觀無量壽佛經疏 3.35

3.35

三、從是為下，總結。四、從佛告阿難下，至說是觀地法已來，正明勸發流通隨緣廣說。即有其四。一明告命。二明勸持佛語，廣為未來大眾說前觀地之益。三明簡機，堪受堪信欲得捨此娑婆生死之身八苦、五苦、三惡道苦等，聞即信行者，不惜身命急為說之。若得一人捨苦出生死者，是名真報佛恩。何以故？諸佛出世種種方便勸化眾生者，不欲直令制惡修福受人天樂也。人天之樂猶如電光，須臾即捨，還入三惡長時受苦，為此因緣但勸即令求生淨土，向無上菩提。是故今時有緣相勸誓生淨土者，即稱諸佛本願意也。若不樂信行者，如《清淨覺經》云：「若有人聞說淨土法門，聞如不聞，見如不見，當知此等始從三惡道來，罪障未盡，為此無信向耳。佛言：『我說此人未可得解脫也。』」此經又云：「若人聞說淨土法門，聞即悲喜交流身毛為竪者，當知此人過去已曾修習此法。今得重聞即生歡喜，正念修行必得生也。」

Third, from "This is called" downward is the overall conclusion. Fourth, from "The Buddha told Ānanda" down to "expounding this method of visualizing the ground," it directly urges propagation and extensive preaching according to conditions. Here there are four points: first, it explains the addressing of the assembly; second, it explains exhorting the upholding of the Buddha's words to expound extensively for future assemblies the benefits of the preceding ground contemplation; third, it explains discerning the capacities—for those capable of receiving and believing, who wish to abandon this Sahā body of birth and death with the eight sufferings, the five sufferings, and the sufferings of the three evil paths, and who upon hearing will believe and practice, one should expound it urgently for them without sparing body or life. If one person can be enabled to abandon suffering and transcend birth and death, this is called truly repaying the Buddha's benevolence. Why is this? When the Buddhas appear in the world and employ various expedient means to exhort and transform sentient beings, they do not merely wish to make them restrain evil and cultivate merit to enjoy the pleasures of humans and devas. The pleasures of humans and devas are like flashes of lightning, abandoned in an instant, only to fall back into the three evil paths and suffer for a long time. For this reason, they solely exhort them to seek rebirth in the Pure Land and head toward supreme bodhi. Therefore, when people in the present age who have conditions exhort one another, vowing to be born in the Pure Land, this accords with the intent of the Buddhas' fundamental vows. For those who do not take joy in believing and practicing, as the Sūtra of Pure Enlightenment says: "If there are people who hear the Pure Land Dharma-gate expounded, and hear it as if not hearing, or see it as if not seeing, you should know that such people have just come from the three evil paths, and their sinful obstacles are not yet exhausted; for this reason they lack faith and inclination. The Buddha said: 'I declare that such people cannot yet attain liberation.'" This sūtra also says: "If a person hears the Pure Land Dharma-gate expounded, and upon hearing it tears of sorrow and joy mingle and the hairs of the body stand on end, you should know that this person has already cultivated this Dharma in the past. Now hearing it again, joy immediately arises, and practicing with right mindfulness, they will certainly attain rebirth."