English
English version: 'If there is another expedient means by which one can attain liberation, it is called the 'Easy Path'.' Now that we encourage returning to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, all practices are dedicated to that end. As long as one is single-minded and sincere, one will surely be reborn there at the end of life. Being reborn in that land is ultimate coolness and tranquility, so how can it not be called the Easy Path? You must understand this meaning. Second, Question: 'Since it is said that those who aspire to be reborn in the Pure Land will be reborn upon the end of their lifespan, is there scriptural proof for this?' Answer: 'There are seven points, all citing scriptures and treatises as proof. First, according to the *Larger Sutra* (short for *Infinite Life Sutra*, a scripture describing Amitabha Buddha and his Pure Land): 'The Buddha told Ananda (one of the ten great disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha): If there are sentient beings who wish to see Amitabha Buddha (the Buddha of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss) in this life, they should generate the mind of unsurpassed Bodhi (the aspiration for enlightenment), cultivate meritorious deeds, and aspire to be reborn in that land, and they will be reborn.' Therefore, the *Hymn to the Larger Sutra* (a hymn praising the *Infinite Life Sutra*) says: 'If one hears the name of Amitabha (the Buddha of the Western Pure Land), rejoices, praises, and takes refuge in their heart, even a single thought will bring great benefit, for it is to possess the treasure of merit. Even if the entire great thousand world is filled with fire, one should go straight through it to hear the Buddha's name. Hearing the name of Amitabha, one will not regress, therefore, with utmost sincerity, bow in reverence.' Second, according to the *Contemplation Sutra* (short for *Contemplation Sutra of Infinite Life*, a scripture teaching how to visualize Amitabha Buddha and his Pure Land), within the nine grades of rebirth, it is said: 'At the moment of death, maintaining right mindfulness, one will be reborn.' Third, according to the *Awakening of Faith* (short for *Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana*, a treatise explaining the fundamental doctrines of Mahayana Buddhism): 'Teach all beings to cultivate contemplation on the equality and oneness of True Thusness. There are also Bodhisattvas who have just generated the Bodhi mind, whose hearts are weak, and who think that they cannot constantly encounter Buddhas and personally serve and make offerings to them, and who wish to retreat. They should know that the Tathagata (another name for the Buddha) has a superior expedient means to protect their faith, which is to rely on the cause and condition of single-mindedly reciting the Buddha's name, and to be reborn according to their wishes. Because they can constantly see the Buddha, they will forever be liberated from the evil paths.' Fourth, according to the *Drum Sound Dharani Sutra* (a scripture expounding the Drum Sound Dharani): 'At that time, the World Honored One told the Bhikkhus (Buddhist monks): I shall explain to you the Western Land of Peace