English
English version: Teacher, with a compassionate heart, refrain from killing and cultivate the ten wholesome deeds; second, uphold the Three Refuges (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), fully observe all precepts, and do not violate decorum; third, generate the Bodhi mind, deeply believe in cause and effect, recite the Mahayana scriptures, and encourage others to practice. Cultivating these three karmas also leads to rebirth in the Pure Land. Moreover, all nine levels of cultivation (the nine grades of rebirth) lead to rebirth, as stated in the scriptures. In the Treatise on the Infinite Life Sutra, achieving the Five Contemplation Gates also leads to rebirth: first, the Gate of Prostration, referring to physical prostration; second, the Gate of Praise, referring to verbal praise; third, the Gate of Aspiration, constantly aspiring to be reborn; fourth, the Gate of Observation, using wisdom to observe the Buddha and Bodhisattvas in that land; fifth, the Gate of Dedication, not abandoning all suffering beings. The Infinite Life Sutra says: 'Suppose I attain Buddhahood, if sentient beings in the ten directions sincerely believe and desire to be born in my country, even with ten recitations, if they are not born there, I will not attain perfect enlightenment, except for those who commit the five heinous crimes (killing father, killing mother, killing an Arhat, disrupting the Sangha, shedding the blood of a Buddha) and slander the true Dharma.' The Lotus Sutra says: 'If someone hears the chapter on the Bodhisattva King of Healing and vows to be born in the West, they will also be reborn there.' The Medicine Buddha Sutra says: 'Reciting the name of the Medicine Buddha Tathagata also leads to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.' The Nirvana Sutra says: 'Building wells, bridges, planting trees, and constructing monasteries and stupas on desolate roads, dedicating the merit to rebirth, all lead to rebirth there.' The scripture says: 'When that person is about to die, Amitabha Buddha and all the holy assembly appear before them,' this explains the third point, the holy assembly extending their hands to receive them. According to the Contemplation Sutra and other scriptures, some see Amitabha Buddha and Bodhisattvas holding a purple-gold platform or a golden lotus flower, such as Chan Master Zhen of the Liang Dynasty who saw a silver platform, or see manifested Buddhas and Bodhisattvas coming to greet them, but the reception varies depending on the depth of practice. The scripture says: 'When this person dies, their mind is not confused, and they are immediately reborn in the land of Amitabha Buddha,' this explains the fourth point, sentient beings entrusting their consciousness. Rebirth with an unconfused mind means not changing the good intention and past vows for rebirth. Those who are reborn are all born in the seven-jeweled pond, born from a lotus flower, with upright bodies like the Bodhisattvas, with no difference between humans and gods, all golden in color, and quickly grow up. The scripture says: 'I see this benefit, therefore I say these words. If someone' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
生闻是说者，应当发愿生彼国土”，次释第五结劝敦励也。谓我了了见有如是胜利，故劝汝往生也。 次明大门第三引六方以证诚。文分为三：初叙自言、次引他证、后释名目。 经曰：“如我今者赞叹阿弥陀佛不可思议功德”，即是叙自言也。如我向来所赞西方之事，非独我说，六方诸佛亦如我所见，知说不虚也。 经曰：“东方亦有阿閦鞞佛、须弥相佛、大须弥佛、须弥光佛、妙音佛，如是等恒河沙数(至)一切诸佛所护念经”，次释第二引他赞叹证也。《称赞净土经》举十方，此本略举六方，一一方中皆有五句：一、证处，谓东方等；二、证人，谓阿閦鞞等；三、证多，谓如是等恒河沙数等；四、证相，谓各于其国舒舌相也；五、证辞，谓说诚实言。所以先引东方者，准西域法，以东方为上，天子正殿及以临朝皆面向东。又东方即阳之初，故日行东路为正之始，故先举东方也。阿閦鞞佛，经云名无瞋恚，在东方阿比罗提国。《法华经》云：在欢喜国。须弥相佛者，谓金容尊大状类须弥也。大须弥佛者，谓仪容甚大如山王也。须弥光佛者，谓光大如山王也。妙音佛者，其声慈润清彻逾于梵响也。恒河沙者，《长阿含》第十八云：此阎浮提雪山北面顶有香山，四宝所成高二十由旬，顶有龙池名阿 现代汉语译本：‘生闻是说者，应当发愿生彼国土’，接下来解释第五个部分，即劝勉和鼓励。意思是说，我清楚地看到有这样的殊胜利益，所以劝你往生到那个国土。 接下来阐明大门中的第三个部分，引用六方诸佛来证明和证实。这一部分分为三个小部分：首先是叙述自己的话，然后是引用其他佛的证明，最后是解释名目。 经文说：‘如我今者赞叹阿弥陀佛（Amitabha）不可思议功德’，这就是叙述自己的话。