阿閦佛國經卷下
Akṣobhya Buddha's Land Sutra, Part 2
後漢月支國三藏支婁迦讖譯
Translated by Lokaksema, Tripitaka Master from Yuezhi, Later Han Dynasty
諸菩薩學成品第四
Chapter 4: Bodhisattva Training in Perfecting Virtue
爾時，賢者舍利弗心念言：「佛已說弟子所學成，願佛當復說諸菩薩所學成。所以者何？皆當學成是諸菩薩所照光明。」
Then the venerable Shariputra thought to himself: "The Buddha has already taught what disciples must learn to attain enlightenment. May the Buddha now also teach what Bodhisattvas must learn to attain enlightenment. Why? Because all should learn the radiant wisdom that illuminates these Bodhisattvas."
時佛即知賢者舍利弗心所念，即告舍利弗：「其阿閦如來、無所著、等正覺佛剎有若干百菩薩、若干千菩薩、若干億菩薩、若干億百千菩薩大會如是。」
The Buddha, perceiving that the noble Shariputra had a question on his mind, immediately addressed him: "Shariputra, the Buddha realm of Akshobhya Tathagata, the Arhat, the Fully Enlightened One, is filled with assemblies of hundreds, thousands, millions, and countless millions of bodhisattvas."
佛語舍利弗：「諸菩薩摩訶薩於阿閦佛所下鬚髮皆承佛威神，悉受法語、諷誦、持之。如我於是所說法由為薄少耳，阿閦佛所說法無央數不可復計，比我所說法百倍、千倍、萬倍、億萬倍不在計中。舍利弗！是為阿閦如來昔行菩薩道時所願：『我成無上正真道最正覺時，令我佛剎諸菩薩，我說法時令諸菩薩皆承佛威神悉受、諷誦、持之。』」
The Buddha said to Shariputra, "All the great bodhisattvas who have taken up the monastic life in Akshobhya's domain, through the Buddha's spiritual power, receive all the teachings, recite them, and uphold them. The teachings I give here are but a small portion compared to what Akshobhya teaches. What Akshobhya teaches is immeasurable and incalculable—a hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times, a hundred million times more than what I teach—such numbers cannot even begin to measure it. Shariputra, this is what Akshobhya vowed when he was practicing the bodhisattva path: 'When I attain supreme perfect enlightenment, may all the bodhisattvas in my Buddha-land, when I teach the Dharma, through the Buddha's spiritual power, receive all the teachings, recite them, and uphold them.'"
佛復語舍利弗：「爾時，諸菩薩摩訶薩皆承佛威神，受所說法、諷誦、持。是諸菩薩摩訶薩自生意念欲從其剎至他方世界俱至諸如來所聽所說法，為諸佛、世尊作禮、諷誦之、復重問意解，為諸佛作禮、諷誦已、重問意解已，便復還至阿閦如來所。」
The Buddha continued, saying to Shariputra, "At that time, all those great bodhisattvas, through the Buddha's spiritual power, received the teachings given, recited them, and upheld them. With the resolve that arose in their own minds, they wished to go from their land to other worlds, to visit all the Thus Come Ones, listen to the teachings, pay respects to the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, recite the Dharma, and then ask for deeper understanding. After paying respects, reciting, and clarifying their understanding, they would return to the presence of Akshobhya, the Thus Come One."
佛語舍利弗：「是陂陀劫中當有千佛，甫始四佛過。菩薩摩訶薩欲見是諸佛者，當願生阿閦佛剎。
The Buddha said to Shariputra, "In this Bhadra-kalpa, a thousand Buddhas will appear. Only four have already come and gone. If a great bodhisattva wishes to see these Buddhas, they should aspire to be reborn in the land of Akshobhya Buddha."
