釋淨土群疑論 1.28

1.28

釋曰：前言是其有漏非是三界，已廣成立。此但失名而不失體，斯有何過更復重徵？雖知造業之時此業是於欲色二界有漏善心，有漏善心所感之報即是淨土之形，不名欲色界攝。而此業報以果攝因，不得名為欲色界業，但得名為淨土之業。若言是欲色界身起欲色界心而造於業者，寧容不是欲色業者？欲界之業所感人天受報，極長不過萬六千歲；若感淨土，遂得壽命無量無邊阿僧祇劫，豈欲界業能感彼命無量阿僧祇劫耶？斯亦乘阿彌陀佛不可思議弘誓願力，令其業力感報極長，非是凡夫所測度。經文顯然，不可不信。大乘道理意趣難知，諸佛境界非凡所測，但知仰信專誠修學，不可一一依諸法相楷定是非，論是三界、非三界也。

Explanation: The earlier statement that it is contaminated yet not of the three realms has already been extensively established. This merely loses the name without losing the substance; what error is there in this that you question it yet again? Although we know that at the time of creating karma, this karma is a contaminated wholesome mind of the desire and form realms, the retribution karmically produced by this contaminated wholesome mind is the form of the Pure Land, and is not called being subsumed under the desire and form realms. And since this karmic retribution subsumes the cause within the fruit, it cannot be called karma of the desire and form realms; it can only be called the karma of the Pure Land. If you say that a body of the desire or form realm gives rise to a mind of the desire or form realm and creates karma, how could it not be desire or form karma? The retribution of humans and devas produced by desire-realm karma lasts at most no more than sixteen thousand years; yet if it produces the Pure Land, one thereupon attains a lifespan of immeasurable, boundless asaṃkhyeya kalpas. How could desire-realm karma produce a life of immeasurable asaṃkhyeya kalpas? This is also by relying on the inconceivable power of Amitābha Buddha's great vows, which causes that karmic power to produce an exceedingly long retribution, beyond the reckoning of pṛthagjanas. The scriptural texts are clear and cannot but be believed. The principles and purports of the Mahāyāna are difficult to understand; the realm of the Buddhas is beyond the conjecture of ordinary beings. One need only have reverent faith and devote oneself sincerely to cultivation and learning; one must not strictly define right and wrong based on individual dharmalakṣaṇas, debating whether it is the three realms or not the three realms.