無量壽經連義述文贊 2.41

2.41

The sūtra says: from “Do the Buddhas of the past, future, and present” to “recollect one another?” The commentary states: Third, investigating what is being done. There are two parts; this is the first, [investigating] what is being recollected. Some say: “The Buddhas of the past, future, and present” means the Buddhas of the three periods of time recollecting one another; “Buddhas recollecting one another” means the Buddhas of the ten directions recollecting one another. This is not correct. Apart from the three periods of time there are no separate ten directions, and the Buddhas are also not like that. Here, by adducing the Buddhas of the three periods of time recollecting one another, it is analogously inferred whether the present Tathāgata might be recollecting the Buddhas. “Might” is an expression of uncertainty. He deduces this Buddha-recollection, but as the Buddhas have not yet given permission, he does not dare decide definitively on his own.