この『SUKAHVATI-VYUHA』は、『東方聖書』(SACRED BOOK OF THE EAST)に収録されたマックス・ミューラー（MAX MULLER）博士の翻訳による『仏説阿弥陀経』の英語訳である。この英訳は1880年（明治十三年）にロンドンの亜細亜学会雑誌（Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society）に発表された後、訂正を加えて1883年（明治十六年）にオックスフォードのクラレンドン社より、『東方聖書』として出版されたもので、その第四十九巻の中に収められている。本訳文の表紙には1894年の年号が付いているので、初版より十一年経過した後に印刷されたもので、第何版に当たるのかは不明である。 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ＴＨＥ　SMALLER SUKAHVATI-VYUHA ADORATION　TO　ONNISCIENT ! 　§1. Thus it was heard by me : At one time the Blessed(Bhagavat, i, e, Buddha)dwelt at Sravasti in the Geta-grove, in the garden of Anathapindaka,together with a large company of Bhikshus(mendicant friars), viz. with twelve hundred and fifty Bhikshus, all of them acquainted with five kinds of knowledge, elders,great disciples,and Arhats,such as Sariputra, the elder, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakasyapa, Mahakapphina, Mahakatyayana, Mahakaushila, Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Bharadvaga,Kalodayin, Vakkula, and Aniruddha. He dwelt together with many other great disciples, and together with many noble-minded Bodhisattvas, such as Mangusri,the prince,the Bodhisattva Agita, the Bodhisattva Gandhahahastin, the Bodhisattva Nityodyukta, the Bodhisattva Anikshiptadhura. He dwelt together with them and many other noble-minded Bodhisattvas, and with Sakra, the Indra or King of the Devas, and with Brahman Sahampati. With these and many other hundred thousand nayutas of sons of the gods, Bhagavat dwelt at Sravasti. 　§2. Then Bhagavat assressed the honoured Sariputra and said, 'O Sariputra, after you have passed from here over a hunddred thousand kotis of Buddha countrise there is in the Western part a Buddha coutry, a world called Sukhavati(the happy country). And there a Tathagata, called Amitayus an Arhat fully enlightend, dwells now, and remains, and supports himself, and teachs the Law. 'Now what do you think, Sariptra, for what reason is that world called Sukhavati(the happy)? In that world Sukhavati, O Sariputra, there is neither bodily nor mental pain for living beings. The sources of happiness are innumerable there. For that reason is that world called Sukhavati(the happy). 　§３　'And again, O Sariptra, that world sukhavati is adorned with seven terraces, with seven rows of palm-trees, and with strings of bells. It is enclosed on every side, beautiful brilleant with the four gems, viz, gold, silver, beryl, and crystal. With such arrays of excellence peculiar to a Buddha coutry is that Buddha coutry adorned. 　§４．'And again O Sariputra, in that world Sukhavati there are lotus lakes, adorned with the seven gems, viz, gold silver, beryl, crystal, red pearls, diamonds, and corals as the seveens. They arre full of water which possesses the eight good qualities, their waters rise as high as the fords and bathing-places, so that even crows may drink there; they are strewn with golden sand. And in these lotus-lakes there are all around on the four sides four stairs, beautiful and brilliant with the four gems, viz, gold, silver, crystal. And on every side of these lotus-lakes gem-trees are growing, beautiful and brilliant with the seven gems, viz, gold, silver, beryl, crystal, red pearls, diamonds, and corals as the seventh. And in those lotus-lakes lotus-flowers arre growing, blue, blue-coloures, of blue splendour, blue to behold; yellow, yellow-coloured, of yellow splendour, yellow to behold ; red, red-coloured , of red splendour, red to behold; white , white-coloured, of white splendour, white to behold; beautifl, beautiful-coloured, of beautiful splendour, beautiful to behold; and in circumference as large as the wheel of a chariot. 　§５．'And again, O Sariputra, in that Buddha country there are heavenly musical instruments always played on, and the earth is lovely and of golden colour. And in that Buddha country a flwer-rain of heavenly Mandarava blossoms pours down three times every day, and three times every night. And the beings who are born there worship before their morning meal a hundred thousand kotis of Buddhas by going to other worlds; and having showered a hundred thousand kotis of flowers upon each Tathagata, they return to their own world in time for the afternoon rest. With such arrays of excellences peculiar to a Buddha country is that Buddha country adorned. 　