「若有善男子、善女人於是世界、若他方世界終亡往生阿閦佛剎者，甫當生者即當得住弟子緣一覺地。所以者何？其有因緣見如來者及眾僧，為以斷弊魔羅網去，得近弟子緣一覺及佛地，當得無上正真道最正覺，其人為以成如來、為以見諸菩薩摩訶薩之事。
If a good man or good woman, whether in this world or another, passes away and is reborn in the land of Akshobhya Buddha, they will immediately attain the stage of disciples or solitary realizers. Why is that? Those who have the karmic connection to see the Tathagata and the sangha have already cut through the net of Mara, drawn near to the stages of disciples, solitary realizers, and Buddhahood, and will attain supreme perfect enlightenment. Such a person has already become a Tathagata and has witnessed the deeds of the great bodhisattvas.
「菩薩生阿閦佛剎者，其行皆住清淨，為行諸法、為在諸法士、為以住於法、為佛道不可動轉，復當堅住阿惟越致。」
Those who are born in the land of Akshobhya Buddha abide in purity in all their actions. They practice all teachings, stand among those who uphold the Dharma, and remain firmly established in the Buddha's path, immovable and unwavering. They will also firmly abide in the stage of non-retrogression.
佛語舍利弗：「若善男子、善女人於是世界、若他方世界終亡往其剎者等輩得入諸佛住。
The Buddha said to Shariputra: "If a good man or good woman, whether in this world or in another world, passes away and is reborn in that land, all such beings gain entry to the abode of the Buddhas."
「其菩薩為得覺意入無恐懼覺意，菩薩合會於智慧度無極，在所各同義，見世尊知所住。
The bodhisattva, to attain the mind of enlightenment, enters the mind of fearlessness. The bodhisattva joins together with the perfection of wisdom, and in every place shares the same meaning, perceiving that the World-Honored One knows where they dwell.
「其佛剎諸菩薩摩訶薩，在家者止高樓上、出家為道者不在舍止。」
In that Buddha land, all the bodhisattvas and great beings—those who lived as householders stayed in tall pavilions, while those who had left home to follow the path did not dwell in houses.
佛告舍利弗：「阿閦佛說法時，諸菩薩摩訶薩承佛威神皆受法語、諷誦、持之。其不出家菩薩摩訶薩不面見佛所說時，在所坐處承佛威神皆亦聞法語，聞已即受、諷誦、持之；其出家菩薩摩訶薩身自面見佛說法時，及所行至坐處亦承佛威神皆聞，聞已即受、諷誦、持；是菩薩摩訶薩終亡已後俱持法語，所至生諸佛剎續念之。舍利弗！是為阿閦佛之善快。所以者何？如昔所願，自然得之。」
The Buddha told Shariputra: "When Akshobhya Buddha teaches the Dharma, all bodhisattvas and great bodhisattvas, through the Buddha's spiritual power, receive the words of the Dharma, recite them, and uphold them. Those bodhisattvas and great bodhisattvas who have not left home, when they are not face to face with the Buddha as he teaches, at whatever place they are sitting, through the Buddha's spiritual power, also hear the words of the Dharma. Having heard them, they immediately receive, recite, and uphold them. Those bodhisattvas and great bodhisattvas who have left home, when they are personally face to face with the Buddha as he teaches the Dharma, and wherever they walk or sit, also through the Buddha's spiritual power, all hear it. Having heard it, they immediately receive, recite, and uphold it. After these bodhisattvas and great bodhisattvas pass away, they all uphold the words of the Dharma, and wherever they are reborn in the Buddhas' lands, they continue to remember them. Shariputra, this is the wonderful blessing of Akshobhya Buddha. Why is that? Just as he made his vows in the past, so he naturally attained this."
佛語舍利弗：「若有一世菩薩摩訶薩欲見若干百佛、若干千佛、若干萬佛、若干億那術百千佛，當願生阿閦佛剎。菩薩已生阿閦佛剎者，便見若干百佛、若干千佛、若干億萬佛、若干億那術百千佛，當於其剎種諸德本，當為無央數百千人、無央數百千億人、無央數億那術百千人說法，亦當令種德本。」
The Buddha said to Shariputra: "If a Bodhisattva Mahasattva in any one lifetime wishes to see many hundreds of Buddhas, many thousands of Buddhas, many tens of thousands of Buddhas, many hundreds of thousands of kotis of Buddhas, they should make the Vow to be born in the realm of the Buddha Akshobhya. Once a Bodhisattva has been born in the realm of the Buddha Akshobhya, they will see many hundreds of Buddhas, many thousands of Buddhas, many tens of thousands of millions of Buddhas, many hundreds of thousands of kotis of Buddhas. In that realm they should plant roots of virtue, and they should teach the Dharma to countless hundreds of thousands of people, countless hundreds of thousands of millions of people, countless hundreds of thousands of kotis of people, and likewise cause them to plant roots of virtue."
