English
English version Kneeling on the platform, with palms together, he paid homage to the Buddha. Before he could raise his head, he was reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, and the lotus flower opened immediately. When the flower bloomed, he heard various sounds praising the Four Noble Truths (suffering, accumulation, cessation, and the path), and immediately attained the state of Arhat, possessing the Three Clarities (knowledge of past lives, divine eye, and extinction of outflows) and Six Supernatural Powers (divine eye, divine ear, knowledge of others' minds, knowledge of past lives, divine feet, and extinction of outflows), and equipped with the Eight Deliverances (deliverance through contemplating external forms while having internal form, deliverance through contemplating external forms while having no internal form, deliverance through realizing purity through the body, deliverance from the sphere of infinite space, deliverance from the sphere of infinite consciousness, deliverance from the sphere of nothingness, deliverance from the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception, and deliverance from the cessation of perception and sensation). This is called rebirth in the Upper Level of the Middle Grade. 'Rebirth in the Middle Level of the Middle Grade: If there are sentient beings who, for one day and one night, uphold the Eight Precepts (not killing, not stealing, not engaging in sexual activity, not lying, not consuming intoxicants, not wearing garlands or using perfumes, not watching dancing or listening to music, not sleeping on high or luxurious beds, and not eating at improper times); or for one day and one night uphold the Shramanera Precepts (precepts for novice monks); or for one day and one night uphold the Full Precepts (precepts for fully ordained monks and nuns), without any flaws in their conduct, and dedicate this merit, vowing to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, their virtuous conduct perfuming and cultivating themselves. When such practitioners approach the end of their lives, they will see Amitabha Buddha (Amitabha), with his retinue, emitting golden light, holding a seven-jeweled lotus flower, and arriving before the practitioner. The practitioner will hear a voice in the sky praising, 'Good man, good woman! Like you, a virtuous person who follows the teachings of all Buddhas of the three periods of time, I have come to welcome you.' The practitioner will see himself sitting on the lotus flower, and the lotus flower will close immediately, and he will be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. In the jeweled land, after seven days, the lotus flower will open. When the flower opens, he will open his eyes, put his palms together, praise the World-Honored One, hear the Dharma and rejoice, and attain the state of Srotapanna (stream-enterer, the first stage of Arhatship); after half a kalpa (an extremely long unit of time), he will attain the state of Arhat. This is called rebirth in the Middle Level of the Middle Grade. 'Rebirth in the Lower Level of the Middle Grade: If there are good men and good women who are filial to their parents and practice benevolence in the world. When this person's life is about to end, they will meet a good advisor who will extensively describe the joys of Amitabha Buddha's (Amitabha) land, and also explain the Forty-Eight Great Vows of the Bhikshu Dharmakara (Dharmakara Bhikshu). After hearing these things, they will immediately die, and as quickly as a strong man bends and stretches his arm, they will be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. After being reborn for seven days, they will meet Avalokiteshvara (Avalokiteshvara) and Mahasthamaprapta (Mahasthamaprapta), hear the Dharma and rejoice, and after a small kalpa (a relatively short unit of time), they will attain the state of Arhat. This is called rebirth in the Lower Level of the Middle Grade. 