淨名經集解關中疏 1.9

1.9

Kumārajīva said: 'The scripture from beginning to end stems from the pure land; therefore, "Buddha Land" crowns all the chapters. The true and responsive lands unite in equality, as detailed below. The fourteen chapters of the scripture are broadly divided into three sections: first, this chapter and a half causes those who do not believe to develop faith, and is thus called the Preface Section; next, the eleven and a half chapters cause those who have believed to awaken, and are thus called the Main Body Section; third, the final two chapters through the end of the scripture state that once awakened, it should be transmitted, and are called the Transmission Section. Within the first Preface Section, there are again three subdivisions: first, listing the time, direction, place, and so forth, in which the compiler of the scripture adduces facts to confirm faith; next, combining the canopies and manifesting the lands, in which the speaker of the scripture astonishes beings to induce faith; finally, praising and extolling, in which the inquirers of the scripture cause beings to revere virtue and produce faith. The first passage again has six elements: 1. words of faith in the scripture; 2. transmitting the scripture's purport; 3. time of hearing the scripture; 4. speaker of the scripture; 5. place of hearing the scripture; 6. audience hearing the scripture.'