above gods, the Dharma King."
「譬如忉利天帝釋於坐這發念，諸天便來受其教。舍利弗！是為阿閦如來佛剎之善快。
"For example, when Shakra, the lord of the Trayastrimsha heaven, forms a thought while seated, the devas immediately come to receive his instruction. Shariputra, this is the excellence of Akshobhya Tathagata's Buddha-land.
「其剎人民不從婬欲之事。所以者何？用是阿閦如來真人法御天中天所致。
The people in that realm do not engage in sexual desire. Why is that? It is because of Akṣobhya Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Dharma-ruler, the Devātideva.
「舍利弗！是為阿閦如來昔行菩薩道時願所致令佛剎善快。」
"Shariputra, this is the result of the Vow made by Akshobhya Tathagata when he formerly practiced the Bodhisattva path, which has made his Buddha-land so excellent and delightful."
爾時，有異比丘聞說彼佛剎之功德，即於中起婬欲意，前白佛言：「天中天！我願欲往生彼佛剎。」
At that time, a certain monk heard the merits of that Buddha-land described, and immediately gave rise to a mind of sexual desire. He came before the Buddha and said: "God above the gods, I wish to be reborn in that Buddha-land."
佛便告其比丘言：「癡人！汝不得生彼佛剎。所以者何？不以立婬欲亂意者得生彼佛剎，用餘善行、法清淨行得生彼佛剎。」
The Buddha then addressed those monks: "Foolish one! You cannot be reborn in that Buddha land. Why is that? One is not reborn in that Buddha land by having a mind disturbed by sexual desire; it is by other good conduct and by pure Dharma practice that one is reborn in that Buddha land."
佛語舍利弗：「阿閦如來佛剎有八味水，是諸人民所為悉共用之，人民意念欲令自然浴池有八味水滿其中，用人民故即自然有浴池有八味水滿其中；意念欲令水轉流行便轉流行、意欲令滅不現即滅不現。
The Buddha said to Shariputra: "In the Buddha realm of Akshobhya Tathagata, there is water of eight qualities, and all the people there share in whatever use they make of it. When the people think that they would like a natural bathing pool to be filled with water of eight qualities, then for the sake of the people a natural bathing pool immediately appears filled with water of eight qualities. When they think they would like the water to flow and circulate, it immediately flows and circulates. When they wish it to vanish and disappear, it immediately vanishes and disappears.
「其佛剎亦不大寒、亦不大熱，風徐起甚香快。是風用諸天、龍、人民故，隨所念風便起——若一人念欲令風起自吹，風即獨吹之；意念不欲令風起，風便不起——風起時不動人身，風隨人所念起。舍利弗！是為阿閦如來佛剎之善快如昔時所願。」
That Buddha-land is neither very cold nor very hot. A gentle breeze rises, fragrant and exceedingly pleasant. This breeze exists for the sake of the devas, nagas, and human beings there: it rises according to whatever they have in mind. If one person thinks, "May a breeze rise and blow on me," the breeze blows on that person alone. If they think they do not want a breeze to rise, the breeze does not rise. When the breeze rises, it does not disturb people's bodies; the breeze rises according to what people have in mind. Shariputra, such is the excellent pleasantness of the Buddha-land of Akshobhya Tathagata, in accordance with what was formerly vowed.
佛語舍利弗：「阿閦如來佛剎，女人意欲得珠璣、瓔珞者便於樹上取著之，欲得衣被者亦從樹上取衣之。舍利弗！其佛剎女人無有女人之態，如我剎中女人之態也。舍利弗！我剎女人態云何？我剎女人惡色醜、惡舌、嫉妬於法、意著邪事。我剎女人有是諸態，彼佛剎女人無有是態。所以者何？用阿閦如來昔時願所致。」
The Buddha said to Shariputra: "In the Buddha realm of Akshobhya Tathagata, when women wish to obtain pearls and jeweled necklaces, they simply take them from the trees and put them on; when they wish to obtain clothing, they also take clothing from the trees. Shariputra, the women in that Buddha realm do not have the ways of women as the women in my realm do. Shariputra, what are the ways of women in my realm? The women in my realm are of ugly and unattractive appearance, foul-tongued, jealous of the Dharma, and their minds are attached to wrong things. The women in my realm have these ways, but the women in that Buddha realm do not have these ways. Why is that? It is because of the power of Akshobhya Tathagata's former Vows."
佛復語舍利弗：「阿閦佛剎，女人妊身產時，身不疲極、意不念疲極，但念安隱，亦無有苦。其女人一切亦無有諸苦，亦無有臭處惡露。舍利弗！是為阿閦如來昔時願所致得是善法，其佛剎無有能及者。
The Buddha again said to Shariputra: "In the land of Akshobhya Buddha, when women are pregnant and give birth, their bodies do not become exhausted, and their minds do not dwell on exhaustion—they think only of peace and ease, and they experience no suffering. Those women are entirely free of all sufferings, and there is no filth or unclean discharge. Shariputra! This is brought about by the vows Akshobhya Tathagata made in the past, which attained for him these excellent qualities; no other Buddha land can compare with his.
