English
English version In one lifetime, one attains the state of non-retrogression. If a Bodhisattva further makes a vow, wishing to make their land like my (Buddha's) Buddha-land, and also thinking of liberating all beings, enabling each of their vows to reach the ten directions. Then they can quickly transcend and reach the land of the world of bliss, reaching the pure land of immeasurable light, making offerings to countless Buddhas. They can serve hundreds of millions of Buddhas, transform their bodies and travel throughout all the Buddha-lands, respectfully making offerings and departing with joy, then returning to Sukhāvatī (the Pure Land of Bliss).' Those who do not have such merit cannot hear the name of this scripture; only those who uphold pure precepts can hear this true Dharma. Those who have seen the majestic form of the World Honored One can believe in these matters, humbly and respectfully listening and practicing, and will leap with great joy. Those who are arrogant, evil, and lazy find it difficult to believe in this Dharma; those who have seen the Buddha in past lives are happy to hear the teachings of the World Honored One. It is like a person born blind trying to guide others; the practitioners of the Śrāvakayāna (the Vehicle of Hearers) are confused about the Mahāyāna (the Great Vehicle) Dharma, let alone ordinary worldly people? The 'Heaven of Heavens' (Buddha) fully understands the meaning, the practitioners of the Śrāvakayāna do not understand the practice of the Buddha, and the Pratyekabuddhas (Solitary Buddhas) are also the same; only the fully enlightened Buddhas understand these principles. Even if all beings were to become Buddhas, with their pure wisdom knowing that all dharmas are empty in nature, and even after hundreds of millions of kalpas (eons), the wisdom of the Buddha cannot be fully comprehended. Even if one were to speak for countless kalpas, exhausting their lifespan, they would still not fully understand; the wisdom of the Buddha is boundless, and only through such pure practice can one attain it. Only by following my teachings can one believe in these things, and only such people can understand, accepting all that the Buddha has said; this is the first proof. It is rare to obtain a human body, and even rarer to encounter a Buddha in the world; it is even more difficult to have faith and wisdom. If one can hear the Dharma and diligently seek it. Hearing the Dharma without forgetting it, one will feel reverence and obtain great joy; then they are my closest good friends, and therefore should generate the Bodhi mind. Even if the entire world were filled with fire, if one could hear the Dharma within it, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 会当作世尊将， 度一切生、老、死。”
Chinese
佛语阿难：“无量清净佛为诸菩萨、阿罗汉说经竟，诸天人民中有未得须陀洹道者则得须陀洹道、中有未得斯陀含道者则得斯陀含道、中有未得阿那含道者则得阿那含道、中有未得阿罗汉道者则得阿罗汉道、中有未得阿惟越致菩萨者则得阿惟越致菩萨。阿弥陀佛辄随其本宿命、求道时心所喜愿大小，随意为说经辄授之，令其疾开解得道，皆悉明慧。各自好喜所愿经道莫不喜乐诵习者，则各自讽诵经道，通利无厌无极也。诸菩萨、阿罗汉中有诵经者，其音如雷声；中有说经者如疾风暴雨。时诸菩萨、阿罗汉说经行道皆各如是，尽一劫竟终无懈倦时也。皆悉智慧勇猛，身体皆轻，便终无有痛痒。极时行步坐起，皆悉才健勇猛——如师子中王在深林中当有所趣，向时无有敢当者。 “无量清净佛国诸菩萨、阿罗汉说经行道皆勇猛，无有疑难之意，则在心所作为不豫计百千亿万倍，是猛师子中王也。如是猛师子中王百千亿万倍，尚复不如我第二弟子——摩诃目揵连——勇猛百千亿万倍也。无量清净国诸菩萨、阿罗汉皆胜我第二弟子摩诃目揵连也。” 佛言：“如摩诃目揵连勇猛，于诸佛国、诸阿罗汉中最为无比。如摩诃目揵连飞行进止、智慧勇猛、洞视彻听 现代汉语译本：他们会认为世尊将要度脱一切众生的生、老、死之苦。 佛陀告诉阿难：‘无量清净佛为诸菩萨、阿罗汉讲经完毕后，诸天人民中，有尚未证得须陀洹道（初果，入流果）的，便证得须陀洹道；有尚未证得斯陀含道（二果，一来果）的，便证得斯陀含道；有尚未证得阿那含道（三果，不还果）的，便证得阿那含道；有尚未证得阿罗汉道（四果，无学果）的，便证得阿罗汉道；有尚未证得阿惟越致菩萨（不退转菩萨）的，便证得阿惟越致菩萨。阿弥陀佛总是根据他们前世的宿命、求道时心中所喜好的愿望大小，随意为他们讲经，并传授他们法门，使他们迅速开悟得道，都变得明智聪慧。他们各自喜爱自己所愿的经典和修行之道，没有不欢喜乐于诵读修习的，于是各自讽诵经典，通达流畅，没有厌倦和穷尽的时候。诸菩萨、阿罗汉中有诵经的，他们的声音如雷鸣；有讲经的，如疾风暴雨。当时，诸菩萨、阿罗汉讲经修行都像这样，即使经历一劫的时间，也终无懈怠的时候。他们都智慧勇猛，身体轻盈，终无疼痛和瘙痒。他们行走、站立、坐卧，都才智健壮勇猛——如同狮子中的王者在深林中将要前往某处，那时没有谁敢阻挡。’ ‘无量清净佛国中的诸菩萨、阿罗汉讲经修行都勇猛，没有疑惑和困难的想法，他们心中所想所做的事，比预先计划的要超出百千亿万倍，是勇猛的狮子中的王者。像这样勇猛的狮子中的王者，即使有百千亿万倍，还不如我的第二弟子——摩诃目犍连——勇猛的百千亿万倍。无量清净佛国中的诸菩萨、阿罗汉都胜过我的第二弟子摩诃目犍连。’ 佛陀说：‘像摩诃目犍连这样勇猛，在诸佛国土、诸阿罗汉中最为无比。像摩诃目犍连飞行进退、智慧勇猛、洞察一切、听闻一切’
