阿彌陀經疏 1.126

1.126

經曰：「其國眾生無有眾苦，但受諸樂，故名極樂」，次釋第七得極樂之名。其國者即如來所統之境，眾生者是如來所化之機。《大法鼓經》云：一切法和合施設名為眾生，謂四大、五陰、十二因緣、十八界等合成，假名為人，號曰眾生。《般若燈論》云：謂有情者數數生，故名為眾生。《大品經》云：無有法可名眾生，但假名故號為眾生，是名字本無有法，強為立名名為眾生。《不增不減經》云：此法身本性清淨，但為恒沙煩惱所纏，隨順世間往來生死即名眾生。無有眾苦者，《無量壽經》云：彼無苦難之名亦無三惡道，但有自然快樂之事，亦無少苦故。《央掘魔經》云：無有少苦、純一快樂，故名極樂，又無八苦故，蓮華化生即無生苦；國無老病無有病苦；年壽欲盡願生十方淨土，隨意往生，離念念滅名無死苦；喜樂相隨，無怨憎會苦；心皆平等亦無怨憎，雖為去留無愛別離苦；所欲如意，無求不得苦及貧窮苦；又身金色端正如天，神通自在，香風拂鉢天味自盈，無五盛陰苦。目觀諸佛顯爀，耳聽樹網風鈴水流，天樂隨意聞見，故名極樂。

The sūtra says: 'The sentient beings of that country have no suffering whatsoever, but experience only every happiness; therefore it is named Sukhāvatī.' Next is the explanation of the seventh [passage], acquiring the name 'Sukhāvatī'. 'That country' is the realm governed by the Tathāgata; 'sentient beings' are the recipients of the Tathāgata's transformation. The Mahābherī-hāraka Sūtra says: 'The combination and provisional designation of all phenomena is called "sentient beings"; that is, the four great elements, five skandhas, twelve links of dependent origination, eighteen dhātus, and so forth come together, provisionally named a "person" and termed "sentient beings".' The Prajñāpradīpa-śāstra says: 'Because sentient beings are born repeatedly, they are called "sentient beings" (sattva).' The Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā Sūtra says: 'There is no phenomenon that can be called a sentient being; it is merely provisionally named, and so termed "sentient beings". This name is originally devoid of any real phenomenon; one merely forcibly establishes a name, calling them "sentient beings".' The Anūnatvāpūrṇatva-nirdeśa Sūtra says: 'This dharmakāya is intrinsically pure in nature, but merely entangled by defilements as numerous as the sands of the Ganges; conforming to the world and coming and going through birth and death, it is called a "sentient being".' Regarding 'having no suffering whatsoever', the Infinite Life Sūtra says: 'There, there are no names of suffering or difficulty, nor the three evil realms; there are only natural, joyful affairs, and likewise not the slightest suffering.' The Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra says: 'It has not the slightest suffering, but is purely and solely joyful; therefore it is named Sukhāvatī.' Furthermore, because it lacks the eight sufferings: transformationally born from lotus flowers, there is no suffering of birth; the country has no aging or disease, so there is no suffering of illness; when life span is about to end, they vow to be reborn in the pure lands of the ten directions and are reborn as they wish, free from moment-to-moment cessation, which is called having no suffering of death; joy and delight accompany them, so there is no suffering of association with what is hated; their minds are all equanimous and without hatred, and though there may be departing and remaining, there is no suffering of separation from the beloved; whatever is desired conforms to one's wishes, so there is no suffering of not getting what is sought, nor the suffering of poverty; moreover, their bodies are golden in color, upright and majestic like gods, their supernormal powers unobstructed, fragrant breezes brush their alms bowls, and divine delicacies spontaneously fill them, so there is no suffering of the five grasping skandhas. Their eyes gaze upon the glorious radiance of the Buddhas, their ears hear the jewel trees, jewel nets, wind chimes, flowing waters, and heavenly music heard and seen as they please; therefore it is named Sukhāvatī.