觀無量壽經義疏 1.11

1.11

次、明去時見佛不同。佛具三身：一者真身，謂法與教；二者應身，八相現成；三者化身，隨機現起。依如《大經》，上品之人見佛應身而來迎接，中品見化，下品夢覩不辨化應。真身常寂，無迎接相，為是不論。依此《觀經》，上輩三人同皆見佛應化二身而來迎接，但於其中見化多少為別異耳。上人見其無數化佛，中見一千，下見五百。中輩三人有見不見，中上、中中二人見佛，中下不見，以行劣故。問曰：《大經》宣說中輩一切見佛，此經何故有見不見？釋言：《大經》總相言之，從多說見；此經細分，故有不見。其有見者，唯覩應佛、不見化身，劣於前故。下輩三人，有見不見。下上、下中人見佛，下下不見，但見蓮華。問曰：《大經》宣說下輩不得見佛，此經何故說有見者？釋言：此經明修觀行，由觀滅罪故，令下輩分有見者；雖後見佛，但覩其化，劣於前故。問曰：《大經》宣說上人唯見其應、中唯見化、下唯夢覩不辨化應，此經何故宣說上輩應化俱見、中輩見應、下輩見化？釋言：此經明修觀行，由觀心明，是故上人應化俱見、中人見應、下人見化。《大經》之中不明觀行，為其不同。此三門竟。

Next, explaining the differences in seeing the Buddha at the time of departure. The Buddha possesses three bodies: first, the true body, which refers to the Dharma and teaching; second, the transformation body, whose eight phases are actualized; third, the emanation body, which arises manifested in accord with capacities. According to the *Larger Sūtra*, persons of the highest grade see the Buddha's transformation body coming to welcome them; the middle grade sees emanations; the lowest grade beholds [the Buddha] in a dream, unable to distinguish emanation from transformation. The true body is eternally quiescent, without the appearance of welcoming, and for this reason is not discussed. According to this *Guan jing*, the three kinds of persons of the highest grade all equally see both the transformation and emanation bodies of the Buddha coming to welcome them, but within this, whether they see many or few emanation buddhas is the distinction. The highest person sees countless emanation buddhas; the middle sees one thousand; the lowest sees five hundred. Among the three kinds of persons of the middle grade, some see and some do not see: the two persons of the highest-of-the-middle and the middle-of-the-middle see the Buddha, while the lowest-of-the-middle does not see, because their practice is inferior. Question: The *Larger Sūtra* proclaims that all of the middle grade see the Buddha; why does this sutra say that some see and some do not see? Explanation: The *Larger Sūtra* speaks in terms of the general character, speaking of seeing from the perspective of the majority; this sutra divides finely, and therefore there are those who do not see. As for those who see, they only behold the transformation buddha and do not see emanation bodies, because they are inferior to the former. Among the three kinds of persons of the lowest grade, some see and some do not see: the highest-of-the-lowest and middle-of-the-lowest persons see the Buddha, while the lowest-of-the-lowest does not see, seeing only a lotus flower. Question: The *Larger Sūtra* proclaims that the lowest grade does not get to see the Buddha; why does this sutra say that there are those who see? Explanation: This sutra explains the practice of contemplation; because sins are eliminated through contemplation, it causes some of the lowest grade to see; although they subsequently see the Buddha, they only behold his emanations, because they are inferior to the former. Question: The *Larger Sūtra* proclaims that the highest persons only see his transformation [body], the middle only see emanations, and the lowest only behold [him] in a dream, not distinguishing emanation from transformation; why does this sutra proclaim that the highest grade sees both transformation and emanation, the middle grade sees transformation, and the lowest grade sees emanation? Explanation: This sutra explains the practice of contemplation; because the contemplating mind is clear, the highest persons see both transformation and emanation, the middle persons see transformation, and the lowest persons see emanation. In the *Larger Sūtra*, the practice of contemplation is not explained, which is why they are different. This concludes the third gate.