阿彌陀經要解 1.33

1.33

有世界名曰極樂者，序依報國土之名也。過去、現在、未來遷流名世，東西、南北、四維、上下方隅為界，既示依報則必竪約三世以辨時劫，橫約十方以定疆隅，故稱世界。言極樂者，梵語須摩提，此翻極樂，亦翻安養亦翻安樂亦翻清泰，乃永離眾苦第一安隱之謂，具如下文廣釋。然佛土有四，各分淨穢，所謂凡聖同居土，五濁重者則穢，五濁輕者則淨。方便有餘土，析空拙度證入者穢，體空巧度證入者淨。實報無障礙土，次第三觀證入者穢，一心三觀證入者淨。常寂光土，分證者穢，究竟滿證者淨。今正指同居淨土，亦即橫具上三淨土也。

'There is a world realm named Sukhāvatī' introduces the name of the realm of circumstantial retribution. The transience of past, present, and future is named 'world' (shì); the cardinal directions—east, west, south, north, the four intermediate directions, above, and below—are named 'boundaries' (jiè). Since circumstantial retribution is shown, it must vertically encompass the three times to distinguish the temporal eons, and horizontally encompass the ten directions to demarcate the boundaries; hence it is called 'world realm'. As for the word 'Sukhāvatī' (Jílè), the Sanskrit is Sukhavatī; here it is translated as 'Utmost Bliss' (Jílè), also translated as 'Peaceful Nurturance' (Ānyǎng), also translated as 'Peace and Bliss' (Ānlè), and also translated as 'Pure and Serene' (Qīngtài). It denotes being forever free from all suffering and possessing the foremost peace and security, as fully explained in the text below. However, Buddha lands are of four kinds, each divided into pure and defiled: as for the Land Where Common Beings and Sages Cohabit, where the five turbidities are heavy it is defiled, and where the five turbidities are light it is pure. In the Land of Expediency with Remainder, for those who enter realization by clumsy crossing through the analysis of emptiness, it is defiled; for those who enter realization by skillful crossing through embodying emptiness, it is pure. In the Land of Real Reward and Unobstructedness, for those who enter realization through the gradual three contemplations, it is defiled; for those who enter realization through the three contemplations in a single mind, it is pure. In the Land of Eternally Quiescent Light, for those with partial realization, it is defiled; for those with ultimate and full realization, it is pure. Here, it specifically points to the pure Land Where Common Beings and Sages Cohabit, which also horizontally encompasses the upper three pure lands.