English
English version: They will think that the World Honored One will liberate all beings from birth, old age, and death. The Buddha said to Ananda: 'After the Immeasurable Pure Buddha finished speaking the Dharma to the Bodhisattvas and Arhats, among the heavenly beings and people, those who had not yet attained the Srotapanna path (first fruit, stream-enterer) attained the Srotapanna path; those who had not yet attained the Sakrdagamin path (second fruit, once-returner) attained the Sakrdagamin path; those who had not yet attained the Anagamin path (third fruit, non-returner) attained the Anagamin path; those who had not yet attained the Arhat path (fourth fruit, no-more-learning) attained the Arhat path; those who had not yet attained the Avaivartika Bodhisattva (non-retrogressing Bodhisattva) attained the Avaivartika Bodhisattva. Amitabha Buddha always, according to their past lives, the size of their wishes when seeking the path, would speak the Dharma for them as they wished, and transmit the Dharma to them, enabling them to quickly awaken and attain the path, all becoming wise and intelligent. They each loved the scriptures and the path of practice they wished for, and there was none who did not rejoice in reciting and practicing them. Thus, they each recited the scriptures, understanding them fluently, without weariness or end. Among the Bodhisattvas and Arhats, some recited the scriptures, their voices like thunder; some spoke the Dharma, like a swift wind and heavy rain. At that time, the Bodhisattvas and Arhats spoke the Dharma and practiced like this, even if they went through a kalpa, there would be no time of laziness. They were all wise and courageous, their bodies light, and they would never have pain or itching. They walked, stood, sat, and lay down, all with intelligence, strength, and courage—like the king of lions in a deep forest, when he is about to go somewhere, no one dares to stop him.' 'The Bodhisattvas and Arhats in the Immeasurable Pure Buddha's land all speak the Dharma and practice with courage, without any doubts or difficulties. What they think and do in their hearts exceeds what they had planned by hundreds of thousands of millions of times. They are the kings of lions among the courageous. Even if there were hundreds of thousands of millions of such courageous kings of lions, they would still not be as courageous as my second disciple, Mahamogallana, by hundreds of thousands of millions of times. The Bodhisattvas and Arhats in the Immeasurable Pure Land all surpass my second disciple, Mahamogallana.' The Buddha said: 'Like Mahamogallana's courage, he is unparalleled among the Buddhas' lands and Arhats. Like Mahamogallana's flying, advancing, and retreating, his wisdom and courage, his clear seeing and hearing.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