佛言：「舍利弗！若菩薩摩訶薩於是陂陀劫中皆供養諸所佛、天中天，衣被、飯食、床臥具、病瘦醫藥供養已，便出家學道，悉於是諸佛、天中天下鬚髮為沙門；若復有菩薩摩訶薩不知於阿閦佛剎一世合會行度無極得福多？」
The Buddha said: "Shariputra, suppose a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, throughout this Bhadra kalpa, made offerings to all the Buddhas, the Devas Above the Devas, providing them with robes, food and drink, bedding, and medicines for illness and recovery. Having made these offerings, they then left home to study the Path, shaving their hair and beard under each of those Buddhas, the Devas Above the Devas, and becoming a monastic. Suppose, furthermore, there were a Bodhisattva Mahasattva who did not know that a single gathering with the Buddha Akshobhya's realm for one age, practicing the Limitless Crossing, brings greater merit?"
佛言：「舍利弗！是福德善本行具足，百倍、千倍、萬倍、巨億萬倍不與等。舍利弗！是為阿閦佛剎之善快。」
The Buddha said: "Shariputra, this foundation of merit and wholesome practice, when fully accomplished, is not equaled by a hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times, or a hundred billion times over. Shariputra, this is the excellence and bliss of Akṣobhya Buddha's realm."
佛語舍利弗：「若一世菩薩於是世界、他方世界終亡生阿閦佛剎者，甫當生者皆得阿惟越致。所以者何？其佛剎無有憋魔事在前立，憋魔亦不嬈人。」
The Buddha said to Shariputra: "If a bodhisattva of one lifetime, whether passing away from this world or from another world, is reborn in Akshobhya Buddha's realm, those who have just been reborn and those who are yet to be reborn all attain the stage of non-retrogression. Why is that? In that Buddha's realm, there are no obstructing demonic forces standing in the way, and Mara does not harass people there."
佛言：「舍利弗！譬如人呪力語呪毒呪蛇，除其毒便放捨，其力不可勝，救無央數人恐畏。其蛇亦不恐人、亦不嬈觸人，如是，其人但以前世禪三昧行故，自以功德得滅於蛇毒。如是，舍利弗！阿閦佛昔求菩薩道時行願德本如是乃得佛道，消除於憋魔毒不復嬈人。
The Buddha said: "Shariputra, suppose a person, through the power of a mantra, chants a mantra against snake venom, and once the poison is removed, he lets the snake go. His power cannot be surpassed; he saves countless people from fear. And the snake no longer frightens people, nor does it harass or touch anyone. In the same way, that person, solely through the practice of meditative absorption (samadhi) in former lives, by his own merit, is able to neutralize the snake's venom. Just so, Shariputra! When Akṣobhya Buddha was formerly practicing the bodhisattva path, he cultivated vows and the roots of virtue in this way, and only then attained Buddhahood, eliminating the poison of Māra so that it no longer harms people."
「阿閦佛成無上正真道最正覺時，憋魔不能復來嬈、亦不能復嬈諸菩薩摩訶薩及凡人，一切皆不復嬈。
When Akṣobhya Buddha attained supreme, perfect enlightenment, Māra the Tempter could no longer come to harass him, nor could he harass the bodhisattvas, mahāsattvas, or ordinary people—he could no longer harass anyone at all.
「三千大千世界中人如是先坐三昧寂定，以自威神生和耶越致天。於彼以前世因緣行廣普，亦於和耶越致天以因緣三昧、以自威神寂寞、以是比於彼說法。
All the people in the three thousand great thousand worlds, having first sat in the concentration of silent stillness, by their own spiritual power are born in the Heavens of Noryue Zhizhi. There, through the causes and conditions of former lives, they practice widely and universally, and in those heavens, by causes and conditions, through concentration, and by their own spiritual power in stillness, they teach the Dharma in that same manner to one another.
