Ekottaragama (Sanskrit fragments) 3.1.11-12

3.1.11

答曰：「如是。世尊！」諸比丘前受教已。

They replied, “Yes, Bhagavān.”

Once the monks had accepted the teaching, the Bhagavān told them, “Suppose a monk sits cross-legged with correct posture and thought and fixes his attention on what’s in front of him. With no other idea, he focuses on recollecting the Buddha.

3.1.12

世尊告曰：「若有比丘正身正意，結跏趺坐，繫念在前，無有他想，專精念佛。觀如來形，未曾離目；已不離目，便念如來功德：如來體者，金剛所成，十力具足，四無所畏，在眾勇健。如來顏貌，端正無雙，視之無厭；戒德成就，猶如金剛，而不可毀，清淨無瑕，亦如琉璃。如來三昧，未始有減，已息永寂，而無他念；憍慢強梁，諸情憺怕，欲意、恚想、愚惑之心、猶豫網結，皆悉除盡。如來慧身，智無崖底，無所罣礙。如來身者，解脫成就，諸趣已盡，無復生分，言我當更墮於生死。如來身者，度知見城，知他人根，應度不度，此死生彼，周旋往來生死之際，有解脫者，無解脫者，皆具知之。是謂修行念佛，便有名譽，成大果報，諸善普至，得甘露味，至無為處，便成神通，除諸亂想，獲沙門果，自致涅槃。是故，諸比丘！常當思惟，不離佛念，便當獲此諸善功德。如是，諸比丘！當作是學。」

“He visualizes the Tathāgata’s form until it never leaves his eyes. Once it doesn’t leave his eyes, then he recollects the Tathāgata’s virtues: ‘The Tathāgata’s body is made of diamond. Having perfected the ten powers, he’s courageous amidst his assembly with four kinds of fearlessness. The Tathāgata’s appearance is handsome, unmatched, and not tiresome to watch. His discipline and virtue are accomplished, unbreakable like diamond, and pure and flawless like beryl.’

“The Tathāgata’s samādhi never lacked anything. Once calmed, he was forever tranquil, without another thought. Arrogance, violence, and the passions were pacified. He had completely eliminated the entangling bonds of wishes, angry notions, confused thoughts, and doubts.

“The Tathāgata’s body of wisdom was a knowledge without limit or impediment. The Tathāgata’s body had accomplished liberation, had reached the end of destinations, and no longer would decide: ‘I will fall into birth and death again.’ The Tathāgata’s body had reached knowing and seeing the city [of nirvāṇa]. He knew whether other people had the capacity to be liberated or not. ‘Here they die, and there they’re born. Round they turn, reborn until the end of birth and death.’ He fully knew who was liberated and who wasn’t.

“This is how someone who cultivates the recollection of the Buddha will become well known, achieve a great reward and all good and complete attainments, attain the sweet-tasting dew, and arrive at the unconditioned state. They’ll achieve spiritual knowledge, dispel their confused ideas, win the fruits of the ascetic, and bring about nirvāṇa themselves.

“Therefore, monks, one should constantly recollect the Buddha and not part from it. Then, they’ll win these good virtues. Thus, monks, you should train yourselves.”