念佛鏡 1.61

1.61

「又念佛法，准諸經說，極甚難值。何以得知？《大阿彌陀經》云：『過去有一國王，能起信心，擬作念佛要法，遂至善知識所，志求念佛要法。爾時善友報大王言：「此念佛要法極理難聞，大王貴聖，豈能學？」王報大師：「若能為我說念佛要法者，吾當終身供給走使。」爾時善友報大王云：「王擬修念佛要法者，宜捨國位，此處供給，多時不退，即為王說念佛要法。」爾時大王遂捨國位，即隨善友供給所須。時世人民壽命無量，經八千歲，苦處先登，不避勞倦，不生退轉，於其中間，兩度聞說念佛三昧，於後世後時得值二萬八千諸佛，並為王說念佛三昧，其王聞念佛法故遂得成佛。』何況今時得聞，至誠信念，豈不往生極樂世界？億億眾生沈淪惡道，不得成佛，只為不逢念佛法門，故知念佛極難逢。」

"Furthermore, according to the teachings of various sūtras, the practice of buddhānusmṛti is extremely difficult to encounter. How is this known? The Da Amituo jing says: 'In the past there was a king who was able to arouse faith, intending to practice the essential dharma of buddhānusmṛti. He then went to a good spiritual friend and earnestly sought the essential dharma of buddhānusmṛti. At that time, the good friend told the great king: "The ultimate principle of this essential dharma of buddhānusmṛti is difficult to hear. You, Great King, are noble and holy; how could you learn it?" The king said to the great master: "If you can explain the essential dharma of buddhānusmṛti to me, I shall serve you and be your courier for the rest of my life." At that time, the good friend said to the great king: "If the king intends to cultivate the essential dharma of buddhānusmṛti, you should renounce your royal throne, provide service here, and remain unregressing for a long time; then I will explain the essential dharma of buddhānusmṛti for you." At that time, the great king accordingly renounced his royal throne, followed the good friend, and provided what was needed. The lifespan of the people of that age was immeasurable, and for eight thousand years he was the first to take on hardships, not avoiding fatigue, and giving rise to no regression. During that time, he heard the buddhānusmṛti-samādhi explained twice. In subsequent lives and times, he was able to encounter twenty-eight thousand Buddhas, all of whom explained the buddhānusmṛti-samādhi for the king. Because the king heard the dharma of buddhānusmṛti, he ultimately attained buddhahood.' How much more so for those of today who are able to hear it and believe and recite it with utmost sincerity—how could they not attain rebirth in the world of Sukhāvatī? Billions of sentient beings sink into the evil destinies and cannot attain buddhahood only because they have not encountered the dharma-gate of buddhānusmṛti; thus one knows that buddhānusmṛti is extremely difficult to encounter."