釋淨土群疑論 5.8

5.8

問曰：《觀經》之中說「垂終一念十念亦得往生」，《阿彌陀經》說「一日七日一心不亂，方生淨土」，《無量壽經》說「盡形壽一向專念佛，方得往生極樂世界」。若盡形念佛方往生者，即一日七日、一念十念便是虛談；若一念十念等亦得往生，何須復教七日、盡形專行念佛也？

Question: In the Guan jing it is said, 'At the brink of death, one recitation or ten recitations will also secure rebirth in the Pure Land.' The Amitābha Sūtra says, 'For one day to seven days with single-minded unperturbed focus, only then is one born in the pure land.' The Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra says, 'To the end of one's physical life, single-mindedly and exclusively being mindful of the Buddha, only then does one attain rebirth in Sukhāvatī.' If one only attains rebirth by being mindful of the Buddha to the end of one's life, then one day to seven days, or one recitation to ten recitations, would be empty talk. If one recitation or ten recitations and so forth also secure rebirth, why is it necessary to further teach seven days, or practicing mindfulness of the Buddha exclusively to the end of one's life?