阿彌陀經疏 1.74

1.74

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.