Amitabha Sutra

rú shì wǒ wén ： yī shí ， fó zài shě wèi guó qí shù gěi gū dú yuán ， yǔ dà bǐ qiū sēng qiān èr bǎi wǔ shí rén jù ， jiē shì dà ā luó hàn 。

如是我聞：一時，佛在舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園，與大比丘僧千二百五十人俱，皆是大阿羅漢。

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the Jeta Grove of Anathapindika's garden in Shravasti, together with twelve hundred and fifty great bhikshus, all great arhats.

「 shě lì fú ！ cóng shì xī fāng ， guò shí wàn yì fú tǔ ， yǒu shì jiè míng yuē jí lè 。 qí tǔ yǒu fú ， hào ā mí tuó ， jīn xiàn zài shuō fǎ 。 」

「舍利弗！從是西方，過十萬億佛土，有世界名曰極樂。其土有佛，號阿彌陀，今現在說法。」

"Shariputra, passing ten billion Buddha-lands to the west there exists a world called Ultimate Bliss. In that land there is a Buddha named Amitabha who at this moment is teaching the Dharma."

「 shě lì fú ！ bǐ tǔ hé gù míng wèi jí lè ？ qí guó zhòng shēng ， wú yǒu zhòng kǔ ， dàn shòu zhū lè ， gù míng jí lè 。 」

「舍利弗！彼土何故名為極樂？其國眾生，無有眾苦，但受諸樂，故名極樂。」

"Shariputra, why is that land called Ultimate Bliss? Because the beings in that land have no suffering and experience only joy — therefore it is called Ultimate Bliss."

「 shě lì fú ！ jí lè guó tǔ ， qī chóng lán shǔn ， qī chóng luó wǎng ， qī chóng xíng shù ， jiē shì sì bǎo ， zhōu zā wéi rào ， shì gù bǐ guó míng wèi jí lè 。 」

「舍利弗！極樂國土，七重欄楯，七重羅網，七重行樹，皆是四寶，周匝圍繞，是故彼國名為極樂。」

"Shariputra, the land of Ultimate Bliss has seven tiers of railings, seven tiers of nets, and seven rows of trees, all made of four jewels encircling the land on all sides — therefore that land is called Ultimate Bliss."

「 shě lì fú ！ jí lè guó tǔ ， yǒu qī bǎo chí ， bā gōng dé shuǐ chōng mǎn qí zhōng ， chí dǐ chún yǐ jīn shā bù dì 。 」

「舍利弗！極樂國土，有七寶池，八功德水充滿其中，池底純以金沙布地。」

"Shariputra, the land of Ultimate Bliss has ponds of seven jewels filled with the water of eight virtues, and the bottoms of these ponds are covered with golden sand."

「 shě lì fú ！ bǐ fú guāng míng wú liàng ， zhào shí fāng guó ， wú suǒ zhàng ài ， shì gù hào wèi ā mí tuó 。 」

「舍利弗！彼佛光明無量，照十方國，無所障礙，是故號為阿彌陀。」

"Shariputra, that Buddha's light is immeasurable, illuminating all lands in the ten directions without obstruction — therefore that Buddha is called Amitabha (Infinite Light)."

「 shě lì fú ！ bǐ fú shòu mìng ， jí qí rén mín ， wú liàng wú biān ā sēng qí jié ， gù míng ā mí tuó 。 」

「舍利弗！彼佛壽命，及其人民，無量無邊阿僧祇劫，故名阿彌陀。」

"Shariputra, that Buddha's lifespan, and that of his people, is immeasurable, boundless, incalculable kalpas — therefore that Buddha is named Amitabha (Infinite Life)."

「 shě lì fú ！ ruò yǒu shàn nán zǐ 、 shàn nǚ rén ， wén shuō ā mí tuó fú ， zhí chí míng hào ， ruò yī rì …… ruò qī rì ， yī xīn bù luàn ， qí rén lín mìng zhōng shí ， ā mí tuó fú yǔ zhū shèng zhòng ， xiàn zài qí qián ， shì rén zhōng shí ， xīn bù diān dǎo ， jí dé wǎng shēng ā mí tuó fú jí lè guó tǔ 。 」

「舍利弗！若有善男子、善女人，聞說阿彌陀佛，執持名號，若一日……若七日，一心不亂，其人臨命終時，阿彌陀佛與諸聖眾，現在其前，是人終時，心不顛倒，即得往生阿彌陀佛極樂國土。」

"Shariputra, if a good man or woman hears of Amitabha Buddha and holds his name single-mindedly without distraction for one day, two days, up to seven days, then at the moment of death Amitabha Buddha will appear before them with a host of holy beings. At the moment of passing, their mind will not be confused, and they will be reborn in the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha."

「 shě lì fú ！ wǒ jiàn shì lì ， gù shuō cǐ yán ： ruò yǒu zhòng shēng ， wén shì shuō zhě ， yīng dāng fā yuàn ， shēng bǐ guó tǔ 。 」

「舍利弗！我見是利，故說此言：若有眾生，聞是說者，應當發願，生彼國土。」

"Shariputra, I see these benefits, therefore I speak thus: if sentient beings hear these words, they should make the aspiration to be born in that land."

「 shě lì fú ！ bù kě yǐ shǎo shàn gēn fú dé yīn yuán ， dé shēng bǐ guó 。 shě lì fú ！ ruò yǒu shàn nán zǐ 、 shàn nǚ rén ， wén shuō ā mí tuó fú ， zhí chí míng hào …… shì rén zhōng shí ， xīn bù diān dǎo ， jí dé wǎng shēng ā mí tuó fú jí lè guó tǔ 。 」

「舍利弗！不可以少善根福德因緣，得生彼國。舍利弗！若有善男子、善女人，聞說阿彌陀佛，執持名號……是人終時，心不顛倒，即得往生阿彌陀佛極樂國土。」

"Shariputra, one cannot be born in that land with few roots of virtue, merit, and good causes. Shariputra, if a good man or woman hears of Amitabha Buddha and holds his name single-mindedly, at the moment of passing their mind will not be confused and they will be reborn in the Pure Land of Amitabha."