阿彌陀經疏 1.227

1.227

答：「《大論》云：佛同人間相法故也，謂舒舌至鼻者必不虛語，況覆三千得無實也。然如來為證小事但舒舌覆面或至髮際，若證大事即舒舌覆大千。今微因著果，恐人不信捨苦輪之要躅、登涅槃之莊逕，其事不輕、其證須大，故覆三千大千世界也。」當信是稱讚等者，稱即述其德，讚即光其美，心慮所不測名曰不可思，言談所不及名曰不可議。諸行雖積靡方念佛之功，諸德雖多難儔此經之德，故使恒沙諸佛護持而不滅、記憶以在心，故言稱讚不可思議功德一切諸佛所護念經。南西北方上下同前說也。須彌者此云最高也，其山高十六萬八千由旬，半在海中。

Answer: “The *Great Treatise* says: It is because the Buddha conforms to the physiognomic conventions of the human realm. That is, one whose extended tongue reaches his nose will certainly not speak falsely; how much more so when it covers the trichiliocosm—could it fail to be true? However, when the Tathāgata verifies a minor matter, he merely extends his tongue to cover his face or reach his hairline; if he verifies a great matter, he extends his tongue to cover the great chiliocosm. Now, a subtle cause attains a prominent fruit; fearing that people will not believe, casting aside the essential path away from the wheel of suffering and failing to ascend the grand avenue to nirvāṇa—the matter is not light, and its verification must be great; therefore it covers the trichiliocosm.” 'Should believe this praise', etc.: 'naming' means recounting their virtues, 'praising' means illuminating their beauty; that which mental reflection cannot measure is called 'inconceivable', and that which words and speech cannot reach is called 'inexpressible'. Although practices may accumulate, none compare to the efficacy of mindfulness of the Buddha; although virtues may be many, they are difficult to match with the virtue of this sūtra. Therefore, it causes Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges to protect it so it does not perish, and to remember it and keep it in mind; hence it is called *The Sūtra Praising the Inconceivable Merit and Protected and Kept in Mind by All Buddhas*. South, west, north, above, and below are the same as explained before. 'Meru' is translated here as 'highest'; that mountain is one hundred sixty-eight thousand yojanas high, half of it standing within the ocean.