佛說觀無量壽佛經 1.34

1.34

the Buddha. The rest of the characteristics of his body are exactly the same

as Avalokiteśvara’s. When this bodhisattva walks all the worlds in the ten

directions quake. Wherever the earth trembles, five hundred koṭis of jeweled

flowers appear, each as beautiful and brilliant as a flower in the Land of

Utmost Bliss. When this bodhisattva sits down all the seven-jeweled lands,

from the land of Buddha Golden Light in the nadir to that of Buddha King of

Light in the zenith, tremble simultaneously. From between these, manifested

bodies of Amitāyus, Avalokiteśvara, and Mahāsthāmaprāpta, as innumerable

as particles of dust, all assemble like clouds in the Land of Utmost Bliss, fill-

ing the entire sky. Sitting on lotus seats, they expound the wonderful Dharma

to save suffering beings. To visualize thus is known as the contemplation of

Bodhisattva Mahāsthāmaprāpta, and is also called the contemplation of

Mahāsthāmaprāpta’s physical characteristics. To visualize that bodhisattva

in this way is known as the eleventh contemplation. It extinguishes the evil

karma that would bind one to birth and death for immeasurable and count-

less kalpas. Those who practice this contemplation will no longer be subject

to birth from the womb. They can journey to the pure and exquisite lands of

the buddhas. These contemplations are known as the complete contempla-

tions of Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta. To practice in this way is

called the correct contemplation, and to practice otherwise is incorrect.”

20 The Buddha said to Ānanda and Vaidehī, “After you have contemplated

thus, next visualize yourself as born in the Western Land of Utmost Bliss

sitting cross-legged upon a lotus flower. Visualize this lotus flower as closed;

as it opens, five hundred rays of colored light illuminate your body; then

your eyes open and you see buddhas and bodhisattvas filling the sky and

hear the sounds of the water, birds, and trees, and the voices of the buddhas

all expounding the wonderful Dharma in accord with the twelve divisions

of the scriptures. When you rise from meditation, keep those things in mind and do not forget them. Seeing them thus is known as the visualization of the Land of Utmost Bliss of Buddha Amitāyus. This is the comprehensive visualization and is known as the twelfth contemplation.

“Innumerable transformed bodies of Amitāyus, together with those of Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta, will always accompany those who contemplate thus. To practice in this way is called the correct contemplation, and to practice otherwise is incorrect.”

21 The Buddha said to Ānanda and Vaidehī, “If you sincerely desire to be born in the Western Land, you should first picture a figure, sixteen feet tall, on the surface of a pond. The dimensions of Amitāyus as previously described are boundless and beyond the mental scope of ordinary beings. But by the power of the Original Vows of that tathāgata, those who contemplate him will certainly succeed. You can acquire immeasurable merit simply by visualizing an image of that buddha. And so, how much more merit will you acquire by visualizing his complete physical characteristics!