「舍利弗！阿閦佛剎人民無有治生者、亦無有販賣往來者，人民但共同快樂，安定寂行。其佛剎人不著愛欲、婬妷，以因緣自然愛樂。其剎風起吹梯陛樹便作悲音聲。舍利弗！極好五音聲不及阿閦佛剎風吹梯陛樹木之音聲也。舍利弗！是為阿閦如來昔行佛道時所願而有持。」
"Shariputra, the people in Akshobhya Buddha's land do not make a living, nor do they trade or go back and forth. The people simply share happiness together, dwelling in peace and tranquility. The people in that Buddha's land are not attached to craving or sexual desire; by natural causes and conditions they enjoy love and joy. When the wind rises in that land and blows through the terraced trees, it produces mournful sounds. Shariputra, even the finest five-toned music cannot compare to the sound of the wind blowing through the terraced trees in Akshobhya Buddha's land. Shariputra, this came about through what Akshobhya Tathagata vowed and sustained when he formerly practiced the Buddha's Path."
佛語舍利弗：「若有菩薩摩訶薩欲取嚴淨佛剎者，當如阿閦佛昔行菩薩道時所願嚴淨取其剎。」
The Buddha said to Shariputra: "If a bodhisattva mahasattva wishes to obtain a purified and adorned Buddha-land, they should adopt the vow of Akshobhya Buddha, made when he was practicing the bodhisattva path, to purify and adorn his land."
佛復語舍利弗：「阿閦佛剎無有日、月光明所照，亦無有窈冥之處、亦無有罣礙。所以者何？用阿閦如來、無所著、等正覺光明皆照三千大千世界常明。譬如絞露精舍堅閉門，風不得入，好細塗以白堊之，持摩尼寶著其中，其珠便以光明照，其中諸人民晝夜承其光明。如是，舍利弗！其阿閦如來、無所著、等正覺光明常照三千大千世界。舍利弗！絞露精舍者，謂是阿比羅提世界也；摩尼寶者，謂是阿閦如來也；摩尼寶光明者，謂是阿閦如來之光明也；精舍中人者，謂是阿閦佛剎中人民安樂者也。」
The Buddha again said to Shariputra: "In Akṣobhya Buddha's realm there is no sunlight or moonlight shining, nor is there any place of darkness, nor any obstruction. Why is that? Because Akṣobhya Tathāgata, the Unattached, the Fully Enlightened One, shines his light everywhere, so that the three-thousand great-thousand world-system is always bright. It is like a fine monastery with firmly closed doors, so that the wind cannot enter, well and finely plastered with white chalk, with a mani jewel placed inside: the jewel's light then shines forth, and the people within are bathed in its light day and night. In this way, Shariputra, Akṣobhya Tathāgata, the Unattached, the Fully Enlightened One, constantly shines his light upon the three-thousand great-thousand world-system. Shariputra, that fine monastery is Abhirati world; the mani jewel is Akṣobhya Tathāgata; the mani jewel's light is the light of Akṣobhya Tathāgata; and the people in the monastery are the people who dwell in happiness and peace in Akṣobhya Buddha's realm."
佛語舍利弗：「阿閦如來行所至處，於足迹下地自然生千葉金色蓮華。舍利弗！是為阿閦如來昔行菩薩道時所願而有待。」
The Buddha said to Shariputra: "Wherever Akshobhya Tathagata has walked, a thousand-petaled golden lotus springs up naturally from the ground beneath his footprints. Shariputra, this is the vow made by Akshobhya Tathagata long ago, when he was practicing the Bodhisattva path, and it is how it has come to be fulfilled."
賢者舍利弗問佛言：「阿閦如來、無所著、等正覺入殿舍時，自然生千葉金色蓮華耶？為在所至處自然生乎？」
The wise Shariputra asked the Buddha: "When Akshobhya Tathagata, the Unattached, the Fully Awakened One, enters the palace hall, does a thousand-petaled golden lotus flower spontaneously appear? Or does it spontaneously appear wherever he goes?"
佛告賢者舍利弗：「阿閦如來若入郡國、縣邑，所至到處亦等如入殿舍時也，亦自然生千葉金色蓮華。若善男子、善女人意念欲令入殿舍足下自然生蓮華者，皆使蓮華合聚一處便合聚；意欲令上在虛空中，承佛威神，其蓮華用人民故，便上在虛空中而羅列成行。」
The Buddha told the venerable Shariputra: "When Akshobhya Tathagata enters a province, county, or town, wherever he arrives is just the same as when he enters a palace hall—a thousand-petaled golden lotus naturally appears. If a good man or good woman thinks and wishes that when he enters a palace hall a lotus should naturally appear beneath his feet, all the lotuses will gather together in one place, and they gather together accordingly. If they wish to have them rise into the air, then by the Buddha's awesome spiritual power, those lotuses—for the sake of the people—rise up into the air and arrange themselves in rows."
佛復語舍利弗：「其三千大千世界乃如是，阿閦如來、無所著、等正覺若遣化人到他方異世界，彼亦自然生——以佛威神所致，其三千大千世界以七寶金色蓮華而莊嚴之。」
The Buddha again said to Shariputra: "The three-thousand great-thousand world system is like this. If Akshobhya Tathagata, the Unattached, the Fully Enlightened One, were to send an emanation person to another world region, that one would also be born there naturally—through the Buddha's majestic spiritual power. That three-thousand great-thousand world system is adorned with seven-jeweled golden lotus flowers."