觀無量壽佛經疏 4.50

4.50

Second, from 'also believes in cause and effect' down to 'supreme aspiration for awakening,' directly clarifies the differences in receiving the Dharma in the sixth gate. There are three points: First, clarifies that belief in cause and effect is indefinite—sometimes believing and sometimes not believing, hence called 'also'; or it can mean 'also' having deep faith like the previous [grade]. Furthermore, although there is faith, it is not deep; good thoughts frequently regress and evil phenomena frequently arise, which is due to not deeply believing in the cause and effect of suffering and bliss. If one deeply believes in the suffering of saṃsāra, one will ultimately never repeat sinful karma. If one deeply believes in the unconditioned bliss of the Pure Land, once a good thought arises, one will never regress. Second, clarifies that although faith may be intermittent, one must not doubt or slander any part of the Mahāyāna; if one gives rise to doubt or slander, even if a thousand Buddhas were to surround one's body, there would be no means of rescue. Third, clarifies that while the aforementioned goods seem to have no efficacy, if one generates merely a single thought of repenting suffering, delights in birth in the realm of the Buddhas, swiftly fulfills the bodhisattva's vows and practices of great compassion, and returns to saṃsāra to universally deliver sentient beings, it is called generating bodhicitta. This meaning has already been explained in the third blessing.