[27] 佛说《净土三经》的缘起是什么？
[27] What Are [The] Pure Land [Tradition’s] Three Sūtras’ Conditions [Of] Arising?
◎ 《华严》独被大机，二乘、凡夫，莫由禀受。故于方等会上，特说《净土三经》，俾彼若凡若圣，同事修持，以期现生出此五浊，登彼九莲也。
◎ [Summary]: [The] Flower Adornment [Sūtra]《华严经》only covers [those with] great capacity, [while those of the] Two Vehicles [and] ordinary beings, [are] unable [to] follow [and] receive [it]. Thus, on top [of its] vast assembly, specially speaking [the] Pure Land [Tradition’s] Three Sūtras, so that those, if [as] ordinary or noble [beings, all can] together practise, with hope [of, in this] present life exiting these five defilements, [to] ascend those Nine Lotus [Grades].
[《净土三经》]
[(The) Pure Land (Tradition’s) Three Sūtras]
又复以《十大愿王》，导归极乐，以期圆满佛果。
Also again, with [the] Ten Great Vows’ King, guiding ‘return’ [to the Pure Land Of] Ultimate Bliss, with hope [of] perfecting [the] Buddha fruit.
此如来以自证之因果，普示一切众生，令其各各亲证之一大轨范也。
This [is the] Thus Come [One], with [the] cause [and] effect [of his] personal realisation, universally teaching all sentient beings, [to] lead each one [of] them [to] personally realise its one great criterion.
《华严》独被大机，二乘、凡夫，莫由禀受。
[The] Flower Adornment [Sūtra]《华严经》only covers [those with] great capacity, [while those of the] Two Vehicles [and] ordinary beings, [are] unable [to] follow [and] receive [it].
故于方等会上，特说《净土三经》，俾彼若凡若圣，同事修持，以期现生出此五浊，登彼九莲也。
Thus, on top [of its] vast assembly, specially speaking [the] Pure Land [Tradition’s] Three Sūtras, so that those, if [as] ordinary or noble [beings, all can] together practise, with hope [of, in this] present life exiting these five defilements, [to] ascend those Nine Lotus [Grades].
[《无量寿经》]
[Immeasurable Life Sūtra]
佛在摩竭提国，灵鹫山中，说阿弥陀佛最初因地，弃国出家，发四十八愿。又复久经长劫，依愿修行。
[The] Buddha at Māgadhā Kingdom within Spiritual Vulture Mountain, spoke [of how] Amitā[bha] Buddha [i.e. Āmítuófó], first [on his] causal ground, renounced [his] kingdom [and] left [the] household [life, to] give rise [to his] forty-eight vows. Also again, over a long time passing long kalpas, relying on [his] vows [to] cultivate practice.
迨至福慧圆满，得成佛道，所感之世界庄严，妙莫能名。
Until reaching blessings [and] wisdom’s completion [and] perfection, attaining accomplishment [of the] Buddha path. That connected Land [Of Ultimate Bliss’] adornments, [are with] wonders not able [to be] named.
十方诸佛咸赞叹。十方菩萨，与回小向大之二乘，具足惑业之凡夫，咸得往生，等蒙摄受。是为《无量寿经》。
[The] ten directions’ all Buddhas all highly praise [it. The] ten directions’ Bodhisattvas, with [those] of [the] Two Vehicles [who] dedicate [the] small towards [the] great, [and] ordinary beings who [are] complete [with] confusions [and] karmas, [can] all attain rebirth [there, to] equally receive [his] reception [and] guidance. This is [the] Immeasurable Life Sūtra.
[《观经》]
[Contemplation Sūtra]
于摩竭提国王宫中，说净业三福，十六妙观，俾一切众生，悉知「是心作佛，是心是佛，诸佛正遍知海，从心想生。」
[The Buddha] within Magadha Kingdom’s royal palace, spoke [of the] pure karmas’ three blessings, [and] sixteen wonderful contemplations, so that all sentient beings, [can] all know [that], ‘This mind becomes Buddha, this mind is Buddha. All Buddhas’ right all-knowing ocean, from [the] mind’s contemplation arises.’