就像我之前所赞叹的西方极乐世界的事情，不是只有我一个人这样说，六方诸佛也像我所见到的那样，知道我说的话不是虚假的。 经文说：‘东方亦有阿閦鞞佛（Akshobhya）、须弥相佛（Sumeru-rupa）、大须弥佛（Mahasumeru）、须弥光佛（Sumeru-prabha）、妙音佛（Divya-dhvani），如是等恒河沙数(至)一切诸佛所护念经’，接下来解释第二个部分，即引用其他佛的赞叹来证明。鸠摩罗什翻译的《称赞净土经》列举了十方诸佛，这个版本简略地列举了六方诸佛，每一方中都有五个要点：一、证明的处所，比如东方等；二、证明的人，比如阿閦鞞佛等；三、证明的数量，比如如是等恒河沙数等；四、证明的相状，比如各自在自己的国土伸出舌相；五、证明的言辞，即说诚实的话。之所以先引用东方，是按照西域的习俗，以东方为上，天子的正殿以及临朝都面向东方。而且东方是阳气开始的地方，所以太阳运行的东路是正道的开始，所以先举出东方。阿閦鞞佛，经中说他的名字是无瞋恚，在东方阿比罗提国。《法华经》说：在欢喜国。须弥相佛，意思是说他的金色的容貌尊贵而高大，像须弥山一样。大须弥佛，意思是说他的仪容非常高大，像山王一样。须弥光佛，意思是说他的光明广大，像山王一样。妙音佛，他的声音慈祥圆润，清澈超过了梵天的声音。恒河沙，《长阿含经》第十八卷说：这个阎浮提（Jambudvipa）雪山（Himalaya）北面顶上有香山，由四宝构成，高二十由旬（Yojana），顶上有龙池名叫阿那婆达多（Anavatapta）。
English
English version: ‘Those who have heard this should vow to be born in that Buddha-land.’ This further explains the fifth section, which is exhortation and encouragement. It means that I clearly see such excellent benefits, therefore I urge you to be reborn in that land. Next, the third part of the great gate is clarified, citing the Buddhas of the six directions to prove and verify. This part is divided into three subsections: first, narrating one's own words; then, citing the testimony of other Buddhas; and finally, explaining the names. The sutra says: ‘As I now praise the inconceivable merits of Amitabha Buddha (Amitabha),’ this is narrating one's own words. Just as I have praised the affairs of the Western Pure Land, it is not only I who say this; the Buddhas of the six directions also know that what I say is not false, just as I have seen. The sutra says: ‘In the East, there are also Akshobhya Buddha (Akshobhya), Sumeru-rupa Buddha (Sumeru-rupa), Mahasumeru Buddha (Mahasumeru), Sumeru-prabha Buddha (Sumeru-prabha), Divya-dhvani Buddha (Divya-dhvani), and so on, as many as the sands of the Ganges River (up to) sutras protected and念 by all the Buddhas.’ This explains the second part, which is citing the praise of other Buddhas as proof. Kumarajiva's translation of the ‘Praise of the Pure Land Sutra’ lists the Buddhas of the ten directions, but this version briefly lists the Buddhas of the six directions. In each direction, there are five key points: 1. The place of proof, such as the East, etc.; 2. The person of proof, such as Akshobhya Buddha, etc.; 3. The quantity of proof, such as as many as the sands of the Ganges River, etc.; 4. The appearance of proof, such as each extending their tongues in their own lands; 5. The words of proof, which are speaking truthfully. The reason for citing the East first is that, according to the customs of the Western Regions, the East is considered superior, and the emperor's main hall and audience face the East. Moreover, the East is the beginning of Yang energy, so the sun's path in the East is the beginning of the correct path, so the East is mentioned first. Akshobhya Buddha, the sutra says his name means 'without anger,' and he is in the Abhirati land in the East. The ‘Lotus Sutra’ says: in the Land of Joy. Sumeru-rupa Buddha, meaning that his golden appearance is noble and tall, like Mount Sumeru. Mahasumeru Buddha, meaning that his appearance is very tall, like the King of Mountains. Sumeru-prabha Buddha, meaning that his light is vast, like the King of Mountains. Divya-dhvani Buddha, his voice is compassionate and mellow, clear and surpassing the sound of Brahma. Ganges sand, the eighteenth volume of the ‘Dirgha Agama Sutra’ says: This Jambudvipa (Jambudvipa) has Mount Xiang on the northern face of the summit of Mount Himalaya (Himalaya), made of four treasures, twenty Yojana (Yojana) high, with a dragon pool on top called Anavatapta (Anavatapta). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
