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English version Third: Section on Offerings by Devas (Third part: Offerings by Devas), Fourth: Section on Dharma Expounded by Birds and Trees (Fourth part: Dharma expounded by birds and trees), Fifth: Section on the Buddha's Immeasurable Virtues (Fifth part: The Buddha's virtues are immeasurable), Sixth: Section on Vows to be Reborn (Sixth part: Making vows to be reborn), Seventh: Section on Cultivating Right Practice (Seventh part: Cultivating correct practice), Eighth: Section on Joint Praise and Encouragement of Faith (Eighth part: Jointly praising and encouraging faith), Ninth: Section on Hearing the Dharma, Faith, and Vows (Ninth part: Hearing the Dharma and generating faith and vows), Tenth: Section on Mutual Praise and Inspiration (Tenth part: Mutual praise, inspiring and motivating), Eleventh: Section on Widespread Circulation and Universal Salvation (Eleventh part: Circulating the Dharma to universally save sentient beings), Twelfth. No. 428 Excerpts from the Commentary and Subcommentary on the Amitabha Sutra Spoken by the Buddha Commentary and Subcommentary by Master Lianchi of Yunqi Extracted by Xu Huaiting, a disciple devoted to Pure Land practice The Buddha refers to the original teacher, Sakyamuni Buddha (Sakyamuni). Sakyamuni Buddha of this land expounds on the adornments of the Land of Bliss and its inhabitants of Amitabha Buddha (Amitabha), and the sutra on faith, vows, and rebirth. The original name of this sutra was 'The Sutra Praising the Inconceivable Meritorious Virtues and Protected by All Buddhas.' The current name was revised and finalized by Master Kumarajiva (什师). Part One: Assembly and Witness This belongs to the introductory section. 'Assembly' refers to the gathering for Dharma exposition. 'Witness' refers to the collective witnessing by the assembly. ○ First, the assembly of Sravakas. Second, the assembly of Bodhisattvas. Third, the assembly of Devas. 'Thus have I heard.' 'Thus' is a word of faith and acceptance. 'I' is Ananda (Ananda) referring to himself. 'Heard' means personally hearing it from the Buddha. The Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom (智论) says that when the Buddha entered Nirvana, he instructed Ananda: 'At the beginning of all sutras, say "Thus have I heard, at one time the Buddha was in such and such country, in such and such place." This is probably following the Buddha's last instructions. At one time, the Buddha was in the Kingdom of Sravasti (Sravasti). 'At one time' refers to the time when the sutra was spoken. The Buddha is Sakyamuni Buddha (Sakyamuni). The Kingdom of Sravasti is where King Prasenajit (Prasenajit) resided. In the Jetavana Vihara (Jetavana Vihara) of Anathapindika's Garden. Jetavana (Jetavana) was the prince of King Prasenajit. The trees were planted by Jetavana himself. Sudatta (Sudatta), the minister of King Prasenajit, provided relief to the poor and was known as Anathapindika (Anathapindika). He deeply revered the Buddha's teachings and bought the garden from Jetavana, covering the ground with gold, and thus built a monastery, inviting the Buddha to expound the Dharma. With a great Bhikkhu Sangha. 