觀無量壽佛經義疏 3.203

3.203

"‘This is called the lower grade of the middle tier of birth. This is called the contemplation of the middle tier of birth, and is called the fifteenth contemplation.’" In the previous two grades, at the end of life they see the Buddha, receive his light, and hear the Dharma; the lower grade has none of these. In the previous two, after being born they see the Buddha and hear the Dharma; in the lower grade they only see Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta. The upper two both describe riding upon the flower and going, and the flower opening upon arrival; the lower grade does not make this clear, though by principle it must be present, the text merely being abbreviated. The upper grade attains the four fruits immediately at the proper time; the middle grade takes half a kalpa, and the lower grade takes one kalpa; by comparing them, this can be understood. Sixteenth: the three grades of the lower tier have no cultivation of [pure] causes; all are people who committed evil throughout their lives and met good at the end of life. According to the Shiyi lun, if they lacked past goodness, they would not encounter it now either; therefore, these three grades are not without distant causes. The upper grade merely committed transgressions casually without knowing shame; those described in the middle grade are mostly the five monastic assemblies who greedily sought fame and gain and broke the precepts; the lower grade committed the ten evils, the five heinous sins, and other most grave offenses. Sins have degrees of gravity, and are thus divided into three classes. Sixteenth: the lower tier, which has three parts: first, the upper grade of the lower tier; second, the middle grade of the lower tier; third, the lower grade of the lower tier. First, the upper grade of the lower tier, which has three parts: first, the label; second, the explanation; third, the conclusion. First, the label.