觀無量壽經義疏 1.12

1.12

次、論往生彼土時有異。上輩三人，生時各異。上上生者，至即花開，不經時日；上中生者，經宿方開；上下生者，一日一夜其花乃敷。中輩三人，生時亦異。中上生者，至即花開，與上上同。何故如是？此小乘中聖人往生，餘業雖劣，無漏淨心，故往即生。中中生者，七日花敷。中下生者，文中不辨，但云生已過七日後，遇聖聞法。下輩三人，生時亦別。下上生者，經七七日其花乃敷。下中生者，罪報深重，六劫方開。下下生者，罪障極重，十二大劫蓮花乃敷。由其罪重，爾許時節澄練其心，方堪入法。時分如是。此四門竟。

Next, discussing that the times of rebirth into that land are different. For the three kinds of persons of the highest grade, their times of rebirth are each different. For those who attain the highest-of-the-highest rebirth, upon arrival the flower immediately opens, without passing through days or hours; for those who attain the middle-of-the-highest rebirth, it only opens after passing a night; for those who attain the lowest-of-the-highest rebirth, their flower only opens after one day and one night. For the three kinds of persons of the middle grade, their times of rebirth are also different. For those who attain the highest-of-the-middle rebirth, upon arrival the flower immediately opens, identical to the highest-of-the-highest. Why is it like this? These are noble persons within the Lesser Vehicle who attain rebirth; although their other karma is inferior, they have an undefiled, pure mind, so as soon as they go, they are reborn. For those who attain the middle-of-the-middle rebirth, the flower opens after seven days. For those who attain the lowest-of-the-middle rebirth, the text does not distinguish it, but only says that after having been reborn, seven days pass, and they encounter the noble ones and hear the Dharma. For the three kinds of persons of the lowest grade, their times of rebirth are also different. For those who attain the highest-of-the-lowest rebirth, their flower only opens after seven times seven days. For those who attain the middle-of-the-lowest rebirth, their karmic retribution for transgressions is grave, and it only opens after six kalpas. For those who attain the lowest-of-the-lowest rebirth, their obscuration of transgressions is extremely grave, and the lotus flower only opens after twelve great kalpas. Because their transgressions are grave, it is only after clarifying and refining their minds for that much time that they become capable of entering the Dharma. The time divisions are like this. This concludes the fourth gate.