淨名玄論 8.13

8.13

Next, clarifying the reward land: if one speaks with reference to the real practices of the three worthies and ten sages in the causal stage, this is a reward land. Because they have not yet escaped the retribution inside and outside the three realms, they must have a dwelling place. The dwelling place is the real reward of a bodhisattva, and is therefore called a reward land. By means of this bodhisattva reward land, they further transform beings, who are born together with the bodhisattva within it. Based on the evocation of sentient beings, the bodhisattva's land is also called a reward land. This very reward land, when it is appropriate for sentient beings to see it, is manifested for them by the bodhisattva; therefore the reward land is also called manifested. It is a reward with respect to the bodhisattva, and manifested with respect to sentient beings. Question: If so, what is the difference between reward and manifestation? Answer: It precisely accommodates all the aforementioned meanings and cannot be sharply and distinctly separated. Our master often said: 'The reward manifested land, the manifested reward land; sentient beings' Buddha-land, the Buddha's sentient-being-land; the Buddha's bodhisattva-land, the bodhisattva's Buddha-land—inferior persons, hearing this, immediately burst into laughter.' Now, fearing that those who fail to reach it are many, I do not elaborate this explanation. These words precisely accord with the purport of the sūtra. Question: Is there now any difference in meaning between reward and manifestation? Answer: If one preliminarily wishes to show their different characteristics, a manifested land is temporary, whereas a reward land is long-lasting. As in this sūtra, when [the Buddha] pressed the earth with his foot, the display ceased after a short time; a reward land, based on what sentient beings jointly invite through karmic retribution, is experienced and enjoyed for a long period. This is their difference. Furthermore, as with a defiled land: it is evoked by the evil karma of sentient beings, and is therefore called a reward; it is not manifested by the Buddha, and so it is not a manifestation. But the Buddha enters the defiled land to transform beings, taking up residence within sentient beings' reward land; therefore this reward is called a Buddha-land. Question: Is this defiled land of sentient beings' evil karma the Buddha's manifested land or not? Answer: Because the Buddha manifests his dwelling within it, it is called a Buddha-land, and may also be called the Buddha's manifested land. Therefore the text below says: 'In order to deliver these inferior people, he merely displays this land of various defilements, evils, and impurities.' Examining the purport of these words, originally Śāriputra and his peers did not rely on the Buddha's wisdom, which is why it says they saw impurity. This is a land evoked by evil karma, just as hungry ghosts evoke iron pellets due to evil karma; it is not the Buddha's manifestation, but because the Buddha manifests his dwelling within it, it is said to be displayed.