觀無量壽佛經義疏 2.39

2.39

"'I only pray that the World-Honoured One will explain for me in detail a place free of sorrow and affliction, where I may attain rebirth; I take no delight in this defiled and evil world of Jambudvīpa.'" A place free of sorrow and affliction is what Vaidehī asked about. The words have a general and inclusive meaning; according to the Buddha's answer below, it directly indicates the Pure Land. In the five turbidities of Sahā, both humans and gods have sorrows and afflictions; only in the Buddha's Pure Land are both the environment and inhabitants supreme, experiencing only happiness—how could there be sorrow? Jambudvīpa, also called Shanbu or Zhanbu, is translated here as "Superior Gold," named after the tree. Because the tree partially overhangs the seawater, and at the bottom of the water there is gold whose lustrous colour reflects upon the tree, it is named after this. Dvīpa, or tan, is translated here as "continent," specifically referring to the southern continent; as used here, it broadly refers to the Sahā trichiliocosm. It is discussed from what is close at hand simply to make it easy to understand. Alternatively, Jambudvīpa is the most severely defiled and evil among the four continents, so it is specially singled out. Second, narrating what is revolting.