起信論疏筆削記 20.31

20.31

Now, the commentary's reference to the 'three positions' speaks only with respect to the first six grades among the nine grades: the first position is the people of the middle three grades; the second position is the people of the highest of the lower grade; the third position is the people of the highest of the middle and highest of the highest grades. Because this categorizes and differentiates the meaning of non-retrogression, it is classified thus. 'Lacking conditions for regression' means that their lifespan there is long, and moreover there are no women, no three evil destinies, no cold or heat, no hunger or thirst, no enemies or kin, and no old age or sickness; whatever they desire accords with their minds; they are constantly companions to śrāvakas, great bodhisattvas, and the like; they constantly see the Buddha and hear the Dharma; the waters, birds, and groves all expound suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and non-self, and mindfulness of the Buddha and mindfulness of the Dharma. As a result, wholesome karmas naturally increase, and afflictive toils are eliminated of their own accord, straight through to bodhi without any further regression. Therefore the Amitābha-sūtra states: 'If there are people who have already vowed, are now vowing, or will vow, wishing to be born in the Buddha land of Amitābha, they all attain non-retrogression from anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi.' Compared to cultivating in this defiled land, there is a gulf as vast as heaven and earth, just as when two people journey together to a destination ahead: one walks on foot, while the other rides in a conveyance; the difficulty and ease of these two people can be clearly seen. The graded differences in cultivation between those two spheres are also like this.