[35]《观无量寿佛经》的要义是什么？
[35] What Is [The] Essential Meaning [Of The] Contemplation [Of] Immeasurable Life Buddha Sūtra?
◎ 盖由阿阇世王，乘大愿轮，示为恶逆，囚父禁母，而为发起。其母厌离娑婆，愿生极乐，并为未来众生，求往生法。世尊乃为说此观想西方依报国土，种种庄严，正报佛及观音势至，相好威德，以及九品往生，若因若果之十六观。于第十三观，特为劣机众生，开方便门，令观丈六八尺之相。第十六观，又令恶业重者，直称名号。由称名故，即得往生。是知相有大小，佛本是一。观不能作，称即获益。于此谛思，知持名一法，最为第一。末世行人，欲得现生决定往生者，可弗宝此持名一行哉？
◎ [Summary]: Because from King Ajātaśatru’s riding [of] great vows’ wheel, [he] manifested as evil [and] heinous, [to] imprison [his] father [and] restrain [his] mother, then for giving rise [to this]. His mother [had] revulsed renunciation [of this] Sahā World, [and] aspired [for] birth [in the Pure Land Of] Ultimate Bliss [极乐世界], and for [the] future’s sentient beings, sought rebirth’s method. [The] World-Honoured [One] thus for [her] spoke these contemplations [of the] Western circumstantial rewards’ land’s all kinds [of] adornments, direct rewards’ Buddha, Contemplator [Of] Sound and Power Arrived [Bodhisattvas, their] forms’ excellences [and] majestic virtues, as well as [the] Nine Grades [Of] Rebirth, these causes [and] these effects of [the] Sixteen Contemplations. In [the] Thirteenth Contemplation, specially for inferior capacities’ sentient beings, [he] opened skilful doors, [to] enable contemplation of [Āmítuófó’s one] zhàng [and] six [chǐs’ (2.72m) standing or] eight chǐs’ (1.36m) [sitting] form. [The] Sixteenth Contemplation, also enables those [with] evil karmas heavy, [to] directly recite [Āmítuófó’s] name. Due [to] reciting [his] name thus, immediately attaining rebirth. [It] is [to be] known [that although] forms have [those] great [and] small, [the] Buddha [is] originally one. [If] contemplation [is] not able [to be] done, recitation immediately obtains benefits. On this carefully contemplating, knowing [that] upholding [Āmítuófó’s] name’s one Dharma [Door], is [the] most foremost. [Of this Dharma]-Ending Age’s practitioners, those desiring [to] attain, [in this] present life, definite rebirth [in the Pure Land, how] can [they] not treasure this upholding [of the] name’s one practice?
《观无量寿佛经》者，普令一切若凡若圣，同于现生，往生极乐，或顿或渐，证无生忍，以至圆成佛道之大法也。
That Contemplation [Of] Immeasurable Life Buddha’s Sūtra, universally enables all, if ordinary or noble, [to] together in [this] present life, [be] reborn [in the Pure Land Of] Ultimate Bliss [极乐世界], perhaps suddenly or gradually, realising Non-Arising Forbearance, leading to perfect accomplishing of [the] Buddha path’s Great Dharma.
以圣则自力具足，兼仗佛力，故所证入，最为直捷，以故华藏海众，同愿往生也。
With noble [beings], then [with] self-power complete, together relying on [the] Buddha’s power, thus that realised [and] entered, is most direct, therefore [with the] Flower Treasury Ocean’s assembly, together aspiring [to be] reborn.
凡则仗佛慈力，带业往生，即已超凡入圣，证不退位。从兹渐修，必至圆满菩提而后已。
Ordinary [beings] then relying on [the] Buddha’s compassionate power, [to] bring [their] karmas [to be] reborn, immediately already transcend [the] ordinary [to] enter [the] noble, [and] realise non-retrogression. From this gradually cultivating, definitely arriving [at] complete [and] perfect Bodhi, then ending.
此经中品戒善世福，下品作众恶业，及五逆十恶，将堕地狱，由称佛名，遂得往生也。如是力用，最为洪深。
This sūtra’s Middle Grades [are with] precepts, goodness [and] worldly blessings, [and the] Low Grades [are with] creating [of] all evil karmas, five heinous [transgressions and] ten evils, going [to] fall [into the] hells. Due [to] recitation [of the] Buddha’s name, [they] thereupon attain rebirth [in his Pure Land]. Thus [with] efforts applied, is [that] most great [and] profound.
