無量壽經義記卷下 1.13

1.13

修諸功德願生彼國者。此是上輩下品人願生彼國。此人亦信因果不謗大乘。但發無上道心。以此功德迴向願生彼國。行人臨欲終命。阿彌陀佛及觀世音大勢志。與諸菩薩持金蓮華。化作五百佛。來迎此行人。五百化佛一時授手讚言。法子。汝今清淨發無上道心。我來迎汝。行人即自見坐蓮華。坐已華合。即隨佛後往生彼國七寶池中。經一日一夜蓮華乃開。七日之中乃得見佛。雖見佛身於眾相好心未明了。於三七日後乃了了見。聞遍至十方供養諸佛。於諸佛前聞意甚深法。經三小劫得百法明門。住歡喜地。是名上輩下品人也。此等眾生臨壽終時訖上輩經文總舉三品人。隨佛住彼自然化生也。

“Cultivating all merits and aspiring to be reborn in that land” refers to a person of the lowest tier of the highest class who aspires to be reborn in that land. This person also believes in cause and effect and does not slander the Mahāyāna; they merely generate the resolve for the unexcelled enlightenment. Dedicating these merits, they vow to be reborn in that land. When the practitioner is on the verge of death, Amitābha and Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta, together with the bodhisattvas, holding a golden lotus flower, manifest five hundred transformation-buddhas to come and welcome this practitioner. The five hundred transformation-buddhas extend their hands at the same moment and praise him, saying: “Son of the Dharma, you are now pure and have generated the resolve for the unexcelled enlightenment; we have come to welcome you!” The practitioner then sees himself seated on the lotus flower. Once seated, the flower closes, and following behind the Buddha he is reborn in that land within the seven-jewelled pond. After one day and one night, the lotus flower opens. Within seven days, he gets to see the Buddha; though he sees the Buddha's body, his mind is not yet completely clear regarding the various marks and signs. Only after three times seven days does he see clearly. Hearing [the Dharma], he goes everywhere to the ten directions to make offerings to the buddhas, and before the buddhas he hears profoundly deep Dharmas. After three minor kalpas he attains the hundred doors of illumination of the Dharmas and dwells in the Joyous Bhūmi. This is called a person of the lowest tier of the highest class. The text from “when such sentient beings' lives draw to a close” to the end of the highest class comprehensively sets forth these three tiers of persons, who follow the Buddha to dwell there, spontaneously taking apparitional birth.