佛祖統紀 26.6

26.6

在凡具惑。而能用三觀智顯本性佛。如四明師之言。曰心境叵得故染可觀淨。不礙緣生故想成相起。唯色唯心故當處顯現。斯觀佛三昧之正訣。唯明宗得意者能行之。至若稱唱嘉號瞻禮尊容讀誦大乘持奉淨戒。皆淨業之正因正觀之助行。而但修十善行也仁慈者亦可以成回向莊嚴之績。然則若定若散若智若愚。無一機之或遺。雖登臺之有金銀。入品之有上下。至於趣無生而階不退。則一概云耳。悠悠末代。憑願行而升安養。自廬山而來。傳往生者纔三百人。意遐方外域不及知者。奚若河沙之多。是知此方學佛道者。機疎障重未聞有成。而獨於念佛之法。無問僧俗。皆足以取一生之證。信矣哉。撰淨土立教志。

Remaining an ordinary person replete with afflictions, one can nevertheless use the wisdom of the threefold contemplation to manifest the Buddha of original nature. As Master Siming said: "Because mind and object cannot be apprehended, defilement can be contemplated as purity. Because dependent origination is not obstructed, when thought is accomplished, the marks arise. Because [all] is merely form and merely mind, it manifests right where one is." This is the correct secret key to the samādhi of contemplating the Buddha; only those who understand the school and attain its meaning can practice it. As for reciting the auspicious name, gazing upon and venerating the honored countenance, reciting Mahāyāna scriptures, and holding fast to pure precepts, these are all proper causes of pure karma and auxiliary practices for correct contemplation. Furthermore, by merely practicing the ten wholesome deeds and being benevolent and compassionate, one can also accomplish the merits of dedication and adornment. Thus, whether concentrated or distracted, whether wise or foolish, not a single capacity is left out. Although ascending the dais entails differences between gold and silver, and entering the grades has upper and lower ranks, when it comes to proceeding toward the unproduced and ascending to non-retrogression, all are alike. In this distant final age, those who ascend to Sukhāvatī by relying on vows and practices, recorded as having attained rebirth since Mount Lu, number barely three hundred persons. If one considers those in distant regions and foreign lands who could not be known, how could they not be as numerous as the sands of the Ganges? From this we know that among those in this realm who study the Buddha Way, capacities are sparse and obstacles are heavy, so one rarely hears of success; yet solely through the method of mindfulness of the Buddha, regardless of whether monastic or lay, all are sufficient to obtain realization in a single lifetime. Truly believable is this! Thus is composed the Treatise on the Establishment of the Pure Land Teaching.