English
English version: ‘Only tell the Sravakas (hearers).’ Question: ‘The number of Sravakas is vast, and many have sudden enlightenment. Why not tell others, but only Sariputra (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom)?’ Answer: ‘Just like appointing the eldest son of a family or entrusting the country to a virtuous minister, Sariputra's wisdom and discernment are outstanding. What is unreasonable about telling him alone?’ The Sutra says: ‘Sariputra! Why is that land called Sukhavati (the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha, meaning 'blissful' or 'happy')?’ Commentary: This is the sixth inquiry about the name of the land. ‘Why’ means ‘the reason.’ The name Sukhavati was mentioned earlier, but the appearance of Sukhavati has not yet been revealed. Without seeing the magnificent and wonderful scenery, it is difficult to generate aspiration. Intending to reveal the pure land, the question about the name of the land is asked personally. The Sutra says: ‘The beings in that land have no suffering, but only enjoy all kinds of happiness, therefore it is called Sukhavati.’ Commentary: This is the seventh conclusion about the reason for the name Sukhavati. ‘The beings in that land,’ beings have ten names, and ‘beings’ is one of these ten names. Being born from a lotus flower has no suffering of birth, the four seasons cannot change, so there is no suffering of old age, not being subject to segmented life and death, there is no suffering of illness, life is endless, so there is no suffering of death, there are no parents or relatives, so there is no suffering of meeting with those you hate, whatever is desired is fulfilled, so there is no suffering of not getting what you want, the appearance is dignified and beautiful, so there is no suffering of defective or ugly faculties, and the four seasons are the same, so there is no suffering of cold and heat, therefore it is said that the beings in that land have no suffering, meaning they are in a place far from the three evil paths, and people have no suffering. Just like the Saha World (the world we live in, full of troubles and suffering), the leaky body is like four snakes coiling around the body, three poisonous dragons harming life, unreasonable illnesses and afflictions, the end of retribution and the approach of death, love must be separated, and even without hatred, one will meet, vertically confused about the truth, horizontally subjected to the entanglement of the five skandhas. Now, the people in the Land of Ultimate Bliss will never have these sufferings. Moreover, they accumulate and cultivate pure good karma, are born in red lotus flowers, have beautiful and constant forms, eliminate the four marks (the mark of self, the mark of others, the mark of beings, and the mark of a life), their minds are free from thoughts and there is no love or hatred, whatever they think of comes immediately, there is no not getting what they want, the Buddha's body is fragrant with five scents, and various virtues adorn their bodies, therefore it is said that there is no suffering. ‘But only enjoy all kinds of happiness,’ as soon as they return to the Pure Land, the holy assembly comes to welcome them, the lotus flower suddenly opens and they can see the beautiful appearance of the golden Buddha, a gentle breeze blows and they can hear the sound of the jeweled trees swaying, in addition, ethereal fairy clouds float near the divine feet, light and graceful robes offer auspicious flowers from afar, in the morning they pay homage to the compassionate face and receive the seal of the Dharma and return to the land. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
