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English version: 'There is no difference in the Buddha-land.' Chapter 47: The Great Assembly in the Jeweled Ponds The Buddha said: 'The heavenly beings and people of the countless worlds in the ten directions, the Bhikṣus (monks), Bhikṣuṇīs (nuns), Upāsakas (male lay devotees), and Upāsikās (female lay devotees), who are reborn in the Buddha-land of Amitābha, all gather in the seven-jeweled ponds. Each person sits upon a large lotus flower, and they each recount the precepts they held in their previous lives, the good deeds they performed, their origins and destinations, the Dharma they favored, and the depth of their attainments and the extent of their wisdom. They speak in turn, from the highest to the lowest. If a person has not previously performed good deeds and does not understand the principles of Dharma, they will naturally feel rushed and embarrassed when responding in this setting. They will feel shame and regret, but it will be too late. They can only be filled with righteous indignation, strive to improve, and try to catch up with others.' Chapter 48: The Extreme Suffering of the World The Buddha said: 'People in the world, amidst extreme evil and suffering, diligently work to sustain themselves. Whether noble or lowly, rich or poor, young or old, male or female, all worry about material possessions, burdened with thoughts and anxieties, driven by their minds, without a moment of peace. Those who have fields worry about their fields, those who have houses worry about their houses, those who have cattle, horses, livestock, servants, clothing, food, and other possessions, all worry about these things. The noble and wealthy, having these concerns, are entangled in their hearts and cannot find contentment. The poor and lowly, often suffering from want, worry about having fields when they do not have them, worry about having houses when they do not have them, and worry about having cattle, horses, livestock, servants, clothing, food, and other possessions. They love these things and desire to have them all. When they have one thing, they lack another; when they have one matter, they lack another. They toil and suffer like this, without rest. They do not understand morality, are lost in anger, and are greedy for wealth and beauty. Because of these things, they cannot attain the Way. They will enter the painful realms of suffering, and revolve within them. Even after billions of kalpas, there will be no end to their suffering. The pain is indescribable and extremely pitiful. Now I tell you about the affairs of the world. Choose the good and diligently practice it. Love, desire, and glory cannot be kept forever; all will be separated, and there is nothing to be enjoyed. While the Buddha is still in the world, you should diligently strive to advance and vow to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 五道昭明分第四十九
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佛言：“苦心与语令得解脱，若不信悟无益其人，大命将至悔亦何及。天地之间五道昭明，恢廓浩渺窈窈冥冥，业报相生转相承受，美恶惨毒皆自当之。孰使如是？理之自然。善人行善，从乐入乐，从明入明。恶人行恶，从苦入苦，从暗入暗。世人昧此恶道不绝，故有自然地狱、饿鬼、禽兽、蜎飞蠕动之类，展转其中世世累劫，无由出离。是为大患，痛不可言，惟修净土直得超去。” 寿数随意分第五十 弥勒复白佛言：“今闻佛所说，莫不喜悦。诸天人民以至蜎飞蠕动之类，皆蒙慈恩授解脱法，佛语教诫甚善甚深。” 佛言：“汝从无数劫来修菩萨行，欲度诸天人民，以至蜎飞蠕动之类，从汝得道者无央数，至得泥洹之道者，亦无央数。汝及十方世界诸天帝王人民，若比丘僧、比丘尼、优婆塞、优婆夷等，从无数劫来流转五道，忧畏勤苦不可具言，至于今世生死不绝。与佛相值听受经法，又复得闻阿弥陀佛，快哉甚善，吾助汝喜。汝今可厌生、老、病、死痛苦，恶露不净，无可乐者。宜自决断端身正行，益作诸善修已洁体，洗除心垢，言行忠信，表里相应。人能自度转相拯济，精明求愿积累善本；虽一切勤苦，亦须臾之间，后生阿弥陀佛刹，快乐无极，长与道德合 现代汉语译本 第四十九品 五道昭明 佛说：‘用苦心劝导，使人得以解脱，如果他们不相信、不领悟，对他们就没有益处。大限将至，即使后悔也来不及了。天地之间，五道（指地狱、饿鬼、畜生、人、天）昭然分明，广阔无垠，深邃幽暗，业报相生，轮转承受，善恶报应，都由自己承担。是谁造成的这样呢？是自然规律。善人行善，从快乐走向快乐，从光明走向光明。恶人行恶，从痛苦走向痛苦，从黑暗走向黑暗。世人迷惑于此，恶道不断，所以有自然的地狱、饿鬼、禽兽、蜎飞蠕动（指微小的生物）等，在其中辗转轮回，世世代代，无法脱离。这是大患，痛苦难以言说，只有修持净土才能直接超越。’ 第五十品 寿数随意 弥勒菩萨又对佛说：‘今天听闻佛所说，没有不欢喜的。诸天人民乃至蜎飞蠕动之类，都蒙受慈悲恩泽，得到解脱之法，佛的教诲真是太好太深了。’ 佛说：‘你从无数劫以来修菩萨行，想要度化诸天人民，乃至蜎飞蠕动之类，从你那里得道的人数不胜数，达到涅槃（指佛教的最高境界）的人，也数不胜数。你和十方世界诸天帝王人民，以及比丘僧（指男性出家人）、比丘尼（指女性出家人）、优婆塞（指在家男居士）、优婆夷（指在家女居士）等，从无数劫以来在五道中流转，忧愁畏惧，勤劳辛苦，难以尽述，直到今世生死轮回不绝。与佛相遇，听闻经法，又听闻阿弥陀佛（西方极乐世界的佛），真是太好了，我为你感到高兴。你现在应该厌恶生、老、病、死的痛苦，身体污秽不净，没有什么值得留恋的。应该自己下定决心，端正身心，行为正直，多做善事，修养自身，洁净身体，洗涤心中的污垢，言行忠诚守信，表里如一。人能自我救度，转而互相救济，精进努力，求愿积累善根；即使一切勤劳辛苦，也只是须臾之间，将来往生阿弥陀佛的刹土（指佛的国土），快乐无极，永远与道德相合。’
