釋氏稽古略 3.255

3.255

畫彌陀佛　是年太子少傅白居易薨。年七十五。贈尚書左僕射。白與弟行簡敏中友愛。所居洛陽履道里。疏沼種樹架石樓。香山鑿八節灘。號醉吟先生。又自稱香山居士。與胡景等九人宴集。皆高年不仕人。慕之繪為九老圖。既卒以其所居第施為佛寺。少傅甞畫阿彌陀佛像禮事之。自為之記。略曰。我本師釋迦如來說言。西方有世界號極樂。以無八苦四惡道故也。其國號淨土。以無三毒五濁業故也。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必向西方。有怖厄苦惱。開口發聲必先念阿彌陀。又範金合土刻石繡紋。乃至印水聚沙。童子戲者莫不率以阿彌陀佛為上首。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。不然南北東方過現未來佛多矣。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。乃捨俸錢三十萬。命工畫西方世界一部。阿彌陀佛坐中央。觀音勢至二大士侍左右。人天瞻仰功德成就。弟子居易稽首跪於佛前。願此功德迴施眾生。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。青蓮上品隨願往生。現在未來常得親近。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（樂天文集）。

Painting of the Buddha Amitābha: In this year, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, Bai Juyi, died at the age of seventy-five. He was posthumously granted the title of Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Bai lived in fraternal affection with his younger brothers Xingjian and Minzhong. He resided in the Lüdao Ward in Luoyang, where he dredged ponds, planted trees, and erected a stone pavilion. At Xiangshan he cleared the Bajie Shoals. He styled himself Master Zuinyin, and also called himself the Layman of Xiangshan. He held drinking banquets with Hu Jing and eight others, all of whom were men of advanced age who did not serve in office; admirers depicted them in the "Painting of the Nine Elders." After his death, his residence was donated to become a Buddhist monastery. The Junior Tutor had once painted an image of Amitābha Buddha and worshipped it. He composed a record himself, which stated in brief: "My fundamental teacher, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, taught that in the west there is a world named Ultimate Bliss, 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 karma of the three poisons and five turbidities. That Buddha is named Amitābha, because his lifespan is immeasurable, his vows are immeasurable, and his merit, marks, and radiance are immeasurable. Looking closely at this Sahā world, whether beings are wise or foolish, noble or base, young or old, whenever any generate the intention to take refuge in the Buddha and raise their hands in joined palms, they invariably face the west. When they face terror, distress, and suffering, when they open their mouths and give voice, they invariably first recite Amitābha. Furthermore, in casting metal, mixing clay, carving stone, and embroidering patterns, and even in imprinting water or gathering sand, when children play, none do not take Amitābha Buddha as primary. Not knowing why it is so, yet it is so. Observing from this, it is clear that that Tathāgata has great vows toward these beings, and beings have great affinity with that land. Were it not so, there are many Buddhas of the south, north, east, past, present, and future—why should it be uniquely like this? I, the Tang Grand Master for Palace Attendance and Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince Bai Juyi, facing my declining years and suffering from paralysis caused by wind stroke, thereupon gave up three hundred thousand in salary coins and commissioned artisans to paint a depiction of the Western World, with Amitābha Buddha seated in the center and the two Great Beings Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta attending on the left and right. When humans and gods gaze in reverence, the merit is accomplished. Disciple Juyi bows his head and kneels before the Buddha, wishing to dedicate this merit to all beings. For those beings who are old like me and sick like me, may they leave suffering and attain bliss, sever evil and cultivate goodness; without passing beyond the Southern Continent, may they behold the West, attain rebirth according to their vows on the highest rank of the blue lotus, and always be close [to the Buddha] in the present and future." Desiring to proclaim this meaning once more, he spoke in praise: "The World of Ultimate Bliss is a pure land, / Free from all evil destinies and manifold sufferings. / May those who are old and sick like my own body / Be reborn together in the abode of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life" (Collected Works of Letian).