and Bliss (the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss), where there is now a Buddha named Amitabha (Amitabha Buddha). If there are the fourfold assembly (Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, Upasakas, Upasikas), who can correctly uphold the name of that Buddha, firmly fix their minds in remembrance without forgetting, eliminate distractions for ten days and ten nights, diligently cultivate the Samadhi (state of meditative concentration) of Buddha-recitation, and if they can make their thoughts continuous without interruption, within ten days they will surely see Amitabha Buddha, and all will be reborn.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
’五、依《法鼓经》云：‘若人临终之时不能作念，但知彼方有佛，作往生意，亦得往生。’六、如《十方随愿往生经》云：‘若有临终及死堕地狱，家内眷属为其亡者念佛及转诵、斋福，亡者即出地狱，往生净土。’况其现在自能修念，何以不得往生者也？是故彼经云：‘现在眷属为亡者追福，如饷远人，定得食也。’第七、广引诸经证成，如《大法鼓经》说：‘若善男子，善女人，常能系意，称念诸佛名号者，十方诸佛一切贤圣，常见此人，如现目前。是故此经名“大法鼓”，当知此人，十方净土随愿往生。’又《大悲经》云：‘何名为大悲？若专念佛相续不断者，随其命终，定生安乐。若能展转相劝行念佛者，当知此等悉名行大悲人也。’是故《涅槃经》云：‘佛告大王：“假令开大库藏，一月之中布施一切众生，所得功德不如有人称佛一口，功德过前不可挍量。”’又《增一阿含经》云：‘佛告阿难：“其有众生，供养一阎浮提人衣服、饮食、卧具、汤药，所得功德宁为多不？”阿难白佛言：“世尊！甚多，甚多！不可数量。”佛告阿难：“若有众生，善心相续称佛名号，如一构牛乳顷，所得功德过上不可量，无有能量者。”’《大品经》云：‘若人散心念佛，乃至毕苦，其福不尽；若人散花念佛，乃至毕苦 现代汉语译本 五、依据《法鼓经》说：‘如果有人临终的时候不能作意念佛，但知道西方有阿弥陀佛（Amitabha），产生往生西方的意愿，也能往生。’ 六、如《十方随愿往生经》说：‘如果有人临终或者死后堕入地狱，家里的眷属为亡者念佛以及转诵经文、斋戒祈福，亡者就能脱离地狱，往生净土。’更何况现在自己能够修行念佛，怎么会不能往生呢？因此这部经说：‘现在眷属为亡者追福，就像给远方的人送食物，一定能吃到。’ 七、广泛引用各种经典来证明，如《大法鼓经》说：‘如果善男子、善女人，常常能够专心致志，称念诸佛的名号，十方诸佛和一切贤圣，常常看见这个人，就像在眼前一样。因此这部经名叫“大法鼓”，应当知道这个人，十方净土随他的意愿往生。’ 又《大悲经》说：‘什么叫做大悲？如果专心念佛，相续不断，随着他寿命终结，一定往生安乐世界。如果能够辗转相劝，修行念佛，应当知道这些人，都叫做修行大悲的人。’ 因此《涅槃经》说：‘佛告诉国王说：“假如打开大宝库，一个月之中布施给一切众生，所得的功德不如有人称念一声佛号，功德超过前者，不可计量。”’ 又《增一阿含经》说：‘佛告诉阿难（Ananda）说：“如果有众生，供养整个阎浮提（Jambudvipa）的人衣服、饮食、卧具、汤药，所得的功德难道多吗？”阿难回答佛说：“世尊！很多，很多！不可数量。”佛告诉阿难说：“如果有众生，以善良的心相续不断地称念佛的名号，像挤一杯牛奶的时间那么短，所得的功德超过上面所说的，不可计量，没有能够计量的。”’ 《大品经》说：‘如果有人以散乱的心念佛，乃至终身，他的福报也不会穷尽；如果有人散花念佛，乃至终身’
English
English version V. According to the *Dharma Drum Sutra* (*Fagujing*): 'If a person is unable to focus their mind at the time of death, but knows that there is a Buddha in that direction and generates the intention to be reborn there, they will also be reborn there.' VI. As the *Sutra of Rebirth in Accordance with One's Vows in the Ten Directions* (*Shifang Suiyuan Wangsheng Jing*) says: 'If someone is about to die or has fallen into hell after death, and their family members recite the Buddha's name, recite scriptures, and perform vegetarian feasts for the deceased, the deceased will be released from hell and reborn in the Pure Land.' How much more so if they are able to cultivate mindfulness of the Buddha now? Therefore, this sutra says: 'The family members who perform meritorious deeds for the deceased are like sending food to someone far away; they will surely be able to eat it.' VII. Extensively citing various sutras to prove this, such as the *Great Dharma Drum Sutra* (*Dafagujing*) which says: 'If good men and good women are constantly able to focus their minds and recite the names of all the Buddhas, all the Buddhas of the ten directions and all the sages will always see this person as if they were right in front of them. Therefore, this sutra is called the 'Great Dharma Drum'. You should know that this person