淨土五會念佛誦經觀行儀卷中．下 3.46

3.46

欲知何處苦偏多　唯有埿犁更不過
罪人一入經塵劫　受苦從頭無奈何
渴飲鎔銅登劍樹　飢喰猛火度灰河
願離此苦生安樂　求生淨土見彌陀
思惟餓鬼實堪怜　遍體由來猛火燃
兩耳不聞漿水字　一身唯有骨相蓮
值食將喰便作火　臨河欲飲見枯泉
願離此苦生安樂　長處西方坐寶蓮
迷塗一配畜生身　逕歷多年受苦辛
嚴冬露地居寒雪　盛夏當街臥闇塵
衣裳盡用皮毛覆　飲食唯將水草珍
願離此苦生安樂　長處西方坐寶蓮
人身雖復甚難求　得已還生萬種憂
始見紅顏花欲茂　俄然自髮颯成秋
魂飛魄散身歸塚　命盡形銷肉糞坵
如何不樂生安樂　永坐金臺佛國遊
修羅諂詐性頑豪　善根併被有疑燒
由此身同鬼受苦　沈淪長劫處塵勞
由因不信墮修羅　鬪戰相諍受苦多
願捨狐疑生淨國　西方長得近彌陀
諸天快樂不思議　自為多生無盡期
一期報盡還遭苦　捨彼歡喜受五衰
液中臭汗皆流出　頭上天冠花更萎
盡是無常流轉處　不如極樂坐蓮池

If you wish to know where suffering is greatest, / there is none that surpasses Niraya. / Once a transgressor enters, kalpas like dust grains pass; / enduring suffering from beginning to end, there is nothing to be done. / When thirsty, drinking molten copper and climbing sword-trees; / when hungry, eating fierce fire and crossing the river of ashes. / I vow to leave this suffering and be born in the Land of Bliss, / seeking rebirth in the Pure Land to see Amitābha. / Thinking of the hungry ghosts, it is truly pitiable; / their whole bodies have always burned with fierce fire. / Their two ears do not hear the words 'syrup' or 'water'; / their whole body has only bones linked together. / Encountering food, when about to eat, it turns to fire; / approaching a river wishing to drink, they see a dry spring. / I vow to leave this suffering and be born in the Land of Bliss, / dwelling forever in the West, sitting on a jewel lotus. / Once assigned to an animal's body along the bewildered path, / one endures hardship and suffering through many passing years. / In harsh winter, dwelling in cold snow upon the open ground; / in midsummer, lying in dark dust upon the streets. / As for clothing, they are entirely covered with skin and fur; / as for food and drink, they prize only water and grass. / I vow to leave this suffering and be born in the Land of Bliss, / dwelling forever in the West, sitting on a jewel lotus. / Although the human body is very difficult to obtain, / once obtained, ten thousand kinds of worries arise. / At first, one sees rosy cheeks blooming like flowers; / suddenly, white hair rustles into autumn. / The ethereal soul flies and the corporeal soul scatters, the body returning to the mound; / life ends, form dissolves into a mound of rotting flesh. / How could one not delight in being born in the Land of Bliss, / sitting forever on the golden pedestal and roaming the Buddha land? / Asuras are flattering, deceitful, obstinate, and haughty by nature; / their roots of goodness are burnt together with doubts. / Because of this, their bodies suffer like ghosts, / sinking for long kalpas, dwelling in worldly toil. / Because of unbelief, they fall into the asuras, / engaged in combat and strife, enduring much suffering. / I vow to abandon doubts and be born in the pure land, / in the West forever able to be near Amitābha. / The pleasures of the heavens are inconceivable; / they think they will last for many lifetimes without end. / Once their single period of retribution ends, they suffer again; / abandoning that joy, they undergo the five signs of decay. / Foul sweat flows out from their armpits; / the flower crowns upon their heads further wither. / These are all places of impermanence and transmigration; / it is not as good as sitting in the lotus pond of Sukhāvatī.