《观经》
Contemplation Sūtra
《佛说观无量寿佛经》
[The] Sūtra [In Which The] Buddha Speaks [Of] Contemplation [On] Immeasurable Life Buddha
《观极乐国土、无量寿佛、观世音菩萨、大势至菩萨经》
[The] Sūtra [Of] Contemplation [On The] Land [Of] Ultimate Bliss, Immeasurable Life Buddha, Contemplator [Of The] World’s Sounds Bodhisattva [And] Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva
《净除业障，生诸佛前经》
[The] Sūtra [On] Pure Elimination [Of] Karmic Obstacles, [For] Birth Before All Buddhas
[公元 424 年] 刘宋西域三藏法师畺良耶舍译
[In 424 C.E. By] Liú Sòng [Dynasty’s] Western Regions’ Tripiṭaka Dharma Master Kālayaśas Translated [To Chinese]
公元 2020 年优婆塞沈时安译
[In] 2020 C.E. By] Upāsakā Shen Shi’an Translated [To English]
[For ease of detailed studying and editing, square brackets show necessary connective words used in translation, to be removed for final published version later, with addition of glossary and notes. Suggestions are welcome for more precise choice of words. Námó Āmítuófó.]
[Note Before Studying The Contemplation Sūtra
Although the first 13 contemplations of this sūtra are on visualisation practices, the Pure Land Patriarchs generally discourage practising visualisation due to the coarseness of our minds, that contrasts with the refined and complex nature of what to be visualised, which makes it difficult to practise. This great disparity is especially obvious for beings in this Dharma-Ending Age. Some examples of Patriarchs discouraging visualisation can be studied at https://purelanders.com/2019/09/29/why-focus-on-buddha-recitation-not-visualisation and https://purelanders.com/2017/04/05/should-we-practise-visualisation-of-pure-land-amituofo.
What they encourage is direct mindfulness of the Buddha’s name verbally and/or silently – which is also the focus in the last contemplation, as emphasized by Śākyamuni Buddha in the sūtra’s conclusion too. This does not fall short in benefits. The visualisation practices are then only for those with sharper minds, to be practised exactly as stated, with no compromise at all, to be considered true practice. Although seldom practised these days, the corresponding sections in the sūtra are still studied to acquire an inspired sense of the majesty of Āmítuófó and the attributes in his Pure Land. Other especially significant parts include the Three Blessings, Three Minds, Three Beings and criteria for birth in the nine grades in Pure Land.]
序分
[00] Preface Section
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/22/preface-of-contemplation-sutra
正宗分
Main Principles’ Section
【定善义】
[Concentrated Goodness’ Meaning]
【第一观：日想】
[01] [The First Contemplation: Sun’s Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/22/01-the-first-contemplation-suns-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【第二观：水想】
[02] [The Second Contemplation: Water’s Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/22/02-the-second-contemplation-waters-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【第三观：地想】
[03] [The Third Contemplation: Ground’s Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/03-the-third-contemplation-grounds-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【第四观：树想】
[04] [The Fourth Contemplation: Trees’ Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/04-the-fourth-contemplation-trees-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【第五观：八功德水想】
[05] [The Fifth Contemplation: Eight Meritorious Water’s Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/05-the-fifth-contemplation-eight-meritorious-waters-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【第六观：总观想】
[06] [The Sixth Contemplation: Overall Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/06-the-sixth-contemplation-overall-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【第七观：华座想】
[07] [The Seventh Contemplation: Flower Throne’s Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/07-the-seventh-contemplation-flower-thrones-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【第八观：像想】
[08] [The Eighth Contemplation: Image’s Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/08-the-eighth-contemplation-images-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【第九观：遍观一切色身相想】
[09] [The Ninth Contemplation: Everywhere Contemplating All Physical Bodies’ Forms’ Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/09-the-ninth-contemplation-everywhere-contemplating-all-physical-bodies-forms-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【第十观：观世音菩萨真实色身相想】
[10] [The Tenth Contemplation: Contemplator (Of The) World’s Sounds Bodhisattva’s True Physical Body’s Forms’ Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/10-the-tenth-contemplation-contemplator-of-the-worlds-sounds-bodhisattvas-true-physical-bodys-forms-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【第十一观：具足观观世音、大势至】
