English
English version: They commit many evil deeds, without any sense of shame. When their life is about to end, they encounter a good teacher, who praises the names of the twelve divisions of the Mahayana scriptures. By hearing the names of these scriptures, they eliminate extremely heavy evil karma accumulated over thousands of kalpas. The wise teacher then instructs them to join their palms and bow, reciting ‘Namo Amitabha Buddha’ (Homage to Amitabha Buddha). By reciting the Buddha's name, they eliminate the sins of birth and death accumulated over fifty billion kalpas. At that time, that Buddha immediately sends a transformation Buddha, a transformation Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva of compassion, who observes the sounds of the world), and a transformation Mahasthamaprapta (Bodhisattva of great power), to appear before the practitioner, praising them, saying: ‘Excellent! Good man! Because you have recited the Buddha's name, all your sins are eliminated, and I have come to welcome you.’ After saying these words, the practitioner sees the light of the transformation Buddha, filling their room. Having seen this, they rejoice and then pass away. They ride on a jeweled lotus flower, following the transformation Buddha, and are reborn in the jeweled pond. After forty-nine days, the lotus flower blooms. When the flower blooms, the compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva emit great light, standing before that person, and explain the profound twelve divisions of the scriptures. Having heard and understood them, they develop the supreme aspiration for enlightenment. After ten small kalpas, they perfect the hundred gates of understanding, and enter the first stage (of Bodhisattva practice); this is called the upper level of the lower grade of rebirth; they are able to hear the name of the Buddha, the name of the Dharma, and the name of the Sangha, and by hearing the names of the Three Jewels, they are able to be reborn. The Buddha told Ananda (one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, known for his great learning) and Vaidehi (Queen of Magadha in ancient India): ‘Those who are reborn in the middle level of the lower grade, may be beings who have violated the five precepts (not to kill, not to steal, not to commit sexual misconduct, not to lie, not to consume intoxicants), the eight precepts (eight precepts observed by lay Buddhist disciples), and the full precepts (precepts observed by monks and nuns). Such foolish people steal from the Sangha's property, steal from the property used by the present Sangha, speak the Dharma with impure words, without any sense of shame, and adorn themselves with various evil practices. Such sinners, because of their evil karma, should fall into hell. When their life is about to end, the fires of hell all arrive at once. They encounter a good teacher who, with great compassion, praises the ten powers (ten powers of a Buddha) and virtues of Amitabha Buddha, extensively praises the light and spiritual power of that Buddha, and also praises the precepts, concentration, wisdom (three aspects of Buddhist practice), liberation, and the knowledge and vision of liberation (the fruits of Buddhist practice). After hearing this, this person eliminates the sins of birth and death accumulated over eighty billion kalpas. The fierce fires of hell transform into a cool breeze, blowing heavenly flowers. On the flowers are transformation Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, welcoming this person. In an instant, they are reborn within a lotus flower in the seven-jeweled pond. After six kalpas, the lotus flower blooms.’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
