淨土五會念佛誦經觀行儀卷中．下 3.11

3.11

Vaidehī wept bitterly and took refuge in the Buddha, / Praying that she might never hear the names of sufferings. / In her heart of hearts she took no joy in the world of Jambudvīpa, / Truly because it is full of ghosts and animals. / "I only pray that by the power of compassion you will guide me; / I vow to walk in meditation in a pure land in another direction." / The Tathāgata Śākya knew her thought; / In an instant he disappeared and arrived at the royal palace. / He then emitted a golden light from between his brows; / Vaidehī's obstacles were exhausted and she beheld his true countenance. / Although the other pure lands are immeasurable, / She addressed the Buddha, wishing only to be born in Sukhāvatī: / "I pray to see Amitābha and quickly receive the prediction, / And in a single instant attain the six supernatural powers." / The World-Honoured One smiled and gave rise to joy; / From his mouth he then displayed five supernatural lights. / That light then shone upon the crown of the Śākya [clan]; / What harm is there in realizing the fruit in accordance with one's capacity? / The Buddha told Vaidehī, "Do you know / That Amitābha is not far from here? / Quickly and diligently practice the three kinds of meritorious conduct; / At the end of life he will welcome you to ascend the golden tower. / Also for the sake of the great assembly in future times, / The ordinary beings and extremely evil people of the five defilements, / Prompt them to turn their minds and contemplate that land, / Which can cause pure karma to cut off greed and anger." / Thereupon Vaidehī had further doubts: / The Tathāgata bade her speak: "You should know, / As an ordinary being you could not truly attain this; / It is thanks to the great compassion of all Buddhas." / Having heard this spoken, she gave rise to joy. / Again for the people of the five sufferings in the present age: / "How should they behold the realm of Amitābha, / His wondrous body of marks, signs, and radiant light?" / The World-Honoured One spoke for her the initial contemplation on the sun, / Bidding them completely concentrate their thought toward the west. / The wise must rely on this contemplation; / Sins vast as dust and sand throughout endless kalpas will be extinguished. / When sins are extinguished, body and mind are surely purified; / Next one should contemplate water readily becoming ice. / In an instant one sees the lapis lazuli pond, / Golden ropes marking out the boundaries of the paths. / The jewelled pond is limpid, a thousand fathoms deep, / Interspersed with bright pearls and yellow gold. / Rains of flowers fall everywhere in profusion; / Those who can enter the Path generate the true mind. / The jasper groves and jewelled trees have sevenfold light; / Where one walks, pearls hang down with radiant light of wondrous hues. / Within the light are countless maṇi palaces; / The sons of the devas scatter fragrant flowers. / In the city of Sukhāvatī, the ground of seven jewels, / The light and color of the lotus flowers are inconceivable. / The opened flowers are entirely maṇi water; / One only sighs that those from the Sahā world who go there are few. / The jasper groves and jewels emit purple-golden light; / The brilliant radiance of the lotuses illuminates the ten directions. / Beside the white jade pond one hears the wondrous Dharma; / From within the petals of the lotus flowers fragrance wafts even more. / Amitābha's countless jewelled towers— / Bodhisattvas numerous as the sands of the Gaṅgā roam on all four sides. / Each holding flowers to make offerings to the Buddha; / Defilements are cut off forever—what more is there to worry about? / In the jasper-green towers flower seats open; / Golden leaves make up the jewelled terraces. / Atop the maṇi banners are nets of real pearls; / Adorned with utter devotion for the Tathāgata. / The jewelled images of lapis lazuli are luminous within and without; / With the six supernatural powers at will, one feels oneself light. / The mind must diligently contemplate in fine detail; / When the contemplation succeeds, one immediately awakens to the unborn. / Amitābha's brilliance is vast and boundless, / Universally illuminating all living beings to deliver those with affinity. / If you quickly muster the mind to recite the Buddha's name, / In the future you will certainly leave behind humans and gods. / Avalokiteśvara, bound to one last rebirth, is inconceivable, / Manifesting rare wonders in boundless worlds. / If those who recite are all born into bliss, / It is when they carry Amitābha on their heads and revere him. / Bodhisattva Mahāsthāmaprāpta is exceedingly hard to fathom, / Heroic and vigorous, vast and measureless. / The jewelled vase upon his crown radiates brilliant light; / The dark paths forever escape impermanence. / Contemplating the body, one sees oneself at the time of rebirth; / The jewelled lotus seat is attained without delay. / Water, birds, and groves of trees all preach the Dharma; / Amitābha welcoming one leaves no further doubt. / The Tathāgata's divine transformations are inconceivable; / Large or small, they respond to the capacity of beings according to conditions. / You all must mindfully and diligently recite the Buddha's name; / Within the jewelled pond and jewels, it is truly unconditioned. / The sincere dedication of practice must reach higher and higher; / Those of the highest grade are called people of noble clan. / Among the hundred Dharma gates, it is the Ground of Joy; / The wondrous diamond samādhi is naturally firm. / Those who recite the Buddha's name must be utterly sincere; / Amitābha will certainly welcome them in person. / Arriving there, the flowers open and they receive the prediction; / Immediately the Dharma opens and they awaken to the unborn. / People of extreme folly guilty of the ten unwholesome actions and five heinous sins / Have sunk for eternal kalpas in the six sense objects. / With a single thought reciting Amitābha's name, / Arriving there, they are equated with the dharmatā-kāya. / The World-Honoured One, having spoken, turned toward Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa; / Ānanda, having heard the teaching, widely propagated it. / The great assembly with devoted hearts all carried it upon their crowns, / In turn applying this Dharma to benefit humans and gods.