阿彌陀經通贊疏 2.50

2.50

'And' (而) is an auxiliary particle. 'Raining' refers to drifting and falling from empty space. 'Māndārava flowers' is Sanskrit; here it means 'flowers that delight the mind'. With their brilliant purity and extraordinary fragrance, those who smell them and see them find body and mind joyful and pleased, growing in their inclination for the Way. When withered flowers are blown away by the wind, the ground opens to receive them, and fresh flowers rain down anew to adorn the golden ground. The Lotus Sūtra says: 'Fragrant breezes blow away the withered flowers, and fresh, beautiful ones rain down again.' Flowers have four virtues: first, they adorn and purify the land, representing that those born in that land adorn their bodies with wholesome dharmas; second, they bloom to reveal the calyx, representing the true Dharma that surpasses the two vehicles; third, flowers precede the fruit, representing that for those born in that land, cause precedes effect; fourth, their fragrance wafts afar and makes those who smell it rejoice, representing that the virtuous deeds of those born in that realm are fragrant and their names resound throughout the ten directions. Therefore it rains flowers.