则是「心作众生，是心是众生，众生烦恼业海，从心想生」之义，已著于言外。果能深明此义，谁肯枉受轮回？
[This] then is [the] meaning of, ‘This mind becomes [a] sentient being, this mind is [a] sentient being. Sentient beings’ afflictions [and] karmas’ ocean, from [the] mind’s thoughts arise’, already touching [that] beyond words. If able [to] deeply understand this meaning, who [is] willing [to in] vain receive rebirth?
末明九品生因，以期各修上品。是为《观无量寿佛经》。
[At the] end explaining [the] Nine Grades’ births’ causes, with hope [of] each cultivating [a] High Grade. This is [the] Sūtra [On] Contemplation [Of] Immeasurable Life Buddha.
[《阿弥陀经》]
[Amitā(bha) Sūtra]
于舍卫国，给孤独园，说净土依正妙果令生信，劝闻者，应求往生以发愿，令行者，执持名号以立行。
In Śrāvastī City’s Giver-[To]-Orphans-[And-The]-Lonely’s Grove, [that] spoken [on the] Pure Land’s circumstantial [and] direct wonderful fruits, [is to] enable giving rise [to] Faith, [and] encourage listeners, [who] should seek rebirth [there, to be] with giving rise [to] Aspiration, [and] enable practitioners, [to] firmly uphold [Āmítuófó’s (阿弥陀佛)] name for establishing Practice.
信、愿、行三，为净土法门之纲宗。
[With] Faith, Aspiration [and] Practice, [these] three, [they] are [the] guiding principles [of the] Pure Land Dharma Door.
具此三法，或毕生执持，已得一心。或临终方闻，止称十念，均得蒙佛接引，往生西方。是为《阿弥陀经》。
Complete [with] these three Dharma [teachings], perhaps [for] all [of] one’s life firmly upholding [Āmítuófó’s name], already attaining wholeheartedness. Or approaching [life’s] end, then hearing only ten recitations, all [will] attain [the] Buddha’s guidance [and] reception. This is [the] Amitā[bha] Sūtra.
此三，乃专说净土之经。而《阿弥陀经》，言简义丰，摄机尤普。以故禅、教、律诸宗，皆奉为日课焉。
These three, thus [are] sūtras that focus [on] speaking [about the] Pure Land. And [the] Amitā[bha] Sūtra, [with] words concise [and] meanings abundant, gathers capacities especially universally. Therefore, [of] Chán, [Sūtra] Teachings [and] Vinaya, all traditions, all offer [it] as [part of their] daily chanting [practices].
诸大乘经，带说净土者，多难胜数。
All those Great Vehicle sūtras, carrying [that] spoken [on the] Pure Land, [are] many [and] difficult [to] completely count.
[《大势至念佛圆通章》]
[Section (On) Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration (With) Mindfulness (Of) Buddha]
而《楞严经·大势至念佛圆通章》，实为念佛最妙开示。
And [the] Śūraṅgama Sūtra’s Section [On] Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration [With] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha, truly is mindfulness [of] Buddha’s most wonderful teaching.
果能如子忆母，「都摄六根，净念相继」而念，岂有不「现前当来、必定见佛」，近证圆通、远成佛道乎哉？
If able [to be] like [a] child recollecting [the] mother, ‘gathering all six roots, [with] pure mindfulness [in] continuous succession’ then mindful, how can [this] not have ‘manifesting [in the] present [or in the] future, definitely seeing [the] Buddha’, [in the] near [future attaining] perfect penetration, [and in the] further [future] accomplishing [the] Buddha path?
《灵岩山笃修净土道场启建大殿记》
Língyánshān’s Sincere Building [Of] Pure Land Place [For Practising The] Path’s Commencement [And] Construction [Of] Great Hall’s Record
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《印光法师答念佛600问》
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Answers [For] Mindfulness [Of] Buddha’s 600 Questions
释宗柱法师审阅
[By] Dharma Master Shì Zōngzhù Reviewed
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关经典
Related Sūtras:
《净土三经》
The Pure Land Tradition’s Three Sūtras
https://purelanders.com/sanjing
