淨土五會念佛誦經觀行儀卷中．下 3.46

3.46

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.