Ten Comparisons of the Suffering of Samsara Vs the Bliss of Pure Land 此彼十苦乐

一者、此土有不常值佛苦；彼土有花开见佛，常得亲近之乐。

First, in this land, there is the suffering
of not frequently encountering a Buddha;
while in that land, there is the blossoming of the lotus flower to see the Buddha,
with the bliss of being constantly close.

二者、此土有不闻说法苦；彼土有水鸟树林，皆宣妙法之乐。

Second, in this land, there is the suffering
of not being able to hear the Dharma;
while in that land, there are waters, birds and trees,
with the bliss of hearing all of them proclaiming the wonderful Dharma.

三者、此土有恶友牵缠苦；彼土有诸上善人，俱会一处之乐。

Third, in this land, there is the suffering
of being entangled with evil friends;
while in that land, there are all beings of superior goodness,
with the bliss of all meeting together in one place.

四者、此土有群魔恼乱苦；彼土有诸佛护念，远离魔事之乐。

Fourth, in this land, there is the suffering
of disturbances from hordes of demons;
while in that land, there is mindful protection of all Buddhas,
with the bliss of being far away from demonic obstacles.

五者、此土有轮回不息苦；彼土有横截(jié)生死，永脱轮回之乐。

Fifth, in this land, there is the suffering
of unceasing rebirth [in the wheel of birth and death];
while in that land, there is horizontal cutting off from birth and death,
with the bliss of eternal liberation from rebirth.

六者、此土有难免三途苦；彼土有恶道永离，名且不闻之乐。

Sixth, in this land, there is the suffering
of difficulty of avoiding the three realms [of hell-beings, hungry ghosts and animals];
while in that land, there is eternal departure from the evil realms,
with the bliss of not even hearing their names.

七者、此土有尘缘障道苦；彼土有受用自然，不俟(sì)经营之乐。

Seventh, in this land, there is the suffering
of the [Dharma] path being obstructed by worldly conditions [affinities];
while in that land, there are natural benefits [that nurture the path],
with the bliss of no waiting or tending.

八者、此土有寿命短促苦；彼土有寿与佛同，更无限量之乐。

Eighth, in this land, there is the suffering
of lifespans being of short durations;
while in that land, there is lifespan similar to the Buddha's,
with bliss, furthermore, without measure.

九者、此土有修行退失苦；彼土有入正定聚，永无退转之乐。

Ninth, in this land, there is the suffering
of retrogression from cultivation of [Dharma] practices;
while in that land, there is entry into the stage of definite assurance of enlightenment,
with the bliss of eternal non-retrogression.

十者、此土有佛道难成苦；彼土有一生行满，位居补处之乐。

Tenth, in this land, there is the suffering
of difficulty of attaining the Buddha path;
while in that land, there is completion of practice in one lifetime,
with the bliss of attaining the stage of one lifetime from Buddhahood.

~ 慈云大师 (Great Master Ci Yun)
   沈时安译 (Translated by Shen Shi'an) 

Mentioned in Amituojing Class:

The 48 Vows of Amituofo
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amituofo/message/275
The 37 Limbs of Enlightenment
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amituofo/message/167
The Five Corruptions
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amituofo/message/68