§６．'And again, O Sariputra, there are in that Buddha country swans, curlews, and peacocks. Three times every night, and three times every day, they come together and perform a concert, each uttering his own note. And from them thus uttering proceeds a sound proclaiming the five virtues, the highest knowledge. When the men there hear that sound, remembrance of Buddha, remembrance of the Law, remembrance of the Church, rises in there mind. 'Now, do you think, O Sariputra, that three are beings who have entered into the nature of animals (bird &c.)? This is not to be thought of. The very name of hells is unknown in that buddha country, and likewise that of (descent into) animal bodies and of the realm of Yama (the four apayas). No, these tribes of birds have been made on purpose by the Tathagata Amitayus, and they utter the sound of the Law. With such arrays of excellences, &c. 　§７．'And again, O Sariptra, when those rows of palm-trees and strings of bells in that Buddha country are moved by the wind, a sweet and enrapturing sound proceeds from them. Yes, O Sariptra, as from a heavenly musical instrument consisting of a hundred thousand kotis of sounds, when played by Arayas, a sweet and enrapturing sound proceeds, a sweet and enrapturing sound proceeds from those rows of palm-trees and strings of bells moved by the wind. And when the men hear that sound, reflection on Buddha arises in them, reflection on the Low, reflection on the Church. With such arrays of excellence, &c. 　§８. 'Now what do you think, O Sariptra, for what reason is that Tathagata called Amitayus ? The length of life (ayus), O Sariputra, of that Tathagatta and of those men there is immeasurable (ameta). Therefore is that Tathagata called Amitayus. And ten kalpas have passed, O Sariptra, since that Tathagata awoke to perfect knowledge. 　§９. 'And what do you think, O Sariputra, for what reason is that Tathagata called Amitabha? The splendour (abha), O Sariptra, of that Tathagata is unimpeded over all Buddha coutries. Therefore is that Tathagata called Amitabha. 'And there is O Sariptra an innumerable assembly of disciples with that Tathagata, purified and venerable persons, whose number it is not easy to count. With such arrays of excellences, &c. 　§10. 'And again, O Sariptra, of those beings also who are born in Buddha country of the Tathagata Amitayus as purified Boddhisattvas, never to return again and bound by one birth only, of those Boddhisattvas also, O Sariptra, the number is not easy to count, excpt they are reckoned as infinite in number. ' Then again all beings, O Sariputra, ought to make fervent prayer for that Buddha country. And why? Because they come together there with such excellent men. Beings are not born in that Buddha country of the Tathagata Amitayus as a reward and result of good works performed in this present life. No,whatever son or daughter of a family shall hear the name of the blessed Amitayus, the Tathagata, and having heard it, shall keep it in mind, and with thoughts undisturbed shall keep it in mind, for one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven nights, ─when that son or daughter of a family comes to die, then that Amitayus, the Tathagata, surrounded by an assembly of disciples and followed by host of Bodhisattvas, will stand before them at their hour of death, and they will depart this life with traquil minds. After their death they will be born in the world Sukhavati, in the Buddha country of the same Amitayus, the Tathagata. Therefore, then, O Sariptra having perceived this cause and effect, I with reverence say thus, Every son and every daughter of a family ought with their whole mind to make fervent prayer for that Buddha country. 　§11. 