龍舒增廣淨土文 1.197

1.197

或者疑之云：人此間念佛，西方七寶池中如何便生蓮華一朵？予告云：此不難知也。譬如大明鏡，凡有物來便現其影，鏡何甞容心哉？以其明而自然耳。阿彌陀佛國中清淨明潔，自然照見十方世界，猶如明鏡覩其面像。是故此間念佛，西方七寶池自然生蓮華一朵，無足疑也。或者又疑之云：念往生真言者，阿彌陀佛常住其頂衛護其人。若無量世界有無量眾生念此真言，阿彌陀佛豈能一一遍住其頂乎？曰：亦自然耳。譬如天上一月，普現一切水中，豈不自然哉？或者修行精進，疑之云：又有臨終之時佛與菩薩來迎。且如十方世界有無量眾生精進，烏能皆知其期而往迎乎？曰：亦自然耳。譬如天上一日，普照無量境界，豈不自然哉？況佛之威神不止如日月乎！則遍住其頂、遍知其期，何足疑哉？

Someone doubted, saying: "When a person here practices recollection of the Buddha, why does a single lotus flower immediately grow in the seven-jeweled pond of the West?" I told him: "This is not difficult to understand. For instance, in a great bright mirror, whenever an object comes before it, its reflection appears; how could the mirror ever have any intention? It is simply spontaneous because of its brightness. Amitābha Buddha's land is pure, bright, and spotless, naturally illuminating and seeing the worlds of the ten directions, just like seeing one's facial features in a bright mirror. Therefore, when one here practices recollection of the Buddha, a single lotus flower naturally grows in the seven-jeweled pond of the West; there is no cause for doubt." Someone else doubted, saying: "For one who recites the Dhāraṇī of Rebirth, Amitābha Buddha constantly abides on their crown to protect them. If there are immeasurable sentient beings in immeasurable worlds reciting this dhāraṇī, how could Amitābha Buddha abide on each and every one of their crowns?" I replied: "It is also spontaneous. For example, the single moon in the sky appears universally in all waters; how could this not be spontaneous?" Another person practicing diligently doubted, saying: "Furthermore, at the end of life, the Buddha and bodhisattvas come to welcome one. If in the worlds of the ten directions there are immeasurable sentient beings who are diligent, how could he know all their times and go to welcome them?" I replied: "It is also spontaneous. For example, the single sun in the sky universally illuminates immeasurable realms; how could this not be spontaneous? How much more so the spiritual majesty of the Buddha, which does not merely equal the sun and moon! Then, abiding universally on their crowns and knowing universally their times—what cause for doubt could there be?"