廬山蓮宗寶鑑 7.13

7.13

記曰「我本師釋迦如來說言：從是西方過十萬億佛土，有世界號極樂，以無八苦四惡道故也。其國號淨土，以無三毒五濁故也。其佛號阿彌陀，以壽無量、願無量、功德相好光明無量故也。諦觀此娑婆世界，眾生無賢愚、無貴賤、無幼艾，有起心歸佛者，舉手合掌心向西方，有怖厄苦惱開口發聲，必先念阿彌陀佛。又範金合土刻石綉紋，乃至印水聚沙童子戲者，莫不率以阿彌陀為上首，不知其然而然。由是而觀，是彼如來有大誓願於此眾生，眾生有大因緣於彼國土明矣。不然，則南北東西、過去現在未來佛甚多矣，何獨如是哉！何獨如是哉！唐中大夫太子少傅白居易，當衰暮之歲中風痺之疾，乃捨俸錢，命工人杜敬宗按《阿彌陀》、《無量壽》二經，畫西方世界一部，高九尺、廣丈有三尺。阿彌陀佛坐中央，觀音、勢至二大士侍左右，人天瞻仰眷屬圍遶。樓臺伎樂水樹花鳥，七寶嚴飾五彩彰施，爛爛煌煌功德成就。弟子居易，焚香稽首跪於佛前，起慈悲心發弘誓願，願此功德回施一切眾生。一切眾生有如我老者、如我病者，願離苦得樂、斷惡修善，不越南部便覩西方，白毫大光應念來感，青蓮上品隨願往生。從現在身盡未來際，常得親近而供養也。欲重宣此義而說讚曰：極樂世界清淨土，無諸惡道及眾苦。願如我身老病者，同生無量壽佛所。」

The record states: 'Our fundamental teacher Śākyamuni Tathāgata spoke these words: Going west from here past a hundred thousand koṭis of Buddha-lands, there is a world named Sukhāvatī, because it is free of the eight sufferings and the four evil destinies. That land is named Pure Land, because it is free of the three poisons and the five turbidities. That Buddha is named Amitābha, because his lifespan is immeasurable, his vows are immeasurable, and his merit, marks, and radiance are immeasurable. When carefully examining this Sahā world, among sentient beings, whether wise or foolish, noble or lowly, young or elderly, whenever they give rise to the mind to take refuge in the Buddha, they raise their hands, join their palms, and face west; whenever they have fears, distress, and afflictions, they open their mouths and utter a sound, always first reciting the name of Amitābha Buddha. Furthermore, when casting metal, molding clay, carving stone, embroidering silk, or even imprinting water and piling up sand in children's play, none do not take Amitābha as the foremost, doing so spontaneously without knowing why. From this observation, it is evident that that Tathāgata has a great vow toward these sentient beings, and that these sentient beings have great karmic affinity with that land. Were it not so, then as the Buddhas of south, north, east, west, past, present, and future are exceedingly numerous, why would it be only like this? Why would it be only like this! Bai Juyi, Grand Master for Palace Accord and Junior Preceptor of the Crown Prince under the Tang, in the years of his decline and old age, was afflicted with wind-stroke paralysis. Thereupon he gave his salary and ordered the artisan Du Jingzong to paint a complete Western World based on the two sūtras, the *Amitābha* and *Wuliangshou*, nine feet high and thirteen feet wide. Amitābha Buddha sits in the center; the two great beings Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta attend on his left and right; humans and devas gaze in reverence, and their retinues surround them. Towers, pavilions, instrumental music, water, trees, flowers, and birds, adorned with the seven treasures and displayed in five colors, are resplendent and radiant, their merits perfected. Disciple Juyi burns incense, bows his head, kneels before the Buddha, gives rise to a compassionate mind, and makes a great vow: May this merit be dedicated to all sentient beings. All sentient beings who are old like me or sick like me—may they leave suffering and obtain bliss, sever evil and cultivate good; without leaving the southern continent, may they behold the western quarter; may the great light of the white curl respond to their thought and appear; may they attain rebirth as they wish on the highest grade of the blue lotus. From the present body to the end of the future, may they constantly draw near and make offerings.' Desiring to restate this meaning, he uttered a praise, saying: / 'The World of Sukhāvatī, the pure land, / Is free of all evil destinies and all sufferings. / May those who are old and sick like myself / Be reborn together in the abode of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life.'