注維摩詰經 1.356

1.356

[Kumāra]jīva says: From here below, two sections list the three causes to explain the meaning of 'are it'. The Sanskrit text says 'in accordance with how many sentient beings he transforms', which seems to mean that according to the number of people transformed, the land has magnitude. Commentators say it means in accordance with whatever Dharma transforms sentient beings—whether giving or morality, etc.—each comes to be born in that land in accordance with what they practiced, and also in accordance with the depth or shallowness of the three causes to constitute the differences in adornment and purity. If the cause is observing morality, then the ground is flat and even; if the cause is practicing giving, then the seven precious jewels are fully provided. Briefly mentioning these two dharmas, the rest are analogous to this. [Seng]zhao says: Below this explains why sentient beings are the buddha-land. The buddha-land is simply the shadow and echo of sentient beings. When a form is tall its shadow is long, and when a form is short its shadow is brief; how could the sun and moon make it so? It is the form's natural doing. Thus, according to the number of sentient beings transformed, he acquires the breadth or narrowness of the buddha-land. For this reason, a buddha-land may take the four continents, or the three-thousandfold [great thousandworld], or the sands of the Ganges as one land. [Dao]sheng says: A land is the bounded territory of sentient beings; the absence of defilement within it is called 'pure'. The absence of defilement is non-being; bounded territory is being. Being arises from delusion; non-being arises from understanding. If that understanding is achieved, then that delusion is exhausted. Initial understanding is the bodhisattva's original transformation naturally responding; final completion enables them to be governed once achieved. The land has traces belonging to the Buddha; proceeding from the fundamental basis it accords with those who are transformed, which in meaning is acquiring their land. Since it says 'acquiring that', it does not mean self-manufacturing; if he manufactured it himself, there would be nothing to govern. Without sentient beings, what would be brought to fruition?