。当华敷时，观世音、大势至，以梵音声安慰彼人，为说大乘甚深经典。闻此法已，应时即发无上道心。是名下品中生者。” 佛告阿难及韦提希：“下品下生者，或有众生作不善业，五逆、十恶，具诸不善。如此愚人以恶业故，应堕恶道，经历多劫，受苦无穷。如此愚人临命终时，遇善知识，种种安慰，为说妙法，教令念佛，彼人苦逼不遑念佛。善友告言：‘汝若不能念彼佛者，应称归命无量寿佛。’如是至心令声不绝，具足十念，称南无阿弥陀佛。称佛名故，于念念中，除八十亿劫生死之罪。命终之时见金莲花，犹如日轮，住其人前，如一念顷，即得往生极乐世界。于莲花中满十二大劫，莲花方开。当花敷时，观世音、大势至以大悲音声，即为其人广说实相，除灭罪法。闻已欢喜，应时即发菩提之心；是名下品下生者。是名下辈生想，名第十六观。” 尔时世尊说是语时，韦提希与五百侍女，闻佛所说，应时即见极乐世界广长之相，得见佛身及二菩萨。心生欢喜，叹未曾有，豁然大悟，得无生忍。五百侍女发阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心，愿生彼国。世尊悉记，皆当往生，生彼国已，获得诸佛现前三昧。无量诸天，发无上道心。 尔时阿难，即从座起，前白佛言：“世尊！当何名此经？此法之要，当 现代汉语译本：当莲花开放时，观世音（Avalokiteśvara，菩萨名）和大势至（Mahāsthāmaprāpta，菩萨名）会以清净的梵音安慰那个人，为他宣说大乘深奥的经典。听闻此法后，他当下就会发起无上菩提道心。这被称为下品中生者。 佛陀告诉阿难和韦提希：‘下品下生者，是指那些造作不善业的众生，犯下五逆（杀父、杀母、杀阿罗汉、破和合僧、出佛身血）、十恶（杀生、偷盗、邪淫、妄语、两舌、恶口、绮语、贪欲、嗔恚、邪见），具足各种不善行为。这样的愚人因为恶业的缘故，应当堕入恶道，经历无数劫，遭受无尽的痛苦。这样的愚人在临命终时，遇到善知识，得到种种安慰，为他宣说微妙的佛法，教导他念佛。这个人因为痛苦逼迫，没有时间念佛。善友就告诉他：‘你如果不能念佛，应当称念归命无量寿佛。’这样至诚恳切地使声音不间断，具足十念，称念‘南无阿弥陀佛’。因为称念佛名的缘故，在每一个念头中，都能消除八十亿劫生死之罪。临命终时，会看见金莲花，犹如太阳一般，出现在他面前。在一念之间，就能往生极乐世界。在莲花中经过十二大劫，莲花才会开放。当莲花开放时，观世音和大势至会以大悲音声，为他广说实相，消除罪业。听闻后，他会欢喜，当下就会发起菩提之心；这被称为下品下生者。这就是下辈往生的观想，称为第十六观。’ 这时，世尊说完这些话时，韦提希和五百位侍女，听闻佛陀所说，当下就看见了极乐世界广阔庄严的景象，得见佛身以及两位菩萨。心中生起欢喜，赞叹从未有过，豁然大悟，证得无生法忍。五百位侍女发起了阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心（无上正等正觉之心），愿生彼国。世尊都为她们授记，她们都将往生彼国，往生彼国后，将获得诸佛现前三昧（一种禅定境界）。无数诸天，也发起了无上菩提道心。 这时，阿难即从座位起身，向前禀告佛陀：‘世尊！这部经应当叫什么名字？这部佛法的要义，应当如何奉持？’
English
English version: When the lotus flower opens, Avalokiteśvara (Guanyin, a Bodhisattva) and Mahāsthāmaprāpta (Dashizhi, a Bodhisattva) will comfort that person with pure Brahma sounds, and explain the profound Mahayana scriptures to him. Upon hearing this Dharma, he will immediately awaken the supreme Bodhi mind. This is called the Middle Grade of the Lower Level of Rebirth. The Buddha told Ananda and Vaidehi: 'Those who are born in the Lowest Grade of the Lower Level are those beings who have committed unwholesome deeds, the five heinous crimes (killing one's father, killing one's mother, killing an Arhat, disrupting the Sangha, and shedding the blood of a Buddha), the ten evils (killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, divisive speech, harsh speech, idle chatter, greed, hatred, and wrong views), and are full of all kinds of unwholesome actions. Such foolish people, because of their evil karma, should fall into evil realms, experience countless kalpas, and suffer endless pain. When such a foolish person is about to die, he encounters a good teacher, receives various comforts, and is told the wonderful Dharma, and is taught to recite the Buddha's name. Because he is tormented by pain, he has no time to recite the Buddha's name. The good friend then tells him: 'If you cannot recite the name of that Buddha, you should recite the name of Amitāyus Buddha with devotion.' In this way, with sincere devotion, he should recite without interruption, completing ten recitations, reciting 'Namo Amitābha Buddha'. Because of reciting the Buddha's name, in each thought, he can eliminate the sins of eighty billion kalpas of birth and death. At the time of death, he will see a golden lotus flower, like the sun, appearing before him. In an instant, he will be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. After twelve great kalpas in the lotus flower, the lotus will open. When the lotus opens, Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta will use their great compassionate voices to explain the true nature of reality and eliminate his karmic sins. Upon hearing this, he will rejoice and immediately awaken the Bodhi mind; this is called the Lowest Grade of the Lower Level of Rebirth. This is the contemplation of the rebirth of the lower level, called the Sixteenth Contemplation.' At that