無量壽經連義述文贊 2.46

2.46

The sūtra says: from “Giving rise to deep wisdom” to “ask about this meaning of wisdom.” The commentary states: This is next, praising his question specifically. “Giving rise to deep wisdom” praises the wisdom of the question. “True and wondrous eloquence” praises the words of the question. “Pitying and thinking of sentient beings” praises the intention of the question. Some say: He gave rise to deep wisdom because he recollected the five virtues of the Buddha, and said “true and wondrous eloquence” because he praised the Buddha abiding in the five virtues. This is likely not correct. There is no difference in meaning between recollecting the Buddha's five virtues and praising the Buddha's five abidings. If there is recollection without praise, or praise without recollection, neither conforms to correct principle. Here, it is because he called upon the Buddha's five designations that he gave rise to deep wisdom; and because he used the virtues of the five abidings to praise the meaning of the five designations, there is true and wondrous eloquence. Although he asked about the five virtues, the five virtues all take wisdom as their master; hence it says “ask about this meaning of wisdom.”