「炎天聞之，聞已便得信歡喜，來供養諸弟子。炎天言：『乃作是無所著、知止足、空閑處作行。』其剎諸魔教人出家學道，不復嬈人。舍利弗！是阿閦佛剎德之善快——夜初鼓時，先哀念人民，欲令度脫諸菩薩及學弟子并凡人安隱寂寞行。」
"When the Yama deities heard this, having heard it, they gained faith and joy, and came to make offerings to the disciples. The Yama deities said: 'They indeed practice in this way—unattached, knowing contentment, dwelling in a secluded place.' In that realm, the demons instead teach people to leave home and learn the Path, and no longer cause trouble for others. Shariputra! Such is the excellence of the virtue of Akshobhya Buddha's realm—at the first drumbeat of the night, he first feels compassion for the people, wishing to bring liberation to the bodhisattvas, the learning disciples, and ordinary people, so they may dwell in peace and tranquility in secluded practice."
賢者舍利弗白佛言：「唯，天中天！若善男子、善女人以七寶滿三千大千世界持用布施得生阿閦佛剎者，其人不當惜也，便當布施。所以者何？其人不復墮弟子緣一覺道。所以者何？其人即為立不退轉地，從一佛剎復至一佛剎目常悉見諸佛，皆悉諷誦佛道行，當成無上正真道最正覺，常當見若干百佛、若干千佛、若干億那術百千佛，於彼積德本。」
The wise Shariputra said to the Buddha: "Indeed, O Lord of the Devas! If a good man or good woman were to fill the three thousand great thousand worlds with the seven treasures and give them away in Generosity, and thereby be reborn in the Buddha realm of Akshobhya, such a person should not hesitate — they should simply give. Why is that? Because such a person will no longer fall back to the path of the disciples or the solitary awakened ones. Why is that? Because such a person is established on the stage of non-retrogression. Passing from one Buddha realm to another, their eyes will always see all the Buddhas, and they will recite and uphold the practice of the Buddha's Path. They will attain supreme, true, and perfect enlightenment, the most authentic awakening, and will always see many hundreds of Buddhas, many thousands of Buddhas, many millions of countless hundreds of thousands of Buddhas, and there accumulate roots of merit."
舍利弗白佛言：「天中天！以是故，善男子、善女人以七寶滿三千大千世界布施得生阿閦佛剎者，其人當歡喜與，便安隱至其佛剎。」
Shariputra said to the Buddha: "Lord of the Devas! For this reason, when a good man or good woman gives generously with the seven treasures filling a three-thousand great thousand world and thereby is reborn in Akshobhya Buddha's realm, such a person should give with joy, and will safely reach that Buddha's realm."
佛言：「如是，舍利弗！菩薩摩訶薩為安隱得生阿閦佛剎。譬如出金地，無有礫石、亦無草木，中有紫磨金，人便取其金於火中試消合，以作諸物著之。如是，舍利弗！阿閦佛剎諸菩薩摩訶薩清淨微妙住清淨共會，是諸菩薩摩訶薩行也。
The Buddha said: "That is so, Shariputra! Bodhisattvas Mahasattva are reborn in the realm of Buddha Akshobhya for the sake of peace and security. It is like land where gold is found: there are no gravel stones, no grasses or trees, but within it there is fine purple-gold. People take that gold and test it in fire, melting and refining it, and use it to make various things and adorn themselves with them. In the same way, Shariputra, the Bodhisattvas Mahasattva in the realm of Buddha Akshobhya are pure and wondrous, dwelling in purity and gathered together in harmony—this is the conduct of those Bodhisattvas Mahasattva.
「其有生阿閦佛剎者，甫當生者皆一種類，道行悉等，諸菩薩當成如來。其人以過諸弟子緣一覺地是謂為一類道，無有眾邪異道。菩薩欲得一類者，當願生阿閦佛剎。
Those who are born in Akṣobhya Buddha's realm, and those who are yet to be born there, are all of one kind, equal in their practice of the Path; all bodhisattvas there will become Tathāgatas. Such people have gone beyond the levels of the disciples and the solitary buddhas—this is what is meant by being of one kind on the Path, with no false or heterodox paths. If a bodhisattva wishes to attain this one kind, they should vow to be born in Akṣobhya Buddha's realm.
