蓮 池 讚
Lotus Pool Praise
蓮池海會．彌陀如來．觀音勢至坐蓮臺．接引上金階．大誓弘開．普願離塵埃。In the vast Lotus Pool Assembly, Amita the Tathagatatogether with Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamapraptareceives us and leads us to ascend the lotus platforms;Great vows magnificently taking. We universally wish all to leave the mundane world.
南無蓮池會菩薩摩訶薩
Homage to Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas in the Lotus Pool’s Assembly
南無蓮池海會佛菩薩
Homage to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the Vast Assembly of the Lotus Pool
南無本師釋迦牟尼佛
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Verse for Opening a Sutra無上甚深微妙法 百千萬劫難遭遇
The unsurpassed, profound, and wonderful Dharma,Is difficult to encounter in hundreds of millions of eons,I now see and hear it, receive and uphold it,And I vow to fathom the Tathagata’s true meaning.
佛說阿彌陀經
The Buddha Speaks of Amitābha Sūtra
姚秦三藏法師鳩摩羅什譯
Translated by Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva of Yao Qin如是我聞．一時．佛在舍衞國．祇樹給孤獨園。與大比丘僧．千二百五十人俱。
Thus I have heard. At one time the Buddha dwelt at Shrāvastī, in the Jeta Grove, in the Garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and the Solitary, together with a gathering of great bhikshus, twelve hundred fifty in all,
皆是大阿羅漢．衆所知識。長老舍利弗．摩訶目犍連．摩訶迦葉．摩訶迦旃延．摩訶俱絺羅．離婆多．周利槃陀伽．
all great Arhats whom the assembly knew and recognized: Elders Shāriputra, Mahāmaudgalyāyana, Mahākāshyapa, Mahākātyāyana, Mahākaushthila, Revata, Shuddhipanthaka,
難陀．阿難陀．羅睺羅．憍梵波提．賓頭盧頗羅墮．迦留陀夷．摩訶劫賓那．薄拘羅．阿㝹樓馱．如是等諸大弟子。
Nanda, Ānanda, Rāhula, Gavāmpati, Pindola-Bharadvāja, Kālodayin, Mahākapphina, Vakkula, Aniruddha, and others such as these, all great disciples;
幷諸菩薩摩訶薩．文殊師利法王子．阿逸多菩薩．乾陀訶提菩薩．常精進菩薩．與如是等諸大菩薩。
together with all the Bodhisattvas, Mahāsattvas: Dharma Prince Manjushrī, Ajita Bodhisattva, Gandhahastin Bodhisattva, Nityodyukta Bodhisattva, and others such as these, all great Bodhisattvas,
及釋提桓因等．無量諸天大衆俱。
and together with Shakra, chief among gods, and the numberless great multitudes from all the heavens.
爾時佛告長老舍利弗．從是西方．過十萬億佛土．有世界名曰極樂。其土有佛．號阿彌陀．今現在說法。
At that time the Buddha told the Elder Shāriputra, “Passing from here through hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhalands to the West, there is a world called Ultimate Bliss. In this land a Buddha called Amitābha right now teaches the Dharma.
舍利弗．彼土何故名爲極樂。其國衆生．無有衆苦．但受諸樂．故名極樂。
“Shāriputra, for what reason is this land called Ultimate Bliss? All living beings of this country endure none of the sufferings, but enjoy every bliss. Therefore it is called ‘Ultimate Bliss.’
又舍利弗．極樂國土．七重欄楯．七重羅網．七重行樹．皆是四寶周帀圍繞．是故彼國名爲極樂。
“Moreover, Shāriputra, this Land of Ultimate Bliss is everywhere surrounded by seven tiers of railings, seven layers of netting, and seven rows of trees, all formed from the four treasures and for this reason named ‘Ultimate Bliss.’
又舍利弗．極樂國土．有七寶池．八功德水．充滿其中。池底．純以金沙布地。
“Moreover, Shāriputra, this Land of Ultimate Bliss has pools of the seven jewels, filled with the water of eight meritorious virtues. The bottom of each pool is pure, spread over with golden sand.
四邊階道．金．銀．瑠璃．玻瓈．合成。上有樓閣．亦以金．銀．瑠璃．玻瓈．硨磲．赤珠．碼碯．而嚴飾之。
“On the four sides are stairs of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal; above are raised pavilions adorned with gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, mother-of-pearl, red pearls, and carnelian.
