觀無量壽佛經疏 3.35

3.35

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."