耨达，此云无热恼，此池流出四河，东方金象口中流出大河名曰恒河。《智度论》云：其河既深且广，其沙细而复多。真谛云：此河出池口，方一由旬，满中有沙，其沙皆细与水同流。东天竺地最近此河，世人多见故引之为喻。 问：“如来大人何表信时乃舒舌也？” 答：“《大论》云：佛同人间相法故也，谓舒舌至鼻者必不虚语，况覆三千得无实也。然如来为证小事但舒舌覆面或至发际，若证大事即舒舌覆大千。今微因着果，恐人不信舍苦轮之要躅、登涅槃之庄迳，其事不轻、其证须大，故覆三千大千世界也。”当信是称赞等者，称即述其德，赞即光其美，心虑所不测名曰不可思，言谈所不及名曰不可议。诸行虽积靡方念佛之功，诸德虽多难俦此经之德，故使恒沙诸佛护持而不灭、记忆以在心，故言称赞不可思议功德一切诸佛所护念经。南西北方上下同前说也。须弥者此云最高也，其山高十六万八千由旬，半在海中。 次释第三释经题目。文有三：先问、次释、后劝。 经曰：“于汝意云何？何故名为一切诸佛所护念经？”次释第一问，汝知题此经否？此经所以得一切佛护念名者。 经曰：“若有善男子、善女人，闻是经受持者，及闻诸佛名者，是诸善男子、善女人皆为一切诸佛 现代汉语译本 Noudá（耨达），意思是无热恼，这个池塘流出四条河流，东方从金象口中流出的大河叫做恒河。《智度论》中说：这条河既深又广，河沙细而多。真谛说：这条河从池塘口流出，方圆一由旬，里面充满了沙子，这些沙子都很细，和水一起流动。东天竺离这条河最近，世人常见，所以用它来做比喻。 问：‘如来大人在什么情况下才伸舌头表示诚信呢？’ 答：‘《大论》中说：佛和人间相法相同，所以这样。意思是说，能伸舌头到鼻子的人一定不会说谎，更何况是覆盖三千大千世界呢。然而，如来为了证明小事，只是伸舌头覆盖面部或者到发际；如果证明大事，就伸舌头覆盖大千世界。现在因为微小的原因而显现结果，是恐怕人们不相信舍弃苦轮的重要途径、登上涅槃的庄严路径，这件事不轻，所以需要大的证明，因此覆盖三千大千世界。’应当相信称赞等等，称就是述说他的德行，赞就是光大他的美德，心意思虑不到的叫做不可思，言语谈论不到的叫做不可议。各种修行即使积累也无法比得上念佛的功德，各种德行即使再多也难以和这部经的德行相比，所以使得恒河沙数诸佛护持而不灭，记忆在心中，所以说称赞不可思议功德一切诸佛所护念经。南西北方上下和前面说的一样。须弥（Sumeru）山，意思是最高，这座山高十六万八千由旬，一半在海中。 接下来解释第三部分，解释经的题目。内容有三部分：先提问、再解释、后劝导。 经中说：‘你的意思怎么样？为什么叫做一切诸佛所护念经？’接下来解释第一问，你知道这部经的题目吗？这部经之所以得到一切佛护念的名称。 经中说：‘如果有善男子、善女人，听闻这部经并受持，以及听闻诸佛名号，这些善男子、善女人都为一切诸佛……’
English
English version Noudá (Noudá), which means without heat or affliction, is the source of four rivers. The great river flowing eastward from the mouth of a golden elephant is called the Ganges (Ganges). The *Mahaprajnaparamita-sastra* (智度论) says: 'This river is both deep and wide, and its sand is fine and plentiful.' Paramartha (真谛) says: 'This river flows from the mouth of the pond, one *yojana* (由旬) in circumference, filled with sand, which is fine and flows with the water. Eastern India (东天竺) is closest to this river, and people often see it, so it is used as a metaphor. Question: 'Under what circumstances does the Tathagata (如来), a great being, extend his tongue to show sincerity?' Answer: 'The *Mahaprajnaparamita-sastra* says: The Buddha (佛) shares the same characteristics as humans, hence this. It means that one who can extend his tongue to his nose certainly does not lie, let alone cover three thousand great chiliocosms (三千大千世界). However, to prove a small matter, the Tathagata merely extends his tongue to cover his face or to his hairline; if proving a great matter, he extends his tongue to cover the great chiliocosm. Now, because of a small cause, the result is manifested, fearing that people will not believe in abandoning the important path of the wheel of suffering and ascending the solemn path of Nirvana (涅槃). This matter is not light, so a great proof is needed, therefore covering the three thousand great chiliocosms.' One should believe in praise and so on. 'Praise' means to describe his virtues, and 'commendation' means to glorify his beauty. What the mind cannot fathom is called 'inconceivable,' and what words cannot express is called 'ineffable.' Although various practices accumulate, they cannot compare to the merit of reciting the Buddha's name. Although various virtues are numerous, they are difficult to match the merit of this sutra. Therefore, countless Buddhas of the Ganges River (恒河) protect and do not destroy it, remembering it in their hearts. Therefore, it is said that the sutra is praised for its inconceivable merits and is protected by all Buddhas. The south, north, west, and directions above and below are the same as previously stated. Mount Sumeru (须弥), means the highest. This mountain is 168,000 *yojanas* high, half of which is in the sea. Next is the explanation of the third part, explaining the title of the sutra. There are three parts: first a question, then an explanation, and finally an exhortation. The sutra says: 'What do you think? Why is it called the *Sutra Protected and Kept in Mind by All Buddhas* (一切诸佛所护念经)?' Next is the explanation of the first question: Do you know the title of this sutra? The reason why this sutra is named *Protected and Kept in Mind by All Buddhas*. The sutra says: 'If there are good men and good women who hear this sutra and uphold it, and hear the names of all the Buddhas, these good men and good women are all [protected by] all the Buddhas...' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------