[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [淨名玄論](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1780) › 8.7 # 淨名玄論 8.7 淨名玄論 8.7 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [8.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1780.8.7) 問：初章經文凡有四句，一云「隨所化眾生而取佛土」，次云「隨所調伏眾生而取佛土」，次云「隨以何國起菩薩根而取佛土」，次「隨以何國而入佛智慧而取佛土」。四文何異？請為論之。答：此四句文並明取土之意，但前二句總明為物取土，後二句別明為物取土。何以知之？初直云「隨所化眾生隨所調伏」，故知是總。後文別明起菩薩根入佛智慧，故知是別為物也。問：云何總別？答：總為物者，通為五乘眾生，令其生善滅惡。「隨所化眾生而取佛土」，謂化令生善。「隨所調伏眾生而取佛土」，調令滅惡。所以諸佛淨土中徒眾不同，或具五乘眾、或但人天眾、或唯有聲聞眾、或但求緣覺眾、或但菩薩眾，具如經說。 > Question: The opening section of the sūtra text has four clauses: first, it says 'in accordance with the sentient beings whom he transforms, he takes a Buddha-land'; next, it says 'in accordance with the sentient beings whom he disciplines, he takes a Buddha-land'; next, it says 'in accordance with what land is needed to generate the roots of a bodhisattva, he takes a Buddha-land'; next, 'in accordance with what land is needed to enter the Buddha's wisdom, he takes a Buddha-land'. How do these four passages differ? Please discuss them. Answer: All four clauses of this text clarify the meaning of taking a land, but the first two clauses generally clarify taking a land for the sake of beings, while the latter two clauses specifically clarify taking a land for the sake of beings. How is this known? The beginning simply says 'in accordance with the sentient beings transformed and in accordance with those disciplined', so we know it is general. The later text specifically clarifies generating the roots of a bodhisattva and entering the Buddha's wisdom, so we know it is specifically for beings. Question: How are the general and the specific \[distinguished\]? Answer: That which is generally for beings applies universally to sentient beings of the five vehicles, causing them to generate good and extinguish evil. 'In accordance with the sentient beings whom he transforms, he takes a Buddha-land' means transforming them so as to cause them to generate good. 'In accordance with the sentient beings whom he disciplines, he takes a Buddha-land' means disciplining them so as to cause them to extinguish evil. Therefore, the assemblies in the pure lands of the Buddhas differ: some are complete with the assemblies of the five vehicles; some have only assemblies of humans and devas; some have only an assembly of śrāvakas; some have only an assembly seeking pratyekabuddhahood; and some have only an assembly of bodhisattvas, fully as stated in the sūtras. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 8.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1780.8.6) - [Next: 8.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1780.8.8) - [Up: 8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1780.8) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1780~en-mt.8.7) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1780.8.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1780.8.7) · Pramāṇa