time, when the World Honored One finished speaking these words, Vaidehi and her five hundred maids, upon hearing what the Buddha had said, immediately saw the vast and magnificent appearance of the Land of Ultimate Bliss, and saw the Buddha's body and the two Bodhisattvas. Their hearts were filled with joy, they praised what they had never seen before, and they suddenly awakened, attaining the patience of non-birth. The five hundred maids awakened the Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi mind (the mind of unsurpassed perfect enlightenment), and wished to be reborn in that land. The World Honored One predicted that they would all be reborn in that land, and after being reborn in that land, they would attain the Samadhi of the Buddhas' presence. Countless devas also awakened the supreme Bodhi mind. At that time, Ananda immediately rose from his seat, and approached the Buddha, saying: 'World Honored One! What should this scripture be called? How should we uphold the essence of this Dharma?' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
云何受持？”佛告阿难：“此经名‘观极乐国土无量寿佛观世音菩萨大势至菩萨’，亦名‘净除业障生诸佛前’。汝当受持，无令忘失！行此三昧者，现身得见无量寿佛及二大士。若善男子及善女人，但闻佛名、二菩萨名，除无量劫生死之罪，何况忆念！若念佛者，当知此人即是人中芬陀利花，观世音菩萨、大势至菩萨为其胜友，当坐道场，生诸佛家。” 佛告阿难：“汝好持是语。持是语者，即是持无量寿佛名。” 佛说此语时，尊者目连、尊者阿难及韦提希等，闻佛所说，皆大欢喜。 尔时世尊，足步虚空，还耆阇崛山。尔时，阿难广为大众说如上事。无量人、天、龙、神、夜叉，闻佛所说，皆大欢喜，礼佛而退。 佛说观无量寿佛经 现代汉语译本 “如何受持？”佛告诉阿难说：“这部经名为‘观极乐国土无量寿佛（Amitayus，意为无量寿）观世音菩萨（Avalokiteśvara，意为观世音）大势至菩萨（Mahāsthāmaprāpta，意为大势至）’，也名为‘净除业障生诸佛前’。你应当受持，不要忘记！修行此三昧的人，今生就能得见无量寿佛及两位大菩萨。如果善男子和善女人，只要听到佛的名号、两位菩萨的名号，就能消除无量劫的生死之罪，更何况是忆念他们！如果念佛的人，应当知道这个人就是人中的芬陀利花（Pundarika，意为白莲花），观世音菩萨、大势至菩萨是他的殊胜朋友，将来会坐在道场，出生在诸佛的家中。” 佛告诉阿难说：“你要好好记住这些话。记住这些话，就是记住无量寿佛的名号。” 佛说这些话的时候，尊者目连（Maudgalyāyana，佛陀十大弟子之一）、尊者阿难以及韦提希（Vaidehi，频婆娑罗王的王后）等，听到佛所说，都非常欢喜。 这时，世尊脚踏虚空，返回耆阇崛山（Gṛdhrakūṭa，又名灵鹫山）。当时，阿难为大众广泛宣说以上的事情。无数的人、天、龙、神、夜叉，听到佛所说，都非常欢喜，礼拜佛后退下。 《佛说观无量寿佛经》
English
English version ‘How should it be received and upheld?’ The Buddha told Ananda, ‘This sutra is named “Visualization of the Land of Ultimate Bliss, Amitayus (Infinite Life) Buddha, Avalokiteśvara (The one who perceives the sounds of the world) Bodhisattva, and Mahāsthāmaprāpta (Great Strength) Bodhisattva,” and is also named “Purifying Karmic Obstacles and Being Born Before All Buddhas.” You should receive and uphold it, do not let it be forgotten! Those who practice this samadhi will, in this very life, see Amitayus Buddha and the two great Bodhisattvas. If good men and good women only hear the names of the Buddha and the two Bodhisattvas, they will eliminate the sins of countless kalpas of birth and death, how much more so if they remember them! If one is mindful of the Buddha, know that this person is the Pundarika (White Lotus) flower among people, Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva are their excellent friends, they will sit at the place of enlightenment, and be born into the family of all Buddhas.’ The Buddha told Ananda, ‘You should well remember these words. To remember these words is to remember the name of Amitayus Buddha.’ When the Buddha spoke these words, Venerable Maudgalyāyana, Venerable Ananda, and Vaidehi, and others, hearing what the Buddha had said, were all greatly delighted. At that time, the World Honored One, walking in the air, returned to Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa. At that time, Ananda widely explained the above matters to the assembly. Countless humans, devas, dragons, spirits, and yakshas, hearing what the Buddha had said, were all greatly delighted, bowed to the Buddha, and withdrew. The Sutra on the Visualization of Amitayus Buddha Spoken by the Buddha --------------------------------------------------------------------------------