English
English version: The 'Ten念 (ten thoughts)' are not the thoughts of ordinary people, but rather the compassion and other qualities cultivated by Bodhisattvas in the Ten Faiths and Three Worthies stages, which are used as the Ten念.' Therefore, the *Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra, Chapter on Generating Superior Aspiration and Joy* states: 'At that time, Maitreya Bodhisattva (future Buddha) said to the Buddha: 'World Honored One! As the Buddha has described the merits and benefits of Amitabha Buddha's (Buddha of the Western Pure Land) Sukhavati (Pure Land of Amitabha), if there are sentient beings who generate ten kinds of minds, and with any one of these minds, single-mindedly direct their thoughts towards Amitabha Buddha, upon the end of their life, they shall be reborn in that Buddha's world. World Honored One! What are these ten kinds of minds, by virtue of which they can be reborn in that Buddha's world?' The Buddha told Maitreya Bodhisattva: 'Maitreya! These ten minds cannot be generated by foolish ordinary people, unwholesome men, or those who are afflicted with defilements. What are the ten? First, to generate great compassion towards all sentient beings, without any intention to harm them; second, to generate great compassion towards all sentient beings, without any intention to oppress or disturb them; third, to cherish and protect the Buddha's Dharma, without being attached to one's own life or happiness; fourth, to generate superior patience towards all dharmas, without any attachment; fifth, to not be greedy for gain, but to be respectful, reverent, and have a pure intention; sixth, to seek the Buddha's wisdom (Buddha-gnana, all-knowing wisdom of the Buddha), without forgetting it at any time; seventh, to respect and revere all sentient beings, without any sense of inferiority; eighth, to not be attached to worldly discussions, but to generate a firm resolve towards the factors of enlightenment (bodhi-paksa, elements leading to enlightenment); ninth, to plant all kinds of wholesome roots, without any impurities, with a pure mind; tenth, to relinquish all forms of attachment to the Tathagatas (title of the Buddha), and to generate mindfulness. Maitreya! These are the ten kinds of minds generated by Bodhisattvas, by virtue of which they shall be reborn in Amitabha Buddha's Sukhavati. Maitreya! If a person cultivates any one of these ten minds, and desires to be reborn in that Buddha's world, it is impossible that they will not be reborn there.' The explanation says: This sutra is a different translation of the same text as the *Maitreya's Questions*. The statement that these minds cannot be generated by foolish ordinary people, unwholesome men, or those who are afflicted with defilements, refers to 'ordinary' as those who are icchantikas (those who have severed their roots of goodness) without Buddha-nature; 'foolish' refers to those of the Two Vehicles (sravaka-yana and pratyeka-buddha-yana, Hearer Vehicle and Solitary Realizer Vehicle) who are inclined towards quiescence; those who slander the Dharma, commit the five heinous offenses, and so on. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
，名不善士具烦恼者。除此余人成一心，得生彼国，必有是处。是故应知《弥勒所说》十念非凡夫念等者，非但地上所修十念。若不尔者，地前菩萨何无慈悲，岂不往耶？若《观经》中修十六观当生彼国，广如彼说九品之行，次门当述。 若《往生论》明五因行。如彼论云：“若善男子、女人，修五念门行成就，毕竟得生安乐国土，见彼阿弥陀佛。何等五念门？一者、礼拜门；二者、赞叹门；三者、作愿门；四者、观察门；五者、回向门。云何礼拜？身业礼拜阿弥陀如来、应、正遍知，为生彼国故。云何赞叹？口业赞叹，称彼如来名，如彼如来光明智相，如彼名义，欲如实修行相应故。云何作愿？心常愿，一心专念，毕竟往生安乐国土，欲如实修行奢摩他故。云何观察？智慧观察，正念观彼，欲如实修行毗婆舍那故，一、观佛国功德；二、观佛功德；三、观菩萨庄严功德。云何回向？不舍一切苦恼众生，心常作愿，回向为首，得成就大悲心故。”广说如彼；往生因缘，略说如是。 第五、出往生品数者。唯《观无量寿经》说往生彼土不过九品，故彼经言：“‘唯愿世尊为我广说无忧恼处，我当往生！不乐阎浮提浊恶世也。此浊恶处，地狱、饿鬼、畜生盈满，多不善聚，愿我未来不闻恶声，不见恶人。今向 现代汉语译本：名不善之士，充满烦恼的人，除此之外，其他人如果能一心不乱，必定能够往生到西方极乐世界。因此，应当知道《弥勒菩萨所说》的十念法门，并非凡夫所修的普通念佛，不仅仅是地上菩萨所修的十念。如果不是这样，那么地前菩萨难道就没有慈悲心吗？难道他们就不能往生吗？《观无量寿经》中修持十六观想，就能往生西方极乐世界，详细内容如经中所说九品往生的修行，将在后面的章节中叙述。 如果按照《往生论》所说，需要修持五种因行。如该论所说：‘如果善男子、善女人，修持五念门并成就，最终必定能够往生安乐国土，见到阿弥陀佛。哪五念门呢？一是礼拜门；二是赞叹门；三是作愿门；四是观察门；五是回向门。’什么是礼拜？身业礼拜阿弥陀如来（Tathagata）、应供（Arhat）、正遍知（Samyak-sambuddha），为了往生彼国。什么是赞叹？口业赞叹，称念阿弥陀如来（Tathagata）的名号，赞叹阿弥陀如来（Tathagata）的光明智慧之相，赞叹阿弥陀如来（Tathagata）名号的意义，为了如实修行，与佛相应。什么是作愿？心中常常发愿，一心专念，必定往生安乐国土，为了如实修行奢摩他（Samatha，止）。什么是观察？用智慧观察，以正念观想阿弥陀佛（Tathagata），为了如实修行毗婆舍那（Vipassana，观），一、观想佛国功德；二、观想佛的功德；三、观想菩萨庄严功德。什么是回向？不舍弃一切受苦恼的众生，心中常常发愿，以回向为首要，从而成就大悲心。’详细内容如该论所述；往生的因缘，简略地说就是这样。 第五、说明往生品位。《观无量寿经》中说，往生到西方极乐世界不过九品，所以经中说：‘唯愿世尊为我广说无忧恼之处，我当往生！不乐意待在阎浮提（Jambudvipa）这个污浊罪恶的世界。这个污浊罪恶的地方，地狱、饿鬼、畜生充满，聚集了许多不善，愿我未来听不到恶声，见不到恶人。现在面向
