佛說阿彌陀經禮想儀
Amitabha Sutra Contemplation Ritual
後學 古崑遵古 略輯
Later Student Gu Kun, Following the Ancient Way, Briefly Compiled
經云佛告舍利弗。若有善男子善女人。聞是經受持者。及聞諸佛名者。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。故知此經不可思議。乃諸佛心要。法門綱宗。其辭簡而理明。其文約而事備。字字是行人真歸。字字是行人妙觀。但得聞名便登不退。皆為諸佛護念。何況受持也哉。崑未出家時。首獲此經。迨閱要解。始知深妙。從茲發願受持。志求淨土。夫淨土莊嚴。甚深微妙。非是凡夫心力所及。唯此經依正。稍近凡情。乃彌陀大願。接引下凡之異方便也。故云眾生聞者。應當發願。願生彼國。所以者何。得與如是諸上善人。俱會一處。此勸下凡往生。得與上聖同居。法門勝異。全在於斯。諸佛稱讚。皆為此也。謹遵時公受持行儀。略輯禮想儀軌。以堅信願。經中大意。分十二科。依科唱禮。隨經默想。恭對西方。如在目前。雖依正不能明了。而信願已真。如是一心持名。則空有同彰。理事備焉。釋迦及十方諸佛。同聲勸信。可不勉哉。當知此經。的是樂邦家書。彼國莊嚴。無非自家故物。彌陀慈父。待己多時。操此求生。而萬牛莫挽矣。同治己巳秋識於旌教寺之天台教觀。
The scripture says, the Buddha told Shariputra: "If there are good men and good women who hear this sutra and uphold it, and who hear the names of the Buddhas, they will all be protected and remembered by all the Buddhas. They will all attain non-retrogression in Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (the supreme perfect enlightenment). Therefore, Shariputra, you all should believe and accept my words, as well as what all the Buddhas have said."
Thus, we know this sutra is inconceivable. It is the essential heart of all Buddhas, the guiding principle of the Dharma gate. Its words are simple yet the principles are clear; its text is concise yet the matters are complete. Each character is the true refuge for the practitioner; each character is the wondrous contemplation for the practitioner. Merely hearing the name leads to attaining non-retrogression, and one is protected and remembered by all the Buddhas—how much more so for those who uphold it!
Before I left home, I first obtained this sutra. Upon reading the essential explanations, I began to understand its profound wonder. From then on, I made a vow to uphold it, aspiring to seek the Pure Land. The adornments of the Pure Land are extremely profound and subtle, beyond the reach of an ordinary person's mind. Only the teachings on the principal and dependent retributions in this sutra are somewhat closer to ordinary sentiments. This is the extraordinary skillful means of Amitabha Buddha's great vow to guide and receive ordinary beings. Therefore, it is said: "Sentient beings who hear this should make a vow, wishing to be born in that land. Why? To be able to gather in one place with all such superior good ones." This encourages ordinary beings to be reborn there, enabling them to dwell together with superior sages. The excellence and uniqueness of this Dharma gate lie entirely in this. The praise of all Buddhas is all for this reason.
I respectfully follow Master Shi's practices for upholding the sutra and have briefly compiled a ritual of reverence and contemplation to strengthen faith and vows. The main meaning of the sutra is divided into twelve sections. Following these sections, we chant in reverence and silently contemplate along with the sutra, respectfully facing the Western Direction as if it were right before our eyes. Although the principal and dependent retributions may not be fully clear, faith and vows have already become genuine. With such single-minded recitation of the name, then emptiness and existence are simultaneously revealed, and principle and phenomena are both complete. Sakyamuni and the Buddhas of the ten directions together urge us to have faith—how can we not strive diligently?
We should know that this sutra is truly a joyful letter from home. The adornments of that land are none other than our own original possessions. Amitabha, the compassionate father, has been waiting for us for a long time. Holding to this practice to seek rebirth, not even ten thousand oxen could pull us back.
Recorded in the autumn of the Jisi year of the Tongzhi reign (1869) at the Tiantai Teachings and Contemplation Hall of Jingjiao Temple.
(行者凡禮想時。先跪佛前。燒香合掌云)。
When the practitioner performs the ritual visualization, first kneel before the Buddha, burn incense, join your palms, and say:
願此香煙雲。徧滿十方界。供養一切佛。世間難信法。及諸上善人。普熏諸眾生。皆發菩提心(即起禮佛)。
May this fragrant smoke spread throughout the ten directions, Offering to all Buddhas, the Dharma that is hard to believe in this world, And to all noble beings. May it universally permeate all sentient beings, So that they all may awaken the mind of Enlightenment.
