法苑珠林 16.61

16.61

玄奘法師云。西方道俗並作彌勒業。為同欲界其行易成。大小乘師皆許此法。彌陀淨土恐凡鄙穢修行難成。如舊經論。十地已上菩薩隨分見報佛淨土。依新論意。三地菩薩始可得見報佛淨土。豈容下品凡夫即得往生。此是別時之意。未可為定。所以西方大乘許小乘不許。故法師一生已來常作彌勒業。臨命終時發願上生見彌勒佛。請大眾同時說偈云。

Dharma Master Xuanzang said: 'In the Western Regions, monastics and laypeople alike cultivate karma for Maitreya. Because it is in the same desire realm, its practice is easy to accomplish. Masters of both the Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna accept this practice. As for the Pure Land of Amitābha, it is feared that for ordinary beings of lowly defilement, practice is difficult to accomplish. According to old sūtras and treatises, only bodhisattvas of the tenth bhūmi and above can perceive, according to their capacity, the Pure Land of the Saṃbhogakāya Buddha. According to the meaning of new treatises, only bodhisattvas of the third bhūmi and above may begin to perceive the Pure Land of the Saṃbhogakāya Buddha; how could it allow ordinary beings of the lowest grade to attain rebirth there immediately? This was spoken with an intention regarding a different time, and cannot yet be taken as definitive. Hence, in the Western Regions the Mahāyāna accepts it while the Hīnayāna does not.' Therefore, throughout his whole life, the Dharma Master constantly engaged in karma for Maitreya. When he was near the end of his life, he made vows to ascend and be born to see Maitreya Buddha, and asked the great assembly to recite together in verse: