無量壽經義記卷下 1.12

1.12

一向專念無量壽佛者。此是上輩中品人願生彼國。此人不必受持讀誦方等經典。善解義趣。而於第一義心不驚動。深信因果不謗大乘。以此功德願生彼國。臨命終時。阿彌陀佛與觀世音大勢志無量大眾。皆持紫金臺現其人前。讚言。法子。如行大乘解第一義。是我今迎持汝。與千化佛一時授手。行人自見坐紫金臺中。叉手讚嘆諸佛。如一念頃即生彼國七寶池中。經一宿寶蓮華方開。行人身作紫磨金色。足下有七寶蓮華。佛及菩薩俱時放光。照其人身行人眼目開明。因前宿習得聞眾聲。純甚深第一義諦。行人即下金臺禮佛合掌讚歎世尊。經於七日。得不退轉。即能飛至十方供養諸佛。於諸佛所修諸三昧經。一小劫得無生忍現前受記。是名上輩中品人也。

“Exclusively concentrating on mindfulness of Amitāyus” refers to a person of the middle tier of the highest class who aspires to be reborn in that land. Such a person does not necessarily uphold, read, and recite the vaipulya scriptures, but well understands their meaning and drift, and regarding the ultimate truth their mind is not alarmed or shaken. Deeply believing in cause and effect, they do not slander the Mahāyāna. Dedicating these merits, they vow to be reborn in that land. When their life draws to a close, Amitābha, together with Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, and an immeasurable assembly, holding a purple-gold dais, all appear before this person and praise them, saying: “Son of the Dharma, because you practice the Mahāyāna and understand the ultimate truth, I have now come to welcome and escort you!” Together with a thousand transformation-buddhas, they extend their hands at the same moment. The practitioner sees himself seated upon the purple-gold dais, joining his palms and praising the buddhas. In as little as a single thought-moment, he is straightaway reborn in the seven-jewelled pond of that land. After one night, the jewelled lotus flower finally opens. The practitioner's body takes on the color of purple-burnished gold, and beneath his feet is a seven-jewelled lotus flower. The Buddha and bodhisattvas simultaneously emit light illuminating his body, and the practitioner's eyes open in clarity. By virtue of his previous habituation, he is able to hear various sounds that expound exclusively the profoundly deep ultimate truth. The practitioner then descends from the golden dais, bows to the Buddha, joins his palms, and praises the Bhagavat. After seven days, he attains the non-retrograde stage, and is immediately able to fly to the ten directions to make offerings to the buddhas. In the presence of the buddhas he cultivates various samādhis; after one minor kalpa he attains the anutpattika-dharma-kṣānti and receives a prediction directly before him. This is called a person of the middle tier of the highest class.