觀無量壽佛經疏妙宗鈔 1.2

1.2

此經義疏，人悕淨報，故說聽者多矣。所稟寶雲師首製記文，相沿至今著述不絕，皆宗智者，豈有不知修心妙觀、感四淨土文義者耶？良以愍物情深、適時智巧，故多談事相、少示觀門，務在下凡普霑緣種。方今嘉運，盛演圓乘，慕學之徒皆欲得旨而修證矣。故竭鄙思，鈔數千言，上順妙宗，略消此疏。適時之巧，非我所能，願共有情即心念佛，乃此鈔所以作也。天禧五年歲在辛酉，重陽日下筆故序。

Regarding the commentary on the meaning of this sūtra, because people long for the pure reward, many indeed have expounded and listened to it. Master Baoyun, from whom I received the transmission, was the first to compose a subcommentary, and following upon this down to the present day, writings have never ceased. All take Zhizhe as their ancestor; how could they not know the textual meaning of the wondrous contemplation that cultivates the mind and evokes the four pure lands? It was truly because their compassion for beings was deep and their skillful means suited the times that they spoke much of phenomenal marks and revealed little of the contemplation gates, striving to ensure that ordinary worldlings would everywhere be moistened by the seeds of affinity. In the present auspicious age, when the Perfect Vehicle is flourishingly expounded, aspiring students all wish to grasp the essential import so as to cultivate and realize it. Therefore, exhausting my humble thoughts, I have compiled several thousand words, following above the wondrous doctrine and briefly explaining this commentary. Adapting skillfully to the times is beyond my ability; my wish that all sentient beings should contemplate the Buddha through the mind itself is the very reason this subcommentary was made. Penned on the Double Ninth day in the xinyou year, the fifth year of Tianxi (1021); hence this preface.