English
English version It is impossible to build palaces in the sky. Similarly, O youth (referring to a young Bodhisattva)! A Bodhisattva wishes to liberate people, therefore he vows to attain a Buddha-field (Buddha-kshetra); vowing to attain a Buddha-field is not achieved in emptiness. O youth! You should know that a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he has no selfish desires for the country, and he is born in a Buddha-land because he does not proclaim 'my' teachings to illuminate the people; a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he possesses a virtuous nature towards the country, and he is born in a Buddha-land because he can accomplish all kinds of good deeds and become an important support for the people; a Bodhisattva promotes his righteous intentions, therefore he attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field, and he always guides the people with the Great Vehicle (Mahayana) Dharma, thereby obtaining a Buddha-land; a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he practices generosity for the sake of the country, and he bestows all generosity upon the people, and is born in a Buddha-land; a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he upholds the precepts for the sake of the country, and he fulfills all his vows, and unites the people with the ten wholesome actions (Dasa-kusala), and is born in a Buddha-land; a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he practices patience for the sake of the country, and he adorns himself with the thirty-two major marks (Dvātrimśadvara-laksana), and tames the people with his patient conduct, and is born in a Buddha-land; a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he practices diligence for the sake of the country, and he unites the people with the roots of virtue and diligent effort, and is born in a Buddha-land; a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he practices meditation for the sake of the country, and he already knows how to pacify the people with right mindfulness, and is born in a Buddha-land; a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he cultivates wisdom for the sake of the country, and he can guide the people to success with the right path, and is born in a Buddha-land; a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he practices the four immeasurables (Catur-apramana) for the sake of the country, and he protects all the people with loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, and is born in a Buddha-land; a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he practices the four means of conversion (Catur-samgraha-vastu) for the sake of the country, and he unites the people with generosity, loving speech, beneficial action, and equality, and all kinds of aid, and is born in a Buddha-land; a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he practices skillful means, and he uses all skillful means to guide the people towards goodness, and is born in a Buddha-land; a Bodhisattva attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field because he practices the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment (Bodhipaksika-dharma), and he encourages the people to advance with the roots, powers, awakening factors, and paths, and is born in a Buddha-land; a Bodhisattva disseminates the Dharma, therefore he attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field, and he is able to see the Buddha-land by demonstrating all virtuous and wholesome actions; a Bodhisattva preaches the Dharma of removing the eight difficulties (Asta-pratibimba), therefore he attains enlightenment in a Buddha-field --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
一切为断恶道众难而有佛土；菩萨自觉不讥彼受故，于佛国得道，断诸邪受而有佛土；菩萨净修十善之行故，于佛国得道，而不离偶大财梵行，诚谛之语，免于恶道，言以柔软，不别眷属，恒与善俱，无有嫉慢，除忿怒意，以正见诲人，生于佛土。如是，童子！菩萨以应此行，便有名誉；已有名誉，便生善处；已生善处，便受其福；已受其福，便能分德；已能分德，便行善权；已行善权，则佛国净；已佛国净，则人物净；已人物净，则有净智；已有净智，则有净教；已有净教，则受清净。如是，童子！菩萨欲使佛国清净，当以净意作如应行。所以者何？菩萨以意净故，得佛国净。” 贤者舍利弗，承佛威神，心念是语：“以意净故得佛国净，我世尊本为菩萨时，意岂不净，而是佛国不净若此？” 佛知其意，即报言：“云何，舍利弗！我日月净，不见色者，岂日月过耶？” 对曰：“不也。非日月过。” 佛言：“此，舍利弗！咎在众人无有智慧，不见如来佛国严净，非如来咎。此，舍利弗！我佛国净，汝又未见。” 编发梵志谓舍利弗言：“惟，贤者！莫呼是佛国以为不净。我见释迦文佛国严净，譬如彼清明天宫。” 舍利弗言：“我见此中亦有杂糅，其大陆地则有黑山石沙 现代汉语译本：一切为了断除恶道众生的苦难，才会有清净的佛土；菩萨自觉修行，不讥讽他人所受的果报，因此在清净的佛国得道，断除各种邪恶的果报，才会有清净的佛土；菩萨清净地修习十善之行，因此在清净的佛国得道，并且不离弃布施、大财、梵行（清净的行为），说诚实的话，免于堕入恶道，言语柔和，不偏袒眷属，恒常与善良为伴，没有嫉妒和傲慢，去除愤怒的意念，以正确的见解教诲他人，就能往生到清净的佛土。像这样，童子！菩萨如果能够按照这些去做，就会获得名誉；已经获得名誉，就会往生到好的地方；已经往生到好的地方，就会承受福报；已经承受福报，就能分享功德；已经能够分享功德，就能施行善巧方便；已经施行善巧方便，那么佛国就会清净；佛国清净了，那么众生也会清净；众生清净了，那么就会有清净的智慧；有了清净的智慧，那么就会有清净的教法；有了清净的教法，那么就能接受清净的果报。像这样，童子！菩萨想要使佛国清净，应当以清净的意念去做相应的行为。为什么呢？菩萨因为意念清净的缘故，才能得到佛国的清净。” 贤者舍利弗（释迦牟尼佛的十大弟子之一），凭借佛的威神之力，心中想道：‘因为意念清净的缘故才能得到佛国的清净，我世尊释迦牟尼佛过去作为菩萨的时候，意念难道不清净吗，可是这个佛国为什么不清净到这个地步呢？’ 佛知道舍利弗的心中所想，就告诉他说：‘怎么样，舍利弗！太阳和月亮是清净的，如果有人看不见东西，难道是太阳和月亮的过错吗？’ 舍利弗回答说：‘不是的。不是太阳和月亮的过错。’ 佛说：‘这样，舍利弗！过错在于众生没有智慧，看不见如来佛国的庄严清净，不是如来的过错。这样，舍利弗！我的佛国是清净的，你还没有看见罢了。’ 编发梵志（一种外道修行者）对舍利弗说：‘喂，贤者！不要说这个佛国不清净。我看见释迦文佛（释迦牟尼佛）的佛国庄严清净，就像清净光明的清明天宫一样。’ 舍利弗说：‘我看见这个世界中也有混杂不清净的地方，比如大陆地上就有黑山、石沙……’
English
English version: All Buddha-lands exist to cut off the suffering of beings in evil realms; Bodhisattvas, being consciously cultivated and not criticizing the suffering others receive, attain enlightenment in Buddha-lands, cutting off all evil retributions, thus Buddha-lands exist; Bodhisattvas purely cultivate the ten virtuous deeds, thus attaining enlightenment in Buddha-lands, without abandoning giving, great wealth, pure conduct (Brahma-carya), truthful speech, avoiding evil realms, speaking gently, not favoring relatives, always associating with goodness, without jealousy or arrogance, eliminating anger, and instructing others with right views, thus being born in Buddha-lands. Thus, young man! Bodhisattvas, by acting accordingly, gain fame; having fame, they are born in good places; having been born in good places, they receive blessings; having received blessings, they can share merit; being able to share merit, they practice skillful means; having practiced skillful means, the Buddha-land becomes pure; when the Buddha-land is pure, the