English
English version: 'They use barley flour and honey, along with ornate vessels filled with juice, to offer to the king; the Shramanas (ascetics) Maudgalyayana (one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, known for his supernatural powers) and Purna (one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, known for his eloquence in teaching), come from the sky to preach to the king, and cannot be stopped.' At that time, Ajatashatru (the king's name), upon hearing these words, angrily rebuked his mother, saying: 'My mother is a thief, associating with thieves; the Shramanas are evil people, using illusions and spells to keep this evil king from dying for many days.' He then drew his sharp sword, intending to kill his mother. At this moment, there was a minister named Moonlight, intelligent and wise, and Jivaka (a famous physician), who together bowed to the king. They reported: 'Great King! Your ministers have heard it said in the 'Veda Sutras' (ancient Indian scriptures): 'Since the beginning of time, there have been many evil kings who, out of greed for the throne, have killed their fathers, numbering eighteen thousand.' But it has never been heard that anyone has killed their mother without any moral reason. Your Majesty is now about to commit such a heinous act, defiling the Kshatriya (one of the four major castes in ancient India, referring to warriors and rulers) lineage. Your ministers cannot bear to hear this! Such an act is like that of a Chandala (the lowest caste in ancient India, engaged in professions considered unclean), and we should not remain here any longer.' After saying these words, the two ministers placed their hands on their swords and retreated. At that time, Ajatashatru was terrified and frightened, and said to Jivaka: 'Will you not help me?' Jivaka reported: 'Great King! Please do not harm your mother.' Upon hearing these words, the king repented and sought help, immediately putting down his sword, ceasing his intention to kill his mother, and ordered the palace officials: 'Confine her in the deep palace, and do not let her come out again.' At that time, Vaidehi (the queen's name), after being imprisoned, was filled with sorrow and grief; she looked towards Mount Gridhrakuta (the mountain where the Buddha often resided), and bowed to the Buddha, saying: 'The Tathagata, the World Honored One (an epithet for the Buddha), in the past, often sent Ananda (one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, known for his great memory) to comfort me; now I am sorrowful, and the World Honored One is majestic and venerable, and I have no way to see him; I wish that you would send the Venerable Maudgalyayana and the Venerable Ananda to see me.' After saying these words, she wept with sorrow, tears streaming down her face, and bowed towards the Buddha. Before she could lift her head, at that time, the World Honored One was on Mount Gridhrakuta, and knowing what Vaidehi was thinking, he immediately ordered Mahamudgalyayana and Ananda to come from the sky. The Buddha disappeared from Mount Gridhrakuta and appeared in the royal palace. At that time, Vaidehi, after bowing, lifted her head and saw the World Honored One, Shakyamuni Buddha (the Buddha's given name), his body radiating a purple-golden light, sitting on a lotus flower made of a hundred treasures. Maudgalyayana was standing on his left, Ananda on his right, and the Shakra, Brahma, and the guardian deities of the world (deities in Buddhism) were in the sky. