無量壽經連義述文贊 3.97

3.97

經曰「人在世間」至「復得相值」者，述云：此次、別易會難也。當者逐也，行者業也。自當者，即自受也。善變化者，即惡趣報。惡變化者，即善趣報。豫者逆也，嚴者脩也。由宿世逆修善惡之業，苦樂報而待故。又嚴者嚴然，即隨宿善惡，地獄天堂嚴然而待也。窈窈者，即中有之時。冥冥者，即生有之時。

The sūtra says: "A person in the world" down to "again meeting one another." The commentary states: Next, it shows that parting is easy while meeting again is difficult. "Dang" (當) means "follow"; "xing" (行) means "karma." "Facing it oneself" means receiving it oneself. "Transformations toward goodness" refers to retributions in the evil destinies. "Transformations toward evil" refers to retributions in the good destinies. "Yu" (豫) means beforehand; "yan" (嚴) means cultivate. Because in past lives one cultivated good and evil karma in advance, the retributions of suffering and bliss await; hence this is said. Furthermore, "yan" (嚴) means solemn and distinct: that is, following past good and evil, the hells or heavens stand distinctly awaiting. "Yao-yao" (窈窈, obscure) refers to the time of the intermediate existence (antarābhava). "Ming-ming" (冥冥, dark) refers to the time of the rebirth existence (upapattibhava).