阿彌陀經要解 1.13

1.13

二、引大眾同聞。三：初、聲聞眾；二、菩薩眾；三、天人眾。聲聞最居初者，一、是出世相故；二、是常隨從故；三、佛法賴僧傳故。菩薩眾居中者，一、以相不定故；二、以不常隨故；三、表中道義故。天、人眾列後者，一、是世間相故；二、凡聖品雜故；三、明外護侍從法應爾故。初聲聞眾又三：初、明類標數；二、表位歎德；三、列上首名。今初。

Second, citing the great assembly who heard it together, in three parts: first, the assembly of śrāvakas; second, the assembly of bodhisattvas; third, the assembly of devas and humans. That the śrāvakas are placed first is because: first, they bear the marks of renunciation; second, they are constant attendants; third, the Buddha-Dharma relies on the Saṅgha for transmission. That the assembly of bodhisattvas is placed in the middle is because: first, their forms are not fixed; second, they do not constantly attend [the Buddha]; third, to signify the meaning of the middle way. That the assembly of devas and humans is listed last is because: first, they bear mundane forms; second, ordinary and noble beings are mixed among them; third, to clarify that external protectors and attendants should naturally be so according to the Dharma. In the first part, the assembly of śrāvakas, there are also three: first, clarifying their group and stating their number; second, showing their rank and praising their virtues; third, listing the names of their leaders. First is the former.