淨土生無生論 1.41

1.41

諸佛眾生同一覺源，迷悟雖殊，理常平等。故曰：「諸佛是眾生心內諸佛，眾生是諸佛心內眾生。」迹此而言，則諸佛眾生心精，無時而不通㳷，但諸佛無時不欲度生，眾生念念與之迷背。故勢至菩薩云：「一人專憶，一人專忘，若逢不逢，若見非見。子若憶母，如母憶時，母子歷生，不相違遠。若眾生心憶佛、念佛，現前當來必定見佛，去佛不遠。」正由一理平等、天性相關故，得任運拔苦與樂。況無量壽佛因中所發四十八願，誓取極樂攝受有情，今道果久成，僧那久滿！故凡百眾生弗憂佛不來應，但當深信、憶念、發願願生西方，如磁石與針任運吸取。然磁能吸鐵，不能吸銅，針能合磁，不能合玉，譬猶佛能度有緣，不能度無緣。眾生易感彌陀，不易感諸佛，豈非生佛誓願相關者乎？是以求生淨土者，信、願、行缺一不可。

The Buddhas and sentient beings share the same source of awakening; though delusion and awakening differ, the principle is constantly equal. Therefore it is said: 'The Buddhas are the Buddhas within the minds of sentient beings, and sentient beings are the sentient beings within the minds of the Buddhas.' Tracing back according to this, the quintessence of the minds of the Buddhas and sentient beings is never at any time not interconnected and harmonious. However, the Buddhas at all times wish to deliver sentient beings, while sentient beings in thought after thought turn away from them in delusion. Thus Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva said: 'If one person concentrates on recollecting, and the other concentrates on forgetting, then even if they meet, it is as if they do not meet; even if they see each other, it is as if they do not see each other. If a child recollects its mother just as the mother recollects the child, mother and child through successive lives will not be separated or distant. If the minds of sentient beings remember the Buddha and recite the Buddha's name, they will certainly see the Buddha in the present or in the future, and will not be far from the Buddha.' Precisely because the one principle is equal and their natural essence is interconnected, suffering can be removed and joy bestowed effortlessly. How much more so given that Amitāyus Buddha made forty-eight vows in his causal stage, vowing to establish Ultimate Bliss and gather in sentient beings, and now the fruit of the Way has long been attained and his great armor of vows has long been fulfilled! Therefore, the multitude of sentient beings need not worry that the Buddha will not come in response; they should only have deep faith, recollect, and make vows aspiring to be born in the West, just as a lodestone effortlessly attracts a needle. However, a magnet can attract iron but cannot attract copper; a needle can unite with a magnet but cannot unite with jade. This is analogous to how a Buddha can deliver those who have conditions, but cannot deliver those without conditions. Sentient beings easily stimulate Amitābha, but do not easily stimulate other Buddhas—is this not because the vows between these beings and the Buddha are interconnected? Therefore, for those who seek birth in the Pure Land, not one of faith, vow, and practice can be lacking.