池中蓮華．大如車輪．青色青光．黃色黃光．赤色赤光．白色白光．微妙香潔。
“In the pools are lotuses as large as carriage wheels: green colored of green light, yellow colored of yellow light, red colored of red light, white colored of white light, subtly, wonderfully fragrant and pure.
舍利弗．極樂國土．成就如是功德莊嚴。
“Shāriputra, the realization of the Land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned.
又舍利弗．彼佛國土．常作天樂．黃金爲地。晝夜六時．雨天曼陀羅華。
“Moreover, Shāriputra, in that Buddhaland there is always heavenly music and the ground is yellow gold. In the six periods of the day and night a heavenly rain of mandarava flowers falls,
其土衆生．常以清旦．各以衣裓．盛衆妙華．供養他方十萬億佛。
and throughout the clear morning, each living being of that land, with sacks full of the myriads of wonderful flowers, makes offerings to the hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhas of the other directions.
卽以食時．還到本國．飯食經行。舍利弗．極樂國土．成就如是功德莊嚴。
“At mealtime they return to their own country, and having eaten, they stroll around. Shāriputra, the realization of the Land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned.
復次舍利弗．彼國常有種種奇妙雜色之鳥．白鶴．孔雀．鸚鵡．舍利．迦陵頻伽．共命之鳥。
“Moreover Shāriputra, in this country there are always rare and wonderful varicolored birds: white cranes, peacocks, parrots, and egrets, kalavinkas, and two-headed birds.
是諸衆鳥．晝夜六時．出和雅音。其音演暢五根．五力．七菩提分．八聖道分．如是等法。
“In the six periods of the day and night the flocks of birds sing forth harmonious and elegant sounds; their clear and joyful sounds proclaim the five roots, the five powers, the seven bodhi shares, the eight sagely way shares, and dharmas such as these.
其土衆生．聞是音已．皆悉念佛念法念僧。
“When living beings of this land hear these sounds, they are altogether mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha.
舍利弗．汝勿謂此鳥．實是罪報所生。所以者何．彼佛國土．無三惡道。
“Shāriputra, do not say that these birds are born as retribution for their karmic offenses. For what reason? In this Buddhaland there are no three evil ways of rebirth.
舍利弗．其佛國土．尚無惡道之名．何况有實。是諸衆鳥．皆是阿彌陀佛．欲令法音宣流．變化所作。
“Shāriputra, in this Buddhaland not even the names of the three evil ways exist, how much the less their actuality! Desiring that the Dharma-sound be widely proclaimed, Amitābha Buddha by transformation made this multitude of birds.
舍利弗．彼佛國土．微風吹動諸寶行樹．及寶羅網．出微妙音。譬如百千種樂．同時俱作。
“Shāriputra, in that Buddhaland when the soft wind blows, the rows of jewelled trees and jewelled nets give forth subtle and wonderful sounds, like one hundred thousand kinds of music played at the same time.
聞是音者．自然皆生念佛念法念僧之心。舍利弗．其佛國土．成就如是功德莊嚴。
“All those who hear these sounds naturally bring forth in their hearts mindfulness of the Buddha, mindfulness of the Dharma, and mindfulness of the Sangha. Shāriputra, the realization of the Land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned.
舍利弗．於汝意云何．彼佛何故號阿彌陀。
“Shāriputra, what do you think? Why is this Buddha called Amitābha?
舍利弗．彼佛光明無量．照十方國．無所障礙．是故號爲阿彌陀。
“Shāriputra, the brilliance of that Buddha’s light is measureless, illumining the lands of the ten directions everywhere without obstruction, for this reason he is called Amitābha.
又舍利弗．彼佛壽命．及其人民．無量無邊阿僧祇劫．故名阿彌陀。
“Moreover, Shāriputra, the life of that Buddha and that of his people extends for measureless, limitless asamkhyeya kalpas; for this reason he is called Amitāyus.
舍利弗．阿彌陀佛．成佛已來．於今十劫。
“And Shāriputra, since Amitābha realized Buddhahood ten kalpas have passed.
又舍利弗．彼佛有無量無邊聲聞弟子．皆阿羅漢．非是算數之所能知。諸菩薩衆．亦復如是。
“Moreover, Shāriputra, that Buddha has measureless, limitless sound-hearer disciples, all Arhats, their number incalculable; thus also is the assembly of Bodhisattvas.
舍利弗．彼佛國土．成就如是功德莊嚴。
“Shāriputra, the realization of the Land of Ultimate Bliss is thus meritoriously adorned.
