阿彌陀經通贊疏 2.25

2.25

The Commentary says: Second, the ponds adorned with manifold jewels. The text is divided into seven parts: first, the depth of the ponds of the seven jewels; second, their fullness with water of eight virtues; third, golden sand forming the ground; fourth, jade masonry forming the steps; fifth, vermilion pavilions soaring into the air; sixth, jeweled lotuses covering the water; seventh, concluding the establishment of Sukhāvatī. This is the first. 'Furthermore' is explained as before. Regarding the seven jewels: first, gold. Gold has five types, of which the yellow is supreme; buried for a long time it does not perish, smelted a hundred times it does not lose weight, it does not disobey plants, and it is born to the left and right of earth; hence the character for 'gold' (金) depicts the shape of gold inside earth. Second, silver, easily understood. Third, lapis lazuli: in Sanskrit, vaiḍūrya; it has five colors, abbreviated as liúlí. Fourth, crystal: the Zhidu lun says that it comes from mountain caves, formed when ice over a thousand years turns into crystal. The pure realm has no cold or heat, and the land has no ice; how could anything transform into it? It is merely a kind of stone, not actual stone; because it is the Pure Land, it is also called phatiga [sphaṭika]. Fifth, giant clam shell: in Sanskrit, musāragalva, of alternating blue-green and white colors. Sixth, red pearls: the body of the pearl is red. Seventh, agate: in Sanskrit, aśmagarbha, translated here as 'pestle receptacle'. The discernment of the seven jewels below also follows this. Regarding 'ponds': pools and reservoirs. Adorned with jeweled necklaces, masonry lines the ponds and basins, their varied kinds of radiance naturally adorning and manifesting. The Ruiying jing says: the length, breadth, and depth of the ponds are ten yojanas up to hundreds of thousands of yojanas; on the banks of the ponds are sandalwood trees, their flowers and leaves hanging down, their fragrant scent richly perfuming.