觀彌勒上生兜率天經贊 2.25

2.25

The Commentary says: Above, the planting of causes and generating of vows were explained; from here down is the second part, explaining the fruit of the devas' vows. Within this there are two parts: first, explaining the ten tiers of adornment; second, from 'At that time, amidst the musical sounds' downward, reiterating the previous adornments. The ten tiers of adornments are: 1. palaces, 2. gardens, 3. jewels, 4. lights, 5. flowers, 6. trees, 7. colours, 8. gold, 9. heavenly maidens, 10. music. This is the first. Since there are bodhisattvas of the ten grounds surrounding him, and there are also ordinary beings of the ten wholesome [courses of action] reborn there, and furthermore it is manifested by the predominance of the bodhisattva's ten powers, the palaces have ten tiers. Therefore the sūtra below says, 'the bodhisattva's power of merit and the retribution of the ten wholesome [courses of action]'. 'Palace' refers to the Dharma garden; because the true wisdom of the first ground attains the gold of empty tranquility, it is newly attained for the first time. Because the five faculties are cultivated internally, those that are moved, such as the palaces, are all stated as 'five hundred'.