will be reborn in the Pure Land of the ten directions according to their wishes.' Also, the *Great Compassion Sutra* (*Dabeijing*) says: 'What is called great compassion? If one single-mindedly recites the Buddha's name continuously, they will surely be reborn in the Land of Bliss when their life ends. If they can encourage others to practice mindfulness of the Buddha, you should know that these people are all called practitioners of great compassion.' Therefore, the *Nirvana Sutra* (*Nirvanajing*) says: 'The Buddha told the king: 'Suppose one opens a great treasury and gives to all sentient beings for a month, the merit obtained is not as great as someone who recites the Buddha's name once; the merit exceeds the former and cannot be measured.' Also, the *Ekottara Agama Sutra* (*Zengyi Ahanjing*) says: 'The Buddha told Ananda: 'If there are sentient beings who offer clothing, food, bedding, and medicine to all the people in Jambudvipa (*Yanfuti*), is the merit obtained great?' Ananda replied to the Buddha: 'World Honored One! Very much, very much! It cannot be quantified.' The Buddha told Ananda: 'If there are sentient beings who continuously recite the Buddha's name with a good heart, for as short a time as it takes to milk a cow, the merit obtained exceeds the above and cannot be measured; there is no way to measure it.' The *Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra* (*Dapinjing*) says: 'If a person recites the Buddha's name with a scattered mind, even until the end of their life, their blessings will not be exhausted; if a person scatters flowers and recites the Buddha's name, even until the end of their life' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
，其福不尽。’故知念佛利大，不可思议也。《十往生经》、诸大乘经等并有文证，不可具引也。” 第二、次明此彼禅观比挍，劝往生者。但此方秽境，乱想难入，就令修得，唯获事定，多喜味染。又复，但能伏业，报生上界，寿尽多退。是故《智度论》云：“多闻持戒禅，未得无漏法，虽有此功德，是事未可信。”若欲向西修习，事境光净，定观易成，除罪多劫，永定速进，究竟清凉。如《大经》广说。 问曰：“若西方境界胜可为禅定感，此界色天劣，不应为禅定招？” 答曰：“若论修定因，该通于彼、此。然彼界位是不退，并有他力持，是故说为胜；此处虽复修定克，但有自分因，阙无他力摄，业尽不免退，就此说不如。” 第三、据此彼净、秽二境，亦名漏、无漏者。若论此处境界，唯有三涂丘坑，山涧、沙卤，棘刺、水旱，暴风恶触，雷、电礔礰，虎、狼毒兽，恶贼恶子，荒乱破散，三灾败坏；语论正报，三毒、八倒，忧、悲、嫉、妒，多病、短命，饥、渴、寒、热，常为司命害鬼之所追逐，深可秽恶，不可具说，故名有漏，深可厌也。往生彼国胜者，据《大经》云，十方人、天但生彼国者，莫不皆获种种利益也。何者？一、生彼国者，行则金莲捧足，坐则宝座承躯，出则帝 ‘他的福报是无穷无尽的。’所以要知道念佛的利益巨大，不可思议。《十往生经》（Shi Wangsheng Jing，The Sutra of Ten Rebirths）、诸大乘经典等都有文字证明，不能一一列举。 第二、其次说明此方（指娑婆世界）与彼方（指西方极乐世界）禅观的比较，劝勉人们往生西方。只是此方是污秽的境界，妄想纷飞难以入定，即使修有所得，也只是获得事定，多被世间的快乐所迷惑。而且，只能暂时伏住业力，报生到上界天，寿命终了仍然会退堕。所以《智度论》（Zhi Du Lun，The Great Treatise on the Perfection of Wisdom）说：‘广学多闻、持戒修禅，如果未证得无漏之法，即使有这些功德，也是不可靠的。’如果想要往生西方修习，那里的事境清净光明，禅定容易成就，可以消除多劫的罪业，永远安稳快速进步，最终达到清凉的境界。如《大经》（Da Jing，The Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life）广为宣说。 问：‘如果说西方境界殊胜可以感得禅定，那么此界色界天（Rūpadhātu）低劣，难道不应该也能招感禅定吗？’ 答：‘如果从修定的因来说，普遍适用于此方和彼方。然而彼方境界是不退转的，并且有他力加持，所以说是殊胜的；此处即使修定有所成就，但只有自己的力量，缺少他力的摄受，业力耗尽仍然免不了退转，就此来说不如彼方。’ 第三、根据此方和彼方清净与污秽的两种境界，也可以称为有漏和无漏。如果说此处的境界，只有三涂（Three Lower Realms）的丘陵坑洼，山涧沙地，荆棘丛生，水旱灾害，暴风恶触，雷电霹雳，虎狼毒兽，恶贼恶子，荒乱破败，三灾（Three Disasters）的破坏；从众生的果报来说，有三毒（Three Poisons）、八倒（Eight Perversions），忧愁悲伤、嫉妒怨恨，多病短命，饥渴寒热，常常被司命害鬼所追逐，非常污秽丑恶，不可尽说，所以称为有漏，非常令人厌恶。往生到彼国殊胜之处，根据《大经》（Da Jing，The Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life）所说，十方世界的人天众生，只要往生到彼国，没有不获得种种利益的。哪些利益呢？一、往生到彼国的人，行走时有金莲承托双足，坐下时有宝座承载身体，出行时有帝