English
English version: Those who are named 'not good' and are full of afflictions. Apart from these people, if others can achieve single-mindedness, they will surely be born in that land. Therefore, it should be known that the ten recitations mentioned in the *Maitreya's Discourse* are not the ordinary recitations of ordinary people, nor are they merely the ten recitations practiced by Bodhisattvas on the ground. If that were not the case, why would pre-ground Bodhisattvas lack compassion? Would they not be able to be reborn there? In the *Contemplation Sutra*, practicing the sixteen contemplations will lead to rebirth in that land, as described in detail regarding the practices of the nine grades of rebirth, which will be discussed in the following sections. According to the *Treatise on Rebirth*, one needs to cultivate five causes. As the treatise states: 'If good men and women cultivate the five gates of mindfulness and achieve success, they will certainly be born in the Land of Bliss and see Amitabha Buddha (Amitabha-Tathagata). What are the five gates of mindfulness? First, the gate of prostration; second, the gate of praise; third, the gate of making vows; fourth, the gate of observation; fifth, the gate of dedication.' What is prostration? It is the bodily act of prostrating to Amitabha Tathagata (Amitabha-Tathagata), Arhat (Arhat), Samyak-sambuddha (Samyak-sambuddha), for the sake of being born in that land. What is praise? It is the verbal act of praising, reciting the name of the Tathagata (Tathagata), praising the light and wisdom of the Tathagata (Tathagata), and praising the meaning of the name of the Tathagata (Tathagata), in order to practice in accordance with reality. What is making vows? It is the constant wish in the mind, single-mindedly focusing on being reborn in the Land of Bliss, in order to truly practice Samatha (Samatha). What is observation? It is observing with wisdom, contemplating with right mindfulness, in order to truly practice Vipassana (Vipassana), first, contemplating the merits of the Buddha-land; second, contemplating the merits of the Buddha; third, contemplating the merits of the adornments of the Bodhisattvas. What is dedication? It is not abandoning all suffering beings, constantly making vows in the mind, with dedication as the foremost, thereby achieving great compassion.' The details are as described in that treatise; the causes and conditions for rebirth are briefly as such. Fifth, explaining the grades of rebirth. Only the *Contemplation Sutra on Immeasurable Life* states that rebirth in that land is no more than nine grades. Therefore, the sutra says: 'I pray that the World-Honored One will extensively explain to me the place free from sorrow and affliction, and I shall be reborn there! I do not delight in this impure and evil world of Jambudvipa (Jambudvipa). This impure and evil place is filled with hells, hungry ghosts, and animals, and is a gathering of many unwholesome things. I wish that in the future I will not hear evil sounds or see evil people. Now, facing' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