'With' means together. Bhikkhu (Bhikkhu) has three meanings: 1. A mendicant (one who begs for food); 2. One who frightens Mara (one who causes fear in demons); 3. One who destroys evil (one who eradicates evil deeds). 'Great' refers to the depth of their attainment. 'Sangha' is the monastic community. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 千二百五十人俱。
Chinese
迦叶三人。一优楼频螺。有五百弟子。二伽耶。有三百弟子。三那提。有二百弟子。目连舍利二人。共有二百五十弟子。悉来归佛。共成此数。俱者合上共义。 皆是大阿罗汉。 初果至四果。皆声闻位。此是四果也。阿罗汉有三义。一应供。梵行已立。理应受供也。二杀贼。已断思惑。乱流悉殄也。三无生。生缘已尽。不受后有也。以有智无悲。不来尘世教度众生。故谓之自度汉。 众所知识。 德高望重。名满天下。众人共知共识。 长老舍利弗。 德长腊老之称。贯下十六尊宿。舍利此云鹙鹭。弗此云子。其母眼净如鹙鹭。连母得名。八岁登座。议论无双。七日之内。遍达佛法。故智慧第一。 摩诃目犍连。 摩诃此云大。目犍连此云采菽氏。姓也。名拘律陀。称大以别同族。佛升忉利。毒龙障佛。目连化身大小。龙惧遂服。故神通第一。 摩诃迦叶。 此云大龟氏。姓也。名毕钵罗。一云饮光。迦叶有三。亦称大以别之。迦叶年老不舍头陀。佛深赞其有头陀行。故头陀第一。 ○按世尊在灵山会上。拈花示众。唯迦叶破颜微笑。世尊曰。吾有正法眼藏。密付于汝。遂传为第一祖。 摩诃迦旃延。 现代汉语译本 一千二百五十人都在一起。 迦叶三兄弟。一是优楼频螺迦叶（Uruvilva-Kashyapa），有五百个弟子。二是伽耶迦叶（Gaya-Kashyapa），有三百个弟子。三是那提迦叶（Nadi-Kashyapa），有二百个弟子。还有目连（Maudgalyayana）和舍利弗（Shariputra）二人，共有二百五十个弟子。他们都来归顺佛陀，合起来共有这么多人。‘俱’字是合在一起的意思。 都是大阿罗汉（Arhat）。 从初果到四果，都属于声闻乘的果位。这里说的是四果阿罗汉。阿罗汉有三种含义：一是应供，因为已经建立了清净的修行，理应接受供养；二是杀贼，已经断除了思惑，各种烦恼的乱流都平息了；三是无生，因为生缘已经断尽，不再受后有的生死轮回。因为他们有智慧而缺乏慈悲，不来世间教化众生，所以被称为自度汉。 为大众所熟知。 他们的德行高尚，声望很高，名声传遍天下，为众人所共同知晓。 长老舍利弗（Shariputra）。 ‘长老’是德高望重的称呼，以下十六位尊者都可称为长老。舍利，在这里翻译为‘鹙鹭’。弗，在这里翻译为‘子’。他的母亲的眼睛清净明亮，像鹙鹭一样，因此以母亲的特点来命名。舍利弗八岁就登座说法，议论辩才无双。七天之内，通达佛法，所以被称为智慧第一。 摩诃目犍连（Maha-Maudgalyayana）。 摩诃，在这里翻译为‘大’。目犍连，在这里翻译为‘采菽氏’，是他的姓。他的名字叫拘律陀（Kolita）。称‘大’是为了区别同族其他人。佛陀升到忉利天（Trayastrimsha）时，有毒龙阻碍佛陀。目连显现大小变化的神通，毒龙感到恐惧而降服。所以被称为神通第一。 摩诃迦叶（Maha-Kashyapa）。 在这里翻译为‘大龟氏’，是他的姓。他的名字叫毕钵罗（Pippala）。一说名为饮光。迦叶有三位，也称‘大’来区别他们。迦叶年老了也不放弃头陀苦行。佛陀深深赞叹他能坚持头陀行，所以被称为头陀第一。 （编者按：世尊在灵山会上，拈花示众，只有迦叶破颜微笑。世尊说：‘我有正法眼藏，秘密地交付给你。’于是传为禅宗第一祖。） 摩诃迦旃延（Maha-Katyayana）。
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English version Together with twelve hundred and fifty people. The three Kashyapas: first, Uruvilva-Kashyapa, with five hundred disciples; second, Gaya-Kashyapa, with three hundred disciples; third, Nadi-Kashyapa, with two hundred disciples. Also, Maudgalyayana and Shariputra, with two hundred and fifty disciples in total. All came to take refuge in the Buddha, together forming this number. 'Together' means combining the above meanings. All were great Arhats. From the first fruit to the fourth fruit, all belong to the Shravaka (hearer) position. This refers to the fourth fruit. An Arhat has three meanings: first, worthy of offerings, because pure conduct has been established, and it is reasonable to receive offerings; second, killer of thieves, having cut off the delusions of thought, all turbulent flows of affliction have been extinguished; third, no rebirth, because the causes of birth have been exhausted, and there will be no future existence. Because they have wisdom but lack compassion, they do not come to the world to teach and liberate sentient beings, so they are called self-liberated Arhats. Known by the multitude. Their virtue is high and their reputation is great, their name fills the world, and they are commonly known and recognized by all. The elder Shariputra. 