'And now, O Sariptra, as I here at present glorify that world, thus in the East, O Sariptra, other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Akshobhya, the Tathagata Merudhvaga, the Tathagata Mahameru, the Tathagata Meruprabhasa, and the Tathagata Mangudhvga, equal in number to the sand of river Ganga, comprehend their own Buddha countries in their speech, and then reveal them. Accept this repetition of the Law, called the “Favour of all Buddhas,”which magnifies their inconceivable excellences. 　§12. ' Thus also in the South do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Kandrasuryapradipa, the Tathagata Yasahprabha, the Tathagata Maharkiskandha, the Tathagata Merupradipa, the Tathagata Anantavirya, equal in number to the sand of river Ganga, comprehend their own Buddha countries in their speech, and then reveal them. Accept &c. 　§13. ' Thus also in the West do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Amitaskandha, the Tathagata Amitadhvaga, the Tathagata Mahaprabha, the Tathagata Maharatnaketu, the Tathagata Sunddharasmiprabha, equal in number to the sand of river Ganga, comprehend &c. 　§14. ' Thus also in the North do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Maharkiskandha, the Tathagata Vaisvanaranirghosha, the Tathagata Dundubhisvaranighosha, the Tathagata Dushpradharsha, the Tathagata Adityasambhava, the Tathagata Galeniprabha (Gvalanaprabha?), the Tathagata Prabhakara, equal in number to the sand, &c. 　§15. ' Thus also in the Nadir do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Simha, the Tathagata Yasas, the Tathagata Yasahprabhava, the Tathagata Dharma, the Tathagata Dharmadhara, the Tathagata Dharmadhvaga, equal in number to the sand, &c. 　§16. ' Thus also in the Zenith do other blessed Buddhas, led by the Tathagata Brahmaghosha, the Tathagata Nakshatraraga, the Tathagata Indraketudhvagaraga, the Tathagata Gandhottama, the Tathagata Gandhaprabhasa, the Tathagata Maharkiskandha, the Tathagata Ratnakusumasampushpitagatra, the Tathagata Salendraraga, the Tathagata Ratnotpalasri, the Tathagata Sarvarthadarsa, the Tathagata Sumerukalpa, equal in number to the sand, &c. 　§17. ' Now what do you think, O Sariptra, for what reason is that repetition (traatise) of the Law called Favour of all Buddhas? Every son or daughter of a family who shall hear the name of that repetition of the Law and retain in their memory the names of those blessed Buddhas, will be favoured by the Buddhas, and will never return again, being once in possession of the transcendent true knowledge. Terefore, then, O Sariptra, believe, accept, and do not doubt of me and those blessed Buddhas ! ' Whatever sons or daughters of a family shall make mental prayer for the Buddha country of that blessed Amitayus, the Tathagata, or are making it now or have made it formerly, all these will never return again, being once in possession of the transcendent true knowledge. They will be born in that Buddha country, have been born, or are being born now. Terefore, then, O Sariptra, mental prayer is to be made for that Buddha country by faithful sons and daughters of a family. 　§18. ' And as I at present magnify here the inconceivable excellences of those blessed Buddhas, thus, O Sariptra, do those blessed Buddhas magnify my own inconceivable excellences. ' A very diffucult work has been done by Sakyamuni, the sovereign of the Sakyas. Having obtained the transcendent true knowledge in this world Saha, he taught the Law which all the world is reluctant to accept, during this corruption of the present kalpa, during this corruption of mankind, during this corruption of belief, during this corruption of life, during this corruption of passions. 　§19. ' This is even for me, O Sariptra, an extremely difficult work that, having obtained the transcendent true knowledge in this world Saha, I taught the Law which all the world is reluctant to accept, during this corruption of mankind, of belief, of passion, of life, and of this present kalpa.' 　§20 Thus spoke Bhagavat joyful in his mind. And the honourable Sariptra, and the Bhikshus and Bodhisattvas, and the whole world with the gods, men, evil spirits and genii, applauded the speech of Bhagavat. This is the Mahayanasutra called Sukhavati-vyuha.