無量壽經義記卷下 1.2

1.2

The first subdivision is from "If they enter the jeweled pond, and wish for the water to submerge their feet" through "so clear as to seem formless." This explains that bodhisattvas and śrāvakas possess great supernormal powers, indulging their desires and following their wishes in the jeweled pond. Wishing for the water to submerge the feet, and the water immediately submerging the feet, this also uses physical events to express internal meaning. The jeweled pond as a whole illustrates the doctrinal principles of the Buddhas of the three times. It explains that the water can wash away dust and dirt, illustrating that the teaching can generate understanding, and understanding can eradicate delusions. Within a person's physical body, the feet are the lowest; among the multitude of delusions, the afflictions abandoned by seeing the truth are the lowest down. Here it explains that from the first bhūmi upwards to the third bhūmi, all afflictions abandoned by seeing the truth are eradicated, just as the water submerges the feet. "Wishing it to reach the knees": from the fourth bhūmi [to] the sixth bhūmi, the nine grades of afflictions abandoned by cultivation are completely severed, just as the water submerges the knees. "Wishing it to reach the waist": this explains that bodhisattvas of the seventh bhūmi sever love for the Buddha's merit, hovering between the two gates, just as the water reaches midway up the waist. "Wishing it to reach the neck, and the water immediately reaches the neck": this explains that from the eighth bhūmi upwards to the ninth bhūmi, they enter into the quiescence of non-arising and their illumination increases thought-moment by thought-moment, severing completely the obstructing afflictions as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, with only one subtle grade of ignorance remaining, just as the water submerges up to the neck, leaving only the head. "Wishing it to pour over the body": this explains that on the single Dharmameghā bhūmi, ignorance is eradicated completely, just as the water completely bathes the body cleanly. "Wishing it to return to its original state": this refers to resting one's transformations and returning to the source; hence it says "return to its original state." "Harmonizing cold and warmth": this harmonizes the three unwholesome roots of greed, hatred, and delusion in sentient beings, which cause sentient beings suffering. "Opening the spirit and delighting the body": this means expounding the Dharma according to faculties, suiting the inclinations of beings. "So clear as to seem formless": the myriad delusions are entirely exhausted, with no further entanglements or hindrances, just like empty space having no difference of form.