樂邦遺稿 1.11

1.11

大論又云「淨土風吹七寶之樹而出聲者，欲使眾生易聞法故。」問曰：諸佛有無量神通，何以不變作，何須樹木音聲耶？答：眾生甚多，若佛處處現身，眾生不信，謂為幻化，心不敬重。有眾生從人聞法不悟，若從畜生聞法則信受，以希有故。又畜生心直不誑故。有人謂：畜生是有情之物，皆有欺誑。以樹木無心而有音聲，則皆信受（論文九十三卷）。

The Great Treatise also says: "The wind in the Pure Land blowing upon the trees of seven jewels and producing sounds is intended to make it easy for sentient beings to hear the Dharma." Question: The Buddhas possess immeasurable supernormal powers; why do they not transform themselves [to speak], and what need is there for the sounds of trees? Answer: Sentient beings are extremely numerous. If the Buddha were to manifest his body everywhere, sentient beings would not believe, thinking it an illusion, and their minds would not be respectful. There are sentient beings who, hearing the Dharma from humans, do not awaken, yet if they hear the Dharma from beasts, they believe and accept it, because it is rare. Furthermore, the minds of beasts are straightforward and not deceitful. Some people might say: beasts are sentient beings, and all have deceit. Since trees have no mind and yet possess sounds, they all believe and accept them (Treatise text, fascicle 93).