觀無量壽佛經疏 1.67

1.67

I answer: A meaning like this is merely the World-Honoured One's preliminary preface responding to the earlier special request, presenting and encouraging the expedient means of benefit. How is this known? The text immediately following says: 'The Buddhas, the Tathāgatas, have extraordinary expedient means to enable you to see.' Following that, the sun visualization, water visualization, ice visualization, up to the thirteen contemplations, are all called extraordinary expedient means. He wished to cause sentient beings to succeed in each of these gates of contemplation, so that seeing those wondrous matters and rejoicing in mind, they would immediately attain the unborn. This is simply the Tathāgata compassionately pitying the latter age, presenting encouragement to urge practice, wishing to cause those who accumulate learning to leave nothing behind, through the unseen reinforcement of the sage's power and its present benefits.