阿彌陀經通贊疏 1.48

1.48

The Praise says: The fifth [point] is the capacities that are addressed. This is distinguished through four gates: first, revealing the purpose of their arrival; second, showing the provisional and the real; third, determining the number; fourth, explaining the order. The purpose of their arrival has two aspects: first, designating the audience to testify to faith, which helps Ānanda confirm that the Dharma heard is credible, for the assembly had three doubts, which are now shown to be dispelled through their joint hearing; second, testifying to the virtues of the sūtra, just as Śakra, Lord of the Devas, is surrounded by the devas, and the Great Brahmā King is surrounded by the Brahmā retinue, now it is shown that the Dharma King is surrounded by the noble ones. Second, showing the provisional and the real. As the *Buddhabhūmi-śāstra* says: In the defiled land of a transformation Buddha, the śrāvakas and others are real, while the bodhisattvas are provisional; in the pure land of a reward Buddha, the bodhisattvas are real, while the śrāvakas and others are provisional. Since this is a defiled land, the bodhisattvas are provisional. Third, determining the number. Initially there are five assemblies: first, the assembly eminent in the practice of the Path; second, the assembly whose compassionate mind is vast; third, the assembly of devas who delight in the Dharma; fourth, the assembly of humans of the desire realm; fifth, the assembly of the non-deva asuras. Three assemblies are listed here, and two assemblies are set forth later.