釋淨土群疑論 2.19

2.19

Explanation: Among the five destinies, all are able to cultivate pure karma for the West and attain rebirth in Sukhāvatī. According to [the fact that] all the devas could come to listen to the Guan jing, the lower fascicle of the Guan jing states: 'Immeasurable devas, nāgas, and yakṣas, hearing what the Buddha expounded, all rejoiced greatly'; and the Listing of the Assembly in the Chengzan jingtu jing states: 'Immeasurable devas, asuras, and so forth, all came to listen to the Dharma in order to hear the teaching.' Hence we know that all who wish and vow to be reborn in the pure land are able to practice pure karma and attain rebirth in the West. Moreover, according to what is expounded in the fourth fascicle of the Bodhisattva Garbhastha Sūtra: 'A miraculously born nāga held the eightfold precepts, and a garuḍa wished to devour it but could not. The garuḍa asked about its method, and the nāga expounded the method of the eightfold precepts for it. The garuḍa followed the nāga to the palace of the ocean nāga king, where the nāga prince again spoke verses to the garuḍa. At that time, the nāga prince and nāga maiden had their minds opened and attained understanding, and after their lifespans ended they were all to be reborn in the land of Amitābha Buddha.' Furthermore, according to what is expounded in the Scripture on Rebirth in Accordance with One's Vow: 'If one donates the deceased person's bodily adornments, halls, dwellings, parks, and bathing ponds to the Three Jewels, this blessing is supreme and its power of merit is strong, able to eradicate the calamities of hell for that person. Through these causes and conditions, they immediately attain release from the distress of grief and suffering, attain eternal liberation, and are reborn in the pure lands of the buddhas of the ten directions.' By this we can infer and know that sentient beings of all five destinies can attain rebirth in the land of Sukhāvatī.