觀無量壽佛經義疏 3.198

3.198

"‘When this person is about to die, they encounter a good spiritual friend who broadly expounds to them the delightful matters of the land of Amitāyus Buddha, and also speaks of the forty-eight vows of the monk Dharmākara.’" One who transforms people with goodness and is known by the masses, whose virtue is known and whose deportment is recognized, [is a good spiritual friend]. King Śubhavyūha in the Lotus Sūtra says, "A good spiritual friend is a great cause and condition," referring directly to his wife and sons as good spiritual friends. Hence we know that as long as one is able to instruct and guide, it is not restricted to monastics or laity. The delightful matters of the land are as expounded above regarding the dependent retribution and in the larger and smaller Amitābha Sūtras. The monk Dharmākara is Amitāyus's causal name. Long ago, as a king, he met the Buddha Lokeśvararāja, renounced the kingdom, and left the household; he then made the forty-eight vows before the Buddha, fully described in the Larger Text. Third, attaining birth.