釋淨土群疑論 2.35

2.35

釋曰：有三聖教，證已得生。以教驗人，即為證矣。一、如《稱讚淨土經》云「於此雜染堪忍世界五濁惡時，若有淨信諸善男子又善女人，聞說如是一切世間難信法，能生信解、受持演說、如教修行，當知是人甚為希有，無量佛所曾種善根，是人命終定生西方極樂世界。」二、如《清淨平等覺經》云「若人聞說淨土教門，身毛為竪如拔出者，我說此人定得解脫也。」三、如《賢護經》第一卷說「眾生學得諸佛現前三昧，聞彼阿彌陀如來應供等正覺名號，而能繫心相續思惟，次第不亂，分明覩彼阿彌陀佛，是為菩薩思惟具足成就諸佛現前三昧。因此三昧得見佛故，遂請問彼阿彌陀佛言：『世尊！諸菩薩等成就何法，而得生此佛剎中耶？』爾時阿彌陀佛語是菩薩言：『若人發心求生此者，常當繫心正念相續，阿彌陀佛國便得生也。』」行者等自親於此三經，隨與一經相應，即知得生淨土也。

I explain: There are three scriptural teachings that confirm that rebirth has already been attained. Testing a person against these teachings serves as proof. First, as the Chengzan jingtu jing says: 'In this defiled Sahā world, during the evil age of the five turbidities, if there are good men or good women of pure faith who, upon hearing such a Dharma that is difficult to believe in all worlds, are able to give rise to faithful understanding, accept, uphold, explain, and practice it as taught, you should know that this person is extremely rare, having planted good roots in the presence of immeasurable Buddhas; this person, at the end of life, will definitely be reborn in the Western Sukhāvatī.' Second, as the Qingjing pingdeng jue jing says: 'If a person hears the teaching of the pure land and the hairs of their body stand on end as if being plucked out, I say that this person is certain to attain liberation.' Third, as the first fascicle of the Xianhu jing says: 'When sentient beings learn and attain the samādhi of the presence of all Buddhas, and hearing the name of that Amitābha Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, are able to fasten their minds and contemplate continuously in uninterrupted succession, clearly beholding that Amitābha Buddha, this is the bodhisattva's complete contemplation and fulfillment of the samādhi of the presence of all Buddhas. Because of seeing the Buddha through this samādhi, they thereupon ask that Amitābha Buddha: "World-Honoured One! What Dharma do bodhisattvas accomplish so as to attain rebirth in this Buddha-kṣetra?" At that time, Amitābha Buddha said to this bodhisattva: "If a person arouses the mind to seek rebirth here, they should constantly fasten their mind in uninterrupted right mindfulness, and they will immediately attain rebirth in Amitābha Buddha's land."' When practitioners themselves personally correspond with any one of these three sūtras, they know that they will attain rebirth in the pure land.