無量壽經優婆提舍願生偈註 1.22

1.22

These two lines are called the accomplishment of the adornment of wonderful colour merits. Why did the Buddha originally give rise to this adornment? He saw that there are lands that are superior and inferior, not the same. Because they are not the same, high and low take shape. High and low having taken shape, right and wrong arise. Right and wrong having arisen, beings are long submerged in the three states of existence. For this reason he gave rise to the heart of great compassion and initiated an equal vow: 'May my land have blazing light that is foremost and peerless, not like the golden colours of humans and devas which can be eclipsed.' If they eclipse one another, it is like a bright mirror set beside gold, where its brightness does not show. The gold of today, compared with gold when the Buddha was in the world, does not show. Gold when the Buddha was in the world, compared with Jāmbūnada gold, does not show. Jāmbūnada gold, compared with the golden sands on the path of a Cakravartin King in the great ocean, does not show. Golden sands on the path of a Cakravartin King, compared with golden mountains, do not show. Golden mountains, compared with the gold of Mount Sumeru, do not show. The gold of Mount Sumeru, compared with the gold of the necklaces of the Trāyastriṃśa Devas, does not show. The gold of the necklaces of the Trāyastriṃśa Devas, compared with the gold of the Yāma Devas, does not show. The gold of the Yāma Devas, compared with the gold of the Tuṣita Devas, does not show. The gold of the Tuṣita Devas, compared with the gold of the Nirmāṇarati Devas, does not show. The gold of the Nirmāṇarati Devas, compared with the gold of the Paranirmitavaśavartin Devas, does not show. The gold of the Paranirmitavaśavartin Devas, compared with the radiance in the Land of Peace and Bliss, does not show. Why is this? Because the golden light of that land is completely cut off from being produced by defiled karma, and because its purity is accomplished in every respect. The Pure Land of Peace and Bliss is produced by the pure karma of bodhisattvas who possess the patience of non-arising, is governed by Amitābha Tathāgata, the Dharma King, and has Amitābha Tathāgata as its adhipati-pratyaya. Therefore it is said: 'Stainless light blazes forth, / Pure and bright, illuminating the world.' 'Illuminating the world' means illuminating the two kinds of worlds.