阿彌陀經疏 1.74

1.74

七判釋文義。今判此經，遵之往古亦為三節，謂序、正、流通。然依《大悲》開五分：一信分，即彼經云：在在處處佛所說法，謂「如是我聞」等。二證分，即彼經云：在在處處大眾所集，謂「與大比丘」也。三緣起分，亦名發起分，即彼經云：隨其因緣，隨其由序也，此經略無。人云：以「爾時佛告舍利弗」下為發起，「彼土何故名為極樂」下為正宗分。今恐不然，但如來初略舉示，次廣分別，此總是正宗，非發起分也。四正說分，即彼經云：隨其名句味種種廣為人說等，即「爾時佛告舍利弗」下是也。五奉持分，即彼經云：佛說經已大眾歡喜頂戴奉持故，即「佛說是經已」是也。然諸經論中初之二分並為證經非謬，開合無在。

Seventh, determining and explaining the meaning of the text. In now determining this sūtra, following the ancients, it is also divided into three sections, namely: preface, main body, and dissemination. However, relying on the *Dabei [jing]*, five divisions are opened: First, the division of faith: that sūtra states, 'wherever the Dharma is preached by the Buddha,' referring to 'Thus have I heard' and so on. Second, the division of verification: that sūtra states, 'wherever the great assembly gathers,' referring to 'together with the great bhikṣus'. Third, the division of origins, also called the division of initiation: that sūtra states, 'according to its causes and conditions, according to its opening occasions,' which this sūtra briefly omits. Some say: from 'At that time the Buddha addressed Śāriputra' onward is the initiation, and from 'Why is that land called Sukhāvatī?' onward is the main doctrinal division. Now I fear this is not so; the Tathāgata merely first raises and indicates it briefly, and then distinguishes it extensively—all of this together is the main body, not the initiation division. Fourth, the division of the main exposition: that sūtra states, 'according to its names, phrases, and syllables, extensively preaching for people in various ways,' which is from 'At that time the Buddha addressed Śāriputra' onward. Fifth, the division of upholding: that sūtra states, 'after the Buddha preached the sūtra, the great assembly rejoiced, crowned their heads with it, and upheld it,' which is from 'When the Buddha finished speaking this sūtra' onward. However, across various sūtras and treatises, the first two divisions both serve to verify that the sūtra is not erroneous; opening or combining them makes no difference.