樂邦遺稿 1.9

1.9

《大智度論》云「佛出五濁惡世，於一乘道分為三乘。」若爾，阿彌陀佛不於五濁惡世受生，何以復設三乘耶？答：諸佛初發心時，見諸佛以三乘度生，自發願云：「我今亦當以三乘法度生。」

The Dazhidulun says: "The Buddha appears in the evil world of the five defilements, and divides the path of the One Vehicle into the three vehicles." If so, since Amitābha Buddha was not born in the evil world of the five defilements, why does he also establish the three vehicles? The answer: When all Buddhas first generate the mind [for awakening], seeing that all Buddhas deliver sentient beings by means of the three vehicles, they personally make the vow: "I too will now deliver sentient beings by means of the Dharma of the three vehicles."