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
空中，普雨天华，持用供养。时韦提希见佛世尊，自绝璎珞，举身投地，号泣向佛。白言：“世尊！我宿何罪，生此恶子？世尊复有何等因缘，与提婆达多共为眷属？唯愿世尊，为我广说无忧恼处，我当往生，不乐阎浮提浊恶世也。此浊恶处，地狱、饿鬼、畜生盈满，多不善聚。愿我未来不闻恶声，不见恶人。今向世尊五体投地，求哀忏悔。唯愿佛日教我观于清净业处。” 尔时世尊放眉间光，其光金色，遍照十方无量世界；还住佛顶，化为金台，如须弥山。十方诸佛净妙国土，皆于中现。或有国土七宝合成；复有国土纯是莲花；复有国土如自在天宫；复有国土如颇梨镜；十方国土皆于中现。有如是等无量诸佛国土严显可观，令韦提希见。 时韦提希白佛言：“世尊！是诸佛土，虽复清净，皆有光明；我今乐生极乐世界阿弥陀佛所。唯愿世尊，教我思惟，教我正受。” 尔时世尊即便微笑，有五色光，从佛口出，一一光照频婆娑罗王顶。尔时大王虽在幽闭，心眼无障，遥见世尊，头面作礼；自然增进，成阿那含。 尔时世尊告韦提希：“汝今知不？阿弥陀佛去此不远；汝当系念，谛观彼国净业成者。我今为汝广说众譬，亦令未来世一切凡夫欲修净业者，得生西方极乐国土。欲生彼国者，当修 现代汉语译本：空中飘落着天花，像雨一样，人们拿着这些花来供养。这时，韦提希（Vaidehi，人名）见到佛世尊，她解下身上的璎珞（yingluo，一种装饰品），全身扑倒在地，哭泣着向佛诉说：‘世尊！我前世造了什么罪孽，竟然生下这样的恶子？世尊又是什么因缘，与提婆达多（Devadatta，佛陀的堂弟，后背叛佛陀）成为眷属？只愿世尊，为我详细解说没有忧愁烦恼的地方，我应当往生到那里，不乐意待在这阎浮提（Jambudvipa，我们所居住的这个世界）污浊罪恶的世界。这个污浊罪恶的地方，地狱、饿鬼、畜生到处都是，聚集着许多不善的事物。愿我未来不再听到恶声，不再见到恶人。现在我向世尊五体投地，求哀忏悔。只愿佛陀教我如何观想清净的修行之处。’ 这时，世尊从眉间放出光芒，那光芒是金色的，遍照十方无量世界；光芒返回到佛的头顶，化成金色的台座，像须弥山（Sumeru，佛教中的圣山）一样。十方诸佛清净美好的国土，都显现在其中。有的国土是用七宝合成的；有的国土纯粹是莲花；有的国土像自在天宫（Svarga，天界）；有的国土像颇梨镜（Sphatika，一种透明的宝石）；十方国土都显现在其中。有这样等等无量诸佛国土，庄严美好，可以观看，让韦提希看到。 这时，韦提希对佛说：‘世尊！这些佛土，虽然清净，都有光明；我现在乐意往生到极乐世界阿弥陀佛（Amitabha，佛教中西方极乐世界的佛）那里。只愿世尊，教我如何思惟，教我如何正确地修行。’ 这时，世尊就微笑起来，有五色光，从佛口中发出，每一道光都照在频婆娑罗王（Bimbisara，古印度摩揭陀国王）的头顶。这时，大王虽然被囚禁在幽暗之处，心眼却没有障碍，遥远地见到世尊，向佛顶礼；自然地修行增进，成就了阿那含（Anagamin，佛教修行果位之一）。 这时，世尊告诉韦提希：‘你现在知道吗？阿弥陀佛离这里不远；你应当集中意念，仔细观察那个国土清净的修行成就。我现在为你详细解说各种譬喻，也让未来世一切想要修习净业的凡夫，能够往生到西方极乐国土。想要往生到那个国土的人，应当修习三种福业。’
English
English version: In the sky, heavenly flowers rained down like a shower, and people used them for offerings. At that time, Vaidehi (a proper noun) saw the Buddha, the World Honored One. She removed her necklace, threw herself to the ground, and cried out to the Buddha, saying: 'World Honored One! What sins did I commit in my past life that I gave birth to such an evil son? What is the cause and condition that the World Honored One is related to Devadatta (Buddha's cousin who later betrayed him)? I only wish that the World Honored One would explain to me in detail a place without sorrow and affliction, where I should be reborn. I do not wish to remain in this defiled and evil world of Jambudvipa (the world we live in). This defiled and evil place is filled with hells, hungry ghosts, and animals, and is a gathering place for many unwholesome things. I wish that in the future I will not hear evil sounds or see evil people. Now I prostrate myself before the World Honored One, seeking mercy and repentance. I only wish that the Buddha would teach me how to contemplate a pure place of practice.' At that time, the World Honored One emitted light from between his eyebrows. The light was golden, illuminating countless worlds in the ten directions. The light