觀無量壽佛經疏 2.25

2.25

二、就禁父緣中即有其七：一、從爾時王舍大城以下，總明起化處。此明往古百姓但城中造舍，即為天火所燒。若是王家舍宅，悉無火近。後時百姓共奏於王：「臣等造宅，數為天火所燒。但是王舍，悉無火近。不知有何所以？」王告奏人：「自今以後，卿等造宅之時，但言我今為王造舍。」奏人等各奉王勅，歸還造舍更不被燒。因此相傳故名王舍。言大城者。此城極大，居民九億，故噵王舍大城也。言起化處者。即有其二：一謂闍王起惡，即有禁父母之緣，因禁則厭此娑婆，願託無憂之世界。二則如來赴請，光變為臺影現靈儀，夫人即求生安樂。又傾心請行，佛開三福之因。正觀即是定門，更顯九章之益。為此因緣，故名起化處也。

Second, within the circumstances of the imprisonment of the father, there are seven points: First, from “At that time, in the great city of Rājagṛha” downwards, it explains the place where the teaching was initiated in general. This explains that in ancient times, whenever the common people built houses in the city, they were burned by heavenly fire. But if it was a royal residence, no fire ever approached it. Later, the common people submitted a joint memorial to the king: “Whenever your subjects build houses, they are frequently burned by heavenly fire. Yet only the royal residences are never approached by fire. We do not know what the reason for this may be.” The king told the petitioners: “From now on, when you build houses, simply say: ‘I am now building a residence for the king.’” The petitioners followed the king’s decree, and upon returning and building their houses, they were never burned again. Because of this legend handed down, it was named Rājagṛha (King’s Residence). As for the words “great city,” this city was extremely large, with a population of nine hundred million; hence it is called “the great city of Rājagṛha.” As for “the place where the teaching was initiated,” there are two aspects: first, King Ajātaśatru aroused evil, which led to the circumstance of imprisoning his parents; through this imprisonment, [Vaidehī] grew weary of this Sahā world and vowed to be born in a world free of sorrow. Second, the Tathāgata responded to her invitation, emitting light that transformed into a tower wherein the wondrous forms [of the pure lands] appeared as reflections, and the queen consort sought rebirth in the Land of Peace and Bliss. Furthermore, with an earnest mind she requested practice, and the Buddha revealed the causes of the three blessings; the correct contemplation is the gate of meditative [good], and he further revealed the benefits of the nine grades. For these reasons, it is called the place where the teaching was initiated.