- 一心頂禮。娑婆世界。五濁惡世說難信法本師釋迦牟尼佛。
- 一心頂禮。十方世界。出廣長舌勸讚西方恒河沙數諸佛。
- 一心頂禮。西方極樂世界。光壽無量普攝群生。阿彌陀佛。
- 一心頂禮。西方極樂世界。執持名號臨終導引。阿彌陀佛。
- 一心頂禮西方極樂世界。己今當願皆令往生。阿彌陀佛。
- 一心頂禮。稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。及十方三世一切尊法。
- 一心頂禮。西方極樂世界。觀音勢至諸上善人。及清淨大海眾菩薩摩訶薩。
- 一心頂禮。西方極樂世界。靈鳥樹下聞音正念。諸菩薩摩訶薩。
- 一心頂禮。西方極樂世界。黃金地上盛華供佛。諸菩薩摩訶薩。
- 一心頂禮。西方極樂世界。蓮華池內寶樓閣中。諸菩薩摩訶薩。
- 一心頂禮。西方極樂世界。無有眾苦但受諸樂。一切菩薩摩訶薩。
- 一心頂禮。文殊彌勒諸大菩薩。舍利弗等諸大尊者。及十方三世一切聖眾。
禮想已跪誦彌陀經一卷往生呪三遍讚云。
Having paid reverence with these thoughts, I knelt and recited the Amitabha Sutra once, followed by the Rebirth Mantra three times, and then offered this praise:
阿彌陀佛身金色。相好光明無等倫。白毫宛轉五須彌。紺目澄清四大海。光中化佛無數億。化菩薩眾亦無邊。四十八願度眾生。九品咸令登彼岸。
Amitabha Buddha's body is golden in color, His majestic form and radiant light are beyond compare. The white curl between his brows is like five Mount Sumerus, His deep blue eyes are as clear and vast as the four great seas. Within his light, countless Buddhas manifest, And boundless Bodhisattvas appear as well. With forty-eight great vows, he guides all beings, Leading them across the nine grades to the shore of liberation.
南無西方極樂世界大慈大悲阿彌陀佛(稱佛多少隨力而止)南無觀世音菩薩南無大勢至菩薩南無清淨大海眾菩薩(各十稱)念畢回向發願云。
I take refuge in Amitabha Buddha of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the Greatly Compassionate and Greatly Merciful One.(Recite the Buddha's name as many times as you are able.) I take refuge in Guanyin Bodhisattva. I take refuge in Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva. I take refuge in the Pure Ocean Assembly of Bodhisattvas.(Recite each ten times.) After reciting, dedicate the merit and make the vow as follows:
弟子稱念阿彌陀 真實功德佛名號
唯願慈悲垂攝受 證知懺悔及所願
我昔所造諸惡業 皆由無始貪瞋癡
從身語意之所生 一切我今皆懺悔
願我臨欲命終時 盡除一切諸障礙
面見彼佛阿彌陀 即得往生安樂剎
我今所修諸善根 一切皆悉盡回向
普願法界諸眾生 同生西方極樂國
I, your disciple, recite the name of Amitabha Buddha, The name that holds true merit and virtue. I humbly pray for your compassionate embrace, To witness my repentance and my heartfelt vows.
All the wrongs I have committed in the past, Arose from beginningless greed, anger, and ignorance. Born from my actions of body, speech, and mind, I now sincerely repent for every one.
When my life approaches its final hour, May all obstacles be completely cleared. May I behold the face of Amitabha Buddha, And be reborn in the Land of Peace and Bliss.
All the good roots I cultivate now, I dedicate and offer them all. May all beings throughout the universe, Together be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
- 自歸依佛當願眾生體解大道發無上心
- 自歸依法當願眾生深入經藏智慧如海
- 自歸依僧當願眾生統理大眾一切無礙
- 和南聖眾
禮想儀者。每日欲修幾時。隨力可耳。但早晚二時。決不可少。末後一時。佛數念完。佛前長跪合掌。先誦四十八願。再念觀音勢至清淨海眾。發願回向。或禮拜四十八願更好。當合掌定心。如對佛云。
Regarding the practice of ceremonial worship: how long should one cultivate each day? It may be according to one's capacity. However, the two sessions at dawn and dusk must never be omitted. At the final session, after completing the recitation of the Buddha's name, kneel upright before the Buddha with palms joined. First recite the Forty-Eight Vows, then invoke Guanyin, Shizhi, and the Pure Assembly of the ocean-like multitude. Make vows and dedicate the merits. Alternatively, it is even better to bow in reverence while reciting the Forty-Eight Vows. One should join palms and steady the mind, as if facing the Buddha, saying:
一心頂禮西方極樂世界大慈大悲大願大力接引導師阿彌陀佛。
With a single mind, I bow in heartfelt reverence to Amitabha Buddha, the compassionate and powerful guide who welcomes beings to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
(念畢拜下。想第一願設我得佛國有地獄餓鬼畜生者不取正覺。禮第二拜。想第二願亦如是)禮觀音勢至及大海眾菩薩(各三拜。照前發願回向。三歸依畢)。
(After reciting, bow down. Visualize the First Vow: If I attain Buddhahood, but there are hells, hungry ghosts, or animals in my land, may I not attain perfect enlightenment. Bow for the second time. Visualize the Second Vow in the same manner.)Bow to Guanyin, Great Strength, and the great sea of Bodhisattvas(Each with three prostrations. Make vows and dedicate merit as before. Then conclude with the Three Refuges.).