無量壽經連義述文贊 2.28

2.28

On the passage in the sūtra from "toward all myriad things" to "as a heavy burden": The commentary states: This subsequent [part] accomplishes the virtue of transforming [others]. Through accomplishing wisdom and eradication, they are sovereign over all things, transforming or manifesting at will; hence they are called "masterful." "The multitude" means the common crowd; "kinds" means categories—it is a general name for sentient beings. Therefore, some sūtra recensions say "classes of sentient beings." Lacking roots of the path from the past and lacking faith and joy in the present, they do not know how to respond to the noble ones; hence they are called "unsolicited." Since [bodhisattvas] still guide even these, how much more so those who do make requests! Hence they are called "friends without being asked." This is what the sūtra calls "not waiting for the [right] time." "The host of beings" refers to the four kinds of sentient beings in the Śrīmālādevī-sūtra, namely those who have not heard the Dharma, those with wrong Dharma, and those who seek the three vehicles. Some say: Among the four hosts, the first—those with wrong Dharma—lack the goodness to respond to the noble ones, hence they are called unsolicited. This is incorrect. The latter three vehicle lineages do not necessarily all have the goodness to respond to the Buddha. The first group of those who have not heard should also have the worldly goodness that responds to the noble ones. The Avataṃsaka and Yogācārabhūmi both have these four, and the latter three kinds are both determinate and indeterminate; the first kind consists of sentient beings without nature, whose human and heavenly roots of goodness should thus be brought to completion. The bodhisattva shoulders these four hosts of beings as a heavy burden of their own and brings them to completion; hence it says "shouldering." Being a friend without being asked encompasses all four hosts.