淨名玄論 8.24

8.24

As for the bodhisattvas obtaining a pure land through retribution, sentient beings of evil karma perceive defilement in the pure. Question: The bodhisattva's pure retribution naturally perceives a pure land; the sentient beings' impure karma naturally perceives the sentient beings' impure land. How is it that they perceive impurity in the bodhisattva's retribution? Answer: If we speak of the two retributions being distinct such that sentient beings do not see it, we are not discussing that now; we are only considering sentient beings seeing the bodhisattva's pure land and taking it to be a defiled land. As the sūtra says: 'This land of mine is pure, yet you do not see it.' It is like water that is the retribution for humans, which hungry ghosts see as fire. Question: Due to their evil karma, ghosts see fire in water and do not see water, while humans see water and do not see fire. Can it be said that Buddhas and bodhisattvas see the pure land and do not see defilement, while ordinary beings and the two vehicles see the defiled land and do not see the pure? Answer: Speaking from principle, it should indeed be so. But the superior can encompass the inferior; therefore, the Buddhas and bodhisattvas see the pure, yet in accord with sentient beings they also see the defiled. As the Avataṃsaka Sūtra's 'Dharmadhātu Chapter' says: 'Devas can see humans, and also see devas. Humans only see humans, and cannot see devas.' Bodhisattvas of themselves perceive an inconceivable sphere, and also perceive the inversion of the practices of the two vehicles. Question: If so, ghosts only see the fire of ghosts and do not see human water; should humans see human water and also see ghost fire? Answer: Seeing water become fire—this distinguishes evil karma. Erroneously seeing fire in water—humans lack this karma, and therefore do not see it. Question: If so, the two vehicles, due to evil karma, erroneously see impurity in the bodhisattva's sphere; should the bodhisattvas not see its impurity? Answer: Because the Buddhas and bodhisattvas possess cognition that accords with inversion, the divine eye, and knowledge of others' minds, they are able to know and see it. Therefore the Avataṃsaka Sūtra says: 'In order to comply with sentient beings, they universally enter all worlds. Their wisdom is constantly quiescent, not like what the worldly see.' Humans lack this ability; therefore they only see human water and do not see ghosts making fire upon the water. All the above are merely relying on phenomena to clarify the matter.