'Rebirth in the Upper Level of the Lower Grade: Perhaps there are sentient beings who commit various evil deeds, although they do not slander the Vaipulya Sutras (Mahayana Sutras). Such foolish people commit many evil deeds and have no sense of shame. When their lives are about to end, they will meet a good advisor who will praise the titles of the twelve divisions of the Mahayana scriptures (twelve different forms of Buddhist scriptures). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
题名字，以闻如是诸经名故，除灭千劫极重恶业。智者复教合掌叉手，称南无阿弥陀佛，称佛名故，除五十亿劫生死之罪。尔时彼佛即遣化佛、化观世音、化大势至至行者前，赞言：“善男子！汝称名故，诸罪消灭，我来迎汝。”作是语已，行者即见化佛光明，遍满其室。见已欢喜，即便命终，乘宝莲华，随化佛后，生宝池中。经七七日，莲华乃敷，当华敷时，大悲观世音菩萨放大光明住其人前，为说甚深十二部经，闻已信解，发无上道心，经十小劫，具百法明门，得入初地，是名下品上生者。得闻佛名、法名，及闻僧名，闻三宝名，即得往生。 “‘下品中生者，或有众生，毁犯五戒、八戒，及具足戒。如是愚人，偷僧祇物，盗现前僧物，不净说法，无有惭愧，以诸恶业而自庄严。如此罪人，以恶业故，应堕地狱，命欲终时，地狱众火一时俱至。遇善知识，以大慈为说阿弥陀佛十力威德，广说彼佛光明神力，亦赞戒、定、慧、解脱、解脱知见。此人闻已，除八十亿劫生死之罪，地狱猛火化为清凉风，吹诸天华，华上皆有化佛、菩萨迎接，一念顷，即得往生七宝池中莲华之内。经于六劫，莲华乃敷，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。 现代汉语译本：仅仅因为听闻这些经典的名字，就能消除千劫以来的极重恶业。智者进一步教导（亡者）合掌叉手，称念‘南无阿弥陀佛’（皈依阿弥陀佛），因为称念佛的名号，就能消除五十亿劫的生死之罪。这时，阿弥陀佛就会派遣化身佛、化身观世音（Avalokiteśvara，以慈悲著称的菩萨）、化身大势至（Mahāsthāmaprāpta，代表智慧的菩萨）来到修行者面前，赞叹说：‘善男子！你因为称念佛名，所有罪业都已消灭，我来迎接你。’说完这些话后，修行者就能看见化身佛的光明，遍满整个房间。看见光明后，心中充满欢喜，随即命终，乘坐宝莲花，跟随着化身佛，往生到宝池之中。经过七七四十九天，莲花才会开放，当莲花开放的时候，大悲观世音菩萨放出大光明，住在他的面前，为他说甚深微妙的十二部经，听闻之后，深信理解，发起无上菩提心，经过十小劫，具足百法明门，得以进入初地（菩萨的第一个阶位），这叫做下品上生者。能够听闻佛的名号、法的名号，以及听闻僧的名号，听闻三宝的名号，就能往生。 ‘下品中生者，或者有众生，毁犯五戒（不杀生、不偷盗、不邪淫、不妄语、不饮酒）、八戒（在五戒基础上增加不非时食、不歌舞观听、不着香花鬘、不坐卧高广大床）、以及具足戒（比丘、比丘尼所受的全部戒律）。这样的愚人，偷盗僧祇物（寺院的公共财物），盗取现前僧的财物，以不清净的心态说法，没有惭愧之心，用各种恶业来庄严自己。这样的罪人，因为恶业的缘故，本应堕入地狱，临命终时，地狱的众火一齐到来。这时遇到善知识，以大慈悲心为他说阿弥陀佛的十力（佛的十种力量）威德，广泛地宣说阿弥陀佛的光明神力，也赞叹戒、定、慧（佛教修行的三个方面）、解脱、解脱知见（从烦恼中解脱的智慧）。这个人听闻之后，消除八十亿劫的生死之罪，地狱的猛火化为清凉的风，吹来诸天之花，每朵花上都有化身佛、菩萨前来迎接，在一念之间，就能往生到七宝池中的莲花之内。经过六劫，莲花才会开放，观世音菩萨、大势至菩萨用梵音来安慰这个人，为他说大乘甚深经典。听闻此法之后，应时就发起无上菩提心。这叫做下品中生者。
English
English version: Merely by hearing the names of these sutras, one can eliminate extremely heavy evil karma accumulated over a thousand kalpas (aeons). The wise further teach (the deceased) to join their palms and bow, reciting ‘Namo Amitabha Buddha’ (Homage to Amitabha Buddha), because reciting the Buddha's name eliminates the sins of birth and death for fifty billion kalpas. At this time, Amitabha Buddha will send a manifested Buddha, a manifested Avalokiteśvara (Bodhisattva known for compassion), and a manifested Mahāsthāmaprāpta (Bodhisattva representing wisdom) to the practitioner, praising, ‘Good man! Because you recite the Buddha's name, all your sins are extinguished, and I have come to welcome you.’ After saying these words, the practitioner will see the light of the manifested Buddha filling the entire room. Seeing this light, they will be filled with joy and immediately pass away, riding a precious lotus flower, following the manifested Buddha, and being reborn in the Treasure Pond. After forty-nine days, the lotus flower will bloom, and when the flower blooms, the compassionate Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva will emit great light, dwelling before them, and expounding the profound twelve divisions of scriptures. Upon hearing this, they will deeply believe and understand, and generate the unsurpassed Bodhi mind (the mind of