[24] Twenty-Fourth Chapter On Three Grades’ Rebirths (Of Immeasurable Life Sūtra)《无量寿经》三辈往生第廿四

《无量寿经》卷下
Immeasurable Life Sūtra: Lower Scroll

众生往生因果
Causes [And] Effects [Of] Sentient Beings Reborn

三辈往生第廿四
Twenty-Fourth [Chapter On] Three Grades [Of] Rebirth

佛告阿难：「其有众生，生彼国者，皆悉住于正定之聚。所以者何？彼佛国中，无诸邪聚，及不定聚。

[The] Buddha told Ānanda, ‘There are sentient beings, those born [in] that land, [who] all abide in [the] Right Definite Assembly. Why [is] that so? That Buddha land within, [is] without all [of the] Evil Assembly, and [the] Indefinite Assembly.

十方恒沙诸佛如来，皆共赞叹无量寿佛威神功德不可思议。

[The] ten directions’ Ganges’ sands [of] all Buddha Thus Come [Ones], all together highly praise Immeasurable Life Buddha’s mighty supernormal [powers and] meritorious virtues’ inconceivability.

诸有众生，闻其名号，信心欢喜，乃至一念至心回向，愿生彼国，即得往生，住不退转。唯除五逆，诽谤正法。」

All sentient beings, [who] hear his name, [with the] faithful mind joyful, and even [with] one thought, [with the] sincere mind dedicate, aspire [to be] born [in] that land, [will] immediately attain rebirth [there, and] abide in non-retrogression. Only excluded [are those with the] Five Heinous [Transgressions, who] slandered [the] Right Dharma.’

佛告阿难：「十方世界诸天人民，其有至心愿生彼国，凡有三辈。

[The] Buddha told Ānanda, ‘[Of the] ten directions’ worlds’ all heavenly [and] human people, there are [those with the] sincere mind, aspiring [to be] born [in] that land, [with] all having [the] Three Grades.

【上辈】
[High Grade]

其上辈者，捨家弃欲而作沙门，发菩提心，一向专念无量寿佛，修诸功德，愿生彼国。

There [are] those [of the] High Grade, [who] renounce [the] household [life], relinquish desires and become Śramanas, give rise [to the] Bodhi Mind, wholeheartedly focus [on] mindfulness [of] Immeasurable Life Buddha, cultivate all meritorious virtues, [and] aspire [to be] born [in] that land.

此等众生，临寿终时，无量寿佛，与诸大众，现其人前。

[For] this kind [of] sentient beings, when approaching life’s end, Immeasurable Life Buddha, with many [in his] great assembly, [will] appear before these persons.

即随彼佛往生其国，便于七宝华中，自然化生，住不退转。智慧勇猛，神通自在。

Immediately following that Buddha [for] rebirth [in] his land, then from seven treasures’ flowers within, naturally manifesting birth, [to] abide [in] non-retrogression. [With] wisdom, courageous [and] powerful, supernormal powers [with] ease.

是故阿难，其有众生，欲于今世见无量寿佛，应发无上菩提之心，修行功德，愿生彼国。」

Therefore, Ānanda, [if] there are sentient beings, [who] desire to, [in] this life see Immeasurable Life Buddha, [they] should give rise [to the] unsurpassable Bodhi Mind, cultivate practices [for] meritorious virtues, [and] aspire [to be] born [in] that land.’

【中辈】
[Middle Grade]

佛告阿难：「其中辈者，十方世界诸天人民，其有至心愿生彼国，虽不能行作沙门，大修功德。当发无上菩提之心，一向专念无量寿佛，多少修善，奉持斋戒，起立塔像，饭食沙门，悬缯然灯，散华烧香，以此回向，愿生彼国。

[The] Buddha told Ānanda, ‘There [are] those [of the] Middle Grade. [Of the] ten directions’ worlds’ all heavenly [and] human people, [if] they have [the] sincere mind, aspiring [to be] born [in] that land, although not able [to] practise [by] becoming Śramanas, [to] greatly cultivate meritorious virtues, [they] should give rise [to the] unsurpassable Bodhi Mind, wholeheartedly focus [on] mindfulness [of] Immeasurable Life Buddha, more [or] less cultivate good, uphold [the] Purification Precepts, build [and] erect stūpas [and] images, [offer] food [to] Śramanas, hang banners, light lamps, scatter flowers [and] burn incenses, with these dedicate, aspire [to be] born [in] that land.

其人临终，无量寿佛，化现其身，光明相好，具如真佛，与诸大众，现其人前。

[For] these persons [when] approaching [life’s] end, Immeasurable Life Buddha [will] manifest his body, [with] bright lights [and] forms’ excellences, complete like [the] real Buddha, with many [in his] great assembly, appearing before these persons.

即随化佛往生其国，住不退转。功德智慧，次如上辈者也。」

Immediately following [the] manifested Buddha, [for] rebirth [in] his land, [to] abide [in] non-retrogression. [Their] meritorious virtues [and] wisdom, [are] second thus, [to] those [of the] High Grade.’

【下辈】
[Low Grade]

佛告阿难：「其下辈者，十方世界诸天人民，其有至心欲生彼国，假使不能作诸功德，当发无上菩提之心，一向专意，乃至十念，念无量寿佛，愿生其国。

[The] Buddha told Ānanda, ‘There [are] those [of the] Low Grade. [Of the] ten directions’ worlds’ all heavenly [and] human people, [if] they have [the] sincere mind, [and] desire [to be] born [in] that land, [even] if not able [to] create all meritorious virtues, [they] should give rise [to the] unsurpassable Bodhi Mind, wholeheartedly focus [their] minds, and even [with] ten thoughts, mindful [of] Immeasurable Life Buddha, aspire [to be] born [in] his land.

若闻深法，欢喜信乐，不生疑惑，乃至一念，念于彼佛，以至诚心，愿生其国。

If hearing [the] profound Dharma, [with] joyful faith, not giving rise [to] doubts [and] confusions, and even [with] one thought, mindful of that Buddha, with [the] utmost sincere mind, aspiring [to be] born [in] his land.

此人临终，梦见彼佛，亦得往生。功德智慧，次如中辈者也。」

These persons, [when] approaching [life’s] end, [will] dream [of] seeing that Buddha, also attaining rebirth. [Their] meritorious virtues [and] wisdom, [are] second thus, [to] those [of the] Middle Grade.’

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[23] Twenty-Third [Chapter On] Flowers’ Lights Emitting Buddhas
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[25] Twenty-Fifth [Chapter On The] Ten Directions Prostrating [And] Meeting
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