佛說觀無量壽佛經 1.44

1.44

belongings of monks, or preaches the Dharma with impure motives, but feels

no remorse. Thus he defiles himself by evil karma and because of this he

is liable to fall into hell.

“When he is about to die and the flames of hell suddenly close in on

him, he may meet a good teacher, who compassionately explains to him the

ten supernal powers of Amitāyus, fully describing the majestic power of the light of that buddha and his virtues in the observance of the precepts, meditation, wisdom, liberation, and knowledge of liberation. When he has heard this, the evil karma that would bind him to birth and death for eighty koṭis of kalpas are extinguished; thus, the fierce flames of hell turn into cool and refreshing breezes, wafting heavenly flowers. On each flower is a transformed buddha accompanied by bodhisattvas welcoming him.

“In an instant, he attains birth within a lotus bud on a seven-jeweled pond. After six kalpas the lotus bud opens, and then Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta comfort him with their noble voices and teach him profound Mahayana sutras. Upon hearing these, he immediately awakens aspiration for highest enlightenment. Such a person is called one who attains birth on the middle level of the lowest grade.”

30 The Buddha said to Ānanda and Vaidehī, “Those who attain birth on the lowest level of the lowest grade are the sentient beings who commit such evils as the five grave offenses, the ten evil acts, and all kinds of immorality. Owing to such evil karma, a fool like this will fall into evil realms and suffer endless agony for many kalpas. When he is about to die, he may meet a good teacher, who consoles him in various ways, teaching him the wonderful Dharma and urging him to be mindful of the Buddha; but he is too tormented by pain to do so. The good teacher then advises him, ‘If you cannot concentrate on the Buddha then you should say instead, “Homage to Amitāyus Buddha.”’ In this way, he sincerely and continuously says, ‘Homage to Amitāyus Buddha’ (Na-mo-o-mi-tuo-fo) ten times. Because he calls the Buddha’s Name, with each repetition the evil karma that would bind him to birth and death for eighty koṭis of kalpas is extinguished. When he comes to die, he sees before him a golden lotus flower like the disk of the sun, and in an instant he is born within a lotus bud in the Land of Utmost Bliss. After twelve great kalpas the lotus bud opens. When the flower opens, Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta teach him with voices of great compassion the method of extinguishing evil karma through the realization of the suchness of all dharmas. Hearing this, he rejoices and immediately awakens aspiration for enlightenment. Such a person is called one who attains birth on the lowest level of the lowest grade. These three together are known as the contemplation of the lowest grade of aspirants and the sixteenth contemplation.”

31 As the Buddha delivered these words, Vaidehī and her five hundred female

attendants listened to his teaching. Having envisioned the boundless features

of the Land of Utmost Bliss, of Buddha [Amitāyus], and of the two bodhi-

sattvas, Vaidehī rejoiced in her heart. Wonder-struck at this revelation, she