盖由阿阇世王，乘大愿轮，示为恶逆，囚父禁母，而为发起。
Because from King Ajātaśatru’s riding [of] great vows’ wheel, [he] manifested as evil [and] heinous, [to] imprison [his] father [and] restrain [his] mother, then for giving rise [to this].
其母厌离娑婆，愿生极乐，并为未来众生，求往生法。
His mother [had] revulsed renunciation [of this] Sahā World, [and] aspired [for] birth [in the Pure Land Of] Ultimate Bliss [极乐世界], and for [the] future’s sentient beings, sought rebirth’s method.
世尊乃为说此观想西方依报国土，种种庄严，正报佛及观音势至，相好威德，以及九品往生，若因若果之十六观。
[The] World-Honoured [One] thus for [her] spoke these contemplations [of the] Western circumstantial rewards’ land’s all kinds [of] adornments, direct rewards’ Buddha, Contemplator [Of] Sound and Power Arrived [Bodhisattvas, their] forms’ excellences [and] majestic virtues, as well as [the] Nine Grades [Of] Rebirth, these causes [and] these effects of [the] Sixteen Contemplations.
于第八像观之首，发明宗要云：「诸佛如来，是法界身，入一切众生心想中。是故汝等心想佛时，是心即是三十二相，八十随形好。是心作佛，是心是佛。诸佛正遍知海，从心想生。是故应当一心系念，谛观彼佛。」
At [the] beginning of [the] Eighth Image Contemplation, [it] expresses [and] explains [the] principal essentials, saying, ‘All Buddha Thus Come [Ones], are [the] Dharma Realm’s Body, [who] enter all sentient beings’ minds’ contemplations within. Therefore, when you all [have] minds contemplating [the] Buddha, this mind is the same as [his] thirty-two forms, [and] eighty appearance-following excellences. [It] is [the] mind [that] becomes Buddha, [and it] is [the] mind [that] is Buddha. All Buddhas’ right all-knowing ocean, from [the] mind’s contemplation arises.’
须知法身入想，理实甚深。心作心是，事本平常。平常非常，甚深非深。能圆悟者，方名达人。
[It] must [be] known [that on the] Dharma Body entering thoughts, [the] principles [are] truly extremely profound. [That the] mind becomes, [the] mind is, [is] practice fundamentally ordinary. Ordinary [yet] not ordinary, extremely profound [yet] not profound. Those able [to] completely awaken, [are] then named [as] experts.
于第十三观，特为劣机众生，开方便门，令观丈六八尺之相。第十六观，又令恶业重者，直称名号。由称名故，即得往生。
In [the] Thirteenth Contemplation, specially for inferior capacities’ sentient beings, [he] opened skilful doors, [to] enable contemplation of [Āmítuófó’s one] zhàng [and] six [chǐs’ (2.72m) standing or] eight chǐs’ (1.36m) [sitting] form. [The] Sixteenth Contemplation, also enables those [with] evil karmas heavy, [to] directly recite [Āmítuófó’s] name. Due [to] reciting [his] name thus, immediately attaining rebirth.
是知相有大小，佛本是一。观不能作，称即获益。于此谛思，知持名一法，最为第一。
[It] is [to be] known [that although] forms have [those] great [and] small, [the] Buddha [is] originally one. [If] contemplation [is] not able [to be] done, recitation immediately obtains benefits. On this carefully contemplating, knowing [that] upholding [Āmítuófó’s] name’s one Dharma [Door], is [the] most foremost.
末世行人，欲得现生决定往生者，可弗宝此持名一行哉？
[Of this Dharma]-Ending Age’s practitioners, those desiring [to] attain, [in this] present life, definite rebirth [in the Pure Land, how] can [they] not treasure this upholding [of the] name’s one practice?
《观无量寿佛经善导疏重刻序》
Preface [For] Re-carving [Of] Contemplation [Of] Immeasurable Life Buddha’s Sūtra’s Shàndǎo’s Commentary
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 Sūtra:
《观无量寿佛经》
Contemplation Of Immeasurable Life Buddha Sūtra
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