「舍利弗！是菩薩摩訶薩為成阿惟越致，阿閦佛為受決，以我不欲遣菩薩摩訶薩至阿閦佛所。譬如，舍利弗！轉輪王遣使者至諸小王所使持王寶物來。於是，聞王遣使者令諸小王來便愁憂涕泣，用王寶物故。夫人、婇女及太子聞以寶物故皆畏王，便往至大王所居城垣堅止，頓其中得安隱，不復恐見怨家、穀貴苦。
"Shariputra, this great bodhisattva, in order to attain the stage of non-regression, receives a prediction of future enlightenment from Akshobhya Buddha. That is why I do not wish to send the great bodhisattva to where Akshobhya Buddha is. It is like this, Shariputra: a wheel-turning king sends a messenger to various minor kings, having him bring the king's treasures back. Thereupon, when the minor kings hear that the king has sent a messenger to summon them, they become sorrowful and weep, because of the king's treasures. When the consorts, palace maidens, and crown prince hear that it is because of the treasures, they all fear the king, and so they go to the fortress city where the great king resides and settle there, gaining safety and peace, no longer fearing to see enemies or the suffering of grain being expensive."
「如是，舍利弗！我不欲遣諸菩薩至阿閦佛所，譬如彼王以寶物故令諸夫人、婇女及太子同等愁憂。視求菩薩道人當如大王城所有寶處太子，為無有恐難。觀阿閦佛剎當如大王，憋魔見求菩薩道者，如是不復嬈亂。
“Thus, Shariputra, I do not wish to send the bodhisattvas to the realm of Akshobhya Buddha — just as that king, because of treasure, made his consorts, palace women and crown prince equally distressed. One should regard those who seek the bodhisattva path as the crown prince at the place of treasure in the great king’s city, free from fear or hardship. Regard Akshobhya Buddha’s realm as the great king. When Mara sees one who seeks the bodhisattva path, he will likewise no longer harass him.
「譬如王，邊臣難當。如是，舍利弗！魔及魔天官屬不能當如來、無所著、等正覺。譬如孤寡恐懼之人畏對家，便往至城中即安，對家人無奈之何。所以者何？是人已離於對人，得安隱處故。
"For example, a king is difficult for frontier ministers to withstand. In the same way, Shariputra, Mara and Mara's heavenly retinues cannot withstand the Tathagata, the Unattached, the Fully Enlightened One. For example, a lonely, widowed, fearful person who dreads an adversary goes into the city and is immediately safe; the adversary's people can do nothing to him. Why is that? Because this person has left the adversary behind and has attained a place of safety."
「如是，舍利弗！諸菩薩摩訶薩生阿閦佛剎者，為以斷魔及魔天之道，其三千大千世界憋魔及魔天不復嬈求菩薩道及弟子道人及阿閦佛剎，魔及魔天不復起魔事、亦不復嬈。
"So it is, Shariputra: bodhisattvas and great bodhisattvas who are born in the Buddha-land of Akshobhya do so because they have cut off the path of Mara and the hosts of Mara; and in the three-thousand great-thousand worlds, the maras and their hosts no longer harass or trouble those who walk the bodhisattva path, those who walk the disciple path, or the people of Akshobhya's Buddha-land — the maras and their hosts no longer stir up mara-deeds, nor do they harass anyone again."