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English version Chapter 49: The Clear Illumination of the Five Paths The Buddha said, 'To speak with a suffering heart to lead to liberation, if they do not believe and understand, it is of no benefit to them. When the great life is about to end, regret will be too late. Between heaven and earth, the five paths (referring to hell, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, and gods) are clearly illuminated, vast and boundless, deep and obscure. The karmic retributions arise and are received in turn. Good and evil, cruel and poisonous, all are borne by oneself. Who causes this to be so? It is the natural law. Good people do good, going from joy to joy, from light to light. Evil people do evil, going from suffering to suffering, from darkness to darkness. People of the world are deluded by this, and the evil paths do not cease. Therefore, there are natural hells, hungry ghosts, birds and beasts, and creatures that crawl and fly, revolving within them, age after age, without any way to escape. This is a great affliction, the pain is unspeakable. Only by cultivating the Pure Land can one directly transcend it.' Chapter 50: Lifespan as Desired Maitreya Bodhisattva again said to the Buddha, 'Today, hearing what the Buddha has said, there is no one who is not joyful. All the gods and people, even the creatures that crawl and fly, have received the compassionate grace and the method of liberation. The Buddha's teachings are truly excellent and profound.' The Buddha said, 'You have cultivated the Bodhisattva path for countless kalpas, desiring to liberate the gods and people, even the creatures that crawl and fly. Those who have attained the Way from you are countless, and those who have attained Nirvana (the highest state in Buddhism) are also countless. You and the gods, emperors, and people of the ten directions, as well as monks (male renunciates), nuns (female renunciates), laymen (male lay practitioners), and laywomen (female lay practitioners), have been revolving in the five paths for countless kalpas, with worries, fears, diligence, and suffering that cannot be fully described, until this present life where the cycle of birth and death continues. Meeting the Buddha, hearing the scriptures, and hearing about Amitabha Buddha (the Buddha of the Western Pure Land), is truly wonderful, and I rejoice with you. You should now be disgusted with the suffering of birth, old age, sickness, and death, the filth and impurity of the body, and that there is nothing to be attached to. You should resolve to correct your body and mind, act righteously, do more good deeds, cultivate yourself, purify your body, cleanse the defilements of your heart, and be faithful and trustworthy in your words and actions, with inner and outer consistency. People can save themselves and then help each other, diligently seek and accumulate good roots. Even if there is all kinds of hard work and suffering, it is only for a short time. In the future, you will be reborn in the land of Amitabha Buddha, where there is boundless joy, and you will forever be in harmony with virtue.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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明，永拔生死根本，无复贪、恚、愚痴苦恼之患。欲寿一劫、百劫、千劫、万亿劫、无央数劫、不可复计劫，皆随意所欲，无不得之。欲衣得衣，欲食得食，皆如其意，次于泥洹之道。汝等各宜精进无得狐疑，无得中悔自为过咎，以至生于彼刹边地，虽在七宝城中，经五百岁，受其困谪。” 八端检束分第五十一 佛言：“汝等当自端身，当自端心，耳、目、鼻、口、手、足，皆当自端束检中外，无随嗜欲；益作诸善，当布恩施德，不犯道禁，忍辱、精进、一心、智慧，展转复相教化，使彼为德立善，慈心正意斋戒清净；如是一昼夜，胜于阿弥陀佛刹中为善百岁。所以者何？以彼刹中无修营为，物皆自有，人悉为善，无毛发之恶。于此修善十昼夜，胜于他方佛刹为善千岁。