釋淨土群疑論 1.40

1.40

釋曰：體既是淨，得現穢相，何妨體是其穢而得現其淨相，故一心之上有種種淨穢等相。心有多功，能現眾多相。又由以本願與眾生，令為現淨土。眾生宿於佛所有生大願，深厭穢心、修清淨行，詫彼如來淨土相上，雖是有漏而能現彼清淨佛土。還如世尊所現無漏清淨佛土，此由他力為增上緣，令此有漏之心現其淨土相也。又佛有大神力，能令上人見穢不見淨。如眾香世界九百萬菩薩來此娑婆，唯見穢國不見淨土；或能令下人見淨不見穢，如以足指按地令舍利弗等見三千世界純是珍寶莊嚴；或令淨穢俱見，如寶蓋之中現十方淨土及此穢國也。今此得生淨土者，蓋是諸佛之力，不可以凡夫之智測量大聖作此疑難，但須依教修行也。

I explain: Since a substance that is pure can manifest impure characteristics, what prevents a substance that is impure from manifesting pure characteristics? Therefore, upon a single mind there are various characteristics of pure, impure, and so forth. The mind has manifold functions and can manifest numerous characteristics. Furthermore, it is because [the Buddha] bestows his fundamental vows upon sentient beings, causing them to manifest a pure land. When sentient beings have in the past formed great vows before the Buddha, deeply reviling their impure minds and cultivating pure practices, they rely upon those pure land characteristics of the Tathāgata, and so, although having outflows, they can manifest that pure buddha-land. It is just like the outflow-free, pure buddha-land manifested by the World-Honoured One: this is because other-power serves as the predominant condition (adhipati-pratyaya), causing this mind with outflows to manifest its pure land characteristics. Moreover, the Buddha possesses great supernormal power and can cause superior people to see impurity and not see purity—just as the nine million bodhisattvas from the Sarvagandhasugandha world who came to this Sahā world saw only an impure land and did not see a pure land; or he can cause inferior people to see purity and not see impurity—just as by pressing the earth with his toe he caused Śāriputra and others to see the three-thousandfold world purely adorned with precious jewels; or he can cause them to see both pure and impure—just as within the jeweled canopy the pure lands of the ten directions and this impure realm were manifested. Rebirth in the Pure Land at present is entirely due to the power of the Buddhas. One must not measure the Great Sage with the intellect of a pṛthagjana to formulate such doubts and objections; one must simply cultivate practice according to the teachings.