问曰 ：十方诸佛，断惑无殊，行毕果圆，亦应无二。何以一种净土即有斯优劣也？
Question: [The] ten directions’ all Buddhas, [are with] severance [of] confusions without difference, [with] practices completed [and the Buddha] fruit perfect, [that] likewise should [be] without two. How is it that [there is] one kind [of] Pure Land then, [that] has this superior [and that] inferior?
[Note 1: In other words, the question asks, ‘Since all Buddhas are equally spiritually perfect in terms of compassion, wisdom and meritorious virtues (功德), how it that they have Pure Lands that are not equal, thus not being equally supreme?’]
答曰 ：佛是法王，神通自在，优之与劣，非凡情所知。
Answer: [The] Buddhas are Dharma Kings, [having] supernormal powers [with] ease, [of] that superior and inferior, [they are] not [those] that ordinary [beings] know.
[Note 2: It is possible that all Pure Lands are equally perfect, while Buddhas are able to manifest some to seem superior, while others seem inferior, as skilful means that unenlightened beings might not directly understand, to help them choose which to most appropriately aspire towards.
Note 3: The natures of various Pure Lands are known by studying relevant sūtra(s) about them. These descriptions are usually based on various Buddhas’ past fundamental vows (本愿) on how their Pure Lands will be. However, when they have attained Buddhahood, it is possible that their Pure Lands become equally supreme, if not so before, as previously planned on their causal grounds (因地).
Note 4: If all Pure Lands are thereafter equally perfect, the only difference left would be the ease of entering them. Again, what we know is based on studying relevant sūtra(s) about them. With this in mind, as detailed in the Immeasurable Life Sūtra《无量寿经》, Āmítuófó’s (阿弥陀佛) Pure Land is indeed the easiest to enter, through which all other Pure Lands can be reached. This itself is reason enough for all Buddhas to most readily recommend reaching it, as reaching it is to reach all Pure Lands.]
隐显随机，望存化益，或可故隐彼之优，独显西方为胜。…
Appearing [and] disappearing according [to the] situation, hoping [to] save, transform [and] benefit, [they are] perhaps able [to] intentionally [have] hiding of that superior, only appearing [with the] Western [Pure Land] as supreme…
[Note 5: That perceived as superior by an ordinary being might not be the supreme choice for him or her, according to the Buddhas’ wisdom. However, as below, according to the Immeasurable Life Sūtra, it can be known that there is no Pure Land superior to that of Āmítuófó.]
弥陀本因四十八愿，愿愿皆发增上胜因，依因起于胜行，依行感于胜果，依果感成胜报，依报感成极乐，依乐显通悲化，依于悲化，显开智慧之门。
[With] Āmítuófó’s fundamental causes [of his] forty-eight vows, [with] each and every vow, all given rise [for] increasing [of] supreme causes, relying [on these] causes giving rise to supreme practices, relying [on these] practices connecting [to the] supreme fruit, relying [on this] fruit connecting [to] accomplishing [of the] supreme reward, relying [on this] reward connecting [to] accomplishing [of the Land Of] Ultimate Bliss, relying [on the Land Of Ultimate] Bliss manifesting supernormal [powers with] compassion transforming, relying on compassion transforming, manifesting opening of [the] door [to] wisdom.
[Note 6: This is how Āmítuófó accomplished Buddhahood and his Pure Land, through which he helps others accomplish birth in his Pure Land, to accomplish Buddhahood too.]
然悲心无尽，智亦无穷，悲智双行，即广开甘露，因兹法润，普摄群生也。
Afterwards, [with] compassion’s mind inexhaustible, [and] wisdom likewise inexhaustible, [with] compassion [and] wisdom both practising, immediately extensively opening [with] ambrosia, thus [with] this Dharma’s moisturisation, universally gathering all sentient beings.
[Note 7: The Dharma teachings of reaching his Pure Land is like ambrosia that moisturises the otherwise dry and under-nourished spiritual lives of sentient beings, that help to nuture them, to bring them to life.]
诸余经典，劝处弥多，众圣齐心，皆同指赞。
Many other sūtras, [are with] parts [with] exhortation [of reaching] Āmítuófó’s [Pure Land] many, [with] all noble [ones being of] one mind, all together pointing [to and] praising [it].
[Note 8: This is so because it is indeed the universally easiest Pure Land to reach, upon which all other Pure Lands are reachable, while by itself offering the swiftest progress to Buddhahood.]
有此因缘，致使如来密遣夫人别选也。
Having these causes [and] conditions, leading [to the] Thus Come [One] secretly sending [the] Queen, [to] specially choose [it].
[Note 9: For the above reasons, Śākyamuni Buddha (释迦牟尼佛) skilfully aided Queen Vaidehī (韦提希) to choose Āmítuófó’s Pure Land after review of immeasurable Pure Lands in a vision. However, it should also be noted that in the Immeasurable Life Sūtra, Dharma Treasury Bodhisattva (法藏菩萨), who was Āmítuófó on the causal ground, already made an ‘absolute vow’ to create the supreme Pure Land, as follows,
‘If I become a Buddha, my land will be the foremost. Its assembly will be unique and wonderful, in a place for realising the path surpassing. My land will be like Nirvāṇa, and without equal or two. I will, with empathy, deliver and liberate all.’ (令我作佛，国土第一。其众奇妙，道场超绝。国如泥洹，而无等双。我当愍哀，度脱一切。)
Note 10: After doing so, by King Of World With Ease Buddha (世自在王佛), he was given teachings and vision of two hundred and ten koṭīs of all Buddha lands, with their good and evil, coarseness and subtle wonders. For five kalpas, he then contemplated his forty-eight great vows, for accomplishing his Pure Land. (According to the Lotus Flower Treasury World’s [莲华藏世界] classification system, ‘two hundred and ten koṭīs’ represents the ten directions’ immeasurable lands’ number.)
Note 11: In short, it was only after learning from so many Pure Lands, deemed enough by a Buddha, that he became a Buddha, to shape his Pure Land accordingly, with all superior aspects of Pure Lands and with no inferior aspects of defiled lands.
Note 12: Vaidehī, therefore, even after seeing immeasurable Pure Lands, was without any other choice, naturally with the direct choice, of the foremost Pure Land. As this choice represents that with wisdom, good enough even for a royal, hesitating sentient beings should choose it too.]
净土宗二祖善导大师
《观经四贴疏》: 卷二：序分义
Pure Land Tradition’s 2nd Patriarch Great Master Shàndǎo
(Commentary [On The] Contemplation Sūtra [In] Four Fascicles):
Scroll Two: Preface Section’s Meaning
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关论著
Related Commentary:
为何偏求一净土？
Why Particularly Seek One Pure Land?
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2014/04/why-particularly-seek-one-pure-land
为何偏念一佛？
Why Be Particularly Mindful Of One Buddha?
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2014/03/why-be-particularly-mindful-of-one-buddha
相关偈子
Related Verses:
唯选偈
Verses On Only Choice
https://purelanders.com/2020/12/22/verses-on-only-choice
选净土偈
Verses On Pure Land Choice
https://purelanders.com/2020/12/20/verses-on-choice-of-pure-land
