無量壽經連義述文贊 2.8

2.8

The sūtra says: from "these bodhisattvas" up to "all universally manifested." The commentary states: This subsequent part matches [the simile to the meaning]. 'These bodhisattvas' matches the illusionist. Studying all the methods for transforming beings, it is said that they 'study all dharmas', which matches 'original training'. 'Penetrating' (貫) means passing through; 'gathering' (綜) means collecting; 'explicating' (縷) means explaining; 'refining' (練) means purifying. That is, thoroughly passing through the multitude of scriptures, collecting and summarizing facts and principles, explicating profound tenets, and purifying all doubts, hence called 'penetrating, gathering, explicating, and refining', which matches 'thorough mastery'. The realm of wisdom and compassion is where expedient techniques wander, hence called 'where they abide'; the understanding mind rests securely in the realm without error or forgetfulness, hence called 'secure and attentive', which matches 'in the mind'. 'None' (靡) means not; 'carrying out' (致) means conveying. Wherever there are responsive capacities, there are none where they do not convey transformations, hence called 'none to whom transformations are not carried out'. Furthermore, *zhi* (致) means inducing, causing all beings without exception to be responsive and transformed. Some editions of the sūtra read 'none who are not responsively transformed', which does not conflict in meaning. This matches 'performing'. Since what is suitable for beings has ten thousand kinds, there is no appearance that is not manifested; hence, across countless Buddha-lands, they 'all universally manifest', which conversely matches 'displaying various images'.