English
English version: ‘As you wish.’ The Buddha told Ananda, ‘The kings of the world have hundreds and thousands of musical instruments. From the Holy King who turns the wheel (a universal monarch) to the sixth heaven (the highest level of the desire realm), the sounds of the instruments surpass each other by hundreds of millions of times. The ten thousand kinds of music in the sixth heaven are not comparable to even one sound from the seven jeweled trees in the Land of Immeasurable Life (Amitabha Buddha's Pure Land), which is a hundred million times greater. There are also ten thousand kinds of natural musical instruments, and the sounds are all Dharma sounds, clear and flowing, mournful and bright, subtle and harmonious, the best among the sounds of the ten directions.’ ‘Moreover, the lecture halls, monasteries, palaces, and pavilions are all adorned with seven treasures, formed naturally, and covered with pearls, bright moon mani (a kind of jewel), and various other treasures as interlaced dewdrops. Inside, outside, left, and right, there are various bathing pools, some ten yojanas (an ancient Indian unit of distance, approximately 120-160 kilometers), some twenty, thirty, or even hundreds and thousands of yojanas, with the same length, width, and depth. The water of the eight merits (water with eight virtues) is clear and full, pure, fragrant, and tastes like nectar. The bottom of the gold pool is silver sand, the bottom of the silver pool is gold sand, the bottom of the crystal pool is lapis lazuli sand, the bottom of the lapis lazuli pool is crystal sand, the bottom of the coral pool is amber sand, the bottom of the amber pool is coral sand, the bottom of the carnelian pool is agate sand, the bottom of the agate pool is carnelian sand, the bottom of the white jade pool is purple gold sand, and the bottom of the purple gold pool is white jade sand, or they are composed of two, three, or even seven treasures. On the banks of the pools are sandalwood trees (a fragrant wood), with flowers and leaves hanging down, and the fragrance pervades everywhere. Heavenly utpala flowers (blue lotuses), padma flowers (red lotuses), kumuda flowers (yellow lotuses), and pundarika flowers (white lotuses), with various colors and lush radiance, cover the water.’ ‘If those Bodhisattvas and Sravakas (Buddha's disciples) enter the jeweled pools, if they wish the water to cover their feet, the water covers their feet; if they wish it to reach their knees, it reaches their knees; if they wish it to reach their waist, the water reaches their waist; if they wish it to reach their neck, the water reaches their neck; if they wish it to bathe their whole body, it naturally bathes their whole body; if they wish it to return to its original state, the water returns to its original state. The temperature is naturally adjusted as desired, making the spirit joyful, the body comfortable, cleansing the defilements of the mind, clear and pure, as if without form. The jeweled sand shines through, illuminating every depth, and the ripples swirl, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
