阿彌陀經要解 1.12

1.12

如是標信順，我聞標師承，一時標機感，佛標教主，舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園標說經處也。如是者，實相妙理古今不變名如，依實相理念佛求生淨土決定無非曰是。我聞者阿難，了知實相之理，非我非無我，不壞假名故仍稱我。耳根發耳識親聆圓音，如空印空故名為聞。一時者，時無實法，特以師資道合終竟一會說聽周足，故名一時。佛者自覺、覺他、覺行圓滿，人、天大師故名為佛。舍衛此云聞物，中印度大國之名，波斯匿王所都也。祇樹給孤獨園者，匿王太子名為祇陀，此云戰勝。匿王大臣名須達多長者，此翻給孤獨，給孤長者布金買園，供佛及僧，餘有少地未布，祇陀感歎，不復取價施此少地，故並存二名也。

"Thus" indicates faith and compliance; "have I heard" indicates master-to-disciple transmission; "at one time" indicates the responsiveness of the capacities; "the Buddha" indicates the teacher; "in Śrāvastī, in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍada's Park" indicates the place where the sūtra was preached. As for "thus" (ru): the marvelous principle of dharmatā is changeless through past and present, hence it is called "thus"; relying on the principle of dharmatā to practice buddhānusmṛti and seek rebirth in the Pure Land is definitely not wrong, hence it is called "is" (shi). As for "have I heard": Ānanda clearly realized the principle of dharmatā as neither self nor non-self, yet without destroying conventional designations, he still said "I"; the ear faculty produced auditory consciousness and directly heard the perfect voice, like space imprinting space, hence it is called "heard". As for "at one time": time is not an actual entity; it is merely that when the paths of master and disciple united, bringing a single assembly of preaching and listening to full completion, it was therefore called "at one time". As for "the Buddha": self-enlightened, enlightening others, and complete in enlightened conduct, the great teacher of humans and devas, hence called "Buddha". Śrāvastī is translated here as "abundant hearing" [or "famous things"]; it is the name of a great country in Central India, the capital of King Prasenajit. As for "Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍada's Park": King Prasenajit's crown prince was named Jeta, which translates as "victorious in battle". King Prasenajit's minister was named Elder Sudatta, which is translated as "bestower to the destitute". The elder Anāthapiṇḍada spread gold to purchase the park to offer to the Buddha and the Saṅgha; a small amount of ground remained uncovered, and Jeta, moved with admiration, would not take the payment and gave this small parcel of ground; thus both names are preserved together.