龍舒增廣淨土文 7.14

7.14

Zhiyi's Treatise on the Ten Doubts states: "Three bodhisattvas cultivated [rebirth in] Tuṣita: the first was named Asaṅga, the second Vasubandhu, and the third Siṃhabhadra. They agreed that whoever was born first in Tuṣita and saw Maitreya should immediately return to report. Siṃhabhadra died first, and after several years there was no report. Next Vasubandhu died, and after three years he came to report, saying: 'The days in heaven are long. I was born in Tuṣita, paid homage to Maitreya Buddha, listened to him preach the Dharma, and immediately came to report; yet already three years have passed.' They asked: 'How is Siṃhabhadra?' He said: 'He was born in the outer court of Tuṣita, became attached to heavenly pleasures, and has not yet seen the Buddha.'" Now, when even bodhisattvas cultivating [rebirth in] Tuṣita still harbor attachment and fail to see the Buddha, this is the root of transmigration. From this it is known that Tuṣita is difficult to cultivate and entails falling, unlike the West, which is easy to cultivate and free of falling. Zhiyi also said: "There are those who saw Śākyamuni Buddha and did not attain the Way. If one cultivates [rebirth in] the West and sees Amitābha Buddha, none fail to attain the Way." Thus, the vow power, merit, and spiritual majesty of Śākyamuni Buddha and Amitābha Buddha are certainly different in scope. Therefore Bodhisattva Daci said: "In the ten directions and the three periods of time, Amitābha is the foremost Buddha." Reciting his name extinguishes all sins, whereupon one is born in the Pure Land. How fitting!