樂邦文類 3.74

3.74

Among kṣetras as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, there is a world named the Land of Peaceful Nurture, where there is the Tathāgata of Immeasurable Life, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha, Vidyācaraṇasaṃpanna, Sugata, Lokavid, Anuttara, Puruṣadamyasārathi, Śāstādevamanuṣyāṇām, Buddha, the World-Honoured One. The territory of that land is entirely adorned and perfected with the seven treasures, vast and magnificent. The sentient beings of that land have all possessed merit and wisdom in past lives, are transformed by birth in lotuses, and abide in the stage of non-retrogression. The lifespan of that land is limitless. One day and one night there is one kalpa in this land. In that land, at the six periods of the day and night, there is always celestial music with subtle and wondrous sounds, and showers of jewelled flowers, through which they rejoice together. The flowers and trees in that land are all lotus blossoms, large as chariot wheels, and jewelled rows of trees interlace their reflections, pervading the whole land. The singing birds are all produced by the Tathāgata's transformations, expounding limitless meanings at all times. Because of these various rare matters, it is named Peaceful Nurture. To the east of this Land of Peaceful Nurture, across a hundred thousand koṭis of lands, there is a world named Sahā. Among those lands are countless saṃghārāmas. There is one saṃghārāma called the Lingshan Gathering. Furthermore, there is a hermitage named Anyang Hermitage. Within it is a person who wears dyed robes, has shaven his beard and hair, dwells among the mendicant assembly, and is named Xiuyi. In this hermitage, there is no transformed birth in lotuses; there are only sentient beings born of womb, egg, moisture, and transformation as its living beings. In this hermitage, there is no boundless lifespan; there are only fifty, seventy, or up to a hundred years as their life limit. In this hermitage, during the six periods of the day and night, there is no shower of flowers or celestial music; they only eat boiled rice and gruel day and night, and strike bells and drums. Around this hermitage, there are no jewelled trees or large lotus blossoms; one only sees the grasses and trees in the mountains flourishing with flowers. In this hermitage, there are no transformed birds expounding limitless meanings; one only hears insects and birds singing of their own accord and ceasing of their own accord. Because of these various present matters, it is also named Peaceful Nurture. This mendicant travelled through various lands, served spiritual friends, and having attained the Dharma treasury, enjoyed it freely, then returned to this mountain to build a hermitage and abide peacefully. At that time, a lay practitioner from the Northern Mountain happened to visit the saṃghārāma and came to Anyang Hermitage. He said to the great assembly: "The various present matters, as described above, together with the World of Peaceful Nurture, are present in all places and are not merely the Land of Peaceful Nurture. If you form a nihilistic view, would Śākyamuni have spoken falsely? If you grasp at dharmalakṣaṇas, you will fail the Honoured One of Immeasurable Life. Hey, good men! Each abide according to your position, and sit in the great sanctuary! If you do not believe and accept this, please go to the city of Vaiśālī, and wait for Brahmā with the Conch-Tuft to explain it for you." On the jiazi day of the eighth month of the fifth year of the Chongning era, Cheng Ju of the Northern Mountain respectfully recorded this.