樂邦文類 5.67

5.67

彌陀寶剎、安養嘉名，處報土而極樂、於十方而最清。二八觀門，修定意而冥往；四十大願，運散心而化生。爾乃畢世受持，一生歸命。仙人乘雲而聽法、空界作唄而讚詠，紫金臺上身登，而本願非虛；白玉毫中神化，而一心自慶。詳夫廣長舌讚、十剎同宣，但標心而盡契，非率意而虛傳。地軸迴轉、天華散前，一念華開，見佛而皆登妙果；千重光照，證法而盡廁先賢。考古推今，往生非一，運來而天樂盈空、時至而異香滿室。一真境內現相，而雖仗佛威；七寶池中覩境，而皆從心出。故知聖旨難量、感應猶長，變凡成聖而頃刻、即迷為悟而昭彰，探出仙書，真是長生之術；指歸淨剎，永居不死之鄉。更有出世高人、處塵大士，焚身臂以發行、掛胃捧心而立軌，仙樂來迎而弗從、天童請命而不喜。或火烈山項、光明境裏，絕聞惡趣之名、永拋胎獄之鄙，眼開舌固而立驗、牛觸鷄鵮而忽止。處鐵城而拒王勅，須侚丹心；坐蓮臺而賴佛恩，難拋至理。其或誹謗三寶、破壞律儀，逼風刀解體之際、當業鏡照形之時，遇知識現不思議，劍林變七重之行樹、火車化八德之蓮池。地獄消沈，湛爾而怖心全息；天華飛引，俄然而化佛迎之。慧眼明心、香爐墮手，應讖而蓮華不萎、得記而寶林非久。奇哉！佛力難思，古今未有。

Amitābha's precious domain bears the auspicious name of Peaceful Nurture; situated in the reward land, it is utmost bliss, and among the ten directions it is the most pure. Through the sixteen contemplations, one cultivates a concentrated mind and is secretly reborn there; by means of the forty-eight vows, one stirs even a distracted mind and attains transformation-birth. Thus, throughout one's life one upholds them, and for a lifetime takes refuge. Immortals ride clouds to listen to the Dharma; from the empty realm, chants are performed in praise and singing. In person one ascends the purple-gold dais, proving the original vows were not in vain; within the white jade urna, one's spirit transforms, celebrating one's single mind. In detail, the broad and long tongue praises it, and the ten lands proclaim it in unison; one need only fix the mind and all will be aligned—it was not casually conceived nor falsely transmitted. The earth's axis revolves; heavenly flowers scatter before one. In a single thought, when the lotus blossoms, one sees the Buddha and all ascend to the wondrous fruit; bathed in a thousand layers of light, one realizes the Dharma and takes one's place among the former sages. Examining antiquity and inferring the present, instances of rebirth are not one: when the karmic fortune arrives, heavenly music fills the sky; when the hour comes, wondrous fragrance permeates the chamber. Although the appearances manifested in the single true realm rely on the Buddha's majesty, the sights beheld in the seven-jeweled ponds all arise from one's own mind. Therefore we know that the holy intention is unfathomable, and spiritual resonance endures. Transforming the ordinary into the sagely takes but an instant; turning delusion into awakening is radiant and clear. Drawing forth the immortal texts, this is truly the art of long life; pointing the way back to the pure realm, one dwells forever in the homeland of immortality. Furthermore, there are eminent persons who transcend the world and great beings who dwell among the dust: they burn their bodies and arms to initiate practice; they hang their viscera and hold their hearts to establish standards. When celestial music comes to welcome them, they do not follow; when heavenly boys invite their fate, they are not pleased. Or atop fire-blazing mountains, within realms of radiant light, they never hear the names of evil destinies, and forever abandon the baseness of the womb-prison. With open eyes and firm tongues, confirmation appears at once; cattle butting and chickens pecking abruptly cease. Confined to an iron city, they resist the king's decree, solely following their sincere heart; seated on a lotus dais, they rely on the Buddha's grace, finding it hard to abandon the ultimate truth. Even if someone has slandered the Three Jewels and broken the monastic rules, when the wind-knives are about to sever the body and the karmic mirror reflects the form, meeting a spiritual friend who manifests the inconceivable, the forest of swords turns into seven rows of trees, and the chariot of fire transforms into the lotus pond of eight virtues. Hell vanishes away; serene and clear, the terrified heart completely ceases; heavenly flowers fly and lead, and suddenly a transformation Buddha welcomes them. With the eye of wisdom and an illuminated mind, the incense burner drops from the hand; matching the prophecy, the lotus does not wither, and having received the prediction, one does not tarry long in the jeweled grove. How extraordinary! The Buddha's power is inconceivable, unprecedented in all of history!