流转相灌注，安详徐逝不迟不疾。波扬无量自然妙声，随其所应莫不闻者，或闻佛声，或闻法声，或闻僧声，或寂静声、空无我声、大慈悲声、波罗蜜声，或十力无畏不共法声、诸通慧声、无所作声、不起灭声、无生忍声，乃至甘露灌顶众妙法声。如是等声，称其所闻欢喜无量，随顺清净离欲寂灭真实之义、随顺三宝力无所畏不共之法、随顺通慧菩萨声闻所行之道。无有三涂苦难之名，但有自然快乐之音，是故其国名曰极乐。 “阿难！彼佛国土诸往生者，具足如是清净色身、诸妙音声、神通功德，所处宫殿、衣服、饮食、众妙华香庄严之具，犹第六天自然之物。若欲食时，七宝应器自然在前，金、银、琉璃、车𤦲、玛瑙、珊瑚、虎珀、明月真珠如是众钵随意而至，百味饮食自然盈满。虽有此食实无食者，但见色、闻香，意以为食，自然饱足，身心柔软，无所味着。事已化去，时至复现。 “彼佛国土清净安隐，微妙快乐，次于无为泥洹之道。其诸声闻、菩萨、人、天，智慧高明，神通洞达。咸同一类，形无异状，但因顺余方，故有人、天之名。颜貌端正，超世希有，容色微妙，非天、非人，皆受自然虚无之身、无极之体。” 佛告阿难：“譬如世间贫穷乞人在帝王边，形貌容状宁可类乎？” 现代汉语译本 （众生的业力）流转相续，像水流一样灌注，安详地缓缓逝去，不快也不慢。波浪扬起无量自然美妙的声音，随着众生所应听到的，没有听不到的。有的听到佛的声音，有的听到法的声音，有的听到僧的声音，有的听到寂静的声音、空无我（一切事物没有恒常不变的自我）的声音、大慈悲的声音、波罗蜜（到达彼岸的方法）的声音，或者听到十力（佛的十种力量）无畏（佛的无所畏惧）不共法（佛独有的法）的声音、诸通慧（各种神通和智慧）的声音、无所作（不执着于行为）的声音、不起灭（不生不灭）的声音、无生忍（对不生不灭的真理的领悟）的声音，乃至甘露灌顶（用甘露浇灌头顶，象征接受佛法）的各种美妙法音。这些声音，听者都因所闻而欢喜无量，随顺清净、离欲、寂灭的真实意义，随顺三宝（佛、法、僧）的力量、无所畏惧、不共之法，随顺通慧菩萨（觉悟的有情）声闻（听闻佛法而修行的人）所修行的道路。那里没有三恶道（地狱、饿鬼、畜生）的苦难之名，只有自然快乐的声音，所以那个国家叫做极乐。 ‘阿难（佛陀的弟子）！那个佛国所有往生的人，都具备这样清净的色身、各种美妙的声音、神通功德，他们所居住的宫殿、衣服、饮食、各种美妙的花香装饰之物，就像第六天（他化自在天）自然产生的物品一样。如果想吃饭的时候，七宝（金、银、琉璃、砗磲、玛瑙、珊瑚、琥珀）制成的餐具自然出现在面前，金、银、琉璃、砗磲、玛瑙、珊瑚、琥珀、明月真珠等各种钵盂随意而来，各种美味佳肴自然盛满。虽然有这些食物，但实际上没有吃的人，只是看到颜色、闻到香味，心里就认为是吃了，自然就饱了，身心柔软，没有对味道的执着。事情过后就消失了，时间到了又会出现。 那个佛国清净安稳，微妙快乐，接近于无为（不造作）的涅槃（解脱）之道。那里的声闻、菩萨、人、天，智慧高明，神通通达。都属于同一类，形貌没有差异，只是因为顺应其他世界的习惯，所以才有人、天之名。他们的容貌端正，超世稀有，容色微妙，非天非人，都接受自然虚无之身、无极之体。’ 佛告诉阿难：‘譬如世间贫穷的乞丐在帝王身边，他们的形貌容状能相提并论吗？’
English
English version The flow of karma is like a continuous stream, pouring forth, moving peacefully and slowly, neither too fast nor too slow. Waves arise with immeasurable, naturally wondrous sounds, which are heard by all according to their capacity. Some hear the voice of the Buddha, some the voice of the Dharma, some the voice of the Sangha, some the sound of stillness, the sound of emptiness and no-self (the absence of a permanent self), the sound of great compassion, the sound of Paramita (perfections), or the sound of the Ten Powers (of a Buddha), fearlessness, and unique qualities, the sound of various wisdoms and insights, the sound of non-action (not clinging to actions), the sound of non-arising and non-ceasing, the sound of non-birth forbearance (understanding the truth of non-birth and non-death), and even the sound of various wondrous Dharma like nectar pouring over the head (symbolizing the acceptance of the Dharma). These sounds, those who hear them rejoice immeasurably, conforming to the true meaning of purity, detachment, and tranquility, conforming to the power of the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), fearlessness, and unique qualities, conforming to the path practiced by wise Bodhisattvas (enlightened beings) and Sravakas (disciples who hear the teachings). There, there is no mention of the suffering of the three evil realms (hell, hungry ghosts, animals), only the sounds of natural joy, therefore that land is called the Land of Ultimate Bliss. ‘Ananda (Buddha's disciple)! Those