觀無量壽佛經疏 1.8

1.8

Second, within primary retribution there are also two kinds: first, the master's adornment, which is Amitābha Buddha; second, the assembly of sages' adornment, which is the present assembly there and those of the ten directions' dharmadhātus who are reborn together. Furthermore, within this primary retribution there are also generic and specific. As for specific, it is Amitābha Buddha; within this specific there are also real and provisional. As for provisional primary retribution, it is the eighth image contemplation. Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, and the others are also like this. This is because sentient beings' hindrances are heavy and their defiling delusions deep; the Buddha feared that if they tried to visualize his true form all at once, there would be no way for it to appear. Therefore, he provisionally established a true image to steady their mental contemplation, so that by identifying with that Buddha they might realize the object; hence it is called provisional primary retribution. As for real primary retribution, it is the ninth true body contemplation. Because of the previous provisional primary [retribution], their disordered thoughts are gradually stilled and their mind's eye is opened, so that they roughly see the various adornments of that realm's pure twofold retribution to remove darkness and delusion; by removing hindrances, they are able to see that real objective image. As for generic primary retribution, it refers to Avalokiteśvara, the assembly of sages, and so forth below. What was previously described as generic and specific, real and provisional, directly clarifies the twofold retribution of circumstantial and primary.