returned to the top of the Buddha's head, transforming into a golden platform, like Mount Sumeru (a sacred mountain in Buddhism). The pure and wonderful lands of all the Buddhas in the ten directions appeared within it. Some lands were made of seven treasures; some lands were purely lotus flowers; some lands were like the palaces of the Svarga (heavenly realm); some lands were like Sphatika (a transparent gemstone) mirrors. All the lands in the ten directions appeared within it. There were countless Buddha lands like these, adorned and beautiful to behold, for Vaidehi to see. At that time, Vaidehi said to the Buddha: 'World Honored One! Although these Buddha lands are pure and have light, I now wish to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss of Amitabha Buddha (the Buddha of the Western Pure Land). I only wish that the World Honored One would teach me how to contemplate, and teach me how to practice correctly.' At that time, the World Honored One smiled, and five-colored lights came out of the Buddha's mouth. Each light shone on the head of King Bimbisara (the king of Magadha in ancient India). At that time, although the king was imprisoned in a dark place, his mind's eye was not obstructed. He saw the World Honored One from afar and bowed to the Buddha. He naturally progressed in his practice and attained the state of Anagamin (one of the stages of Buddhist practice). At that time, the World Honored One said to Vaidehi: 'Do you know now? Amitabha Buddha is not far from here. You should concentrate your mind and carefully observe the pure practice that has been accomplished in that land. I will now explain various metaphors for you, so that all ordinary people in the future who wish to cultivate pure karma can be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Those who wish to be reborn in that land should cultivate three kinds of meritorious deeds.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
三福：一者、孝养父母，奉事师长，慈心不杀，修十善业。二者、受持三归，具足众戒，不犯威仪。三者、发菩提心，深信因果，读诵大乘，劝进行者。如此三事名为净业。” 佛告韦提希：“汝今知不？此三种业，乃是过去、未来、现在三世诸佛净业正因。” 佛告阿难及韦提希：“谛听，谛听！善思念之。如来今者，为未来世一切众生为烦恼贼之所害者，说清净业。善哉韦提希！快问此事。阿难！汝当受持，广为多众宣说佛语。如来今者，教韦提希及未来世一切众生观于西方极乐世界。以佛力故，当得见彼清净国土，如执明镜自见面像。见彼国土极妙乐事，心欢喜故，应时即得无生法忍。” 佛告韦提希：“汝是凡夫，心想羸劣，未得天眼，不能远观；诸佛如来有异方便，令汝得见。” 时韦提希白佛言：“世尊！如我今者，以佛力故见彼国土。若佛灭后，诸众生等，浊恶不善，五苦所逼，云何当见阿弥陀佛极乐世界？” 佛告韦提希：“汝及众生应当专心，系念一处，想于西方。云何作想？凡作想者，一切众生自非生盲，有目之徒，皆见日没。当起想念，正坐西向，谛观于日，令心坚住，专想不移。见日欲没，状如悬鼓。既见日已，闭目开目皆令明了。是为日想，名曰初观。作 现代汉语译本 有三种福业：第一，孝养父母，侍奉师长，慈悲不杀生，修习十善业。第二，受持三归依（皈依佛、法、僧），具足持守各种戒律，不违犯威仪。第三，发起菩提心（觉悟之心），深信因果报应，读诵大乘经典，劝勉他人修行。这三件事称为净业。 佛告诉韦提希：‘你现在知道吗？这三种业，是过去、未来、现在三世诸佛修习净业的正因。’ 佛告诉阿难和韦提希：‘仔细听，仔细听！好好思考并记住。如来我现在，为未来世一切被烦恼贼所伤害的众生，宣说清净的修行方法。很好啊，韦提希！你问得好。阿难！你应当接受并持守，广泛地为大众宣说佛的教诲。如来我现在，教导韦提希以及未来世的一切众生观想西方极乐世界。凭借佛的力量，应当能够见到那清净的国土，就像拿着明镜照见自己的面容一样。见到那国土极其美妙快乐的景象，心中欢喜，当下就能得到无生法忍（对诸法不生不灭的体悟）。’ 佛告诉韦提希：‘你是凡夫，心念软弱，没有得到天眼，不能够远观。诸佛如来有特别的方法，让你能够见到。’ 这时，韦提希对佛说：‘世尊！我现在凭借佛的力量见到了那个国土。如果佛灭度后，众生处在污浊恶劣的环境中，被五种痛苦所逼迫，要如何才能见到阿弥陀佛的极乐世界呢？’ 佛告诉韦提希：‘你和众生应当专心，将心念集中在一处，观想西方。要如何观想呢？凡是观想的人，只要不是天生失明，有眼睛的人，都能看到太阳落山。应当开始观想，端正坐姿面向西方，仔细观察太阳，使心念坚定不移，专心观想不移动。看到太阳将要落山，形状像悬挂的鼓。看到太阳之后，闭上眼睛和睁开眼睛都应当清晰明了。这就是日想，称为初观。’