who are born in that Buddha-land all possess such pure bodies, various wondrous sounds, and miraculous powers. The palaces, clothing, food, and various wondrous flower and fragrant ornaments they dwell in are like the natural objects of the Sixth Heaven (Paranirmitavasavartin). When they wish to eat, seven-jeweled (gold, silver, lapis lazuli, tridacna, agate, coral, amber) utensils naturally appear before them. Various bowls made of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, tridacna, agate, coral, amber, and moon pearls come as they wish, and all kinds of delicious food naturally fill them. Although there is this food, there is actually no one who eats it. They only see the colors and smell the fragrance, and in their minds, they consider it as eating, and they are naturally satisfied. Their bodies and minds are soft, and they have no attachment to flavors. After the matter is over, it disappears, and when the time comes, it reappears. That Buddha-land is pure, peaceful, wonderfully joyful, and close to the path of non-action (non-fabricated) Nirvana (liberation). The Sravakas, Bodhisattvas, humans, and devas (gods) there are highly intelligent and have penetrating miraculous powers. They all belong to the same category, and their forms are not different. It is only because they conform to the customs of other worlds that they have the names of humans and devas. Their appearances are dignified, surpassing the world, and their complexions are subtle, neither deva nor human. They all receive natural, empty bodies and limitless forms.’ The Buddha said to Ananda, ‘For example, in the world, can a poor beggar be compared in appearance and form to an emperor?’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
阿难白佛：“假令此人在帝王边，羸陋丑恶无以为喻，百千万亿不可计倍。所以然者？贫穷乞人底极厮下，衣不蔽形，食趣支命，饥寒困苦，人理殆尽。皆坐前世不殖德本，积财不施、富有益悭，但欲唐得、贪求无厌，不信修善、犯恶山积。如是寿终，财宝消散，苦身积聚为之忧恼，于己无益，徒为他有。无善可怙，无德可恃，是故，死堕恶趣，受此长苦。罪毕得出生为下贱，愚鄙斯极示同人类。所以世间帝王人中独尊，皆由宿世积德所致，慈惠博施，仁爱兼济，履信修善，无所违诤。是以寿终，福应得升善道，上生天上享兹福乐。积善余庆今得为人，遇生王家自然尊贵，仪容端正众所敬事，妙衣珍膳随心服御。宿福所追，故能致此。” 佛告阿难：“汝言是也。计如帝王，虽人中尊贵，形色端正，比之转轮圣王，甚为鄙陋，犹彼乞人在帝王边。转轮圣王威相殊妙天下第一，比忉利天王，又复丑恶不得相喻万亿倍也。假令天帝比第六天王，百千亿倍不相类也。设第六天王比无量寿佛国菩萨、声闻，光颜容色不相及逮，百千万亿不可计倍。” 佛告阿难：“无量寿国其诸天人，衣服、饮食、华香、璎珞、诸盖幢幡、微妙音声，所居舍宅、宫殿、楼阁，称其形色、高下、大小，或一宝、二宝，乃至无量众 现代汉语译本：阿难对佛说：‘假设这个人身处帝王之侧，其羸弱丑陋的程度无法比喻，即使是百千万亿倍也无法形容。这是因为，贫穷的乞丐处在最底层，衣不蔽体，仅为维持生命而食，饥寒交迫，几乎丧失了人应有的尊严。这都是因为他们前世没有积累德行，积攒财富却不肯施舍，富有反而更加吝啬，只想不劳而获，贪求无厌，不相信行善，恶行堆积如山。这样的人寿命终结时，财宝消散，辛苦积聚的财富反而成为忧恼，对自己毫无益处，只是为他人所有。他们没有善行可以依靠，没有德行可以凭借，因此，死后堕入恶道，遭受长久的痛苦。罪业结束后，才能转生为人，但仍然愚昧鄙陋到了极点，与人类无异。而世间的帝王之所以在人群中独尊，都是因为前世积累了德行，慈悲施舍，仁爱兼济，信守承诺，修习善行，不与人争执。因此，寿命终结时，福报应验，得以升入善道，上生天界享受福乐。积累善行的余庆，今生得以做人，出生在王家自然尊贵，容貌端正，受人尊敬，华美的衣服和珍贵的食物随心享用。这是因为前世的福报所致。’ 佛告诉阿难：‘你说的是对的。即使是帝王，虽然在人中尊贵，容貌端正，但与转轮圣王（拥有统治世界的理想君主）相比，仍然显得鄙陋，就像乞丐在帝王身边一样。转轮圣王威严相貌殊胜美妙，天下第一，但与忉利天王（欲界第二天之王）相比，又显得丑陋，无法用万亿倍来形容。假设天帝（忉利天王）与第六天王（他化自在天王）相比，相貌也相差百千亿倍。假设第六天王与无量寿佛国（阿弥陀佛的净土）的菩萨、声闻（佛陀的弟子）相比，光彩容貌也无法企及，相差百千万亿倍。’ 佛告诉阿难：‘无量寿国中的天人，他们的衣服、饮食、花香、璎珞（用珠玉等串成的装饰品）、各种宝盖、幢幡（佛教的旗帜）、美妙的音声，以及他们居住的房屋、宫殿、楼阁，都与他们的形色、高低、大小相称，有的用一宝装饰，有的用二宝装饰，甚至用无量众宝装饰。’