觀彌勒上生兜率天經贊 2.192

2.192

Question: Why is seeing the ūrṇā mark of his body inferior to contemplating him from afar? Answer: Seeing the marks of the Buddha's body indeed eradicates much sin; however, practice through contemplating from afar is difficult to generate, whereas veneration upon seeing arises easily. The method of teaching and converting is first to urge what is difficult to practice, and then to urge what is easy to perform. Furthermore, the suffering in the human realm is heavy, so the aspiration is exceedingly deep; the pleasures in heaven are plentiful, so the mind of revulsion is truly shallow. Moreover, as for contemplating from afar, because the duration of a single thought-moment is longer, it is mental contemplation. As for seeing the light, it is momentary; because the time is short and it is visual perception, contemplating from afar eradicates more sin, while seeing the light of the ūrṇā eradicates less sin.