'Elder' is a term of respect for those of high virtue and seniority, applying to the sixteen venerable ones below. Shariputra, here translated as 'egret'; 'Shari' means egret, 'putra' means son. His mother's eyes were as clear as an egret, hence the name was derived from his mother's characteristic. Shariputra ascended the seat at the age of eight, with unparalleled debate and discussion. Within seven days, he thoroughly understood the Buddha's teachings, hence he is foremost in wisdom. Maha-Maudgalyayana. Maha, here translated as 'great'. Maudgalyayana, here translated as 'bean-gatherer clan', is his surname. His name is Kolita. 'Great' is used to distinguish him from others of the same clan. When the Buddha ascended to Trayastrimsha Heaven, a poisonous dragon obstructed the Buddha. Maudgalyayana manifested transformations of size, and the dragon, fearing him, submitted. Hence, he is foremost in supernatural powers. Maha-Kashyapa. Here translated as 'great tortoise clan', is his surname. His name is Pippala. Another account says his name is 'drinking light'. There are three Kashyapas, and 'great' is also used to distinguish him. Kashyapa was old but did not abandon ascetic practices. The Buddha deeply praised him for upholding ascetic practices, hence he is foremost in asceticism. (Editor's note: At the assembly on Vulture Peak, the World-Honored One held up a flower to the assembly, and only Kashyapa broke into a smile. The World-Honored One said, 'I have the treasury of the true Dharma eye, which I secretly entrust to you.' Thus, he was transmitted as the first patriarch of Zen.) Maha-Katyayana. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
此云文饰。姓也。南天竺婆罗门族也。善分别义。敷衍教道。故论议第一。 摩诃拘絺罗。 此云大膝。从状得名。舍利弗舅。发愤精勤。得四辩才。触问能答。故答问第一。 离婆多。 此云星宿。从星乞子而生。心正故不颠倒。心定故不散乱。故无倒乱第一。 周利槃陀伽。 此云继道。其母于中路诞生。得继续于道故名。出家愚暗。久无所解。佛使诵笤帚二字。记一忘一。久之忽悟。垢尽惑除。得阿罗汉。 难陀。 此云善欢喜。难陀有三。阿难陀。孙陀罗难陀。兼此放牛难陀也。 阿难陀。 此云庆喜。佛之从弟。佛成道日诞生。举国欣庆故名。阿难侍佛二十五年。佛所说法。不忘一字。故多闻第一。 ○迦叶传法于阿难。为第二祖。 罗睺罗。 此云覆障。能以手障蔽日月故名。佛之子也。积行而人不知。故密行第一。 憍梵波提。 此云牛呞。以过去世中。轻弄沙门故。乃因病得名。常居天上。诸天敬奉。故受天供养第一。 宾头卢颇罗堕。 上三字此云不动。名也。下三字此云利根。姓也。先名后姓。别其余也。 迦留陀夷。 此云黑光。颜色丽黑。而光耀也。 摩 现代汉语译本 此云文饰（Wen Shi，意为文饰）。姓也。南天竺婆罗门族也。善于分辨义理，阐扬教法，所以论议第一。 摩诃拘絺罗（Mohe Juchiluo，意为大膝）。 此云大膝（Da Xi）。从外形得名。舍利弗（Shelifu）的舅舅。发愤精勤，得到四种辩才，无论遇到什么问题都能回答，所以答问第一。 离婆多（Li Po Duo，意为星宿）。 此云星宿（Xing Su）。因祈求星宿而生子。心正所以不颠倒，心定所以不散乱，所以无倒乱第一。 周利槃陀伽（Zhouli Pantuojia，意为继道）。 此云继道（Ji Dao）。他的母亲在路途中生下他，因此得名。出家后愚笨迟钝，很久都不能理解佛法。佛陀让他诵念‘笤帚’二字，记住一个字就忘记另一个字。很久以后忽然领悟，污垢尽除，烦恼消除，证得阿罗汉果。 难陀（Nantuo，意为善欢喜）。 此云善欢喜（Shan Huanxi）。难陀有三位：阿难陀（Ananda）、孙陀罗难陀（Sundarananda），以及这位放牛难陀。 阿难陀（Ananda，意为庆喜）。 此云庆喜（Qing Xi）。佛陀的堂弟。佛陀成道之日出生，举国欢庆，因此得名。阿难侍奉佛陀二十五年，佛陀所说的法，没有遗忘一个字，所以多闻第一。 迦叶（Jiaye）将佛法传给阿难，为第二代祖师。 罗睺罗（Luohouluo，意为覆障）。 此云覆障（Fu Zhang）。能用手遮蔽日月，因此得名。是佛陀的儿子。积累善行而不为人知，所以密行第一。 憍梵波提（Jiaofanboti，意为牛呞）。 此云牛呞（Niu Chi）。因为过去世中，轻慢戏弄沙门，因此得了这种病而得名。常住在天上，诸天都敬奉他，所以受天供养第一。 宾头卢颇罗堕（Bintouluo Poluoduo）。 上三字此云不动（Budong），是名字。下三字此云利根（Ligen），是姓氏。先名后姓，是为了区别于其他人。 迦留陀夷（Jialuotuo Yi）。 此云黑光（Hei Guang）。颜色黝黑而有光泽。 摩诃迦旃延（Mohe J旃yan）。