佛說觀無量壽佛經 1.24

1.24

ders between the trees. As it ripples it produces exquisite sounds, which proclaim the truths of suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and no-self, and of the pāramitās. Its sound also praises the physical characteristics and marks of the buddhas. The wish-fulfilling king maṇi-gem emits a splendid golden light, which transforms itself into birds with the colors of a hundred jewels.

Their songs are melodious and elegant, constantly praising the virtue of mindfulness of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. This is the visualization of the water possessing the eight excellent qualities and is known as the fifth contemplation. To practice in this way is called the correct contemplation, and to practice otherwise is incorrect.”

14 The Buddha said to Ānanda and Vaidehī, “In each region of this jeweled land there are five hundred koṭis of jeweled pavilions in which innumerable devas play heavenly music. There are also musical instruments suspended in the sky, which, like those on the heavenly jeweled banners, spontaneously produce tones even without a player. Each tone proclaims the virtue of mindfulness of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. When this contemplation has been accomplished, it is known as the general perception of the jeweled trees, jeweled ground, and jeweled ponds of the Land of Utmost Bliss. This is a composite visualization and is called the sixth contemplation.

“Those who have perceived these objects will be rid of extremely heavy evil karma which they have committed during innumerable kalpas and will certainly, after death, be born in that land. To practice in this way is called the correct contemplation, and to practice otherwise is incorrect.”

15 The Buddha said to Ānanda and Vaidehī, “Listen carefully, listen carefully and ponder deeply. I will expound for you the method of removing suffering. Bear my words in mind and explain them to the multitude of beings.”

When these words were spoken, Amitāyus appeared in the air above, attended on his left and right by the two mahāsattvas Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta. So brilliant was their radiance that it was impossible to see them in detail. They could not be compared even with a hundred thousand nuggets of gold from the Jambu River.

After she had this vision of Amitāyus, Vaidehī knelt down in worship at Śākyamuni’s feet and said to him, “World-honored One, through your power I have been able to see Amitāyus and the two bodhisattvas, but how can sentient beings of the future see them?”

The Buddha said to Vaidehī, “Those who wish to see that Buddha should form an image of a lotus flower on the seven-jeweled ground. They visualize each petal of this flower as having the colors of a hundred kinds of jewels and eighty-four thousand veins like a celestial painting, with eighty-four

thousand rays of light issuing forth from each vein. They should visualize all of these clearly and distinctly. Its smaller petals are two hundred and fifty yojanas in both length and breadth. This lotus flower has eighty-four thousand large petals. Between the petals there are a hundred koṭis of king maṇi-gems as illuminating adornments. Each maṇi-gem emits a thousand rays of light