「復次，舍利弗！若有菩薩往生阿閦佛剎者，甫當生者，其人不復為魔天之所嬈也。所以者何？阿閦佛昔行菩薩道便作是願德本：『令我成無上正真道最正覺，使我佛剎諸魔及魔天無有起魔事嬈亂者。譬如人飲毒，復飲除毒藥，其飲食便消，其毒不行。』以等願故，如是，舍利弗！阿閦佛昔時作是願德本，乃至其佛剎諸魔及魔天子不復起事嬈亂，其佛剎所有德等乃如是。」
"Furthermore, Shariputra, if there are bodhisattvas who are reborn in the Buddha Realm of Akshobhya, or who are about to be reborn there, such people will no longer be disturbed by the hosts of Mara. Why is this? When Akshobhya Buddha was practicing the bodhisattva path in the past, he made this vow as a root of merit: 'When I attain supreme, perfect enlightenment, may there be no maras or hosts of Mara in my Buddha Realm who stir up mara-activities and cause disturbance. It is like a person who drinks poison and then drinks an antidote — the food and drink are digested, and the poison no longer takes effect.' By the power of that equal vow, Shariputra, Akshobhya Buddha in the past made this vow as a root of merit, so that even the maras and the sons of Mara in his Buddha Realm no longer stir up disturbances. The merits of his Buddha Realm are such as this."
爾時，賢者舍利弗心念言：「願欲見其佛剎及阿閦佛并諸弟子等。」
At that time, the venerable Shariputra thought to himself: "I wish to see that Buddha-land, as well as Akshobhya Buddha and his disciples."
於是，佛即知舍利弗心所念，即令如其像三昧正受神足行，承佛所致，賢者舍利弗於其座中見阿閦佛剎及弟子等。
Then the Buddha, knowing what Shariputra was thinking, immediately entered the meditative absorption (samadhi) of the supernormal power of the Buddha's image, and through the Buddha's power, the venerable Shariputra saw the realm of Akshobhya Buddha and his disciples right from his seat.
爾時，佛告舍利弗言：「汝寧見阿閦佛及諸弟子并佛剎不？」
At that time, the Buddha said to Shariputra: "Do you see Akshobhya Buddha, along with his disciples and his buddha-land?"
對曰：「唯然見之。天中天！」
He replied: "Yes, indeed I see it, O Lord of the Gods and Humans!"
「云何，舍利弗！汝意所知，寧復有勝阿閦佛剎諸天及人不？」
"What do you think, Shariputra? To your knowledge, could there be celestial beings and humans more excellent than those in Akshobhya Buddha's realm?"
舍利弗白佛言：「天中天！我不復知有城郭能勝者也。其剎諸天及人民無有邪道，但有正道耳，極相娛樂。所以者何？我見其佛剎皆以天物快飲食、相娛樂，阿閦佛在中央，遍為諸弟子說法。
Shariputra said to the Buddha: "God among gods! No city or fortress could ever surpass this. In that realm, the celestial beings and the people follow no false paths—only the true Path—and they delight in the greatest happiness together. Why is this? I see that buddha-realm where all enjoy celestial food and pleasures, and there in the center is Akshobhya Buddha, teaching the Dharma for all his disciples."
「譬如，天中天！人在大海中央，不見東方山樹木之際，亦不見南、西、北方樹木之際。如是，天中天！阿閦佛剎諸弟子不可得東方涯、亦復不可得南、西、北方之涯。如是思惟聞法，身亦不動搖；天中天！於是思惟定，身便不動搖。阿閦佛剎諸弟子聽法，身不動搖坐定；如是聽法，身亦不動搖。
"Suppose, O Lord of Devas, a person is in the middle of the great ocean and cannot see the edge of the mountains and trees to the east, nor the edge of the mountains and trees to the south, west, or north. In the same way, O Lord of Devas, the disciples in the buddha-field of Akshobhya cannot find an eastern limit, nor can they find a southern, western, or northern limit. In this way they think as they hear the Dharma, and their bodies do not shake. O Lord of Devas, through this concentration of reflective contemplation, their bodies become unwavering. When the disciples in the buddha-field of Akshobhya listen to the Dharma, their bodies remain unmoving as they sit in concentration; hearing the Dharma in this way, their bodies likewise do not shake."