又舍利弗．極樂國土．衆生生者．皆是阿鞞跋致。
“Moreover, Shāriputra, those living beings born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss are all avaivartika.
其中多有一生補處．其數甚多．非是算數所能知之．但可以無量無邊阿僧祇說。
“Among them are many who in this very life will dwell in Buddhahood. Their number is extremely many; it is incalculable and only in measureless, limitless asamkhyeya kalpas could it be spoken.
舍利弗．衆生聞者．應當發願．願生彼國。所以者何．得與如是諸上善人．俱會一處。
“Shāriputra, those living beings who hear should vow, ‘I wish to be born in that country.’ And why? Those who thus attain are all superior and good people, all coming together in one place.
舍利弗．不可以少善根福德因緣．得生彼國。舍利弗．若有善男子．善女人．聞說阿彌陀佛．執持名號．
“Shāriputra, one cannot have few good roots, blessings, virtues, and causal connections to attain birth in that land. Shāriputra, if there is a good man or a good woman who hears spoken ‘Amitābha’ and holds the name,
若一日．若二日．若三日．若四日．若五日．若六日．若七日．一心不亂。
whether for one day, two days, three, four, five days, six days, as long as seven days, with one heart unconfused,
其人臨命終時．阿彌陀佛．與諸聖衆．現在其前。是人終時．心不顚倒．卽得往生阿彌陀佛極樂國土。
when this person approaches the end of life, before him will appear Amitābha and all the assembly of holy ones. When the end comes, his heart is without inversion; in Amitābha’s Land of Ultimate Bliss he will attain rebirth.
舍利弗．我見是利．故說此言。若有衆生．聞是說者．應當發願．生彼國土。
“Shāriputra, because I see this benefit, I speak these words: If living beings hear this spoken they should make the vow, ‘I will be born in that land.’
舍利弗．如我今者．讚歎阿彌陀佛不可思議功德之利。東方亦有阿閦鞞佛．須彌相佛．大須彌佛．須彌光佛．妙音佛．
“Shāriputra, as I now praise the inconceivable benefit from the merit and virtue of Amitābha, thus in the east are also Akshobhya Buddha, Sumeru Appearance Buddha, Great Sumeru Buddha, Sumeru Light Buddha, Wonderful Sound Buddha,
如是等恆河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．徧覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。
all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words,
汝等衆生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。
‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sūtra of the Mindful One of Whom all Buddhas are protective.’
舍利弗．南方世界．有日月燈佛．名聞光佛．大燄肩佛．須彌燈佛．無量精進佛．
“Shāriputra, in the Southern world are Sun Moon Lamp Buddha, Well-known Light Buddha, Great Blazing Shoulders Buddha, Sumeru Lamp Buddha, Measureless Vigor Buddha,
如是等恆河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．徧覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。
all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words,
汝等衆生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。
‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sūtra of the Mindful One of Whom all Buddhas are Protective.’
舍利弗．西方世界．有無量壽佛．無量相佛．無量幢佛．大光佛．大明佛．寶相佛．淨光佛．
“Shāriputra, in the Western world are Measureless Life Buddha, Measureless Appearance Buddha, Measureless Curtain Buddha, Great Light Buddha, Great Brightness Buddha, Jewelled Appearance Buddha, Pure Light Buddha,
如是等恆河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．徧覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。
all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words,
汝等衆生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。
‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sūtra of the Mindful One of Whom all Buddhas are Protective.’
舍利弗．北方世界．有燄肩佛．最勝音佛．難沮佛．日生佛．網明佛．
“Shāriputra, in the Northern world are Blazing Shoulders Buddha, Most Victorious Sound Buddha, Hard To Injure Buddha, Sun Birth Buddha, Net Brightness Buddha,
如是等恆河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．徧覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。
all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words,
汝等衆生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。
‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sūtra of the Mindful One of Whom all Buddhas are Protective.’
舍利弗．下方世界．有師子佛．名聞佛．名光佛．達摩佛．法幢佛．持法佛．
“Shāriputra, in the world below are Lion Buddha, Well-known Buddha, Famous Light Buddha, Dharma Buddha, Dharma Curtain Buddha, Dharma Maintaining Buddha,
如是等恆河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．徧覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。
all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, and speaks the sincere and actual words,
汝等衆生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。
‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sūtra of the Mindful One of Whom all Buddhas are Protective.’
