無量壽經義記卷下 1.24

1.24

第三勸修。從佛告阿難彼國菩薩訖示現同彼如我國也。明觀世音等位階十地。於一生次補佛處。善能往還接引眾生也。除其本願為眾生故者。明觀世音昔與娑婆眾生結緣。命還來應生。然此菩薩本自無形應物故。形今除應物之形故言唯除本願也。以弘誓功德而自莊嚴。色身用化眾生。令脫三界眾苦。何等為四。一未解者令解。二未度者令度。三未安者令安。四未得涅槃者令得涅槃也。有二菩薩最尊第一者。一是觀世音。二是大勢志。此二菩薩德行高遠次補佛處。故言第一也。此二菩薩訖命終轉化生彼國者。明觀世音捨此身生西方成佛。是以釋迦讚歎。此二菩薩捨命現成佛。所得國土淳淨而妙樂也。明此大士本自無形。何所可捨。政欲級引時情故現。命終時眾見二大士捨命生彼佛。㯹心情重悉願往生彼國也。智慧成滿深入諸法究暢要妙者。明眾生往彼國行道積久。入無生平等智慧。成滿便登初地也。神通無礙具六神通者。飛行自在也。諸根明利者。神智洞達超越無方為利也。其鈍根者成就二忍者。成就信忍柔順忍。明此人住下三十心殖因來久懃修萬行。滿三阿祇劫願生彼國。經二忍登六地位也。其利根者是住下三十心滿。亦三阿僧祇劫勤修萬行。情根復利願生彼國。即登八地之位得無生法忍。亦經歷下地位過也。從彼國菩薩承佛威神訖還其本國。明菩薩所得神通速疾欲往十方。供養諸佛不齎香華於彼佛國。憶念則得隨意供養也。

The third [section], encouraging practice, runs from "The Buddha told Ānanda, 'The bodhisattvas of that land...'" down to "...manifesting similarity to those of my land." It explains that Avalokiteśvara and others have reached the level of the ten bhūmis, will succeed to the place of a buddha in one lifetime, and are skilled in coming and going to receive and guide sentient beings. "Except by their original vows for the sake of sentient beings" explains that Avalokiteśvara previously formed karmic connections with the sentient beings of the Sahā [world] and is destined to return and take birth in response [to their needs]. However, this bodhisattva originally has no form, but manifests a body in response to beings. Now, setting aside the body that responds to beings, it therefore says, "except only by original vows". Adorning themselves with the merit of great vows, they use physical forms to transform sentient beings and cause them to escape the myriad sufferings of the three realms. What are the four? First, causing those not yet liberated to be liberated; second, causing those not yet crossed over to cross over; third, causing those not yet at peace to be at peace; fourth, causing those who have not yet attained nirvāṇa to attain nirvāṇa. "There are two bodhisattvas who are most venerable and foremost": one is Avalokiteśvara, and the second is Mahāsthāmaprāpta. These two bodhisattvas have high and far-reaching virtuous practices and are next in succession to the place of a buddha; hence they are called "foremost". "These two bodhisattvas, ending their lives [here], were transformed and born in that land" explains that Avalokiteśvara, abandoning this body, was born in the Western Direction to become a buddha. For this reason Śākyamuni praised them. These two bodhisattvas, relinquishing life, presently become buddhas, and the land they attain is purely clean, wondrous, and joyful. This explains that these mahāsattvas originally have no form, so what could they relinquish? It is solely to guide and lead the sentiments of the worldly that they manifest it. When their lives end, the assembly sees the two mahāsattvas relinquishing life to be born in that buddha[-land], wherefore their feelings of aspiration become profound and they all vow to be reborn in that land. "With wisdom perfected and fulfilled, deeply penetrating all dharmas, fully grasping their essentials and marvels" explains that sentient beings, having practiced the Path in that land for a long time, enter the wisdom of non-arising and equality; upon its perfection and fulfillment, they then ascend to the first bhūmi. "With unobstructed supernormal powers, equipped with the six supernormal knowledges" means that their flight is unfettered. "Whose faculties are clear and sharp": their spiritual wisdom is thoroughly penetrating, transcending without limitation; this is what is meant by "sharp". "Those of dull faculties achieve two kṣāntis": they achieve the kṣānti of faith and the kṣānti of pliancy. This explains that these persons, having abided in the lower thirty minds, having planted causes for a long time, diligently practicing the myriad practices, and having completed three asaṃkhyeya-kalpas, vow to be born in that land; passing through the two kṣāntis, they ascend to the level of the sixth bhūmi. Those of sharp faculties have completed their stay in the lower thirty minds, also diligently practicing the myriad practices for three asaṃkhyeya-kalpas; their emotional faculties are furthermore sharp, and they vow to be born in that land, immediately ascending to the rank of the eighth bhūmi and attaining the anutpattika-dharma-kṣānti, also having passed through the lower bhūmi ranks. From "The bodhisattvas of that land, upholding the Buddha's awe-inspiring spiritual power" down to "returning to their original land", it explains that the supernormal knowledges attained by the bodhisattvas are swift; when they wish to go to the ten directions to make offerings to the buddhas, they do not bring incense and flowers to those buddha-lands, but upon a single thought they obtain [them] and make offerings according to their wish.