「若善男子、善女人於是三千大千世界滿七寶持施與布施已得生阿閦佛剎者，當歡喜與，其人便得安隱生阿閦佛剎菩薩摩訶薩。所以者何？其人如是得為阿惟越致。譬如，天中天！有人持王書及糧食，以王印封書往至他國。其人行至他國縣邑中，道無有殺者、亦無有能嬈者，獨自往還無他。」
"If a good man or good woman fills this three-thousand great-thousand world with the seven treasures and gives it away in generosity, and thereby is reborn in the realm of Aksobhya Buddha, then one should rejoice and give accordingly — such a person will be peacefully reborn in the realm of Aksobhya Buddha as a Bodhisattva Mahasattva. Why is that? Because such a person in this way becomes irreversible. For example, O Celestial Among Celestials, suppose someone carries a royal letter and provisions, sealing the letter with the king's seal, and travels to another country. When that person arrives in the towns and districts of that other country, there is no one on the road who kills, nor anyone who can harm them; they go and return alone, without any trouble."
佛言：「如是也，舍利弗！菩薩摩訶薩生阿閦佛剎，甫當生者——於是世界、若他方世界終亡生阿閦佛剎者——皆得阿惟越致，便見無上正真道，從一佛剎復遊一佛剎，皆諷誦佛道事，常樂於佛、天中天，至成無上正真道最正覺。」
The Buddha said: "So it is, Shariputra! Bodhisattvas Mahasattva who are born in Akṣobhya Buddha's land, those who are about to be born there—whether they pass away from this world or from other worlds and are born in Akṣobhya Buddha's land—all attain the stage of non-retrogression, and will realize the unsurpassed true way. Passing from one Buddha-land to another, they all recite and uphold the matters of the Buddha's Path, always delighting in the Buddha, the god of gods, until they attain the unsurpassed true way, the highest true enlightenment."
舍利弗白佛言：「天中天！是間須陀洹道菩薩摩訶薩生阿閦佛剎者，是適等耳。所以者何？須陀洹以斷截惡道住於道迹。如是，天中天！若有菩薩摩訶薩生阿閦佛剎者，甫當生者，是人皆現斷惡道，不復在弟子緣一覺地，從一佛剎復遊一佛剎，當樂於佛、天中天及弟子，至成無上正真道最正覺也。」
Shariputra said to the Buddha: "God of gods, the bodhisattvas of the stream-enterer Path who are born in Akṣobhya Buddha's realm are exactly equal [to stream-enterers on the path]. Why is that? A stream-enterer has cut off the evil paths and dwells on the path of the path. In the same way, God of gods, if there are bodhisattvas, great beings, who are born in Akṣobhya Buddha's realm, or who are yet to be born there, these people all have already cut off the evil paths; they no longer remain on the level of disciples or solitary realizers. From one Buddha realm they travel on to another Buddha realm; they shall delight in the Buddha, the God of gods, and his disciples, until they attain supreme, true, correct enlightenment, the most correct and perfect enlightenment."
佛言：「如是，舍利弗！若有菩薩摩訶薩於是世界、若他方世界終亡生阿閦佛剎者，為以現過弟子緣一覺地，從一佛剎復遊一佛剎，皆諷誦諸佛道事、皆面見諸如來，至成無上正真之道最正覺。譬如，舍利弗！須陀洹度脫異道、惡法，得道無有異。如是，舍利弗！若有菩薩摩訶薩於是世界、若他方世界終亡往生阿閦佛剎者，甫當生者，其皆不復離無上正真道，從一佛剎復遊一佛剎，皆諷誦諸佛道事，常樂於佛、天中天無上正真道，至成無上正真道最正覺。」
The Buddha said: "It is so, Shariputra! If a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, whether from this world or from another world, passes away and is reborn in the realm of Akshobhya Buddha, such a one has already transcended the stages of the disciple and the solitary-realizer, and journeying from one Buddha realm to another, will recite and uphold the matters of the Buddha's path, will see all the Tathagatas face to face, and will reach the attainment of the supreme, true, and perfect enlightenment. Just as, Shariputra, a stream-enterer is liberated from other paths and evil dharmas, and there is no difference in the attainment of the path—so too, Shariputra, if a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, whether from this world or from another world, passes away and is reborn in the realm of Akshobhya Buddha, or is yet to be born there, none of them will ever again fall away from the supreme, true path, and journeying from one Buddha realm to another, they will recite and uphold the matters of the Buddha's path, always delighting in the Buddha, the god of gods, the supreme, true path, until they attain the supreme, true path and perfect enlightenment."