舍利弗．上方世界．有梵音佛．宿王佛．香上佛．香光佛．大燄肩佛．
“Shāriputra, in the world above are Pure Sound Buddha, King of Stars Buddha, Superior Fragrance Buddha, Fragrant Light Buddha, Great Blazing Shoulders Buddha,
雜色寶華嚴身佛．娑羅樹王佛．寶華德佛．見一切義佛．如須彌山佛．
Varicolored Jewels and Flower Adornment Body Buddha, Sala Tree King Buddha, Jewelled Flower Virtue Buddha, Vision of All Meaning Buddha, Such As Mount Sumeru Buddha,
如是等恆河沙數諸佛。各於其國．出廣長舌相．徧覆三千大千世界．說誠實言。
all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges sands. In his own country each brings forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue, everywhere covering the three thousand great thousand worlds and speaks the sincere and actual words,
汝等衆生．當信是稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。
‘All you living beings should believe, praise, and hold in reverence the inconceivable merit and virtue of this Sūtra of the Mindful One of Whom all Buddhas are Protective.’
舍利弗．於汝意云何．何故名爲一切諸佛所護念經。
“Shāriputra, what do you think? Why is it called ‘Sūtra of the Mindful One of Whom all Buddhas are Protective?’
舍利弗．若有善男子．善女人．聞是經受持者．及聞諸佛名者。
“Shāriputra, if a good man or good woman hears this Sūtra and holds to it, and hears the names of all these Buddhas,
是諸善男子．善女人．皆爲一切諸佛之所護念．皆得不退轉於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。
this good man or woman will be the mindful one of whom all Buddhas are protective, and will irreversibly attain anuttarā-samyak-sambodhi.
是故舍利弗．汝等皆當信受我語．及諸佛所說。
“Therefore, Shāriputra, all of you should believe and accept my words and those which all Buddhas speak.
舍利弗．若有人．已發願．今發願．當發願．欲生阿彌陀佛國者。
“Shāriputra, if there are people who have already made the vow, who now make the vow, or who are about to make the vow, ‘I desire to be born in Amitābha’s country,’
是諸人等．皆得不退轉於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。於彼國土．若已生．若今生．若當生。
these people, whether born in the past, now being born, or to be born in the future, all will irreversibly attain anuttarā-samyak-sambodhi.
是故舍利弗．諸善男子．善女人．若有信者．應當發願．生彼國土。
“Therefore, Shāriputra, all good men and good women, if they are among those who have faith, should make the vow, ‘I will be born in that country.’
舍利弗．如我今者．稱讚諸佛不可思議功德。彼諸佛等．亦稱讚我不可思議功德．而作是言．釋迦牟尼佛．能爲甚難希有之事。
“Shāriputra, just as I now one praise the inconceivable merit and virtue of all Buddhas, all those Buddhas equally praise my inconceivable merit and virtue saying these words,‘Shakyamuni Buddha can complete extremely rare and difficult deeds.
能於娑婆國土．五濁惡世．劫濁．見濁．煩惱濁．衆生濁．命濁中．得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。‘In the Saha land, in the evil time of the five turbidities, in the midst of the kalpa turbidity, the view turbidity, the affliction turbidity, the living beings turbidity, and the life turbidity, he can attain anuttarā-samyak-sambodhi
and for the sake of living beings, speak this Dharma which in the whole world is hard to believe.’
舍利弗．當知我於五濁惡世．行此難事．得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。爲一切世間說此難信之法．是爲甚難。“Shāriputra, you should know that I, in the evil time of the five turbidities, practice these difficult deeds, attain anuttarā-samyak-sambodhi, and for all the world speak this Dharma, difficult to believe, extremely difficult!”
佛說此經已．舍利弗．及諸比丘．一切世間天人阿修羅等．聞佛所說．歡喜信受．作禮而去。After the Buddha spoke this Sūtra, Shāriputra and all the bhikshus, all the gods, humans, and asuras, and others from all the worlds, hearing what the Buddha had said, joyously welcomed, faithfully accepted, bowed and withdrew.
The Buddha Speaks of Amitābha Sūtra
Dedication of Merits
願以此功德 莊嚴佛淨土
上報四重恩 下濟三途苦
May the merits and virtues accrued in this work adorn the Amitabha Buddha’s Pure Land,Repay the four great kindnesses above, and relieve the suffering of those on the three paths below.
若有見聞者 悉發菩提心
盡此一報身 同生極樂國
May those who see or hear of these efforts generate Bodhi-mind,Spend their lives devoted to the Buddha Dharma, and finally be reborn together in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.