——知八方、上下、去来、现在之事——百千亿万倍都合为一智慧勇猛，当在无量清净佛国诸阿罗汉中者，其德尚复不如无量清净佛国一阿罗汉智慧勇猛者千亿万倍也。” 是时，坐中有一菩萨，字阿逸菩萨。阿逸菩萨则起，前长跪叉手问佛言：“阿弥陀佛国中诸阿罗汉，宁颇有般泥洹去者不？愿欲闻之。” 佛告阿逸菩萨：“若欲知者，如是四天下星，若见之不？” 阿逸菩萨言：“唯然，皆见之。” 佛言：“而我第二弟子摩诃目揵连飞行四天下，一日、一夜遍数星，知有几枚也。如是，四天下星甚众多，不可得计，尚为百千亿万倍是四天下星也。” 佛言：“如天下大海水减去一渧水，宁能令海水为减不？” 阿逸菩萨言：“减大海水百千亿万斗石水，尚复不能令海减少也。” 佛言：“阿弥陀佛国诸阿罗汉中虽有般泥洹去者，如是大海减一小水耳，不能令诸在阿罗汉为减知少也。” 佛言：“减大海水一溪水，宁能减海水不？” 阿逸菩萨言：“减大海百千万亿溪水，尚复不能减海水令知减少也。” 佛言：“阿弥陀佛国诸阿罗汉中有般泥曰去者，如是大海减一溪水耳，不能减诸在阿罗汉为减知少也。” 佛言：“而大海减一恒水，宁 现代汉语译本 ‘知晓八方、上下、过去未来、现在之事’——即使将百千亿万倍的智慧勇猛合为一体，在无量清净佛国中的诸阿罗汉中，其功德仍然不如无量清净佛国中一位阿罗汉的智慧勇猛的千亿万倍。 这时，在座中有一位菩萨，名为阿逸菩萨（未来佛）。阿逸菩萨起身，向前长跪合掌，向佛问道：‘阿弥陀佛（无量光佛）国中的诸阿罗汉，难道有入般涅槃（完全的寂灭）离去的吗？希望能够听闻。’ 佛告诉阿逸菩萨：‘如果想知道，就像这四天下（指我们所居住的世界）的星星，你看见了吗？’ 阿逸菩萨说：‘是的，都看见了。’ 佛说：‘我的第二弟子摩诃目犍连（佛陀十大弟子之一，以神通著称）飞行于四天下，一日一夜就能数清星星，知道有多少颗。如此，四天下的星星非常众多，无法计算，而（阿弥陀佛国阿罗汉的数量）比这四天下的星星还要多百千亿万倍。’ 佛说：‘如果将天下大海的水减少一滴，能让海水减少吗？’ 阿逸菩萨说：‘即使减少大海百千亿万斗石的水，也不能让海水减少。’ 佛说：‘阿弥陀佛国中的诸阿罗汉，即使有入般涅槃离去的，也如同大海减少一滴水，不能让在世的阿罗汉减少。’ 佛说：‘如果将大海的水减少一条溪流的水，能让海水减少吗？’ 阿逸菩萨说：‘即使减少大海百千万亿条溪流的水，也不能让海水减少。’ 佛说：‘阿弥陀佛国中的诸阿罗汉，即使有入般涅槃离去的，也如同大海减少一条溪流的水，不能让在世的阿罗汉减少。’ 佛说：‘如果将大海的水减少一条恒河的水，能让海水减少吗？’
English
English version ‘Knowing the affairs of the eight directions, above, below, past, future, and present’—even if one were to combine the wisdom and vigor of hundreds of thousands of millions of times, among the Arhats in the immeasurable pure Buddha-lands, their merit would still not be comparable to even one Arhat's wisdom and vigor in the immeasurable pure Buddha-lands by hundreds of thousands of millions of times. At that time, there was a Bodhisattva in the assembly named Ajita Bodhisattva (the future Buddha). Ajita Bodhisattva then rose, knelt down with his palms together, and asked the Buddha, ‘Among the Arhats in Amitabha’s (Buddha of Infinite Light) land, are there any who have entered Parinirvana (complete extinction) and departed? I wish to hear about it.’ The Buddha told Ajita Bodhisattva, ‘If you wish to know, like the stars in these four continents (referring to the world we live in), do you see them?’ Ajita Bodhisattva said, ‘Yes, I see them all.’ The Buddha said, ‘My second disciple, Mahāmaudgalyāyana (one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, known for his supernatural powers), can fly across the four continents and count the stars in one day and one night, knowing how many there are. Thus, the stars in the four continents are very numerous, uncountable, and (the number of Arhats in Amitabha's land) is hundreds of thousands of millions of times more than the stars in these four continents.’ The Buddha said, ‘If one drop of water is taken away from the great ocean of the world, would it cause the seawater to decrease?’ Ajita Bodhisattva said, ‘Even if hundreds of thousands of millions of dou and shi (ancient units of measurement) of water are taken away from the great ocean, it would still not cause the sea to decrease.’ The Buddha said, ‘Among the Arhats in Amitabha’s land, even if some have entered Parinirvana and departed, it is like taking away one drop of water from the great ocean, it does not cause the number of Arhats to decrease.’ The Buddha said, ‘If one stream of water is taken away from the great ocean, would it cause the seawater to decrease?’ Ajita Bodhisattva said, ‘Even if hundreds of thousands of millions of streams of water are taken away from the great ocean, it would still not cause the sea to decrease.’ The Buddha said, ‘Among the Arhats in Amitabha’s land, even if some have entered Parinirvana and departed, it is like taking away one stream of water from the great ocean, it does not cause the number of Arhats to decrease.’ The Buddha said, ‘If one Ganges River of water is taken away from the great ocean, would it cause the seawater to decrease?’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 能减海水不？”