觀無量壽佛經疏 1.3

1.3

此經心觀為宗、實相為體。所言「佛說觀無量壽佛」者，佛是所觀勝境，舉正報以收依果、述化主以包徒眾。觀雖十六，言佛便周，故云佛說觀無量壽佛。「經」者，訓法、訓常。由聖人金口，故言經也。

This sūtra takes contemplation of the mind as its source and true reality as its essence. As for the words "The Buddha Expounds the [Sūtra on the] Contemplation of Amitāyus Buddha": "Buddha" is the supreme object of contemplation. Mentioning direct retribution subsumes circumstantial retribution; stating the master of transformation encompasses the retinue of followers. Although the contemplations are sixteen, mentioning the Buddha already encompasses them all; hence it says "The Buddha Expounds the Contemplation of Amitāyus Buddha." As for "Sūtra": it is glossed as "model" (fa) and glossed as "constant" (chang). Because it came from the golden mouth of the sage, it is called a "sūtra."