四分律行事鈔資持記 3.871

3.871

Under 'Exhortation and Guidance': In the first section, it first clarifies assessing one's capacity. 'The strength or weakness of the illness' means observing whether one is robust or bedridden. 'The sharpness or dullness of the mind' means whether the intellect is bright or dim. 'The coarseness or fineness of karma' means that coarse karma is like managing merits, while fine karma is like meditation, lecturing, and so forth. 'The inclinations of acceptance and rejection' means the differences in what one delights in, such as the Western [Pure Land] or Tuṣita below. In these four observations, the meaning is exhaustive; one should employ expedient means according to suitability and decide for oneself when facing the situation. 'Or...' below next clarifies expounding the Dharma: first, causing them to focus on the Buddha. Either teach them to recite the name, or cause them to contemplate the physical marks; or praise the virtues, causing them to generate joy. 'Or the body...' below next reveals contemplation of the mind: namely, the three contemplations of nature-emptiness, characteristic-emptiness, and consciousness-only. 'Arriving at the place of the mirage' illustrates characteristic-emptiness; it means being like a thirsty deer pursuing a mirage: seen from afar it resembles water, but arriving there, fundamentally there is none. 'Each...' below finally reveals following conditions, because it need not be strictly as above.