English
English version Xi Shi (name, referring to someone here) declared: 'Amitabha (Amitabha, Sanskrit, meaning infinite light Buddha), Avalokiteśvara (Avalokiteśvara, Sanskrit, meaning Guanshiyin Bodhisattva), Mahāsthāmaprāpta (Mahāsthāmaprāpta, Sanskrit, meaning Great Strength Bodhisattva) and all the Bodhisattvas and the pure great assembly are listening. Disciples are now ordinary people in the cycle of birth and death, with deep sins and heavy obstacles, and are in the six realms of reincarnation, suffering unspeakably. Now I have met a good teacher and have heard the name of Amitabha's original vow, and I wholeheartedly recite it, seeking to be reborn in the Pure Land. May the Buddha be merciful and not abandon the original great vow to receive the disciples. Disciples do not recognize the physical appearance and light of Amitabha Buddha, and may the Buddha mercifully manifest the physical appearance of the disciples, as well as Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta and other Bodhisattvas, and the pure and solemn light of the Pure Land world.' After saying these words, with one mind and right mindfulness, one can enter contemplation or fall asleep at will, or see it when making a vow, or see it in a dream. This wish has also been fulfilled many times in the past. Question: What are the merits and benefits of reciting, bowing, and contemplating Amitabha Buddha in this present life? Answer: If you recite Amitabha Buddha once, you can eliminate the deep sins of eighty billion kalpas of birth and death. The same is true for bowing and reciting. The Sutra of Ten Rebirths says: 'If there are sentient beings who recite Amitabha Buddha and vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land, Amitabha Buddha will send twenty-five Bodhisattvas to protect the practitioners. Whether walking, sitting, standing, or lying down, whether day or night, at any time and in any place, they will not allow evil ghosts and evil spirits to succeed.' Also, as the Contemplation Sutra says: 'If you recite and bow to Amitabha Buddha and vow to be reborn in that country, Amitabha Buddha will send countless manifested Buddhas, countless manifested Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattvas, and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattvas to protect the practitioners, plus the previous twenty-five Bodhisattvas, surrounding the practitioners in hundreds and thousands of layers, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, at any time and in any place, day and night, they will not leave the practitioners.' Now that there are such wonderful benefits to rely on, may all practitioners sincerely seek rebirth. Also, as the Infinite Life Sutra says: 'If I become a Buddha, if sentient beings in the ten directions recite my name, even if they only recite it ten times, if they cannot be reborn, I will not attain perfect enlightenment.' Amitabha Buddha has now become a Buddha, and it should be known that his original vows are true and not false, and sentient beings who recite will surely be reborn. Also, as the Amitabha Sutra says: 'If there are sentient beings who hear of Amitabha Buddha, they should hold the name, if for one day, two days, or even seven days, reciting the Buddha's name with one mind, not --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
乱。命欲终时。阿弥陀佛与诸圣众现在其前。此人终时心不颠倒。即得往生彼国。佛告舍利弗。我见是利故说是言。若有众生闻说是者。应当发愿愿生彼国。次下说云。东方如恒河沙等诸佛。南西北方及上下一一方如恒河沙等诸佛。各于本国出其舌相遍覆三千大千世界。说诚实言。汝等众生。皆应信是一切诸佛所护念经云何名护念。若有众生。称念阿弥陀佛。若七日及一日。下至一声乃至十声一念等。必得往生。证成此事故名护念经。次下又云。若称佛往生者。常为六万恒沙等诸佛之所护念。故名护念经。今既有此增上誓愿可凭。诸佛子等。何不励意去也。 集诸经礼忏仪卷下 现代汉语译本： 混乱。当生命即将终结时，阿弥陀佛（Amitabha，梵语，意为‘无量光’或‘无量寿’）与诸位圣众会显现在这个人面前。此人在临终时心不颠倒，当下就能往生到阿弥陀佛的国度。佛告诉舍利弗（Sariputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称），我因为见到这种利益，所以才说这些话。如果有众生听闻这些话，应当发起愿望，愿生到那个国度。 接下来经文说，东方有如恒河沙数那么多的诸佛，南方、西方、北方以及上方、下方，每一方都有如恒河沙数那么多的诸佛，各自在本国伸出舌相，遍覆三千大千世界，说真实的话：‘你们这些众生，都应当相信这部一切诸佛所护念的经。’为什么叫做护念呢？如果有众生，称念阿弥陀佛的名号，无论是七日、一日，下至一声乃至十声、一念等等，必定能够往生。为了证明这件事，所以叫做护念经。 接下来经文又说，如果称念佛名而往生的人，常常为六万恒河沙数那么多的诸佛所护念，所以叫做护念经。现在既然有这样增上的誓愿可以依靠，各位佛子们，为什么不努力精进呢？ （出自《集诸经礼忏仪》卷下）
English
English version: Confusion. When life is about to end, Amitabha (Amitabha, Sanskrit, meaning 'Infinite Light' or 'Infinite Life') Buddha and all the holy beings will appear before this person. At the time of death, this person's mind will not be confused, and they will immediately be reborn in Amitabha's Pure Land. The Buddha told Sariputra (Sariputra, one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, known for his wisdom), 'I speak these words because I see this benefit. If there are sentient beings who hear these words, they should make a vow to be reborn in that land.' The following scripture says, 'In the East, there are Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River; in the South, West, North, above, and below, in each direction, there are Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River. Each Buddha extends their tongue in their own land, covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, speaking truthful words: 'All of you sentient beings should believe in this Sutra that is protected and念 by all the Buddhas.' Why is it called the Sutra of Protection and念? If there are sentient beings who recite the name of Amitabha Buddha, whether for seven days, one day, down to one recitation, even ten recitations, or one thought, they will surely be reborn in the Pure Land. To prove this, it is called the Sutra of Protection and念.' The following scripture also says, 'If those who recite the Buddha's name are reborn in the Pure Land, they are constantly protected and念 by sixty thousand Ganges River sands of Buddhas, therefore it is called the Sutra of Protection and念.' Now that we have such an excellent vow to rely on, why don't all you disciples of the Buddha strive diligently? (From 'Collected Rituals of Repentance from Various Sutras,' Volume 2) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------