中天竺舍衛國祇洹寺圖經 2.6

2.6

The various meritorious features narrated from above on down are all accomplished through the pure karma of the Buddhas, benefiting and appearing in accordance with capacities to guide through diverse transformations; how could all the pure lands ever be fully described? Even if one exhausted one's thoughts to search them out, one would ultimately be constrained by days and months. Therefore, according with what has been seen and heard, I have briefly related three to five parts; the features of the other courtyards follow the same model, and are thus preserved here though much is omitted. I have heard that among the traces left by celestial beings, the third son of the Heavenly King of the South, named Zhang Yu, compiled an Illustrated Scripture on the Jetavana in one hundred fascicles, which possesses an overarching synthesis in heaven, whereas what is produced here is merely an outline. If lazy students see it, they will still call it voluminous; such persons are unfit to synthesize the great scope. A celestial being said: 'The sixteenth son of the Lord of Heaven of the North composed a Record of the Vihāra in over five hundred fascicles, which is also in that heaven.' Thus we know that the Buddhas' establishment of transformations deeply has its cause: their appearance has already turned away from the secular, and they dwell in distinct states and towns. Therefore they separately establish monasteries and halls to astonish the residences of ordinary people; they manifest wondrous images and statues to stir the perceptions of mundane minds. This causes people, upon hearing of them, to bow in respect and recognize the path of refuge and faith; upon beholding them, to shed worldly attachments and understand that this crossing contains wonders.