無量壽經義記卷下 1.8

1.8

The Buddha said to Ānanda, "If there are sentient beings who are born in that land": this is the third section within the primary explanation, the Section on Praise and Exhortation to Cultivation. The previous chapter had already explained that Buddha's causes and fruits of long lifespan. Those of sharp faculties received understanding, but people of dull faculties were still unable to comprehend. For this reason, the Buddhas of the ten directions harmonize their responses, praising that Buddha's long lifespan, the purity of his land, and the exquisite bliss of his gods and humans in accordance with beings' capacities, exhorting and guiding those of dull faculties to diligently cultivate the wondrous cause to seize the wondrous fruit. Within the Section on Exhortation to Cultivation, there are ten exhortations to cultivation that clarify the meaning. The first exhortation first praises that Buddha, and then [describes how] the three classes of sentient beings in this world vow to be born in that land. The second exhortation explains that the bodhisattvas of the ten directions proceed to the Western Direction, praise and receive the wondrous Dharma, and circulate it in the ten directions. The third exhortation explains that Avalokiteśvara will succeed in one lifetime next to the Buddha's place, no different from Amitāyus. The fourth exhortation explains Amitāyus Buddha's salvation, expounding the Dharma for sentient beings. The fifth exhortation broadly explains that sentient beings have gains and losses. The sixth exhortation explains selection and interpretation. The seventh exhortation explains breaking the pure precepts. The eighth exhortation explains sincere exhortation. The ninth exhortation explains broadly revealing lands. The tenth exhortation explains understanding the precepts.