釋淨土群疑論 4.29

4.29

Explanation: This meaning is not uniform and cannot be treated under a single rule. Those who experience suffering do so because they are born in an impure land; even if they attain sagehood, their body is a body of suffering, and by taking this body of suffering, they experience this fruit of suffering. An ordinary person possessing delusions who is born in that pure land, although lacking the holy path and inferior to the sages, possesses the superior pure body of Sukhāvatī. Seeing the Buddha, hearing the Dharma, and practicing the Mahāyāna, by the power of the Buddha's original vow, they can surpass such sages and not experience the retribution of suffering. This is just like the lineage capable of falling back (parihāṇadharman) being inferior to the lineage of contemplation (cetana-dharman); yet when one of the superior lineage of contemplation is born among humans, where all five conditions for falling back are fully present, although superior, they fall back. When one of the lineage capable of falling back is born among the devas, where the five conditions for falling back are lacking, although inferior, they do not fall back. One does not fall back because an inferior nature is on high, nor does one not fall back because a superior nature is below. This is also like that: although one has attained the holy path, because of being born in an impure land, one experiences the fruit of suffering; because of being born in a pure land, although one is an ordinary person, there is no evil retribution. Supported by the power of good conditions, one will certainly not experience the retribution of suffering, just as King Ajātaśatru will certainly not experience suffering.