，暮游金殿听宝偈而经行，然大慈愿广利钝普沾，且旧莲欲发为遣残殃，新学化生行成不退，岂唯近已粗苦，抑亦妙果非远者哉！故云但受诸乐，故名极乐。 问：“彼土属三界否？”答：“无欲故非欲界，地居故非色界，有形相故非无色界，内无秽种外感净方，回出四流水超三界，故非界系也。” 经云：“又，舍利弗！极乐国土，七重栏楯、七重罗网、七重行树，皆是四宝周匝围绕”。 赞曰：第二广明净土。文分为二：初明国土庄严、二辨佛身功德。初文分八：第一、树饰四珍；第二、池严众宝；第三、空盈天乐；第四、地布黄金；第五、华雨长天；第六、人游诸国；第七、鸟吟妙法；第八、风吹乐音。 初文分二：初正辨庄严、二结成极乐。此即初也。又者，复也重也。谓前来已告舍利弗，彼国无有众苦，名曰极乐。此欲广明净土境物殊常，又告鹙子，故云：“又，舍利弗！”极乐国土七重栏楯者，宝树周围有七重栏楯也。横曰栏，竖曰楯，栏槛也。庄严众宝围绕华丛，何独偏举树严？彼土处处皆有也。七重罗网者，严显国土罗覆树林，金缕结成众宝饰。《观经》云：一一树上有七重网，皆是真珠，一一网间有五百亿妙华宫殿，如梵王宫。诸天童子自然在中，以摩尼宝而为璎珞，其 现代汉语译本：傍晚在金殿中听着珍贵的偈语并经行，然而大慈悲的愿力广泛利益愚钝之人，普遍沾溉。而且旧的莲花将要开放，是为了遣除残余的灾殃，新学习的化生之众修行成就永不退转。岂止是接近已经脱离粗浅的苦难，而且美妙的果实并非遥远。所以说，只是承受各种快乐，所以叫做极乐。 问：‘那个国土属于三界吗？’答：‘没有欲望，所以不是欲界；地居，所以不是色界；有形相，所以不是无色界。内部没有污秽的种子，外部感应清净的地方，回旋而出于四种流水之上，超越三界，所以不属于界系的范围。’ 经中说：‘又，舍利弗（Śāriputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称）！极乐国土，有七重栏楯、七重罗网、七重行树，都是用四宝周匝围绕。’ 赞曰：第二部分广泛阐明净土。文章分为两部分：首先阐明国土的庄严，其次辨析佛身的功德。第一部分阐明国土的庄严，又分为八个方面：第一，树木装饰着四种珍宝；第二，池塘庄严着各种宝物；第三，空中充满着天乐；第四，地面铺满了黄金；第五，天空中飘洒着花雨；第六，人们游历于各个国家；第七，鸟儿吟唱着美妙的佛法；第八，风吹动着悦耳的音乐。 第一部分又分为两部分：首先正面阐述庄严，其次总结为极乐。这里就是第一部分。‘又’，是重复的意思。意思是说，前面已经告诉舍利弗（Śāriputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称），那个国家没有各种苦难，叫做极乐。这里想要广泛阐明净土的境界和事物殊胜不凡，所以又告诉舍利弗（Śāriputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称），所以说：‘又，舍利弗（Śāriputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称）！’极乐国土有七重栏楯，是指宝树周围有七重栏楯。横的叫做栏，竖的叫做楯，是栏杆的意思。用各种宝物庄严围绕着华丛，为什么只特别举出树木的庄严呢？因为那个国土处处都有。七重罗网，是庄严显现国土，用罗网覆盖树林，用金缕结成，用各种宝物装饰。《观经》中说：每一棵树上都有七重网，都是用珍珠制成，每一重网之间有五百亿个美妙的华宫殿，如同梵王宫。诸天童子自然地在其中，用摩尼宝作为璎珞，他们的...
English
English version: In the evening, I walk around the golden hall, listening to the precious verses, yet the great compassionate vow widely benefits the dull and universally benefits all. Moreover, the old lotus is about to bloom, in order to eliminate the remaining disasters, and the newly learning transformed beings cultivate and achieve non-retrogression. It is not only that approaching has already escaped the crude suffering, but also that the wonderful fruit is not far away. Therefore, it is said that one only receives all kinds of happiness, hence the name 'Sukhavati' (极乐, the Land of Ultimate Bliss). Question: 'Does that land belong to the Three Realms?' Answer: 'Because there is no desire, it is not the Desire Realm; because it is earth-dwelling, it is not the Form Realm; because it has form and appearance, it is not the Formless Realm. Internally, there are no defiled seeds, and externally, it senses a pure land, revolving out of the Four Streams and transcending the Three Realms, so it does not belong to the realm system.' The Sutra says: 'Moreover, Śāriputra (舍利弗, one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom)! In the Land of Ultimate Bliss, there are seven layers of railings, seven layers of nets, and seven rows of trees, all surrounded by the four treasures.' Praise: The second part extensively explains the Pure Land. The text is divided into two parts: first, it clarifies the adornments of the land; second, it distinguishes the merits of the Buddha's body. The first part, clarifying the adornments of the land, is further divided into eight aspects: first, the trees are adorned with four treasures; second, the ponds are adorned with various treasures; third, the sky is filled with heavenly music; fourth, the ground is covered with gold; fifth, flower rain falls in the sky; sixth, people travel to various countries; seventh, birds sing wonderful Dharma; eighth, the wind blows pleasant music. The first part is further divided into two parts: first, it directly describes the adornments; second, it concludes with Sukhavati (极乐, the Land of Ultimate Bliss). This is the first part. 'Moreover' means repetition. It means that it has already been told to Śāriputra (舍利弗, one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom) that that country has no suffering and is called Sukhavati (极乐, the Land of Ultimate Bliss). Here, it wants to extensively clarify the extraordinary and unusual realm and things of the Pure Land, so it tells Śāriputra (舍利弗, one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom) again, so it says: 'Moreover, Śāriputra (舍利弗, one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom)!' The seven layers of railings in the Land of Ultimate Bliss refer to the seven layers of railings around the precious trees. The horizontal is called 'railing,' and the vertical is called 'stanchion,' which means railing. Adorned with various treasures surrounding the flower clusters, why is the adornment of trees particularly mentioned? Because that land has it everywhere. The seven layers of nets are to adorn and display the land, covering the trees with nets, made of gold threads and decorated with various treasures. The 'Contemplation Sutra' says: On each tree, there are seven layers of nets, all made of pearls, and between each net, there are five hundred billion wonderful flower palaces, like the palace of Brahma. Heavenly children are naturally in them, using mani jewels as necklaces, their... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
光照曜一百由旬。亦准于前处处皆有，故《瑞相经》云：无量宝网皆以金缕真珠百千杂宝奇妙珍异庄严校饰，周匝四面垂以宝铃，光色晃曜尽极严丽，祥风微起吹众网罗，声演法音振闻一[囗@(夕/方)]，耳听心悦更增快乐也。七重行树者，七重宝树行列[囗@(夕/方)]中，长开异华更无凋变，灵禽栖上众圣游从也，故云七重行树。皆是四宝者，皆由咸也，咸是四宝也。四宝者，或是金银珊瑚琥珀也。《瑞相经》云：其国有七宝诸树周满世界，谓有二宝乃至众宝所共合成，如金树则以银为枝叶华果，银树以金为枝叶华果，乃至有紫金为本，白银为茎、琉璃为枝、水精为条、珊瑚为叶、玛瑙为华、车𤦲为实。白银为本等一一例此，行行相对枝枝相映，叶叶相显荣色光曜，不可胜视，清风时时发出五音声，微妙宫商自然相振。又《观经》云：一一树高八千由旬，一一树叶纵广二十五由旬，而作异色。一一华叶之中，皆有七宝光也。四宝皆是者，即据此经。栏楯、罗网、行树此之三种，咸是四宝所成也。四宝者，金、银、琉璃、颇胝迦也。通贯上文，故云皆是四宝也。周匝者，古申多解：一云、栏楯围绕宝树故云围绕；二云、栏楯罗网行树围绕国土处处庄严故。 问：“栏楯罗网行树，何故各有七重，更无增 现代汉语译本 光芒照耀一百由旬（yojana，古印度长度单位）。也和前面描述的一样，处处都有，所以《瑞相经》中说：‘无数的宝网都用金线、珍珠、各种珍宝奇妙地装饰，四周垂挂着宝铃，光彩夺目，极其华丽，祥和的风微微吹动众多的网罗，声音演化成佛法之音，震动传遍四方，听在耳中，心中喜悦，更加快乐。’七重行树，是指七重宝树排列在道路两旁，长久盛开奇异的花朵，不会凋谢，灵禽栖息在树上，众多圣人游走其间，所以说七重行树。‘皆是四宝’，是指都由四宝构成。四宝，或许是金、银、珊瑚、琥珀。《瑞相经》中说：‘那个国家有七宝树遍满世界，有的由两种宝物乃至多种宝物共同构成，比如金树用银做枝叶花果，银树用金做枝叶花果，甚至有紫金做树根，白银做树茎，琉璃做树枝，水晶做树条，珊瑚做树叶，玛瑙做花朵，砗磲做果实。’白银做树根等，一一可以此类推，行行相对，枝枝相映，叶叶相显，荣光照耀，令人目不暇接，清风时时发出五种声音，微妙的宫商音调自然相互振动。’又《观经》中说：‘每一棵树高八千由旬，每一片树叶纵横二十五由旬，呈现出不同的颜色。每一朵花、每一片叶子中，都有七宝的光芒。’‘四宝皆是’，就是根据这部经文。栏楯（lán dùn，栏杆）、罗网、行树这三种，都是由四宝构成。四宝是金、银、琉璃、颇胝迦（pō zhī jiā，水晶）。贯穿上面的经文，所以说‘皆是四宝’。‘周匝’，古申（人名）有很多解释：一种说法是，栏楯围绕着宝树，所以说是围绕；另一种说法是，栏楯、罗网、行树围绕着国土，处处庄严，所以说是周匝。 问：‘栏楯、罗网、行树，为什么各有七重，不再增加？’