阿彌陀經疏 1.2

1.2

I have heard that the jewel of the Three Jewels has its principle transcending the confines of signs and forms, and the vehicle of the three vehicles has its phenomena touching upon the traces of names and words. Fundamentally, the principle of true reality is equal and empty in nature, yet in responding to capacities the gates of the provisional and the real are opened, and in receiving ordinary beings lands both pure and defiled are displayed. Those who recognise the path find speech and silence to be of one accord; those who are confused about the direction find principle and phenomena to be as distant as heaven and earth. Thus, Śāriputra, due to his encumbrance by notions of high and low, looked upon a mirror-smooth ground and saw hills and mounds, while Brahmā, because both self and other were forgotten, looked upon a stony field and beheld precious gems. From this we know: as for the purity of the pure land, an upright resolve opens the gate to Sukhāvatī; as for the defilement of a defiled land, mental defilements stir up a realm of unadulterated suffering. Truly, because beings cherish taking and abandoning, pointing to a hanging drum makes it something to be rejoiced in, and because people vie over right and wrong, denouncing an impure vessel makes it something to be loathed. Therefore, if one rouses sincerity in the ten recitations, one will ascend high into the sun palace; if one earnestly cultivates the three practices, one will soon mount the lotus seat.