Amitābha Sūtra
Kinh A Di Đà
Phật Thuyết A Di Đà Kinh
Usually recited 3 times
About this text
The Amitābha Sūtra is a key Mahāyāna Buddhist scripture, often recited on lunar holidays or during ceremonies for peace and rebirth. The sūtra describes the Pure Land of Amitābha Buddha and encourages all to recite his name to be reborn there.
Preparation & offerings
Before reciting, offer incense, flowers, and pure water at the Three Jewels altar, keep a pure mind, dress respectfully, and sit or kneel facing the altar.
Text
- 1
Thus have I heard: At one time, the Buddha was staying in Sravasti, in the Jeta Grove, Anathapindika's Park, together with a great assembly of 1,250 monks.
- 2
At that time, after giving a teaching in the evening, the World-Honored One sat in silence, with all the great Bodhisattvas and disciples present.
- 3
Venerable Śāriputra rose, joined his palms, and asked the Buddha how sentient beings could be born into a peaceful land.
- 4
The Buddha said to Śāriputra: West of here, beyond a hundred thousand kotis of Buddha-lands, there is a world called Ultimate Bliss. In that land is a Buddha named Amitābha, who is now teaching the Dharma.
- 5
The Land of Ultimate Bliss has seven rows of railings, seven layers of nets, and seven rows of trees, all made of seven precious jewels, magnificently adorned.
- 6
The ground there is pure gold, shining and spotless, with no dust, mountains, rivers, or seas—only flat, even land.
- 7
There are ponds of seven jewels, with crystal-clear water, arranged in layers, each layer radiating lights of many colors.
- 8
The bottom of the ponds is golden sand, and around the ponds are steps made of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal.
- 9
On the ponds are great lotus flowers as large as wheels: blue ones glow blue, yellow ones glow yellow, red ones glow red, and white ones glow white—beautiful and fragrant.
- 10
In that land, six times each day and night, heavenly flowers rain down, and gentle breezes make the jeweled trees ring with wondrous, celestial music.
- 11
People there, every morning, bring heavenly flowers to offer to Buddhas in all directions, then return, eat, walk, and dwell in peace and joy.
- 12
The Pure Land has wondrous birds—swans, peacocks, parrots—singing harmonious sounds and teaching profound Dharma.
- 13
Hearing these birds, everyone naturally gives rise to mindfulness of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
- 14
There are no evil paths—no hells, hungry ghosts, or animals—only the virtuous are born there.
- 15
Those born in the Pure Land have golden bodies, the Buddha's thirty-two marks, always hear the Dharma, and never fall back from the path to enlightenment.
- 16
In that land, Amitābha Buddha lives for countless eons, as do the Bodhisattvas and disciples.
- 17
Amitābha Buddha attained Buddhahood ten kalpas ago.
- 18
The number of beings born in the Pure Land is countless, beyond measure.
- 19
Anyone who hears Amitābha Buddha's name, believes with joy, and single-mindedly recites his name for one to seven days without distraction, will be welcomed by him at life's end and reborn in the Pure Land.
- 20
With deep faith, sincere aspiration, and dedicated recitation of Amitābha's name, one is certain to be reborn there.
- 21
Not only monks and nuns, but laymen and laywomen—anyone who aspires—can be born in the Pure Land.
- 22
The Buddha said to Śāriputra: My words are true, not false. All Buddhas in the ten directions praise Amitābha Buddha's virtues.
- 23
Buddhas in the East, South, West, North, above and below—countless in each direction—extend their broad tongues, speak truthfully, and urge beings to trust this sūtra.
- 24
Whoever hears this sūtra, develops faith, and aspires to be born in the Pure Land will be protected by all Buddhas and never fall into evil paths.
- 25
Those who have aspired, are aspiring, or will aspire to be born in the Pure Land are all supported by the Buddhas.
- 26
The Buddha taught: Those who hear this sūtra should remember, reflect, and share it with others, gaining great merit.
- 27
When the Buddha finished this sūtra, Śāriputra, the monks, Bodhisattvas, gods, and humans all rejoiced, accepted, and practiced the Buddha's teachings.
- 28
Thus ends the Amitābha Sūtra.
Source & license
Dịch nghĩa (trích) từ Hán tạng — Đại Chính Tân Tu Đại Tạng Kinh (Taishō) — do Vietnam Pagodas biên soạn bằng lời văn riêng
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Audio: chanted by Ven. Thích Trí Thoát, from Pháp Hạnh (ph.tinhtong.vn) ph.tinhtong.vn. Ấn tống — phát hành miễn phí, phi thương mại; bản quyền thuộc Pháp Hạnh và người tụng. Free Dharma distribution, non-commercial; © Pháp Hạnh and the reciter.
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