觀無量壽佛經疏 1.40

1.40

答曰：「眾生垢重，智慧淺近。聖意弘深，豈寧自輒！今者一一悉取佛說以為明證。就此證中即有其十句。何者？第一、如《觀經》云：『佛告韋提：「我今為汝廣說眾譬，亦令未來世一切凡夫欲修淨業者，得生西方極樂國土」』者，是其一證也。二、言：『如來今者為未來世一切眾生為煩惱賊之所害者說清淨業』者，是其二證也。三、言：『如來今者教韋提希及未來世一切眾生觀於西方極樂世界』者，是其三證也。四、言：『韋提白佛：「我今因佛力故見彼國土。若佛滅後，諸眾生等濁惡不善五苦所逼，云何當見彼佛國土」』者，是其四證也。五、如日觀初云：『佛告韋提：「汝及眾生專念」已下乃至「一切眾生自非生盲，有目之徒見日」』已來者，是其五證也。六、如地觀中說言：『佛告阿難：「汝持佛語，為未來世一切眾生欲脫苦者，說是觀地法」』者，是其六證也。七、如華座觀中說言：『韋提白佛：「我因佛力得見阿彌陀佛及二菩薩，未來眾生云何得見」』者，是其七證也。八、次下答請中說言：『佛告韋提：「汝及眾生欲觀彼佛者當起想念」』者，是其八證也。九、如像觀中說言：『佛告韋提：「諸佛如來入一切眾生心想中，是故汝等心想佛時」』者，是其九證也。十、如九品之中一一說言：『為諸眾生』者，是其十證也。上來雖有十句不同，證明如來說此十六觀法但為常沒眾生，不干大小聖也。以斯文證，豈是謬哉！」

Answer: 'The defilements of sentient beings are heavy and their wisdom is shallow and near. The sage's intent is vast and deep—how could one presume to decide it arbitrarily! Now, taking the Buddha's own words one by one as clear proof, within this proof there are precisely ten statements. Which are they? First, as the Dhyāna Sūtra says: "The Buddha told Vaidehī: 'I shall now explain many parables for you in detail, and also enable all pṛthagjanas in future generations who wish to cultivate pure karma to attain rebirth in the western Land of Ultimate Bliss'"—this is the first proof. Second, it says: "The Tathāgata now expounds the pure karma for all sentient beings of future generations who are harmed by the thieves of afflictions"—this is the second proof. Third, it says: "The Tathāgata now teaches Vaidehī and all sentient beings of future generations to contemplate the western World of Ultimate Bliss"—this is the third proof. Fourth, it says: "Vaidehī addressed the Buddha: 'Now, by the Buddha's power, I see that land. If after the Buddha's parinirvāṇa sentient beings are defiled, wicked, unwholesome, and afflicted by the five sufferings, how shall they see that Buddha-land?'"—this is the fourth proof. Fifth, as said at the beginning of the sun contemplation: "The Buddha told Vaidehī: 'You and sentient beings should single-mindedly focus...' down to 'unless they are born blind, all sentient beings endowed with eyes see the sun'"—this is the fifth proof. Sixth, as said in the contemplation of the ground: "The Buddha told Ānanda: 'Hold these words of the Buddha, and for all sentient beings of future generations who wish to be liberated from suffering, expound this method of contemplating the ground'"—this is the sixth proof. Seventh, as said in the lotus throne contemplation: "Vaidehī addressed the Buddha: 'By the Buddha's power I have been able to see Amitābha Buddha and the two bodhisattvas; how may future sentient beings see them?'"—this is the seventh proof. Eighth, as said next in the response to her request: "The Buddha told Vaidehī: 'You and sentient beings who wish to contemplate that Buddha should give rise to visualized thoughts'"—this is the eighth proof. Ninth, as said in the image contemplation: "The Buddha told Vaidehī: 'The buddhas, the tathāgatas, enter the mental visualizations of all sentient beings; therefore, when your minds visualize the Buddha...'"—this is the ninth proof. Tenth, as said individually in each of the nine ranks: "for all sentient beings"—this is the tenth proof. Although there are ten different statements above, they prove that the Tathāgata expounded these sixteen contemplation methods solely for sentient beings who are constantly drowning, having nothing to do with the great or lesser sages. With such textual proof, how could it be an error!'