beings are pure; when the beings are pure, there is pure wisdom; when there is pure wisdom, there is pure teaching; when there is pure teaching, one receives purity. Thus, young man! Bodhisattvas, wishing to purify the Buddha-land, should act accordingly with pure intention. Why? Because Bodhisattvas, due to the purity of their intention, attain the purity of the Buddha-land.' The worthy Shariputra (one of the ten great disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha), relying on the Buddha's majestic power, thought in his heart: 'Because purity of intention leads to the purity of the Buddha-land, when my World-Honored One Shakyamuni Buddha was a Bodhisattva in the past, was his intention not pure? Why is this Buddha-land not pure to this extent?' The Buddha, knowing Shariputra's thoughts, immediately said: 'How is it, Shariputra! Are the sun and moon pure? If someone cannot see, is it the fault of the sun and moon?' Shariputra replied: 'No, it is not the fault of the sun and moon.' The Buddha said: 'Thus, Shariputra! The fault lies with beings who lack wisdom and cannot see the adornment and purity of the Tathagata's Buddha-land, not with the Tathagata. Thus, Shariputra! My Buddha-land is pure, you simply have not seen it yet.' The braided-hair ascetic (a type of non-Buddhist practitioner) said to Shariputra: 'O worthy one! Do not call this Buddha-land impure. I see Shakyamuni Buddha's (Shakyamuni Buddha) Buddha-land adorned and pure, like the pure and bright Clear Heaven Palace.' Shariputra said: 'I see that there are also mixed and impure places in this world, such as black mountains and stony sands on the mainland...' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 秽恶充满。”
Chinese
编发答曰：“贤者以闻杂恶之意、不猗净慧视佛国耳。当如菩萨等意清净，倚佛智慧，是以见佛国皆清净。” 于是佛即以足指按地，此三千大千世界皆为震动，若干百千珍宝积严，处处校饰，譬如众宝罗列净好，如来境界无量严净于是悉现。一切魔众叹未曾有，而皆自见坐宝莲华。佛告舍利弗：“汝且观此佛国严净？” 对曰：“唯然。本所不见，本所不闻，今佛国土好净悉现。” “然，舍利弗！我佛国如是，为当度不肖人故，如来随此多怒害者现佛国异。譬如诸天同金钵食，其福多者，举手自净。如是，舍利弗！若人意清净者，便自见诸佛佛国清净。” 当佛现此佛土严净之时，八万四千人发无上正真道意，长者子宝事并五百童子皆得柔顺法忍。佛现神足，于是国土莫不欣然，各得其所。弟子行者，天与人三万二千，远尘离垢，诸法法眼生；其八千人漏尽意解。 维摩诘所说经善权品第二 是时，维耶离大城中有长者名曰维摩诘(汉言无垢称)，在先佛已造行修善，本得法忍，已得辩才，神通不戏，得无所畏，降魔劳怨，深入微妙，出于智度无极，善权方便，博入诸道，令得所愿。人根名德，生而具足，造成大道，所作事胜，佛圣善行，皆已得立， 现代汉语译本： ‘充满了污秽和邪恶。’ 编发回答说：‘贤者是因为心中杂有邪恶的想法，不依靠清净的智慧来看待佛国罢了。应当像菩萨那样意念清净，依靠佛的智慧，因此才能见到佛国都是清净的。’ 于是佛立即用脚趾按压地面，这三千大千世界都为之震动，无数百千种珍宝堆积装饰，处处都经过精心的修饰，就像各种珍宝罗列在一起，非常美好清净，如来的境界无量庄严清净，于是全部显现出来。一切魔众都惊叹从未见过这样的景象，并且都看到自己坐在宝莲花上。佛告诉舍利弗（Śāriputra）：‘你且看看这佛国的庄严清净？’ 舍利弗回答说：‘是的。原本没有见到，原本没有听闻，现在佛的国土美好清净全部显现。’ ‘是的，舍利弗（Śāriputra）！我的佛国就是这样，为了度化那些不贤良的人，如来随着这些多嗔恨恼害的人而示现不同的佛国。譬如诸天用同一个金钵吃饭，福报多的人，举手就能使食物自然洁净。像这样，舍利弗（Śāriputra）！如果人的意念清净，就能自己见到诸佛和佛国都是清净的。’ 当佛显现这佛土庄严清净的时候，八万四千人发起了无上正真道意（Anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi-citta），长者子宝事和五百童子都得到了柔顺法忍。佛显现神通，于是国土上的人没有不欣然的，各自得到了自己所希望的。弟子修行者，天人和人三万二千人，远离尘垢，生起了诸法法眼；其中八千人断尽了烦恼，心意解脱。 《维摩诘所说经·善权品》第二 这时，在维耶离（Vaiśālī）大城中有一位长者，名叫维摩诘（Vimalakīrti，汉译为无垢称），他在过去的佛面前已经修行善业，原本就已得到法忍，已经得到辩才，神通不是用来嬉戏的，得到了无所畏惧，降伏了魔众的劳累和怨恨，深入了微妙的境界，超越了智慧的极限，善于运用权巧方便，广泛进入各种道法，使众生得到所愿。人的根器、名声和德行，生来就具备，成就了大道，所做的事情殊胜，佛和圣人的善行，都已经建立。