阿彌陀經義疏 1.13

1.13

阿彌陀此翻無量，經自釋云：「彼佛光明無量，照十方國無所障礙，是故號為阿彌陀」，此謂無邊量也。又云：「彼佛壽命及其人民無量無邊阿僧祇劫，故名阿彌陀」，此謂無數量也。光表佛智，壽表佛福，以此福智嚴本法身，三德圓備以立嘉號，餘如下文。通題中，梵云修多羅，此翻為線，線能貫攝，即喻教詮，文理連貫包攝群機，訓法訓常義如常說。

"Amitābha" is translated here as "Measureless." The sūtra itself explains: "That Buddha's light is measureless, illuminating the lands of the ten directions without hindrance; therefore he is named Amitābha." This refers to being boundless in extent. It also states: "The lifespan of that Buddha and his people lasts for measureless, boundless asaṃkhyeya kalpas; therefore he is named Amitābha." This refers to being measureless in number. Light represents the Buddha's wisdom; lifespan represents the Buddha's blessings. Using these blessings and wisdom to adorn the original dharmakāya, the three virtues are fully perfected to establish this auspicious name; the rest is as explained below. In the general title, the Sanskrit term is sūtra, translated here as "thread" (xian). A thread is able to string together and hold, which serves as a metaphor for what the teaching expresses: connecting the text and principle, and gathering all capacities. Glossed as "rule" (fa) and glossed as "constant" (chang), its meaning is as commonly explained.