觀無量壽佛經疏 1.26

1.26

Next, critiquing the three types of people of the middle grade: the various masters say that the middle-upper refers to persons of the three fruits. However, such people have severed the three evil destinies forever and will not be born in the four bad paths. Even if they currently create sinful karma, it will definitely not bring future retribution. As the Buddha said: 'These people of the four fruits sit upon the seat of liberation together with me.' Since they possess such spiritual efficacy, what further worry could they have that they would rely on Vaidehī to seek a path to rebirth? The great compassion of all Buddhas is directed toward the suffering; their hearts are especially mindful of sentient beings who constantly drown, and for this reason they encourage them to return to the Pure Land. It is like a drowning person, who urgently requires special rescue; what need is there to deliver someone on the shore? Proved by this scriptural passage, we know that what the various masters determined is mistaken in the same way as before. The remaining below can be known accordingly.