釋淨土群疑論 7.5

7.5

The explanation says: Each has its own intention, and what they base themselves on is different, so they do not contradict each other. What the Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra calls "small" refers to quantity being small. What the Amitābha Sūtra calls "great" refers to function. That person solely contemplates Amitābha and does not cultivate the other six pāramitās and the factors of the Path, nor difficult and painful practices over long times and kalpas; having only the merit of buddhānusmṛti and lacking the merit of other cultivation of the Path, it is called "small". This contemplation of Amitābha, from a single utterance upwards, is immeasurable, boundless, and extraordinary merit, so it is called "great". Therefore, the lower fascicle of the Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra says: "All the Tathāgatas, buddhas of the ten directions as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, together praise the inconceivable majesty and merit of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life. If living beings hear his name, rejoice with faithful mind, and even down to a single thought, they will immediately attain rebirth and abide in non-retrogression." It also says: "If there are those who hear that buddha's name, leap with joy, and even down to a single thought, you should know that this person attains great benefit, which means being fully endowed with supreme merit." The Sūtra Praising the Pure Land says: "Hearing such a name endowed with the immeasurable, boundless, and inconceivable merit of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life." By these sūtra passages we know by verification that it is indeed great merit. Therefore, considered in terms of quantity and in terms of function, the names "small" and "great" do not contradict each other. It is like a single maṇi jewel, which is called both "small" and "great". It is called "small" because this jewel is only one and its size is not large; foolish people, not discerning it, take it to be small and thus belittle it and do not take it. It is also called "great" because the value of this single precious jewel surpasses a trichiliocosm; those who recognize it value it, so it is called "great". Buddhānusmṛti is also like this: the names "great" and "small" are based on different meanings.