世尊五体投地，求哀忏悔，唯愿佛日教我观于清净业处。’ “尔时世尊故眉间光，其光金色，遍照十方无量世界，还住佛顶，化为金台，如须弥山，十方诸佛净妙国土皆于中现。或有国土七宝合成，复有国土纯是莲华，复有国土如自在天宫，复有国土如颇梨镜，十方国土皆于中现，如是等无量诸佛国土，严显可观，令韦提希见。时韦提希白佛言：‘世尊！是诸佛土，虽复清净，皆有光明，我今乐生极乐世界阿弥陀佛所。唯愿世尊！教我思惟，教我正受。’ “佛告韦提希：‘汝今知不？阿弥陀佛去此不远，汝当系念，谛观彼国，净业成者。我今为汝广说众譬，亦令未来世一切凡夫，欲修净业者，得生西方极乐国土。欲生彼国者，一者、不杀生，修十善业；二者、受持三归，具足众戒，不犯威仪；三者、发菩提心，深信因果，读诵大乘，劝进行者。如是三事，名为净业。’ “佛告韦提希：‘汝今知不？此三种业，过去、未来、现在三世诸佛净业正因。’ “佛告阿难及韦提希：‘上品上生者，若有众生愿生彼国者，发三种心，即便往生。何等为三？一者、至诚心；二者、深心；三者、回向发愿心。具三心者，必生彼国。复有三种众生当得往生。何等为三？一者、慈心不杀，具诸戒行；二者 现代汉语译本 世尊五体投地，恳求哀怜忏悔，只希望佛陀慈悲教导我如何观想清净的业处。 这时，世尊从眉间放出光明，那光芒是金色的，遍照十方无量世界，然后回到佛顶，化为金色的台座，像须弥山一样，十方诸佛清净美好的国土都显现在其中。有的国土是七宝合成的，有的国土纯粹是莲花，有的国土像自在天宫，有的国土像颇梨镜，十方国土都在其中显现，像这样无量诸佛国土，庄严显赫，令人赞叹，让韦提希夫人看见。当时韦提希夫人对佛说：‘世尊！这些佛土，虽然都很清净，都有光明，但我现在乐意往生到极乐世界阿弥陀佛（Amitabha）那里。只希望世尊教导我如何思惟，教导我如何正确地修行。’ 佛告诉韦提希夫人：‘你知道吗？阿弥陀佛离这里不远，你应该集中意念，仔细观察那个国土，清净的业成就的人才能往生。我现在为你广泛地讲述各种譬喻，也让未来世一切凡夫，想要修习清净之业的人，能够往生西方极乐国土。想要往生那个国土的人，第一，不杀生，修习十善业；第二，受持三归依（皈依佛、皈依法、皈依僧），具足各种戒律，不违犯威仪；第三，发菩提心（为利益一切众生而求成佛的心），深信因果，读诵大乘经典，劝勉他人修行。像这三件事，就叫做清净之业。’ 佛告诉韦提希夫人：‘你知道吗？这三种业，是过去、未来、现在三世诸佛修习清净之业的正因。’ 佛告诉阿难（Ananda）和韦提希夫人：‘上品上生的人，如果有众生发愿往生那个国土，发起三种心，就能往生。是哪三种心呢？第一，至诚心；第二，深心；第三，回向发愿心。具备这三种心的人，必定能往生那个国土。还有三种众生能够往生。是哪三种呢？第一，有慈悲心不杀生，具足各种戒行；第二，
English
English version The World-Honored One prostrated himself, begging for mercy and repenting, only hoping that the Buddha would compassionately teach me how to contemplate the pure karmic realms.' At that time, the World-Honored One emitted light from between his eyebrows. The light was golden, illuminating countless worlds in the ten directions, and then returned to the crown of the Buddha's head, transforming into a golden platform, like Mount Sumeru (Sumeru Mountain, the central world-mountain in Buddhist cosmology). All the pure and wonderful lands of the Buddhas in the ten directions appeared within it. Some lands were composed of the seven treasures, some lands were purely lotuses, some lands were like the palaces of the Paranirmitavasavartin Devas (the sixth and highest heaven of the desire realm), and some lands were like crystal mirrors. The lands of the ten directions all appeared within it. Such were the countless Buddha lands, adorned and magnificent, pleasing to behold, allowing Vaidehi (Queen Vaidehi) to see them. At that time, Vaidehi said to the Buddha: 'World-Honored One! Although these Buddha lands are all pure and have light, I now desire to be born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss of Amitabha Buddha (Amitabha). I only hope that the World-Honored One will teach me how to contemplate, teach me how to practice correctly.' The Buddha told Vaidehi: 'Do you know? Amitabha Buddha is not far from here. You should concentrate your mind and carefully observe that land. Only those who have accomplished pure karma can be reborn there. I will now extensively explain various metaphors for you, so that all ordinary beings in the future who desire to cultivate pure karma can be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Those who desire to be born in that land, first, do not kill, cultivate the ten wholesome deeds; second, take refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), fully observe all precepts, and do not violate the rules of conduct; third, generate the Bodhi mind (the mind seeking enlightenment for the benefit of all beings), deeply believe in cause and effect, recite the Mahayana scriptures, and encourage others to practice. These three things are called pure karma.' The Buddha told Vaidehi: 'Do you know? These three karmas are the true cause of pure karma for all Buddhas of the past, future, and present.' The Buddha told Ananda (Ananda, one of the ten principal disciples of the Buddha) and Vaidehi: 'Those who are born in the highest level of the highest grade, if there are beings who vow to be born in that land, generate three kinds of minds, and they will be reborn. What are the three? First, the sincere mind; second, the profound mind; third, the mind of dedicating merit and making vows. Those who possess these three minds will surely be born in that land. There are also three kinds of beings who can be reborn. What are the three? First, having a compassionate mind and not killing, fully observing all precepts; second, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------