enlightenment). After ten small kalpas, they will possess the hundred Dharma gates of clarity and attain the first Bhumi (the first stage of a Bodhisattva), this is called the Lower Grade Upper Birth. Being able to hear the name of the Buddha, the name of the Dharma, and the name of the Sangha, hearing the names of the Three Jewels, one can be reborn in the Pure Land. ‘Those born in the Lower Grade Middle Birth are beings who have violated the five precepts (no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, no intoxicants), the eight precepts (adding no eating after noon, no dancing or watching entertainment, no wearing garlands or perfumes, no sitting on high or luxurious beds to the five precepts), and the full precepts (all the precepts taken by monks and nuns). Such foolish people steal Sangha property (communal property of the monastery), steal property from the present Sangha, preach the Dharma with impure intentions, and have no sense of shame, adorning themselves with various evil deeds. Such sinners, because of their evil karma, should fall into hell, and when their lives are about to end, the fires of hell will all arrive at once. At this time, they encounter a good teacher, who, with great compassion, speaks to them of the ten powers (ten strengths of a Buddha) and majestic virtue of Amitabha Buddha, extensively explaining the light and spiritual power of Amitabha Buddha, and also praising the precepts, concentration, wisdom (three aspects of Buddhist practice), liberation, and the knowledge and vision of liberation (wisdom of liberation from afflictions). After hearing this, they eliminate the sins of birth and death for eighty billion kalpas, and the fierce fires of hell transform into a cool breeze, blowing celestial flowers, and on each flower, there are manifested Buddhas and Bodhisattvas coming to welcome them. In an instant, they are reborn within a lotus flower in the Seven Treasure Pond. After six kalpas, the lotus flower will bloom, and Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva will comfort them with Brahma sounds, expounding the profound Mahayana scriptures. After hearing this Dharma, they will immediately generate the unsurpassed Bodhi mind. This is called the Lower Grade Middle Birth.’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
“‘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，迳历多劫，受苦无穷。如此愚人临命终时，遇善智识种种安慰，为说妙法，教令念佛。彼人苦逼，不能念佛，善友告言：“汝若不能念者，应称无量寿佛！”如是至心，如是令声不绝，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。命终之后，见金莲华，犹如日轮，住其人前，如一念顷，即得往生极乐世界。于莲华中，满十二大劫，莲华方开，观世音、大势至以大悲音声为其广说诸法实相，除灭罪法，闻已欢喜，应时即发菩提之心。’” 解云： 总分九品，略有二家：一释，此之九品，并是十信菩萨，约进、约退，造善、造恶，升、降不同，分成九品。初三人是十信位，从本不退直趣入者，行有浅、深，成上三品；中三品人，退大乘心，发小乘意，退大乘行，修小乘业，行有浅、深，成中品三；下三品人，退大乘心，趣生死流，退大乘行，造生死罪，罪有重、轻，成下品三。二释，言发大菩提心，修行菩萨行，行有浅、深，成上三品；发菩提心，修行声闻行，行有浅、深，成中三品；不发大、小二乘心，不修大、小二乘行，唯趣生死心，唯造生死罪，造罪重、轻，成下三品。此 ‘下品下生者，或者有众生，造作不善的业，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），具备各种不善的行为。这样的愚人，因为恶业的缘故，应当堕入恶道，经历漫长的劫数，遭受无尽的痛苦。这样的愚人在临命终时，遇到善知识（指善友、师长）以种种方式安慰他，为他说微妙的佛法，教导他念佛。这个人被痛苦逼迫，不能念佛，善友就告诉他说：‘你如果不能念佛，应当称念无量寿佛（阿弥陀佛的名号）！’这样至诚恳切，这样令声音不间断，具足十念，称念南无阿弥陀佛（皈依阿弥陀佛）。因为称念佛的名号，在每一个念头中都能消除八十亿劫生死轮回的罪业。命终之后，看见金色的莲花，犹如太阳一般，停留在他的面前，如同一个念头的时间，就能够往生到极乐世界。在莲花之中，经过十二大劫，莲花才开放，观世音（Avalokiteśvara）、大势至（Mahāsthāmaprāpta）两位菩萨以大慈悲的声音为他广泛地宣说诸法实相，消除罪业的方法，听闻之后心生欢喜，应时就发起菩提之心（觉悟之心）。’ 解释说： 总共分为九品，大致有两种解释：第一种解释，这九品都是十信位的菩萨，根据精进或退步，造善或造恶，上升或下降的不同，分成九品。最初的三品是十信位的菩萨，从一开始就不退转而直接趣入的，修行有深浅，成就上三品；中间的三品人，退失大乘之心，发起小乘之意，退失大乘之行，修习小乘之业，修行有深浅，成就中品三品；下三品人，退失大乘之心，趋向生死之流，退失大乘之行，造作生死之罪，罪业有轻重，成就下品三品。第二种解释，说的是发起大菩提心，修行菩萨行，修行有深浅，成就上三品；发起菩提心，修行声闻行，修行有深浅，成就中三品；不发起大乘、小乘之心，不修习大乘、小乘之行，只趋向生死之心，只造作生死之罪，造罪有轻重，成就下三品。这是……