賢者舍利弗白佛言：「天中天！是間斯陀含住往來地，菩薩摩訶薩生阿閦佛剎者是這等耳？天中天！是間阿那含住不復還地，菩薩摩訶薩生阿閦佛剎者是這等耳？天中天！是間阿羅漢住無所著地，菩薩摩訶薩生阿閦佛剎者是這等耳？」
The worthy Shariputra said to the Buddha: "Lord of the Devas! Here, one who has attained the stage of a Once-Returner dwells in the ground of returning once more; a Bodhisattva Mahasattva who is born in the Buddha-land of Akshobhya is exactly the same as this. Lord of the Devas! Here, one who has attained the stage of a Non-Returner dwells in the ground of no further return; a Bodhisattva Mahasattva who is born in the Buddha-land of Akshobhya is exactly the same as this. Lord of the Devas! Here, one who has attained the stage of an Arhat dwells in the ground of non-attachment; a Bodhisattva Mahasattva who is born in the Buddha-land of Akshobhya is exactly the same as this?"
佛告賢者舍利弗言：「莫得說是語。所以者何？是間菩薩摩訶薩受無上正真道決，菩薩生阿閦佛剎者是這等耳。
The Buddha said to the venerable Shariputra: "Do not say such a thing. Why is that? The bodhisattvas mahasattvas here who have received the prediction of supreme, true, and perfect enlightenment—bodhisattvas who are born in the realm of the Buddha Akshobhya are exactly these kind."
「復次，舍利弗！是間菩薩摩訶薩坐於佛樹下，菩薩生阿閦佛剎者是這等耳。所以者何？舍利弗！菩薩摩訶薩為現如來，憋魔不復能動搖，過弟子緣一覺地，從一佛剎復遊一佛剎，常皆隨諸佛之教令，至成無上正真道最正覺。」
"Furthermore, Shariputra, the bodhisattvas mahasattva here who sit beneath the bodhi tree, and the bodhisattvas who are born in the buddha-field of Akshobhya—these are exactly the same. Why is that? Shariputra, the bodhisattva mahasattva manifests as a Tathagata; Mara can no longer shake them. They surpass the stages of disciples and solitary realizers, and journey from one buddha-field to another, always following the teachings and instructions of all the Buddhas, until they attain the utmost true and correct enlightenment of unsurpassed, complete awakening."
爾時，阿難心念言：「我欲試須菩提知報我何等言。」
At that time, Ananda thought to himself, "I want to test Subhuti and see what kind of response he gives me."
賢者阿難問賢者須菩提言：「唯，須菩提！為見阿閦佛及諸弟子等并其佛剎不？」
The wise Ananda asked the wise Subhuti, "Indeed, Subhuti, do you see Akshobhya Buddha, his disciples, and his buddha-land?"
須菩提謂阿難言：「汝上向視。」
Subhuti said to Ananda, "Look upward."
阿難答言：「仁者須菩提！我已上向視，上皆是虛空。」
Ananda replied, "Venerable Subhuti, I have looked upward, and above is nothing but emptiness."
須菩提謂阿難言：「如仁者上向見空，觀阿閦佛及諸弟子等并其佛剎當如是。」
Subhuti said to Ananda: "Just as you look upward and see emptiness, so should you contemplate Akshobhya Buddha, his disciples, and his buddha-land."
爾時，賢者舍利弗問言：「如屬天中天所說：是間菩薩摩訶薩受決，菩薩生阿閦佛剎者是這等耳。天中天！以何故等而等？」
At that time, the venerable Shariputra asked: "As the Celestial Lord, the most honored among devas, has just said: bodhisattvas mahasattvas here who have received the prediction, and bodhisattvas who are born in Akshobhya Buddha's realm—are these equal, just like this? Celestial Lord, most honored among devas, on what basis of equality are they equal?"
佛告舍利弗言：「用法等故而等。」
The Buddha told Shariputra: "Because the Dharma is equal, therefore it is equal."