遊心安樂道 1.30

1.30

Next, to clarify the superiority and inferiority of transformation birth and womb birth in that land: As the Sutra of Immeasurable Life says: 'At that time, the Buddha said to Ānanda and Maitreya Bodhisattva: "Do you see in that land, from the ground up to the Śuddhāvāsa Heavens, all the subtle, adorned, pure, and spontaneous things—do you see them all?" Ānanda replied: "Yes, I have seen them." "Do you also hear the great voice of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life proclaimed throughout all worlds, transforming sentient beings?" Ānanda replied: "Yes, I have heard it." "Do you also see the people of that land riding in seven-jeweled palaces of hundreds of thousands of yojanas, unobstructed, traveling everywhere to the ten directions to make offerings to the Buddhas?" He replied: "I have seen them." "Do you also see those among the people of that land who are born from the womb?" He replied: "I have seen them." "The palaces where those born from the womb dwell are either one hundred yojanas or five hundred yojanas [in size], and within them each experiences various pleasures, just as in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, all also spontaneous." At that time, Maitreya Bodhisattva said: "World-Honored One, by what causes and conditions are the people of that land born from the womb or born by transformation?" The Buddha told Maitreya: "If there are sentient beings who, with a mind of doubt, cultivate various merits and vow to be reborn in that land, failing to comprehend the Buddha-wisdom, the inconceivable wisdom, the ineffable wisdom, the vast wisdom of the Mahāyāna, and the incomparable, unequaled, supreme, and wondrous wisdom—doubting and disbelieving these wisdoms, yet still believing in sin and merit, cultivating good roots, and vowing to be born in that land—these sentient beings are born in those palaces. Their lifespan is five hundred years, during which they never see the Buddha, never hear the scriptures and Dharma, and never see the assembly of holy bodhisattvas and śrāvakas. Therefore, in that land, it is called womb birth. If there are sentient beings who clearly believe in the Buddha-wisdom, up to the supreme wisdom, perform various merits, and dedicate them with faithful minds, these sentient beings are spontaneously born by transformation within seven-jeweled flowers, seated cross-legged. In an instant, their bodily marks, radiant light, wisdom, and merit are fully perfected, just like those of the bodhisattvas. Furthermore, Maitreya, when great bodhisattvas in Buddha-lands of other directions give rise to the mind desiring to see the Buddha of Immeasurable Life, reverently make offerings to him and the assembly of bodhisattvas and śrāvakas, those bodhisattvas, upon the end of their lives, attain rebirth in the land of Immeasurable Life, spontaneously born by transformation within seven-jeweled flowers. Maitreya, you should know: those born by transformation do so because their wisdom is superior; those born from the womb all lack wisdom, and for five hundred years they never see the Buddha, never hear the scriptures and Dharma, never see the assembly of bodhisattvas and śrāvakas, have no means to make offerings to the Buddha, do not know the bodhisattva practices and rules, and cannot cultivate merits. You should know that this person, in past lives, lacked wisdom, which was brought about by doubt." The Buddha said to Maitreya: "For example, a wheel-turning sage king has a seven-jeweled prison, variously adorned, with couches and curtains arranged, and silk banners hung. If any young prince commits an offense against the king, the king immediately places him within that palace, binds him with golden chains, and provides offerings of food, drink, clothing, bedding, flowers, incense, music, and dance, just like the wheel-turning king, lacking nothing. What do you think—would these princes take pleasure in that place?" He replied: "No, they would only seek powerful persons through various means, wishing to escape on their own." The Buddha told Maitreya: "These sentient beings are also like this. Because they doubted the Buddha's wisdom, they are born in those seven-jeweled womb-birth palaces. There is no punishment, nor even a single thought of evil. Yet for five hundred years they do not see the Three Jewels, cannot make offerings, and cannot cultivate good roots; they consider this suffering, and though they have other pleasures, they still do not delight in that place. If these sentient beings recognize their original fault, deeply repent and reproach themselves, and seek to leave that place, they will immediately, as they wish, go to where the Buddha of Immeasurable Life is, reverently make offerings, and also be able to travel to immeasurable and countless other Buddhas to cultivate merits. Maitreya, you should know: if there are bodhisattvas who give rise to doubts, they lose great benefit. Therefore, one should clearly believe in the unsurpassed wisdom of the Buddhas." Since these are the true words of the Tathāgata, there is no reason to doubt them. Once remorse comes, it will be hard to undo; how could one not be cautious!'