[11] [The Eleventh Contemplation: Complete Contemplation (On) Contemplator (Of The) World’s Sounds (And) Great Power Arrived]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/11-the-eleventh-contemplation-complete-contemplation-on-contemplator-of-the-worlds-sounds-and-great-power-arrived-of-contemplation-sutra
【第十二观：普观想】
[12] [The Twelfth Contemplation: Universal Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/12-the-twelfth-contemplation-universal-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【第十三观：杂想观】
[13] [The Thirteenth Contemplation: Mixed Contemplation]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/13-the-thirteenth-contemplation-mixed-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra
【散善义】
[Scattered Goodness’ Meaning]
【第十四观：上辈生想】
[14] [The Fourteenth Contemplation: High Grade’s Births’ Contemplation]
【上品上生】
[14.1] [The High Grade’s High Births]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/14-1-the-fourteenth-contemplation-high-grades-births-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra-the-high-grades-high-births
【上品中生】
[14.2] [The High Grade’s Middle Births]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/14-2-the-fourteenth-contemplation-high-grades-births-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra-the-high-grades-middle-births
【上品下生】
[14.3] [The High Grade’s Low Births]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/14-3-the-fourteenth-contemplation-high-grades-births-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra-the-high-grades-low-births
【第十五观：中辈生想】
[15] [The Fifteenth Contemplation: Middle Grade’s Births’ Contemplation]
【中品上生】
[15.1] [The Middle Grade’s High Births]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/15-1-the-fifteenth-contemplation-middle-grades-births-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra-the-middle-grades-high-births
【中品中生】
[15.2] [The Middle Grade’s Middle Births]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/15-2-the-fifteenth-contemplation-middle-grades-births-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra-the-middle-grades-middle-births
【中品下生】
[15.3] [The Middle Grade’s Low Births]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/15-3-the-fifteenth-contemplation-middle-grades-births-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra-the-middle-grades-low-births
【第十六观：下辈生想】
[16] [The Sixteenth Contemplation: Low Grade’s Births’ Contemplation]
【下品上生】
[16.1] [The Low Grade’s High Births]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/16-1-the-sixteenth-contemplation-low-grades-births-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra-the-low-grades-high-births
【下品中生】
[16.2] [The Low Grade’s Middle Births]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/16-2-the-sixteenth-contemplation-low-grades-births-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra-the-low-grades-middle-births
【下品下生】
[16.3] [The Low Grade’s Low Births]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/16-3-the-sixteenth-contemplation-low-grades-births-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra-the-low-grades-low-births
【得益分】
[17] [Attainment Of Benefits’ Section]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/16-3-the-sixteenth-contemplation-low-grades-births-contemplation-of-contemplation-sutra-the-low-grades-low-births (as above)
流通分
Transmission Section
【王宫流通分】
[18] [Royal Palace’s Transmission Section]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/17-transmission-section-of-contemplation-sutra
【耆阇分】:
[19] [Gṛdhrakūṭa’s Section]:
【耆阇序分】
[19.1] [Gṛdhrakūṭa’s Preface Section]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/17-transmission-section-of-contemplation-sutra (as above)
【耆阇正宗分】
[19.2] [Gṛdhrakūṭa’s Main Principles’ Section]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/17-transmission-section-of-contemplation-sutra (as above)
【耆阇流通分】
[19.3] [Gṛdhrakūṭa’s Transmission Section]
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/23/17-transmission-section-of-contemplation-sutra (as above)
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相关经典
Related Sūtras:
英文《佛说观无量寿佛经》
‘The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Contemplation On Immeasurable Life Buddha’ In English
https://purelanders.com/2022/04/26/contemplation-sutra
中国净土宗十三祖印光大师校订之《净土五经》
‘The Pure Land Tradition’s Five Sūtras’ As Checked By The Chinese Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
https://purelanders.com/wujing
相关视频
Related Videos:
For simplified and approximate visual summaries of the sūtra, with some embellished background details, some animated versions can be seen online. However, the actual sūtra text above should still be studied for its full teachings and for full accuracy. Our primary reference point for learning must always be the sūtra’s worded teachings. Videos are thus for giving rise to a sense of inspiration and to aid understanding only.
