無量壽經連義述文贊 1.12

1.12

The sūtra says: "He was also together with a multitude of Mahāyāna bodhisattvas." The commentary states: In the second [part], the assembly of bodhisattvas has four sections; this is the first, indicating their practice. That is to say, as in the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkopadeśa, the bodhisattvas cultivate great practices, seek awakening, and benefit sentient beings, being designated by sattva. Moreover, through the power of supernormal abilities, they manifest at any time according to circumstance, able to practice the Mahāyāna. Just as Bhadrapāla and the sixteen others fully embodied the inconceivable deeds of bodhisattvas while manifesting the forms of the four assemblies such as upāsakas, they are spoken of as bodhisattvas. According to Bai Yan, there were seventy nayutas of bodhisattvas, but they are not mentioned now because of abbreviation.