所以者何？他方佛刹悉皆为善，无造恶之所，故其福德亦皆自然。其次有世界，为善者多，为恶者少，亦有自然之物，不待修营。若此世界中，为恶极多，为善极少，不自修治物无自有，或转相欺诒劳心苦形，如是匆务未尝宁息。吾哀世人教诲切至，令超彼岸，永脱苦趣。” 众见佛相分第五十二 佛告阿难：“汝起整衣、合掌恭敬，面西为阿弥陀佛作礼。” 阿难如教作礼，白佛言：“愿见阿弥陀佛，及极乐世界， 现代汉语译本：明白了这个道理，就能永远拔除生死轮回的根本，不再有贪婪、嗔恨、愚痴等苦恼的困扰。想要活一个劫、一百个劫、一千个劫、一万亿个劫、无数个劫、不可计数的劫，都能随心所欲，没有得不到的。想要衣服就能得到衣服，想要食物就能得到食物，一切都如意，逐渐接近涅槃之道。你们各自应当精进修行，不要疑惑，不要半途而废，自认为犯了过错，以至于出生在那个佛国的边地，即使住在七宝城中，也要经历五百年的困苦和贬谪。 第五十一品：八端检束 佛说：‘你们应当端正自己的身形，端正自己的心念，耳朵、眼睛、鼻子、嘴巴、手、脚，都要自我端正约束，内外都要检点，不要随顺自己的嗜好欲望；要多做各种善事，要广施恩德，不违犯佛道的禁戒，要忍辱、精进、一心、智慧，辗转互相教化，使他们也行善立德，以慈悲心、正念、斋戒清净。像这样修行一天一夜，胜过在阿弥陀佛的佛国中行善一百年。为什么呢？因为那个佛国中没有需要修造营建的事物，一切都是自然而有的，人们都行善，没有丝毫的恶念。在这里修行善事十天十夜，胜过在其他佛国行善一千年。为什么呢？因为其他佛国都行善，没有造恶的地方，所以他们的福德也都是自然而有的。其次还有一些世界，行善的人多，作恶的人少，也有自然而有的事物，不需要修造营建。如果在这个世界中，作恶的人极多，行善的人极少，不自己修治，事物就没有自然而有的，或者互相欺骗，劳心苦形，这样匆忙劳碌，没有片刻安宁。我哀怜世人，教诲他们要切记，令他们超越此岸，永远脱离苦难的境地。’ 第五十二品：众见佛相 佛告诉阿难：‘你起身整理好衣服，合掌恭敬，面向西方，向阿弥陀佛行礼。’ 阿难按照佛的教导行礼，对佛说：‘我希望见到阿弥陀佛，以及极乐世界。’
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English version: Understanding this, one can forever eradicate the root of birth and death, and be free from the afflictions of greed, hatred, and ignorance. One can live for one kalpa (an eon), a hundred kalpas, a thousand kalpas, a hundred million kalpas, countless kalpas, or immeasurable kalpas, all according to one's wish, and there is nothing one cannot obtain. If one desires clothing, one obtains clothing; if one desires food, one obtains food; everything is as one wishes, gradually approaching the path of Nirvana. Each of you should diligently cultivate, not doubt, not give up halfway, and not consider yourselves to have committed faults, lest you be born in the borderlands of that Buddha-land, where, even if you live in a city of seven treasures, you will still endure five hundred years of hardship and exile. Chapter 51: The Eight Restraints The Buddha said, 'You should rectify your own bodies, rectify your own minds. Your ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands, and feet should all be self-rectified and restrained, both internally and externally. Do not follow your desires and cravings; do more good deeds, spread kindness and virtue, do not violate the precepts of the Way, practice patience, diligence, single-mindedness, and wisdom. Teach and transform each other, so that they too will do good and establish virtue, with compassionate hearts, right thoughts, and pure fasting and abstinence. Practicing like this for one day and one night is superior to doing good for a hundred years in Amitabha's Buddha-land. Why is this so? Because in that Buddha-land, there is no need for construction or cultivation; everything is naturally there, and all people do good, without a single evil thought. Cultivating good deeds here for ten days and ten nights is superior to doing good for a thousand years in other Buddha-lands. Why is this so? Because in other Buddha-lands, everyone does good, and there is no place for evil, so their merits are also naturally there. There are also other worlds where there are more people doing good than evil, and there are also naturally occurring things that do not require cultivation. If in this world, there are many who do evil and very few who do good, and if things are not cultivated, they will not naturally exist. People deceive each other, laboring their minds and bodies, and are constantly busy without rest. I pity the people of the world and teach them earnestly, so that they may cross to the other shore and be forever free from suffering.' Chapter 52: The Assembly Sees the Buddha's Form The Buddha said to Ananda, 'Arise, arrange your robes, join your palms in reverence, and face west to pay homage to Amitabha Buddha.' Ananda followed the Buddha's instructions and paid homage, then said to the Buddha, 'I wish to see Amitabha Buddha and the Land of Ultimate Bliss.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------