觀無量壽佛經疏 1.16

1.16

答曰：「解有二義。一者謗法與無信，八難及非人，此等不受也。斯乃朽林頑石，不可有生潤之期。此等眾生，必無受化之義。除斯已外，一心信樂求願往生，上盡一形，下收十念，乘佛願力，莫不皆往。此即答上何機得受義竟。二出在何文者，即有通有別。言通者即有三義不同。何者？一、從『韋提白佛唯願為我廣說無憂惱處』者，即是韋提標心自為通請所求。二、從『唯願佛日教我觀於清淨業處』者，即是韋提自為通請去行。三、從『世尊光臺現國』，即是酬前通請為我廣說之言。雖有三義不同，答前通竟。言別者則有二義：一、從『韋提白佛我今樂生極樂世界彌陀佛所』者，即是韋提自為別選所求。二從『唯願教我思惟教我正受』者，即是韋提自為請修別行。雖有二義不同，答上別竟。」

The answer states: "The explanation has two meanings. First: those who slander the Dharma and lack faith, those in the eight conditions of hindrance, and non-humans—these do not receive it. They are like rotten timber or stubborn stone, which can never have a time of becoming moist with life. For such sentient beings, there is definitely no possibility of receiving transformation. Aside from them, all who with single-minded faith and joy aspire and vow to attain rebirth—at the highest, throughout a whole lifetime; at the lowest, including even ten recitations—by riding the power of the Buddha's vow, there are none who do not attain rebirth. This concludes the answer to the above question regarding which capacities can receive [the teaching]. Second, regarding from which passages it derives: there is the general and the specific. The general has three different meanings. What are they? First, from 'Vaidehī addressed the Buddha, saying: "I only wish that you would speak extensively for me of a place without sorrow and affliction,"' this is Vaidehī directing her mind to make a general request for what she sought. Second, from 'I only wish that the Sun of the Buddha would teach me to contemplate a place of pure karmic action,' this is Vaidehī making a general request for the practice to go [there]. Third, from 'The World-Honoured One manifested the lands upon a platform of light,' this is answering the earlier general request to 'speak extensively for me.' Although there are three different meanings, this concludes the answer regarding the general. As for the specific, there are two meanings: First, from 'Vaidehī addressed the Buddha, saying: "I now take joy in being born in the world of Sukhāvatī, the place of Amitābha Buddha,"' this is Vaidehī specifically selecting for herself what she sought. Second, from 'I only wish that you would teach me to reflect and teach me samāpatti,' this is Vaidehī specifically requesting to cultivate specific practices for herself. Although there are two different meanings, this concludes the answer to the specific above."