《阿弥陀经》三分之意义
[7] Significance Of Amitābha Sūtra’s Three Sections
六、正释经解
Six: Main Explanation [Of] Sūtra [And Its] Explanation
入文分三：初、序分，二、正宗分，三、 流通分。
Entering Text Divided [In] Three [Parts]: First, Preface Section, Second, Main Principles’ Section, Third, Transmission Section.
此三名初善、中善、后善。
These three [sections are] named [that in the] beginning good, [that in the] middle good, [and that in the] ending good.
序如首，五官具存；
[The] Preface [Section is] like [the] head, [with] five sense organs together existing.
正宗如身，脏腑无阙；
[The] Main Principles’ [Section is] like [the] body, [with] inner organs without deficiency.
流通如手足，运行不滞。
[The] Transmission [Section is] like [the] hands [and] legs, [with] moving [and] walking not hindered.
故智者释《法华》，初一品皆为序，后十一品半皆为流通。
Therefore, [Great Master] Zhìzhě explained [the Wonderful] Dharma [Lotus] Flower Sūtra’s’《妙法莲华经》beginning’s First Chapter [to] all are [the] Preface [Section, and the] ending’s eleven [and a] half chapters [to] all are [the] Transmission [Section].
[Note 1: Lotus Sūtra’s general structure:
(i) General Preface Section (序分): Chapter One On Preface《序品第一》
(ii) General Main Principles’ Section (正宗分): Chapter Two On Skilful Means《方便品第二》to Seventeenth Chapter On Differentiation Of Meritorious Virtues’《分别功德品第十七》first half.
(iii) General Transmission Section (流通分): Seventeenth Chapter On Differentiation Of Meritorious Virtues’ 《分别功德品第十七》second half to Chapter Twenty-Eight On Universal Virtue (i.e. Samantabhadra) Bodhisattva’s Exhortation For Aspiration《普贤菩萨劝发品第二十八》.]
又一时迹本二门，各分三段，则《法师》等五品，皆为迹门流通。
Also, at the same time, [with] Signs [And] Source’s Two Doors, each divided [into] three segments, then [with] Dharma Teachers [and] others, five chapters, all are [the] Signs Door’s Transmission [Section].
[Note 2: Lotus Sūtra’s special structure:
Signs Door (迹门):
(i) Special Preface Section (1) (序分): Chapter One On Preface《序品第一》
(ii) Special Main Principles’ Section (1) (正宗分): Chapter Two On Skilful Means《方便品第二》to Chapter Nine On Conferment Of Predictions For Learning And Non-Learning Persons《授学无学人记品第九》.
(iii) Special Transmission Section (1) (流通分): Chapter Ten On Dharma Teachers《法师品第十》to Chapter Fourteen On Peaceful And Blissful Practices《安乐行品第十四》.
Source Door (本门):
(i) Special Preface Section (2) (序分): Chapter Fifteen On From Ground Surging Out’s《从地涌出品第十五》first half
(ii) Special Main Principles’ Section (2) (正宗分): Chapter Fifteen On From Ground Surging Out’s《从地涌出品第十五》second half to Chapter Seventeenth On Differentiation Of Meritorious Virtues’ 《分别功德第十七》first half.
(iii) Special Transmission Section (2) (流通分): Chapter Seventeen On Differentiation Of Meritorious Virtues’ 《分别功德第十七》second half to Chapter Twenty-Eight On Universal Virtue (i.e. Samantabhadra) Bodhisattva’s Exhortation For Aspiration《普贤菩萨劝发品第二十八》.]
盖序必提一经之纲，流通则法施不壅，关系非小。
Because [the] Preface [Section] must raise [the] guiding principles of [this] one sūtra, [for the] Transmission [Section to] then [be with the] Dharma given without obstruction, [their] relationship [is] not minor.
后人不达，见经文稍涉义理，便判入正宗，致序及流通，仅存故套，安所称初语亦善、 后语亦善也哉？
[With] later [generations’] people not thoroughly understanding [this], seeing sūtras’ text slightly involving [the] meanings [of] principles, then classifying [to] enter [them into the] Main Principles’ [Section], causing [the] Preface [Section] and Transmission [Section, to] only [be] retained [as] past conventions. How [can] that [be] called [with the] beginning’s words also good, [and the] ending’s words also good?
– 净土宗九祖澫益大师
《佛说阿弥陀经要解》
– Pure Land Tradition’s 9th Patriarch Great Master Ǒuyì
(Essential Explanation [Of The] Sūtra [In Which The] Buddha Speaks [Of] Amitā[bha] Buddha)
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关教理
Related Teachings:
下文: 佛在何时处教《阿弥陀经》？
Next Section: When And Where Was Amitābha Sūtra Taught By The Buddha?
https://purelanders.com/2019/09/21/when-where-was-amitabha-sutra-taught-by-the-buddha
《佛说阿弥陀经要解》全英译
Complete English Translation Of The Essential Explanation Of The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Amitābha Buddha
https://purelanders.com/yaojie
