Introductory Chapter (Chapter 1)

序品

1

滿

Rú shì wǒ wén yī shí fó zhù wáng shě chéng qí shé jué shān zhōng yǔ dà bǐ qiū zhòng wàn èr qiān rén jù yī qiē dà shèng shén tōng yǐ dá qí míng yuē zūn zhě liǎo běn jì zūn zhě zhèng yuàn zūn zhě zhèng yǔ zūn zhě dà hào zūn zhě rén xián zūn zhě lí gòu zūn zhě míng wén zūn zhě shàn shí zūn zhě jù zú zūn zhě niú wáng zūn zhě yōu lóu pín luó jiā yè zūn zhě gā yé jiā yè zūn zhě nà tí jiā yè zūn zhě mó hē jiā yè zūn zhě shě lì fú zūn zhě dà mù jiàn lián zūn zhě jié bīn nà zūn zhě dà zhù zūn zhě dà jìng zhì zūn zhě mó hē zhōu nà zūn zhě mǎn yuàn zǐ zūn zhě lí zhàng zūn zhě liú guàn zūn zhě jiān fú zūn zhě miàn wáng zūn zhě yì chéng zūn zhě rén xìng zūn zhě xǐ lè zūn zhě shàn lái zūn zhě luó yún zūn zhě ā nán jiē rú sī děng shàng shǒu zhě yě yòu yǔ dà shèng zhòng pú sà jù pǔ xián pú sà miào dé pú sà cí shì pú sà děng cǐ xián jié zhōng yī qiē pú sà

Key Message

The majestic assembly of śrāvakas and bodhisattvas gathered together foreshadows that Amitābha's original vows are a teaching open to all practitioners.

The introductory chapter (序品) of the Sutra on the Buddha of Immeasurable Life presents the setting of the assembly and introduces those gathered.

The introductory chapter (序品) of the Sutra on the Buddha of Immeasurable Life presents the setting of the assembly and introduces those gathered. The Buddha resides at Gṛdhrakūṭa (Vulture Peak, 耆闍崛山) near Rājagṛha (王舍城), together with twelve thousand great bhikkhus. The chapter enumerates the gathering — not merely as scenic backdrop, but as a profound statement of the teaching's scope. That Śāriputra, Maudgalyāyana, Ānanda, and other foremost disciples of the Buddha are gathered alongside Bodhisattvas such as Samantabhadra and Maitreya signals from the outset that this sūtra embraces both the śrāvaka and bodhisattva paths. The solemn listing of the assembly underscores the authority and importance of what is about to be taught.